From the High Seas to Ekincik, Turkey, Monday Morning

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After a hearty Turkish breakfast, the gulets set sail for the village of Ekincik, population 16,000. It was nice and sunny out, a lovely 80 degrees that carried over from yesterday.

Once there, guests would have the opportunity to join an optional excursion to Dalyan and the ancient city of Kaunos. The journey is by river boat, which stops at the ancient city before heading upstream to the sulfur mud baths. Or if that's too much effort, there's always the extensive sandy beaches of the Dalyan river delta, one of the last breeding places of the Mediterranean sea turtle.

Comments

Before Departure

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Marmaris looks a great deal quieter in the morning. While occasionally the sound of cars and scooters roaring through the streets makes it to the ships, for the most part, the city maintains an almost hangover-like stupor.

Rush Aboard

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Went out late last night? Here's your chance to make it back to your gulet before it takes off.

Re: Rush Aboard

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

A bleary-eyed Cade staggered onto the Capricorn just before departure. His shirt had been left...somewhere...which meant that the new tattoo (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHnLM497O-U/ULrVYdw2eGI/AAAAAAAAL9s/2LSAVl__79A/s400/tat.jpg) at the back of his neck was even more prominent.

The Coruscanti girls (well, British, but like Cade had figured that out) had insisted between giggles that he needed a tattoo that said "fast and furious" for reasons they wouldn't explain to him.

Getting a tattoo in Chinese at a Turkish shop was probably not the smartest thing Cade had ever done...which was why his proudly read "fast and foolish."

Not that he'd know that.

Breakfast

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Breakfast aboard the gulets is an elaborate affair. Large bowls filled with a salad comprised of tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and feta cheese sit on the center of the spread. Spread out around it are various Turkish cheeses such as beyaz peynir and kaşar; there is menemen and bread as well as honey, jam, a local sausage known as sucuk and other local meats, and there's a nice tray full of pastries, too.

[[ please mention the name of your gulet in the subject line so others can join you! ]]

Re: Breakfast - Cetus

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

Josh was an early riser: not by nature, but because so many years of working in the White House meant he was used to working off of four or five hours of sleep.

"Look, I know that the Turkish word for breakfast means 'before coffee'--" because Josh was a know-it-all that way, "--but can you make an exception for me?" he wheedled, making a dent in the finest muffins and bagels in all the land pile of pastries.

Re: Breakfast - Capricorn

[not_a_whiner]

Sorry, guys: you were about to experience firsthand what a biotic appetite looked like. Kaidan made a sizable dent in the available food at record speeds, glancing up occasionally to enjoy the view of the port.

The Gulets - Out at Sea

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After breakfast, the ships take to the sea, wind in the sails.

When playing in the gulet threads, please note which gulet you're in so your boatmates may join you!

The Gulets - Cabins

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Either with double beds or two twins, all rooms have a window or porthole, ensuite facilities with shower, a music system and TV, and air conditioning. Please move your conversation to private journals if your thread is going NWS.

The Capricorn

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The Cetus

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The Charybdis

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The Hydra

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The Kraken

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The Leviathan

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The Proteus

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The Siren

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The Gulets - Sun Deck

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Located on the front of each gulet, the sun deck is a perfect place to sunbathe or stargaze or just catch some air away from your roommate.

The Gulets - Dining Room and Saloon on the Main Deck

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All meals aboard ship (and your sunset drinks) are served in the dining room and saloon on the main deck of your gulet.

The Gulets - Saloon Below Deck

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In case it's raining or too cold to go outside, each gulet has an additional saloon below decks, perfect for chatting with friends, grabbing a drink, or reading a book.

On Shore

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Ekincik prides itself on being a small, tranquil town, with only a few shops and one restaurant to choose from. The walk around is nice after being on the yacht for a few hours, though.

River Boat Cruise to Dalyan and Kaunos

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You can see ancient ruins carved into the stone above the river as you cruise to Kaunos, an ancient Turkish port.

Mud Baths

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Make sure you remove all silver jewelry before wading in-- the mud will tarnish it. And make sure to take lots of photos because you look pretty ridiculous.

Turtle Beach

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Iztuzu beach in Dalyan is that rare thing in the Mediterranean: a 4.5km arc of golden sand stretching from the base of a pine-clad mountain to a river delta, with not a single house, store or hotel in sight.

During the day people swim, walk, lie in the sun to the sound of the waves but at night a barrier comes down and the beach is claimed back by nature, in particular by hundreds of loggerhead turtles, one of the oldest surviving species in the world, which lay their eggs there from May to September.

In and Around Ekincik

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Or you can just roam around the village, buy a fake handbag from a vendor in one of the shops, or have a meal in the local restaurant.

OOC

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Let us know here if you'd like to swap gulets! The evening post will be up in a little while.

Tomorrow we sail for Manastir Bay, so get your snorkling gear ready!