We have had a brilliant time wintering in Marmaris Yacht Marine. Here is part one of a photographic record.
We arrived late October and found a good mooring right in the centre of the marina – close to the work yard and crane but very sheltered from the Southerly storms. Yacht Marina is an extraordinary place with thousands of boats both in the water and out on the hard. Although it is some 10 km out from the town of Marmaris, it is very self contained with a supermarket, excellent shower and toilet blocks, a swimming pool, sauna and gym and of course the most important bar and restaurant!
There are over 40 boats wintering here and the place has a real community feel with yachties from all over the world sharing the experience. The social life is amazing with many organised activities to get involved with every week. The days start at 9 am with the' ‘Net’ on vhf channel 69 – this is broadcast to all Marmaris Bay cruisers giving important information, weather, social activities etc.
When the weather was still good Justin started the day at 7.30 am joining some of the ladies, and their dogs, for a walk up into the hills overlooking the bay and Helen got a group of ladies together with an instructor for Yoga sessions three times a week. Both of us have been taking Turkish lessons twice a week with Murat and Zaza, a Turkish liveaboard couple. There is a regular Monday night quiz in the workers canteen, where you can eat a three course meal for 7 Turkish Lira – a mere £2.80! , although you have to eat it off a prison tray! There is Happy Hour every night in the bar from 6 until 7.30 with large beers for just 3 lira (£1.20) – needless to say this is normally well attended although once a week is enough for us! On Tuesday and Friday nights, Happy Meals are served in the restaurant – half price meals, really good value. We normally go on a Friday night and sit with twenty or so of our friends on a big long table. Great fun. Sunday night is film night organised by a lovely French couple who give us a choice of three films following a particular theme and we vote which one we would like to watch on the big screen in the restaurant annex. The restaurant staff even provide free pop corn – amazing!
We have joined a car club, sharing a hire car (Herbie) with 4 other boats. We book it by the hour as and when we need it, to do a big supermarket shop, visit the ‘Seneyi’, the local industrial estate where you can anything built or repaired or just to have a day out in the countryside. Fuel is very expensive here (£1.60 per litre) so we only use it as and when we really have to. We tend to book it every Thursday afternoon to visit the local market where we can buy all of our fruit and veg for the week – great quality, incredibly cheap!
Marmaris bay with the marina to the left.
Justin with ‘Herbie’
Although we are quite a way out of town, there is a regular minibus service from the marina direct to the centre of town for less than a pound each. There is also a free ferry service run by the marina although there seems to be endless ‘technical’ reasons why it is cancelled regularly. We joined a few others on a night time cruise around the bay on the ferry and met the manager, Joshcum Bey, (a useful man to know!) and his son Osan (he is wearing my pirate hat!).
On Helen’s birthday we took the car for the day and went along the coast to the town of Bozburun. There was a local wedding taking place and the whole town was out to celebrate. Everyone is invited, they all bring food and share with their neighbours and complete strangers. The local band was also playing – brilliant. We didn’t feel comfortable enough to join in so we found a lovely restaurant overlooking the bay for lunch. A great day out and a memorable birthday.
One of the organised social events was a Sunday walk along the sea front in Marmaris followed by a brilliant Sunday Lunch at the Three Bells bar in Icmeler.
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