Sea to Sky on the Turquoise Coast

We wanted to treat ourselves to a unique Turkish travel experience - a cruise along the beautiful southern coast in a Gulet, a traditional vessel from this region of the eastern Mediterranean.

Just a little farther, kids

First, the 'Sea' part. Our 4 day / 3 night adventure began in Fethiye harbour and would slowly take us to various stops along the way to the town of Demre, about 150 km away. That is, until there was a mechanical problem with the generator and we were forced to stop after only one hour of cruising.

You mean we have to hang around here until we fix it? No problem. Take your time. Seriously.

This is our boat, the Alaturka I. It's a 75-foot beauty, and while it looks like a traditional Gulet, it actually does not use wind power but hums along on a pair of diesel engines. Apparently very few of the boats along this stretch use sails - simply too big and heavy.

Our 4-bed cabin was probably not cramped by yachting standards, but it felt pretty cozy to us. However we had our own bathroom and we didn't plan on being down here much anyway. In fact, most of the passengers on these boats often quickly abandon their cabins to enjoy the experience of sleeping under the stars - we did try that too, but only on the last night.

You just can't keep Shirley out of the kitchen!

Always trying to learn something.

Once the mechanical issues got sorted out, it was time for the 'Sky' part. Yes, finally after years of gazing up at the skies of North Vancouver and enviously watching paragliders circle lazily above her, Annie can finally have her turn!!

And the sky over Oludeniz is not just any paragliding spot, but one of the premier flying destinations in the whole world. We were picked up from the boat anchorage just outside Fethiye, and after a terrifying drive from sea level up 5,900 feet to the top of Babadag Mountain, it was time for our little girl to strap on the tandem gear and go for the ride of her life....

....and mine too!

You don't think I'm going to pass up a chance such as this, do you? 

And there goes Annie! Airborne and flying like a bird - it was beautiful to watch. And thanks must go to Shirley (who is deathly afraid of heights) for dutifully taking the pictures.

Now it's my turn. I was much more nervous than I expected. The take off ramp, while not a complete drop-off, feels so steep that one really has to fight the natural urge to resist running to certain death.

And now Dad's off into the wild blue yonder, too (I'm the closest one with yellow parachute). Clearly we are not alone on this adventure, as this is a very popular activity here in Oludeniz, but it's actually quite comforting to see the other tandems circling nearby.

Wait a minute! I recognize those Teva sandals - but Shirley it's not possible? Shirley someone who can't cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge without breaking into hysterics would NEVER willingly plunge off 6,000 feet. Shirley it must be a joke! 

I'm not joking and I can't stop calling her Shirley. Welcome to the newest member of the paragliding club!! We are very proud that mama not only conquered a fear, but did so on one of the more challenging paragliding sites in the world, and I'm sure her girlfriends back home will be proud, too. 

Though she probably won't do it ever again, Shirley admitted it was a breathtaking experience and that she loved every minute - especially the part where her guide serenaded her with Turkish love songs as she floated above the ultra-blue waters below. 

With that accomplishment behind us, it was back to the 'Sea' part, but our bad luck continued with some fairly rough seas on the morning of Day 2. The swells were actually quite big and made for an uncomfortable ride.

A not so happy camper having cookies (to replace the ones she just tossed!)

But things eventually calmed down and it was back to exploring the beautiful coastline, including one pirate cave (or so the legend goes).

There were a few opportunities to get off the boat and explore some of the small coastal towns, including this one, Kas.

Turkey is a modern country, but some wonderful traditions have not died. These bread sellers cruise the streets and sidewalks balancing trays of morning goodies on their heads. Turkish multi-tasking.

If an idiot sings a song in an ancient amphitheatre and nobody hears it, does he make a sound?

Back to the boat for an evening swim.

That paragliding really gave Shirley a boost of confidence - now she's exploring on her own in the middle of the bay. Not a lifejacket or swimming-aid to be seen.

Just kidding. There is an art to framing a photograph. 

Turkey definitely gives the Maldives a run for its money in terms of beautiful blue water. But it's advantage Maldives, mainly because it has the warm temperature to match. We're still early in the season, so the water in Turkey is, shall we say, 'refreshing'.

"The ice cream boat! The ice cream boat!"

Aaaargh - if only he knew how much I hate him and his brothers of the IOFDTU (International Overpriced Frozen Dairy Treat Union) !! We refused to let our kids have any (granted they already had popsicles earlier that day at one of the village stops), but some of our shipmates took pity and treated them to more.

Someone's been to Thailand, too! There's a certain camaraderie that comes with a common beer shirt. 

Time for another land excursion, this time to Kalekoy.

Kalekoy faces the island of Kekova (in the background above), and can only be reached by sea or by footpath. The village lies amidst a Lycian necropolis, which is partially sunken underwater. Kalekoy is overlooked by a Byzantine castle, built in the Middle Ages to fight the pirates which nested in Kekova.

The boy who got his head stuck in sarcophagus. This is a horror movie moment!

Good place to look out for pirates, if you don't get too distracted by the scenery. 

The Boltwoods visit a necropolis - might be the only time we ever say that!

Our last meal was a fantastic spread - for a fairly low cost cruise, we were fed very well during our three days.

But all good things must come to an end, and it was time to bid farewell to our new friends from the 'Alaturka I'. If you find yourself in this area, do yourself a favour and get on a boat like this. It's a fantastic way to see the coastline and visit some spectacular scenery and lovely villages.