Knidos to the haven that is Palamut

Having resolved to get out of howling hollow and after not too much shut eye, we weighed anchor at 9:20 on the 20th September and pointed East under motor and headsail.

As we moved east and as Predict Wind had predicted, the wind abated to reasonable levels until after only a 7 nautical mile sail, we made Palamut. Ahhhhhh.......

A small safe harbour in a dusty, sleepy little hamlet. We were directed by a friendly Turk to the only spot there was for a boat of our width. Power, water and protected from the bulk of the wind. Although in gusts it kicked up a lot of dust from the quay making the boat filthy.

Of all the things that could make us uneasy on this adventure, the one real anxiety driver is the anticipation as to whether or not we'll get a spot on the wall. This is not just so that we can get the bikes/kids off and step on and off without having to drop the dingy. It's got more to do with the way in which we have become used to being informed by some waving, shouting, most unwelcoming (enter description here) that there is no room and where to go. It tends to put a real downer on a place and it has happened quite a lot lately.

All we want is to see their town and to spend some money in it! Why do they have to be so rude? We are only consoled by the possibility that they are delivering their message in a second language...

Don't get me wrong, in a nice quiet anchorage, the dingy is a hoot to go off and explore in, but just to commute backwards and forwards to town or to provision the boat.... more for Sal in a surgical boot than for me, it's a schlep.

The 'Turquoise Coast' reputation is a little more justifiable here. The beach is long, lined with interesting tavernas and is of small flat pebbles which ordinarily is not our choice, but here it gave a nice clean feel to the place and the water. If you'd like to see and hear how relaxing this was, go to YouTube and type 'Summer Amy Pebbles' (case sensitive)

Speaking of interesting tavernas, here was an innovative attraction... A 'dolls' house on top for the kids, particularly Summer, and a spot for the adults to sit and smoke the hooker pipe down below... Unfortunately Turkey has changed somewhat since my last visit in terms of what you can smoke.

At last a taste of what we, and specially Sal have been waiting to experience.... the Sunday markets..... yum!

Still not your actual souk, but getting there.

Now, a couple of key differences from Greece....

The hours they keep here are similar to ours, ie; Lunch is at lunch time, there is no siesta and dinner is at dinner time. It all shuts down around 10:00pm.



The other is, there is no house wine in 250ml or 500ml carafes, in fact there is no house wine at all... Here it is beer or raki.

Wine comes in full bottles, the contents of which is an anathema to the publican. The problem with this is, Raki is not my cup of tea, Sal is ok with it, we try to stay away from beer as we are quite fat enough, but if wine is the go, then we drink either none (not), or too much, and generally it is not very good and it is always expensive.

These are jarring changes after 5 months of getting very comfortable with the Greek way of doing things.

Finally, whilst it is school holidays in Australia and therefore, school holidays on the Summer Amy, Summer continues to educate herself while her 'teachers' insists on taking the holiday.

Here is an example of how her maths is coming along.....

I should point out though, she did use a calculator.