Sellixs Set Sail

The time finally came for us to arrange our transit of the Suez Canal. Turkey was opening ports and, after contacting several marinas, we decided to follow our friends on SV Joana to Alanya Marina in Alanya Turkey. We originally booked one month, extended to two months and, due to the ever changing Covid Regulations, Schengen policies and weather patterns, we extended our marina contract to the end of February. We are now working with an agent to extend our 90 day tourist visa to a one year visitors visa.

We are very comfortable in the marina. We are, along with SV Joana, the only live aboard vessels here. There are many, many boats, large and small, charter and private, along with three "tourist pirate ships" and all are, as near as we can tell, day use only. One of the things that sold us on the marina was the cost of berthing. Here the price for Catamarans is based solely on LOA (length over all), unlike many marinas where cats pay one and a half or double the monohull rates. We were also given a berthing discount and able to take advantage of free WiFi, free laundry and free showers.

So, let’s explore! Alanya is a resort town on Turkey’s central Mediterranean Coast (also known as the Turkish Riviera). Covid concerns have kept us pretty close to Alanya where we have explored many of the historical sites in the city. Sailing into Alanya Harbor we were greeted by the Alanya Castle sitting 820 feet high on a rocky peninsula jutting into the Mediterranean Sea, which protects it from 3 sides. Most of the castle was built in the 13 century on remnants of earlier Byzantine and Roman era fortifications. We opted not to walk up to the castle but rode the Alanya Aerial Tramway (Teleferik), which has become one of the icons of the holiday village.
Another of the landmarks of Alanya is the Red Tower, one of the best examples of 13 century Mediterranean defense structures, it sits at the point where the castle meets northern fortifications. It has been built to keep the port under control for centuries.
We marveled at the the interior of the Alanya Shipyard, built by Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat (these names are a challenge), in 1228 which has been used as shipbuilding and ship accommodation for centuries. As we wandered through cavern like rooms filled with ancient shipbuilding tools and materials, we marveled at how, in many countries, historical/museum artifacts are in the open air with no protective coverings or security.
Another popular “must see” is The Damlatas Cave, which is famous for its healthy air for asthma patients and the cave leads directly to the most popular beach in Alanya, Cleopatra Beach, where Queen Cleopatra is said to have enjoyed the two kilometers of crystal clear sea and golden sand. When we arrived in Alanya , Cleopatra beach was packed with people however a couple of days ago when I walked the beach it was empty—-Covid and Winter have taken over.

In the six months we have been in Turkey finally managed to do a day trip to Aspendos and Said and an weekend in Cappadocia. These trips were before the following announcement from the Ministry of the Interior: Alanya , Turkey......November 18, 2020.
“Curfew for over 65 now restricted to 10am to 1pm and ‘under 20’s from 1pm to 4pm each day.” Turkey is continuing to take Covid seriously.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Holiday Season!
Eric & Pam
Sv Pied-a-Mer III





Photo is inside the Shipyard.