There are enough animals on the 174-kilometer long coastline around the Bodrum Peninsula (BP), which is part of the Turkish Riviera or Turquoise Coast, to start a zoo. And most of them — including three ducks, a tortoise, a colony of cats and an aging homeless hound — want to adopt me.
Three shadowy ducks…
….a shell-shocked tortoise…
….and a colony of cats.
The dog, who spent the day with me, was the most persistent.
10:30 a.m.
Noon.
Two p.m.
Five p.m
There is also enough variation in vegetation and vistas, including 32 islands and dozens of quiet bays, to make this an ideal slice of easy-to-torturous MedTrekking.
Descending through the dense forest…
….to a sweet swimming hole.
The BP’s man-made contributions, from many farms to fashionable resorts and marinas, range from humble to ostentatious.
A chic marina.
A dolmuş (minibus) transports MedTrekkers.
Manmade vista.
Radio waves.
And everyone, from women at a dolmuş (minibus) station to school kids, wants to chat to MedTrekkers.
But will they MedTrek with me?
School girls test our Turkish.
Even security guards are polite. At Ola Mare I was told that “I really like you and I’m sorry to have to kick you out!” and at the new Sign by Ersan boutique hotel, which opens next month, I was shown the King, Bishop and Rook suites before being politely escorted off the property.
Photos by Liz Chapin and Joel Stratte-McClure
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