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Fethiye boat trip

A Place To Reflect And A Promise To Keep

The Need for a True Vacation

Fethiye, South of Turkey was our choice for a restful and quiet vacation. For those who are familiar with our travel stories, they will notice that this is the first time we used the word “vacation”. The word vacation meant to us spending a laid-back time at some fancy beach resort while eliminating any other distraction. As opposed to our habitual choice of challenging adventures or far away destinations, we took off on June 23, 2018, on a trip to Fethiye. This time and for the first time in 6 years of traveling as a couple we were searching for peace. Chantal was still in her early days of pregnancy where it was still safe to travel. Plus, we needed to be on a true “vacation” this time. 

Double the Bliss

For the past 6 years, we’ve been going on adventures and picking up unique destinations and gathering memories that will stay with us as long as we are still breathing. It is true that we consider our trip to Palawan, the Philippines to be our last trip as a couple. We consider this trip as the transition trip to a couple with kids. It was early 2018 when we knew that our family is growing. On August 27, 2018, the twins arrived. What a double bliss! Our family doubled in number which will make the adventure much better! 

Why Turkey?

Turkey has always been a main tourist attraction for the Lebanese. One of the main reasons is that Lebanese don’t need to go through the hassle of applying for a visa to go to Turkey. It is simple and easy, whether, via a travel agency or online, all they need to do is choose the date, book a ticket and accommodation. In addition, due to the recent devaluation of the Turkish Lira compared to US Dollars, Turkey became an affordable and somehow cheap destination to most Lebanese. This time we didn’t want to bother ourselves so we handed it over to Go Lemuria, a  travel agency specializing in corporate and luxury travel. We booked a 5-night stay at the Alesta Yacht Hotel in Fethiye. Although there were cheaper options, we wanted to ensure a comfortable stay. The Hotel is located right across the Marina, just a 5-minute walk from the Fethiye center. From our room, we enjoyed an exceptional view of the bay and the local town. The hotel had a small swimming pool, but it offered a free shuttle boat to a secluded beach 15-minute away from the Marina. 

Why Fethiye?

We’ve been to Turkey. (Click HERE to read ENJOYING THE BEST OF MARMARIS IN FIVE DAYS). a couple of times; In September 2015 we even went on a motorcycle ride from Lebanon across turkey to Bulgaria and back. Our first stop during our motorcycle ride was in Cappadocia then the capital Ankara. Istanbul was our last stop before we exited the country towards Burgas in Bulgaria. After spending a couple of days between Burgas and Varna in Bulgaria we returned to Turkey from its eastern border on the Dardanelles channel. We stayed in Eceabat. From there we rode the southwest Mediterranean coast of Turkey and we stayed consecutively in Alibey Adasi, Bodrum, MarmarisAlanya until we reached Mersin on the southern coast of Turkey to catch our ferry ride back home. We passed through Fethiye on our way from Marmaris to Alanya. I still remember the scenic sea views all the way to Fethiye. That was the time when we decided that Fethiye was a destination to be visited on its own. That day has come!

Reflecting Back

Chantal and I wanted to celebrate the pregnancy news that we received in March 2018. Plus, we wanted to spend some time together and reflect on the past 12 years that we spent together. One more reason to celebrate was Chantal’s birthday on June 27. We’ve been lucky enough to have spent some of our best days together. We both shared a passion for traveling, meeting new people and explore new destinations. We started our journey together by taking local road trips to less known locations in Lebanon. Come to think of it, our first date was a camping trip! We knew things will change once the twins are born therefore, we wanted to pave the road toward parenthood. Our trip to Fethiye was a getaway for both of us to slowly digest the life-changing news. Basically, we wanted an escape to talk and share our thoughts, our fears, our hope and aspirations without being distracted by our life routine at home.  

Chantal drafting some thoughts and drifting away

First Stop, Fethiye Fish Market

We spent the first two days enjoying every moment; the first day we arrived we wanted to have an authentic experience at the city, so we headed straight to the fish market after we checked in to our hotel. It was the closest we could get to authenticity but still an experience of its own. We stepped into the fish market from one of its many entrances and the first thing that caught our attention was the huge center stall stacked with a variety of types and sizes of fish. And before we could think of anything else, several waiters and restaurant owners approached us with their best offers. Some of them took the extra mile and offered us to taste their Mezza. From one offer to another we were juggled in the market until we decided on a table right in the middle of the action. Just before we sat down, we picked our fish so that we could have them served to our table. We chose salmon and some local fish. 

A soft breath saturated with a mix of raw and fried fish smell tingled our nostrils from time to time while we sat and observed our fish being fried. In between the screams and shouts of the fishmongers inviting tourists to pick from their fresh fish collection, we could distinguish soft Turkish instrumental music coming from one of the booths in the back selling some souvenir gadgets.  

We Belong To The Sea

The next day we took off on a boat cruise which we had booked the evening before right from the Marina. While choosing a boat, our first question would be how many passengers the boat could fit? The next question would be what type of music do you play during the day? We usually avoid crowded decks and loud parties in the sea. Our preference is to find a middle-sized boat owned or operated by a local family. From our experience, family managed boats are cleaner and provide better customer service. Furthermore, hygienically speaking, we trust having our lunch cooked by family members instead of some young sailor who’s working on a daily rate (no offense to anyone). 

Taking the boat cruise from one island to another, refreshing occasionally in the serene blue water, bathing in the sun on deck while enjoying a cold beer, or some fresh juice in Chantal’s case was all we needed to gather our thoughts. We didn’t speak much but we almost shared the same thoughts and questions.

Spending Some Time In The City

In the evening we headed to the old market of Fethiye and mingled with the people and merchants. We agreed on a meeting point and time before each of us followed his interest. Chantal went window shopping for baby wear, and I took out my camera and tripod and settled in some of the busiest and colorful neighborhoods. 

After a couple of hours, we met. Chantal had bought some cute baby socks and sandals while I captured some photos and wrote down some of the merchant stories. People approach me curiously whenever I open my tripod and fix my camera. The first question that they ask is, are you a reporter? I always smile and answer: “Photography is my hobby”.  On many occasions, such acquaintances lead to some interesting stories. At that time, I was just starting up my blog, so I invited them to check out some of our adventures or destinations. While others asked me to e-mail them the photos or just tag them whenever I post them on the blog or on our social media networks.  

We shared some stories and laughs with these amiable people

During the first two days, we contemplate the near future and imagined how our life would be as a family of four in a few months. Less did we know that it was closer than we thought.  

A Bit of Action Never Hurts

It has been challenging for us to resist the urge for adventure. The next day we decided to introduce a bit of action to our day. There was a nearby beach village 12 km south of Fethiye city center known for its blue lagoon and its wide sandy beach. Oludeniz was less than a 30-minute drive. We rented a car and started our road trip. 

On our way, we stopped by the ghost village of Kayakov. Trekking into the ruins of Kayakov was tempting but due to the pregnancy, we decided to skip it. In brief, historians say that in 1923, at the conclusion of the war between the Greeks and the Turks in 1919-1923, Kayakoy was emptied of its 6,500 inhabitants. The objective was to ensure that each of the 2 countries had only one main religion. 

The ghost village of Kayakov

We later discovered that Oludeniz is home for one of the highest paragliding official takeoff sites in the world with a height of 1960 m. We both agreed that once the kids are old enough to jump, we will come back and the four of us will soar like a hawk above the Oludeniz beach. 6 years was the minimum age allowed to jump. I guess the kids will have to wait 5 more years! 

Back To The Beach

The next day, we woke up early and drove the car south for almost 40 minutes to the butterfly valley. At that time of the day, butterflies were hiding from the scorching sun. We weren’t lucky with the butterflies, but we sopped at one of the best viewpoints and took some amazing photos. Of course, we could have hiked all the way down in different circumstances, but the safety of Chantal during her pregnancy was a priority above all. 

That same day, around noon we returned the car and took the free boat shuttle to the secluded beach managed by the hotel and spent a laid-back afternoon sipping on some cold drinks and refreshing in the warm translucid water.  

Some Activity At Oludeniz

We didn’t get enough of Oludeniz in one day. If you ever visit that beach you must give it at least 3 days. There are plenty of things to do, to see and to taste, not to mention the shopping and the clubbing that you could have. June 27 arrived. We were full of energy and ready to spend another day on that sandy beach. This time we took public transport which leaves the city center toward Oludeniz almost every 10 minutes. 

In the morning we paddled into the Blue lagoon for almost an hour and enjoyed its refreshing cold water. We floated and swam, walked and talked until the sun went down. At sunset, we witnessed one of the most magical sunsets ever. For me, the golden hour meant that it’s time to practice my photography skills by taking some portraits of “pregnant Chantal”. After having dinner and celebrating Chantal’s birthday we returned to the hotel after booking a boat trip for our last day. 

Of all the cities we’ve been in Turkey, Cappadocia and Fethiye are our favorite so far. 

The Promise

Having spent this relaxing vacation had us rethink and reconsider our future as a family. From a couple to a family of four. On that trip, we promised to stand by each other no matter what the circumstances are. It was during that trip that we transited from a couple to a family. Exactly 2 months later Iva and Christopher were born into this world. We hope you would still enjoy our stories and adventures now that we stepped into parenthood. Sooner than we think, Iva & Christopher will tell their own stories and adventures. 

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