Sea turtles and Mud bath

Holidays go by so quickly and yet each day is so filled with interest that they seem to slow down the pace of time and each day has a special significance. Today is a day to relax and enjoy the holiday options of this popular vacation area.

At 9 am we board Boat #125 and cruise down the Dalyan River past stunning views of  rock cut tombs in the surrounding cliffs.

In a quiet bay, we pull alongside a boat where the crew dangle crab lures so that we can look at giant sea turtles swimming and rising to the bait. The turtles are protected, so they aren't trying to catch them. Crabs on the other hand are fair (fare) game. We order a crab snack which we will be served later.

Our destination is the vast Iztuzu Beach. This wide sandy strip is a breeding ground for the sea turtles, where they come to lay their eggs, so  much of it is out of bounds to day trippers like us. The boat drops us off and we rent lounge chairs and umbrellas for TL9.  Time to soak up the sun and the view of the gorgeous coast line and mountains. The sea is calm and refreshing. Ahhh...

 When we board the boat for our trip upstream, the baked crab is waiting for us.

 Yum.

Next stop - mud baths and silly time. A few discerning souls in our group forgo the baths and instead take pictures as we frolic and slather ourselves, with apparently mineral rich mud. Said to bring a glow to the skin and restore health to the body, we indulge in this activity whole-heartedly.

The object is to cover oneself as thoroughly as possible with the mud. At first we can't find enough of the goopy stuff to make it stick. But fortunately we have brought the mud-meister with us. Dave, from Athens, GA turns out to have an affinity for mud. He leads us to the mudder-lode.

Then we sit in the sun to let the mud dry; and strike silly poses. We look rather ghoulish! When we have hosed ourselves off, we soak for a while in a thermal pool. Stephanie and Dave kindly share their photos with us later.