Volendam 2026, Bodrum, Turkey...

Out, once again, in the wee hours to catch our arrival.  With the change to daylight savings time, the mornings are pretty dark but I was able to get a few photos as we sailed into Bodrum.  It was a bit exciting since this is a new port for me. Our Cruise Director Erin and her mom Elaine accompanied us on our tour today. We met our guide Bora at the ship and off we went on our Bodrum adventure. Our first stop was the Ancient Theatre of Halicarnassus, with its panoramic views over the bay is a 4th-century BC Greco-Roman amphitheater built into the hillside with seating for around 10,000 spectators. Next, we stopped at the Myndos Gate and City Walls, the original surviving western gate of King Mausolus's original 7-kilometer fortification wall, which resisted Alexander the Great. Our next stop was the 18th-century stone windmills of Bodrum, perched on the ridge between Bodrum and Gumbet, offering sweeping views of the coast. Next, we stopped at the Turkish delight factory to taste lokums, helva, baklava and more. The driver dropped us at the entrance of Old Town and the oldest mosque in Bodrum. We had a nice walk through the town to Bodrum Castle of St. Peter and Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The castle is a 15th-century medieval fortress built by the Knights of St. John, now housing the world-renowned museum. We toured the rooms and towers of St. Peter's Castle which exhibits several collections of ancient artifacts including relics retrieved from local shipwrecks. This Museum is devoted entirely to underwater archaeology and was fascinating. So, if you’re in Bodrum, I do recommend spending some time there. After stopping for a Turkish Coffee break (Pepsi Max for me), we made our way back through town and back to the ship. We did not know what to expect in Bodrum and we had a delightful day and really enjoyed our first visit to Bodrum, thanks to the weather gods, our guide Bora and driver. We loved having Erin and Elaine join us for our first Bodrum adventure…