Gocek - Small Town on the Turquoise Coast of Turkey
Gocek - Sailors' Town in Turkey
Gocek is a small town in Turkey with about 4,500 residents. It's in a beautiful setting, with the blue Mediterranean on one side and rugged green mountains on the other. Gocek is located on the road linking Fethiye and Dalyan, but most visitors arrive on a boat. The town swells to about 7,000 in the summer, with many of the visitors staying on one of the hundreds of boats anchored in the quiet coves around Gocek.
I visited Gocek on a G Adventures 10-day catamaran sailing from Fethiye to Bodrum on the 8-passenger (and a skipper) Diamond Sea. The skipper anchored the boat in the Gocek harbor, and we took the dingy ashore for shopping, strolling, and dinner.
Since tourism is Gocek biggest industry, the pedestrian streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and bars.
More on Gocek
Shopping in Gocek, Turkey
Shops in touristy towns like Gocek often seem to try and outdo each other with the presentation of their wares. I loved these rugs. They almost look like teepees, don't they?
Page 3 >> Fathom Bay near Gocek >>
Fathom Bay near Gocek, Turkey
Before anchoring in the Gocek Bay overnight, our skipper stopped at nearby Fathom Bay so we could go swimming and snorkeling. The day was hot, but the water was cool and refreshing. Wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
Page 4 >> Tying up the Boat in Fathom Bay >>
Tying up the Diamond Sea in Fathom Bay
How do you tie up a sailboat? One of the "crew" carries the rope from the boat to the shore and attaches it to a post driven into the rocks. The Diamond Sea only has a skipper, so we guests were the crew. The youngest member of our group (23) volunteered for this task. All of us enjoyed learning how to help bring the boat into a dock, operating as linesmen, bringing in the bumpers, or deploying the anchor.
Page 5 >> Goats of Fathom Bay >>
We saw many goats on the shore of Fathom Bay. Here are a few of them. Later in the voyage while docked at Knidos, we had an up-close encounter with a whole herd of goats. These we just viewed from afar.
Page 6 >> What an Enterprise! Ice Cream Boat Delivers >>
I always suspected that the sailing and yachting scene had its own special moments. One of these is the ice cream boat. Yes, while anchored at Fathom Bay, a small boat came into the bay and stopped at all the yachts and sailboats selling frozen treats like ice cream. Our skipper blew on his "honky conch" to signal the ice cream man that we wanted to buy. Great fun and very tasty! Of course, this delivery came at a price--about $4 for an ice cream bar.
We also were visited by a market boat that featured many good-looking vegetables and fruits. He took our orders, bagged up the produce, and passed it over the side of the Diamond Sea. Nothing like "home" delivery.
Gocek is a small town in Turkey with about 4,500 residents. It's in a beautiful setting, with the blue Mediterranean on one side and rugged green mountains on the other. Gocek is located on the road linking Fethiye and Dalyan, but most visitors arrive on a boat. The town swells to about 7,000 in the summer, with many of the visitors staying on one of the hundreds of boats anchored in the quiet coves around Gocek.
I visited Gocek on a G Adventures 10-day catamaran sailing from Fethiye to Bodrum on the 8-passenger (and a skipper) Diamond Sea. The skipper anchored the boat in the Gocek harbor, and we took the dingy ashore for shopping, strolling, and dinner.
Since tourism is Gocek biggest industry, the pedestrian streets are lined with shops, restaurants, and bars.
More on Gocek
- Page 2 >> Great Rug Presentation > >
- Page 3 >> Fathom Bay near Gocek >>
- Page 4 >> Tying up the Boat in Fathom Bay >>
- Page 5 >> Goats of Fathom Bay >>
- Page 6 >> What an Enterprise! Ice Cream Boat Delivers >>
Shopping in Gocek, Turkey
Shops in touristy towns like Gocek often seem to try and outdo each other with the presentation of their wares. I loved these rugs. They almost look like teepees, don't they?
Page 3 >> Fathom Bay near Gocek >>
Fathom Bay near Gocek, Turkey
Before anchoring in the Gocek Bay overnight, our skipper stopped at nearby Fathom Bay so we could go swimming and snorkeling. The day was hot, but the water was cool and refreshing. Wonderful way to spend the afternoon.
Page 4 >> Tying up the Boat in Fathom Bay >>
Tying up the Diamond Sea in Fathom Bay
How do you tie up a sailboat? One of the "crew" carries the rope from the boat to the shore and attaches it to a post driven into the rocks. The Diamond Sea only has a skipper, so we guests were the crew. The youngest member of our group (23) volunteered for this task. All of us enjoyed learning how to help bring the boat into a dock, operating as linesmen, bringing in the bumpers, or deploying the anchor.
Page 5 >> Goats of Fathom Bay >>
We saw many goats on the shore of Fathom Bay. Here are a few of them. Later in the voyage while docked at Knidos, we had an up-close encounter with a whole herd of goats. These we just viewed from afar.
Page 6 >> What an Enterprise! Ice Cream Boat Delivers >>
I always suspected that the sailing and yachting scene had its own special moments. One of these is the ice cream boat. Yes, while anchored at Fathom Bay, a small boat came into the bay and stopped at all the yachts and sailboats selling frozen treats like ice cream. Our skipper blew on his "honky conch" to signal the ice cream man that we wanted to buy. Great fun and very tasty! Of course, this delivery came at a price--about $4 for an ice cream bar.
We also were visited by a market boat that featured many good-looking vegetables and fruits. He took our orders, bagged up the produce, and passed it over the side of the Diamond Sea. Nothing like "home" delivery.
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