LAST DAY OF LUXURY

Last Day of Luxury

We had planned to hang out today, soaking up the sun and swimming at the villa but, at the last minute, I decided I must swim in the sea one last time. Not wanting to drive too far, we headed back to Bozburun, which although it has no beaches, does have small pensions along the water.

There is a wide paved road with just enough room to park a few cars, leaving the rest for the parade of walkers, bikers, scooters and cars. At noon there is a parade of adorable school children in uniform, backpacks loaded, walking home from what we surmise is their half days of school.

There are no jetties with sunbeds to rent, but across from each pension is an eight foot concrete 'beach' with a ladder down to the sea. We scope out the nicest pension, find the proprietor having coffee on her veranda, and through a guest who semi-translates, we strike a deal for  ten TL for the use of her sun beds, palapas and noodles for the day.

As we lay there, we watch the boats, mostly sailboats, come in and out of the harbor. On the top balcony of the pension, a guest in an American flag tee-shirt plays the guitar, scooters go by, people talk quietly, the tide comes in and laps a bit louder than usual but somehow even with all these sounds, it is the epitome of serenity. Through the masts of the docked sailboats, the dome and minaret of the mosque peek out.  

I can only convey the sense of peacefulness by saying, this is the kind of place you could hole up to write the next great American novel or simply hide away and disappear, even as the chickens cluck and the roosters crow. 

There are only about ten of us sharing the sea with women swimming in bikinis to modest suits to full Muslim swim attire - heads scarves, long sleeve tunics and  nylon swim trousers. And no one bats an eye, because in this secular place, everyone can do their own thing with no judgements; how refreshing. Quite a contrast to what is going on in other places in the world today. 

We partake of one more very Turkish thing I swore I would not do. 

I break down and buy a small carpet that, although it will be heavy, will fit in my carry on and look wonderful on some wall or floor in Philadelphia or Santa Fe.  And then we head home for a last few hours at the pool, soaking up the view, when Fatima comes down with a tray of fruit and warm out of the oven goodies, and we must stuff ourselves yet again, so she will know how much we appreciate her hospitality. 

Just as we are heading in to shower, the small owl living in the main house chimney, finally shows itself and hoots, as if to say goodbye. Our camera is broken, we are down to a couple hundred Turkish Lira that will get us through two dinners and one more hotel. My keratin shampoo is empty, but then again the Keratin is gone from my hair. I am the fattest I have ever been not pregnant and most importantly, Steve's iPad is FULL, not one megabyte left to take a photo or save a blog.  It is time.

We can't ignore the signs, our tickets are booked, it will be exciting to see our kids and recount our adventures to friends. There are packages waiting at home to open, along with FOUR MONTHS of mail. So as we float in the pool, we don't even have to say it....but we do. This really was the trip of a lifetime.

We'll post a couple more blogs before we are stateside, but today feels like a wrap. Last dinner, home to pack, early to bed. Our five year plan has been executed and now the fun begins all over.....what do we want to do for the next five?????