Bodrum, Turkey (Tuesday, July 8)

We sailed from Rhodes just after sunset on Monday and arrived at Bodrum on the Turkish coast the next morning. Bodrum is the site of ancient Halicarnassus. The Tomb of King Mausalos (another of the ancient seven wonders) is no more, but its stones were used to build the 15th century Castle of St. Peter, another stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John.

Unlike the Palace of the Grand Masters at Rhodes, the Castle of St. Peter is beautifully preserved, and still retains much of its 15th century apperance, including towers devoted to each of the "languages" of the order. In a few, the graffiti carved into the stones by bored knights is still visible, in Spanish and English especially, bearing dates like "1492". The castle was surrendered to the Turks in 1523.

Located on a rocky promontory between the two bays that make up the harbors of Bodrum, its towers provide spectacular views of the surrounding bay and coastline.

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