Quote:
Originally Posted by Buena Vista
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Therefore we are looking for a good safe maina with good facilities and good management. Any help you can give us would be appreciated.
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We favour Yat Marin in Marmaris for the following reasons:
1. It's
cheap - well, they raised the prices this past summer, then lowered it a bit, but out of big
marinas they are still at least EUR 400 cheaper for 6 months for us (35 foot monohull).
2. It's big and they are professional - that said, people who have been coming back to this marina for years (it's only our second year there) say that it's all gone downhill in the last 2-3 years: management is less friendly, workers don't do favours any more, etc. We don't see a problem with that as they do all account management well, you can extend contracts with them over phone/email. Maybe it's a difference in expectations: we don't expect marina staff to be our friends, we expect them to do their job well. Yat Marin staff do it well. If you decide to call them or when you come to the office to do the check-in and everything, ask to speak with Meliha. She's the best out of all staff there.
3. It's safe - all territory is fenced, only one gate with
security,
security guys on mopeds constantly do rounds around all territory and docks.
4. They've got a swimming pool, sauna, restaurant, bar, canteen,
laundry, pibrary, pool hall, doctor, hairdresser, gym, supermarket,
chandlery, and all boat services.
5. The marina is in Marmaris bay which has milder
weather than more northern marinas, good sailing, nice snorkeling.
6. Next to the marina there is a nice protected "island", actually peninsula, to hike around with ruins, caves, and views.
7. Yat Marin does a free trip [on a bus] to
Istanbul for
Istanbul Boat Show in the winter. You will need to pay for the
hotel and
food in Istanbul.
8. [for all marinas in Marmaris bay] There is a very strong
live-aboard community with a good daily net, organized trips, meets, lessons, etc.
Cons of Yat Marin:
1. Not within Marmaris - 20-30 minutes by car/bus or the
dinghy.
2. If you want somebody from outside the marina to do any boat
work, the marina issues a comparatively high surcharge.
3. It is less protected from winter storms than Netsel
Marine (another marina in Marmaris) - but the guys tend the boats very well, so it's not a problem.
Regarding timing:
Note that high season in Turkey ends for Westerners in the beginning of September, for Turkish - in the second half of September after the
school starts.
Also note that Ramazan [Turkish version of Ramadan] falls on July 20th - August 18th 2012. During Ramazan/Ramadan Muslims should not eat
or drink anything from sunrise to sunset, including
water.
You will see many less Turkish people on the streets during the day at that time, and, especially
in the first 7-10 days, people at
work will be less alert and not as attentive
very frequently making mistakes. Whatever you have to do during this time period, check your paperwork very well.
However, every night right after the sunset you'll find big line-ups to bakeries for chocolate puddings and all restraurants will be full. You will see empty streets one minute, and the next minute all people will be out and already in restaurants eating and drinking.
Calls to prayer performed by muezzins during Ramazan seems to be longer than usual (though I don't know for sure).
Big holidays after mid-July (more people, more excursion boats out, offices, banks, and some shops closed):
Seker Bayram: August 19th - 21st (people eat and exchange A LOT OF sweets during this holiday)
Kubran Bayrami: October 24th - 28th (sacrifice of a sheep, common foods, drinks, and celebrations)
Republic Day: October 29th (fireworks)
Also, in 2012 Asure Gunu is celebrated on November 24th. Nothing is closed, but people eat a sweet pudding called Asure made out of grains, cereals, nuts, and dried fruits and berries. I heard that this dish was eaten on Noah's Ark as a celebration for the end of the flood, but who knows for sure, eh?