Bodrum, Turkey

 

From the ship’s deck this morning we could see the imposing Crusader castle of Bodrum.

Soon, a small shuttle boat took us to the dock nearest the castle, and we climbed up the huge stone stairs
to the ramparts. Everything you ever read about early fortified castles is true here. Wonderful views from the top, a double wall designed for defense against attack from the sea, and lots of twisty staircases.

Two shipwrecks are displayed in dedicated museum-rooms in the castle. This one is around 1100 AD.

The storage and shipping of wine and oil was done in clay amphoras for several thousand years, and all the ones in the photo were found in the shipwreck, along with a vast quantity of broken glass (seen on the ground). Both glass bricks (that is, raw material for glassblowing) and complete glass vessels were included in the cargo along with a variety of other goods. 

A few of the shattered glass objects were reconstructed — with great effort — and are on display.

Gold jewelry was another part of the rich cargo of this ship.
We also enjoyed seeing the ship and cargo from a 3000-year-old wreck— I’ll post photos another time.

A view from the castle ramparts, including a minaret that was added much later.

The harbor from the deck of our ship.

In town: people were enjoying lunch in outdoor cafes.
I liked the mural on this wall.

There’s a big tourist shopping district in the town.

Blog post © 2025 mae sander