Hard to believe but my first school year in Turkey is coming to a close. It’s been quite a ride and I’m thankful to be on the other side. Thank you all for following along! It’s so great to hear from you and share these adventures, too. Here’s a couple from the last few weeks, wrapping up the year out on the water.

First up is Bodrum. An hour south of Istanbul by plane, it’s a waterfront town with lots of fun for tourists to enjoy.

On Saturday, we rented a boat for the day to do some cove hopping. The water is just stunning here – so clear you can see all the way to the bottom. Quite chilly in June but the salt of the Mediterranean lets you float for hours.

Here’s Dina and I repping the Sox. Her husband is from Salem, Mass.

On Sunday, my wonderful friend Michele took a few us to a little village called Gümüşlük on the other side of the Bodrum peninsula.

We took a dolmuş to get there. A dolmuş is a mini bus and the word translates to “it’s full” in Turkish. The van only departs when it has enough passengers and takes you to destinations at a fraction of the cost of a private taxi.

We wandered around the shops and checked out the a waterfront cafes. Evil eyes are a staple of Turkey and this village also featured gourds decorated by hand.

We met a sweet pup taking a dip and joined him, putting our feet in to cool off during the heat of the day.

All too soon it was time to return to Istanbul for another week of exams and end-of-the-year activities. Thankful for such a wonderful group!

Back in Istanbul, my friend Kelly arranged a boat trip to celebrate our colleagues and friends who are leaving this year. Goodbyes are a given in ex-pat life but it’s great to go out on a high note.

We headed north on the Bosphorus Strait, skirting the banks and taking in the stone palaces dotting the shoreline. These stone giants are memorials from the Ottoman age and many are decorated in the Baroque style of their original age.

The day was such a lovely break from exam marking and the craziness that marks the end of the school year. The Bosphorus is really something special.

I fly back to Boston in a week. Fun plans in store for the summer. Give a shout if you’re in New England – would love to see you 🙂