Datca... A narrow, mountainous finger of land points westward from Marmaris, stretching 100 km to touch the edge of the Aegean. About 75 km west of Marmaris through pine forests lies the pleasant and relatively untouristed village of Datca. Another 35 km brings you to the hamlet and ruins of Knidos, the ancient city of the great sculptor Praxiteles. Leaving Marmaris for the trip along the peninsula takes you up into the mountains. Not too long after leaving town you'll see a road on the left marked for Bozburun, about 40 very bumpy km along. It's an idyllic spot, best reached by boat, where there's a small hotel, restaurant and a "yacht club" with showers and laundry facilities for the yachters. Continuing along the main road to Datca, at the 22-km mark is "Cabucak Dinlenme Yeri", a rest area, camping place and park operated by the Directorate of Forests. There's also the small Firat Motel. After 70km you reach Resadiye, where a road goes off to the left for Datca whfle the main road continues westward to Knidos. Datca is essentially a one-street town. The road into Datca passes near the hospital, past the gendarmerie and through a commercial district of shops selling scented honey and spices. Past several small teahouses and restaurants, you reach the main plaza with its marketplace and bus area. The street then climbs a hill, curves to the left down the other side, scoots across an isthmus and ends on a hill at the end of a short peninsula. This whole distance is about one km. At Knidos, 35 km west of Datca at the very tip of the peninsula, are ruins of a prosperous port town dating from about 400 BC. The Dorians who founded it were smart: the winds change as one rounds the peninsula and ships in ancient times often had to wait at Knidos for good winds. This happened to the ship carrying St Paul to Rome for trial. Being rich, Knidos commissioned the great Praxiteles to make a large statue of Aphrodite. It was housed in a circular temple in view of the sea. The statue, said to be the sculptor's masterpiece, has been lost. Other than the ruins, Knidos consists of a tiny jandarma post with a telephone for emergencies, four little makeshift restaurants (the Bora and the Knidos were most popular on my last visit), a repository for artefacts found on the site (no entry), and the "Bora Pansiyon", which will put you up for US $ 4 per person in a room without running water if space is available; or you can camp nearby and use the Bora's facilities for a small fee. You can swim in the bays from wooden piers, but the beaches are several km out of town.

The nearest Turk Telekom (PTT) is in "Cesme Koyü", the last village you pass through on the road to Knidos. The ruins are scattered along the three km at the end of the peninsula. The setting is also dramatic - steep hillsides terraced and planted with groves of olive, almond and fruit trees - and the peninsula here is occupied by goatherds and the occasional wild boar. All this surrounds two picture - perfect bays in which a handful of yachts rest at anchor. Few of the buildings are in recognisable shape, but you can appreciate easily the importance of the town by exploring the site.

The Datca Peninsula provides a natural boundary between the Aegean Sea, the Gulf of Gökova to the north, and the Methtecalm, crystal clear water is ideal for swimming and other water sports. The Blue Lagoon is one of the best places in the world to do absolutely nothing except soak up the sun amid stunning natural surroundings. For those who prefer accommodation facilities, Belcegiz beach is recommended. Intoxicating scenery surrounds Kidirak's beach and shady park. On Gemiler Island, Bith bougainvillaea decorate the town. The marina is on the southern bay; swimmers prefer the northern bay. Around the marina bars, cafes and a wide selection of shops keep the tourist interested. Some shops remain open well into the evening. Relaxing over a pre-dinner drink and then a delicious meal in a welcoming restaurant is a popular way to spend the evening hours. Of course, the local eateries offer both fresh fish and classial Turkish cuisine. With any remaining energy, take a stroll and find a disco to your liking so that one day continues on into the next. 10 km north of Paca, the Körnum harbour is connected to Bodrum by a daily ferry line. As you travel out of Datca, either by road or by boat, you will find unspoilt bays and golden sandy beaches. Kargi is one of the most popular.

At the end of the peninsula (38 km from Datca) stands the ancient Carian city of Knidos, described by Strabo as " a city that was built for the most beautiful of goddesses, Aphroite, on the most beautiful of peninsulas." Famous as a centerof art and culture in the fourth century BC the city had two harbors: one on the Aegean and the other on the Mediterranean. The remains of a circular temple dedicated to the goddess of love overlook the two harbors; the arcaded way was built of white marble, heart-shaped columns. The legendary Aphrodite of Praxiteles' statue, one of the most beautiful sculptures of antiquity, once graced this temple.