When it comes to swimming, few experiences compare to the thrill and liberation of diving into the waters of the Mediterranean. During my recent travels, I had the opportunity to swim in two stunning locales: Bodrum, Turkey, and Mykonos, Greece. Each offered its unique charm and challenges, making for unforgettable aquatic adventures.
Bodrum: A Rocky Romance with the Sea
Bodrum’s beach was intriguing, with a setup that felt more like an extension of the local restaurant scene than a traditional beach. Rocky shores greeted us, carefully entering the water, yet it added to the place’s allure. The rule was simple to access a spot on the beach: order something, and you could stay.
I slipped into my wetsuit, ready for the invigorating swim that awaited. The miles of lounge chairs, each belonging to different restaurants, formed a maze along the shoreline. It was daunting to remember exactly where our chairs were among the seemingly endless rows.
Once in the water, a sense of freedom enveloped me. I swam and swam, covering about 600 to 750 yards away from the shore. The rhythmic strokes and the cool embrace of the sea offered a meditative escape. However, as I turned back, the challenge emerged—finding my lounge chair. They all looked identical from a distance, and I had to rely on intuition and a little luck to spot my husband waiting for me. After about 30 minutes, he appeared, and I swam toward him, relieved and exhilarated by the swim.
Mykonos: A Sandy Paradise
Our next stop was Mykonos, where a different kind of beach experience awaited. Here, the beach was more conventional, lined with lounge chairs available for rent at 20 Euros each. Unlike Bodrum, it was a sandy stretch, inviting and vibrant, though lacking in shade—a minor drawback considering the beauty surrounding us.
The water in Mykonos was a vivid shade of turquoise, beckoning me in. The swim here was shorter, around 200 yards in each direction, but equally satisfying. I relished the chance to swim twice, clocking in about 800 yards in total. The shorter distance allowed for a more leisurely swim, where I could fully appreciate the clarity and warmth of the Aegean Sea.
Embracing the Freedom
Both Bodrum and Mykonos offered unique swimming experiences that embodied the essence of freedom and adventure. In Bodrum, the challenge of navigating the rocky terrain and the puzzle of identical chairs added an unexpected twist to my swim. Meanwhile, Mykonos provided a more traditional beach setting, where the simplicity of the sandy shore and the allure of the water made for a delightful swim.
In both locations, the act of swimming was more than just physical exercise; it was a celebration of the moment, a connection to the natural world, and a reminder of the joy found in simple pleasures. Whether navigating the rocky shores of Bodrum or gliding through the waters of Mykonos, the freedom of swimming in these beautiful destinations was an experience I will cherish forever.