Family Traveler

74Thewaterslapsandspluttersagainstthesideoftheboatasfourtinylegskickandthrash,dancingawaterloggedjig.We’vewrestleddeflatingarmbandsandrubberringsthatrefusetoslideoverelbowsbut,finally,mytwoboys,Osian,three,andOwen,two,areoutoftheguletandintotheturquoisebay.Astheybobandgiggleinthewater,theboysgrowmoreconfidentandstartswimming,their``````osian,three,andowen,two,scout``````forsealifeOnaTurkishbeach,justbeforedawn,visitorsgathertowitnessthemagicalfirstjourneyofbabyturtles.RichardHammondandhisyoungfamilyjointhemHATCHPOINTSHESEEKSSEASHELLSTheguletGrandAdali 2runsturtle-spottingsnorkellingtripsalongthecoast``````doggy-paddleatoddswiththegrandeurofanamphitheatreofpine-coveredpeaksthatrisesabruptlybehindthemontheshore.Everythingstillsforamoment,butthecalmdoesn’tlastlong.‘Turtle!’shoutsavoicefromtheboat,andsoonashoalofsnorkeltubeshurtlestowardsusasourfellowdaytripperstrytogetaglimpseofanadultloggerheadasitswimsoffserenelypastthebowofourboat.TurtlesareoneofthebigdrawsofaholidayinÇirali.Asmallresort 90minutes’drivesouthwestofAntalya,developmentherehas,sofar,beenrestricted,thankstoitslocationwithintheOlymposBeydaglariCoastNationalPark,aswellastheconservationeffortsofthevillagersofÇirali,NGOsandtheCouncilofProtectionofHistoricalandNaturalAssetsoftheTurkishministryofCultureandTourism.Almostallthebuildingsaresinglestoreyandshroudedbygardenssuffusedwithpalmtrees,jasmineandhibiscus.BetweenÇirali’sbest-known