Early in the morning we depart. At 18:00 we arrive to lido di Ostia port. We can not believe what we see , people with historic costumes are waiting for us. How sweet. For more pictures see the link below.
http://picasaweb.google.it/Robert.Schmits/LaKybeleConIOpliti?authkey=Gv1sRgCL-mp6uO3qGP1gE#

We left Naples in the morning. Evening we are in St. Felice. We anchored offshore since the marina is full. Tomorrow we will have a welcome ceremony in Rome – Lido di Ostia port. We clean Kybele. After dinner a good sleep.

We are very thankfull to all parties for enabeling us to introduce ourselves and our country

Authorities of Bureau of Tourism gave a plaque to Prof. Dr. Hayat Erkanal and Osman Erkurt

Today we are very excited.  A group , we have been in touch for a long time , wants to organize a welcome ceremony for us in Naples.Late afternoon we enter Naples port. A big and crowdy place. We anchored to nearby   Baia port. İt is an emotional time for us.

French Consulate in Naples Mr. Francois Cousin , Manager of French cultural center in Naples Mr. Martine Segonds, Associazione Nazionale Marinai d'Italia , Naples Buroeu of Tourism  and Administration of Campania Region organized this Ceremony. Tv’s And Newspapers were also invited.

During the cocktail on behalf of our group and our project Osman Erkurt was honored with presents concerning to importance and meaning of the day.

After the ceremony we all joined the dinner. We will stay for 3 days in Naples.

The swells continue. Afternoon we enter the Agropoli harbour.

After 2 days rest we continue to Paola port and reach afternoon.

In the morning we depart to Crotone Port.  Afternoon we stand aloof from port.

We start at o6:00 in the morning . First we leave Kerkira Island heading north , leaving corfu island on port side. We continue with othoni Island on starboard. Afternoon wind is getting a bit stronger. Our stern is heading to Santa Maria de Leuca , place on south- east of Italy. At 21.15 we are afloat in Leuca Marina . Marina is full , no place for us.

Our route is Corfu island. Last station on Greece part of our journey. Afternoon at 20:00 we enter Kerkira port. Since we will leave for Italy tomorrow , we start to finish the procedures for leaving Greece. Again we are asked for many documents. We are very excited for tomorrow. Not easy , we will pass adriatic sea . Weather reports are fine.

We will continue since the weather conditions are fine. Our route is Levkas İsland. Weather is cloudy. Afternoon a 19. 00 we are in Levkas marina. We dry the sail. Also tomorrow we will stay here.

The wind is slowing down. Our route is Messelongi port.

We celebrate Cem’s birthday in Aghii Pantes bay.

Today morning we headed to Patra but because of strong wind we turned north to anchor in aghii pantes bay. The wind blowed for 2 days.

Leaving the channel we stayed in Korinthos Harbour. Our custom procedures lasted for 1.5 days. 2 days we had to stay in Korinthos.

Saying farewell ...

Kybele did leave Cesme Port on Monday June the 8th, 2009, at 18.15 hours for Marseille Port.
The passport police did give our passports, and customs clearance procedures were concluded

Kybele at Çeşme Port. She left Urla in the morning of June the 7th , and at 20.30 hours on the same day moored at Cesme Port.

Kybele returned to Urla after a smooth sail following the official ceremony. We are getting ready for the big trip. Technical equipment and our food is laded on the boat

Official farewell ceremony was held on 2 May 2009 at Foça, the New Beech (Yeni Plaj).

Speeches were given at the ceremony which was attended by France’s Ambassador to Turkey Mr. Bernard Emie and

his wife; the Izmir Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for Izmir Mr. Kemal Anadol; Deputy Governor of Izmir Mr. Haluk Tunçsu and his wife; the District Governor of Foça Mr. Kamil Köten and his wife; the Mayor of Foca Mr. Gökhan Demirag and his wife; the Director of for the İzmir Region of the Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs Mr. Hızırreis Deniz; Foça Port Master Mr. Cihan Duman; Izmir Honorary Consul of France Ms. Zeliha Toprak and her husband; Manager of French Cultural Center Mr. Jean Luc Maeso, President of the Association Mediterranee France Turquie Mr. Jean-Pierre Salvetat, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Arkas Holding Mr Lucien Arkas, members of the press and broadcasters and our friends. Then Kybele ship was visited.

Kybele ship went from Urla to Foça on April the 30th. It was opened to public visit.

Kybele ships was careened for a short time to prepare her for the Marseille trip. Her hull will be cleaned and treated with animal fat for better speed, before again putting her to sea.

Our project is recognized as a “Grand Event” of “Turkish Season in France” “July 2009 – March 2010”, and continues at

Rowing and sailing exercised are carried out on Kybele ship.

Our project has been assessed by a Joint Organization Committee that consists of the representatives of both countries and included in the grand events that would be held during the “Turkish Season in France”.

Kybele ship was put to sea on the January the 20th.

France’s Ambassador to Turkey Mr. Bernard Emie, Undersecretariat of Culture of the Embassy Mr. Jean Luc Maslin, and İzmir Honorary Consul of France Ms. Zeliha Toprak did on November the 8th visit our project site at Urla.

Kybele’s mast is set up and its sail is put up.

Bireme ship is, with revolving hand crane, linen ropes and wooden pulleys slid down greased rails out of the building tent. Preparations are made to put her to sea.

We have participated to the 5th International Phocaea Festival upon having been invited by the Foca Municipality. We have publicized our projects by brochures and on clipboards. A panel titled “Historical Migration from Foca to Marseille” was organized at Reha Midilli Culture Center with the participation of Prof. Dr. Ömer Özyiğit, Archeologist-Architect Didier Laroche, and Archeologist Osman Erkurt.

President of the French Science Academy Prof. Dr. Partice Pomey and archeologists of İzmir Agora Excavations did visit our project site. President of Ankara University Prof. Dr. Nusret Aras, Chief of Troy Excavations Prof. Dr. Ernst Pernica and the Near East Regional Chronologies Coordination Delegation of European Science Foundation did visit our project site.

Building audits of Mr. Hür Fırtına of Turkish Lloyd Foundation and Chairperson of İzmir Branch of the Chamber of Marine Engineers Emrah Erginer do continue..

We had a fruitful meeting with the Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Ertuğrul Günay. He said that the Ministry would support our project.

Istanbul Consul General of France Ms. Christine Moro, her husband and daughter did visit us at Urla. They received information on our Ulubrun II Reanimation and Foca-Marseille project. They visited the boats.

France’s Ambassador to Turkey Mr. Bernard Emie and his wife, Undersecretariat of Culture of the Embassy Mr. Stanlislas Pierrett, Istanbul Consul General of France Ms. Christine Moro did come to Izmir on January the 19th, 2008. At the meeting that was held of French Culture Center, they had their full support behind the project.

We met the General Secretary of the Presidency Mr. Mustafa Isen. He expressed their support to the project.

Building of Bireme ship does continue.

A cooperation agreement named “MATE NOSTRUM” is signed between the 360 Degree and İzmir French Culture Center. Cooperation is made on subjects that are related to the Mediterranean Culture and especially in Izmir-Foca Marseille / A Journey into History Project.

Building of the Bireme ship of İzmir-Foça Marseille / A Journey into History Project did start.