Giresun
From CruisersWiki
Giresun (Port of entry)
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GPS: | 40°55′N, 38°22.5′E |
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Gallery: | Photo gallery |
Chartlet: | Local chartlet |
BackgroundGiresun [40° 55.3' N 38° 22.6' E] the Greek Kerasous (Κερασούς). The name derives from kerasi the Greek world for cherry. The name Kerasous first appears in Xenophon's Cyrou Anavasis. |
After Pharnaces I, king of Pontos, captured the town in 183 BC he renamed it Pharnaceia. In 71 BC Kerasus was taken by the Roman general Lucullus and again in 64 BC by Pompey. Legend has it that Lucullus imported to Rome the cherry tree from Kerasus.
In the Byzantine era the town changed hands many times between the Seljuks and the Byzantines. From 1204 to 1461 AD Kerasus belonged to the Empire of Trapezond. It was then taken by the Ottomans.
On May 20, the feast of a Moslem holy man, Hidirellez, is celebrated in Giresun. On that day, pilgrims flock on the little island Giresun Adasi and form a circle around a large black rock and insert pebbles into the rock's cervices while making wishes. Local lore has it that this ceremony dates back to the Argonauts and that Giresun Adasi is the island of Ares (Mars) sacred to the Amazons.
Every town along the way from Samsun, including Giresun, is full of ugly apartment building blocks, most of them unfinished, but already deteriorating. The streets are littered with uncollected trash. This situation is particularly offensive in Giresun, which is located amidst a particularly beautiful natural setting. The observation that "wherever man trods he destroys nature" is particularly apt here.
Charts
- BA
- 2214 The Euxine or Black Sea
- 2237 Inceburun to Isikli Burnu
- 1272 Giresun
- 1279 Ordu
- NIMA
- 55105 Eastern Part of the Black Sea
- Turkey
- 132 Civa Burnu - Yasum Burnu
- 123 Yasum Burnu - Tirebolu
- 1321 Ünye
- 1332 Giresun
Radio Nets
Also see Cruiser's Nets
Submit details of local radio Nets.
Weather
See Turkey.
The approaches to Giresun from the west are straightforward but,
Warning: be aware of the Palamut Kayasi (rock)GPS: 40°55.8′N, 38°23.6′E and Giresun AdasiGPS: 40°55.7′N, 38°26.2′E.
Ports and Popular Stops
Giresun Harbor
GPS: 40°55′N, 38°22.5′E
The commercial harbor of Giresun is roomy and secure although with a strong north-west wind some swell enters the harbor. You are not allowed her to anchor off as in most Turkish Black Sea harbor. Moor either stern or bow to on the SW quay. Warning: A local large ferry uses the breakwater. You can moor there side-to but if you do, you must be prepared to move when the ferry arrives.
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Anchorages
Unye
GPS: 41°08′N, 37°17.4′E
Ünye, the Greek Oinaion (Οίναιον), is a pleasnt seaside town about half way between Samsun and Giresun. It was the stronghold of Andronicos I Komnenos, the grandfather of Alexios and David, the founders of the Trapezun or Eastern Byzantine Empire. Andronicos, after the death of his cousin Emmanuel I Komnenos the Byzantine emperor, went back to Constantinople, murdered his nephew Alexios, married his nephew's teenage wife, Agnes the Frank, and became the emperor. You can anchor off in front of the town or anchor inside the small harbor (GPS: 41°06.9′N, 37°21′E) about 5 km west of the town. |
Ordu
GPS: 40°59.4′N, 37°52.9′E
Another town east of Samsun and west of Giresun is Ordu the Greek Kotiora (Κοτύωρα), also founded by Ionian colonists from Sinope. The restored Makrides Mansion (Pasaoglu) is worth a visit. It is now a museum. This was a very elegant building that shows a gracious life that ended in 1923 when the Pontic Greeks were forced to leave according to a treaty between Greece and Turkey after the tragic Greek-Turkish War which ended a Greek presence along the south coast of the Black Sea that went back for over two millennia. You can anchor off here but only in settled weather. An overnight is not recommended. |
Tourism & things to do ashore
Near the Castle of Giresum |
Greek Church now the City Museum in Giresum |
A visit to the Giresun Castle (Kale) is worth your while. The view form the castle is great. However the way up to the castle by foot can be very arduous, especially in the summer when it is hot and humid. It is better to drive. Within the castle there is a little restaurant under the shade of a large tree. The view is perfect and the peynirli (something like an oblong pizza) is excellent. This is one of the times that a western sailor wishes for an icy cold beer but unfortunately the proprietors are very religious (all the ladies wear full length costume) and serve nothing alcoholic.
Also worth seing is the City Museum that is housed in an 18th century Greek church. The exhibits are nothing special or very interesting save for some old photographs that give one a glimpse of what life at the old Pontos (Black Sea) used to be 100 years ago. Converitng a church into a museum, is I suppose, better than vandalizing it or letting it disintegrate, yet I am not too comfortable with the idea (--Istioploos 19:46, 17 December 2008 (UTC)).
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Fuel - Diesel can be delivered in Giresun Harbor, ask the harbormaster
- Water - Can be arranged, for a price, in Giresun Harbor, ask the harbormaster
- Electricity - Available is some places in Giresun Harbor, ask the harbormaster
Laundry
?
Grocery & Supply Stores
- Several stores in the town
- Giresun produces excellent hazelnuts
- Open air market on Mondays and Fridays
Eateries
Good peynirli (something like an oblong pizza) at the Castle.
Internet/WiFi
Available?
Motorbike & Car Rentals
?
Marine Stores & Facilities
None.
Garbage Disposal
Trash cans.
Transportation
- Busses to Istanbul and other cities
- Dolmus (shared vans) within the town
Routes/Passages To/From
Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
References & Publications
See Turkey.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- August 1999 Istioploos 19:46, 17 December 2008 (UTC)
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