Giresun

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Giresun 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 World Cruiser's Nets.

Weather

See Turkey.

Islands

None.

Navigation

The approaches to Giresun from the west are straightforward but,
Warning: be aware of the Palamut Kayasi (rock) Template:Coord legacy and Giresun Adasi Template:Coord legacy.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Harbor is a port of entry/exit to Turkey.

Berthing Options

Ports

Giresun Harbor

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.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

None.

Anchorages

Unye

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 (Template:Coord legacy) about 5 km west of the town.

Ordu

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.

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

None.

Repairs/Yards

None.

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

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The Makrides Mansion in Ordu

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)).

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?

Laundry

?

Motorbike & Car Rentals

?

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.

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

• Giresun at the Wikipedia
• Ünye (Wikipedia)
• Ordu (Wikipedia)

References & Publications

See Turkey & the Black Sea.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit. Personal experiences?

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Giresun and this page's details validated:

• August 1999 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Istioploos