Over an extended weekend between the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic and the start of Wimbledon, our team took off from London for a memorable 3 days in Bodrum, Turkey. We were invited to the gallery opening of Bastok Lessel Bodrum at the stunning Maxx Royal Bodrum hotel. While the main event was all about art, we made sure to pack our tennis shoes– just in case.
The launch of Bastok Lessel featured a Summer Group Show running from June 28 to September 28, 2024). This curated exhibition showcases works by contemporary and modern artists from around the globe including Jérémy Demester , Alexander Calder, Alain Jacquet, Fernand Léger, Jean-Guillaume Mathiaut, Yoshitomo Nara, Gerard Schneider, Josh Sperling, and Claire Tabouret. For us, the highlight was Bernar Venet’s 21-meter high corten steel arc. It’s a stunning piece of art at an incredible scale.
Art and tennis often seem to go hand in hand in our travels, and this trip was no different. By chance, former World No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic was also in Bodrum that weekend. We connected on Instagram, and he invited us to play at the Mandarin Hotel’s tennis courts, where Tipsarevic Luxury Tennis is running until September 8, 2024. Playing on courts with a seaside view and perfect 26-degree weather felt like the essence of summer at the heart of the Turkish Riviera.
We kept up with our fitness routine thanks to Maxx Royal Bodrum’s incredible gym facilities. With all-new Technogym equipment, their gym was among the best we’ve encountered.
Leaving the sea and sun was tough, but we spent our final day relaxing on the beach before heading to the airport. After a four-hour flight back to London, we were right back on the grass courts of Wimbledon the next day. Our 3 days in Bodrum was a perfect mix between seeing art, staying active, and relaxing at the beach. It's definitely a place we plan to revisit.
