Istanbul really is a splendid city in that, when summer high reaches 95° F (35° C), you can get to the beach in less than an hour. The Black Sea's water is slightly salty, warm and clear. The sea itself is huge - it melts into the horizon, with the curvature of the earth preventing one from seeing the Russian coast on the opposite side. The Black Sea's total area is roughly equivalent to the size of California or Sweden. It is surrounded by Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia. And it is wonderful on a hot day.