Colonnaded boulevard of Perge

Ancient Perga

Perge is located near the Kestros River and was originally a port city on a major trade route. Perga was a wealthy Greek city during the Hellenistic period, however, when the whole bay area silted up, that ended Perga’s port city status and sea trade.

According to the Acts of the Apostles, St Paul and his companion St Barnabas visited Perga twice in 46 AD and St Paul also delivered a sermon here. During the reign of Constantine the Great, Perga became an important centre of Christianity and it remained so through to the 6th century.

Major construction works were carrried out in Perge during the Roman period and Perge grew into one of the most beautiful cities in Anatolia. The Romans built a stadium, a theatre and many other structures with the skill that the Romans are famous for. After an earthquake destroyed the city, it was abandoned.

Nymphaeum at Perge

Exploring Perge

Although Perga became part of various Hellenistic kingdoms at different times in history, the only prominent standing structure left from this period is the much-photographed towering Hellenistic Gate, which unfortunately for us was partly covered in scaffolding. Much of the ruins that we see at Perge today are from the Roman era.

Istanbul University have been excavating and restoring the Perge site since 1946 and when we visited we saw the painstaking work being carried out in the heat of the day. The statues and reliefs recovered in the excavations are on display at Antalya Museum – in fact most of the statues on display in Antalya Museum are from Perge. Although the restoration project seems endless, from the work done so far, the site is impressive.

One of the towers of the Hellenistic Gate

Other impressive structures at Perga include a theatre with a capacity for 12,000 spectators.  The theatre’s frieze of Neptune with sea creatures can be seen in the Antalya Archaelogical Museum.  There was also a stadium measuring 34 square metres and the Agora which was the commercial and political centre of the city.  Like all ancient Roman cities, its structures also include the city walls, gymnasium, Roman Baths and Roman gates.

Perge Water Channel

See the sites of Perge at Travelsignposts Perge photo gallery.

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: ancient turkey, antalya, perga, perge in Categories: Sightseeing

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Ayasofya Iznik (Nicea)

From Bursa, we had an 80 km drive northeast to Iznik or Nicea (Nicaea), as it was known in ancient times. Nicea was once the capital of the Byzantine Empire and there are a number of reminders of its past glory in this town. But our visit today was only to see the Hagia Sophia Church (Aya Sofya) , one of the town’s oldest monuments. Hagia Sophia is significant because this was where the Nicene Creed was created.

Iznik’s Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) is located at the intersection of Iznik’s two main streets, Atatürk Caddesi and Kiliçaslan Caddesi. This rectangular, red brick building was built in typical Byzantine style, but Aya Sofya Iznik is much smaller and is no where as grand in features as its namesake in Istanbul. However, in terms of historical significance, it is as important as the Hagia Sophia in Instanbul, if not more, as Nicaea was the site where two Ecumenical Councils of Christianity (Council of Nicea) took place and where the Nicene Creed was produced.

Aya Sofya was converted into a mosque in Ottoman period by Orhan Ghazi and Aya Sofya became the Orhan Mosque. Extensive modifications were also made to the building during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent.

Apse of Ayasofya Iznik

• Remains of the fine mosaic floor
• A deësis (fresco showing Christ, the Virgin and John the Baptist) which is protected behind a glass screen. This is near the floor level and you’ll see Tony sitting on the floor to take a shot
• the Synthronon in the apse of the church
• the prayer niche of the mosque
• the minaret

When we visited Hagia Sophia church in August 2011, it was functioning as the Ayasofya Muzesi, as the brown tourist attraction sign shows. There is some talk of Ayasofya being re-dedicated as a mosque, much to the dismay of architectural conservationists and tourism professionals.

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: ayasofya iznik, council of nicea, hagia sofia, iznik, nicaea, nicea, nicene creed in Categories: Sightseeing

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Sultanahmet Square

The Sultanahmet Square (Sultanahmet Meydani) is the old historic quarter of Istanbul and here you will find some of the most significant historic monuments of Istanbul. The district was named after Sultan Ahmet I, the builder of the Blue Mosque which sits at one end of the leafy square. Facing the Blue Mosque at the opposite end of the square is the magnificent Hagia Sophia.

Sultanahmet Square

Many of Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman monuments were built in the Old City and with the many historical attractions in and around Sultanahmet Square, this is the ideal location to start any sightseeing tour of Istanbul.

A good place to start your visit of the Sultanahmet quarter is at the Hippodrome which was once the centre of public life in Constantinople. The Hippodrome was the scene of ferocious chariot races which the Byzantines enjoyed, much like the gladiator fights that the Romans loved. There’s not much left of this stadium, but significant monuments here include the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. There’s also a pretty domed fountain commemorating the visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II to Istanbul in 1898.  The Hippodrome is now a public park which runs the length of Blue Mosque complex.

Hippodrome Egyptian Obelisk

Next to the Hippodrome are Istanbul’s two most important monuments – the Blue Mosque with its six elegant minarets and the magnificent Hagia Sophia face each other at opposite ends of the square.

When visiting Hagia Sophia, don’t forget to also visit the nearby Basilica Cistern, one of the many hidden treasures of Istanbul. This giant underground cistern in Yerebatan Caddesi was built by Justinian in 532 to provide water to the city in case of sieges. Close to the entrance of the Basilica Cistern is the Milion, a marble pillar from where all distances were measured during the Byzantine era.

View of Hagia Sophia

For lunch or a coffee break, we always like stopping at the Lale Restaurant at Divan Yolu Cd. which was the famous Pudding Shop during the hippie era. Tony was one of the young travellers seeking Eastern adventures so the Pudding Shop brings back sentimental memories for him. The Pudding Shop was started by the Çolpan brothers in 1957 and the family still runs this successful restaurant today.

Museums around Sultanahmet

For those interested in learning more about the history and culture of Istanbul, there are several museums on the fringe of Sultanahmet Square:

• The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is next to the Hippodrome
• The Vakiflar Carpet Museum is a part of the Blue Mosque and has fine antique carpets
• The Mosaics Museum is south of the Blue Mosque

Sultanahmet Square Hawkers

Shopping

Adding more colour to the cultural sights in Sultanahmet Square are the many vendors and hawkers selling anything from drinks and watermelon to snack food, postcards and souvenirs. The drink vendors are particularly colourful. At the southern end of the Blue Mosque there is also the Cavalry Bazaar which has mainly carpets and handicrafts.

Sultanahmet Hotels

To fully enjoy all the attractions around Sultanahment Square requires more than a day’s visit. If you are looking to base yourself in this area, there are hotels to meet all budget types and many of these hotels have roof-top terraces with panoramic views of Sultanahmet Square and the Sea of Marmara.
For the list of hotels near the Blue Mosque see Here.
For the complete list of all hotels in Sultanahmet Old city see Here.

Getting Around

Istanbul’s modern and efficient tram line connects almost all of the popular tourist sights and Sultanahment is one of the stops. If you are coming in from Atatürk International Airport, the metro/light rail connects with Zeytinburnu from where you can change for the tram.

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: basilica cistern, blue mosque, hagia sophia, istanbul attractions, istanbul hippodrome, sultan ahmet istanbul, sultanahmet istanbul in Categories: Sightseeing

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Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia Brief History

There has been a church on the Hagia Sophia site since 360AD, but nothing exists of the first and second churches which were both destroyed during riots.

The church that we see today was built on the orders of Emperor Justinian I after the Nika Revolt in 532AD. More than 10,000 people worked on the construction of the church and material was brought in from all over the empire and the result was a basilica that was much larger and more majestic than its predecessors. For 1,000 years, up until the completion of the Seville Cathedral in the early 16th century, Hagia Sophia held the distinction of being the largest cathedral in the Christian world.

The Omphalion

When Sultan Mehmed II conquered Istanbul in 1453, the church was desecrated and looted by the Ottoman Turks. Hagia Sophia was then converted into the Aya Sofya Mosque, the first imperial mosque of Istanbul. The minarets, fountains, mihrab and minbar were all added during this period. During the Turkish period, significant works were carried out, including the restorations by the Swiss-Italian Fossati brothers during the reign of Sultan Abdulmecid.

Aya Sofya Deësis mosaic

Ayasofya Müzesi

In a secular Turkey, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum, the Ayasofya Müzesi, under the order of Kemal Ataturk in February 1935. The Hagia Sophia museum is now a UNESCO World heritage site.

Things to See at Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia is the legacy of both Christian and Muslim cultures and visitors to this church-mosque can experience Hagia Sophia’s rich heritage. With its building history going back to the 6th century, there are so many things to see in Hagia Sophia, as you can see from our Hagia Sophia photo gallery. Below are just some of the highlight features:

• On the architectural front, the building is a blend of Byzantine and Ottoman architectural designs.
• On the ground floor, where the nave of the cathedral used to be, you can see significant Ottoman additions such as the mihrab, the minbar, the sultan’s loge and the muezzin where Koran reading takes place.
• Just next to the muezzin is an area with colourful marble circles. This is the Omphalion (centre of the world) where the Byzantine emperor’s throne is located.
• If you have limited time at Hagia Sophia, make sure to allow time to get to the upper gallery. I missed it on our first visit and that was a mistake. There is an easy walkable ramp that leads from the ground floor to the upper gallery. From here, you have great views towards the apse of Hagia Sophia. The upper gallery also has important Byzantine mosaic panels depicting various Christian scenes. The most notable mosaic is the Deësis Mosaic.  As you enter the South Gallery through the Marble Door, it is the first mosaic panel on the right. Partly damaged, it depicts a triumphant and kingly Christ (known as Christ Pantocrator – the All Powerful), flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist.
• The great dome, which was once covered with golden mosaic, is decorated with inscriptions from the Koran.
• Also prominent are the eight striking wooden medallions with Islamic scripts on them. These bear the names of Allah and Muhammad (flanking the apse), the first four Caliphs Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (at the four corners of the dome), and Hasan and Husayn (in the nave), the two grandsons of Mohammed.

Hagia Sophia is in the central tourist district of Sultanahmet and is a must-see on any Istanbul visit.

Address:
Ayasofya Meydani, Sultanahmet
Istanbul

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: aya sofya, aya sophia, ayasofya muzesi, hagia sophia, istanbul hagia sophia, istanbul museum, istanbul photos in Categories: Sightseeing

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Ataturk Airport

Airport Transfers

Passengers arriving at Atatürk Airport have a choice of airport transfers.

By Airport Bus
For nearly 30 years, the Havas company has been operating a regular shuttle service from Atatürk Airport to Taksim Square in Beyoğlu where their base is located.  Havas also provided airport transfers from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul city centre. As of January 14, 2012, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has ordered Havas Airport buses to cease operations and the Municipality has instead replaced Havas with their own Havataş Airport buses (interesting choice of a similar name!).  Havas has brought a legal suit against the Municipality and the case is still with the courts.  Until that legal challenge is sorted out, Havataş is the airport bus service.  Travel time is approximately 40 minutes and ticket price is TL 10.  See their service schedule here.

By Metro
Atatürk Airport is linked to Istanbul city centre by the metro, which is located under the airport terminal.  However this requires a change to the tramway system. Travel five stops on the metro to Zeytinburnu and then change to the Kabataş tramway which goes to the Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul’s main tourist area, and then to Sirkeci Station, Eminönü and on.

By Metro/Taxi
The metro from Atatürk Airport travels to Aksaray where taxis are available. Taxis from Aksaray are less expensive than those operating at Atatürk Airport.

Private Shuttle
There are many local shuttle operators that offer private transfers to and from Atatürk Airport.  It’s advisable to only book shuttle services with reputable companies, or one that has been recommended to you by your travel agency or a friend. Viator is a large tour operator that provides arrival and departure airport transfers.

Hotel Transfers
Many of the major hotels offer a chauffeur service for guests of their hotel. Do check out this option as the cost of the hotel transfer could be less expensive than an airport taxi and will also be a more comfortable ride.

Rental Cars
All the major car rental companies are represented at Atatürk Airport.

Airport Taxis
Taxis operating out of Atatürk Airport do charge a higher rate than those away from the airport. If you are catching a taxi from the airport, be sure to agree a rate before taking the ride or insist that the taxi driver turns on the meter. A common trick is for taxi drivers to not turn on the meter and then insisting on a high fare at the end of the journey.

Travel Tips:

• The Atatürk Airport is an extremely busy airport and can be quite chaotic.  It is recommended that you begin your check-in process a minimum of two hours before your flight time.
• If you’re taking a shared private shuttle service to the airport, be aware that the shuttle van usually goes around to other hotels to pick up customers before heading to the airport.  Do allow time for this.  On a recent trip to the airport, we found ourselves still picking up passengers when we should have been at the airport check-in.

Atatürk Airport Hotel

If you have an early flight there are several hotels within 1.5 to 2 kms from Atatürk Airport.  Most of these airport hotels have free shuttle transfers to the airport as well as into town.  For the list of Istanbul airport hotels, see Here.

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: ataturk airport, atatürk international airport, istanbul airport transfer, istanbul airport transfers, istanbul airport transportation in Categories: Getting around

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Ceramic artist at work

Just north of the Göreme National Park is Avanos, a town and district that is noted for its Turkish craft skills. Carpet-weaving and tapestry-making are important local skills, but it is the Avanos pottery and ceramics that this town is most famous for. There are many pottery factories in this district and we stopped at one of these en-route to Konya.

Avanos Pottery

To say that Avanos has a long history for pottery making is no exaggeration as the Avanos pottery factories date right back to the time of the Hittites in the Bronze Age. Avanos is located along the Kizilirmak (Red River), Turkey’s longest river, and the red silt of the Kizilirmak River is the source of the red clay that goes into pottery making.

Venessa Seramik Visit

This afternoon we visited the Venessa Seramik pottery factory which claims to be one of the oldest in the region. In Avanos, the craft of pottery and ceramic-making is a family tradition, passed down from father to son and the family members at Venessa Seramik have been doing this for nearly 200 years.

Pottery craftsman at Avanos

We started our visit with a demonstration by Hassan, one of their best craftsmen, who effortlessly turned a lump of red clay into a delicate teapot within a matter of minutes. Next, another craftsman showed how a slab of tile is moulded by hand.  In the next room, a group of young artists were meticulously painting the most intricate patterns onto plates and other earthenware. The impressive painting is done free-hand and as you can see from the photo above, the patterns are incredibly complex.

Exquisite Avanos Pottery

Buying Avanos Pottery

In the showroom, we got to see some of the most beautiful pieces of plates, vases and tiles. In their special collections are some rare works, including Hittite pots and other pieces reflecting Avanos’ Seljuk and Ottoman heritage.  The top of the range pieces are not cheap, but these are exquisite pottery and ceramics that would make impressive displays in any living room at home.  Tony was interested in a large plate with Koran script on it.  The listed price was TL 3,450, but they will take off the 18% VAT and offer an extra 12% discount for group tours, i.e. a total reduction of 30%.  For the more expensive pieces, they will ship them free of charge, with insurance included for breakage.

Avanos wine jugs and plate

If you love pottery or are looking for a really nice piece of Turkish craft as a souvenir of your holiday in Turkey, one of these Avanos pottery or ceramics would certainly be worth considering. They also have smaller and cheaper pieces of ceramics if you are looking for gifts and souvenirs.

You can see more photos of our Avanos pottery factory visit Here.

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: avanos, avanos pottery, nevsehir, shopping in turkey, turkish craft in Categories: Shopping

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Belly Dancing at the Evranos Restaurant

The Central Anatolian region is rich in history and culture and within its thirteen provinces is a wealth of cultural beliefs, customs and practices.  During our stay in Avanos, we attended a folklore show at the Evranos Restaurant which gave us a small taste of the Anatolian culture.

Evranos Restaurant

The Evranos Restaurant is housed in an underground cave and it’s folklore show is obviously one of the attractions in the region. To get to the restaurant we walked through a short underground passage which opened out into a cavernous room with many alcoves. The restaurant was packed with various tour groups. Our group occupied one of these alcoves and we sat at long tables in the alcove.

Folklore Show

We had plenty of drinks and snacks whereas some groups had the full dinner package. I’m glad we didn’t have dinner there as the menu on their website doesn’t look too exciting.

When the show began, an ensemble of male and female dancers dressed in colourful costumes performed various folklore dances from the Anatolian region, with the mix of dances reflecting the everyday life of people.

Evranos Folklore Show

The dancing was energetic and the costumes were beautiful, but I thought a lost opportunity in spreading information about the culture of this region was in not having any kind of explanation as to what the dances portray. Whether it was a wedding ceremony, a harvest festival or what region or culture the dances represented would have been useful for the audience.

Belly Dancing

The penultimate act of the evening was a belly dance.  It wasn’t the best I’ve seen, but from the gleam in his eyes and the grin on his face, I could tell that our young Turkish guide liked it a lot.  During this act, a few of the men from the audience were invited to join the dancer and imitate her erotic moves – the result was hilarious and brought a lot of laughter from the room.

Evranos Folklore Show

This two and half-hour folklore show was quite entertaining, but as mentioned above, it would have been more interesting if we knew what the dances were about.

See more photos of our Evranos folklore show visit at Travelsignposts photo gallery.

Address:
Evranos Restaurant
Avanos Orta Mah. 88
Nevsehir Province, Turkey

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

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Silk Carpet Factory in Cappadocia

On any tour of Turkey, you can be sure of being taken to a carpet factory, usually in Istanbul, and we’ve done our share of carpet factory visits on our various trips to Turkey. When our tour left Istanbul without a carpet factory visit, I thought that we had been spared, but not for long. Out in the unique Cappadocia region with its moon-like landscape and fairy chimneys, our guide manages to find a carpet factory to visit.

After our visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys of Monk’s Valley we drove to Ortahisar (Ürgüp) to visit a carpet factory. This was not a part of our itinerary and as we were pushed for time, our guide made arrangements for us to have Turkish pizzas at the carpet factory – TL 3.00 per person for the pizza which wasn’t bad.

Carpet Factory Visit

Thankfully, our Cappadocia carpet factory visit was a little different from the ones that we’ve been too before. Normally, you get a presentation about the various types and grades of carpets in a showroom, followed by a pitch for sales. On this Cappadocia trip, we visited a silk carpet factory.

Silk Reeling at a Carpet Factory

Reels of Silk

Some Carpet Showmanship

We next went to the familiar showroom where a range of carpets are brought out for display and to entice customers. If you haven’t been to a Turkish carpet factory before, it is entertaining. The presenter first starts with the cheaper carpets, so you won’t think that the Turkish carpets are beyond your budget, and he then gradually works up to the more expensive silk ones. Visitors are urged to feel the carpets, sit on them, walk on them and hopefully to fall in love with them. And as he’s going through his presentation, his helpers display their carpet showmanship by flinging open rolls and rolls of floor carpets, as if they were weightless. And while carpet after carpet are unfolded before you, some of the showroom staff are carefully looking out for individuals who display some interest. At the end of session they make a few sales, not many, but I give them A for effort for their untiring energy in putting on the carpet display.

Women Weavers in the Carpet Factory

Shopping for Turkish Carpets in Turkey

If you’re in the market for a Turkish carpet, do your homework and have an understanding of what carpet costs are back home. But price is not the only consideration.  Two carpets may have the same pattern, but the finer and more expensive carpet has more knots per square inch.  Then again, handwoven and silk carpets fetch a higher price than machine produced ones. 

In Turkey, you’ll certainly have your pick of the finest silk, rare antique, oversize rugs or Anatolian kilims, but you’ll need to know what price you are prepared to pay as bargaining is expected. We bought a nice traditional Turkish carpet years ago and it is still sitting in our living room, a reminder of our wonderful tour of Turkey.

You can see more photos of our Silk Carpet Factory visit Here.

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: carpet factory in turkey, hereke carpet, kilim carpet, kilim rugs, silk turkish rugs, turkish carpet, turkish rugs in Categories: Shopping

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Lokum or Turkish Delight

On the way from Cumalikizik to Gordion we stopped by a roadside confectionery shop that was full of Turkish delights, not just lokum, but the very popular kestane sekeri (candied chestnuts), fruit gums, chocolate with pistachio and more.

Lokum

We were given some candied chestnuts to try, but the most tempting treat in this shop was the lokum or Turkish delight.

In the glass-encased counter, there were rolls and rolls of Turkish delight of various flavours. The Turkish delight costs TL15 a kilo, but you can buy smaller quantities. All we had to do was tell the very friendly shop owner what flavours and how much of each we wanted and he snipped the rolls of Turkish delight into bit-size pieces with his special scissors.

Although rose and mint are the traditional flavours, I chose half a roll of rose flavour and half of pistachio and my bag of lokum came to TL 3.00. It was the nicest Turkish delight that I’ve ever tasted as it was fresh and there was plenty of pistachio in the pistachio flavoured ones.

A stop for Turkish Delight

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by Helen Page

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“Türk Kahvesi Lütfen.”

I’d ordered my first cup of Turkish Coffee seamlessly, or so I thought. But my request was met with a barrage of Turkish I had no chance of understanding.  After a moments silence and my blank stare, the waiter came to the rescue with his pigeon English “Sugar? Little? Medium? Lot?”  I opted for “Little”, and then sank back in my chair as he wandered towards the kitchen.

It was just after dawn, and most of the town was still sleeping. But my jet lagged body had woken me early, and I set out to explore Bodrum at first light. I made my way to the waters edge, and headed to the only sign of life in the bay; a huddle of fishing boats, moored up in front of the Bodrum Belideysi Tea House.

Municipal Tea Houses & Bar Street

Municipal tea houses are one of the hidden gems of Turkey. Most local communities have one, and they’re a lot more budget conscious than tourist cafes.  Their menus and settings are basic, and you may not be assured of a beaming smile or fluent English, but they’re open long hours, and in most of the coastal locations they’re close to the fishing harbour, with captivating views.

The Bodrum Tea house was no exception. We were perfectly positioned to enjoy an uninterrupted view of Bodrum Castle, which sat at the opposite end of Bodrum Bay.  In between us, was the arc of restaurants and bars known as Bar Street. By night this street is a throbbing hub of activity, servicing a continual stream of tourists.  Restaurants and bars huddled shoulder to shoulder, vying for attention by emanating a dizzying array of International music.  But this early in the morning, Bar Street was still sleeping off after another late night, and not quite ready to face the day.

Bodrum Locals

At the dock, fisherman ambled around in the early morning light. While some absent-mindedly swept remnants of yesterday off peeling decks, others worked together and fumbled to untangle their nets. These daily rituals were conducted in silence.  Repeated so often, no words were necessary.

I got lost in the surroundings, and was jolted back to the present with the arrival of Turkish Coffee and a glass of water. Turkish Coffee is designed to be sipped slowly, and I settled in to enjoy the bitter-sweet coffee, as I watched a cross-section of Bodrum’s population slowly filter past. First workers on their way to open up local businesses, followed shortly after by groups of uniformed children, heading smartly off to school.

Bodrum Visitors

Each day, the population of Bodrum expands gradually.  Visitors from nearby towns and villages arrive via dolmus, and the day trippers from the Greek Islands of Kos and Rhodes arrive via Ferry. As well as these day trippers, Bodrum attracts the sailing-set.

On the other side of Bodrum Castle, lies the state-of-the-art Marina.  Bodrum is a port of call for owners of million Lira yachts, and those enjoying the famous Blue Cruise Tours through the Aegean.  On the Marina’s doorstep, is an expensive selection of restaurants and bars, and an elite selection of shops and designer boutiques.

Those with no budget for designer goods, can explore the warren of tourist shops behind Bar Street advertising “genuine fakes”. As well as clothing and jewelry, shops sell locally crafted and mass-produced souvenirs. These include intricately painted tiles and pottery, stained glass light fixtures and hand decorated gourds encrusted with coloured-glass gems.

Off the Beaten Track

It’s convenient to have all the trappings of tourism centrally located in Bodrum Harbour, but if you want to immerse yourself in some local Turkish culture, you’ll need to go further afield.  Wander off-the-beaten track and discover restaurants, cafes and shops frequented by locals.

These can be found down any of the back-streets in Bodrum as soon as you distance yourself from the Castle and Bar Street. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can hop on a dolmus at the Otogar station and explore the rest of the Bodrum Peninsula.

Bodrum is the nucleus of public transport for the local area, and you can venture into the unknown frequently and cheaply.

Over the next two weeks, I became adept at navigating the back-streets of Bodrum, and hopping on a passing dolmus to explore yet another small secluded bay or market town. It was nerve-wracking at times, and I got lost more than once. But the gems I discovered, are the memories I’ll retain.

My Last Morning

I headed back to the Bodrum Belideysi for one final cup of Turkish Coffee. It seemed fitting that I ended my holiday at the same place it started.  A similar scene replayed itself. Although this time around my Turkish had improved, the fisherman still swept and untangled in silence.

As I savoured the scene, I realized that immersing yourself in the local culture is like appreciating a cup of Turkish Coffee. It’s sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet, but if you approach it one sip at a time, you’ll eventually acquire a taste for it.

I found it deliciously satisfying, and I left wanting more.

If you’re planning on staying in Bodrum, check out some places to stay Here.

© Turkey Travel, 2012. Written by jartale

Post tags: bar street, Bodrum, Bodrum Castle, Bodrum Peninsula, sailing, shopping, tea houses, turkish coffee, yachts in Categories: Destinations

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