(Author’s note: You can now click on the pictures to get a larger image!! Only took me 3 months to figure out!)
From the moment we stepped off the boat in Bodrum, Turkey has been a surprise and a delight. Bodrum is nestled against hills and has 2 bays divided by a good sized fortress that was built by the Knights Templer and now houses an Underwater Archeology museum. The houses that dot the hills are square and white and the view as we approach gets us excited for what lays ahead.
We stayed at a pansyion (pension) called Hotel Gulec. The pansyion is clean and simple and is situated in a nice Turkish neighbourhood minutes from the beach. We are awaken by the sounds of the call to prayer. Its haunting chant gives me goosebumps. We are truly in a different and fascinating culture.
There are lovely gardens and breakfast is served in the courtyard. Turkish breakfasts are brilliant. Eggs, cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, and fresh bread. My first taste of soft bread in months. Turkish tea, or çay (pronounced chai), is served in small vase shaped glasses and the leaves are grown by the Black Sea. It is absolutely delicious.
The owners and staff are friendly, happy, and kind. We soon learn that this is a trait of the Turkish people, but even so Kemal and his family exceed this. When we asked for a recommendation for dinner or lunch they would personally take us there, even if it was a bit of a walk. All our meals there exceeded our expectations and is among the best cuisine I have ever had, and that says a lot after eating in Italy all summer.
The kids and I went on a boat excursion and left poor wobbly Dwayne behind. We spent the day on a boat, stopping at various locations, swimming in the clearest turquoise waters. We even stopped and went into a cave with thermal waters and magic mud that Cleopatra was reported to have used.
Bodrum has one street that runs along the water that houses the Bazaar. Here shop after shop are filled with knock-offs. Knock-off watches, sunglasses, perfume, runners, jeans, you name it. Dwayne put his bartering skills to test and haggled for a pair of ‘RayBan’ sunglasses for Nic and an ‘Armani’ watch for Luc. At one point it appeared it would all be free if Nic was thrown into the deal. In the end, Dwayne paid exactly what he intended, and kept his daughter.
Spoils from the Bazaar barter
One of the things I enjoyed best in Bodrum was sitting in the front garden of the hotel chatting with the owner and his family and meeting other guests. Kemal is a retired mechanical engineer and his wife is a retired schoolteacher. Their son, Querem is off to Rome to complete his Masters in Economy. Kemal has extended to Luc an invitation to come back to Bodrum in November 2010 for an end-of-season all male (‘no mothers’, he states) sailing trip. Luc is flattered and excited and already talks of getting a part-time job to save from the trip.
It was in the front garden after our boating excursion, that we found Dwayne with a couple from Madrid, Jamie and Ines. Sometimes I reflect that it is funny that it took this trip to get us out meeting people. We look forward to seeing them again in Madrid this fall and plan on partying it up at his nightclub ‘El Perro’, and meeting their infamous beagle.
Too soon, it is time for us to go. The entire family comes to see us off and it is with great regret that we leave.