Karen, Guest Blogger

I asked fellow writer and Yalikavak resident Karen, to contribute to the “First Impressions and Lasting Memories” section of my Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide ebook. (I’m in the middle of updating the ebook version at the moment, and have been adding new bits of information throughout the entire book).

I was expecting a couple of paragraphs from her, but Karen waxed lyrical about her memories of Yalikavak & Bodrum. It was too good not to share here, as well as include in my Turkey travel guide.

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First Impressions & Lasting Memories of Yalikavak & Bodrum

By Karen Wilson, "My Destination/Bodrum, Travel Sleuth"

Yalikavak

Yalikavak, Bodrum, Mugla…what a medley of delights come together at this relatively easy to access location! Fifteen kilometers from Bodrum town proper, over the small peninsular mountains, Yalikavak offers a completely different vibe from other towns here. Classy and upscale, yet integrated smoothly with an old village feel, it is exceptionally breezy (the most on the peninsula), quite green and has perfectly easy sea access from all around its large, crescent-shaped bay front. The water here is mesmerizing—all day long. A world-class marina on one end offers haute cuisine and shopping while the other end finds you at the village’s working boatyard and heading around to the many hidden coves there to visit for your afternoon swim or weekend bar-b-q! In between these “jewels”, the town meanders along a lively, yet car-free promenade that is sure to fill your days with fun discoveries of merchants, teahouses, cafes, art galleries, and much more. The local, Thursday pazaar is not to be missed to get the truest sense of what local items are “in season” or popular at the time. Find Inci’s Peyneer (cheese) glass-front stall for a fantastic array of locally sourced items, including some of the area’s best goat cheeses (called “keci peyneer”) and the occasional extra treat, his auntie has made to sell. Going through the pazaar can be a filling lunchtime experience with all the sampling that is encouraged.

Bodrum Town

The impressive Bodrum harbor side with its legendary Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, its centerpiece Bodrum Castle, built in the 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller, and its fantastic Museum of Underwater Archeology, is good for 2-3 days of your time. Go into these undeniably awesome remains of a fantastic period past. Take a terrific stroll around the seafront, admiring the throngs of sailboats, merchandise, and tourists, and stop at its many cafes alongside where you can cool your feet and rehydrate. Go out late night to some of the clubs there buzzing with excitement. Yet, know that Bodrum’s most fascinating aspects are hidden within its backstreet maze of small, quite authentic shops, patisseries, and galleries.  One needs to search back away from the sea to avoid the commercial, monotonous clones set-up for tourist season. A good plan is to go one day, one direction and the next, another; the key to actually enjoying it is to allow yourself plenty of time to explore and ask along the way what is good to see in “this area”. Certainly, the interactions with the sincere, year-around shop owners, anxious to explain what they do and what they have is as rewarding as coming home with that one special keepsake that will make you smile each time you think back on it. A favorite is the “Pan-Pan Patisserie” up on the “high road” above the harbor—just ask, everyone knows it. Its artisan breads, sweets, and tasty menomen (stirred eggs with tomatoes and peppers) are top notch. And, just across the street is a very eclectic, antiquities shop worth a look!

The Bodrum Peninsula

Imagine an outstretched hand, reaching into the Aegean Sea, almost touching some of the Greek Isles, its fingers each with a unique character, and its palm a small mountainous overpass—this is the Bodrum Peninsula of SW Turkey. For centuries, this has been known to be a virtual paradise to those who seek out high quality, holiday time. The total area of the land is quite small- only 649 km2, but the variety of cultural offerings here is colossal. The total coastline is 174 km long and there are over 32 islands just offshore, making this the ideal vacation destination for those who enjoy variety. With a rental car or without, defines 2 completely different styles of holiday, each with its own charm.  Either plan to freely explore, come what will as you drive here and there or organize your time and energies to take advantage of the ever–so-amusing mini-buses–known as “dolmus”, meaning “stuffed” like the local grape leaf treats here. These little gems run up and down the arteries of the peninsula all day and late into the night, are so inexpensive, and provide the most enlightening glimpse into authentic Turkish culture. Whether you remain anchored to a home-base or sample around and about, give yourself plenty of time, as rushing does not fare well on the nerves when dealing with the high temperatures, higher population, and dusty roads of peak season. If only once, although do it first off as you may wish to repeat it, get on the waters around the peninsula. Many avenues to such exist, but a favorite is to take a 2-3 day “blue voyage” tour or a chartered sail – easily found by word of mouth or through your hotel—which btw—is said and seen as “otel” here.

Some of the best operators have been at it for years and offer a truly amazing, offshore experience.

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