Bodrum, Turkey

end of July and early August 2009

Jen and I researched and then ventured to Bodrum, Turkey shortly after my return from the Isle of Skye. Our expectations were high, as we'd spent the previous summer holiday in stunning Santorini, which was actually only a stone's throw away from the south coast of Turkey.

we wanted: sun, culture, good greek/turkish food.
we got: a loud, stinky, hotel, trashy british holiday makers, emaciated, dirty stretches of sand disguised as beaches and english breakfasts abound. and now that i'm looking through my pictures i'm realising i've taken very, very few in bodrum itself. kind of my rage against my own expectations. but on the upside there was sun.

By day three, enough ridiculous things had happened so we just laughed and laughed and laughed. in the end though, we had a fun, though not classy week, and got ourselves turkish massaged, excursioned to the inner, ancient bits of turkey, found potential husbands in a turkish rug factory, got zodiaked to our 'party gullet boat' and learned that two people with the same name are of good luck to others.

we very much used Bodrum as a base for bigger excursions and spent roughly three days there. more photos of Ephesus, Pammukale and Kos, Greece to come.

the highlights:


the road to Gumbet beach, a 3K trek from our hotel


Bodrum Harbour


gathering twilight near the harbour and one major plus to meditteranean life: shops and sidewalk stands stayed open until very, very late


Bodrum centre itself is known as the Turkish riviera, and the colours in combination with much of the architechture, the friendliness of its people and the weather makes that understandbly so. then again...Halikarnas, Europe's biggest nightclub is also located here, so who knows?


the harbour by daylight


the dolmus. a not entirely safe experience


in the grand bazaar


small delight of a beach bar that we managed to stumble on


despite my vegetarianness, i couldn't help but be fascinated by this kebabby wonder of meat and veg spun into one


a good place to buy tea trays, lanterns and hookahs

so i guess overall, i would say if you want cheap full english breakfasts, music in your hotel until 4am, burping contests in the lobby, tacky, neon signs and very little turkish culture, bodrum's your destination!