Bodrum Turkey

Meet an Australian couple on the ferry to Bodrum which was nice as we haven't meet many so far. Bodrum is very much a holiday destination with a beautiful harbour and lots of tourist shops and restaurants. Our hotel was off the main street and very quiet. It is owned and run by a family who live on the premise and are very friendly. The pool got lots of use by me as the temperature reached over 30C and we tried to spend some time each day relaxing after sight seeing. 

We took a tour to visit a traditional village and experience rural Turkish life. It was really nice to meet some of the woman who handmade carpets and the trip included going into a Mosque as well as meeting some of the animals e.g. Camels, goats, chickens and rabbits. It was explained by our guide (who came from the village) that the town has a commune which was built with government assistance and is the financial governing body in the town. All handmade items are sold in the commune building and 90% of the profit goes to the family and the remainder goes to the commune for the upkeep of the town. We had a beautiful lunch made by the locals which included rice, salad and a few different bean dishes, all yummy. 

We visited the Underwater Archaelogy Museum which is in the Bodrum Castle and contains many artefacts brought up from a ship wreck. It is well documented with facts about trade, finance, every day life and the afterlife. The castle was built by the Crusader Knights in honour of St Peter in the 15 th century AD. 

On a walk to a big shopping complex further up the hill we came across an example of an ancient water tank. Dome in shape the water flows down the sides and into the holes. A small door allows people to enter and collect water however they are no longer in use. We also visited the Myndus Gate which is one of two built by King Maussolos to protect the city. 

 Bodrum is a lively town with lots of night clubs, restaurants, shops and everything a tourist would enjoy. The people are very friendly and we spent many meals talking to the staff and learning about life in this Turkish area. We were woken every morning by the mosque's call to prayer and in total minimum of 5 per day. The large number of motorbikes and cars was astounding and how they don't take out tourists is amazing. 

 

On our last night we decided to go to a lovely beach restaurant we had visited earlier. We were blessed with a full moon coming over the hills and a beautiful fish meal. A good finish to our time in Bodrum.