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Life in Bodrum
‘Merhaba! ‘ ‘You will never leave Bodrum the same as you came…’ is the way the famous fisherman of Halikarnassus greets the newcomers. Bodrum is welcoming you now. For centuries Bodrum has welcomed so many civilizations. Now that you plan to come, you must prepare yourself for wandering around the white houses, located in narrow streets swimming in deep blue and purely clean sea and enjoying night life full of entertainment and music.. You will go back home with beauties you have experienced but the uniqueness and the richness of western Anatolia and the humanity of Aegean people will be unforgettable.
There are very few cities boasting a history of 5000 years comprising traces from numerous civilizations and standing out as a bridge between past and present. The town is dominated by the sea comprising many islands. It is a world where some live freely and crazily while others live in modesty and serenity but it is a place where everyone finds something from his/her personality. It is a place where you sometimes join crowds flowing in a crazy rush and sometimes be filled with peace at quite corners of nature. But it is always casts a magic spell. It exerts a lasting fascination on everyone who visits, irrespective of age, nationality and background. Everyone increases their life energy by storing the sun within their bodies. .Women feel more beautiful, men feel more handsome. This is Bodrum's spell.
This coastal town in which traditional and modern life go along hand in hand in an excellent harmony opens it arms both among Turkish and foreign travelers. The population jumps from 50,000 people during winter to more than half a milllion during summer time. The most popular area in the town center is the place around the bay where shops, restaurants, bars and discos are located. Here the visitor becomes immersed in a blend of native and cosmopolitan culture that is Bodrum today..Here traditional hand cratf boutiques as well as fashion boutiques, designer labels, quality leather sandals and exquisite jewellery can be found..
On the southern coast of the peninsula lie the golden sandy beaches at Bardakci, Gumbet, Bitez, Ortakent Yahsi, Karaincir, Bagla and Akyarlar, while on the western side are Gumusluk, Yalikavak, Kadıkalesi and Turgut Reis. There are several ways to explore the peninsula, the most enjoyable of which are to visit several of the bays and seaside villages mentioned via one of the daily boat trips available from Bodrum harbor or from any of the local beaches or harbors. The other is to take the Dolmus, the local mini busses. Dolmus await the passenger for every destination at the bus station on the main road out of town.. Destinations are clearly displayed on each vehicle and all one does is go and take a seat and wait for the bus to fill.
At the coasts of Bardakçi, Gumbet, Bitez, Ortakent, Bagla, Kadıkalesi, Turgutreis, Gumuslık and Yalıkavak there are fine and sandy beaches. Campers and wind-surfers enjoy Akyarlar, and at Bitez colorful sail boards weave skillfully among the masts of yachts in the bay. On all of theses shores you can enjoy quiet walks through the orange and tangerine groves bordering the beach.
A few interesting places to visit:
Bodrum Castle, also known as the Castle of St. Peter, is the most famous and striking landmark in the town, located as it is overlooking the seafront. It was constructed in the early 1400s by the Knights Hospitaller. This ancient medieval castle is one of the best preserved of its kind.. Bodrum Castle's main modern treasure is one of the resort's top attractions, displaying items from shipwrecks of the area from as far back as the 1600s BC. The big exhibit at the Museum of Underwater Archaeology is the 7th-century AD East Roman ship in the chapel, where visitors can actually walk onto the excavation site and a reconstruction of part of the ship. The other significant exhibits include the Bronze Age shipwrecks in the Uluburun Wreck Hall - with many treasures from sunken trading ships, and the famed Glass Wreck Hall - which features a Byzantine shipwreck and its ancient cargo of glassware.
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus at Bodrum is another landmark, and also considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is over 2,300 years old, having been constructed in 350 BC by Artemisia II, and is now an open-air museum. Unfortunately, the mausoleum has been all but ruined at the hands of successive earthquakes over the ages and only the foundations remain.
One of the best relaxation experience you have have is to visit a Turkish hamam. This traditional Turkish bath features individual bathing areas for both men and women, as well as a very relaxing massage service. This Hamam is to be found just a few blocks away from the town's harbour.
A family friendly activity would be to visit the Aquapark. The Bodrum Dedeman Aquapark is a new venture for the town and has immediately become one of the biggest water park attractions within Turkey. With pools, Jacuzzis, more than 20 separate fast water slides, including both the thrilling 'Big Hole' and 'Crazy River', the Dedeman Aquapark is also home to plenty of places to eat, relax and soak up the sunshine. The park itself is huge and covers around 10 acres / 4 hectares in total, and easily features enough fun and entertainment to fill an entire day especially with your children.
Where to Shop :
Various markets are staged each week during Bodrum, such as the regular farmer's markets each Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and the Turgutreis Market each Saturday.. All kinds of items are sold at these markets and not just fruit and vegetables, with favourites including ceramics, paintings, fake watches and traditional Kilim rugs. Big supermarkets also exist all over the peninsula.
However, it is the Oasis shopping centre that most Bodrum tourists choose to frequent, as some 200 shops are all located here spread over two floors and all under one roof, including a number of familiar department stores, such as Marks & Spencer, Levi’s, Benetton.
The small peninsula has it all - the best in sea and scenery, the traditional and the modern, history and culture, entertainment and relaxation. Each forming a piece of the Bodrum jigsaw, Gümüşlük, Yalıkavak,Turgutreis, Torba, Ortakent, Gölköy, Türkbükü and Gündoğan all have their own character and unique charm, yet remain unmistakably part of Bodrum’s overall appeal.