Our flight departed from Istanbul early in the morning, arriving in Bodrum at 10:30. After collecting our luggage, we waited for the bus to take us to Salim’s house along the coast where we would spend several days before sailing the Greek Islands.
The bus was half full with tourists and residents visiting their second homes. Looking out the window, my eyes were taking in all of the beautiful resorts along the coast. Colorful flowers decorated the rural route where we entered tunnels with exquisite carvings which led to small, populated towns.
Passing by coves, we saw large yachts, small sailboats and the occasional fishing vessel. Occasionally, a community of homes appeared as quaint villages along the Aegean Sea and within forty minutes we had arrived at the entrance to our resort community.
At the secured entrance, we waited for our driver to take us to the house and help us unload our luggage. On our short drive to the house, we decided we would first have lunch and the attendant suggested the cafe where we could order the best pizza in town. We could see the cove where we would be staying and noticed the crystal clear waters, bathing areas and restaurants with outdoor seating.
Our accommodations were conveniently located within walking distance to the beach, pier, restaurants and shopping. The summer home of Salim was two story and surrounded by delicate flowers, large enough to accommodate the six of us.
We immediately unpacked our belongings, grabbed our swimsuits and walked down the hill to the pier where we found the restaurant to enjoy lunch. The stroll in itself was full of jaw-dropping views where whitewashed guesthouses were covered with vibrant blooms. Sitting along the waterfront, we ate fresh watermelon and made-to-order pizzas.
We swam for a couple of hours until it was time to meet up with Salim to discuss dinner plans. We decided to stay in, ordering takeout from a nearby food stall. From Turkish köfte (meatballs) to kebabs, we selected a wide variety of local dishes to sample.
After dinner, we strolled down to the swimming area as the light began to dim. Checking out the sailboats that had arrived to anchor off the shore, we eagerly waited for the sun to set.
We posed for photos, listened to Bruno Mars tunes and fought off sleep in fear of missing out. With what energy we had left, we stopped by the pool and shared bottle of wine before turning in. On the short walk home, we all agreed that we could have never imagined the beauty of Bodrum and reminisced about Ramadan in Istanbul until we just couldn’t stay awake much longer.
Have you had the wonderful opportunity to visit Bodrum, Turkey? Which places did you visit or restaurants did you enjoy? I would love to hear about your recommendations if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my Girl’s Trip to Turkey and wishing you many Happy Travels!
The Turkish Flag
Beautiful Flowers in Bodrum
The Evil Eye – This circular symbol keeps evil thoughts from harming you
Enjoying the Sunset in Bodrum
Catamarans and sailboats in the Bodrum Harbor
Nolan was entertained by the parrots and begged to have his photo taken with him. When the attendant put the bird on his finger, he panicked a little, but finally warmed up to “Reggie” the blue and yellow Macaw. By the time we had collected his photo, Nolan wanted to take Reggie home.
We decided on the Mellow Mushroom for dinner, ordering the Buffalo Chicken, the Great White and the Mighty Meaty. With our leftovers in hand, we went in search for dessert. About half of us decided on The Fudgery while the other half couldn’t resist the aroma of Cinnabon. So, with our desserts in hand, we found seats near the fountain and watched the light show until leaving for home.
Having finished the hike at Laurel Falls, we decided to go into town to have lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. It would be a first time visit for my brother-in-law, Scott, who was a fan of the movie and after a hearty lunch we would wander the shops of downtown Gatlinburg.
With a little heat, the shrimp and chicken platter was the perfect portion and served with a side of fries.
Mom was happy with her fish and chips order which arrived with a side of coleslaw and tarter sauce while Joy’s order of fried fish was served with French fries.
Dad ordered the fried shrimp and French fries and a side of gumbo to add a little spice to his meal.
It didn’t take him long to finish his meal and was urging all of us to hurry up as well. He kept us entertained for a few more minutes asking his dad to tell him more about Forrest Gump, which made him laugh until he just couldn’t laugh any longer.
Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, 
