Restaurants and Raki

17 April 20233 May 2025

Wearing ourselves out in the sun and saltwater, we were excited to enjoy another day of lunch on the property. We couldn’t pass up an opportunity for their fabulous cheese pizza with its perfectly grilled crust and tasty blend of cheeses and fresh, juicy watermelon.

We had a full afternoon packed with sightseeing and wanted to explore some of the chic oceanside restaurants in the Turkbuku village of Bodrum. Our first stop was the Macakizi Hotel for happy hour. This boutique hotel, with a name that means intelligence and beauty, has a lively bar and seaside seating.

We ordered small plates and shared a couple of bottles of Chardonnay soaking up the views of the nearby islands. We reminisced about our time in Istanbul and Bodrum, the fabulous food we had eaten so far and our local trip to the supermarket.

This fabulous bar and restaurant draws celebrities from all over the world with its authentic Turkish comfort food. Macakizi has its own private beach and a yacht available for hire to island hop along the coast. With its smart interior and sleek interior design, the hotel was placed on The Conde Nast Gold List in 2021.

The scenery around Maki 29 Beach was laidback and oozing with solitude. Wooden boats were tied up to the dock while large sailboats and catamarans were anchored out in the cove. We found gravel stairways surrounded with colorful gardens where we took some fun photos and posed for silly pictures. The sun was beginning to set, so the dusk lighting made for some amazing memories.

It was time for us to find a restaurant for dinner and we all agreed we wanted to try the local seafood at a location along the water. We happened to find Onikon Beach and Restaurant that had plenty of seating for our party of six. Looking over the menu, we had so many questions and the staff was incredibly helpful.

They brought out plates of their specialty fish and we decided on the sea bass and bream. We also ordered chicken kebabs, vegetables with hummus and saved room for katmer which is a folded pie pastry.

After dinner, we strolled towards the shops for a final time and found some last minute souvenirs at a cute boutique called Le Kabbak. We met the owner of the store who was kind to offer us seats outside. She suggested that we try Raki, one of Turkey’s signature drinks. None of us had heard of it so she began to pour small amounts into shot glasses and encouraged us to try it. It reminded me of Greece’s Oozo with its licorice taste. We each had a couple of drinks and enjoyed talking with her for awhile. We had only one more day to explore Bodrum so we decided to leave and would arrive early the next morning. Cheers to Bodrum!

What to See and What to Do:

Shopping in Turkbuku
Check out the local restaurants

Where to Stay:

Macakizi
Göltürkbükü, Narçiçe?i Sokak,
48400 Göltürkbükü Bodrum/Bodrum/Mu?la, Turkey
Telephone: +90 252 311 2400

Where to Eat:

Macakizi
Göltürkbükü, Narçiçe?i Sokak
48400 Göltürkbükü Bodrum/Bodrum/Mu?la, Turkey
Telephone: +90 252 311 2400

Onikon Beach and Restaurant
Konac?k, Mercan Sk. 57/A D:1
48470 Bodrum/Mu?la, Turkey
Telephone: +90 252 377 60 03

What to Eat:

Fruit: pomegranates, figs, peaches
Kumpir: potato with toppings
Lokmasi: deep-fried dough drenched in honey syrup
Peynirli borek: similar to Greek spanikopita
Sebzeli doner: meat, potato and vegetable skewers
Simit: bread that is between a bagel and pretzel

Where to Shop:

Le Kabbak
Dereköy, Gümü?lük Yolu No:3
48960 Bodrum/Mu?la, Turkey
Telephone: +90 252 394 33 99

What to Read:

Turkey Street: Jack and Liam move to Bodrum, by Jack Scott
Turkish Reflections: A Biography of Place, by Mary Lee Settle
I Am Pilgrim, by Terry Hayes
Bodrum, Ancient Halicarnassus, by Oguz Alpozen

Photo Guide for Bodrum:

Akvaryum Koyu (Aquarium Cove)
Bardakci Cove – great snorkeling location
Bitez Bay – Take the nature walk along the coastline
Bodrum Beach
Bodrum Windmills – great hike; nice quiet place to visit
Castle of Saint Peter – remains of the mausoleum of Mausolus
Gumusluk Harbor – gorgeous setting and amazing lighting at night
Turgutreis Red Lighthouse – awesome place for the sunset
Yalikavak Marina – luxury yachts, restaurants and shopping

Exploring a Whole New World at The Newport Aquarium!

22 July 20223 May 2025

Greeting me at the entrance to the Newport Aquarium is the Wishing Whale, a humpback whale that seems to appear out of the frozen ice beneath him! It is a spectacular life-like replica where visitors can contribute their change to expand the educational programs of the aquarium.

A beautifully painted mural of more whales and extraordinary polar bears augment the feeling of visiting the arctic.

It is here where I present my ticket to enter the Newport Aquarium as I begin my fantastic exploration of this award-winning attraction!

Having opened in May of 1999, the Newport Aquarium showcases fourteen permanent exhibits where visitors can learn about life in both saltwater and freshwater habitats from around the world. From freshwater to saltwater, there are over 90 species that have found a home here at the aquarium.

I am fascinated by those species that are somewhat unusual. For example, animals such as the electric white lobster live deep below the ocean. They are creatures that live in caves and require minimal light for survival, resulting in their albino-type features.

Some of my favorite exhibits at the aquarium are the tunnels made of seamless acrylic, of which there are five. The aquarium displays placards of the animals that are present in the tunnels and finding each of them is a fun way to learn about these creatures of the deep.

The Tide Pool is one of the aquarium’s interactive exhibits that allow visitors to touch some of the sea creatures such as starfish, mollusks and horseshoe crabs.

The theater is another educational feature of the aquarium where staff divers explain the habitat of the sharks and their habits.

The seahorse exhibit was one of my favorite displays where informative placards explain the behavior of these fragile creatures.

There are several tanks that contain these delicate sea animals, some so small they seem invisible.

Have you ever seen anything like the Weedy Seadragon? They are a marine fish, related to the seahorse, that camouflages itself against the sea kelp, and are indigenous to the waters of Australia.

Mighty Mike is the largest American alligator outside of Florida who resides at Gator Alley.

There is also a pair of American white alligators which were brought to the aquarium from Louisiana. Their names are Snowball and Snowflake. Albino American white alligators are very rare. It is believed that there are only 12 of these alligators in the world and each of them reside in captivity.

The Frog Bog is just around the corner and I cannot believe what I am seeing! There are so many different colors of frogs that I have to readjust my eyes to make sure they are not playing tricks on me!

Green and black…

Red…

And blue!

Canyon Falls is a habitat for otters and I have such a fun time watching them swim around in the water.

This is also the place where I find the Green Tree Python, wrapping himself around a tree branch with his green beady eyes staring me down as if I am his next meal.

But it is the chameleon that capture my attention with his crazy eyes and sweet disposition.

I exit the habitat and I pass through a tunnel, the Amazon River and meet up with the Jellyfish Gallery which is said to be the largest collection of jellyfish in the Midwest. There are several species including “the moon jelly, upside-down jellyfish, sea nettle and spotted jelly”.

I am so excited to pass through the shark tunnel! There are close to 10 different species of shark swimming alongside me as well as above me as well as grouper, stingrays and the loggerhead turtle. The experience is exhilarating!

Shark Central is an additional exhibit that allows visitors to actually pet some of the least dangerous of shark species such as the crested bull shark, the leopard shark and the sharptooth houndshark to name a few.

At last I have arrived at the Kroger Penguin Palooza where there are a number of penguin species on display including the king penguin, the chinstraps, gentoos, macaronis and rockhoppers. I love watching them in the habitat, especially when they decide to go for a swim. It is an entertaining display of nature that seems to be a favorite among the children and adults I would presume as well.

So as I stand to the side and take in the show, I am in awe of the underwater creatures of the seas and fresh waters. Whether they live in the depths of the cold or near the islands of the tropics, these animals are an essential part to the ecological system of the earth. I am happy that places like the Newport Aquarium exist to bring each of us the opportunity to experience a whole new world.

Have you visited the Newport Aquarium? What was your favorite exhibit? I would love to hear from you if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading my post and Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Newport Aquarium

1 Aquarium Way

Newport, KY 41071

Telephone: 859 261 5888

Website: www.newportaquarium.com .

Bodie Island Lighthouse, Outer Banks, North Carolina

9 April 201716 September 2024

Driving south towards Ocracoke on Highway 12, I caught a glimpse of the Bodie (pronounced “Body”) Island Lighthouse in the distance. I was halfway there, but decided to take the side road to have a closer look. Towering over 156 feet, there are 214 steps to reach the top with spectacular views of the Albemarle Sound, the Oregon Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse recently reopened in 2014 after an extensive renovation and is the third lighthouse to stand in this place.

Bodie Light initially opened in 1872, under the recommendation of Lieutenant Napoleon L. Coste who was tasked with deciding the placement of lighthouses along the North Carolina Coast. It was his opinion during his 1837 examination that “more vessels are lost there than on any other part of our coast” resulting in Congress’s decision to allocate funds to the project.

Unfortunately, the first lighthouse built on the site met with many challenges from the purchasing of the land and lack of experience to complete the project. At 54 feet in height, the initial lighthouse was not only leaning, it would have cost more for the repairs than to start from the ground up. This lighthouse project was abandoned in 1859. That same year, a second lighthouse was constructed in close proximity to the first light reaching 80 feet in height. Unfortunately, with the start of the Civil War, Confederate troops destroyed the lighthouse in fear that Union soldiers would use it in battle.

The lighthouse that stands today on the 15-acre site is north of the original lighthouses and was completed in 1872. Surrounded by saltwater ponds, marshlands and maritime forest, it too had its problems as geese were known to have been flying into the lens and adequate grounding had not been installed to absorb the electric from lightning strikes.

The lightkeeper’s quarters was completed in 1872 as well, but due to its isolating location, the family lived off site during the cold winter months. Eventually, there would be an improvement to access on the island and the families would live at the Keepers’ Quarters year around. Once the light was electrified in 1932, the former keeper’s quarters was eventually converted into the visitor’s center. Public tours of the lighthouse are permitted each year by purchasing tickets online.

Have you visited the Bodie Island Lighthouse? Did you climb to the top to see the spectacular views? I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my visit to Bodie Island Lighthouse and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Bodie Island Lighthouse
8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road
Nags Head, NC 27959
Telephone: 252 441 5711

Admission Fee: There is a fee for climbing Bodie Lighthouse: $10 for adults (13+) and $5 for children 12 and under.
Hours: Visitor’s Center open daily from 9AM to 5PM, with the exception to Christmas; Bodie Island Lighthouse Climbing; Open 3^rd Friday in April through Columbus Day
Amenities: visitor center, lighthouse climb
Scenic View: Spectacular views of the Hatteras coastline from the top of the lighthouse
Length of Visit: less than 1 hour
Tips for Your Visit: Wear comfortable shoes and be careful climbing the lighthouse

Where to Stay:

Scarborough Inn
524 US-64
Manteo, NC 27954
Telephone: 252 473 3979

Where to Eat:

Fish Heads Bar & Grill
8901 S. Old Oregon Inlet Road
Nags Head, NC 27959
Telephone: 252 441 5740

What more can you want? Ocean views, seafood and a variety of craft beers? Starting with the conch fritters, I enjoyed the light breading on the outside, yummy conch on the inside with a side of Napoleon Complex Pale Ale from Wicked Weed Brewing in Ashville, NC. For my main meal, I decided on the crabcake without the bun and it was prepared perfectly! I ordered the Pineapple Cider from Austin Eastciders Collaboratory from Austin, Texas, which had a refreshing tropical taste.

What to Eat:

Crab Benedict at Sam and Ornies on Nag’s Head
Frogmore Stew Steamer Bucket from Armstrong’s Seafood in Nag’s Head
Donuts at Duck Donuts
Carolina Barbecue at Pigman’s BBQ on Nag’s Head

What to Read:

Hatteras Blue, by David Poyer
Early from the Dance, by David Payne
Surf Men by C.T. Marshall
Murder at Hatteras by Joe C. Ellis
Return to the Outer Banks by Diann Ducharme

Photo Guide for the Outer Banks

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge for capturing local birds
Jennette’s Pier to photograph local fishermen and beautiful sunrises
Ocracoke Horses
Triangle Shipwreck at Kill Devils Hill
Shipwreck artifacts at Seagreen Gallery
The Cape Hatteras lighthouse at Cape Hatteras
Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo

Underwater Photos from Belize, Honduras and Mexico circa 1989

12 March 201431 August 2024

Some of the best scuba diving takes place in the countries of Belize, Honduras and Mexico. Here are just a few photos of the underwater sea life I encountered on several dives.

The Wrasse is a fish with over 600 species. It is a brightly colored fish that is a popular choice for saltwater aquariums as they help to keep the tank clean.

A spotted moray eel snatching up a fish for lunch. They are usually hiding in reef crevices, but once in awhile can be found near the bottom of the ocean feeding on fish or crustaceans.

Up close, the Squirrelfish have big dark eyes, which helps them to see at night. These fish are more prevalent during night dives, but can also be seen during the day hanging around in dark areas.

The lobster is one of many crustaceans found in the Caribbean. They have a hard exoskeleton which provides protection from predators. They can live up to 70 years of age.

It is not uncommon to find large Angelfish on reef dives in the Caribbean. They can be found in various colors with a wide arrange of names, i.e., Gray Angelfish or Queen Angelfish.

Some new divers and snorkelers may become frightened when coming in contact with the barracuda. They are an intimidating fish with sharp teeth, but they are not considered a threat. Some divers agree that these fish are attracted to shiny objects and suggest water lovers to not wear bright, metallic jewelry.

The Blue Tang is a popular Caribbean fish and was made popular by the movie “Finding Nemo.” Depending on where they are swimming, they can camouflage themselves by changing various shades of blue. Here one can see the yellow spike towards the back of its body where the tail meets the body.

French Grunts and Blue-Striped Grunts are very common in the Caribbean and Florida. They swim in large numbers and are usually spotted on shallow reef dives. Pictured here are the Blue-Striped Grunts.

The Yellowtail Snapper can easily be confused with the Goatfish, but there are a couple of differences. The Yellow Goatfish have barbels, also described as whiskers, that can be found under their chins. The Yellowtail Snapper may be found within schools of Yellow Goatfish and vice versa.

Herring fish travel in schools and are a popular meal for the larger fish as well as seabirds.

The Tiger Grouper is a beautiful fish that lives in sheltered reef areas. They usually hang out in shallow waters and can grow up to 35 inches, weighing around 10 pounds.

There are over 200 species of Moray Eel found in both saltwater and freshwater environments. They look like a sea snake but do not belong to the reptile family. They prefer warm temperatures and like to eat meat, such as other fish and crustaceans.

Whether you plan to scuba dive or snorkel the waters of the Caribbean, you may come into contact with one or more of these animals. There are so many beautiful creatures of the sea where you can feel as though you are in a world all its own.

Do you like to snorkel and/or scuba dive? What is one of your favorite experiences under water? I would love to hear your story in the comments below! Many thanks for checking out some of the fish you will find in Central America and wishing you many Happy Travels!

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