We slept in late after a long day of travel and enjoying the pier for a swim and some sunbathing.  It was looking as though we would have another perfect day to spend on the water at our resort home in Bodrum.  We ate a hearty breakfast and then strolled the ten minute walk where we found some chairs and umbrellas to protect us from the hot sun.

We set out our belongings and carefully eased into the water from the ladder on the pier.  We floated, swam and failed to improve our artistic swimming skills, though we did try.  We took to the Aegean Sea which was crystal clear.  Some of us snorkeled, while others went back to sunbathing.  We couldn’t seem to stay out of the water for long and eventually worked up an appetite.

We had lunch at the outdoor restaurant and decided to take a walk through the maze of streets within the community.  Houses of brick and stone were built along steep cliffs with gardens of tropical flowers as well as petunias in flower boxes and hanging baskets.

What I found most intriguing as we passed each of the homes was that they were decorated with a symbol that resembled an eye.  I had first seen it in Istanbul on key chains and jewelry, but hadn’t taken much notice until it began appearing on street number signs and embedded in walkways and doorframes.

The Nazar Boncuk, or “Evil Eye”, is said to protect a person from an evil glare.  The superstition dates back to the ancient Greeks who believed that receiving the malevolent stare would cause injury or misfortune.  Since the look could take place even when the innocent person is unaware, there was a need to protect oneself from this supernatural force.  The Nazar Boncuk reflects off the bad energy back onto the person who is inflicting the negativity towards another.  This symbol is often hung throughout homes, offices and cars in the form of jewelry or ornaments.

We returned back to the house to take a car into the casual town of Bodrum.  We started out strolling the streets, looking at menus along the way in search of seafood.  In Turkey, most families will dine late at night for their final meal of the day, even as late as 10PM.  Since we had plenty of time to explore the town, we got lost along the bustling maze.  Beautiful homes hung to the cliffs, many whitewashed with clay-tiled roofs and accented with colorful bougainvillea.

After dining at Onikon Beach and Restaurant, we decided to shop for clothes and souvenirs.  The shopping district was full of unique gifts and familiar boutiques.  From inexpensive Turkish lanterns to luxurious carpets and towels, there were so many great products to purchase.  I had such a difficult time choosing which items to buy, so I selected several:  Turkish Delight, ceramic bowls, Evil Eye pendants and Raki.

With our hands full and wallets growing smaller, we were ready to head back home for a quick dip in the pool and another day to explore Bodrum.

Have you visited Bodrum, Turkey along the coast?  I would love to hear about the places you visited, restaurants where you dined and shops that you absolutely loved if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my amazing adventure in Bodrum and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Explore the seaside shopping area of Bodrum

Where to Stay:

METT Hotels and Beach Resorts, Bodrum
Heramton Cove, Eskicesme Mahallesi
Haramton Sokak, Degirmenler Mevkii
48400 Bodrum City/Mugla, Turkey
Telephone:  +90 252 316 48 48

Where to Eat:

Onikon Beach and Restaurant
Menemene Yall, Mevkii No 57/A
Turkbuku/Bodrum, Golturkbuku
48400 Turkey

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