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We bought an apartment in a quaint bay near Yalıkavak. The area is called Gökçebel. The bay is called Frenk Azmagi. Our two-bedroom little apartment is a heaven for us. We feel away from the hustle and bustle of the world. We wake up to the sounds of the roosters. The caretaker brings us fresh eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers every morning.
We love walking through a mandarin orchard and reach our favorite restaurant: Tersane. We are already feel home when we go there. They set our table right next to the little beach they have. You can hear even the slightest ripple of water hitting the sand.
Their dog, Badem, takes his position next to our table. He knows I will be feeding him the heads of the barbun or tekir fish. We have to struggle between choosing a good Turkish wine or raki. It does not matter. I wish that is the only struggle we have daily from now on.
The sun is setting slowly right at the entrance of the bay. It starts to take different colors every moment. It is the quietest time of the day. No sound but the water splashing the beach. Even Badem is quiet. He knows how to enjoy the day.
Now, we are back at Keyport, New Jersey where we live most of the year. I am writing this by watching another beautiful bay. But the sea does not match what we have in Bodrum. At least, I still hear the waves.
Aegean Traveller’s Note
Thank you, Nuray Aykin, for sharing this lovely memory from Gökçebel. Nuray lives in New Jersey, yet her words carry the calm rhythm of Bodrum mornings and evenings. I haven’t changed anything in her story, only added the featured photo from my archive to reflect the peaceful spirit of a summer dinner under the trees.
Reading her story reminded me of many evenings I spent in Bodrum, where time slows down and everything feels simpler. If you enjoy reading real experiences like this one, you’ll find many more traveller stories that capture different moments and emotions from Bodrum. And for those who wish to recreate Nuray’s evening in their own way, there are plenty of beautiful places to enjoy local food and drinks in Bodrum.