Dipping your toe into Turkey in Kusadasi

When you know a country well, it often happens that you are asked by friends or friends of friends who plan to visit for the first time where they should go. Your answer of course depends a lot on what this particular person wants out of their holiday. Just lolling on the beach getting a sun tan, an active break with hiking or water sports, a culture trip, cooking classes and gourmet indulgence – the reasons why we travel are endless.

I love it when I’m asked about Turkey, because I think I have found the ideal spot where you will find a bit of everything which symbolizes the essence of Turkey. I’m sure my fellow Turkey enthusiasts, turkeysforlife, will have a different place to recommend, but for me the answer is: Kusadasi.

Needless to say that anybody who travels to Turkey simply cannot bypass Istanbul. But if you start your Turkey adventure there, the city can be quite overwhelming. There are so many things to do and see, you can easily spend weeks and few people have that much time.

A much more sedate approach is Kusadasi. Turkey in a nutshell would be an appropriate label.

The port town of Kusadai is located in the west of Turkey on the Aegean Sea. It’s easy to get there because you might be on a cruise as glamour grannies often are. Kusadasi  is a stop and as you approach from the sea you can already glimpse  a ‘very Turkish sight’ of this part of the country: white beaches, mountains looming behind, house climbing up and a massive crusader castle guarding the port entrance. Fishing boats, yachts, sailing boats and ferries bob around you as the cruise liner docks.

The next advantage is that the terminal is only minutes from the center of town. You walk off and are right in the middle of things. No taxis or other transport needed to get you into Kusadasi, your feet will do nicely.

Kusadasi is of course a popular and quite touristy place but that means that everybody has at least a smattering of English, so no communications problems as you dip your toes into Turkish culture. Walk a bit into the direction of the center and you will find a sign which directs you to the Old Bazaar. Follow it and enjoy the many shops and stalls and the atmosphere of Turkish trade at a much less stressful pace than a visit to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.

True, the traders will come out and talk to you praising their wares and asking you where you are from but less’ in your face’ than they do in Istanbul. In fact, they have been told to be more gentle and not to frighten visitors away by being too aggressive. Clever businessmen that they are they have found out very quickly that they are making much more sales and money that way.

Admire the wonderful Turkish ceramics, stop at the carpet shops and watch the carpet weavers plying their art sitting in the street in front of the shop. I find that much more enjoyable than the obligatory visit to a carpet factory which is always included in a guided tour whether you like it or not.

Marvel at the many, many jewelers and get an educations in Turkish gold and traditional patterns of lavish bracelets, necklaces and rings. If you are into that, you can get fake designer handbags and clothes galore as well as Turkish glass and silver. Don’t forget to look at and try on the Turkish carpet boots, they are so cool.

If you fancy  buying  something, get your first training in bargaining. Don’t be  afraid to knock off 50% of the asking price, bearing in mind that prices go up the moment a cruise ship docks in port. It’s all part of the fun and your Turkey experience.

A spot of culture after all that shopping? Head back and visit a landmark of Kusadasi and one of my favorites: the  Caravanserai. Built in 1618 by Ottoman vizir Okuz Mehmet Pasha as a trading and resting place for the trade caravans from Smyrna and beyond, the building takes you straight back in time. Enter through the arched main entrance and you find yourself in a traditional courtyard surrounded by two floors  of rooms and niches. The caravanserai is a luxury hotel today and many nights a week, you can attend a performance of belly dance and entertainment. A year or so ago, the lower floor was transformed into a vast shop cum museum of Turkish glass and ceramics and here you find the best and most interesting pieces. I just love browsing there and the assistants are only too happy to explain designs and their origins to the interested visitor.

Back in the port area you can walk to the crusader castle and climb around in it or you can head in the opposite direction and stroll along the promenade. Hungry? No problem. Many cafes and restaurants are to be found on the promenade but my favorite is  next to the fish market called ‘Toros’. You can sit outside right on the water or inside. I love the place because you get Turkish food at its best. At lunchtime the place is bustling with local business men, always a sign for quality and good prices. There is a hot and cold buffet where you can choose from the many dishes what you want or else you can sit inside and order the freshest fish.

Try the lamb shanks though, if you like lamb, the meat is so tender it falls off the bone and the sauce is simply delicious.

If you are a serious history fan, then Kusadasi is the ideal starting place for you too. One of Turkey’s most important  and famous historical sites, , the temples , theatre and ruins of Ephesus are nearby. You can go on a day tour or make your own way by mini bus.

You couldn’t care less about art and culture and just want a beach day? No problem, several big and sandy beaches like Ladies beach or Paradise Beach are within easy reach by clearly marked dolmus. Dolmus are the omnipresent Turkish minibuses which run all over the country, stop at hand signal and are cheap and easy to use. Taxis are in ample supply too, but be aware that you need to agree the price first because they do not run on meters.

Mosques, statues, parks and more pedestrian alleys covered with wines are to be explored in Kusadasi. Men can have their shoes shined and you can enjoy the smell of freshly roasted coffee and sample a sin fin of Turkish Delight in an extraordinary patisserie on the main road.

Kusadasi is also very well connected for onward travel. If you have arrived by cruise ship you will obviously continue your journey that way, but Izmir airport about 70 miles away allows you to fly anywhere else in Turkey or if you travel by car the motorway gets you wherever you want to go.

What Turkey does not have very much is trains. Instead long distance coaches are the preferred means of transport if you want to see more of the country than you could on a plane.

And, lastly, if you want to take a look at Greece…Kusadasi can accommodate you too. The lovely island of Samos is only half an hour ferry ride away and makes for an enjoyable daytrip if you stay in Kusadasi longer.

Tags: bazaar, cruises, historical sites, kusadasi, port town, turkish culture