Snapshot of Göltürkbükü

Türkbükü in Spring

Our holiday home is located in the village of Göltürkbükü on the north side of the Bodrum peninsula. It is known as the St Tropez of Turkey. Originally it was two separate villages Gölköy and Türkbükü. They have now been amalgamated under the one local council.

Gölköy in Spring, 

Gölköy is seen as the lesser of the two villages while Türkbükü is seen as the playground of the rich and famous. Unfortunately we didn't know this when we bought!

Türkbükü in Summer

Shopping in Bodrum, we are greeted with  "Oi, mate"  and asking what part of England we are from. We are then told that their t-shirts are "cheaper than chips" or "cheaper than shop-lifting" I used to answer this by telling them I couldn't possibly buy from them now as I was mortally insulted. I was Irish not English. Immediately they would ask "How's the craic?" as we Irish are known for our love of fun and drink.

Now my strategy is to answer them in Turkish. The questions have changed "What part of Turkey is your husband from?" When they discover he is also Irish, the next question is "Where is your house?" This is where I sing dumb!!  If I tell them the house is in Turkbuku the price will triple.

The seaplanes arrive

In summer the is buzzing, the bay is full of yachts and sea planes as the place becomes the playground of the rich. At night time the music reverberates around the hills. Thank God for double glazing.

The beaches are crowded

Beach clubs abound. This one is in the more expensive end of the village.

Beach clubs, many are built on decks. Sunbathing all day, restaurant at night.

In the meantime the ordinary Turkish tourist comes to Golkoy. It is the village with the supermarket, the school and the bank. The photos are ones I took for geography lessons. The children get  a selection of photos and see what they can deduce about an area from them.

The primary school. Children begin school at the age of seven. 

This is a bust of Atatürk. He was the founder of modern Turkey. The translation is 'How happy is he who can say İ am a Turk'
He established a modern, secular school system.

The Turks love children. You will see playgrounds everywhere.

Fresco on the school wall.

Butchers, tailor, hardware, internet cafe.....

The health centre.

Estate agents abound, especially since foreigners began to buy property.

New buildings have been springing up like mushrooms.

A finished holiday villa complex.

Brass canopy at a restaurant.

One of our favourite restaurants. It isn't pretty but the food is delicious.  Turkish pide, fresh from the stone oven costs about €3.50

Local businesses, it is easy to realise this is a seaside village.

Barbers abound. A turkish shave and a haircut is an experience. İt addition to being shaved with a cut throat razor, the hair is burned from your ears and nostrils and then you are creamed and massaged, all for about 8 euro.

Just one of many signs directing you to the myriad of hotels in the area. 

Bottled gas, most cookers are a combination of gas and electricity. Useful for the regular power cuts in the area.

There are lots of pharmacies. Many drugs can be dispensed by the pharmacist without a doctors prescription and at a fraction of the cost at home.

Water bottles. Bottled water is sold everywhere. İt will be delivered to your door. İt costs about €4 for 20 litres. We are lucky to have our own well on our complex and the water is very drinkable.

Community bins. Each householder puts their rubbish in these bins. They are frequent intervals along the road. They are then collected by the local council every day/

The supermarket. It 's open 08.00 to 23.00 in summertime

Watermelon.

Pottery and cane for sale.

Fruit trees abound. 

The area is famous for it's mandarin groves

Fig tree

The minibus "Dolmuş' is the main means of transport on the peninsula. İt will pick you up anywhere along its route. Dolmuş means stuffed and often there is standing room only. People are extremely polıte. Young people will always give up their seat to older people and often the passengers will give their seats to foreigners, male or female. Once you have taken your seat you pass your money up along. Your change will then be passed back through the rows. Most of the dolmuş are privately owned.

No village would be complete without the tea houses, where the men gather to chat, play Tavla (Backgammon) and Okey

The women also stop for a chat and a respite from the heat.

Some people even take a nap

Bougaınvillia is everywhere to be seenç

But in summer it is all about the beach

Even the ducks like a swim.

Oops caught in flagrante delicto!

Only three weeks until I'm back for the summer!