Surprisingly Turkey, Villa Welfare

The view from the terrace of Kusadasi and Samos is beautiful and the sunsets in particular are a pleasure. But even without a sunset, the view is certainly not bad! This site already contains a large number of photos with the enchanting view from our house. It is still a special experience for us to enjoy the view of Samos, Kusadasi and the Aegean Sea in the pool.

We notice that Turkey, and certainly Kusadasi, has already become extremely westernized and that you can find almost everything you can find with us here in the supermarket. However, a number of products such as quick filter coffee, Dutch cheese and alcohol are quite pricey. This is because they are imported products and everything that is imported into Turkey is expensive. The house has everything in terms of bed linen, towels and kitchen appliances, so we are really talking about consumables. We have a Dutch coffee maker in the kitchen. So if you would like a nice cup of coffee, bring the coffee from the Netherlands. Coffee filters are sufficiently available. The same actually applies to drinks after dinner. This is also easily available in Turkey, but relatively expensive, like all alcoholic drinks. Now there are of course restrictions on what you can import, but it is attractive to purchase any spirits at Schiphol or on the plane. We do not smoke ourselves and the house is also smoke-free, but the same applies to cigarettes. The global import standard is 1 carton per person over 18 and for spirits this is 1 liter. If you are a lover of a tasty piece of Dutch cheese, this is also something that is better to bring with you from the Netherlands. It is also best to take other sweet sandwich fillings such as apple syrup, peanut butter and chocolate sprinkles with you. The traditional Turkish breakfast consists of bread with cheese, lots of tomato and cucumber and, for example, honey or marmalade.

Unfortunately, Turkey is regularly in the news with an earthquake. Fortunately, our villa is built to withstand very extreme earthquakes. In 2020 there has been a particularly powerful (6.7) with the epicenter about 20 kilometers from the villa. Then water gushed out of the pool. But the damage was nil. This while in Kusadasi some buildings were damaged uninhabitable and in Izmir there were even only deaths. We therefore feel very safe in our beautiful and strong house.

We advise our visitors with the airplane. If there is a preference for traveling by car we can be sure the route Ancona <=> Igoumenitsa advice. With over 3200 kilometers almost entirely highway and a beautiful crossing between Italy and Greece it is certainly doable. Pull it up to 3 days for this!
Flies can be most easily via Izmir, Bodrum alternatively also be flown. We now have a wide experience and we challenge anyone to cheaper books than Sunexpress.com They only fly to Izmir, but is it also usually the cheapest.
From Izmir is the car still an hour to send to the house. A well-documented route is available on request, but it is also possible by our regular hire you at the house to sell! From Bodrum is about 1.5 hours drive. Also this is a description available.

Turkey is a country with many different regional cuisines. This is because in the past, numerous invasions of foreign peoples have left a trail of cooking styles. Of which there is a Greek influence, which is very clearly reflected in a number of typical Turkish dishes. In our house we not only have a beautiful, extensive kitchen, as can be seen in this photo, but also an English-language Turkish cookbook. Looking for it is often an adventure in itself, but there is no greater pleasure you can give the people on the market than asking about it. Naturally, the translation can be found on the internet, as can many recipes, but we also have an excellent dictionary. Breakfast in Turkish cuisine is very diverse: cheese, hot milk or tea, honey, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers or egg dishes. Turkish soup is also served. Lunch and Dinner, in the afternoon and evening vegetable dishes, fish or meat are eaten. Examples include: Kebab and Imam Bayildi. The latter is a halved eggplant, filled with minced meat, herbs and vegetables, which is served cold. In Turkish cuisine, fruit is often served as a dessert. Baklava is also a Turkish dessert. Baklava is a puff pastry cake filled with nuts and soaked in honey.

For many people, language may be an obstacle to visiting Turkey. Fortunately, in the tourist places most people also speak English, sometimes German or French. Of course you can also try to master the language yourself, but that is certainly not easy.

Kusadasi Golf Resort is perfectly located 2 kilometers from our villa. It is located on a hilltop, 250 meters above sea level and has all-round views of the Aegean Sea, Kusadasi, Milli Park and the surrounding smaller villages. You can also enjoy beautiful sunsets from here. The Kusadasi Golf Resort is a combination of an 18-hole golf course surrounded by luxurious holiday apartments and residential villas with extensive social, sporting and recreational facilities.

Diving trips are organized daily from Kusadasi by several diving schools. It is possible to take a dive from the coast or from the boat. It is also possible to combine the diving trip with a visit to one of the many hidden and beautiful beaches. If desired, you will be picked up and brought back to the house after a wonderful diving day.

WATERPARK AQUA FANTASY
More than 25 sensational and colossal water slides welcome you as soon as you enter Aqua Fantasy Waterpark.
It is not without reason that this water park is considered the number 1 in Turkey.
Not only can you use the most spectacular slides and swimming pools, but you can also participate in an active sports program such as Water Volley and Water Aerobics. Moreover, there is a live DJ available all day long and shows are given regularly to give you an unforgettable holiday.

ADALAND
Adaland is characterized by the fact that it offers a combination of a large water park, a dolphin park and an underwater park. This makes it one of the top parks in the entire world and even if you don't feel like sliding down the slides, there is plenty to see in the dolphin park and the aquaria are also unparalleled.
Swimming with dolphins is possible here, something we in the Netherlands only know from the park on Curacao. Combined with the beautiful underwater aquariums, this park is actually a combination of the Dolfinarium and Sealife.

Ephesus is known as one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the world. It is also one of the best preserved ancient cities in the Western world and the most visited ancient attraction in all of Turkey.
Millions of people visit this, after Rome, the largest city of the Ancient Roman Empire. A city that set an example for all other cities in its heyday in terms of splendor, art and culture. Wide marble streets decorated with mosaics and sculptures, imposing buildings with every color of marble imaginable and fountains and palm trees everywhere.
Now, almost 2000 years later, Ephesus still impresses its visitors. Ephesus, founded 3500 years ago by Androclus, son of the king of Athens, has a rich history. Cariers, Lelegiers, Persians, Greeks, Romans and Byzanthines. Every people, every culture has left its mark on the history of this famous city.
If you are in Kusadasi, a visit to Ephesus is actually a must. It is best to do this with one of the tours, organized through the travel agents. Then you have a guide who tells you in Dutch what Ephesus is all about. The story is worth it. In our house we also have the Dutch description of Ephesus, for preparation or in case you prefer to go without a guide. Although the whole of Ephesus is one major archaeological highlight, the most famous building is the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. And this is just outside the city area. Other important buildings are the theater and the Celcius library.
The theater could accommodate more than 24,000 visitors, who came here for entertainment during drama performances, but also gladiator fights. The theater is still in use. In recent years we have seen performances here by Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Sting, Elton John and many others.
The Celcius Library was one of the most beautiful and famous buildings in the city. Double walls, protecting against moisture, housed more than 120,000 rolls of parchment. Against the facade were 4 statues that symbolized Knowledge (Episeme), Reason (Ennoia), Virtue (Arete) and Wisdom (Sofia).
The excavations have been going on for more than 130 years and every object that comes to light provides a little more information about the mysterious and mystical past of this city and its inhabitants.
From Kusadasi it is 18 km to Ephesus. It is easy to do by Dolmus.

Kusadasi is located on a beautiful bay in the Aegean Sea with beautiful beaches, making it a good place for a carefree beach holiday.
Kusadasi is actually a model for many other seaside resorts in Turkey: luxury hotels and apartment complexes with sea views, a cozy center dominated by an old, picturesque fishing port and a pedestrian promenade or boulevard. Surrounding it are small, narrow streets with countless shops and restaurants.

Kervansaray
The most typical building of Kusadasi is of course the "Kervansaray". Built in 1618 by the Grand Vizier "Oküz Mehmet Pascha", who was also responsible for the construction of the city walls and the largest mosque. The building is actually an Ottoman fortress, which was used to protect caravans and maritime trade. Imagine what it must have looked like in the past when caravans arrived from the Far East, India and even China, with their precious cargo of exotic products and their mysterious escorts. Camels, horses, donkeys, carts, drivers and of course the merchants themselves. Here they came into contact with sailors from Europe. Heavy trade was conducted here, experiences and stories were exchanged. Of course there was eating, drinking and partying. The "Kervansaray" has experienced it all. And there are still parties going on, because the building is now the location where the "Turkish Evening" is held several times a week. Folklore, singers, dance groups and of course the belly dancers perform here, in the most original environment you could wish for such an evening. If you are in Kusadasi, it is worth stopping by here.
No matter how busy it may be in the center, as soon as you enter the courtyard through the gate, you have entered another dimension. Let your imagination run wild and swoon for the rich past. You will probably quickly wake up from your daydreams when you hear "yes, please" from one of the sellers. There is also a beautiful carpet and gold store in the building. You can also have a drink on the terrace or just look around. But go inside, because it's worth it!

Cruise port (Liman)
The cruise ships in the port are one of Kusadasi's biggest attractions. Rarely can you see so many, so often and so close to the most beautiful and largest cruise liners in the world. For example, from the Atatürk Bulvari and the pigeon island you have an excellent view of what moors and departs. The two long jetties can sometimes accommodate five or six ships at the same time. The record is around ten "liners" moored in the port in one day. Then you don't know what you see. Sometimes it is so busy that the ships anchor in the open sea in front of the city and the passengers are taken up and down in smaller boats. Of course there are also quiet days and you hardly see a ship.

Marina (Marina)
Always worth a look; marinas in the Mediterranean area. That always gives a pleasant holiday feeling. This is also the case with this one, one of Tukije's largest marinas.
Immediately upon entering Kusadasi you cannot miss the marina on the right. More than 420 berths (+200 berths on dry land) for yachts up to 55 meters. More than 3,000 yachts call at this port every year. It is a lovely walk along the marina quay. You are amazed at all those expensive toys. There are excursion or tour boats, speed boats, sailing boats, sailing and motor yachts, catamarans and ferries anchored here.
The Marina has a few small, quiet terraces. Furthermore, some shops, a swimming pool, large supermarket and all the facilities that a modern marina should have. This port therefore has a blue flag. That means things are going well here.
From the marina to the center it is about a fifteen to twenty minute walk along the boulevard. There is a taxi rank at the entrance and mini-buses (Dolmus) pass by approximately every few minutes.

Market "Pazar"
Turkey is the country of the "market". Scents and colors determine the image here. You will be amazed at all the fresh products you can find here. Vegetables, fruit and herbs that are of excellent quality. Think of it as if it was picked yesterday and is being traded in the market today. All farmers and outdoors people go to the center to offer their goods. There is always a colorful crowd at such a market and that is no exception in Kusadasi.
The population does most of its shopping at the market. The large textile market in the city is held on Wednesday of every week. Very touristy Kusadasi goes out this day. The hotels are emptying and the center is filling up. A hustle and bustle!
Tuesday: Fruit and vegetable market
Wednesday: Textile market
Friday: Fruit and vegetable market.
Have fun and don't forget your pushcart

The "Pigeon Island" is located off the coast of Kusadasi and is actually the symbol of the city. Used for centuries during bird migrations, as a resting point for our feathered friends. In Ottoman times the town was given this name and the name of the island changed to "Pigeon Island". The island had a strategic location. It was also used for the defense of the port city, in case of attacks from the sea.
The Byzanthine Fortress; defensive structure against the many pirates; is therefore called "the Pirate Castle". Today the island is connected to the coast via a pier. Many fishing boats and many excursion boats dock at this pier. There is a small lighthouse on the island itself. Two terraces with amazing views of the sea, coast and harbor. You also look out over Kusadasi and a very small petting zoo. The island is a beautiful point to walk to and across.
Just a tip: here you will find one of the most beautiful sunsets, so take a walk this way, because you certainly shouldn't miss it.

Although there are at least twenty mosques in the municipality of Kusadasi, only a few are actually interesting in terms of architecture. The most beautiful and oldest is the "Kaleiccedili Cami". Built on behalf of Mr. Okuz Mehmet Pascha, who also had the Kervansaray built. It is a fairly large mosque with a prayer hall for more than 500 people. Twelve large arches support the main dome, which is richly decorated with plant motifs and geometric patterns.
The mosque is located next to the largest shopping street in Kusadasi, diagonally opposite the Kervansaray and can be reached via a narrow alley. It is in use daily and can also be viewed. However, be dressed appropriately, because during prayer services it is polite to wait a while and don't forget the most important thing: take off your shoes!!

Kusadasi's oldest neighborhood is called Kaleiçi, which literally translated means "within the fortress". It is located next to the main shopping street, opposite the Kervansaray. Until 20 years ago this was still a dilapidated old neighborhood. But with the rise of tourism, this has quickly changed into a bustling small shopping center. Many small souvenir shops and textile shops. The best part is probably what they call the "art street". Small workshops where they can make original souvenirs for you.
In the evening it turns into an entertainment center for both local and foreign visitors. Many cafes, disco bars, eateries and typical Turkish shops with live music. You have to be a fan of live music, otherwise it is (unfortunately) not recommended. The best Mehane's in the entire area can be found in Kaleiçi. Mehane is a simple restaurant with some snacks and drinks. Turkish counterpart of the Spanish tapas bar.

Kese-Dagi is the hill above the town center protrudes. Up here on the side of the harbor is one of the images of ATA TÜRK, the founder of modern Turkey. From here you really have a spectacular view over the city, the pigeon island and ports. Especially when there are large cruise is a visit to this point more than worth it.
There is only one problem: there is no public transport to this area. However, you can take a taxi and then walk back the same route. Whether it's simple to make a puzzle, it's a climb, but what a view! The easiest access route runs behind the mountain. Have fun! Bring your camera!

Söke has now become a town of around 100,000 inhabitants. The road to it is about 25 km. Söke as typical agricultural town not much to offer, were it not here that on Wednesday the largest market throughout the area to see. Old-fashioned and grand.
Many products are still delivered by horse and wagon. The donkey is still a normal vehicle. Clothing, shoes, food, copper, tools, animals for slaughter are traded.
For real bargains thieves, just outside the city are large "outlet stores" of many famous brands. Söke is actually a city with lots of cotton textile mills. And all these factories have their own outlets. Good and value for money!

South of Kusadasi city we have the beach "Long Beach". A long beach, which runs all the way past the town of Güzelcamli to the Dilek peninsula. This is the "Milli Park" or the Kalamaki National Park. It covers over 11,000 hectares and is approximately 120 km2 as the crow flies. It extends over the "Samson" mountain range with the highest peak being Mount "Dilek" (1,237 m). It is a beautiful, rugged nature reserve with many valleys, gorges and mountain peaks. It is crossed by many small mountain streams. The vegetation is rich in variety and the variety of animal species is also remarkable. Birds of prey, wild horses, wild boars, foxes, turtles and so on. It is said that even the last Anatolian cheetahs can still be found here. But “Milli Park” attracts its most visitors because of its beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters.
After entering the park, the first beach is also the only sandy beach (Icmeler). Then we get to several pebble beaches.
There is only one road along the coast and it is about 7 km long and visits most of the bays. There are beach beds and showers and each of the larger beaches also has a restaurant. The last beaches can only be reached on foot (a long walk) and are therefore very quiet.
For walkers: the most beautiful route can be found halfway along the coastal road on the left. There is a sign "Kanyon". There is a road through this gorge that you can follow for miles, but you also have to return the same way. Therefore, wear good walking shoes. It is a breathtaking journey, literally but especially figuratively.
Milli Park; is a real must for nature lovers. A nice bonus if you go to Milli Park is that right in front of the entrance to the park you have an entrance path to the "Cave of Zeus". After 50 meters you can climb up on the right and you will enter a fairly large cave. If you descend about five meters you will find yourself in front of a kind of lake, crystal clear and very cool. According to tradition, this must be the birth cave of the supreme god Zeus.
The distance from Kusadasi town to Milli Park is almost 30 km. It can be reached by Dolmus and private transport. Many people come with scooters or even mountain bikes.

Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and also the second port in the country. Izmir currently has more than 4,000,000 inhabitants and is growing explosively in every respect. New residential areas are springing up like mushrooms, large, luxurious, super-modern shopping centers are being built at a rapid pace. For example, Bornova is equipped with one of the three Turkish Ikea's. A new boulevard and a new infrastructure that is on par with other modern cities. But also poor slums that are so big that you can get lost in them.
The name Izmir is derived from the older name of the city: Smyrna, which in turn is said to come from the name of a queen: Samornia, who ruled the region around the city. Smyrna was founded in the 11th century BC. as an Aeolian colony and was founded in the 7th century BC. an Ionian city. The Lydians destroyed the city and in 575 BC. Smyrna became a Lydian city. During the conquest by the Persians in 545 BC. the city was destroyed again. Alexander the Great rebuilt it around 330 BC.
In the 7th century AD. B.C. the city was attacked by Arabs. Centuries later, the Seljuk Turks conquered the city from the Byzantines, but in 1079 they recaptured the city. In 1424 the city was conquered by the Turks and, after a turbulent period, became part of the Ottoman Empire.
Before the Ottoman Empire collapsed after World War I, Greeks were the largest ethnic minority in Smyrna and it was one of the Anatolian territories granted to Greece by the Treaty of Sèvres (1920), but Turkish armies under Atatürk conquered the city in 1922. About 70 percent of the city burned down, hundreds of thousands of Christians fled. Both sides accused each other of atrocities against the population, but given the few reliable sources and the high levels of nationalist sentiment on both sides, it is difficult to determine exactly what happened. With the withdrawal of the Greek army, a large part of the Greek population also fled the city to the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. The remaining Greek population was forced to leave the city as part of the exchange of Turkish and Greek minorities stipulated in the Treaty of Lausanne. In 1922, the Turkish government changed the official name of the city of Smyrna to Izmir.
Due to the destruction in the First World War, the looting and the city fire of September 1922 and major earthquakes in 1928, very little of the old city has been preserved.
• Archaeological museum, including Hittite finds
• Konak Clock Tower
• Konak Mosque
• Ethnographic museum
• Museum of Visual Arts
• Ataturk Museum
• Old agora (market)
There are the excavations of the "Agora". The walls and towers of the Kadifekale castle are located on top of the mountain in the middle of the city. From here you have a spectacular view of the entire city and the Gulf of Izmir.
But the nicest thing is actually the old shopping center of "Kemer Alti". Narrow streets, often covered with canvas, together form a true maze. In the middle of this is the "Kizlar Hane" (girls' castle), a beautifully renovated castle, which currently serves as a shopping center. Small antique and souvenir shops predominate here.
When you come out of "Kemer Alti" on the side of the sea, you come to a large square. This is called "Konak". This includes the old clock tower of Izmir. The main station of the metro is also here. And then the ferry boats also dock here with which you can go to the other side, to another part of the city, "Karsiyaka". This is a very modern area with a pleasant "up to date" shopping street and luxurious apartment buildings. Izmir is an interesting place to visit once. You take the scheduled bus from Kusadasi (every hour) to the bus station in Izmir. From there you have to take a taxi (very cheap) to the center of Kemer Alti. There is also an excellent train connection between Selcuk and Izmir. You can also choose to go from Söke, but then you have to count on more than doubling the travel time due to the mountainous area. The ferry trip is also fun to do. Don't go on Sunday, because everything is closed then. Experience a non-touristy Turkey and go to Izmir. It will provide you with a lot of conversation material and very original photos.

Selçuk is an interesting place, which is about 20 km from Kusadasi and 2 km from Ephesus is. But this place is not really a tourist place where guests stay. It has a lot of visitors, because here is the Archeological Museum of Ephesus. It takes you close to the excavation of the Selçuk Artemision, the Temple of Artemis, once one of the seven world wonders.
In the town itself there are the ruins of the "St.Johannes Basilica", one of the first and largest cathedrals in the world! Directly next to the Byzantine castle of Selçuk, the citadel of Ayasoluk. Below is also the "Isa Bey Mosque" one of the finest 14th century buildings from the time of Selsjoeken.
In the shopping Selçuk you will find the remains of a Roman aqueduct, mainly in the spring pressure is in use. Here nestle namely the familiar storks of Selçuk. Atop the columns they build their nests. Sometimes you see ten to fifteen stork families live together. Very Selçuk and environment at that time frequented by these beautiful birds.
On Saturday is market day. A large and lively market. In the town are also plenty of restaurants and cafes. Maybe not so set on tourists, but this may be so fun.

Atop the mountain "Bulbul" is a chapel. Here once stood the house of Mary have. Mary has spent the last years of her life here in this area lived. It is now a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Muslims. As a mother of a main prophet, Islam sees Mary (in Turkish Mereyem-ana) as a Saint.
The house attracts many visitors from all over the world. Among these visitors have included Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. The latter explained this as an official pilgrimage.
The road from Selçuk to the house of Mary is 9 km long and winds its way slowly up to the top of the mountain. Along the way you view panoramas. Every Sunday is a Catholic Mass being proposed for those who are interested. The house of Mary can be reached by taxi, rental car or scooter.

The road to Sirince is 12 km long, which mainly consists of a winding road with some (dangerous) hairpin bends. The village is a textbook example of the Greek-Turkish culture fusion. In 1920, during the exchange of citizens between Greece and Turkey, Turks took the place of Greeks. The houses here still have the typical Greek appearance, while the interior is more Turkish. It is a beautiful village located at an altitude of over 600 meters. The area is very green and exceptionally fertile. Everything grows here and it has traditionally been a rich agricultural village.
Tourism only discovered this village about fifteen years ago and the residents discovered that tourism was a new source of income. People (and the village) adapted quickly. The shopping street is very busy. Mainly saleswomen, the village women, who offer all kinds of homemade products. Woolen socks, tablecloths, lace rugs, bedspreads, but also homemade products such as olive oil. And there's some really nice stuff in there!
Sirince is best known for its wines. You can taste, view and buy fairly heavy wines everywhere here. In the center, almost all houses have been converted in recent years into shops, terraces, restaurants and even small museums. But just outside this small center it is still really village-like. Many beautiful restored houses on narrow streets. Worth walking through once. On some streets the word climbing is more appropriate, because they can be quite steep. The view from the top of the village is a real reward. Sirince literally means "beautiful" and it is.
Sirince can be reached via Selçuk by Dolmus (every 20 minutes), taxi or private transport.

Kirazli-köy or the "cherry village" is located about eight kilometers inland from Kusadasi. It is a typical small Turkish village. People live quietly in a rural way. Agriculture is the source of income. The soil here is particularly fertile, the climate is ideal and there is plenty of water. The perfect combination to continue living rurally. Kirazli is also known for its ecological market.
But if you live so close to a tourist city, you cannot escape its influence. Not many tourists come there yet, but the residents of Kusadasi themselves do. They look for the coolness and tranquility of the typical village restaurants. Open-air restaurants, where you sit on cushions on the floor with a low table and are only served really healthy village food.
"Köy-Sofrasi" (the village table) is a good example of such a restaurant and is located at the end of the main road on the left. Lately we have also seen more and more foreigners living in Kusadasi coming this way. And rightly so, because it is wonderful to spend an afternoon lying at the table here. Think of it as an old-fashioned lounge. You can easily get here with the Dolmus or your own transport such as a car or scooter. The road from Kusadasi to Kirazli is a beautiful "scooter road". Not so busy with beautiful views and lots of greenery.
Our park is located on the road from Yaylaköy to Kirazli and this road winds beautifully through the mountains to this intimate village.

Bodrum, the Saint Tropez of Turkey, is 155 km from Kusadasi. For years, Bodrum has been the most popular holiday destination for the Jet Set and wealthy Turks. After the arrival of mass tourism, this has declined somewhat, but Bodrum is still the best seaside resort in Turkey in terms of nightlife and going out.
Bodrum is a bit smaller than Kusadasi and in the center there are no high-rise buildings and all the buildings are white, which gives the place a very charming appearance.
Bodrum used to be called Halicarnos, which was the capital of the Carian Empire. We know its most famous ruler as king "Maus", from which the word mausoleum is derived. The mausoleum was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The foundations can still be visited.
You can also admire the amphitheater from Roman times in Bodrum. The old castle determines the cityscape in the center of Bodrum. This castle currently serves as an archaeological museum.
Bodrum is too far away to visit by scooter, but it is doable with a rental car. But there is also a scheduled bus every hour from Kusadasi to Bodrum.

On the road from Kusadasi to Bodrum, after about 60 km you think you see the sea on the left, which is strange, because the Aegean Sea should indeed be on the right. This is also true, because what you see is not the sea, but "Lake Bafa". Once a large sea bay, where the port city of "Heraklia" was located. The lake is 80 km2; and is rich in fish and birds (including storks, flamingos and even spoonbills).
It is best to drive around the lake to the back. You are now on the side of the "Latmos" mountain range. This mountain range looks as if it is made up of separate blocks. Mind you, blocks as big as apartment buildings, higgledy-piggledy on top of each other. Very photogenic and impressive. On the edge of the lake is the village of "Kapi-kirio", which was actually built on the ruins of ancient Heraklia. Everywhere you see parts of the imposing city wall meandering over the rocks.
In the lake there are a number of (peninsula) islands with the remains of large old Byzanthine monasteries. Time seems to have stood still here. There is also almost no traffic here, electricity has only been available for a few years. The population here are fishermen, who live from what the lake has to offer. This is a perfect day to walk, swim and enjoy this bizarre environment. For a fee you can probably take a trip with one of the fishermen in their small fishing boats.
Lake Bafa is easiest to reach by rental car.

A collection of discarded steam trains was brought together near the town of Çamlik in the early 1990s. These have been renovated, some better than others. But the result was beautiful. From an antique "baby" steam train to the colossal colossuses that once crossed the whole of Anatolia. You can look at them, walk around them, but the most impressive thing is when you climb in and up. It seems almost impossible that these massive iron monsters were once floated on boiled water.
The open-air museum is worth a visit, especially children find it fun and educational. Çamlik is located 12 km behind Kusadasi and is easy to reach by (Aydin line) or private transport.

A miraculous twist of nature has created one of the seven wonders of the world here. Pamukkale, "the Cotton Castle", is one of the most important sights of Turkey. Almost all tours through this beautiful country visit these limestone terraces. Two-day excursions are organized from the "Turkish Riviera" to view this. But fortunately in Kusadasi you are a lot closer and this can be visited in a day. This snow-white and fairytale-like phenomenon has an unprecedented appeal to almost all visitors to Turkey, which is evident from the unprecedented numbers of people who come here every year. There are few places on this planet that are as photogenic as this strange snowy landscape in the middle of the Turkish hinterland.
Deep underground in Pamukkale there are limestone layers hundreds of meters thick, where calcium carbonate has dissolved in the water, which comes to the surface again through springs. When this warm water cools to about 35 degrees, the carbon dioxide disappears from this solution, causing a chalky deposit. This process has been repeating itself for hundreds of thousands of years and has formed this bizarre landscape.
The magnesium, sulphur, iron and carbonated water seems to have a medicinal effect. This did not go unnoticed. Even before the beginning of our era, a lot of abuse had been done here. Today there are still spa hotels in the area. You are no longer allowed to just walk up the chalk cliffs and splash around in one of the natural terraces. But at many of the hotels you can use the swimming pools filled with this special water - for free or for a small fee.
Pamukkale is also home to the Hierapolis and Necropolis excavations. The area around Pamukkale is green and fertile and full of ruins. These are the tangible evidence of a glorious past. To see are the remains of the Temple of Apollo, defensive walls, the Roman baths (now the museum) and the "Octagon" (the church where the apostle Philip is apparently buried).
By public transport to Denizli (225 km) you will pass this magical place, after which you have to travel another 20 km with Dolmus to Pamukkale. According to travel experts, a taxi is slightly better, but it is a bit more expensive. It is even better to get there by (rental) car.

Especially for men: a mandatory number during a holiday in Turkey; So also in Kusadasi you can visit the , which is Turkish for barber/hairdresser. The ; is usually a very small business of a few square meters, where you can get a shave and haircut. These hairdressers are often on the street inviting you for the shave of your life. It usually starts with cutting, which they do very neatly. Then we start by smearing the face with a large old-fashioned shaving brush. Then they take a cutting knife in which a Gilette razor blade is placed and they attack the face in a very dexterous manner. This is truly an art in itself. It is said that the Berbers learn their trade by practicing on balloons. This way you will get a smooth shave and when you are done we will do this ritual again in the same way. So after two shaves you think you're done. But now we are going to trim eyebrows and nose hairs, ear hairs and neck hairs are not forgotten either. And to top it all off, they also burn away the downy hair on ears, cheeks and possibly the nose. Then the face is quickly rubbed with alum. Guaranteed no more wounds or infections. Rinse face, wash hair with shampoo, apply one to smooth skin and spray it with air. This is followed by a facial, head, neck, shoulder, back and arm massage down to the fingers. Add a cup of tea and set aside at least an hour. It is not pricey at all for this treat. The costs from eight to twelve euros. So gentlemen: a visit to the; don't forget, because it really is the shave of a lifetime. Not suitable for ladies for a bikini line or the like.

Turkey has an excellent health system. There is many very flourishing private clinics, often with large multinational organizations behind them. No wonder there are even medical travel site from the Netherlands to Turkey for a wide variety of medical procedures. Also in the field of cosmetic pure chirurchie is a large number of active clinics. Of course there are organizations that focus on such trips.
If you unfortunately have to rely on the Turkish health care you can relax and be assured that you are in the best hands condition. Unfortunately, some residents of the park here, although very positive experiences they obviously would rather not have had. An example of the organization that focuses on medical travel from England can be found here:
Health Travel

In addition to the famous Turkish bathhouses (Haman), we also have 2 thermal baths in the neighboring town of Davutlar. They are located next to each other and the route is clearly indicated with many signs. Once there, it is perfectly possible to first briefly view both baths and make a choice based on that. The hot (42.5 degrees) water is of volcanic origin and contains large amounts of minerals, iron, sulfur and also Radon gas.

A holiday in Turkey is really not complete if you have not visited an original Turkish bathhouse.
This may be your most Turkish experience and certainly one of the most fun. Many people find the idea of being washed by a stranger a bit scary. But if they are persuaded, almost everyone finds it worth repeating. It is a blessing for the body and you feel reborn. You have never been so clean in your life.

What is a Hammam?
A Hamam is actually just an oriental-style public bathhouse. It has centuries of traditions and has its origins in the ancient Roman baths. Poor, rich, notables or villagers, man or woman, everyone goes to the bathhouse. But it is also more than just the place where you get a wash. It's part of normal social life. A 'meeting place', an outing.

What do you do in a Hammam?
When you enter, you will be guided to your changing area. There is a pestemal (loin cloth) waiting for you, which you wrap around your waist (men) or just under your armpits (women). Don't forget to put on your "nalin". These are the slippers. These are not superfluous, because wet marble floors are mirror-smooth. And it is a lot more hygienic. Then you go to the "hararet", the warm room where the washing and massage take place. But first you're going to warm up. You rinse yourself a bit, also to cool down. And then you warm up again, because it is warm in a Hammam. Not as hot as a sauna, but warm enough. And that's the idea, because you have to sweat. Your skin, your pores need to open. Then you will be washed with a "Kese". A glove made of braided (horse) hair. You see the dirt and dead skin cells coming off your skin in rolls. Then you are supposed to rinse yourself clean. You then return to the large marble slab. Now you are going to be washed. A kind of "pillowcase", full of delicious olive soap, is rubbed over your body. And you disappear under a thick layer of foam. Then you get the famous Turkish massage (actually a good wash). After this, rinse yourself completely clean and return to your changing room. You have now left your wet "pestema" in the "hararet" and you have put on a dry towel. Then you get a towel around your shoulders and one around your head. You're starting to look so much like the sultan. And then you will of course receive a glass of tea in your changing room. Fifteen minutes to completely relax and warm up and you're done!
There are bathhouses that also offer an oil massage. This is very tasty, but of course it is not appropriate. You are now very clean and then you fill your pores with oil again. That's not quite the intention. The heat and sweating have made you extremely thirsty and it is best to have a drink.

Where do I have to go?
Kusadasi has several Hamams. The most popular is the "Belediye Hamam" or the Municipality of Hamam. This is the largest and most beautiful of the old bathhouses. Really worth a visit.
Also in the "Kaleiçi", behind the large mosque, there is a smaller Hamam and this is also busy.
Just outside Kusadasi towards Kustur Beach we find a new Hamam, built in the old style. This can be reached by Dolmus or taxi.

What should I wear in a Hammam?
Well, nothing really, just your towel. But if you don't feel comfortable in that, you can also wear your swimming trunks, bikini or bathing suit.
Are men and women separated?
Original indeed, but in the Hamams where many holidaymakers come, you can simply enter with your husband or wife. However, they often exclude single (local) men. But if necessary there is a second "hararet" in the "Belediye Hamam". You can even rent this privately.