What are we doing out here?!

Trip Start Apr 04, 2008

Trip End May 15, 2008

Loading Map

Map your own trip!

Map Options

Show trip route

Hide lines

Flag of Turkey Altinkum, İzmir, Turkey
Sunday, May 11, 2008

(C) Our continuing quest for the perfect beach has led us down the Cesme peninsula from Izmir to this very out of the way place called Altinkum. The drive along the coast is very nice and the views of Chios across the bay provide an interesting perspective on how closely related the Turks and Greeks really are. Many villages along this coast were inhabited by Greeks until the big population exchange in 1923. The point made is that the people are all of one race, just some are christian and some are muslim and they shouldn't live together. Seems very much like the divisions in the Balkans. Same people, different religions, eternal political strife.
But back to the beach - we stopped in Cesme for some breakfast/lunch and found - surprise! bread rings with sesame seeds. We picked up some fruit and other goodies and headed south. We wound along tiny roads and dead-ended a couple of times before finally coming across the parking spot for Atinkum beach. HERE IT IS! Beautiful blue bay with calmly lapping water along a sandy stretch. Definitely not tourist season yet, but warm enough to swim. We had a fine picnic on the beach and then picked up to get on the road before it got too late. We are heading all the way to Ayvalik tonight.

Slideshow