Popular 2 bedroom apartment on the renowned Lakeside Gardens resort

• Directions
• Region Description

Directions

1. Depart Bodrum Airport (BJV) by the airport road, join the main road and follow the signs to Bodrum.
2. After travelling for approximately 8/9 Kms you will see a Shell garage on your right and approx 75 metres after the garage (again on your right) you will see a large orange coloured articulated lorry with the words “Durum House” written on it. (This is in fact a mobile kebab café – but it is always there).
3. Approx 50 metres after the lorry there is a turning on your right signposted “Bogazici, Bargilya, Vita Park Golf and Lakeside Garden” – take this turning and it will take you over a causeway crossing the lake.
4. Continue and take the first turning on your left, you will see a signpost showing the way to “Lakeside Garden” and “Zergulkent”.
5. Follow the signs and after about 100 metres on your right you will pass a small wayside café / shop called “UYEN BUFE”.
6. After approx another 100 metres turn right – again signposted “Lakeside Garden” and “Zergulkent” - this will take you up a winding road, under a large blue gantry across the road and eventually a rather steep hill.
7. Eventually you will see a small bus type shelter on your right, turn left here into CUMHURIYET CADDESI, - again signposted Lakeside Garden.
8. Continue on this road as far as you can (about 2 minutes) and you will come to a “T” junction, sign posted Lakeside Garden.
9. Turn left here and down the hill, Lakeside Garden is approx 200 metres on your left – directly opposite Zergulkent.

Full address is:
Apartment Ferina 1
Lakeside Gardens Sitesi
Hisar Mevkii
Dorttepe Koyu 6350
Turkey

Car Hire: Not Essential (Arrange Car Hire?)

Region Description

• Lakeside Gardens
• Lake Tuzla
• Bodrum Peninsula
• Turkey

The Turquoise Coast / Lycia Region

The Aegean Coast tempts tourists to Turkey with its long, beautiful beaches and forest hills. Ancient port towns such as Foça, Kusadasi and Bodrum have re-invented themselves as modern-day resorts with well-developed tourist infrastructures. But its popularity is nothing new; all the way back in the 2nd Century, Greek travel writer Pausanias wrote a glowing review of the Aegean Coast, praising its pleasant weather climate and splendid architecture.

The northern end of the coast is more popular with the locals than for foreigners, as the farther south you go the better the climate gets. There's plenty to see and lots of sunshine, and it’s easy to get to with regular bus routes from Istanbul and Ankara, and even a ferry from Venice during the summertime.

Other Local Information

To begin you tour of the local area whether by Dolmus (local bus) or car travel back down to the main road and turn right towards Bodrum. The first village you meet, a few minutes down the road is:

Guvercinlik is the first village you meet on the road to Bodrum. It is a beautiful fishing village, surrounded by nature. It is enclosed sea like a lake. Guvercinlik is surrounded with small restaurants, hotels and houses. There is Salih Island on the shore.

Leaving Guvercinlik and travel the 30kms to Bodrum along one of the most scenic roads I have ever travelled admiring the crystal clear Aegean Sea for 10 or so kms.

By the way, buses run through the night back to Lakeside Garden Resort.

Yalikavak

Turn right on the main road near Ortakent, after 10 km you come to Yalikavak with its small, but busy, centre and a harbour where visiting yachts and fishing boats moor cheerfully together. The restaurants in the town centre and on the sea front are popular with locals and tourists alike.

Here is little beach, but it's more comfortable to sit in a waterside cafe and watch the world go by. Several buildings have been tastefully restored in the town; a former water cistern has become a small art gallery and a former olive oil press is converted into a kilim showroom where visitors are welcome.

Türkbükü and Gölköy

These two fishing villages we will mention in one, because they are close to each other. You find them on the peninsula map east of Yalikavak. These delightful spots are the favourite retreats of many well-known Turkish artists, actors and entertainers who enliven the many small bars and restaurants at night. Several of the more popular restaurants are run by Istanbul couples who have fled the big city.

Torba

This little village is hiding in a charming little bay. Heading North of Bodrum, Torba is the nearest village. It is only active during the summer months, but is a pleasant and relaxed place to visit. There are also the remains of a Byzantine monastery, and nearby is a small path leading to the next bay, which is ideal for a little light walking. Ferries to Didim (ancient Didyma) leave from Torba harbour across the Gulf of Güllük.

Nazar Boncuk, this is the Little Magic Stone that protects one from the *Evil Eye*

This is a typical item, a specialty of this region you should take home as a souvenir, it's called the Boncuk, the Little Magic Stone that protects one from the *Evil Eye* (pronounced 'bon-dschuk'), you will see this blue glass piece everywhere here on the Aegean Coast. But what is behind this superstition? The force of the evil eye (or Nazar) is a widely accepted and feared random element in Turkish daily life. The word *Nazar* denotes seeing or looking and is often used in literally translated phrases such as "Nazar touched her", in reference to a young woman, for example, who mysteriously goes blind.

Dolmus

The Dolmus (dolmush) is typically Turkish and can be found everywhere. These are mainly minibuses travelling relatively short distances. A dolmus usually waits and starts in the bus station until it is full and then leaves. You can board a dolmus anywhere on its route by signalling it to stop for you. Similarly you can get off at a convenient point anywhere along the route. The destination of the dolmus is posted in the windscreen. There are services to all places on the Bedroom peninsula. In summer the latest hour of departure of the minibuses or dolmus is 24.00. This kind of public transport is cheap and efficient and works very well all over Turkey.

Market day in Bodrum

Every Tuesday there is a cloth market and every Friday, there is a market with fruit and vegetables in Bodrum. Traders and farmers come to Bodrum to sell their produce. This ranges from all kinds of fruits and vegetables to imitation Rolex watches and items of clothing. It is well worth a visit and you should try to bargain before buying anything

National holidays

Official holidays are:
January 1st - New Year's Day
April 23rd - Children's Day
May 19th - Day of Youth and Sport
August 30th Victory Day.
October 29th Republic Day

Tipping

The service on bills is not specially indicated in hotels or restaurants, you should calculate 5 to 10%. In some of the existing travel guides the amount of 15% is recommended - (living here) this we found to high. Of course as for every service, tipping is expected and the salaries are very low in Turkey, so many people are dependent on this sort of extra income. In general - like everywhere all over the world: the right tipping can open doors - so it does in Turkey.

Drinking water

Water from the tap is mainly water for use, like for washing, you should not drink it. To have drinking water -we recommend the mineral water in those plastic bottles. This water has an outstandingly good quality all over Turkey.