Many visitors to the Turkish coastal town of Kusadasi arrive by cruise ship. The Kusadasi Setur Marina is one of the best and most frequented in the country, that's why cruise ships on a tour of the Mediterranean dock there and allow their passengers a day ashore to get a taste of Turkey.
Location of Kusadasi
Kusadasi, which has only a permanent population of about 10.000, is situated on the west coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea. What makes the location so attractive, are the high mountains souring behind, the bays and islands off shore and the proximity to such famous historical sites as Ephesus, Miletos and Didyma.
For visitors staying longer or coming over land, Kusadasi is reached by road from Izmir which is about 90km north or from Soeke about the same distance to the south east. Kusadasi has also several beaches, Ladies Beach, which is somewhat narrow but in town and Pamucak Beach, about 8km away, but much wider. Dolmus, the local mini buses run frequently and everywhere.
Docking in Kusadasi Port
Travelers who disembark from their cruise ship, literally "fall" into a small shopping and duty free center, where they can replenish their leisure wardrobe and already get an eye-full of Turkish jewelery and carpets. For anyone interested in books about Turkey, here is the best bookshop to obtain them as well as international press.
Passing through security gates, visitors come to the lovely, well tended and airy sea promenade with numerous cafes and restaurants.
Shopping in Kusadasi
Leaving the promenade behind and turning right and uphill, the avid shopper enters a partly covered bazaar, an example of a lively, crowded, noisy and typically Turkish shopping experience. Carpet weavers are seated in front of the stores and ply their trade and the merchants are more than happy to explain the intricacies and different qualities.
Jewelery shops, displaying wonderful 22 carat gold Turkish bracelets and necklaces abound. Of course, this being Turkey and a people who carry trade in their blood, visitors are frequently addressed with the following words: "Hallo, where are you from? Come into my shop, I have the best...." whatever. Of course, everybody has "the best", so it's advisable to just smile politley and move on.
A word of caution: as soon as a cruise ship docks in port, the prices go up! Therefore, the seasoned shopper haggles and barters even more than usual. It's all part of the fun.
A Taste of History in Kusadasi
On one side of the port, which form a U, is an amazing and well preserved castle, which dates from the times of the Cruisaders and closely resembles its more famous counterpart on the Greek island of Rhodes. Walking along the promenade, visitors can climb up the many steps to the castle and enjoy the fortress and stunning views over the sea.
Kusadasi boasts several historic mosques, among them the Fortress Mosque which dates from the 17th century. Mosques can be visited, but the visitor must not forget to respect religion, not to enter during prayer time, to remove their shoes and, especially ladies, to cover arms, legs and the head.
Equally worthwhile visiting is the Caravanserail, which is also close to the seafront. Built in 1618 as a trading, feeding and resting place for merchants, it is now a beautiful hotel with a gorgeous courtyard. One can sit down and enjoy a Turkish coffee or, at night, a show, including belly dancing.
Food in Kusadasi
Nobody needs to starve in Kusadasi. There are several restaurants along the promenade which offer traditional Turkish dishes, prepared in the open and selected by the guest from a hot buffet. There are also seafood restaurants and, for those in a hurry, many fast food outlets, albeit of the Turkish variety, located in the bazaar or along the main road leading uphill.
One day is short for Kusadasi, but it is, literally, a very good port of call to get a first impression of what Turkey is like and the visitor might be tempted to return for a longer stay and explore the historical surroundings.
For further information on Kusadsi visit here
 |
 |
