Gumusluk, a Traditional Fishing Village
Gumusluk is a traditional fishing village on the Bodrum peninsula in the south west end of the Aegean part of the Turkish riviera
Gumusluk is a traditional fishing village on the Bodrum peninsula in the south west end of the Aegean part in the Turkish riviera. Bodrum or the ancient city of Halicarnassus of Caria is a well known center of tourism and yachting. Bodrum peninsula is also well known for the lovely bays and coves with the suitable and very clean waters for sailing and swimming.
Gumusluk, some 25 km away of Bodrum is a peaceful village to relax and is also a place offering opportunities
for walking. The shore-line of the village have sandy beaches and plenty of fish restaurants to make your
holiday a memorable one.
To reach Gumusluk you can take a mini bus, dolmus in Turkish, from Bodrum and it takes about 50 minutes to get to Gumusluk. If you have your own car or if you have chosen to rent a car, it is a 40 minutes drive from Bodrum. Drive towards Turgutreis and turn into Derekoy road to the right after you pass Gurece roundabout. The road will take you to Gumusluk.
On a hot summer day, Gumusluk Bay, an ancient fishing port called Yali by the locals, is an oasis for those who are looking for a place to catch a cool breeze. You should definitely reward yourself with a day at Gumusluk Bay if you happen to have your holidays anywhere on the Bodrum peninsula.
You can have your morning tea or coffee with a piece of fresh baked pastry on some of the seaside cafes enjoying
the stunning views of Gumusluk Bay to distant islands. You can explore the nearby tiny Rabbit Island which you
can access by foot walking through the sea and history along an ancient causeway, enjoying the sun, and
refreshing yourself in the crystal clear sea.
Alternatively you can have your lunch at some restaurant and swim on the sandy beach. Later in the day you can
have your dinner watching the sunset over the sea and the nearby islands fading in the darkness while sipping
your drink in some restaurant on the shore-line. In addition to the seafood restaurants, cafes, there are
local shops where you can buy your daily necessities, many gift shops, and two car parks.
On the holiday season there are plenty of daily tour boats, gullets, sailboats, motor yachts that grace the port,
but after the high season those are rarely seen and fishing boats take their place in Gumusluk Bay. During the
fishing season, local fishermen sell their catch, fish, octopus, squid, to fish restaurants and customers
directly on the quay. The seaside cafe at that time is mostly populated by locals, all year residents, and
fishermen mending nets and baiting their hooks to prepare for another catch. So if you happen to be there out of
the crowded season you can have the privilege to be part of this unique atmosphere of a typical Aegean fishing
village combining tranquility with history.
On Wednesdays, you can shop fresh fruit and vegetables in the open market bazaar which is located in a street
on the right hand side from Gumusluk village towards Gumusluk Bay. You can easily spot the entrance by the
crowd at the beginning of the street on that day.
If you want to feel history under your feet you should visit the Rabbit island, which separates the two beaches of Gumusluk. The island is accessible by a partially antique sunken causeway, which was built during the Hellenistic period.
Once upon a time the Rabbit island was a place which was visited by the King of Halicarnassus Mausolus and his beloved
lady Artemisya. He had the causeway built in order to have access to the Rabbit Island to feed the rabbits living on
this small island and watch the famous and unique sunset with his beloved Lady. However it is a pity that today
there are no rabbits living on the island.
It is possible to walk to the island through the water since it is only knee-deep. You can climb up to the top of the island, take photos of the beautiful surroundings, sunbathe or dive into the clear blue waters of Gumusluk from the rock formations and swim above the ruins near the island.
In summary one can say "There is no best time of the year to visit Gumusluk Bay".
April 13, 2009