New - Panoramic view of Bodrum
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Part of the fun is listening to the witty exchanges between neighbouring stall holders, as
they compete for the attention of customers. Then once the goods are selected buyers and sellers set about bargaining.
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Until four or five years ago the Bodrum market was held in the town's streets, and when
the new market-place opened everyone objected at first. Now, however, they appear to have become accustomed to
it. Thursdays and Fridays are reserved for the food market, and it would be difficult to find such
an extraordinary variety of fruit and vegetables any where else. Even the humble carrot comes in three or four
varieties.
Tangerines, oranges and lemons from the nearby orchards which cover most of tbe peninsula
form glowing heaps of every tone of yellow and orange. Then there are the wild herbs so popular in local Aegean
cuisine, such as mustard, nettles, and the ligonium. Following rain edible fungi appear in abundance, and since
they are rich in protein are eaten instead of meat. Most popular of the local varieties is the çintar mushroom,
whose shapeless appearance belies its fine flavour. Grilled or fried in local olive oil it is a wonderful delicacy.
Warning: If you ask for the market and you say "Market", Turkish people
will show you the way to supermarkets like Migros and Gima or little shops selling consumer goods. The word »Bazaar«
similar to the Turkish word »Pazar« is a better choice when wanting to go to the open air markets in
Bodrum as well as elsewhere on the Peninsula.
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Who said that Turkey has few varieties of cheese? On the market stalls are arrayed cheeses of
all shape, size, colour and flavour. Fresh curd cheese, numerous types of Tulum cheese, cottage cheeses, goat's
milk cheeses, fresh and mature Kasar cheeses, various types of white cheese, and many more present a difficult
choice. Olives, their partner on the breakfast table, are here in equal diversity: black olives, pinkish coloured
cherry olives, dark green olives, light green olives, çizik (slashed) olives, and kirma (crushed) olives.
If you arrive at the market early you can make a satisfying breakfast on the olives and slices of cheese which
the vendors offer you to taste!
MARKET DAY'S IN AND AROUND BODRUM
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Mondays
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Güvercinlik
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Tuesdays
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Bodrum (fabrics and clothing)
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Wednesdays
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Gümüslük and Ortakent
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Thursdays
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Bodrum (food) and Yalikavak
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Fridays
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Bodrum (food) and Bitez
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Saturdays
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Turgutreis (food and clothing)
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Sundays
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Mumcular and Gumbet
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New: there is a flea market in Bitez, every Sunday of the month. get some impressions on this page
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Then the colour and variety of the spices is bewitching, conjuring up images of the distant
lands where many of them come from. Strings of dried vegetables - aubergines, peppers, tomatoes and okra - are
a mouthwatering sight.
And of course there is the honey in every tone. Pine honey, flower honeys and wild Karakovan honey are all to be
found here. Then there are the village eggs, fresh with their rich yellow yolks so different from cage eggs.
Village women bring in delicious homemade bazlama, a kind of wheel shaped griddle bread made of whole wheat or
sometimes maize flour, either plain or flavoured with herbs and olives.
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On Mondays it is market day at Guvercinlik 20 km north of Bodrum. The market of
this small village is on a modest scale compared to other local markets, but is worth visiting for its picturesque
setting right on the seafront. On the one hand are the stalls, and on the other fishermen hauling in their nets.
There are a couple of tiny fish restaurant, and it makes an enjoyable day out. This market sells both food and
clothing, and few but local villagers shop here.
The market traders have their favourite places, so each market has its own distinctive character. Most of those
at Yalikavak, for instance, do not go to the Bodrum market. Nor do the Milas fabric sellers who go to Turgutreis
market have stalls at Bodrum's Tuesday market, because the famous Milas market is held on the same day.
On Wednesdays, there are small markets at Ortakent and Gumusluk, which also attract quite
a few people. After shopping at the market on the Kadikale road out of Gumusluk, you can go down to the sea to
enjoy a meal of fish in one of the many seafront restaurants. The Turgutreis market on Saturdays
is one of the most popular of all This is a large market with plenty of variety, and as many fabric stalls as in
Bodrum. Kilim and carpet sellers from Milas also have stalls here. Foods including wild herbs, olive oil and cheese
offer abundant variety. For lunch., Turgutreis offers many small restaurants next to the harbour serving a range
of delicous vegetable dishes.
The last day of the week, Sunday, brings Mumcular market, where the old airport is located. This
is another small local market, quiet and adequate for ordinary kitchen provisions. As the sun gradually sinks down,
it is time for the market traders to put their stock away. The bales of fabric and clothing are packed in boxes,
the fruits and vegetables and herbs and spices into their sacks. Within a couple of hours the stalls are empty
and the traders have gone home. Only the dogs and cats wander around for agingfor leftovers. But in the next morning
the colourful, noisy scene will begin again at the next day's market, so if you missed this one, not to worry.
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local fabrics made in the region,
cotton thread of all colours, household linen, and kilims offer a wide choice in the Bodrum, Turgutreis and Yalikavak
markets.
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