Turkey
has a number of ‘must see’ attractions scattered throughout the country,
and many travelers try to see all these sites in a week or two. They
inevitably spend most of their time on busses just to see overcrowded,
and sometimes overrated, sites. Strangely enough, the most popular beaches
on the Mediterranean and the Southern Aegean Sea are not that great and
are usually packed as many package tourists choose to take their week or
two in the sun there. In contrast, the Northern
Aegean Sea is more of a holiday destination for Turks than for foreign
tourists. Beaches are pristine and unspoiled, and since the region
does not rely solely on tourism, you can get a better feel of real life
in Turkey. This area is not far from Istanbul, but lies off the beaten
tourist path. The highlights of the Aegean coast include archeological
sites, beaches and small intimate villages where time stands still in the
sense of tradition, although just about all modern conveniences are at
your disposal; you won’t need to worry about finding an ATM or any accommodations.
In the eight
days that we were in Turkey, we spent two in Istanbul and six traveling
along the Aegean coast. We didn’t see all the spots, instead we took our
time to enjoy a few places without being in a rush to ‘do this’ and ‘see
that.’ We took in Ephesus, Bozcaada, Troy, and Assos.
Troy
Our first stop
after Istanbul was a seven-hour trip to the ruins of Troy. Many tourists
start from the Mediterranean beach town of Antalya in the south and work
their way north. Consequently, most tourists do not reach Troy as
it is considerably further north than other tourist attractions. Because
of this, we enjoyed the atmosphere at Troy, as there were no salesmen hustling
us. Also, maps and information about the history and excavation of
Troy are posted throughout the site, making it very possible to explore
the ruins without hiring a guide. Most people do not stay at Troy,
but set up base in Canakkele, 15 km to the north. We however, chose
to stay on the nearby island of Bozcaada, which is a much more beautiful
and romantic place.
