"A Short Guide to Gocek" Gocek by austinabz

The boat leaves for the island at a Turkish 10:0 am. i.e. anytime between 10:00 and 10:45.
To get to Gocek Island make your way to the sea front and, facing the sea, turn left and walk along the harbour until you come to the Barbaros Restaurant on your left hand side. Immediately opposite is the entrance to one of the marina jetties. Walk through the gate and approximately 10 metres past the security man’s kiosk you’ll find a wee boat on your left with a sign on it saying Gocek Island. Jump aboard and he’ll eventually set off for the island; approximately a 15 minute voyage.
Once on the island set up a tab at the bar, giving the patron your name, and he’ll book your boat fare, sun lounger rental and drinks and food against your name. Settle up before you depart from Gocek – last boat about 18.00 hrs. but enquire to confirm as sometimes he’ll do a later run.
There are toiltes and showers, albeit they are a bit basic, but absolutely adequate. You’ll also have to put up with the cockerel and his trying to have his wicked way with the hens. There are also geese, ducks and a ginger cat. The hammock is a fine way to sleep off lunch by the way.
For lunch we can recommend the aubergine potato and tomato casserole (can’t remember its exact name), with a plate of the finest hand cut chips you have tasted for a long time and, bread to dip up the yummy tomatoes sauce.

There are lots of boats moored along the harbour offering trips around the 12 Islands. We used the Sea Bird. It’s a double decked boat but not that big with comfortable mattresses; only about fourteen people on it, all Turkish and very sweet and smiley. We had a great lunch of barbecued chicken, pasta, salad and lovely wholemeal bread plus afternoon tea and fruit. (They didn’t mind us taking our own water – in fact the Turks took additional banquets of fruit and cakes in huge bags). If you want a veggie lunch it may be best to book it a day in advance. You can also order sea bass instead of chicken the day before. Cost is 25 lira including lunch (£10.25). We thought it was a great day out with plenty of swimming and sunbathing in the sea breeze and really good value. One of the other boats sails, as opposed to using the engine, for about an hour in the afternoon and costs 30 lira. We really planned to go on that one as well but didn’t manage it. We’ll do it on our next trip to Gocek.

Palm Restaurant (It also has a Turkish name that we can’t remember) has gardens across the road from the indoor restaurant and kitchens. It is a family run place with a lovely owner, his wife and daughters and various friends who help out. It was always busy with Turkish people and the food is good and very good value. One night we shared 3 mezes, an Italian pizza and 2 beers followed by a complimentary raki each and baklava and the whole lot only came to 23 lira.
The Palm is situated on the same street as the post office which is just off the main square. You can’t miss that as there are statues side by side of Ataturk, a miner and a peasant lady. Opposite the statues is a jeweller’s shop. Take the street up the side of the shop and walk past the post office, laundry and the sail makers shop and the Palm is on the right hand side with the garden on your left.
Another good eaterie is the Natural Restaurant. Here you eat in the gardens where you can also finish your meal with a Turkish coffee or tea in the little tree house. There are also gazebos with squashy cushions in the gardens. The Natural is located a little further out of town from the Palm. To find it continue past the Palm swinging right onto the main road. Continue past the Blue yacht technical service depot, the kids playground and the timber workshop until you come to the Natural. Food here is very good but don’t order too much because before you know it there is a huge basket of hot herby flat bread with garlic butter and a dish of Parmesan style cheese to sprinkle on the bread. Absolutely delicious and not charged on the bill. Oh yes, look out for the cats, they provide the cabaret.
Most of the restaurants along the sea front are nice. The Blue is a good one serving more international cuisine. You’ll see that the word Blue crops up all over Gocek – think it’s a family with many fingers in many pies. Anyway, the Blue does have offers. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the “buy one get one free” nights i.e. pay for one main course with the second free. On Mondays lunches and drinks are 50% off. Lunch is up to 16:00 hrs.
Another place to look out for, although we didn’t eat there, is the Kebab Hospital. The rumour is that it should have been called Kebab Hospitality but in true Turkish style, the sign writer made his letters too big and ran out of space – that’s what someone told us anyway.

• Pros:A pleasnt resort away from the crowds - although not too quiet
• Cons:Probably a bit more expensive than other similar Turkish resorts
• In a nutshell:Caters for the yachting fraternity but stil great for landlubbers