Travel Tips

For a long time in the 90's Bodrum was a playground for Turkish holiday makers and European tourists alike.Thankfully this has really calmed down now, and while the partying still happens it is not as manic and frantic as in years gone by. Bodrum is still the second most popular destination in Turkey for Turks - this speaks well of the place I think.
Bodrum has mellowed and left the wild times to Ibiza and Ayia Napa. Bodrum is better for this, as the sight of 16 year olds vomitting does not improve a towns public persona one bit (look at Faliraki!!).
The Marina Yacht Club attracts money to Bodrum, the town draws historians AND people looking for a sun holiday - lots to offer in a small peninsula.
This picture shows another view from the Castle, looking down towards Cumhuriyet Cadessi - affectionately known as Bar Street. Not to be confused with Bar Street in Gumbet...in Turgetreis...in Torba...in Yalikavak...but you get the idea :-). Plenty of Bar Steets but this is much more sedate than Gumbet where the younger people tend to go nowadays.

The Castle houses an very good museum of underwater archaeology. There is an outdoor display of pots and assorted amphora from various wrecks found along the Turkish coast, some of these wrecks have dated back to the Bronze age.
The Castle sells art work by local Turkish artists and near the display of pots is a glass blower who you can watch making his wares.

No Castle worth its salt would be complete without its obligatory preserved toilet! Bodrum is no exception, note the side walls - the Knights built with privacy in mind.

This picture was taken from the main pathway to the Castle, probably crossing what would have originally been the access over the water that surrounded the Castle island. Along this path into the Castle building are an assortment of interesting masonry remains, some of which have carvings or writing that date them back to the time of the Knights of St John.

Thought I had better add a photograph of myself just to prove that I actually do be at theser places too! I'm usually the one taking the photographs and I'm not always inclined to be in the pictures myself - the sights are generally more interesting than me standing at the spot :-)

A shot of the sea facing wall defences which are limited due to the thin wall that faces the sea. The Ottoman had no intention of attacking this Castle for the most part and when they were inclined to they planned a land attack.
The crennelated wall is more for decorative purposes than supporting defence.

This small area of the Castle is probably the only area that produces a cool breeze, welcome relief from the overwhelming heat of the higher parts of the Castle. Take plenty of water with you and once inside the Castle there are 2 or 3 stalls that sell bottled water - you will need to keep hydrated if you intend to spend the few hours needed to do the site justice.

Another shot of the blue waters of the Aegean, taken from between two defensive towers in the Castle walls.