Turkiye Western

This area is along the Aegean Sea on the Asia side. southwest of Istanbul. There are layers upon layers of history everywhere along the shores of Western Turkiye. This area is more metropolitan, families on holiday from the Middle East, Turkiye, and Eastern Europe countries. Many world travelers also come thru Western Turkiye. More people are speaking English here in Western Turkiye, compared to our roadtrip to Central Turkiye.

Iskele is a coastal fishing town in the Urla and Izmir region and was home base during my 3 weeks in Turkiye. I stayed in a rented home a couple of blocks from the water’s edge, where Doug and I often walked a couple of miles along the water’s edge. Cousin Doug and Gulbin were my hosts who tolerated and took me many, many places in the neighboring coastal villages and the city of Izmir with its open markets, restaurants and cafe’s, museums and antiquities.

Images are of the many traditional foods Gulbin prepared for my tasting palate. Gulbin grew up in Turkey. Western Turkiye images are centered in the Izmir, Urla, Iskele, Cesme, and Alacati. The traditional foods of breads filled or eaten with meat, chicken, fish, cheese, yogurt, mushrooms, artichoke, olives and vegetables. Fresh pressed pomegranate juice was always in the refrigerator, and a refreshing treat that was always available. Turkiye grows many crops and foods, and has very active agriculture and dairy production.

The Fish Auction, a few blocks away by the water, was a daily event at 10 am with daily morning catches of fish. They are auctioned to restaurants and individuals. Doug grilled them for a very tasty supper.