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Shopping through
the narrow streets of Bodrum between the white walls is one of the pleasures
you must try here. The Turkish crafts make it impossible to resist buying
something. The most popular objects for the holiday maker are of course
carpets; but the varied leather, copper and bronze wares, silver and
gold, handicrafts and embroidery, and the famous Turkish meerschaum
and onyx are on many peoples' lists.
Bodrum Carpets
In Turkey
we differentiate between the knotted carpet, which is called HALI, and
the woven carpet, the KILIM. Carpets are the most well-known souvenirs
you can bring home from Turkey. And even if you have had just the bad
luck of being cheated, they are still a lot cheaper than in your own
country. In
the villages around Bodrum, Milas and Mumcular, rugs are still woven
by hand in the traditional way.
A well-made carpet
can last for well over a hundred of years, but it should be cherished
correctly as a piece of art.
Copperware
In Turkey
there are still hand-made copper goods, of the type, which long ago
was made by the workman at the corner. You can still watch this being
done in the environment of the closed bazaars in Istanbul. In addition,
in near Bodrum there is such a copper village (or Bakirkoy - as one
says here). The village is called Kavaklidere, and is approximately
about 100 km to the east of Bodrum near the city of Yatagan.
Hand made sandals
Skilled artisans
can make you a pair of snugly fitting leather sandals in the traditional
Aegean style. You will find craftsmen in the center of Bodrum - like
Ali Usta and others. You can either order or try one of the pairs they
have in stock.
Sandal making has
an old tradition in Bodrum. More then thirty years ago out of a native
interest in Roman sandals some shoe-makers started the craft. Today
these sandals, which can be considered as pieces of art, carry old time
history to modern people's feet.
The Boncuk
There is one
typical item, an equity of this region you should take home as a souvenir,
it's called the Boncuk, the Little Magic Stone that protects one from
the "Evil Eye" (pronounced 'bon-dschuk'), you will see this
blue glass piece everywhere here in this area.
Market day in
Bodrum
Every Tuesday
there is a cloth market and every Friday, here is a market with fruit
and vegetables. Traders and farmers come to Bodrum to sell their produce.
This ranges from all kinds of fruits and vegetables to imitation Rolex
watches and items of clothing.
It is well worth
a visit and you should try to bargain before buying anything.
Bodrum
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