Friday 1^st July – Zeytinbaği

40:23.580N 28:48.026E

Today we stayed in Zeytinbaği.  It has been hot and sunny most of the day. 

This morning loud music started around 9am from the beach just outside the harbour entrance.  There was then a succession of people walking down from town.  As we sat and had breakfast in the cockpit we thought maybe it was an early start to a wedding.  As more people came down from town, Richard went for a wander to see what was happening.  It turned out to be an event for the town.  Dignitaries and locals were all sat around the beach area.  One of the fishing boats was taking youngsters out a short distance and then they were having swimming races back to the beach.  After breakfast we both walked around just as the event was finishing.

We then went for a walk into town and looked at the fabulous old buildings here in various states of repair.  As this area used to be Greek, some of the buildings are former churches which have been converted, either into a mosque or into housing.  The Fatih Camii (formerly named Hagios Stephanos-Hinolakkos Church) dates back to Byzantine times.  Dündar’s House is another former church which is now occupied by three families, though it looks barely habitable.

Zeytinbaği means ‘olive field’ and not surprisingly it is noted for its olive oil.  It was formerly known as Tirilye when it was Greek.

Late afternoon the cloud rolled in and there have been some showers.  This evening there was another event in the centre of town.  There were various acts performing in the main square – we enjoyed listening to the music but had to give up when the ventriloquist act came out.  Between the acts there have been fireworks let off from the end of the pier.

In the distance, across the gulf, there has been lightning lighting up the dark cloudy sky over the hills.

Zeytinbaği

© Pyxis 2011