Yalıkavak is one of the most beautiful regions of Bodrum-well-known touristic destination located in the Aegean Coast of Turkey. We have been going to Yalıkavak for 10 successive years for our summer holidays. Humidity is low, breeze always cool you down and the sea is Aegean blue with lots of fish swimming with you.
There was also the third marina of Bodrum located in the center of Yalıkavak which we loved deeply! No exaggaration, I adored that Marina. With Mozart cafe, cozy fish restaurants, orangish lightings, palm trees, boutiques and small design shops, it was like somewhere out of this world. Very unique, relaxing, and peaceful. I wished no one learns and finds out that lovely place.
Recently the owner and the management of the marina changed. I havent seen it since and was wondering a lot. Now comes my first impressions: I was surprised to see a shopping mall like horizontal building almost parallel to the coast line including stores and restaurants which we already know from luxurious shopping malls of İstanbul. Cook shop, Happy moons, Beymen, Komşu Fırın, Mezzaluna, Nusr-et, Pioppo, Günaydın, Starbucks, Cold Stone, Mudo, Yargıcı, Brandroom, Vakkorama etc. I could not believe it was a work of one of my favorite architects, Emre Arolat. The new marina was congested, lacking open and public spaces, and made you feel stuck. I know that Bodrum is popular among Istanbulite tourists*, but there was no need to turn that cozy marina into an ordinary shopping mall.
And yet, the sunset view is still there. Breeze coming from the deep blue sea accompanies you. I still like the marina, although I would definitely prefer the initial one.
*My idea is that people from Ankara go to either Mediterranean (Antalya and surrounings) or Aegean coasts (Bodrum) easily which are both less than 500 km. Istanbulietes however are far away (more than 700 km) from both coastal regions (Bodrum and Antalya, Bodrum being the closer one). In Bodrum sellers tell me that they work for İstanbul market:) which shows the primary target group is Istanbulites.
Pelin's World 