The place Mediterranean seals call home...

 

 

Yazı/Text-Fotoğraflar/Photos:BORA EŞİZ

 

Old Foça’s beauty stems from, its famous deep blue sea, according to some, its historical stone houses, according to others, while the rest insist it’s due to the peerless privilege its nature has bestowed upon it.

 

 

Old Foça stands as the last bastion of a deep blue sea world. It could well be the last haven of ancient mythological gods. Old Foça appears to be the risen land of mighty Poseidon, the ruler of foaming waves and the proprietor of the seas. The journey from the fairy tale deep seas to the bright skies of Old Foça takes its start before daybreak with the hope-filled greetings of the fishermen. As boat follows boat into the legend-rich Aegean, the azure sea of Foça prepares itself for a new day, streaked with the purple and scarlet of dawn. Old Foça is inhabited by seals, turquoise bays and stone houses. Christened after its ancient name, Phokaia, the Mediterranean seals (fok in Turkish) inhabit a few locations in our country, Foça being the main base. The fortunate traveller is likely to be met by a pair of sweet and shy eyes peering out of the crystal-clear waters at the most unexpected moment, indulged by the Aegean’s generosity. The natural environment of the peaceful bays is the most important reason for Foça’s popularity with the seals as well as local and foreign tourists. The first harbour called Küçükdeniz (=Little Sea) is when Old Foça’s heart beats. The small cafes interspersed with the row of restaurants invite the visitor to pleasant short rests, like the stops in a romantic serenade. Largely consisting of old two-story buildings and narrow cobbled streets, the shopping area is typical of a small town. The vines and ivy hanging over the market not only give welcome shade but also reminds one of the open-air markets of yore. Protected from the searing summer sun, Old Foça’s market also refreshes the shopper. Küçükdeniz Bay, decorated with the hundred-year-old stone houses and fish restaurants is proof that Foça is a true Aegean. The promenade is inescapably reminiscent of the Izmir Kordon of the past. Old stone houses, palm trees by their sides and the coast… Old Foça’s stone houses are remarkable for the attention paid to the stonemasonry, door handles and artistic door ornaments. Jasmines and bougainvilleas accompany the geraniums that hang in tin cans from the stone houses, bringing vibrant colour to the Foça scene. For some inexplicable reason, all small and sweet hotels and B&Bs in Foça are found on the Küçükdeniz coast. Leave your lodgings, cross the road in two strides and enter the blue waters of the Aegean; yet another reason why Old Foça is so special. Swim out to observe the beauty of Old Foça. Strollers shaded by the palm trees, hundred-year-old stone houses whose elegance is so attractive and the mountains decorated with olive trees all combine to complete the beauty of Old Foça, like perfectly-fitting pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

The two bays known as Büyükdeniz (=Large Sea) and Küçükdeniz play a vital part in Old Foça. Add the deep blue sea to this scenery to explain why it would be hard to tire of Old Foça. Büyükdeniz Bay is larger and quieter than Küçükdeniz; as a natural harbour, it plays host to many local and foreign boats in the marina. The grand houses in large gardens surrounding the bay present an enchanting view. This area, graced by gardens sporting pine trees, monumental gates and mysterious streets, is the continuation of the footpath that starts in Küçükdeniz. Walking from one end of Foça to the other gives you the opportunity to visit Beşkapılar, the Ottoman Castle’s boathouse; the Ottoman battlements and the open-air temple to Cybele.

Beyond the ancient theatre and the whitewashed Aegean houses lies the most special location of all in Old Foça.

 

Büyükdeniz and Küçükdeniz bays brings the flawless blue of Aegean Sea to another level.