Marmaris Marmaris or Green Marmaris as it likes to be known, is, at least to tourists, the most famous town on this part of the coast, as is evidenced by the crowds of tourists packing the beach, the cafes, and the hotels. Although it will come as a huge culture shock after peaceful Akyaka, it is still worth the occasional trip, if only so that you will enjoy Akyaka that much more when you come back. Having said that, there are a few interesting parts of Marmaris that are well worth a visit. To get there, there are two options. There is a daily dolmus, which leaves Akyaka at 10am, and then leaves Marmaris for the return at 4pm. You can either catch this from the bus station (or anywhere else on its route) in Akyaka, or, at other times, catch the more regular dolmuses from the crossroads. Alternately, if you have a car you can obviously drive yourself, in which case there are a few places on the way that you may wish to check out. The first of these are the riding stables. As well as being able to have riding lessons by the hour (for all standards), there is a restaurant, swimming pool, and children’s playground, so the non-rider can while away a pleasant hour or so while the rider gallops round in the heat. Lessons cost around 30ytl per hour. Next you come across a lay-by, also on the left that has a static (it will never move again!) coach, that has been converted into a transport café. The menu is relatively limited – you can have a whole, a half or a quarter sandwich, but the filling is sheeps’ intestine! Not for the faint hearted (neither are the complimentary chillies). But wonderful value at only 2ytl. Beware that along the Marmaris road is a jendarmerie, outside which are invariably a number of police slowing cards down, stopping a few, and searching the occasional one. Do please act as instructed – and make sure you have your driving licence, passport, and car documents with you. As you come over the top of the last hill before Marmaris, there are stunning views across the bay. There is a stopping point on the right, it is well worth stopping to take it all in. Marmaris itself is centred on the long sprawl of beach, though it does go back a long way inland. As you drive in, you come to a big set of traffic lights just before the beach itself (which obviously is a T junction!) To your right is the big Tansas supermarket, food etc on the ground floor, and all sorts of household goods on the first floor. And above this, a large multi storey car park – which is convenient for the supermarket, the local banks, or the souk. If you do use it, you can get at least a free hour by spending a certain amount in Tansas, signs on the pillars tell you how much. If you do not wish to park in here, or it is closed, there are places to park on the opposite side of the main road – either on the streets, or there are various small car parks where you hand over your keys, and the cars are all crammed in to the smallest possible space! (Note that unless you want the shops around here, you should drive further along the beach, as it is otherwise a very long walk.) The souk is hidden behind the shops opposite Tansas, and its alleys run down to the beach. It is a complete maze in which it is very easy to get lost, and, whilst it is easy to get out of, it is almost impossible to get out where you thought you wanted to get out! The centre of this area is a mosque, from which alleys (fairly wide) run off in all directions. Every imaginable tourist shop is in here – selling fake anything you can think of, from PC, PS2, and gameboy games to football shirts, from perfumes to leather. This is also the best place for all sorts of electronic gadgets, at Ebay prices! As there are many of each type of shop, it is relatively easy to play off one vendor against another, and you can usually get a price close to if not better than what you would get in the market. And, for those who like to shop in a bit more peace, there are even some fixed price shops. Speaking of the market. It is held every Thursday. To get them from here, walk from the beach back towards Tansas (on the left), and then take the first left. This road runs parallel to the beach road, and you walk along here for approximately half a mile. The market is off to your right, easiest way to find it is to watch for all the people carrying black carrier bags (standard market packaging!) and to walk towards where they have just come from! Sounds odd I know, but it does work. The market itself is on 2 floors. The ground floor is geared more towards locals, and here you will find all the fruit and vegetables, the spices, the cheese, the sweets and biscuits. The first floor is where all the tourist stalls are, and is a complete madhouse. There is a route round the outside, and then alleys across the middle. If you are new to Turkish markets, then I suggest you stay on the outside, this way you always have fresh air on one side of you, and don’t feel quite so claustrophobic. Obviously it is a market, and most of the goods will be obviously fake. One word from experience – so is the tobacco! You will almost certainly be approached at some point by a boy selling Golden Virginia. Don’t bother asking is he has say Drum instead, because he will – but both packs will contain Turkish tobacco. Which is OK to smoke, but if you expected something more familiar, you will of course be disappointed. If you want Turkish tobacco, then buy it from one of the stalls where you can try before you buy. Marmaris beach pretty much stretches from one end of the town to the other, and most of it is covered by sun loungers. At the Tansas end there is a castle, which is quite pleasant to walk round the outside, but I have never found out how to get in, though it is supposed to be open daily from 8-5.30 – closed 12-1 for lunch. The castle is situated by the marina, which, as well as being full of tourist boats, is also the ferry port for Rhodes. From here enjoy the walk for as far as you want to along the beach. For something like about 3 miles, there is beach on the left, and cafes on the right, of all different varieties. They have one thing in common – each one will try to drag you in! (We once decided that we would go into the first café that did NOT do this – and ended up after 45 minutes cheating, and going in to one where they were on their way to hassle us but had just not quite got there yet.) On the beach itself are occasional water amusements, such as jet skis, banana boats, etc, all with their prices clearly marked. Also along here is the Atlantis Water Park. This is opposite the beach, and is a great place for kids of all ages, with several water slides of varying degree of terror. Here you can buy an all day tickets for 26ytl an adult, 16ytl a child (they also do family tickets). But once you are in you are trapped, and when hunger hits will have to eat very expensive chips, which is pretty much all they do. A good day to take a packed lunch! Apart from this, the water park is a good place to spend the day. The queues for the slides are not long, there are enough sun loungers, and lots of umbrellas. The changing rooms and toilets are also very clean and spacious. Certainly Marmaris has enough for a good family day out without anyone having to feel bored. Combine the water park with the shopping, the castle with the walk, and there is enough for everyone. As well as in the souks, there are many other shops, including a large Migros, a Tespo, and pretty much anything else you could ever need.