There are certain places in the world where you get a strong feeling that you know exactly where you are. If you put a pin on a map right on the northeastern shore of the Bosphorus Strait, where it enters the Black Sea, the pin would have gone straight through our heads this Sunday in late March. There are two lighthouses marking the entrance (or exit) of the Bosphorus in the north,
Rumeli Feneri to the west...
and Anadolu Feneri to the east.
The light house, Anadolu Feneri, was built in 1834, and is located next door to the local mosque. The lighthouse and minaret stand tall side by side on the cliffs high above the water, and the little fishing village runs along the edge and down towards the shore where the fishermen pull up their boats. There are several family run fish restaurants serving the catch of the day, while a horde of stray cats await on the curb for the scraps.
On the way home we stopped in the neighboring village, Poyrazköy, where they have bigger fishing boats and bigger restaurants. Poyrazköy seems to be a popular destination for escaping the summer heat, with beaches and picnic areas. According to the town's official web site they have three beaches, with one designated only for women.
We found ruins of a 600 year old fortress, where some of us could enjoy yet another beautiful view (ahem), while certain others preferred to climb around and explore an underground, dank tunnel.
Istanbul in the distance
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