Bitez Local Customs

3 more images

There were loads of cats and dogs wandering round Bitez but they were the best treated strays I've ever come across on my travels. Every restaurant or bar we visited had a dog or cat or both sniffing around and happy to accept scraps but far from being ill-treated, time and time again we saw restaurant staff feeding them and generally treating them kindly. On the beach we saw several large dogs roaming freely, burying bones and playing with everyone who passed. These were some of the happiest, most affectionate dogs I've come across in a long time and coming from a culture where a dog off a leash is almost a public order offense, it made a very refreshing change. Seeing scrawny, starving cats really upsets me and I am happy to report that I didn't see a single hungry looking cat in Bitez.

I don't know if this happens everywhere in Turkey but top marks to the locals in Bitez who could teach the world a thing or two about kindness to animals.

My rented car had a blow out half way between Bodrum and the airport on Sunday (10-8-8).

It was 5pm and 35c. The road was busy. The hard shoulder was narrow. The car boot was full of luggage. I haven't had to change a tyre for many years, and never on a Renault Clio.

Anyway, I got the passengers to safety and unloaded the luggage. I started to get the car jacked up, in some fear of one of the local lunatics smashing into the back of the car.

Then along comes a local farmer on his tractor. He pulls over and insists on finishing the job for me!

I've been to Turkey several times, so that kind of helpfulness shouldn't surprise me. It still did though.

The age old tradition of carpet making still goes on in Turkey, they are all hand made using traditional Turkish tools. These are really skilled men who take enormous pride in there work

The A.X.I. is a traditional Turkish hairdresser. They also do a Turkish shave using a razor sharp cut throat razor GULP hehehehehehe, you will find these places all over Turkey, but stay clear of the ear and nose cleaning, they stick a naked flame near your nose and ears and singe the unwanted hairs off hehehehehehehe, its true, they really do it, not something i would care to try

Located at Bitez Yalisi Carsisi no 6 Bitez - Bodrum