Didim'den Kos'a: 2 Saat 20 Dakikada Başka Bir Dünyaya

Didim'den Kos'a: 2 Saat 20 Dakikada Başka Bir Dünyaya 

Yusuf Mehmet Sarışın yazdı

Yıllardır Didim'de yaşıyorum. Ege'nin en güzel kıyılarından birinde, denizin ve güneşin tadını çıkarıyorum. Ancak geçtiğimiz hafta sonu yaptığım kısa Kos seyahati bana bir kez daha gösterdi ki, bazen sadece 20 dakka deniz yolculuğu bile insana bambaşka bir dünyanın kapısını aralayabiliyor.

Not: Didim-Bodrum (2 saat karayolu. Bodrum-Kos: 20 dakika deniz yolu.)

Üstelik sanıldığı kadar zahmetli ya da pahalı da değil.

Didim'den Bodrum'a, Bodrum'dan Kos'a...

Ben yolculuğa Didim'den başladım.

Didim Seyahat'in Bodrum'a her gün iki direkt seferi bulunuyor. Gitmeden önce 0256 811 11 36 numaralı telefondan hem kalkış hem de dönüş saatlerini öğrenmenizi tavsiye ederim.

Ben Cumartesi günü saat 15.00 aracına bindim.

Yaklaşık iki saat sonra Bodrum'daydım.

Bodrum Kalesi'nin hemen yanındaki Tilos Travel ofisinden 35 Euro karşılığında gidiş-dönüş Kos katamaran biletimi aldım.

Yurt dışı çıkış harcını ise önceden internet üzerinden 1.250 TL olarak ödedim.

Katamaran saat 18.00'de hareket etti ve yaklaşık 20 dakikada Kos Limanı'na ulaştık.

Pasaport kontrolünden çıkar çıkmaz ise adeta her şey elinizin altında.

Limanın karşısında kalın...

Pasaport kontrolünden çıkınca hemen karşınıza Hotel Apt. Achilleas çıkıyor.

Açık söylemek gerekirse tekrar gidersem hiç düşünmeden yine burada kalırım.

İki kişilik odalar sezon döneminde yaklaşık 80 Euro.

Üstelik sadece yatak değil...

İçerisinde mutfak, ocak, fırın, televizyon, internet, tabak, çanak, çatal, kaşık... Kısacası küçük bir evde olması gereken her şey mevcut.

İşletmecileri Praxitelis ve babası son derece sıcak ve misafirperver insanlar.

Kos'ta bir Türk dostu...

Otelin alt katında ise Antalya kökenli deneyimli turizmci Cemil Moralılar tarafından işletilen Travel Beez ofisi bulunuyor.

Mutlaka uğrayın.

Araç kiralama...

Motor...

Bisiklet...

Tekne turları...

Diğer Yunan adalarına ulaşım...

Otel rezervasyonu...

Aklınıza gelebilecek her konuda yardımcı oluyorlar.

Benim selamımı söylerseniz eminim size de aynı sıcaklıkla yardımcı olacaklardır.

Restoranlar tam anlamıyla fiyat-performans harikası

Otelin hemen yanında deniz boyunca sıralanan balık restoranları bulunuyor.

Birbirinden güzel.

En çok dikkatimi çeken ise porsiyonlar oldu.

Bizde çoğu yerde birkaç küçük karidesle servis edilen jumbo karides burada gerçekten jumbo.

Beş adet tereyağlı sarımsaklı jumbo karides 17 Euro.

Kalamar tabağı yine 17 Euro.

Üstelik tabaklar dolu dolu geliyor.

Ben o akşam;

Jumbo karides,
Kalamar,
Izgara balık,
Ahtapot,
Salata,
İçeceklerle birlikte

toplam 72 Euro hesap ödedim.

Ama rahatlıkla iki kişinin doyacağı kadar yemek geldi.

Yani kişi başına yaklaşık 35 Euro.

Didim ve Bodrum'daki birçok kaliteli balık restoranıyla karşılaştırdığınızda fiyatların oldukça makul olduğunu söyleyebilirim.

Didim mi? Bodrum mu? Kos mu?

Aslında üçü de birbirinin rakibi değil.

Tam tersine birbirini tamamlayan destinasyonlar.

Didim; uzun ve geniş plajları, sakinliği ve uygun fiyatlarıyla aile tatili için hâlâ Ege'nin en avantajlı merkezlerinden biri.

Altınkum ve Akbük gibi plajlarıyla deniz keyfi açısından oldukça güçlü.

Bodrum ise marina yaşamı, gece hayatı, lüks otelleri ve dünya markası haline gelen turizm anlayışıyla farklı bir kulvarda.

Kos ise ikisinin tam ortasında duruyor.

Bisiklet yolları...

Araç trafiğinin azlığı...

Tertemiz meydanları...

Tarihi yapıları...

Palmiye ağaçları...

Limanı...

Kafeleri...

Gün batımı...

Sahil boyunca uzanan restoranları...

Hepsi insanı yürümeye teşvik ediyor.

Fotoğrafları çekerken özellikle dikkat ettim.

Sahiller doluydu.

Bisiklet yolları sürekli kullanılıyordu.

Küçük turistik tren çocuklardan çok yetişkinlerin ilgisini çekiyordu.

Çarşılar turistlerle doluydu.

Kiraz domatesler bir yerde kutusu 1 Euro, başka bir tezgâhta kilosu 1,80 Euro idi.

Meydanlarda insanlar acele etmeden kahvelerini içiyor, günün tadını çıkarıyordu.

Gün batımında ise liman bambaşka bir güzelliğe bürünüyor.

Bir de Rodos ekleyebilirsiniz

Kos'u gezdikten sonra isteyenler için güzel bir alternatif daha var.

Kos'tan her gece sabaha karşı 03.00 civarında hareket eden feribotla 14 Euro karşılığında Rodos'a gitmek mümkün.

Yolculuk yaklaşık beş saat sürüyor.

Sabah Rodos'ta oluyorsunuz.

Gündüz adayı geziyor, denize giriyor, tarihi sokaklarını dolaşıyor, akşam yemeğinizi yiyor, gece yeniden feribota binerek sabaha karşı Kos'a dönebiliyorsunuz.

Böylece otel masrafı yapmadan iki adayı bir seyahatte görme şansınız oluyor.

Son söz...

Didim'de yaşayanlar için Kos aslında çok uzak değil.

Sadece birkaç saatlik kara ve deniz yolculuğunun sonunda kendinizi farklı bir ülkede, farklı bir kültürde ama yine Ege'nin aynı sıcaklığını hissedeceğiniz bir atmosferde buluyorsunuz.

Bu kısa yolculuk bana bir kez daha şunu gösterdi:

Ege'nin iki yakası aslında birbirine sandığımızdan çok daha yakın.

Deniz aynı deniz...

Güneş aynı güneş...

Rüzgâr aynı meltem...

Farklı olan sadece bayraklar.

Geriye ise valizinize sığmayacak kadar güzel hatıralar kalıyor.

…..…..…..…..…..…....

From Didim to Kos: Another World in Just 2 Hours and 20 Minutes...

By Yusuf Mehmet Sarışın

I have been living in Didim for many years, enjoying life on one of the most beautiful coastlines of the Aegean. Yet my short trip to Kos last weekend reminded me once again that sometimes even a 20-minute sea crossing can open the door to a completely different world.

Note: Didim–Bodrum: 2 hours by road. Bodrum–Kos: 20 minutes by sea.

And contrary to what many people think, it is neither difficult nor particularly expensive.

From Didim to Bodrum, From Bodrum to Kos

I started my journey in Didim.

Didim Seyahat operates two direct daily bus services to Bodrum. Before traveling, I recommend calling +90 256 811 11 36 to confirm both departure and return schedules.

I boarded the 3:00 p.m. bus on Saturday.

About two hours later, I arrived in Bodrum.

At the Tilos Travel office, located next to Bodrum Castle, I purchased a round-trip catamaran ticket to Kos for €35.

I had already paid Turkey's international departure fee online (1,250 TL).

The catamaran departed at 6:00 p.m. and reached the Port of Kos in approximately 20 minutes.

As soon as you leave passport control, everything you need is right in front of you.

Stay Right Across from the Port

Immediately opposite passport control stands Hotel Apt. Achilleas.

Honestly, if I visit Kos again, I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

A double room costs around €80 per night during the high season.

And it's much more than just a hotel room.

It includes a fully equipped kitchen, stove, oven, television, Wi-Fi, dishes, cutlery—everything you would expect in a small apartment.

The owners, Praxitelis and his father, are exceptionally warm and welcoming.

A Turkish Friend in Kos

On the ground floor of the hotel is Travel Beez, operated by experienced tourism professional Cemil Moralılar, originally from Antalya.

Definitely stop by.

They can assist you with:

Car rental
Scooter rental
Bicycle rental
Boat tours
Transportation to other Greek islands
Hotel reservations

...and virtually anything else you might need during your stay.

If you mention my name, I'm sure you'll receive the same warm hospitality.

Excellent Seafood at Reasonable Prices

Right next to the hotel, a row of seafood restaurants stretches along the waterfront.

Every one of them is inviting.

What impressed me most were the generous portions.

Unlike many restaurants back home, where "jumbo shrimp" often means only a few small pieces, here they truly serve jumbo shrimp.

Five garlic butter jumbo shrimp cost €17.

A generous calamari platter is also €17.

The portions are remarkably satisfying.

That evening I ordered:

Jumbo shrimp
Calamari
Grilled fish
Octopus
Salad
Drinks

The total bill came to €72.

Yet the meal was easily enough for two people.

That means approximately €35 per person.

Compared with many quality seafood restaurants in Didim and Bodrum, I found the prices to be very reasonable.

Didim, Bodrum or Kos?

In reality, these three destinations are not competitors.

They complement one another.

Didim remains one of the Aegean's best destinations for families thanks to its long sandy beaches, peaceful atmosphere and affordable prices.

Its beaches, especially Altınkum and Akbük, are outstanding.

Bodrum, on the other hand, offers a completely different experience with its marina lifestyle, nightlife, luxury hotels and internationally recognized tourism.

Kos lies somewhere in between.

Its bicycle lanes...

Minimal traffic...

Immaculate squares...

Historic buildings...

Palm trees...

Harbor...

Cafés...

Sunsets...

Waterfront restaurants...

Everything encourages you to slow down and simply enjoy walking.

As I wandered around taking photographs, I noticed several things.

The beaches were full.

The bicycle lanes were constantly in use.

The small tourist train attracted as many adults as children.

The shopping streets were crowded with visitors.

Cherry tomatoes cost €1 per box at one stall and €1.80 per kilogram at another.

People sat in the town squares, drinking coffee without rushing anywhere, simply enjoying life.

At sunset, the harbor transformed into an entirely different scene of beauty.

Why Not Add Rhodes?

After exploring Kos, there is another attractive option.

Every night at around 3:00 a.m., a ferry departs for Rhodes.

The ticket costs approximately €14, and the journey takes about five hours.

You arrive in Rhodes in the morning.

Spend the day exploring the island, swimming, walking through its historic streets, enjoying dinner, and then board the overnight ferry back to Kos.

In this way, you can visit two Greek islands during one trip without paying for an additional hotel stay.

Final Thoughts

For those living in Didim, Kos is actually very close.

After only a few hours of travel by road and sea, you find yourself in another country, another culture, yet surrounded by the same warm spirit of the Aegean.

This brief journey reminded me once again:

The two shores of the Aegean are much closer than we often imagine.

The sea is the same.

The sun is the same.

The breeze is the same.

Only the flags are different.

And what you bring home are memories far too precious to fit inside your suitcase.

…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…...

Από το Διδύμ στα Κω: Ένας Άλλος Κόσμος σε μόλις 2 Ώρες και 20 Λεπτά...

Γράφει ο Yusuf Mehmet Sarışın

Ζω εδώ και πολλά χρόνια στο Διδύμ, σε μία από τις ομορφότερες ακτές του Αιγαίου. Το σύντομο ταξίδι μου στην Κω το περασμένο Σαββατοκύριακο μου απέδειξε για άλλη μία φορά ότι ακόμη και μία 20λεπτη θαλάσσια διαδρομή μπορεί να ανοίξει την πόρτα σε έναν εντελώς διαφορετικό κόσμο.

Σημείωση: Διδύμ–Μπόντρουμ: 2 ώρες οδικώς. Μπόντρουμ–Κως: 20 λεπτά με καταμαράν.

Και, αντίθετα με ό,τι πιστεύουν πολλοί, το ταξίδι δεν είναι ούτε δύσκολο ούτε ακριβό.

Από το Διδύμ στο Μπόντρουμ και από εκεί στην Κω

Ξεκίνησα το ταξίδι μου από το Διδύμ.

Η εταιρεία Didim Seyahat πραγματοποιεί δύο καθημερινά απευθείας δρομολόγια προς το Μπόντρουμ. Πριν ταξιδέψετε, σας προτείνω να καλέσετε στο +90 256 811 11 36 για να ενημερωθείτε για τα δρομολόγια.

Το Σάββατο επιβιβάστηκα στο λεωφορείο των 15:00.

Περίπου δύο ώρες αργότερα έφτασα στο Μπόντρουμ.

Δίπλα στο Κάστρο του Μπόντρουμ, στο γραφείο Tilos Travel, αγόρασα εισιτήριο μετ' επιστροφής για το καταμαράν προς την Κω, πληρώνοντας 35 ευρώ.

Το τέλος εξόδου από την Τουρκία το είχα ήδη πληρώσει ηλεκτρονικά (1.250 τουρκικές λίρες).

Το καταμαράν αναχώρησε στις 18:00 και μέσα σε περίπου 20 λεπτά φτάσαμε στο λιμάνι της Κω.

Βγαίνοντας από τον έλεγχο διαβατηρίων, όλα βρίσκονται κυριολεκτικά μπροστά σας.

Μείνετε ακριβώς απέναντι από το λιμάνι

Αμέσως απέναντι βρίσκεται το Hotel Apt. Achilleas.

Ειλικρινά, αν επιστρέψω στην Κω, θα επιλέξω ξανά το ίδιο ξενοδοχείο.

Το κόστος για δίκλινο δωμάτιο την καλοκαιρινή περίοδο είναι περίπου 80 ευρώ.

Και δεν πρόκειται απλώς για ένα δωμάτιο.

Διαθέτει κουζίνα, φούρνο, εστίες, τηλεόραση, Wi-Fi, πιάτα, μαχαιροπίρουνα και ό,τι χρειάζεται κανείς για μία άνετη διαμονή.

Ο Πραξιτέλης και ο πατέρας του είναι εξαιρετικά φιλόξενοι άνθρωποι.

Ένας Τούρκος φίλος στην Κω

Στο ισόγειο του ξενοδοχείου λειτουργεί το Travel Beez, με υπεύθυνο τον έμπειρο επαγγελματία του τουρισμού Cemil Moralılar, με καταγωγή από την Αττάλεια.

Αξίζει οπωσδήποτε να το επισκεφθείτε.

Εκεί μπορείτε να βρείτε:

Ενοικίαση αυτοκινήτου
Μοτοσικλέτας
Ποδηλάτου
Εκδρομές με σκάφος
Μεταφορές προς άλλα ελληνικά νησιά
Κρατήσεις ξενοδοχείων

και κάθε άλλη τουριστική υπηρεσία.

Αν του πείτε ότι σας έστειλε ο Yusuf Mehmet Sarışın, είμαι βέβαιος ότι θα σας εξυπηρετήσει με την ίδια ζεστασιά.

Εξαιρετικό φαγητό σε πολύ λογικές τιμές

Δίπλα στο ξενοδοχείο απλώνονται ψαροταβέρνες κατά μήκος της παραλίας.

Όλες είναι εξαιρετικές.

Αυτό που με εντυπωσίασε περισσότερο ήταν οι μεγάλες μερίδες.

Πέντε γαρίδες jumbo με βούτυρο και σκόρδο κοστίζουν 17 ευρώ.

Μία πλούσια μερίδα καλαμαριού επίσης 17 ευρώ.

Το ίδιο βράδυ παρήγγειλα:

Γαρίδες jumbo
Καλαμάρι
Ψάρι σχάρας
Χταπόδι
Σαλάτα
Ποτά

και πλήρωσα συνολικά 72 ευρώ.

Το φαγητό όμως ήταν αρκετό για δύο άτομα.

Δηλαδή περίπου 35 ευρώ ανά άτομο.

Σε σύγκριση με πολλά καλά ψαροταβερνεία στο Διδύμ και το Μπόντρουμ, οι τιμές είναι ιδιαίτερα λογικές.

Διδύμ, Μπόντρουμ ή Κως;

Στην πραγματικότητα, οι τρεις προορισμοί δεν ανταγωνίζονται μεταξύ τους.

Αλληλοσυμπληρώνονται.

Το Διδύμ ξεχωρίζει για τις μεγάλες αμμώδεις παραλίες, την ηρεμία και τις προσιτές τιμές.

Το Μπόντρουμ προσφέρει μαρίνες, έντονη νυχτερινή ζωή και πολυτελή τουρισμό.

Η Κως βρίσκεται κάπου ανάμεσα.

Ποδηλατόδρομοι.

Ελάχιστη κυκλοφορία.

Πεντακάθαρες πλατείες.

Ιστορικά κτίρια.

Φοίνικες.

Το λιμάνι.

Τα καφέ.

Τα ηλιοβασιλέματα.

Τα παραθαλάσσια εστιατόρια.

Όλα σε προσκαλούν να περπατήσεις και να απολαύσεις τη στιγμή.

Οι παραλίες ήταν γεμάτες.

Οι ποδηλατόδρομοι χρησιμοποιούνταν συνεχώς.

Το μικρό τουριστικό τρενάκι προσέλκυε μικρούς και μεγάλους.

Οι αγορές ήταν γεμάτες τουρίστες.

Ντοματίνια πωλούνταν προς 1 ευρώ το κουτί ή 1,80 ευρώ το κιλό.

Οι άνθρωποι απολάμβαναν τον καφέ τους χωρίς βιασύνη.

Το ηλιοβασίλεμα στο λιμάνι ήταν πραγματικά μαγευτικό.

Προσθέστε και τη Ρόδο

Μετά την Κω, μπορείτε εύκολα να επισκεφθείτε και τη Ρόδο.

Κάθε βράδυ, περίπου στις 03:00, αναχωρεί πλοίο με εισιτήριο περίπου 14 ευρώ.

Το ταξίδι διαρκεί περίπου πέντε ώρες.

Φτάνετε στη Ρόδο το πρωί, περνάτε όλη την ημέρα εξερευνώντας το νησί και επιστρέφετε με το νυχτερινό δρομολόγιο στην Κω, χωρίς επιπλέον διανυκτέρευση.

Επίλογος

Για όσους ζουν στο Διδύμ, η Κως είναι στην πραγματικότητα πολύ κοντά.

Μέσα σε λίγες μόνο ώρες βρίσκεσαι σε μια διαφορετική χώρα και κουλτούρα, αλλά με την ίδια ζεστή ατμόσφαιρα του Αιγαίου.

Αυτό το σύντομο ταξίδι μου υπενθύμισε κάτι πολύ σημαντικό.

Οι δύο ακτές του Αιγαίου είναι πολύ πιο κοντά απ' όσο νομίζουμε.

Η θάλασσα είναι η ίδια.

Ο ήλιος είναι ο ίδιος.

Το μελτέμι είναι το ίδιο.

Μόνο οι σημαίες αλλάζουν.

Και στις αποσκευές σου επιστρέφουν αναμνήσεις που δεν χωρούν σε καμία βαλίτσα.