Paradise Found | A Week on the Turkish Isle of Bozcaada

Wrought Iron Window Screen in Turkey

One of the things I love most about the Mediterranean, from Morocco to Israel, is the lush combination of soft, earthy hues and rich, jewel tones that emanate from the earth and spill over from the sea.  The creamy pastel walls and homey cobbled streets of Bozcaada easily drew me in the first time I heard about this wind-swept and sultry Aegean isle, and every time I scanned our travel itinerary, I dreamed of long days and rich wines.

After a few weeks of traipsing around western Turkey last fall, Will and I wanted to spend some time reading and writing, wandering and relaxing, far from the trappings of modernity.  And so we rented a beautiful little home outside of Bozcaada’s main town and let ourselves sink into the luxury of simple, savoury meals and daily encounters with happy locals.  Here’s a little sampling for you to savour and perhaps inspire your next journey, project, or dream.

Local Turkish wine and olives Street view of Bozcaada, Turkey Backpacker in Bozcaada and Restaurant owner Pasta Dish held by Mediterranean woman Wooden door framed by olive boughs, rosemary hedges Turkish women in traditional clothing and head scarves Hand-painted pension name on stone wall Arched doorway and cobbled streets in Bozcaada Harbour and fortress of Bozcaada at sunset Ornate doorway on Turkish island Decorative tile wall on Bozcaada Turkish woman seated, 3 lemons on blue chair Two teenage girls on Bozcaada Aegean Sea from Bozcaada, Turquoise doorway and Turkish lantern

I was absolutely captivated by this island.  Tranquil and endearing, yet never boring or drab, Bozcaada greeted us every day with beauty, peace-filled delight, and of course, the local mosque’s call to prayer!  When I first read this quote while traveling, Bozcaada easily fit the bill of a ‘sun-drenched elsewhere’:  “Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.”  –Isabelle Eberhardt, The Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt

Hope you have a wonderful week, rich with inspiration and beauty no matter where you are.

Jaime

PS For more images from our travels in Turkey, you might want to check out posts on Sailing the Mediterranean and the Ruins at Ephesus

  • Kari

    Yep, I am definitely hiring you. These are amazing, Jaimes. Your photos make me long to see the world.ReplyCancel

  • admin

    Aw, thanks Kar!!! I’d love to do a shoot for you guys sometime! Maybe even here in California…hint hint ;-)ReplyCancel

  • Bozcaada Fotoğraf Atölyesi

    Beautiful photography! Just wanted to let you know that we are running a workshop in Bozcaada photography paradise, starting this summer :)

    https://www.facebook.com/bozcaadafotografatolyesi is our page to be connected and to stay up to date. The page is in Turkish (mainly), but we are perfectly fine with English too.

    Also, we’d like to welcome your beautiful photographs on our FB page wall (if you consider), which is something you can easily do on Facebook. Otherwise, we are more than happy to publish them, with your credentials – given us the permission.

    Best wishesReplyCancel