Are they black olives or green olives?

• All olives start as green olives, as they ripe they become black.
• Olive collecting is traced as early as the 8th millenium BC.
• Scientific researches mark the land of olives as Asia Minor, and the land between Turkey and Syria.
• Treat them with respect, they are old; average life span is 300-400 years.
• The oldest registered olive tree in Turkey is 1650 years old for now.
• Harvesting of olives begin in November and last until March.
• Raw/fresh olives from the trees are too bitter to be eaten.
• Brining, water curing, dry curing are among the most common methods to make them palatable.
• so the olives you have in assosalarga in summer are products of the passed winter and these below will be ready in about 10 days and will still be great to eat until the next harvest in 2014.
• Like all over the Mediterranean land, also Assos is covered with olive trees, the nearest olive tree to us, is in our garden! 
  

Bayram and National Holidays in Turkey 2014

We have two feasts (bayram) in Turkey, if you are planning a visit to Turkey please check the national holidays online and book ahead, otherwise you may have hard times looking for a place to stay in small villages like Behramkale, Assos.

Roughly here is 2014, at a glance... Please re-check other sites closer to your departure...

• Wednesday          Jan 1           New Year's Day      
• Wednesday          Apr 23        National Sovereignty and Children's Day                
• Thursday              May 1         Labor and Solidarity Day    
• 
  
• Monday               May 19      Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day   
• 
  
• Sunday                Jul 27          Ramadan Feast     Monday              Jul 28         Ramadan Feast
• Tuesday              Jul 29          Ramadan Feast      Wednesday         Jul 30        Ramadan Feast   

• Saturday              Aug 30       Victory Day                      
• Half Day Friday     Oct 3     Sacrifice Feast 
• Saturday                Oct 4     Sacrifice Feast            
• Sunday                  Oct 5     Sacrifice Feast            
• Tuesday                Oct 6     Sacrifice Feast          
• Wednesday           Oct 7     Sacrifice Feast       
• 
  
• Wednesday          Oct   29   Republic Day                

Honeymoon in Assos, assosalarga, Turkey

Walks around Assos

There are bays, hills and valleys that you can't reach by car... Now is the season for hikes, heat is gone but the sun is still up, there's a breeze, the colors are still vivid, it's time to sit and enjoy endless views.

Art Workshops in Sivrice/Assos Summer 2013

Assos Mavi Fener offers art workshops through out the summer...
Take a look at their website

Philosophy in Assos, in July 2013

Be a philosopher between the 1st and the 4th of July 2013 in Assos.

Visit their official website for more information

Visit to Pergamon / Bergama

If you are driving there on your own, it's very simple, just drive direction İzmir from Çanakkale, the signs on the road will lead you to Bergama no matter what! If you choose to use public transportation 'Otogar' is the word to learn. Otogar means 'intercity bus terminal'.
Assuming you are starting from Assos, Behramkale; you have two choices. You either get to Ayvacık Otogar or to Küçükkuyu Otogar, as Küçükkuyu is located on the way to Bergama, it is more convenient. To get to Otogars your hotel can easily arrange you a taxi, to Ayvacık is 17kms and to Küçükkuyu is 30kms. Both destinations are about 40-50 Turkish Liras. During winters, catching a taxi makes more sense whereas in summers from the front of the local coffee place 'kahve' right in the heart of Behramkale or down from the old port there are frequent minibuses parting for both Ayvacık and Küçükkuyu.
Once you get to any of the two Otogars ask for Bergama, they will either arrange you a bus company that goes directly to Bergama or another minibus ride to a busier intercity bus terminal in Edremit from where you will get a bus that drives you to your destination. From the bus terminal of Bergama you may still need a short taxi or a minibus ride to the sight. From there you can walk or enjoy a cable car ride. Departing from Assos to get to Bergama/Pergamon you need at least two transits. As I always suggest: Rent a car, it's safe, time saving and you can enjoy off the beaten track. The remains are alluring, the steepness of the theater is captivating. The photos are from my recent visit, I recommend early hours or afternoon hours for the visit.

Assos Alarga'nın İlk Rezervasyonu...

Alarga Ece; Temmuz’da tanıştıktan sonra bir kaç ay içinde beni dört kez kendisine çeken neydi “Assos’un en küçük oteli Assos Alarga” da, diye düşündüm; Belki; ruhu olan bir mekan yaratılmış... buradan, ruhu olan Assos Alarga’dan, masalı olan Behramkale’ye onun üzerinden Edremit körfezine bakarken sanki Behramkale’nin tüm kayalarında,toprağında, alttaki vadide her yerinde bulunuyormuşsunuz duygusu... Belki, yüzerken uzanıp zakkum kokladığınız, kırlangıçların suyun üstünden teğet geçtiği küçük havuzunda 14.yüzyıldan gelen tepedeki Murat Hüdavendigar Camii’ne bakarak kulaç atmak... Belki “ Ovanın yeşili göğün mavisi” ni doğuda uzaktaki Kaz Dağlarının siluetiyle eflatundan koyu laciverte boyayan batan güneşin yansıması... Belki de arasında Küçük Prens’i göreceğiniz yıldızlar... Teşekkürler “ Ece’nin Babası, Ece’nin Annesi “ her tarafında nefes alıp veren sanki bir kişilik gibi Behramkale’ye kattığınız bu kaliteli zevkli mekan için, Teşekkürler Ece, burayı bu kadar sevdiğin ve hayat verdiğin için. Müşteri gibi değil, misafir, hatta oranın bir parçası gibi hissettiren yaklaşımıyla, heyecanlı hoşgeldin tatlılarıyla (portakallısı favorim!!!), sadece yazını tattığımız “Ece Alton’un Assos Alargası” nın umarım baharlarını ve kışlarını da tatmak dileklerimizi hep taze tutacağım. Gülçin Bermek

Oldest member of my family

says: Each day we are not at the hospital is the best day! I wish 2013 is a year whose cheeks are as red as cherries.