Filizce Alacati

This nine bedroom boutique hotel welcomes you as if you were Marco Polo returned from a long voyage. The family treats you like you are a prodigy, the pearl in the oyster. You need to come here to understand what the word "welcome" truly means in the Turkish culture. The house has been renovated only recently and has all the modern facilities we now generally expect, but the decoration has preserved stone walls, niches and tiled floors. It's quite lovely. The hotel is in the centre of the little town of Alaçatı but set off one street away from a bustling shopping paradise so it is very quiet. The centre of the village is made of small but chic shops and restaurants, a feast of colours and compelling aromas wafting out of a multitude of cafés, restaurants, bakeries and the likes. Stalls line the pedestrian cobbled streets. One needs to stroll and seat outside a café, a bar and leisurely watch the passing tourists marvel at the sights, after a little antiques shopping and before dining. When you return to Filizce the Grandmother awaits at the corner of the street with her friends and wishes you good night. In the morning your breakfast table is loaded with Egean tomatoes, cheese, jams you've never seen nor dreamed of. A fried egg, or two, appear a minute after your coffee. I love to linger over breakfast and if you're like me this is just the place. You can chat endlessly with the infinity of smiling friendly family members, from grand parents to great grand children. On Saturday if you're interested you can go to the market with the ladies and fill your basket with garden grown, homemade produce.