00:00Our first stop is the town of Alacatı in the trendy resort area of Çeşme.
00:05It's gotten more popular and expensive in the last 10 years, but there are still lots
00:11of quiet streets and very cute cafes.
00:14I definitely think it's worth a visit.
00:16I head to Bumba Breakfast Club to try a Turkish ritual, Kavaltı, the classic Turkish breakfast.
00:24I can hardly believe my eyes.
00:28We have a variety of spreads, multiple cheeses, potatoes, olives, we're in an olive producing
00:35region.
00:36I also ordered menemen, which is tomatoes, eggs, and peppers, one of my favorite Turkish
00:41dishes.
00:42Amazing.
00:47Everything.
00:48Alacatı was a thriving agricultural hub in the 17th and 18th centuries.
00:55The Greek Orthodox population who lived here built these incredible stone houses, many
00:59of which have been turned into hotels, bars, and restaurants.
01:03The Greek Christians were forced to move largely due to the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne that mandated
01:10a population exchange between Turkey and Greece based on religion.
01:14It affected up to two million people, and it's a big part of this region's history that
01:18we'll continue to encounter.
01:21You can still find many things shared by both cultures, like desserts with mastik resin grown
01:26on the neighboring Greek island of Chios.
01:28Everyone told me I have to try mastik pudding, which is called...
01:32Sokizle Mualebi.
01:33Sokizle Mualebi.
01:35May I have a piece, please?
01:37Mmm.
01:38It has a kind of piney taste.
01:40I'm into it.
01:43The signs of Alacatı's recent tourism boom are obvious.
01:47I wanted to check out part of what helped make it a tourism hotspot.
01:52Wind.
01:53The coast of Alacatı is one of the most popular places in the world for windsurfing.
01:59Many international competitions are held here.
02:02At Alacatı Surf Paradise Club, they have been teaching people windsurf for 30 years,
02:08including beginners like me.
02:11I have a surf instructor today.
02:13Do you think I have what it takes, Yusuf?
02:15I hope so.
02:17Me too.
02:18Let's go find out.
02:20So we started here in 1995, so it's been like 30 years.
02:24But it becomes popular at the beginning of the 2000s.
02:27Because of the super flat and super shallow water, the people feel safe in here.
02:31And also it makes it super easy to learn it because of the flat water.
02:35And another important factor, the wind here is very consistent.
02:40I immediately start to regret my idea of windsurfing for the first time on camera.
02:46It's a lot to take in at once.
02:50Hey, you need to see it!
02:52You need to see it, Sarah!
02:54I crashed it!
02:56I crashed it in a hotel!
02:59But finally, I start to get the hang of it.
03:02I did it without falling.
03:12Thank you to Yusuf, who was a really awesome teacher, I have to say.
03:17Thank you very, very much.
03:19Now we're going even more off the beaten path to Turkey's peninsula, Karaburun.
03:24Karaburun is a real hidden gem, especially if you enjoy hiking, like I do.
03:32One of the routes takes you past Sazak village, an abandoned Greek settlement.
03:41I was really curious to see this place, and it's true.
03:44It really feels like somewhere time has forgotten.
03:46The 80 or so buildings have stood empty for over a century.
03:55The government recently made it a protected heritage site and announced plans for renovation.
04:00But it doesn't look like that's gotten underway yet.
04:03For now, the smell of wild herbs, thyme, and oregano fills the air.
04:08Nature has taken over.
04:10Well, that concludes our adventure on the Izmir Peninsula.
04:16I had an amazing time.
04:18I learned so much.
04:19And see you next time.
04:20Bye.
