stress yok!

This post is about the small town of Doganyurt, and why I think it’s one of the best places to relax on the Turkish Black Sea coast.

Before I arrived here, I didn’t care much for that place on the map called Doganyurt (or actually: Doğanyurt). I knew that yurt meant something like “land” from a previous place I had passed through. But what did doğan mean, and was it in any way related to the name of the current President? Either way I preferred place names like Sinop, Abana, or Inebolu. They had that certain ring to them – let’s call it the echo of history.

Little did I know that Doganyurt was going to be one of my favorite places in the whole region.

the atmosphere

But first let me tell you what Doganyurt isn’t: it isn’t a beach town. Sure, it sits in a little bay, and there’s a harbor and a shoreline. But if you want to have walking access to a beach, you better go somewhere like Inebolu or Abana. Doganyurt is different: there are pristine beaches, but they are outside of town, behind the hills. So you need a car to get there – or the Caboose.

But that’s not what I liked about Doganyurt anyway. I liked the atmosphere.

In Doganyurt, there isn’t much traffic. The roads are narrow and quiet. There are a few restaurants, tea houses, and shops. Everybody knows each other, and everybody is generally super laid back and nice.

I would walk around a bit in the afternoon, and when people asked me how I liked the town of Doganyurt, I would open my arms and say: “stress yok!”

And then everyone would laugh and say yes, there really was no stress in Doganyurt.

the Teachers’ House

I forgot to mention that there is only one place to stay here, and it’s super nice. It’s the ögretmenevi, the Teachers’ House. The ögretmenevi is a big building that sits right on the shore, and the whole place is very clean and inviting. The rooms have little balconies that look right out onto the sea. Upstairs, in the breakfast hall, you get more of that sea view with your morning tea.

And believe it or not: there are pool tables!

pictures

Doganyurt shore:

The imam of Doganyurt:

Pool tables in the ögretmenevi:

Sea view:

Tea house in Doganyurt:

Stationary shop in Doganyurt:

Fruit and vegetable stand: