So today I decided I wanted to go to the beach, and I called my friend Yiğid to ask if he wanted to go, and he was up for it. Elated and excited for the adventure, I made two bottles of fruit Iced Tea, packed in my cooler, and some cookies, grabbed my blanket and met up with Yiğid who had packed some water, nuts and ice cream. Together we went on a road trip to Karaburun the cute little picturesque beach town here in Arnavutköy.
Karaburun which apparently means Black Nose - derived from the shape of the town, (Yiğid said it’s shaped like a nose) and the Black Sea around it - is a 30 minute drive from my house in İslambey Mahalesi. However if you’re taking the bus, it’s a 1 hour, 20 minute journey. You can take the 336K bus from the Arnavutköy Merkez.
It started to rain not long after we got on the road, but I refused to let it deter us. I couldn’t come out of the car to take as many pictures as I would have liked of the journey, but I did get some photos.
I found it fascinating that at many points on the journey I saw little benches thoughtfully scattered in spots that you would want to take pictures. We stopped at this beautiful hill with a breathtaking view right on the road, and it had a bench for you to relax and take in the view.
We moved on and continued on our journey to the beach front. The beach front is a long stretch of sand with a parking lot - although you can park by the side of the road as well, a few shops and restaurants scattered along the road, and a playground for kids.
The water is clear and blue, the sand has loads of gorgeous, smooth pebbles, and there are areas designated for swimming marked off by floating lines. There were two life guards on standby to help prevent mishaps. The beach is very family friendly, and you can bring your own food, drinks, shade and speakers.
After taking pictures by the beach front, Yiğid took me to see the beach town of Karaburun as he knew some of the nooks and crannies of the gorgeous town. I fell in love with the little town, as it had so many beautiful spots - The gorgeous hill where you can see one side of the entire beach from, the boatyard, the gorgeous streets and houses where almost everyone had a flower bush, (I had never seen so many flower bushes in one place before) the cute little picnic areas and benches/cabana, everything was just so pretty and perfect.
Karaburun reminded me of how much I’ve always wanted to own a beach house and live in a beach town somewhere. The vibe is very reminiscent of the kind of retirement home I want with grandkids running around and the heady scent of flowers wafting through the air on dewy mornings. It was especially beautiful after the rain.
I love how enjoyable coming here was, especially as I didn’t have to spend a lot of money to do so. It was fun, and exciting and beautiful and the views were amazing. I really like that Istanbul makes it easy to enjoy yourself even on a budget.
If you’re looking for a quiet, maybe romantic getaway then you should really consider visiting Karaburun. If you’re looking for a cute little beach town to vacation for a few days, its also a great idea, especially if you can find a lovely home for rent or to Airbnb.
I really had a great time, and I’m grateful for the wisdom God gave me to take the day off, and refuel. I had a great time.
Love, Yoma.
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