While I didn’t have high expectations when I participated in the Ayvalık run on 17 September this year, the appeal of Ayvalık and Cunda Island, the joy of the people I would spend time with, and the opportunity to relax after a busy schedule made me eagerly anticipate the Ayvalık run. The day finally arrived. We set off for Ayvalık around noon on Friday, 15 September. Upon arrival, we checked into the Çamlık 87 Hotel, recommended by my running coach, Serpil Hoca. Due to a health issue, Serpil Hoca couldn’t join us. We realized the hotel was ideally located for the runners. Indeed, the 10 K course starts just beyond the hotel (you could say within walking distance), and the 42 K marathon passes right in front of it.
We wanted to grab some fish for our first evening, so we chose Yelken Restaurant, just 100 meters across from the hotel. After a wonderful sunset dinner at this restaurant, with the sea at our feet (we even ate a bit too much, but we thoroughly enjoyed it), we decided to explore Ayvalık a bit more and headed to the Macaron neighborhood in Ayvalık. Here, we enjoyed delicious mastic and chocolate puddings at Macaron Muhallebisicisi, followed by ice-cold black mulberry juice at Camlı Kahve.
The next day, we wanted to swim in the sea. Since it was mid-September, the beaches weren’t crowded at all. We took another recommendation and went to One Life Beach in Sarımsaklı. It was late in the season, with crystal clear water; it felt like we were in a beach club reserved just for us. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, the beach was flat, long, and easy to walk, and the calm, cool Aegean waters were simply wonderful. As we relaxed on the beach, we continued to sip black mulberry juice, an Ayvalık classic. We swam in the sea and spent time on the beach.
Enjoying Cunda before the run
In the evening, we went to the race start point where the kits were distributed and picked up our kits. We chatted with the organizers I’d met at the Avşa Island run (the same people who organized the Ayvalık Run), and from there, we headed to Cunda in the evening. It’s customary to have an early, carbohydrate-rich dinner before the run. We followed this tradition and chose an Italian restaurant called L’Arancia. After a pleasant dinner in the restaurant’s garden, we enjoyed delicious pasta cooked with various sauces, then walked around Cunda and enjoyed our customary ice cream. As we walked the streets of Cunda, we came across an old olive oil production site.
Cunda is a unique, characterful, and delightful place to wander. The streets are vibrant and vibrant, with olive oil producers, soap makers, small shops selling handmade designer goods, and street vendors lining the pebbled streets, brimming with color and a multitude of people, many of whom are young and old, spreading joy to the walkers. Local tourists visiting Cunda often wander the streets of Cunda in pairs or groups, brimming with positive energy. The only thing I couldn’t understand about this enjoyable walk was the fact that a fundraising campaign was being held with a megaphone at the entrance to Cunda’s city center. While the intention was good and special, the tone was crucial. Even the little girl next to me in our group, hearing the SMA call for support, asked questions like, “What are they saying? What does SMA mean? Why is this child dying?” (Besides the megaphone announcement, they had hung pictures of children facing death). I’d like to remind the organizers that trying to save the lives of young children shouldn’t traumatize others. Speaking of life’s challenges, I’d also like to mention this meaningful post we came across on the streets of Cunda:
A Chaotic and Enjoyable Race
After our enjoyable walk in Cunda, we were ready for the next morning’s run. We woke up early, ate the breakfast our hotel had prepared early the night before, warmed up, and headed to the racecourse. Race morning was a complete mess. People were energetic, morale was high, and the weather was beautiful. However, despite all the effort, it was unclear where we could park, the parking lots were already full, and it was chaotic. We were amidst this chaos and, in every way, became part of the organized chaos that has become a classic in Turkey. Even so, our joy remained undiminished.
This race featured Marathon, 10 K and 5 K categories, and each race had different start times depending on the distance. From professional runners, whose attire was obvious, to those simply running, there was a sense of positivity that permeated everyone. The people and families greeting each other before and after the race, including us, and the people cheering during the run further boosted morale. The Karşıyaka group, who ran, cheered, and brought joy, boosted the atmosphere, as they do every run. Most of all, it was a great pleasure to run by the sea, in sunny but not too hot weather.
The start of the race
We completed the 10 K race along the roads of Ayvalık, mostly by the sea. It was a curious coincidence that we were running towards One Life Beach, where we had enjoyed the sea the day before the start of the race. I ran the 10 K at a moderate pace in 43:46, finishing 14th overall and 6th in my age category. It wasn’t fast or slow for me. Although I felt tired at times, I didn’t push myself too hard. From the start of the race, I remember telling myself, “Serhan, you came to enjoy this place.”
The end of the race
The surprise that marked our trip!
After the race, we left the hotel and stopped by our beloved One Life Beach for one last swim. We went swimming once more, savoring our salty Ayvalık toasts, and then, just as we were about to head back, we encountered a surprise that would leave a lasting impression on our trip. Our car keys were missing! The entire beach crew mobilized and searched everywhere. Starting from under our table, we searched the entire beach and even the sea! Initially, we thought we’d accidentally left our keys in the trunk of our car, so we called a locksmith. The locksmith, thankfully, was not only skilled but also very friendly, spending hours with us; he made making keys his business. When the keys weren’t in the car (we looked everywhere, including the trunk), the locksmith said, “If this key is here, I’ll do whatever it takes to find it.” He then combed the beach, took things to a whole new level, put on his swimming goggles and swimsuit, and began searching the sea. I went swimming with him. In total, we spent about an hour and a half searching for the car keys.
Despite all our efforts, however, we didn’t have our key. Since we wouldn’t receive a spare key until noon the next day, we started looking for accommodation around 5:00 on Sunday evening. We were stranded on the beach with our luggage and bags in a vehicle we couldn’t start. When the helpful staff at One Life Beach told us about their new, small hotel across the road, we decided to check it out. It was very clean, even with a full sea view, and quite pleasant. We happily ended our adventurous day by staying there.
The weekend we were in Ayvalık, there were many events going on, one of which was the Ayvalık Film Festival. I remember saying to ourselves, “If only we had time to see a film.” Unable to find our key and deciding to stay another day in Ayvalık, we immediately bought tickets to the film festival, thinking, “Everything is for a silver lining. Let’s at least see a festival film tonight.” We left our luggage in our beautiful hotel room and eagerly headed to the amphitheater where the festival was taking place. As we entered this wonderful open-air theater, grabbing our popcorn and waiting to be let in, we were met with a surprise. The film screening had been canceled due to the wind.
This time, a pleasant surprise.
We finally had a good laugh, so we decided to go ahead and enjoy the evening anyway, exploring the Ayvalık neighborhoods on foot. The next day, the spare key arrived from Istanbul. It arrived around noon. We loaded up our gear and set off. Everyone was saying they were hungry, so I stopped at Köfteci Ramiz, just outside Ayvalık, next to a gas station. While we were eating, my phone rang. The following conversation between me and the owner of the hotel, which also happens to be One Life Beach, went like this:
“Mr. Serhan, where are you?”
“We’re having lunch at Köfteci Ramiz, right at the entrance to Ayvalık.”
“Well, you haven’t gone far. I have some good news. What if I told you we found your key?”
“What do you mean? Where did you find it?”
“It got stuck between the wooden floorboards at our beach club.” The key must have fallen out of your pocket. There was no way we could find it. We only noticed it when we put everything away, as it was the end of the season.
—Great news. Thank you so much. We’ll be back after dinner to pick up the key.
—Looking forward to it. See you soon.
My new Ayvalık motto
After eating, we quickly grabbed the key and headed back. I was very pleased to find it. It took a load off my shoulders. Let’s just say that staying an extra day in Ayvalık was a bonus of our trip.
How we forgot this key, our search for it, and then our discovery of it became something of an urban legend in our immediate area. It was truly fascinating.
I highly recommend this Aegean paradise for anyone looking for a complete change of scenery just a few hours from Istanbul. From now on, my motto for this wonderful destination, where everyone can find something for themselves, is “Running, Fishing, Ayvalık.”
Tag: ecology
