13 June, Eğirdir
Ali’s Pansion 80TL

We cycled this morning to Antalya’s otogar (bus station) and took the 10:30 bus to Eğirdir in West Anatolia’s lake district. Eğirdir was founded by the Hittites and sat on the trade route between Ephesus and Babylon. Our pension is situated on Yeşilada island in Lake Eğirdir, which is linked to the mainland by a narrow strip of road. We are in rose country, with nearby Isparta being known for its attar of roses. It requires 100kg of rose petals to produce 25g of rose oil, which is used in perfume. The remaining rose water is used to produce beauty products, marmalade, Turkish delight, and so on. The waters of the lake were unexpectedly warm, so we enjoyed our afternoon swim despite the pebbly beach on which it is impossible to walk in bare feet.

Isparta bus station rose products

Yeşilada island in Lake Eğirdir