Cape Jason

December 18, 2014 By Justin Leonard

If you are in search of a grand adventure, then you should look no farther than Cape Jason. Located in the district of Perşembe this small peninsula has mythological origins. The rocky outcropping gets its name from the mythological adventurer Jason and his companions, the Argonauts. Against all odds this fearless adventure travels beyond the then known world in search of the magical “Golden Fleece”. It is thought that Jason harboured his famous ship, the Argo, at this location on his way to Colchis, now the country of Georgia. According this legend this is the first ship to ever make it past the currents of Bosphorus Straits, in Istanbul, to the Black Sea. To validate Jason’s story archaeologists have discovered remains of an ancient temple.

Stained glass window of Jason's Church — Stained glass window of Jason’s Church

Today if you visit Cape Jason you will find the remains of a 150 year old church constructed by local Greeks on the remains of the ancient temple. The church and its garden stone walls give a glimpse into the not so distant past of Ordu. The location of the church is specular and worshipers would have had a stunning view of the sea. This location is the only location in Ordu where you can watch both a sunrise and a sunset over the sea. In summer time other activities include swimming snorkelling and diving. The spectacular scenery also provides a perfect backdrop for wedding and circumcision photos. Most days you will have an opportunity to see traditionally dressed locals posing in front of a photographer and followed by family members and friends. Motorcycle adventurers might want to snap a few photos of their “love” too, their bike.

Riding out to Cape Jason is not quite the adventure that Jason and the Argonauts faced. In fact it is not much of a challenge at all as it is located along the scenic coastal road between City of Fatsa and the City of Ordu, and it’s about a half hour ride from either city. Every adventure doesn’t have to be challenging, as this adventure is both refreshing and relaxing. So much so that I have driven out Cape Jason several times and enjoy both the ride and glimpse into the past every time.

Bolaman Kalesi

December 17, 2014 By Justin Leonard

People often ask me to list some of the differences between America and Turkey. When I first moved to Turkey my list was a mile long, but the longer I have lived here the shorter my list has become. Not necessarily because Turkey has become more like America, although the world is becoming smaller every day, but it’s because I am slowly forgetting what America is like.

The other day while I was out riding I noticed that there really aren’t that many billboards or advertisements along the highway. In America along the interstates there are signs everywhere. Every fastfood restaurant, gas station, and hotel has a huge billboard calling out to drivers to stop by. In fact, I remember that I was quite dependent on those to find what I needed on my travels. In Turkey, especially in Ordu, there are very few billboards in comparison. In some ways I do appreciate this, because there are no ugly signs to pollute the scenery. However, I do need a sign from time to time to help me find somewhere good to eat or let me know how far to the next gas station. So when I do see a billboard it gets my attention.

Ottoman style architecture of Bolaman Castle.

A big billboard caught my attention. It was a sign for Bolaman Castle, or Hazinedaroğlu Konağı My thought was that if the Department of Tourism thought it was important enough to make a giant billboard to advertise the castle then it must be worth seeing. The advertising worked, and I was determined to visit the castle on my next adventure.

The castle is located on the scenic highway between the City of Fatsa and the City of Perşembe in the little town of Bolaman. I figured that it would be easy to find, since it was such an important historical site. However I was wrong. I literally passed by the castle 3 times without seeing it, and it wasn’t until I decided to visit the fishing harbour that I found it. Actually, it isn’t that hard to find I was just looking for some sort of sign to show where to look. The castle is located directly next to the beach and the fishing boat harbour. I parked my motorcycle and was excited to explore the old Ottoman styled castle.

Enjoy a nice meal on the beach while enjoying views of the castle and Black Sea.

The castle foundation was built on a triangle shaped rock in the early 19^th century. The 200 year old castle was constructed of wood in the typical Ottoman style of that time. The castle was renovated about 10 years ago, and has been used as a restaurant. Unfortunately when I visited it was locked and vacated. The exterior of the castle was interesting and in fairly good repair, but I was disappointed that the interior was closed off to the public. I was only able to take a few pictures and then take a stroll along the Bolaman beach. The beach has a few restaurants offering dining on beach with good views of the sea and castle.

At this time Bolaman Castle is only a photo stop on your way to another adventure

Cotyora

December 3, 2014 By Justin Leonard

I was talking to a local the other day about all the places that I had visited in Ordu, and I mentioned some of my favourite places, some of which only a couple of miles from the city. I was shocked to learn that not only had he not been to them, but he had no idea that they even existed. Instead of judging him for this lack of knowledge about the place he had lived his entire life, I sympathized with him as I too have been guilty of the same naiveté.

In almost every place I have ever lived, I rarely visited or explored the local places of interest. Why? Well there is always the excuse that I just didn’t have the time. Life is full. There’s work, family, friends, volunteering, studying, etc. It all comes down priorities. We make space for the things that are important, and we put the less important things on a shelf for another day. It’s wise and commendable that one manages their time wisely, and honestly going out on an adventure is probably not high on anyone’s list of day to day tasks. Unfortunately the things we put on the shelf are forgotten, sometimes even the shelf itself is forgotten.

For me, I have a desire and longing for something new, a little adventure. I am thankful that in this season of life I have an opportunity to pursue this interest of mine a little more than I have in the past. That being said, I do also enjoy an occasional “mini” adventures during the busier times. They give me energy for other less exciting things, and remind me life is not all about collecting the next pay check. Adventure Ordu will highlight some of these “mini-adventures” that you can have while visiting Ordu.

Cotyora is one of the mini-adventures or lesser known points of interest in Ordu. In fact, most people will pass by without even noticing. One of the main reasons is that the location is hidden by the coastal highway, and it is only accessible from traffic leaving Ordu towards Samsun. It is not well marked. Only a little brown sign pointing down a steep brick road towards the sea points the way. After about a 100 meters, there is a parking lot and a small trail leading to the ruins.

Cotyora is one of the original names for the province of Ordu, and the archaeological site was given the name. However, locals also know the site as Bozukkale or broken tower. That is exactly what you will find. A broken tower with only a section of the stone wall remaining. The stone wall is said to be from around the 11^th century during Byzantine reign. Other than the ruins there is a small lighthouse and some beautiful rock outcroppings. It is a peaceful location and I provides some great views of the coastline and the city.

Those looking for something a little different with a little history and some beautiful scenery it’s worth stopping by.

Adventure Ordu

Discovering Ordu's Hidden Treasures

Cape Jason

Bolaman Kalesi

Cotyora

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