There are only three reasons why anyone would visit Boyali village
- For fantastic views of the surrounding countryside
- Trekking or bird watching
- For an unbiased look at village life in an area which is off the beaten track
The small village is nestled at the foot of a large hill. It can be seen from miles around but you need knowledge of the back roads to get there without losing your way.
The population of Boyali Village is roughly 55 people. It belongs to the Beypazari region and the surrounding valley is one of the most important places in Turkey as a natural bird habitation area.
There is no school in the village. Instead children catch the bus and go to school in the main town. Occasionally, a mobile supermarket also comes around so locals can buy products they are unable to make themselves such as salt and sugar.
As we got out the car, it was obvious our arrival had been noticed by the few locals that were out in their gardens. They don’t tend to get many visitors or strangers in the area making it even more intriguing when one does pitch up.
We walked along a muddy path and come across an old sheep farmer, who seemed fazed by nothing. He had a laid back attitude and I got the impression, that the word “stressed” was not part of his vocabulary. His second job was as the village muhtar. There are not enough people living in the village to warrant a mayor so this man takes care of administrative paperwork etc.
My concern of why he put a spiked collar on his sheep dog was unfounded. The dog was actually a loyal member of the family and the collar was to protect wild animals from ripping it’s throat to pieces. Lesson learned not to jump to conclusions
We walked past a young man who was loading cut wood onto his tractor. His small son looked roughly around 8 years old and he was eagerly helping his dad. While we were talking, the man’s wife went into the house and returned with a block of white cheese.
Like many other food items including bread, she had made it herself. You would think that by now, I would be used to the hospitality shown by random locals in this country, but I am not. Coming from the western world, where we are taught to view strangers with a suspicious eye, I still cannot adapt to the Turkish tradition of giving or receiving generous hospitality.
After just an hour, we left Boyali village and I never went back. While I am not a fan of big and bustling cities, neither am I attracted to extreme remote locations. The thought of giving up my 24/7 internet signal is quite alarming. I also have problems even boiling an egg so I very much doubt I could adapt to a lifestyle of making my own cheese and bread!
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