You would think the food at the tavernas would become repetitive, but I continued to be surprised by the variety at each port. Because the tavernas are family owned and operated, each chef has his or her specialities. The food at O Guns was marvelous and perhaps the best I ate in the whole of Turkey. Okay, so I didn't try the wild boar stew in spicy tomato sauce. But the Australian couple aboard loved it (those adventuresome Aussies!). For me, I sampled 6 mezas and barely found room in my stomach for the best pumpkins soup I've ever tasted. The zucchini fritters with garlic yogurt sauce and olive pate were my two favorite appetizers. Besides the delicious food, nothing could beat the setting. We ate at a huge table under a thatched roof. The rest of the courtyard was shaded by trees, but because dinner wasn't served until 9 p.m., there was no need for shade. It had cooled down to about 70 degrees that night, so the owners built a fire in the traditional Turkish brick fireplace situated in the corner of the courtyard. Overhead, strings of lights danced in the wind, reflecting across the water. A large group of French tourists sat at the table beside ours. They were staying for the week at O Guns little hotel behind the restaurant. After we all got acquainted, shared some wine and stories about Turkey, we learned that the taverna was preparing for a wedding on Saturday -- the owner's daughter, who had been educated in France, was marrying one of the Frenchmen. The couple were going to honeymoon in Europe and then return to Ova Buku, where her father had built them a house on the bay. Furthermore, we were all invited to the wedding! Typical Turkish hospitality, I thought, regretting that we passengers aboard the Anna Maria would have already disembarked at Bodrum by then. But the captain and first mate planned to bring the next group of lucky guests aboard the Anna Maria back to Ova Buku so they could all party through the night with the newly weds.
I'm giving Ova Buku a "highly recommended" because I loved it there. But don't expect luxury. For those who want more choices of things to see and do, Marmaris is a better choice. But for anyone who would love to step into what seems like a movie set -- a place too good to be true -- Ova Buku is a really great experience.