Woman's Tour of Floating Supermarket in Mediterranean Sea Goes Viral: 'They Have Everything' (Exclusive)

• Brooke DeVard shared a clip on Instagram of her visiting a Migros location on a yacht
• Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, the floating grocery store has everything for casual shoppers, plus those who need to stock up on groceries for longer periods at sea.
• DeVard, a native New Yorker, recalls how much fun she had exploring there the first time and why it’s now a must-stop on every trip

A mum who enjoyed a family holiday in Turkey is giving her followers a glimpse into something most people don’t know about.

Brooke DeVard and her family traveled to Turkey for an annual trip that began when she and her husband got married nearly ten years ago. A native New Yorker, DeVard’s annual trip with her husband has become a family affair since welcoming their now 3-year-old son.

“One of the first trips we took was called Mavi Yolculuk, or the Blue Trip. You basically go from Istanbul all the way to Bojram and stop at little bays along the way. Families and people all over Turkey have been doing it forever,” DeVard tells PEOPLE.

“After I experienced it for the first time with him, we continued to do it and now we bring our son. It’s one of the things we really look forward to as a family every year.”

Traveling by boat involves long stretches at sea. “I think there’s something really nice about the specific part of our boat trip. We did six nights, five days. There’s something really nice about not having to deal with the logistics,” she says.

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One of the logistics that DeVard was thrilled to discover was how food and supplies were stored on ships that spend extended periods of time on the water.

“My first visit [to the supermarket] it was three years ago. It was the first time I saw this floating shop and I was amazed. I couldn’t even imagine it. My family explains how all the boats get provisions when you’re at sea for a long time,” she says.

“Some other members of my family have done it quite often and they’re not that bothered by it. They’ll send a crew to the shop, but I’m always like, ‘Oh, God, no, I’m going.’ Even if I have to buy two things, I won’t miss the opportunity to go grocery shopping at sea.'”

DeVard’s recent tour of the Migros grocery store on the Mediterranean Sea went viral as people were mesmerized by everything on offer.

Oreo screen on the Migros boat at sea.

Brooke DeVard/Instagram

“I think the biggest surprise is the fact that it wasn’t a scaled-down version of a grocery store. The fact that they have fish and poultry and produce and ice cream and snacks … everything from feminine care and baby formula to toys and sunscreen,” he says. DeVard.

“They have everything you would find in a grocery store on the mainland. So you might think it’s a discount thing, just the bare essentials, but they really do have everything.”

While some commenters thought the prices in DeVard’s video were unreasonable, she noted that they were in Turkish Liras. Converted to USD, her family thinks the prices are “really reasonable.”

“I think it’s interesting because you would think that because you don’t have a lot of options offshore, there would be a big price increase. But the prices are very reasonable and very comparable to what you would see on land for the same items,” the soon-to-be-mother two children.

Ice cream on the floating Migros.

Brooke DeVard/Instagram

Seeing other people as mesmerized as she was during her first trip to the store at sea was fun for DeVard.

“For me, it’s the excitement of people and them thinking, ‘I never knew this existed.’ “One of the things I say in the voiceover is that there are things in the world that you have no idea exist until you experience them,” she notes.

“The first time I saw it, it seemed so amazing, so it’s great to see so many people excited about the fact that something like this exists. I’ve seen someone say, ‘This is a bucket list item for me,’ or ‘I want to experience it.’ ”

Brooke’s husband gets a simit.

Brooke DeVard/Instagram

The family has favorites they can’t wait to pick up on every trip.

“I’m really excited about peaches, which is şeftaliler in Turkish. They’re perfectly ripe and amazing. As a pregnancy wish, I’m having Oreos dipped in white chocolate,” she shares.

“My son was really excited to be able to get pomegranate juice. We don’t usually let him drink a lot of juice since he’s only 3, but we let him get pomegranate juice at the grocery store, which is great,” DeVard continues.

“The other thing I picked up at the store is Vogue Turkish. Sure, we can get everything online on a tablet, but there’s something nice about getting a magazine. My husband loves it when we buy simit, a baked bread similar to a pastry. It is a staple of all Turkish breakfasts, which are a big part of their culture. So having a freshly baked simit at sea is amazing.”

Brooke DeVard and family enjoy their travels.

Courtesy of Brooke DeVard

These trips, and family trips in general, became important to DeVard and her family.

“I’m 5 months pregnant, so I was worried about how I’d feel, but I’ve been great the whole time. I’m African American, my husband is Turkish, and our son is half black American, half Turkish.. It’s always been very important that he, since we live in the United States and he goes to school there, making sure he has time to be exposed to Turkish culture, to eat Turkish food, to be with his Turkish side of the family, and to hear the language spoken has always been important to him growing up equally connected to both sides of his heritage,” she says.

“One of the things I’m really thankful for is that he really likes being out on the water. He really likes being on the water. His favorite part is the little boat that takes you from your boat to the boat at the store. That’s what excites him the most it seems like a bit of an adventure for him, but we’re happy that he really likes being on board.”

DeVard hopes the glimpses of her family’s journey she shares will inspire others to seek out unique journeys.

“I’d say go for it. It creates lasting memories. It’s a really special way to bond with your family. You’re all together in a very small space, but I think if you have the guts to do it, it’s going to create really unique memories.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education