Exploring Dalyan Delta
Dalyan is a small town in Turkey’s south-west Mediterranean region that keeps its secrets tucked away behind the coastline. Overlooked by ancient Lycian rock tombs the town itself is only small but the region offers many distractions for explorers. Tourists swell the population of Dalyan during the summer months but the region is otherwise occupied with being a productive agricultural region. Especially noticeable in the fields surrounding the settlement are crops of citrus fruit, pomegranates and cotton. Things to do in Dalyan Kaunos Rock tombs embedded in the rock slope facing Dalyan, across the Dalyan river, evidence the area’s ancient history. The grandness and height of tombs above others indicate…
Travel Adventures of an Expat Cat
If you are like me you fall in love with animals everywhere. I constantly want to adopt and care for animals that I meet, but obviously can’t take them all around the world with me. One cat however, won my heart and has travelled with me. When I lived in Turkey I met and quickly fell in love with a stray cat. I named her Sultan, which is a regular female Turkish name. She was a nervous cat and was scared of me and of anyone who came to visit. It took weeks of actively avoiding her before she felt comfortable and calmed down a bit. We soon got used…
Having a hamam – The Turkish Bath Experience
Why expats need local friends
It is easy for expats, especially in a country that speaks another language, to form friendships with other expats. While fellow expats can be enormously supportive and fun, if you want to really understand your new home, it is also important to befriend locals in your host country. One place I am especially fond of is Turkey. It is somewhere that I quickly felt, and continue to feel, at ease. I am indebted to my Turkish friends for their help during my time in Turkey, especially at the beginning. I was young when I first fell in love with the country and I was clueless about Turkish culture and knew nothing…
Treasure hunting in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is virtually a city within a city; there is so much going on in there. Covering an enormous area, the bazaar’s 3,000 or so shops offer the intrepid explorer an opportunity to buy almost everything imaginable. Come on in. For those who thrive on bustle and activity the bazaar will be a highlight of your trip to Istanbul. It is certainly something to be in a good mood for and not pressed for time. The shopkeepers will banter with visitors and expect their customers to bargain for goods. This is all done in good spirits and often accompanied by offers of tea and coffee that should not…
European cities – what not to miss
With so many people, cultures and influences all packed into a relatively small area, it comes as no surprise that Europe boasts some of the world’s most interesting cities. Here are some European cities not to miss. Europe offers a plethora of different towns and cities to explore and enjoy, so how did I choose just the few you see here? The simple answer is that I chose my favourites. We all have different priorities and preferences. These are the things I love about these cities, which are not necessarily capital cities incidentally. Maybe you will agree with my choices, maybe not. Let me know! Nice, France The perfect marriage…
Evil Eyes
You won’t be in Turkey long before you notice you are being watched. Large, mostly blue eyes hang from buildings, cars, above doorways, and feature in jewellery. These eyes are called ‘nazar boncuk’ in Turkish and are often referred to, rather misleadingly, as evil eyes. he evil eye is in fact a benevolent eye that wards off evil. Across the world it is widely believed that a look of the wrong kind from someone can bring bad luck, hence the phrase ‘to give someone the evil eye’. In Muslim society it is also strongly believed that evil looks bring injury or bad luck because, although it is believed that only…
Bosphorus Cruising
Istanbul life is lived around the Bosphorus which divides Europe from Asia. Control of this waterway has historically been fought over, but now offers a peaceful way to explore what can, at times, be a very hectic city. Cruising the Bosphorus and observing Istanbul from the water is one of my favourite things to do in this amazing city. It offers a unique nose into life along the Bosphorus and is something to definitely not miss. Ferries and cruises It is possible to get ferries north and south along the Bosphorus. It takes about 90 minutes to travel the length of the Bosphorus and for those ferries you simply buy…
How to bargain
There are some countries in the world where bargaining over the price of an item is the norm. If you are not used to this do not worry about it and do not feel uncomfortable about it; it is all part of the local shopping experience. Here are a few tips to help you. Understanding pricing Shopkeepers and market-stall holders will tell you the price they would like you to pay. This is not normally what they expect to get for the item, but a slightly higher price, as they are expecting to bargain. With this same thinking in mind your initial price needs to be lower than you are…
Guide to Expat Living in Turkey
What is it like living in Turkey? I get asked this all the time. I am not entirely sure what people imagine life in Turkey to be like but I have been asked all sorts of questions including, and I’m not joking, ‘do they have electricity in Turkey?’ Turkey is an enormous country with vastly differing standards of living, sadly, depending upon the location. Generally speaking life in large towns and cities is pretty comfortable. The more rural you go the more basic, or few and far between, the amenities become, like most places really. My Turkish home was Fethiye, a decent sized town accommodating what was basically a farming…
