Paragliding in Oludeniz
After a few days in Oludeniz you can’t help but be enticed by the colourful paragliders cruising above you performing daring tricks in the sky. I thought of flying and looking down over such a magnificent view. I had to do it. I was briefed to wear sturdy shoes and bring my camera. We met at the paragliding office by the beach and jumped into the truck to head up the mountain. Getting up the mountain We drove along the main road through the next resort and then peeled off up a road that looked like it just headed off into the forest. As the truck climbed the mountain road,…
Unravelling the Turkish Dolmus
An exciting, inexpensive and sometimes convenient method of transport around Turkish towns and between Turkish villages is the dolmus (minibus). A journey on a dolmus is always an experience for one reason or another. Fancy joining me? Errr, a Dol-what? Dolmus (pronounced ‘dol-moosh’) are often small, white, unassuming minibuses, but in some areas (depending on how much money the driver made last year) they come in all sorts of colours and designs. They often have their destination written across the front, or on a small board in the window. Some have bitterly cold air-conditioning. Some have none and windows that don’t open. It’s a bit like a lucky dip. What…
Expat Life – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Expat life is vastly different from visiting somewhere as a tourist. Tourists enjoy the best of places but rarely experience the difficulties that expats face. Daily life, encountering and rising to the challenges, as well as enjoying the highlights of life overseas can be very rewarding, but it can take time. The Good And now for something completely different Expats live in a different country from their country of origin. As such, those choosing to live as expats are often seeking something different. It may be different weather, a different language, or different food. It may be simply for the challenge of being outside their comfort zone. Whatever the reason,…
Kayakoy – The Gemstone of South West Turkey
Kayakoy is a gorgeous little unassuming country village nestled in the mountains behind Fethiye. It has changed little in the 15 years that I have known the area and continues to provide welcome relief from the tourist drag, to those who venture here. Kayakoys beautiful, abandoned stone houses on this hillside are the village’s main drawcard. A Little History Kayakoy has had many names over the years. Its Greek name was Levissi and its Turkish name was Karmylassos. For centuries both Greeks and Turks lived here together harmoniously and both names were used. The Turkish population worked mostly in agriculture and kept animals, while the Greek population kept themselves busy…
Gulet sailing on the Turquoise Coast
The South West of Turkey has a gorgeous coastline and the best way to admire it and truly appreciate it is by spending a few days on a boat. Fortunately Turkish sailing boats, or gulets as the traditional wooden sail boats are called, sail along this coast all the time, so it is easy to join one. Where do Turkish gulets sail? Common routes are from Marmaris to Fethiye & from Fethiye to Olympos (although this route actually ends at Demre and involves a bus ride to Olympos). There are also lots of options around the Bodrum peninsular. What is it like? I have been lucky enough to go on…
Top 10 things to do in South West Turkey
A visit to South West Turkey can be a relaxing beach holiday, a culture-vulture extravaganza, a sailing break, an adventure sports trip or a party every night, anything you want it to be basically. Here are some of the fantastic things on offer. 1. Sail Turkey’s Turquoise Coast Gulets are traditional wooden Turkish sailing boats (as pictured above). Several operators offer gulet cruises along Turkeys beautiful Turquoise coast. Popular routes include Fethiye to Olympos and Fethiye to Marmaris. Cruises can be as short as 1 day or as long as 2 weeks and are a wonderful way to relax and take in the scenery, as well as visiting many remote spots which…
Beaches around Fethiye
The South West coastline of Turkey, or the Turquoise Coast as it is known, is magnificent and as you’d expect there are some fantastic beaches around. If relaxing on the beach feeling the sand slip between your toes is your kind of holiday, be sure to read this before you go. Oludeniz Oludeniz is the beach on just about every poster advertising Turkey. It is a glorious strip of beach reaching from the foot of Babadag mountain to the blue lagoon. It is a wide sand and shingle beach which shelves deeply on the main strip, but is shallow with calm waters at the lagoon. There are many beach bars…
Where to eat around Fethiye
Fethiye and its surrounding area have long been visited by travellers and tourists. There are plenty of cuisines available in this region but here I have concentrated primarily on the restaurants I have found reliable, over several years, in providing good authentic Turkish food. Oh ok, and one (Turkish) Italian restaurant. Cinbal’s, Kayakoy Cinbal’s (pronounced Gin-balz) in Kayakoy is one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in the area. The very direct tag line on their sign “Kendin pisir, kendin ye” gets me every time. It means “Cook it yourself, eat it yourself!” Seating is outdoors in summer, in a hidden garden. There are even trees to tie your dog…
Guide to Turkish Street food
Turkey produces some amazingly tasty, traditional treats from fantastically fresh ingredients. From the savoury fan to the sweetest tooth, there is something for everyone. Get familiar with Turkish treats before you go so you can enjoy them confidently. Borek Borek (pronounced burr-ek) are filled pastries, either baked as individual borek, or one large borek and then cut into portions (pictured above). They are made with thin filo-like pastry and common fillings include cheese and parsley, mincemeat, spinach and potato. They are delicious fresh and are still tasty once they have cooled down later. Simit (sim-it) are rings of bread covered in sesame seeds. Street vendors often carry them on a…
Guide to Turkish drinks
Cay time! Tea is something the Turks don’t restrict simply to afternoons. As a nation, they are tea-crazy! As well as tea, there are lots of drinks that are popular in Turkey but unusual for visitors. If you are an intrepid explorer and keen to try new things read on for an explanation of some of the drinks on offer in Turkey. Kahve, Cay and Elma cay (Turkish coffee – pronounced kar-vay, Tea pronounced ch-eye, and apple tea pronounced el-ma ch-eye) Turkish coffee will wake you up. It is commonly much stronger than coffee available in Europe and often thick enough that a spoon will stand in it. It is…
