Living in a Traditional Turkish Village

On arriving at the village, Kudeze, which is nestled under the spectacular Taurus mountain range, the first thing that attracts your attention is the amount of hens,roosters, ducks, geese and turkeys with the odd dog and cat thrown in for good measure, which are wandering around the narrow lanes that pose as streets of the village. Some of the roads have recently been tarred and others are gravel that are often edged with wild black current and other berry vines. A dry stony creek bed runs through the centre which is an off shoot from the dry river you cross to arrive in the village. This would mainly flow when snow melts or a very big storm in the mountains and will change to a raging torrent within a very short time span.The village is widely spread, as the houses are dotted between orchards of pomegranate, lemon and orange trees. All homes have gardens filled mainly with an assortment of fruit (especially citrus, fig, persimmon trees and walnut or almond trees ), vegetables and generally a flowering shrub or two such as a bougainvillea, oleander or roses.

On entering our gate, which is “atypical” with a few fruit trees etc., there is a driveway to a complex of four townhouses that each have there own private courtyard. At the end of our street there is a very tiny corner store which sells the most delicious bread which is baked twice a day. ( Hmm…not good for the waist line!) A few other small shops are dotted through the village and adjoining villages but for major, grocery requirement shopping one needs to go further a field to one of the bigger town centres. This can be easily achieved by the small local buses that run roughly every half hour and cost mere cents. Of course, you can drive but with petrol being extremely expensive, it is a consideration. ($2.50 au/ 1.55 euro a litre) Supposedly, Turkey has the most expensive petrol in the world! Each village in the catchment area has a day allocated for a farmers market where an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables are sold amongst other market stores selling spice, fish, pots and pans and a few clothing items. Fresh fruit and vegetables are extremely cheap and have set prices. No haggling! I bought the other day a half kilo of rock salt and a bunch of garlic (about 10 knobs) for the equivalent of 75c Au.(0.45c Euro) The tomatoes are large,red and fill the air with tomato aroma! (35c-40c)

The Turkish people of the village live a simple life. The morning commences with prayers that blast from the mosque loud speakers and the chorus of the farmyard animals! Although the people are of the Muslim faith, they are more liberal in their beliefs than many neighboring countries. Most women to-day wear a scarf to show their commitment to the Muslim faith but this is not compulsory. In fact, more wear scarves than they did 20-30 years ago but in saying this you do see some young women in modern clothing. The main reason for the increase of scarves, is that it is a religious government, and if a man has a wife who does not wear a scarf he is unlikely to be promoted. It is very rare to see women wearing a burka and if so they are probably from a stricter Muslim country. Most women generally wear long divided skirts, long sleeved tops and a silk/satin scarf.They appear to have little interest in fashion or colour and pattern co-ordination of their outfit or it is a total mismatch to our culture. Read the rest of this entry »

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Istanbul – An Incredible Surprise

When thinking of Istanbul, Turkey, you probably have visions of religious edifices and great stone monuments. With a history that dates back to the 7th century, BC, Turkey is home to one of the most unique cultures on the face of the earth. Time has certainly been a friend to this land as age has resulted in great beauty, population and sights that can be view no where else. You will need a passport to travel to Istanbul so be sure to go online to a passport website and fill out an online passport application.

Since the inception of online passport sites, getting a passport will thankfully never be the same. The process has become quicker and easier than you can imagine, even if you need expedited US passport pages. All your passport needs can be met quickly and securely.

Istanbul boasts the largest population of any other city in Europe and, as would be expected, is also one of the largest cities. With the reputation of being one of Europe’s three “Capitals of Culture”, you can quickly see why visitors flock to this ancient city. History and religion blend together in this beautiful city and can been experienced by a visit to the Hagia Sofia, one of the largest Christian cathedrals in the entire world. A visit here will treat you to golden mosaics and unbelievable architecture. Other places that have a strong religious influence are the Sultanahmet Mosque and the Basilica Cistern.

If you are fortunate enough to visit Istanbul, you can’t forget to visit the Grand Bazaar. This center of commerce has existed for over 550 years and is the site of more than 3000 shops over an area of approximately 50 city streets. The Spice Bazaar, the Mahmutpasa Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar are also places where the shopper will not want to miss visiting. You will find pottery, jewelry, textiles, carpets and leather pieces galore and are sure to find that perfect gift to take home to the friend you had to leave behind. Read the rest of this entry »

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Windsurfing Vacation – The Best Windsurfing in Turkey

Choosing a windsurfing vacation is a great idea because the thrill of this outdoor sport simply blows the stress of modern living completely out of your mind and body!

This kind of holiday is ideal for young teenagers but is equally excellent as a whole family activity vacation. Groups of friends also often come and learn windsurfing or kitesurfing here in Fethiye.

Both activities are favourite past times here at Calis beach in Fethiye. Tuition is available from beginner to advanced level from internationally recognized instructors. On the eastern shores of Sovalye island even the absolute beginner can taste the magic of sea while on the western shores, the more experienced will get the thrill of large waves rolling in from the open sea.

The surf center is located on Calis beach which is on the northern side of Fethiye. Winds are fairly reliable and are usually low in the morning ( 5 – 10 knots ) and rising in the afternoon ( 10 – 20 knots ). This is great because it means you get choose your time according to your experience. Some days windspeed can reach the 20 – 40 knots region but this is not often. When this happens the real pros come out to play and kite-surfing really takes to the air!

Learning this incredible sport won’t break the budget either. Prices are listed below — as of summer 2009. Read the rest of this entry »

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