Life in Turkey Blog Posts

Holidaymakers want more than a beach life. Rather than visit top rated attractions they look for unknown, weird and wonderful themes. They are todays independent travellers, full of curiosity and want to know about unusual things to do. They want to visit unique places or indulge in activities they can’t do at home. They want to holiday like a Turk and fully immerse themselves in all things quirky. Whether you are young or old, adventurous or simply curious, Turkey delivers when it comes to places and attractions.

The dream of living in Turkey fills people with hope. They imagine a life by the beach, with gorgeous weather and a stunning home. They think of their perfect utopia, and it is what motivates to wake up. Unfortunately, while there is nothing wrong with this dream, it rarely goes so smoothly. Moving to a different country can be a stressful experience if you are not prepared for the expat challenges that accompany a life in Turkey.

"Is Turkey  safe?" is something we're asked a lot. It's difficult to get an idea of what it's like to live, play and work in Turkey unless you're actually there. Marie Coggin, who lives in Gumusluk, sums up the reasons as to why she has always felt secure living in Turkey, and fills us in on some of measures she's seen to keep Turks and expats safe.

Whether buying a new house or revamping the old, one of the most exciting ways to spend our money is buying furniture. From the living room to the bedroom to balconies and terraces, the many furniture brands in Turkey appear in houses across the country. Some focus on luxurious designs while others are cheap, cheerful and ideal for budget conscious homemaker. Some have also earned themselves a countrywide reputation for excellence.

Most people have heard of Mimar Sinan, the most famous Turkish architect. The Ottoman sultans adored his work, therefore cemented his place in their history. He inspired many of his students to go on and create masterpieces such as the Blue Mosque, but none could quite match his standards. However, during the last twenty years, Turkey has undergone a massive transformation in infrastructure and urban planning. Turkish architects are highly in demand. 

Celebrating Christmas away from your home country doesn't need to be a sad occasion. On the contrary, there are many things to love about being somewhere different. From escaping commercialism to sampling cultures from all around the world, Bodrum resident Marie Coggin explains what she loves about spending Christmas in Turkey.

In many countries across the globe, experts are asking whether village culture is dying out. In 2009, a study said the flight of young Germans to big cities were killing off small villages. Five years later, an environmental report said Italy is facing the abandonment of thousands of villages, and at the same time, risking an endangered way of life and decline of rural traditions and social communities. Let's explore villages in Turkey and see what is happening there.

When a colourful poster in a travel agent caught her eye, Marie Coggin decided a couple of weeks in the Turkish sunshine was just what she needed. She had no idea that the trip would mark a new beginning: the start of a two-decade love affair with Turkey. The Gumusluk, Bodrum resident recalls the magic and wonder of her first holiday exploring the region on land and by sea.

Seaside living in Turkey is more popular now than ever before. Many Turks from the inner cities have holiday homes in the coastal resorts of the Aegean and Mediterranean. The same trend applies to thousands of foreigners who have bought holiday homes in Turkey or moved here to live out their retirement. The resort of Fethiye attracts British buyers, while Antalya has turned into a cosmopolitan hub of many nationalities including Russians and Europeans.

In the last thirty years, the concept of living abroad has opened to the masses. Whereas pre- 1990s, it was restricted to affluent retirees, the advancement of travel, technology and the Internet means more people are looking at upping sticks to seek out an alternative lifestyle and in many cases, one that is more laid-back, healthier and of course, full of copious amounts of sun. Have a read of why you should consider retiring to Turkey.

Some people like familiarity. They have a small select group of lifelong friends, and they live their entire lives in the same city or town. However other people get the urge to spread their wings and these days. Indeed, many expats have descended on the shores of Turkey and are often found in the small Aegean and Mediterranean towns. Unfortunately, not everyone stays because there are some aspects of Turkish life that they just really can’t get their head around.

In our series about expat life in Turkey, we talk to real people in the country to get a realistic outlook and viewpoint on what living in Turkey is like. In this article, we talk with Natalie Sayin. She has lived in Turkey for 15 years, been married and divorced here, worked as a rep, estate agent and is now a location independent freelancer. We asked her to tell us more about her life in Turkey as an expat.