A series of negatives in his life prompted 52-year-old Andrew Edmonds to reassess his life. Wanting a change before he was too old to enjoy it, he decided to pack up and move to Turkey - a country he'd never even visited before. He explains how it's been settling into his new home in Yalikavak, Bodrum.
Living in Turkey as a foreigner, exposes you to cultural awareness but it also changes your outlook on life. The lifestyle that at first seems baffling and sometimes absurd slowly works its magic on you, and before you know it, your thoughts, mannerisms and actions extensively change to the point, where your Turkish friends insist you are no longer the yabanci (foreigner) but instead their half Turkish brother or sister.
Here’s the thing about visiting Turkey on holiday. It has an acute knack of drawing you in, and by the time, your departing flight leaves the tarmac, you are already planning your next trip back. While the country has a hardcore fan base of holidaymakers, some people also go one step further by packing their bags and moving here permanently - here are five places in Turkey that will have you never wanting to leave.
The broad spectrum and diversity of tourist attractions in Turkey have earned the country gushing admiration in travel guide books and fairs. From the weird and wonderful to historical or natural places of beauty, most are family friendly destinations, as well as favoured spots for independent travellers. Have a read of the ten best tourist attractions that anyone visiting Turkey just HAS to visit.
Istanbul's quieter during the summer months, as city dwellers head out of the megacity and to the long sands of Bodrum, Antalya and Fethiye's beaches. However, there are plenty of seaside delights to be found in Istanbul, as our list proves. Join us as we explore some of the city's nicest shorelines.
Kalkan on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey is one of the lesser talked about destinations in the country, yet, it has a hard-core fan base of repeat holidaymakers and expats, who either live there permanently or for half of the year. Even the locals speak English with clear intent and confident knowledge of it as a second language. Find out why foreign expats love living in Kalkan in this blog.
The Mediterranean coast of Turkey has everything you can imagine and much more. The ideal weather climate and a comfortable lifestyle all blend together to provide an atmosphere welcoming everyone, young or old. Such is the lure, it is a major holiday destination for many nationalities including Brits, Russians and East Europeans. They visit many of the popular coastal holiday resorts of which one is prestigious Kalkan, belonging to the Antalya province.
Turks love music, just as much as they adore food. With a strong emphasis on lyrics, as well as tunes, to dance to, a Turk does not need persuading to break out into song or start dancing, whenever or wherever. The complexity of Turkish music, formed by centuries of global influences include Persian, Arabic, Persian, Balkan and Ottoman to name but a few. Find out about Turkish music in this cultural blog.
If you plan to invest in Turkey or get a job, it will be hugely beneficial to brush up on Turkish culture in the workplace. On the surface, it may seem that Turkey operates much like western establishments. However, they don’t. Turks are slowly adopting globalised attitudes in the workplace, but culture and traditions still reign strong behind the scenes.
People making the transition from being a holidaymaker in Turkey to living here permanently; often remark that one of the biggest differences in lifestyle is Turkish culture. While on holiday, the laid-back attitude of tourism staff makes it seem like the country has alienated themselves from their ancient heritage. Yet, living here, the culture differences become glaringly obvious. Enjoy a fascinating journey into the beliefs and daily routines of Turks.
Turks have mastered the simple art of combining the simplest of ingredients to produce the most satisfying dishes, and their choice of more than 300 soup recipes are perfect examples. Eaten as a snack, starter, or main course, we think Turkish soups are the best in the world and here are six reasons why you simply cannot go to Turkey without trying the famous soups.
In the last 20 years, Turkey has modernised itself in many ways, yet behind the face of travel magazines and modern trends, tradition and culture still reign strong. This is especially evident in the daily expressions used among friends, family, work colleagues, and strangers. Indeed, anyone learning Turkish would do well to learn the phrases because they will hear them frequently. Whether they are cultural phrases used for politeness or slang expressions used to express dismay, most of them are quite easy to remember.
