Susanne from Fethiye

Photo: WOW Turkey

Thanks to Susanne McCulloch for sharing her experiences in Turkey with us.

Tell us about yourself
My name is Suzanne, I'm 36 years old and having worked in Local Government for 18 years, have decided along with my husband, Iain, to take a bit of time out to live life.

What made you come to Turkey?
Honestly..initially - the price of housing. A few years back we decided we'd like a retirement/holiday home abroad and started looking - not very actively, in Spain, but found it very expensive and overrun with Brits. I saw Turkey on a TV show about buying abroad and realised we'd never even considered it. We started looking via the internet and booked a week's holiday in 2003 staying in Alanya and Oludeniz. By the Friday we'd fallen in love with the people and scenery and bought a duplex apartment in Fethiye.

What do you do in your daily life?
One day is hardly ever like the next. I keep a detailed blog for friends and family back home, so if you really want to know, see http://blueskynotie.blogspot.com/. Main activities revolve around walking, socialising, painting, reading, staring into middle distance, cooking, swimming in the summer and doing the artwork on www.fethiyetimes.com.

Family?
Just me and Iain, married for nearly 14 years. All the rest are back in the UK.

Can you compare your first days here with today?
The language makes more sense to me now, but the sheer beauty of a sunny day, and the spectacular scenery never palls. In the last 4 years Fethiye has definitely developed - massive investment in infrastructure and municipal works by the Belediye, along with so much private building.

Has living in Turkey influenced your approach to life?
Of course. Sometimes the generosity and inclusiveness of our Turkish neighbours and friends is humbling. I think living here has helped us be nicer and more social people. By comparison, back in the UK I feel isolated, albeit by choice, sometimes hardly even saying hello to a neighbour!

Turkish language?
Slowly making more sense. Practice is the key, and it gets better every day. Having a fluent speaking English friend really helps.

Let's talk about the region you are living in?
Fethiye is a large town with a sheltered bay and marina, surrounded by mountains. The climate is great, the views astonishing, the walking varied and interesting. You can have sunny days down here with oranges and lemons on the trees, while gazing up through a cobalt sky at the snow topped Taurus Mountains.

The locals are friendly, but fairly unsophisticated compared to Turks we know from Izmir, Bodrum and Istanbul. We have a great group of friends, both English and Turkish. Development is relentless, although little seems to be selling.

Have you traveled in Turkey? Tell us your discoveries
A little, and not nearly as much as we want. We've seen Cappadocia from a hot air balloon, the Mevlana museum in Konya, Manavgat, Alanya (flat - not keen), Aspendos (wow!), Antalya, Patara (wow, again), Oludeniz while paragliding, Denizli - staying at the 'Polis Evi', Pammukale (how disappointing L ), Bodrum, Turgutreis and the Bosburun penisula - with friends, from both the car and from the sea. In 2006 we took part (as paying and pampered guests) in the Bodrum cup, a gulet sailing regatta - a fantastic experience.

Ashamed to say NOT Istanbul, NOT Ephesus, NOT Troy, NOT Mount Nemrut, NOT Sanli Ufa, oh, the list goes on, but hey there's still time!

What is your preferred characteristic trait of Turks?
Open friendliness. The greetings are so warm and they always have room for a new friend in their lives.

What was the annoying one?
Just a minor one really - the shopping culture. I know everyone has to make a living, but the minute you walk in you're trailed around, there are no prices on goods, you have to really check stuff over as they open boxes and take stuff out so parts are often broken or missing. And there are stories of 'dual' pricing which makes you unsure if you're getting ripped off.

Turkish Cuisine?
I like it. Fruit and Veg is so fresh and plentiful, flavours are good.

Any suggestion to new comers to Turkey?
Open your mind and come. For some reason people have a particular perception of Turkey, maybe because the people are mainly Muslim and we get mixed-to-bad messages about that back in the UK. The people are just like you and me - worried about their children, the state of the world and how to be a good neighbour. Try not to demand 'England Abroad', and come and see a different country. Eager to please (and make money), the Turks pander to our every whim, replacing traditional Turkishness with Full English Breakfasts and fish and chip shops. It'd be so sad if this country squandered its USP, the rich culture and heritage.

Any suggestion to people planning to visit your region?
Come in Spring or Autumn. Winter weather can be nice in the day, but cold at night. July and August are just too hot to function. Go self catering so you can buy fruit and veg from the markets, and eat out in the local birliks and lokanta's and have a lazy Sunday brunch on the sand, by the sea at Yonca Lodge - heaven. Don't forget to bring good walking shoes so you can get out and see some of the area on foot. Have a good look at websites like www.mymerhaba.com and www.fethiyetimes.com for hints, tips, things to do, featured walks and loads of other top intel.

Latest comments about this article

 By senem  23.3.2010

Have you heard the website www.notyboard.com ? it is very popular in Turkey (especially from Istanbul).. no memebership , no charge...it is like craigslist ...you can post your annoncement to this web site...there are many user from Istanbul... I want to inform you about this useful site regards

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