Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Calis Beach Questions and Information => Topic started by: siemli on April 27, 2011, 17:20:50 PM
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[size=1]As some of you know we have a house in calis and return there probably 3-4 times a year
However on my visit this time I noticed the severe lack of families visiting calis?
I have noticed a over take in British people living in calis (of the retired generation) and wondered if the negativity given of by some of them has reflected on the diversity of people coming back?
I have been coming to calis for probably 7 years, my husband 14 and I have never seen the behaviour demonstrated this time by ex pats..
My overall view on what I saw this time was rudeness and cockiness..
The ex pats I saw ordered drinks in English despite bragging to the waiter ‘'I live ere luv have done for years. (How hard is it to say iki bira lutfen'?- especially if you have lived in the community for years?)
everywhere I turned I heard '' no thanks not today I live here'' as people strolled past restaurants..
We have made a huge effort to learn bits of the language so why if you are privileged enough to live in such a beautiful country, you don't even bother to order a drink or say hello in their language-it really is ignorant.
We went to the opening night of the Indian restaurant (the name slips past me -Bombay ?)--I was standing in the line for the buffet in a summer dress (it was still 40+) when the lady in front of me said to her friend ‘'look at the state of that''(pointing to a lady wearing a vest top and cotton trousers) ‘'what does she look like what a state in this weather-its freezing and she walks around like that'-turns to me -‘'are you not cold wearing that?-I live ere and I am bloody freezing I don't know how you tourists do it''-to which I replied ‘that we are not acclimatised as you to the lovely weather' she then turned and continued to single out other tourists wearing summer clothes.
The retired generation have appeared to have taken over calis which I thought was a family area?-the restaurant on the prom had advertised an eater egg hunt and fun evening , we later found out it was cancelled due to the ‘people' complaining that they was only interested In the music -and the fact there was no children this year.
What does that say?
We will continue to visit our second home in calis with our family and will continue to make an effort with our Turkish language and use our manners.
it's a great shame the majority of residents of calis cant.
dont get me wrong before you all start 8) -We have lovely neighbours in calis and have many other British friends living in turkey who make a real effort in the community -and with the culture, but sadly I feel the ‘family feel' of calis this year was gone..:([?]
am I wrong? [/size=1]
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i like that
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It`s only April[?]
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Totally agree with your sentiments
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I've said it so many times, there is a level of expat society there that is obsessed by everyone else's lives and movements. It takes over their entire personality and entire life. What you wear, drive, drink, who you are seen with, who you aren't seen with, anything and everything is fair game. They will discuss anyone at all with anyone at all, even with complete and absolute strangers. They are your enemies, they are people you thought might be your friends and they are people you have never spoken to in your entire life, but they are an authority on the subject of you.
Even your closest 'friends' are often unlike the friends you had in the UK - I recall two couples having a meal together, both enjoying the company of the other pair and sharing a lovely Turkish evening. Much affection shown when one couple eventually called it a night. Then before they were entirely out of sight, the wife of the remaining couple was telling staff "see her, she drinks her Bacardi at home but when she's out she'll only pay for Efes"...
When you live there, your private life is, sadly, stolen and pulled apart by these people. They don't have to know you at all - it's a cliche but what they don't know they make up. When you confront them about it, they blame someone else. Normally one of their friends.
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As "two week wonders" I can say that we haven't noticed the expat community much. Don't know why.
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"We will continue to visit our second home in calis with our family and will continue to make an effort with our Turkish language and use our manners.
it's a great shame the majority of residents of calis cant"
I agree with a lot of what you say but you are wrong to say the majority cant, we can and do, as do many of our friends, to coin a phrase you must have met what are commonly known as expat knobheads, but I can assure you they are in the minority.
mark
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Totally agree with that too Keith ;)
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quote:
Originally posted by Highlander
I cannot say that as "two week wonders" we haven't noticed the expat community much. Don't know why.
You aren't there for the April procession of cheap and cheerful offerings on opening nights, and you don't choose where you go while on holiday based on how much an Efes is. Now you do know why :D
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quote:
Originally posted by karaokemark
I agree with a lot of what you say but you are wrong to say the majority cant, we can and do, as do many of our friends, to coin a phrase you must have met what are commonly known as expat knobheads, but I can assure you they are in the minority.
mark
Agree there too Mark but at times it can feel like it is a majority. It's because you only see the ones that are out moaning, because you don't see the ones (the majority) that are having another quiet night in ;)
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A also agree with the above, personally I love Calis when the tourists are here, its great to see people enjoying themselves, and I love to get chatting to them about what a lovely holiday they are having, I always remember that they have probably been saving all year for their holiday, but there are some, as said, that do make derogotary remarks about the tousists.
That said I do wish they would learn to cover up when wandering the town and markets, thats when I feel like saying something myself because to me that is also disrespectful to the locals. A bikini or swimshorts with naked bellies are not the correct attire to walk around a muslim town in.
I think the seasons a little early to see families with children, but I know quite a few that will be coming soon
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Agree with other quotes we also make an effort to speak Turkish where ever we can and our lovely Turkish friends help us. I would rather socialise with the locals than the ex pats any day of the week. It was our dream to retire to Turkey eventually when we purchased our villa many years ago but have to be honest could not put up with these people who have nothing better to do than slag their so called friends off. Would rather keep my circle of Turkish friends and keep myself to myself.
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quote:
Originally posted by Julesp
That said I do wish they would learn to cover up when wandering the town and markets, thats when I feel like saying something myself because to me that is also disrespectful to the locals. A bikini or swimshorts with naked bellies are not the correct attire to walk around a muslim town in.
My sentiments entirely and I'm glad I've found someone that shares the same :) I often find myself thinking 'put some clothes on, this is Turkey... not Spain' when driving through Fethiye town.
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I hear more Brits complaining about this than Turks
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I never complained about it :D
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I must agree we have come across some cocky and rude people too. To begin with when we first purchased I was so dissappointed in the behaviour of some of the UK people. We are a private quiet couple and was shocked to hear a UK woman openly mouth a rude comment to me. Wow! what surprise I had never met this woman before.
However, thank goodness for our turkish neighbours, we get on so well, helping each other with the language and doing a lot of laughing too. They make each day a pleasure to be in calis and I think the magic word is respect for each other, not forgetting you have to earn your respect in someone else's country. :)
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I also agree with most of these comments, and I (for the most)keep myself to myself and a few good and close friends.
I sold my small apt in Calis over 5 years ago (thanks again Keith) as I prefer a less ex pat area and moved to a much more local neighbourhood in Fethiye. This suits me and the other English owners here, but of course I do realise that many ex pats do prefer to be in an area and the company of more ex pats.
We all have our own opinions of where and who we wish to socalise with and how often. That is (in my opinion) the beauty of this area, we have the choices of Calis, Fethiye, Hisaronu, Uzumlu, to mention a few, but all are close at hand for when we want a change of scenery and people.
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I spend 12 weeks in calis every year and while i dont really know many expats i know them by sight.There must be some very nice people among the expat community.Having said that we were in a bar on the front last september and some expats were saying to the waiter that they lived there and should not be paying 4tl for a bottle of efes.They were trying to negotiate a deal for 3tl.Needless to say they didnt get anywhere.I think they were showing off and playing to an audience but if they think they were being clever then im afraid they were mistaken.
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My neighbours are expats and they are really lovely, they have made a good life for themselves they have hobbies and dont associate with the EPKH brigade!I fell foul once to one of the brigade all because I asked if anyone knew the name of the bus to get to the animal shelter, he ripped into me saying people like me come out there being a dogooder bla bla and I know nothing about wild animals he really gave me a hard time but I stood my ground and stood firm about what I beleived in but was a bit shocked at the time :)!
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In the seven years that we have been coming to Calis and we spend roughly three months a year here, we have found that there is more to the place than the promenade. We tend to stay off the front for the most part and enjoy the other spots that are on offer. The best part of coming over is to be able to meet up with our friends and we have made quite a lot, Turkish as well as English, since we first came here.
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A really interesting topic,and could'nt agree more with most of the comments, A pet hate of mine is to see a plethora of flesh walking around Fethiye or the markets, etc, I remember going to a turkish wedding and had put a new top on, it was a bit low for my own liking and spent the evening pulling it up or resting my hand on the exposed parts, the lovely turkish ladies were in stitches laughing, obviously because the latched on to the fact I was not happy with the situation, on the other hand I absolutely shudder when I see some sights,
and as for the EPKH brigade, they are know alls, done **** all. in their lives, apart from stir up trouble wherever they came from in the first place. now and then over our many years in Calis, we have ended up in their company, and immediately caught on to them,then dodged them on sight the next time, then there are the really nice people who live there who are a pleasure to have in your company, this is the downside of the Calis we came to know and love when there were a handful of expats, what a pity the minority spoil it for the majority ,[^] I think this must be my longest ever post on CBF, ;)
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Met some Ex-pat Knobheads this time then ;)
The reason why they don't have any Turkish even if they have lived hear for years is that they spend nearrly all their time in a bar (normally the same one) gossiping about other peoples business, they just don't have the time to learn the language.
Fortunatly they are still a fairly rare breed so here's a couple of tips so you can do to avoid this happening again...
1. Don't attend the opening of anything the EPK is ineviably drawn to these functions by the free/or cheap refreshments.
2. Avoid bars that have same familiar faces in day after day.
3. Take time out to visit places of interest in the locality, the EPK hardly ever vetures out of his/her drinking confort zone.
4. If all else fails - pretend you are German:D
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The sad thing is a lot of them will be reading this and thinking yer i know one of them without even realising that they are one them selves .
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You can spot them a mile away, sitting drinking efes 10am in the morning, sun newspaper in front of them, lived here years but still calls the waiters here mate or mush. luckily as Mark said they are in a minority ;)
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i live in calis area and theres some lovely people here,there is some people that get a bit paronoid
that people are talking about them,maybe they have reason to,been here 3 years have not heard anybody
slag me off yet,and i do go to calis front quite often,as for learning turkish,all the waiters talk english
and they like to talk english,so advice,dont worry what u think people are saying behind your back as unless
you have given them reason, and i like tourists[i was one once] tesekkur ederim.
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quote:
Originally posted by davybill
been here 3 years have not heard anybody
slag me off yet
Haha, yes that's how they do it. Nothing to your face but smiles and waves.
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maybe a lot of people envy the lovely life the expats have got out here,
but people keep coming back,to be talked about,and i do like a efes,
but i read the turkish daily news,[can't afford british newspapers]lol
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I have just read all these postings and how true they are. We live full time in Turkey, further down the coast from Calis, but the same happens here, we ignore it and don't mix with many expats. However, we do visit Calis at least once a year, to visit family when they are out there, and a couple of years ago we were sat in the bar of a well known hotel at lunch time and were gob smacked to hear four women pulling to bits what I should think were the whole of Calis expat community. I just think there must be a lot of sad, bored and lonely people about.
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quote:
Originally posted by laffa
A really interesting topic,and could'nt agree more with most of the [^] I think this must be my longest ever post on CBF, ;)
OMG Maureen just thinking the same- LOL:D
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Many truths in this topic but nothing remotely as accurate as this:
quote:
Originally posted by DANKY
The sad thing is a lot of them will be reading this and thinking yer i know one of them without even realising that they are one them selves .
But as said, it is a (very) hi-vis minority - there are so many more British expats living the good life, respecting and supporting the local area - look at the Calis carnival committee, the ladies of FIG, the tireless working of the Animal Aid guys (except Andy, a "local p***head who thinks he's God" :D ) - and numerous gentle couples you never saw in the usual EPK haunts - maybe occasionally in the old Palms or Ocakbasi for example, or out for the big match and not seen till the next big match.
If I died today, and I hope I don't because I don't want to miss the Royal wedding : :), I'll go happy knowing that if nothing else, I gave you the term EPK :D
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quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
Many truths in this topic but nothing remotely as accurate as this:
quote:
Originally posted by DANKY
The sad thing is a lot of them will be reading this and thinking yer i know one of them without even realising that they are one them selves .
But as said, it is a (very) hi-vis minority - there are so many more British expats living the good life, respecting and supporting the local area - look at the Calis carnival committee, the ladies of FIG, the tireless working of the Animal Aid guys (except Andy, a "local p***head who thinks he's God" :D ) - and numerous gentle couples you never saw in the usual EPK haunts - maybe occasionally in the old Palms or Ocakbasi for example, or out for the big match and not seen till the next big match.
If I died today, and I hope I don't because I don't want to miss the Royal wedding : :), I'll go happy knowing that if nothing else, I gave you the term EPK :D
EPK Exceptional Person Keith:D:D
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I totally agree with scunner. Its the same in Ovacik, if they have no subject to rip you apart they make it up. These are very sad people and need to get a life, and leave other people alone. [:(!]
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Let the people who judge me harshly always be lowlife wasters that nobody takes any notice of
Scunner, 2011
:D
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Like everyone else I couldn't agree more. What the original post said was that there appears to be a lot less families coming to the resort. I must admit I had not made that observation myself. Our place is next to the Carretta and it is usually full of families so perhaps that has blinkered my view of the resort itself.
I have met a lot of bar fly ex-pats over the years and yes they do seem to be at the same bar day in day out putting their world to rights. I tend to ignore them as they always appear to have that air of "I am in the know as I live here and you don't". They seem to want everyone to know they are an ex-pat like it was some kind of elite membership to special club for special people.
In saying that I have also had the pleasure of meeting quite a few ex-pats who are the complete opposite. Our very own Tinx for example :)
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i think there is less families coming to calis,because its expensive,to get here,and problems
if they take there children out of school,as prices jump up juring school holidays,and it sounds
like people have nothing better to do than go round the bars,spotting the ex pat,as a lot of those
ex pats have probably,served in the forces and paid there taxes, so whats wrong with a few efes
and they have probaly seen more culture thana most people,and if i wanted culture i would move istsnbul.
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or to istanbul
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Ha ha love it Scunner
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quote:
Originally posted by kanga
Would rather keep my circle of Turkish friends and keep myself to myself.
Me too...some of the things I have seen & heard in the 10 months I have lived here make me ashamed to be British. I just hope the Turkish people don't tar us all with the same brush!
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I wouldn't get too ashamed by the things you have heard. Most of what you hear is fabricated rubbish.
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I have travelled the world and never before Turkey have I heard people constantly say " I live here" to anyone who will listen.
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thats because they like it here,
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quote:
Originally posted by davybill
i think there is less families coming to calis,because its expensive,to get here,and problems
if they take there children out of school,as prices jump up juring school holidays,
We last year gained custody of Patrick's 12 year old daughter and already had two weeks booked for September. We took her out of school for those two weeks and since then, she has not had a day off school. However, we have now had a warning about her attendance due to it being below 95%, she has been threatened to be not put in top group for her classes and we have had to attend the school for a meeting!
We now won't be able to visit out little home in Turkey until August due to the high prices - we have booked three weeks in August now. It really upsets me that the schools take this stance.
Totally off the original topic - sorry!
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I do sympathise Lynne but surely it's the airlines fault not the schools.
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I seat on a allfull thomas cook plan 4 hours not to get off it and see English peps or to eat fish an chips,i want to see Turkey at its best and when i go some where and im the only one thats Engiish and im looking at the sea and am asking what is this and that in Turkish and joke with the waiter, and
i know the joke is mostley me making a fool of myself,but what the heck its his country and im happy to just come to this wounderfull place. :)
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I've been coming to Calis for 7 years now just come back after spending 3 weeks with my Turkish friend visiting his friends and family, and I agree over the years it is getting so English.We walked along the front menus, English breakfast, fish and chips, Sunday roast. ex pats with there bling on half dressed drinking Efes.I used to live in Southend Essex and all you need now is kiss me quick hats,sticks of rock,candy floss and they should really feel at home.I come to Turkey to live their way, eat with the locals and make the most of the simple way of life.
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quote:
Originally posted by Highlander
I do sympathise Lynne but surely it's the airlines fault not the schools.
You're quite right. I think I worded it wrong - the point I was trying badly to make was that she has had not other time off school at all, and has been penalised badly for taking a holiday when we actually had no choice in the matter. There were some lovely cheap last minute flights recently but they didn't return until Tuesday this week. I didn't book any as we couldn't risk even a day - only to discover the day the school finished for Easter they were adding this day as teacher training day! It would be nice if the school was a little flexible for children who attend 100% of the time in allowing a few days off a year.
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I do wonder sometimes if it is fish and chips and English breakfasts that people want all the time then why leave the uk? I am not lucky enough to live abroad but like to travel and will be here in August.....sampling turkish food (and beer too probably!) and sampling the turkish life. My children are 11 and 8 and last year we where in palma nova (really nice just before the season properly started) and my children knew full well not to even ask me if they could have a macdonalds!lol
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i went out for a meal in calis,last night fancied meatballs,but the turkish family next to me where eating
fish&chips and the kids having a burgher, isnt that terrible of them,? they shouldnt eat what they enjoy
they should eat what some people try to tell us what to eat.?
the macdonalds&buhger king in fethiye, are full of turkish school children,but thats culture is'nt it.
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Thoroughly agree with you Dave,They wouldn't be selling Fish and Chips,Burgers,Pizzas etc, if thats not what people wanted.As far as i'm concerned there's far too many people on here telling us what we should or should not be eating,each to their own ,what ever you fancy.
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Can you reply and point out to me the "too many people on here" telling you what you should or should not be eating. I can't find even one, let alone "too many".
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take your blinkers off scunner,
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Me take my blinkers off? If that is correct, please take me up on my question Can you reply and point out to me the "too many people on here" telling you what you should or should not be eating.
People are telling you what they like to eat when they are in Turkey, not what you should be eating. Unless you can point even ONE example out to me, davybill? Or just reply that I am wrong, the meaning of that being you can't point out any examples!!!
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quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
Me take my blinkers off? If that is correct, please take me up on my question Can you reply and point out to me the "too many people on here" telling you what you should or should not be eating.
People are telling you what they like to eat when they are in Turkey, not what you should be eating. Unless you can point even ONE example out to me, davybill? Or just reply that I am wrong, the meaning of that being you can't point out any examples!!!
Like:D
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quote:
Originally posted by davybill
i went out for a meal in calis,last night fancied meatballs,but the turkish family next to me where eating
fish&chips
The one dish known the World over as Turkish through and through, meatballs!
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(http:///silence.jpg)
:D
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It would seem that my concern over street dogs in the Calis area are nothing compared to the concern I should have with EPKs in the area :D.
Lucky for me I can see such people a mile away and know how to conduct myself in such higher presence of people like this.The offer of a visit to the dog home while we are in the area sounds all the more appealing... rather than sitting with EPKs in a bar/cafe.
Never been to Calis before ( first visit to the area this year ) but this is a story that I can relate to with other areas/countries :D.
Jacq :):D
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I like to eat Turkish food when in Turkey, Greek Food when in Greece etc., I come on holiday and want a change from the British food I eat every day. It's lovely to eat out and eat the food of the country. So I can sympathise with what Suzanne writes.
However, I do understand that the Brits living in Calis long for the food they used to get at home and therefore want Fish & Chips, Sunday Roasts, Full English Breakfasts, which is fine. I have no problem with that. I am sure the Turks also find it a great to get a MacDonald's every now and then. They also probably enjoy the experience of British Food in local cafes, the kids maybe ask their parents can they go out for an "English". It has been introducted to their area, they want to sample it. This does not mean that Turkish people prefer British food to their own,
Perhaps some of the Calis British residents (not all) do not understand that some holiday makers view of the place is totally different from theirs. Most holiday makers long to keep their holiday resort wherever it is a "foreign" holiday resort, with exotic fantastic food. They come away for a complete change. They are staying for a short time and want to make it memorable.
So lets cut Suzanne our new member a little slack. She has her views of what she and her family want to eat on holiday and she is entitled to voice her opinion on the Forum.
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I have no idea why people have such strong views about the Brits wanting fish & chips and bacon sandwiches abroad. Italian restaurants here in the UK are full of Italians. Whenever we went from Turkey to Britain for an exhibition, what did all the Turkish exhibitors want to find? A Turkish restaurant. Even though we were IN Turkey less than 24 hours earlier. I tried just about every Turkish dish I could during my time in Turkey, but it didn't stop me having a full English breakfast as and when required :)
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quote:
I have no idea why people have such strong views about the Brits wanting fish & chips and bacon sandwiches abroad
Keith, I'll tell you why. On one of my first visits to Turkey I stumbled across a little Turkish mountain village called Hisaronu. Walking down the high street one day I was offered all kinds of exotic delights, Sunday Roast, Pie and Chips and one guy rubbed his hands together and announced that his place was serving "Bisto Gravy" !!!
I have absolutely no problem with "English Food" being on offer but for God's sake make it the exception rather than the rule.
The small village I live in between Liverpool and Manchester is hardly awash with Turkish restaurants and barbers, so why should I expect to find a proliferation of Chippies over there ?
Keep Turkey Turkish
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or go to Marmaris
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No demand no supply, simple ;)
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Very well put Jacqui, I agree with everything you wrote.
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Members of the forum did you not do the same two years ago, on how to spot a brit on holiday in Calis and taking the p-ss out of them so easy to forget and point the finger, me i'm just a holiday maker out to enjoy my self and take in the beauty and culture of turkey.
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If you want a deadly serious forum with no pulling of legs, we can make it so. There is a difference between joking about things and telling people what they should and shouldn't do with their money. Which doesn't happen, except in the minds of a few on here, that is the point. I do recall the topic you mention, I made a couple of contributions myself - possibly even started it - and also said that I had done most of the ones contributed by others myself at one time or another. How superior of members to laugh at someone pouring ayran on their cornflakes. To be on CBF I guess people need to lighten up a bit for some topics.
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I empathise with Jacqui Harvey.When on holiday,I eat the local food,Turkish,Greek,Spanish etc.I even buy recipe books from every Country I visit.It's part of the holiday experience.Sometimes,I do like roast beef,Scottish/English breakfast etc.Today,very shortly,It's almost ready,we are having Greek lemon chicken with garlic mushrooms and Scottish potatoes.Tomorrow,I am using my own grown vine leaves to make my own Turkish/Greek Dolmades.Welcome to sunny Cambuslang 8) the hub of international cuisine ;).Tuesday,Spanish meatballs:P.All using Scottish grown or reared produce.
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off for a nice indian curry at the bombay corner tonight, lol.
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Mmm sounds nice sannyrut, My hubby tried his hand at making Ezme on friday.. I was told to keep my fingers out the tub untill it had a few days rest....Today I had it with burnt scotish rolls and pork chops off the barbie...and must say he got it spot on the money with his choice of food and his ezme was worth the wait... even our guests praised his ezme.
HIs head is now as big as baloon bread.
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We joined this Forum to keep abreast of Calis/Turkish/ life from a Brits point of view, in the 50 weeks a year we arent there.We wanted to get a feel for Brits living in Turkey, as we aspire to this.
You could take any cross section of the members and you would probably find them in your own environment
Life appears to be the same there as here.
The food is becoming westernised
Immigrants tend to live in their own communities
Loud people make the most noise
The quiet people go unnoticed
The stirrer keeps stiring
Quiz and karouki nights abound
People shop in the supermarkets cos its cheaper (Tesco will rule the world!)
But, we are still coming for our two weeks of sun,Effes quietly drunk, Turkish breakfasts,beautiful sunsets, occasional sincere Turkish smiles and a dance round the fire in Uzumlu.:P ;)
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quote:
Originally posted by suehugh
occasional sincere Turkish smiles:P ;)
[?]
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Loud people make the most noise? Yes that happens in most places, not just Calis :D
I would agree with some of it though. It does appear to have moved from Adana Kebap to karaoke and chicken in a basket but you have to look at everything in terms of demand and supply once again, Turkish bar and restaurant owners will not put on events unless there is a demand locally. I suppose the numbers are greater these days so there are more people wanting such things.
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sorry posted twice some how
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Call me selfish but i tend not to worry to much about other people,s personal choices ,but respect everyones right to an opinion, i will make my decisions based around my family normally on the spur of the moment or we take it in turns to choose the restaurant & that way we can learn from our own mistakes, how boring would life be if we all was to all eat the same things then bought the same things, variety is the spice of life is it not [?]
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I agree with most of the comments made by all we got back yesterday and found some of our favourite bars have become drinking holes
(no names of bars mentioned)It seems quiet sad to me to drive pass everyday and see the same people drinking all day long in the same place. Dont get me wrong i love a drink and a sing song but i put alot of it down to boredom. Thats why you get all the gossip floating around the place. You wouldnt believe what me and the missus heard just sitting on our own from the tables around us. Still love the place though and i must say P J`s Bar was a breath of fresh air Jason and his wife where very friendly and he actually told someone to leave on Saturday for swearing loudly.
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quote:
Originally posted by Highlander
quote:
Originally posted by suehugh
occasional sincere Turkish smiles:P ;)
[?]
Hi Highlander
Whats the truth behind the effusive smile and greeting.I used to think it was because I was a nice fella. and took people at face value.Naive I found.particularly in Turkey.
However, the odd genuine smile makes up for the altruistic ones
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quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
Loud people make the most noise? Yes that happens in most places, not just Calis :D
I would agree with some of it though. It does appear to have moved from Adana Kebap to karaoke and chicken in a basket but you have to look at everything in terms of demand and supply once again, Turkish bar and restaurant owners will not put on events unless there is a demand locally. I suppose the numbers are greater these days so there are more people wanting such things.
Your right, demand governs response.When we visited Calis last year, we went inland in search of something Turkish.
Uzumulu seemed idylic-then you noticed the number of expat houses.Tea and cakes opposite the mosque.Westernized menu at the Winehouse.Too English
We later went up to the next village on the Dolmus route.Wonderful walk around amongst the leaning houses. Finished off in the tea house by the mosque. No bar.Too Turkish.
Turkey has changed dramatically in the seventeen years we have been visiting.The reasons for visiting are gradually being eroded by us visitors
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Not too Turkish - too close to mosque.
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Sadly this is the case with most countries i dislike spain because of the full english signs up and english roast here in every bar. You can say the same about England and how the foriegns have changed our lovely country its life Im afraid !
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quote:
Originally posted by hydeaway
It seems quiet sad to me to drive pass everyday and see the same people drinking all day long in the same place. Dont get me wrong i love a drink and a sing song but i put alot of it down to boredom. Thats why you get all the gossip floating around the place.
You get saddo's everywhere who need to get a life but prefer to hang around in bars all the time - but I think you're completely correct that boredom is a big contributor , added to the village mentality of everyone needing to know everyone elses business!
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I think the reality of the attitudes and behaviour patterns exhibited by the expats who live out here is much maligned and exaggerated in the original post by Siemli. True, there are occasions when the kind of behaviour patterns Siemli complains about do occur but I doubt if they are the norm.
I think Siemli exaggerates their experiences out of all proportion to reality just to make a point.
For example, perhaps Siemli would like to explain their gross exaggeration of the temperature of " it was still 40+" in regard to the comment about the opening night of the Indian Restaurant when the highest temperature achieved in the Fethiye / Calis area on that day was 25 C, and that at 3 p.m. It has not been 40+ here in Calis for the past six months.
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I've only been an expat for 3 months and understand there are several thousands of us in the area.
I've seen a handful of people who are always in 'drinking holes' when I walk past.
We go out weekly to support local charity events, where food might be non Turkish because its a themes night etc.We tend to have traditional Turkish lunch if in town, and like the majority of the other expats purchase local produce and cook at home.
Were on a budget and its not all party party.
We've been out a lot the last couple of weeks and frequented the bars as we have had family over, we looked at it as a holiday for us too, but once they've gone it will be back to living a relatively 'normal' life of home cooking and evenings in front of the tv.
In my opinion the bars and restaurants are catering mainly for tourists and most of the
nobbish behaviour and too much bare flesh that I've seen has been since Dalaman airport opened!
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woooah lots comments ! Thanks for the feedback.
It appears lots have had the annoyance of the ex pats, having read the comments i agree about the same ex pats being in the same bars-we struggled every day to sit on the comfy chairs along the sea front 99% of the time as it was full of the same faces having a gossip.
i really hope they don't take over calis and turn it into a tacky Blackpool retirement home!
The draw for us in calis ,was the Turkish people milling around selling bits and bobs.. Listening to chit chat and trying to decipher the odd Turkish word. listing to Turkish music in the bars as we drank a local raki..-this april i heard football in every bar from a widesreen TV, English pats bragging about their houses etc.. and Turkish waiters saying here love i have english pie today!
sigh.. oh well lets not let them take over our lovely calis after its turkey not Britain why try and recreate it!!
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Agree with you Kayakebab. We too are on a budget, we eat out occasionally but mostly cook at home. We go out daily for walks on either Calis beach or on Fethiye harbour, and like you, we see the same old faces sitting in the same seats in the same bar day after day after day.How sad!! Why go to a country where the scenery is stunning, and the sunsets are breath-taking if you only see them through beer-goggles. It's beyond my comprehension.
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Live and let live folks !!
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Having just arrived back from Calis this morning, I am going to add my wee bit here too. I found the volume of expats around the bars and promenade, very noticeable this trip. I put that down to them enjoying the last of the peace and quiet before the season gets into full swing. I am sure most of them avoid the main areas in the height of the season.
There was a noticeable group of 4-6 expats in the same bar every time we passed. One guy in particuar was an absolute embarassment, shouting and swearing at the football on telly, then coming onto the terrace and giving a post mortem on the game to customers who were trying to have a quiet drink (me being one of them). We didn't go back there because of him and his gob!
What I also noticed is the many menu boards all advertising British themed foods. Restaurants like Sardunya have closed down now, much to my disappointment.
As for taking children to Calis??????? I've contemplated taking my grandchildren, but I honestly feel there's nothing for them to do other than the beach and aquapark.
The beach this year is filthy with no sign of a clear up, except for a group of school kids collecting bits and pieces the other day. It's full of dog poo, plastic bags/bottles and dried up reeds, which have made their way from the clearance, so that would rule out the beach for kids I'm afraid. So for that, I wouldn't take my family to Calis.
I did have an eye popping moment last Tuesday while watching a new "carpet" being laid on the pontoon of the water taxi in Fethiye. 2 young British girls were walking past all the tour boats and one had her t-shirt rolled tightly up and tucked under her braless boobs. Her beige towelling shorts were so skimpy that they showed up all of her "lady" shape and she was obviously not wearing knickers. You can imagine the looks from the "seafarers". She was definatly inappropriatly dressed and I'm no prude.
But all that said, I have the ability to see beyond the negatives, and if you asked me if I enjoyed my 8 days there, I'd tell you I had a ball, met some lovely members of this forum, ate in some lovely places and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality and the kindeness of our Turkish hosts, the friendliness of the beach cleaning kids who told us in broken English that they were doing it for the turtles and conservation, the school kids who'd cooked bread and cakes to fundraise for their school and sold on the prom at Fethiye. All of which will make me look forward to coming back again in September. I might even have a game of bowls at the new Crown Green club!
:D
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:) Oh well Toky, glad you enjoyed it, and a fair post to make, I often think how nice it would be to discover the Calis we found all those years ago and wish we could share it with some of the people we have met there since, but hey ho, it would take too long to explain.
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I enjoyed it immensely Laffa for more reasons than I had time to type. I love it there! You must have some delightful memories as it's only been a recent discovery of ours.
:D
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I know what Laffa means (although she discovered Calis more than 100 years before I did!) and I'm sure Moe will agree that some things just get better and better but some simply don't. I won't be going into what things I think aren't great progress as I have made those known many times. I do think that we all have fond memories of our first few visits, that's human nature, and we do tend to laugh at the shocking and the outrageous and put it down under the title 'amusing'.
Hubblebubble's bunch of roses story today got me thinking today, as a very similar thing happened when we moved over full time - it got me thinking that perhaps those stories used to be regular and now they are occasional. For me things went from cute to fairly ruthless in next to no time, perhaps I'm wrong. Anyway, you wouldn't have seen many "lady shapes" then Toky!
Again I agree with laffa, I think - is there a Calis of yesteryear, in it's infancy, just around the coast? Would we love it? If there is, could we stop it becoming a money-motivated resort? Who knows :)
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:) I still enjoy it, but have adapted somewhat to the new Calis, hence the reason we are only going once this year, I fell in love with a different Calis than most people know now, but, having said that, have met some of the nicest genuine people there and remain friends to this day, oh and have met some nobs too, but its all what makes the wheels of life turn around.its my love for the Calis I met that i wish most people could witness now,but cant wait for August, bring it on.
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quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
pis there a Calis of yesteryear, in it's infancy, just around the coast? Would we love it? If there is, could we stop it becoming a money-motivated resort? Who knows :)
The nearest I can think of is Oren (dots over O) half way along the north coast of the Gulf of Gokova (dots over first o) some 30 to 40 miles east of Bodrum. But the big difference, and I think this is crucial, is the lack of a main Turkish working town right next door - like Fethiye. When we came to Calis in the late 1990s it was the conjunction of the "little resort" and the "big town" (that was easy and pleasant to visit) that was very attractive about the place back then.
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Must have been lovely to see Calis as Laffa did. I think we Brit's are all responsible for a holiday resort becoming too touristy. We seem to want every resort to be like home with heat, of course the people living in the resort are only to glad to oblige us. I have a friend who used to go to Hisanoru every year, think she started going over 20 years ago. She said it was a sleepy village where the farmers used to drive their animals through the streets. Her and her family stopped going when it as she said "Became like Blackpool" (her words not mind). So to sum up, us Brits find a little foreign paradise and gradually adapt it to a "little Britain". I don't see any cure.
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quote:
Originally posted by Jacqui Harvey
I don't see any cure.
The simple cure is if you find a place you love and wish to go back time after time then keep it to yourself and don't tell anybody:D
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I have been coming to this area since 1980's and still love it although I have to say I have seen vast changes. We came before there were any hotels in Olu then stayed at the first one built. There was a camping site there,very lively at night! I hope I will continue to enjoy the area for a few more years before it changes drastically.
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I do think there is a lot of snobbery when it comes to food. If someone is happy having a Sunday roast or fish and chips then good luck to them.It makes them in no way inferior to those that preach I only eat Turkish food when I am on holiday. None of us are forced to eat it. As Scunner said some time ago it is a matter of supply and demand.The holidaymaker wants then the Turks will supply it and that is how they make a living. I wonder how many people here have been to kale Park when they were serving Sunday roast. It was always full when we went there.
Calis is a tourist destination and not an exclusive area for expats. Brits choose to buy property there and were not forced into it. Wherever you have expats you will always find some that create a community that grows and is exclusively full of expats. They virtually declare UDI and want to spend their lives together. They do not want to be part of the wider society. Most of the time they spend in the bars. This is not just Calis but you can see exactly the same thing in Spain. They also have this attitude that they are better than the locals and think that by trying to take the mick out of them that they have a superior intellect. What they forget is that these local bar staff are fairly fluent in English and can also speak Turkish. Most of these expats struggle to speak English.
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:(:(:( am thinking of cancelling our next trip.
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OP, I agree that people are free to choose English breakfast and Sunday roast when they are on holiday - they are there to enjoy themselves so why not? However, it does become a little more irritating when you find that every restaurant has decided that money is to made out of English (or Indian, or Chinese, or Mexican, or whatever the new thing is) and you cannot find any Turkish food in a resort. This seems to have happened, at least some of the time, in Calis. Over the years a number of people have asked on CBF where the best Turkish restaurants are to be found in Calis and have received answers such as "I haven't the faintest idea" "Go to Fethiye". So you are free to choose anything you like - except possibly that different experience that you came to Turkey to find.
That's the trouble with free markets - they too often create, and then drive out, freedom of choice.
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Colwyn, I understand what you are saying but it is market forces. When people ask me where did I have the best Turkish meal I tell them the truth. It was in Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. It is the same in most places around the Med. You try getting a proper Spanish meal on the Costas and it is difficult.If i wanted anything remotely Turkish we went to the Gar and the other restaurants opposite the bus otogar.
A Turkish friend ran a restaurant in Hisaronu and I asked him why very little Turkish food on the menu. He told me the previous year they had half Turkish and half foreign and the tourist mostly went for the foreign food.If it is your first time coming to a country you tend to stick with what you know.
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There is also a widespread belief that if you don't have on your menu what next door has, and two doors down has, or anyone at all has, then you will lose business. Specialising is seen as for the brave and the stupid. Even those who specialise often end up having the old "two menus" plan in the end. The result is next to no variety from place to place, never ending menus and somehow a belief that rice chips and salad is imperative if you want tourist business..?
With few exceptions this is the case, especially along the prom.
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I think the worlds gone mad.Best turkish meal in wellingborough,britains favourite food is chicken tikka masala and probably best fish and chips in fethiye.
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You should have come to Guven's. We had lots of families over Easter and all had a really good time!
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OH,i think after reading this topic i have made a wrong resort choice,this will be our first family holiday with our daughter son-in law and grandson,i had a hard time talking them into coming to Turkey as they have both been to Altinkum and hated it(my daughter has worked in various resorts also)i assured them that this sounded very different,she was finaly sold when she saw pics of the suset beach club,i have also just seem some pics of the beach on here it looks terrible,i really thought i`d done my home work.
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debs16 - I was joking when I said I was thinking of cancelling.
Brenda and I are looking forward to our visit this year as much as any other year. Of course we hope the beach is clean..
But we have never been bothered by expats, never really seen any to be honest, and we know that we will be meeting up with the lovely Turkish people, know that we will be totally relaxed and know that we will be able to enjoy the wonderful sunsets, to name but a few positives :)
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Lots of people on here went to Altinkum and hated it :)
This topic is one person's view of Calis in April, and in April it is VERY different to the main summer months. Plus we all love a good moan about the place but still keep returning. Don't worry about it, you'll all have a ball :D
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Debs16 I am sure that you will find Calis a huge improvement on Altinkum and this isn't the only beach. Plus there are a million and one things to do and see here, the people are great and Calis really does have fantastic sunsets.
The season doesn't really start here until the beginning of May and this yeat many people came in April when lots of places are still getting ready to open so not necessarily the time to see Calis at its best.
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quote:
Originally posted by debs16
OH,i think after reading this topic i have made a wrong resort choice,this will be our first family holiday with our daughter son-in law and grandson,i had a hard time talking them into coming to Turkey as they have both been to Altinkum and hated it(my daughter has worked in various resorts also)i assured them that this sounded very different,she was finaly sold when she saw pics of the suset beach club,i have also just seem some pics of the beach on here it looks terrible,i really thought i`d done my home work.
You will love it...it's a beautiful area, with plenty to do for holiday makers, & the Turkish people are lovely - always smiling. Why do you this forum is so popular- most of the members have an affinity with Fethiye & the surrounding area....it's a bit like an addiction & this is their fix!
You must feedback on how the holiday went - Enjoy :)
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quote:
Originally posted by debs16
OH,i think after reading this topic i have made a wrong resort choice,this will be our first family holiday with our daughter son-in law and grandson,i had a hard time talking them into coming to Turkey as they have both been to Altinkum and hated it(my daughter has worked in various resorts also)i assured them that this sounded very different,she was finaly sold when she saw pics of the suset beach club,i have also just seem some pics of the beach on here it looks terrible,i really thought i`d done my home work.
It is very different don't worry, last year was our first visit to Calis (with apprehension) and we are back again this year! If you are a beach person Surf Cafe along with some others look after there own section of beach :)
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cheers guys for all your posative replies,to be honest i`m usually happy wherever i go,iwas just worried about my daughter as i said it really took some persuasion to get them to go back to Turkey.well i`m certainly gonna enjoy myself,by the way do you have weekly forum meets,i belong to a goa forum and we always go to the meets.
Thanks again to a really helpfull friendly bunch of people !!!
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We only tried the surf club for the first time last year and absolutlylove it there, defo be going back in August 8)
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quote This topic is one person's view of Calis in April, quote
-this time-every other time it has been f.a.b. and i am sure it will continue to do so-we wouldnt have prought property there if it was notanything other than welcoming ,calm,pretty and safe :) enjoy-ps,i to am very fussy about the beaches but i found calis beach not to bad, i am sure it will get cleaned soon and even if it doesnt its not 'THAT' bad xxx
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Though I know there are some expats who live a bar centred life (they probably lived a bar centred life in UK too), I do think people want to tar all expats with the same brush. Once a week I meet friends in Calis, we drink soft drinks, Efes or coffee, we speak English or Turkish to the waiters. We discuss all sorts of things (sometimes Turkish life comes up in discussion, and why not, it doesn't HAVE to be negative). We aren't necessarily tanned to leather and we don't get falling down drunk. BUT a passer by might see us sitting there and label us EPK. Oh well, so be it, but its a sad thing when you move abroad and get so readily labelled. :(
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Very true Lynne, sadly some people do think we are all the same if we stop for a beer.
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quote:
Originally posted by debs16
cheers guys for all your posative replies,to be honest i`m usually happy wherever i go,iwas just worried about my daughter as i said it really took some persuasion to get them to go back to Turkey.well i`m certainly gonna enjoy myself,by the way do you have weekly forum meets,i belong to a goa forum and we always go to the meets.
Thanks again to a really helpfull friendly bunch of people !!!
Calis isnt very big, but the front is good to stroll along, it is very scenic, surrounded by mountains and sea view. There's a selection of bars/restaurants along the front, and in some of the streets behind. You will find there are good trips to take in the area. You can travel by Dolmus or water taxi, across the bay to Fethiye. Fethiye has a market, a pedestrianised old town area for spice shops and the like, it also has an amphitheater, tombs, & beautiful sea views. From Fethiye you can take boat trips which are generally not expensive and can be very enjoyable. The sunsets are stunning and I am sure you will have a lovely holiday and want to come back, as other's have found. In short, if you want to DO things, you can, if you want to relax, you can. And a few of us meet up in Cafe Soul on a Wednesday from noon for a couple of hours.... :D
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quote:
Originally posted by Scunner
quote:
Originally posted by karaokemark
I agree with a lot of what you say but you are wrong to say the majority cant, we can and do, as do many of our friends, to coin a phrase you must have met what are commonly known as expat knobheads, but I can assure you they are in the minority.
mark
Agree there too Mark but at times it can feel like it is a majority. It's because you only see the ones that are out moaning, because you don't see the ones (the majority) that are having another quiet night in ;)
I too was sqad to read the post where it was felt the English
Expats were ruining the place -- but I do understand the sentiment. Having lived in many Countries you will always get a number of smug, self opinionated bar flies at the yacht club, Golf Club or wherever. But I have only had good experiences from the expats I have met in Calis/Fethiye (people like Cliff at Tlos - great bloke!)
I do understamd though, I had a very full beard at one time, and, I decided to shave it off. Next weekend in an expat bar, I was treated to a long explanantion of exactly what I should and should not do, where I should go, who I should avoid by an EK --until, totally bored I raised my hand and covered my mouth and chin --- yes,-----the reaction was:-
"oh, I didnt recognise you" --- and a suddenly remebered appointment :D
When you are fortunate enough to live somewhere others wish they did, I always tried to make people feel welcome and give as much information as they wanted without being overbearing. That is in the main what I have found with most of the expats I have met in calis, maybe I have just been lucky!
Grown the beard back now, but close cut not like "Santa" as I hjad then :)
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WOW! long read this thread, but got the gist of it. Funnily enough you are not on your own down in Calis - it;s exactly the same in Hisaranu and Kemer!. The same old EPK's sat day in day out in the same pubs from 10am onwards putting the world and people to rights even though they probably know nothing anyway. Theres more to life than drinking away the kids inheritance!. Must admit my Turkish is not brilliant but its not bad either, i can usually explain what i want and get it without too much trouble and also know enough not to get ripped off on the markets by some of the vendors there. Nothing better than bartering on a hot tuesday on the market. Love to eat out and always go for local stuff - didnt like McD's or Burgler King in UK so why start now, the fresh turkish stuff is much better and cheaper.
Never mind eh! hopefully all the doleite/incap brigade will get caught out and have their EKP funding cut, meanwhile the rest of us will get on with life at our own slow pace and crack on with our hobbies and pastimes.
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quote:
Originally posted by screamlead
WOW! long read this thread, but got the gist of it. Funnily enough you are not on your own down in Calis - it;s exactly the same in Hisaranu and Kemer!. The same old EPK's sat day in day out in the same pubs from 10am onwards putting the world and people to rights even though they probably know nothing anyway. Theres more to life than drinking away the kids inheritance!. Must admit my Turkish is not brilliant but its not bad either, i can usually explain what i want and get it without too much trouble and also know enough not to get ripped off on the markets by some of the vendors there. Nothing better than bartering on a hot tuesday on the market. Love to eat out and always go for local stuff - didnt like McD's or Burgler King in UK so why start now, the fresh turkish stuff is much better and cheaper.
Never mind eh! hopefully all the doleite/incap brigade will get caught out and have their EKP funding cut, meanwhile the rest of us will get on with life at our own slow pace and crack on with our hobbies and pastimes.
Ha Ha. Burgler King! Not heard that before, love it!
Memsahib and I happiest in Calis/Fethiye, love the slower pace, adore the fresh food, never felt as healthy as we do there!
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Rindaloo, looking forward to seeing you a week next wednesday at Cafe Soul, at noon.
Kind Regards
Tony
(wearing a pink carnation, carrying too much weight) :)
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Looking forward to seeing you (must find a carnation, ditto too much weight). :D
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Every time we are over I try and avoid anyone who looks English.
I would rather try and integrate and learn a little more about Turkish culture.
I'm glad my apartment is away from the "Tourist bits" and would gladly sell tomorrow if it was in Hisoranu.
It's like Blackpool up there now
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I like Blackpool!!!
I am over first 2 weeks in August.
Please avoid me.
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quote:
Originally posted by tony jenkins
I like Blackpool!!!
I am over first 2 weeks in August.
Please avoid me.
You dont really like Blackpool now do you!
I dont have anything against the english on Holiday, unless
they like Blackpool of course
:D
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Never been there :-\
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keng38,are you lookuing for scottish,welsh, or irish[dont like english] try outer hebrides nice and quiet,this time of year,
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quote:
Originally posted by keng38
Every time we are over I try and avoid anyone who looks English.
I would rather try and integrate and learn a little more about Turkish culture.
I'm glad my apartment is away from the "Tourist bits" and would gladly sell tomorrow if it was in Hisoranu.
It's like Blackpool up there now
Double standards you try and avoid English, yet you are more than happy to join a forum to get information from people who have been coming many years or who live here.
Mark (Russian)