Hi Everyone
Firstly let me introduce myself and my family to you all.[8D]
Im Darren 36 and im married to Lynda 36 and i have 2 children Liam 9 and Christian 7 and we live in Bolton, sunny Lancashire lol (not).
We first discovered Turkey by chance 2 years ago in May 2003.
It was a cold Thursday night at home and i said to the wife did she fancy going away and should i try phoning My Travel up and seeing if there was any late deals for the following day,being the Friday,we where fed up and wanted a cheap break away. Obviously she said yes lol.
I gave My Travel a ring and asked if there was anything available and she asked where did we fancy and to be absolutely honest,dont all shout at once, i said,anywhere accept Turkey and Malta.
Guess what? That was the only 2 destinations they had for the following day and that was them 2. It was very tempting though because the lady said it was a allocation on arrival at Dalaman airport on a b and b basis for 4 people including transfers £396.00 altogether omg a absolute bargain,but it was Turkey!!!! The Malta deal was nowhere near as attractive. Anyway can you believe it?? I said ide phone them back later after talking to the wife, hahahahaha, little did i know then about Turkey.
The thing was the iraq war was on and i had this image or thought in my head it was going to be dirty and smelly, with no hygiene standards,unfriendly people, and a desert like place full of people who dont like westerners, and i dont know why i had that in my mind as people had never said that too me and none of my family had ever been there, although ive found so many other people feel just like i did, omg ive definately seen the light now.
Anyways as you can guess i phoned up 20 minutes later after deciding, hey even if its horrid, for the sake of £4OO for all of us it was a risk we where prepared too take,lol.
We landed at Dalaman airport and obviously didnt know our final destination, but wede been to loads of other (developed countries??) in europe before ie Spain, Cyprus, Tenerife ect, so wasnt sure what to expect.
We met our rep at the terminal entrance and she said wede been put down to be taken too HISARONU near Fethiye and it was a 45 minute transfer away. As you can guess we where asking all the questions, what was it like?, was there nightlife, was it near a beach? ect. The rep soon calmed our fears and insisted it was one of the more popular destinations in Turkey and it was great and a beautifull area. Well i was open mouthed all the way from the airport as most of the way obviously it was quite dark as it was early morning and we could see loads of half built concrete structures and baron countryside and people on bikes with no lights on lol, but no posh? buildings or flashing lights or discos like spain and we kept thinking what the hell are we going to??
Within about 25 minutes we started climbing this mountain in the coach and the views even by moonlight where stunning, vast sways of pine trees with greenery everywhere,oh we thought this looks more promising and where starting to get excited and within 15 more minutes we where at the hotel Olympos, which was run by a elderly Turkish couple called mama and papa for us English, lol.
It was 5am and we where thirsty and hungry and tired and wondered where would we get something at that time of morning as we had nothing left in our luggage.
Too our amazement the owners, both in the late 60s early 70s, where waiting for us with a staff member to get our cases and take them to our room, that was the start of Turkish hospitality and friendship we have never experienced anywhere before anywhere, Spain ect ect, nothing was too much trouble and they adored children all the people we met and places we went to they where the same.
We sat down at a table by the pool after the owners had kissed? and hugged us and introduced themselves. They then asked if we where hungry after serving us a cup of coffee and soft drinks for the kids, without being asked, and procceded in making us a Turkish breakfast and letting the children play on the free pool table.
After breakfast we where taken too our rooms although just a shower and beds and basic furniture it was very clean and pleasant.
We woke up a few hour later and we both felt this air of calmness and at ease and so relaxed. We decided to go into the "village" which was a 5 minute walk away and find out what it had too offer.
We where amazed, it had everything, cafes,bars,a market, nightclubs and lots and lots of shops, the wife was in heaven lol. The thing was everything was so laid back and relaxed and although it was very hot there was a cool breeze because we high up as it was up mountain.
We found the bars and clubs where very very child friendly not like at home with a air of tension lurking in the background but one of fun and enjoyment and a real holiday atmosphere.There was no pestering too enter bars or grabbing of arms or timeshare hasslers it was heaven we absolutely loved it. We found the food very varied with chinese, indian, english and obviously turkish cuisine. Everything was clean and tidy, very hygienic and the food was, waite for it, fresh, home made and grown, and delicious.Its very inexpensive and a typical 3 course meal is £6 including a glass of wine.
We found there was Oludeniz lagoon and beach with a 10 minute ride away in a dolmus, turkish bus, and it was about 60p and they stopped when you stuck your hand out and shouted lol. Oludeniz was absolutely stunning and the views where out of this world, golden beach and turquoise seas. We had fallen in love with Turkey within 2 days of our first visit and where considering buying somewhere already lol.
The people are not rich but would do anything for you and at first i thought and was waiting,thinking, they cant keep this up all being friendly, they just want our money, dont all countries we holiday at or in fact anywhere? it will end soon.
It hasnt folks and within 2 years we have been there 7 times and loved every minute. We decided after having the best holiday we had ever had to go home and sort the money to buy a place and within 3 months we where back putting a deposit on a off plan place being built on a plot by a company called NICHOLAS ESTATES a very reputable and respected real estate company in that area of Turkey.
Now that experience of buying in a foriegn country on a plot of land with nothing there but a field is another story folks but i have added a link to my new webpage showing our dream home come to reality over a 9 month period and it was ready last July for our enjoyment on schedule like our builder said and we are over the moon with it and very proud, take a look and please post on the comments section of it.
Got to go now folks as my hands hurting lol but we thought wede share our experience with you folks as if it helps people realise what they are missing and gets the Turkish people some extra revenue then it helps repay what the Turkish people have given too me and my family by way of happiness and enjoyment and the times of our lives.
THANKYOU TURKEY
Darren Lynda and family x
ps dont forget too look at our webpage cheers !!
http://spaces.msn.com/members/oaklands/