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Ramazan Bayramı

This week sees the end of the holy month of Ramadan – Eid-al-Fitr. In Türkiye, Eid is known as Ramazan Bayramı and is celebrated with three days of feasting this year the celebration is Day 1 Friday 21st,  Day 2 Saturday 22nd,  Day 3 Sunday 23rd April ( Which is also another special celebrated day in Turkiye known as Children’s Bayram )

The majority of the population in Turkiye are muslims, it is good to know that the entire country will be full of cheerful spirit during Ramazan Bayramı . The festival comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan called Eid al-Fitr, which refers to the breaking of the fast.

Here in Turkiye there are a few names for the celebration such as Seker Bayramı, Ramazan Bayramı . Seker Bayramı is created from the tradtional children’s habit who knock on the doors of the neighbors asking for sweets and chocolate treats, this is why most Turks buy large portions of sweets to delighfully distribute to children.

Turkish families will firstly visit their elderly relatives, asking for their blessing due to beliefs in the importance of kinship ties and family connections. This is respect for their olders, children visiting there grandparents in their best clothes with greetings of Bayram kissing on the back of the hand of the older person than to their own forhead is is sign of respect and love for that person. In turn the older will give the child a sweet treat and if they are lucky some money !

It is also a very common custom in Turkiye to visit the cemeteries to ask for mercy for them on the morning of the first day of Eid , immediatley after the Eid prayer.

In the Turskish household on the days running up to Ramazan Bayram you will find the ladies of the house busy making mouthwatering sweet dishes such as Baklava serving it to there families, friends, and guest during the 3 day celebration.

Ramazan Bayramı is the time of giving and gathering . The men will prepare themselves by wearing their finest clothes to attend the Bayram Namazi ( the Eid prayers ) from the mosque they will visit the cemeteries, visiting relatives , asking God for forgiveness and mercy. Some will donate to charity to help the needy and believe of the importance of giving and sympathy.

One of the most impressive and important traditions of the Turks is teaching their children about solidarity within their society, by accompanying the children to the mosque giving them pocketmoney and let them go out to knock on neigbors doors to collect sweets and candies.

Iyı Bayramlar !

Today marks the 109th anniversary of the death of Şehit Fethi Bey – he who the town of Fethiye – and its park – is named after.

Şehit Fethi Bey Parkı was opened on 26th July 2018 and it’s a park that offers something for everyone; grown-ups and kids alike.

Every year, on the anniversary of the death of Şehit Fethi Bey, commemorations take place at his statue with members of Turkey’s Aeronautical Association in attendance and performing air displays.

The statue is now housed in Şehit Fethi Bey Parkı and is a focal point with space and seating for public gatherings.

Very fitting for he who the town of Fethiye is named after.

Here are some photos I wanted to share of our wonderful recreation park which I took last weekend during a bike ride . We hope you enjoy visiting the park as much as we do !

Seasons Good Tidings from our group ! We here at Turkish Coast Homes would like to wish everyone of our members, families & companions a Very Merry Christmas and all the best for a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous New Year.

During the approach to the joyful period, it permits us the chance to say thank you to all our clients, colleagues, partners, readers and friends for the received support throughout the span of the most recent year .

Once again we have been fortunate and our company has created one more effective year. We have produced several property sales throughout the year, strangely enough this year saw many sales taking place in the height of summer season which in general is a slower time of year for us. In addition even the last couple of months of this year  were successful and people continue to benefit from their investment choices. We have successfully completed two of our own land and build projects .

We have taken on numerous new properties and developments for sale, refreshing our property portfolio utilizing our website, social online media and International web-based interfaces . From these we have generated a good number of sales providing numerous happy clients with new homes in Turkey all through the purchasing process with us.

We have taken on and sold many fantastic properties, because of a proactive approach, a huge increase of clients from recommendations and raise in sellers, in this way we have increased our advertising endeavors and upped our marketing efforts. Which will continue throughout the years to come.

New for us in 2023 we are proud to be opening our Seydikemer office. Here we see that Seydikemer is a great choice for the future as Fethiye itself is now so built up, many people are seeking a more peaceful place to reside with a greater value for money. There are larger plots avaliable in the area, therefore for those wishing to have there own private garden suitable for pets it is a good option for them.

We also have to find another location for our popular Fethiye office, due to the whole building being made into a hotel in the near future. We would like to remain along the sea fronts as of everyone knows us here and oh course we have a great sea view ! Hopefully we can locate another office soon and will keep you posted of this development.

Once again our team thank all of those that have upheld & supported Turkish Coast Homes this year. Enjoy the festive period, take care, remain safe we hope to see you all again in the near future. Selahattin , Gokalp, Emrah, Okan, Vanessa .

Cumhuriyet Bayram (Republic Day) is celebrated on the 29 October every year.  It is a national holiday and all government offices are closed. It is observed every year to pay respect to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the republic’s founder, and to remember the struggles he and the martyrs faced to gain independence for their country. It is a very important day for Türkiye and most Turkish people.  The word ‘most’ is used as not all Turkish people commend Mustafa Kemal Atatürk but the majority do. 

A little bit of the history

Turkey had in effect been a republic since 23 April 1920, the date of the establishment of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, but the official confirmation of this fact came three and a half years later. The Turkish War of Independence against the occupying Allied Powers resulted in the abolition of the Sultanate on 1 November 1922, and the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24 1923. The status of the nation as a republic was declared on 29 October 1923  and its official name was proclaimed to be Türkiye Cumhuriyeti (“the Republic of Turkey”), formally ending the reign of the Ottoman Empire. On the same day the Grand National Assembly elected Mustafa Kemal, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence, as the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Mustafa Kemal afterwards became known as ‘Atatürk’ (father of Turks).

What happens on Republic Day?

The celebrations begin at noon on October 28th and last until the next day. Hundreds of  patriotic displays including, concerts, exhibitions, culture and art activities are organised in cities across the country . It can be an interesting experience for visitors to experience. There are lots and lots of Turkish flags displayed and waved. Decorations such as  streamers and balloons along with clothing are generally coloured red and white, the colours of the Turkish flag. This year marks the 99th anniversary of the holiday celebration so expect even bigger celebrations next year!

Celebrations in Fethiye

In Fethiye there will be a concert held on both the 28 & 29 October in Beşkaza Square (the large open area in front of the large Atatürk statue and Turkish Flag – near to Starbucks on the harbour). On Saturday 29 October there will also be a walking  procession to Beşkaza Square which will start at 19:30 from the park which hosts the Özgecan monument (opposite Marine Cafe & Bistro on the Kordon).

Beşkaza Square

Park with the Özgecan monument

Anyone who has visited Turkey will have not failed to notice that the driving standards are pretty poor.  We have had many of our clients say they would never be able to drive in Turkey even though they are confident drivers back in the UK.  It is daunting to drive in any foreign country due to different rules and regulations and especially driving on the right hand side of the road.

Most people move here with the idea that they will be happy to travel by dolmus (the local bus).  However, once here the novelty soon wears off when the temperatures start to increase and the influx of summer tourists arrive.  A dolmus journey in the height of the summer is not a pleasant experience!  Factor in carrying bags of shopping and it really is not ideal.  Taxi’s can be expensive if you need to use them on a regular basis and at times you can feel like you are on the set of fast and furious!  

For most people that move here or spend longer amounts of time here, driving soon becomes a necessity. It is possible and it is not as daunting as it sounds but there are some things you need to consider which we have listed below:

Driving on the right hand side of the road

Driving on the right is not as difficult as it seems as when on the road the driver’s position is still exactly the same as when in the UK as the driver is sat on the left side of the car.  It actually feels very normal once you get over the several attempts to enter the car from the passenger’s side. A good thing to keep in mind is the driver needs to always be nearer the middle of the road and not kerbside, unless you are driving a right hand drive vehicle from the UK!  

Be very aware of other drivers

We can’t stress this enough, you really need to act like you have just passed your test and you’re as alert as possible.  This means no daydreaming and driving defensively! Assume at every crossroad or side road that another vehicle will pull out in front of you, as we promise you it will happen!  Have your foot hovering the brake at all times.  You also need to be very careful of motorcycles as there are lots and lots on the roads in Turkey.  They sneak up on you in the blink of an eye.  You really need to check over your shoulder and check again when making any turns. Also, make sure you do a good check over your shoulder before opening your car door when parked!

Roundabouts

The rules for roundabouts are not the same as in the UK, in general the right of way goes to those already driving around the circle but this is not always the case.  Look out for the ‘Dur’ (stop) signs or traffic lights as you go round the circle as it’s not uncommon to have to stop to give way to vehicles entering from the ‘main’ road. Unless you are local it can be hard to know which road is classed as the main road so an important word all drivers need to know is ‘Dur’. Dur will also help you know whose right of way it is at cross roads, by the way there are lots of them in Turkey and lots of accidents at them too!

Traffic police and jandarma roadside checks 

There are places where the traffic police or jandarma are situated permanently and they also set up random checkpoints. Don’t panic if stopped as mostly it is purely a routine identity and vehicle check. It is advisable to always have your car insurance, vehicle inspection report (TÜVTÜRK araç muayene raporu – similar to an MOT certificate), driving licence, passport and residency (if you have) on you at all times as these documents could be asked for if you are stopped. 

M plate

If a foreigner purchases a car in Turkey they will be issued with a registration plate that includes the letter M, this stands for misafir which means guest .  The first 2 numbers of a registration plate in Turkey identifies the province in which the car is registered, for example 48 is the number for Mugla so all cars registered in Fethiye will start with the number 48.  This is actually a useful way of identifying drivers from out of town.  If a foreigner owns a car that is registered in Fethiye it will start with 48 M, other letters will follow the M.

Example of Fethiye number plate registered to a Turkish owner   

Example of an Istanbul number plate registered to a foreigner

Insurance

Insurance for foreigners is different from the insurance for Turkish citizens.  For Turkish citizens the car is insured and anyone with a valid driving licence is covered by the insurance.  For non-Turkish citizens the driver is insured for the M plate vehicle and only their immediate family members with a valid drivers licence are covered, for example the driver’s spouse and children. You can have different levels of insurance just like the UK e.g. fully comprehensive and third party. 

We always recommend to our clients using a well known insurance broker in Fethiye called Cagri Nebioglu, he is the owner at Insurance Turkey and specialises in all types of insurance for expats, please click here to visit his website.

Driving on a UK driving licence

Visitors that hold a valid UK driving licence can drive in Turkey for up to 6 months.  If you spend longer than 6 months here there is a current loop hole which means if you exit the country and re-enter to obtain a new entrance stamp in your passport the 6 months starts again.  

Drivers with a valid UK driving licence are able to exchange their UK driving licence for a Turkish one and this does not require sitting a Turkish driving test. But this does require relinquishing your UK driving licence.  The Turkish authorities will return it to the DVLA in the UK and you can request for it to be reinstated should you ever return to live in the UK.  As you can imagine lots of residents are not keen on this idea and most prefer to do a quick trip to Rhodes or Meis, locally this is known as the driving licence run!  

If you do want to apply for a Turkish driving licence we highly recommend using Gurkan Gurol who is an official sworn translator in Fethiye that offers consultancy services to expats, click here to find him on Facebook. 

As with everything the rules and regulations can change so it is important to always stay up to date with the current requirements, a great source for up to date information on this topic and lots of others is a Facebook group called Doc Martins Surgery for Expats in Turkiye – click here to join the group.

New entry requirements for Turkey when travelling from the UK 

How long do I need to have left on my passport to enter Turkey?  This is a common question from travellers prior to visiting Turkey. As of 11th October 2022 visitors to Turkey will need their passport to be valid for at least 150 days from the date of entry and there should be a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps.  Previously it only needed to have 60 days beyond the duration of your stay. 

Residents in Turkey need their passport to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.

Please click here to read the full details and other travel advice for Turkey. You can also register with gov.uk to receive updates relating to travel advice for Turkey via email which can be useful if you are a frequent visitor or resident in Turkey – click here to register.

Turkey has always been a popular destination to relocate for those that are retired. Making the move with children is less common but it is definitely not unheard of. The pandemic has now opened up the possibility to relocate for all ages, as the reality is that a good proportion of parents can do their jobs anywhere in the world.  Turkey, especially Fethiye, can be a wonderful place to raise a family. A big bonus is the great weather for approximately 10 months of the year which means life is much more outside than inside!

There is certainly less pressure on parents due to a few reasons, one of which is an average Turkish wage does not enable families to ‘spoil’ their children so there is less pressure to feel the need to keep up with their peers.  The lack of residual income also eliminates the need to enrol them in every after school club going. There are lots of sports clubs and other activities available but you won’t feel like a bad parent because they are not enrolled in swimming, Rainbows/Beavers, Football, Ballet etc! There also seems less of a need to constantly entertain children in Turkey too, Turkish parents certainly don’t put this high on the agenda and this is because children in Turkey have a lot more freedom than in other countries. Most parents will allow their children to play out on the street or wander to the local park alone. Some would say that children stay children for longer in Turkey.

Options for pre-school children

For pre-school children there are several private creches in Fethiye. They generally take children from over 2 years but you can find some that are willing to take them younger.  The government schools will also offer some places for pre-school children.  This is called anaokul and is for the one or two years prior to starting first school.  How many places and how many years they can provide will differ from school to school.  Anaokul is free but you do generally need to pay a ‘registration fee’.

What age do they start school?

Firstly the system is a 4-4-4 system – 4 years in first, middle and high school. The age children start first school is slightly confusing!  They start between 6 – 7 years old. The new school year starts in September and the earliest they can start Year 1 is at 66 months (6.5 years) and the latest is 72 months (7 years).   This allows some flexibility for parents if they feel their child is not quite ready to start school.  Once they start first school the pace of learning is pretty full on and most children are generally expected to be independently reading and able to write by the end of the first term.  Most Turkish parents will opt for their children to defer to the following year so they will be oldest rather than the youngest in their year. One more thing to note is that in first school they keep the same teacher throughout the whole 4 years.  Some schools allow parents to choose their child’s teacher and others allocate randomly in a lucky dip way!

Private v’s Government schools

There are several private schools to choose from in Fethiye and the biggest difference between them and government schools is that private schools provide a longer school day. The extended day allows for more lessons which tend to be extra English and other foreign languages.  Private schools also have much smaller class sizes, offer better facilities and more extra-curricular activities. There is currently no international school in the Fethiye area so all lessons are taught in Turkish and follow the Turkish curriculum.  However, there are several native English speaking children in the area and most schools will be use to having non-Turkish speaking children start school.  Some parents do feel private schools offer more support in this area but like anywhere all schools will differ so it is best to do your research.  The best way to do this is to reach out to other local families through social media – one great resource is a Facebook group called Fethiye Mummies, babies & Kids which has over 1k members.

The BIG question – what is the school system like in Turkey?

Lesson content is quite prescribed and the teaching style is typically rote in nature.  Individual learning plans don’t really exist and the system is designed with the average ability child in mind.  The government issue text books for every subject at the start of the school year and the school will provide a desk and chair, other than that pretty much everything else needs to be supplied by the parents.  This includes supplementary books, exercise books and stationery. This is standard throughout all school years. One huge thing to be aware of is the amount of homework children are given is pretty mega!  Teachers and Turkish parents can put extreme pressure on children and generally support the idea that the more homework they do they better the child will perform.  This doesn’t mean you have to follow suit and conform!

Children can be happy and do well in the Turkish education system. Plus, as the saying goes ‘a child that has the potential to do well, will do well in any school’.  If you are seeking a better quality of life for the whole family and are of the mindset that parenting along with the environment also plays a vital role in the destiny of your child, it really can work for you.  You will need to accept that the education system is different but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Fethiye does offer a great environment for parents raising young children.

Selahattin of Turkish Coast Homes moved from the UK with his family 8 years ago.  At the time the children were 5 and 8 years old and spoke almost no Turkish – shame on Baba!  The early days at school had some challenging moments but it certainly wasn’t a wholly bad experience. Their peers were very accepting and interested in them.  It helped that they were still young and could communicate through play.  They adapted very quickly and in no time were age appropriately fluent.  They are now both settled and happy teenagers, well as happy as teenagers can be! If you would like any advice on schools or moving with children, please do not hesitate to get in touch info@turkishcoasthomes.com.

Selahattin and his children in the early days of moving to Fethiye:

Turkish Coast Homes are very excited to announce that we are opening a second office in Seydikemer.  We will be the first English speaking Estate Agents based in the town. The office has lots of work to be done before it can be opened but we are fortunate to have found a premises in a good central location and there is also a garden! We will be transforming the garden into a pleasant place where people can meet; we plan to offer it as a meeting hub for local charities.  We will keep you updated on the progress!

Seydikemer is becoming very popular, especially given the recent news that resident permits are not being granted to new property owners (those that have bought after 1st July 2022)  in the popular resorts of Hisaronu and Ovacik.  Seydikemer is a more traditional town and is a good option if you are happy to be a short drive away from a beach and Fethiye town.  Fethiye seems to be getting busier and busier with every summer that passes so if you prefer a more peaceful life it could be the perfect place for you! You can also get much more for your money in Seydikemer. If you have never considered this area before we would highly recommend you give it further thought. Please click here to take a look at the properties that are currently available.

Markets

One thing we all love to do is shop and Turkey is renowned for its array of markets.  Visiting Fethiye or living in Fethiye most people head for the big markets on a Tuesday (Sali Pazar).  If you’ve never been before just follow the canal at the top of the town, near McDonalds, normally there is a small trickle of people with their carrier bags of purchases who are easy to spot.

The market has an array of freshly grown produce, which change with the seasons.  It also has its array of homewares, clothes, handbags, belts and crafts.  The stall holders famously shouting out to shoppers ‘Buyrun’ (come in) and promising you ‘genuine fakes’.

Most people allow a few extra kilos of luggage on the way home for there purchases.

Lets not forget about the array of traditional food and drinks on offer too.    One particular favourite is the Turkish pancakes know as Gozleme.  It’s actually an Anatolian flat bread and is filled with various things, including potato, spinach, cheese or minced meat.  On a hot day it’s a simple and filling meal and can be washed down with Cay, ayran or fresh season fruit juice.

Whilst Fethiye market is the biggest around there are also many others in different areas, so take a dolmus, taxi or car to one of the others.  It’s a fabulous way to experience Turkish life and see a little bit more the area has to offer.

Here’s a list of when they are and where :-

Monday – Hisaronu, Esenkoy, Koycegiz
Tuesday – Fethiye
Wednesday – Yesilkoy, Karachula Flea Market
Thursday – Ciftlik, Dalaman, Kalkan, Alacat, (1^st Thursday of each Month- Fethiye Flea Market
Friday – Fethiye, Seydikemer, Uzumlu, Ortaca, Kas, Kinik
Saturday  – Patlangic, Dalyan, Datca
Sunday  – Calis, Camkoy, Gocek, Akbel

The holy month of Ramadan

What is Ramadan ?

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, prayer and introspection for Muslims, the devotees of Islam. It is commended as the month during which Muhammad received the underlying revelations of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam. Every day during Ramadan, Muslims will not drink or eat from sunrise to sunset. In addition they are expected to avoid impure thoughts and awful way of behaving.

Consistently throughout the month, fasting between sunrise and sunset is obligatory for all Muslims. For the ill, elderly, pregant or traveling person you are excused. Days missed from fasting can be made up throughout the rest of the year,either all at once or one day here and there.

The evening meal times are opportunities for the Muslims to assemble with family and community to break the fast together.

Pre-dawn breakfast (suhoor) usually occures at 4.00am before the first call to prayer. The evening meal (iftar) once the evening call to prayer (Maghreb) is finished around 19.30. Since the Prophet Mohammad broke his fast with a glass of water and a date, Muslims eat dates at both suhoor and iftar, easy to digest and give the body sugar following a long day of fasting.

Muslims break their everyday fasts by sharing meals with family and loved ones. The end of Ramadan is prasied and celebrated with a three-day festival known as Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam’s significent holidays. Ramadan generally falls on the ninth month of the 12-month Islamic calendar. 2023 Ramadan begins at sunset on Thursday, March 23, and ends on the evening of Friday, April 21.

The finish of Ramadan fast is celebrated as Eid al-Fitr, the ‘’Feast of fast breaking’’ which is one of the two major religious holidays of the Muslim calender. During the three day celebration, families will visit there olders who will bake sweet treats for there visitors, youngsters will wear new clothes and gifts are exchanged. People will visit the graves of relatives and people will gather for family meals and to pray in mosques.