AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 12 – TÜRK YILDIZLARI

Posted on August 12, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

In October 2014 Turkey’s version of the red arrows – the Türk Yıldızları – came to Calis to perform over the beach during the air games – we gathered along the promenade to watch with thousands of other people on what was the busiest day I’ve ever seen in Calis! The display was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever witnessed – the noise of the jets was just incredible, and the pilots had amazing skills. I took both of these photos on that day, love the red and white trails and the Turkish flag displayed on the planes! I filmed a video of the display and it’s my most shared, most viewed video ever on my blog Facebook page – click the link if you want to watch it – https://www.facebook.com/livingtheturkishdream/videos/756223634439508/
watch it with your volume to turn up to get the full experience!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 11 – RED ISLAND

Posted on August 11, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

Yesterday’s photo focused on the sun setting behind Red Island/ Kızıl Ada. Today’s photo features the same island in daylight! It was taken in October 7 years ago from a boat trip- it hasn’t changed much! I love how calm the water is, no waves just ripples, a few autumnal clouds and the partial reflection of the island in the sea. This island has been the focal point of so many of my sunset photos, and is even in most of my wedding photos! It’s also in a few seconds of the James Bond film- Skyfall, and I always get excited when I watch it. Even though the island obviously isn’t part of Calis, it’s one of the first things I think of when I think of the place.
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 10 – ISLAND SUNSET

Posted on August 10, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

When I took this photo I was annoyed because the camera kept loosing focus – but the more I looked at it the more I loved it. I think the blurry effect actually makes it look a lot better and it certainly stands out among the other thousands of Calis Beach sunset photos on my memory card! The island in the centre is Red Island/Kızılada and the sun was setting right behind it, but the perfectly-timed shot made it look like the sun was actually melting away the island!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 9 – TURQUOISE OLUDENIZ

Posted on August 9, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

I couldn’t chose between these two photos – so today I’m using both. This is the stunning view from the start of the Lycian Way, a 540km walking trail between Ölüdeniz and Antalya. Quite controversially, I’ve never been a real fan of Ölüdeniz, I have always thought it looks absolutely beautiful from above in people’s paragliding photos, but when you’re standing down on ground level, it’s less impressive, too crowded and I always felt a bit disappointed. These photos though show just how wonderful it really looks from high up in the mountain side. The gorgeous turquoise colour of the sea really stands out, but the boats sailing outside the bay, and the pedalos in the lagoon are also visible, along with a few paragliders if you look carefully! We haven’t been right up to the top of Babadağ mountain yet, but I’m sure that it looks even more stunning from up there on a clear day. Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the resorts make us forget the real beauty we take for granted – but taking a step back (or a few thousand feet up…) makes you appreciate it all a bit more. Nature at it’s finest!
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I wrote a blog about the start of the Lycian Way a few years ago, if you want to read more: https://livingtheturkishdream.com/2014/09/23/oludeniz-from-above/

AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 8 – RAINBOW

Posted on August 8, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

This photo isn’t the best quality as it was taken on my old iPod around 5 years ago, so it doesn’t really do it justice. This was the view from the first apartment we lived in together for 2.5 years. We lived in the middle of fields and green hills, even though it was only a 10 minute walk away from Calis and the tourist areas of Sunset Beach Club etc. I had the most beautiful view of Babadag from my kitchen window, and the view of these hills and greenhouses from my balcony. On this particular winters day, it had obviously been raining but a rainbow popped out from the dark grey clouds.. unfortunately our house didn’t sit at the foot of the rainbow so we didn’t get a pot of gold… but it looked good regardless – rainbows are quite rare so I always get excited when I see one!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 7 – MOONLIT FETHIYE

Posted on August 7, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

As I sit typing this I can see the moon shining through my window – it’s a full moon tonight so I figured this would be an appropriate photo of the day! Taken just after sunset whilst driving along the Fethiye peninsular after a BBQ at Aksazlar, I love how it captures all the lights and their reflections. With the mountains in the background, boats, tree in the foreground and the moon shining down on the water, it’s quite a busy photo! I think it captures the beauty of Fethiye at night.
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 6 – PLAYFUL STREET DOGS

Posted on August 6, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

I took this photo last March in Calis. We were sat on the wall along the beach enjoying the sunset, and I realised we weren’t alone. Three little street dogs were just running along the beach chasing each other and rolling around in the sand. I just love how happy they all look with their tails in the air and ears flapping – it’s not an easy life for street dogs in Turkey, so it was lovely to see them just running along having fun together. My favourite is the little dog at the front, so cute. I love how they look like little silhouettes against the orange glowing sky behind. I guess humans aren’t the only ones who can appreciate a Calis Beach sunset!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 5 – KALKAN

Posted on August 5, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

Kalkan is a beautiful former fishing town about 1-1.5 hours drive from Fethiye. Its inhabitants were mainly Greek until the 1920’s. It is now a popular tourist resort but the focus is still very much the stunning harbour and sea views, with hundreds of roof top restaurants providing the perfect dinner spot. It is very hilly, with steep slopes and cobbled streets and the lovingly known ‘cardiac hill’ – we have walked it a few times, its easy to see where it gets its name! There is a small beach and the lighthouse and breakwater give great views around the bay and back over the town itself. I haven’t visited for a few years but it was always much more classy than other resorts, we all know how much I love Fethiye and Calis, but Kalkan is just a little more upmarket, but the restaurant menu prices definitely reflect that. There aren’t many hotels, most of the accommodation in the area is in the form of apartments and villas, some of which are high up and have beautiful infinity pools looking over the bay. Boutique stores and lots of bougainvillea line the old town centre… It’s also quite popular with celebrities!

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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 4 – Kaputas Beach

Posted on August 4, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

In between Kalkan and Kas, along the main coastal road, sits the beautiful hidden gem, Kaputas beach. The sea here is so turquoise and stunning, but does get deep quickly and is very wavy. The beach sits at the foot of a valley, and is only reached by walking down nearly 200 steps, or via boat. Walking down the steps is bearable, but walking back up is a real killer on a hot day! The beach is mostly untouched, aside from a couple of changing cubicles, and the natural beauty is just amazing. Entrance is free, but sunbeds and umbrellas can be rented for a fee. Parking can be difficult, as it gets busy and cars just pull up all along the main road. I climbed over one of the crash barriers along the road to take this photo – even if you can’t face the steps, it’s worth pulling over for a few moments to admire the view from above. The whole coastal road along this route is really beautiful.
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 3 – Dalyan Rock Tombs

Posted on August 3, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

I chose this photo today as I took it exactly 4 years ago when we went on an excursion to Dalyan. It’s still the only time I’ve been, but I’d love to explore it again. The impressive rock tombs carved into the cliff side are beautiful and tower over the river below. They look quite intimidating and are huge, these ones are particularly interesting as a couple are unfinished. Imagine how difficult it must have been to carve them out, over 3000 years ago when they were created – a lot of work and such incredible detail too! The tombs are best seen via a boat trip along the river, which is where I took this photo from.
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