AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 21 – FETHIYE MOSQUE

Posted on August 21, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

In the centre of Fethiye, right next to the dolmus station, stands one of the town’s many mosques. For years I walked past it almost everday and never stepped foot inside – until last year! It’s really beautiful inside, stunning stained glass windows, painted ceilings, bright colours against the white walls, a huge chandelier and the softest, thickest, most luxurious feeling red carpet! You can visit the mosque yourself, just make sure you avoid prayer times and Fridays in particular. Make sure you take your shoes off and leave them by the door and be fairly covered up, wear respectful clothing (no strapless tops, swimwear, miniskirts or shirtless men etc), women may cover their hair but I actually did not, Berkay told me I didn’t need to. There is a man who waits around outside and offers to show you around for a fee, but don’t fall for that, it’s completely free to enter and he is just taking advantage. It’s really stunning inside!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 20 – SEEING DOUBLE?

Posted on August 20, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

Mountains Babadağ and Mendos form a major part of the scenery around Fethiye, and has featured a few times in this photo series, but today’s photos show them as you’ve probably never seen them before! When I was living in Turkey the first time, I had a beautiful view of the mountains from my kitchen window, most of the time it was a blue sky and mountains covered in greenery I could see, but on this particular winter day around 5 years ago it looked a bit different! A combination of rain, low cloud and fog made the mountains look very strange, like I was seeing double! There is lots of interesting aspects of Mother Nature to be seen in Turkey whether it’s Summer or Winter!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 18 – Babadağ and Mendos

Posted on August 18, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

Right at the far end of Calis Beach, behind Şat restaurant, sits a bit of a hidden gem! I took the photo in 2014, but I assume you can still access the area now, I know there have been a few changes to that end of the beach. We walked around to the furthest point of the beach, where it was impossible to go any further without getting wet! It’s where the canal meets the sea, where the water taxis travel on the route to/from Fethiye/Calis. I believe the area is a kind of nature reserve, with wildlife such as crabs, fish, birds and ducks swimming around, as well as lots of reeds, plants and pretty flowers growing. The views from here are spectacular, offering a slightly different view point of mountains Babadağ and Mendos.
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 17 – SNOWCAPPED MOUNTAINS

Posted on August 17, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

Although most people know Turkey for its almost-guaranteed sunshine for 6 months of the year, it’s not always hot…in winter it gets cold…VERY cold. Generally the coldest month in Fethiye is February, in my experience. I remember one winter it was around -2 degrees, with icy puddles outside. This photo was taken in January last year, on what was actually a warm day, but the evidence of winter was plain to see on the mountains in the distance – lots and lots of snow. It looks like I was in the sea, but I actually took the photo whilst on a hill off of Karataş beach, looking back towards Koca Caliş – you can see Sunset beach club and Jiva hotel in the centre of the photo. The mountains look so impressive covered in snow, but also vast and intimidating, a very prominent feature of the landscape even though they’re so far in the distance!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 15 – WONKY HOUSES

Posted on August 15, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

These wonky houses were well loved in Fethiye, I think, and quite humorous! Sadly, they were knocked down a few years ago, which is understandable due to safety reasons, but I did hold a little soft spot for them, it always made me laugh seeing them while walking through the town square or while on a boat approaching the harbour. They were just so quirky, the orange one sticking out, the old wooden window frames, the slanting balconies.. they look like dominoes waiting to topple over onto each other. Although no longer there, they were a part of Turkey’s beautiful quirkiness to me!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 14 – CALIS SUNSET

Posted on August 14, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

You just can’t beat a Calis Beach sunset, especially during winter when the sun goes down right on the horizon rather than behind the mountains. The clouds make it even more dramatic, with the sky fading from yellow, to orange, then to red. The sun glowing, lighting up the horizon, with the silhouette of red island on the right. I love this photo especially because of the boat sailing across, can you spot it? Just think how magnificent the sunset would have looked from on board that, surrounded by the ocean!
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AUGUST PHOTO SERIES – DAY 13 – Gümbet

Posted on August 13, 2017 by livingtheturkishdream

A few years ago we went for a mini-break to Gümbet in Bodrum. Bodrum I really liked, but Gümbet honestly I found awful. It just seemed dirty, the beach was tiny and cramped full of sunbeds, bar street was full of booming music with men dancing on bars and bars only letting women in… it was just weird and definitely not our thing at all, but it must appeal to someone! However, Gümbet does look really pretty with its whitewashed buildings, something that is seen everywhere in Bodrum, reflecting its Greek influence. The photo above was taken from the hotel we stayed in – palm trees, beautiful blue sea, boats, green hills and white washed buildings. Despite not liking the area ourselves, we did still find it beautiful by day.. it’s just at nighttime it became a little too wild for us. That’s part of the beauty of Turkey – something for everyone’s taste!
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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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