Mustafa Kemal Atatürk – the creator of modern Turkey
The founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, remains one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. Few historical figures have accomplished so much within such a brief span, profoundly transforming their country’s destiny and inspiring the world on a grand scale. Modern Turkey owes much of its […]
Small but Sweet: Turkish Bananas – A Taste of Sunshine
One of the wonderful things about living in Turkey is the year-round supply of fresh, flavoursome fruit and vegetables. And at this time of year, market stalls are piled high with bunches of Turkish bananas — or muz. Turkish bananas are smaller than their imported counterparts, but what they lack in size, they more than […]
Cooking with Çıntar: Fethiye’s autumn delicacy
As autumn arrives in Fethiye, it’s time to enjoy one of the region’s most prized seasonal delicacies: the Çıntar mushroom. Known for its rich flavour and versatility, this wild mushroom is an integral part of the local cuisine and a staple in many kitchens. Whether fried, roasted, baked, or used in soups, there’s no shortage […]
Celebrating 102 years of the Republic of Turkey
Republic Day, or Cumhuriyet Bayramı, commemorates the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923 and is one of the most important official public holidays and national festivals in the country. History of Turkish Republic Day On October 29, 1923, the newly recognized Turkish parliament proclaimed the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, […]
Pumpkins – from Jack-o-Lanterns to delicious desserts
It’s autumn! Pumpkins are ripe and plentiful … and Halloween is just around the corner. People have been carving Jack-o’-Lanterns for centuries — a Halloween tradition with roots in an old Irish legend about a trickster named Stingy Jack. According to the tale, Stingy Jack once invited the Devil for a drink but, true to […]
Discover Side: Turkey’s Sun-Kissed Mediterranean Gem
Pronounced see-deh, Side sits gracefully on Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast, blending the charms of a modern resort town with some of the country’s most famous classical sites. Stroll through the ancient ruins, and you’ll feel the whispers of history mingling with the vibrant buzz of contemporary life—no wonder legend says Cleopatra and Mark Antony chose […]
Ölüdeniz in winter – a spectacular turquoise paradise
“Mother Nature at her finest” is often the first thought that comes to mind when you set eyes on Ölüdeniz in Fethiye, Muğla. Tucked away in southwestern Turkey, Fethiye enjoys a milder winter than many other regions. Towering cliffs, some reaching 350 metres, rise dramatically above the coastline, making the area not only a haven […]
The 2 Minute Foundation – cleaning up our planet, 2 minutes at a time
The 2 Minute Foundation – a charity campaigning to inspire people to take two minutes out of their day to clear up the worlds beaches, oceans, parks, streets and open spaces On World Ocean Day in 2023, we went along to the World Ocean’s Day Beach Clean Up, organised by The 2 Minute Foundation as […]
A visit to ‘Little Istanbul’ with Mick & Trudie
According to Wikipedia, there is an estimated 500,000 people of Turkish origin living in the United Kingdom. The Turkish community is not evenly distributed across the country and the concentration of the Turks is almost all in Greater London. The Turks have created Turkish neighbourhoods mostly in North and North-East London however there are also Turkish communities in South […]
World-first simultaneous clean up of the 7 seas
50,000 bottles removed from the ocean to tackle plastic pollution [8th June 2023 – Mullion Cove, nr Helston, Cornwall] The world’s seven seas have been cleaned by diving crews around the globe today in an epic move to tackle the ocean waste plastic problem. 6 UK divers took part in the global underwater clean up in Mullion […]