Welcome to our pick of last week’s news from Fethiye and around Türkiye.
Curated from various news sources.
NEWS
Man dies after falling from rocks in Göcek
A man, who was out for a walk with his dog in Muğla’s Fethiye district, died after falling from rocks from a height of approximately 100 meters.
The incident took place in Fethiye’s Göcek District Taşbaşı location. According to the information obtained, 32-year-old BD, who was walking with his dog, fell on the rocks from a height of approximately 100 meters.
His 59-year-old father, reported the incident to the 112 Emergency Call Center. Upon notice, AFAD, UMKE and gendarmerie teams were dispatched to the scene.
During their search in the area, the teams found BD on the rocks and upon being checkedby medical teams, it was determined that BD had died. The body was removed from where it was found by the teams and taken to Fethiye State Hospital Morgue.
The investigation into the incident continues.
Source: https://www.muglagazetesi.com.tr/muglada-feci-olay-kayaliklardan-dusen-kisi-oldu-160106h.htm
Edirne hotel bookings surge ahead of spring festivities
The much-anticipated traditional spring festivals of Kakava and Hıdırellez in the western province of Edirne are attracting scores of people, with hotel occupancy already reaching 80 percent.
The upcoming festivities, recognized on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List and steeped in tradition and folklore, have become a focal point for locals and visitors alike, drawing crowds to the city.
As anticipation mounts, citizens don traditional attire, signaling the onset of the annual celebration known as the Spring Festival among the locals.
This year’s festivities, as every year, offer a unique cultural experience with drum beats and zurna melodies throughout the city.
Gökhan Balta, a representative of Edirne’s hoteliers, emphasized that visitors should book early, cautioning against last-minute arrangements that could lead to accommodation shortages.
Guests arriving for the festivities typically stay for two days, immersing themselves in cultural revelry such as the tossing of wishes into the river at dawn on May 6. This prolonged stay amplifies the demand for accommodations, with visitors also taking the opportunity to explore Edirne’s historical landmarks and tourist attractions, Balta said.
Hasan Acıçalık, another hotel operator, noted that the demand for accommodations has surged compared to previous years, with the entire province now at full capacity.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/edirne-hotel-bookings-surge-ahead-of-spring-festivities-192870
Wonders of ancient stadium in Mediterranean Türkiye being unearthed
Archaeologists in Mediterranean Türkiye are unearthing an ancient stadium with a capacity of 10,000 spectators.
A total of 25% of the underground stadium in the ancient city of Sillyon in Serik in the coastal Antalya province has been unearthed, according to the excavation team.
The ancient city, which was built on a high hill, boasts various structures from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman eras through the millennia.
A team of 40 people continues to work to reveal the history of the region and open the area to tourism.
Murat Taskiran, the head of the excavation team from Pamukkale University, told Anadolu that the stadium is 254 meters (833 feet) long and 48 meters (157 ft) wide.
“We started excavation of the stadium in 2022. The stadium was built along the western slope of the city,” he said.
Taskiran added that the historical building, which has a capacity of 10,000 people, stands out among regional stadiums with its large capacity, shape, and size.
“Based on the materials unearthed from the area, we can say that construction of the stadium started in the 1st century after Christ and that it was used until the fifth century AD,” he said.
They not only carried out excavations in the area, but also restoration and conservation work, he said.
New Atatürk monument marks iconic photo spot 109 years on
In a moving tribute to modern Türkiye’s founder and war hero Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a new monument was unveiled on the Gallipoli Peninsula, marking the exact spot where a historic photo of Atatürk was taken 109 years ago at the battlefield of the Gallipoli Campaign during the World War I.
The unveiling was part of the “Mustafa Kemal Path” project, led by the Gallipoli Historic Site Administration, aimed at revitalizing and narrating Atatürk’s pivotal role in the battles at Çanakkale.
The photograph, taken by Major Haydar Mehmet Alganer on June 17, 1915, captures Atatürk at the 18th Regiment’s trenches and has become an iconic image of Turkish resilience. This photo, along with the camera used to take it, was donated to the Çanakkale Naval Museum by Alganer’s grandchildren in 2007, becoming one of the museum’s most treasured items.
The Mustafa Kemal Path stretches across historical sites on the Gallipoli Peninsula and includes Atatürk’s first headquarters. It offers visitors interactive experiences to trace Atatürk’s movements from his arrival in Çanakkale on Feb. 25, 1915, to the end of the battles, highlighting the strategic locations where he established command posts.
İsmail Kaşdemir, head of the Gallipoli Historic Site Administration, emphasized the site’s significance, stating, “Çanakkale is where the foundations of our Republic were laid, where the belief in our War of Independence was strengthened. It is where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the commander of our Independence War and the founder of our Republic, first emerged onto the historical stage.”
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/new-ataturk-monument-marks-iconic-photo-spot-109-years-on-192871
İstiklal bomb attacker gets multiple life sentences
An Istanbul court has sentenced the main perpetrator of the deadly bombing on the city’s bustling İstiklal Avenue in November 2022 to seven aggravated life sentences and an additional 1,790 years in prison.
The court on April 26 unveiled its decision for Ahlam Albashir, who planted the bomb device on Beyoğlu’s İstiklal Avenue on Nov. 13, 2022, resulting in the death of six and injury of 99 people.
The PKK-linked terrorist was among 36 defendants on trial, with 15 in custody, while others were released earlier pending trial.
Alongside the life sentences for various crimes, the court also imposed an additional imprisonment of up to 1,794 years and a fine of 22,000 Turkish Liras on the perpetrator.
During the final hearing, Albashir declared her refusal to defend herself or contest any of the sentences, reiterating her previous claims of experiencing pressure of conscience due to the deceased victims.
However, she noted that some of the defendants had no involvement in the incident and she was only a guest in their homes at the time of the event. One day after the blast, the perpetrator was apprehended in a residence in the Küçükçekmece district, with other residents of the house also taken into custody.
In the previous hearing, Albashir claimed that she was handed a bag and instructed to leave it on İstiklal Avenue, but she was unaware of its contents.
According to the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the bombing was planned and executed by the PKK terrorist organization’s Syrian branch, YPG.
The prosecutor’s indictment also noted that the bomb attack was ordered and orchestrated by senior leaders of PKK.
She was caught on security camera footage as she left the explosive device on the well-known street. Albashir infiltrated into Türkiye from Syria, where YPG is active, the court said.
Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istiklal-bomb-attacker-gets-multiple-life-sentences-192848
SPORT
Türkiye Softball Championship held in Fethiye
The Junior Girls and Star Girls School Sports Türkiye Softball Championship, organized for the first time in Fethiye by the Turkish School Sports Federation, started on Wednesday.
Female students will compete for 5 days in the championship, which opened with a moment of silence and a ceremony following the National Anthem
33 teams and 500 athletes from 16 provinces are participating in the championship, which will end with an award ceremony on Monday, April 29.
Source: https://futbolsayfasi.net/beyzbol/fethiye-de-softbol-turkiye-sampiyonasi-basladi.html
Fethiyespor
Thank you to Brian Lloyd for the Fethiyespor update.
Match Results
Fethiyespor drew their home match against Etimesgut Belediye Spor on Sunday. The final score was 0-0.
Fethiyespor stay at 10th position on the league table.
League Matches
Saturday 4th May away against Erzincanspor. The kick-off time is at 15:00.
This is the last game of the season.
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Turkish Lira (TL) exchange rates
The British Pound bought 40.59 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 40.18 TL.
The US Dollar bought 32.50 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 32.48 TL.
The Euro bought 34.76 TL by the close of business on Friday. The week before it was selling for 34.65 TL.
Source: exchangerates.org.uk
Weather Forecast
Here’s your weather forecast for the week ahead.
Source: Living Earth
