Fethiye, Turkey
I snapped a few Fethiye, Turkey images nabbing social media attention as of this post publish date.
I decided to upload a few to Blogging From Paradise along with a story behind the picture.
Fethiye proved to be far more gorgeous than we imagined. Most travelers know about the stunning Turquoise Coast along which the town sits. Mediterranean Sea, placid waters….the whole 9 yards. Most see these images for a Fethiye Google Image search.
Kelli and I decided to rent an apartment in Fethiye for the month. But according to the AirBnb algorithm, Yaniklar is Fethiye….and Fethiye is Yaniklar.
The place we rented is a 20 minute ride northwest of the city in Yankilar.
We prefer our location because one mountain gazes far more effortlessly well outside of the city.
Being in a semi-rural town feels fun. Automobile traffic becomes goat herds. The endless march of dolmus minibuses turns into a few tractors lurching along a quiet road meandering through the mountains.
Bonus: the apartment sits within an orange orchard. The host already brought us 30 plus oranges over the first 2 weeks of our stay.
Off with you, scurvy!
Fethiye, Turkey harbor area.
Kelli and I ride the dolmus from Yaniklar into Fethiye twice weekly to buy produce from the market and to walk around town.
The harbor area seems popular with locals and tourists alike.
The snapshot above boasts a gorgeous view of snow-capped mountains in the distance but Mediterranean vibes with the sea being fringed by palm trees.
Afar, the region looks like a snapshot of chilly, icy landscape. In Fethiye itself, temperatures reach the mid-70’s at the tail end of the winter season.
The playful mix of wintry views complemented by warm, comfortable conditions in the immediate area makes for a fascinating contrast.
Yaniklar, Turkey hike along the D400.
I decided to hoof it up the D400 for a dramatic view of mountains in the region.
Thank goodness, the major highway in this area offers pedestrians a safe walkway for long stretches. After the sidewalk vanished I crossed the shoulder to schlep up a drainage ditch to the top of the mountain.
Dodging broken glass, vegetation on the harsh side and a wee bit of rubbish brought me to the viewpoint above.
I snapped the image in Yaniklar pointing to the west.
Fethiye, Turkey
Driving in to Fethiye from the D400 makes it look like a traditional Turkish city.
Most towns in the area are rural, including Kalkan, where we spent a month. Town is quiet, sleepy and on the basic side of things.
As we passed various shops I wondered what the Fethiye hubbub was all about. Expats, travelers and digital nomads told me that I’d love the seaside town. But I did not see what appeared to be a seaside town. If anything, it looks pedestrian on the way in because a long row of basic shops does not instill inspiration in the mind of a seasoned traveler.
Heck; I’d enjoy walking up and down such a strip for the genuine nature of the journey of the place alone.
Gradually though, as we wormed our way to the bus terminal then walked a few blocks toward the waterfront, I saw what the chatter was all about.
The seaside shot above offers a glimpse into life around the tourist area. Shops, paths and benches grace the best spot in town. Picture turquoise waters with a dramatic mountain background in addition to a tastefully arranged collection of shops, ranging from restaurants, to apparel haunts to more specialized places of commerce.
Travelers could call the area “cute” or at the least, “pleasant”.
Fethiye is fun.
Travelers can walk around town enjoying local sites and sounds, take a boat out to the sea or feast on kebab at a doner.
Yaniklar, Turkey coffee shop.
The coffee shop is a thing men do in Turkey.
My introduction to coffee shops was large groups of men sitting on the sidewalks of Istanbul (on chairs) patiently sipping tiny cups of coffee and tea – along with smoking like chimneys – during my 2016 trip to the city.
In Yaniklar, I spied this image from afar. The zoom shot above preserved their privacy; I doubt anyone follows Blogging From Paradise closely.
Men-only coffee shops seem to be the place for drinking strong Turkish tea, delicate Turkish coffee or bottled water to combat tea-coffee dehydration. Hundreds of water bottles filled the rubbish bins beside the shop. Turkish kidney care? Check.
Playing board games, bandying about casual chatter and staring at the odd Western guy with a square jaw, muscular physique and wearing shorts as he power walked down the road are common past times here.
The Yaniklar coffee shop fills up during later morning hours until everyone retires by late afternoon.
From that point moving forward, you will see more street dogs milling around then men sipping their favorite beverage from junior-sized cups.
Yaniklar, Turkey
I preserved this moment with a photo during a late afternoon hike.
The rental sits 5 minutes from this spot.
Afternoon hikes from the apartment to the hills spoil us with dazzling views of the surrounding countryside. Orange and olive groves dot the region quite liberally. The odd barking guard dog defends his turf amid the legions of sleeping “guard” dogs dozing during the lazy days of a mild, serene winter.
Being semi-rural, the faint whisper of the D400 fades away as one migrates deeper into the hills. Traffic seems light because the road pretty much ends in the mountains a handful of miles away from the apartment.
Yaniklar, Turkey
I recorded this image after a powerful storm moved through the region.
Fethiye sports a hook-shaped bay backed by mountains at each end.
The mountains above sit well beyond the south end of the bay.
Southwestern Turkey gives travelers mild winters. Combined with a general dearth of tourists, this is the perfect time to visit for bargain seekers or private types resistant to tourist hoardes.
I love crowd energy like the next guy but being the only tourist in Migros works for me.
Conclusion
Have you been to Fethiye?
What did you think of the area?
