58 MAGAZINE | THE BEACH
TRADITIONAL
TURKEY
Weddings are great celebrations which last 3 days with endless tables of food, music and
dancing. You are always invited to join the party.
F
ethiye is now a busy
centre with chain stores
and a cosmopolitan
population. But walk
up the back streets
to glimpse hints of the past. The
fishermen’s district was above the
theatre and the Roma district below
the castle. There was little farming on
the plains, rather herds of sheep and
goats that would move up to summer
pastures during the summer months.
Fethiye’s folklore is still acted out in
their dances and songs. These people
are proudly ‘yoruk’. Hardy happy and
bound to the earth, they have mostly
decided to settle on the plains and
forgo their migrant past. However
if visiting in spring you may see a
traditional goc* as the extended family
pack their animals and herds take
to the road to higher pastures. They
spend their summer under starry skies
in the rare mountain air with little care
but the well-being of their animals.
They do not miss out on much since
some have solar panels which power
both fridge and mobile phone.
With
employment offering both
health care and pension schemes
villagers now benefit from much
better living standards, buy cars and
send their children to university.
THE EVIL EYE
Believed to keep the bad spirits
away...
While their grandparents would have
sat cross-legged on hand-woven kilims
sharing food from the communal
round table, they now have dining
room suites!
But customs do not die out. There is a
season for everything.
TURKISH TEA
Turks start the day with their
breakfast tea and finished with
their bed time tea.