Discover Eastern Turkey

In mid November 2011 I decided to take a solo holiday to Eastern Turkey.  I had wanted to visit the cities of Mardin, Sanliurfa and Gaziantep. Before I left I researched on the internet and Guide Books, where I would stay and what I wanted to see in...

The Fate of Hydra

Part one. The Olymp: Many years ago I was on a chartered tour to Greece, and we had a very engaging tour guide who guided as through all the sites of antic Greece. On the last evening and our fare-well banquet, he asked us to think about what had engaged...

The Fate of Hydra

Part two: Herakles: Zevs was not altogether pleased with the developments and Hera was furious again for the old – but anothers – reason. In one of his escapades with an elf Zevs had sired an offspring, Herakles, who had inherited his roving...

The Old Groaner Amintas Tomb; Fethiye

Dear Mr Amintas, We are in receipt of your mail of the 4th inst, requesting permission to construct a rock tomb on an unspecified rock face within the jurisdiction of the city council. I am obliged to inform you that before the council can consider your...

Work Permit in Turkey for Nationalities

There is a lot of paperwork to be done before you start working in Turkey. Work Permits are either obtained from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı) or from the Consulates of Turkish Republic abroad. Essential...

Of Poetry and Life…

Let me start with a healthy dose of honesty. I have never before written a column for publication. But I do enjoy the telling of a story; because a good story, like a fine wine, or proper cheese, improves with age. Not that the story changes (though some...

Remember Atatürk, The Great Leader

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey was born in Thessaloniki on 19th May 1981, and died in Istanbul on 10th November 1938. We remember Atatürk with respect and love at the seventythird anniversary at the time when he left...

Dear editor?

I would like to report that as advertised on 11.11.11 a multinational group of about 30 people met at the Sundial Hotel, Tasyaka for a short meditation and to say prayers for Global Peace. We also gave thanks and welcomed the ‘cosmic moment’ and new...

Wake Chasing

“Wake!” I hear my Dad call out from his place behind the wheel of our 19 meter Turkish Gullet. I quickly set down the pile of docking lines I had been preparing for our entrance into Marmaris harbor and ran on bare feet to the bowsprit. Being the...