Nearing our destination and on a secondary road we pass beautiful modern villas and olive groves. A warm gentle breeze springs up as we turn once again towards the ideallic coastline. I notice the youth of Turkey, Turkey's future, girls and boys, hand in hand as they walk round the streets of Guzelcamli. Ten
years ago they would have been chaperoned around by a watchful brother or sister. Don't misunderstand me. This is not a permissive open and non caring society. Family values are still very important here. It's just that the wind of change now makes little distinction between the bikini clad British or German
tourist walking along the promenades, from that of the Turkish youth, unshackled from past inhibitions.
My visit this year is not the pleasant relaxing holiday visits of previous years. I come here because my father in law is dying. At the time of writing this gentle and caring family man has already passed away. He will always be part of what Turkey means to me. A real Turk. The genuine type. In England we would say the salt of the earth.
For you the potential tourist what does Turkey have to offer? It's no good you getting the rundown on Turkey from me. I'm bias. I'm already sold. Read some of the links off this page. Explore Turkey past and present. More important, come here. Find out for yourself. I am sure you will come back time and time again.
On the following pages there are some notes. Things I thought about on the way home on the plane. They are general assumptions and observations. The thoughts of one individual only. It is dangerous to generalise and you should always draw your own conclusions.
As a Turkish or British Citizen reading this you are liberty to agree or disagree with what I have written. Whatever you think, whatever your views, my thoughts on Turkey will not change. Wherever you go in the world you are influenced by events that take place around you. You are influenced by the people you meet and the sights that you see. Nothing can take that away from you. That is yours to keep. Yours alone.
I could have written a glowing appraisal of Turkey or page after page on the virtues of each and every resort I've visited. However, this has already been done and this information is available on the links found on these web pages. Why re invent the wheel?.
To summarise, I cannot be a Turk as I was not born a Turk and I'm happy with being English. The fact of the matter is, If I drive through Europe I drive through foreign lands, upon reaching the Turkish border and seeing the Turkish flag flying, I am home. Thats how I feel.
This Kusadasi Web Site is dedicated to Metin Erol 1937 - 2000. God Rest his Soul.
