Twelve months ago today, I was sitting on the couch in our little living room in Fethiye and I decided to (finally) take action on starting the blog we’d been pondering for a while. We knew absolutely nothing about blogging and didn’t really know if anyone would read it. No matter; it was going to be something that would entertain us for an hour or so each day through the winter – a little hobby.
Since that day, we’ve done 307 posts, we’ve learned more than we could ever have imagined about the blogging world, social media (Facebook, Twitter and the like), site statistics, html, photography, photography software, cuisine, travel. We’ve ‘met’ hundreds (if not thousands) of people from all over the world, in the virtual world and actuallyΒ metΒ some of those people in the real world, online friends have become real life friends. We now look at Fethiye and wherever else we go in Turkey through different eyes – through blogging eyes, I suppose – and as a result, I very rarely leave the house without my camera just in case a good photo opportunity comes up for a blog post. You never know…
As you can see – and if you write a blog yourself, maybe you’re in the same boat as we are – our ‘little hobby’ of writing a few words about Turkey (mainly the Fethiye area) has completely changed our lives; for the better of course. And, a ‘little hobby’ is now, well, it’s not even a full time hobby. Our Turkey’s For Life blog is a part of our life. How odd…how fascinating. Apart from the ‘little hobby,’ none of the above was ever on the agenda.
Yesterday, I sat and went through a few past posts because we thought it would be nice to have a mosaic of photos that represent what we’ve covered; what we’ve done, where we’ve been, what we’ve seen, what we’ve eaten, what we’ve cooked, over the last 12 months. This photo of photos is the result.
By default – and what a great ‘default’ to have – most of our Turkey posts are about our life in, and observations of, Fethiye, KayakΓΆy, ΓlΓΌdeniz, ΓalΔ±Ε. Our favourite posts from here are the Fethiye Blast From The Past post and the Cin Bal, KayakΓΆy post. Both hold memories of when we first came to Fethiye in 1998, which I suspect is the main reason.
Favourite Turkish food posts? Well, the best meal this year has got to be the hamsi ekmek (anchovy sandwich) we had at KarakΓΆy fish market in Istanbul. I’m not joking! Barry’s is Petek’s TurΕucu in Istanbul.Β More to do with the memories of the shop making the pickles taste extra special.
Favourite recipes? Barry’s is YeΕil Mercimek ΓorbasΔ±.Β Mine? I loveΒ Antep EzmesiΒ – it was one of the first meze dishes I learned how to make – but my heart says kΔ±sΔ±r; the best salad ever!
Favourite places? Well, we live in Fethiye, don’t we? But, Turkey hold endless fascination for us and we love to travel around whenever we can. Fethiye is a perfect base for this. Istanbul is special for both of us and of the cities we’ve seen in the world so far, the definite favourite.
Any Turkey favourites of your own? Either from Turkey’s For Life or something we’ve not written about yet? Well, I could go on and on but you’ll be fast asleep before getting to the end of the post so I’m going to leave it right there…for now.
Thank you to everyone who reads Turkey’s For Life and keeps us posting!
Congratulations, m’dears on a year’s worth of entertaining and informative blogging. I read it every day. Takes me back to the last time I was there, and helps me look forward to the next. Plus, of course, the delicious nosh.
Long may it continue!
Congratulations and many many more years of blogging and delicious dishes!
Happy Birthday. How long is one blog year in human years? =)
A year already? wow! love the way the internet, and blogs in particular connect people from around the world. looking forward to another year of exciting adventures and delicious foods.
Ya done good ! Congratulations.
Congratulations. I’ve only recently discovered your blog, and enjoy your posts.
Congratulations! That’s quite an accomplishment. Nice to know of your blog – enjoying your posts!
Congratulations and Happy Birthday! and I’m looking forward to many more years of following you around Turkey …. until one fine day when I finally make it there in person.
Congratulations. I really want to come back and explore more of Turkey, I understand why you love it so much. I’ll definitely be calling on you guys for advice
Happy Anniversary! May this be the first of many years of travel blogging!
Tony S and Peter M, thank you. Looking for more delicious nosh recipes in the coming year!
NVR Guys, it feels like many human years sometimes! π
Sarah, we can’t believe a year has gone so fast! Onwards and upwards. π
Jim, Thanks a lot.
Nancie, thank you. We enjoy reading your posts too.
Cathy, the year’s gone really fast.
Ping, one day. Until then, we’ll continue with the written word.
Caz, you’ll know where to find us! π
Spencer, thank you.
congratulation!!and it s great blog u r doing , happy that u write about great Turkiye:)
Congratulations on making it a year! Very cool. Keep up the good work as Turkey is at the very top of our list of places we want to visit next.
Thanks Adam and hope Fethiye is on your Turkey list, somewhere! π
307 posts! congratulation, i could learn alot from your blog. i am looking forward to more posts
Happy Blogniversary !!!
Thanks Zablon, I think we could all learn a LOT more from you! π
Green Girl, Thanks. π
Congratulations on your one year!! And for many more to come!
Congrats! You’ve accomplished a lot in a year and I really enjoy your blog!
Norbert, here’s hoping!! π
Expat in Germany, thanks. Wonder what next year will bring…?
Happy Birthday Turkeys for Life! I love the photo mosaic.. what a great way to visually show how far you’ve come!
To many more!
Thanks Kelly. We thought a nice big mosaic would be more interesting than a long raft of photos. And, hopefully many more birthdays. π
Well done on a smashing first year.
We’ve a little holiday place is Calis so it’s lovely for me to read what’s happening over there:)
Anne
Thanks Anne. Will continue to try and keep you updated. π
I year is a huge milestone. Congratulation!
Congratulations, my favorite is still the wet burger and waiting for you to try it…hint…
Congrats on the 1 year of blogging! Everytime I come to this site I think how much I want to go back to Turkey and wonder round Fethiye, Hisaronu and ΓlΓΌ Deniz. They changed so much the few times I went and I would love to see what they’re like now!
Thanks Ben.
Ayngelina, it’s going to be the first meal I have when we go back to Istanbul.
Poi, thank you. I don’t know when you were last in Turkey, but if it’s more than 5 years, you probably won’t recognise the place, although the old part of fethiye is still the same.
What a wonderful blog!! I really admire the choices you’ve made in your life… such an inspirational story!
Thanks. It was all choices – and good ones. So far. π