This is it. We’re in the final month of 2025. That went quick, didn’t it?
Without further ado, though, let’s have a quick look back at the penultimate and the first half of the final month of the year; November and December.
This is our monthly news from life in Fethiye…
Return Of The Fountains?
A brief moment of excitement at the beginning of November when we were walking through Şehit Fethi Bey Park.
In the meydan – the central area of the park – there are outlets in the ground from where fountains once sprang and cooled and entertained.
This was especially the case on summer evenings where coloured lights also enhanced the scene.
The fountains have sadly been redundant for a few years.
But, at the beginning of the month, municipal staff were working on them and a corner of one of the fountains was in action.
We’ve not seen any evidence of the fountains being in action again since this date.
Was it a one off? Or are we going to get the return of the fountains?
Would be nice, wouldn’t it?
Remembrance
November is very much a month of remembrance with Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
And, in Turkey, 10th November is the day the sirens wail and the country falls silent at 9:05am; the time of the passing of the founder of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
At these times, we look back on visits to the war cemeteries in Istanbul and Cassino in Italy.
And no visit to Ankara should be made without including a visit to the mausoleum of Atatürk, Anıtkabir, to pay respects.
Autumn-Winter Sun In Ölüdeniz
We had friends over on holiday mid-November and they picked a perfect time because the weather was just right!
We love Ölüdeniz at this time of year when we can just appreciate it for the stunning scenery that it’s famous for.
So it was an afternoon at the lagoon – hot and sunny, a pristine and blissfully still lagoon – and a few drinks (and real chips) and chats til sunset.
What autumnal afternoons are made of!
And Autumn-Winter Sunset In Çalış
As winter begins to encroach, even when the weather is still warm and sunny, we get telltale signs with the stunning sunsets.
The fiery oranges and reds of summer – sometimes; not always – become a vibrant fuschia pink.
And in November, we were treated to our first fuschia sunset of the colder seasons along Çalış Beach.
It’s the sea as well as the sky! Amazing!
Needless to say, there were more than a few people along the beach wall snapping this little phenomenon with their phones.
We’re looking forward to many more of these as the winter progresses.
Making New Ground At The Sunday Market
For those of us shopping at the Çalış Sunday market at the moment, our usual routines (and it’s only when everything changes that you realise you have a routine) are temporarily up in the air.
The belediye (municipality) are currently digging up the cobbles and relaying the main area market square.
So, for the moment, stalls are lining the side roadsides and the square opposite.
In years gone by, the mayor has said the market will get a roof to make it more comfortable for the traders and shoppers in adverse weather.
Wonder if that will happen…?
Celeriac Season
In the world of Turkish seasonal food, we’re now safely into the winter fruits and vegetables.
And we LOVE celeriac season.
We’re really not sure why it’s taken us so long to do this recipe because it’s a dish that we order whenever we see it in local Fethiye restaurants.
It pairs with another seasonal food – the juice of oranges!
This is one of the great ways that cleriac is used in Turkish cuisine – braised celeriac in olive oil and orange juice.
A great vegetarian or vegan recipe. But also a great meze dish or side to meat and fish.
Feeling Festive
As well as our Turkish celeriac recipe, we’ve also added a new börek recipe to the blog that will double up nicely as a dish for your Christmas and New Year nibbles, too.
Don’t forget, we have a list of Turkish Christmas and New year dishes that you can add to your festive table.
And we’ve now added this latest recipe to that list.
Well, a bit of swirly pastry always looks pretty doesn’t it? And our spinach and feta puff pastry pinwheels are quick and easy to make, too.
Granted, our very British mince pies recipe and New Year meat and potato pie recipe are also on that list – we’re allowed a bit of tradition.
Türkiye Kupası Excitement
The equivalent of the FA cup in England and Wales, the Türkiye Kupası is the competition where ‘giant killing’ can be the name of the game in the earlier rounds.
You may remember all the excitement back on 4th December 2013 when Fethiyespor drew the mighty Fenerbahçe away…and Fethiyespor won the match 2-1!
Well, now, we have a similar scenario on our hands.
This time, Fethiyespor have been drawn against the mighty Galatasaray – at home!
There’s been a bit of a hoo-haa as to whether or not Fethiyespor’s stadium is suitable for the match and tickets are selling at mighty prices to match the mighty opposition…
So, watch this space. The match will be played on 13th January 2026.
Meanwhile, in the league, Fethiyespor have two more matches left to play before the New Year break. Matches they could really do with winning, looking at their current league position!
End Of An Era
As you can see in the top photo, the Fethiye weather over the last few days has been just perfect for sunny walks.
If you follow the local news from around these parts, you’ll know the Fethiye beaches around Koca Çalış had been earmarked for removal for some time.
Well, that is currently happening.
We had a wander down there, yesterday to take a look at proceedings.
We’re not gonna lie; we’re so sad to see Surf Beach is no more. Truly the end of an era as it has always been a part of our Fethiye lives.
We should point out that Zentara and Mekan are still in operation as businesses. Zentara is operating from its main building, away from the beach and still serving its famous Turkish breakfast.
Michelin Guide Comes To Fethiye
On to some better news, now…
No sooner had we said we’d love to see some Fethiye restaurants get Michelin recognition than it happened!
No actual Michelin Stars, yet but…
Big congratulations to Mezegi in Göcek who have been awarded Bib Gourmand.
Also featuring in the Michelin Guide for 2026 in the Fethiye area are Ada Restaurant on Şövalye Island, Mori Restaurant along the Karagözler and Onno Grill & Bar in Göcek.
What the criteria is for how restaurants are chosen in the first place, we don’t know. But there are lots of other Fethiye restaurants that we would love to see included in the guide in the future.
We’re sure this is just the beginning.
In Other News
The usual random selection of stories that have popped into our news feeds that are not necessarily to do with Fethiye.
More Foodie Recognition
And this time, it’s the turn of the delectable street food, Gaziantep lahmacun.
Gaziantep is already recognised by UNESCO as a City of Gastronomy.
And now, its famous spicy flatbread has been given PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) by the European Union.
Obviously, we love to eat lahmacun when we’re out and about. But we also make our own occasionally, at home.
Check out our homemade lahmacun recipe.
And Hopefully, Some UNESCO Recognition
Teams are currently working on implementing plans to get Ishak Paşa Sarayı (Ishak Pasha Palace) removed from the UNESCO Tentative List and elevate it to full recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We’ve been fortunate enough to visit this amazing site in the Doğubeyazıt area of the east of the country.
In November, we fully updated our article about Ishak Pasha Palace and added lots of new photos.
And More Cittaslow Recognition
Until recently, Turkey had 27 Cittaslow settlements. Well, now there are 28! Because Demre has also been given Cittaslow status.
Very fitting, too, we think.
And if you don’t know the area, modern day Demre is home to Kale Üçağız, Simena Kaleköy, Kekova sunken city and, in the town itself, the archaeological site of ancient Myra.
And, of course the ancient church of St. Nicholas.
Yes that St. Nicholas. Very timely, don’t you think?
That’s Almost A Wrap
Yeah, we’re not quite there, just yet, are we.
We’ve still got some articles to come before the year’s out. So stick with us.
And at the end of the month, we’ll do a round up of some highlights of the year and dip into our analytics to see which article was our most read of 2025.
If you’re on a countdown to Christmas, enjoy your festivities, have a great Christmas and thanks a lot for reading!