Over two decades of living in Turkey and we finally get to experience our first Turkish oil wrestling (yağlı güreş) tournament. Our neighbouring province, the Mediterranean Province of Antalya, has a strong tradition in hosting oil wrestling festivals and has produced some of the country’s top wrestlers. The Yeşilyayla oil wrestling festival in Antalya’s Elmalı …
Either side of the hot summer months, the Fethiye area springs into action with a raft of local events. The Benyamin Sönmez Classical Music Festival is one such event. Who Was Benyamin Sönmez? Benyamin Sönmez grew up in a musical atmosphere and soon proved himself to be an exceptional talent. His parents were both musicians. …
Each year, in October, the Fethiye events calendar features the International Ölüdeniz Air Games. We always try to get over there for at least one of the days just to soak up a bit of the atmosphere, take a few photos and enjoy the last throes of the summer season on the beach. If the …
Hmm, I think we can well and truly say, Fethiye is definitely on the music map of Turkey, these days. Past blog posts in years gone by have seen us sulking a tad because none of our favourite Turkish bands – even non-favourite Turkish bands for that matter – ever had Fethiye as part of …
Jaaaazzz; never been my thing, especially when everyone with a musical instrument in their hands starts to go off on one in their own little musical trance-like-state and the result is just a cacophony of noise. I just don’t get it, and all that ever springs to mind is John Thomson in his hilarious Jazz …
Since the world music concerts of the annual Fethiye International Culture & Arts Festival really started to take off, we’ve been given some really special memories by many of the musicians that have performed. And we feel privileged to have been able to witness planned shows as part of the festival programme. But, as always …
How many years have we been doing an annual troop up to the Yeşilüzümlü Mushroom Festival? A good few, now. Well, it’s the event that heralds spring for us, really. It’s changed a lot over those years. The event is slightly different each time, and, let’s face it, we all change and get older. A …
Over the years, we’ve watched the Çalış Christmas Fair change and grow (and taken many Christmas Fair photos in the process). Weather permitting, this annual event is always a huge success, bringing thousands of people out along the beach promenade to shop, eat and drink. And for those people with kids, they’re here to see …
Where arts and culture are concerned it’s been a busy fortnight in the Fethiye area, and events are set to continue through this week too. A couple of weeks ago, it was the Kayaköy Cultural Connections Festival. And, on Saturday afternoon and into the evening, it was the turn of Kaya Village photography exhibitions, art …
Today was the 2nd Karaçulha Camel Wrestling Festival, just up the road from where we live. With just a nominal entrance fee and proceeds going towards the local school, we would have been negligent not to go again. Last year, we entered the ‘arena’ (read ‘spare land’) with trepidation and a little excitement at being …