Holiday in Turkey - Antalya

Antalya is the main hub at the southern coast of Turkey, and within three decades it grew from a little fishermen village to a big city with more than 2 million inhabitants. 500.000 of these are "new citizens" (as the Turkish people call them very politely) - mostly Germans, Dutch and Russians, having decided to forget about their sometimes cold, foggy and simply unpleasant home countries (especially in Winter), moving to their home away from home at the Turkish Riviera. Hmmm, makes me wonder. Surely one more Swiss and one more Austrian wouldn´t be a big deal, right? Right??

Antalya is great! It simply got everything. A lovely old town (as you can see on the photo), an endless beach, all kinds of Western stores, and also lots of oriental ones. (But why they insisted on having the Swiss Migros chain here is off my mental limits. But as I say, they got everything. And if you decided to stay here for longer, you would not miss a thing!)

The last time we had been to Antalya (except at the airport) was like 10 years ago, and our mouths fell open when we saw the huge growth of the city. But still it has lost nothing of its charme, and the people still are nice and friendly.

These waterfalls are now within city limits, situated in a very modern and expensive living area with a LOT of seaview. But you need a LOT of money to live there as well! And still many tourists come to enjoy the spot. If you look closely on the right hand side on the right edge of the photo you see a fisherman sitting on the rock, lazying away, enjoying the sun, not being bothered by the tourists gawping down on him. This is typical Turkey, isn´t it cool?

Of course when you go to Antalya for the first time - or again after a longer time - you do not want to miss the Old Town. This is the Main Mosque of the City. Years ago we made our way down to the Mosque and made a photo right in front of it, but they built so much meanwhile, that we did not find the proper way again.

In ancient times Antalya was a major port of the region, and also a center of Christianity in Byzanthene times. In these times they built the huge fort and the city walls that are still protecting the city.

The Old Town is beautifully renovated, but still Turkish everyday-life goes on. Btb, it is not true that the Turkish do not like cats and dogs, I have seen many of them around, all well-fed and not in the least afraid of people. And I saw more than one Turkish fellow feed them and pet them. I love this country!

It is flowers and blossoms everywhere. It smells like heaven and you feel like sitting down and staying there forever. Wouldn´t it be wonderful if the door on the right hand side would be mine? *sigh*

This is one of the many coffeehouses and restaurants in the Old Town. I did not see a single one where I did NOT want to go in and have a drink or something to eat.

When in Antalya you also want to go down to the Old Port and catch a boat for a little ride out of the town. It is a wonderful opportunity to catch a view of the whole city and enjoy the sea at the same time. We went together with a second boat, the waves were quite heavy (at least for as landrats), and going up and down in the swell was so cool!



Next stop was a view of the great and endless beaches of Antalya. It was a weekday, and the touristic high season yet to come, but one could tell, that the inhabitants of Antalya love their beach and use it as often as they can. We sure as hell would do the same!

On the main square you find a monument of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. He was the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey and the first president of the new-built nation. The Turkish people still admire him very much. "Our prince!" like our travel guide said enthusiastically.

Coming back to "they got everything": Of course there is a bazaar in the City Center as well, but this is rather a touristic one. We have been told that other markets exist where the inhabitants go. But if you want to get "real-fake bags" (as one show owner said) from Gucci or Louis Vuitton a.s.o I would hang out here. Not that I would advice it. If they catch you at the airport with it, boy, you are in trouble. I made sure and did not buy anything, sneaking by customs is not my cup of tea anymore. And if you want to buy the real stuff: Of course they got stores here in Antalya as well.

Trams are quite new here, we simply could not believe it that they were running here like they do in downtown Vienna.

A great day had ended much to soon and it was time to go back to Kemer again. Can I stay, please? Can I? Pretty please with cherries on top??

Antalya is brilliant, and it is getting better every time!! We definately will be coming again. And maybe, maybe settle down here one day....