Have to agree with both of you there!......but then again what happens if your from England and you go to America?....burgers and fries? ....only kidding

I love experimenting with different cultures....it gives you a great site in other peoples lives (how they live)...for example...I love trying new foods, learning new languages, travelling via different transports (from buses to camels....I bet now I have mentioned camels Aenigma will comment ) etc.

Whats the point in travelling somewhere and making it like the place you are trying to get away from in the first place?

If your going on holiday of course you don't need to know the language (if living there I think it would be some what of a good idea) but at least try something different than you would do at home....sun bathing on the beach doesn't count!

I agree - why travel and then eat the same boring food that u can eat at home. There is nothing so tasty than the Turkish food. When i visited Istanbul recently - i used to go to the small restaurants with their tables and chairs almost in the street. This is where u enjoy the real Turkish food and the hospitality of the Turkish people. I fell in love with Istanbul and its people.

what makes me laugh more than anything and i hear all too often. People go away on holiday to exotic places and i ask where did they go and what did they see ?

their reply "oh no we didnt go anywehre we st by the pool or laid on the nearest beach for 2 weeks" can people really say they have visited a country when they dont even leave the hotel ?
Admittedly i dont have a pool in my garden but if i really wanted to just relax and chill i could do that in my own back garden and save thousands lol and ive got a hose pipe if i want to dampen down a bit
i think people (can only speak for the english) are just not interested in culture or learning about a little bit about the country they visit and how it works before they leave.If only they opened their eyes they could see a whole world out there waiting to be seen and explored.
People on here are passionate about Turkey and going by the photos on here its clear we all want to get involved with the country and the people.
Even as a younster when i used to lie on a beach soaking up the sun but always on the back of my mind was "i wonder what im missing out there whilst im lying here doing nothing" ?
A lot of English when going away still expect to be living in England when they arrive on holiday, still expecting english food, still expecting everyone to speak english and still expect their beer in a pub but i guess if thats all they want then they have a right to what they want out of a holiday but what a waste , they might as well stay at home and save the money lol.

xx

Not all people desire to experience a cultural tourism. Some only want sea and sun. That's alright.

most of touristic places in south of Turkey are like a small UK I was really surprised when I was in Didim and bodrum. not only in summer holiday time they live all year there. I dont understand why a person wants to live abroad rest of his or her life. I cant imagine I can live somewhere far from Turkey more than 1 year.

I do agree with your comments, but I don't think the UK is alone. Go to London and you will find the Turkish areas, Chinese areas, Latin areas etc. People live with their own countrymen and eat their own food etc.

Regarding holidays, I agree to a point, but have also been guilty of going to a country "just" to lay on the beach and relax for 2 weeks - sometimes its all you want to do, after a years hard work. People dont consider those who go on winter ski-ing holidays to be ignoring culture do they? Its not different

...in addition, I personally LOVE Turkish food. But how many Turkish LOVE English food, Italian food or Indian food for example or would even dare try it?

We are all the same in many ways...

Stereo-typing again Robyn? . As much as I hate busy, built up, resorts, I dont think that the type of holiday you have makes you any more or less likely to have sex with a waiter!!

Some people need a rest and a break and dont care where they go, as long as they get sunshine. If the cheapest place that week is Turkey, they go to Turkey. They have no interest in the country, just want sun and relaxation. Who are WE to judge them? It brings money to the tourist industry after all!

You are all being a bit sanctimonious . I love holidays where I am off exploring the country I visit. On the other hand, I would not have swapped last winter's two weeks in the Caribbean, laying in the sun, sipping cool drinks for any cultural trek! And NO I didn't "get off" with a waiter!

No it is not just britain at all. By any chance has anyone been to NY? in some places you will learn spanish before you learn english!

Also when I was 9-10 (had birthday there) my family went out to Spain for quite a long time, and there were no british people near where we lived of what I can remember.
We lived in Estepona (Costa Del Sol) and you had to do everything spanish ...even order food! and ask for directions etc and so I picked the language up quite quickly.

One time I was called by this woman and she said something like "Perdoneme tiene usted el tiempo?" (excuse me, do you have the time?" to which I proudly replied "sí el tiempo es casi a las cinco" (yes the time is nearly 5pm).

I couldn't believe it really but I was like wooo yeah and it is a nice feeling to know you are learning something without trying and having such a great time as well!

Especially night dancing with the locals on the streets!
ibaile! ibaile! ibaile!

Since the beginning of this topic started as "living" with the locals, I say of course you are going to seek out people more like yourself. Why wouldnt you, just because you chose to live somewhere else doesn't mean you need to try and adapt to every single part of that culture, you are still unique and shouldnt forget where you came from. Example.... my boyfriend has lived in the US for almost 6 years, but still eats tukish food and has definatly seeked out turkish friends to hang around with. So NO I don't think you "have" to do and eat everything turkish while living in turkey or just have turkish friends. Everyone gets home sick and if being around others like yourself helps you to cope, thats how you should live.

I agree aenigma. It is sometimes great just to relax and do absolutely nothing. But I know people who only go on all inclusive holidays. They tell you all the wonderful places they have visited and it turns out they have never even left the holiday complex! They could be anywhere - its just Centre Parks with sunshine as far as they are concerned. Still - each to their own eh!

No problamo no offense taken, just didnt want you to think something

going back to the original question, i like a bit of both, sun,sea & sand but also i do like to stray off the beaten track sometimes and see the real side of turkey, not just the touristy things

Hi I've been living in Turkey now for the last 12 months. I find it is quite different from just visiting. Yes winter time is the hardest when you are occupying your time and depending on where you live there is not much open perhaps.

I have spent most of my time going into the centrum and shopping, going to the gym, meeting friends etc I do not live with anyone.

I rent an apartment in the Fethiye area. Fethiye is a working village. Nearby is Çaliş Beach. So I have the best of both worlds if I want it. Although there is not much sunshine around enough to sunbath but walking and taking the air is good.

I have Turkish families to the right and left of me I have always lived either within a Turkish house or in the community with the chickens, goats etc.

I am english (Obviously)I have not regretted coming to Turkey to live as it is truly a breathtaking place to be.


Linda

Interesting topic!

I agree with much that has been said and if I were to move to a country to live I would absorb myself into the culture of the country and learn the language straight away. I would not want to live in the pockets of loads of Brits although it would be nice to know that they exist!!

Holidays - one thing that really puts me off is the sound of Londoners who own bars (Mojaca in Spain is one such place) the walls adorned with pictures of the Krays and the Richardsons (as if they were Gods and not murderers), boxing pictures and you might as well been in the East End. Worst holiday ever!

A fortnight is never enough to do and see all the things you want to see cos another of my pet hates on holiday is organised trips! More and more these days we organise our own holiday.

Point about the skiing - yes all I do is go up and down a mountain for a week and hopefully I come home in one piece

I think one thing emerges from this, we dont want to go abroad to be greeted by Britain!

Ok, I'll admit it. When I lived abroad for 4 years not once coming home my BIGGEST joy was going once a month to McDonald's to get pancakes on Sunday! Sorry folks when you live abroad surrounded by entirely new culture 24/7 there are moments that YES you want something familiar!!!! Let me not even tell you the joy of discovering a WALMART in the country I was living in...and let me not forget after searching for 1.5 years of finding a lone dusty jar of Skippy Peanut Butter, they never sold it again !!!!!!!!!! So, for those who have lived abroad for some time I think they will understand this. For those of you who haven't lived for a considerable amount of time, i'm talking longer then 2-4 months, you won't understand this mentality.

Also, I'm a native Californian and laying around a beach staring at the water is something we do. So if it's Turkey, Barbados, Spain or Brazil it's ALL GOOD!!!! But, I have to say that there are times that one wants to see the museums and other historical sites and experience the culture. However, for some vacations are too short and some really just need the rest. I fortunately have 3 months every summer...so I can lay at the beach for 6 weeks and when I'm rested enough, I take off trekking and discovering!

I don't think people have to vacation any particular way. Nor are they obligated to make every experience an 'educational' learning one. Vacation is what one makes or thinks it should be!

Capoeira - I so agree with you (this time)!

Everyone is agreeing with Capoeira??? !!!!

Only kidding
Very well put