I'm Back, Back, Back Again... Fethiye, Türkiye!

Like a message, we checked that notification quick-time! Being back again in Fethiye felt very correct, filling in the blanks from my last blog account like so. Had Fethiye had a glow up? Yes! Did the Paspatur looked just the same? No! Feeling hungry, switching up that usual soup meal, I embraced that change! Çarşısı? Translation, please? Bazaar, that's what! Fethiye made it right! 

'Fethiye Belediyesi Kültür Merkez' stood in front of us with the same turquoise blue design like it had before us. That 'local authority cultural centre' had us looking at a whole new sign, complete with 'FETHIYE' in block capitals, the famous Turkish 'Nazar amulet' staring right back at us! We had to check that location because back during those early days, Fethiye wasn't the 'destination' that it stood before us during that 2022 moment. An 'Instagramable' photo opportunity? Yes, that was present for us to see with a multitude of colours for the eye to appreciate. Even after all of those years of visiting Fethiye, we had never seen a show or cultural spectacle at that unmissable arts center. Why had they even built it in the first place? With prime location, located within the city, I might have to do some digging online to seek what exactly this cultural centre has been used for? Yes, that wasn't a question! The tourist sign had me thinking that Fethiye meant business, their brand was presented proudly! 'Belediyesi' means 'City Council'. 

As kids that part of Fethiye became our playground with relative safety we were allowed to venture away from our parents who could be found at one of the many Marina-side bars. We had the freedom to roam around that wide open area next to the cultural centre with no danger in our path, enjoying trips to the local TEKEL shops to get ourselves an ice cream during those warm summertime nights. Frankly we didn't need to see any shows at the cultural centre because we made our own entertainment, as our parents chatted away and enjoyed their drinks, we were left to our own devices to run around the nearby open spaces near the marina as mentioned before. Having the trust in us, we would most likely be found buying our Dad a packet of cigars or cigarettes because children back in the day were able to buy those products from local shops in Türkiye. Bribed with the promise of a sweet treat, we would always pop to the shop willingly. Memories made, it felt great to be back in that part of Fethiye to reminisce. 

My Sister wanted to spend all of her money up at that familiar 'D&P Parfume' shop, that brief shopping encounter acted as another key reminder of those previous Turkish holidays. Buying a fair share of the store up, it was clear to see that she was happy with her purchases. Before checking to see if the original estate agents were still based along 'Atatürk Caddesi', we made a run for cover under those brightly coloured umbrellas because the sun had us feeling less than fantastic! As we walked further under those umbrellas, we realised that Fethiye's own Pasapatur Bazaar had found us! Now, we weren't looking to buy anything because my Sister had bought her fragrances and I was there for the food! Things were looking right fancy, definitely not the mood that we were looking for. Nevertheless, snatching a few moments of cool was appreciated because the midday sun was no actual joke to be outside in. Like usual, my photographic memory had clocked where a watch shop had been, that was a random reminder. Tickety toc, F! 

Crossing one of the roads, we found ourselves walking past many familiar gems as we weaved in and out of the alley like paths around the Paspatur. During those first years spent in the area, we would come to Fethiye during the day to experience such restaurants within the Paspatur like; 'Nefis Pide' because once we went there we had to go back, back and back again! Those clay pot meals had us returning on a weekly basis, well maybe that's not quite true but they tasted so good! During one time at 'Nefis Pide', we noticed that the Turkish flag that was being flown from an opposite business looked less than presentable. Well, that flag was taken down pretty quickly once Fethiye's own Kaymakam made a frantic call to the business owner to sort it out! Now, that was some drama! That pide restaurant had to keep things on the down and low because the Paspatur's own mosque didn't know Nefis sold beer in soft drink cups! 2022 didn't see us visit 'Nefis Pide', something somewhere told us that we would be switching things up! Exactly that! 

My sweet treat and Turkish tea from Sultan Pastanesi had left me feeling hungry as we crossed over Çarşı Caddesi, aside from those hunger pangs I did notice that those buildings served a slice of Kashgar, China! Yes, I was getting all sorts of flashbacks from my time spent in China's Far Western Kashgar City, as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region shared a lot of Turkic similarities with that Turkish location. I had to check my Apple Maps because we most certainly weren't walking through Kashgar's Old City but for certain those Fethiye settings had my mind thinking about that Uyghur Turkic like cultural experience. With that Xinjiang connection bottled and in the memory bank, we tried to get a table at Paşa Kebap but they hadn't yet opened. Deciding that we would be better to keep things moving, I surrendered the chance to get a bowl of their famous tomato soup with cheese because the weather had us struggling. Before finding that lunch spot I almost lost my footing, those 'Men At Work' had me tripping! Oh, no! 

Turning back towards the Marina with our water taxi in mind, we sat down at a ordinary looking Turkish cafe. With a belated breakfast on my mind, I ordered the 'Suçuklu Yumurta' because I wanted to taste the Turkish version of 'Sausage and Egg'. To drink I ordered a Turkish coffee because stupidly I hadn't yet tried one, that needed to change and I made that happen! Downing an Ayran had to be done, that salty yoghurt drink made me feel a bit more human and I appreciated that! Both of us appreciated the breeze as we sat underneath that shaded walkway. My lunch tasted amazing, I loved everything about it and the Turkish coffee tasted like the Kashgar coffee that I had enjoyed in Xinjiang, China back in July 2019. Our day in Fethiye was the gift that kept on giving, having that opportunity to look further back in the present never felt so good! Making our way back to the water taxi pier had to be done, it was pool time! Surely, there's room for a third and final Fethiye blog installment for our nerves? Just try and stop me! 

Memory Lane 2.0! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure