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Wandering around the Maritime Museum last week, I noticed a small photo of a familiar face.
In September 1983, my boyfriend, dog and I were given notice to leave our rented house in Tepecik, Bodrum. We had to be out the day before Bayram, despite this falling mid month, and we searched high and low for somewhere to go. If you think the rental market is difficult in Bodrum now, it was even worse then and on national holidays, every single spare bed and mattress in the town was sold to a tourist. Many would arrive in Bodrum and end up sleeping in their cars; we only had a bicycle, so that wasn't an option. I can't remember how, but Boatyard owner, Erol Özyurt heard of our plight and offered us his house in the middle of Bitez citrus gardens. It had no electricity, no bathroom and an outdoor loo but we were overjoyed to accept his offer. There wasn't a track to the house and we had to cross a small (at the time, a torrent later in the year) stream and a few fields to get there. Guests would have to be met and guided in or else be lost wandering for ages.
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| Lon and Deniz being shown the way through the orange trees |
So, as I passed his photo in the museum, I offered up a big thank you to Erol Bey for being so generous in offering us a home and making my first Christmas in Turkey a beautiful one and the first of many.
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| Boxing Day 1983 |
That's what I call bulldog spirit!
ReplyDeleteA good pair of Wellies and a stout stick - all you need.
DeleteB to B, A very nice memory of what must have been a great adventure. (And a sure test of a relationship as well.)
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law was horrified at the place and spent the next few years trying to make us move to an apartment in Ankara.
Delete. . there is something special about Turks. When we were threatened with house demolition during the campaign to save Kocadere Valley we were offered five or six (I forget) houses in the village by our neighbours. In the end there wasn't any need to take one of them up but we have never forgotten the generosity of spirit of these fine people.
ReplyDeleteWhen the cards are down, you can always rely on a good Turk to help you out.
DeleteOh, this is so wonderful, what a wonderful start of your time in Turkey. As Alan says the generosity of spirit comes above all; may it continue strength to strength. Have a lovely Christmas, cok sevgiler, Ozlem xox
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you all too.
DeleteWhat a lovely story and good on Erol Bey - clearly a great chap! No wonder you'll never forget that Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was the best place to live. I can't even find it now, it's all so built up.
DeleteIt's amazing what we adapt to when starting out isn't it? Reminds me very much of our first rented home 18 years ago. Lovely story thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteMy accommodation when digging wasn't much better, so I was probably used to roughing it
DeleteWhat a lovely tale of a kind man and the energy and resilience of youth. DH and I lived in some wrecks in our early years of marriage, but we never had to dig our own loo!
ReplyDeleteOur "hardest" years often turn out to be our best years.
ReplyDelete