When Hasan told me he had a new job in Marmaris and Icmeler I must admit my heart sank, because I had heard some bad reports about the resorts from a few people. But I decided to visit with an open mind and boy I was not disappointed, it’s really beautiful down there.
Hasan’s new job doesn’t start until May and only has a few painting jobs to do before then, so we had 10 wonderful days together. Thanks to the loan of an old banger from one of Hasan’s many cousins we travelled around the area. So over the next few posts I’ll write about where we went and what we saw.
The thing that most struck me about Marmaris and Icmeler is how clean and flat they are. All of the houses and apartment units are only 2 or 3 floors high and there are a lot of open spaces and parks, compared with Kusadasi where it looks like a giant housing estate with tall apartment buildings compacted into every available space. In Kusadasi if someone cleared their back garden a developer would buy the land and build 2 apartment blocks on it!!!
In both resorts there is a canal running through with little bridges to walk over, in some places it reminded me a bit of Bruges in Belgium.
The government have obviously spent a lot of money on public spaces, good roads, walkways and fountains. The overall effect is 2 lovely seaside towns that are a pleasure to visit.
Carole Gardiner
back to life 