The Lycian Coast… A mere 18km from Dalaman airport, after a few scary hairpins with spectacular views and you encounter the sophis and graceful Port Gocek For those of you a little adverse to dramatic drives, next year, the mountain tunnel should be complete giving you a swift 10 min airport transfer to this true jewel of the Med. A quick stroll through the port and you soon realize that you’ve arrived somewhere very upmarket… one look at the local lingerie shop speaks volumes. Have you ever tried to find decent underwear in Turkey? Not only have they got their act together in the knicker department, it’s also very easy to find accommodation with 24hr room internet access… unlike the majority of other resorts where a request for Wifi is responded with a puzzled ‘Why what??’. With the aid of the visiting yachting fraternity Gocek has sensitively managed to strike the balance between catering for its truly cosmopolitan visitors, yet retaining its charming quintessence. However, Gocek isn’t for everyone… if you’re likely to choke on your kebab or spurt out your Efes at the sight of the super rich, royalty and celebrities then stay clear of this exclusive resort. Not a tacky bar in sight, flea bitten dog or MJ look-alike… in fact, you’re more likely to bump into the real McCoy here! Recent visitors read like an Emmy Night invitation list… Elton John, Eric Clapton, Shakira, H.R.H Prince Charles and Camilla, Michael Burke, Bill Gates… and even Sting and Tina Turner have holiday homes here. If you’re looking for ‘the address’ then Port Gocek would fit the bill... but you’ll have to reach deep into your pocket and rightfully so; this level of exclusivity demands protection. Just to give you an idea… a well placed sea front apartment (new development in progress) could be in the region of £500k… yes… ouch! But if you’re happy to venture a little further back into the pine clad hills that overlook Gocek then you could buy a detached villa with private pool from as little as £150k. Worried about property management …? A wonderful concept called ‘Home Angels’ has been launched in this area offering a whole range of vital services. Just love the name… and angels they truly are, also devoting much of their time over the years to maintaining the Gocek dog sanctuary. Now you know where all the flea bitten stray Gocek dogs are! In a nutshell… if you love the Provence, reel at Blackpool weekends and are happy to pass time with idle chatter, a plate of hamses watching saffron sunsets and luxurious yachts saunter into one of the four marinas then embrace your self for an enchanting love affair with Gocek. Yes, you’ve guessed… I’m smitten!
On to Calis… Venture a further 30mins along the Lycian coast and the scenery becomes even more dramatic … I was surprised to see the snow capped Mendos mountains sitting stark across the blue blue November sky. To be honest I really didn’t know what to expect of my next resort … mixed reports had come in … most of which were thumbs definitely down – so why had so many Brits relocated here? Perhaps Calis would open up to me… And talk to me she did… in soft sweet sultry tones. On entering the long sweeping promenade I was greeted with the most wonderful vista … a glorious bay with character - oozing with romance. I took a deep breath and wondered what all the fuss was about… looked left and right and that’s where the tender melody stopped! If I was the Belediye… I’d knock the whole lot down and start all over again!! Okay, a bit of exaggeration maybe and I’m sure to upset a few folks on the old Calis beach forum … but this is my opinion. The bars, restaurants and hotels that fringe the beach looked as if they could do with a damn good makeover. Admittedly, it was end of season but the general feeling was a cheap grubbiness with the exception of a few. How could they do this to such a fantastic setting were my initial thoughts… Yes, there’s something about the wonkiness of Turkey that brings a smile to your face… sometimes a tear to the eye but this was just down right sloppiness and neglect. We’re talking cracked cups, grease laden chips, spurious hairs and a service that was so laid back that even Fawlty’s Manuel would have been a star! And yes, I sampled the cuisine (if you could call it that!) in the majority of them…. A little advice – turn right and keep walking to the end of the prom, buy a glass of pure pressed pomegranate juice along the way, treat yourself to a neck and shoulder massage and dine at Letoon towards the end. Sorry, if I’ve ranted on a bit but a sadness crept over me for Calis on watching her amazing sunset … a moving experience if you love nature at her best. This resort just has so much possibility it’s unbelievable. Hire a car and venture out of the main prom and you’ll find secret coves, flanked with pine and tumbledown beach restaurants that serve authentic well cooked food with genuine smiles. Calis spreads out over a large area … and has something to offer everyone if you’re willing to look beneath the surface. A little bit of love and respect and she could be a real stunner. Does Calis have potential? I believe she has … I think she’s absolutely gorgeous… as long as you ignore some of the manmade creations smudging this spot of natural beauty. Look to the future with this in mind and buying here could be a good investment. If you fancy opening a top notch restaurant … stylish bar, aparthotel then you could reap dividends as believe me… the competition is poor. One word of warning for this area… beware of where you buy! Properties in a certain part of Calis are sinking … due to poor foundations and being built on an old lake bed. If you come across anything that’s priced a little too good to be true, make sure you thoroughly investigate as they are still being sold in many estate agents. Whilst we’re on the subject of warnings… there’s much controversy over damp being a problem in this area … older properties you definitely need to be careful - newer ones are being built with damp courses… thank goodness!
Flowing into Fethiye… Calis curls silently along the arched bay to the better known Fethiye harbour… now you’re talking character! Traditional boats merge with the new as do the properties that flank the town; edging their way up and around the coast to the swanky Karagozler district with its stunning marina views (and prices!). Many British and German have chosen to relocate in this area as it’s a great base for the most photographed beach in the Med… the Olu Deniz… blue lagoon, just around the bay. You can’t buy at Olu Deniz itself … so settling in neighbouring Fethiye, Hisaranou and Ovacik has been the closest option. If you’re into ‘Hi de Hi’, cheap and cheerful entertainment and clapping along to waiters doing cha, cha, cha, then you may well like Hisaranou with its long hillside road of bars and restaurants poised to pull punters! Not for the traditionalists among you but done with a certain suave that was missing from Calis beach area.
Up to Uzumlu… Fancy a rural retreat yet within close proximity of beautiful Olu … head for the hills around 17kms to the North of Calis (great road!) and you find yourself entering the small hillside village of Uzumlu, famed for its local wine from which the name (Uzum/grape) derives. The air is crispy clean and pure, pure, pure… unfortunately the same can’t be said about the wine! Make sure you’re armed with painkillers for the morning after sampling the local brew in the various wineries dotted around. Uzumlu like its wine is for a select few… if you fancy an intoxicating cocktail of chilly alpine stroke steamy Med - local tradition and a handful of British neighbours then this location may well appeal. Handsome villas sit alongside the old … with a breathtaking mountain backdrop. Winter brings snow capped peaks and the summer a gladdening retreat from the Olu Deniz crowds who are only ever a 15 minute dolmus ride away when Uzumlu’s soul soothing peace just becomes too deafening!