I'm loving my time here in Turkey.
By katerina
@thea09 (18305)
Greece
December 25, 2009 6:55am CST
The local gossips have worked themselves into overdrive with this one and I'm now in Turkey with the Greek. I love Turkey actually, friendly people and the markets are made for a haggler like me, all those spices, Turkish coffees, and leather and silk goodies. So I'm planning on haggling for some knock off designer jeans as last time I was here they turned them up while I waited with a nice cup of Turkish tea. Later I'll be eating rocket salad with fresh grilled fish. Oh and the sun is shining.
Of course we're at home in Greece but the gossip has worked a treat as it has let us off from any obligatory pork eating visits. The sun is shining and my son is out searching for hard cash with his christmas metal detector.
So has letting people gossip on or think what they like when it patently has no reality worked to your advantage ever? Of have you ever been to Turkey? Or Greece? Done anything exciting?
9 people like this
19 responses
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
27 Dec 09
I agree that Turkey is friendlier but if you visit the markets they tend to be very crowded. Greeks are incredibly friendly too but much prouder so unless they are greeted with a smile they can appear more unapproachable. Where I am in Greece it isn't crowded, it all depends on where you go. 
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
28 Dec 09
Yikes, horrors, everyone keep together now, back in the coach in 30 minutes after running round the ancient ruins, shall we give Mrs Smith just 2 more minutes to find a loo or leave without her, early night everyone, tomorrow we've got to do the whole of France.
2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Dec 09
Hope y'all have a nice time. Hope hugo finds some treasures.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
25 Dec 09
Sounds like he's going to have a good time w/his gift. I'm so glad. He's a fine young man.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
25 Dec 09
nope,but i would like to go..i'd definately be hitting the market,especially for fabrics.my dad had gone to greece many years ago on duty and he said it was nice.
..and that he probably gained 15 pounds LOL
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
26 Dec 09
Grilled fish! Yummy... now I'm getting more ideas for my food blog. I'm compiling ideas and whatnot and you've mentioned it; awesome, Thea.. giving me the inspiration that I so need.
Haggler? LOL.. I don't think that you are. By the way, how do Turkish coffees taste like? Care to share? Fabulous... Enjoy your holiday, aite. And come back safe..
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
28 Dec 09
I left the comment portion locked.. it's like a read-only type of blog, haha... I ramble nonsense. The blog is in my profile.. my blog, my say.. - that's the title I slot through for my own profile here. But I have to tell you, the $100 journey is not easy. It's best to stick it out in the lot, ha.. I use the blog for fun to rant and rave only..
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
26 Dec 09
Got you Zed, I was here all the time, it's only people gossiping that says we are in Turkey. I didn't know you were doing a food blog but I asked you somewhere about what all this blogging was about. I'm full of ideas on food as I've stacks of old cook books.
Turkish coffee is wonderful, it's very like Greek coffee, in fact it could well be the same thing, I can't really remember as its been about 12 years since I was last in Turkey.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
25 Dec 09
i was in greece for christmas one year and my boss decided that i couldn't possibly be left to my own devices so i ended up having a very strange christmas dinner with a group of relatives who i had never seen before (cept her and her hubby). it was actually quite peaceful because i could happily ignore any ongoing feuds.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Dec 09
The relatives yes. I'd not been here long and my friend from up the road said call in for a drink, the house is tiny so it was just him and his wife and son, so room to sit down. Next thing I know about 30 relatives arrived and each one had to be introduced to me by name and all forcing those christmas biscuits on me.
@vandana7 (98823)
• India
25 Dec 09
Whenever I have enough evidence to prove that I am innocent in something, I give people a fair chance to vent their dislike, and then I present my case. That way I am able to make a big dent on their credibility. :)
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Dec 09
Hi Vandana, gossip thrives on its own out here, stub your toe in the morning and your leg is cut off in the night. I have absolutely no intention of going into the village to show that I'm not in Turkey and even if I did they'd still believe I was. I was annoyed at first when this gossip reached me but now I'm rather amused by it and it has worked to my own advantage.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 10
Hi Thea
No I have never been abroad actually lol apart from Germany
I am pretty boring in that sense I just love my Home comforts and have no desire to go abroad
My Daughter thinks I am silly and not living my Life, but I am living my Life the way I want to live it
There is only 2 things I would love to do and that is swim with a Dolphin and go on a Cruise but it will never happen lol
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
3 Jan 10
Hi gabs, I'm sure that one day your daughter will persuade you away somewhere with her, after all abroad is a lot of fun you know. We do have dolphins around here but I've never seen them but the fishermen say they've seen them when they take the boats out after midnight. I've never fancied a cruise though but if you take one don't start off with an Easyjet one.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
29 Dec 09
I have never been to Turkey before, but my husband and I really want to go some day, that among other places. Maybe a Medetreanian cruise would be nice, then we could see all kinds of places we want to see. As for Turkish coffee, I love it. Greek coffee too. We have a Greek restaurant here in Guelph, and while I eat there a lot, there are still days when I just go in there for coffee. LOL
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Dec 09
Hi danishcanadian, both Turkey and Greece are stunning countries though probably a little primitive after Canada. However it's worth the trip for the coffees and you'd go down a treat here if you actually ordered a Greek one, it's rare for a holidaymaker to be so adventurous. The Turkish markets are a hassle but worth it for the haggle.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
26 Dec 09
So, you are supposed to be in Turkey and clearly you’re having fun! (LOL) I have never been to Greece and it sure is on my bucket list of places I would like to visit! What I have seen of it, is absolutely beautiful! How did you come to live there? Are you Greek? Are you living in a small gossipy town? My husband comes from a country town where everybody knows one another’s business and gossip is rife. Well hope you enjoy Turkey seeing that you are supposed to be there! I wish I was where you are!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
26 Dec 09
Hi Paula, Greece is indeed a beautiful place and here on the mainland it is stunning. I live just outside a small fishing village which thrives on gossip, and to get into town I need to drive an hour over a mountain which has the sea on one side and some of the most stunning scenery in the whole of Greece. The road terrifies many tourists as it has so many bends. I'm English but my son thinks he's Greek and there's no telling him otherwise. It makes no difference as we'll be staying put here. The gossip has put me in mind for a trip over to Turkey if I can ever afford it, I've never been to Istanbul and its one of the places I most want to visit. I'm not sure how long it takes to drive over but believe the train takes 3 days, but it is an awfully slow train.
1 person likes this
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
26 Dec 09
That's really a nice share about turkey, my friend. So, your from Turkey, thea?
I never been in that country, have no money to go there..lol. But my sister plan to be there next year then go to greece looking for a jobs I don't know when? Hpoe you meet her...Have a nice day!
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
25 Dec 09
Hi thea
I like the way you think. I think I will do the same.
I live in KY but Im now on my way to the wonderful state of Florida. Im planning the day on the beach with the sun beating down with beutiful rays. The evening has arrived and their is a buffet restarant down the street. Several different types of meat and any veggie you can think of. Oh lets not forget the dessert table. Night has fell now I can the moon shining over the ocean. Oh what a beautiful site.
Ahhh thanks thea that was a nice trip for the mind. Now I think I will go sit in the corner and cry because it aint real...LOL
Keep smiling.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Dec 09
Hi Rose, KY? Kentucky? Not sure with the abbreviations. We could have gone to the beach today but then it would have blown our cover that we're supposed to be in Turkey. Greece doesn't really do christmas which suits me fine but avoiding my sons godmothers for the obligatory food has been great. It used to be fun when it was a group of people but it is so nice not to think we had to be somewhere at a certain time. Definitely given me thoughts of heading over to Istanbul though when funds allow, I'd love to see if it is still the bargain market place it used to be.
Have a great day.
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
25 Dec 09
YES..Kentucky is right..Im proud of you..LOL
Well Im off to the inlaws for dinner. I hope that all goes well. I will yell at you a little on this evening when I get back.
Keep smiling thea..
1 person likes this
@Picquarian (724)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I have never been to Turkey or Greece, but I would love to visit both. I'm glad that you are enjoying yourself.
As to gossip, I make it a point not to gossip and to ignore gossip that I hear.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Dec 09
Hi Picquarian, actually I've been nowhere near Turkey for 12 years it is just that the local gossips decided I was going there when I wasn't and it seemed an amusing thing to let them believe. I'm afraid that gossip is the national pass time in Greece though.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
26 Dec 09
Hi thea09. Haven't been to Turkey or Greece, and neither am I an expert in haggling. That art or skill if you may have always fascinated me, as my mother has been an expert in haggling ever since I came to be. I know that she built her business at my hometown through haggling.
Also, I haven't heard of people's gossip. But I think that's due mainly of the fact that I don't care for most/other people.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
26 Dec 09
Hi bounce, there isn't much chance of haggling these days in most places but it is so much fun in the places where it's an everyday thing. I've done the markets in both Turkey and Tunisia where haggling is expected. I'd never get away with it at the supermarket though. Good for your mother though.
When you live in a bigger place people don't gossip at all, in the UK I didn't even know who lived on the same street and had no interest. In a lazy fishing village though one just has to put up with it as a given.
When you live in a bigger place people don't gossip at all, in the UK I didn't even know who lived on the same street and had no interest. In a lazy fishing village though one just has to put up with it as a given.
@fengyun76 (9)
• China
27 Dec 09
thea,i admire you very much.i am always going to abroad.but from start to finish,i have no chance .
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
27 Dec 09
Hi fengyun, China is so vast that you've got the chance to see many things within your own country. Is it still difficult to travel abroad from there or is it easier these days for those who have the money? I used to want to go there so much but on the realistic side will probably never be able to afford to travel there.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
26 Dec 09
So you are in Turkey now for Christmas! Buit youare back in Greece now!
I haven't been to either place. I would quite like to visit Turkey as Australia has an historical attachment since WW1 with this country.
Gossip? Well its okay if its harmless and even funny.
Small Aussie towns are reknown for gossip, even if wildy exaggerated or way off track. Most of the eime I take no notice.
Whhy are the gossips saying things about you?
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
25 Dec 09
I haven't been to Turkey or Greece.....but to the netherlands....belgium...and germany....I also loved the open market! It was so much fun and a great experience. Here we have farmers markets but they are nothing like the open markets there! So much to choose from..so much fun to haggle!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Dec 09
Hi jillhill, so far I'd rate the Turkish markets as the best I've been to, just because they were such bargains. The only markets we get here are fruit and veg. It's nice to see that you're well travelled in Europe, I haven't been to Belguim or Holland since I was a child, but I have fond memories of the soup in Belguim.
I miss a good haggle though.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
25 Dec 09
Hi, thea09. I am glad that you are loving your time in Turkey. I have never been to Turkey or Greece before. I would like to visit these countries as it seems like an interesting place to visit. I have never visited an country before in my entire life. It would be nice if I could. I have been in The United States forever. I don't have any money to go to another country. If my way was paid, it would be very nice to go to Turkey. Have a Merry Christmas, thea09!~
Have a Merry Christmas, thea09!~@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
25 Dec 09
Hi cream, please drop the 09. Obviously I'm not really in Turkey but it isn't that far too drive too. With a country as big as the States there isn't as much need to travel outside the country as you've got so many different parts from Florida up to Alaska. More people probably travel within Europe as it's not so far to travel between countries plus at one time it was quite cheap to travel from the UK to other places. Less people are coming to mainland Greece these days as the flights are now much more expensive, plus the Euro makes it more expensive when people arrive.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
25 Dec 09
Hello, Thea. Well, when we mised our ferry, we spent the week with my friend and her husband in the Midlands. We have other friends and family there, but we didn't tell them where we were, or the week would have been a mad round of visits. Everyone thought we were on the way back to Spain, and we just chilled out, lay in bed until we felt like geting up, wandered around the shops and cooked meals for my friend. She's a professional singer, and in December she's hardly at home. She came back to a meal on the table, and no washing up to do, and we felt that, as well as destressing ourselves, we'd made life easier for her.
Yes, I visited Turkey 10 years ago, and it holds very special memories, as it was where Tony(Basil) proposed to me. He bought my engagement ring and wedding ring in Side, and we married 5 months later. We'll go back again at some stage. Never been to Greece, but it's on my 'to do' list. We're going to Cyprus with friends later next year.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
26 Dec 09
Hi Sandra, it's fun when everyone thinks you're somewhere else. My son was particularly pleased not to have to visit his nona today, especially as she doesn't seem to have twigged we've disowned her.
You've never been here, I don't know if I knew that, you must do a detour with the camper van. I could have considered moving to Turkey were it not for the holes in the floor.
1 person likes this
