Today Andy Probert of the Turkey Buying Guide answers a reader question about life in Turkey. If you have a question that you would like to ask Andy, you can email him at Turkey@overseasguidescompany.com..
Article written by The Overseas Guides Company
“My wife and I have always been regular visitors to Turkey and on a recent trip we decided that this is the place for us in the long-term. We love the food, the beaches, the way of life and so it seems only natural to retire here when the time comes. I only have one concern. As we have only visited on holiday before, we tend to socialise with just expats doing the activities that we normally do. If we were to make the permanent move, I would like to know more about the types of sports that they play and watch here. As a Didim resident, can you help?”
I certainly can! Turkey’s culture is entrenched in sport, as much as in history and tourism. Turkey has a collective obsession for football and all that comes with it. The top teams are Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas so choose the one that appeals and then support them – it’ll be a great way to make friends when you arrive. Basketball is growing in popularity and the crowds are equally as fanatical as football fans!
Believe it or not, beach volleyball is popular and should you be wandering past a gang of locals or expats playing on the beach, ask if you can join in. There is very much an attitude of “the more, the merrier”, no matter what age.
As with pretty much everywhere – cycling has enjoyed a massive amount of fresh interest since the Olympics and golf is a hugely popular pastime with new courses popping up all the time.
If you fancy participating in, or watching something slightly more unusual, oil wrestling is one of Turkey’s many ancient sports that has remained popular to this day. Oil wrestlers compete for a 1.4kg gold belt which can be kept if they win the belt three consecutive times. Often cited as an inspiration, the sport’s best competitors have translated their skills into national and international medal success.
AIn summary, you’ll have no problem finding sport to watch or participate in. I guess that means that it’s time to start planning the move.
Anyone on the verge of buying a property in Turkey, who will need to transfer Sterling to a Turkish Lira account to pay for their purchase, should consider using Smart Currency Exchange, as they consistently offer better exchange rates than banks. For more information on this, visit the Currency Zone or download Smart’s free report here.
To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Turkey, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Turkey Property Buying Guide’
The views and comments herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Rightmove Overseas, Rightmove Group Ltd or Rightmove Plc