Chris Evans
Some things seem to come around far too quickly. Birthdays once we’ve passed 21, annual car insurance payments, and renewing our residence permits.
We are lucky in Didim. The residence permit office is superb and offers far more help than they need to. They highlight the very best services our area has to offer.
It’s why, as I hit the seven-year mark and thoughts turn to permanent residency, I look back to the day I arrived and everything that’s happened since.
I only came to Didim to spend a couple of months with my parents as I recovered from the worst job I’ve ever had, only saved by living in my favourite Middle Eastern country, Bahrain.
I’d only been to Turkiye on a brief holiday before. I’m not sure what I expected. I certainly thought it would be more aligned with the Middle East, but I was wrong. My first experience was at Istanbul airport, as I popped outside for a few minutes whilst waiting for my connecting flight. Meeting the Galatasaray first team squad was quite an experience.
Once out of Izmir airport, it was time for the car journey to Didim. We stopped off at Doganbey for refreshment. Sitting with my feet in the sea whilst supping something cold and wet was paradise.
Didim was something of a surprise. These were pre-Covid days. You couldn’t see the sand on the beaches as there were so many people. It was worse than the M25 during Friday rush hour. It gave the feel of a thriving holiday town. The buzz was contagious.It’s the strange thing about this place many of us call home. It is special, but everyone has a story to tell of the dark side too.
Every place I’ve ever lived has an unsavoury element. Didim is no different. If you bump into this part too soon, it can cloud your judgement. I got to know many in the Adliye by name, so certainly went through the hate part. It’s not the full story though. I have a standing invitation to visit a now retired officer of the court at his new home near the Black Sea. It’s the Turkiye Conundrum. Turkish people are among the friendliest in the world. They would truly give you the shirt off their back if they thought it would help. I can’t think of many other places I can say that about.
It’s when the love I now have for Didim kicks in. I’ve been very lucky to have Resit and Sonny at 06 Mavisehir, Frankie at Yas Inn, and the best family I know at Oz Cafe in Sagtur allowing me to use their restaurants as my office to write my books. Would I ever have written a book if it wasn’t for my wonderful stray army of dogs? I certainly wouldn’t be an award-winning author.
It took me a while, but I have come to love Didim and the people. It takes a little while to be part of the community, but once you are, this place is truly special. There are many examples of the expat and Turkish communities coming together for the benefit of everyone.
We only need to look at the animal shelter, Helping Hands, or Plogging in Didim to see how the community spirit is driven by everyone from all backgrounds wanting to create an area that is the very best it can be.
As I write this, I’m sitting on the beach in Sagtur. The owner of the Kokina Restaurant has sent me a free cold beer. Now that’s a community spirit we can all buy into.
We have people who accept you as family. We have the most beautiful coastline you could wish for. Didim might not be perfect, but it’s getting closer every day.
We chose this part of paradise for a reason. We’ve found community spirit and friendship. There will always be an almost criminal element wherever we go. In Didim, the numbers of good people far outweigh the dodgy ones.
Add in the pure beauty and history of the area and it’s easy to see why I’ve been converted to loving Didim and the surrounding area.