Antalya is located on the south coast of Turkey. Like Lanzarotte, it has little to offer except sunshine and beaches. Cookie cutter high rises are sporadically clustered over the flat landscape. Traffic, under the same kind of setup found in Naples i.e., no traffic lights or bus stops, moves along well. Pedestrian paving is a rare occurrence, as well as wheelchair ramps, pedestrian crossings, and paved side roads. There are beautiful new shops neighbouring unfinished or abandoned building sites strewn with litter. Peddle and motorized rickshaws pick up the street trash from bins.
Turkey is so anxious to enter the E.U. I noticed it has already designed its currency and vehicle registration plates to resemble E.U. designs. However, there are impasses over human rights issues, and recently the government refused to admit killing millions of Armenians at the turn of the 20th century. Of course, there is a political group opposed to E.U. entry. Turkey has a problem with its own brand of Jihadists, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), which terrorizes with kiddnappings, murders, and bombings -one blew up a bus in Antalya 4 days before I arrived.
Having said all that, I liked my stay there the last week of September - 33 Celsius in the day and 19 at night - perfect! Fruit, grains, veg, and dairy are all plentiful and prepared in many exotic variations. Turks generally eat tasty kebabs, luscious red tomatoes, pita, feta, cucumber, and all kinds of peppers (loaded with vitamin C). Yogurt can go into just about anything or be drunk like Indian Lassis. Turkish Delight represents only a fraction of the plethora of national sweets. As one German lady remarked pointing at a gelatinous green cube with Kiwi 'das ist gift grune' or 'that is green poison'. Odd that a Muslim country makes the strongest eau-de-vie in the world and insists on recognition for its wine industry. All kinds of beers and cocktails are available - for a price.
As I mentioned, there isn't much in the area; however, bargains abound. My 5 star hotel cost 59 euro a day which included wonderful, varied, and sumptuous buffet breakfasts and dinners. For 3 times that figure, you could get a top of the line 5 star hotel in better zoned lush surroundings (Lara), all you can eat and drink including room service, with flights and airport minibus shuttle. Still, it's nice to get out and about; so, I recommend the excursions: river rafting, Turkish Bath, museums and ancient ruins, etc.. Be prepared to not understand anything unless you speak Turkish or Russian (Russians have taken over the place as Germans have Ischia). Also make damned sure when given a price for anything in Turkey that it is understood the currency is Turkish Lire or you may end up in a shouting match over dollars or euros at the end of the day, because the Turks who deal with tourists are loath to their own currency.
I liked the people; they really love it if you learn a few words of Turkish. They are friendly people. Their music, dress, and food make it clear you are not in familiar territory, which is exciting. It was an adventure taking the bus into town - number 66 did me well, as I remember. I shall return to this same area despite the general lackluster appearance - it's got something