What's your first memory of Icmeler?

[jejo]

Hi, after another family discussion about Icmeler memories, I remembered our first visit in 2002. We arrived at tea time and were staying at apartments in the old town. It was still light and we went for a walk and to get something to eat. We walked round taking in all the atmosphere and picked a random restaurant to eat in. We finished our meal and decided to go back to the apartments, but that's when the problem started. It was now dark outside and we couldn't remember which way we had come! We wandered up and down streets trying to remember where we had passed coming in the way. Every way we went seemed to bring us back to the same square and really confused us. Eventually we decided to use our guid scottish tongues and ask someone. We were amazed as we approached a man outside one of the restaurants as before we could say anything he said to us "don't eat in the **** apartments (he named our apartments) as they charge too much. We couldn't believe it, this stranger knew where we were staying. I asked how he knew and he just laughed (never did find out how he knew) but he did direct us back to our apartments. This always makes us laugh, but surprisingly doesn't bother us but if the same happened with a stranger in our home town it would worry me! Now we know our way back to our apartments like the back of our hands and wouldn't get lost.
My daughter's finance's first memory was his first visit in 2008. On our first night, my older son decided to go to Eastenders and Stephen decided to go to. Away they went and the rest of us went back to the apartments. The next morning we found out that Stephen had decided to come back to the apartments and my son stayed. So Stephen started walking back and about half way there realised he didn't know where they were. He only knew the name. He decided to go into the nearest apartments and ask for directions. When he explained his request, the man from the apartments said to wait a minute and returned beckoning Stephen to follow. Outside the man got into a car and said "I will take you". Not sure what to do (Stephen did not know about Turkish people's helpfulness) but got in the car and was driven to out apartments. Stephen tried to offer the man money, but was refused. Stephen still talks about this as he can't believe how helpful this man was and again we wouldn't get in a strangers car in Scotland. That's how special Icmeler and the Turkish people are. 10 weeks tomorrow and we will be back in paradise!

Jean & family

[Jay Trip]

I remember visiting for the day from Marmaris in 1992 and fell in love with the place.
It was a very different place then and just a village.
I returned the following year in June to stay for 2 weeks and we stayed at the Aqua.
Unknown to me some neighbours and 2 people who worked at the same hospital as me were there as we had all got the special offer from Callers Pegasus. 2 weeks for the price of one.
I got sunburnt on the first day despite being under a wicker parasol on the beach.We never ever got a bed by the pool in the 2 weeks we were there as we were not prepared to get up at 5am!
On the 2nd day we walked up a dirt track to the old village and thats when my holiday went downhill.
We sat in a small cafe opposite the bakery under a canopy of vines and that was when I saw the small boy who went missing in Kos a couple of years earlier.
I dont think I can mention his name on here but I rushed back to the hotel to find the rep(Inspirations) and told her.
It spoiled my holiday as I couldnt get that small boy out of my mind.
I was ready for home after 1 week but have been back many times since and look forward to seeing the changes when I go in October.

[kentcabbie]

Although our 1st trip out was only in 2007 ,and i,d done all the usual searching on the net, looked at this forum, checked maps, made lists of recommended bars a resaurents, thought i had it all sussed booked into the Golmar Beach hotel,got the usual late flight that after transfer got us in early hours, crashed into bed, woke up in the morning opened the curtains and door to the balcony to see the most wonderful view of the bay ,right across to Marmaris(all my prepration didn,t give me an incling of such a magical introduction to this wonderful place), back out for our 4th visit in 6 weeks.

[andrea m]

Our first visit was in 2001 and we had been to Greece the previous 3 years and thought we should really try Spain (we never really fancied it) so got lots of brochures and included in this was a Turkey one which was offering 3 weeks for price of 2, but didn't really fancy Turkey either. We headed to the travel agents and got costings for Lanzarote etc and it was working out about £500 each for 2wks in May, when we had only been paying about £600 for 2 of us for 2wks in previous years. Then asked the travel agent to price the Turkey one, to our surprise the 3 weeks was less than the 2wks to Lanzarote, we went for something to eat and an hour later had booked to go to Icmeler staying at Avlu 3. Have to say we had the best holiday and laughed from the moment we got there to the moment we left, I always remember after our welcome meeting (after a night flight) which was held in Majestic we wandered down the canal and someone was trying to sell me a hat, I just kept telling him I didn't have any money (too tired and hadn't quite worked out the exchange) he kept reducing the price and I kept telling him I didn't have any money on me. Once we got back to the apartments I realised he had been selling me the hat for 75p!!! We couldn't believe it. We headed to Gumbet in the October was good but not as good as Icmeler although there was someone in one of the shops who stopped us to ask if we remembered him we didn't he remembered us from Icmeler! They are amazing people so friendly and helpful, we didn't get back to Icmeler until 2006 and have to say we couldn't quite remember why we always wanted to go back, once we arrived mum and I looked at each other and said this is why the feeling of being home Now been back each year since then and each time just gets better and better.

Roll on August to get to Turkey but September to be home once more.

Andrea

[bill atkinson]

hi my first memory of going to icmeler is the smile on the face of the guy at dalaman airport ,who took my tenner off me ,for my visa, such a happy chappy {i wish] .delighted to find that all the icmeler people are completely the opposite,that why i still go . Visa control and passport control guys [especially therefaces] make you want to get straight back on the plane,but i will not let them win. Bill A

[sophia]

I like this thread!
My first trip to icmeler was back in 2003, I was just 14 and went with my friend and our mums. I remember our freinds had chosen Turkey and I wasn't really looking forward to it as had never really fancied it and to be honest I always had an idea that it would be 'dirty' (How wrong I was). I'm so glad they choose Icmeler, I now think of it as home and haven't missed a year since!

Anyway, we arrrived on the coach after a long trip about ten @ the Siesta aparts, above Champagne bar. As we got off the coach we recieved a welcome like no other. They took our luggage, gave us all kisses hello and shook our hands. Each and everyone of them asked our names and told us theirs in return. We asked if we could get a bite to eat somewhere and they said they would cook us whatever we wanted no problem, even though it was getting quite late. So we went off to get cleaned up.......when we came down from our rooms, we again recieved a warm welcome and they had remembered all our names, we had to keep asking theirs again! This always amazes me in Icmeler, you may only speak to someone once or twice and a day/week/year later they remember it and certainly never forget a face. This is once of my favourite things about Icmeler.

The entertainment was just getting started and I remember watching all the boys dance on the bar and thinking 'omg, you would never ever see an english boy do this!!' Needless to say we had a fantasitc first night and a fantastic week infact. I was hooked on the place by the time I went to bed that night. By next memory is waking up the next morning, opening the curtains and seeing the amazing views ofthe mountains etc.

Without a doubt Icmeler is a little piece of heaven - you can't beat the people or the beauty of the place!

Bill Atkinson - certainly agree with your comment about the staff at Dalaman - I love giving them biggest grin and try to get them chatting, just to see if I can break there hard and grumpy look - last year I actually got a smile back - breakthrough!!!!!

[blondie]

Like others, we'd never really considered Turkey for a holiday, but got the chance of a reasonably cheap deal to Icmeler and decided to give it a go. My first memory is arriving at Dalaman Airport and being amazed at how green and beautiful the country is. For some reason, I'd imagined it would be quite dry, dusty and relatively barren, but on the journey to Icmeler, I was astounded at the beauty of the scenery - and oh, that view as we came down the hill and saw the bay at Icmeler for the first time! Now, when I catch that first glimpse of Icmeler, it does truly feel like "coming home".
The welcome we received at our hotel was also lovely - like sophia has said, everyone asked our names, told us theirs, greeted us with kisses and made us feel truly welcome. Nothing was too much trouble for them. We almost felt like we'd become part of the family!
I also especially remember waking up that first morning to the sound of the prayer call at the mosque. It was such an atmospheric sound, especially as we'd never visited a Muslim country before, and I love hearing it. It's such an intrinsic part of my holiday now, and I'd love to pay a visit to the mosque one day.
What else can I say? From that first visit, we were smitten - we loved everything about Icmeler, the place itself, the gorgeous food everywhere we ate, the fantastic welcome and hospitality we received from everyone. We made some real friends on that first trip - but on our second visit, I was utterly amazed when we were not only remembered, but greeted with affection, by people we'd met on that first trip. How they remember you from all the faces they must see during the course of a season, I'll never know, but it's lovely! The genuine warmth and friendliness of the Turkish people was a revelation - something I've not experienced elsewhere on my travels, and which gives the place a charm all of its own.

And yes, we've actually managed to get a smile from the airport staff too - my daughter even managed to get a few words of conversation with one of them, who wished her a happy holiday! Maybe they're not all as bad as they seem!

[dksbbs]

First visited in 2002 after being persuaded by friends, like others I wasn't that keen as we had fallen in love with Cyprus but I am so glad we were persuaded, we have been now every year except for 2004.

My first memory was arriving in the early hours of the morning about 4.30am and being welcomed by the staff who had stayed up for us, the smell of Melissa (Plant) was intoxicating and my first taste of Efes after dropping the bags off was fantastic.

Dave


Edited to correct spelling

[Pooise]

My first memory of Icmeler was back in 2002. Mum treated me to a week away, and although Turkey wasn't my first choice, I couldn't say no to a freebie. I remember getting off the plane thinking "I'm going to melt here", but on to a nice aircon coach and away we went. Must admit I was thinking we would never get off the coach (in the days when you never had the lux of a mini bus) but pulled up at Avlu 3, and was pretty pleased as to their location and they were pretty neat inside. We spent the evening wondering round the town, trying to get our bearings but honestly I wanted to go home after all the hassle we were getting to eat here etc. However the next day I put it down to tiredness and started enjoying myself. Loved the food, drink, and just the magic of the place, even fell for the charms of a local and we married 4 years later! Needless to say that wasn't the last trip!
Sadly won't be going back this year as we have a wee one on the way in June, which is a good enough reason not to be going back!!

[Jozzyd]

Congratulations Pooise and hubby good luck with your new arrival

[mugla]

The first visit for us was in may 2003 staying at avlu 1 with murat . 7 years on we are still going back each year. We have tried other countries, but there is no comparison. We have made many friends over the years and look forward to revisiting each year.
Icmeler has something special about it. We thought it was only us who felt this way lol, reading other peoples comments on this board makes u realise many others feel exactly the same.

Once visited, never forgotton!

[sheebs]

Arriving @ 4:30am in the dark, thinking what have we let ourselves in for. Waking up in brilliant sunshine - looking out and viewing a fantastic scene of the mountains and the sea. A fabulous 1st time memory - so much we booked a 2nd visit this year.Cant wait !!!!!

[ken the pen]

in 1990 four of us went to icemeler for first time and stayed in the then sungar (now the sun). we had to get a caculator to work out how much it was for a pint of efees. it worked out at 22p a bottle and it is still as good today although slightly dearer. ps nice to be back computor been on the blink

[bill atkinson]

hi sophia that day you got the airport man to smile .i must have been behind you in the que, because when i got to the counter,the guy behind the counter ,had a very large crack ,in his face. Bill A [only having a merry jape]

[Katiehutchinson_1991]

arriving at the mirage at 7am in the morning when the sun was just rising
was lovely to see icmeler so quiet that early in the morning
remembering how hot it was even at that time in the morning
xxxxx

[SeanyP]

Our first memory is a really odd one!
We arrived one sunny May morning in 1996, checked into our apartments (Maritim....now Avlu 4), sat on the balcony...and saw a bear being paraded down the street (where the Lemon tree is now).

Thankfully, the first and only time we saw such cruelty! Obviously this first impression didnt put us off retuning...and returning......and returning...

wish we'd bought somewhere when we first started coming to Icmeler, we'd have been set up for life!