These photos — azure waves and alluring soft sand — have sat trapped on my computer for a year. Interest in travel to the country pictured has plummeted as stability there was shaken. Thus, the challenge: Can you even match the happy scenes here with a place repeatedly screamed about in the news?
Yes, Turkey is the country in which I took these photos — Ladies’ Beach in Kusadasi, just across the water from Greece, to be exact. What’s so striking, browsing the 9 previous articles about my 2015 Turkey trip, is how drastically the international narrative about the country has soured over the course of mere months.
I wonder about the variety of emotions right now among the 75 million people living in Turkey. How many souls are heartbroken to be lost in a swell of negativity, when there is still so much good around?
In 2013 when the bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon just blocks from our apartment, that tragedy was all the media focused on for months regarding our beloved city. But I remember walking through Boston the week after the Marathon, gazing up at the sun-dappled pink flowers in the Public Garden. I heard TV vans zoom past, cameras pointed towards the sadness down the street, and all I could think was, “That sadness isn’t the only thing in this city. So much else is still going on. Don’t forget the beauty here!”
And thus I give you these seven photos of a happy beach in Turkey. We see your beauty, Turkey. I think of you often, and send love and positive energy!
I’m curious to hear from you, readers: Which places that you’ve traveled to or lived in contrast in some way with the media’s predominant narrative about them? Please do share.
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Mahesh Yadav says
Turkey is really a lovely and lively place to be.
The beaches are really fantastic, and yeah you look quite pretty in that pic.
Nice :)
Lillie says
Thanks!
Penny Sadler says
Lillie, this is a lovely idea for an article and a great way to make the point, we are all one. I hope there will be a chance to visit in the future.
Mary @ Green Global Travel says
We’d love to explore Turkey someday. These beaches look beautiful!
Sue Reddel says
Kusadasi!! What a wonderful place to visit. We stopped there on our tour of Turkey a fews back and had a wonderful time there and an amazing sunset. Thanks for taking me back there with your wonderful photos.
Karon says
That looks so gorgeous! I definitely would visit there any time!
Vicky and Buddy says
This is a great reminder that we can’t let the media ruin our plans to travel the world. Yes, bad things happen. But there is so much more good and beauty! Turkey certainly looks gorgeous and I can’t wait to visit!
Bryanna says
I would never have guessed Turkey! Those are some beautiful beaches! I also love that you wrote this to help open people’s eyes to learn more about a location. It definitely opened my eyes and makes me look at Turkey differently.
anna says
I had no idea Turkey’s beaches looked like this! SO STUNNING. I would love to visit Turkey. the scenery, the culture, and the food are all enough to make me want to visit! Great photos!
Megan says
I’ll admit I guessed it wrong. I’ve wanted to visit Turkey for awhile but hadn’t realized they had such amazing beaches. One more reason why I’ll have to visit one of these days.
Toni says
The water colour is amazing, it really is a beautiful beach. The narrative certainly is negative at the moment and it must be difficult for everyone living there dealing not only with the countries internal struggles but the loss of tourism income.
Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie says
I absolutely love this post. So simple and well-stated. My favorite line is “How many souls are heartbroken to be lost in a swell of negativity, when there is still so much good around?” Everyone needs to work on putting themselves in other people’s shoes and remembering that what the media shows is just a small snippet (if that!) of what’s happening.
Kim-Ling says
We visited Istanbul late 2014 and fell in love with it there. It is so sad that recent events have tainted such a warm and wonderful place. We would love to go back and explore more of Turkey. I actually had no idea how amazing the beaches were! Love your photos and have more reason to go back!
João Leitão says
Turkey has impressive beaches. Indeed you experienced one of the best places to enjoy beach time in the country. Kusadasi is amazing!
David Marshall says
I’ve always wanted to go there, and the news lately certainly is bleak. Thanks for bringing some positive coverage to this gorgeous part of the world!
Jessie Voigts says
I love Turkey – and especially this beach- so peaceful, calm, and luscious. It’s so incredibly beautiful, and the hospitality of the Turkish people are unparalleled. I wish that peace would come more quickly to countries around the world – especially Turkey, where tourism is a large part of their income. Fantastic photos.