where shall I go on holiday?

[Moos]

Anna, I was thinking of a similar personal experience - though I've no idea whether the blokes in Turkey are anything like those in Egypt. Wearing modest loose clothing (wrist-neck-ankle) and not starting conversations with anyone made no difference whatsoever.

[ClareC]

I agree. Having blonde hair seems to be enough to be deemed "up for it" in mine and my sister's experience- we were very young at the time and with our parents!!!

[Cassius]

I've lived in Turkey, and always been treated beautifully by Turkish men so what I didn't like was the assumption that Turkish men are sleazy and out to get western women. For whatever reason English women have a reputation in countries such as Turkey and Egypt, where it is still rare for the local women to go out without their men and exceedingly rare for women to get drunk. In some resorts young women on holiday ARE out to get laid, and without the cultural signals that we have it is possible that these men might mistake being young and 'summery' with being 'up for it'.

Previous posts has suggested that a woman alone in Turkey would not be safe - I was just saying that depending on the resort and her demeanour she should be as safe there as anywhere. I hitched in Eastern Turkey and not had any trouble. If I was sitting alone in a bar obviously the worse for alcohol I may have had trouble.

[ClareC]

I was aged 12/13 my sister was under 10, neither of us drank alcohol or were inappropriately dressed, we simply stood out due to our colouring. I dont think there was mention of feeling unsafe, just getting unwanted attention despite not being "up for it".

[Cassius]

On the other hand a Saudi man did try and buy me from my mother when I was 14!

[Keef]

If I was sitting alone in a bar obviously the worse for alcohol I may have had trouble.

And quite right too! Women of today, tsk!

[ClareC]

Tee hee, a Turkish man tried to swap a carpet for my sister! Naturally I spotted the bargain but she was a little cross to say the least!

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Seasalter,Kent.

Temperatures are set to rise.The tide will be in for most of the next week and there's a very interesting factory where you can learn about The Salt Industry and its illustrious history.The beaches tend to be quiet in September and you can always get home to East Dulwich in 1 hour 17 minutes if it does not suit your requirements.

Personally,I would go for it.:)>:D<

[louisiana]

RosieH Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> i need a holiday, stat. (is that the word? I've

> been watching a lot of ER)

>

> having quit my job a couple of weeks ago, visited

> friends and family and generally watched too much

> daytime tv, I now need to go on holiday before the

> money runs out and I have to get a job (I've got

> two weeks max)

>

> I need a week in the sun on my own because all my

> friends are seemingly otherwise gainfully

> employed. I'm too tired for strenuous activity,

> but I don't want to end up in a resort where a

> nice couple invite me to dine with them because

> I'm Shirley Valentine in the corner (although a

> resort where I get it on with Tom Conti wouldn't

> go amiss)

>

> mostly I want to lie down, read books and eat nice

> food

>

> any suggestions?

Your money will go a fair way in Crete too. Lots of cheap deals around a the moment.

[Jimbob]

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Seasalter,Kent.

> Temperatures are set to rise.The tide will be in

> for most of the next week and there's a very

> interesting factory where you can learn about The

> Salt Industry and its illustrious history.The

> beaches tend to be quiet in September and you can

> always get home to East Dulwich in 1 hour 17

> minutes if it does not suit your requirements.

> Personally,I would go for it.:)>:D<

have you actually been there. i,ve a gaff in next door whitstable which i head to every weekend, and seasalter is the pits, it makes the moon look lively. even the sportsman is impossible to go to,now its got its star.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Jimbob Wrote:

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote:

Seasalter,Kent...>

> have you actually been there.

...Welllllll let me take a walk down Memory Lane(and what wonderful memories truly!)

Lived in The Elephant and Castle during Late 1950's onwards until '83 and like many a South Londoner we had our weekend/summer "bolthole" in Kent,ours was in The Four Horse Shoes,Graveney(do you know it Jimbob?)Its a mile or so from The Sportsman towards Faversham.The 1960's(to a kid) seemed idyllic endless Summers(My Mum and me stayed there thru' the whole School Summer holiday with Dad joining us on The East Kent Coach from Vicarage Grove,Camberwell on every weekend).There were just 12 Caravans on the whole Site with our own Forest next door for tree houses(its now Old Peoples Mobile Homes) then we moved to the Applegarth in Seasalter Lane from 1963/4 until 1970 when we left.Dreadful,dreadful MISTAKE! Now I live right near Falconwood on The A2 it would have been perfect for a retreat as it takes 50 minutes door-to-door.

Country Lanes.Families Cycling everywhere.Never remember a single problem and we did NOT lock our caravans either!We were right on the end at The Applegarth(now also Mobile Homes) as we were one of the first in 1964 to be there.Underneath this Computer I have an Applegarth Brochure from 1964 which says:-

"Holidaymakers are reminded that the Summer Months-from May to September-offer the best weather"which I always found quite useful to know:))..Blackberry Picking..Wild Primroses and a carpet of Bluebells everywhere...Radio Caroline...ENGLAND--MY ENGLAND--Gotta go as I'm going to cry soon...but it was BLOODY FABULOUS!!

Though,I was tongue-in-cheek about Seasalter as I'm sure you knew.My parents were the 3rd Caravan after the War on Wardens Site on Seasalter Beach.This is the 1st year I have not gone back due to the lousy weather but 3/4 times in the Summer I drive down and reminisce.

Do you like Whitstable Jimbob and where are you M8?

i,ve a gaff in next

> door whitstable which i head to every weekend, and

> seasalter is the pits, it makes the moon look

> lively. even the sportsman is impossible to go

> to,now its got its star.

....Sadly true now....its nearly all gone but those 1960's English Summers at Seaslter/Whitstable will stay with me forever Jimbob...now theres a bleedin' Council Estate taking up half the road on one side from Seaslter Cross to The Alberta/Blue Anchor(and I came from The largest Council Estate in Europe,at the time) but not there,not in beautiful Kent-NO!NO! NO!

Whitstable meant Carnivals,Joy Lane,just a lovely place that I might retire to when I'M 80+(and I'm not joking M8!)>:D<

[Jimbob]

im up glengarry at the mo, but after coming into a few bob we bought a weekend gaff in sydenham st w,stable in 99 as an investment/weekend retreat. 8 yrs down the line we still have it, and its in perpetual use by friends and family. Nice spot to be, we occasionally stop off at the blue anchor for a swift half after a fruit picking session in graveney, followed by chips from jones and a jar in the neppie.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Different resorts in Turkey attracts different men! Olu Deniz is a hassle free zone, as is places like Dalyan, Kas, Kalkan and so on, but places like Altinkum, Marmaris, Gumbet which is mainly were single girls go to get completely slosh and pull a local will probably attract some unwanted attention, but I find if you are firm, avoid looking at the sleazy men you should be fine.

I spent 3 months in Altinkum by myself and I survived, I just acted like one of the natives, refused to talk to the men, and went about my own business.

Olu Deniz however was completely different,everyone was utterly charming and respectable, but that is because it is more a family/couples oriented resort.

And I won't even mention the amount of times I have got unwanted attention in good old London, so I think it doesn't have too much to do with where you are, it is just a case of being smart, and being in control.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Jimbob Wrote:

" im up glengarry at the mo, but after coming into a

> few bob we bought a weekend gaff in sydenham st

> w,stable in 99 as an investment/weekend retreat.. Nice spot to

> be..."

Sadly I don't know it.I do know The Thanet Way has changed considerably over the years at that entrance and there are Houses where there were Caravan Sites(opposite The Homing Site in Church(?) Lane just off The Thanet Way is a good example.All Seasalter Cross was Caravan Sites near The Cross itself in The 1960's,now mainly Detached Houses. The Beach opposite Wardens just up the road from The Blue Anchor is easily accessible but I now get a Tide Chart each year so that I only go when the tide is defintely in!

"we occasionally stop off at the blue anchor"

> for a swift half after a fruit picking session in

> graveney, followed by chips from jones and a jar

> in the neppie.

Wasn't even sure if The Blue Anchor ever opens these days .Can you still get Jellied Eels?>:D<

[Jimbob]

certainly can down the harbour.

[will dex]

yeah, kent coast, i used to cycle round there when i lived in faversham 10 years ago (& breifly in 2007). its great if u wanna go cycling/walking or fishing in summer, and the local beer is spot-on.

However, in September /October i recommend Hotel Pupetto in Positano. http://www.positano.com/en/c/hotel-pupetto

[indiepanda]

I would vote for Italy too, and if you want to laze around reading and relaxing, then the Amalfi coast, as Will recommends above, is perfect. Food is lovely round there too.

Though I guess if you are worried about stretching your money out, I would expect it to go further in Greece or Turkey than Italy....

[Cassius]

I hear that Greece is very expensive now, whilst central or southern Italy is still fairly reasonable. Turkey being out of the Eurozone will probably be cheaper still.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

will dex Wrote:

yeah, kent coast, i used to cycle round there when

i lived in faversham 10 years ago (& breifly in

2007). its great if u wanna go cycling/walking or

fishing in summer, and the local beer is spot-on.

Memories.My Grandma used to regularly take me to The Duck Pond at Faversham.Though in the pram I still recall one or two of those occassions.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

So far the votes are as follows in Ascending Order:-

3/ Florida

2/ Italian Lakes(Como/Garda etc)

1/ Seasalter/Whitstable/Faversham....

...As Loyd Grossman would say "David,its over to you"...

[Jimbob]

no contest really.

[AcedOut]

Any girls "up for it", please refer to the EDF Drinks threads (tomorrow)! I cannot guarantee no Turkish men though ;)