I looked left, then right. There was not a soul in sight in the small village of Yesiltepe. I had visited this area several times before, but those visits were always brief. Curious why many expatriates were buying property here, I decided to give Yesiltepe one more chance before dismissing it entirely.
Yesiltepe : Akbuk : Turkey
The drive into Yesiltepe takes you through lush green fields. Abruptly, the countryside gives way to rows of newly built villas. These modern homes look as if they belong in a real estate magazine: tidy, contemporary and arranged in a neat grid pattern, with street signs at every corner.
There are nearby attractions such as the Didyma horse safari and Bafa Lake, but my intent was to get a sense of the village itself. The best way to do that seemed to be talking with residents. The problem was, there was no one around. Streets were deserted and there were no signs of daily life.
I found the local corner market and hoped the staff could tell me about village life. A young man appeared and I asked what there was to do in Yesiltepe. He pursed his lips, looked up at the sky as if searching for an answer and muttered, “Huh! Well, we have a café
“Is there anything else?” I asked. He then remembered the public swimming pool—unfortunately it had no water. His answer led into a one-sided account about tensions between expatriate homeowners and local authorities. Many ex-pats had installed private pools that were not on approved building plans, and the council had ordered some pools to be filled in.
Expats Living in Yesiltepe
Several expatriates had purchased properties in Yesiltepe, drawn by modern villas and peaceful surroundings. However, some of their additions, such as private pools, were apparently not officially permitted. This has created friction with the council, which has required certain unpermitted pools to be removed or filled. I did not want to linger in that conversation, so I attempted to buy cigarettes and move on. The shopkeeper told me he had none in stock and that, with so few residents during this season, deliveries hadn’t arrived. “Come back next week,” he said, “and the stock should be here.”
Yesiltepe means “green hills,” and the name fits—rolling green horizons underline the area’s natural appeal. Yet despite attractive scenery and modern housing, I did not encounter a sense of community, lively social spaces or compelling attractions that would make me recommend the village as a destination. It clearly appeals to some expatriates—otherwise they would not have invested in property there—but for me the absence of everyday life and character means I am unlikely to return soon.
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