For a calmer, quieter, and more locally flavored experience devoid of teenage spring-breakers, Sile is an excellent choice, both for tourist travel and the purchase of a second home.

Spending several afternoons driving the Black Sea coast with local realtors, my investigations confirmed my initial suspicions: Turkish real estate is a tremendous bargain, especially oceanfront. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2,400 square feet, oceanfront homes were going for $100,000. Smaller town homes fetched a mere $75,000. I haven’t seen these prices since Nicaragua. In Spain or Italy, $75,000 would hardly fetch me a down payment!

Overall the lifestyle is quite pleasant. Turkey would be a wonderful place to live. English is widely spoken, the people are well-humored, and the women quite attractive. Turkish men love western women, especially blondes.  These people believe in kindness and hospitality, and they love to laugh and have a good time. I am particularly fond of the cuisine, and all the fantastic bargains on hand-made furniture, crafts, and lest we forget, carpets!  While prices are not as low as, say, Panama or India, the cost of living is still a bargain. In Sile, you can live very well off of just $1,000 monthly.

The economy is improving, the infrastructure is modernizing, and the Turks are eager to join the rest of Europe in reaching a place at the global economic table. The Turkish rate of inflation continues to fall, as it stands now under 9.5%, less than half of its level two years prior. The currency is growing stronger, and unemployment is falling. Yet many westerners’ perception of the country is that it is a backward and dangerous place.  Despite its proximity to 2/3 of the axis of evil, the government maintains a strong hold on security. Though most of the nation is Muslim, Turkey is a secular nation, and has been staunchly so for decades. Make no mistake - mosques are everywhere. Prayer calls fill the evening with choral chants, and the Turks respect their religious beliefs. But these are a very peaceful people.

In undiscovered Turkey, opportunity abounds. Simple savings accounts beat far riskier investments in the western world.  Real estate is destined to skyrocket (see the WSJ Lifestyle section from 4 February 2004). Business, trade, and tourist opportunities are everywhere. As the country gets its economic house in order over the next decade in preparation for expected entry into the European Union, all major macroeconomic indicators will improve significantly. Turkey’s new currency, the Yenni Lira (TRY) is already appreciating against the dollar. In the six weeks since I have left, the Lira has already gained 5% on the Dollar. Today, most westerners will tell you that investing in Turkey is foolish. Their opinion is based on myth and collective ignorance, though Americans in general have a difficult time opening their minds to international opportunities. But as word gets out and tourism increases, comparably wealthy Europeans, especially the Brits, Germans, BENELUX, and Swiss, will seek vacation homes along the lustrous coastlines, pushing up the prices of real estate.  As always, in the middle of the boom, people will wonder “why didn’t I get in at the beginning?”

A paradoxical land of splendor and squalor, modern age and middle age, Turkey easily stands as one of the most visually stunning and bargain priced countries in the world.