In this weeks round of the local news a Turtle tragedy, police crack down on helmet dodgers, airline issues sandals not tickets, paraglider crash landing, boat protest a partial success and weddings in full swing prior to month of fasting.

Turtle Tragedy

A loggerhead turtle found floating dead in the water off ơlış Beach this week was dragged ashore. 

This happened in the evening when two young Turkish men out for a swim encountered the turtle and, on dragging it ashore, it became apparent it had died from swallowing fishing line. 

The volunteer teams from Izmir and Vienna Universities, who monitor turtles on the beaches here each summer, were called to examine the 50kg creature.

Helmet Crack Down by Police

And as the summer season is now well underway local traffic police are stepping up action against motorbike/scooter riders not wearing helmets. 

As the police said in a press statement this week, the simplest way to reduce death and serious injury to bike riders is for them all to wear proper helmets. 

We think holiday makers hiring scooters should pay attention to this.

Flying Visit Drops Unexpected Gifts

If you read last week’s new snippets and are haunting beaches awaiting surprises from Pegasus Airlines – relax. 

They did their local promotion on Ölüdeniz Beach this week when a paraglider and a microlite dropped presents on the beach and what was inside the parcels? 

Forget airline tickets – the presents were plastic beach sandals. 

So you really didn’t miss out if you were on the wrong beach!

Crash Landing!

Remember the paraglider who hit the toilets on the beach a while ago? 

This week a paraglider came down on a parked car in one of the streets parallel to Ölüdeniz Beach. 

He refused to give his name – no doubt not wishing to be held responsible for any damage he may have caused to the car!

Boat Trip Protest a Partial Success

The banning of day boats from certain bays and islands which we reported recently now seems to have been relaxed as a result of a protest by boat owners who formed a flotilla in the bay

In particular the ban on boats anchoring off Yassica Island, has been partially lifted so boats are allowed to stop off half of the island, while ecological surveys are conducted on the other half. 

We shall see what transpires when the surveys are complete.

Ramazan Close, Weddings in Full Swing

Ramazan, the Muslim holy month of fasting between sunrise and sunset, begins on August 20th.

Couples prefer not to marry in the period between Ramazan and Kurban Bayrami, which occurs around 90 days after the end of Ramazan.

So Fethiye, as well as most of Turkey, is now experiencing wedding fever as couples tie the knot before the long fast.

We’ll feature more on Ramazan shortly.