Stories by the SeaA true story
One Week in Göcek. A Love Story That Changed a Lifetime.
She came to Türkiye for just seven days, hoping to escape a difficult chapter of her life. She wasn't looking for love, and moving abroad was the last thing on her mind. Yet an unexpected encounter on the Mediterranean coast changed everything. This is the true story of Linda Kaya, a British woman who found love, courage and an entirely new life in Türkiye.
Sometimes, the journeys that change our lives begin without any particular plan.
In the late 1990s, British woman Linda Kaya travelled to Göcek for a week-long holiday with two colleagues. She was leaving behind a difficult period in her personal life. Ahead of her were seven days of sunshine, relaxation and the simple pleasure of being somewhere far from everyday concerns.
She wasn't searching for a new relationship. And she certainly couldn't imagine that one day she would call Türkiye home.
A Meeting That Was Never Part of the Plan
In Göcek, Linda met the man who would eventually become her husband.
They barely spoke each other's language. He knew only a few words of English, while she spoke no Turkish at all. A dictionary became their unlikely means of communication.
But understanding, as they discovered, does not always begin with words.
Linda was drawn to his sincerity, calm nature and respectful manner. She didn't see their meeting as a holiday romance. It felt more like an unexpected friendship, something worth preserving.
When she returned to England, they stayed in touch.
A Decision That Changes the Geography of Life
Moving to another country is rarely as carefree as it appears during a summer holiday.
For Linda, it meant leaving behind familiar surroundings, friends, family and the comforts of an established life. She was already a mature woman, while the man she loved was twenty years younger.
The decision required courage.
In 1998, Linda moved to Türkiye. A year later, they married.
And so began a life filled with far more changes than either could have imagined during that first meeting by the sea.
Fifteen Homes, One Shared Story
Their first home together was a modest rented apartment in Gümüşlük, near Bodrum.
During winter, the roof leaked. There was no proper heating or hot water. Yet outside the windows grew orange trees and bougainvillea.
Later came Turgutreis, other towns along the southern coast, Alanya and almost four years in Cappadocia.
In her account published in 2012, Linda recalled that during fourteen years of marriage, they had lived in fifteen different homes.
Each address became another chapter in the story they were writing together.
Life Beyond the Holiday
Linda never portrayed moving to Türkiye as an endlessly romantic adventure.
She spoke openly about language difficulties, cultural differences, family expectations and bureaucracy.
Over time, she learned to understand local customs, appreciate a slower rhythm of life and build relationships with her neighbours.
What stayed with her most deeply were the people — their hospitality, willingness to help and ability to find happiness in simple everyday moments.
Eventually, the couple settled in a traditional Turkish village, surrounded by fields and mountains.
This was a different side of Türkiye, far removed from the polished world of coastal resorts. Here, life was shaped by ordinary responsibilities, the sounds of the countryside and quiet evenings.
And yet Linda did not regret her decision.
Every Sea Has Its Own Story
Göcek, where Linda first met her future husband, remains one of the most distinctive corners of Türkiye's Mediterranean coast.
Here, mountains descend towards the water, secluded bays lie beneath green hillsides, and sailing has long been woven into the local way of life.
Some people arrive for a few days. Others return every summer. And some discover, quite unexpectedly, that they no longer want to leave.
Linda's story is not a promise of a perfect life abroad.
It is something more meaningful: a story about having the courage to embrace change, accept differences and build happiness in a place where you were once merely a visitor.
Sometimes, home is not the place where we were born.
It is the place where our real story begins.
INEST HOMES
Editor's note: This article is based on Linda Kaya's personal essay, “My Life in Turkey”, published on ExpatsBlog in 2012. The story has been independently adapted by the INEST HOMES editorial team from events publicly shared by the author. The accompanying artistic film is a visual interpretation of the theme and does not represent documentary footage of Linda or her husband.
