09.06.2026 23:40
Retired expats living in various European countries have started entering Turkey through the Kapıkule Border Gate for summer vacation, taking advantage of the calm caused by schools not being on holiday. Retired citizens, who long for their homeland while abroad and plan to stay in their home country for 3 to 6 months, expressed their joy at returning to their homeland and the Turkish flag.
Retired expatriates living in various European countries come to Turkey in the summer to quell their longing for their homeland.
Since schools have not yet gone on holiday, mostly retired expatriates are passing through the border gates.
“WE WILL STAY FOR 3 MONTHS”
Hatice Demirkaya, who entered through the Kapıkule Border Gate, said she has been living in Germany for 35 years. Stating that coming to her homeland is a different feeling, Demirkaya said, "We are returning to our motherland, can there be anything better than this? There is longing for our homeland, longing for our home. We are retired, we will stay for 3 months. We will visit different places."
“WE STAY 6 MONTHS THERE, 6 MONTHS HERE”
Mustafa Kandamar, who came from Dresden, Germany, expressed that they feel homesick abroad.
Explaining that they spend part of the year in Germany and part in Turkey, Kandamar said, "We came to our homeland, we miss it terribly. We stay 6 months there, 6 months here. It is a priceless thing for us. We love our homeland. Seeing the flag is something else, it is indescribable."
Teoman Hacıefendioğlu, who came from Austria, stated that since they are retired, they can come to Turkey whenever they want.