Ankara: Daylight Savings Time

Turkey has adopted dailylight savings time in the past couple of years, and next Sunday morning (March 28 2010) you should be ready to set your clocks one hour ahead accordingly.

English Language TV in Ankara

In Ankara, If you are not going to pay for satellite TV or cable, then you will be enjoying the following English stations:

British Prime

CNN Europe

CNBC after 6:00pm

Sports channel

DigiTurk has a satellite service that, although expensive, has hundreds of channels and will give you more of a range. It also has features that allow you to record, pause, scedule and access the internet.

Cooking in your Oven

If you are living in an older apartment, the oven may not have a temperature dial. If this is the case, assume the oven is heating to about 400 degrees F. Things will cook quickly.

Usually the electric ovens will have a timer and a temperature guide on the front, much like a glorified microwave in some ways!

Recycling in Ankara

Recycling is not really available in Ankara, although there are large centres that collect anything that can be resold to companies. Usually, you will notice men rooting through your garbage on the street picking out carboard, bottles and plastic. For some, taking these goods to the central centres is a major source of income for them. So, in conclusion, you must throw out everything, no matter how much it irks you, and hope that the collectors will come and collect them.

Heating in Ankara

Heating works in two ways in Ankara. The first way is a centralized heating system within the building. The second way is a personalized heating system within your apartment. If you have centralized heating within the building, then a monthly flat rate price will be set for your apartment and it is often 100-200TL, depending on the size of your space. I believe this is the most common system of heating in apartment buildings, so make sure you are clear on this fee before renting. If you have centralized heating with your home, then you will be paying a monthly bill for the gas or electricity that you use to heat your apartment.

Renting an Apartment

Many people ask on forums about the price of renting an apartment in Ankara. The answer is that an apartment in Ankara can cost whatever you want it to, depending on the priorities you have. As you get furthur and furthur from the city center, prices drop dramatically. Areas of the city that are on the metro line, close to Kizilay, or trendy for shopping and restaurants can run anywhere from 600-1500 or more. It is possible however, if you move a little bit further from the main areas to find rents for 500TL or less. Furnished apartments are available in Ankara. If you do not have contacts for word of mouth, there are real estate agents that can show you rentals at all prices as well as furnished apartments. I will get back to you with specific information. One important thing to realize is that heating is often 200TL per month on top of the rent. Most people pay the building a flat rate for centralized heating and therefore should be added into your total rent budget.

Paying for Your Water

Paying for water works differently than other utilities. Firstly, you need to get a water card. Your landlord will most likely have one of these; if not then you need to get your own at the ING bank. After aquiring your card, take the card to the ING bank and ask to put money on it for you. This might be able to be done at other banks or the PTT, but at this point I am not sure. After you have money on your water card, there will be a machine in your building that you can put your card into. The machine will add the appropriate credit to your apartment. Remember to keep your card full, because water will shut off immediately after your points on the machine run out!

Using and Paying for Gas in Ankara

Gas is cheap in Ankara and your bill should be under 20TL every month. Often your stove will be a gas stove and your hot water will be heated with gas. You should get a bill in the mail every month. Caution: If you are living in an older apartment especially, make sure that your gas ventilation is clear at all times. Be aware of how your gas is ventilated and where the pipe to the outside leads to. There have been cases of ventilation being blocked from the outside by accident, and people getting sick or dying due to gas fumes in the house. This is mostly relevant to people who have newer systems that keep a pilot light on at all times. Older gas systems tend to need lighting at the time you decide you want hot water, and should be turned off after use.