They say no-one visits Kalkan just once. We’ve been coming here since the year 2000, and many have been holidaying here even longer. A lot has changed in this time, but a familiar face in the town for many years is Hasan or, as he’s more commonly known, “nut man”.

Hasan is a much-loved character in Kalkan, with his distinctive look – black Turkish pantaloons, his money belt, and his cloth cap. Most evenings he can be seen carrying his wicker basket around the streets of the old town selling fresh nuts that he’s shelled and packaged that morning. Now in mid-October, this is the perfect time for walnuts.

Walnut trees are abundant in many of the surrounding villages, and it’s not unusual at this time of year to see groups of village women sitting outside cracking the freshly picked nuts for sale in the numerous local markets. Fresh walnuts have a mild, delicate taste unlike the stronger, nuttier flavour of walnuts that have been stored and sold in supermarkets.

Kalkan is a very relaxed town, so when we see him walking past our restaurant we wave to him and he comes up to where we are sitting on the roof terrace. Luckily, he still has some walnuts left so we buy several packets.

Should you miss seeing him walking around town, you may spot him late evening in the Moonlight Bar, where he has been known to have a jig, with his basket on his head.

Hasan on the roof terrace of Cinar restaurant