Sunset II

I previously posted a picture of the sunset. After trying several places (none of them very far from the hotel bar) I think I found the right spot:

Home, sweet home

We're back home now. The journey was fairly uneventful except for a rather bumpy landing at Gatwick.
We've now got three suitcases full of washing to do (and iron of course)as well as getting some shopping in, collecting the hamster and all the other normal stuff.
Before we left Eylem, the Hotel Mutlu receptionist gave us next years prices and it looks very tempting to do a week in May (unfortunately, due to The Boy's schooling, it will be right in the expensive time).
We better start saving as I think I fancy a bit more diving...

Up, up and away

I'm sitting here waiting for the bus to take us to the airport for our journey home. All being well I should be inside my house in about 11 hours, and there should be a curry inside me in 11.5.
Last thoughts ?
I've enjoyed our fortnight here, I really have. There's not much to complain about, which for me is quite remarkable.
I wish that I'd done the diving nearer the start and then maybe I could have gone again (maybe twice, it was that good). I think I might look into diving when I get home.
I've not enjoyed the daily forage for food; I think I've got used to the stuff we cook at home and have found the local menus a bit limited although this is more due to me being and veggie and also not very adventurous rather than the shortcomings of the local eateries.
Mrs C and The Boy have also enjoyed it but are also looking forward to getting home.
Once I get on my home system I can edit and upload a few photos.

Musings on Calis Beach

Our holiday is nearly over now so I thought I'd try and put down my feelings about the place and the people.

Firstly, the hotel; Hotel Mutlu is located right on the beach, the last hotel on the strip. It has a nice sized pool and garden with plenty of sunbeds (despite some people needing to get out at dawn put their towels out to get top spot). It get's very hot around the pool in the daytime but thankfully there is a cooling breeze that blows off the sea during the day.
The staff are all very helpful and friendly and nothing is too much trouble for them despite working very long hours.
There is a bar which is fairly quiet in the evenings ; I don't know what time it closes as we were never out past midnight.

The resort; Calis Beach (pronounced "chalish") is a small place just outside Fethiye. It has two main "strips", the beach itself which has a load of hotels, all seemingly with a restaurant (and many with a pushy "tout" outside trying to get you in). A lot of the restaurants offer similar food at similar prices, the same sort of fare that you see in every holiday resort throughout Europe. One gem for us was Bella Mammas, an italian joint; a bit more pricey than the others but well worth it for some great food.
The other strip is the main street, with a load of shops and restaurants. They close it to traffic in the evenings by putting cast iron bollards across it (but be careful, you still get gormless twats on mopeds and quad bikes whizzing up it).

Finally, the country; Turkey. Inevitably Turkey will be compared to Greece, probably due to it's location at the eastern end of the Med. In terms of climate it's quite similar but there are a lot of differences. The Turks seem genuinely hospitable and eager to please, something that I was initially suspicious of, being wary of getting ripped off or railroaded into something but I came to realise that this is just their way.
There seems to be a general sense of pride about the place, with parks being provided and gardens watered so that despite being very hot and dry thereis a lot of attractive greenery about the place.
Eating out is fairly cheap and there is a reasonable selection, although being vegetarians it's more limited, something we've come to expect and have to live with. Drinks prices are varied, soft drinks such as coke or fanta are a bit pricey at around 2.50YTL (about £1.20) for a small glass(200ml). The beer served everywhere is Efes, a local lager, and it fetches in at about 3-4YTL (£1.40-£1.80) for 500ml, either bottled or draught. I can't really comment on the quality of it as I almost never drink lager at home, preferring bitter or wine (strangely, despite the climate, Turkey has very little in the way of a wine industry) .


So, would we return ?
To Turkey, definately; It is up there with Greece as a great place to holiday.
To Calis/Fethiye, probably.
To the Hotel Mutlu, if I wanted a hotel holiday then it would be my first choice; the only reason not to would be that we would probably prefer to be self catering being veggies.

To summarise, we spent quite a bit of money to come here,more than we usually do and I think it's well spent, a very enjoyable fortnight.

I surrender

Ok, I give up, the heat has beaten me; This morning, after breakfast, Mrs C marched us off to the market. We set off resolutely despite none of us having any idea where it is, apart from the vague directions given to us by the Thomson rep.
We got lost on the way but eventually found it but by this time I was sweating uncontrollably and just wanted to go home.
After a quick shufty, Mrs C stayed on for another lap while The Boy and I returned to the hotel, to lie in the room with the aircon running. We were well and truly beaten and it was only 11:00.
Tonight we must pack for tomorrow's journey home.

Lazy Friday

Inspired by yesterday's shennanigans, vis a vis diving, I went out and bought a cheapo mask and snorkel so that I could have a butchers at the shoreline here in Calis. For 15YTL I got a mask that fitted where it touched and a snorkel. Cue an hour of larking about on the beach watching a few fish and just having a bit of fun. Once or twice I got a mouthful of sea water and on one occasion I managed to swallow what felt like two gallons of the stuff.
The sea at Calis isn't the clearest, for reasons that I won't go into (primarily because I don't know) but it's still clear enough to enjoy a few minutes bobbing about and looking like a tourist.
Our tea venue was a split decision tonight, Mrs C fancied Bella Mamma, The boy wanted to stay at the hotel and I waanted to "just got out". We settled on a compromise whereby we did what The Boy wanted tonight; tomorrow/Sunday, Mrs C and I will choose one each.
We're currently sitting on the balcony trying to dodge the mozzies; time will tell if we've been successful.

Above us the waves

We were up early ready for an 0800 pickup today. Sadly the pickup didn't happen and after ringing the dive school (luckily a chap staying here had the number) we found out they hadn't got us booked in !
No matter though, Alan, the owner, came and got us and by 0915 we were there; we'd missed the bacon sarnies and banter but the boat was still there so we were ok.
As the boat chugged accross Fethiye bay, we were introduced to the instructors and told what would be happening.
There were seven of us doing the beginners lesson, two couples, a young lad, The Boy and me, Mrs C having declined to try diving and just along for the ride.
We were given a briefing about the kit, signals, boyancy etc by a very friendly and cheerful young guy called Doga (I would imagine it's hard not to be cheerful when you spend your days diving in the warm clear waters of the eastern Med and getting paid for it).
Us beginners were split into two groups and we did two dives each, the first to get used to breathing under water and the second to feed some fish (including a rather grumpy looking moray eel). The Boy declined to do the second one, as did a couple of others, and so I was on my own for the second dive, just me and my patient instructor Doga.
I thought that diving was great fun, both exciting but also peaceful and serene; I only wish I had better balance as when Doga told me to kneel on a rock to watch him feed the eel, I kept overbalancing. It's certainly something that I will do again somehow.
Arriving back at the hotel around 7 o clock, we had just about enough energy for a pint and a pizza before sloping off to bed; Mrs C and The Boy are already fast akip and as soon as I finish this I will be joining them.
The best day so far.

Night of the quiz

We set off early as we were determined to get to the quiz at the shamrock bar; Tea was a jacket spud for me and The Boy and a salad for Mrs C.
We got to the shamrock with time to spare (Mrs C was worrying, unnecessarily it turned out, that there would be no seats left) and settled down for a bit of brain draining.
Our quizmaster, Gordon A, set us 40 questions of varying degrees of difficulty plus a sheet of faces to identify. Mrs C and I came a respectable second (The Boy having buggered off to play pool with the lad from one of our rivals - splitter!) and were most pleased.
It was a very enjoyable evening.
We are now looking forward to a day scuba diving (at least me and The Boy are, Mrs C is just observing) tomorrow so I really should leave the raki alone and get off to bed.
More tomorrow if I've not been drowned, arrested or torpedoed....

The chavs are coming

I went out for a stroll this afternoon to take a few pictures along the seafront. When I got back, there were three young lads (13/14ish I guess) in the pool. They were playing with the two hoses that the maintenance man had running into the pool, putting fresh berry caps in. The trouble was, they were spraying it at each other but it was also splashing other people trying to enjoy the sunshine. We have already told The Boy not to play with the hose for exactly this reason.
A man came and spoke to them, presumably their father but they took no notice and continued to spray each other (and everyone else).
I, for one, will not be surprised to see three extra burberry caps around the place this evening.

Noisy B*st*rds

Our hotel, the Hotel Mutlu, sits on the beach. behind us is a river and beyond that there is another hotel. Every night, while we sit on the balcony, we can hear local music coming from this hotel. It has three distinguishing features :
1. It's loud
2. It's rubbish
3. It's annoying

It is rather like having a Vauxhall Corsa (value £300) with loud stereo (value £2000) parked permenantly outside your house.

I shall write to the mayor and complain as soon as I get home, that'll sort it...

Tea for three

Our venue for tea this evening was Bella Mamma's, an Italian joint on the beach.
We started with garlic bread, then Mrs C had spinach (grass) and potato ravioli, I tucked in to penne arabiatta (google it) and The Boy had a margarita pizza.
It was superb and worth every kuru

Day of the Dolmus II : The market strikes back

We missed any meteoric activity last night, despite staying up until nearly midnight, but maybe there will be a bit tonight, we'll have to wait and see.
Today brought another early breakfast and then to the main street to catch a dolmus to Fethiye for the Tuesday market. The dolmus journey was uneventful except for the gentleman with French-strength B.O. It was a relief when he got off early, I can tell you.
Fethiye market is something to behold; approached via a line of fruit and veg stalls selling local produce (Mrs C picked up some peaches and bananas) and then at the bottom you are in the market proper.
Everywhere you look there are traders selling replica football shirts, watches, handbags, jeans, games and the like. It's all counterfeit of course and of varying quality, some good, some not so good. Traders assail you all the time with their cries of "hello hello", "yes please", "excuse me" and the like; we even heard one bloke calling out "cheap as chips!"
We came away with a nice leather handbag for Mrs C, a Spurs shirt and nintendo game for The Boy and a "genuine fake" Rolex watch for me. Total spend, about £40
It is very hot and sweaty in there and, sadly, tempers got a bit frayed towards the end (nothing serious, just hot and grumpy).
We decided to avoid the dolmus for the return journey and splash out on a water taxi (4YTL each but then nothing's too good for my family).
In contrast to the crowded dolmus and teeming market, the water taxi was a gentle and relaxing half hour pottering accross the bay.
Lunch was taken in Marias in the main street; not very busy when we got there but the food took an age to arrive (nothing more than a jacket spud, tuna roll and plate of chips) which was a bit disappointing as we've eaten there twice before and it was ok.
Back at the hotel we checked out or goodies and then went down to the pool for a couple of hours on sun and splashing. Not a bad way to spend a day.
And now, as usual, my thoughts turn to food and beer (in vast quantities).

What a shower...

Oh yes, I forgot, it's the night for the Perseid meteor shower so there might be a bit of nocturnal activity tonight.

Dalyan Discovery

Up early, breakfasted and ready for an 0845 start. The coach arrived promptly just after 0900.It's about an hour and a half to Dalyan, up and down several mountains. The guide asked us if we wanted to stop off at a carpet factory but was met with a resounding "no" (we still remember the oily salesmen at the Gold Centre...)

We stopped briefly at a cafe/shop/ostrich display (!?) and then we were at Dalyan and on the boat. I'm not sure which was older (or indeed in better condition), the boat or it's driver but they both appeared to have at least one trip in them so we got on; 200 yards later we got off.

Our first stop was the mud baths, where you can cover yourself in sloppy, grey mud and bathe in hot springs.We tried the mud to varying degrees; The Boy got some on his feet, immediately proclaimed it as "disgusting" and shot off for a shower. I slopped a bit on myself but I didn't really like it and so I joined The Boy in the showers. Mrs C got a bit into it and greased herself up but was in the showers before we'd finished.The hot springs are heated by sulphorous gases bubbling up through them and they have a distinct "eggy" pong. The Boy declared that there was no was he was going in that, I didn't fancy it either but Mrs C plunged in and rather liked it.

Back on the boat and it was a short chug to our lunch venue, the Paradise Hotel. This was a professional set-up with rows of tables and a dozen or more waiters but nice nonetheless. As veggies we were catered for with omelette and chips which was ok. We also had a glass of wine with it (5YTL each).

After lunch it was back on the boat for a lazy cruise down the river where we saw some Lycian rock tombs and then on to the beach where, apparently, giant loggerhead turtles lay their eggs.

There were a couple of dozen boats there and the beach was very busy. We all went into the sea for a swim and it was lovely, the water was warm and clear and there was a nice breeze blowing off the sea, cooling us down.
The only downside was that the fine sand got everywhere (Mrs C is in the shower as I type, trying to get shot of the last of it).After an hour and a half at the beach, we were back in the boat, up the river to Dalyan and on the coach to come home.All in all it was £22 per head (The Boy went free) well spent and a good day out.

Now, where to go for tea ? (I still call it "tea", being working class)

Nothing to report....

For the last couple of days all we have done is sit around the pool, swim in the pool and read books.It sounds boring, and it's not usually my cup of tea but it has been very pleasant just chilling out and relaxing. I just wish the hotel's internet connection was a bit more stable so I could have listened to the fourth test on the BBC's streaming commentary.
Tomorrow we are off on the "Dalyan Discovery" cruise; should be interesting.

Day of the Dolmus

Today we decided to have a trip to Fethiye, the town that is about 3 miles along the coast. We set off up the main street to where the dolmus (I don't know the plural of dolmus but there must be one as there are thousands of the things) goes from. I saw one coming with a little sign in the front saying "Fethiye" so I waved at him hopefully and he stopped. "Fethiye ?" I asked, expending all my knowledge of turkish in one go. He nodded, we got in and we were off.We took the back seat, three of four, Mrs C nabbing the window, me in the middle and The Boy on the end, leaving one free. At the next stop we were joined on our seat by a large woman; lucky, then, that Then Boy is small, as her buttocks needed slightly more than the standard Mitsubishi seats could offer.The dolmus had 14 seats and room for a couple to stand but the driver stopped whereever asked and took on more and more people; you could hear the springs creaking at every minor bump. On arrival at the end, about 26 people disembarked and you could almost hear the mechanical sigh as the van eased up.Within minutes of arriving, we were lost, having gone up the hill rather than down. We ambled on in true british fashion until we cam upon a scary looking local with one eye, three teeth and a cowboy hat who showed us the error of our ways and pointed us in the right direction.Luckily, armed with a map from the rep, we found our way to the old town and had a browse round the shops.we paused for a second and a young chap at a stall said "hello". Within two seconds or replying, the stools were out, drinks were in our hands and we were on the receiving end of a Turkish market trader's hospitality. He told us he has just qualified as a gyneacologist and was off to Weymouth soon to take up a job in the hospital there.After a bit of haggling from Mrs C, we bid him goodbye and good luck and left laden down with spices and Turkish Delight. Job done (for him at least). Maybe we were railroaded into buying the stuff but it was good fun and he seemed a nice chap. Women of Weymouth beware, he'll be looking up you soon.On our travels The Boy managed to buy himself a natural sponge (8 grammes, 5 YTL) and a fez which he wants to wear everywhere; I'm planning on getting one too, if they do them in XXL to fit my outsized noggin. Mrs C will disown us one day, I'm sure.After that it was back to Calis in another (less crowded) dolmus, stop for a beer and catch half an hour of the fourth test, a snack at Marias and then to the hotel pool for a cool down.All in all a most enjoyable and interesting day.

Damn, missed it !

We had hoped to go to the quiz night last night at the Shamrock Bar, run by Scunner, the head honcho of www.calis-beach.co.uk. We got there in good time but the boy had overdone it in the pool and he was dead on his feet and feeling rough; so we ended up getting a bag of crisps, 4 cans of Efes and playing cards on the balcony whist the boy had an early night.
Maybe next week.

That sunset

Here's a picture of it. Hopefully it came out ok; Im writing this on a small screen which doesn't show pictures at their best.

Sorted

Luckily, Mrs C managed to find a swimsuit so Tuesday was a lazy day around the pool. We all got a little bit too much sun and although not badly sunburned, it was a bit of a warning of how fierce the sun can be at these lattitudes.

Rollup for the mystery tour

Today we got taken on the "free" welcome tour. They took us to see a couple of sights (like the view of Olu Deniz and Kaya, the deserted village); then we were shipped off to the Fethiye Gold Centre (who were, I suspect, funding the tour). We were given a brief chat about gold and taken to the underground sales room where there were as many salesmen as victims ^h^h^h^h^h visitors. We mooched about for three quarters of an hour, bored stiff and trying not to catch their eyes.
That'll learn us...

We're here !
A minor delay to the flight out but nothing too bothersome.
We've now to find mrs C a new swimsuit as we neglected to pack it.

Oh, and they were right, the sunset is beautiful, I'll post a picture later.

Cables galore

Putting together all the stuff I need and I despair at the number of chargers and connectors. I have different chargers or cables for Phones, MP3 players, cameras & PDA; I reckon that my bag will have at least 4 chargers and 4 cables, just so as I can connect and charge my devices.
Isn't it about time there was a standard connector for power/data like there is for headphones (USB mini B would seem to fit the bill)

Ready to blog...

Email set up, mobile devices set up, I should now be able to add posts and photos from anywhere that I can get an internet connection using a laptop and/or PDA. In theory I could also post from my phone via GPRS but that could cost me money.

Getting set

Getting the cases packed, last minute shopping, a mountain of ironing, check passports, get some Lire, taxi booked; not long now and we'll be off.
We booked this holiday on a cold a frosty morning seven months ago; it felt sometimes like it was never going to happen but now it's just a couple of days away.