We did it!
Our 2 weeks fitting out our new villa!
We set off for Manchester Airport early in the morning on such a cold day.
After a good flight we arrived at Antalya Airport and were met by Orkan, Kadir's representative and our driver, Mehmet. The sky was blue and cloudless and it was so warm after the snowy conditions we had left in England. We had a wonderful journey - through the town of Antalya which was a mix of fairly modern shops and businesses and traditional Turkish people selling their wares at the side of the road - such a busy, bustling town. We then started our ascent up into the Taurus mountains where the landscape quickly changed with very few buildings or houses. We passed Bedouin tents, small cafes and bars and the occasional holiday village all advertising Turkish Cay (tea) and Aryan (a yoghurt drink made from yoghurt, water and salt). The scenery was magnificent, very rugged and untouched and as we climbed up and up, eventually to 1,500 metres the snow on the mountains and at the side of the road became thicker and thicker but fortunately the roads were quite clear. The sun began to set and we were able to see a beautiful sunset over the mountains.
When we arrived in Fethiye after approximately 3 hours it was quite dark. We were taken to our apartments that consisted of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a lounge/kitchen. By this time the temperature had dropped considerably from when we had arrived at Antalya and unfortunately there was no heating in the Apart and very little bedding! However, we were all so excited nothing really bothered us and we soon got out our duty free bottles etc.out , had a good few drinks and fell into bed
We awoke the next morning to very wet weather and gale force winds with the trees blowing sideways. We had arranged with Selda that she would collect us at 9.30 a.m. to take us to the Villa before our shopping trip and she arrived on time - it was really good to see her again and to ask her all sorts of questions. The roads both in Fethiye and Calis were in the most dreadful way, they were all dug up, muddy and full of very large potholes. Selda explained that they were relaying a lot of the roads, that they had been dug up for new pipes to be fitted and were trying to get the work done before the season started. There didn't seem to be a road that was in one piece and this made all our travelling very difficult. We soon arrived at our Villa and it was as though we had never been away. Niam (our builder from next door) joined us as we wandered through the house and garden inspecting everything and finding little things we hadn't noticed before. Niam had planted sugar snap peas (besilia) all around the outside of the house which actually already had peas growing together with lovely flowers. He had also planted 150 rose trees in the garden which should be beautiful later in the year.
We measured the rooms and took notice as much as possible of where things could go and then set off for our big shop! Selda took us to a large furniture store which had an ordinary supermarket on the ground floor and the furniture on the next 3 floors up. Selda explained to the Assistant the volume of stuff we would be looking at and negotiated a 5% discount. It appeared that on the first floor there were more expensive items and the further up the shop you went the cheaper the items became. We all fell in love with a bright orange and cream 3 piece suite which converted into a double bed and two single beds, all the seating had foot rests and the chairs also became 2 seater settees. This was a very expensive item - far more than we had budgeted for but after seeing it none of the other suites really impressed us. We then chose a very lovely dining table with 6 chairs - again in cream and a 6 foot sideboard. At about this stage we were offered our first cup of tea/coffee which was brought to us by a lovely Turkish lady. Sandra and I really needed to go to the toilet and so we were shown to the top floor and pointed in the right direction. The toilet was a stand up one! I was not really sure what you did and was concerned for my boots! I remained standing which apparently was the wrong thing to do and have been put right since then!
It was getting late by this time and we still had not made final decisions particularly over beds etc. and so we left that store and Selda took us to another furniture shop but we did not see anything there that we fancied. We then went to an Electrical Spot shop to choose all our white goods and electrical items and managed to get everything we wanted there, arranged for delivery for the next day and took an electric fire with us to put in the Apartment. We also bought 2 quilts for the bed as it had been so cold.
By this time it was getting late, we were all getting tired and had not eaten. Poor Selda was so patient and was doing a brilliant job helping us to choose and taking us wherever we wanted to go. We decided to go for something to eat and so Selda took us to a small restaurant close by the school where she teaches where we all had Turkish pide - which is a kind of pizza but very long and takes up 2 places on the table! Selda then dropped us back at the apartment where we had a good discussion over what we were going to ultimately buy, a few drinks and fell into bed. The weather had deteriorated even further with tremendous thunder and lightning storms that night.
Thursday - 6th February 2003.
We left the Apartment at 10.00 a.m. with Selda and went to the Bank to try to get as much cash in Turkish Lira as possible. With a million lira only worth approximately 40p. we all ended up with huge amounts of bank notes as the shops would not accept credit cards/cheques or sterling from us. We then returned to the furniture shop where we made final decisions over the furniture for the whole of the house apart from the 3rd bedroom - again more and more tea and biscuits - we felt as though we had known the assistants for ages by this time. Our main assistant was a really lovely man who said he rarely got time off - worked 7 days a week, 12 hours a day! When it was time to pay there were huge stacks of money on the table as the bill came to over 7 billion lira!!
We then decided we had to get crockery, pots and pans etc. and cleaning items. So our Assistant took us downstairs to the supermarket where he recruited 2 very young girls to push our trolleys and to run round for us and we got most of the stuff we needed by way of cleaning, a few dishes and cutlery and this would all be delivered with the furniture the following day. However, there were still many items we couldn't get there so made a dash up to the Spot shop (Spot shops are much cheaper than other shops and are quite good quality). We then got all the pots, pans, crockery and kitchen items that we needed and were then presented with a pot of artificial flowers. The Assistant presented it to us so proudly, initially we thought it was hideous but it actually grew on us as time went by!! By this time we were again pretty exhausted and hungry and went for another meal and then back to the Apartments. Weather again horrendous - but after a few gins we didn't really notice. We had arranged for the furniture to be delivered the next morning and the furniture van was going to call to the apartment on the way to the villa to collect our luggage as we were able to leave the apartment and move in - great excitement and anticipation!
Friday 7th February 2003
Another dreadful day, howling winds, rain and hailstones. Selda telephoned to say it was too wet to take the furniture and so we had to wait. Eventually an open truck arrived with our beds on the back!! The men collected our luggage and we waited for Selda to collect us. We noticed a load of goats and sheep being taken down the road and later discovered they were for next week when on Tuesday the Moslem Festival, Kurban Byrami begins. This is a Sacrifice Festival and most households will slaughter an animal on their premises, immediately cook the animal, keep some for themselves and distribute the rest to family, friends and any poor people who are in need. The Festival is to commemorate when Abraham took his son Isaac up the mountain to offer him as a sacrifice to God to prove his faithfulness but God stopped Abraham and told him to sacrifice a ram instead. More of this later!!
We arrived at our Villa and began the daunting task of cleaning everywhere - although it was only surface stuff we had to clean as it had obviously been given a thorough cleaning before we saw it and between us all we very soon had everywhere sparkling and were able to put the furniture into place and things were really looking up. We then arranged for all the locks to be changed as a lot of keys were missing from balcony doors etc. and Niam was concerned that the builders had gone off with them. The electrical items were delivered and the washing machine connected but subsequently began leaking from the plumbing. Selda then took us to the carpet shop to buy rugs for the whole house and to look at curtain material. We very soon chose our rugs, again with the assistance of tea and coffee. Some of the rugs had to be cut and bound but they were whisked away, done immediately and were ready to be delivered all within half an hour. We then went up the block to look at the curtain shop. There was very little choice in the shop and so we decided to take some swatches home to choose the material. Anyway, the man in the shop said he would come with us to measure up for the curtains and so he got in the car with all of us, the carpet men followed on behind with all the rugs. On the way the curtain man mentioned he was going to sell his flat, so Selda, not to miss a chance, took a detour to see where the flat was located and we then somehow lost the carpet men! Eventually we found them and got back to the villa where we found the locksmiths, Niam and Gulumser's son in law who was trying to sort out the leak behind the washing machine, so the house was full of tradesmen and we hadn't a clue who was who! Next door had kindly sent a huge tray of food in for us, we were absolutely exhausted by this time so decided to sit down and get stuck in to the gin again!! It was freezing cold despite having 2 electric fires and the next thing all the power went off!! Within minutes Niam was at the window with an emergency lighting unit. Fortunately the power came on again quite shortly but through the evening intermittently went off and on. We then heard what we thought were either geese or crickets, but it turned out to be frogs on the pond next to the house. The noise was amazing. We are also surrounded by chickens and cockerels, so what with the frogs, the cockerels crowing and the calling from the nearby Mosque (Cami - pronounced Jami) - it is extremely lively to say the least!! We are so thrilled with the Villa - it seems even bigger than what we remembered and so beautiful. We discovered many more houses being built behind us and possibly more to be built at the side. We are hoping it won't take away too much of the beautiful views of the mountains we have presently at the back of the villa.
Saturday - 8th February 2003.
We awoke to beautiful clear, blue sky and sunshine!! Wonderful after all the dreadful rain and winds. We started to do more cleaning only to discover that the shop had failed to deliver our mop handle and sweeping brush - most important things!! We then noticed quite a few things missing so Selda phoned them and they delivered another few bags but not the brush!! They then came back later with a brush (rather a second hand looking one) but still no brush handle!! We gave up at that point. We arranged for Digiturk to call to install the TV system, an Indesit service man appeared to fix the washing machine (apparently Selda had arranged this). He (in broken English i.e. machine, no problem) said he couldn't do anything. I couldn't understand him and called to Gulumser to assist. As she can't speak any English she went over the road to get Emil (lovely neighbour) who can speak a little English, then they all came in to see the washing machine man along with all the children from next door!! It transpired that Gulumser's son in law will fix the leak which is nothing to do with the washing machine.
Later that day Digiturk installed the satellite system, the men came to measure and give us an estimate for the window grills and we are just waiting for the curtains to be fitted now. The villa is beginning to look like home - very little left to do. We felt we had done so much in such a short time. From today all the Banks and most businesses will close down for the whole of the next week for the Festival and we will also lose Selda for the week as she will spend all week visiting family as will most people. We already feel extremely settled, as though we have been here forever. We are so lucky to have our neighbours, particularly Niam and Gulumser and their three daughters who are still at home - Sevili, Sevgi and Neslihan. They have 3 married daughters as well and four grandchildren - Esma, Hillal, Abi and Duigo. Sevili is able to speak a little English as she and Sevgi learn it at school. Neslihn is very shy but still likes to come round at every opportunity. We have also discovered that we have a ‘resident' guard dog which is let loose at night. It is Niam's German Shepherd - Azra - we are not sure about her at the moment, she will need to get to know us!! At 9.30 this evening, there was a knock on the window - it was Sevgi and Neslihan - they handed over a vase of beautiful flowers, rather like anemones and which came from the mountains by Ovacik where Niam has a hotel and a few properties. They are so very kind.
Sunday, 9th February 2003.
Very cold, but beautiful and sunny so far. We got our leak fixed so can now do some much needed washing! Pauline went to the front door today and Azra was sitting on the step. She stroked her and Azra did a huge frightening growl and snarl, showed her teeth but fortunately didn't bite. When I mentioned this to Niam (with difficulty as he doesn't speak English) he just said ‘Azra no problem'. ‘No problem' appears to be the standard reply to most questions!! Niam gave us wood for the fire which will be very useful as we don't have any at the moment and apparently it is difficult to get hold of. It seems that Niam has bought the rest of the land around the villa where he wants to build large villas with their own pool, bit it seems that he has a couple of villas in Ovacik which he has to sell first.
Selda came round for coffee and to see if everything was OK. She was telling us that her brother in law who owns Tiffany - a large chain of jewellers in Turkey - had been approached by Lawyers in America who had actually come to Turkey to see him to advise him he could not use the name Tiffany because it was already a very large firm of Jewellers in America (Breakfast at Tiffany's). He only has a few weeks left before he has to re-name it and they wanted suggestions for a name from us!! I suggested Giovanni - especially as his name is Cirvan (pronounced Ghervan (like the s in ‘usual)). We said we would try and think of more names for her. Later on we borrowed Selda's shopping trolley and set off walking to Calis Market - about 10 minutes or so walk. What a wonderful place! The market is very large - mainly filled with fruit, vegetables, spices, nuts, cheese, all at amazingly low prices and all sold in kilos. Buying lettuce you would get a kilo (too cheap to get less - probably about 750,000. liras (30p). They also have a lot of clothing stalls, rugs, chandlery, in fact most things you would need. Many of the stalls are owned by very traditional Turkish people, very poor, who have come just to sell their wares, so it could be just oranges on their stall, or bananas. They also have the ladies making the Turkish pancakes which are very large pancakes rolled on a circular table near the ground and then cooked on a metal circular pan which is over heat and then stuffed with various things such as cheese and herbs or minced meat and herbs. There are little tables and beautifully covered armchairs all around that area where you can buy and eat the pancakes and have tea/coffee. The total cost would be less than £1. for a pancake and coffee - wonderful value.
We bought masses of fruit and vegetables; Pauline and Sandra bought Nike trousers for about £2. per pair. We also bought stacks of beautiful chicken from a very clean stall; we got 4 breasts, 16 thighs, 4 legs and a whole chicken - all for about £8. We also bought an assortment of cheese - having a choice of sheep, cow and goat!! We then staggered home with all our goodies and cooked a beautiful chicken dinner - our first proper meal in our Villa.
Monday, 10th February.2003
Festival starts tonight so Fethiye is crowded with people doing last minute shopping. We needed to get more money from the Bank but the first Bank had run out of money!! I got money from a machine in the end and opened a Bank account to make life easier next time we go. Selda left us at mid-day after going for a coffee at the Harbour in Fethiye. She, like everybody, is very excited about the holiday and will be spending her time visiting relatives and friends. We all strolled around Fethiye enjoying the beautiful scenery and looking at the shops and the small markets in the centre of the town. The fish market is situate in a kind of circular courtyard and consists of a large circular marble counter which is divided into segments so that about 6 fishmongers all have a segment with their fish displayed in front of them. Other stalls, cafes and restaurants around the Courtyards then surround this stall so there is a lovely atmosphere and such interesting things to buy and see. One of the cafes will cook the fish you buy and supply salad, bread, drinks etc. for a very small amount so Pauline and I decided that we must give that a try at a later date! We then bought various other kitchen items in a lovely little shop in a side road and once again set off like pack horses with all our wares. We saw a Taxi Stand on the main road and I went to ask for their card thinking it would be useful to have a taxi service on hand. One of the drivers, Ilker, who could speak English quite well nobbled us and boy, were we sorry. He talked and talked, telling us many traditional things, some of which were actually really interesting and useful. He then took us to a shop to buy a mobile phone (no doubt so we could phone him for a taxi!) and we then got him to take us back home with all our shopping. He came in the house and again talked and talked. The kids next door came round with lovely cheese rolls for us and Ilker told us that when we returned the plate we should put something on the plate for them as this was the custom.
Tuesday, 11th February 2003
Very cold and rainy all day today. This morning I broke up a Toblerone bar I had and put it on next-door's plate and took it round for them. Everybody was dressed up in his or her best clothes for the Festival and the atmosphere was rather like our Christmas Day. Just as we were having breakfast Niam came round with small sticks for our fire, he had just got them from Ovacik. They had a beautiful smell, a bit like eucalyptus. Later that morning we saw a goat being taken into the garden of a house opposite and we all knew what was going to happen!! Sandra and Pauline decided to brave the elements and go for a walk to Calis Beach as none of us had been there yet. They hadn't been gone long when Niam and his granddaughter, brother in law and his daughter came and had a cup of tea with Ray and I. It soon became apparent that they had slaughtered a goat earlier that day although we had not heard or seen anything. Niam said he would bring us some goat to eat later and sure enough a very large bowl of stewed goat was passed in to us. We did all have a little taste and it was OK but the thought of it put me off from eating it. So we put it in the fridge and later we actually gave it to Azra who really enjoyed it!! These sacrifices will go on for 3 days. Next door had many visitors coming and going all day until very late in the evening. It is becoming extremely interesting learning so much about Turkish culture and customs - there is so much to find out and discover. We haven't started yet!!
Wednesday 12th February 2003
A cloudy, drizzly day. We have not had sun for days now, which means we have no hot water as all the water is heated by solar power and it has run out. We spoke with Emel and her husband who live opposite to us as we were leaving to go out. The husband (in broken English) told us he has a gullet in Fethiye Harbour which is his business and he takes people for one and two week cruises. He does all the cooking etc. and really enjoys it. He said we must go to visit the gullet one day and he would take us out - they are really nice people. There is also another couple over the road who are really friendly although the language is a real problem as no English and we have very little Turkish other than ‘Merhaba' (Hello), Gunedin (Good morning) and other little bits and pieces. Pauline is the best at Goodbye which is Allahaismarladik (pronounced alaasmaldik). However, the person leaving only says this! The person staying will reply ‘Gule, gule' which means go with a smile, which is really very lovely but difficult to know when to stop because each time you say Allahaismarladik they have to say gule, gule and it can go on for some time! We have also noticed that Turkish people will kiss each other a lot on greeting etc. even the men will often kiss each other. I suppose we will get to learn a lot of their customs quite quickly particularly as we see so much of next door who are very traditional and so happy to teach us things.
Today we got the Otobus into Fethiye. Because it is Byrami the bus was free which was nice, although the fare would only have been about 20p. anyway! We walked along the whole of the harbour, stopped for coffee and looked at all the beautiful boats and gullets that were moored there. Many people were out for strolls, all in their best clothes and all very relaxed. Very few tourists, mainly Turkish people. We found that Gima Supermarket was open and in we went and bought a few more necessary household items and then back to the waterfront for a quick lunch and back home on the Otobus.
Thursday, 13th February 2003
Another cold, rainy morning. Still no sun and no hot water. We are all longing for baths, showers, etc. but no chance. We walked to Calis Beach which took about 20 minutes and got waylaid by a Turkish chap on a scooter by the nickname of Tango! He took us to his little café (called Orange- hence his nickname) and gave us all a cup of coffee (on the house) and again another one who talked his leg off, but a little more interesting than Ilkar as he told us all sorts of stories about various girlfriends he has had and was quite funny. He also told us all sorts of trips, taxi services, apartments etc. he had on offer and gave us his phone number. We then strolled down to the beach, which looked miserable and deserted this time of year and particularly with the bad weather. We had a small lunch in the one café we found open, but it was very cold in there but we enjoyed the hot food (burgers and chips - just like home!!). Calis Beach roads are in a terrible state. They hope they will be ready by May but I can't see that happening, there is so much to do. On the walk home a young lad approached us and told us he had just opened a new bar a few days ago and asked if we would like to see it. He took us up 2 flights of stairs and there was this beautiful new bar. He was so proud of it. He asked if we wanted a drink but we declined but said we would go there one day. He said it was open until 3.00 a.m.!! We were quite flattered that he considered us ‘oldies' worthy of such a trendy place.
Friday 14th February 2003
We went out early this morning - a lovely sunny day. Pauline, Sandra and myself caught the bus into Fethiye (still free). We walked round the harbour first and got invited in to view a beautiful new hotel that had just been open a couple of months ago overlooking the bay. It was an amazing place with beautiful decorations and mosaic tiles on the floor. Later speaking to Selda she said they had had no bookings and thought the prices had put people off. What a shame, it must have cost a fortune to build and to maintain. We went into the town where we had a coffee and a very large brandy. A shoeshine boy came and polished my shoes for 5 million. Better than the other day when I got ripped off for 10 million. The real price should be about 2 million!! Serves me right, I should have asked the price first - Kac Para - how much. As I said, so much to learn! We then went shopping in the little gift shops that we found open - most shops still closed - everywhere we went we were asked if we wanted tea. Had lunch at a Turkish Restaurant that Kadir had taken us to last year, it was excellent. By far the best meal we had had so far. All traditional Turkish food - yummy!! We then got a taxi home as once again we were laden. We discovered Ray not at home and assumed he had gone out for a walk, shortly after Niam called us and said Ray was at his. Apparently, Niam was going into Fethiye with the man over the road and had asked Ray if he wanted to join them. They had gone to a little butcher's shop to have the remainder of the goat minced for 1 million (about 40p). I wondered which bits of it were left to be minced!! They then took him to a vegetable market and a couple of other places. He asked us to go in and we looked at their photographs. All their daughter's wedding photos, even his wedding. We try so hard to have conversations with them, we do get by but it is quite tiring and stressful after a while!! We had just started cooking our tea when again we were called and invited in next door. They had a lot of their family there including Naim's old mother and father (ana and baba). They were extremely traditional and live very traditional lives. We all sat round the low table on the cushions on the floor and because Sevili was there and a couple of other relatives who could speak a little English it was a lot easier than usual so we had a really lovely evening. They are so hospitable and kind. When we got home we lit our fire which gives out a lovely heat. We had a really smashing day.
Saturday, 15th February 2003
We were going to go to Fethiye today but at breakfast Naim called and asked us to be on his path by his mini bus at 12.30. I got very excited because I thought he was going to take us to visit his parents at Ovacik and had wanted to go to Ovacik all week. However, when 12.30 came we noticed that a long trestle table had been placed on the pathway where his bus was usually parked and a fire had been lit. When we went round he had his family round and also another family, Atik, Aysha and their daughter Nihan. Atik is the Deputy Lord Mayor of Olu Deniz, a really smashing bloke who could speak good English. We mentioned to him that we needed to organise mosquito grills for the windows, whereupon he got on his phone, talked to somebody and lo and behold within an hour a man came, measured up, gave us a very good price and said he would be back on Monday to fix them!! Gulumser was sitting on the floor with their low table, rolling pancakes and guess what the filling was? Yes, minced goat!! Anyway, it was all mixed with onions and herbs and was quite delicious. They looked after us so well, making sure we had plenty to eat and drink (strictly no alcohol!!). Sandra decided she would have a go at rolling the dough to make the pancake. She said it was really difficult as the rolling is done with a pole rather like a brush pole and only one end has pressure on it and it has to be steered round the table to give it the size rather than rolled backwards and forwards like with our rolling pins. Anyway, she managed to make one and it was fine. So another lovely day with them. We are so lucky to have them as our neighbours and to be able to learn so much from them.
Atik told us how he was part of the design/building of our house and how strongly it had been built etc. due to the fact that it is in an earthquake area!!
Selda turned up at Niam's with a horrendous hangover (Selda is the exception to the no drinking culture in Turkey!!). She was given a large pancake to eat but only managed to nibble. We were going to have a night out with her and her family and friends that night but she went home for a sleep, woke up late and didn't feel well, so were deprived of our night out!
I invited our neighbours to come to us tomorrow for tea so will have to think of something to give them. We suggested to Sandra that we made scones or something English, we'll see how we feel tomorrow.
Sunday, 16th February 2003
Another beautiful sunny day - a shower at last!! Went to Calis Market on the Dolmus (small mini bus which runs every few minutes - Dolmus is the word for stuffed!). We didn't need food today as we still have enough left from last week to last us until we go home so were able to concentrate on other things. I bought a couple of pair of joggers and a jumper. We bought some doormats - 3 for about 80p. a Turkish tea pot which consists of a large teapot and a smaller teapot. The smaller teapot stands on top of the larger teapot - but more about that later. We also bought strawberries for the tea party - about 1 kilo for 50p. All kinds of spices, herbs, nuts etc. for a few pence. We got more stuff for the house including a window cleaner on a pole and a very large shoe rack. We had a stuffed rucksack, stuffed shopping trolley, the pole, shoe rack and other various bags, struggled up the road. The Dolmus saw us, beeped and waited for us. People jumped off the bus to help us on and off and then waved to us as we went off again! Amazing place! We laughed so much all the way back to the villa.
At 3.00 p.m. Niam and family came. We gave them strawberries, melted chocolate to dip them in, various crisps, and cakes etc. we had bought on the market but they didn't eat much apart from the little girl Esmar who ate everything in sight! We then had the problem of how to make the Turkish tea. We had bought the tea earlier in the week in Fethiye, it was proper tea grown in Turkey. So we had the whole family in the kitchen showing us how to make proper Turkish tea. You have to put the large teapot on the cooker to heat up (or pour boiling water into it from the kettle but still keep it on the heat). You then put a large spoonful of tea for each 2 people into the smaller pot (in this case we put 8 large spoons in), pour in a little cold water, stir and stir it until it becomes a mash, pour off any excess water. Then you pour on the boiling water from the larger pot, top that larger pot up with more water to boil on the heat put the smaller pot on top of the larger pot and let it sit there for about 10 minutes. You then get the little Turkish tea glasses and just pour a small amount of the tea into each glass (after warming the glasses with a little hot water first) and then top the glass up with the hot water. You would normally have 2/3 glasses of the tea but it really is quite a ritual and you would have to prepare the tea well before you wanted to drink it. Anyway, we think everyone enjoyed it. The children are beautiful, so well behaved and a pleasure to have in the house. After a while Niam nodded at the children and they went back home. Niam was then telling us what the fruit trees are in our garden - fig, orange, lemon, meddler, pomegranate, apricot and 6 grape vines. Anyway, it was a lovely afternoon, other than the language problem, but the children love to try and help out. We gave them our Lonely Planet phrase book to keep as it may help them with their English.
Monday 17th February 2003
Our last day sadly. Pauline and I decided we would go into Fethiye for a last look round and that fish lunch we had promised ourselves. But as usual, our plans soon went awry when Selda drove down the road just after we had set off for the Dolmus. She took us into Fethiye, she went to see when the curtains would be ready - unfortunately not until after we will have left, and then we went to Kadir's office as he was back from his holiday and we had not seen him at all. It was really good seeing him, had tea with him and a chat. Met a chap called Keith who is a Southerner working with Kadir on the Estates side. He gave us info about an organisation set up for foreigners in Turkey - really useful. We arranged our journey back to the Airport with Kadir and then left. Went to try and sort out house insurance in a little Commercial Union office but it was quite impossible as the lady had very little English, we didn't have the documents she needed with us and we didn't even have an address for our house. Apparently at the moment it is just the ‘house opposite no. 108' so we will have to try and sort that out again. We then came out of there and decided to go for lunch. On the way we saw an old man sitting on a stool at a little table typing away on an old manual portable typewriter. It was just in the street at a very busy junction and we think it is for anybody who needs a letter writing and he will do it for them!! As we walked towards the Fish Market we saw a car that was illegally parked being taken away by the traffic people. The pick up wagon goes around the streets with a loud speaker and shouts out the reg. number of any cars illegally parked to give them a chance to move them. If they are still not moved the next time round they shout a final warning and then they clamp it with a big claw and haul it up on the wagon and impound it for about a month plus a large fine!! Parking at the moment in Fethiye is dreadful due to the closure of so many roads but it certainly doesn't deter them from being booked.
We then went to the Fish Market, chose 2 lovely fat Sea Bream which were taken away to be grilled. We were sat at a table, given beautiful salad and bread and a very large raki. The fish was then served and was really delicious. Selda telephoned and asked if we would meet her to go to visit some land which her brother in law has bought and wonders if he should build villas on it. We went with her and she took us a little out of Fethiye towards the mountains. We got to the land which is in a most beautiful place overlooking Fethiye with the mountains all around. There were birds of prey circling the tops of the mountains and it was quite spectacular. It would be a lovely place to have a villa but far away from beaches etc. but good for walks as Hisoranu is over the mountain with a pathway leading there.
When we got back to the Villa the men were there fitting the mosquito grills and changing the main front door lock.
We then began packing in readiness for our journey home tomorrow.
Tuesday 18th February 2003
Niam came early to fix the electrical faults, so nothing needing to be done now. We have been to see about air conditioning and that will be done as soon as we transfer the money to Turkey along with the money for the security grills.
Kadir and the driver, Mehmet, came to take us to the Airport. Kadir was seeing us off. They had hired Niam's mini bus to use to take us. As we were getting into the mini bus (in the pouring rain) Niam stuffed a huge bag full of his own grown lettuce at us. He had earlier that day given us a kilo of honey! One of the other neighbours also came out to say goodbye, followed by his wife and they all stood and waved us off. It was so lovely and we were all very sad leaving our beautiful villa and such wonderful people. We can't wait to go back - and hopefully in the sunshine!
We collected another driver in Fethiye and then called at a workshop to pick up chains for the tyres as the weather was so bad on the mountains - we didn't know what to expect!! We had a really good journey, plenty of snow on the mountains and at the side and at one point the snow was coming down heavily but didn't cause any problems with the road and the driver was really careful. Very different to most Turkish drivers who drive very erratically, impatiently and frequently tooting their horns. We arrived at the Airport in good time, had a very expensive cup of coffee. Sandra had made lovely salad butties and we did some last minute duty free shopping.
We arrived in Manchester in good time, We all had a lovely drink when we got back and talked non-stop about our trip. A really good end to a very successful 2 weeks.
taken from the internet no copyright intended
