It all started very well - got to the airport 4 hours before flight time. I was expecting delays in the road works and long queues at check-in! No delays and no queues so the flight wasn't open when we got to the desk....the charming young lady on the First Choice desk rang ops. and got them to open the flight for us!
The hotel (Halikarya) was very basic but clean and we found the staff to be very friendly even though they spoke little English and my Turkish is still not very extensive. Breakfast was the usual and we found the evening meals to be good for most of the time - as usual, the last week was the most difficult as it was practically the end of the season. We often had the pool to ourselves, except when the hotel was overrun by a group of East Europeans who were loud and ill-mannered both in the pool and in the restaurant. One day we were paddling around the pool, sharing with another english lady, when 'Sir' said that he felt sorry for the people on XL flights! It turned out that Carol (the lady in the pool) was booked with them and knew nothing about it. She was very philosophical about it and did, eventually, get a flight sorted.
We met up with Del and Evelyn and had a great night at the Blue Moon - the meal was not the most stunning we had, but the company more than compensated. We did meet up at other times during the2 weeks they were there and it was always enjoyable. Also met 'My heart belongs to Kadi' with her daughter and friends - really nice people and it was good to put a face to the name.
It may be me, but I felt that Bitez had changed this year - we have never had drunken youths 'mooning' and trying to 'borrow' children's bikes before. I hope that it was just a 'one-off'.
We ate at Ambrosia, First Stop, Ortasekerli (for my birthday). Blue Moon,Nar Cicegi, Lavas, Lemon Tree, Pedesa, Divan,Amphora, Balikcinin, Poyraz, Hare,Sultan and Golden Spoon. "Sir" said the octopus at Balikcinin was the most tender he had ever had - he tried it 3 times and it was perfect each time. Have to say that we never had a really bad meal, some were better than others - we were most disappointed with Lemon Tree, Hare, Sultan and Golden Spoon.
We had a terrific storm one Saturday night and sat in the First Stop watching the lightening over the bay - stunning view! Then watched, fascinated, whilst two boats floated slowly across the bay, right up to the beach and grounded by the Poyraz beach! It was very eerie - a bit like the Marie Celeste followed by the Flying Dutchman!
On our last night we waited half-an hour past our collection time for our taxi....finally, one of the guys from the Divan restaurant offered to run us to the airport! That was really the only down side to the whole holiday.
It is nice to be home but I miss the sun and the 'chill factor'. Am thinking of renting an apartment next year if we decide to stay for a month again.
Think that's it, guys. Nothing exciting this year other than the storm!
