I worked hard on both the Resort Experts content for social media and the design for my new planner on Friday 31st October. By midday the neighbour who shares the same stairwell as us, decided to have a party for one, with deafening music. I knocked on the door to ask her to turn it down but she didn’t answer. I made myself a pizza style wrap for lunch and tried to get back on with my to do list. At 5pm I had an hour long training session with Travelpack and Swan Hellenic about Expedition cruising, mainly in West Africa. It was super interesting and made me really think about the types of holidays I wanted to promote and go on myself in the future. I finished just after 6pm then had to get ready, as I was off on an evening out. I wore my orange t-shirt from the Aussies, as I know how much they love Halloween. I decided to wear some lace up pumps for the first time since breaking my foot and I didn’t take my crutch. I was a bit nervous as it was dark and the floors are uneven in Dalyan, but I would take my time and walk slowly. At Ren Garden, the owners had really pulled out all the stops and it was very Halloween themed, which I hadn’t bargained for. Joining me were; Jamie, Nanny Kay, my parents, Julie, Gareth, Adam & Kath.
Some people had really got in to the spirit of dressing up, including a lady dressed as an old woman who lots of people were scared of. There were a few other familiar faces who we chatted to, too. We had a good night but by 8.30pm my parents, Adam and Kath were hungry so they decided to go elsewhere. Julie & Gareth stayed a bit longer, along with Nanny Kay but, after they left, Jamie and I decided to go for one in Sofra. We left there about midnight and went back to Ren Garden where it was pretty lively. Jamie and I had another drink in Ren before sauntering home. I had quite a few wines at 140 lira (£2.57) per glass and lost count of the total. It had been a nice evening and I didn’t realise until the next day that my parents and their friends had gone for a meal at Olivia’s and then come back to Ren, but we had already left for Sofra. I didn’t check my budget v spending for the end of the month, as I would do it tomorrow when I was sober.
Gratitude List 1. Being busy with content writing 2. Nice food 3. Ren Garden with friends and family.
Monday 27th October was a busy admin day and I didn’t really stop for a minute. I spoke to Captain Caveman at lunch time who was also busy but he helped me out with something related to a hotel booking. Norman was well behaved but sleepy and didn’t want to walk far on his walk. I had more leftover bolognese for dinner and then arranged a night out for tomorrow. Lukka bar had been asked if they would have one last Music Bingo night and they had agreed if there were enough takers. My parents hadn’t been to it this year and their friends had never been, so I booked us all in for tomorrow. I was looking forward to it, even though it was on a school night.
Gratitude List 1. Being busier at Resort Experts 2. Norman 3. A video call with Captain Caveman.
I was awake early on Tuesday 28th October and had a busy day. The sky was cloudy and the rain was forecast. For lunch I made a Slimming World style vegetarian pizza. A friend who had booked a holiday with me was on their family holiday and she sent me a message and a photo to say they were really enjoying it, which was great to hear.
When I finished work, I went to join my parents and their friends, Julie & Gareth, in Retro bar for a quick drink before our night out. It was good to see Nusret, the owner, who had been working hard this year on making the bar even better than it was before. I had a red wine which I paid 150 lira (£2.75) for, including a tip. We had to be at Lukka bar by 7.30pm for our meal and had decided to push the boat out on their final Music Bingo night, which I absolutely love. All 5 of us ordered food and drinks and the night was really good fun. I really enjoyed my beef dish, which I had the last time I came. There was singing, chair dancing and Julie even won a bottle of wine on the music bingo. As midnight approached, it did get a bit chilly sat outside with just a denim jacket on. When we came to pay the bill it was probably the most I’d spent on just me on a night out, in quite a while, but it had been such a good laugh. Here’s what I had, with the prices in lira:
Beef Çökertme 950 Baklava with ice-cream 375 5 red wines 1250 200 tip Total spent 2775 lira (£50.92)
Gratitude List 1. Update from a friend in Fuerteventura 2. Norman 3. A night out at Lukka music bingo.
It was back to it on Monday 20th October and I had plenty to do, before looking after Norman on Wednesday. The weather forecast over the next few days predicted rain. At lunch time I had a break and warmed up a curry I had got out of the freezer, then cracked back on with the to do list. I finished on the laptop at 5.45pm and made myself a ‘pretend’ pizza with a wholemeal wrap base, but forgot I didn’t have any grated mozzarella – I used cheese balls instead and it still tasted fine. At 9.30pm I had a video call with Captain Caveman who was continuing to work hard in the UK. We both agreed it felt a long time to be waiting to see each other again.
Gratitude List 1. It not raining yet 2. Easy and tasty meals 3. Speaking to Captain Caveman.
I had a bit of excitement on Tuesday 21st October; I pushed through the to do list in the morning and then had arranged to meet up with friends, Dot & Ian. The rain hadn’t started yet so I made my way to Okyanus where we had some drinks and a lovely lunch. Dot ordered Menemen, Ian a breakfast sandwich and I had a chicken wrap with homemade chips. Dot and I had a couple of white wines, Ian drank Efes and we chatted loads. It was great to hear their future plans and it was lovely sunshine until the rain came. I’d helped them out with a passport situation when I was in London last so they insisted on paying for lunch, which was very kind and totally unexpected. I really enjoyed our catch up, the lunch was lovely and it was nice to take a little bit of time off too. We said our farewells at my gate and I spent the afternoon catching up on some content writing. I even sat out on the balcony as the sun was back out and it was rather warm. A friend had organised a ladies night boat trip which I had to decline, not just because it wasn’t in the budget but, because I had a full diary until 6pm and it started at 3pm. I got a message saying I would be missed which was thoughtful.
I messaged my parents to see if I could call in after going to the shops later, as it had been a week since I saw them. Unfortunately, they already had plans to join friends for a night out and were waiting for confirmation of where and when to meet them. At 6pm I decided to pop to the shop to get something for dinner and see if there was Quark in stock. My Mom messaged to say they could meet me for one drink before they went out with their friends, if I wanted, so I said yes. Here’s what I bought in Migros, prices in lira;
Migros Süpermarket Green peppers 13.98 Red peppers 15.88 2 Dido chocolate bars 49.00 Bananas 53.70 2 Dido Gold bars 54.00 2 packs of Mozzarella cheese 147.80 Total spent 334.46 lira (£6.14)
I walked over to meet Ma & Pa in Jiks, which is opposite the supermarket. They already had Efes Malts on the go and I ordered a white wine and soda (with it being a school night). Mom kept checking her phone to see if her friend had sent the location of where they needed to be and my plan was to go back home with my shopping and make some dinner, once they left. We had a couple of wines in Jiks and, when I went to the loo, Dad ordered me a third wine. This meant I’d had 5 wines today and was quite tipsy – weigh day tomorrow wasn’t going to go well! We paid the 1300 lira bill at Jiks (£23.85) and we were ready to leave. Ma & Pa still hadn’t heard from her friend so we decided to call for one in Ren Garden. There is a cute cat that hangs about in there and it had befriended my parents (who don’t usually like cats). Once we got in there, we didn’t leave until midnight. I was sozzled and hadn’t had any dinner. Our bill in Ren Garden came to 1400 lira (£25.69) which I paid for and I don’t remember getting home!
Gratitude List 1. Lunch with Dot & Ian 2. Getting to see my parents for an impromptu night out 3. Remembering to take my shopping home.
I was up early on Monday 13th October so that I had time for my last buffet breakfast at the 5 Star Selectum Luxury Resort hotel in Belek, near Antalya. Debby and I had breakfast together and we learned from some of the others that it had turned in to a late night for some of the party animals. We laughed that we were getting old as we were in bed with a hot drink before midnight. I decided to stock up on pastries and take some back to the room in case Jamie and I needed sustenance for the 4 hour journey home.
The Manchester Travel Agents were flying first, then the Gatwick ones. Check out was not until midday but I went back to pack, ready for getting back to Dalyan. Although I had managed very well with my broken foot and crutch, I was definitely tired and was looking forward to a rest – and less walking! I met Jamie and some of the Anex staff in reception, and everyone was talking about how good a time they had been having on the Fam trip – we really had been well looked after. Before we knew it, we were heading over to the bar area where Amanda ordered a tray of Baby Guiness and offered them round to the 6 of us. Amanda and Stacey, from Anex, had the idea that Jamie and I should join them at the Kremlin Palace hotel tonight.They were already booked in for a few nights there so Jamie got on a video call to Drew to check if he minded and could he dog sit for one more night and, of course, he was fine with it. We did consider Drew coming to join us but it would not have been Norman’s cup of tea. I googled the bus times from Belek to Dalyan and the bus had already left Belek at 9.55am. There was a bus from Antalya at 11am which would mean getting a taxi to there, immediately! The bus would also take over 7 hours with stops in either Aydın, Fethiye, or both, then Ortaca. Stacey got on the phone to check availability and get us a discounted price to share a room at the Kremlin Palace while the attentive bar man placed more shots at the bar. Our discounted price on an All Inclusive basis at the Kremlin Palace was £160 per room, so £80 each, and although not within my budget, I hadn’t spent anything in the last 4 days. We accepted the kind offer and took a Baby Guiness! Having checked out of the Selectum, we went to wave off the Manchester lot as they boarded the bus for Antalya airport. It had been great to meet so many lovely people but we were surprised that the farewell committee consisted only of the Anex staff, Debby, Jamie and me. I had some chocolate strawberries in reception and discovered there had been a cake bar just metres away from reception – I’m glad I’d not noticed it earlier. Jamie also found out that you could get soft drinks at any of the bars! The Gatwick Travel Agents left next and we, of course, formed a very small farewell committee with the Anex staff. Jamie tried to convince Fulya to come with us to the Kremlin Palace but I think she was looking forward to a well deserved rest.
Once Jamie had drank enough soft drinks and coffee, we arranged to drive over to the Kremlin Palace, which wasn’t far, and meet the Anex staff there. I had work to do so I logged in at a table in reception as our room wasn’t ready until 2pm. Jamie and I had people in mind back in Dalyan who would love a stay in the Selectum but either didn’t have a car or were unlikely enough to be sober enough to drive a hire car back to Dalyan after an All Inclusive break. I messaged drivers in Dalyan to ask how much they would charge for a transfer. One was a bit shocked that anyone would be flash enough to pay for that and quoted £320, while the cheapest one way journey was a bargain in comparison at £200. A hire car or the bus were still the better options.
After a few work related tasks, we had more of the Kremlin Palace’s champers and I had some Turkish delight. At 2.30pm, we went to our room which had a double and a single bed and had a bit of a sea view. There were snacks, fruit, drinks and toiletries as well as a complimentary bottle of Vodka, Whiskey and Prosecco, which was nice. I decided that as I was going to be paying £80 for an extra night, I was definitely going to make the most of it. I polished off the cookies and the baclava then we went to meet the 3 Anex staff; Amanda, Stacey and Tracey. Of course we waited at the beach bar, where Jamie was not impressed that we had to drink our all inclusive beer and prosecco from plastic cups. I spoke to the waiter and got free snacks to soak up the fizz. I tried the red wine and that was pretty good too.
The girls joined us and we had a good laugh as they had a great sense of humour and we were all on the same wavelength. There was a shop at the Kremlin Palace that sold loads of stuff, including Salt & Vinegar crisps – ideal if you’re there with kids or drunk people, or both! The restaurant was a bit of organised chaos and definitely had that ‘we don’t queue’ vibe from 95% of guests in there. Having said that, there was also a drinks waiter who was very generous on the wine pours and I thought the red wine was very good. As for the food options, there was so much choice and from various cuisines that it would suit even a fussy eater like me. All of the dishes were clearly labelled so that those of us with allergies could at least work out for ourselves if they were suitable. I had a chicken and rice dish with chips and some salad and it was very tasty. I didn’t really fancy a dessert but, as I’d paid for it, I got a bit of cheesecake down me – it was pretty good. After dinner, we took a walk around the grounds where we tested out the (children’s) mini cars and had a race! It probably wasn’t wise with a broken foot but, to be honest, they were very easy to use and meant I was the speediest I’d been since I arrived in Antalya. Poor Tracey took a wrong turn and the man in charge had to chase after her. Reversing on cobbles also turned out to be trickier than it looked. We decided, although it was technically a day off for us all, we needed to check out the Kremlin Palace indoor bar. Not everyone was impressed; the bar man was fast, abrupt and gave dangerous measures, the lighting was dim and the bar lacked atmosphere. However, there were ramps, the bar was near to the toilets, and there was a seating area with round booths which were ideal for chatting to your companions in. If you know what you want to drink, the bar man isn’t an issue – if you like your (premium) vodka and coke so strong you have to ask for a separate coke, you will love this place! There was also very few English guests so it did actually feel like you were on holiday, rather than down a Wetherspoons. I actually enjoyed the Kremlin Palace and would definitely recommend it for the right sort of person. I knew we were very lucky to have had the extra night and I’d enjoyed getting to know Amanda, Stacey & Tracey more.
Gratitude List 1. Farewell breakfast with Debby who had been a great room mate 2. Staying an extra night in another hotel, the Kremlin Palace 3. Getting to know the Anex girls and sharing some great stories together.
After the excitement of yesterday and knowing there was an outing planned tomorrow, Tuesday 23rd September was a day spent at my desk. I had lots of bits and bobs today so I worked down the to do list and ate nice food.
In the evening Captain Caveman and I both looked for flights for him to come to Dalyan but they were looking quite expensive for the dates he needed. We were still planning on flying to Vietnam for Christmas and Captain Caveman had seen some flights from the UK.
Gratitude List 1. Nice food 2. Flight searching for ourselves 3. A fairly calm day.
I took the day off on Wednesday 24th September as Jamie had invited me on another boat trip. He had friends over on holiday and there had been a spare place for me. Before that, I got on the home scales with it being weigh day. I had put on 0.95kg (2lb) which was hardly surprising. On my measurements, my bust had increased by 1cm, my hips had remained the same and my waist had lost 3cm. Of course, I was about to potentially make it worse by going out for the day. Jamie & Drew had organised another day out with Captain Ünal on Duran Duran boat to Ekincik Bay. We did the usual boat trip which never gets boring and everyone had a fantastic day. It was quite choppy in parts so I plonked myself in the shade at the back of the boat while most of the others were up the front or on the roof making the most of the sunny weather. Mick, Nick’s Dad, kept me entertained with his hilarious Sheffield banter and we had some delicious food. Nick played mother and got me my plate of food which was really lovely, as always.
I didn’t do any swimming as my foot was hurting so I just chilled out. On the way back I had to have a second sea sickness tablet and also gave a couple out to others who were feeling a bit iffy. We stopped at Little Dalyan for fruit and cake while seeing some turtles. By the time I got back, I was super tired and drowsy but everyone was going to Lukka bar so I did too. Instead of alcohol, which I’d had none of for 3 weeks now, I ordered one of their excellent milkshakes. Everyone carried on their night and I was told later most ended up in Sofra bar. I needed my bed as I was exhausted. I’d spent a total of £45 today and had a very lovely day – I wouldn’t need any dinner and I ended up falling asleep on the sofa.
Gratitude List 1. Losing centimetres from my waist 2. Being invited on another boat trip 3. Having such lovely food and fun company.
Jamie had invited me to join him and some friends on a boat trip on Thursday 11th September and it had been booked long before I broke a couple of metatarsals. I had already paid my money to Sioned to go on Captain Unal’s Duran Duran boat and didn’t want to miss it because of being in pain. It has been a week since I’d not seen that very small step! It was also a good chance to catch up with my parents, Nanny Kay, Jamie, Josh & Martha, Ann & Stuart, Karen & Shaun, Julia and Evie. The boat was moored the nearest to home that it could be, which was good for me crutching to get there. I took a seasickness tablet as well as my medication and I was well away before 10am. We sailed to Ekincik and, as usual, we were served welsh cakes and other nibbles with our hot beverages. It was a lovely day out albeit limited because of my mobility but I did manage to get down the lovely disabled friendly steps to go for a swim. The lunch was great and my mom was kind enough to do the buffet run for me. The food was amazing with extra meatballs being dished out by Ünal. In the afternoon there was a delicious cake with fruit. It was probably one of the best I’d had on this boat too – I really did need to just stick to the fruit next time! I was a little sad that Captain Caveman was back at work in the UK and unable to be here for this trip. Due to my medicine it was another alcohol free day, too, and I wasn’t really missing drinking. After the trip, I was tired and resting up on the sofa while adding stuff to my to do list for tomorrow.
Gratitude List 1. Being on another one of my favourite boat trips with lots of friends and family 2. Going in the sea and managing to get back out without further injury 3. Amazing food on the boat.
I think the phrase ‘I didn’t know my arse from my elbow’ was pretty accurate on Monday 8th September. Firstly, I hadn’t slept well on account of not getting to sleep until after the non-jazz playing Jazz bar had closed around 2am and by then I was tracking Captain Caveman’s flight. Secondly, I’d not heard from my parents to say they had arrived but I imagined they wouldn’t have their UK phone on and would have no Turkish Wifi. Finally, I was in pain with my foot and kept waking up so I was rather exhausted on my first day tackling the Resort Experts to do list. I didn’t even have chance to have breakfast before sorting out a few emails and booking in for some training sessions that were due this week. My mom messaged me to ask if Captain Caveman had got off ok and I let her know he was already back in Barnes, ready to start work. They had loads to do including getting the internet put on, which was in my name. I was very pushed for time and knew I couldn’t walk to the shop and back very quickly so Ma went on her own and sorted it. At 11am I ate some fruit and quark for a late breakfast, with a cup of sage tea. Around 4pm I finished off the White House beef wellington which warmed up nicely in the air fryer. For dinner, my parents were keen to get out for a meal and I agreed to join them, with it being a while since I saw them. It also meant that they could help me up the stairs in the dark now that Captain Caveman had gone. They chose Duble so I hoped they had chicken soup but they still didn’t. Dad and I had liver (again) and Mom had a seafood pasta dish. I drank water and my parents had a beer. I paid the 2,610 lira (£47.45) bill as my parents had been good to us when I visited the UK last time, letting us stay at their house. It was a very reasonable price for the 3 of us and we all enjoyed it.
Gratitude List 1. Getting through the day without falling asleep 2. Having my parents back in Dalyan to help me up the stairs if I needed it 3. Dinner at Duble with my parents.
Captain Caveman and I were having breakfast at home on Saturday 6th September. He was contemplating going to the dog shelter to walk some dogs. I was going to do a few bits of content editing for next week, being back at work, so that my 2 weeks off went smoothly. I also had loads of stuff to share from this holiday, with Captain Caveman, and couldn’t wait to get it on my business page. Our friends Josh & Martha had arrived in Dalyan to join their family and they had booked the Princess of Ekincik boat for a private day trip, after I had recommended it. There had been a group chat to discuss requirements for the wheelchair user on board so I hoped it would be suitable and comfortable for all of them. For those who might need to know, a wheelchair up to 60cm wide will fit! Martha got in touch to say that her and Josh had been delayed on their flight, after another passenger had a medical emergency, so they were super tired. She wanted us to join the trip so that we could catch up and help keep everyone lively. I was on the strong medication and lidocaine based sprays, so I was away with the fairies and said yes. I hadn’t accounted for the fact that I needed to walk all the way to the boat which took me absolutely ages. When I got there, Ismail mentioned that they do have a mobility scooter that they can collect disabled guests on, should I have needed it. I got a hot drink and sat myself down with my leg propped up until the others arrived. When everyone got on board; Martha, her parents, brother and Josh, it was really nice to see them all and we got on great straight away. The wheelchair went on and off fine and was parked up so that Zac could see the amazing scenery as we sailed down the river to the sea. The crew, the boat, the food, the drinks and the company were absolutely perfect and to see Zac be able to enjoy a boat trip in Dalyan was just fantastic. We had a couple of swim spots and even a visit to the back of the beach, Little Dalyan, where I kept Martha’s mom company on the boat while the others went off for a bit of adventure. I even had a cherry juice in a wine glass so that Trish wouldn’t feel alone in her red wine enjoyment – it was a real pleasure to see her have a bit of time to herself and not worry about Zac, who was in very capable hands. When the family got back, they had enjoyed a jaunt over the beach to the sea and Captain Caveman didn’t fall for the joke of me having red wine in my glass – he knew I wouldn’t be drinking against Doctor’s orders. We then decided to go to the boat end of the beach so that we could see the tourist part and it was very busy. We saw turtles which was great as some of the guests on board hadn’t seen them before in Dalyan. We all enjoyed a really lovely lunch on board which, given that Captain Caveman and I had decided to join only this morning, was plentiful. After spending the rest of the afternoon on the boat and enjoying ice creams, then some cake with fruit, we returned to Dalyan at gone 5pm. I’m not mentioning any names but I think more than 1 of us had a power nap, as we were just so relaxed.
That evening, after resting my foot, Captain Caveman took me for a slap up dinner at White House. We both had my favourite meal, the beef wellington, which is just so good. Captain Caveman had wine and cocktails but I had water and a friend booked our table while waiting to chat to her boyfriend. Our bill was 4,000 lira (£72.73) which I thought was reasonable. Because of having eaten so much, though, I had to take half of mine home. Tomorrow was Captain Caveman’s last day in Dalyan and I wasn’t looking forward to him leaving.
Gratitude List 1. Having such an amazing day that it was difficult to pinpoint just 3 things to be grateful for! 2. The Princess of Ekincik boat trip, being so good. 3. Beef Wellington Dinner with Captain Caveman at the White House.
Photo credit – some photos by Martha and her family
Captain Caveman decided to treat me to breakfast at La Sorella on Friday 5th September. We ordered; 1 water 1 Espresso 1 Green tea 1 Croissant 1 Croissant with banana, berries & chocolate
I forgot how much it cost, though, I was slacking! It was very nice and, as I wasn’t able to drink alcohol for the next 2 weeks because of the painkillers, I was happy to have a food treat instead. While I crutched back home, Captain Caveman went off to do the shopping and made sure he stocked up on items I would find hard to carry once he left Dalyan on Sunday. Here’s what he bought on the first visit, with prices in lira;
It was sunny in the afternoon so we went to Okyanus so that Captain Caveman could have a few beers in the sun and we could meet up with The Aussies who we hadn’t seen for a while. We ended up having some food there too – here’s what we paid;
Okyanus 3 soda waters 210 1 Lamb wrap 420 1 pizza 440 3 Efes Malt beers 450 Tip 150 Total spent 1,670 lira (£30)
While Captain Caveman went off for more shopping, I went back home to rest my foot and get more medication. Here’s what Captain Caveman bought on his evening shop;
Şarküteri 2 tins of beans 170 1 tin coconut milk 100 Total spent 270 lira (£4.84)
We spent the evening at home and we had more friends arriving in Dalyan tomorrow to join family who had already arrived. I was in quite a bit of pain so I needed to sleep.
Gratitude List 1. Breakfast and a late lunch out 2. Seeing our friends 3. Medication
On Wednesday 3rd September Captain Caveman and I were due to check out of the Mithra Cave Hotel and were thinking of staying 1 or 2 nights in the Göreme Cave Suites, which was fancier and had a pool. We were undecided as Captain Caveman had hoped to travel back to Dalyan via Eskişehir and take a scenic train back to Denizli. I was still sceptical that we could fit the trip in and return to Dalyan in time to see friends before Captain Caveman left Turkey. Captain Caveman decided he would get up to see the balloons again. The hot air balloon flights were super cheap at this time of year, at less than 50 Euros per person. However, neither of us wanted to do it. We were still to decide what to do and we were thinking we might go mad and stay in the nicer hotel for a night or two. Captain Caveman had been looking at flights, trains and buses and weighing up the affordability. I was reluctant as I didn’t feel I should ‘waste’ the money. After breakfast, I had to get my laptop out to do some work on a booking. We finally decided we should get back to Dalyan so Captain Caveman sorted out a flight and a transfer. I asked reception what time check out was (11am) then ask to extend until 2pm. Captain Caveman went off to buy more water and some travel snacks while I did a few things on my laptop. After checking out, I sat with the bags on a seat outside while Captain Caveman went sightseeing for the afternoon. At 5.30pm we were in a minivan on our way to Nevşehir airport for a flight to Istanbul. I remember two annoying passengers with tons of bags sat opposite us and that the driver had chatted up and taken the phone number of the young lady in the front seat, 7 minutes before we arrived at the airport. We were delayed a bit which was eating in to the Lounge time at Istanbul that Captain Caveman had booked for us. There wasn’t an awful lot of food left at the Lounge so I had some vegetables, rice and then later a plain bowl of pasta. I had 4 glasses of red wine, though. Captain Caveman drank beers and had a lovely chicken dish which I avoided in case it was too spicy. We boarded our flight from Istanbul to Dalaman on time and I fell asleep straight away.
Gratitude List 1. Getting to visit Cappadocia with Captain Caveman 2. Last minute flights and transfers working out 3. The Lounge, which was £20 approx each, so worth it.
We landed at Dalaman airport around 2am on Thursday 4th September and Sonuç, from Dalyan Transfers, was there to meet us. After some sleep, I woke up about 9am and Captain Caveman was getting ready to go Bumming with the Riverbums. Unfortunately, my day was not going to be quite as pleasant as picking up other people’s litter. I’d done something to my foot when I didn’t see a very shallow step and thought I’d stepped on a twig which had crunched. It was hurting, so I decided to go to the hospital to get it checked out. While Captain Caveman went to Riverbums, I tried to make a hospital appointment but I was in a bit of pain and couldn’t really concentrate. I decided to ask Sonuç to take me to the Yucelen Hospital in Ortaca and get checked out. Captain Caveman had arrived back by the time I was leaving but he didn’t come with me. Sonuç had made me the appointment but when he looked at my foot he said he didn’t think it was broken and probably didn’t need to go. As I’d injured this leg 5 years ago I wanted to just check. I saw the orthopaedic doctor who touched my foot gently to see if it hurt, at first it didn’t, then I screamed out when he touched the bit that hurt. A translator was sent for, an x-ray was booked and I had to give my insurance documents and residency card to another receptionist. The walking between the different bits was starting to get tricky and extremely slow, but I managed. The translator, Umut, was really good and we got talking about his trip to Japan. The x-ray person was friendly too and we went back to the doctor after, for him to tell me I had broken my 4th & 5th metatarsals. Oh dear. He gave me a prescription and told me to come back in 10 days for a check-up. I walked back to the pay desk where my insurer had already confirmed they would pay my bill, all but 875.16 lira (£16.21), and I had to sign a piece of paper. At no point was I told not to walk on it but I had crutches which Sonuç had picked up from Tay at Rehab bar. I was impressed with the service at the Yucelen and was back home by 3.25pm. I paid 2,000 lira (£37.04) for Sonuc’s services, too, which given he’d driven me about and waited there the whole time was a good deal. Although he’s not an official translator for medical stuff, he’d come in very handy and was great at taking my mind off the pain! I managed to cheese Captain Caveman off by not hobbling in to the chemist on my way back and assumed he would be ok to go and pick up my prescription for me. He was a bit put out but went anyway. The prices were as follows;
Balcı Pharmacy Ketoprofen Painkillers 108.69 Naproxen spray 159.10 Frenag spray 247.21 Support Bandage 450 Total 965.00 lira (£17.87)
I was hungry as I’d not eaten yet today so Captain Caveman suggested we eat at Lukka, so I didn’t have to walk far. Here’s what we had with prices in lira from Lukka bar;
The food was lovely and a generous portion size – I’d somehow forgotten to eat sensibly this holiday! I went back home for a rest and to put my leg up, the medicine can’t be taken with alcohol and I hadn’t known this so I would have to start the pills tomorrow as I had already consumed 2 halves of draft lager with a bit of lemonade. We had no food in at home, on account of us coming home earlier, so for dinner we went out again. It took me far too long to hobble along to Ayaz, a fairly new local eatery. It was quite late so the staff were very apologetic to have run out of all lamb dishes. I had a chicken shish and Captain Caveman went for a chicken iskender. I had a fresh pomegranate juice and the whole meal was amazing at a great price, even though I forgot to note the prices. On the way home, I bumped in to Aytaç Burçak Saraymine, my insurance broker. He wanted to check how I was and also how the service had been with the insurer. I knew the insurer would only pay up to 80% of any outpatient costs and I was happy with that. Aytaç invited me and Captain Caveman for a cup of Turkish tea with him and we sat and had a chat. I had been so happy that I had taken out the insurance with him. Lots of people (obviously, not experts) had told me that the cheaper insurance for residency wasn’t worth having but I certainly disagreed with that. My injury could’ve been a lot worse and cost me quite a bit just for not noticing a really small step!We stayed out until 11pm and I needed to rest my foot when I got home. The sprays were really helping and tomorrow I could start the stronger painkillers.
Gratitude List 1. Sonuç being available for hospital visiting 2. Not having a cast on my foot 3. Health Insurance covering 80% of the cost of my injury.
It was time for another boat trip on Friday 29th August, this time with Captain Ünal on Villa Duran Boat Trips. We had booked it at short notice when a couple of spots had become available due to a cancellation. It was going to Devil’s Bay, cost £40 each and included breakfast, lunch and afternoon cake and fruit. We were on board before 9am and the boat departed from very near to where we live so there was no falling out this time. Apo, the Captain’s mate, made us all a hot drink and we set sail towards the sea. The breakfast consisted of bread, cheeses, salad, olives, eggs, cheese rolls, jams, honey, and fruit – it was excellent. I’d took a travel sickness pill just in case. The sea wasn’t too choppy so we were moored up in a quiet bay for our first swim. On the boat were various passengers, none of who we knew already. There was a family on who were friendly and funny so we got talking to the son who was a nice young man. We gave him scores for his diving off the top of the boat.
By 12.30pm, Ünal had started the BBQ and we ate lunch around 1.15pm in a bay on our own, except for a few Turkish men who ate on the beach, having arrived by speedboat. They seemed to be quite taken with the young girls on board and went past a few times to ogle! Lunch consisted of several mezes, bread, hot chips, chicken and meatballs – again, all excellent. Captain Caveman drank Efes Malt and I had rosé wine. There were lots more swimming and drying off in the sun before sailing to a secluded spot to scatter some ashes of the young man’s father. I’d found myself sat in the middle of the family, so I excused myself and we gave them some space to say a few words and support each other through the tears. Captain Caveman and I raised a glass for the poor guy as a mark of respect and kept quiet while they did what they needed to do. I didn’t know the bloke but I think he would’ve been pleased to be scattered where he was, in such a beautiful place.
Cake and fruit were served around 4.45pm and it was a very nice chocolate one. Back home, I went for a shower and a short lay down, I was so tired that I didn’t wake up until it was very late so there was no dinner or going out!
Gratitude List 1. Getting a trip to Devil’s Bay with Captain Caveman 2. Fab food and drink on the Villa Duran Boat Trip 3. Swimming in the sea.
Captain Caveman went bumming on the morning of Thursday 28th August, while I caught up on a bit of blogging. I met him at the Kefal tea gardens afterwards where one of the Riverbums bought me a lemon soda. As I was on holiday I didn’t plan on dialling in to our Resort Experts team meeting at 1pm so we went for lunch. Captain Caveman had already had a toastie at the tea gardens with a beer so it was just me eating. Here’s what we had at Okyanus, with prices in lira;
1 soda 70 1 white wine 200 2 Efes Malt 300 1 chicken burger with chips 340 Total spent 910 lira (£16.85)
The food was good and I was impressed with the chicken burger, we chatted to Simone and Üstün again too. By 4pm we were back home and were about to get ready for a fun night out with The Aussies.
We had reserved a table at Lukka bar for the Music Bingo. Amanda and I ordered the çökertme (1 beef, 1 chicken) while the guys shared the very impressive leg of lamb. The food was excellent and we ate before the music bingo started. It was loud, fun and with lots of dancing with Mehmet and Apo. I even joined in the Turkish dances until I got too hot and tired. I drank a whole bottle of Angora red wine to myself and gave the ball a right old kick. Captain Caveman went to pay the bill with Greg so I didn’t ask the prices for once. It was a great night and we really enjoyed ourselves.
Gratitude List 1. Lunch at Okyanus 2. Dinner at Lukka 3. Having a great time at Lukka music bingo with Captain Caveman and friends.
We decided on a more relaxed day in Dalyan on Wednesday 27th August. Captain Caveman had planned to help out with a bit of Dogging at the local dog shelter in the morning. It was going to be another hot one so I declined to join him and caught up on a bit of blogging, as I was quite behind on the editing. I had beans on toast for breakfast and Captain Caveman made himself an egg related concoction before I had even surfaced. As it was weigh day, I got on the home scales to find I had put on 0.25 kg (0.6lb), which wasn’t ideal but could’ve been worse. My measurements were not ideal either with a 1cm off my bust, my waist stayed the same and I’d put 1cm on my hips. In the afternoon our friends, Amanda & Greg (aka The Aussies) had arrived from Australia for 6 weeks, and had invited us over to their villa. As soon as Captain Caveman was back and cleaned up, we walked over to see them and we were met with a surprise. They had brought us gifts and the most thoughtful one was a T-shirt for me which was my ‘You Can’t Shit Yourself on a Bicycle’ book cover with a QR code on the sleeve, to scan to my blog! I nearly cried with happiness at how good it was! And it fit perfectly – how fantastic. We had a drink to celebrate but then I had to leave Captain Caveman and The Aussies to it for a bit. I stood in for Carol at Fat Club as she was away, her scales told me I had put 0.3kg (0.7lb)! We had a good chat at Fat Club but then I had to rush back to rejoin the welcome party. We had a few more drinks and then left to call at the supermarket opposite our friends’ house. Here’s what we bought with the prices in lira; Garlic 54.90 Halloumi cheese 76.90 Frozen fruit 164.90 Total spent 296.70 lira (£5.50)
We had a bit of a walk through town and by the river towards home. We took the shopping home and I hung up my new t-shirt. Before dinner, Captain Caveman suggested a bit of a walk and then a drink in Lukka bar, which turned in to 3!!! Here’s what we had with the prices in lira;
3 Efes Malt 540. 3 Angora red wine 750 Total spent 1,290 lira (£23.88)
Although Lukka is certainly not for the cheap chasing crowd, I didn’t find the prices extortionate and the service is very nifty. I noticed on the receipt that Lukka quoted the price in lira, US dollars, Euros and UK pounds. They had the GBP price listed at £25.80 which meant that they were still using 50 lira to the £, but it was actually cheaper than that if paying in lira. While at Lukka we got chatting to Katrina and a couple of our neighbours, they were eating what looked like some rather tasty meals. Katrina let me try her Çökertme which was very good so we decided we would ask The Aussies if they fancied joining the Music Bingo night tomorrow and have dinner there. As luck would have it, they did and we booked the last 4 seats (it’s very popular with the tourists) and even pre-ordered the lamb’s leg for the men. We went back home for a dinner of halloumi salad, knowing tomorrow we would be giving the ball a good kick!
Gratitude List 1. Catching up on blogging 2. Seeing The Aussies and having my surprise T-shirt gift 3. Impromptu drinks at Lukka bar with Captain Caveman.
I was back on the balcony of the Kaunos hotel in Köyceğiz at 6.20am on Tuesday 26th August, trying to see the sunrise. Captain Caveman was sick and stayed in bed. By 8.30am I had been to the chemist to stock up on cold and flu medication for Captain Caveman. I took a few photos and had a nice walk along the lake and back.
At breakfast Captain Caveman barely spoke and was blowing his nose quite a bit, I thought we would probably have to cancel today’s plans. The breakfast wasn’t bad and there was quite a selection but with Captain Caveman suffering man-flu it was a bit disappointing. We had arranged to meet Janet & Ian and Sezgin & Nur over in Köyceğiz but we hadn’t had a reply from Sezgin. I was happy to check out after breakfast and then wait until the pool opened, as I was determined to have a swim. I’d also wanted Captain Caveman to take some photos of me (or us) in the pool perhaps, but he wasn’t up for it.
Of course, the swimming pool was in the shade, it was numbingly cold to swim in at 10.15am but I suffered it. Captain Caveman lay on a sun lounger on his phone and at noon we met up with Janet & Ian for a lovely walk through the park which I didn’t even know was there. The sun was hot and I was glad I had my cycling shorts on to prevent the chub rub. We stopped for a drink at the council run cafe where there’s a small bit of beach. Captain Caveman must’ve been on the mend as he ordered a shandy! For lunch we went to Ayaklı Göl restaurant which I’d been to before with Janet and Ian. It’s located on the waterfront and has a really good choice of food, which is very tasty. The place mats are maps of the area so I kept one to bring home. Here’s what we ordered with the prices in lira;
Ayaklı Göl 2 small beers 160 1 Orange juice 170 1 large beer 205 1 potato omelette 220 1 Crab soup 250 1 Chicken Quesadillas 430 1 Chicken wrap 430 1 House salad with prawns 480 4 Turkish teas FREE Total spent 2,345 lira (£43.43)
Just over a tenner for lunch by the lake seemed a good deal to me. Captain Caveman was definitely feeling better as he had a Belfast beer. We strolled back, feeling full and then Ian drove us all back to Dalyan. We had intended on going home, however, we decided to have a stop off at Janet & Ian’s where we all got in the pool. It had been a very hot day so it was really nice to cool off, and their pool was very lovely! After rehydrating with water, I had a glass of wine, Janet and Captain Caveman had some flavoured gin and Ian doesn’t drink alcohol. We had a really good laugh and didn’t even realise the time until it had gone dark and we thought it prudent to go home! I still had a load of cheese in my bag and all the bits we didn’t eat last night, because of Captain Caveman’s sickness.
Gratitude List 1. Getting medication for Captain Caveman 2. Finally getting to swim in the pool 3. A great afternoon with Janet & Ian.
While friends in the UK had a bank holiday on Monday 25th August, Captain Caveman and I were off on another adventure from Dalyan. I’d arranged to join a friend’s boat trips to the Köyceğiz market and then I had booked a night in the Kaunos Hotel. It did mean we had almost a full day on Adıl boat with Captain Fuat and all the lovely guests. We were meant to set off at 9.30am so I was on at Captain Caveman to be on time, he seemed to have increased the amount of times he leaves thing to the very last minute. This means he can rush there but then it always looks like I’m the late one as I can’t keep up. He wasn’t ready, so I decided to take the bin out and said I would wait for him by the bins. It was hot, I waited ages, he never arrived. I called him but he didn’t answer his phone. I walked back to the apartment and he wasn’t there so I decided to walk to the boat – he was already on it, sat playing Bridge on his phone and we had our first fall out! Captain Caveman was annoyed that I lost my temper at being stood by the bins in the hot sun while he had gone to the boat a different way, not even passing the bin! He then retaliated by going quiet and going on his phone rather than speaking to anyone. We set off late so Captain Caveman was annoyed at me nagging him to not be late so the trip didn’t get off to a good start. I soon forgot about it when Captain Fuat got out the cake for breakfast. We sailed to Prison Island where some had a swim around it but I was conserving my energy for a swim in the hotel pool later; so we just had a shorter swim. The lunch was a feast of many delicious dishes and Captain Caveman and I had a beverage or two! When we got to Köyceğiz, we paid our 2000 lira (£37) bar bill, in addition to the £30 each for the boat trip and said farewell. Our friends on the boat had an hour in Köyceğiz while we were going to check in to the hotel and return tomorrow.
Captain Caveman and I checked in to the Kaunos hotel, which was right on the Köyceğiz lake path and had a gorgeous pool. Debbie at Fat Club had been before and had recommended it. I’d chosen the most expensive room type to ensure we had a lake view with a balcony to sit on for sunset and sunrise. My plan was to go to the market and off licence to stock up on cheese, olives, fruit and wine so we could enjoy a romantic evening after our swim in the fabulous pool. Of course, that didn’t quite go according to plan. I knew Captain Caveman wasn’t feeling 100% but thought it was because he’d been necking beer in the sun and was dehydrated. He wasn’t his usual speedy self as we walked to the market and he didn’t even taste all of the cheeses and olives (it’s not like him to turn down free nibbles). At the market, here’s what we bought with prices in lira;
In the Carrefour supermarket Captain Caveman wasn’t in a rush to get out and was browsing slowly for snacks, while I got the last 2 bottles of Prosecco. When Captain Caveman put orange juice in the basket I assumed it was to have bucks fizz the next morning. We spent 940 lira (£17.41) on snacks and fizz which was rather extravagant for me.
We got back to the hotel around 5.15pm and went to get our swimmers on. Again, Captain Caveman wasn’t as speedy as usual and by the time we got down to the pool it was almost 6pm. Unfortunately, the pool was closed for cleaning so we were unable to use it and I was so disappointed – it was the main reason for choosing this hotel. I couldn’t believe it was almost the end of August and I’d still to swim in a swimming pool! The pool man could see my frustration and came over to show me the signs and explain that the hotel pool is always closed from 5.45pm until 10.15am for chemical treatment. In just my swimwear I went off to the reception to check what time we had to check out. I was flabbergasted to find we had to be out by 10am, 15 minutes before the pool opened! I said to Captain Caveman that we would check out tomorrow but then come to the pool until midday and he agreed. I also insisted we sit on a lounger by the pool for half an hour now, just to get some photos of the pool and hotel grounds.
Back in the room we opened the Prosecco and I got some of the nibbles out. Captain Caveman had to be coaxed out on to the balcony and we had orange juice in our fizz. Captain Caveman was not bothered about sitting out as ‘he’d seen a sunset before’! He had also started blowing his nose and sneezing a lot and remained laying on the bed for the rest of the night, on his phone. I sat out on the balcony drinking Prosecco, eating cheese and olives and admiring the romantic view, by myself. It wasn’t quite the day off I’d imagined for the money we had spent!
Gratitude List 1. A lovely boat trip on Adıl boat 2. A hotel stay in Köyceğiz with lovely views 3. Prosecco.
joloyolo 