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Kalkan Discussion => Holiday Reports and Reviews => Topic started by: The Engineer on June 17, 2015, 11:02:45 AM

Title: Looking forward to the next time
Post by: The Engineer on June 17, 2015, 11:02:45 AM
Just Back from 21 days in glorious Kalkan, here are a few memories until our return in September.
Arrived May 22nd weather a bit iffy for the first week some days cloudy to start and two days of very high winds to be expected at that time of year. First night in the Korsan Meze as usual they lost their little front terrace and a  few tables in the fire but it could have been far worse.

Next day down to the Fenner for lunch and to see the devastation, what a mess and workmen all over it without a hard hat or a pair of safety boots in site. they were preparing the retaining wall and there was a huge pile of rubble in front. It was very dusty and lorries were going backwards and forwards along the harbour whilst people were having lunch in the harbour restaurants.
Went to a few favourites over the first week including  Fish Terrace, Mousakka in its new position above Ali Baba's, We think they have improved with the quality and service  and we were so impressed we retuned on our last night (usually spent at Trio) We also went to Coriander with 6 of our friends , we all agreed that the food was excellent and they do REAL CHIPS we tried to get in again towards the end of our holiday but it was fully booked. We had lunch in Kas at the Garden restaurant just off the square excellent as usual and so much food (they serve the biggest puffy bread you have ever seen for free) Boat trip on the Tues we went on the "Therapy" for the first time as the boat we usually use was booked. We were very impressed, lunch was delicious and the wind held off thank goodness. WQe had pizza delivered from Photo's and a take away from Hunkar both great value and with Hunkar more food than you can eat. We also catered for ourselves one evening (ok so it was a Rotisserie Chicken from the deli and we cooked some oven chips)
The middle week of the holiday was just amazing. We had pre booked a 3 day/3 night cruise from Kas to Simena & Kekova WOW!!
There was 8 of us our neighbours and friends from Kalkan, luckily we all know each other and get on well in fact we laughed for 3 days solid. Obviously the space is quite tight but there were 4 "on suite" cabins on board plus one for the crew Captain Eser & his wife. But I'm racing ahead here, we left Kalkan by Minibus on Sunday 31st May to go to Kas where we had booked a hotel for the night £30 bed & breakfast per Sea View room! It was walking distance to the Harbour & we had dinner at a restaurant called Natural in the back streets. Kas looks really pretty at night with twinkling lights. The menu was quite unusual which is why we chose it and we shared a starter, I had chicken in sticky pomegranate sauce & my partner had a vegetarian dish we had a bottle of wine plus an extra glass each (greedy) with free bread & dips and a fruit plate to finish it came to 88T Lira Amazing. Next morning we went to the breakfast terrace overlooking the harbour and had a totally fab breakfast with a great choice then we were ready to board the boat at 10.00am It was called the DILARA 1 and was a 2 masted Gullet. Off we sailed and luckily it was extremely calm & sunny we couldn't have ordered better weather.  We had a couple of swim stops whilst lunch was prepared (lunch all 3 days was vegetarian and totally delicious) they served things like stuffed peppers, Borec, beans in tomato sauce and Cous Cous to name a few. We went on to a quiet bay and moored up for the night near kekova. It was soon time to eat again Chicken Shish cooked on the barbeque plus salads & rice.
Next morning a swim in the bay near the sunken city and then we sailed over it, 4 of us had been before but still enjoyed it then we sailed over to Simena, coming in to port here is just beautiful with the little colourful tavernas and Pansyons along the front. We went ashore and walked up to the Castle on the top. Great views from here and seemed harder going down than the climb up (all uneven steps) back on board for lunch & a swim then off to  Uchez (that's not how it's spelt) where we got off and stretched our legs while the captain went ashore for supplies. Off we went for another quiet bay. We nearly all swam that evening as the "on Suite " was a little basic  and the fresh water spray on the boat was our best bet. Dinner was lamb casserole and we found it incredible that all this food arrived at the table without fuss and we hardly noticed it being prepared. After dinner games were played and a quiz on the second night before bed. One couple preferred to sleep on deck and had it been much hotter we probably all would have.

Next morning sail back to Kas  so we sailed all along the coast stopping for swims and lunch of course. We ended up in Limonasi Bay opposite Kas for the night but before we moored up the Captain sailed very close to it's sister ship that was docked and his wife collected fresh fish that was handed  over the bow's to applaud from us all,so barbequed fish for the last supper.
After breakfast we sailed in to Kas and disembarked. Back to Kalkan by Minibus with our thoughts and photo's. I don't think we could ever repeat the experience but it's one I will always remember.

The Friday night we all went for a meal together first for cocktails at the Black & Gold Bar next to the Fish Terrace then to a new restaurant called Salonika in the back street to the right of the Moonlight bar. What a little gem it's brought a great atmosphere to this area with its bright chairs and tablecloths there was also live music (Traditional Turkish) The food was excellent I had mushrooms stuffed with garlic cheese the best I have had anywhere and seafood casserole absolutely delicious. All 8 of us agreed the meal was terrific. We went back again the following Friday and I had the same meal it was so good.

Managed a few trips to Patara Beach and we love the little café down there for a cold beer and a light lunch. As we never made it to the Pink Beach Club last year we thought we would go and have a look. Whoever thought it would be a good idea to try and start a business here? its around 2 miles down an unmade road (hire car drivers beware) and its where the river that everyone canoes down meets the sea. the water is churned up and brown in colour, the sand was covered in rubbish, what were they thinking of?

Anyway back to eating  we tried a new restaurant on the harbour called Rosemary not impressed. And went back to Salonika & Mousakka  as I've said spent an evening in the Lime Bar when there was live music which was quite pleasant and we went to Salt & Pepper which has thankfully reopened after the fire. Thank goodness the harbour now looks a lot better they have completed the wall and cleared up the rubble I think that's as far as they will get this season

Here's looking forward to the next time

M



 


Title: Re: Looking forward to the next time
Post by: kalkan4eva on June 17, 2015, 01:09:55 PM
Sounds as though you had an amazing time, The Engineer. We keep talking about doing a mini gullet cruise with our friends - would you mind sharing how much it cost? Are drinks extra?
Thanks for sharing your views on your trip.
Title: Re: Looking forward to the next time
Post by: antler on June 17, 2015, 01:39:23 PM
Loved your report, The Engineer - thank you! We were just discussing Patara and going to that Beach Club - thanks for saving us! Your mini cruise sounds amazing. And the Kas restaurants.
Title: Re: Looking forward to the next time
Post by: Irene on June 17, 2015, 02:41:22 PM
Lovely report and your cruise sounds great!   Have to agree the area where the Pink Beach Club was, is an absolute mess - such a shame!
Title: Re: Looking forward to the next time
Post by: Babs on June 17, 2015, 09:15:34 PM
Your little cruise sounds wonderful, thanks for sharing.
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