Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com
Kalkan Discussion => Holiday Reports and Reviews => Topic started by: Babs on October 07, 2016, 08:47:44 PM
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So, there are good and bad things about going on holiday late in the season.......
The bad....
The waiting while all your friends and work mates go away.
Possibly taking a bit of a chance with the weather......hopefully not.
Getting cold because you refuse to wear socks until you've been on your "summer" holiday".....or is that just me? ???
The good......
How long have you got??
So feeling rather smug, the cases are packed, apart from last minute things and at 10 tomorrow morning we'll be setting of to The Happy Place! Kalkan, not the airport, obviously although I do like a good airport mooch! :laugh: :laugh:
For one reason or another we are both exhausted, just OH and I going this year, hence the title.......well, probably won't swim an awful lot, more like hang in the sea/pool but "lie in the sun reading my kindle, eat, drink, sleep" wasn't such a snappy title!
See you on the other side :laugh: :laugh:
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Oh how I envy you ENJOY xx
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Oh Babs loving your first post and the Title!! Hope you have a wonderful time, whether you be lying in the pool, eating, drinking, reading your kindle in the Happy Place! but I can guarantee you certainly won't be wearing your socks! Can't wait to read all about your holiday. Safe journey and don't leave it too long before we can hear all about it! :D :D :D :D
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Safe journey Babs. Can't wait to read your reports. Don't get too chilled that you forget to post! ;) :)
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The forum expects, Babs......just sayin :)
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Yes Babs it does!!! waiting patiently....... No pressure ;D ;D
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Cor, you're so impatient!! ;D
So, the eating is going well.....haven't cracked the swimming or sleeping yet but I'm working on it!
Survived the DIY checkin, bag drop, security etc at Gatwick and the flight (easyjet) was fine except for the group of the loudest people ever......you know the sort, knocking back the booze and screaming at each other and you can't help thinking, oh dear, hope they're not going to Kalkan!
So this is a holiday of changes and breaks in tradition..........
Apart from our first holiday here we've always stayed very close to town, the Han Inn is the furthest. But this year we are staying at the Korsan Suites, just past the Regamcy, and very lovely it is too. When we first arrived we were put into a three bedroomed suite which was lovely but a little excessive for two of us, but i rose to the challenge and decided to have a spare room as a dressing room. So on our first morning, after waking at the crack of dawn, literally, we sorted ourselves out, went for a little walk and then had a delicious breakfast by the pool.
Memduh, the manager smiled and asked us if we had unpacked, yes thank we said, ah, would we like to move to a two bedroom suite? Obviously this was going to help them as they had a late booking, so we did a very quick transfer. So now we are higher up and our suite is gorgeous! And with a stunning view......Facebook friends, I'll treat you to my early morning view! We've struck lucky!
So as planned on our first morning, off we went for a Turkish bath at Atlantis where we were scrubbed, pummelled, the full monty, ready to face the world. Wandered down to the beach and spent the afternoon there with a lovely lunch at Fener and ending with a mojito at sunset......bliss.
So now the next change......for the past 11 holidays, all of them in fact, we've always eaten at the Korsan on our first night but as it was the last night the Fish Terrace was going to be open there was a change of plan. After being greeted very noisily by Yusef and Ramazan downstairs we made our way up to the restaurant and had a delicious meal.......then wandered round the corner for a glass of wine at Cafe del Mar.......no change of plan there then.
Now sitting on our top terrace (!) watching the sun come up over a beautiful calm sea, with just the gentle, put, put, or the fishing boats going out.
Another day begins.........
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Well that was definitely worth waiting for Babs, thank you! Brilliant post, sounds like your having a wonderful time, and your suite sounds amazing! :D
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Thank you. I'm following you with great interest because we'll be there this time next year for three weeks the latest we've ever been.
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Oooohh Korsan Suites...! We've passed them a few times on our epic walks up the hill between Kalkan and Kalamar.....the views must be stunning from there. Oh, and there it is on FB...wow!
Atlantis first day sounds like our kind of holiday too so I'm going to enjoy reading about your break. Although sadly, I hear Palm Beach has closed a bit earlier than usual this year. They are usually still going until the middle of October and you would have thought they'd have stayed on for you :P
It's been a long time coming....so just enjoy :)
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Another morning watching the sun come up over a beautifully calm bay. Moorsalex you are right about the views of the bay from round here, we are next to, but a bit higher than the Regency and the view is indeed stunning and it's so peaceful here. The design of these suites is really clever as although you see other people you never seem to hear them!
Yesterday began with another walk up 'our hill', I'm checking our steps on my phone and we are exceeding the daily recommendation! :laugh: we were followed, or should I say closely accompanied by Bruce. Bruce the dog had followed us home on our fist night and when we opened our front door yesterday there he was lying by the front door......very pleased to see us. And while I'm on the subject of dogs....... ;D since when did Kalkan suddenly have spaniels? A gorgeous one at Indigo and outside the Nar each evening is a beautiful two month old spaniel......we lost our lovely old spaniel a couple of months ago and fine with all other dogs but find spaniels tough! Doesn't stop me fussing over them though.
Spent test day at Indigo, a first for us. Usually go to Palm Beach but as they decided to close early we had a change of scene, and very nice it was too, dare I say, we may have found a new favourite? No rash decisions yet! I knew about the afternoon tea and cake but left it as a surprise for OH.
So back to the suite.....ok, really it's an apartment but why not use the posh name? A lovely glass of wine, in silence, have I mentioned how quiet it is here, and then off to the Small House for dinner. We went here for the first time last year and will definitely go back again this holiday. It's just so different from other places. Lovely service from the smiling Can and the food is amazing. The meze plate with 14 different dishes is a sight to behold....and to eat! What they can do with a vegetable!! We were going to go for an after dinner drink but had our glasses topped up to go with our lovely complimentary dessert and we were done for.
Now just wondering if our calf muscles can manage our daily walk up the hill, OH is walking like a chimpanzee unable to stand up straight! :laugh:
And so, another day begins..........
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Big sigh from me so envious. Love Indigo and it's so accessible. It's funny when we first came to Kalkan we didn't have much choice for beach clubs but Mahal was our choice and sometimes Kalamar. Now there is so much choice and I believe a new one next year. So we wait with bated breath.
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Babs, I have had a pre-lunch drink at Korsan Suites, overlooking the pool and with the wonderful view. If we didn't have our own place I would certainly be planning on staying there for a holiday.
Enjoying your reports - it is only two weeks since we left Kalkan and already thinking of our next visit and looking at flights.
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Have to say....a little bit envious of you being in Kalkan right now. Yesterday was the first day I opted for black opaques as the thermostat has definitely took a downwards tumble after a relatively mild start to Autumn in our part if the UK. The thought of being at Indigo Beach Club...any beach club...right now is a particularly attractive one. And there you are, soaking it up :-*
Looking forward to hearing more about your stay...and the increasing KCP. How are the Kalkankles shaping up?
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Hey Babs - loving your posts - just back to Ipswich from Kalkan early hours today and have had to light the wood burner! What a change although took the dogs out and the smell of Autumn was lovely too. But obviously not quite Kalkan - hope you have a lovely holiday!
Alex
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Woken up to the promised clouds this morning....... :( but this has been forecast for a week and if the forecast can be beloved, and hopefully it can, the weather after today will be perfect for the rest of our stay.
Well, yesterday was a hot one! So the swimming part of my post title was certainly happening. I don't think the weather has ever been that hot when we've been here at this time of year.
So pretty much the same plan as the day before, walk before breakfast, this time we found ourselves higher up Kalamar Road and it was interesting to spot restaurants and shops that I've heard about on here but seen before.
Then another day at Indigo Beach club. They had the binoculars put looking to see how busy other places were! We've never been there in the summer but they are pretty busy, as in all the front row beds were taken and the restaurant was busy for lunch.
Last night we gave Fountains Bar a go for a pre dinner drink, had boycotted this as we'd loved it when it first opened and Nam owned it. Had a lovely mojito and a chat with the Albanian waiter! Then off to Sade for dinner. We love that place, so friendly and a little chaotic. The food was amazing as ever, best meal I've had, calamari and then sea bass with prawns, all washed down with a couple of buckets of red! We had the prime table right on the corner overlooking the road so we had a good view of people wandering up and down. Really brought it home to is how quiet Kalkan is this year, very sad, we have been told that bookings are 40% down, so ridiculous and personally I think it's disgraceful of the British press as there's no need at all, just my opinion. Restaurants that are always popular such as Sade, Mussakka etc. are busy but there are lots with literally no customers.
Well not sure what the plans are for today, will have to see what happens to the weather, maybe a trip to Kas?
And so another day, in a rather dull and breezy, paradise begins!.........
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Oh I am enjoying your holiday Babs. Tke Korsan suites look beautiful and are in a good area for exploring what Kalakmar has to offer. Hope you manage to visit some of the restaurants and bars along the road towards the bay - you won't be disappointed.
Slightly off topic, good news re Monarch this morning, hopefully they will attract more Turkey tourists now they are out of a crisis so hopefully Kalkan will feel the benefit next year and not be as quiet as it has been lately. There, I'm back on topic again now! ;D
Have a lovely day whatever you decide to do - any day is surely a good day when you're in Kalkan. 8) :)
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Yesterday was an odd day weather wise........hazy all day and very windy and then the evening/night was really warm, so yes, K4E there was definitely a kankle issue!
Lizilu, it's so quiet round here at night that we are going into town every night. Yesterday we took a different route in and found the Asifya Seaview Hotel where you and Bob and Jayne spent time in the summer, but like many of the hotels it's all closed up. Having said that town seemed quite buzzy last night ;D
So we spent the windy day on the town beach, you know the sort of day when you have to leap on to your towel quick before it blows away?!
Lunch at Fener.......this is when the obligatory holiday embarrassing incident/injury happened, always a relief to get it out of the way? We had a lovely lunch sitting in the kosk area and as I was trying, elegantly, to get off I kneeled on the edge of a cushion that was sadly overhanging the edge and crash, down I went landing on my hip and hand. So now have a dodgy hip to drag up and down the hills.....hopefully it will sort itself soon.
Last night we went on our promised trip to the Korsan Meze. I can't understand why this is mentioned more. Such lovely professional, friendly service and delicious food. We had Meze to share, well you sort of feel obliged! And then I had what was described as Fethiye Bay shrimps in chilli and garlic. Out came a mountain of "shrimp" more like what we would call king prawns at home, in the most amazing sauce. It wasn't pretty, me that is, by the end. Messy but completely delicious.
Just when I had decided that I really didn't need any more silver jewellery, well bracelets and bangles in my case, we spotted Halit in Just Silver. So in we went to the usual hand kissing, offers of tea, chats about business, this time his plans to open a shop very close to where we live, but then we've heard this before! It would have been rude to not look around and so of course I ended up with another lovely silver bangle and a pair of earrings for one of my daughters for Christmas.
So dragged my dodgy hip up the hills home only to find that I could only lie on one side all night!
Normal service seems to have been resumed today weather wise which is a relief as today is boat day. And so as the sun comes over the mountain, another day begins........
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Big sigh as I read your lovely report. We're going boating but on the canal not quite as magnificent as your trip and I'm sure not as warm. Have a lovely day.
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Oh Babs I hope that your hip is okay and that you are not feeling the pain this morning! Just reading your post has brightened my day, it sounds idealic (well despite your mishap in Fener), and as for the prawns, that would be my idea of heaven! Well done with your jewellery purchases too so soon into your holiday as well, waiting patiently now for reports of your bag shopping!!!
Am sat at my desk now dreaming about the lovely lazy days we spent at the Asfiya this year along with all the other fabulous places too. Waht fun we all had :D :D Such a shame that some places are closed already, but it sounds like the Town is still busy, so that is good news. Anyway hope you are having another wonderful day and look forward to your next post! Look after that hip too xx
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Lovely day on Moby Dick yesterday as always, maybe not the smartest boat in the harbour but the ever delightful Denis and Kemal more than make up for that. Great company too. Just five of us on the boat, a lady who lives here a few months of the year and Mavis and Bill. Mavis and Bill are not their real names, they are the names we gave them after meeting them everywhere we go. We do know their real names now, by the way! We are totally in awe on M and B, they have reached that lovely age when they tell people how old they are so.....in their case over the next few months, 80 and 84! We have decided they are the perfect role models. They have been coming here for twenty years, as well as travelling to places like South Africa and Canada in the last year! They are incredible, Bill cycles a lot and belongs to a club and does their enormous garden and Mavis does all the finance for her local Macmillan branch, belongs to a book club and goes to aqua aerobics, and I suspect a lot more.......when I grow up I want to be Mavis! To top it all we met them after dinner last night and does Mavis scrub up well?! :laugh:
Anyway, I digress! Lovely sunset drink at Kleo and then off to shower and change. We ate at the Olive Garden last night, basically we peer up at restaurants and go where we see other people. It was quite busy although looking around at other roof tops some aren't so lucky. Another lovely meal and well finished off with free desserts.......obviously having stuffed ourselves silly on the boat we didn't eat any.......yeah, as if! ;D ;D
Have woken up to a much fresher morning, maybe after all the wind, it has been quite humid at times up to now. Still forecast at 26 will do me fine!
Kankles under control after a cooler night but as for the saddlebag hip, well.........
Despite being more well padded than I would like to be in most places, I was at the back of the queue when they were handing out hips! You get the picture, I'm roughly the shape of a small robin! Anyway this means that when I descended non too elegantly from my perch in Fener that I didn't have much to soften my blow, hence the reason I now am sporting a lovely saddlebag swelling on one side.....but bizarrely no bruising......is this a good thing? Lizilu?
Anyway enough of my ramblings, I have an early morning walk to get on with!
And so another day begins.........
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Oh Babs hope your hip gets better soon. You may have some deep bruising which can take a few days to come to the surface, hence the swelling. Hope it's not too painful. :-* shame you can't get a bag of frozen peas on it.
I want to be Mavis too when I grow up although I suspect she's in better shape at her age than I am now!
Hope you're having a good day today despite your injury. X
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Loving your reports, Babs.
Mavis and Bill sound like a lot of older couples we meet in Kalkan and may well be the couple we call Joe and Mary....! Either way, we envy their lifestyles and fitness levels and I hope someone says I scrub up well when I'm 80.
Your fall sounded pure comedy and I did laugh when reading your description but then felt bad when I realised you were in pain. Hope it gets better soon and at least it hasn't stopped your daily walks...a girl after my own heart.
Look forward to hearing more about your stay.
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Time to review progress on the activities in the post title........
Swim, well plenty of dips in the sea and have reached the pontoon at Indigo twice!
Eat, to excess! ;D
Sleep, now here's the problem. OH and I are notoriously bad sleepers, as in we wake very early. Unfortunately this seems to have continued throughout this holiday. Still it's lovely hearing the early morning call to prayer! ::)
The upshot of this is that we are struggling to get past 10.30 in the evenings, on the plus side it's cutting alcohol consumption!
And as for the walking, well! Because we like to go to the beach etc we are walking in, in the morning, then back, then back in and back in the evenings, whilst this is doing wonders for clocking up the steps we reckon before you factor in any other moving from place to place and our early morning stroll, we are walking for 80 minutes a day......and we aren't strollers. So, new plan, at night, walk on taxi back......there I've admitted it!
Another lovely day at Indigo yesterday, dead turtle permitting!! And I do mean day, we were the first to arrive, early birds and stayed till sunset! So, dead turtle I hear you say. Sadly a very dead turtle was washed up late afternoon which certainly took some fishing out of the sea as it was enormous! Very sad :(
Pre dinner drinks in Botanik, few people in there I'm pleased to say and then we wandered along to Salonika. It was really busy and we got the last table, which unfortunately was the end table near the kitchen so we felt a bit out of it, but it was lovely to see that little road buzzing. Good food though and a bit of a party atmosphere further along the restaurant with music and some impromptu dancing.
Had a little late night (10.30!!) wander round the harbour and then trudged our way home.....definitely a taxi tonight!
The sun has just come up over the mountains and a perfectly calm bay, it may be a bit of a trek but it is certainly beautiful here.
Quick check.......kankles, under control, saddlebag hip, slightly less "full", calves no longer screaming but now bites, bizarrely acquired during the day yesterday........
And so another day begins.........
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Wow first to arrrive at Indigo and stayed til sunset, well that certainly sounds like a fab day Babs, your sleep pattern sounds a bit like ours, up at the crack of dawn but at least you are making the most of the sunshine! We didn't get to Salonika this year, and it was on our list, but hopefully next time! Glad your kankles and hip are under control, but sorry to hear about the bites, I feel your pain! I am still sporting the scars from mine this year! Sad about the turtle too, poor thing.
Enjoy another day in Paradise, and thanks again for your wonderful posts.
Jx
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What were the cocktails at Botanik like, Babs? We thought they were very poor in July compare s to last year. As a result we didn't go in Sept.
pw
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Loving your posts Babs.....your holiday sounds almost identical to the ones that we enjoy in Kalkan every time that we visit. We've also been lucky enough to meet an older couple that have been visiting for years.........who knows it may have been Mavis & Bill? I hope that your hip is recovering and that the bites aren't too irritating.
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pw, the cocktails were nice and refreshing but I'm not sure how much alcohol they saw!
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Another early start waiting to the sun to pop up over the mountains and bay.......so no progress on the sleeping in later, mind you we were in bed by 11!
A quick check tells me that last nights foot/kankles are under control, bites still itching like mad, but only in the mornings (?) and saddlebag diminishing but becoming more bruised! So if you see anyone looking like they've been kicked by a horse that is probably me!
Yesterday we wandered up to the taxis and then went off to Patara for the day when we arrived there were only a few other people there, beautiful. But it got busier as the day went on. The weather was perfect, a lovely breeze all day but no so much that you had to hang on to your towel, clothes, hair etc. The day went so quickly and before we knew it we were heading back to Kalkan York taxi.
Following a quick drink in Cafe del Mar we had dinner at Mussakka last night, which, unlike when we'd booked the previous night, was quite quiet, in fact the only tables used were all the tables along the edge. Had a lovely meal as ever, I really could eat sea bass every night, oh wait, I have, practically!! :laugh:
The lovely warm sun has just popped it's face over the mountain so it must be time for our early morning stroll (route march) and then get ready for another day at Indigo, it's tough but someone has to do it!
And so another day begins............
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Short post this morning as its OH's big birthday and we've been present and card opening!
Lovely day at Indigo yesterday, stayed till sunset again......the time just flies by??
Then back for a shower and drink on the terrace before setting off to Small House for dinner. amazing yet again, their food is absolutely delicious and such lovely people. Managed to stay awake long enough, although it was touch and go, to manage a drink at Trio. I remember when you could sit there and watch the world go by.....now just the odd person every now and then.
So today OH is calling the shots, when you are as old as he is you have to be indulged! ;D so we have booked to spend the day on Moby Dick then dinner at Sade this evening.
Sadly today is our last full day, but we will eek out as much time on the beach tomorrow as possible before our late flight.
May not do a post tomorrow as will probably pack! :-[
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OH Babs, what a wonderful way to spend your birthday. Happy birthday to OH, sounds like he really is going to have a wonderful time. Thank you for taking the time to share your holiday with us all. :D :D
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Quick final post while I'm having my cup of tea waiting for the sun to pop up over the mountain.
So another lovely day on Moby Dick, good company and great weather, very calm yesterday.
Then cocktails, and very good they were too, at Fountains followed by a birthday dinner for OH at Sade.....delicious! He had the whole firework treatment :laugh:
So our last few hours in our favourite place are going to be spent at Indigo soaking up some last rays and then lunch at the Korsan.
Seemed to be more families around last night so maybe some areas have an early half term? I think people coming over the next couple of weeks may be disappointed to see some firm favourites closed......we were surprised last night to see Gironda and Nar closed, but sadly I suppose owners are having to make decisions based on income.
We've had another great holiday in Kalkan, it just never fails.....definitely my happy place! :angel:
The best weather we've ever had at this time of year, just one slightly hazy, windy day out of 10.......the rest wall to wall sunshine, and the evenings have been so warm too.
We are already planning to come bck at the same time next year, can't waiting.......although we have a few more "big birthday" adventures before then.
Remember........when in doubt always think, "what would Mavis and Bill do?" ;D
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Oh I envy you Babs, even if it is your last day. Today it was pitch black as my alarm went off, for the first time this year. :( And so the dark mornings are a cometh, hate hate hate them, so I'm now counting down until April. Your blogs have brought a little ray of sunshine to my days and I've enjoyed every word you've written. Thanks so much and have a fab last day in our lovely Kalkan. So glad you've had good weather overall and a lovely holiday, sounds like OH had a brilliant birthday too.
Safe journey home. :) :) :)
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Oh Babs (Babes) just catching up with your posts.
I think you may well be home now and all too soon it comes to an end :( Do what we do and start counting the days till your next visit - we booked our accommodation and flights for next June when we were still there (in June) this year. A bit disconcerting when the countdown app tells you there's 345 days to go...wwooooooohhhh!
Really loved your blog and your holiday sounds so much like ours it's easy to picture myself in your shoes - spilling out of them in my case - enjoying doing what you do in our happy place.
How lucky have been with the weather - its just what Kalkan needed. So sad that places had to close early this year - we'll have to wait and see who has survived the dreadful season but I fear we will have lost so many favourites and some long-standing venues come May 2017.
Lucky old OH having a birthday in Kalkan - I'm a November baby so have never celebrated my birthday abroad except on those milestone ages when it seems to be obligatory. BH is September and we have celebrated those quite a few times in Kalkan for any old age...I'm forever jealous!
Hope the washing isn't overwhelming you..... :P
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Indeed we are home! :-[ and overwhelmed with washing!
OH birthday was a very big milestone and as mine is next year, as I say we have other adventures planned......this is just the beginning! :laugh:
Plans are already in place to go back to Kalkan same time next year, we just need to establish if anyone else wants to go to, daughters, friends, and then we'll start looking at accommodation and booking flights once easyjet release October, I imagine in December?
Until then........
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Can't wait till October next year after your lovely reports. We've booked our flights and accommodation so the countdown is on.
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Babs glad your home safe and sound, but so missing your daily posts! Your "other adventures" sound very exciting, as does Kalkan same time next year! We are waiting for the flights to be released for us too next year, nothing booked as yet! Joycie your one step ahead, well done you, you must really be on countdown :) :D