Christmas

We and a group of friends decided to spend Christmas at a 5 star all-inclusive hotel in Kusadasi this year.

It was a lovely hotel, and, although these wonderful outside pools were a little on the cool side, the indoor pools and spa areas were lovely and warm. We were able to spoil ourselves rotten.

The hotel was beautifully decorated for Christmas and New Year

Here we are all having an after dinner drink before moving to the bar to complete the evening.

Christmas Greetings

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

AND 

EVERY GOOD WISH FOR 2012

FROM US

CLICK HERE

Christmas Shopping in Izmir

We and some friends went to the Agora Centre in Izmir to do some Christmas Shopping. As you can see, the whole place was decorated up for the season, although here it would be for the season of New Year.

Sue's Birthday

We went to Bodrum this year to celebrate Sue's Birthday

We stayed in The Diamond of Bodrum Hotel which is located right on the seafront opposite the jetty where the cruise liners dock.

The room had some wonderful views from the balcony and the hotel was just a short stroll from the retail therapy that Sue enjoys so much

The hotel also had an indoor pool and spa, so we were well catered for. 

The outside pool looked beautiful too but just a little too chill to use, and if it weren't for the cool wind we may have been able to use the sunbeds.

It was a very peaceful and relaxed way to enjoy Sue's birthday.

We are not the only people with a cat problem ... look at this lot waiting for the fish to be landed

Sue would like to thank all those who remembered and were kind enough to send birthday greetings either by traditional cards or their electronic equivalents.

Yet more mouths to feed

The title of this post says it all ..

We have 3 new additions to the cat school (what do you call a collective of cats?)

They appeared over the last couple of days,

they play together happily in the sunshine, but what will become of them when the weather becomes more wintry?

(According to the Oxford Dictionary, a collection of cats is "a Clowder", you learn something new every day!)

Tree Clearance

There is on-going work all over Didim being carried out by Didim Belediye clearing away diseased palm trees

They are trying to prevent the spread of the disease to healthy palm trees which flourish all around Didim. Apparently this bug is very virulent and the best protection is to destroy infected plants.

Kipa Extra

A new Kipa Extra complex is being completed just at the far end of the Soke Bypass from Didim.

We're not sure which other shops will be included in the complex but ....

according to the billboard in this picture, Kipa itself will open tomorrow the 24th

Abandoned Pussies

Since the summer visitors (British and Turkish) have gone home we have been inundated by their cats that they have abandoned. Today I walked down the road and was surrounded by 10 cats seeking food and attention.

We can't afford to feed them all, we have counted nearly 20 that have come to the door at some point during today hoping for the food that once they got from so-called animal lovers who have left them to starve over the winter.

We do what we can but the problem is just overwhelming.

Donkey Mowers

Our donkey lawnmowers have wandered back. Normally they are in a field on the other side of the main road near the Police Academy (about 1 Km away), but somehow they escape and make their way  over  to our "park".

They have also been spotted by Colin and Josie on Zumrut Sitesi.

(Photo supplied by Colin and Jose)

See No Trees

The house opposite changed hands recently. As you can see it has always been a very dark and secluded property. However, the new owners are taking steps to rectify this.

 First all the branches were taken off the trees ...

Then most of the trees wee removed completely, to open up the view (we can now see the Sea Horse Complex which has been hidden from us for a few years now).

Currently a car port and boundary wall is being constructed.

It's certainly putting new life into the view from our side of the road

Our friends arrived in Kusadasi having travelled from their home in Cyprus on a cruise sailing around some Greek islands and calling in on 3 ports in Turkey.

We drove up to the resort to meet them off the ship

We walked around the bay to Bird Island, where there is a small fort.

Having stretched our legs we then stopped for a coffee before going on to lunch at the Atinc Hotel.

A Day out in Izmir

We took our friends Ken and Betty to Izmir for a day out. They fancied touring the bazaar. It doesn't matter how many times we go there, we always discover something new.

This delightful handmade pottery shop caught Betty's eye and from there we went to this simple coffee shop in a very old building once used as a women's prison.

The variety of goods on sale in the bazaar is overwhelming ...

as is the variety of buildings that house them.

From the bazaar we went down to Konak where this mini mosque and the clock-tower provide a great photo opportunity.

We all really enjoyed our bus-trip to Izmir.

More pictures of our visit can be found here 

The Jungle Refuse Disappears

We had a tractor to take away that huge heap of garden waste for us today

Feral Donkeys!

We don't know where these donkeys came from ... but they've spent the morning tidying up the proposed park in front of the house. Pity they didn't hang about a bit longer, they could have made it look a whole lot better.

Fishing Boat

A lovely example of a local wooden fishing boat taking shelter from rough weather and high winds that have been plaguing us lately.

Venosa Beach

We took a walk along the beach and ended up in front of the Venosa today. We strolled up their new jetty ... smart isn't it?

This is the view from the end of the jetty back towards the hotel ...

and out towards Bosbuk from the same viewpoint.

Tinkerbelle