New Builds

There are a few new builds rising up around Yesilkent at the moment. This one is opposite Phil and Lynn's house on Cadde 1 .

 This one is next to the previous, on Cadde 1.

And this developing plot is behind Gary and Karen's house on Sokak 222

The Festive Season

We had some friends with us on Christmas Day to share our festive fare. We had a turkey this year and trusted to luck that we wouldn't have a power cut during the cooking of it. We got away with it. 

They stayed with us overnight and then we were joined by four more friends for Boxing Day. We didn't avoid the power cuts this day, but Sue had done most of the preparation before the cuts occurred thank goodness. We had gammon and turkey, plus many other bits and pieces for our meal on Boxing Day followed by fun and games, mostly pub type quizzes that our guests had brought with them.

New Year's Eve, we and Lorraine and Phil got the bus to Izmir. We chose a hotel in the city centre for that night so that we would be close to the action. 

As you can see in this picture, all the pony carriages had been decorated for the day and evening, as had many of the streets and shops. 

During the afternoon we had a chance to browse the shops, and Sue managed to find herself a very attractive top in M&S. 

We stopped off in one café for some refreshment, and the table was groaning with cakes that people were collecting for their evening celebrations. As they were collected the chef was bringing out more to replace them. There was a constant stream of purchasers all the time we were there.

We went back to the hotel to prepare for the evening. Most of the events in the city were taking place in Ataturk Square on the sea-front.

On the way down to the front we passed the Swisshotel which had plastered the front and gardens with lights. We are standing in front of just a small part of the display which was too big to get all of it in one small picture. 

We had reserved ourselves a table in a sea-front restaurant for the evening during our afternoon wanderings, so that we would be able to see what was going on while we were having our meal.

Meal finished we joined the revellers and watched the groups playing in the square.There's a guy at the left of this picture carrying a tray of pastries through the crowds selling to anyone who felt peckish. The stage was the blue patch in the distance, but it was too busy for us to get much closer. Sound system was good though and there were big screens around so that we could see what was going on.

 They had the usual countdown to midnight. And then of course came the firework display which was awesome.

After which we made our way slowly back to the hotel.

In the morning we changed hotels. When we booked we felt that we ought to go to a hotel with an indoor pool for the next two days just so that we would have something to do should it rain. We booked the Balcova Thermal Spa. 

It was far grander than we expected. The grounds were vast, and within those grounds were an aquapark, an Olympic sized pool, an outdoor thermal pool with two jacuzzis, tennis courts, two gymnasia, several indoor pools, whirlpool baths, treatment centres ... the whole works.

Once booked all but the hands on treatments were complimentary. Over the two days we made use of most of the facilities. 

The outdoor thermal pool was amazing. Swimming around in the open air even though the air temperature was low. The pools were over 30 degrees, and the jaccuzzis were at 38' and 41' depending on which one you chose to sit in.

Phil made full use of both gymnasia as that's his thing ... every punishment under the sun in those rooms, and he enjoyed every minute ... especially good for him as New Year's Day was his birthday, a real treat. He even made use of the automatic massage chairs.

We also managed to satisfy Sue's craving for retail therapy, as very close by was a very large complex known as the Agora with all the major brand outlets inside (M&S, Mango, Bodyshop, Benetton to name but a few) plus it had some vast and amazing techno shops for me, at least equal, if not better than Currys or Comet.

Shame to come home really, but we had to on Monday. Probably just as well as the weather chose to break overnight and the rain fell down.