Well, there’s some good news and some bad news this week. As a confirmed optimist, let’s start with the good news.
We had a fantastic trip out on Friday to a farm site near Dalaman. Quite a windy ride up into the mountains but when we arrived, we were amazed to find quite a large development of very upmarket houses, a lake, restaurant, and a range of activities including fishing, horseriding and boat trips. We had lunch in a treehouse and enjoyed some of the best steaks we have had recently. We then went out on the lake in a boat and spent a very enjoyable half hour on a sandy beach. The braver amongst us swam in the bracing lake waters. It was incredibly peaceful – the benefits of going at the end of the season.
15th January 2012
Half way through January already – only nine weeks to go until the clocks change and the light evenings will be back. I must admit that I don’t like these long winter evenings, particularly with the high number of power cuts we have been getting recently. Over the last few days we seem to have suffered from a lot of short periods without power; not too disruptive in the daylight, apart from the need to constantly reset clocks etc. It’s particularly annoying when you are half way through a television programme!
We walked along the sea front yesterday; the temperature was 14 degrees and the sun was really hot. The two new supermarkets are going up very rapidly now.
I don’t know when they are due to open but it does appear as if the construction work is quite competitive.
It looks as if the change to the tourist visa rules announced last year may (and I stress may) be coming into force. An article in Fethiye Times (CLICK HERE) has a link to an article in the Kalkan Turkish Daily News which indicates how the 90/180 day rules may affect tourists. However, both articles stress that nobody really know what will happen; very confusing for those frequent visitors to Turkey who rely on tourist visas. I will try to keep you updated with any further developments.
Apparently the new Esnaf Hospital opened in Fethiye this week. I am sure it will continue to offer us the excellent medical facilities we had at the old hospital but I do hope that perhaps it will be slightly less crowded! I have always found it interesting that when one Turkish person visits the hospital, the entire family goes too.
The bad news, I’m afraid, is that I understand an English lady got mugged whilst withdrawing money from the ATM at Isbank in town. It seems incredible that this could happen just across the road from the Jandarma but nevertheless, it did. I shall certainly keep my eyes open in future before I use any cash machines. I hope this is an isolated incident; one of the many delights of living in Gocek has always been the high level of honesty around. I do hope this isn’t going to change.
I have been persuaded to try to play tennis at the Tennis Club next week. I’m not sure this is a good idea; I haven’t played for about 15 years – so there may not be a Life in Gocek next week. Watch this space!!!
