Splendid Isolation in Kusadasi

  Yesterday afternoon, on what started as just a normal sunny day, I decided to investigate Ladies Beach.   Historically, this was an area reserved for ladies to sunbathe and swim but now it’s a very popular spot with tourists, full of restaurants, bars, shops and hotels.   It’s a nice little stretch to the south of the main town of Kusadasi.   The front is pedestrianised which is good for a stroll.   I parked up on the main road about 50 metres away and walked down.   There are a lot of Irish bars and restaurants along the front and I could hear quite a few conversations going on with Irish accents, as I passed by. Further on are what seem to be more Turkish restaurants and bars.   At the far end, is White House Restaurant and I decided to have a tea and toastie there. I sat at a table against the wall that overlooks the beach and started to read my Kindle whilst waiting for my toastie.   At this point, I should say that for many years I’v...

29 th October is when the Turkish celebrate the forming of the republic.   I was here last year but, as I was flying back to the UK the next day, I don’t think I got involved in any way.   This year, I decided the best thing was to avoid the crowds.   A local FB page is encouraging everyone to join in a parade in their cars and there isn’t to be a pedestrian parade, because of the pandemic. When I was in Kusadasi yesterday, in the rain, I saw a Turkish navy vessel in the bay and another moored up at the port.   My initial thought was it was somehow connected with Greece’s efforts to extend their maritime borders and Samos does seem to be creeping closer to the Turkish coast 😮 ha ha – it’s an optical illusion, apparently to do with the weather at this time of year.   I soon realised the Navy vessels were here preparing for today’s celebration. After yesterday’s abortive attempt to do 6k+ steps, I was determined not to let the rain stop me today.   I took...

Compared to Turkish people, we Brits are amateurs when it comes to drinking tea or ç ay as they call it; pronounced ‘chy’, same as the Indian chai.  It is always on the brew! In the UK, if we want a pot rather than a mug, we use a ‘cosy’ to try to keep the teapot and the tea warm and how many times do we have to make a fresh pot because it’s ‘stewed’?   The Turkish have a better method.   They have a kettle and teapot combination.   Modern ones are electric and have both boil and ‘keep warm’ settings.   The kettle is filled with water, the teapot is filled with tea and placed on top of the open kettle.   Once the water has boiled, the kettle turns to ‘keep warm’ mode.   The boiled water is poured in to the teapot which is then put back on top of the kettle.   The tea is kept warm from the kettle and as it gets stronger is topped up from the kettle or, as my friends do, they pour a bit from the teapot in to the ç ay glass and top it up from ...

  Now I’m back in Turkey, I can get back in to walking.   Back in the UK, for most of the 3 months I was home, I did none and have put on quite a few pounds.   More importantly, I could feel my fitness levels had dropped.   In the last month before I returned, I did start doing some walking, particularly when the sun was shining, so I’ve no excuse now. Yesterday, I went walking from the marina to the port and back a few times with my friend from the complex.   It was good to have some company and conversation.   We had a tea break of about an hour halfway through, at a restaurant on the edge of the port.   Next to the port there is a paved square surrounded by fish restaurants and the fish market.   Before I left in July, the square was being re-paved but it’s now completed and looks fabulous with the restaurants and fish market all appearing to have been spruced up too.   On the side of the square, as you move towards the fish market and a...

So, I've been back in Kusadasi for just over a week.  It's strange but when I returned to the UK it took me a few days to settle in, whereas I was settled straightaway here.  I know I'd been away from the UK for 6 months and returned here after only 3 months but I grew up in the UK and have lived in my home in West Yorkshire for over 30 years so you'd think I'd be more settled there.... To comply with the restrictions on those over 65, I'm on curfew from 8pm until 10am every day and if I want to go out of the province, I have to get permission from the police or council, not sure which.  The rule is also (for over 65s) that if you do go out of the province, you have to stay there for 30 days.  I don't know if that applies even if you only want to go on a day trip.  I'd love to go to Ephesus, Sirince or even shopping in Izmir but they are all in Izmir province and I'm in Aydin so I'll have to do some investigating.  I don't want to end up with...

I had intended to continue my blogs whilst back in the UK but as I did very little, didn't see the point. Initially I did, on limited occasions, meet family or friends but then Calderdale, where my UK house is, was put on local restrictions so I no longer met with anyone.  I went shopping and for walks and that was it.  I still can't see my son or dad so what is the point of staying in the UK?  Plus, I got so incensed with 'deniers' who think it's all a scam and won't wear masks or social distance. I actually had a 'do' with one outside Sainsburys which I posted about on my personal Facebook page. My return flight to Izmir was booked for Monday 12th October with Jet2 but then the UK government put Turkey on the naughty list.  The package companies immediately cancelled their packages until the 17th of October initially and then extended it to the end of October.  I was booked flight only with Jet2 and had assumed I'd be OK as my flight was within the...