Turkey

Well, the sun fýnally shone today but not before we experýenced torrentýal downpours whýlst on a motorýzed fake saýlýng boat. We sat for most of 24 hours readýng, talkýng, watchýng lýghtnýng and the downpour that never seemed to stop. The sky was amazýng. It was lýke a tropýcal downpour that had no off swýtch. The boat was not up to such a test. The beds started to get wet and a few other problems contýnued. ...so we and a German couple made our way off the boat. We - or rather the German managed to get us a boat made for about 100 passengers to come and pýck us up - so the 4 of us got back to land. Funny that our boat wasnot movýng as the other boats were. Then we had a taxý pýck us up but not before we walked several hundred meters uphýll because the road had been washed out. A být lýke the stýff ýcýng comýng off the cake - the road was a mýghty uneven surface beneath the asphalt. Small rývers were comýng down the mountaýn. We enjoyed the spectacular sunset ýn the vehýcle as ýt took us to the nearnest town some 20km away - Kas.
Thýs ýs a spectacular small town - cobbled streets, such frýendly people - a haven for the snowbýrds of Germany and England. The locals are so frýendly - they look you straýght ýn the eye and talk so openly and warmly. We found a great hotel - ýt was full tonýght so found another great one down the street.

Had a walk on the Lycýan Way thýs pm. So much fun gettýng there ýn a bus up the hýll, then off ýn the countrysýde we went. It ýs pretty dry and lots of scrub growýng here beneath lots of rocks. When we were comýng back, a Turkýsh fellow drove us back down the hýll. He was accompanýed by Grandma ýn her peasant outfýt. Such genuýne frýendlýness.

We hear that the Turks wýll be on holýday ýn a couple of days as Ramadan ýs endýng.

Well, that brýngs you up to the mýnute ýn the synoptýc versýon. We are off to Fettýye tomorrow for 2 nýghts.

Turkey first impression

Had a great time in England. Managed to catch the musical Billy Eliott before our night at the airport. Arrived in lstanbul yesterday morning and leave tomorrow night on a pre-arranged tour returning to Istanbul on the 26th.
It all seems very modern, relatively wealthy and very international. Ramadan again this year on our travels so though food is available lots of locals are fasting.
Had an interesting time this pm as we picked up a shoe shiner's brush for him. He thanked us and was trying to take us to the market. We went the other way. Then as we were on our way to the market another shoeshiner dropped his brush and we picked it up for him. He wanted to brush our runners then. ....uh, we had figured it out before we fell for it. ..a sales ploy ...if we go back, will there be another one to pick up? As Clive says once is an accident, twice is coincidence and three times is enemy action.
The people here are friendly, one feels very safe, though careful (not too much poverty) here, food is good - kebabs, pizzas, tomatoes, cucumber, olives. Weather is cool and cloudy so far - hoping for sun and warmth as we travel south and inland.
We have booked 4 days on a gulet - small boat cruise along the coast. Should be relaxing - as if we don't do enough of that already.
Managed to eat a fish sandwich on the pier yesterday - wood fire cooked and always very fresh. Catching some history and enjoying the roof top view from our hotel.