I woke up feeling a little better than yesterday, but not 100% my ribs are also hurting again! 😩 Still, places to be things to do!
The weather is awful, heavy rain. We have been very lucky with the weather it would seem.
Grantley had some breakfast and I had a cup of lemon tea then we made our way downstairs.
We had booked a taxi with the guy on reception, explaining which airport we were heading to. There are 2 airports in opposite directions. Unfortunately, something clearly got lost in translation because our driver was there ready to take us to the wrong airport. For some strange reason he was unable to go to the correct airport, although it is the same journey time. The receptionist tried to get another taxi, but told us no one wanted to do it as it was raining!! WTAF! 😳 He eventually found a driver, but of course this option was more expensive, luckily not by much.
The driver arrived in a fancy people carrier with a fluorescent orange interior and we made our way to the airport.
By the time we got to the airport Grantley had started to feel unwell, nauseous, cold and very out of sorts. 😬
Luckily it was an easy check in and the flight was on time and boarding etc were a breeze.
We arrived at Dalaman Airport in lovely sunshine. Our pre booked taxi was easy to find and we headed to Fethiye, a nice drive through some towns and mountains.
Fethiye, looked amazing, a beautiful big bay, lots of boats, blue sea and blue sky! 💙
Poor Grantley was still feeling poorly, so he went straight to bed when we arrived.
I had a little wander around, dropped off some laundry then sat in a cute coffee shop opposite the hotel and wrote my blog. I then found a shop and bought some water, plain biscuits and a few bananas and went back to our room.
Grantley and I figured the best thing for both of us was an early night, so, after some water and a banana that’s what we did.
My bed was super comfortable and I got a really good nights sleep. We both woke up feeling loads better. My upset stomach felt better and my ribs were less painful. Grantley also felt lots better. The power of sleep!
We had a nice light breakfast, then our first port of call was to check out where the Ferry Port is in relation to the hotel. I also wanted to go to the ticket office and check out things.
After being given various incorrect directions and information, we located the ticket office, randomly under a different name (helpful, Not!) The port is only a 5 minute walk from the hotel, which is fab.
We had a little mooch then Grantley wanted to go and visit some tombs up on the hill, so I opted to look around the old town and we’d meet up later.
Just as I was walking across a road the strap on my handbag broke! The clip that attaches the strap had snapped. I’ve had this bag for a few years and it has served we remarkably well, so I was a little sad. I knew I should be able to get another strap, but no idea where. I asked in a little bag shop, they just said no. I asked in a boutique shop, they were a little more helpful and suggested the shoe repair guy by the fish market.
On the way to the fish market I passed a women’s fashion shop, I thought they might sell straps. I popped in and spoke to the manager, a very nice older guy. He looked at my bag, removed the strap, then said leave it with me, come back in an hour. I asked the price and he just waved his hands at me. I left my strap with him and found somewhere to grab a little lunch. I found a cute little local place down by the water I had some food the and met up with Grantley.
After an hour I went back to the shop, the man had an assistant run off to fetch my strap with new clips! Unfortunately the clips were too small to be able to attach. 😬 The gentleman got on the phone and had an animated conversation with someone, he hands the broken strap to another guy, who leaves the shop. He tells me to give him 15 mins. I went and sat on a bench outside with Grantley, 5 mins later he’s back with another older guy, more clips, they try then out on my back, chat nod, chat some more. The older guy wanders off. 10 mins later they are both back with my strap, which has larger, metal clips. They fit the strap on my bag It works! 😍 Everyone is happy, and nobody wants to take any money from me! This lovely man has spent a good portion of his morning getting my bag fixed out of the goodness of his heart. How bloody wonderful is that!! 😍❤️❤️ My bag is restored along with my faith in humanity!
Grantley and I had walked around the fabulous fish market in Fethiye during the day and decided to go back there for dinner.
The fish stalls are in the centre surrounded by lots of restaurants. You buy your fresh fish from the stalls then choose a restaurant who cooks your fish. Perfect set up!
By the evening it was raining, so the market wasn’t as busy as it would normally be. But it was fun. We chose a decent sized Sea Bass. The fish guys, clean and fillet it then pass it to the restaurant to cook.
We’d chosen the restaurant that we’d chatted to earlier.
We got a plate of mixed meze, we went for a medium sized plate as the guy said this was good for sharing.
It was a lot of meze! When he said good for sharing I didn’t think he meant with a family of 10! It was also quite rich. Our beautifully grilled fished was delicious, the meze was good, but just to much. Under normal circumstances Grantley would have polished it all off but after being unwell he was being careful.
The meal was good but expensive, especially given we left most of the meze we’d paid for. 😟
I think in the summer when it’s busy the whole place is buzzing and it’s a spectacle watching the fish guys and the restaurants Vying for custom!
Our plan for the following day included a couple of sites we really wanted to visit.
Just outside of Fethiye is an abandoned village called Kayaköy. It’s sits in the hills between Fethiye and Olu Deniz.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Greek Christians and Turkish Muslims lived in the village together in relative harmony. But the loss of the 1st World War, the end of the Ottoman Empire and the attempted Greek occupation of the Anatolian region all played their part in the decline of Kayaköy. Greek Christians were forced to Fethiye Harbour for deportation and Muslim Turks were expelled from Greece. The village never recovered from these difficult times, when many were killed within the village and those that did remain finally left after an earthquake in 1957. The village has remained abandoned ever since. Turkish settlers have all refused to resettle the village due to its difficult and painful past, which they believe shrouds Kayaköy to this day.
The book I’m currently reading, Birds without Wings is apparently set in or inspired by Kayaköy.
Grantley and I opted to get a taxi to the village after being quoted €150 for a private driver to take us, wait for us then take us into Olu Deniz, wait then return!
Our taxi driver waited for us, at no extra cost. Total for the day €20
The Village is on a hillside and so I was expecting it to be a little steep.
More or less as soon as we entered the village Grantley took a right turn, I obviously followed. We then ended up walking completely off the path, over ever more unstable and steep loose stone trails! My absolute worst nightmare. We ended up at the back of a church, which we couldn’t enter, up and down slippery slopes, I said to Grantley that the reviews I’d read said that the village was surprisingly easy to walk around, clearly not where we were! Grantley eventually led the way back to what was the correct, less slippery, less treacherous path!! I swear to god the boy is trying to finish me off! 😂😂
Once I was on a firmer footing I could begin to enjoy the beauty of the place. It does have a vibe, not ghostly just something.
I think being here in the spring is perfect, the new buds and fresh greens everywhere are breathtaking. There were also poppies dotted around which I found very poignant, given the history of the village.
I absolutely loved exploring this site. It’s in a stunning place and definitely one of my highlights.
I had a fabulous chat to a lady selling trinkets down by the exit, she ended up giving me 5 little bracelets, “for my family” another wonderful interaction.
Grantley and I then spent the rest of the afternoon chilling down by the beach in Olu Deniz. Looking at the startlingly blue Mediterranean Sea, we even had a toe dip, it was blooming freezing. 🥶
Once back in Fethiye, we had a lovely walk by the Marina before deciding we both fancied some pasta for dinner! Luckily I’d spotted a cute little Italian right by our hotel.
The food was very good, and really hit the spot for both of us.
Our last day in Fethiye we spent walking right around the bay, which was really enjoyable, just seeing everyone going about their day, fishing, working, walking, doing Tai Chi, plus the views are pretty bloody fabulous, the marina, the Mediterranean and then a backdrop of snow capped mountains, gorgeous.
I think Fethiye has been the perfect stop after Istanbul. It’s been busy but also restorative.
Tomorrow we are leaving Turkey and making our way to Greece and Rhodes. 💙🩵
Have a fabulous weekend everyone.
Love you all.
😘🩷😘🩷😘🩷
Books Read.
Still reading one!
I’ve been a bit rubbish to be honest!
I did watch The Residence on Netflix which I thought was brilliant and very funny.
Hereandthereclaire.com 