Chasing the Sunshine: April 2014

After seven months away, we have returned to Datca. This visit was a last minute decision as Hilary unexpectedly retired and Matt had some leave left to use up. I, off course have the Easter holidays and am lucky enough to be able to take extra time off when I like. So there are three of us on this trip for eleven days. The weather is pretty much as expected for April - lovely sunny days with a couple of overnight storms and a few showers. There are plenty of opportunities to sit in the warm sunshine. As the time has progressed the weather has become increasingly summery and today Matt and Hil swam in the sea. During our stay we've had three celebrations. Hill and I both had birthdays and Matt and I celebrated our Pearl Wedding Anniversary. On Friday night we popped out for a quiet dinner and an early night and found ourselves in the midst of Maradonna's live music and dancing night. Considering the season has not begun, it was wild.
We've done all the usual things, dining out, market shopping and such like. We've dined out often and the most delicious was at the Cullinarium.
There are some changes and rather a lot of new building going on. Two of our favourite eating places have been pulled down but we are told one of them (Gozde) will be resurrected before long in it's smart new premises. There are so many apartments springing up in all the gaps and lots of old buildings have gone to make way for new ones. Luckily there is very little building going on near our house so it has been very peaceful. The new marina is progressing and there is a huge concrete structure at the end but no one knows what it will be. It seems work halted during the winter because there was an argument over who owned the small island that they started to demolish but that was resolved and now the lorries are chugging along there. They still have a lot to do.
Many of our pussy visitors have called into see us including Bella, Bruiser, Squeaky, Aphrodite and Beyaz who was so excited to see us that she has moved back in. It is impossible to keep her out. The house is fine having stood empty for 7 months and the garden is looking pretty. It has been well kept during the winter but we decided to prune some of the bouganvillea back even harder so that it won't block our sea view. We intend planting a few more things in the next week.