Squillions of goats

Now this post is really for my bonkers but lovely friends Melanie and Rob. There is nothing they like better than the sight of some cute goats. Sadly we didn't show them any on their visit and although they put on brave faces I think they were very disappointed. So today on our way to Kargi Koyu there were loads. They won't be around for many more months as I am pretty sure these are being fattened up for the religious festival Kurban Bayrami starting on 4th October for 3 days. This is the Feast of the Sacrifice so I'm sure you can imagine what will happen to most of these cute goats! Here is an explanation of why it happens
http://www.wittistanbul.com/magazine/kurban-bayrami-or-the-feast-of-the-sacrifice-in-a-nutshell/
Loads of them are rounded up and put at the top of our road where families can buy them and have them slaughtered. Not something I wish to witness but it is something that has happened here for a very long time.The goats actually have a happy enough life roaming around until then and I am told that most of them are dispatched swiftly. Not everyone actually buys a goat, some of my friends who don't want to do this give money to be distributed to the poor.

So anyway here is the large herd of goats that we saw today, especially for Melanie and Rob.

After that we headed for the beach and crashed for the rest of the day. It was a low wind day so Matt was happy to snorkel round the bay.

An extended trip

Surf Camp - Matt's favourite place here!

Last year as we sat by the harbour watching the world go by, Matt uttered "What would be the optimum amount of time to spend here?" I almost choked on my iced soda water as until then he would only come for two weeks at a time. Last year he agreed to a three week week stay which was very nice. The most I have stayed has been four weeks and that is usually enough. However we discussed it and came to the conclusion that if we were both here, six or eight weeks might be nice. So as soon as I could (before he changed his mind and as soon as they were released) I booked the cheapo Easyjet flights. Matt asked for some unpaid leave as he didn't want to use all of his annual leave in one go and the request was granted. We decided on 43 days as our annual travel insurance only covers us for 45 days at a time and we will be returning for a couple of weeks in September.
So, here we are for our extended trip. It is a really great feeling to know we have so much time here. There is no rush to do anything.

We picked up a very nice, brand new rented white Corsa at Dalaman and arrived here a week ago. In preparation for this stay we brought out a bike and a third windsurfer at Easter and for much of the last week Matt has been zooming around on the water. The wind dropped for a couple of days while we had our bonkers but lovely visitors Rob and Melanie, so that was great as then Matt was happy enough to accompany us out and about.
Then we took them for a night in Marmaris, staying at the Orsmaris Boutique Hotel. I just picked it from the hotels.com site and it was fab. On the outskirts of the town, right on the beach with good rooms, pools and gardens. We tootled over the mountain to Turunc (OMG that is another tale) to see my friend Joan and dined in her favourite restaurant. Then today we put Melanie and Rob on the bus to Kalkan and it was sad to wave them farewell. They were the perfect guests, easy going, happy to muck in, turning up loaded with goodies such as gin, Brittany butter, Jelly Babies and pork pies. So the following photos are snippets from our first week here. We now have about a week alone before Hil arrives for more adventures.

The inevitable trip to the Saturday market.

Cafe Inn

Bonkers but lovely friends

Melanie in Marmaris

Our mini break to Marmaris

Home

I never tire of our lovely views

From the bedroom

Easter Celebrations

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.

The sea is as lovely as ever.

Lunch at cafe Inn.

A stroll in the sunshine.

Geese at Kargi Koyu.

My birthday photo.

Karaincir

Matt out for a bike ride along the peninsula.

Afternoon cay at the Mercan.

Ercan gave us a very nice new Doblo kitted out with a roof rack for one of Matt's toys.

Spring flowers are blooming

Last trip of the year - maybe.

Coffee time.

Beyaz called in to say hi.

My favourite beach.

This was the last week of August and first week of September. I started the holiday with Hil in Datca and then headed off to Uzumlu to catch up with old friends and a new one! Then for the last week we picked up Matt from the airport for another late night/early morning drive over the mountains back to Datca. We had a very strange experience at the very top of the mountain as we drove along for the first week but on the second trip we only saw donkeys - phew!!
The two weeks were over all too fast but we had a great time. The wind for Matt was really good and he sailed right up until 45 minutes before leaving on Sunday. It was a very sociable two weeks with meet ups with many friends.
Here are some photos to keep me going during the winter months. I think it is unlikely that we will return before next May.

David brought some singers to entertain us.

Belinda's birthday party and breakfast with the girls.

You never quite know what will be served at breakfast. This time it was a kind of fried Yorkshire pudding!!!

We had a lovely afternoon at the camp site beach watching the boats come in.

Lunch at Mesudiye ...

An afternoon at the Mare Hotel.

Lunch at home - note how food seems to feature heavily in our photos!

Then it was off to Uzumlu to visit our smashing friends.

Lynne and Dave had Guy to stay - he did well to keep us giggling during our visit.

Back to Datca - fresh fish for sale by the boats.

A view from our house.

Kormen - the other side.

A night at the amphitheatre.

I think this one gave Hil a bit of a fright!!

        

Ruthie babes, Alan and family rolled into town!