Erik & Family Holiday Review 2007

[Erik The Viking]

Well got back last night, and reality is its work on monday....

Another fantastic 2 weeks that seemed to go on forever which was great. No problem with flights and we landed 20 minutes early but due to people insisting on smoking half of their duty free allowance of fags the second they were off the plane we ended up last coach away from airport!

Arrived at Julian Forest Hotel and immediately noticed the change in staff and attitude, very poor welcome - more like you were checking in to Broadmoor for a fortnight. I used to think this was a very good hotel but standards have dropped enourmously this year with beds only being changed twice the whole holiday and the shower being busted, also they refused to exchange a £20 note as it had a 3mm tear in it and apparently this was a 'problem for bank', but nowhere else in Icmeler questioned it...i told them i thought it was pathetic. - already gutted ive booked there for next year!

First night we ate at Chef restaurant and again was really disapointed, fantastic meals last year but terrible this - lamb chops were pale and very fatty and service was slow, shame cos last year i couldnt fault the place. Only good part of the meal was we sat next to Su and family (lovely people) and Slats appeared out of the night like some sort of half cut super hero shook hands muttered a few words and was gone again!

We discovered the Titanic restaurant on the 2nd day and thought that the food was absolutely out of this world, we had the fish in salt, leg of lamb, special meatballs and mixed grill over the duration of our stay and all were cooked to perfection and really delicious - Oscar was a great guy and really welcoming, would recommend to everyone. Plus you get a free cocktail at the end of the meal!

Also ate in Wonder boys (good food but loud) Twin dragons (sweet and sour and duck best in Icmeler).

We also ate in the Masala opposite Love Boat and again the food was delicious, met Aziz who told us his life story over a few nights and he was a fantastic guy who has had a lot of bad luck in his life, even though he only earns £17 for a 15 hour day he was always smiling and every night when a homeless guy walked by he would give him 1 lira as 'theres always someone poorer than yourself' a good saying and something we could all learn from. We gave him a 50 Lira note as a tip for his generosity to others and on our last night he found us and gave us a hand made lace doily his wife had made as a thank you. If anyone visits please say hi to Aziz for us!

Beach seemed deserted this year with lots of people asking for your business for sunbeds, we found a guy who didnt hassle us and payed him up in full and he kept our beds at the front for the whole holiday, great guy. Went on a couple of boat trips (BBQ and Dalyan) and had a great time.

Went to Marmaris one night, usual hussle and bussle and didnt really enjoy it.

Market was exactly the same as last year with the usual cries of 'Rambo', 'Big B*****ks' etc. visited the ICR offices but it was closed, but then it was nearly midnight! Had a tattoo done at Harrys Biker Store and am well impressed (look out for photos shortly!)

Certainly wasnt as busy this year which was good for us but obviously not for the resort and its businesses. Had a quick look at the ustun appartments and they look very nice (roll on 2009).

Diva bar was usual watering hole and again Ozzy made us welcome and i showed him a few card tricks which he loved. Also had our picture sketched in colour by a guy along the beach and its brilliant (again look out for photos!)

Bumped into Slats again on the beach and had a chat, like a scene from Baywatch it was!

cant complain, good holiday again. Photos to come!

Erik

[Colette]

great review Erik gave me a good giggle

I found that with Chef place, one year was good the next bad, last year was good so maybe I won't go this year

visited the ICR offices but it was closed, but then it was nearly midnight!

Rude of them not to be there

[ochlynda]

Welcome home Erik glad you had a great holiday can't wait to see the photographs.

[Slats]

Hi Matt
Lovely post. Looking forward to the photos. Great meeting you and your family, and agree, regarding the baywatch theme, noticed a few people taking our photo's. Must of been our bright red thong's, got them all hot and bother.

Take care

[helsby]

Agree with you on the chef....... 45 mins for meal,booked day before still was sat at the back.... ....Honestly meals poor and very greasy.........think maybe meals of previous places (as always to many to mention) of such a great standard

[Brownie1]

Hi Matt

Glad you had a good holiday. Shame about Chef but admittedly the food we had was quite good. Ash had Lamb Shish, Meera, my eldest had penne pasta in a spicy sauce (and boy was it spicy. There were about a dozen chillies floating about!), Reema, my youngest, and myself had Lasagne which was quite nice.

We had a portrait done of the girls by the chap on the beach, it's fabulous.

Hopefully booking soon for 2008 but a bit more central this time!

Regards to the family.

Su

(Yes, I know, changed my profile name for a dare by some friends we met).

[feefee1970]

great review
will be eating in all the places you reccomened and cant wait for your pics did you ever find a shop that sells big sizes ?

[Bazza]

I saw you out there Erik. I was going to shout up the road at you but thought better of it, thought I'd wait till you were closer but never saw you again.

[Erik The Viking]

Loads of places do large sizes, especially the market - up to 6XL! a guy showed me a pair of 80" jeans and asked if i wanted to try them on - i called him a cheeky f****r!

You should have shouted Bazza - i saw a lot of people but never asked their name, a lovely couple from scotland in the titanic

[redrhino12]

Great report Matt.

My family were eating at the Dreamboys one night when you walked passed.
I was going to shout to you.
Then saw the size of you and decided not to take the risk.

I walked up to the JF one morning then back to the resort, the journey took a good 30 mins each way, did you manage a walk into town?

Gene

[Erik The Viking]

You should have shouted Gene, me and slats were saying we had not seen you when we were doing our Hasselhoff bit on the beach!

Did walk in once through the old town and it was beautiful, got a little lost and was on the way to Turunc i think!

[mr magoo]

Brilliant review erik,

don't think we're going to make it to icmeler this year due to circumstances at home(haven't fully given up hope yet) but one of the first things we do when in icmeler is to seek out Aziz. He really is a lovely person.First met him when he was in Mr chef in the old village and then last year he was in Friends near the bank machines. I've also seen him giving money to less well off people and that says a lot about him, he's such a genuine person. I took him a Kilmarnock football top a couple of years ago and you'd have thought he'd won the lotto....now, there's a reaction you wouldn't expect to get by giving someone a Killie top


magoo

[andiescottie]

Hi eric!
I'm glad that you and your family had a lovely time on your icmelr hols!
Great review!

[sunluvr]

Hoping the lovely couple fae Scotland might have been me Erik. Only thing is..., the guy sitting next to me was my pal Mo's man hee hee! We've all known each other since we were teenagers so we're very comfortable with each other, and we don't bother who we're mistaken for Anyhow it was braw to see you and your lovely wife and very good looking wee boy. We had actually spotted you earlier in the day, when we were having an afternoon drink in the Titanic and John (Mo's husband) said "let's give him a shout", however we didn't and then lo and behold we saw you again and by this time none of us could resist letting you know we were there.. so to speak. We all loved Icmeler, we've been all over .. from Cuba, Mexico, the Bahamas blah blah and do you know what...we canny wait tae get back tae Icmeler !

Hope to see you next year, Oh yes the butcher in Perth is called Howies, just gees a shout if ye need any mair sausages!!.

Cheers