Another Great Holiday

[redrhino12]

Another fantastic holiday ending with some fond memories of old and new friends all captured in our minds and hearts.
My wallet also comes back rather happy due to the good exchange rate of between 274-290 YTL to the £.

The alarm went off at 3am, I jumped out of bed and went to wake everyone else up.
We were laughing and chattering like 6 year old children on Christmas morning.
The taxi that was to take us to the airport at 4am didnt arrive till 4-30am,
undaunted and minus our fingernails our journey had begun.

Stress free at Manchester untill while waiting to board our plane at 7-30am
the flight before ours had a family that had missed their final call,
arguments started with the airport staff and in the end 10 armed police officers arrived to take control of the situation.
By now we were being checked through.

Flight was uneventfull at 3 hours 40 minutes.
No problems at Dalaman with visa control or passport check.
Cases arrived on the Carousel, 1, 2, 3, A big sigh, no lost luggage.

Our transfare was waiting and one and an half hour later we arrived at our apartments.

When we all arrive in Turkey we always get this feeling of fullfillment and contentment as we are again reunited with parts of our hearts that we had left behind on our previouse visit.

When we get to the apartments, my job is to fetch bread, water, coke and fanta, leaving the wife to the joys of unpacking.
Andre and myselfe managed to get a couple of hours of relaxation round the pool only ending when Ann called us to say she had made us a cup of coffee and biscuits.
Marriage is a wonderfull institution.

Our first night meal was at the Lion Bar, after which we went across the road to The Dream Three Bells for our evenings entertainment of,
Michael Jackson,Robo Cop,Break Dancers,Juggling and all the obligatory dances.

This is the quietest I have seen Icmeler in May due I imagine to all the hype caused by our media last year, creating a situation were people were cancelling their bookings to Turkey.

Lots of new bars and bars with new names.
Walking round the bars to see were our friends are working this season took up a lot of "Effes Time".

The canal area has lost none of its magic and this year has seen the introduction of the lights on the bridges again,giving it all that fairytale look again.
The pink Erokoy bus is still running round the resort.

We again went on two trips to Akyaka, once on a Saturday when the place was full of Turkish people enjoying the sea and sand and the second time on a Thursday when the beaches were a lot quieter but we British were still the minority.
The natural beauty of this place with its backdrop of majestic mountains and scenic Azmac river is still worth, more than a visit.
For lunch we called in one of the little cafes on the sea front,
Two large bottles of Effes
1 can of coke
1 cheeseburger salad and chips
2 cheese toasties salad and chips.
Not a banquet, but enough for a snack during the day.
The cost of this 23ytl or £8-50.

On our way to Akyaka we called at the Lycean Tombs, and I see that in mans quest to go faster and to get to places quicker, by the building of the new road and bridges these tombs, that have stood for thousands of years, in only nine months have been weakened and damaged so much that they are now held together by metal poles and wooden nogs.
There has got to be a lesson learned here.

We had our usual day trip to Turunc, again a very good day out.
Free sunbeds on the beach.
Turunc again have made a special effort in its presentation of itselfe to its visitors.
On our way back by taxi boat we were pulled up by the coast guards in the middle of the sea, who demanded to see the boats documentation.
4 men where in the boat one of whom was filming the whole operation.
Visions of us all being arrested as illegal imigrants sprang to mind, but after an eventfull 20 minutes we were allowed on our way.
The passengers all relieved and laughing but the three crew members looking as though the day hadnt finished for them.

The beach in front of the Erdem Cafe was our "sunbathing spot,"
A breeze is always blowing and the sea and beach at their best and what better than "lunch at the Erdem"

For those worried about the cost this year, I noticed no increase on last years prices so infact with the better exchange rate at the moment things are working out cheaper.
Sugars Buffalo Bar............Effes 49 pence for 70cl
Pop Inn............................Effes 90 pence a pint
Baron Bar........................Effes 60 pence a pint
A lot of Bars at ................Effes £1 a pint
Most music bars and Restaurents 3-4 ytl or £1-10 to £140 a pint
Chicken Breast Mushroom sauce carrots beans rice and chips,14ytl or
£4-60.
Fillet Steak with trimmings.....18ytl or £5-80
Set meals,Starter, maincourse and sweet....22ytl or £8.00

Still loads of bars to report on.But will write when the finger cramps have gone.
3(4) Bells
Went to a party one night to this bar and met a few members off this site,
Bec,Lisha,Glenn and Janey, nice to have met them all now know who I am talking to on the site.
One of the nights we went to the Bells,they were celebrating Christmas,everyone dressed in Santa outfits and they had this snow machine pumping out the white stuff.
I had the best Chicken Breast and mushroom sauce here and the wifes fillet steak she said was her best.
I tried the 3 Bells Sunday Lunch,this consisted of the biggest Yorkshire puddings I have ever seen, the person to finish one of these monster meals is worth considering in this years honours list.
You can have a choice of Beef,Chicken and Lamb followed by Apple pie and cream.
I dont think anyone gets that far.

Lion Bar.
With their resident break dance team and martial arts shows is one of the most action packed evenings I saw whilst in Icmeler.
The entertainment even spilling over into the streets were the boys were doing back flips and handsprings.
One boy running the length of the road and doing 28 back flips in succession.

Travelers Rest.
Went on the rock and roll Theme Night, When Rocking Ken entertained us with nostalgia from the 50s 60s and 70s.
Again Christine putting on a first class meal.
The place was full.

Deniz Kapisi
Still one of the best places for Karaoke and theme nights.
Saw Michael Jackson arrive one night on this speed boat all lit up with fireworks and escorted up to the Kapisi through an avenue of fire by 4 body guards.
After doing a first rate impression of the guy a police car pulled up outside the Kapisi on the promenade and three policeman came inside and duly arrested our Michael and escorted him from the building.
I think he was arrested on "Minor Offences"
Also saw a guy doing a drag act, he was brilliant if you prefer the bigger girl.
We went in three times and heard some lovely singers on each occassion.
All this and not one break dancer in site

Troy Bar.
A lot of my old friends work in here and the night we were in we saw the "Turkish Wedding" and a Belly Dancer along with all the dance tunes but sorry guys your music is way to loud and I feel sorry for the Miray guests.

Chill Bar
Went into the Chill to watch the England match.
Met Sharon and Heather from ICR who were also cheering the team on through I think their lunch Break.

Met Dianne 123 on her final night who was hitching to get on that dance floor at the Lion.
Also met Barbara and Martin whom we meet every year and have some unforgetable laughs with, see you both next year.

But the end of our holiday is near.
The body abused and now beyond repair.
A gallon of Effes to much and a cha cha slide to many.
Never mind, a good rest, then lets see what else I can put this frail figure through when we go back in August, when the cycle of life will begin all over again.

Gene

[Colette]

Excellent Gene lovely to read, so glad the canal lights are back.

Where did you stay? Hope you left some Efes in Icmeler A, looking forward to piccies

[mop]

Great reading your report- glad you enjoyed youself.

[JT]

Gene as usual you took everyone back to Icmeler for a few minutes.

I hope Ann enjoyed it as much as you did and in good health

[Lynn m]

Gene

I think I saw you and your wife in the Florida at the to of the canal might have been around your 2/3rd night with a young girl and boy was it you?

I did'nt like to come up and ask as you were eating at the time.


Lynn

[Colette]

oh Lynn you should have marched up and said OI you Redrhino * Gis a chip*

[karlee]

Fantastic report on your holiday Gene
you really make icmeler come to life,thanks.
Karlee

[Diane Rigby]

Sounds like you had an excellent holiday Gene and what a loverly report to read. You always give me a chuckle when reading your posts. Roll on 21 July when I will sample the delights of Icmeler once again for myself. Di.

[laingy]

really enjoyed reading your reports gene,looking forward to the rest,did you do any icr trips?
2weeks monday for all of us,cant wait.the more i read on this site the more excited im getting.
keep the reports coming !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cheers laingy

[redrhino12]

Did have a meal in the Florida Lynn and there was a girl and boy.
The girl was staff and about 21 years old, the boy was my grandson he is Ten.
Thanks for your kind remarks we had a lovely time and yes John I think Ann has at last got to grips with the back trouble, she isnt swinging from the trees yet but I do keep buying the bananas.
The service Sharon and Heather give at ICR is first class,no pressure.
just plenty of advice.

Gene

[peat]

"My wallet also comes back rather happy due to the good exchange rate of between 174-190 YTL to the £."

Surely you meant 2.74-2.9 YTL to the pound!
Very helpfull post though.
Cheers

[Lynn m]

Hi Gene

Yes we had just finished our meal and you had just started. I've seen photos you put on web thats how I recognised you.



Glad you enjoyed your hols, we did too even though it was sooooooo
quiet.

Cant wait until the next one in September.


Lynn

[smiler]

sound like you had a cracking time can't WAIT to get there roll on july 16

[redrhino12]

Thanks peat for pointing out my mistake,you are right and I have ammended my post.

You should have come up to us Lynn.
I think thats the trouble is we are all to scared in case we embaress ourselfeves if we are wrong.

Gene

[Colette]

Gene where was The *Colette Wave*

[contrarymary]

Gene, what an interesting and informative report.... great to read. Thankyou.

[tinkerbelle]

hi Gene,
As a gin and tonic drinker these things are important, to me anyway. Did

you notice how much the spirit drinks were in the bar.
Thanks Margaret

[redrhino12]

Usualy 8ytl thats £2.85 with mixer
Buffalo Bar 2 drinks for 10ytl thats £1.75 per drink but quality not as good

Gene

[tinkerbelle]

Thanks Gene. Won't go short then. LOL
Margaret

[tania]

Gene

I was sooooo looking forward to your review and I wasn't disappointed. I loved reading it, you decribe Icmeler so well! Wish I was as good with words. I am glad I got to read it before we fly out on Friday!! Yipeeeeee, just 2 more sleeps, thats if I can sleep with all the excitement. It's like being a kid again looking forward to Santa's visit! lol
Really glad you had a wonderful time too.

Tania