Edgars Blog September 2009

 Kobergsvägen 14
46021 Upphärad, Sweden
Ph: (46)520 441944  .Cell: (46)70 551 2828


 This picture was taken the eveing after our first day in Alanya (Alanya is on the southern coast of Turkey right on the Mediteranean sea). Our hosts
(Mustafa and Birsen Turan) are Turkish Curds that live a couple of towns away from us here in Sweden. They kindly shared their apartment,
 time and friends with us while we were there.

Events

Probably the most dominating memory of September 2009 was wonderful oppurtunity that Mireille and I had of a 7 day holiday trip to Turkey- just the two of us! Our family home responsibilitys make it hard for just the two of  us to get away on our own - it doesn't happen very often-- and this week had taken a far bit of planning. Mireilles sister Nathalie (and three month old son Lucas) had came down from the 1000 km further north city of Umeå to look after our house and kids. We had gotten an OK from social services (that is responsible for the kids placed with us) Both Mireille and I had arranged holiday time from our employers -- our children promised to help at home -- and we managed to get the tickets bought.

Turkey (75 million people (more than either France or Great Britain)) is an extremely interesting country with an amazing cultural history. Although I had never heard of the city of Alanya before, it has documented history from 400 B.C. -- 2400 years!! Of recent years tourism has made it an ultra modern and quite rich city -- but at the same time retaining clear ties to some its older and simpler agricultural roots. Medium large banana fields - orange orchards - commercial bean fields side by side with 5 star hotels and shoping centers. Simpler life styles side by side with luxury and pomp. Strict religious moslems living side by side with folks with equally focused secular life values. 

The flight from Gothenburg to Antalya took just over 4 hours -- and then a 2 hour transfer bus ride to Alanya where one of Mustafa and Birsens friends met the the bus and drove us to the appartment. (we arrived a few hours ahead of Mustafa and Birsen as they came via Istanbul)  He had never met us and we had never seen him before -- he couldn't speak a word of English -- but we managed to connect directly after we got off the bus, and regardless of the language barriar we  came to regard him and his family as wonderful friends. When Mustafa and Birsen arrived at 1 in the morning, they took us out to a restaurant a block away from their appartment for lentil soup -- was it ever good -- but we didn't get to bed until 2:30 or so. Seemed normal in their culture.

We had wonderful weather the whole time -- Sunny and arround 30 C in the day and 20-25 in the evenings. Water temperature in the sea was 27-28 C so even I (who ordinarily hates cold water) could be in it as long as I wanted. Apparently it can get unbearably hot in the summer months so the fall is a good time -- although everyone said that the tourist season was about over. We spent part of our time doing touristy things like the Turkish bath, visiting an ancient castle ruins, lazing on the beach etc, but we spent a fair part of each day just enjoying our hosts Turkish friends and relatives in different activities.

Mustafas retired uncle and aunt from Ankara (Turkeys capital) had come to their holiday cottage just out of the city (within walking distance) and we spent a fair bit of time with them  -  Another family of Mustafa and Birsens friends took us on a picnic to a river resort where we could rent a table and make our own food --seems barbequed vegtables are popular - and really good!! Another family took us out to breakfast one day at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the city. Was wonderful! Mireille even got in on some baking with a neighbor to Mustafas uncle out in the country.

So as you can understand, we have lots of good memories!!