Monday morning, and another trip to Manchester Airport. Marjorie had spotted a nice boutique hotel in Fethiye for a weeks break, so the flight to Dalaman was the first step.
The purgatory of waiting for boarding depressed me more than ever. Being treated as a number gets worse every time I fly economy. The inane announcements and patronising staff were more annoying than ever.
Dalaman Airport had all the above, plus incompetence and rip-off prices.
Luckily the Ece Saray Marina & Resort was exactly as Marjorie described. Classy, select, right on the water’s edge, and free wireless internet.
Tuesday saw us at the Weekly Market, and eBay will soon be more attractive with the arrival of designer handbags and sports shirts, intensively bargained for.
My left leg, which went stiff on the flight, hadn’t got better, so I went to see the physio. He followed the tension from my foot up to my spine, and sorted out some treatment for me. Electronic, hydrotherapy and different massage techniques were used, all at the cost of a normal massage. How long or how expensive for this treatment in UK?
Besides the restaurant in Ece Saray, there were lots to try inFethiye, but time and time again, we kept coming back to the Park Cafe on the front. Topclass meals and friendly efficient service.
Talking of service, the hotel staff weren’t trained or organised, so we spent needless time moaning to ourselves!
One lunchtime by the pool, a photographer bought a couple of girls in bikinis for a photo shoot. We were sat at the lunch area, and I had my back to the entertainment, so had to rely on Marjorie’s narration, rather than turn round and ogle. Then it was all over. After my physio session Marjorie asked me if I had seen the girl in the red bikini; only having glimpsed the one in white I had to say no. Then I was informed that the second model was in green, but a third girl had been wearing the tiniest thong ever. If I had seen her, I was told, I would have had a real shock - a good job I didn’t then, or my name would have been mud.
On the Friday, we had a day trip in a boat, the Olive Oil, round 12 islands, with five stops for swimming in the Med - great. On the cruise we saw our first ever flying dinghy, and our first ever Magnum Ice Cream salesman (George) in his own boat.
On the Saturday we lounged by the pool, and I had the last physio session, which unfortunately involved 30 minutes in the gym. In the evening the hotel hosted a wedding reception with 600 guests; no chance of eating in the restaurant then.
On the Sunday we had planned to go to Oludeniz, but there was a fierce storm nearly all day. Basements were flooded, and the sea churned up like mud. It didn’t dry up till about 4pm, and was still cloudy most of the rest of the day.
Monday 11 o’clock pick up for the trip to Dalaman Airport. Overcrowded and overstretched, it is due to be replaced next summer. Our Excel flight took off on time for our return home.