Turkey

Tueday June 13th 2023
Up and finished packing with nearly an hour to spare - due to catch the 10.15 from Barry.

Getting out of the house was difficult as I new I had forgotten something, went back twice for nothing, then when I was 200yds from the flat I realised that I had put the charging cable out on the bed, had to go back for that. Arrived at the station with the display board saying the train had arrived, only it hadn't - only a minute wait.

In Cardiff I was surprised that the train had an old Disel pulling some old (but revamped) carrages. It seemed to take forever to get to Crewe. Had half an hour so popped out to McDonalds on the basis that I wouldn't get an airline meal.

Manchester Airport was a disaster. I had frozen a couple of bottles of water, but they hadn't thawed and I was unable to reduce the ice so had to abandon them before going through security.

Security took over half an hour. The X ray machine was rejecting bags and not producing an image so lots of trays were going through twice -except that you had to wait 15 minutes for them to get round to discovering that they had no image of your tray. Then they route you through all the duty free shops and circle you round past security to get to the gate. Boarding pass said the gate closed at 17.25, which I just made - they began boarding at 18.15. Not a very full flight but maybe Manchester is best avoided in future.

3hr flight getting into Turkey after 1am. Transfer coach waiting but it was a long way and arrived at around 3am. Not a particularly good room. Shower head holder is broken, no sink plug, no soap, no TV and a bit of mould on the wall of the shower. Good news is the pool is just outside but you ain't supposed to take towels out to the pool, and you aren't supposed to bring food into the hotel.

Wednesday 14th 

2hrs ahead of GB tme so I started looking for breakfast quite early. Petty simple and not very filling. Bread and cheese and bread and honey - the labelled Hot Chocolate tuned out to be hot milk.

Returned to room and read and slept till 2pm when I went for a short wander and had a £5 (150 TL) ice cream and bought some stuff 60 TL (£2.50) so now have a handle on the local currency. Back in room more reading, playing on phone, computer and reading. Very relaxing. 

Thursday 15th
Had breakfast and returned to room and read book all day. Occasionally going out on to the balcony to read. Thought about going out to eat but didn't.

Friday 16th

Guess I'm not going anywhere today. Rumbles of thunder over breakfast and louds. So back to the books. Might eventually get to look at the meeting amd produce some minutes. Except I didn't, ended up pack in book. By the afternoon it had cleared up and I went down the shop and got myself a couple of days worth of nibbles. Ended up finishing the first book.

Saturday 17th
Breakfast is turning out to be not as nice as I would like. The white bread is like paper and the cheese not quite right. Honey doesn't do it. Weather was supposed to be raining so I planned to stay in, turned pretty humid, and my sock had a hole in it. No one has even attempted to clean the room and currently there is a party going on outside 7.30pm. No invite or notice given. Managed to complete the UKTRA minutes this afternoon.

Turned out it was Turkish Night at the Hotel Yelcin so we had Turkish dancers outside until 10 and then a disco until midnight. He kept saying it was the last dance and then kept going.

Sunday 18th
It was reasonably cool this morning at breakfast time and I thought about walking but the clouds looked fluffy so I came back and continued the book. Popped out around 2pm and did some shopping and was glad that I hadn't as it was too hot. The room is a nice temperature so it is back to the book and hopefully "Sounds of the 70's" at 1700. Tonight is Full Sunday Roast followed by Bingo so I guess I should also try and get a nap - or aybe tomorrow - same as going in the pool - always tomorrow.

Monday 19th
Didn't go out all day. Had a whole tray of Turkish Deleight to get through. Didn't really enjoy it, despite it's look.

Tuesday 20th
Breakast for the last time, and back to the book for an hour and a half. As usual I couldn't keep to the desired programme so I was out of the roo about 11.45 (Checkout was 12) Found a comfortable chair and continud to devour the laest book. 8pm moved into reception to get better light. 

The transfer bus turned up on time. Airport had three security checks, on arrival, to get to the international area and at the gate. Plane was pretty empty but at least I got moved to a window seat. Got half way through the latest version of the "Dune" movie before the entertainment system failed.

Wednesday 21st
Turns out this was the lonest day, which explains why it was light at 4am as we arrived. Over an hour wait for the first train to Crewe. Got out and got a McDonalds breafast (despite the App failing). Got on the 07.13 train to London, only told that it counted as a peak time service, so I got off and took the 07.09 to Cardiff (just 2 carrages). The other train would have connected with the cross-country via Birminghm and Gloucester which would have given nice views of the Severn and Wye but taken half an hour longer. In Cardiff I made a quick connection with the Barry Island train, so I was back by 10.10 -15mns early. Lots of families going to Barry Island. Couple of hours kip and will be off to Sully later.