Back to the UK

We're really enjoying life in a marina.  Netsel is pretty modern and well run with a mix of live-aboards, charter boats and stored boats on the the water.  We're pleased we spent a bit extra on being close by the town of Marmaris rather than further out though there seem to be more people overwintering out at Yat Marine half an hour away by dolmus (minibus).

Last few jobs to finalise and then tonight it's off to Dalaman Airport and home for three weeks for yes, you guessed it, yet another wedding.

We're settling into marina life here at Netsel.  We've been for a walk along the front here, explored Bar Street (now thankful pretty much closed down for the winter) and Chandlers Row (with its new West Marine store) where you can buy just about anything.

Yesterday, after organising a taxi share to the airport tonight we were visited by Graham from Scudder who told us that Blue Horizon were unable to get the taxi to pick us up from Netsel but that he is going to the airport tonight and we can share his car. Success!  We called Blue Horizon up on the radio and it's all sorted.

We've had loads of rain since we got here and it's raining again now - quite hard.  I got soaked going to the supermarket for bread and humus.

Most days now we wake up to find a new cruise ship berthed a hundred metres from us on the big pontoon adjoining the marina.

Each morning execept Sunday at 9am there is a 'net' where long stayers discuss what's going on, the weather, help required, taxi shares, things to give away or sell etc.  All quite new for us but they seem to be a good bunch.  One of them (Dave) is coming round in a while to discuss keeping an eye on Petronella while we are away.  It will cost us a few Turkish Lira but will give us peace of mind while we are away.

We're looking forward to going home for a while but will be glad to be back here for an extended period too.

The 3 days in Netsel Marina just flew by in a whirl of boat cleaning, storing stuff away, arranging for someone to look after Petronella whilst we were in the UK, taking anything that might be damaged in winds off the boat etc etc. But we found time to go to our first Happy Hour and visit Lydia and Neil from Silver Lady in Yat Marine. And time to explore a few of the watering and eating holes in Marmaris. At night it is still warm – the only drawback of living here is that at 10pm the discos start up and they finish at 4am. So the night sky is strobed by spot lights and the air pulsates to the noise of the clubs. But we hardly noticed it we were so knackered! And it rained – most days. That’s why Turkey is so green.

Our flight left at 0.20am on 19th October. We were offered a lift to Dalaman airport with Graham (who has a boat called Scudder) who was picking his wife up from the incoming flight we were taking back to the UK. Had a good cheap Turkish meal with him first then he negotiated the road works on the way to the airport in the pouring rain. Arrived back in Gleaston at 8am the next day.

Marmaris Town Quay

Cruise ship blocking our sun!