Not a whole lot going on today, so just a selection of photos from around the house at different times of day.
Although the one below was a small resort about 5 miles away when we ventured out in the afternoon.
Tuesday 3rd July – St Malo
Slowly getting into the rhythm of Brittany. The estuary, obviously, plus baguettes, croissants, coffee, peaches, wine, cheese, cider – seems to be running with a culinary theme!
When we did drag ourselves out it was to the rather beautiful town of St Malo about 30 minutes away. We know the UK is basking in hot sun, and we’re quite pleased with some cloud cover as we walked for miles today.
Got held up by the Amadeus closing the road.
And the old town – actually not that old as largely rebuilt after the Allies did lots of damage in WWII.
Monday 2nd July – Dinan
First up an early morning start. There is something mesmerising about the estuary filling up and emptying as regular as clockwork. And it adds an extra dimension to having a swim – you have to be in the mood and the water has to be there.
Headed out to Dinan today. Now that’s what I call coffee and cake!
Then a mooch around Dinan, including the world famous Breton crepes for lunch.
Including a climb up the 180 steps to the top of the clock tower.
No sunset this eve. It has been cloudier than back home but not the promised storms. Maybe St. Malo tomorrow if we can get out of the house.
Sunday 1st July
St. Jacut-de-la-Mer since you ask. A bit west of St. Malo and it is a finger sticking out into a large estuary. Rain and thunder had been forecast and duly arrived – angry skies and a couple of torrential downpours first thing.
However, everything brightened up so a short drive to the next peninsula, Cap Fréhel. Beautiful coastal walks – a bit like Gower but sunny!
This is Fort Latte – probably not pronounced as in the coffee but we never found out.
Back for hanging around the house, taking in the sun and the views. Had intended to get groceries, but it’s France and it’s Sunday so absolutely nothing doing.
What we do like, though, is double summer time. After dinner, went for a swim. It was about 9.30 – sunset is just after 10.00 which is fabulous.
And finally am thinking about a second career once I’m retired. Was thinking of an Instagram style icon, fashion trend-setting sensation. Folks – you saw it start right here!
Saturday 30 June
And we’re off again. Brittany this time, taking the car on the train and looking forward to all things French. Here we go.
French motorways are fantastic. Cruise control at 80, and miles eaten up with ease – until we got to Le Havre. Lovely bridge – 2 in fact, and they decided that the toll should be €5.40 in coins (no notes). And guess the outcome …
I’m sounding a bit moany. Tolls added about an hour, but 6 hours after getting off the train, this is the view from the garden (not my view in this photo, obviously, as I’m looking the other way but you get the picture).
Beautiful estuary, with the tide out.
View from the garden.
And the all-important sunsets. Actually, not sure how many more we will see as forecast for the next few days isn’t great, but loved these.
Tuesday 29th – Home
Last day – very sad.
Can’t resist a few more photos of Dalyan – sunrise.
And then a pretty cruddy journey. No iPads allowed on BA from Turkey (other airlines don’t seem to mind). 3 lots of security, including a full manual inspection at the gate, meaning an hour and a half delay leaving. No food on the plane. Traffic jams and heavy rain on M25. Welcome home!
Monday 28th – Dalyan
A visual feast today, as we try to fit in everything Dalyan has to offer in a single day. But first a bit of context. Dalyan is a small town on a river, with some ancient tombs opposite our hotel. The river flows through an estuary and ends up at a famous beach that is really important for turtles. Here’s the estuary – the beach is the horizontal line halfway down the photo.
Got it? So an early start to the day from the hotel.
Glorious colours in huge abundance. Anyone know what it is?
We had tried to find out about boat trips last night, and were expecting to pay about £40 for a private hire. Then the owner of the hotel suggested we take the public boat (£2.50 each return to the beach) and he would ask it to stop to pick us up. Made sense to us.
A wonderful 45 minute boat ride.
And here it is.
And here we are ….
And apart from sun, sea and sand, this is why many of us make the trip. It is a really important place for them to lay their eggs – which they do in May – and so is closed overnight.
Allegedly David Bellamy caused a huge fuss in the 80s to stop them building on the estuary – successfully. Can’t check on Wikipedia as it’s banned in Turkey!
Afternoon was a different mode of transport – me, car, ferry.
To famous ruins which we missed. To be fair, this is the entrance,
Church (ruins) almost 2,000 years old – in a pretty bad state of repair.
But a trek up the hill to the fort rewarded with glorious views.
Ferry home.
And that’s just about it – it then rained! Amazing place, amazing country, amazing holiday.
Sunday 27th
Leaving Kas today – it’s been fabulous.
On the way to Dalyan for a couple of days before home. Stopped off at Xanthos on the way – a really important site but not especially photogenic.
Ruins in the rain. Thunder wasn’t up to UK standards by all accounts, but not bad.
Then to Dalyan – view of the tombs across the river from the hotel.
Dinner in town.
Cheers!
Saturday 26th
It’s our last full day at our wonderful house in Kas. Thunderstorms were promised, and whilst there was a lot of rumbling, there was nothing spectacular – shame.
Usual difficulties in getting going, but took ourselves off to Myra in the afternoon. Wonderful tombs and theatres.
Then just a couple of kilometres to this church. The bishop became probably the most famous saint in the world. Any ideas (see bottom of today’s blog).
And here’s a first. Driving home and went round a corner and had to take evasive action to avoid this little fella. Least we could do was help him cross the road – just weren’t sure which side he was aiming for!
And up in the mountains gives a good sense of Kas. We’re in the middle – last house on the shoreline.
Couldn’t resist one last time!
And here’s the bishop. St Nicholas, or Santa Claus.
Friday 25th – Kekova
Usual start to the day …
Eventually roused ourselves to visit Kekova about half an hour away, and took a boat trip. This was our boat and captain – total number of passengers = 2.
Village and castle of Simena.
Then on to the highlight and purpose of the trip – the sunken city (earthquake in the 2nd Century).
The sunken harbour.
.. and the ruined church.
Dinner at the harbour – he is the owner and the chef.
And found a friend – the owner’s daughter who is exactly the same age as Jo, studying in Heidelberg and speaks great English.
And finally, submitted the application to star in Titanic II – eat your heart out Leonardo!
