The Ever Changing Scenery in Finike Marina, Turkey 2014

There is an ever changing scenery here in Finike Marina over the winter period.
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Sometimes we can see the snow.

Sometimes we have the boat reflections

Boxing Day Outing to Arykanda, Turkey, 2014

29 Dec, 2014
18 of us " hardy souls" braved the weather on Boxing Day to take a bus trip to Arykanda the ancient Roman site up on the hills above Finike. We expected snow or at least very cold conditions but we were blessed with sunshine!

Afterwards, we enjoyed a trout luncheon at one of the trout restaurants nearby.
Just as we loaded back into the bus " the heavens opened up" and it rained all the way back to the Marina. Great fun was had by all.
This was our third visit to Arykanda so refer to  early Post for more details. (Turkey-2013, Arykanda Ruins)
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Finike Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Celebrations, Turkey, 2015

25 Dec, 2015

Even the 3 Marina dogs enjoyed our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bash. They were in the Snug during the Carol singing and afterwards ate far too much so the next day all they could do was lie around in the sun! I suppose that describes all of us really after all that gourmet food and  dancing the night away. Never-the- less, great fun was had by all (including the dogs!) 

A very Merry Christmas to one and all.

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Republic Day, Turkey

 29 Oct, 2014
Republic Day in Turkey is on October 29 each year and commemorates the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Many people in Turkey celebrate Republic Day by attending performances and participating in traditional processions with flags and musical bands. The Turkish Republic’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, proclaimed the Republic Day as Turkey’s most important holiday.

The Finike Marina held a ceremony on the hard stand area using the travel lift to hang the huge flag of Ataturk. A rather clever and different idea we thought. Even though it was a rainy, miserable day but lots of marina folk and the marina personnel, donned their wet weather gear for the occasion.

Installing the New TV, Finike,Turkey

17 Nov, 2014
Tom is installing our new HD flat screen TV which is  2 and 1/2 times larger than the other one .Firstly though he had to pull the place apart, once again! Then he put it all back again.
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Continuing Maintenance, Finike, Turkey 2014

25 July, 2014

There is always maintenance to do on a yacht and today was no different. So after duly organising ourselves Tom was winched up the mast by his very strong technical assistant (akka Fran) so he could fix a spreader light.  After the said deed was done Tom was thrilled to be able to tick something off his list of jobs to do. In fact he ticked it off 3 separate lists, the list of must do jobs, the list of maintenance jobs and the dreaded (by Fran) Super List. This list is as long as your arm and contains all the now maintenance jobs, the future maintenance jobs, things to buy plus a wish list!

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All Set

Way up there!

A job to be done

Very Comfortable.

Finike festival

 23 July, 2014

Recently Finike celebrated the Annual FinikeFestival where  itinerant vendors appeared in town for 10 days or so bringing all sorts of ware for sale. Tom calls it " junk" but usually there are some good bargains to be had. In fact we bought a " genuine copy Addis backpack" for 20 Turkish Lira ( about  10$ Aussie). We probably could have bought more things if we had been inspired. What I find amazing about all the stalls is the pride the vendors display in their incredible displays. The other interesting fact about this festival is the the vendors sleep in the market area and if one goes early, about 10am half the stalls are closed and the vendors are sleeping on the ground in the stalls right in front of you! During this time this year the weather was incredibely hot and also it was the beginning of Ramadan so I think the stall holders displayed incredible stamina to " stick with it" for the time they were here. This is just a small fraction of what was on offer.

The festival "went out with a bang" so to speak as the fireworks display was one of the longest and best we have seen in a while! Well done Finike!

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The Orange is the symbol of Finike and 2 of these concrete monsters appeared at Festival time!

Tattoos were available but we declined the offer

Couldn't miss the Bra Stall

Just love the Bouganvilla (reminds me of Rockhampton in Queensland our home town).

So many bargains to be had!

How about this display?

Shoes anyone?

A Visit to Alanya,Turkey, July 2014

20 July, 2014

Recently we travelled by mini bus from Finike to Alanya to visit our friend Frank who has his yacht Elisabeth in the Alanya Marina (our home Marina for 2 winters). Tom spent a number of days helping Frank fix a few bits and pieces on Elisabeth. Meanwhile Fran had a relaxing time as well as a "girlie day shopping". However, Fran was disappointed in the shopping as the stores were too crowded with "charter package deal tourists who were buying everything in sight!"

Also while in Alanya we were able to catch up with our other friends, Irene and Doug (Voyager 11) and Annie and Matt (Wild One).

The Pirate ships were stilling coming into the Marina, blocking the  entrance and playing incrediblely loud "music" (Refer to an earlier Post "The Pirate Ships of Alanya")

We both enjoyed the luxury of staying in Franks'  family's lovely unit with a pool and air con and were sad to say goodbye to it!  The views  from the unit overlooking  the castle in Alanya  were spectacular. However after 5 nights it was time to head back to Hamamas and we were thrilled that Frank very  kindly drove us back to Finike.

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Elisabeth (Note the Norweigan flag)

Frank in the galley of Elisabeth

Tom in Action

Modern Monster Pirate Ship!

Alanya Castle with the ancient shipyard at sea level

Castle at night

Another view from the unit