We’ve reached the SEA!

Hello!

View from our patio

Well, last night was interesting.  I am attaching a photo of our door … as you can see, there are definitely gaps there, through which the wind was rushing. 

Balloons from our doorway!

Just amazing!

So, R, being the clever klotz he is, used an area rug, two pillows and a cushion to close things up!  We also had a nice fire in the fireplace, but still, it was cold!  (Those small units are actually very efficient, but standing up to below freezing temperatures is definitely a test!) I went to bed in silk long undies under sweat pants and long-sleeve t-shirt.  R went to sleep in socks, sweats and t-shirt.  We also had two wonderfully heavy wool blankets on top of the duvet on the bed.  Well, somewhere in the night, probably about 2-ish, I woke up hotter than anything.  Managed to get the silk long undies off and back into bed and asleep.  All in all, not a bad night, but I can tell you that neither one of us was looking forward to a shower in the bathroom this morning! 

Up about 7 am, and down to breakfast at 8 am.  In fact, when we walked out to go downstairs for breakfast, there were dozens and dozens of balloons in the air!  It was SO beautiful!!!  Turns out that apparently the balloons haven’t been able to get up the last 5 or 6 days, because of wind.  This morning was beautiful – temperature at 8 degrees F but feeling like 1 degree.  UGH!  During breakfast, we made the decision that we, again, needed to cut and run.  Because almost all the Cappadokian sights are outside (vide the Goreme Open-Air Museum), there was the possibility of more snow and we were  still concerned about the rental car, we decided to try to get to lower and warmer climes today.  The manager of Sultan Suites was absolutely wonderful, and we did promise a return … just NOT in the winter next time!  He had one of his staff members drive us and our luggage back downtown to our car.  Now, first thing: the lock on the car had frozen, R assuming as a result of the car wash it received yesterday at the repair garage.  The nice guy from the hotel was still with us, and R asked him if he had a lighter.  He did, and between them, they heated up the key enough so that it melted the ice, and R was able to get in the car! 

Balloons with Fairy Chimney!

Balloons going into a canyon!

YEAH!  Loaded up the luggage, and then my scary time – would the car start?  But it did, very nice, thank you very much!  Robert plotted our route out, and out we went. 

Truly, our apartment door!  Mind the gaps!

On the road again...

   (Usually done in three, but that’s with clear roads.)  Turns out, it seems that the town roads are the responsibility of the individual towns and villages – and as our hotel manager said, Goreme needs a new mayor!  They don’t spend a lot of money on snow removal.  Then, the spaces in between, as well as the national highways, are the responsibility of the government.  So, our plan was to make it to a major highway.  There were some pretty scary spots, with lots of ice on the road (and remember, at sub-freezing temperatues, there was no opportunity, even with the sun out, to melt anything!) but the little car kept charging through, and finally, after about 2 hours of very dicey roads, we reached a freeway!  Now, the thing to remember about Turkish freeways is that most “normal” people don’t ever drive on them, because they have tolls to pay!  For a while, it was not easy going, but eventually, we started going down in elevation, and watched the car’s thermometer go up!!!  And up!!  Finally started to relax when we hit 0 degrees C (it had been -14C when we started!) and the snow started to disappear.  Finally worked our way down toward Mersin, a large city on the coast, and voila, there is the truly lovely Mediterranean!  Yippee!  Truly, we are both relieved that we are out of ice and snow and cold weather and that the car got us to Mersin (elevation, for anyone who is interested, is about 4 feet above sea level) and the coast! 

Taurus Mountain range

Looking back at the Taurus mountains!

The drive took about 4 hours.

[Added note: I just want to put in the record how well Margaret handled the driving under the road conditions we had.  In some places, it got really icy (they don’t use salt on the roads). -  R]

Late lunch overlooking the sea!

R's lentil soup

My salad -- largest radish ever!!

R's Cesar salad

View from our balcony

Looking along the shore

Looking the other direction over the park

Got to the Hilton Mersin (yes, there is a theme here, but I learned several years ago from friend Hilary about the merits of patronizing one hotel chain!) and most happily left the luggage and the car to others.  As our room (1213) wasn’t yet ready, we decided to have some lunch.  R ordered lentil soup and a Cesar salad, which is said was delicious, and I had their rocket lettuce (arugula) and warm goat cheese salad; also excellent.  Received our room keys while we were eating, and by the time we got upstairs, our luggage and car parking ticket were there.  Unfortunately no Australian Open tennis on TV, but I will fall asleep for my afternoon nap 1) warm; 2) fed; 3) watching skiing instead!

More later!

m

xxx

Incredible!  Roger Federer won the Australian Open – and we didn’t get to see it!  Oh well!  At least he won!