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Holidays 2001
Visit to the Keswick, Lake District,
UK 26 - 28 October 2001
Well the call of the fells came upon us again and so we took
the opportunity to head for the hills once again. Lisa, Vicki
and I headed up to Keswick, arrived at the B n B at 2.30 on the
Friday, chucked the cases in the room and headed the George for
a pint of our favourite Jennings
bitter. Dave and Shelly turned up very soon after and you can
tell what the rest of the day consisted of!! Had a fabulous meal
in the Bank Tavern that night so if you ever go to Keswick this
is must watering and feeding stop.
Next morning, after a full English breakfast (and no hangover
I must add), we headed out to Dodds Wood for a swift walk and
then headed to Whinlatter park where we got soaked (not like the
lakes at all really eh?). After a shower that didn't work properly
(one of my pet hates, especially after being on the hills all
day you need a good washdown. hmmm dont ya just!) we were off
to the town for one of the best Indian meal your likely to experience
(and hey have we had a few!); The Lakeland Spice Cuisine proved
once again to be a top curry house but be early or book ahead!
After another few beers and a night of candle wax (ask Shelly)
and flick knives (ask Dave) and an reading of a strange novel
(ask Vicki) we headed to Glenriding for a stroll and returned
via 'Natlas mines'. Another good time was had by all...
Totally Tantastic Turkey, Marmaris 28
August - 12 September 2001
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Never having been here before, never mind outside Europe,
we didn't really know what to expect from Turkey. Hot was
probably the first thing I thought of and we were not disappointed,
34 degrees C in the shade..lurvely. The main thing that
stuck me about Turkey was that the people we met were so
friendly and accommodating, making us feel right at home
from day 1. At our hotel, Otel Serin, our breakfast waiter,
Ramazan (who subsequently became known as Rambo) looked
after us really well and even came along to the beach one
day for a swim with us. Bizarrely enuf he thought the water
was freezing but it was actually really warm, hot even!
Rambo got my name wrong and thought I was Ali G and this
set the scene for the conversation for the next two weeks.
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Our hotel was only a block away from the sea front, which
became quite apparent when I was trying to get some sleep
at 1 in the morning. The beach was served by the prom side
restaurants during the day, each with their own strip of
beach. (which was only about 15 feet wide as it was!). The
main bar that we frequented was the Bacchus "nobody
looks like us!" (the marketing sub-line that we couldn't
figure out) and with its cheery posse of waiters gave a
rich mix of good food, cheap beer, perfect location and
team lilo's!
Our first week was spent mainly at the beach. This was due
in part because our Airtours Rep decided not to be there
for most of it so we couldn't book any excursions! So we
left him a big on on his big note about his absence and
he soon got in touch. We did however visit Içmeler (pronounced
ishmellor) via a water taxi, that cost 3.000.000!! (dont
panic that's only about £1.50). It was a lot smaller than
Marmaris but still as friendly. We went there again in the
second week too, just so we could have another relaxing
ride on the taxi. In fact the second week saw us doing a
few more adventurous activities: A trip to Ephesus, a relaxing
days cruise along the coast of Gökova and a night out with
the locals.
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Firstly the local night out. It came about because one
of the waiters at the Bacchus, Omer, wanted us to meet his
girlfriend but since they both worked till late we were
invited out for a drink after work (I mean 11 o'clock!).
We ended up down Bar Street (yes highly original) which
housed many of the pubs and clubs, mainly for the tourists
but we were taken to a 'locals' place where the mainstay
of music was from 'Tarken' the national heart throb. We
danced in the Turkish style (which to me seemed like just
waving yer arms about) and then finished up going back to
Omer's place, with a few other friends, for some Turkish
tea till 3 in the morning. We then had to get some kip before
the cruise!
The Sunday cruise was really relaxing along the coast around
Gökova, the place apparently where Jaques Cousteau spent
his spare time, diving and stuff. Well not to be out done
we also went armed, not with aqualung but, snorkel (minus
flippers, we didn't want to appear too keen). The water
was so clean and clear that we saw lots of fish & seabed
creatures! We stopped a few times along the coast for a
swim before returning to the quay for the 30 minutes journey
back to Marmaris through some of the most pleasant scenery
I've ever seen. The local delicacy being Pine Honey (1 bottle
purchased).
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The Ephesus trip started out so well and so early! 6.30am
but by the time we got there it was quite overcast and a
storm was definitely brewing. Within 30 minutes of starting
the tour the rain came down so forcefully that everyone
there just ran for the coaches. The coach park itself became
a pond about 6 inches deep, such was the severity of the
rain storm. So that was that really, what we did see we
enjoyed, a fleeting glance of the library façade gave a
clue as to what ancient delights we had missed.
As the holiday progressed we became real good friends with
the Bacchus crew. Metin, who was always on hand at the beach
for OJ and beer; Omer, who could speak lots of languages
including cockney and now scouce; Aziz, who was so famous
but nobody knew him (so he says); CJ, who did Bacchus breakfast
for us; Cengiz (pronounced Jeng-is), who had a fine set
of nashers but had a dodgy neck; Chico, which wasn't his
name but he wanted to be known as such and Da boss! who
didnt say much but was always smiling. In fact the whole
crew were a credit to Turkey and were so charming and so
so funny we were really upset when we had to go home. snif
snif.
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While we were away we also met Paul & Maggie from Ireland
who were known to the Bacchus crew as the whities (for obvious
reasons). We thought at first Maggie was made of marble,
she was so white, but soon realised that she wasnt cos she
wobbled (in all the right places mind!, as you can see on
the left) They started their holiday about a week after
ours and we only met them on he last few days of ours but
we really got on well together. Its a shame we didnt meet
up earlier but even in the short time we spent together
we really enjoyed each others company. Indeed the first
time we met them Maggie liked Lisa so much she gave her
a big kiss! (shame ya missed that Omer!). Paul and I were
far more reserved. More of a story here than I'm prepared
to publish but its an amazing what fun you can have with
an empty bottle (an Efes bottle is such a weird shape too!)
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Oh before I leave it there just like to mention Fuat the hotel
receptionist. Thanks for the offer but I couldn't have got those
5 camels past customs and even with today's make up the game woulda
been up using Lisa's passport for one of them.
Visit to the Lake District, UK 13 - 15 July
2001
We never usually visit the Lakes in the summer 'cos of the crowds
but due to the Foot n Mouth thang we thought we'd be brave and
visit Keswick. Had a hard time trying to get in anywhere though
due to some Church Conference thing that takes place each year
around this time. Ended up in a small guest house called Lindisfarne
which was nice and homely. Had a crackin meal in the Bank Tavern
(Steak n chips!) and washed this down with a pint (or more) of
the finest Jennings
bitter. Saturday was a walk from hell.... Grisdale Pike was open
so we decided to give it a go. Got absolutely soaked thru, I'm
sure the rain was traveling horizontally (obviously it was raining
cos it was 1 the lakes, 2 its July). Apart from a near heart attack
(am I that unfit?) we got to the top and returned just in time
to sit in the new obviously very popular Indian Resturaunt for
a hour waiting to be fed. Lisa didn't mind that much about
the wait since the waiter was gorgeous so thats OK then! The meal
was well worth waiting for really tasty and well prepared. Then
loads more Jennings bitter (tried their new Crag
Rat ale but didn't like it).
The next day, Sunday, saw us pop into Blackpool on the way back
and we were greeted with an air display of a F-3 Tornado (even
faster than our Megan apparently!) and the 'I have no fear playing
chicken in this plane' Red Arrows. Bonser!
Our Hols in Boiling Hot Tenerife 1 -
9 June 2001
Yet another hotty in Playa Las Americas (Apartments Compestella
Beach). The flight was delayed as per usual and we didn't
get to our Apartment until 6.30am on the Saturday. JMC assumed
that we wanted to get sold some excursions at a welcome
get together just 3 hours later. Well spookily enuff we
weren't tempted (despite a reminder phone call at 9.30am).
Then nightmare of all nightmares when we got back that night
after a few pints of Dorada there was a visitor in the bath:
Not the night porter no (who had no doubt left by then anyway)
rather one great big cockroach! which was, by the volume
of Lisa's screams, at least 3 foot long. However upon further
investigation the thing wasn't as big as first assumed and
has apparently let itself in now doubt using a master key
(obviously it was way to big to find its way up the drain).
Well after much discussion with the 'roach, he decided to
let me escort him off the premises via the balcony (we were
3 floors up at the time).
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Then I decide to buy Lisa a bouncy ball. Well we bounced
it around the small courtyard in front of our apartment
which was rather good and was very tempted to lash it out
of our third storey window onto the said courtyard and onto
the pool area but we couldn't do that could we? I actually
bounced it in the apartment and it hit the roof that was
slanted (hey I didn't know did I?) and yes you've guessed
what happened.... out of the window and we never saw it
again... The ambulance didn't seem to take any time at all!!
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Then the rum. Well it was Woods 57% proof and well couldn't
take any of it back to the UK so we did have to finish it
off. We got back one afternoon from the beach and I was into
a very good book... (Playing away by Adele Parks... a bit
girlie but dirty enuff to keep me amused). You know what
its like... It's hey I gotta finish this one!!! So I sat
on the terrace reading the book whilst Lisa had a shower.
Soon she joined me with her book and well, we just had to
get them both finished. Problem was it was still really
hot and you can't really have coke by itself can you? The
rum tasted just so. In fact 'just so' that we both got extremely
drunk (bear in mind this was still 8 'ish and ended up in
bed! (Ha not what you all think) well I almost did 'cos
apparently (and I mean I still don't accept this to this
day) I was getting too amorous and Lisa pushed me onto the
floor and broke my elbow...well almost, even though she's
says she never (That's the thing I don't accept... The fact
I was pushed but was informed I'd fell. Hey I was there
after all!! As for the amorous bit well maybe!). Verdict
a good read and a blinding Hangover! Not a bad holiday in
fact!
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Visit
to Middlesbrough 13 - 15 April 2001
With kind invite from Gary & Tracy (who we met on holiday)
we headed on up the M62 towards Teeside to see what gives on the
East coast. (in our new car too! a metalic blue Renault Megan
Coupe Sport). Gary & Tracy, who live on the outskirts of the
'brough in a place called 'Ingleby Barwick ', made us very welcome
and with their two little dogs called ' Yorkshire terriers' apparently
(although I'm not sure which one was which) and the tropical fish,
we felt reet at home. (Not that we've got any dogs nor any fish...
but soon..watch this space...).
Hit the 'borough on the Friday night and was treated to all things
70's. Lisa made the mistake of asking a DJ for a request and was
thoroughly embarrassed when he spotted her scouse accent - calls
of "watch your bags there's a scally in here" etc, etc.
Went on to 'Flares' - where Lisa and Tracy danced precariously
on a speaker while the boys looked on. Tasted the famous Middlesbrough
'Parmo' which consisted of basically chicken and cheese - mmm..interesting!
Spent a rainy Saturday afternoon in Whitby, bought some fish
and chips (obviously), some fudge and rock. then came back to
the news that the Arsenal had been whooped at home by the 'Brough
3-nil!! (which virtually guaranteed that they wouldn't go down
and gave United (who?) the Premier title for the umpteenth time!).
Then time for Kareoke (how the hell do you spell that anyway!)
and DISCO at the Teeside Golf Club. It was Italian Nite too, the
food being rather tasty. Then returned home after a fab Sunday
roast & a visit to the butterfly house and after showing our
scouse passports at the border of course.
Visit to Dublin
12 - 14 March 2001
ARRRRGGHHH BE JESUS! Well Lisa got me to Ireland amidst the worse
Foot n Mouth outbreak since the '60's! Loads of footmats doused
with Guinness (sorry I mean disinfectant) everywhere you looked.
I mean how many sheep are you gonna get in a Dubin city centre
pub anyhow? Still at least they were taking the treat seriously
enuff.
Why Ireland? Well Lisa was 30 on the 13th so we thought we'd
do something a bit special and she wanted so much to visit the
isle of her fore or five fathers. The place was just like London
to me, very cosmopolitan and lively, only a bit smaller. Went
on one of those city tour buses for a few 'Punts' and did the
tourist thing which was really good and well recommended. Stopped
off at the Guinness factory, which was huge and then headed back
to Temple bar to sample the stuff (Yum!) and to people watch (mostly
tourists!). We had an Italian and a Mexican meal and had a larger
in the Hairy Lemon.
We stayed at the Drury Court Hotel which was great (except for
the binnies at the top o' the mornin'...not good) and was located
in the heart of tings! We walked over the river Liffy across the
halfpenny and millennium bridges and polished off more Guinness
in the Zanzibar. Shopped and walked along O'Connel Street and
checked out the bullet popped statue of Daniel himself before
we packed ourselves off back to airport (on the very frequent
airbus link) ready for our 25 minute hop back home.
Our
Hols in Sunny Fuerteventura 3 - 10 January 2001
Fuerteventura again I hear you cry? 'fraid so!! Its was really
hot and just the break we needed from all our hard work of the
previous year (we'll sorta Ha!).
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Ended up doing the usual curry house visits and guess what
there's a new one opened up since last year the Taj Mahal
(a unique name for an Indian I know) the food wasn't as
authentic as the Bombay (yet another unusual name for a
balti house). The upside to this place though was that we
met a fab couple from Middlesbrough, Tracy & Gary. We
met them on the Saturday and we spent the rest of the holiday
evenings with them. We all shared the same sense of humour
(especially about airport security?, the fact that anyone
not from 'brough is somehow foreign and the fact that Gary
reckons he liked football even though he's a 'brough supporter!).
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Also met a couple of real Eastenders who were deemed to be Frank
n Pat. 'Frank' did a real good impression of him actually 'cos
he had not only the voice but he actually looked like him...Runarand
nar! (showing my age again). Even though I stuck mainly to the
traditions Italian Pizza (Spanish style..ie with lots of Tropical
cerveza) Lisa tried a seafood paella. Not my cuppa tea at all
but you gotta try these things hey? The less we say about the
ciggies the better!
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