I'm Back, Back, Back Again... Çalış Beach, Türkiye!

Back with the quickness, ditching the pool for the morning sounded like a plan to me! Holidays for me aren't for lounging around, no I want to get out and see what's good! Çalış Beach. you good? Revisiting a former 'Holiday House' was definitely a mood for sure, making use of every moment? Yes, I do think! Myself and my sister were on a mission, Çalış just didn't know it yet! 

It was like the thermostat had been turned up a few notches, the heat was something else! Setting out before the midday sun broke out those killer rays, we made our way from our temporary 'Holiday House' to find the one that we had left behind a while back. Listen here real quick, no stone would be left unturned, we had errands to complete that morning! Understood?! Navigating our way around those unpaved 'Sokak' streets, my photographic memory kicked in with the quickness, of course those mountains helped me along the way! For both of us it was like a blast from the past, it had been a hot minute since the grown up kids had all been back together, sure it was like a sibling reunion on holiday! Get it right! In real time those views captured both of our hearts, the lush green trees and mountains had us feeling thankful! Did it feel weird to be back? Did it feel strange to be revisiting that former housing collective? If truth be told for both of us it felt like no time had passed, we were ready right from the drop! Exactly!

Life leads us to many places, life knew that day would be on the cards for us and we weren't mad about that! No! Passing the local cemetery didn't give us any bad juju, using that place of rest as a landmark we knew our path wouldn't find us lost. Certainly not! The houses along our route did not serve 'Council Estate Realness', no they were looking like the perfect holiday home settings. Yes, time had been good for this part of Çalış because more of the roads had been paved with bricks and pavements had been built to allow pedestrians a safer walk along those streets. From our June/July 2022 'Holiday House' to 'Onur Sitesi' it wouldn't take us very long to walk from point to point, our eyes were on the prize, we had a plan to boss! That was not the hotel from those childhood holidays in view? Yes, it was! Formerly known as the 'Almina Hotel', we had spent many days there and nights at the bar. In that 2022 moment it was serving 'Care Home Realness' not the holiday environment like it had before! With sunshine like that, Okay! 

We both recognised our former 'Holiday House' complex, there was no question about that, no uncertainty whatsoever! We did not require permission to push those gates open, we respectfully returned to Onur Sitesi because we felt it was time to revisit our former 'Holiday House'. Fronted with the property in-question, we both agreed that the house looked just the same, the paint work had us looking at the same well presented house where we had spent countless summers in the sun. Those family flashbacks washed over us, there was no need to feel sad because in that moment we were paying our dues. Receipts? Oh baby, we had those receipts for all to inspect because as the first foreign family to have owned a property on Onur Sitesi, we had followed the rules. Yes, the committee gave us those site rules in black and white in front of the back terrace, respectfully we followed their rules because Türkiye isn't our country. We played fair so we had no apprehension present in our hearts when we stepped closer to the pool. We knew the truth! 

The vast swimming pool fronted us, serving the same tempting and cooling waters just like those years before. The gardens bloomed just like before, impressed we were by the gorgeous flowers and freshly cut lawn we were! In search of one special person, we cautiously made our way to Mr. Osman's house. Mr. Osman had been a wise reminder of Onur Sitesi, a kind man who had served in the Turkish Military. He reminded me of my Grandfathers because he was kind and approachable, his energy always came across to us with a friendly smile. He remembered us, we sat with him on his terrace for a couple of moments to have a brief chat, it was like a walk down memory lane and then some. We guessed his age and we weren't ready for his genuine answer! Celebrating his 78th year on this planet, Mr. Osman told us that he goes swimming everyday and that he keeps his mind active by playing Bridge. Meeting him again after so many years felt so wholesome, bidding a fond farewell had us feeling humbled. When overseas, follow the rules, T! 

Leaving Onur Sitesi behind through the gate on the opposite side of the complex suited our continuing route. Turning onto 'İbrahim Gül Caddesi' took us past two familiar buildings, both structures weren't operating as the former general store and make-shift cafe that had been there before. Now a restaurant and an air-conditoning shop, it wasn't a shock that those former ports of call weren't in present day operation. Passing by the Kelebek Hotel gave us something to talk about, that hotel had been turned into a 'Halal' hotel with such religious customers in mind. Yes, the current president has built more mosques in Türkiye over the last few years than any other structure, so a 'Halal' holiday market has thrived! Honestly, that was one for the books! Undoubtedly, our stroll along İbrahim Gül Caddesi brought more fond memories of us walking to and from the shop during those former Onur Sitesi holidays. The next part of our day had almost arrived, we had one more place to visit! A blast from the past? Absolutely that! Mems, Ç!

Before catching the Dolmuş to 'Günlükbasi', we stopped off at the shop on the corner where 'İbrahim Gül Caddesi' and 'Barış Manço Blv' greeted each other. That ordinary looking shop had served us well, even from those formative holiday years spent in Çalış that shop had served us well with those much needed refreshments and ice creams! Many years previous that same shop came to be when the former shop hand from 'Ali Budak's' (the now air-conditioning shop) decided to leave to open her own convenience store. At the time it was like 'Mission Impossible' when we would choose the lady's new shop over Ali's, Mr. Budak didn't mean any harm but we preferred to support the lady because she had worked her way out of that formerly dusty set up. Present day, we stopped by to see the same corner shop like we had done before. The current owner accepted our fresh Turkish Lira for a much needed bottle of ice cold water, by that time the heat was no joke! A morning well done, we saw what had wanted! We will never forget! No! 

78 Years Of Age? Absolutely That! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure