I went to my Turkish lessons today though apparently they had been canceled for Christmas!  Somehow I missed that when it was discussed at last week’s lesson.  Denise came to the restaurant, saw me there and very kindly gave me a lesson. That was great because she backed up to beginner stuff for me with flashcards that she’d created. More and more makes sense and now it is just a matter of the work of MEMORIZING. Hoşbulduk is the response when someone says, "Hoşgeldiniz." (Welcomes you into their shop or home.) I couldn’t imagine how I could remember the response until I came up with Horse Bull Duck! Now I’ll always remember, though it is pronounced Hoshboolduk and the last things you’d want in your shop or home are horses, bulls or ducks!

Randal came to get me and we ate lunch. While we were there a couple with "American Accents" came in and we got to talking. We told them we had a boat in the marina and they asked if the marina was near the Malibu Hotel on the coast. That gave me a chuckle because that is a small fishing harbor, picturesque but not a marina for cruising yachts. They live in Istanbul where she works for Save the Children. He is a journalist and was the overnight editor for Morning Edition on NPR. She had been stationed in Tel Aviv and Ramallah before Istanbul so I hope we ever meet them again to hear their stories. We gushed on about NPR for a few minutes and then had to go while they were just starting their lunch. We later saw them in Yenierenkoy and they had noticed our marina and asked if one of the huge yachts was ours. We told them ours was a diesel trawler and not a mega-yacht and told them to stop in if they were our way again. Then they asked how to get out of town. There are only about two roads, but you have to know to follow the one pointing towards Lefkosa and G.Maguza to get back toward the road towards Bellapais where they were heading. Randal gave them directions and we said good-bye. We got back to the boat and Randal took apart our front cabin air conditioning/heating system which was having issues. For dinner he cooked some of the meat we’d bought at the local butcher Monday. We’d bought some expensive frozen "bon filet" recommended by other cruisers and that’s in the freezer. We also paid $5.98 per pound for shoulder cut of meat that came in chunks and Randal cooked it in a frying pan with olive oil and soy sauce and it was some of the best meat we’ve bought in years traveling. It tasted like steak. I can’t imagine what the other meat tastes like and I don’t really even like meat. Tomorrow we’re having the rest of the shoulder with the fresh mushrooms I’d gotten at the Monday market. Yum!

Ru

December Final Bits and Pieces

Deks Walk # 4 Thursday December 22, 2011

Up, up, up, up up! But it was worth the hike!

At the top of the ridge looking at the southeast coast of Karpaz Peninsular on a somewhat overcast day. We had some bits of sun and some very light drizzle: a perfect day for an uphill hike.

We are at B 13 though none of us had the map to match; we just follow Denise.

Looking back towards the Med on the northeast coast of the Karpaz Peninsular.

Denise says in the spring we’ll see loads of wildflowers!

Julia waiting for Scruffy to come back from her wanderings (a few days before she went off to the kennel.)

Randal was telling Denise how he’d love to have a house up on this ridge and would anyone notice if we did build one? (No we aren’t but it would be a dream location if we had a 4×4.)

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Pre-Christmas party on M.Y. Souris Rose Thursday afternoon….

A lovely pre-Christmas Party on M.Y. Souris Rose was hosted by David and Jill for all cruisers who were in the marina for Christmas. They provided everything, made sure everyone kept eating and drinking and then did all the clean up after we’d all gone home to rest!

Our hostess Jill with her camera.

My classmate for Turkish lessons, Pete in the background. Pete has done a wonderful job of writing up his notes from the Turkish lessons which started while Randal and I were home in the US. I am now, thanks to Denise’s teaching and my classmates’ patience, finally starting to understand all of those notes.

Sitting in the saloon (living room) chatting before dinner.

Souris Rose is 65 ft. long compared to our 50 ft.: and wider. It is also a sedan so shaped somewhat like DoraMac rather than sailboat shaped.

Looking from the saloon to the enclosed back deck where the buffet was served.

Pete’s wife Sue is the woman in dark mid picture. She and I will get together in the new year for some sketching and watercolor painting. We both think we’re terrible so we can encourage each other to “just do it.”

Scenes of Christmas present….

There was a whole cooked salmon and smoked salmon quiche and salads and later in the evening, huge whipped cream covered trifle and other desserts. I concentrated on anything with salmon!

And also the fresh fruit trifle with gobs of whipped cream. Good thing Randal and I had hiked in the morning and skipped our usual post-hike meze lunch at Deks.

I’m sorry that I have no photo of David who kept himself busy filling and refilling everyone’s glasses with red or white.

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Scruffy goes off to the kennel for a Christmas holiday in Kaplica!

I apparently confused some folks, but Scruffy isn’t our dog. She is a wonderful dog and I’d love one just like her one day, but Julia and Robin would never part with her. Randal and I went along for the ride.

Penny, the kennel owner, and two boarders welcome Julia and Scruffy

Penny sitting on her front porch.

Penny and her husband are in the process of building a new kennel across the road up into the hill and also in the process of selling the kennel to 3 women…I think that’s the story. Penny also takes in strays though now will only take them if they are sponsored to help pay the cost of food and shelter. There are way, WAY too many stray dogs and cats in North Cyprus and so far that’s the only real gripe I have with the people here. They need to take better care that their pets are neutered and also not left to fend for themselves just because they might no longer be useful as hunting dogs or whatever. Most strays are incredibly friendly and just want A HOME!!! Too, too sad. It’s why Julia and our other dog walking friend Mick have taken in stray dogs and why Jan is the Cat Lady of Boğaz.

The kennel….

Being out in the countryside, Penny and her husband have to generate their own electricity.

We waved good-bye to Scruffy and went off for lunch in a seaside resort.

Robin had suggested that Randal and I go with them to Kaplica because the restaurant near the kennel served large fresh voppa, sardines, and I’d mentioned wanting to try some since I’d loved the ones I’d eaten in Izmir, Turkey. But, alas, they were not available that day…so I had sea bass instead. It was quite good and the meze that came with the meal and the toasted bread were all very good and filling. The owner of the restaurant came to our table and said, “Nasılsınız?” (How are you?) I knew 3 different responses, muddled them all up in my head, said part of one and then told him I couldn’t remember what came next! He laughed and shook my hand because he knew we weren’t Turkish speakers and at least I’d tried. I now know what to say….though it depends who is asking, how well they know you, and how many of us there are and ….it gets tricky.

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Day 6 of Hanukkah and Christmas Day

Early morning storms gave us a beautiful rainbow.

Randal and I took a pass on both the Marina’s and Deks’ big Christmas meals (Deks was actually all booked up when we’d begin to think about it,) and had a quiet day on the boat. I made some really good banana bread in the morning and took myself for a lovely walk in the afternoon. The internet was working and so, amazingly was our TV. My sister, nephew and I had a nice Skype video visit.

Sundays and Wednesdays are hunting days so I stay out of the fields and keep to the paved road into Sipahi. I thought I’d walk up to the Greek Church and see if it was open for Christmas. It wasn’t but I had a lovely walk.

These chickens seemed to be unsure where they wanted to go and were running about in a dither watched by the black cat on the table.

Then “my shepherd and flock” came by again! I love watching this man with his sheep.

This sheep had come for a reassuring pat. I wanted to pat it too.

This photo was the next day when Randal and I were walking; same shepherd (not in the photo) and sheep.

I had made myself learn how to say, güzel koyun (beautiful sheep) and to ask if any were goats because sometime it’s hard to tell. He told me, “keçi yok.” (No goats.) I told him görüşürüz (see you again.) He smiled and said, “Bye Bye.”

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Monday Market

Monday is market day and thankfully, so far, the weather has cooperated and been sunny.

Randal was buying some elmalar (apples) so he can make a pie.

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Not all play and no work…..always something.

110 outlets on the port side of the saloon aren’t working.

Randal had to take down the TV and box and mess with the plugs to see what was what.

The port side 110 outlets still aren’t working but now the TV which is plugged into 110 outlets not on that wall, is working…so maybe it wasn’t the satellite or maybe complaining in Girne did something. Who knows? But with TV to watch, I didn’t do my Turkish homework….just like when I was a kid.