Sumela Hotel Resort Pictures

Front gate

Front entrance

Walk from beach to hotel

Back view of hotel and Cafeteria

Mountains crowd the coast to a narrow strip

Wall to wall resorts

Tanya says that is me out swimming

Sumela* Hotel is a three star all inclusive.  Rooms and meals being the main differential between star ratings but there are other differences.  We have stayed at a 5-star in July with intermittent air conditioning and 40+ temps .  Cost us $2000 for a week.  Never again to that hotel nor in summer.  Last year we stayed at a four star just down the road a pace from here and it was OK.  We liked the looks and price of this place however the internet site was less than truthful in some regards.  The rooms really need redoing and the meals picked up a bit to make it a four star as outside it is lovely and well looked after. 

*Sumela is the name of an old monastery near Trabzon on the Black Sea coast.

Body by Fisher GiST #11

This post is being written in the more or less dark on the balcony of our room.  If I sit out here it is close enough to catch the Wi-Fi from the office,

1. Watching Tanya swim out so far into Antalya Bay I can hardly see her and "swimming" out to meet her half way coming back.
2. Left over from yesterday - seat in the exit window row on an Airbus 221 on the way from Kyiv to Antalya,
3, How are the mighty fallen and the mountains made even as molehills. There are things to be said for underwire support.   And one piece bathing suits.  And in my case, tents.
4. Northern Exposure. And southern exposure and eastern exposure and western exposure.

5. Celebrating 64 years by swimming in the Mediterranean and going for dinner with my wife to a little roof top cafe with wonderful Turkish food.  Best Day Ever, Stephanie!

Pictures tomorrow.  I know I said that yesterday.

The Mediterranean Coast - GiST # 10

1. We arrived at the Sumela Hotel about 45 minutes south of Antalia on the southern Turkey Coast for a two week stay at this 3 star hotel.  The water is wonderful.  Even I can 'swim" way out over my head and not panic.
2. The first room they showed us to was a disaster,  Very small but with a nice bathroom.  For $30 Tanya got us moved to a larger room at the opposite end of the hotel from the entertainment stage which plays thump thump music to about midnight.
3. The website said Wi-Fi.  There is a trick to that.  For no cost you hook up to the cable at the front desk and check email.  It is painfully slow.  BUT if you ask the right questions, one of the young men who works there signs you onto the hotel Wi-Fi network which does exist but cost $5 per day for the first 8 days (the next 6 are free).  Only in the lobby but who cares.
4. Our luggage arrived with us.  This morning in Boryspol Airport for 5:00 am take off, they were loading 4 planes for Antalia and one for Sharem el Sheik.  We figured our luggage would end up there.  (Murphy was an optimist).
5. We won't starve.  The salad bar is loaded with fresh vegetables (and hot banana peppers) and the four hot dishes are adequate and tasty.

Pictures tomorrow.

Sunshine and Sleeping Cats - GiST #9

1. My step-daughter-in-law. Today is *Lina's birthday.  I went to their place for lunch.  What a banquet she put on, just for the four of us (her mom and I extra).  Tanya joined us on Skype so she wouldn't transfer any germs.

2. Smiles from a happy little girl.  Yesterday I gave my old notebook computer to Natasha, Katya and Yuri's youngest daughter, who is 12. I deleted all my files and had MIR computer shop change all the programs to Russian language for her, bought a modem and paid the first months internet fees.   It will do to start her off even if it is old and very slow.

3. Home-made ham and split pea soup.  Easy internet recipe and tastes wonderful.  Will make it again.

4. Tanya helping me manage negotiations for contracts, keeping tabs on all the pieces.  My Manager!

5. Cats sleeping in the sun.  Kuchma fell asleep in the sun on his little bed .  Sun moved.  Cat didn't. Tanya put toys beside him.  Didn't even flick an ear. 

*Sometimes I spell it Lena, sometimes Lina.  Her name is pronounced Lee-na, not Len-a and not L-eye-na.  The Cyrllic I/i is pronounced ee.  Which is why the Ukrainian KKK member got confused when sent to the sheethouse but I digress.

Mouse in the House - GiST #8

1. Kuchma caught a mouse on our upstairs landing.  It is fall; mice move indoors for winter. I felt sorry for the mouse but better the cat caught it than if I had to try.  Tanya was not going upstairs ever again with the mouse on the steps.

2. Skype - talked to all four of my kids and both spouses this weekend.  A 2 cent phone call to get them onto the computer and the rest is free.  Connection is hit and miss so the webcam is only on for a minute but at least we get to see each other.

3. Refillable ink cartridges for my Canon iP4300 printer.  Fast, easy and cheap (That's me). Brand is Color Way.  Website is in Ukrainian but the spelling is American.  Maybe it is available in NA too?

4. Ky and Lyn are successfully dealing with the challenges of their new jobs.  Meaning they haven't killed anyone yet or taken to strong drink.  Ky is marking assignments from her first year students.  She is quite positive about it.  Positive they are dumb as bricks but are teachable and will improve.  Lyn is coping with teenage boys who make her library smell like goat and with a filing system that appears to be more random than librarians are used to.

5. Tanya is feeling better this morning.  Got up, made tea, took her meds and went back to sleep. Head colds are no fun.  I gave her hugs and will try my hand at making soup.  Not chicken.  We ate that for supper last night.

ATM Robbery Technique - Don't Be a Victim

This set of pictures illustrates how you can be conned into thinking your card has been 'eaten" by the bank machine with the use of a bit of film strip.  A "helpful" stranger comes along and convinces you that if you enter your PIN at the same instant he presses cancel, then your card will be returned.  You try this a few times while the stranger memorizes the PIN.  You give up and walk away, the stranger retrieves the card.

http://vipsupportsystems.co.za/archives/atm-robbery-technique-victim-pass-on

Seven Day Wonder - GiST #7

1. Actually blogged seven days in a row, never mind GiST'd.
2. Asked a friend for a letter of reference and he threatened to put it on old UNDP letter head and add doctored pictures.  Worst of all he threatened to write the truth.  See if I ever bail his ass out of jail.
3. Felt like working for the first time in several days.  Laid down until the feeling went away.
4. Trying to look after Tanya who now has my cold.  She takes such good care of me, I wish she would let me take care of her. Mostly I do dishes and make tea. And give her lots of hugs.
5. Looks like I will have a small project in Kazakhstan in mid-November; enough to recoup my costs of July plus related marketing costs.  In my world breaking even is considered a huge profit.