Up with the larks today at around 10:00am. We had to be as Jane & I had booked in for Traditional Turkish Breakfast at Narli Bahçi – ‘Pomegranate Garden’ Restaurant. Another recommendation from our host, which we never managed to get to last year.
I’d figured it was a 20 minute downhill walk, so we set off just after 10:30 and headed down the hill.
Oh, I sort of feel obliged to mention that we have leccy, water, clear pool etc. All the stuff that may be interpret as a moan or downside – none were – all just things to navigate. I’m not mentioning them again, I hope.
Anyway, part of my hidden agenda for suggesting that we walked down, was I’ve yet to see a wild tortoise. I still haven’t. Lurchio has. How the hell does that happen?!
T’was hot, mind. Suspect they are of a higher intelligence than I, and made the sensible decision to stay in the shade.
We got there with minutes to spare. Not that the gates were going to clang shut and 1 second past 11am, of course, but I do like punctuality.
With a wonderfully friendly greeting, “Ah, Jane? 11am. Welcome & just relax”, we were seated in the loveliest of gardens, all set up with companion planting (where edibles are planted next to/near “showy stuff” that the slugs attack instead of the foody stuff).
We confirmed to the young lad, a family member, that then served us that we’d like the trad brekky. Well, without going all Frankie Howerd, we were taken aback by what then happened.
For the next 5 minutes all that happened was that food kept being brought to the table. Lots and lots of different foods, all (with a slight exception for the olives) looking really good.
First up was a shallow bowl to share of a warm lentil soup. Back when, if honest, I’d have passed on that. But I tried it and it was really tasty. And was a good reminder to give stuff a go, at least once. “More to learn when you fail, than when you succeed”, as a friend of mine recently quoted.
Then ‘stuff’ just kept arriving! Until our table was full!
Jams, fried eggs, cheeses, honey, Turkish tea, home made bread, watermelon, pastries, veggies. You get the gist.
What a feast! Left in peace, we just tucked in, relaxed & enjoyed the moment. Oh, until the rectangular slice of cheese. Which, on record, I would tell anyone was the cheesiest cheese on Planet Cheese! Even Jane agreed. And with the orange jam, it was properly tasty!
Jane also had an epiphany & as a devout non tea or coffee drinker (and don’t even mention milk unless it’s in a hot chocolate), found the Turkish tea, and I’ll quote her now – “refreshing”.
I could go on about pretty much every dish served, but instead I’ll leave you to imagine. Except for two things. After deciding what we thought it was “worth” and what the bill might be (we hadn’t confirmed), we asked the fella for the bill (Hesap, remember?). As he presented us with the bill, he asked, with genuine care & interest if we had enjoyed it. We had. We paid what we had thought it was worth, which was a lot more that the bill. That’s not us splashing cash, that’s us simply paying what we felt it was worth. Bear in mind, this is all relative – heavily tipping the bill is easier when the bill is £9/head!
The second thing is the OMG moment! We were served a home-made pomegranate tea. Holy moly! Looks superb, smells superb & tasted like the best bits of a warmed Vimto. What a drink!
Having supped up, we also bought a couple of pots of jam, as we waited for a taxi (no way I was walking back, up that hill in 42C temps!).
One last point about Narli. It’s family run, and Ramsay, the main chap, was so proud of what they do – veggies grown & then served, herbs, the same, really focused on delivering a really relaxed experience. Brilliant!
We had planned on going to K Bar or one of the places on the bottom road into Hisaronu, but tbh, we just couldn’t be arsed. So after a sesh around the pool, we WhatsApp’d a pizza & garlic bread to the apartment, which turned out to be really good & just what the good doctor ordered!
After the delivered scran, the pool had visitors! What!? Suddenly there’s were a few local lads in the pool bar, switching into their trunks & having a laugh. There are two other apartments here, although we know one isn’t occupied whilst we are here, so I assume they’re to do with Musti from downstairs.
Lurchio & I had some ‘chores’ to do, mainly putting bottles in a bottle bank. But then on the way home, also calling in for more soft drinks (& Corona for Lurchio). Our superstar at the corner shop 8h dusted on it being a free delivery, and belted passed us on his scooter before laughing at us on his way down, with me still trying to breathe in via my arse, on the way up! Top lad, that fella.
Getting back, Lurchio took the delivery up to our floor, whilst I headed down to the pool. And with a “Merhaba!”, I gave them a heads up on my arrival. I showed them where the pool lights were but also asked if they could please make sure they turned them off as they left.
I also told one to “get out of my way!” With a smile on my face, before opening the poolside fridge up and grabbing a beer. We came to an agreement that they were all mine. Had a laugh & I left them to it. Sure enough, they left shortly after, with all looking tidy and the lights off, bless them.
And with the tune, well words, (there was a tune, but it was entirely different to the one that matched the song), of “Aaand sooo, Sally can wait!” via a distant Karaoke, I bid you adieu for the evening!
Lots of love
Chris
X
Looked an awesome brekki xx