Runtalya 2014: Photos From The Viewpoint Of A Spectator

Yes, this is the first time I haven't taken part in a run in Turkey when Barry has. I was the spectator. Our first run was in Istanbul in 2010. We'd followed a basic running programme to get us started at a pace faster than strolling and, lo and behold, it worked - to the point that we decided to take part in Istanbul Avrasya 2010. Runtalya 2011 followed (oh, how wet we got) and, since then, we've taken part in two of the Istanbul runs again. I've done the 15 km and the 10 km...and Barry's done two marathons.

The second one was to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Trust, if you remember (we told you about our friends and their children) and so there was much incentive there for both of us - obviously. But then, would you want to do a third marathon? Well, I don't think I want to do a first marathon but there are those of us in this world who really want to do this. Barry's one of those people - and he'd quite like to do one in under four hours.

Registration desks in Antalya Terra City shopping centre - pre queues

So a runner friend suggested half marathons. Improves your times, she said. So, Runtalya 2014 half marathon was decided. We booked and paid for the accommodation - it's a weekend away as well as a run, so why not? And then Barry tried to register for the run - all places gone! Fully registered. "Go to the expo anyway," our friend said. "They might let you register if people drop out." We had nothing to lose as we were still going to go to Antalya anyway...and so Saturday afternoon saw us loitering around Terra City shopping centre where the runners were to pick-up their bib numbers and timing chips.

Eventually, late afternoon, a long queue formed at one of the desks and we joined it - the queue of hopefuls. Our turn in the queue came and Barry was given a place. Great! I should point out here that I decided to appoint myself as taker of photographs for this run. At the 2013 Istanbul Marathon, I took photos of the 10 km run as I was trundling along power walking. For Runtalya 2014, well, I just wanted to take some photos. 

Walking to the start line on the morning of the run

The apartment we had booked meant we could walk to the start line on Sunday morning and, after milling about listening to the DJ and watching performances by some ridiculously strong acrobatic group, the call came out for runners to go to the start. So, as Barry took his place amongst the masses, I nudged my way to the front to take photos.

It's a bit of a squash

There's always a lot of camaraderie between runners - and, as it turns out, there's a lot of camaraderie between those on the sidelines taking photos, too. We're all there to get photos of an event...and most of us are looking for family or friends who are taking part...and, if you've taken part in a run yourself, too, you're just rooting for everyone, and loving what they're doing. It's a daft thing to do, when you think about it; running round the streets of a city just because. But it's great fun, too.

The people taking photos turn around and usher me to the front and we all take turns to get our 'good shots.' (Good shots are those without the heads, shoulders and hands of those in front of us blocking the view.) I take my turn, but then...Now, if you'll just cast your eyes to the top of the photo above, you'll see all the people on the bridge. Have I got time to battle my way from the kerb, round to the steps of the bridge, to the top of the bridge and then find a place to get a pic from above before the run starts?

The start line

I take a chance. Happy days. The bridge has escalator steps. I get to the top and, again, someone moves away whilst I climb onto the lower ledge to get a few photos. Barry's in there somewhere. No idea where. And then the countdown to the start begins. Everyone counts down and raises their hands to the air...and I realise I can run to the other side of the bridge to get a photo of everyone setting off.

Setting off to run a marathon, a half marathon or a 10k

This year, the Runtalya t-shirts are red. It all makes for a colourful sight on a dull day - and it's lovely to stand on the bridge and watch everyone disappear off into the distance while music blasts from the adjacent grassy areas. In the next couple of hours, people will start running back down this road to finish where they started from. Barry's hoping for a sub 2-hour time as a gauge for a sub 4-hour marathon later in the year. So now I've got a couple of hours to kill. That's for another blog post though. For now, there's a little bit of me wishing I was on the road in red t-shirt rather than on a bridge with a camera.

The Runtalya returnees

After a wander, I decide to take my place on the bridge again to see if I can catch Barry coming back in. I lean over the edge to take photos and decide I can't miss him - white top, bright green shorts, black socks, grey and red trainers - who needs fashion coordination when you're running a half marathon in Runtalya?!

Three different distances for Runtalya 2014

And while you're waiting, you just see lots of lovely sights, like this couple running to the finish line together...

A bit of crowd dodging to reach the finish line

I couldn't catch the name of the group running in the blue t-shirts and the hats but there were quite a few of them there at Runtalya this year, streaming in to the finish.

Adım Adım runners

And there were people running for Adım Adım. These guys are at all the runs - never seen any with a baby in a pram though. This is just one we saw at the run. I saw another guy come racing in with his toddler in the pram, loving every minute - Barry saw him en route, too. These are the people who get the big applause and shouts of 'Bravo' from the side of the road.

Some people look so happy to finish

No competition here from these four. They all ran in together as they are here, all in row.

Familiarity at Runtalya 2014

And it's not often you leave Fethiye without seeing a familiar face from Fethiye. The guy on the crutches trains along the harbour sometimes. He's been to every run we've been to so it was good to spot him again as I waited for Barry to come in.

Adım Adım at Runtalya

More of the Adım Adım brigade - one of them barefoot by this time - and this little lad must have belonged to one of them because he ran along to the finish line with them.

10k or half marathon?

And I just thought these three chaps looked quite cool - that's their only reason for being here. And, by now, I'm looking at the time...and I'm thinking, no offence to these three chaps but surely Barry has come in before them. Have I missed him somehow? We had an arrangement to meet under a particular tree on the grassy area next to the road if I did miss him...

I go back down to ground level and walk towards the tree...and there's Barry, sat on the grass with his medal round his neck, getting cold, wondering where I've been. Hawk eye Julia completely missed him! I'd been up on the bridge for 40 minutes, he'd been at the tree for 20 minutes...One day, I'll catch him coming in! A stroll back to our apartment for a shower and then out for a well-earned beer! 

Oh, and Barry got the sub 2-hour time he wanted - so onwards and upwards for another marathon... Wonder if I should be photographer or make an effort and do something again... 

An East Turkey Road Trip - Are You Ready?

We'd like to take you on a little road trip over the course of some of the next few blogposts... We're taking you on an East Turkey road trip from Patnos, Ağrı and back to Patnos again, over three days and two nights. It's around 500 miles in total with not a motorway in sight (nice!) and this is the trip we made last May with friends. We've been dying to write about it since then and here we are, heading towards the end of February 2014 and we're just getting round to it - life kind of takes over like that, doesn't it?

So, the map below is the route we took. (If you're reading this post in a reader or in your email inbox, you may or may not be able to see it. If not, then click into the post to see the map.) You can zoom in and move it around etc if you like - it's just an embedded Google map - and you'll notice there's no circular route back to Patnos. That's because, if you remember our post about driving tips for an East Turkey road trip, we told you we ended up on a mountain path road and, to be honest, after turning back and spending a second night away because we were too tired to continue driving, we really can't remember which route we took back to Patnos. We remember the discussion, just not the decision.

Patnos to Patnos - around 500 miles

Right, so where are we off to on this not so little jaunt?
Point A - Patnos: Our starting point. We've already written about all the fabulous meaty Patnos food we ate and mentioned that, although it's not a tourist area, it's actually a pretty decent base from which to travel around. This was where we stayed and you can see from the map why it's a good base. That blue blob is none other than Lake Van! 

Point B - Muradiye: After a drive along the northwest shore of Van Gölü, via Erciş, first stop is Muradiye Waterfalls. Brown tourism signposts, although in existence, are not prolific around these parts - and new side roads are popping up all over the place, so even though our friends have been here before, it takes a quick chat with some road workers to point us in the right direction.

Point C - Doğubeyazıt & İshak Paşa Sarayı: Driving along the coast of Lake Van and seeing İshak Paşa Sarayı all in one day. Almost too much for a brain to take in. Two ambitions we dared to hope would be fulfilled in this visit to the east of Turkey and an unexpected road trip has realised both of them in the space of a few hours. Doğubeyazıt was where we learned about, and ate, Doğubeyazıt Köftesi and İshak Paşa Sarayı has been a we-have-GOT-to-go-there place since we saw it, lonely and distant in the snow, in the brilliant Nuri Bilgi Ceylan film, İklimler.

Photo through a windscreen - the black car in front was the other half of our convoy

Point D - Iğdır

Iğdır is going to be the place where we rest for the night. An interesting place as it has close ties with Azerbaijan (lots of the car number plates are Azerbaijani) and, even when we've been driving along the flat for miles and miles, we've still been on plateaus close to 3,000 metres in height. Iğdır sits in a bowl - it's an almost Mediterranean temperature oasis in a land of long harsh winters and very short summers. More about Iğdır when we get there...

Point E - Tuzluca Salt Mines

Were we even supposed to be there? Are visitors invited? It didn't look that way - but we went anyway. A friendly policeman who had just impounded our car highly recommended we drive onwards to see them (once we'd un-impounded the car, of course) and we're grateful for that - we saw a salt mine in action, and it all felt a bit James Bond. Actually, let's say we shouldn't have been there; we wandered into a place of work...but no one said anything to us; what are you gonna do? 

Point F - Kars & Ani

The main reason for us straying so far northwards was to visit the ruins at Ani, slightly west of Kars. Ani has been a long time ambition, too - and one we had decided would have to be for another visit to the east. It's too far from Patnos we thought...but then we didn't know we were doing a road trip. Wow, bonus and a half! - a ridiculous amount of photos from there. 

Kars to Patnos

Hmm, wish we could remember. Maybe our friend can, before we link to this future blog post. It involved a mountain climb, back down the mountain again, another (unintended) night in Iğdır and then a drive back to Patnos in the morning - well, have a look at the map. It's one of two roads - I just remember driving and arriving in Patnos a few hours later...

....To Be Continued....

Fethiye In February - What's The Story?

Last month, we started a new series on the blog where we'll do a little round up of random goings on that are taking place around Fethiye - those things that kind of all crumple together and wouldn't otherwise make it into a blog post, but they still give you a picture of daily life. Of course, there'll be little reminders of other blog posts we've written throughout this month, too. The January in Fethiye post seemed to go down okay so let's get cracking with February and see what's been going on...

The Çalış Canal Project
Click into the January post and you can really see how fast the team are working on this. It's got to be said, the camps are well and truly divided on this one between the fans and the non-fans.

 A new look Çalış

It looks as though the Çalış to Fethiye water taxis will still be leaving from the same point (by the bridge in the distance) and, apparently, there are going to be plants and a walkway for pedestrians. This photo is taken from the bridge. The stone wall stops here and the more familiar scenery of the reeds is still there as the canal heads towards the sea.

February Fethiye Weather

This has got to be one of the mildest winters we can remember in all the time we've lived in Fethiye. Our heating bills are minimal - usually, the fire is in overdrive, but for most of February, it's stood idle, getting in the way, more than anything.

View of Fethiye from Cafe Park Teras

Of course, this has meant enjoying sitting outdoors at the bars and restaurants of Fethiye. This photo was taken a week or so ago from Cafe Park Teras. It's shirt sleeves rather than jacket weather and we're making the most of it - making the most of it with the back of our mind telling us there's not been enough rain. Rain is forecast for this week so let's hope it comes...

Fethiye Harbour Restaurants - Refurbishment Projects

It's winter, it's Fethiye and that can only mean one thing - smash a restaurant up and start all over again. Whereas some people think, "Give it a lick of paint and it'll be fine for another couple of years or so," Fethiye likes to go the whole caboodle. 

What's it gonna be? We'll wait and see.

Sites get covered in black or green mesh boundaries and 'noise' occurs from within. This photo is what was Kardelen Restaurant along the harbour. To be fair, it was looking like if a strong gust of wind came along, it was going to tumble. The whole thing has been knocked down and something is replacing it...we know not what. Let's see. 

As for Shaka Restaurant, that's also currently swathed in the same black mesh. Shaka is still open, but for the moment it's next door in what was Veranda. It looks as though what was Shaka is being made to look like what was Veranda and the whole thing is going to reopen as Shaka but looking like Veranda. Got all that? We're surmising here, of course, just watching the building take shape as we pass by. We'll find out for definite when all is finished. The joy of Fethiye in winter!

Fethiyespor

Wonder how many football teams in Turkey have solar panels on the roof of their stands? Well, we do at Fethiyespor.

Solar panels on Fethiye stadium

The stadium is packed at the moment for the home matches. Fethiyespor have lost their last two matches and have now a got a tough, tough battle to stay in PTT 1. Lig...but, despite losing yesterday, they played well and we're still resolute that they can stay put. Good for Fethiye as a whole if they can. The next home game is Saturday 1st March (Please note, kick off has been changed to 14:00 from 16:00). If you do want to go, make sure you get tickets beforehand from the Fethiyespor store and get to the stadium early on the day. 

Eating And Drinking Fethiye

February was the month where we finally ate what everyone has been telling us to eat for an age - we had a Valentine's ciğer dürüm at Mozaik Bahçe. We also wrote a long overdue post on one of our regular haunts, Denizatı Restaurant. Both Mozaik and Denizatı feature on our Fethiye Eating & Drinking page and don't forget, we've also got all these places mapped on our Pinterest board, now, too. 

And that's about it for Fethiye in February. Wonder what March is going to bring...

Eats & Drinks In Fethiye - Mapping A Town Through Pictures With Social Media

Apart from this blog being a space where we can ramble at will, we also like to think it can be occasionally useful for people, too - and we are always trying to think of ways of making that more so. It's no secret we're strong advocates of social media, and social media has been fantastic in helping us to make the blog into a resource because it's allowed us to reshare old (useful) posts that might otherwise have been buried in the archives somewhere. But we've always wanted to try and make social media somehow work better for us...

And slowly, slowly, that's starting to happen as each social media site matures and develops more ways to be interactive. We've been able to showcase Fethiye on Instagram, embed tweets about Turkey's For Life onto the blog and embed posts from our Facebook page. And now it's the turn of Pinterest. People who use Pinterest will know they added a map feature a few months ago. Well now, this has linked up with our beloved Foursquare to make mapping easier - and that peaked our interest. For a while now, we've had a 'Fethiye Eating & Drinking' board on Pinterest and, well, it had to be done. We spent this morning placing all those restaurants and bars onto a map.

Follow Turkey's For Life's board Fethiye - Eating & Drinking on Pinterest.

So what you're looking at now is that very board. Just a load of pictures, really. BUT, if you click into the board, you'll see that each place is pinned to a map. Bar by bar, restaurant by restaurant, we're mapping Fethiye's eating and drinking scene on Pinterest (and on our blog and on Foursquare). So far, we've added most of the places we've got on our Fethiye Eating & Drinking page and there's one or two on there we've managed to pin from other people. We'll work on putting other places on there over time. If you use Pinterest, give our Fethiye Eating & Drinking board (above) a follow if you think it'll be a handy tool for you.

And what else does this mean for you? Well, it means you can now see exactly where all these places we talk about are, all from one page. If you're a Pinterest user and you're planning a trip to Fethiye, it should actually be useful to you, rather than just a board full of pretty Fethiye pictures (of course, we've got one of those, too - click this link to follow our Fethiye Pinterest board). And if you don't like Pinterest, or you just don't use it, you'll not be surprised to know you can just follow Turkey's For Life on Foursquare for tips about Fethiye and other places in Turkey.

You don't use social media? No problem, that's what our blog is for - random ramblings about Fethiye, Turkey travel tips, Turkish food and recipes...and to bring all that social media to this site. All good! And when it comes to maps, well we do love a map...just off to look through the rest of our Pinterest boards to see what else we can map!