My new series features some of my favourite holiday destinations. So far we’ve visited Dubai, Bournemouth and Harrogate. This week, we’re going to Dalaman in Turkey:
I’d heard a lot of good things about holidaying in Turkey, but I have to admit – it wasn’t my first choice when my other half asked me where I wanted to go on holiday. I suggested a Spanish island, but as he pointed out – we’d seen numerous Spanish islands and it was time to go somewhere different.
And so we found ourselves (me, my partner and daughter) in Dalaman, Turkey, not far from the stunning Blue Lagoon. Our hotel room overlooked the magnificent mountains and pine forests of Oludeniz. I’ll never forget pulling back the curtains on that first morning and watching the goats clambering up the side of the mountain.
Many a day of the two weeks was spent relaxing by one of the three swimming pools – having a gentle swim, followed by a cooling drink, soaking up the blistering sun while gazing up at the towering mountains. It was during one of those days that we noticed parachutes swirling round and round from the top of the mountains down to the bottom. My partner looked into it and before we knew it, my partner and daughter were right at the top, strapped to a guide, about to leap off a mountain into thin air! A back problem prevented me from joining them and watching the video, I have to admit to feeling like I really missed out. My daughter described it as ‘awesome’ while my partner thought it ‘one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life!’
He came close to matching it a few days later, when we went off on a jeep safari, which involved some spectacular sights, including the eerie Lycian ruins of Tlos, waving at the locals as we passed through traditional villages, watching authentic rugs being made, touching a trout and then standing back to see it leaping up into the air at a trout farm and immersing ourselves in the natural mud baths and emerging rather sticky!
After all that excitement, we decided a more tranquil trip was in line and we joined a gentle boat trip round some of the beautiful islands. We stopped off at various points to take in the breath-taking wonders of crystal-clear waters, diving in now and then to cool off, as well as the striking scenery.
All too soon, we were saying goodbye to Turkey. From being unsure whether to go, I now can’t wait to go back!
Esther Chilton 
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