June12-22 Burdur/Bucak

We have spent a wonderful 10 days staying at one of Selo’s friends’ second house, where sleeping has been cooler and we’ve been able to cook and have a fridge and freezer to use.

On our way here we kept passing roadside places saying they had “kale biberi” for sale, so we finally stopped and bought some to cook later. Apparently you can fry them (fresh green ones) and eat them fresh with garlic yoghurt, or you can buy red dried ones for later use in soups and other dishes. They were delicious!

We spent the first weekend with Selo’s niece in Bucak, and she introduced us to some friends who were so welcoming, and we spent the evening with them. The woman collected antiques and even insisted on giving me a painted box as a gift and wouldn’t take no for an answer!

We also visited a cool big cave near Bucak, although the “lakes” and other water that was there inside a couple of decades ago is now sadly gone, due to groundwater pumping and increasing population 😢

Tuesday night we “hosted” a BBQ dinner for Selo’s friend and his wife and son plus 4 friends. Selo made traditional Turkish things and my contribution was 2 non-Turkish Mediterranean dips (to not attempt to make something local badly, but to make something that might be similar enough to be appreciated or at least accepted) and sticky toffee pudding. The dips went down extremely well but the company was split on the sticky toffee, with about half finding it too sweet for them. Selo says it’s their loss and is happily gobbling up the leftovers.

I am loving the cherry 🍒 tree in the garden, which is giving us cherries daily. Mulberries, although not in the garden, are also in season and you can pick them as you walk along any road (the branches overhang). As one of the Turkish guests told me “in Türkiye, trees belong to everyone”. Whilst not strictly speaking true, small incidental fruit picking whilst walking is highly tolerated.

We also passed a neighbour’s house on a walk and got invited in for çay (and inevitable other snacks!) for over an hour. Turkish people are so friendly and hospitable!

Next big stop is Antalya to visit Selo’s remaining sister, but we may stop a couple of places on the way… watch this space.