Update...

Hi all!

Just thought I would post a "what's new in the world of Turkey" update.

Honestly, not much is new!

There are certainly a lot of challenges of running a new hotel here, at least for me. My little eggs from the Pier know how difficult I can be (i.e., demanding, winks!), and to say that the Turks don't quite "get it," well, is the understatement of this or any other century. What don't they get?

1. It's not good to sit on the stoop with 5 buddies and block the door for customers.
2. Parking your car/motorbike in front of the door also impedes customer entrance.
3. Watching tv with said buddies in the common room of the hotel-when it's the only tv in the hotel-is not guest-friendly. Especially when, ahem, adult movies are on...
4. Smoking in the reception area, especially with finicky, non-smoking westerners, is a REALLY bad idea.
5. Smelling bad is bad. Showering daily is good. When it's really hot, I recommend twice per day. The customers will thank you.
6. Washing vegetables before they are served to anyone is genius!

I have a job perk, however; well, aside from the beautiful views, the free coffee and beer, quiet time, and sunshine, that is...

I get to go to Samos, a nearby Greek island, every two weeks! Since I have the handy American passport, it is easy for me to go to Greece. It is not easy for the Turks. My job there is to hob-knob with local travel agents, and to get them to send people to our hotel. Schmoozing, basically. But schmoozing in Greece! The extra good news is that I don't have to pay for my trip, of course. Ferrying across the Aegean for free seems like the best job perk ever, as far as I'm concerned.

Aside from those things, I have read all of the English language books I could find, save for Modern History of Early France, which I just started today. Ummm...how did that end up here? Oh well. If you have questions about Richelieu, give me a couple of days and I will be happy to answer them.

:)

Basically, my life is good. The sun is good. The town is beautiful, and most people, too. If anyone feels like vacationing somewhere hot, sunny, and near the sea...well, the location is idyllic. I'll post pictures one of these days so everyone can see and be madly jealous.

Just kidding!

(Not really, it's pretty spectacular here.)