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Again ... Another Abject 'Absence' Apology
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Sorry to take so long in getting back to everyone, and thanks again to good old Gordo for holding the fort for us.
But, boy, doesn't time just darned well fly when you're having fun?
It's a already fortnight yesterday since we arrived here in Fethiye, Mugla, right on southern Turkey's beautiful Mediterranean coast - and the tan's coming along quite nicely thank you.
Biggest bits of international news we've been made aware of - merely verbally - are as follows:
(a) Britain's recent local elections saw New labour being battered and beaten into THIRD place nationally, by both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. This was the greatest British political slaughter of a socialist party for over four decades. Talk about sending Gordon Brown Co a strong signal, eh?
(b) Hilary Clinton's still stone cold dead & buried (providentially speaking) but still won't lie down.
(c) Although it may not seem much to none Brits, the Conservative party's professional buffoon Boris Johnson has beaten Ken Livingstone in the latest poll for the position of Mayor of London. Our bewildered minds are still in a state of bogglement.
Okay, if any one's at all interested in what's happening locally here in Fethiye, one of the jewels in this particular region's famous 'Land of Lights' area, here's what's grabbed our attention over the last fortnight.
Three US senators whose names escape us ( a quick google should help) have been visiting this lovely, hot-spot for foreign tourists -- as has an official representative of the US's 'NASA'. And, yep, you read that right.
(Don't even ask us.)
Once again, maybe good old Google can enlighten anyone curious enough to want to find out out more.
More big news here is that although the tourist trade is still (just) managing to stay out of reverse gear, as it were, not to put too fine a point on it the Turkish economy (like many others) is getting pretty close to falling flat on it's arse.
The one exception is the housing/construction sector. This is due largely to the increasing numbers of foreigners (like my brother), wanting their personal sunny spot in 'Paradise' -- while they're still alive (and well heeled) enough to enjoy it.
However ... the Government have just placed restrictions on the number of future homes which are being allowed to be bought by foreigners.
Hmm.
We wonder if the obvious upcoming supply and demand 'opportunities' this situation seems bound to present is in any way connected with the recent official American interest being shown?
Well, right now your guess is as good as ours.
As for NASA ... like we said earlier ... don't even ask.
Oh, by the way, as elsewhere across the globe the price of rice has suddenly rocketed. That's bigger news than you may imagine, as it's the Turks 'staple' - especially for the regular man, woman and family in the street. In one month it's price has doubled.
Also, after being close to claiming the undisputed, outright title for for quite a while now -- Turkey is now the dearest place in the world in which to buy petrol.
What a weird old world we're living in today, eh?
Especially since Turkey has borders with both Iraq and Iran.
Sorry to take so long in getting back to everyone, and thanks again to good old Gordo for holding the fort for us.
But, boy, doesn't time just darned well fly when you're having fun?
It's a already fortnight yesterday since we arrived here in Fethiye, Mugla, right on southern Turkey's beautiful Mediterranean coast - and the tan's coming along quite nicely thank you.
Biggest bits of international news we've been made aware of - merely verbally - are as follows:
(a) Britain's recent local elections saw New labour being battered and beaten into THIRD place nationally, by both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. This was the greatest British political slaughter of a socialist party for over four decades. Talk about sending Gordon Brown Co a strong signal, eh?
(b) Hilary Clinton's still stone cold dead & buried (providentially speaking) but still won't lie down.
(c) Although it may not seem much to none Brits, the Conservative party's professional buffoon Boris Johnson has beaten Ken Livingstone in the latest poll for the position of Mayor of London. Our bewildered minds are still in a state of bogglement.
Okay, if any one's at all interested in what's happening locally here in Fethiye, one of the jewels in this particular region's famous 'Land of Lights' area, here's what's grabbed our attention over the last fortnight.
Three US senators whose names escape us ( a quick google should help) have been visiting this lovely, hot-spot for foreign tourists -- as has an official representative of the US's 'NASA'. And, yep, you read that right.
(Don't even ask us.)
Once again, maybe good old Google can enlighten anyone curious enough to want to find out out more.
More big news here is that although the tourist trade is still (just) managing to stay out of reverse gear, as it were, not to put too fine a point on it the Turkish economy (like many others) is getting pretty close to falling flat on it's arse.
The one exception is the housing/construction sector. This is due largely to the increasing numbers of foreigners (like my brother), wanting their personal sunny spot in 'Paradise' -- while they're still alive (and well heeled) enough to enjoy it.
However ... the Government have just placed restrictions on the number of future homes which are being allowed to be bought by foreigners.
Hmm.
We wonder if the obvious upcoming supply and demand 'opportunities' this situation seems bound to present is in any way connected with the recent official American interest being shown?
Well, right now your guess is as good as ours.
As for NASA ... like we said earlier ... don't even ask.
Oh, by the way, as elsewhere across the globe the price of rice has suddenly rocketed. That's bigger news than you may imagine, as it's the Turks 'staple' - especially for the regular man, woman and family in the street. In one month it's price has doubled.
Also, after being close to claiming the undisputed, outright title for for quite a while now -- Turkey is now the dearest place in the world in which to buy petrol.
What a weird old world we're living in today, eh?
Especially since Turkey has borders with both Iraq and Iran.
Labels: America, big oil, economics, gas, Iran, Iraq, NASA, Petrol, rice, Turkey, US
posted by Richard at Tuesday, May 13, 2008
