Confused by the title of this post? Don’t worry all will be revealed shortly.
Last month Alfie and I went on our last holiday together before the baby arrives. This is something that we had planned a few weeks after we had found out that I was pregnant. After being in education for so long we haven’t really discovered the world together as a couple. It’s only really after we got married that we started travelling together on our mini-moon and then with our honeymoon. One of the loves that we both share is travelling and experiencing new things. We both have a burning desire to see the world and have done pretty well as individuals, but now we want to share these new experiences together. Getting in one last holiday where it was just the two of us was really important, not only for some much-needed rest and relaxation but to spend some quality time together before our lives change forever.
In all honesty, we didn’t mind where we ended up, except it had to be somewhere that we both hadn’t been before, blissful with an abundance of stunning scenery. After reading this amazing review of Kalkan, a place that we both had never considered travelling to before, we got stuck in to making the travel arrangements.
We stayed at a lovely boutique hotel made up of only 28 rooms called Rapshody Hotel for the first week of our stay. It’s only a 10 minute walk into the village so it was perfectly located. Rather than taking a taxi, we preferred to walk everyday and admire the gorgeous views of the bay and the backdrop of the surrounding Taurus mountains. We had a lovely time exploring the little village with its interesting boutiques selling handmade crafts, chatting to the inquisitive and friendly locals, the harbour and eating traditional Turkish food in one of many roof top terrace restaurants.
Since the hotel only accommodates a small number of guests, there was a real community spirit and everyone chatted to each other around the pool. It was always sad when someone left to go home. Attempting to belly dance at 30 weeks pregnant with a professional dancer as part of a Turkish night was one of the highlights of the trip. I also had a couple of hours of pampering in a nearby spa where I enjoyed a traditional Turkish hammam, oil massage and clay mask…bliss! We also went on an all day boat trip to Kekova to see the Sunken City and got to swim in the crystal-clear turquoise sea at various stops. Although trekking through the second largest gorge in Europe remains high on my list of this unforgettable trip. The locals are extremely friendly and all seemed very interested in my bump and were happy to chat over some apple tea.
To escape civilisation completely, we hired a car that we nicknamed Jeff (after a friend we had met at the hotel) and headed into the mountains to stay at Villa Mesut in Islamlar. Here we were totally spoilt with untouched breathtaking views of Kalkan and the mountain ranges. It took me by surprise how quiet it was in the mountains, our perfect little haven to relax and disconnect from the world. Each morning we went for a swim in the pool and had lunch in one of the small local restaurants in the village. Since we had the car we headed back into Kalkan now and then to reconnect with reality, but happily returned to our peaceful bubble that we had created for ourselves at the villa. We even adopted a cute yellow dog for the week, who we discovered belonged to the owner of the villa. I’m not sure what his real name is, but I called him Sammy, a happy-go-lucky dog with a wagging tail and beaming smile.
Kalkan is definitely noted as one of my favourite ever holidays. I got to spend quality time with my best friend and husband, indulge and relax in the breathtaking scenery and ponder on our future plans as three instead of two. Many of whom we spoke to were on their second or third trip to Kalkan, we’ve already decided that we’ll be making a return trip, someday.
What has been your best ever holiday? Is there a country that you’ve never dreamed of visiting, but so glad when you did?
*Our stay at Villa Mesut was courtesy of Solmar Villas – all opinions are my own.
Thank you for sharing your recent trip to Turkey and those wonderful holiday photo’s. I particularly like the one of Alfie lifting you in the air – I can see the love between you.
Thanks Charlene. It was one holiday that we will never forget. 🙂
Wow it does look beautiful there, glad you had such a lovely time together. The two of us love our holidays- we are always saving for the next one. Going to Hawaii was an amazing experience- I didn’t think we would get there so it was made even more special, and it was just so beautiful and relaxing.
I bet Hawaii was out of this world. Looks amazing in the pictures I have seen. 🙂
I absolutely adore this post – it’s so beautifully written Jemma! And those photos of the two of you are incredibly cute 🙂 it looks like the ideal getaway.
Last autumn my dad and I were lucky enough to go to Grenada on a bit of a whim and it was just amazing. We were there in the off season so there were hardly any tourists around which made it even more special. Now I’m dreaming of seeing more of the Caribbean! Mind you, I don’t think there’s many places I wouldn’t want to travel to 😉
Thank you Pip, really glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂 Your trip with your dad sounds amazing. I would love to travel to the Caribbean someday.
This looks like the most amazing holiday! Your pictures are awesome.
Thank you!
This looks absolutely amazing! wow so beautiful! looks like you had an amazing time! many fab family holidays to come 🙂 xxxx
Hopefully it was a template for some amazing family holidays in the future. 🙂
Aww Sammy sounds like such a cute bonus for a holiday!
Your pictures are absolutely stunning Jemma, I have serious wanderlust right now!
He was such a cutie. Actually really miss my Sammy! 🙂
Sounds positively dreamy! The pictures are just beautiful, what a paradise. And what a lovely place to spend time with your hubby before the impending arrival of your baby 🙂 Lovely!
Anna it was just perfect! 🙂
Looks like such a fun filled holiday! Great post, you sound and look so happy.
Thanks Dana!
Wow, this place looks stunning! I totally thought it was Greece at first. I had no idea that parts of Turkey looked like this!
Kalkan is on the Mediterranean side of Turkey which faces Greece, so it’s very similar in that respect.
looks like a beautiful holiday! the photos look stunning and looks like you had an amazing time 😀
Melissa x
Ahh Melissa it was fantastic!
Beautiful photos! You two look adorable together and the scenery really is stunning!
Thanks Jessica! The scenery made for the perfect back drop.
Wow how gorgeous!!! I haven’t been on a vacation in SO long! I have always wanted to just travel around Europe. Paris has always been a dream of mine to visit!
Paris is just stunning, beautiful city!
Your pictures are seriously AMAZING. I want to go to Turkey so bad and these pictures are making me soooooo jealous. Simply beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
You should go right this minute Jamie!!! 🙂
Sounds beautiful, not a place I’ve come across before, but looks amazing!
It was new to us as well, so pretty!
This place looks AMAZING! I love traveling also!
http://www.underthebrella.com
Me too Anne!
You both are so adorable! I am day dreaming at my computer right now…that water looks incredible. So important that you both got to share this special time seeing something new and making more memories as a couple before the little one comes along. It is so important <3
Absolutely. We feel so lucky that we were able to do this trip. 🙂
That looks so lovely. I’m jealous!
It was gorgeous!
Beautiful pink bougainvilleas! They make everything feel so tropical! Beautiful photos.
Is that what they’re called, such beautiful flowers. 🙂
Thank you for taking me on such a lovely virtual field trip with you – these pictures made me feel like I was rite there with you. I’m so glad you two had such a great time! 😀
Glad that you enjoyed the post Tanya!
That looks like such a fun place to visit. The pictures are beautiful.
Thanks Sarah. It’s totally amazing!
Those views are amazing! I would have never guessed this was Turkey 🙂
Oh it’s gorgeous! 🙂
It looks gorgeous! I teach also and we have two little ones under 3 so vacation/travel is often kid centered. I’d love to have a husband escape one day!
I think I will be feeling the same way in a few years time after having our baby boy. 🙂
Beautiful pictures, what an awesome looking trip. I haven’t been on vacation in a long time, I need one.
It was stunning, I highly recommend Kalkan.
Oh my gosh, you guys are SO CUTE!! So much congrats on the pregnancy, what a fantastic adventure. It’s so great you guys got to have a relaxing holiday before you’re taking care of a baby full time 🙂 Kalkan looks truly beautiful!
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
Thanks so much Cat!
You too are so cute. Yay for a vacation before baby… and potty training is never fun… doesn’t matter how hard you try lol
I’m not looking forward to that part lol. 🙂
This place looks beautiful! The black and white of the two of you is so stunning too!
The dog looks so cute and peaceful. He has such teeny ears! What a cutie!
I’m very very jealous right now!
Katie <3
The dog was just adorable, a bonus on top of an amazing trip!
Beautiful pictures to remember your holiday by. I live visiting new places as well and much prefer the quieter resorts surrounded by locals to ones filled with tourists and bars. One of my favourite holidays was to Idaho in America for two months when I was sixteen. I stayed with a friend’s Grandma and so got to experience everything the family did in their day to day lives whilst I was out there.
Less touristy places are my favourite too, much more gentle and peaceful. 🙂
Your photos are absolutely lovely! It looks like a beautiful trip!
Thanks Jessica!
Holy cow those pictures are great! Love those bright pink flowers!!
Love those flowers too. 🙂
This looks like an amazing trip! Our best trip may have been to the Dominican Republic. It was beautiful.
I need a vacation so bad. LOL!
My family are from Dominica and I still haven’t been to visit. Looks amazing!
Aren’t you cute?! Chic mum!
I’ve never really been reluctant to visit anywhere. I was pleasantly surprised by the beauty on California’s Pacific Coast Highway North. It’s a long drive but a must see in your lifetime.
Aww thanks Nikki!
This is such a beautiful place, I’d love to go there one day. My favorite place to go is Copenhagen. I think Alaska was a place I’ve always wanted to go but didn’t realize we’d go so soon.
I may be going to Copenhagen next year. It looks so amazing!
OH MY! You two are actually so darling. Looks like a great time. The flowers are beautiful.
Thanks Deidre! We had an amazing time away.
He’s so handsome! I haven’t seen a photo of him before!
I love how you can make a baby bump look so good too. I wanna go! The natural colors are so yummy