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When it's snowing in Istanbul and the North wind blows, Bodrum temperatures drop to central European winter levels. The thermometer may say it is 2 or 3 degrees C but the cold wind ensures it feels about minus 5. The last few days have been particularly cold and for the first time I've heard of water pipes freezing. Very few of us live in well insulated houses so no matter how much we crank up the heating, we will still be suffering cold fingers and noses not covered by the four layers of woollies we are all wearing. Contrary to expectation, the best solution on these few days a year is to get outside for a brisk walk. When the Ayaz blows the sky is usually crystal clear and the sun blindingly bright. A walk around town will identify the most sheltered spots and a few hours can be spent enjoying the warmth of the sun without the bone chilling wind. The minute the sun starts to go down, the cafes and pavements empty and everyone rushes back to houses that are probably as cold inside as out. Early evening yesterday, I tried typing in gloves but my fancy pantsy Mac track pad doesn't work with gloves on so I gave up and spent as much time as decently possible with my electric blanket in bed.
Jake's new best friend Carrot enjoying the sunshine.
A good pair of sunglasses is needed in winter
I'm afraid I'm spending most of my time in bed with the electric blanket on now. I make the most of the sunshine on the balcony because it is warmer than the house, but the wind today is very strong and it's not pleasant outside at all. The men are all huddled round the soba in the village teahouse where it's very cosy..one of the rare occasions when I wish women were allowed!
ReplyDeleteThen today the day dawns bright, sunny and warm - Lucky us.
DeleteA brisk walk in still cold air is one thing...with a wind cutting to the bine...give me the electric blanket!
ReplyDeleteThe house in France had walls 1 metre thick, double glazing, roof insulation, central heating, wood fires - you name it...but temperatures of -18C for a week or more overcame even those defences.
I was glad to have my Turkish socks.
Keeping your feet warm is probably the most important.
DeleteIt's around -1 here now and they are expecting snow. How much isn't clear yet, but we could wake up to a white world tomorrow or on Monday. Look on the bright side, at least you have sunshine, here it's just grey and grim. A cold house is no fun though, so the electric blanket seems a really good idea!!! At least we now have 2 delis, Jason's and the Middle House deli, and the butcher's is triple the size it was before and beautifully modern, so no shortages if we get snowed in!
ReplyDeleteIdske, you are making me miss Mayfield. Don't miss the snow though - especially on that scary hill outside your old house.
DeleteYou and Ayak have really surprised me with how cold it gets in Turkey in winter, BtoB. Outsiders always think of Turkey as hot and sunny, but of course you have a huge continent at your back and when the wind comes from the east or north, you must get Siberia's leftovers. Brr!!
ReplyDeleteWhat you need for typing is fingerless gloves. My DH uses them a lot in winter as our old stone house is too expensive for us to heat to modern standards and we live in layers too. Hence all the socks I knit....:-)
I think you should put your pattern for socks on your page. I'll look out for the gloves, but today is lovely and warm.
DeleteI've been meaning to do just that for ages, but now I really must.
DeleteB to B, I feel your pain. It's been cold here in Istanbul, too. But better days are coming. The wind shifted back from Poyraz to Lodos and it's much warmer now. Hope it's warmed up in Bodrum as well. BTW, back when we lived in the U.S. and had dogs, we'd use them as foot-warmers in bed.
ReplyDeleteThe coldest I have ever felt in my life was on a day out in Istanbul - it felt colder that Canada at -17C
Delete. . it's certainly warmed up a bit today and along with the extra degrees has arrived torrential rain, thunder, lightning and power cuts. Ain't it great! Still another beautiful day in Turkey, though!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe the change in temperatures today. Aboout 17 C warmer in just 24 hours
DeleteI heard you're having a cold snap. you're right, finding a sunny, sheltered spot is the best way to deal with it. I see the new tea house on the prom is finished. Looks quite smart!
ReplyDeleteTea house is very smart and it's nice to be able to appreciate the mosque.
DeleteThought I'd commented early - right after Ayak, but must have done something wrong if it's not here. Just to agree with you about the cold weather - poorly made houses are to blame. Here, it's as if they forgot that it gets as cold in the winter as it does hot in the summer. We're well set up for searing heat - dark rooms, tiled floors, white walls - but they're like fridges in summer. I also put that nothing would entice me into a Turkish men's teahouse for the day - not even warmth. Stick with the layers and the electric blanket - oh, and the sunny terrace! Axxx
ReplyDeleteSorry Annie, don't know where that post went. We've had power problems all day and I've been accessing my blog by a Samsung Galaxy. Hope I didn't press the wrong button. I didn't see your comment.
DeleteOOoops, perhaps you didn't approve my comment...sorry - you must publish only at your discretion!! Ax
ReplyDeleteI'd never block your comments Annie.
DeleteHello:
ReplyDeleteWe are very surprised to hear how cold it gets with you. Freezing temperatures for us here in Budapest are, of course, the norm at this time of year. However, happily, everywhere one goes in Budapest, private homes or the largest museums are all beautifully warm. One is never cold here except when outside.
Being in bed in the day with the electric blanket on does sound deliciously decadent!
We are all in denial (except Angie who commented below) that it actually gets really cold so we are not set up for it. Our village house actually has full central heating but it runs on road diesel, which is now so expensive, we can't justify turning it on.
DeleteAs Annie knows - I have lived too long in TK to tolerate the drafty, damp and desparate need to jump into the electric blanket( my neighbours exploded into a fire last year). At huge expense and contrary to building norms the house I am building has underfloor heating assisted by a heat pump. The structure of the house is with Bims Blocks (from Kayseri)- Google-, insulated layers and walls 40 mmn thick. Everyone laughs; neighbours, builders and the rest don't want to understand the labours of A FOREIGNER and masraf cok !! But who wishes to have a home built well. That is me XX
ReplyDeleteAngie - We'll all be over at your house when it's finished.
DeleteHere in the French Alps the snow has been falling again after the initial 'dump' when we first arrived a month ago. Hobbling around on the icy pavements on my poorly leg has been tricky but there's one pavement which is permanently snow-free as it is heated by waste water from one of the apartment blocks. Clever eh?! Liking the sound of your heated blanket - thankfully we don't have to worry about the heating bills in the apartment we have been provided with so the radiators are turned up as high as they will go!
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot tp be said about a job that comes with accommodation with free heating. Our winter electricity bills are a bit scary.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that it gets so cold in Bodrum....but it still looks pleasant with the sun shining. Yesterday we were at 15 deg. Cel.....which was a record breaking day because this is Canada. Even here though the houses are well insulated and all have basements it still can get where if the heat is not cranked up the pipes freeze....overnight.... we also don't have not even one flake of snow on the ground today. With global warming the weather here in Toronto has been great...warmer temperatures and no snow.
ReplyDeleteCarrot looks so peaceful and toasty there...where was Jake????
Went up to the village house today and most of my plants in pots had turned brown. As they were all put in the courtyard facing South, completely sheltered from the wind, I can only assume that temperatures dropped very low a couple of nights ago.
Deleteps As we have to stop and play for about 15 minutes every time Carrot sees us, and as we had already done that once that day, we were creeping by hoping Carrot didn't wake up. it didn't work. just after I took the photo, he came bounding after us.
DeleteThe cold weather looks to finally be arriving here in Yorkshire ....but our little modern house in Hebden Bridge is snug and cosy....considerably warmer than the great barn we used to live in which looked gorgeous, but cost a small fortune to heat. Hope you're managing to stay warm. Jx
ReplyDeleteI think we all have to live a a "barn" once in our lives to fully appreciate a cosy, well built house. I'm still waiting for the latter.
DeleteOur winters are usually asleep.We never go to the beach because it was very cold.We also make sport more lazy.In Bodrum still sun and I thought I should try to come here once to experience winter.
ReplyDelete