After a wonderful sleep on water, we got up next morning, had breakfast and decided to spend morning at a nearby weekend market. This market is held every Saturday during summer season, and hobby farmers and crafters come from all over area to display and sell their wares. It really is quite fun.

Up came boat anchor and off we went. As we motored we watched for floating logs and other traps. It wasn't too long before Jan cried out. "The trap, trap. There is our trap!" Sure enough as we circle back, there was trap that had been lost previous weekend. We came alongside float, and slowed motor. My husband went to aft of boat and began pulling in line over transom. It was very heavy.

He pulled and pulled. Slowly line came up and into boat, but no sign yet of trap. Oh, my goodness. Did this mean that trap was full to overflowing with prawns that had been trapped for last seven days? If so, we were in for a very large feast that night. Pull, pull and pull some more. By this time my husband's brow was wet with sweat, and his brand new Hugo Boss white boating shirt was getting splattered with mud and seaweed that was coming up with line.

Finally after several minutes of pulling, he could just make out shape of trap. There was a large whitish-gray mass coming up with trap. But what could it be? Was it a log? Was it a block of cement that a commercial trapper had put in? Was it a seal, trapped in pot? It was still too far down to see clearly. He pulled some more. As it was getting closer and within reach, line snapped from strain. My husband was thrown back towards other side of boat and mud went flying everywhere!

It was lost! The trap and its contents, whatever they might have been, were gone. Our mouths stopped watering. There would be no prawns for dinner once again. We've puzzled over this one for a long time. What was in that trap that made it so heavy? I guess we will never know.

And our friends, Jan and Hank, have purchased and lost several more traps since this experience. They tell us that they have enjoyed many dinners on their Bayliner complements of their traps, but they never seem to catch anything when we are out with them. Strange coincidence or not?! Maybe it is just one of those

fishing stories!

The local investment is seeing a major return. Apartments and villas are realising a year-on-year increase of as much as 30 percent, and two bedroom apartments which were available in 2000 for £6,000 are now asking upwards of £25,000. The area has seen its first sale of a single property over £200,000, and while this is still remarkably cheap to European eyes, it marks a major achievement for Altinkum, posting its entrance into same league as Bodrum and Fethiye, which have been established property hotspots for many years.

Altinkum’s future is assured. The once-seasonal holiday town, deserted in winter by all but a few, now has a wealth of full-time expat residents. The more confident restaurateurs are staying too, providing excellent food and a place to meet throughout winter. The biggest hotel in Altinkum held its first New Year’s Eve party this year, and next year promises a yet larger crowd to please as more and more buyers take plunge and choose Turkey for Christmas.

Author: Laura Bower Original Article: http://www.tropicalbeachhomes.com/ http://www.tropicalbeachhomes.com/News.asp?N=5&L=EN