Tag Archives: Black Sea

Unseasonal weather

Before the Storm 12" x 9" Acrylic on mount board

Before the Storm
12″ x 9″ Acrylic on mount board

Some parts of Fethiye experienced temperatures of 6C last night and the wind is still blowing hard from the North.  There are many visitors still here and I don’t suppose that they are very impressed although the sun is shining as usual.  Snow is falling in the Black Sea regions so it could be worse.  I’ve completed my self-imposed target of a daily still life and have enjoyed it, but I’m enjoying work on a large canvas of Fethiye Bay even more.  So I’ve confirmed my conclusion of the 18th …. It’s the daily painting, not the painting a day that counts.

Fırtına River Bridge

Firtina Valley Bridge 10" x 8" Acrylic on card

Firtina Valley Bridge
10″ x 8″ Acrylic on card

The Fırtına Valley which runs through the heart of Çamlıhemşin is spanned by the Ottoman-era Fırtına River bridges.  The valley ıs located near Rize in the far north east of Turkey.  Çamlıhemşin is high in the valley, which leads down to the Black Sea coast, and is an important access point to the Kaçkar range whose high mountains poke up into the clouds.  Fırtına means Storm and although it rains here all year round, temperatures can fall to minus 7°C in winter and reach 25°C in summer.  However the countryside is a gorgeous mix of meadows and valleys and in recent years the district has begun to attract touristsö especıally people on trekking holidays in the Kaçkar.  Çamlıhemşin is a low-income district and people live from forestry, beekeeping or herding animals.