As we all get ready for 2012, we thought it would be nice to take a look back at 2011, as seen through the pages of KTLN.

In this article, we remind you of many of the stories that made the news, and we provide you with links back to some of the stories, so you can read them again.

All our stories remain online, so you can search for them.  We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane.

January
January saw the introduction of the fifth KTLN webcam.  Strictly speaking, we introduced the Aubergine webcam on 30th December 2010, just in time for the new year celebrations.

We reported on the Looney Dook on New Year's Day. It was sunny, as you can tell from our photo of Tess.

We told you about changes to the way in which local health services are delivered, and for those foreigners registered as residents, we told you how to register with a Kalkan doctor. 

On the 21st January, we brought you news of a great ski resort, less than a couple of hours from Kalkan.  Skiing in Eren Dağ

February
On the 14th February we reported how the Belediye had started work on a road from Kalkan beach to Kömürlük.

There was good news in February, as inflation in Turkey fell to 4.16% - a 41 year low.  It's a bit higher now!

March
The new Belediye meeting room was used for first time.  The town centre car park was extended.

On the 18th March, in our second 'What's New for 2011' article, we explained how the tour company landscape was changing, with Tapestry's presence reduced, and Simpson Travel boosting their presence.

On the 12th March, following a period of research,  KTLN introduced its very own weather forecast service.

We reported on the 27th and 31st March, how Kalkan's streets were being dug up, as new electricity cables were laid underground.  The timing of this work, just before the start of the tourist season, did not go down well with some local business owners.  KTLN report 27th   KTLN report 31st

And on the 28th March we reported problems with our water supply from Saklikent.  Little did we know how big a problem it would turn out to be.

April
The big story in April was the slashing of residency fees.  KTLN was first with the news on 1st April, and we had to point out that it was not an April Fools Day joke.

But if the news on residency fees sent shock waves through the ex-pat community, on the same day, Kalkan also felt a slight tremor, from a 6.3 magnitude earthquake out in the Mediterranean.

On the 4th April some parts of Kalkan saw their taps run dry, as major problems with the supply kicked in.  Some properties were without water for 10 days.  Locals with bowsers earned big money.

On the 13th of April, lots of people turned out on to the streets of Kalkan for Make a Difference Day, (MADD), where scores of bags of rubbish were collected.  We should be going MADD again in 2012.

On the 24th April, KTLN brought you webcam number six - the Korsan webcam, providing great views of Kalkan Bay and the beach.

The British people of Kalkan made a great effort to celebrate the Royal wedding on the 29th April.  We brought you pictures from the day.

It actually coincided with the 47th Presidential Cycling race, which briefly flashed through Kalkan.

Our photo above is from National Sovereignty & Children's Day, on 23rd April.

May
In May, the water misery continued for many, with more supply issues.

After reporting for many months on the progress of the D400 road development, the contractors finally crossed the finish line on the 25th May.

In early May Kalkan PTT agreed to work with KTLN, providing one more currency exchange rate 'from the street'.  We also provide the mid-rates that you can find on lots of Turkey web sites, but as far as we know, KTLN is the only one providing up to date 'real' Kalkan town exchange rates.

On the 13th May we brought you news of improvements down on Kalkan beach, including some new sunshades, and a few benches along the promenade behind the beach.

Kalkan Turkish Local News joined the world of Facebook on 15th May.  We only really use it to bring you details of our news items.  This KTLN web site remains the one place where you can find all our content, but if you want us to flag up news items, you can 'Like' us, and our news items will appear on your wall.

In time for the new season, we brought you five articles telling you 'What's new in Kalkan for 2011'.  We will be doing the same again in 2012.

Our photo above is of the British football team, which took on a local (younger) Turkish team.

June
Do you know where you were at 5am on 2nd June?  If you were in Kalkan, the chances are that you were out of bed, standing at your window, looking to see who on earth was setting off fireworks.  This unwelcome dawn chorus came courtesy of an inebriated gentleman in town.  The local Jandarma chief gave him a rocket!

Good news for people who love Patara beach.  On the 7th June we told you about the new Plaj Kart, which gives you access to the beach, at discounted prices.

There was a general election in Turkey on 12th June.  We gave you an insight into what happened in Kalkan.

We brought you a photo special of the lunar eclipse, as seen in Kalkan, on the 16th June.

Early June saw more water problems, but on 20th June, we brought you the good news, that two new pumps had been installed at Saklikent.

However, on the 26th June, we had to inform you that some of the old pipes had burst under the great pressure from these new pumps!

On 27th June, the webmaster behind KTLN launched a new, innovative web site - Transfer With Me.  The site has so far managed to help well over a hundred people to share an airport transfer.

At the end of June there was more good news, as the Kalkan Rehabilitation Centre reopened, under new management.  We are pleased to tell you that the centre is currently doing very well.

And finally in June, on the 30th we brought you the good news, that Kalkan beach had achieved Blue Flag status.

July
July got off to a great start, with the Festival of the Sea.

There were still a few days where water supply problems re-emerged, but thankfully they were short lived.

August
Bad news on the 3rd August, as we brought you news of Holidays 4u/Aegean Flights going bust.

On the 14th August we gave you the background to the ongoing local dolmuş service saga - or should we say the lack of a dolmuş service.  We still don't seem to be any further forward.

September
The highlight of the month, was on 26th, when Kalkan was treated to a night at the opera in the harbour. Awesome.

October
On the 8th October, we ran our free to enter competition, to win 2 return flights to Dalaman, with Monarch Airlines.  A lucky couple from Leeds were the winners.

And we brought you a heartwarming tale on 23rd October, as we told you the remarkable story of long distance walker, Jean Marie Khim.  He was walking from Paris to Jerusalem, via Kalkan!  An inspirational individual.

Fantastic news for Kalkan residents came in October, when a new emergency ambulance service started.  The 112 service, with trained paramedics began on 28th October.  Many of us feel better, in the knowledge that they are on our doorstep.

The 29th October is Republic Day in Turkey, and normally there would be celebrations.  However, due to the tragic earthquake near Van, in the east of Turkey, the celebrations were cancelled in many towns and cities, including Kalkan.

Local ex-pats Chris and Joules went ahead with their swim from Mouse Island to Kalkan beach, raising 7,300TL for a local man, who was disabled in a road traffic accident.

November
There was a bad start to the month, when on 3rd November a cargo ship ran aground at nearby Kekova, spilling diesel into the sea.

On 21st November, KTLN brought you news of the introduction of the new 90/180 day visa rules.  We are told the new visas start on 1st February 2012, but we are still waiting for details of exactly how the new rules are to be implemented.  When we hear anything, we will publish details.

KTLN brought Kalkan lovers some fantastic 360 degree images of Kalkan, when we teamed up with Gyrapix.

December
KTLN brought you news of the plight of 4 dolphins held in captivity in Kaş.  It's a desperately sad situation.

And just last week, we brought you news about the big supermarket chains coming to Kalkan.  Bim has already opened.

And all the rest
The above articles give you a flavour of what we reported on in 2011, but we brought you many more stories.

We told you about art exhibitions, concerts in the area, fundraising events, sporting events, various keep fit classes, national days of celebration, religious festivals, local council (Belediye) meetings, and photos of mega-yachts coming into the bay.

During the year, we have updated several Knowledge Bank articles, including our Emergency Situations advice.  We have also written three new KTLN Kalkan Guides: the Guide to Getting Married, the Guide to Cheap Travel, and the Guide to Making a Will.

The KTLN Trust has been busy again this year.  We will be bringing you a separate report on this, early in 2012.

KTLN goes from strength to strength
As for KTLN's audience, it keeps growing.  Approximately 1,700 people registered with KTLN in 2011, bringing our membership to just under 4,800 members.

The popularity of our iKalkan website (KTLN for mobile devices) has really taken off this year.  We launched it in July 2010 for those of you with iPhones, and similar devices, but this summer saw viewing figures increase significantly.

When we add up the number of visits we get every day, (KTLN and iKalkan), we are getting over 3,600 every single day (that's from over 700 visitors per day, measured by unique IP addresses).

Thank you to all our readers.  We hope you will stay with us throughout 2012, and spread the word to other Kalkan lovers.

We wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful new year.

Kalkan Turkish Local News - your window on Kalkan Turkey in 2011