Our Host at Patara

We first met Memet in Xantos when we had finished visiting the Roman ruins. He was driving by and saw an opportunity. He knew everything a tired backpacker needed and soon had the four of us (we are still travelling with Lisa and Tim) in his small car. Their eighteen month old baby sat on Clare's knee and we were off to his Pension.On the way he told us his story in fluent English.He had taught himself English from speaking to tourists. He had a wife and the one daughter.  His family owned a 1 acre greenhouse growing tomatoes.  Three generations lived in a three storey house and rented out one floor in the summer season.He worked in the greenhouse for 9 months of the year,   hosted tourists for seven months and also worked full time as a gatekeeper at the entry of the Roman ruins.He said he needed to work the three jobs for another two years and then he would drop back to two jobs.We were very impressed.