I can't say enough good about this beautiful villa and its surroundings. The photos looked great but -- this is a first -- the reality was better. The house was airy, light, and outstandingly comfortable. I had been concerned about noise in the early morning from a close-by mosque but the bedrooms were quiet and cool.

The villa must have had an architect involved, as it's beautiful and its functionality has been well thought out. From the street, one sees only the top level, with a pretty flower garden screening it. One enters directly onto the second floor, which has bedrooms flanked by a long verandah that overlooks the old town. The master bedroom, at one end, opens onto its own small private sitting room that shares the verandah's view. (Great for the adults to have a quiet morning coffee.) Because the house is at the top of the town, nothing overlooks it, and the view is wonderful.

Downstairs is a decent kitchen (could use more counter space, but I quibble) and a huge sitting room that opens via large glass doors onto the lovely garden. At the other end of the downstairs, tucked away, are a sauna and a Turkish bath. I regret that we didn't use them, as we there in the heat of summer, but I can imagine that a winter stay would have its own rewards.

The jewel, though, is the garden, which is split into two levels. The main garden is a lawn flanked by flowering bushes, with a wood oven along the side. It is walled off from neighbouring houses, situated further down the hill. At one time there was a large tree in this part, as the stump is there, and it did rather lack shade but was very pleasant in the early morning and evening and has its own resident tortoise. Put some fruit out for him -- he'll be grateful. Down stone stairs is the lower garden, with a beautiful little pool surrounded by trees and comfortable lounge chairs. Just fantastic.

Manager Alison Morel is helpful, reliable, and knowledgeable. She is an arranger extraordinaire, laying on groceries in advance at my request (at cost, no fee), supplying airport transfers and very inexpensive rental car, replacing a broken coffee pot as quickly as possible. Couldn't ask for more.

Selcuk itself was a pleasant surprise. Evidence of tourism but not nearly the level of pestering to buy that we encountered in Istanbul. It had a human scale. Nice little restaurants, wonderfully courteous and charming people, and a market for fresh food. We really lacked for nothing.

Idyllic!