Splendid Isolation in Kusadasi

I returned to the UK on 27th November, two days earlier than originally booked.  This was due to Turkish Airlines cancelling the 2nd leg of my trip and offering me a flight the day after which would have meant me sitting in Istanbul airport for over 24 hours!  I'd made the mistake of booking the flights through an online travel agent and trying to get them to arrange to change the 1st leg too, so that I was still flying with only a 3 hour layover, was impossible.  They kept telling me they were actioning it but waiting for a response from Turkish Airlines.  When I spoke directly with Turkish Airlines, they hadn't received any request to change the other flight.  In the end, I decided to cancel the booking, partly because the flight times weren't good anyway and because I knew that if I didn't get my money back, then I could claim it through my credit card company.  Funnily enough, I got the money back within 2 days and had already booked new flights with Pe...

Before the new measures started, I ventured out to Kusadasi for a final meal at La Terrazza, a restaurant at the marina that is open air and follows all the measures.  Apart from the staff, there was a table of three ladies and then me, so there was plenty of distance between us.  I also had a walk along the front.  This was all a dry run to see what I could do within my allowed three hours between 1000 and 1300.  Despite the warning of measures to come, people still weren't wearing masks or, if they were, wearing them properly. Nose poking out seems to be the favoured way to wear them.    Since the new measures have taken effect, I did a walk on the beach but not venturing too far from the car as it looks as if the restaurants on the beach have totally closed and I might need to make a quick getaway ha ha.  As it's now takeaway/deliveries only, it's really not worth them opening as their customer base will probably dwindle to zero.  Already, as i...

In Turkey, confusion over new restrictions is as bad as in the UK. This is mainly due to news companies, posting condensed and ambiguous versions of what was actually said, particularly with English translations.  Whilst I could only listen to the English translation (from a Turkish person) and then a written English version (written by a Turkish person), having watched the announcement, I was very clear on what the new restrictions are and I really feel like smugly screaming "I told you so" to all those who told me I was wrong last night.   Over 65s are only allowed out between 1000 and 1300 every day (3 hours!) Under 20s are only allowed out between 1300 and 1600 every day At weekends, everyone else is on curfew, only being allowed out between 1000 and 2000 on both days Shops, hairdressers, etc can open between 1000 and 2000. Tea houses, coffee shops, cinemas, games rooms etc will close until 31.12.20 Schools are closed until 31.12.20 and online tuition will continue Re...

A friend asked what the restrictions are like here and funnily enough I was intending to comment on them after going in to Kusadasi yesterday, after someone on a local FB post told me that 90% of people are now wearing masks. There are a lot of ‘restrictions’ such as shops, restaurants and other businesses having to close by 2200 but otherwise everything is open, apart from nightclubs.   The rule is that masks are to be worn by everyone over the age of 2, everywhere outside of the home.   In restaurants, you can only take your mask off whilst sat at the table.   There are no exemptions here.   If you can’t wear a mask, you have to stay at home.   As far as I can tell, the chronically ill are still not allowed to leave home at all; this has been in place since March. The over 65s can now only leave home between 1000 and 1600, whereas it was previously 1000 and 2000.  Hence the title of the current blog; I don't want to turn in to a pumpkin! Smoking has...

It's now two weeks since we had the 'big' earthquake.  Aftershocks continue; there have now been over 3,000 although most are low magnitude, apparently.  I say apparently, as my neighbours on the complex say they aren't feeling them but I'm regularly feeling 'wobbles' which I've put down to my balance problem.  It starts to settle but then a strong aftershock, which I don't notice, sets it off again!   In the main the shocks, whilst generally of low magnitude, are now also happening further away like ripples in a stream.  Occasionally there is the odd bigger one, although not as big as the first one.   For nearly two weeks, I hadn't ventured any further than the shopping centre, just in case! Muzo in charge of the BBQ! Last weekend, Serkan declared that we were having a barbecue on Sunday.  A long table was set up, half in and half out of the restaurant, which at first I thought was strange but then the barbecue was set up at the end of the t...

  It's now 6 days since the big earthquake hit Izmir and the surrounding area.  I specifically say 'big', because there are still aftershocks happening regularly; about every 20 to 30 minutes.  I've also been checking on the real time map that I shared with you previously and can see that the quakes and aftershocks are spreading across a wider area.  There have been a few biggish ones; 3.9 in Georgia, a 3.7 in the sea off Istanbul, 3.4 off Samos which we felt and there are smaller ones happening inland and off the coasts of Antalya, Kos and Rhodes as well as locally.  We have been warned to expect another big one but we don't know if the recent 4 was it, or when it will happen, or where.  Despite this constant worry, everyone is carrying on with their day to day lives, although personally, I've given up walking at the beach and other than quick trips to the shops, I'm staying on the complex for the time being. As frightening as it is, I looked back at previ...

  It's now just about 48 hours since the massive earthquake that affected both Turkey and Greece.  My limited experience of them in the UK and here previously, hadn't prepared me for one of that magnitude, or for the ongoing effects. There must now have been close to a thousand aftershocks, if not more, as they are still happening every few minutes.  Many are below 2.5 magnitude but a few have been just under 5.0.  The photo is a screenshot and whilst that looks bad enough, when you zoom in on the site, there are more and more aftershocks under the 'blobs. I've also noticed that they are spreading out and not as concentrated as they were earlier.  I suffer from occasional bouts of labyrinthitis and I've been wondering if I'm feeling the shakes, which don't seem to be visibly noticeable, is it my labyrinthitis playing up or am I imagining it?  This is every few minutes and would appear to tie in with what is being reported as aftershocks.  I've made con...

  Yesterday afternoon, on what started as just a normal sunny day, I decided to investigate Ladies Beach.   Historically, this was an area reserved for ladies to sunbathe and swim but now it’s a very popular spot with tourists, full of restaurants, bars, shops and hotels.   It’s a nice little stretch to the south of the main town of Kusadasi.   The front is pedestrianised which is good for a stroll.   I parked up on the main road about 50 metres away and walked down.   There are a lot of Irish bars and restaurants along the front and I could hear quite a few conversations going on with Irish accents, as I passed by. Further on are what seem to be more Turkish restaurants and bars.   At the far end, is White House Restaurant and I decided to have a tea and toastie there. I sat at a table against the wall that overlooks the beach and started to read my Kindle whilst waiting for my toastie.   At this point, I should say that for many years I’v...

29 th October is when the Turkish celebrate the forming of the republic.   I was here last year but, as I was flying back to the UK the next day, I don’t think I got involved in any way.   This year, I decided the best thing was to avoid the crowds.   A local FB page is encouraging everyone to join in a parade in their cars and there isn’t to be a pedestrian parade, because of the pandemic. When I was in Kusadasi yesterday, in the rain, I saw a Turkish navy vessel in the bay and another moored up at the port.   My initial thought was it was somehow connected with Greece’s efforts to extend their maritime borders and Samos does seem to be creeping closer to the Turkish coast 😮 ha ha – it’s an optical illusion, apparently to do with the weather at this time of year.   I soon realised the Navy vessels were here preparing for today’s celebration. After yesterday’s abortive attempt to do 6k+ steps, I was determined not to let the rain stop me today.   I took...

Compared to Turkish people, we Brits are amateurs when it comes to drinking tea or ç ay as they call it; pronounced ‘chy’, same as the Indian chai.  It is always on the brew! In the UK, if we want a pot rather than a mug, we use a ‘cosy’ to try to keep the teapot and the tea warm and how many times do we have to make a fresh pot because it’s ‘stewed’?   The Turkish have a better method.   They have a kettle and teapot combination.   Modern ones are electric and have both boil and ‘keep warm’ settings.   The kettle is filled with water, the teapot is filled with tea and placed on top of the open kettle.   Once the water has boiled, the kettle turns to ‘keep warm’ mode.   The boiled water is poured in to the teapot which is then put back on top of the kettle.   The tea is kept warm from the kettle and as it gets stronger is topped up from the kettle or, as my friends do, they pour a bit from the teapot in to the ç ay glass and top it up from ...

  Now I’m back in Turkey, I can get back in to walking.   Back in the UK, for most of the 3 months I was home, I did none and have put on quite a few pounds.   More importantly, I could feel my fitness levels had dropped.   In the last month before I returned, I did start doing some walking, particularly when the sun was shining, so I’ve no excuse now. Yesterday, I went walking from the marina to the port and back a few times with my friend from the complex.   It was good to have some company and conversation.   We had a tea break of about an hour halfway through, at a restaurant on the edge of the port.   Next to the port there is a paved square surrounded by fish restaurants and the fish market.   Before I left in July, the square was being re-paved but it’s now completed and looks fabulous with the restaurants and fish market all appearing to have been spruced up too.   On the side of the square, as you move towards the fish market and a...

So, I've been back in Kusadasi for just over a week.  It's strange but when I returned to the UK it took me a few days to settle in, whereas I was settled straightaway here.  I know I'd been away from the UK for 6 months and returned here after only 3 months but I grew up in the UK and have lived in my home in West Yorkshire for over 30 years so you'd think I'd be more settled there.... To comply with the restrictions on those over 65, I'm on curfew from 8pm until 10am every day and if I want to go out of the province, I have to get permission from the police or council, not sure which.  The rule is also (for over 65s) that if you do go out of the province, you have to stay there for 30 days.  I don't know if that applies even if you only want to go on a day trip.  I'd love to go to Ephesus, Sirince or even shopping in Izmir but they are all in Izmir province and I'm in Aydin so I'll have to do some investigating.  I don't want to end up with...

I had intended to continue my blogs whilst back in the UK but as I did very little, didn't see the point. Initially I did, on limited occasions, meet family or friends but then Calderdale, where my UK house is, was put on local restrictions so I no longer met with anyone.  I went shopping and for walks and that was it.  I still can't see my son or dad so what is the point of staying in the UK?  Plus, I got so incensed with 'deniers' who think it's all a scam and won't wear masks or social distance. I actually had a 'do' with one outside Sainsburys which I posted about on my personal Facebook page. My return flight to Izmir was booked for Monday 12th October with Jet2 but then the UK government put Turkey on the naughty list.  The package companies immediately cancelled their packages until the 17th of October initially and then extended it to the end of October.  I was booked flight only with Jet2 and had assumed I'd be OK as my flight was within the...

I'll continue my blog as I'll still be in 'Splendid Isolation' back in the UK.  Well, everyone else is in their 'bubbles' or whatever, so I'm Billy No Mates. Normally for my flights, I check in online, download the boarding pass, then I'm straight through to passport control and security thereby limiting my contact with others and I also get guaranteed cabin luggage.   For anyone flying with Jet2, I'd say their 'we're back' video is rubbish and they are giving out confusing information.  I've never been a fan of Jet2 as I always seem to have an issue with their flights but I'll try to be fair. I didn't book my flight to the UK until about 10th July and after I'd watched their 'we're back' video.  I booked guaranteed cabin bags and, as instructed, checked in online and downloaded my boarding pass.   Yesterday, coming through Izmir airport I had more interaction with others than normal!   Firstly, I'm assumin...

I've decided it's time to return to the UK, for now.   Kusadasi is getting very busy with foreign tourists.  Despite being mandatory from leaving home, I'm seeing less and less mask wearing and the English haven't got here yet 😉.  There's also no evidence of any enforcement; even the police aren't wearing masks!  A month ago, it was quieter and everyone was wearing a mask.  I felt safe then but, particularly in the last week I'm starting to feel less safe. Even at the outlet where security check, before allowing you in, many people weren't wearing masks so they must have taken them off after getting in which is pretty annoying. Staff in shops are still wearing them, though. Also, I'm no longer legal to drive on my UK licence.  I've been here 6 months and the requirement is for me to either change my licence to a Turkish one or leave and re-enter the country to get a new 6 months' allowance to drive on the UK licence.  Normally it's a qui...

As I lay in bed last night reading, I heard a distant rumbling and at first thought it was a car coming on the complex but as it repeated and started to grow louder I realised it was thunder.  It hadn't been forecast; not on my BBC weather app, anyway.  It got louder and louder until I was in no doubt that it was thunder.  I had a quick peek out of the window but there was no rain......... Eventually, I drifted to sleep only to be woken very suddenly by an extremely loud, overhead explosion of thunder and lightning.  I decided to take another peek out of the window only to see absolutely torrential rain coming down.  So I jumped out of bed to go close the lounge full length window/doors which I leave open all the time as they aren't accessible from outside.  Luckily, being set back 40 cms from the outer walls, no rain had come in.  The washing I'd left on the airer on the terrace was protected but I took it in, just in case. I decided to chance leaving...