Splendid Isolation in Kusadasi

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...