Splendid Isolation in Kusadasi

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...

It's getting hotter and hotter!  I don't normally venture out of the UK between June and the end of August; mainly because I have quite a lot of social stuff on in the UK anyway.  I've been to Greece and Turkey in late May/early June and September and although feeling very hot, it probably only gets up to 29° during the day and much cooler, but still cardi free, in the evenings in those months.  Here, at this time of year, it's much hotter and I'm struggling with the hotter night temperatures. I usually go for a swim in the pool late evening.  Last night, I was floating around the pool at 18:30 and the sun was still beating down on me.  Then I have a cool shower, followed by a drenching of cold water, particularly on my head, and feel nice and cool but by the time I've dried off, I'm sweating again.  I can cope until bedtime but then I want to be cooler to stand any chance of falling asleep. So, I've been on a mission to come up with solutions other than...

After applying very strict measures early on, Turkey gradually eased the lock downs, curfews and restrictions to kick start the economy.  Social distancing, hand sanitising and mask wearing are the primary precautions now in place.  At the beginning of June, cases started to rise again, partly due to increased, random testing.  For the first few days the figures looked to be leaping up but it has settled again but isn't really coming down quickly enough. Currently, across the country masks are to be worn in public places and on public transport by everyone over the age of 2 and there are no exemptions.  In some provinces, and the list keeps getting added to, masks must be worn from leaving the home. They can only be removed when eating, on the beach, or swimming.  A mask must be worn in the car even if you are alone or with your partner.  Whilst that might seem silly, it's to help the police in identifying who isn't complying so they can dish out the 900tl ...

Since my last post, I've not been back in to the centre of Kusadasi but I have been to the AVM outlet a few times. A few facts first.  Masks are mandatory in public.  At all malls, you have always had to go through an airport style security scanner to gain entry but now the guards also take your temperature.  Over the last 10 days, there has been an increase in daily cases, slightly higher than the same period in the UK but this been since more of the restrictions were lifted and is within the expected increase.  Having said that, because of behaviour, or should I say mis-behaviour, in some provinces, it is now being more strictly enforced with a 900tl fine for not wearing.  It should also be noted that a programme of random testing for the virus and antibodies is now being carried out, as well as the track and test of case contacts that has been in place from the start.  Two separate owners on our complex have been selected and were 'done' yesterday. ...

Last night, the Turkish President announced that from the following day (10th June) the over 65s could go out from 10:00 to 20:00 every day and they weren't restricted to walking.  I immediately contacted Murat at Medusacars and asked for my hire car back.  It was here by 10am today! I packed my rucksack ready for my foray in to Kusadasi.  Normally it's just money, cards, tissues, phone, glasses and a bottle of water.  Today I added gloves, masks, disinfectant and a rubbish bag for used masks. So, what to do?  I have been really looking forward to being able to do my own supermarket shopping just so I could browse and impulse buy.  My Turkish friends have been fabulous doing my shopping every week but I've tried to keep the lists short and simple.  I'm missing my walks along Long Beach but the number one thing, almost a symbolic rite, was to visit my favourite restaurant in the centre.   Unfortunately that visit was a bit of a let down. ...