Not much distinction between Monday night and Tuesday morning when going to bed not involved. Minicab booked for 3:30. Earlier than necessary down to fears of no show and lack of Plan B. Desk staff very friendly but seem genuinely unaware that their only recommended minicab is double the price of others available. But ours is fine. Arrives promptly, having texted that it is on its way. Even in London not much traffic at 4 AM.
Heathrow not busy either. And our flight half full. As we’ve booked aisle seats opposite that in fact gives us three seats each, suitable for catching up on so far non-existent night’s sleep. Four and a half hour flight. Used to involve a pretty decent breakfast, but now BA claims that passengers prefer buying the M&S food they sell on board. This seems unlikely, as in earlier times there was a distinct lack of passengers turning down the hot breakfast saying that they’d brought supermarket sandwiches instead. However, we have brought quite a nice lunch with us and bottles of water refilled at the points most airports have now been shamed into providing.
Just before landing the pilot announces that those who have come from areas with corona virus will be asked to identify themselves to a nurse at the airport. We wonder which areas this extends to. UK? But situation clearer if not simpler on landing. Bottleneck has been arranged with questionnaires, desks and pens - and the (fortunately short) queue comes to a dead halt. Fill out questionnaires - who we are, home address and phone, where we have been, where we will be staying, etc. Do complete it. Decide not to annoy and confuse them by saying that before Sunflower will spend two weeks in the North. Provide home phone number but don’t say it has been disconnected. Final line advises that all info above should have been completed in Roman letters. Hard luck on any Greek who completed it in Greek, the official language of the country, but presumably they got different forms.
Kemal our driver is waiting. Drives to the border at about twice the speed of Bill, who was not a slowpoke, just observant of posted limits. Short delay at the border. Now only two crossing points open, both in the British Sovereign Base Area. Government of the South closed the others days ago “for more effective control over the entry points." Move, re covid-19, unilateral, with government in the North not consulted. Usual suspicions of political motivation. Northern immigration authorities alert and medically masked. Have a penlike device that presumably checks our temperatures from a foot or two away. No question about where we’ve been. Our new passports are pretty pristine, not even having been stamped in the UK. Cleaning staff in evidence but much less alert, as masks come off and, like faces, much handled during breaks.
Kemal has the address and lets us in with the key from a digitally locked box. Interesting place. Charming, quirky garage converted to a flat with loft by the architect owner. A work in progress. Electrical and plumbing arrangements eccentric and probably not code, but not frightening. More than well equipped. Heaters, but we don’t really need them. Lots in the fridge, but we go out round the corner to a place we know. We’re near the castle walls, and no place in the old city is far from any other. Home by the light of the full moon. Tea and sleep.
Heathrow not busy either. And our flight half full. As we’ve booked aisle seats opposite that in fact gives us three seats each, suitable for catching up on so far non-existent night’s sleep. Four and a half hour flight. Used to involve a pretty decent breakfast, but now BA claims that passengers prefer buying the M&S food they sell on board. This seems unlikely, as in earlier times there was a distinct lack of passengers turning down the hot breakfast saying that they’d brought supermarket sandwiches instead. However, we have brought quite a nice lunch with us and bottles of water refilled at the points most airports have now been shamed into providing.
Just before landing the pilot announces that those who have come from areas with corona virus will be asked to identify themselves to a nurse at the airport. We wonder which areas this extends to. UK? But situation clearer if not simpler on landing. Bottleneck has been arranged with questionnaires, desks and pens - and the (fortunately short) queue comes to a dead halt. Fill out questionnaires - who we are, home address and phone, where we have been, where we will be staying, etc. Do complete it. Decide not to annoy and confuse them by saying that before Sunflower will spend two weeks in the North. Provide home phone number but don’t say it has been disconnected. Final line advises that all info above should have been completed in Roman letters. Hard luck on any Greek who completed it in Greek, the official language of the country, but presumably they got different forms.
Kemal our driver is waiting. Drives to the border at about twice the speed of Bill, who was not a slowpoke, just observant of posted limits. Short delay at the border. Now only two crossing points open, both in the British Sovereign Base Area. Government of the South closed the others days ago “for more effective control over the entry points." Move, re covid-19, unilateral, with government in the North not consulted. Usual suspicions of political motivation. Northern immigration authorities alert and medically masked. Have a penlike device that presumably checks our temperatures from a foot or two away. No question about where we’ve been. Our new passports are pretty pristine, not even having been stamped in the UK. Cleaning staff in evidence but much less alert, as masks come off and, like faces, much handled during breaks.
Kemal has the address and lets us in with the key from a digitally locked box. Interesting place. Charming, quirky garage converted to a flat with loft by the architect owner. A work in progress. Electrical and plumbing arrangements eccentric and probably not code, but not frightening. More than well equipped. Heaters, but we don’t really need them. Lots in the fridge, but we go out round the corner to a place we know. We’re near the castle walls, and no place in the old city is far from any other. Home by the light of the full moon. Tea and sleep.
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