Moving day. Advantage of door to door transport and no flights is that it’s easy to take things like the two remaining 1.5 litre bottles of water. They’re cheap and easy to replace but it’s nice if the first thing we have to do on arrival is not nip out to buy water. Especially as showers in the forecast.
No problems crossing from South to North on arrival but refused exit by TRNC official as we return. Explanation is that crossing point (same British Sovereign Base crossing by which we entered) is for EU and UK passports only. Driver is sent to Dherynia a town crossing not too far distant, though less convenient. Have crossed at Dherynia before, although only South to North but have crossed at both sovereign base crossings many times in both directions. Interested in whether this is a change in regulations - as opposed to a misunderstanding - and if so when and why. On entry driver - who was very competent - had brief chat in Turkish when our passports presented which evidently did not include anything along the lines of a reminder that the passengers (given a thirty day visa) could not exit at the same crossing. Glitches anticipated and prepared for never the ones that happen.
No glitches at hotel end. We’ve stayed at the Sunflower part of every winter since 2010, the last three years excepted due to covid. Some changes. Signs requesting face masks in lobby and lift. Compliance seems limited, but the idea is there. Only ten people permitted in the large lobby area, though actually can’t remember seeing that many in the lobby at once in pre-covid days. South facing apartment as requested. We’re early but it’s clean and ready.
For a second I think that it’s been in a state of preservation and the furniture is still shrouded in dust sheets. But no, the four easy chairs - well not all that easy but the intent is there - are wearing white fitted slip covers. Seems an unlikely colour choice for a hotel but pretty durable and in any case matches the white sheet covering the single mattress plus box spring pretending, with the help of three large coloured cushions, to be a sofa (though blue and white mattress stripes at the end give the game away. More than made up for by the genuine double bed in the bedroom. No more singles pushed together under one coverlet claiming they won’t separate in the night. Fourth rental in a row with a real double bed. And it’s been a long day.
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