We are still here! Hope you all are hanging in there…I gotta say, it’s kind of weird, but it’s starting to not feel all that strange…like this is just my life now. Living on this island but not being able to see any of it.
The Numbers
Cyprus Covid-19 Cases 760 Deaths 13
Day 41 on Cyprus. Day 37 in Quarantine/Lockdown
The strange thing about these numbers above is my perception of them. For instance…it took us 41 days to walk the Camino Francis…that was 37 days of walking and 4 rest days. But THAT actually seemed longer than the time I have been here. Why?
Additionally, we spent 42 days on the Island of Mauritius. And THAT seemed longer than the time I have been here. Why?
I think it’s because there is no end date for me to look at here. It’s just a never ending carousel of days. Around and around we go…
Cyprus News
Today is Orthodox Easter, the biggest holiday of the year in Cyprus. I’m sorry we are not able to participate in this celebration. I understand it is a very special four days. Everything of course was canceled…or postponed until further notice. I posted a blog on Friday all about the way this holiday is celebrated in Cyprus. Please find it here.
Even though virus cases have continued to grow, wide spread testing has been available and many people are getting tested, which of course is affecting the numbers. There are still infractions being issued for those who break the curfew or are out with out their “permission slip”. We have settled into life with only leaving the house once a day. Sometimes when we are out on our run, we will make a quick pit-stop at the mini market down the street if we need bread or eggs or gin! But I believe these restriction are helping Cyprus – while back home it sounds like much of the population are ignoring the rules, going to Home Depot, walking along Tacoma’s waterfront etc.
The President of Cyprus and cabinet announced this week a four step plan to reopen the economy in early May. But the plan begins with very minor lessening of the restrictions, and we do not yet know if it will include opening the airport or even give us an opportunity to get outside our village.
Mostly Good News
I’m happy to share that Airbnb came through for us and has issued us a full refund for our Jerusalem house. They have been redeemed in my eyes. We have three more Airbnb’s currently reserved; Finland and France in June and New York City in December. We will wait and see what’s next.
The flight we had booked from Malta to Belgrade via Istanbul has been canceled…but they are giving us credit towards a future flight. Not helpful.
We have also negotiated to continue to stay here at Lemon Grove Villa with a week by week extension at the same rate per day ($69 USD). We are happy about that. If we do need to leave at the spur of the moment they will also issue us a refund. So no complaints there. All of the flights we have seen leave the island, have happened with only 24 hours notice. So we need to be ready at a moments notice.
I have leaped past my “feeling sorry for myself” state-of-mind and have had a very productive week. I’ve lost track of how many webinars I have participated in. This week I continued to revamp my Pinterest account, did a total rebranding of my Instagram and have spent hours learning Tailwind. This stuff is really interesting to me….I’m a marketing geek what can I say? I also loved having an hour and a half on Zoom with my Book Club, even at 4:00 am. That made me happy.
I’m still having trouble reading though…and I’ve also had a couple nightmares and restless nights.
Since we arrived I’ve been focused on teaching myself the cuisine of Cyprus, and hope to have a blog all about that in the weeks ahead. Hard to believe we have been here 41 days and not eaten in a single restaurant.
I hope you all are finding your peace in all this mess and accepting how life has changed forever. Please stay well. Please stay positive. Please stay fabulous.
Thanks for caring about us. We are doing fine. Thanks for continuing to support my blog. Love you all.
3 Comments
Happy to hear you have adjusted to making the most of your time on Cypress .. thought of this “Quarantine Diary” when read your message this morning about how many days you have been there and not eaten a single meal in a restaurant .. hope you will receive some “giggles” as you read through them. You can probably add a few of your own thoughts to these lists.
QUARANTINE DIARY
Day 1 – I Can Do This!! Got enough food and wine to last a month!
Day 2 – Opening my 8th bottle of Wine. I fear wine supplies might not last!
Day 3 – Strawberries: Some have 210 seeds, some have 235 seeds. Who Knew??
Day 4 – 8:00pm. Removed my Day Pajamas and put on my Night Pajamas.
Day 5 – Today, I tried to make Hand Sanitizer. It came out as Jello Shots!!
Day 6 – I get to take the Garbage out. I’m So excited, I can’t decide what to wear.
Day 7 – Laughing way too much at my own jokes!!
Day 8 – Went to a new restaurant called “The Kitchen”. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have No clue how this place is still in business.
Day 9 – I put liquor bottles in every room. Tonight, I’m getting all dressed up and going Bar hopping.
Day 10 – Struck up a conversation with a Spider today. Seems nice. He’s a Web Designer.
Day 11 – Isolation is hard. I swear my fridge just said, “What the hell do you want now?”
Day 12 – I realized why dogs get so excited about something moving outside, going for walks or car rides. I think I just barked at a squirrel.
Day 13 – If you keep a glass of wine in each hand, you can’t accidentally touch your face.
Day 14 – Watched the birds fight over a worm. The Cardinals lead the Blue Jays 3–1.
Day 15 – Anybody else feel like they’ve cooked dinner about 395 times this month?”
* * * * *
CONFINEMENT SMILES…
· Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
· I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe.
· I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
· Still haven’t decided where to go for Easter —– The Living Room or The Bedroom
· PSA: every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
· Homeschooling is going well. 2 students suspended for fighting and 1 teacher fired for drinking on the job.
· I don’t think anyone expected that when we changed the clocks we’d go from Standard Time to the Twilight Zone
· So, after this quarantine…..will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me or do I find them?
· Quarantine Day 5: Went to this restaurant called THE KITCHEN. You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own meal. I have no clue how this place is still in business.
· Day 5 of Homeschooling: One of these little monsters called in a bomb threat.
· I’m so excited — it’s time to take out the garbage. What should I wear?
· I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Puerto Backyarda. I’m getting tired of Los Livingroom.
· Classified Ad: Single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun.
· Day 6 of Homeschooling: My child just said “I hope I don’t have the same teacher next year”…. I’m offended.
* * * * * *
I look forward to and enjoy reading all your blog messages .. hope you get to continue on your journey soon!
PS: Discovered I live in the same community as your Aunt Maxine & Uncle Larry .. Small World, for sure!
April 19, 2020 at 11:14 amThis was a perfect read this morning for a Monday laugh! Thank you. Stay well!! ❤️❤️
April 19, 2020 at 8:09 pmHappy to hear that you’re keeping your mood up 🙂
We have a flight booked to Cyprus at the end of July and I am still keeping my fingers crossed, even though I know I should let it go…
April 21, 2020 at 12:02 am