As we move into late June we have had 3 weeks without lockdown.  We still have to wear masks in public, but almost everything is now open.  Hotels will open July 1st and airports soon after.  I don't think I was quite ready to come out of my bubble, but I grasped it with both hands and have been socialising and working quite a bit. Enough talk, here with some photos.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Just before lockdown was over I participated in this art challenge with Art Society Soho.  It was quite hard to get it right with a bright white flat, but I managed in the end. I think I look odd.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© My first outing was for lunch at the excellent Aroma Cafe in Chatalkoy, with Naci and Elias. Orhan and Asli own the cafe and have become friends since new year antics.  Notice Elias has not seen a barber in months.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Next up were my school friend's house. Her brother got stuck here during lockdown, he has a family in Turkey.  Lovely guy.  Got on a bit better with her little girl, but still some way to go.  The big dog was glad to see me as he has visited my flat a few times.  When we first met he gave me a warning bite on the hip.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt©

Went out to the coast road beach near the Maronite village with my Iranian students.  Was great to see them again.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© A couple of days later I took the whole family to a castle but we were too late to go in.  So we went to Tank, a spot up in the mountains where there is an abandoned tank on the hillside.  Ended with some icecream at an Iranian eatery.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Then I got to see my school friends and their family at a fish place for the night.  Drinks were had! 

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© I then got invited by my school friend to a lovely dance studio that she is having lessons at.  The teacher is on the left and the other lady is a student.  The dance studio is in Alsancac, find out more about the Spring Fairy Dance Academy

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt©

Then it was over to the aroma cafe people for a lovely barbecue.  More drinks, lots of food and conversation.  Met the lovely daughter of the friends from new year and Sidika made it too.  Adel is still scared of me (her little girl) since I massaged her dad and she thought I was hurting him.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt©

Next up was a photoshoot day with Mel, a university student who wanted me to cover her Boyfriend's graduation.  With corona virus many students have had their graduations cancelled, so they made their own celebrations.  Mel really dressed upo for the day and we ended it with some proper off camera lighting in the main university building, out of the harsh sunlight.  So nice to see her again.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Photos by Sin Bozkurt© Later that week it was cocktails at Hasan's house with the barbecue group, but I only took one photo

And finally a sunrise from just before lockdown was over.

Photos by Sin Bozkurt© The weather is averaging 28 degree now, and its two showers a day because of all the dust and sweat.  I feel like I've been on the go for ages, and lockdown seems like a memory, but I am sure a second wave will come once the airports are open, so I am making the most of my time.

Many more photos in the album, check them out.  Until next time.