“Turkey 🇹🇷 ~Fatih Fun and Travel Planning for Pakistan”

• October 9, 2020
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

We got some enjoyable walking time in, before the rain hit us again. We already knew not to take our Nikon cameras out with us, because of the weather, so my iPhone came in handy (waterproof) and did a pretty good job for me.

In spite of the weather, Istanbul is still a joy to explore. People are so kind, and friendly. I needed to get my hair cut, but after the last cut, I was unsure about going thru the translations again (for nothing and being disappointed again). But, this guy was great. He really looked at my example photos. Then, left his shop to go down the street and bringing somebody back to help with translation. Yay! How nice was that? The barber did a great job and did what I wanted him to do with the clippers (understanding the rest of my hair needing to grow from the last cut). I walked out pretty happy, other than having seen the news on TV of the conflict going on in Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 😢

Moving on, we enjoyed our wanderings from Balat to the Fatih districts, until the rain got so bad, we had to admit it was time for a taxi. The nice taxi driver, spoke a little English. I gathered he thought I needed an umbrella. I smiled and said we were was doing fine. When he stopped to drop us at our hotel, he asked us to wait in the car. He got out in the pouring rain, went to his trunk, got an umbrella and came to my side and opened the door with the umbrella, ☔️ ready. He then handed me the umbrella and said he wanted me to keep it! This is what I mean about the lovely people of Istanbul. 🥰

We are making some headway on our next country visit. I did not hear back from Georgia 🇬🇪, but I did hear back from the Pakistan Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, plus I was on the phone with them, as well.

Reply from Pakistan Embassy

Hello.
Hope this email finds you well. 
Please check: http://www.covid.gov.pk for the latest regulations regarding PCR test requirement for incoming passengers in Pakistan. 
Best regards, 
On 9 Oct 2020 Fri at 3:57PMparepankara1@mofa.gov.pk

As of October 5th, or there about, Pakistan has re-opened their borders to tourists, and their info indicates Turkey is on the list of “those traveling from,” do not have to provide a negative PCR text, within a 96 hour window. (See photo above) What was unclear from the website was; did this mean anybody residing in Turkey (we’ve been here a month) or did this refer to only Turkish nationals? This is what prompted my phone call, and I got to speak with a nice man, who, when I pointed out the need for clarity, he told me to call back in am hour and he would get me my answer… and he did. Here’s the deal: Only because we are flying, we will still need to get the negative test, because the airlines will request the proof of testing, or they will not let us board. The man said if there was a way around the airline requirement, we would get a pass. He understood, completely. If we were in a position of a land-crossing, something could be done on our behalf, BUT, we are flying.

Yes, we want COVID19 to just go away, like everybody does!

So, the good news is, we are going to try to get to Pakistan! A friend of ours, who lives there told us the weather is getting very nice about now. Perfect! AND we get to keep traveling. Daryl is in charge of Visas, so he will apply for the multiple entry, and longest extended Visa we can get, (we think this might be six months) in preparation for getting through winter months, into the spring. Good coverage if we get locked up in Pakistan, and not be too concerned with short visa issues. Once in Pakistan, it will be interesting to find out about renting a car, then figuring out a plan for neighboring country visits. We are well aware of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, so we will see how that goes. Sad, since we desire to go to Azerbaijan 🇦🇿, Georgia 🇬🇪 and Armenia 🇦🇲

Here is what we do know:

The conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts, which are de facto controlled by the self-declared Republic of Artsakh, but are internationally recognized as de jure part of Azerbaijan. (Turkey 🇹🇷 is an ally for Azerbaijan) 🇦🇿

While we have figured out twice now, how to acquire the required negative PCR test, to enter Montenegro and Serbia, the timing was much easier to work out, when driving over the border. This will be a little trickier this time, because taking a flight will require more coordinating. Getting an extra day is helpful. 96 hours does give us more time, versus the 48 or 72 hours we did, before, but the investment of plane tickets, increases my anxiety a little. The time it takes to get results has been different, each time we tested, before, too. In Serbia we were told the results would be 24 hours, but they took 48. We will research the window of time for test results, before choosing our testing site, and find a 24-hour-turn-around, because the clock starts on the day the test is taken. That’s a bummer, but what can anybody do? A 24-hour-turn-around would be ideal! Pakistan also does not allow “Visa Upon Arrival” for US Passport holders. We must apply and pay for the Visa, and prove we have a reservation of a hotel upon arrival in Pakistan, but it unclear on how long that approval for the online Visa application takes. Once we buy the plane tickets, the pressure will be on!

We got this!

Earlier today, we enjoyed a little nap time. There is a community cat we have named “Nippy,” because she gets so excited when given attention, she gives “love” nips. Oh, and forget any privacy in the bathroom, because she pushes the door open everytine and wants to “visit.”As you can see, she had made herself at home with us. We enjoy getting to “play house” with cats, when we can, because we dearly miss having pets.