 |
|
Cows in the side yard as we drove down the driveway to the main road in Connemara, Ireland, one year ago today.
|
Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site shortly, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.
Starting today, in our heading, we will be listing the number of days we’ve been in lockdown in this hotel in Mumbai, India. As noted above, today is day #104, although we’d spent another 12 days in lockdown in other hotels in India before we found this Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport.
Luckily, we are close to the airport. It’s less than a 10-minute drive to the international terminal. By the time we’re able to leave here after the airport opens to international flights and travel to a country that will accept us, the roads will again be busy with traffic.
 |
| Cattle are so busy grazing. They hesitate to look up a photo op. |
We don’t see that happening anytime soon. Instead, we continue to make every effort to ease the current situation for however long it may last. Cases of COVID-19 in India are continuing to escalate at astounding rates. India is in the #4 spot globally for the number of cases and deaths, only surpassed by the USA #1, Brazil #2, Russia #3.
In the next 24 to 48 hours, India will easily surpass Russia to move into the #3 position. India already has over twice as many deaths as Russia. For more details on the statistics on world cases, please click here.
And still, when I peer out the window at the end of one of the corridors when I walk once an hour, I typically see a dozen or more men at a nearby location where motorbikes are parked without wearing masks or social distancing.
The careless attitude of some individuals throughout the world will prevent the lessening of cases in months, perhaps years to come. Some may consider that extended family gatherings are safe since, after all, they are family. But, if they haven’t been living in the same household, they too can spread the virus.
 |
| A Connemara Pony in the pasture down the road. |
There is nothing we can do to change these facts unless one or two of our worldwide readers see today’s post and decide to protect themselves and their loved ones further. Please excuse our “nagging” on this topic.
As time passes, we all hear of more and more people we know have contracted the virus, some who have passed away, others who have struggled to survive, and others who are relatively symptom-free, able to pass it on while out and about and in group settings.
The majority of our family members and friends have remained safe, continuing to observe lockdown restrictions while taking this pandemic seriously. In reality, it’s all about personal responsibility.
This is no time for defiance or expressing any political or social view by refusing to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. Regardless of what our leaders may say or do, we must take it upon ourselves as kind and caring individuals to take maximum precautions.
 |
| Since we arrived almost two months ago, this brown colt seems to be growing up quickly. |
Speaking of walking the corridors, a few days ago, I upped my walking to two full treks per hour, exponentially doubling my number of steps and walking times.
It hasn’t been easy since I have leg pain due to bad arteries in my legs classified as a peripheral arterial disease (PAD), all a part of my poor heredity condition of cardiovascular disease. The best treatment for this condition is walking at regular intervals.
I am pushing on hour after hour. This lofty goal gives me hope for future travel expeditions where I have often struggled to walk fast or long distances. One of my dreams for the future is to travel to Rwanda to see the gorillas. Doing so may require a long and arduous incline walk into the mountains. The only way this is remotely possible for me is if I continue with this mission.
 |
| At low tide, many inner waterways appear boggy and muddy. |
A dear old friend wrote and asked why we were in Australia when she glanced at our most recent post, where we’d included several repeated photos from our time in Australia from 2015 to 2017. I explained in a reply that we’ve been posting old photos from our past travels since we have no new photos to post.
If you aren’t a “regular” reader, please keep this in mind so that our posts with past photos make sense if you happen to “drop by” for a moment or two to see where we are at the moment. This prompted us to start listing the number of days we’ve spent in lockdown in Mumbai, India, in our heading each day to clarify where we are at any given time.
Tom is now doing 380 steps on the stairs and walking several routes in the corridors. This is a first for him to exercise independently, although he and I have regularly walked together in most locations we’ve visited over the years.
Hopefully, when we get to South Africa, it will be safe to walk the roads when recently, many lions have been spotted both day and night. If not, we’ll need a big enough house to walk indoors.
Have a pleasant and safe day, dear readers. We’ll all get through this!
Photo from one year ago today, July 5, 2018:
 |
| This morning’s view in Connemara, Ireland, across the bay to the Twelve Bens mountains. For more photos, please click here. |