Images of Berlin – On a Friday morning in May!

So let’s get real.

Covid-19 isn’t going away any time soon so that leaves the question of whether I will be travelling abroad anytime soon.

The answer is no.

Obviously!

I mean, what how else did you think I was going to say?

I mean.

Really!

Moreover, I’m at home.

Luckily, I work for an IT/Engineering company ‘cos the writing had been on the wall since the beginning of March as my colleagues noticed my new rota of frenzied manic cleaning!

And even though I live in Berlin.

My company – H&D – An HCL Technologies Company – is actually in Lower Saxony, otherwise known as Niedersachsen!

My office was like a ghost town, but after having a meeting and a vote – it’s Germany after all – I collected my laptop, training material & most of the books & audio material I might need, and left!

Since March 17th, I’ve been able to work from the comfort & safety of my home.

And garden!

This is what I used to look like.

This is what I look like now.

Eek!

However, as I like to remind you often.

I live in Germany.

In an awesome town called Berlin.

Actually, it’s a city.

But who’s checking?

If you’re tired of reading bad news or anything at all about covid19, check out my upbeat and funny posts here instead!

If you’re looking for a really inspiring video, the one that I would highly recommend is that of the Queen’s Speech.

And when I say, The Queen, I obviously mean no other than Queen Elizabeth II.

Her speech was lovely. I’m a loyal monarchist so I don’t mind telling you that it brought me to tears!

It’s been seven weeks (we’re on the 8th) since we began to stay at home, in Germany.

Since that time, Germany has been under quarantine.

Or should be.

Sort of.

However, Europe is beginning to open up.

At a slow, but careful pace.

What this means is that social restrictions continue to be imposed.

And depending on individual countries, government instructions continue to stipulate that large gatherings and socialising are banned, and that we MUST continue to observe a distance of between 1.5 – 2 metres, and in most cases, wear face masks in public.

In Germany, the rules are as follows (May 6th):

Please Note: The measures above apply until June 5th. Perhaps longer, depending on what happens between then and now!

However, if a sudden new spike of at least 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a 7-day period in infections occurs, an “emergency mechanism” will kick in, and new restrictions prior to April 20th, will be imposed.

Gulp!

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Get the latest information from the World Health Organization about coronavirus. WHO

Because we ARE officially in the midst of a global pandemic that the World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled as a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC).

Everyone is most worried.

And we should be.

Movement of people across the planet has been grossly reduced or outright restricted.

And people are dying.

As a result, panic has struck in with people stockpiling food, looking for who is to blame by finger-pointing, reducing non-essential movement, locking down communities and closing borders.

I’m not here to tell you what rumour is right or wrong ‘cos I’m not the government and neither am I a doctor!

All I can advice you to do is NOT to go to your local doctor if you’re feeling ill, but to call or Email instead, listen to the instructions of your government as per where you should or shouldn’t go, take extra precautions with cleanliness and health, and use a bit of common sense!

If you live in America, please follow this link:

If you live in the UK, please follow this link:

If you live in Germany, please follow this link:

If you want to know what the World Health Organisation (WHO) is saying, please follow this link:

Like yourself, I’ve read so many articles about what to do and it can be scary with fake news, false rumours and even our own individual governments either wringing their hands in despair or giving out the wrong information all together!

And that’s saying something!

Meanwhile, don’t forget.

My advice seven weeks ago is still valid.

Do not travel.

Anywhere!

Because as you might have already seen, there’s a legitimate and very huge risk that if you DO travel abroad or indeed anywhere at all at the moment, you might get stuck there, your destination might have a sudden increase in outbreak, you won’t be able to get home because flights or trains have cancelled, your friends or family might get infected, you are forced into quarantine for a certain unforeseeable amount of time, and the borders have closed!

In fact, even in your own country, cities and federal states, are closing their doors to anyone going in or out!

The simple fact is, whether you like it or not, individual nations are deciding on how best to limit the spread of the Coronavirus infection.

The COVID-19 isn’t a conspiracy theory, it isn’t the end of time, but given the closeness, speed, reliance and ease in which we connect via global trade or travel, is a real legitimate worry.

In fact, forget about a staycation as most regions around the world, are under some sort of lockdown and this isn’t the time to jump in your car / on your bike, and explore where you live.

Nope!

It’s a time to go home and stay there.

It hurts me to say this but you must continue to:

Stay.

At.

Home.

If you’re an expat, a traveller, a tourist stuck in a country not your own, or simply wish to talk to someone and you feel overwhelmed, panicky or frightened, write to me.

IMAGES OF BERLIN!

Firstly.

Stay on top of things by listening / reading the news, but don’t go mad. Watch or read once, then switch it off!

I’ve previously chosen not to write about travel but what is life, if we can’t dream.

To be sure, life will NOT be what it was before and you can expect real change about the way we choose to live, and the political leaders you can trust.

Speaking of trust. As far as travel blogs are concerned, you can trust ME!

I do NOT write about places that I haven’t personally been to.

I do NOT get paid to write on my blog.

All content will continue to remain free of charge but if you feel like buying me a cup of tea, I will graciously accept!

If you want to write your own blog, here’s my link to a $25 or €25 discount in credit with any paid plan with WordPress. Don’t say that I don’t give you anything!

Here’s the link again: http://wordpress.com/refer-a-friend/qyyjJjnfWBnRGPVRj0V

So here are some really cool photos that I took in my neighbourhood of Prenzlauerberg, early on Friday morning.

OMG!

Eek!

Here we go!

Phew!

Once again if you can, please do stay at home, keep your distance from others, and flatten the curve!

Better to be safe than sorry.

If you want to keep up with reliable news on what’s going on around the world, you can follow me here.

Don’t forget.

Click here!

And book your luxury hotel for 2021 right here!

Don’t judge me!

IMAGES OF BERLIN – ON A FRIDAY MORNING IN MAY!

This article is not sponsored, and all thoughts and opinions, are my very own!

A huge thanks goes to all the many doctors, nurses, healthcare staff, keyworkers and volunteers world-wide, who have and are still, putting their lives on the line in order to help others.

Thank you.

May is going to be something most of us have never ever seen in our lifetime before.

See you soon!

Watch this space!

Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.

I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!

So what are you waiting for?

Thanks a million!

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

See you in Berlin.

If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com

If you like this post, please Share it! Tweet it! Or Like it!

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Vimeo
• WordPress