Thursday has served as Covid day since the pandemic.  No more, but here is an update, for I keep knowing of people who are still getting infected. What to know about the FLiRT variants of Covid-19 .  New variants are distant Omicron relatives from JN.1, which was responsible for the surge of cases this past winter. FLiRT because mutations include the letters F and L for one, and R and T for the other. KP.2 in particular is rising, now accounting for 25% of new cases at the end of April.  However, KP.2 is less infectious than JN.1. Current vaccines protect against FLiRT variants. Here is the  latest summary : Total cases. #1  USA  112 million #2  India  45 million #3  France 40 million #4  Germany  39 million Total deaths. #1  USA 1,219,487 #2  Brazil  711,380 #3  India  533,570 Of course, India significantly under reports.   One WHO report estimates that their death toll is 10 times higher than reported. For political reasons, WHO tends to protect China.  Chances are overwhelming that

We will do nothing much else but eat and drink for the next 36 hours as we ply the Mediterranean Sea to Izmir, Turkey.  Bet you didn't know that there are other seas within the Mediterranean?  For example, we are now in the Ionian Sea. 1 : Alboran Sea. 2 : Basin SW - Balearic Islands. 3 : Tyrrhenian Sea. 4 : The Western Mediterranean (Basin NE-NW) 5 : South-East and Malta. 6 : Ionian Sea. 7 : Adriatic Sea. 8 : Egeen sea-Rhodos. We soon will reach the Aegean Sea.   Why stop at Izmir? Is the third largest city in Turkey, with a population of 4.4 million, more than 24 U.S. states. While there are scattered ancient ruins, the city is known for being quite westernized and modern, meaning that social norms are less restrictive. But there are bustling age-old markets and the usual attractions of this part of the world. Budget friendly compared to Istanbul and Cappadocia.  Keep in mind though that the Turkish Lira has fallen value, so alcohol in bars is almost by itself a scam.  Plus, you