Airport Security

Recent travel has again showed up the ridiculous procedures carried out at airports. Not comfortable with air travel, panic sets in at check-in, have I remembered to remove any nail files, sharp objects, should I put my lipstick in a clear plastic bag and carry it. Have I chucked out that half drunk bottle of water. Then comes the compulsory strip , belt removed, shoes removed, bracelets off (always set the alarms off). Re-dress, collect stuff. Move on. Forced into the shopping mal where I might add, I can buy anything I might desire as long as I tell someone my flight number! So here I am armed again with dangerous objects such as nail scissors, glass objects, at least 100 ml of liquid of a questionable nature. Through more security but now it is acceptable. A few days later leaving Istanbul airport, well organised and pleasant. I move through passport control, noting that a fellow passenger is about to pass through the same passport gate but totally covered in black robes. I stress that no part of the person under the veils and clothes was visible. you guessed it, straight through passport control. Can’t get my head around this. Ten days later flying out of Ercan airport Northern Cyprus. It just happens that the morning before the early morning flight to Istanbul was hijacked, fortunately with no dire consequences, not sure even why it was hijacked. Being concerned that security would bristle, was surprised to innocently walk through x-rays and buzzy scanners with a full bottle of water and…..a penknife; however, everyone felt safer as I did have to take off my belt and bracelets.