Remember all that Pilates I've been doing?
I'm really glad I did.
Travel is not what it once was. It's a physically grueling event with little to no time to relax and enjoy the process.
The world has changed. Enough so I'll clue you in to how ravel is these days...long changed from the days you could walk into an airport, buy a ticket, and just fly that day on a flight that wasn't totally full like back in the eighties.
Long, long time ago, we booked our travel through travel agents. And then, perhaps in the past twenty years, using booking sites such as Expedia to save money. For me, once I had my dates of coverage at work, I started looking on airline websites as well as Expedia for the best price. Anthony is very tall, so for his comfort on shorter flights we go economy plus. On longer ones I invest in lie-flat seats.
Last year we left from our local airport and avoided LAX altogether. This year I opted to do the same, which means, not one but two connections. In the past, connections have been little breaks but not much trouble to get from one gate to the other. I've upgraded to a travel carryon bag with wheels which fits my backpack on the handle, so I have an easier time going through the airport.
Buying the flight was nerve-wracking but the easiest part. It's expensive. As such tickets go, my price was low enough that my friend who paid the same for lie-flat seats to her home in Singapore, got her flight cancelled because it was too inexpensive.
In Europe, there is this thing, a 'locator' you need. You can't get on a plane for a connection there without one QR code for each passenger. I did one for me, but not for Anthony. It was kind of a panic point but we were able to fly as he did his on his phone at the last minute, copying everything on the printout I had for me.
What about the injection series?
If you've taken it, you need proof. This proof is enough to let you just about anywhere. If you haven't, then you need a recent negative test from a lab (72 hours for PCR, 48 hours for antigen). I went through a company that you enter your passport number and they do lots of internationals. For Hawaii, back when they tested, you needed to go to someplace they approved of, such as CVS. If it wasn't from the approved list it wasn't okay.
Then for the big trip, like always, you need new clothes, gifts for family, your bills all paid ahead, someone to collect or hold your mail, someone to watch the pets and water the plants...this alone in preparation is grueling.
You also have the option to pay someone to drive you to the airport, or to pay for parking at the airport in either a short-term or long-term parking facility.
We woke up early, but last minute things took up time. We should have been at the airport at five and got there closer to six.
Business class and first class have two 'perks' if you remember to use them--you can go up to the counter instead of an app or a screen at the airport to 'check in' with a person and drop off your baggage with little to no line. Also, there is sometimes but not always a shorter line for security and customs. Another thing people forget is that the airline Club areas have free food for you and free wifi. You have to show your ticket to be permitted in. First class domestic will not let you into one lounge but first class international will. The food isn't great, either, but it's free. And there's coffee. Sometimes alcohol too.
In the US, domestic flights do not need masks to be worn. On Canadian flights, all, they are very strict but if you take your time eating you don't have to wear it the whole time. They provide you with masks too. I find it more pleasant to be without a mask in flight so I would choose a mask-free airline in the future.
Here's where the changes are really, really noticeable...there's lots of apps you need to travel now. I had one for Air Canada, one for United. You get text updates on the flights and gates which are constantly changing. These are super important so pay attention to them.
Second, with delays which are common, the ninety minute connection turns into a thirty-minute 'tight connection' where you often have to walk in a hurry from one terminal to another. If international is involved then factor in a long, slow, line for security. In Canada the unvaccinated are free to pass through the country but are not able to stay. In the United States it appears to be the same for people who are not United States Citizens.
This is where the Pilates paid off. It wasn't easy, but I could make the distances as I was in much better shape than several trips earlier.
Keep in mind restrooms too. These long lines are very, very long. And barely move. We had a three-hour delay in Montreal. If you cough when you pee you might want to consider wearing something under your clothing to account for that.
Food you used to have time to pick up but we didn't except for when we had long connections. We did sit-down restaurants. Once for sushi in Chicago, the other Italian in Chicago, because it was close to our gate.
Then, in many cities, there is shortage of workers in the travel industry. Not enough taxi drivers in Paris. You can reserve one but there's no guarantee they will show up. The lines at train stations and airports had plenty of drivers. But from the hotel, it's hard. The taxi driver taking us back to the airport in Paris said that this problem is because many of the workers died. They are passed away. They got sick and there's not enough. I believed him. It was the tone, I know that tone of a hard truth no one is willing to see, but the workers have to do the work anyway. I've walked by two freezer trucks for extra morgue space in our hospital parking lot the whole pandemic. It's kind of the same thing. I tipped enough to make taxi fare almost double, and also, tipped the hotel guy who got us the taxi a lot too. Just to keep them going...
For baggage it is the same. And for cleaning crews for the airplane. In Montreal three teams are needed to clean a plane, they only had one team. So the flight was delayed three hours.
Our baggage was still in Chicago last night, and is coming on the first flight today. The airlines will deliver it. So, be careful what you put into your check-in bag. We are lucky ours was trackable.
There was something Air Canada did, which helped us more than not, but when many people are stuck in a line in customs or security, they delayed the flight. Like an hour! So factor that in when you are making plans because your connection and being on the plane still might have takeoff delayed and will make you miss future connection.
Which brings me to the saddest part. I heard a lot of dry coughs at the airport. These were Covid coughs. The most recent variant is very catchy. We had two fresh negative covid tests in hand at the airport. Anthony seemed fine and drove us there. But in flight, he felt worse and worse. On one leg he actually slept on the plane which is impossible for him, his brain isn't wired to do it, he takes after his father.
So, what do you do when the unthinkable happens?
This is something to consider when traveling. Do you see family? Do you quarantine? You can't head home, they are sick...how do you protect the rest in your party?
In the world of travel, everything is booked up and reserved in advance, you know?
For us, our family, our destination, welcomed us with open arms. They too recently had it. We were picked up at the train station by everyone wearing masks. And driven straight to the pharmacy to purchases tests. Once positive, we were helped to find a local bed and breakfast. It had air conditioning. And also, I could sleep on the couch in the living room.
We slept.
That was our vacation until the last two or three days when the test was negative. I was exposed, my body fought it (had it in January) and never was positive. We slept at the bed and breakfast. At one we went to the family home. After lunch we rested in the cool and watched the Tour de France with masks on and napped. After dinner, we walked back with family to the bed and breakfast.
If I had to do it over I'd bring extra tests in the luggage. It saves time.
I can't emphasize enough to be clear in the communication. Let loved ones know what is happening. Make the decisions together. Let go of the outcome and be willing to adjust. Understand if you get really sick far from home, you might not be able to go to a local hospital--because of your citizenship, and also, because the hospital might be full. I looked for doctors, which in France take only cash, but do make house calls. Unfortunately we were there on a holiday weekend, and nobody was available.
For me, the dusty couch made my allergy and asthma go out of control. I went to the pharmacy again, and asked for allergy medicine and expectorant. Their pharmacy techs are kind of like pharmacists and you can't just buy what you want like here. If you don't speak the language you need your phone for translator.
The nicest surprises were that lots of credit cards don't need travel notifications any more.
Another nice surprise was that my phone service, used to be Sprint, now it's t-mobile, is worldwide. I've used it in Japan, China (need a VPN though). Everything was seamless in both Canada and France. The plug thing is still an issue, but in our hotel room the clock had USB/lightnining/USB c connectors so it was easy to charge the phone.
I was up over twenty-four hours straight trying to get home. I nodded off a little on the planes. But if it wasn't for my work schedule that would have set me back way more than it did.
I'm glad to report that travel IS doable. But it's different. It's a real buzz-kill from the golden days of traveling before.
I'm going to invite you to take this 'then and now' template, and to apply it to just about everything you do.
Why?
Life is changing.
There's the comfort and the ease of the past, 'when things were easier'.
Don't let that fool you.
Remember to look forward, and to adjust and accept What Is.
I had booked two days for the front end of travel, which was good because our flight was a Plus One Day arrival. I paid for Saturday night in Paris, but we got late check in benefit, and our room was waiting for us, instead of us waiting for 1600 check in. My mistake had a good side to it... On the return end, we had extra two days in Paris because I thought we had a covid test requirement, to return, but we didn't. The extra day I allowed is me being able to rest and prepare for return to work tomorrow. And be home when the luggage arrives.
Our family asked about our vacation plans for the rest of the summer.
I was like, what?
I only get one week a year.
Last year one week.
This one ten days.
That's it.
It's done.
Summer travel to Europe is a little crazy. Next time we go we might try Spring or Fall.
I'd like to perhaps do a long weekend to catch a Green Bay Packers game with Anthony.
When you see people you know posting pictures of them smiling in front of famous landmarks, remember what I told you about the whole thing. It's not what it looks. And it's still changing.
Travel is good for the soul, seek it. But remember it's evolving and make sure to keep up.
clap! clap!
Aloha and Mahalos,
Namaste,
Peace,
Ross and Carla
The Couple
