Travelling after Covid!
Is it even safe to travel? What is it like to travel after Covid?
In a word, different. Airport stores are closed, limited restaurants and lounges if any are open. Wearing face masks from the moment you enter the airport until you leave the destination airport. Ugh!
People are getting ready to start ‘living’ again and this will look and feel different for everybody. The travel industry has certainly taken a hit due to Covid, and planning any kind of trip overseas or even across Canada has been a daunting task filled with uncertainty and confusion. It is a very good idea to take ‘out of province travel health insurance.
Recently after borders between provinces opened up, no quarantine was required and being double vaccinated, my partner and I booked a trip to BC. Again there was anxiety about travel, the masks, overcrowding, being around people who are not vaccinated. However, we decided we wanted to have our life back or at least some part of normalcy and see our daughters.
Travel fear is very real and for some, they may never leave their own home. That alone is terrifying for our society, community, economy, friends and family.
Is it safe to travel this summer?
William Haseltine, former professor at Harvard Medical School and author of “Variants! The Shape-Shifting Challenge of COVID-19,” said there is a risk of another summer surge, and traveling during the summer will only exacerbate the problem.
“The more people choose to travel as an escape from the very real pandemic stress and fatigue, the more we risk another surge of cases this summer,” he said
YES, Traveling can also be part of the transmission. Double vaccinated and the two-week waiting period, practicing the safety/health protocol, stop the transmission. Information changes as the information and research evolve. This is a good thing as we move forward.
The confusion part is from the different health restrictions and plans to open up which are different from province to province and seem to be changing rapidly and daily. For example, when we arrived in Vancouver masks were mandatory everywhere, and in a couple of days, it changed. We however continued to follow the restrictions as if we were in Manitoba. Yes, it was very hot walking in and out of stores with a mask. Outside walking along the beach, parks and streets no masks were required but there were a few who chose to keep wearing masks. Eating on a patio or in restaurants with large open spaces was helpful. Vancouver is a vibrant city with unique spaces, suburbs and a variety of cultures.
Vancouver is also a heavily pedestrian traffic city and navigation can have its challenges. We were very much aware of the crowds walking in the streets, crossing the roads, elevators and standing in line at various venues. Paying attention to the unmasked individual in keeping our distance wherever possible.
Even though we were there to relax, a subconscious awareness and anxiety occasionally crept into our mindset. Being double vaccinated did not make us invincible and possibly unknowingly transmitting the variant to someone else who’s not vaccinated was on our mind. Common sense is important.
It is an individual choice every day and how we react, how we will respond and what we retain from each experience in life. Despite the constant mention of Covid, vaccination and death we had a wonderful time.
To live our lives in constant fear it’s not living, it’s merely existing. Remember it’s a choice. Using common sense, following the science, getting vaccinated and practicing health procedures is part of taking back your power over that fear.
Finding opportunities to have fun, laugh, be silly and celebrate life. It’s not going to be easy to travel again, to visit, it is a choice in how we react. Yes, there will be people who have gone from very social to agoraphobic. Everyone will have their own limits on what and how they feel safe as we move from under the Covid cloud and with travelling.
Walking past the happiness park I had to take an opportunity for a photo shot standing beside one of the laughing statues, being silly, listening to that inner child who likes fun. Keep Your life filled with fun. Again this will look and feel different for everyone.
I’ll look at it this way life is an adventure, there will be ups and downs along that path, on the cobblestones of life. Some of this cobblestone will be big or small some of the adventures will be good or not so good. Some of the cobblestones will be life-changing, life-altering such as Covid 19. Remember we always have a choice in how we react to our fears.
Life, as we knew it in 2019, may never return. We have a choice and how we move forward, how we allow or not allow our fear to control us and dominate our lives. We have a choice in how we want to live our new reality. Yes, we can waste time grieving for the old days, personally, that’s a waste of your emotional energy and your time.
Looking back I have no regrets, the travelling was a much-needed connection for everyone involved (four of us). Good for our mental health to see family, to hug and enjoy their company knowing we were all safe because we were vaccinated. If anything Covid has made us realize that life, people we love, relationships are as fragile as a gossamer thread. Fragile and precious. Cherish the moments and avoid sinking back into that pit of fear. Trust yourself you can manage after Covid.
Find your own ways to move forward in life, to get out of your comfort zone, to find opportunities for adventure/travel and to live your very best life today, each day.
I want to travel. There is no judgement for those who make the choice to stay put, that is again a choice. My partner and I want to travel to see new places, old places, to see our family and friends who live in different parts of Canada and the world. It is important to be aware of your own fears, seek out professional help if needed (and that is okay), never give in to the paralyzing fear and stop living.
