We will be traveling soon - we hope! Our fourth Viking River cruise is all set. We will fly to Lisbon, spend two days there and then go to Porto to embark on a cruise on the Douro to Salamanca, Spain and return. Our wonderful cruise companions from Connecticut, Irene and Roger, will be joining us again for the third time.
Then there is the test. Within 24 hours of our first flight, we will take a COVID-19 antigen test. We did this before when we flew to Italy last year. We were a bit nervous about it but relieved when we got our negative results both going and coming back. Why do I have more anxiety about it this time? First, the previous trip was prior to omega and many thought that the US and Europe were near the end of the pandemic. Now the vast majority of people are acting as though it really is over even though there is an upward trend in cases. Is that why? I don't know.
Alexia and I have our second booster and have never tested positive or had symptoms. My mother, who died at 97 from heart failure, had tested positive without any symptoms. This was early on in the pandemic, so before vaccination was possible. Her test was done because she lived in an assisted living place that tested everyone. So, my fear is that with all the vaccinations, we might be positive and not know it until the day before we're supposed to leave. Until we leave, we are being more cautious than we have been; sort of going back to the early days of the pandemic. At least we're not wiping our grocery bags and wearing rubber gloves in the supermarket. But we are wearing our masks when we go into the supermarket and other stores. And we are eating outdoors at restaurants when we can. So, what do you call this kind of anxiety? Covidnoia?
Have a good time -- just remember to douche with Clorox and to not touch your face!