So we head off on our first venture beyond our shores since the dreaded COVID hit back in early 2020. The main reason is of course to go to Canada to visit our beloved daughter Emma, who we havent seen for going on three years. Well then be continuing on to Europe, for all up nearly three months away from the cold and gloom of Melbourne in winter.
Organising travel seems to have a lot in the intervening period. Every country now seems to have developed its own unique rules for managing its visitors in times of the dreaded virus. We discover that the EU tried to introduce some uniformity amongst its 27 member states by developing an entry form that all its visitors could use. This seemed like a good idea until we found out that only three of the 27 decided to adopt it, with the other 24 all opting instead up with forms of their own. We were told that we needed to get an Australian International Digital COVID Vaccine Certificate, which would be recognised in some countries. This sounded helpful until we discovered that the same government website that told us
And why not, it was her birthday yesterday and will be again tomorrow. Hopefully that doesnt mean shell then be two years older.
about it was then strangely silent on exactly which countries these were. Hmmmm. And of course we had to world experts on which countries insist you get a COVID test before theyll let you in, our first stop, the USA, being one of them. But is that a test or a Laboratorial Rapid Antigen Test, or something different again? And when do you need to get it - three days before you leave, the calendar day before, or is that 24 hours before? What proof do you need to supply that youve tested negative - a piece of paper with your name date of birth, passport number and the name of your mother‘s first dog, and does that have to be in English, or also Spanish, or Portuguese or Swahili just for good measure? We wonder whether theres now a black market in these documents; were given four digit pins that we need to enter before we can view them. Do you still need to show proof of vaccination if youre just transiting through somewhere and will never leave the airport? It seems you do in Portugal, where as luck would have it thats exactly what well be
doing. We also discover that good old Portugal also seems to be about the only country in Europe that doesnt like our Aussie vaccination certificates .. so well need to get tested before we go there as well. Double hmmmm. We learn that the Greek embassy in Canberra has prepared a Greek translation of a notice that tells all homeland Greeks that Aussie digital vaccine certificates are good, and suggests that we carry this around with us when were there, just in case no one believes us. Its all Greek to us - we downloaded the notice, but it could say anything and we wouldnt know. Im sure its only a matter of time until we miss a step and they wont let us on a plane. I begin to wonder if we should have packed a couple of rollaway beds to make sleeping on airport floors a bit more comfy.
Weve chosen to leave Oz on the Friday of a long weekend. The airport is total chaos; the queue to go through security is in real danger of spilling out onto the footpath. It must be a slow news day in Melbourne; there are news crews with cameras
and microphones covering the chaos. One crew makes its way along our queue interviewing random passengers as they go. Issy jumps out of the way as a microphone is shoved into my face. How do you feel about all of this? Im asked. They look a bit disappointed when they dont get a few choice profanities, although Im sensing from the general mood that they wont need to look too much further if thats what theyre after. Hopefully our tightly fitted top grade surgical masks will prevent anyone from recognising us if we do manage to make it onto the six oclock news.
We head for Maui in Hawaii via Sydney and Honolulu.
Travelmates near
