Concrete changes in how you travel during the crisis (page 9 of 9)

In Africa, it's still going to be difficult and take a long time, even though more and more girls in big cities—and their families—are educated about abortion, contraception, and condoms (though the latter is mainly an issue for men). Otherwise, when the mother keeps the child, it’s quite often left to the grandmother to raise afterward.

Here, we also used to turn to plants (a question of dosage, since a little too much could cause the girl to die in pain), and more recently, quinine in the 1960s before the Veil law.

On another note, I’ll dare say it’s still nice when the person who starts a discussion takes the time to thank the participants.

the ultimate expression of sexism.

Thanks for that pretty enlightening take on what these so-called experts like Tratra are about...

Otherwise, I’ll dare say it’s still nice when the person who started a discussion comes back to thank the participants.

... instead of having participated themselves. For once that one of their threads unfolds on its own without them adding their heavy touch—or someone else’s.

As for thanking this forum’s punching bag for their input and knowledge (*), would there be a faster way to lose all credibility, if one even had an ounce of it? 😇

(*) For patience, I’ll grant that it’s indeed infinite, just like the time they dedicate to this forum...

Miranda and Masterpot, reassure us—are you still with us?

Hey there, yes, I’m back!

The COVID period was really tough for me, but luckily it’s in the past now and life’s back to normal! !

2020: 3 days of vacation for me, and not far away. Plus, I picked the only weekend in July with bad weather! 2021: no other choice but to return to Alsace. Though, it could’ve been worse. 2022: still too complicated to go where I wanted. So, I ended up choosing Ariège. An excellent lifestyle choice for eco-friendly hippies—nature-filled department with really friendly people.

Road trips, nature trips. Foodie adventures.

I missed the exotic vibe, but wow, did we save money!

So, the changes were numerous,

2020: first, I had to move around based on restrictions.

For example: I finished my summer season on October 2nd, and the second lockdown was being prepared, so I didn’t have to wait long to book a flight ticket to escape it. I left on October 13th. I was able to spend this second lockdown in freedom in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

And even then, tickets for these countries were bought based on restrictions. For example: while I was in the Dominican Republic, I learned that entry restrictions to Costa Rica had been lifted, with no entry requirements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website stated that as of October 26, 2020, all foreigners were allowed to enter Costa Rica without restrictions.

So, I booked a flight for October 27. At that time, I was in Santo Domingo and knew that the entry restrictions were about to be lifted but didn’t know the exact date. When I arrived at the airport with my SDQ>SJO flight in hand, the HIC (health check) happened. There had been a computer glitch the day before at Santo Domingo airport, which meant the COVID restriction updates hadn’t gone through. So, on Copa Airlines’ screen, it still showed that the French weren’t allowed to enter Costa Rica. I even showed and translated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page.

Well, I had also learned to only buy modifiable and refundable tickets, so I didn’t incur any fees. It just meant I spent two extra nights in Santo Domingo before taking off on October 29.

Then, when it came to choosing hotels, I immediately ruled out those that required wearing a mask, so the options were pretty limited—same for restaurants, bars, etc...

2021: I couldn’t travel that year—too many restrictions and too complicated to navigate them all.

2022: Yes, cool, I could go on vacation again, but I still had to rule out all destinations that required a health pass, a vaccine, or even a PCR test. That left me with only Guadeloupe and Costa Rica, where I spent the autumn peacefully.

And even then, I had to stay constantly informed in real time about all of it.

For example, in St. Martin, where I was taking a flight from Guadeloupe to Costa Rica with a layover in Dutch-side Saint Martin. During check-in in Pointe-à-Pitre, they told me I had to fill out a digital form where I had to mention my COVID vaccines or take a PCR test. Since I refused, I had to rush to the Air Antilles Express counter and buy the first flight to French-side Saint Martin. From there, I took a taxi to Dutch-side Saint Martin airport to catch my connecting flight—without anyone asking me for anything... Haha, when I think back on it, what a story.

Well played, I must say! Since we were only swearing by Thailand, that was a no-go this time. Anyway, we ended up consuming French and softened the "whatever it costs" a bit 😕

At least I avoided the "vaccines", the protocols, and that cotton swab up the nose. Heck, I even avoided the virus until the end of August 2023.

I remember my walks across the city to get to work. Not a soul in sight. It reminded me of the movie *The Omega Man*, with Charlton Heston. I would’ve loved to burst out of a Ford dealership behind the wheel of a convertible Mustang, smashing through the showroom window.

I remember the cops who took two steps back in fear at the end of winter 2020 when I handed them my ID. "No, no, just show it to us, that’ll do."

I remember the stunned looks from people when they saw me arriving at the bus stop, in the city and outdoors, without my mask. They didn’t see *me*—they saw deaaath.

I also remember one of the last days when public transport was still running in early 2020. I was in the first tram carriage, sitting by the aisle. I look up and see a Chinese guy, quite heavy and sweating profusely, walking through the carriage, looking sick and exhausted. He seemed to be coming toward me in slow motion. The same scene as in movies. That’s when I thought: *you’re dead!*

2021: no choice but to return to Alsace. Mind you, it could be worse.

It’s a shame not to like this region—it’s a dream for me... Deep in the forest, you can spot lynxes. And then there’s the Palatinate Forest in Germany.

I visited Alsace last September and also in 2023. It's pretty, but I wouldn’t want to live there...

In 2021 during the second lockdown, I was in Nice. It could’ve been worse, but I still didn’t handle it well—especially in the winter.

When the weather was nicer, we went for walks in the area. It at least kept the number of tourists down.

Masks were mandatory, but I didn’t always wear mine—oops!

A few other trips around France

Late 2021 and early 2022, I took some trips to Spain.

2021: no choice but to return to Alsace. Mind you, it could’ve been worse.

It’s a shame you don’t like this region—I’m obsessed with it...

I notice on VF you write more than you read... or is it just my memory? 😛:

https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7444888;#7444888

thanks Jojoone, and my apologies then. I’ll keep this in mind—I’m going to draw inspiration from it, especially the half-timbered houses, to create a video game 🙂 Lovely travel journal.

I’ll fill in the rest later, but not anytime soon because I’ve got quite a bit on my plate right now. Thanks anyway, though—it’s always easier to tackle a topic when there’s some feeling behind it.