So instead of looking out at this view from our hotel towards the harbour at Agios Nikolaos
we have been looking at this view from our French windows.
I am sure that we are not alone in having our plans that we had made for this year, shredded by the coronavirus pandemic.
Over the last 18 months several of our family and friends have been ill and some sadly have died. This has made us realise that we could be next. So at the end of last year we decided that maybe we should have a few more holidays in an attempt to get through our bucket list. We had booked holidays for May, June and August/September, and would have probably booked something last minute for October. We thought that we had 2020 sorted. All of our booked holidays have been cancelled. All of that planning gone to waste.
For the June holiday in Crete we have had a refund and the August/September holiday has been rescheduled for next August. The May holiday, which was to Corfu, we have re-arranged for late September. But will we be going? Right now it is not possible to travel from the UK to Greece for the purpose of a holiday. The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all non-essential international travel in March and that is still their advice. As a result of this advice our travel insurance has been suspended - meaning that we cannot book a holiday or travel until the FCO change their advice. Well if we do, we won't be covered by our insurance. Then there is the matter of Greece not allowing visitors from the UK to enter their country or if we are allowed in, we will be tested for coronavirus then be expected to be in quarantine for 14 days whether or not we test positive for coronavirus. And when we get back to the UK there will be another 14 days of quarantine.
Essentials on the holiday packing list in addition to sunscreen and a swim suit will be copious amounts of hand sanitising gel and a supply of face masks. From what I have read, and I know that much of it is speculation, I am wondering how enjoyable the whole experience will be. It will be an experience and maybe the experience of a life time, but will it be something to remember and repeat or forget and never do again?
Until things change this maybe as close as we are going to get to Corfu.
3 comments:
I am sorry to hear that your year of travel has been ruined by the virus. I hope you get to Greece!
Here, if we wish to leave the country, we cannot return until the borders are open again...whenever that will be!
I do hope that things settle down for you to have at least some of your wishes come true.
We have had several trips cancelled too. The last was meant to be Montenegro in mid-June and whilst we knew we wouldn’t be going and indeed had no desire to travel, we did feel seriously deflated when the cancellation notice arrived by email and now we have nothing on that calendar to even potentially look forward to. Fingers crossed that you do get away this year.
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