2020 Travel
“Travel safely”
“Travel safely” took on a whole new meaning this year. Most will be reflecting on what has been an extraordinary year, with many challenges
January (CPT – JHB – NBO, NBO – JHB – CPT) then CPT – DXB
CPT
The year started well for us, in The Mother City. We had planned to travel to Kenya, to visit a good friend. It was five years since we had left. We were in regular contact with friends In China, who spoke of restrictions there. Most assumed that this new virus was just in Asia.
NBO
We travelled to Nairobi. Everything carried on as normal. Everyone shook hands. There was little awareness about Coronavirus, as it had not yet arrived on the continent. We just enjoyed being back in Kenya.
While we were there, PKP got an e mail about a temporary post in Norway.
We travelled back to the Mother City.
South Africa was being vigilant. On our return journey to CPT we had temperature checks. And as the virus quickly took hold in other countries, S.A was one of the countries that quickly closed its borders and imposed one of the toughest lockdowns anywhere. But we had left by then.
DXB
By the end of January we were en route to Oslo, travelling via Dubai. There was not much concern about the virus. Life and socialising went on as usual in ‘the sand pit’. We noticed a few more people at the airport wearing face masks.
February (DXB – OSL, OSL – KRS, KRS – BER, BER – LIV)
In February we boarded a plane for Norway. On arrival in Oslo there were multiple signs referring to the virus and hand hygiene. That may have been the first day of obsessive hand washing for us. We unpacked in our temporary home. PKP settled into his work. But my dad was seriously ill in hospital. We booked flights to travel to see him. My father passed away in England, the day before we flew.
I boarded the plane. If I’m honest I didn’t think too much about the virus. My thoughts were only of my dad. I stayed in England for a month. In that time, the virus was taking hold in various countries across Europe.
March (BHX – CPN, CPN – OSL, OSL -KRS)
After the funeral, we boarded a plane from Birmingham to Copenhagen. BHX was like a ghost-town. We have never seen it so quiet. There was no need for social distancing, as there were almost no people in the airport. Face masks were not yet a thing. We were armed with hand gel and Percy Pigs. We had consumed both by the time that we got back to Norway.
We got back to our cabin by the river. It was good to be back in our space. I needed time and quiet to grieve for my father. The following day, Norway imposed restrictions for 8 weeks. We spent all of ‘lockdown’ on Hisøy island. The Norwegian border closed. We had just got back in time.
MAY – Agder
Norway re-opened and we were able to enjoy local trips in Agder, to Arendal, Grimstad, Fevik, Kristiansand, Merdø and Hillestad. Things were under control, yet the international news showed a very different picture in many other countries.
We booked The Hurtigruten, to sail up Norway’s west coast.
June – (KRS – BGO, TOS – OSL)
The Sailing was confirmed. We spoke with a local airline. Could we get to Bergen? The airline staff reassured us that flights would be running. We took a leap of faith and booked.
We knew that we didn’t have to do this trip. But after several months in Norway, we really wanted to see more of the country. We watched the number of new cases. Norway had not been affected much. The risk seemed low.
And so we went. The whole time that we were on board, all passengers had their temperature taken three times each day. We didn’t feel unsafe. https://mothercitytime.com/travel-66/
When we reached Oslo we walked to our airport hotel. We took the local trains in and out of Oslo. There were no other passengers.
July – (OSL – CPH, CPH – FCO)
Italia
Everything had changed in Italy. There had been zero new cases in many regions and the country had re-opened after a strict, national lockdown.
In July we flew to Rome. We travelled in a rental car and retreated, ‘self quarantining’ for a couple of weeks before beginning some local trips. Everywhere we went, we saw flags being flown. People in Italy were quietly confident that the worst days of the first wave were over.
September – Umbria road trip
We received an invitation to catch up with friends in Umbria. We hired a car and packed our masks. Most meals were al fresco and wearing of masks was commonplace everywhere.
October – Puglia Birthday trip
Encouraged after our trip in Umbria, we boldly planned another for my birthday. This time we decided to take local trains. By the time we were travelling, there were concerns about a rise in new cases. The wearing of masks outdoors as well as indoors became mandatory.
Puglia had a very different vibe. Bari was a bustling town, especially on Saturday night. Police and army officers were present, to enforce the use of masks outside. We picked our activities carefully. As it was the end of the summer, we could still be outdoors, walking around or at cafes/restaurants.
November
New Coronavirus measures were introduced across Italy. The country was divided into three “risk” categories, Rosso (red), Arancione (orange), and Gialla (yellow) as well as a nationwide “Coprifuoco”, a curfew of 10pm, which continues until 5am. Large shops and shopping centres closed at the weekends, to avoid causing crowds. No movement in or out of a red zone was permitted. And the official recommendation was to not go out unless it was really necessary, for work, food shopping or health reasons.
Like much of Europe, so much changed so quickly, and the number of new Coronavirus cases was on the rise.
We hunkered down again.
So after 16 flights, 5 countries and many journeys, we are thankful for all our 2020 travel. We have been able to travel a lot, in spite of it all.
But more than anything you appreciate being happy and healthy at this time.
Did you get to travel, in 2020?
© Maggie M / Mother City Time
I was lucky to travel a bit (US, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Taiwan), and now that I’m living in Taiwan, I can travel here. But I still miss seeing people from other places in the world, and I worry about my friends living elsewhere. It is a troubling time for sure.
Hi Doug,
It’s great that you got to see more of Ecuador before you left. But you definitely left at the right time. We are glad that you are safe and well in Taiwan, where you will be able to see many new places. Is there an agreement with any neighbouring countries, so that you can travel freely? We worry too about so many people in different places. It is hard not knowing when you will be able to meet with family and friends again. For now we must just focus on staying well and happy. Enjoy your first Christmas in Taiwan. And thanks for your comment.
Wow, you travelled a lot in 2020! Thanks for sharing….
For me, I was in the Hague in February and the virus was in the news but it still felt like something impacting Asia. I met a colleague from Bangkok who had masks for her travels and I looked at them with sympathetic intrigue and no idea how the world would keep changing and how commonplace those masks would become! The virus really infringed on my life the following month. When the first official COVID 19 case was announced in Kenya I was in Mozambique for work. I will always be grateful to my colleagues who nudged me to leave early, as within days of me landing back home, schools were closed and restrictions announced. In the last couple of months restrictions within the country have eased a bit and so have been exploring more of Kenya, doing mostly outdoor activities.
I am appreciative of my health and safety and that of my loved ones, but I am very much looking forward to travelling and meeting friends in that care free way again soon.
Hi Natasha, I would imagine that being in The Hague in February, it did all still feel ‘far away’. That was how we felt travelling to England around the same time. Then things changed so quickly. It was great that you left Mozambique a bit early and could get back to your family before restrictions were introduced. We heard about it, when Kenya introduced the curfew. That had mixed responses. But overall the country has not seen the high levels of infection and high deaths rates of other countries, which is good news. We hope that Kenya will not see a second wave of infections, like many European countries are experiencing. We shall watch as you share more photos of the Kenyan coastline. Keep enjoying that beautiful part of the world. And look forward to a chance to return to amazing Mozambique sometime. Thanks for your comment, Natasha.
I am in awe of all your organisation and resilience to work around all the bureaucracy and different rules to travel so widely at this time! It is also interesting to hear how other countries are handling things…the answer usually appears to be “better than the UK” I feel!
Thanks Ceri. Some of our travel was necessary, for work or get home. Other travel was an indulgence. Either way, in 2020 we travelled cautiously, rather than not at all. It has definitely been interesting to see how different countries have handled things. That has always been what we have observed, in every country where we have lived; that there is some good practice and expertise everywhere. There is no one expert or world leader. A more unified response, at least across continents, might have been better. We do feel thankful that we have waited things out in two countries where the government has passed regulations promptly, and where the leaders clearly care about the people. Let’s hope that 2021 travel will look better for everyone.
We as a family did not get to travel till December when we repatriated to Sydney, Australia. However, I managed to get two other trips in during 2020.
January SIN – DPS – SIN
Travelled to Ubud in Bali, Indonesia for a girls weekend away. Coronavirus was just beginning to rear its ugly head. We had all packed masks (which we didn’t use) and we were definitely cautious about where we went and what we did. Airports were still busy but there was a sense of apprehension in the air.
March SIN – LHR – SIN
This time I travelled alone and it wasn’t for business or pleasure but to farewell my Uncle Harry in the UK.
Coronavirus had well and truly taken hold and it was all people were talking about. Changi Airport was absolutely deserted and I had never ever seen it so quiet before. It truly summed up how fear of the virus had affected people and their travel plans. I still didn’t wear a mask but I did wipe down every single surface around me on the plane like the tray table, seat belt, arm rests, etc.
December SIN – SYD
Well this was the one we did as a family. Coronavirus had definitely established itself and social distancing, masks and hand sanitizer were all part of the new normal. Changi airport was absolutely deserted again like it was back in March but there was one very noticeable difference. Where shops were just shut in March they were now closed for good. Shelves had been emptied and signboards had been removed. There was a sense of sadness and abandonment. This trip by far was the most challenging and dramatic. From being only one of 36 passengers onboard to being ushered off our flight by medical personnel in protective gear and escorted into buses bound for 14 day quarantine by the federal and local police.
We weren’t allowed to leave the apartment so we were grateful that it had a balcony and we had access to fresh air. Food bags were placed outside our front door three times a day and there was a security guard stationed in the hallway the entire time to ensure no one left their rooms. We also got daily calls from the nurse to checkin on us.
Our days were filled with lots of board games, phone calls, video calls, sleeping in and watching our favourite shows.
On day 13 of our quarantine we were given the all clear with negative covid results and allowed to rejoin the community on day 14.
This experience is something that we are going to remember for a lifetime.
Grateful to be healthy and surrounded by my family.
Hi Carmel. We remember your ‘girls trip’ to Bali at the beginning of last year. You must have all looked back on that trip and been so glad that you went went when you did. Things changed everywhere so quickly. I will be forever thankful that you made such a huge effort to come my dad’s funeral in March. It meant so much to have you there, cousin. So many people travelled long distances to pay their respects to my father and to be there to offer support to the family. Fast forward to last December and we have watched with interest as you prepared to pack up your life in Singapore and move on. We are so glad that everything has gone well. It’s sad to hear that so many shops have closed for good at Changi. The effects of the restrictions on travel has impacted so many small businesses everywhere, and many don’t get a big pay out from their governments to keep going. Hope that the police escort from Sydney made you feel like VIPs, rather than being oppressive. Your quarantine experience sounds much better than most and very well organised. And you went through it all together, definitely a time you won’t forget. The most important thing of all is that you’re now home, together and all is well. We are delighted for you all. Enjoy everything about being home in Sydney. Thanks for your comment, Carmel. Sending big love.