COVID Holiday

A week-long trip planned for London through Paris took some crazy turns because of Omicron. I took four COVID tests in five days: (1) to leave Spain to enter France (even though I don’t believe this one was required because travelers may enter one EU country from another, but I was afraid my American passport and American vaccinations might throw a wrench into the process and I didn’t want to take any chances); (2) a test in France in order to enter the UK; (3) once in the UK, a PCR test required by the UK government; and (4) a test in the UK to re-enter France. All were negative, but a hassle to find, to arrange, to stand in line for even with an appointment, and, of course, slightly uncomfortable.

But the biggest COVID disruption came two days into the week-long stay in London, when France decided that 36 hour later, it would not let anyone from the UK enter France without an essential reason. Despite the disappointment in not being able to spend the full week in London as planned, I did understand France’s decision. In Paris, everyone was required to wear a mask indoors and to show proof of vaccination upon entering a restaurant or bar, etc. But London, which has been one of the biggest COVID hot spots outside of Africa, did not require masks nor proof of vaccination. And of course, France just hates England on principle.

At least we had two days in London for fish and chips, a couple of Guinnesses, Harrods, and the Tower of London.

I felt a little like a refugee forced to flee, but after much consternation, confusion, and a lot of credit card transactions, a trip back to France was arranged. Luckily, my friend in France was happy to take us in. THANK YOU!!

While in the Paris train station awaiting the train to Nogent sur Vernisson, a man tried to steal my suitcase. I had placed the bag behind my chair and I didn’t notice anthing amiss until a French train station policeman (from the SNCF) asked me if the bag was mine. The policeman had a man firmly in his grip who was rolling the bag away and claimed it was his. It was mine, I said. The Police asked me to complete a report against the man who appeared to be scared and begged me not to press charges. I told the Police that I didn’t have time. My friend was meeting me at the station in Nogent and I had already missed one train and I did not intend to miss this one. After boarding the train, an announcement was made over the intercom asking that the woman who had been robbed in the station to please report to the platform. ME?? Oh Jeez. So, I de-trained and was immediately surrounded by four or five very nice, very tough, and very attractive French policemen who asked me questions and took down my information. At first they said they wanted me to wait for the Chief of Police to arrive. CHIEF OF POLICE OF PARIS??? I think it must have been the Chief of Police of the train station, or maybe the Chief of Police for all the train stations, but it was pretty impressive! The incident had already delayed the train for 30 minutes and people on the train and in the station were getting irritated.

Ultimately, the Police gave me the assailant’s name and told me to go to the nearest police station at my earliest convenience to make a report. I felt a civic responsibity to do so, but my friends convinced me that it would be my Christmas good deed to let the fellow go. He may have a family…maybe he needed food… He was pretty sketchy looking, but I let it go in the end.

What a friggin’ day! What if I’d lost all my blue jeans??

Christmas with friends and neighbors in Rogny was lovely (see below)…

And Post Script, my daughter is COVID positive as are two good friends. So, please, as they said on NYPD Blue, “Be careful out there”!!