STRANDED - PART 5

HOME AT LAST - PART 5

By the time I got to Oldenburg my entire tour had been canceled. Okay, I thought. This will give me some time to visit friends while I search for a reasonably priced return ticket. Little did I know how quickly everything would change.

The first few days after I settled into my lovely, temporary home I walked to and from the city center which was about 30 minutes from my location. Of course, everyone was concerned – if not scared – of contracting COVID. Self-quarantine was urgently recommended and seriously adhered to in Oldenburg.

Bus drivers wore masks and the drivers seat as well as first three rows were blocked. Passengers where no longer allowed to enter the bus through the front door. It didn't matter that there was less seating. People were afraid to be in closed spaces so for the most part the buses remained empty.

It was eerie to see the streets completely deserted. The sun was shining so beautifully, the temperature was perfect, yet there was no one to be seen. The scenario reminded me of the “last man on earth” movies where a lone person walks the streets of a beautiful city searching for a sign of life.

I kept thinking this can't be real. Watching the news and listening to the Don's commentary - “It's one person coming in from China and we have it under control”, “One day, it's like a miracle, it will disappear”, “We're doing a great job. Just wait. It will disappear”, “a very contagious virus...but...we have tremendous control over it”, “The 15 cases within a couple of days is going to be down close to zero”.

The U.S. had not yet taken COVID-19 seriously and neither did I. The president was defying every recommendation from the CDC and medical community and encouraging U.S. Citizens to do the same. Quarantining and the travel ban would come much too late to save the lives of tens of thousands of people who would die during the first months.

I was in the safest place I could possibly be in. I was disappointed because Rey could not be with me in Germany, but he was in the next safest place, self-quarantined in the rural village in Mexico we'd chosen to make our home months before the public was made aware of the deadly virus.

I concentrated on remaining happy and healthy until I could get a return flight to Mexico. Then the Don announces a travel ban. Americans must return to the states by March 13^th. Borders between Mexico and the U.S. were closed and Mexico restricted non-essential travel from Europe. A return ticket would now cost over $2,000. I needed to earn money to purchase my ticket. I missed the deadline.

Please like and subscribe!

I would be very happy if you read my stories, leave comments and share your experiences with me. I hope my sharing will be an inspiration and a source of discovery for you as it has been for me!

Sincerely yours,

Empress

© Copyright November 5, 2020

It's free to subscribe. Your paid membership helps me to continue sharing my adventures. Thank you for your encouragement.