We finally took our first vacation since this whole covid madness started. Halleluyah!. You might remember our last trip back in March of 2020 when we barely escaped the lockdown in Sicily. We had to return to Spain via France. Yeah, scary days. In some ways, it seems like yesterday, but in others, like a whole millennium ago.
Our First Vacation In A While:
Back then, travel was easy and carefree, and then it all changed. These days, things are almost nerve-wracking. There are still so many requirements for international travel, and we are not quite ready for that yet.
My plans to take a quick trip to Paris became so convoluted with the constant moving of the goalpost by Macron that l scrapped it altogether. (Update: Fingers crossed, it seems we might just need the vaccination record and no more PCR or Antigen test so who knows, we might do it still.)
Valencia Life:
Life in Valencia is getting back to normal. There are definitely more and more tourists in the city. A good sign is that the tourist hop-on-hop-off buses are back in operation and are filled. It really is good to see.
The restaurants are also back, and a lot of them have taken over parking spots to accommodate outside eating since most people still prefer that.
- The sucky thing is that infections are creeping up, so we are back to a curfew at 1 am which lasts till 6 am in 32 high risk places which includes Valencia city.
- No alcohol can be sold from 8pm.
- Nightclubs are closed again.
- Maximum of 10 people per table outside and 6 inside.
- You don’t have to wear a mask if there is enough space between people but since it is still required in stores and on public transportation, everyone still wears them but it’s good for people on bikes and runners etc.
Travel Plans Update:
I had mentioned on the last update that Italy and Nigeria were on the travel plans for us, but neither is looking good right now unless the rules change. Rome is way too hot, and l am still wary of the numbers, plus his mom is busy tending to her grandchildren while her daughter is away.
I also don’t relish a quarantine at home in Nigeria despite being vaccinated, plus the price of a visa for him, currently at approximately $500 plus BEFORE the plane ticket!. That is more triple what he paid last time ($160), so no thank you.)
This has put a damper on the possibility of him going, so l will probably go alone once the quarantine is lifted unless the price comes down, something l doubt will happen.
Both trips have been pushed back to September for now. I absolutely refuse to go anywhere where l need to do any sort of test to enter. It’s almost become a money-making scheme for the airlines, and there is no uniformity either, with people being turned back at the gate because the rules are so unclear. Trains and cars will do just fine for me for now.
READ ABOUT OUR PENISCOLA TRIP:
Since we’ve both been leery of travel, we chose to stick with places in Spain, and for our first vacation, we visited Peñiscola, one of the lovely beachy towns in the province.
Needless to say, had this been during regular times, we would have not been able to go. The population explodes in the summertime. Lots of people from Russia and Britain, plus all the Spanish people with holiday homes there.
I didn’t mean for this post to be a long one :-). I have written about our vacation on the Valencia blog since it’s more relevant. Please head over there to read it on this Peniscola post.
As somebody who is also enjoying their first vacation since the Covid madness started, I can say that I totally understand how you feel about being able to travel again 🙂 It’s indeed an advantage now to be vaccinated – from a traveler’s perspective as well – since it makes it a lot easier to get in most countries. We’ll probably have to get used to do some surfing though and navigate through the waves of the pandemic until things finally settle down…
It feels good, doesn’t it? Plus, you guys are so lucky to have the place practically to yourselves. Yes, it’s hard to believe people are still resisting the vaccine. Think back to all past diseases and if our parents and grandparents had been as selfish. Yeah, I am not relishing the surfing right now, but eventually, it will sort itself out. Enjoy! :-).
Enjoyed reading this post about your getting out in new surroundings. I hope you both soon travel to see family in Nigeria and Italy once prices come down and there are fewer regulations.
All the best,
Annie
Hi Annie, I hope you and Steve are enjoying your travels and are looking forward to Europe. Local for us for a while till things settle down. We have new measures as of yesterday. I am getting pretty tired of them :-).
Great minds think alike Kem! I am also going to Italy (Naples, Amalfi coast and Sicily) in a week and then Paris in September probably. Hope all is well.
Have a great time! Some friends just came back from Italy and they loved the small crowds. All is well, and can’t wait to hear the stories :-).
Kemkem thank you for this update. Lovely to see you making travel plans and enjoying your first holiday since last year. We loved Peniscola and I could not resist taking that photo with the town name either 😀
I would love to visit family in Brazil, but like your trip to Nigeria it is complicated and expensive…perhaps next year.
Thanks for reading Gilda! Things are so complicated right now, and the ever-changing rules are enough to drive one insane! When it’s the right time, we will both get to visit families. Next year hopefully sounds about right. Peniscola is pretty great, and that sign just begs for that picture … hahaha