Jeanne's Next Chapter: Travel in the Time of Covid

We are grateful to be able to make this trip while our world is still struggling with the pandemic of Covid. The idea of a three week walk seemed to be a low risk activity but we have still had to be around people in restaurants and in our lodging. We have found people to be pretty matter of fact about the requirements in Italy. Hospitality workers all wear masks and the customers do when going inside. The majority of adults in Italy have been vaccinated, although many only in recent months.

The EU has a digital “Green Pass” that residents have on their phones to show the have been vaccinated. To eat inside a restaurant or to enter many sights like a cathedral or museum, you must show a Green Pass. We were able to show our CDC vaccination card as an alternative. Luckily for us, the weather allowed us to eat outside on terraces and patios for most of our meals.

It is obvious that Italy is still struggling because of fewer tourists. There are Italians traveling within their country as well as other Europeans but during our entire trip we have only encountered a handful of Americans. This time of year, Italy would be crowded with tourists from Asia and the United States. We have stayed in several places where we were the only guests that night. One night at a small agriturismo, it was as if we had our own private “nonna” cooking for us. Two of our hotels had recently closed their restaurants. We were received graciously and we can only hope that tourism rebounds soon.

We need to show proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of our return flight. So this afternoon we took our rapid Covid antigen test (which amazingly we were able to pick up free test kits at the Rocky River Public Library before we left) and were so relieved when the man on the computer screen gave us our negative results. We are having an amazing experience but we are also very eager to return home.