Page 197 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2022 DISCOVERING MADRID

“Sometimes your luck just runs out.
Mine did yesterday and I'll be alone for

at least five days in an ocean view suite
on Deck 5 of the Seven Seas Navigator.”

Tuesday May 17 soaked olives.
It was really only a matter of time; I suppose. What actually happened was even more
Traveling is a risky business, to begin with, and bizarre - kind of like a science fiction movie di-
even more so in the time of COVID, no matter rected by Mel Brooks. After about four hours,
how careful you are. Sometimes your luck just the knock finally came. I put on my best big boy
runs out. Mine did yesterday and I'll be alone for face, donned my mask, hugged Mary, and
at least five days in an ocean view suite on Deck opened the door. At least three fully hazmatted
5 of the Seven Seas Navigator. crew members greeted me in the long hallway
Yesterday, after a lovely lunch with cruise leading to the glass elevators. Thankfully, they
buddies in Charleston, we all lined up in the had cleared it of guests. An extension cord ran
ship’s lounge for the required COVID test for the length of the hallway connected to some
entry into Bermuda. Mary and I had already kind of virus-zapping fogging machine that
taken two antigen tests within the last week– would follow me down to the elevators to my
one to return to the US and the other to board new room. Four more crew members in the
the ship. Both were negative. same getup kept innocent bystanders away.
Within an hour the ship's doctor called to tell Another team met me at deck five and busily
me my test was positive. In minutes they were in zapped and sanitized with other mysterious de-
our room giving me a more definitive PCR test. vices as I passed through a large door and down
It was also positive. Fortunately, Mary’s test the hallway to cabin 525. My splendid isolation–
was negative. with full room service - had begun.
And so it began. I was told to pack everything While I make light of the seemingly over-the-
I'd need for at least five days of isolation in an- top transport, I’m sincerely impressed with the
other Heppa-filtered cabin. In shock, we quickly commitment of the ship’s crew to keep their
threw clothes, etc. into a couple of bags. And passengers safe and healthy. A nurse visits
then waited for minutes that soon became twice a day. Meanwhile, Mary is tested daily as a
hours for my escort of medical personnel. close contact and has been hunkered down most
My mind raced with nightmare scenarios. Be- days in our balcony suite.
ing separated from Mary. Being perp-walked Other than experiencing a minor head and
through the throngs of martini-toting cruisers.. chest congestion that I thought were allergies,
“Oh my god," would they think. "Was he on my I’m feeling OK. Mary remains negative and we
tour to Fort Sumter? Was he in the elevator with chat on the phone frequently, counting our
me?" And then they would pelt me with vodka- blessings in these pandemic times

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