Page 200 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2022 DISCOVERING MADRID

Friday, May 20 16-day adventure.
Another rather dull day in isolation. I
learned this morning that they would test me
tomorrow and the next day for COVID. That’s
good news, but it also creates a little anxiety.
A negative result would free me to join Mary in
our balcony suite on deck seven.
A positive would mean more days in quaran-
tine. On the CDC website, I learned that an
asymptomatic individual, as I have been, could
conceivably carry the virus for up to three
months and test positively. But after five days,
I would not be an infectious risk to others.
More days away from Mary, our cruise bud-
dies and all the joy of being on a cruise are
hard to contemplate. As cushy as my splendid
isolation is, being trapped in a room by your-
self would bum even the most Pollyannaish
person. I'm a full-on optimist but still con-
cerned. Keep your fingers crossed.
The good news is that my vitals were normal
with another 98 oxygen reading. And Mary
again tested negative along with our friends on
board, who are being tested as contacts. A
negative reading tomorrow frees Mary from
quarantine and testing for the duration of this
200 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022
We pulled out of Hamilton Bermuda early
this morning for a short cruise to nearby Saint
George. This time my window faced the bay, so
I couldn’t see my fellow passenger's board
buses for shore excursions. Mary and I were
scheduled for an E-Bike ride through a nature
preserve. I think Mary would have really en-
joyed the experience. It was a short day in port
and we’re now sailing toward our first stop in
Canada after a day at sea.
I couldn’t focus on investigating my ances-
tors today, so I just did a lot of housekeeping
on my family tree which now has over five
thousand grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts,
uncles, nieces, and nephews. Mary has moved
on to her third book.
The outstanding crew and medical staff have
helped me put the best face on this challenging
experience. Today two friendly technicians
fully dressed in hazmat suits brought phones
for the bed stands–it’ll make it much nicer
chatting with Mary.
It’s almost happy hour in room 525. I'm sure
my mood will lighten after a large glass of
wine. Cheers my friends and send good
thoughts ,