When we arrived in Portugal on February 2, 2020, the coronavirus was not on our radar as a vacation changing, a life changing, rapidly spreading problem. A month later it slowly arrived in the Northern part of Portugal….we were in the South. It didn’t stay ‘slow’ for very long and the question we were asking ourselves, “should we go home now or wait and see what happens?” Sunshine and beaches vs snow and cold.
The decision was made for us when on March 13, 2020 we received an email from our insurance carrier with the message: come home. After 10 days we would have no insurance coverage for COVID -19 if we contracted the disease outside Canada.
Our flights home were with British Airways from Faro to London, then the next day home with Westjet. First we changed our flight with Westjet. If you discount the three hour wait to get through, Westjet staff were helpful and the process was smooth. We were able to book a flight home on the 19th of March. Then we changed our flight from Faro to London for the 18th. Although we were not able to come straight through on the same day, we were very thankful to have confirmed flights.
For me, then the hard part started. We self isolated, only going out for essentials, and watched the country close down a little more each day, until even the beaches were closed. The day I heard Westjet was cancelling all international flights midnight on the 19th my heart dropped even further… and I did not think that was possible. Daryl was much more relaxed and pragmatic than I was….I was running on pure anxiety!
The morning we left, the street in front of our apartment was so empty. The skies were crying.
The airport at Faro wasn’t crazy busy until we arrived at the departures gate. The bus we took from our gate to the plane holds 80 people. The maximum load has been restricted to 30.
Arrival at Gatwick was uneventful. The airport was not busy, except for people waiting for luggage. Thankfully we only had carry on so were were out of there in a flash.
We stopped at a cash machine as the shuttle to our hotel only took cash and we had no pounds….only to get on the bus and realize they took Euros. Trust me, it was not a free withdrawal:)
This was my biggest chuckle of the day. There is a KFC and a McDonalds within walking distance of the South Terminal, even though I didn’t see anything else close by.
On our way to the hotel, Daryl and I were the only people on the shuttle. And the streets were eerily quiet.
Next morning we left from the North Terminal. There were people everywhere. The flight was packed.
We arrived at our gate and there was the Westjet plane. My anxiety level immediately dropped several notches. My biggest fear through all this was getting sick in a foreign country, even though I had no concerns with the Portuguese health care. I had already tried it!!
After another uneventful flight we landed in Calgary. Felt like such a load lifted when we walked on Canadian soil. I personally thought the arrivals process was handled professionally and adequate information given out. We did have to attest we would go home to self isolate for 14 days.
Travelling with a Nexus card and carry on luggage is the way to go. We did not have to stand in the line ups to get through security or wait for luggage. We were out of the airport probably 15 minutes after landing.
Our kids have brought us food and on-line ordering works.
Please, stay home, stay away from people, keep your kids and your parents safe.
Let’s do our part to keep everyone safe.
Ruth
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