Wednesday, September 7, 2022

the problem with travel

Exactly why I declared I would not travel during Covid! It's nearly 3 p.m. and I have spent the day so far on hold. First with Aeroplan, because I haven't received a boarding pass email from Air Canada. Waited an hour, tried another number, gave up, I'll get it at the airport. 

Then with the province of Ontario, trying to download an electronic version of my vax certificate. I have a printout but not the electronic version on my phone, and the website will not let me in. Hates me. Have tried 3 different government sites to get help. One wanted me to download Chrome which ended up being even more complicated. One told me to call border services, where I ended up somehow getting information on the legalization of marijuana. 

Surely the printout should be enough. But I don't want to be caught out in case. 

My friend Patrick to the rescue. He's coming over to see if we can download through his computer rather than mine. 

Took another Covid test awhile ago, again negative. Have a sore throat, feeling fragile. Maybe I'm just stressed because this is the first international travel since spring 2019! And I don't want to leave my chair. I love my chair. Why am I doing this to myself? Plus getting to the airport many hours early because of chaos there. Plus, as my son kindly has pointed out, I'm flying back from New York on Sept. 11. 

ADVENTURE. Get away. See something else. Rip up these roots, even just for a few days.

But right now, I'm regretting that decision.

However, the great thing is - this trip is not urgent. If something happens and I can't go, no biggie. So relax, you idiot! 

Relax? What means this word?

PS It's 3.40 and my shoulders are finally moving down from my ears. Patrick guided me through the ArriveCan app, which is convoluted and ridiculous, and we simply scanned my printout so it's on my phone. Problem solved. The minute he left, out of the blue, I got an email from Health Ontario offering a download of my vax certificate, and it let me in instantly, after refusing for two days. I didn't ask them to email me. The world works in mysterious ways. I now have more vax certificates than I know what to do with. 

It's a beautiful day. I've been on the phone all day. Time for a walk in the sun. 

PPS. I know. First world problems. 

4 comments:

  1. Sending good wishes and looking forward to your report after your weekend in New York. (Weekend in New York! How amazing that sounds...)
    tk

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    1. It's always at this point with travel, even with a trip as short as a weekend, that I think, Never again, it's not worth it. This time it's the Covid prep, plus as always organizing house, garden, tenants etc. But once there, I always forget the stress. There will be pictures! I carry your good wishes with me, thank you, TK.

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    2. Bethy-Beth (so much for my anonymity), I’ve just had an airport experience. On Tuesday I flew from Victoria to Toronto. While no airport experience really qualifies as ‘delightful’ (Billy Bishop possibly once did, though I suspect that has now changed), I predict you won’t find it quite as stressful as you’ve been led to believe. The employees really do try hard to accommodate and help you. Chances are your suitcase WON’T be lost. Take it a step at a time (easy for me to say, I know), you’ll get there and back, and yes, there will be pictures, which a lot of us yearn to see. BTW, the Uber service, to and from, was fabulous.
      Bon voyage.
      Love you.

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    3. Nickynicknick, you are absolutely right, the voyage was absolutely painless. After all the fuss about the vax certificate, no one has yet asked to see it. Everything was on time and seamless. Glad your trip was as well. Yes, there will be pictures! Love to you.

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