Bubbles for Bubbles

Emerging from the pandemic to travel again.

My Facebook profile photo for the last year. I said I wouldn’t change it until I was traveling again.

I’m often asked with surprise, “So YOU get anxious before you travel?  But you travel so much”  Yes, I travel and yes, I get a bit of nervousness before going.  Traveling is the ultimate out-of-comfort-zone experience and it is bound to cause a little worry.  You’re leaving your home, pets or kids, culture, food.

There are a lot of “what if’s”. What if I miss a connection (I only have 5 hrs 42 mins to connect)?  What if I left the iron plugged in (really?  I haven’t ironed in two years and I certainly won’t start before a 6am flight. And my husband is staying back this time for the sole purpose of unplugging the iron).  Can anyone relate to these will-surely-not-happen-(but-could) thoughts?

But what about now?  After the year we’ve all had, how do we come out of the shell?  I think in some ways, we’re going to have to relearn to travel.  There will be new rules  - additional paperwork at the airport, finding a virus test in a foreign country, learning and adjusting to the mask and distancing rules of another country.

What if I miscalculated the 48 hour rapid Covid test, given the change in time zones?  What if I spill red wine on my vaccination card?

But the trade-off, in my opinion, is completely worth it.  The chance to see new horizons, experience  new cultures, try new foods and see history up close.  And to meet new people who may not have talked to many others outside of their bubble in quite a while either.

I’ll be one of the first US travelers back to France in two days.  So even though I say these things now, it’s completely possible that as I walk out the door I’ll feel anxiety leaving my cozy little Covid bubble.  See, you’re not alone!  But as always, I’m trusting my own abilities and the kindness of strangers, which never ceases to amaze me, no matter where I go.  How will it be?  I’ll trade my Covid bubble for champagne bubbles and let you know..