It's official
After
We are 'persona non grata' in Canada and have been kicked to the proverbial Canadian curb. My call to their customs office to discuss our ability to return to the island at the beginning of June went something like this...
We have a property and pay taxes in Canada!
"Who cares?"
But we help support the local economy!
"Whatever"
My family is in Canada and my poor mother is all alone!
"Beat it"
But I am suffering from altitude sickness (the lack of it) and my plane needs me!!!
"@(*^&%^)&%!!!!!" CLICK
I even went to the US state department web site to look up a few verses of "OH Canada" to hum it during our conversation, but was met with the cold heart of someone living in the frozen north of the land of the free and home of the brave. The border is shut tight until June 22 at least, and most likely until the end of July. So we are required to pay our Canadian property taxes, but have been forbidden to enjoy our property - for the time being at least. It raises the question if anyone is taking political advice from the likes of Maduro. Our island is 30 bloody feet inside Canadian waters....so close but so far. Close but no cigar.
Then, our return tickets were cancelled by the airline and they put us through hell to reschedule. Janice spent hours and hours on the phone only to have her calls dropped and have to start over from scratch, time and again. I get that this is all a real drag for the airlines but I would rather be forced to play a round of golf than to go through that again. As of now, we are scheduled to fly on June 18th with a few days to see to medical appointments before storming the border on the 26th. Ready or not Canada, here we come.
For our flight, we will dress for success: Chernobyl casual (mask and gloves). No matter that we have self isolated for the past 3 months, we have already been told that we will essentially be political prisoners under house arrest, in TOTAL quarantine for 14 days with the Covid police checking on us by phone and visits to make sure we have not left the island. Huge fines await scofflaws. We will be at the mercy of friends to keep us supplied with food and drink. Especially drink.
For the life of me, I can't see how the airlines will get back on their feet. Thousands of flights are cancelled so if you want to fly to the few places you might be allowed to, you have to run through the gauntlet to get a seat. Then again, they have so few people wanting to fly because of the virus, besides having little interest in going somewhere where so much is closed. With so few customers they are hardly going to fly empty planes so they cancel more flights. More flights canceled translates in fewer choices to book. It's a vicious circle, a death spiral and a race to the bottom.
In our case, we had prepaid, confirmed reservations for our return and we managed to re book new dates for 16 days later (June 18th). Initially, we were told that since the 'service level' we had booked initially was no longer available, (somewhere between cargo and economy) we would HAVE to upgrade for a mere 2800 Euros (over $3000). After sharing our feelings on that proposal, we managed to find an agent where cooler heads could prevail.
Even going to a restaurant (as they begin to open) my niece asked how many people would want to go and be served by someone wearing a mask and gloves and with a Plexiglas screen between you and the next table? Would you? Me neither.
Meanwhile, our last days here were in the phase 1 opening of French society. Like most places, I suspect, the authorities are winging it, changing the rules almost daily, insisting that they are making decisions based on the science and data, pretending that they are in control and dictating what is best for us. Aside from the arguments that some of the rules laws or executive decrees maybe of questionable legality, they are often conflicting and some make little sense. One of our local beaches opened recently, with the authorities present to enforce the rules. After you report and sanitize your hands before walking out on the sand (?), the sign below shows (albeit in French) that you may swim, walk and jog. But you may not picnic, sunbathe, or play any beach games. You can walk back and forth in your swimsuit but not sit and get a tan. Got that?
Then, our return tickets were cancelled by the airline and they put us through hell to reschedule. Janice spent hours and hours on the phone only to have her calls dropped and have to start over from scratch, time and again. I get that this is all a real drag for the airlines but I would rather be forced to play a round of golf than to go through that again. As of now, we are scheduled to fly on June 18th with a few days to see to medical appointments before storming the border on the 26th. Ready or not Canada, here we come.
For our flight, we will dress for success: Chernobyl casual (mask and gloves). No matter that we have self isolated for the past 3 months, we have already been told that we will essentially be political prisoners under house arrest, in TOTAL quarantine for 14 days with the Covid police checking on us by phone and visits to make sure we have not left the island. Huge fines await scofflaws. We will be at the mercy of friends to keep us supplied with food and drink. Especially drink.
For the life of me, I can't see how the airlines will get back on their feet. Thousands of flights are cancelled so if you want to fly to the few places you might be allowed to, you have to run through the gauntlet to get a seat. Then again, they have so few people wanting to fly because of the virus, besides having little interest in going somewhere where so much is closed. With so few customers they are hardly going to fly empty planes so they cancel more flights. More flights canceled translates in fewer choices to book. It's a vicious circle, a death spiral and a race to the bottom.
In our case, we had prepaid, confirmed reservations for our return and we managed to re book new dates for 16 days later (June 18th). Initially, we were told that since the 'service level' we had booked initially was no longer available, (somewhere between cargo and economy) we would HAVE to upgrade for a mere 2800 Euros (over $3000). After sharing our feelings on that proposal, we managed to find an agent where cooler heads could prevail.
Even going to a restaurant (as they begin to open) my niece asked how many people would want to go and be served by someone wearing a mask and gloves and with a Plexiglas screen between you and the next table? Would you? Me neither.
Meanwhile, our last days here were in the phase 1 opening of French society. Like most places, I suspect, the authorities are winging it, changing the rules almost daily, insisting that they are making decisions based on the science and data, pretending that they are in control and dictating what is best for us. Aside from the arguments that some of the rules laws or executive decrees maybe of questionable legality, they are often conflicting and some make little sense. One of our local beaches opened recently, with the authorities present to enforce the rules. After you report and sanitize your hands before walking out on the sand (?), the sign below shows (albeit in French) that you may swim, walk and jog. But you may not picnic, sunbathe, or play any beach games. You can walk back and forth in your swimsuit but not sit and get a tan. Got that?
Ironically, 200 feet away is another beach (one of 95 within 30 miles of our front door) with no signs, or controls of any kind. They pretend to be in charge, we pretend to comply.
Meanwhile, we had our first breakout from isolation in 2 months at home
Next we had lunch at our neighbor's villa
seen next to me on above pic
On the other hand, being home so much has allowed us to get 3 months to the gallon in our car.
Occupational therapy
Ok, being locked up for a few months saw us move ahead on our renovations here on the lower unfinished area at a pace we had never anticipated. Finished we are not, but a few areas did see completion. Here are just two of them. The before and after pics should tell the story.
Before: Someone's idea of a shower
After
Laundry room before
After
Meanwhile...Janice said she would put a coin in a bucket every time I irritated her.
She started an hour ago.
