What, Me Worry? Travels and Travails 2021-22

[allezfred]

Well security was fast this evening at Dublin Airport (no the). As I am travelling CryingAir this evening am at the far end of the terminal and boy is it packed. This mask is not coming off for love nor money.

 

[MacMadame]

Just saw this recommendation:

CDC recommends travelers get tested for COVID-19 before ‘time of departure’

While the majority of pandemic mandates have been lifted, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends COVID-19 testing before traveling this summer.

nypost.com

 

[PRlady]

Basel is a nice little city. I’m proud that I could tell the cathedral had been converted from Catholic to Protestant, that long paper I did years ago on the Reformation is useful background around here. As is being a carnivore, excellent dinner last night of parts of the cow many people are about….

Next time i would change planes in Frankfurt and fly to Basel directly to avoid midnight train of loud teenagers from Zurich!

 

[sk8pics]

Basel is a nice little city. I’m proud that I could tell the cathedral had been converted from Catholic to Protestant, that long paper I did years ago on the Reformation is useful background around here. As is being a carnivore, excellent dinner last night of parts of the cow many people are about….

Next time i would change planes in Frankfurt and fly to Basel directly to avoid midnight train of loud teenagers from Zurich!

I loved visiting Basel when I lived in Freiburg. Such a pretty city.

 

[PRlady]

I loved visiting Basel when I lived in Freiburg. Such a pretty city.

Ooo you lived in Freiburg! We are spending a day there tomorrow as it’s the only other place in the region where it won’t be pouring. What should we see?

(On another travel note, I’m going to ask my broker for companies that are starting to get out there in the air conditioning business in Central Europe. I’m serious. The Germans, Swiss et al can afford it even if the older homes can’t do central, and they are going to need it if they don’t want waves of vulnerable people dying in heat waves.)

 

[Lara]

@PRlady - I thought you were only connecting in Switzerland, nice that you can do some travelling! Have you been to Colmar or Eguisheim? I added the area to my bucket list when I started reading travel blogs this spring.

I just got back from France. Wonderful trip (will post reports) and the conference was good, but after Italy the total lack of CV precautions was pretty shocking. I’m glad in retrospect I didn’t know how it’d be or I’d never have risked going to Nice.

 

[PRlady]

@PRlady - I thought you were only connecting in Switzerland, nice that you can do some travelling! Have you been to Colmar or Eguisheim? I added the area to my bucket list when I started reading travel blogs this spring.

I just got back from France. Wonderful trip (will post reports) and the conference was good, but after Italy the total lack of CV precautions was pretty shocking. I’m glad in retrospect I didn’t know how it’d be or I’d never have risked going to Nice.

My husband’s older daughter is doing her post-doc in Basel, we are here for a few days. I’m flying home Wednesday and DH is going to Amsterdam to see his brother. I love being in new places but the travel part is still a giant PITA.

Colmar and Strasbourg will wait til another trip, it’s pouring there the next two days.

 

[Deleted member 221]

(On another travel note, I’m going to ask my broker for companies that are starting to get out there in the air conditioning business in Central Europe. I’m serious. The Germans, Swiss et al can afford it even if the older homes can’t do central, and they are going to need it if they don’t want waves of vulnerable people dying in heat waves.)

Given the war in Ukraine and energy prices, I wouldn't bet on this. For instance, Italy is forbidding a/c below 27F in public buildings, and encouraging no air conditioning at all. I suspect things will get worse before they get better.

I just got back from France. Wonderful trip (will post reports) and the conference was good, but after Italy the total lack of CV precautions was pretty shocking. I’m glad in retrospect I didn’t know how it’d be or I’d never have risked going to Nice.

Italy is an outlier in still having some C19 precautions. There are none in most of Europe now.

 

[sk8pics]

Ooo you lived in Freiburg! We are spending a day there tomorrow as it’s the only other place in the region where it won’t be pouring. What should we see?

Oh dear, it's been a long time. I recommend the Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry. No, just kidding. The center of the city where the Muenster Platz is is nice. There may be some touristy type shops around there, I can't quite remember. I lived very close to there.

 

[Lara]

It was more the conference itself that surprised me. The first workshop was in a small packed room and even so the majority of those attending didn't mask. Both the evening cocktail event and (long) dinner reception were completely indoors and the latter especially was past my comfort level. I think the timing lucked out with cases waning, but it could easily have been a superspreader event.

I still don't get why people wouldn't want to mask on a crowded tram, but I wasn't fazed by the time I got to Nice (given the timing my concern was being able to get there in the first place!) I was mostly outdoors and only masked in public transport there.

 

[allezfred]

Next time i would change planes in Frankfurt

Things must have been bad on that train.

(On another travel note, I’m going to ask my broker for companies that are starting to get out there in the air conditioning business in Central Europe. I’m serious. The Germans, Swiss et al can afford it even if the older homes can’t do central, and they are going to need it if they don’t want waves of vulnerable people dying in heat waves.)

Good luck with that!

 

[PRlady]

So everyone in Germany wore a mask on the train. No one in Switzerland did/does. There’s a doctoral thesis in there somewhere.

I have to do my video CoVID test soon and have come down with a cold. Fortunately it’s the last day of the trip….

 

[Miezekatze]

That's cause masks are still mandatory in German public transportation, but not in Switzerland.

In Germany it's still mandatory in public transport and in hospitals/at doctors, but nowhere else. In Switzerland no mask mandates anywhere.

 

[PRlady]

That's cause masks are still mandatory in German public transportation, but not in Switzerland.

In Germany it's still mandatory in public transport and in hospitals/at doctors, but nowhere else. In Switzerland no mask mandates anywhere.

Because there’s no border control or signs in English, we had to figure it out for ourselves! Fortunately we always have masks with us.

I don’t know where in Germany you live but if you could figure out how to export those fabulous long sausages from Freiburg you could make a fortune.

 

[genevieve]

I am at the airport (genevieve early of course) and am appalled at how few people are wearing masks.

 

[allezfred]

I am at the airport (genevieve early of course) and am appalled at how few people are wearing masks.

This pandemic has been a lesson in how so many people do not give a shit about other people.

 

[sk8pics]

Ooo you lived in Freiburg! We are spending a day there tomorrow as it’s the only other place in the region where it won’t be pouring. What should we see?

So, how was Freiburg? Besides the wurst?

 

[PRlady]

So, how was Freiburg? Besides the wurst?

Nice, lively city. Beautiful cathedral, good shopping. Liked it much better than Basel TBH.

And it was great to be able to get the crud test over in 20 minutes today with the proctored test. Since I do have a lousy cold, I’ll wear a mask on the flight to be considerate of others, a remedy no one in the west used to think of.

 

[genevieve]

We are not even on the plane and there is a child having an epic meltdown. Let’s hope they tire themselves out 🙏

 

[sk8pics]

Nice, lively city. Beautiful cathedral, good shopping. Liked it much better than Basel TBH.

How funny. But yeah, Freiburg was a nice place to live for a year and a half. I especially liked all the local wine fests in the area from about May til October. I still have all the little wine tasting glasses with the symbol of the particular winery that made the wine.

And it was great to be able to get the crud test over in 20 minutes today with the proctored test. Since I do have a lousy cold, I’ll wear a mask on the flight to be considerate of others, a remedy no one in the west used to think of.

Glad you are able to come back and the proctored test went well!

 

[ilovepaydays]

Leaving for Iceland tomorrow! Hoping it’s not too cold and/or rainy! 😀

My flight (Dulles to Reykjavik) is nonstop and arrives early in the AM. Hoping to see plenty of the city before I hit the Golden Circle & South Coast. Then I’ll hit the Blue Lagoon before flying back on Monday.

 

[ballettmaus]

(On another travel note, I’m going to ask my broker for companies that are starting to get out there in the air conditioning business in Central Europe. I’m serious. The Germans, Swiss et al can afford it even if the older homes can’t do central, and they are going to need it if they don’t want waves of vulnerable people dying in heat waves.)

Given the energy prices in Germany, I doubt you'll see many A/Cs in Germany any time soon.

German/European windows also can't accommodate window units and other units are expensive and likely require permits, so don't waste your money.

 

[PRlady]

Given the energy prices in Germany, I doubt you'll see many A/Cs in Germany any time soon.

German/European windows also can't accommodate window units and other units are expensive and likely require permits, so don't waste your money.

I understand all that and I know about the window units. But the heat waves are coming and vulnerable people will suffer. It’s going to be a public health issue.

 

[Deleted member 221]

I understand all that and I know about the window units. But the heat waves are coming and vulnerable people will suffer. It’s going to be a public health issue.

Bucket of ice and a fan - plus heavy blackout external shutters as many Mediterranean homes have.

In winter, multiple sweaters / blankets. The days of cheap energy are over, and people are going to need to learn to do without.

 

[ballettmaus]

I understand all that and I know about the window units. But the heat waves are coming and vulnerable people will suffer. It’s going to be a public health issue.

Sure is but Italy, France, Spain and Portugal have always had heatwaves and as far as I know, A/C isn't widely popular in any of those countries.

Germans are just incredibly energy-conscious (sometimes in an extreme way that takes things a bit too far, in my opinion) and like to avoid (most) everything that eats up a lot of energy. Germans also tend to rent rather than own, so anything that isn't a window unit, is going to be a logistical problem to install. Window units would also likely face a noise problem.

(Sorry for the off-topic but I couldn't think of any place to move this to).

 

[genevieve]

Heading to Indonesia on Saturday, and their government just lifted the PCR requirement for entry. Another $200 saved, whee!

Having a good time in Singapore, but it's just too hot to be outside for very long!

 

[Deleted member 221]

Sure is but Italy, France, Spain and Portugal have always had heatwaves and as far as I know, A/C isn't widely popular in any of those countries.

Depends on the region. But outside of tourist places it’s used sparingly because it costs so much (even before Russia’s war on Ukraine). Heating or cooling your home to American standards will cost as much as rent. Building construction and heat mitigation efforts, e.g., heavy shutters, are the main ways to keep the heat out. Some regions still take long breaks during the hottest parts of the day because it’s too hot to do anything.

 

[Miezekatze]

I bought a small water/ice based air cooler for my home office, but I think it's more like a bit of a refresher for emergency when it's really hot for several weeks in a row. Haven't used it yet, since it's now cool.

My office has A/C. In regard to workplaces I'd say about 50% of the offices I worked in the last 20 years had a/c here in Germany.

I know some people who have installed a/cs in private homes. I think it will become more common here for sure,regardless of energy prices.

 

[MacMadame]

We were talking about housekeeping at hotels at some point. Here's an interesting article about it from the POV of housekeeping:

Housekeepers struggle as US hotels ditch daily room cleaning

HONOLULU (AP) — After guests checked out of a corner room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort on Waikiki beach, housekeeper Luz Espejo collected enough trash, some strewn under beds, to stuff seven large garbage bags.

apnews.com

tl;dr housekeepers hate this reduction in housekeeping because it makes their jobs a lot harder. Plus, for some of them, the reduction in hours is harming their families.

 

[genevieve]

I mean, who treats their hotel room like a dumpster? I don’t let housekeeping in but also leave the room in great shape because: respect.