Page 8 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL FALL 2021 DISCOVERING SANTA FE

RON & MARY’S

EDITOR’S NOTE

UNCHARTED WATERS

e’re about to begin a three-month adven- countries on the way to a final destination, you may
ture in Spain and Portugal. It’s been a long face different requirements for testing and vaccina-
Wtime in coming, for obvious reasons. Over tion.
the past 18 months, we planned the trip three times, Our airline canceled the London to Lisbon leg of our
but Covid surges and lockdowns in the US and in Eu- upcoming trip. There were quarantine issues if you had
rope forced us to postpone, again and again.. It looks as to layover in London. So we decided to travel to
if this one will happen, but we can’t be sure. Newark and fly directly to Portugal to avoid any has-
Just a few months ago, it looked like we had gained sles transiting another country.
on the pandemic. Covid cases and deaths plummeted Perhaps the biggest unknown is the duration and
as vaccinations increased. The numbers led to fewer strength of the current surge. Will the dramatic rise in
Covid restrictions and more confidence in safe travel. infections and deaths in the United States lead other
But too often this proved premature. Portugal, for in- countries to again closes their doors on American visi-
stance, welcomed thousands of Europeans to popular tors? Will people continue dying needlessly because
summer vacations spots - no vaccination or testing brainwashed and ill-informed citizens refuse to be vac-
needed. Enter the Delta variant. Lockdowns, curfews, cinated or wear a mask? Will the politicians who have
and travel restrictions returned. Again the Covid cases recklessly resisted calls for mask mandates, testing,
declined, and again travel seemed possible. When and vaccinations finally wake up and join in taking the
Spain and Portugal allowed vaccinated and Covid- much-needed steps to secure citizens around the
tested Americans to enter without quarantine, we fi- world from this scourge?
nally made flight reservations. We know now that we cannot change minds about
We have to monitor what remains an ever-changing the pandemic and the battle against it. But it seems
situation. Testing requirements can change almost more and more certain we must mandate vaccines or
daily - and are different for each country. Portugal cur- require regular testing and restrictions for the unvacci-
rently requires a Covid test every time you check into a nated. Mandatory vaccinations are on the rise in col-
hotel or Airbnb. If you want to dine indoors in Portugal, leges, businesses, institutions, and government
guests have to prove they are vaccinated or show a agencies — and are motivating folks to get their jabs.
negative covid test taken within the last 72 hours. Will we ever get to herd immunity and resume our
Airlines cancel flights at the drop of a hat, forcing normal lives? We don’t really know — we’re all in un-
passengers to re-route, many times at a higher cost of charted waters.
time and money. If an itinerary brings you into different Ron & Mary James
Publishers & Editors

8 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2021