Wednesday
Dear Elsie
Today was quite the roller coaster ride. After a week of anxiety that Granpa may have Covid, today he tested negative and we were able to get on the ship. We left our apartment early in search of a place that will do Covid tests. After going from one (closed forever) place to another, we soon learned the inaccuracy of the internet information we had been reading (Covid testing places on just about every corner). Eventually, at 7:30am, we found a chemist but it only opened at 8am. We walked through the streets of Venice pondering whether our tests would be positive or not. By 8am, we were back at the chemist. The pharmacist opened the doors and we told her what we needed. She explained the process:
- We would fill in the form.
- She would photocopy our passports.
- Then we would go to a testing site at a church a short walk away.
- They would test us.
- We would walk back with the results.
- She would issue us with a formal certificate with a QR code.
It was all very official. We filled in the forms and handed them in. Suddenly, she burst into smiles – 28th February, she said to Mike – same birthday as me. It lightened our anxiety. The fact that we were going to church for a Covid test was also surprising. We walked to the church venue. Massive church in a square. This was the door.
We were the only ones and the attendants were super friendly. Mike did his test first. I watched as the lady performed the test, then put the swab in the gel and swished it around, before dropping the drops onto the testing pad. Then it was my turn. After she had taken my swab, I returned to my seat and watched them looking at Mike’s test. My heart sank. Surely his would be positive. We waited a few minutes longer and then the lovely lady looked across at us and gave us a thumbs up. Everything was fine. It was such a surreal moment. We were so sure Mike and maybe even I would have some lurgy lurking in the recesses of our nose! She came across and gave us the papers with the results.
We were jubilant and thankful. The negative antigen test trumped the medical form and we could board the ship. We let family and friends know & returned to our apartment to check out. We packed up and checked out at 10am. We headed for the people carrier and were whisked off to the Cruise Terminal. The process was smooth and painless, with very little waiting at each point. Checking in…
After checking in, going through security and then passport control, we had to board a bus to be taken to the ship. I thought it would be a proper bus, but it wasn’t. This is Venice after all. Elsie, do you know you can have a water bus?! It doesn’t even look like a bus. It’s a boat!
This was on the water bus…
It took about 20 minutes for us to reach the ship. It was cramped and hot in the water bus & we were glad when the ship came into sight…
What was interesting is we didn’t go onto the dock again. We went straight onto the ship from a boarding platform. Before we even got to our cabin, we got internet loaded on our phones and my computer and were up and running. It was 1pm. We couldn’t believe we had made it. So grateful. We settled into our cabin. I always enjoy views from the dock.
By 5:13pm, with the sun already set, we were slowly cruising out of Venice.
We are now exhausted and ready for bed.
John 1:16
For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Undeserved favour for sure.
The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Granny xx 🙂