I was lucky enough to be able to go on three trips in 2020. Ok, so trip one (Paris in March) was cut short as we were forced to flee the city before it was in full lockdown. The second was to Tenby in Wales for a weekend family catch up, so I am counting the second one as a trip, but also not counting it, if that makes sense. The third and the main one I will talk about here is our two week holiday to the beautiful Italian island – Sardinia, in the first week of September.
Obviously choosing to travel during a pandemic was hella risky. A risk that my boyfriend was super willing and keen to take. A risk that I really was not, so there were discussions here around the glaring uncertainties I had before I caved and decided to see what options we would have. If the government would let us holiday there, then we would. It was in their hands.
My approach to this holiday was so different from how I normally plan and prepare for normal trips; I pretty much refused to acknowledge its existence. I was under the full impression that until I was in that hotel, that it was probably not going to happen. During the waiting period from booking to flying, we were being kept up to date with the latest zig-zag of information on the international travel restrictions at present and I gotta say, the fate of this trip based on the news was most likely as I was expecting.
Miracles do happen… we were allowed out of London
We somehow avoided all of the restrictions over this time and managed to slip away and pretend, just for two weeks that the world was normal. Although I was so grateful to be able to get away and enjoy a much needed change of scenery, I also found it super odd and surreal being in this situation. We had to wear masks the second we left our flat in London, all the way to the hotel that we were staying at in Sardinia (the beautiful Hotel Aquadulci in Chia, Sardinia), a whopping 7 hours in total. Masks were compulsory at all restaurants, stores and anywhere indoors until you were seated. However, once on the beach you could look around and it would feel like I said before, 100% ‘normal’.
That is when the guilt started creeping in.
I have many friends that were not able to go on a trip this year and that was really hard for them to comprehend and accept. To go ahead and explore this picturesque Mediterranean island when literally, in the words of the wise Kourtney Kardashian, there are people that are dying, it makes it a bit shit to go on and live your best life in this setting. In amongst the Covid case numbers, we have to consider the individuals that are not directly affected and infected with the virus, that are struggling with mental illness on a scale that is unprecedented. Again, ordering your third Aperol Spritz for the day and deciding what seafood course you will have tonight, feels somewhat distasteful.
Was I able to find some light in the situation though?
Yes, and that was because Sardinia made it so easy with being such a great place and all. Also, because I owed it to my boyfriend to enjoy the time that we had as a couple there together. I really hope that if you were able to sneak away for a little trip in 2020 that you did! Because it was one helluva year and let’s be honest, not so sure when the next opportunity will present itself.
Thank you for reading,
Mel x