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Traveling through Europe. Covid19 in Spring 2021.
My adventures passing the Alpes. Make sure you check all the individual rules
I sit at my desk. My train to Austria is booked. All set. All set? I check the travel guidelines for entering Austria. I fill out an extensive form: Train number, birth date, passport number, hotel address, date of corona test. Corona test? I search for the closest test station. I book an appointment for ten minutes later. Ten minutes later, I arrive at the test station. Nobody knows which test is required to enter Austria. I take the one that is covered by health insurance. “You know the procedure?” “Yes.” “I’ll swipe for ten seconds.” “Ten seconds?” “Just breathe and relax.” I do not breathe. I cramp for ten seconds. My nose still hurts when I meet Colin for lunch. “Have you put in your contact data for the corona tracing?” the waitress asks. “No, not yet.” I hurry back to my Zoom meetings. On my way, I stop at a pharmacy. My instinct tells me to buy FFP2 masks. “We only sell them single-packed.” “Okay, I take five.” I will be traveling for five days. “15 Francs.”
The next day I teach at school in person. I teach for four hours. I wear a mask for four hours. Later, I take the train to Zurich. I switch trains in Zurich. Zurich — Linz, seven and a half hours passing the Alps. I am excited. I have not been…
