FRANCE is a different animal.
Even if we were just transitting through the Charles de Gaulle Airport, we had to fill up plenty of forms.
All for COVID-19 contract tracing, I suppose.
And I respect that.
I mean, it’s amazing!
***
But what made it so different is the requirement of a surgical mask in France.
I travel with a cloth mask.
For this trip, I even have a pink KN95 over my cloth mask to be faithful to my Pink Ambassadorial Tour pledge.
But, so as not to argue with airport police in the French language, I ditched my KN95 for a blue surgical mask because that’s what the airline suggested.
You see, I’m a compliant and rule/law-abiding person.
I only rebel when I know I have clear grounds, and within my rights.
***
So, anyway, my Paris Airport experience was short and uneventful.
I snapped a few photos to document that I was there, but no French kissing stories in this episode.
What was only there was me running for a sky train that was spewing instructions in French.
The signs were no great help.
And neither were fellow passengers who didn’t speak French or English, or both.
***
There was no line for boarding when I arrived at my gate.
They checked my documents required by France, and required by the UK, and directed me to join the aircraft.
When I entered the plane, passengers were already seated, and I thought, “Merde, I’m the last to board!”
***
It was five minutes before the published departure time.
When I was settled in my seat, a few more passengers entered the plane.
Including… you guessed it right, the boy next to me on the flight from Atlanta to Paris.
Unfortunately, he was assigned a seat at the back.
So that’s the end of our flirting story.
***
We landed in Manchester around 10am.
I have arranged my pickup rides with my brother-in-law.
He was working until 2pm, and would need to drive 45 minutes to fetch me at the airport.
I considered the airport waiting situation, and found it boring.
Terminal 2, the international terminal of Manchester airport, really looked gloomy.
And it was raining a little bit outside.
Snow a few days ago, I was told; and now, you got rain.
That’s Great Britain for you in November and December.
***
I decided to ditch the pickup plan, and braved the trains to my sister’s house.
It was just one ride, but a little over an hour in travel time, and £17.
Then, I took a taxi/cab from the train station to the house in Prescot for £5.
***
My sister was surprised at my guts, and adventure.
Apparently, she doesn’t know me very well.
Well, part of it was my sister wanting me to feel dependent on her.
Especially on things British.
Well, eff that! Haha.
***
In fact, I plan to travel some around the United Kingdom, and I’m not taking my sister with me. Haha.
To be fair, my brother-in-law is a good driver and host.
He has taken me to Wales, and around England during my first visits.
Then, the family also joined me on my trip to Scotland.
***
Some trips with family could be enjoyable.
But they’re decidedly Filipino-British; and I’m decidedly cosmopolitan. Haha.
Many of the sightseeing things they like aren’t as grand as I require. Haha.
***
So, anyway, stupid Omicron phenomenon just made the trip more expensive for me.
Before November 30, the UK required just an antigen test for arriving visitors.
I got it for £29, or something like that.
But because of the new Covid-19 variant, they now want a PCRT, which I paid for £69; in addition to the now useless antigen test.
Plus shipping and handling of the home test kits (it’s more expensive if you go to a clinic or hospital), that’s now more than £100 for my COVID tests alone.
Note that I’m talking in British pounds, not American dollars!
***
And how do the British people deal with COVID in this part of the UK?
Prescot is in the northwest region of England.
And while I was supposed to self-quarantine until my PCRT comes back negative, I was forced on uncle duties as soon as I put down my suitcases.
So, I had rides, and I saw people on the streets, and in the schools, without masks!
What the hell?
***
I mean, am I the only one who masks around here?
Sure, people were fully masked at the airport.
And most people on the trains.
I mean, there are posters and reminders for masks and social distancing everywhere.
But who is complying?
An Arabic-looking guy, British-born most likely, wasn’t wearing a mask on the train.
I was thinking, maybe it’s religious reasons for him.
***
Then, I hear this on the PA system: “Thank you for wearing masks, and protecting others, and our colleagues (train operators, I assumed). We understand that not everybody can wear a mask.”
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So yeah, this is the world view outside of the Philippines, and the United States. (To be continued)/PN
