Before
For a short introduction: the last half a year before Covid-19 hit the world I spent in the USA as a Fulbright scholar. Which meant new horizons opening, which lead to change of job after I returned. The latter meant that upon returning to Latvia at the beginning of March 2020, I was thirsty to meet my friends I had not met for six months. On the other hand, and which is not in a way less important, a huge part of me remained in the USA. The part named “heart”. If I agree with my dad, who said that the home is where your heart rests, then I may say that I left my home in March. However, I had plans to return and soon.
But then covid happened. Add to it utter changes in my work environment (defending thesis, looking for academic positions, half time work in another law office, different clients and different colleagues, some of whom I have not even met, at least not in a scope of a colleague), then add the final stages of cancer that took my dad in August. Slight pressure of homeschooling and intermittently stressful or bored teenager at home. One more cancer leaking in the family. Drop by drop, this all made quite a pressure on my mental health. The pressure I could not share or let off steam in conversations with friends, as I took social distancing seriously. Consequently, and not surprisingly, the spring arrived together with a total pandemic burnout and depression.
Therefore, although against the wise recommendations of the state not to travel abroad, the opportunity to visit Croatia, came as a salvation. I grabbed it as a short respite, to find the energy for the days to come. Travel had become an essential need at the point.
My man, let’s call him mysterious and sexy Mr. M, is from the USA, which for a long time meant a prohibition for him to enter the EU, or at least, self-isolation for 10-14 days. But the spring came with good news: first Turkey, then Greece announced that they would accept fully vaccinated American tourists. Italy announced the plans to follow the lead. However, these countries did not accept me with my vaccination being still in progress (Vaxzevria’s second shot was due in a month). At the end of May, when I could not stand the separation anymore (and by that I mean, I was already over the cliff), we sat at the list of European countries, exploring and checking the entry requirements (and admittance without self-isolation) for two types of visitors: a fully vaccinated American and half-vaccinated EU citizen. The resulting list was short, and became even shorter when we started to check the possible flights (for instance, Slovenia would accept me as fully vaccinated, without a covid test, but it was impossible to get sensible flights from either the USA or Riga to Ljubljana).
After a long deliberation, we came up with a solution: Croatia. My American could enter Croatia with his vaccination pass, I had to take pre-flight covid test. Just a few days before departure, the EU adopted regulation regarding digital covid certificates which made the proof of testing even easier: after I had done my PCR test at a laboratory in Riga, the results would be transformed into QR code and covid passport the border guards would recognize and accept. Croatia, incidentally, was one of the first to recognize and accept covid certificates issued in other EU countries, so I did not have any problems of printing a proof or having a doctor’s signature. Croatia, however, at that time accepted only PCR tests (not rapid tests, at least, not the test available in Riga), thus I had to sign up for the test beforehand, but not earlier than 48hrs before entering Croatia. Acceptance of rapid tests (and a complete vaccination) will make this stage of travel much easier (and 37 euros cheaper).
The scientists claim that the happiness of something comes not so much from enjoying the very thing than from anticipation. However, it was not the case this time. Not being able to fully believe the trip would take place, being afraid that something would come up at the last moment and we would not be able to meet, I was not able to anticipate neither the trip, not the forthcoming rendezvous until Mr. M’s airplane hit the runway of Zagreb airport. I could not sleep the few nights before the flight and kept counting hours, despite the pile of work I had to get done before leaving.
But then covid happened. Add to it utter changes in my work environment (defending thesis, looking for academic positions, half time work in another law office, different clients and different colleagues, some of whom I have not even met, at least not in a scope of a colleague), then add the final stages of cancer that took my dad in August. Slight pressure of homeschooling and intermittently stressful or bored teenager at home. One more cancer leaking in the family. Drop by drop, this all made quite a pressure on my mental health. The pressure I could not share or let off steam in conversations with friends, as I took social distancing seriously. Consequently, and not surprisingly, the spring arrived together with a total pandemic burnout and depression.
Therefore, although against the wise recommendations of the state not to travel abroad, the opportunity to visit Croatia, came as a salvation. I grabbed it as a short respite, to find the energy for the days to come. Travel had become an essential need at the point.
My man, let’s call him mysterious and sexy Mr. M, is from the USA, which for a long time meant a prohibition for him to enter the EU, or at least, self-isolation for 10-14 days. But the spring came with good news: first Turkey, then Greece announced that they would accept fully vaccinated American tourists. Italy announced the plans to follow the lead. However, these countries did not accept me with my vaccination being still in progress (Vaxzevria’s second shot was due in a month). At the end of May, when I could not stand the separation anymore (and by that I mean, I was already over the cliff), we sat at the list of European countries, exploring and checking the entry requirements (and admittance without self-isolation) for two types of visitors: a fully vaccinated American and half-vaccinated EU citizen. The resulting list was short, and became even shorter when we started to check the possible flights (for instance, Slovenia would accept me as fully vaccinated, without a covid test, but it was impossible to get sensible flights from either the USA or Riga to Ljubljana).
After a long deliberation, we came up with a solution: Croatia. My American could enter Croatia with his vaccination pass, I had to take pre-flight covid test. Just a few days before departure, the EU adopted regulation regarding digital covid certificates which made the proof of testing even easier: after I had done my PCR test at a laboratory in Riga, the results would be transformed into QR code and covid passport the border guards would recognize and accept. Croatia, incidentally, was one of the first to recognize and accept covid certificates issued in other EU countries, so I did not have any problems of printing a proof or having a doctor’s signature. Croatia, however, at that time accepted only PCR tests (not rapid tests, at least, not the test available in Riga), thus I had to sign up for the test beforehand, but not earlier than 48hrs before entering Croatia. Acceptance of rapid tests (and a complete vaccination) will make this stage of travel much easier (and 37 euros cheaper).
The scientists claim that the happiness of something comes not so much from enjoying the very thing than from anticipation. However, it was not the case this time. Not being able to fully believe the trip would take place, being afraid that something would come up at the last moment and we would not be able to meet, I was not able to anticipate neither the trip, not the forthcoming rendezvous until Mr. M’s airplane hit the runway of Zagreb airport. I could not sleep the few nights before the flight and kept counting hours, despite the pile of work I had to get done before leaving.
Book your PRC covid test at EGL at https://www.egl.lv/en/login/?auth or https://www.egl.lv/en/koronavirusa-2019-ncov-noteiksana/ (I got tested at 7:50 pm and my test results arrived at 4 am next morning).
Antigen rapid testing at RIX airport: https://www.egl.lv/en/eksprestests/?auth
Antigen rapid testing at RIX airport: https://www.egl.lv/en/eksprestests/?auth
