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My wife & I are headed to 
to visit her family. We’ll spend 2 wks in hotel quarantine, for which we pay.
I’ve spent 2020 interviewing people who’ve lost loved ones, so I am incredibly grateful for this trip. That said, I’ll be chronicling what promises to be a strange journey
to visit her family. We’ll spend 2 wks in hotel quarantine, for which we pay. I’ve spent 2020 interviewing people who’ve lost loved ones, so I am incredibly grateful for this trip. That said, I’ll be chronicling what promises to be a strange journey
Ghost town
Our flight from SF to Sydney was almost empty, with 28 passengers and 13 crew by my count. That meant everyone could have a row (or three) to themselves.
I made it through most of The Hobbit movie trilogy before falling asleep.
I made it through most of The Hobbit movie trilogy before falling asleep.
By the time we touched down in Sydney on Tues morning, we’d been traveling for 24 hours — all but a few minutes in masks.
In the empty airport, a woman in PPE took our ear temperatures before another asked if we knew we had to enter 14 days of quarantine.
Oh yes, we said.
In the empty airport, a woman in PPE took our ear temperatures before another asked if we knew we had to enter 14 days of quarantine.
Oh yes, we said.
Many of our fellow passengers seemed to be Aussies moving home — perhaps to escape the pandemic in the US. One couple was visiting their daughter in the hospital.
After 2 hrs in the airport, soldiers loaded our luggage into a bus.
It was time to play quarantine hotel roulette.
After 2 hrs in the airport, soldiers loaded our luggage into a bus.
It was time to play quarantine hotel roulette.
We had no idea where we’d be lodged. Some people get spacious rooms with views of the Sydney Harbour bridge. Some people don’t even get a window.
As our bus pulled onto the highway, classical music blaring loudly, we nervously tracked our progress on Google maps.
As our bus pulled onto the highway, classical music blaring loudly, we nervously tracked our progress on Google maps.
Our hopes rose as we headed toward the Harbour, & closer to where my in-laws live. (They aren’t allowed to visit or see us, but can drop off a package per day.)
But our bus exited the highway near Central Station, in the heart of the city, instead.
Not bad, but no bridge.
But our bus exited the highway near Central Station, in the heart of the city, instead.
Not bad, but no bridge.
At our hotel, a New South Wales policeman climbed aboard.
“You and your families will now be entering quarantine for 14 days,” he said. “You will not be giving a room key as you cannot leave the room.”
“I stress to you it’s an offense to leave,” he added.
“You and your families will now be entering quarantine for 14 days,” he said. “You will not be giving a room key as you cannot leave the room.”
“I stress to you it’s an offense to leave,” he added.
