I have spent the past week in solitary confinement. It's a 'nice' solitary confinement. The food is good. The guest services folks have been spectacular ... I now know them on a first-name basis because they call three times a day to ask if there is anything I need. And the views out the balcony of my plush prison have been interesting.
This was St. Vincent.
This was Santa Marta, Columbia.
And this is today in Cartagena.
But solitary confinement is a drag. I know every inch of this 15 x 10 teak and teal space by heart. I spend my time moving from deck chair (kind of uncomfortable) to inside chair (less uncomfortable) to bed. Choosing my meals from the menus shoved under my door has been the biggest excitement of my day.
So i just about cried when the doctor called this morning to say I had tested negative for COVID and, if I test negative again tomorrow (as per EU protocols), I will be freed.
I have actually managed my isolation without a lot of angst. I hated not being able to snorkel in Barbados and Grenada. And I deeply regret not being able to see Cartagena. But I will come back here again. And, at least I know I was not Typhoid Mary infecting other old folks on this floating retirement home.
But I did have three meltdowns. The first was when I broke the lighting cord to my iPhone - the thing that powered my one connection to the outside world.
I briefly contemplated jumping over the side of my balcony. But Valentina, one of the lovely guest services gals, bought me a new one and left it hanging for me on my door! Bless you, Valentina!!!!
The second was somewhere at sea when a moth the size of a bat flew into my room - I swear to god I did not have a glass big enough to contain it. I am sure wings were damaged in the process of capture and release.
The third meltdown happened Thursday when, after testing positive but having experienced no symptoms for two days, the nurse said they would not test me again until Saturday. I broke into tears and explained that I wanted the be tested ' Every. Single. Goddamn. Day.' I did not want to spend an hour in this room, or miss a single port, beyond what was required by science: so they relented and tested me yesterday knowing I would still be positive.
Anyhoo ... I passed the time by reading Spare by Prince Harry - I started it reluctantly (after watching him on Colbert) thinking he is a privileged whiner. But I have really enjoyed both the book and Harry as narrator. It is well written and entertaining (which is the highest praise I can give to any reading material) and a massive condemnation of my former profession.
Mingled that with some other mystery novels and some YouTube videos on historical cooking and urban planning ... and today ... well ... I might just be ordering champagne.
Get your rummy game on Windsor sisters. I am back in the world cruising business tomorrow.
can't imagine how stifling it must have been to be stuck in your room and to miss snorkelling. but your get out of jail card is close. and speaking of planning, there's this great series Life-Sized City that is really great. Looks at what works in cities around the world. enjoy doing laps around the deck haha
Yeah! So happy you are now negative and I hope it will provide you protection for the rest of your travels.
Thank goodness! Were you feeling very sick? Mine lasted 10 days at least so it looks like you had a speedy recovery. And now you're immune for a while! Let the exploring begin.