Charlotte was sick with a fever, chills, and a cough over the weekend. I was 4-5 days into my symptoms. In retrospect, Charlotte was probably two days into the Coronavirus by Friday. It is funny how you remember small, seemingly insignificant details, with the advantage of hindsight. Charlotte recalls she had an eye infection earlier in the week, and now we hear that is a symptom of COVID-19, too. We both stayed home and away from people over the weekend. When Monday rolled around, Charlotte called our family doctor and reported she suspected she had COVID-19.
The doctor wrote orders for her to go to a newly set up, drive through testing site at a local hospital. She hopped in the car and drove there only to find no testing site and no one who knew anything about it either. The next day, we gave it another try. This place is an hour from our home, but with nothing to do, it was a welcomed distraction just to get out, even if it was only in our car! No signs were indicating where the drive-thru clinic was located, but with a little luck, we found it behind the hospital in the industrial area. The only indication was a sizeable mobile sign, the kind you see on the roads, flashing traffic information such as “detour.” Only this sign said, “Event Parking,” ha!
The entrance driveway was lined with orange traffic cones. Several hospital employees were standing along the way with hand made signs saying, “Don’t roll down your windows,” and “Pull forward to the tent.” Once at the tent, we were met by an attendant, holding another hand made sign which said they would need names and information to match the patient to the doctor’s orders. This was a swift process, and we were on our way in a couple of minutes. Moving up about 200 yards down a cone-lined drive brought us to a rear entrance of a medical building with a covered drive-through portico.
The medical staff was divided into two sections, the first to collect your personal information and match it with the doctor’s orders. The second station was where the test was administered. These people were decked out in full PPE (funny how we did not know that term until a few weeks ago). A lab tech asked Charlotte to roll her window down, and with just a few motions, stuck the swab up Charlotte’s nose, retrieved it, and placed it in a bio-hazard bag, sealed it, and said, “that was it.” We were in and out of the whole process in fifteen minutes!
Just as we pulled out to leave the hospital parking, Charlotte took a call from her doctor, who was concerned Charlotte may have COVID-19. Given that she recently had open-heart surgery, the doctor wanted her to go to the ER to have a chest x-ray. So, we pulled into the ER, and I let her out at the entrance door. I was not allowed inside, so I parked and waited a couple of hours for Charlotte to finish her visit. The good news is the x-ray showed her lungs to be clear, so all was well. We drove back home and, like many of you, spent the next days at our home. That was St. Paddy’s Day, March 17.
The Test Results
Four days later, on March 21, Charlotte received a call from the testing center confirming she had COVID-19. That call was followed up by a conversation with the local Department of Health. Charlotte had to provide information about who she was in contact with and where she had traveled. By this time, I was 12 days beyond my initial symptoms and Charlotte was 8-days out.
We passed it on to our family!
Earlier in the week, our son reported he was sick with Coronavirus symptoms. Then a day later, his wife and my daughter developed similar symptoms as well. So, within 10 days of my having the initial symptoms, at least five other family members exhibited the Coronavirus symptoms. There are four grandchildren to consider as well. They range in ages from 4-7 years. We suspect, at least two of them contracted the virus, but who knows for sure.
Our Symptoms
All five of us exhibited similar and varied symptoms. I experienced a dry cough, fever, and chills for about 12 hours. In retrospect, I suffered a loss of smell, loss of appetite, and feeling of lethargy that lingered for 7-10 days. Charlotte recalls she had an eye infection after returning from DC on March 9. When she got sick on the 13th, she had fever and chills overnight and into the next day. Additionally, she experienced periods of extreme sweats, loss of appetite and smell, severe head congestion, headaches, a runny nose, and a sense of being tired much of the time. My daughter and daughter-in-law were sick with fever and chills, coughs, and loss of appetite. My son had the worst case. He became ill on March 16 and exhibited symptoms for ten days. He was tested on March 25 and pronounced COVID-19 positive on March 30. His symptoms were much like what has been described above, in addition to extreme tiredness, sweats, and chills that went on for a week.
COVID-19 Negative?
During the first two weeks of April, we all noticed drastic improvements and our health getting back to normal. Charlotte was re-tested on April 10 and confirmed negative the same day. My son, had another test today and was confirmed negative. As for me, I am sure I had the Coronavirus but was not showing symptoms when the drive-through testing became available in our area. So, I was not eligible to have the test. Our hope is that all of us can give plasma once the “antibodies” test arrives in our area.
Conclusions
I am not a doctor or medical professional so my conclusions here are based on anecdotal information from my family and my personal experiences.
The Coronavirus is very contagious.
I am convinced a lot more of us have/had it than is reported.
I imagine many people are infected but asymptomatic.
We are fortunate all our cases were relatively mild and that we’ve had a full recovery.
Most people in my neck of the woods are not doing a very good job of social distancing. It is crowded in our local supermarkets, whole families are wandering around in wads with little concern for the required 6-foot distancing.
All things COVID-19-related have rolled out slowly. The drive-through tests, PPP loans, antibody tests, and plasma donations have all been delayed by days and caused us multiple trips to accomplish anything.
I pray for the day when this is all behind us and we can get back to life as normal. But, I think when it does happen, there will be a new normal. Maybe we won’t shake hands and give hugs, just a hello will do. When it comes to travel, I have a sinking feeling it will come back slowly. Maybe I will not even go to Europe this year! There is no way to predict anything because this is new for all of us. One thing I do know, this pandemic and its repercussions have not caught God off guard! He is in control of the situation and I pray that I can give up and let Him do the leading. All the best to you! Stay safe and stay home!
EPILOGUE
It was the first week of May 2020, when I got word I could have an antibodies test. By this time, testing had been ramped up in North Florida and there was not a shortage of COVID-19 test kits or Antibodies test kits. I went to a nearby Quest Diagnostics facility, had my blood drawn, and within two days had my results. I tested positive for the COVID-19 antibodies, meaning I had had the Coronavirus, had recovered, and now my body had generated antibodies to fight off another attack.
A few days later, the health department and our local blood bank called to ask if I would donate plasma. My son and daughter-in-law had donated their plasma a few weeks before and it was no big deal, so I was happy to donate as well. Unfortunately, I was not able to donate due to the blood-thinning medication I take.
For some years now we have been promoting and selling our tours at travel shows. Typically, we spend our weekends in January, February, and March in our booth and in front of our display talking about our tours with thousands of people. These folks arrive at the show looking to book a vacation, get a bargain, and talk about travel. For us, we make a lot of new connections, meet new friends, and even manage to sell a few of our tours as well.
Calm Before the Storm
Your Adventure Starts Here!
The new year began very well with us scheduled to present at seven shows around the country. The shows in Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Atlanta all went according to plan. By the time the Washington DC show rolled around, news of the Coronavirus was getting a lot of traction in the media, but nothing to worry me about these travel shows and my tours to Europe, which were slated to begin in mid-March. However, I did go out and purchase some Clorox Wipes to use on the plane as we flew to DC. I shared some with my seatmate, and we both laughed. That was March 6th.
The show kicked off at 10:00 on March 7th, and within an hour, we all knew something was different. The exhibit hall was nearly empty, except for us exhibitors! Over the next two days, we handed out about half our usual supply of brochures and promotional material. The show sponsors and I noted the poor attendance and began attributing it to the ever-increasing news of the Coronavirus. Outside, however, life was going on as usual. The restaurants were packed, people were out on the streets and in the parks, and there were crowds everywhere.
As the travel show came to a close on Sunday afternoon, we were relieved it was over, and happy that we had sold a few tours in spite of the poor attendance. We packed up our displays and filled out the forms to have them shipped to Philadelphia, or destination the next weekend. Then the three of us headed to the airport and fly back home later that night. As we wiped our seats and tray tables with Clorox wipes, we watched the flight fill up with passengers bound for Atlanta. Exhausted, I think we all slept most of the way home.
Ed visited with us on Saturday and signed up for a tour!
Much of Monday (March 9th) was spent following up on contacts we had made at the travel show over the weekend, repacking promotional materials for the following weekend, and preparing for two tours to Europe scheduled to depart the following week. Late that afternoon, as I sat working at my computer and looking out the window, I coughed.
The Onset of my Coronavirus
On Tuesday, March 10, I was away from home, and as the day progressed, I began to feel worn out and run down. But, I attributed it to being gone all weekend and getting in late from DC on Sunday night. I finally arrived back home at about 5:00 p.m. and told my wife, I was going to lay down and rest. That’s when the fever hit me. I had chills and sweats most of the night, but by morning I was back to my usual self.
Wednesday, March 11 was a terrible day for my Exploring Europe tours. President Trump held a nationally televised press conference that evening and announced severe travel restrictions from all European countries except the UK and Ireland. This effectively shut down two of my tours scheduled to depart within one week and brought a dark cloud of doubt on when any of my tours slated for the spring would go as well. The CDC and US Department of State bumped up travel warnings for all of Europe to Level 4 – Do Not Travel.
Still, with all this going on, I physically felt fine and did not really give any thought about my fever and the Coronavirus. Before the press conference, I was totally consumed with final details for my two tours to Germany and Spain that were coming up in just a few days. After the press conference, I was in shock! The next day, we received word that the travel show scheduled for the weekend in Philadelphia was canceled by the city. Shortly, afterward, notice was given that our Dallas travel show was canceled as well.
On Friday, March 13, President Trump held another press conference to declare a national emergency. He said he was making $50 billion in federal funds available to states and territories to combat the Coronavirus. In true Friday the 13th fashion, this was a terrible day for all of us. Schools began to announce closures for the next 15 days, restaurants and bars shut down, and life as we knew it began to change. New terms such as social distancing, slow the spread, and flatten the curve became common phrases.
After such a terrible week, we decided to get together with our family for dinner. So twelve of us gathered at my daughter’s home for dinner. We all had a good time, played a few board games, and talked about the events of the week. I recall it being the first time it dawned on me that I might really have the Coronavirus. It was a thirty-minute drive back to our home and by the time we pulled in to our driveway, my wife, Charlotte, was sick with chills and a fever. I had the sinking feeling that I must have passed on the Coronavirus to her and to my family as well.
The COVID-19 Coronavirus has spread across the globe faster and wider than expected. Now with Europe and the United States almost on total lockdown, it is uncertain when life will get back to normal. Regardless of all the “news” erupting from our TVs and radios, I am still relying on accurate information coming from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the US Department of State. I will continue to monitor their websites for daily alerts on the status of the Coronavirus and its travel-related consequences. Additionally, we are fortunate to have many friends around Europe who continue to provide accurate on the ground and “in the trenches” information.
Friends in Italy, who just two weeks ago seemed not worried, are now in crisis mode. A report from a fellow tour guide in Berlin, just this morning, tells of Germany coming to a standstill and in full-out crisis mode. Unfortunately, it appears things will get worst here on this side of the Atlantic before they get better.
At Exploring Europe, we are taking no new bookings for tours scheduled to begin before May 31, 2020. By order of the CDC and the US Department of State, we will not operate any tours scheduled to depart from now until April 19, 2020. We are trying to cancel as few tours as possible but with the information changing almost daily, our decisions will be updated as needed.
March 1, 2020 –
The COVID-19 Coronavirus has been a hot topic for the last few weeks. There is no denying this Coronavirus is spreading across the globe. Experts tell us there is no way to predict how this will affect travel in Europe in the next few weeks or even months. Some suggest the virus will disappear as winter turns to spring, while others fear travel may come to a screeching halt in the coming months. Honestly, no one knows for sure.
As a tour operator, our primary concern is the safety of those who travel with us. Consequently, to make the best possible decisions, I am relying on accurate information coming from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the US Department of State. I will continue to monitor their websites for daily alerts on the status of the Coronavirus and its travel-related consequences. Additionally, we are fortunate to have many friends around Europe who continue to provide accurate on the ground and “in the trenches” information.
We have not canceled any of our tours at the moment. I pledge to monitor the news and alerts coming from the organizations mentioned above and make tour-related changes or cancelations as needed. Currently, the Department of State has issued a Level 3 advisory (Reconsider Travel) for all of Italy and a Level 4 advisory (Do Not Travel) for the regions of Lombardy and the Veneto. Fortunately, we do not have any tours scheduled for Italy until Mid-April. Over the coming weeks, we will continue to monitor the situation in Italy, and make decisions as needed regarding our tours in Italy.
As for the rest of Europe, the Department of State, WHO, and CDC have issued no Coronavirus-related travel advisories. We have tours scheduled in Austria, Germany, and Spain beginning in mid-March, and for the moment, we will run those tours as planned. Later this month, I will get on my flight to Munich and explore Europe for a few weeks.
Paris is my most favorite city in Europe. Grand boulevards, boutiques and outdoor cafés, lavish monuments, essential museums and, of course, romance. The home of the Mona Lisa, the Eiffel Tower, and Quasimodo’s cathedral, Paris is a destination in itself, giving the traveler weeks of tourist options.
I was in Paris in April 2019, just a few days after the fire that destroyed the Cathedral Notre Dame. Gone was the jovial mood that, at any other time, would be in the hearts and minds of locals and tourists. It was replaced by shock and a sense of dread. The entire east end of the Île de la Cité, the island upon which the Notre Dame sits, was barricaded and impossible to traverse. Any other time, I would be leading my tour group around the Latin Quarter, Notre Dame, and the surrounding area showing and explaining the sites. But this day, I became a tourist too. Rounding the corner out of a narrow pedestrian lane onto Rue Saint-Jacques, I had an unobstructed view of the burnt-out cathedral. My heart sank as my jaw dropped in awe! And it wasn’t just me, this was the look and feel of everyone on the street.
Now its been almost a year since the fire, and although there is progress, it progresses painfully slow. Recently, I watched a France 24 video giving a rare look inside the cathedral. The nave has been cleared, the flying buttresses supported by scaffolding, old stones and artifacts collected and cataloged, and debris removed from the interior. There is still no roof, and the interior is left open to the elements of nature. However, I suspect this has become a part of the everyday life of Paris. There is no telling how many more years or decades it will take to bring the restoration along enough to allow worshippers and visitors back in the old building.
Even without the cathedral, Paris has a lot to offer in and around the Île del la Citè. Whether you’re heading here for the first time or the twentieth, you’ll always find something new and exciting. Dive into its ambiance and become an explorer! A visit to neighborhoods such as the Marais, Montparnasse, Rue Cler, St-Germain or Montmartre will give new insights to the cultural diversity as well as a peek into the everyday life of Parisians.
But you may ask why with all the destinations that I’ve been to in Europe, why I chose Paris as my favorite city. Well, it isn’t easy, but I guess the first thing that comes to mind is that Paris is composed of a bunch of neighborhoods where I can get out and get away from the tourist hubbub. Yes, you’ve got to see and experience the big sights and attractions I’ve mentioned above, but there is much more to experience than another museum or another church.
One such destination to get away from it all is the Canal Saint-Martin, a canal built in the early 1800s to help supply Paris with building materials, grain, and other essential items. It is one of several canals in Paris that, after meandering through the city, empties into the Seine. I spent a morning here a few years ago, just walking up one side and back down the other. On my walk, I saw kids enjoying floating boats, balls, and leaves in the water, moms pushing buggies with babies out for a stroll, charming canal-side cafes, and bistros, and nightclubs that, although dead at this time of day, were bound to bring in the crowds late in the evening. It was so peaceful… no honking horns, traffic jams, or tourist crowds.
I also enjoy walking the neighborhoods around the Eiffel Tower, Champ du Mars, and Pont de l’Alma. Here, sandwiched between Rue Saint Dominique and the Seine are cozy 18th-century neighborhoods that are loaded with the real people of Paris. Some years back, I read Julia Child’s biography, where she speaks affectionately about living in a small upper-story apartment on Rue de l’ Université. I’ve often walked this street honing in on the specific building and wonder what’s going on in that apartment now.
Finally, at least for this article, Paris is a wonderful destination for dining. It doesn’t matter if you want a picnic on the banks of the Seine, a quick coffee and croissant for breakfast, or a full-blown dinner, there is no better place than here. On a recent trip, I’ve enjoyed dining at Constant Café on Rue Saint-Dominique. Owned by a locally famous chef who has several high-end restaurants on the same street, Constant Café is approachable and unpretentious. There is a small bar and a few tables on the ground floor. A steep stairway leads to a 1st-floor dining area that is always loaded with people. The menu varies and is rather small, but the food is perfectly Parisian, affordable, and yummy.
So, go Climb the Eiffel Tower, stroll the Champs Élysées, marvel at the architecture, see the grand parks or sit and enjoy the ambiance from a café window. But, whatever you do, slow down and experience Paris! It is one of the most memorable destinations in the entire world. Dig in, become a part of it, and go with the flow!
Paris, Rome, Venice, Salzburg, and Tuscany are some of the most romantic destinations in Europe! What’s not to LOVE about these cities… good food, fine wine, enticing rivers, evocative museums, enchanting gardens, all laced in a rich history and dripping with decadent ambiance. Today is Valentine’s Day, and this morning I woke up thinking about these riverside destinations and how I always manage to find something I love about being there. Of course, it is much more fun if you are there with someone you love! Charlotte and I have many cherished memories in each of these cities. In the next few days, I am going to write a post about each of these destinations, so stay tuned. But for now, why not consider taking advantage of one of these discounted tours and experience them first-hand for yourself!
The Best of London and Paris tour provides an opportunity to settle in and experience two of Europe’s major capital cities. London presents a relatively stress-free introduction with non-stops flights from North America, almost no language barrier and easy transportation. All this coupled with our comprehensive itinerary and an opportunity to experience some of the best theatre in the world makes London a perfect beginning to this tour. The EuroStar high-speed train will zip you from London to Paris in less than three hours. In Paris, we’ve included all the major tourist sights and must-see attractions, but there is also plenty of time to slow down and enjoy the experience.
The Best of London, Paris and Rome tour provides an opportunity to settle in and experience three of Europe’s major capital cities. London presents a relatively stress-free introduction with non-stops flights from North America, almost no language barrier and easy transportation. All this coupled with our comprehensive itinerary and an opportunity to experience some of the best theatre in the world makes London a perfect beginning to this tour. The EuroStar high-speed train will zip you from London to Paris in less than three hours. In Paris, we’ve included all the major tourist sights and must-see attractions, but there is also plenty of time to slow down and enjoy the experience. A quick flight down to Rome provides another cultural layer to your tour experience along with historic and religious sights.
Join a small group of 8-15 people in Italy for a fantastic holiday in Tuscany. We will set up for seven nights at the modern 21st-century agriturismo resort near Volterra, Italy. This wonderful agriturismo “villa” comes complete with all the “perks” such as modern rooms, WIFI, air conditioning, plasma TV, and a private pool. This all sits smack-dab in the middle of a hilltop vineyard with broad sweeping vistas of the Tuscan countryside.
Each day we will head out to explore the sites and experiences within driving distance. Day trips include visits to Volterra, Siena, San Gimignano, and Lucca. But one of the joys of staying in a villa is to experience la dolce vita, the sweet life of doing nothing! So, we will have chunks of unstructured time to sit by the pool, relax, walk in the countryside vineyards and enjoy your vacation. We’ve also included a night in Florence, before and after your villa vacation, to help you ease in and out of your travels.
If you’ve been to Italy and seen the sights but were frazzled with a breakneck pace… this is the next vacation experience for you! You’ll feast on fine food, taste some wonderful wine, experience charming villages and treasure packed museums. My personal friends will serve as local guides welcoming you with open arms to their hometown. If you are looking for a real vacation… consider joining me in Tuscany for this vacation experience.
We kick off this tour in the grand imperial city of Vienna, famous for castles, kings, music and cuisine. Then, you’ll have two relaxing days in Salzburg’s famous city center. A visit to Neuschwanstein Castle and nearby Reutte rounds out the fifth day of the tour. We’ll head to Switzerland for my favorite alpine village experience in the beautiful Lauterbrunnen valley. Then we will take a turn to the north and follow the Rhine River valley through the Black Forest to the cute little town of Rothenburg. Finally, visit Hitler’s first concentration camp in Dachau before capping off your tour with two days in Munich, the capital city of Bavaria.
The Best of Italy Tour visits favorite destinations situated north of Rome. Beginning in Rome, you’ll visit the essential tourist sights and classic destinations. Then, travel to the delightful villages of the Cinque Terre where you’ll enjoy two days exploring this coastal region where the mountains literally fall into the sea. Volterra, my choice for the quintessential Tuscan hilltown, is sure to win you over to the “la dolce vita” lifestyle. Siena adds another layer to the complete Tuscan experience with its famous Il Campo and Duomo. Florence, the “cradle of the Renaissance,” will have you walking in the steps of Michelangelo, DaVinci, and the Medici’s. Venice, the romantic canal laced city, rounds out the big three tourist sites. Finally, we will cap off the tour relaxing on beautiful Lake Como in addition to taking a quick look at Milan’s bustling city center.
Rome – 2 nights, Cinque Terre – 2 nights, Volterra – 2 nights, Siena – 1 night, Florence – 2 nights, Venice – 2 nights, Lake Como – 2 nights, and Milan – 1 night
Sign up for any of these tours online and pay your $400 deposit. When we confirm your application, we’ll deduct the discount from your final invoice.
I was in Paris in April 2019, just a few days after the fire that destroyed the Cathedral Notre Dame. Gone was the jovial mood that, at any other time, would be in the hearts and minds of locals and tourists. It was replaced by shock and a sense of dread. The entire east end of the Île de la Cité, the island upon which the Notre Dame sits, was barricaded and impossible to traverse. Any other time, I would be leading my tour group around the Latin Quarter, Notre Dame, and the surrounding area showing and explaining the sites. But this day, I became a tourist too. Rounding the corner out of a narrow pedestrian lane onto Rue Saint-Jacques, I had an unobstructed view of the burnt-out cathedral. My heart sank as my jaw dropped in awe! And it wasn’t just me, this was the look and feel of everyone on the street. 
One such destination to get away from it all is the Canal Saint-Martin, a canal built in the early 1800s to help supply Paris with building materials, grain, and other essential items. It is one of several canals in Paris that, after meandering through the city, empties into the Seine. I spent a morning here a few years ago, just walking up one side and back down the other. On my walk, I saw kids enjoying floating boats, balls, and leaves in the water, moms pushing buggies with babies out for a stroll, charming canal-side cafes, and bistros, and nightclubs that, although dead at this time of day, were bound to bring in the crowds late in the evening. It was so peaceful… no honking horns, traffic jams, or tourist crowds. 
Finally, at least for this article, Paris is a wonderful destination for dining. It doesn’t matter if you want a picnic on the banks of the Seine, a quick coffee and croissant for breakfast, or a full-blown dinner, there is no better place than here. On a recent trip, I’ve enjoyed dining at 
The Best of London and Paris tour provides an opportunity to settle in and experience two of Europe’s major capital cities. London presents a relatively stress-free introduction with non-stops flights from North America, almost no language barrier and easy transportation. All this coupled with our comprehensive itinerary and an opportunity to experience some of the best theatre in the world makes London a perfect beginning to this tour. The EuroStar high-speed train will zip you from London to Paris in less than three hours. In Paris, we’ve included all the major tourist sights and must-see attractions, but there is also plenty of time to slow down and enjoy the experience.
