Marilyn's Odyssey: Arctic Adventure 2022

Tuesday July 19th we boarded a plane for the first time in two and a half years due to the coved pandemic which has basically shut down all travel. A different environment on the plane with everyone wearing masks, no magazines and stewards won’t even touch your table tray. The world has definitely changed. As we will be going on a ship the first hurdle to this trip was to have negative PCR tests which we got yesterday and we will have to have another antigen test before boarding our charter flight north. Fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.

We spent the evening in Ottawa having a lovely dinner outside along side the locks and the we went for a walk by the legislature and took some nice photos before turning in early after a long day of travel. Wednesday we walked around the city taking a long stroll along the Rideau Canal after lunch. In the late afternoon we attended a briefing with Adventure Canada where we had to have another Covid test which thankfully we both passed. We received the details for travel the next day and some of the Covid protocols that would be followed on the trip. One thing that we found out was that seating in the dining room would be assigned and there would be no changing of seats. We realize that there will be a lot less opportunity on this trip to meet our fellow travellers as we are to stay in our assigned colour groups. For us this is a little disappointing as one of the joys of travel is the wonderful people we meet but as a wise person once pointed out do not compare each experience to other ones. Take the best from each and I am sure we are in for some wonderful experiences.