Voyage Express

Meli and I are travelling as usual, & as everyone is aware the world is going through a Global pandemic. Meli and I are fortunate enough to be in an AirBnB during this. We have spent the last 10 days or so cooped up in our place. We where lucky enough to leave the hotel room we were staying and get our current place, where we actually have, windows, a couple of rooms and a kitchen, a day before Peru went into martial law.

• 

• 

• 

We have rules set by Peruvian government:
1. We have a 8 PM to 5 AM curfew.
2. All land, sea and air borders are closed.
3. All non-essentials will not be sold, like alcohol (Yeah we know, a bummer), clothes and goods.
4. One person from each household is permitted to leave the house only to go to pharmacies or supermarkets.
5. Must walk 1 meter away from others.
6. Can only leave the house if you have a mask. (we tried to get a mask since day 1 and they where all sold out)
And probably other restrictions that we don’t even know.

During this time we have stayed home, watched streets dogs wondering where people once roamed, watch police pass by, and the odd local or tourist rushing through the streets to get food and/or essential supplies. we have left a few times to get groceries and are constantly bombarded by police asking us where we are going, what we are doing, who are we and to rush home.

Being quarantined is emotionally draining waiting for guidance from the our government, and being sent emails full of air without concrete answers. But we are beyond gratefully to have each other, in such an instance testing your patience, will, peace of mind and spirit. The hardest part is we are minimalist when travelling so we have very little to entertain us, like our computers and phones but after the third day my head hurt from all the screen time I was getting. So little entertainment has been a bit taxing, but we have made due.

Not socializing and seeing people walk around while its basic human nature to be social and in contrast being deprived has taken its toll. We both find ways to stay occupied, Things I do:
1. Draw on anything and everything
2. Audio books
3. Documentaries
4. sculpting (I bought Play-do when we were in Cali last)
5. Exercise
6. Practice my Spanish
7. Look out the window and remember simpler times, lol
8. Social media
9. Mobile games
10. Harass Melissa (when I want attention)
11. Call family and friends
So really there is lots to do just not as much as I would do if I was in Cali or in Canada.

And what Meli does while in quarantine, stuck in an Airbnb with Joseph Cunningham, is:
1. Sleep (Yeah well I love sleeping and this is the best time to do it and almost dont feel the guilt)
2. Make food.
3. I have an online job, so when the duty calls I am on.
4. Social-media social-media
5. Workout
6. Read my e-books
7. Email and harass our Government to hear something back, same as keep in contact with fellow Canadians stuck in Cusco
8. Write this blogs
9. Dance
10. Talk with friends and family
11. Watch movies
12. And of course harass my love here and there when I get bored.

But at this point I am grateful we have each other in such a time of these current circumstances. And I hope this opportunity makes people realize what they have, what they don’t have, what they cant live without, and who they cant live without. In these times of dark despair I would like to end on a glimmer of hope. If your life isn’t what you want it to be or you are just appreciating what you have now your quarantined, when this is over don’t let a day go by that you don’t do something to change your life for the better and take a moment to appreciate the things you have, that so abruptly could be taken away.

Stay Safe Everyone