San Francisco Bridge
Music Man
Pianist, Steve A Williams at The Heinz Historical Center, PA.
Travel Life After COVID-19
How will our travel plans be affected affect this pandemic?
As we are all forced to stay at home during this Coronavirus Pandemic, (COVID-19) it has justifiable caused a great deal of uncertainty and fear. One of the things I think about is as we transition back into society is, how will our travel plans be affected. I enjoy traveling to different places with my camera and exploring different cultures, sceneries, take in nature as it exists, and for respite. However, I rarely positioned this hobby on my calendar as definitive agenda for various reasons. Such as, not having enough money set to aside for it, forced to postpone it due life circumstances, and excuses, such as no time, the demands of work,etc. So earlier this year I made a commitment to myself incorporate my love for photographing and traveling on my calendar. Whether it was a weekend or mini week day trips, I would make the time for it, because it’s that important to me. But since the Shelter in Place has been put into motion, everything will have to be put on hold indefinitely.
So we went to South Beach Miami in February to celebrate my birthday just before the public knew about the present danger of the virus rapidly sweeping our country. And stayed at one of the historic landmarks, The Betsy Hotel, known not only for it’s Georgian architecture, but for supporting Miami cultural artists, such as hosting book signings and professional photographic works hung on the walls throughout the hotel by various artists. This experience was very exciting for me as an avid artist myself. Even though, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there, I can’t help but wonder how the travel and hotel industry will impact our lives post COVID-19 or the new normal. As a consumer, just thinking about staying at a hotel makes me very skeptical about the proximity of being next to others, anxious about touching surfaces, and wondering if someone has the virus. I am left to understand how will the hotel and travel industry will be working to restore my confidence as part of the recovery process, because staying at a Villa is just not another option I can afford.
With being one of the 20% of people that is angst about air travel, as Laura Itzkowitz from Architectural Digest, puts it, https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-covid-19-will-change-travel
Will it cost more for air travel due to airlines implementing new guidelines and restrictions? How long will it take the travel and tourist industry to make the necessary improvements before we are back to any sense of normalcy? We would probably have to do more road trips in the meantime according to Gregory Miller, the executive director of Center for Responsible Travel, (CREST). https://www.responsibletravel.org/getInvolved/spring2020Newsletter.php
I am not certain of any of this, however, I am cautiously looking forward to the new and improved changes post COVID-19, from vamping up testing of this virus and other viruses, to dramatically improving cleaning practices.
Let the road trips begin in the meantime.
xoxo, WW
Verse of the Day
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV
#delight #weaknesses #insults #hardships #persecutions #difficulties #strong #forchristsake
Wash Your Hands
Photo credits by WendyAnn Williams
In these unprecedented times, during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the best ways in stopping the spread of this disease is remembering to wash your hands.
Washing your hands can keep you healthy and assist in preventing the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections.
Clean your hands after you’ve been in public places, supermarkets, gas stations, and public transportation. Be aware of door knobs/handles, tables, shopping carts, gas pumps, electronic devices, cashier registers, pin pads, and so forth, because these places and items are a magnet for germs and spreading diseases.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
You can help protect yourself and loved ones staying healthy by washing your hands often:
Before, in the midst of and after preparing food
Before eating and after eating
After using the toilet
After attending to a sick person, an open wound or cut
After changing a baby’s diaper
After blowing your nose, coughing and sneezing
After taking care of animals or your pets
And after taking out the garbage and many more ….
And if you don’t have access to washing your hands to get rid of germs, there is another option of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Although it does not get rid of all the germs, it’s a better alternative until you can thoroughly wash your hands. Just remember not to touch your face in the interim, because that’s how germs enter our bodies.
For more recommendations, visit the CDC website on hand washing.
WendyAnn Williams 