Quarantine in Barbados (Day 1)

Heads-up: The time in Barbados switches because they don't do daylight savings time. So when it says 4:30, it's really 5:30 in Barbados.

Today I left the US. I got up at 6:15am and I started packing up my stuff. We wanted to check our bags as quickly as possible so we didn't miss the cutoff time. Our plane was departing 10:40am and by 6:55am we were weighing our luggage. It was checked not long after and we were through security by 8:21am. I chilled out by our gate while my family went looking for breakfast. They came back and before I knew it, we boarded the plane.

By this time it was 9:55 and I settled into my seat. I was hoping to get some good footage for my vlog on the plane. Once we reached our altitude, I set up my computer and rewatched Knives Out. I took pictures of the islands we passed and tried to guess what they were. Sadly, I didn't get to finish it because the plane was ahead of schedule and we took less time to get there. Seeing Barbados as we flew around the island was breathtaking. I could see the houses and bustling city life near Bridgetown, the capital. I could also see the topography changing and the plantations with their wide, free fields. I loved seeing the vibrant blue water contrasted by the crisp white of the boats. I was entranced. But then we disembarked and I stepped into the tropical paradise.

Getting into Barbados is a three step process. Or the important parts are the first three steps. Since we didn't get a PCR Test before entering, we were put in a different area of the airport. The first step is a thermal check. You sanitize your hands and get your temperature taken before you enter the airport. Then you enter the airport and go through the line for immigration after you've sanitized your hands again. After immigration comes the COVID testing. You get socially-distanced seats unless you're a family and then fill out two forms while they prepare your test tube. Then they call you back into the testing area and you take all of your things with you. Here is where they administer the test. Now the COVID test was not that bad. It was both better and worse than I expected. There were two parts to it. The first one goes in your throat and it's really like nothing but the second one that goes in your nose is intrusive. I made the mistake of watching a family member go first so I watched them grimace the whole time which did not help me relax at all. Right after them, it was my turn. The throat test was done very easily without any issue. Then the nose part came. It's very small and thin- maybe about the thickness of a coffee stirrer. Your eyes may water involuntarily but it's over very quickly. Coughing afterwards seems to be common. I tend to get lightheaded or faint under high levels of stress. Especially with medical related procedures so I felt a little lightheaded but it was tolerable. A solid 4/10 would not repeat (even though I have to).

At 4:30, we got a taxi to our quarantine hotel. Due to a government mandate, they were more expensive than usual. If you are coming to Barbados, I recommend budgeting between $15 - $30 US per person for a taxi ride, just to be on the safe side.

We got to the hotel at 5pm and they served us complimentary fruit punch which was delicious. As we were waiting in the lobby I realized something. The hotel is right by the beach so it's a hard hearing the water and not being able to go. However, it's only 7 days so it'll be over soon. We had Chefette delivered to the hotel room for dinner and finally crashed after a long day, excited to see what tomorrow will hold.