‘krakóws stare miasto had become a breathable tourist-free space, brussels cobblestone streets lacked gaufre covered faces, amsterdams floods of bicycles reduced to nothing more than trickling streams and 24 hour berlin in bed before 11’
in this post i’ll be addressing what it was like to work and travel abroad during the covid-19 pandemic. giving a very personal account of my experience travelling through coronavirus, its opportunities and obstacles, with an authentic and very necessary connection to mental health. i hope by writing this piece i can bring some clarity and peace to any souls who happen to wander by it.
alas, 2020. what a year. the seemingly never-ending covid chapter has undoubtedly been a difficult period for everyone. extraordinary circumstances, turbulent times and consistent moments of uncertainty. overwhelming media reports, constant speculation and varying conspiracies. all very valid reasons for feeling disconnected.
for me personally, this ‘covid era’ has been a time of reoccurring anxieties, low moods, fear and a battle with myself. often left feeling detached from reality and isolated with a hazy mental state. a clear expression of life’s tempestuous up and down nature and reminder of the importance of compassion, solidarity and freedom. struggling, i needed to adapt with my body and mind. listen to what it was telling me; change, readjust, align and find my lust for life again. desperate for what makes me present, stimulated and above all happy. of-course my answer to that was to escape and travel.
there were many invitations presented to me. many messages and hurdles suggesting maybe travelling wasn’t a good idea. the first? a cancelled flight just 2 days before departure. much like the year so far, everything was up in the air and navigating the covid puzzle was ever more prevalent. the resolution? a 28 hour (1,700km) bus from london to kielce. start as you mean to go on and all that. a journey of this length was a first for me, let alone during a global pandemic. Regardless, 50 brits, 1 coach and 6 countries: it was my one way ticket out of the UK and i was definitely in it for the long haul.
where did i go & what was it like
during this trip i covered 6 countries, 5 capital cities, some smaller cities and many towns and villages in-between.
poznan, kraków, warsaw, wrocław, zakopane, gdańsk, chojnik, giżycko, kudowa-zdrój, puszczykowo, barwice, bałoszyce, różan, rytebłota, wielimowo, lipowy most, luboradza, kielce, ostrava, brno, berlin, amsterdam, rotterdam, den haag, brussels, ghent, london, bristol.
travelling through covid, as i progressively discovered, was very different. given the world was visibly divergent, and my perspective was altered, it should’ve come as no surprise. every day life felt unfamiliar, uncomfortably so and not in the good pushing yourself kind of way. new regulations like mask wearing, maintaining social distancing, plastic screens created an edgy atmosphere. uncertain if that friend you hadn’t seen in a long time would greet you with a hug or a mask covered distant smile. it all accumulated to a strange feeling of aimlessness (nihilism almost) and with a lack of things open, this only fed into the fruitless narrative more.
krakóws stare miasto had become a breathable tourist-free space, brussels cobblestone streets lacked gaufre covered faces, amsterdams floods of bicycles reduced to nothing more than trickling streams and 24 hour berlin in bed before 11. every country with an atmospheric shift; it’s major attractions lacking and feeling distinctly average. every country had changed. familiar places became foreign; mere shells of before. new ones now hollow and leaving much to be desired.
dependent on the city, restaurants, cafes and pubs were closed. abundant closures and vacant streets came hand in hand in the most unromantic way. eating was restricted to the streets with minimal options to sit inside and sociable beers were served with a 10pm curfew or not at all. although not a new feeling for me, i was often left feeling homeless because of these situations. confined to the streets in this ‘new normal’. the in-betweens no longer involved sitting in a quaint, cosy cafe. rather, sat out on an empty street, lunch in hand, lugging my huge home to the next derelict bus station.
not only was it the cities but the people too. uncertainty, scepticism and fear filled the air. people were different and you could really feel it. one of my favourite things to do when travelling is to interact with the local people. contrast to what you’re told growing up, speaking to strangers only spurs on positivity for me. no white vans or weird geezers, just opportunity. the small interactions often bring about a sense of joy, breaking social barriers, stigmas and often leading to adventure. yet, with all the restrictions in place and fear of social interaction; there was less of it. too many rules, too ordered, too concise. as someone who despises rules for the most part, it just wasn’t it. things felt way too official, bland and in some ways staged.
getting about was also more of a problem. travelling from cities, let alone countries, was a bit more of an effort. research was needed with the ever changing and increasingly differentiating national and international rules. with europe polarised in its reaction to the pandemic; coloured zones, lockdowns, isolations, some borders open others closed. the potential of being stuck in a country was ever present and a constant to consider. hitch-hiking was off the cards. however public transport was safe, ordered and often a lot less occupied than usual. the same can be said for hostels and airbnb’s too. however, hostels lacked guests and atmosphere meaning they had become nothing more than a place to rest with little to no social aspect.
misplaced luggage, a lost passport, broken glasses, illegal border crossings and getting lost deep in the tatra mountains after sunset. all moments that provided the adventure i desperately craved amongst the abnormal madness. these moments gave me some ordinary madness, to make everything seem a little more normal. all nothing short of beautiful invitations to be tested and opportunities to feel alive.
in short the fun of it had faded; the magic missing. conversations were all too often geared around the pandemic, it was simply unavoidable with reminders at every turn. even in the most obscure of villages. it was because of this i found myself consciously choosing to be in nature more. swimming, hiking, jogging, in parks, national forrest’s and lakes. where i’d ground myself, seek comfort in the reconnection and achieve a momentary break from it all. nature had become my safe haven.
social media & mental health
something i think imperative i touch on more so now than ever is mental health. given a lot of people are cooped up in isolation and lockdowns across the globe, it’s more difficult perhaps than ever. people all too often associate and compare their lives with others based on their media appearance. super unfair. comparing your genuine, real, present, physical and mental living life to what? highlight reels and an endless flow of good times. succumbing to sensationalism and facades; often unintentionally or subconsciously done by us all at one point in time.
the truth, in which a lot of us have awoken to in recent times, is that it’s usually nothing more than a fabricated scene, a staged act or a glorifying mask to suggest anything other than the truth. just because something looks beautiful, breathtaking or simply ‘better’ doesn’t mean it is. we see one side of the picture, merely exposed to a very controlled part of the situation: the ‘best bits’, if you will.
you could literally be anywhere in the world, witnessing the most amazing thing. yet, if you’re not present, happy and at peace, then there isn’t much point. this was too often the case with travelling through the pandemic.
while i won’t deny it’s special seeing such iconic and usually ram-packed places empty. it’s also somber and almost senseless. on many occasions i was left with this incomplete feeling. i’ll use the metaphor of a football match between arsenal and tottenham. sure, it’s an exciting idea of seeing it all alone and with the best seats in the house. however, the reality is without everyone there its boring and the magic is gone. whats the point in a front row seat, with the inability to share the experience with others? without the audience, and therefore the collective energies flying about, you’re left with a shell of the atmosphere and a strange lingering ambience. it may look exciting online but actually it’s not much more than that nice idea, it’s actually quite heartbreaking. it’s the people, and it’s always been about the people, never the place.
i’m aware this isn’t some huge revelation debunking the social media depiction. rather, a reminder with me having the opportunity to share my own experience. if you’re sat at home longing to be where that person appears to be having an amazing time, let me assure you, that may not be the case. if your heads not there, you’re not there. besides, whether it’s good or bad, you’re exactly where you’re suppose to be in this exact moment.
~ perspective ~
i sincerely believe through this pandemic there is a collective awakening. we are being presented with an invitation for a societal effort. a collective conscious effort to work together towards better times. but more importantly, an invitation to do the inward work.
lessons are to be learnt and information taken. by enduring the difficult and uncomfortable moments, no matter how long or intense, we uncover the opportunities for growth. remembering that in our journey “life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you”.
being away i noticed this. compassion and kindness appears to be rife, with people realising the importance of being supportive and kind. travellers having an abundant and similar mindset often means that i am met with this goodness. however, that compassionate, kind natured and ‘we’re all in this together’ spirit appeared maybe even more prevalent and in more mindful ways now. certainly a positive to take from the trip.
so, should you travel?
evidently from the general tone of this post, i’m in no way urging people to travel during the pandemic. however i want to assure you that it’s absolutely possible. remaining cautious and respectful of others whilst on the move and the ability to adapt will be the biggest assets to you. to move through this we simply have to adapt. whilst maintaining our curiosity and questioning everything. i think it’s important to challenge the beliefs that no longer work for you or make sense even. trust your intuition, become the pilot of your life and realise what actually matters.
yet, whilst its entirely possible to travel, i want to mention the fact this isn’t a local conflict; countries really are struggling worldwide and the grass isn’t greener on the other side. perhaps now is when we should find or reevaluate the comfort in our homes and familiarities to keep us grounded in this wobbly period. learn to focus more on slow living, appreciating the small things and intricate moments. at least, that’s what i’ve discovered from this trip having come full circle
some final thoughts..
ultimately the natural wanderlust got the better of me. with this decision i live with no regret. i live with not only being able to say i travelled through covid-19 but more importantly knowing the truth. sure it was difficult, confusing and unfulfilling at times. yet without having tried, i would be left with a perceived imagination of what could’ve been and not what was. i feel blessed and reminded to practice gratitude in this time. simply having the opportunity and being able to exercise my privilege through such circumstances is a huge gift. it allowed me to reconnect with close friends, grace the empty streets of europe and work abroad. all of which have provided me with moments of magic amongst all the hardship.
what makes the story even better is the fantastic irony of it all. having travelled across 6 countries, through several red zones, in contact with thousands of people and the sometimes overwhelming worry during such a time. it’s only now, as i write this back in my bristol home, i’m in isolation as a positive covid case.
on that note, let me remind you that the universe won’t throw things at us that we cannot handle and this is just another example of that. stay strong, we will get there.
with love,
elliott x
