Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to OR thinking about as an epidemiologist each week.
We recently returned from a trip through Germany, Austria, and France. We are joyfully referring it to as our pandemic revenge vacation. We missed out on a lot of travel during the pandemic (a trip to Cape Cod, for example, was canceled when the state of Massachusetts required out-of-state visitors to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in the state, and last summer I got COVID while on vacation).
So this summer — we vacationed like we haven’t vacationed in ages. #revengevacation.
(In case you are not following me on social media) — A few weeks ago, we embarked on a bike ride from Passau, Germany to Vienna, Austria. It was the adventure of a lifetime.
✅ 139.1 miles biked
✅ 104 miles walked/hiked
✅ 2 blisters
✅ (only) 1 bike crash
✅ Little bit of sunburn
✅ Memories for a lifetime
While details about our trip will be coming soon, here are three things I learned about safe & healthy vacationing while traveling (in 2023 — when COVID is still spreading and there are numerous summer travel warnings).
Hoping this post helps to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
First things first — airplanes were full, restaurants were busy, and trains were crowded. Everyone has been asking —
Did you wear a mask?
I did NOT.
I had masks within reach at all times. But we kept our distance from others1, didn’t rush to stand in crowded jetways, and took advantage of fresh air whenever possible.
We were also all up-to-date on our vaccinations.
Second thing — our first-aid kit. I thought I had thought of everything. I had a lot of bandaids (of all sizes), wipes for cleaning wounds, antibacterial cream, tweezers, pain relievers (Tylenol/Advil), and a bee sting reliever. I also had ample sunscreen.
Things I wish I had packed… lotion with aloe or some sort of sunburn reliever. We did get a little sunburn (on our hands or in those tiny spaces we missed with sunscreen). I also wish we had taken cream to relieve athlete’s foot (yes, one of our kids contracted a little foot fungus along the way), Calamine lotion for itchy mosquito bites, and Benedryl (I broke out in hives after a stressful day of biking in Vienna and considerable time in the sun).
The last thing I would add to my first-aid kit is instant ice packs. On our first day in Germany, I fell off my bike and landed HARD on my left arm. I had road rash, multiple goose eggs (clinically, we call these hematomas), and a lot of bruising. Having an instant ice pack would have been really nice. And it might have helped with the pain. I will be adding these to my first-aid kit immediately.
And finally (thing three) — here are the lessons learned while traveling that kept us safe and healthy…
Be sure to travel with reusable water bottles. It is good for the planet, easy on the pocketbook (no need to buy water!), and ensures that everyone is drinking lots of water.
Take, wear, and reapply sunscreen. Lots of sunscreen. SPF of 35 at least.
Be sure everyone is up-to-date on all of their vaccines.
Stay active while traveling. We spent our days biking, hiking, and walking all over Europe. It was glorious. We toured castles, tasted wine, and rode our bikes all over Vienna. Being active and being outdoors is good for the mind, body, and soul. I would encourage each of you to build in time to be active even while on vacation.
I hope that you all have the chance to get away, relax, reconnect, and take an adventure this summer. Many of us were unable or didn’t want to travel during the height of the COVID pandemic. Now that we have learned to live in a world where COVID spreads, it is time for us to get away.
Travel can be safe and healthy.
Here’s to all the adventures we have this summer and for years to come…!!!
Questions about your upcoming travel? or want to know more about biking in Germany and Austria? or wine tasting in France?
And be sure to share this with friends and family, especially those who are traveling in the upcoming weeks/months.
There are still signs up across Europe like this one (this one was on the floor at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial in Austria). We kept our distance, as instructed.
thank you Becky!!
Hello Becky, Your bike trip sounds amazing. Who did you book this trip through? My friends and I would love to ride exactly where you were!
Thank you,
Carolyn Rose