We were able to book Iberia Air’s direct flight from Madrid to Boston today. We were up early and out of our apartment before nine for our 12:30 flight. As Jim was calling an Uber Sandy caught a taxi van on the completely empty street, which we needed.
The airport was eerily quiet.All the shops are closed and people are practicing social distancing very well. Lots of masks.Duty free shop on the left, closed.Train to our satellite terminal, one other person.VIP lounge nearly empty, serving no food, coffee, wine or vodka.Finally on the plane, five people in Business class, 14 empty seats. The rest of the plane was probably less than 40% full.Here’s to our escape from España. Jim spoke at length to one of the flight attendants who said that they were informed just before the flight that this was the last flight to Boston for now and rather than staying in Boston the flight attendants would be flying back to Madrid on this same plane tonight as passengers rather than staying in Boston.This is the health screening we went through on disembarking in Boston, a questionnaire but no temperature measurements.Last plane from Madrid to Boston.
Our new home, 134 Charles Street in Boston directly above the Post Office. Our real home about five blocks away is leased out until August 1.Nice big windows, lots of light and a great view of Charles Street.View from our living room and kitchen.There are coffee shops, take out restaurants, and a small high end grocery within only a few steps from our front door.
Four days shy of three years since we moved out of our home here in Boston to travel the world and live in many wonderful cities for one to four months and now we have been forced to return to this wonderful world class city that we love. We are certainly not sad to be returning home but we have very mixed feelings. Madrid is certainly warmer and felt safer and more comfortable for us but the idea of being stuck there for an unknown period of time was very unsettling. For now we will hunker down and do our mandatory 14 day quarantine. We will also publish a few anniversary blogs and some catchup blogs from past adventures. We very much appreciate everyones concern for our safety and health and all of your welcome home messages in emails and on Facebook.
