For the last year I have been mostly sitting here in my house in New York and protecting myself from the possible ravages of Covid-19. I must say that I have been successful in that endeavor. I have now been fully vaccinated against the virus since the end of February and just today in mid May as I write this article the CDC announced that those who have been fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outdoors. Local rules still apply and may be different thsn the CDC’s recommendations. Good news.
However, the price that has been paid, at least by me, has been staying home, watching TV and not doing all the things I like to do. And for me the thing that I like to do the most, is travel. As travel editor of the VEGAS VOICE, you have read all about my/our travels for over fifteen years.
In fact, over these last many years I have traveled from New York to Las Vegas at least three times a year. Vegas really is my second home.
So it was finally with great anticipation that Sharon and I made plans to get back to Vegas just at the end of April. It had been over one year since we had traveled. I must tell you that I was a bit leery. All that TV watching I had been doing, especially the news, seemed to show me all the bad behavior people were exhibiting when traveling. You know, all those confrontations on airplanes, and hotels and stores between mask wearing folks and those who didn’t want to. People who weren’t social distancing and those who were.
Now this is not, I repeat not, a political discussion. I just do not like confrontation and I don’t want to be a part of the stress of those uncomfortable moments. Nevertheless, off we went to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon and Sedona.
And what a wonderful trip we had. We did not experience one moment of bad conduct on any of the flights we took, in any of the hotels we stayed in or any of the restaurants we patronized. Everyone, as we used to say in our elementary school days, was “working and playing well with others”. Everyone complied with local governmental and establishment rules and regulations and our trip/vacation out west was superb. I need not have worried.
We had a great time in Vegas reconnecting with our VEGAS VOYAGERS. Sedona and the red rocks were majestic. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon together with a trip on the Grand Canyon Railroad was wonderful.
The country is opening back up. From my perspective people are traveling responsibly and, if current trends continue, we will be back as close to normal as possible. Our first Bus to the Boat is scheduled for February 21-28, 2022 on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas. Space is filling fast. Call us at 516-485-3200 for full details. Continue to stay safe.