Filed under: Back Home
Finally arrived back in Canada after an interesting day at the airports in Cancun and Edmonton. Firstly, in Cancun we were super early so we had lots of time to roam around and see all the people in their masks…so many people ‘afraid’. We knew we’d be coming back to something similar (or worse) in Canada as we’ve been following the news, so we were prepared. When our fight finally boarded our lovely WestJet flight attendants gave us a little run down of what the situation was and what to expect in Edmonton. They asked if anyone had symptoms at all to let them know so they could give them masks and make them more comfortable. One girl (early 20′s) who was actually sitting in the row directly in front of us was feeling ill (flu-like symptoms) so they managed to move her to the back of the plane where there was a few free seats so she could be isolated and be more comfortable. She was wearing a mask, but she was still coughing a lot and complained of feeling weak.
Since WestJet fights come equipped with satellite tv we got to watch the various news stations with their ‘updates’ on the Swine Flu ‘epidemic’…while I know it is important to put the information out there, I think the media is going overboard with this…but that’s just my opinion. When we finally landed in Edmonton (after what seemed like the longest 5 1/2 hour flight ever) we were forced to sit in the plane on the tarmac (with seatbelts fastened, mind you) until Health Canada officials could board the plane to assess the situation. The boarded through the rear nearest to where the young female passenger was and attended to her first. Since no one else really showed any symptoms (or were too afraid to come forward, likely) they finally let us disembark, but warned us of long lines at customs.
Along with the normal customs questions of ‘what did you buy?’ and ‘do you have anything to declare?’ they were also asking ‘do you have any flu-like symptoms or have you been feeling unwell?’. Once through that (at least Canada has no red lights, lol) we all gathered around the baggage carousel waiting for our bags. It took forever…seriously. When bags did finally start their way down the conveyor belt it was another 20 or more minutes before our bags came along – thankfully I have easily identifiable pink luggage, but Scott is not so lucky with navy blue luggage (though he does have a neon green tag on it that helps!). With bags in hands we go through the final check point (all the while every airport personnel has masks on and are looking at us like we have the plague) and make our way out to the Value Park bus which takes us to our parking spot in Blue 12 (I actually managed to hold on to that little piece of paper with our parking area on it the entire vacation, lol). Bags thrown ‘neatly’ into the car we turned on the defrost and heated seats (brrrr, Edmonton is sure chilly) and headed to the TravelLodge Edmonton Airport Hotel (we got a great deal on Expedia, I kid you not, lol) where I lie typing this now, unable to sleep (unlike Scott). Wishing I was back in Playa with my feet in the sand, rather than looking forward (not really) to a LONG drive North tomorrow…
(I promise we will post the photos once we’re back in Hay River…so keep checking back)
Leanne
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