30 days: IAH to KBP (Kyiv) to ODS (Odesa) to IST (Istanbul) to ZGB (Zagreb) to Split to Dubrovnik (through Bosnia & Herzegovina) to Montenegro (Perast Kotor, Ceintje) back to Dubrovnik to ATH (Athens) to HER (Crete), back to ATH to IST to IAH.
I’ve posted about each stop, and this is sort of a trip summary.
In general the headaches of the trip were not significantly different than 2 years ago. The significant difference being most countries required me complete an online PLF.
Of course I chose a trip to countries that appeared to have a stable track record and policy attitude in dealing with COVID. That added to my mental comfort. The fact that the countries in question were on my “A" list added to the enjoyment.
What I discovered, that might be of interest to the forum is:
Social Distancing at airports and on flights is non-existent.
No more than 75% of the individuals in the airport were wearing masks properly.
Vaccine cards at border crossings were generally looked at, but not with any great study or concern. I imagine a Library card would have been accepted a few times.
At my stops everything was open and there was generally no working attempt at social distancing. Well to be honest, inside dining was generally limited, but I was traveling to countries where I wouldn’t have dined inside this time of year anyway.
Masks were required inside buildings, but not all tried to wear them correctly.
In 3 out of maybe 20 tourist stops my vaccine card was required, but like at the borders not really studied when presented.
I just passed my COVID test at the Istanbul Airport and will be boarding my flight home soon. Hotel to airport to final test result, through passport control and security took 2.5 hours. Nothing extraordinary about any of it.
Most of the flights were Turkish Air. None canceled and all pretty much on time. IST is a pretty sweet well organized airport.
I hired some pretty good guides and private transportation which made it more enjoyable.