On our way ‘home’

I know we are not refugees heading for detention.  But for a moment it feels like that.  I now realise that those images of the first uplift of Australians from Wuhan, behind the wire fences in the detention centre on Christmas Island has left its mark. Equanimity will return in due course but waking to the news of our forced quarantine on arrival in Melbourne hit hard. Leaving our safe community on the boat where we have been exceptionally well looked after, for an unknown destination, made our departure more poignant.

So we here we are on the bus complete with police escort and flashing lights. Speeding through the city. We catch glimpses of the waterfront esplanade, palm trees and the obligatory McDonalds. 

We are on time! 

We too are treated to the previously mentioned ‘trip of a lifetime bus’ and certainly the trip to the airport willl be the quickest ever. Two speeding police motorbikes, sirens blaring, force Uruguayans out of our way as we speed though the red delights. Astonishing! The city seems quiet but we may have been maligning Montevideo. It actually looks quite inviting. A long coastline esplanade, now with well tended beaches, playgrounds, exercise equipment, and we even pass a grove of eucalyptus trees. Locals wave at us and we wave back, even though the tinted windows make us invisible. 

What we expected to be a very stressful transit to the airport is going well. The anticipated tension of this journey has been overshadowed by the quarantine news of the morning, and is becoming entertaining in its absurdity. What anxious traveller wouldn’t enjoy a ‘trip of a lifetime’ coach speeding through under police escort to the airport. 

We have a splendid view of Montevideo from the plane. Thank you Uruguay. When other countries closed their borders to us, Uruguay has facilitated our passage home. We are grateful. 

The view of the Andes is spectacular. It is a ‘clear’ day, meaning no clouds but definitely a lot of air pollution.

Santiago airport

We are now 8 hours into our airport wait. Four hours to go. About an hour ago our flight flashed up onto the departures board, much to our relief. For each of our group members there has been a collective sigh as flights have appeared. The majority of flights are listed as ‘cancelado’. 

We have taken the opportunity to walk the airport length. it may be our last opportunity for some time. Walking is starting to feel like a luxury. In recent weeks our shore landings were often on rocks, snow and ice, and not exactly a stroll in the park. The deck 4 circuit was around 160 metres, so the long airport corridor here in Santiago seems quite a distance. 

Everyone here has a story to tell, longer journeys, hardships, cancelled weddings, a terminally ill mother who cannot be visited on arrival home, extended quarantines. It is sobering and helps a bit to keep some perspective. 

I guess our next update will be from our government provided accommodation. I wish I had more confidence in our government and their care for us citizens. We have already been warned of lengthy delays until we reach our accommodation (I hope that doesn’t mean a long drive to some remote location???) and the need for patience. After a lengthy journey, with very limited flight service on our 14 hour flight (seemingly no meals, hot drinks, etc) to minimise contact with passengers, a time difference of 13 hours, with a departure at 2 am and arrival at 6 am, I’m not sure how patient I’ll be feeling. We are exhausted. But we will be in Australia and a step closer to home. 

Thanks for all your emails. Please keep them coming. We’ll need your support and distraction. We should have time and we hope wifi to start more personalised responses.