Entreacte
Before the pandemic, we had planned to come home for the month of August, since our tenants would be leaving. As the time to fly home approached, we dithered about whether to make the trip, unsure whether it was necessary enough to warrant it, and whether we'd have difficulty re-entering Spain.
But we went, and it was great.
The flights home were uneventful, easy even, with both planes just 1/3 to 1/2 full and very lightly populated airports. Air Portugal required covid tests for travel, at the behest of the Portuguese government. We filled out contract tracing forms both for Portugal and the US. The CDC met our plane in Boston, though their methods didn't seem particularly effective: they took 2 of our 4 temperatures (what is the point of that?). Massachusetts required us to quarantine for 14 days or to get tested. So we got tested again.
Despite Henry's comment on arrival that our house didn’t feel like home after a year away, we settled in quickly and had a great time.
We got the house in shape for one more year away and a new set of tenants. With 3 young children in residence during lockdown, our couch yielded lots of treasures:
We came home to a changed neighborhood. My favorite farmer's market is operating with careful protocols including appointments and advance ordering. Cambridge and Somerville have co-opted some street real estate to provide more space for outdoor dining. Mask-wearing compliance is similar to in Barcelona.
We cautiously gorged on outdoor social time with friends, enjoying the new patio which we didn't have time to use last year.
Henry and Nico spent lots of socially distanced time outside. Mad spent days riding bikes with her friends in Davis Square and on the Minuteman bike path. She even got to spend a week in a cabin in Sturbridge with her three best friends (and one set of parents, thanks to their generosity and some lucky timing). We got a day on the North Shore with the Brains. My mom ventured north from New Jersey to visit us, and so we were able to have a small Heywood family gathering on the patio. August was a good month to cram in all this outdoor socializing – we had just one drizzly outdoor evening.
Outdoor, socially-distanced Magic the Gathering. Note that the muffins are also socially distanced.
Essex getaway.
Arlington Center meetup with Jeff and Ellen.
One thing sadly lacking at home was pets - Lusi remained in Barcelona at the Residencia Canina. Here she is after we were re-united - she's becoming a pro at this.
