As a flight attendant with striking red lips scolded a woman for switching seats, I couldn’t help but reminisce about my many trips to Greece over the past 17 years. The familiar sight of disinfectant wipes being offered instead of the customary candies at the aircraft’s door vividly brought back memories of my numerous journeys. As I sipped an iced coffee overlooking Rafina Port, I pondered whether it was wise to travel during a pandemic.
Each person’s comfort level with the pandemic is different, but Greece seemed to have its tourist services well-handled. I didn’t fully grasp this until I landed in Athens in late July and stayed till the end of September. The extended stay allowed me to observe firsthand what it’s like to travel to Greece amid COVID-19.
The first step, filling out a Passenger Locator Form (PLF), required me to declare my addresses for the next two weeks. It wasn’t mandatory to mention a hotel name if staying with family. After submitting the form, I got a confirmation email, and the night before my flight, a unique barcode to carry with me.
Worried about wearing a mask for hours? Seeing airport staff—from security to shop assistants—all masked up helped me keep my complaints in check. At Lisbon Airport, the usually busy pastelerias were empty, and for once, there was no line at McDonald’s. The check-in process took just 12 minutes, and passing through security required only the usual liquid checks. At boarding, everyone showed their PLF. A woman who didn’t have one ended up in a heated discussion with the airport staff, while the rest of us boarded smoothly. My flight was not too crowded, allowing for some social distancing, despite mixed reviews about Aegean Airlines.
Upon arrival in Greece, we were separated into groups: those needing tests and those who didn’t. My plane was fully tested, while a flight from France wasn’t. During my test, I was hurried forward by a policeman despite trying to maintain social distance. Two women, dressed like astronauts, scanned my PLF and swabbed my throat. In just half an hour, I was out of the airport and mask-free after eight hours. I heard nothing over the next 24 hours, so health protocols weren’t triggered for me.
Planning to visit my 94-year-old grandmother in Sicily, I needed a COVID-19 test since Italy had placed Greece in a high-risk category. I called Athens Airport, bought my test online for 70 euros, and got tested at the arrivals section. This time, the nurse gently took the sample through my nostrils. The results came 12 hours later, ensuring I’d have no quarantine upon arrival in Rome. Bureaucratic differences between countries make traveling harder than it should be, but those 70 euros were worth it to see my grandmother one last time before she passed away.
Travel has changed drastically and permanently. The term “new normal” feels outdated; this is just how things are now. Similar to the transition to the Euro, the first to adapt are those who embrace the unknown. As of May 1, 2022, most Covid restrictions in Greece have been lifted, but masks remain mandatory on public transport, boats, taxis, and in hospitals.
Chiara, a 36-year-old Italian globetrotter currently working as a tour guide in Lisbon, has traveled to Greece almost yearly since she was 18. She cherishes her Greek roots and left Italy in 2010 to experience life in new countries through living, backpacking, or volunteering.
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