It does feel like a déjà vu—yes, Brazil again, yes, pandemic still going on.
“Aren’t you happy we’re going travelling, Mommy?” Mark asked me as we were loading the backpacks into my in-laws’ car.
“I am. I will be, once we land. For now… well, we still have to make it to the bus station and hope a bus company we’ve never heard of picks us up, then I’m hoping we meet all travel requirements and that our Air Canada flight is still scheduled. Oh, and that Brazil lets us in. So gimme another 24 hours and I’ll start to relax.”
It’s going to be a miracle if we make it—just us, I mean, I’m sure the world is going to be fine, it’s been around for a while.
Back in the days, i.e. before the plague, I used to worry about winter weather disrupting air travel. I miss that. Now, instead of watching The Weather Network, I’m trying to keep track of the latest COVID restrictions in Canada and elsewhere—less predictable, more exhausting.
Ottawa to Montreal – Guess What, The Bus Showed Up!
Normally, we take the Greyhound bus from Ottawa to Montreal–Trudeau International Airport but Greyhound Canada no longer exists. We had the choice between taking the train with VIA Rail or taking the bus with Orléans Express. Feng and I debated over it for a little while—how reliable are trains in case of a snow storm or ice rain? And how reliable is a bus company we’ve never heard of?
We ended up buying bus tickets and there was a 4 p.m. train as well as a backup.
Feng’s parents drove us to the train station, the official bus stop. They didn’t lecture us as much as I thought they would. They’re tired of the pandemic as well; plus risks are about the same in Canada as in Brazil…
The bus actually showed up on time and it was a smooth ride under the snow all the way to the airport.
Montreal–Trudeau International Airport – Waiting, waiting, and waiting some more
We arrived at the airport around 4 p.m. and our flight was only at 9:50 p.m. Most sitting areas have been removed at the airport, so instead people just cluster on the floor—COVID restrictions logic. We found a really nice spot we were probably not supposed to use (if you’re going to be stuck at the airport for a few hours, email me and I’ll tell you where it is!)
Clearly, many Canadians don’t give a damn about travel restrictions anymore, the airport was packed. I mean, you can’t tell people to cancel plans for two years in a row… especially at the last minute before Christmas holidays.
We got our boarding passes around 6 p.m. and it took a while because Air Canada staff had to check our proof of vaccination and PCR test results.
We went through security just behind a family of four, parents and two kids, dressed in shorts and t-shirts. They were catching a connecting flight to Ottawa. I get it, they were probably coming back from a sunny destination but still, why flying to Canada in summer clothes?
We resumed waiting at gate 63. I was working when I started getting email from Air Canada—flight delayed… then delayed some more. Oh well.
AC 096 – Deicing station, then a ten-hour flight
We were starving. Restaurants and eateries were closed at the airport, so we were looking forward to Air Canada’s trademark “pasta or chicken?” meal.
First, we had to go to the deicing station. I was half asleep but it was fascinating to watch two guys spraying the wings.
I got pasta… then I fell asleep and I woke up above Brasilia.
São Paulo GRU international airport – Welcome to Brazil!
We landed, or rather we bounced along the runway.
Everything went smoothly. Checking our vaccination proof took less than a minute, our passports were stamped with a smile and our bags… okay, they showed up eventually but it took a while. No worries. I was smiling.
We did make it.
I would have told Mark I was finally happy and relieved but he passed out in the taxi because this is what happens when you binge watch movies instead of sleeping in the plane…
Orléans Express is a pretty well known company in Québec. I noticed it when i was based here, they have good looking buses, especially compared to the junk that composes most of Greyhound fleet.
Strange thing I note on the de-icing pictures : there is a small European cabover Volvo truck there, and it’s of the latest design. I didn’t know it was sold in North America. Maybe it’s just for airport market, though.
For some reason, I had never heard of it or seen it around in Ottawa. Their only stop is at the VIA Rail station, which is probably why.
Can’t believe you spotted the Volvo truck on my crappy phone pics! 😆
You’re an inspiration! Thanks for the travel world update.
Argh, not sure if I’m the right kind of inspiration considering travelling is pretty frown upon these days… Let’s just say we’re trying to be safe and not go crazy. So yeah, travelling 😆
Orléans express is a fine company. They have a good network ! Never been disapointed.
Now, get rid of the snow boots and get in the shorts!!
Never heard of it before! Must be a Quebec thing.
Pour l’histoire, j’ai en fait abandonné le très, très vieux manteau d’hiver que j’ai sur les photos… à l’aéroport. C’était une belle mort pour lui 😆 Pas possible de l’amener, mai peur d’avoir froid dans le bus et à l’aéroport. Donc j’avais décidé de le sacrifier, il était décousu de partout, c’était un backup.
They are a Québec based company indeed! But they run a bit through the adjacent provinces 🙂
Ahah!! J’ai fait la même chose pour de vieilles bottes de neige à la gare de Jasper… Ils auront eu une belle vie… 😀
Clearly, I didn’t bus around Canada enough! We’ve always taken Greyhound buses 😆
Many (vaccinated) Indonesians are traveling abroad now, but recently our government had issued the 10 later 14-day-mandatory quarantine whereas last month it was only 3 days. Phew!!! Not so many in my circle travel more than a month, days of annual leave from their office is surely restriction.
Anyway! Glad you’re close to equator line again!
Same here, restrictions and measures change all the time. It’s so unpredictable that I’d rather just go and figure it out after. I was stuck last year, been there, done that… I’m lucky that I can work from anywhere.
Yay glad you made it safely !!
P.s. = where is the secret spot in Montreal Airport? Will need it for March :p
Sent you a message on Twitter 😉