Sunday, 5 December 2021
Tucson, Arizona

I am safely arrived home in Tucson and returning to the mundane after-travel chores--unpacking, petting the cat, laundry, petting the cat, putting things away, petting the cat, etc. Of course, I m especially  happen to be with Will again after 26 days. This was our first time apart since November 2019, before all the Covid chaos began.

I am also happy to report that with some extra preparation and precautions international travel is not only possible, but thoroughly enjoyable. With the continued outbreak of the Delta variant in the US, I felt safer in Dubai--with its very high vaccination rates--and on board ms Riviera. All passengers and crew were fully vaccinated and tested prior to boarding; passengers were required to wear masks in all public spaces (until this mandate was cancelled after the ship left European/African waters); the crew had to wear masks even after the mandate for passengers was cancelled. And there were no breakthrough cases throughout the entire journey. Of course, who knows how the Omicron variant and the sure-to-come other variants will affect future travel.

More Photos from Dubai, UAE
EXPO 2020 

As promised, here are more photos from EXPO:

Saudi Arabia

Ukraine

Finland

Theme Pavilion:  Mobility

Outside View of Wasl--the Gathering Place

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Interior

Dominican Republic Interior--Carnaval Costume

Algeria

Theme Pavilion: Mobility (Another View)

Belgium

Sparse Crowds on Weekdays

Australia

Oman

Thailand

Not surprisingly, the pavilions I found most interesting were countries I have not visited. Pavilions from countries I have been to seemed oversimplified and trite.

I will continue to post more EXPO photos over the next several days.