Wanderwoman Update: Lori Zaino

This week we travel back to Spain and visit with my friend Lori and check in to see how she is handling pandemic life. For those of you new to the site, meet Lori Zaino, (IG: lori_zaino) a travel journalist and American expat who has made Madrid her home. You can check out her original profile here and also go to her website travellikelori.com to learn more about her and her work. Let’s see what she has to say about how Spain is handling the current pandemic and her thoughts on travel in the new world.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your life?

From mid-March to mid-May, I was under strict quarantine orders here in Spain. The country had one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, only allowing people out for essential reasons, like to go to the grocery store. I basically left my home three-four times in two months. As the country slowly opened up, I was able to leave my home and slowly return to the 'new' normal, which includes things like which includes mandatory masks, limited capacity at restaurants/gyms/shops/indoor spaces and social distancing. Obviously, this has had a major impact on my life, but I feel lucky to be alive, healthy and safe.  This is a time of uncertainty for everyone, so I'm doing my best to regain my strength mentally and physically after a difficult spring while also following the rules to keep myself and those around me safe. Adaptation is key, and my goals have changed a lot this year. 

I've spent the summer traveling nationally here in Spain, but with the utmost caution. In fact, I'm trying to enjoy my life as best possible while always wearing a mask when necessary and social distancing when possible. Next week, I'll be flying to Paris. 

Obviously, things are still quite strange and living in a city during all of this is tough, I feel lucky that although I had many friends who fell ill with the virus, I never got sick or wasn't directly affected by the many deaths cause by Covid-19. My heart goes out to all those who were.

How do you feel your country is handling the pandemic? Do you feel safe?

As I mentioned above, Spain had one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. At the time, it was a struggle to be trapped in an apartment and not be able to leave, but it was the right choice.  I also felt very lucky to have fast internet, plenty of food to eat and have my husband with me, who is a ray of positive sunlight. Many people were not so lucky, and this is going to be a difficult period for many on varying levels. I do feel generally safe -- I believe the mandatory masks is the right choice (although it's certainly not comfortable in Spain's 100-degree heat). 

I think most people are struggling to figure out what is safe and what isn't -- it's a new learning curve for all of us.

For myself, personally, I'm trying to limit my contact to close friends, wear masks when around my older in-laws and spend most of my social time outdoors. However, personal security will need to be constantly evaluating and changing based on the situation. I don't believe in shaming others who are making different choices. As long as people are generally following the rules set by the government, each person can decide what works best for themselves -- to take the subway or not, to dine indoors or not, to limit social contact or not. Everyone has a different situation and we all need to be as understanding as possible during this time.

Based on current travel restrictions are you happy to be where you are or do you wish you were somewhere else?

I am so happy to be in Spain. I don't want to get political, but what I'm seeing on the news about the United States, my home country, is terrifying. The lack of leadership and the poor virus response there is tremendous, and I'm scared for my loved ones back at home. I truly hope change is coming, and I've never felt luckier to live abroad. Of course, I'll be voting in November, and I encourage anyone reading this to do the same. Voting is right that so many other people in other countries are not afforded -- and you should certainly exercise it.

What are your thoughts on travel right now? When do you plan on traveling? And what are your new guidelines/precautions?

I don't feel super comfortable crossing borders, but I'll be heading to Paris soon to see family, so I'd better get comfortable! Right now, I'm taking road trips within Spain (luckily, there is so much to see and do here in this beautiful country) and I flew to the Canary Islands and Alicante this summer already. I felt pretty safe with my N95 mask on, and all the other passengers followed the rules, so it wasn't a bad experience. 

But things can change quickly, so I think it's important stay vigilant on news updates and rules and book flexible travel. I've spent months on the phone getting refunds/vouchers/sitting on hold to deal with canceled trips, so everything I book for the foreseeable future will be easily amendable, cancelable or refundable -- and I'd advise for others to do the same when booking travel. 

And if you'd like to know if it's safe to travel, well, that's complicated. In some countries, yes, in other's no. It's something you need to decide for yourself,  taking government regulations and your personal situation into consideration.

What is your new normal?

My new normal is wearing a mask when outside of my home in almost all circumstances -- indoors at shops and outdoors when social distancing isn't possible -- it's the law. I'm sticking to contact with mainly close friends, and trying to be outdoors as much as possible. I've made sure my home office and home in general is as comfortable as can be in case there is another lockdown.  And, I don't take a single step outside my home or visit with friends for granted. When you're barred by law to stay indoors, being outside -- even waiting for the bus in the burning hot sun -- is truly a joy, and I'm realizing that more than ever now.