A negative and a positive

8 June 2022.

The day began rainy and a gentle drizzle persisted off and on through much of the morning. Both of us just felt like a second cup of coffee and hanging around the apartment. 

After some discussion about health matters we also decided to go get "officially" tested for Covid-19.

I began developing symptoms of a rather unsettling nature the day we left Gouda for Paris (June 1). By the time we had settled in I was feeling quite sick, sore throat, cough, aches, weakness, fever, no appetite. We had brought Covid home test kits with us and I tested positive on 2 June and again 6 June. Susan tested negative. 

The good news is my fever abated quickly and my general well-being returned in fairly short order. 

So, today we went to a nearby pharmacy for an official test (€40) and sure enough, Susie was still negative and I was still positive. But with a positive test in hand and being asymptomatic I qualify for a "documentation of recovery" in order to fly out of France to the US next Tuesday. That assumes I still test positive next Monday (in order to get into the US international travelers need to show a negative test result taken within one day of departure from the originating country). If I test negative then I'm definitely good to go, literally and figuratively.

waiting to be tested

After the testing and accompanying disappointment that I may in fact have to stay in Europe, we headed back to the apartment to decide what we wanted to do with the rest of the day. We eventually concluded that a good stroll down to the Jardin des Plantes was in order and so we did.

We walked down the Boulevard l'Hôpital and entered the gardens near the natural history museum. On the right of the entrance was a wonderful statue to the noted French animal sculptor Emmanuel Fremiet. 

Not much was in bloom but the trees were certainly very green. We strolled then found a bench to sit and just take in being in the jardin.

there was a dwarf stegosaurus hiding in the bushes

Since the return trip was all uphill and we had our Navigos that just cried out to be used, after leaving the jardin we walked across the street to Gare d'Austerlitz. From there we took the no. 5 Metro two stops and a short walk home.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the possibility that one or both of us would not be allowed back in the US next Tuesday we hunkered down for the evening pondering the various options:

We had to be out of this apartment next Tuesday that was a given. But if I/we had to stay then what? Where to go? For how long? What about the flight next Tuesday and any future flight? When might that happen? Would I keep testing until declared negative or go for a "documentation of recovery"? And where might that "documentation" come from? And on and on and on. . . .

Stay tuned!