Getting out of Guatemala was a major obstacle in trying to get home amid the Coronavirus lockdown of countries and airports. The biggest challenge however was and is trying to stay safe from being exposed to individuals as we travel. Getting to Mexico was a complicated process but Mexico has not been following many of the international guidelines on protecting people from the spread of the virus. It makes one suspicious of every person they see as they are moving from place to place.

Our Holiday Inn Express hotel in Tapachula, Mexico was kind enough to extend our check out time to 2 pm which meant that we only had to wait the last two hours in the lobby before going to the airport at 4 pm for our 6:20 pm flight to Mexico City. Our group of 16 took 4 taxis the 20 minute trip to the airport. We tried to limit our contact with others as much as possible.

At the Tapachula Airport, it was empty except for minimal staff that were there to check people through for the one flight. Health screeners checked our temperatures before we were permitted to go through security and wait at the boarding gate. We all breathed a sigh of relief as we walked onto the airplane that was packed full of passengers, most of which seemed to be from the USA and Canada who had been in Guatemala.

The short hour and a half flight took off at sunset and brought us to the Mexico City Airport. Unfortunately, this was going to be out home for the next 9 hours as we waited for a 5 am flight. In Mexico City’s Terminal 1 there were not as many people as usual but it was filled nonetheless with a good number that was waiting through the night. We found a quiet corner upstairs from the free McDonalds’ wifi. Security guards, however, informed us that we were to sit up and not lay down until after midnight. For those exhausted, it was hard to sit up but I saw plenty of people fall over and sleeping by 11 pm.

I went by the sleeping pods hotel but they were all occupied. They have sleeping pods at this airport in a quiet hotel-style check-in area that is stacked up on top of each other like science fiction cryogenic chambers. I had a few free passes with my credit card so my family went to one of many private lounges at the airport. I looked at 4 before selecting one but they only allow individuals to stay for 3 hours at a time unlike the lounges at other airports. It was a small lounge that had a short menu of 5 items to choose from and some reclining chairs. The lady at the check-in counter said it has never been this quiet before and I could see why. The 7 staff members when I woke up from a 2-hour nap were themselves falling asleep as we were the last ones left in the lounge.

We went to our gate at 3:30 am and the airport was eerily quiet. The flight left on schedule from Mexico City to San Francisco and I had never before seen a flight like this one. On an aircraft with about 150 seats, there were 3 flight attendants including nobody in business class. Of the 31 passengers on board, 16 were from our group. I had an entire exit row to myself with lots of space and was able to lay dow for a great 2-hour nap.

Flights are departing on time and usually landing early with very little air traffic. We arrived early in deserted San Francisco Airport and we could see dozens of planes parked in areas off of the main terminal. With a little bit of inside travel agent information and strategies, we were able to get on an earlier flight to Vancouver. After some lunch, we were on a mostly empty flight for the last leg home.

Landing at the Vancouver Airport was a surreal experience. It was deathly quiet and it seemed as if we were the only ones in the entire airport. I have never seen anything like it. On arrival, there were individuals telling us that we needed to self-quarantine for the next 14 days. As we showed our passports to customs officers, they handed us information on Covid-19. Near the baggage claim area, we were given another flier of information that we were informed was different than the first. Canadian authorities at the airport were covering all of their bases to make sure we were well informed on what we needed to do upon our return home.

Our group exited the airport to many happy parents there to welcome their children home. Some kept their distance while others had already decided they were as a family going to go into 14 days of self-isolation together.

Being back in Canada is a relief following such a challenge to get back home. Knowing there were family and friends praying for our safe and quick return home was reassuring. Coming up with a plan to get home was important but there were many that helped make it happen. After the first few days of confusion, we all felt the Canadian government was working hard for its citizens as soon as resources were mobilized… more than many other countries. We felt the support of the Canadian Consulate in Guatemala as well as Global Affairs Canada and Elizabeth May’s constituency office, my Member of Parliament. Thanks to all that contributed to our safe return home!