6/5/2022 Bad News in Rome

Breakfast at the hotel again and then out to do our Covid test at the pharmacy in Barberini plaza. There was a small line but it went quickly. This is a rapid test site so we got tested, then stood around waiting for the results. The guy came out of the tent and called my name and another girl's. And unbelievably, I tested positive for Covid! I just sat down on the curb and cried. Randy was so sweet and supportive, but I knew this screwed up everything. 

Thank God everyone else, including Randy, tested negative. I tried to get Randy to agree to leave on schedule and I would follow in a few days, but he wouldn't consider it.

The rest of the day was a blur to me. Aaron, Glenda, Joe and Jack have to leave tomorrow of course. Randy and I went back to the hotel and he started arranging things. He had bought insurance for this trip so he called the insurance company to learn what to do. They cancelled our airline tickets for tomorrow and said they will rebook them when we can travel. He got hold of someone at the other insurance company and was told to call back after 3 pm (they are in North America) for claim information and hotel recommendations. We considered if the American Embassy could provide help or advice but they are closed on the weekend.

Randy went downstairs to talk to the Front Desk people. They cannot tell us until tomorrow if we can have a room or how much it will be. And we cannot go to the breakfast room. We felt we could not possibly wait until Monday morning to know if we have a room here or not, so we decided to book another hotel.

Next we called Giuseppe. Even though our part of the tour is over and he is in another part of Italy now, he is our best contact in Italy. He was supportive and kept telling us to relax; we would stay a couple more days, retest, and everything would be fine. It was nice to hear that point of view. 

Fortunately the local Coop grocery store  has some supplies we need, like bread, cheese spread, and beer.

At 3 pm Randy called the insurance company back and got hold of a helpful guy who talked about the possible claims we would have: trip interruption (for extra flight costs) and travel delay (for hotels, meals, transportation; $150 a day per person, $1,000 max per person).  

Next we tried to reach someone for those hotel recommendations. After an hour of being on hold we gave up and called Giuseppe again. He's lives in Rome so he might have a recommendation. He said the insurance folks weren't really going to help with this so we should just book one ourselves. So Randy did. 

Afterwards Randy went out and got pizza for us in our room. We did join the others on the rooftop for a few minutes but left early. My heart just wasn't in it.