Travelling in the Time of Covid: My Tour of Italy this January

Imagine this: you are standing in the Stanze of Raphael in the Vatican City. The room is packed wall-to-wall with people. Tour guides are leading groups in every direction. You are trying to hear what your guide is saying above the noise, trying not to get lost in the crowd. This describes the chaotic – yet moving – experience that I had this January; despite the mayhem of Covid, no picture could ever do justice to the colours in the Sistine Chapel. Before the pandemic, anyone would jump at the opportunity to travel to Rome. Nowadays, just the thought of being in an enclosed space with a multitude of people makes everyone nervous. However, when I toured the Vatican, everyone present had to show proof of vaccination at the front door and wear a mask for the duration of their visit. It was actually a relatively safe experience, and there was something oddly liberating about being in a crowded room and yet knowing that my chances of getting Covid were still low.