And the Groundhog Day greets every day!

Due to the upcoming lockdown of at least 4 weeks, we needed accommodation where we could stay the entire time. Fortunately, the hostel staff in Wellington booked us into a hostel of the same chain, otherwise we wouldn't have found a place here so quickly. The two of us were accommodated in a 4-bed room. While everyone should actually isolate themselves, it's not really possible in a hostel, but at least the rooms were only half occupied.

All common areas and terraces are closed. We are allowed to use the kitchen three times a day. Each floor has been assigned fixed times, so that we don't come into contact with people from other floors. For us on the 1st floor, this means breakfast from 6:45 - 7:30 AM, lunch from 11:30 - 12:15 PM, and dinner from 5:30 - 6:30 PM. Each room must sit at a different table. We are allowed to leave the hostel once a day for shopping or taking a walk. But we have to sign a list and note exactly where we were and how long it took. And of course, keep distance outside or while shopping.

We sleep a lot, watch movies, read, chat, drink wine... Every day is like the other, and although we do the same things, the days pass surprisingly quickly.

The repatriation program was supposed to start on March 27, 2020. Over 12,000 Germans had registered with the Foreign Office for a repatriation flight from New Zealand. But when the first plane took off, the New Zealand government suddenly announced that no further repatriation flights to Germany could take place for the time being. The reason given was that so many people traveling to the airport would spread the coronavirus faster and thus endanger the New Zealanders.

Except for another delay by the New Zealand government, nothing happened for a week. Slowly but surely, the situation started to annoy! You can't avoid each other in a small hostel room. On April 2, 2020, the news came that flights would resume from April 3rd. Christina was lucky and got a seat on the first plane that day.

So my 30th birthday was quite quiet. The highlight was an ice cream in the park. :-) In the evening, I played cards with a few other Germans from the neighboring rooms (which we actually shouldn't have done, contact ban and all...). That was a nice change and saved the day!

Actually, during these days I wanted to meet up with friends on the South Island and celebrate together. Unfortunately, that didn't work out...

The next morning, I received an email saying that I will be on the Lufthansa flight to Germany on April 7, 2020. I have to be at the airport at five in the morning, the departure is at 9:00 am. I will arrive in Frankfurt on April 8, 2020 around 12:30 am.

So my New Zealand adventure ends. Unfortunately, much earlier and completely different than I had planned! I didn't even get to see the breathtakingly beautiful South Island. Also, my birthday present to myself, a trip to Sri Lanka, is probably not feasible in the near future. But I will make up for both as soon as possible!

See you at home! :-)