Staying in Paradise a While Longer!

We arrived in the Philippines from Thailand on March 11th and planned to return to the U.S. on the 19th.  Without prior notice, the airport in Dumaguete closed on Sunday and ferries going to Cebu were stopped.   No one can enter the island of Cebu.   We could not get there to take the fight to Narita, Japan to connect with American Airlines to fly to Dallas.

With so many things shutting down in the U.S., maybe it is just as well.   We are relatively safe here from the virus as only a few cases have been reported on the island.   One died yesterday but maybe the closing of ports and schools has prevented the spread of the coronavirus.   No one seems to be in panic mode.  

We will be checking out of our hotel to stay in a very beautiful house owned by Gigi's aunt who lives in Connecticut.   She messaged me on Facebook that we were welcome and the house is there for any family member to use and she considers us "family."  There is a lady who oversees the house, sleeps downstairs a few nights a week and keeps plants watered and the house clean.   We will use the upstairs but use the kitchen downstairs to keep Ronald and Gigi from having to prepare meals for us. They have been so good to treat us with delicious meals but we don't want to burden them for a longer period of time because they have very busy days.  

The airport may be closed for 30 days or more but whenever it opens again, we will book our flights to return home.    We have been away since the middle of November and are ready to come home.

Yesterday was a big day.   Be sure to read the rest of the short blogs about our visit here to see pictures of the orphanage and events.   .