How does the body work? Going into our last weekend in Poland I developed a slight cough. We decided to forego the film we had bought tickets to see, Jerzy Skolimowski’s IO (in English, EO). But before heading home we had dinner in the cinema restaurant, the excellent Iluzjon Café Bar. I had the spicy Thai soup with a large glass of hot tea studded with ginger, cloves and other spices. The next morning, Saturday, I felt fine and my cough had disappeared. Hania and I walked to the metro – in a crisp 57 degrees – and spent the day shopping and seeing friends. Despite the chill, the streets were crowded with people, even in the evening, as we took our last stroll for a while down Nowy Świat.
Sunday we met our friend Marcin at the food court in Norblin, a former cutlery factory that had been turned into an indoor-outdoor mall. The Georgian dumplings looked tempting but, out of thoughts for my health, and a feeling of solidarity, I went for the Ukrainian borscht. Then we headed home to pack.
Monday, sitting on the plane, I felt a little off. Tuesday, Hania and I both awoke with blossoming colds. She went to Urgent Care, where she tested positive for COVID. I went a few hours later and tested negative. Though we both had similar symptoms – congestion and cough.
This morning I returned to Urgent Care because, unlike Hania, I’ve noticed no improvement in my condition. This time I tested negative for COVID and the flu. So I wonder if this prolongation of what the doctor diagnosed as a sinus infection is merely payback from my body for holding everything off until I got back from Poland.
