On the road (again) a journey that crossed half of Europe: no one checks the green pass
On the first of July, we set out on a journey that took us across the country in less than a week [...]
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On the first of July we set off on a journey that took us across almost half of Europe in less than a week. It is only by chance that our departure coincided with The entry into force of the European green pass, when we planned the trip, in fact, we did not know it yet.
The first part of the trip was in the company of my family in the direction of Latvia starting from Savona. The return was a breathless pull to get back in the shortest possible time (speed cameras permitting): almost 5,000 km round trip.
The first stage was Trieste where we stayed at the DoubleTree, a hotel above our expectations. The next morning we crossed the border between Italy and Slovenia and headed for the Postojna caves. We were very curious to observe what would happen at the border and we had, of course, our green passes ready...but no checks. We then visited Europe's most famous and largest caves in the heart of the Karst.
Vignette issue, or highway payment.
- Slovenia: also pay at the toll booth immediately after the border or in service areas, minimum period of validity one week.
- Austria: again pay at truck stops and areas near the highway, minimum period of validity 10 days
- Czech Republic: the vignette is digital, not sticker, you need the vehicle documents and you get a QRcode, again minimum validity 7 days
- Poland: e-toll payments being activated only on some small highway sections
- Lithuania and Latvia: vignette exists only for heavy vehicles
- Switzerland: always buy at truck stops before and/or after the border, minimum period all year round at 41 Swiss francs.
We then set off again in the direction of Vienna, where we had a dinner date with friends. Upon arrival at the border, after purchasing the usual vignette, the long queue portended checks and verifications. Instead it was just holiday traffic with the agents effectively checking only the presence of the vignette on the dashboards of the cars in transit.
In Austria we decided to stay at the Hilton Vienna Park, one of the largest and best known hotels in the Austrian capital. Again excellently located facility, upgrade to Junior Suite and free breakfast thanks to the status Gold Hilton Honors.
Throughout the journey, which took us across 13 borders, the green pass we were never checked, with the exception of staying in two hotels. The first time, the morning at breakfast in Vienna, the restaurant attendant asked us to show our pass. A quick glance, without even checking whether it was the bus pass or the Esselunga coupon, and he escorted us to the table.
After breakfast, we set off again in the direction of Poland. Also in Warsaw the hotel of choice is Hilton. Obviously in each nation there are different laws about masks, spacing, and regulations. In general it felt like a world trip from before, masks aside.
The last part of the outward journey was the longest leg: from Warsaw to the Latvian capital, of course after crossing the border and all of Lithuania.
Before entering Latvia we have to fill out an online form and get the local green pass, yet another QR that, depending on our answers, will tell us whether we can walk around the country safely or whether we have to isolate ourselves and for how long. Of course, no border control. No review for the Garden Inn in Riga Because we've been there several times already and I've already reviewed it.
The return trip took me (re)back to Italy, this time without family who remained in green Latvia. I again crossed the borders of Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic, where I took the opportunity to sleep at the Hilton Prague Old City. From here quick passage into Germany, Austria, Switzerland to return to Italy through the San Bernardino tunnel. Again no green pass check, except for a quick peek at check-in in Prague with the attendant asking me to show it and then not even looking at it. The Swiss borders were also absolutely unguarded.
In conclusion
If airport controls are there, causing queues and inconvenience to people leaving by air, by land no one is checking anything. In total I passed 13 borders and between Slovenia and Austria the only queues I encountered were caused by vignette checks and not green pass checks. So one really has to wonder what is the point of such a measure if it is then used, perhaps, only for air travel.
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