Olivia and Raul De Freitas have been on honeymoon since March 22. But now, this couple spends their confinement stay, in a five-star establishment, in the Maldives, a country made up of more than a thousand small paradisiac islands in the Indian Ocean, and with an authoritarian regime.
The couple from South Africa planned to stay only six days. For this 27-year-old teacher and 28-year-old butcher, this trip "was an extravagance," Olivia De Freitas told the New York Times. And since they had not lived together before exchanging their vows, this honeymoon trip was eagerly awaited. A fortnight later, it is endless. Coronavirus crisis requires.
This Sunday, they were the last "guests" of their resort, the Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, capable of accommodating up to 180 people and normally full at this time of the year. The establishment is located on an island with turquoise waters, a paradise for snorkeling and "lazing around".
The hotel gives them a reduced rate
But in reality, the island is not that big and there is nowhere to go. The couple reigns like sovereigns over this white sand territory, but Raul and Olivia are captive on their islet. The days are long and lazy. They sleep, snorkel, lounge by the pool or in the water of the Indian Ocean.
The Wednesday after their arrival, they were informed that all airports in their country would be closed at midnight on Thursday. Even if they could take a flight, the complexities of leaving their distant island guaranteed that they would never arrive in South Africa on time. And they decided to wait.
Problem: money. The hotel has agreed to offer them a favorable rate - the cheapest room costs 675 euros per night - while all the other foreign nationals have managed to leave the island. The savings made to buy a house on their return are unfortunately very much in jeopardy.
The diving instructor begs them to go snorkeling
To get out of there, they did ask for help from the South African consulate in the Maldives and the nearest South African embassy, based ... in Sri Lanka. A representative told them, via WhatsApp, that there were around 40 other South Africans spread across the Maldives, and that their return option would be to rent a chartered jet at their own expense for ... 104,000 dollars (Editor's note: approximately 96,000 euros). Too expensive even when sharing the costs.
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Their stay in this "paradise" turns to Vaudeville. The couple have a designated waiter, but others systematically come to chat during meals, filling glasses of water after each sip, offering drinks even if the glasses of their cocktail are already overflowing. The diving instructor begs them to go snorkeling every time they pass in front of him.
"We started to play a lot of table tennis and snooker (pool table)," says Olivia De Freitas, philosopher. Her husband participates in staff football matches.
This Sunday, they finally left their island, but for another hotel where the South African authorities finally decided to reunite their nationals. The couple still do not know when they can return. The official date for a possible reopening of the airports is scheduled for April 16.
"Everyone says they want to be stuck on a tropical island, until you are really stuck," Olivia De Freitas concludes. Say like that, it sounds good. But because you know you can leave. "
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