Category Archives: covid

casa plaga

19 Thursday May 2022

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, home, sevilla

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positive

So dammit. Last Sunday evening flatmate Peter was feeling under the weather, thought he might have a cold. But on Monday morning this was the result. Peter ever so slightly positive on the left, me on the right. He immediately went into quarantine in his room, with the balcony doors open for ventilation, mask on for occasional bathroom breaks. And I had to decide if I would still go to Barcelona. In the end I did go, which my friend Michael said was maybe the best thing I could do – get out of the house (casa plaga!) for a few days. So I may ride out the worst of the infectious part while I’m away. I really appreciate Peter being so considerate and responsible, keeping away from the rest of the (actually quite small) apartment and doing his best to help out. Let’s hope it’s a short Covid ride.

cut off

06 Friday May 2022

Posted by in covid, hair, sevilla

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cut

So like fuck goddamit! Remember when my lovely hairdresser of more than 20 years Joaquín Curiel died of Covid last year, and then by chance I found a small place near my house that would do a quick wet-down and cut (no blow-drying)? Well, it turns out that as of now the staff there are no longer wearing masks, so that’s a big no way for me. Dammit. Because I don’t want someone who spends their day in close contact with the public breathing all over me at close range, even just for a few minutes. Really all I need is the quickest of cuts, a slightly angled bob, no fuss no muss. And so I turned to the good ol’ Corte Inglés. The down side is that I can’t just pop in and say – can you cut my hair now?? – I actually have to MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. On the other hand, I went in for my cut today at 5 pm and was home again at 5.20. And at least for now all the staff are wearing masks. That’ll do. For now.

mask upgrade

03 Tuesday May 2022

Posted by in covid, decanter magazine, travel, trips, welcome, work

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mask upgrade

I’ve mostly been relying on surgical masks (made locally) for day-to-day use because I tend to be either outdoors or in well-ventilated indoor situations. BUT… I have a work trip coming up to Barcelona which is both exciting and a bit terrifying. I mean, I haven’t been to BCN since 2014 when I took myself up there for a birthday treat. And I have to say that part of me is really looking forward to being there again, but another part of me is going OMG because, of course, Covid.

Just like the last trip I’ll be taking the AVE fast train direct from Sevilla to Barcelona, a 5.5 hour trip. Which really ends up mostly the same amount of time as flying there (it’s a really short flight). But if you take into account getting to and from the airport, having to arrive at the airport and hour or so ahead of time, and blah blah blah… just no. I really enjoyed the train ride last time. Got to watch a film, read a bit, hang out on social media, and visit the bar car. PLUS I could bring as much luggage as I wanted to.

Of course now the big question is about travelling safely, on a train for all that time. Happily we still have a mask mandate for all public transport, so everyone will have masks on. But it made me think that it was time for a mask upgrade. So I am looking at getting some FFP2/FFP3 KN95/N95 masks for my trip. Still working out what the differences are between them, but clearly they are more effective than surgical masks. Anyhow, wish me luck! My first MAJOR TRIP since March 2020.

feria 2022

02 Monday May 2022

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, fiestas, sevilla, spain

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feria 2022 (1)

Stopped by opening day of the Feria de Abril yesterday to take some pics as rain was being forecast for the rest of the week and OMG. First of all it was about 30º without shade or breeze, and the number of people was, well frankly, alarming. Apparently Sunday set a new record for attendance, which is saying something about an event that is almost always packed out. I didn’t linger.

I took a few photos and then quickly lost interest. I don’t know if it was Covid burnout but I no longer saw the Feria goers simply as happy folk out for a good time. Instead all I could think of was how reckless – and yes selfish – they were all being. Totally crammed into airless casetas, no masks in sight, with barely any space to move, shouting and laughing into each other’s faces, hugging and kissing and dancing. Happy to be enjoying things being “normal” again after having missed their beloved Feria for two years. It was like being at a Covid Deniers convention.

To be honest, I lost interest in Feria years ago but still enjoyed spending one afternoon there taking photos of the colourful dresses and beautiful horses, then stopping somewhere for a quick manzanilla before heading home again. But yesterday it felt like there was a kind of desperation in all the merry making. And worse, I saw the horses suffering under the blazing sun, being forced to keep making the rounds either so their riders could show off or the carriage drivers could make money overcharging tourists. More than once I saw a horse balk and refuse to go any further, then be forced to keep going. It all made me quite sad and after a very short time I was ready to leave. So who knows, maybe that’s it for me and that was my last Feria.

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la tarjeta dorada

28 Thursday Apr 2022

Posted by in covid, spain, travel

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tarjeta dorada

So this was unexpected. I’ve been tentatively planning my upcoming trip to Barcelona (more on that later!) when I realised if I didn’t book my AVE (fast train) tickets then I may not get the times I wanted. And then just as I was about to hit the PAY button I saw an option to put in my Tarjeta Dorada number. Which I didn’t have. So I did a quick google and it turns out that over-60’s can get this card, which costs 6€ and is good for a year, and then get all kinds of discounts, depending on the train, time of day, etc. So yay, I just saved 50 euros on my train tickets (well, minus the 6€ fee). And yes, I’m going to Barcelona! It’s a work-related thing, and I’m really nervous about such a long trip, but fingers crossed I will return home unscathed by Covid.