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Tag Archives: coronavirus

maskless asshats

07 Friday May 2021

Posted by azahar in covid, sevilla, tapas bars

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

coronavirus, covid-19, sevilla, tapas bars

maskless

I’m kind of annoyed with myself. I had seen a new account pop up on Instagram for a very typical old-style tapas bar in Triana. It had a cute logo and seemed to be keen on interacting online, so I decided to go try it out. Because as much as I love many of the new innovative bars and restaurants in Sevilla, my heart belongs to the traditional tapas bars. Anyhow, on Wednesday I asked Peter if he wanted to go there with me and at first he said he didn’t really feel like going out, but in the end I convinced him that a walk and some nice food would do him good. Plus I had a nice “take away” for him to pick up on the way home.

And yes, it was a nice walk. We stopped for a quick cold beer en route and then managed to get the last available table at our destination (inside, but next to an open door and window). Unfortunately the food wasn’t great, but that wasn’t the reason I ended up regretting going. At first everything seemed fine, with all the waiters wearing masks and there were only three tables inside, spaced well enough apart. But then half-way through our meal I noticed that the guy behind the bar (serving drinks to the waiters taking care of the terrace and food to the tables inside) started pulling his mask down while he was behind the bar (he’d pull it up again if he stepped out from behind the bar, but still). And then just as we were about to finish I saw the cook and his assistant come out of the kitchen AND NEITHER OF THEM WERE WEARING MASKS. They didn’t have them pulled down, or on their wrists. They simply weren’t wearing them at all. So we quickly finished our last tapitas, got the bill and left. Continue reading →

one down, one to go…

12 Monday Apr 2021

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, sevilla

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

coronavirus, covid-19, sevilla, vaccination

So after spending all day in a total tizzy (my vaccination appointment wasn’t until 5.30 pm) I made my way to the health centre, bared my chubby arm, got the jab, and then went for a cold beer. Peter had met me there on the off chance that someone might not have shown up for their appointment and he might luck out and get his too. But it turned out that they were calling people by year of birth and he is just a couple of weeks away from his. It was actually very efficient. I was called within less than a minute of arriving, then was told to wait for 15 minutes before leaving. I waited half an hour just to be sure – I once had an anaphylactic reaction after a chemo infusion (after I got home!) and don’t ever want to experience that again.

And so that’s one down and one to go. On July 1st. Guess I should know soon enough if I am going to have any nasty side effects. So far so good… 🤞

worse than useless

30 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, sevilla

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

coronavirus, covid, sevilla

I am honestly sick and tired of asshole mask wearers. You know the ones. The mask is on, but slipped under the nose (and sometimes chin) or the mask is being worn on the wrist or elbow because… well, asshole. Since last summer in Spain masks have been mandatory everywhere inside and outside, with 100€ fines for not complying. So I’m a bit confused by a recent “new” ruling this week saying masks have to be worn EVERYWHERE outdoors, because I thought we were already doing that.

It started off last spring with masks only being required inside shops, restaurants, offices, etc as long as people respected the 2 metre social distancing measure. AS fucking IF. Of course they didn’t. Nobody did. So that’s why last August they extended mandatory masks to EVERYWHERE. That’s why I don’t understand what is different about this week’s announcement.

Meanwhile… there are also too many of these shitty masks being worn (see above), especially in bars and restaurants. I understand the attraction as they are reusable and washable (up to 20 washings) and come in different colours with the business logo on them. BUT THEY NEVER FIT. Maybe they do when they are brand new, but aside from not fitting and slipping down noses, they’re not even effective. No three layers, no filter, just a piece of cloth. So basically useless.

I have seen bars that have their waiters wear a surgical mask underneath these vanity ones, and that is perfect. I just wish every place was being as responsible, because as “numbers” (sickness, deaths) continue to rise here – and they are rising – it won’t be long before the fourth wave hits us and non-essential businesses have to close again. And the ones who will complain the most are the ones who didn’t follow the rules.

it’s been one year…

14 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, home, sevilla

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

coronavirus, covid-19, sevilla

A year ago I was away on a research trip to Málaga, visiting wineries for an upcoming article in Decanter Magazine. It was just an over-nighter (March 11-12) and I packed a lot into those two days, arriving back home by train at about 10 pm, then finally getting home (taking the bus from the train station) by about 11pm. A hot shower to “wash the train off me” and then into fresh pjs, I got into bed just feeling happy to be home again.

During those two days travelling around Málaga in the Axarquía, and meeting up with many people, there was lots of kissing and close contact. And it was during this trip that I had what ended up being my LAST HUG… fuck.

Anyhow, the day after I got back, on March 13th, I went out to do some shopping and stopped in at a couple of bars for tapas and heard the first whispers that the bars were about to be shut down, like in Italy… like what? And then the following day, March 14th LOCKDOWN was officially declared. I made a last quick trip to the supermarket that afternoon to stock up on cat food (I always have plenty of toilet paper) and after that the world changed.
Continue reading →

the fauci factor

24 Wednesday Feb 2021

Posted by azahar in coronavirus, covid, sevilla

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

coronavirus, covid-19, dr fauci, masks, sevilla

fauci mask

So I just saw this article about Dr Fauci predicting that people will be wearing masks well into 2022 and all I can say is…

DUHHH?

Because of course we will. And should. And for possibly forever. At least during the usual “cold and flu season” from October – March. I mean, why wouldn’t we? It’s been shown that mask-wearing prevents not only coronavirus contagion, but also regular flu and the good ol’ common cold.

This has been the first year ever that I haven’t had my annual Christmas Cold. And anything that would help with not contracting ANY kind of flu is pretty much okey-dokey with me.

Meanwhile we have some government officials saying that we will be “back to normal” by April, others still trying to “save summer” tourism (because “saving Christmas” went so well?)… but Dr. Fauci maintains we will see nothing close to “normal” again until next year. How do you feel about that? I find it’s almost reassuring to have a more realistic “end” in sight, even though it’s going to be tough going.

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