Tag Archives: spain

death takes a holiday

15 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by in andalucia, coronavirus, sevilla, sevilla shutdown, spain, tourism, travel

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plague holiday
So remember when I was mostly concerned about tourists from the EU Schengen countries (and frankly, also from Spanish virus hotspots like Madrid and Barcelona) suddenly being allowed to travel freely throughout Spain from July 1st? Well it turns out those were the days!

In a blink of an eye the Spanish government caved once again and now we are opening our borders to Schengen countries NEXT MONDAY. That’s right, the very day that we are released from lockdown after 100 days. Without giving us any time at all to adapt and see how we do here with implementing the “new now” regulations as well as dealing with our own homegrown Covidiots. Like, we now have to deal with untested asymptomatic carriers coming here ON FUCKING HOLIDAY from day one. But okay, at least this new deal excluded tourists from the UK (aka Plague Island) so I thought that was at least one less worry. Except now it looks like it actually may become a worry, and a big one.

Ah who am I trying to kid? Of course our government is going to cave again and allow UK tourists in. Bear in mind there will be no testing or quarantining involved with anybody coming here. Just a quick temperature check (useless for infectious asymptomatic carriers, approx 40% of people who test positive for Covid), fill out a form, and welcome to Spain. The only question now is when? Also next Monday? Or will they stick with the original (still way too soon) date of July 1st?

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lockdown day 52 – covidiots

04 Monday May 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, spain

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Since April 26th children under 14 have been “allowed” by the government to be taken outdoors for 1 hour a day, with 1 adult (max 3 kids per parent), and staying within a 1km radius of their homes, at all times respecting the 2 metre social distancing rule. And you can clearly see from the photo above how well that’s going.

Then, as of May 2nd, everyone else was allowed out for an hour a day, to walk or do some other kind of individual sport or exercise. The timetable for this is: ages 14-70 from 6-10am and 8-11pm, ages 70+ (with their carers) and special needs people 10am-12pm and 7-8pm, and kids with parents, same rules as before, from 12-7pm. People who are already living together are allowed to go out together (though how is this enforced?), but you’re not supposed to meet up with friends. And of course you should be RESPECTING SOCIAL DISTANCING. So of course this happened…

I honesty don’t know what the hell is wrong with people, but I’m staying the fuck home. The government clearly doesn’t have a clue what it’s doing, so they are playing dice with our lives to see which way things will go. Even with people still dying every day from the virus. Even though a vaccine is still WAY off in the future. Even though second and third waves have been predicted, almost guaranteed, by many experts. So it’s, hey let’s see what happens if we do a partial “reopening” of society. And these covidiots go out like, well, idiots. Thinking that if the government tells them it’s okay to go out then everything must be fine again. It’s not just that they are putting their own lives at risk, but also everyone else’s. A recent study in Iceland (which has tested almost all of its population by now) showed that at least 50% of those who tested positive for the virus were asymptomatic, but still infectious.

The mind reels.

At this rate the second wave should be happening within a couple of weeks. I’m good with staying in awhile longer. Heck, even for a lot while longer. Since the indoor Red Cross race a couple of weeks ago I’ve been getting up to the rooftop a few times a week to do my STEPS. Not 10,000 like in happier times, but trust me, doing half that in a confined area is boring AF and is really all I can manage. And it’s certainly better than nuthin. Plus, when I realise that 1km from my house only takes me to the Triana bridge or over to the Alameda, what’s the diff? Okay, I feel a bit like a hamster on a wheel, but it’s do-able. Plus I can do it any time I like.

I was wondering if I actually fit into two of the new timetable groups. Obviously I am in the 14-70 age group, but so is also almost everybody. I may also belong to the 70+ and special needs group because of my high-risk status due to previous cancer and chemo, and the auto-immune shit. So I may try it if there is no second wave by mid-May because, not only are the hours better, there will be way fewer covidiots out there. I’m guessing this group will be a lot more cautious.

How’s your lockdown going?

lockdown day 27: one day at a time

09 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, sevilla

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So I have put in for what is called the “prestación extraordinaria”, for self-employed people. Apparently people on salaries are being paid 75% of their usual wages, but us autónomos just get something like 600€ a month. If eligible (still waiting on that one). And while that is better than nothing, it’s really not much. It doesn’t even cover my rent. And who knows when we will even receive it? Plus they still charged me 300€ for social security in March, so… wut? Anyhow, TONS of red tape. Well at least those guys still have a job!

I’ve really been trying to just deal with this situation one day at a time because, if not, I could end up on a very slippery slopes leading to The Depths Of Utter Despair. Once again my cancer training has come in handy, especially the finely honed living in denial skillz. Because while I did get help with covering my rent and bills this month, for which I am very grateful, this thing isn’t ending any time soon. What about next month, and six or eight months from now???? Eh, not going there. Yet. See? It almost works.

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netiquette

06 Monday Apr 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, friends, internet, social media

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I think it’s safe to say that people are making much more use of the internet to stay in touch in these Days of Coronavirus. Aside from the usual written platforms like email, whatsapp and messenger, the video options (which I never do) such as facetime, skype and zoom are also extra popular now. And of course there are all the social media platforms. I’ve never tweeted so much since, well, ever. Honestly, if my internet connection down I don’t know what I’d do. And neither would you because I wouldn’t be able to tell you about it.

One thing I’ve been wondering about these past three weeks (okay 24 days, but who’s counting) is how netiquette has changed with this new situation. I mean other than the usual “be polite”, “never tweet drunk” and “you don’t have to post every single thought in your head”, there are probably some new unspoken guidelines that we may not know about yet because, well, nobody talks about them.

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