There will always be some people who look for ways to circumvent the rules. The current government orders we are under only allow us to leave home for work, food and essentials, medicine, medical care, banking and to walk animals. I learned from one of my students today that dog owners are now renting out their dogs to their neighbors so the neighbors can leave their apartments to have a walk outside. Like a get-out-of-jail-free card. I thought he was kidding, but I looked at the local website he gave me and sure enough, you can rent a dog for walks! But it’s not just people wanting to stretch their legs and get some fresh air. Now bicycle delivery people are renting or selling their padded delivery boxes (Glovo, Uber Eats, Deliveroo, etc.) to avid cyclists who then wear the box and pretend to make deliveries, when they are really just wanting to cycle around Madrid.
I also saw a news video online showing a guy down in the south of Spain out walking while wearing a T-Rex suit. The police chased him down, apparently to ask why he was outside and to tell him that he needed to stay inside his home. I know that personal protection suits are in limited supply for health professionals these days, but a dinosaur suit? Really? Did he think it would provide protection from the virus or that he would scare people into staying a safe distance from him?
It’s only been 4 days people! Sure, boredom and stir craziness are starting to settle in for me too, but I try to find ways to be productive. All of my laundry is done. The dirty dishes have been washed. I’ve even planned out 2 different small group tours in Europe and I’m starting on a third tour, so when the pandemic is over and people want to travel again, I can finally launch my tour company business and website.
Another student told me this afternoon that one of the big electronics stores sold 300 Nintendo and PlayStation game boxes yesterday. 300 in one day from one store! Apartment buildings have their own WhatsApp chat groups planning things like balcony bingo games or “have a drink with your neighbors” where everyone goes out on their balconies at the planned time for drinks and a chat, though always at the safely prescribed distance of one meter. I even heard of a child’s birthday party being celebrated much the same way, though I’m guessing the parents of the birthday child must have delivered cupcakes and party supplies ahead of time to the apartments of the other children. And at 8pm, again all of the people open their windows and come out on their balconies to cheer for our brave health professionals. But now, I think it’s becoming something more than just appreciation for those professionals. It’s like a way to say “we’re in this together” and for most of us, it’s the only time that we see other people.
Dispatches From Madrid 