Spain (Mallorca) in revised level 4 restrictions!

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas despite the challenges we've all had with the various tiers and levels restrictions.  We certainly did have a wonderful time here despite some vile weather - but more about that later.  Up until Christmas Eve afternoon we have had wonderful weather so really can't complain.  One evening, on taking the dogs for their toilet walk, nature gave us this view:

Shepherd's delight indeed 😎 

On the morning of Christmas Eve I met a friend at Pascalino for a coffee and we noticed the cloud had settled over the bay in a very strange fashion - I don't know if anyone else has ever seen the cloud do that but it was quite magical and I took the opportunity to take a photo:

And it just got colder from then on in.  Sadly, the weather forecast for Christmas Day held true and it was cold, raining and windy.  But, undaunted, we and our friends went to Stay and had Christmas dinner on their terrace.  It was so wet that only the tables next to the windows could be used and even then those on the outside seats got the occasional splash of rain.  But luckily for us we were seated under one of their heaters and Ian actually took his coat off for a bit although I wasn't quite so brave!  Temperatures started at around 9 degrees, dropping to about 7 degrees towards the end and we could see snow on the tops of the Tramuntana mountains 😱

The food was completely wonderful and the staff soldiered on in really dreadful conditions.  To them and to all the staff at the various restaurants who worked in such challenging conditions - well done and thank you all so much! 👏

In other news, Covid-19 vaccinations started today here in Spain.  Just like in the UK, it was televised and widely reported on with some excitement.  The first person in the entire of Spain to receive the vaccination was a 96 year old lady, followed by a worker at her residential care home.  And importantly, vaccinations started today at a care home in Palma having arrived overnight by plane:

But in the meantime, data for Mallorca is really bad and from Tuesday morning we will be continuing in level 4 but with bells and whistles - essentially all cafes/bars/restaurants will have to close at 6pm every day for the time being and shopping centres will have to close on weekends and bank holidays and implement a 50% reduction in the public car parking.  These measures will stay in place until 11 January.  Whether I'll be able to return to work after the Three Kings in early January remains to be seen. To be honest though we'd expected it to be worse; mind you, there may be further announcements tomorrow so.....hold that thought! 😳

The situation in the residential care home in the Port remains critical although the one in Pollensa by the cloisters is absolutely clear - apparently this is where vaccinations will begin on an extremely local level.  We are registered with the Spanish NHS and will get a text from them when our turn arises, but many British residents who have private health care are, not unreasonably, wondering how they will in due course get the vaccination.  No-one seems to know and it's something that the embassy seems to have overlooked in all the Brexit kerfuffle.  Hopefully they'll get around to it in time as it's of real concern to many folk resident here.

In local news, Moll de Bellagio has closed for the season - it would not normally have done so yet but trading conditions are such that.... 😧  Those that remain open have, of course, a limited amount of potential customers and that, together with the currently much chillier weather, certainly hasn't helped local businesses.  Still today, although chilly, was lovely and sunny with blue skies to really lift the spirits; the more of days like this and less like the Christmas Day weather, the better it will be for local hospitality businesses with their limited customers only able to sit outside.  

So it looks like both the UK and Mallorca will be under quite a few restrictions for the foreseeable future.  I guess it's just something we have to put up with in order to see this thing through to it's end, and certainly the vaccinations are something very positive to hang on to in the meantime.  Until then.....stay safe and hasta el próximo domingo!

Spain in level 4 restrictions!

Well here we are nearing the end of our first week in level 4 restrictions and we're managing fine. But the local businesses are certainly facing their biggest challenge yet and our hearts go out to them all 🤗  So....what are our new restrictions?  In a nutshell, we can no longer eat or drink inside any cafes/restaurants/bars - only on their terrace at 70% capacity.  And those same businesses must shut at 6pm on Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays (although they can continue to provide take away food until midnight).  This is impacting hard at such an important time of the year in hospitality; and of course the same is now happening in a large part of the UK.  Locally only today we heard that Little Italy on the Pine Walk will not be re-opening again which is very sad.  But we just somehow have to keep going - I believe the vaccination programme is shortly to be rolled out here so as I see it, this is a push towards that and the beginning of the end 🤞

Personally I have been affected in that my teaching job finished suddenly in the middle of the week in much the same way as it did back in March which was pretty sad.  One minute I was in the classroom with some great Christmassy lessons planned, the next - at home and putting it all away 😒  This is because the Balearic government declared that all extra-curricular activities from football to English were to finish forthwith.  Given how careful we had been at school this was more than frustrating but hey - again, it is what it is and it won't be forever.

The weather is still lovely out here compared to the UK on the whole, but it definitely is more wintery here now.  As I recall this seems to be a little earlier than usual but that would be typical in a year where we will be eating Christmas dinner outside on Stay's terrace; currently the forecast is scheduled to be fairly chilly and with a good chance of some rain - deep joy 😂 but it matters not, we are determined to have a great time come what may 🎉

In the meantime, the Port has never looked lovelier and here are a couple of views of it over the last week:

   

                                                                                       

In local news, the Pollensa area has been very hard hit by a big increase in cases of coronavirus with a large number of them sadly in the care home in the Port (the one in Pollensa is apparently absolutely fine).  The cause of this is being looked into, but in the meantime we all have to abide by the rules and do our bit.  And to be honest, it really isn't that difficult when you can stop, as I did the other day, for a morning coffee with this for a view 😍

So, as we enter Christmas week, I'd like to wish every one a very happy and safe Christmas 🎄🎅  

Hasta el próximo domingo!

Spain in the updated new restrictions!

Back home this weekend after a cheeky mini-trip to Valencia for 3 days last weekend.  We flew from Palma to Valencia with Air Europa who we've found in the past to be very reliable and good value for money.  Palma was quite busy for a very early morning but then again it was the start of a long bank holiday weekend out here, when quite a few Spanish travel to visit family elsewhere in Spain.  Of course this year is a bit different to say the last but some people were still travelling and the Balearics publicised that any residents here could have a free PCR test on return from the mainland during the bank holiday dates if they wished.  Anyhow, each passenger had a row of 3 seats to themselves and everyone was handed a sanitiser wipe as we boarded in order to wipe our hands and the area around us.  No refreshments were available but then again it's a very short flight!  The mainland felt just the same as here, mask wearing, hand sanitiser etc etc and on return we were given the information about a free PCR test although as you have to go to Palma to have it, we decided not to take it up.

This week saw the introduction of a new curfew time of 10pm instead of the previous midnight.  This is because unfortunately the numbers of coronavirus cases here has gone up quite a bit and so the government has introduced this in order to try and prevent people being out late in bars etc.  We're never out late so it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to us!  And if Christmas and New Year celebrations are more restricted than we had anticipated then so be it - we're still going to have a lovely time, come what may 😁  Mind you, there are strong rumours that tomorrow, the Pollensa area will enter Level 4 restrictions as sadly locally the numbers have gone up; it seems the care home on the bypass has been hard hit recently both with residents and staff affected.  Level 4 will mean we will be unable to leave the area unless for medical reasons so no-one will be allowed in either, unless they are resident.  And hospitality will be affected with seating only outside at tables of 6 and at 50% terrace capacity which could lead to a possibly chilly Christmas dinner at Stay for us!  Ah well, as long as we have a table, we'll just wrap up warm if we need to......

I very much hope the vaccination is approved for use here really soon so that vaccinations can begin.  The Spanish government has laid out it's plans for how it will roll out - pretty much the same as in the UK - but hasn't yet started although it's definitely imminent.  Fingers crossed, and for me - although I respect those who are wary - I will most definitely be having my jab as soon as it's offered.  

The Christmas lights in the Port were put up during the last couple of weeks and have now been turned on and it's lovely to see them after such a challenging year.  The church is looking very lovely:

And the rest of the square looks like this:

Christmas has also finally arrived in the Froome household as today I decorated our tree, supervised via a video call by my granddaughter in the UK who normally is here to help when she arrives with my daughter for Christmas.  This year, like so many others, is very different but we made the most of it and the tree is looking rather lovely 🎄 

And I'm living dangerously by not going with my usual silver and gold 😂 this year I've broken the habit and gone for silver with some blue - if not in 2020 then when?! 😂😂

In other local news Ca'n Ferra, Los Faroles/Ca les Monges and Hostal Borras have all closed their doors on the season, and today is the last day open for Brisas Marina too.  This is, of course, nothing new and a normal time of year for them to do so but it definitely brings a real winter feeling to the Port.  All the terrace heaters are out in force at the places that remain open and once the sun goes down it does get quite chilly.  Today is lovely and yesterday was nice but during this past week we have had some very cold, wet and windy weather indeed.  It's much harder to get warm indoors here as most houses/apartments have no central heating, are uncarpeted and are built for keeping the heat out!  We've got used to it now and very much appreciate our gas fire and our two small oil-filled radiators, but sometimes it's colder inside than outside during the day! 

So.....from a potentially restricted Pollensa municipality - keep smiling, stay safe and hasta el próximo domingo!