"May You Live In Interesting Times"
寧爲太平犬,莫做亂離人
(Better to be a dog during peacetime than a human in times of war)
March 28th. 2020. The Spanish Legión arrive in Álora
for Semana Santa.
Following Spain´s declaration of 'A State of Alarm', all normal activities in Álora have been cancelled until further notice. On March 14th. the ayuntamiento announced an almost total 'lockdown'. Except for essential activities, such as shopping for food or medical supplies, going to and from work and helping people in need, everyone must stay indoors. The police are stopping cars and pedestrians and demanding a reason for being outside. At night the pavements and walls of the main streets are being washed down with disinfectant. Álora is taking its responsibilities in the fight against Coronavirus very seriously indeed.
Semanta Santa (Holy Week) begins a week on Sunday and Domingo Ramos (Palm Sunday) is usually marked by the first processions through Álora's streets. The climax of the week happens on Viernes Santo (Good Friday) when the two main hermandades (brotherhoods) parade their tronos. (thrones or floats as we might call them) They are ; El Señor de las Torres and La Virgen de Dolores Coronada. Both of these hermadades pay for military escorts which are spectacular and very popular.
El Señor is escorted by soldiers from the Brigada de Paracaidistas BRIPAC (paratroopers) who do a lot of impressive juggling of their assault rifles along the way. La Virgen de Dolores has La Legión for company.
Although the paracaidistas look pretty hard, and very dangerous when they start chucking those big guns around. (so far nobody has been seriously injured), the Legión, with their motto ´Viva la Muerte' ('Long live death!') and their history of brutally suppressing the Moroccan arabs and Spanish Republicans, are in a different league. They are really scary.
Los Paracaidistas
It´s always puzzled me why the military have become so essential to Easter. No self-respecting parade would be seen without a few soldiers in uniform.
Anyway, even though Semana Santa will not be taking place this year, the Legión can't keep away. (only joking chaps). They are here to help the Policía (local police) and Guardia Civil to enforce the restrictions on movement. I wouldn't argue with that lot!
From what I am hearing, people in Álora, perotes and extranjeros alike, understand how important it is to stay indoors until this wave of disease peaks and eventually fades away.
Mrs. Sánchez and I were due to be back in Álora this week. We hope we shall be able to return ASAP. We really miss everyone.
Hats off to 'Arthur', who has been in England for several weeks caring for an elderly aunt. His 'better half' has had to cope on her own, self-isolated in Álora. As soon as he was able to he snapped up seat on a rare flight from Gatwick to Málaga. Have you met his Auntie Margaret?
That's what love can do! I hope she fumigates him before she let's him through the door.
There's no doubt that Spain is going through a terrible period now and all the indications are that here, in Britain, we are in for a rough ride too.
Restrictions here on mixing socially have taken place very slowly.
We've been getting mixed messages from our government.
In Birmingham, where we still are, in our 'winter residence, confirmed cases of Covid-19 and deaths are increasing at an alarming rate and some people, even those in 'vulnerable' groups, are still ignoring the 'advice' on 'social distancing'.
They should ship a platoon of La Legión over here with a couple of those Humvees to focus people's minds
Mrs.Sánchez and I are staying in, except for taking Monty out for a run where hardly anyone goes. We are all allowed one walk a day. We are lucky to have someone to shop for us.
By popular demand I've rote another topical pome.
Restrictions here on mixing socially have taken place very slowly.
We've been getting mixed messages from our government.
In Birmingham, where we still are, in our 'winter residence, confirmed cases of Covid-19 and deaths are increasing at an alarming rate and some people, even those in 'vulnerable' groups, are still ignoring the 'advice' on 'social distancing'.
They should ship a platoon of La Legión over here with a couple of those Humvees to focus people's minds
Mrs.Sánchez and I are staying in, except for taking Monty out for a run where hardly anyone goes. We are all allowed one walk a day. We are lucky to have someone to shop for us.
By popular demand I've rote another topical pome.
Three Days into Lockdown
There’s no-one going down our road. Who’d dare to
disobey?
They’re saving their allowance for later in the day.
We’re all stocked up with toilet rolls and anti-septic
spray
We’re three days into lockdown now and indoors we must stay.
We’re getting daily briefings too, with government
commands
Which basically are saying, ‘Stay in and wash your
hands’.
They’ve got a team of ‘modelers’ who think up all the
plans
With graphs and calculations that no-one understands.
We’ve set up a ‘support group’ here. It´s on the
Internet.
I gave a young lad thirty quid. No sign of groceries yet.
There’s lots of tips and sound advice on how to manage
debt.
We’re all good friends and neighbours now, although we’ve
never met.
I’m getting tired of pasta now. I’m getting sick of rice.
I bought some eggs two weeks ago and they don’t smell too
nice.
The sprouts and cauliflowers went brown. We’ve had to
throw them out.
We’re three days into lockdown now and nobody’s about.
No Bar News. No Bars.
Don't forget to put your clocks forward tonight.
Juanito Sánchez March 28th. 2020
Don't forget to put your clocks forward tonight.
Juanito Sánchez March 28th. 2020
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