Hi All,
I am all well down in Plymouth, my wife and I decided at the outset that we would maintain a strict quarantine even when things began to move again. I had luckily stored a fair amount of dry and tinned goods before Covid had reared its evil head. (tip off from a friend who works in customs and was concerned about supply re brexit). I was only going out every two weeks for fresh veg and topping up what we had used from our store. We had been due to visit Spain and rent an apartment from friends on the coast near the Cabo de Gata national park at the end of May and that was obviously cancelled, we kept in touch and were impressed with the reports they gave us on how day to day life was progressing.
As lockdown was easing we were very concerned how people seemed to be recklessly going about their business so we maintained our isolation. Our friends had lost all uk rentals and things were getting very bad for them with no rental income and no support from the Spanish government. They had taken Spanish residency two years ago
At the beginning of July Brittany Ferries restarted the Plymouth -Santander route so we made the decision to visit them in Spain, I couldn't get a booking on the first crossing and eventually managed to book a crossing on the 12th July. It was flat calm all the way and everyone complied with the facemask rules, with 50% occupancy it was a very strange crossing and we felt very safe. We broke the trip south and stayed in a Holiday Inn Express just south of Madrid. We had taken enough food for the journey so had no need to venture out. On arrival at the apartment the Andalusian government imposed compulsory face mask wearing at all times unless sat at a bar eating or drinking, walking on or too the beach etc. It was compulsory walking around the swimming pool until you entered the water. There were taped off sections where you could sit on the grass as all beds were removed. I know it sounds a bit strange but it made us feel very safe.
Then Boris introduced the two week quarantine for people returning from Spain so the few new bookings our friends had received all cancelled, I checked with our insurance company and they said as we had started our trip before the new regulations were imposed we were covered.
We took advantage of this and extended the holiday twice and ended up staying for 29 days. it only cost us £20 to vary the ferry booking. The beaches were a lot quieter and the Police had employed beach marshals who continually patrolled and enthusiastically enforced the distancing rules and face mask wearing. many fines were issued and if you protested they were instantly doubled to 120 euro.
We arrived back in Plymouth on the 13th August and entered the two week quarantine with our children dropping essential supplies at the front door.
Sorry its a bit long but it was an interesting trip to Spain, we had planned to follow the
camino Frances route towards Santiago from Burgos and then the VDLP in reverse on our original holiday over a three week period plus staying on the coast for three weeks. Next year? maybe?
Hope everyone is safe and i am looking forward to the time when we can resume the meetings