MADRID
During COVID-19
Plaza de Chueca
,
Here’s a waiter being interviewed
about the news
For reference,
the plaza’s
typical state
On Friday, March 13th the restaurants
starting setting up tables & chairs as
usual... but quickly had to put them
away as Spain’s State of Alarm’s details
were announced
,
Night One
News travels fast: everyone in Madrid is
on-board for 8 pm 👏 claps
,
8 pm clapping quickly turns into a nightly
plaza dance party, thanks to our DJs across
the way, Mercedes & Alberto
(song requests are welcome)
,
After we got a noise complaint, the plaza’s
energy became unstoppable. A group chat
was created, and Keisy, an actual broadway
star, started singing on sunny weekends :)
<<photo via neighbor Microputen>>
,
Thanks to the group chat, we
got to see things from the
singer’s point of view...
apparently she could be
heard dozens of blocks away
,
We continued to entertain ourselves
,
Like the rest of the world, our
lockdown kept getting extended
Unlike most of the world, we weren’t
allowed to walk / exercise outside -
only grocery, pharmacy & tobacco
,
One weekend, we all dressed up in
costumes 🥂🍻
,
I didn’t get the memo at first, my
Spanish is a work in progress. So I had
to go all out as “Violet” the 2nd night
,
Although I still had nothing on Manu
and Hodei
,
Winter became Spring
Pretty soon, time was flying by
Day 3 became day 39ish
,
Spring showers = Singing in the Rain
(The black string on flags is to honor
lives lost to COVID-19)
,
I certainly lost my sanity
on countless occasions
,
Around the day 40 mark, kids were
finally let outside - hope was afoot
,
So Plaza de Chueca celebrated,
Spanish style 💃
,
And on May 2 (~day 50)
WE WERE FREE*****
(*to exercise between 6-10 AM, 8-11 PM)
,
Dos de Mayo happens to be a holiday
in Madrid’s Malasaña neighborhood
,
((“We
miss
you!”))
From places big & small, there are
notes of thanks, encouragement & love
,
Madrid’s famous Retiro Park remains
closed — we’re still in “Fase 0”
,
But little by little,
a few bakeries, churches, take-aways &
of course jamón shops are opening
,
For now (Fase 0), different age groups go
outside at different times. And most
people wear masks, unless exercising.
They’re optional in general but
mandatory on public transport
,
This is the emptiest Sol has been...
ever?! Skater’s paradise
Puerta del Sol
,
To help with social distancing, some
streets (like Paseo de Recoletos) are
pedestrian-only on weekends
,
Magical kindness is everywhere
These baskets with free supplies are a
common sight
💕
🥰
,
Our neighbor’s brother got released
from the ICU after 25 days ❤️
,
Progress is being made :)
,
So stay hopeful, stay strong, we’re in
this together — blue skies await!
Madrid
CREATED BY

Get out there!! A Californian/Oregonian based in Madrid, infinitely intrigued by our splendid world.

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