This past week has been spring break for the kids in addition to the Easter holiday, so things are hopping. Even Google maps says so. “Busier than usual” appears a lot as we scan the map.
Busses are jam packed and popular areas like Ribera, are full to bursting. We see Camino pilgrims hiking through with their packs and walking poles, groups of college-aged kids moving in unison, families with parents trying to keep their little ones from wandering off.
With Good Friday followed by Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, we thought lots of places would be closed in this predominantly devout, Catholic country. Not so much! At least in the tourist areas. When we wander off the tourist track, the streets are silent.
Maybe the shop and restaurant owners are trying to make up for the loss of revenue during all the Covid lockdowns. Or, this is just the way things are.
Speaking of Covid, Portugal has a fantastically high vaccination rate. 91 or 92%…ish. Hard to imagine the U.S. will ever get there. Despite that, there was a big surge in Covid cases back in Jan/Feb followed by a quick drop to almost nothing in March. More recently, a mini rise and now falling again. I didn’t research deeply enough to find the current booster rate.
Most everyone is scrupulous about wearing a mask (it’s still mandated) in indoor shared spaces. Many also wear masks outside (not mandated) especially in crowded areas. Mostly the masks are worn properly but I do see the occasional chin mask.
I rarely see cloth masks. Many people have at least upgraded to the surgical masks (you know, the ones that are ill fitting and bunch out on the cheeks and keep slipping off the nose?) and there are many KN94s and N95s.
In museums, the attendants are quite stern and serious about enforcing proper use of mask.
Masks have become part of our normal checklist for leaving the apartment. Sunscreen on, wallet, keys, glasses, mask, travel size hand sanitizer. Check! Out we go.
As Grubb observed, there is a notable lack of big tour groups, from anywhere. No big tour busses. No trails of 30-40 people following their guide around.
Portugal imposed strict lockdowns and capacity restrictions during the height of the pandemic. But not now. There are no lockdowns and capacity restrictions have been lifted. Trains are full, busses are crowded as are restaurants and bars. The weather has been great so mostly, people dine outside. You do occasionally see a lone diner seated at an indoor table.
Although it’s receded to a tiny space in my mind, I still have a wee anxiety that I could get Covid while traveling. Not so much the being ill part…I.am going with trusting the vaccine to ensure I’d only be mildly affected. And the Portuguese health system is reputed to be exceptional. It appears as though anti-virals are generally available. We do have our travel insurance and a number to call if we need immediate assistance in getting care.
But the potential havoc it could play if we had to isolate and quarantine for up to two weeks. Gosh, we might have to stay here longer!
All things considered though, I fretted much more about Covid at home than I do here. I am very glad we took the leap and have begun our return to travel abroad. I hope I will still be saying that by the time we leave (May 4). We do have to produce a negative Covid test in order to enter back into the U.S.
All right, it’s been two weeks and I’m getting tired of the fine art, the smooth transportation, the cozy airbnbs, and the goddamn gelato. I want some DRAMA. Something involving police, or getting stranded in a hostile environment, or threatening characters, or at least some marital conflict. Really!
Standby. Thunderclouds on the horizon.
We were just talking about Easter Monday, since it falls on today this year. They talked about it in Spain a lot too. I think people normally get it off. I had never heard about it before. Is it a thing in the US? Anyone hear of it here?
Easter Monday is a holiday in many countries, but not in the United States. Britain and many Commonwealth countries celebrate it. Moira has said she remembers it being celebrated in Britain, and my son Jonathan, who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, told me. when I spoke to him last night, that it is a holiday in Canada, which was why it was okay for the children to still be up at 11:00.
PS to Grubb: I thought that the French only cared about food and French pronunciation.
Wynette mentioned that Palm Sunday was the beginning of Santa Semanta and I thought that makes an eight-day week, one day too long. I look it up and Palm Sunday is the beginning, but maybe Easter Sunday is not part of it. Now we have Easter Monday and a nine-day week. “You know I need your love, babe, nine days a Santa Semana.”
There is also something called Eastertide and a Bright week. I guess I missed all this Easter knowledge. Our Rabbi failed to explain it in our “Comparative Religions” class back, oh, when I was a mere teen.
So, to clear up this matter of whether or not we observe Easter Monday in the USA, we interviewed one petsitter for our sheltie Ben who informed us that in the “pet industry” the Monday after Easter Sunday is indeed a holiday. This way they can charge more money per night for your pet as a holiday rate!!!!!
Oy!