Jos takes photos

The Spanish highways are most time of the year not very busy, but now it’s sometimes almost scary. There was a part of this first trip we didn’t see any car, except ours, for more than half an hour. We saw two campers, one from England and one from Finland. Our car is a hybrid, and the problem is that it has a very small tank. Luckily some gas stations were open but not all. But so far so good! In the hotel it is mandatory to wear a face mask and you have to wash your hands regularly with disinfectant spray if you want to get coffee for example. You can have the food brought to your room and you are advised to touch as few things as possible on the corridors and if this happens, immediately use the disinfectant soap. They asked us to take a picture off the menu and used a special scanner to copy our passports. We think it takes some getting used to, but it is sensible. Breakfast is takeaway and will be delivered in a tote. We think we will get up early and hope to reach Bord

Just before we leave we got the chance to do some good work. We saved two grasshoppers from the pool.  What's going to happen with the grasshopper population after we have left . . . . ;-) Stay healthy and optimistic.

Our temporary stay in Spain is now almost over. Going shopping, but for some reason most of the shops turn out to be closed. After inquiring, we find out that a local party is being held today and tomorrow. Not much party, due to the national mourning period, but some shops still have the days off scheme. We order food to take away and wait on a terrace until it is ready. Also buy some fruit, the vegetable shop is open and then go home to enjoy the delicious Indian meal.  Tomorrow is really the last day. . . Stay healthy and optimistic, as  we try to do.

Yep, time to go. To leave Spain, and for at least a couple of months we will be living in The Netherlands again. Do we like to go, oh no! But sometimes you'll have to. We enjoyed our stay in Spain that much that it isn't easy to say goodbye. But we will come back as soon as possible, maybe not in this neighbourhood, Spain is a big country, but coming back is our idea So for now we take our time with packing, try to   organise  our way back by car and hope everything will go all-right. There is still the COVID-19 going around so booking hotels is still an issue, just like food and where to eat. And of course we need something to eat on our 4 days trip. If everything works out we  are on the road again  at the end of this week. Stay healthy and optimistic, the world needs it    ;-)

It starts, but it starts carefully, very carefully. A single terrace is open, you are not allowed to enter yet, but it has started. Although cautious, perhaps the beginning of a more normal situation. Let's hope so. So, stay healthy and be careful!

So why not, I thought with the terraces open, go out for a drink and some food. Took the car and up to the city. No terraces open, they didn’t even bother to put chairs there. Really didn’t understand.  Called my favourite restaurant for a quick diner and heard  “ OPEN? Oh no, that’s against the law”.  I could get some food but just as a takeaway. Takeaway? I want to sit in the sun with something to drink and eat, no takeaway. If I want a Mac whatever I would go to a whatever drive in. But I was all wrong. The area in which we live is still in phase 0, no phase 1, so no food and drink in the sun. Maybe tomorrow or the day after that I might join the takeaway.   But for now I have to cope with this situation and disappointment. So went to the supermarket and bought me a pizza and some really good wine . . . Don’t complain, silly old man, you have your own terrace and sun. Stay healthy and optimistic!

The opening of  PHASE 1! According to the news it looks like we are on the winning side in the battle against COVID-19. Will this be the beginning of " Back to Normal "? Let’s hope so.  Tomorrow we are allowed to sit on a terrace, not with that many as we were used too, but more than today. We are allowed to drive in our car in the whole province, and we can even take passengers. Are we going to the city? We might try it the upcoming days, but the idea we can, give us back a little of the feeling, of enjoying the good life we had in Spain, in the pre COVID-19 days. Stay Healthy!

Sometimes pictures, paintings, music, people, nature and who knows what more are simply beautiful. No information or storyteller, no political and/or religion message, or trying to convince. Simply made for being beautiful. Simply made to enjoy. Simply: Une fête pour les yeux, as the French like to say. I hope this photo is also simple beautiful , anyway in my opinion it is. Stay healthy!

Life changed, due to the COVID-19 virus . . . Stay healthy

Sorry, but I have to express my feelings about the Lock Down again. Not complaining, we stay in a lovely house, the weather is hot, and we have a swimming pool. We have food, wine, laptop, iPad and internet, so we can watch T.V., write on the blog, read books, try software, a lot of things to do. But now we can go out. Sure, not the whole day, just a few hours, but as Obama said :"Yes, we can!" And we did, see also  https://jostakesphotos.blogspot.com/2020/05/lock-down-little-bit-more-open.html So for now we enjoy our neighbourhood again and "thanks" to the Lock Down hardly any pruning was done, resulting in this beautiful splendour of colour. Stay healthy!

Yes, it looks like it's finally going to happen, although bit by bit, but the gates of the lock down are ajar. So for now this means, among other things,  we can go for a walk early in the morning between 6 and 10 and in the evening between 8 and 11. This will be our first walk together for some weeks and we won’t miss that chance. S et the alarm clock and off for a walk with a legal allowable distance of one kilometre as the crow flies from our house. Not much but a nice start, after wet Spain, in sunny warm weather. Maybe I should have taken them in colour . . . Stay healthy!

Woke up, look outside, looks good  . . . After all those rainy days there it was, the sun and it made me feel poetic. It really looks like a nice beginning of a sunny day. And some time later it turns out absolutely right! It was a perfect beginning, unfortunately that was all it was. Because . . . . But remember, nothing is forever, included wet and/or bad times! Stay healthy and optimistic! (Right now its 30 degrees Celsius and a bright sunny day) And by tomorrow the Spanish government has allowed us to do some walking.