Still in lockdown

As we come to the end of our 15 days of lockdown, Spain’s prime minister has called for an additional 15 days of lockdown, extending it until April 11th. With the numbers of new cases still increasing, we understand and have accepted the decision. It is hard, harder knowing that it will last longer and knowing that there really isn’t anywhere we can go to escape this awful situation. We continue to try to make the best of it.

We find new activities to keep the kids entertained.

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Chores have become a little more creative.

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We created a new running route that involves running through the common garage (no one is there) and up our stairs to the upper patio and back down and through the yard.

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We’ve tried some HIIT workouts online out on one of our patios.

This week’s treats included my mom’s (and grandmother’s) peach cobbler recipe (first time I’ve ever made it, guess it is time for me to learn), and ice cream sandwiches using my sister-in-law Stephanie’s chocolate chip cookie recipe.

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Our only outings have been to the grocery store, garbage bins and one trip to the post office.

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The police continue to patrol, multiple times a day. One morning I counted from my window 5 different police cars (including local police and civil guard) in 2 hours. People are only allowed to drive for approved reasons, and, originally, only alone. If you were found in a car with others you were fined €1000 per person. This was later changed so that you could drive with someone else in a car if each person was in their own row. People from Madrid, which is is the worst hit area, are still trying to leave and get to their holiday homes on the coast. Police have created 30,000 road blocks on rural roads to stop them, fine them and send them back. I even got stopped and questioned one morning when I walked to take the garbage out on my way to the grocery store. They wanted to know where I was going and where I lived, to make sure I wasn’t too far from home.

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The national army with the help of volunteer farmers and their tractors have been systematically traveling through Spain spraying disinfectant on all roads and sidewalks. Our region will be sprayed this week. They are using a bleach/water solution and people are being told to keep animals inside.

The local buses continue to run so that people can get to essential jobs, but the ones that pass by our house are always completely empty.

The region’s educational department created educational programming on local TV and the boys continue to receive assignments from their schools. There is unofficial talk that school will not resume until mid-May at the earliest or perhaps the beginning of June for the final 2 weeks.

We try to get outside as much as we can and are still enjoying the view.

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We are very isolated and don’t really have any contact with anyone. We do occasionally see some of our neighbors and we wave and say hello. We continue to join the rest of the country each night on our patio to applaud the health workers. Last night our applause was accompanied by the sirens of police saying thank you.

I’ve done some live online yoga classes with my studio from home and with my old workout buddy from Houston who is now a yoga teacher in New Mexico, which provide a welcome connection to the outside world.

And we continue to enjoy all of our calls from friends and family too far away.

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Three of us felt a little sick this week, but no fever, cough, or loss smell, mostly fatigue and a sore throat. Hopefully it is just some other little bug or a very mild case.

I asked the boys if they were allowed to do one thing they currently couldn’t do, what would they choose. They both answered “go to the beach.” I agree. Actually, Oliver wanted to buy the section of beach in front of us so it could be our yard and we could go whenever we wanted.

I know that similar types of lockdowns are in place in the U.S. now. It is difficult, but it is so necessary. Stay strong, stay healthy, and stay isolated everyone! ❤️