Posted on 01/14/2021 9:44:50 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
If you've purchased a new 4K or 8K television and need content to test it out Youtube has a lot of nice videos. I was just looking for something to use as eye candy while we were eating lunch so I put on a walking tour of one of my favorite cities, Barcelona. Instead of admiring the beautiful scenery and high resolution it turned out to be one of the most depressing shows we've seen in ages.
This was filmed in July, during the height of the tourist season, and the place is practically deserted. The few people who are out are all wearing masks and so many businesses that depend on tourism aren't even bothering to open. While we were meant to be seeing Gothic churches and world-famous markets all I could see were shattered dreams. It really brought home the impact of the pandemic not just on Barcelona. This scene is being repeated in cities around the world.
bkmk
When my wife and I traveled to Europe, our favorite city by far was Barcelona. It’s a beautiful city. I still remember a gorgeous evening when we sat and watched the Montjuic “Magic Fountain” light and water show. It was amazing. And of course, La Sagrada Familia is stunning and a must-see.
Did a three month European tour in Dec, Jan and Feb, got back to the US on March 2nd. Felt very lucky, one more week and I would have needed to stay for months. It is odd knowing I was one of the last tourist for most of the places I visited for the year. Cannot imagine the Amalfi Coast during the spring and summer, it was busy in January.
So what if they are not virus free? Big deal.
Sagrada Familia depends on tourist money to keep construction going. This pandemic will probably delay completion by years. That is one large, famous disaster on top of millions of smaller ones. Ruined businesses, unemployed families, poverty where there used to be plenty.
Try going to most countries on the planet and making that declaration as you enter.
I put on the live Venice Web Cam, and just keep it on because of the classical music playing in the background, but it really is shocking to see how empty it is, even now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1vpnYIxJk
Scheduled my visit to South France and Northeast Spain, including a week in Barcelona, in January 2020 for September 2020. Of course, Covid postponed it. So, rather than forfeit the pre-paid hotels (their were a couple), pushed everything back exactly one year.
Hoping we will be allowed to go this go around, especially with the availability of vaccines. Not sure if the hotels I booked will allow me to push it back another year.
I only see you freaking out about it.
We went to the Canary Islands in March of 2020 for my wife’s birthday. 2 days after we returned Spain went into one of the strictest lockdowns in the world.
We were thinking of going back there this year. It’s about 10 degrees C warmer than where we live now so you can still go swimming there and hang out on the beaches, a nice midwinter break. They want proof of a negative Covid test for residents from the Spanish mainland to enter the Spanish islands. For the 300 Euros it would cost us to get tested we can stay in a Parador and still have money left over for a nice meal supporting a local restaurant. Gran Canaria can get stuffed.
Beaches are beautiful but no people. Bath water coming out the faucet is brown and smells bad because the hotel had been closed for nearly a year. They have had nearly zero visitors since they opened back up a few weeks ago. The ferry that takes people to Nassau is still not in operation.
Used to see lots of water skiing on the canals, now nothing.......
I love Barcelona Ive been there several times but I dont think Id like to see it with all the masks and empty streets...
Because you're only making your idiotic comment in a travel thread where nothing matters. I just posted another article about banks that will cancel your account if you refuse to wear a mask and Supermarkets that won't let you in. We cancelled a trip because the island we were going to required 300 Euros worth of tests to enter. We can spend that 300 Euros locally where they don't have that requirement. So you can be bravely flippant as much as you like when it doesn't matter. Let's see you try it in the real world.
The Canaries are great...I should have gone to Tenerife again in Oct but the cruise from Barcelona to Tampa was cancelled back in April due to the Wu Hu Flu...
Fingies and toesies crossed for this year but probably wont happen either...
Spain was/is very hard core on lockdown. Last summer I saw a video of Spanish police in a helicopter chasing people off a nearly deserted beach.
Economic devastation.
Love the Atlantis! This year we went to the Redneck Riviera in Biloxi instead. They weren’t in lockdown and we knew we’d get back. Tourism will be down for years.
We have an Italy trip on hold right now. Was booked and they cancelled it due to COVID. As soon as we can rebook we’re going to. Scotland was last year and we’re looking at Spain for next year. Happy travels!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.