Racing through the Phases

We suffered a bit of a glitch with the "safety measures" between the last posting and the onset of Phase 1. Our washing machine - which lives in the bathroom  - so up two flights of stairs from the complex entrance - has been under-performing for most of its short life and becoming very noisy. We ordered a new one from the superstore in Puerto and its delivery would be on 9th, but we had not been warned of the Co-vid 19 regulations in place and the masked guys delivering it would do no more than get it up the external stairs and just inside the front door. We spent that weekend with a washing machine in the living room, and on that Monday morning engaged the janitor and oppo to wrestle it up the stairs.

Most welcome after fifty days!

That apart Phase 1 began very well on the Monday (11th). Bob was the first client since lockdown at the opticians and Ruth dropped by at the newly-reopened physiotherapist's eventually securing an appointment for the Wednesday and our cleaner Gloria rang to say she too was back in action and would come early on Wednesday. But the most welcome de-escalation for Greyrocks was the highly-regulated opening of bars with terraces. We agreed that Anno 2011 would be a likely place - given its large beach-side terrace and not too tourist-dominated clientèle. Ruth arrived to find  Bob already well into his first caña and seated with five other British locals we know. It seems that Natalie had - unknown to refusniks - publicised the opening on Facebook and it was about as full as it was allowed to be in Phase 1, with some of the well-spaced tables at full ten-person capacity. we spent several hours there, during which there was a visit by a Guardia Civil vehicle. The occupants found nothing amiss and after doing the turn went away with a wave. Predictably there was a huge cheer! The sun was shining and the atmosphere friendly and gentle.

Not so - we learnt some time later - at all bars that opened! A very popular (surfers') bar was "raided" and closed later that day for several breaches of the rules! These are quite tough and a number of bars have chosen not to open - either because they need the tourist trade - or their outdoor space is insufficient (or both!).

First Thurs Club meal out: Tapas Oscar

After a day of abstinence and rest we decided to resume eating out! Until Phase 2 this would mean on a terrace and so the range was limited to those for whom it was deemed worth opening, and also thinking about eating early as the evenings are still a bit chilly! So during this phase the "Thursday Club" had a great feast at Oscar's starting at 4 pm, we went as a couple for a late lunch at Marquesina and and a second trip to Oscar's on our way home from somewhere , and the said club met on Wednesday evening at Domingo's resorting to fleeces as time passed! When the wind direction changed Greyrocks also made trips to the bar-restaurant at La Galera Beach, where the weather was glorious. The eateries are not permitted to have menus on tables (or anything else) so boards are used with some cutback on what is available, but it is still a delight to have this freedom.

Even during the two weeks of Phase 1 there were amendments to the rules. As recorded before the surfers had been incensed by the restrictions on when and where they could take to the waves, so midway these were relaxed considerably, and larger shops which were not due to open until today found ways round this. Everyone has been waiting for places like the Chinese "sell everything" markets to open their doors. Greyrocks' own deprivations were printing paper and a doorbell, neighbours needed a toilet seat, but it could have been so many household items! Midweek our nearest such shop re-opened early by cordoning off sections to meet a maximum floor area of 400 square metres. Clever move, that! Sports fishing has been added and finally - and less welcome - was the national ruling on face masks which came int force on Thursday. So far we are not aware of anyone being found wanting over this, and the street patrols seem much less prevalent!

The move to "the new normal" here feels entirely timely with our continuing good health record. There have been no new cases of the virus on the island for ten days, and at some stage in the last few days the home-based case became a recovery with little fuss meaning we have only the very extended stay in ICU for our only case!

There will be more on travel in and out in a coming post - including Greyrocks' "escape plan", but for now here is a new promotional video for the island aimed at visitors from other islands and the Peninsula when Phase 3 arrives and makes this possible. Meanwhile it's "Welcome to Phase 2"