Spanish views from a small town

This afternoon, the weather was fine, not too hot and not too cool, so we went for a drive down the coast past Vilagarcía. We went down the coastal roads and streets to Vilaxoán, and Vilanova, past the popular beaches that dot the seaside. During the winter the very same drive is solitary, with clear views to the waves smashing on the beaches. In summer, what you see is a sea of parasols before noticing the water. It's a good thing we hadn't wanted to go to the beach anywhere around there this afternoon, because we would have had to park a half hour's walk from the sands. Not that there was much room on the sands, either. It was just after high tide, and people were very obviously not following social distancing. There were a couple of small beaches with few people, but because they were smack in the middle of town, and without amenities of any kind, right in front of a cannery.  Some were wearing masks, but the majority were not. No, there weren't any police offi...

The weather is taking on a summery feel, again. While temperatures are still proper of the month of May, the wind is moderate from the northeast, and the forecast is for temperatures to start going up tomorrow, and possibly hit 30º/86º by Tuesday. Just in time for the beaches to open. Most seaside townships replied to the regional government's suggestion of an internet app to get appointments to hit the beach with a resounding "No." They find it very awkward to implement, and will instead try to keep down the crowds in different ways. Some say they will fly drones to warn people, others will parcel out the sands, so people stay farther apart. Some say they will use manpower to patrol and control. It's May yet, and since we still can't travel from one province to another, there won't be crowds next week. The tourism industry is trying to revive itself. But, unless massive visits are coming in, many hotels and tourism-driven businesses will close. What gets ...

Since yesterday, I didn't finish getting everything I needed, and even added to the list, I will go out this afternoon. Yes, I'm feeling masochistic, going out in summery afternoon weather with a mask. They are going to make wearing a mask obligatory in closed public spaces and in open spaces if two feet cannot be kept between people. So, as soon as you set foot on the sidewalk, you'll need to wear a mask now. Yes, I will probably forego leaving the house a lot this summer. Not even to buy clothes.  These two months have widened my girth, which is very slowly declining again through walking. So, I have t-shirts that don't fit me, and t-shirts that have acquired strange stains after having been folded and not touched during the winter. Perhaps I will have faith in my walking ability, not bother to replace the stained ones, and just make do this year. If I'm not going to go out much, it won't matter. While I am not a beach bunny, there are summer days when s...

A beach flying a blue flag is a special distinction. It means that beach has certain qualities that make it a decent, healthy, and safe place to spend a day in the sun. There are beaches with blue flags all over the world, with the most in Europe. Of those, Spain is the country with the most blue flags, even though it does not have the most coastline. Within Spain, Galicia is the region with the highest number of blue flags. But, this year some of those beaches have lost their flag, because one of the requisites is that there be a life guard. Too many beaches don't have life guards this year. Once upon a time, anyone who knew how to swim and had some knowledge of first aid could become a life guard. In 2012 the law changed. It stated that by 2017 all life guards had to complete a course of 340 hours in which they had to learn how to become a professional life guard, pass a rigorous physical exam, and be inscribed in the association of professional life guards. The courses can rea...