Chaos in Spain

[OFSO]

Chaos in Madrid today. Police obeying the Spanish government. Citizens telling them to f off.

Meanwhile one in four Catalan doctors have said they are giving up the profession. I've been paying my private doctor through bank transfers, but as banks are not providing statements he doesn't know if the money is there or not.

[OFSO]

Spanish government called a crisis meeting for today. Possibly sending the army in to quell the mutinous Madrid regional government? And they thought the Catalans were difficult...

[Woody]

Didn’t go well.

The Spanish government has ordered a 15-day state of emergency to bring down Covid-19 infection rates in the capital, after a court overturned a partial lockdown imposed a week ago.
Madrid and nine nearby cities will see restrictions on movement enforced.
The capital has been at the centre of a political row, with the centre-right city authorities challenging the Socialist government's demands.
Cases are down and a state of emergency is unjustified, say city officials.
Madrid health minister Enrique Ruiz Escudero insisted that measures already in place were working and that the national government order was "a measure no Madrileño will understand".

[OFSO]

Huge demos today in Barcelona against the visit of the King of Spain. Banners saying the king is not the king of Catalunia, marches, speeches and a large photo of the king burned ceremonially. Naturally he saw none of this: police and paras cleared every place he went of all civilians, protestors and non-protestors alike.

[OFSO]

Paras or army or both out on the streets of Madrid today. In view of BJ's opinion of how well the Spanish are managing Covid, will England be next?

[barkingmad]

Apparently a Madrid court has ruled their Government’s Covid lockdown is illegal, so where does Spain go now?

[OFSO]

Socialist government of Spain declares State of Emergency which takes precedence over Declaration of Lockdown. Conservative government of Madrid left in confusion. All most amusing.

We had a nice lunch today. Restaurant full. Bollocks to all authoritarian and totalitarian powers.

[OFSO]

Catalunia just announced bars and restaurants about to be closed for two weeks Any Time Real Soon. Entire population is currently headed this afternoon to the nearest bar....

[OFSO]

Lockdown starts tonight. In order not to harm the tourist trade (what a joke) hotels can stay open, but their restaurants have to shut as do every other food establishment. Anyone fancy a foodless holiday? Come to Catalunia and starve to death.

We enjoyed an excellent farewell-to-civilisation lunch today up in the mountains. About ten starters, main course, amazing dessert, wine, drinks and coffee was €95 for two. Pricey for Spain but has to last 15 days or more...

[PHXPhlyer]

So you are now touting "The New Miracle Covid Diet"?

PP

[OFSO]

The dessert was chocolate ice cream, home made, floating on a white chocolate sauce, with chopped figs. Disgraceful. Followed by Chupitos in cups made of dark chocolate. As I said, last time for at least two weeks...

[Ibbie]

From el Pais today:

https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news ... level.html

[OFSO]

First you close all bars and restaurants, 24/7.....then you forbid private parties or meetings....And then you impose a 22:00 to 06:00 curfew. Somewhat superfluous. The Boris Madness spreads....

[Ibbie]

So we have a curfew from 23.00 to 06.00 starting tonight. Gatherings of no more than six.

[OFSO]

Catalunia has different times. 22:00-06:00. The virus starts it's evil infection an hour earlier here. With all bars and restaurants closed 24/7 nothing to do but stay home and drink ourselves to death.

[OFSO]

State of Emergency will last until May 2021 says government. Yes, really.

[BenThere]

You need 20 pounds of jasmine rice, ten 4 ounce jars of red Thai curry paste, 8 liters extra virgin olive oil, forty pounds chicken breasts/beef loins, 200 gallons of potable water, a replenishable heat source and fuel able to bring your large saucepan (with cooking tools) to a boil, forty pounds of vegetables (non-perishable like carrots, potatoes, onions and peas). I may have left some things out, like toilet paper, but on the above two can survive for at least a month or more out in the woods.

If worse comes to worse, Recommended: a 5 round 12 gage pump shotgun (+100 rounds), a semi-auto pistol(+200 rounds), a .22 semi-auto rifle (+1000 rounds). Also equip with an all-purpose combat grade knife, some BIC lighters, and a dozen or more things you can think of to get you through living on the land.

[OFSO]

We stopped off at our favourite greasy spoon for coffee after church. Normally sit at one of their outdoor tables under the huge tree in the garden, but as it's closed except for takeaway popped in and then stood outside on the quiet road, by one of the tables set up by the door. As did the other villagers waiting to collect lunches they'd ordered. All two meters apart... As are the tables in the (closed) garden.

[OFSO]

Catalan government says " Last chance for Catalunia". Discussing 15 day confinement indoors for everyone OR confinement indoors every weekend plus closing schools. This is 'justified' seemingly because 10% of all hospital admissions are due to Covid.

ICU occupancy is currently 80% of total available of which Covid accounts for 40%.

[OFSO]

Lockdown to municipality announced for weekends, Friday evening to Monday morning.