Sitting here towards the end of 2024, this really does seem like ancient history. This said, there are still important points in this post, and the COVID years have all given us food for thought.
First published April 28, 2020
Dear Reader,
It’s that time of year when we’ve either just taken a spring cycling trip or about to go on one, but it’s not going to happen this year.
I’m a fan of Mallorca - a big fan as you probably already know. This compact island delights me and thousands of others with its beautiful roads, rewarding climbs, and variety of on-your-doorstep cycling. And, then there are the people who are friendly, welcoming, and full of the joy of life. Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention the food, culture, and weather; they’re all amazing - I can’t get enough of them.
Alas, both you and I are not going to the sunny isle this spring. It’s tough, but nowhere near as tough as for those living in what has become a Mediterranean prison. The population has been on lockdown since the evening of the 14th of March - that’s almost seven weeks for the mathematically challenged amongst you. This lockdown is not your liberal Northern European style of lockdown. Consider for a moment: no exercise, only allowed outside for food shopping (one person only btw), medical needs, and if you have a dog, one ten-minute walk per day. That’s it - period.
If the lockdown’s hard on the population, it’s nothing compared to the economic consequences. A whopping 80% of the island’s economy is based on tourism. All of that 80% has gone. Thousands of people have lost their livelihoods, hundreds of businesses will not survive till next season, and all of the while people can only look out from their prisons and contemplate what’s going to happen to them next. To say it’s a terrible situation is not an understatement.
Fortunately, the locals have a positive fighting spirit. At the moment, they are looking after each other - helping to ensure that friends and neighbours get through these times. Only then will they be able to look forward and figure out how to rebuild their shattered lives. I have absolute faith that the Mallorcans will come through this stronger, prouder, and more resilient than ever before.
I guess, today I wanted to highlight that our European neighbours are more than just a number of deaths per day. They are the flesh and blood with lives to live, families to care for, and futures ahead of them. We must do whatever we can to help the people who have given us so much joy over the years. I don’t have all the answers, but you can think whether an alternate date for your holiday might be more appropriate than trying to claim a refund, book early for next year’s trip to offer hope for the future, and donate what you can to one of the charities helping those so badly affected.
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