The Coronavirus pandemic often doesn’t feel real. It’s as though the entire world is living a nightmare from which we can’t wake up. With each day the deadly threat of this virus is spreading throughout villages, towns, and cities from Europe to the Americas to Oceania. No one is left unaffected. Here in Paris, today marks the first day of social distancing, with all cafés, restaurants, bars, shops and social clubs, closed. Schools, universities and daycare centers too, are closed. Is this the severity of the measures that will be taken? I don’t suspect so.
My Italian and I are taking every precaution to stay safe, as his family has been doing while on lockdown in Liguria. The fear is this silent enemy attacks unknowingly. As everyone is aware by now, the virus lives on surfaces and can take weeks for symptoms to appear. My fear is that the young and virile in Paris are not taking this very seriously. This was evident today as we took a walk from the Louvre to the Seine.
While many remained solo or in isolated couples like us, others congregated in groups, kids playing nearby.
My guess is that the same way citizens in Italy and now Spain are placed in lockdown, France is next.
Tuileries Gardens are already closed, as are museums and other cultural institutions. The gravity is mounting.
Wherever you are in the world, please take every precaution. Don’t merely wash your hands, but isolate yourselves as much as possible while COVID-19 continues to spread. We are all fighting this invisible battle.
In the meantime, work from home if you can. And to keep yourself stimulated, pick up those books you were meaning to read, take up a new indoor hobby, call friends who live a timezone away, learn a language, take up a meditation practice, play with your kids, discover a new passion… Dedicate this time to yourself. I for one plan to improve my Italian language skills and learn new recipes, in between writing assignments of course.
Thinking of you all and sending virtual (non-contagious) hugs! Feel free to reach out anytime, and do make plans to visit Paris once this is all over. Remember that this too shall pass.
I’ve been watching the French news every day along with the news here in the US. It is all so terrible, but I firmly believe if we hunker down and quarantine we will see the light soon enough. I have been thinking of your Italian and hoping his family is okay! We speak with my mother-in-law in France every few days and it so hard for them to contemplate not greeting friends with a bisous! A hard lesson!
I’m hoping you’re doing well in the US! France is open again as you know and life is slowly returning to normal, and yet there is nothing normal about this chapter of life. Sending you bises until the real ones can be shared again!
It is a very surreal world we are living in right now. But we are all in this together and always are. What we do can directly change someone’s reality in another country. We are quarantined voluntarily here in Canada. In British Columbia all bars and restaurants are closed unless delivery or takeout is ordered. Some still don’t take it seriously but if we all focus for a little while and isolate ourselves maybe we can shorten the duration of all this!
What a time to start a food tour business! Launch was April 4th but postponed until all this is over.
The world feels very surreal indeed! I could never have imagined such a reality, could anyone? I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe these strange days!
Thank you this wonderful email. Stay safe and keep writing us and show us pictures of Paris,
My pleasure! Stay safe and sane!