It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

When you're looking for snow in Galicia, your best bet is the hills (mountains?) on the east side. When I worked as a language assistant in a town in the Ancares, close to the eastern border, it snowed there quite regularly. In the southeast corner of the province of Ourense there is even a small ski resort. Or so I've heard. As far as Galicia's cities go, seeing snow is a rarity. In the city of Lugo it used to snow once a year, but with global warming, it's no longer guaranteed. Last year I don't recall any snow in town. Meanwhile in my hometown they've already had the first major snow of the season; several inches!

Therefore when this morning I awoke to massive, fluffy flakes, you can imagine my delight! I skipped breakfast to throw on some warm and weatherproof attire and get out there. After all, the few times I've seen snow it had lasted barely an hour, and who knows how long the snow was going to stay. A walk around town in the snow really seals the deal in terms of Christmas spirit. Perhaps I would be less enthusiastic if I had to drive in it, but luckily for me in the city there's no need for a car. My snow-white walk coincided with kids going to school. What a treat for them, in this bizarre and unfortunate year. At least they got to enjoy the snow on their trek to class. An excellent start to what is going to be a 4-day weekend with no travel (we are still unable to leave the city).

Aside from the snow (which to my surprise is still falling --albeit not as intensely-- hours later) those working in bars and restaurants are having their own holly, jolly day. Today after about a month of mandatory closure throughout Galicia's cities, bars and cafés can open their doors once more. There are limits on capacity, but for them something is better than nothing, I'm sure. We are also allowed to see people who aren't from the same household as us. This whole time schools and classes continued, and shops were still open. But you couldn't meet up with your colleagues outside of work. Here's hoping the snow sticks but the Coronavirus does not.