Anne Fuchs moved to the Pyrenees last year. You and other citizens of the district told us how you experienced the Corona crisis abroad.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - Anne Fuchs (39) loves the mountains, the many photos on her Instagram profile leave no doubt about that. The foreign language correspondent lived in Bad Tölz for several years. Among other things, she participated in the search for the Canadian Jeff Freiheit, she is still in contact with the group today. In 2019 she moved to the Pyrenees, more precisely to the Vall d'Aran on the border with France. “I really know the culture 1: 1 and live 100 percent in it,” she says. "It is the perfect place for me." And so she saw firsthand how the virus put Spain in a state of emergency.
Ski tourists from Madrid brought the virus to the mountains
Anne Fuchs lived in Bad Tölz for many years. They are known from the missing person search for Jeff Freiheit or from the Spanish regulars' table by Monika Röhl.
© Photo: private
Anyone who thinks that a virus in the loneliness of a Catalan valley has no chance of spreading is mistaken. “We had a relatively large number of cases at the beginning because we are the number one ski destination for Madrilenians and Basques,” she says. In Spain, the seriousness of the situation was recognized relatively late, so the ski area and the accommodations were also closed relatively late.
When the shocking pictures from northern Italy came on TV, many Spaniards were still hoping that the whole thing "has nothing to do with us". But things turned out differently: the virus had been there for a long time and was spreading extremely quickly. A full curfew was imposed on March 14. In vain, Anne Fuchs tried to explain to her friends in Germany what it felt like to "live completely, except for the most necessary supermarket shopping, reduced to your own four walls." These days she hoped that measures would also be taken in her home country will. That was the case a few weeks later - and not nearly as drastic as in Spain.
According to Anne Fuchs, the world was divided into two groups on the day of the full curfew. Namely "between those who accept the challenge realistically and initiate projects and those who are paralyzed by the shock first of all have to approach the entire changeover or even feel the lockdown is a vacation." Anne Fuchs belongs to the first group: She spoke a lot to the authorities, searched a lot and requested platforms for like-minded people and participated in countless video conferences. The Electoral Spaniard even found the curfew period to be particularly productive. "It was fascinating to see how many long-standing projects are suddenly set up in three days." Go ahead, she thought to herself. "In this sense, Spain is very pragmatic and holds together very firmly."
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According to Fuchs, the government reacted too late. "Spain is a country plagued by constant elections with a very young Socialist government," she says. The first reactions from politics were rather "disorganized". The health system's weaknesses were also revealed. "Outrage spreads nationwide above all about inadequate tests and supply." In the crisis, people looked up at Germany, as they did from time immemorial. "The Germans do better, always means in Spain." On the other hand, she finds words of praise for the local government, the Conselh de Aran. "We had the advantage here that we were able to implement very agile and proactive campaigns with this small government of our own."
Spain has now recovered somewhat. It has been in a phase of gradual easing since May 4. Some things also normalize in the valley. From July 1st, the border with France will be opened, which is only a few minutes away and is extremely important for tourism. Now it is time to draw the right conclusions, which were discussed long before the virus.
For Anne Fuchs they are clear: "The valley has to get away from the seasonal burden and use the summer more." Keyword mountain bike, freeride, rafting, motorcycle tourism. "To this end, she is already supporting relevant campaigns. If so, the past few months and the joint effort have made sense.
Giles Thomas worried about his daughter in England
British entrepreneur Giles Thomas (55) has been living in Bichl since last summer. In the past few months, during the Corona crisis, he was happy to be resident in Germany. "Crisis management was much better here than in the UK," he says. "Politicians have clearly communicated what needs to be done," he says. Unfortunately, that was not the case in his home country. Giles is originally from Wimbledon near London, the venue for what is probably the most famous tennis tournament every year. In connection with his work, he stayed in Germany for a long time.
Giles Thomas, out and about with dog Berti and interpreter Monika Röhl.
© Photo: MM Archives
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His daughter, who is studying in Reading near London, has also worried him over the past few months. "During this time she moved to the north of England, to her boyfriend's parents, 350 kilometers from Reading and London," he says. There are far fewer people there, the risk of infection was much lower. Thomas found it "strange" that the danger was initially not taken seriously. When the infection rates exploded, politics suddenly took a very rigid course. "Everything was stricter than in Germany, the rationing of food, the controls by the police." The fact that the measures were different in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales had contributed to the confusion. "A single regulation would have been better there." Giles Thomas wants to take German citizenship. If you apply until Brexit during the transition period, you can keep both nationalities.
Maurizio Faganello praises his compatriots for the discipline
Maurizio Fagenello's parents live in Italy, more precisely in Veneto. He is glad that they stayed healthy.
© MM archive
Overcrowded hospitals, doctors at the end of their tether, hearses: When Maurizio Fagenello, head of the Wolfratshaus ice cream parlor Cristallo, saw the pictures from Lombardy in February and March, he was shocked. “It became clear to me that it was going to be very, very difficult for our country,” he says. In his opinion none of this came about by chance. "In contrast to other countries, Italy broke the healthcare system in the 1980s." The country was unable to respond appropriately to something like the corona virus. "I hope that lessons will be learned from this." There are many things that need to be put to the test - such as bloated bureaucracy.
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Faganello himself has relatives in the north of Italy - but not in Lombardy, but in the Veneto, which is not so badly affected. "My parents retired four years ago," he says. He often spoke to them on the phone and asked about them. His sister, who lives only 15 kilometers away, was not allowed to visit her. "Thank God everyone stayed healthy." Faganello believes the strict curfew of the Italian government is absolutely correct. "It was a good thing," he says. He was surprised by his compatriots how disciplined they followed the guidelines. "It's actually not typically Italian," he explains with a smile. But in this case it worked. Faganello fears that the economic consequences will be felt for a long time. "If Italy falls, Europe falls," he says. In this respect, he hopes for solidarity from the other nations.