the COVID Conundrum: do we stay or do we go?

No school. No restaurants. No sightseeing. No family gatherings. And as of 9 days ago, no beach.

Really? Um, those are most of the reasons we're here.

This pandemic has impacted everyone's life, and altered so, so many plans. Humanity does what it has to, there is no alternative. But Mark and I do have a choice--where we live out this quarantine.

Our favourite chicken take out place is selling homemade masks.

Food and PPE? Bonus!

Back in March, when Prime Minister Trudeau urged Canadians abroad to return home, we had 4.5 months left in Portugal, with return flights booked end of July. We opted to stay, figuring:

• we are safe in our quiet village
• there's lots of food,
• this climate is amazing, 
• we are not ready to call this off, 
• this should pass by then (and worse case scenario, we can stay indefinitely--Mark with his 5 year residency permit and us as Portuguese citizens), 
• school might re-open, 
• plus, our home back in Canada is occupied. 

Now, a month later, all direct flights Lisbon-Toronto are cancelled (our carrier has grounded its entire fleet, so although there are multi-city flight options, we'd need new tickets and we'd risk cancelations), quarantine is likely extended to at least the summer, and we know that the kids will not go back to school this year.
What do we do now?

The reality is, regardless where we are, our  day-to-day would be pretty similar: us at home with the kids, and online schooling. In talking to friends, following Canadian social media and CBC, here are some differences I see between quarantine in the two countries:

Quarantine Restrictions:
It seems Canada is more relaxed on this, with "quarantine" defined on an individual level.

• Yes, like here, schools, parks and green spaces are closed, as are non-essential businesses. Social distancing is followed when out in public. But unlike Canada (where you can enjoy pleasure walks and bike rides, drive anywhere, shop whenever), Portugal has significant restrictions for everyone on being out of home.  There is obvious police presence, tickets for "crimes of disobedience" and fines to match.  They are out patrolling regularly, and sound their loud speakers with "Return Home" when passing pedestrians.  We've been stopped twice by police and sent home (very politely, mind you).  Once we were out for a family walk on the beach before its' official closure and once playing/hanging out on the sidewalk in front of our building. You are allowed out to exercise, but raised eyebrows and head shakes when we pass with our little people is unsettling, and likely explains why the streets are void of children. I mostly see adults out with a grocery bag--picking up essentials. As a mom of young kids: Canada and our Peterborough backyard are looking pretty good...
• In true Canuck fashion, Canadians were politely encouraged to stay home this Easter weekend. In Portugal there was a full-on enforced ban, with police out on the highways stopping all drivers. The message was clear: people cannot leave home/be out of their constituency without proof of a valid reason (i.e. essential service worker or taking care of elderly family).  For the 5 days of Easter weekend, the airports were closed, and all vehicles on highways were monitored.  Meanwhile, back home, it seems like cottage visits and small gatherings were common. Perhaps justifiable because there is so much more space in Canada?  Canada's case numbers are lower per million? Canada is that much farther from ravaged Spain? Would have been nice to have a change of scenery!

Our beachfront walk--fully blocked off :(

The yellow sign kindly encourages us to return home--put up late March.
The white sign prohibits entry and cites civic law to enforce it (put up a week later).
Portugal is clear about quarantine.

The town garden...not as inviting as it once was.

Luckily for us, Sesimbra is full of hiking paths in the woods and up the mountains.
We see a handful of people on the trails, but its easy to steer clear of each other.
Sometimes we pass police on the way home--as long as we are moving, we get a friendly nod.

Sesimbra's police cavalry monitoring pedestrian activity.
We love hearing the clip clop outside our window.

Grocery shopping:
Panic buying is not a thing here. Maybe because houses and fridges here can't handle bulk purchasing? Maybe people are more socialist by nature, taking only what they need? The gastronomy calls for fresh food, which you can't hoard? Maybe Portuguese are more confident in the supply chain?  Can't explain it, but going grocery shopping continues to be such a pleasant, mostly daily, experience.  Aside from having to wait my turn outside the grocery store/the butcher/the market/the bakery/the fish monger, and staff now wearing masks, nothing has changed.
And I love it.  Portugal for the win.

Our local grocery shop. Shelves fully stocked. Three people allowed in at a time.
What used to take 5 minutes now takes 20, but standing in the sunshine chatting with friendly folks, 2m apart, makes it fun.

The Portuguese love their fresh bread and pastries--the daily ritual remains, even in quarantine.
The ladies in the shop know me as the "Portuguese foreigner" and make me smile every day.

Mass Safety Precautions:
I haven't heard or seen footage that Canada has started spraying/disinfecting sidewalks/public spaces.  Here, they do it regularly.  My verdict is double-edged: the spraying must help with containment, however, it heightens the sense of alarm and seriousness.

Long story short: We'll stay here for a while yet.

A balcony of hope.

Post "kids bedtime" therapy!

We wanted more family time on this trip, and we're getting it!
Perhaps not in the anticipated doses, but we're good :)

COVID19 Comparison
Canada is about a week behind Portugal.  As of April 13, 2020:

• Portugal is at 1,661 total cases/million population and 52 deaths/million population
• Canada is at 646 total cases/million and 19 deaths/million population 
• Sesimbra "county" has 17 cases, population 50,000; Peterborough County has 53 cases, population 121,000
• Tests/million population: Portugal: 20,000; Canada: 12,000

Both countries seem to be containing its' spread well and "flattening the curve" (a now common term for us all). We are watching each's numbers closely and rooting for both, hoping things improve in the next couple of months and make it possible for us to salvage some summer holidays, wherever we are!