Shops & supermarkets under lockdown!

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

I was topped on the way to Mercadona this morning, on the bus station r/about they stopped a car in front of me so I pulled behind it and stopped, some moron behind me just drove through despite shouts and arm waving, so one of them jumped in their car and chased him they stopped him just after the Costa Antigua R/about, and by the gestures and shouting that was going on the Giardia were not happy

Had to read this twice JR, was very worried to hear you had been 'topped'! 

[Johnrgby]

Morning Tamara  that will teach me not to trust the spell checker.

[Sir Real]

I was topped on the way to Mercadona this morning, on the bus station r/about they stopped a car in front of me so I pulled behind it and stopped, some moron behind me just drove through despite shouts and arm waving, so one of them jumped in their car and chased him they stopped him just after the Costa Antigua R/about, and by the gestures and shouting that was going on the Giardia were not happy

Many thanks for this post John.  It was extremely timely for me yesterday, as I had to go from Antigua to a farmacia in Caleta.  I have a prescription from the private clinic opposite Atlantico.  My nearest, local chemist won't accept them - has to be Caleta - and I was nearly out of meds.  I didn't fancy trying to explain that to an over-eager GC cop in my best Spanglish! 

I recalled a post from some time ago, saying the GC had gone by lunchtime, so left it until then.  They'd gone, so was able to go straight to the farmacia unmolested.  The subsequent visit to the Caleta Dino let me stock up on my Brit essentials that I can't get in Antigua (mature cheddar!).  It was, of course, purely incidental to getting meds (honest!).

So yeh, thanks again for the post John.  I've not run out of meds or chedds over Easter!

Cheers,
Chris

[Johnrgby]

Hi, Chris, they had gone by the time I had returned around 11:00, and I expect them to be there again tomorrow as I am heading to the Health Centre, and with the partial lifting of restrictions, they will be looking for anyone trying to take advantage.

[Sir Real]

Cheers John.  In the spirit of lockdown, it's not a trip I do often, and is usually for vegetarian products like Quorn etc.  I can get those in the Caleta Brit shops, Lidl and the Atlantico Spar, but not in Antigua. 

Most Brits know one, or some vegetarians, and are at least grudgingly tolerant.  (Provided they don't have to give or accept a dinner invitation!).  The Spanish just don't get the idea that someone would choose to not eat meat.  They think you have an eating disorder, and should see a doctor.

Convincing those over-eager GC cops of my need to shop in Caleta, not Antigua, is not a conversation I relish!

Cheers,
Chris

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Today's observations:

A trip from Tindaya to Corralejo and back, 11am - 2pm.

The roads were very quiet, like driving in Fuerte 20 years ago. Only saw 1 hire car. Saw one Policia Local car going in the opposite direction and 1 GC behind me which turned off in La Oliva. In Corralejo there was a military vehicle, possibly a Humvee, presumably driven by Soria 9, patrolling the streets. No one was being stopped either in the town where there was virtually no vehicle movement or up near Mercadona where there were a few more cars on the move.

Driving through Villaverde I noticed that Brikogar is now open in the mornings, until 3pm. Queue outside, they fetch what you ask for, no browsing. Also the pet grooming place next to the bakery appeared open.

Corralejo town had a few more people on the street but not many. All were either queueing outside the Farmacia or carrying supermarket bags. No one at Sabadell ATM which was my destination. On to Atlantic Insurance opposite the Centro de Salud, 1 person ahead of me there. Didn't see anybody going in or out of Centro de Salud although the door was open. A few people at the fruit and veg shop.

Rather than do a U turn I carried on to the harbour entrance and turned around there. Again hardly anybody out and about. Up to the BP fuel station, I was the only car. There was an assistant outside who put my fuel in.

On to Mercadona. A few more cars up in that area but I'd timed it right and there was no queue to go in the shop. The now very slick operation to help you clean your hands, put on gloves and take a disinfected trolley. I was able to get most of what I wanted, no family size pre-baked chicken pie and the potatoes were pretty scabby. They had plenty of bags of nice looking small potatoes but I'd wanted a couple for jackets. Plenty of fresh fruit and most other veg although it was going off the shelves pretty quickly, not sure if there was enough for the whole day. (Last Monday I didn't get there until 4pm and the fresh stuff was non-existent by then.) Straight to a checkout.

Drove back to Tindaya without seeing any official vehicles.

It was very noticeable how many builders had gone back to work today, La Oliva and Villaverde were alive with construction. Also saw CAAF replacing a mains pipe in Tindaya and some major cabling/electrical work going on by the side of the road in La Oliva.

 

 

[Ducks]

CALETA — MERCADONA

There this morning, found the Guardia in place handing out masks! Very nice to see, picked up a few because I only had homemade ones. They were gone when I came out. Shop very well stocked of all items, maybe very slightly low on chocolate products. Meat, salads, dairy, frozen all good. They really have the procedure down to a fine art on screening people coming in and out. I have been incredibly impressed by how they have handled managing people during this crisis, and will be happy to give them my business going forward. Shop was quiet enough; did have to queue to get in because of the wipedown/gel/gloves system, but there was plenty of space inside.

CALETA — LIDL

Good stock of everything, but very quiet. Only one checkout open, and very few customers in the shop. Again, less streamlined/professional process on arrival than Mercadona, but good items and staff doing their best. I am hoping the quietness was due to being so early, and that they are not hurting for business! I feel very badly for them opening right before this hit, and very fortunate they are still there. Hopefully they will be able to recover once the crisis is over, but it's very clear the locals prefer the cheaper (and excellent) Mercadona, so they may need the tourist business to continue. 

CALETA — HiperDino 

Tragedy— They've completely run out of fresh milk! I think this is a semi-permanent problem; the space in the fridge had been reallocated to cheese products, and when I asked when they'd have more, they could not tell me. Seemed to be a little low on some items, but they're doing their best, and staff are lovely as usual. Hygiene procedure on arrival DEFINITELY lacking compared to the bigger supermarkets, but also quieter and more "open air" than the larger shops, too.

[windermeregolfer]

CALETA — LIDL

Good stock of everything, but very quiet. Only one checkout open, and very few customers in the shop. Again, less streamlined/professional process on arrival than Mercadona, but good items and staff doing their best. I am hoping the quietness was due to being so early, and that they are not hurting for business! I feel very badly for them opening right before this hit, and very fortunate they are still there. Hopefully they will be able to recover once the crisis is over, but it's very clear the locals prefer the cheaper (and excellent) Mercadona, so they may need the tourist business to continue. 

IMHO it depends on the items as to whether Mercadona is cheaper than Lidl or visa verse, I did a couple of spot checks last week and  for instance Lidl were cheaper for Pizzas 1.99€ as against 2.39€ Hellman's Mayo 0.10€ per Lt cheaper and Aerial washing pods as previously reported over 1.20€ cheaper at Lidl for a pack of 15.
Will admit some of the products at Mercadona are better quality and not that much more in price.

[Cotillo_Tom]

Here is something new.

Just visited Superdino in Cotillo and at the door is a member of staff with an infra red temperature monitor. She points it at your forehead and after a few seconds it bleeps.

My temperature was 36, and I was allowed to enter. Think she said (in Spanish) above 38 and you are not allowed to enter the shop!

It's a new procedure as they didn't do it yesterday. 

Tom.

[Ducks]

Here is something new.

Just visited Superdino in Cotillo and at the door is a member of staff with an infra red temperature monitor. She points it at your forehead and after a few seconds it bleeps.

My temperature was 36, and I was allowed to enter. Think she said (in Spanish) above 38 and you are not allowed to enter the shop!

It's a new procedure as they didn't do it yesterday. 

Tom.

Crikey. Hope they don't start doing that at the big supermarkets outside Caleta— God knows what my temperature would be after half an hour's trek in baking hot Weather! I'd have to sit outside for a while to cool down...