JOURNALIST REBECCA BUCHAN IN SPAIN

As we boarded the Aberdeen to Edinburgh train last week, armed with disinfectant wipes and mini bottles of hand gels, I couldn’t help but think we were being overly cautious. Coronavirus had been making and shaking the news before my mum and I headed to Spain for some winter sun, and I was well aware of the impact it was having in places like Italy, but naively I thought all would be well. There had been reported cases in both Madrid and Barcelona, where we were heading for a fortnight, but nothing I considered more significant than any other European city. I was not prepared for the speed at which events escalated. The busy flight out to the Spanish capital on March 7 was fairly standard, with jovial groups of stag parties and holiday makers entertaining us through delays, and we soon arrived at the city centre flat in which we would spend the next week. There was the buzz of nightlife and activity below and that evening we wandered the narrow streets, filled with bustling independent restaurants, struggling to choose where to eat. Most were full and, when we eventually settled on one, we were told we were lucky to get a space. The next few days were similar to any other in a busy European city in March – not the crowds you’d experience in the height of the summer, but Plaza Mayor was always a hive of activity. But I had been keeping up with the latest on coronavirus and it was obvious things were escalating. When we decided to visit Museo National del Prado on March 10, I knew things were heating up. No queues, we walked straight in and round all of Goya and Velazquez in record time. We spent most our final day on the terrace, self isolating, enjoying 22C, but with a complete absence of hustle and bustle below. What shops remained open were empty or queued out the door with people panic buying. That evening we went for a last supper and spoke to the owner, who said they had been told that from Saturday the city would be on lockdown. Nothing was to open for at least two weeks, but in his opinion he thought it would be months before they reopened – if they ever would. It’s clear the effects of Covid-19 are only just starting and its significance, and the speed at which it is developing, should not be underestimated.