hello and a warm welcome to focus on europe i'm liable lola it's nice to have you with us today twas the night before christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse the classic tale has taken on a new meaning this holiday season as a pandemic brings europe largely to a standstill streets are empty shops are shuttered and large christmas gatherings

cancelled and the lockdown is set to continue into the new year and many countries . over many europeans living in big cities being confined to one apartment has created a deep yearning to be closer to nature whole fernandez wanted to escape the confines of his small space in madrid he found a place on the countryside that allows him and his girlfriend to live this simple life it's in the northwestern spanish region of galaxia near abandoned villages like this one have become hot property during the pandemic. almost. a year ago a little finance and then yellow herrera wouldn't have thought they'd be keeping chickens in the countryside. back then they still have dimitri. but in the summer they moved to rework elisia in northwestern spain 500 kilometers from the capital. it's

a different. vantage isn't disadvantages. but i mean that's what i meant about i mean for me country life offers things that the city just doesn't touch. i don't know it's something you have to experience. living a couple deal to have a village of 30 in habitats she was a completely foreign to them a late host parents have a summer house here the young couple is now refer to the property clay who is a stockbroker he can work from home and really has to go to madrid daniella is a psychologist she found a job with a real estate company coronavirus bella changed everything. we could never imagine just leaving everything behind to move out to the country far away from it all. but then we spent 3 months cooped up in 20 square meters i don't want to go through that again i need to have nature peace and quiet that's

why we came here. spain's villages are in desperate need of 2 younger residents for decades a rule as it is has decimated them entire communities are dying out especially english here but experts say the pandemic is leading to a turnaround. deal is real estate agent specializing in a band in villages together with a local he visits him as he's just sold the new owner isn't a profit individual real deal reset now belongs to a canadian company. probably an impressionist if you will but the companies are coming in and buying whole trucks 367 villages in one go so they get turned into vacation homes or residential houses for people who can work from home yes a lot of things are possible for people. there are thousands of such helpless for sale in spain no one's living across there for 30 years. iglesias was one of those

who moved to the city as a young man in search of work together with the owners he now wants to sell his hamlet. maybe really. just hurts to see the houses almost in ruins like this was. a state that is of a person it would be nice if someone would take care of the camp life with return even if i won't get anything out of it's myself going to not only be and i'm good you know law of the truth. the 59 year old grew up here. he ate mills in this kitchen because someone knows that the rule of life takes some getting used to even if conditions have improved over the years. we used to have to cart her food here by horse think about some of the wind everything it. just wasn't any other transportation. access is much

better now and a start was is the pandemic has increased the value of the villages but more needs to be done to save them better intimate connection would be a good incentive for potential buyers. sure you support local governments did more liquid financial aid for reconstruction if you got it all get back on track even faster. you couldn't get it without me and you larry. but my news apologies don't happen much that's also true in the neighboring town of nova the mayor says the spanish government should help after all villages dying out isn't a new problem he's counting on the pandemic having a positive side. now there's just been talk nothing's been done. now we're hoping for european aid coming in because of the pandemic. maybe that could also support projects that will revive these villages.

such a home took matters into his own hands and organize a stable internet connection his employee says he'll be allowed to work from his new home office for the long term. i want to permanently settle here of course you never know what's going to happen or where you'll end up. basically i want to stay and so does my girlfriend you know whether you're. a lay hold and daniella and mitt they'll miss the city they save it the longer comes too much those get tortured for a few days they don't want to give up their country life. well for those in the performing arts moving to the countryside and working from home isn't an option at all many actors musicians and dancers are being forced to simply wait out the pandemic at the capas theatre in germany conductor mario vns

algo is refusing to bow to the virus the audience may be gone but his ensemble is fine tuning their performance of carmen despite corona but how does an opera as passionate as carmen work well social distancing a few weeks ago our reporter got a front row seat for the rehearsals. the national theatre of couples is trying to do something different. they are putting on a covert version of george business opera carmen. no masks for the soloists but there is pixie class to offer protection. so yes especially contagious something quite hard for everyone here to forget. it doesn't look this is an air purifier i don't know what professionals call it.

i'm just purifies the air so we can sing without wearing masks with less risk. we mostly were hers with masks on anyway. and to be honest we don't yet know for sure how it will be in the end. of the fruits of me yes of course i'm afraid and i protect myself the best i can get tested as often as i can but the ways are your soul 3 of those are 2 ways quite heavy on your saw. you need of the ceiling. but why would they even subjecting themselves to this theater are still closed but the performers were still hoping they'd be able to perform for an audience of the same. and the danger is not just hypothetical a sort of had covered themselves. it's hard to argue fortunately i already had a few months ago. my doctors say i've still got the antibodies but of course you

always have to be careful. but i know what you go through with this virus. that's how was it horrific i'm still tired even now. the pandemic has impacted the song with us now to phone out because they're not under contract unlike the employed members of the orchestra at the subsidise national theatre of cut costs. and many of these freelance musicians haven't had a gig in months. even directly if the government and the theatres don't support us fridges performers they might just wind up living under a bridge by the time the pandemics over into the cook in. a few hours later came the next set back the entire opera house was supposed to rehearse together as it normally does with obligatory masks but the latest figures for new infections were alarming the chorus was then released for the day that put mario vance i go

and director stefan mackie in a difficult situation. much tying in. starting that relief has the figures rise to the individual fears and questions we have to deal with on a daily basis so it's all if. it's to escape there are a few more fears among the wire and that's what we thought we talk them through this after it is quickly over to one also. for musical result is that the light to the ears of the dress rehearsal as carmen is ready for the stage they had planned brilliant performances in caucus for the turn of the year but now that the new lockdown nothing is certain anymore still there remain motivated which is the real challenge for the insomnia. this is the ones who have covered here are they it's this is the job we have to do for our musicians or to send our singers answer for the entire theater here with everyone involved as they can form their tasks to the best of their ability and

with the greatest dedication priests and this may be one of the most important jobs of my life that he sticks not by mind his limbs. finally they're allowed to rehearse with the choir. not on the stage but well spaced out on the balcony. and then we stop with the truth about a 3 and one let down of course because that we're not allowed to dance and we can't put the choreography on the stage the way it was played and you were pretty sure to but still were delighted to be accompanied by this beautiful hissing on to before coming up here on the bow and in the thing in here it's across. this opera about love and passion the hygiene regulations of costco's demand compromises. the.

strict regulations prohibits any intimate kisses. it's heartless but healthy exactly what composer decent he himself would say about it. carmen doesn't die of the pandemic but of a crime of passion. and at some point perhaps this opera will someday mesmerize an audience and costs. love in the time of corona let's hope the audience returns. for the elderly life with a pandemic is especially challenging every day activities like going to the supermarket can pose a serious risk that's really in a big car comes in she delivers more than just the essentials with the help of her custom van and the remote friends area euro some villages don't even have shops which makes elderly residents reliant on her service for lina work is

a joy and she goes the extra mile for her customers. speeding down country roads bringing food and goods. that's needed because mission 1. she stops often you see a village of 400 people being or comes here every chews they couldn't get enough of that i really didn't think that. way mond pathak is doing her weekly shopping. lena has everything she needs and her fun fresh veggies like 1st sprouts and lettuce along with the current desserts raymonde and her husband are so fond of. come on we don't have a car my husband and i don't drive anymore where old folks so we shop in lena's that you know. that doesn't sell cheese and other products. she always has time for

a church to catch up on the latest gossip. today's big news is that a neighbor has returned home from the hospital well this could do we talk about anything and everything i ask what's new i change people's light bulbs some seniors have no one around their children live far away so when something needs doing i take care of it fixing the t.v. very well then let's not use that business it's about interpersonal relationships do. sense off to her next destination she's on the road 5 days a week taking various routes around the sure she visits 20 to 30 customers a day this region is sparsely populated and shops are few and far between for hundreds of hours is compromised of just a few houses. there she visits to. the

couple or waiting to take a coffee break together with her. in a stops in once a week she feels right at home with the sudanese. lina we'd have a problem there no more stories here she's the only one. quote is in a hurry lin has brought his favorite food. yet this goggles of s. cargo clean and knows her customers well. each way he buys a dish of snails. made his warehouse her courage her husband helps her load her truck every day since most of her customers are regulars she tailors her assortment to their needs. did along with cakes and cookies to you and detergent she also has wine and meat on offer most regional products. you must keep things well organized so everything stays in

place then drive very carefully. operations her mobile grocery store for 4 years now once or daughter was fully grown need take a vote for john in a plastics factory and fulfilled her long time dream. and yes i can live from it even if i'll never be filthy rich the proof i've been doing this for 4 years and i'm still in business. she stops in twice a phillips puts 190 residents are more young people in this part of the shura district it hasn't been as badly affected by de population as other places the young people use their cars to do the shopping feels customers are already between 80 and 85 so there are

a lie in her. i can't afford to get sick and i take just 3 weeks vacation in august that's all that's when many of my customers are on holidays that their children or their children are with them so they don't need me as much of. the city that almost just a bit of shopping a bit of socialising. are hard. rose 0.5 look forward to the reclusive visits with enough we buy something every week when she comes around we become friends if you are fit for different meaning. lena because long day is just about over. she can relax and take a quick freezer before doing it all again tomorrow. siberia it's cold the climate is harsh and for some it's not the most appealing place to live but it is home to many natural treasures such as lake by call it's

the world's deepest and all this freshwater lake for w.b. it's the only home she's ever known she has barely any contact with the outside world and she wants to keep it that way even at christmas another lyuba doesn't want any part of the festivities after all her favorite gift is right in front of her. gulf the governor was. mum gorges. so you are there can i just. really buy coal is everything. for the last 80 years there's no place in the world that lubov not a hold of i would rather be than not lake by call in southern siberia. the sprightly senior lives on the western shore of the world's largest freshwater lake. and by stating his her passion.

my skates were made in 1943 and i'm still using them. when she straps the steel blades she's used for decades onto a pair of old wolf felt boots she's just as nimble as ever. consider of using a bicycle or a car. as she's fondly known for errands on skates. she checks on her accounts or does a little shopping in the neighboring village it's a half hour journey each way and she does it most every day. vast mysterious man with a hint of melancholy. romantic scene lake by call is a reflection of the russian soul. this octogenarian belief skating on the lake

by call is the secret to her longevity. the world's deepest lake as her date she has more faith in its powers than in the miracles of jesus was birth is currently being celebrated around the globe. seasons greetings to all our viewers. so it's only non-sense. what is the weather there with the church and everything around it these pope's dress didn't golden silver that's not for me i don't want that. in the. however in a village some 60 kilometers away the russian orthodox church is experiencing new life following decades of oppression during the soviet era. according to recent polls 65 percent of russians count themselves as belonging to the faithful. but not

. the church is growing in importance as a social institution in russia too bringing with it a more conservative philosophy of life. but none of that for baba yuba. lord have mercy on us because one of the central themes in the liturgy it's repeated dozens of times church services can last for several hours especially at christmas. if you think about it logically you won't find anything up above no soul that flies to heaven nothing when you die you'll be eaten by worms.

she had a long working life in the soviet union. for almost half a century she worked at a factory near courts as a press operator a welder of one turner and later i mean it's engineer. she's been retired for 20 years and since the death of her husband lives alone. look you can see stones. siberian winters are cold and long. sometimes they can last for 6 months with temperatures that can plunge to minus 40 degrees celsius. so the people who live here are tough and modest. in this sense w. bush is a true siberia you threw in some folks are never content they think everything's bad one needs lots of money the other a palace. to do the 54 walls and a roof over your head that's all a person needs we're all going to die one way or another whether in

a palace or elsewhere. but w. by still alive and well and she says she will be for as long as she can skate on her lake baikal. what's the secret to the perfect pot of pasta or result oh for some top chefs it's not just about the ingredients but what they are cooked in copper cookware is the gold or rose gold standard in top rated restaurants it's an art form that pass kuala miranda has mastered his workshop in italy but the craft has lost its luster over decades as a fails to attract younger generations as one of the last copper snit's in italy has quality is now hoping his children will follow in his footsteps. one of the special tricks the coppersmith rona employs to crafting the perfect part is to

hammer the bottom to make it more resistant he has worked with this reddish metal since he was 8 years old and still loves the to this day. of the metal and the possible always creating something new and beautiful with your own hands without a. passport in moroni produces high quality parts that almost double as works of art relying on the centuries old methods of coppersmith here in santa ana stasia near naples with milling hammering and burning it takes 6 to 7 hours to finish one of these parts it will burn out i'm going to run if you buy a copper pipe like this it would last 2 or 300 years there's no waste it is the most ecological part in the world and fortunately traditional artisans like us are gradually disappeared. because many such businesses lack young employees. yet their craftsmanship is essential for other professions michelin

star chef francesco's. squali moronis copper parts when cooking for his restaurant . you got it one you don't have to keep stirring all the time to keep the pasta from sticking up to possibly not a tall order until. the food cooks gently in the copper pot said very low. no heat or not but there was an element in pam you constantly have to turn stir the food 1st to turn around 12 with these pots you can let it simmer for 3 of her squalor moronis 4 children now work with him in his workshop. for all about it passing by knowledge of choice young person is extremely rewarding. the tradition of this craft is thus in good hands securing high quality copper cookware for the next generation. no matter what pots you use to cook this christmas or new year's blown up at sea to help do let me know your thoughts about

this week's show on twitter thanks so much for watching focus on europe and happy holidays. the fact.

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this is d.w. news live from berlin angry truckers confront police after days of waiting at british ports france lifts his blockades but says drivers must test negative for corona virus before crossing the channel also on the program. one of turkey's most high profile journalists are sentenced to 27 years in jail sean blunder was here in berlin with a court cust sentence on charges of espionage and eating a terror to bring you his reaction to that guilty verdict. plus attention.