long as her feet carry her across the water she really. needs to do. what secrets like. to discover new adventures in 360. 6 more fascinating sites like. world heritage 36 to get here now. hello and a warm welcome to focus on europe i'm a lot about the 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 . well for many europeans living in big cities being confined to one apartment has created a deep yearning to be closer to nature a hole 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 the simple life it's in the northwestern spanish region of. near abandoned villages like this one have become hot property during the pandemic. but i was. also a year ago a little for 9 days and then yellow herrera wouldn't have thought they'd be keeping chickens in the countryside. back then they still have the majority of them but in

the summer they moved to relook at least here in northwestern spain 500 kilometers from the capital a bit different to his ribs are advantages and disadvantages. but i mean that's what i meant about i mean for me country life offers things about the city just doesn't touch of course. but i know it's something you have to experience a. couple deal to have a village of 30 and have a chance she was a completely foreign to them away his parents have a summer house here her young couple is now we further see the property plato is a stockbroker he can work from home and really has to go to mature it. is a psychologist she found a job with a real estate company coronavirus della kings everything that. we could never imagine just leaving everything behind to move out of the country far away from middle work but then we spent 3 months cooped up in 20 square metres

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 younger residents for decades of 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 so good the new owner isn't a proper individual real doris said that now belongs to a canadian company. probably an empiricist if you will but the companies are coming in to buy a whole truck their 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 live in a closet for 30 years gustavo 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. it just hurts to see the houses almost in ruins like this. critical state that is of up was it would be nice if someone would take care of that and if life with return even if i won't get anything out of it's myself called the not to be and i won't pay you nor i either through tarver. the 59 year old grew up here. he ate mills in this kitchen because no one knows if 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 of. access is much better now and to stop us is the pandemic has increased the value of the villages but more needs to be done to save them better interconnection would be a good incentive for potential buyers. if local governments did more liquid financial aid for reconstruction but if you don't get it all get back on track even faster. you're going to get it what i mean are you larry. but municipalities 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. effect. now there's just been talk of

nothing's being done. now we're hoping for european aid coming in because of the damage. maybe that could also support projects that will revive these villages. in such a way 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. but basically i want to stay and so does my girlfriend you know whether you're. a lay hold and daniella and. they'll miss the city they say this is too much. for a few days they don't want to give up their country life. 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 caucus 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 while 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 is that 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'll 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 it weighs on your soul from 3 of those are 2 ways quite heavy on your saw. you. have the ceiling. but why would they even subjecting themselves to this theater is 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 as some 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. the author was it horrific i'm still tired even now. the pandemic has impacted the song with us now 2 phones because they're not under contract unlike the employed members of the orchestra at the subsidize national theatre of cut costs. and many of these freelance musicians haven't had a geek in months. in the year that is the government and the theatres don't support us for us performers they might just wind up living under a bridge by the time the pandemics over the next into the put in. a few hours later came the next to set back the entire opera house was supposed to rehearse together

as it normally does with terry masks but the latest figures for new infections were alarming the chorus was then released for the day that put mario go and director stefan mackie in a difficult situation. much time and. not really has the figures rise sort of the individual fears and questions we have to deal with the holiday basis so it's all topic if. with it steve inskeep there are a few more fears among the wire and that's why we thought we'd talk them through this period it is pretty eerie a test my house. for musical result is a delight 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 with the new lockdown nothing is certain anymore still there remain motivated which is a real challenge for the unsolvable.

this is the answer of course because of the it's this is the job we have to do for our musicians it's in our seniors on set for the entire theater and for everyone involved says so they can form their task 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 mine to sleep once. 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 3 to 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 you were pretty sure to but still were delighted to be accompanied by this beautiful is on the form common out here on the balcony and in the ring in here it's across. in this opera about love and passion the hygiene regulations of costco's to mind compromises.

the. strict regulations prohibits any internet kisses. it's heartless but healthy exactly what composer visit 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 it 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 where a leader of a 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 lena becomes mission 1. she stops often you see a village of 400 people in or comes here every tuesday and enough. every one of them for the full blame on the talk is doing her weekly shopping. lina has everything she needs and her fun fresh veggies like sprouts and let us along with the carmel desert and her husband are so fond of becoming we don't have

a car my husband and i don't drive anymore where old folks so we shop and they know that you know. you know it doesn't sell cheese and other products. she always has time for a chat and to catch up on the latest gossip today's big news is that a neighbor has returned home from the hospital well this could be 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 instead of all the let's not just business it's about interpersonal relationships to. make 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 this. the couple are waiting to take a coffee break together with her. meanest stops in once a week. she feels right at home with the sudanese. plane we'd have a problem there are no more stores here she is the only one in the 3rd. quote is in a hurry lane has brought his favorite food. business goggles on as cargo cleaner knows her customers well. each way he buys a dish of snails. made his warehouse does her courage her husband and if he helps her lowered her truck every day since most of her customers are regulars she tailors her assortment to their needs.

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. he now has operations her mobile grocery store for 4 years now cancer daughter was fully grown need a case for job in a plastics factory and fulfilled her longtime 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 a village with some 190 residents there are more young people in this part of the shura district that hasn't been as badly affected by d.

population as other places the young people use their cars to do the shopping feels customers are really between 80 and 85 so they were lying to her about what 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 as. almost just a bit of shopping a bit of socialising. is in our heart. rosie sure i provide look forward to the reclean visits with enough we buy something every week when she comes around we become friends your fitter defended. lena because long day is just about over. she can relax and take a quick breather 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. like oh no oh. my gorge is. the yard there gradually. by call is everything. for the last 18 years there's no place in the world that lubov not a horde of i would rather be than not linked by call in southern siberia. the sprightly senior lives on the western shore of the world's largest freshwater

lake. 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. but. instead of using a bicycle or a car. as she's fondly known runs her 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 and 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 is her debut she has more faith and gets 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 one that will give the church and everything around it these pope's trusted golden silver that's not for me i don't want that. you. know one of our 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 by. 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. 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 in their courts as a press operator a welder would 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 we 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 bother you but is a true siberia. some folks are never content they think everything's bad one

needs lots of money the other a palace. to do the ski 4 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 only worse and worse. 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 passed quality marana has mastered in his workshop in italy but the craft has lost its luster over decades as it fails to attract younger generations as one of the last copper smiths in italy has quality is now hoping his children will follow in his footsteps. one

of the special tricks the coppersmith pasqual marone 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. it is a soap and it's not the metal and the possibility of always creating something new and beautiful with your own hands without the work of the longer post with him around it produces high quality parts that almost double as works of art relying on the centuries old methods of coppersmith sirin santana stasia near naples with milling hammering and burning it takes 6 to 7 hours to finish one of these parts it will but i'm going to rob if you buy a copper pipe like this it would last 2 or 300 years there is no waste it is the most ecological part in the world unfortunately traditional artisans like us are gradually disappeared from natural body. because many such businesses lack young

employees. yet their craftsmanship is essential for other professions michelin star chef francesco's swears by the squalene my real name is copper parts when cooking for his restaurant. you don't have to keep stirring all the time to keep the pastor from sticking up to the bottom not a tall order and that all. the food cooks gently in the copper pot said very low heat on our body like a mini in pan you constantly have to turn and stir the food for to turn out 12 with figs pots you can let it simmer for 3 of her squalor moronis for children now work with him in his workshop. for about passing on all my knowledge to a 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 born after tito 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 book.

the book for the book. make me in this mess in this way with this whistle. some morning musician mr through and through. 3 women with african rhythms i'm. told and they come back to much of the source of their inspiration the tube.

in 15 minutes on t.w. . is a master of the art of confrontation this is wrong a veteran of verbal combat doesn't mean you're going to see dr klein the undisputed champion of tough political talk trying to frighten people no it's a fact everybody understands if i feel better the conflict zone enjoying tim sebastian as he holds the powerful to account this is a fixed failure whichever way you like to spin conflicts of. the minutes doug. why did this person comes home. there are many answers. there are many.

modern and there is no mas that can be done playing . make up your own mind going to play going to double me. for in it's. fantasy. to see those.

secrets which. starts december 25th. oh. this is data from the live near opinion and britain on the brink of a frank trade deal the white goes on outside downing street where british prime minister taurus johnson is expected to make an announcement shortly face off the talks went into the night in brussels will bring you all the details. meanwhile anger mounts a british cold struck has come from

a link says thousands remain stranded even off to france lift its blockade over an invariant of the coronavirus. from.