i am. in the in the i am. in the. game i guess i'm going to get into the answer to that. hello and a warm welcome to focus on europe. 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 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 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. 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 the majority. but in the summer they moved through in northwestern spain 500 kilometers from the capital.

it different our advantages and disadvantages. but i mean that's what i meant about i mean for me country life offers things for the city just doesn't touch of course . i don't know it's something you have to experience. living a couple deal together diligent 30 inhabitants 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 daniela is a psychologist she found a job with a real estate company the coronavirus changed everything it. got the land 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. betty rutile is real estate agent specializing in the banding villages together with the local he visited them as he's just sold the new owner isn't a profit individual real doris said that now belongs to a canadian company. getting empiricist 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 people. there are thousands of such houses for sale in spain no one's live in a closet 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. it just hurts to see the houses almost in ruins like this was a critical state that is of a person it would be nice if someone would take care of the country if life would return even if i won't get anything out of it's myself going to not only be and i won't be your 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. because we used to have to cart or food here by horse. and the wind everything it. just wasn't any other transportation. access is much better now and it's obvious is

the pandemic has increased the value of the villages but more needs to be done to save them better in connection would be a good incentive for potential buyers. if local governments did more like with financial aid for reconstruction to get it all get back on track even faster. you can look it is sort of be a new law here. but municipalities don't happen much that's also true in the neighboring town of nova the meirs is the spanish government should help after all villages dine out isn't a new problem he's counting on the pandemic having a positive side. now there's just been talk about 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.

such a home took matters into his own hands and organize a stable in a nick 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 whole 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. for. the national theatre of couples is trying to do something different. they are putting on a covert version of george this is all for carmen. masks for the soloists but there is pixie class to offer protection. is 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 just purifies the air so we can sing without wearing masks with less risk. we mostly rehearsed with masks on anyway. and to be honest we don't yet know for sure how it will be in the end. we are not really on the fritz and 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 of this it weighs quite heavy on your saw says he'll. have to see it. but why would they even subjecting themselves to all this the theatre was still closed but the performers were still hoping they'd be able to perform for an audience of december. and the danger is not just hypothetical a sort of had covered themselves. up that fortunately i already had a few months ago. my doctors they had still got the antibodies but of course you

always have to be careful. but i know what you go through with this virus. about how was it horrific i'm still tired even now. the pandemic has impacted the sort of us now to phone because they're not under contract unlike the employed members of the orchestra at the subsidized national theatre of cut costs. and many of these freelance musicians haven't had a gig in months. when direct if the government and the theatres don't support us for his performers he 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 to set back the entire opera house was supposed to rehearse together as it normally does with libertarian 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 dying and. dying of relief as the figures rise so do 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 why we thought we'd talk them through this period it is quickly or it is my house. for musical result is that the lights 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 ensample. persistence and of course we get out the it's this is the job we have to do for our musicians or to send our singers on set for the entire theater and you get that everyone involved says so 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 minus libyans. 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 music on top of one common appear on the bow television in a vacuum here dobbins across. this opera about love and passion hygiene regulations and cost close to mind compromises. the.

strict regulations prohibits any internet kisses. it's heartless but something exactly what composer decent he himself would say about it. carmen doesn't die of the pandemic but it's a crime of passion. that some point perhaps this opera will someday mesmerize an audience it costs. love in the time of corona well 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 alina big car comes in she delivers more than just the essentials with the help of her custom van and the remote friends area of euro some villages don't even have shops which makes elderly residents reliant on her service

or 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 because mission 1. she stops often you see a village of 400 people being or comes here every tuesday for. enough. every year the. way mond potomac is doing her weekly shopping. lena has everything she needs and her fun fresh veggies like for sprouts and lettuce along with the current deserts raymonde 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. united 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. 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 and all the it's not just business it's about interpersonal relationships do. leave sets off to her next destination she's on the road 5 days a week taking various routes every one of 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. complain that we have a problem there are no more stores here she's the only one. kloet is in a hurry i mean has brought his favorite food. yet this goggles on as cargo cleaner knows her customers well. each way he buys a dish of snails. made his warehouse her courage her husband 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 small. enough as operators are mobile a grocery store for 4 years now once or daughter was fully grown mean ok for her job 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 a village with 190 residence so are more young people in this part of the shore a 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 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. for just a bit of shopping. but the social license fee i make. sure i can find look forward to the weekly visits with the rule we buy something every week when she comes around the country we become friends if it is i mean. as long day is just about all. she can relax and take a quick breather before doing it all again some more. 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 about 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 that christmas not only obama doesn't want any part of the festivities after all her favorite gift is right in front of her. like oh oh oh oh. my gorge is. they are there can i just. play by coal is everything. for the last 80 years there's no place in the world that lyubov not a whore that would rather be than on the lake by call in southern siberia. to sprightly senior lives on the western shore of the world's largest freshwater lake. by stating his her passion.

oh my skates were made in 1943 and i'm still using them. when she straps the steel blades she's used for decades on to 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 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 has her dating she has more faith in its powers than in the miracles of jesus was birth is currently being celebrated around the globe. season's greetings to all our viewers. so it's all nonsense. what it's all of that the one 3rd of the church and everything around it these pope's dress didn't golden silver that's not for me i don't want that. 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

by. the church is growing in importance as a social institution in russia to 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 have been 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 present prater 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 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 bubble yuba is a true siberia he says 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 only worse yours. but w. by still alive and well and she says she will be for as long as she can skate on her lake baikal the. what's the secret to the perfect pot of pasto result oh for some top chef 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 in 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 smiths in italy has quality is now hoping his children will follow in his footsteps. one of the special tricks the coppersmith rhona employs to crafting the perfect part is to

hammer the bottom to make it more resistant here's worked with this reddish metal since he was 8 years old and still loves the to this day but. it is a suppleness of the metal and the possibility of always creating something new and beautiful with. your other work or for a longer. one limone 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 go if you buy a copper pipe like this it will last 2 or 300 years there is no waste it is the most ecological part in the world fortunately traditional artisans like us are gradually disappear internet like butter because many such businesses lack young employees. yet their craftsmanship is essential for other professions michelin

star chef francesco's swears by the squalor moronis copper parts when cooking for his restaurant. you don't have to keep stirring all the time to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom not a tall order and that all. the food cooks gently in the copper pot said very low heat. with an enemy in pam you constantly have to turn and stir the food for to turn out 12 figs pots you can let it simmer. 3 of the squalid moronis 4 children now work with him in his workshop. for about it passing on all my knowledge to a young person is extremely rewarding to me. the tradition of this craft is thus and 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 or to help do let me know your thoughts about this

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

like. you did when she painted me. i am. only fascination of those who look at me. the secret among. only saw. 15 minutes on d w. o india. telling tales with textiles

look up to benton designer tenzin succeeds in doing so as a child he fled to northern india and stayed there. is creations are a multicultural mix of indian style and to beckon tradition. 90 minutes on d w. how does a virus spread. why do we panic and when will all this. just 3 of the topics covered and the weekly radio show is called spectrum if you would like and information on the crown of irish or any other science topic you should

really check out our podcast if you know where ever you get your podcast you can also find us at dot com look for inside science. why are people forced to hide in trucks. there are many reasons. there are many answers. and there are many stories. make up your own mind. just made for mines.

this is d.w. news live from a huge blast rocks downtown nashville a christmas morning explosion blows out windows and damages buildings police say it is a deliberate act will bring you the latest also on the program european union nations stuff assessing the post-breakfast a trade deal drinks with the u.k. the 2000 page document still needs to be ratified by the british and european parliament's. latin american countries begin on fisher's coronavirus immunization programs but the worst case has yet.