Have you ever worn a mask on the nudist beach or been almost the only one to go through the security check at the airport? Because of the Corona crisis, a lot was different in summer 2020 than usual. A selection of seven things that were somehow new:
Venice and Mallorca without the tourist crowds
Most Venetians have probably never experienced their city like this: no motor boats, no gondoliers and hardly any tourists. Even on the otherwise crowded St. Mark's Square, selfies were possible without the crowds in the background. The brown soup in the canals had disappeared and allowed a view of the flora and fauna underwater. Even a jellyfish was spotted. The city, which has repeatedly discussed restrictions for tourists, has taken a breather – before it goes back to mass tourism?
Beach traffic lights and distance rules on the North and Baltic Seas
In order to direct the stream of holidaymakers expected in summer, the locations on the North Sea and Baltic Sea came up with a lot: from parking guidance systems, floor stickers with distance rules to one-way street systems on the beach. Schleswig-Holstein relied on digital solutions to prevent larger crowds in the Bay of Lübeck and developed an online traffic light. "It's a service for day tourists," said a spokeswoman. Because this way you avoid the frustration of leaving Hamburg for example early in the morning and then not being allowed to go to the beach.
Cruises without going ashore
Large cruise lines such as Hurtigruten and Aida had to cancel numerous cruises or could only travel without going ashore because of the risk of infection. Corona infections sometimes also occurred on the ships of the shipping companies, and staff had to be quarantined.
From September, passengers of the cruise line Tui Cruises are only allowed on board with a negative corona test. The regulation affects all departures of the Mein Schiff fleet, as the company announced on Thursday. The costs for the test are already included in the travel price. "All guests will be informed about further details automatically and in good time before the start of the journey," it said.
After a compulsory break for months, Tui Cruises has been offering cruises from German ports again since July. The new start began with a three-day round trip on the North Sea and without going ashore. From September, the shipping company says it wants to expand its range. According to this, seven-day cruises with the "Mein Schiff 6" from and to the Greek island of Crete with shore excursions should then be possible.
Corners in public places
Gatherings of mostly young people in public places: the comeback of so-called cornering. Whether on the street corner at the snack bar or in the park – due to closed clubs and bars, many moved the partying outside. Corona corners became a problem and called the police several times for fear of the virus spreading. Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher even considered an alcohol ban. “The young people want to drink beer there in public. And if you don't get it chilled somewhere, then this cornering doesn't work the way you imagine it. "
Spirit atmosphere at airports
Ghostly atmosphere at German airports, no aircraft noise, hardly any passengers and empty counters. For the few people who flew anyway, a nice change: no queues at the ladies' toilets, first at the security check and fast boarding. For the airport operators, however, the corona crisis meant deep red numbers. In Frankfurt, for example, the number of passengers in the second quarter was around 94 percent lower than a year earlier. The airline Lufthansa has also reported a loss of more than three billion euros during the pandemic.
Swimming pools: distance on the lawn, reservation in advance
Bathers also had to adhere to certain rules this summer. The advantage: more space on the lawn and no crowds at the pool edge. Advance reservations were often required to limit the number of people. A possible concept for the time after Corona? "We're not getting rid of that now," said the managing director of the Frankfurt swimming pool operations, Boris Zielinski. And for the guests it is also an advantage "when they no longer have to stand in huge queues at the cash register on hot summer days".
Nudist sunbather with mask in the Czech Republic
Face mask also when bathing in the nude: A nudist beach on a quarry pond in the Czech Republic made it world-famous during the corona crisis. Even the US news broadcaster CNN reported a call from the local police to nude bathers to wear a face mask. Under the motto "Naked body: yes – uncovered mouth: no", the law enforcement officers had put their appeal on the Internet.
Stand-up paddling is the trend
Whether in rivers, in the sea or on lakes – stand-up paddlers seemed to be everywhere this summer at the latest. Some took the dog with them on the board or their best buddy, others were armed and drifted across the surface of the water with a paddle alone. One thing is certain: The fun on the boards has become a mass phenomenon during the Corona crisis. The German Stand-up Paddle Association also reports a sharp increase in bookings and rental inquiries from the boards.
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