Lonely places — Deserted tourist sights

The Marienplatz in front of Munich City Hall looks like an empty open-air theatre. Normally, many curious onlookers gather in front of the city hall watchtower which has a glockenspiel, where when the bells chime little figures re-enact two stories from the 16th century. Now only the police keep watch over the curfew.

Among the many venues in the eternal city are the Spanish Steps behind the Barcaccia Fountain. With its barge shape, the fountain is a reminder of the will to survive during another catastrophe, the flood of 1598. The water in the fountain flows, but the stairs are deserted.

Until recently, La Rambla was usually photographed with crowds of people to draw attention to the danger of overtourism. Now only a few pigeons amble around in the spring sun on one of Barcelona's main shopping streets.

The Parisian boulevard, the city's main artery, seems to be frozen in time. A lonely Arc de Triomphe, few vehicles in the distance, and the traffic light is on red.

The river Thames also looks more peaceful than usual. No pleasure boats, no tourists. Currently, only a fraction of the usual number of pedestrians and vehicles have to cross the river on Tower Bridge.

The square in front of Hagia Sophia often resembles a fairground with thousands of tourists and passing traders. These days the view expands onto one of the oldest buildings of the ancient world. The domed basilica from the 6th century is considered unique and is waiting to show its treasures again.

Peter the Great entered Moscow on one of the main roads, and later the wide boulevard of Tverskaya Street was also used for huge military parades. In spring 2020 a convoy of disinfection vehicles dominates the Moscow streetscape.

Even the tombs of the pharaohs are now only visited by disinfection workers. Whether this will help to win back confidence in traveling remains to be seen. The pyramids of Giza have weathered quite different crises throughout world history.

Mecca is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites for devout Muslims. About 3 million come here every year. But this year there has also been a curfew here since April 2. And where normally hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather, there are only people in protective suits who disinfect the huge oval around the Kaaba.

Many world cultural historical monuments are reminders of how they are currently being guarded by military might. Even at the Taj Mahal in India, a monument of love, soldiers are keeping watch to prevent crowds of people gathering here.

Locations that are often regarded as the center of the world seem ghostly. Like Times Square in New York. Everything seems to have come to a standstill, in a state of perpetual waiting. Pedestrian crossings without pedestrians, traffic lights without vehicles, shops without customers. Everything is different, even in the city that never sleeps.

A deserted Bourbon Street in New Orleans appears like a reminder of acceleration. Here too, the coronavirus had an easy time of it when people thought it didn't affect them. So instead they continued to celebrate in droves the Mardi Gras during carnival.

The wide beach, the sea and the silhouette of Rio de Janeiro. Even the Copacabana in Brazil, otherwise one of the liveliest leisure resorts in the world, seems to be suspended. Only the gentle waves of the Atlantic Ocean signal movement. A mood like a famous Bossa Nova: Chega de Saudade (Stop the longing).

A gaping void in front of an iconic architectural icon down under. The Sydney Opera House also reminds us to stay at home. The doors are closed until further notice, but there are weekly live broadcasts and recordings from the archive, transmitted digitally into people's living rooms.

At the end of March, the Great Wall of China was partially reopened to visitors after a two-month closure. A photo that offers hope: There can be, and there will be a renaissance in traveling!