How We Really Lived: 15 Photos from the COVID Era That Are Hard to Believe Today

Over time, some events begin to seem so unreal—as if they happened not to us, but in some strange movie. The COVID-19 pandemic was one of those periods. Only a few years have passed, yet the events of 2020–2021 already feel like the distant past to many. These 15 photos remind us just how unusual everyday life became back then. 1. A blessing from a safe distance A clergyman wearing a mask and a face shield uses a toy water gun to sprinkle holy water on people without getting close to them. Even religious rituals had to be adapted to the new rules. 2. A schoolboy dressed as a plague doctor During an online class, a student sits in front of the screen wearing an unusual black mask with a long "beak." Remote learning felt strange enough on its own, but this outfit made the scene almost surreal. 3. Even a cat needed a mask A cat taken out for a walk by its owner ended up wearing a homemade protective device. During those months, people tried to protect not only themselves but also their pets from the virus. 4. Personal space—literally A subway passenger devised his own social-distancing system: a huge, round frame with protruding elements that kept others from getting too close. 5. A person inside a giant bag Another passenger decided to literally isolate himself from the outside world by climbing inside a transparent plastic bag. He didn't forget to wear a standard medical mask, either. 6. A haircut behind a transparent umbrella A hairdresser turned a large umbrella into a makeshift protective shield by adding transparent panels and armholes. Even a trip to the beauty salon in 2020 turned into a safety experiment. 7. A cabbage leaf instead of a mask When standard protective gear wasn't available, people turned to the most unexpected items. One man replaced his medical mask with a large cabbage leaf. 8. Stocking up in full protective gear A shopper went out to buy water with his head completely encased in a clear plastic bag. His cart was filled with bottles. The panic of the early months drove people to stockpile essentials in massive quantities. 9. A supermarket trip like an underwater expedition Another shopper appeared in full scuba gear—wetsuit, mask, breathing apparatus, and an air tank on his back. A routine grocery run looked like the start of an undersea expedition. 10. A homemade protective helmet A man constructed his own protective system using a metal lid, tubing, and parts from a breathing mask. Such DIY inventions quickly became internet memes. 11. Darth Vader-style protection Instead of a standard mask, one person opted for a black helmet that fully covered the face, resembling the famous *Star Wars* character. The protective gear turned into a full-blown costume. 12. Orchestra rehearsal in individual tents Maintaining social distance proved particularly challenging for musicians. To solve this, student wind instrument players rehearsed inside individual tents with transparent walls. 13. A 2020-style look One passenger used a medical mask as both protection and an improvised eye mask. Headphones completed the unusual ensemble. 14. A mask with a huge opening Musicians had to balance safety with the ability to play. Two flutists had large holes cut into their masks for their mouths—otherwise, performing the music would have been impossible. 15. Even a tram got a mask In Rabat, Morocco's capital, a giant blue medical mask was attached to the front of a city tram. The pandemic thus changed not only human behavior but also the familiar urban landscape.