Messages of Hope Around the World Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Noemi took her first long-haul flight at age six when her family moved from Spain to the US. Her love for airplane rides was solidified on that trip, and 30-something years later she challenges herself to visit a new place every year.

Noemi joined SmarterTravel in 2019 from Oyster.com, where she worked for five years leading the Photo Operations team. Along with assigning photographers and producing visual content, Noemi is a trained photographer. Her favorite thing to photograph is the everyday - capturing daily life and little moments around her neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Her work has appeared on Oyster.com, ABC News, and AOL. You can follow her on Instagram at @NoemidelaTorre.

Handy item I always pack: "An SD card reader for my phone. The lightning to SD card reader is awesome for downloading RAW files from my DSLR to my iPhone. If I don’t bring a laptop on vacation this lets me edit and post photos on the go.”

Ultimate bucket list experience: “Tokyo, Japan. My friends and I started @ramenclubnyc here in NYC and I’d love to go eat ramen in Japan someday.”

Travel Motto:: "Keep calm and book a flight."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window for naps!"

See recent posts by Noemi de la Torre

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In this time of isolation, businesses and individuals around the world are sending out messages of hope. Discover, in photos, how we’re keeping our spirits up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hotels Lighting Vacant Windows

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Spreading love to all of you. Stay safe, stay home and be well Philly. #LoveWins #WithLovePhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/Tha7zSGBQ2
— Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center (@FSPhiladelphia) March 28, 2020

In Philadelphia, the Four Seasons Hotel lit up its windows with a heart.

Boston, Massachusetts

Encore Boston Harbor lit up heart covid-19 — Encore Boston Harbor

The Encore Boston Harbor lit up windows in vacant rooms in the shape of a heart. A few nights later it displayed the message “Be Strong.”

New York, New York

moxy east village lights hotel rooms blue in heart SHape — Moxy Hotel East Village

Moxy East Village lit vacant rooms blue in support of health care heroes, essential workers, and first responders across the city.

Rainbows Everywhere

Rome, Italy

Italians locked up in the quarantined house display the rainbow flag with the words "everything will be fine". — Gennaro Leonardi/Shutterstock

During the nationwide lockdown, Italians quarantined in their houses are putting up rainbow flags with the words “everything will be fine.”

Nottingham, England

Nottingham city Rainbow messages of hope from children displayed on advertising board outside Intu shopping mall Nottingham. — Ian Francis/Shutterstock

Rainbow messages of hope from children all around England are displayed on a digital advertising board outside Intu Victoria Centre in Nottingham.

Montreal, Canada

House window with rainbow drawings and slogan "Ca va bien Aller" as message of hope in Montreal part of "It's going to be OK" movement during CoVID19 epidemic — jean-francois me/Shutterstock

Rainbow drawings appear in a home window with the slogan “ca va bien aller” (“it’s going to be OK”) as a message of hope in Montreal.

City Landmarks Lighting Up

New York, New York

Big thanks to all the frontline health care workers for doing all you do! #LightItUpBlue #LightItBlue pic.twitter.com/GeHrLW3LlD
— Matthew Pugliese (@MatthewPugliese) April 10, 2020

Famous landmarks in New York City were lit up blue in a tribute to healthcare workers battling COVID-19.

Montreal, Canada

montreal rainbow bridges lit up — Eva Blue

The Jacques Cartier bridge will be lit up in rainbow colors throughout the month of April to let Montrealers know they’re not alone.

Signs of Solidarity

Bloomington, Indiana

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BCT Box Office (@buskirkchumley) on Mar 19, 2020 at 9:54am PDT

The Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington, Indiana, has put the famous Mr. Rogers quote on its marquee.

Rutherford, New Jersey

Sign on the lawn of the Rutherford United Methodist Church during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. — Erin Alexis Randolph/Shutterstock

A sign on the lawn of the Rutherford United Methodist Church in Rutherford, New Jersey, offers a message of hope.

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory Hospital entrance; signs of support during the COVID-19 pandemic — Raymond Richards/Shutterstock

A sign reads “heroes work here” in front of the entrance to Atlanta’s Emory Hospital.

Cheerleaders from Home

Spain

From a friend in Spain: “So, there was a call on social media today in Spain to go out to balconies and windows at 22:00 to give a huge ovation to thank and support hospital workers. It’s 22:05 and I can hear the roar from the other side of the closed double glass windows.” pic.twitter.com/PkODSOyVue
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) March 14, 2020

In Spain, residents all over the country came out to their windows and balconies to applaud healthcare workers.

United Kingdom

To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you.#ClapForOurCarers #ClapForNHS pic.twitter.com/XnaUPJyDoX
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 26, 2020

#ClapForOurCarers has become a weekly demonstration of appreciation in the U.K. Kensington Palace posted a video of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis joining in to clap for healthcare workers.

Italy

Italy has turned the light on ⭐️????????#flashmob #CoronaVirusitaly #iorestocasa #staystrongitaly #Genova #ItaliaSi pic.twitter.com/bB2Nhl9Dce
— ????????????????????????????.☽ (@alessiaapag) March 15, 2020

While on lockdown, people in Italy have clapped and cheered and sung opera from their balconies. Recently, people all over the country staged a “flash mob,” shining lights out of their windows.

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Messages of Hope Around the World Amid the Pandemic

Noemi de la Torre