First impressions
Early May, 2006
I have been in Madrid, Spain for a week now and have noticed one or two interesting things.
Firstly. The ladies. DRESSED TO KILL! Competition is fierce and going out even to the supermarket is an occasion to be taken with utmost seriousness. Woe betide any woman above 50 who does not comply - the pain of heads turned away and noses pointed to the sky is a social death that would put the fear of God into even those with the biggest of shoulder pads.
Then there is the daily grind. It seems there are on average five or six meals a day here, as follows:
- First breakfast - taken as coffee and bread at home, when you first get up.
- Second breakfast - taken in the local cafeteria at 10ish, this time with 'churros' (deep fried dough squeezed into a long star-shaped sausage), shortly after you have arrived at work - although of course you have to leave work to take it.
- Lunch - this commonly starts at 12ish and finishes at 4ish. It is typically a grand restaurant affair with several courses, accompanied by beer, wine, whisky, brandy and other tipples of choice. As the waiter will usually bring the whole bottle to the table, you can be sure you will need your siesta shortly afterward. Everyone takes lunch so you cannot nip out to do anything at all but have lunch.
- Siesta at 4 followed by a couple of hours work from 6, then afternoon tea in the local cafeteria with 'tapas' and 'cañas' (small beers). Afterwards, retire home, sleep a bit more, shower and prepare for the main part of the day, which is of course the night.
- Dinner - this starts at around 9.30pm (the tables in restaurants are not even laid until 9) but it is common to sit down at 11 or midnight.
- After dinner, retire to a bar, a cafeteria or a street corner to talk, talk and talk, with an optional sixth meal of cake or ice cream.
Bed seems to be at around 2 or 3 am.
I struggled to figure this all out for a while but then I discovered that "ATENCION! ESTACION EN CURVA! AL SALIR, TENGAN CUIDADO PARA NO INTRODUCIR EL PIE ENTRE EL ANDEN Y EL CARRO!" actually means 'MIND THE GAP'. OF COURSE! The Spanish love to talk and when it takes so many words to say something so simple, you need a lot of time to say all that needs to be said. And that also explains why the Spanish are not fat. Obesity barely exists here. Gyms are not popular, but why would you need one when talking requires so much energy?
All of this takes place in a haze of cigarette smoke. The Spanish smoke for their country. They smoke as they walk, as they shop, as they eat and as they talk. Doubtless, all smoke in the bedroom and I am quite sure some even as they sleep.
Hasta luego!