|
Sunday, January 06, 2002 My first couple of days back this last week, Madrid remained mostly gray, often rainy, temperature hovering around 50. Yesterday and today, the skies have been clearer, the air colder. Almost like winter. People are celebrating Little Christmas here, a holiday oriented around children. Los Reyes Magos (the three kings!) show up bearing gifts, or at least that's what they're up to in ads seen around town. There they are, three cheerful dudes, in outfits straight outta central casting, arms full of presents. It's nice -- everyone's happy. Yesterday brought a parade -- lots of floats, people on 'em tossing trinkets and candies into the crowds along either side of the street. Today plenty of people were about, enjoying the wind-up of the holiday season. Folks away for the holidays trickle back, the pace of life visibly picking up. Tomorrow is the officially-observed holiday. Then back to regular life, version 2002. Tomorrow begins another round of intensive Spanish classes, four weeks' worth. At a different school this time. I put in a lot of time at the last one, it had some great instructors. But it's time for a change. For some reason, this school does not take tomorrow off. And as it's January, not many tourists around, I may not have many fellow-students. We'll see. rws 3:33 PM [+] |