[continued from previous entry]
Easter season began here on Friday with a large chunk of the population jumping into their cars during the afternoon and jamming the highways the lead away from the capital. From that point, things began quieting down, the collective blood pressure drifted toward lower numbers. I like it -- like the month of August without the heat. Much more tranquil.
Television news broadcasts showed clips of highway traffic (fleeing in the opposite direction, referring to it as operación salida -- operation exit) and the occasional photo of wreckage from an especially spectacular car crash. And, yes, the tally of dead to this point. I'd say the Spanish have a morbid obsession with death -- and they may -- but this kind of holiday weekend coverage happens in the States as well so it's not for me to say anything.
Local coffee pushers are only half as crowded during the morning rush hours, the barman at one complained this morning about diminished business and resulting boredom. I bought a second cup of café con leche to compensate, he seemed to appreciate that.
This being Easter week -- Semana Santa -- every single day is holy. A television presenter this morning referred to today as Martes Santo, Holy Tuesday -- leaving me blinking in surprise until I remembered it's a this-whole-week thing -- and coverage of religious processions are easy to find around the various channels. The processions have begun here in Madrid, and though they don't have the weight or grandeur of the processions mounted in southern cities, they're worth seeking out. And I may -- it'll be hard to avoid them on Thursday and Friday evenings, might as well go appreciate them. They're like nothing one is likely to come across outside of New Orleans.
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Magic shop, Madrid sidestreet
España, te quiero.
rws 11:46 AM [+]
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