November Observations

A couple of things I’ve noticed regarding Spain; much of the social life here takes place on the streets.  You can be walking down the street and in front of you a number of people will meet and an impromptu discussion will ensue.   They will stop right in the middle of the sidewalk, in front of a door, at the head of a stairway, or anywhere else and stop to talk.  Coming from the U.S. it has been one of those things that initially drove me crazy but I’ve realized that it will only give me heartburn if I think I can do anything about it so I’m rolling with the punches.  The other day I watched as four older ladies linked arm in arm walked up the street, slowly, and just visited right in the middle of the sidewalk.  People coming the other way just broke on them like water on rocks and anyone going their direction either matched their velocity or tried to find a place to pass them around trees, dogs, broken pavement, or beggars.   They were completely unfazed by any of it.  It’s like this every day on the streets, unplanned tertulias spring up. 

The other thing I’ve noticed is that Deb and I seem to be polar bears, people here are running around in down jackets and scarves with sweaters, etc. and we’re wearing light jackets with really thin sweaters and shirts and totally overheated;  I DO NOT understand it.   The lows here at night are around 50 degrees, and it's cool when it rains AND there is wind but other than that nada.   Norm says that it will get a lot colder later in the year and then I wonder what these people will be wearing; I can’t imagine that they will have anything left in the closet.  The other night I was watching football in A Conchina and drinking beer and eating tapas and I felt like I was in a sauna while a guy at the next table had a down jacket, a heavy gauge sweater and sheepskin boots on.  I had on a t-shirt and shirt and had to leave after an hour because I was so hot.  I carried my jacket home just so I could cool off.