Festive Madrid!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Hola!

Last night I went to a Spanish Festival. And it was all in the streets! Narrow streets with lights strung from pole to pole. Colorful Latino flags draped over balconies. Streets packed to the maximum with residents and tourists alike.

Tourists like me walked leisurely along narrow streets, wonderfully overwhelmed by the colors, the smells of tortillas, fresh-made candies and the sounds of congas and horns being played at a high pitch, bumping into each other. No one seemed to mind.

One Spaniard bumped into another (presumably an old friend). They hugged and danced, spinning each other around, laughing as they turned. A few of their friends joined in.

A few of the men dancers wore black costumes like matadors. The women dancers wore long and colorful dresses that flowed as they raised their arms with deliberate sensuality but turned quickly.

After walking for what seemed like miles, I sat down at a restaurant-bar and washed down a grilled salmon with two glasses of Spanish wine. A perfect ending to a perfect evening.

Mac