Madrid

© Gonçalo Figueiredo Augusto, 2009

The sky is cloudy even if temperature is high. There is dust in the air: a new suburban train station is about to open in Puertas del Sol, calle Alcalá is getting narrower... Madrid is lazy on this Monday. There are not so many people on the street, what is unusual. There are still posters from the elections the day before. Mayor Oreja smiles in a poster on calle de la Montera: "Ahora PP" (Now the Popular Party). The whores don't seem to be bothered with that fake smile. The same happens with the mexicans passing by. Museums are closed today. However there are guests attending to the opening of the exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum dedicated to Matisse. The Book Fair is taking place in Retiro Park. I can't see the end of that endless line of booths. A poster informs Claudia Cardinale will be there signing books. There are Americans everywhere. Mostly young ones. In Plaza Mayor American girls show up proudly their bottocks. Spain is far enough to make envy their colleagues on school when they are back. King Philip IV look at them from his horse. He's got Winnie the Pooh as company. And Mickey Mouse, of course. Probably there are south american burning under those costumes, but they don't care at all. There is also a woman covered with mud pretending to be a statue. And then it starts rainning. Some chinese women come up suddently, probably coming from a dream, selling umbrellas. They repeat "Paraguas, paraguas, paraguas..." in a parrot voice. Finally the rain is over. The sky is blue again. Still on time to watch the sunset in Debod Temple. Still on time to have a walk in the Sabatni gardens. Now Madrilians run. In Spain Square or in Retiro Park they all enjoy weraing black shorts and red t-shirt. Mercado de San Miguel (Saint Michael's Market) is full. It is a very hidden gourmet spot. But it is trendy anyway. By night everybody will be eating croquetas and huevos rotos in Chueca. Caña (beer) with lemon is vert popular. No surprise, it's very drinkable. Tigre is full. It's always full. Nike just starts to be crowded. Madrid puts itself together after the weekend. Whores are more and more. Yhere are Chinese selling beer for 1 euro in Chueca. Residents are walking the dogs. Sky is clean. Tomorrow sun will be shinning. That's perfect!