Domingos a la Plaza de Cervantes

Sundays in Alcalá, and I would assume the rest of Spain, are very subdued. Every one is still recovering from that crazy night in Madrid (a few friends returned at 8am today from going to the gay discos). Shops are all closed. Calle Mayor becomes the hot spot for gypsy and Asian tourates to display their cheap goods to the few foolish tourists who actually come out to Alcalá, to see what I'm not exactly sure. The restaurants are open on the street with I'm sure jacked up prices for the Sunday. 

Went to McDonalds because Monica and Kristine wanted to use internet (our normal café was closed). Ordered a Coke. Received a Coke and a hamburger. A very tiny, thin, not-really-sure-this-is-actually-meat hamburger. That cost 1€. The Coke (half liter) was 1.65€. Started a composition due in class tomorrow but was far too bored with that. Wrote half. 

So what do people do on Sundays besides sleep in and go to mass (la misa)? La Plaza de Cervantes. Parents bring their children, old folks come to smoke, and americanos like my friends and myself come to people watch. The children dance and play around the statue of Miguel de Cervantes and trade toys and make us laugh. The parents just sit lazily in the shade not really paying attention to their kids. The old men just chain smoke their cigarettes. We point out the hilarious things the children are doing and talk in English (Heaven forbid parents could understand us making fun of their children).

Watched this one girl, Inez, go from child to child basically stealing their toys (and making more than a few children cry). New toy comes, she's off to commandeer that one. We sat doing this in the Plaza for three hours. Yes, I can easily adjust to the Spanish lifestyle. Talk about lazy Sunday. Next time bring a bottle of wine or something and sit there and enjoy the afternoon. Spain is shaping up to be a pretty awesome place.

Tiempo para la cena.