Homelessness, Pot Holes and Speed Limits

No, not me. I was just thinking this week about the apparently high levels of homelessness in Madrid, compared to the UK. It's really quite shocking. You not only see people with sleeping bags under bridges, on metro vents, in bank cash points and on benches in the mornings, but even more permanent little tent set-ups in some places. Just up the hill from my flat, below a park, there's a little community of homeless guys and a woman who hangs out washing there. It's also very visible, there's a guy who camps out right outside one of the main cinemas on Gran Via, where they hold a lot of premiers and so on, like Spain's Leicester Square or Broadway. I'm surprised given the socialist government here that more hasn't been done. They put floating duck-houses on the Manzanares with people camping under bridges only metres away.

Speaking of homes, I think we have decided to stay in this apartment. Friends moving have made me realise that it really is very cheap, and now that I have a bike and understand the bus system a little better it seems much more connected as it is still very central. In my mind I define central Madrid as anything inside the circular bus route, which goes right outside our front door. I also have big plans for our roof terrace in spring and summer! That said, it would be nice to live somewhere with a little more going on but you can't have everything.

I don't want to bang on about bikes too much, but I've just started cycling on the roads here and have been surprised at how many pot holes there are: its as bad as Manchester! (Anyone who's cycled there over the past couple of years will appreciate that!). I suppose it does get very cold here in the winter, but there's not nearly as much water about and they have a huge municipal workforce that you always see out fixing, cleaning, sweeping and generally doing things. Apart from filling in pot holes apparently.

I worked my last day at the language school yesterday, and although its going to mean working much less, I was a little sad to leave. I think I mentioned before that being a self-employed teacher can be quite a lonely experience and I realised the other day that what I really miss is working with people. Teaching them is one thing but you're not part of a co-operative effort like in other jobs. I suppose the language school came closer to this, even though it was spent doing one-to-one classes, you had a set number of students to get through, as a group of teachers (and then could go out for a drink after). I got a large number of replies for my advert for private classes on tusclasesparticulares (about 15), but the difficulty seems to be in converting the interest into actual classes. Now that I'm actually free, I'm going to put another advert up with my availability so I can confirm them straight away.

I'm off to Valencia (that's "Ba-len-thia" to you) this weekend in a rented car for the 'fallas' fiesta where they burn things and set off fireworks and so on. I don't know that much about it to be honest so I think I'll wait to write about it til after I'm back. One thing is for sure though, it'll take a little longer to get there than it would have a month ago. In response to rising oil prices, partly caused by the uprising in Libya, the government lowered the motorway speed limit from 120km/h to 110 and cut the cost of train fares too. Sounds like a good plan to me, although obviously not everyone agrees (see pic). The government here is really quite deeply unpopular and Zapatero looks certain to lose the next election, which is a shame, cause they still seem able to come up with decent and pretty dynamic policies like that one.

Anyway, to round off this rambling post, here's some pictures of the Plaza de Oriente outside the Palacio Real, which I had a proper wander round for the first time the other day. They do know how to do a good statue in Madrid! Check out the fella with the head by his feet. It's a definate tourist location to go have a look at if you're visiting, and the plaza is nice and 'Spanish'. I bet those cafe's are bloody expensive though so if you're on a budget, nip down one of the streets towards Opera and there's a well placed 100 Montaditos right there (of course) for a €2 beer and mini-sandwich.

 

Word of the day: Perejil - Parsley (it just is, ok?)