Gran Via is Madrid’s Broadway. It runs through the heart of old Madrid. On a normal Friday night, people are packed shoulder to shoulder on the sidewalks once the sun goes down. But this week was special. Gran Via turned 100 years old. So, it was time for a party. The city wrapped the big birthday bash into May 15th San Isidro celebrations, the festival day for the city’s patron saint. And what a party it was.
The street was carpeted from end to end for the evening of the big party, which was supposed to start at 6:00 pm. The bright blue carpet was cordoned off from all traffic or pedestrians. At about 5:00 pm it started to become too difficult to resist and Madrileños started sneaking out into the Gran Via vast blue sea for a quick photo op. Then around the edges, people started dipping their feet in, and leaving them there. By 5:30, a serious leak had occurred in one section of the street, where people were openly wading in and enjoying the waters. Eventually, all pretense of waiting for the official opening was lost, and the crowd delighted in taking Gran Via in completely.
The best part was watching everyone posing to capture their moment on the carpet. Until at last, the crowd was so dense that you simply had to be pulled along by the current, from one music stage to next.
Wow! it's been a while since I've checked out your blog--not since i was transported away (and I mean that in a good way) by your description of the bullfight. Alex is looking very! mature--and more and more like Jack. Well, let me keep reading here and get caught up!
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