Pain in the ass Catholic Spain

OK, I have 22 minutes to write a blog entry. This is enough time to describe this day from hell that I have had if I type REALLY quickly. Please excuse errors as I will be writing furiously.

So, as it turns out Spain really is as religious as they say. This whole week has really been a series of me hoping places are open when I need them. These last 2 days have been especially difficult.

I had no idea Thursday was a holy day. I knew the whole Friday Christ dies thing, but what happened Thursday? Perhaps I need to brush up on my Catholic traditions, although I think that this time in Spain has already taught me quite a bit.

I went to the processions on Palm Sunday last weekend. Now, these were some experiences, let me tell ya.

It was an lesson in culture differences for sure. I crowded with the rest of the entire city (so it seemed) into the streets downtown to watch the parade at about 7:30. At this time I did not know they were going to just inch along and take all night to watch.

So we waited and waited and waited forever for the first float to come around the corner. It was this huge crucifix with Jesús Cristo on beds of flowers and elaborate candelabra all over the place. As if scenes of torture and death decorated with candles and blood red roses at night in a medieval city plaza aren´t creepy enough, there are the penitents.

I had read about them and seen photos but I still wasn´t emotionally prepared. As some of you probably know, they wear the robes and pointed hoods worn in America by the KKK. Yes, I am aware that the Catholic penitents during La Semana Santa were the origins of this tradition, but it is such a strong, emotional and taboo image in the states that I couldn´t help the gosebumps on my arms and the tears that sprang to my eyes. Although I suppose this is the expected reaction to this scene.

Jesús took about half an hour to make it through our plaza surrounded by the candle weilding penitents. By the way, it takes so long because they frickin carry this float through the enitire city on their shoulders.

Following by about another half an hour was an enormous float that looked like an elaborate Baroque style canopy bed with the Virgen surrounded by even more candles and flowers. She had a train made from white lillies that represent sadness.

During this parade, I made the acquaintance of 2 older Madrileña ladies who said they loved their city so much that they were glad to explain to me what was going on. I was appreciative of this, especially when the Cardinal of the province of Madrid began to speak in Latin and then the entire crowd around me burst into some Latin Catholic song. I felt kinda out of place with everyone singing around me but there were other tourists there so oh well.

The last mayor of Madrid and his woman (how you refer to your wife in Spanish which I don´t appreciate!) stood right in front of me, too. So, I´m kinda famous by association I guess :)

So 7 minutes for my horrible day today.

EVERYTHING IS CLOSED!!! This would normally not be the emergency it was for me today and instead would have been just a general pain in the ass, except for the fact that Lauren arrives tomorrow morning and I wasn´t sure at what time or in which terminal. I spent literally hours walking around the city with my computer looking for any locutorio that was open or anywhere that offered wi-fi. I went into about 5 Starbucks and all of them told me that their wi-fi wasn´t working.

I walked for hours and hours. I thought of course one had to be open in the center of the city with all the tourists here this weekend. Nothing.

FINALLY, on the verge of tears and about to call someone at home to check my email for me, I found a locutorio (my present position) that is open. I heaved a sigh of relief and looked up flight info for Lauren in the morning, flight info for us going to Barcelona tomorrow evening, hotel directions and infinitely more useful information.

And to top off my horrible day today, I walked into Irene´s room this morning to see that she has a computer sitting there that is connected to the internet via network cable and she has a printer and everything. When she got home I told her about my emergency and she just told me sorry and good luck.

What a bitch! I was so pissed! And even more pissed when I think about all the money I have wasted on buying internet when we have it in our apartment. I couldn´t believe it! For all the money I am paying to live there I should have internet. I am not pleased about this!

OK, that´s it and with exactly 1 minute to spare!

Now I am going to have the best week ever!!! YAY :)