Sweet

Today is the Feast of Saint Isidor, a public holiday for the people of Madrid. I had limited options as many of the museums were closed, but I knew I’d be walking a lot. So before I dressed, I consulted the weather forecast.

Madrid Weather: Today will be 16-17 degrees, with rain developing in the afternoon.

Me: Wait, is that the 16-17 that feels chilly and will make you shiver, so wear a warm sweater, or the 16-17 with a scorching sun that will give you sunburn, so wear a T-shirt and a hat?

Madrid Weather: *saunters away, hands in pockets, whistling a jaunty tune*

Me: Hey, you didn’t answer!

Madrid Weather: *whistling intensifies*

So with possible rain in mind, I opted for a warm jumper with a hood. Naturally, by 3pm…

Thus, sweaty and overheated, I walked into the Casa de la Arquitectura, which is the sort of place full of thin, intense, black-clad people who think that sweat demonstrates a failure of character.

In their museum are architectural models made from every conceivable substance, from the normal white card or thin sheets of wood to perspex, drinking straws, or sections of steel tube from an architect who was really phoning it in that day.

Unfortunately Pirate Pete discovered the presence of the mortal enemy of the minifig; the one unholy and unnatural thing that strikes fear into the heart of a Lego pirate.

I dare you to look into those dead, emotionless eyes and not know terror.

But his courage is boundless and he was resolved for battle, so I had to leave the museum before he started attacking the exhibits.

On the way home I bought some churros to steady our nerves, but the only place to put them in my cell was on the outside windowsill, four storeys up. I don’t think he has a problem with heights so much as a problem with four storey plummets.

When we went out again in the evening, it occurred to me that Madrid has a design meme that I haven’t seen anywhere else. I’m calling it the garden brow; basically, a floral or botanic eyebrow for your door. The lower end of the practice uses artificial flowers and foliage, or dried plants.

In the middle are real plants, like a bougainvillea or similar climbing vine augmented with some fake flowers.

And at the high end, fully real arrangements.

They’re very cool and I’m seeing them everywhere. I’d hope it caught on in Perth, but we all know that all it would take was one fierce summer day and the whole installation would be a crisped brown ruin.

Tonight’s bar was Doce Botellas, a cute little neighbourhood bar with colourful vintage furniture and a friendly atmosphere. The cheerful bartender made me the house cocktail named after the bar, an unlikely mixture of mezcal, lime, ginger and agave syrup, which made it sweet but with a smokey bite, like a chainsmoking lollipop hooker.

Pirate Pete had by now regained his equanimity, and showed off his skills in… uh… straw balancing.