~why are these kids smiling~

December 31st, 2008

He spent whole days and nights over his books; and thus with little sleeping and much reading his brains dried up to such a degree that he lost the use of his reason…he was spurred on by the conviction that the world needed his immediate presence.

We hightailed it from the southern coast, through Andalusia and Castilla La Mancha, home to Manchega sheep (providers of the incredible Manchego cheese), windswept plains, and Cervantes’ Don Quijote.

By the time we hit Madrid, for the single night of New Year’s Eve–thus coming upon a city where every museum and carefully researched point of ponder was closed, and the streets flooded with horn-blaring revelers in “punk rock” wigs, we pretty much felt like we were fighting windmills.

Less said the better regarding this night of enchantment, particularly as we had passed up the chance to tour the Moorish “crimson castle”Alhambra by moon light.

Often a snafu while traveling can be salvaged, sometimes even to likely better effect than the original plan. Other times, for budget concerns, fatigue, or resistance to tourist-driven flamenco performances, it simply prudent to give over. Thus, here are the kids, on the Madrid metro, kissing 2008 goodbye.