One of THE Sunday activities that warms the soul is the feeding of the birds, "palomas" ("pidgeons" & "doves", funny how the Spanish languages uses the same word for both) and "golondrinas" ("swallows") in the PLAZA MAYOR.
Captured this shot of me in the Plaza on a Sunday afternoon feeding the birdies
So you're the guy who keeps feeding those pigeons so they keep coming back, and putting those white streaks on the statues, and bomb marks all over the erstwhile checkered and beautiful parque area of Plaza Mayor....
Shame on you! If you watch them there birdland varieties of heavy bombers, they can drop more loads than the entire air forces of WWII in less than an hour.
Of course, how would those monument cleaners keep their jobs if it wasn't for people like you?
JP (Who "STOPS!" to look at the views in Madrid, so he doesn't step in fresh markings from dogs or birds... )
Posts: 121 | Location: x | Registered: 21 June 2001
Hey JP, yeah, creating employment, that's me . Maybe one day I can become Mayor of Madrid and get something done around here for a change of pace .
The way I see it, the birds are going to be there anyway so you might as well feed them, better alive and flying around than dead in the middle of the Plaza . Besides, if they are busy eating down there it keeps them and their little white presents off my balcony at least for a little while
Speaking of monument cleaners, here in Spain the street cleaners are called "barrenderos" and are, without a doubt, the unsung heroes of the city. It was nice to see Madrid dedicate a statue to them in the Plaza de jacinto Benavente just off the Puerta del Sol, CLCIK HERE FOR THE PHOTO. It is not exactly your most visited statue or monument but it was a nice touch.
Those street cleaners deserve praise. I've always felt there should be a "special show business award" for the guys who follow the elephants in a parade with a shovel and garbage can on wheels as well...
Talk about getting into show business the hard way...
JP (Whose show business career was cut short by only one thing... a total lack of talent!)
Posts: 121 | Location: x | Registered: 21 June 2001
Well, here's a question for you, Jer. When I was eating a crispy caramelized breast of "pich�n" I was told that the nasty, filthy urban birds are "palomas", which I have always thought were the doves, a nice, peaceful bird, which stars in various tunes. Is this a case of a false cognate? I think of pigeons as dirty and doves as okay (except maybe those darn mourning doves that can clean out my bird feeder in nothing flat) Can you elucidate?
Pack light, sleep cheap, eat well.
Posts: 479 | Location: ROCKFORD,MI, USA | Registered: 23 May 2001
Lucid enough of an explanation for ya? A bit too lucid if you ask me.
I am a sick boy! Somebody take away my camera and stop this madness already!
Saludos, jer...
p.d. Ok, ok! So those other "palomas" are considered the rats of the bird world but they have the right to live & eat too
p.d.d. Just thought of something, the word "palomitas" in Spanish means "little doves" as well as "popcorn" so if you feed popcorn to the pigeons and they eat it, is it cannibalism?
Hi Jer! That was SO nice of you to feed those starving pigeons in Madrid's Plaza Mayor. Hey, do you believe in Karma? You might just come back in your next life as a pigeon! (Or a statue. hehehee... )
(Psssst! I'll be in Madrid (5th trip) for Christmas/New Years for the first time! Woo Hoo!)
Hi MadridMan, jejeje, I was a statue in my past life and belive you me, it is for the birds! (bad one huh?).
I remember you mentioning that you were planning on coming over in the Spring of 2002. So, did you decide to change your spring trip to the winter or will there be 2 trips to Madrid this year?
Good choice on the holiday visit, it is great here at that time of year.
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
)
. Maybe one day I can become Mayor of Madrid and get something done around here for a change of pace 
. Besides, if they are busy eating down there it keeps them and their little white presents off my balcony at least for a little while 
