Turtles in Traffic

I Ubered (if that's not a verb yet, it should be) to the tapas reception. It was a very different experience from my first tapas reception four years ago, when I wasn't even sure where I was going and didn't know anyone once I got there.  This time I knew several people when I walked in.

On the way, we passed two vehicles full of young men, one of them all dressed as Ninja Turtles.  I wasn't able to get a picture, unfortunately, and it is hard to describe.  OK, picture a picnic table on wheels, with several guys on each side, facing inward.  Only instead of a bench, they are all sitting on bicycle seats, peddling like mad to power the vehicle.  They are also drinking.  And on the public streets of Madrid, in Saturday evening traffic. Spain is different - in very many ways!

It turned out that several of us had been at the park today. Mike was there, as were Shirley and Herb, from Texas, who were watching the same band as I was, and also couldn't figure out the theme of the medley.  I never did see Mike, and of course hadn't met Shirley and Herb yet.  It was a police band, by the way - I should have guessed from the police van sitting there.

Shirley, who reminds me a lot of Sharon Bloomquist, also told me about the botanical garden at Retiro, which I really should have visited. It's on the list for next time (hey, it took me three trips just to get to Retiro).  She also said Cibeles has art galleries on every floor that are well-worth the time, as is Casa de America, across the street.

The group seems nice.  I didn't quite meet everyone, but so far there are three people from Atlanta, a couple from Australia, two from California, one from New York, Shirley, who is Australian but lives in Austin, TX with her husband, Herb, who is originally from Cincinnati, one Canadian, and me.  That leaves four that I don't know yet.  There will be 10 Spaniards, which means lots of free time for the Anglos.  Stopped at VIP's for some diet Coke for the road, and now I need to pack up for tomorrow morning.  It should be fun!

EDIT:  The other Anglos turned out to be a couple from South Africa, a woman from Florida, and a woman from the UK.