Spain-Armenia parallels: What we also can have
We are in the center of the old city of the capital of Spain, Madrid. While going out for breakfast in the morning, and while returning to the hotel in the evening, we can see a small, cozy café. The atmosphere here is always lively. Mainly middle-aged people gather there. They come, hug each other, take freshly made cakes- churros, cocoa, tea or coffee and combine necessary gastronomic event with sweet conversation.
An elderly man is cleaning the table from empty cups. It’s strange; he could enjoy his life with his pension, but he prefers to work and communicate with the people of his age. Here the prices are very cheap, minimal, it means that the owner of this café gets minimal income from the business; the walls of the café aren’t luxuriously painted, but instead they are bright from affection and happiness of the elderly.
We encountered similar café also in French city of Perpignan bordering Spain.
Of course, one cannot see something like this in Armenia. On the contrary, mainly people under middle age visit cafes in Armenia. A simple tradition, which will make the elderly happy.
By the way, mostly the elderly visit beauty salons in Europe.
All the Christmas trees in the central squares of Madrid are made of iron; iron bars in the form of pyramids with lots of lights on them. What’s more, the main Christmas tree of the capital has been the same fore already the second year. Such a thing will not happen in Armenia, the main Christmas tree of Yerevan is always natural; numerous fir trees are cut off and hung on iron bar and thrown away after two weeks. Of course, it costs cheaper as fir tree is free… or from Georgia at low price.
It is the metro of Barcelona. Of course, there is no passionate Spanish music with guitar sounding in our trains.
You have just witnessed robbery.
Yes, on trains in Barcelona you can often witness robbery even if there are few passengers on it. If there lots of people, they intentionally create a scuffle and while one is diverting your attention, another does his dirty job. We were twice attacked like that. Ordinary Spaniard, by the way, may defend you and draw the inspector’s attention at the robber. So one should always be alert and keep their bag at hand. And while walking in large avenues, be careful of robbers with bicycles; they suddenly grasp your bag and take it with them.
One more thing, which cannot be seen in Armenia. Like in other places in Europe, such old buildings are maintained here, which aren’t historical-cultural values, and what’s more, may never be used again. Several centuries’ old buildings just stand with imperious look.
Ornament of a residential building
In flea-market of Barcelona there are items, which owners don’t need them anymore. Including family photos. Who will buy photos belonging to strangers?
In one of the main avenues, Rambla, from the balcony of Erotic Museum, “Marilyn Monroe” welcomes you every evening. But here she is a man.
And this balcony, which is on the way to Museum of Picasso in Barcelona, proves that once red lights’ street was here.
Another balcony in Madrid
And a man selling roasted chestnuts
Barcelona-Madrid
Hasmik Budaghyan
