New Year, New Resolutions

To my delight Spain has started the year off with a post-worthy resolution that has got me all excited. Spain has finally summoned the willpower to ban smoking in public places. And I'm just thrilled :) Bravo man, it's about time.

European countries have been slowly taking action since the turn of the century and many countries (Ireland, Italy, England, etc.) have already been enjoying fresh air for years. Spain first banned smoking in January 2006 in hospitals, airports and workplaces. Restaurants, cafes and bars could choose whether to do so but if a restaurant was larger or smaller than a certain m2, then they could close off an area for those wanting to smoke. The law turned out to be quite confusing and not really enforced. In the end only about 10% of the bars and restaurants chose not to allow smoking. None of those 10% were here in Alcalá.

It has been estimated that a third of the population in Spain smokes, which I think should be taken with a grain of salt. I have many friends who claim to not be smokers but to enjoy "just one cigarette every now and then." As I have observed, those friends have up to five cigarettes every time they go out drinking or for a coffee. And if they go out several times a week... well you can do the math.

Now smoking has been banned in all restaurants, cafes and bars. Around all parks and schools. Only 30% of hotel rooms are reserved for smokers and hotel employees are not allowed to enter them while they are occupied.

And the truly amazing thing is that it is being enforced. I haven't seen a single person disobey the law. Bars and restaurants have set out little tables on the streets (in the winter!) so their clients feel less alienated at the thought of standing outside to smoke. I have encountered long lines at each place I've gone to and as far as I can tell, people are going out and consuming more than ever.

Victory is ours! The right to breathe smoke-free air is ours! Let's go out and enjoy it as much as possible and to support local businesses as they go through this transition.

My personal new year resolutions... to get out from in front of the TV and start doing again. Start reading and running and enjoying life again. Take up photography (with the great camera my bf gave me) and finally take up German again. And I could care less whether I do them frequent or well enough, just as long as I do them.

Los Cerros Park in full bloom

Yesterday I went biking at my favorite park, Los Cerros, just south of Alcalá de Henares, heading south on M-300, crossing the Henares river and hanging a left. And it was wonderful! In full bloom!

Its almost 2,000 acres (800 hectares) were once home to Romans and Arabs but have since gone through wildfires, draughts, erosion and have even been used as a landfill. In 2000, the government decided to set this land aside and officially convert it into a "natural park." They started by filling it in with dirt and forming pathways and roads. The rest has since been replanted with holm oaks, pine trees, wild flowers and other bushes. In 2007, a nature center was built where people and students could find out more about local wildlife and an almond grove was planted in memory of the March 11, 2004 bombing victims.

I first went running at Los Cerros back in 2004 when it was still just a dump covered with dirt. Every time it rained, the garbage would rise up to the surface. But now the park is really coming into its own. There are bird houses hanging from the trees and picnic tables placed in the shade. The oldest trees in the park are probably not older than 50 years old, but they already attract a large range of animals including the storks that are usually seen around town.

Stark contrast of older trees to the right and baby pines to the left of this path.

Wild flowers with Alcalá de Henares in the back ground. You can see the Santos Niños Cathedral.

Wash ways were added where rain water usually flows. Here it's interrupted a path.

The almond grove in memory of the March 11, 2004 victims.

Young pine trees.

Red poppies under more almond trees lining the path.

Maps and more information (in Spanish) can be found at the city hall's website: http://www.ayto-alcaladehenares.es/template2.asp?cat_id=4017&mcat=1107&mcat_id=2&opt=m02_02_012&site_language=2

Free concerts at the University of Alcalá de Henares

I must admit that I probably fell in love with Alcalá de Henares because of the nightlife and college environment. But now that I'm pretty much over that phase, it's a really great cultural center with lots more to offer than long drunken nights.

This month, for example, a free concert is held each Saturday evening in the courtyard of one of the college buildings. Each concert features young adults studying classical music.

Last night I went with two friends to listen to a pianist and cello player play in the courtyard of the Humanities building off the Cervantes Plaza. The building in itself was built in 1610 and has served as the University archives and military barracks as well.

Like most places, there was an older audience for the most part. Some grandchildren were dragged along and they sat through the performance surprisingly well for a country that doesn't usually discipline its children. But I think it's a great shame that my generation doesn't show much interest in continuing these traditions. Especially here in Europe, where classical music was born and refined.

It was so inspiring and peaceful (although way too cold for the middle of May!) that it made for a great night. We then took a walk around the Cervantes Plaza and watched the storks settling into their nests on building roofs in the area. They were setting up a free rock concert for later that night and teenagers were practicing their gymnastic and free-styling skills.