Hi again--
I just wanted to share a recollection that came to mind as I read JJP's post...in the lovely summer of 1990, when I was living in Salamanca, dating a young Spanish guy, and staying out FAR too late nearly every night, I once spent a quiet evening in the Parque de la Alamedilla, not far from central Salamanca. It was about 11:30 p.m., and my friend and I had done some early (!) barhopping and stopped to chat on a park bench. We were talking away when I looked around and noticed what was going on around us...there were families, lots of them, playing with their little children! These were little toddlers in strollers, wide-eyed and happy...and preschoolers running around playing. I remember being struck by it, and then later that same evening (one thing led to another, and the "chat" went on for a while--don't tell my husband I am sharing this info!!
) there was a marked shift in the park population. At about 2 or so, the families had all gone home and the weirdos came out...druggies looking for a fix or some money, other couples, etc. But Pops will probably love that he can indulge his night-owl tendencies safely until quite late!!
Also, this past March in Avila, my husband and I were in a restaurant for an early (10:15 or so!!) dinner. At about the time our entrees were arriving, a family trundled in...grandma and grandpa, a 30something couple, and their baby and 4-year-old. They were still there when we left at around 11:15.
This isn't to negate the safety advice of earlier posts on this thread or others, but it's good to keep in mind that "late" in Spain is quite different from "late" here in the US.
Tara
[ 01-10-2002: Message edited by: taravb ]