Orgullo Gay Madrid Gay Pride 2009
"Orgullo Gay Madrid 2009" has begun! Last year, Madrid hosted Europe's Orgullo Gay festival. This year is a more typical year with the somewhat smaller-scale Gran Vía parade and Chueca-wide street parties from 25 June to 5 July 2009. While last year's attendance was HUGE, inviting supporters and partiers throughout Europe, the novice won't see much difference this year because Madrid's Gay Pride Festival is big.
While I, MadridMan, am not gay, I do respect the rights of others to do pretty much whatever they want if not harming others - and I always enjoy a good party. One would have to be in deep denial if they couldn't see that Gay Pride is one BIG party and a lot of fun! I've never seen a bigger, better party for everyone, gays, straights, and anyone who likes to have fun - and see some things you aren't likely to see on a typical day on the streets in Madrid. You can see the true joy in the faces of nearly everyone, everyone smiling, everyone laughing, everyone hugging (and possibly kissing), whistling, hand-holding and @$$-grabbing goes on too.
Grand Opening: New Cercanias Station in Puerta del Sol
Today, on its first day of operation, I made my maiden-visit to the brand-new Cercanías station in Madrid's Puerta del Sol. The controversial entryway is in the shape, it is said, of a "Glass Fish" or "Pez de Cristal", and does pose a striking structure in the otherwise traditional space of the plaza.
Thousands of people were onhand today, probably not so many to actually ride the cercanias train as they were taking photos and walking about to see their new landmark. Countless media outlets were stringing cable, conducting on-camera interviews, and recording the event for their own television stations.
