Monday 25 May 2009

Sunday morning in Vigo

Late morning Sunday, pushing on towards lunchtime, the weather had not yet made up its mind what to do. The meteorologists promised heavy rain and storms but the day started with sunshine. By midday the clouds had moved in and it was warm but with a stillness in the air that suggested the weathermen could be right. The Sunday morning strollers, good sensible Gallegos, carried umbrellas and the children sported brightly coloured PVC raincoats.

Groups of young boys - not that young, could be in their early twenties - threw water at each other. Maybe they were still on their way home from a Saturday night out. A lon
e cyclist made his way along a half empty Principe.

The window shoppers were out, husbands impatiently looking at their watches while their wives checked prices in Massimo Dutti. Window shopping was all most could do but in the square by the cathedral a few shops were open and people were buying. Those shopkeepers must have learnt that tourists and day trippers want to spend, even on Sunday!

Outside A Laxe shopping centre a large group of elderly people, in their Sunday best, sat and chatted: an excursion for la tercera edad perhaps.

Down near the harbour on Rua das Avenidas, a more than halfway decent band was playing; perhaps I should tell them about the Saddleworth Band Contest. Programa de Bandas del Concello de Vigo the notice said. All very civilised: rows of chairs were set out for passers-by to stop and listen and there was an appreciative audience. One rather over-excited gentleman disturbed everyone by excusing himself loudly as he found a seat.

At the end of Urzaiz, near the junction with Colon, our regular beggar Nadie Da was having a loud discussion with his mates, begging over for the morning. Outside the fancy bread and cakes shop on Hernan Cortes, however, an older, maybe more dignified, beggar still sat with his notice: Sin dinero. Sin recursos.

The promised storm did not come, although it did rain a little later. Today, Monday, is wetter so maybe this is when the storm will arrive.

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