SNOW!

Residents of Alcalá de Henares tell me that the last time they saw snow stick to the ground in this town was 1996—and even then, the snowfall was minimal compared to what cumulated on January 9, 2009. Understandably, there were no snow plows within the city limits when the storm occurred. Real Life stopped; traffic jams made ten minute drives into 5 hour trips. The buses could not run. Even the trains suffered massive delays. People were forced to miss work or, far worse, were trapped at the office. Cars were abandoned in favor of walking through the powder. The storks flapped their wings with agitation in their snow-filled nests. And, most of all, in the historic city center, people were the happiest I have seen since my arrival in Alcalá. Children uncovered blooming pansies as they rolled snowman torsos in the Plaza de Cervantes. Couples walked closely together, laughing as their shoes slid over the frozen tile. Everybody was smiling.