The more time I spend in Spain, the more I notice the little things. The one that I've been noticing most recently is the way people walk here. In North America, it's generally understood that you stay to the right any time you're walking where people might also be going the other way. In Britain, I've found it's the same for the left side, which matches their road system. In Spain, they drive on the right, but they walk pretty much wherever they want. While hiding from the rain in San Sebastian, Eric and I watched where people walked for about 5 minutes. There was no distinct pattern, but the middle of the sidewalk was a popular spot, and people's paths do not necessarily follow straight lines, either.
Rain makes things even more interesting. As was the case in Holland, people here prefer umbrellas to raincoats. Unlike Holland, people here tend to be on the short side. Combine short people, umbrellas, and irregular walking patterns, and the eyes of anyone over 5'8" are consistently at risk of being poked. Perhaps most disturbing is the way many people have no sense that they are inconveniencing anyone else. I almost began applauding when a few people raised their umbrellas as they passed other people.
Another complicating factor in this mix is the presence of senior citizens. Logroño has a very visible elderly population, and from what I can tell, they are generally pretty independent. It's common to see elderly couples out for a walk together, or groups in cafés playing cards, or friends sitting in the park. It is also normal for women to walk arm-in-arm, which is hardly noticeable when they're young and can move relatively quickly. However, when multiple generations of mothers and daughters want to walk together, it evokes images of a Greek phalanx moving down the sidewalk. On the other hand, I suppose I'd rather see too many elderly people out walking than too few - so maybe I'll stick to biking for now.
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