STANDING IN LINE... by markeveleigh
It has been said that a lone Englishman will ?form an orderly queue of one? but the Madrileños have taken queuing to the level of a national sport. Perhaps its something to do with the weather but even in the depths of winter a good Madrileño would much prefer to queue for an hour in the snow to buy a lottery ticket from his favourite vendor than to buy instantly across the street. In their queuing, as in all things, they invariably behave with perfect formality and respect but it can appear to an outsider that every person in the city has a personal queue quota to fulfil. Anyone who falls short on this obligation can make his way to the Church of Jesus de Medinacelli on the first Friday of each month where hundreds of his fellows spend up to four hours waiting to light a candle. (On any other day they could enter immediately).USEFUL LINGO:
Hello / goodbye - Buenas días / adiós
Please / thank you - Por favor / gracias
Yes / no - Si / no
Excuse me, are you the last?: ¿Perdóneme, es usted el último?
Ow, you?re standing on my toes!; ¡Aieee, me estas aplastando los dedos!
