Bianca passed her 2 month check up with flying colors. She weighed in at 5 kgs even - 11lbs. She was 58cm long with a 38 cm noggin. The first thing the doctor said when we undressed her was
"Que Gordita". Yes, our chubby little cherub is doing well. She got two
vacunas, shots, a DPT-IPV+Hib and a meningococcal meningitis. We couldn't look, didn't want to see her in pain, but she's cries more for a wet diaper! She smiled at the doctor and showed off her lifting head while on her tummy. She was really well behaved; no peeing on the doctor this time! E asked the doctor our questions and she recommended some creams and oils and other remedies; including advice on how to extricate, sadly I don't know the technical term, boogers. There was an absolute downpour on the way into the clinic, but by the time we left it was dry. There was a trail of toddlers behind us, waiting their turns, and we left at 7:30 on a Friday evening. Its really nice that the clinic has such late appointments so daddies can attend.
Unfortunately, the preternatural fall we have had has given way to the Galician winter, which features the infamous Sideways Rain. The Irish guys on site are moaning about the weather, so you know its rough. This has given us the chance to unveil Bianca's fall-evening-walk outfits; and I've been able to break out the winter hats. The thing I'm looking least forward to is the indoorsy-ness of winter as it pertains to eating out. In the summer we were able to enjoy some of our favorite spots in the fresh air, not the smoke filled interiors. Now, I've read in Slate that Spain, like Italy, Ireland and Scotland, has passed a 'no smoking in restaurants and bars' law. This is true. What the pundits fail to note is that Spain gave restaurants and bars an opt out clause, which by my reckoning, every single one has taken. So in actuality, you can smoke everywhere; and they do. At
Republika last weekend when we first went in the closest table of smokers was about 8 feet away. We were on the slightly elevated three-step up level and it wasn't too bad. Two youngish women arrive and sit directly below us, 4 feet away. They smile at Bianca and give us a "nice baby" look, then proceed to light up like death row felons. A grandma, her daughter, and little Juan sit behind us. They're going to play cards and have an afternoon drink. They too light up. Now we're hemmed in and uncomfortable. We enjoyed our meal, but we didn't linger, and it got me wondering whether it would
really hurt business if they had a smoking and a non-smoking section. Are they turning off more families who would eat meals versus appeasing singles and couples who have a drink and some tapas? E countered that Spaniards don't see anything wrong with smoking in people's, read: children's, presence. Mothers push strollers into bars and share beers and cigarettes, grandmas hold little Juans and smoke away, it doesn't occur to them that maybe the child doesn't want and furthermore, doesn't benefit from, being engulfed in second hand smoke. As a country with outstanding social medicine, from what we've seen, how can the powers that be watch the next generation be exposed to such levels of smoke? Adults can willfully avoid smoky places. Children, dragged my parents into them, cannot.
Anyway, my number one, all-time, most hated thing about Spain (and its a very short list) is the constant smoking indoors. It makes us not want to eat out anywhere, or even pop in for a coffee. If Italians can have a real 'no smoking in public places' law, why can't the Spanish? It baffles, irritates and disgusts me. Rant over. Other than that, I love Spain.
