A Joy Ride

I am taking in all that happens around me when I ride the metro. On one ride, from the time I was seated until the time I got up to get off the train there was a constant flow of activities to keep me entertained. The first disruption was a gypsy beggar who came bellowing in Spanish that he was sorry to inconvenience everybody but he has nor job, no money, no family, no food and no whatever else. His high pitched voice made one think he was going to start crying anytime soon. He walked through the carriage with his hand open and relied on the kindness of others to fill his hand with coins. He then moved down the train into the next carriage after receiving money from some generous passengers.

Passengers sit and watch the sequence of activities in the carriage

The next disruption was a middle aged woman who did not say a thing, she just pushed her tin cup in front of passengers and expected them to place some coins in there. The next one was a physically disabled guy who walked through the carriage on his wonky legs and did not do any dramatics. He did not earn any money at all from the passengers. I could sympathise with the guy as he seemed genuinely badly off. The next one was a tissue bearing gypsy. He would give you tissues for your kind donation. He went to far as to go down on his hands and knees and cry, in his plea for money. Same story - no home, no job, no food, no family, no .... I wondered why there are so many poor people in this country. I thought Europe looks after all its people and there is nobody without. What has become of the rich countries of the Northern Hemisphere - as they are known ?

A busker plays his instrument in the carriage (in the back right of the photo)

To lighten up the nasty train journeys for the day, later in the day, on another metro ride there was a Romanian busker playing music in the carriage. He played a Frank Sinatra song which really got the crowds going. Old People even started to do some formal dancing in the carriage. It was wonderful. There was a festive atmosphere in the carriage. The busker received good tips. I noticed some people putting 1 and 2 Euro coins into the busker's cup. When coming home at 3am on the metro, the carriage was full of youngsters who were partygoers. They were in high spirits. Probably after lots of alcohol! Anyhow, one of the guys held a Spanish fan in his hands and stood up and did some Flamenco style dancing with the fan!! Whilst he danced, some people took photos of the guy doing the in-promptu faux flamenco! His group of friends sang La Bamba and other songs for him to perform to. Other people in the carriage got caught up in the excitement and were singing along or clapping. Oh, what a joy ride it can be when riding the metro...