Orgullo 2012

I was hoping that my last full weekend in Madrid would be something special, and luckily I got way more than I could have bargained for. Not only was the entire city saturated with rainbows for the annual Pride Festival, but Spain also won the Euro Cup--the first team to do so two consecutive times. It was practically six straight days of non-stop partying and festivities, as everyone in the city had reason to celebrate something.

Even though I've heard all year that the Pride Festival in Madrid is an especially great one, the only one I had to compare it with was SF Pride, which is also known worldwide as one of the best (it is San Francisco after all...). But Madrid did not disappoint; the entire Chueca barrio--the Castro equivalent in Madrid--was blocked off to traffic to make room for the music stages and thousands of people flooding the streets. At night, DJs played their eclectic music sets as the massive crowds drank freely outside as the cops idly sat by, which is unheard of during any other time.

All the events culminated to the big parade on Saturday, where the main street and very center of Madrid was closed off. I have no idea how many people were actually there, but I do know I have never seen Gran Via filled with so many bodies before. As an observer, the parade wasn't spectacular. I don't think I can even really judge the quality since the number of people clogging the streets prevented the procession from moving. Being the high need for stimulation individuals that we are, my friends and I quickly ditched the fanfare and jumped right into the parade itself. Marching down Gran Via donned in costumes and cheering loudly with a group of lesbian mothers was definitely one of the highlights of my year. Pride is, and should be, a universal event open to anyone, and I felt that especially in Madrid. Everyone was excited for Pride, whether they're gay or straight, and that camaraderie is the real spirit of the weekend.

By Sunday my body was desperately in need of a full day of rest, but the Euro Cup final forced it through one more night of celebration, and it was definitely a celebration to remember. I've often whined about not studying abroad one year earlier, so I could have been here when Spain won the World Cup, but Euro Cup has now given me some solace. The stages in Chueca that hosted DJs and dance parties only 24 hours earlier were now affixed with giant screens to play the game live for anyone to come see, and I was lucky enough to see my first sporting event that was hosted by a drag queen. Any pity for Italy quickly dissipated when the game ended and the city erupted into absolute madness. One of the coolest parts to see was how proud everyone felt to be Spanish. It's pretty rare to see a Spain flag hanging in a window or any other patriotic act, but after that victory, everyone was proud to be Spanish. Even those of us who aren't. 

It was a Pride filled weekend I will never forget. 

CHAMPIONS!!!!