Is it ever not a bank holiday?

My reward for one full week's work since the easter break has been 2 puentes in a row and I have another one in 2 weeks time, it's a tough life. Thursday was national worker's day (so naturally this meant no work!), yesterday (friday) was 'national day of the community', and in 2 weeks it will be the San Isidro holiday (the patron saint of Madrid). I also had a day off on Tuesday as all my classes had a national exam and then on Wednesday I left early as my last class was on a trip! I have had a lot more free time than usual... 

I ran the Madrid 10k! 

No idea what the capes were for, but I put mine on and looked like an idiot with everyone else!

Obviously I am not complaining about this but it has made me think that it really doesn't do much good for the economy (shops are constantly shut which is a pain) or for children's education. I also feel like the more bank holidays you have the more you need them, my four day week this week is going to be a struggle I feel! Copious amounts of spare time should mean I am getting a lot of work done but obviously this is not the case; the more time I have the less productive I seem to get. I have now had my second year abroad essay title 'approved', great news, apart from the fact it means I now need to write it...

Everything is seriously quiet in the flat, my Spanish flatmates are down south at their parents like usual and my Belgian flatmate left today for Uganda to do her microfinance dissertation research, very jealous! Yesterday I went to the mountains to visit the family I used to au pair for in the summer when I was 18 and 19. I had a great day spent playing lots of football and badminton with the children, a mountain walk and my first BBQ in Spain, it was so nice to catch up with all their news and see how much the children had grown up. Tomorrow I will be heading back to the mountains with a friend for some hiking, for me something that definitely makes up for Madrid not being near a beach. 

Sarah and Bruno 2011, aged 2 and a half and 6

Sara, Bruno and I yesterday... I feel old!

Scenic bus journey back to Madrid, heading back to the mountains again on Sunday