Older men and women walking arm in arm in Madrid.. whats the deal?
 

One thing I found to be interesting in Spain and Portugal was the many older couples who were always walking arm in arm for their daily stroll. It seemed so romantic and touching. I did not see anyone under 50 doing this so I wondered what the deal was. Is it a dying cultural institution? Is it common anywhere else in Europe?

"...spent over three weeks visiting many of the major cities in Europe in a variety of countries. I visited small towns, rural areas and big European Capitals".

And you can't answer your own question?

They're probably leaning on each other for support while they laugh at TG.

<<< the many older couples who were always walking arm in arm for their daily stroll. >>>

Obvious, in'it, they are using each other for support - if they let go they'd just fall over

Can't you just take a nice thing for what it is? They love each other and are enjoying their stroll, let's assume. Why do you feel compelled to questions every little thing you noticed in Europe? It's really a very strange fixation you seem to have.

It's called, the Spanish Steps.

Most of those you see arm in arm are Siamese twins, joined at the forearm and elbows.

travelguru1,
I don't think anything of it, as my husband and I often walk arm in arm. Of course, we are over 50 :-)

Sandy

I think of this as a re-joining. The men and the women each had responibilities and behaviors dictated by culture, much of it separately. As they get older their is a new apprecaition of the other and a recognition of the better things. Besides holding one another up, there is often true affection.

Some people ridiculed us for walking arm in arm to Mass (in Oklahoma). Wife is Madrileña; and at the time we were in our 40's.
Do you think there's something wrong with such a display of affection? I agree with Suze: why must you question such behavior? I have seen it in Spain, in France, in Italy, in Portugal. In southern Europe, it's the norm!

That is odd!! I've seen many (younger than 50) walking hand in hand in many European cities.

Perhaps we just don't see it as often in the states.

Ahhhh Romance!!

My parents in Corvallis, Oregon do it all the time!

TG,

It's quite common is Eastern Europe and Russia and not limited to older age group. You may frequently see women friends walk arm in arm and more rarely, men. But certainly couples. Not sure about now, but 25 years ago in Moscow you could see college students (girlfriends) walk together in twos or threes, arm in arm.

I recently saw a travel program on Turkey and noted some women doing the same. Then again, those may have been Russian tourists :-)

funny that the fact that the typical Madrillenos of that age group are dressed better than most church-go'ers here in the U.S. didn't come up :-) What floored my wife was the number of middle-aged (and senior) couples out and about in Plaza Del Sol well after midnight, again - dressed very properly.

and at least if he's fixated, it's not on something like the "sexo publico" scene that I noted in every park in Madrid - after my daughter clued-me in. We had cars when I was a teen...

They are restraining themselves from slapping you.

oh, chicagolori, that was a good one.

I'm MUCH more curious about the sex in public parks that ronin refers to. Now THAT is an interesting question...

"Why don't people in America have sex in public parks as often as the people in Europe do?"

Maybe "travelguru1" will post that topic for us next?

Maybe the public park scene has something to do with Europeans living with their parents until a much older age then in the US. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

They do it in Argentina too.
The Yankee and I are doing it in practice for when we are &quot;older&quot;...clue -<i>it has something to do with love and closeness.........</i>

It is cultural yes and sometimes can be generational I suppose. In many Spanish, Cuban &amp; other cultures as well, women of all ages walk arm in arm as do couples.
Brothers and sisters will be more affectionate than in US at least and fathers and sons as well.

As for the walking arm in arm, I just love it. It is not that easy for those not used to it I suppose. It was not part of DH's culture but when he saw how much I loved it when we were in Spain, he soon got into the practice (with a little urging). At first I think he started it out more tongue in cheek. But now is very natural for him. For me it is one of the lovely gestures of my culture and I feel happy walking arm in arm. It reminds me of my parents. As long as it is not the &quot;claw&quot; which is something altogether different.

Interesting thing about these habits and customs. They change and evolve. Shaking hands for instance, is now a thing of the past with young people. They do the fist bumping thing, the knocking of the shoulders thing as a greeting. I've also noticed American couples (men &amp; women) will now hug each other upon being introduced for the first time, instead of shaking hands. Interesting change.

I prefer some of the old ways. Walking arm in arm, it requires you to be in touch with the cadence of your partner in more ways than one.

The walking arm-in-arm isn't limited to just close family. I have a couple of friends who worked with me and many occasions we walked arm-in-arm. These were Spanish men (I'm a man too). It's just a closeness of friends. But, when I was in California with one of these guys, the impression is different.

Latin countries have men who will embrace and give kissing the cheeks of to other men happens often. Usually it's from men within their close family.

From Scandinavia down to Spain you're going to find young girls walking arm-in-arm often.

Travelguru has to travel a bit more.

Blackduff

&lt;&lt;Walking arm in arm, it requires you to be in touch with the cadence of your partner in more ways than one.
&gt;&gt;

e normale, as the Italians would say.

Holding each other's arms prevents them from pickpocketing each other. Spain is rife with crime.

Distant_Travel_guru, l like your capacity to find so many different subjects that leads to passionate discussions!
There are interesting subjects and reactions.

&gt;&gt;&gt;&quot;Why don't people in America have sex in public parks as often as the people in Europe do?&quot;

Maybe &quot;travelguru1&quot; will post that topic for us next?&lt;&lt;&lt;

No, he won´t. He didn´t find a park.

Of course the sex in the parks is the result of all that street walking.

On the other hand, in Morocco, it's almost a constant sight to see men walking arm in arm, and the women doing the same.

So then you have options, if you wish, in your recent frantic search for answers about the world.

In cultures where it is taboo for persons of the opposite sex to touch in public (or generally at all unless they are related or married to one another) it is very typical for friends of the same sex to hold hands or link arms. Pretty much describes the arab world from what I've seen. There is no erotic content there.

A couple of years ago I heard a news story about American soldiers in Iraq who were having culture-clash issues. One said he felt part of his mission was to get men to stop walking arm and arm in public, as it was gross and disgusting. (This raises again the question of which is worse: killing or kissing?)

&gt;&quot;Why don't people in America have sex in public parks as often as the people in Europe do?&quot;&lt;

We have more cars.

((I))

Scarlett you and the Yank have sex in public parks???????
;-) Suze

It does kinda send a message to people walking towards them that they need to walk around and not between them.

I saw quite a few women walking, holding hands in Russia. They are talking to each other and people need to walk around them.

The question was not &quot;why do people walk arm-in-arm?&quot;

It was

&quot;Why do younger couples walk arm-in-arm (not hand-in-hand) less?&quot;