The Plaza Mayor in Madrid is a very popular spot where tourists come to take pictures of the Plaza, shop for cheap souvenirs, and visit Tapas bars. As a result of all the tourist activity, you also have many performers dressed up as popular movie or tv characters, hoping to collect a little spare change. While waiting to meet with some friends for lunch this afternoon, I decided to take notes on one particular mascot that caught my attention.
There is a middle aged man dressed up in a crappy spider man costume, posing with tourists for pictures and collecting spare change in a small bucket. If no one wants to do a photo, then he simply poses for the bystanders. Every 5 seconds he turns his body forty-five degrees, and I imagine in his head he asks, "How did my life get to this point?"
About 15 yards away from Spider Man, is what I would guess is his stiffest competition, The Easter Bunny. Decked out in bright blue sunglasses and a Jimmy Carter grin, the Bunny waves and sways to his own imaginary music. He lacks variety, but compensates with diligent consistency. The Bunny never digresses from his tired, two-step shuffle and wave routine.
Spider Man looks dejected and tired. I imagine it's not easy to keep morale up after you realize that your own dignity has been purchased at the price of a fistful of change and a small gathering of gawkers.
He just did the same pose again. Spider Man is running out of ideas. If he were more creative, perhaps he would not be in this predicament. It looks like he's trying to decide whether or not to grab his gear and move on.
If a bloated belly and a tattered costume weren't enough to break the illusion, Spider Man is now lighting up a cigarette. Three big drags and it looks like he's ready to wave the white flag and call it a day. Just another day at the office for the webslinging icon.
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