During the period of Muslim rule in Spain, Madrid's Plaza de la Paja (Straw Square) was the site of the city's most important zoco, or street market, selling mainly grain and fodder. At the time, it probably marked the southernmost point of the city's Arab wall. During the Middle Ages, the plaza housed Madrid's most aristocratic residences; No. 14 was the preferred stopover of the Reyes Católicos when they were passing through the city. On Monday 18th April, three cows will be placed in the Plaza de la Paja and, according to a press release I got today, the cows "posarán ante la cámara con unos modelos de lencería". This means one of two things: that the cows will be wearing lingerie or that they'll be accompanied by male models wearing lingerie (it doesn't say "unas modelos", which would mean women). The concept is apparently a homage to cows as providers of milk, and was dreamed up by Ben and Jerry's, in recognition of Free Ice Cream Day at B & J's, which is next Tuesday. I hope whoever thought this up received vast quantities of money for doing so. The world back then may have been crueller, but the world we have now is both cruel and extremely strange. Will I be able to attend? No.
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