Madrid Day 8: “Well” designed

I started my morning with great intentions. A planned 30 minute run around El Retiro Park turned into me getting lost for two hours at more of a leisurely pace. Well not so much lost but…“wandering with intention.” The old saying…“All who wonder are not lost” rings a bit more true with me today. 

The real reason I stopped running was due to a lower leg muscle strain caused by the excessive amount of walking I’ve been doing here. I’ve never had to be concerned about getting too much activity in a day. I feel like I’m upside down!!

A few pictures of the many features at El Retiro Park are below. This place is magical. The park offers something for everyone including separate exercise facilities for young adults and older adults. Places to relax and read. And multiple coffee/snack/beer vendors for socializing. 

A climbing feature for those under 10 years. 

Hey we could get a six pack of bee…soda!

The fallen angel fountain. (Boy I love fountains!)  Urban legend has it this was created as an homage to Lucifer. Its elevation (666 ft) doesn’t help to dispel the myth. (Most of Madrid is actually at this elevation.)

Much like American parks, there are active spaces for infants and young children. Interestingly, Spanish parks have signs that clearly indicate that children’s health is the parent’s responsibility. Any issues noted with the equipment should be reported by calling a number. 

Importantly, the park also serves the city’s green climate needs by helping reduce carbon output. The translation of the sign below is rough but you get the gist. The point is the city thoughtfully designed this park and situated it immediately next to the heart of the city.

Mmmm, smell that clean air!

My lesson for today is on the power of the environment.  A lesson that has gradually been building over the past few days. Health behavior nerds will know that the social cognitive theory suggests our health behaviors are strongly influenced by our environment. It’s easy to talk about this theory, but until you change out your current environment for a completely new one,  it’s difficult to know how powerful our surroundings influence our day to day. I find myself less likely to grab quick fast food or stay in and watch TV. (Mostly because everything’s in Spanish.) Conversely, when everyone around me is constantly outside, walking and socializing, I find myself wanting to do the same. And I’ll be honest, the constant site of people relaxing with a cigarette outside has an impact too. (I can feel your judgment people…let’s put that aside shall we?) But it’s true! If no one smoked here, I wouldn’t think twice about it. 

I stumbled upon this scene on a walk at lunchtime. These people were having lunch, taking turns singing, and just enjoying the day. This fella has some pipes on him!

So what’s the real lesson here? Nothing groundbreaking really, just a vivid reminder to me on the importance of thoughtfully designing our environments with clear intentions in mind. Everything from the kitchen, to the workspace, to the school, to the city, to the state.  Good design matters.