Sometimes they will be wearing cardigans. Often they have on their hats.
Sometimes they sit in the shade and other times in the sun (depending on the time of year).
One thing´s for sure – if there´s a bench in one of the white villages of Andalucía – there will be some old men sitting on it!
Bless ´em!
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East of Málaga 
I want to be an old Spanish man when I grow up…spending all of my time brooding in bars and on benches!
We sit on benches too, preferably with a crispy bag of crisps hehe. Then it becomes a child-only bench, I’m afraid. Well, a children-who-smell-of-Fritos bench, rather.
Ah yes, but aren’t there certain benches that are the exclusive territory of the old men? 🙂
Looks nice and quiet – all peaceful and relaxing. Hmmm, move over old timers, the teddy bears want to have their picnic!
Last of the summer wine, the Spanish version maybe! What a life!
Hahaha … I hadn´t thought of it that way – but yes, absolutely! 🙂
And here, all the benches I see are empty. What’s up with that. Don’t the men here socialize! I love the cardigans! It reminds me of my grandpa. What a cute post. 🙂
I only took these photos the other day, so most still need their cardigans, but in the heat of the summer it’s strictly shirt-sleeves only.
It’s lovely to see them get together though 🙂
Thanks for visiting and for taking the trouble to comment. Much appreciated.
It’s great to see old guys hanging out rather than feeling alone!
Maybe it’s the Spanish equivalent of “the potting shed” and they are just escaping their wives 🙂
Nice to see you here, ladyfi.
This is definitely a nation wide Spanish/European thing. I would see men doing this in Madrid too. 🙂 It’s great to see old men out and about socializing with friends. You never see this in America–all the old men are relegated to nursing homes which is kind of sad. I also used to feel weirded out by the constant staring–then I realized everybody in Spain stares at everyone.
Totally agree with you Amelie – it’s great to see the old men out and about with their friends 🙂
It looks like a very nice way to pass the time!
Yes, but I guess they need several different benches around the village to ring the changes – otherwise they would get bored 🙂
Same here too, but actually the women also. I forget who it was, but if it was someone we both know they will see this, on whose blog I left a comment, because she’d visited Tenerife, and said that the granmas sitting around made her nervous. They are a pretty sour-faced lot to be fair, but it’s just that they’re not a smiley race, underneath they’re generally lovely & generous.
Do you remember the Pete & Dud sketches on tv in the 60s? Always think of that when I see them!
Oh and the first pic? I figure the young guys are just standing around waiting to get old and sit on a bench!
That’s interesting, Linda. Do the ladies have separate benches, or do they mix in with the men? My guess is that they would be apart! I can understand that a bench of grannies would make someone nervous!
What I would like to know is what they talk about all day long. LOL! Lovely photo’s Marianne. 🙂
Ah well, I’m not privvy to that information, Sonel. These are strictly men-only benches! 😉
Hmmm…sounds like the women there should get some “women-only” benches too. LOL!
I love them in their worn cardigans and hats. 🙂
…and can you see the walking sticks tucked in near their legs?
🙂
Very cute. I love this sight all around Europe. 🙂
I used to feel really imtimidated at the way they really stare at you – now I realise it’s just because I was the new girl in town. They don’t bother anymore!
Yup – just checking you out, Tanya 🙂
Aw… you know, I really like this communal bench sitting they’ve got going on there. Older men often find it much harder than women to keep their net of social contacts intact, never mind forging new ones. I’m convinced it’s one of the main reasons why they pop their clogs a lot earlier than us…
It wouldn’t be a Spanish town or village without the old men on the benches 🙂
Actually, I hadn’t thought about that aspect of it. You’re probably right. We know of an older English guy who goes to sit on the benches with the Spanish guys. He can’t speak much Spanish, but they totally accept him being there – he’s been doing it for years 🙂
Good for him!!!
They should make benches available on the NHS. Of course, the bloody British weather would just ruin this most economical of all therapies 😉
What a great way to pass the time of day, with friends people watching. Wow your sky is so blue.
Funnily enough, the older ladies don’t seem to do the same thing. Maybe they all meet up at each other’s houses – having got rid of their men onto the benches outside 🙂
I think the old ladies are too busy to sit around…
Hmmm … maybe 😉
Excellent captured, Marianne… 😉
I guess it’s too cold for the old guys to do this in your part of the world – especially in winter!
Soon the benches will be “occupied” by old men who enjoy themselves sitting in conversation with each other – it’s actually nice to sit and talk to them… 🙂
I agree! Yesterday I ended up chatting to some old men who were playing dominoes outside of one of the bars in the village 🙂
yes, bless them, how fortunate to be able to sit with friends in the sun 🙂 i have some matching photos i took of women on benches in barcelona ….. yes i did think the men might be watching the younger ones … who are standing up all young and cocky!
Yes, getting out of the house into the sunshine, meeting up with friends, to watch the world go by is much better than sitting at home alone.
Did you notice them watching the group of younger guys in my first photo? 🙂
Benches, for old men, are the mini-version of a Men’s Shed 🙂
LOL – yes, I guess so!
LOL Like the park benches in England on a weekday afternoon 😉
I guess it’s a meeting point for them, to watch the world go by 🙂
Speaking of men on benches and at street corners Gerald Brennan explained in ‘South from Granada’ “…almost every Spanish man becomes wise when he passes fifty.”
I’m not too sure about that, Andrew – but I like the sentiment! 😉
AWWWWW..that could be me someday! I hope I live in your neighborhood!
AAwwwww ….would you like to?
I certainly would!
Bless them – seems hats and cardies are part of the tradition, that was the attire back in the 70s too! Perfect bench shots Marianne. 🙂
Standard uniform, I think, Meredith.
Thanks.
How wonderful! What a lovely sense of community.
I love to see them, Jody – I guess that’s where they must put the world to rights 🙂
At least the old women know where they are!
That’s right, Gilly, and the ladies get them from under their feet 🙂
We have a crowd of over 20 who fight for places on the three benches up near the health centre. I’ve been dying to take a pic but haven’t dared!
LOL – go on – I dare you!
It’s the same here in Extremadura – I think it’s a National Sport!
AAwwwww – well, if they are not sitting on benches, they are standing supervising any younger guys (then them) they see, doing their jobs – building etc 🙂