tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062785675489297833.post2729349681545631521..comments2023-10-19T06:26:52.189-07:00Comments on Every Museum in Madrid: Hard Times in the (Museum of the) CityMolly Weslinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00923541998637446171noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062785675489297833.post-22418971073355331422011-10-18T15:13:59.343-07:002011-10-18T15:13:59.343-07:00I think you need to ask someone about a great old ...I think you need to ask someone about a great old custom that went out in the 70's. I will have to check on that one. The person involved was called a "sereno" because he walked his beat keeping all "serene". Before electronic entry to apts, the key to the main door was not handed out to all so a young person coming past 10 or 11 would clap for the sereno in the area to appear with the key for "portal"/main door in the apt. houses on his watch. Usually these guys were retired and lived off tips. I believe the custom stopped when a crazed citizen assaulted or killed a sereno. That's something to google.<br /><br />During the daytime the "portero" watched the door to see who was coming and going while the portal was open to the public. <br /><br />This system was still in place when I lived in Madrid in the 60's.Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458133413050848638noreply@blogger.com