I discovered Santa writing letters.

Often on night walks you can find things or discover situations that are more difficult to see or find during the day.

First I took a walk through the streets of the centre, admiring the last days of Christmas decorations.

The different coloured lights of the shops make the night appear in different shades.

The malls created a shower of lights like a dress full of sequins. It looked beautiful.

Already the famous bakery La Canasta was closing, but the lights never go out, illuminating everything.

The curtain of lights of the Corte Ingles, generated magic in the atmosphere, and the window decorations glittered with their beauty.

As I passed a soldier, he was very serious. But he was still surrounded by lots of presents and dolls - was he a Santa envoy?

Finally I reached the main door of the shopping centre, but as I looked to the side I noticed that the market had closed very recently. There were still a few people, very few, walking inside.

This is a walk I made by mistake, yes by mistake. I wanted to visit a street market, but I didn't notice the time and it had closed, but I could still pass by and look, as it was in the open air and on the pavement.

The entrance was lonely and I could appreciate the beauty of the place.

The decorations for the animals could be seen and appreciated very well, it was very quiet.

The different eating establishments, as well as the places to sit and enjoy it, were resting from the hustle and bustle, from the people and preparing for the next day.

The empty carousel gave a strange sensation, I thought that maybe, in my fantasy, the little horses would come to life and go for a ride around the place... it was my illusion, that they would come off and gallop, eat, enjoy the space and recover their strength for the next day. Maybe when I didn't see them so directly they would run away, but they would bide their time.

As the lights of the carousel were off, I could better appreciate the decorations, the paintings on top of it. They were very beautiful.

When the horses carrying Santa's presents saw me, they were petrified, they were ready to go out to deliver lots of presents for the children. I think I spotted them.

The windows were already closed, could it be that everyone was sleeping in this place?

Walking a little further I came across beautiful snowy trees. I was entering a hidden city and suddenly I saw lights inside some houses. Already from a few metres away I could see this detail.

Two reindeer were staring at me, I think they were scared, because at that hour nobody is visiting the place and next to them I could see someone working. At this hour working?

I saw what appeared to be a small house, and people inside who looked very busy.

I tried not to make any noise and they didn't seem to see me, so I crept up to their windows and could see Santa's helpers, working against the clock, hard.

Some of them had their backs turned and didn't see me, but I think some of them did, they just gave me a smile. It was very nice.

One of them, the smallest one, came up to me and said: "Don't make noise, we'll let you see the place, but if Santa notices, he'll scold us. So I thanked him and went on my way.

To my surprise, I peeked into the next little house, as the helpers had told me, quietly and stealthily, and I saw Santa inside.

It was a very cosy little house, with a fireplace, a Christmas tree and a place to put the presents, and I could also see a big library. A very warm and harmonious house.

When I saw Santa, always quietly so that he wouldn't know I was there, I saw him very focused on his typewriter, perhaps thinking that he would answer to the millions of children around the world.

He was looking at the map next to him and the number of letters that had arrived. How wonderful to see Santa at his arduous task.

The decorations in his house were beautiful, Christmas jars, beautiful bells and he had a view of the trees through the windows.

I didn't want to disturb him, I didn't want him to notice I was there, so I quietly walked away.

That night I arrived late to visit the flea market, but I found something much more beautiful, to find out what happens when everyone sleeps in Santa's house and to see him and his helpers. It was a great surprise for me, which was worth it.

Thank you all so much for joining me on this Wednesday walk. Best wishes to all and see you next time.

Amonet.

All photographs are my own.