Dawn

Dawn

Friday, December 17, 2010

As the sun rises above the hills behind the city of Pontevedra, it silhouettes around 85 wind turbines on the distant ridges. Huge as they are in reality, they’re far enough away to be rendered tiny to anyone gazing from my house. And the bizarre effect, for me at least, is that of a mass crucifixion. Possibly the opening scene in some Biblical epic film.

But, anyway. . . The Galician government has announced that its new tourism theme is to be “Galicia: Will you keep me a secret”. This, at least, is one translation of the Spanish Galicia: ?Me guardas el secreto? Suggestions for better ones are most welcome. Galicia, we’re told “has the voice of a woman and her only objective is to seduce the visitor with mysteries, exoticism and tranquillity”. So, now you know. If Ryanair is flying here again next summer, why not see for yourself just how seductive the region is. After you’ve read this, of course.

Ther’s a program on Spanish TV which appears to plumb new depths of human degradation. The contestant answers Yes or No to the most remarkably personal questions and loses when he or she lies in response to one of these. To my disbelief, a woman this week answered Yes, in front of her husband, to questions such as “Do you regret marrying your husband” and “Have you ever regarded your husband as inadequate”. She lost her chance of big money when she answered No to the question “Have you ever been unfaithful to your husband” and was adjudged to have lied. I’d like to think Spain is not unique and that other countries in the world are capable of such evil prurience but I have no idea. Meanwhile, it’s hard to see the marriage surviving. Or the humiliated husband avoiding the need for psychological counselling. Unless, of course, it was all a set-up. The cynicism of the program makers and the directors of the channel which puts out the show are appalling but my guess is the viewing figures are huge. The Spanish have something of a liking for the sight of blood and gore. Albeit usually in the context of bullfights, murder reports and road accidents. After which this show must rank as the next best thing.

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