Spanish Individualismo: An
Englishman who travelled around the Iberian Peninsula in 1810 wrote:-
“The Spaniards are brave, acute, patient and faithful. But all
their characteristics are insulated. All their exertions are
individual. They have no idea of combining, either publicly or
privately, in a manner to call forth their respective talents and
render every one useful to the common cause. The Germans may be said
to combine too much and the Spaniards not at all.” So, not much
change there. Except, very obviously, when it comes to football.
I've
been thinking about writing an opera set in Liverpool. But, would you
believe, some Italian called Donizetti beat me to it in 1824, with
Emiglia de Liverpool. And this was before the Beatles, for
God's sake!
I
have to confess that when one of Richard's Ferrol friends spoke of
moving to the next church on Saturday, I had no idea this
was slang for 'bar'. And am now wondering whether this is confined to
Ferrol – which has some excellent bars, by the way – or whether
it applies Spain wide.
I
thought I'd come across a new word in the Spanish press at the
weekend, viz. disyoque.
Both Richard and I were stumped and there was nothing in the online
dictionaries. Later in the day, though, Richard came up with
'disk-jockey' and this seems very likely. Even though the dictionary
term is un discjocky.
There's
no doubt, though, that un cuponing
is a new term to me. Yet another English gerund brought into service
for the Spanish language. It's the practice of selling you (or
offering, at least) coupons that can be exchanged for whatever. The
hook is the significant discount. The practice is said to be very new
but is almost certainly at least a century old.
Changing
Spain: There's a Spanish institution
known as el puente,
or 'the bridge'. This is stretching holidays which fall on Thursday
or Tuesday (quite a lot of them, in fact) by taking Friday or Monday
off as well, giving a 3-4 day holiday. During which one can fly to
Prague, for example. I don't know what impact this habit has on
national productivity but it certainly does nothing for the image of
a country concerned to be more productive and competitive. So, it's
not surprising that Madrid is taking tentative steps towards
abolition of the practice. Though, as every one of Spain's 17
'autonomous communities' has to agree, progress could be glacial.
So,
what percentage of all the countries in the world have NOT been
invaded by the British? And which country has been most frequently
invaded by the pugnacious islanders? See here for the answers, plus
some details. Or rather Don't, as the Daily Telegraph has
today introduced a pay-wall. As
with The Times, I'll no longer be able to link to articles there.
But I can tell you that the Brits have, at one time or another,
invaded 90% of the world's countries and that the one most
invaded by us is, of course, our dear neighbours, France. Couldn't
happen to a nicer people.
I
can, though, still cite The Guardian – though I wonder for
how long – and here's an article on the mysterious appearing/disappearing lady of North Korea, who may still
be the wife of Kim Jung-un. On the other hand, she may not.
Finally
. . . I leave you with, firstly, the references for an excellent
gallery of fotos of all the magnificent houses in Ferrol, Part 1 and
Part 2.
And,
secondly, with a few fotos of houses in Betanzos, which lies between
Ferrol and La Coruña.
A school with features reminiscent of the Grand Mosque in Cordoba.
No comments:
Post a Comment