There
was a general strike in Spain today, as well as in a few other
European countries. Pontevedra's main square and streets off it were
crowded midday with well-heeled protesters in their branded winter
wear. But this is what you'd expect of a city dominated by civil
servants. It was all a bit of a nuisance for me, as I had to forge a
way through them to my regular watering hole. And then a few of them
got quite vociferous as they marched through Veggie Square later on.
I believe things were rather more confrontational down in Madrid.
Giving the riot police another opportunity to overreact. All in all,
though, I have serious doubts that the manifestations will have any
impact at all on government policies. Meanwhile, I smiled to hear
that shopkeepers in town switched off all the lights when their
procession of protesters got near their premises.
Talking
of which, there's been a bit more information on what the banks will
do for mortgage defaulters. Or not. There's to be a two year
moratorium and whatever it amounts to, it won't be retrospective.
Does this mean it will only apply to someone who takes out a mortgage
after yesterday but defaults within the next two years? I guess we'll
know in time. Meanwhile here's more on the situation. It comes as no
great surprise to find that Spanish law conflicts with European law.
It'd be a true surprise if it was brought into line. But here's
hoping.
Talking
about Spanish law . . . There's been controversy for years about
houses built – some of them pretty recently – within the 'fringe'
of land between the sea and a 50 metre mark. Or 100m. Or 500m. All of
them have been cited, as I recall. Essentially, a lot of properties
are technically illegal and should be demolished. But a solution has
now been found; the 'fringe' will be reduced to ensure that no
properties are illegal. Presumably, then, to around 10m. Pure genius.
Just
in case you feel I'd taking on a rather negative tone, here's a
fascinating report which is upbeat about Spain and her future and
which takes on and explodes several myths.
Meanwhile,
in the real quotidian world, it's suggested that only 49% of Spanish
women aged between 30 and 45 want to have children. But what if their
husbands do?
I
fell foul of the tyranny of the pharmacies again today. Having lost,
broken or run over all the reading glasses I brought from the UK, I
had no choice but to resort to a pharmacy and pay four times what I'd
have paid in England. Swings and roundabouts, I guess. And at least
the lenses are Asphericas. Whatever that means.
But
it's not all bad news; the lovely Ester told me this afternoon that
Toni had been suddenly called to the Middle East when I was in
Portugal. And that he'll be gone for 4 months. Now to find out how
well-schooled his kids have been in the Shouting Game.
Finally
. . . Looking at the Lonely Hearts ads in a local paper today, I
noted that several ended with the phrase Abstenerse otras
intenciones. Anyone able to translate that for me?
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