Whether
it's because of La Crisis or whether it's because Pontevedra
is a relatively prosperous city, we've been overrun by beggars this
summer. In which category I include the irritating recorder players
who tinkle out 5 notes and then ponce around in front of you
displaying a phoney obsequiousness while demanding payment. But there
are many other categories and one day I'll list them all.
Meanwhile,
here's a picture of one guy who's occupied the same spot for at least
12 years. During which time he doesn't appear to have changed either
his shirt or his trousers. His modus operandi is to stand at the
mouth of a small street going from the main square down to Veggie
Square and to jangle coins in one hand while holding out the other.
It must work as he's been able to accumulate a vast pile of
belongings, which he keeps nearby in plastic bags and large plastic
coverings. I have to admit I've yet to give him even 10 cents.
Whatever
their shtick, the beggars are not quite as annoying as the adult male
cyclists who treat the pavement(sidewalk) as a velodrome. Twice in
the last week, one of these has sped between me and a companion
apparently unaware (or uncaring) of the risk of injury to us if we
should unwittingly close the gap for some reason. My solution to this
is that all cyclists be legally allowed to ride on the pavement and I
should be allowed to shoot those I think are dangerous, in a season
stretching from August 1 until July 31. The first date, at least, I
would share with the rest of the country's hunters.
Spain's
clownish Foreign Affairs Minister, Sr Margallo, has been shooting his
mouth off on Gibraltar again. This time in parliament, where
even politicians from all other parties suggested he approach things
with rather more tact and diplomacy. Sr Margallo has clearly backed
off on the issue of sovereignty but, having invited them in in the
first place, is now telling the EU officials sent to investigate
contentious issues, that, if they aren't going to address all of them
(e. g. Gib's fiscal activities), then they shouldn't come at all.
Which looks like the classic face-saving gesture of a loser to me.
Admitting that the rest of the world doesn't see Gib as a fiscal
paradise, he insisted it still had an 'offshore economy'. Whatever
that is. Ironically, there was a program on the BBC last night in
which the inhabitants of The Rock stressed that whatever economy they
now had was a result of Franco stupidly and cruelly closing the
border in 1965, forcing them to seek other ways of staying viable.
Especially after the UK ran down subsidies and reduced military
forces there. Sr Margallo insisted that the €50 border charge (to
be imposed largely on Spaniards) is still being considered and
disclosed that he's still well disposed to a British suggestion that
issues be discussed on an ad hoc basis by different teams comprising
folk from both Gibraltar and Andalucia as well as both governments.
Apart from that, no olive branch. Expect the affair to run out of
steam during September.
Finally
. . . Spanish bureaucracy: My friends Anthea and Phil tried
to open a bank account in Vigo this week. With the same bank they
have in the UK - Santander. They wanted to move money into it from
the UK and foolishly felt they'd be welcomed. To keep it short, for
one reason and another, the bank said they couldn't comply with their
wish - see here for more details - but as Anthea and Phil got up to
go, the clerk asked for a copy of their identity documents. "Why?",
they not unreasonably asked. "Because we have to record every
conversation we have, with relevant documents." I like to think
Anthea and Phil turned on their heels and walked out at this point
but I haven't checked this specific yet. Truly was the photocopier
invented with Spain in mind.
Spanish readers in the UK are invited to tell us whether they have similar problems there. I do hope not.
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