Yesterday
was the (unofficial) first day of spring here in Spain. And it really
sprang in the bottom two thirds of the country, with temperatures of up to
25 degrees along the coasts. Up here in Galicia, the infamous
Atlantic Blanket prevented me from seeing the bottom of my garden,
never mind the city below me. And it's still like that today. It's at
times like this that a foreign enclave down south seems enticing.
Where is the hot weather we were promised 10 years ago that
would make us the Riviera of Spain? Damn that Global Warming. Always
late.
There was
a huge surprise for us a few days ago - All the major petrol
companies were convicted of operating a cartel and rigging prices.
Who'd have thought it? And do the fines come anywhere near the extra
profit they've made as a result? And is there sub-cartel here in Galicia, where the prices are the highest in the country?
Spain's
Minister of Tourism has said that the Spanish "have an evident
expressivity", whereas the Portuguese "tend more to
introspection". For which read 'noisy' and 'quiet'.
I
wrote yesterday od the English MP who wants astrology to be
available on Britain's health service. This is pretty logical as I
now learn he believes it offers cures for HIV, TB, malaria, urinary
infections, diarrhoea, skin eruptions, diabetes, epilepsy, intestinal
parasites, cancer and gangrene. "Among other conditions".
Even better, he's accused sceptics of being superstitious and, of
course, racist. I saw a practitioner of astrology in a TV debate
yesterday who was as adamantine in her beliefs as any religious
zealot. When challenged, she came out with the wonderful line: "You
keep asking for proof. You disprove it!?" Again, just like a
theist. There was also an Indian chap who said India had had genetic
medicine thousands of years ago Otherwise, how could Ganesh have had the
head of an elephant. How indeed.
Even
ignoring hay (there is), the simple English verb 'to be' can take
several forms in Spanish. For example: Estar; Ser; Se encontrar; Se
hallar; Se quedar. And even Tener, in 'I'm hungry/thirsty/hot/cold'. The
3 reflexive verbs all have a primary meanings as well. No wonder
things get a tad confusing at times.
Talking of
Spanish . . . I saw this headline in a paper yesterday and wondered
what the subject and object were: El arrastero 2.0 que quiere Vigo.
Probably more obvious to a native speaker than a foreigner.
Especially this one.
Still on
Spanish . . . I saw a write-up of a comic last night, including the
phrase: Sus mejores gags. Unless English pronunciation has been
adopted, I'd hate hear this said the same way as Gijón.
Despite my
fine for wearing earphones while driving, I still do so. But it means I
have to be on the lookout for police patrols. Which are a regular
feature of my barrio because of the 2 gipsy settlements at the bottom
on the hill. Three times yesterday. Quite annoying. Even more so for the gipsies, I guess.
Finally,
HT to my friend Dwight for this gallery of aerial fotos of the coast
of Pontevedera. The last 5 are of the city itself. The old quarter is
to the left of the (circular white) bull ring. My house is up on the left, out of the picture.
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