Reflecting
in large part sales of bulk wine to France(!), Spain has overtaken
both France and Italy to become the world's largest exporter of this
fine grape drink. Galicia is doing its own bit, via much increased
exports of its premium Albariño wine.
But
Albariño is not the only fine wine produced here in Galicia. Here's
a blog post which tells you something about othersI've cited over the years. These days you can
get both Godello and Mencia in the UK but I'm not sure about the
others. Of course, thanks to taxes, the British prices are
ridiculous. Which means that those selling at, say 5-6 quid a bottle, are
usually rubbish. But not as bad as the stuff served in pubs at 3-5
quid a glass.
Would you
believe it? The EU President has remonstrated with Spain's President
for claiming that the recession is over and for trying to whip up the
feel-good factor ahead of elections later this year. Given 25%
unemployment - not to mention the 80% of the people who think the
economy is still bad to very bad - Mr Junker doesn't think Mr Rajoy
should be telling us La Crisis is over. In fact, he says, it won't be over until unemployment hits 'normal levels'. Which could be a long, long
way off. Particularly for young people.
One of the
reasons why Spaniards remain worried about the future is that Spain
ranks alongside Bulgaria and Greece as having very poor protection
for people who default on their mortgages. And, like me, they can see
shops, cafés and restaurants still closing around them,
One
commentator has suggested that the root cause of high unemployment
both here in Spain and in Greece is a domestic economy infamous for
its crony capitalism, its protectionism, its corruption and its
monopolistic nature, where international companies are less to be
seen than elsewhere. In contrast, he says, the export sector is
efficient, dynamic and successful. Because it has to be, I guess.
Seems about right to me.
Which reminds me of a
headline I saw recently: The Training Course Money went on Bribes,
Cocaine and Whores. This related to EU subventions, of course.
Generally seen as easy money here. Especially to "thieves in
white gloves", a group cited to me when I first came here,
though it took me a while to find out who they were.
Finally . . . The
Spanish chap (Alberto Letona) who wrote the book
critical of (aspects of Britain) has insisted he loves us Brits for
our excessive politeness but, against that, he condemns us (as most
nations do) for our hypocrisy. "In Britain you never
really know what anyone is thinking. They're always polite even if
they can’t stand you and pretend to be very friendly. But in
Spain we are more direct, more sincere. But also more brutal with the
truth. And that is not always a good thing." Ain't that the
truth. Hence a language with a million insults. Most of them
extremely rude. To non-Spaniards.
By the way . . . After 14 years here, I've lost my excessive politeness. And my mother drives me mad with hers.
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