Spanish
(non)Government: As forecast for months now, we're to have new
elections at the end of June. When the result is expected to be much
the same as those of last December. The only real possibility for
a functioning administration – now that Podemos have moved further
left, to tie up with the Communist party – is a PP and
Ciudadanos coalition. This assumes the former keep their support and the
latter increase theirs. Most of us think this is more likely to
happen if the hapless Rajoy relinquishes the presidency and
leadership of the PP. But, like a true Gallego, he's proving
remarkably stubborn. And the party seems incapable of de-throning
him, notwithstanding the serious prospect of another stalemate. A
young democracy.
BREXIT Precedent?: Did
you know that, in AD 410, the British - fed up with
the 'festering incubus' of Roman colonialism – seized the
opportunity that came when barbarian armies sacked Rome. At that
point, something peculiar happened in Britain. A rebel force of
semi-Romanised British nationalists, inspired by the British-born
theologian Pelagius with his heretical doctrine of free will,
captured London and other cities, imposed peace and then wrote to the
Emperor requesting legal recognition of their independence. Otherwise
preoccupied, he agreed, even though there was no provision in Roman
law for a territory to leave the empire. But 'by an ingenious use of
the Lex Julia the British got round the difficulty and severed their
links with the continent by a process of negotiation.
Asturian
Pastries: It's not all mountains, rain, mud, rocks, fabada and cider there. If
you've read my posts of the last week, you'll know I really enjoyed 3
pastries in a café in Grandas de Salime. Which is unusual, as most
Spanish pastries are a disappointment when you bite into them. But I was hungry. These
were an alfajor, a cordial and an herradura (chocolate not
essential). I will now try to search them out here in Galicia.
Bar-keeping: It's not
often that one walks into a bar in Spain and is attended to by a
Muslim woman in a headscarf. But this was another surprise of
Grandas de Salime.
Words: You learn
something every day. I knew that the Persian for 5 is panj/punj and
the word for water is ab. But I'd never put them together to form
Punjab – a region formed by parts of both India and Pakistan, where
there are 5 rivers. Nor did I know that 'a big favour' is Spanish is 'a
fat favour' – un favor gordo.
The Eurovision Song
Contest: It's that egregious time of the year again. Here's Spain's
entry, featuring the repeated phrase Yeh, Yeh. Unlike last year's, which went
with Yé, Yeh.
To Be or Not to Be?:
Talking of performances . . . If you haven't yet
seen it, you will surely enjoy this one.
Finally . . . I'm a
dog-lover but I abhor the small monstrosities – such as the
dreadful pug – created by selective breeding over the centuries.
So, I was amused to see the wonderful Caitlin Moran refer to them as
handbag-rats. Couldn't have put it better myself.
I wasn't only fined by El Tráfico on Saturday - for wearing earpieces not connected to anything; I was also breathalysed. Of course. The cop didn't accept the word of an Englishman that I hadn't had any alcohol during a long lunch. Of course. But I hadn't and he was clearly disappointed. Here's the souvenir he gave me. The bit you blow into. Something to be avoided.
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