Corruption: Andalucia
is a byword for this, so it's not terribly surprising, in today's
climate, that the last 2 regional presidents have been charged with
various offences in respect of an EU scam around massive subventions
for phony training schemes. The investigation has been going on ('ongoing') for quite some time and numerous folk have been charged but, as yet, no one has
been sentenced and no money has been returned in any form. For some
reason – possibly related to the specific charges – we already
know the 2 ex-presidents aren't facing a jail sentence. Not that
this would have worried them; these are usually remarkably short for
politicians here. And spent in a luxury jail near Madrid.
Driving in Spain:
There's occasionally a flashing amber light for drivers approaching a
pedestrian crossing. When this happens, the latter can have either a
red or green light, though it's not easy for drivers to see which. It's obvious what pedestrians can (theoretically) do when their
light is green but what does it mean when it's red? If they can't
cross, why is there a flashing amber light for drivers? Just
wondering. I guess pedestrians are wise to proceed with caution in
all circumstances. Which essentially means waiting for a driver to
stop and hope those coming in the opposite direction do the same when
they get to the middle.
Words: An economist on yesterday's TV of taking 'active actions'. I wonder
what these are. And whether there are 'inactive actions'.
Galician Jurisprudence:
There's been a brouhaha here around the abortion of all cases not
completed by a few days from now. But there's a loophole, it seems. For a 'complicated' case the judge is obliged to grant an extension. So, I wasn't terribly surprised to read today that every lawyer in
Galicia has suddenly designated all his/her cases 'complicated'. So, a filed attempt to solve the perennial problem of snail-like justice.
Pontevedra Tourism: I
may have mentioned that, in the past week or so, there's been an enormous hike in the number of
foreigners visiting us. Or guiris, as we
locals call them. Today I found myself behind a group of Germans
before sitting next to 6 rich-looking Poles outside my regular bar.
Can they all be coming from the huge cruiser ships docking in Vigo
these days – including the Harmony of the Seas behemoth? Or is the
city now on the international circuit? If so, is it my fault? God forbid.
Query: What is it with
women and washing up liquid? Why do they have to use half a bottle to
do a sinkful of dishes?
Finally . . . Castelao:
I neglected to post this foto yesterday– of beggars at a church
door. Nothing much has changed in more than 100 years – except
perhaps the nationality of the beggars. More likely to be Romanian
than Spanish these days. And none of them are blind. Or thin.
Personal Note: I'm travelling to Santander today, to start another week-long camino, along the northern coast. I suspect it'll be rather less eventful and more enjoyable than the Primitivo of 3 weeks ago. If only because, I'm not going with any Dutch people . . . Anyway, I'll try to make a daily post of observations, etc.
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