Ponters Pensées: 27.8.16

The Spanish Economy: So, how come it's growing so well when there's been no real government for over 8 months? Well, here's the rationale of the Wall Street Journal. Whatever the real reasons are, economists predict a slow-down for next year, whoever gets into power. Assuming that some party finally does.

Spanish Manners: The Spanish see themselves as very polite, or buen educado as it's said here. And they really are. In their own way. Especially if they know you and so there's the essential personal connection. But one thing that tends to shock folk new to the country is the (apparent?) lack of consideration for others. As with 3 teenagers bombing right next to a mother introducing her baby to a pool for the first time. NTS, there's always a huge - and genuine - apology when things are taken up with them. And it's not really the fault of, say, teenagers as they're not noticeably taught to take others into consideration as children. Swings and roundabouts, as ever.

The Spanish Attitude to Risk: Another favourite . . . I took my visitor, Jack, to a famous beauty spot at the mouth of the river Míno last Thursday. Where there are fantastic views of both Spain and Portugal from the top of a steep hill, on the side of which there's an iron-age castro to wander around. Young Jack was astonished to see no fences at all at the very top, where potential falls down the precipitate hill-sides would be a magnet for the excesses of British Health and Safety officers. But he was not as shocked as me and Dutch Peter 2 were when, later that day, we observed a father carrying a 2 year old on his shoulders while making no attempt to hold either her arms or her legs. Or, indeed, any part of her.

Yet More Lists from The Local:

• Spanish Drinks everyone should try.  A large beer is called a bok or bol here in Galicia. No one should drink a shandy containing far-too-sweet limón. Go for gaseosa, or lemonade. As for gin tonic, the pronunciation isn't hin tonic but khin tonic. I have terrible trouble stopping waiters and waitresses chucking the entire contents of a market garden into mine. And - would you believe - pouring the tonic down the back of a bloody tea-spoon!
• Spain's To Ten beaches. Perhaps. Most of these appear to be on islands, not the mainland.

Finally . . . I was going to tell you about the re-opening of a bridge across a tributary of the river Lerez which affords me a shortcut to my 'secret' parking place down near the old quarter. And I was also going to mock the fact that the Road Closed sign was still up, despite the fact the bridge was now in use again. But, after 2 days, it was closed again. Making said sign once again relevant.

GALLERY

Young Jack, Dutch Peter 2 and some woman they befriended:- 

And here are Jack and Peter again, with more women. Plus Dylan, the guy who runs the Pontevedra English Speaking Society. They get around:-

Peter, as you can see, is sporting what the best-dressed Dutchman is NOT wearing this year. And Jack appears to be proposing to one or all 3 of the young women. Who are pretending to be delighted. Being buen educadas.