Dawn

Dawn

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Cronyism in Brussels; Tourism in Galicia; Dangerous nicknames; Book clubs; And Galician Feismo again.

Intriguing to see a Spanish newspaper – El Mundo – today criticising the new EU Foreign Relations Representative (the not-very-well-known Mrs Ashton) for cronyism in respect of her first appointment. And demanding that she sharpen up her act. Which they’re entitled to do, of course. But it still seems odd. Especially on a day when I read that the new head of one of our urban councils gained office on the back of the votes of 200+ people he’d put on the payroll. Mostly relatives, of course. But, then, Galicia isn’t Spain. And El Mundo’s establishment probably doesn’t contain any members of the directors’ families. And pigs could probably fly, if they wanted to.

So the British pound has fallen back again, now that the spotlight has shifted not only to the UK’s “worse-than-Greece’s” economic fundamentals but also to the political uncertainty ushered in – however briefly – by a poll setback to the Conservatives. This is just what Spain didn’t need, given the importance of British tourists and residents to her economy. Of course, I couldn’t say this if Spain were not in the EU, as her currency would probably have fallen at least as far as the pound. But there’s always the Germans. If they have any small change left over after they’ve bankrolled the Greeks.

Here in Galicia, the (very) bad tourism news is that this Xacobeo/Jacobeo year has kicked off with 5% lower visitors than a normal year. Which is far from what was hoped for. The recession, it seems, is forcing people to opt for economies in this life, in preference to investing in double indulgences for Purgatory sins en route to the next. How very short-sighted.

Talking of Galicia – Our President, Mr Feijoo, was pictured with the Pope in today’s press, alongside his girlfriend. That’s Mr Feijoo’s girlfriend, of course. Not the Pope’s. Her name, by the way, is Chinny. I don’t know what this is short for. But I do know it’s unfortunate in an Anglo-Saxon context. Likely to get you a dual orchidectomy if you bestow it on your better half. However ironically.

I reported the other day there were only Castellano and Gallego Book Clubs in the Pontevedra library. This appears to have spurred them into action. For, as off today, I can sign up for an English club and a Portuguese club as well. I say “as well” but the language of the flier suggests I’ll have the same trouble as my friend Anthea has had in Vigo if I want to join more than one. The stance taken by the dragon Anthea struggles with is that the rule is you can only join one club even if one or more of the others is/are under-subscribed. The sound initial logic seems to be that the multi-lingual over-keen mustn’t muscle out the monoglots. Which is fine, unless the rule is then applied to a nonsensical extent. But bureaucrats here are an exception to the general rule that the Spanish are an admirably pragmatic people. I will see what reaction I get tomorrow when I apply to join two of the clubs.

Finally . . . Here’s the picture of the ugly building I cited the other day, when talking of feismo (ugliness) in Galicia. Remarkably, this is located in the busiest corner of Pontevedra’s main square. And so is a perfect spot for a café-bar. Which, indeed, it was it was until about five years ago. Rumour has it that it’s now falling down because sale is being prevented by one of the family feuds around property which are such a feature of Galician life. What’s also remarkable is that local authorities – who appear to be able to change the designation of land at will, creating fortunes in the process – seem to be powerless to do anything about this awful blot on the city’s heritage. Perhaps the family has connections. Only joking.

Incidentally, you can see how close this place is to one of the city's main attractions, the Chapel of the Virxen Peregrina.



For details of a much nicer place in rural Galicia, click here.

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