Deserting HMS Spain: Many young Spaniards have voted with their feet since the bust
of 2008, most of them heading for the UK. Where they now worry about
the impact of Brexit on their newish life. Departures last year were
more than ever, and were 24% up on 2014. More on this here.
Spain and the Brexit:
With the UK leaving the EU, the latter's main language and its financial
centre are said to be up for grabs. Madrid has made a bid for both of
these. Can't see either of these happening myself but I wish them luck. See the
case for the banking centre here.
Spanish Hipsterdom: My
daughter's Madrid barrio of Malasaña – to her distress – is the
epicentre of this. So, you'd expect it to be the site for Spain's
first - would you believe? - cereal bar. But no, it's located
somewhere else in the capital. Details here.
The EU: It's reported
that Mrs Merkel has had quite enough of that buffoon Jean-Claude
Juncker, the President of the whole shooting match. And who can blame
her? Specifically, she doesn't like the revanchist tone of his
comments on the Brexit development. Separately, 'senior European
political figures' finally appear to have realised that there's a
popular revolt afoot. They're reported to have appealed on Sunday for
the EU to set aside lofty debate as it struggles with Brexit-style
populism, and instead to focus on measures which clearly benefit
citizens. The German Finance, Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, has gone
so far as to say: This is not a time for grand visions. The situation
is so serious that we have to stop playing the usual European and
Brussels games. If the (possible) Brexit achieves only this, it'll
have been worth it. Even if it doesn't actually happen.
Was Christopher
Columbus Galician?: Asks the Voz de Galicia in this video, taken next
to his statue in one of Pontevedra's parks. HT to my Ferrol friend,
Richard for this citation. This thesis is based on 2 main planks: 1.
His notes are in Gallego. Or at least Gallego-Portuguese, and 2. Many
of the names given to places in the New World are shared with towns
and islands along our coast and our interior. Who knows, but the rest
of the world's various claimants to this honour aren't terribly
convinced.
Finally . . . A bad day
at the office: In Italy yesterday, the jockey Chris Meehan was thrown
by his mount and had his nose broken and his jaw gashed when the
horse then kicked him in the face. As he lay in pain on the turf, the
ambulance arrived and ran over his leg, breaking it. And
converting pain into agony. Back in Ireland, Meehan's father's
teaches people how to drive ambulances . . .
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