5 minute read
Blame Hemingway
Linda Hall
ERNEST HEMINGWAY has a lot to answer for, or at least as regards people of a certain age who visited, or went to live in, Spain.
Perhaps we can attach a morsel of blame to Federico García Lorca’s Lament for the bullfighter Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, but he was a Spanish person writing about someone and something he was familiar with. On the other hand, I’m not convinced that Lorca got the women right in the House of Bernarda Alba, but that’s a different matter.
I’m talking about bullfighting of course, and because I’d read Death in the Afternoon and the Sun Also Rises I’m now ashamed to say that when I first lived here, I went to a number of bullfights.
After all, if you’d read your Hemingway, you knew that’s what you were supposed to do when you were in Spain.
What’s more, if I were still an aficionada, I could proudly say that I’d seen some of the best bullfighters of the day and had gone to Antonio Ordoñez’s last corrida. Not that he bore much resemblance by then to the handsome man portrayed in a nowiconic photo taken with Hemingway.
What do I remember about the bullfights I saw? Boredom most of the time, although sometimes a wave of enthusiasm would ripple through the plaza when the bullfighter managed to string together a series of passes.
Apart from that it was butchery, but not as skilled as the butchery you’d find in a slaughterhouse.
Instead, you were subjected to a depressing exhibition by a man dressed in pink stockings, tight satin pants and sequins who was trying usually ineptly and often repeatedly to plunge a sword into a panting, half dead animal.
No doubt bravery was involved, but although it was death in the afternoon it was a slow death that had nothing glamorous or noble about it.
All of which makes me very grateful that football and not bullfighting is now Spain’s preferred national spectacle.
IT has long been the dream of Britons approaching retirement age, to upsticks and move somewhere warmer, like their favourite holiday destination.
Researchers at Retirement Solutions have discovered that although an expatriate lifestyle comes with its challenges, this doesn’t put them off the idea. So where is the best place for Britons to retire abroad?
No. 1. Spain
Spain came top of the list as the most soughtafter destination to live, for British people looking to retire abroad.
“There’s plenty of places in Spain that are perfect for retirement, including Alicante which sits on the Costa Blanca,” said a spokesperson for the company.
“The city has an excellent cost of living while also providing plenty of sunshine, with temperatures around 16 degrees in winter while reaching over 40 degrees in summer.”
With its large expatriate community, the Costa Blanca is the choice for many Britons deciding to live in resort towns such as Benidorm.
There are plenty of other options too with retired expats settling in the Costa del Sol, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands.
Despite the fact that currently without a visa, nonEU citizens can only stay in Spain for 90 out of every 180 days, this has led to many retired Brits spending the winter months in Spain and returning to the UK for the summer.
A surprising second on the list is Australia, but anyone interested needs to do their homework as the cost of living is generally higher than in the UK. Third on the list is Portugal, which also has a number of celebrity fans including Sir Cliff Richard, Princess Eugenie, and Madonna.
Rounding off the top 10 are (4) Thailand, (5) Canada, (6) France, (7) India, (8) New Zealand, (9) Italy and (10 Greece.
Dear Leapy LETTERS
Everything you said is absolutely true. Yes, you are totally free to say what you believe to be the case, but at what cost? If you said this in Britain your ability to continue earning a living would be made almost impossible. The direction Britain is heading is very frightening.
Keep up the fight.
Justice
Phillip Walker
Having happily lived in Spain since 2003 my wife suddenly and unexpectedly passed away a little over a year ago.
I need to return to the UK to be close to family but have to realise the equity from the house sale.
This is proving to be a huge problem despite numerous viewings.
The problem is three noisy dogs next door, when wouldbe buyers hear the dogs they immediately write the property off.
I have spoken to the neighbours on several occasions but they choose not to take action.
Can you please help me with this health threatening predicament.
Paul Greswolde
Good morning Lee
I know you often get flack for your printed views. I would like you to know that I look forward to Thursdays to hear your latest rant. I moved to Mallorca in 1997 and I did meet you a couple of times and have seen you perform several more.
I think it’s a pity you never moved in to politics. You have some great ideas.
Greetings from the Spanish Aragonés Mountains.
Bruce
Mrs Feelgood
Something seriously amiss within the BBC. All part of the conspiracy I sometimes mention. Onward all.
With thanks
Thank you very much indeed, again, for including our article, about Celebrating the Coronation, in last week’s EWN!
It was good of you to have included our article and is much appreciated.
Thank you for your continuing support, also much appreciated.
From a very soggy Moraira.
Warmest regards.
James Bond
who only payed him once. After Roger Moore I gave up, they just didn’t have the authenticity.
Naimah Yianni
Intruder arrested
How can you get arrested when you are on public property, not on private property? you can go and stand in any street anywhere surely? As long as you are not committing a crime then how can you be arrested? No sympathy for these idiots as it goes.
Life of Brian
Symbolic of his struggle against reality. Absolutely says it all. What is going on in our country. Now we have a theatre that wants to put on a play for a black audience, no whites allowed. God help us all and I am not religious.
John Little
Good evening,
It is wonderful to have our own regional newspaper thank you. But, it would be nice to have the two motoring pages which you print in the Costa Blanca South edition.
Best regards Annie Busch
Dog attacks
Far too much of this is going on throughout the UK and Europe. Maltreated, fighting dogs that turn on their owners. I have no sympathy for the victim, only regret that the animal had to be destroyed. From my point of view, a huge crackdown on the breeders/owners of fighting dogs is long overdue.
Bob Saunders
Brexit fail
It must be something in the water, or the food, or the air. Or all three, to produce such braindead people. Sadly, though, Brexit was never about making the public more prosperous, only to bring more prosperity to a chosen few. And that doesn’t even appear to have been successful yet.
Stephen Ashley
War on Wagner
Max, Aircrew Association
That makes it sound like Sean Connery only played Bond once, but it was George Lazenby
I as well as my guys were actually digesting the good ideas from your website then at once I had a terrible feeling I never expressed respect to you for those secrets. The men ended up for that reason warmed to read them and have really been enjoying them. Appreciation for actually being quite kind as well as for making a decision on certain amazing subject matter most people are really wanting to be informed on. My sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to you earlier.
Cornwell
