Basque...el camino por santiago

RE: [spiers] Basque...el camino por santiago

Martin,

I took you to be gracious, and I am glad to be corrected and to learn of your
self-employment.
But I am intrigued by the restaurants you visited, I would welcome any reviews
to the list.

As to first impressions, a good friend of mine is an improv actor and keeps
telling me "never say
the first thing that comes to mind...always wait..." Sigh... I do try to take
his advice, but on the
other hand, if this is my biggest flaw...I'll take it!

John

On Wed, 24 May 2006 08:45:36 -0700, martin@mendiola.us wrote :

> John,
>
> Sorry to disappoint you, but it shows how first impressions can be
misconceived, which is part
of the problem I have with some of your thinking. When referring to envy, I was
being gratious
since I admire those who seek self improvement through meditation, pilgimmages,
etc.
>
> Instead of following "el camino de Santiago", I decided to visit Arzak, Martin
Berasategui and
Mugaritz in San Sebastian, three of the 50 best restaurants in the world. Like
you said, it should
be first about lifestyle.
>
> I first retired in 1994 and now at 55, I am on my 3rd retirement. Looking
forward to the fourth
before the end of the decade, so keep the suggestions coming even though I will
pass on the
travel agent / pilgrimmage one.
>
>
>
> Martin Mendiola
> 305-445-2525
> Martin@Mendiola.US
>
>
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > Subject: [spiers] Basque...el camino por santiago
> > From: "John Spiers"
> > Date: Wed, May 24, 2006 10:45 am
> > To: spiers@yahoogroups.com
> >
> > Folks,
> >
> > I sent thru what may seem an obscure exchange between Linda and Martin
because it strikes
a
> > theme... Linda I surmise is on a pilgrimmage, el camino por santiago, and
martin has
expressed
> > envy. I am going to take a wild guess... Linda is self-employed, and Martin
is not. This is not
a
> > criticism, just to make the point again, that self-employment is first about
lifestyle.
> >
> > Martin, if I am right, how about a new biz oppty? A travel agent to/for
pilgrimmages? turn
that
> > envy into lifestyle...
> >
> > (In the car this morning, I heard on the radio one Kevin Trudeau got around
govt rules on
> > touting medical cures by writing books about what others say, not about what
he himself
says.
> > Apparently he rakes in the dough and is untouchable.)
> >
> > John
> > On Wed, 24 May 2006 02:41:53 -0700 (PDT), linda williams

> > wrote :
> >
> > > This is all very interesting as i am currently walking el camino por
santiago and have gone
> > through some of the basque country. i wondered about all the political
grafiti, posters etc. my
> > spanish is poor, so could not grasp it all, and of course, could not
understand.
> > >
> > > linda
> > >
> > >
> > > martin@mendiola.us wrote:
> > > Luis,
> > >
> > > With all due respect, specially since we are probably neighbors in Miami,
I just got back
from
> > Gernika and Bilbao last night and the Basque people want independence. Not
necessarily for
the
> > same reasons that John may think (I disagree with a lot of what he says and
believes, but
always
> > find his comments interesting and thought provoking) but they still see
themselves as being
the
> > mouth of the cow that gets milked in Madrid. Along with what they feel has
been oppression
> > from past governments there are many other non-political reasons the Basque
seek
> > independence. In his book The Basque History of the World, Mark Kurlansky
indirectly points
> > out many of these reasons. Lets not forget that the concept of a Basque
country crosses the
> > Pyrennees into France.
> > >
> > > The political situation in Spain is interesting to say the least. They
have a tremendous
> > immigration problem. "A la" Jimmy Carter with the Mariel Boatlift from
Cuba, Zapatero has
sort
> > of opened its borders creating a major influx of what are rapidly becoming
"undesirables".
> > There is an increase in reported government and corporate corruption.
During my visit, there
> > was a major scandal involving over 350,000 investors that got pulled into by
a major scam. It
is
> > a time of caution for Spaniards. Up to now they have been "recipients" of
funds from the
> > European Union, as more (poor) countries come aboard and the roles reverse
to where they
> > become "contributors", the economic boom will begin to slow down or end.
The European
Union
> > has already voted to withhold wine subsidies which will impact Portugal much
more than
Spain,
> > but this should be a warning.
> > >
> > > Towns like Gernika (known for the famous Picaso painting) were
experiencing tremendous
> > construction and real estate price increases. As of 5 days ago, real estate
prices were not just
> > leveling off, but actually coming down with a BIG drop in sales. Those who
used to be strong
> > Socialist Party supporters are beginning to wonder. They also realize there
may be a small
> > window of opportunity for them to gain complete independence since an
economic slow down
> > and mistakes made in Catalunya will cause reactionary shifts in government
due to public
> > pressure. (This last statement may give some insight as to John's comments
regarding more
> > communist countries becoming independent).
> > >
> > >
> > > I find the current situation in Spain quite interesting, it may be provide
a "faster" indication
as
> > to where the US economy is headed since there are many similarities.
Tremendous expansion
in
> > construction and real estate prices where the youth cannot afford housing
and live off credit
> > cards, lack of innovation and "product" creation, globalization and an
abundance of jobs that
> > were once considered desirable and respectable (ie: restaurant and hotel
employees) filled by
> > immigrants, since natives do not want them.
> > >
> > > My two cents worth turned to be more like a dime. Good luck and take
care,
> > >
> > >
> > > Martin Mendiola
> > > 305-445-2525
> > > Martin@Mendiola.US
> > >
> > >
> > > > -------- Original Message --------
> > > > Subject: [spiers] Re: All Hail Montenegro!
> > > > From: "spiersegroups"
> > > > Date: Tue, May 23, 2006 12:44 pm
> > > > To: spiers@yahoogroups.com
> > > >
> > > > Luis,
> > > >
> > > > In principle, the moment a majority wants independece, ought they not be
afforded it,
> > > > regardless of history? In practice, independence rarely is based on
majority rule,
> > > > rather 40% for, 40% against, and 20% undecided. The undecided 20% is
won over by
> > > > politics. Thus it was in USA independence movement.
> > > >
> > > > As to violence, I am with you, it is abhorrent. I think the mistake the
confederates
> > > > made in the USA was to resort to violence. Better to be like
Montenegro, or Singapore
> > > > or Norway... all gained independence non-violently. Certainly Canada
gained
> > > > independence from England nonviolently. It seems to me violence is
introduced by
> > > > thugs who use the good of independence to put a halo on their crimes.
> > > >
> > > > John
> > > > --- In spiers@yahoogroups.com, LUIS1467@... wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Dear John
> > > > >
> > > > > Basques (Vascos) are a part of Spain since the origins of Iberia
(Spain)
> > > > > They are free since they have their autonomy, their local goverment,
their
> > > > > Parliament, their local police, etc, and most of the Basques like what
they have
> > > > > since they feel Spaniards, .but few nationalists plus the ETA
terrorists it
> > > > > means something close but not exactly the same that a Federal State
as could be
> > > > > Florida or New York States. If you need further information, please
let me
> > > > > know and with pleasure I will provide it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Sincerely
> > > > >
> > > > > Luis Cabo
> > > > > Tel/Fax 305667 7630
> > > > > Cell 786 4730868
> > > > > email: Luis1467@...
> > > > > email:luis.cabo001@...

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