Basque...el camino por santiago

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

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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