Iberianism

Spain doesn't get capitalism. I don't know what existed here before, but clearly capitalism was imposed on the peninsula by outside historical forces, and the natives went "Ok", but just. They adapted to the system to the bare minimum so that they could get X-boxes, and left it at that. As a person with serious problems with capitalism (the inherent exploitation that comes with assigning worth based solely on monetary value), I find it brave and  beautiful. However, as a person who buys shit and does stuff, I find it really fucking frustrating. The thing with capitalism is it's really convenient, and the thing with Barcelona is it's really not. Is there another country in the west that shuts down almost completely at lunchtime? For THREE HOURS?  EVERY DAY? Does anywhere else consider it good business practice to close up on Saturday at noon and not reopen until Monday morning? Seriously, is there a populace less interested in selling you the crap they have in their stores, even when they work in, or actually own those stores? Undoubtedly a great attitude for one's personal work-life balance. A demonstrably shitty attitude for one's national economy. The examples I could cite are myriad, but I'll just go with the latest.

Yesterday was a holiday celebrating some Spanish or Catholic event. It's one of those. Tomorrow is a holiday celebrating the other. I took advantage of my free time to attend a workshop on Christmas cocktails, since nothing says Yuletide like drinking. (Nothing says  Friday, or Saturday, or Wednesday when work is almost finished like drinking either, but that's for another tale/confession. "Hi. I'm Noah and...") An energetic guy dressed like the trombone player from a ska band cheerfully led us through some of the worst concoctions you could imagine. (Egg nog with nougat blended in? Champagne with all the lemons? Yum?) He was personable and funny, and despite his awful taste in mixology, apparently knowledgable about distilling and infusing various alcohols. In a rare display of marketing and promotion, he repeatedly mentioned the two businesses he runs/is affiliated with. One is a shop of international food that charges you two euros for Dr Pepper cuz it's exotic, and the other is a bar that, the previous night, had told my friends and I that we had to wait outside because the waitress was busy reading at the bar and didn't feel like serving us, under the pretext that it was a city ordinance. So despite his best efforts, he will not sell me anything in the future. He probably doesn't really give a fuck.
I know I shouldn't complain, because the joy of the lifestyle here is largely based on people's ability to not give a fuck. (Also weather and beach. You could not give a fuck in Edmonton, and it would still be Edmonton.)
I leave you with this email sent to me by my brother after trying unsuccessfully to by a computer on Wednesday. Imagine it in Catalan and it's practically a documentary.

"Please, sirs, may I give you money": a one-act play

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FROM:

• Eli Green

TO:

• Noah Green

Message starred

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 9:01 PM

CUSTOMER
Hello, merchant, I would like to purchase one of your fine goods at the advertised price.

MERCHANT
I am sorry, for arbitrary reasons that will seem absurd to any person not affiliated with this establishment, that is not possible.

CUSTOMER
I am in possession of several forms of currency.

MERCHANT shrugs.


FIN