I cannot conceive how they do a Running Of The Bulls in the city. Feels too distinctly European and packed and well ordered in full of traffic. (It turns out they out it out in a town further North – makes sense).
Even at 8 am, it is still dark.
As we wait for the airport, Taxi, I ponder the expectations I brought coming to Spain. So much of our media in Australia is dominated by a cultural concept that labels itself Latin America. But it is not Latin at all. Perhaps that would be better labelled meso-american-post-colonialism.
Here there is a strong sense of Pan-European identity with a medium sprinkling of Spanish language and history. You see it in the well-ordered, tree-lined streets, the three story buildings that look like they came out of a Europe-look factory, and the unexplained, elitist statues. The sort of middle space you encounter when driving north of Italy into Germany and then left into France and realise it all overlaps.
Further the patient thoughtful politeness of the people you encounter makes me consider Australia’s place in the world. Australia is the place of gruff Colonial confidence, of compromise and lack of oversight in our housing and engineering. I was taught, and teach my kids manners as a way of respecting the other person, in way that stands out in Australia. But that sense of meta-etiquette is normal here. In Spain, I am the Colonial in a way I hadn’t really seen before.
American business and technology commentators point to Europe in contempt and ask about the lack innovation and new tech businesses. They complain about high taxes here and over-standardisation. (Although I wonder how that will change with centralised business registration for cross-European businesses coming in next year.)
Europe is a place where the social compact is strong, perhaps stronger than Australia. Compared to America, in Europe equality surpasses opportunity.
Madrid Airport is brisk and efficient. We are through the digital check-in and the baggage handover in seven minutes, for the same airline. It makes me think that Lisbon Airport is just under-invested.
I see a digital promotion box offering Revolut cards with simply the push of a button. I think about our boarding processes on our work website with a sense of horror.
This is something for Uncle Albert from church.
I am drawn like a magnet to this section.
I don’t quite survive that magnetic pull without cost.