We’ve been following the news and trying to figure out what is happening in the Middle East and Spain, mostly we have a reasonable ideal of what is happening even if we lack the minor detail.   However there are a few things that still get lost in translation.  For instance; we been seeing references to consideration of a law that seemed to indicate that Spain was going to limit the purchase of dwellings by non-Spanish to either less than or greater than 160,000 Euros but we could not for the life of us figure out why.  So each time it appeared on TV for a few days we speculated on why.  We guessed that perhaps they were trying to minimize speculation by foreigners on lower priced housing to keep prices down.  But it turned out to be even more interesting than that.  When we read the story in English it seems that they are thinking about granting automatic Spanish residency status to any foreigner buying a residence costing greater than 160,000 euros.  So now we know that perhaps we can circumvent the Schengen agreement for around 210,000 dollars; what a deal!   There are around 700,000 units available right now and 90% of them are down on the Costa Brava.   It’s like the south coast of England down there right now so if you are prone to culture shock you could avoid it completely, of course you might miss a more Spanish experience.

Tonight I walked in to our bakery to buy bread and there was one person at the counter buying bread, so as I do in the U.S. I stood behind them waiting for my turn to be served.   Another two people walked in and moved right up to the display case; it appeared to me that the person who came in after me was ignoring me so I moved up to the case also.   When the person in front of me finished I started to order as the clerk clearly asked me what I wanted, but the fellow next to me butted in and when I turned to look at him he wagged his finger at me and indicated that he was next in line and proceeded to order.  I looked at the woman behind him and we both shrugged; because it was clear to her that I was there before they arrived.  Anyway I learned about the cultural expectation so I will crowd up to the counter as well instead of giving the person in front of me a little privacy and space to see what is being offered for sale; at least until one of them turns on me and wags a finger.  (~8