I asked the other day whether the "Catalan imposition" and the whole issue of Catalan versus Castilian blah blah is really of that much interest to the wider British community or just one that attracts the attention and thoughts of a small minority. I am inclined to believe that it's the latter. I say that, because most expats exist in a bubble of indifference towards anything of any political or social consequence on the island, while many are too busy bothering with their lives and their businesses to take any great notice, and understandably so.
That said, it is an issue that arouses, if not passions among expats, then a certain degree of point-scoring. There has been a debate going on in "The Bulletin" about it. Some of those partaking are familiar names who regularly contribute to the letters pages of the paper. Unlike some who criticise those who write to the paper, I take a different view, which is that at least they are taking an interest, enough to make them want to write. However, it does, from time to time, spill over into public displays of who knows more than others. And so it was yesterday. A very long and tortuous letter appeared that took issue with a previous one. I don't agree with it all, but I'm not inclined to bat about historical facts, such as that regarding when Spain became Spain. The important point of history, in the context of the Catalan thing which is the issue under consideration, was the union of Castile and Aragon because, from that point on, Catalan became a secondary language within the kingdom that was Spain, whenever you would like it to have started, and largely irrelevant in terms of empire.
Essentially though, I do believe people should be interested, if only as onlookers of what is basically someone else's gig. And for what it's worth, I do also believe that incomers should try and learn some Catalan. Whether the expat likes it or not, whether he reckons that Castilian is or should be the sole language or not, he cannot ignore the fact that there are a lot of people here who quite like speaking Catalan. The subject can be debated till the cows come home or the "vacas" do likewise, if one prefers Catalan, but it certainly isn't about to go away.
Following on from the news of the death of the tourist following that fight in Puerto Alcúdia, comes news of an earlier incident that has apparently left someone in a coma. A Spanish TV crew has been in Alcúdia, sniffing around close to the Magic roundabout where it is said to have taken place. "The Bulletin" reported that Alcúdia was "reeling" from the news. That is rather overstating the situation: no-one seemed to know anything about it. The danger is that these isolated cases, albeit that two have occurred so close to each other in terms both of location and timing, are blown out of proportion. News should not be censored or not reported; of course not. But right now any bad publicity cannot do any favours. It needs to be kept in perspective.
A while back I mentioned the Bony expansion in Puerto Pollensa's church square. I saw José yesterday, having been interested to find out when his new bar was due to open - the new bar being what was the Selpell leather shop next to Bony. I can tell you that it will not now be Bony II or Más Bony-to, as José has pulled out. So those who worry about a dumbing down of Puerto Pollensa through the onward march of Bony- and Dakota-isations can rest easy in their beds for now. The extent of the Bony expansion is the newspaper shop and the newspaper shop alone.
The Twitter thing
I've been trying to get my head around the point of this, which explains why there haven't been any entries for so long, but I reckon I've come up with the answer. A sort of messaging service. I suppose that's what it is anyway, but I'm going to be doing a sort of what's on through it. So from now ... Just go to the follow me bit and with some luck there will be something worthwhile to follow. Unless I get bored with it or forget. Promise I'll try not to.
QUIZ
Today's title - "and we don't care".
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Showing posts with label Café Bony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Café Bony. Show all posts
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Friday, March 06, 2009
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
Every winter brings changes. What was previously that is now this or is in the process of becoming this. Some of that which is now this is fairly grand, such as the conversion of the old Alcúdia cinema into what is the Roman-themed Satyricon. There is also some of that which is to be that once again, apparently - the minigolf opposite Bellevue for instance. But nowhere seems to offer greater evidence of the transformation from that to this than Puerto Pollensa. Indeed the square - some know it as market, some as church - is in a state of empire-building. The yellow peril advances ever more in the form of the Dragon Oriente people and then there is of course the Bonyisation of Puerto Pollensa. For some, the devil that has taken the soul of the resort is a two-horned satyr, one being Grupo Boulevard and the Dakotas, the other being José, olé, and Bony. For some; not me.
There is a corner of a foreign market square that will forever be Bony - or "not forever" to use the rather enigmatic slogan that I tried to persuade José not to use. And that corner of a foreign market square is growing from both sides. Abutting what will be the yellow peril in the square will be son of Bony, Bony Mark II or, to give it the actual name, Más Bony y-to, which is a play on the Spanish "más bonito" (meaning prettier) in which the "más" will in fact be represented by a plus sign. "Don't cry." And "don't panic". That seems to be the latest José-ism. Corporal Jones to the rescue, or rather Bony with prices being cut to 2007 levels, more or less, so I understand. Of course, every time I pass Bony I am reminded of myself. It's that poster, the one with trousers rolled up and the clothes-pegs. Who do you have to blame for that? Yep, I'm afraid it was me; not the trousers and the legs, but the photo and what passed for design.
Elsewhere, the change has yet to be effected but seemingly everyone knows about it - it being The Nag's Head. However, I'm not going to go into it - the story - as it hasn't happened. Suffice to say that it was being spoken of in JK's where I had gone for the express purpose of taking the piss out of Kevin for being quoted three times in quick succession in "The Bulletin" apropos different things, including being the inspiration for the Pollensa tourism cash boom that isn't (as referred to on 26 February). Kevin is now a sort-of rent-a-quote for pretty much anything I think. What's your view of quantitative easing? "20%," said Kevin Park, owner of JK's Bar in Puerto Pollensa. Actually, between you and me, it's more than 20%. Because that's what Kevin told me. However, I am not in the rent-a-quote quoting business - yet. Anyway, what do you think about the Costa Brava Pyrenees Tourism Authority using a photo of a beach in Australia to publicise the 100th anniversary of the Spanish coastline? "Twenty per cent," said Mr. Park of Puerto Pollensa's JK's Bar. Yep, I reckon so, too. Odd thing though that the Spanish coastline is only a hundred years old. I would have said it was a bit older. But according to "The Times", that's all it is. Or maybe it's according to that tourism authority. Just so you know what I'm talking about, I quote (from "The Times") - "The photograph of a man and a boy standing on a white beach, staring out into a clear blue sea was used by Costa Brava tourism officials to mark the 100th anniversary of the Spanish coastline at the recent Forum Gastronimic (sic), a food fair in the nearby city of Girona." So you see, it definitely does refer to a hundred years - and that's all - of coastline. More embarrassing though is the fact that the beautiful coastline of the Costa Brava was not the Costa Brava but a beach in Perth, Australia. And to add to the embarrassment, the publicity company responsible (or should that be irresponsible, to use an old Peter Cook gag?) was the same publicity company that secured a photo of a beach in the Bahamas for another Costa Brava ad. Oops.
Kevin was first contacted by "The Bulletin" about the couple who got stuck in their boat in the Atlantic and who are now on dry land. Stuart, who is known to Kevin, was interviewed on Five Live's "Drive" programme yesterday. Though this whole thing has been blown up into a major story by, among others, "The Bulletin", he is - and I quote again - "amazed at how much hype" there has been, while he reckons it was "a storm in a teacup" and that he and his partner Andrea had "a lot of laughs" for the 40 days that they were floating around. If you missed the connection, Stuart and Andrea used to work at The Nag's Head, and that is why it became a story here and why Kevin found fame. I didn't catch all the interview, but I don't think Puerto Pollensa featured exactly; it will - and does - elsewhere.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Len Barry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An1-ntyBcz8). Today's title - no clues given or needed.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
There is a corner of a foreign market square that will forever be Bony - or "not forever" to use the rather enigmatic slogan that I tried to persuade José not to use. And that corner of a foreign market square is growing from both sides. Abutting what will be the yellow peril in the square will be son of Bony, Bony Mark II or, to give it the actual name, Más Bony y-to, which is a play on the Spanish "más bonito" (meaning prettier) in which the "más" will in fact be represented by a plus sign. "Don't cry." And "don't panic". That seems to be the latest José-ism. Corporal Jones to the rescue, or rather Bony with prices being cut to 2007 levels, more or less, so I understand. Of course, every time I pass Bony I am reminded of myself. It's that poster, the one with trousers rolled up and the clothes-pegs. Who do you have to blame for that? Yep, I'm afraid it was me; not the trousers and the legs, but the photo and what passed for design.
Elsewhere, the change has yet to be effected but seemingly everyone knows about it - it being The Nag's Head. However, I'm not going to go into it - the story - as it hasn't happened. Suffice to say that it was being spoken of in JK's where I had gone for the express purpose of taking the piss out of Kevin for being quoted three times in quick succession in "The Bulletin" apropos different things, including being the inspiration for the Pollensa tourism cash boom that isn't (as referred to on 26 February). Kevin is now a sort-of rent-a-quote for pretty much anything I think. What's your view of quantitative easing? "20%," said Kevin Park, owner of JK's Bar in Puerto Pollensa. Actually, between you and me, it's more than 20%. Because that's what Kevin told me. However, I am not in the rent-a-quote quoting business - yet. Anyway, what do you think about the Costa Brava Pyrenees Tourism Authority using a photo of a beach in Australia to publicise the 100th anniversary of the Spanish coastline? "Twenty per cent," said Mr. Park of Puerto Pollensa's JK's Bar. Yep, I reckon so, too. Odd thing though that the Spanish coastline is only a hundred years old. I would have said it was a bit older. But according to "The Times", that's all it is. Or maybe it's according to that tourism authority. Just so you know what I'm talking about, I quote (from "The Times") - "The photograph of a man and a boy standing on a white beach, staring out into a clear blue sea was used by Costa Brava tourism officials to mark the 100th anniversary of the Spanish coastline at the recent Forum Gastronimic (sic), a food fair in the nearby city of Girona." So you see, it definitely does refer to a hundred years - and that's all - of coastline. More embarrassing though is the fact that the beautiful coastline of the Costa Brava was not the Costa Brava but a beach in Perth, Australia. And to add to the embarrassment, the publicity company responsible (or should that be irresponsible, to use an old Peter Cook gag?) was the same publicity company that secured a photo of a beach in the Bahamas for another Costa Brava ad. Oops.
Kevin was first contacted by "The Bulletin" about the couple who got stuck in their boat in the Atlantic and who are now on dry land. Stuart, who is known to Kevin, was interviewed on Five Live's "Drive" programme yesterday. Though this whole thing has been blown up into a major story by, among others, "The Bulletin", he is - and I quote again - "amazed at how much hype" there has been, while he reckons it was "a storm in a teacup" and that he and his partner Andrea had "a lot of laughs" for the 40 days that they were floating around. If you missed the connection, Stuart and Andrea used to work at The Nag's Head, and that is why it became a story here and why Kevin found fame. I didn't catch all the interview, but I don't think Puerto Pollensa featured exactly; it will - and does - elsewhere.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Len Barry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An1-ntyBcz8). Today's title - no clues given or needed.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Sweets For My Sweet
Following the jelly-bean incident at the last test between England and India, I can tell you that members of the SPCC (Sa Pobla Cricket Club) are rightly indignant. Buff, buff, buff. It wasn’t like that in their day, when one could have expected canapés, other finger-food and occasionally a full three-course lunch with wine to have graced the wicket. But that’s modern sport for you. Anyway, talk of sweet throwing naturally brings me to our irregular BAR OF THE WEEK feature. Why’s that, Andy, I hear you ask. Because José throws sweets, that’s why. Here’s the sugary nugget that is CAFÉ BONY:
Where: Plaça Miquel Capllonch, Puerto Pollensa, better known as the market or church square.
What: Mega drinks, leading UK and Spanish beers, salads, sandwiches, snacks, and the unique Bony atmosphere.
When: Every day, normally from about 11:00am, except Wednesdays, when it is - in Bony language - leg-over.
Who: José is the man with the clothes-pegs on his trousers, and Pablo the sane one. Then there are the girlies.
Why: Great location in the square. A brilliant café in many ways, as José knows how to work his audience, sorry, customers.
Is there a website? Well, sort of. Under construction and maybe will be for while, but it is www.josebonysheilarichard.com, something that trips easily off the tongue.
And apropos the whole American malarkey from yesterday, my mole all things American, Carol, recently back from Florida, tells me that the size of the American lard-mass is now so substantial that even a queen bed is barely sufficient to accommodate your average Yank. So, there’s another issue for Mallorcan tourist authorities to worry about were there to be an American invasion, to say nothing of the crush on BMI and the excess-baggage charge.
THIS BLOG’S MUSICAL TIPS
A rare thing, and all the better for it, but some may recall my mentioning of Laura Veirs. Well, make sure to tune in to Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2, from 20:00 UK time (21:00 Spain) on Thursday. For those of you not up to speed in Spain, you can hear this via the steam internet.
Quiz: Forgot yesterday. The BMI angle. Where is this lyric borrowed from? “BMI, BMI, BMI little baby, my one and only, baby my darling, BMI baby now, ow-ow, oh-oh-oh-oh.” Forgive me, I am long out of the UK, but did BMI never use this as an ad campaign? And if not, why not? And today’s title? Who recorded it? Yesterday - those good ole boys were drinking whisky and rye.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Where: Plaça Miquel Capllonch, Puerto Pollensa, better known as the market or church square.
What: Mega drinks, leading UK and Spanish beers, salads, sandwiches, snacks, and the unique Bony atmosphere.
When: Every day, normally from about 11:00am, except Wednesdays, when it is - in Bony language - leg-over.
Who: José is the man with the clothes-pegs on his trousers, and Pablo the sane one. Then there are the girlies.
Why: Great location in the square. A brilliant café in many ways, as José knows how to work his audience, sorry, customers.
Is there a website? Well, sort of. Under construction and maybe will be for while, but it is www.josebonysheilarichard.com, something that trips easily off the tongue.
And apropos the whole American malarkey from yesterday, my mole all things American, Carol, recently back from Florida, tells me that the size of the American lard-mass is now so substantial that even a queen bed is barely sufficient to accommodate your average Yank. So, there’s another issue for Mallorcan tourist authorities to worry about were there to be an American invasion, to say nothing of the crush on BMI and the excess-baggage charge.
THIS BLOG’S MUSICAL TIPS
A rare thing, and all the better for it, but some may recall my mentioning of Laura Veirs. Well, make sure to tune in to Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2, from 20:00 UK time (21:00 Spain) on Thursday. For those of you not up to speed in Spain, you can hear this via the steam internet.
Quiz: Forgot yesterday. The BMI angle. Where is this lyric borrowed from? “BMI, BMI, BMI little baby, my one and only, baby my darling, BMI baby now, ow-ow, oh-oh-oh-oh.” Forgive me, I am long out of the UK, but did BMI never use this as an ad campaign? And if not, why not? And today’s title? Who recorded it? Yesterday - those good ole boys were drinking whisky and rye.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
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