"This is Radio Frio. AlcudiaPollensa.Blogspot.com, also known as It's Grim Up North.com, further known as the Unjustified Invasions of Kopyright.
"This is what APB is about, those photos and designs that are, how does one put it, borrowed."
I don't mind the fact that my time is spent, going out of my way, hanging about, taking photos, for which I am rarely expressly paid, as they (the photos) form part "of the service", and then maybe having to return because the weather is not right, the terrace has too few people, the sun is not shining. Actually, I do fucking mind. When, that is, I have to keep going back or someone has forgotten that I was coming. But normally I say nothing, because they're clients or friends or whatever, but the deal here is that people do not appreciate that elsewhere, in the UK for example, all that time and travel should be paid for. Typical for here. Let's try and avoid paying anything. Cheapskates. Should be a local place name. Like Blubberhouses or Loggerheads. That's Cheapskates, sorry Blubberhouses, near Harrogate and Loggerheads in Shropshire. It's grim up north.
It costs, this going to take photos and perhaps not being able to take them, and so does the design side. But you go along with it, until you find that someone has taken the piss. Either the photos or the whole design can appear somewhere - without my damn permission. How many discs of photos have I ever given out? Loads. I give them out, so they (clients) have a record not so they can be used, without permission, by those who have not had to go to the time and expense as I have. Intellectual property. Some don't even need discs originals; they just take what I have done, scan it or take their own photo and then reproduce it, in the process making it look really shit. Why don't they just ask? Does it never occur to them? Who gives a damn here? And I put these "courtesy of" notes onto designs, only to find they are not there when the final print version appears. What happens there, do you suppose? I know. It's taking the piss. We don't care that you have gone to time and trouble and actually done work that we either could not do ourselves or would not do, but from which we are quite prepared to extract a financial advantage.
You know something. I have a whole list of where these photos or designs have appeared, and whether permissions had been granted or not. And one of these days ... Just thought I'd let you know.
Meanwhile. Don't forget that Alcúdia now has by-laws which allow for the fining not only of street (and bar sellers) but also of those who buy from them. These laws have been designed mainly to stamp out the lucky-lucky men and their trade. We'll see, but it is noticeable that some bars have put up notices which say that selling is not permitted and that if it is done, it can result in a fine. 400 euros says the notice in The Smugglers. I think I might actually be 500, and that's just for the one who does the buying. So, think of this as the second warning of today's entry.
And returning to a theme of a few days ago - that of newspapers, internet and all that. This morning there were precisely no British newspapers at the nearest place selling papers, bar one paper, while at another there were no broadsheets. So I shall happily forego parting with five euros and look at the "Sunday Times" online. Maybe it's the grim rain, maybe the boys didn't get up because of the clocks changing, or maybe it's just because it's crap. A lot here actually is down to the fact that it is crap, whatever crap it is and whatever some might say. Anyway, sorry, Rupert, you ain't got my fiver today. And that one British newspaper that was available? Good old "Daily Bulletin", the J.R. Hartley of the newspaper world.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Vivian Stanshall. And here is something very fine indeed - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSRJvq4Wd48. Today's title - of course.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Showing posts with label Street selling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Street selling. Show all posts
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, September 26, 2008
Did You Have To Pay That Fine?
And so, as I referred to briefly yesterday, there is a whole raft of street activities in Alcúdia that are to be outlawed, restricted and subject to fines. Much of this, one suspects, comes as a consequence of the complaints that were submitted to the town hall in respect of illegal street selling by legitimate traders along The Mile. But not all.
The headline targets of the new by-law (and I'm not sure when it applies from, but I guess it takes immediate effect) are the unauthorised street sellers. The report on all this from "The Diario" says that the unauthorised sale of food, drink and "other products" by the sellers will be subject to fines to 500 euros. As importantly, purchasers of these various products will also be liable to the same fine. Where do we start with this?
By other products, they mean this as a catch-all for the different things available from the lucky-lucky men and others who operate without any licences; this may well also include the women doing the hair braiding, though strictly speaking they are selling a service as opposed to a product. Whatever. But the really important bit of all this is that you, be you tourist or resident, can be fined for buying the stuff. Notwithstanding the question as to how well all this may be policed, if some poor tourist - ignorant of the by-law - forks out for a pair of dodgy sunglasses, he is likely to have his collar felt. Then what? Does he pay on the spot? Is he taken to court? How is this going to work? Will he even have 500 euros?
Do these other products include the crack? I imagine there are rather stricter sanctions than a 500 euro fine for this. And when the by-law refers to the "via pública" (public highway), does this mean that sales which occur in bars or on terraces or on the beach are exempt? The report refers also to "public space", so perhaps this does indeed mean all these non-street locations. There is no mention of bar owners being fined for allowing the trade, which is probably just as well. Any number of these bar owners already tell the lucksters to bugger off, but they can't necessarily be constantly vigilant or spend all their time haranguing them.
There are various other things covered by this by-law. Street prostitution, its offer and acceptance, begging, windscreen cleaners, loud music from cars are all subject to fines; restrictions, whatever they are, will be imposed on the likes of street painting and skateboarding. (No mention, note, of other potential street and indeed road hazards, such as Segways or trikes.) Then there is the drinking of alcohol in the streets. This is now banned. Mainly, this is to tackle what has been a growing problem of "botellón" parties whereby youngsters (mainly youngsters) get rat-arsed in the street at the weekend. Go to the area around the Magic Roundabout on a Friday or Saturday night, and you can begin to appreciate the problem. Getting cheap booze from a shop and then gathering with your mates in the street to the accompaniment of that loud music in cars is a cheap way of getting off your face prior to heading off to the clubs. And then there is the mess.
But street drinking has a tourist dimension. Here's an example. The other day, walking past the all-inclusive Piscis hotel in the port, I saw a group, each with a plastic glass of beer, coming out of the hotel and wandering off in the direction of the marina. It may have lacked class, but I doubt they were about to go and raise hell. Would the same group now know they are breaking the law? Going all-inclusive would no longer be the cheap option if a group of four got a collective fine of perhaps a couple of grand, and that could be higher if there happened to be a "minor" present. What is the public highway and public space in this regard? Go down to Bellevue at night and all manner of people are meandering about with drinks, such as on the "boulevard" that cuts between the two parts of the complex. But the boulevard is public highway. Does the "public space" mean that if one cracks open a can of Saint Mick on the beach, the long arm of the law will be stretched out clasping a ticket for a fine of a few hundred euros? The report does emphasise the botellón element, which is what the town hall is really keen to stamp out, so there may well be some discretion in all of this, but it says that "alcohol is not to be consumed in the street". Give plod half a chance ...
Much of what the town hall is introducing is perfectly understandable, but I wonder if they've thought it through. Apart from anything else, they are going to have to make it pretty damn clear to tourists - and tour operators and reps and hotels are going to have to be party to this as well - that things like buying illegal goods or quaffing a cold drink of alcoholic content in the streets (and possibly on the beach) are liable to cop them a fine.
And then there are the things that don't seem to be covered. Well one. Scratch cards. These may well be touted with licences, but when the town hall can invoke the "nuisance" of other practices now deemed punishable by a fine, have they not overlooked the nuisance factor of the scratch-cardists? One other point, the sale of illegal goods by the likes of the lucky-lucky men has always been subject to punishment. The mere nature of the goods, pirated goods, makes their sale illegal, as does the absence of a licence, the absence of a tax number, the absence of a permission to engage in a business activity. And where has all that got us up to now?
The new measures to rid the streets of Alcúdia of the various problems they seek to tackle could all be good news. But if they result in the occasional purge without sufficient information, the danger is that Alcúdia will not benefit from what it might hope will be good publicity for cleaning its act up but from the negative publicity of numbers of poor tourists being handed large fines. I hope the town hall and the police tread warily.
For those who understand Spanish, I link here the full article from "The Diario":
http://www.diariodemallorca.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2008092500_3_395402__PART-FORANA-Comprar-vendedor-ambulante-sancionara-multas-hasta-euros
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=UTuAXV8WyuI or http://www.theasteroidsgalaxytour.com/. Today's title - from a song with a girl's name; girl, big hair.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
The headline targets of the new by-law (and I'm not sure when it applies from, but I guess it takes immediate effect) are the unauthorised street sellers. The report on all this from "The Diario" says that the unauthorised sale of food, drink and "other products" by the sellers will be subject to fines to 500 euros. As importantly, purchasers of these various products will also be liable to the same fine. Where do we start with this?
By other products, they mean this as a catch-all for the different things available from the lucky-lucky men and others who operate without any licences; this may well also include the women doing the hair braiding, though strictly speaking they are selling a service as opposed to a product. Whatever. But the really important bit of all this is that you, be you tourist or resident, can be fined for buying the stuff. Notwithstanding the question as to how well all this may be policed, if some poor tourist - ignorant of the by-law - forks out for a pair of dodgy sunglasses, he is likely to have his collar felt. Then what? Does he pay on the spot? Is he taken to court? How is this going to work? Will he even have 500 euros?
Do these other products include the crack? I imagine there are rather stricter sanctions than a 500 euro fine for this. And when the by-law refers to the "via pública" (public highway), does this mean that sales which occur in bars or on terraces or on the beach are exempt? The report refers also to "public space", so perhaps this does indeed mean all these non-street locations. There is no mention of bar owners being fined for allowing the trade, which is probably just as well. Any number of these bar owners already tell the lucksters to bugger off, but they can't necessarily be constantly vigilant or spend all their time haranguing them.
There are various other things covered by this by-law. Street prostitution, its offer and acceptance, begging, windscreen cleaners, loud music from cars are all subject to fines; restrictions, whatever they are, will be imposed on the likes of street painting and skateboarding. (No mention, note, of other potential street and indeed road hazards, such as Segways or trikes.) Then there is the drinking of alcohol in the streets. This is now banned. Mainly, this is to tackle what has been a growing problem of "botellón" parties whereby youngsters (mainly youngsters) get rat-arsed in the street at the weekend. Go to the area around the Magic Roundabout on a Friday or Saturday night, and you can begin to appreciate the problem. Getting cheap booze from a shop and then gathering with your mates in the street to the accompaniment of that loud music in cars is a cheap way of getting off your face prior to heading off to the clubs. And then there is the mess.
But street drinking has a tourist dimension. Here's an example. The other day, walking past the all-inclusive Piscis hotel in the port, I saw a group, each with a plastic glass of beer, coming out of the hotel and wandering off in the direction of the marina. It may have lacked class, but I doubt they were about to go and raise hell. Would the same group now know they are breaking the law? Going all-inclusive would no longer be the cheap option if a group of four got a collective fine of perhaps a couple of grand, and that could be higher if there happened to be a "minor" present. What is the public highway and public space in this regard? Go down to Bellevue at night and all manner of people are meandering about with drinks, such as on the "boulevard" that cuts between the two parts of the complex. But the boulevard is public highway. Does the "public space" mean that if one cracks open a can of Saint Mick on the beach, the long arm of the law will be stretched out clasping a ticket for a fine of a few hundred euros? The report does emphasise the botellón element, which is what the town hall is really keen to stamp out, so there may well be some discretion in all of this, but it says that "alcohol is not to be consumed in the street". Give plod half a chance ...
Much of what the town hall is introducing is perfectly understandable, but I wonder if they've thought it through. Apart from anything else, they are going to have to make it pretty damn clear to tourists - and tour operators and reps and hotels are going to have to be party to this as well - that things like buying illegal goods or quaffing a cold drink of alcoholic content in the streets (and possibly on the beach) are liable to cop them a fine.
And then there are the things that don't seem to be covered. Well one. Scratch cards. These may well be touted with licences, but when the town hall can invoke the "nuisance" of other practices now deemed punishable by a fine, have they not overlooked the nuisance factor of the scratch-cardists? One other point, the sale of illegal goods by the likes of the lucky-lucky men has always been subject to punishment. The mere nature of the goods, pirated goods, makes their sale illegal, as does the absence of a licence, the absence of a tax number, the absence of a permission to engage in a business activity. And where has all that got us up to now?
The new measures to rid the streets of Alcúdia of the various problems they seek to tackle could all be good news. But if they result in the occasional purge without sufficient information, the danger is that Alcúdia will not benefit from what it might hope will be good publicity for cleaning its act up but from the negative publicity of numbers of poor tourists being handed large fines. I hope the town hall and the police tread warily.
For those who understand Spanish, I link here the full article from "The Diario":
http://www.diariodemallorca.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2008092500_3_395402__PART-FORANA-Comprar-vendedor-ambulante-sancionara-multas-hasta-euros
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=UTuAXV8WyuI or http://www.theasteroidsgalaxytour.com/. Today's title - from a song with a girl's name; girl, big hair.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Sun Ain't Shining No More
When the Mallorcan weather decides that it's going to pack up for the season, it doesn't hold back. Misery in autumn weather is not exactly an unknown here, but to hear or read what some have to say, you might believe that all it amounts to is a short sharp storm and then it's back to glorious sun. Sometimes that's so, but there is much selective memory at play and a great deal of ignorance. Almost inevitably, if one ever studies a forum and its regular September-October weather enquiries, there will be the eternal optimist who will swear blind that the worst that can happen is the sudden storm-then-sun scenario. It is not always like that. Like at the moment. The change has been profound. From not needing a sheet on the bed to dragging out the duvet, to even contemplating some heating, to wearing socks and sensible shoes; autumn is here. And as autumn starts, so there is another inevitability. What the hell's going to happen during the winter? And most obviously to tourism.
I can predict, with a degree of certainty, that over the next few weeks, there will be editorials devoted to the sorry state of winter tourism and to the fact that something needs to be done. There will also be reports that quote some usually anonymous bar owner or other who will say that winter used to be a period of wine and roses, and that something needs to be done. More selective memory, and ever more something needs to be done. Winter never was that good, and no one ever comes up with a prescription. It's the easiest and laziest form of media copy-filling to state what's wrong, but not offer any suggestions. So certain am I of these editorials and reports that I could write them now right here and wait to see when they appear. But I won't, for fear of boring you with repetition. I'll leave that to others.
The Exceltur organisation which is a national body devoted to tourism "excellence" says that there's talk of a "winter in Spain" promotion. I seem to remember there have been previous winter promotion ideas. The talking starts as the main season comes to an end. It is far too late. Again. How can a body claiming excellence put its name to a promotion that should have been discussed, finalised and initiated by now? While such national bodies and those for Mallorca doubtless have a role to play, they seem incapable of taking a longer-term perspective, such as planning a good year or so in advance.
Local town halls, such as Alcúdia, are trying to persuade more hotels to stay open. There may even be grants available to do so. Some hotels are not averse to the idea. But there is little or no point in deciding to do so now; it should have been agreed months ago. There is also little point in staying open if no one is going to come.
The easy option is to shrug the shoulders and say that there is nothing that can be done. It's not really an option any longer. As the main season seems to get shorter and the economy takes more of a hit, it is even less of an option. There is a fallacy about places such as Alcúdia and Pollensa that they are dead in winter. Some parts are, like The Mile, but the towns and the ports are not. Quiet, but not dead. As important is the fact that the island is not dead. There are many attractions that remain open all year, to say nothing of, into November, the local fairs and then Christmas/New Year and the fiestas of January. Perhaps it should fall to the towns or regions to bring about a meeting of minds that can establish programmes that make Alcúdia or Pollensa more attractive in winter. And programmes would be the key. Take, for instance, those fiestas in January. Those of Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastia make for an ideal focal point. A week's programme combining these, a day in Palma, a trip to La Reserva or the caves, the Soller train, a special dinner-dance, a couple of evenings with local entertainers, an evening of sangria and barbecue at Rancho Grande - might be chilly but then wrap up and do a bit of dancing. Even without the fiestas, there is enough for a good week's programme.
It would require any number of different parties agreeing; it would require good promotion, preferably through an integrated promotion that embraces other local initiatives all channelled through the Mallorca tourist authorities; it would require selling to the tour operators and to the airlines. But something of an, if you like, bottom-up approach by the towns might be more effective than general and often ill-thought-out top-down promotions. It wouldn't be a lot; of course it wouldn't be. But it could enable a few more hotels to sense an opportunity and to perhaps bring more to those bars, restaurants and shops that do operate all year. And maybe it would create a momentum, one that could result in Mallorca being blessed by one or two serious attractions that it currently lacks, for it is only through these - and not the trifling stuff of a bit of golf, a bit of shopping and a bit of culture - that the island could compete in winter. It has to start somewhere.
Incidentally, while I'm on the subject ... remember that so-called initiative involving the British Consul? Can anyone tell me what happened to that? No, I don't suppose you can.
ALCUDIA - SANCTIONS AGAINST STREET SELLERS
I shall be doing more on this tomorrow probably, but news is coming through regarding sanctions to be put into place by Alcúdia town hall against a variety of street carryings-on, including illegal selling, prostitution and the "botellón" (the street drinking party). These sanctions, fines of varying amounts, can apply not only to sellers but also to those buying from them. As I say, more, quite a bit more of this to come.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - The Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMsKPeWAsw). Today's title - Danish; one of the songs of the year. Similar title to The Walker Brothers of some days back, but very different.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
I can predict, with a degree of certainty, that over the next few weeks, there will be editorials devoted to the sorry state of winter tourism and to the fact that something needs to be done. There will also be reports that quote some usually anonymous bar owner or other who will say that winter used to be a period of wine and roses, and that something needs to be done. More selective memory, and ever more something needs to be done. Winter never was that good, and no one ever comes up with a prescription. It's the easiest and laziest form of media copy-filling to state what's wrong, but not offer any suggestions. So certain am I of these editorials and reports that I could write them now right here and wait to see when they appear. But I won't, for fear of boring you with repetition. I'll leave that to others.
The Exceltur organisation which is a national body devoted to tourism "excellence" says that there's talk of a "winter in Spain" promotion. I seem to remember there have been previous winter promotion ideas. The talking starts as the main season comes to an end. It is far too late. Again. How can a body claiming excellence put its name to a promotion that should have been discussed, finalised and initiated by now? While such national bodies and those for Mallorca doubtless have a role to play, they seem incapable of taking a longer-term perspective, such as planning a good year or so in advance.
Local town halls, such as Alcúdia, are trying to persuade more hotels to stay open. There may even be grants available to do so. Some hotels are not averse to the idea. But there is little or no point in deciding to do so now; it should have been agreed months ago. There is also little point in staying open if no one is going to come.
The easy option is to shrug the shoulders and say that there is nothing that can be done. It's not really an option any longer. As the main season seems to get shorter and the economy takes more of a hit, it is even less of an option. There is a fallacy about places such as Alcúdia and Pollensa that they are dead in winter. Some parts are, like The Mile, but the towns and the ports are not. Quiet, but not dead. As important is the fact that the island is not dead. There are many attractions that remain open all year, to say nothing of, into November, the local fairs and then Christmas/New Year and the fiestas of January. Perhaps it should fall to the towns or regions to bring about a meeting of minds that can establish programmes that make Alcúdia or Pollensa more attractive in winter. And programmes would be the key. Take, for instance, those fiestas in January. Those of Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastia make for an ideal focal point. A week's programme combining these, a day in Palma, a trip to La Reserva or the caves, the Soller train, a special dinner-dance, a couple of evenings with local entertainers, an evening of sangria and barbecue at Rancho Grande - might be chilly but then wrap up and do a bit of dancing. Even without the fiestas, there is enough for a good week's programme.
It would require any number of different parties agreeing; it would require good promotion, preferably through an integrated promotion that embraces other local initiatives all channelled through the Mallorca tourist authorities; it would require selling to the tour operators and to the airlines. But something of an, if you like, bottom-up approach by the towns might be more effective than general and often ill-thought-out top-down promotions. It wouldn't be a lot; of course it wouldn't be. But it could enable a few more hotels to sense an opportunity and to perhaps bring more to those bars, restaurants and shops that do operate all year. And maybe it would create a momentum, one that could result in Mallorca being blessed by one or two serious attractions that it currently lacks, for it is only through these - and not the trifling stuff of a bit of golf, a bit of shopping and a bit of culture - that the island could compete in winter. It has to start somewhere.
Incidentally, while I'm on the subject ... remember that so-called initiative involving the British Consul? Can anyone tell me what happened to that? No, I don't suppose you can.
ALCUDIA - SANCTIONS AGAINST STREET SELLERS
I shall be doing more on this tomorrow probably, but news is coming through regarding sanctions to be put into place by Alcúdia town hall against a variety of street carryings-on, including illegal selling, prostitution and the "botellón" (the street drinking party). These sanctions, fines of varying amounts, can apply not only to sellers but also to those buying from them. As I say, more, quite a bit more of this to come.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - The Beatles (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMsKPeWAsw). Today's title - Danish; one of the songs of the year. Similar title to The Walker Brothers of some days back, but very different.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
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