Driving…vroom vroom, Mexican food, and the new Spanish pet law

I love to drive to my house. It’s 8 kilometres (about 5 miles) from Begur around a twisting, turning two-lane road. The speed limit is 30 kmh (about 19 mph), but there’s no radar, luckily, and few cars, so I go fast. It’s so much fun! I do have to be careful going around the curves to stay in my lane and trust that others, including huge trucks carrying construction equipment, stay in theirs. There are only a couple of places where I could go over the cliff, so that’s good. But it does limit my alcohol consumption when I eat dinner in town! I think I’ve frightened a few of my passengers!

I’ve actually gotten a few speeding tickets. They have a lot of radar cameras. I got four the first year. After that, I slowed down and paid more attention to the signs telling me I was in a zone monitored by radar, but last year I got another two, and this year one in France. They tracked me down. Supposedly you can only get a certain number (you receive points against your license for each violation) before they suspend your license, but since I haven’t gotten a Spanish license, I think I’m home free for the moment. You are required to get a Spanish license after being here for 6 months. It’s not that easy. You have to take a driving course, which I’ve heard costs at least $1,000, and then pass the test. So far I’ve ignored the rule and I’m just waiting to get caught, claim ignorance, and hope the fine isn’t too high. Then I guess I’ll take the damn course. I have a friend who has been here 9 years without getting caught. That’s what I’m banking on.

I went to a Mexican restaurant in a nearby beach town recently. I usually order small portions, but I ordered the tasting menu because I wanted to try all of it to see what they considered Mexican food. The nachos were tortilla chips with a very thin layer of melted cheese barely covering the chip and some sausage-y meat on top. There was a “wrap” which was really not Mexican in the least. It was filled with chicken and was more like a Chick-Fil-A wrap. The fajitas were extremely peculiar. There were cold flour (?) tortillas served with some sort of cubed meat mixed with the same whitish cheese that was on the nachos. There was a dab of guacamole on the plate, but no salsa or pico de gallo anywhere. My favorite distorted entry was the quesadilla which had ham inside. It was lunchmeat type ham. Very weird. But the Corona was fine!

Strange segue…Spain has strict laws regarding pet ownership that affect all animals – domestic or wild – under human care, to ensure their welfare. The recently enacted Animal Welfare law was passed “to fight against the mistreatment, abandonment, and slaughter of animals.” All pets must be registered and microchipped to ensure they receive proper care and prevent abandonment. Some of the other requirements are listed below, but they will not come into force until a new government has been formed. Spain’s government is just as dysfunctional as ours!!

• Pets will be considered legal family members. This law can help protect them if families split up. Officials will keep the animals’ well-being in mind during divorces and custody battles;
• It will be compulsory to sterilize all animals that are living outside a dwelling, including pets in the garden, in outdoor runs, or in rural homes located in countryside areas;
• To own a dog in Spain you will have to complete a free “responsible pet ownership course” online; 
• Pet owners are required to have compulsory liability insurance. Only people with hunting, guard and working dogs will be exempt. I got mine for 41€ each for one year;
• The law prohibits the use of electronic or punitive dog collars;
• Pet shops will no longer sell dogs and cats, promoting adoption and responsible breeding. Pets will only be sold from registered breeders. Pet shops have six months to find homes for the animals they currently have;
• Wild animals like lions or tigers have been banned from circuses with the owners of these animals given six months to comply. Marine parks may still use dolphins until these mammals die;
• The law also says a pet may not be left unattended for more than three consecutive days, even if they have food and water, a period that is reduced to 24 hours in the case of dogs; 
• Leaving dogs or cats on terraces or patios, although not prohibited, is now time-limited; 
• Pet owners will not be able to leave their animals alone inside closed vehicles or exposed to any thermal conditions that could put their lives in danger; 
• Animals cannot be allowed to be left alone or tied up in public spaces, which means no leaving your dog outside the supermarket, which is often done here;
• Also, there is now a maximum amount of pets one can have: five;
• Oddly, Bullfights, regarded by some Spaniards as an integral part of the country’s culture, have not been included in the law. Catalunya, however, banned it in 2010. And the law, again outside of bullfighting, outlaws the use of animals for recreational activities that cause them pain and suffering; 
• Offenses are punishable with fines of 500€ to 200,000€ and potentially imprisonment.

Mine have NO worries! They’re insured.