Broke!
Taxes have gone up again on cigarettes and so, for the second time this year, I looked at my tobacconist with shock and horror when she told me the new price of my old addiction. My mouth, ajar with astonishment, was unable to protest but my mind was racing. Giving up was not an option. After all, I moved to Spain because I could smoke here. So I was going to have to cut back on other expenses. Hmm…
“Booze is probably a good place to start with” was my latest conquest’s idea of an answer to my dilemma. He continued: “You could stop drinking? Or go to Botellóns instead of bars? Or drink cheap boxes of wine at home?” In chronological order, my responses were: unconceivable, I’m too old for that and pathetic! Then he advised me to quit. Consequently, he was dumped.
But a miracle happened: F.H (what would I and this column do without her?). Always in the know, she had heard of a little haven where the cañas were cheap and plentiful. Even though Outlet is extremely well located (Calle de la Libertad), nobody seems to notice it. Its shop like design with its bare shelves, pale earthly colours and discount name make it remarkably invisible to the untrained eyes. The bar cornered away, looking like someone’s idea of an American style kitchenette, leaves plenty of rooms for the patrons to chat and socialize a 50 cent cañas in hand. 50 cent cañas and 1.50 copas, I was saved! Hallelujah!
We left at closing time and walked, hand in hand, singing “I’m in love with a fairytale” (the 2009 Eurovision winning song – clearly about this column!) to our heart’s content until we reached Medaigual (Calle de San Bartolomé ) where we made good use of our 2 for 1 flyers (given to us at the door). The bar slash club isn’t fancy or even well-painted but the entrance is free, the music is camp enough - without causing serious brain damage - and there’s room to boogie.
On the way home at about 7 in the morning, I checked my wallet. I had spent a grand total of 10 Euros and 50 cents.
Crisis? What Crisis?
But Pride is around the corner and being the good fag that I am: to me it’s Christmas!
I booked my Infinita tickets (www.infinitamentegay.com) 2 months ago: 35 Euros, ouch! I relocated myself to Chueca, invited all my friends currently residing in Europe, collected mattresses off the streets so that they would have something to sleep on and ironed my Union Jack to wave it proudly in the crowd on July 4th. I’m not sure I’ll have money left for food once the weekend is over…
