¡Huelga general!

The strike started at midnight. We went to a café con wifi to use the internet. The girls are working on getting problems worked out with their school. When we got back, the strike had started. People were yelling on the streets, putting strike stickers everywhere, piketting (?), blowing whistles...it was a loud sight. They stopped in the street, so we watched them from our balcony. Eventually they left but I was anxious for wednesday.

When we awoke, I thought just a few places would be closed. No, almost everything was closed. The only shops not closed were the chain stores and a handful of restaurants. So we chalked it up as a worthless day and decided to go to the beach.

On the way to the beach we passed many people on strike. This is the first national strike Spain has had in 8 years. There have been others in different towns, but this one was nation wide. The strike is against the new labor reform to reduce the national debt and against the capitalist system. I am not able to explain many of these details because I am not familiar with Spanish politics, but I will tell you what I know from the flier.

The new labor reform says:

• Companies can fire employees without reason or punishment for whatever cause they see fit
• Employees may be laid off and given only 20 days noticed with 8 days paid
• Employers can change salaries, functions, geography, and schedule if they want without consulting the employee
• In an effort to reduce the deficit, the pension of 6 million people will be reduced, when 68% of them already aren't paid a minimum profesional salary
• Social security benfits are not guaranteed and are changing the retirement age to 67 and reducing the amount of benefits while raising those of companies, multi-millionaires, and executives

If I were a Spanish citizen I would probably protest too. But I am not, so I prefer to just watch. While we were on our way to the beach the main street was closed off and people were marching through the streets. Signs, whistles, bull horns, fliers, chanting, policía...the whole 9 yards. It was a very interesting day.

The beach was amazing. I'll probably try to go almost everyday. I read a book, had a coke, and cooled myself off in the freezing Mediterranean waters. I went to the beach with English speakers while reading my book in English. I feel guilty, and my Spanish suffers when I spend that much time doing English stuff. So I bought a Spanish book of small stories by famour authors. Let the learning commence!

Again, no internet. Everything was closed so María couldn't go to the stores. Maybe tomorrow. We're dying sin wifi!