Brothel - Or By Any Other Name ...

I decided to make my home in Spain after a few modelling jobs had introduced me to the enchanting Barcelona. It's love at first sight. I was utterly seduced by the slow pace of life, easy and pleasant, the jolly nature of the people, the happy go lucky attitude, the knack to see adversities simply as some inconveniences with a shrug of the shoulder, and carry on regardless, the healthy appetite for food and drinks and, most of all, the bright, warm and sunny weather most part of the year.

Roses, where I live now, with Girona being the capital city, rich in culture and heritage, is nothing more than a small coastal township, and a popular tourist spot for those who seek little more than constant sun and sandy beaches, with plenty of bars, restaurants, night clubs, discotheques, the marina, the golf club, and the famous Perelada Casino very near by.

I never knew until recently that it had also been considered Prostibulo de Europa'. No doubt you don't really need any translation for this Spanish word prostibulo' right? Yes, Brothel, Cat House, or by any other name. Sure I realized all along that prostitution existed here - what town and city in the world doesn't boast of a few? But what I didn't know was that here, where I live, part of the famous Alt Emporda, is crowned with such a "distinguished " title.

In the early days of my daily little trips going here and there, to familiarize myself with all the surrounding areas, I had noticed these sexily clad girls dotted about in the highways. What ridiculous spots to hang about or trying to get a ride I thought. It took only a very short moment to dawn on me that these ladies are offering rides not hitching one. Scenes like that having over the years been either wiped out, or the pick-up points have been moved somewhere else, these ladies are not seen any more. Now I know, they had been properly and comfortably housed.

I had also known about certain "clubs" operating in the suburbs, usually quite far away from centre of towns or villages, so as to be safer for wayward husbands not to have their cars spotted I supposed. And those of business men entertaining other businessmen from out of town too I guess. I learned about the distinction of Alt Emporda being 'The Whore House of Europe' only because the new Mayor of Pont de Molins, about 3 quarter hour ride from Roses, announced that he had officially established the ordinance prohibiting new openings of any such business, or expansion of existing ones; these were in fact given a short period to organise their permanent closure. He added (admitted?) that he had been under pressure by complaints of the collectives in the neighbourhood.

His speech was so clear and precise, even with all the addresses pointed out, including the highway numbers and exit points to get to them, that I can't help conjuring up a picture of these establishments with queues by the door all of them. Those guys who never knew where they were before and too shy or too cautious to ask, are now equipped with a clear map for all of them in the area to pick and choose or ,why not, try them all out! I am usually pretty dumb with maps and directions, but even I know where they all are now!

Maybe the mayor has a good heart. Before he closes them all up, he is giving them a last chance to make a little windfall first. After all, these poor souls need to relocate or job hunt now.

Tags:borthel,cathouse,Altemporda

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