Not all Spain is in Dire Straights.

[markwilding]

http://www.worldmayor.com/contest_2012/ ... sults.html

[gus-lopez]

" Unlike most cities in Spain and Europe, Bilbao is virtually debt-free. During the years of prosperity in the early part of this century, the city, under the administration of Iñaki Azkuna, steadily reduced its debt until it was paid off in 2011."

Well done to the man & a lesson in how all councils/regions/governments should conduct there finances. Although it is common-sense ,& how the vast majority have to balance there own income /expenditure It won't happen though.

[ajtg1952]

I also like the way they run their national football team!!

[Lavanda]

So it can be done. There is, actually, some hope for the economy and for sense. Good start to the New Year. It's also encouraging that there's a prize-giving body out there that can recognise merit (after the Obama Nobel Peace Prize, etc, etc a person could be forgiven for thinking the entire world had gone crazy).

[scampicat]

Well done, that man with the Basque name that I can't spell or pronounce. Let's hope there are more where he came from!