Here, too, taxes are rising, but above all new taxes are being introduced for shopkeepers and the self-employed, which often makes it impossible for them to keep their businesses going and forces them to close; that didn’t happen when I arrived eight years ago.
I’ll tell you that a fairly good café con leche costs 1.65 euros and a simple sandwich, for example one made with shredded beef, can cost around 4 euros, there are, of course, simpler options. That’s the price at a place that specialises in chocolate and churros; one day I took a photo of the menu and looked it up on my phone.
Taxes huh? I know they have to be paid, but what are they doing with them? Responsible governmental spending? Nope, not usually. And when there's no money to tax what happens? Chaos and financial apocalypse.
That's $2.72 AUD. But...here a small café latte (café con leche) at an average café starts at $5.50 and the average is $6. Medium and large sizes range up to $8.50-&9.00. Crazy.
A coffee costs that much??? That’s mad!!!
Well, supposedly, and I say ‘supposedly’, taxes go towards healthcare, roads and education. What I can tell you from my own experience, though, is that healthcare is in a worse state than when I arrived, and that the infamous AVE train crash that happened recently was down to a lack of maintenance.