12 years on from the start of the financial crisis here, banks excessive lending to Spanish real estate owners and developers, the disparity between rich and poor, the entrepreneur and the technocrat remains highly visible.

Politicians in Brussels, Madrid and locally in Seville and Cadiz have come and gone. They take their August holidays, as if nothing has changed since time in memoriam. It has and it is brutal in parts. Seven of the top 10 poorest post codes in Spain are here. Youth unemployment, those aged 18-35, is stubbornly at close to 30% in many coastal and inland destinations.

Those with real “skin in the game” (the local entrepreneurs, the shop owners, the restauranteurs and the artisans) scrap and scrape their way to supporting their employees and families. They are largely good humoured and phlegmatic.

They are resilient. They go about their daily business serving customers as best they can, encourage repeat visits and charge good value for money. They are highly deserving of our support.

Andalusia, is sadly lacking proper investment in tourist marketing. Where is the global campaigns, the coordination between public and private enterprise to accelerate inbound tourism? The home of Christopher Columbus and Magellan is seeking real leadership and new ambition.

So many wonderful local events remain “hidden secrets”. We are headed to Sanlúcar de Barrameda for the beach horse racing and festivities. Yet it remains a locals event. The after parties, happiness and joy is hugely seductive. We know all about the Palio in Siena, running with the bulls in Pamplona and the Moon Festival in Guangdong but little about the excitement here. Why?