This article humorously critiques the lack of efficient train connections from La Rioja to Madrid, comparing it to the speedier options available to other Spanish regions. The author ironically praises the slower, more scenic journey, emphasizing its poetic qualities and suggesting that the leisurely pace allows for appreciation of the landscape, contrasting it with the faster, less scenic routes for other regions.
The author highlights the disparity in train service, drawing a contrast between the slower train from La Rioja (which passes through several cities) and the faster trains connecting other areas to Madrid. This leisurely pace is viewed by the author as a unique regional characteristic.
The piece employs irony and satire. The author pretends to be grateful for the slow train, using hyperbole to depict the train journey as an idyllic, almost romantic adventure, sarcastically thanking the ministry for defending the region's "insular idiosyncrasy." The conclusion proposes a comical solution: a fleet of donkeys to replace the train, further highlighting the absurdity of the situation.