Gazans are materially cut off from the world economy, just as in Cuba: everything patched up and odd flashes of modernity amid an economy trapped in the 1970s – the occasional new car alongside battered Volvos and even more battered donkeys.
Haven't gay Welsh donkeys suffered enough, you might ask, without having their sexuality lazily associated with sexual violence?
On Scarborough beach on Thursday, donkeys were wearing straw hats and a blue saddle square blanket embroidered with the "Yorkshire loves Le Tour" logo.
As well as horse- or pony-riding, and walks with donkeys, there are 2,000 acres of forest on the doorstep where you can follow the centre's guided walks, or hire bikes to explore further.
The BBC reporter (I didn't catch her name) asked McGuinness about the comment made by Alistair McDonnell from the SDLP who said the executive would be a "carve up" between Sinn Féin and the DUP with the other parties expected to be "nodding donkeys".
Stepping out of the house in the morning to greet our neighbours – wild horses on one side, donkeys on the other – with nothing but birdsong filling the air, I felt a sense of adventure you normally only get with wild camping.
The best thing was my mum bought me three donkeys to keep the lawn down when I was on tour.
Travelling with donkeys, you trek over several high passes and camp in emerald green meadows beside glacial lakes surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
Outside there's a shaded chill-out area with cushions and a telescope (night skies are dazzling) and the fields are home to donkeys and an ostrich – a lone survivor from Balthasar's former life as an ostrich farmer.
"I held him in my arms while he died, he was quite ancient …" Not quite sure how to respond, I say: "I don't know how long donkeys live?" "Oh," he says, "Donkey's years".
