Covid

An interesting article: Taster: For nearly 3 years, most people in the world have been treated like lab rats in an experiment in bio-technocratic central management by state power, at the urging of once-respected global institutions, and this has resulted in economic crisis, demographic upheaval, and utter political panic. It will be many years before this is sorted out. The transition will certainly involve the rise of nationalism simply because rallying people around their shared ideals can be an effective tool for beating back a machinery that otherwise seems beyond the capacity of human beings to control.

The Pandemic Response Unleashed Two Kinds of Nationalism

Cosas de España/Galiza

This is someone’s view of what the victory of a populist ‘fascist’ party might mean for Spain. God help us if it means more votes for the egregious Vox party. Though, as an immigrant, I should be OK, as I’m white. Or at least pink.

The Madrid government has cancelled a planned corrida involving young bulls and dwarves. The latter are rather more unhappy about this that the former, as they’ll lose income and didn’t stand (not very tall) to lose their lives. I wonder how true it is that ‘only 17’ tickets had been sold.

It’s reported that a basket of food here will now cost you 15% more than a year ago, with Mercadona being a leading price-riser. An Alcampo supermarket in Vigo is said to be the cheapest in the entire country. So, a double shame that  patronise Mercadona in Pv.

Hard to believe but the Galician government claims that Madrid is not taking the plan for a Lisbon-Vigo high-speed train as seriously as the Portuguese government is. Right now there’s talk of a line being operational by 2030. So, maybe 2050. Or 2130.

It’s feared that rising temperatures will force UK tourists to find alternatives to the South and East coasts of Spain. I rather hope these will be in another country and not up here in the cooler North. So, please don’t tell anyone about it.

I set off for Madrid at 9.15 yesterday morning in rain and fog but arrived 5 hours later in Tordesillas in glorious sunshine. I was there to re-visit the magnificent Mudejar Convent of Santa Clara, where Juana the (not really) La Loca was imprisoned for 50 years. And where there’s a stunning arch only discovered 30 years ago when a door was opened up between the original palace and the church beside it. On the way out of Tordesillas, I was less than surprised to see the huge El Club ‘hotel’ on the outskirts of the town, all dressed up in traditional brothel colours. There’s always at least one on the edge of Spanish cities.  

Iran

An encouraging article on a country for which I have great affection. It’s seen (far) better times . . .

The EU 

Ireland is doing rather better than Italy, it says here. Because it ’fits better with EU bureaucracy’. I don’t really know what this means, TBH.

Italy Vs Ireland… For Whom The Bell Tolls

Finally   . . . .   

To amuse . . .

For new readers: If you’ve landed here looking for info on Galicia or Pontevedra, try here. If you’re passing through Pontevedra on the Camino, you’ll find a guide to the city there.