Travel News

I was a tad surprised to see 4 Irish ladies in their 30s checking into a 4-star €100-a-night hotel in Pamplona yesterday, clearly on the camino. I doubt they were amused to hear me say: ‘Not exactly an albergue, ladies’. Maybe they work in Dublin’s high-paying financial sector but, even so, a month’s walk at that expense per night certainly racks up the bills, even if they share 2 rooms. Maybe they decided, after a week’s tough walking, to splash out here in Pamplona. And get a decent shower.

Marvellous tapas in the famous Calle de Estafata in Pamplona last night. At a place recommended by a Basque friend.

Prior to that I had a chat with this character, from whom I was trying to find out why he’d just had a spat with 4 – yes, 4 – police officers. 

He was voluble but sans teeth. So, I didn’t get it all. Somebody had made a denuncia but it might well have been him, apparently about the music being played in the square where he needed to concentrate on his painting challenge. At which he wasn’t really succeeding, in truth.

Off to the mountains, the forests and the pretty villages of North Navarra and, maybe, Aragón today. No idea where I’ll end up.

Cosas de España/Galicia

As for the tribal spat over the membership of the governing body of the judiciary, I’ve read that the problem stems from the failure to replace the fascist judges during Spain’s Transition to democracy. Could well be true.

Spain is leaving something called The Energy Charter, as a couple of other EU countries have. I’m not entirely clear why.

Spain To Follow Italy And Poland And Leave The Energy Charter

When I first came to Spain, I was told that being caught cheating – in this ‘low-ethics society’ – didn’t incur the stigma it does in, say, the UK. Later, a teacher friend told me that one of his pupils has answered the question How do you choose your best friend? with: The one who lets me copy his exam answers. I was reminded of these comments when reading about this enterprising soul:-

Law student etches tiny notes on pens to cheat on exam

Lenox Napier has a bit of a rant against Customs procedures/hassle here. Justifiably, of course.

The Way of the World

An article here on dealing with twitter mobs.

The (blind?) referee of the match in which Diego Maradona famously palmed the ball into the England goal is offering to sell said ball for as much as £3m. I wonder how he’ll prove authenticity.

Finally   . . . .   

To amuse . . . I mentioned the Spanish for a Dear John letter the other day. By coincidence . . .

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.