Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts the stars to flight.

And, lo, has caught the sultan’s turret in a noose of light!

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable

Christopher Howse: ‘A Pilgrim in Spain’

Cosas de España

My Ferrol friend, Richard tell me that several of his friends suspect that end July was chosen for a snap general election because many of the richer PP voters will be on vacation. But they can always apply for postal votes, I guess.

Good to see that someone endorses my view that the Primitivo is the prettiest but toughest of all the 43 you can choose from.

Lenox Napier writes again about the plight of us ignored foreign residents.

A chap called Thomas Oliver asks if we’ve ever wondered why Spain has one of the best railroad systems in the world and always has had? Well, it’s because they effectively invented “modern” rail travel and have been innovating for decades.

The VdG tells that: In Galicia there are 6,000 road transport companies, drivers earn between 2,000 and 2,300 euros a month plus expenses and, despite this, there are 3,000 vacancies. No truckers to be found. It is not a one-off problem; it’s over time. So much so that transportation routes have begun to disappear due to a lack of carriers. Young people no longer listen to Loquillo. They are not happy with a truck*. Not even enough South Americans to stand in for them, it seems.

*‘Quiero un camión’ es una canción del grupo de rock español Loquillo y Trogloditas, que aparece como compuesta por Sabino Méndez quien trató durante tiempo de ocultar su enorme parecido con la versión de Elvis Presley de la canción tradicional inglesa ‘Frog Went a-Courting.’ And here’s the Burl Ives version I know from my childhood.

Talking of songs . . . We attended a Mass for my daughter’s recently deceased partner night. The tune of the last song of the evening was familiar, albeit with Spanish words. I eventually realised it was Auld Lang Syne, possibly with these lyrics

It took me a very long time to find my parked car this afternoon, after Goodle Maps sent me every which way in pursuit of it. Back home, I discovered that it wasn’t really Google Maps – or my – fault. In a smallish area, there were 6 streets with the name of the one I was looking for. Plus 4 streets with another name weaving in and out of them. No wonder I’d gone round in circles. It’s hard to believe a barrio could be designed like this but I have screen shot to prove it . . .

(A)GW/Energy

Someone famous regrets buying an electric car, for reasons that might not be valid outside the UK

The Way of the World

And someone else claims that – surprise, surprise – the life of a digital nomad ain’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Though that won’t stop more of them coming to Spain this summer, it’s said here.

Spanish

Thomas Oliver again, on the origins of the Spanish language.

Did you know?

Registration for summer discounts of up to 90% – 50% on mid-distance and high-speed trains – for people aged between 18 and 30 opened June 1. The Spanish Government will also fund half of the cost of European Interrail passes and 90% of state bus tickets for this age group between June 15 and September 15. To enjoy these discounts young Spanish and EU citizens residing in Spain need to fill up a registration form made available by the Ministry of Transport. This can be accessed here and needs to be done 24 hours before booking a ticket.

Finally . . .

Four years ago, a British family in Spain lost their parrot. It returned recently, speaking Spanish.

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.