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

As noted recently, Spain continues to do well at the macro economic level – possibly meaning that the rich are getting richer and the divide is growing. But down at the coalface, this is the reality for folk wanting to buy their own homes: In May 2019, a family needed almost €35,000 to cover the down payment and the expenses around the purchase of a home. These include the 20% of the price the bank won’t lend, [high] taxes and [compulsory] notary fees, for example. In 2023, this is just over €42,00 euros, or 30% more. The reasons are the escalation of the ECB interest rates, which determine the Euribor, and the rise in property prices. These force families to allocate more money from savings. Or give up the hope of buying, of course. And to stick with their (rising) rents.

I’ve mentioned in the past a little street in Pv city’s old quarter than runs from the main square down to Praza da Verdura. There are about 15 shops in it and, over 23 years, I’ve seen all but 4 of them periodically change hands – and contents – or close down. These 4 are a pharmacist, a bookshop, a religious relics shop and a lighting ’emporium’. I’ve patronised the last one a couple of times. As I passed it yesterday, I noticed the couple who own it sitting at the back of the shop, arms folded and gazing wistfully at the door. I can’t believe it does much business these days. Or that any kids they have will want to take it over. So, I predict another closure and another boarding-up. Or perhaps a new shop set up by yet another optimist who overestimates the foot-traffic in this location.

Talking of the old quarter . . . This is a bar in the nightlife/movida zone that I also pass 4 times a day:-

Next to the bar is a private entrance, sporting this graffiti:-

I’m told it means ‘butterfly’. Which is mariposa in Spanish – one of the terms for ‘gay’. Your guess is as good as mine as to why someone’s painted it on the door.

Finally on this theme . . . This a shop at the bottom of Praza da Verdura, advertising the last items in a stock-liquidation sale. It’s had this notice on its window for all the 23 years I’ve been here. Clearly successful . . .

And talking of my route into and out of the city . . . I see that the land on the other side of the main road from the small O Vao/Bao industrial park has been cleared again. This is the 3rd or 4th time this has happened since 2000, mirroring the advances and reversals in the process of getting planning permission for expansion of the park. I wonder if I will again see it become overgrown. Or will Decathlon et al finally make a long-promised appearance?

UK

In the UK at least, the vegetarian bubble is said to have deflated. How well I recall, as a single father, how overjoyed I was when my 2 teenage daughters decided they’d had enough of that way of eating. And returned to bacon sandwiches.

Germany

My old (half-English)friend in Hamburg has sent me this example of German humour, saying it’s very funny. I leave it you to decide . . .

• My wife only wanted to buy potatoes but never came back!
• So, what did you do? 
• I had noodles!

The USA

Someone other than the geriatric odd-couple might emerge from the woodwork to become the next President, says this columnist.

Meanwhile, Trump’s friends and lawyers – sorry, just his hair-shedding lawyers – are still trying to wrest the spade from the cretin’s hands. You don’t have to be mad to support his candidacy . . Well, you know the rest.

Did you know?

Classical music is suffused with Cockney music motifs. Here’s the wonderful Bill Bailey demonstrating the validity of this claim

Finally . . .

To amuse . . .

I hope I don’t need to stress that this is an example of British irony . .

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.