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

The Times takes a look here at the leader of the far-right Vox party, a possible king-maker by the end of this month. Not an inspiring read. Unless you wear beige trousers and a blue jacket and have your hair greased down. And possibly sport a yellow-and-red bracelet on your wrist. A nice quote from an El Pais columnist: “If you vote for Vox, you’ll be voting for Franco in 2023”. Possibly a little strong in that I doubt the Catholic Church will be given its previous power and its stifling role in Spanish life. Though some bits of Spain might again see archbishops asked for their opinions on local TV. God forbid. Though he surely wouldn’t. If he really is a Catholic . . .

And here’s The Times on Madrid’s ambitions to lure the richest of the rich . . . Madrid’s tourism board is seeking to enter the luxury travel market, investing about €800m million in high-end, international hotels. Less than a decade ago there were no international hotel chains in the capital city. Since 2021, 21 hotel brands have arrived in the capital, eight of them classified as luxury. I see it’s not only in Pv city that more English is being heard in the cafés and plazas.

Here’s all you need to know about the current state of the Spanish property market, from Mark Stücklin of Spanish Property Insight. In essence, a continuing ‘cooldown’ but no collapse.

I’ve said it’s hard to find any Spaniards working as waiters these days, with all these jobs seemingly filled by South Americans. But, not recognising their language, I yesterday asked 2 waiters where they were from and was told Morocco. I knew cafés and bars were finding it hard to get staff, so I guess this is good alternative source and we can expect to see more Moroccans serving in our watering holes.

The UK

Richard North this morning: It says something of the state of the nation that the dominant theme in today’s media is the behaviour of an as yet unnamed BBC presenter and the action taken by his employer. . . One can’t help but observe that, in the grand scheme of things, there are far more pressing priorities which should have a greater call on our attention. Bizarre.

The USA

A 2004 attempt to establish cricket here as a professional sport was a failure. As was a later attempt in 2009. But now comes a 3rd try, centred on the T20 format that makes it a tad similar to baseball and which is said to have ‘revolutionised the game’s TV profile’. Critically, the matches only last a few hours, not an entire day, never mind 5 long days. And they can’t, in practice, end in a draw/tie. It’s hoped there’ll be great interest among the USA’s ‘massive South Asian diaspora’. More here.

Russia v Ukraine

Why the Ukrainian counteroffensive is such slow going, from the WSJ. And something in similar vein from The Times. The end ain’t in sight.

English

‘Bazball’: A newish term that Americans might have to get used to: An aggressive, positive brand of cricket in which players are encouraged to bat with no fear, playing ambitious shots and racking up runs quickly. Mistakes are not criticised and, in the field, taking wickets is the main priority.

‘Bonus hole’: One of the terms for ‘vagina’ used by transmen that today’s NHS cervical cancer testers need to familiarise themselves with.

Did you know?

A Spanish footballer named Luis Suárez died recently, at 88. He was the only Spanish-born footballer to have been voted European Footballer of the Year, back in 1960. It’s said that many Spaniards regard him as the best exponent of the game Spain has yet produced. En passant, he was Galician, born in La/A Coruña. So, to my nationalist friends, not really Spanish at all. Galiza non é España, as they say.

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 – updated a bit in early July 2023.