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

Spanish Politics in the 1930s: Reading of these and the various dreadful ‘leaders’ and their factions, I’m reminded of the title of a recent book by Paul Preston: A People Betrayed: A History of Corruption, Political Incompetence and Social Division in Modern Spain 1874-2018

Spanish Politics in the 2020s: A ‘fugitive’ Catalan separatist keeps Spain waiting on its new government. Carles Puigdemont and his Junts party hold the balance of power in parliament but refuse to say who they will back to form a coalition. Problematic but very tame by the torrid standards of the pre-Civil War 1930s. In fact, there’s only one candidate but, if a deal can’t be struck, it’ll be back to the polls later this year. But not for us foreign residents who pay taxes but can’t vote. Some folk have revolted on this account. . . .

As regards La Fiesta Nacional, It’s reported that:-

• In 2021-22 less than 2% of Spaniards attended bullfights(corridas de toros), and
• The largest group of aficionados was that of 15-19 year olds.

So, pick the meat out of that . .

Right on cue comes this report of an horrendous goring early this week, in Madrid. Plenty of other videos on the net. of course.

Good to know . . . Says the VdG today: Galicia is established as [ie is] the community[region] with the lowest school dropout rate in Spain.

María gives us her views from a small Galician village here or here. As unhappy as I’d be with bloody selfie-fantcs.

The UK

Michael Deacon – a satirist – raises a nice question for ‘liberals’ here.

Germany

In case you’re going there . . . 13 things that make the natives uncomfortable. Some of them apply in Spain, too. But not, of course, ‘talking too loudly’. That’s obligatory in Spain, where people speak simultaneously and so struggle to be heard.

BTW . . . My old Hamburg friend says it’s all true . .

The Way of the World

When AI thinks you’re dead . . .

A couple of articles on the hypocrisy of Anglo literary figures. Here and here.

Did you know?

Moustaches are back in fashion, they say. At least in the Anglo world. And on men. At least those born men. And the more Tom Selleck the better, it’s reported. So, if you have no idea what he looks like, this is for you:-

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.