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

Politics: The VdG today: The leader of the PP party left his investiture up in the air yesterday. During the opening of the PP’s political yearhe let slip: “Now or later there will be a PP government”. These days he will hold meetings with political groups and regional presidents “who want to contribute”, but warns that he will not accept “blackmail or auctions for the interests of minorities”. The mission seems heroic. But the PSOE leader doesn’t have things all his own way either: The leader of the Catalan nationalists refuses to negotiate a joint agreement with ERC to allow a PSOE government. In Galicia, meanwhile, PSdeG and Sumar are starting the year without candidates. And so we begin a week in which the Rubiales [kissing] case continues to give much to talk about. As with the investiture pacts, a countdown has started on the issue.

Walking in the mountains north of Madrid, guided by Hemingway . . .

Further South . . . Lenox Napier explains here why you shouldn’t eat the snails from Palomares, in Almeria province.

Not so far South . . . An unusual construction near Ciudad Real that I must get to see.

I’ve been known to say that the Spanish are never more hard-working and efficient than when they’re preparing for a fiesta. Even more so when clearing up after an event. This weekend saw the erection of false city gates and property facades ahead of the big medieval fair (A Feira Franca) next weekend. And last week I watched in awe as a massive – but temporary – venue was built for the 2 big concerts that kept my daughter awake until the early hours. I wanted to post a foto of this but I see this morning it was dismantled yesterday. So, here’s one of the false medieval gates:-

And this is a false facade, hiding the eyesore of an ruined house near the seafood market:-

BTW , , , When I came to live here in 2000, the Feira Franca – then in only its 2nd year – occupied just a small bit of one street. Now it fills the entire old quarter plus the large Alameda outside the original main gates of the medieval city. Indeed, I think it even extends across the river these days. It involves numerous attractions and a huge amount of dressing up*. In view of the work that goes into it, it’s a shame it lasts for only one evening and one day, next Friday and Saturday. As ever, I will be one of the 25% who don’t don a medieval costume – or something that passes for this – and will be partaking of at least one roast ox sandwich. But possibly not much wine, as I’m setting off on another road trip to Aragón and Navarra early Sunday morning.

*Lots of info and fotos here.

María writes here of her experience at a recent concert. or here.

The last weekend in August saw not only the exodus of tourists from our coasts but also of the family guests and Airbnbyers from my street. Meaning I can again park in front of my house. Indeed, in front of my garage. . . One has to pay to get a ban on this. And, if you do, you then can’t park in front of your own garage. Daft.

A word of advice for those buying a car or having tyres replaced – Check the pressures. Last night, I found my 2 new tyres at 50% above the pressure recommended by the maker. As on every occasion in 23 years. God knows why they all do this. Ignorance and/or laziness spring to mind. But perhaps there’s a Spanish belief that this is better for the tyres.

France

The truth about Paris’s rat problem – and why its mayor blames climate change. As the City of Lights strives to become Europe’s ‘greenest’ city, its burgeoning rodent population is shocking tourists.

Russia

Twenty years of ruthlessness: How Russia has silenced Putin’s opponents. From poisonings to shootings to falls from windows and now possibly plane crashes, the Kremlin has been accused of numerous lethal attacks.

(A)GW/Energy/Net Zero

Coal is still the global king, says Richard North here. Because: Net-zero ambitions are having absolutely no impact on international coal trading. RN remains pessmistic re Developed World plans to fund reductions in fossil fuels. Indeed, he sees falling coal prices increaseing the hurdles faced by the JETP programme. A complex picture.

Quote of the Day

Smarter consumption is the way to net zero: We could buy ourselves vital time if we weren’t so scandalously neglectful of energy efficiency. Amen to that. As I keep telling my daughters.

Spanish

La cultura friki: This seems to be reference to IT geeks. Or perhaps gamers. There was some sort of event featuring dozens of screens in Pv city last week. Here’s the RAE definitions of friki:-

• 1. Extravagante, raro o excéntrico.
• 2.Persona pintoresca y extravagante.
• 3. Persona que practica desmesurada y obsesivamente una afición.

Finally . . .

Something to look forward to: Flat plastic wine bottles are the shape of the future. The UK’s Wine Society is selling 4 of its most popular wines in recycled, flat bottles made out of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.

Finally, finally . . .

After taking my younger daughter and her son to – of course – Oporto airport today, I’ll be without 1-2 daughters and 1-4 grandchildren for the first time in 4 months. A sad evening beckons. But, as María says, life goes on. And I have the Feira Franca and the road trip to look forward to . . .

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