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 nationality of camino ‘pilgrims’ this year so far:

• Spanish – More than 100k
• German – c. 22k
• Italian – c. 20k
• Portuguese: c.20k
• North American c. 15k
• French: 10k.

Discounting the rather sad attempt at an Oktoberfest next month, today sees our last major event of the year – the Feira Franca, or Medieval Fair. I went down to see the (brief) proclamation of its start last night and to take these fotos:-

Actually, the Feira France isn’t the last major event of the year; later this month Pv city will stage another international triathlon event, which the town council has been heavily promoting to us for the last 9 months. Not sure why. Some fotos from last evening:-

One of the 4 or 5 reconstituted gates to the old quarter:-

The proclamation last night that the Fair will take place:-

Covering up most of an eyesore – the bottom half of a building in the main square that burned down about 8 years ago. There’s quite a bit of this done around the old quarter. Which is nice.

Burger King – which really shouldn’t be in the old quarter – entering into the spirit with medieval menus:-

Another menu, in a mixture of Spanish and Galego, and tripe topping the list:-

The price of octopus – pulpo in Spanish, pobo in Galego – has certainly shot up in the last couple of years. In the Middle Ages, you could have bought several palaces for what it costs now.

Well, it rained last night and a storm is forecast for tonight but the weather gods have been kind so far today; it looks like the Feira Franca will enjoy sun and a cool temperature in the low 20s. Good news for the hundreds of folk who’ll be sitting outside restaurants enjoying their (expensive) special lunches and dinners. More fotos tomorrow . . .

The UK

This will surprise (disappoint?) at least one reader . . . A major upward revision to official data today showed that the UK economy recovered from the pandemic far more rapidly than previously thought, returning to its pre-pandemic size almost 2 years ago. It means the economy is no longer the worst performer among the world’s richest nations as the growth rate is likely to have surpassed Germany’s. Analysts said that the perception of the UK as the G7’s laggard was “no longer valid”.

France

As it’s an annual summer event . . . It should come as no surprise that French air-traffic controllers have called for a strike on September 15, which will engulf the Rugby World Cup there and cause traffic chaos elsewhere. Obviously the trains will join soon. That’s how it is in France and increasingly in the UK. Sport and its fans are just seen as stooges to advance a cause. Ii will no doubt all happen again next year’s ahead of the Olympics in Paris.

A good reason to give Paris a miss – the vicious tiger mosquito has arrived there.

(A)GW

Net Zero is copper-bottomed. The road to reaching net zero begins and ends with copper. In theory, at least. But there might not be enough of the metal to go round. Near term, increasing demand is leading to major theft/fraud events.

Finally . . .

Thinking of retiring to Spain from the UK? This is for you.

Finally, finally . . .

Suddenly I’m very popular on FB, with 3 young and attractive ladies asking me to befriend them in the last 24 hours. I can’t help wondering why. And have asked them. Don’t expect any sensible response.

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.