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

If in Madrid, you have a few days left to get to this tapas festival, being held in Lavapiés, said to have once been a working-class neighbourhood but which is now much gentrified.

BTW . . .Back in the 18th century, Lavapiés was once known as El Avapiés but the name later reverted to Lavapiés. Possibly denoting the washing of stuff in the nearby river Manzanares.

Camino news:-

• At midday yesterday, on a cool and rainy day, I was passed by 9 camino ‘pilgrims’ on O Burgo bridge heading for SdC. This is 4 more – 80% – than we saw in an entire week back in 2009.
• The end-September total for those reaching SdC was 423,000, against 438,000 for the whole of 2022. And that total only covers those who register for a Compostela certificate. So, it excludes both those who don’t bother with this and those who gave up – hot, bored, and tired – on the meseta.
• Not surprisingly, a local paper described the camino this morning as ‘de-seasonised’.
• The estimable Mr Chorizo has written this article on the camino. It’s also available as a podcast, as Spain to Go episode #56 on your favourite platform.

They’re auctioning off the latest yacht impounded for drug smuggling. As with the cars I mentioned recently, I do wonder if it’s safe to bid against the folk who seem determined to get it (back?).

When I came to Pv city 23 years ago, I was surprised to see no evidence of boules or petanque being played here, particularly since the Alameda looked like a perfect place on which to do this. But I read yesterday that there is a competition imminent, in which 18 Galician teams will be taking part. As I have a set of metal boules in the garage, I might just give some thought to taking up the sport.

Switzerland

The latest EU member to see a (far) right wing party gain strength in elections.

The Way of the World

Two thought-provoking articles:-

• The aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel has exposed the West’s moral collapse. The protests we are seeing have nothing to do with Israel and everything to do with problems here at home, says, Douglas Murray here, with specific reference to the UK.
• Enough grief for all?

Spanish

Desestacionalización: De-seasoning. From Desestacionalizar:- 1. Eliminar la estacionalidad de una serie de datos temporales. 2. Hacer que un producto o negocio deje de estar vinculado a un período concreto del año

María advises that: A “piso” is bigger than an “apartamento.” In the US, we would call an “apartamento” a studio apartment. This generally consists of one large room with a kitchen nook, and, exceptionally, one bedroom aside from the bathroom.

Did you know? . . .

A couple of eminent English historians have an extremely popular podcast called The Rest is History, which I greatly enjoy. But I was staggered to read last night that they each make £70,000 a month from it . . . or £840,000 or just under €1m a year. Nice work if you can get it.

Point of detail . . . The podcast is carried on the Goalhanger platform. Some English readers might realise why it’s named thus. It was set up by the famous English footballer and controversial BBC match commentator, Gary Lineker. Considered a ‘goal-hawker’ to some.

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.

For those thinking of moving to Spain:- This is an extremely comprehensive and accurate guide to the challenge, written by a Brit who lives in both the North and the South and who’s very involved in helping Camino walkers.