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/Galicia

The largest nativity scene – belén – in Spain. That word also means Bethlehem, I believe.

As I’m driving home today, I’ve lost the chance to see which side of this line I would be on.

As mentioned, I have no heat at home. I was hoping that the relevant company would send a técnico tomorrow and last week sent them a request for same. They called me a couple of times but I was driving and couldn’t respond. So, instead of emailing me or sending me a text message or a wotsap, they annulled the appointment they’d set up . . . Life in Spain. Where the voice still often seems more important than any other form of communication. I should have known, I guess. Especially in view of the 2 holidays this week. And the inevitable bridge(s).

Portugal

This is the front window of a barber’s shop in Elvas. He also dabbles in antiques, it seems:-

(A)GW/Energy/Net Zero

Some reservations here about COP-28. A massive – oil financed – jamboree, if nothing else. And a chance for pilots of private planes to put in some air miles.

Quote of the Day

On ‘class’ distinctions. . . Instead of their vocabulary [U and non-U] , people are now classified according to their opinions. It’s an inevitable outcome of the digital age. Social media, to which everyone under the age of 50 has become incurably addicted, is a mode of communication based almost entirely on the sharing, applauding and denigrating of opinions. As a consequence, our opinions have come to define us – and to determine our social status.

I guess the best recent example of this is the treatment of all Brexit supporters as low-class, uneducated, bigoted, xenophobic, empire-worshipping cretins. Gammons and Sharons.

The Way of the World

The controversial columnist, Julie Burchill, writes here on ‘tik-tok teens’ and their bizarre attraction to Islam.

Finally . . .

My daughter treated me – if that’s the right word – to my annual visit to MacDonalds’ last evening, where I had a crispy chicken burger. Or would have done, there’s been anything other than sauce and onions between the 2 halves of the bun. I guess you don’t need great educational qualifications to make crispy chicken burgers but I was, naturally, left wondering just how low MacDonalds go in their staff recruitment. Or is it a mistake anyone could make?

The Usual Links . . .

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.