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

See here and here on the outrage caused in Spain by the egregious Vox leader suggesting in Argentina that the PM should one day be hung by his ankles. From a lamppost, presumably.

After being fascinated by an 8-part series on the destruction of the Aztec empire on The Rest is History podcast, I’m now working my way through Michael Wood’s excellent book The Conquistadors. The first 2 chapters are dedicated to Hernán Cortés. As I said yesterday, not a nice chap. That said, there are in fact, several positive adjectives applicable to him. But these are massively outweighed by the negative ones; and ‘brutal’ and ‘cruel’ don’t really do justice to the man who recovered from early setbacks and went on to destroy the Aztec civilisation. Helped, of course, by smallpox. I’ve now started on the chapters on his fellow Extremaduran, Francisco Pizarro. Says Wood of this one: He, along with Hernan Cortes, is one of those characters who, by his own deeds and force of personality, changed the course of history. It was a surprise to read that Cortés’s initial sorties into Mexico were contrary to the instructions of his boss back in Cuba and that his invasion of Mexico was illegal under Spanish law. But it was less surprising to read that, once the gold and silver began to flow back to Spain, everything was properly regularised, retrospectively. Cortés died in his bed, a rich and much-honoured man but, while there might well be some in Spain, there are no statues of him in Mexico. I don’t know yet about Pizarro and Peru.

If you have access, one way or another, to British TV, this looks like a series worth watching.

Just in case you want to see what 7.5 tonnes of cocaine looks like – The biggest haul in the history of Galicia and among the top 10 in the world.

It’s not clear if the packs are labelled Atún or Harina. It arrived in Vigo on a ship full of the former. Mostly.

It’s not surprising to read of the paucity of seats on trains – and of the high (compensatory) prices elsewhere – when you know that Renfe issued 68,000 bonds for free local and mid-distance trains in Galicia this year – 61% up on last year. The word must have got round about how to game the system.

Better news is that the PSOE is planning to ban smoking on terraces. At least, to me it is. Probably not to a lot of young women.

Here’s a shout-out for the relatively new Portuguese restaurant in Pv City – iMpar. Excellent cod dishes, of course. I hope it survives but Carlos the owner is up against local conservatism.

The USA

Only in (North) America? Rudy Giuliani faces a $40m bill in damages trial for defaming Georgia election workers.

(A)GW/Energy/Net Zero

There seems to be trouble at t’mill, at COP 28. Maybe not enough grist.

Quote of the Day

The problem satirists have to grapple with now is that the great scriptwriter in the sky keeps coming up with real-life plot twists that leave even the smartest talent looking flat-footed. The source. Poorly reviewed here

The Way of the World

Is this the biggest lie ever . . . We value your privacy

Finally . . .

Taking my own advice I asked 2 AI apps: Is the area around Ronda in Spain suitable for a couple of senior citizens on bicycles?. Though I didn’t say the bike in question is a tandem. Interesting differences:-

• BING CHATGP: Possibly No: The area around Ronda may not be very suitable for a couple of senior citizens on bicycles, unless they are very fit and experienced. Most of the cycling routes around Ronda are of the hilly or downhill type, and some of them require very good fitness and skill levels. You may want to consider other areas in Spain, such as the Costa del Sol, the Andalusian countryside, or the Camino de Santiago
• PERPLEXITY: Yes: The area around Ronda is suitable. It offers picturesque landscapes, tranquil mountain roads, and captivating white villages, making it a cyclist’s dream come true.  There are various cycling routes and tours available which can be suitable for senior cyclists looking for scenic and manageable rides. Additionally, the availability of bike tours and e-bike options can provide seniors with the opportunity to explore the area comfortably and safely

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.