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

Spain marked the 50th anniversary of an assassination this week by debating whether it had changed the course of the country’s history. Scholars disagree over whether it prevented Franco’s style of government continuing after his death and if it hastened the transition to democracy. [Given recent controversy over Hamas ‘militants’, I wonder if the BBC used ‘terrorist’ in their reporting of it back then. I guess they did. Different times.]

A 3-way spat over USD17 billion that Spain might yet win, in 10-15 years time. I think the UK should pile in and claim it was war booty. Just to add to the fun and enrich British lawyers as well.

The great betrayer? Or just a very able politician? Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has told the Catalan president that a self-determination referendum is out of the question, even after he allied with Catalan separatist parties in Parliament. “No constitution in the world accepts and allows the separation of a part of its country. None. In Spain neither,” Sanchez told a press briefing after meeting the Catalan regional president.

It’s time to (re)tell you about a strange addition to many Spanish Xmas cribs – the caganer. These are crude (in every sense) representations of well-known folk. The most popular of all time is that of Lionel Messi. Read and smile. The Wiki article cited suggests that: The caganer serves as a levelling device to bring the mighty down. Surely not in the case of (the wonderful, joy-giving) little Lionel. A true one-off.

An odd video entitled How easy it is to be a robber in Spain. But I think they mean ‘burglar’,

The UK

I think I know why British men wear baseball caps indoors. The (upside-down) fashion is for having the hair on top of your head extremely short – even non-existent – and the hair on your chin very long. So, the cap is worn to stop all your body’s heat escaping through the top of your head even quicker than it normally does.

Another observation . . . At least at Xmas, British pubs can be just as noisy as Spanish bars. Even without 2 or 3 TVs on the wall, blaring away despite being ignored by everyone.

Quotes of the Day

P J O’Rourke, who crossed the (in)famous bourne last year, was a pungent and very funny (allegedly) right-wing writer. I first read this book of his 33 years ago and have just started rereading it – as it happens, in a pub, as my son-in-law had locked me out of the house. I’ll be quoting from it over the next few weeks. The first, both from way back in 1987:-

First ones, both from way back in 1987:-

• I can’t bear the dreadful, glum earnestness of the Left. People who worry themselves sick over sexism in language and think the government sneaks into their houses at night and puts atomic waste into the kitchen disposal unit can’t be expected to have a sense of humour. And they don’t.
• Some people are unable to experience even the slightest of life’s pleasures without being thrown into frenzies of analysis.

Incidentally, the price of a medium glass of wine in the pub was €8.50. How do people survive in the UK?

Did you know? . . .

This is an article on the various sites you can use to book hotels online. Which I do a lot of. So, interesting to see which company comes out best in various parts of the world. But annoying to read that you get better deals using a mobile phone than a laptop, at least with Booking.

Finally . . .

One of my weekly joys is listening to Sounds of the 60s early on a Saturday morning. A feature of the show is puns* sent in by listeners, who show ingenious use of the material provided by the English language. I confess to laughing out loud at some of them. An example: I’m sorry about my last joke about oil. It was a bit crude but I’ll try to refine it. OK, they sound pathetic on the page but I did laugh at that one.

• An old definition I repeat regularly to a pun-ful friend, who knows who he is . . . A pun should be a feather which which to tickle the intellect. Not a pistol let off at the earhole.

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.