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

I have wondered – especially given food prices increases – how come Spain benefited last year from ‘exceptionally low inflation’. This is said to be because of relatively aggressive [socialist]government intervention to keep energy prices down – something only a small economy could have done without distorting the entire European energy market. This advantage is now said to have faded with the significant reduction in natural gas prices. Not sure what this means in practice. Increased inflation overall, perhaps, Or at least a rate similar nw to that of other EU states.

Poached from other estimable bloggers:-

• The story of Spanish leather.
• The Spanish siesta. – Is it dying?

And a HT to Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for this article on Spain’s best carnivales in 2024. I really must get up to see the one in Ourense.

The USA

Trump’s flair for the absurd risks a new era of trade wars. The former President is abandoning an economic vision to tap into ‘Trumpmania’. Taster: Back in 2016, his version of reviving American greatness was a rather clunky mix of protectionism and tax cuts. This time, the emphasis is on the former, with an even bigger flair for absurdity.

I gauge that fears are growing that he might well make it back to – in his view, unlimited – power. Possibly not a good thing, either for the US or the rest of the world. And beyond parody, even to the talents of Armando Iannucci.

(A)GW/Energy/Net Zero

7 reasons why there’s more good news on climate change than you think: The data scientist Hannah Ritchie cuts through the doomsday warnings to explain the progress we’ve made, the actions each of us can take and why there’s plenty to feel hopeful about. Makes a change.

Spanish

Carnival: I often wonder whether it isn’t CarnAval. Especially when I see it spelt this way on the Tenerife poster for the event. Related items:-

• Comparsas: ‘Large groups with coordinated costumes and dances’
• Murgas: ‘Musical and satirical groups’
• Charanga: ‘Brass band’. Often street-roaming. At least in Pv city. Noisy, colourful and enjoyable.

Did you know? . . .

I’ve heard it said that one’s siesta should be short and in an armchair, not in/on a bed. Not sure why this is better for one’s health. But it’s what I’ve always done anyway.

Finally . . .

As I have 2 boisterous young kids to tend right now, while both parents are in hospital, my time – as every mother knows – is not my own. And I don’t have a lot to spare, what with that and hospital visits to see my daughter. Hence the haphazard publishing times of this blog recently. Sometimes, I don’t get round until late in the day to polishing up a draft I’ve made between 5.30 and 7.30 of a morning. And, even if I do, I can then, as last night, forget to publish the final post until very late. Bear with me, especially if you like to read my posts in the morning. I’m going to try hard to revert to that, very probably with shorter posts.

If you missed yesterday’s very late post, you’ve now got 2 to read today. . . .

Welcome: To new subscriber One

The Usual Links . . .

You can get my posts by email as soon as they’re published. With the added bonus that they’ll contain the typos I’ll discover later. I believe there’s a box for this at the bottom of each post. I guess it’s logical that this doesn’t appear on the version given to me . . .

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.