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

My apologies for confusing, at least early readers yesterday, Bilbao with Barcelona, and The Basque Country with Cataluña. The Guggenheim and its puppy statue are, of course, in the former city, not the latter.

Talking of Spanish cities . . . Down in Valencia’s cathedral, one can see what’s alleged to be the Holy Grail – El Santo Caliz. The Olive News brings us here the tale of an attempt by the British secret services – during the Civil War – to remove it to the UK. Presumably for safe-keeping. I see that there is an International Scientific Commission of Holy Grail Studies. [I imagine there’s one for the Turin Shroud too. In fact: Yes, there is an International Scientific Commission of Turin Shroud Studies. This was appointed to examine the Shroud using scientific techniques in 1969 and 1973.]

Good to see that Spain features in this list of the Top 50 science and technology centres around the world. Albeit only once, the same as the UK and France.

Blimey . . . A report on the imminent Galician elections in a Welsh newspaper . . . On the theme of the winds of change. I have to say, I’ve never heard the comparison cited therein, though it’s not far-fetched. I’d quite forgotten that there’s a Centre for Galician Studies at Bangor University. Even though years ago I corresponded with a professor of Gallego there.

The UK

Thanks, largely, to post-war and post-imperial challenges, to de-industrialisation, and to IRA terrorism, the 70s were a terrible period in the UK. And 1974 was arguably the worst year therein. The Rest is History podcast here offers 4 episodes on these years, which make for grim – but occasionally very amusing – listening. And provide an insight into how Margaret Thatcher emerged as the Conservative leader at the end of that dreadful decade of both Tory and Labour failure to weather the storm.

By pure coincidence, Lenox Napier writes here of a Spanish writer’s book on the decline of the UK.

The Way of the World – or the UK, at least.

Ninety per cent of us routinely recycle — so why does so much of our rubbish still end up in landfill? A good question. Here’s one answer to it, from a Times columnist.

Spanish v English

Don Pablo here provides guidance on the use of tu and usted. Like Don Pablo, I hate ústed and regularly ask Spanish folk not to use it for me. And I don’t use it myself, even when I know I should, eg to my younger-than-me GP.

English is an exception in this regard but, in fact, we used to have this distinction – via thou and you – but abandoned it for, arguably, less confusing ways to show either respect or the lack of it.

Did you know? . . .

Does everyone know that Google Maps isn’t 100% reliable in urban settings. Last week, it incorrectly labelled a local IT shop a mobile phone store. And, yesterday, it identified my location as the car park of a pub a hundred metres from my daughter’s house, across a main road.

Finally . . .

The wit of Samuel Johnson 2: I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.

Finally, finally . . .

A good friend has succumbed to cancer. His son has sent this to all his friends. RIP Dwight. You will be much missed.

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.