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

Says the FT here: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has broken a parliamentary deadlock by striking a fresh amnesty deal with Catalan separatists aimed at protecting them from terrorism charges. A neat move, taking advantage of an EU definition of ‘terrorism’ narrower than Spain’s. Which is hardly surprising.

The view of the VdG this morning: Junsts goes further: The Justice Commission has approved the amendments to the amnesty law and next Thursday Congress will vote on the new text, now with the support of all the Government’s partners. Among those who celebrated the agreement yesterday was Junts, who didn’t hesitate to talk about the future: “We have the amnesty; now for self-determination.” La Voz’s editorial, titled ‘Attack on the Rule of Law’, talks about how the bill endangers stability, breaks the principle of equality under the law and fails to solve the problem of Cataluña.

Errr . . . Taking away the Spaniards’ right to eat late will only bite Brits, says this Spain-loving Brit.

The UK

British society is drowning in sea of guilt, says this (non-white) columnist.

Europe

In 2008, the EU ‘s economy was larger than the USA’s – $16.2 trillion to 14.7 trillion. In 2022, the US economy was $25 trillion; the EU and the UK together only $19.8 trillion. Surely can’t be all down to changing exchange rates. Europe is steadily losing relevance/power in a troubled world. Which must make Mr Putin happy, at least.

Russia

This vast country its own problems, as this fascinating Prospect article demonstrates. The first para: Russia’s war on Ukraine has a long way to run. Neither side is close to a decisive military victory. Nor is there a path to a comprehensive negotiated settlement. There are, in fact, no grounds for a settlement – the war is a consequence of how Putin and the people around him see Russia and its place in the world, and an independent democratic Ukraine has no place in that world. There can be no lasting peace until Russia itself fundamentally changes under different leadership. And what are the chances of that sometime soon? Nil. I’d guess.

Another (worrying) para: Could a settlement be achieved through a land-for-peace deal in Ukraine? That is a trade-off that only Ukrainians can decide to make, based on the alternatives they have. But it would not change the nature of the Russian state, and it would most likely consolidate Putin’s power. To think otherwise is to misunderstand the nature of Putin’s Russia.

Quote of the Day

In Russia, the purpose of elections is to validate the decisions of its rulers, not to discover the will of the people.

The Way of the World

A British columnist has claimed there’s now no difference between the policies of the Conservative and Labour parties. This put me in mind of a comment I noted down in my teenage years in, I think, a novel of C P Snow. Viz: That where the major parties agree on all major issues, there’s effectively no real democracy. An AI search threw up this: C. P. Snow expressed concerns about the weakness of democracy when major political parties agree on all significant issues. This concept is often summarized by his observation that in such situations, there’s a “danger of dictatorship” or a “one-party state.” This idea underscores the importance of healthy political debate and diversity of opinion within a democratic system. When there’s little difference between the major political parties, it can lead to complacency, lack of accountability, and potentially erode the principles of democracy. Diversity of perspectives and robust debate are essential for democratic governance to thrive, as they allow for checks and balances and prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single group or individual.

Looking at the USA, I guess this implies there’s a vibrant democracy there, even if it’s being fought over by 2 different (but unattractive) parties. And the major question is whether – despite a vibrant democracy – Will te USA under Trump be closer to what Snow feared, but for other reasons?

Did you know? . . .

80% of Generation Z born (1997 to 2012) say they used their thumbs to operate their phones; 73% of Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) say they use their index fingers. For what it’s worth, despite being a Boomer, I use my thumbs. But my sister – afraid of getting arthritis in her thumbs – uses her fingers. Probably wiser than me. Albeit a year younger.

Finally . . .

The aphorisms of 18th-century German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg: My body is that part of the world which my thoughts can change. Even imaginary illnesses can become real ones. In the rest of the world, my hypotheses cannot change the order of things.

This tickled me just now. . .

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.