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

Not good news and I’m not aware of any explanation of why this is worse than in other EU countries . . . Shoppers in Spanish supermarkets have had their wallets squeezed by nearly half since the Covid pandemic. A basic shopping basket is now 47% more expensive than when the virus struck four years ago, according to a report by the consulting firm Kantar Worldpanel. The staple goods of oil, rice, coffee, detergent, cookies, milk, pasta and yoghurt were found to cost €20.13 in 2019. Today, that same shopping basket costs €29.7

The UK and Spain are said to have reached an agreement yesterday on the ‘general political lines’ of a deal over Gibraltar, with ‘significant progress’ made on ‘the airport, goods and mobility’. “Negotiations will continue, though no final date has been set on a definitive deal between Gibraltar and the EU. But it is thought that the hardest hurdles have been overcome. So, that’s good news, though it won’t appeal to extremists in both countries, of course. BTW, it’s a myth that the British government wants to keep Gibraltar. Cabinet papers have revealed they’d be delighted to get shut of it tomorrow. The barriers are the pesky Gibraltarians and a gullible British public whipped up by the egregious tabloid media every time Madrid does something short-sightedly nasty/stupid.

This is a place I visited last year, though not at a time I could get into it. I had to satisfy myself – along with just 2 Australians – in reading the (very weathered) information plaques on top of the wall. Must go again. It’s less than a stone’s throw from one of my favourite eating places.

This is an event I’ve yet to experience. Must do so one day. If only to admire the horses. And possibly the ladies of Sevilla.

A Barcelona beach to avoid this summer Or any summer, I guess: It’s not exactly picturesque, with a backdrop of a thermal power station, urban waste incinerator and sewage treatment plant, but the Fòrum beach in Sant Adrià de Besòs on the fringe of Barcelona is frequented by both city folk and tourists seeking sea air. However, for the past four years, the EEA has been calling for the beach to be closed due to its poor water quality, blamed on sewage overflows and deposits from the Besòs river. The Catalan Water Agency has fought a swimming ban, saying its own 2023 water analysis of Fòrum was good, apart from a brief period after some rains.

The UK

I’ve mentioned (dubious) car financing schemes as a possible factor behind people buying better cars than they traditinally might have. So, I was interested to tead that: The Financial Conduct Authority is investigating potential mis-selling and overcharging in the car finance industry prior to 2021, which could result in a major compensation scheme for affected consumers.

Less seriously . . . Another look at those Liverpool ladies’ fashions of this week.

The USA

Wishful thinking? . . . For all his bombast, Trump is plummeting – financially, legally and politically. He’s losing cash reserves and legal gambits, and his eponymous stock – DJT – took an embarrassing tumble this week

Finally . . Did you know? . . .

I did an AI search on Is there a book about why people believe crazy things. And got: “Why People Believe Weird Things” by Michael Shermer. This appears to be an in-depth and critical look at some of the most bizarre beliefs and conspiracy theories that people hold. It seems to provide both a catalog of “weird things” as well as an analysis of the psychological and social factors behind them. Some key points:

• The book covers a wide range of topics, including pseudoscience, superstition, conspiracy theories, cults, creationism, Holocaust denial, and more.
• Shermer explores both the specific “weird things” that people believe, as well as the underlying psychological, cognitive, and social factors that make people susceptible to these irrational beliefs.
• The book is described as a “no-holds-barred assault on popular superstitions and prejudices”, debunking many of these unusual claims and beliefs.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect in these times of transgenderism:-

• Shermer also examines the “darker side” of these beliefs, including how they can lead to dangerous ideologies, witch hunts, and other harmful outcomes.

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. And this is something on the so-called Beckham Rule, which is beneficial – tax-wise – for folk who want to work here.