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/Galicia

Politics: Begoña Gómez, the wife of Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, has chosen to remain silent under questioning for alleged crimes of influence peddling and corruption. Needless to say. politicians to the right of the government are having a field day with this.

Tourism 1: Those protests can only grow. But no protests in Pv city as yet. (cf. Santiago de Compostela). Possibly because we’re not subjected to excess drinking, fighting, and littering. Though the various drug clans – of which there are more than 30 – can get a tad boisterous among themselves. And the numerous panhandling addicts are a bloody nuisance. Not to mention the summer plague of accordionists of limited repertoires.

Tourism 2: The must beautiful historic city in Spain? Note: Pv city doesn’t get a look in.

Society: Domestic violence is a major concern of the Spanish media, even though the stats don’t appear to be much worse than, say, the UK. This is a report on a possibly unwise development on the part of the police.

Moving to Spain? This article ‘debunks claims re wealth and residency taxes’. Probably only relevant if you’re a HNWI. In which case, you’ll surely know what that stands for.

The Camino de Santiago . . . Below, there’s some advice for pilgrims leaving Pv city across O Burgo bridge.

The UK

There a (Northern) saying in the UK – Where there’s muck, there’s brass(money). Having just read of someone who’s become a millionaire providing accommodation for illegal immigrants/refugees and recalling the millions made by providers of (duff)Covid stuff, I feel that saying should be changed to Where there’s misery, there’s brass.

The USA

Well, at least one person has a degree of optimism . . .

JD Vance’s diary of the last week.

Considerable less amusing . . . A take on the man from the (left-of-centre) Guardian. Doesn’t exactly come across as a decent cove. But, rather, as man who’s ruthless, insatiable and unburdened by principle in his ambition to achieve maximum power. No wonder Trump chose him. So, no good cop in that team, just 2 bad ‘uns. Our breath is bated.

Russia

The Wizard of the Kremlin – A novel that dares to get under the skin of Vladimir Putin.

The Way of the World

One woman fights back against the ‘po-faced and the humourless’. I won’t be bullied into stipulating my pronouns. Good for her. The nonsense has to stop.

Did you know?

The word ‘gossip’ comes from ‘godsibb’ – pertaining roughly to a gathering of godmothers. [I’d read midwives].

Finally . .

I was surprised to see that readership yesterday – when the internet ’collapsed ‘– was above average. I’m forced to conclude all my readers use Macs or PCs that have Windows 11, not 10.

Which reminds me . . . I only rarely note who’s Liked my posts. These are 2 people who did this recently. Each has their own web pages, so the least I can do is link to them:-

1. Susana Cabaço

2. Noga Noga

There was a 3rd but I can’t now find out/recall how to see the Likes . . .

Finally, Finally . . .

Another fine cartoon from Matt:-

Advice for pilgrims leaving Pv city via O Burgo bridge.

At the moment, the main route up through the barrio of Lérez is closed and you’re advised to turn left and take the first right, just after the petrol/gas station. My advice is not to do this but to keep walking a minute or two until you arrive at a zebra crossing, where you’ll see a path to your right, alongside a tributary of the main river. This is flat and far more shaded. After a few hundred metres, you’ll arrive at a tarmac road, with a small, narrow bridge to your left. Here you can either carry straight on across the road or turn right onto the road and then join the main route after 200m. If you take the first option – my recommendation – you’ll follow a path as it bends to the right and comes out on the main route, further along than with the 2nd option.

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.
• 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. Finally, some advice on getting a mortgage.