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

City News:-

• Almodóvar’s love affair with the capital is to be celebrated in an exhibition.
• A good question . . . Madrid is one of the hottest cities on Earth. So why are so many of our trees being chopped down?
• As noted the other day, the Sevilla council is planning to cut off water supplies to unlicensed tourist flats. But, in 48 hours, the reported number of these has risen from 715 to an astonishing 5,000.
• Santiago de Compostela: As you’ll know from my posts, getting here via one of the numerous caminos is ‘more popular than ever’. In 1985, just under 690 walkers completed the Camino de Santiago. Last year, the figure was not far short of half a million. And that’s only the official number of those who bothered to apply for and get a compostela, certifying you’ve walked or biked far enough. My calculator says that’s an increase of more than 72,000 percent.

In an article on where to go in Spain in September, the author writes: The Rías Baixas are definitely a must-see in Galicia. They spread between Finisterre cape and the Lugo estuary. Which surprised me as I’ve never heard of the Ría de Lugo and, if it did exist, it would be in the Rías Altas, north of Finisterre. Google can’t find it either. I suspect it should have been the Miño estuary. Is it any wonder that I sometimes wonder if travel writers do much travelling. Apart, of course, from those who get sponsored weekend breaks in expensive hotels somewhere ‘undiscovered’.

The Diario de Pontevedra reports today that, in our supermarkets, prices are modulating but none are actually decreasing. Not much of a surprise.

The DdP also reported on 2 fatal workplace accidents this week, rather pointing up my recent comment about attitude to risk here.

Every summer in Pontevedra city, tanned young women compete to see who can wear the shortest skirt and the briefest denim shorts. Though not at the same time, of course. I might well have seen both winners today, though admittedly there’s some weeks to go.

And every July and August I don’t receive my Prospect and Private Eye magazines, which means multiple deliveries some time in September. I’ve long given up being annoyed by this. At least they’re not stolen. Or thrown in a bin.

Things are far worse for a friend of mine who was to start working in a posh new café today . . . Two bits of essential machinery are ‘lost somewhere in Europe’. Must be summer. The estreno has been postponed until 25 August. In theory. But, really, sine die.

Germany

Eh? How heat pumps could bring the German economy to its knees.

The USA

Becoming more like the EU?

Iran

Let’s hope this observer is correct: Iran’s fatal weakness has been exposed: It is becoming increasingly apparent that Iran does not want war right now. 

Spanish

• Boca a boca: Word of mouth.
• Estreno: Debut: First performance: Opening, etc.

Did you know?

In the Basque language, the word for oak is ‘haritz’. This term is significant in Basque culture, particularly due to the historical and symbolic importance of oak trees, such as the Gernikako Arbola (Tree of Gernika), which represents Basque freedoms and identity. I only know this because I asked a waiter today what his name was and Haritz, was the answer. So, I looked it up.

Finally . . . .

This unhappy Spanish village has far greater problems with tourist groups than I do . . .

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. If you do this but don’t read the posts, I will delete your subscription. So perhaps don’t bother if you have other reasons for subscribing . . .
• 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. And 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.