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

The latest travel advice for Brits and all non-EU citizens coming to Spain.

In pursuit of Segovia’s secret . . .

Michael Portillo has a TV program on Madrid, here. It centres on the barrió of Malasaña, where my elder daughter lives. Indeed, he walks up her street, while – strangely, as he’s half Spanish – mispronouncing Malasaña. If outside the UK, you might well need a VPN to watch it.

There was a headline in a local paper this morning, advising that the reló had extended itself and is now threatening the almejas in the Ría de Arousa. I had trouble finding out what the reló was, not being convinced it was either a ‘sundial ‘or a clock’(reloj). Eventually, Wiki told me it’s a ‘soft-water clam called dosinia exoleta, or more commonly the ‘rayed artemis’. Oddly, athough Wiki says it’s flavoursome, it doesn’t appear to be marketed along our coast. In fact, it’s said to be ‘polemical’ and its sale is forbidden. Perhaps María knows why.

The VdG had this to say this morning re the obligation to clear one’s land: Even if you pay for it, there’s no one to do it: Almost 500,000 warning notices have been issued by the Galician administration, demanding that neglected properties be cleaned up. The regulation, which seeks to prevent fires, affects the 50 metres which border populated areas. But it’s not a simple task in Galicia, where smallholdings and multi-ownership make it difficult to locate the owners. The Xunta’s inspectors work at the request of the councils, although there is often a lack of personnel to carry out the tasks of clearing and cleaning the biomass at the speed required by the notice. Fines don’t seem to be the definitive solution where the talk is about pruning – the branches of bureaucracy, above all. Sounds like a job for the local police. . .

I mentioned that a kamikaze driver had killed 3 people on the AP9 this week. Sad to report, there was an awful mix-up with the bodies being sent to the respective families. Some bureaucratic mistakes are far worse than others.

My 5 year old – also half-Spanish – grandson occasionally grapples for a word in both English and Spanish. Looking at my shoes, he asked where the ‘ropes’ where, referring to the laces. This left me wondering if cuerdas is used in Spanish for these, as well as cordones.

The Romanian accordionist might no longer plague our streets but we have a new – and worse – irritation. Or, at least, I have. This is a scraggly young man who plays a guitar and sings. Or, rather, he doesn’t really do either of these at all well. But he’s good at panhandling, coming round with his cap after a couple of raucously-delivered bars of a few songs. Some of them possibly in English.

France

• Ungovernable??
• So . . . A looming resignation?

The USA

• Democracy in the USA. And how KH is ‘audaciously’ trying to avoid the incumbency jinx.
• Hold your horses, you happy Dems . . .

Russia

Putin’s family dynasty: How his inner circle lives in the shadows. The Russian president’s secretive private life raises questions about hidden wealth, influence, and power behind the scenes.

Ukraine v Russia

Putin is said to be ready for peace talks. I wonder what thinks his ‘special operation has gained him. Apart from closer ties to some pretty awful people.’Or whether he even thinks of the human cost.

Spanish

Quedarse tirado: Not ‘To be stretched out [on the ground]’ but ‘stranded’.

You Have to Laugh

Finally . .

This is a film which I, for one, think deserves its iconic status. Like ‘Harold and Maude’. And maybe the original ‘The Italian Job’.

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts, either after reading on line or in my FB group Thoughts from Galicia. Especially Noémi, who seems to be blitzing through previous posts and Liming them all. In return, here’s her blog.

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.