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

Changing Spain: My friend David has sent me this article on business and social etiquette in Madrid. It suggests that the stereotypical Spanish tardiness has fallen by the wayside to be replaced with a more Anglo-Saxon punctuality. I guess this is increasingly true of La Coruña and Vigo alos but am not so sure about Pontevedra, a city of bureaucrats, not business folk

Well, we were promised change after it was revealed that 75% trains from Madrid to Galicia arrived late and now we’ve got it. The percentage has increased to 90%. Or 100%, if you’re waiting at Pv station for a daughter or friend coming from the capital.

This news has reminded me that, despite articles and diagrams, I really have no understanding of why things are so complicated before, around and after the Galician city of Ourense. It’s all a haze of single tracks, double tracks, narrow and wide gauge trains/boogies, old tracks, new tracks and planned new tracks. And sidings where changes of one sort or another take place. It rather reminds me of the joke that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. But I’m sure it’ll all be fine one day and my adult grandchildren will be able to get to Madrid in less than 3 hours, not the current minimum of 4.5. Unless they opt for a faster private drone.

The EU

Mario Draghi can’t save the EU’s failing economy. Brussels is yet again relying on more integration, more subsidies, and more protectionism. I don’t know how accurate that is but it doesn’t do much to alter my long-standing view that the EU won’t survive. At least, not in its current ‘ever-closer-union’ form. Other views are available.

AEP claims here that the EU elites are in despair over Europe’s economic death spiral. Maybe, but if so do they know how to stop it? I’m sure AEP thinks they don’t.

Germany

Berlin upsets the apple-cart . . . Germany ‘risks chaos’ after announcing checks at all borders. After 2 terror attacks last month, Berlin argues that the temporary measures are justified to combat cross-border crime.

One wonders how this is seen by Remainers who looked to Europe for an ‘enlightened approach to immigration, compared with the ‘far-right’ approach of Brexiteers.’ At least one major question arises . . . Will Germany break the irony meter by using the the Rwanda scheme and facilities abandoned by the new Labour government of the UK?

The USA

Russia

Reader Perry has an interesting theory . . . Why did Putin attack Ukraine? Lithium, dear Henry, dear Henry. Rare Earths! 

And an interesting claim . . . Meanwhile, however, having successfully enlarged NATO, Putin is faced with new German technology developed by Rheinmetall, which his Soviet era equipment & one trick pony economy cannot compete with. Apart from oil & natural gas, what else does the West purchase from Russia? The Chinese Communist Party know this and it’s waiting for Putin to hand over Siberia, in exchange for his personal survival.

Transgenderism

• In this fascinating podcast, a transwoman ‘apostate’ says, inter alia, that self-identity has been a complete disaster for everyone, including trans folk.
• And this makes harrowing reading/listening. If you have kids, it’s especially hard to hold back the tears.

Someone said recently that there are huge law suits down the line and I suspect that’s true. Some doctors and therapists must already have trouble sleeping.

AI

One thing I’ve noticed about AI search answers is that they’re verbose, even discounting repetition/duplication. For example, the info on grades of leather below is short of many unnecessary word and phrases from the original answer. As yet, AI can’t edit its stuff like humans can/must.

Spanish

I asked Google what the French word refoulement would be in Spanish. It came up with represión, The English word used – in the context of illegal immigrants – is ‘push-back’. So I then asked what this would be in Spanish and got retroceso. I need Paideleo or David W to tell us the right one. My guess is retroceso. Or maybe another, better word.

Did you know?

If, like me, you’re looking to buy leather furniture, you need to know that leather comes in 4 grades:-

• Full Grain [Grano entero]: The highest quality. It retains the natural grain, meaning it hasn’t been sanded or altered in any way. Known for its durability and ability to develop a beautiful patina over time. Used in high-end products due to its longevity and natural appearance.
• Top Grain [De primer grano]: The second highest quality. Made from the top layer of the hide, but has been sanded and treated to remove imperfections, giving it a smoother finish and making it more pliable and easier to work with. While still durable, it doesn’t have the same level of breathability as full grain leather.
• Genuine[Genuino]: A term that can be [deliberately!] misleading. Lower quality, made from the leftover scraps of hides. While still real leather, it lacks the grain and natural characteristics of higher grades. Often used in less expensive products. Not as durable as full or top grain leather.
• Bonded[De grano corregido]: The lowest quality, made from scraps of leather bonded together with synthetic materials. Often used in inexpensive furniture and accessories. Has a uniform appearance but lacks the durability and authenticity of real leather. Prone to peeling and cracking over time

Q: How can one tell? Assuming you’re not likely to get an honest answer from the retailer.

You have to laugh . . .

Finally . .

This is a full guide to the EES, due to start in November.

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.

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.