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

Spanish Politics: The PP and Vox parties are taking the PSOE government to court for alleged corruption. You might think this a bit brass-necked of the PP party, as it’s defending itself in 24 cases of corruption during its last stint in power. And its leader is accused to being a mate of a Galician narco.

The birthplace of Columbus/Colón: Reports the VdG today: La Asociación Colón Gallego insiste: “Era judío, pero de aquí. Tenemos constancia de que Cristóbal Colón era Cristóbal Colón, hay documentos en Galicia que afirman que existió”, asegura Eduardo Esteban, que preside desde hace 11 años la Asociación Colón Gallego. Él ha sido uno de los protagonistas del documental “Colón ADN. Su verdadero origen”, emitido el sábado en TVE y que ha revelado que Colón era judío, aunque matizando que seguramente del Mediterráneo occidental.

Said President of the Pv Colón Association goes furthest of all, in saying that the DNA results actually strengthen the case for CC being born down the road from me. He stresses that both Ribadavia and Pontevedra City in Galicia were sanctuaries for Jews fleeing persecution in the South and that CC might well have come here as a kid with his parents. Certainly the 2 cities had vibrant Jewish populations. Well, until the fated year of 1492 anyway. Ribadavia makes a tourist attraction of its Jewish quarter, complete with a little museum but our mayor has yet to employ this ruse to bring well-heeled US tourists to the city. Actually, quite the contrary. There used to be a sign – in Spanish and Hebrew – marking the Jewish cemetery on the edge of the (ex)Jewish quarter but this went a few years ago, to be replaced by a statue of Castelao.

It is true to say that CC’s flagship, the Santa María, was built here in Poio – and was originally named La Gallega. Or maybe A Galega. I can’t recall and the model of it hasn’t yet been moved from the old museum to the new one. So . . . An AI search . . . More than you ever wanted to know about the ship:-

1. Its original name was indeed La Gallega (“The Galician Lady”)
2. It was later renamed Santa María de la Inmaculada Concepción, or simply Santa María
3. The name change likely occurred soon after setting off in August 1492
4. The ship was built on the Galician coast, which explains its original name
5. The crew reportedly gave the ship nicknames, including “Marigalante” or “Dirty Mary,” which may have contributed to CC’s decision to rename it
6. It was the largest of the 3 ships in CC’s first expedition across the Atlantic in 1492.

I’ve always understood it was considered back luck to change the name of a ship. Which was true of CC, in fact. He never got to India. Though he refused to accept this right until his death. And after.

I don’t mean to be flippant but who’d have thought being an influencer would be a hazardous calling? I ask this because a young Brit fell to his death yesterday while trying to climb the Castilla-La Mancha bridge in Talavera de la Reina. Ruining the life of his parents. And possibly that of his best friend, who was taking the inevitable video.

Portugal

The national train carrier – CP – is seeking a licence to compete with Renfe in Spain. Probably initially from Vigo to Oporto and its airport. Which would surely be good for all of us in Galicia who are compelled to use that ‘airport for all Galicians’, not one of the 3 inadequate ones in Galicia itself. Especially if we want to go to the North West or Central UK.

The UK

If you live in the UK, be prepared for ever-rising energy costs. And possibly unemployment. [En passant, the UK’s electricity prices are already the highest in the developed world]. All down to Mad Miliband.

The USA

Donald Trump, the comeback kid: The Republican presidential nominee never seems to know when he’s beaten—which means that he seldom is, entirely.

Social Media/AI

This is an illuminating and disturbing article on how and why the internet has morphed into what it is today, and on the consequences for journalism. It endorses my question-to-self as to whether I want to stay on Facebook. Which I probably won’t.

The Way of the World/Quote of the Day

Must every day be an ‘awareness’ day? The relentless proliferation of awareness-raising campaigns has done sod all to assist the less fortunate.

Nice quote therein . . . My view, as a mental-health professional, is that people are so aware of mental health they’re aware of little else, which is not good for their mental health.

AI

Another reason to be careful . . . A search gave a correct answer on the use of the subjunctive after ‘If’ in Spanish but then cited 2 verb examples which weren’t actually in the subjunctive.

English

Sennight: Archaic word for ‘week’, as fortnight still is for 2 weeks (though not in the USA, I believe). Old English seofan nihte; 

Spanish

• Arrasar: To raze to the ground, destroy, devastate. But also to triumph, to wipe the floor with competitors.
• Cohecho: Bribery but I always think it’s conspiracy

Did you know?

In 1964, jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie ran for US president as an independent. He pledged that, if elected, he’d rename the White House the Blues House and appoint Miles Davis as director of the CIA

You Have to Laugh

Finally . . .

On Saturday night, as I walked into Pv city, there was terrific cacophony coming from our (usually) quietest square. This turned out to the CeibaRimas – an annual competition of freestyle, improvised rapping in Gallego. Not exactly my scene, in any language. So I quickly moved on. And haven’t bothered to find out who won.

Finally, Finally . . .

Welcome to new subscriber Miss Nomer who has an interesting post here on (North) America.

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.