Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts
the stars to flight.
And, lo, the hunter of the east 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

Royalty: It’s an ill wind . . .

The Corner on the property market in September.

Lots of reports of yanquis looking to move to Spain. Here’s one from property expert Mark Stücklin.

The chapel of St James in Toledo cathedral showed him on horseback lancing a Moor. You don’t even see that up in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela these days. Years ago, the statue of the murderous saint had its lower regions masked by a bank of flowers. And it was later removed altogether – so as not to upset Muslims. Who possibly don’t visit the place in their thousands, Or even their tens . .

True . . . Spain is a country where human warmth and the “common touch” are highly valued.

The UK

I’ve long been of the heretical view that Shakespeare should not be taught to teenagers. This columnist goes even further.

Germany

The next [right-of-centre] leader of this troubled country?

The USA

• Looking back . . . More on the populace that most of us fail to understand . . . An aberration? Far from it. Trump has deep roots in America’s past.
• Looking ahead . . . .Trump’s mass deportation plan, says Richard North, is a unique experiment of staggering proportions. Details of it it, and some of its consequences, here. Interesting to note that, until 2020, the view that immigration should be increased was had risen significantly since 2000. The New York Times addresses here the current impact and the future feasibility of the plans.
• The Democrat fantasy is dead. They’re no longer the workers’ party. Kamala Harris’s comprehensive defeat shows the fatal flaw in a political party whose humble origins have given way to social elites and racial grievances. Sounds very like the UK, one difference being that the Labour Party was recently vote back into government. In contrast , , , The Dems’ 21st century coalition of wealth and woke has been renounced by the American electorate. Clinging to it will cost Democrats a long time in the wilderness.

The Way of the World

Five forces limiting Trump’s global influence as Putin smells blood. Bottom line: Bending other states to your will — while simultaneously rolling back military protection for friends, waging a trade war with almost everyone and expecting geopolitical rivals to finance your debt — is a tall order. Making America great again seems an even tougher challenge now than it was in 2016.

Quote of the Day

In the wake of Harris’s defeat . . . Since when was politics more about culture than politics? 

AGW

A contrary view to that of the majority.

Spanish

Máquinas expendadoras: Vending machines

Did you know?

• Hell is ruled by 72 demons, each with its own fancy symbol.
• The Neanderthals were far from thick

Finally . . .

I took my grandson to Mac Donald’s in Madrid last night, where we waited more that 30 minutes for our simple order to be filled. Not exactly fast food. And, as soon as we got it, he decided he needed to pee . . .

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.