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

Two articles from property expert Mark Stücklin on measures being taken to reduce the number of tourist-flats:-

• In Barcelona
• Nationwide

I was astonished by this latest attempt by El Tráfico to tell Spanish drivers how to navigate roundabouts. Only 60% are said to get it wrong! Given that it’s 100% here in Galicia, I can only assume that the national average is brought down by foreigners who do do things correctly/safely. Including our Portuguese neighbours. But at least I know now why your insurance company will prove difficult, if you hit an idiot who’s doing a U-turn entirely in the outside lane. The latter, in Spanish law, has the right of way. So, it’s you who’ll be adjudged negligent. Which is why I advise drivers new to Spain to either do what the Spanish do or pay close attention to their passenger-side rear-view mirror.

Cousas de Galicia

El Tráfico’s diagram shows a car in the inside lane, preparing to exit and signalling to do so. In 24 years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this here in Galicia. Certainly not by learner drivers, who are still being taught to do what El Tráfico is telling them not to. So, how do they ever pass their driving test?? Ignorant inspectors, I guess. [Obvious question – Will you be failed, if you follow the official advice . . .]

A few facts about local airports, reflecting the ‘patria chica’ aspect of Spanish politics:-

• Galicia has 3 small ‘international’ airports. Between them, they offer 35 international flights. The traffic through these is down on last year.
• Oporto has one – much larger airport – offering 122 international flights. Its volume of flights continues to rise
• There’s no bus service from Pv city to any Galician airport but there are 4 companies offering a service to Oporto’s facility

As I’ve said, there’s precious little chance of the region’s politicians agreeing to benefit the populace by amalgamating the three uncompetitive airports into one, obviating the need for a 2-3 hour journey to and from Oporto.

The UK

That petition . . . When a pub owner called for another vote, accusing Starmer of going back on his word, it became a lightning rod for a dissatisfied Britain.

The EU

An anti-Nato, pro-Putin, ultra-nationalist professor seems poised to win the presidency of Romania – an EU member since January 2007. One wonders why. And what can be done about it. This Times leader might provide something of an answer to the first question. Fear.

The USA

This article on Trump’s quid pro quos will probably surprise few.

Russia v. Ukraine

Depressingly, things are looking worse than ever for Ukraine.

The Way of the World

An optimistic view​? Woke is waning: was it ever more than a fad?

Quotes of the Day

From that article . . . A mistake easily made by the sorts of people who spend their time thinking about ideas is to overrate how interesting those ideas are to everyone else.  . . . People can vaguely adopt new concepts and theories without having thought about them that much and then lose them just as easily. This is why fits of ideological passion are often surprisingly short-lived.  Fanaticism rarely goes as deep as it first appears. . . . But it is disturbing that ideas don’t even have to make much logical sense to catch hold.

English

Crapulence: The feeling you get when you’ve eaten or drunk too much.

Spanish

Arándano: Cranberry. But also said to be blueberry and bilberry. We need reader María’s advice

Did You Know?

A farce about a gaffe-laden am-dram group – first performed in a room above a pub – has become one of Britain’s best ever exports. And . . . A Spanish version, La Función Que Sale Mal, has been a hit in Madrid for 6 years.

You Have to Laugh/Finally . . .

Pv city’s fashion school recently had an exhibition of pupils’ end-of-year designs, all of which – to me – were beyond ridiculous. Ludicrous, even. I’ll post one or two tomorrow but, meanwhile, here’s how their teacher dresses for the office:-

Oh, hang on . . . Do those glasses mean that he’s blind, which would explain a lot.

Finally, Finally . . .

My sleep pattern is 6 hours a night, plus a siesta of 30 or 40 minutes mid afternoon. I wish I could sleep 7 at night, as I regularly read I’m shortening my life if I don’t get this as a nocturnal minimum. I’ve always comforted myself with the belief that 6+0.50 hours is equivalent to almost 8 straight hours but an AI search today advised that this is a myth. A discovery which is not only a disappointment but also sleep-disturbing.

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts, either after reading them 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.