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

I have the impression that the Spanish media is far more interested in what is going on in Spain’s ex colonies that the British media is in the UK’s ex colonies. The obvious exception is the USA but this is surely inevitable given that country’s global importance. And cultural influence on the UK. Some of which is positive.

Cousas de Galicia

We have a river Gafos in Pv city, a tributary of the much larger Río Lérez. These days un gafo means something like a dummy or unlucky person and also someone with clawed hands. But I’m told it used to mean a leper and I see that the RA gives gafado as someone suffering from gafedad, or leprosy. Also called lepra. So, I think we can guess one of the symptoms of leprosy.

Talking of words . . . I received a letter from the Xunta today. As is usual these days, it’s in Gallego/Galego and there’s no Spanish version on the back of it. However, I could understand it all, with the exception of the phrase ao seu carón, which means ‘at your side’. Oh, and the word voos in a leaflet. I thought this might mean ‘bus’ but it turns out to be ‘flights’, vuelos in Spanish. Anyway, for anyone who wants see a chunk of Gallego and compare it with Spanish, it’s at the very end of this post.

An interesting opportunity???

The UK

I think this has been happening for quite some time but was accelerated by losses during the Covid era . . . The rise of US-style tipping — and why Brits are (politely) rebelling.

According to the UK’s tabloid press, lots – conceivably hundreds of thousands – of Brits will stop going to Spain now that, as of yesterday, they might have to give as many as 31 bits of personal information to hotels, B&Bs and car-hire companies. I rather doubt it but time will tell. The bigger nuisance might well be waiting line while the 10 folk in front of you go through the 5+ minute process. It’s said that critics have pointed out that the law breaches EU data protection laws and that they put hoteliers, campsites, car rental firms and travel agencies affected by the new rules in a “lose-lose” situation, risking potential fines from different administrations for collecting information or failing to do so.

France

Does this happen in any other country? Eleven former French prime ministers have been urged by the latest incumbent to curb their appetites for state-financed travel, chauffeurs and staff, which they enjoy decades after leaving.

The USA

A very interesting essay from an historian who dared to stick his neck out 14 years ago . . . Requiem for an empire: How Trump’s second term could reshape the world.

The Way of the ANGLO World

The political centre ground hasn’t split, it’s vanished. . . There can be no core consensus when the whole vocabulary of Western politics no longer makes sense to anyone.

English

• To take the piss: This used to mean To mock/make fun of. Now, it seems to mean To take advantage of, To scam or To insult. Or even just To annoy.
• Reader Aleksandras confirms my suspicion that we English speakers have no choice but to accept that we must, erroneously, call Yankees ‘Americans’, on the assumption that at least our brethren will understand that we’re not talking about Canadians or Mexicans.

Spanish

• Cubrecama: Bedspread. Throw
• Necrológica: Obituary.
• Planta de bombeo: Pumping station

You Have to Laugh

Gun dog for sale . .

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.