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

Says Mark Stücklin here: The golden age of unregulated tourist flats in Spain is coming to an end as authorities increasingly crack down on these across the country – in key cities like Malaga, Sevilla, Cádiz, Alicante, and Madrid. Mark adds: Success will largely depend on the effectiveness of enforcement. The evidence to date is that authorities have been slack in dealing with illegal, unlicensed lets. Or at least slow.

Cousas de Galicia

Pv city’s population has grown by 21% since 2000, when I came to live here – from 70,000 to 85,000. Back then, none of the flat blocks behind the bridge in this foto existed:-

In fact, the land was occupied by a factory churning our wood-pulp. It’s long gone but it gave its name – Tafisa – to the barrio where the flats now are. And where 2 more blocks are going up beside these. One of which might or might not turn out to be a 5-star hotel – the first in the city. It’s not only poor camino pilgrims who flock to Pv city now. Possibly reflecting the world-wide publicity the city-planning has had. And higher temperatures in the South, of course.

The USA

Still under the control of a couple of authoritarian madmen. Both of whom insist that speech must be absolutely free, unless it’s used to contradict or criticise them. When it must be suppressed and the perpetrators punished, even by incarceration.

Trump

A man whose character you wouldn’t find credible if it were in a dystopian novel about the USA.

Trump quotes yesterday:-

• Today I heard form the Ukrainians ‘We weren’t invited’. Well, you’ve been there for 3 years. You should have ended it 3 years ago. You should have never started it. [This comes after repeated statements that Ukraine’s should never have allowed the war to begin and should have made concessions to Russia before it invaded. In others words, that Ukraine started the war and it’s Ukraine’s fault it got invaded. One is left wondering if and when Canada, Panama and/or Greenland will find one day themselves in Ukraine’s 2022 dilemma of making concessions or being invaded. Albeit by the benevolent empire of the USA, not that of un-benevolent Empire of Russia].
• We have millions and millions of people on social security who are over a hundred. Does anyone believe this? [Well, now that you ask – No, we don’t – without hard evidence, especially as we never believe anything you say].
• We have a very corrupt country. [This from a consummate grifter who knows a thing or two about corruption. As someone has noted: When you’re a thief, you think everyone is a thief. And you see everything through a thief ‘s perspective.]

Trump is now endorsing Russia’s demand that Ukraine holds a presidential election before it’s involved in peace negotiations, because Zalensky ‘has low ratings’ and ‘so lacks authority. [The words ’pot’ and ‘black’ spring to mind]. This raises the obvious question? Is there any Putin pre-condition that Trump won’t support? Not so far anyway.

Trump’s basic philosophy – Might is right? If you’re faced with tyranny, you shouldn’t fight it but should ‘do a deal’ with it. Maybe sell your soul, to survive. Or sell your mother down the river. Is this why Putin has to be respected and obeyed? [Or is it perhaps true that Putin has something on him?]

An AI answer to one critical question . . . There are conflicting views on whether Trump is seen as self-confident or lacking in self-esteem. On one hand, Trump is often perceived as highly self-confident: A 2024 survey found that 55% of Americans describe him as “mentally sharp,” and 51% believe he keeps his promises. Trump’s simple, confident language style has been noted by researchers as part of a broader trend in political communication, suggesting he exudes confidence in his messaging. Trump’s adherence to Norman Vincent Peale’s “The Power of Positive Thinking” philosophy has contributed to his belief in self-confidence and visualization for success. However, some mental health professionals have suggested that Trump may actually lack self-esteem: Psychoanalyst Michael Maccoby argues that Trump suffers from a “grievous lack of self-esteem,” causing him to constantly seek approval and affirmation from others. Maccoby suggests that Trump’s self-esteem is entirely based on external validation, making him “desperate” for constant reinforcement. This need for affirmation may drive Trump to take “dangerous” risks to appear as a “winner”. It’s important to note that these conflicting views highlight the complexity of assessing an individual’s self-confidence, especially in the public eye. Trump’s outward displays of confidence may not necessarily reflect his inner emotional state.

Ukraine v Russia

See Richard North here on the ‘sham ‘talks’ in Riyadh. On Trump, RN writes: It is possible that Trump, in believing that Putin is ready to do a deal, has completely misread the situation and that no deal is in the offing. [Because Putin wants to control all of Ukraine and increasingly believes Trump will give him this].

Just one article on Zelensky’s plight . . . Dark times for Zelensky as Russia and US push him out of the picture. The Ukrainian president has been frozen out of peace talks for his own country with rumours Putin plans to force elections in Kyiv. I’m guessing Trump regards Zelensky as ’weak’, so dispensable. To be replaced, in effect, by a ‘strong’ Trump. As if.

English

Content hub: What used to be known as a network, eg CNN or the BBC.

Answering the question on every reader’s lips . . A contronym is a word that has 2 opposite or contradictory meaning. A homonym is a word that has the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings, which are not necessarily opposite. So . . . All contronyms are homonyms, but not all homonyms are contronyms. I trust that is clear . . .

Did you know?

The ‘Great’ in Great Britain doesn’t refer to power. It distinguishes between Britain – in the British Isles – and (little) Brittany in France. Where some Brits fled to – from Cornwall – after the invading/settling Anglo Saxons pushed them westwards in the 5th century. In fact, ‘Britain’ does just as well as ‘Great Britain’, which is why its natives are only called ‘Brits’.

Finally . . . Travel News

Motoring to Gerés in NE Portugal, via the lovely Ponte de Lima for lunch, this was about the only thing seen in 90 minutes driving on the serpentine roads of the mountains in the Penedes-Gerés park:-

No vultures, eagles or wolves yet.

Finally . . . Finally

I’ve just recalled one US product I can stop buying – Heinz baked beans. That should hit them where it hurts.

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts.

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.