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 recently suggested that Spanish schoolkids still learn too much by rote. This was endorsed by this comment in Michael Reid’s history of modern Spain, about the exams taken by would-be civil servants: Staff are recruited through public examinations (known as ‘oposiciones‘), which gave priority to memorisation rather than problem-solving.‘ These, by the way, are arduous and are the focus of a large industry aimed at tutoring folk for them. Despite the outlay, most people fail them, of course.

HT for Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for all of these items from his regular newsletter:-

• How Madrid became Spain’s capital. [You can see a tiny bit of the original Moorish settlement opposite the Almudeña cathedral near the royal palace]
• Isabel Ayuso’s not-terribly-good English.
• Americans are most welcome to visit or live in Spain. However, they have one disturbing habit: over-tipping. Indeed, some fly restaurant-owners are adding 10% tip onto the already inflated bill. Which is never obligatory in Spain.
• The most popular new cars in Spain – 1. Dacia Sanderos 2. Toyota Corolla and 3. Seat Ibiza.
• Wolves are now so numerous in Spain that restrictions on hunting them north of the Douro valley have been eased. Not everyone is happy about this, of course. Though farmers and horse breeders almost certainly are.

Cousas de Galicia

These are very bad times for shellfish-harvesters in Galicia. Firstly, temperature changes have significantly reduced the crop – both in volume and size – and, secondly, there’s increased competition from around the world. But, in compensation, the demand for cocaine continues to grow. . .

Galicia is festooned with eucalyptus trees, feeding into a factory (nicknamed ‘La Celulosa’) on the edge of Pv city. Further planting of this arboreal fire-hazard was banned in 2021 but it’s no great surprise to read that the Xunta has issued 1,115 fines for this since then. The problem is that eucalyptus – sometimes called Tasmanian oak* – has the financial advantage of growing an awful lot quicker than autochthonous trees such as conifers. *Tasmanian oak is a hardwood produced by any of 3 types of eucalyptus tree, when sourced from Tasmania. But, despite the common name “oak”, none of the species are in the genus Quercus or the oak family Fagaceae.

Hmm . . . 10% of cars on Galicia’s roads are more than 25 years old – beneficial for taxes and testing obligations. But possibly a tad dangerous.

Portugal

It’s an ill wind . . . Portugal is benefitting from a growing Anglo aversion to ‘unfriendly‘ Spain.

Trump

After playing golf yesterday, the Leader of the Free-but-Troubled – World had nothing better to do last night than to critically review fotos and paintings of himself. Which must say something about the man, though I can’t quite put my finger on it . . .

Other Nutters

Billionaire Commerce Secretary. Howard Lutnick has said: 1. If you complain when your social security cheque doesn’t arrive, you must be a criminal. My grandmother wouldn’t complain, and 2. Buy Tesla shares to save a great US company. [Presumably aimed at MAGA folk who’ve hitherto seen it as a company favoured by effete progressives. So, a tough sell.]

Russia v Ukraine

A gulf in US and Russian expectations marks the start of latest ceasefire talks. As Washington signals hope for ‘real progress’, Moscow warns ‘difficult negotiations’ lie ahead.

Discounting a belief that probably no-one in Europe has, Trump’s peace-dealer, Steve Witkoff, has made the irrelevant comment that: I just don’t see that Putin wants to take all of Europe. I take him at his word. This doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in Mr Witkoff, a real estate mogul with no experience of diplomacy. And, just possibly, little competence in this sphere. Putin must be shaking in his (army-issue) boots. And Mr Zelensky must be tearing his hair out.

Witkoff has said that Putin had commissioned “a beautiful portrait” of Trump from a “leading Russian artist” for him to take home to the US president. Well, of course he did. That’s what great friends are for.

One wonders if Mr Witkoff has the ability to disabuse Putin of his long-held belief that the West wants to destroy Russia. Which is a bit of a stumbling block.

Spanish

• Inodoro: Toilet
• Váter: Ditto
• WC: Ditto. Or maybe just the tank
• Mascarada: Masquerade.
• Quirate: Carat/karat
• Chorrada: Bullshit, crap, baloney

Did You Know?

How to do something you’ve been doing all your life – tie your shoelaces.

Finally . . . You Have to Laugh

The Presidenta of Madrid – Isabel Ayuso- is known as ‘La Fruta’. This is because, after she’d whispered Hijo de Puta during a Pedro Sanchez speech in 2023, she later claimed she’d said Me gusta la fruta. Not just a pretty face . . .

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 . . .
• I can also be read on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/colin.davies.752861 or on Substack at https://doncolin.substack.com/
• 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. But see here on this. 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.
• Getting a mortgage in Spain: Some advice on this challenge.