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

It’s May Day and a national holiday. As I look down from my eyrie on Pv city at 8.30, absolutely nothing is stirring. Not even one of the ‘several police cars which can normally be seen patrolling the city and its outskirts.

Which reminds me . . . My lovely neighbour had a dinner party last night which started at around 10 and was still going strong at 2am. Very Spanish. Proving my long-standing claim that you have to deduct 2 hours from timings here to get that would be normal elsewhere. For example, for tradesmen, ‘primera hora’ doesn’t mean 8 but 10am. Mas o Menos.

Down in Málaga, the number of tourist flats has risen in 8 years from 600 to over 12,000. Just a guess but I’d say many of the latter are unlicensed. What this means, of course, is that these don’t figure in the rental market. And that rent prices are higher for long lets in areas dominated by tourist flats. No wonder the locals are pissed off.

In an informative article Richard North opts to comment further on the Iberian blackouts. It is, he says, a story which has, at its roots, complex technical issues but which also has intensely political dimensions. Upfront, RN confesses that Days into the aftermath, we’re actually no closer to a definitive version of what caused them, though many are pointing at Spain’s renewables strategy as a major factor. It seems that the grid system had become ‘unstable’ well before Monday but, as yet, there’s no agreement on what caused this – probably because political faces – and jobs – have to be saved. ‘Intolerable oscillation variations’ continue to be fingered. So, the questions become Why did these happen and What part, if any, did a high level of renewables generation play? I guess the answers, whether we’re given them or not, could provoke revision of rapid achievement of Net Zero goals.

Cousas de Galicia

This has given me an idea or two – like a machine-gun post as the entrance to the city . . . Earlier this year, in the nearby village of Hío, residents staged a protest by continually walking across 3 zebra crossings, effectively blocking tourists from reaching the local beach. About 80 people participated, causing significant traffic jams and forcing some drivers to turn around. The protest lasted c.30 minutes and was designed to highlight the negative impact of mass tourism on local life, including congestion, illegal parking, and the deterioration of public spaces. The organizers emphasized that their grievance was not against tourism itself, but against the lack of regulation and the resulting disruption to daily life. “This isn’t about a dislike for tourists; it’s about the community’s right to live peacefully,” said the leader of the residents’ association behind the protest. I should stress that this wasn’t a protest about foreigners but about Spanish tourists – fodechinchos*. (Fishfuckers)

*Un término despectivo usado en Galicia para referirse principalmente a turistas de Madrid, aunque con el tiempo se ha extendido a cualquier turista que no respeta las costumbres locales.

The UK

A battle royal over Net Zero strategy . . . The ‘Left’ v. the ‘Far Left’ in the Labour party. Very British acrimony, a tale not of all-out war but of passive-aggressive disagreement stretching back two decades.

Trumpworld/LA LA Land

In his interview with an ABC reporter, Trump is even more Trumpish than usual, largely because the reporter challenged him on occasions. Full interview here, speaking for itself. One accurate comment: It was like arguing with your drunk uncle at a party

In the court of King Don, where the jester doubles as the monarch, each of the Cabinet courtiers/courtesans sits with a MAGA hat in front of them, terrified they’ll lose their job if they don’t debase themselves. Musk yesterday had both red one and black versions in front of him and, at one point, put them both on his big-brained head. Talk about lack of dignity! Imagine the scorn of their grandkids when – in 20 years’ time – they’re shown a video of Me at the Cabinet table.

And now for the good news . . . Trump is proving too incompetent to be an authoritarian. Nothing very new but still a good read. Enough to make you both laugh and cry. [BTW: an HOA is a Homeowners Association.]

Hardly a surprise . . . Trump ousts the adviser at the heart of the Signalgate scandal. Mike Waltz prefers to falls on his sword rather than through a 3rd floor window. Or under a bus.

So, how long before Hesgeth goes to spend more time with his family, given that he has The Jester’s full support?

Russia v Ukraine

In what is said to be a slap-down, Russia has told Trump that peace in Ukraine won’t be a “quick process”, as it’s “too complicated to be done overnight”. Moscow has also stressed – in an apparent rebuke to America’s peace-brokering – that a settlement should be “between Russia and Ukraine”. So, this is going as well as everything else. Gaza next.

Spanish

• Compungido: Contrite.
• Encajarse en: To fit into.

Did You Know?

Superconductors are on their way and will be very beneficial. Including to early investors, I guess.

You Have to Laugh

From the lips of the court jester: Things are working out very well. People are beginning to understand how good tariffs are. Bear in mind, he might well actually believe this.

Jimmy Kimmel on The Jester in Rome

Finally . . .

If you’re looking to buy a property in Galicia to set up a casa rural, I know of a perfect place for you, built in 1744.

Well, it certainly wasn’t quiet in the city midday. And a new low was reached for me . . . Until he was overruled by his boss, a waiter in one of my usual watering holes said I couldn’t sit at a table if I was only going to have a coffee. Bloody day trippers and Caminers!

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.