Colin Davies

6 May 2025

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

Lenox Napier writes on the blackout here.

So, it’s not just in the UK . . . 50% of Spanish teachers say they’ve suffered aggression. Usually in secondary schools and verbal, including on social media.

Cousas de Galicia

There are 3 groups of folk in Pv city who are growing in quantity:-

  • Passing ‘pilgrims’. From the numbers I saw midday today, I’d guess this year’s total will be well up on last year’s of 210,000. I also suspect US Caminers will form a significantly increased percentage.
  • The homeless (los sintechos): Demands are growing for the police and the city council to do something about these. According to the residents most affected by antisocial behaviour, there’s been no response so far to their complaints and demands.
  • Partner-swappers (Swingers?): There’s enough of these now to justify a club for them.

If you attend a flea market often enough – as I do – you’re bound to recognise a character or two. This gentleman always appears in military gear – complete with epaulettes – but I can’t help wondering if he isn’t an ageing Walter Mitty, rather than an ex officer. Or pilot, maybe:-

Germany

The new Chancellor got off to a bad start, failing to be approved in the first round of voting.

Trumpworld/LA LA Land

If you listened to the Shrinking Trump podcast cited yesterday, you’ll have learnt something about the blatant corruption of the Trump family. Here’s something new from the New York Times on it.

Hesgeth is said here to have shown that he is even more stupid than we thought.

I would guess that Stephen Miller is another psychopath.

The Latest Mad Pronouncements of the Jester

  • I am reopening Alcatraz.
  • I don’t know if I have to defend and uphold the Constitution [Despite having twice sworn to do so].
  • I don’t take the decision re returning Kilmar Garcia from El Salvador. I have brilliant lawyers who do that. [Trump has twice admitted he has the power to bring back Kilmar Garcia from El Salvador but doesn’t want to. See from 4m30s here.]
  • Foreign companies want to destroy Hollywood and so are a national security threat. I am imposing a 100% tariff on foreign films. See here and here.
  • To a reporter: You should ask positive questions. You should say: ’Sir it’s amazing what you’ve done with gasoline’. [Trump seems to believe he’s responsible for the drop in crude oil prices around the world. To the extent that he’s caused a recession, I guess there’s some truth in that.]

Other Quotes of the Day

Spanish

  • Canica: Marble.
  • Rebeco: Chamois, ibex
  • Corvina: Sea bass
  • Increpar: Rebuke, heckle, scold

English

The Spanish have difficulty with the aspirate H sound. It’s ignored in Spanish (eg hay/había) and in English often pronounced like as Kh sound of the letter J. As in Khello. Which is why a friend messaged me about a Jandiman she uses. . .

Did You Know?

The number of separate times zones:-

  • The UK – 1
  • Portugal – 1
  • Spain – 1 [Should be the same as the UK and Portugal but isn’t]
  • The USA – 5 mainland, plus Alaska and Hawaii
  • Russia – 11. A big country

Finally . . .

Welcome to new subscriber Xavier Rivadulla

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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.