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

ThinkSpain seems to be back in business with a vengeance. Among the articles that have flooded into my feed this morning are these. . .

Visas

• The Golden Visa ends
• The Family Reunification visa:

Buying property in Spain

• The essential Checklist
• Property taxes
• VSO properties: An option for foreigners?
• Property law: Recent changes

Portugal

The Economist . . . Portugal heads to the polls for the third time in barely three years. Can a political culture of compromise survive the turbulence?

The UK

India v Pakistan: A major worry for the UK government . . . As host to well over a million immigrants of Kashmiri heritage, many of whom have extended family members still in Kashmir, any sharp deterioration in the region could have hundreds of thousands of the inhabitants seeking to join their relatives in the UK.

Europe

Asserts AEP: Thanks to its excessive demands, the EU has missed its chance to bring the UK back into its orbit.

The Latest Mad Pronouncements of the Jester

A crazy woman on Fox News has been given a key legal position.

Trumpworld/LA LA Land

The Trump family’s grand scale corruption. (Start at 2m45s, to avoid a long sales pitch)

MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell claims that the ‘confused illiterate clown’ is retreating on tariffs and job nominations, Trump admits he’s too weak to do his job. details how Trump “retreated and surrendered” in withdrawing his nominee for D.C.’s top prosecutor who was blocked by a Republican senator and again in his trade war announcing what was not actually a trade deal, but “a rogue president violating American law on tariffs.” L O’D is also very good on Howard Lutnick.

The WSJ . . .Trump stages a trade war retreat.

MAGA world melts down over the new pope.

China

Trump’s Weak Position on Trade. An incoherent American policy has allowed China to benefit from its focus and resolve.

China is reputed to have made a Trump doll that only walks backwards.

Russia v. Ukraine

The breaking of ranks or more evidence of a change of tune? A senior member of Trump’s Cabinet has agreed that Putin is a war criminal.

Quotes of the Day

• While narcissists and 11-year-old bullies don’t love negative attention, they are absolutely terrified of getting no attention at all. (Hence Trump’s constant performances and his reality TV presidency. Not to mention government and negotiation by WhatsApp and social media).
• Trump has some good questions but always the wrong answers to them.

Spanish

• Repicar: Ring, chime, peal.
• Fajarse: To fight/argue over

English

To give: This simple new verb has been give a bizarre new meaning, at least in the fashion world. See here an m1:47s here.

You Have to Laugh

Might be worth getting.

Finally . . .

Last evening, I thought I’d try a bar terrace outside the old quarter, to avoid being surrounded by Caminers. Not a success; within minutes there was a gaggle of 4 English women chattering away at the next table. I’ll have to go further afield. Fortunately, there are options. It’s struck me that, whereas, in the past, I would chat with the occasional table of Caminers next to me and give them advice re the next stage of the Camino – even walk with them to Caldas de Réis – I don’t bother these days. Just too many of them. Though I still tell the occasional couple about a better route through Lérez than the official diversion that’s been in place for at least a year now. But only if they’re alone. Not just 2 among 30 or more crossing O Burgo bridge at the same time. Which is common these days, even under the midday sun.

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.

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.