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

Despite everything thrown at them, tourists continue to come in droves to Spain, so far this year 10%[!]up on last year. The protests can only get bigger.

Cousas de Galicia

Good to know that the most advanced type of narcosub is the fruit of a joint venture between Colombians, Brazilians and our very own narcotráficos. The region needs more of an international perspective . . .

There’ve been 3 ‘gang-fights’ in Galicia this week, two in Ferrol and one in Pv city (in a popular square in broad daylight). All seem to have involved ‘latinos’ and ‘youths from the Maghreb’, or North Africa. In Pv city, at least, this sort of thing is fairly unprecedented but on the rise, with drugs being implicated.

Here’s the VdG today on the increase in fight incidents: Crimes involving bodily harm and rioting are on the rise in Galicia. What is worrying is the violence and weapons used. According to the police, “drug dealing or neighbourhood control are often behind these conflicts.” Both security forces and the local government maintain these are isolated incidents, but officers on the ground are concerned about the proliferation of clashes and are calling for reinforcements. Psychologists believe there is an increase in irritability among the population, across all ages. So, will we see primary school kids stabbing each other eventually?

It’s to be hoped that one of our several police forces can get on top of the problem. Meanwhile, we’re told the local cops are having a campaign tomorrow against idiots who travel at speed on e-bikes/scooters in our pedestrianised areas. In truth, these are more dangerous to residents that spats between the city’s (foreign?) louts. There certainly will be arrests and fines, as some of said idiots don’t read the local newspapers, where all such campaigns are advertised in advance. Which must make sense to someone.

Improve your Gallego by listening to this Galician trio, given a shout-out by Lenox Napier in the latest issue of his Business Over Tapas. To help, here are the lyrics.

Portugal

Must be very happy at having beaten Germany last night, to get through to the semi-final of the Nations League competition – the first win over the Teutons in 25 years.

Trumpworld/LA LA Land

It’s been noted that Trump said nothing about Ukraine’s attack on Russian planes for 3 days and then only after he’d spoken to Putin. After which he relayed Putin’s threat of a strong reaction. Even Fox News asked why Trump was broadcasting the Russian view of things.

The evidence seems incontrovertible – indeed, it was the first time round – that Trump suffers from the Dunning-Kruger effect – under which you are too stupid to realise how stupid you are. But, then, I don’t suppose he ever listens to playbacks of his verbal inanities. Or reads his insane SMS messages after they’ve left what passes for his brain.

Not a huge surprise that Trump has resurrected the travel ban of his first term, preventing people from 12 countries from entering the United States. In addition, there will be heightened restrictions on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. I’m not sure it’s very necessary. Who on earth wants to visit the USA these days?

Quotes of the Day

• We’re living in the golden age of stupid: Jimmy Kimmel
• Briefing Donald Trump presented the intelligence community with one of the most difficult challenges it has ever faced.
• I won’t negotiate with terrorists: Vladimir Putin, a man who has a habit of invading other countries and terrorising millions.

Russia v. Ukraine

I’m told that the podcast I cited yesterday was only accessible by Apple users. Which is odd, as I chose a non-Apple platform. Anyway, here it is on another platform.

The Way of the World

If that podcast doesn’t worry you enough, try Robert Kaplan’s book Waste Land, on the current global disorder and the serious risk of a world war. It’s subtitled The World in Permanent Crisis. Publisher’s puff piece here.

Spanish

• Barriobajero: Slumming. [Low class?]
• Para remate: To top/cap it all . . .
• Republico bananero: Banana republic
• .Gentuza; Scum, riff-raff, rabble, mob, vermin, etc.

You Have to Laugh

• Trump v Musk – Trouble in Scamelot.
• Between Musk and Melania, Trump now has 2 foreigners who won’t sleep with him.

Finally . . .

This is the new stadium of Celta Vigo FC.

I see that the surface comprises tiles. If the experience with both Pv city’s modern theatre and SdC’s Cidade da Cultura in Santiago de Compostela are anything to go by, these should start falling off in a year or two . . .

Finally, Finally . . .

Very possibly the penultimate set of bits from The Pillow Book of the lady-in-waiting of the Japanese court of the early 11th century – a woman who sounds both of her era and astonishingly modern.

Presumptuous Things

• A child who has nothing particular to recommend him yet is used to being spoilt by people.
• Coughing.
• One is about to say something to a person who is obviously embarrassed, but then he speaks first – very strange.
• A child of about 4, whose parents live near by, comes to one’s house and behaves mischievously. He picks up one’s things, scatters them about the place, and damages them. As a rule he is held in check and cannot do as he wishes, but, when his mother is with him, he feels that he can assert himself. “Let me see that. Mama,” he says, tugging at her skirts and pointing to some coveted object. The mother tells him that she is talking to grown up people and pays no more attention to him, whereupon the child manages to take hold of the object by himself, picks it up, and examines it-oh, how hateful! Instead of snatching the thing from him and hiding it, the mother simply says, “You naughty child!” Then she adds with a smile, “You mustn’t do that. You’ll damage it, you know.”
• The mother is hateful too. Since it would be unseemly to say anything, one has to sit there in silence, anxiously watching the child.

It Is Delightful When

• There has been a thin fall of snow.
• Or again when it has piled up very high and in the evening we sit round a brazier at the edge of the veranda with a few congenial friends, chatting till darkness falls. There is no need for the lamp, since the snow itself reflects a clear light. Raking the ashes in the brazier with a pair of fire-tongs, we discuss all sorts of moving and amusing things. It already seems to be quite late at night when we hear the sound of footsteps. We all look up, wondering who it may be. A man is approaching – the type of man that often visits us unannounced on such occasions. “I was wondering how you ladies were enjoying today’s snow,” he says. “I had intended to come and see you earlier, but I was held up all day in some other place.” “Ah!” says one of us and quotes the poem about “the man who came today”. Then, with a great deal of laughter, we begin talking about what has happened since the morning and about all sorts of other things. The visitor has been offered around cushion, but he prefers to sit on the wooden veranda with one leg hanging over the edge. The conversation goes on until the bell announces that dawn has come. The ladies sitting behind the blinds and the man in front feel that they still have many things to tell each other; but he has to be off before daylight. As he gets ready to leave, he charmingly recites, “Snow lay upon such-and-such hills”. Then he is gone. If he had not been there, we should certainly not have stayed up all night like this; it was he who made the occasion so delightful, and now we start discussing what an elegant man he is.

People Who Look Pleased with Themselves

• A man who sneezes before anyone else on the morning of New Year’s Day.
• A man who has obtained an appointment as Chamberlain for his dear son at a time when the competition is very keen.
• A man who has received the governorship of one of the first class provinces that is being offered in the current period of official appointments. “What a splendid appointment!” people say and congratulate him warmly, to which he smugly replies, “How so? I’ve been ruined.”
• A young man who has been chosen out of several candidates to be adopted as son-in-law.
• An exorcist who has succeeded in bringing a very stubborn spirit under control.
• A player in a game of hidden rhymes who quickly discovers the concealed character.
• During a small-bow contest one of the archers coughs. The man who is about to shoot is distracted by the sound and be comes nervous; but he manages to control himself and his arrow shoots off with a loud twang, hitting the target. How pleased he looks with himself!
• In a game of go, a greedy player switches his attention to a different part of the board, not quite realizing what a large number of stones he is likely to capture there. His opponent is unable to keep his eyes in the new sector, and the greedy player manages to win several stones. Oh, how pleased he looks! He laughs proudly, feeling happier about this windfall than he would about an ordinary gain.
• At long last a man has received the governorship for which he has been waiting. He looks radiantly happy. In the past every one treated him with rudeness and disdain; but, painful as it was, he bore it all patiently, realizing that he had no choice. Now even his superiors respect the man and play up to him with remarks like, “I am entirely at Your Excellency’s service.” He is attended by women and surrounded by elegant furnishings and clothing that he has never known before. Seeing all this, one wonders whether he can really be the same man whom even simple servants used to scorn. Then this fortunate governor is appointed Middle Captain in the Inner Palace Guards. Oh, what a triumphant look he has on his face! To be a captain of the Guards seems far grander to him than it would to a young nobleman who received the same appointment. High office is, after all, a most splendid thing.
• A man who holds the Fifth Rank or who serves as Gentleman-in-Waiting is liable to be despised; but when this same man becomes a Major Counsellor, Great Minister, or the like, one is overawed by him and feels that nothing in the world could be as impressive. Of course even a provincial governor has a position that should impress one; for after serving in several provinces, he may be appointed Senior Assistant Governor-General and promoted to the Fourth Rank, and when this happens the High Court Nobles themselves appear to regard him with respect.
• But women really have the worse time of it. There are, to be sure, cases where the nurse of an Emperor is appointed Assistant Attendant or given the Third Rank and thus acquires great dignity. Yet it does her little good since she is already an old woman. Besides, how many women ever attain such honours?
• Those who are reasonably well born consider themselves lucky if they can marry a governor and go down to the provinces.
• Of course it does sometimes happen that the daughter of a commoner becomes the principal consort of a High Court Noble and that the daughter of a High Court Noble becomes an Empress. Yet even this is not as splendid as when a man rises by means of promotions. How pleased such a man looks with himself!
• Who pays any attention to a Palace Chaplain when he walks by Though he may recite the scriptures in a most impressive manner and may even be quite good-looking, women despise a low-ranking priest, which is very sad for him. Yet, when this same man becomes a Bishop or Archbishop, people are overwhelmed with awe and respect, and everyone is convinced that the Buddha himself has appeared among them.

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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.
• This post of mine contains several relevant articles from ThinkSpain.
• 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.
• A comparison of UK and Spanish living costs.
• And here’s a personal guide to moving to Spain – to work, not to retire.