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 reported that Spain’s per capita GDP now exceeds that of both and South Korea and Japan. Respective 2024 numbers are €33,666, €32,178 and €31,620. Currency movements might well be a factor.

Mark Stücklin of Spanish Property Insight says it will soon be possible to have better insights into how Spain’s malfunctioning housing market operates. As of now, it’s seen as one of Spain’s most turbulent and opaque sectors.

Cousas de Galicia

Talking of the housing market . . . Galicia is said to have lost a third of its rental properties in the last 4 years. The respective city losses range from Pv city at 28% to Ourense at 70%. The latter is said to be the consequence of failed legislation.

As you’d expect, prices have gone the other way, up by as much as 31% in Ourense.

A friend recently reminded me that, years ago, I invented the acronym VOGA – The Victims of Gallegas Association. For the foreigner husbands who’d been divorced from Galician spouses. Both back than and now, this seems to be all those who’ve made this experiment, with only one exception that I know of – a couple (I now realise) who’ve never lived together in Galicia, near the wife’s family. Perhaps this is the secret to success . . . Of course, there might well be others that readers know of. Interestingly, foreign women marrying Galician men seems to have a higher success rate. Need I add that Galician women have a reputation in Spain for being tough cookies?

Municipal authorities are getting better – with the aid of drones – of discovering illegal properties and/or swimming pools. And demolitions are certainly taking place, for example a 2-storey house in Vigo. Of course, the traditional way of finding out remains in force – a snitching neighbour. Or, in the case of a builder I know, someone quite far away.

The EU

Trump’s ‘deal’ letter’ imposes a 30% tariff on EU states, come august 1. Something of a surprise to Brussels, where they thought they were getting close to finalising a deal. Of course, it might not happen. The official view: The EU expressed strong disappointment and criticism, describing the move as a significant threat to transatlantic supply chains, businesses, and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. The EU president emphasised the EU’s commitment to dialogue and a constructive transatlantic partnership. She stated that the EU remains open to negotiating a solution before the August 1 deadline, but is fully prepared to defend its economic interests if necessary. The EU made clear it is ready to take “all necessary steps,” including proportionate countermeasures, should the USA proceed with the tariffs or escalate further in response to any EU retaliation. So, well done, Donnie.

The MAGA Reality TV Show

How can one parody an administration which posts this sort of thing on the official White House site?

Delusional Trumpisms – Madder and madder . . .

• A year ago our country was dead but now we’re the hottest country in the world.
• Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and other Democrats fabricated the Epstein Files to discredit me and derail the MAGA movement. And then refused to disclose them.
• We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and selfish people are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies.
• I’m considering taking away the US citizenship of [actress and comedian] Rosie O’Donnell. She is a threat to humanity and should stay in Ireland. [This is despite a Supreme Court ruling that expressly prohibits a government from doing so.]

It’s been revealed that Trump threatened Putin that he was prepared to “bomb the shit” out of Moscow, if Russia invaded Ukraine. And he can be heard on tape making similar threats to Xi Jinping over a potential invasion of Taiwan.

Articles

• Trump’s goal isn’t to restore American greatness — it’s much more sinister.
• The WSJ gives the lie to Trump’s claims re defense/defence spending – He’s ducking the second-term rearmament he promised. . . . Defense spending could fall to about 2.65% of the economy by 2029 at the end of his term. That’s comparable to the European levels that he thinks are so pathetic.

Russia

What a Russian minister’s sudden death reveals about Putin.

Spanish

• Afear: Censure. A word of the moment in Spanish politics.
• Arcilla: Clay, putty, loam.
• Lacustre: Of a lake, marshy.
• Dique: Dam, dyke, dock.
• Malvado: Evil, wicked, villainous, etc.

Did You Know?

AIN stands for Athlète Individuel Neutre. This is an athlete who competes under a neutral flag designed by the IOC, not their national flags. Their uniforms and symbols do not display any national identification. No national anthems or flags are used if they win medals; instead, a neutral anthem and a special AIN emblem are used. Athletes must be approved individually by international sports federations and a special IOC panel, ensuring they do not support the war or Russian security agencies. The designation allows some Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate despite their countries’ official bans from international sport events.

You Have to Laugh

I wish I could time-travel forward 20 years and ask this (not a teenager) chap how he now feels about his 2025 outfit . .

Finally . . .

HT to Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for this item: An archaeologist says of the (alleged) Atlantis ruins found near Cádiz that a giant tsunami likely caused the city’s destruction. Circular structures on the ocean floor are said to align with Plato’s descriptions.

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 or on Substack.

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.
• Buying a property ‘off-plan’.
• A comparison of UK and Spanish living costs.
• And here’s a personal guide to moving to Spain – to work, not to retire.
• What to do if your visa application is rejected.
• A warning re social security and VAT(IVA) payments for those who plane to be sel-employed
• Finally, from a tax lawyer: Everything you need to know about taxes and healthcare when retiring to Spain.