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

The anti-immigrant ‘troubles’ down in Torre Pacheco have continued into a 3rd night, stoked – it’s said – by fascist louts from the far-right Vox party. Worrying for Spain. And not good for its ‘immigration-relaxed’ image.

I missed a January article on a ‘taboo-challenging’ Spanish TV series that satirises the monarchy. Quote: Spain has had an ambivalent relationship with its monarchy ever since the restoration. This comedy aims to explore the royals’ place in the 21st century. Might be fun. I’ll try RTVE Play.

Cousas de Galiza

A propos . . . The monarchs’ eldest daughter – the Crown Princess Leonor of Asturias – has been awarded Galicia’s highest honour. But not everyone here is happy about this. Our nationalist politicians have objected to it, saying that the princess had done nothing for Galicians. Other than to smile sweetly and to say in Galego that she is now just another Galega. Which certainly made some Galicians very happy, if the local press is to be believed.

A more important – and certainly more authentic Gallego – is the right-wing PP leader, Albert Feijoo. Who ‘stars’’ in this video attacking him for attacking the PM, Pedro Sanchez. It’s entitled Feijoo’s Dark and Dirty Past that All of Spain Needs to Know. Says a lot about Spanish politics. In Spanish but with English subtitles.

In case you’re an aficionado and are in the area in August . . .

The EU

Has already told Trump that his 50% tariffs are ‘totally unacceptable’. So, more superb deal-making in prospect.

The MAGA Reality TV Show

There’s no way I can do justice is the fast-changing saga of the Epstein files. I was going to write that developments in the Ghislaine Maxwell case might help clarify things but I believe her application for a re-trial has been denied. So, this video of this morning has quickly become obsolete.

Articles/Videos

Good question. Does Trump realize just how bad the Epstein fallout is? [I rather doubt it, given the awareness he’s shown on just about everything.]

In case you need/want it, here’s a video on MAGA’s refusal to accept the government’s line on Epstein.

Trumpisms

Putin fooled a lot of people. He fooled Bush. He fooled Obama. He fooled Clinton. He fooled Biden. He didn’t fool me. [You wouldn’t believe this character in a comic dystopian novel.]

Quotes of the Day

• Trump has an incredible talent for distraction. [Though it seems to be being tested to destruction at the moment].
• Trump is so disconnected that he has no idea of how his base has reacted to the denial that there is an Epstein client list. [Fox News doesn’t highlight it, of course.]
• Trump is now a lame-duck president. The battle for the soul of the Republican party has begin.

Russia v. Ukraine

So, Trump has finally decided to play – or at least threaten – hardball with Putin, in the form of economy-destroying secondary tariffs. They might actually happen, though Putin has been given quite some time to think about things. For example, nuking Kyev. And for TACO-man to change his mind.

The Way of the World

This is the link to the Marina Hyde article on Anna Wintour that was missing from yesterday’s post.

Spanish

Incordio: Nuisance, pain, pest, etc.

You Have to Smile

Well, I added the Label ‘Sex’ to my last post and got zilch by way of increased readership. Guess, I’ll have to try ‘Prostitution’ now. Thanks to the Galician video above for the chance to do this.

Finally . . .

Forgive a bit of spleen-venting . . . Got a new laptop last night, to replace the low-cost one I bought in the UK last year as a temporary substitute for the crocked one brought from Spain, pending repair of the latter back home that never happened. All went smoothly until I tried to open my Gmail account, when the new one wouldn’t accept the password acceptable to the old one . . . Spent over an hour resolving this. Grrrrr. [Hence ‘late’ post today].

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.