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

In southern Spain, beaches on the Costa Blanca were temporarily closed after a number of “blue dragons”—a small, venomous sea slug with the scientific name Glaucus atlanticus—washed ashore. While this tiny creature may look like a mythical beast, its sting is far from fictional. It has the ability to deliver a powerful sting, causing symptoms such as nausea, pain, vomiting, and acute allergic contact dermatitis.

Spain currently spends approximately 13.7% of its GDP on public pensions. This compares with France’s 14.4%, which is considered unsustainable. And with the UK and the USA, at 5.1% and 7%, respectively.

Cousas de Galiza

You’ll all be asking if I was right with my prediction that the house I pass every day wouldn’t have its pavement finished during August. I guess you know the answer . .

Europe

Trump is on a collision course with Ireland – and it could spell economic disaster for the country. His differences of opinion with the republic over a number of legal and ideological issues leave Dublin uniquely vulnerable.

THE USA and THE MAGA REALITY TV SHOW

Trumpisms.

The Grifter-in-Chief . . . Trump uses the rumour of his death to pressure supporters for cash in a shameless email: “I put my life on the line willingly because this is what I was made to do, but our movement, the beautiful MAGA movement, is powered by YOU . . . That’s why I’ve launched a 24 HOUR TRUMP FUNDRAISING BLITZ, and I’m asking everyone to chip in $15 to make it one for the record books!”. [Does he employ someone to invent these endless self-enriching email demands?]

More nocturnal madness . . . Just in case you haven’t seen enough.

The latest edition of Shrinking Trump . .

And an article which might well not be much of an exaggeration. Donald Trump is on the brink of a dictatorship. Can he be stopped?

Quotes of the Day

In us politics . . Personal attacks work. And memes work. Because of the latter, Vance will never be president. [There’s a baby-face meme going round]

AI

An amusing take . . .

Rather more serious . . . AI doesn’t love you. For the good of our health, we should keep things strictly professional.

Spanish

• Esgrima: Fencing, swordsmanship.
• Tonelereo: Cooper, barrel-maker.

Finally . . . Did you know?

Which is the hardest British accent to understand? Lucy gets it wrong here . . .

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.

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.

If you´re thinking of moving to Spain, this link should be useful to you.