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 Pontevedra City

Pv city has its first Chinese supermarket, which opened just yesterday:-

I’m told Wang is a common surname in the Sino-sphere. Unfortunately, in Anglo slang it means ‘penis’. So, I just hope no Chinese-American has the misfortune to be called Richard(Dick) Wang.

Times change. This foto of a (large) van jam-packed with Caminoer bags was snapped outside the Parador yesterday.

When I did my first Camino in 2009 with old friends, the (small) van from this company had only our 6 bags. And no Caminoer ever stayed in a Parador. At €125 a night.

I was surprised – and pleased – to see that this traditional house – right opposite the Wang shop, in fact – hadn’t been replaced by multi-storey block of flats. But, though the garden is well kept, it seemed to be as unoccupied as it was 19 years ago. Possibly just a (very sound) investment.

2006

2025

Talking of shops . . . You’d think the owners of this one could have checked the spelling of the name . . .

The UK

There is very strong resistance to ID cards in the UK. The traditional reason for rejecting them is that they’re associated with was authoritarian governments and, worse, dictatorships. Now, it’s more likely to be concern at what an incompetent government will do with them. And the security risk associated with a screw-up. So, useful yes, but – on balance – not an attractive enough proposition. That said, I feel sure the public can be persuaded to accept them. Meanwhile, here’s a view on them from a Brit in Spain: The reality is my card makes daily life easier, not harder. True, but you don’t have a lot of choice . . . And nothing happens when I rattle off a false number to the postman.

Europe

Still reeling, I imagine, from the horror of:- 1. Trump’s UN address, and 2. The behaviour of the American crowd at the Ryder Cup competition being held there right now. Which might well have further damaged the US’s tourism sector. With any luck.

ALICE IN MAGALAND

Trumpisms.

• There’s a rumour Cuba has no autism because they can’t afford to buy Tylenol. [Cuba’s rate is slightly higher that the USA’s]
• Biden separated 300,000 children from their parents. We have returned 30,000 to them. [Outright lies]
• Portland is a war-ravaged city. [It isn’t, of course.]

This is the latest episode of Shrinking Trump, on video or podcast. Where I heard more of the insane comments and lies spouted in his address to world leaders at the UN. Plus the possibly-even-more-insane Hitler-esque rantings of the truly vile Stephen Miller – considered to be behind Trump’s most egregious executive orders and actions. They make you hope there really is a Hell.

I wrote those words about Stephen Miller before listening to this podcast, entitled The Cruel Ruler: Is Stephen Miller the most powerful man in America? – a question which had already occurred to me some time ago. If you really want to understand where the USA is right now and where it’s heading, this is essential listening. The Preface: Stephen Miller’s fascistic eulogy at the Charlie Kirk memorial rally shocked the world with its apocalyptic imagery. This cold, rage-driven and deliberately vicious right-wing operative is more than Trump’s deputy chief of staff; he’s the driving force behind the Administration’s most extreme moves, from mass disappearances to troops on the street to the clampdown on the wrong sort of free speech. The contributors explore the origins of the man they’re calling “America’s real President” and his nightmare vision for the country’s future.

This excellent NYT article talks of Trump’s rapid – pre-planned – progress towards an Orban-like hollowed-out, pseudo-democracy. Under the aegis of Miller.

Quote of the Day

Karoline Leavitt is absolutely terrible at her job. And the bitter irony is that is her job is nothing more than lying for Donald Trump. She lies constantly but the problem is her lies never stick. Yesterday was a textbook example. ¨I am proud every day to work for president Trump and I was especially proud to see him bring common sense to the UN. Giving them all tough love.¨ Shameless. Or possibly also insane. The [AI]voice-over is on the money . . . Classic Levitt – desperate lies and zero credibility. It softens the blow of watching her in action. Which I normally avoid.

The Way of the World

The political battle of our age is not between Left and Right, but sane and insane. Europe and America have never seemed further apart, as Trump and Trump’s cronies attempt to push the politics of personal vengeance worldwide.

Spanish

• Desempeño: Performance, discharge, fulfilment.
• Suplir: Supply, fill, meet.
• Matón: Bully, thug, hoodlum

You Have to Laugh

Finally . . .

In one of the places in Pv city that I patronise, there are 3 waiters. Two of thse are tall but the third is so tiny that – honestly – his head only just appears above the bar counter. He’d almost certainly be nicknamed Titch in the UK. Or on Merseyside, at least. Anyway, when a begging drug addict had to be chased off the terrace yesterday, I was surprised it was him who undertook the task. Not exactly David and Goliath but close.

Finally . . .Finally

Here’s the latest post from fellow-blogger and (binge) reader of mine, Noémi. Very relevant if you’re visiting Barcelona.

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.