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.

My thanks to those readers who take the trouble to Like my posts.

Cosas de España/Galiza

Spain leads Europe on property purchase taxes, with economic consequences for the country, says The Corner here.

The Corner also reports here on fears of another electricity backout.

Trump has suggested that Spain should be thrown out of the NATO alliance for not committing to paying 5% percent of its GDP on defence. As if..

Next year will see a flight from Santiago de Compostela to New York. But still no flights to Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham or Leeds in the UK.

Europe/France

I saw, in an article on France’s problems, a reference to the ‘quarrelling Left’. Is there any other sort? Each faction is always purer than the rest.

ALICE IN MAGAWORLD

Trumpism

• Reporter: Have you given any consideration to suspending Habeas Corpus?
• Trump: Habeas who?

Folk are said to be stunned by a new report revealing Trump’s plans to send about 200 troops to Israel to support ceasefire monitoring operations. AP reports that “U.S. Central Command is going to establish a ‘civil-military coordination center’ in Israel that will help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistical and security assistance into the territory wracked by two years of war.”

More here from the brave/foolhardy Laurence O’Donnell – this time on presidential enemy lists and badges of honour for those on them.

María suspects that neither Trump nor his minions fear being held to account because they plan to win the 2026 mid-term elections come what might. She could well be right that it’s in the Project 2025 playbook.

Meanwhile . . . The US Golden Age.

Quote of the Day

Pam Bondi: Caroline Leavitt is one of the most trustworthy people I know. What an odd world she must inhabit.

The Way of the World/Social Media

• The New Misogyny. Horrific. Go to minute 1.20 to avoid the initial ads.
• Nigeria – a genocide the world is ignoring. Perhaps a special scarf would make the victims more visible.

Spanish

Confusing:

• Chapuza: Botch, botched job.
• Chapuzón: Not a big chapuza but a dip, dive, splash, swim.

Did you know?

Cervantes was injured in the 1571 Battle of Lepanto. This is a (very) Christian account of it. I imagine the Muslims were just as grateful to their god for their many victories which preceded this defeat.

Finally . . . You Have to Smile

The things that come up in my YouTube feed! There are no words for this . . . I wonder if they shoot anyone who gets it wrong on the night.

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.