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/Galiza

Mark Stücklin cites here a well-founded warning of a deepening of the housing emergency in 2026. No end in sight, it seems.

HT to Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for this fascinating video on The Ancient City That Mastered Water.

A couple of bits of info on Pv city . . .

• We have an 18th century church which has a floor plan in the shape of a scallop shell. It seems to be dedicated to not just one but 2 virgins – La Virgen de la Peregrina (Pilgrim) and La Virgen de la O. The first is the patron of Pontevedra province and the second of Pontevedra city. As the larger encompasses the smaller, I’m not clear why we need 2 virgins but it does mean more festivities and processions. I’ve just discovered that The Virgen de la O refers to a Marian devotion celebrating the Expectation of Mary’s childbirth on December 18, linked to the “O Antiphons” in Advent liturgy. Her statues are not unique to Pontevedra.
• Near the church is a handsome statue of a parrot, named Ravachol. He features in our early Lent activities. He used to sit in the shop of a pharmacist and was famous for his foul language and insults to customers. When, in 1900, the queen regent visited the pharmacy, Ravachol greeted her with cries of ‘Here comes a whore’. And a famous writer was met with ‘She’s fat and arrogant!’ I guess it’s no huge surprise that his death led to accusations of poisoning. Not everyone appreciated his humour. I know the problem.

A propos of nothing . . . The surname Gómez originated in the Visigothic name “Gome” or “Guma/Gumaz” meaning “man” or “son of Gome”. Goths and Visigoths occupied – and unified -Spain in the 6th century, following the departure of the Romans. They lost out to the Moors coming from Africa early in the 8th century, who didn’t quite occupy the whole peninsula. But had a bloody good try. And stayed for almost 8 hundred years. Even in rainy Galicia.

The USA

Donald Trump has just proved that he is un-American. The US president has no understanding of the country that he claims to champion and what it stands for. . . . There is now a president who seems to believe in selfishness as a credo. This is not pragmatic withdrawal from global intervention. It is egotism elevated to a national policy.

Whereas Biden got older and got quieter, Trump gets older and gets louder – when he’s awake.

Trump and Republicans are going to be held to the same standard that they set for Biden. You don’t get to challenge the media constantly and accuse the media of covering up Biden’s health and mental deterioration, and then turn around with someone who is certainly manifesting signs of old age and be bewildered that the same media that you ginned up, lectured, chastised and sued is now doing the same thing to you.

Quote of the Day

World Cups once had a bigger purpose but now Fifa cares only about making money. Europeans can do nothing to bring exorbitant ticket prices down because the way Gianni Infantino distributes the profits keeps him in power. A suitable partner for Trump.

Russia v Ukraine

As expected, the Russian Central Bank is taking legal action in respect of EU use of frozen Russian assets.

The Way of the World/Social Media

• Will social media’s week of reckoning finally wake up Silicon Valley? Australia’s blanket ban for under-16s has the tech barons on edge. Will other countries follow suit?
• The backlash against Australia’s social media blackout has begun.

Spanish

• Creidillo: Gossipy.
• Esfinge: Sphinx.
• Calesa: Buggy.

English

• Salvific: Having the intention or power to bring about salvation or redemption.
• Cut Spelling seeks to reform English by eliminating and substituting letters to better match the spoken word: Wen readrs first se Cut Spelng, as in this sentnce, they ofn hesitate slytly, but then quikly becom acustmd to th shortnd words and soon find text in Cut Spelng as esy to read as traditional orthografy, but it is th riter ho realy apreciates th advantajs of Cut Spelng, as many of th most trublsm uncertntis hav been elimnated. Words in this scheme are 8 to 15 percent shorter than their standard spellings, and the rules are more systematic, arguably making them easier to learn for both newcomers and established readers. The plan was promoted for a time by the Simplified Spelling Society but, like so many other reform proposals, never achieved wide acceptance. Sdly.

Finally . . . Do you know?

So, who really invented the telephone?

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

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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.