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

NOTE: Internet problems last night meant that yesterday’s post didn’t get published, even after the net was back. I published it earlier today, should you want to read it.

Cosas de España/Galiza

THE US-based short-term rental site Airbnb has been slapped with a €64 million fine by the Spanish government over more than 65,000 adverts encouraging customers to rent out unlicenced tourist apartments.

More locally . . . The various police forces operating in Pv city have finally done something about the drunks and drug addicts who despoil the main square. Which possibly explains why I haven´t seen the chap with the large bag walking the route I take to drive to town, past the 2 gypsy encampments.

Things can take a little time in Spain. I’ve had water in my basement for more than 5 years now. Initially, this was thought to be coming from an underfloor tank in my neighbours’ house, resulting in water in both of our basements. But fixing their problem didn’t fix mine and today another visit from a técnico determined it was coming through one of the very solid bricks of the containing wall which separates the basement from the earth behind it. As yet, I’m not clear why this happens. More técnico visits should provide an answer. Hopefully in less than another 5 years.

I made an appointment on the phone today. Possibly for the hundredth time, there was confusion about my forename and my alleged ‘first’ surname, really my second forename. After I’d spelt out my only surname, the receptionist didn’t say what I’ve often heard: ‘Oh, Davies, as in the Davis Cup’. Instead, I was pleased to hear ‘Ah, as with Ray Davies’. Of The Kinks. Made my day. Though I resisted the temptation to say he was my brother. One gets to fib a lot in Spain.

The USA

As I wrote yesterday, Trump was as sociopathic talking about the Reiner murders as he always has been. But, this time, his vileness might well have marked the much-delayed beginning of his end. Jimmy Kimmel tells here of Trump’s refusal to row back on his beyond-base comments.

Some evidence here for the belief that the end is in sight.

A practical matter . . . Making the trip across the pond to the land of the free anytime soon – perhaps for next year’s World Cup? If so, be prepared to hand over up to 5 years of your social media history under new proposals put forward by Trump’s border force. The will affect countries whose residents can visit the USA for up to 90 days without a visa – including the UK and Spain.

Quote of the Day

You have to admire a country so democratic that a mentally handicapped man can become President.

Spanish

• Sufragar: To support, pay for, fund.
• Nodo: Knot, node, hub.
• Balde: Bucket, pale, dipper[?].

Some basic Don’t says for those new to Spanish . . .

• Estoy caliente: Means ‘I’m horny’. Say Tengo calor.
• Soy cálido/a/cálido: Refers to your personality, as a warm or kind person.
• Embarazada: Doesn’t mean ’embarrassed’ but ‘pregnant’. Say Estoy avergonzado/a.
• Hasta la vista: Spaniards never use this. Instead: Hasta luego or Adios, meaning See you later and Goodbye.

English

How not to be brief. Not so say intelligible.

Did you know?

The Australian accent is said to be similar to that of London Cockneys – made (in)famous by Dick Van Dyke here. If this is true, it might be because the original inhabitants of Australia – ignoring the aborigines, of course – were largely criminals transported from the UK. Very probably, in many cases, from the poorer bits of London. Think Oliver Twist.

Finally . . . You Have to Laugh

In a very lengthy, rambling dissertation, Trump told his staff in an Xmas address that 28,000 people a year die of viper bites in Peru. Between 2000 and 2015, there were actually only 10. Which compares with Trump’s 15 year total of 420,000. Pretty typical of his approach to both maths and truth.

Finally . . . Finally . . .

A nice tip I read after I’d returned from my latest road trip . . . Always take a small ‘tooper’ box for when you’ve paid handsomely for a breakfast and feel entitled to take a croissant or 2 for your elevenses. This avoids a crumb problem in your pocket later on. Probably not relevant for rashers of what passes for bacon in Spain.

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 and on X.

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.