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

Narco chutzpah down South.

Spaißßsßðn’s state weather agency is predicting a milder than normal winter season, with temperatures above average throughout the country. I fear this will mean the wind will be blowing from the West and so, for us, will be laden with Atlantic water. So, maybe not drier/less wet than usual.

An article on the best winter breaks claims that nearby Vigo continues to hold the crown in the fiercer-then-ever battle for the best Christmas lights, as it boasts a staggering 12 million LED lights and a 45m tall tree at the Porta do Sol.

KLM will have a flight from Amsterdam to Santiago de Compostela next year. We still await one from Manchester and/or Liverpool

Six or seven years ago. I nearly swapped my house for a flat in Pv city. At that time, my house in the Poio hills was worth more than a city flat. Not now perhaps.

The UK

Will the (socialist) government follow the EU as regards e-vehicles? Not if the Net Zero zealot Ed Miliband has his way, I guess.

Europe and Trump’s USA

In case you missed it . . . Denmark has openly declared the USA a potential threat to its national security. Danish defense planners have stated publicly that Washington under Trump cannot be assumed to respect Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, and that a coercive US attempt to seize it is a contingency for which Denmark must now plan. . . . Denmark is responding rationally to a world in which the USA has begun to behave unpredictably—even toward its supposed friends. . . . It reflects a systemic crisis of confidence among nations that once saw the USA as the guarantor of stability but now view it as a possible aggressor. . . . In short, the NSS seems to channel the energy previously devoted to great-power confrontation into the bullying of smaller states. But, then, bullying has always been Trump’s forte. Along with not paying his bills. And bankrupting even casinos. A man of limited vision but unlimited ignorance, incompetence and nastiness. Perfect for a leader.

The USA

Another Trumpism: My first priority is building an arc that will be better than the Arc de Triumph[sic] in Paris.

A NYT columnist writes here on how Epstein enriched himself, at the expense of others. There’s an unexpected Spanish element.

Quote of the Century

Michael Tennenbaum, Epstein’s manager at Bear Stearns: I didn’t realize that I was creating one of the monsters of Wall Street. I regret I didn’t end his career when I had the chance. [Untold others probably feel much the same]. See the AI answer below on whether Epstein is considered clever or just lucky.

Russia

If you thought the US courts gave oddly-biased decisions, how about this beauty from Moscow.

Spanish

• Catadura: Tasting. Appearance.
• Baja catadura moral: Low morals/ethics. Low moral standing.
• Anegar: To swamp.
• Calavera: Skull

Did you know?/You Have to Laugh

Have things really changed much in 300 years? . . . A selection of topics considered by the Athenian Society, a learned organization established in 1691 to answer “all the most nice and curious questions proposed by the ingenious of either sex”:

Finally . . .

This is the ex of one of Trump’s sons and, now, the US ambassador to Greece.

She might be a good example of what’s called the Mar-a-Lago face. It certainly seems to have changed a bit over the years.

Finally . . . Finally . . .

EPSTEIN: CLEVER OR LUCKY?

Jeffrey Epstein demonstrated mathematical talent early on but relied heavily on charisma, opportunism, and key connections for his financial success rather than exceptional genius. Without a college degree, he taught at the elite Dalton School, where tutoring a Bear Stearns executive’s son opened doors to Wall Street. His rise involved cunning maneuvers, like falsely claiming to recover stolen funds to meet billionaire Leslie Wexner, whose trust granted Epstein vast financial control.​

Evidence of Cleverness

Epstein skipped grades, excelled in math, and built a network among elites without formal credentials. He managed billions for clients like Wexner and Leon Black, using financial savvy and tax strategies in the U.S. Virgin Islands to amass nearly $600 million. Observers described him as “cunning” for sustaining schemes over decades.​​

Role of Luck and Connections

Much of his ascent stemmed from serendipitous introductions, such as Dalton parents linking him to Bear Stearns’ Ace Greenberg, who hired him despite inexperience. Wexner’s endorsement amplified his prestige, though later accusations of theft surfaced. General analyses note success often blends skill with chance, fitting Epstein’s path of elite access over pure intellect.​

Public Perceptions

Opinions split: some view him as above-average in patterns and finance (IQ estimates 125+), while others saw average intelligence masked by confidence and poor grasp of science. Academics reported him misunderstanding concepts and fixating inappropriately.

Ultimately, his empire collapsed under criminal scrutiny, suggesting limits to any “cleverness.”​

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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.