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

A major change to the rental rules is causing concern.

Staying in Spain on a tourist visa – The 90/180 rule explained.

An unwelcome visitor to our coast, thanks to the warmer water – el pez globo. The toxic puffer/blow fish.

The US-Iran War

The US has attacked military targets on Kharg island. Iranian media claims oil infrastructure wasn’t damaged but Trump has threatened that oil facilities will be targeted, if Tehran doesn’t halt its attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has vowed to respond to any attack on its energy infrastructure by targeting facilities owned by oil companies co-operating with the US in the region. None of which will be good for oil supplies. And prices. But Trump’s gut will be telling him that really doesn’t matter.

A Guardian editorial on the war: It’s worse than a mistake; it’s a crime.

Another critical view. . . . Even taking Trump’s confused reasons for the war at face value, it’s still a total disaster. Two weeks in, it’s increasingly clear that the war has taken every problem it aimed to solve and made it worse. Every one of the risks.was predictable and, indeed, predicted but the war-makers went ahead anyway. . . . Trump and Hesgeth have the most serious responsibility imaginable – wielding the mightiest arsenal the world has ever seen – but they are not serious people. . . . Trump has blundered in, crushing and trampling all before him, making a bad situation worse. He does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. He does not deserve his war to be assessed charitably. He deserves our contempt.

The USA

See my earlier post on the dangerously delusional, bellicose president.

Trump’s aides quietly panic as his outbursts over the oil shock go off the rails. As Trump’s handling of soaring oil prices due to his war grows shakier, an international relations expert explains why this saga will likely get worse—and what it reveals about Trump’s deeper failings:-

• Podcast
• Article/Transcript

Quote of Yesteryear

We can have no sympathy with those who seek to seize the power of government to advance their own personal interests and ambition. Woodrow Wilson, president, 1913-1921. I guess we know what he’d make of Trump

Spanish

• Sostener el pabellón: To uphold the honour, keep the flag flying. To do your country/team/family proud.
• Aturdido: Groggy.
• Tozudo: Stubborn, pig-headed.

You Have to Laugh

Another uncomfortable Finn

Finally . . .

One sight I won’t be seeing . . . Our pick for the world’s most overrated attraction is the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen harbour. We simply can’t work out what turned this miniature mermaid statue into an international tourist sensation. It’s not particularly old, its backstory is not particularly exciting, and there’s finer craftsmanship on display in every art museum in Europe. If you saw this statue in the street you would barely look up from your phone. Some tour guides explicitly warn visitors to expect to be underwhelmed.

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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 there.

If you´re thinking of moving to Spain, this link should be useful to you.