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

From The New York Times: How a fight with Trump threw Spain’s leader a political lifeline. To leftists abroad, Spain’s PM is a hero for standing up to Trump. And at home, Trump is seen as Sánchez’s saviour from thorny political challenges that bedevil him.

The government plans help for beleaguered property purchasers.

A significant milestone for renewable energy sources, in which Spain is a global leader.

Bad news for Brits wanting to bring pets into Spain.

News of a new deposit scheme for certain containers. I do wonder how it will work. Will we need to take them back to the same shop, armed with receipts? Nothing would surprise me. Span’s system might not be as simple as those elsewhere.

HT to Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for the news that 2027 might see a a new European night-service called Nox – a network that ‘will link 100 European cities, such as Barcelona, ​​at a price cheaper than an airline ticket’.i Like him, I miss the night train to Madrid, scrapped maybe 10 years ago, But

The Middle East War

The latest updates from Naked Capitalism. Here and here.

The United States of Trump America

It’s customary to talk of presidential Approval ratings. These for Trump suggest we should switch the bias to Disapproval:-

• Overall: Approval 33% Disapproval 67%
• The Economy: Approval 30% Disapproval 70%
• Handling the War: Approval 32% Disapproval 67%

The question arises . . . If it were politically possible, would Trump be elected again? Despite these ratings, who could be sure he wouldn’t be? Which says rather a lot about the US electorate. Who knew what they were getting the second time round, after 3 election campaigns by a malignant, power-mad, narcissistic candidate.

Trump’s grift makes him a failure. Podcast Video –

It was another day of nothing happening in Trump’s failed attempts to negotiate with Iran. Rages at the Supreme Court. Makes racist comment re one judge. Accuses the companies who paid tariffs of ripping off the USA for years – presumably either lying or stupidly still thinking that Chinese and European companies have paid the tariffsand will now get them back. Astonishing.

Another ‘reform’ issue to be addressed is that of ICE and decent immigration controls and treatment of illegals.

Relevant podcasts/YouTube videos-

• The Daily Beast Podcast/Video [above]
• Inside Trump’s Head Podcast/Video
• The Daily Blast with Greg Sargent Podcast
• The Rest is Politics US Podcast/Video
• The DSR Network Podcast
• The Politics Girl Video. Amusing
• The Daily Show Video. Very amusing

Quotes of the Day

• Joseph Goebbels: Accuse the other side of that which you are guilty. [This is the foundation of the modern saying, “Every accusation is a confession.”]
• Trump: I am an extraordinarily brilliant person and even I had no idea what they were talking about on the Referendum. [On re-districting in Virginia]. So, it was clearly rigged . . .

Spanish

• Querencia: 1. Fondness, love, affection. 2. Lair. 3. Where a bull likes to stay/return to in the ring.
• Hecho de la vida/Ley de la vida: Fact of life.
• Cuña: Wedge, chock, shim[?]

English

Cicerone : An old term for a guide who conducts visitors and sightseers to museums, galleries, etc., and explains matters of archaeological, antiquarian, historic or artistic interest. The word is presumably taken from Marcus Tullius Cicero, as a type of learning and eloquence.  Same word in modern Spanish.

Do you know?

The difference between a pilgrimage and a romería, both of which are religious events. Or, at least, can be. María tells us here.

You Have to Laugh

Another uncomfortable Finn . . .

Finally . . .

A corny bit of English nostalgia from 1939. Hard to imagine young folk singing it today.

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 until April 30 on Facebook. And on X at Thoughts from Galicia.

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.