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

For many foreigners buying a property here, signing an Arras Contract can be essential, particularly when buying ‘off-plan’. It usually sees the buyer pay a deposit while both sides commit to completing the sale under specific conditions and within an agreed timeframe. But getting execution from the builder can be problematic. Spaniards, including judges, always expect delays.

This guy feeds pigeons and seagulls near the city end of O Burgo bridge every day, from 2 large bags of food.

I was thinking of starting a petition to have him guillotined when the thought occurred to me that he might be drawing some out of the city centre, where the council is paying a company to reduce the number of these pests. Maybe he’s a (low cost) part of their strategy . . .

There was a storm brewing last night and the effect of its light was to change the colour of the cityscape below me from its normal pinkish of a sunny evening to yellowish. My phone camera couldn’t do justice to this. So, if you have a yellow filter handy, place it over this foto to get an accurate capture of this.

Great news for some . . . This month has seen a remarkable 15% increase in the number of pilgrims on the Portuguese Camino. May will see a total of 60,000, with an average daily flow of almost 2,000. This compares with just 10-20 a day only 15 years ago, when the only overnight option was the public albergue next to the train station. This was free back then, when no ‘pilgrim’ would consider staying in the Parador at a minimum of 125 euros a night. Or even a tourist-flat. Largely because none existed. I imagine the Council is happy that that average daily spend of Caminoers has also soared. Nowhere is free now and some options are clearly quite expensive. Do I blame Caminoers for enjoying their – totally non-religious vacacional walk – not at all. Do I resent them monopolising what were once totally Spanish bars and restaurants – absolutely. From April to November, the city ain’t the place I chose to live in. At least not in large parts of the old quarter. Thankfully, there are others which remain (noisily) Spanish. For the moment.

Actually, one thing I really miss is chatting to the occasional group of Caminoers next to me years ago, even walking with some of them part of the way to Santiago de Compostela. Now, there’s just too many of them for this. And the Camino, as I am wont to say, is like a conveyor belt of humans, on which it’s impossible to be alone with nature and your thoughts. Which used to be one of its main purposes and benefits. But, hey ho. Buen camino to those who can still enjoy those Caminos are now so crowded. And Buen hecho to those who’ve found a Camino – from the more than 40 now available – where things are like how they used to be on the Portuguese Way.

I’ve mentioned the dogs of Pv city and their strange owners. Today it was 29 degrees but the young woman at the table next to mine had a small sausage dog on her lap, wearing a coat. The dog, not the woman. They go mad with canophilia when young here.

The notary didn’t call.

The UK

Imagine the reaction in the UK if the PM started calling himself ‘Starmer’ – à la Trump. He’d be mocked to perdition. What does this say about the difference between the nations, I wonder.

The Middle East War

Trump’s choice was a bad deal or a return to war. Despite his threats, Trump seems to have chosen the former. Or did he?

The latest update from Naked Capitalism. Trump’s alleged deal is falling apart.

The United States of Trump America

Quote: No slight is too small for Trump to wage a vendetta against anyone deemed to have failed his loyalty tests.

Why Trump’s favourite Democrat is unfit for office. Podcast Video

A thought . . . Back in 1773, Samuel Johnson – dismissing a question about which of 2 minor poets was the better – said: “There is no settling the point of precedency between a louse and a flea.” This was adapted into modern political satire about choosing between indistinguishable parties or candidates. The hope is this task won’t prove too difficult for US voters in November

The Way of the World

It was forecast not so long ago that economic realities would compel a slowdown of the drive towards Net Zero. This columnist claims that this has now happened everywhere except in the UK, thanks to the zealotry of the Minister of Energy. (More correctly, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero).

Did you know?

Which language is the nicest language and which the un-nicest?

You Have to Laugh

Another uncomfortable Finn . . .

Finally . . .

A friend told me about a podcast called Boring History for Sleep but added that the subjects were all so interesting it was hard not to stay awake listening to them, even though they’re all about 4 hours long. Well, I agree with her point about them being fascinating but I did manage to drop off yesterday afternoon after not much of the one on the drug PCP. Though it was the hour of my siesta. So, that probably proves nothing.

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

The Usual Links . . .

The US commentators I follow, all on Podbean and/or YouTube for free:-

• The Daily Beast Podcast/Video
• 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

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 no longer post on Facebook. But I can be readon X at Thoughts from Galicia. And on Substack here

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.

Finally . . . Finally . . .

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

The Usual Links . . .

The US commentators I follow, all on Podbean and/or YouTube for free:-

• The Daily Beast Podcast/Video
• 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

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 X at Thoughts from Galicia. And on Substack here. I no longer post on Facebook.

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.