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

The FT says here that Galicia is becoming a second-home bolt-hole for the climate conscious. In fact, this actually began about 20 years ago, when I started to assist folk who wanted to move north. In fact, I helped an (honest) local lawyer set up a business specialising in working with adventurous foreigners who wanted to get involved in Galicia’s complex land purchasing challenge. Once she was fluent enough in English, I left her to it. And very successful she was, too. Until a premature death from cancer a dew years ago. She had given up serious smoking too late. Which is why I always feel tempted to ‘lecture’ young folk on the risks of smoking. But usually don’t.

HT to Lenox Napier of Business Over Tapas for the news that E-car sales are growing here twice as fast as in the rest of Europe, making Spain one of the continent’s most dynamic markets. The company called BYD leads national registrations. I believe that stands for Build Your Dreams.

I’ve said far more than once that the Spaniards are one of the best things about Spain. And that, for example, they’re the world’s best Samaritans and organ donors. But I’ve also said that – confusingly – they can be really inconsiderate towards strangers. Like the woman who yesterday sat at the table between 2 sets of diners – me and a group of 5 French folk – and immediately lit up a cheroot. [Astonishingly, as I was writing that a (US)American woman asked me for directions to a hotel without offering any form of Please or, worse, a Thank-you. Even after I’d glossed over her lack of politeness and wished her Buen camino. You couldn’t make it up.]

To be more positive. . . . I was chatting to my favourite waiter in my favourite watering hole and mentioned my disappointment whenever there wasn’t a table available. Long gone are the days when I had my own table there. Anyway, he immediately assured me he’d always set up a table for me. I managed to be Spanish, not British, and agreed to this preferential treatment, despite knowing the number of tables would then exceed the licensed maximum. It’s slow work but I am less and less British. I might achieve Total Spanishness before I pop my clogs

Some of the tracks on which the AVE high-speed train runs in Galicia are international gauge and some Iberian. On the latter, only Renfe has the right trains, meaning no real competition and much higher prices for us than in the rest of Spain. The relevant 88km run 40km between Ourense and Santiago de Compostela and 48km between La Coruña and Vigo. It will cost (north of) €200m to convert them. I don’t suppose Renfe will be in a hurry to facilitate this, though the work might, in fact, be the responsibility of ADIF.

The new shopping mall near me in O Vao was supposed open before last Xmas. The latest forecast I saw suggested July this year but this is now ‘autumn’, which could be November. So, it might be open for this Xmas.

My lawyer told me yesterday the notary’s secretary had told her they would call me this week. They have one day left. I will be walking past the office this evening but won’t waste my time by going in. My daughter won’t actually need the PoA until I’m gaga. I’m hoping this is still some way off. So, no need to pay for it now.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism. The insane megalomaniac running the USA threatens to bomb his ally Oman. Is nobody going to shoot him? I meant stop him, of course . . .

The United States of Trump America

Quotes:

• I don’t go into war, I go into conflict. [Trump, of course]
• Despite the conflict with Venezuela[sic] who no longer has a navy, no longer has an air force, no longer has a lot of people that were leading the country into very bad places. [Trump again, of course. Meaning Iran.]
• I don’t care about the mid terms. [Guess who]
• The Cabinet Room has never reeked of so much stupidity and inhumanity before. [A shocking video here. From someone who thought it must have been AI.]
• The Paxton win in Texas demonstrates Trump’s firm hold over the Republican Party – even scandal-plagued candidates can win Republican primaries with his backing. [Not that this will do them much good in November].

• Why Trump isn’t bothering to hide his corruption.
• Deluded Trump is blinded by the MAGA faithful. Podcast or Video
• Trump makes an admission and the Republicans finally start to panic.
• Jimmy Kimmel takes the piss out of the cabinet of clowns. Great AI segment.
• An interesting comparison between modern USA and that of the 1950s.

The Way of the World

Population decline and its consequences.

Spanish

• Botellón: Binge drinking en masse
• Botellazo: A bottle in the face
• Zueco: Clog

Did you know?

An unusual profession.

Finally . . . You Have to Laugh

Another uncomfortable Finn . . .

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.