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

Neither rent caps, nor rental bonuses for young people, nor ICO guarantees, nor limitations on tourist apartments, nor extraordinary protection against non-payments are effective measures to address the housing crisis facing Spain. So says the Bank of Spain. And Mark Stücklin, I’d guess.

Why Spain is so empty. 

This Mark Stücklin article addresses the question of whether it’s still cheaper to live in Spain than in the UK. 

I agree with the sentiment that the Spaniards are one of the best things about Spain. But that doesn’t stop me being annoyed that at least 80% of them ignore the (signposted) rule about who has right of way on the one-way bridge I cross 4 times a day. Among other examples of rule-breaking. And smoking on café-bar terraces.

The UK

For decades, I’ve been unimpressed at the quality of football commentary on British TV, usually given by not-very-bright ex footballers. But there’s been a revelation during this World Cup, with some excellent commentary on tactics and strategy. This has actually come not from an ex male footballer but from the (English) woman) who guided the US women’s team to success in the last decade. Needless to say this hasn’t gone down well with neanderthals on the internet.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism. Both Iran and Israel prove troublesome.

Donald Trump’s terrible Iran deal is already falling apart – and these are the 6 reasons why.

The United States of Trump America

Presidential Quotes

• There are no limits to my power. I guess there are but I haven’t learned that lesson yet.
• The MoU amounts to total capitulation by Iran. [The very opposite of the truth, of course.]
• I am the president. You’re not. [L’etat, c’est moi.]
• The Reflecting Pool is green because of vandalism by Radical Left Lunatics, most likely Dumocats.
• Giorgia Meloni begged me for a selfie. She wanted it desperately. [Not true of course. Is there any lie this man won’t tell]

The consensus appear to be that it’ll be Vance, not Rubio, who’ll be Trump’s fall guy for ‘total success’ in respect of Iran. Not good for the implementation of Project 2025. Though Stephen Miller is still there to pull Trump’s strings.

Lowering the tone again . . . Trump and Melania’s bedroom secrets.     Podcast    Video

The DSR Network is now on Substack, here. Where you can find this Daily Beast podcast of MAGA folk on Fox(!) taking issue with Trump’s deal.

Spanish

• Fachada: Coastline. Façade.
• Impropio de: Unrelated to.
• Ser ajeno a: To be a stranger to.

English

I wonder what folks will come up with, by way of hyperbole, when ‘awesome’ has fallen out of fashion. As words do.

Did you know about?

The internet’s favourite lost civilisation that wasn’t.

Finally . . . You Have to Laugh

Another uncomfortable Finn . . .

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 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.