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 former transport minister and key ally of the PM was sentenced this week to 24 years in prison for rigging public contracts for face masks and other medical supplies in exchange for kickbacks at the height of the Covid pandemic. This is the longest such penalty for corruption by a politician. Traditionally spent in a ‘luxury’ jail north of Madrid.

More broadly . . .  Spain’s prime minister is struggling to disassociate himself from the plethora of corruption cases involving close political allies, relatives and other members of his inner circle. And:  His statements have done little to reduce the perception of corruption within Spain’s PSOE ruling party and the prime minister’s inner circle

Talking of the Señor Sánchez . . . I suspect he reads my blog . . . For I only have to moan about something and suddenly things happen. So, there are now new rules about e-scooters. But will the police bother to enforce them? And the existing one about not travelling fast in pedestrian areas. And why has it taken so long to have national, not differing municipal, laws? BTW: It looks like the police will have yet another reason to fine motorists – for not going slow enough past a cyclist or a parked car.

Things we never used to have in Pv city:-

• Waiters asking you at 13.00 if you’re going to eat and telling you you have 45 minutes, if not. Or to go somewhere else. In summer, at least. Which, sadly, now stretches from April to October. Or at least the High Season does, even if the weather doesn’t.
• Groups thronging/blocking the narrow streets of the old quarter. I counted more than 50 in one today. It’s not yet as bad as, say, Córdoba – or even Santiago de Compostela – but that’s the direction of travel.

• Tourists comprising more than 50% foreigners – 12% up on last year. From principally Portugal, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the USA.

I had my own little clash with bureaucracy today, when trying make a doctor’s appointment. After spending 10+ minutes entering numbers on the appointments page on the net, I was told there was nothing available in perpetuity and I should go to my health centre. Where the clerk eventually gave me what I wanted. The other (infamous) site which can make you go through the entire booking process until it tells you there are no seats available on any train is, of course, RENFE. Very irritating.

The World Cup

England’s weaknesses were fully exposed against ‘feistily’ defensive Ghana last night. Can’t see them getting to the Final, as they couldn’t do much with 80% possession. Need a Messi. Who’s got all of Argentina’s 5 goals so far.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism. More Trump lies.

The United States of Trump America

NOTE: This is how yesterday’s post should have read . . . You do have to wonder in how many countries around the world 30% of the population would believe insane, illiterate inventions like this one:-

Quotes

• Trump wants to be a Tsar
• JD Vance has written another book? Couldn’t he just concentrate on his day job? Nice: Maybe Vance should abandon memoir altogether and switch to fantasy. Given his antics over the last year-and-a-half, he appears comfortable making things up.

Why Trump’s Slimy Humiliation Is Driving Him Mad   Podcast     Video

The estimable David Rothkopf tells us how it is, across a wide spectrum.   Podcast     Video

It strikes me that 30% of (US)Americans can’t really approve of his economic policies. So, when they say they do, they’re really only saying: I like Trump whatever he does and however much it affects me. And he’s going for folk I don’t like.

Spanish

• Persecución: Chase
• Becerrada: A bullfighting event involving young bulls or calves
• Llamativo: Noticeable

Did you know?

The origins of the fraternal Adidas-Puma rivalry

You Have to Laugh

Another Finnish daydream . . .

Finally . . .

One of those headlines, from today’s Faro de Vigo . . . Three years in jail for selling cocaine in front of a detox centre.

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

The Usual Links .

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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.