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 Tax Office (La Hacienda) has started proceedings against ex (PSOE) president Zapatero, hs wife and his 2 daughters. So, not a great summer in prospect for them.

It’s pretty relentless . . . Spain welcomed’ 10.3m international tourists in May, up 9.5% compared to 2025. The UK remained the main source market, with nearly 2.2m, a 6% increase. It was followed by France, with 1.3m (up 11%), and Germany, also with 1.3m (up 9%). For the first 5 months of 2026, Spain exceeded 36.8 million international tourists – a 5.0% increase. Spending saw a higher increase of 11%. Pc city’s numbers were almost certainly higher than these, thanks to the ever increasing numbers of Caminoers.

Possibly because of the very heavy spring rains, the octopus catch along our coast is hugely down on last year. Reflected, of course, in restaurant and tapas bar prices. I don’t mind, as I don’t eat the creature.

In other octopus news, the Pv city court has sentenced a man to 2 years in jail for stealing the ‘magic’ recipe bait from one company and selling it to another. (In Spain, no one actually serves times for a sentence of 2 years or less).

Is this what we can expect along our coast in due course? . . . A group of Guardia Civil generals is requesting grenade launchers to combat drug traffickers.

Bars and restaurants in Pv city can keep their terraces open until 2am this summer, or 2.30 at the weekend, on holidays and during our big August fiesta. TBH, I thought this was always the case. Outside these dates, it’s as early as 1.30am . . .

The temperature just now on the outside (granite) kitchen window ledge – in the shade – 53 degrees. On the lawn, also in the shade, a mere 33 . In my salón – cooled by the air-conditioning of the sea breeze blowing through the house – only 28.

Portugal

Happy to see their team advance in the Word Cup, albeit rather controversially.

The World Cup

Pretty easy for Spain. I had the pleasure of watching last night’s match with my 2 lovely Spanish (female) neighbours. As well as my daughter and grandson. Things got a tad raucous, of course.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism. Still not smooth sailing towards a lasting peace. But possibly more so than the Russia-Ukraine war. Now in its 5th year. More than WW1.

Tankers might be leaving with oil but not entering to get new supplies.

The United States of Trump America

Quote: Trump is a villain who keeps on villaining.

• America’s stillborn 250th birthday: An event that was meant to celebrate an exceptional nation has been cornered by one man. FT article.
• Michael Wolff: Melania Is Unleashing her Revenge Dogs on: The Daily beast. Podcast Video
• This civil war [in the Democratic party] could put Trump back in power. The Daily Blast.

Trump’s USA imposed a $15,000 visa bond requirement on Cape Verde citizens. As a direct result, the mother of Cape Verde’s star goalkeeper Vozinha – the man who made 7 saves to hold Spain to a draw – could not afford to get a visa to watch her son play in the World Cup on American soil. 

Can this really be true? . . . Nearly Half of [US]Americans – and 67% of Gen Z – Don’t Know What [US]America’s 250th Is Celebrating.

Spanish

• Velador: Bedside table. Terrace table.
• Velar: To watch, oversee. monitor
• Velar por: To ensure, watch over, look out for, see to, look out for, provide for.

Did you know?

July 2, 1776: The Forgotten Independence Day That Actually Created America.

Finally . . . You Have to Laugh

‘Sparkling Wit’ . . . . All I ask is a chance to prove that money doesn’t make me happy: Spike Milligan.

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 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.