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

Ceuta

• The death toll has climbed to 141, after 63 bodies were recovered in Moroccan waters.
• The EU is now said to be commending Spain for its rapid response.
• The FT here on the King who outfoxed the Spanish PM.

An interesting headline: Extreme heat and wildfire risk are driving British expats away from their former dream homes in southern Spain. Some up here, some to Portugal and some back to the UK

A sad headline . . The arches of Pv city’s San Bartolomé church are now an open toilet. Thanks to the ever-growing number of homeless folk who sleep under other arches in the old quarter. Disgusting the tourists.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism.

The United States of Trump America

I’m reminded of Franco during the final years of his dictatorship. His inner circle reportedly constructed an elaborate illusion that allowed him to believe he was still fully governing while others exercised the real power. I wonder if Trump’s advisers are headed toward something similar, creating a political stage set while someone else actually runs the government.

According to his son Eric, Trump’s plan to display the Qatari-gifted Air Force One at his future presidential library has apparently been scrapped, This leaves open the question of what will ultimately happen to the plane, which remains part of the active Air Force fleet. The uncertainty has fueled concern that Trump might seek to keep personal use of the plane after leaving office. [A racing certainty, I would’ve thought].

A surprising forecast of Trump’s future.

From hero to zero . . . Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for Washington, DC who began with highly aggressive claims against an allegedly certain vandal, now admits the evidence is of construction deficiencies around the Reflecting Pool – causing a ‘fulminating ‘Trump to lose his rag – not difficult – and to carpet her, ahead of her certain sacking. If you read it in a novel, you’d think it implausible. Like just about all of Trump’s contributions to the history of these weird times.

After you’ve listened to that podcast, remind yourself of how – back in term 1 – people who said that Trump was a would-be dictator were criticised for exaggeration.

The Way of the World

Stop coming to X – it’s becoming an overrun tourist trap. . . . Would you believe that this all-purpose plea comes from not-very-warm Scotland? Edinburgh, in fact. . . . What has always been a touristy city is now groaning under the weight of thousands and thousands more visitors every year. Much like La Coruña et al . . .

Spanish

• Acaparar: To hoard, grab, corner, monopolise
• Esprint: Sprint
• Sitiar: To besiege, lay siege

Did you know?

An electrical toilet.

You have to laugh

A ‘foreign’ couple were snapped having sex on a motorway in Andalucía. And subsequently identified and arrested. No doubt they’ll soon be famous on the internet. And have an Only Fans page. If not already.

Finally . . .

A typical Spanish headline: Stings from the faneca fish are 16.7% up on last year. I mean, who cares if it was 16 or 17%? TBH, I’m surprised it wasn’t to 3 decimal points.

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. And this, on the annual costs of owning property here.