Awake, for morning in the bowl of night has flung the stone that puts the stars to flight.
And, lo, 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

Starting with bad news . . . Spain’s inflation has for a while been above the EU average at 3.5% but recent global events has taken it up to 4.3% this month. Hitting the poorest hardest, of course.

This Guardian article clarifies, I think, a Madrid saga that has featured a lot in the Spanish media in recent months. And which might result in greater political power for the far-right Vox party.

Ceuta

• With the enclave allegedly on the brink of brink of collapse Spain has asked the European Commission for the support from Frontex and Europol to assist with the screening of migrants who are staying irregularly in Ceuta – the management of triage and the processing of the personal files of the immigrants who still remain.
• The Interior Ministry announced on Friday that Ceuta’s border will be reinforced with a package of “extraordinary” measures such as extending the breakwaters, a permanent system of maritime containment buoys, aerial surveillance with drones, light intervention vessels and remotely operated underwater devices.

Lenox Napier sings here about Mojacar.

There was an article this week in the Diario de Pontevedra about an event with the mystifying almost-English title of LerezUp. This turned out to be about a gathering of frikis – fans of video games and cosplay.

Well, the Spanish tourists – Los fodechinchos(fish-stealers) – have this weekend left Pv city, having endured a miserable final week of rain. Now – as regards getting a terrace table – all I have to worry about are the richer pilgrims who do the Camino not as a religious or spiritual experience but as a cheaper-than-back-home vacation. And who these days reach a peak in what was once my favourite month. Filling the better quality restaurants and hotels. But God must like them, because the weather changed markedly for the good today.

Europe

Good news for fliers with kids.

The United States of Trump America

Very large, complex countries obviously need highly effective governments. Dictatorships – say Russia, China and Iran – achieve this rather differently from democratic examples such as the USA, where intelligent, able politicians are required, not ruthless tyrants. That said, the USS currently has an autocratic, imbecilic president supported – in a 5 ring circus – by incompetent sycophants. As these were put in power by the majority of US voters, it’s enough to make you wonder if the 18rh and 19th century opponents of universal franchise had a good case. On the other hand, US democracy seems to have the ability to fight back and to win. Albeit after huge damage to both the USA and the rest of the world. We’ll know for sure in November and, again, in 2028.

Meanwhile . . . Why Trump Is Dooming Himself with MAGA Candidates.

Relevant Books

• To be published in October. Can be pre-ordered now: Wtf America?!: The Way Out of This Hell and Back to Democracy. On Amazon or here.
• The final pages of Kurt Andersen’s fascinating run through the USA’s history – Fantasyland: How America went haywire. A 500 year history.

Social Media

An $18bn settlement – and Zuckerberg barely blinked. The tech titans must be stripped of their power, and soon. Apparently not the view of the US government. One wonders why.

The Way of the World

Sunsets, disasters, dinners: we now record them all with our phones. But what is that doing to our souls?

Spanish

• Cotizante: Contributor
• Faena: Work, job, chore, labour
• Concienciar: To raise/increase/heighten awareness, make aware, educate, sensitise etc.

Did you know?

Why it’s better to handwrite than to type.

You Have to Laugh

‘Sushi’ in German . . . Possibly.

Finally . . .

I’ve given quite a few BBQ’s in my life but have decided not to give the one I was thinking of for friends in September. Possibly, I was influenced by the one I gave for my daughters, their kids and their friends a few weeks ago, but I think I’ve always, subconsciously at least, believed this (just read) sentiment: A barbecue is fundamentally unenjoyable.Especially if you’re doing the cooking. On the other hand, you can avoid the small talk. Except with men – it’s always men – who stand next to you telling you how to do it better.

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