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

For reasons I don’t yet know fully . . . . Almost 4,000 Galicians renounced an inheritance last year. A proposed reform of Galician civil law aims to double the deadline for accepting or rejecting an inheritance—from 30 to 60 days—with the possibility of an extension. It also limits an heir’s liability for debts to the value of the assets received, thereby protecting their personal assets. Furthermore, it reinforces the priority of creditors and stipulates that, in the absence of a will, a spouse or domestic partner takes precedence over parents. (Sometimes the debtor is unaware of what they owe, and that debt passes to the heirs).

The government has approved a sweeping overhaul of its national traffic regulations coming into force on October 1, introducing strict new rules for drivers, motorcyclists and electric scooter riders. See details at the end of this post.

At dinner last night with friends of 3 or 4 nationalities, discussion turned to the complexity of buying property in Galicia. One of which is knowing all the owners of an old property which has passed through 2 or 3 generations of inheritances. Or even just one generation, if one or more of several inheritors now lives overseas. A case in point is this deteriorating house which sits, abandoned, next to a lovely mansion (pazo) in Pv city’s quietist square.

Almost certainly ownership is unknown or can’t be proven. So it can’t be sold. Or possibly compulsorily purchased by the city council. Maybe until many years have passed. Until then, it can only deteriorate further.

Next week, Pv city will host another triathlon world championship. As many at 10,000 folk are expected to come here for it. To be added to the Caminoers passing through during the peak month of the year. But at least we don’t have a cruiser port. Barcelona has 12 but has just decided to reduce them by 3.

The Middle East War

The latest update from Naked Capitalism.

The United States of Trump America

It’s nice to think that most of the US electorate have finally caught up with Trump and will clip his wings in November – assuming he doesn’t rig or even cancel the elections. But surely the betting is on him and the people behind him being even worse during his last 2 years, unless he’s removed under Article 25 of the Constitution. But this will only happen when/if the Republicans realise that, failing that, a Democrat will surely become president in 2029. Or maybe Trump will move from shooting from the hip to merely shooting from the lip, ranting and raging impotently – hopefully bursting a blood vessel in what passes for his brain. One can dream.

The definitive book that I look forward to reading some years from now will possibly be jointly authored by a psychiatrist and an historian and will explain why Trump was how he was; how the US electorate came to vote him into power not just once but twice; and what the national and international consequences have been. Assuming we haven’t all perished in the worst possible consequence.

Meanwhile . . . This is typical of posts/articles that come into my Spain feed from right-wing commentators in the USA: Spain looks to be in real danger of falling as a nation. Mote and eye are words that spring to mind. Similar ignorant things are said about the UK, of course. Not least of all by what passes for the country’s bad joke of a president. Having studied a major business school in the US, I’m not terribly surprised.

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.
• Profiles in Cowardice, by Jacob Weisberg. Cited in this podcast.

Spanish

• Cámera estanca: Airlocked room.
• Dilapidar: To squander
• Escarabajo: Beetle

English

‘Taking the piss’ is a phrase that’s changed its meaning since I was young:-

• 1970s: Mocking someone. Taking the mickey.
• 2020s: Accusing someone of being outrageous/unacceptable.

I have the impression that (US)Americans prefer ‘two times’ to ‘twice’, which is preferred by Brits. Perplexity says not but then adds: Some learners and forum contributors report hearing “two times” more in American informal speech, but even there, phrases like “twice a week” remain the norm for many speakers.

You Have to Laugh

Finally . . .

I’ve owned 3 border collies and wasn’t really surprised to see them at no 2 (after the German Shepherd) in a list of Dogs which can ruin you life Because: Their very high level of intelligence makes them incredibly effective workers on a farm but it can become a “weapon” in the wrong environment. They have an almost insatiable appetite for mental stimulation, and will seek it out if it’s not provided – herding children, nipping, exhibiting obsessive behaviours and potentially developing severe anxiety that makes them unable to function. Failure to accommodate their needs can therefore be dangerous for owners. Which is why it saddens me to see so many border collies in Pv city, where everyone lives in a flat.

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

The new traffic regulations

E-scooters

• The legal minimum age to ride an e-scooter across Spain has now been set at 15
• Protective crash helmets will now be strictly mandatory for all riders, and anyone riding at night or in conditions of reduced visibility must wear a high-visibility reflective vest.
• For commercial couriers and delivery workers using e-scooters, wearing a reflective vest is now mandatory at all times.

Motorbikes and mopeds

• Drivers and passengers on both motorbikes and mopeds must now wear protective gloves whenever travelling on country roads and motorways outside built-up areas.
• Closed footwear is also now compulsory on all types of roads, putting an end to casually riding in flip-flops or even open sandals.
• Delivery riders working professionally on motorbikes must wear a reflective vest at all times while on the job.
• In heavy congestion, motorcyclists will be allowed to filter down the right-hand hard shoulder at speeds of up to 30kph, provided the stretch of road is appropriately signposted.
• Helmets worn by moped riders must also meet official approved certification standards.

Car drivers

• The reform introduces the ’emergency lane’ (carril de emergencia), an emergency corridor system common in northern Europe. When traffic slows to walking pace or comes to a complete standstill in a jam, drivers must pull over to the far sides of their lanes to leave a clear central corridor for police, fire engines and ambulances.
• Protection for cyclists has also been significantly upgraded. Drivers travelling behind a cyclist in the same lane must now maintain a minimum following distance of five metres at all times.

Specific regulations governing mandatory lighting systems on e-scooters and the new certification criteria for moped helmets will not come into force until October 1, 2027

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.