Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.   

- Christopher Howse: 'A Pilgrim in Spain'*

The Bloody Virus 

• Yesterday it was baldness, now it's being of blood group A-positive that makes you more susceptible than others. 
• Smoking, on the other hand, seems to give you a degree of protection. The virus seems to have a (rather malicious) sense of humour.

Life in Spain

• The pandemic here is 'practically under control', we're told. But we shouldn't get complacent, because people arriving from overseas might bring it back. And, closer to home, large gatherings - particularly birthday parties - have led to infection spikes in several parts of the country. 
• Spain is one of the countries to which there'll be an 'air bridge' with the UK by the end of June, says the British government. Though how effective this'll be in the face of compulsory 14 days isolation on your return remains to be seen. (Infra)
• Spain's population was around 40m when I came here in 2000. Since then it's gone up and down in harmony with the economic situation, largely reflecting the comings and goings of immigrants from (linguistically and culturally) not-very-dissimilar South Americans. It's now reached 47m, thanks to said immigrants. Plus quite a few Moroccans. And Romanians.
• Until he shot an elephant - or at least until a triumphant foto was published - Spaniards weren't terribly interested in the (mis)doings of their (ex)king. But things have changed rather, and now our Supreme Court has begun investigating whether he pocketed millions in respect of a high-speed train contract with Saudi Arabia. However, the Public Prosecutor has warned that the case is of “undeniable technical complexity”. So, plenty of scope for just about any outcome. Here's El País on this development. My guess is that time will be run out.
• Talking of matters legal . . . This is a comprehensive article of the infamous 'Gag Law' of the last (right wing) PP government - the mad far-reach of which I've touched on a few times, admittedly without being arrested so far.

The UK

• As of yesterday, almost everyone arriving in the UK is legally obliged to quarantine themselves for 14 days. However, the police will have a 'limited' role in enforcing this, only issuing £1,000 fines as a last resort. This would be after all attempts have been made to Engage, Explain and Encourage before moving on to Enforcement. Blimey, if this were Spain, if you hadn't filled out your 'locator' form on the plane you'd have €1,000 taken from your bank account before you'd left your seat. And then another €6,000 if you put a foot outside your home during the next fortnight. With your neighbours being only too happy to snitch on you via a denuncia.
• Anyway, a number of interested companies are this week challenging the legality of this quarantine measure, seeking an injunction to stop it. And Brits themselves seem to have concluded it won't be enforced, as they've flocked to book overseas holidays and reservations on BA, EasyJet and Ryanair. Though maybe they're just planning to 'engage' with the police when they get back. After giving false addresses on their locator forms.

The USA

• Fart gives a  heartfelt landmark speech on unity.

 The Way of the World

• Effie Deans makes some interesting points here about the obsession with demonstrating you're free of today's superordinate crime of racism. And about its consequences in these viral times.
• As someone else has put it: Fighting racism does not justify betrayal of those of all colours working to rid us of the coronavirus. Though doubtless some - many? - would disagree. Especially among the young, fortuitously those least likely to pay the price.

Finally . . .

•  I'm on record as saying I'm unlikely to ever again subject myself to the tourist hordes of Sevilla, should they ever return. That's even less likely now that there's a bloody huge crocodile in the river than runs through it. Possibly released by some cretin who used to keep it in his bath.

* A terrible book, by the way. Don't be tempted to buy it, unless you're a very religious Protestant.

Note: his blog has long appeared on Blogger here: www.colindavies,blogspot.com   where there's a nice foto which EoS declines to include, even though it was taken by me.