Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

                                          Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day

                                         Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.

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

- Christopher Howse: 'A Pilgrim in Spain'*

Note: Our Dutch slave driver allowed us to sleep in until 6 this morning, ahead of driving through France to Omaha beach in Normandy. So, I've had time to write a brief post.

Living La Vida Loca . . .

• A useful bit of advice if you're going to be doing any autovia/pista driving in Spain. Say Pontevedra to the border at Irún, over 7 hours. 
• The owner of a  Marbella nightclub raided by police for exceeding capacity numbers claims he’s innocent, as - behind his back - 150 youths had 'sneaked into’ the place. I guess it could be true.
• Here's María's Day 31 and Day 32 of our Adjusted normal. Wherein you - like me - could well learn what 'kitty corner' means.   

English/Spanish

• Three more refranes:-

- Live and let live: Vive y deja vivir/Hay de todo en la viña del Señor.

- Look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves: A quien cuida la peseta nunca le falta un duro.

- Loves laughs at locksmiths: Amor no respeta ley, ni obedece a rey.

Spanish

• Cheveré: A word I've heard quite a lot recently from Venezuelans and Colombians. Not in the RAE dictionary, Probably because: Es un neologismo originario de la lengua efik introducido en el Caribe, especialmente Venezuela a comienzos del siglo XIX por inmigrantes africanos provenientes de Nigeria. Who'd have thought it?

Finally 

• Just in case you don't know, the cabernet franc grape of much of the wine of south west France is the same one used in the 'elaboration' of Galicia's mencia fruity red wine. Introduced to both places by the Romans, of course.

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