This is a three-part Foto Special. The regular post will follow tonight.

PONTEVEDRA’S BEGGARS

Here are a few of the characters I’ve mentioned in recent months:-

One of the well-dressed men who sit on a doorstep all day, with a placard in front of them saying they have no resources.

The guy who importunes folk with young kids and twists balloons for them.

One of the young men who blow into a tube and move their fingers over the holes in it. Regularly seen across the river with his scrawny dog, going to or coming from the gypsy encampment near my house in Pijolandia.

The bag-man who stands all day, every day at one of the narrow exits from the main square, jangling change in his hand.

That foto was taken yesterday and here’s one taken today. As you can see, he's wearing the same filthy clothes. But, then, he’s worn them for years and years. Strangely enough, he’s not covered in flies. Even more strangely, perhaps, he’s reading El País.

PONTEVEDRA’S GRAFITTI

Another feature of the city I’ve mentioned from time to time. The first one has been posted before so apologies to those who’ve already seen it:-

Some of you will have noted that someone in the last two is being accused of being gay. Possibly the same person. But someone else has had the decency to blot out the name.

BAGPIPES AND STUFF

Here’s a typical group of local musicians, who were playing in the squares of the old quarter yesterday.

And here’s a duo playing in mufti today, near an exhibition of instruments used for traditional Galician music.

And here are a few of said instruments.

I guess it’d be accurate to say all these have Celtic connotations. And that both the costumes which the group is wearing and the instruments go back to at least, well, the 18th century.