Thoughts from Galicia, Spain: Thoughts from Galicia, Spain: 7.9.18

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

- Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain.

If you've arrived here because of an interest in Galicia or Pontevedra, see my web page here. Garish but informative.

Matters Spanish

Here's El Pais and here's Don Quijones on tehe issue of Spain's falling tourism revenue and the impact of this on the economy.
Some good developments for the less well-off. I've never understood my these folk have always had to claim back tax withheld by banks and the like.
I have a note that suggests the union which Spain's prostitutes is trying to get recognised - successfully? - is called Congoestrina. But a wiki search says this is a hamlet in Castilla y La Mancha. Some confusion, surely. As Private Eye puts it. Ah . . It looks like the surname of the El País journalist who wrote this article on the subject.
More progress towards the 21st century.
On the other hand . . .

Matters Galician and Pontevedran

Our local hoteliers are saying that the camino is now finally benefitting them. By which I guess they mean there's a growing number of not-so--young, less-poor pilgrims staying in their establishments, rather than hostales or pensiones. Though these days, I'm told, pensiones and lower-star hotels are much the same thing in Spain.
Interestingly, said local hoteliers – especially in Sanxenxo, 'The Marbella of Galicia' – are seeking permission for higher prices in July and August (presumably from the regional government), on the grounds they want to offer higher quality. And not, of course, because they want to take profitable advantage of higher demand from Spanish tourists, if not foreign ones.
The newish 'coastal camino' which passes from the mouth the the Miño river up through Bayona and Vigo, before joining the real Portuguese Way is now experiencing some success. Numbers have risen from 1,500 in 2015 to 8,000 in the first 6m of this year. With the autumn(fall) peak to come.
As I've said, road deaths here so far this year are well up on last. Double, in fact. But I don't think many of these were camino 'pilgrims'. Just a few.

Finally . . .

It's at least ironic - in a country where no one believes anyone – that the vast number of statistics that are issued at the local, regional and national levels are very often quoted to 2, or even 3, decimal points. My suspicion is that it's to give a veneer of verisimilitude. But I could be wrong.

Thoughts from Galicia, Spain