Thoughts from Galicia, Spain: Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain: .1.9.19

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

Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain

Spain

Several years ago, €500 notes were termed Bin Ladens here in Spain - known to exist but never seen. For obvious reasons, they were and still are the favourite note of crooks, especially our narcotráficos. Here's news of the latest attempts to address their use, and the implications of these efforts for you and me.
Not an every-day discovery under your floor . . .
I cited Amazonisation the other day and yesterday I read that Galicia has suffered retail closures of 2 a day over the last 4 years. A total of 3,600. I haven't checked the maths, Perry.
Here's another example of the massive preparations for next Saturday's - single day! - Medieval Fair. There's a false wall on one side of the town hall and the framework for another gate into the old quarter on the other:-

Still on local 'culture' . . . Here's a group of choral singers getting ready to perform in the city's main square yesterday, in clothes that would render them sweaty even in mid-winter:-

At first, I thought they were going to dance but, no, it was just a singing competition. If it had been a dance contest, this chap would surely have had a problem:-

Here's a bit of one of the choral performances, I've no idea if they won or not:-

Talking of Pontevedra city . . . You'll all be wanting to know about Chapter 6 of saga of the Sunday Flea Market. Well . . . Here it is today, devoid of gypsy stalls. Well, almost:-

Here are 2 spots which used to be overrun with gypsy rubbish:-

But here, down at the original 'gypsy corner', there are still some gypsy stall-holders who are either bold or legit. Though none of them were wearing the badges prominent on all the other traders:-

Spanish

Word of the Day: Estornino. Starling.

Up in Ourense, they have a real problem with these and the mayor has commissioned a large hawk to deal with them. Obviously, I had to look up the word. But, TBH, had guessed it correctly.

English

This is a sentence from someone Spanish who speaks English excellently but not perfectly. Its meaning is the exact opposite of that intended, demonstrating the perils of the phrasal verbs that English is riddled with:- Spain would be among the most tolerant countries: only 10% of respondents would care to have a neighbor of another race.

Instead of 'care to', he/she should have used 'care/worry about having', for example.

Finally . . .