Thoughts from Galicia, Spain: Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain: 20.7.20

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'*

Living La Vida Loca . . .

I'm now in a country where masks are only compulsory on public transport. There was virtually no one wearing a mask anywhere in Gouda last night, though there was a degree of social distancing in restaurants. But not much.
Being accustomed to donning a mask every time I leave the house back in Spain, I felt rather uncomfortable not wearing one here.
But reading this article this morning left me a tad more relaxed.
The countryside outside Gouda is exceptionally pretty. As are the villages. Water everywhere, of course, and lots of impressive traditional windmills in nearby Kinderdijk.

The USA

English/Spanish

- He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day: Quien en tiempo huye, en tiempo acude.

- He who pays the piper calls the tune: Quien paga, elige.

- Health is better than wealth: La salud es la mejor riqueza. Mas vale la salud que el dinero/la riqueza. Primero es la salud que el dinero.

Finally . . . '

Back in France I was foxed by a menu item which spoke of ‘fish balloting in tartare sauce' . I guessed that this had nothing to do with voting so asked the waiter. Which didn't help much. So I googled it and found that balloter means to toss, and that a ballotine is: Boned meat, poultry, or fish that is stuffed with seasoned meats or vegetables, rolled and tied into a bundle shape, and usually braised. The dish was very tasty, by the way.

And 'braising' is first frying and then stewing slowly. For poorer cuts of meat, allegedly. I now recall my mother used to send me for ‘braising steak’. Which presumably wasn’t really steak at all.

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

Thoughts from Galicia, Spain