Thoughts from Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain: 19 November 2020

 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'*  

 

Covid

Interesting facts: Taiwan has a population of 23.8m. So, not a small country. Its Covid death rate per million is 0.3 (sic). Compared with:-  

Belgium 1294

Spain 899

The UK  783

Italy 781

The USA 772

France 715

Sweden 624

Portugal 357

Germany 161

Japan 15

China 3

Taiwan hasn’t imposed any lockdowns.

Scarcely believable. But doubtless lessons have been learned ahead of the next virus epidemic to hit Europe and the USA. .

Meanwhile, here's an early analysis of Taiwan’s success. And here’s a later one from The Lancet medical journal. 

Living La Vida Loca in Galicia/Spain

As we all struggle to enjoy life under Spain's latest mad lockdown - due to end in 17 long days on December 6 - it’s good to know this.

In the meantime, I’m frequently reminded of the truth of the statement that the imposition of a lockdown is an admission of failure. 

Seen en route to and in the centre of Pontevedra city yesterday:-

- 5 or 6 driving school cars, all with 3 people in them.

- 100% mask compliance among those walking around.

- 2 young women with masks down, sitting smoking on church steps, a metre from a parked police car

- People on (separate) benches in the main square with masks down, eating their lunch or drinking a beverage.

- The usual group of 8-9 ne'er-do-wells sitting and talking/shouting with masks down at the edge of the main square.

What does it all signify? Don't ask me.

María's Riding the Wave - Day 4.     

The USA 

A Republican analyst has pointed out that, in that country so apparently divided between the far left and the far right, the 'Independents' outnumber the supporters of both of these put together. So, would a 'centre party' be impossible to create? If so, would it succeed? I guess that the belief is it wouldn't. As with a potential 'centre-left' party splitting from the far left elements of the UK's Labour Party, to end the current schism in it.

Finally . . .

Research is said to have shown that this is the song appearing most often in the playlists of car drivers around the world.

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