RIP Tossal

In Gracia, on the corner of Fraternitat and Tordera. From outside it used to appear a filthy hole, with an elderly couple behind the bar and a couple of clients ripe for the taxidermist. Inside, round to the right, was a secret dining area, with yellow walls, a couple of exceptionally bad paintings, and the…

Goat

I am building a bird table so I can catch tasty little birds with a net and fry them in bechamel for breakfast. Its leg consists sturdy spring, which will cause pigeons, goats and other creatures undesirable for this purpose to fall off before they get to the bait.

Illusionist

Walking down the escalator at Fontana metro, I pass a undistinguished-looking middle-aged woman just as she skilfully inserts her hand into the bag of the girl standing, unaware, on the step below her. I grip her arm and say, Gotcha. Oh no, she says, it’s my daughter, but you’re right to do it: there are…

Sagrada Familia mural

Opposite the district offices in the Gardens of the Prince of Gerona on Lepanto. Far better than the real thing, which is only fun to visit if you pretend to be a stone mason.

Fights of nations

“‘Mexico vs. Spain,’ the first scene, shows the rejected Mexican suitor, in a jealous rage, watching the love-making between Carlos, the Spaniard, his hated rival, and the beautiful senorita. With drawn stiletto, he pounces upon the Don, but the senorita seizes his arm, thus saving her lover from a horrible death. After a terrific hand-to-hand…

Lack of (satisfactory) indexes and ToCs in Spanish non-fiction

This is still a major problem, even from authors and publishers that appear to take themselves seriously, and even though automatic generation is now pretty good. Is it evidence of (a) the continued importance of rote learning, as over critical appraisal, in Spanish universities, or (b) the realisation, hundreds of years ago, that digitised search…

Pigmobile

I hope hambulancia wins the Spanish Correctors’ Union’s photo competition.

Improvised hair salon in village bar

Eating excellent omelettes and cold cuts and other stuff in a bar on this walk, in comes a stylist who was born in the village but now lives in the town and comes back every now and again. First she cut Mr and Mrs, and then A from Hengelo decided the opportunity was too good…