How would you describe the relationship of the Slav Francisco with his mother?

And an explanation of why “La gata sobre el tejado de zinc” is, in metallurgical-roofing terms, an inappropriate translation of “Cat on a hot tin roof”.

As the evenings draw in, the Arenys de Mar sensimilla syndicate has taken time off from the plantation to post another shambling Gran Armada-wreck of nationalist historical revisionism. (It’s dated 2006, but this is the first time it’s turned up in my reader, so…) As is customary, our scenario is back-to-the-future: a massive 15th century [...]

“Coal and iron in Spain”, 16/11/1877: “From Vich, the present terminal point, to the coal mines of San Juan de Abadesas of the railroad which some day in the future will be the grand trunk line to Paris, the Government has built a good substantial stage-road to Ripoll.” The railway arrived in Sant Joan de [...]

This is Celsa’s bigger, badder steel recycling plant on the Castellbisbal side of the Llobregat, taken from the train on the way back from this walk. You’d have to be quicker than me to get the satanic flames flickering inside. On a related note, here’s James Nasmyth visiting Vesuvius in 1842:
What struck me most was [...]