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Stuck on the first clue, even if it is straightforward.

Really tearing my hair out over this one. If someone could tell me where to draw a line between across and down, that would probably be a massive help.

1st clue - double def (ruins + plunder?).
'Tchaikovsky...' is the 1st down clue (I think it's been hinted at enough by now}.

Finally got a full grid but not happy with my answers for the Facial hair clue nor the final down clue - answers 5 & 4 respectively.

I agree that this is a lot easier than it looks at first sight and that the way to go is to ignore the symmetry issues - they resolve themselves. Nevertheless it does require some thought. Thanks to Phi for an interesting challenge

I'm struggling with the Tchaikovsky clue, can you give me a hint?

I think I got the facial hair one, it's a shortened form of a longer word beginning M, minus the first letter. Is that what you got?
I can't get the last down answer at all... :(

Remove a 6 letter word for 'beer' that ends a 10 letter German wine.
That nationality helps with your other query (which is one letter more than Tchaikovsky's).

Thanks drxx, I had the right answer, but not a clue why.

Also, thanks Sooz, I was missing a bar and looking for a longer word!! The Tchaikovsky clue would be 2d in a numbered crossword and the answer is one letter longer than a breed of cat.

Thanks to Phi for a challenging but enjoyable puzzle:-)

Before I file it away, can I get some clarity on the wordplay in these ...

Himalayan region: Karakoram mountain recalled in quick glance

I can see the "quick glance" but that leaves KI/IK for "Karakoram mountain" - I did think it might be K2 so KK but one of these K's is needed for the "quick glance" ?

Memorable witch’s familiar, perhaps frightening, but not evil

I think the first 3 letters are "witch's familiar" but can't get the final 3 letters from the rest - I've tried adding "evil" to them to see if a word for "frightening" might appear, but no.

He will avoid infatuations, making amorous advance

This is another where I thought we might have to add something to the answer, maybe "he" or "he will" to get "infatuations" but I can't see it.

Spanish city, singular, offering new location for Spain

Other than the answer is a "Spanish city", I have no idea of the wordplay here.