005 torrevieja outlook july 2014

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July, 2014

Nยบ 005 July 2014 60th Habaneras Concerts & Competitions!

Ricardo Lafuente!

Virgen del Carmen Fiesta!

Playa los Locos!

Hombre del Mar! Orihuela and coastline!

A Woman in War - bookshelf!

Guardamar del Segura!

War shipping!

EuroTour Guide Interview!

Merida Roman Theatre 60 anniversary!

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60th Anniversary of the Habaneras Competitions This is a very special month in the history of Torrevieja's cultural life as we celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the annual International Habaneras and Polyphonic Competitions in which choirs !om around the world take part, as we" as a section for soloists. What started out as a fairly local set of concerts and competitions has blossomed into the world televised event of today.#

Eras de la Sal looking into the harbour and the choir monument in the water

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The former warehouse area where salt was kept before loading on the wooden quay to waiting barges, then rowed out to the waiting ships in the harbour to be loaded. It was originally covered, but a tornado tore the roof off and it is known as the Eras de la Sal (Salt area) and today is an open-air theatre where the annual Habaneras Certamen is held. The Salt Administrator's offices were in the larger building at the entrance of the two wooden gates. It is planned to make a permanent Sea & Salt Museum on part of this site that will include the old offices.

Before and after the civil war there was a large movement of population in Spain and Torrevieja lost many citizens, whole families sought work in other towns or abroad. From 1940 D. Diego Ramírez (a main street is named after him) and Don Salvador Ruso (with a college named after him) had both tried unsuccessfully to develop a project for those who lived elsewhere so that they would be united in spirit. !

One of the principal forces that made this a reality was the first Habaneras Concerts held in 1955 and the introduction of the weekly magazine “Vista Alegre” which is still sent to dozens of Torrevejenses who live outside Torrevieja. Associations of Torrevejenses who lived in Palma de Mallorca, Madrid, Mellila, Málaga, Barcelona and Alicante were formed. In 2004 the habaneras competition celebrated its 50th anniversary and the la Inmaculada church chimes were altered to ring the first notes of several habaneras songs every fifteen minutes. The habanera is one traditional aspect of Torrevieja’s lifestyle that draws together the past with the present.!

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The Eras de la Sal open air theatre is used for various concerts and events in the summertime.

In the photo we see a statue of the conductor handing the baton on to the next generation.

Habaneras are synonymous with Torrevieja lifestyle. These songs originate from Havana, Cuba where the African slaves rhythms influenced the songs of the Spanish settlers and these songs were picked up and adapted by Spanish sailors. As we have seen, among those sailors was a large ongoing group from Torrevieja who loved the rhythm and the nostalgia of the words.

Many of these Torrevieja sailors were of Italian origins, from Naples and Genoa, with their own natural rhythm. Nearly every sailing ship on the long voyages had someone who played the guitar or accordion. Often they made up their own words to songs as they longingly thought of their own houses, and yearned for their wives and sweethearts back in Spain.!

These traditional habaneras are part of the history of Torrevieja as sometimes they relate to incidents and anecdotes of the sailors. The sailors on shore leave often serenaded the local girls, not only in Torrevieja, but also in Cuba. On their return voyage the sailors would strum the latest melodies they had heard in Cuba and developed their own words and styles. When they eventually reached Torrevieja they would sing these songs to their families, who in turn picked them up and sang them during the sailors’ next absence on long trips. In those early days there was no television or radio and a great many stories and songs were faithfully passed from generation to generation with new ones often added. As people tended to make their own entertainment, several choirs and musical groups were born.!

Still a comparatively small town at this time, Torrevieja residents were enthusiastic and supported this project. Thanks to Juan Aparicio, their sponsor, who was able to pull government strings, the army lent beds so that local schools could be used as temporary hostels for invited choirs and their supporters. What was then the local radio station, Radio Murcia, lent the sound equipment and there is a street named calle Radio Murcia. !

The Mayor sold one of his own houses to help finance the competition. A Murcian choir won the first prize of 30,000 pesetas. In this first competition there were soloists and duets, as aormi@icloud.com

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well as small and large choirs. The jury of the first Habaneras Certamen gave their services free, but The bandstand is now in were awarded at the end with a pure Havana cigar. the Doña Sinforosa Park There are now ten monetary prizes awarded in various categories and an annual Junior competition in is 20th year as well as the popular Habaneras Night on the Beach of del Cura.!

The ‘templete’ bandstand was on the Paseo Vista Alegre at this time and was the centre for the first competitions as well as a lot of musical events that were held in summer. ! !

Eventually the idea grew of using the Eras de la Sal as an open-air theatre,which led to the present venue in 1972. It can now seat over 1,200 people, has its own lighting and sound systems as well as changing rooms and is not only the venue for the annual Habaneras, but for many galas and concerts throughout the summer months. The smaller Eras de la Sal will be converted into a modern Sea & Salt Museum; so a historical site of Torrevieja has continued to be used for the benefit of its people. The bandstand is now in the nearby Doña Sinforosa Park.!

The annual competitions include obligatory pieces as well as freestyle pieces which brings to life the variety of customs of so many different nationalities whose choirs have enriched Torrevieja's cultural life, adding a great deal of colour.!

2014 Habaneras participating choirs!

Kammerchor Consono, (Germany); Estudio Coral Meridies (Argentina); la Coralia de la Universidad of Puerto Rico, Ateneo Chamber Singers (Phillipines); Músicaquántica Voces de Cámara (Argentona); Lviv Men’s Choir Homin (Ucrania); The Archipielago Singers (Indonesia); A Jesvahana Galician Chamber Choir, (Ukraine) . Coro Unab of Colombia; a la Coral Universitaria Faces Universidad Los Andes de Mérida, Venezuela; Schola Cantorum Coralina, Cuba; Brawijaya University Student Choir, Indonesia and la choir Zhuravli, Polonia. !

From Spain: Coro de Voces Graves de Madrid; Oñatiko Gambara Abesbatza, from Oñate, Guipúzcoa,Coro Juvenil del Conservatorio de Tomelloso, Ciudad Real; el de Voces Blancas del Conservatorio Profesional de Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Coral Santiago Apóstol de Madrid. Cantat Vocal de Venezuela is in the reserve position.

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All at sea July 16th "Isolated caves and monastery building overlook the Red sea.!

A beautiful sea with a woman’s temperament, at times sweet and placid, ! other times wrathful, full of passion with overtones of Gethsemane.!

Quick storms that could be abated with a prayer to the Virgen Mary !

foto: Javier Torregrosa

to calm the sea through the power of her son on the lake of Galilee.!

Mount Carmel, home to brown clad monks lost in their habits of decree.!

The Virgen offered to mediate to save the souls of those in purgatory ! and protect those who would invoke her aid, in a vision to a monk devotee.!

An image that influenced seamen who suffered their own catastrophe! when wild seas arose and tempest threatened, Naval men implored “Mary,!

Help me. Virgen del Carmen, succour me, set me free to live in harmony!

And safely help me to return to the embrace of my own loving family."!

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"So each year the sailors dress their boats in bunting and finery!

To celebrate the July fiesta dedicated to the queen of the sea.!

Mary, a comforting mother, Virgen del Carmen, with child on her knee,!

Rules the waves and calms the fears of those who sail from port and quay!

To face the storms of life and after death, bringing comfort to the company! of men who face their own purgatory at sea that is a lover yet a tyranny."!

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Why is the Virgen Mary the patron saint of fishermen under this title? This particular devotion has its roots in the sixth century on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, just in front of the sea. The monks claimed that when a storm arose they only had to pray to the Virgen and the seas calmed. ! aormi@icloud.com

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In the 13th century an English priest, Simon Stock, had a vision of the Virgen of Mount Carmel and said that she would mediate to save the souls of those in purgatory and protect those who invoked her aid under this title. Simon Stock travelled to Rome and became a Carmelite. It was on 16th July, 1251, at Aylesford in England, he had a vision of the virgin, once again carrying the child Jesus, dressed in a brown habit holding a brown scapular in her hand. She made various promises that whoever devoutly wore this scapular would have many special graces. Since then millions of devotees have worn the scapular. !

The origins of this title of the Virgin Mary, according to a Carmelite tradition, go back to the Old Testament when the prophet Elijah had a vision of a lady, carrying a child; he knew that this was to be the mother of the long awaited Redeemer of the Jewish people whom she held in her arms.

When the vision ended there was a steady downpour of rain ending a long drought that he

Torrelamata has a similar festivity and a procession. Foto: Francisco Rebollo history blog. interpreted as a promise of salvation. He retired to a cave in Mount Carmel near Jerusalem as an hermit and was soon joined by other like minded souls seeking God in solitude. Gradually these hermits took on the shape of a monastic order that led to the founding of the brown clad Carmelites. !

Soon this image of the Virgen of Carmel influenced many men of the sea because they claimed that they lived in a real purgatory when storms arose. In 1901 a decree in Spain named the Virgen del Carmen patron saint of seaman. Before that it was the 17th century Spanish Navy under Carlos III who proclaimed her their patron, followed soon afterwards by the fishermen.!

This feast is especially celebrated along the Costa Blanca, usually with maritime processions, such as in Torrevieja, when one of the larger boats takes on board her image which has already been carried through the town. The boat is accompanied by a small flotilla of other sailing craft for a tour around the harbour before returning to land again. In Torrelamata the scene is repeated on a smaller scale, but with the same fervour.!

Thanks to swash buckling Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power, Johnny Depp and others, we think of pirates as bold, but rather benign characters; but pirates are a modern curse of well-armed groups of terrorists willing to earn ransom money by attacking small yachts or large tankers. A sailor’s lot is not an easy one lolling on a sundeck between boring shifts, but face perils of pirates, unwarranted abandonment, isolation, loneliness, fatigue, anxiety and need all the help they can get. Today in the world financial crisis there are many freighters docked in foreign berths with unpaid crews aboard, as the company is unable in the present financial climate to pay wages or aormi@icloud.com

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docking fees. The crews are often unable to go anywhere as they have no money and in some ports rely on local charity aid. !

One of these charities is the Apostleship of the Sea founded in 1922 operating in over 100 countries including Britain and Spain with centres and hostels in some ports. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is another organisation that helps wayward seafarers, often depending on volunteers, both men and women, to help out at times of need, rather like the Good Samaritan. !

For seamen and their families an important psychological facet of their lives is to know that someone up there is looking after them. Many sailors say that at sea you learn to pray. Pray to God with all your heart, for fresh winds in calm seas and calm seas in a storm, and beg the Holy Mother the Virgen del Carmen to intercede for safe voyages.

The first boat ever built in Torrevieja was named “Nuestra Señora del Carmen” in 1849 and the next one built was “Carmelita”. If you know anyone with the name of Carmen then wish her a feliz dia.!

Most ports in Spain will hold a celebration on the 16th in honour of their patroness and if interested you should seek information from you local tourist office about celebrations near you. Once again the fishermen’s guild of Torrevieja has opened the auction halls (Lonja) to the youngsters of ALPE centre for disabled to give them a day out with fun, games and a meal. This has become an annual event that the kids look forward to with great enthusiasm. There will be a 19.30 Solemn Mass celebrated, with a procession afterwards, accompanied by the local Torrevieja Musical Union band, to the sea at the seamen's memorial statue of el Hombre del Mar where a simple, but evocative ceremony is the tossing of flower wreaths into the sea in memory of defunct seamen.

On 15th July the auction hall will also be the scene for the children’s games and refreshments in the morning. About 14.00 there is a paella competition that will also include a giant paella to be enjoyed by the general public. !

The actual feast day of the Virgin del Carmen is the 16th with the traditional cucaña, or greasy pole, event that invariable ends with a dip in the sea for the competitors; this is held next to the auction halls around 11.30. Then the main anticipated event is the maritime procession with the image of the Virgen carried from the main church after the 19.30 Mass. The day ends with a firework display, which may be a bit muted this year because everyone is feeling the pinch.!

The greasy pole is a popular event when people usually end up in the water

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El Campello Seamen Monument

The people of El Campello also take to the streets, mostly around the seaside area, for the feast of the Virgen del Carmen. For a week there are several fiesta points along the promenade where people congregate for various types of entertainment in the evenings after ten o’clock. Music and theatre in the streets are daily events, with a full programme to keep the kids entertained. The maritime procession of the statue of the Virgen del Carmen has been going on each year since 1975: this is usually the Saturday night nearest to the actual feast day of the 16th and takes place in the evening. Local women, dressed in traditional fisherwomen clothing, normally carry the statue of the Virgen del Carmen. !

The Moors & Christians are also present to play their part. There are the traditional meals served in the stalls such as ‘puchero’ and the ‘olleta’, backed up by the drinking of mistela. Nearby restaurants also prepare samples of local cuisine and the famous chocolate famous in this part of the coast. The main patronal fiestas of Moors and Christians take place in October.!

The Phoenix Concert Band have openings in the brass and woodwind sections. Trumpet, trombone, saxophone ,flute, oboe, bassoon , clarinet etc.

Applicants must have either reached grade 5 or have experience playing in bands in the past.

The band rehearses every Tuesday 2,pm – 4.pm.

At the Cultural Hall, San Miguel. Contact in first instance …Gill..96.619.9549.

Julie..634.184.747.or email : schofieldjak@aol.com aormi@icloud.com

The Alpengold Oompah Band have vacancies for a trumpet player, clarinet player, and alto

saxophone player'The band rehearses very Monday.

2.pm. -4.pm. At Casa Ventura, Urbanisation San Luis, Torrevieja. Contact Bill Singleton on.

96.676.0032. or 634.310.309.or email: rytethen@gmail.com

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Hombre del Mar/The Seaman Statue

Sextant and grasping octopus below

The statue Hombre del Mar is a common meting point in Torrevieja. The statue is of a seaman holding a sextant in his hand, the other hand on the wheel, with an anchor alongside. It is dedicated to all those lost at sea and in the photo you can see behind him on the bench another statue, this of Lola looking seawards, waiting for her man; a monument to fishermen's wives. If we look at the statue we see he is actually standing on God's Hand, keeping him safe from the dangers of the sea that are illustrated by the octopus at his feet trying to pull him under the waves. On the base of the statue there are four sides and on each one a plaque: one is in memory of those ancients sailing the sea, another is of the Spanish navy men, another is dedicated to those who are involved in marine sports. The fourth is dedicated to fishermen who supply us with an important element in our diet. Part of the Virgen del Carmen celebrations is throwing flowers into the sea at this point in remembrance of those who have died at sea.!

Plaques on sides of plinth show ancient mariners, the Spanish navy, nautical sports, fishermen

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Just Like that...a little bit of magic..at university

by Dave Stewart

Tommy Cooper was one of Britain's funniest comedians. His jokes were silly, witty and full of dazzling wordplay. Even off stage, he liked to lark around and would often hand taxi-drivers an envelope as he said cheerily: "Have a drink on me". Inside, they would find a tea-bag. Tommy Cooper's hallmark was an Egyptian fez. An aunt gave him a box of magician's tricks for his ninth birthday and it started a hobby that became a career, beginning in music halls. He was a member of Britain's Magic Circle and a good magician who made it look easy to make mistakes with magic tricks. His corny lines were delivered with expertise - "I'm on a whisky diet . . . last week I lost three days!" "I went to a fortune teller and she looked at my hands. She said, 'Your future looks pretty black.' I said, 'Are you kidding? I've still got my gloves on!"!

If alive I am sure Tommy Cooper would back 100% a new Spanish initiative. I don't know if it was the influence of Harry Potter or Tommy Cooper, but Spain now has a university course of three years for those wishing to become magicians. The university is el Real Centro Universitario Escorial-Mar铆a Cristina: an institution with over 120 years of history, located at San Lorenzo de El Escorial, some 47 km from Madrid. The students receive their title after three years studies under some of the world's best magicians - Master of Illusionism - in two levels. !

This school of magic is dedicated to a 20th century priest Father Wenceslaus Ciur贸, considered to be a great Spanish magician. When the Spanish civil war erupted he opted to stay in France and continue his priestly studies, and it was here he became interested in illusionism and ended up writing ten books on magical tricks of playing cards, hands on the table, mnemotechnics among others. Although much admired today, his books brought down the wrath of magicians who, understandably, hated having their tricks divulged, so let's hope he's not being spun in his grave!!

The university course lasts three years with weekend classes that explore the various themes of modern day illusionists. Thirty top class magicians teach their tricks and others make guest appearances - Dani DaOrtiz, Henry Evans, I帽aki Zabaletta, Woody Arag贸n, Juan Luis Rubiales, Miguel Angel Gea, Jaque, Yunke.!

If you are interested in magic and haven't sorted Wenceslaus Ciuro - illusionist, out your holidays maybe Bogata in Colombia in magician, ventriloquist, mid-August may interest you as there is an author and priest annual magic festival held there - see Columbia intermagic2014.com. ! aormi@icloud.com

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Bookshelf by Pat Hynd

A Woman in War Carlota O'Neil

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One of the most impressive things about the 20th century is the number of women who put their lives on the line for others. There are many who have had their lives written up years afterwards, or even on their deaths.

Forgotten victims of the more than 1,500 wars of 20th century are widows and in this book "Una mujer en la guerra de Espa単a ", one of those victims of the Spanish civil war recounts some of her anguish.!

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Probably the first group of victims of the civil war included the young family of engineer and inventor Captain Virgilio Leret of the Republican air force when he was assigned to the Spanish air base in Mellila. He borrowed a boat in the harbor and used this as a home

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base for his wife Carlotta and two little girls with the intention of having a nice sunny summer break. The rebels seized the main garrisons of the Spanish Army in Africa between 17/18 July 1936 and by July 18 had crushed the resistance of the army officers loyal to the Republican government: supporters of the Second Spanish Republic were detained or shot.!

Virgilio was born on 23 August 1902 and died on 18 July 1936 and was possibly the first officer executed by Franco's rebels. His father was Lt. Col. Carlos Leret 'Ubeda.

He spoke both French and Arabic and had been involved in the Moroccan war in 1920/24 where he started flying aircraft in 1927. Apart from his army life and projects he loved playing the violin and writing fiction including a book and articles under a pseudonym "el Caballero del Azul"- The Blue Knight. In the 1920's he met his future wife Carlota O'Neil in Barcelona, who was born in Mexico and a very modern miss. He was decorated three times, but despite this was imprisoned at the time of the Jaca revolt when he pleaded in vain for the lives of his fellow officers. At the outset of the Second Republic he was released from prison and continued in the army. He was appointed commandant of the Hydroplanes' base in Melilla and among the photos in this article is a copy of a memoriam announcement of his family.!

His wife liked writing, having published three novels prior to this, and she kept notes of events and as such, Carlotta O'Neil became the first historian of this civil war to write personal experiences as she was imprisoned in Melilla for five years after her husband Virgilio Leret was executed, as did over 2000 Republicans in this small North African Spanish colony.!

Virgilio had developed a unique turbojet engine which he patented on 28 August, 1935 and had a working model in a Madrid workshop in June 1936, but the insurgency stopped all work and "everything went to the devil," as his wife wrote later. The patent was registered in the Registro de la Propiedad Industrial de Madrid, on 28 March, 1935, nยบ 137.729. Sir Frank Whittle's turbo jet was patented in Britain in 1930 and the patent details entered the public domain on 1931. The German Embassy in London despatched copies of the Whittle patent to Germany in 1932, where copies were sent to Goettingen, Heinkel, Junkers, Brunswick and elsewhere. Von Ohain was a student at Goettingen (Aerodynamic Research Division) 1934/5 and he studied the possible application of the internal combustion jet to aeronautics in 1934. Later in April 1936 Herbert Wagner at Junkers and Ohain at Heinkel, began developing turbo jet projects.!

On 17th July the family were enjoying their summer break on board a friend's yacht when sirens broke the calm and Captain Leret hurried ashore to report for duty and find out what was happening. His wife heard shooting shortly afterwards and later surmised that her husband had died in this shooting. According to one report his body was found semi-naked with a broken arm and alongside ensigns Armando Gonzรกlez

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Corral y Luis Calvo Calavia. General Mola had given strict instructions that all those officers loyal to the Republican government were to be shot out of hand. Virgilio died before Franco announced the army uprising, but it appears that a Moroccan sergeant and soldier were killed by his men before this, making them the first casualties of the civil war. !

As a writer and wife of a Republican officer Carlota became a suspect and was imprisoned in the Victoria Grande Carcel. Partly she was condemned as a left wing sympathizer who had influenced her husband. Her Francoist father-in-law later put the two girls in a military orphanage in Madrid. It was in the Melilla prison, alongside prostitutes and thieves, in the intense summer heat and freezing winters, that she learned a different seamy side to life and later wrote about her experiences when she moved to Venezuela in 1949. Someone took the briefcase containing the engine plans her husband had with him when he was shot and returned it to the young widow and inside were the plans for the engine. She was aware of the importance to keep the plans secret from the Francoists and another prisoner smuggled them out of gaol to be kept safely hidden until she was free.!

After her release Carlota surreptitiously took his turbojet plans to the British embassy in Madrid thinking they might be of use during WW2, as well as keeping them out of the hands of Franco; but thirty years later, when she inquired nobody knew anything about them. Initially after leaving prison she earned her living by writing under pseudonyms in various magazines and newspapers, at the same time fighting her father-in-law through tribunals for custody of her children, which eventually she won, and finally emigrated with them, becoming a famous writer in South America, taking on Mexican citizenship in 1953. In 1941, Carlota wrote ""Una mujer en la guerra de Espa単a " A Woman in the Spanish War, but later published in English as ''Trapped in Spain' (I have not been able to get a copy of this). (Dumont Press, Toronto,1978. In Mexico, she trained as a television director and producer and became a Mexican citizen in 1954. She returned to Caracas and, with her daughters, started a pioneering TV programme for women entitled Entre Nosotras that was taken off the air by the censors for showing images of underwear in 1956.

Shock! Shock! The film director, Pedro Almodovar, took over the voice of Virgilio in a 2011 documentary film about the civil war. !

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Moors & Christians Fight Friendly Battles

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Not a long drive from Torrevieja is the inland town of Novelda, noted for its marble production.

Novelda has important quarries and mines of marble, limestone, silica, clay and gypsum. It is a major centre of the marble industry and still has many craftsmen. It was probably settled by Greeks, although it was controlled by Carthaginians and Romans. Some centuries later it was conquered from the Moors by a son of Ferdinand III of Castile.!

Mary Magdalen is the patron saint of Novelda and her feastday is the reason for a full week of festivities in the town. This takes place on the weekend prior to the 20th July. A romeria pilgrimage has been held in the town since 1866 on 20th July when the image of the saint is carried from its normal home of the Santuario de la Mola to the town’s church of San Pedro. The statue carries bunches of grapes in her arms, symbolic of the work of this agricultural town. Fruit is an important element in the fiestas and on the day it is customary to eat melon in the open-air ‘almuerzo’. Her actual feastday is on the 22nd July and the statue remains in the town centre until the first Monday of August, when it is once more ceremoniously carried back to the sanctuary. !

These fiestas began in 1866. The people prayed that the rampant cholera of that era in Spain would by-pass the town. There aormi@icloud.com

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were no cases of this dreadful disease in Novelda and this was attributed to the intercession of the saint. !

The origins of the Moors and Christians fiesta go back to the reconquest of Jaime I of Aragon when a hermitage dedicated to Mary Magdalene was built in the Castillo de La Mola. The present sanctuary was built in the beginning of the 20th century and the saint is now officially proclaimed a joint Mayoress of the town since 1970. !

Moors and Christians are an important part of the Novelda’s fiestas. The first time that they were associated with the romeria was in 1860, but the present comparsas of Moors & Christians were instituted in 1970 when two groups were formed. Most events during the fiestas begin around 21.30 during weekdays and throughout the day at the weekends. !

The fiestas begin with the ‘Bajada’ of the saint’s image at the sanctuary of the Castillo de la Mola where a group of nuns of the Dominican Oblates live all year round. This is a popular place for baptisms, communions, weddings etc. On the last day of the fiestas (15th July to beginning of August) the saint’s image is returned to the sanctuary. During the week there are many events organised including pop concerts, a day for the elderly, sports and, of course, the Moors & Christians.!

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Orihuela's Legendary Woman - la Armengola Orihuela is also famous for its Moors & Christians festival commemorating the Reconquest of the city and the legend of la Armengola of 17th July, 1242.

According to the tale Benazaddón was Mayor of the city residing in la alcazaba while living not far away was his children’s wet nurse, Armengola, the wife of Pedro Armengol; as such she had free access to the fortress. It was secretly decided by the Moorish elements that on the 16th July the local Christians would be put to the sword; however, the Mayor decided to make an exception of the wet nurse’s family so she would be saved. But she herself decided on a ploy to save the Christians: she dressed two young men, Ruidoms and Juan de Arún, in the clothes of her children and together with her husband gained access to the fortress where they silently, secretly and swiftly slaughtered the guards.

Armengola herself took up arms and fought like a man with great bravery. A cross was put on top of the tower to show victory. !

With the death of the mayor and his men the plot to massacre the Christians failed and the army of Don Jaime came to the rescue of Orihuela. Every year this tradition is re-enacted on 17th July as part of the annual celebrations. This event took place on the feast of Saints Justa and Rufina who became the patrons of the city. Each year a procession to the church dedicated to these saints includes selecting a local woman who deems it an honour to represent the heroic figure of la Armengola. !

Doña Almudena Meseguer Hernández Armengola 2014.

This is the most important office in Orihuela fiestas and this year's chosen candidate has been involved in the group la Comparsa Caballeros del Oriol, since she was a child .# Last year's colourful poster depicts the Oriol, the eagle standard that is symbolic of Orihuela and there is a statue of it outside the satellite town hall located on the Costa of Orihuela.

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Orihuela’s Moors & Christians fiestas have their roots in the 16th century, but lapsed for various reasons for a period and were not restarted until the 1980’s. Now there are over 3,000 men, women and children who take part in the parades and the battles of the Moors & Christians.

Impressive as they are in their costumes there are several bands from other towns that participate: notable is the insistent resonance of the big kettle drums wheeled along marking the march of the Moorish files going into battle. Historically one should remember that for almost eight centuries Moors & Christians lived peacefully side by side.!

In February Orihuela has a medieval market followed by a mid year (media año) parade with a scaled down version of these July fiestas, but still fun to watch. Most of the groups have developed from other groups that are now extinct. !

Spring fiestas are an opportunity to wear traditional The town’s 18 comparsas are:! clothing - foto: Costa Blanca Tourist Board

!

Moros Almoravides – 1974 white, red, yellow and green. !

Moros Viejos de Abén-Mohor (1978) colours – black, white, gold and sea blue.!

Nazaries de Aben Humeya – 1975 black, red and white. !

Musulmanes Escorpiones – 1978 black & gold!

Almohabenos!

Negros Egipcios – 1976 white, gold, red and black. !

J’Alhamed 1973 gold and black!

Moros Abdelazies – 1976 white and black. !

Realistas!

Moros Beduinos – 1974 black and white. !

Contrabandistas – 1975 white, black and red and perform a specific dance of Caballito. !

Caballeros del rey Fernando: 1974 dark green and burgundy colours.!

Templarios – 2000 – white and red.!

Tadmir – 1975 red and black combined with red/gold and green!

Oriol – 1974 white, red, yellow blue and green. !

Piratas!

Santiago!

Seguidores de Arums y Ruidoms.- 1975 yellow, white and purple.!

!

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Some individuals own their own costumes, but usually every group seeks a change each year and hires them.

At

the

end

of

January

Orihuela celebrates a miniMoors & Christians parades because many people work in July and unable to participate.

These mid-winter fiestas are known as Mig Any and many towns

have

similar

celebrations. Around the same time the town has a medieval market in the old part of the town

the

streets

lend

themselves to this atmosphere.

Mig Any Parades

!

! ! aormi@icloud.com

as

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This ceramic mural at the reservoir depicts the town's heroine La Armegola with the castle behind her, the saints of the town SS. Rufina and Justina and a triumphant warrior.

Monuments and Museums.!

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!

Throughout the year there are numerous activities in homage to the anniversary of Orihuela’s international poet, Miguel Hernández, a victim of the Spanish Civil War. The seminary that dominates the hill behind the medieval city was used as a prison during this time and the façade is pockmarked with bullets from the execution of many people. One of those imprisoned there was Francisco Vallejos, a well known musician of Torrevieja who started many musical groups and enterprises in Torrevieja. While imprisoned he started a small band there. !

Orihuela is a city rich in medieval buildings; each with its own history and the home/museum of poet Miguel Hernández is a point of pilgrimage for many. The municipal limits reach towards the sea and many of the small hamlets are now growing self-contained towns. In January/February the narrow city centre streets are full of bunting as an impressive market transports visitors to the sounds and sights, the smells and colour of medieval times with street theatre and dancing, jugglers, acrobats, snake charmers and stalls full of attractive hand crafted items. This is part of the city’s past when the three religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity lived together.

However, the time of reconquest by the Christians and the final conflict is re-enacted in the annual Moors & Christian parades, a foretaste can be witnessed during the medieval market, but the main fabulous parades are in July. The town has a fiesta museum with many interesting costumes and paraphernalia relating to these events. !

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Cathedral Cloister

July, 2014

Modern Orihuela is in two main parts – the city centre and the Orihuela Costa or coastal area, which has many award winning beaches, busy commercial centres and more and more festivities of an international kind as there are so many resident foreigners living there. These include a three—day St. Patrick’s market and musical festival and a German Beer event. The lovely beaches fly the coveted European Blue Flag denoting secure and clean sand and water. There are several excellent golf courses in the municipal area and located a short drive away.!

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The older part of Orihuela city centre is the heart of the Vega Baja area with good communication networks by road and rail. The city is full of old monumental buildings, many of them churches. The Holy Week processions offer a magnificent mobile museum using the artistic images of Christ’s last hours and the people of Jerusalem involved in this dramatic street Passion Play are brought again to life, carried for the most part on the shoulders of men and women. These resplendent processions are of National Touristic Interest. !

The Patronal fiestas of the Virgen de Monserrate are celebrated on and around the 8th September with a Romeria pilgrimage, only one of many fiestas in the town and prior to this date there is an International Folklore Gathering. . !

Churros and chocolate Orihuela changed the dates of the famous medieval Livestock Fair that was traditionally held on 15th August to coincide with the fiestas in honour of the city’s patron saint, Our Lady of Montserrat on 8th September. This event attracts thousands of people to watch events connected with horse riding, pure breeds of horses, ox and cart racing when these huge beasts pull heavy weights over a short distance, plus a myriad of musical and dance attractions. A horse parade through the city centre is also part of the programme available form the local tourist offices. ! !

A street procession is the centre of attraction for thousands of people who turn out to witness the image of the Virgen de Montserrat carried to the traditional points of bridges in the city before returning to cathedral of El Salvador: from the balconies of the Bishop’s Palace petals rain down on the procession. !

Two districts of Orihuela also hold their own fiestas – Torremendo and Hurchillo with several events including typical fried Churros and chocolate for breakfast - rather like straight donuts. !

At the same time Correntis Media, another area of Orihuela, holds a procession in honour of the patron of the church dedicated to el Cristo de la Agonia. ! aormi@icloud.com

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Orihuela Coastline Almost a separate entity is the Orihuela Costa which has a satellite town hall, shopping centers full of bars and restaurants that include the large La Zenia Boulevarde and some hotels.

Then there are several excellent B l u e F l a g beaches P u n t a P r i m a , P l a y a Flamenca, La Zenia -Cala Cerrada, Cala Capitรกn, Cabo Roig, Aguamarina and Barranco Rubio, with clifftop walkways, a huge attraction for the hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents.!

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30 July - 3rd August Mariner Market, playa La Glea, Campoamor, Orihuela Costa! !

Scorpion Avenue Boundary street between Orihuela and Torrevieja Sometimes there is a fuzziness in the boundary lines between towns, including Torrevieja and Orihuela boundaries. One of the double-carriageway roads that join the two towns is the Avenida Los Escorpiones, just off the N332 opposite where the Hotel Torrejoven is situated.

Not that there are any nasty stinging insects about, but the 1,200 metre avenue is dedicated to a group from the older city's fiestas of the Moors and Christians. The group is the Moorish one founded in 1975 and called "the Scorpions". !

In the 1990's Orihuela street planners decided to dedicate some of the Costa streets to the associations in the annual July Reconquest "Moors and Christian" fiestas and so we have street names like -!

J'Alhamed, !

Abdelazies, Realistas, Beduinos, !

Almorávides, Abén-Humeya, !

Almohábenos y Egipcios. ! !

It was decided to call the long boundary avenue after the Scorpions with the agreement of Torrevieja Council.!

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of Spanish Cookery by Pat Hynd!

! !

Sounds of eating - chomp. chomp! !

Gastronomy is no longer a matter of eating and enjoying taste and smells or even crunching, now chefs are combining other senses to make eating more delightful. Spain is a famous for its gastronomy of the Mediterranean or the wilder coasts of Galicia or the Basqueland with four Spanish restaurants listed among the top ten in the world. !

One of these chefs is Ferran Adria who has altered the perspectives of traditional Spanish cuisine combined with science so much so that his restaurant had a booking list a year ahead, but now he is concentrating on teaching, but still seeking new ideas. He is experimenting with Professor Charles Spence of the Crossmodal Research Laboratory in Oxford University how the use of different coloured crockery can affect the enjoyment of a meal. And not just pleasing to the eye, but how they affect the sense of taste.!

A good example is the campaign of Diageo company marketing malt whiskey to the Chinese by using multisensory insights in its gift packs with new colours and textures. This is known as neurogastronomy so that all the senses are involved, this means that whisky is not only tasted with the flavours of peat or honey, but drinking a glass of good malt in a specific environment alters our perspectives, for example if drunk in red lighting, tinkling bells, nice curved glass..it appears to taste sweeter; perhaps reminiscent of Christmas.

Adding music or distinctive sounds will give another exhilarating experience to our senses.!

The same applies to other products, Starbucks play special music that influences the enjoyment of their coffee; from Nessun Dorma to Amy Winehouse.

Personally I am all for this, which really is not completely new as when I worked with Berni's Steak Houses we played specific background music while people were eating so that it added a more relaxing atmosphere to the restaurant. But nuerogastronomy is taking things much further by examining the effects of natural sounds, types of music, colours and textures by examining how they can affect out taste buds so that eating can be really a pleasure of the senses.!

! !

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July, 2014

BAJOQUES FARCIDES Stuffed Peppers!

A typical dish of Alcoy makes use of local ingredients. This recipe is for six people.!

!

Heat 125 grams olive oil in a large casserole dish. Cut up in small pieces 100 grams each of chicken, Serrano ham and Magro, gently frying in the oil. Finely chop garlic, parsley and skinned and de-seeded tomatoes, add these to the meats. Season with salt and add a touch of saffron to give colour. Continue to cook to reduce to half. Allow 90 grams of rice per portion and put this in, combining it well.!

Cut the ‘lids’ off six large peppers, de-seed and plunge into boiling water to take the skins off. Place them in an oven proof dish having stuffed the peppers with the rice mixture. Cover and cook for approximately an hour and a half.!

Bartollilos are puff pastry almond tartlets.!

Batidos are popular drinks made from liquidised fruits and served with ice similar Batidos to milk shakes.!

Batido de Albaricoque (Apricot drink)!

8 apricots, 500 ml milk, 2 yoghurts, 2 spoonfuls of honey, ground cinnamon.!

Peel the apricots and throw away the stones. !

Beat all the ingredients together until liquidised. Serve cold with a sprinkling of powdered cinnamon. !

Cinnamon is one of the ingredients that helps reduce sugar levels for diabetics and people put it on breakfast cereals..even porridge.!

Berenjena is known as aubergine or eggplant in U.K. It is a common Mediterranean vegetable in Mediterranean, Greek, Arabic Jewish cuisines. The vegetable is capable of absorbing large amounts of cooking fats and sauces, making for very rich dishes, but salting reduces the amount of oil absorbed. Eggplant, due to its texture and bulk, can be used as a meat substitute in vegan and vegetarian cuisine. The famous Greek recipe Moussaka uses aubergine as does the French ratatouille.!

! !

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Berenjenas (aubergines) a la Plancha is a dish of aubergines grilled on a hot griddle.!

Berenjenas Asadas are baked aubergines stuffed with bacon, herbs and garlic.!

Berenjenas en Batido are slices of aubergines in a Berenjenas Rellenas crispy batter then fried.!

Berenjenas Fritas are sliced fried aubergines, usually coated in flour beforehand.! *Berenjenas Rellenas is a recipe of baked aubergine stuffed with tomatoes, ham, sausage and herbs.

On other occasions it is stuffed with cooked rice, chopped chorizo, cooked peas, and covered with bechamel sauce before putting in the oven. !

!

Besugo is a freshwater bream more common in northern Spain.!

Besugo a la Donostiarra is a Basque dish of grilled bream with oil and garlic.!

Besugo a la Guipuzcoana is grilled or barbecued bream with a lemon and garlic sauce.!

Besugo a la Pastelera is baked bream with lemon and spices.!

Besugo al Horno is baked or casseroled bream with lemon, pine nuts, wine and parsley, a fairly common Mediterranean version.!

Besugo Asado a la Madrile単a features a Madrid recipe of baked bream with a tomato, onion and herb sauce.!

Besugo Asado con Piri単aca - bream baked with a tomato, onion and herb sauce. !

!

This past year has been one of the driest in the Alicante Province for over 100 years. As a result the almond harvest has been drastically affected. Almonds are one of the basic ingredients in a lot of local recipes from paellas to postres. !

Bizcocho de Almendras is one of the desserts from Andalucia being almond sponge fingers filled with jam, cream and almonds. A bizcocho is basically a type of spongy biscuit: !

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Bizcocho Borracho (Drunken biscuit) is a cake with a wine and lemon sauce. !

Bizcocho con Uvas is a cake with peeled and deseeded grapes baked inside.!

Bollo Maimon is a round cake made with a type of biscuit mixture.!

Bolets amb Pernil is a dish from Catalonia of mushrooms and ham cooked in a sherry and garlic sauce.!

!

Bonito is a small tunny fish often found in supermarket cans, and in Andalucia is marinated, then fried with wine and an olive sauce and is known as Bonito con Aceitunas. !

Bouillinada is a dish with a layer of mixed fish, potatoes, garlic and red peppers, then stewed or casseroled. The name obviously has the same roots as the Provencal bouillabaisse.!

!

*Brazo de Gitano or ‘gypsy’s arm’ is a delicious cream-filled sponge roll, found in most cake shops and supermarkets. It is sometimes covered in chocolate or has a chocolate flavoured filling, or another version is yema tostada.!

!

This is a popular delicious roll cake with a cream filling that is found in pasteleria shops and makes a nice postre/dessert to buy and take along if you are invited out to dinner in someone’s house. It is a dessert which fits in nicely with the Christmas season, resembling a yule log. If you want to make it yourself then try this recipe.!

!

6 eggs, separated!

75 grams of sugar!

75 grams sifted flour!

1 teaspoon of grated lemon rind!

4 tablespoons icing sugar!

200 ml. cream filling.!

!

To make the sponge roll beat the egg whites until stiff. Beat in the yolks one at a time and whip up slowly adding the sugar. Gradually add in the flour followed by the lemon rind. Butter a shallow oven tray about 28 x 34 cm. then line it with greaseproof paper making sure it is well buttered. Pour in the cake mixture and bake in a pre-heated medium hot oven until the cake is ready about ten minutes. Leave to shrink for a couple of minutes, but, while still hot, unmould the cake on to a sheet of greaseproof paper sprinkled with icing sugar. Allow to cool a

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little before adding the cream mixture and making use of the paper roll up the cake. Place on a large platter with the seam side down and sprinkle with icing sugar. !

If it is yema then sprinkle with sugar or honey and use a kitchen blow torch to toast the top or a hot palette knife.!

!

You can use a filling of whipped cream or custard known as !

Cremadina!

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kitchen blow torch

2 egg yolks, beaten!

2 tablespoons sugar!

1 tablespoon flour!

Salt!

225 ml. milk!

Piece of cinnamon!

Vanilla essence!

2 tablespoon water!

A lump of butter!

!

Using a double boiler, beat the egg yolks, sugar and salt together; the heat helps the process, blend in the flour until you have a smooth custard. Beat in the preheated milk, a few drops of vanilla essence, and the cinnamon continuously. Make sure it does not become lumpy. It takes about ten minutes to cook through. !

Remove from the heat and beat in the butter until you have a satiny finish. Cool and use as the filling for the cake. !

!

Summer = Salmonella Poisoning! !

Every summer there are cases of salmonella food poisoning that affects the digestive system.

Young children, older adults, and people who have impaired immune systems are the most likely to have severe infections. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Hygiene is imperative in handling food so washing of hands frequently is imperative. Most people recover without treatment. Dehydration caused by diarrhea is the most common complication. Chicken and Eggs are often a cause of salmonella and it is advisable to use a commercial mayonnaise rather than a homemade one in hot weather. Now health authorities say do NOT wash chicken as there is a danger of splashing the bacteria around the kitchen. I was taught to rub chicken with lemon before cooking to kill germs.!

!

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July, 2014

Playa los Locos This is one of the most popular beaches in Torrevieja being 760 metres long and around 25 metres wide. It is sandy but with some rocks protruding and has several awards for its facilities and cleanliness.There are plenty of bars and restaurants around and opposite is "Little Britain" an area with many British and Irish pubs supplying a variety of food as well as a newspaper kiosk. In the summer there is a lifeguard and first aid post available and an offshore platform as well as children's climbing frames. There is a bus stop for the La Mata buses and a fairly wide promenade. There are several apartment blocks around here with rental accommodation.!

The coastal road along the beach is named Avenida Doctor Mariano Ruiz Canovas after the far sighted doctor who set up a sanatorium here, just where el Palmeral urbanization is located. This was a successful venture at the turn of the 20th century and the family were well known in Torrevieja. The grounds had a chapel dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen and nowadays the small church at Los Locos continues to be a reminder of this family. When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936 the sanatorium was not used and eventually the land became the built up area it is now.!

It is from the sanatorium that the beach of los Locos takes its name as it means beach of the crazies. One story is that the patients often covered their heads with seaweed, which could have been fun - who are we to judge.!

Exercise frames for the elderly aormi@icloud.com

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July, 2014

Habaneras 60th anniversary A Local Composer - Ricardo Lafuente

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One of the most renowned composers of habaneras was actually from Torrevieja. Ricardo Lafuente was born in the town in 1930 and has a museum dedicated to his work in the town at the former railway station. The link road between Crevillente and Avenida Pais Valenciana (Gypsy Road) also bears his name. He was one of the young victims of the Civil War, in the sense that he was unable to have much of a formal education; but that did not stop him from learning to play the six-stringed instrument known as the Bandurria at the age of 12. He started composing his own songs by the time he was f o u r t e e n and taught them to others as he himself was unable to read or write music. He still had to work, firstly, at the age of ten in the Salinas and then in the ice factory. !

When he was 13, he became an apprentice to a printer while, at the same time, helping his sisters in their little tailoring shop. It is largely due to the influence of Ricardo Lafuente that habaneras have become such a progressive music in these modern decades. He taught himself to read and write music and formed his own musical group. A modest, unassuming man, he wrote the famous operetta “La Ultima Golondrina” and has written hundreds of songs, zarzuelas, and hymns and, of course, habaneras.

He wrote the “Torrevieja espejo” in 1954, a piece that has become almost mandatory at most habaneras events wherever they are held in the world. In fact he received the Gold Medal for popular culture from Fidel Castro in Cuba in 1994. !

This famous Torrevejense composer Ricardo Lafuente aormi@icloud.com

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Aguado wrote the music of a Pasadoble for bullfighter José Francisco Boj Ortigosa or “El Salinerito”; the pasadoble was entitled “El Salinerito” with words written by Francisco Atienza Ferrández and Antonio Pérez Febol. Ricardo’s Torrevieja Habaneras Music museum dedicated to two great loves were his Ricardo Lafuente music and his town and he could often be found at the small museum dedicated to his name.

Unfortunately, his health degenerated and he developed Alzheimer’s disease and a home was found for him in the large Social Services residence. Such a prominent person having this illness highlighted the problem and a great deal of funding was put into a local town programme, run by volunteers and professional nurses and physiotherapists, with a large day centre in one of the former railway buildings provided by the town hall and relief for carers. A driving force in this association was Matilde Sanchez Cervera whose Italian husband had been an Alzheimer victim; both had lived for many years in England. The annual international Certamen of Habaneras held in July 2008 was dedicated to this wonderful Torrevejense and a seat was kept vacant throughout the week with a bunch of roses in his place, indicating that his presence is always amongst us; this may become a custom. The choirs who performed came from all five continents and are a reflection on the diversity of the citizens of modern Torrevieja and how music transcends all languages. For several years now there has also been a chorale event held in his memory and one of the many choirs of the town also is named after him - Coro y Orquesta Ricardo Lafuente – Salinas de Torrevieja and also the Orfeón Municipal “Ricardo Lafuente” !

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Early Habaneras - How Did It All Begin?

July, 2014

Ricardo and Lolita Sevilla: foto Francisco Rebollo blog

Ricardo Lafuente was also largely involved in setting up the first Habaneras Competition in August 1955, something that evolved from quiet comradely nights in bars, singing with others whatever they fancied. From this the idea arose about having a concert or competition for Torrevieja. The Mayor, Arturo Gómez Torregrossa, enthusiastically took up the idea and approached Juan Aparicio López who had a holiday home in Torrevieja. Juan Aparicio happened to be the Director General for the Press and Propaganda of the Franco regime and thanks to him the habaneras competition first held in 1955 received a great deal of national publicity. A commission was set up to organize the event. At the same time the idea of editing a local magazine to inform the inhabitants of fiestas was raised and from this the present weekly magazine ‘Vista Alegre’ was born. Still a comparatively small town, Torrevieja residents were enthusiastic and supported this project. Thanks to their sponsor, who was able to pull government strings, the army lent beds so that local schools could be used as temporary hostels for invited choirs and their supporters. What was then the local radio station, Radio Murcia, lent the sound equipment and there is a street named calle Radio Murcia. The Mayor sold one of his own houses to help finance the competition. A Murcian choir won the first prize of 30,000 pesetas. In this first competition there were soloists and duets, as well as small and large choirs. The jury of the first Habaneras Certamen gave their services free, but was awarded at the end with a pure Havana cigar. There are now ten prizes awarded.

The ‘templete’ bandstand was on the paseo Vista Alegre at this time and was the centre for the first competitions as well as a lot of musical events which were held. Eventually the idea grew of using the Eras de la Sal as an open-air theatre, which led to the present venue in 1972. It can now seat over 1,200 people, has its own lighting and sound systems as well as changing rooms and is not only the venue for the annual Habaneras, but for many concerts throughout the summer months. In 1964 the competition embraced polyphonic music and in 1979 the 25th edition was celebrated with a gala that included all those choirs who had participated over the previous years. The Habaneras became an international event and is now a regular feature on Spanish Television each year as it is beamed to millions of viewers throughout Hispano-American countries.

In one sense the Habaneras is also a symbol of Torrevieja’s transfer from a village to a modern city with an international flavour; from a large unemployed population to one that attracts thousands of people from nearly every country in the world. And all within a fifty year period. There are now ten monetary prizes awarded in various categories and a successful annual Junior Habaneras aormi@icloud.com torrevieja outlookas july, 2014 32 competition well in April.

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July, 2014

Guardamar del Segura at War by Dave Stewart From 18th to 27th July the towns people of Guardamar del Segura are on holiday with lots of activities including the famous Moors & Christian parades. !

The town's origins were to guard the town of Orihuela with a fortress at the mouth of the River Segura, thus controlling access to the main town upriver.!

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The River Segura originates in Murcia region and completes its weary course erupting into the sea at Guardamar del Segura, a fortress town built to keep upriver towns safe from Berber pirates. Throughout the centuries, men and cultures have chosen to settle from pre-history until the present day, especially the Phoenicians, Iberians, Romans and Islamic peoples. !

There are archeological remains of an Arabic Rabita Califal from the 9th or 10th century and it appears they had a strong township based here and would have extracted salt from the La Mata Lake. In April 2004 archaeologists uncovered another smaller rabita at a Roman dig, which probably was a Muslim sect. !

The area at the mouth of the River Segura is known locally as ‘La Gola del Segura’ and includes the water sports facility and the fishing harbour Marina de las Dunas.! aormi@icloud.com

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The Legend of the Moorish Princess - The Enchantress by Dave Stewart

Each year Guardamar fiestas include a theatrical work about the legendary L'Encanta, the Enchantress. This is the story of a rich Moorish princess, who lived ina beautiful castle and fell in love with a poor Muslim She tried to run away with but her father was totally against such an union. He tried to stop them but died in the attempt. As he lay dying he cursed his daughter and the castle disappeared. The legend says that the princess appears on the night of San Juan on 24th June, the magical Midsummers Night. She appears to whichever man wets his feet by actually crossing the river and the invisible castle will reappear. Some of the older men maintain that if you did this and she appeared you would have to carry her across the river although she will become heavier and heavier until either you give her up or drown.!

a fighting King Jaime

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!

King Alfonso X founded the new Christian township of Guardamar in 1271 and most of its citizens were Catalans introduced by King Jaume I. Castilian domination, however, was short lived and in 1296, Jaume II annexed it to the Crown of Aragon, bestowing on it the privileges of Valencia and the status of ‘Villa Real’. Due to its strategic position the walled township became the port and the most significant coastal stronghold to defend Orihuela, until it was finally burned to the ground and ransacked by Reduán and his Moorish forces in 1331. Finally, during the ‘war of the two Pedros‘, the township’s importance was reduced to that of a village under the jurisdiction of Orihuela and it was not until 1692 when, by royal privilege of Carlos II, Guardamar was allowed to separate from Orihuela. !

It suffered from the 1829 earthquake and people moved from the castle to the flat land next to the sea, only to be faced with engulfing sand dunes, combated by planting a large pine forest, thus making the town an attractive wooded area with a large promenade and lovely beaches and protected dunes.

This was the idea of engineer Francisco Mira who is something of a local hero and has a museum dedicated to his work. !

Guardamar sand dunes are famous, but at one time almost over ran the town until a pine forest was planted.

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Marta Zúñiga is the Dama de Guardamar 2014 with Carla Blasco and Raquel García acting as her laldies in waiting..or dames!

Fiestas begin with the arrival of the Kings in January, carnival in February with a mid winter appearance of the local Moors & Christians. This leads on to the fervent Holy Week processions of Holy Week. A pilgrimage is held in flowering May to the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at the hermitage at el Campo de Guardamar. !

In June the Grup Foguerer “Els Milotxes” set up a hoguera bonfire for the feast of San Juan in June.

Guardamar is a renowned fishing port so St. Peter the fisherman is honoured on 29th June when his image is put on a boat and taken around the Parque Alfonso XIII to the port area where the “Misa de Campaña” is celebrated followed by a good fish-fest. The town’s (and Spain’s) patron saint, James the Apostle, is celebrated during the last fortnight of July, by parades of the Christians and the Moors - comparsas: Mosqueteras, la Pluma, El Cid, Labradores, Cruzados; Moors - Abd-Al-Azies, Musulmanes, Piratas, Tuareg, Nomadas,.!

! ! ! ! !

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D単a. Reina Sofia Park is a lovely area with cataract and pond full of fish, turtles, swans and various types of ducks. There is a large play area for children and petanca courts

Guardamar Marina At the mouth of the River Segura that feeds the fields of the Vega Baja, there is a leisure marina and port for the fishing fleet of Guardamar.

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Stanleigh and Clonlara victims of war

Sailors - A Dangerous Occupation by Andy Ormiston In every war a principal target is merchant shipping with the aim to cut off supplies to the enemy. July Virgen del Carmen fiestas include a floral tribute thrown into the sea at the foot of the Hombre del Mar statue in memory of those who lost their lives at sea .During the Spanish Civil War normal work related to salt and fishing continued in Torrevieja and the port was never used for the transportation of troops of either side, but the usual trade of shipping local produce went on. An initial part of the harbour wall had been underway since 25th September 1929 as far as the lighthouse, and foreign ships seeking salt cargoes used this. At the end of hostilities the Francoist government demanded an account of ship movements during the war years, including cargoes, from local marine port authorities of the Mediterranean towns, actively seeking retribution for any companies that were seen to have aided the Republican cause.!

Between 18 July and the end of December 1936, 82 Spanish vessels docked plus 15 foreign ships, including three British ones. The Norwegian steamship “Ingerfern” made three trips between August and November, but was intercepted by the Nationalist warship “Canovas” in the Gibraltar Straits and ordered to Ceuta where it was searched and as no arms were found aboard, was allowed to proceed; but she never returned to Torrevieja after that fright. In fact although several Norwegian and Swedish ships docked in Torrevieja, after the summer of 1937 they stopped their activities until after the war's end.

Throughout the civil war years 526 ships used the bay as a shelter for the night, including a Republican submarine. Of these 37 were flying foreign flags, including the Irish "Clonlara" which loaded salt at the end of 1937, but was later bombed in Valencia. It was built in Dundee and eventually sunk by the U-564 submarine on 22 August 1941 off the coast of Portugal. She was carrying coal cargo and was part of a convoy, having already picked up fourteen survivors from the "Alba". The master of the Irish ship and 12 crew members were picked

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up by a Royal Navy escort HMS Campion, but all the "Alba" crew died as well as six of the "Clonlara" crew.!

Two British ships also taking on a cargo of salt were the "Stanleigh" and the "Stanholme"; the first in November 1937 the second in December 1937. The "Stanholme" on 25th December 1939 was mined and Stanbrook memorial in sunk off Bristol Alicante harbour Channel; loss of 13 l i v e s .

T h e "Stanleigh" on the 14th March 1941 was bombed and sunk in Irish Sea by German aircraft ; loss of 17 lives.! !

These were two of the Stanhope steamship company that ran the gauntlet delivering goods to the Republic and picking up various cargoes on the return trip. Jack Billmeir formed the Stanhope SS Co. in London in 1934. The company started with two small second hand coasters and rapidly expanded. In 1936 the company became heavily involved in carrying cargo to Republican ports during the Spanish Civil War and made huge profits from this enterprise. One famous ship was the "Stanbrook" which is written about separately. This company's ships were also involved in carrying refugees from Spain to France and Morocco. After the end of the war in Spain, Billmeirs' ships were banned from Spanish ports by the N a t i o n a l i s t Government, but by the end of the civil war the company owned 16 ships. !

On another occasion the six-man crew of a Torrevieja boat, the 1,908 tonnes "Rapido" constructed in Palma in 1887, sailed with a cement cargo, but they had to take refuge in Jรกvea on 4th June 1937, as their ship was attacked just off Cabo San

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Antonio, and then sunk by an Nationalist Cruiser "Baleares" Italian submarine based in Mallorca, the "Torricelli" C-3, (later renamed "General Sanjurjo").

Work in the Salinas continued despite a 40% drop in the market, both at home and abroad. Salt workers were classified as necessary to the war effort and therefore not called to arms, although some did become military volunteers. Fishing was deemed to be an important contribution to the country and this went on unscathed.!

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Many Torrevieja ships had been requisitioned by the Republican navy and some were sunk by Franco’s navy and air force. Most were sailing ships, reconverted with an engine, possibly losing a mast in the process. The 217 tonne “Trinidad” in government service was sunk on 26 June 1937 by the nationalist cruiser “Baleares” near Port Vendrés (which had at least one Torreviejense sailor on board); the “Julio Casciaro” a 293 tonne ship was sailing from Marseilles with armaments on 23 March 1937 and was sunk by rebel aircraft. In March 1939 enemy aircraft attacking Cartagena sank “Joven Pura”, of 169 tonnes. !

The 125 tonne “Paulita” was attacked and sunk by aircraft in Valencia. The “Pascual Flores” of 169 tonnes, was sunk in Castellón port by aircraft, but was Pascual Flores built in Torrevieja in later raised and is now once more 1917/18, sunk in Castellon in 1938, a symbol of Torrevieja’s past as it rescued and rebuilt to become part of is destined to be a training ship Torrevieja Floating Museum and a future for the Valencian Communidad cadets' training ship - can be visited in and is a feature of Torrevieja’s Sea Torrevieja harbour. & Salt Museum. !

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Santiago de Compestella Salt Route

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Photo Darren Lilley:

July, 2014

From this to this

I can hear you asking, "What has the Torrevieja salt lake to do with the famous Santiago Camino?"

Santiago is the Spanish version of St. James, brother of Andrew, both Apostles of Jesus, and both sons of Zebedee (of the Bible not Magic Roundabout). His feast is held on 25th July and according to tradition his body was supposed to be brought back to Spain at the place of Campo Estrella (field of the stars) and from this a devotion grew and then a city with its famous basilica of the swinging incensories. In the middle ages it became a famous pilgrimage site that led to the several routes lined with shelters and hostels, supposedly guarded by the Knights Templars. !

This year a couple of these albergues will be selling salt from Torrevieja to pilgrims with all the income going to Torrevieja branch of the Alzheimers Association. These salts come in various flavours for enhancing food - normal, curry, kebab, and three peppers including hibiscus, Provenรงal. These flask and gift sets are a popular souvenir gift of Torrevieja available from the Azheimers charity shop in Torrevieja in the street behind the main church.

Some wedding planners use these or alternative packets as wedding favours.!

Normally Torrevieja salt is destined for industrial and commercial purposes abroad and at home in Spain, so it is nice to see it being used in so many other ways. A common gift for visiting VIP's is a salt boat that is made from a wooden framework then dipped several times in the salt lake, with repeated washing until the final effect is achieved. ! aormi@icloud.com

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Torrevieja Cofradia de Santiago on a recent visit to the shrine and a figure of the saint outside the Orihuela cathedral that bears his name.

Another recent innovation is by the local Rotary Club that has designed a boat with salt cellars as 'cargo' and this will be marketed throughout the international club network as a gift set. that will not only take the name of Torrevieja sailing around the world, but also benefit the local Alzheimer's Association from the sales. !

Panache Dancers are looking to extend their troupe. If you have past experience in tap, modern musical dancing, come along and have a chat with us at rehearsal or in the first instance telephone Chris on 634.310.314 or Yvonne on 96.679.6820. or email: rytethen@gmail.com We rehearse Monday.11.am – 1.pm. At Casa Ventura,Urbanisation San Luis, Torrevieja.

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Friday. 1.pm. - 4.pm. The Sports Complex, La Marina.

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Business Profile by Dave Stewart David & Jessica Hayes or Whats on around us

Recently I met the lovely Jessica Hayes and her charming husband David who are two busy enterprising people who live in the Vega Baja and are making their mark on our area. Among other things they provide a great and useful webpage chockfull of information about fiestas and events as well as short podcasts of information. The following is an interview with them.!

EuroTour Guide!

Costa Blanca South! http//www.eurotourguide.com/en/events-calendar/2245!

Costa Blanca North ! www.eurotourguide.com/en/events-calendar/2246!

Costa Calida! http://www.eurotourguide.com/en/events-calendar/2247!

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!

Where were you before and what did you do there? !

We met whilst working for Crystal Holidays as Resort Reps in their ski and lakes and mountains programmes in Austria, France and North America. During those eight years we worked our way up to Resort Managers, a role we both enjoyed immensely.

Encouraging and helping people to get the most from their chosen holiday destinations, by learning and discovering new places was something we took very seriously.!

When did you come to a Spain?!

After repping we returned to the UK for a few years between 2002 and 2004, but never really settled. We missed working together as well as the European way of life.!

Do you speak any Spanish?!

Yes we have learnt Spanish since moving here and try to take every opportunity to improve it. We watch Spanish television, and David has even cited 'improving his Spanish' as a reason to be a season ticket holder at Elche! !

What is your idea behind this webpage? !

The idea of the website is to provide 'what to do, where to go and what to see' information about the area. Instead of being actual holiday reps, we are 'virtual holiday reps' encouraging and helping everyone get the most out of their time here. !

This guide is a team effort. Does it take long to put together information? !

The website is very much a team effort, which uses both of our skills. David has great vision and I have great precision! The information takes a while to research, collect, write, edit and finally publish. but it is an enjoyable process and we always learn lots of new things along the way. !

Any idea of the impact you make on the general public?!

We've had all types of feedback over the years and have posted some great reviews in our testimonial section. We know that we have helped people enjoy the area – encouraging some to buy properties here, others to return for future holidays and still more to experience local events. !

Any particular means of communication you prefer or enjoy?!

We mainly use Facebook and Twitter, both of which are excellent and allow people to see our What's On information at a glance and then click to discover more. !

What do you think of Spanish fiestas and siesta? !

We adore the fiesta culture and are so pleased that Spain is keeping hold of its traditions.

The fiestas themselves provide great cultural, social and economic benefits as well as being a lot of fun. We are also fans of the siesta, they make the day seem twice as long and encourage a more relaxed attitude as there seem to be more hours in the day. !

What about the maĂąana Sindrome that Spain has a reputation for. !

To be honest we have never really experienced this; we have found that most professionals are pleased to help and often go to great lengths to do so. !

How do you find the attitude of officials when you seek information?!

The world is a great big mixing pot and just as there are helpful and unhelpful officials in the UK, so are there here! In the main we find the Spanish to be passionate about their surroundings, fiestas and food!!

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Your podcasts are very good, what are your criteria when putting one together?!

We really enjoy making the podcasts and looking forward to seeing what fiestas can be enjoyed during the coming month. The writing of the scripts is easy compared to finding a filming location! It is either too sunny, too shady, too windy, too noisy – we have developed a high level of respect for all those professional cameramen! !

You have written two books relating to Spain, tell us something about them and any plans for further printed guides?!

We have actually written 3 books! The Hayes Guide in 2009 and now the EuroTourGuide Local Area and the Days Out Costa Blanca South. The more recent books, which use up to date GPS coordinates for the places of interest, are available from Amazon, via PayPal on eurotourguide website and local stockists (Cards and More in La Marina, The Card Place in Benijofar and Punta Prima, Vicent Real Estate Office in Benijofar and the OP Group Spain offices in La Finca Golf Algorfa, La Marina and Gran Alacant urbanisations)!

Days Out from the Costa Blanca South!

On holiday or living in this area of Spain full time, this comprehensive book uncovers a whole array of exciting, historic, interesting, scenic, varied and fun days out for all ages in this very popular Spanish destination. This travel guide book takes away all the stress of planning a day out. All you have to do is choose which of the featured itineraries to follow and enjoy a fantastic time, creating a new memory along the way.!

Days Out from the Costa Blanca South guidebook includes: !

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90 pages with descriptions of the days out !

•! over 100 coloured photographs !

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27 day out itineraries !

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4 cities with a walking route and a choice of 3 day out programmes for each city !

•! a map of the area !

Local Area Costa Blanca South!

If you are taking a well earned holiday, moving full time or visiting your second home in this wonderful and varied area of Spain, this book is a must. Whether you enjoy discovering different sandy beaches, picturesque marinas, impressive mountains, bustling markets, local fiestas, walking and cycling routes, busy towns, quaint village squares, lively nights out, shopping malls, fun water parks and fair grounds or just simply relaxing with your favourite drink watching the sunset, then this book is for you. !

Local Area Costa Blanca South Guidebook includes:!

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90 pages packed with points of interest !

•! over 55 coloured photographs !

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40 local towns, inland villages and coastal areas !

•! an area map !

•! a list of annual fiesta dates !

•! a list of weekly market days !

Finally, Do you have itchy feet to experience other countries?!

This is the longest we have lived in one place and now call the Costa Blanca home. We have all we need and want for our daily lives here and look forward to spending many more years enjoying this wonderful area. !

aormi@icloud.com

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July Music Scene Spain really jumps in July with music. Space does not permit us to list all the music going on so here is a selection.

17-20 July Benicassim, Castellon!

25 - 27 July Benidorm Low Festival!

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23-27 July San Sebastian Int. Jazz Festival Jazzaldia!

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31 July - 3 Aug. Arenal Sound, Burrina, Valencia!

La Mar de Músicas 2014 !

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18 - 26 de July Cartagena - !

XX Edición Mar de Musica ESPECIAL NORUEGA y 20 Años del Festival feature some Norwegian musicians but there are loads more from many other countries.!

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If you understand Spanish adequately or just enjoy a spectacular theatre or opera, then the ancient city of Merida, classified as part of the Heritage of Humanity, holds an annual Grecolatin theatre from 2nd July to 24th August 2014. Each year the Roman amphitheater is the setting for various Greek and Roman plays that covers drama to comedy but includes works by Shakespeare, Homer, Purcell and Strauss. !

Like Torrevieja Habaneras, this is the 60th anniversary of these plays that over the years has featured most of the best actors and actresses of Spanish theatre, television and screen, who delight in the amazing acoustics of this amphitheater. Apart from Theatre, Merida is one of the jewels of Spain and ancient Rome and worth a visit at any time, as throughout the year the town hosts various other celebrations and fiestas. Salome by Strauss, Medusa flamenco ballet, Dido and Aeneas by Purcell, Iliad of Homer, Ranas and Pluto of Aristofan, The Eunuch

by Terence, Coriolano of Shakespeare, Edipo Rey by Sofocies and an interesting documentary film about Merida and its theatre screened on 20th July.

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