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Nยบ 15 May 2015 May Fair European Day Museum Day Tactile Museum ONCE Plaza de la Constitucion Cookery from Americas Cultural programme RASCALS GOYA in May First Communions War Photographers Spanish Dance Military Exhibition Caravaca Associations on Show Walking Across Borders
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Torrevieja May Fair For those of us who have the luck to live in Torrevieja the main fiesta this month is undoubtedly the annual May Fair. An opportunity to enjoy the colorful scenery, music, dance, horse riding, eating and drinking that characterizes the fabulous fiestas of Seville that are world wide known. Torrevieja is a smaller version, but great fun just the same with Andalusian music and dance events each evening in the fairground area, next to the harbour, that is turned into a mini-town for a week. What started out as a street party many years ago has become one of the main fiesta events of May in the Alicante province. Thousands flock each evening to stroll around the casetas, where beer and wine are served along with a great selection of ham, chorizo, sausages etc. Either a small tapa or a real meal. These small tented bars have a space for impromptu dancing where ladies show off wonderful Seville dresses and menfolk strut with cummerbund and tight trousers, but the main events are held on the large stage with spectacular dancing and music. For others the main attraction is the horses, magnificent carriages and equestrian events as riders show off the skills of rider and a gaily decorated mount. An absolutely electrifying event for a few days of the year. Starting 6th to 10th May. aormi@icloud.com
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May Fair 6th - 10th May 2015
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European Day - 9th May Running into the May Fair is European Day on 9th May with a European flag raising ceremony in the main plaza as the blue flag with its golden stars floats to the top of the mast pole. Several artistes perform freely in the plaza de la Constitution after speeches. Torrevieja was the first town to hold a celebration on this day and it is now common in most towns where there is a large expatriate European community. Speeches about the relevance of the European union are a norm and sometimes children read extracts about the main thrust of the union. An annual event is an international competition of the traditional Spanish game of bowls - petanca - and most urbanization have a local team.
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Since 1977 the International Day of Museums has been celebrated throughout the world. Each year the organising body chooses a theme and in many towns museums are open all day free to the public. In 2014, International Museum Day garnered record-breaking participation with more than 35,000 museums hosting events in some 145 countries. It is normally held on the third weekend of May, so this year on the 18th May. It is an excellent opportunity to many people to visit a museum and discover at first hand some of the wonderful pieces of history,
art and general culture that these buildings, This year’s theme for the event will be Museums for a sustainable society. It highlights the role of museums in raising public awareness about the need for a society that is less wasteful, more cooperative aormi@icloud.com
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and that uses resources in a way that respects living systems. Museums must be able to guarantee their role in safeguarding cultural heritage, given the increasing precariousness of ecosystems, situations of political instability, and the associated natural and man-made challenges that may arise. Museum work, through education and exhibitions for example, should strive to create a sustainable society. This year those Natural museums, agricultural museums, maritime museums, animal and sea themed parks, science centers. all have a part to play with the theme sustainability.
Some museums near you in this area:
Orihuela Semana Santa Museum Tel 96 674 40 89 Orihuela is a city absolutely full of old churches, museums and fine buildings. Among them is this one dedicated to the city’s famous Holy Week processions. There was work that extended the museum to 1.150 metres and is the largest such museum in Europe, if not the world. Here one can see the massive statues and 22 thrones carried in the annual processions by cofradias. These are works of art many of them by the famous Salzillo. Some of the ‘thrones’ on which they are aormi@icloud.com
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carried are exhibited here and these are works of art in themselves. The city has a long history of Semana Santa processions that bring alive the Passion of Christ through these images and the annual involvement by thousands of citizens. Miguel Hernรกndez Museum Tel. 96 530 63 27. This museum is quite small as it is the house where this famous poet lived in Orihuela and turned into a museum in 11981. He was one of the many victims of the Spanish Civil War and he has a large following of admirers who meet annually in March to hold a two-day walk around the towns related to the poet. 2010 is dedicated to this internationally admired poet and there are events throughout the year. Most towns in the area have a street or a square dedicated to this writer. Archaeological Museum Tel. 96 674 31 54 Orihuela is a very old city with a long history and much of it can be seen in this museum through the many pieces of Iberian, Roman, Arab and later civilizations offered to the visitor.
Reconquest Museum Tel. 96 530 27 47 Each summer thousands of the people of Orihuela take to the streets dressed as Moors and Christians in the annual colourful and noisy parades. The city was under the control of Moors for a long time before being part of the reconquest of the Christian Kings, notably Jaime I. This museum outlines some of that part of the history of Orihuela. It conserves costumes from the different groups, photographs and original posters announcing the festivities, emblems, shields, flags, musical instruments, weapons and a model of the castle. The Museum is completed by a large glass cabinet for temporary exhibitions of archaeological material from both the Islamic and Christian cultures.
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Diocesan Museum of Holy Art Tel. 96 530 06 38 As a city Orihuela has a fine cathedral worthy of a visit as it has a long and interesting history. It also has this museum dedicated to works of art related to Christianity and the visitor can see many fine paintings and sculptures by famous artists.
San Fulgencio Archaeological Museum Tel. 96 679 4020 This town is an old farming community and the roots of the town can be seen in this museum. Like Rojales the actual town is in danger of being swamped by the urbanisation of la Marina that is in its municipal boundaries. The quarry there is part of an archeological dig of Iberian remains. foto: The Leader
Pilar de la Horadada Archaeological and Ethnological Museum Tel. 96 535 11 24 Of itself Pilar de la Horadada is a fairly new town in that it came under the civil and religious jurisdiction of Orihuela until recently. But it is a very progressive town that has not forgotten its roots and these can be seen in this museum opened in 1994 as every effort is made to keep alive old traditions of a farming community with a link to the sea.
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Rojales Municipal Museum or de la Huerta Tel. 96 671 50 01 Rojales is another farming community that depended largely on the waters of the Rio Segura. With the nearby urbanisation of Ciudad Quesada threatening to overshadow the old town, strong efforts are being made to recover some of the historical aspects of the citizens of Rojales. In this museum one can see some of the tools used by the agricultural community, remains of some of the inheritance left by the Moors and see something of the colourful glamour associated with the Moors & Christian fiestas held at the end of June.
Alicante
Fundaci贸n MARQ麓 Plaza Dr. G贸mez Ulla. Provincial Archaeological Museum with modern audiovisual effects in theme rooms from pre-historic to modern with Iberian, Roman and Middle Ages cultures. An ideal museum to discover the past of Alicante Province. Apart from the permanent exhibition, there are always very interesting temporary expositions in conjunction with other museums or entities.
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Museo de la Asegurada, Plaza de Santa Maria, 3. As a city Alicante has diversity of museums and art galleries. Here there is a Collection of contemporary 20th century art with works by Picasso, Dali, Miró, Chagall, Gargallo, Juan Gris, Julio González, Bacon, Giacometti, Adami among others. The Santa Barbara Castle This powerful castle dates back to the Middle Ages with alterations in the fortifications up to the 18th century. It towers over Alicante city and its bay and there are continuous exhibitions of various types of art and culture including midnight galas during summer. Access by road or there is a lift from the beach area at a minimum cost- accredited pensioners go free.
Pozos de Garrigós, Plaza del Puente. Here there are ancient wells and an exhibition about water and ceramics.
Museo de Belén. Calle San Agustin 3. Alicante Province has a strong tradition of making Christmas cribs (belens) and here one can see examples from all over the world. This is associated with the co-cathedral of San Nicholas, which has a magnificent crib scene every year and is the centre of the artisans and aficionados of those who make the crib figures and scenery. aormi@icloud.com
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Sala Municipal de Exposiciones ‘Lonja del Pescado’ Avda. Almirante Julio Guillén Tato. You have probably driven past this building on your way into Alicante as it is near the harbour. This is a converted fish auction hall that always has various art exhibitions.
TORREVIEJA Museo del Mar Y de la Sal C/ Patricio Perez 10 - Tel. 96 670 68 38 This museum is in a temporary site and will eventually be moved to the Eras de la Sal in a purpose-designed building. It has artifacts from Roman times and portrays some of the history of Torrevieja’s long and unique relationship with the sea and the salt lakes. There is also a “Floating Museum” section located in the harbor that attracts visitors all year round. A sailing ship built in Torrevieja is the “Pascual Flores” that been repaired and is an important floating exhibit of the museum, but this
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summer will be at sea as a training ship. This boat was built in Torrevieja when the town was renowned for its ship building abilities. In its early days, the Pascual Flores was used for shipping salt from the lakes and moored to the wooden quayside is an example of the small boats that were loaded and used to ferry salt to the larger ships. These are part of the “floating museum” that also includes a real live submarine, the “Delfin” (Dolphin”, donated by the Spanish navy and another recent acquisition is a coastguard cutter “Albatross III”, both of which can be boarded and inspected. There are many other smaller boats, including one that was used as a salt barge on the salt lake and a sculling rowing boat donated by the local rowing team. A small fleet of Vela Latina boats is gradually being built and is in use for teaching people basic sailing skills and are in demand for making films. Museo de la Semana Santa, C/ Formentera, Urb. Primavera (Tel. 96 670 68 38 Each Holy Week annual processions take place with over two thousand people dressed in colourful robes with hoods, including over 300 aormi@icloud.com
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children. They are formed into groups known as cofradias, each cofradia with its own distinctive colours and each devoted to some aspect of Christ’s last hours of life. In these nightly processions statues representing some aspect of Christ’s final sufferings are carried. Many of these are displayed all year round in the Semana Santa Museum including one that is carried by a group of foreigners – the Garden of Olives. Others are kept in the la Inmaculada Church in the town square. A new museum designed specifically for these huge floats will open by summertime closer to the town centre and the Municipal Archives. The Music Museum Ricardo Lafuente is now located at the former railway station. This museum is dedicated to the musical tradition of Torrevieja and also to a composer who has developed this musical heritage in the town. Torrevieja has a strong traditional of music based on music and songs taken from Cuba where Torrevieja sailors sailed carrying salt and other merchandise to the Caribbean and Latin America. The sailors brought back the songs and taught them to their families. In doing so they also made up their own songs expressing their longing to return to their families and their love for their native land and town. From these beginnings the annual Habaneras Certamen has grown up: this is an international choir competition that uses polyphonic, music particularly that known as habaneras. These concerts are held at the end of July including one on the beach and others in the central streets. One of the instigators of these annual events is local composer and musician Ricardo Lafuente, who has written many pieces of music including the recognised anthem of Torrevieja. Many of his books and music has been donated to this museum. Natural History Museum. This is also located in the former railway buildings and possesses and interesting collection of exhibits connected with the Mediterranean and its shore such as birds, their nests and eggs. Life sized figures include a dolphin and there are hundreds of seashells including some from of African shores.
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Salt Interpretation centre This is another small museum related to the salt industry that is also located in a former railway building which has been taken over by the salt company as part of offering a tourist route around the workings. This has an interesting explanation of the development of salt crystals and their harvesting. Many photographs show the development of the workings and the introducing over the years of new technological innovations such as the train. It is now under the direction of the salt company and offers visits around the salt workings from June. Christmas Crib Museum: Each year Torrevieja’s main plaza has a wonderful nativity scene made by the artists of the Belen Museum located in calle Orihuela. This outdoor Christmas crib includes many symbolic buildings of Torrevieja. The Belen Museum is open all year round with a small admission fee and the opportunity to buy some excellent Nativity figures. Calle Diego Ramirez.
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Almoradi Market Garden and Ethnological Museum. Tel. 966 782 324 Almoradi is a town with a strong relationship to agriculture and in this museum one can see many of the implements used in harvesting the earth and its products.
Crevillente Municipal Archaeological Museum. Tel. 96 668 14 78 The museum is temporarily closed. This is a large industrialized town famous for its carpet industry. Most of the Moroccans who sell carpets in the markets and promenades buy them direct from the factories of Crevillente. The city goes back a long way in history and over recent years many discoveries relating to early Iberian and Roman settlers are displayed in this museum. Monographic Museum of Mariano Benlliure Tel. 96 668 27 14Â This is a private collection dedicated to a famous Valencian sculptor and artist whose vast array of works are scattered throughout Spanish speaking countries.
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Elche These are only some suggestions of museums in Elche. The city of Elche has a long history dating back to the Bronze Age and is an important place for visitors to discover. There are several historical buildings and museums as well as gardens full of various palm trees. The city is noted for its palm groves and when Jaime I entered the city at the Reconquest he exclaimed at the marvelous work undertaken by the Arab farmers and decreed that the trees must be preserved and replaced as necessary.
Municipal Archaeology Museum Tel. 96 545 36 03. The collection here goes back to pre-Iberian history and there is a copy of the famous Iberian bust of the Dama de Elche, which is now in the national museum of Madrid. Elche was a Roman city and there are many artefacts of the Roman period. Since 1982 the museum had occupied the restored buildings of an old textile factory in the eastern wing of the Alcazar de la Señoría, or Palace of Altamira. The new MAHE project has made use not only of the whole stronghold, but also the first level of an underground car park built in the Traspalacio area. aormi@icloud.com
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La Alcudia Museum Tel 96 661 15 06. Associated with the Dama de Elche statue is the museum that now graces the place where the statue was first uncovered and is now a recognised archaeological site as well as a very modern museum. This is on the outskirts of the city and well worth more than a casual visit. The other Dama de Elche is the Virgen Maria whose feast is a medieval passion play held in August. Agricultural School Museum of Pozol. Tel 96 663 04 78. Here you can see examples of old time shops. Around Elche there is a t h r i v i n g agricultural community and there are a few schools dedicated to t r a i n i n g farmers and o t h e r agricultural specialists. At this school there is also an agricultural museum displaying some of the tools past and present used in farming the area. Palm trees are an important heritage of Elche and there are a couple of gardens to visit. One is the Huerta del Cura that is a living museum of various types of palm trees and there is an entrance fee. The other main garden is the Municipal Park overlooking the river. Recently the inheritance of Elche’s palm forests has been recognised by the United Nations as of interest and importance to the world.
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Festival Museum Tel. 96 545 34 64 3 euros admission charge. Elche has a long history and as such a long history of fiestas. Among them are Moors & Christians, the medieval mystery play of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven, the Early Settlers Festival. These fiestas are at set times during the year but it is possible to breathe a part of their atmosphere at this museum. But the real attraction of museum is in the second chamber, which is situated in the nave of the Hermitage of San Sebastian. It is the last vestige of the Catalan Gothic architecture of the 15th century still preserved in the city, and it served as a rehearsal place for the local Capella until the opening of the Casa de la Festa in 1988.
Museum of Contemporary Art Tel. 96 545 49 82 Another museum to visit while in Elche is this one which has a good selection of works by modern artists who make use of the wonderful Mediterranean light to put their ideas and vision onto canvas.
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Santa Pola The Maritime Museum Plaza de Armas del Castillo - Fortaleza Tlf. 96 669 15 32 Santa Pola has been the main port for the city of Elche since before the days of the Romans. This has always been a port and during the Roman era, this was an important place for salting fish and making garum. It is famous for its fishing fleet and this long association with the sea is well displayed in this museum. A monographic exhibition focused on the history of Santa Pola, with 4 main topics: Prehistory, the Iberians, the Roman Port and the Nature Reserve os "Las Salinas". In Santa Pola there is also an Aquarium that further shows this dependence on the sea through the selection of fish one can see in the tanks. Salt Museum Tel. 966 693 546. The town is noted for its salt flats and production of salt and the museum offers insights into the workings.In this museum located in a former salt factory in Santa Pola Salt Flat Nature Reserve you'll discover the standard processes of salt extraction, its use, characteristics, consumption and the importance of salt in Man's History and its exploitation, past and present. The Museum has also a lookout for bird watching and offers you the chance to make guided visit to the Salt Flats Nature Reserve. aormi@icloud.com
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Guardamar del Segura The Tourist Office is located in the oldest house of the town built in the local style and also houses a small museum dedicated to the engineer Francisco Mira i Botella who designed the pine forest to keep the sand dunes at bay. Tel 965 724 488 Municipal Ethnological and Archaeological Museum Tel. 96 572 86 10 Guardamar is the site of many Mediterranean civilizations and some of the remains of these can be seen in this museum. Among there are interesting pieces from Roman and Arab times. The original town was built around the castle but after a disastrous earthquake in 1829 moved nearer the sea. The people were then faced with another impending disaster as the sea was encroaching on the land threatening the town with sand dunes. To overcome this a forest of pine trees was planted and this has become an important part of the heritage of the town. In this pine forest there is the museum and nearby an archaeological site of an early Arab settlement the Rabat which will soon have its own Interpretation Centre.
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Valencia This capital city of the region has many museums, some within old buildings others in modern purpose-built premises and we list only some of them here. El Museo Militar de Levante, A museum in Valencia that warrants a visit for those dedicated historians is El Museo Militar de Levante, which shows a variety of items related to the Spanish Military forces. There is an exposition of arms, helmets, uniforms, flags, a Civil War section, a room full of models, paintings and photographs; there is also a reference library and a conference room. There is also a an area dedicated to soldiers made of lead and hand painted. Casa de les Roques This is an old museum that is now in new purpose built premises and has some of the oldest exhibits of wooden sculptures in Spain, dedicated to the annual procession celebrating Corpus Christi held in June. An interesting section of carriages and floats.
IVAM This is the principal museum of the Valencian Modern Art Institute known as Centro Julio Gonzalez.
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Museum of Fine Artes – San Pio V Located in a Baroque building recently renovated in its entirety, the Fine Arts Museum San Pio V is one of the most outstanding painting archives in Spain, renowned for its collections of primitive Valencian painters, although there are also works by El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo and Goya. The Fine Arts Museum also exhibits sculptures by Mariano Benlliure and some interesting archeological pieces. The gallery mainly comprises the work of Valencia artists, such as Vicente López, Juan de Joanes, los Ribalta, Pinazo and Joaquín Sorolla. Diocesan History Museum
The Diocesan Cathedral Museum was created in 1761 and is set in the Santo Cáliz Chapel of Valencia Cathedral. It has two large canvasses painted by Goya in 1799, depicting San Francisco de Borja. It also has 15th and 16th-century paintings, with works by Rodrigo de Osona, Yáñez de la Almedina, Vicente Masip and Juan de Juanes. Highlights of the sculptures on display include original pieces from the 14th-century Gothic Apóstoles door, and the Christ of the Good Death by Alonso Cano. You can also see the processional monstrance and other items in precious metals, such as chalices and reliquaries from the 14th and 15th centuries. Garden
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Bioparc
Bioparc is the new space for animals that the city of Valencia has situated in the park called Parque de Cabecera, to the north of the garden of the old course of the River Turia. Bioparc Valencia is a new generation zoo conceived with the zoo-immersion philosophy. When entering the more than 100,000 m2 park, the visitor feels totally submerged in the wild habitats that have been recreated here: the Savannah, Madagascar and Equatorial Africa. Visitors can enjoy, practically without barriers, spectacular landscapes in which different species co-exist as they would in nature. A recreation of the savannah, antelopes, giraffes and rhinoceroses, lions on rocky vantage points, dens of hyenas and warthogs, the density of the equatorial forest with gorillas, buffalos and leopards or also elephants, hippopotami, crocodiles and coloured fish, these are some of the many attractions of this natural tourist space. of Natural Science. This is dedicated to the work of the Jesuit botanist Padre Ignacio Sala. aormi@icloud.com
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Prince Felipe Museum of Science This museum belongs to the City of Arts and Sciences complex. The building was designed by Santiago Calatrava and reminds a whale skeleton. This is one of those museums where forbidden NOT to touch. It is orientated to learning the sciences through experience, so everything is graphically displayed, with huge texts and pics, experiments, buttons to touch and experience. The ground floor includes the "Science on Stage" and "TV Studio". On the first floor of the Museum the public can find interactive science exhibitions, where they can experiment with fun modules as "Exploratorium", "Furnishing the world, hand in hand with nature or "Children Space".Environmental Museum This is part of the Fund of Juan de Torres Sala. The second floor is devoted to the exhibition "The Legacy of Science". A chronological sequence based on audiovisual material reveals the life and evolution of the research of three outstanding Nobel prize winners: Santiago Ram贸n y Cajal, Severo Ochoa y Jean Dausset.Prince Felipe Science Museum. On the third floor of the Museum the public can explore the impressive "Chromosome Forest", with over 2,600 square metres devoted to the biggest milestone in modern science: the sequencing of human DNA. There is a large-scale reproduction of the 23 pairs of chromosomes of the human species.
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The Oceanografic The oceanographic park, created as a great leisure, training and research centre, is structured into ten great areas. The marine areas reflect the Mediterranean habitats, the polar oceans - the Arctic and the Antarctic, the islands, the tropical seas, the temperate seas and the Red Sea.
Some other Valencia museums include one dedicated to Bull fighting, another is the March fiestas of the Fallas Museum. Maritime Museum “Joaquin Saludes” Museo Paleontológico Museo Taurino MUVIM Sala de la Muralla Sala d´Exposicions dels Belles Arts Universidad Literaria Universitat Politècnica València - Museu del Joguet
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Tactile Museum Projects by Dave Stewart
On 14 December 1992 the ONCE (ONCE) opened in Madrid the Tiflologico Museum with the desire to provide blind people access to a museum designed for those way with severe visual impairment as being blind has proved to be constituted an insurmountable barrier in their Studies and now offers them an opportunity to explore some pieces of art. This was a response to a long-cherished project that can be traced back at least to the 70’s of the nineteenth century, when the National Association of the Deaf and Blind in Madrid held a series of didactic collections of objects ; this momentum helped gain for disabled people the opportunity of continuing education by sponsored associations from blind workers and directed at adults. At present, the Tiflologico Museum is a space designed for visitors to see and touch the exhibits, but what really makes it original and unique is the fact that a museum is born by decision of its users and designed by these tailored to their needs. This year El Prado Museum opened a special part of their collection adapted for the benefit of blind people with famous works adapted so that they could be touched and explored such as the Mona Lisa. José Ezquerra Berges, (1880-1965) was an important activist of the movement for the blind in Spain. He lost his eyesight at age 13. In 1905 he founded the "Real Spanish Association for the Blind". He was founder and president of the National
Organization for the Blind, (ONCE), between 1945 and 1959. He was an active participant in the Esperanto movement. He founded the Esperantista Blind Section of the Spanish Federation of Esperanto, whose first president he became. He published grammars of Esperanto in Braille and translated many works in Braille. His personal influence, as a public man greatly helped eliminate difficulties in social movements in the era after the Civil War.
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An important part of it's cultural heritage ONCE exhibits and programmes of temporary exhibitions of works by blind artists and museum extension through the traveling exhibition of its funds are developed. In both cases the objective is to promote and meet the cultural needs of people with severe visual disabilities and to showcase the efforts of integration and normalization pursued by the ONCE. Currently exhibits in the Museum respond to three clear lines of acquisition and research: the rooms dedicated to the models of architectural monuments, dedicated to the exhibition of art works of the blind artists and with severe visual impairment and dedicated to the exposure of typhlological material. The latter encompass, in turn, an important collection dedicated to music and special education, a tour of the different types of coupons, before and after the creation of the current unified lot and a section devoted to tools books historically the group of blind people browsing culture, first, and later to work. C/ La CoruĂąa, 18 28020 MADRID Tfno.: (+34) 91 589 42 19 Fax: (+34) 91 589 42 25 museo@once.es. .
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Do Your bit and buy an ONCE coupon
In the early part of the 20th century there were several associations in Spain that dealt with improving the lot of people with disabilities such as the blind. It was a time of the awakening of a social conscience that was made more keen because of the civil war that tore the country apart. On December 13, 1938, the government of Burgos decreed the founding of ONCE, then called ONC (National Organization for the Blind) by fusing it with all existing partnerships. With the civil war over there was a tremendous amount of injured people who now had difficulties obtaining ‘normal’ work and income for their families and this initiative helped many blind and otherwise disabled people to find a source of income. The new reorganization brought under its direction other similar associations such as that of the Association of Cecs de Catalunya - created in 1934 by Republican Roc Boronat, then Commissioner of Charities of the City of Barcelona, Relief Society and Defence, the Instructional Center for the Blind and Protector Granada, and Seville Association. There was a unifying process to issue a common coupon recognized at a national level and this is where the ONCE coupon emerged that we use today. Its a lottery that finances not only those selling the coupon, but a wide range of initiatives such as retraining schools and workshops for the blind. These include places where members are trained in apartments to cater for themselves trying to live an individual life to the full. The centres have monitors that help in many activities such as theatre, football, music, and help facilitate their personal autonomy. Today every ONCE seller has a designated selling post and has a target to reach selling coupons, obviously some places are better sites than others. So spare a thought for those who do not have the protection of a kiosk, but in all kinds of weather are in supermarket doorways, shivering and wet in winter and roasting in the summer sun without the shade of protection.
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A PLAZA BY ANOTHER NAME BY ANDY ORMISTON
Probably the most photographed plaza in Torrevieja is the one in front of the town hall and the la Inmaculada church. It has been a meeting place for generations of Torrevejenses since the town started taking shape in 1802. The main square was originally plaza Mayor then became plaza de la Republica in 1931, and after the civil war renamed as the plaza of the Generalisimo; later changed aormi@icloud.com
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to the plaza de la Constituci贸n with the arrival of the democratic monarchy state. Similarly it has been altered with the years and now is noted for its yellow and black-trimming tiles, contrasting with the greenery and multi-coloured flowers, shrubs and trees. Today a fountain is the central point with many seats and low walls offering a place in the sun or the shade. In the past a bandstand was the centre point, then later one was set up in the paseo Vista Alegre offering music for everyone and an attraction for early tourists. In the past couple of decades the bandstand can be found in the Dona Sinforosa Park offering free concerts by musical bands. In another period the local library was located here in this central location. There is a kiosk on the plaza that sells sweets, software drinks and small toys to the numerous kids playing games. Many fiestas and processions begin and end here, accompanied by street vendors with balloons, popcorn, or even roast chestnuts when in season. Underneath the plaza is a bunker dating from the civil war that offered shelter for nearby inhabitants from the bombing and strafing of the Nationalist air strikes, mostly Italians based in Mallorca. The church bells were commandeered as war materiel, but one was used with a rope connecting the town hall and used as a warning or call for a meeting. The old town hall is still in use, mostly for social and benefit documentation, and plans are in hand to connect it with the main town hall by another building. The low building in between was formerly the house of the priests, as well as a useful bar. Another extension was built at the back of the present town hall several years ago. The church has also undergone many alterations over the past two centuries, including the two towers. It was set alight at the time of the Second Republic and not used for religious purposes until after the war, but
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THE PUBLIC LIBRARY USED TO BE LOCATED IN THE PLAZA
required a great deal of renovation, especially as the roof was burnt out. In the last couple of decades it has been repainted inside from whitewash to a lovely cream colour with gold embellishment. The most recent alteration has been to strengthen the choirloft in anticipation of a new concert organ, which can provide concerts as well as for religious services. Several annual events take place in the plaza, especially the raising of pertinent flags on occasions like Constituci贸n Day or Valencian Day. Another flag raising ceremony is in May for European Day and on this day a stage is the setting for speeches and typical music and dance of European countries, with the church as a backdrop. At Christmas the plaza becomes even more of a central meeting point with Christmas lights and a large decorated tree donated by the Scandinavian residents. Over this period a large Nativity scene pictorially tells the tale of Jes煤s' birth and surrounding events. The plaza is a powerful rallying point at this time for a large Carol concert, backed by a band and usually Bill Singleton as MC, with a couple of thousand in the crowd singing from music sheets supplied by The Coastrider. The plaza de la Constituci贸n is the hub for the vibrant local community as children play at night under the loving gaze of parents and grandparents. It is a focal point for political rallies and demonstrations. An interesting social aspect that shows how attitudes have changed is to see a man pushing a pram, something that would have brought hostile glares thirty years ago. There are several bars in the plaza that are busy with tables in the street and people enjoying a drink and tapa as they watch the world go by. The plaza is a place for everyone.
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The Plaza de la Constituci贸n serves the community throughout the year with diverse events, official acts, meeting place, demonstrations, special markets, In reality the town centre. aormi@icloud.com
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of Spanish Cookery by Pat Hynd
A DEBT TO THE AMERICAS
There are thousands of types of potatoes
Our modern cuisine owes a tremendous debt to Spanish explorers who brought so many plants to Spain from abroad that we take for granted. The Americas have contributed a great number of fruit and vegetables to the Spanish cuisine. In return Wheat was introduced to USA from Europe. Three of these pllants, the potato, tomato and chilli, all derive from the same family, Solanaceae. Potatoes were grown in the Andes 7,000 years ago and the local people continue growing various types of potatoes on the high slopes. Recently Peru and Chile’s authorities have been arguing as to the origin of the potato. In the 15th century Peru’s Inca people perfected potato farming, spreading nutrient-rich anchovies on the land as fertiliser, and among their deities was Axomama, the potato goddess. In México the Aztecs pioneered tomato growing and probably the Conquistadores brought it back to Spain but as an ornamental bush. It was considered to be poisonous because it is a member of the nightshade family. This belief was proven to be false by Mr. Robert Gibbon Johnson who took a bagful of tomatoes in a courtroom in Salem, New Jersey and ate the entire bagful before an incredulous public. Some people, believing tomatoes to be poisonous, fully expected him to flop over dead and it is reported some older ladies became incontinent and young women fainted from the tension! The pomo d’oro, or ‘golden apple’, was first aormi@icloud.com
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discussed in European literature in a 1544 herbal written by the Italian botanist Pietro Andrea Mattioli, who thought it was a type of eggplant at first.It grew easily in our Mediterranean climate, and cultivation began in the 1540s and was likely eaten shortly after it was introduced. At the beginning, the tomato plant was not accepted so readily, as it was believed to be poisonous-so much so that in 1820 the state of New York passed a law banning the consumption of tomatoes. This belief was proven to be false by Mr. Robert Gibbon Johnson who took a bagful of tomatoes in a courtroom in Salem, New Jersey and ate the entire bagful before an incredulous public. Some people, believing tomatoes to be poisonous, fully expected him to flop over dead and it is reported some older ladies became incontinent and young women fainted from the tension. earliest discovered cookbook with tomato recipes was published in Naples in 1692, though the author had apparently obtained these recipes from Spanish sources. In certain areas of Italy, such as Florence the fruit was initially used as a tabletop decoration before it became an important part of Italian cuisine in so many wonderful recipes. Spanish distributed the tomato throughout their colonies in the Caribbean. They also took it to the Philippines, from where it spread to southeast Asia and then the entire Asian continent. From a health point of view Tomatoes contain the carotene lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. In some studies, lycopene, especially in cooked tomatoes, has been found to help prevent prostate cancer. Tomatoes, tomato sauces and puree are said to help lower urinary tract symptoms (BPH) and may have anticancer properties.Tomatoes may be beneficial for reducing cardiovascular risk associated with type 2 diabetes. NB. Tomato plants can be toxic to dogs if they eat large amounts of the fruit, or chew plant material. Fruit or Veg? Most people consider tomatoes as a vegetable but botanically speaking, a tomato is a fruit, as the ovary, together with its seeds, of a flowering plant. But the tomato has a much lower sugar content than other edible fruits, and is therefore not so sweet. Because we tend to serve it as part of a salad or main course of a meal, rather than at dessert, it is considered a
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vegetable for most culinary uses. Tomatoes are not alone with this ambiguity: green beans, eggplants, cucumbers, and squashes of all kinds (such as zucchini and pumpkins) are all botanically fruits, yet cooked as vegetables. This dispute led to legal speculation in the United States because in 1887, U.S. tariff laws imposed a duty on vegetables, but not on fruits, caused the tomato's status to become a matter of legal importance. The U.S. Supreme Court settled this controversy on 10 May 1893, by declaring that the tomato is a vegetable, based on the popular definition that classifies vegetables by use, that they are generally served with dinner and not dessert (Nix v. Hedden (149 U.S. 304)), although the court did not reclassify the tomato for botanical or other purposes. Tomatoes also appear in fiestas, notably in BuĂąol, Spain, annually celebrating La Tomatina, a festival centered on an enormous tomato fight, which has been imitated in other tomato growing towns in other countries.
The British in the past few decades have had a love for chillies, especially in curries or Mexican dishes. The Spanish and Portuguese brought it to Europe then introduced it to Asia, which took the fiery capsicum to its heart. Before the end of the 16th century the Indian poet Purandaradasa had described chillies as a comfort to the poor and a great flavour-enhancer. Monks experimented with the chili culinary potential and discovered that their pungency offered a substitute for black peppercorns, which at the time were so costly that they were used as legal currency in some countries. A member of the capsicum family, chillies come in scores of varieties and colours (from green through to yellow, orange and red) and are one of the most popular spices in the world. The chili pepper (also chile pepper or chilli pepper, from Nahuatl chÄŤlli is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, that like the potato, are members of the nightshade family.
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Chillies can be used fresh, dried or powdered, and the level of heat varies from type to type, from sweet and mellow to blisteringly hot - as a general rule, the smaller the chilli, the hotter the taste. The substance that generates the heat is called capsaicin, which is found mainly in the pith and, to a lesser extent, the seeds. But it's not all about heat - each type has its own distinct flavour. To cool down the mouth-burn from a too-hot chilli dish, try milk, coconut milk or yoghurt; they're much more effective than water and a piece of ginger root in a recipe will help the Digestive system. Peppers are commonly broken down into three groupings: bell peppers, sweet peppers, and hot peppers. Most popular pepper varieties are seen as falling into one of these categories or as a cross between them. Red chilies contain large amounts of vitamin C and small amounts of carotene (provitamin A). Yellow and especially green chilies (which are essentially unripe fruit) contain a considerably lower amount of both substances. In addition, peppers are a good source of most B vitamins, and vitamin B6 in particular. They are very high in potassium, magnesium, and iron. Their very high vitamin C content can also substantially increase the uptake of non-heme iron from other ingredients in a meal, such as beans and grains. Where would we be without the humble but versatile potato? It's the world's favourite root vegetable, the potato comes in innumerable varieties. A member of the nightshade family, like tomatoes and aubergines, it originated in South America and has been grown in Europe since the 16th century. The potato contains vitamins and minerals, as well as an assortment of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and natural phenols. A medium-size 150 g (5.3 oz) potato with the skin provides 27 mg of vitamin C (45% of the Daily Value (DV)), 620 mg of potassium (18% of DV), 0.2 mg vitamin B6 (10% of DV) and trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. The fiber content of a potato with skin (2 g) is equivalent to that of many whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals.The potato is best known for its carbohydrate content (approximately 26 grams in a medium potato). The predominant form of this
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carbohydrate is starch.This resistant starch is considered to have similar physiological effects and health benefits as fiber: It provides bulk, offers protection against colon cancer, improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, lowers plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.The amount of resistant starch in potatoes depends much on preparation methods. Cooking and then cooling potatoes significantly increases resistant starch. For example, cooked potato starch contains about 7% resistant starch, which increases to about 13% upon cooling. The cooking method used can significantly affect the n u t r i e n t availability of the potato. Probably the best known Spanish recipe using potatoes is the versatile Spanish tortilla and often there are competitions at fiestas to see who can make the best tortilla.
Ingredients are basically potatoes and egg, but often other vegetables are added such as onion, garlic, peppers, spinach, even green beans. One particular way to enjoy it for a special event is a three-tiered tortilla each layer having different colored ingredients and topped with a tomato style sauce. Patatas bravas is another popular recipe that is sometimes served up as a tapa. It is potatoes cooked in a spicy sauce and sometimes is available in supermarkets ready cooked. The potatoes are fried, boiled or roasted—and the sauce usually has hot chillies, tomato and vinegar. But Spanish are now enjoying baked potatoes in the microwave-oven that are so easy to do.
Aaahh!! and, from South America, of course,‌chocolate! aormi@icloud.com
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TORREVIEJA CULTURAL PROGRAMME MAY 2015 An interesting exhibition by young people is still running in the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre. This is now an annual event by college kids studying art at a local Institute and includes a variety of ideas as well as comics until 3rd May.
An excellent military exhibition is on in the main centre in the Paseo Vista Alegre until 1st May. This is the third year and it is better and bigger than before with interesting pieces from Cartagena Military Museum as well as hand crafted models of soldiers, tanks, ships, submarines, aircraft, helicopters and even a small Spanish village at the time of the Spanish Civil War.
The Torrevieja May Fair is one of the biggest open-air events that attracts thousands of people for the daily dancing, music, wining and dinging as well as spectacular horse parades a with carriages. From 6th to 10th May
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2nd May- Day of Madrid 21:00 - programme by Symphony Orchestra of Murcia Region and Municipal Orpheon group of Ricard o Lafuente. 3rd May - Municipal Theatre 20:00 Eric Clapton Tribute Show 8th May 23:00 - Camela in Concert on the May Fair stage. 9th May: 12:00 - XXVII May Fair Rociera Mass with Horse and carriage parade afterwards. 10th May: 11:00 - Parade of horses and coaches. 23:00 closing of the May Fair. 10th May - MONROE’S Rock Concert in aid of Contra Cancer association. 15 MAY - 19:00 - VIRGEN DEL CARMEN CC MADRID CLUB MUSICAL “NOS VAMOS A LA PRADERA” 16th May: 20:00 - Palacio de Musica - Nuevo Amanecer Choir. 20:30 - Municipal Theatre - Dire Straits Tribute 23rd May 22:30 - Municipal Theatre - David Bustamente Live Concert.
25th May - Virgen del Carmen CC 21:00 Oriental Dance Festival 26 May 19:30 - Virgen del Carmen CC THE RASCALS SHOW in aid of Alzheimers Association. 27 May 22:00 - Virgen del Carmen CC Festival of Dance 31st May 20:00 - Music Campaign.
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The rascals are like the Scarlet Pimpernel - you see them here, you see them there. As always busy entertaining and raising funds for a wide variety of causes. DONT MIS THEIR SHOW ON 27TH MAY IN THE VIRGEN DEL CARMEN CENTRE
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2nd AND 3rd MAY BY FRANCISCO GOYA
Spain has a very rich cultural heritage and one of the jewels is celebrated this month. The Third of May is a well-known date in Spanish history and in art as this was the day in 1808 when Napoleon’s troops slaughtered hundreds of armed civilians in Madrid. Carlos IV was the reigning king of Spain who had a bad press as people in his own court saw him as a “"half-wit king who renounces cares of state for the satisfaction of hunting”. Napoleon was in full flight with his Empire building and took advantage of this weak sovereign by proposing that France and Spain could conquer Portugal which led to the Peninsular Wars. Under the guise of reinforcing the Spanish armies, 23,000 French troops entered Spain unopposed in November 1807. It was politics at its worst as Napoleon’s idea was that Portugal’s riches should be splits three ways – one third for France (himself), one third for Spain and the other part for the Spanish Prime Minister Manuel de Godoy in conjunction with the former king’s son Ferdinand VII of Spain. However, it was decided that Napoleon’s brother Joseph Bonaparte be made the new king and Ferdinand was persuaded to hot foot it into exile on 19th March 1808. Foreign Kings were nothing new to the Spanish, but they resented the high handedness of the troops under Marshal Joaquin Murat and on their own king’s departure the people of Madrid revolted against the new regime on the 2nd May 1808. This insurrection was captured on canvas by Francisco Goya although was not completed in 1814, two months before its companion work The Third of May 1808. It depicts the uprising that precipitated the aormi@icloud.com
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executions of the third of May and there is a legend that Goya actually witnessed Goya - a self the executions and sketched them, but portrait this has never really been proven and he was actually at that time court painter to Napoleon, hence the time gap between the event and the date of the painting. Goya commemorated the uprising in his The Second of May, which depicts a cavalry charge against the rebels in the Puerta del Sol square in the center of Madrid. More Commonly known of the pair, The Third of May illustrates the French reprisals: before dawn the next day hundreds of Spaniards were rounded up and shot, at a number of locations around Madrid. This cruel end to the protests led to the idea of irregulars and the Word guerrilas was first coined as these men joined the joint forces of the Spanish, Portuguese, and British armies jointly led by Sir Arthur Wellesley (first Duke of Wellington), who first landed in Portugal in August 1808. Goya’s paintings are in the Prado Museum of Madrid, but the initial book of sketches, a series of 85 aquatint etchings “The Disasters of War “ completed in 1820 are in the British Museum originally entitle by Goya ‘Fatal consequences of Spain's bloody war with Bonaparte, and other emphatic caprices’ . The soldiers are supposedly mercenary Mamelukes but Goya has not given them their usual uniform but rather a normal European style of the time. Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes – (30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker, regarded both as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Goya was court painter to the Spanish Crown; and throughout the Peninsular War he remained in Madrid, where he painted the portrait of Joseph Bonaparte.At age 14, Goya studied under the painter José Luzán, in Luzán's workshop he was copying stamps for 4 years until he decided to work by his own. He moved to Madrid where he studied with Anton Raphael Mengs, a painter who was popular with Spanish royalty. He clashed with his master, and his examinations were unsatisfactory. Goya submitted entries for the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in 1763 and 1766, but was denied entrance. He also studied with Francisco Bayeu y Subías whose sister, Josefa, he married on 25 July 1773. This marriage, and Francisco Bayeu's membership of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (from the year 1765) helped Goya to procure work as a
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painter of designs to be woven by the Royal Tapestry Factory.In 1789 he was made court painter to Charles IV and in 1799 was appointed First Court Painter with a salary of 50,000 reales and 500 ducats for a coach. Two of Goya's best known paintings are The Nude Maja (La maja desnuda) and The Clothed Maja (La maja vestida). They depict the same woman in the same pose, naked and clothed, respectively. Without a pretense to allegorical or mythological meaning, the painting was "the first totally profane life-size female nude in Western art". He moved to France and at the end of his years lived in Bordeaux, where he died of a stroke in 1828, at the age of 82.
Spain’s answer to the Hollywood Oscars are the Goya Awards, and are Spain's main national annual film awards. The awards were established in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España (Spanish Academy of Cinematic Art and Science), and the award ceremony is usually at the end of January with 28 categories.
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Holy Communion Day in May by Pat Hynd
First Communion Sundays of May and into June are the traditional days when Catholic children make their First Communion with the girls in lovely white dresses and the boys in sailor suits, some with the rank of admiral! Often foreigners are considered as friends and will be invited to a First Communion. So what’s it all about? Communion is having a union with someone. In the Catholic Church it means receiving the Eucharist in the form of bread and wine as being the body of Jesus Christ in a mystical form that cannot be understood but can be believed. The principal time for receiving communion for the first time for adults is usually at the Easter vigil Mass as it resonates with the idea of resurrection from the dead and a new life and communion is receiving and sharing in that new life. The word has several overtones in its meaning as it means that children, who have been baptized already and part of the Church, are taken a step further and actually invited by Christ to be a more intimate part of him and his Church. By Church is meant not just the priests, but the whole body of members of the church and in receiving communion the children are united with all those people throughout the world, the people around them, their families, and in a special manner Jesus himself. Communion not only means being in a relationship with the rest of the Catholic Church, but also all those others in communion with Rome. Many of whom are recently in the news as so many of them are being executed in a horrible fashion by the fundamental Islamists, solely because they are Christians of the Coptic or the various Orthodox Churches in communion with Rome or not. In the light of the threat posed by IS, quibbling aormi@icloud.com
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over the divine natures of Christ, which has split the Church along the line of East and West since the Council of Chalcedon in AD451, seems a petty irrelevance. Seeing the children in their lovely dresses and suits may be nice and some see it as a sort of rite of passage but it is much more than that. White is seen as a symbol of purity and free from sin. Some families spend a small fortune on a First Communion, more like a mini-wedding, and this is for several social reasons. Parents are encouraged to participate in pre-communion talks with their children and their catechist or priest. In this time the whole raison d’être of communion is discussed. It is a milestone in the life of the child and the family. It is clear that baptism, marriage and funerals are classic rites of passage: most societies have some equivalent celebration at those particular social transitions. In Spain the event requires new clothes for all the uncles, aunties, grandparents; specially ordered cakes for the celebratory meal, attendance at which is almost mandatory; for the children, balloons with 'First Communion' printed on them; and so forth. Many people view it is an unnecessary burden, and it can be as there is no need to keep up with the Joneses. Often some charity shops have second hand dresses and suits on offer and these are worth keeping an eye out for. Nothing is less than the best. It may be that it is the child who is the candidate for the Christian sacrament – but the celebration involves the family as a whole plus friends. However, it is pointless in one sense if it is only the child who receives communion on the day as anyone who does not receive communion is de facto not ‘in union’. In Spain it also is normal to give gifts to the child, which nowadays tend to be exaggerated such as Computers or tablets or dods of money. If you search on the internet for First Communion you can see how commercial it has become as most of the headings are selling something connected - be it a dress, bible, prayer book, rosaries etc. and all brilliant white.
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Another aspect of this ceremony that is causing a great deal of discussion in church circles is when there happens to be splits in the family, ie. divorced parents and possibly remarried. Under present jurisdiction it means that they cannot receive communion and, therefore, out of tune with their own child as it should be an occasion of a shared life of parents and children, family and friends. It is something that obviously is a point that needs to be addressed and the Pope himself has hinted at the need for a more enlightened approach to this subject. Does the child understand what receiving communion is about? Nobody really understands the complete details of the eucharist, but believers accepts that it just is..which makes them believers of a mystery. Around seven years of age is considered to be when a child understands the difference between right and wrong. It is only since the thirteenth century that communion was received later in life as the early church (and the Eastern churches still do), infants received communion in the form of wine mixed with water. In some churches it was the custom to give the Eucharist to the children immediately after the clergy; in others, the small fragments, which remained after the Communion of the adults were given to the children. This practice later died out in the Latin Church, and children were not permitted to approach the Holy Table until they had come to the use of reason, which means that it will vary depending on local customs. Once the bread and wine have been consecrated, they are considered to be no longer "bread" and "wine"; they are Christ -- Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, and the proper words to use to speak of them are "Blessed Sacrament," "Eucharist," "Precious Blood," "Sacred Host" ("Host" comes from aormi@icloud.com
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the Latin word "hostia" meaning "victim"), etc. The eucharistic sacrifice is “the source and summit of the Christian life” re-enacting Christ at his last supper. The Eucharist is, for Catholics, both a meal and a sacrifice. The sacrifice being the life, suffering and death of Jesus. Eucharist comes from the Greek eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving. The children will use their outfits again when they participate in the June Corpus Christi processions. It is a big event also for photographers who offer a wide variety of offers in the studio, before and after the church and sometimes during the service with stills and videos. Holy Communion day is a day to be cherished and remembered. While attending La Lonja School of Art Picasso produced his first large-scale oil painting, entitled First Communion. The work was exhibited at a major exhibition in Barcelona and attracted the attention of the local press. It conforms to many of the expectations of academic painting at the end of the nineteenth century, emphasizing a dramatic moment in the youth of a Catholic girl as she kneels before the altar, about to take her first communion. Picasso has highlighted this sense of passage by linking the bright white of the young girl's communion dress to the white of the altar cloth and the candlelight that illuminates the whole scene. Picasso’s own father modelled for the male figure in this work.
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War Correspondents and Photographers by Dave Stewart
The Spanish Civil War 1936-39 had many journalists wiring home about Gerda Taro the everyday drama unfolding. Some of these were also photographers and in recent years thousands of forgotten photographs have been uncovered by the like of Robert Capa, his friends Gerda and Chin, and even the one who ended up in a Mauthsausen concentration camp Francesc Boix who was able to testify at the Nuremberg Nazi Trials. Robert Capa first came to the attention of publications in 1933 when his photo of Trotsky appeared. He used his camera to record a large slice of the civil war in Spain. Some more recently discovered photos are shots of the long and large disconsolate queue in Tarragona heading for Barcelona and into France and exile. January 1939. Women carrying what they could, carts of all sizes and types pulled by mules or people. So many women wrapped up in black, underlining how many were Robert Capa suffering from the death of a loved one, parents, a husband son, brother, lover or husband. Women were losers in the war, but survivors with an air of dignity. Here we can see the start of the refugee crisis of the 20th century that continues today, as war followed after another and another, all the time more and more displaced persons, refugees seeking a home, work and a decent living with food on the family table and heat in the house.
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His photos capture the pain, despair, loss, bewilderment, uncertainty in refugees' faces. Refugees who were ordinary Spanish citizens fleeing the wrath of an unforgiving fellow Spanish enemy. Since the civil war war correspondents continued the work of Capa with dramatic photos that visually encapsulated the various deep emotions of those battling, as well as civilians with an uncertain future. He was one of a new breed of photojournalists who told the story through the lens of the camera and possibly a caption note. So many of them lost their lives reporting and creating visual snapshots of war situations. Various newspapers and magazines (including Picture Post), carried Capa’s picture reports. Capa sent his photos to an agency in France that copied them and sent them out to publishers in France and other countries. Photos that showed the human waste of war, as family after family trudged past seeking asylum and rest, but most of all - peace. Lines of refugees looking behind with apprehension and up to the skies in fear. Fear of the planes that bombed columns of refugees relentlessly, then turning to strafe survivors. An intimidation tactic emulated in Marched to French concentration camp every war ever since. France was completely unprepared for this huge influx of around a million Spanish refugees. Camps were hastily improvised but there was little aid at first from any humanitarian organization as the task was so overwhelming. Every week in the French concentration camps several thousand Spaniards
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died of malnutrition, the cold elements of a bitter winter and lack of shelter on French beaches. There were many journalists, authors and photographers throughout the Spanish Civil War. Robert Capa’s 35mm Leica camera caught the fall of a shot Republican soldier at the Real or posed? battle of Cerro Muriano near Cordoba. However, in 1972 Pierre Berengo issued a series of unedited photos by Capa that raised doubt on this spectacular moment of death that had been published throughout the world in 1936. He suggested that in actual fact these were posed photos for the propaganda machine of the Republic, a statement that has caused polemic ever since. A British journalist, O’Dowd Gallagher, stated in 1975 that he had been with Capa in Spain and that there had been a simulated charge in the trenches with the object of photographing the soldiers in action. Whether posed or not it is a dramatic representation of death in the trenches. In March 1979 the Swedish ambassador in Madrid donated a small suitcase to the Spanish Foreign Minister, which contained letters and documents belonging to the Republican President Juan Negrin. Evidently the suitcase was handed over to the Swedes at the end of the Second World War and lay unnoticed and forgotten for many years. Also in the case were 97 photographs and have given rise to the speculation that Negrin intended to write a book. Investigators decided that seven photos were by Gerda Tato, 9 the work of David Seymour, one by Fred Stein, 64 undoubtedly the work of Capa and the others unidentifiable. Dr, Juan Negrin In 1995 after some detective work by an ex-fighter at the time from Alcoy, the identity of the “dying” soldier of the photo was revealed. He was Federico Borrell Garcia, born in Benilloba on 3 January 1912 but who actually did die on 5th September. The eyewitness Mario Brotons Jorda was only 14 when he participated in the same battle of Cero Muriano and stated categorically that Borrell had died on 5 September 1936 in this battle as part of a group of militia from Alcoy. The dead hero was nicknamed “Taino the
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David Seymour . Chim
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Liberator� and had been imprisoned in October 1934 for attacking an electric transformer. He joined the column of militia that went to the front on 7 August 1936, leaving behind his promised bride to be, Marina. In his name his companions altered the Alcoy anarchist battalion to Ruesca-Taino when fighting in 1937 at Teruel, another horrific battlefield for both sides.
Mexican suitcase a photographic treasure trove
An
unexpected discovery in Mexico uncovered a box of 126 rolls of celluloid photographs, which on examination and careful handling turned out to be a series of photographs of Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David Seymour (Chim) taken during the Civil War including snapshots of the battlefronts. These 4,300 photographs have shed new insights on to the war as well as the flight and plight of refugees. Actually Robert Capo was born Andrei Friedmann, a Hungarian Jew whose early career took him to Bohemian Paris and it was his photographer friend Gerda Taro who persuaded him to change his name; another Jewess who changed her given name Gerta Pohorylle, for safety in those fascist and anti-Semetic times. Later investigations put the famous photograph at Cerro Muriano or Espejo (Cordoba) in the afternoon of the 5th September.
Over sixty years after the civil war there was a remarkable find of spools of film and slides of negatives in Mexico taken by a trio of famous photographers Capa, Chim and Gerda. These have all been carefully processed and transferred to computers. Exhibitions of these photos have brought back emotional memories as people recognized themselves or a family aormi@icloud.com
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member among Capa's photographs. When one looks at war photos it is striking how youthful the soldiers appear generally. The war profoundly affected the memories of the Spanish, memories that in many instances are being reawakened as a new generation suddenly find that some family member died or was wounded, and not always on the battleground. The photojournalist brought home the dreadful realities of war, stripped of any glory or glamour. Photos showing the dirt, the deep mud, the blinding dust, the freezing snowfields. Photos picturing tragic postures of the dead, the open injuries of soldiers without limbs or eyes. The dead piled on the dead in hastily dug common graves. It was Capa's photos of the abject misery of Spanish abandoned on a French beach, fenced in an open area, with no food, nor water, nor shelter, nor firewood for heating or cooking, that these photos provoked a sympathetic reaction from the neighbouring countries to come to support them, but for thousands it was too little, too late. Stuck on the beach forced some to dig trenches with their hands in the sand to provide some shelter from the freezing wind. Chin photographed refugees fleeing by ship to the American continent, mostly South America where a mixed reception awaited them depending on the political leanings of each government as some sympathized with the republic, while others with right wing governments sided with Franco policies.
Francesc Boix Ironically the Germans at Mauthaüsen concentration camp ordered the prisoners to play football between teams of different nationalities, more as a diversion for themselves rather than for the benefit of the prisoners. In reality this actually played against the Germans as copies of photographs taken by the Germans of some of their atrocities were tossed over the fence by a communist prisoner Jacinto Cortés to a brave woman, Anna Pointer, who picked up the sealed packets and kept them until the end of the war. One of the prisoners was Barcelona photographer Francisco Boix, who was put to work by the Germans in the developing of photographs in the Mauthaüsen laboratories. Bravely, together with former Republicans, including Antonio Garcia, he managed to steal over 2.000 photographs, including negatives, which Boix later used in evidence at the Nuremberg trials against Nazi officials and led to the execution of many former officers and guards. aormi@icloud.com
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When the American troops entered the Mauthaüsen camp on 5th May 1945 they found that Spanish Republican flags had replaced the former Nazi swastikas. In July 2008 The Fiscal of the Spanish National Audience requested that this Supreme Tribunal pursue the prosecution of several ex-SS Nazis involved in the deaths of 4,460 Spaniards who died in three extermination camps – Mauthaüsen (4,300 Spaniards died), Sachsenhausen (up to 100 Spanish deaths) and Flossenburg (at least 60 Spaniards died). The Fiscal had sufficient documentary proof to ask for the trial against four ex-SS guards who lived in USA since the end of the war. Most of these prisoners were Republican refugees who according to the fiscal report were included in extermination projects designed by the Nazi nationalist system, against the prisoners will, quoting reasons for their extermination as their race, nationality, religion and political convictions. The Spanish fiscal considered that the Spanish tribunal had the authority to make judgements in these particular cases. One of the most important Spanish prisoners in Sachsenhausen was the Republican Largo Caballero, former President of the country and Secretary General of the UGT. He described how his particular group of prisoners were marched from the camp as the Allies neared and were beaten en route. He was rescued by the Russians and spent what little remained of his life in Paris where he died on 23rd March 1946 and buried there, only to be reinterred in Madrid in 1978 with the arrival of democracy in Spain. Giving evidence at Nuremberg Trials
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A Spanish Song and Dance by Pat Hynd
The Sevillanas of the May Fair are on top of us with music in the air and plenty of opportunities to dance. For months people of all ages have been practicing their steps and movements. Talking of Spanish dancing leads us to dancing in general in Spain. Visitors to Spain might have the impression that there is only one style of dancing in the country - flamenco. This music has its origins in cante jondo, the sad but florid song of Cรกdiz, in which some deep emotion is conveyed by tone rather than words. It is the basis of the songs and dances added to by the large gypsy population of Andalusia, in particular the rhythms, alternatively soft and subtle followed by a thunderous echos.
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Flamenca is not one but numerous dances and songs - the melancholy soleas, tiranas, soleares, bulerias, alegrias, jaleos, farrucas, tarantas, fandangos. This latter style has generated the malgueña, the granadina, rondeña or the murciana of the Levante area. The sevilla, bolero and tango have also relationships with the fandango. Then you have the zambra which you are likely to see in floor shows with a lot of castanets, hand clapping, tap dancing and pirouetting. The zapateado is when the dancer taps out variations on a theme suggested by the guitarist. H o w e v e r Andalusia is not the only place where there is traditional dancing. In Aragon there is an energetic jota with couples leaping about to guitar and castanet music. Valencia has something similar in the “xaquera vella”, but as said earlier in Murcia there is the malagueña and murciana. aormi@icloud.com
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In CataluĂąa the sardana is popular and can be seen (or taken part in) outside the Barcelona cathedral each Sunday at midday. This is a simple ring dance where everyone holds hands forming a ring and dances to the music of flute, drum and guitar.
The spata-dantza is a type of sword dance in the Basque country although the aurresku is better known. This is rather solemn dancing accompanied by piercing cries. The upper body, arms and wrists are the important aspects of dancing in Castille and La Mancha in the seguidilla. There is little footwork but the dance is graceful and elegant movements of the upper body and limbs.
The pasodoble is possibly the best known and popular dance and music amongst the Spaniards and has its roots in the bullring where the graceful movements of the torero are married to music. Madrid also has the seguidilla madrileĂąa which is similar to the seguidilla.
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Finally in recent years the bagpipe music of Galicia has made a comeback and with it some traditional dances. Here you can find lively dances such as the muĂąeira, or the saudade and aubade and many of them are similar to the famous Irish River Dancing style.
There has been an upsurge of interest in traditional music and dances and there are more and more folk festivals where these dances can be seen. Also in the last decade salsa and merengue have made what appears to be a lasting impact on the dance scene in Spain.
I n t h e meantime we can enjoy the May Fair of Torrevieja.
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We are Still Young by Pat Hynd
Once again the 1st May, already a public holiday, in Torrevieja has been dedicated to the retired people in the town with a variety of events, including the fourth three-day fair in the Leisure Centre near the Habaneras commercial centre at the end of April. This will have various stalls exhibiting things that may interest our pensioners such as travel (including the program of IMSERSO), aids, clothes, health talks and suggestions, beauticians, physical exercises, associations that can be of assistance, teleassistance programmes and a lot more.
On the actual day, the 1st May, once again in the paseo Vista Alegre in the town centre from 10:00 there will be a day dedicated to dancing, music, food, competitions etc.
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The Third Military exhibition was presented in the past Vista Alegre exhibition hall with some exhibits from the Caragena Military Museum
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FIESTAS DE LA SANTÍSIMA Y VERA CRUZ 01 - 05 MAY INTERÉST INTERNACIONAL
TURÍSTICO
Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Caravaca de la Cruz each year for the sole purpose of having fun and participate in these celebrations , held from 1st to 5th May and include two unique shows a r o u n d t h e w o r l d : t h e Mo o r s a n d Christians and Wine Horses. On the 2nd May in Caravaca an intense party with the mythical race of horses. It is a competition that honors tradition, force of nature and the symbiosis between man and horse.
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Noticeboard
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Another event dedicated to the work of associations in Torrevieja outlines the variety of activities available and the number of international associations and clubs. Only three dozen associations manned the stalls to showcase their work and there are more out there who lost an opportunity and really should be signed on at the Torrevieja town hall as this also may entitle them to some financial and other benefits. The sixth Associatons Fair was well attended and supported by a car exhibition, marching bands, dancing and ended up with events int he Leisure Centre for the oldies. fotos courtesy Objectivo Torrevieja
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Steve Monk-Dalton’s Walk Across Borders for Aleyah’s and Reunite International
Steve Monk-Dalton of the charity shop of One Day Closer in Villamartin is undertaking a rather long stroll through Spain and France to end up at London. Steve says “On August 23rd 2015, I will be attempting an extremely testing challenge to raise awareness of Parental Child Abduction, Alienation and retention and also to send out a message to my own daughter. a walk between Costa Blanca & London for Reunite because I wish to raise awareness of Parental Abduction. I am sure some will not fully understand my reasons for this but hopefully, this will go a small way to making a difference. I have always said since my little girl was taken from her home in 2009 that I would walk to see her if I had to.. So that is exactly what I intend to do, fortunately with the full support of my employer and my family and friends. Many of you will know I have tried over and over to go through the correct court proceeding in both England and Spain but we have been let down repeatedly so we need to take a different approach.. To me, it is not extreme and many parents who are fighting the same battle to see their children would understand. I will be walking the distance of approximately a marathon per day starting at Orihuela Court, Spain to Royal Court of Justice in London. I hope to be in contact with a number of media outlets en route and will be maintaining a log of each leg of the journey.. I hope to complete this in 44 days after mapping out the route but am allowing 60 days for incidents that might occur. This really will be a difficult task so I hope that you will give your support.” The scheduled route is as follows: Day 1 - Orihuela to El Pinos Day 2 - El Pinos to Caudete Day 3 - Caudete to Ayora Day 4 - Ayora to Los Pedrones Day 5 - Los Perdrones to La Torre aormi@icloud.com
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Day 6 - La Torre to Landete Day 7 - Landete to Libros Day 8 - Libros to Caude Day 9 - Caude to Monreal del Campo Day 10 - Monreal del Campo to Romanos Day 11 - Romanos to Alfamen Day 12 - Alfamen to Figueruelas Day 13 - Figueruelas to El Sabinar Day 14 - El Sabinar to Figarol Day 15 - Figarol to Sanguesa Day 16 - Sanguesa to Noain Day 17 - Noain to Lintzoain Day 18 - Lintzoain to Lespars, FR Day 19 - Lespars to Bayonnes Day 20 - Bayonnes to Saint-Geours-de-Maremne, France Day 21 - Saint-Geours-de Maremne to Lesperon Day 22 - Lesperon to Labouheyre, France Day 23 - Labouheyre to Belin-Béliet, France Day 24 - Belin-Beliet - Bordeaux Day 25 - Bordeaux to Marsas Day 26 - Marsas to Mirambeau Day 27 - Mirambeau to Saintes Day 28 - Saintes to Loulay Day 29 - Loulay to Niort Day 30 - Niort to Parthenay Day 31- Parthenay to Sainte Verge Day 32 - Sainte Verge to Saumur Day 33 - Saumur to Angers Day 34 - Angers to Château-Gontier, France Day 35 - Château-Gontier to Laval Day 36 - Laval to Mayenne Day 37 - Mayenne to Domfront Day 38 - Domfront to Condé-sur-Noireau Day 39 - Condé-sur-Noireau to Caen Day 40 - Caen to Portsmouth Day 41 - Portsmouth to Bordon Day 42 - Bordon to Woking Day 43 - Woking to Brentford Day 44 - Brentford to Royal Court of Justice, London
Support Steve on https://www.justgiving.com/walkacrossborders aormi@icloud.com
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