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Torrevieja Outlook
Nº 42- August 2017
042 August 2017
Calendar –August fiestas – Fiestas, fairs, festivals and fun – Xixona – Elche mystery play – Elche Dame – Portus Ilicitanus legends – Santa Pola fiestas and beaches – Tabarca Island – PhotoReport: Moraira & Teuleda – Algorfa country golf – Reaching for the skies? – La Gaviota – PhotoReport salt workers homage – Ibiza salt – R & R for Romans – Summer Bookshelf – Rambling and biking at la Mata – Cold Summer soups – Healthy Feet – Torrevieja Hospitals awarded – Torrevieja water sports – Adventure Activities – Inside Torrevieja Harbour – Aquapolis – Earthquake fiestas - Tour of Spain aormi@icloud.com
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Fiestas, fairs, festivals and fun by Dave Stewart
AUGUST Every year August is one of the most packed months, not only for fiestas but for exhibitions, expositions, fairs, music festivals, beauty queens etc. etc. There are over 400 festivals held in the Valencia area during this month. The 15th August is a national feastday and bank holiday, and nearly every town has its own celebrations; in Madrid the day is celebrated as the feast of the Virgen de la Paloma with traditional Madrid dress for men and women the rule of the day. This has overspilled into the life of many Costa Blanca towns as Madrid residents and holiday makers celebrate in Madrid style. Please contact tourist offices for up-dates on fiestas as programmes are not normally issued until the days prior to any event.
Elche is one of the busiest cities with fiestas, fairs, parades and wonderful fireworks throughout the month. Although an inland town Elche has wonderful coastal area and beaches.
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These are only some of the annual events held in this area. 1st - 25th
Aspe holds fiestas almost every day. On the 3rd there is a romería carrying the image of the Virgen de las Nieves which is returned again on the 14th . Another main day is on the 5th with a procession. (See 10th) Patronal fiestas in Pinoso. Patronal fiestas in Els Poblet. Patronal fiestas in Xaló. Patronal fiestas in Murla. (see 7th) Moors & Christians in Elche. Main fiestas of Calpe. Principal fiestas of Mutxamel. Fiesta dels Fadrins in Murla. On the weekend nearest to this date a romería is held in Relleu. On the first weekend of the month the Fiestas of the Virgen de la Paz are held in San Fulgencio. In La Marina urbanisation. Fiestas of San Domingo held in Beniarbeig.
1 - 8th Aug. 2nd- 6th 2 - 6th Aug. 3 - 10th 5 - 9th 5 - 6th 6th Aug. 7th Aug. 7th Aug
8th Aug.
Elche is only one place where you can see spectacular parades of Moors & Christians.
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On the First weekend of the month youngsters of Penàguila celebrate the Fadrins fiesta with a romería. This mountain town was an Arab town initially and it is surrounded by forest and agriculture, especially olives and almonds. Part of the local folklore is traditional dances. A feature of the town is the lovely Jardins de Santos, gardens that have an area dedicated to orchids. Altea holds the fiesta of San Roque. Beniardá has pàtronal fiestas until the following Monday or Tuesday. Tárbena holds patronal fiestas Friday to Monday. Alfafara holds patronal fiestas. More patronal fiestas in Balones. Famorca holds patronal fiestas. First week Benidoleig has patronal fiestas in honour of Santa Barbara. First or second Sunday Vall d Ébo has patronal fiestas. 9 - 15th Parcent holds fiestas in honour of San Lorenzo. 10th Aug. Weekend nearest to this date San Lorenzo fiestas held in Altea, Busto, Benimantell and Benillup. 10 - 13th Moors & Christians in Aspe. 10 - 18th Novelda celebrates San Roque. 11 - 15th Banyeres de Mariola fiestas in Cope district. 11 - 16th Patronal fiestas in honor of the Virgen del Rosario, San Isidro and San Roque held in El Verger. 12 - 15th Moors & Christians in Cocentaina. Patronal fiestas in Benichembla. Local fiesta in Altoza (Alacant). 12 - 16th Moors & Christian fiestas in Callosa de Segura. 12 - 17th Bigastro holds patronal fiestas of San Joaquín.
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The second week of August (including 15th) in Xixona there is a festival with dances dating from XVII century. This mountain town is well known for its turron and ice cream industries. In August there are the Moors & Christian parades in honour of San Sebastián y San Bartolomé complete with the tale of the Traitor Moor. If you can’t manage these parades, then look for a repeat performance with different actors held in winter. Because of its two main industries the workers can't participate in the August fiestas so do their own thing with the same acts. In December there is also an excellent Christmas Fair showing the different turrones made in the town, and also offering typical artisan products as Christmas gifts. There is also a Turron Museum to visit.
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At the same time in the latter half of August the patronal fiestas at Ráfol de Almunia. Second weekend beach fiestas of Albir. Second Sunday patronal fiestas of La Vall d’Alcalà. Patronal fiesta in Sagra. Summer festival in Benialí (Vall de Gallinera). During the first two weeks Elche celebrates the Fiesta de los Pobladores. Fiestas in Ondara in the Cristo district, include blessing of bread at Mass, procession and fireworks with a slice of coca cake for 2,000 people.
13th Aug. In Elche between 23.15 and 00.00 h., the Nit de l’Albà a spectacular firework display whose origins go back to XVII century. 13 - 16th 14th Aug. 14 - 18th
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Moors & Christians in Dénia. Fiestas in Castalla. La Nit de l’Olla introduces the Moors & Christians fiestas in Benilloba. Patronal fiesta in Guadalest.
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From 14 - 15th if you can obtain tickets for a mustsee is the Representation of the Mystery Play in Elche. This is a medieval play based on a story line of the Virgen Mary, mother of Jesus, dying in Jerusalem and her body and soul being carried by angels up to heaven. It follows several acts, including outside the basilica, as her body is being carried to burial and Jews acclaim her for her holiness and charitable works among the suffering in the city. All the parts are played by males, including Mary herself, which is a very medieval concept that Shakespeare used most of the time. In the photo, St. James or Santiago as he is called in Spain is recognizable by his cloak having a shell, symbolic of the famous route that today has gained more popularity than ever as pilgrims head for the end of the road at Santiago de Compestella. Parts are often handed down from father to son and mostly sung.
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In 2001, UNESCO declared it one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It commemorates the Assumption of Mary and is an attempt to display what is a mystery in human terms, as are several Mystery Plays that were popular in Europe and today gathering popularity again, even in England. Normally August 14 is "La VesprĂ ". This first session represents the death of Mary, surrounded by the apostles. August 15 is "La Festa", the plot of which is the burial, assumption and coronation of the Virgin. Also on August 15, at 10 o'clock, "El Misteri" takes place in the street: the procession of the "El Soterrar" (interment) of Mary, with the songs of "La Festa" and participation of the actors. In Elche basilica a huge painted heavenly dome dominates the scene, and it is from here that a 16th century mechanism is used to bring angels to earth and return with the body and soul of Mary. Halfway up Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven. But Elche has a wide p ro g r a m m e of festivals, Moors & Christian parades, markets throughout the month and its famous palm groves, so well worth checking out on the Elche To u r i s t webpage. aormi@icloud.com
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The 15th is a national public holiday so many towns have fiestas. Above - Polop fiestas of Porrat de Sant Roc with traditional music and dances. La Nucía celebrates patronal fiestas. Patronal fiestas in honour of the Virgen de la Cueva Santa in Beniarrés. Principal fiestas of Castel de Castells. Summer fiestas begin in Montforte del Cid. Weekend prior to 15th the fiesta of the Virgen de Africa is held in Senija. 14 - 22 Summer Fair in Orihuela. 15th Aug.
La Torre de les Macanes has unique traditional fiestas. Sax celebrates la Fiesta de la Virgen de la Asunción. Pilar de la Horadada have special celebrations in Mil Palmeras over four days in the first days of the month, with a variety of events including nightly entertainment. The patronal fiestas of Pilar are from 24 September to 22 October. Weekend after the 15th fiestas in Beniferri. 15 - 20th Main fiestas at Llíber. 18 - 23rd Patronal fiestas in Benasau. 20th Aug. Fiestas in honour of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Benimaurell (Vall de Laguart) The weekend nearest to this date are the fiestas in Forna. 20 - 21 Alcoy holds fiestas of La Virgen de los Lirios. aormi@icloud.com
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21st - 26th Aug. 22nd Aug.
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Moors & Christians in El Camp de Mirra Summer fiestas of Alacant.
Third weekend of August Xixona holds 3-day fiestas with Moors & Christians. Summer festival begins in Patró (Vall de Gallinera). Between the 3rd and 4th Saturdays of the month the Patronal fiestas in Bolulla. The third week sees the patronal celebrations in Benimasot. 23 - 26th Moors & Christians march in the José Antonio district of Alacante. 24 - 26th Aug. Patronal fiestas in Almudaina. 24th August Xixona holds the fiesta of El Porrt de la Candelaria. Patronal fiestas of Finestrat on nearest weekend to this date. 28 - 30 Aug. Patronal fiestas in Xirles (Polop) 28 - 31 Aug. Patronal fiestas in Alcocer de Planes. 30th Aug. - 8th September Virgen de Loreto fiestas at Xàbia. 31st Aug. Jávea fiestas of the Virgen de los Angeles. 31st Aug. Start of Castalla Moors & Christian fiestas with the Nit de l’Olla. 31st Aug. Montforte del Cid holds the Festival of San Ramón. Festival of the Virgen de los Angeles in the monastery of los Jerónimos in Xàbia. Second last weekend of the month Les Danses fiesta of Castalla. Last weekend of month patronal fiestas in Benifato, Alcoleja and Facheca. San Miguel fiestas in Alcalí. Major fiestas in Benimeli. Summer fiestas in Benissili (Vall de Gallinera) Patronal fiestas of San Roque in Beniarbeig. Last weekend of the month Monòvar holds fiestas of Santa Bárbara. Patronal fiestas in Formentera del Segura. Hondón de los Frailes have fiestas in the last weekend of August from he Thursday to Monday in honour of the Virgen of Good Health. Processions, dancing and music, and of course fireworks. .
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Elche Dame
This year Elche will be celebrating the discovery of the Iberian bust of the Dama de Elche. 120 years ago on 4th August, 1897, a farmer’s lad, Manuel Campello Esclapez, turned over the turf and saw the statue and became famous. Made of limestone it first came to light in 1897 at l’Alcudia outside of the city and since then the site has become archaeological site and museum. It is at present on view in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain in Madrid. There is an ongoing dispute between Elche and Madrid as to ownership of the historic bust, which is classified as Iberian but has distance Hellenistic influences. The originally polychromed bust is thought to represent a woman wearing a complex headdress and large wheel-like coils (known as rodetes) on each side of the face. Today in Alicante fiestas the ladies often have this type of hairdo.The opening in the rear of the sculpture indicates it may have been used as a funerary urn. The original site is now a ten hectare archeological dig and part of Aliciante University. The workers have uncovered more Iberian remains under the level of the more dominant Roman level as Elche was a main Roman city with its port at Santa Pola known as Portus Ilicitanus. The Museo Arqueológico y de Historia de Elche is located in the Palacio de Altamira and offers insights into the life of the Iberians.
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SANTA POLA (Portus Ilicitanus) - Legends and Fishing. Santa Pola is a town that is within very easy reach of Torrevieja visitors, is close to Alicante airport and is well worth a visit as it has a long history, interesting museums, picturesque port area and some lovely beaches: from here it is only a short boat ride to the island of Tabarca. A recent feature is what is called The Sky Walk close to the lighthouse on the headland. This bridge that seems suspended in the air offers terrific views across to Tabarca and Benidorm in the north and southward look Torrevieja and the hill of Mar Menor. This lookout point has been awarded a FAD prize this year in the category as town and landscape. Between the 3rd and 4th millennium before Christ, primitive men lived in the caves of las Arañas de Carabassí where they had protection from the elements. They lived simply off the land and sea. Later they dealt with Greek sailors and actually built a housing area surrounded by a walk near the coast and they called it Alonai. For some unknown reasons this was abandoned sometime between 430 and 75 BC.
Santa Pola had a few watchtowers and one of the first sights visitors sees is the rebuilt tower in the salt flats that is a block and has lost its character of the previous ruin.
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In the past few years another modern walkway has been constructed that gives excellent views towards Tabarca, Alicante and Guardamar.
The Romans arrived and built Portus Illicitanus as the principal port of the busy industrial town of Elche and thrust the area forward in a great impulse in commerce and economy. From the archaeological remains found in Santa Pola we know that the Romans had many beautiful villas along the 15 kilometres of coastline, and even a salt/fish factory that produced garum, a well sought after fish paste luxury used as a condiment that was shipped back to Rome. So the port dates back to fourth century before Christ, although not actually in the present site, but it has borne witness to many historical events since the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus, the forced departure of the Moriscos, the visit of King Alfonsus XII and his review of the navy which attracted thousands of people from other towns and led to many men signing up in the armed forces. The local Museo del Mar has a fine collection of artifacts from early times including a coin collection. There are mosaics on display that were found in the El Palmeral Roman villa that show some of the scenes of life in Iberian and Roman times. In fact there are six distinct areas in the museum - Prehistoric, Iberians, the Roman settlement of Portus Illicitanus, the fortification period of the coastline, the fishing industry and the salt industry.
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The sea has always played an important role in the commercial life of Elche and this seaside town was the port for merchants from all over the Mediterranean. As early as the 5th century it was well known for its large fishing fleet. Salt was extracted from the nearby saltpans and it is this, along with fish, which was used in the making of garum. So the two industries - salt and fishing went hand in hand. Today the salt company is one of the most important in Europe and the lakes are protected natural areas. Travellers along the N332 can see some of the thousands of flamingos that take a rest over here, especially in June and July. It is a bird reservation area with over 150 species and bird watchers can often be seen watching and photographing the maneuvers of swallows, seagulls and many other types of birds. In Santa Pola, in front of the town hall, there is an aquarium that shows some of the wildlife encountered in the nearby waters. A Salt Museum has been built just off the N332 and can be reached off the bridge on the N322. Here the visitor can see
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The only inhabited island on the Costa Blanca is Tabarca off the coast of Santa Pola and this is a view looking in the town’s direction from the island: Foto Phil Friar
some of the workings of salt extraction and further on the road going in the direction of Torrevieja the piles of salt can be seen pouring off the conveyor belt that links the salt pans with the storage zone. During July, August and September the Tourist Office organises various walks in the municipal area that include seeing bunkers from the Spanish Civil War era. For a couple of weeks up to the 19th August there is a book fair in the castle area. The Museo del Mar (sea museum) is a building that is worth a visit to appreciate the marine life of the Mediterranean as there are over 150 species on view. The castle in the town centre was constructed around the 15th century to protect the town’s inhabitants from pirate raids, as at that time the pirates used the presently named island of Tabarca as a base. There is a Saturday morning open-air market in the town centre. The Santa Pola watchtowers were constructed in 1552 as part of a coastal defense system for the whole of Spain. They are the “Torre del Tamarit” in “Las Salinas”, “Escaletes” in the mountains and “Atalayola”, the present lighthouse. Both Atalayola and Escaletes, used to communicate with the other tower aormi@icloud.com
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of Tamarit, whose remains can be seen in the salt lakes, and these used smoke columns and night fires to warn of the incursions of pirates. At the east end of the town there is a 16th century lighthouse the Atalayola tower that is signposted at the entrance to the town coming from Alicante. It is a dirt track and not really suitable for cars and passes through a woodland full of pines, palms, cypresses and eucalyptus trees. It was built in 1858 to guide ships, especial navy ones, into the harbour. The Tamarit tower was reconstructed in a square design with the original tower remains inside. Santa Pola has a wonderful harbour area with fishing boats, the ferry to Tabarca and many yachts, so well worth visiting, and there are many magnificent beaches and dunes for those who like to sunbathe or swim in the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean. A modern yacht club and a sheltered bay invite the visitor to practice windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, swimming or diving. Another popular activity is flying kites and there are several competitions for this. Because of the fishing industry the town’s gastronomy is based on fish, molluscs and rice. There are many restaurants that offer typically local cuisine as well as international fare. Like other towns there are many fiestas in Santa Pola. A very old legend relates how the image of the Virgen de Loreto arrived in Santa Pola in 1643 and this is commemorated in December each year. On 28th December a man on horseback, represents the coastguard, and reenacts the discovery of a small boat that holds a small statue of the Virgen Mary and aormi@icloud.com
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he rides to Elche to tell the people about this miraculous event. This becomes a pilgrimage as hundreds of people turn out for the event and follow the horseman into Elche. This is actually the first event of Elche’s annual medieval mystery play festival in August dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgen held as a national holiday on 15th August.
As a fishing town Santa Pola celebrates the feast of the sailors and fishermen’s’ patron saint, the Virgen del Carmen, on 16th July that includes a maritime procession of brightly bedecked ships inside the harbour area. Santa Pola celebrate the Virgen del Loreto fiestas that will be from the end of August to the 9th September. As elsewhere the majority of the immense influx of summer visitors has gone by September and the town returns to a certain degree of normality. This means having a fiesta. Our Lady of Loreto is associated with the defeat of the Turks by the Christian armies and navies so it is a double motive that she reigns over these annual fiestas of the Moors and Christians. During the first week of September the Moorish army disembarks on the beach of this fishing town and conquers it: and then the Christians reconquer the town around the castle fortress that dates back to 1558. It houses the Maritime Museum and the chapel of the Virgen del Loreto. The area known as the Patio of Arms is a popular promenade area for local people and has a special historical significance for them. Formerly there was another fortress, that of the Duke of Arcos that was demolished in 1872 but was rebuilt and is now used as a cultural centre that is sought after for wedding receptions.
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Extravagant costumes marks the parades with colourful painted facemasks and feathers on the part of the Moors, while the Christians march in procession with their guns and cannons. This is an event when everyone can dress up and parade in the various files that have their own special name and character.
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The finely dressed ambassadors of both armies parley and eventually the Christian army conquers. Santa Pola offers one of the most magnificent firework displays along the coast that light up the sky and it can be seen right across the nearby salt flats. Each evening there will be celebrations in the kabilas, cuartelillos and barracas that are the armies’ headquarters, set up in the streets and used as a social centre for live music, dancing and concerts. During the week other local people hold the parade of the Multicolor Comparsas y Carrozas that has been going on since 1880 with floats and costumed groups dancing and parading. In the parade ground of the castle will be the traditional serenade to the Virgen de Loreto and a marvellous flower offering. There is a Mountain Bike competition, basketball games, futbito, volleyball and other sporting activities for young and old, not forgetting the nightly feasting, music and dancing. On the night of the 8th, the actual feast day, there will be a tremendous firework display on the last night by the water’s edge. During these fiestas there are many other activities with sporting competitions, children’s games and competitions, and the fabulous floral procession as individuals and groups carry flowers in a procession of bright flowers to be laid at the feet of the image of the patroness of the town. There is another Moors & Christians celebration known as the Mig Any or middle of the year in the first or second week of the year. This is very limited but does give a taste of the large September fiesta.
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SANTA POLA BEACHES Of course for most visitors the main attraction is the sea and beaches. There are 11 kilometres of sandy beaches, many of them flying the European Blue Flag. EL PINET beach is 3,590 metres long, which is next to the Saltpan Nature Reserve, which is an unspoiled beach accessible only by foot. LA GOLA beach is another long beach (1,710 metes) with access by foot from either the Tamarit or Pinet beaches. There is a kitesurfing area marked out. An interesting historical note is that this beach was one of those used for landing contraband after the Spanish Civil War (1036/39) when everyone was on rations for years. TAMARIT beach is a Blue Flag one with a length of 830 metres. At the western end there was a salt quay built in 1897 with rails along which animal drawn wagons laden with salt were pulled and unloaded onto barges and loaded again on to the waiting ships.
As said elsewhere the town has had a large construction programme since the 1960’s and the PLAYA LISA beach was the attraction then and today. There is a windsurf school and pedalos available on this 600 metre beach.
GRAN PLAYA beach is one of the most popular ones with a length of 1.060 metres. It too has a windsurfing area and a “chiringuito” which will disappear if the government has its way as it is preparing a law to take away all of these attractive kiosks from the sands of Spain.
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Another Blue Flag beach is the LEVANTE which is rather short, only 460 metres but popular nevertheless as it has many attractions including pedalos and easily accessible, with access point for the disabled. This beach is associated with the arrival of football to the Valencian region. In 1900 the Royal navy ship “Theseus” was anchored in the bay for astronomical teams to observe the solar eclipse. The crew played football on the beach, a sport that took off and eclipsed the solar one. VARADERO beach is another Blue Flag one with a length of 475 metres. Its name comes from the “Varadero” (ships’ dry dock) that is nearby. Apart from the beaches there are several sandy coves along Santa Pola’s coastline. SANTIAGO BERNABEU COVES take their name from the chairman of Real Madrid who enjoyed his holidays here for many years. The sand here is actually dumped by the Council as it is a naturally rocky zone. The length of the beach is 920 metres and there is an area for boats and pedalos.
The people of the 1963 housing urbanisation enjoy the short 380-metre beach known as the SANTA POLA DEL ESTE COVES EL CABO COVES DE L’ALJUB COVES lie in a protected area with the 144 metres high Cap, a unique example of a coral ref. dating from the Miocene era. The length of the beach is 830 metres. The Bancal de la Areba is a recreational area of that name. Next to it is the Cuartel Coves and finally the Ermita beach that is the limit of the municipal area.
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Tabarca A short hop in the ferry from Santa Pola, and a different day out, is the trip to Tabarca Island. Originally the Greeks called the island “the island of Planes”. Much later the Spanish King Carlos III inhabited the island with Italians and Maltese who had been ransomed from the pirates of North Africa at an islet called Tabarka and their presence on the island acted as a buffer against pirate raids from the Berbers. Some of these Italians found their way to settle along the coast as far as Gibraltar, and including Torrevieja. The island is still called “Saints Peter and Paul” by many people after the island’s patron saints. The church has been repaired at present as it was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War 1936-39. Some of the early Italians called the Island “San Carlos” after the king who had rescued them. There are regular daily boat trips from various towns along the coastline, including Santa Pola and Torrevieja, for day visitors to Tabarca. There is not much to see but some nice, but not cheap, seafood restaurants. Some people take picnics with them. There is a governor’s house now a hotel.
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MORAIRA AND TEULEDA are twin towns in Alicante Province of the Costa Blanca. There are lots of attractive places, magnificent beaches, sporting harbour, parks and wonderful vistas. The main firsts were held in June and July including Moors and Christian parades. Fotos: John Rook
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Algorfa -Country town and Golf by Dave Stewart
Thousands of British who purchased houses in Spain decided that they preferred to live inland in the countryside rather than the busy coastal towns. After all with the many excellent roads now on the Costa Blanca the sea is a matter of only 20 minutes ride in the car. Also it was cheaper inland, which in turn meant it was possible to buy a better-sized house for the same price as a coastal one. Many towns opted to build a golf course as an added attraction and that is what the small town of Algorfa decided to do and more than doubled its population in one fell swoop. Recent statistics say that from just over 1,000 there are now 4,537 inhabitants of which over 65% are foreigners. It is still a small village with its own life and these foreigners tend to live in urbanisations in a variety of housing.
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Montemar Castle, Algorfa
Prior to this the town was mainly agricultural with an emphasis on citrus trees as it is situated close to the River Segura and still holds its weekly market on Wednesdays. In 1328 Alfonso IV gave permission of parcels of land to various owners of fincas in order to repopulate the fields. This privilege was nicknamed an alfonsina on condition that there would be at least fifteen houses built thereon, each with a family. After the War of Succession in 1714 Felipe V became king, On 6 August 1761 Juan Rosell y Roda was entitled as señor or lord of Benijúzar and one of his haciendas was given the name of Algorfa, which was given over to his nephew Francisco Ruiz-Dávalos y Rosell and his inheritors reclaimed the alfonsina privilege and built 16 houses on the estate. The following year he was titled Marqués of Algorfa. He was a member of the Knights of Santiago as were many of the nobility in the Vega Baja area. In 2015 Algorfa celebrated the 225 anniversary of its constitution as an administrative and political entity that is a municipal area. However, thanks to the work of the Jesuit priest Father Furgús, a renowned archaeologist, who established that there are remains of a population around here of the Neolithic era. He was responsible for founding the Orihulea archaeological museum attached to St. Dominic’s in Orihuela, with lots of artefacts from the Vega Baja with many now in the MARQ Museum in Alicante. One of the monumental buildings around is the so called Castle of Montemar built in the 18th century belonging to the Condado de Casa RojasǀCondes de Casa Rojas.
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The coastline of beaches and small coves is never far away
The most recent members of this family were María Teresa de Rojas y Roca de Togores (n. en 1929), VII Condesa de Casa Rojas, XII Marquesa de Beniel, X Marquesa del Bosch de Arés, VII Condesa de Torrellano (por suceder a su tío Miguel de Rojas y Moreno (1884-1936), IX Marqués del Bosch de Arés y VI Conde de Torrellano). The castle dominates the countryside as it is built on the summit of a hill south of Algorfa, surrounded by woodland and agricultural fields full of crops. Eventually, after passing through several owners, the castle was acquired in the year 1970 by its current owners, and was the subject of an important restoration that saved it from disappears, and adapted it inwardly as private housing, which remains in use today. The owners at one time objected to the prospect of Justo Quesada buying the land on the opposite hill, which today is a huge urbanisation area Ciudad Quesada, within the municipality of Rojales. The castle never had military uses, generally used as a summer residence of successive owners. Its style is has something French about it. It has two square and two circular towers with the corners of the ashlars. The main tower, to be called "the tribute", has "garitones" in its corners, and battlements with their coronations inclined toward the outside. It has a square courtyard surrounded by a gallery on the first floor. The roofs of the towers are flat and accessible, aormi@icloud.com
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Hotel La Finca Golf & Spa Resort with 3 golf courses close by plus its own spa and various beauty treatments
although during the last century had a roof made of slate. The view from these terraces justifies undoubtedly the name of this "Castle of Montemar". Another monumental ruin close to the castle of Montemar is simply called the Small Tower and originally the property of the Order of Santiago and was likely used as a watchtower or outpost. In the usually cylindrical tower style with the body topped by battlements. Referring back to Fr. Fergus there are the remains of the necropolis of Algorfa belong to the Neolithic period, III millennium BC. The basic artefacts are of ceramic stone, plus thirty-three arrowheads found there and it is considered that because of tools used by the small population they would have been strong hunters and warriors who lived in a wooded framework on the banks of the Segura within a compound. The local church of Algorfa is the Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen, located, as is characteristic of all the villages and towns of the Vega Baja del Segura, near the Town Hall and opposite to the plaza de España. The present building was built in 1963 and is a very functional style of architecture. There is another small religious building known as la Ermita, or the sanctuary. It rests on top of another small hill built with local stone from a nearby quarry. It was a popular place of pilgrimage during September rather than in July when this feast normally is held, as the men were busy in the fields and September a
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more pleasant time for harvesting. The pilgrimage still continues in Algorfa’s fiestas.
Festivals Algorfa offers festivals principally in two dates a year, the first one, the second Monday after Easter Monday, in honour of San Vicente Ferrer, patron of Algorfa, who was noted in Valencian and Murcian regions for his preaching and opening of schools. For this reason it is a public holiday and schools start a new term the following day. This day is replete with procession and festive activities, theatre and dance. The second date is July 16th, local festivities in honour of the Virgen del Carmen. Sporting and cultural events are a source of unity among the people of Algorfa where there are excellent tennis facilities. Now in April there is a Feria de Andalusia with music and dancing typical of that region. In June they celebrate the Sports Gala, and in the second weekend in September is celebrated Algorfa Jove. Holy Week Algorfa’s Holy Week is distinguished by the fervent and massive participation of the faithful in each of the processions and in the sacramental liturgy of Palm Sunday and the Tríduo sacrum of Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord, like many other villages that lack Confraternities. It is on Easter Sunday, in the early Procession of the Reunion, where they live moments more emotive, after the reverences of the image of the Virgin Mary and her son represented with the Blessed Sacrament; doves are released as a symbol of peace and love.
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Reaching for the skies by Dave Stewart
Artists’ impressions of tower blocks
“To be or not to be”, that is the relevant question whether or not to build four almost-skyscrapers in Torrevieja. For years parcels of land have been set aside in order to provide Torrevieja with first class hotels, something that is seriously lacking in a tourist town the size of Torrevieja. One of these is in Sector 25 or where previously youngsters played football in San Mames district. These ideas of high rise hotels have been around since at least 2008 and 2011 with alterations in the General Plan for the town that was laid down in 1987. A problem has always been in finding the investors for these projects and over the years, including oil-sheik money. One of these recent parties interested has been Metrovacesa with the intention of building three 26storey projects, two Hotels and one for apartments. The area is close to the
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port in the Acequion zone with fantastic views. They will be built in such a way that their shadow will not block the sun for the bathers in the nearby beach. Another company, Baraka, would also like to build at least one or perhaps two blocks in the town.
La Gaviota - The Seagull
The first high-rise block in Torrevieja was the Gaviota, or seagull, built in 1964. A Murcian lady, Dña Carmen Giménez Estevez, loved to visit the native town of her husband Palazón, and she and her family enjoyed long months with the family in their estate on the outskirts of the town. They also had a house on the Paseo Vista Alegre and it was decided to build a 9-storey building on the site. It appears that the original idea was to construct an hotel, but ended up as a block of flats. At the beginning of July 1964 the traditional fiesta was held as the flag was ceremonially raised on top of the as yet unfinished aormi@icloud.com
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building. This still occurs and you see a flag being raised on top of an almost finished building as the top is finally reached. The next large building to be constructed was the Alvaromar on the corner of the Plaza Castelar.
Tower top restaurant At the end of the 60’s a restaurant also named La Gaviota was inaugurated in the higher part of the building a restaurant, but only in use in the summertime. It was taken over by Swedish restaurateurs, as at that time there was a strong influx of Scandinavians. The restaurant was closed definitively at the beginning of the 1970’s. For the young people of that time, it was a great fun to use the elevators and visit the bar of the restaurant. Seaviews are an important plus point for restaurants, so it is a pity that this one did not survive. Like many projects it was ahead of its times with not as much tourists as there are today.
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In the Acequion area by the banks of the Acequion canal is a small park dedicated to the work of the salinas, showing men in the past digging for the lumps of salt in the shallow waters of Torrevieja Lake. These figures are the work of Carmen Frailes who has several monuments dotted around the town. Nearby is the mini-golf, music and natural museums, a rollerskating park and a little bit more Salt Interpretation Centre, a smaller type of museum. aormi@icloud.com
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Salt from Ibiza by Dave Stewart
Torrevieja is famous for being one of the biggest salt producing areas in Europe. The production is now in the franchise of a French company that has salt workings in other places. For a change because of bad weather (?), and other blimps on the landscape, the Torrevieja Salinas are not producing enough salt, so unable to meet their contractual commitments. Therefore, an unusual and historic sight this year has been the arrival of a tanker ship bringing salt to the salt lake. This has meant that we are now importing salt from Ibiza.
The Parque Natural de Ses Salines in Ibiza was declared a Natural Park in 2001 and has almost 3,000 hectares and a further 13,000 water hectares extending from the south of Ibiza and the north of Formentera. This means there is a rich marine aormi@icloud.com
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biodiversity on the island, adding to the already picturesque coastline. The entrance to the salt park is close to Sant Jordi and several beaches Es Codolar, Ses Salines, Es Cavallet; the cove of Sa Sal Rossa; the former defensive Powers of Es Carregador and Ses Portes; the church of Sant Francesc, and the chapel of Sa Revista. Next to the parish church of San Fancesc is the Interpretation Centre for the SALT mines. Where there’s lots of information about the flora and fauna unique to this reserve area. The Interpretation Centre aormi@icloud.com
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was opened in 2015 and from its interior you can access the small church and the histoory of the salinas. It has two floors with lots of examples of local wildlife, and equipment sued to manually Harvest the SALT crop. Salt production began in the times of the Phoenicians around 600 BC and long before tourism was the main reason for people to live on the island. Later on came the Carthaginians, Romans, Moors and Christians. So in a way SALT production has been almost uninterrupted for 2,600 years. The Torre de Ses Portes was the fist one built in Ibiza to defend the populace from pirate attacks. It used to have three canons and two permanent watchmen, and it was complementary with another tower in s’Espalmador islet, as the crossfire that came in between repelled the enemy boats. On the tower’s base there is a picturesque group of fishing huts, facing the intense turquoise water.
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Just south o f Torrevieja is the old town of L o s Alcázares. Like many towns in Spain the inhabitants a r e gradually becoming aware of t h e historical culture of their town as more and more foreigners come to live there and look for some local history. Each year, since 1972, a tradition has grown up whereby farmers, and those who work on the land around, have a get-together and this has developed into a grand feria each year between 15th and 30th August. The Semana de la Huerta includes traditional representations, costumes and folklore music and dancing. A barraca is built in the fair area and traditional food from the region is served, which includes a lot of vegetable and fish dishes. An alcázar is an arabic word for a castle or fortress or even just a keep; in nautical terms it means the quarter-deck. In Los Alcázares there are still some remains of the original alcázar built in the XII century when the town was known as Al Qasr or AlKazar. The Arabs built a small port to hold their fishing fleet. Long before this period the Greeks and Phoenicians used the area which was rich in fish. When the Romans arrived they used the district as a resting zone for troops and many of the richer Romans built villas making use of the mineral rich warm waters of the Mar Menor for spas, often using a clay tube system of heating the water and running it into special baths. Using the same system, but running the pipes under the hearth of the fire, the Romans also had a central heating system that was in use in colder climes such as Germany and Britain. More modern spas still function in the town. Some statues from Los Alcázares can be seen in the Museo Arqueológico de Murcia.
Los Alcázares has a small port, lovely beaches, and a long promenade with an old town complete with bars and restaurants as well as spa hotels.
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R & R for Roman Legionnaires by Pat Hynd
FORTUNA’S ROMAN FIESTAS Fortuna is in the Murcian Region located 240 metres above sea level. It is an appropriate name as Lady Fortune does smile on this small town bathed in the sun in a dry climate. The thermal waters gushed out of the warm mineral springs in La Cueva Negra and the Baños de Fortuna and were sought after by the early Iberians and the Romans who used the area as a resting zone for weary soldiers. After the February Carnival and the processions of Semana Santa, the modern “Romans” have a parade to the Cueva Negra to re-enact some of the lascivious rites of the Romans as they splashed in the baths there. This is a good example of the Christians taking over pagan rituals, in this instance the 15th August, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgen Mary into heaven. In Fortuna both ancient civilizations are recalled in the annual fiestas. In these “Fiestas de Sodales”, the parades are not only a tourist attraction, but an opportunity to know some of the history of Fortuna. A parade of Iberian warriors and files of Roman legionnaires march to the sound of music, several of them on horseback. aormi@icloud.com
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The principal parade takes place on the 15th August at 19.00. Here fun is combined with culture in a revival of ancient Rome; a Rome that made good use of the curative powers of the thermal baths of Fortuna’s springs to bathe and cleanse the ills of both body and soul. At the end of the night a funeral pyre is lit followed by a fish festival of the Sardinala Popular. Fiestas take place from 10th to 15th August beginning with a spectacular scene of the Iberians and the arrival of the Romans, attracted by the waters of life. During this the scantily clad, flower-bedecked “Water Nymphs” are crowned. These lovely ladies are escorted by fierce, gaudily painted Iberians or strutting, toga wearing, Romans. There is a Roman market in the town centre and at night there is a Roman dinner in the balneario Romano, where the group of Sodales recline on low benches, wearing typical Roman costumes. On another day the children and youngsters take pride of place in their own parade grouped round the various Roman standard bearers, with banners dedicated to diverse Roman gods. Among the fun it is possible to enjoy games of that era. The literary tradition is not left out in these fiestas and there is an annual competition “El Certamen Literario At Fontes” which is a poetry and prose competition with a cash prize and the assured publication of the authors’ works. A metal plaque with the winners’ names is set in the rock near the millenary Tituli Picti .
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Summer Bookshelf by Pat Hynd
A mixed bag of books for various tastes including children and young adults.
Fly Me by Daniel Riley The period for this novel is in the 1970’s when the position of an air hostesses/ stewardesses was a high profile job and the ladies were considered to be glamorous. Of course now we have male members of the crew and (un)fortunately, many of them are displayed on films and literature as very gay people indeed. Suzy Whitman has decided to give up her Vassar studies and follow her older sister into the wide blue yonder with the Grand Pacific Airlines. She finds her ideal place in the sun in California at the LAX-adjacent beach town of Sela del Mar, where suntanned bodies enjoy an hedonistic lifestyle, but like so many falls into the way of a drug trafficking system that affects her work. Suzy meets Billy Zar, a local fixture with a “surfer’s torso, swimmer’s shoulders … the color of the grilled hot dogs on the Weber” who rocks a “leafy-green JanSport nice and bulky.” Riley skillfully fuels Suzy’s desire for self-determination with the indignities heaped upon her and her fellow stews — weigh-ins, height requirements, makeup checks. Rendered in
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the brilliant color of the age and told with spectacular insight and clarity, Fly Me is a story of dark discovery set in the debauchery of 1970s Los Angeles.
The People We Hate at the Wedding Grant Ginder (Flatiron) Weddings are always popular affairs for story writers and Films when we have offshoots of family members and friends disocevering or uncovering secrets. Ginder takes family dysfunction to its hysterical limit in this joyously ribald novel about siblings Alice and Paul begrudgingly attending the lavish wedding of their half-sister, Eloise, in England. Lovesick Alice and Paul—both in doomed relationships—see Eloise as the snotty daughter of a rich dad, and Donna, their mother, as a coldhearted widow who ditched all remnants of their father after his death. During the boozy prewedding days, the resentment and secrets come tumbling out in outbursts and hilariously bad decisions.
Positively Pippa by Sarah Hegger Nothing like a nice summer beach with a cool drink in the hand to read a lovely romance story. The title of this books sounds rather Enid Blyton, but as the Publishers Weekly comments, “Hegger’s characters have real chemistry, especially in the bedroom.” Pippa Turner was a media darling, thanks to her makeover show, until a vengeful ex sabotaged her career. Now she has run back home in disgrace, the most hated woman in America. Sarah Hegger (Nobody’s Princess) invites aormi@icloud.com
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readers into the delightfully quirky small town of Ghost Falls, Utah, in the warmly sincere first book of a contemporary romance series. Back in Ghost Falls are her very complicated family—including her diva grandmother, Phi— and Matt, her high school crush, who feels beholden to Phi. Matt’s family situation is as complex as Pippa’s, and their separate struggles hamper their sizzling and sensually fun fling. What begins as a simple second-chance romance quickly transforms into a beautiful, frank examination of love, family dynamics, and following one’s dreams. As far as Matt is concerned, their connection is too electric to ignore. And the chance to build something lasting between them—before she can high-tail it back to Hollywood—is going to the top of his to-do list… Hegger’s unflinching, candid portrayal of interpersonal and generational communication elevates the story to the sublime. Shunning clichés and contrived circumstances, she uses realistic, relatable situations to create a world that readers will want to visit time and again.
Thick as Thieves Megan Whalen Turner. This is another series that is suitable for young adults – or an older audience. Even minor characters in Turner’s Queen’s Thief saga have fascinating stories to tell, as she proves in this fifth installment, seven years in the making. This volume centres on Kamet, head slave and secretary to the Emperor of Medes’s out-offavour nephew, who left Attolia when his scheme to seize power failed. Kamet is relieved to be home until he gets word that his master has been poisoned. Before he can really understand what that means for him (probably death), he is aormi@icloud.com
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kidnapped by a beefy Attolian guard. (The author’s stock-in-trade includes the suspenseful reveal, so the guard’s name is withheld until the end.) The journey back to Attolia poses challenges, including bounty hunters, slave catchers, bandits, near starvation, rugged terrain, and miserable weather. Pursued across rivers, wastelands, salt plains, snow-capped mountains, and storm-tossed seas, Kamet is dead set on regaining control of his future and protecting himself at any cost. Kidnapper and victim come to know each other, overturning many of Kamet’s assumptions. As with the previous books, Turner writes with complete authority over her richly imagined landscape. Although this immersive treat is billed as a standalone, those who have read the previous books in the series will get the most from it, as Turner fills out and enriches the expansive canvas on which she stitches her epic tale.
Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri. Finally, a kids’ book for those who love dragons, princesses and even tacos. When the world runs out of tacos, there’s only one thing to do: go back in time, “save a handful of tacos, plant them in the ground, and grow taco trees so we never run out of tacos again.” Fans of Dragons Love Tacos won’t be surprised that this expedition doesn’t go terribly smoothly: there are several spicy-salsa-triggered fire-breathing incidents, as well as pit stops in timelines where dragons love diapers and giant tacos love dragons. Are the time jumps always easy to track? Not really, but this sequel’s dialed-up energy and absurdity remain a tasty—and very funny—combination. Ages 3–5.
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Rambling and Biking at La Mata by Dave Stewart
Being actively promoted by Costa Blanca and Torrevieja Tourist Office is the idea of cycling and rambling around the lakes. As the area is comparatively flat there is not much in the way of hills, so apart from rough patches, fairly easy route. The following is a proposed route that touches on both lakes. The starting point
suggested is from the Information Office at La Mata Parkland, where you can find information on what to look for, especially among the flora and fauna. The small village of La Mata is on the sea side of the N-332 road and the park is on the inland side. En route there are several view points and also a picnic zone that has a tall lookout post. If you like take camera and binoculars, as well as something to drink and eat. Less than a kilometer from the Information Centre is a information panel and bikers can fall the yellow signed route, and shortly after that at 1.3 kilometers is the picnic aormi@icloud.com
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There are several bicycle shops in Torrevieja that rent bikes out including e-bikes Tienda bicicletas bikemania 965 70 47 Bicicletas electricas Rubio Ebikes 965 70 59 79 Moto, Scooter and Bike : 662 26 10 41
zone. Continue cycling on the way, following once more the red marks among abundant, low pines and through their green branches see the blue lagoon with white salt crusts on the shore. The observation posts found on the way are a good reason to pause and admire the different birds inhabiting or just passing through the zone. There is an excellent A-Z guide leaflet available with photos of 104 different types of birds you may see. The route then continues to the left, but this may be a point of enough cycling for some and so it’s easy to return to the main N-332 road. But if you continue cycling through the pine wood you soon reach another lookout point. Remember hat hit si a
An excellent leaflet is available from the tourist office about the birds of La Mata, with a map of the observation posts. aormi@icloud.com
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protected park so be careful not to damage the flora as you pass as some of it is peculiar to the salty environment. There are isolated groups of eucalyptus trees and plants adapted to the harsh saline conditions such as seep weeds. After just over six kilometers from the Information Centre, the road ends at an observation tower and on the left the ruins of an old house where the pump is installed that pumps salt water from the La Mata lake into the Torrevieja lake. Continuing along the trail there is another lookout post, and we can see the road to Crevillente and a roundabout. Move back towards Torrevieja before crossing this busy road and on the other side is a cycle track with the Torrevieja lake on the right as you head back to Torrevieja. The track crosses the old railway line and there is a resting spot at 7.8 meters from the Information Centre starting point. At the end of this route there are the old railway buildings, now used as an Alzheimers Day Centre, a Salt Interpretation Centre, Music museum, a Natural History aormi@icloud.com
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Museum and a nice park with skateboard zone, a mini-golf and mini-lake with statues of the salt workers heaving slabs of salt out of the lake as in the past. See pages 3/35. In the evening there are opportunities for wonderful golden sunsets as birds fly around before nestling down for the night. Obviously you can enjoy this route in the reverse direction, in total about 13 kilometres. Some companies organize trips like this and their guides are well up on the local area, what to see and often the various types of wildlife. In addition they can point you in the direction of other places you may enjoy.
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Cold Summer Soups by Pat Hynd
July weather was roasting so God knows what August is going to be like. Obviously it is time for salads, but often I don’t feel hungry so I make Spanish gazpacho soup or other cold soup as, with age, my digestive system has difficulties coping with lettuce and other leaves. It is now 30 years since I came to live in Spain, in Torrevieja and of course obviously I have seen lots of changes as barren fields have been turned into urbanisations with a hotch-potch of nationalities. In those days there were no supermarkets, only small family run shops known as ultramarinas. Then the Bibiano family run TodoTodo opened up and built a large warehouse shop, rather like a Carry Carry used to be. The great thing was it had some British products, even bacon. Because in those days if you were having visitors from U.K you always asked them to bring bacon and teabags, a bit of a luxury. A supermarket opened up called Aldi in Acequion district with an excellent butcher, then another larger SPAR supermarket with lots of foreign products on the Crevillente Road near el Limonar, that lasted a number of years until the town hall decided they never had an opening license just when Continente moved in as a hyper store, itself swallowed up by Carrefour. Nowadays we are spoiled for choice as far as ingredients, even exotic ones, are involved. You can buy almost any type of food from ever corner of the globe. Anyhow, back to cooking- here I present some cold soups, some require a bit of cooking and are just as good hot. They are robust and are a good substitute for a full blown meal.
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Potato and Leek soup (Vichyoisse) • • • • • •
6 medium leeks, whites only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise, cleaned. 1 litre Chicken soup or stock 1 large potato, peeled and diced salt 6 oz heavy cream about half a cup of snipped fresh chives
1. In a large saucepan, combine leeks, Chicken stock, potato, three quarters litre water, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. 2. Working in batches, puree the soup in blender, transferring it to a clean bowl as you work. (To prevent splattering, fill blender only halfway, and allow heat to escape: Remove cap from hole in lid, and cover lid firmly with a dish towel.) Stir cream into pureed soup, and season with salt. 3. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and chill until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days. If necessary, thin with water, and season with salt. Serve soup in chilled glasses, garnished with chives. A trick is to use tinned cream of chicken broth
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Carrot and Ginger Soup •2
tablespoons olive oil • 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled, grated • 1 clove garlic, sliced • 1 kilo carrots (10 to 12), sliced • 6 cups vegetable broth • Juice of 1 lime, plus lime wedges for garnish, optional • 1 cup plain yogurt (not nonfat) • Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1.
Warm oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Add ginger and garlic; sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. 2. Raise heat to medium-high; stir in carrots. Pour broth into pot, cover and bring to a simmer. Remove cover, reduce heat to medium to maintain a simmer and cook until carrots are very tender, about 25 minutes. Remove soup from heat and let cool slightly. 3. Working in batches, purée soup in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl, cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
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Just before serving, stir in lime juice and yogurt. Season with salt and º pepper. Serve chilled, garnished with lime wedges, if desired.
A change from red tomato based gazpacho with no cooking is
Green Tomato Gazpacho • 3 cloves garlic, crushed • 1 cup fresh bread crumbs (from about 2 bread slices, crusts removed) • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar • 1/3 cup olive oil • 1 kilo green tomatoes or tomatillos, husked, rinsed, coarsely chopped • 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, chopped • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or cilantro • 1 teaspoon Tabasco, or more to taste aormi@icloud.com
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• Salt and freshly ground black pepper • Croutons for garnish, optional Combine garlic, bread crumbs, vinegar and olive oil in a blender. Pulse until garlic is coarsely chopped. Add tomatoes, cucumbers, thyme and parsley. Pulse or blend until mixture forms a chunky soup. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in 2 cups ice-cold water and season with Tabasco, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours. Serve cold, garnished with croutons, if desired. Melons are at their best just now so why not try a melon based soup – you can use most types of melons including sandia.
Cantaloupe Soup with Mint •1
large cantaloupe about 1 and a half
kilos • 1/4
cup honey
• 1/2
cup orange juice
•1
1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh
mint, plus small sprigs for garnish, optional • •
•
Halve melon, scoop out seeds and remove rind. Cut flesh into large chunks. (You should have about 6 cups.) Working in batches if necessary, combine cantaloupe, honey and orange juice in a blender. Pulse or blend until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl, cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours. Just before serving, briskly whisk soup and stir in mint. Serve very cold, garnished with sprigs of mint, if desired.
This is a favourite of my sister in Scotland and sometimes in place of yoghurt she uses a blackcurrant jelly that quivers and delights the children.
Chilled Summer Borscht aormi@icloud.com
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•2 tablespoons olive oil •1 medium red onion, chopped •1 pound beets (3 to 4 medium) •4 cups chicken or vegetable broth •Salt and freshly ground black pepper •1 cup plain yogurt •1/4 cup red wine vinegar •Sprigs of fresh dill for garnish, optional Warm oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Trim and peel beets. Cut each into eighths. Stir beets into pot and pour in broth. Raise heat to mediumhigh, add 1/4 tsp. salt, cover and bring to a simmer. Remove cover, reduce heat to medium to maintain a simmer and cook until beets are tender and amount of liquid has reduced, about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. • Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours. • Whisk in yogurt. Stir in vinegar and season well with salt and pepper. Serve in chilled bowls, garnished with sprigs of fresh dill, if desired. •
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Your health depends on your feet Avoid walking barefoot in the beach or around the swimming pool area, wear adequate protection for footwear that is comfortable. Beware of wearing tight fitting footwear as hat can cut the blood circulation in your feet. Often hidden in the sand are insects that can leave a nasty bite that will swell quickly and require first aid. In the pool are, people are often lazy and don’t pick things up after them, so often there are sharp articles that can injure your feet. Use an adequate photo-protector cream for you feet, just as you do for your body. Wash your feet daily in warm water with herbal salts for five to ten minutes. After bathing your feet use a suitable cream and massage in your feet and toes. Once a week file down your toenails in a straight line. If you have eye problems use a magnifying glass to cut toenails. If you note calluses or hard skin, use a pumice stone or similar product to gently rub them down. If you get small cuts, or wounds, or even a change in the skin colour, or any alterations in your feet, notify your chiropodist or doctor. Be doubly careful if you are a diabetic and if you feel you need urgent treatment then go to a clinic and underline you’re a diabetic and they will attend to you, no matter how small a lesion. This information has been supplied by the College of Pharmacies.
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Torrevieja Hospitals Awarded
Torrevieja public hospital received a couple of surprises recently; one was an invasion of Star War characters who visited the hospitalised children thanks to the initiative of Legión 501 Spanish Garrison. The Legion 501 is an ONG recognized and supported by DisneyLucas Films that does solidarity causes, in this case bringing gifts to kids stuck in hospital.
The hospital staff were also delighted with the news that they had passed the 1,200 points evaluation of the Joint Commission International launches the hospital into the bracket of the top hospitals in the world. This is one of the most prestigious awards in the world health sector. The JCI guarantees that the level of attention to patients is excellent with the highest levels of quality and security. JCI accreditation aormi@icloud.com
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is considered the gold standard in global health care. JCI consultants are the most skilled and experienced in the industry. Founded in 1994 by The Joint Commission, JCI has touched more than 90 countries. The mission of JCI is to improve the safety and quality of care in the international community through the provision of education, publications, consultation, and evaluation services. This recognition places Torrevieja Hospital as only the second hospital in the Valencia Region to obtain this, and also the fourth in Spain. More than 200 staff, press and well-wishers attended the announcement of this wonderful achievement.
Hospital Quironsalud Torrevieja
also received a
recognition as the among the best hospitals in the IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2017
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at a high profile ceremony that took place at the Design Hotel Royal, Opatija, Croatia. The International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) provides insight into the medical travel and medical tourism sector. IMTJ was established in 2007 in response to the increasing interest in medical travel and medical tourism. It embraces many of the themes that challenge healthcare providers across the world – insurance, accreditation, marketing and promotion, quality, patient safety, levels of care and experience in treating international patients. The internationalization of healthcare through health tourism is at the heart of IMTJ. Patients are becoming healthcare consumers and in many countries, patient choice is being extended to surgery and treatment provided by international hospitals and clinics. By sharing expertise, knowledge, and views the health travel industry can ensure that patient expectations are met, and the industry maintains a high reputation. QuironSalud Hospital is noted for its healthcare attention to the international community of Torrevieja in the private sector. It has world renowned specialists in several medical fields, building up a great reputation for individual attention to their patients. So residents and tourists alike in Torrevieja and its surrounding area can share in the pride of these professional health centres for the attention they are giving to us all. Obviously there will be cases where patients or their families feel that they have not received proper treatment. With the huge amount of visitors and people in this area, both hospitals are to be commended for these international recognition awards.
One recent visitor from U.K. who received emergency attention in the public hospital was amazed that after a fall and damaged foot, she was back in her rented house within three hours of leaving the house. All strapped up and medication picked up at the pharmacy en route home.
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Torrevieja Water Sports by Dave Stewart
Obviously because of its position on the Mediterranean and and connection with the sea through its history with merchant shipping, fishing, and boat building. The fact is that Torrevieja has three first class marinas, so is well placed for a variety of water sporting adventures. And there are plenty of opportunities for the not so faint hearted. All year round there are yachting regattas with the town’s clubs obtaining first class results. The mariners are:- The Real Club Nautica, Marina International (859), Marina Salinas (700) - all in the harbour area. Each club has its own internal clubs and teams that participate in sporting events, such as rowing or fishing, windsurfing, kayaking, or children’s sailing classes, and the Royal Club also has a summer activities camp for children in July, August and into September. All three marinas have fine restaurants and a large entertainment programme.
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The Royal Nautical Club (above) celebrates its 50th anniversary just now and has lots of events. It is often the venue for art exhibitions, talks, and charity fashion shows. A full program now includes a team in a dragon boat preparing for competitions. Centre photo is the International Marina with its distinctive radio tower that controls the shipping into the harbour. It has an aparthotel and restaurants - all within the clanking of the ships’ chains.
The latest marina is the Salinas in the bottom photo. It has an active commercial centre notable for its bars offering live entertainment.
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Serenity Sailing School in Torrevieja Their eleven Royal Yachting Association (RYA) accredited courses begin at novice level to Yachtmaster. They also cover related subjects such as Powerboat, VHF Radio, Day Skipper and Yacht Master theory courses.
Serenity Sailing, based at Torrevieja International Marina, believes that there is no reason why recreational sailing on the Costa Blanca should not be as popular as is golf in the region. With so many Russians around it is no wonder that they now have a dedicated Russian desk with Russian-speaking liaison staff.” For Further Information Richard Plaster. Serenity Sailing 638 056 224 • 606090825 • EMAILenquiries@serenitysailing.com • WEBhttp://serenitysailing.com aormi@icloud.com
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Pura Aventura offers a wide range of activities on land, sea and air. Underwater there are courses at different levels for diiving, snorkeling, windsurfing, rafting, paddle sup, Flyboard, parasailing, kayaks, kite surf, or banana boat. You can take to the air with a parachute jump, parapenting, pilot for a day, or just flying your kite. Plenty of activities on land with horse riding, biking, segway, go karts, paintball, quads, rambling,skiing, golf or archery. Like most companies you can always link up with them on Facebook.
Pura Aventura Spain PURA AVENTURA SPAIN Avda. de Polonia, 143. Santa Pola C/. Fotógrafo Darblade, 18. Torrevieja
ALICANTE. España puraventuraspain@gmail.com 646 351 855
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La Bocana Water Sport Center | Puerto Deportivo Marina Salinas, 03181 Torrevieja, EspaĂąa +34 966 36 24 00 La Bocana is in the centre of Torrevieja specializing in water activities for beginners or experts. These include cable ski, paddle surf, kayaking with excursions combined with snorkeling. Coasteering explores different concepts and disciplines used in the water in some otherwise inaccessible places. Located within the Marina Salinas there is also a bar/restaurant with special menus and lovely views across the harbour of Torrevieja.
Charter Boat Volante
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Family Charter, Swim, fishing trips, Snorkel, Play on the Doughnut, or just Chill OutWhatever you want it's your special day. You can rent the boat for a party meet at Nautic Restaurant Torrevieja Kevin on: (0034) 965 710 654 or (0034) 636 159 885
Torrevieja Surf Torrevieja Surf C.D. has been the first official surf club in Torrevieja for more than 3 years now, oriented to teaching, promotion and introduction of Surf and SUP in the area, as well as their lifestyle and sport values. During these years, Torrevieja Surf have organized the events of the National SUP Championship held in Torrevieja, with a large number of participants and public. The facilities of the Club are located at Avenida Alfredo Nobel, 123, 03183 (Torrevieja). We carry out our activities on the beaches of La Mata, Cala Higuera, los Locos, La Zenia and Campoamor all the year, depending on weather. Kids are welcome with special classes on offer. They provide services to people with a certain level of disability, both of mental and physical character, offering them an opportunity to feel more integrated into society.
668 82 10 61 965 067 022 torreviejasurf@gmail.com Mon - Sun 9.00 - 14.00
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Mon - Sun 16:00 - 20:00
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This company can be found at the Real Club Nautico in the town centre of Torrevieja. They cater for groups, bachelor parties, team building, to spend an unforgettable day. They have agreements with hotels, discos, chill out and restaurants, to organize an unforgettable day and an unforgettable vacation! They organise banana boat, parasailing, jet skis,
Dirección: Pso. Vistalegre 2A, Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja, 03183 Alicante Teléfono: 655 02 30 39
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Parasailing Torrevieja in Alicante is a unique experience! In this new nautical activity you will fly safely and comfortable in a big parachute, which can take up to 5 persons at the same time, while enjoying privileged views of the Coast. A fun activity to enjoy in Torrevieja, in your vacation or in one of your weekend getaways. Celebrate your birthday, bachelor parties or make an original gift to someone you love, It is a good activity for Team Building or company incentives. We also have other experiences that you can combine with Parasailing , such as Jet-Ski routes , Banana ride or Flyboard. Parasailing Torrevieja Telephone: +34 651331831 Pso. Vistalegre (Real Club Náutico Torrevieja) 03181 Torrevieja Email:
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Torrevieja Jet Boat Puerto Deportivo Marina Salinas, Torrevieja S to M 11:00 to 20:00 +34 661 631 305 Enjoy a 25 minute fast sea speed chase where you feel emotions that had never previously lived in the sea. This Jet Boat performs extreme maneuvers such as braking or Power Brake, or 360 turns at high speeds. Together with a stunning view of the Mediterranean coast, the Jet Boat is an experience not to be missed. We are in Puerto Marina Salinas in Torrevieja. Every day from May to October from 11:00 to 20:00450HP on a 8 meters boat capable of reaching 45 knots at sea in seconds. Terrifyingly fun! It is a boat that allows aggressive maneuvers such as spins to 360, and braking POWER BRAKE. But first place is dedicated to passenger safety and security. 12 homologated seats, a life jacket are indications to enjoy a safe trip. Your only concern will be enjoy a unique experience! Or you can also Fly over sea with Flyboard. Take advantage of discounts when you buy the pack of Jet Boat + Flyboard in Torrevieja.
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Boat Rental Tabarca´s Dream Enjoy the sea from another point of view and have fun discovering Torrevieja coastline and seabed. There are a lot of different options for making your holidays unforgettable. Boats Without license required “Tabarquitas” - 4,5 m, 15 hp Our boat accessible for everyone, with or without license. With this boat you will discover that side of the coast that you may still don´t know. Visit those coves that you can not access from land and enjoy a sailing day on transparent and uncrowded water. You don´t have to worry if this is your first time steering a boat, these are the easiest in the world and staff will teach you in a few minutes. Also staff will be near you in case you need anything! And there is some more… PETROL IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!!! Tabarca´s Dream Real Club Náutico Torrevieja Paseo Vistalegre s/n 03182 Torrevieja Alicante Teléfono: 0034 672 413 370 Fax: 0034 672 413 370
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J.L Boats This small company offer a navigation school but the do offer the the opportunity to hire various types and sizes of boats giving you an opportunity to play at captain for a day. Although based in Torrevieja at the Real Club Nรกutico de Torrevieja, they also can meet up with clients in ports from Santa Pola to la Manga.
A six metre six places SENSACION VIVA 600 OPEN
RIO 600 OPEN is another six-seater comfortable boat that has a 115cv Honda motor.
The 8-seater REMUS 620 OPEN HONDA 150 CV is upmarket with lots of extras.
607917826 / 607917826 or alquilerdebarcos@hotmail.com
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SUNSET BEACH SAILING Puerto deportivo Marina Salinas Muelle de Poniente 03181 Torrevieja (Alicante) info@sunsetbeachsailing.com
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(+34) 677 326 415
With their sailboat, a Beneteau Oceanis 38, you can discover the region of Torrevieja, Tabarca Island, Mar Menor or to make the crossing to the Balearic Islands. Sunset Beach Sailing offers you charter with or without captain and also the possibility of short skippered trips which include the drinks and food. Total customer satisfaction is our main goal to make your navigation an unforgettable experience. Other boats are available including a six seater Rio Cruiser 750 or another six-seater Quicksilver 630.
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Max Scuba diving Torrevieja This possibility can be found in collaboration with Scubaworld and offers several possibilities for scuba diving or obtaining Padi qualifications including Pro. There are many beautiful underwater locations on the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida where experienced divers can take you to explore the rich variety of marine life. For experienced divers there are several wrecks and occasional night dives. Scubaworld is a small PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Center, where personal attention and safety comes first.
address is: Scubaworld Calle Geminis 28 03189 Orihuela Costa. gps: 37.946272,-0.729403 Tel: 0034 667057640 Email: info@divecostablanca.com
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Inside Torrevieja Harbour
Torrevieja has a Sea & Salt Museum with part of it floating inside the harbour at its own quay. The rest is in the town centre near the far end of the paseo Vista Alegre. At the moment it is possible to board the Delfin S-61 submarine that was commissioned in Torrevieja, hence its connection with the town. There is a three-masted sailing ship, Pascual Flores, that is not visitable just now. After a visit to the submarine the spaciousness of the custom and excise boat, Albatros III, is apparent. All the Customs boats are named after seabirds and this particular one was home over the years for many Torrevieja sailors. The fishermen’s wharf is also inside the harbour area with about a dozen sea going vessels and other small lamprey boats with lights for night fishing, and an ice factory. There are three marinas in the harbour so it is possible to watch the multitude and diversity of the ships sailing in an out of Torrevieja. A good position is at the lighthouse at the end of the harrier wall walkway.
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Also within the harbour near the Casino cultural centre, there are two ships that make daily, regular Tabarca Island trips and short ones around the local seashore, usually in the evening. It takes about half and hour to get to the island. Tickets can be bought at the kiosk located just behind the Marina bar, opposite the Casino. One of these is a catamaran style, so there is a seethrough bottom where it is possible to observe the seabed. It is possible to hire for large parties as it has a bar aboard.
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In the summer months Torrevieja has an aqua-park, Aquopolis Torrevieja, opened from 9 June to the 7 September. It is possible to get a season pass which works out quite cheap, but otherwise it is better to allot a full day for a visit. Attractions include Kamikaze, Speed and Boomerang. Moderate attractions are those that adults and little ones (well, not so little) most enjoy. These are soft Slides called “Speed Race”, Zig Zag and Rapids, among many others. Children are the stars of Aquopolis Torrevieja and, therefore, they have areas exclusive to them. The children’s area, designed with them in mind, have a varied selections of attractions tailor-made for them: Mini Park, Charmed Lake and Mini ZigZag. In MiniClub the entertainment team organises activities throughout the day for children who are not yet very skilled in the water or for those those who want to leave the pool for a while, such as balloon, games, bowling, paint, draw or play so that the little ones entertained, for example, while their parents eat. It is possible to buy a Speedy Ticket that gets you a bit of fast lane privilege and cuts the waiting time on attractions. Look out for Azul (Blue) days that offer a discount. There are several eateries, ice cream outlets and bars. It is possible to organize discounted parties for birthdays and other occasions with fun activities. Obviously there is a watchful First Aid section with doctor, nurse and ambulance. Aquagym activity is performed twice a day in the wave pool “Beach Waves” of Aquopolis Torrevieja as well as twice daily classes of step and dance. There is a shop and the possibility to hire sunbeds, floats, lockers or a safety deposit box. You can feel like a special person in the VIP Zone of Aquopolis Torrevieja, an isolated and privileged area of the park for those who just want to chill out and relax.
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Costa Blanca Quad Tours Carreterra Orihuela | CV95 km 13 no. 4, 03310 Torrevieja, EspaĂąa +34 696 73 90 48 Jenni (Mobile) +34 660816620 Derek (Mobile) +34 696739048
Most activities take place on or around the Pedrera Lake, Torremendo. The area is truly breathtaking and unspoilt, rich in indigenous flora and fauna, surrounded by olive, orange and almond groves. Apart from Quad Biking, on offer are many other popular outdoor activities such as: Horseriding, Pony Trekking, Air Rifle Shooting, Archery, Kayaking/Canoeing including our popular combo packages. Quad biking is our most popular activity and is available all year round. The automatic quad bikes are easy to drive and are suitable for all ages and abilities. aormi@icloud.com
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Another popular activity park is also at Torremendo. LO RUFETE ADVENTURE PARK, is in the nature area over looking the Costa Blanca & La Pedrera lakeside and only 8 km from Torrevieja. Lo Rufete is a rural finca that makes use of the outdoors to offer quads, horse riding, Eco Friendly Cars, paint ball, mini golf, kayaking, zip wire, archery, a mini park with things like children’s games and bouncy castle. Colleges and Institutes are catered for with a program selected by the establishment according to budget and needs. These courses help in team building and encouraging leadership. Groups for adults are also offered with a minimum of ten people. There is a swimming pool and BBQ area as well as a Volleyball court. With so much to do any outing needs to be planned and reserved in advance. LO RUFETE MULTIAVENTURA PARK Ctra. Torrevieja Orihuela, cruce hacia Torremendo C.V. km.1, CV-951, 03193 San Miguel de Salinas, Alicante, España Booking: 605 815 636
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The Costa Blanca and the Costa Calida are both areas that hot a lot of adventure style activities. O U T B O U N D ADVENTURES is a company based in Altea, in the Alicante province of
Joe Michael Reed +34 634377716 (Whats App. + Viber) Siv Midtbø: +34 634343232 (Whats App) E-mail: outboundadventuress pain@gmail.com
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the Costa Blanca, Spain. We offer amazing guided Mountain walks/hikes in the beautiful local Mountain ranges and nature reserves of this area. Hiking in the areas of Marina Baja and La Marina Alta. With such a variety of countryside there are possibilities for Paragliding in Tandem, and Hiking with experienced mentors, exploring some of this lovely landscape.
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Earthquake Fiestas
The terrible earthquakes in Greece last month is a reminder that most of the Mediterranean coastline is on a fail and liable to earthquakes. The co-patron saint of Torrevieja is San Emigdio to whom people pray to to protect them from seismic danger. Each year the district of San Roque in Acequion have fiestas in honor of San Emigdio. They begin on 2nd August until Sunday 6th August. As usual a stage is set up for music and on 2nd at 10 in the evening there is a free hot chocolate served with a mona sweetbread. On 3rd the dancing begins at 9 p.m. with a live concert by a local group Berverana. Friday events begin at 9.30 at night with a raffle followed by dancing again. Saturday begins at 7 p.m. and has special events for the children with games, clowns etc. with drinks and snacks for all the kids. At 9.30 the live music begins again with dancing. 6th August, Sunday is a more solemn day with an open-air Mass and the procession of the statue of the saint from the small chapel in the Park of the Nations. Accompanied by theLos Salerosos brass band they proceed to the streets of San Policarpo, Bilbao, Santa Trinidad, San Emigdio, JosĂŠ Hurtado Romero, and San Policarpo mostly in the district of Calvario (or the Molinos). Afterwards the procession ends back at the Park of the Nations where there is a firework display and the raffle. aormi@icloud.com
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Spain’s Yellow Jersey in Torrevieja
Thanks to the sensible intervention of Eduardo Dolon, the Alicante Diputacion will support the Torrevieja stage of the annual cycling Tour of Spain – La Vuelta. Torrevieja’s mayor, Jose Maria Dolon had already stated that he could not get enough volunteers for the security of the race in the town. A large part of the reason is that the local police are a bit fed up with doing things “voluntarily” without getting paid for all those extra hours and frequently have to revert to the courts to get paid for the many extra hours they are forced to work. Hopefully the town council will take up the offer of the Diputacion. La Vuelta, as it is called, begins on the 19th August until 10th September, with the international teams cycling through some of the most beautiful countryside of Spain. There are 3,297,7 kilometres of different terrain; flat ones such as the stage of Torrevieja and coast, but also hits mountains and valleys with differing steepness. This is the 72-year of the race, which follows on the heels of the famous Tour de France. There are 21 stages or etapas. It is a big money making enterprise and cities offer money for the beginning of these professional races and that means that sometimes it can start outside the country promoting the race, as in this year starting in Nimes in France. Spanish Television closely follows this Spanish race and the theme music chosen is ‘Bailarina' by Maldita Nerea. Italian company Santini Cycling Wear provides the 600 mailots chosen for the four leading classifications. These are specially designed for the comfort and security of the cyclists and are like a second skin. The 9th stage on 27 August is Orihuela to Cumbre del Sol, some 176,3 kilometers. This is a grand opportunity for the Costa Blanca tothave international television and media coverage. Often TV crews will make mini-reports of the places they pass through for other programs such as travel ones. So it is a great chance for Orihuela, Torrevieja, Guardamar etc.
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