044 october torrevieja outlook

Torrevieja Outlook

Nº 44 - October 2017

044 October 2017 Calendar – fiestas – Crevillente Moors & Christians – Valencian Day – Pilar Puente – El Campello invasion – Callosa d’Ën Sarria – Pilgrimages – Rafal – La Mata – Medieval fair – Guarani – Maytime in October – 2018 solidarity calendar – Melilla – Volvo village – Torrevieja Tattoos or Piercing – MedTech – Torrevieja coves and capes – What’s On.

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October is the month of the Angels and the Virgen of the Rosary, so fiestas tend to have a religious bent.

On each Sunday of the month the songs of the Rosario de la Aurora are realised in Benferri, Callosa de Segura, Benijófar and Granja de Rocamora.

Depending on custom this may include a choir, a band, a procession and the rosary sung.

1 - 10th

Patronal fiestas of Rafal.

2 - 10th Patronal fiestas in Pilar de la Horadada a town with magnificent beaches.

The local ‘pilareños’ have a great devotion to the Virgin of Pilar as can be witnessed in the annual flora offering with more than 40,000 flowers. If you look at her image you can see see a staff leaning against the statue. This is a symbol that in 1997 she was declared as Perpetual Mayor of the town. The present image is the work of a local sculptor José Sánchez Lozano in 1935 replacing a previous statue by Saltillo destroyed int he civil war. aormi@icloud.com

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The parish church now occupies the place that was previously a chapel dedicated to the Sacred Hart of Jesus but this had tone demolished in 1745 and the new church built in 1752. The church houses several of the images carried in the Semana Santa processions. A fairly recent acquisition is a large stained glass window that depicts a pelican, the symbol of the Eucharist which feeds its young with its own flesh.

The Roman Via Augusta passed this way and there are efforts to recuperate this part of the town’s history, so it may be seen in fiestas.

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4th Oct.

Moors & Christians in Crevillente are of National Touristic Interest and well worth seeing and is in its 52nd year. A difference in Crevillente is that it does not end up with victors and vanquished but in a peaceful pact made between ambassadors. The groups or comparsas of the two opposing armies - Christian and Moros - are:Comparsa Dragones de San Jorge.

Comparsa Guerreros Astures Comparsa Almogávares Comparsa Maseros Comparsa Caballeros del Cid Comparsa Castellano Leonesa Comparsa Beduinos Comparsa Berberiscos Comparsa Omeyas Comparsa Marroquíes Comparsa Moros Viejos Tuareg Comparsa Benimerines

Moors & Christians are not just for a day or a week, but tend to spill into other festive occasions such as here at the Hogueras.

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Normally on the 1st weekend of the month: Moors & Christians in Benidorm, but this year there was a change of date so it goes from 27th September to 1st October. .

4 - 7th Oct.

Patronal fiestas in Polop.

Patronal fiestas of Sella.

Patronal fiestas in Planes.

Alcoy holds a week of traditional dancing

24th September - 7th Oct. Guardamar del Segura celebrates the festival of the Virgen del Rosario beginning in September and running into October with a variety of events ending on 7th October with a grand procession. On 1st October after a Mass there is floral offering starting in the Avenida del Pais Valencia sending with a jot dance. at 22.30 a Verbena in the main plaza with music by trío “Everest”.

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Nearest Sunday to the 7th the fiestas of the Virgen del Rosario are held in Albatera, Rojales and Torrelamata (Torrevieja).

The Torrelamata ones are a continuation of the September fiestas with paellas, funfair, 30th September kids stuff in the plaza of the Ayuntamiento at 12:00 then in the evening with a Gran Verbena and disco music. 7th October there will be the carnival parade at 18:00.

7th Oct.

Petrer fiesta in honour of the Virgen del Remedio. During the following Sundays of October the carnival type fiesta of les Carasses is held in Petrer with old traditional dances.

7 - 12th Patronal fiestas of Los Montesinos.

2nd week of October the Fiesta de la Cerveza (oktoberfest) is held in Calpe.

12th Oct. National holiday in honour of the Virgen del Pilar celebrated in every town and especially in Pilar de la Horadada.

12 - 15th El Campello holds excellent Moors & Christian fiestas.

1st Sunday after the 12th the ‘Baile del Vino’ is held in Los Montesinos.

2nd weekend until the following Tuesday there are Moors & Christians in Callosa d’En Sarrià.

19 - 22nd Calpe fiestas.

3rd Sunday (from the previous Thursday to this Sunday) patronal fiestas of Benimantell.

Monday after 3rd Sunday festival in Xaló. aormi@icloud.com

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1st Sunday after 25th San Crispín fiestas in Elche.

Last two weeks of the month a Feria held in Villena.

Last week of the month Calpe holds the Gran Día de las Quintas.

Last Sunday of October fiestas to honour the Virgen del Rosario in Granja de Rocamora.

Valencian Day All the Valencian towns celebrate the ‘Dia de Valencia’ on the 9th October, which is a local public holiday in the Region with most shops closed and people take the opportunity to drive to Murcia city for a shopping spree; often one meets people one hasn’t seen for ages on this day in Murcia.

In Alicante a m e d i e v a l market is held o n t h e Esplanade, mainly aimed at entertaining children with jesters and street entertainers.

Several towns, especially the capital Valencia, have several local events and most shops are closed. This date is a reference point in the history of Valencia when King Jaime I triumphantly entered the city of Valencia in 1238 having ousted the Moors. aormi@icloud.com

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Pilar Puente

The 12th October is a national public holiday celebrating the feast of the Virgen del Pilar. Often the 9th and 12th happily coincide with a weekend, so many people take a long ‘puente’ or bridging break. This year it is a Monday and a Thursday, so many people will take the Tuesday, Wednesday and the Friday and enjoy a week’s holiday.

According to tradition St. James (the Elder) the Apostle, spent seven years preaching in Spain around 40 AD before returning to Israel, where he was eventually beheaded in the persecutions against the Christians in Jerusalem. He is supposed to have built a temple to the holy Virgin Mary in Zaragoza, as she had appeared to him above a marble pillar. This led to the devotion of the Virgen del Pilar and today thousands of Spanish girls are named Pilar.

Under this title the Virgin Mary is regarded as the patroness of Spain and also of the Guardia Civil; there are normally speeches, parades and a flag raising ceremony in front of town halls. It is also a day when links with other Spanish speaking nations are remembered and is known as ‘el dia de Hispanidad’.

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Angel of the Salt Lakes St. Michael the Archangel is the patron of San Miguel de las Salinas who shares the day with St. Gabriel the Archangel on 29th September. Among events held during the patronal fiestas in San Miguel de Salinas will be the election of the Queen and her Damas de Honor, the parade of floats, go-kart racing, a giant paella and a Grand Dinner/Dance. The Barraca Popular will once again be raised for a variety of exhibitions and concerts.

Paella competitions El Altet also celebrates their patron, San Francisco de Asís, with a week of fun and games. During the first week of this month the town’s Plaza Mayor is the scene of paella competitions with around 80 dishes being cooked. Plenty of

events may include a foam party.

A special Mass on the saint’s day 4th October with a floral procession as the ladies dress in traditional costume.

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Sea Invasion at El Campello As the sun rises the Moorish ships appear and the troops disembark in El Campello hoping to surprise the waiting populace. A sentinel spies them and raises the alarm.

However, waiting for them in the shallow waters and on the beach are the Christians, some warriors, others ordinary towns folk desperate to defend their homes. This is the setting for the first encounter of the town’s famous Moors & Christian festival every October.

This is one of the best events of its type on the Costa Blanca and is worth a visit to this small town to enjoy the parades of strutting gaudily clad warriors, some incongruously wearing spectacles or puffing on a cigar as they fire off their medieval armaments.

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It always begins, as do most fiestas with the Pregon or introductory speech. Another night is dedicated to fire in the form of fireworks of various kinds and not for dogs or the fainthearted.

Another parade is The Retreat, which is a humorous event with people in fancy dress.

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Tourist Attractive fiestas in Callosa d’Én Sarria.

It is also fiesta time in Callosa d Én Sarrià and from the second Sunday in October (9th)Moors & Christians rule the streets. Exerting a combination of powerful attractions on the local populace, including theatrics, farce, masquerading and special costumes, music, gunpowder and general revelling, the Moors & Christians festivities have now become the showcase fiestas of the provinces of Alicante and Valencia. Since 1860 the town has celebrated fiestas in this month but the Moors & Christians wee considered to be of National Touristic interest in 1985.

Callosa d'en Sarrià is a Valencian town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, still in the province of Alicante, Spain, lying in the valley of the river Guadalest, 50 km from the city of Alicante. The Fonts de l’Algar (Algar Waterfalls) are at 3 km from the centre of Callosa, heading towards Bolulla, and Tàrbena. The Algar waterfalls form a natural park with an elevated grade of conservation of the ecological richness and one of those must-sees in a tourist itinerary. The economy of Callosa is chiefly based on tourism and agriculture: it is the main producer of loquat in Spain and also produces medlars.. The most important monuments in the town aormi@icloud.com

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are the Catholic archpriestal church of Sant Joan Baptista (Saint John), built in the 18th century, and the Fortress of Bèrnia, built by Engineer Giovani Battitista Antonelli in1562 at the at the top of Originally it was a wonderful and clear exponent of the military architecture ordered by King Philip II. But because it was so far from the actual coast it was demolished by another Phillip III, in 1612.

However, you can still see the arches, the fosse, the bastion, the well and the wall remains. The wall measured 100 meters long and 100 meters wide. It has been considered as a Property of Culture Interest since 1997. There are explanatory panels that show the ancient running and use of the Fort.

Callosa dÉn Sarria fiestas go back to 1860 and include traditional dancing of the warriors, processions and a Floral Offering to the town’s patroness la Virgen de las Injurias. These fiestas are considered to be part of Spain’s national heritage and have been declared of National Touristic Interest since 1985.

The town’s fiestas are in honour of the Virgen de las Injurias; celebrations that go back to 1866. The town was originally a Moorish one until the 13th century when Jaime I incorporated it into his kingdom. It takes its name from Admiral Bernat de Sarrià who purchased it from king Alfonso I of Valencia and II of Aragon in 1290.

During the 16th century the land was bought over on several occasions by different noble families; the most recent in 1767 by the Count of Orgaz. The Rio Algar makes the area fairly fertile and, therefore, attractive.

The church, dedicated to San Juan Bautista, was reconstructed in the middle of the 17th century. There are still the remains of the original castle in the Plaza del Castell supposedly built by the original Admiral. In the XVIIIth century the stones were gradually used to build other houses nearby.

During these fiestas a dozen groups of Moors and Christians parade in style. These celebrations take place from the second Saturday of October. Men and women form aormi@icloud.com

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the contingents of the two opposing forces of the Moors and Christians, while a castle is set up in front of the Ayuntamiento as the centre piece of the various festival acts. Children have their own part to play in the dance known as el ‘Ball de les Pastoretes’ or dance of the shepherds.

Distinguishing these events from other ones is the ‘war’ dances which are held at midnight on the Saturday and Sunday in the Plaza del Convento. Another feature is the dance of the Bigheads undertaken by two groups of three pairs representing good and evil. Three pairs of Cabezudos (Bigheads) precede the files of warriors as they chase away the devil and frighten the children who run away screeching and laughing. These Cabezudos have their own peculiar dance at midday on the Saturday. During the fiestas children dress in traditional costumes and perform the Ball de Les Pastoretes: first on the Saturday afternoon in the local church, later at the Floral Offering and then on the Monday at midday in the Church Plaza. There are some unique musical instruments used in the bands and during the Civil War these disappeared only to re-appear once the fighting was over.

In the procession of the Virgen youngsters dress up as Biblical characters as well as saints such as Santa Bárbara, Santa Úrsula and accompanied by a group called nanos who dance along the way. The actual image of the Virgen is a beautiful piece of workmanship: she is seated on a throne carrying the Child Jesus and surrounded by cherubs.

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Other Moors & Christians There are more Moors & Christian parades in Calpe from Friday 17th - 22nd.

They begin at 13:00 with the bells ringing and the bombardment and a parade at 19:00. Later after midnight in their camps (kabilas) a traditional dance of the Christian captain. On Saturday at 19:00in the abda Gabriel Miro another spectacular parade of the warriors. Sunday is the big day with the disembarkation of the Moors at 11:00 in the playa del Arenal followed by a vigorous battle.

At 19;00 it is the children’s turn with their own parade. Then on the following morning the Monday 20 October between 11:00 and 13:00 children’s games and amusements in the plaza Mayor. This is repeated again on the Tuesday morning.Other main activities are a triode of Masses.

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In Benidorm Moors & Christians this year begin on 27th September and end on 1st October . There is a stage at the beginning of the month with the emphasis on music, fireworks and pageantry. This is near the end of the round of festivities relating to the Moors & Christians in the Alicante province and Benidorm do it well.

In addition there are concerts and other activities with the Roser on 13 - 15 October, a agricultural fair from 8/9/and 12 October. The local Casa de Andalusia celebrate a Rocio Chico from 19th to 21 October in true Andalusian style. .

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Benejuzar and o t h e r Pilgrimages Benidorm is not the only town to hold pilgrimages this month. At BenejĂşzar a new sanctuary has been built for the statue of the Virgen del Pilar; at the beginning of the fiestas the statue is carried in a ceremonial procession, then a romeria is held to conduct the image back to the new sanctuary at the end of the festival.

The romeria has more than 30,000 people taking part and is a very colourful and emotional event.

Usually a group of people from Torrevieja attend this event.

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Among other romerias (pilgrimages) in honour of the Virgen del Pilar on 12th October. These are very common in the Vega Baja area and are held in Pilar de la Horadada, Callosa de Segura and Benejúzar.

In the park Huerto del Cura in Bigastro there is an event worth attending when traditional music and dancing is held; some brave souls make up a human pyramid in the Catalan style and there are various theatrical events.

Los Montesinos Los Montesinos is still a young town insofar as it is only just over a decade since it became a separate municipal entity. Slowly the townsfolk are recuperating old traditions and during the fiestas in honour of the Virgen del Pilar a romeria is held in conjunction with many sporting and social activities. Each year more foreign residents are actively participating in the colourful parades and verbenas.

Los Montesinos was segregated from Almoradi in 1990 having been a part of that town since the 16th century. Part of it borders on the Torrevieja La Mata Lake. The town takes its name from the family who originally owned the lands in the time of Cardinal Belluga, who was the driving force behind settling people in remote rural areas, often noted for being the refuge of bandits. The Cardinal was responsible for founding several towns in the Vega Baja area. The church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Pilar, built in 1886. It was renovated between 1996-1999. Nearby is the Roman highway Via Augusta and there are the remains of two Roman villas - La Marquesa and Lo Montanar. This highway linked Rome with Cadiz passing over the aormi@icloud.com

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River Segura at what is now Los Montesinos, leading on down to Cartagena. The area is rich in wells and small reservoirs, which indicates the reason why there is so much agricultural development. It would be a pity if the local authorities permitted too much construction in the municipal area.

Later there was a Moorish presence and an important discovery in the 1970’s was ‘the treasure of La Marquesa’ that consisted of 246 silver coins from the Xth and XIth centuries. La Marquesa was the central most important house in the area serving as the parish church and housed the original hermitage until the present parish was constituted. The Jesuits owned the property in the XVIIIth century, just after the 1829 earthquake, and undertook reforms to the chapel dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Rosario.

The present parish church has a lovely statue of Nuestra Señora del Pilar made by José Sánchez Lozano of Pilar de la Horadada. Another striking figure is that of la ‘Virgen de la Dolorosa’ in the style of the Salzillo school. Another interesting image is by an unknown person, that of ‘el Cristo de la Agonía’. Nowadays the town has an official population of over 3,000, but is much greater than that as there is a continual influx of people buying new properties in what is a growing town. The new Town Hall was inaugurated at the beginning of 2003.

Each year the town participates in various tourist fairs in an attempt to attract more visitors to this inland town.

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Rafal This is another small Vega Baja town that has a long history dating from the 13th century. It is located on the outskirts of Orihuela near the hospital. The Arabs had ownership of the village and it was named Rahal A l . Wa z i r, but gradually Christian families were allowed to live and work on the farmland and gradually the town’s present name emerged. The land was extremely fertile as originally it was underwater as part of an estuary. Floodwaters of the nearby River Segura were common and covered the land and left the earth very fertile. Possibly before the Arabs there was a Roman presence. The crops on the 152 hectares of land produced fruit and vegetables for nearby Orihuela market.

Eventually the village came under the Kingdom of Valencia and the Aragon crown but there was an uprising in1266 against the ruling that everyone must become a Christian and an army was sent to fight the insurgents. Some of the villagers fled to Arab controlled Granada, others were deported and the village was used as a lesson to warn other Arabic towns against rising against the crown. Christians, mostly from Callosa, Aragon and Cataluña, repopulated the lands. In 1636 King Felipe IV granted Jerónimo Rocamora the title of Marques of Rafal and four years later it was named as a parish dedicated to the Virgen of the Holy Rosary. For this reason the town’s main fiestas are held in October and the actual church dates from around 1700. Contracts were issued to smallholders to work the land in perpetuity with a percentage of the produce being handed over to the marques in a typical medieval serfdom.

Civil war broke out in Spain and marques Jaime Rosell supported the Archduke Carlos of the Hapsburg family against the French Bourbon Duke of Anjou. He backed the wrong side and all the previous rights were abolished and the Madrid aormi@icloud.com

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government administered the land. In the 18th century a number of drainage projects were instituted along the River Segura reclaiming land that was ideal for growing citrus crops.

The town prospered until the devastating earthquake of 1829 which had its epicentre in Rafal and destroyed most of the buildings and killing eight people with ripples that extended as far as Murcia and the African coastline and demolished towns like Dolores, Torrevieja and San Miguel de las Salinas. The irrigation system was badly damaged and many villagers lost their livelihood.

Although still a producer of oranges and lemons Rafal tended to be a bit of a backwater with an average population of around 400. However, the new prosperity of the second half of the 20th century meant a new impulse for the town and by 2000 there was a population over over 3,000 inhabitants. By 2008 there were nearly 5,000 inhabitants with many of them coming from Latin American and African countries to work in agriculture. The town cannot grow any more because of its municipal limits unless land is taken from nearby towns, as was the case of Torrevieja.

It is a small town that can be walked around away from the main road there are some nice corners to visit. Rafal has its own Music Academy and a tradition of band playing. The parish church clock dates from after the 1936-39 Civil War. The plaza de EspaĂąa is the main square and often the scene for traditional dancing. Rafal has a weekly market each Thursday.

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La Mata

Most of the fiestas during October are related to the angels or to the Virgin of the Holy Rosary. During the first week of October celebrations are held at la Mata where the church is dedicated to the Holy Rosary: this was the original parish before Torrevieja itself was considered to be a parish. It was built around a former Roman tower built to protect the workers extracting salt from La Mata lake 2,000 years ago.

The tower was damaged in early storms this year and is being strengthened and 600,000 euros is destined for the recuperation of the promenade at La Mata.

There is a small wine industry in La Mata and each year the harvest is celebrated. It is usually in August with a fiesta of los Toneles but it is always advisable to check dates and times of events locally as often these are not fixed until almost the last moment.

La Mata has its own history and traditions and an all year round calendar of fiestas and events. It has its own town hall with a statue in front dedicated to the women who helped bring in the harvest.

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Cocetaina’s modern medieval fair Cocentaina is a mountain town that holds a medieval market known as La Fira de Tots Sants, the Fair of All Saints, whose liturgical feastday it is. It had its origins in 1346, the year in which Pedro IV, the King of Aragón, conceded the right to hold a fair in this area from 21st September to 14th October. In 1671 the dates were altered to the end of October and the first day of November. This fair brings together the cultures of Christian, Arab, Mudejar and Gitano, that co-existed quite happily centuries ago. Each year there are over 900 exhibitors from small stallholders to large international firms. It is not only traditional crafts, modern inventions can be found in this fair with an emphasis on home improvements. It is considered to be of National Touristic Interest and attracts thousand of people each year.

The town has great Moors & Christian parades in April. If you visit be sure to taste some of the local cuisine of the mountains "mentirons", "pericana", "espencat" de bacalao, "olleta", "borreta", arroz caldoso, "paella de sabater", arroz con conejo, torta de maíz, arroz al horno, "tostons", "café licor", "l'olleta de caragols", "herbero", mistela,.

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Guarani drink

by Pat Hynd

One of the fascinating histories is that of the Jesuit Reductions or missions in Paraguay as can be seen in the film The Mission.

Spanish cuisine owes a lot to the conquest of the Americas as the conquistadors brought so many plants and even customs back to Spain.

In the heart of South America, Paraguay's answer to 100-degree heat is a centuries-old Indian refreshment. For many there, the early light of day is met with hot yerba mate. As the day progresses, businessmen and farm labourers alike stop to sip terere, a cool version of yerba mate. The drinking of hot or cold infusions of the native yerba plant is an intrinsic element in the everyday routine in both the country and the city.

Indeed it is one of Argentinian born Pope Francis’ tipples.

In South America's heartland -- Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil and northern Argentina -- yerba mate is drunk through a bombilla (straw) from sunup to sundown from plastic cup, from silver, from gold. The yerba is an indigenous plant that grows wild in eastern Paraguay.

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"Terere is very refreshing, it doesn't have any calories and it gives you a little bit of stimulant, like Coke," said Dr. Meredith Smith, an American nutritionist doing research for Kansas State University's Department of Foods and Nutrition.

Guarani Indians originally discovered the appeal of the yerba plant. When Jesuit missionaries arrived from Spain in the early 1600's, they found the Indians chewing the leaves of a plant later labelled Ylex Paraguayensis.

After chewing these dark green leaves, the Indians were rejuvenated for work in sugar cane, cotton, tobacco or indigo fields. The Jesuits domesticated the wild plant and "Jesuit tea," as yerba mate was familiarly called, became a primary cash crop, first under missionary supervision and, later, in private enterprises. This became one of the main sources of income for the Reduction Missions ensuring a high degree of independence from the Spanish colonies. After their expulsion in the 1770s, the Jesuit missions – along with the yerba mate plantations – fell into ruins.

The lores and rituals of drinking yerba mate are very much a part of Paraguayan life. Babies are given a version of the green tea made with milk, and are served galletas (biscuits). At the age of 13 or 14, a boy samples his first terere, an informal sign of reaching manhood.

Mate hypercorrected as maté in English to get the emphasis on the “e”, but never in Spanish or Portuguese, where it is often pronounced "jerba"), also known as yerba mate, chimarrão.

It is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink, particularly in Argentina (where it is defined by law as the "national infusion"),Uruguay, Paraguay, the Bolivian Chaco, Southern Brazil and southern Chile. It is also consumed in Syria, the largest importer in the world, and by the Druze in Lebanon and popular in Syria. Attempts have been made to import it into Spain, but so far unsuccessfully. In recent years it has had a large USA market. Itt can be bought in Mercadonna Rather like a fondue it is often a family ritual sharing from the same gourd-like container and bombillo.

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MAYTIME IN OCTOBER The clocks change this month, which may be why the town hall has got confused with the annual May fair being held from 11 - 15 O c t o b e r .

Promises have been made that it will revert back to its normal time in May. This is a very colorful fiesta of Sevillianas with the ladies in their flamboyant dresses and men strutting with waistcoat and Cordoba hats. It means that it falls within the national holiday of the 12th, which may mean that there will be more people around.

It is a spectacular affair and people love the procession of horses and carriages that is a central feature of this event. The mini-town of casetas and roads will once again be laid out with plenty of bars and a variety of food. Each caseta has a small floor space for anyone who fancies dancing, but there is a central stage with performances each night of solos and groups sining and dancing traditional music and dances.

It is a fair of light, music, dance and an opportunity to dress up in Andalusian style.

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The annual 2018 Solidarity Calendar is about the Costa Blanca with some unusual photos of places to visit. As usual this calendar is a mini-book with lots of information in its 16 pages about fiestas, places to visit, public holidays in Spain, U.K. and Ireland.

Once again its author, Andy Ormiston, also includes religious and secular dates, full moons and clock change reminders. Thanks to the sponsors it is available free to over 30 associations to sell and raise funds for the own requirements.

There is plenty of space in the date boxes to write appointments, birthdays etc. but most months also have a small area for notes.

There are over 30 relevant photos donated by photographers showing not only places, but fiestas, gastronomy, sports of land and sea. The photos of each month explore some of the best seaside towns, but also places inland that are little gems, not to mention the only habitable island of Tabarca.

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Melilla - Spain in Africa

Melilla is a Spanish autonomous enclave located on the north coast of Africa, sharing a border with Morocco, with an area of 12.3 square kilometres (4.7 sq mi).

Melilla, along with Ceuta, is one of two permanently inhabited Spanish cities in mainland Africa. It was part of the Province of Málaga until 14 March 1995, when the city's Statute of Autonomy was passed.

In 2011 it had a population of 78,476 mostly from Andalusia and Catalonia.

It takes its name from a Berber word meaning, “white one”. However, its origins go back further to Phoenicians and later was part of the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana and known as Rusaddir. During the Middle Ages, it was the Berber city of Melilla.

In the Conquest of Melilla, the duke Juan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán, 3rd Duke of Medina Sidonia, sent Pedro Estopiñán to take the city in the name of the Catholic Monarchs, who conquered the city virtually without a fight in 1497, a few years after Castile had taken control of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, the last remnant of Al-Andalus, in 1492.

Treaties fixed the current limits of the Spanish territory around the fortress with Morocco in 1859, 1860, 1861, and 1894. Melilla expanded its territory and became the only authorized centre of trade on the Rif coast between Tetuan and the Algerian frontier. But has been a continuous battle to keep the area as Spanish and in 1893, the Rif Berbers launched the First Melillan campaign and 25,000 Spanish soldiers had to be dispatched against them. Once again in June 1909 the workmen at the nearby mines were again attacked and several of them killed.

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Severe fighting between the Spaniards and the tribesmen followed, in the Second Melillan campaign.

In 1910, with the Rif having submitted, the Spaniards restarted the mines and undertook harbour works at Mar Chica, but hostilities broke out again in 1911. Then again in 1921 the Berbers under the leadership of Abd el Krim inflicted a grave defeat on the Spanish and were not defeated until 1926, when the Spanish Protectorate finally managed to control the area again. There is an excellent series (Tiempos de Guerra) dedicated to the nurses who looked after the wounded in a very overcrowded city. The Spanish used chemical weapons on the Rifs.

General Francisco Franco used the city as one of his staging grounds for his Nationalist rebellion in 1936, starting the Spanish Civil War and bought the services of Moroccans to fight on the Nationalist side. They had a merciless reputation of raping and killing the wounded.

Today, because it is Spanish territory, there are always North Africans and from further south, trying to cross the large fence around Melilla to gain Spanish soil and thus protection as asylum seekers. The government of Morocco has requested from Spain the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, Perejil Island and some other small territories. The Spanish position is that both Ceuta

There is a regular ferry service between Malaga and Melilla from 35euros

and Melilla are integral parts of the Spanish state, and have been since the 15th century, even before the foundation of Morocco as a country.

Melilla has a warm Mediterranean climate influenced by its proximity to the sea, rendering much cooler summers and more precipitation than inland areas deeper into Africa. The climate in general has a lot in common with the type found in southern coastal Spain on the European mainland. Melilla is regularly connected aormi@icloud.com

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to the Iberian Peninsula by air and sea traffic and is also economically connected to Morocco: most of its fruit and vegetables are imported across the border.

Moroccans in the city's hinterland are attracted to it: 36,000 Moroccans cross the border daily to work, shop or trade good Melilla's Capilla de Santiago, or James's Chapel, by the city walls, is the only authentic Gothic structure in Africa.

In the first quarter of the 20th century, Melilla became a thriving port benefitting from the recently established Protectorate of Spanish Morocco in the contiguous Rif. Melilla has been praised as an example of multiculturalism, being a small city in which one can find four major religions represented. However, the Christian majority of the past, constituting around 65% of the population at one point, has been shrinking, while the number of Muslims has steadily increased to its present 45% of the population due to immigration from Muslim countries.

The Jewish and Hindu communities have also been shrinking due to economic emigration to mainland Spain (notably Malaga and Madrid).

With such diverse religions fiestas tend to centre around their feast dates. The Muslims celebrate the annual Aid-El-Kebir, Fiesta del Cordero in memory of the sacrifice of Abraham. The head of the lamb is turned in the direction of Mecca and is marked with henna indicating it is dedicated to Allah. A third of the animal is given to the needy as an almsgiving. This year it fell on 1st September and everyone had a holiday. aormi@icloud.com

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The Hindus celebrate the Night of the Lights festival in memory of Rama, after fourteen years exile. At this time Hindus place lamps and candles in the temples, or in the doorway of their houses indicating the victory of Truth of Lies.

This is held over three days falling in October or November and is also the start of a new year.

The Christian community tend to celebrate the same fiestas as on the mainland with New Year, the kings arrival, followed by carnival, Semana Santa and Easter 1st May labour day, 15 August Assumption, 8 September Our Lady of Victories, 18 September Melilla Day, 12 October national holiday,1st November, 8 December, 25 December. In May there is a cine festival in the Teatro Kursaal with allied events.

There is the museum of Arqueology and History of Melilla consists of three storeys and a tower of five levels. In the past it has been used as storehouse and also a hospital. The museum also houses a large library and takes the visitor through the history of the city.

Before you leave the old city, be sure to visit Las Cuevas des Coventico, the Caves of the Convent. These natural caverns are said to have been excavated by the Phoenicians and have been used as hiding places throughout different eras. Guided tours are available, but the caves are closed on Mondays.

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There are several beaches:P L AYA S Z O N A SUR lies within the bay with golden sand in an area of 2 , 0 2 0 m e t re s long and 5 0 - 9 0 m e t r e s wide.

- HORCAS COLORADAS beach is 300 metres long with good sand.

- Playa de la Hípica – has an area for small boats and has all the regular services of good sand, first aid, showers and toilets.

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Playa del Hipodromo is a Blue Flag Beach with good beach and waters as well as full services.

Melilla has over 150,000 sq. Metres of green areas plus numerous plazas.

Including the Parque Forestal Juan Carlos I Rey (formerly Parque Forestal "La Granja") and is a good walking area.

The Jardines de la Plaza Cruz Roja are laid out in the place of the former Hospital of the Cruz Roja that served so well during the Rif Wars.

– Jardines Carretera de la Alcazaba are located in the old part of the city.

- Then there are the gardens along the Bulevar Avenida de Europa.

- One of the largest green zones is the Jardines del Agua on the Northern bank of the rio del Oro with 11,500 square metres.

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Volvo Racing in Alicante Village

by Dave Stewart

Alicante is preparing for one of the biggest sailing events of the year when the Alicante Volvo Race Village opens up for business. This year this race is even more grueling sailing races in 11 stages with the ships checking into Lisbon, Cabo City, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Auckland, Itajai, Newport, Cardiff, Gotenmburg, the Hague. The first sprint of 700 miles is for Lisbon, the oldest European capital that once as famous for its navigators and ships scouring the oceans for new trade routes, treasure and Empire building. During November the temperature is around 18ยบ dropping to 11ยบ at night, an example of the extreme temperatures and weather conditions facing the sailors as they sail into Antartica waters

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A total of 45.000 nautical miles – or 83.000 kilometres – takes in four oceans and eleven countries in the world. The Alicante Race Village will be open for a total of 12 days from October 11th to October 22nd, with a full events programme. The Alicante In-Port Race will take place on 14th October. The Brunel team includes British Olympist Annie Lush. Another Olympic Champion in the Team Akzonobel is Martine Grael daughter of the historic Brazilian Torben Grael with a record five gold medals.

During 12 consecutive days you will enjoy a diverse programme of concerts, animations, an introduction to sailing, entertainment for the whole family, an interactive museum and many more surprises that you can't miss.

In the Race Village you will experience at first hand the Volvo Ocean Race, following the development of the in-shore races on the Alicante race course and watching how the participating teams perform.

Team Akzonobel, the Chinese Donfeng Racing Team, is skippered by Simeon Tienport. Xabi Fernández is captain of the MAPFRE Team; Vestas is collaborating with the 11th Hour Racing with Charles Enright at the helm. Hong

Kong is represented by Team Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag captained by David Witt. As with other competitors Clean Seas Turn the Tide on Plastic has a global message about the environment and is captained by Dee Caffari.

The Brunel Team’s message is "Engineering the Future" and skippered by Bouwe Bekking.

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Tattoos or Piercing

by Pat Hynd

Many of the Volvo sailors will likely have a tattoo as this has always been a seafaring thing. Possibly it was a form of identification in case of accident and disfigurement.

It may be fashionable nowadays to have a tattoo or more as well as piercing in different parts of the body, including very intimate areas. Fashion has a way of going around with generations and tattoos and piercing have always been tribal marking since early humans.

When my child was only a few days old, I left her with some Latin A m e r i c a n colleagues who, unknown to me carted her off to Selfridges, where she had her ears pierced and new earrings became part of her.

I was horrified when I saw the drops of blood on her tiny ears, but I soon realized that this was a culture custom as they believed that the earlier it was done then it was easier for the girls to grow up with earrings as part of them.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics published a clinical report about the potential consequences and health risks of tattooing and piercing in adolescents and young adults, co-authored by Breuner and Dr. David Levine, a general pediatrician and professor at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. The report is the first to review the methods used to perform such body modifications in this age group, and it offers long-overdue guidance for parents, Breuner said.

"The number of young adults who want to get tattoos or pierced is increasing," she said. "It's really our mission and our job to promote safety and healthy living for our children as our children go into adulthood."

Breuner and Levine make a clear distinction between self-selected body modifications and self-harm, and they explain how various methods of tattooing, piercing, permanent makeup, henna skin dye "tattoos," scarification and ear stretching are performed professionally. The body can take quite a lot of punishment, but some areas are more sensitive and take longer to heal – the navel takes abut nine months to heal. Complications from piercing or tattoos occasionally occur and may include severe infections, allergic reactions or keloids, a growth of extra scar tissue, Parents should take time out to talk with teens about tattooing and piercing, and to offer guidance if their child has an interest in or questions about body modifications.

They should be encouraging adolescents to seek medical care if they see signs or symptoms of infection after a tattoo or piercing. aormi@icloud.com

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Adolescents should be informed about the implications on how tattoos or piercing may be viewed in the workplace. Tattoos may be taboo in some places.

It is a very personal issue and in many ways helps define a personality.

There are social implications of tattooing and piercing at a young age, including how some employers may frown upon visible tattoos in the workplace or how some adolescents may get tattoos they later regret.

“Tattoo regret” is fairly common because meanings, values and norms change, and tattoos do not. A swastika tattoo may be fashionable in some places but in other countries could have a violent backlash.

Nowadays many women who have had breast cancer and have their breast(s) removed have had tattoos that they feel once more makes a very intimate part of their feminism and is attractive. Really it is a very personal issue and care should be taken to identify a tattoo parlour that correctly uses implements, is artistic, and paramount safe. They will also have a chart with suggestions of their engravings.

Torrevieja has several tattoo shops, but as I have never used them I can make no recommendations or otherwise. The following are very near the centre of Torrevieja so if you were interested it would be worthwhile to take a stroll and check them out yourself. If you don’t like the idea of a aormi@icloud.com

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permanent tattoo it is possible to get a less permanent one or even a stocking sleeve with tattoo design that goes over your arms or legs.

Hold Fast Tattoo Torrevieja,Vini García tatuajes in Calle Caballero de Rodas, nº 35 bajo 2, The Inker Tattoo & Piercing Studio Calle Caballero de Rodas, 73, MEDUSA PIERCING & TATTOO STUDIO - Calle Caballero de Rodas, 70,

Tattoo Galvez, Calle Fotógrafos Darblade, 18 Mr. Butcher Tattoo - Calle Maria Parodi, 103,

Trastornados Tattoo Studio de Tatuajes en Torrevieja at Calle Caballero de Rodas, 58,

tattoo red dragon Torrevieja, Av. Dr. Gregorio Marañon, 48, Manila13 Tattoo - Avenida Gregorio Marañon nº4,

Tutan Tattoo in Calle Villa Madrid, 13,

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Med-tech

by Pat Hynd

Nowadays technology in medicine and medical care is making huge strides and even what began as games is now being taken seriously by the medical profession.

Those with real diabetic problems will know what like it is to have a hypo. Now Healthcare professionals attending a major diabetes conference will get to experience what it feels like to suffer from hypoglycemia.

November's Diabetes Professional Care 2017 (DPC2017) conference will take place on Wednesday 15 November and Thursday 16 November at Olympia, London. Technology is part of the conference and there will be a simulation station where doctors can be experience the symptoms of low blood sugar.

A virtual reality headset will be available to wear which will copy some of the common symptoms people usually experience during low blood sugar. These include blurred aormi@icloud.com

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vision, disorientation, trouble focusing and dizziness. For those in this condition they have to recognise the symptoms, which is not easy as taking a blood glucose reading may mean that it is difficult for the patient to use the meter or read the numbers.

It is hoped the Hypo Hub will give healthcare professionals, who treat people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, a greater insight into the condition.

Healthcare professionals will also get the opportunity to attend a series of workshops about hypoglycemia to learn about how it can impact people's lives.

Another workshop will focus on how important the role of the healthcare professional is in preventing and treating severe hypoglycemia, and how much it can cost the NHS.

DPC, launched in 2015, is a two-day conference in London for healthcare professionals who are involved in diabetes care. The event is free and focuses on real-world, practical education and innovative diabetes healthcare solutions.

A key topic, which will be discussed this year, is the impact of hospital admissions on diabetes control, while specialist sessions at a foot and wound clinic will also take place. Other topics will include 'obesity in practice and diabetes prevention', and 'diabetes technologies and research’.

Blood readings used in U.K. and Spain are different methods. The following chart is useful to show the various. A hypoglycemia is when the glucose level is too low (in Spain under 80 in U.K. under 4.7). A Hyperglycemia is when the levels are dangerously high (Spain is over 120 and U.K.8.2).

But Virtual Reality is used in other fields of health care.

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Training for surgeons usually involves cadavers and a gradual process of assisting more experienced doctors before taking over tasks and bigger portions of the surgery. Virtual reality could provide another means of practice, without any risk to real patients.

Stanford University, for one, has a surgery simulator that even includes haptic feedback for those doing the training.

Stanford's endoscopic sinus surgery simulation uses CT scans from patients to create 3D models for practice, and it's been in use since 2002. While this technology doesn't use a head mounted display, the groundwork that's been done could further the effectiveness of future virtual simulations.

There's a certain amount of fretting which surrounds virtual reality that has to do with what will happen when people can go anywhere and do anything through a VR headset — maybe they won't go anywhere in real life in favor of retreating into an ideal virtual world. The thing is, for those who don't have the ability to get out in the real world, whether they be disabled or elderly, virtual reality could improve their quality of life when they'd otherwise be confined to a single residence, room, or even a bed.

Stanford University engineering students created an immersive virtual reality experience for seniors that let them experience the outside — like a bike ride or a walk on the beach. SUSIE, or Senior-User Soothing Immersive Experience, aormi@icloud.com

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incorporates sound, light, wind, and even temperature changes, and used a large wall-mounted display meant to fill the normal field of vision.

For burn victims, pain is an ongoing issue. Doctors are hoping distraction therapy via virtual reality could help them get a handle on that pain. A VR video game from the University of Washington called SnowWorld, which involves throwing snowballs at penguins and listening to Paul Simon, could alleviate pain during tasks that can be excruciating, like wound care or physical therapy, by overwhelming the senses and pain pathways in the brain.

One treatment for patients with phobias is exposure therapy. In one instance, psychiatrists at the University of Louisville are using VR to help patients deal with fears of things like flying and claustrophobia.

The VR experiences provide for a controlled environment in which patients can face their fears and even practice coping strategies, as well as breaking patterns of avoidance — all while in a setting that's private, safe, and easily stopped or repeated, depending on the circumstances.

Similar to exposure therapy for phobias and anxieties, virtual reality is being put to use to help soldiers with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A paper from the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies cited virtual reality's use in PTSD treatment as far back as 1997 when when Georgia Tech released something called Virtual Vietnam VR. More recently, clinics and hospitals are using virtual reality simulations of warfare akin to Iraq and Afghanistan to help veterans who are, in many ways, continually reliving the traumatic events aormi@icloud.com

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they experienced. In a safe and controlled environment, they can learn how to deal with instances that might otherwise be triggers to behavior that could be destructive to themselves and others.

Professors at the University of Texas, Dallas created a training program to help kids with autism work on social skills. It uses brain imaging and brain wave monitoring, and essentially puts kids in situations like job interviews or blind dates using avatars. They work on reading social cues and expressing socially acceptable behavior. The study found that after completing the program, participants' brain scans showed increased activity in areas of the brain tied to social understanding.

One treatment for general anxiety can be meditation. A new app for Oculus Rift called DEEP aims to help users learn how to take deep, meditative breathes by making breathing the only control for the game. The app works with a band worn around the chest that measures breathing. The VR experience is something like being in an underwater world. Breathing is what gets a user from one place to another. The other benefit to the game is that breathing as a controller allows participation from those who might not be otherwise able to use a joystick or controller.

Back to Diabetes - Activity tracker company Fitbit and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) specialists Dexcom are working together to develop a smartwatch for people with diabetes to track their blood glucose levels.

The companies are hoping the wearable device, which will be called Ionic, will be due for release in 2018. aormi@icloud.com

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The planned product will be combined with a Dexcom CGM system. Dexcom devices normally comprise a sensor sitting just under the skin which continuously measures glucose levels. Dexcom already has a partnership with Apple Watch which allows this data to be shown on their wearable device.

This feature will be a new development of the Ionic watch, which will also feature a new specialist sensor called SpO2, which can detect blood oxygen levels and track heart rate. The smartwatch will work with both Android and iOS devices.

A Walk Through Dementia is a unique app designed to put you in the shoes of someone living with dementia. Watch how it came together. On YouTube watch A Walk Through Dementia - Launch film

Dementia is a misunderstood condition. Many people believe it’s just a byproduct of aging. We tend to not think beyond memory loss when it comes to symptoms.

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The reality is that dementia is a condition caused by diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s, that damage different areas of the brain leading to a variety of challenging symptoms.

This app was developed by Alzheimer’s Research UK, guided by people living with different forms of dementia. They were all keen to help you understand what everyday life can be like for them.

Presented in virtual reality, you’ll look at everyday life through a new lens. You may be familiar with some of the symptoms you’ll experience, others may surprise you.

A Walk Through Dementia features three everyday situations. In each, we demonstrate symptoms that pose challenges to people with dementia.

Popping to the shops is no easy task. It requires planning, decision making, concentration, spatial navigation and calculation. All of these get harder when you have dementia.

Busy streets and noisy crowds can be overwhelming for someone with dementia, full of unfamiliar places and people.

Home is more familiar and comforting. Many people with dementia spend more time at home, where they feel safer. But even your own home can present challenges.

This App from Alzheimers Research UK is well worth watching for carers as well as healthcare specialists. But Virtual Reality can also be programmed to help dementia patients by taking them into a world they know.

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Torrevieja Coast

by Andy Ormiston

Torrevieja has a mixed coastline with beaches of varying sizes and types of sand, rocky coves and a mixture off flora and fauna. Torrevieja area is favoured with a temperate climate with an annual average temperature of 19ยบ approximately 340 days of sun and rainfalls that can drop between 200 and 225 millimeters. It is humid because of its proximity to the Mediterranean and its two large inland salt lagoons.

On occasional and rare years it is possible to have a gota fria when meteorological conditions permit heavy clouds to drop a lot of rain in a very short time.

The highest temperature remembered in Torrevieja is that of 41 degrees registered on July 12, 1961.

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The rainfalls from February 21 to February 22, 1985 were around 220 litres per square meter unleashed in something more about 12 hours, producing a cut in the national N332 road at La Mata. Another memorable rainfall occurred on September 1989 when 240 litres of water per meter squared were unloaded in 24 hours. Other people remember the hailstone of 14 of September 2007; the almost zero degrees of

February 2012 and the big rains with floods in Torrevieja's different zones of March 21, 2012 when 230 litres per square meter rained down. January 2017 was notable in that there was a slight snowfall that brought children on to the streets who had never seen snow in their lives.

La Mata was a village whose inhabitants worked on the land and on the salt lake. It was named after a solitary, notable tree. It has two kilometres of sandy beach but with currents was a bit dangerous for sailing ships. The Phoenicians and the Romans had important settlements in Elche and its port, Santa Pola, and would have traded for the salt among other goods. The Romans had a presence at La Mata with a small round tower of six arches and a small quay. This initial settlement would have been used for mining and shipping the salt and working the land. An aormi@icloud.com

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hour away inland was the Via Augusta, a major road that connected busy Roman Tarragona in the north of the Iberian Peninsula with Cadiz (Gades to the CelticIberians) in the south and which passed inland near the head of the larger lake. In 1768 some excavations at La Mata were uncovered displaying the remains of six Roman women. The grave had gold bracelets and collars with pearls, and there were well-worked pieces of marble as well as some silver medals, one bearing the inscription of Galva Emperor. It is likely that there was a considerable Roman presence in this area to guard the salt and its workers. The La Mata tower built by the Christians was constructed on the site of the circular Roman watchtower, The Moors had a strong community at Guardamar del Segura and continued to extract salt from the La Mata Lake. While work was going on in the main plaza of la Mata in 1957, some discoveries were made showing that there had been a Moorish presence there in the past.

On 3rd December 1767 a tremendous storm hit the Alicante coastline and many of La Mata and Torrevieja installations were destroyed. One report says that trees were uprooted and crops destroyed. The north wind hit La Mata, destroying buildings and the Quay and most people sought refuge in the Casa de la Mata. Huge waves battered the coast and reclaimed piles of salt. The storm abated on the 5th and the damage was assessed. The quay was gone and large chunks of buildings decorated the beach. Fresh water wells were full of salt water and the fields between Guardamar and Orihuela were full of sand and salt blown by the fierce winds. The aormi@icloud.com

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two salt lakes were overflowing and oxen were drowned in them. The salt piles between both lakes were almost intact. the land around La Mata was forested, but over two decades this changed as trees were chopped down and this affected the rainwater running into the salt lake.

In 1609 the Orihuela Bishop authorized the erection of an hermitage dedicated to The Virgen of the Holy Rosary at La Mata, but dependent on the Guardamar parish. A monk of the barefoot order of Descalzados of Elche served this small church whenever there was a need for a Mass or other religious ceremony. In those times it was aormi@icloud.com

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sufficient to celebrate Mass on Sundays and designated holydays.

For those first families of la Mata the nearest parish was that of San Miguel de las Salinas, although previously they actually came under the Orihuela parish of El Salvador until 25th October 1723, when the San Miguel parish was canonically erected.

The Torre de la Mata was also known as the Torre del Cargador because there was a small quay where the salt was loaded onto the boats. An earthquake destroyed most of the houses in La Mata in 1802. A decision was made to move the salt workings and offices to Torrrevieja. But La Mata continued as a small village with people working the land and has always enjoyed a certain autonomy.

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Cabo Cervera is the second oldest area of Torrevieja as originally there was a village on the sea with an important quay from which produce of the Vega Baja and Murcia was shipped. Cabo Cervera has a couple of small beaches and a rugged coastline. In 1673 a worker, Juan Perez, uncovered a stone at Cabo Cervera with the barely recognizable writing “IMP CESAR TRAJA IVO AVE PONTI MAX TRIB POT XVIII PP AVE. XXVIII”, with a reference to the Emperor Trajan, giving us a clue as to the dates the Romans were around. In 1358 a joint flotilla of rich Genovese merchants and King Pedro’s ships sailed along the coast attacking several towns, among them Guardamar and La Mata, bombarding and lambasting the La Mata tower and the Cabo Cervera tower from the sea and destroying them. Both the La Mata tower and the Cabo Cervera tower were reconstructed again in the following year, although the latter was built on higher ground.

In 1553 the engineers Cristobal Antonelli and Fratin, designed and built a line of small watchtowers along the coast including Cap Cervera, Torre Vigia, Cabo de Roig, Torre Oradada and the larger castle of Guardamar, some of them still having remains on the original sites today. From Rosas in Cataluña to Gibraltar there were around 250 towers built to defend the newly enlarged Spain against continuous raids of small towns by the Berber pirates, from nearby North Africa. Thirty-six towers were constructed further along the Murcia region coast, including on the small beaches of Murcia city (4), Cartagena (15), the Lorca coastline (2) and the aormi@icloud.com

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Mazzaron area (5). A similar string of fortified towers was built along the Northwest coast to guard against Viking raids.

This has been rebuilt twice as a tourist attraction, the last time in the 1990’s in its original style and using typical stones in its reconstruction.It was also called Torrejon. It was originally manned by two soldiers, and equipped with a bronze cannon and three rifles. At times of war at least six soldiers and a horseman garrisoned it. These towers used smoke signals and mirrors to warn against danger,

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backed up by the tolling of church bells and the local populace would seek refuge inland. On one occasion, Cabo Cervera was saved by a smoke signal from the tower when the Berbers raided the small hamlet on 28th May 1373, destroying some of it.

However, the guards were able to get assistance rapidly from Orihuela and a Lieutenant Andres Marquerie and his soldiers dashed to the rescue to chase the enemy back to sea without any actual combat. In ancient times the area around the lakes was lush with pasture and abundant with deer, “ciervo”, being Spanish for deer, and it is from this word that the name of Cervera comes. In fact this was a well-known area for Aragonese shepherds to bring their flocks to graze because of the rich verdant pastures.

Between the two towers of Cabo Cervera and TorreVigia there was another ‘castell’, which was an artillery battery with a capacity for six or eight cannons and a guard of 20 men and 6 artillerymen when necessary. Most of the coastal towers were garrisoned by la Compania de Invalidos de Real Cuerpo de Artilleria, although during peacetime the men were assigned to the battalion barracks where it was cheaper to accommodate them and they could be kept busy rather than “idly spend their time at the towers”.

Along the headland you can rest on a bench donated by the local Neighborhood Watch Group.

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Today Cabo Cervera is a busy district of Torrevieja with a large aparthotel and several first class restaurants and holds its own fiestas in summer.

Cala del Moro is close to the Torre del Moro near the Hotel Masa, originally the Hotel Berlin.

Going south towards the town centre we come to Cala del Mojón that some call Cola del Caballo.

The next little cove is the Cala de la Zorra and here there is wasteland with a few houses. Often there are several caravans parked here.

Cala de La Higuera is the next cove, close to the road with a steep access to a spit of land.

O n e imagines that there may have been a fig tree at one time because of the name. aormi@icloud.com

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Playa los Locos with its bathing huts an balneario. This was a time when whole families would perch on top of a scooter to get anywhere.

Cala Redonda is next almost opposite Los Frutales urbanisation.

Cala del Gambote, is a very rocky zone where formerly there was cave known as that of Tía Roqueta, but in recent years it has been eroded with the waves and wind.

Cala de los Trabajos comes next.

Cala

Cornuda,

LA

PUNTA

CORNUDA or DEL CASTILLO At one time there was an artillery battery located here on this part before one reaches the playa del los Locos. In 1402 Cala Cornuda was an important place to supply Orihuela with fresh fish. The small bay was full of algae and the Council paid some of the fishermen in wine and wheat from two ships in the Cabo Cervera port to clean up the bay. These two vessels set out for Mallorca with their precious cargo, but were waylaid by another armed ship from Valencia.

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The little bit of land sticking out at the end of the los Locos beach is named Punta del Salaret, just where there is a large apartment block and a castle style villa. In its wisdom the town council said that caravans could park wherever they liked so now this is a popular spot for caravans to spot with spectacular vistas.

Playa de Los Locos has its origins in the palmeral at the end of the beach that was a feature of this area. The palmeral was actually an ahead of its time sanatorium for people with mental illnesses. That is where it gets the name of los Locos. Over the years higher buildings have overtaken the nice villas. The road here takes its name form the doctor in charge of the sanatorium, Dr. Mariano Ruiz Canovas. His family also constructed a small chapel dedicated to the Virgen of Carmen. In the 1990’s the chapel was rebuilt on the same site and is a parish church for this area. It also served as a centre for the Ukrainian church.

Cala del Palangre is a little sandy bit on a curve where formerly small boats using the fishing nets called palangre used to draw their boats on and repair their nets. On the next bend going into town there were three houses named The Three Little Pigs a name still used by local people.

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Punta Carral or Margalla is the next point sticking out into the sea and noted by the columns monument dedicated to different Mediterranean civilizations.

Playa del Cura is a popular beach with safe sand and waters.

It has several restaurants and bars.

Its name comes from when a priest (cura) was drowned there.

In the late 19th and early 20th century there were a few balnearios where people could drop into the water or be taught how to swim.

Thee were also many aormi@icloud.com

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bathing huts that people owned where they could change and even cook a BBQ of sardines.

As we proceed along the promenade we see a few man made swimming areas and a small lick of sand. This leads up to the harbour wall and just before it is a statue known as la Bella Lola. This little bit is known as Punta del Baluarte and likely in the past there was an artillery battery for defense. A meeting point is the statue of the fisherman, el Hombre del Mar. In the past there was the playa el Arenal in front of the Casino, a small beach on which fishermen used to draw their boats on from out of the sea. It was central to the town and there were balnearios at certain times as well as shipbuilding facilities. In the 1960’s this little beach disappeared as an area was reclaimed from the sea to build the fishermen’s quay aormi@icloud.com

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and the Real Club Nautico formed. Since then more work has added the Marina International, the Marina Salinas and the long walkway along the harbour wall.The harbuor is not only home to fishing boats and leisure craft, but also to larger ships transporting salt and small rowing boats used in competitions.

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LA PLAYA DE LOS NAÚFRAGOS because a number of ships, particularly sailing ships were wrecked here. Later it was used as a place to dismember ships no longer seaworthy and salvage materials. Previously it had been known as Cuarentena or Quarantine as Health authorities to quarantine ships and their crews if suspected of carrying a virulent disease used it.

Today is a very popular beach on the other side of the salt conveyor belt.

After that we come to urbanization like la Veleta or Mar Azul with love sea views.

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Cala Ferrís is one of the most picturesque part of the coast because of its palm trees. It has been used s a backdrop for several films. Today the palm grove is walled off and there is an ongoing dispute between a vociferous group, the town hall and the company that owns the land.

Along the next stretch we have a good stretch of the legs with sand, rocks and dunes.

Punta Prima, or Punta Primera, comes up next and is a point with lots of houses and commercials, as well as a hotel and a large restaurant of that name on the cliff top with a staircase to the beach.

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Along the Torrevieja coastline several well known people owned villas, one of them being the King of Belgium who named the house after Princess Astrid (of Sweden), the daughter of the previous monarch of Belgium Albert II and Paola. The villa was well watched by the guardia civil of course. King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola spent time here in the middle of the 20th century and he was made the 1,176th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece of Spain in 1960.

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Finally we reach Cala Piteras who has small beach. This has been suggested as a place for dog walking, but it is doubtful if this will be realized.

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Clocks go Back one hour on 29th October

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