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016 June 2015 Hogueras Solar power Flower carpets Corpus Xti Ă‘ora Wolf Man Tabarca pirates Fiestas Sacred Heart Father Hurricane Aromamtic Park Birds Atlas Costa Blanca Bird Club Alicante birdlife La Mata birds San Javier Jazz Rojales in fiesta Cucarachas Noticeboard
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Mediterranean Midsummer fire
Summer is on us with its heat and it is heat that provides the central fiestas of the month with hogueras (bonfires) in Alicante mainly, but in other towns, including Torrevieja, as Midsummer is celebrated. Alicante had 180 hogueras last year but at the moment we don't have word of how many this year. Normally there is a large hoguera image accompanied by a smaller one for the infants, encouraging each generation as the years progress. Normally they are located at street intersections and in Alicante one in the harbor area. This used to be the case in Torrevieja as the town hall provided one, but nowadays the money is spent on a large firework display located on the seafront. On the night of San Juan small bonfires are permitted on selected beaches and even in Barcelona there are hogueras on the beach and revelers drink cava and eat coca (a cake). For months Alicante has been in the process of choosing and grooming young ladies to fill the posts of Queens of each hoguera. Throughout the week of these June fiestas there is a varied program of cultural events with lots of music and dancing, parades that run alongside the main events in the street. Torrevieja carnival groups such as the girls of la Sal compares are invited to take part in the multicolored parade.
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Torrevieja carnival groups and queens often participate in the hogueras parades of Alicante.
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Torrevieja’s hogueras is driven by the group in Calvary district, which has opted for the Esencias design this year, the work of Alfredo Guillén. The children’s entry is the tempting chef of a Masterchef prince tempting a hoguera beauty queen with a cupcake with the slogan “the most sweet”. Various activities are organized from the 19th June to the 24th June. Those districts participating, which has been reduced in recent years, will have set up their hogueras at the beginning of the week and each night a street party with entertainment, dancing, a bar and food, all open to everyone. On the final night the firemen are on standby as each figure is set on fire. The beachside firework display is on the evening of the 23rd June.
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Bring Me Sunshine by Dave Stewart
I think we all came here largely because of the sunshine and a better way of life. Northern Europeans tend to bask in the sun, lying on the sand, without little thought to the damage they may be causing, especially to their skin and now the news media are full of warnings against skin cancer. The sun’s rays and the sand can provide us with other more economical uses, namely through solar energy. I am always amazed at why builders do not use more solar energy in their constructions: part of their reluctance is that bottled butane gas is so inexpensive in comparison, and now natural gas is more readily available. Basically it boils down to costs and cost effectiveness. Spain has been tinkering with solar energy for decades and in Almeria there is one of the biggest solar energy investigation plants in the world, looking at the various formats of what constitutes solar energy. The sun radiates energy and light that is harnessed in a range of ever evolving technologies. Solar energy can be passive, that is using the orientation of the sun in a building, using materials that have good thermal properties – simple idea is a south-facing house built into a hill so that there is little loss of heat.
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Probably why our forebears lived in caves but a good example is in Lord of the Ring with the Hobbits burrows. This is seen as environmental friendly, an issue that needs serious looking today with so much destruction of our ozone layer. Active solar energy is more common and includes photovoltaic (supplying light), solar heating systems, solar thermal energy, artificial photosynthesis and possibly even more important solar architecture. As a renewable energy source solar energy is earth friendly and the source is free, although an installation can be expensive or as cheap as you decide, bearing in mind the degradation of some solar cell units. At present the world energy consumption is 10 terawatts (TW) per year, and by 2050, it is projected to be about 30 TW. The world will need about 20 TW of non-CO2 energy to stabilize CO2 in the atmosphere by midcentury. The simplest scenario to stabilize CO2 by mid-century is one in which photovoltaics (PV) and other renewables are used for electricity (10 TW), hydrogen for transportation (10 TW), and fossil fuels for residential and industrial heating (10 TW) (Zweibel, 2005).
Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic (PV) effect in 1839 while studying the effect of light on electrolytic cells. A long period was required to reach sufficiently high efficiency. Solar cells developed rapidly in the 1950s owing to space programs and their use on satellites (crystalline Si, or c-Si, solar cells with efficiency of 6–10%). Which brings us back to the sand you lie on as initially that was used to produce the Silicon cells required in making solar products. Nowadays there is a host of cells that are produced in laboratories. In the 1950’s the oil companies saw the potential of solar energy and often bought up patent rights as a possible source of further future income; the threat to the income from oil was seen and mostly these ideas were put on a back burner. BP Spain has a factory
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in Madrid that produces various solar products, such as a refrigerator run only by solar energy and these are shipped mostly to Africa and used for storing medication. Most of the emergency telephones on the Spanish highways are powered by solar energy. The simplest hot water system I saw was a slimline radiator (painted black) and connected to the hot water boiler using a pump and provided hot water for most of the day for the couple living in the house. All solar modules require a number of solar cells to be electrically connected in series to provide power, depending on size and cell efficiency. Additional processing steps such as attachment of leads and encapsulation for protection against external influences are done to finalize the module structure. Net metering and financial incentives, such as preferential feed-in tariffs for solar-generated electricity have supported solar PV installations in many countries, but in Spain this is a hit-and-miss situation depending on the region. Similarly initiatives such as not paying VAT or IVA on new installations was and is used to encourage people to install such renewable systems. This means that households can, sometimes, supply enough energy for their own use and to sell into the national grid system and earn a little income from their systems. In Spain the large energy firms actually provide small villages with solar energy that is stored in batteries and converted into usable electricity for light and even televisions. This is cheaper than providing expensive cables and pylons. Previously in Germany a law banned a second rural house from having electricity supplied and put a heavy tax on the house. The solution was to use solar energy and in one town in Germany solar energy was used to turn a municipal area into a heated swimming pool that converted into an ice skating rink in season. The present photovoltaic market is growing at the very high rate of 35–40% per year, and world PV production was 10.66 GW in 2009. More than 80% of the world PV industry is based on c-Si and pc-Si wafer technologies, as silicon is part of the earth’s crust and easily available.
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There is a tremendous range of photovoltaic products including calculators, garden lights and motion sensors, fountains and even LED string of lights for that palm tree in the garden. I knew a man in Newcastle (whose father was a professor at the university teaching renewable energy), and he used cut-offs of photovoltaic panels to make toys that moved, even if it was just the blades of a wooden helicopter. Panels are not necessarily rigid but can be bendable plastic that are used on boats and caravan as a trickle charge to the batteries. It is a shame that all those electric wheelchairs that belt about do not have a small solar cell that will trickle charge the battery as they ride along the prom, or in the case of Benidorm teenagers racing along. In France photovoltaic shade shelters are used to provide energy for electric cars. Thermal heating is another side of solar energy, providing hot water systems and even central heating. Solar thermal heating has been a very popular renewable energy choice in the UK, with an estimated 180,000 systems installed and in use. It is ideal for domestic, commercial and leisure markets where a regular demand for hot water exists. It is an attractive 'entry level' technology due to its relatively low installed cost. Heated swimming pools require approximately a solar panel area of twothirds the size of the pool. Most solar pool heating systems include the following: A solar collector -- the device through which pool water is circulated to be heated by the sun A filter -removes debris before water is pumped through the collector A pump -circulates water through the filter and collector and back to the pool A flow control valve -- automatic or manual device that diverts pool water through the solar collector.
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Use of a pool cover also can help reduce the size of a solar pool heating system, which can save money. Further savings achieved by using a pool cover: Conserve water by reducing the amount of make-up water needed by 30%–50% Reduce the pool's chemical consumption by 35%–60% Reduce cleaning time by keeping dirt and other debris out of the pool. Some solar systems include sensors and an automatic or manual valve to divert water through the collector(s) when the collector temperature is sufficiently greater than the pool temperature. When the collector temperature is similar to the pool temperature, filtered water simply bypasses the collector(s) and is returned to the pool.
Solar energy is free, clean and safe. It is environmentally friendly and produces no waste or p o l l u t i o n . Us i n g s o l a r e ne rg y e n able s yo u to re duce your c arbon footprint as well as your e ne rg y bi l ls s o re a l deliberat ion in personal thinking is necessary.
Solar thermal technology transforms direct and diffuse solar radiation into useful heat using a solar collector, which should face as closely as possible to the south at an angle perpendicular to the sun. At one time I had a solar shop that used Thermomax vacuum tubes for the hot water. I thought there was a problem as the water was boiling hot one night and I informed the installer who sent out someone to investigate, but couldn’t find anything wrong with the system. It happened again on another night that I was late and I realized that on both occasions it was a full moon, which explained the hot water as the radiation from the moon was also intercepted by the tubes and 9
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transferred into hot water energy, so sensitive was the system that picks up even on cloudy days. Each Thermomax collector consists of a highly insulated manifold and a row of tubes. The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation, protecting the system from outside influences, such as cold and windy weather or high humidity. This vacuum insulation also ensures that the energy collected from the sun is very efficiently and effectively transferred into usable heat as there is minimal heat loss.
While the basic flat plate design has been around for a long time, and is the most widely used type of solar thermal panel for domestic hot water supply, not all collectors are designed and made alike. Choice of material and design aspects can greatly affect not only the solar thermal performance but also the reliability when operating in many varied environmental conditions. Tabarca island had a large solar photovoltaic
system put in that covered a field and supplied the island’s energy for some time. It was a German AEG project and required a separate building that housed a series of batteries. But this was before a cable was dropped in the sea linking the island with the Maitland national grid. The 10
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batteries always required attention. Since then great strides have taken place in improving batteries as your smartphone will show you. Some sources of renewable energy, such as solar power, are absent when people need power the most - at night, so, storing power would help solve this problem.
Tesla batteries for the home
Car maker Tesla has unveiled plans to start making large batteries that can be used to store power in homes and businesses, a lithium ion battery, will also be used in the large battery packs. Lithium-ion technology is very well established and is used in the majority of gadgets that have rechargeable batteries. Other electric cars use them to store power as well. A good solar and battery system could be useful during disasters when power is knocked out for days. In the UK, there are several small-scale trials involving a few hundred homes based around systems that store power generated from the sun. Only 35% of the cost of solar is the price of the panels - the majority cost is the installation and that will only come down if there is a large and thriving competitive industry. A UK government spokesperson said that solar power could provide up to 4% of the UK's electricity by the end of the decade. Another government mouthpiece said there were now 650,000 solar installations in the UK, including panels on homes.
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Another section of solar energy is in the use of solar tinted film where 3M has an international lead. We have all seen movies with limousines being sprayed with machine gun fire from terrorists, but in fact there is a film that not only acts as a solar shield, but is bulletproof as well and in USA many government buildings use it as being bombproof. Some film uses Chrome which itself utilizes a metalized film technology, and it may interfere with wireless 
 signals, so if you want to invest then ask about this. Solar film offers security, decoration and maximizes the coolness and heat retention in your house. This film comes in various colours and thicknesses giving UV protection and, depending on the colour, a special attraction to windows and glass doors. The security aspect is that if the window is broken the glass is retained by the film. There is also a use on car windows to block the sun and reduce interior fading of seating.
MCS is a mark of quality and demonstrates compliance to industry standards and highlights to consumers that companies are able to consistently install to the highest quality. RECC members comply with the Renewable Energy Consumer Code which is backed by the Trading Standards Institute
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CARPETS OF FLOWERS Corpus Christi always falls in June and this year is on the 4th June. It is not a public holiday, but many towns do have their own local holiday and enjoy themselves as always. Madrid and Castilla have decided to reinstate it as a public holiday. Parks are full of bright colorful flowers and in several towns this feast is celebrated using flowers. Sitges in Catalonia is a lovely seaside town that has beautiful beaches and several festivals at international level. For a few days around Corpus Christi there is a flower fiesta that includes carpets of flowers in intricate patterns in a competition. 
 Such painstaking work that creates passions and requires a lot of forward planning and great attention to detail.
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In Palencia the "Entry of Napoleon" at Autilla del Pino is held during the Octava of Corpus Christi, as well as carpets of flowers.
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Valencia city is worth a visit any time of the year. On Corpus Christ there are some very interesting characters that appear in a medieval parade. The parade has medieval floats such as Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden. Many people dress up as well known Biblical characters such as Noah with a dove. There is a museum (Roques) dedicated to this fiesta which is worth a visit just to see the detail and workmanship of some of the wooden figures that have a part in the play. These type of plays were used to tell people typical Biblical tales and the lessons to be learned from them.
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Once again in Guardamar del Segura there will be a cooking contest - the VIII Ă‘ora and Prawn of Guardamar. This year this competition has a national level. The contest will be held on June 1, 2015 at 16:00. The ingredients for the preparation of the dishes will be provided by each contestant , except for Nora and the prawns that provide the Organization. It will be mandatory to prepare 2 servings of the dish, made with prawns of Guardamar and the Ă‘ora which are mandatory ingredients. One of the portions must be in a presentation format and the other in 5 small portions for tasting. Ă‘ora is a red pepper grown in this area and Guardamar is well known for its variety and the way it is dried and prepared as it adds a special toque to a recipe. You can see them hanging up in delicatessen shops or in most open air markets.
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 These peppers are predominantly produced in Murcia and Vega Baja del Segura (Alicante), but the traditional and delicate drying process is specialized in Guardamar. In August and September, the ùora dries on the golden beaches of Guardamar dunes: the fine sand and the Levantine climate attenuates the burning summer, and the mild cold winter foster the ideal conditions for this unique and specific natural process. Ñora a dried naturally distinguishes clearly, even in color, otherwise industrially produced in the oven. At the end the drying process in October, families peppers strung on strings of 1.5 meters, which are briefly exposed to the sun outside the windows, balconies, doors and terraces, giving the environment a unique aspect. So there is another excuse for visiting this lovely town.
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Wolf Man by Dave Stewart
Britain has been fortunate to have experienced the work of Sir David Frederick Attenborough that opened the eyes of mankind to the marvels of the world around us. He is best known for writing and presenting the nine Life series, but has left an inheritance of information that is still viewed in wonderment by fresh eyes. Among the streets of Torrevieja is one named after Spain’s equivalent of David Attenborough Félix Samuel Rodríguez de la Fuente who was popularly known as the wolf man because off his empathy with the wild wolves of the Spanish
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mountains and demonstrated how they were not such a serious threat but had a vital role to play in the chain of nature that affects all of us. Santa Pola has a large statue dedicated to the wolf man Its now 35 years since the death of Félix Samuel Rodríguez de la Fuente (March 14, 1928 – March 14, 1980) who contributed to the popularization of science; he was a Spanish naturalist and broadcaster. Probably best known for the highly successful and influential TV Santa Pola monument series, El Hombre y la Tierra (The Man and the Land 1975–1980),which was divided into three parts: the Iberian, South American, and North American series. Although he had a degree in medicine he was self-taught in biology, considered to be a multifaceted charismatic figure whose influence has endured despite the passing years. His knowledge covered areas such as falconry[ and ethology, emphasizing the study of wolves. The Spanish Civil War not only devastated the population, but also Spain’s varied wildlife as anything possibly edible was caught and devoured. He lived in a small village Poza de la Sal in Burgos, Soria where dinosaurs once roamed the earth. Because of the war he was schooled at home, but spent a large part of his free time roaming the lovely surrounding land. He described his birthplace as a "human community living in harmony with the landscape" that shaped his "zoomorphic universe." During a family outing he observed a Falcon capturing a duck. This experience prompted his interest in falconry. He studied at the University of Valladolid and shared his passion for falconry with another eminent scientist - the biologist José Antonio Valverde. Valverde gained international attention after fighting the plans of the Ministry of Agriculture to dry out the Guadalquivir marshes, which eventually led to the creation of Doñana National Park. 19
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In 1961 Félix Samuel Rodríguez de la Fuente was a consultant for the film El Cid (Charlton Heston). In 1964, thanks to his growing international contacts with scientists, Felix presented a study on the status of peregrine falcons in Spain at the International Congress for the Protection of Birds of Prey held in Caen, (France). That year, he also published his first book, “The art of falconry”. Between 1970 and 1974, his first documentary series, Planeta Azul (Blue Planet), gained him public acclaim, especially in Spanish-speaking countries. He initiated a campaign for the rescue of animals under the threat of extinction, most notably the wolf, which probably owes its survival in the Iberian peninsula to him. Wolves are now extinct in most countries in Western Europe; the remaining populations in central Spain struggled for survival. His work inspired appreciation and respect for the wolf, but at the cost of confrontation with shepherds and hunters. He also worked to preserve various Spanish habitats such as the dunes of El Saler, the Doñana National Park, the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, the Monte del Pardo, and the Gallocanta lake. Throughout the 1970s he undertook various publishing projects such as the Wildlife Salvat Encyclopedia (1970-1973) composed by a team of young biologists including Miguel Delibes de Castro, Javier Castroviejo, Cosme Carlos Morillo, and Vallecillo, among others. Completing weekly 24-page booklets of the encyclopedia was a three-year challenge. In Spain, the encyclopedia sold eighteen million volumes. It was subsequently translated into fourteen languages and published in five continents. On March 4, 1980 Felix presented in the Centro Cultural de la Villa (Madrid) a document entitled Global Strategy for the Protection of Biodiversity and Sustainable Growth issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature before the kings of Spain as special guests. He flew to Alaska on the 10th along with the filming crew of El hombre y la tierra to film the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. But his plane crashed and all passengers including Televisión Española 20
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cameraman Teodoro Roa and the assistant Alberto Mariano Huéscar died in the accident. The exact location of the tragedy was Shaktoolik, an Inuit settlement about 25 kilometers from the coast of the Bering Sea, not far from Klondike. This area had long lived in Felix's imagination since his readings of Jack London as a teenager. The headline of one of the local newspaper read: "Farewell to the Spanish Jack London.” Inspired by authors such as Teilhard de Chardin and Remy Chauvin, Felix conceived a future world where humans lived in harmony with nature and themselves. Development of collective thinking and creativity, prioritization of the individual's spare time to promote self-development, and promotion of appreciation for nature seemed to be fundamental elements to this view. He was well aware of the catastrophic prospects of a civilization resting upon individual achievement, eternal economical growth, and destruction of nature. Felix had a deep appreciation for scientific research. It will be interesting to see what Pope Francis (a scientist himself) has to say about conserving our environment in his forthcoming encyclical as he has already stated we are stewards of our earth and no doubt he has been influenced by the work of Félix Samuel Rodríguez de la Fuente as well as his co-Jesuit scientist/priest Teilhard de Chardin. 21
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Felix was largely responsible for proclaiming the Albufera of the Valencia region a protected area in 1986 as he said: "La Dehesa del Saler, the pine forest of Pinus halepensis, this forest, this community, truly unique Mediterranean plants in the Iberian peninsula, should also be preserved in its entirety because it is part of the enclave of the Albufera ". The proposed urbanization development of the area died slowly, partly because the Valencian society mobilized against. It is largely due to the influence of Felix that there has been a green movement in Spain to preserve nature and there are now more natural parklands, such as La Mata, than ever before. Even in death he was a contentious figure as he was buried, according to his wishes, in his native birthplace at Pozo del Sal. However, in June 1981, at the request of his widow, Marcelle Parmentier, his remains were exhumed and transferred to Burgos cemetery to a pantheon designed by architect Miguel Fisac and sculptor Pablo Serrano. The controversial transfer was made at night to prevent confronting the inhabitants and authorities of Poza de la Sal who wished his remains to stay at his birthplace. The FĂŠlix Samuel RodrĂguez de la Fuente Foundation is aimed at providing youngsters between 8 and 14 years of age opportunities of experiencing nature in the raw. IN conjunction with other foundations several projects are underway including an annual camping, which last year saw youngsters on the road to Santiago de la Compestella observing wildlife as they went.
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This year the camping will be in the valley of BEJÍS close to the River Palencia noted for its beautiful scenery, flora and fauna, as well as fossils, so the youngsters can learn more about the world they have in stewardship. The valley air is so clear that it is ideal for observing the stars at night. Another project is aimed at introducing a monumental tree in each Institute in Spain.
I would like to finish with a quote of David Attenborough:
“The future of life on earth depends on our ability to take action. Many individuals are doing what they can, but real success can only come if there's a change in our societies and our economics and in our politics. I've been lucky in my lifetime to see some of the greatest spectacles that the natural world has to offer. Surely we have a responsibility to leave for future generations a planet that is healthy, inhabitable by all species.”
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It is intended to start organizing trips around the salt heritage of Torrevieja in June with guided tours around the parkland of La Mata and Torrevieja lakes. This will enable visitors to understand more the workings of producing the salt from its early history to present day modern technology and help people appreciate how much work has been generated over the centuries by salt. For a deeper history of salt manufacturing and which civilizations harvested salt from the two lakes we recommend the book “Torrevieja Cameos� by Andy Ormiston, available in English in Bargain Books and also in Ochoa Bookshop in the town centre.
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In February we wrote about Avila and the 5th centenary of the city’s famous Saint Teresa - so further information can be found there. http:// issuu.com/ andyormiston/docs/ 012_torrevieja_outlook _february_201/1
The bus tour will visit the Embalse de Burguillo 27 - Avila - Cebreros 28 June - Salamanca 29 June - Valle de Tietar 30 June - Robledo de Chavela and Torrevieja.
YOU CAN VISIT THE CITY ON 26TH JUNE WITH A BUS TOUR ORGANISED BY ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION FOR ONLY
235 euros.
966 702 500
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Pirates, ransom and tourists by Andy Ormiston
Before Torrevieja existed both Torre la Mata and Cabo Cervera had their place in local history. Those early settlers of over 200 years ago mostly came from Italian sources, especially Sardinia and Genoa. The playa del Cura is named after a priest whose body was washed ashore here. But 200 years ago it was known as the beach of the Genovese. Those early foreigners were Italians, Maltese and French, most of the occupied in commerce and the fishing industry. They seemed to have arrived in larger numbers around 1810 although there were some of them before that. We are looking at about 5% of the families having Italian connections between 1789-1825, the first recorded local birth was in 1805 and on many marriage certificates the place of birth is often “parish of Genoa” Emperor Carlos V ordered Admiral Andrew Doria of Genoa, to seek out and destroy the terrible Turkish pirate Dragut (called himself Admiral Dragut). In fact it was the admiral’s nephew Gianetti Dori who captured Dragut in 1540 and sent him to be a galley slave for four years.
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The Turk was released after a ransom of 3,000 gold ducats had been paid, as well as an agreement that the Genovese could occupy the Tunisian island of Tabarka. During the 16th century the Corsairs and other pirates continually raided the Valencian kingdom coastal towns. Many of these pirates had household names that struck fear into the coastal communities. Barbarroja of the red beard, Uruc, Cachidiablo who worked in tandem with Barbarroja, Dragut, Turgut, Sinai the Jew, Sallah Rais who raided Guardamar on 6th February 1502 and many others.
Tabarka in Tunisia
The African island of Tabarka was settled by people from Italy who were themselves close to the sea. These Ligurian people came from an island Sant'Antioco and were used to working in a small community This small islet was surrounded by precious red coral and was strategic in controlling the surrounding seas. In the time of Carlos I an agreement was reached that the Lomellini family of Calasetta at Pegli near Sardinia, should exploit the coral in return for flying the Spanish flag on the island and fortifying it. It is interesting that the Calasetta coat-ofarms could be the basis of the Torrevieja one as it has a crown with a picture of a watchtower under it. Over the years the coral harvest diminished and the Spanish King Carlos Emmanuel III offered to cede another island off the coast of Alicante in 1736 to the islanders to continue their enterprise. This island was la isla Plana or San Pedro and 300 people were translated to here and the family name changed to Carloforte in honour of the king, or perhaps in memory of another Carloforte a fishing and resort town of located on Isola di San Pietro (Saint Peters Island), approximately 7Â km off the South Western Coast of Sardinia, Italy. Two languages 27
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were used, an Italian dialect and the local one among the people known as “tabarchin”. Carloforte in Sardinia has been linked to the Children’s Crusades of 1212 as the local church is known as The Innocents Church and according to a legend a ship of these young crusaders was sunk off the Sardinian coast in a gale. This Carloforte also has a strong tradition of boatbuilding, especially Latin vela boats (lateen sails or luggers) which Torrevieja also had. The fishermen were also noted for fishing for tuna, similar to the Torrevejense. Coincidences, which may be related, as is the coat of arms of these different places and Alicante city. So it was that in 1738 the African island became overpopulated and many islanders moved elsewhere, some moving to the island of Saint Peter or la Plana off Santa Pola, which later took the name of Nueva Tabarca or Tabarca as we know it today. This movement was related to a slump in the red coral market and people moved to other places in the Mediterranean However, this was the first group of Italian people who, unfortunately were raided by the Algerian pirates, captured and cooped up once more in the same African island of Tabarka as prisoners of the Bey of Tunis, who had taken over the small island in 1741. In 1756 it came under the control of Algeria. The fate of the Genovese meant slavery, or rowing on the Bey’s galleys until they died or were ransomed. The Augustinian priest of the small la Plana island, Fray Juan Bautista Riveola, tried to help them by finding the ransom money. For centuries there was a religious order, la Merced, which was dedicated to ransoming slaves. Two of these reeligious, Brother Juan de la Virgen and Brother Bernardo Almanaya, were instructed to open negotiations. . 28
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King Carlo II paid a ransom of 50,000 zecchini in ransom for 121 of these people and a year later Pope Benedict XV obtained the release of others who were transferred to the island of San Pedro. Note: Zecchini is the plural of zecchino, originally a gold coin issued by the Zecca (mint) of Venice in 1284, and later issued by numerous other Italian states. It is possible that it was not publicly called a zecchino until about 1554 in the reign of Doge Francesco Venier. When originally issued, it had the same weight and specification as the fiorino (florin) issued by Florence. The word ducat is also used synonymously, although it was originally issued as a silver coin at Venice in 1202. The English word sequin is derived from zecchino, now meaning a small thin disc of metal, or of metallic appearance, sewn onto dresses. This probably comes from the custom in some countries of pinning money to wedding dresses.
The remaining Italians (approximately 900) who were still in the power of the Tunisian Bey were sold as slaves to Algeria in 1756. Twelve years later the King Carlos III ransomed them for 1,200 pesetas each one, liberating them in 1768 and the following year 859 people arrived in two trips to Spain, the first one in three ships escorted by a frigate arriving in Cartagena on 8th December 1768, which is coincidentally the patron saint of Torrevieja and Spain. The second group arrived in Alicante where they were installed in the Jesuit College, which was vacant after the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain. Then they were transported to the isla de San
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Pablo (Tabarca) where the military engineer Fernando Méndez was constructing walls, gun batteries, houses and warehouses. This was all part of the re-colonisation programme of Carlos III and the building of a front line defence of towers along the coast. Most of these unfortunate people moved along the coast as far as Gibraltar and settled in various places including Torrevieja. During the Napoleonic and Carlist Wars the Tabarca island was used as a prison of war camp. In 1850 the governor and garrison were withdrawn and the administration of the island came under Alicante. It was at this time that the island was renamed Nueva Tabarca. The Tabarca isle of Alicante province is 1,750 meres long, with a maximum breadth of 300 metres and absolutely flat. Almost next to the main isle lie the islets of la Nau, la Galera and la Cantera. It lies approximately 8 nautical miles (15 km) south southeast from Alicante and 5 nautical miles (9 km) east south east from Santa Pola. The island was fortified and became a principal bulwark against the raiding Berber pirates. The local parish church was dedicated to SS Peter and Paul whose feast is on 29th June - so there are several celebrations. Those early immigrants staple work was fishing as there was little land for growing crops. In the African colony of Tabarka they had dived for sought after red coral, which they continued to do in a limited way io their new island. A house was built for a governor and is today a small hotel. In 1850 the governor and the garrison were removed. At the end of the 19th century, the island had a population of around 1,000 people mainly devoted to fishing.
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The lighthouse tower was built in grey stone in 1854 by AgustĂn Elcoro y BerocĂbarw with a white light osculating twice every 10 seconds and seen at a range of 15 nautical miles. The tower is 46 metres high with a living area in the base. There is a proposal to turn this into a small hotel when the lighthouse is computerised like many others along the Spanish coastlines. The lighthouse at Cape San Antonio, Alicante province, and in El Pescador, in Santander are also possible sites for Hotels. The Tabarca lighthouse cannot be visited although the grounds are open to the public. This historic lighthouse was taken out of service in 1971 and replaced by a cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and double gallery. Recent photos show that tower has disappeared and a lantern has been mounted once again on the historic lighthouse. The lighthouse now serves as the headquarters and laboratory of the marine reserve. Santa Pola also has a lighthouse built in1858. The focal plane is plane 152 metres with a signal of three white flashes, in a 1+2 pattern, every 20 s. The lighthouse is a 15 metre square masonry tower with lantern and gallery, centered on the roof of a one-storey keeper's house. This lighthouse is painted White and its lantern is grey 31
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metallic. The lighthouse is built atop a spectacular cliff, which is famous among paleontologists for its exposure of Miocene fossils. Located about 4 km east of the town of Santa Pola. The site is open to the public but not the tower.
Fishermen used la almadraba system to catch tuna fish; these were special nets that were in use right up to the 1960’ when the tuna began to be over fished. Tabarca islanders managed to live off the tuna and even sold some on the mainland but it was tourism in the 1960’ that saved many of them, as fishing was more lucrative. Jerónimo Manzanero Ruso was only five years old when his father was conscripted into the army at the start of the Civil War and rather than go hungry all the time, started fishing as his father had shown him in his short life. All of his life was dedicated to the sea and even when retired he still went down to the quay to give a hand to his sons in bringing in the nets. The waters around Tabarca were declared a Marine reserve in 1986, the first of its kind in Spain. So Tabarca is a protected marine reserve named Reserva marina de la Isla de Tabarca, declared a Zone of
Special Protection for Birds by the EU, with a varied marine fauna (sea bass, grouper, conger eel, gilthead etc.). It is surrounded by very clear and unpolluted waters. The island is formed by materials of volcanic origin on top of which limestone and quaternary deposits have settled. This reserve status was largely granted due to its submarine posidonia prairie, which is the largest in the Spanish Mediterranean and has an extraordinary ecological value in terms of marine fauna and flora. In order to both enhance the marine biodiversity and protect it from fishing, an artificial reef was laid near the island by the Marine Reserve authorities.
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Permission must be sought to dive in that area which is often cleaned up by local divers as people tend to chuck rubbish over the side of the boats. The local census (2011) counted 68 inhabitants and its postal code is 03138. In 1994 the fortifications and the local church of Saints Peter and Paul were declared of National Historic Interest and the destroyed church, a victim of the 1936 civil war, rebuilt in 2008. The end of June is the fiesta on the island of their patrons. Electricity arrived in 1999 although before that there was a system of solar energy that proved to be inadequate. The island is considered to be a bird migration ‘hot-spot’ well worth a visit at appropriate times, and best in late April or September/October. With luck, the island may well be teeming with small birds. 5,000 tourists arrive on the island each weekend using the daily ferries from Alicante, Santa Pola and Torrevieja
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The district of La Punta in Torrevieja is locally known as the Fishermen’s district and some of the streets bear the names of famous seamen. The church is the lovely modern white building dedicated to the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, or the Sacred heart of Jesus. Each June this feast is celebrated with a week of festivities, religious and secular. After the main Mass there is a procession carrying two images - one is the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the other is the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the two hearts meet en route. Both images are the work of local artist Victor Garcia who has also painted the lovely Biblical paintings around the altar showing events that Jesus either did or talked about. This signifies the heart burning love that Jesus carries for all men and women. Local beauties are elected as the fiesta beauty queen and her maids of honour. Each evening there is music and dancing and everyone joins in.
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Beauty queens and views of the church inside and outside, as well as an old photo of the original hermitage.
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Father Hurricane by Pat Hynd
Father Benito Vi単es The 19thCentury Life and Contributions of a Cuban Hurricane Observer and Scientist by Luis E. Ramos Guadalupe Published by The
American Meteorological Society. Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 9781935704621
Every year we have dramatic satellite pictures presented to us of the destruction caused by hurricanes as they enter into their cycles. Every 37
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year warnings are issued of approaching winds and orders to batten down the hatches. Possibly among the worst in recent years has been the Haiyan one that destroyed swathes of the Philippines, or Katrina that destroyed New Orleans and elsewhere, or Hurricane Mitch, causing deaths and loss of properties. It is all part of the nature that is the very fibre of our lives. A recent book in English published by the American Meteorological Society is dedicated to an early observer of Atlantic hurricanes who long before computers and Doppler’s managed to work out a warning system that saved many lives. He was a Spanish Jesuit, Father Benito Viñes Martorell, who worked in Cuba when it was still part of the Spanish domain. In September 2013 a street in Miami was dedicated to him, only one of the acknowledgements that have been paid to him for his humanitarian work. “Father Benito Viñes” is a fascinating book that offers a close look at the life of a man who worked on the cutting edge of weather science while still remaining devoted to his religious life. It depicts Viñes as both pioneer in the study of tropical meteorology and a colonial Jesuit priest. With notes that put his life into modern context, this book puts a much deserved spotlight on a figure who played a crucial role in making our lives safer. On Sept. 12, 1875, Father Benito Viñes predicted for the first time in history the arrival of a hurricane that would pass through Cuba. It was the first weather forecast of its kind recorded in the Western Hemisphere, and it was made a day before a hurricane hit the southern coast of Cuba. Thanks to this, many lives were saved, and he became known as “Father Hurricane.” Father Viñes
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Explaining how a cyclonoscope works
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cataloged clouds and concluded that when white or cumulus clouds come, for example, from the north, the hurricane was just southeast; when he saw black rain clouds, called nimbus, coming from the east, for example, the hurricane was south. He put all this information into a device called an inner phase cyclonoscope with which it is possible to locate exactly where a hurricane is at any moment.
This Jesuit scientist was widely recognized as the world’s foremost authority on tropical cyclones at the end of the nineteenth century. In fact, there was a time when hurricanes were called Viñesas: Viñesa 1, Viñesa 2. Beginning in 1870, Benito Viñes gradually converted a small teaching observatory in Spanish-ruled Havana into the central node of a hurricane forecasting network spanning the Caribbean basin. He attracted an enormous public following in Cuba and directly inspired a similar system dedicated to typhoon prediction for East Asia. Viñes’s contribution to tropical meteorology exemplifies the importance of Jesuits to the geophysical sciences during this era, even as it underscores the significance of meteorology to colonial rule. Father Vines is regarded as the preeminent hurricane scholar of the 19th century. As director of the observatory at Belen College in Havana in 1870, he made meticulous observations of weather conditions, especially during tropical disturbances. His observations became a climatological catalogue for future forecasts. Notations included excerpts expressing brick-red sunsets, pounding surf and evaporating cumulus clouds at the approach of a hurricane. He was recognized as "Father Hurricane" and invented a device used by mariners to avoid hurricanes and typhoons called the Antilles Cyclonoscope. His keen sense of observation allowed him to understand the dynamics of tropical cyclones and by 1875 he was able to issue accurate hurricane warnings and saved a lot of lives. The Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory established at the Colegio de Belén in Havana in 1857 started small, as an ancillary to the Colegio’s preparatory school curriculum. Meanwhile, Andrés Poey y Aguirre, the son of Cuba’s foremost naturalist, convinced Havana’s colonial elite to
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bankroll a trip to France with the goal of establishing a competing “physico-meteorological observatory” in Havana capable of acquiring “all the scientific data that can enrich the sciences in the Spanish possessions of America” Highly trained Jesuits scattered to the ends of the earth, “God-willing,” in the words of Viñes, “to provide a service to my brothers and contribute something to the advancement of science and the well-being of humanity” (quoted in Ramos & Enrique, 1996, p. 1). They gave particular attention to scientific education, solar astronomy, terrestrial magnetism, seismology, and meteorology—particularly, in the latter cases, where their studies might protect locals from natural hazards. They established lasting outposts of scientific excellence in the tropics, most notably at Manila (Philippines, est. 1865), Zikawei (China, est. 1872), and Tananarive (now Antananarivo, Madagascar, est. 1889). The priest was also trained and interested in astronomy and seismology. Data compiled from the first reports the earthquake of the January 23, 1880, in San Cristóbal, Cuba and the Guane fault were presented by Father Benito Vines Martorell, S.J., and Pedro Salteraín y Legarra, and indicate that the seismic structure was located in the alluvial plain, and that it was the Guane fault, and not the Pinar fault, that was responsible for the earthquake. On September 14, 1876, Father Vines predicted the future path of another violent hurricane. The captain of the sailing vessel Liberty ignored the warning and his ship was wrecked when he sailed directly into the path of the storm. The following September the little priest wired the Barbados of an approaching hurricane still out in the Atlantic Ocean. He then contacted Puerto Rico and told them not to fear as the storm would pass well south of the island; at the same time, however, he warned Santiago de Cuba ". . . it will reach you on the 24th, be on your guard." Everything happened just as the Reverend Vines predicted. Father Vines' accurate predictions won him praise and offers of help. By 1877 he was able to start a small hurricane reporting
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The original Belen College in Havana, Cuba network throughout Cuba-including a "pony express" between the most isolated villages-and on a few other Caribbean islands. Steamship companies offered him free passage for his investigations and ordered their ship captains to pull into the nearest port and cable the observatory whenever hurricane-like weather threatened. Railroad companies also offered him free transport, and telegraphic and cable services were put at his disposal. (1877), after six years of study, Father Vihes finished his greatest work: Apuntes Relativos a los Huracanes de las Antilles, which was soon published as Practical Hints in Regard to West Indian Hurricanes by the U.S. Army Signal Corps' national weather service (the Weather Bureau wasn't established until 1890). It quickly sold out three large printings. Father Vines was the first to suggest that the clouds well in advance of a hurricane could be used to locate the storms center, and also the first to forecast hurricane movement on the basis of cloud movement. The Pilot Charts of the U.S. Hydrographic Office printed and reprinted the "laws" of Father Vines. The May issue of the 1889 Pilot Chart reads: "These important laws, established by the study and long experience of Father Vines, should be thoroughly understood by every navigator and utilized by shaping his course so as to avoid a hurricane." Father Benito was born in Pobolleda, Tarragon, on 19th November, 1837 and joined the Jesuits in 1856. He studied science at Salamanca University graduating as a professor of Natural Science and Physics. When the Jesuits were turned out of Spain he went to France and then in March 1870 joined the staff at Belen College in Cuba. He died on 23 July 1893 after he had prepared a paper on hurricanes of the Antilles presented at Chicago. The famous Viùes’ Laws for the 41
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movement of tropical cyclones in the Caribbean, were almost mandatory to the hurricane forecasters in all over the world until late 1950’s. Father Viñes set a landmark in the history of Meteorology by giving a tri-dimensional view of tropical cyclone; most advanced for his times, for the tri-dimentional study of meteorological systems would not be obtained until several decades into the 20th Century, When Father Benito died in the summer of 1893, he left behind a staff of welltrained hurricane-predicting pioneers. Father Lorenzo Gangoite became head of the Belen Observatory. Although the Cubans had much to offer the new U.S. Weather Bureau (which was less than 10 years old in 1900), people in the Bureau disagreed. They refused to accept that Cubans could accurately predict hurricanes - let alone do it better than the Bureau could. As a monster storm made its way toward Galveston, at the height of the 1900 hurricane season, U.S. weather predictors did not rely on data provided by anyone other than themselves. Some historians believe such arrogance was a contributing factor to the magnitude of the Galveston disaster."
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Belen Jesuit Prep in Miami has continued the tradition of Father Viñes thanks to the alumni of the class of 1972, who donated money and talent to build a meteorological and astronomical observatory at the school — as well as a ham radio station. Belen is one of very few schools nationwide with an observatory, and the only one in the United States equipped with a 16" telescope with a CCD camera for astrophotography. A few years ago, the school was invited by NASA to place an experiment aboard the shuttle Discovery. “One of our students, a 16-year-old, wearing a space suit, took aboard the box that I now have in my hands, which contained DNA molecules and a variety of seeds,” Father Cartaya recalled. “To my surprise, as I was dressed as a priest, one of the seven astronauts who were going on board told me, 'Reverend, would you mind giving us your blessing?’ “I could not mention Christ because some of them were Jews. I could not mention the Virgin Mary because some of them were Protestants. I could not mention God because some of them were atheists ... What should I say then? God inspired me and I said: 'I wish for you to discover God among the stars.’ “They liked it; it was a very beautiful experience,” In 1886, in reply to a query from the Havana Chamber of Commerce, Father Vines wrote: The case of seeds on Discovery spaceship
"For my part I am desirous only of serving all so far as service is rendered possible by my poor health and the limited means at my disposal; nor do I wish other recompense, after that which I hope from God, than to be of use to my brethren and to do my little share for the advancement of science and the good of humanity."
CLASIFICATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONES Tropical Depression < 63 km/h Tropical Depression < 63 km/h Tropical Storm 63 - 117 km/h Tropical Storm 63 - 117 km/h Hurricane > = 118 km/h
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Almeria is a fascinating area to explore because of its diversity of landscapes. Several places still have areas where cave houses are constructed and many people including expats, live in them all year round as they tend to keep a stable temperature. Usually there is a small entrance that is built on the outside. Sometimes they are rented out and make an alternative type of holiday.
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Torrevieja has over 120 parks and plazas. This one is an Aromatic Park in the Torreblancas district off Avda. Torreblanca just above Cabo Cervera. It is an old gully that has been laid out with a wide variety of colorful flowers and shrubs that also produce lovely fragrances. It is a bit of a hill with views towards the sea and no dogs are allowed. If you drive past the Rotary roundabout to the right you will come to it. Fotos: Javier Torregrosa.
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Atlas of nesting birds in the province of Alicante Price 40 euros available from Santos Ochoa in Torrevieja
This atlas is the result of almost fifteen years of work. A group of more than fifty researchers toured the Alicante province to obtain quantitative information needed to make a series of maps showing in detail the distribution of the different nesting birds. The texts by so many experts, paint a portrait of the status of the bird populations and provide practical advice on how to locate the different species in the field. The book is published by the University of Alicante published jointly with the local group of SEO - BirdLife Alicante . There are 544 pages describing 187 species and their nesting and feeding habits and habitats. Each bird is listed by its name in Spanish, Valencian and English with photos and illustrations. Detailed maps are guides to where bird lovers can find the various species. There is also a useful index listing the various birds. This is a great achievement long overdue as aficionados and schoolchildren, as well as those who visit from abroad for bird watching can use this atlas. The only other book in Spain similar to this is one in Catalu単a although there are other books on birds in Spain generally.
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Bird Watchers Club
There are many people who are avid bird watchers and belong to an association or club of like minded souls. The Costa Blanca Bird Club (CBBC) was set up around 2005 in response to the many requests of the UK Expats who wished to continue bird-watching whilst in Spain. There is an excellent website with lots of stunning photographs, field reports and sightings. The original President, and main driving force in setting up the group, was Malcolm Palmer who has now stepped down to Vice President. Malcolm has lived in Spain for around 20 years, has an extensive knowledge of birds in many parts of the world, has written books on birds in Spain, and has an added advantage of speaking fluent Spanish.
Our thanks to professional photographer, Bryan Thomas who is a member of this club, for the use of the excellent photos accompanying this article.
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The CBBC meets on monthly field trips from September to June â&#x20AC;&#x201C; its only real activity. The venues vary from Murcia in the South to Pego Marsh in the North. The majority of trips are within an hour´s drive of Alicante, as this is the area with the largest number of members. Bird-watching is a very rewarding hobby that can help you learn about your local wildlife. Bird-watchers use binoculars to seek out different species of birds and identify them based on size, color, shape, and feeding habits. They abide by a code of ethics that are in place to keep birds safe. It's important that bird-watchers do not disturb habitats and remain unobtrusive when observing the behavior of birds.
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if you want to observe as many species as possible, it's a great idea to go bird-watching at many different times throughout the day. Most birds are very active during the early morning, while early afternoon is a great time to spot hawks, falcons, and eagles. Late afternoon, evening, and nighttime is a great time to see many of the nocturnal species, like owls. The species you spot will vary depending on the season and your geographic area. La Mata lake is now a popular spot as there are a couple of hides that are useful for those with good cameras. Patience is a necessity as birds move often and are frightened easily by sound as well as vision. Learning to identify birds is fun and can be easy if you keep in mind the four keys of bird identification: size and shape, color pattern, behavior, and habitat. You can judge the size of new birds against birds you already know. After you've identified the size and shape, you can begin to observe what the bird eats, where it lives, and how it flies. Listening to the sounds the bird makes can also help to identify it. Clubs tend ot keep a note of any sightings so that others can enjoy and observe the same birds and report on them. It's vital that bird-watchers respect birds and nature while observing different species. You can do your part to protect the welfare of birds by respecting their boundaries, moving slowly, staying on trails, and sitting or crouching down to appear smaller and less threatening.â&#x20AC;Š
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SEO- Alicante is a local group of Members of the Spanish Ornithological Society ( SEO \ BirdLife ). The participated with the Alicante University to produce the Atlas of Nesting Birds. In 1992 SEO \ BirdLife developed a network of local groups formed by members living in the same area and in the 1994 's the Alicante group was formed with the intention of the Alicante ornithologists coming together.The Spanish Ornithological Society was founded in 1954 and since then has worked for the conservation of birds and nature. SEO / BirdLife was the first environmental NGO that existed in our country and today is the most important in its field. Currently it has about eight thousand partners working in various ways to society. SEO is a member of BirdLife International, a federation that brings together conservation associations worldwide.
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The Spanish Ornithological Society was founded in 1954 and since then has worked for the conservation of birds and nature. SEO /BirdLife was the first environmental NGO that existed in our country and today is the most important in its field. Currently it has about eight thousand partners working in various ways to society. SEO is a member of BirdLife International, a federation that brings together conservation associations worldwide. According to the statutes of SEO / BirdLife in article 1, its goals are: - Conserve wild birds and their habitat in Spanish territory, as well as, through BirdLife International, contributing to the conservation of global biodiversity. - Conduct scientific studies to increase knowledge about wild birds and their habitats, in particular as an indispensable tool for conservation. - Disseminate knowledge among citizens, appreciation and respect for the birds and nature in general. - Environmental education activities and teacher training in the subject matter of the above purposes. - Activities related to international cooperation for development, as essential to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in developing countries engine activities. Since its inception SEO Alicante has conducted a series of activities and projects among which are the following: Ornithological gatherings: from 1997 are being developed talks not only about birds, but on the environment in general. World Day of birds: Every year events are organized on this day. Tours: organized visits to protected nature reserves as the Font Rojo, the Pego-Oliva, El Hondo,and L'Albufera. Other places such as include the Sierra de Salinas, the Isle of Benidorm, the plains of El Bonete, PĂŠtrola Lagoons and Corral Rubio, BeniarrĂŠs Reservoir. Always a big crowd. Ornithological routes in the province of Alicante: Project to facilitate fans watching birds. At the same time an assessment of the status and problems of conservation of birds was performed. This project was funded with an Environmental Volunteer Program (VOLCAM) of the Savings Bank of the Mediterranean. Atlas of nesting Red-rumped Swallow: VOLCANO project in which all possible nests were counted and all observations of this bird were collected in the province of Alicante. Dictionary of vernacular names of Alicante: Working in the vernacular names that are about to disappear were collected. SEO-members who participated Alicante, interviewed elderly, hunters, herdsmen, farmers, etc. Location, inventory, and study colonies Sapper Plane: This project was also funded a program VOLCAM it comes to locating the colonies of these birds to censarlas and banding them. Since SEO-Alicante we realized that the sand and earth embankments
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nesting birds were missing and this project aims to study the type of incident and hassle of each colony to seek solutions for each. List of exotic birds from Alicante: This VOLCAM project served to collect information about these birds. Claims and complaints: When a threat is detected SEO-Alicante communicates technicians SEO / BirdLife and takes legal action. So far there have been complaints in several areas, such as the restoration work on the castle walls of Santa Pola in breeding season of common swifts, development projects in the Salinas de Calpe or at the mouth of the Algar river, construction of a treatment plant of urban waste near a breeding colony of Trumpeter Finch. There have also been actions on illegal trapping of finches and the request for postponement of the final season of hunting preserves around the Natural Park of El Hondo, the drought which has seen this winter that made the take refuge in aquatic preserves. Ornithological yearbooks: There are now three yearbooks published with the name of birds in Alicante. With data observations that are not left in the field notebooks of every ornithologist and share them at the same time serve to meet the populations and trends of birds in the long term .
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Spain’s Natural Parks by Dave Stewart
Spain tops the Tourist list for the first time. With approximately 60.6 million annual arrivals from international tourists, Spain has become Number One tourist destination. The country, rich in cultural resources and entertainment, ranked high in natural and cultural resources. It also scored high in infrastructure, travel and tourism policy and conditions, and business travel. However it ranked poorly in business environment, hiring and firing practices, and pay and productivity. For the first time, Spain ranks as the world’s most tourism-friendly country in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, according to rankings recently released in a biennial report. Spain’s leading status is “thanks to its cultural resources, infrastructure and adaptation to digital consumption habits.” The report ranks 141 countries across 14 dimensions “revealing how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector.”
Sometimes I wonder why some people come to live in Spain as they spend their time in their urbanizations and don’t venture very far - apart for going back to the U.K. I know people who live in La Siesta and never been to the town centre. It’s a pity, as Spain is a fairly large area bounded by both the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, Rivers and lakes, with a diversity of land mass ecosystems. There are several chains or sierras of mountains, wetlands such La Mata, forest and woods, deserts, coves and beaches of course, as well as volcanoes. One of the attractions of the Costa del Sol, for example, is that you can climb a mountain or go skiing in the Sierra Nevada, then have a dip in the Med in the afternoon and still enjoy a lovely meal sitting in the open air. Traditionally tourism in Spain has been linked with the sun and the beach, the new demands of the national and international tourists are generating a greater movement towards other forms of tourism, especially the ones that presents environmental values, which has originated an increase in the number of visits to the National Parks in Spain during the last years. The sustainability of tourism includes many aspects: the responsible use of the natural resources, the consideration of the environmental impact of the activities, the use of "clean" energies (see previous solar article), the protection of the 52
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heritage and the conservation of the natural and cultural integrity of the destinations, among others. There has to be a balance between enjoying, using with responsibility of the natural resources, whether on land or in the water.
According to the information brought by the Institute of Tourism Studies of Spain, in years 2000 and 2010 Spain received an annual average of 88 million visitors, of which 60% were tourists and the rest hikers, according to the conventional classification. The hikers include those who visit the country on historical pilgrimage routes such as that of Santiago de Compestella, and this summer there is also an Ignatian Route that begins in Montserrat, Catalunya and goes to the Basque country. Spain ranks first among 141 countries in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index published by the World Economic Forum in 2015.
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Spain has fifteen National Parks that are distinctive for their variety, with a stunning ecological wealth. Mother Nature takes centre stage in these unique areas, some of which have the UNESCO World Heritage designation. In Spain, a natural park (Spanish: parque natural) is a natural space protected for its biology, geology, or landscape, with ecological, aesthetic, educational, or scientific value whose preservation merits preferential attention on the part of public administration. The regulation of the activities that may occur tin them attempts to assure their protection. Natural parks focus their attention on the conservation and maintenance of flora, fauna, and terrain. They can be maritime or terrestrial and can be in the mountains, along the coasts, or in the desert as in Almeria. Spain distinguishes natural parks from national parks. The categories of protected areas in Spain under Law 4/1989 are not based on higher or lower levels of protection, but on functions and characteristics. A National Park is so designated because it is of national interest by reason of being representative of the natural heritage and that it includes some of the principal natural systems of Spain. Nature reserves are classified as "natural spaces whose creation has as its end the protection of ecosystems. These include marine reserves such as that at Tabarca Island.
Then there are Natural monuments
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considered to be "natural spaces or elements constituted basically by formations of notably singularity, rarity or beauty, that merit being the object of special protection, such as the rock formations at Mazzaron. The Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja Natural Park is a protected area, covering 3,700 Ha; its environmental values have been globally recognised since 1972 with the RAMSAR Convention. The main differentiating feature is the two salt lakes, the Laguna de Torrevieja and the Laguna de La Mata. The former becomes pink and this is where the Torrevieja salt mine is located. On the other hand, the Laguna de La Mata is green and this is where the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Interpretation Centre is located and bird watching is popular. These natural preserves in Spain cover a total of more than 325,000 hectares of land and have an immense natural and cultural value. Statistically, 9.1 percent of the surface area of Spain is protected, including 42 percent of the Canary Islands, 30.5 percent of Andalusia, and 21.51 percent of Catalonia, with lesser percentages in the other autonomous communities. Andalusia, being far larger than the Canary Islands or Catalonia, has 36 percent of the total protected areas in the country, and a lot of this is thanks to the television series reported in an earlier article about the Wolf Man.
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Spain is one of the European countries with the most 'IBAs' (Important Bird Areas), with over 400 protected areas. Sea birds make their nests in the Islas Atlánticas National Park and in the Cabrera Archipelago, the largest land and sea-based National Park in Spain. This biodiversity is particularly important in Doñana, which also has the UNESCO World Heritage designation: it is the only place in Europe that contains a habitat for numerous migratory birds and other animals such as the Iberian lynx, an endangered species. Then there are the Tablas de Daimiel or the Cabañeros National Parks, both of which are in the Castile-La Mancha region, where you can explore wetlands and forests, criss-crossed by numerous trails that are easy for walking, and where you can see a host of birdlife species. The same is true of the Monfragüe National Park in Extremadura, home to the world's largest colony of black vultures. The photos accompanying this article are of Extramadura taken by photographer (and fisherman) Terry Roebuck. According to the European Environment Agency, the natural spaces are increasingly fragmented by the development of urban areas and infrastructures. I think most of us are aware of this with so much of the coastal area being dedicated to concrete tourism or building. It should be noted that any economic activity must be realized within a ‘respect policy’ with
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the environment, that is, without damaging the resources and the ecosystems that sustain it. With this in mind the La Mata area only permits the growing of the local vines. On the other hand, in the last two decades the surface of the natural protected spaces, as well as their number, has increased exponentially, turning Spain into the country which contributes with more protected surface to the Natura 2000 network (AEMA, 2010). Spain is the third largest country in Europe and has a diverse landscape and, as a result, is often called â&#x20AC;&#x153;a miniature continentâ&#x20AC;? when lumped with Portugal. Spain is the most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland, despite the fact that a 45% of its Mainland area is occupied by the Meseta Central ("Inner Plateau"), the high plains of central Spain. The rest of the country is dominated by several Mountain ranges, including peaks that exceed 3,000 meters; significant lowlands and a vast coast, alternating rugged cliffs with sandy beaches, bays, capes and coves. Spain also has two archipelagos with a variety of landscapes, the Balearic Islands with a typical Mediterranean landscape and the diverse Canary Islands. It is obvious that since tourism is one of the most important areas for bringing foreign revenue into the country, it has to be diversified and make use of its culture, Entertainment, festivals and rural aspects which we all enjoy.
Once again thanks to those who have contributed photographs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Terry Roebuck and Bryan Thomas.
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San Javier Jazz Festival 13 - 31 July 2015 This year once again there is an excellent line-up of internationally known artists invited to the annual Jazz Festival in San Javier. There will be 24 concerts over 13 evenings with Dianne Reeves, Jackson Brown, Stanley Jordan, Brad Mehidau, John Hiatt, Jethro Tullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s - Martin Barre, Royal Southern Brotherhood, and a host of other artistes. You can purchase a season ticket permitting access to all concerts (apart from Jackson Brown) for 125 euros; the Jackson Brown one is on 6th July and costs 125 euros. Individual concerts range from 15 to 20 euros and can be booked at www.jazz.sanjavier.es
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The full programme:Friday 3 JULY CMD & THE NOMADS FEATURING: CHRIS MINH DOKY, DAVE WECKL, DEAN BROWN & GEORGE WHITTY JOHN HIATT Saturday 4 JULY TONY DESARE QUARTET FLAMENCUBA CON ANTONIO CARMONA Monday 6 JULY JACKSON BROWNE
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Friday 10 JULY JETHRO TULL'S MARTIN BARRE LARRY GRAHAM & GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION Saturday 11 JULY GINESA ORTEGA & RAYNALD COLOM CUARTETO LYNNE ARRIALE, GRACE KELLY & CÉCILE VERNY PRESENTAN "CINEMA" Sunday 12 JULY KENNY “BLUES BOSS” WAYNE & THE DREW DAVIES RHYTHM COMBO JANIVA MAGNESS Tuesday 14 JULY BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO Friday 17 JULY BILL CHARLAP TRIO FEATURING: PETER WASHINGTON Y KENNY WASHINGTON RUTHIE FOSTER
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Saturday 18 JULY PICAZO, DE LERA, CUCCIARDI E INVITADOS RICHARD GALLIANO NEW MUSETTE QUARTET “HOMMAGE A EDITH PIAF” FEATURING: SYLVAIN LUC Wednesday 22 JULY ANTONIO LIZANA SEPTETO DIANNE REEVES Friday 24 JULY ENRIQUE HEREDIA “NEGRI” INVITADOS: JERRY GONZÁLEZ Y MONTSE CORTÉS NETTWORK FEATURING: CHARNETT MOFFETT, STANLEY JORDAN, CYRUS CHESNUT & JEFF “TAIN” WATTS Saturday 25 JULY CARLA COOK & ALBERT BOVER TRIO ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD Friday 31 JULY OUR SPANISH HEART FEATURING: CARLES BENAVENT, ANTONIO SERRANO Y TOMASITO JOE LOUIS WALKER 65
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Some Enchanted Evening with Nigel Hopkins
SATURDAY 27th June 2015. Orihuela Costa Resort Hotel, La Zenia. 2pm & 8pm MELODY MAKERS INTERNATIONAL & CANTEMOS! YOUTH CHOIR with their spectacular new show. 'Some Enchanted Evening A tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein'. Yet another fabulous show from these highly successful Melody Makers International. Accompanied by a professional band from the UK. Tickets: 10€ (2pm) and 12€ (8pm)
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Rojales Moors & Christians 29 June The 29th June and 7th October are the festivities of the town’s patron saints - St. Peter the Apostle and the Virgen of the Rosary. The June fiestas are noted for the impressive and colourful parades of groups of ‘Moors and Christians’ with a carefully laid out programme that entails a parley between Arab and Christian Ambassadors and parades of the different groups of both sides with a great deal of music, laughter and fireworks. There are seven comparsas or groups – three Christian and four Moros. St. Peter’s fiestas have been celebrated for many years, interrupted only by the civil war. The Berbers comparsas of Petrer participated in the 1978 parade and the following year,
inspired by this group, a new group the Almohades was born. Later the Tourags was founded in 1979 and then the first Christian group the Contrabandistas in 1980. In 1988 the Banakies was started with the kabila of Ben-AkiEs la fiesta. Women were unhappy that they had no direct participation in the parades and in 1992 the Piratas took their place. 65
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In the same year another group the Berberes took their place in the ranks of the Moros. The most recent group has been the Caballeros de la Encantá in 2001inspired by the legend of the Enchantress. There is no doubt that the locals would like to see more integration and participation in their fiestas and it would be no surprise to see a group of foreigners dress up and take their place in the files of warriors. These fiestas usually take place from 26th June with a climax on St. Peter’s day 29th, and then the next day the Moors & Christians battles and parades. But there are many other events with live concerts, fireworks, children’s games, etc. Over the weekend dedicated to the Moors & Christians an avalanche of over 100,000 visitors descends on the town to see a thousand locals strut in the parades. These celebrations tend to spill over into July with several sporting events and more parades. Another interesting part of the fiesta in summer is the theatrical expression of an old legend that is shared between Rojales and neighbouring Guardamar del Segura. This is the legend of the Enchantress which brings together the elements of earth, water and fire and takes place at Midsummer’s night, whose Spanish equivalent is St. John the Baptist’s birthday 24th June. This has its roots in Moorish times when a young Moorish princess of the area fell in love with someone whom her father disapproved. Her unrequited love ended in the waters of the river and each year young men still enter the river in the hope that she will reappear and they can carry her off to the other side so that they can have a fruitful life ahead. The snag is, that if she does appear, she gets heavier and heavier, and the chances are that the young man will drown.
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Tabarca Island has patron Peter, so the island is usually the seafood dishes in the into the celebration of patron of seamen.
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fiestas on 29th June with Saint busy and a must is trying some of local restaurants. This fiesta runs the Virgen del Carmen who is
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Cucarachas - not just a song by Andy Ormiston
Finally in this Edition about wildlife a look at another pet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cockroaches. The hot weather is definitely here and so are all the little bichos. At the base of many buildings you will see a yellow powder sprinkled, which is aimed at keeping cockroaches from entering the building. But sometimes these nasty looking insects fly in the windows anyway. Cockroaches have six legs, two antennae and some have wings. Their six long, spiny legs allow them to run quickly across almost any surface. The specialized pads located at their tarsi are used for scaling surfaces and even allow for walking on walls and ceilings. They can also come up through drains in showers, sinks, the air conditioning.etc. Supposedly they can withstand a nuclear explosion. Male cockroaches are typically smaller than females. In some species, the females lack wings whereas the males possess them. A cockroach has three stages during its life cycle: egg, nymph, and adult. Cockroach eggs are encased in egg cases called oothecae, which are commonly oval-shaped and dark brown in colour. Depending on the species, an egg case contains between 16 - 50 eggs. Young cockroaches appear similar to adults, but are paler in colour and do not have wings. After moulting several times, young cockroach nymphs become mature adults. Some are beneficial to the environment as they are important recyclers of decaying organic material. In order to prevent and eliminate cockroaches first thing to remember is to keep the kitchen clean, do not leave food out in the open. Cockroaches are omnivores that eat plants and meat. 65
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Cockroaches love flour, so place it in a sealed plastic container. They also love bits of bread and other wheat-based products, so it is important to store breakfast cereals and breadcrumbs in plastic containers as well.
Cockroaches increase their activity and show themselves more frequently in evening hours, especially when you suddenly walk into a room, particularly kitchen and bathrooms, and turn on the light. In most situations, cockroaches would not bite humans if there are other food sources such as in garbage cans or exposed food. Cockroaches are known to carry human pathogens, such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can result in human diseases, such as food poisoning or diarrhea. Occasionally, they will destroy fabric and paper products. For many years it has been found that are very resistant and sometimes it seems as if accustomed to the poison we buy in the supermarket or ferreteria. But continue to place those little black traps around and, who knows, they may walk into the trap. platelets dodge game and there is always some around. If you have cockroaches in your home, there are several things you can do. Like trying to find out where they come from, and seal the openings with caulk when you find them. Cockroaches can make themselves incredibly flat and can fit through small openings, so keep your eyes peeled. There are Electronic devices that plug into a 65
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socket and supposedly use your electrical wiring system to emit a sound that deters pests. The underlying concept behind electronic cockroach repellents is that the devices produce sounds that are unpleasant to cockroaches and therefore repel them. There is a spray called Bio Kill and it's used by schools, restaurants etc. You Could try ORO the insecticide in a red can (more expensive than any of the others) but lasts for a year I am told. The Colombian cockroach, the one mainly seen in Spain, can fly when the temperature is 25C or above, so you may find the odd one in your property. Some people swear by leaving bay leaves around the places they may like, the floor or kitchen worktops. Boric acid has long been accepted as a weapon against cockroach infestations in homes. It may be formulated in a bait or as a residual that cockroaches walk through. When a cockroach walks through a treated area, boric acid powder adheres to the insectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legs and body. Upon grooming itself, the cockroach ingests the boric acid dust. Boric acid has to be applied properly in order to be effective. The cockroaches are required to come into contact with or consume the boric acid. Due to limitations in placement and ability of cockroaches to thrive in hard-to-reach places, this often isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an effective solution. Misapplication of boric acid also can leave unsightly messes. Another suggestion is that as cockroaches love cocoa powder and flour, mix equal parts of cocoa powder or flour with diatomaceous earth (found in hardware stores and online) and sprinkle it near cockroach entryways or in places where you've seen the cockroaches. Note that cocoa powder can stain light-colored carpets. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to pets and humans, but it kills insects by destroying their exoskeletons. The roaches will take the "bait" back to their nest and feed it to the other roaches, who will also die. You can use borax powder (found in the laundry soap aisle of most supermarkets) in place of diatomaceous earth if you like. There are specialists who deal with infestations of insects, rats and other pests and will be glad to smoke your house out for you, but often this is a community problem if you live in flats so it needs to be tackled in the whole edifice.
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Noticeboard
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Exceptional comedy show touring Spain comes to Torrevieja on 21st June at the Torrevieja Municipal starring theatre June, that brings local boy made good, actor and all round entertainer JesĂşs GarcĂa, back to his home town of Torrevieja.
26th June - 20:30 Municipal Theatre - 6 euros SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICO by dance group of Lola Morales & Arantxa Blanco in aid of Alzheimers Association
The fifth short film festival of Torrevieja in the Virgen del Carmen centre from 26/27 June organized byTurmalina Films
13/14th June the annual Rocio Romeria which will be located over the weekend in the picnic area of La Mata natural park. 65