February 6, 2014
WALKS IN HISTORY: Rota and the independence of America By José Antonio de Pilares / japilares@gmail.com
Map of the battle of 1702. On the top left is Rota Author unknown. Uploader was Rebel Redcoat at Wikipedia
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ack in December, I was lucky enough to be kindly invited over to an open house in the residence of Air Force Colonel Carlos Ortiz, where I met with both Spaniards and Americans; some living on Base, some outside. The house is in the hill overlooking the mouth of the Salado river inside the Base. As I listened to the waves smashing into the rocks below I could not help but think about how important this place actually was to the birth of the United States. It might come as a surprise to many, but Rota was the site of an encounter between the United Kingdom and Spain that would in time prove decisive to the Revolutionary War. Surprised? I thought so... We must go back to the beginning of the XVIII century.At the time, the finishing touches were being given to the Iglesia de la O, the first regular English language national newspaper,The Daily Courant, was published for the first time in London, and Delaware was designated a separate colony. In Spain, the last king of the Habsburg dynasty - Carlos II “the Bewitched”- died without heirs, thus starting an European-wide war for his succession as well as a civil war inside the Spanish territories; on one side Spain and her American colonies, France, Bavaria and Savoy, against pretty much everyone else, especially Britain,Austria, the Netherlands and the half of Spain that belonged to the Crown of Aragon . The British in particular were very keen on taking advantage of the situation to weaken Spain and capture a naval base on peninsular shores. Thus, a large Anglo-Dutch naval squadron was organised (officially to support the Austrian contestant to the throne) under the command of admiral George Rooke. His first objective was simple: Cádiz. It would be the ideal place to establish a Royal Navy base from where to pester and raid Spanish trade with the Americas. Knowing that attacking Cádiz head-on was suicidal, Rooke decided to land his forces in a safer place, form up and then march on to Cádiz. The landing ground chosen was the beach at the mouth of the Salado as well as the beaches at Fuen-
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tebravía. According to the local chronicle, the coastal defence forces did their best to weaken the invaders, but all the forts between Rota and El Puerto soon fell.The civil war had weakened the home defence too much. Initially, the Anglo-British headquarters were established on the aforementioned hill which dominates the bay of Cádiz. Rota, El Puerto and Puerto Real were all captured in quick succession, but the real target, Cádiz, was untouched. In Rota there's the custom of putting pumpkins -and other vegetables- on windowsills so that the sun can dry them, making them last edible for longer. Well, tradition has it that most roteños “welcomed” the occupying “red-coats” with a shower of pumpkins from their windows. Even if no real injuries could be produced by these missiles, the message was clear to the British. Faced with an approaching winter and an unconquerable city, the British re-embarked the 30th of September after sacking as much as they could, including most of the works of art in the parrish church and the fabled bronze culverin of Rota. This artillery piece was said to be able to knock out a ship 6 miles to sea. The defeat gave Admiral Rooke a lust for vengeance that would materialise two years later. In 1704 Rooke returned bent on capturing a stronghold on the Spanish coast, Cádiz was off the script... but how about Gibraltar? Gibraltar was an impregnable fortress (and still is) when fully manned, but after four years of war surely it had to be weak. Rooke was not wrong, the 3000-strong garrison had been reduced to just 300 men, considering militias and professional soldiers, and held out gallantly only for five days in the face of a 61-ship squadron. Although at first the city was taken for the Austrian contestant to the Throne -the Archduke Charles of Habsburg-, soon the Austrian colours were lowered and the Union Jack replaced them on top of Gibraltar's Moorish castle. Gibraltar became a key post for the British and their nascent Empire as it helped secure its shipping lines with the Mediterranean and India and became a hub for the Royal Navy in the frequent wars with Spain. Its recovery became paramount to Spain and any chance to weaken the United Kingdom was seen as an opportunity to recover what the British called “the Rock” and Spaniards “el Peñón”. The chance came in 1775 with the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Spain promptly began to supply the Thirteen Colonies with arms, money and all sorts of supplies through Havana and New Orleans. However, it was not until the American victory at Saratoga that Spain entered the war full on. The British found themselves having to fight the colonists in the continent and their allies -Spain and France- in Europe and the Caribbean.The logistical apparatus just could not cope with such a wide front and the defeats soon piled up; especially after the Spanish Navy under Admiral Luís Córdova y Córdova captured a 52-ship-strong convoy at Cabo de Santa María in 1780. Gibraltar was besieged by the allies in 1779 which put extra strain on the Royal Navy and the British economy. This siege would go on until 1783 in what
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would be known as the “Great Siege”. Gibraltar became a symbol for Britain and many squadrons were sent to relieve the desperate situation of the “red-coats” stationed there. These supply convoys were also needed in America, where the British army was in a dire need for reinforcements, but they never came. Cornwallis' last stand in Yorktown in 1781, assaulted by the Continental Army in the front and bombarded by the French Navy in the back, was the demonstration that London had placed Gibraltar higher in its' list of priorities than America.The British army in America had been left to take care of itself, but without popular support it broke down hopelessly. Had Gibraltar stayed in Spanish hands in 1704, probably Great Britain would have committed all its resources to suppressing the American rebellion. And maybe, just maybe, they would have won and the USA today could have a similar relation to the UK as Canada has. I like contrafactuals (“virtual history”) as much as I like History as it requires an informed and thoughtful approach to answer “what if” questions. What if the Brits had captured Cádiz and not Gibraltar? What if they could have been defeated on their first landing in the Salado? Would they have ceased attacks on the Spanish mainland? Would that have changed their policies with the American colonists? Would there never have been a need for the colonists to wage a war for independence? All this was on my mind as I stared down at the military harbour as the sun came down, the wind on my chest and the sound of the waves crashing not far off. Then someone called be back inside, there were people singing Spanish Christmas carols... and I just had to join
"The last out of Gibraltar." by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau/ Wikipedia
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February 6, 2014
Gastronomy - Family Food By Katie O'Neill
The following is reproduced, with the permission of Mr. Chris Chaplow, the Managing Director at www.andalucia.com.The "Information about Andalucia" website, was founded in 1996 by Mr. Chris Chaplow. “It was the very first site on the Internet to offer information about this region of southern Spain, and has upheld its mission to offer clear, concise, easily-navigable pages about Southern Spain, primarily for the tourist, the foreign resident, and the international investment market. A website dedicated to the enjoyment of Andalucia.” here is most certainly a difference between grabbing a bite of something on the run, or sitting down at table to eat a meal the "right" way, and the Spanish are experts on making meals so much more than just sustenance. Andalucía, like other areas of Spain, has a unique cuisine and "culture of food". The nutritional value of the food, the freshness of ingredients, the presentation (simple as it may be), the ambience, and especially the social aspect of the meal are all factors to take into account.
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Good habits begin early, so children are quickly habituated into eating well and appreciating it. It does take a little time to shop for and prepare quality meals, but in the end it doesn't have to take so much longer than going to buy something prepared, which is usually loaded with preservatives, much more expensive, and nowhere near as tasty as a good homemade dish. So you ask, what are some good Andalusian family-style dishes that anyone can prepare? The following recipes will get you started...
Revuelto de setas y gambas (Eggs with wild mushrooms and shrimp) Ingredients • 200 g wild mushrooms (the kind you can buy at the supermarket) • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced • 6 to 8 eggs • 250 g raw shrimp (gambas), peeled and heads and tails removed • olive oil Crack the eggs into a dish and set aside. Lightly rinse the wild mushrooms and cut off the hard stem, if they have any, then rip into largish bite-size pieces. Now heat enough olive oil to barely cover the bottom of a skillet, add the garlic and sauté on med-high heat for just a few moments, then add the mushrooms and sauté a couple minutes. Add the shrimp and sauté just until they are cooked (they will turn pink), then pour in the eggs, salt to taste, and stir gently until the eggs are just cooked. Serve immediately with plenty of good crusty bread. Makes enough for three or four people as a first course or a light supper. This basic recipe can be varied according to what you have in the house or what you like most. Try adding also some previously steamed asparagus pieces, sliced leeks, bits of serrano ham or chorizo (cook it first with the garlic)...be creative!
Bonito with tomato and onions Ingredients • About 1 ¼ kg fresh bonito or fresh tuna, skin removed and cut into thick slices • 2 onions, peeled and sliced • 4 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped • 1 teaspoon flour • 125 ml white wine • 1 bay leaf • olive oil Put enough olive oil in a skillet to cover the bottom. Add the onion and sauté on medhigh until it begins to become transparent; add the flour and the tomatoes and cook a few minutes, then add the wine and bay leaf and let simmer about ten minutes, covered. Add water if it becomes too dry. Then add the bonito and let simmer, uncovered, another ten to fifteen minutes or until cooked through. Salt to taste. Can be served hot or cold. Serves six.
Alcachofas con jamon (Artichoke hearts with serrano ham) Ingredients • 2 kg small, tender fresh artichokes • juice of half a lemon • 150 g diced serrano ham pieces • 1 to 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped • olive oil Prepare the artichokes: rip off the outer leaves, until you get to the last several inner leaves that are more tender and a lighter green. Slice off the tops of these leaves and the stem, so what you have remaining is just the innermost part of the artichoke. Cut these into quarters and toss with the lemon juice. Heat a skillet with just enough olive oil to barely cover the bottom, add the garlic and serrano ham and sauté just a few moments on med-high heat, then add the artichoke hearts. Cover and reduce the heat to medium, adding a little water, and let cook until the artichokes are tender. Check often to be sure it is not too dry; add water as needed for the artichokes to cook, until tender when pierced with a fork. Once they are tender, uncover, increase heat to high, and let the liquid evaporate (do not drain off), until there is just a little left in the pan. Salt to taste and serve immediately. Serves four to six as a first course or a light supper.
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Huevos a la cubana Ingredients: • 350 cc white rice, medium grain • 700 ml water • 1 package "tomate frito" (250 ml) • 4 eggs • 1 clove garlic • olive oil • 2 firm bananas, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise Method: Prepare the white rice: heat the water in a saucepan with a dash of salt and the garlic clove. When it boils, add the rice, stir once, cover, and turn the heat to low. minutes, take a quick peek at the rice: if you can see the rice grains have swollen and are nearing the surface, then cover again quickly and turn off the heat (but do not remove it from the burner). After about another six to eight minutes, take one more look at the rice: all the liquid should be absorbed. If it is not, you must heat it briefly again and repeat the absorption process, and next time let it cook a bit more before turning off the heat. Heat the tomate frito (microwave it in a "microwave-able" container, or heat in a covered saucepan) until hot. In the meantime, heat just a bit of olive oil in a skillet and fry the banana slices until lightly browned; turn them carefully as they break easily. Place one half banana on each plate to be served. Once the rice is cooked, take a teacup or a flan dish and rinse it. Working quickly, pack the cooked white rice into it with a soup spoon, firmly enough so it will hold its shape, but not too hard or it will not unmold. Turn the cup over one of the plates and tap it with your hand until the rice unmolds and falls onto the plate, keeping its shape. In the meantime, heat some olive oil in a smallish skillet (enough oil so it is at least ½ cm deep), and fry one egg at a time in the hot oil. Sprinkle with a little salt, if desired, and set on the plate with the rice and banana. Pour some of the hot tomate frito over the rice, repeat the procedure for each plate to be served, and serve with plenty of bread to dip in the egg yolk. Serves four (some prefer two eggs per person).
1. Ayla87/stock.xchng 2. Malalena/stock.xchng 3. Linder6580stock.xchng 4. Huevos al plato by Pedro Serafin/Wikipedia 5. Revuelto de huevo con setas by Tamorlan/Wikipedia 6. Tabla de ibéricos y vino by Rob Winton/Wikipedia 7. Artichokes by Chris Gr/stock.xchng 8. Gambas cocidas malagueñas by Tamorlan/Wikipedia 9. Thoursie/stock.xchng 10. Apples and pears by RayaGr/stock.xchng 11. Spoon and fork by Thea0211/stock.xchng
February 6, 2014
Skydive Spain
by Karen Lucas / Photos provided by Skydive Sapin, Rodeo & Hotel Puerto Sherry Skydive Spain is the only skydiving center in Andalusia open 365 days a year and one of the few in the World that offers daily jumps from 15,000feet (4.600m), thanks to our twin turbine aircrafts. This is the maximum altitude permitted in Europe for Skydiving. Skydive Spain is located just 20 minutes away from Seville. Their goal is to make the dream of flying real and for that purpose they have created several options to meet the needs of each client, among which there are: *Tandem Jump: The introduction to the
world of skydiving. With a brief of 15 minutes you will be ready to jump from 15.000 feet (4.600 meters) attached to your instructor by a harness. Enjoy the freedom of free-fall for one minute at 200 km per hour and about 5-8 minutes of quiet descent under parachute looking at the beautiful Andalusian countryside. How to make this epic moment even better? Have your jump recorded and take home your DVD! • AFF Course: Is an accelerated method of instruction developed in the United States, which allows students to get personalized instruction in free-fall. With only 7 levels you will be ready to jump
ROTA
Presentation Of This Year's Carnival Poster 12:00, Sunday, 9 February Castillo de Luna Chapter house where the carnival fans of the town will see the new poster and a local Carnival group will perform I Astronomy And Astronautic Congress Of Rota 11:00, Saturday, 8 February Diadatic Activities in Bartolome Perez Square 18:00, Saturday, 8 February Astronomical Observation at the Playa Aguadulce Alcalde Felipe Benítez Theater 21:00, Friday, 7 February Entrance: 16 € Ticket office is open Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 20:00 and two hours before the show. Avenida San Fernando, s/n. Tel.956 810022. Web: www.aytorota.es Hiking: En Ruta Association Genal’s Valley. Serranía De Ronda 7:30, Saturday, 8 February.
alone without instructors. • Advance courses: There are a number of options for people who already have experience and want to enhance their knowledge, among them are: vertical flight, flying bell and wing-suit flying. • Team training: Skydive Spain offers its facilities and specialized instructors with all the necessary support for skydiving teams from different countries who visit during the year, winter included, to be able to train. The Juliana airfield, where Skydive Spain is located, has many facilities such as toilets and showers, a camping area and connection points for caravans. It also has a cafeteria-bar, with the name of Cloud 9, which offers a wide range of drinks and meals. There is also a store that offers skydiving products that will make you remember this extraordinary experience forever. To live any of these experiences with a group or if you have any questions just send an email to: info@skydivespain.com or call the reservation number: 955 766 056. This week they are advertising a Valentine’s special on page 7 of The Coastline: Make your reservation now, before February 14th and get 40€ off their regular price.
Rodeo Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Rodeo! Here you will listen to the best Rock, Country, Soul & Blues music in a wonderfully recreated Old West atmosphere. They offer more than 20 brands of beers and a big selection of gin tonics. Currently there are specials on Budweiser and Corona. On Thursdays and Sundays there is Latin music brought to you by Sunel straight from Cuba. Rodeo is located in downtown Puerto on Calle Curva. There are several parkings nearby.
Molly Malone This Saturday, February 5th, there will be a real live jam session at Molly’s! Everyone who has a musical instrument is invited to join in. Things will get started around 10:30 p.m. Hotel Duque de Nájera & Hotel Puerto Sherry Hotel Duque de Nájera and Hotel Puerto Sherry have Valentine’s Day specials. At Hotel Duque de Nájera in Rota the special is valid for February 14th and 15th. It includes lodging in a double room, a welcome drink, a favor in the room, buffet breakfast, a Valentine’s menu (lunch or dinner), and free wifi. The price for one night is 129€ for two persons. The price for two nights is 179€ for two persons. For more information or to reserve: 956 846020 or info@hotelduquedenajera.com At Hotel Puerto Sherry in Puerto de
Departs from El Mayeto Park. Price: 12 € members, 17 € non members. Depart from the village Parauta to Cartajima and we will continue to Júzcar, 8 Km. of medium to low difficulty. Later we will make a stop to sightsee. The people who want to go on, may continue 4.5 km. Sunset Walk Walk the bridges in the pine forest of Rota, a natural area with high ecological value Days: Tuesday at 19:00h Price: 1 € It’s necessary to pick up a ticket at the tourist information office. Botanical Garden “Celestino Mutis” from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 14:00 and again from 16:30 to 18:30 Guided tours of the Luna castle Saturdays and Sundays at 13:00 and 19:00, prior reservation needed (call 956 84 63 45 or email turismo@aytorota.es) Flea Market Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Central Market. To get a table, you must sign up previously in the bar in the Central Market. Flea Market Sundays 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. on Calle Sargento Céspedes, Chorillo Beach
PUERTO DE SANTA MARIA
Flamenco Scene "The Second Falcon" in the Theatre Pedro Munoz Seca 21:00, Friday, 7 February Plaza del Polvorista, 4 Singing the award winning SEGUNDO FALCON (Sevilla) who won the 2004 award for the year's best Flamenco record as well as other awards, playing Manolo Franco more information: http://bit.ly/TeatroInvierno14 Musical Theatre "Abondonate Mucho or Let Yourself Go" at the Sala Milwaukee 22:30, Friday, 7 February Sala Milwaukee-Avda. Bajamar 10 Entrance is 7€ with a free drink Festival BerzaRock 2014 in Sala Milwaukee 14:00, Saturday, 8 February Sala Milwaukee-Avda. Bajamar 10
Santa María the special is also valid on February 14th and 15th. It includes lodging in a double room with a room upgrade, bottle of champagne and chocolate delights, buffer breakfast,Valentine’s dinner (only evenings), free parking and wifi. The price for 2 persons for one night starts at 130€. For more information or to reserve: 956 872000 or reservas@hotelpuertosherry.com
Shamrock Tomorrow night is Japanese night at Shamrock's. Sushi and other typical Japanese dishes will be served! Anything you want us to pass along? Let us hear from you about your favorite places or coming events. We do like hearing from you! Send an e-mail to Karen@ coastline.e.telefonica.net or give a call to 607-564132. Support your paper by supporting the advertisers.
Taste the famous Andalucian Berza stew as you listen to 7 of the most original bands around. Entrance is free ! Flamenco in Pena Tomas "El Nitri".22:00, Saturday, 8 February, live Flamenco music, singing JOAQUIN DE SOLA and playing ADRIANO LOZANO Peña Flamenca Tomas "El Nitri". C. Diego Nino 1 Exposition of POL ART Chicago Art Place, Sra. de los Angeles, 3 20:00, Thursday, 6 February Artist's reception Viewing possible until 22 February from 17:00 to 21:00 Poker Tournaments at the Casino Casino Bahía de Cádiz; 21:00, Thursdays Casino Bahía de Cádiz - Camino del Juncal, s/n FORTY FIVE 45'S 21:00, every Sunday. Buy-in: 45€ + 5€. 4.000 points. Freezout limited seating. Inscriptions: Daily at the Casino from 20:00 or via credit card at www.pokercomar.com, up to one hour before the tournamentw