031 september 2016 torrevieja outlook

Torrevieja Outlook

Nº 31 - September 2016

031 September 2016 September Fiestas – Teulada/Moraira spotlight – Elda’s Bonfires – Giants of Orihuela – Redovan celebrations – Battling Santa Pola – Trains & Trams – Tourist Trains – Miniature Steam train museum – Canfranc forgotten station – Birdlife – Bookshelf autobiography – ABC Spanish oranges – Nueva Fraternidad – Diabetic foot care – Motorbike Challenge – 2017 Solidarity Calendar.

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Although the high season is past us, 30th August is held by many as the feast of San Ramon, although there is nothing special about it apart that locals tend to celebrate the departure of most visitors and there is more room around for local people. It is also a time when locals can enjoy more traditional celebrations and September appears to be a month where the Virgen Mary holds predominance as her actual birth day is held on 8th September.

Virgen Mary appears in many images under a wide variety of titles, from Mother and Child to Black Madonna

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In Orihuela and Villena she is honoured under the title of The Virgen de Montserrat or the Black Madonna, other titles include the Virgen de Loreto and the Virgen del Rosario, with many local fiestas in the Vega Baja area.

1 - 4th Sept.

Castalla holds main fiestas of Moors & Christians.

1 - 8th Sept.

Santa Pola has patronal fiestas of the Virgen de Loreto.

Patronal fiestas at Sanet y Negrals.

3 - 4th Sept.

Biar holds el Día del Cólera.

4 - 9th Sept.

Moors & Christians in Villena.

5 - 9th Sept.

The Virgen del Socorro, patroness of fishermen, is honoured in the Raval Roig district of Alacant.

Patronal fiestas in Agres.

Patronal fiestas in Tormos.

First weekend of the month traditional dancing in Benilloba Banyares de Mariola holds Festa de la Reliquia.

Saint Thomas is honoured in Altea.

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A romería in Castel de Castells for the Virgen de Petracos.

Festival of Moscatell in Teulada.

Patronal fiestas in Gorga.

Peniscola – traditional dance festival Liria - religious music festival in honour of la Purisima.

D’Engueras – Childrens international fiesta using straw images in honour of San Gil. Valencia city – International Folklore festival Segorbe – livestock fair, bull and horses corrida.

Montcada – Corpus Christi celebrations with carnival floats, traditional music and dancing, in honour of St. Barbara.

Paterna – religious procession and Bengal fireworks street battle of the cordat.

Mislata – two kilometres of cracker fireworks laid in streets of town centre in the annual traca when men try to outrun the flashing bangers as they go off in sequence.

The second week Moors & Christians in the patronal fiestas of Aigües.

From 1st Wednesday of the month until a week later on the Thursday, Moors & Christians in Ibi. 6 - 8th Mutxamel hold fiestas.

Patronal fiestas in Orihuela.

6 - 10th Moors & Christians in Benejama.

IBI Moors & Christian patron saint.

Patronal fiestas of Monòvar. aormi@icloud.com

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Popular romeria pilgrimage to the Font Roja at Alcoy is held in September

6 - 18th 7th Sept.

Elda holds main fiestas with special events on the 8th and 9th.

Daya Vieja hold patronal fiestas in honor of Nuestra Señora de Montserrate.

Patronal fiestas in Jacarilla.

7 - 10th Montforte del Cid holds festival of Virgen de Orito.

Second weekend Benifallim holds the Fadrins festival with a Blessed Bread parade.

8th Guardamar de Segura have fiestas in honour of the Virgen de Fátima (100 anniversary in 2017) held in el Campo de Guardamar.

Moors & Christians in the patronal fiestas at Redován.

9th - 12th Moors & Christian fiestas in Mutxamel.

On the weekend nearest to the 9th September the Festa de Les Copletes is held in L’Alfàs del Pi. 11th Sept.

“El Socarrat” is celebrated in Monóvar.

12 - 16th Greater fiestas of Cristo de la Paz held in San Juan de Alicante.

14 - 17th Fallas de San Pedro in Elda.

14 - 22nd Novelda has fiestas in the La Garrova district.

15th Sept.

Sax has the Fiesta de la Virgen de los Frutos.

Xàbia holds the Fiesta de la Virgen del Popul.

Fleix (Vall de Laguart) holds their greater fiestas.

The weekend following this date the people of Dolores hold their patronal fiestas.

Middle of the month Teulada celebrates the Fiesta de la Divina Pastora.

21 - 23rd Santa Cecilia festival in Alfafara.

The 3rd Sunday a romería to the Sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de la Font Roja at Alcoy.

Patronal fiestas in Beniaya (Vall d’Alcalà) Orxeta has patronal fiestas On the 3rd week patronal fiestas with Moors & Christians in Altea.

La Xara (Dénia) holds fiestas in honour of San Mateo.

27 - 29th Redovan has the Romería a la Virgen de la Salud.

29th San Miguel de Salinas holds patronal fiestas.

The weekend nearest this feast of Saint Michael the Archangel fiestas in Ibi. Also in La Villajoyosa, Gata de Gorgos and Benifallim.

Moors & Christians parade in L’Alquería d’Asnar.

Fiestas of Daya Vieja.

29th Sept. - 7th October Patronal fiestas in San Fulgencio.

30th Sept.

Benferri has celebrations in honor of San Jerónimo.

Last Sunday of the month Cristo de las Campanas is held in Almoradí.

Last weekend of the month Patronal fiestas held in Relleu from Friday night to the following Tuesday.

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Teulada-Moraira

by Dave Stewart

Moraira is a small town in the La Marina area about half way between Alicante, 80 kms to its south, and Valencia, 108 kms to its north. There is a legend that Moraira was named after the Moorish princess "Ira, la Mora" hence "Mora Ira". There appears to be no truth in the tale that her bones are buried under the old castle on the main beach (now restored as a historical monument and museum).

There is evidence that the "Castillo de Moraira" was planned by Juan Bautista Antonelli (who built the towers at La Mata and Torrevieja) as part of an overall fortification scheme developed by Felipe II to protect the coast from the Barbary pirates in the 16th century. However according to a plaque above the entrance to the castle, it was finished as late as 1742. It is also known that it was armed with

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four bronze cannons, and it was badly damaged by the British fleet on July 20th 1801.

At the end of the 18th century, when Teulada was a farming village, crops were exported by sea from the natural ports. As time went by, locals started turning to fishing as a source of income. The small houses where the tackle used to be stored, were enlarged to become fishermen's houses. This was the beginning of Moraira’s development.

Moraira delights in a subtropical Mediterranean climate, with sea breezes cooling the area in summer and in winter getting protection from the cold North winds from the surrounding mountains. The area averages some 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature exceeds 20 degrees. On average there are 325 sunny days each year. In 1986 the World Health Organization commended the Moraira climate as one of the most equitable in the world neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter.

Moraira remains one of the most un-spoilt resorts on the Costa Blanca, with 8km of beautiful coastline backed by mountains. There is a high proportion of expats living here from Northern Europe, including a strong British colony as the area is very popular with retirees.

Moraira has more than 2,000 hectares under cultivation and 1,000 hectares of vineyards. The vineyard area, where they grow Muscatel grapes for wine making, is away from the coast, up in the hills, where the climate is a little cooler, and fortunately the land is not so valuable for villa development. It is now part of the Alicante Wine Route and as you can see the hillside is stepped for cultivation and irrigation.

The 9,500 permanent population increases to as many as 30,000 during the summer tourist season. A fuller history of the town shows that there has been people living here for thousands of years, but only at the end of the 20th century did it grow beyond the fishing village that it had grown into.

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The first settlers (Upper Palaeolithic 15,000 to 20,000 BC) lived here. Objects found in a cave (Cova de la Cendra) on the Cap d´Or ( the headland that protects Moraira´s and El Portet beaches) revealed that there has been human habitation in Moraira for thousands of years. The Iberians later arrived in the area and pots from their culture have been unearthed on the Cap d´Or .

Later as elsewhere along the Spanish Mediterranean Coast, the Moors conquered the area. The relics of Moorish society are seen still today in the architecture of the buildings, the irrigation and agricultural systems and town layouts. As elsewhere in Spain many of the names used for areas of Moraira have come from the Moors era, e.g. Alcassar, Benimeit, Benimarco, Moravit, Pouet del Morro, Tabaira, etc.

The Moors were expelled by Jaime I in the 13th century and were replaced by settlers from Catalunya and Aragon, the Valencian language arrived in the area at this time. The Lords of Llúria, Serría and Gandia who were the owners founded neighbour Teulada in 1386 and later the Barons of Ariza and Teulada succeeded them. In the nineteenth century the Spanish crown claimed Teulada.

Within easy walking distance of Moraira is a quiet seaside village, El Portet just over 1 kilometer from Moraira. It is in a quiet, sheltered bay with a gently aormi@icloud.com

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sloping, sandy bathing beach. Both El Portet and Moraira have a rather upmarket feel with nothing to be seen of the high rise developments that have scarred much of the Costas in Spain Yacht club of Moraira , “Club Náutico” has 620 aormi@icloud.com

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berths. It includes an associated club, which is provided with restaurants and shops. Also in summer they have sailing courses and regattas, which are wonderful to watch as the multi-coloured sails blow before the breeze making the boats seem to skip along the waves. The championship of the district for open sea yachts is held annually, the regatta “Moraira - Santa Eulalia - Moraira” takes place at the end of September.

Some other events for this year are:- 20 August: XX Concurso Búsqueda del Tesoro (Submarinismo).

15 - 18 September: XIX Regata de la Amistad (a confirmar).

8 October: V Gourmet Race Teulada-Moraira (vela y motor).

16 October: XXXIV Trofeo de Pesca al Curricán (a confirmar).

17 de December: Asamblea General Ordinaria (Socios F. y N.).

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Beaches La Cala is a small rocky beach of clear waters and is difficult to access – to get here is either by boat or by walking along the cliff.

Torre Cap d'Dor can be reached on foor from El Portet Playa del Portet is a small shell shaped inlet, with clear waters and a sandy beach, and is a superb setting for a peaceful swim. There are a number of small bars and restaurants along the front, with showers, and parking area.

Club Nautica The marina in Moraira is an exclusive yacht haven with many facilities, including a restaurant L'Ampolla Beach is near of the castle. A golden sand beach, it is the largest and most popular beach in the area. It has lifeguards in summer.

Platgetes beaches, have easy access; they are half golden sand and half rocky.

Parking area, restaurants, showers; it also has a nice promenade that links them.

L'Andragó is a pebbly beach with a parking area and pleasant restaurant right on the sea. The rest of the coastline up to Cap Blanc has a cliff path with viewpoints over the blue and green waters.

Cap Blanc has a very pleasant beach suitable forbathing at the bottom of the cliffs. You park at the top, but have walk down the path to the platform with steps into the sea.

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The area around Moraira has plenty of places to visit for a day out.

The local language is Valenciano and recently the local nationalist movement has prevailed and many road signs bear ONLY the Valenciano version of the name.

This sometimes makes it difficult for visitors. Jalón is now Xaló and Javea is Xabia. Nevertheless, with a little imagination in the pronunciation of the written word, it is fairly easy to find your way around.

Places you might like to visit while staying in Moraira are:-

Calpe - (12 Kms south of Moraira) The Peñon de Ifach towers over Calpe, and is a smaller version of the rock of Gibraltar. Calpe also has a fishing harbour and fish market. The harbour is in the lee of the rock, and between the two main town beaches. There are many restaurants and bars along the beaches, overlooking the harbour, and in the town. Large shopping area.

Altea - (29 Kms south) An old Spanish town on the coast. It has a long promenade lined with bars/restaurants, which runs along the shingly beach. The main town in on a hill with the streets ascending via a series of steps and houses with overhanging balconies, until you emerge into the town square at the top, right in front of the domed Basilica. There are many art galleries as the picturesque town is ideal for painters. It is possible to drive up to the main plaza but parking is difficult. Scattered along the winding streets are a number of charming restaurants, which have lovely courtyard gardens or splendid balconies with stunning views at the rear. Altea also has a golf course and several marina developments just outside the town.

Javea - (12 Kms north) Another town popular with English residents. There are 3 distinct parts to Javea, each separated by 2 kilometers - an "old town", the port, and the Arenal or beach area. There is a fine promenade at both the port and at the Arenal. The beaches face slightly east and so tend to lose the sun behind the mountains comparatively early in the evening.

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Benissa - (12 Kms inland) Another old-style Spanish market town, strung along the main N332 Alicante to Valencia road. An imposing church and interesting squares and shops.

Denia - (24 Kms north) also has a marina. Once a thriving commercial port, but today more into tourism with a large shopping centre. The old castle dominates the town. Promenades, some fine beaches. A Hydrofoil runs from Denia to Ibiza (90 mins journey).

Gata de Gorgos - (13 Kms inland and north) An quaint old Spanish town on the N332. Famous for its basket and cane products sold in some 30 or 40 specialist shops.

Guadalest - (32 Kms inland) as mentioned in last month magazine it is the most visited tourist town in Spain. An ancient fortified town at the head of a valley, high above the coast. A tourist mecca with interesting shops along the steep, winding, streets selling leather goods, local fabrics, and ceramics. There is a steep path up to the rocky castle, which dominates the town, and a little open chapel at the top. Several museums, including a motorbike one. If you take the route through Callosa d'en Sarria you will pass through some beautiful mountain country.

Jalón Valley - (Starts 22 kms inland) Famous for its groves of Citrus and Almond trees - it has a scattering of old Spanish villages where you can find the real Spanish restaurants, which still serve the genuine regional cuisine cooked over wood fires, and at incredibly low prices. Best visited in Spring to see the beautiful almond blossom covering the whole valley – but not too good for those with allergies to blossom.

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Benidorm - (40 kms south) Spain's biggest holiday resort with two long sandy beaches. Hundreds of Bars, Restaurants, Night Club,, Slot-machine arcades.

Benidorm offers fun, entertainment and nightlife for 24 hours a day.

Alicante - (70 Kms south) where the major airport is located. The provincial capital, it has a splendid seafront with a fine promenade, and Paseo Maritimo paved with beautiful local marble and lined with Palm-trees. Although a major city, there are excellent beaches quite close to the centre. Alicante is good for shopping - with department stores open all day long (no siesta).

The Santa Barbara castle is on a hill, overlooking the city (a cliff lift runs up to castle).

Moraira Market - every Friday morning just inland of the shops, on part of the town car park. It is an enjoyable experience to wander up and down the rows of stalls. Most sorts of fruit and vegetables are available, including dried fruits, nuts, herbs and spices. All the food stalls are together at the southern end of the market. Fruit and vegetables are obviously seasonal. As this is Spain all fresh aormi@icloud.com

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produce is early in the year.

Strawberries arrive in February.

The market has the non food produce such as clothing, shoes and other household goods.

Leather goods are especially good value, buy a leather belt, and the vendor will cut it to fit you exactly.

There are handbags, carpets, ceramics, well just about everything except furniture.

Monday market – Denia Tuesday – Altea Wed – Benidorm, Teuleda Thur – Javea Fri – Moraira Sat – Benissa

FIESTAS

January 5th : Cabalgata de Reyes Teulada y Moraira in the early evening.

16 - 17: Fiesta de “Sant Antoni”. Centro Histórico of Teulada.

Bonfires and blessing of animals.

FEBRUARY : 03: Fiesta of “San Blas” with a throat blessing in the local churches.

- Moraira : Among several events is the blessing of the buns - rollos de San Blas. aormi@icloud.com

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- Teulada: similar activities CARNAVAL usually is in February MARCH : "SEMANA SANTA" or Holy Week is usually in March but depends on the Easter date. This is followed by the Patronal fiestas of San Vicent Ferrer which is the week prior to the Monday after Easter Monday.

From 29 April to 01 May: FERIA “VIVE TEULADA-MORAIRA”: gastronomical y commercial fair. Explanada del Castillo.

MAY : depending on Easter dates Corpus Christi processions at the end of May or into June.

JUNE: From 12 al 19: “Moros y cristianos” in Moraira.

23: “San Juan”. En Teulada y Moraira . Bonfires and dancing and eating.

Moraira: bonfires on Playa de l’Ampolla // Teulada: Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

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Sweet wine like Muscatel is produced by using the Roman Muscatel grape, but white wines such as the Pitagaro have a distinct flowery aroma.

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JULY: Del 01 al 06: “Fiestas en la Font Santa”. Hermitage of la Font Santa.

09: Presentación Fiestas Patronales Moraira Del 13 al 24 : “Fiestas Patronales en Moraira in honour of “Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados” and also the “Virgen del Carmen” with Flower Offering and Maritinme Procession n 16th, firework display.

15 y 16 the bull chasing “Bous a la Mar” and musical concerts.

For a week around 24 /25 de July: “Fiestas de “Sant Jaume”.

From 28 July to 3 August : “Fiestas de “Els Sants de la Pedra”. Teulada, Calle Calvo Sotelo

AUGUST : 06: SHOPPING NIGHT: C/ Dr. Calatayud. Moraira 4, 5, 6 & 7: Medieval market and festival.

Teulada 25 /26: Short film festival CURTS DE MOSCATELL DE TEULADA - 26 & 27: “Fiesta del Moscatell” with rock music, muscatel wine tasting etc.

SEPTEMBER : 02: At the beginning of the month there is a fair dedicated to local wines and gastronomy. Dolia, VI Muestra de Enoturismo y Gastronomía el 2 de September this time featuring Michel chef Kiko Moya.

17 /18: “Fiesta de la Divina Pastora” brings together traditional music and dances in Teulada.

Teulada 23 / 25: there is Submarine Photo competition.

OCTOBER : Variable: “Oktoberfest” beer festival . Moraira.

NOVEMBER : 2º & 3º weekends of the month concerts homage to the patron saint of music “Santa Cecilia”.

Teulada.

25, 26 & 27: Santa Catalina.

DECEMBER : Teulada.

From 06 Diciembre to 07 January the Christmas Campaign

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Wines - the best of tables must be accompanied by the best local wines. The production of the variety of the autochthonous grape " Roman Muscatel " makes possible the production of important wines of reference in this area.

The whites: The Pitágora semi-seco and the Viña Teulada, dry with aroma of flowers. The red wines: The young Viña Teulada and the crianza Lluna Plena.

Vermouth, red and amoscatelado. Very original is the Pitágora, muscatell: Tegulata Brut As for the traditional Mistelas stands out:: Mistela Selecta of Teulada, Pitágora Moscatell d'Or and the Muscatel reserves, Càntic of the Sun. Besides the mistelas "Cims del Mediterrani" and "Cap d'Or"

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Places to visit - monuments Iglesia-Fortaleza de Santa Caterina Màrtir Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de los Desamparados Ermita de la Divina Pastora Ermita de Sant Vicent Ferrer Ermita de la Font Santa Centro histórico Sala de Jurats i Justicies Fortificaciones costeras Auditori Teulada Moraira

Diving

Skin-diving opens to us the doors of a surprising world: the submarine. Here we can discover the whole environment of beautiful colour. Diving provides a sensation of freedom and fullness without equal and it can either scuba diving or snorkelling. These should be done under supervision of a qualified school of diving. Welcome to the blue underworld and take a waterproof camera of some sort with you.

Rambling routes Teulada-Moraira offers the possibility of enjoying wonderful vistas of this beautiful locality. Some suggested routes are:.

RUTA BARRANC DE LA VIUDA | CALA MORAIG SLCV50 RUTA CAP D’OR SLCV51 RUTA BARRANC DE XURRA SLCV73 RUTA CASTELLONS aormi@icloud.com

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RUTA LA FONT DE L’HORTA BENIMARCO RUTA LA FONT SANTA RUTA BENIMEIT RUTA DE LOS MIRADORES DEL LITORAL RUTA VALL DE LES SORTS

The Auditori Teulada Moraira project was born in 2004 and inaugurated on March 25, 2011. It has become a focal point of various types of art and culture possible throughout the year.

Architect Francisco Mangado Beloqui, considered by several specialists as the successor of Rafael Moneo. For the architect, the placement was the best thing, providing the light, the climate and the Mediterranean landscape, therefore the only thing that it was necessary to do was to interpret it. The acoustic engineer, was Dr. Higini Arau, with more than 30 years of professional experience specialized in all the fields of acoustics architectural and engineering of the facilities.

Some things to do: Rent aquatic motor scooters - Beach leisure events - Fishing - Sporting marina - Stand Up Paddle y Kayak Wind surfing and Kiteboarding Thanks to Tourist Info Teulada Moraira Avda. Madrid 15 Edificio Espai La Senieta 03724 Moraira (Teulada) e-mail: teulada@touristinfo.net

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Crisply Elda’s Bonfires Burn for their Saints

by Dave Stewart

Elda is a small industrial town with a tradition of shoemaking.

If you have never seen the fires of the fallas then you can see them in Elda from 15th to 18th S e p t e m b e r.

Each year the Elda fiestas take on more importance as the people celebrate in honour of their patrons San Crispin and San Crispiniano and Cristo del Buen Suceso. Crispin and Crispiano were Romean shoemakers who were martyred, so fitting patrons for shoe industry. In 2003 some 30,000 kilos of pasteboard and wood that had gone into the twenty fallas went up in flames. One aspect of these fiestas is to see the exemplary traditional costumes of the people as lovely women wear beautifully crafted costumes. 2016 will be the 97th anniversary of the town’s fiestas in recent years but these go back over 400 years.

Central point is the Barracón where many local pubs organise nightly fiestas of live music in a communal area. A chess competition will be running during the fiesta days and children have their own bouncy castle and other attractions. Fallas are set up from 13th for the heat of the night of La Cremá on the 16th.

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Giants of Orihuela

by Dave Stewart

The fiesta in honour of the Virgen de Monserrate has recently been recuperated in Orihuela and is held on the 8th September. This fiesta has its origins in 1587 when the giant Cabezudos appeared in the streets. According to details of the archivist AugustĂ­n Nieto on 7th August, 1586, there was a municipal order to pay 100 reales to the convent of San Francisco de Murcia for the work of P. Baltasar for the two giant heads that appear in the feasts of Corpus Christi and on Saints Justa and Rufina. Six dwarf figures were made in 1735 and were used on Corpus Christi and on the feast of the Virgen de Monserrate.

A dragon was introduced in 1598 but it seemed that it was always being damaged and required a lot of repairs to it. Another seven giant figures joined the processions on 26 July 1602 at a cost of 900 reales and needed between twelve and fifteen men to manipulate them. During the last century the tradition of using these figures died, but slowly they are being once more introduced into the September fiestas.

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Redovan - Virgen de Salud

by Dave Stewart

Redovan is an inland town that is also looking to lighten up its tourist image and each year there are many activities during September in honour of the Virgen de la Salud on 16th, and San Miguel on the 22nd. Each year a Barraca Popular is opened up that is the centre of many events and concerts in the evenings.

On the 7th there is a carnival style parade through the town, about 21.00, followed by a concert. On the Virgen’s feastday of the 8th September a solemn procession is held, followed by a firework display, and a concert at a verbena.

During the fiestas there is a competition of drums and cornets held as these instruments take a central position in the town’s fiestas. A romeria is held on the 16th to the nearby Sanctuary. On the 22nd a full programme of events is held all day

with workshops, sports, competitions, rock concert, and a verbena in the evening.

San Miguel’s actual feast day is the 29th and there is a spectacular fireworks display at night.

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Nowadays women have an important role in many town’s annual Moors & Christian fiestas and much of this is due to the women of Ibi who were the first to join in officially. These fiestas originate in 1578 when the town had the right to hold a festival in honour of El Salvador with the use of gunpowder. This led in the 16th and 17th centuries to the introduction of the Soldadesco, a type of militia, that walked along with the religious procession firing off their guns. On 9th August 1731, the Count Amador Ferrando carried with the first image of the Virgen de los Desamparados and the following 8th September these fiestas were held by the Cofradia de la Virgen de los Desamparados. In the early part of the 19th century gradually the two sides were born out of the Soldadesco with an official decree of 1913. In 1931 at the outset of the Second Republic there was a great deal of anticlericalism and on the second centenary of the Virgin’s aormi@icloud.com

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feast and all the old comparsas disappeared and new ones formed, but this did not prevent the Virgen being declared Principal Patron of Ibi. A Papal document permitted the celebration of the feast on the Sunday following the normal date. At the end of the Civil War the fiestas continued every year until the present time apart from 1968 when a terrible explosion caused the death of forty people.

For nine days in the middle of September Ibi hosts a tremendous variety of brilliant files of warriors that begin with the Nit de Olleta in the various zocos of the different groups at midnight, followed by a carnival costumed parade until three in the morning. The first day witnesses an imaginative parade with boatas of captains and their flag carriers with music, colour and gunpowder attacking all your senses. These days Ibi has the usual flower offering, children’s parade, the Moorish Traitor and contrabandists, but with their own unique presentation.

The Christian army has seven groups Maseros, Guerreros, Contrabandists, Almogaveres, Cides, Mozarabes and Templars.

They face seven comparsas of the Moors – Argelanos, Chumberos, Piratas, Beduinos, Tuaregs, Almoravades and the Mudejares. There is a museum dedicated to these fiestas in Ibi, already famous for its toy industry.

Each evening there will be celebrations in the kabilas, cuartelillos and barracas that are set up in the streets including live music, dancing and concerts. During the week other local people hold the parade of the Multicolor Comparsas y Carrozas that has been going on since 1880 with floats and costumed groups dancing and parading.

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Battling Santa Pola

by Dave Stewart

Santa Pola will be celebrating the Virgen del Loreto fiestas that will be from the end of August to the 9th September. As elsewhere the majority of the immense influx of summer visitors has gone and the town returns to a certain degree of normality. This means having a fiesta. Our Lady of Loreto is associated with the defeat of the Turks by the Christian armies and navies so it is a double motive that she reigns over these annual fiestas of the Moors and Christians.

Moors disembark at this fishing town and conquer it, then the Christians reconquer the town around the castle fortress that dates back to 1557.

Extravagant costumes marks the parades with colourful painted face masks and feathers on the part of the Moors, while the Christians march in procession with their guns and cannons.

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The finely dressed ambassadors of both armies parley and eventually the Christian army conquers. Santa Pola offers one of the most magnificent firework displays along the coast that light up the sky and which can be seen right across the nearby salt flats.

Each evening there will be celebrations in the kabilas, cuartelillos and barracas that are set up in the streets including live music, dancing and concerts.

During the week other local people hold the parade of the Multicolor Comparsas y Carrozas that has been going on since 1880 with floats and costumed groups dancing and parading. In the parade ground of the castle will be the traditional serenade to the Virgen de Loreto and a marvellous flower offering. There is a Mountain Bike competition, basketball games, futbito, volleyball and other sporting activities. On the night of the 8th, the actual feastday, there will be a tremendous firework display on the last night by the water’s edge.

During these fiestas there are many other activities with sporting competitions, children’s games and competitions, and the fabulous floral procession as individuals and groups carry flowers in a procession of bright flowers to be laid at the feet of the image of the patroness of the town. aormi@icloud.com

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Trains & Trams

On 27 June 1893 Queen Maria Cristina took to the air in a balloon from the Casa de Campo in Madrid, making her the first aeronaut of Spain. In the last decade of the 20th century the airships with motors became fashionable until the disaster of the Hindenburg in 1937. This was the start of Spain’s entry into air space.

Today air travel is as common as the railway was at one time. A crucial innovation in Spain was the introduction of the railway. In the middle of the aormi@icloud.com

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19th century Spain made considerable progress, both industrially and agriculturally, but was still in political turmoil. The train was the chosen means of travel for many early tourists to Spain, including Hans Christian Anderson who travelled in the early 1860’s. “We now fly on wings of steam past what is dull, get out and linger with what is beautiful is that not magic?”

Another traveller was Matilda Bethem-Edwards who recommended travellers to “always travel in your best clothes and with half a dozen trunks at least. Luggage and good clothes ensure you good places, general civility and an infinity of minor comforts.” She travelled first class in the ladies’ coupe.

However, not everyone was enamoured by the Spanish train system. When Lytton Strachey was travelling first class in the 1920’s he complained that all train journeys lasted for twelve hours at a minimum and the “carriage blocked with smelly babies and drunken commercial travelers.” He forgets to mention the smell of the steam engines which many enthusiasts dream of in fits of nostalgia.

First railway lines The first railway line on Spanish soil was actually in Cuba in 1837, a 90-kilometre track between the capital Havana and Güines. Cuba was still a part of the Spanish empire at this time and has always had close commercial and cultural links with Torrevieja. Below Cuba (left) and Barcelona to the right.

The Barcelona - Mataró line was the first railway track on the mainland. This was

part of an overall plan started in 1843 by a commission authorized by Isabel II, which set out a royal decree that laid out a general plan for a national railway aormi@icloud.com

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system based on a width of six Castilian feet (1.668 mm), completely different from the normal international gauge of 56.5 inches (1.435mm). The Romans in Britain first used this international width long before the steam engine in the coalmines where they used metal rails and trucks pulled by slaves.

1855 Spanish legislation provided for private companies to participate in huge railway venture.

Train arrives Torrevieja

in

Between 1848 and 1868 some 1200 kilometres of railway lines were laid in Spain.

The railway reached Alicante in 1858 and then Murcia in 1863. The train was one of the most important inventions, which had a special importance in the development of Torrevieja, its people and industry. The first steam train to Torrevieja was inaugurated on 11th May 1884 by the Compañía de los Ferrocarriles Andaluces.

This company was the outcome of three companies offering different plans for

three different lines and the subsequent buying and selling of shares until it was finally developed into the Andaluces’ Company when the English investors (Messrs. Barrington and Company) finally withdrew financial support. The aormi@icloud.com

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locomotives used were German eight triple axis built by Hartmann & Chemnitz on rail track supplied by B.V.G. from the German town of Bochum.

Inauguration Day – 11th May 1884 T h e inauguration day of the train to Torrevieja on 11th May 1884 was beset with problems when it was derailed.

Passengers and dignitaries alike had to complete the journey in less regal carriages, as well as a convoy of tartanes, which were two-wheeled covered carriages drawn by horses.

Orihuela was the official departure point for the new rail service and at 7.15 a.m. the train, bearing dignitaries from Alicante, set out from Alicante to Orihuela. It passed through the gaily banner-bedecked stations of Santa Pola (Torrellano), Elche and Albatera, collecting more dignitaries and military officials at each place, along with musical bands. You have to admire the Spanish who use every aormi@icloud.com

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occasion to have a fiesta. Meanwhile another train left Murcia at 9.00 a.m. stopping at Zeneta and Beniel to Orihuela, all the while collecting local and national VIPs. The platforms of Orihuela station were packed with an enthusiastic crowd and the Bishop celebrated Mass on a makeshift altar and blessed the locomotives and the station buildings. The 300 guests moved on to Santo Domingo College where they were treated to a sumptuous meal at 12.30.

Fairly replete and in great spirits, after such an enormous banquet, the guests finally boarded the train to Torrevieja at 2.30 in the afternoon.

The train, with this entire support group, finally left Orihuela and chuffed on its way on the new track, stopping at Callosa, Albatera, Almoradi, Benijofar, past Rojales and Formentera, but as it approached the curve of Los Montesinos it jumped the lines.

When it came to a halt the passengers sprang out of the carriages into the sunny countryside, thankful that no one was injured. Most of the passengers sought refuge from the sun’s intense heat by sheltering under fig trees. Only five kilometres short of Torrevieja it must have been an embarrassment for the rail company. It is likely that two sleepers sank under a sliding embankment and the metal rail broke, causing the accident. Under the directions of engineer Juan Reacha, who was also aboard, a small locomotive engine was dispatched from Torrevieja to help out, pulling some flat bed wagons, and arrived after about an hour and a half.

The passengers’ first sight was of the sea, the salt lakes and the windmills, which were then part of Torrevieja’s skyline. But this little mishap only added to the adventure of the day for the passengers, who made the most of it and, under the direction of the conde de Fabraquer (who borrowed a guitar), held an impromptu concert. So the improvised convoy sang its way into Torrevieja where a great crowd of people, led by Mayor Pedro Sáez Grao, was waiting for them under a variety of multi-coloured bunting and welcoming slogans. Tables were decorated with perfumed flowers and laden with champagne, liquors and sweetmeats. It was a special day when everyone had a Holiday from work and a uniquely historical event for the town. During the day’s festivities some ladies made a pitch on behalf of the restoration of the church building and received a gift of 5.000

One of the last trains to use Torrevieja aormi@icloud.com

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duros from government sources.

At the end of the day, a new train was organized at the site of the accident and the passengers walked the distance to the new train which took them on to Elche and finally arrived tired out in Alicante at 10.30 p.m. where a further thanksiving service was held in the Saint Nicholas Cathedral.

The original Torrevieja station office and storage sheds have been renovated and now used for cultural purposes, such as museum, exhibitions, the Allzheimers Day Centre, and one is used as a very interesting salt interpretation center.

Important asset Because of the lack of asphalted roads the train was an important asset as it allowed Torevieja’s SALT to be transported inland economically and quickly. The main road to Alicante was little more than a dirt track right into the 1940’s. The railway track ran through the Torretas on to the station of Apeadero de las Moreras, which served Los Montesinos, Benijofar, Rojales, and then to Dolores and Almoradi finally connecting with the main line at Albatera. The last salt freight train ran in 1987, which I accidentally saw as I was on a bus to Orihuela and watched it pass across the road. The stretch of line was 64.485 kms. long, but now the railway lines and sleepers are gone and the line is used as a ´greenway’

Train passing Almoradi

for cyclists and ramblers. But in its heyday many visitors used the steam drawn trains to visit the growing resort of Torrevieja, which was well known for its aormi@icloud.com

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sandy beaches. At one time the town had its own Balnearios spas, which were located in front of the Casino and set in the water with access by boardwalks, and another on the playa del Cura.

On arrival of the steam-driven train at Torrevieja, horses, burros and oxen were used at various times by carriages acting as taxis, ferrying visitors and hauling freight to the town centre at the Paseo Vista Alegre.

The photographer Darblade has left several excellent nostalgic black and white photos showing just what a hive of industry surrounded the arrival of a train, puffing out its clouds of White steam and Black soot in a steady rhythm, chuffing along.

Street hawkers sold fresh pieces of melon and other fruit, owners of tartanas yelling for custom offering to carry luggage, wagons arriving with cargo, bells ringing, Guardia Civil on horseback casting a wary eye over visitors arriving and departing. Visible is a train conductor, looking proud and important in his uniform, and a porter assisting with luggage. One particularly interesting photograph in the Darblade collection is a photo of the arrival of the Infanta Isabel (not Isabel II) who came by train for a visit in 1907.

Daily train schedule

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Just as the train led to Ars Creatio foto of lines the demise of horse and carriages so the advent of the motor car led to the demise of the train, as less and less people used the services. The line was closed on 12th January 1970 to passengers and on 1st January 1985 to general goods. In its latter days only a couple of dozen people regularly used the train, but in the summer this went up to around 200 daily passengers.

A look at the daily schedule is interesting as it shows how the train was used to carry salt, the mail and passengers, including holiday-makers. The morning train departed Torrevieja at 5.30 am carrying the mail, arriving at Albatera at 7.00 where passengers switched over to the Alicante-Murcia line and some passengers even travelling on to Madrid. Three hours later, at 10.00, the return journey began, arriving in Torrevieja about 11.30, a time that suited many day-trippers. The return trip was a bit early though, as it began at 16.30 since it had to connect with other trains and wait until the arrival of the Granada-Alicante train, which sometimes was late and meant that the train did not arrive back in Torrevieja until two o’clock in the morning.

In the summer passengers kept the windows open only to be covered with soot.

In the winter the lines at Las Moreras were often covered with a host of snails that had to be swept off as they impeded the connection between wheels and track: this could often take fifteen minutes over a 300 metre track. aormi@icloud.com

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Popular balnearios

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Other communication ideas

A less successful project for Torrevieja mooted in July 1889,

by Tomás Soler of Orihuela was an animal-drawn tranvia or tramcar on a tramline through the streets of the small town.

The idea was sound enough to freight salt to and from the ´Antonio Minguez’ quay. The idea met with a great deal of opposition, primarily from the Town Council. Local man Valentin Rodríguez submitted another project. Enlarging on the previous idea, he proposed a railway line through the town to be used for public transport. Both ideas meant using public land and came to naught as at that time Torrevieja was very small and the municipal area was divided by land belonging to Orihuela.

In many ways it is a pity that the train service has been abandoned as nowadays so many people from other parts of Spain, especially the elderly, would make use of it rather than stopping off at Alicante and picking up a taxi from there.

Another project is that of the high-speed train known as the AVE that will run through the Vega Baja area offering another train link for those thousands of visitors from other parts of Spain, especially Madrid. This would also take more vehicles off already overcrowded roads. This development idea was backed by three mayors – Pedro Hernandez Mateo, Eduardo Dolon and Jose Maria Dolon, but does not look hopeful.

Tourism

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But in the meantime we will have to be content with the tourist train.

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TOURIST

TRAINS

Nยบ 31 - September 2016

Dave Stewart

Hotel Victoria alongside the Casino with the still popular bar (to the left) where the commercial ships moored.

Spanish tourists to early 20th century Torrevieja brought much needed income to the town and there was a notable plan to encourage them to return. The train journey from Madrid would take a whole day and night. People in nearby inland towns began to buy small plots of land and build summerhouses. Those from Orihuela tended to build in the Los Locos area while others from Callosa and Almoradi preferred Los Naufragios beach. In fact a bus was laid on to take outsiders from the town centre to the outlying balnearios leaving those in the town centre for the locals. Later these bathers transferred their holidays to Lo Pagan and the Mar Menor.

Various incentives were encouraged so that the visitors would return each year so we will have a look at what tended to go on. Local people offered their houses for rent while they slept cramped in warehouses or other locations, thus bringing in that extra bit of cash to help them all out during the winter. The low level houses usually had a rear patio that adjoined other nearby houses and the patio became a favourite meeting place for families and there is a popular refrain aormi@icloud.com

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“mi casa, mi patio y mi aljibe” being a tribute to “my house, my patio and my well.”

The principal hotel was the Victoria next to the Casino and there was a tavern, the posada del Parejo that also accommodated other visitors. The former seaman’s bar, the Miramar, was becoming better known as a restaurant offering traditional gastronomy, as was Catalina I. This is at present the Tourist Office.Then there was the famous horchateria of Tio Tano on the Paseo offering this delicious and nutritious drink made from tiger nuts. At this time it was common for pedlars to walk among the sun worshippers spread out on the beaches, offering cold drinks, slices of sandia and souvenirs for sale, but they became a nuisance and were banned.

Photographers had their sideshows with cut out figures where visitors could pop their head into the hole and be immortalized as a torero, flamenca dancer or something else. The summer nights were preferred by the locals who had to work during the daylight hours, but in the evenings and into the early morning, there was a great deal of entertainment available. This was the time for courting couples to get out an enjoy themselves and laze by the sea on the rocks on a balmy summer’s night. Bands came from other nearby towns to play on the bandstand in the Paseo. In the area of the Torre del Moro (then called the Atalaya) was the scene for concerts and verbenas and dances. The open-air Friday market, then located in the streets around the main la Inmaculada church, became a tourist attraction; although it was an important part of everyday life for the women who could buy fresh laid eggs, live rabbits, chickens, hens or ducks, mostly from women vendors from Cox. Prices fluctuated dependent on the season and availability. Vendors came from as far away as Agost selling kitchen plates and utensils. The market was relocated in the Avenida Habaneras in the early 1990’s for a few years, and then moved into spare ground nearby, land on which builders soon built apartment blocks aware of the possible buying market that flocked to Torrevieja on Friday mornings.

Generally the infrastructure of Spain was improved with new roads, the introduction of the railway company RENFE and the tourist TALGO trains. In 1953 alone some 54 hotels were built in Spain aimed at the foreign tourist. Under the direction of Manuel Fraga the idea was born of turning historical sites and monuments into Paradores offering a high level of cuisine allied with Spanish history and culture. In the 1960’s decade over 50 Paradores were introduced and attracted the attention of other countries such as Egypt and Iraq who used the Spanish expertise to build similar establishments. The Menu del Dia was introduced as obligatory in all restaurants, offering a three-course meal with wine, beer or water at a modicum price; this was upgraded in the late 1990’s and in crept a rise in prices aormi@icloud.com

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Parador de Cardona, Barcelona.

Dedicated to

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with a Meal of the Day appearing that featured one dish only. Fraga visited the Alicante coastline in 1963 as Minister of Tourism.

Those young Torrevejenses in the early 20th Century who were studying under various professors had to go to cities to do their exams. Those studying for bachillerate had to go to Murcia at the end of the course to be examined, the boys to one institute and the girls at another. This was an all day process meaning an early morning train ride with changes, a meal away from home and more examinations in the afternoon, followed by the long journey home.

Another little train track belonged to the British, running from Gandia to Alcoy until the end of the civil war. Part of the Nationalists’ strategy in 1938/39 was to cut off any chance the Republic had of importing supplies and munitions, and closing off the valuable income from exports leaving via the Mediterranean ports, with the result that any port on the coast was a target, whether or not it was of strategic consequence, shipping war material or not. Valencia and Gandia were the two most important ports for the shipping of the valuable crops of oranges to the world market. Both cities were often under aerial bombardment. One quirk of fate is that the Gandia port in 1893 belonged to the British company, Alcoy and Gandia Railway and Harbour Company Limited that owned the railway line between Gandia and industrial Alcoy, used Gandia to bring in coal and ship oranges and textiles as return cargo. Oranges was one of the principal exports of Gandia and the

The quay of Gandia was decimated by bombing of Nationalist forces and many ships sunk to be later resurrected after the Civil War

TREN ALCOI-GANDIA

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bombardments severely curtailed this trade. 40% of the Valencia region’s exports were the oranges of Gandia and in normal times this accounted for 21% of Spain’s exports.

The 300 long metre quay at Gandia was an easy target for bombers, especially in the season when ships of various nationalities queued up to load up the citric fruits. Neville Chamberlain actually made a formal protest to Franco’s ministers about the bombings of Gandia, without much success. Dozens of ships were sunk including the British “Dellwyn” during an air raid, with a cargo of 1,500 tonnes of coal on 27th July 1938: she was salvaged by Nationalist ships on 10 May 1939, confiscated and renamed "Castilla Montesa".

By the end of 1938, the British Consul in Valencia, Mr. Sullivan, reported that only 125 metres of the quay were of any use. Between the summer of 1937 and 1938 among the many ships attacked by the Italians and Germans were 35 ships flying the British flag. Several sailors and two captains died, plus others missing.

The Royal Navy had a fairly large presence with the Mediterranean Fleet and had instructions to monitor the non-intervention agreement. Included amongst the ships attacked by the Nationalist was the unfortunate “HMS Royal Oak 08” just off Valencia harbour, which had earlier been hit by Republican forces and was later sunk in WWII with the tragic loss of many men. The Glasgow built destroyer at my old shipyard Alexander Stephens & Sons “HMS Gallant H59” was attacked shortly afterwards in the same port. She was assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla of the Mediterranean Fleet upon commissioning. When World War II began in September

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1939, Gallant was in the Mediterranean, but she and her entire flotilla were transferred to the Western Approaches Command at Plymouth in October. While Gallant was participating in the Dunkirk evacuation, a near miss by a bomb on 29 May knocked out her steering and caused minor damage to her hull and electrical systems On 10 January 1941, during Operation Excess, the Italian torpedo boats Circe and Vega attempted an attack on the Allied convoy off Pantellaria. Right after the engagement, in which Vega was sunk, Gallant struck a mine that detonated her forward magazine, Gallant was expended as a blockship at St Paul's Castillo Guadalest formerly Island in September 1943, with the Thorpeheaven wreck being broken up in 1953. ”Lucky" was sunk on 10th February 1938 then raised on 24th May, 1939, by the Nationalists and rechristianed "Castillo Benisano”. In June 1938 the British petrol tanker “Maryad” and the merchant navy ship “St. Winifred” were both in Alicante badly damaged by the bombs, the merchant ships “Thorpeheaven” and “Farnham” were both sunk as well as the petrol aormi@icloud.com

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carrier “English Tanker”. After the war these British ships were re-floated and incorporated into the new Spanish merchant fleet of Franco’s regime. The "Thorpeheaven" was renamed "Castillo Guadalest" and "Farnham" confiscated and renamed "Castillo Montiel”.

Talgo today Spain has a very good railway network today with many stretch of high speed tracks used by AVE and other modern engines. This expertise is being sold abroad and proving to be a very good source of revenue for Spain. Tests are going on in India by the Talgo manufacturers to modernize the railway system in India.

Indian authorities are working in partnership with local and foreign private firms to invest around $137 billion in a plan to overhaul the system over the next five years.

The plan is to try to reduce the travel time between New Delhi and Mumbai from the current 17 hours to 13 hours or less. Two trial runs have been held up to date.

India has the largest railway network in the world, with around 65,000 kilometers of track that carry a daily average of 23 million passengers. At the time of writing no decision has been made by the India government. The government wants to speed up travel times, since railway transportation is viewed as an essential element to the country’s development.

The train that Talgo is using for its trial runs can travel at 150km/h, runs on diesel and has a 4.500HP locomotive to haul its nine coaches, which include two executive class cars and a cafeteria. The Economic Times of India has been covering Talgo’s trial runs, and noting that besides the higher speeds, these light trains also consume 30% less energy. The nine-coach Talgo train consists of two Executive Class cars, four Chair Cars, a cafeteria, a power car and a tail-end coach for staff and equipment.

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Torrellano Miniature Steam Train Museum

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Another fun and unusual event for kids of all ages is the Torrellano Miniature Steam Train. Every month the Friends of the Railways Association host a miniature train event at the railway museum in Torrellano. The model sized replica of a steam train, makes a journey around the model sized track. Everyone is welcome from the very young to the not so young! The museum will be open and donations of 1.50€ per visit are requested. You’ll also be able to enjoy a ride on the miniature train for a donation of just 1.50€ per person.

The museum has a collection of equipment used in the past including some uniforms and a large collection of caps. It is run by the friends of the railways association and so is normally only open on Saturdays between 16.00 & 20.00.

Miniature Train Rides May to October the 2nd Saturday of every month 16:30-19:30 November to April the 2nd Sunday of every month 10:30-13:30 ASSOCIACIÓ ALACANTINA D´AMICS DEL FERROCARRIL Ap. de Correus 4096 03320 Torrellano - Elx (Alacant)

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Rainbow’s End Forgotten Station Canfranc

by Andy Ormiston

One of the most interesting train stations is Canfranc and is not used despite being on the border of Spain and France.

Canfranc International Railway Station (Spanish: Estación Internacional de Canfranc) is a former international railway station in the village of Canfranc in the Spanish Pyrenees, at one end of the tunnel, which carried the Pau to Canfranc line under the Pyrenees. After many delays partly caused by the First World War, it was opened in July 1928 by King Alfonso XIII and was a real nerve centre of communications in its first decade. A truly magnificent station the main building is 240 metres long and has 300 windows and 156 doors. The station's reason for being came to an abrupt halt in 1970 when a huge cargo train derailed that demolished a bridge on the French side of the mountains. The French decided not to rebuild the bridge, considering the cost prohibitive, the cross-border line was closed and never re-opened. The inauguration of the station is re-enacted each year on 18th July as a tourist attraction, supplemented with fairs, cinema and other events. Surprisingly the small village has several excellent restaurants.

The main railway building has been re-roofed, but is otherwise in a state of disrepair, fenced off and closed to the public except for the guided tours with hardhats available in July and August through the local tourist office.

The remainder of the huge site includes a large locomotive depot, two sheds for the trans-shipment of freight between French and Spanish trains, various other aormi@icloud.com

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outbuildings and a large layout of tracks. The site is mostly overgrown, but most of the buildings are largely intact and can be entered.It is begging to be turned into a working locomotive museum.

The railway station, using rather more modest facilities, is still open for the two daily passenger trains to and from Zaragoza, plus occasional freight trains to the grain silo. Although as the station and its history becomes more common knowledge there are more sightseers arriving throughout the year. Possible probabilities for this huge station building are hotel, cultural, commercial or university campus. The State sold it to Aragon whose authorities are trying to make it a tourist attraction. There is an excellent webpage with suggestions for excursions, hotels, walks and hill climbing as well as skiing in season. Hill trails include the contraband trail used by smugglers throughout the ages, especially during WW2.

The name comes from the nearby village which itself takes its title from Campus Franci, literally the field of foreigners. Originally it was a small market village, as well as providing pilgrims on the Arles route of the Way of St. James their first respite after the difficult crossing of the Pyrenees over the pass of Somport.

Canfranc was founded between 1080–90 by Sancho Ramírez, King of Aragón.

Canfranc was also a command post, protecting the borders and controlling taxes, which were donated to the Cathedral of Jaca. aormi@icloud.com

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On 29 October 1288, the treaty of Canfranc mediated by Edward I of England was signed here, providing for the release of Charles II of Naples from his imprisonment by Peter III of Aragon.

Santiago de Compestella The village, which lies in the valley of the Aragón River covers an area of 71.6 km² and is situated at an altitude of 1040 m. The remains to be seen include a Romanesque pilgrim's bridge as part of the Way and two churches of interest: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (12th to 16th centuries) with four Baroque retablos, and la Trinidad (16th century). The town was obliterated by fire in 1617 and again in 1944, after which the villagers for the most part moved to nearby Canfranc Estación.

The history of the Way of Santiago reunites us to thousands of years when the Celts were crossing large distances, crossing The Pyrenees, to come up to "Finis Terrae", where they were found the peace of spirit. Coinciding with the widening of the valley, the pilgrim reaches Villanúa, in whose parochial Church Our Lady of the Angels is: a magnificent Romanesque example of the 10th century where the Virgin represents with the child and Aruej's village.

Before coming to Castiello of Pony, the public inspectors have the possibility of turning aside for Aratorés, locality that possesses the precious Church of San Juan Baptizer, of the 12th century, to approach Borau, where a bit more in the northern part one finds San Adrián's Church of Sasabe, of the 11th century. In Castiello, we meet the "Relics" associated with medieval legends of pilgrims and his Church of San Miguel (s. The XIIth) and in the Valley of the Garcipollera raises the Romanesque Church of Iguácel's Santa Maria of Equality.

Wartime escapades The French side of the Canfranc train station was abandoned in 1994 Canfranc Estación is most well known due to its huge abandoned railway station. The French side of the railway station is a forsaken place since an accident destroyed the bridge at nearby L'Estanguet on 27 March 1970 and definitely ended the international link between Bedous France and Canfranc Estacion Spain.

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The area where the bridge stood is Saillet et Esquit, Lées-Athas. The railway passed over the Gave d'Aspe and the E-7 now crosses the remains of the trackbed, which can be traced north & south. The international customs was closed during the Spanish Civil War and reopened in 1940. The Germans controlled the customs house throughout the Second World War staffed by SS and Gestapo. Wolfrang was an important mineral used by the Germans and it was mined in Spain in large amounts and shipped to the German armament factories through Canblanc. But that is another story, which relates how Spain received at least 12 tonnes of gold plus four tonnes of opium.

The Germans lived in this huge station and organised concerts, as there was a piano in the dining room. The German engineers and chemists danced with the local girls offering them chocolate. Occasionally soldiers were sent here for recuperation front the front line. The local people were still suffering from the effects of the civil war and the average salary was around 2oo pesetas per month, so everyone was hungry; so its understandable why the girls went with the Germans. At least one youngster was hung having stolen a box of watches that had arrived from Portugal. But it still didn’t stop the plundering of cargo from Portugal as it was things like tinned sardines, sugar, oil, coffee or mistela. Today Canfranc's Underground Laboratory is managed by a Consortium formed by the Department of Science and Innovation, the Government of Aragon and the aormi@icloud.com

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University of Saragossa. Placed under the Tobazo, and with access across the Tunnel Cartwright of Somport, offers an environment of low radioactive ideal for the next generation of experiments that will explore the borders of the physics of particles and astro-particles.

There are stories, that are probably true, of "German gold" and stolen art works arriving here during World War II, the latter for transit to Germany. According to Frenchman Jonathon Díaz between July 1942 and December 1943 there were 45 convoys included six for Spain, the rest for Portugal that received 74 tonnes of gold for their goods, which also included wolfram.

Portugal bought gold that had been booty from Holland and Belgium.

Because of its position British espionage smuggled information and people from Vichy France to the consulate in San Sebastián through Canfranc as the nearer Irún bordered with occupied France. Basques helped British with information from France via priest in Zaragoza then to Madrid and London.

Another figure was Dolores Pardo who didn’t require a ticket because she was part of the aormi@icloud.com

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Josephine Baker received the Croix de guerre for her work with the French Resistance

family of train company. She acted as a courier and was known to the guardia civil whom she flirted with and was not searched.

It was a strategic crossing point for goods between Spain and Germany: food, tungsten, and steel. The legendary charmer was Albert Le Lay, the French customs chief, who surreptitiously sneaked hundreds of Jews fleeing the Nazi regime across the border, among them the artists Max Ernst and Marc Chagall.

The singer and dancer Josephine Baker, who was married to a French Jew, also crossed the border through Canfranc, though in more overt style, calling up the press so as to ensure no policeman would dare lay a finger on her or her husband in front of the reporters.

Those turbulent times full of anonymous heroes are the subject of two documentaries.

The first, El rey de Canfranc (The king of Canfranc), directed by Manuel Priede and José Antonio Blanco, depicts the incredible life of Le Lay, a hero of the French Resistance who turned down an offer aormi@icloud.com

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Fiesta re-enacting the opening of the station

from Charles de Gaulle to run a ministry.

Le Lay sneaked hundreds of Jews fleeing the Nazis across the border In the second, Juego de espías (Spy games), directed by Germán Roda and Ramón J. Campo — the journalist who has researched the story of Canfranc the most — La Ley is a supporting character, just one more piece in a network of spies set up by British Intelligence that used the border crossing as a center for compiling and exchanging information. Every week the Basque, Aragonese and French recruits’ information was sent from Canfranc via Zaragoza to San Sebastián where the British consulate forwarded it by diplomatic bag to Madrid.

The railway station is the highlight of the village and was used during the filming of Doctor Zhivago. There has been talk for some time of reopening international rail traffic between France and Spain, but until that time the area is profiting from its nearness to the ski resorts of Candanchú and Astún. The current population is 454.

The abandoned railway's Tunnel of Somport (4.893 miles) is now used as an emergency lane for the motorway's Tunnel of Somport (5345.03) and is also used for the Canfranc underground laboratory. The railway station, using rather more modest facilities, is still open for the two daily passenger trains to and from Zaragoza, plus occasional freight trains to the grain silos. la Torreta de Fusilería is another tourists’ sight with expositions and guided tours during the summer months. Also in the summer there are annual music concerts of classical Pyrenees music and jazz

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Canfranc-Pueblo celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (its Patron saint) on 15 August, while Canfranc Estación holds festivities on the anniversary of the inauguration of its train station, 18 July.

Oficina de turismo Horario: martes de 9:30 a 13:30 y de 16 h. a 19 h. / de miércoles a viernes de 9:30 a 13.30 h.

Sábado de 9:30 a 13:30 y de 16 h. a 20 h.

Tfn: 974373141 e-mail: turismo@canfranc.es Mapa de situación

Information: www.facebook.com/canfranc www.twitter.com/turismocanfranc www.youtube.com/ayuntamientocanfranc

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Birdlife Exhibition Proposal

by Dave Stewart

The Costa Blanca, under the auspices of Turespana, took part in August in the annual exhibition simply titled British Birdlife held in the small town of Egleton in Rutland. This has become an international event with dozens of exhibitors, including several from Spain. Birdfair encompasses the whole spectrum of the bird watching industry whilst at the same time supporting global bird conservation.

This is the event of the year if you’re into birds and wildlife. Birdfair has supported a wide range of fantastic conservation projects. Migratory birds were handed a welcome boost by fundraising efforts from Birdfair 2015 after a cheque for

La Mata Lake teems with birdlife

£320,000 was handed over to BirdLife International to help vulnerable migratory birds in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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¥ A record amount of £320,000 was raised during last year’s Birdfair in August ¥ The money raised will go towards saving the hundreds of millions of migratory birds on their journey between Europe and Africa. ¥ A BirdLife International report shows that 25 million migratory birds are illegally killed each year.

More than 25 species of birds using the flyway between Europe and Africa are under threat of global extinction.

At the Birdlife Fair there were hundreds of stands selling the latest products for wildlife enthusiasts. Exhibitors had everything, from scopes to sculptures, binoculars to bird food, eGuides to eco-holiday. The Costa Blanca produced a bilingual publication, in Spanish and English, which turns into a perfect manual that gathers the most common and frequent species that live in the Costa Blanca territory, as well as the diversity of areas that include arid, rocky, semi-arid, steppes, Iberian plains, littoral or wetlands.

Proposal:- The La Mata lake comes under the wetlands category and is a protected area that always has birds, some resident some migrating. It is the perfect site for a similar type of Birdfair as there is not one in Spain, although in other countries. Birdwatching is a growing tourist interest and it is obvious that Torrevieja should look at other types of tourism apart from beaches. and the unique natural environment is there.

Torrevieja already has two active bird groups, one is caged birds like canaries, with an annual exhibition and competition. The other is a bird fanciers’ association that hold competitions for racing pigeons.

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Bookshelf

by Pat Hynd

SAINT..PRAFTU by Murray Anderson

No it is not a book about saints. September is a month for remembering the Battle of Britain and crews who flew so bravely each day knowing that this could be their last flight. Flight Lieutenant Murray Anderson, DFC and Bar, US Air Medal, flew Spitfires with No 1 PRU then moved to No 4 PRU in Algiers before returning to England and joining 542 PR Squadron at Benson. While here he brought back pictures of the “Prince Eugene” in Kiel Harbour.

The autobiography SAINT..PRAFTU by Murray Anderson is in two parts.

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Part 1 of 'Saint Praftu' describes the author's early childhood in India, his wartime service in the RAF, and twenty years of civil flying in Burma, India and Nepal. At one period during the War, he belonged to the select group of pilots who undertook the hazardous operation of flying Lysanders to France at night during the moon periods, to land and pick up Resistance agents. The Lysanders aircraft's exceptional short-field performance enabled clandestine missions using small, unprepared airstrips behind enemy lines to place or recover agents, particularly in occupied France with the help of the French Resistance. British army air co-operation aircraft were named after mythical or historical military leaders; in this case the Spartan general Lysander was chosen.

Part 2 includes graphic descriptions of dramatic events whilst ferrying pilgrims on their annual visits to Mecca, extraordinary feats of survival in appalling flying conditions, and hilarious adventures in Kathmandu with Bahadur Singh, fellow resident in the famous Royal Hotel.

Murray Anderson, who died aged 96 earlier this year, had an unusually varied flying career in the RAF, which resulted in the award of two DFCs for gallantry; his post-war civil flying brought even greater variety and adventure.

A regular Army o f fi c e r , Anderson was seconded to the RAF to train as a pilot. Frustrated with being on a UK-based Army co-operation squadron, he volunteered for the lonely and dangerous world of flying unarmed Spitfires on long-range photographic reconnaissance sorties. Murray Crichton Bell Anderson was born into a military family in Norwood on December 7 1919. He spent his early childhood in India and was educated at Cheltenham College. His brother Lindsay became a distinguished film director.

Murray gained entrance to the Royal Military Academy Woolwich and was commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment.

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After returning from North Africa he was an instructor for a short time before going on to another photographic reconnaissance squadron. He took photographs of fields in France to be used by the special duties squadrons dropping SOE agents. He met a friend flying on one of these “moonlight” squadrons who persuaded him to volunteer. On October 27th 1943 he flew his 131st reconnaissance sortie and then joined No 161 Squadron to fly Lysanders into torch-lit fields, dropping agents. These pilots on photographic reconnaissance missions were always in danger as the cameras tended to replace weapons, leaving the crews less able to defend themselves if attacked.

He flew his first operation over Europe on May 28 1941, photographing four enemy airfields. He then moved to Cornwall where he flew numerous sorties monitoring the movements of Germany’s capital ships based in Brest.

Having trained on Lysanders in late 1940 he was happy to move to 161 SD Squadron at Tempsford in 1943, to be re-united with his favourite aircraft.

Among other difficult operations, he flew six double Lysander missions, all except one with his friend, Leslie Whittaker, who had moved from PR work with

him and who was killed during an operation in May 1944.

“Andy’s” navigational skill was obvious and on one triple operation he was able to recognise where an accompanying ‘lost’ pilot was from his description of the ground below and return him to the correct course to the pick up. He is also remembered for his records of sentimental French songs and his performances on the bagpipes. In June 1944 he transferred to 2nd TAF to fly Mustangs after D-Day. aormi@icloud.com

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He flew his first special duties sortie in February 1944, and in the build-up to the D-Day landings he was one of the busiest pilots on the squadron. Special Operation missions had inherent dangers, as they tended to fly alone with no back up cover. If the mission included landing at a field in enemy territory they had to ensure that the field was still in friendly hands and that they were not going into an ambush.

One time he picked up a pilot who had force-landed near Caen. Later he landed near Angers to bring back four agents: one had a 55 ft map showing the details of all the enemy defenses on the Cotentin Peninsula and also a great deal of information on the secret weapon sites.

Anderson had an irrepressible nature, great energy and courage and enjoyed life but he had a disdain for desk-bound higher authorities that rarely flew on operations. He was once told to fly a very long-range sortie to the region of Lyon, which would have resulted in his being over enemy territory in daylight. He had a one-sided “discussion” with his station commander, who decided they should part company. Anderson was posted to a fighter-bomber squadron.

Lympne Castle

Over the next three months his squadron followed the advancing Allied armies and Anderson flew 70 close support operations. He was finally rested and returned to a ground appointment. Inevitably, this did not suit him, and within weeks he was flying RAF Dakotas in India.

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He later operated out of Aden before flying a United Nations Dakota from Rawalpindi. This was followed by three years in the Persian Gulf, but his great passion was India and he returned to fly for Air Nepal.

He left India in 1967 and for the next 12 years flew the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 from Lympne airport near Hythe in Kent, where he bought the house in which he lived until his death. He flew with Dan Air until 1979 when he reached the obligatory retirement age of 60, at which point he joined Skyways Air Freight, operating from Lydd airport. The company went into liquidation within a year and Anderson’s 40-year career was over after 22,000 flying hours.

In retirement Anderson made beautiful life-size replica church brasses using linoleum, intricately decorated. Many are displayed on the walls of stately homes and castles in Kent, including Lympne Castle. His book is a fascinating and amusing autobiography, Saint Praftu (2009).

In November 1941 he made one of his longest sorties when he flew to Chemnitz.

Navigating with his magnetic compass, a stopwatch, annotated map and, as he described it, “your nous”, he photographed key targets. After five hours in the cramped and intensely cold cockpit, he landed. Following a brief detachment to Gibraltar to photograph the Spanish and Algerian coasts, Anderson was returning to Britain when he ran out of fuel 90 miles from the south coast. He managed to stretch the aircraft’s glide and land in a field. On another occasion the engine of his Spitfire failed and he ditched in the sea.

Over Hamburg he was hit by anti-aircraft fire at 28,000 ft but he continued to photograph his target before managing to bring his damaged Spitfire back to an airfield in England. On another occasion he was chased by enemy fighters but evaded them and brought back his photographs. In September 1942 he was awarded the DFC for “his excellent work, courage and devotion to duty”.

As September rolls around once more and we remember the Battle of Britain this book is a timely reminder that these were living flesh and blood men facing death in the sky with the odds against them.

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of Spanish Cookery

by Pat Hynd

Oranges and Lemons Nothing so nice as having a lemon tree in the garden and picking one for a fresh gin and tonic.

Although oranges are available all year round, they are coming into their own now.

Round about Christmas the various citrus fruits are at their best. The first oranges are supposed to have in the eastern Mediterranean area with Alexander the Great’s marching armies somewhere around 356/323 BC. When the Arabs started conquering Spain they brought oranges with them and cultivated the

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bitter variety as an ornamental plant. It later found its places as the Seville orange we use for jam making.

However, the more recent cultivation of oranges in Spain began in Carcagente (near Valencia) when a Catholic priest laid out the first viable commercially orange groves at the end of the 18th century. Within a few years 7,400 acres of previously barren land had been irrigated and orange trees planted. Today citrus plantations stretch along the Spanish Mediterranean coastline with Valencia and Murcia regions to the fore.

Over two million tonnes of oranges are picked every year in the country.

During the Spanish civil war oranges were a prime export bringing muchneeded foreign exchange with Gandia being the main shipping port.

Depending on various factors the fruit is ripened over a long period – storage time, ripening time, colour, flavour juice content and, of course, taste. Citrus fruits include oranges, such as the famous navel variety, mandarins, Clementine, Satsuma, lemons, limes, grapefruit, limequats and kumquats. Tangerines are a bit scarce as most of them are exported. Today more varieties are available as exotic fruits arrive in the country such as the thick-skinned ponderosa lemon, or ugli fruit. One of the attractions of aormi@icloud.com

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living in Spain is the variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and many expats like to grow and orange tree and graft a lemon bit on to it.

couscous salad Couscous is another ingredient in many Arabic recipes.

For the you need:¼ cucumber 10 cherry tomatoes or 3 larger tomatoes 1 pepper, any colour 2 spring onions 100g/3½oz sweetcorn, frozen or tinned (drained weight) 150g/5½oz couscous small lemon, juice only (you can also use orange) 1 tbsp olive oil 200ml/7fl oz boiling water small handful olives, chopped small handful dried fruits - such as raisins, sultanas, or chopped dried apricots Chop all of the vegetables into really small pieces Place the couscous in a large heat proof bowl and then squeeze in the orange juice and a drizzle of olive oil.

Pour the boiling water onto the couscous, cover with cling film, then set it aside to stand for five minutes.

Use a fork to stir up the couscous until it looks fluffy.

Add the chopped vegetables and stir well. If you want to add herbs, nuts, olives or dried fruits, stir these in, too. Serve with falafel or grilled chicken.

Roast Chicken With Cumin, Honey and Orange ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice ½ cup honey 1 tablespoon ground cumin Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 3-pound chicken, giblets and excess fat removed

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a non-stick roasting pan, or line a roasting pan with a double layer of aluminium foil. Combine orange juice, honey, cumin, salt and pepper in bowl, and whisk until smooth. Place chicken in pan, and spoon and reserve 1/4 cup of liquid then pour the rest of it.

Place chicken in oven, and roast for 10 minutes. Spoon accumulated juices back over chicken, reverse pan back to front, and return to oven. Repeat four times, basting every 10 minutes and switching pan position each time. If chicken browns too quickly, lower heat a bit. If juices dry up, use the reserved liquid and 1 or 2 tablespoons of water or orange juice.

After 50 minutes of roasting, insert an instant-read thermometer into a thigh; when it reads 155 to 165 degrees, remove chicken from oven, and baste one final time. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Where would Spanish cuisine be with the flan. Orange flan, or flan de naranja is a variation of the standard Spanish flan, a vanilla custard topped with caramel sauce. This variation is lighter, but has an intense orange flavor that refreshes the palate as well as satisfying a sweet tooth. It is a simple custard recipe that can be made ahead of time. aormi@icloud.com

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1/2 cup sugar for caramelized sauce 1/2 cup orange juice for sauce 2 cups half-and-half milk and cream (or heavy cream for a richer, denser custard) zest of 1/2 Large Orange zest of 1/2 Lemon 1/2 cup orange juice for custard 3 eggs 1/4 cup sugar for custard Put a saucepan over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup orange juice.

With the wooden spoon, keep stirring sugar and juice mixture constantly in pan until sauce is reduced and thickened.

It should be a rich medium brown colour (caramelized). This will take 3-5 minutes or so on medium to low heat.

Remove from heat and quickly spoon caramelized sugar sauce into each of the 6 ramekins or a large dish; sugar will cool and harden. Set aside.

Grate zest of half of a large orange and half of a lemon into a mixing bowl.

Bain Marie - Pour about 1/2-inch of warm water into a 9” x 13” baking dish for boiling water bath if using ramekins. If using one large open baking dish, be sure that the dish is tall enough to accommodate the water necessary to cover 3/4 or the height of the dish.

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Add 1/2 cup orange juice, the milk and cream and citrus zest to a heavybottomed saucepan and stir. Scald 2 cups milk in the saucepan and remove from heat. Keep a close eye on the pan, so the cream does not boil over.

Meanwhile in a medium mixing bowl, beat slightly 3 eggs. Mix in 1/4 cup sugar.

Stirring constantly, gradually add hot cream to egg yolk mixture. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the mixture slowly into another mixing bowl, straining it using a cheesecloth to line the strainer.

This should catch all the citrus zest. Discard cheesecloth.

Ladle mixture into ramekins.

Place each of the ramekins in the baking dish with water. If water level does not reach 3/4 of the way up the sides of the ramekins, carefully pour more water in.

Bake uncovered in water bath at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes, or until a knife comes out clean when inserted half way between center and the edge of dish.

Note: To ensure the custard does not over-cook, check doneness after 45 minutes, then every 5 minutes or so.

Cool and Refrigerate Carefully remove each ramekin from the water bath. Set on a cooling rack until lukewarm, then chill flan thoroughly in refrigerator - at least 1 hour.

When ready to serve, un-mould by running a knife around the inside edge of baking dish. Place a small dessert plate on the top of the ramekin. With one hand under the ramekin and the other on top of the place, turn over. Tap the ramekin and the flan should drop onto the plate. If it does not, carefully “prod” the flan out of the ramekin with a small paring knife. It should slide out of the ramekin onto the plate and the sauce will surround it.

Garnish with a segment of orange.

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Torrevieja Nueva Fraternidad

Torrevieja has many associations that help people in distress and two of these support overseas projects.

Volunteers of Nueva Fraternidad work all year long to raise funds for a variety of overseas projects.

Nueva Fraternidad (or New Brotherhood) is possibly the oldest of the charitable organisations in Torrevieja. It is a nonaormi@icloud.com

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p r o fi t making association dedicated to i n t e r n a t i o n a l cooperation, with more than 40 years working for the indigenous local development of the more disadvantaged that are developing projects in Rwanda, Peru, Dominican Republic, India, Uganda, Cameroon and Guatemala. Projects in the fields of the health, education, and promoting fresh agricultural initiatives are to the fore. There is a sponsorship system where one can support a child through school.

The most recent works have been building a maternity unit in Rwanda and a precious project with the Geographers' College of Spain in conjunction with the University of Alicante to teach local students in Rukara's cities and of that of the Huyes how to map out their own cities.

Torrevieja branch started in 1974 and has paid for a school building and continues to support this particular project. Programmes include one aimed at women to help them lead better lives by teaching them basic reading and writing, and basic skills such as sewing so that they can help support their families. Self-help is an important element in these programmes. Among those African countries being helped by Nueva Fraternidad is Rwanda which is still suffering from the massacres of 1994.

Asociacion Nueva Fraternidad - C/ Azorin Nº 1 apart. 315 (piso 3)- C.P. 03181 Torrevieja - Alicante - España Telefonos 965 50 58 20 - 649 55 21 86 aormi@icloud.com

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TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR FEET – ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A DIABETIC

The number of diabetes-related amputations in England has reached an all-time high of 20 a day, according to new analysis.

Diabetes UK says there is an alarming difference in quality of care seen across the country and while the best-performing areas have consistently reduced their amputation rates, the worst-performing areas have made no improvements.

Experts estimate that up to 80% of diabetes-related amputations are preventable. Most are caused by foot ulcers, which are avoidable and easy to treat if detected early. aormi@icloud.com

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Using Public Health England figures, the Diabetes charity discovered there are now 7,370 amputations a year - considerably more than the earlier figure of 7,042.

We asked chiropodist Paloma Frutos of the Pisando Firme Clinic, Torrevieja for some pointers.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIABETES IN THE FEET

What is the diabetes? It is a chronic and irreversible disease of the metabolism, in which there takes place an excess of glucose or sugar in the blood and in the urine; it is due to a decrease of the secretion of a hormone called insulin or an insufficiency of the same one. The foot of the diabetic faces especially two problems; the loss of sensibility and the decrease of the cicatrisation.

Loss of sensibility or neuropathy. 60 to 70 per cent of patients with diabetes suffer some type of neuropathy. The persons with diabetes can develop nervous disorders at any time, but the risk

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increases with age and long-term diabetes. The diabetic neuropathies are more common in people who have problems in controlling the glucose in the blood, arterial pressure and in those that are overweight.

DECREASE OF THE CICATRIZATION. When the level of instability in the blood is unstable the phase of cicatrization slows down. Since the body of a diabetic is much less capable of being self protected the reaction is not same as those without this disease. A diabetic takes on her to heal wounds.

Why are the capacities of repair so limited in the diabetics? There are three principal reasons: 1.. Diabetics are more susceptible to injuries due to a weak immune system.

2. The blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to an injury have been damaged by high levels of sugar in the blood. Therefore, the body of the diabetic cannot send the necessary nutrients to help to recover the wounds.

3. The affected nerves are not capable of warning the brain of the presence of a wound or injury. As result the injury fails to notify the brain, so it is paramount to review of the foot habitually.

(Ed: In UK Diabetic clinics tend to include foot inspection in routine checks but this does not happen in Spain generally, so it is up to the individual to seek professional foot care from a podologist) RECOMMENDATIONS ·

To respect the limits of the glycemia. - not to smoke, - control the blood pressure - monitor the rate of cholesterol · wash the feet every day with moderate water and a soap (neutral HP).

Clean between the toes well and make sure they are dry.

Ensure there are no signs of fungus between the toes as this can cause a further infection. Use a moisturizing cream and apply it if the skin of the feet is too dry.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIABETES IN THE FEET aormi@icloud.com

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Consult the chiropodist at least once a year as a minimum. This applies especially if there are corns, wounds, cracks in the skin.

Choose socks of cotton or of natural fibres · Avoid creases in the socks.

When buying shoes, do so at the end of the day when the feet are more swollen. · Choose shoes with laces · Choose flexible shoes.

Ed: If you are a diabetic and find you have a problem in your foot, a cut or bruise, then go immediately to the emergency clinic and insist that you are a diabetic. I have always been well attended to once I explain my condition and no cut is too small for them to ignore.

Why? Because that little cut can become a bigger infection that can result in an operation that may mean cutting off a limb if gangrene sets in.

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Motorbike Challenge from 27th September - 20th October In past editions we have followed the Kayak fund raising efforts of Dave and Mitch Bull rowing down the River Segura in two parts. This was successful and raised 3,000 euros for the AECC cancer association.

Their next adventure is to raise funds again, this time with a Round Spain Motor Bike Ride.

Their plan is to ride round the perimeter of Spain, avoiding motorways and stopping off at schools and other institutions on the way. They are hoping that all of Spain will join in to raise more money for AECC. Every day they will cover 375 kilometers - the equivalent of riding from York to London. The total will be 7,500 kilometres riding on Honda SLR 650 bikes.

Good luck lads! You can sponsor them on Facebook at Riding for Cancer.

aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

Page Nยบ 76

aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

Nยบ 31 - September 2016

Torrevieja Outlook

Page Nยบ 77

Torrevieja Outlook

Nยบ 31 - September 2016

This month the 2017 Solidarity Calendar will be released. It will be on sale at various outlets of charities and sold for their benefits.

The calendar is given free to the associations so that they can raise funds directly for their own needs. โ จ This is possible thanks to the sponsorship of a few companies who pay for the printing costs.

The calendar is dedicated to the role of women in Torrevieja.

Once again it is full of information about fiestas, public holidays in Spain, Uk and Ireland, as well as moon phases, useful phone numbers and a look at the various musical associations in the town.

aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

Page Nยบ 78