046 december torrevieja outlook

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Torrevieja Outlook

Nº 46 December 2017

046 December 2017

December calendar – fiestas roundup – Montforte Moors & Christians – Fools in Spain – Torrevieja main fiestas – Light festival – Belen or Crib – Christmas around here – Torrevieja Top Tourist award – Diego Ramirez award – The Big Fat One – Dragon Boats – Happy Hanukkah – Maritime plan – Books To Catch a King – Christmas Fayre – Food poisoning – Spain with UNESCO – Buy Solidarity with a Calendar – In the Swim – Torrevieja Auditorium open for business – Torrevieja Union Musical – Whats On – Living in a Hole – aormi@icloud.com

Torrevieja Outlook

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December Fiestas This is a busy month with three public holidays among a multitude of fiestas as there is so much going on.

On this, the last month of the year, the focus is on Christmas, New Year and the arrival of the Three Kings in January. The 6th is a public holiday for the Spanish Constitution which in the light of the Catalunya problem will take on a special meaning depending whereabouts in Spain you are. Torrevieja is among those towns celebrating the patronal fiestas of la Inmaculada on the 8th with two weeks of festivities prior o this date.

On New Year’s Eve at midnight most towns have a firework display to welcome in a new year. Many towns will have a visit from a fairground over the It is unlikely that Torrevieja will have a Christmas period. In fairground this end of year thanks to the Torrevieja it will be there procrastination of the town hall and the for the patronal fiestas at Valencian regional government the beginning of December right through till after the kings visit on 6th January.

2 - 4th December or the weekend nearest to the 4th fiestas in Sella.

Sunday nearest to the 3rd is the fiesta of San Mauro Martyr in Alcoy.

5 - 8th Dec. Patronal fiestas of la Inmaculada in Torrevieja.

5/6 Dec. Santa Barbara miners fiesta by Asturians in Torrevieja.

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Santa Barbara is the patron saint of miners. She is also patroness of the Torrevieja salt workers. There is an Asturian club in Torrevieja and each year they hold two festivals, one for la Santina and in early December Santa Barbara with various activities, such as a procession, folklore concert usually with bagpipers and dancers who also participate in the annual Floral Procession of Torrevieja's patronal fiestas, adding colour and music. As you see some dress in traditonal miners gear.

5 - 9th Dec.

Moors & Christians in Montforte del Cid.

6th - or weekend nearest, Santa Barbara fiesta in Altea.

6th Dec.

Los Montesinos celebrates International Community Day.

8 - 9th Dec.

Fiesta of the Fadrines in Torremanzanas.

La Purisima celebrated in Altea, Pedreguer, Benijรณfar, Catral.

10th Dec.

la Venida de la Virgen de Loreto is held in Santa Pola.

La Venida is held in Santa Pola beaches where legend had it that a small boat was beached that held an image of the Virgen Mary of Loreto. A coastguard rode to Elche to break the news and every year this is reenacted.

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13th Dec. or weekend nearest, the fiesta of Santa Lucia is held in Banyares deMariola, Ibi, Dénia and Xàbia.

23rd December El Belén de Tirisiti, a representation of the events of Bethlehem, is held until 4th January in Alcoy.

24th Dec.

Nochebuena or Christmas Eve: Another live crib scene on alternate years is held in Benimassot: similarly in El Verger.

Els Fatxos is held in Onil.

At the Midnight Mass a traditional religious song, La Pastorela, is sung in Callosa de Segura. A special polyphonic Mass is sung in Catral.

25th Dec.

Christmas Day - a public holiday. Albatera holds a procession.

From this time on until 6th January when the Three Kings fiesta is celebrated.

Rafal has a Zarzuela Pastoril about Christmas and shepherds.

26th Dec.

Les Danses del Rei Moro are held in Agost until New Year’s Day. El Cabildo is celebrated in Sax.

27th Dec.

Catral celebrates the day of St. John the Evangelist.

28th The 28th is the Day of the Innocents when Herod slaughtered the children of Bethlehem. In Spain the innocents are those who have been tricked in some way, rather like April Fool’s Day. Ibi holds the ‘festa dels Enfarinats’ and has typical dancing.

28 - 29th

Elche celebrates the Venida de la Virgen.

31st Dec. End of year: in Xixona the children have a tradition of carrying torches in the street known as ‘roar les eixames’.The Sunday prior to the 6th January, Les Pastorets is celebrated in Alcoy in the morning.

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A Month of fiesta December is a month full of illusion and fun. The 6th December is a national holiday celebrating the anniversary of the current Spanish Constitution which marks the advent of real democracy in Spain and really heralded the influx of so many foreigners who have decided to live in Spain since then. Because of the problems in CataluĂąa this will hold a special significance in many areas.

The 8th is also a national holiday in honour of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, patron of Spain and Torrevieja, and as the dates are so close together, if they should fall on weekdays with a weekend holiday, then most people take a short break.

Obviously Christmas Day on the 25th December is a public holiday.

Many towns will have a visiting fairground at some time during this period and often nowadays have a Christmas tree in the main plaza. The tree in Torrevieja is donated annually by members of the Scandinavian community of residents, specifically Per Erik Persson and Mas Amigos.

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Torrevieja and San Javier plazas are also decorated with large crib scenes that take the visitor through the life of Jesus, often including allegorical figures of the town such as the salt lake and hills of Torrevieja.

Other celebrations in honour of la Inmaculada are held in Altea and in Ontinyent where little angels make their own announcement.

Ibi has traditional dancing In Torremanzanas there is a ÂŤFadrinesÂť festival similar to that held in Ibi. This date is also the start of a large Christmas fair held in Valencia city.

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Moors & Christians celebrate wine harvest Moors and Christians compete in Montforte del Cid from 5th to 9th December and also in La Font de la Figuera during the same period. In Montforte del Cid,a wine growing town near Elche, on the four Sundays preceding the 5th December, the ‘drum parade’ takes place throughout the town. It is known that in 1590 gunpowder was used in these celebrations in honour of San Jaime.

Today these are considered to be of Provincial Tourist Interest. In 1769 these fiestas were placed under the patronage of the Virgin Mary and the first ‘soldiers’ took part with their uniforms often being handed down from generation to generation. On the 7th and 8th December meetings between the Ambassadors are held with declarations which are considered to be ancient and anonymous. Normally on the 6th December there is the Grand Parade about 6.30 in the evening. The Immaculate Conception is the patron saint of the town, though previously it was San Jaime. The first recorded Moors & Christians festivities were in 1881 with women taking part in 1946. Some 2,000 of the 5,000 inhabitants of the town take part in these parades.

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Fools Run Riot in Spain 28th December is the traditional fiesta de los Locos, Spain’s equivalent to April Fool’s Day. So it is a day to be careful that no one is taking the mickey out of you.

The 28th December is known as the Day of the Innocents (when Herod slaughtered the children of Bethlehem) and in Spain is treated rather like April First.

On the eve of this fiesta some of those who live in Ibi, 14 to be exact, are designated as «Els Enfarinats» who take over the jobs of the town council and parade the streets asking citizens if they have any complaints. Early on there is a race of 200 meters to see who can reach the town hall first and claim the title of Mayor. It is only married men who participate and there is also another group who act as the Opposition. Town declarations are solemnly read out in rhyme, poking fun at the real councillors. The “offices” include Mayor, judge, fiscal, secretary, treasurer.

Els Enfarinats is a strange fiesta in Ibi which starts at the beginning of the day when members of the Enfarinats take charge of the town each one taking over an official town position as mayor, town clerk etc. They then attack the opposition - the real town council - and whenever these unfortunates are seen they are vilified and lambasted, pelted with vegetables and flour.

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The council-for-a-day pour forth verbal abuse highlighting all the things that the real councillors have promised to do and have failed to achieve.

The government for the day announces new nonsense laws - no drinking, no walking in the sun nor in the shade, no smoking, no walking on the pavement, nor in the street and other similar types of regulations worthy of breaking.

Those who break these laws are liable to a fine and are then pelted with flour. There is a tendency to throw bangers under the feet of people so beware. Those who don’t want a flouring are advised to stay away as the interim local government is keen to spread the uncooked cake around.

The economy of Ibi is chiefly based on the toy industry, the most important of this kind in Spain. As a result, many other related industries have also emerged in the last years: plastic, metal, machinery and others.

There are some factories making construction materials, ice creams and tiger nut milk, also. As a mountain town Ibi used the snow kept in ice wells to make ice cream and it is a popular industry.

Some of the most important monuments in Ibi are the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration and the monument to the Three Wise Men, possibly the only one in the world.

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One of the most active groups in Torrevieja in recent years has been the Asturian club made up of residents who originally come from the mining area of Asturias. This is a colourful association that holds several events throughout the year but the principal one is on and around the 5th December in honour of St. Barbara, the patron saint of miners as the region has a long tradition of mining various products from the earth. Incidentally, she is also patron saint of the Torrevieja salt workers who also mine salt from Mother Nature and at one time was a principal fiesta in the town.

Thanks to the Asturian integration this feast day has taken up a prominent position once again with several events in the first week of December, especially the procession carrying the small St. Barbara statue by men wearing boiler suits and hard hats. They always bring at least one bagpipe band from Asturians and as it coincides with Torrevieja’s patronal fiestas on the 8th December add an extra dimension to the floral procession with their colourful costumes, music and traditional dancing. They have their own club premises in Acequion district.

One of the tronos used in the Semana Santa processions of the town incorporates a bier that was originally used in the town’s own Santa Barbara salt workers processions. In the gardens of the railway station there is a miniature copy of the Oviedo cathedral as Torrevieja is a twin to the town of Sierra del Polo. Of course, it is also the name of the Alicante fortress that dominates the city because it was on this day that the fortress was conquered.

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Bill Singleton MC of the annual carols concert in front of the la Inmaculada church in the main plaza of Torrevieja to be held on 15th December. The Phoenix Band play backed by a mixed choir to lead the singing by a massive crowd in the plaza.

Afterwards there is a special Mass service of foreigners at which an offering is made of non-perishable goods for the town’s needy.

Torrevieja Patronal Fiestas During the week prior to 8th December Torrevieja celebrates the patronal feast of la Inmaculada. The streets of the town centre set the scene of festivities with gaily coloured fairy lights lighting up the night as people scuttle around choosing and buying gifts for two of the most important feast days - Christmas 25th December and January 6th - the Three Kings.

In addition the districts of La Mata and of El Acequion holds their own agenda of events including children’s games, races, bike race, music and dancing and a large marquee is erected next to the local college of El Acequion..

There are many social and religious events held during the week prior to the 8th.

The Town Hall supply the ingredients for the 26th paella competition held on 6th December, so that everyone has a fair crack at the whip, but the cooking utensils and fires are the responsibility of the cooks. This is limited to 80 this year much to the chagrin of many people and many are annoyed hat their own music has been forbidden.

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Twice a day at the end of school hours, Lily and her Bigheads entertain the schoolchildren in the main square. These figures date back to the middle of the 20th century when the film with Leslie Caron became a hit and Torrevejenses adopted their Bighead as Lyly, the title of the film.

This year there will once again be a race of Auto Locos on 3rd December which will be judged by a panel who decides the craziest idea.

The Church also has a series of lectures devoted to some aspect of Marian theology. One of the most impressive processions in this period is the Ofrenda or flower offering. In recent years groups have tended to make up the procession carrying bouquets and baskets of beautiful flowers to lay them at the feet of the image of the la Inmaculada just outside the main church door. Over 80 groups including foreign ones take part, including bands of the town and co-incidentally pipe bands from Asturias who have come to join the large Asturian community who live in Torrevieja for the fiestas. This procession starts from the Plaza Oriente and wends its way towards the main plaza.

After the 8th December, there is a novena of nine Masses, each one for a different intention. Among these is one for the foreigners of the town on 15th December (after Carols Concert) and ministers of other denominations take part in a massive representation of the foreign community. At each Mass people bring non perishable goods or toys for the poorer members of the town. On 2nd December at 11:’00 a special Blessing of the Sick (previously Extreme Unction). aormi@icloud.com

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The Torrevieja Casino has a winter programme of cultural events. This takes place in the Casino, the concerts linked in with the patronal feasts of the town. Here there are some of the best soloists, duos, trios and small groups who sing and play their hearts out with a wide range of habaneras, boleros, South American music and other types of music to serenade any romantic heart.

Another popular event is the Night Run - Cross Nocturno de “La Purísima” de Torrevieja when up to 600 runners participate. This is organized by the Torrevieja Athletics Club and the Rotary Club.

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Each year the Floral Procession(2nd December) is organised by the Councillor of Fiestas and those wanting to participate have to register with the office. Above are photos from previous years showing some of the groups who play music and dance.

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Light festival of Santa Lucia 13th December is the feast of Saint Lucy, which is celebrated in Denia and Javea . It is an important date in the Scandinavian calendar when a maiden puts a crown of candles on her head and leads candlelit processions.

Javea has a joyful romeria or pilgrimage to the hermitage of the saint from where there are magnificent vistas of mountain and sea. Neighbors are woken up about eight in the morning by a band and set off around 10:00. Usually hot chocolate and sweets are distributed.

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Denia also has an hermitage of Saint Lucy (today Saint Paula) which dates from 15th century with many alterations and remodeling of the structure over the years. It is set in magnificent countryside and the pilgrimage sets out from the Tourist Office and takes about 35 minutes walking uphill towards Montgo. This year it takes place on 9th December with a typical market in place. The hermitage is part of a Conquest of Spain hermitage route as many small chapels were built by the conquistadors of Spain when they one a battle against the Moors in a locality.

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Belen or Crib

by Dave Stewart Most churches have crib scenes and many towns, including San Javier and Torrevieja, have large nativity displays in the town square showing, not only the birth of Christ, but a large part of his life with flowing water and windmills among other mobile parts. Also in Torrevieja in a side room of the church of the Sagrada Corazon in the Plaza Oriente, there is a large crib scene with many working models made by the local club of Belenistas, dedicated to making figurines associated with the life of Christ.

Ask people what Christmas is all abut and they are likely to say something along the lines of, giving gifts, goodwill to all men, helping those in need. But they are offshoots of the real reason fro Christmas in that it is aa memory that God loved men so much he put aormi@icloud.com

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his son on earth to help us on our way back to Himself by love. So lets have a look at some of the crib scenes around and as we peruse them think about that.

Both Torrevieja and San Javier boast a Belen Museum and use around 1,200 figures in their exhibition in the town plaza. The San Javier museum is within the Museo de Historia Local that exhibits all year round the figures used in the Plaza de España over Christmastime. This is in three parts - the life of Jesus, region of Murcia bric-abrac, and international crib scene.

Torrevieja has a separate one that was opened in 2007 on Avda. Diego Ramirez Nº 20 that needs an appointment. @museobelenestorrevieja or Call 609 45 95 14. This also has exhibits that relate to the salt town and its history with a tower, windmills, quayside, salt boats etc.

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In the Alicante Province an association of Belenists was founded in 1959 and it is largely due to their work that the Christmas scene has become so popular locally.

In Murcia there is the Museo Salzillo where there are some beautiful figures related to Christmas.

These were commissioned by Jesualdo Riquelme y Fonte and are the work of Francisco de Salzillo y Alcaraz (1707-1783). The Belen figures of Salzillo were influenced by Italian models and consist of 556 figures, 195 of them human and the rest made up of animals. These represent the principal biblical scenes against a framing background of models of both classical architecture and the typical buildings of Murcia. Salzillo used clay, wood, glass, canvas, bright polychrome paints and sumptuous fabrics. In the crib scenes, the sculptor has created a panorama of Murcia as it was in his day, showing the customs of the rural

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world around him. Among the characters, therefore, are butchers, hunters, spinners, muleteers and peasants. His story takes you from the angel of the Annunciation to the Flight into Egypt. Some figures wear clothing typical of Murcia. After the death of Salzillo in 1783, the crib was enlarged by one of his pupils, Roque López Hernández, who finished off some of the figures asked for by the Marques.

Nowadays many people have crib scenes in their homes and update the Christmas theme by including spacemen and rockets, Santa Claus, Batman and other heroes. However, one figure which is found only in Spanish cribs is the “cagon” whose origins are found in the Catalan word caganer. Most cagon figures are of a person squatting and doing what comes naturally. In Cataluña there are even museums dedicate to this figure who has been personified as an angel, demon, monk and even as a guardia civil. He represents the unbeliever who was so busy doing his own thing that he missed the message of Christmas and, therefore, the opportunity to follow Christ. No doubt this year the most popular figure will be Rajoy or the king.

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Obviously this is a good lead up to the Christmas season when several towns, including Torrevieja, hold villancicos or carol concerts and competitions. Several towns also have open-air crib scenes in the main plazas. The Torrevieja one is set up in the plaza Constitucíon showing the main events surrounding the birth of Jesus from the announcement of the angel Gabriel to the Flight into Egypt. Many symbolic elements of the town are included in this crib scene, such as the windmill, the tower, the quay. The shops are decorated for the season and the local commercial association hold a competition open to everyone who purchases from one of their associates.

San Nicolas in Alicante San Nicolas is known to many of us as Santa Claus. To the people of Alicante he is the copatron of the town and his feast is celebrated at the beginning of December. In the cathedral bearing his name there is an all year round crib museum.

This used to be a popular fiesta in the town, but, like many others, disappeared only to be reinstated lately. Over 3,000 people take part in the parade with Moors and Christian groups participating.

Youngsters representing the hogueras of each district in Alicante play their own tune on the ‘xiulets’ clay whistles. Leading the procession are Los Nanos i Gegants who escort a Saint Nicolas figure riding on a white horse, with a page who throws away over 100 kilos of sweets.

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Alicante has a competition of Belenes and there are several public Belenes: - Belén Panorámico in the hall of the Cultura de Caja Mediterráneo - in the Palacio Ayuntamiento the municipal belen - the Excma. Diputación Provincial offers an Exposition of Beelines in their exhibition hall - la Plaza de la Montanyeta also has one. There are a number of markets in Aliciante over the Christmas season:

•

CASCARUJA Y PORRATE DE NAVIDAD: Paseo de Federico Soto.

•

MERCADILLO DE ARTESANÍA: Paseo de Federico Soto.

Santa Claus or Papa Noel has also made his mark in Spain and Alicante has a Casa de Santa Claus in el Parque de la Ereta with a wishing well where the kids can pitch in their wish list for a happy Christmas. This is open from 3rd December until the 25th with varying times, but in general from 12:00 - 20:00 There is an area for the kids to play with many activities and hand crafts. There is also a free microbus available ferrying visitors to the area from the Santa Barbara Castle. Be warned that there may be a long queue of at least an hour so kids may get impatient and if you want to take a photo of your child with the famous ho-ho man then be brief as many others are behind wanting to do the same.

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Elche switches on their Christmas lights on the 5th December and has a number of activities planned. The lights tend to follow the route that the Three Kings take on the 5th January procession making use of the palm trees - la plaza de Baix, la Glorieta, el Centro de Congresos, la plaza de las Flores, Congreso Eucarístico, Corredora, el ambulatorio de San Fermín, plaza de Castilla, puente de Canalejas, Sector Quinto, Jardín de Andalucía y plaza de Benidorm. Además, las pedanías de Matola, Las Bayas, La Hoya, La Marina, El Altet, Torrellano, Valverde y PerletaThe Municipal Belen is in the Glorieta from 8th December with a carol concert.

From early December until the 6th January there is a Christmas fairground in el Paseo de la Estación.

There is a living Belen in the area of the Palacio de Altamira, that takes place on 25th December, including a typical marketplace. Among the attractions is a re-enactment of various biblical events on different dates, such as Jesus and Mary arriving in Bethlehem, birth of Jesus, the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, the slaughter of the innocent babies, the Three Kings adoration. Please check out the times at the Elche Tourist office.

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Orihuela switches the Christmas lights on on 1st December in the Glorieta. In the past there has been an ice rink in the same place. The Boulevard shopping centre at La Zenia will offer a wide assortment of typical and traditional Christmas products.

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Guardamar del Segura has a Christmas tree in front of the town hall: one year it caught fire when the bells were ringing out the new year and the local police suffocated the flames with fire extinguishers rapidly. Once again this year there will be a party in the main plaza.

There is an annual competition among the citizens for the best crib scene. On Christmas Eve there is a parade during the day, and Papa Noel will be on hand to give out gifts to kids.

As usual there will be a parade for the arrival of the Three Kings on 5th January who will also distribute gifts.

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Torrevieja Top Tourist Award

The team who deal with tourist enquiries and supplying information have been awarded the 1st Prize in the Valencian Tourist Agency area for quality. The town, along with Benissa Playa, had an average punctuation in the scoring of 9.87.

In summer they have dealt with as much as a thousand enquiries per day in the busy month of August. Patiently dealing with questions of all sorts about the area and what is available to see, or visit or enjoy events.

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The Diego Ramirez Pastor Prize is annual recognition of individuals and groups who have contributed to the good image of Torrevieja. The 47th edition was held on 10th November and the jury chose the Proyecto Mastral as the winners from among around 50 presented and 17 finalists. This association (below) has given daily weather forecasts, held photographic competitions and exhibitions, and regularly sent photos to the national television channels that have featured in thee evening weather reports and programs connected to nature. Photos Joaquin Carrion on right of the photo below.

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The Big Fat One

by Dave Stewart

Have you bought your El Gordo national lottery ticket yet? Then it’s not too late to win some of the 2,380 millions of euros prize money total. Many associations also sell them at a slightly inflated price of 23 euros instead of the 20 normal as they can then keep the 3 euros for their funds. And should that be winning ticket then the association has a lump bonus on their hands.

If you don't know which number to pick on the internet you can find the one that won on your date of birth - mine was 13.093. Most people have a lucky number and they pick the first or last number in a series using that number.

For hundreds of years, Christmas in Spain has been inextricably linked to the national lottery known as El Gordo (literally, The Fat One) because of its large prizes. It began in the time of Carlos III who brought the lottery idea from Naples where it was very popular. It was one way to raise money from the rich who could make even more money, but the idea caught on with the poorer people who could see the possibility of joining the ranks of the Rich.

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On December 22nd, millions of people throughout Spain (and abroad) tune in to the television to hear children from San Ildefonso school (a former orphanage) sing out the winning numbers. the Christmas lottery, the winning five-digit number is picked from 100,000 balls going round in circles inside a giant rotating drum. Yours is in there, as is your neighbour’s, and even that other number you meant to buy from your local bar.

They’re all inside, between 00000 and 99999.

There is also a smaller wire basket containing 1,807 tiny wooden balls. These spheres show the prize money randomly assigned to each number that gets pulled out of the giant drum. One child pulls out and sings a number, and another child pulls out and sings its corresponding prize money.

Besides these large prizes, there are hundreds of consolation prizes for tickets that “look like” the winning number – the ones that come right before and right after, the ones with the same final digit, etc. Imagine that you have won El Gordo, worth €4 million. Will you actually receive €4 million? It depends on how much you spent on the ticket. A whole number costs €200, so if you bought a tenth of a ticket, or a décimo, which most people do, that’s worth a tenth of the €4 million. And if, like many people, you have simply bought a €1 stake in a décimo, then you calculate on the basis of €200 being the equivalent of €4 million, with a €1 stake giving you €20,000.

So obviously the tax man has to have his share so what are you left with? Takings of over €2,500 are subject to 20 percent tax for anything over that amount. In other words, if you win El Gordo, €79,500 of the €400,000 will go to the taxman. So a winning décimo will bring you €320,500 after tax.

Can you avoid paying tax? Very rarely, but the lottery is used by some to launder money. discreetly dressed men and women carrying suitcases stashed with bank notes fan out aormi@icloud.com

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Earlier this year the founder of the national lottery, Varlos III, featured in one of the lottery coupons.

across the country headed for bars, lottery outlets, and banks before the fortunate owners of the prized tickets cash them in. Acting on behalf of wealthy clients, their mission is to buy their winning tickets: they pay cash, ask no questions, and offer a generous bonus on top. It’s a very simple way to help reduce their clients’ tax bill.

Lottery tickets are untraceable, so unless we are present when they are bought, it is pretty much impossible to establish who originally purchased them. But tax now behind bars for corruption, won the lottery several times. The odds of buying one of the big winning numbers are one in 100,000. Fabra won the lottery nine times in 10 years.

The OCU website warns lottery winners against selling their winning tickets, even when offered generous incentives. The main problem is proving the origin of the money to your bank. If the tax office becomes involved, it can impose heavy fines.

The organization illustrates the dangers with an example: a person with an average annual income of €30,000 who wins €400,000 on the Christmas lottery and sells their winning ticket for €450,000 could face a fine of more than €200,000.

Many of those who win a small amount, such as getting their money back, reinvest in the next big lottery on the 6th January,, known as El Niño after the baby Jesus.

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Dragon Beat the drum

Torrevieja has an impressive record of winners for sailing, rowing, fishing and other maritime sports and now they claim another victory. On 11th November a tired crew of the Torrevieja Dragon boat entered the harbour at 21:00 after beating the record established by the La AsociaciĂłn EspaĂąola de Dragon Boat in Spain.

250 rowers from seven country's chose Torrevieja as the center for this race with the former record being 247 Km last December. The Torrevieja team beat this with 266 kilometers under their belt taking turns in rowing for 24 hours around a 1,4 kilometer course within the harbour. This is claimed as a new Guinness Book Record.

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Happy Hanukkah

Many of us at this time of year use a stand with candles lit and placed at the window, thinking that this has something to do with homecoming. It is part of a Jewish festival of lights. This year Hanukkah fall on Tuesday 12th December until the afternoon of the next day.

Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights and it remembers the rededication of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This happened in the 160s BCE/BC (before Jesus was born). (Hanukkah is the Jewish word for 'dedication'.) Hanukkah last for eight days and starts on the 25th of Kislev, the month in the Jewish calendar that occurs at about the same time as December. Because the Jewish calendar is lunar (it uses the moon for its dates), Kislev can happen from late November to late December.

Mattathias, the High Priest of the Hasmoneans, led the initial revolt against the Syrian Greeks and appointed his son Judah the Maccabee (“The Hammer”) as the leader. The Maccabees were greatly outnumbered by the Greeks, who had a vastly

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superior number of soldiers and fought on top of warrior elephants. Judah bravely led his small army in battle and through his skill defeated the Greeks. According to legend, because the Greeks forbade religious study, the Jews studied Torah in secret and occupied the children by playing the dreidel (spinning top) so they would keep watch and warn the adults when the Greek soldiers were coming.

Today it is till a popular game at this time of year.

During Hanukkah, on each of the eight nights, a candle is lit in a special menorah (candelabra) called a 'hanukkiyah'. There is a special ninth candle called the 'shammash' or servant candle which is used to light the other candles. The shammash is often in the center of the other candles and has a higher position. On the first night one candle is lit, on the second night, two are lit until all are lit on the eighth and final night of the festival. Traditionally they are lit from left to right with a special blessing of thanksgiving.

Hanukkah is also a time for giving and receiving presents and gifts are often given on each night. Lots of games are played during the time of Hanukkah. Food fried in oil is traditionally eaten during Hanukkah. Favourites are 'latkes' - potato pancakes and 'sufganiyot' - deep friend doughnuts that are then filled with jam/jelly and sprinkled with sugar.

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New Maritime Plan

by Dave Stewart

Real Club Nรกutico preesident Germรกn Soler and Red Cross preisdnet Bibiano Vera with some of the present volunteers and their boat . This will be extended to a team of 10 plus a 10 meters boat and a modern communications network based in the RCNT.

For almost thirty years the local Torrevieja branch of the Red Cross has had links with the Real Club Nรกutico. Since 2nd March 1991 the volunteers had a radio transmitter connected to maritime wavelength and connection to the land base in calle Apolo where there was a map board plotting where the different units of the Red Cross lifesavers were. There was also a Zodiac boat that was later replaced by smaller, faster and easily maneuverable jet skis . This was backed up by a fully equipped ambulance and cars who could race to a hot spot very quickly. They had a room where volunteers could sleep and have a shower.

Now Bibiano Vera, the Red Cross president, has renegotiated a deal improving and updating the facilities at the Real Club Nรกutico base. Before it was mainly life guard duties along the coastline of Torrevieja with lifeguards, and ambulance back up services.Two of the ambulances have been purchased thanks to the support of the British community.

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21 illegal immigrants picked up by the coastguard are attend to in Torrevieja by the local Red Cross photo - J- Carrion

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The new plan is to expand these services so that they cover all the almost 2,000 sailing berths in Torrevieja, plus support for the many regattas and market sporting events. Ten volunteers will make up this new team and they are already in formation and expected to be up and running by Easter holidays. The new services means that the ambulance can drive directly onto the quay.

This new extension will mean that they will link up with the corresponding Red Cross services at Santa Pola and San Pedro including a helicopter. This is part of the coastguard services of which Torrevieja Red Cross is a part. Much of

their work is saving the lives of refugees at sea.

It remains to be seen if the Torrevieja Town Hall will return in 2018 to make use of the lifeguard services of the local Red Cross on the beaches, which had been used prior to the handover of ruling part(ies).

The Spanish Cruz Roja have a wide variety of courses for the young and old alike, from first aid, to dealing with babies, to using modern communication systems, a large social service network helping a lot of immigrants in many ways.

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Bookshelf To Catch a King

by Pat Hynd

To Catch A King This is the second book by Charles Spencer being a sequel to his popular ‘Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I’ (pbk £9.99), this is the story of the manhunt for his son.

This is a thrilling tale of pursuit and resistance and it is based on deep original archival research.

The book cover shows only half a face of the king, suggesting that there is more to him than previously thought.

On an autumn day in 1680, the 50-year-old Charles II charged Samuel Pepys with an unusual task. Over two three-hour sittings, one on a Sunday evening, the next the following Tu e s d a y

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morning, the king related to him in great detail his personal recollections of the six weeks he had spent as a fugitive after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. It was nothing less, in the words of Arthur Bryant, than ‘the most romantic incident in the history of the English throne’. As sovereign and secretary settled down (a scene that is surely a gift for a future scriptwriter), Charles commenced his story: ‘After that the battle was so absolutely lost as to be beyond hope of recovery, I began to think of the best way of saving myself.’

Acclaimed by Julian Fellowes as a “history with the pace of a thriller”, Earl Charles Spencer’s gripping new Charles Spencer may be best book, To Catch A King, might seem too known as the brother of the late good to be true, but it isn’t. Many Princess Diana, but in his writings historical events are legendary; fables of he shows his depth as a journalist. kings and queens are taught in schools and stories are often dramatized for entertainment, but, as Charles retells how King Charles II ran for his life from assassins and a crumbling Monarchy, we’re reminded that sometimes the truth is wild enough.

The story is of the future Charles II’s time on the run after his army was defeated

by Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in September 1651. If he had been captured, he would have been executed. It seemed impossible to those that were hunting him down that they wouldn’t quickly scoop him up – apart from anything else, he was enormously tall, for the era – six foot three – and so would stand out. He had incredibly close shaves, but ultimately was saved by good luck, brave companions, quick-wittedness, and grit. I’ve used the eyewitness accounts of those who aided Charles in his escape – a ragbag of peasant farmers, catholic priests and gentry, and royalist army officers, aided by some very strong women. there is a lot more to Charles II than the womanising pleasure-lover that has come down through history. He was a very brave man, who inspired love and loyalty in those closest to him.

Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who began writing history by chronicling his own family, is surprisingly sympathetic to the regicides. Spencer repeatedly gives graphic descriptions of the hanging, drawing and quartering of the first regicides to be executed. aormi@icloud.com

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When Charles I, on trial for his life in the great medieval space of Westminster Hall, faced the 67 commissioners acting as his judges, their names were called.

Bradshaw, as their president, was the first.

He stood up.

The next name was Fairfax, the parliamentary commander-in-chief.

No response. “He had more wit than to be here,” rang out the voice of an unseen woman from the gallery – Lady Fairfax, no one doubted. Her heckle proved prophetic.

Later, when Lady Fairfax interrupted again from the ladies’ gallery, Colonel Daniel Axtell, in command of the troops charged with keeping order, called to his men: “Down with the whores!

Shoot them!”

Fortunately, as Charles Spencer remarks, they did not obey. But the soldiers did follow Axtell’s urging to call out during the trial: “Justice! Execution!”

After only four days’ hearing, the king was condemned to die. All along he refused to recognise the authority of the court. “I would know by what power I am called hither,” he said.

His crime, it was said, was making war on his own people. His death warrant was signed by 59 men. In the short time before he went to the scaffold, Charles was able to see his eight-year-old son, the Duke of Gloucester. “Sweetheart,” he said, sitting him on his knee, “now they will cut off thy father’s head.”

Eleven years later, in 1660, the king’s eldest son came back again as Charles II. aormi@icloud.com

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In the meantime, Cromwell’s power-base, the New Model Oliver Cromwell Army, had kept busy, notably in Ireland, where six of the eight regiments were commanded by regicides – “killers of the king”.

Their enemies included Ulster Scots as well as the majority Catholic population. At Drogheda, where 2,000 of the 2,800 defenders were slaughtered, women and children included, Axtell committed a war crime of absurd violence.

Once Cromwell was dead from natural causes and the monarchy restored, who was to be counted as a regicide? If those instrumental in his death (such Isaac Dorislaus, the Dutch lawyer; Hugh Peters, the deranged preacher from New England; or the men on the scaffold, such as the memorably named Hercules Huncks) were added to the 59 signatories of the death warrant, they made 80, of whom at least 20 were dead by 1660.

Dorislaus was assassinated in Holland; Huncks bought his life by giving evidence against Axtell. After the irenic Declaration of Breda, the new regime moved towards revenge – or justice. Still, obvious suspects got away with it.

Even Cromwell’s son Richard, no regicide but Lord Protector after him, lived on peacefully until 1712.

On 30 January 1649, the bitterly cold day of his execution, King Charles I wore two shirts under his doublet, determined not to shiver in case people thought he was trembling in fear. On the scaffold in Whitehall, Charles protested his innocence and asked for God's forgiveness for the men who had executed his death warrant, praying that their "great sin" "be not laid to their charge". But nearly 20 years later, when his son was restored in 1660 as Charles II, it was. As Charles Spencer shows in his brilliant book the newly restored Restoration government went after the killers of the king with a vengeance.

Two years after the execution of Charles I, the young Charles II sacrificed the very principles his father had died for to do a deal with the Scots, accepting Presbyterianism as the national religion in return for being crowned King of Scots. His arrival in Edinburgh prompted the English to invade Scotland in a preemptive strike. This was followed by a Scottish invasion of England. The two aormi@icloud.com

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sides finally faced one another at Worcester in September 1651. After being comprehensively hammered on the meadows outside the city by Oliver Cromwell’s army, the 21-year-old king found himself the subject of a national manhunt, with a huge bounty on his head. Over the following six weeks he managed, through a series of heart-poundingly close escapes, to evade capture before finally making it to safety in France.

The uncomfortable truth was that while almost everyone in England had been appalled by the execution of Charles I, they had not welcomed the arrival of his son with the Scots army, but had instead firmly bolted their doors. This was partly because he rode at the head of what felt like a foreign invasion force and partly because after almost a decade of civil war people were desperate to avoid it beginning again.

Luckily for Charles, the beleaguered Catholic community was overwhelmingly Royalist and this hiding him took a great personal risk. In his book Spencer believes that the king on the run re-evaluated his Catholic subjects. He did this while wedged in priests’ hiding holes and became aware of how much the Catholics had suffered. On 5th February 1685 Charles II was on his deathbed and spoke to Father John Huddleston who had helped him in saving him from Cromwell's men. Now the king was dying and the priest was here to receive him into the church and hear his last confession. Charles said, “You, that saved my body, is now come to save my soul.”

Would Charles II have been a different king had these six weeks never happened? The days and nights spent in barns and priestholes, servants’ halls and pubs must have had some influence on his character. Did the need to assume disguises, to survive on wit and charm alone, to use debonair trickery and subterfuge to escape from the Roundheads help form him in his role as king?

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of Spanish Recipes Christmas Fayre

by Pat Hynd

Family Time Although time makes changes Christmas Eve is still very much a family affair in Spain. Television adverts are full of the prodigal son or daughter making an effort to return home to sit around the family table on this date.

I have known a son return all the way from Singapore and daughter from Cardiff to get home in time for Christmas Eve or Nochebuena. Usually the advert will be there because of a turron or a cava, but it is really to enjoy the flavour of a family reunited.

Most town plazas will have street sellers selling large balloons, roasted chestnuts, or traditional Christmas turrones and sweetmeats, or figures for Christmas cribs in the houses. All during December there will be groups singing carols or vilancicos, one of the largest will be the English language version in Torrevieja main plaza with up to a thousand people joining in with free song sheets provided by local newspapers.

Every region has it favourite recipes reflecting home produce, such as a turkey or capon stuffed with chestnuts in Galica or apple stuffing in Asturias, or pine kernels with plums and raisins in CataluĂąa. But roast lamb kid, or suckling pigs are also favourites, with most tables having a fish dish.

However, today there are modern influences as pates, steak, terrines, smoked salmon, Belgian, Italian or English chocolates, all find there way into the household on this day anticipated by many people. And although these foreign aormi@icloud.com

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sweets are on the table so are all the myriad of typical Spanish nougats, hard and soft turrones, sugared almonds – most with a nod towards the Arab influence of past centuries. It has several varieties but the most commonly known are those of Jijona and Alicante. The former is a soft variety where the almonds are ground into a paste with egg and some added oil. The Alicante version is hard nougatlike tablet of whole toasted almonds in a brittle mass of honey, sugar and eggs.

The Jijona turron has 64% almonds in it and the Alicante turron contains 60% almonds!

Other turrones available will use popcorn and honey (Cullera) or marzipan based with coconut, chocolate, peanuts, pralines, puffed rice, candied fruits, some flavoured with liquors including whiskey, and there are several types using artificial sweeteners available for diabetics.

Another favourite is not turron, but is known as carbon, a boiled sweet formed in the black shape of charcoal and this is given to naughty children when they put out their shoes gifts on the night of the 5th January to receive the that the Three Kings will undoubtedly leave them.

Sometimes this is in the shape of a caca or being polite - stool!

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Simple soft Turron 8 ozs. caster sugar!

8 ozs ground almonds !

2 egg yolks!

1 egg white!

Method.

Thoroughly mix the sugar and almonds in a bowl. Fold in the beaten egg yolks.

Whisk the egg white until stiff and fold it into the mixture.

Lay a sheet of oiled foil over a baking sheet and place the mixture on it. Press the mixture into a slab about 1/2 inch thick using a rolling pin. Cover it with foil and place a wooden board weighted down with a couple of full tin cans on top.

Leave the turron to stand for a few days, so that it dries out and hardens, then slice it into 1 inch squares as required.

A punchbowl at Yuletide is always popular and here is one using cava

Agua de Valencia – Valencian Water Ingredients 1 litre aprox. 4 persons 1/2 litre of cava 1/2 litre de fresh orange juice 60 cc of gin 60 cc of cointreau 60 cc of vodka 2 soupspoons of white sugar ice 2 or 3 slices of orange for decoration.

Preparation Squeeze the orange juice, add in the gin and vodka, and then blend in the sugar stirring well. Add the chilled cava, gently mixing so as not to disturb the bubbles too much.

Finally when ready to serve add some ice cubes and serve in glasses decorated with orange slices. Or buy it ready prepared.

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Roast lamb is a popular main course in Spanish homes on Christmas Eve. They tend to use cordero lechal, which is baby lamb leg allowing one small leg per person. However, a full leg serves as well. Cut pockets with a knife under the lambskin and insert slices of garlic into each pocket. Pour some white wine and water, allowing 2 parts water to 2-part wine, a splash of olive oil and some herbs such as rosemary and/or thyme. Place in a pre-heated oven, basting regularly and when cooked retire it and place in potatoes for roasting.

Often other vegetables such as roast peppers or whole onions are put in as well.

Pimientos asados (roast peppers) can be bought ready prepared.

Cordero con Salsa de Albaricoque. Lamb with Apricot Sauce 680 grams lamb fillet cut in 25 mm. cubes; Salt and black pepper; Olive oil for frying For the sauce you will need: 4 tablespoon vegetable oil; 55grams butter; 1 teaspoon crushed garlic 170 grams tinned apricots pureed; 70grams peanut buIer Juice of 1 lemon; Salt and pepper and parsley for garnishing.

ยก!As this recipe calls for peanuts please ensure that anyone eating it is not allergic to them ยก!

Season the lamb cubes and thread on to a skewer: fry in the hot oil until tender around 5 minutes.

For the sauce -heat the oil and butter (which gives a distinct flavour) and add the garlic. Whisk in the pureed apricots and the peanut butter, but do not allow to become too hot; remove from the heat when the peanut butter is half melted.

Add the lemon juice and season to taste. Serve with the lamb pieces and garnish with parsley. If used as a main meal then serve rice.

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..BUT IF EATING OUT BEWARE..

Most people have experienced that unfortunate feeling in their gut making them run in search of the nearest bathroom.

The cause was most likely a delicious meal the previous day -- now deeply regretted in hindsight.

But if people become complacent with their eating and hygiene habits, the number of infections will go up courtesy of multiple bacteria growing wildly in foods before they're eaten.

But there are common sense ways to avoid food poisoning at home. We may associate food poisoning as a summer caveat, but it can happen at festive times when there is a lot of pressure and food is left out of the fridge or oven. Food borne illness likely comes from improper thawing/preparation of meats Food left out at room temperature for hours at a time -- be it at home, a cookout barbecue, a party, or a restaurant buffet -- is a prime source of food poisoning. The spores and toxins released by bacteria commonly found on food can flourish at this temperature. The spores thrive in the 'danger zone' of 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 60 degrees Celsius).On the plus side, infections with these bacteria are unlikely to hospitalize you, but instead leave you poorly for 24 hours. For this same reason, cases of illness often go unreported.

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Wash your hands when handling poultry, avoid contaminating surfaces and thoroughly cook your meat. Basically, avoid any risk of raw meat entering your body.

Minced meat is a prime source of infection be it - mince, meatballs or burgers. The danger lies in the grinding together of meat -- and the increased likelihood of surface bacteria mixing deep into your meat -- unlike with a piece of steak. If you love your burgers, make sure you eat them well-done.

A steak is an intact piece of meat. Any contamination will be on the surface meat can be a potent source of infection. Â Cooking a steak well on the outside therefore reduces your chances of infection, even if it remains rare inside.

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But with minced meat the bacteria are mixed into the blend.

Many forms of bacteria are found naturally on the surfaces -- or skins -- of fruits and vegetables which need washing off before consumption. If not, using that slice down the middle can bring those surface bacteria deep down inside the fruit. Most people wash an apple, but with melons or oranges they assume it’s not necessary.

When cutting or peeling such foods, bacteria on the surface can easily spread inside. If peeled and washed thoroughly you can reduce your risk quite significantly.

The risk of reheating rice is a common myth propagated as a means of food poisoning -- linked with bacillus bacteria found commonly in paddy fields and likely to be present in those rice grains.The bacteria are killed when the rice is cooked, but their spores stay alive and flourish if then left out at room temperature.In this way the spores grow back into bacteria.

The solution? Rice should be steaming hot when reheated, to ensure any returning bacteria have died.

These rules apply for reheated food in general to prevent any new bacteria from thriving -- both on your food and in your intestine. Illness comes from improper management of leftovers and leftovers should not be kept for more than three or four days. If you're served something that's inadequately hot...be brave enough to say you're not happy with it.

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Spanish Heritage is World Heritage

by Dave Stewart

Spain is blessed with a rich heritage as so many nations have contributed to it birth, life and continued survival. The United Nations is aware of this and Spain has numerous places that bear the hallmark of the UNESCO heritage site.

Obviously one of these has to be the wonderful architecture and water preservation of the Alhambra in Granada, the last outpost of the Moorish occupation and contribution. The MosqueCathedral of Córdoba has been a World Heritage Site since 1984, but Unesco later extended the designation to the entire historic city center. This area includes the bishop’s palace, the synagogue, the Catholic monarchs’ palace (alcázar), the Roman bridge and the Caliphate baths, among other monuments.

According to a traditional account, a small temple of Christian Visigoth origin, the Catholic Basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins, originally stood on the site. In 784 Abd al-Rahman I ordered construction of the Great Mosque, which was considerably expanded by later Muslim rulers. Córdoba returned to Christian rule in 1236 during the Reconquista, and the building was converted to a Roman Catholic church, culminating in the insertion of a Renaissance cathedral nave in the 16th century.

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Segovia is easily recognizable as the earlier installation of the Romans by its wonderful aqueduct and is it is one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts. The aqueduct in Segovia was built in the first century BC and, despite having no mortar to hold together its granite stones, has remained standing ever since. It stands 28 metres at its highest point, and consists of two rows of 166 arches.

The Roman monument was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985. The general date of the Aqueduct's construction was long a mystery although it was thought to have been during the 1st century AD, during the reigns of the Emperors Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan. At the end of the 20th century, Géza Alföldy deciphered the text on the dedication plaque by studying the anchors that held the now missing bronze letters in place. He determined that Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) ordered its construction and the year 98 A.D. was proposed as the most likely date of completion. However, in 2016 evidence was published which points out to a slightly later date, by 112 AD.

The aqueduct shares World Heritage Site status with the historic city of Segovia, which also has an 11thcentury fortress – the Alcázar – and a 16th-century Gothic cathedral. The Alcázar is the fortress of the Kings of Castilla and also home of the Royal College of Artillery and also boasts an excellent art centre.

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The Roman wall that surrounds the city of Lugo is the only one in the world that is complete.The walls of Lugo are 2,266 meters long and crowned by 85 imposing watchtowers.

Legend has it that the Romans built the wall to protect not a city but a forest; "Augustus' Holy Forest", Lucus Augusti in Latin, from which Lugo takes its name. Today the forest is a mystery, but the wall still stands, defying time and speaking to those who know how to listen.

Built more than 17 centuries ago following the guidelines of the elegant works by Vitruvius, Lugo's wall measures over 2 kilometers and has 10 doors. Walking along the wall, which at some points is more than 7 metres wide, and stopping at one of its 85 towers makes you feel the power of Imperial Rome up close. And also allows you to enjoy the best views.A few years ago, the monument was considered a hindrance to urban growth, but fortunately zoning laws were adapted and these days the walls are seamlessly integrated into the city. Unesco declared it a World Heritage Site in 2000 One of the most popular places for bus tours is to see the hanging houses at Cuenca. The fortified city of Cuenca, whose origins go back to the 15th century, has been a World Heritage Site since 1996.

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It is famous for its Hanging Houses, known in Spanish as Casas Colgadas, Casas Voladas or Casas del Rey. These homes have balconies with no solid material beneath them, and the houses are fixed to the wall with diagonal beams to prevent them collapsing. They have a history of over 600 years.

Among must visits is to the Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria or the puente de San Pablo (bridge).

Oviedo city is one of those cities twinned with Torrevieja. It is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain.

Its proximity to the ocean causes Oviedo to have a maritime climate, in spite of it not being located on the shoreline itself. It is said that two monks, Mรกximo and Fromestano (Latin: Maximus et Fromestanus), founded the city in 761. That aormi@icloud.com

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The Holy Chamber of Oviedo Cathedral with the cathedral retable below. settlement was soon to be completed with the construction of a small church dedicated to Saint Vincent.

Oviedo was established on an uninhabited hillside, with no Visigothic or Roman foundation before it became an Asturian city. It has a rich architectural heritage that includes Santa María del Naranco (above) , an extraordinary example of ninthcentury pre-Romanesque architecture in Asturias. Ramiro I of Asturias ordered it to be built as a royal palace as part of a larger complex that also incorporated the nearby church of San Miguel de Lillo, 100 meters away. It was completed in 848.

Several other churches in the area have also become World Heritage Sites, including the nearby San Miguel de Lillo, as well as Santa Cristina de Lena, San Julián de los Prados and the Holy Chamber inside Oviedo cathedral.

Alfonso II the Strong, who always considered himself as a “humble servant of Christ”, ordered the construction of the Holy Chamber in the Ninth Century. This chamber consists of two overlapping chapels without any type of communication between the two. The lower chapel is the “Crypt of de Saint Leocadia” and the upper chapel is that of Saint Michael; a name that is given due to the fact of it being attached to the Tower of Saint Michael, a building which predates the Chamber and that is one of the few vestiges that still remains of the Palace of the Kings of Asturias.

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The Palau de la Música Catalana or Palace of Catalan Music, is a concert hall in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Designed in the Catalan modernista style by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It was opened in 1908, for the Orfeó Català, a choral society founded in 1891 that was a leading force in the Catalan cultural movement that came to be known as the Renaixença (Catalan Rebirth). The rich decoration of the façade of the Palau, which incorporates elements from many sources, including traditional Spanish and Arabic a rc h i t e c t u re , is successfully married with the building's structure.

The exposed red brick and iron, the mosaics, the stained glass, and the glazed tiles were chosen and situated to give a feeling of openness and transparency.

“The concert hall is one of the most beautiful in the world (...) without exaggeration. It is one of its most important architectural treasures. Its pace, simple, complex, mystical and paradoxical, defies accurate description.” -David Mackay

Barcelona also has the architectural wonders of Gaudi.

Seven of architect Antoni Gaudí’s buildings in and around Barcelona are on the list of World Heritage Sites. They are: the Casa Batlló, Casa Vicens, Güell Palace, Güell Park, the Sagrada Familia basilica, the Crypt of the Güell Colony, and Casa Milà.

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Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, owes its name to Pere Milà and Roser Segimon, the couple who commissioned it from Antoni Gaudí. The

Catalan architect completed it in 1910, but it was not opened to the public until 1987. The mansion is a prime example of the eclectic and highly personal style cultivated by Gaudí, who made major contributions to the evolution of architecture and construction techniques in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Tarragona is a Mediterranean city and port, home at one time to governor Pontius Pilate. The ancient Roman city of Tarraco, today’s Tarragona, was one of the most important cities in Hispania during the Roman empire.

Surviving remains include the foundations of the great walls near Pilates’ quarters and the Roman aqueduct of Ferreres, or the Devil’s Bridge,. The city today is industrialized, but was founded before the 5th century BC. It has been suggested that the city was probably founded by the Phoenicians, who called it Tarchon, which, according to Samuel Bochart, means a citadel. During the Roman Republic, the city was fortified and much enlarged as a Roman colony by the brothers Publius Cornelius Scipio and Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, who converted it into a fortress and arsenal against the Carthaginians.

Tarraco is one of the largest archeological sites in Spain and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. The amphitheatre is still in use as a theatre, especially for classical Roman and Greek dramas and comedies. The second century Tarragona Amphitheatre near the seashore was extensively used as a quarry after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and but few vestiges of it now remain. After the demise of the Western Roman Empire, it was captured first by the Vandals and then by the Visigoths. The Visigothic Kingdom's rule of Tarracona was ended by the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 714. It was an important border city of the Caliphate of Córdoba between 750 and 1013. After the demise of the Caliphate, it was part of the Taifa of Zaragoza between 1013 and 1110 and under the control of the Almoravid dynasty between 1110 and 1117. It was taken by the County of Barcelona in 1117. Tarraco Viva - A lot of groups around Europe recreate the Roman world: from the Roman legions, to daily life. It is celebrated between 10 and 20 May.

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The Poblet Monastery in Catalonia is the prototypical Spanish abbey, built in the style of the Cistercian order. Construction was sponsored by Ramón Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, who handed it over to the monks of the Abbey of Fontfroide in 1149. Poblet belongs to the Cistercian Congregation of the Crown of Aragon, along with Santa Maria de Solius and convents such as Santa Maria de Vallbona and Santa Maria de Valldonzella. The Abbot of Poblet is the ex officio chairman of the Congregation. Today the monastic community of Poblet is composed of 29 professed monks, 1 regular oblate, 1 novice and 2 familiars.

The monastery’s period of splendor was the 14th century. In 1835 it was abandoned after the cash-strapped Spanish state expropriated the Church’s assets to raise funds. Restoration began in 1930 and in 1940 a community of friars returned to the premises.

Poblet Monastery has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The altar (1527) was sculpted by Damián Forment.

In 2010, Spanish architect Mariano Bayón designed the Poblet Monastery Guesthouse

The origins of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid) go back to prehistoric times.It is a Spanish city located 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of the country's aormi@icloud.com

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capital, Madrid. It stands out for its rich archaeology and was one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain.Later came the Celtiberian people, although the first significant urban center was the Roman city of Complutum, which was tremendously important at the time and the Latin name, Complutum, continues to be used. When the Moors arrived in 711, they subdued the Visigothic city and founded another site, building an alqal'a, which means "citadel" in Arabic, on a nearby hill, today known as Alcalรก la Vieja. On 3 May 1118, it was reconquered by the Archbishop of Toledo Bernard de Sedirac in the name of Castile.

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During Muslim rule, the Jewish community of the city was granted equal rights as the Christians living in it. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish congregation of the city paid taxes to the Archbishop of Toledo. Hebrew studies at the University of Alcala were encouraged by Cardinal Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros during the 16th century, bringing some Jews and Marrano Hebraists to work in the city. At some time in the 1480s, Christopher Columbus had his first meeting with the Reyes Católicos, Ferdinand and Isabella In the 16th century, Cardinal Cisneros chose this spot to create the first planned university town, which later served as a model for many other universities in Europe.

The author Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares, The University of Alcalá is a World Heritage Site along with the city’s historical centre, which contains the archbishop’s palace, the Corral de las Comedias playhouse, the cathedral of Santos Niños Justo y Pastor, and the main street, Calle Mayor, which was built around the 12th century and features a characteristic colonnade.

The Concierto de Aranjuez is a guitar concerto by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Written in 1939, it is by far Rodrigo's best-known work, and its success established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the twentieth century. was inspired by the gardens

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at Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the spring resort palace and gardens built by Philip II in the last half of the 16th century and rebuilt in the middle of the 18th century by Ferdinand VI. The work attempts to transport the listener

to another place and time through the evocation of the sounds of nature.

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez features enormous gardens. The compound was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001. The Royal Palace of Aranjuez was commissioned by Hapsburg monarch Philip II, but its main architect Juan Bautista de Toledo died during construction, and the project was continued by his disciple Juan de Herrera. The chapel and one of the towers were finished, but the work was placed on hold after Philip died.

Under the House of Bourbon, Philip V ordered construction to start again, before Ferdinand VI added significantly to the compound, and his work was continued by Carlos III. Its current 18th-century appearance is the work of Francisco Sabatini.

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The annual Solidarity calendar is a p e r f e c t Christmas gift that serves all year round as a reminder of YOU.

It is also full of wonderful photos of the Costa Blanca, information on holidays and fiestas, useful phone numbers, a rundown on what is on offer in this lovely part of Spain.

At 5 euros it is a snip of a gift and is available from numerous charity shops and associations.

Any problems contact us at : aormi@icloud.com 2018 Costa Blanca Calendar

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In The Swim..Again

MUNICIPAL HEATED SWIMMING POOL OPEN

Víctor Ferrández, the Councillor for Sports in Torrevieja announced the reopening of the municipal indoor swimming pool that has been closed for 15 months for repairs. There is still work needing done and the pool will be closed on Monday mornings for maintenance.

The five sports clubs plus the one for adapted sports will be able to use the pool of free. There will be a workshop for those under 30 years of age who will need formation in various aspects of water sports. Also activities for four colleges as well as the ALPE one. During the week up to the Friday evening there will be three lanes kept free for these various entities.

The New schedule in the 50 metres indoor swimming pool of Torrevieja, for the current 2017/2018 season will be:Opening hours

Mondays from 3:00 pm to 9:30 pm Tuesdays to Fridays from 8:15 am to 9:30 pm Satudays and Sundays from 8:15 am to 2:00 pm

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Torrevieja Auditorium Open for Business The town council has been castigated badly over the last couple of years for the number of closures of buildings because of apparently m i n o r problems.

Now the marvelous auditorium has been re-opened after a deal has been made with a private company who will manage it and organize events.

This has resulted in some very first class artistes, orchestras, drama and dance groups appearing and you are still not too late to enjoy some of them.

The auditorium is used by local groups such as the wonderful Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra, the Torrevieja Junior Symphony Orchestra, the local Union Musical de Torrevieja band, and the los Salerosos Band or the Orfeion Choir of Torrevieja. In addition famous performers have been invited such as Antonio Orozco, Lolita and Luis Mottola. Not forgetting the opera El Trovador, or the ballet Nutcracker Suite. Later, in January and February, it will be used for some of the Carnival events.

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Among recent acts was a homage to Mexico Lindo with the band of los Salerosos accompanying Mariachis and the voices of Nuria Fergรณ and Felipe Gorpe.

The auditorium is really part of a larger project which is the setting up of an international school of music. Unfortunately, under the present political climate and the financial crisis, this has been set aside. But the initial buildings have been finished, but require the insides to be done with soundproofing etc. as there are separate classes available for individual instruments. One room was to be used as a recording studio.

Another building still to be built would be a residence for international students which would include facilities for those with mobility problems.

This international Conservatory was the brainchild of Colonel Francisco Grau Vegara who, since 1988, has been the director of music for the Spanish Royal Guard and has been the Director of the Spanish Military Academy of Music since its creation. He has composed more than 700 pieces and since 12 October 1997, he has been the official author of the Spanish National Anthem that is played today. From 2012 to 2015 he was director of the Banda Sinfรณnica Municipal de Albacete.

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Near completion visitors were offered a peek at the proposed facilities of the International Musical Conservatory of Torrevieja.

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Torrevieja’s Union Musical

In 2012 the Union Musical of Torrevieja paid homage to the work and support of Colonel l Francisco Grau Vegar who was born in nearby Bigastro.

A town band is an important element in any town. Possibly the best known are those brass bands in the Midlands of England.

Torrevieja has two main bands – The Union Musical of Torrevieja and los Salerosos. The Union Musical (or UMT) has a long history in Torrevieja whereas the other was started in 1990. Both have an excellent pedigree with a wide range of music and concerts, the Salerosos being an offshoot of the larger and older UMT band. The director Jaime Belda has been replaced after 19 years by Carlos Ramón Pérez.

The UMT was the first band in town dating back to 1842 with a small group of aficionados of music. Manuel Amillano, was band director from 1863 to 1869, followed by Joaquín Cassamitjana, (1869 a 1875). Federico Rogel, took over the Baton and was director from 1875 to 1876. In 1873 the band had some financial problems paying for instruments and the town hall offered a grant of 5,000

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pesetas. One of the most important directors was Antonio Gil Lucco, 1876 -1912 who ensured that the band always appeared in any local events and fiestas, either civil or religious.

Under his baton the band won third prize in an Alicante band contest. The town hall has always given a grant to the UMT for this reason.

The band was technically instituted in 1927 with a proper constitution of its own.

Jaime Belda waas replaced as director by Carlos Ramón Pérez in November

D. José Aguirre Calero took charge of the band in 1927 until 1954, with a couple of new directors over the years - D. Jesús Vergel Leal who in 1948 substituted D. Pedro Benegas Ayala who was director until 1951.

D. Manuel Bonafox Amezúa, was the one who reorganised the band and used a house in what was then calle García Morato, and nowadays fittingly renamed calle Unión Musical. It was in this place that over the years the band held its rehearsals and inducted new members until the project of the Palace of Music came up and they offered the plot for this. The Palace of Music now has a small

Youngsters playing in the Palace of Music

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From the outside you can see that the façade of the Palace of Music is in the shape of a musical instrument and there is a case at the stairs with one on display auditorium with a different storey for the band’s rehearsals and practice of instruments.

Under the directorship of Alberto Ezcámez López, who substituted D. Pedro Benegas Ayala, the band flourished and took to the streets during the town’s many fiestas.

A prestigious director was Francisco Casanovas Gallarda, who conducted from 1970 to 1981 and under his tutelage the band soared to new musical heights. But then came some lean years and a small group decided to set up independently and these developed into today’s los Salerosos.

Jaime Belda Cantabel took over the band in 1998 and recently received recognition for all his work. One of the pieces written during this time was dedicated to the foeriegners who made up the Group that carried the large float during the Semana Santa processions – Jesus in the Garden of Olives, which is played on the two days they participate in these annual fiestas.

The band has also recorded a few CDs and has appeared in many competitions and musical festivals in the Palau de la Música de Valencia, Auditorio de Barcelona, Auditorio Municipal de Albacete y Auditorio de Murcia, Salamanca, Asturias and internationally. They have accumulated a large number of awards and prizes. In 1994 they were awarded the coveted Diego Ramirez prize for their continuous work, not only in Torrevieja, but in making the town’s musical tradition known in many places in Spain and abroad.

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END OF YEAR THANK YOU

As another year draws to a close and people not only prepare for Christmas festivities but are that bit extra generous, we would like to thank all of you. Not only those who put their hands in their pockets, but the volunteers and associations, the musicians, singers and entertainers in general, THE SOUND AND LIGHTING, DJS’ SUCH AS SNOOPY WARREN, who give of their talents freely and often.

An example is the Villamartin regulars who drew in the above sum of money that is used for various causes.

We have Chariity4Charities, HELP VEGA BAJA, The U3A, and so many others who regularly pay out of funds to assist others.

The poster at the side names some of those who dedicated their talents to a party at Villamartin Plaza and businesses that supported them. aormi@icloud.com

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KIT is a system adopted by the HELP VEGA BAJA adapted from the AGE CONCERN system whereby people living alone can be brought closer by a simple, regular phone call to make sure they all right. Another type of KIT is also one of the supports that has helped poorer families provide school kit via the resources of the Red Cross. It is great that many associations are working together for the good of individuals and the community in general. aormi@icloud.com

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Two British residents were presented honours awarded by Her Majesty The Queen in the 2017 Birthday Honours List by the British Ambassador Simon Manley. They have been recognized for their work helping other people and in a way represent the great work done by so many volunteers on the Costa Blanca and elsewhere in Spain.

Annette English, resident in La Marina, was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to child welfare. Mrs English has dedicated her retirement to improving the conditions of the Elche Children’s Care Home, close to where she lives.

Sylvia Tatnell, resident in Teulada-Moraira, was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to British residents and the wider community in Alicante, where she was a local councillor for 25 years and Head of Social Services.

Annette English at the Solidarity Calendar Presentation this year. aormi@icloud.com

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Living in a Hole

by Dave Stewart

Before houses were built our ancestors lived in caves. With Christmas approaching I was thinking about the birth of Jesus.

He was born in a stable. But it is more than likely that the stable was a cave as that was a fairly cheap way to house animals—and families. Cave interiors have fairly stable temperatures, not being too hot, nor too cold (which is why wine is stored in them usually). So in a way the small family of Joseph, Mary

and when he arrived, Jesus, were quite well placed. If there were any animals that would be a bonus as he heat off the animals would help keep a warmer temperature.

Actually when you think about it, caves feature a bit in the life of Jesus.

When he was stuck in the desert for 40 days then he most likely found shelter in a cave with rocks over the entrance to keep out wolves or whatever wild animals wandered around.

Then when he died his body was placed in a cave with a large stone rolled to block the entrance.

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It may be surprising to some, but, today, cave houses are quite popular. They benefit from what is called static solar energy by being underground with the earth and rock acting as insulation. Caves maintain a constant temperature of around 18C. From a neighbour’s point of outlook there is little, if any, noise. But neighbours are usually friendly and open to conversation and partying at times. Rocks and stones composing the caves are natural materials and also provide a good, natural layer of sound insulation. In many caves, fresh water is easily accessible as many underground springs flow within caves. A well-kept cave simply needs breathable lime wash and good ventilation.

Having said that, most cave houses are built by professionals who hew your cave space out of the rock and install all the modern requirements of electricity and plumbing. Underground caves / caves above the ground level - a home is a home, regardless whether it is buried deep inside a mountain or it is carved out in the rocks high up above the ground. There are different methods of building / adapting cave homes, depending on the individual requirements and taste. They are built in an area, which is dry and has rock types that lend themselves to their construction. Some people install log burners for winter warmth, but if you want, you can have central heating preferably in the form of underfloor heating.

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Most cave houses also have an exterior building that leads into the actually cave area where people will sleep. It’s rather a Hobbit-like warren of underground rooms, with rock-cut windows peeking out of cliffs and chimneys poking out of grassy roofs. In many ways, they are the perfect eco houses and often come with a bit of land in front for building more, growing flowers and vegetables, or even have acres that grow olives, oranges etc. There are remote ones with almond groves and views of the Sierra Nevada; primitive caves with original animal troughs and gaping windows; village caves arranged in rock-cut terraces; caves with tunnels and upper storeys; partial caves where underground rooms lie behind block-built facades. All are registered in the Land Registry and are bought and sold like any other real estate. Recently renovated cave houses can come with double block cavity insulated external wall, double glazed windows and extra roof insulation making them beautifully cool in the summer and cosily warm on those winter nights, providing further comfort and economy. But they will have electricity, sewerage, satellite TV, Internet etc.

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Popular areas are in Andalucia in places like Huescar or Galera. Almost all cave homes are built on the outskirts of villages, free from the bustle and crime found in the "little Englands" ghettos on the coast. These villages have small supermarkets, health clinics, schools, bars and restaurants and are easily able to

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meet all your day-to-day needs.

The villagers, almost w i t h o u t exception are friendly and welcoming.

Its not just in Spain that you find cave houses, but also in most countries where there is a hot, dry temperature such as Australia where there is even a White C l i f f s Underground Motel, or Sassi di Matera caves that were declared a UNESCO world Heritage site in 2005, or in many parts of the U.S.A. For centuries people lived in homes carved into the soft sandstone of the Kinver Edge escarpment, on the border of Staffordshire and Worcestershire in England. The most famous cluster was under Holy Austin Rock, which at one time served as an Hermitage and now preserved by the National Trust.

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Each cave home is uniquely different.

The Spanish, tend to like their caves with smooth walls, whereas the British like theirs “curvy and cavey”, with arches, bulging walls and rough, pick-marked surfaces.

Cave houses are variable in size with one-bedroom to “mansions” of forty rooms or more.

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Some of the benefits of having your own cave home: • Cave homes are ecologically friendly and roughly 80-percent cheaper in terms of power and heat consumption compared to conventional dwellings • They come with a natural layer of insulation. Rocks are also a good sound barrier.

• Cave homes provide a natural hideout in a case of global conflict and are also a defence against storms.

• Cave homes can be bought or built much more cheaply than traditional above ground houses.

• And, cave homes offer a natural barrier to intruders since there is only one side to protect, instead of four.

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Of course there are some disadvantages such as possible moisture and lack of natural light. Many people put in imitation windows with a backdrop of snow clad mountains, a tropical isle or fields with cows or other picture.

Risk of rocks collapsing in case of an earthquake.

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Whoever you are, wherever you are, may 2018 bring you peace and love, joy and contentment and bring us all closer together in a peaceful, warless world.

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