September 2018 Torrevieja Outlook

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055 September 2018 Calendar - Month of fiesta – Dolores Prison camp – ..they lived happily ever after..- Fortresses – Russia connection – Portus Illivitanus – Santa Pola – Villajoyosa chocolate & Moors – Villena castle – San Juan in Alicante - Ibi prepares Christmas – ABC Spanish Cookery diabetics - YOU can make a difference with Cruz Roja, Samaratins, HELP Vega Baja – Connections – Being a Volunteer – Salud – 2019 calendar - Cascamorras Black Hordes – Oktoberfest – Van Gogh Exhibition – Classical Music Programmes Round Spain on a Bike 2019- Night runs – Calendar Girls – CD Torrevieja football centre.

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September weather is usually nice and sunny with a few patches of rain. During this month the people of many towns that have had a busy summer, either through the tourist trade or through collecting harvests, now have the opportunity to relax and celebrate themselves.

The majority of Spanish holidaymakers have now left the Costa Blanca, although the high season still goes on. This is the time of the year when many foreigners come for long stays and there are still many typical Spanish fiestas for everyone to enjoy. It is advisable to seek dates and hours from local tourist offices as often fiesta details are altered at the last minute.

September is a month where most of the fiestas are related to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. Many non-Catholics fail to understand that the plethora of feasts dedicated to virgins are all dedicated to the same lady - the Mother of Jesus. Every town has its own special feast dedicated to her under a multitude of titles This month sees more fiestas in honour of the Virgin Mary whose birthday is celebrated on 8th September. 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.

1 - 8th Sept.

3 - 4th Sept.

4 - 9th Sept.

5 - 9th Sept.

Castalla holds main fiestas of Moors & Christians.

Santa Pola has patronal fiestas of the Virgen de Loreto.

Biar holds el DĂ­a del CĂłlera.

Moors & Christians in Villena.

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

Patronal fiestas in Agres.

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Orihuela celebrates on the 8th September with a romeria from the sanctuary of the Virgen de Montserrat to the cathedral.

First Sunday of month Moors & Christians take to the streets of Adsubia. On the first weekend the Fadrins festival is held in Adsubia.

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.

Festival of Moscatell in Teulada.

Patronal fiestas in Gorga.

Peniscola – traditional dance festival in honor of the Virgin of Ermitana, patron saint of this lovely city with its magnificent towering castle. These take place from take place from the 7th of September until the second Sunday after, i.e. 16th this year. A number of events are organised, including the coronation of the Queen of the fiestas and her retinue, spectacular firework shows, traditional dances, the soltá (calves are let loose and the locals run with them through the town) and the colorful processions of Moors and Christians. The Peñíscola Town Council strives to constantly enhance the festivals year on year with the aim of being listed as a Festival of International Tourist Interest.

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It’s a pity that for most tourists when they think of Spanish dancing they think flamenco or sevillanas. But every region in the country has its own traditional dances and music, with a variety of hand made musical instruments such as flute. Peñíscola's annual festival also coincides with the season of Classical Music Concerts being held this week in different settings around the town, including the Salón Gótico in the castle, the church of Santa María and the Conference Centre.

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First weekend of the month 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.

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

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.

Patronal fiestas of Monòvar.

6 - 18th Elda holds main fiestas with spcial events on the 8th and 9th.

7th Sept.

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.

Gaianes holds the patronal fiestas.

8th Guardamar de Segura have fiestas in onour of the Virgen de Fátima.

Moors & Christians in the patronal fiestas at Redován.

8 – 12 Albacete Fair has over 1 million visitors with 20,000 taking part in the floral offering. aormi@icloud.com

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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. This is a very old tradition that starts with a sung poem dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Dolores for her intervention in providing fair crops.

There is the usual colorful parade with music and the ladies in typical dress.

The language used is Valenciana.

The dancing includes males and females who cluck with their castanets.

The music cis veery romantic melodies that blend in with the smiles of the young ladies obviously enjoying themselves. Like many fiestas it disappeared at the time the Civil War and was only renewed in 1987.

11th Sept.

12 - 16th 14 - 17th 14 - 22nd 15th Sept.

“El Socarrat” is celebrated in Monóvar.

Greater fiestas of Cristo de la Paz held in San Juan de Alicante.

Fallas de San Pedro in Elda.

Novelda has fiestas in the La Garrova district.

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. aormi@icloud.com

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The 3rd Sunday a romería to the Sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de la Font Roja at Alcoy. This sanctuary is one of the most breathtaking places to visit in the region.

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Patronal fiestas in Beniaya (Vall d’Alcalà) Orxeta has patronal fiestas

On the last weekend the patronal fiestas with Moors & Christians in Altea. These include the Flower Offering, the magnificent pomp of the entrance of the two bands of Moors and Christians. Then there is the Entrá de a Murta made of various associations and clubs in the town in a procession that wends its way through some of the narrow streets and handing our sweets and small gifts.

The children have their own program and the elderly enjoy their own dance.

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.

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Dolores Prison Camp

by Dave Stewart

Dolores is another Vega Baja town that has had a busy August calendar with its agricultural fair and now in September its celebrations for the town’s patronal feast of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in the middle of the month. The town takes its name from the poignant devotion the people have to this particular event in the last hours of Christ’s death when his mother’s heart and soul were pierced with so much sorrow that men could be so cruel, especially to her beloved son.

This poignancy is further embedded in the town’s communal memory, because the origins of the town were from a prison camp whose inmates suffered not only form loss of liberty but from the pestilence of swamps which were later drained into the River Segura when the town was founded. Cardinal Belluga of Cartagena, ordered an immense drainage project into the River Segura, that led to the foundation of Dolores in 1724 and he offered prisoners the choice of a pardon, plus forty years of living tax-free in Dolores, if they became citizens of this new nucleus. So genuine citizens of Dolores can claim the same heritage as the Australians boast!

On 21 March 1829, a catastrophic earthquake struck the Vega Baja area (considered to be at least 6, 2 on the Richter scale). From 21st March to the 28th March at least 57 earth tremors were noted. in the Vega Baja arrea several towns were destroyed or suffered badly. Dolores was affected by this 1829 earthquake, which killed five of its citizens and destroyed thirty homes. aormi@icloud.com

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During the July of 1907, the Infanta Isabel made a royal tour of parts of Murcia, Alicante and Valencia including a brief visit to Dolores.

Each day of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores fiestas has its own programme, which includes an evening Solemn Mass, followed by a procession of carriages and a communal meal. these take place over the weekend of 7th - 9th September, but in a sense continue each weekend during the month. Prior to the 7th there are several other events organized, so please contact the tourism office for details.

There is a vibrant carnival parade with many floats and groups representing neighbouring towns such as Algorfa, Cox Almoradi, Benejúzar and representatives from Alicante and Murcia. By far the most emotive procession is that of the Floral Offering which in recent years has seen the introduction of a pair of oxen carrying the saint’s image and bowing in homage to the Virgen de Dolores. Traditional dresses and suits have made a comeback in recent years and these can be seen at most of the fiestas throughout the year. The participation of foreigners from other European countries has led to a separate Day for Europe as there are so many European residents now residing in Dolores.

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They Came, they fought, and lived happily ever after

by Dave Stewart

Among the most spectacular fiestas in Spain has to be the celebrations of Cartagena celebrating their volatile foundlings.

Cartagena is an ancient Murcian city that has much to offer the tourists with its Roman remains and a long but deeply interesting history. The city is strategically placed with a deep bay protected by promontories making a stronghold since the time of the Carthaginians under AsdrĂşbal who gave it its name as Quart Haddast - Nuevo Cartagena.

The Romans captured it and there are many signs of their occupation including part of the original city walls and the ruined Castillo de la ConcepciĂłn. In recent years m o re a rc h a e o l o g i c a l discoveries from various epochs have been unearthed.

This rich cultural background was offered to the tourist in a Plan de Dinamizacion that was ongoing until November 2001. Because of this Castillo de la Concepcion initiative forgotten treasures have been dusted off for public viewing and more reconstruction work done on old remains, including the Punic Wall that was discovered in 1989 with its origins dating back to 227 B.C., a aormi@icloud.com

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strong, silent witness of the original Carthaginians. Alongside this is a symbol of how succeeding generations and civilizations build on what has gone before. In this case a Benedictine cemetery of the 17th century. This has led to the development of the tourist sector of Cartagena as the gateway to two civilizations.

Museums

Nautical Underwater Archaeological Museum

Museums are excellent ways to discover a city and Cartagena has a really interesting Nautical Underwater Archaeological Museum. Cartagena has centuries long maritime tradition dating back to Phoenicians, Romans and is still the largest bay for the Spanish Fleet as well as a ship building industry.

Among the boats built here is the Delfin submarine that is now part of Torrevieja’s Sea and Salt Museum. Another attraction is the Roman Theatre connected to a Museum by an underground passage. This is fascinating as the original amphitheater gave way to various other building works first as a market, then built over to remain hidden for a very long time until the area was redeveloped in the early 1990’s and the theatre was discovered. The cathedral was partially built over the old theatre. Another museum is a former huge bunker turned hospital used during the Spanish Civil War.

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Historic Battles During the last two weeks of September in the fiestas the battles between Scipio’s Rome and Carthage are re-enacted each year in a festival where a Roman encampment is built with typical Roman market, taverns and many other Roman institutions. These battles re-enact the Second Punic War. So we are looking at Friday 21st September to Sunday 30th September.

This camp is located next to the football stadium.

Hundreds of the townspeople take sides dressing up as Roman legionnaires or Carthaginian troops with parades and mock battles as when the Roman, Publio Corneilo Escipion, conquered the city in 209AD. The Romans land on the waterfront in the early afternoon and battle aormi@icloud.com

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commences beneath the city walls at the Cuesta del Batel. At midnight the Romans are proclaimed as victorious and the following day parade in style from Calle Esparta to the encampment.

A truce is made which binds both nations through marriage and the fiestas include a theatrical display of the marriage between royal Roman blood and a Carthaginian princess Anibal and Hilice, bringing a time of peace to the city. As well as the daily parades of soldiers the visitor is treated to a spectacle in the Roman Circus.

Cartagena tourist office 968 506 483 or email: infoturismo@aytocartagena.es or see webpage www.cartagena.es This important city has lots going on at other times of the year. During February Cartagena is in Carnival with a tremendous imagination being used in the costumes.

Cartagena is also renowned for its sumptuous Semana Santa processions with a good-natured rivalry between the «californios» and the «marrajos».

The former are descendants of people who came from California and the latter because this type of fish was sold to pay for the processions. The beautifully embroidered gowns on the some of the statues are examples of the needle as an art form. Again you an find the Roman in drum being files here.

Some of the magnificent thrones, lit up by elaborate lanterns and garnished aormi@icloud.com

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by lovely flowers, are carried on the shoulders of the men are works of art designed

by Salzillo or Benlliure. Wednesday is one of the most important nights when the californios carry twelve thrones under the theme of Pilate washing his hands. Friday is the main evening procession for the «marrajos» with El Encuentro, the meeting of the tortured Jesus and his grieving mother, Mary. These Semana Santa fiestas attract thousands of spectators.

Throughout the year there are many musical events organised. During the first week of July the Festival of Mediterranean Music is held. Later in July an international cast presents the La Mar de Músicas and the International Jazz Festival. Habaneras music concerts are held in August, usually taking place at Cabo de Palos.

Two music festival related to the music of Andalusia are held in this part of the country. The Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas is held in August at la Union while the Festival Nacional de Cante Flamenco is held at Roldan. August also features the Romeria de San Ginés de la Jara and is a moveable feast so up-todate information from Cartagena’s Tourist Office (968 506 483).

FICC47 Chilean film RARA by Pepa San Martin

Another unique festival is held in November with the theme of the sea in cinema - la Semana Internacional de Cine Naval y del Mar, which has been going since 1972.

This has developed into a must see i the cinema festival routes. This year FICC47 is from 25th November to 1st December. There is a treet concert to open things up with Lucky Lips followed by Alta Tension. Among events there are are Taller (workshop) Super 8/16mm Experimental,projections of films by Juan Peñalver, some local films showing parts of Cartagena, a day with cinema and civilization, a children’s day and 26th film soundtracks played by the Agrupacion Musical Sauces. aormi@icloud.com

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Cartagena remains today an important naval base as well as a busy mercantile port.

The whole port area was renovated a few years ago and there are plenty of places to park a car as well as many restaurants in which to enjoy a drink and watch the harbour activity. Near the front is the famous submarine designed by Isaac Peral considered to be the first submarine ever built.

Today Cartagena is still an spectacular Mediterranean port and is visited often by cruise ships whose passengers can enjoy the historical Cartagena of two main cultures of the Mare Nostrum. Its an ideal stopover point as there is so much t see and do, including very god shopping area.

Cartagena: www.discoveringcartagena.com recounts some of the information surrounding the events September about the Romans and Carthaginians.

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Fortresses hold Moors & Christian at bay

Moors & Christian battles still continue this month with some being held on the first weekend at Banyeres de Mariola; and Santa Pola the first week of September; Villena from 4th - 9th; Crevillente from 24th September to 5th October.

Villena Castle is unimposing sight with an interesting history.

Benidorm is only one of many towns celebrating Moors & Christian encounters.

Many Spanish fortresses were built by the Moors, while others were used as frontier towns between the various Christian kingdoms. Today the Costa Blanca has a Castle Route with guides who can explain some of the finer points of living in a castle, such as the toilet arrangements.

In Benidorm a music festival and the building of a castle are held at the end of the month in expectation of the Moors & Christian fiestas during the beginning of October.

The actual fiestas held in the first week of October start with a morning reveille (Diana) and in the afternoon a show is staged with the Entry of the Moors & Christians. The second day also starts with a Diana and a flower offering to aormi@icloud.com

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the patron saint, San Jaime. The Moorish fleet disembarks and an ambassador meets with the Christians and then the deafening Battle of the Blunderbusses begins with the Christian King finally winning the day and occupying the castle.

For those who would like to see a Moors & Christian festival the toy-making town of Ibi holds their fiestas in honour of la Virgen de los Desamparados from the 2nd Sunday of the month through to the third week of September.

Celebrations begin from early morning with a diana (morning breakfast) as groups from the comparsas parade the streets in all their fierce finery. Moors & Christians march daily through the streets dressed in all heir fine costumes.

From 4th - 9th of September the spectacular fiestas of Villena take place. If you speak of Moors & Christians you talk about Villena where the fiestas are considered to be of National Touristic Interest.

Of the 32,000 inhabitants 15,000 take part in these patronal fiestas dedicated to the Virgen de las Virtudes or La Morenica as she is known popularly as this is another brown skinned image.

This festival dates back to 1474 when the Virgen was proclaimed patroness because of her protection during the plague. A sanctuary was built in 1490 about seven kilometres outwith the town and her image installed. Each year in March and on 8th September there is a romeria pilgrimage to the shrine with pilgrims wearing a sky blue coloured neckerchief emblazoned with the image of this particular Virgen. aormi@icloud.com

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The texts used by the Ambassadors in the Moors & Christian fiestas go back to the early 19th century. 14 comparsas or groups take part in the parades, 7 of these are Moros, some of whom march a pasodoble to music first played in 1907. One curious element of these fiestas is the interchange of the figure of la Mahoma from Biar to Villena. The reasons for this are lost in history and modern speculation is that it is possibly a form of tax from one town to another. It is certain that at one time both towns were allies in the fight against a common enemy.

For visitors Villena is an old city crowned with a stupendous Arab built castle, La Atalaya, around which the town has grown. The origins of the town date back further than that with cave remains going as far back as 50,000 years. The castle was built on the ruins of an Iberian settlement and the ancient town centre is the most important part for the sightseer with a visit to the local archaeological museum a must.

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Segorbe is an old town with a monument dedicated to bulls and horses and their riders. There is also a Bull Museum as each September the corrida of bulls is accompanied by horsemen rather than men on foot. The horse is the protagonist of these internationally recognised fiestas. This is part of the livestock fair held in Segorbe where Jamón and butidos are the gastronomical pride of the people.

Guardamar de Segura also have celebrations in the small village of El Campico near C. Quesada: these are mostly of a religious nature on the 8th September in honour of Our Lady of Fatima. However, there are verbenas, theatrical events, bicycle race, paella competition, and the traditional lemon dance «el baile del limón». It is an area surrounded by orange and lemon groves and even more new urbanization close to the La Mata parkland and lake.

El romeria has two phases; one is a group walking from Guardamar and the other another group from el Campico, both meet up and head for the auditorium in el Campo for an outdoor mass and flower offering.After a snack anyone who wants to can get a ride back to Guardamar on the small Tourist train.

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Russian Connection

Most places that honour Our Lady of Fatima do so on 13th October. There are now several thousand Russians living on the Costa Blanca and they have their own little story connected with the appearance of the Virgin at Fatima in 1917.

The Russian Orthodox now have their own church in Calas Blancas, Torrevieja.

During the 800’s two Greek monks, Cyril and Methodius, brought Christianity to Russia. The most famous icon in Russia is that of Our Lady of Kazan which came from Constantinople to the monastery at Kazan in the former Mongolian aormi@icloud.com

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Empire. By 1101 the icon was revered throughout Russia and Russian pilgrims travelled vast distances to venerate the Virgin Mary who is seen holding her infant son for all to worship. In 1209 the city of Kazan was conquered and the city and monastery destroyed, the icon lost.

375 years later on July 8th, 1579, the Virgin Mary appeared to a nine-year old girl, Matrona, who said the lady stood on a cloud and she told the child where to find the icon. The girl told adults and they dug in the rubble of the monastery where she indicated and lo and behold, there was the icon.

It was placed in a convent built for it by the Czar and was known as the Liberatrix and Protectress of Holy Mother Russia.

Peter the Great carried the icon as his banner and when he transferred the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the icon went with him. When Napoleon attacked Russia and was defeated the people put it down to the intercession of Our Lady of Kazan. During the reign of Alexander II a magnificent basilica, modeled after St. Peter’s in Rome, was constructed in Moscow in what we know today as Red Square.

When the great Revolution of 1917 came the Bolsheviks recognised the position the image held in the hearts of the people and they destroyed the basilica on 13th October, 1917. While this was happening on the same day, 13th October, 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared on a cloud similar to the Kazan icon, to children at Fatima in Portugal and told them that “Russia will spread errors and terrors worldwide. In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. Russia will be converted and a period of peace will be given the world”.

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Somehow that icon had been removed from the basilica and was later found in England and today is revered in Fatima. The Patriarch of Moscow and Russia, Aleksey II, told a delegation of Christian pilgrims on October 13th, 1992 that the Russian people were aware of the Fatima message and this had given them hope and he looked forward to the icon’s return so that the people of Russia will once again know peace.

Nothing particularly to do with Spanish fiestas, but it is interesting background to the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

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Portus Ilicitanus

As visitors from the Alicante/Elche airport drive across the Santa Pola salt flats they will see one of the old watchtowers that guard the towns of the coast. The present is a rebuilt version with rather no character when compared to the previous ruin. The salt flats continue to produce salt an there is a small alt museum nearby. There has been a human presence in this area for Millenia.

Santa Pola was known by the Iberians as Alonai, then the Romans used it as a port for the large city of Elche and called it Portus Ilicitanus, later it was el Cabo del Aljibe, Santa Paula and today Santa Pola. The Iberians actually built a small town as they were fishermen, but it was abandoned for unknown reasons after only 75 years in 430 BC. The construction of the port of Elche meant a tremendous impulse in the commerce and local economy. There are remains of a factory that produced the condiment of garum that took two months to ferment and was a delicacy in ancient Roman gastronomy.. and still is in Eastern cuisine.

From the archaeological remains found in Santa Pola we know that the Romans had many beautiful villas along the 15 kilometres of coastline, and even a salt/fish factory that produced garum, a well sought after fish paste luxury used as a condiment that was shipped back to Rome. So the port dates back to fourth century before Christ, although not actually in the present site, but it has borne witness to

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many historical events since the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus, the forced departure of the Moriscos, the visit of King Alfonsus XII and his review of the navy which attracted thousands of people from other towns and led to many men signing up in the armed forces.

The local Museo del Mar has a fine collection of artifacts from early times including a coin collection. There are mosaics on display that were found in the El Palmeral Roman villa that show some of the scenes of life in Iberian and Roman times. In fact there are six distinct areas in the museum - Prehistoric, Iberians, the Roman settlement of Portus Illicitanus, the fortification period of the coastline, the fishing industry and the salt industry.

The sea has always played an important role in the commercial life of Elche and this seaside town was the port for merchants from all over the Mediterranean. As early as the 5th century it was well known for its large fishing fleet. Salt was extracted from the nearby saltpans and it is this, along with fish, which was used in the

making of garum. So the two industries - salt and fishing went hand in hand. Today the salt company is one of the most important in Europe and the lakes are protected natural areas. aormi@icloud.com

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Travellers along the N332 can see some of the thousands of flamingos that take a rest over here, especially in June and July.

It is a bird reservation area with over 150 species and bird watchers can often be seen watching and photographing the maneuvers of swallows, seagulls and many other types of birds. In Santa Pola, in front of the town hall, there is an aquarium that shows some of the wildlife encountered in the nearby waters.

The castle in the town centre was constructed around the 15th century to protect the town’s inhabitants from pirate raids, as at that time the pirates used the presently named island of Tabarca as a base. There is a Saturday morning openair market in the town centre.

Originally the Greeks called the island “the island of Planes”.

Much later the Spanish aormi@icloud.com

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King Carlos III inhabited the island with Italians and Maltese who had been ransomed from the pirates and their presence on the island acted as a buffer against pirate raids from the Berbers.

The name of Tabarca is actually Nueva Tabarca as it was named after the Tabarca island off North Africa where the Italians had been kept as hostages. Some of these Italians found their way to settle along the coast as far as Gibraltar, and including Torrevieja. The island is still called Saints Peter and Paul” by many people after the island’s patron saints. The church is being repaired at present as it was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War 1936-39. Some of the early Italians called the Island “San Carlos” after the king who had rescued them. There are regular daily boat trips from various towns along the coastline, including Santa Pola and Torrevieja, for day visitors to Tabarca.

The Santa Pola watchtowers were constructed in 1552 as part of a coastal defense system for the whole of Spain. They are the “Torre del Tamarit” in “Las Salinas”, “Escaletes” in the mountains and “Atalayola”, the present lighthouse. Both Atalayola and Escaletes, that used to communicate with the other tower of Tamarit, whose remains can be seen in the salt lakes, and these used smoke columns and night fires to warn of the incursions of pirates. At the east end of the town there is a

16th century lighthouse the Atalayola tower that is signposted at the entrance to the town coming from Alicante. It is a dirt track and not really suitable for cars and passes through a woodland full of pines, palms, cypresses and eucalyptus trees. It was built in 1858 to guide ships, especial navy ones, into the harbour. The Tamarit tower was reconstructed in a square design with the original tower remains inside.

Santa Pola has a wonderful harbour area with fishing boats, the ferry to Tabarca and many yachts, so well worth visiting, and there are many magnificent beaches and dunes for those who like to sunbathe or swim in the azure blue waters aormi@icloud.com

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of the Mediterranean. A modern yacht club and a sheltered bay invite the visitor to practice windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, swimming or diving. Another popular activity is flying kites and there are several competitions for this. Because of the fishing industry the town’s gastronomy is based on fish, molluscs and rice. There are many restaurants that offer typically local cuisine as well as international fare.

Like other towns there are many fiestas in Santa Pola. A very old legend relates how the image of the Virgen de Loreto arrived in Santa Pola in 1643 and this is commemorated in December each year. On 28th December a man on horseback, represents the coastguard, and re-enacts the discovery of a small boat that holds a small statue of the Virgen Mary and he rides to Elche to tell the people about this miraculous event. This becomes a pilgrimage as hundreds of people turn out for the event and follow the horseman into Elche. This is actually the first event of Elche’s

aormi@icloud.com

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annual medieval mystery play festival in August dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgen held as a national holiday on 15th August.

Santa Pola celebrate 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 by September 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.

During the first w e e k o f September the Moorish army disembarks on the beach of this fishing town and conquers it: and then the Christians reconquer the town around the castle fortress that dates back to 1558. It houses the Maritime Museum and the chapel of the Virgen del Loreto. The area known as the Patio of Arms is a popular promenade area for local people and has a special historical significance for them.

Formerly there was another fortress, that of the Duke of Arcos that was demolished in 1872 but was rebuilt and is now used as a cultural centre that is sought after for wedding receptions. aormi@icloud.com

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Extravagant costumes marks the parades with colourful painted facemasks and feathers on the part of the Moors, while the Christians march in procession with their guns and cannons. This is an event when everyone can dress up and parade in the various files that have their own special name and character.

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 it can be seen right across the nearby salt flats.

Each evening there will be celebrations in the kabilas, cuartelillos and barracas that are the armies’ headquarters, set up in the streets and used as a social centre for 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 for young and old, not forgetting the nightly feasting, music and dancing. On the night of the 8th, the actual feast day, 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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Villajoyosa is chocolate and attacking Moors As the sun rises over the horizon, the boats laden with Moorish warriors creep in shore. Six o’clock in the morning and the guards on shore shout the alarm; the Moors jump overboard into the shallow water and wade forward to meet the rushing Christian defenders‌and battle of La Vila Joiosa commences before breakfast. Over four thousand citizens take sides in this extravagant celebration commemorating the eventual domination of the Christians over the Moors for the town. However, before that the Moors fight and capture the small wooden castle set up on the beach area.

This coastal town is also well known for its chocolate factories and chocolate museums. Many towns boast a Valor Chocolate cafeteria selling all sorts of goodies.

Time your visit to this nice town so that you can see the magnificent events of the Moors & Christians leaving time to visit the chocolate factory and museum.

Because of its situation between mountain and sea, the town hs a wonderful local gastronomy engulfing produce from the Mediterranean and field.

aormi@icloud.com

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Castle in Spain - Villena Dave Stewart

A much visited town is Villena which is a the fortress with a long history, a museum with the Treasure of Villena and lots of festivities throughout the year.

Villena Moors & Christians: first week of September until 9th. That may become registered as Fiestas of International Tourist Interest. As in any town in fiesta, streets will be cut and traffic diverted, which also puts a limit on parking space. The streets are garlanded with multicoloured bulbs in various shapes under which the Moors and Christians march under arches. The celebrate la Alborada and there is a great fireworks display. There are 12,000 marchers plus another 3,000 in musical bands making a tremendously long parade of 15,000 people.

aormi@icloud.com

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The annual Romeria date has been changed to the last Sunday of August so that the festeros can participate as well. Parades begin on the 4th the 5th is dedicated to the opening pregon or speeches and at 16.00 the Entrada of the Moors & Christians that starts in calle Nueva and end in 1ª Avenida de la Constitución. On the same day the side door of the Santiago Apostol church is opened at 118.00 for those who wish to visit the patron saint f the town and this is normally opened until one in the morning.

6th starts early with a Diana at 700 and at 10.00 the melodrama continues with the replaying of the Conversion of the Moor to Christianity by the children’s ambassadors. There is a 10.30 Mass for the children followed by the various children’s comparsas taking to the streets. Known as the Desfile de la Esperanza.

17.00 at the plaza de Santiago up to the castle the warriors shoot their harquebus and strut in parade. At 21.00 - The main Cabalgata takes place on he Avenida Constitución followed by the verbenas at each group’s camp or kabila.

Villlena also has a connection with the fabulous El Cid. It is part of the route known as el Camino de El Cid with guided tours on offer. http://en.caminodelcid.org

aormi@icloud.com

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On the 7th Diana once again at 7.00 and after an 11.00 Mass for the Sick the women parade with flowers in the annual flower offering to the patron saint.

The night parade is at 22.00 although during the intervening hours there are several religious acts. The evening parade each group is preceded by its own lamp followed by a midnight concert, verbenas and fireworks.

aormi@icloud.com

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8th is the celebration of the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus. With more religious celebrations and the warrior march at 12.15. 18.30 the solemn procession carrying the statute of the Virgen de las Virtude.

On the 9th in the early morning begins the farewell to the image of the Maria of the Virtudes accompanied by the firing of guns from the harquebusiers. In the evening the newly appointed ambassadors and captains for the next year’s fiestas are presented.

The groups in Villena are:Moors:Moros Viejos, Moros Nuevos, Bando Marroquí, Moros Realistas, Moros Nazaríes, Moros Berberes, Piratas, Thee Christian army is composed of Estudiantes, Marinos Corsarios, Andaluces., Labradores, Ballesteros, Almovagávares, Cristianos.

aormi@icloud.com

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San Juan in Alicante

by Dave Stewart

I have to make sure that here we are talking about the district of San Juan in Alicante and NOT the June hogueras.

Completely different fiestas.

Actually these fiestas begin on the first weekend of the month with a paella making competition in the Avenida de Alicante, and a painting competition and in honor of Santísimo Cristo de la Paz. A couple of days later the fiesta queens and their ladies receive the traditional dresses that they will wear on occasion throughout the coming year.

These weeklong fiestas of this Alicante area begin on 12th September until the following Sunday. This is a great seaside resort with the tranvia running alongside the coast. The fiestas begin with the presentation of the Queen and her entourage and a procession with them leading the huge Cabezudos and musical bands. Usually the winner of the fiesta raffle is announced over the loudspeaker system, so if you have bought a ticket then listen out for the number. In the Plaza de España children have the opportunity to play games and enjoy a children’s theatrical production. Finally later in the evening the various Peñas arrive and have their own parade.

On each night there is a varied programme that includes concerts and pensioner’s fiesta. The fiestas celebrate the Santisimo Cristo de la Paz and art midnight on the second day this image is uncovered in the church, accompanied by fireworks and aormi@icloud.com

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music until one in the morning, at least. The next day there is the usual fireworks to waken the good citizens up to the fact that they are in fiesta time, and then later there is a floral offering. Discothèques for young and old alike are open at night at 14.00 on the Friday there is a Mascleta and in the evening a Solemn Mass and procession, which is repeated the next night.

At the weekend the kids have their own costume parade, a great excuse for dressing up.

Sunday night is the climax with a great carnival style parade that ends early in the morning.

aormi@icloud.com

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Preparing for Christmas in Ibi

by Pat Hynd

Ibi is a mountain town famous for its toy making factories and everyone is busy preparing orders for toys that are sold throughout the world. It’s largely the work of women, but they also need a break and in September they throw themselves into the annual Moors and Christian parades.

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 anti-clericalism and on the second centenary of the Virgin’s 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.

aormi@icloud.com

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Today’s image of the Virgen of September 1940 after the original image of was burned in the civil war in 1936.

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, Tu a r e g s , Almoravades and the Mudejares. There is a museum dedicated to these fiestas in Ibi, already famous for its toy industry.

aormi@icloud.com

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of Spanish Cookery

by Pat Hynd

Still the season for light meals, and this month we have some recipes suitable for diabetics. Avocados are one of the most healthy fruits around and so useful in many ways, either as a shell for prawn cocktail, or spiced up t make a guacamole dip.

Avocado Salad ▪ 200g mixed leaf salads, finely chopped ▪ 2 medium avocados, in small chunks ▪ 1 medium red onion, finely chopped ▪ 4 medium tomatoes on the vine, chopped ▪ 50g fresh parsley, finely chopped ▪ 2 tsp. dried oregano ▪ 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil ▪ Salt and ground black pepper to taste Method 1 Place all the ingredients together and mix thoroughly without mashing the avocados.

2 Quite delicious and very quick!

aormi@icloud.com

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Lamb Steaks in Tomato Sauce.

Ingredients To make Lamb Steaks in a Tomato Sauce, you'll need: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

4 lamb leg steaks (or chump chops) 400g tin chopped tomatoes 1 tsp. cumin seeds 1 tsp. ground coriander 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 2 tbsp. vegetable oil Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste A sprig of fresh coriander to garnish

Method 1 In a medium size pan, heat a tablespoon of oil and cook the lamb steaks so they brown on both sides; this takes around 5 minutes.

2 Once cooked, place the lamb steaks on some kitchen roll to drain.

3 Place the other tablespoon of oil in a pan on medium heat. aormi@icloud.com

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Fry the spices for about a minute.

Add the chopped tomatoes to the pan with the spices, mix thoroughly.

Then simmer the dish on a low heat for 10 minutes.

If the mixture thickens before the lamb is cooked through, add some water.

Serve the dish with freshly chopped coriander and a side of salad.

Almond Biscotti This has a number of names, depending on which Mediterranean country you visit and some use whole hazelnuts or other nuts. But here in Spain we have plenty of (almond) nuts around. This is a double cooking style recipe as you cook the dough in two stages.

you'll need: ▪ 200g finely chopped almonds ▪ 20g crystallised sweetener ▪ 2 tbsp. butter ▪ 4 egg whites aormi@icloud.com

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2 tsp. almond extract 200g self-raising flour 2 tsp. baking powder Pinch of salt

Method 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Preheat oven to 190°c/Gas Mark 5.

Place almonds in baking tray and bake for 5 minutes until golden brown. Be careful not to burn them and set aside.

In a bowl beat the sweetener and butter with a wooden spoon until smooth.

Crack the eggs and separate them by letting the whites dribble into a bowl whilst holding the yolks in the shell halves. Lightly beat them with whisk.

Add in the egg whites and almond extract to the Triple Zero sweetener and butter, mixing well.

Then combine the flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl.

Stir the egg white/sweetener mixture and almonds into the flour mixture until it has combined well and forms a dough.

Grease two 9x5-inch loaf tins and evenly divide the dough between them.

Spread the dough evenly with wet fingers and bake for 15 minutes.

Take out from the oven and turn onto a chopping board.

Once the loaves are cool, cut each into 16, 1 inch thick slices.

Lay the slices on some greaseproof paper on a baking tray.

Bake for 5 minutes and turn over; bake for a further 5 minutes. The biscuits should become crisp and brown.

Serve warm or leave to cool. It can also dipped in melted chocolate for that extra bit of luxury.

You can store biscotti in an airtight container for up to a week.

aormi@icloud.com

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You Can Make a Difference

by Pat Hynd

Full-time volunteers can support an individual to live independently in their own home or to study at University. Volunteers can also be placed at organisations, helping them to provide an enhanced service and additional support to their beneficiaries.

Obviously none of us came to Spain to continue working for others, especially if we don't get paid for our time and skills. But we al have unique skills learned over years and is it not a good thing to be able to continue to use them for he benefit of our community.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits of volunteering are enormous to you, your family, and your community. The right match can help you to reduce stress, find friends, reach out to the community, learn new skills. Giving to others can also help protect your mental and physical health. Learn more about the many benefits of helping others and find tips on getting started.

Why volunteer?

Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer. Volunteering and helping others can help you reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help others those in need and improve your health and happiness.

Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in aormi@icloud.com

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Social Science and Medicine. Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being “very happy” rose 7% among those who volunteer monthly and 12% for people who volunteer every two to four weeks. Among weekly volunteers, 16% felt very happy—a hike in happiness comparable to having an income of $75,000–$100,000 versus $20,000, say the researchers.

You can make a difference One of the b e t t e r- k n o w n benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community.

Vo l u n t e e r i n g allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place.

Even helping out with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to the lives of p e o p l e , animals, and organizations in need. And volunteering is a two-way street: It can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

In this section we look at three different ways people in Spain volunteers and reach out to the community., involving other associations. aormi@icloud.com

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The first is the Spanish Cruz Roja or Red Cross that has developed a tremendous social programme that reaches out to the poorer citizens, the homeless, drug addicts,and includes the humanitarian aid of this century’s largest crisis - helping refugees to cope with a new lifestyle in a strange country with often stranger customs. The report shows how the Valencia Region Freemasons lodges provided two ambulances and an on the road support wagon and we're able to see the results of their fund raising when Pedro Dominguez invited them to see the fruits of their fund raising. This is one form of volunteering that is essential to all the charities to support their work daily.

The Samaritans have the reputation of dealing with suicides on the phone, but this is far from the real-day-today issues. With a drop-in centre at Punta Marina, Torrevieja, they can have a face to face chat with anyone who has difficulties.

Volunteers are selected for certain skills and go through a thorough training schedule. The idea now is to widen their scope in other parts of the Costa Blanca.

HELP VEGA BAJA is a third organization, that is basically British but in many ways supports all the local charitable associations. Their volunteers cover a wide range of skilled people, whether it be serving in a charity shop, repairing mobility equipment, answering the phone, supplying relevant information about living in Spain - including a welfare officer with a lifetime experience of dealing with

aormi@icloud.com

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everyday social issues who has links with local Spanish social workers in town halls, hospitals, clinics and residencies.

They have recently extended their phone network with a specified help lifeline to outreach to those who are isolated, or feeling lonely or just want friendly chat or needed pointing in the right direction.

Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Older adults, especially those who have retired or lost a spouse, can find new meaning and direction in their lives by helping others. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.

Senior Freemasons of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia were recently invited to the Red Cross Headquarters in Alicante to attend a presentation, both to thank them for their donation of an invaluable support vehicle and also to demonstrate what had been done with that support vehicle which had been presented to them almost three years ago. The meeting was arranged by Pedro Dominguez Crego and the Red Cross team; Pedro is responsible for alliances and European residents and also for International cooperation.

The senior Masons in attendance were RWBro Michael Shilan, the Provincial Grand aormi@icloud.com

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Master, WBro David Watts, the Provincial Grand Secretary and WBro Trevor Bagnall the Provincial Grand Charity Steward. Â The presentation came about because, over a three-year period, the Province of Valencia Freemasons held a Province wide festival to raise money for the Red Cross and eventually donated a fully fitted ambulance and two fully fitted support vehicles. One of these support vehicles was donated to the Red cross in Alicante and Pedro Dominguez and the team felt they would like to thank the Masons for their generosity in providing it and to show what had been achieved by their team since it was presented.

In the Cruz Roja headquarters in Alicante Pedro Dominguez and his team started by explaining the wide areas in which they were trying to help the less fortunate people of the Vega Baja and other areas. of which, sadly, there are many. They try to help a wide variety of people including the homeless, immigrants, those facing natural disasters such as fires, very relevant when at present there are so many of these, and virtually every other misfortune you could think of. Until this vehicle was presented most of the help offered had to be given at the headquarters. They had often wished they could afford to obtain some form of vehicle but simply did not have the money. They were extremely proud to be the chosen recipients of the support vehicle which has changed their lives, and many others, for the better. Â They have since been able to provide help to hundreds of people and are now able to travel to them to offer help. The specially fitted out vehicle is fitted with hot water tanks and showers to allow people to have a shower when needed which before the donation aormi@icloud.com

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was almost impossible. The vehicle is also able to provide a place where sometimes desperate people are able to meet and be helped. This help takes a large number of forms. It can be help with obtaining food and medical help, obtaining paperwork such as ID cards, help with personal hygiene, even such mundane things as chiropody. It allows them to be proactive rather than reactive. In some cases, it helps just to have someone to talk to and to be offered hope. In some cases, they speak to foreign consulates to help the people return to their home country.

Originally the vehicle was used in 2015 to help people in the Guardamar, Seguro and Orihuela areas. However, by 2017 this area was extended to include Rojales, Santa Pola and Fulgencia. From thirty interventions in 2015 the numbers helped by 2017 had risen to over three thousand! They are hoping to increase these numbers even more in the future.

The team are able to converse in several languages which helps many homeless people by no means all of which are Spanish. Some are very reclusive having lived on the streets, in some cases for many years, and would probably not have approached the Red Cross directly. Now however, the Red Cross are able to approach them which has enabled much more help to be given than previously.

The team now follow set but different routes every day each week so the people needing help know where to find them. When the people get to know and trust the team real help can be given. Almost all of this work, is done by volunteers and much is paid for by donations from various sources including the Freemasons. We were extremely impressed by the scope and breadth of the help offered and were extremely pleased to be invited by aormi@icloud.com

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the team to be shown just what can be done with a little help and lots of determination.

Our thanks must go to Snr Dominguez and the team for their hospitality and and also to the hundreds of Masons around the Province of Valencia who made all this possible.

If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross they would be extremely grateful and you can be assured that your money will be well spent.

If you would like more information about the work of the Freemasons, or perhaps you might have an interest in joining us, please contact me on the email address given below.

prensa@glpvalencia.com

WBro William G Turney Communications Officer,

aormi@icloud.com

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Samaritans in Spain. New satellites coming soon.

Due to ongoing demand for the service, we are currently expanding and establishing satellite groups up and down the Costas.

There has already been interest shown for new Team Bases in Quesada/Rojales and La Marina.

We are recruiting now for Listeners and fund raising roles. Full training will be provided at our Punta Prima HQ with ongoing mentoring and support being provided by frequent managerial visits. There is also a Volunteers Support Team in place.

To register your interest in becoming a volunteer with Samaritans in Spain please request an application form by emailing: spainsamsrecruits@outlook.com. aormi@icloud.com

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You Talk, We Listen.

Samaritans in Spain is an organisation operated by a group of Volunteers. We are available by telephone or email to any English speaker across the whole of Spain and the Islands, of any age, who is experiencing emotional problems of any kind. We are also able to answer emails in Spanish if required.

We intend to continue to expand and develop the service, which is based very much on the established Samaritan model, which has been in operation in the UK since 1953. We are pleased to have had the support of Samaritans UK throughout the time we have worked to establish ourselves here.

The project began in September 2005 and culminated in the launch of the Costa Blanca Samaritans service in Spain in July 2008 when we opened our first Branch in Benissa, on three nights a week. This was followed by the opening of the second branch in Villamartin in January 2009. In March 2009 we increased our opening hours to five evenings a week and this was further increased in January 2010 to seven evenings a week. In 2013, we opened our new base in Punta Marina.

Our main office, drop-in centre and Charity Shop is based in Punta Marina Commercial Centre in the Costa Blanca. We also have a small satellite team in Madrid.

Samaritans in Spain Listeners can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,

by Freephone OR email.

aormi@icloud.com

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Don’t despair if you’re feeling lonely, sometimes we all need someone to talk to.

his is the third of our three voluntary associations.

The 1st of July saw the start of a new support service offered by established local charity, HELP Vega Baja. The charity launched their new Connection Team – trained volunteers available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to listen when you need someone to talk to. The team will offer advice and guidance where needed and continue to support you if you feel this will help.

With many years’ experience in this type of role, the volunteers have been busy not only preparing rotas etc but also writing articles about some of the situations where speaking to someone can often help. This week, the focus is on LONELINESS. It is well documented that loneliness is a real problem in society and for many different reasons and certainly not only for those people living alone.

As social beings, most of us feel the need for social contact and relationships. However, loneliness is not the same as being alone. You might choose to be alone and live happily without much contact with other people. Or you may have lots of social contact or be in a relationship or part of a family and still feel lonely.

Loneliness is not feeling part of the world. You might be surrounded by lots of people but… you are still lonely. Loneliness can have a significant impact on your mental health and can contribute to mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. aormi@icloud.com

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Loneliness has many different causes and affects people differently. There are many situations in life that might make you feel isolated or lonely, for example: • losing a partner or someone close to you • going through a relationship break-up • being a single parent or a full-time carer – you may find it hard to maintain a social life • retiring and lose the social contact you had at work or moving to a new area without family, friends or community networks • are excluded from social activities – for example, because of mobility problems or a shortage of money Making contact with people you know can be a useful first step in helping you feel less alone. If you have friends or family, phoning someone, or sending a text or email, can help make you feel more grounded and remind you that there are people in your life.

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Sometimes just going outside for a walk and seeing other people in the street, perhaps saying hello to someone you know, can make you feel a little better.

For people who do not work, or live away from friends and family, it can be difficult to meet new people. This can be a concern for people who have relocated to Spain from the UK. One way is through making links with people with shared experiences, values or interests. Think about something that interests you. This could be anything from walking or watching films to taking care of animals. If you join a social group to do with something that genuinely interests you, you may find that you meet people who share your interests and get to do something you enjoy. You can find information about local groups, clubs or classes in local newspapers or online.

If you enjoy a particular sport or hobby, continue participating in it or, if you’ve stopped doing it, consider taking it up again. Instead of doing it alone, look for groups of people who are doing it together. There’s no easier way to break the ice than by participating in something you’re passionate about. Volunteering is an excellent way of meeting new people, sharing the learning and training experiences and perhaps going for a coffee or meal at the end of the day to swap stories. Say yes when your mind defaults to no. Go where the people are.

The worst thing that can happen is that you’ll never go back. The best thing that can happen is that you’ll meet new people and form a new group of friends. Taking a risk can pay off with less loneliness in your life.

The HELP Vega Baja Connections Team are experienced volunteers who have the time to listen to your worries and concerns whether it is loneliness or anything else that is troubling you – any time of the day or night on 966 723 733. They also have the resources aormi@icloud.com

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and information to guide you, including details of support groups, charities, voluntary organisations that you may find useful. The Connections Team has the knowledge you may be looking for and time to chat with you.

If you would like us to stay in touch for a while, just to chat, the Connections Team volunteers will be there for you and help you along the way. You can email us at any time at support@helpvegabaja.com for further information or call one of our volunteers if computers aren’t your strength! Call 966 723 733

Don’t be shy – getting in touch with the Connections Team is the first step…

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BEING A VOLUNTEER Michelle with Andy Ormiston of Solidarity Calendars

What does it feel like to be a volunteer? Michele Masson is President of Vega Baja Help and also another group called CARE that meets every couple of months or so.

In UK Michele had two daughters and work full time with the NHS in the South West of England.

Sixteen years ago she and her husband decided to move to Spain, in particular Torrevieja. She thinks she has everything she needs with the outdoor type of life here finding entertainment in bars and restaurants. She loves the laid-back approach to life and thinks highly of the health service here as though her work as President has contact with the Vega Baja Hospital and the Quiron Hospital.

She started volunteering in the Costa Blanca in a dog shelter (she has three dogs of her own. Then she was involved in a cancer charity but wanted to make use of her skills built up in theBritish health service. So she joined the Help Vega Baja group at San Miguel and quickly became President. The charity has been helping people for over 36 years now and is very forward thinking and she likes that.Â

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She says she is blessed with a great team around. With the support of the volunteers and people in the community, she thinks it is a fantastic feeling when at the end of the day she can go home and know that they have made a difference in someone’s life or in that of another charity that we have supported.

Officially HELP covers the Vega Baja area from La Marina to Pilar de Horadada and inland, but particularly with the new Connections Team they are happy to answer calls from further afield. They offer advice and information on all aspects of living in Spain, have Friendship Groups, a Parkinson’s Group, also a Diabetic Group, Welfare Officer, Charity Shop, Mobility Equipment hire, Hospital Visiting team and the new Connections Team. There are 1700 members, who for an annual fee of just 10 euros, receive benefits such as interpreting service, professional help when discharged from hospital and much more – details on the website www.helpvegabaja.com A new venture is The Connections Team. It is proving to be much needed and extremely popular. The first month since it was set up has surpassed all expectations. The team are trained listeners and offer a 24 hour confidential emotional support helpline on 966 723 733 – it has already grown to the point that we are arranging for a further telephone line to be installed and will announce this shortly. Sometimes just having someone to talk to about what is troubling you can make the world of difference to the way you feel.

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The team is also able to offer guidance of other support that may be available. We receive calls on issues such as bereavement, financial worries, relationship and family problems to name just a few.

Some people find it difficult to even pick up the phone so we also offer support via email and people can get in touch with t h e t e a m a t support@helpvegabaja.com We are very grateful to everyone that is helping us raise awareness about the team and of course for the wonderful work that the team is providing.

As a charity she meets regularly with, for example, the British Consulate and keep up-todate with new legislation repeating to living in Spain. A lot of advice can be found on the gov.uk website. One of the problems that came up via the CARE group is that of social isolation and loneliness. The CARE group is composed of representatives, often presidents, of a number of local charities that meet and exchange ideas and information and this has been beneficial all round with a new impetus on some fronts.

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No doubt loneliness is a very serious issue – loneliness doesn’t necessarily mean that you are alone. Many people are in relationships and can still feel lonely. It is a real problem – particularly as families and loved ones are often not close at hand. Firstly, Michelle recommends that they tell someone. Obviously there is the Connections Team, a neighbour, a friend, doctor or contact a local charity. HELP Vega Baja have lists of groups and associations that can put you in touch with other people. Get out as much as you can – not always easy, particularly if you are caring.

HELP Vega Baja have a Welfare Officer who can ensure you are receiving all the benefits that you may be entitled to. This can often make the difference between someone being able to afford some respite for a couple of hours a week or not. If you can, go for a walk, have a coffee out – the fresh air and saying hello to someone as you pass can help. Perhaps volunteer – there are so many different charities offering all sorts of different roles and usually something that will interest you. HELP Vega Baja has a Facebook page that offers a forum Through fundraising events and support in the community HELP Vega Baja were able to donate in excess of 35,000 euros last year to good causes and are on track to exceed this in 2018. Our next step is an information leaflet for use in case of an accident or emergency.

Find out more about the good work of HELP Vega Baja by visiting their website www.helpvegabaja.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Help-Vegabaja-124711764267465/ Help to donate: https://www.facebook.com/ helpvegabaja/

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Salud! Your Health

Our Cooking article is about diabetics so here s a thought about insulin. There is talk about British MPs storing food before the Brexit takes place, deal or no deal.

But another issue has arisen that politicians have to ensure that there are adequate insulin supplies as Britain does not make insulin but imports it.

Health boss Sir Michael Rawlins said officials must ensure the availability of insulin remains intact if the government fails to secure a Brexit deal with the European Union.

"Here's just one example why: we make no insulin in the UK. We import every drop of it.

You can't transport insulin around ordinarily because it must be temperature-controlled.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who has type 1 diabetes, has said British citizens should "take reassurance and comfort" from the government's plans to stockpile medication and food.

Sir Michael made the comments prior to new health secretary Matt Hancock announcing plans were in place to stockpile medications in case no trade agreement is agreed when the UK leaves the European Union on 29 March, 2019.

Sir Michael added: "A responsible government prepares for a range of outcomes, and the Department of Health and Social Care is working to make sure the health sector and industry are prepared and that people's health will be safeguarded."

Around 70 'technical notices' were due to be published by the government this summer in a bid to support businesses and people get ready for the prospect of a no-deal Brexit.

This should not affect anyone living in Spain if thy are registered on the padrรณn and health service.

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Once again, for the 14th year, a solidarity calendar will be on sale in October to raise funds for over 30 associations.

This year the theme is Costa Blanca with over 30 photos and lots of information about the Costa Blanca, what to do and local fiestas.

The calendar costs are paid for by sponsors and advertising and given out freely to associations who are enabled to sell them for their own resources.

The calendar is a good showpiece of the area with some stunning photos donated by local photographers. Here you will find out about holidays in Spain, UK and Ireland, with space to write your own notes. Moon and astronomy themes are included with reminders to change your clock. Special days such as Christmas, Ramadan or Chinese new year are also indicated.

So look out of this exceptional calendar, buy it and help a local charity.

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Cascamorras Black Hordes

by Pat Hynd

I doubt if any other country apart from Spain would dream of having people colored in black..then multicolors.

The fiesta of the Cascamorras is celebrated in September, in the small towns of Baja and Guadix, in Granada Province, an event declared of International Tourist Interest in 2013. It has become an important tourist attraction, celebrated every year on September 6th, being the beginning of the Fair and Holidays in honor to the Virgin of the Piety, who is celebrated from September 6 to September 15 of every year.

For some time the "Cascamorras" has become a cultural recovery, that year after year gains more interest as it is spread in different ways throughout the whole year, especially in August with the culmination on 6th September.

Its origins goes back until middle of the 15th century, when a worker of Guadix, demolishing a wall in ruins of a former Mozarabic mosque of Advantage, discovered an image of the Virgin, hidden from the 12th century to avoid its desecration at the hand of he invading Almohades . The worker thought that the image should belong to Guadix's city, as he had come from there, but the people of Baja claimed it as their own own. After disputes and lawsuits between both towns, there was a tacit agreement. This allowed the pseudo religious fiesta of the two groups battling it out with the image being in Guadix on 6th and the people of Baja fighting for its return on the 7th but turns to Guadix on 9th September to the church of San Miguel.

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In many ways its a bit like a black version of La Tomatina when tomatoes are thrown at each other. Here people are covered in a black oil. L "cascamorras" has aspect of a buffoon, a harlequin. His suit is made in two pieces, chaquetilla and trousers, in a felt fabric of three principal colors: red, yellow and green. The cascamorras is presented every year in the middle of August in the theater.

At the midnight from September 5 to September 6th the cascamorras is dismissed from Guadix with the mission to get hold of the Virgin of the Piety in Baja. He is accompanied by the standard-bearer, the drummer and some members of the brotherhood. Already on the 6th, with the shot of the third rocket at six o'clock exactly in the evening the cascamorras goes out from the place of the

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Arrodeas. It is composed of thousands of bastetanos painted black stain it to prevent him to taking the virgin with him.

The last part, with fading energies, he says goodbye with a dance of the flag before entering the temple. The following day he will take charge of crossing the streets of Baja, to ask for a donation. On the 8th in the morning the mass is celebrated in honor to Ntra.

Virgen of the Piety presided by the bishop of the Diocese of Guadix-Baja. On the 9th he statue returns to Guadix.

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A mission is undertaken and battle commences as a black horde races from Guadix to Baja.

Led by the buffoon who wields a ball and chain the multi colored fight begins. But the buffoon becomes champion as the hordes are washed down.

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Oktoberfest 2018 Calpe Beer Festival, from the 24.Octubre - 04th November The " Beer Festival " in Calpe ( Oktoberfest Calpe ) is one of the

most popular festivals in the Costa Blanca and the most famous Oktoberfest in Spain, held since 1987. This is held in a huge 15,000 square metre marquee with live music every night. Typical Bavarian food, such as pork knuckles. sausages, radishes accompanies traditional German beers.

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Torrevieja also has Beer festivals. Local Rios family butchers hold one at their premises in the Poligno Industrial estate, This business has been going since 1990 and brought beef to Torrevieja that had been hung for some time so t was good quality. Prior to that most butchers had fresh meat that was tough. They were quick to realize the German market and started the beer festival encouraged by councillor Pedro Valero who was a beer collector with a large variety of beers from around the world. This festival lasts several days and also has live music.

Last year there was one held in the Habaneras shopping centre which was very successful so look out for that in September.

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From September 13 to December 16, 2018, from Tuesday until Sunday.

Van Gogh Vivo /Alive - the Experience transports the visitors to another time and to another place, immersing them in the world of the artist. The adults and the children will forget what’s known up to the moment and will find new meanings across the galleries, exploring recondite corners, seeing works of art from new angles and discovering the only perspectives.

Beyond the time and of the space you will accompany Vincent Van Gogh across a trip towards Arles, Saint RĂŠmy and Auvers-sur-Oise, where it created the majority of his eternal masterpieces. He contemplates these works full of delicate details paying particular attention to the key elements; permit time to study the color and the technology.

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Synchronized with pieces of classical music, more than 3,000 images of large-scale Gogh works becomes an authentic festival composed by enormous screens, walls, columns, ceilings and even the soil, submerging squarely in alive and vibrant colors and details that give form to the one and only style of Van Gogh.

Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch PostImpressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.

In just over a decade he created about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of them in the last two years of his life. They include landscapes, still lifes, portraits and self-portraits, and are characterised by bold colours and dramatic, impulsive and expressive

The exhibition is on at the Lonja del Pescado Av. del Almte. Julio Guillén Tato, s/n.

96 59 22 018 in Alicante city from 13 September to 16 December

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la Vuelta 2019 in Torrevieja

One of the biggest pieces of news this past month is that the famous around Spain cycle race will begin in Torrevieja Salinas in August 2019.

In 2017 Chris Froome crossed the line safely in Madrid to secure his first Vuelta a Espana victory and claim a historic Tour-Vuelta double. Froome won the race by an eventual margin of two minutes and 15 seconds and became the first rider since Bernard Hinault in 1978 to do the Tour de France and Vuelta double. The difference is that Froome is the first man to win both races in a single season in the modern era since the Vuelta

moved to its current August start.

In 2019 this amazing cycle race will start in the Salinas of Torrevieja in what has been described as shooting off an aircraft carrier. Much is being made of the colors of white salt, rose colored lake and blue skies. If this plan comes off then it will mean a tremendous influx of vivisectors from around the world, huge press corps for television stations from every continent, and there fore lots of free publicity for Torrevieja. If you want to know more about the Salinas you can take a ride on the small train that takes you out to the salt works with a running commentary and a knowledgeable young lady.

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As September comes to a close we have preparations for a number of events related to the patronal fiestas from late November into December. A good run up to Christmas.

Talking of which these two different night runs are coming up for those who are fit enough.

All good fun. Then a day of football arranged by the RealMadrid Club in Torrevieja.

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Pink Ladies & Panthers

Over 400,000€ raised to date in only 8 years A wonderful achievement by thee Pink Ladies and Panthers who organize so many events to raise funds for the Contra Cancer Association. The annual Walk For Life event raised a magnificent 9.643,36€!!!!!!! This is fantastic, every cent will go to the Cancer Research!

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Calendar Girls is a 2003 British comedy film directed by Nigel Cole about a group of ladies from a local village Women's’ Institute trying to put together a “girlie” calendar of themselves. The idea is that members of the Knapely branch of the Women's Institute discreetly posing nude while engaged in traditional WI activities, such as baking and knitting, in order to raise funds.

Now it is coming to you with all its humour and controversy and a bit of nudity perhaps..

Colin Bird says that Tricia Stewart, one of the original Calendar Girls, a played by Helen Mirren, will be a guest speaker at PORTOBELLO KITCHEN, VILLAMARTIN ON SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2.00PM. TICKETS €20 TO INCLUDE A FABULOUS THREE COURSE LUNCH. COME ALONG AND HEAR THE 'REAL' CALENDAR GIRL STORY FROM THE LADY WHO STARTED THE WHOLE THING OFF. * Please note there are only 46 places for this event. If you would like to attend please email Alison Clough at alisonc2345@gmail.com to book your place. Ticket only event and payment and menu choices are required beforehand.

Tricia will be here for a few days to help promote the play at Cardinal Beluga Theatre in San Fulgencio, so look out for her appearances at Villlamartin, La Zenia and Quesada, The dates for the Costa Blanca show are as advertised except that we now will open on Thursday the 18th October, but with a provision for a matinee performance in addition to the evening one on Saturday the 20th. Four performances in all in other words. Tickets from their Facebook page or from the members of ACTs.

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New Season New Clubhouse C/Caballero de Rodas, n°56 bajo, 03181 Torrevieja (Alicante)

Monday from 17:00 to 20:00

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00 a 13:30 y 17:00 a 20:00

Friday 10:00 to 13:30

☎ | Tel: 965 719 699

The CD Torrevieja Football Club now has a social centre in the center of town. This is a meeting place for all those who love their local team and support them.

This season there are several new players and management to strengthen the team and take them on and up. aormi@icloud.com

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