As mentioned in an earlier article, I LOVE MALAGA, so was it anything of a surprise for me to be there again on the morning of Sunday 6^th of April? Not really!

This time I was visiting the Feria de los Pueblos being held in The Trade Fair and Congress Center – yes, that’s the strange building made of glass and steel you pass on route to the Airport from the east (that’s right – the one your visitors ask you ‘Whatever is that?’)

This very modern building was designed by the Spanish architect Angel Asenjo.  It took four years to build and is the largest Trade and Congress Center in Southern Spain.  It has been described as looking like a fish in the waves of an ocean and it covers an area of 60,000square meters (the NEC in Birmingham covers an area of 200.000 square meters), offering a wide range of possibilities for commercial activities.  Its structure makes it suitable for all purposes; it is modern, functional and is an ideal location for many events.  It consists of a 7,400 square meters semi-opened designed patio area, which takes you through to two exhibition pavilions covering 17,000 and 6,000 square meters respectively, which can be used either individually or jointly.  There are also two auditoriums with a joint capacity of 1500 people, offering very advanced technology such as broad band Internet connections, a simultaneous translations system and video conference facilities.  Two conference rooms complete the building with a capacity for seating 450 people each.  The most eye-catching feature of the Trade Center is the vast canopy on one of the exterior walls.  With a length of 130 meters and a width of 20 meters it provides effective sun protection.  The grounds outside the Center are quite spacious with lots of seating where you could enjoy a packed lunch in the fresh air.

It is rapidly becoming a huge success as an International Congress Center attracting a variety of events: Andalucian Trade Shows; Technology Forums; International Congress of Golf and the Environment (which discusses the sustainability of Golf in the Mediterranean) Spanish Moroccan Trade Fairs, Jardinova 2008; The Homes and Gardens Show and an Annual Christmas Fair.  In June of this year, 100,000 people are expected at the 1st completely Inter-Active Leisure Industry Trade Show.  Over the past few years, we have visited a couple of these exhibitions namely The Spanish Moroccan Trade Fair (which is usually combined with the Annual Christmas Fair) and the Homes and Gardens Show (this usually has guest demonstrators from the UK showing off their cooking and gardening skills)

 This year was the 12^th time the Feria de los Pueblos has been held and over the weekend an estimated 250,000 visitors were expected, with buses usually laid on from towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants.  The Feria is basically a Trade Fair showcasing a variety of products from the Axarqueria area, plus restaurants and businesses. There were bands, jugglers, clowns, singers, dancers, play areas for the children, a planetarium, and an exhibition of how things work plus a very funny trio of dancing recycling bins.

We didn’t need lunch when we returned home – tastings of olive oils, cheeses, honey, cakes, sausages, pork joints and Malaga wines meant we were well fed until supper time! And, following a lengthy and quite in-depth tasting of the oils on offer from a very wide production area, we reached the conclusion that the oil from our own village came out the best.  Torrox oil has a lovely flavour which, and this is only my opinion, puts me in mind of grapefruit.  Chunks of rustic bread dipped in Torrox oil – lovely!  There was also a very unusual thick, dark honey made, believe it or not, from avocados.  And talking of avocados, did you know that there is a range of beauty products made from them?  I have tried the moisture cream and there is also a good lip balm.  These can be bought from the Torrox Olive Co-operative (at the same time you purchase your liters of their olive oil!). I particularly enjoyed sampling the various cheeses (but I am a cheese lover in any case).  There were some spectacular ones on offer and it was hard to decide between some of the softer ones and the very strong tasting goats cheeses.  In the end, it was the goats cheese that won and we came away with a couple of beautiful examples of the same cheese, one more mature than the other.

The arena had been separated into three walk through sections, so next to all the delicious foods on offer there were many exhibiters of local crafts – stained glass, leather work, wood and tiles, jewellry and candle work.

The tourism of the area was certainly not neglected with large stands representing many of the local villages and towns. Local radio and television people with microphones and cameras were all over the place, but taking center ‘floor’ was a huge Google Earth representation of the whole of Spain – here people were crawling around on hands and knees discovering, identifying and even photographing where they came from! The ‘give aways’ ranged from extremely good publicity material through to linen shopping bags.

Coffee and additional refreshments could be found in the permanent restaurant areas and, for this type of event, the price of a good cup of coffee was a mere 1.20 euros. In the past we have a good meal here which was also reasonably priced and there is always fresh fruit and drinks on offer.  Parking is very plentiful and could be either paid or free (if you use the casita area which is very close by).

And what was the price of this very enjoyable morning? NOTHING – the event was FREE.

Tomatoes………Garlic…….Parsley….tiny red pepper.

Chop and blend all together, then turn into a pretty bowl, crusty bread for dipping and enjoy.

Use as many or as much of the following as you wish according to taste…..

Aubergines….Garlic…Tahini…Salt…Lemon juice

Roast Aubergines and scrape out flesh. Add everything else and mash.

That’s it and it is lovely!

A very different (and most enjoyable) kind of retreat!

Scrapbooking Retreats are a wonderful way to recharge your ‘worn out’ batteries, make new friends and boost your creativity. AND to do all this in “the best climate in Europe”, amidst the beautiful scenery of Andalucia, just 3K from the beach…….well, what more could you wish for?

The week(s) can be as easy or as difficult as you want. We will ensure you take breaks; we will take walks around the village, into the countryside and along the beach – so bring your camera! OR for the very keen, we could do nothing but Scrapbooking.

The Scrapbooking Retreat is offered on a self-catering basis, with accommodation to be chosen from a selection of village houses (www.Spanish-hols.com).  Torrox Pueblo is a traditional Spanish white village offering the perfect setting for likeminded people to pursue their hobby of Scrapbooking.  Even a novice ‘Scrapper’ will find an atmosphere of total serenity to discover the intriguing new way of collating memories and displaying them in beautiful albums and/or self-made books.  Here you will discover friendly people, a welcoming atmosphere, peace and quiet, warm evenings, good food and long cool drinks!

The activity can be as organized or as simple as you wish – this is something we can discuss.

Included in the price is reasonable access to a collection of materials OR you could bring your own (or just bring memories plus your chosen album – but why load up your luggage?) OR maybe an on-going project which you just can’t somehow manage to finish? I will be on hand to offer help and guidance – in fact I will be Scrapbooking alongside you.  There will be ample time if needed to explore the local area and lunch will be included plus tea, coffee and a range of soft drinks will be on hand.

You are welcome to come on your own (no single supplement), with a crafting partner or in a group.

PRICE:

One week of Scrapbooking plus lunch and refreshments ₤150 per person

Self catering accommodation from £150 per week per house

Airport Transfers (if needed) 50 euros per trip

FLIGHTS NOT INCLUDED and Malaga is the closest Airport.

CONTACT abizzyb@hotmail.com for more information and/or booking

Malaga is a bustling city.  Have you visited the main indoor market? Hustle and bustle, masses of colour, polished fruit piled high, fresh veg, fish and meat. Loud and glorious!

But if you want a quiet time then on the outskirts of the City of Malaga,  just past The Alcazaba, there is a lovely little place to visit and think. The English Cemetery. In this bustling City, close by the Bullring, you will find this little piece of tranquillity. It’s not posh, it’s not tidy planted and neat. It’s just quiet.

Until the foundation of this cemetery in 1831 the death of a Protestant in Spain presented a gruesome problem because such an event was not provided for. In Malaga, bodies of non-Roman Catholics were not permitted to be interred by day, but had to be taken down to the seashore at night by torchlight and buried in an upright position in the sand and then left to the mercy of the waves and the dogs.

W hen William Mark (1772-1849 and buried here) who had witnessed these scenes, was made British Consul in 1824, he set about the task of obtaining a piece of land to serve as an English Cemetery.  Finally, in 1829, he was granted a plot of waste land by the Malaga authorities, a grant further strengthened by a Royal Order and the English Cemetery became a reality with the original walled cemetery being built in 1831. 

The first person to be buried here was one Robert Boyd, executed in Malaga for his part in an abortive uprising in December 1831.

Since then a series of British Consuls in Malaga have administered the English Cemetery, though without financial support from any government agency. Burials are no longer permitted here and now the cemetery relies entirely on private donations for its preservation.

There are over 1000 interesting graves and tombstones for you to discover of people from different nations who have found their final resting places there, plus within the oldest part are many graves, some of children, covered with cockle shells. There is also a monument and grave of 62 officers and men of the Imperial German Navy who perished in the wreck of the training ship ‘Nisan’ when she sank outside Malaga harbour on 16th December 1900. The authors Gerald Brenan (1894-1987) and his wife Gamel Woolsey (1899-1968) are also to be found here. Buried alongside each other you can also find the graves of four World War 2 Allied servicemen whose bodies were recovered from the sea near Marbella and re-interred in this cemetery on 2 April 1946.  One of the last people to be buried here is Marjorie Grice-Hutchinson (1909 - 2003) an economist and writer, who was for many years a great supporter of the English Cemetery. It is from her little book about the Cemetery that I have gleaned a lot of my information.

The romantic melancholy of the Cemetery has found its way into the literature of many lands. For example, Hans Christian Anderson visited Malaga in 1862 and described the Cemetery as ‘a little paradise’. Only last year, MalagaTown Hall erected a small statue of a sitting Hans Christian Anderson on the walkway by Calle Larios.

The cemetery grounds have also been home to St.George’s Anglican Church since 1891, this was originally built as an ornamental ‘lodge temple’ in 1839.

 You enter the Cemetery through the main gates and it is here that the Gate House has been turned into a small shop, selling notelets and prints of the Cemetery, books of the area, local pottery and a few plants.

I can honestly say that this small English Cemetery is well worth a visit.

During the 9th and 11th centuries. Lucena was recognised as a City of Jews, and was known to the Hebrews as ‘Eliossana’.  It was reputed to have a large population at that time as was quoted ‘to be without any heathens’!! In correspondence at that time between the city and the spiritual directors of Jewish Academies in (what is now known as the Middle East), intellectual prestige was granted, resulting in an authority covering questions of moral, theological and human relationships.

In the year 912 Abd al-Rahman  ascended to the throne and Hasdai ibs Shaprat took over religious jurisdiction, between them exercising the Caliph’s power on all the Jewish communities of Al-Andalus, increasing the importance and influence of Jewish Lucena.

This state of contentment for the Jewish community lasted until 1013 when a pogrom was unleashed on the inhabitants of Cordoba and many of that city’s intellectuals left and took up residence in Lucena.  Around this time there seemed to exist a state of confusion, the Caliphate disappeared and Al-Andalus began to slowly disintegrate, with Lucena falling into the orbit of the Kingdom of Granada.

Twenty years later, in 1033, the last spiritual director of the Sudra Academy in Cordoba, Rabbi Hair, died and most of the remaining Codobian Jews abandoned the city and again headed for Lucena.  Eventually the Caliphate totally crumbled amid fights for political power.

The end of the 11th Century (i.e. 1099ish) saw the beginning of a rebellion within the Lucena Jewish community against huge increases in taxes, imposed on their successful trading practices which had made them second in the fundamental pillars of the Lucena economy and, by fighting their own corner,  having strong trading links with other large Spanish cities and developing ties with the Middle Eastern countries (in particular Egypt), the next two centuries could be considered as the Centuries of Gold for Spanish Judaism. during which time Lucena bloomed as a centre for Hebrew intellectuals. Many poets and teachers were born in the town, amongst them being Ishaq ibn Gayyat (the first of many Sefardic Teachers who conserved the Hebrew intellectual tradition), Ishaq ibn Levi Sea Saul (poet) and Ishaq ibn Chicatella (philoligist).

In the second half of the 11th Century, Granada began to exert pressure on Lucena and it was due to the influence of these Jewish intellectuals that Lucena was able to hold on to self-government.  However, this led to the imposition by rules and regulations being imposed by the Jews over the Muslims, who were forced to live outside the City walls and the maintenance of a Jewish military force.  By these means, Lucenca  theoretically became a Republic.

The 12th Century saw the beginnings of the forced conversion of non-Muslims e.g. you converted or were put to death. This terror covered the whole of the AL-Andulus region and concerned all the non-Muslims, including the Jews, who had inhabited the land for centuries.  In 1148 the Academy of Lucena closed forever and the Jewish inhabitants of Lucena sought asylum in the rest of the world. This was a terrible time for Judaism in Spain and the Sefardic Jews (as the Hebrew of Spain became known) settled and flourished in Eastern Europe until pogroms began again and the Holocaust of the 20th Century took its horrendous toll on these people.

……………………………………………………..

Lucena…..as we know it today ……..is quite a thriving area.  It can be reached by car within a couple of hours from Torrox Pueblo.  We know it as a centre for furniture making and lighting shops.  On the main approach road to the town you pass numerous trading outlets, all stacked full of whatever type of sofa, table, chair or cupboard you could ever want (but where it is made? This is question we always ask ourselves because we have never seen any evidence of trees!) and the lighting shops look like Blackpool illuminations if you pass at night.

The town itself hasn’t retained any of it’s Jewish heritage, which is a shame, but it has a good Tourist Office situated in the Castle of the Moral, where there is an Archaeological and Ethnological Museum.  However, as you can image, there are many Catholic sites of importance, with the main one being San Mateo’s Parish, situated very close to the Museum.  This is considered nowadays as The Cathedral of sub-Andalucia and it’s altarpiece and the Sacrarium stand out as importance.

Lucena is also renowned for its production of oil and wine, being part of the official Route of Oil and Wine.

Since writing the above, I have discovered that only twenty years ago, Lucena was also famous for its hand-made pottery. However, within the past decade almost all of the businesses have disappeared in the face of massive commecial competition. It is all the more remarkable that one of the oldest of these concerns still survives and thrives in the heart of Lucena.

This is the the Alfareria Sarten, founded in 1727, and still in the hands of the same family.  Today, Paco Sarten continues the tradition inherited from his father, Pascual.  Everything is made by hand, thrown directly on the wheel and then embellished with spouts and handles.  Some of the more utilitarian shapes are left biscuit-fired i.e. ewers, vases and massive flower pots.  The majority of the pieces  however are glazed and painted in pale yellow, soft shades of olive green, amber and a rich dark green.

The traditional decoration is a single spray of olive leaves within circles, loops and other simple geometric motifs. The forms themselves, such as the trefoil spouted jugs, are timeless and are constructed in exactly the same way as they were for thousand of years all over the Mediterranean and the Near East.  Although many of the popular items are made in quantity, it is difficult to find a single piece which is an exact duplicate of its neighbour.

You enter through a gate onto a small, but very adequate patio which could well house a nice bistro table and chairs.  Through the front door you find yourself in the hall cum dining cum sitting room with the old fashioned Spanish inset shelves on one side. The really fully fitted kitchen with extractor fan and boiler is up a couple of stairs just to the side of the hall. In here you find beams and lovely wooden kitchen units. The shower-room is off the kitchen with its fully tiled walls, toilet, washbasin and shower unit.

Upstairs there are two bedrooms (walk through one to get to the other), both large enough to take double beds and both have ‘integrated’ wall space for wardrobes (these can look really good with curtain closures). One of the bedrooms has a small (Juliet) balcony. 

Stairs again take you up to the roof terrace (these stairs are not the widest I have seen and in one part you need to go sideways), but the terrace is a nice size plus it has storage facilities for the washer etc…..but I think it would benefit hugely from the type of pergola I have on Casa Sandra…with plants growing on it this would give a lovely sense of privacy.

For the price, this is a very nice house. I do have photos, so please just contact me.

I am Rob Townsend, one half of R&R Builders who built Sandra’s rather lovely pergola. I am married to Tracy and have two teenage children.

Having had to leave school at the age of 15, because of the early death of my Dad, which made me the main bread winner in the family as I had younger brothers and sisters, I began work in the building trade, where I served my time. My ‘dream’ at the age of 15 was to become a Blacksmith, but this had to go by the board as I needed to bring the money in. So, basically, since that time I have been a provider!!…….and to be quite honest, the training I received in those early days has stood me in good stead because now I can build anything from the garden shed to a villa with swimming pool.

What decided you to become an emigrant?

Basically I was fed up with the UK.

And why this particular area?

The wife has family out here.

NOW FOR THE FUN PART!!!!!!!Tell me your favourite piece(s) of music

All types through the oldies/Reggie/R & B/……with my particular favourites being ‘Against All Odds’ by Phil Collins, anything by UB40 and Curt Steiger and ‘Good Year for the Roses’ by Elvis Costello.

What food do you like?

Roast dinner is the favourite, plus Spaghetti, Curry and Chinese. One thing I don’t like is Blue Cheese……………after a mate of mine when I was young made me a sandwich made of the stuff!

Any favourite places?

Greece and Turkey

Hugs or kisses?

Hugs.

Who would you invite to dinner?

Jennifer Lopez and/or Shakira! Plus any of the old time gangsters.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Lifeguard by James Patterson.

Likes and dislikes?

Can’t stand 2 faced people and liars I prefer people to be up front

What would you wish for (bearing in mind it could come true!)?

Health and happiness……and maybe winning the Euromillions!

Favourite word?

Claro……….clear (in English)

So, does the sun always shine for you?

No, it never has done……….I am a pessimist!

Are you like me in a morning? I HATE those people who bound out of bed, full of the joys of spring, ‘Morning, morning’ they shout, expecting everyone to be like them!!!! Not me, I’m afraid. I am a night person, so mornings have to be taken rather slow and quietly. At least for the first half hour, the first cup of coffee and a gradual coming to. Then we can say ‘Let the day begin" or as Shirley Bassey says ‘Get the Party started’

So, imagine this. Feet out of bed, stagger to the bathroom, stagger on  into the kitchen, kettle on, oranges being juiced, walk into the sitting room, TV on, look up and WOW, look at this view……

bet this will wake you up!

This is the view from the sitting/dining room of a very nice apartment I have for long term rent in Caleta de Velez, on the road into Torre del Mar. It is a 2 bedroom apartment on the top floor of a 3 storied block which faces Caleta Marina and harbour. 

It is an extremely well appointed apartment  containing 2 good sized bedrooms, a large and fully fitted shower room (with sink and washbasin), a kitchen ‘to die for’, containing EVERYTHING one would ever need, including a ’state of the art’ cooker which virtually thinks for itself, beautiful worktops and a dining/breakfast area.  The sitting/dining room is HUGE and contains the view as you see above. There are cream leather settees, satellite TV with plasma screen, complete sound system and so much space you could hold that party.

The monthly rent reflects what you are getting. It is 900 euros per month plus services like electric and water etc.

The only drawback is that there are two flights of stairs to reach the flat as these blocks do not have a lift, plus there is a communal roof terrace.

I have further photos plus full details. Bankers references would be required.