Nice to be back here again. We have been enjoying a month of temperatures above 30 degrees, which is quite enjoyable when you’re on the beach, but uncomfortable for gardening or playing golf. But after a sweaty round at Los Moriscos you can at least blame the heat for finishing 10 up. When writing this, the heaven opened up, and the rain is pouring down. Good for the garden!
The new bit of motorway to the Taramay roundabout has been tested. Not that it shortens the way from Málaga to us up here in Citalsol, but it feels grand to drive on this fine example of Spanish road construction. Another good thing with the motorway is that we got rid of most of the life-threatening lorry drivers doing 100 km/h through the Taramay tunnel.
A stroll through the town shows many signs of the present crisis; a lot of shops have shut down, houses that were for sale three years ago still linger on the market, construction works have stopped and workshops have reduced their staff to a minimum. Expensive restaurants have given way to more economic ‘Menu del Dia’ bars, where people can eat a good meal for seven euros. Bars were you get generous helpings of tapas, like sardines and papas a lo pobre with a glass of beer or wine are crowded at midday. If I had to choose where I would prefer to be jobless, I definitely would pick this corner of the world!
Meeting our Scandinavian friends at Asociación Hispano-Nórdica after several months up North was a lively and joyful affair. On October 7th, we met and mingled in the club at Edificio Mariote. The bar was absolutely crowded with people, exchanging experiences and commenting on the latest ‘talk of the town.’
Many opinions were heard on the latest gossip about fines being given several times for the same offence against the decree regarding garbage handling. Most people agreed that the only way to keep our town tidy is to punish people who do not comply with the rules. As it is now, you see bottles, cardboard, batteries and whatever put in the bin for general household waste. And plastic bags containing all and sundry just put on the ground near the bins. Too lazy to get out of the car and put the rubbish in its rightful place?
The same attitude probably exists among the trades people, so a fine is OK, but only once for the same offence. Let’s do what we can to keep our town neat and tidy. Doing it right is gratis.
This year La Fiesta de Europa was held on October 17th. The usual venue, Parque Majuelo, being under repair, the event took place in a marquee at the Plaza Kuwait. All the foreign associations of Almuñécar gathered together, offering specialities from their home countries.
The Nordic associations, Asociación Hispano-Nórdica (AHN) and Club Nórdico had a joint stand, where meatballs and wafers with cloudberry jam and whipped cream were served to the public.
The event was successful and well organized in spite of the somewhat temporary arrangement. The Mayor, Juan Carlos Benavides, visited all the stands, accompanied by Eva Gaítan, Councillor for Institutional Relations, who has done a great job organizing the event. This year the ‘European of the Year’ award on behalf of the Nordic associations was given to Lola and Björn Rajalin, a Finnish couple from la Herradura, as a recognition for their valuable work for AHN as board members during many years, outstanding organizers of events and trips and for their loyalty, good humour and helpfulness.
