A quick bit of history, back in the 70’s when fishing was still a strong part of the local economy, many fishermen used to sleep under their boats on the beach during the day, having been out all night. It was a very poor community and man lacked housing, so the Town Hall built housing for them on a hillside near Chinasol.

Had they known back then that such a piece of real estate would become so valuable, they would have built the houses elsewhere so with a bit of cosmic justice, Almuñécar’s poor got a prime spot overlooking the sea.

Anyway… The Town Council approved unanimously, including the Godless far left, to awarding a medal to this particular Virgen, who is the patron saint of fishermen. The motion was put forward by the conservative Councillor for Culture and Fiestas, Alberto García Gilabert.

Councillor García Gilabert reasoned that given the strong link between the town, especially Barrio Los Marinos – and the image of which is still kept in many households — the Town Council should take advantage of the fact that 2024 is the 80th anniversary of the founding of the local Easter Brotherhood in her honour and award this civic medal.

The said brotherhood, La Hermandad de La Virgen de Carmen de Almuñécar decided to take the Virgen out for an extra spin on the 25th of last month, from her usual parking spot in the main church to the chapel within the said barrio.

Editorial comment: it’s only a matter of time before the Sugar Tooth Fairy gets a medal, leaving many thinking, wouldn’t it be a better idea to give a real person this civic medal for his or her civic works? One of the cancer associations, for example?

(News/Noticias: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)