Diary of a Nobody

Yesterday was March 17th. Dia de San Patricio. St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. It was also the second leg of the Round of 16 in the Champions League for eight teams (the remaining eight play tonight, including Liverpool FC, Newcastle  United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC).

[Relevar Home Care]    

Bodega San Francisco was where I chose to watch the Manchester City vs Real Madrid match, having previously watched the conclusion of the early kick-off between Sporting Lisbon and FK Bodoe/Glimt, the surprise team from Norway, at Bar Alegria.

    [ORONDANATURA]

But the best sports bar in Ronda was too crowded for my taste, so I decamped to Bodega SF.

Champions League and Bodega San Francisco

While Chelsea were losing heavily to Paris St Germain (France) and Arsenal were confirming their superiority over Bayer Leverkusen (Germany), Manchester City were making hard work of overhauling the 3-0 lead of the 15 times champions from the first leg.

Having Bernardo Silva sent off in the 20th minute for a very questionable handball on the goalline did not help their cause.

In the end the match went to extra time after which Lisbon emerged as 5-0 winners, 5-3 on aggregate.

I decided to eat while I was watching the football.

I chose four tapas spaced over an hour and a half and drank two cervezas sin alcohol tostada.

Each tapa was excellent: un serranito; un pincho de gambas con beicon; un filete con mojo picon; and un rollito de salmon.

And the bill came to just over 11 euros!

    [Paul Whitelock]

I've been a fan of Bodega San Francisco since the year 2000 when my first wife Jeryl and I fetched up there after a bike ride in the valley below Ronda.

That was when the bodega was in Barrio San Francisco. I remained a regular patron after we bought two properties in the barrio in 2001 and 2003, the latter from Paco, the proprietor of the bar.

Bodega San Francisco in the barrio [Help Me Ronda]    

St Patrick's Day

Back to St Patrick's Day I didn't spot an Irish person all night, and I know a good few round here.

Perhaps I should have gone to the Irish Pub in Ronda, but they wouldn't have been showing the football and I'm not sure about the quality and affordability of their tapas.

    Irish Pub, Ronda [Facebook]

Links

HELP ME RONDA

Meet Secret Serranía blogger Paul Whitelock - Secret Serrania de Ronda

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

Facebook, ORONDANATURA, Paul Whitelock, Relevar Home Care, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com

Tags:

Arsenal, Bar Alegria, Barrio San Francisco, Bayer Leverkusen, Bernardo Silva, Bodega San Francisco, cerveza sin alcohol tostada, Champions League, Chelsea, Dia de San Patricio, Facebook, filete con mojo picon, FK Bodoe/Glimt, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester City vs Real Madrid, March 17th, Newcastle  United, ORONDANATURA, Paris St Germain, patron saint of Ireland, Paul Whitelock, pincho de gambas con beicon, Relevar Home Care, rollito de salmon, Round of 16, St Patrick, St Patrick's Day, serranito, Sporting Lisbon, tapa, Tottenham Hotspur, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com

As George Bernard Shaw pointedly observed: "America and England are two countries divided by a common language".

    [courtesy of the Sheffield Star]

Apart from the use of different words entirely - eg boot vs trunk (car); bonnet vs hood (also car, or should that be automobile?); garden vs yard; motorway vs freeway; pavement vs sidewalk; alright vs OK; autumn vs fall - many spellings are different between the two countries.

[Collins Dictionary Language Blog]    

Prime amongst these are words ending in "- our" in English and "- or" in American English (colour vs color); and "- ise" and "- ize" (realise vs realize).

Other examples include: tyre vs tire; kerb vs curb; and ass vs arse.

    tyre vs tire [mycar]

When it comes to proverbs and sayings, it's a minefield. Do Americans understand the following expressions?

• "as queer as a nine-bob note";
• "after all these years he suddenly turned up like a bad like a bad penny";
• "as rough as a badger's arse";
• "put the cart before the horse";

    [Geoff Merrit]                                                               [Reddit]

Returning to the title of this article, the question of how to spell waggon/wagon came up in relation to an article about giving up the booze, ie "being on the waggon/wagon".

Waggon is the original English spelling; wagon is the American English version.

In the early days of America's existence as a country, the covered wagon was a normal means of transport before the automobile was invented.

After that we got the station wagon, equivalent to an estate car in England.

An old station wagon [Univision]    

Nowadays, English has tended to adopt the American spelling. Only "dinosaurs" like me insist on the double "gg"!

Links of interest

20 Countries Divided by the Same Language

A country divided

A country divided by its accents

"On the Waggon"

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

Collins Dictionary Language Blog, Geoff Merrit, mycar, Reddit, Sheffield Star, Univision

Thanks:

Language Matters, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia

Tags:

"after all these years he suddenly turned up like a bad penny", alright vs OK, American English, "as queer as a nine-bob note", "as rough as a badger's ass", ass vs arse, autumn vs fall, bonnet vs hood, boot vs trunk, Collins Dictionary Language Blog, colour vs color, covered wagon, Diary of a Nobody, English, estate car, garden vs yard, Geoff Merrit, George Bernard Shaw, kerb vs curb, Language Matters, motorway vs freeway, mycar, on the wagon, Paul Whitelock, pavement vs sidewalk, "put the cart before the horse", realise vs realize, Reddit, Sheffield Star, station wagon, tyre vs tire, Univision, waggon, wagon, Wikipedia

Thursday, March 12, 2026 @ 8:20 AM
 

"If you switched from French or German to Italian, Russian or Spanish, we could make you a lower offer." So started my "Spanish" journey aged 17 and which has still not come to an end 58 years later.

[Wikipedia]    

I was at interview for a place at university to study languages when Professor Juan Sager made me this offer.

I chose Spanish and in that moment my journey commenced.

To read the full article, please click here

I've not touched alcohol for una quincena (15 days, as the Spanish call a fortnight). Blimey! What's up? you might be thinking. Well, I've got some health issues and my psychiatrist has convinced me that I should give up, since alcohol renders medication ineffective. And I currently take 10 tablets a day!

[iStock]    

Well, in those 15 days I've been sleeping better, I am calmer in the face of challenges, I'm in a perpetual good mood, I can drive my car with a clear conscience and a clear bloodstream AND I've lost 10 kilos in weight.

The latter is important as I've acquired an impressive "curva de felicidad" over the years. Sounds better than a "beer belly", doesn't it? But, who am I kidding?

[Shutterstock]    

The other day I came across an old photo of me on holiday in Greece frolicking naked on a beach.

I was around 28 and had a genuine "six-pack". 

I'll never achieve one of those again, but I can work towards it.

So, I shall stick to cerveza sin (0,0%), preferably tostada, with an occasional tonica cero and tap water.

Cheers!

[Jeryl Whitelock]    

Footnote:

In Spain non-alcoholic drink products almost always cost more than the alcoholic equivalent.

Yet, according to the SKY News Money Blog, alcohol-free versions are cheaper in the UK.

Why is that?

[x.com]    

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

iStock, Jeryl Whitelock, Shutterstock, x.com

Thanks:

Jeryl Whitelock, Paul Whitelock, SKY News Money Blog, Wikipedia

Tags:

0,0%, 15 days, alcohol, alcoholic,"beer belly", cerveza sin, "curva de felicidad", fortnight, iStock, Jeryl Whitelock, non-alcoholic, "on the waggon", Paul Whitelock, quincena, Shutterstock, six-pack, SKY News Money Blog, tap water,  tonica cero, tostada, Wikipedia, x.com

I've moved around a lot in my life. Half a dozen times before I went to university. And whilst there I lived in a Hall of Residence, digs and a flat. On my year abroad I lived in digs and a flat in San Sebastian (Spain) and in a Daimler-Benz workers´ hostel in Stuttgart (Germany).

ePenny Logistics    

When I was a postgraduate I lived in a huge room in a big house in Sheffield (England).

As a grown-up I lived at number 216 in a block of flats in Salford (England), before we bought our first house, number 74, a semi-detached in Walkden.

Then, in 1980, we moved to the house which is number 1 in my list (Note: if I wrote about every home I've ever lived in, this would be a very long article.)

Number 1

1 Parry Drive, Thelwall, Warrington, Cheshire

Probably my number one house. It was certainly the longest I lived in one place - 25 years (1980 - 2005). While we were there we expanded the house from a 3-bed detached with a garage, 1 bathroom, WC, lounge/diner, kitchen and coal store, ending up with 4 bedrooms, two full bathrooms and two extra rooms - a study and a music room. We also expanded "out the back" giving us a boiler room, WC, laundry room and a pantry-cum-wine cellar. The "piece de resistance" was a large balcony overlooking the park, next door.

    [Paul Whitelock]

I travelled for work to Newton-le-Willows, St Helens and later Sefton (all Merseyside). My wife Jeryl to Bolton, N. Wales, Huddersfield, Salford and Bradford as her career moved from international exporting into academic life.

Our two kids, Amy and Tom, attended the local Thelwall Infant and Junior schools and then the High School in Lymm, the next village.

I moved out of 1 Parry Drive in 2005, when our marriage broke up.

Number 4

Conejeras 4, Montejaque, Malaga, Spain

Coinciding with our marriage collapsing I took early retirement in 2005, and emigrated to Andalucia, Spain, in 2008 to be with my new girlfriend, later wife, Rita. 

Using some of my savings, in 2019 I bought Conejeras 4 as a "reforma", a house renovation, to give me a "project".

The workshop at the back became the third bedroom and the unused room in the main house became a  2nd bathroom.

I expanded the roof terrace to 3 times its previous size and "Casa Real", as I called the house, became a rental property.

[AirBnb]    

Well-located in this small mountain village, just one minute on foot from the village square, it has fabulous views all round from the roof terrace.

Casa Real is now up for sale. I have other plans for which I need the money from the sale of the house.

Number 5

Villa  Indiana, Ptda. Rural Fuente de La Higuera 5, Ronda, Malaga, Spain

This detached villa bungalow with lots of land in the campo just outside Ronda, is the only other contender for the best house I have lived in (see above).

Rita and I moved here in early 2011 so we have now clocked up over 15 years.

With a large, open-plan lounge, dining room and kitchen, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a study, we haven't felt the need to expand the house. Instead I have created several "outdoor rooms".

    [A1 Inmobiliaria]

Yes, I have used my energy, coupled with my desire to be active and outside, soaking up the Vitamin D from the sun (300+ days a year!) to improve the large rear terrace and to create several patios and sitting areas (my "outdoor rooms"). I've also worked hard on the garden and pool area.

My current project has involved the creation of a "man-cave" at the back of the garden, to complement the "boules piste" and the children's playground, which were previous projects.

I've also been renovating garden furniture.

    Outside coffee tables cannibalised from old wooden sunbeds [PW]

Number 6

Casa Blanca, Lucero 6, Ronda

I bought this unoccupied and somewhat down-on-its-luck end terrace house around the corner from Piso Blanco, an apartment Jeryl and I owned in Barrio San Francisco, Ronda, as a project. I was on "gardening leave" from work and was soon to be early-retired, so I had the time.

With occasional help from retired friend Alan from St Helens, family (Jeryl, Amy and Tom) and Tom's friend Johnny, we made a "silk purse out of a sow's ear". I re-wired the entire house, we knocked through the kitchen into a store room and replaced a collapsed floor. We upgraded the bathroom and mended the leaky roof. But, best of all we reconstituted the large rear terrace, although I hired a bricklayer to build the surrounding walls needed on two sides.

    The family pose outside Casa Blanca [Johnny White]

We used Casa Blanca as a rental house for a while, but I eventually sold it for a good profit to enable me to buy the house in Latchford, referred to above (q.v.)

    The terrace at Casa Blanca before and after [Paul Whitelock]

Number 7

7 Prestbury Drive, Thelwall, Warrington

Not long after she was widowed, my mum, Vera, announced she was coming up to live near us, so that "I can enjoy my grandchildren [our children Amy and Tom], before it's too late."

She bought a small semi-detached bungalow with gardens front and rear, just right for her, a keen gardener.

We lived nearby at 1 Parry Drive (q.v.), so we saw a lot of each other. She used to babysit for us and I'd go around and do the heavier garden work at her place.

[Rightmove]    

***

I've included 7 Prestbury Drive in my list, because many years later, following my divorce from Jeryl, early retirement and a troubled relationship with a lady near Llandudno, North Wales, I found myself homeless and mum took me in.

I lived there from 2006 to 2008. I took over running the household (food shopping, cooking and washing-up) and working on the vegetable garden and I also did some DIY.

I spent the summer of 2008 in Luxembourg with Jac, an old friend from my student days.

On my return I bought a house of my own in nearby Latchford, a suburb of Warrington, but that's another story for another day .....

    Tunstall Villa, Wash Lane, Latchford [Rightmove]

Number 8

Casa Rita, Tavizna 8, Montejaque, Malaga

This was Rita's house when we met. When I emigrated at the end of 2008, I lived there for more than two years (2008 - 2011) before we moved to Villa Indiana in February 2011.

Rita, from Germany, still has the house. We sometimes stay at Casa Rita if we have cause to be in Montejaque, or just fancy a change from rural life.

    [Karl Smallman]

Casa Rita has also been a profitable rental house for a decade, although Rita has stepped back from renting, as we are now well into our 70s.

One of the finest houses in Montejaque, Casa Rita has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge, dining room, kitchen, patio, breakfast terrace and large "azotea" (roof terrace).

Number 9

9 Cyprus Terrace, Barnstaple, Devon, England

This was the third house I lived in as a boy. Mum and Dad had enough savings to get a mortgage on this mid-terrace, so we could move out of our council house on the other side of town.

I guess I lived there from around 1958 until 1961 when my parents sold it at a large profit and bought the house where my gran lived, 54 Broadfield Road. We moved in with her until a family crisis prompted a transfer to Exeter, 50 miles to the south in East Devon.

Back to 9 Cyprus Terrace. Dad worked hard at evenings and on weekends to improve the house, chiefly by knocking through from the kitchen into the outside WC and coal bunker to create an indoor bathroom. Dad modernised the kitchen, installing a fridge and washing machine. Mum took on the wallpapering and painting of the rest of the house.

So they really added value, something they continued to do for the rest of their days.

    [Rightmove]

Number 9 (again)

El Rincón, Durazno 9, Ronda

El Rincón is also a terraced house, but Andalusian-style. This was a spur of the moment purchase by my then girlfriend Maude in September 2005 during a weekend visit to the "City of Dreams". Located in the Las Peñas district, it was small and in urgent need of an upgrade, but it was very quaint, had a big garden and it was "dirt cheap".

    Aerial photo showing location of El Rincón [PW]

We called it El Rincón because it was sort of tucked away in a corner. The Spanish word means "internal corner" or "nook" and the name seemed appropriate.

The house and garden needed a lot of work, which I happily took on. Maude was still working full time in the UK, but I was retired, so I was able to spend months in Ronda re-wiring, building a new bathroom, tiling floors and creating a rather splendid terraced garden with shady pérgola at the rear of the house. We invested in lots of plants and acquired a large quantity of ornamental stones and pebbles. A good lick of paint and after many months El Rincón was finished.

Maude’s youngest daughter, Welsh-born Becky, and her fiancé, Scotsman Graham, were frequent visitors and they helped a lot with the building work and gardening.

They loved Ronda so much that they got married in the town. You can read what happened in A Celtic Wedding in Ronda.

A couple more years went by and Maude and I broke up, although we remained good friends and kept in touch. After a while Maude put “Rinc” on the market, but it was post-2008 and the worldwide economic crash, so the housing market was dead.

However, in Spring 2010 I sold it for Maude to an English shopkeeper friend, “Soapy” Sara (she sold handmaid soaps from a shop on Calle Sevilla, Ronda).

After the notary to seal the deal and to complete the purchase, Maude, Rita, and I enjoyed a delicious meal together in one of our favourite restaurants, Restaurante El Almocábar in the Barrio San Francisco. 

El Rincón symbolised the end of an era. With El Rincón sold, Maude’s relationship with Ronda was over, and my time living in "Rinc" was up.

Number 10

10 Ide Lane, Alphington, Exeter, Devon, England

This semi-detached house was the last place I lived with my parents (1965 - 1968) before I left home for university. This was the best house my parents had, as a result of judicious selling and buying, improving each property as they went along. Dad had a huge garden, mum had a sun lounge, we all had separate bedrooms and there was a downstairs loo, in addition to the upstairs bathroom. There was also an integral garage and a drive.

    [Rightmove]

Links

A Celtic wedding in Ronda - Secret Serrania de Ronda

The Building History of a 72-year-old DIY Fan - EOS

The Houses That Jack Built - update - EOS

The story of El Rincón in Ronda - the “City of Dreams” - Secret Serrania

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

A1 Inmobiliaria, AirBnb, ePenny Logistics, Johnny White, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Rightmove

Thanks:

Alan, Amy, Jeryl, Johnny, Paul Whitelock, Tom, 

Tags:

1 Parry Drive, 10 Ide Lane, 54 Broadfield Road, 7 Prestbury Drive, 9 Cyprus Terrace, Alan, Alphington, Amy, Barnstaple, Barrio San Francisco, Bolton, Bradford, Casa Blanca, Casa Rita, Conejeras 4, Daimler-Benz, Devon, Durazno 9, England, Exeter, EOS, Germany, Huddersfield, Jac, Jeryl, Johnny White, Karl Smallman, Latchford, Llandudno, Luxembourg, Lymm, man-cave, Montejaque, Merseyside, N. Wales, Newton-le-Willows, North Wales, Paul Whitelock, Piso Blanco, Rightmove, Ronda, St Helens, Salford, San Sebastian, Secret Serrania, Sefton, Sheffield, Spain, Stuttgart, Tavizna 8, Thelwall, Tom, Villa Indiana, Warrington, 

There's a newish trend at large in Spain. Manufacturers of clothing which has become out-of-date, off-season or is of "seconds" quality, fill a container, which is then sold off for a knockdown price.

[Portable Space]    

These containers are typically snapped up by second-hand clothes shops and market traders, who sell the merchandise cheap, while still making a profit.

Tell us more .....

A Hungarian friend of mine who lives near us in Ronda is a bit of a shrewd shopper who regularly unearths bargains for herself, including Gerry Weber sports apparel and Fruit of the Loom Polo and T-shirts.

   Gerry Weber jacket [Vestiaire Collective]         Fruit of the Loom polo shirt [Teefactory]

Another friend, German, lives near Hamburg but has a holiday house in Montejaque, near Ronda.

When Iris is "in town" she loves to rummage through these bargain stalls, especially at the Thursday market in San Pedro de Alcantara.

She is mainly looking for glitzy garments costing one or two euros which she can adapt as dance costumes (amongst other things, Iris is a dance teacher). 

    [iCLOTHING]

And me .....?

I've dabbled at this for a while but I rarely buy anything. However, last weekend I really "went to town" at Ronda's Sunday morning "zoco".

First I snapped up a hooded top from CRIVIT (LIDL) for a mere two euros.

A second stall nearby had a special offer: "1x2; 3x5".

Three garments for five euros? Well, it didn't take me too long to find three items I liked and which fitted me:

• a bright orange cardigan from SPRINGFIELD;
• a yellow cardigan by MISSON made in Bangladesh;
• a navy blue thick winter woollen jacket by JEAN PASCALE with the label cut out.

All three cost me five euros!

   All mannekins dressed and photographed by Paul Whitelock

Anything else .....?

At a third stall they had a bargain box. Everything priced at one euro! I found a knitted hat and a scarf from SFERA. Both are featured in the fourth photo above.

In all I spent the princely sum of nine euros, and got three cardies, a hoodie, a woolly hat and a scarf.

Who's the expert now?

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

iCLOTHING, Paul Whitelock, Portable Space, Teefactory, Vestiaire Collective 

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

bargain box, bright orange cardigan, CRIVIT, Diary of a Nobody, iCLOTHING, JEAN PASCALE, knitted hat, LIDL, MISSON, navy blue thick winter woollen jacket, Paul Whitelock, Portable Space, scarf, SFERA, SPRINGFIELD, Teefactory, Vestiaire Collective, yellow hooded top, cardigan, "zoco"

This blog is my diary. It's where I write my innermost thoughts. I hope this is the right place for the announcement I am about to make .....

Semi-retirement

I've had enough. I'm sick of the online abuse, trolling and downright rudeness of those who can't accept the truth about the world, life and politics!

So, like my online colleague and friend, Lenox Napier, who posted a message yesterday that he is going to stop writing about controversial topics, I am moved to do the same.

Lenox Napier [La Voz de Almeria]    

Lenox and I have never met, by the way, yet we could have been cut from the same cloth, even been born as twins from the same fertilised egg! We seem to agree about almost everything.

So, what's the deal?

I shall no longer write on controversial topics, so no more about Trump (USA); Putin (Russia); Kim Jong Un (N.Korea); Xi Jinping (China); Farage (Reform, UK); and BoJo The Clown (on the dole), nor any emerging "bad guys" like Orban (Hungary); Milei (Argentina); Abascal (VOX, Spain); Weidel / Chrupalla (AfD, Germany).

    Trump [amazones]         Putin [unattributed]                                              Milei [EL PAIS]

    Xi Ping [EL PAIS]          Alice Weidel [El Confidencial]                                Kim Jong Un []      

Instead I shall focus on good news stories.

Eye on Trump

I stopped posting to this EOS thread some time ago, because it was dominating my life. Now I've discontinued it completely. I shall leave it there only for its archive value.

Rogues' Gallery

This is my "Name and Shame" blog. I have decided to discontinue this too.

I've already had threats on my person from one disgruntled "bad guy", and guardia civil trafico rang me twice to warn me, effectively, that Spain is not a democracy and freedom of speech is not applicable to the police and paramilitaries.

Well, I never!

    [GCT]

Best to be careful, so I'm shutting the thread down.

NOTE: The Liverpudlian wide boy who owes me in excess of 6,000 euros and the Leeds arsonist who owes me a replacement VW Transporter van, will be hearing soon from my lawyers.

The other b*****ds who owe me money will have got away with it. All British, Irish and one German, by the way. NOT A SINGLE SPANIARD.

The Curmudgeon

This is the thread where I like to have a moan. After all, at 75 years of age, I'm a bona fide "grumpy old man".

I'm going to keep this one going for the time being and keep it under review.

If I feel it's attracting too much hostile comment I shall discontinue it too.

A Curmudgeon [The Muppets]    

My Covid-19 Diary 

I discontinued this thread some time ago, as the Covid-19 threat seemed to have dissipated once the widespread programme of injections was brought into play.

However, we get complacent at our peril.

[EL PAIS]    

Final thoughts

Well, Lenox, we've done it now. Let's hope we find other things to write about, or, we shall write less, giving us more time for travel.

I'm on my way to Mojacar ...... which bar?

Mine's a "tubo de cerveza" …..!

    [Almeria is Different]

Links

© Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

Almeria is Different, Amazones, El Confidencial, EL PAIS, La Voz de Almeria, The Muppets, 

Thanks:

Brainwash Reigns, Lenox Napier, Paul Whitelock, Trolls worldwide, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com

Tags:

Abascal, Almeria is Different, Amazones, BoJo The Clown, Brainwash Reigns, Chrupalla, El Confidencial, EL PAIS, Farage, Kim Jong Un, La Voz de Almeria, Lenox Napier, Milei, Mojacar, Orban, Paul Whitelock, Putin, The Muppets, Trolls worldwide, Trump, Weidel, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com, Xi Jinping, 

The name of this early comedy by William Shakespeare, written in the mid-1590s, makes a great title for this article by Paul Whitelock.

It tells of a personal epiphany for him around the time of the Epiphany or Dia de Reyes, yesterday 6th January, 2026.

Original poster [Wikipedia]    

NOTE: THIS POST HAS BEEN MOVED TO A MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION.

PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Miguel de Cervantes, the author of "Don Quijote", is Spain's greatest writer. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, they died on the same day, 23 April 1616, according  to some  historians. Nevertheless, that is the official date of their deaths.

Miguel de Cervantes [Image courtesy of Zenda]    

This date has since been adopted as International Book Day (Día Internacional del Libro), in homage to the literature of all eras and all genres, as well as writers who have left their legacy via their writing.

    [Image courtesy of FANFAN]

On this special day, it's impossible to ignore two names who have left their indelible footprints on the history of literature, namely William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes. 

Cervantes is so celebrated that cultural and literary organisations bear his name. Also theatres, cinemas, art galleries, a university, a musical and a film, even hotels, bars and restaurants.

[Image courtesy of ProfeDeELE.es]    

What follows is a list of a dozen "things" or places named after him, most of them in and around the area where I live in Malaga province in Andalucia. Somewhat odd that this is the case, given that the writer was from La Mancha in Castilla-La Mancha (formerly Castilla La Nueva), yet it is testament to his stature nationally and internationally.

[Editorial ExLibric]    

***

"Don Quixote de La Mancha"

First and foremost, the character and hero of the first ever "picaresque novel", considered a founding work of Western literature and the first modern novel. 

It has been labelled by many well-known authors as the "best novel of all time", and the "best and most central work in world literature". Don Quixote is also one of the most-translated books in the world and one of the best-selling novels of all time.

The plot revolves around the adventures of a member of the lowest nobility, un hidalgo from La Mancha, who reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his mind and decides to become a knight-errant (caballero andante) to revive chivalry and serve his nation, under the name Don Quixote de la Mancha. 

He recruits as his squire a simple farm labourer, Sancho Panza, who brings an earthy wit to Don Quixote's lofty rhetoric.

[Elejandria]    

The book had a major influence on the literary community, as evidenced by direct references in Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers (1844), and Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), as well as giving us the adjective quixotic. 

    [Covers courtesy of Amazon]

Mark Twain referred to the book as having "swept the world's admiration for the mediaeval chivalry-silliness out of existence". 

It has been described as the greatest work ever written.

"Man of La Mancha"

The musical, and later film, based on Cervantes' novel. There have been umpteen stage productions and several films. One of the most celebrated films dates from 1972, which starred Peter O'Toole as Don Quijote and Sophia Loren as Dulcinea.

    [Play poster courtesy of St Jude's Players]        [Film cover by Amazon]

Instituto  Cervantes

El Instituto Cervantes (the Cervantes Institute) is a worldwide non-profit organisation created by the Spanish government in 1991. Named after Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), the author of Don Quixote and perhaps the most important figure in the history of Spanish literature, The Cervantes Institute is the largest organisation in the world responsible for promoting the study and the teaching of Spanish language and culture. 

This organisation has branched out to 52 countries with 103 centres devoted to promoting the Spanish and Hispanic-American culture and Spanish language. 

    [Wikipedia]

The Instituto Cervantes is a government agency, the ultimate goals of which are to promote the education, the study and the use of Spanish universally as a second language; to support the methods and activities that would help the process of Spanish language education, and to contribute to the advancement of the Spanish and Hispanic American cultures throughout non-Spanish-speaking countries.

When I was working in the UK as a Spanish teacher and later as a schools adviser, I used the branch in Manchester (England) extensively, attending their monthly events and using grants from the Institute for projects in my local education authority (at first St Helens, then Sefton, both Merseyside).

Cervantes Institute, Manchester [Facebook]    

Cervantes Theatre, London

The Cervantes Theatre was London’s first venue dedicated to showcasing Spanish and Latin American plays, performed both in Spanish and in English. It opened its doors in 2016 and it was the proud creation of the Spanish Theatre Company (STC), a charity which aims to bring the best Spanish and Latin American culture to London and to British audiences.

    [Photo: ABC]

The Cervantes Theatre presented a wide variety of plays including new writing, contemporary masterpieces and Spanish Golden Age classics and it also had a strong educational programme. Through its bilingual programming, it encouraged Spanish/Latin American/British cultural exchange and it was a reference point in London for Spanish-speaking culture and heritage.

Both my ex-wife, Jeryl Burgess, and my son, Tom Whitelock, both professional actors have performed there. Jeryl most famously as Amelia in the World Premiere of Guillem Clua's "La Golondrina" and Tom as Juan in Lorca's "Yerma".

   Jeryl as Amelia in "La Golondrina"                         Tom with Leila Damilola in "Yerma" [Photos: Cervantes Theatre] 

Whilst researching this piece I was devastated to learn that The Cervantes Theatre closed its doors permanently in 2023 (my acting relatives didn't bother to tell me!) as a result of funding cuts post-Brexit.

Well done, Bojo! (Bojo the Clown, aka then prime minister Boris Johnson).

[YouTube]    

Death Notice

The Cervantes Theatre opened in 2016 and during its 7 years of existence programmed 106 plays, concerts and events, and produced 15 playsbpromoting the work of 42 playwrights from Spain, Colombia, México, Uruguay, Argentina, Brasil, Venezuela, Perú, Chile and Cuba.

Teatro Cervantes, Malaga

In 1984, Malaga City Council acquired the dilapidated Teatro Cervantes and financed the work to reconstruct the building, receiving grants from the Ministry of Public Works and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Culture and the regional Andalusian government’s Department of Public Works and Transport.

The new theatre, with a capacity of 1,171 seats divided up into stalls, boxes and seats in the galleries, was equipped with all the material, fixtures and equipment required by current legislation for a public theatre.

Her Majesty Queen Sofía attended the opening ceremony on 6th April 1987, at which a concert was performed by the 'Orquesta Sinfonica Ciudad de Malaga'.

That same year, Teatro Cervantes won the Europa Nostra Award (UNESCO) for its thorough restoration work, and was considered the Best Andalusian Restoration in 1987.

In 2005 Teatro Cervantes was registered in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage (Catálogo General del Patrimonio Histórico Andaluz) as a BIC (Property of Cultural Interest).

I've never attended an event there, but it is a good meeting point.

I see from  their  current programme that they will be performing my favourite Spanish play of all time, "La Casa de Bernarda Alba" by Federico Garcia Lorca in 2026.

Put us down for tickets!

"La Casa de Bernarda Alba", 14th Jan [Youtube]

El Tapeo  de Cervantes, Malaga

"It was in this small restaurant that our Málaga adventure began, back in 2008. Since then, we’ve been delighting our loyal guests and friends with surprising dishes and warm service. Our commitment is to keep doing so for many years to come".

Romina and Gabriel, Owners

    [Wikipedia]

El Meson de Cervantes, Malaga

"At El Mesón de Cervantes, we would like to get to know you. Whether you want to make a reservation, find out about our menú, or for anything else, we are here to help you. Don't be shy about getting in touch with us!"

Email: info@elmesondecervantes.com

Tel: (+34) 952216274

Address: Calle Álamos 11, Distrito Centro, 29012 Málaga

    [Trip Advisor]

Hotel BLUESEA Gran Cervantes, Torremolinos, Malaga

"En el Bluesea Gran Cervantes la ubicación lo es todo. A solo 5 minutos a pie de la playa y en pleno centro de Torremolinos, este hotel de 4 estrellas te ofrece la combinación perfecta de descanso, gastronomía y ocio.

Con habitaciones amplias, piscinas interior y exterior, animación y servicio todo incluido, es ideal tanto para escapadas en pareja como para viajes en familia".

    [Trip Advisor]

"At the buffet restaurant of Bluesea Gran Cervantes, every meal is a chance to enjoy the best of local and international cuisine, without any fuss. Enjoy varied breakfasts, balanced lunches and dinners with options for everyone, always paired with panoramic sea views".

BLUESEA Gran Cervantes

C/ Las Mercedes, s/n 29620 Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain

Tel: +34 952 384 033 

Email: cervantesres@blueseahotels.es

UEMC, Valladolid

ACERCA DE LA UEMC

"La Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes es una universidad privada, joven y dinámica que desarrolla una enseñanza de calidad orientada al estudiante y sustentada en la atención personalizada, los grupos reducidos y las prácticas en empresas. Igualmente, la labor investigadora centra sus esfuerzos en materializar los avances científicos, socioeconómicos y medioambientales de nuestro entorno.

    [Trip Advisor]

"Fundada en el año 2002 (BOCyL 24/06/02 y BOE 05/07/02), la UEMC cuenta actualmente en su campus de Valladolid con más de 4.500 Estudiantes, 400 Profesores e Investigadores y Personal de Administración y Servicios y cuenta con una oferta formativa de 15 Grados Oficiales, 5 Dobles Grados, 5 Grados Internacionales y 12 Másteres Oficiales y numerosos estudios de Posgrado. Igualmente, pone en marcha diversas actividades de Extensión Universitaria (Congresos, Jornadas, etc.), Formación Complementaria y Cursos de Español para Extranjeros".

Links: 

Man of La Mancha (1972) - The Impossible Dream Scene (6/9) | Movieclips

©  Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

ABC, Amazon, Editorial ExLibric, Elejandria, Facebook, FANFAN, Postcard, ProfeDeELE.es, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia, YouTube, Zenda

Tags:

23 April 1616, ABC, Amazon, Andalucia, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla La Nueva, Día Internacional del Libro, "Don Quijote", Editorial ExLibric, Elejandria, Facebook, FANFAN, International Book Day, La Mancha, literature, Malaga province, Miguel de Cervantes, Postcard, ProfeDeELE.es, Spain's greatest writer, William Shakespeare, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia, YouTube, Zenda,

This post is not about the song made famous by Topol from the musical "Fiddler on the Roof".

Nor is it about the fabulous sunrises and sunsets we get down here in Andalucia either.

These celestial delights are just the starting point for an article about the continuing popularity of the area among northern Europeans.

[allmusicals.com]    

"Sunrise, sunset!"

Look at these skies! All taken from in front of my west-facing house.                              

   Sunset in November 2025                  Sunrise in December 2025                Sunset in December 2025   

Such heavenly sensations are not the reason I emigrated to Spain, but weather phenomena are part of the reason I continue to live here .....

Why people come to Spain to live?

Let's be brutally honest here, most of the half a million "guiris" who live along the Mediterraneaan litoral came here for the weather, 300 days of sun per year. A valid reason for sure.

The majority were retired and realised their pensions would stretch a lot further in Spain, even on the more-expensive-than-inland coast.

Property was more affordable than at home and the cost of living was lower.

A stereotypical "guiri" [Computer Hoy]    

Booze was  cheaper and the food was good and more nourishing than in their countries of origin.

They didn't need to learn the language because the Spanish on the coasts spoke adequate English to deal with most situations, whether a simple bar or restaurant transaction or a more complex meeting at the bank, the notary, the gestor or the lawyer. For other bureaucratic matters the immigrants could hire an interpreter.

"Life's a beach!" as the saying went.

Why I came to Spain to live?

I think my reasons are not typical for northern European immigrants. They were just different from those listed above. I don't think they were better reasons, it's just the way the situation was.

I was studyinng for a degree in Spanish and the university sent me and my "classmates" to San Sebastian (Gipuzkoa) for our "year abroad".

That was in 1970. I was 20 and Franco was still in charge.

[Spain.info]    

I've written about this at length elsewhere, but, in summary, I was smitten by the slightly backward, old-fashioned and less sophisticated Spain of that period.

General Franco died in November 1975 - we just celebrated the 50th anniversary of his death last month - and the country changed almost overnight, yet I still loved being here.

Over the next three decades I travelled the length and breadth of this land on holiday or on business, trying to work out a way to come here to live permanently.

Then several circumstances - redundancy, divorce, early retirement and meeting a new lady - gave me the chance to emigrate. That was in 2008. And I've been here ever since!

So, to sum up my reasons for moving to Spain, they were ..... LOVE!

Love of the country; love of the people; love of the language; love of the food; love of the culture, history and geography; and the love for a fine woman, the "Lovely Rita".

Our wedding [HMR]    

I am not saying that these are better reasons than the motives of the "guiris" on the coast, but they are MY reasons.

I shall remain in Spain until I die, hopefully many years from now.

My body will be cremated and the urn containing my ashes will be concreted into a nicho (niche) in the cemetery "wall".

    [La Vanguardia]

When I die

My two kids, Amy and Tom, will inherit my property in Spain, currently two houses wholly owned by me.

If I pre-decease Rita, my wife, she will get "usufruct", my car and the contents of my bank accounts, two in Spain and one in the UK. She will be well provided for.

[By the way, If she dies before me, I get her car and the contents of her bank account in Spain. Everything else, her house and the contents of her German bank account, will be shared equally between her three children.]

   [eficacia juridica]

My kids will get my two properties to share between them, notwithstanding the "usufruct", ie Rita's right to continue living in the marital home until she decides to move out or dies.

Back to the idea that prompted this article

Those dramatic skies ..... just like Spain, the country ..... dramatic!

The bullfight, flamenco, coasts and mountains, politics, and lately danas, drought, floods, ice and snow, tsunamis, and wildfires.

[Photo courtesy of CNN]    

Interesting links

How to ..... ?

Sunrise, Sunset

Where there’s a WILL … the process in Spain - Secret Serrania de Ronda

©  Diary of a Nobody

Pictures:

allmusicals.com, CNN, Computer Hoy, eficacia juridica, HMR, La Vanguardia, Paul Whitelock, Spain.info, 

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, www.help-me-ronda,com

Tags:

300 days of sun per year, allmusicals.com, bar or restaurant transaction, booze, bullfight, bureaucratic matters, CNN, cemetery "wall",  coasts and mountains, Computer Hoy, cost of living, danas, degree in Spanish, Diary of a Nobody, divorce, drought, early retirement, "Fiddler on the Roof", flamenco, floods, General Franco, gestor, Gipuzkoa, guiri, half a million "guiris", ice and snow, interpreter,  lawyer, learn the language, "Life's a beach!", meeting at the bank, Mediterraneaan, nicho, notary, pensions, politics, property was cheaper, redundancy, retired, San Sebastian, Topol, tsunamis, wildfires, "year abroad",