The Culture Vulture

Musica en vivo

2026-08-09T11:33:25

The fifth session of live music at the Hotel Don Benito near Ronda, since it re-opened as the Hotel Don Manuel, was a great success.

The music was sublime, the mood vibrant and there was food for those who wanted a moonlit dinner in the warm open air.

[© Central de Reservas]

Boleros Duros

The duo, Boleros Duros, presented its version of bolero, the flamenco genre, using acoustic guitar, cajon and harmonic voices.

They were a perfect accompaniment to dinner and general chit-chat amongst the 60-odd people present.

A mixture of vecinos (locals) and foreigners (residents and tourists) had turned up - I spotted British, Irish, Belgian, German, Portuguese and Italian amongst the audience - and the duo went down very well with all of them.

The bolero is a dance and it was good to see the andaluces upholding their strong family traditions with grannies, mums and daughters/grand-daughters going through their paces together on the dance floor.

[© Facebook]

International flavour

At our table were three couples, including me and Rita. All residents locally it was interesting to note that each pair had moved to the Serrania de Ronda for quite different reasons.

The Irish/Scottish pairing, resident for eight years had sought a relaxed, warm and clean air environment after working for many years in the polluted middle-east.

The Belgian/Spanish couple, here for just seven months, had been seeking a relaxed, rural home for them, their autistic son and the paternal grandad.

Finally, us, an Anglo-Welsh/German couple, who met in Ronda and were both seeking a less stressful and healthier alternative to their respective northern European homelands.

Conclusion

We think it's great what Gloria and David are doing at the Don Manuel, turning the hotel into the go-to venue for live music in Ronda. Hopefully, locals and outsiders will continue to support them.

With their engaging and friendly staff and competitive prices, these events make for a great evening out.

© The Culture Vulture MMXXVI

Pictures:

Ayuntamiento de Ronda, Central de Reservas, Facebook

Thanks:

Tags:

Ayuntamiento de Ronda, Boleros Duros, cajon, Central de Reservas, flamenco, Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture, vecino,

Culture Week - Montejaque

2026-08-07T09:51:20

Hot on the heels of the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, the Semana Cultural in Montejaque (Malaga) starts today, Friday August 17, and runs until next Wednesday, August 23.

Featuring gastronomy, sport, art, music, theatre and cinema, as well as kids' activities based at the municipal pool, this feria is a highlight of the cultural life of this charming pueblo blanco in the Serrania de Ronda.

[Charry TV]

With performances by artistes such as Sing & Swing, Los Salvajes del Rebalaje, Los Tigantitos, Dialogo Rock, KPOP and a Beatles tribute band; with film presentations and a theatre production; not to mention the annual cooking competition, this week represents a fitting end to the summer celebrations in this village of some 960 inhabitants.

[Charry TV]

© The Culture Vulture

Links:

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2026 - Secret Serranía de Ronda

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival Mark VIII - The Culture Vulture

Pictures:

Charry TV

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

annual cooking competition, art, Beatles tribute band, cinema, Charry TV, Dialogo Rock, feria, film presentation, gastronomy, Karl Smallman, kids' activities, KPOP, Los Salvajes del Rebalaje, Los Tigantitos, music, Paul Whitelock, pueblo blanco, Secret Serrania de Ronda, Sing & Swing, sport, theatre, theatre production,

75

2026-06-11T15:10:17

The Meter-Maid, the lovely Rita, is 75 today. It got me thinking about who else is still around and who left us at that age. After a bit of research I came up with 15 famous persons still with us and 15 who died at that age.

[Rolling Stone]

Still alive at 75

According to the website famousbirthdays.com the following people have celebrated their 75th birthday recently:

Phil Collins, drummer and singer (formerly of "Genesis")

Peter Davison, English actor ("Dr Who"; "All Creatures Great and Small")

Lindsay Duncan, English actress

Ed Harris, US actor

Geraldine James, English actress

Louise Jameson, Scottish actress ("Bergerac"; "Dr Who"; "Eastenders")

Bill Murray, US actor ("Ghostbusters"; "Groundhog Day")

Randy Quaid, US character actor

Kurt Russell, US actor ("Inferno")

Jane Seymour, English actress

Bonnie Tyler, Welsh singer

Harriet Walter, English actress

Sadly died at 75

Yasser Arafat, former Egyptian leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner

Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish inventor of the telephone

Leonid Brezhnev, former USSR leader

Shelley Duvall, US actress

Duke Ellington, US pianist and bandleader

Dizzy Gillespie, US composer

Rutger Hauer, Dutch actor

John McAfee, US computer programmer (anti-virus software)

James Mason, English actor ("Lolita")

J P Morgan, entrepreneur and financier

Gerd Muller, German footballer

Donald Pleasence, English actor ("M" in several James Bond films)

Ferdinand Porsche, German car designer

Roy Scheider, US actor ("Jaws")

Tom Wilkinson, English actor ("The Full Monty")

© The Culture Vulture

Images:

Discogs, EL PAIS, IMDb, James Bond Wikipedia, Reddit, Rolling Stone, Wikipedia

Thanks:

famousbirthdays.com, Google, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia

Tags:

75, Alexander Graham Bell, "All Creatures Great and Small", anti-virus software, "Bergerac", Bill Murray, Bonnie Tyler, Discogs, Dizzy Gillespie, "Dr Who", Donald Pleasence, Duke Ellington, "Eastenders", Ed Harris, EL PAIS, famousbirthdays.com, Ferdinand Porsche, "Genesis", Geraldine James, Gerd Muller, "Ghostbusters", "Groundhog Day", Harriet Walter, IMDb, James Bond, James Bond Wikipedia, James Mason, Jane Seymour, "Jaws", J P Morgan, John McAfee, Kurt Russell, Leonid Brezhnev, Lindsay Duncan, "Lolita", Louise Jameson, "M", Nobel Peace Prize, Peter Davison, Phil Collins, Randy Quaid, Reddit, Rolling Stone, Roy Scheider, Rutger Hauer, Shelley Duvall, The Culture Vulture, "The Full Monty", Tom Wilkinson, Wikipedia, Yasser Arafat,

"The Darling Buds of May"

2026-05-04T21:42:48

It's all been happening at the beginning of May. The first four days of the fifth month have been significant culturally and in other ways.

May 1st, May Day and International Workers' Day;

May 2nd, Uprising against Napoleon's occupying forces in Madrid in 1808;

May 3rd, Press Freedom Day;

May 4th, Early May Bank Holiday in the UK (and my dad's birthday).

Maypole dancing in England [Reader's Digest]

May 1st

May Day, is also International Workers' Day, and is a global celebration of workers and the labour movement.

The day is celebrated worldwide, honouring the contributions of workers and advocating for workers' rights, fair wages and safe working conditions.

May Day is also a day for celebration of the arrival of summer with, for example in England, Maypole Dancing and dressing up.

May 1st is a dia festivo in Spain, so schools, banks, offices and businesses close.

In 2026 it was last Friday, resulting in a three-day weekend for many.

[The Olive Press]

May 2nd

The Dos de Mayo or Second of May Uprising took place in Madrid, on 2–3 May 1808. The rebellion, mainly by civilians, with some isolated military action by junior officers, was against the occupation of the city by French troops, and was violently repressed by the Napoleon's French Imperial Forces with hundreds of public executions. These actions led to the Spanish people revolting against French occupation and the outbreak of the Peninsular War, and ended the Franco-Spanish alliance in the Napoleonic Wars.

The event is commemorated in a famous painting by Goya.

[Wikipedia]

May 3rd

May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day.

It is also an important dia festivo in Ronda, where I live.

La Virgen de La Cabeza is celebrated with Mass, a Procession and a Romeria on the outskirts of town.

[IPI]

May 4th

In 2026 this was the Early May Bank Holiday in the UK, being the nearest Monday to May 1st. In 2029 May 1st falls on a Monday, so the Bank Holiday and May Day will coincide.

May 4th was also the date of my dad's birth.

If he was still around he would have been 109.

As it was he died 41 years ago aged just 68. Way too young. He missed out on so much.

He knew my daughter Amy as an 18-month-old toddler, but didn't know my son Tom, nor four grandsons, a second spouse and my new life in Spain.

Dad as a young man [Paul Whitelock]

© The Culture Vulture (Paul Whitelock) MMXXVI

Photos:

Paul Whitelock, Readers' Digest, The Olive Press, Wikipedia

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia

Tags:

1808, Dos de Mayo, Early May Bank Holiday, fair wages, Goya, IPI, International Workers' Day, May 1st, May 2nd, May 3rd, May 4th, May Day, Maypole dancing, Napoleon, Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon's French Imperial Forces, Paul Whitelock, Peninsular War, Press Freedom Day, public executions, Readers' Digest, Romeria, Ronda, safe working conditions, Second of May Uprising, The Olive Press, Virgen de La Cabeza, Wikipedia, workers' rights,

EASTER

2026-04-01T19:28:43

Easter bonnets, Easter bunnies, Easter chicks, daffodils, Easter eggs, Easter Mass, Easter processions ..... Take your pick!

Different countries / cultures have different Easter traditions, although there is a lot of cross-over nowadays.

Let's take a look at the UK and Spain.

[Amazon UK]

The UK

In my home country, the UK, the ladies wear Easter bonnets; children receive Easter bunnies, Easter chicks and Easter eggs (all chocolate); daffodils are an important feature in many homes and in other venues; and people go to church or Mass.

[Wikipedia] [Rainy Day Mum]

[Natasha's Kitchen] [M&S]

Public holidays are on Good Friday and Easter Monday, giving a four-day break for many families.

Spain

In Spain it's all about the Semana Santa processions, although the kids get eggs, etc. The procesiones start on Palm Sunday (or in some places the day before) and continue until Easter Sunday a week later.

The processions are prepared throughout the preceding year by cofradias or brotherhoods attached to different churches. They have either one or two tronos, magnificent tableaux of scenes from the Bible featuring Christ and his Apostles and the Virgin Mary.

These scenes are mounted on a structure which is carried by horquilleros on their shoulders. The rhythmic movement is controlled by the band and the capirote.

The whole thing is accompanied by nazareños, penitents wearing a matching costume and pointy hat (reminiscent of the Klu Klux Clan in the USA, but in no way connected). In some parades the nazareños go barefoot.

[YouTube] [Diario Ronda] [El Periodico]

Each procession has a different prescribed route from the "home" of the trono/s around the town and back to its base. The whole thing can last several hours.

In Spain public holidays are Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Easter Monday is a normal working day.

Links:

Easter in Spain (let's have a party!) - Lenox Napier

Semana Santa in Spain: Dates and traditions to experience in 2026 - EOS News

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Amazon UK. Diario Ronda, El Periodico, M&S, Natasha's Kitchen, Paul Whitelock, Rainy Day Mum, Ronda Semanal, The Culture Vulture, Wikipedia, YouTube

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, Ronda Semanal, The Culture Vulture

Tags:

Amazon UK, Apostles, brotherhood, capirote, Christ, cofradia, Diario Ronda, Easter Sunday, El Periodico, EOS News, Holy Thursday, horquillero, Lenox Napier, M&S, Natasha's Kitchen, nazareño, Palm Sunday, processions, Rainy Day Mum, Semana Santa, trono, Virgin Mary, Wikipedia, YouTube,

St David's Day - March 1st

2026-03-01T18:37:46

Hard on the heels of Andalucia Day - yesterday - comes St David's Day, March 1st. St David is the patron saint of Wales.

Significance and History

March 1st commemorates the life and legacy of Saint David, who is believed to have died on March 1st, 589 AD.

St David, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi in Welsh, was a 6th century monk and bishop who founded a monastic community at Glyn Rhosyn (now St Davids) in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

David is recognised for his piety and the miracles attributed to him, including the raising of the dead and the healing of the sick.

His canonisation by Pope Callixtus II in the 12th century solidified his status as the patron saint of Wales.

Stained glass window showing St David [Historic UK]

Celebrations and Traditions

Symbols:

Common symbols associated with Saint David's Day include the daffodil and the leek, both of which are worn by many people on this day.

Culinary Traditions:

Traditional Welsh dishes such as cawl (a hearty stew), Welsh rarebit (a cheese dish) and bara brith (a cake) are often enjoyed during the celebrations.

Cawl [Cookidoo] Welsh rarebit [Pinterest] Bara brith [Shutterstock]

Cultural Events:

Various events take place across Wales, including parades, concerts, and church services.

In cities like Cardiff and Swansea, processions and cultural performances are organised to celebrate Welsh heritage.

Procession in Cardiff [Wales Online]

While St David's Day is not a public holiday in the UK, it is widely celebrated in Wales and by Welsh communities around the world.

Schools and local organisations often hold special events to honour the day and to promote Welsh culture and traditions.

Patagonia, Argentina [Urdd Gobaith Cymru]

St David and I

Born to a Welsh father John (Cilfrew, Glamorgan) and an English mother Vera (Barnstaple, Devon), I always felt more Welsh than English. As an undergraduate I celebrated March 1st and proudly sported a daffodil, together with my Welsh pals Jac and Dan. I even had a short relationship with a Welsh girl, fellow student Marion.

[Wikipedia]

Many years later I had a summer romance with the afore-mentioned Jac when I was divorced and single and she was a widow.

***

In summary, Saint David's Day is a significant cultural and religious celebration that honours the contributions of Saint David to Welsh history and Christianity, fostering a sense of national pride and cultural identity among the Welsh people.

Footnote:

El Dia Santo del San David in Spain falls on December 29th. Needless to say this is a different St David to the Welsh one.

© The Culture Vulture

Pictures:

Cookidoo, Historic UK, History Hit, metro.co.uk, Pinterest, Shutterstock, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Wales Online, Wikipedia

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture, Wikipedia

Tags:

bara brith, cawl, Cookidoo, daffodil, Historic UK, History Hit, leek, metro.co.uk, monk, Paul Whitelock, Pinterest, St David, St David's Day, Shutterstock, The Culture Vulture, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Wales, Wales Online, Welsh, Welsh rarebit, Wikipedia

Valentine's Day

2026-02-14T22:30:20

I've just spent the evening "celebrating" the most ridiculous Dia de San Valentin. In England, where I'm from, this day was always, and still is, a big deal. In Germany, according to my German missus, der Valentinstag is totally unimportant. In Spain, despite the best efforts of the commercial sector to promote this day, it really hasn't taken off.

[Diario AS]

So, there I was this evening in this locals' bar near Ronda in Andalucia. There were fewer customers than on a normal night. Certainly for a Saturday.

Just four people were dining on the outside terrace, but they clearly weren't celebrating the day of love, despite the red heart-shaped balloons hanging from every available window latch.

Inside the bar there were two couples and sundry other folk who are always there, including me. The local mayoress was there, rather loud, so I guess she'd had a few. Her adult daughter was also there and in a lively mood.

The botox-enhanced, tattoo-ed and ginger-haired unmarried mother was supping "pints" quicker than I was, and I'm no slouch! Meanwhile, her fellah was playing with their four-year-old son.

St Valentine's Day in the UK

I remember that even in primary school we would exchange unsigned Valentine's cards (What was the point of that? I thought, even back then).

It continued through secondary school, at church and also at university.

[RTVE.es]

St Valentine's Day was always a special day for my first wife and me.

It was an excuse to go out for a nice meal and for a bit of "nookey" when we went to bed at the end of the night.

Those were the days, eh?

[Encuentro Matrimonial]

The Wilderness Years

This is how I describe the period of my life between 2005 and 2008 when I was redundant, early-retired and depressed.

A dalliance I had with a widow had its Valentine moments, but the relationship was destined not to last.

A spell living with my dear old mum (I had nowhere else to go) was fallow until, in early 2008, another widow whom I'd known since we were students together 40 years before, invited me to Luxembourg, where she lived, to work on a house she had bought for her daughter and son-in-law.

The deal was she would pay for my flights, give me board and lodging and pay for treats.

I didn't expect a summer romance as well!

When it ended (the work and the romance) I flew from Luxembourg to Malaga with my tail between my legs and to drown my sorrows.

[El Mundo]

That very same night in Ronda I met the lady who was to become my second wife, the afore-mentioned German lady, Rita.

Rita and St Valentine's Day

I started off giving Valentinstag the full "welly", but it didn't last.

So, we are where we are!

© The Culture Vulture

Pictures:

Diario AS, El Mundo, Encuentro Matrimonial, RTVE.es

Thanks:

Maude, Jac, Paul Whitelock, Rita, The Culture Vulture,

Tags:

Andalucia, Dia de San Valentin, Diario AS, El Mundo, Encuentro Matrimonial, England, German, Germany, Jac, Luxembourg, Malaga, Maude, Paul Whitelock, RTVE.es, Rita, Ronda, St Valentine's Day, The Culture Vulture, Valentinstag, widow

7 good reads for Christmas

2025-12-22T06:17:45

The Christmas / New Year holiday is so long in Spain, and the weather forecast for this year is so bad, that we need something to do indoors, other than watching end-to-end Christmas films and TV repeats.

How about reading a good book?

[The Guardian]

Here are The Culture Vulture's suggestions for a festive reading list in no particular order.

The writers are American, English, Irish, Norwegian, Ukrainian and two Spanish.

7 Up - Seven Books for Christmas 2025

"Reconciliacion" - The approved biography of Juan Carlos I

This biography of the former king of Spain, who abdicated suddenly in 2014 in favour of his son Felipe VI, was based on a lengthy interview with a French journalist.

The resulting book was released in France in French in November. It has since been translated into Spanish and was published in Spain on 5th December. I had pre-ordered a copy which now sits on my bedside table. I've started it and will probably finish it before New Year.

[Diario de Sevilla]

My early impression is that it is not convincingly truthful about JC's fall from grace.

"Volodymyr Zelenskii" by Serhii Rudenko

I literally got this two days ago, so haven't started it yet. Thankfully it's not in Ukrainian nor Russian, but Spanish.

It's a few years old, it was published in 2022, but should be interesting nevertheless.

Zelenskii trained as a lawyer, but never practised, preferring instead to become a comedian and actor.

A native Russian speaker, Zelenskii is a Jew.

I confess to liking the man. Anyone who stands up to the murderous Putin and the ego-centric Trump has to have our respect. I look forward to learning more about him from this "portrait".

[Google Play]

Federico Garcia Lorca's "Rural Trilogy"

The greatest Spanish poet and dramatist of the 20th century, Federico Garcia Lorca, was murdered at the behest of General Franco in 1936.

For being outspokenly anti-Franco or for being homosexual? Both, perhaps!

I love Lorca's trilogia rural - "Blood Wedding", "Yerma" and "La Casa de Bernarda Alba".

I studied Lorca at university and taught "Bernarda Alba" at A-Level.

[Paul Whitelock]

As a point of interest, one of my students back then in the mid-1970s was Andy Burnham, current mayor of Greater Manchester and former foreign secretary to Tony Blair. He got a grade "A" in Spanish and went to Cambridge to study ..... English!

"Doh!"

I've seen three live productions of "Bernarda Alba", the first with Glenda Jackson as the matriarch at The Lyric, Hammersmith, London.

The second in Stockton Heath, Warrington, starred my then wife, Jeryl Burgess, in the lead role.

The third time was in Ronda, where an amateur group managed an absolute disaster of a production. My now wife, Rita, knows a thing or two about the theatre, and that production still haunts her to this day!

I was proud to see my son Tom, a professional actor, play the role of Juan in "Yerma" at The Cervantes Theatre, London.

"As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning" by Laurie Lee

This is the first book about Spain that I ever read. I was just 19.

I couldn't put it down. It had a big impact on me and was instrumental in my decision to emigrate to Spain, although it took a while!

I first came across Laurie Lee while at university and anticipating my year abroad in Spain and Germany. In that year, 1969, Penguin published his book about his journey on foot across Spain in 1934.

The book tells of Lee’s walk from La Coruña to Málaga armed with very little but his fiddle. We learn of his adventures en route, the kindness of strangers, and we can smell the poetic descriptions of the food he samples. His trip is cut short by the onset of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and he is repatriated to the UK, only to return later to fight against Franco in the International Brigades.

[Paul Whitelock]

This masterpiece still rates as the best book about Spain that I’ve ever read, and I've read a few: "Driving over Lemons" (Chris Stewart), "A Castle in Spain" (Matthew Parris), "Duende" (Jason Webster), "The Road to Ronda" (Alastair Boyd), "The Spanish Labyrinth" (Gerald Brenan), "The Spanish Civil War" (Hugh Thomas).

"Casita 26" by Karethe Linaee

Born in Norway, Karethe Linaee lived in Paris, Los Angeles and Vancouver (Canada) before moving with her Mexican husband Jaime to Ronda a dozen years ago.

She used these experiences as the basis for her first book, Casita 26, which has been published in both English and Spanish.

[Paul Whitelock]

I know Karethe and Jaime well. I met them when they rented a flat from me to do a recce of the City of Dreams. Next thing, they bought the house next door, did it up and they still live there.

"The Luckless Girl" by Michael Coy

A former teacher, lawyer and barrister, Irishman Michael Coy moved to live in Ronda over 20 years ago.

A prize-winning amateur poet, in 2022 he published his first book, "The Luckless Girl", an epic poem based on a true story set in Italy.

I met Michael over 20 years ago and we became drinking buddies.

I attended his book launch at an open-air restaurant overlooking the Tajo, bought a copy of the book and Michael wrote a very nice dedication at the front.

"The Luckless Girl" is longer than "War and Peace" and I confess I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it's good.

It sells steadily in a local bookshop in Ronda.

[Amazon]

"Death and the Sun" by Edward Lewine

The American journalist Edward Lewine fell in love with Spain during a holiday here.

He returned to spend time in Ronda where he travelled with the bullfighter Francisco Rivera Ordoñez and wrote "Death and the Sun" about his time with Fran, who is the elder son of Paquirri and grandson of Antonio Ordoñez Dominguin.

As a footnote, Orson Welles, the Hollywood actor, director and producer, was a huge fan of "los toros" and great friends with Ordoñez. Welles' ashes are scattered on the Ordoñez "ranch" near Ronda.

[Paul Whitelock]

Links:

BOOKS and WRITERS - Help me, Ronda

LOCAL AUTHORS - Help me, Ronda

© The Culture Vulture

Pictures:

Amazon, Diario de Sevilla, Google Play, Paul Whitelock, The Guardian

Thanks:

www.secretserrania.com, www.help-me-ronda.com

Tags:

"A Castle in Spain", Alastair Boyd, American, Andy Burnham, anti-Franco, "As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning", biography, "Blood Wedding", Cambridge, "Casita 26", Cervantes Theatre, Chris Stewart, "Driving over Lemons", "Duende", English, Federico Garcia Lorca, Felipe VI, festive reading list, fiddle, former foreign secretary, former king of Spain, General Franco, Gerald Brenan, Glenda Jackson, grade "A" in Spanish, homosexual, Hugh Thomas, International Brigades, Irish, Jason Webster, Jeryl Burgess, Juan Carlos I, Juan in "Yerma", Karethe Linaee, "La Casa de Bernarda Alba", La Coruña to Málaga, Laurie Lee, Matthew Parris, mayor of Greater Manchester, my son Tom, Norway, Norwegian, professional actor, "Reconciliacion", Ronda, "Rural Trilogy", The Culture Vulture, The Lyric Hammersmith, Tony Blair, Ukrainian, Serhii Rudenko, Spanish, Spanish Civil War, Stockton Heath, "The Road to Ronda", "The Spanish Civil War", "The Spanish Labyrinth", trilogia rural, Volodymyr Zelenskii, Warrington, "Yerma",

A Christmas Carol - "Silent Knight"(-ley)

2025-12-14T21:16:42

The actress Keira Knightley has several connections to the Festive Season through her films.

Probably the most celebrated is the ensemble piece "Love Actually" (2003), which pops up on our screens at Christmas every year.

With a cast of illustrious actors, including Rowan Atkinson, Colin Firth, Gregor Fisher, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Heike Makatsch, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson, Knightley more than holds her own as the beautiful object of photographer Andrew Lincoln's love.

[Britannica]

Directed by Richard Curtis the film made millions at the Box Office.

Knightley's first film proper was "Bend it like Beckham" in 2002, when she was just 17 years old.

This brought her much attention and the following year she appeared in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Love Actually", mentioned above. She was still only 18.

Knightley with Orlando Bloom [20 Minutos]

Other films of note include: "Pride and Prejudice" (2005), in which she played Elizabeth Bennet; "Atonement" (2007), based on the novel by Ian McEwan; and "The Imitation Game" (2014), alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, who played war-time code-breaker Alan Turing. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Joan Clarke in this bio-pic.

Cumberbatch and Knightley [Spoiler Town]

In between times she has appeared on stage in The West End and on Broadway and has had two daughters (2015 and 2019) with husband James Righton, musician, whom she married in 2013, aged 28.

She was awarded an OBE in 2018.

***

Her latest appearance is in the current TV Christmas Advert for Waitrose (2025) alongside comedian Joe Wilkinson. In a mini-romantic film comedy lasting four minutes.

She still looks bloody good at the age of 40!

The Perfect Gift | Waitrose | Christmas Ad 2025

[Reason Why]

So, is Keira Knightley just a (very) pretty face, or is she much more?

[Fotogramas]

Links:

The Perfect Gift | Waitrose | Christmas Ad 2025

Love Actually | Cards on the Doorstep - YouTube

DemandGen MAD NOV

© The Culture Vulture

Pictures:

20 Minutos, Britannica, Fotogramas, Reason Why, Spoiler Town,

Acknowledgements:

"Society (Marbella)", The Culture Vulture, Waitrose, Wikipedia

Tags:

20 Minutos, A Christmas Carol, Alan Rickman, Alan Turing, Andrew Lincoln, "Atonement", "Bend it like Beckham", Bill Nighy, Britannica, Broadway, Colin Firth, Dominic Cumberbatch, Emma Thompson, Fotogramas, Heike Makatsch, Hugh Grant, Ian McEwan, James Righton, Joe Wilkinson, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson, "Love Actually", Martine McCutcheon, OBE, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", Reason Why, Richard Curtis, "Society (Marbella)", Spoiler Town, The Culture Vulture, "The Imitation Game", Waitrose, West End, Wikipedia

Christmas in Spain

2025-12-13T17:38:37

The Spanish celebrate Christmas and New Year differently to most other countries. The month-long 'fiesta' lasts from 8th December, Immaculate Conception, through to 6th January, Epiphany.

What happens in between is different also.

Christmas in Spain [TripSavvy]

Paul Whitelock first wrote about this back in 2020, when the world was still reeling from Covid-19. Many traditional events were cancelled that year.

Paul's alter ego The Culture Vulture has tweaked the original article, which appeared on the Secret Serrania website. Here's the up-to-date version.

Fish for Christmas and no gifts? [2025 version]

By The Culture Vulture

[Photo courtesy of Karl Smallman]

Fish for Christmas dinner? No presents on Christmas Day? Grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve? What is going on?

The Culture Vulture checks out the Christmas scene in Spain in general and Andalucía in particular.

***

Spain enjoys its Christmas traditions as much as any other Christian countries and cultures, but there are some intriguing differences in the way the Spanish celebrate Navidad.

Just like anywhere else, families gather together to enjoy and celebrate. Whatever the case the goal is to share in the spirit of giving, kindness, and goodwill through food, drink, song, dance, the exchanging of gifts, and other acts of generosity. In Spain, Christmas is normally a festival with fascinating traditions and customs that reflect the true character of the Spanish people.

The Christmas period starts as early as December 8th with the Festival of the Immaculate Conception, a national holiday.

It is celebrated each year in front of the great Gothic cathedral in Sevilla with a ceremony called Los Seises or the “dance of six.” when ten elaborately costumed boys perform a ritual dance.

[Calendarr]

By early December the streets of towns and villages will have been decorated with Christmas lights and the shops will have begun to display their Christmas wares.

One symbol of Christmas that still maintains great importance throughout Spain is the belén, a Nativity scene or crib.

Often there will be a large municipal belén set up in the main square. And families will queue up to look at it!

Many Spanish homes also have their own belén where in times gone by the family would gather to sing carols.

[Vida Ascendente]

In many small towns, during the nights just before Christmas, the plazas might even have a live Nativity scene, with actors playing the parts of Mary and Joseph and the Three Wise Men, as well as live animals that are often associated with the birth of Christ, like lambs, sheep, and donkeys.

Talking of animals, did you know that the humble cow is an important Christmas symbol here? The Spanish especially honour the cow at Christmas because it is thought that when Mary gave birth to Jesus the cow in the stable breathed on the Baby Jesus to keep Him warm.

On December 22nd, two important events take place. Schools break up for Christmas and the winning number in the famous Christmas Lottery, el Gordo, is announced. The lottery, one of Europe’s oldest, dates back to 1763, when King Carlos III initiated it. Since then, not one year has passed without it and it is a symbolic moment when Spaniards begin to celebrate the Christmas holidays in earnest.

Last year's winning number [Facebook]

An interesting tradition, predominantly in the provinces of Granada and Jaén, is that of jumping over bonfires, or hogueras, as a symbolic protection against illness. It is the observance of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and the beginning of winter.

Hogueras [Diario JAEN]

Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, is when the Spanish eat their main Christmas meal. Each region has its own distinct specialities.

A common main course, particularly in Andalucía and in coastal areas, is fish, such as hake, trout, sea bream, sea bass or salmon.

In central areas like Castilla León, Castilla la Mancha, and Madrid roast lamb and suckling pig are served.

Sea Bream [Vicki Viaja] Roast suckling pig [Visit Southern Spain] Roast Lamb [Kitchen Sanctuary]

For dessert there is quite a spread of delicacies, among them are turrón (nougat) and marzipan, desserts made of honey, egg and almonds that are Arabic in origin, as well as polvorones, a type of sweet bread, and a variety of nuts and dried fruits.

turron [Instagram] marzipan [MY SPANISH KITCHEN] polvorones [Amigo foods]

To drink, they opt for cava, the Spanish equivalent of champagne.

***

After the meal, many Spaniards get their second wind and go to midnight mass, known as La misa del Gallo, or “Cock Mass”.

This church service is so named because the Cock crowed on Christmas morning to announce the birth of Christ.

[Diocesis de Malaga]

Christmas day, el Día de Navidad, is more or less a continuation of what began the day before. People spend time with their families, they eat another large meal, and in many families, children enjoy the gifts that they have received from Papa Noel, the Spanish version of Santa Claus. However, the main exchange of gifts does not take place until the Día de Reyes, Three King’s Day, on January 6th.

[Spain Explained]

December 28th marks a day of celebration exclusively Spanish called el Día de los Inocentes, the Day of the Innocents. It represents the anniversary of the murder of babies committed by Herod in Judea. However, this day is far from sombre. Roughly equivalent to our April Fools Day it is a day for practical jokes and laughter.

[Urgente24]

December 31st, New Year’s Eve, Nochevieja, is celebrated, as are so many other things in Spain, out on the streets and in the local squares.

People turn up with a bagful of grapes and as the town clock is striking midnight, everybody attempts to eat 12 grapes. According to tradition, those who succeed will have 12 months of good luck and prosperity.

[Diario Femenino]

Families and friends stay together for this celebration which marks the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, and in the case of most Spaniards this means a lively celebration will be had until the early hours of the morning, with fireworks and much drinking.

While most of the Christian world has already begun packing up the Christmas decorations, throwing out the tree, and finding a place for all the gifts, Spaniards are continuing the celebration.

January 6th, el Día de Reyes, Three King’s Day or Epiphany, is the long-awaited day on which the three Kings bring their gifts.

On January 5th, children leave their shoes out in a visible spot in the house or on their balcony, and go to bed hoping that when they wake up they will find gifts left by Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar.

[Calendarr]

Shoes are filled with straw or barley for the tired camels that must carry their royal riders through the busy night. By morning the camel food is gone and in place of the straw or barley are presents.

For breakfast or after lunch, families often have the typical dessert of the day, el Roscón de los Reyes, a large ring-shaped cake that is decorated with candied fruits, symbolic of the emeralds and rubies that adorned the robes of the three kings. Somewhere inside the cake there is a surprise, and the person to find it will be crowned King or Queen of the house for the remainder of the day.

El Roscón de los Reyes [La Vanguardia]

Most big towns and cities have parades with each King having a big float that is shaped like a camel. Sometimes there are also real camels in the parade too.

So, the Christmas period in Spain lasts for a good month and however strange or different some of the Christmas customs in Spain seem to us guiris, one thing is for sure, everybody has a good time!

[Visit Andalucia]

As the Spanish would say, in the various languages of their country:

¡Feliz Navidad! ¡Bon Nadal! ¡Bo Nadal! ¡Eguberri on!

Links:

British stuff here in Spain? Who needs it? - Eye on Spain

Fish for Christmas and no gifts? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad? - Secret Serrania

© The Culture Vulture

Pictures:

Amigo foods, Calendarr, Diario Femenino, Diario JAEN, Diocesis de Malaga, Facebook, Karl Smallman, Kitchen Sanctuary, La Razon, La Vanguardia, MY SPANISH KITCHEN, Spain Explained, TripSavvy, Urgente24, Vicki Viaja, Vida Ascendent, Visit Andalucia, Visit Southern Spain

Acknowledgements:

Eye on Spain, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania, Wikipedia

Tags:

12 uvas, 6th January, 8th December, Amigo foods, Año Nuevo, Calendarr, cava, Christmas in Spain, Dia de Los Inocentes, Dia de Navidad, Dia de Reyes, Diario Femenino, Diario JAEN, Diocesis de Malaga, El Gordo, Epifania, Epiphany, Eye on Spain, Facebook, Inmaculada Concepcion, Instagram, Karl Smallman, Kitchen Sanctuary, La Razon, La Vanguardia, Los seises, marzipan, Misa del Gallo, MY SPANISH KITCHEN, Navidad, New Year's Eve, Nochevieja, ONCE, Paul Whitelock, polvorones, Roast Lamb, Roast suckling pig, Secret Serrania, Sea Bream, Spain Explained, The Culture Vulture, TripSavvy, turron, Urgente24, Vicki Viaja, Vida Ascendent, Visit Andalucia, Visit Southern Spain, Wikipedia

John Lennon - dead for 45 years!

2025-12-08T10:23:52

Former Beatle John Lennon was murdered 45 years ago today, on November 8th, 1980. The world was shocked! It happened in broad daylight outside the apartment block in New York where Lennon lived with his second wife, the Japanese multimedia artist Yoko Ono.

Last known photo of Lennon in 1980 [Daily Mail]

The perpetrator was Mark Chapman, allegedly a huge fan of the singer, composer, guitarist, pianist, actor, poet, who had moved to the USA in 1971 following his rancorous departure from The Beatles a year earlier.

Lennon formed "The Plastic Ono Band", which made just one eponymous album. I bought it, but soon sold it to a friend. I couldn't stand Yoko's wailing and shrieking.

He made solo music too. "Imagine" is a classic and "Double Fantasy", his second-best-selling non-Beatles album, won the 1981 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and in 1982 the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.

[Toppermost] [eBay UK] [eBay UK]

Posthumously Lennon was voted eighth in a BBC history poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked him the fifth-greatest singer and 38th-greatest artist of all time.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (in 1997) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (twice, as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1994).

He famously married Yoko in Gibraltar in 1969, just down the road from where I live in Andalucia.

Their "Bed-in" in their honeymoon hotel on the Rock was a Peace Protest.

The Press were invited to their suite where the couple were nearly naked in bed.

[Wikipedia]

A complex man

Lennon had issues. He disappeared from Yoko and from the music scene for two years in the mid-70s, during which time he had several affairs.

He and Paul McCartney, the prolific composing duo at the heart of the phenomenal success of the Liverpool band, didn't speak for years.

Lennon took to trying to belittle McCartney through his song lyrics, but Paul and his American wife Linda Eastman (1941 - 1998) ploughed their own furrow, literally when they moved to Mull, a small island in Scotland, where they took up farming.

McCartney's new band "Wings" were hugely successful, after a quiet start.

With former "Moody Blues" singer Denny Laine (d. 2023), and Linda on keyboards and harmony vocals, they scored an immense hit with their third studio album "Band on the Run" (1973).

Linda and Paul [Wikpedia]

It was McCartney's fifth album after leaving The Beatles in April 1970 and his final album on the Apple Records label. Although sales were modest initially, its commercial performance was aided by two hit singles – "Jet" and "Band on the Run" – such that it became the top-selling studio album of 1974 in the United Kingdom and Australia, in addition to revitalising McCartney's critical standing. It remains McCartney's most successful album and the most celebrated of his post-Beatles works.

Back to Lennon

John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English musician and activist.

He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of The Beatles.

Lennon's songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history.

[The Guardian]

Born in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager. In 1956, he formed The Quarrymen, which evolved into The Beatles in 1960. He initially was the group's de facto leader, a role he gradually seemed to cede to McCartney, writing and co-writing songs with increasing innovation, including "Strawberry Fields Forever", which he later cited as his finest work with the band.

Ed Sullivan Show [1974] [1994] Last known photo [Daily Mail]

Lennon soon expanded his work into other media by acting in numerous films, including "How I Won the War" (1967), and authoring "In His Own Write" (1964) and "A Spaniard in the Works" (1965), both collections of nonsense writings and line drawings.

Starting with "All You Need Is Love", his songs were adopted as anthems by the anti-war movement and the counter-culture of the 1960s.

In 1969, he started the Plastic Ono Band with Yoko Ono, held the "Bed-in" for peace, and left The Beatles to embark on a solo career.

Lennon and Ono collaborated on many works, including a trilogy of avant-garde albums and several more films. After the Beatles disbanded, Lennon released his solo debut "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" and the international top-10 singles "Give Peace a Chance", "Instant Karma!", "Imagine", and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".

Moving to New York City in 1971, his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a three-year deportation attempt by the Nixon administration.

During their separation from 1973 to 1975, Lennon produced Harry Nilsson's album "Pussy Cats". He also had chart-topping collaborations with Elton John ("Whatever Gets You thru the Night") and David Bowie ("Fame").

Following a five-year hiatus, Lennon returned to music in 1980 with the Ono collaboration "Double Fantasy". He was shot and killed three weeks after the album's release.

Aftermath

In line with Yoko Ono's wishes, on 14 December, millions of people around the world paused for 10 minutes of silence to remember Lennon, including 30,000 people gathered in Lennon's birthplace Liverpool and over 225,000 people in Central Park, near the scene of the shooting. During this period, all radio stations in New York City ceased broadcasting.

Chapman was charged with the second-degree murder of Lennon, as premeditation in New York State was not sufficient to warrant a charge of first-degree murder. Despite advice by his lawyers to plead insanity, Chapman pleaded guilty to the murder, saying that it was the "will of God".

Under the terms of his plea, Chapman was sentenced to 20-years-to-life with eligibility for parole in 2000.

Before his sentencing, Chapman was given the opportunity to address the court, at which point he read a passage from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J D Salinger.

As of September 2025, Chapman has been denied parole 14 times and remains incarcerated.

Links:

All You Need Is Love - The Beatles (1967)

Imagine - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band (w The Flux Fiddlers) (Ultimate Mix 2018) - 4K REMASTER

Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run (Official Music Video)

Plastic Ono Band - Give Peace A Chance (1969)

THE BEATLES : Rooftop Concert : "Get back" "Don't Let Me Down" "Dig a Pony" - YouTube - last ever live performance

The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever

© The Culture Vulture (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

Daily Mail, eBay UK, The Guardian, Toppermost, Wikipedia

Thanks:

Apple Corps, Bing, Brian Epstein, EMI, Northern Songs, Parlophone, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia, YouTube

Tags:

10 minutes of silence, 20-years-to-life, 30,000 people gathered in Lennon's birthplace Liverpool, 45 years ago, Abbey Road, Apple, Apple Corps, Bing, Brian Epstein, Central Park, Chapman pleaded guilty, Daily Mail, David Bowie, denied parole 14 times, Denny Laine, eBay UK, EMI, Elton John, first-degree murder, Harry Nilsson, J D Salinger, John Lennon, Linda Eastman, Liverpool, Mark Chapman, Moody Blues, New York, Northern Songs, November 8th 1980, Parlophone, parole in 2000, Paul McCartney, Paul Whitelock, plead insanity, radio stations in New York City ceased broadcasting, second-degree murder, "The Catcher in the Rye", The Culture Vulture, The Guardian, The Quarrymen, Toppermost, "will of God", Wikipedia, Wings, Yoko Ono, YouTube

Halloween!

2025-10-31T19:42:53

Halloween 2025 will be celebrated tonight, Friday, October 31st, marking a festive weekend of celebrations and activities.

Halloween is celebrated annually on October 31st, and this year, 2025, it falls on a Friday, tonight.

[Halloween image courtesy of Freepik]

This timing creates an extended weekend, making it an ideal occasion for parties, trick-or-treating, and various community events.

Origins

Halloween, also known as All Hallows' Eve, has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

It was believed that on this night the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, allowing spirits to return o Earth.

[CEAN Idiomas]

Celebrations and Activities

Many communities planned special events throughout October, including costume parties, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating activities.

[BBC]

Historical Context

The origins of Halloween can be traced back over 2,000 years to the Celtic festival of Samjain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off wanderinmg spirits.

As Christianity spread the Church sought to replace pagan festivals with Christian holidays, leading to the establishment of All Saints' Day on November 1st.

The night before became known as All Hallows' Eve, eventually shortened to Halloween.

© The Culture Vulture (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

BBC, CEAN Idiomas, Freepik,

Tags:

All Hallows' Eve, BBC, CEAN Idiomas, Culture Vulture, Freepik, Halloween, Paul Whitelock, Samhain, trick-or-treat,

87,88,89 and 91 - Too young to die?

2025-10-07T17:44:10

There has been a spate of deaths recently. All elderly and famous people, and, amazingly, all beautiful - even the men.

87 year-olds

Two of the most beautiful film actors ever have left us in the past month.

Claudia Cardinale, surely the most beautiful of the Italian actresses who were high profile in the 20th century. Sophia Loren was stunning and Gina Lollobrigida too, but Claudia was the one for me.

However, as with many beautiful women, she did not age well. Look at Brigitte Bardot and Kathleen Turner.

Claudia Cardinale [CNN]

Star of films which include "81/2", "The Leopard", and "Once Upon a Time in the West", she graced our screens for several decades.

Terence Stamp, widely regarded as the most beautiful man to appear on film.

He made some 60 films, including Star Trek and Star Wars, but he was best known for roles as "The Collector" and the love interest opposite Julie Christie in "Far From the Madding Crowd".

Unlike many beautiful women, Terence Stamp did not lose his looks as he got older.

Terence Stamp [Instagram]

88 is no great age

Jilly Cooper, who died suddenly yesterday, was a pioneer of the "bonkbuster".

She made a whole generation of teenagers keen to read again, albeit clandestinely.

Her tales of sex and intrigue created a whole new literary genre.

Jilly Cooper [Photo: elDiario.es]

89 is too young

Robert Redford, also regarded as a beautiful man, played a whole range of significant roles.

His films include Barefoot in the Park (1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Candidate (1972) and The Sting (1973), with the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination.

His stardom continued with films such as The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), All the President's Men (1976), and Out of Africa (1985).

Later credits include Sneakers (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993), All Is Lost (2013), Truth (2015), Our Souls at Night (2017) and The Old Man & the Gun (2018).

[El Pais]

Redford made his directorial debut with the family drama Ordinary People (1980), which won four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. His later directing credits include A River Runs Through It (1992), Quiz Show (1994), and The Horse Whisperer (1998).

A major advocate for independent cinema, Redford co-founded the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival in 1978.

91 is no great age

Jane Goodall was a famous English primatologist and anthropologist who studied chimpanzees and gorillas.

Her sudden death took everybody by surprise.

[BBC]

Described by many publications as "the world's preeminent chimpanzee expert", she was best known for more than six decades of field research on the social and family life of wild chimpanzees in the Kasakela chimpanzee community at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania.

Goodall's research demonstrated that chimpanzees share many key traits with humans, such as using tools, having complex emotions, forming lasting social bonds, engaging in organised warfare, and passing on knowledge across generations, which redefined the traditional view that humans are uniquely different from other animals.

In 1965 Goodall was awarded a PhD in ethology from the University of Cambridge. In the 1960s, Goodall published several accounts of her research in Tanzania, including a series of articles in National Geographic.

Goodall established wildlife sanctuaries and reforestation projects in Africa and campaigned for the ethical treatment of animals in animal testing, animal husbandry and captivity.

She was appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2002, and advised organisations such as Save the Chimps and the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks.

Throughout her career Goodall wrote 32 books, 15 of them for children, and was the subject of over 40 films. She remained an active lecturer, travelling extensively to promote conservation and climate action.

She was an honorary member of the World Future Council. Among other honours, she was a recipient of the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal, the Kyoto Prize, the Templeton Prize and the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2003 she was named a dame commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.

© The Culture Vulture (aka Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

BBC, CNN, ElDiario.es, El Pais, Instagram,

Tags:

"81/2", Brigitte Bardot, BBC, CNN, Claudia Cardinale, ElDiario.es, El Pais, "Far From the Madding Crowd", Gina Lollobrigida, Instagram, Jane Goodall, Julie Christie, Kathleen Turner, "Once Upon a Time in the West", Robert Redford, Sophia Loren, "Star Trek", "Star Wars", Terence Stamp, "The Collector", "The Leopard", she graced our screens for several decades.

Batalla de la Puente - Montejaque

2025-09-25T17:15:24

This weekend Montejaque (Malaga) celebrates an important date in its history. Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, had invaded Spain and Portugal in 1807. Britain joined forces with Portugal and Spain to fight against the French, in what the British call the Peninsular War.

[Diario Ronda]

Arthur Wellesley, later to become The Duke of Wellington, led the British army.

In 1810 a group of 700 French soldiers came upon Montejaque but were repelled by a ragbag of old men, boys and women.

The festival called La Batalla de la Puente commemorates this.

It starts tomorrow, Friday September 26 and runs until Sunday.

Plaque commemorating the women of Montejaque [PW]

Preparations

Montejaque (pop. 960) started preparing for the event on Tuesday. The village will be transformed into a 19th century village with straw bales, gardens, a graveyard and rustic stalls.

The mayordomos will erect and run a bar.

The locals will dress up either as French soldiers or as villagers and will re-enact the battle.

There will be activities and music.

El juego del cantaro [Diputacion Provincial de Malaga]

Background

The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of Napoleon Bonaparte who had entered Spain and Portugal in 1807 and installed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne, having forced the abdications of Fernando VII and his father Carlos IV.

In Spain, it is considered to overlap with the Spanish War of Independence.

Napoleon Bonaparte [Wikipedia]

In 1808, the Spanish army in Andalusia defeated the French at the Battle of Bailen, considered the first open-field defeat of the Napoleonic army on a European battlefield.

Besieged by 70,000 French troops, a reconstituted national government, the Cortes - in effect a government in exile - fortified itself in the secure port of Cadiz in 1810.

The British army, under Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, guarded Portugal and campaigned against the French alongside the reformed Portuguese Army and provided whatever supplies they could get to the Spanish, while the Spanish Armies and guerrillas tied down vast numbers of Napoleon's troops.

In 1812, when Napoleon set out with a massive army on what proved to be a disastrous French invasion of Russia, a combined allied army defeated the French at Salamanca and took the capital Madrid.

Duke of Wellington [Britannica]

In the following year the Coalition scored a victory over King Joseph Bonaparte's army at the Battle of Vitoria paving the way for victory in the war in the Iberian Peninsula.

Highly recommended

This feria is arguably the best of the many which take place in Montejaque in August and September.

I shall be there for the start tomorrow and probably again on Sunday for the closing moments.

I love it!

See you there?

[Poster by Portal Tematico de la Serrania]

Link:

Napoleon Defeated in Montejaque

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Britannica, Diario Ronda, Diario Sur, Paul Whitelock, Portal Tematico de la Serrania, Wikipedia

Tags:

Arthur Wellesley, Bailen, Batalla de la Puente, Britannica, Cadiz,Carlos IV, Cortes, Diario Ronda, Diario Sur, Duke of Wellington, Fernando VII, Joseph Bonaparte, Madrid, Montejaque, Napoleon Bonaparte, Paul Whitelock, Portal Tematico de la Serrania, Portugal, Russia, Salamanca, Spain, The Culture Vulture, United Kingdom, Wikipedia

Napoleon Defeated in Montejaque

2025-09-17T13:20:41

La Batalla de La Puente

This final feria of the summer in Montejaque is not to be missed.

Spectacular, charming, quaint and exciting are all adjectives that apply to this celebration of the defeat of Napoleon's troops in 1810.

[Diario Ronda]

La Batalla de La Puente - the feria

This year this emblematic feria takes place over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 26, 27 and 28 September.

The central area of the village will be transformed into a 19th century village and the villagers will dress up as French soldiers or as peasants.

In the real battle in 1810, 700 French troops were defeated by a ragbag of farmers, old men and the women of the village.

A plaque outside the church commemorates the event.

[Portal Tematico de la Serrania]

Programme

Not yet available! Why are they always so last minute?

Accommodation

The village fills up for this important fiesta in the cultural life of Montejaque. Relatives of montejaqueños return to the village, as well as curious tourists from many countries, who like to join in the fun..

The four "hotels" are always full, as are the many casas rurales.

Booking.com, AirBnb, and VRBO have long-since booked up for the three-day event. Some who rent privately or by word of mouth may have availability.

Montejaque from the mirador [Paul Whitelock]

The property listed below has just become available following a late cancellation. Book direct with the owner.

CASA REAL, MONTEJAQUE

Casa Real has undergone a full renovation, yet has retained many original features.

Now boasting three double bedrooms plus space for a baby, infant or child, Casa Real has become one of the largest rental houses in the village.

With its large L-shaped lounge, dining room and kitchen; shady internal patio; two modern bathrooms; laundry room; and huge roof terrace, Casa Real cannot be further enhanced.

And, what’s more, Casa Real is situated just one minute’s walk from the village square. Access with a vehicle is good and there is ample free parking nearby.

For complete information, please click the link:

CASA REAL, Montejaque (Malaga) - Help me, Ronda

Contact:

Paul Whitelock on (+ 34) 636 52 75 16 We speak English, French, German and Spanish

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Diario Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Portal Tematico de la Serrania

Tags:

1810, accommodation, Batalla de la Puente, Casa Real, casa rural, Diario Ronda, feria, fiesta, French troops, mirador, Montejaque, montejaqueños, Napoleon, Paul Whitelock, Portal Tematico de la Serrania, The Culture Vulture, www.help-me-ronda.com

PBMF 2025 - Saturday August 7, Ronda

2025-08-04T17:49:43

What a setting! The modern open-air concrete "Roman Amphitheatre", perched on Ronda's western cliff edge is a wondrous location. The mountains of the Sierra de Grazalema make a perfect backdrop for any performance.

[Photo: Diario Sur]

We arrived just after 9.00 pm as the first act was beginning its set. "We" were myself and my German friends Iris and Rainer who I've known for some 16 years, since I immigrated to Spain, in fact, to live with my German sweetheart Rita.

Iris and Rainer owned (and still do) the house next to our home in Montejaque, a village near Ronda.

As it turns out, Montejaque is the base of the PBMF, although not back then.

This festival did not debut until 2016.

Iris and Rainer [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

Robin Mordecai and Diego Castillo-Olivares

Robin is a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Austin, Texas.

Robin reminded the audience, small at this early hour (the Spanish go out late!), that this was his fourth consecutive time at the festival and that four years ago was when he first met Diego from England, then a 13-year-old, born to Spanish parents who had emigrated to England.

2020 was also the first time I attended the festival and I got to know them both.

Diego made a guest appearance on drums in a jam session which also featured Robin on guitar, as well as other players from the USA and Europe. Diego was just 13-years-old at the time!

Back to the present, Diego is poised to go to Bristol University in October to study Design/Mechanical Engineering, exactly what my brother Simon did there, albeit over 50 years previously.

Back to the concert and Robin was singing and playing electric guitar, backed by Diego on acoustic Spanish guitar.

They were fabulous! Robin's powerful voice and Diego's consummate guitar-picking really got the evening off to a a great start.

Photos of Robin and Diego on stage in Ronda by Paul Whitelock

Leeann Atherton

Next up were Leeann Atherton and her band from Alabama via California. This band was new to me..

Before us stood an old dear dressed in cowboy gear and clutching a guitar. Towering over her was a rather large younger man. It didn't look promising!

Sitting down was a man with an electric guitar and off to the side a keyboard player. After tuning up, the band burst into song. It was an a cappella harmony. Blimey! West Coast rockabilly at its best.

Photo by Paul Whitelock

Leeann then introduced her band. The big lad beside her at the front of the stage, was her son, Austin!

They then played a rousing set of Country and Western with a tinge of the Blues.

Austin also played mean guitar and mouth organ, as well as possessing a powerful and clear baritone singing voice.

I bumped into Leeann later and we had a great chat. We exchanged contact details, so we'll see how that goes.

Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz)

The next two groups were from my favourite place on the Cadiz coast, El Puerto de Santa Maria.

Unfortunately, as far as I and my two companions were concerned, both bands were a great disappointment. The worst was that they occupied the peak slot and the organisers couldn't get them off!

The Maddening Flames, an eight-piece with more guitars than soft Mick (whoever he was!), and just one female voice, outstayed their welcome.

They lived up to their name - they were maddening! - simply samey and boring.

The core members of The Maddening Flames [Facebook]

Los Jaguares de la Bahia were nothing more than a joke! A parody.

Three old guys, two on guitar and one on keyboards with lights on their costumes.

The best "musician" was the synthesiser drummer.

[Photo courtesy of Vertigo Estival]

Donovan Keith and friends

Why they kept this ensemble back to so late is beyond belief. Donovan Keith, from Austin, Texas, is amazing. He has a fabulous tenor voice and is a great ukelele player (on a par with the late great George Formby! - joke, ha-ha).

His collaborators were Robin Mordecai (q.v.) on drums, Diego Castillo-Olivares (q.v.) on guitar and Jason from Canada on bass guitar.

Donovan Keith and friends on stage in Montejaque [PW]

We enjoyed their first few numbers, before it was time to go home and go to bed.

Conclusion

Look, the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival is all free, so we shouldn't moan.

As for me, I love live music, warts and all. It was once again a privilege to experience this amazing event.

[Poster courtesy of Sierra de las Nieves]

Links:

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2022 | Cartel, entradas, horarios y hoteles - www.fanmusicfest.com

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 - Austin & Andalucía Music Festival

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival Mark VIII - Eye on Spain

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Ronda Today

© The Culture Vulture

Photos:

Diario Sur, Paul Whitelock, Sierra de las Nieves, Vertigo Estival

Tags:

Austin, Cortes de la Frontera, Culture Vulture, Diario Sur, Diego Castillo-Olivares, Donovan Keith, El Colmenar, Jimera de Libar, Leann Atherton, Montejaque, Mozambique, Olvera, Paul Whitelock, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Robin Mordecai, Ronda, Serrania de Ronda, Sierra de Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves, Teatro Romano, Texas, Vertigo Estival

A Busy Start (and Finish) to August!

2025-07-30T20:03:42

Yes, August is the month when Spain lets its hair down, celebrating fiesta after feria after dia santo (saint's day).

Where do I begin?

There's so much going on in Ronda and the Serrania in the coming days, it would be impossible to go to everything!

[Poster courtesy of Facebook]

Thursday 31 July - Sunday 3 August

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival

Today marks the start of the Pueblos Blancos Music Festival. The opening night takes place in Montejaque, near Ronda.

Montejaque is the base for the festival which is in its eighth year. The musicians are all accommodated and fed in Montejaque, where there are four days of live music.

[Poster courtesy of Noticias Clave]

Over the next four days the festival also takes in Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Libar, Olvera and Ronda.

The musicians, all professional, come predominantly from Austin, Texas, but there are also artistes from France, Guatemala, Mozambique, Norway, Spain, and the UK.

The full programme, giving dates, times and line-ups, is available here:

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 - Austin & Andalucía Music Festival

31 July - 3 August

Feria y Fiestas Mayores

El Gastor (Cadiz)

El primer fin de semana del mes de agosto, El Gastor celebra su Feria y Fiestas Mayores.

Entre los actos que se desarrollan destacan las actuaciones musicales, competiciones deportivas y la tradicional suelta de vaquillas a mediodía y el Toro de fuego a media noche que llenan las calles de El Gastor de visitantes.

Se suele celebrar en la Plaza de la Constitución un bingo popular con muchísima afluencia.

Muchos actos y muy diversos para la que es una de las ferias más concurridas de la sierra gaditana.

[Poster: guiadecadiz.com]

31 July - 23 August

Conciertos de Verano en Ronda

[Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda]

31 July - 3 August

Feria y Fiestas de Parauta 2025

Fiestas en honor de la Virgen del Rosario

Further information here:

Feria y Fiestas de Parauta 2025 - Portal Temático Serranía de Ronda

Weekends up to 31 August

Exposición de Jennifer Waterhouse

Calle Toledillo 42, Gaucin

Sábados y Domingos de 11:00 a 16:00

Jennifer Waterhouse nació en el norte de Inglaterra y estudió pintura en Leeds College of Art, y después en el Royal College of Art en Londres.

Enseñó pintura en Rochdale College of Art , y luego en Sir John Cass College, y en un instituto para chicos, ambos en Londres.

Ha vivido más de 40 años en España, primero en Madrid y Málaga, y ahora lleva más de 20 años viviendo en Gaucín.

Su pintura está basada más que nada en Gaucín y el campo que lo rodea. Suele pintar en exteriores, aunque también tiene un estudió en Gaucín.

[Poster courtesy of Art Gaucin]

Ha exhibido pinturas en Londres, Málaga, Estepona, Guadiaro y Gibraltar, pero ahora normalmente exhibe con el colectivo de artistas Art Gaucin.

Further information here:

Jennifer Waterhouse - Art Gaucín

Friday 1 August

Casa Museo Don Bosco, Ronda

Flamenco Guitar Concert - Carlos Perez (Cadiz)

For one night only

Tickets - 20 euros - available from Casa Museo Don Bosco, Oficina de Turismo or online at the Chipta ticketing webshop:

SPECIAL CONCERT – FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 2025

Photo of Carlos Perez [Casa Museo Don Bosco]

More information here:

Flamenco Guitar Concerts - Casa Museo Don Bosco

2-9 August

'Semana Cultural' de Pujerra (46a edicion)

[Fiestas Singulares de Malaga]

3-4 August

'Farajan te cuenta'

[Portal Tematico de la Serrania de Ronda]

Festival de cuentos, musica y poesia

Plaza del Mirador, Farajan (Malaga)

Tuesday 5 August

MARTES CON ARTE en Atajate

"Mujeres Frente al Espejo"

By Eduardo Galan

Performed by:

Compañia Platea de Ronda

Zona de lavadero municipal, Atajate

Entrada libre

Una propuesta teatral intima y conmovedora que invita a la reflexion sobre la identidad, los vinculos femeninos y los silencios que habitan en el interior de cada persona.

[Poster courtesy of Proyecto Platea]

7 - 10 August

Feria de Agosto

Gaucin

Se celebra en honor de la virgen de las Nieves y en recuerdo de la feria del ganado. Lugareños, visitantes y emigrantes que retornan en estas fechas para reencontrarse con familiares y amigos, celebran las fiestas con bailes, casetas, concursos, dianas, pasacalles, cohetes y competiciones deportivas.

El recinto ferial dispone de Caseta Municipal, con actuaciones musicales, grandes orquestas y programación para todo tipo de público. Asimismo el recinto ferial dispone también de la caseta de la juventud, espacio para que los jovenes den rienda suelta en estos dias festivos. Y como no, atracciones mecánicas para los pequeños.

[Poster by M. Jose Fernandez]

FERIA 2025

The official poster for the 2025 Fair, by M. José Fernández, captures the essence of this special celebration.

The full schedule for these four exciting days will be available very soon.

#feria #gaucin #visitgaucin #balcondelaserrania #virgendelasnieves #agosto #tradicion #verano

9 - 16 August

'Festival Arte Vivo 2025'

Genalguacil (Malaga)

Exposiciones de arte, conciertos, talleres y presentaciones

[Diputacion Provincial de Malaga]

14 August

Vanesa Martin

Recinto Ferial 'Angel Harillo' de Ronda

[Poster: Grupo Mundo]

15 August

'Los Morancos'

Recinto Ferial 'Angel Harillo' de Ronda

[Poster: Grupo Mundo]

23 August

Festival de Cante Grande

Las Murallas del Carmen, Ronda

22.00 horas

Ezequiel Benitez, Remedios Reyes y Juan-Fran Carrasco al cante;

Paco Leon, Julio Romero y David Arahal al toque.

[Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda]

El flamenco: Patrimonio Cultural de Andalucía

El flamenco es una de las expresiones culturales más profundas y emotivas de Andalucía. Este arte, que ha sido reconocido como Patrimonio Cultural Inmaterial de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, es una parte integral de la Feria de Ronda. El Festival de Cante Grande es una manifestación de esta rica tradición, ofreciendo a locales y visitantes la oportunidad de disfrutar de actuaciones de altísimo nivel en un entorno histórico incomparable.

29 - 31 August

'Gala Folklorica Internacional de Ronda'

Auditorio de Blas Infante, Ronda

22.00 horas

Evento organizado por Asociacion Cultural Folklorica Abul-Beka con el apoyo del Ayuntamiento de Ronda, de la Diputacion de Malaga, la Fundacion Unicaja y CIOFF.

[Poster sponsored by Ayuntamiento de Ronda]

30 August

20th Anniversary Celebration

Hotel Molino del Puente, Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda

Featuring Marcus Myers 'live'

The Love Family, successful restaurateurs on the coast ('The Harbour Lights', Cabopino), decided to move inland at the turn of the century and bought a dilapidated mill just outside Ronda. After a major renovation project which turned the molino into a bijou boutique hotel and a fine restaurant, they opened their doors on August 30, 2005.

The Love family in 2005 [Karl Smallman]

Marcus Myers

Originally trained as a plumber, Marcus was also an accomplished singer/songwriter, which gained him a berth in the backing band for the internationally famous duo Alisha's Attic in the 1990s/early 2000s.

Marcus moved to Spain, to Cortes de la Frontera (Malaga, Andalucia), with his half-Spanish wife, Carmen in 2000. He no longer "plumbs" - he earns his living from music.

Marcus Myers [MMMusic]

Marcus Myers embraces new challenges in a music career that has spanned more than 40 years | Sur in English

As for the 20th Anniversary Celebration, I've already reserved - just for me. My wife Rita will be away in Germany, so, unless I find myself a dinner date, I shall be dining de Rodriguez!

PLEASE NOTE: This article is not yet completed. As further information becomes available, it will be added

© The Culture Vulture

Links:

Feria y Fiestas de Parauta 2025 - Portal Temático Serranía de Ronda

Flamenco Guitar Concerts - Casa Museo Don Bosco

Gaucín - Ayuntamiento de Gaucín

Jennifer Waterhouse - Art Gaucín

Marcus Myers embraces new challenges in a music career that has spanned more than 40 years | Sur in English

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 - Austin & Andalucía Music Festival

SPECIAL CONCERT – FRIDAY 1 AUGUST 2025

Acknowledgements:

Art Gaucin, Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Gaucin, Ayuntamiento de Parauta, Casa Museo Don Bosco, Compañia Platea, Diputacion Provincial de Malaga, Facebook, Grupo Mundo, guiadecadiz.com, Jennifer Waterhouse, Karl Smallman, M. Jose Fernandez, Martes con arte, "Mujeres enfrente al espejo", Noticias Clave, Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, SUR in English, Tony Bryant, Virgen de las Nieves

Tags:

Alisha's Attic, Art Gaucin, Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Atajate, Ayuntamiento de Gaucin, Ayuntamiento de Parauta, Cabopino, Carlos Perez, Casa Museo Don Bosco, Compañia Platea, concert, Convento, Cortes de la Frontera, Culture Vulture, Facebook, Festival de Cante Grande, flamenco, Gaucin, guiadecadiz.com, Harbour Lights, Jennifer Waterhouse, Jimera de Libar, Karl Smallman, La Muralla, Marcus Myers, M. Jose Fernandez, Marcus Myers, Martes con arte, "Mujeres enfrente al espejo", Noticias Clave, Olvera, Plaza de Toros, Portal Tematico Serrania de Ronda, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Ronda, SUR in English, Tony Bryant, Virgen del Rosario.

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival Mark VIII

2025-07-21T04:05:22

Yes, another year has passed and live music on a grand scale returns to the Serrania de Ronda from Thursday July 31 to Sunday August 3, 2025.

Some venues were changed in 2024. Montejaque remains the hub, Ronda is still a major venue, but two previous participants, Grazalema and Villaluenga del Rosario, dropped out.

In came Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Libar, and Olvera.

[Poster by Noticias CLAVE]

The Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 will feature 25 bands from around the world, including a dozen from Austin, Texas.

Donovan Keith from Texas [Facebook] Los Widowmakers from Barcelona [Ruta 66]

The concerts are free to attend.

For details of the acts, more photos, dates, venues and times, check the weblinks below:

Links:

International music festival takes over 'pueblos blancos' in Ronda mountains | Sur in English

Pueblos Blancos Music Fest #5

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival 2025 | Ronda | Andalucia.com

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Fairs & Festivals - Visit Costa del Sol - Costa del Sol Málaga

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Portal Temático Serranía de Ronda

Pueblos Blancos Music Fest presenta su cartel para su octava edición – Magazine Rock

Ya casi llega la octava edición... - Pueblos Blancos Music Festival | Facebook

Further Links:

Gallery - Help me, Ronda

Pueblos Blancos Music Fest

Pueblos Blancos Music Festival - Ronda Today

Thanks:

Facebook, Juan de Castro, Karl Smallman, Noticias CLAVE, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Today, Ruta 66

Tags:

Austin, Cortes de la Frontera, Donovan Keith, Facebook, Grazalema, Jimera de Libar, Montejaque, Noticias CLAVE, Olvera, Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, Ronda, Ruta 66, Texas, Villaluenga del Rosario, Widowmakers, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.pueblosblancosmusicfestival.com

Happy Easter!

2025-04-20T06:58:14

In Christian countries Easter Sunday signifies the end of the Easter celebrations, although in the UK and the USA Easter Monday is a Bank Holiday. In other Christian cultures, this particular Monday is a normal working day, eg in Germany, Italy and Spain.

[Image courtesy of My Postcard]

The Story of Easter

According to Christian tradition the Easter period starts with Palm Sunday, recalling the day Our Lord entered Jerusalem to a great welcome riding on a donkey.

By the following Friday He had been crucified by the Roman governors along with some petty thieves and died. He rose from the grave on Easter Sunday and ascended into Heaven to sit alongside His Father, God.

In secular societies such as the UK and France not much happens, whereas in Roman Catholic countries like Italy and Spain there is a much more religious aspect on display.

[Photo: Ascension Press]

Semana Santa in Spain

In Spain, especially in Andalucia, from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday (Semana Santa - Holy Week) there are Easter processions (desfiles) every day. This is when the various cofradias linked to different churches in a town or village, get out their tronos, wooden "carriages" with statues of the Virgin Mary and of Christ on the Cross, which are carried through the streets on the shoulders of costaleros, usually, the menfolk of the parish.

[Photo: Hike and Bike the Sierras]

I find these parades spectacular and very moving, whereas my German wife does not and avoids them like the plague. Many foreigners find them fascinating, more so tourists than residents. The local Spanish, however, turn out en masse, "dressed to the nines". A time to see and be seen.

On Palm Sunday morning this year I chanced upon the opening two processions, just as they were starting out. After a week of heavy rain we were blessed with a dry day and they started off in bright sunshine around noon. Some processions later in the week were sadly rained off.

Easter shut-down

In Ronda (Malaga), where I live, the town shuts down from jueves santo until domingo de Resurreccion, although these days the foreign-owned supermarkets tend to open, eg the German discounters Aldi and LIDL and French-owned Al Campo, Carrefour and Supeco.

The Spanish-owned Dia, Eroski, Mercadona and Super Carmela keep their doors firmly shut.

Some businesses close for the entire week, compelling their employees to take leave whether they want to or not. In Ronda Big Mat La Toma, the builders merchants, is a prime example.

[Image: Good Housekeeping]

So, construction companies either have to plan ahead or also shut down. The only places open all week are bars, cafes, restaurants and tourist shops, because they can make a fortune!

Final thoughts

I love the atmosphere and tradition of Easter in Spain. A time of sadness and joy, of spectacular processions and warm community spirit, of families coming together.

I hope it will survive forever.

[Image: ACI Prensa]

Note: This post also appears on The History Man thread:

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/thehistoryman/23755/happy-easter---spanish-style.aspx

Photos and images:

ACI Prensa, Ascension Press, Charry TV, Good Housekeeping, Hike and Bike the Sierras, My Postcard, Paul Whitelock, Ronda Semanal, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia

Acknowledgements:

Diario Sur, Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, Wikipedia

Links:

Guide to Semana Santa in Ronda | Andalucia.com

Semana Santa 2025: A Guide to Spain's Holy Week Celebrations

Semana Santa Archives - Ronda Today

SEMANA SANTA (Holy Week)

Will Spain's hallowed Semana Santa be another washout? Storm Olivier brings orange alerts to Andalucia - Olive Press News Spain

Tags:

ACI Prensa, Ascension Press, Al Campo, Aldi, Andalucía, ascended into Heaven, a time to see and be seen, atmosphere, Bank Holiday, Big Mat La Toma, builders merchants, Carrefour, Charry TV, Christian tradition, Christ on the cross, Clive Muir, cofradias, community spirit, construction companies, costaleros, crucified, desfiles, Dia, Diario Sur, domingo de Resurreccion, "dressed to the nines", Easter Monday, Easter processions, Easter shut-down, Easter Sunday, Eroski, families coming together, foreigners find them fascinating, foreign-owned supermarkets, France, French-owned, German discounters, Germany, God, Good Housekeeping, Happy Easter, Hike and Bike the Sierras, Holy Week, Italy, Jerusalem, jueves santo, LIDL, make a fortune, Mercadona, Michael Coy, normal working day, My Postcard, Olive Press News, open all week, Palm Sunday, Palm Sunday morning, Paul Whitelock, processions rained off, residents, Roman Catholic countries, Ronda Semanal, Ronda Today, sadness and joy, Semana Santa, Spain, Spanish-owned, spectacular processions, Supeco, Super Carmela, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, tourists, tourist shops, tradition, Trip Advisor, tronos, UK, Virgin Mary, Wikipedia

"HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY"

2025-04-14T05:27:33

"How Green Was My Valley" is a novel by Richard Llewellyn, published by Michael Joseph Publishing Ltd. It's about a Welsh family and the mining community in which they live.

It was turned into a Hollywood film, two BBC TV series, a Broadway musical and a theatre play.

Valle de Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda [Trip Advisor]

The Book

This historical novel is set in South Wales during the reigns of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. It tells the story of the Morgans, a respectable mining family of the South Wales Valleys, through the eyes of the youngest son, Huw Morgan.

Huw's academic ability sets him apart from his elder brothers and enables him to consider a future away from the dangerous coal mines. His five brothers and his father are all miners.

After his eldest brother, Ivor, is killed in a mining accident, Huw moves in with Ivor's young widow, Bronwen, with whom he has always secretly been in love.

Huw's father is later killed in a mine disaster. After everyone Huw has known either dies or moves away, and the village is reduced to a contaminated shell, and the house is being destroyed by a slag heap, he too decides to leave, and tells the story of his life just before going away.

Book cover courtesy of Iberlibro

The first edition was published in 1939 by Michael Joseph Ltd, London.

In the United States, Llewellyn won the National Book Award for favourite novel of 1940, voted by members of the American Booksellers Association.

The Film

The 1941 Hollywood film adaptation of "How Green Was My Valley" was highly successful, with a cast that included Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall (as Huw), Donald Crisp, and Barry Fitzgerald.

None of the leading players was Welsh.

Film poster courtesy of WordPress

Directed by John Ford, "How Green Was My Valley" was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five, famously beating "Citizen Kane", "Sergeant York" and "The Maltese Falcon" for Best Picture, while Ford won for Best Director, Donald Crisp for Best Supporting Actor, Arthur Miller for Best Cinematography, and Richard Day, Nathan H. Juran and Thomas Little for Best Black-and-White Art Direction-Interior Decoration.

In 1990, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The Academy Film Archive preserved "How Green Was My Valley" in 1998.

TV Series

The book has twice been adapted by the BBC for television, in 1960 and 1975.

The 1960 adaptation featured Eynon Evans, Rachel Thomas and Glyn Houston.

The 1975 production starred Stanley Baker, (Dame) Siân Phillips, and Nerys Hughes. Phillips won a BAFTA award for best actress in 1976 for her portrayal of Beth Morgan.

Baker and Phillips [Photo: Historic Images]

Musical and Theatre

The novel was adapted as a Broadway musical, called "A Time for Singing", which opened at the Broadway Theatre, New York, on 21 May 1966.

The play starred Ivor Emmanuel, Tessie O'Shea, Shani Wallis, and Laurence Naismith.

A stage version, adapted by Shaun McKenna was performed at the Theatre Royal in Northampton in 1990. It marked the stage debut of Aled Jones as the teenage Huw.

[Courtesy of Spotify]

A Personal Viewpoint

I was struck the other day by how green was my valley. Much greener than normal. But we've had a load of rain. I live in the Valle de Fuente de la Higuera just outside Ronda (Malaga).

My Welsh dad's background was not dissimilar to that of Huw, the protagonist of the novel (see above). John Albert was the second youngest of five boys born into a South Wales mining family. His older brothers all went down the pit but my dad was deemed to be bright, so his dad, who had been invalided out of the pit following an injury, sent him to England. And there he stayed.

He met and married Vera Valerie, in Barnstaple (Devon), and they had me in 1950 and my brother Simon three years later.

[Photo courtesy of the BBC]

How Green is my valley?

As I indicated earlier, I've never seen it so green at this time of year, the start of Spring. And I've lived round here for over 16 years.

Valle de Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda [Photos: Paul Whitelock]

After all the rain we've had since before Christmas, it's no wonder. But at last buds are appearing on bushes, shrubs and trees, and vegetables are poking through the earth in my huerto. The ground is so wet we should get a bumper crop this year.

"How Green Was My Valley" and I

The amateur drama group I was a member of in the 1980s put on the play. I wasn't in it, but I enjoyed the production. The group was known as S.P.A.D.E.S. based in Swinton & Pendlebury (Greater Manchester).

I also saw the film on TV, although it was a bit too "Hollywood" for my taste.

And I remember watching the 1975 TV series with Stanley Baker and Sian Phillips (see above).

S.P.A.D.E.S. in Swinton & Pendlebury [Facebook]

Acknowledgements:

Amazon, Paul Whitelock, SPADES, Wikipedia

Photos and images:

BBC, Facebook, Historic Images, Iberlibro, Paul Whitelock, Spotify, Trip Advisor, WordPress

Tags:

Aled Jones, Amazon, Anna Lee, "A Time for Singing", Barnstaple, Beth Morgan, BAFTA, BBC, Broadway musical, "Citizen Kane", Facebook, Historic Images, "How Green Was My Valley", huerto, Huw, Iberlibro, Ivor Emmanuel, John Albert, Laurence Naismith, Malaga, Maureen O'Hara, Michael Joseph Ltd, Nerys Hughes, Paul Whitelock, Richard Llewellyn, Roddy McDowall, Ronda, "Sergeant York", Shani Wallis, Sian Phillips, South Wales, Spotify, Stanley Baker, SPADES, Tessie O'Shea, Theatre Royal in Northampton, "The Maltese Falcon", Trip Advisor, Valle de Fuente de la Higuera, Vera, Walter Pidgeon, Wikipedia, WordPress

Top 10 guitarists? - Differences of opinion

2025-03-23T11:50:39

An article listing the top ten guitarists in history popped up on my computer the other day - quite out of the blue.

I took a look to see how that list compared with my favourites.

[Image courtesy of posters.es]

Well, there were quite a few in common. eg Eric Clapton, Dave Gilmour, Brian May, Jimmy Page and Carlos Santana, but astonishingly, no Peter Green, Mark Knopfler nor Joe Walsh.

Other contenders

I took a look at other top ten lists. The same four or five guitarists were on most lists, but, frankly, I'd never heard of some names on these lists.

At the end of this article are the five websites I looked at - the first five on my Google search, in fact.

My top ten

Here is my definitive list. I've excluded classical guitar maestros like Andres Segovia and John Williams and focused only on pop/rock/blues guitarists since 1960.

I list them alphabetically, although I do have a stand-out number 1, which I shall reveal at the end!

***

Jeff Beck RIP

- as a young man Beck played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before joining The Yardbirds. He was a very under-rated yet top guitar player. He sadly died in 2023, aged 78.

Eric Clapton

- A young Clapton played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before moving on to form Cream and then Blind Faith. He left them after one tour and one album, and despite a long solo career Clapton never achieved greatness on the guitar again.

Clapton was distracted by his obsession with Patti Boyd, the wife of his best mate George Harrison ..... and later by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell from a balcony at his estranged wife's home. Now aged 78 he is no longer active.

The late Jeff Beck [Britannica] Eric Clapton [El Español]

David Gilmour

- Pink Floyd improved when he joined the group following the disappearance of Syd Barrett. I’ve always rated Gilmour highly. His playing on Dark Side of the Moon make it my favourite album of all time.

A young Dave Gilmour with Pink Floyd [Britannica] Gilmour in 2024, aged 78 [Wikipedia]

Peter Green RIP

- Peter Green also "trained" with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before going on to form the original Fleetwood Mac, where he was sensational as the front man. But after he fried his brains on drugs, and spending years in rehab, he never produced great guitar playing again. He is now dead.

Mark Knopfler - Mark Knopfler as the lead guitarist of Dire Straits, proved himself over a decade. Subsequently played with The Traveling Wilbury's alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison. Outstanding!

Peter Green in Fleetwood Mac [Primicias] Mark Knopfler in Dire Straits [Reddit]

Hank B Marvin

- Hank was a pioneer on the guitar. His playing on those great instrumental hits by The Shadows in the 60s was superb.

Brian May

- was as important to Queen as the late Freddie Mercury. Their "Bohemian Rhapsody" was fantastic and gets in my top three songs of all time. His playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 was astonishing.

Hank Marvin [Wikipedia] Brian May on the roof at Buckingham Palace [Photo: X]

Jimmy Page

- Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page wouldn’t have achieved greatness, despite having a great drummer in John Bonham and a wonderful singer, Robert Plant. Page also played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in his younger days.

Carlos Santana

- Carlos Santana is amazing. His distinctive playing dates from the 1970s. He still plays live concerts, although he is now 77 years old.

Jimmy Page [YouTube] Carlos Santana still going strong, aged 77 [La Razon de Mexico]

Joe Walsh

- Joe Walsh of The Eagles was a great guitarist who contributed hugely to the success of this California folk rock band.

Joe Walsh [Billboard] [Photo: rafabasa]

Others who came close to getting on this list were George Harrison RIP, Jimi Hendrix RIP, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor and Pete Townshend.

These are links to the other top ten lists:

The Top 10 Greatest Rock Guitarists Of All Time - Forbes

Top 10 Best Guitarists of All Time - The Top Tens

The Top 10 Guitarists of All Time (Sep 2023) | LedgerNote - Ledgernote

Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time, Ranked - Rolling Stone

The Top 10 Guitarists Of All Time - American Songwriter - American Songwriter

And my number one guitarist of all time?

The virtuoso blues guitarist Peter Green.

His playing for John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and the original Fleetwood Mac was the soundtrack to my late teens and early 20s.

His early capitulation to drugs, mental instability, an ill-advised comeback and early death do not mar his short legacy in any way.

Peter Green RIP [The Irish Times]

Quiz question:

Who are the musicians on the sleeve of this emblematic album? [Clue: They are all still alive and kicking except Mayall, who died in July 2024, aged 90.

Album sleeve [Amazon]

Check out these links:

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/theculturevulture/23537/guitar-legends.aspx

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/theculturevulture/23258/the-best-guitarists-and-drummers-since-music-came-alive-in-1950---revised-and-completed.aspx

https://www.eyeonspain.com/blogs/theculturevulture/23191/viva-la-musica.aspx

Photos:

Amazon, Billboard, Britannica, El Español, La Razon de Mexico, posters.es, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, The Irish Times, Wikipedia, X, YouTube,

Acknowledgements:

John Mayall, Paul Whitelock, The Culture Vulture

Tags:
Amazon, American Songwriter, Andres Segovia, Billboard, Bluesbreakers, Brian May, Britannica, Carlos Santana, David Gilmour, El Español, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Forbes, George Harrison, guitarists, Hank B Marvin, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, John Mayall, Keith Richards, La Razon de Mexico, Ledgernote, Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Paul Whitelock, Peter Green, Pete Townshend, posters.es, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, Rolling Stone, The Culture Vulture, The Irish Times, The Top Tens, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com, X, YouTube

“Emma”

2025-01-24T08:00:26

No, not the 1815 romantic novel by Jane Austen, but Emma Cherry Rolf, professional actress based in Ronda.

Emma was born in England but grew up in Ibiza. She trained as an actress at the prestigious Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, Kent and has worked professionally in the West End, throughout the UK and much of Europe.

She now lives in Benaoján, 20 minutes drive from Ronda. She is married to Paul Rolf who is a property designer.

[Footnote: My son, Tom Whitelock, also trained as an actor/musician at Rose Bruford College, 20 years after Emma. They met last year for the first time in Benaojan .]

Publicity photo of Emma [ECR] Tom, Su and Emma meet in Benaoján [Paul Whitelock]

Su, professional name Susannah Austin, is a great singer. Tom often accompanies her on double bass and as a backing singer:

Susannah Austin Don't Turn Out That Light - live gig in London club featuring Susannah and Tom

Forgive and Forget (Let It Go) - Susannah Austin - video of Susannah

West End Live 2016 Sunny Afternoon - Tom performing live in Piccadilly to promote the Kinks musical "Sunny Afternoon"

'Sunny Afternoon' acoustic cover | Sunny Afternoon cast

Why is Emma in the news?

Next weekend Emma stars as the mother in “Bodas de Sangre” (“Blood Wedding”) by Federico Garcia Lorca, the Granada playwright murdered on Franco’s orders in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War which ushered in nearly forty years of fascist dictatorship In Spain.

Considered, along with “Yerma” and “The House of Bernarda Alba” to be the finest three plays written in Spanish of the 20^th Century.

This modern production will materialise on Friday and Saturday, 24 and 25 January 2025 at the Teatro Vicente Espinel in Ronda.

A few remaining tickets are on sale at Intersport Cary on Calle La Bola and at Restaurante Miyagi Exprés on Calle Jerez.

Proyecto Platea

Emma works at the Proyecto Platea Theatre Company, where she assists owner Marcos Marcell, a professional actor and director from Ronda. The company provide drama classes for all ages, and it is from these amateur actors and actresses, that some real talents have emerged.

I first saw this company perform a delightful one-act play in the open-air patio at the Convento de Santo Domingo in Ronda during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The play was called “Novias” and took place in the wedding dress shop of Dolores, where three brides-to-be had assembled for the final fittings of their wedding dresses.

[Poster courtesy of Red Escena]

The plot, which revealed the truth behind the “weddings” of the three novias, was fascinating and with well-known songs interspersed, the whole thing was a delight.

As a result, I joined the adult class at Proyecto Platea.

Emerging talents

The amateur “stars” include a retired doctor, the owner of a Sports shop, a restaurant manager, teachers and students.

My favourite amateurs – in alphabetical order by surname - are Charo Carrasco, Avelino Écija, Nieves Rodríguez and Ana Belén Sánchez.

Avelino Ecija [PP] "Novias" (L to R: Charo, Emma, Ana Belen, Nieves) [PP]

Back to Emma

As well as her acting achievements, Emma has written a number of original play scripts with best friend Charo Carrasco, including the afore-mentioned “Novias”.

In August 2023 an anthology of their scripts, “Yo soy teatro”, was published and is available from Amazon.

Publicity photos courtesy of Amazon and Charry TV

Links:

Live theatre is back! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

TREADING THE BOARDS: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Photos:

Amazon, Charry TV, Facebook, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Red Escena

Tags:

Ana Belén Sánchez, Avelino Écija, Benaoján, “Blood Wedding”, “Bodas de Sangre”, Calle Jerez, Calle La Bola, Charo Carrasco, Charry TV, Convento de Santo Domingo, Covid-19 pandemic, Culture Vulture, “Emma”, Emma Cherry Rolf, fascist dictatorship In Spain, Federico Garcia Lorca, Ibiza, Intersport Cary, Jane Austen, Marcos Marcell, Nieves Rodríguez, “Novias”, Paul Rolf, Paul Whitelock, Proyecto Platea, Restaurante Miyagi Exprés, Ronda, Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Susannah Austin, Teatro Vicente Espinel, “The House of Bernarda Alba”, Tom Whitelock, West End, “Yerma”, “Yo soy teatro”

Phil Manzanera and Roland Orzabal

2025-01-06T18:27:48

Who?

These consummate musicians are British, despite their Hispanic-sounding names; the former a long-time collaborator with Roxy Music, Phil Collins and others; the latter the mainstay of Tears for Fears together with Curt Smith.

Phil Manzanera

Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, OBE (born 31 January 1951), and known professionally as Phil Manzanera, is an English musician, songwriter and record producer.

Manzanera is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music, and was previously the lead guitarist with 801 and Quiet Sun.

In 2006, Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On an Island, and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America.

Early life

Manzanera was born on 31 January 1951 in London, England, to a Colombian mother (née Manzanera) and an English father, who worked for the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and spent most of his childhood in different parts of the Americas, including Hawaii, Venezuela, Colombia, and Cuba. It was in Havana, Cuba, that the young Manzanera, aged six, encountered his first guitar, a Spanish guitar owned by his mother.

His earliest musical accomplishments were Cuban folk songs inspired by the Cuban Revolution.

In Venezuela, the eight-year-old Manzanera started experimenting with the sounds of the electric guitar.

During his teenage years he was absorbing the twin influences of 1960s rock and roll and Latin American rhythms of merengue, cumbia, and particularly the boleros of the Mexican Armando Manzanero.

Music links:

Guantanamera Phil Manzanera

Phil Manzanera - 801 (Live)

Phil Manzanera: My Go-To Guitars

PHIL MANZANERA LIVE AT RONNIE SCOTTS - EAST OF ASTEROID

Roxy Music - Avalon

Roland Orzabal

Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana (born 22 August 1961) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and author.

He is the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, main songwriter, co-founder, and the only constant member of Tears for Fears. He is also a producer of artists such as Oleta Adams.

In 2014, Orzabal published his first novel, a romantic comedy.

Early life

Orzabal was born Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 22 August 1961.

Orzabal's father, George Orzabal de la Quintana, was a Frenchman of Argentinian and Basque/Spanish roots and was often so ill that he was rarely seen by his children.

Orzabal wrote his first songs when he was seven years old. The family later moved to Bath, Somerset, where he attended Culverhay School (later Bath Community Academy) and became a member of the Zenith Youth Theatre Company.

Early career

Orzabal met Curt Smith while both were in their early teens in Bath.

Orzabal and Smith went on to form Tears for Fears, a new wave music/synthpop outfit.

Orzabal sings and plays guitar for the band, while Smith sings and plays bass guitar. Orzabal is also the band's main songwriter.

Orzabal and Smith were responsible for discovering pianist/vocalist Oleta Adams, whom they invited to collaborate on their 1989 album The Seeds of Love.

Adams appeared on several tracks on the album, most notably the hit single "Woman in Chains", which she performed as a duet with Orzabal.

Orzabal then co-produced Adams' album Circle of One (1990). The album reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 20 in the US, and featured her transatlantic top ten hit "Get Here".

Orzabal also co-wrote the lead track "Rhythm of Life" for the album, which was originally intended for The Seeds of Love. As well as playing guitar and singing backing vocals on the track, he also appeared in the song's accompanying promo video.

Music links:

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Shout (Official Music Video)

Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love

Tears For Fears - Woman In Chains ft. Oleta Adams

Photos:

Wikipedia, YouTube

Tags:

1960s rock and roll, Argentinian, Armando Manzanero, Basque/Spanish, bolero, British Overseas Airways Corporation, Circle of One, co-founder, co-lead vocalist, Colombia, Colombian mother, constant member, Cuba, Cuban folk songs, Cuban Revolution, Culverhay School, cumbia, Curt Smith, David Gilmour, electric guitar, English father, Frenchman, George Orzabal de la Quintana, guitarist, Havana, Hawaii, Latin American rhythms, merengue, Oleta Adams, On an Island, Phil Collins, Phillip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, Phil Manzanera, "Rhythm of Life", Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana, Roland Orzabal, Roxy Music, songwriter, Spanish guitar, Tears for Fears, The Culture Vulture, The Seeds of Love, Venezuela, "Woman in Chains"

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Guitar legends

2025-01-05T17:52:35

A few years ago I wrote an article about the best rock and blues guitarrists. They included the likes of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Dave Gilmour, Hank B Marvin, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Mark Knopfler and George Harrison.

[Image: www.posters.es]

So, what’s new?

I’ve been sorting out my CDs and came across a double live album by Dave Gilmour playing in the docks in Gdansk, Poland.

Dave Gilmour as a young guitarrist with Pink Floyd [Britannica] Gilmour in 2024, aged 78 [Wikipedia]

I’ve always rated Gilmour highly from his days with Pink Floyd, but this album blew me away. His playing was sensational, better than Clapton at his peak, I reckon.

Let’s be honest, since he deserted Blind Faith after one tour and one album, Clapton never achieved greatness on the guitar again.

Distracted by his obsession with Patti Boyd, George Harrison’s missus .....

..... and later by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell from a balcony at his estranged wife's home, he’s done very little of worth since.

Now aged 78 he is no longer active.

Eric Clapton [El Español]

***

Peter Green was sensational as the front man of the original Fleetwood Mac, but after he fried his brains on drugs, he never produced great guitar playing again. He is now dead.

Carlos Santana is amazing. He still plays live concerts, although he is 77 years old.

Peter Green as a young guitarist in Fleetwood Mac [Primicias] Carlos Santana still going strong, aged 77 [La Razon de Mexico]

Jeff Beck from The Yardbirds was a top guitar player. He sadly died in 2023, aged 78.

Joe Walsh of The Eagles was also a great guitarrist who contributed hugely to the success of this California band.

The late Jeff Beck in his heyday [Britannica] Joe Walsh [Billboard]

Hank Marvin was a pioneer on the guitar. His playing on those great instrumental hits by The Shadows in the 60s was superb.

Brian May was as important to Queen as the late Freddie Mercury. His playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 was astonishing.

Hank Marvin [Wikipedia] Brian May [Photo: X]

Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page wouldn’t have achieved greatness, despite having a great drummer in John Bonham and a wonderful singer, Robert Plant.

Mick Taylor’s spell as a Rolling Stone marked him out as a great guitarist. Keith Richards? I’m not sure about that.

Jimmy Page [YouTube] Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards [Wikipedia]

Mark Knopfler as the lead guitarist of Dire Straits, proved himself over a decade. Outstanding!

Towards the end of The Beatles and subsequently, George Harrison demonstrated not only his ability as a songwriter but also his great guitar playing.

Mark Knopfler in Dire Straits [Reddit] The late George Harrison, ex-Beatle [Rolling Stone]

Interestingly, of all the guitarists I’ve mentioned here, a number were given their big break playing for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Mayall was no slouch on the guitar either, by the way.

[Photo: rafabasa] [Album sleeve: Amazon]

There are other great guitar players from the 60s and 70s. I’m thinking of Jimi Hendrix, Chris Rea, Pete Townsend of The Who, and Jet Harris of the original Shadows.

Links:

Best Of Joe Walsh - Joe Walsh Greatest Hits Playlist Full Album

Blind Faith - Sea of Joy

Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home - London Hyde Park 1969.

Brian May on the roof of Buckingham Palace- Queen's Jubilee - God Save The Queen - YouTube

Dire Straits Greatest Hits Full Album 2022 | Best Songs Of Dire Straits

Fleetwood Mac Peter Green - Black Magic Woman (Live Boston Tea Party) 1970

George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

Hank Marvin - Apache

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (50th Anniversary) [2023 Remaster] {Full Album} - YouTube

Santana - Black Magic Woman - 8/18/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)

The Best Live Perform Ever!!! Jeff Beck - Beck's Bolero | HD

And what about this for a bonus treat? George Harrison on stage at Wembley Stadium with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Phil Collins, Jeff Lynne in a concert in aid of The Prince's Trust in 1987:

George Harrison & Ringo Starr - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 1987)

Photo acknowledgements:

20Minutos, Amazon, Billboard, Britannica, El Español, Facebook, La Razon de Mexico, Primicias, rafabasa, Reddit, Rolling Stone, Royal Albert Hall, Wikipedia, www.posters.es, YouTube, X

Tags:

Blind Faith, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Chris Rea, Dave Gilmour, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie Mercury, Gdansk, George Harrison, Golden Jubilee, Hank Marvin, Jeff Beck, Jet Harris, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, John Bonham, John Mayall, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Keith Richards, La Razon de Mexico, Led Zeppelin, Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Patti Boyd, Peter Green, Pete Townsend, Pink Floyd, Poland, Primicias, rafabasa, roof of Buckingham Palace, Queen, Robert Plant, Rolling Stone, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, The Shadows, The Who

230,000 dead after massive flooding

2024-12-27T17:15:12

It was 20 years ago yesterday, Boxing Day, that a massive tsunami devasted communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries.

The countries whose coastal areas were affected included India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and Thailand. The wave even reached the east coast of Africa.

The tsunami and its aftermath were responsible for immense destruction and loss of life on the rim of the Indian Ocean.

Factfile

On 26 December 2004, at 07:58:53 local time, a major earthquake, measuring a massive 9.2–9.3 on the Richter scale, struck with an epicentre off the west coast of Aceh in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

The undersea earthquake was caused by a rupture along the fault between the Burma plate and the Indian plate.

The direct results of this huge tsunami with waves up to 30 m (100 ft) high, caused major disruptions to living conditions and commerce in coastal provinces of surrounding countries.

It is the deadliest natural disaster of the 21st century, one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, and the worst tsunami disaster in history.

It is also the worst natural disaster in the history of Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Asia, the most powerful earthquake in the 21st century, and at least the third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900.

It had the longest fault rupture ever observed, between 1,200 km and 1,300 km and had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, at least ten minutes. It caused the planet to vibrate as much as 10 mm (0.4 in), and also remotely triggered earthquakes as far away as Alaska.

Its epicentre was between Simeulue and mainland Sumatra. The plight of the affected people and countries prompted a worldwide humanitarian response, with donations totalling more than US$14 billion.

20 years on

The recovery of these communities has been amazing. Obviously, the shock and grief experienced two decades ago is still ever present in the hearts and minds of survivors and the bereaved.

On this 20^th anniversary the media has “gone to town”, interviewing survivors, including locals and foreigners who were there on holiday, and illustrating how they have processed what happened and how they have coped with the loss of loved ones. Many have involved themselves in charity work and continue to support the communities affected.

“The Impossible” (feature film)

Eight years after the tragedy a remarkable film was released by Warner Bros. The English language-Spanish collaboration “Lo Imposible” was directed by Juan Antonio García Bayona and written by Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez two Spanish film-makers in their 40s.

The film featured international actors, including Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Geraldine Chaplin, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring, Douglas Johansson and Emilio Riccardi.

The film was well-received by critics and received numerous nominations and awards, including Oscars, Golden Globes and from the Screen Actors Guild.

Naomi Watts [Aventura y Naturaleza] [Photo: 20Minutos] The cast at an Award Ceremony [El Diario]

You can watch the entire film in English here: The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print

Links:

The Impossible (2012 film) - Wikipedia

The impossible full movie 1080 Blueray print

Photos:

20Minutos, Aventura y Naturaleza, BBC News, El Diario, Muy Interesante, Wikipedia, WordPress

Acknowledgements:

Wikipedia, www.bing.com, www.britannica.com, www.premiososcar.net

Tags:

14 countries, 20 years on, 21st century, 227,898 people, Alaska, Boxing Day, Douglas Johansson, earthquake, east coast of Africa, Emilio Riccardi, Ewan McGregor, Geraldine Chaplin, India, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Juan Antonio García Bayona, “Lo Imposible”, Maldives, Marta Etura, Naomi Watts, Pakistan, Richter scale, seismography, Sergio Gutiérrez Sánchez, Simeulue, Sönke Möhring, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand, The Culture Vulture, The History Man, "The Impossible", third most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the world, Tom Holland, tsunami, Wikipedia