Puntos de vista - a personal Spain blog

By Paul Whitelock

Netflix shoots “Seven Dials” in Ronda, a mystery series based on an Agatha Christie novel, in various locations around the stunning Málaga province mountain town.

The series is based on Christie's novel “The Seven Dials Mystery” and stars “Game of Thrones” actor Iain Glen, Oscar-winner Helena Bonham-Carter, up-and-coming star Mia McKenna-Bruce and Martin Freeman of the films “Love Actually” and “The Hobbit”, as well as television series “Fargo”.

Filming in Ronda

Helena Bonham-Carter, Martin Freeman and Iain Glen          Mia McKenna-Bruce

[Photo: Cordon Press]                                                           [Photo: Wikipedia]

Filming by the production company 72 Films took place this week from Monday 16 September to Wednesday 18 September in iconic locations in Ronda such as the Puente Nuevo (new bridge) over the gorge, the area around the Fuente de los Ocho Caños drinking fountain, the Duquesa de Parcent square, the Arab Baths, the Alameda del Tajo park, the Ermita and the Plaza de Toros.

Ronda town councillor Jorge Fernández said: “There will be some minor short-term traffic interruptions for the filming. We aim to reduce the possible inconvenience that may be caused to local people".

Ronda mayor María de la Paz Fernández stated: "This international filming by a company that has created products such as the latest 007 film brings a team of around 120 people to Ronda for the shooting, which gives an idea of the magnitude of this production."

The Local Police have contemplated various traffic cuts with the intention of alternating the passage of pedestrians and vehicles, so long as the filming allows it.

Mari-Paz Fernández [Photo courtesy Diario Ronda]

Mayor Fernández added: “Ronda has here a new platform for international promotion at no cost, since the filming of an international series in English of this calibre means that millions of people from all over the world can contemplate the many charms that our city offers."

“The city has already been the scene of other international creations such as 'The Warrior Nun', and 'Feria'.

Other celebrity visitors

And, in recent years, a number of music videos by, for example Madonna and Daniel Bedingfield, as well as TV documentaries by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and Michael Portillo for his series Great Railway Journeys.

Madonna at bullfight in Ronda [La Razon]            Michael Portillo at the Puente Nuevo [CharryTV]

Jamie Oliver making a giant paella in Benaojan [Paul Whitelock]

In the more distant past celebrities such as the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, the American writer Ernest Hemingway and the American actor and film director Orson Welles fell in love with Ronda’s charms.

In fact, Welles is buried here and all three have streets named after them. Rilke also a car park and a driving school

    Ernest Hemingway [Acento]                                Orson Welles [IMDb]                      Rainer Maria Rilke [El Mundo]

Access denied

Despite having my Press pass, I was denied access to the filming and to the actors. Head of production Guillermo explained that the production company wanted to keep tight control of the rights and the publicity for the series.

Head of security Miguel forbade me from taking photos of the actors when they emerged from the filming, despite being on the public highway.

Then I had an idea: I went to the terrace cafe on the fourth floor of the Hotel Catalonia which is opposite the bullring. This is a great vantage point for looking down on proceedings in the arena. There was nobody there apart from a couple of British hotel guests. I managed to take a few shots of scenes involving Martin Freeman.

Martin Freeman filming in Ronda's bullring for the series "Seven Dials" [Photos: Paul Whitelock]

I had learned that the production company would be filming in the bullring all day, so in the early evening I returned to the Hotel Catalonia roof terrace. The cafe was heaving with guests now. But, you won't believe this, Miguel, the aforementioned security man, was patrolling up and down the terrace STOPPING PEOPLE FROM TAKING PHOTOS!

What? This was outrageous! This was a hotel terrace - nothing to do with the filming!

I recall similar over-the-top secrecy surrounding the filming of chef Jamie Oliver back in 2009.

Wednesday - same story of secrecy

They started filming at the Puente Nuevo before the sun was fully up, but there were no actors present. Despite the heavy security I managed to get a couple of shots.

[Photo to follow]

Later they blocked access roads for traffic to the Ocho Caños and the Baños Arabes. By the time I parked and walked down, they'd been and gone.

On a hunch I drove to the Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza. One crew member, Pedro from Sevilla, was blocking the road to the Hermitage.

"They've all gone off for lunch", he told me.

I set off to try to find where they were dining, but drew a blank.

***

I returned to the Ermita in the evening. Seguridad prevented me from approaching the film set (surprise, surprise!) but I met a couple of special effects people (artists) who were preparing props for later filming. I chatted to Isi from La Mancha, Antonio from Almagro (Ciudad Real) and security guard Miguel from Málaga for ages and found out a lot. They didn't appear to be bound by any secrecy clause.

I learned where some of the 120 cast and crew were staying, and that filming had been extended by a few days. They were happy for me to take a photograph of them.

[Photo to follow]

Conclusion

I hope the series is a success. The writer - Agatha Christie - and the actors - Iain Glen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mia McKenna-Bruce and Martin Freeman -  are great actors and the director, Chris Sweeney, also has pedigree. I just feel the secrecy was totally unnecessary.

I look forward to watching it later in the year.

STOP PRESS:

Three new links:

Exclusive: Martin Freeman is spotted filming for Agatha Christie Netflix series in Spain's Ronda - Olive Press News Spain (theolivepress.es)

Netflix grabará en Ronda una serie de misterio con Iain Glen, de Juego de Tronos | Diario Sur

'Seven Dials', la nueva serie de Netflix que están grabando en Ronda y se basa en una novela de Agatha Christie (malagahoy.es)

Notes:

72 Films is an independent production company founded by David Glover and Mark Raphael.

Their aim is to make programmes that inspire, entertain, and make a positive contribution to the cultural landscape.

72 Films have won major commissions with the BBC, National Geographic, Channel 4, Sky, Paramount, Netflix, Apple and Amazon.

©  Paul Whitelock

Links:

El día que prohibieron a Madonna torear en Ronda (larazon.es)

In Ronda a street bears his name and there is a statue in his honour in the grounds of a hotel - but who was Rilke? (secretserrania.com)

Michael Portillo and Andalucía - Help me, Ronda (help-me-ronda.com)

VIDEO: Three Jamies - including celebrity TV chef Jamie Oliver - in one day! (secretserrania.com)

Acknowledgements:

Diario Sur

Francisco Griñán

Javier Amellones

Laura Plaza Rodríguez

Ronda Semanal

SUR in English

Vanessa Melgar

Photos:

Acento

CharryTV.com

Cordon Press

Diario Ronda

El Mundo

Fuente de los Ocho Caños

IMDb

Javier Flores

La Razon

Malaga Hoy

Paul Whitelock

SUR in English

The Olive Press

Tags:

72 Films, Agatha Christie, Alameda del Tajo, Amazon, Apple, Arab Baths, Baños árabes, BBC, Channel 4, Chris Sweeney, Daniel Bedingfield, Diario Sur, Duquesa de Parcent, Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza, Ernest Hemingway, “Fargo”, Francisco Griñán, Fuente de los Ocho Caños, “Game of Thrones”, Helena Bonham-Carter, Hotel Catalonia, Iain Glen, Jamie Oliver, Javier Amellones, Jorge Fernández, “Love Actually”, Madonna, Málaga, María de la Paz Fernández, Martin Freeman, Michael Portillo, National Geographic, Netflix, Orson Welles, Paramount, Paul Whitelock, Plaza de Toros, Puente Nuevo, Rainer Maria Rilke, Ronda, Ronda mayor,  Ronda Semanal, “Seven Dials”, Sky, SUR in English, “The Hobbit”, “The Seven Dials Mystery”, Vanessa Melgar

Pablo de Ronda has been “de Rodríguez” since last Wednesday, when his wife jetted off to Germany to look after her older sister, who has just come out of hospital after major surgery.

“Footloose and fancy-free” is the best “translation” Pablo can muster for “de Rodríguez”. For a more in-depth discussion of the topic, click here: ... de Rodríguez? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Anyway, if you’ve now read the article, you’ll be expecting Pablo to give a “nudge-nudge-wink-wink” account of what he’s been up to while the missus has been away. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here’s what has happened so far:

Where can I get a coffee?

I dropped the “Meter Maid”, Rita (geddit?), at Málaga Costa del Sol airport at just before 5.30 am. Her flight to Paderborn (North Rhine Westfalia) was due to take off at 7.00 am.

I’d already decided to spend a few hours down on the coast, to do a bit of shopping in stores not available in Ronda, and then to have a swim in the Med and have a snooze on the beach.

First things first, I needed a coffee. So, I toddled off to Torremolinos to look for a café or chiringuito overlooking the beach. What better than seeing dawn break on the beach with maybe a chance for a skinny-dip?

Well, I drove the entire length of the coast, some three kilometres, and nowhere was open.

I was driving so slowly that I appeared to arouse interest by a local police patrol – probably thought I was a kerb-crawler.

What to do? The shops don’t open till 10.00 and it’s only 6.00 am?  I followed a sign for the centro urbano and almost immediately found a 24-hour bar.

“In for a penny, in for a pound,” I thought, so I entered.

The clientele was a fascinating mixture of workers on their way to work, topping up with a coffee and a chupito of anís or coñac; people who’d clearly been up all night clubbing; alcoholics; whores; and a transvestite. And that was just inside.

The terrace outside was also full: with smokers (I caught a whiff of wacky-baccy); other “alternative types”; and a guy drinking pints of lager.

“Must be British,” I thought.

Oh, well, each to his own – we all have our little quirks, idiosyncrasies and addictions, don’t we? I’m not normal either!

Oh, he was British, by the way, as I discovered later.

So, I sat at a table and got my work out. I had some press cuttings to read and some writing to do and had brought my laptop with me.

I had two coffees, mainly to keep me awake, but was surprised that you had to pay en seguida, ie at the moment of ordering. With hindsight, probably a good idea with the dodgy clients the bar attracts.

I more or less finished what I wanted to do, and it was getting hotter inside by the minute, so I decamped outside.

What happened next?

“Lager man” was at the next table. He seemed to know everybody, local and guiri alike, but he was definitely English. From his accent I reckoned he was from the North West.

And so he was. When I engaged him in conversation, it emerged that he was from Bury, Greater Manchester. Not far from the second school I taught at in Middleton, in fact. He now lives in Bolton, another of my old stomping grounds.

He was here in Torremolinos for the umpteenth time – that’s why he seemed to know everyone – but he still works in the UK.

As he ordered his third pint of lager while I’d been in the bar, he told me he never drinks in England.

“I more than make up for it when I’m out here, though!” he remarked straight-faced.

“So I’m not an alcoholic,” he added.

Sorting things out

After leaving Torremolinos, I headed for Málaga City. I noticed that Leroy Merlin was already open, so I popped in for a coffee and breakfast in their cafetería, before going into the store to buy the stuff I needed.

Then I headed for Carrefour in Málaga. This enormous French-owned hypermarket has everything. I was there for ages.

But I got what I went for: cat food for kittens, plus a few other things that are hard to come by in Ronda.

A quick trip to Aldi and LIDL to see if they had certain things they don’t have in Ronda -they didn’t!

By this time, it was mid-day. Should I go to the beach for a swim, which was what I had intended?

No, I needed to head back home, see to the kitten and so on and so forth…..

Back in Ronda

Paulinchen was fine. I fed her then popped to my local, Hotel Ronda Valley, for a “quickie” before preparing some dinner at home.

My day out? I enjoyed it immensely.

© Pablo de Ronda

Tags:

Alcoholics, Aldi, alternative types, Bolton, Bury, Carrefour, chupito, “de Rodríguez”, “footloose and fancy-free”, Germany, Greater Manchester, Leroy Merlin, Lidl, Málaga, Málaga City, Málaga Costa del Sol airport, “Meter Maid”,  Middleton, North Rhine Westfalia, Pablo de Ronda, Paderborn, Paulinchen, Paul Whitelock, people who’d clearly been up all night, pints of lager, Rita, skinny-dip, smokers, Torremolinos, transvestite, wacky-baccy, whores

It’s officially Autumn in Spain. In Andalucia pupils start school on 15 September, public swimming pools close and the temperature starts to drop. Parents are back at work after the August holiday and life gets back to normal, with shops opening for more hours and businesses and companies working longer hours. On 27 October the clocks go back one hour.

Autumn in the Serranía de Ronda

It’s now an ideal time for those who are retired, have no children in school and who enjoy walking, cycling, bird-watching and other country pursuits.

So, why not come to Montejaque?

There is lots of accommodation available: some small for two people, others larger sleeping six or more; some at the top of the village where no car can reach, others well-located; some pretty basic, others well-renovated and well-equipped; some without adequate heating, some with pellet stoves and open fires; some accommodation is cheap, other places are more expensive; some with no outside space, others with patios and terraces; some noisy, others peaceful and quiet.

Casa Real

This recently completed village house meets the second of all the above criteria.

Casa Real sleeps six plus a child in three double bedrooms.

Casa Real is well-located, half a minute from the village square, yet with stunning views all round.

Casa Real has been renovated and equipped to a high standard, with all new beds, new towels and bedding, etc. The kitchen and laundry room have all new appliances.

Casa Real has a new pellet burner plus several oil-filled electric radiators.

Casa Real’s prices reflect what is offered and the quality of the accommodation. HOWEVER, autumn discounts are available if you book directly with the owner (see below).

Casa Real has an internal patio and a huge roof terrace. There is also a sitting area to the side of the house.

Casa Real is very tranquil. There is no noisy bar nearby and the main house is double-glazed.

Guest Reviews

Casa Real has proved popular with guests from many countries and nationalities.

To date guests from Albania, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, South Africa, Ukraine, USA and from various parts of Spain, including Alicante, Bilbao, Extremadura, Jimera de Libar, Madrid and Ubrique.

***

Our first guests at Casa Real back in September 2021 are good friends. I invited them to “test” Casa Real free-of-charge once Phase 1 was complete.

“This is our 13^th visit to one of Paul and Rita’s properties. This time we had the honour of being the first guests in newly renovated Casa Real.

“Having seen the photos [beforehand] it was everything we had expected with a well-equipped kitchen and two excellent super modern bathrooms. A bonus was the delightful patio area downstairs and the roof terrace with lovely views.”

"Hovis" and Jacqui (Sheffield) and Richard (Belfast)

***

Joe King stayed in December 2021.

“Just checked out Casa Real for winter warmth as a favour to my pal Paul, the owner. The weather was really cold [at this time of year]. Nevertheless, this old house with its super-thick external walls proved easy to warm up. A gas heater was sufficient to take the chill off the L-shaped lounge, dining room and kitchen. The bedrooms just needed an electric oil-filled radiator to make them comfortable for sleeping and the wall heater in the bathroom warmed the room up quickly while you took a bath or a shower. Recommended.”

***

Oliver, Lily, Leyla, Amy, Alice and Cailan (Germany)

A family of two parents and four children from Montejaque’s twin town Knittlingen in Germany stayed rent-free in Casa Real for two months in the early part of 2022. In lieu of rent Oliver, a member of the Guild of Joiners, and mentor and friend of Johannes, my wife Rita’s elder son, also a joiner, carried out a number of carpentry and other jobs on Casa Real and in our other two houses in Montejaque and Ronda.

He also had time to carry out several paid commissions for local residents.

Lily, half-Scottish and a physiotherapist, earned a bit on the side treating locals with ailments, in between breast-feeding baby Cailan.

The three girls, Leyla, Amy and Alice, enrolled at the local primary school and loved it!

Leyla (10) wrote: “We loved going to school here….. Everybody was very friendly, we even called the teachers by their first names, which was strange for us ….. because in Germany the teachers are always Herr “This” and Frau “That”!”

***

Semana Santa (April) 2022

Juanjo, María and Juan from Mérida (Extremadura) wrote that they had had a great experience staying in Casa Real:

“Nos ha gustado mucho la casa, es muy típica, y muy cómoda. Nos hemos sentido como en casa. Todos los detalles están muy cuidados, limpia y confortable.”

***

May 2022

Marta and Juanma from Alicante

“[Nuestra visita] ha coincidido con las fiestas del pueblo y había mucho ambiente. Hemos estado muy a gusto. La casa es fresca para el calor que ha hecho estos días.

“Además tiene todos los servicios necesarios.”

***

July 2022

Hazel and Peter Terry from Derbyshire (England): “Fabulous location, so close to the main square. Very spacious house, with excellent outdoor terraces.”

Kevin and Carolyn Emmett from Montejaque, via England, Canada, Botswana and South Africa: “A fun, quirky house! Very spacious double bedrooms, two fabulous bathrooms, and a secluded patio and a roof terrace. Highly recommended as rental accommodation.”

***

September 2022

Tom, Su and Wilbur from Hastings (East Sussex)

“We stayed here with our 3-year-old son. No problems – the house was perfectly safe for a toddler.

“We coincided with La Batalla de La Puente, which was great fun. Wilbur was fascinated!”

[Author's note: Tom is Paul Whitelock's son and a chip-off-the-old-block. He is currently finishing off the renovation of their home, a large Victorian terraced house in Hastings.]

***

November 2022

Miguel, Silvia, Curro and Jessica (from Ubrique):

“Querida Casa Real:

….. podíamos imaginar que eras una casa con mucho encanto. Entre tus paredes existen tantos detalles singulares que nuestras primeras horas dentro de ti fueron de total recreación y ensimismamiento.

“Tus muchos relojes marcaron segundos, minutos y horas llenos de momentos vividos que no podremos olvidar. Sin duda, una casa impregnada de la personalidad de su dueño y creador, una mezcla especial anglosajona y especial de la Serranía de Ronda.”

***

Semana Santa (April 2023)

“Hemos estado alojados en Casa Real en Semana Santa mi marido (Alfredo), mis tres hijos (Iker, Alicia y Nicolás) y yo (Beatriz) y ha sido estupendo.

“….. La situación del pueblo es ideal para visitar el parque natural con comodidad.

“En cuanto a la casa, todo perfecto. Tiene todo lo que puedas necesitar en cualquier momento, cualquier cosa. Nos ha gustado mucho ojear por las noches la gran biblioteca de Paul, [quien, como anfitrión] atento en todo momento, muy simpatico y amable.”

***

8 August 2023

La Familia Sánchez spent 4 nights in Casa Real:

“La casa es espectacular, con muchos detalles y habitaciones amplias, los baños grandes y limpios.

“La casa está equipada con muchas referencias a Andalucía (detalles que nos gustó mucho).”

Cristián, Gumersindo, Iker y Silvia Sánchez

***

15 August 2023

“La familia Lorenzo Sintoiu está muy satisfecha con la estancia en “Casa Real” y sobre todo con el trato del anfitrión “Paul”, un inglés que ama Andalucía y España.

“Y lo refleja en su casa donde hemos disfrutado mucho de la estancia. Su trato hacia nosotros ha sido espectacular.”

***

Visitors from France on 25 August 2023 were also very happy.

“Nous sommes très satisfaits d’avoir passé du temps à Montejaque qui est idealment place dans le secteur de Ronda. La maison <<Casa Real>> est de type andalouse et s’intègre bien.

“….. la  maison est très spacieuse et les equipements de la maison sont complets.”

***

October 2023

Richard and Penny Rice from Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK enjoyed their visit to Andalucia where they spent three weeks in total.

“We enjoyed staying in Casa Real ….. Paul was very welcoming and provided most helpful information.

“This very quirky rental home is ideally placed in this beautiful limestone mountain pueblo ….. The roof terrace is a great feature of the house.”

***

May 2024

Marta and Juanma from Alicante made their second visit to Casa Real. Juanma, a guardia civil likes to take part in the 101 km race, the bicycle/running/walking event, organised by the Spanish Foreign Legion, based in Ronda. This time he brought his friend Roberto.

“Es nuestra segunda vez en Casa Real de Montejaque.

“En las dos ocasiones con motivo de realizar la carrera de los 101 km de la Legión.

“Una casa muy acogedora y sobre todo un anfitrión muy atento.”

***

July 2024

Paul Darwent, originally from Yorkshire, is married to Synnove from Denmark. They live in the Serrania de Ronda. Together with a Scottish couple, Elaine and Martin, from Gibraltar, and another English friend, Bev, they stayed in Casa Real for the third year running, to coincide with The Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, where Paul is the Emcee.

“As always Casa Real is ideal for us. Near to the square where the stage is set up and big enough for our group,” said Paul.

***

August 2024

Klodiana, a police detective from North London, and of Albanian heritage, wrote:

“Our first time in Montejaque has been absolutely fantastic. Thank you, Paul, for being so accommodating and for letting us stay in this beautiful house.”

Marlene is from Paraguay but has lived in London for more than 25 years, and is married to Gustavo, also paraguayo. They have two children: Esteban and Emily. All four of them are fluent in three languages – Spanish, guarani and English. Marlene commented:

“Gracias Paul en especial por ayudarnos esa primera noche. Lo pasamos muy bien. Hasta la próxima.”

Klodiana Geci (Albanian) [Photo courtesy of Facebook]

[Footnote: Rumour has it that Gustavo and Marlene paid the deposit on a house in Montejaque during their stay. ¡Fantástico! ¡Bienvenidos!]

Autumn 2024

I am able to offer a generous discount of 10 per cent per night, if you book direct with me. With booking.com, AirBnb, VRBO and the rest you will pay even more than my normal price, to allow for the fees I have to pay them.

As of today my prices are as follows:

Up to 6 nights 90€ per night.

At least 7 nights, one night is free.

Over 14 nights, two nights free.

All prices are fully inclusive. There are no extra charges for electricity, gas, and water; pellets; cleaning; welcome pack.

Breakages are chargeable if significant.

Coming events:

5 – 8 September           Feria de Pedro Romero         Ronda

27 - 30 September       Batalla de la Puente              Montejaque

How to book:

By phone: (+34) 636 52 75 16

By email: paulwhitelock@hotmail.com

Via WhatsApp: (+34) 636 52 75 16

Further information:

www.help-me-ronda.com

www.simplyowners.net

Photos:

AirBnb

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque

Facebook

Paul Whitelock

Secret Serrania

thinkSPAIN

Tags:

Albania, Alicante, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Bilbao, Britain, Casa Real, Croatia, Denmark, Extremadura, Facebook, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Jimera de Libar, Joe  King, Karl Smallman, Madrid, Málaga, Montejaque, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Paul Darwent, Paul Whitelock, pueblos blancos, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Simply Owners, South Africa, Spain, thinkSPAIN, Travelnest, Ubrique, Ukraine, USA, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.simplyowners.net

Paul Whitelock bought the old village house in 2020 as a retirement project. Large and well-located near the village square, the house needed modernisation and upgrading. Paul, a retired teacher and then school inspector/adviser, who had significant experience of “doing up houses” in his spare time*, took it on and with the help of jobbing tradesmen, and despite the pandemic and lockdowns, all three phases of the renovation are now complete.

Casa Real is born

Casa Real, as Paul named the house in honour of the family who had owned it for generations – their surname is Real - has gone from a two-bedroom, one bathroom house with a tiny roof terrace to a three-bedroom, two bathroom house with a massive roof terrace?

How?

Read all about it here:

Casa Real: A building project in Montejaque - Part I (secretserrania.com)

Casa Real: A building project in Montejaque – Part II (secretserrania.com)

Casa Real: A building project in Montejaque – Part III (secretserrania.com)

The houses that Jack built! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Completed and on the rental market

Casa Real went back on the rental market on 5 August 2024 after the completion of Phase 3 of the work. This charming house in Montejaque (Málaga) now sleeps 6 adults plus an infant.

Remarkably Casa Real has been fully booked from then onwards, which proves there is a demand for a large house in a prime location in one of the most beautiful pueblos blancos in Málaga province.

As we approach the end of August demand is dropping off, as children go back to school and their parents back to work.

However, for those able to travel out of season, ie  retired people and the well-to-do, there are still bargains to be had if you book directly with the owner and not via a commercial website.

Enquiries direct to Paul Whitelock on (00 34) 636 52 75 16.

3 Bedroom (Sleeps 6) House in Montejaque, Málaga (P50774) - No Booking Fees (simplyowners.net)

www.help-me-ronda.com

International guests

Casa Real has proved popular with guests from many countries and nationalities. To date guests from Albania, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, South Africa, Ukraine, USA and various parts of Spain, including Alicante, Bilbao, Extremadura, Jimera de Libar, Madrid and Ubrique.

Guest comments

Our first guests at Casa Real back in September 2021 are regular guests of ours at Casa Rita and have become good friends. I invited them to “test” Casa Real free-of-charge once Phase 1 was complete.

“This is our 13^th visit to one of Paul and Rita’s proiperties. This time we had the honour of being the first guests in newly renovated Casa Real.

“Having seen the photos [beforehand] it was everything we had expected with a well-equipped kitchen and two excellent super modern bathrooms. A bonus was the delightful patio area downstairs and the roof terrace with lovely views.”

***

Joe King stayed in December 2021.

“Just checked out Casa Real for winter warmth as a favour to my pal Paul, the owner. The weather was really cold [at this time of year]. Nevertheless, this old house with its super-thick external walls proved easy to warm up. A gas heater was sufficient to take the chill off the L-shaped lounge, dining room and kitchen. The bedrooms just needed an electric oil-filled radiator to make them comfortable for sleeping and the wall heater in the bathroom warmed the room up quickly while you took a bath or a shower. Recommended.”

***

A family of two parents and four children from Montejaque’s twin town Knittlingen in Germany stayed rent-free in Casa Real for two months in the early part of 2022. In lieu of rent Oliver, a member of the Guild of Joiners, and mentor and friend of Johannes, my wife Rita’s elder son, also a joiner, carried out a number of carpentry and other jobs on Casa Real and in our other two houses in Montejaque and Ronda.

He also had time to carry out several paid commissions for local residents.

Lily, half-Scottish and a physiotherapist, earned a bit on the side treating locals with ailments, in between breast-feeding baby Cailan.

The three girls, Leyla, Amy and Alice, enrolled at the local primary school and loved it!

Leyla (10) wrote: “We loved going to school here….. Everybody was very friendly, we even called the teachers by their first names, which was strange for us ….. because in Germany the teachers are always Herr “This” and Frau “That”!”

***

Semana Santa (April) 2022

Juanjo, María and Juan from Mérida (Extremadura) wrote that they had had a great experience staying in Casa Real:

“Nos ha gustado mucho la casa, es muy típica, y muy cómoda. Nos hemos sentido como en casa. Todos los detalles están muy cuidados, limpia y confortable.”

***

May 2022

Marta and Juanma from Alicante

“[Nuestra visita] ha coincidido con las fiestas del pueblo y había mucho ambiente. Hemos estado muy a gusto. La casa es fresca para el calor que ha hecho estos días.

“Además tiene todos los servicios necesarios.”

***

July 2022

Hazel and Peter Terry from Derbyshire (England): “Fabulous location, so close to the main square. Very spacious house, with excellent outdoor terraces.”

Kevin and Carolyn Emmett from Montejaque, via England, Canada, Botswana and South Africa: “A fun, quirky house! Very spacious double bedrooms, two fabulous bathrooms, and a secluded patio and a roof terrace. Highly recommended as rental accommodation.”

***

September 2022

Tom, Su and Wilbur from Hastings (East Sussex)

“We stayed here with our 3-year-old son. No problems – the house was perfectly safe for a toddler.

“We coincided with La Batalla de La Puente, which was great fun. Wilbur was fascinated!”

Author's note: Tom is Paul Whitelock's son and a chip-off-the-old-block. He is currently finishing off the renovation of their home, a large Victorian terraced house in Hastings.

***

November 2022

Miguel, Silvia, Curro and Jessica (from Ubrique):

“Querida Casa Real:

….. podíamos imaginar que eras una casa con mucho encanto. Entre tus paredes existen tantos detalles singulares que nuestras primeras horas dentro de ti fueron de total recreación y ensimismamiento.

“Tus muchos relojes marcaron segundos, minutos y horas llenos de momentos vividos que no podremos olvidar. Sin duda, una casa impregnada de la personalidad de su dueño y creador, una mezcla especial anglosajona y especial de la Serranía de Ronda.”

***

Semana Santa (April 2023)

“Hemos estado alojados en Casa Real en Semana Santa mi marido (Alfredo), mis tres hijos (Iker, Alicia y Nicolás) y yo (Beatriz) y ha sido estupendo.

“….. La situación del pueblo es ideal para visitar el parque natural con comodidad.

“En cuanto a la casa, todo perfecto. Tiene todo lo que puedas necesitar en cualquier momento, cualquier cosa. Nos ha gustado mucho ojear por las noches la gran biblioteca de Paul, [quien, como anfitrión] atento en todo momento, muy simpatico y amable.”

***

8 August 2023

La Familia Sánchez spent 4 nights in Casa Real:

“La casa es espectacular, con muchos detalles y habitaciones amplias, los baños grandes y limpios.

“La casa está equipada con muchas referencias a Andalucía (detalles que nos gustó mucho).”

Cristián, Gumersindo, Iker y Silvia Sánchez

***

15 August 2023

“La familia Lorenzo Sintoiu está muy satisfecha con la estancia en “Casa Real” y sobre todo con el trato del anfitrión “Paul”, un inglés que ama Andalucía y España.

“Y lo refleja en su casa donde hemos disfrutado mucho de la estancia. Su trato hacia nosotros ha sido espectacular.”

***

Visitors from France on 25 August 2023 were also very happy.

“Nous sommes très satisfaits d’avoir passé du temps à Montejaque qui est idealment place dans le secteur de Ronda. La maison <<Casa Real>> est de type andalouse et s’intègre bien.

“….. la  maison est très spacieuse et les equipements de la maison sont complets.”

***

October 2023

Richard and Penny Rice from Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK enjoyed their visit to Andalucia where they spent three weeks in total.

“We enjoyed staying in Casa Real ….. Paul was very welcoming and provided most helpful information.

“This very quirky rental home is ideally placed in this beautiful limestone mountain pueblo ….. The roof terrace is a great feature of the house.”

***

May 2024

Marta and Juanma from Alicante made their second visit to Casa Real. Juanma, a guardia civil likes to take part in the 101 km race, the bicycle/running/walking event,  organised by the Spanish Foreign Legion, based in Ronda. This time he brought his friend Roberto.

“Es nuestra segunda vez en Casa Real de Montejaque.

“En las dos ocasiones con motivo de realizar la carrera de los 101 km de la Legión.

“Una casa muy acogedora y sobre todo un anfitrión muy atento.”

***

July 2024

Paul, originally from Yorkshire, is married to Synnove from Denmark. They live in the Serrania de Ronda. Together with a Scottish couple, Elaine and Martin, from Gibraltar, and another English friend, Bev, they stayed in Casa Real for the third year running, to coincide with The Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, where Paul is the Emcee.

“As always Casa Real is ideal for us. Near to the square where the stage is set up and big enough for our group,” said Paul.

***

August 2024

Klodiana, a police detective from North London, and of Albanian heritage, wrote:

“Our first time in Montejaque has been absolutely fantastic. Thank you, Paul, for being so accommodating and for letting us stay in this beautiful house.”

Marlene is from Paraguay but has lived in London for more than 25 years, and is married to Gustavo, also paraguayo. They have two children: Esteban and Emily. All four of them are fluent in three languages – Spanish, guarani and English. Marlene commented:

“Gracias Paul en especial por ayudarnos esa primera noche. Lo pasamos muy bien. Hasta la próxima.”

Klodiana Geci (Albanian) [Photo courtesy of Facebook]

***

Conclusion

Paul reports that he is very happy with how Casa Real has turned out and he is delighted with the very positive reviews of the house and of him as host (anfitrión).

“The renovation of Casa Real was a bit like Topsy – it grew and grew – and I spent quite a bit more money than I had planned to.”

Nevertheless, Paul stuck to his two main principles: retain as many of the original features as possible; and make it an eco-house.

“I hope that Casa Real will rent well. The house is in a beautiful village, it is well-located with easy access, it is big (sleeps 6+), has Andalusian charm and boasts two modern bathrooms. And the price is right!”

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

3 Bedroom (Sleeps 6) House in Montejaque, Málaga (P50774) - No Booking Fees (simplyowners.net)

Casa Real: A building project in Montejaque - Part I (secretserrania.com)

Casa Real: A building project in Montejaque – Part II (secretserrania.com)

Casa Real: A building project in Montejaque – Part III (secretserrania.com)

The houses that Jack built! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

www.help-me-ronda.com

Acknowledgements:

Facebook

Karl Smallman

Secret Serrania

Simply  Owners

Travelnest

Tags:

Albania, Alicante, Bilbao, Britain, Casa Real, Croatia, Denmark, Extremadura, Facebook, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Jimera de Libar, Joe  King, Karl Smallman, Madrid, Málaga, Montejaque, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Paul Darwent, Paul Whitelock, pueblos blancos, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Simply Owners, South Africa, Spain, Travelnest, Ubrique, Ukraine, USA,

Casa Real in Montejaque (Málaga) is available to book again, following the third and final phase of its renovation and improvement.

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

Photo: AirBnb

Description

Now boasting three double bedrooms plus space for a baby, infant or child, Casa Real has achieved its full potential.

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.

For the cooler months, from mid-September onwards, the main house is double-glazed and benefits from a recently installed pellet stove. which is located in the living room/dining room.

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.

Photo: Visita Costa del Sol

The Renovation

The owner’s main priorities in renovating this 19^th-Century house have been to retain as many original features as possible and to make it eco-friendly.

To those ends he has retained all the original tiled floors, in the lounge, dining room and two of the bedrooms. The kitchen, bathrooms hall and patio have modern tiles. He has also kept the original sevillanas (wall tiles) in the hall and main stairs.

This  means that Casa Real has a very Andalusian feel, especially with the introduction of artefacts, pictures and photos from the area: Montejaque and Ronda, for example; as well as themed areas covering bullfighting; old posters; clowns and harlequins; Andalusian cities; old prints; and paintings by local artists.

The roof terrace is home to a range of plants and has stunning views all around. There is a table with six chairs, two sun umbrellas and a built-in barbecue.

Photo: Paul Whitelock

Reservations

Casa Real is available from 20 August for the rest of 2024. Book direct for the best prices.

Tel: (+34) 636 52 75 16 (English, French, German and Spanish spoken)

Email: paulwhitelock@hotmail.com

Website: www.help-me-ronda.com

© Pablo de Ronda

***

Links:

3 Bedroom (Sleeps 6) House in Montejaque, Málaga (P50774) - No Booking Fees (simplyowners.net)

www.help-me-ronda.com

Acknowledgements:

AirBnb

Karl Smallman

Paul Whitelock

Visita Costa del Sol

www.secretserrania.com

Tags:

AirBnb, Casa Real, eco-friendly, Karl Smallman, Montejaque, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, sevillanas, Visita Costa del Sol, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.secretserrania.com 

I’m sitting here in a bar de copas – a late bar – on a Sunday night in August. Not something I do as a rule; it’s way past my bedtime!

So, what am I up to?

Preamble

Well, I am waiting for clients to arrive, who have booked my rental house, Casa Real in Montejaque (Málaga).

They are flying to Málaga Costa del Sol airport from London Gatwick on the late easyJet flight.

It’s now 01.40 in the early hours of Monday and they are due to arrive around 02.20.

There are five of them, four adults and an 11-year-old girl.

Arrival and check-in

There are mum and dad, Gustavo and Marlene from Paraguay; their children Esteban and Emily; and Esteban’s partner Klodiana, of Albanian heritage. It was Klodi who did the booking and who liaised with me.

So, after a quick drink and a chat, they looked around Casa Real, which was to be their home for the next week, and declared themselves more than happy.

Epilogue

I set off for home at 03.35 and arrived 25 minutes later to find the house locked and my wife sound asleep in bed!

And I had no key!

What happened next …..?

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

3 Bedroom (Sleeps 6) House in Montejaque, Málaga (P50774) - No Booking Fees (simplyowners.net)

www.help-me-ronda.com 

Photos:

AirBnB

booking.com

Tags:

AirBnB, Booking.com, Bar de copas, Casa Real, easyJet, London Gatwick, Malaga, Málaga Costa del Sol airport, Montejaque, Paraguay, Ronda,

I’ve been “footloose and fancy-free” for a week, while the missus was away visiting family in Germany.

I couldn’t wait to see Rita again last evening, although I’ve enjoyed my “time-out”. She has too! It will have done us both good.

“De Rodríguez”

For more on this, check out: ... de Rodríguez? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

While Rita was away, I had lots to do. So, no time for any “hanky-panky”. My main task was to tidy up our finca, where we live near Ronda (Málaga). I also wanted to make progress on my “outside den/man cave”, although I fear it’s a bit of a never-ending project.

Flight home

Rita was due in at Málaga Airport at 20.00, after her flight from Hamburg, Germany. I set off from home with my “beach gear” and headed for the provincial capital.

I had a few ideas about how I could spend six hours on the coast, but I kept it very flexible. I had a few errands to run, but also planned some time on the beach and a swim in the Med.

Beach and swim

I tried twice to find a parking space near our favourite beach at Guadalmar, but the place was heaving and there were no spaces available.

It was only a Tuesday, por Dios, but, of course, it’s August. So, many Spanish are on holiday and the Costa del Sol remains very popular.

So, I went shopping instead. A trip to Málaga airport is a good chsance to visit shops that we don’t have in Ronda. My main port of call was Leroy Merlin, the French DIY store, but I also popped into Conforama, also French. Found a few good things in both places.

I’d also intended to visit the Plaza Mayor commercial centre, but the call of the seaside was too strong. I eventually tried to find a spot further west than Guadalmar, the eastern end of Torremolinos.

I managed to park easily and the beach was but a few steps away. It was very crowded, but I found room to set up my beach lounger and beach mat. I didn’t bother with my beach umbrella, as it was now evening and the sun had cooled somewhat.

First of all, a swim. I swear to God the Med was warmer than my pool in Ronda, though sadly not as clean.

Rita’s flight was running 10 minutes late, so I had a bit more time. I started drafting this article, before going for a second swim. Then it was time to head to the airport.

Airport pick-up

Rita was through in no time, so we went back to Torremolinos to find somewhere to eat.

We settled on Chiringuito El Espeto – new to us – and it was very good. We each had a beer and some olives, before Rita ate her main course, pulpo a la Gallega, octopus Galician-style. I opted for chipirrones a la plancha, grilled baby squid, washed down with a glass of Clio, a Ronda DO* wine which we like.

*[DO = Denominación de Origen, the equivalent of the French appellation controlée]

Epilogue

After a coffee, it was time to pay the bill – a reasonable 52€ - and set off on the two-hour trip back to Ronda and home and our new kitten, Pauline. And a shower and bed.

© Paul Whitelock

Photographs by:

Chiringuito El Espeto

Karl Smallman

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

chipirrones a la plancha, Chiringuito El Espeto, Clio, Conforama, Costa del Sol, DO, Denominación de Origen, de Rodríguez, Germany, grilled baby squid, Guadalmar, Hamburg, Leroy Merlin, Málaga, Málaga airport, octopus Galician-style Plaza Mayor, pulpo a la Gallega, Ronda, Torremolinos

I was sitting at my computer this afternoon in my house in Fuente de la Higuera (Ronda) when the phone rang. It was my friend Julia who lives further along the valley.

“Do you know about the fire?” she asked.

I didn’t.

Tuesday 30 July 15.30

Apparently, the fire had started in the garden of the Hotel Molino del Puente, which is run by friends Ian and Elaine Love. This was around 15.30, according to the first responders I spoke to.

And because there was a strong west wind it was heading rapidly towards Hotel La Perla Blanca, my neighbour, then via several other fincas to Finca Retama, the home of friends Julia and Nick Flynn.

I put a few more clothes on and went to investigate. There was a heavy police presence and despite showing my Press card I could go no further.

I managed to get some good shots, though, and later, when the helicopter had stopped emptying bucketloads of water onto the flames, I went along to take a look at the aftermath.  

The first fire truck arrives on the scene. Photograph by Paul Whitelock

Photos of the aftermath of the wildfire by Paul Whitelock

Mopping up - 18.30 onwards

I’d say we were all lucky that the fire hadn’t jumped the road. Otherwise Villa Indiana (my house), the Hotel La Perla Blanca, Bodegas Badman and possibly Finca Retama would have all been engulfed.

In actual fact, luck had nothing to do with it. The odds were against the firefighters, mainly because of the strong winds blowing from the west, yet they responded promptly to the 112 emergency calls made by Nick Flynn, Elaine Love and others, and they were on the scene very quickly. First to arrive were a large contingent from INFOCA (see Links below).

Nick and Julia Flynn with their sons Danny and Oliver

[Photograph by Paul Whitelock]

There were an amazing number of collaborators on the scene, including bomberos, guardia civil, INFOCA, Junta de Andalucía, patrulla verde, policia local, policia nacional, and SEPRONA.

They have this "off to a T" these days. The collaboration went like clockwork. It was very impressive.

Strange as it may seem no other representatives of the Press were present, no Diario SUR, no Ronda Semanal, no Olive Press, just me.

At the end, when I went back, INFOCA operatives were just damping down, cutting back and clearing up.

“It’ll take us a few hours,” said their captain. 

Epilogue

This incident could have turned out very badly. If the collective effort from the authorities had not been so swift and well-coordinated, this could have turned into a major fire. If the flames had "jumped" the lane, the grapevines at Bodegas Badman would have caught quickly. The adjacent Hotel La Perla Blanca would have been under threat, as well as my property and countless others, including a small estate of newly-built houses and the fincas beyond, including Finca Retama.

A spokesman for La Perla Blanca said: "We were quite anxious for the safety of the hotel, as we were potentially in the path of the spread of the fire." He continued: "The firefighters and their colleagues were brilliant in stopping the flames from crossing the road."

In summary, those of us who were threatened by this should consider ourselves grateful to the combined services who acted promptly and effectively.

Nick Flynn told me: "We had a bad experience some 15 years ago, when a wildfire surrounded our house. Fortunately the house was spared. So we were naturally concerned when we could see today's fire heading our way."

The question is ..... how did the fire start ..... ?

"I think somebody probably tossed a cigarette end out of their car window," said Ian Love. "But I don't know for sure."

Investigations by the authorities are ongoing .....

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

Video Footage by Danny Flynn:

VIDEO-2024-07-30-20-15-48.MP4

VIDEO-2024-07-30-20-16-21.MP4

Photographs by Paul Whitelock

Links:

badman wines – Vinos de Ronda

Bienvenido a nuestro hermoso hotel rural en Ronda, Málaga. (hotelmolinodelpuente.com)

(20+) Facebook

CX.pdf (juntadeandalucia.es)

self-catering holiday home Ronda Andalusia Finca Retama

Help me, Ronda - HELP ME RONDA (help-me-ronda.com) 

LA PERLA BLANCA - RONDA - Official Site. Book Direct and breakfast is FREE (la-perlablanca.com)

Tags:

Bodegas Badman, bomberos, Finca Retama, guardia civil, Hotel Molino del Puente, INFOCA, Julia and Nick Flynn, Junta de Andalucía, Pablo de Ronda, patrulla verde, Perla Blanca, policia local, policia nacional, press, SEPRONA, Villa Indiana                                                                                                                                                        

Last Sunday, the first ever flea market/zoco artesanal/Flohmarkt launched in Ronda (Málaga).

The brainchild of Markus Bauer, a German, and Paul Whitelock, from England, the pair have known each other for nearly a quarter of a century. Markus has lived in the Ronda area for some 30 years and has two children with his Spanish partner, an English teacher.

Paul has clocked up 16 years as a resident and has been married for 13 years to a German lady whom he met in Ronda. Paul got to know Markus when he bought his first property in Ronda in 2001. Markus worked at El Choque Ideal* in Barrio San Francisco and Paul was a regular customer of the bar/restaurant/TV lounge/snooker hall/second-hand clothes market/swimming pool/recording studio located on Calle Imágenes.

Ronda Flea Market

Paul and Markus chose Venta La Fragua, next to Viveros Gómez, right at the entrance to the City of Dreams, as Ronda is also known, thanks to Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke*.

Both Markus and Paul are good friends with La Fragua owner Antonio, who was delighted to be asked to host this market, which is currently scheduled to take place on the last Sunday of every month.

This is a good day to choose, since Ronda’s municipal market is on every Sunday at El Recinto Ferial. Ronda market is truly disappointing, however, for a town with a population of around 33,000, plus many other potential visitors from surrounding villages of the Serranía. Places like Arriate, Benaojan, Montecorto and Montejaque.

If you are after ladies’ underwear, shoes, clothes, and bedding, it’s great, but if you want a drink or something to eat, hard luck!

It is also Antonio’s busiest day, for both breakfast and lunch.

What happened?

There were only three stallholders, yet the range of quality items on offer was remarkable. Books, CDs, DVDs, children’s toys, men’s polo shirts, bric-a-brac and second-hand and new items. All three sellers were delighted with the way it went.

They have three more stallholders lined up for next month, including a local bodega, a group of amateur craft people and an artist (painter). In addition, during Sunday’s sale, the two guiris* were approached by two separate local Spanish ladies who wish to take part next time.

As for punters or buyers, as the Spanish return from their holidays, next month the footfall will be greater. And both Markus and Paul agree, their publicity could have been better. They’ve already discussed more effective ways of getting the word out.

© Pablo de Ronda

Notes:

El Choque Ideal is sadly no more. Opened in around 2000 by Dutch couple Dirk and Hebke, it really was “the ideal place to meet”. Offering a Bohemian-style bar restaurant, pay TV, snooker, darts, second-hand clothes shop, swimming pool and a recording studio, it was very popular with the author and his family whenever they were in town.

When the pressures of commuting from their main jobs in the Netherlands became too much, El Choque Ideal passed into other hands in around 2007, but it was never the same again. It is now a music school.

Links:

How did Ronda get the name "City of Dreams"? - Help me, Ronda (help-me-ronda.com)

Ronda, el choque ideal (the perfect place to meet) - Help me, Ronda (help-me-ronda.com)

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad? (secretserrania.com)

Tags:

Amateur, Arriate, artist, Benaojan, bodega, books, bric-a-brac, children’s toys, City of Dreams, CDs, craft people, DVDs, Dirk, El Choque Ideal, flea market, Flohmarkt, guiri, Hebke, Help Me Ronda, La Fragua, Markus Bauer, men’s polo shirts, Montecorto, Montejaque, new items, Pablo de Ronda, painter, Paul Whitelock, Rainer Maria Rilke, Ronda, Ronda Flea Market, second-hand, Secret Serrania, Venta La Fragua, Viveros Gómez, zoco artesanal

BREAKING NEWS: US president Joe Biden has announced that he is withdrawing from the upcoming presidential election in November.

He has nominated his vice-president Kamala Harris to be the Democrats candidate for the presidency, although others are gathering in the wings to make a possible challenge.

To go or not to go?

Biden needed to ‘fall on his sword’, after a series of mishaps in recent times.

Falls, stumbles, the dreadful, now infamous, debate a couple of weeks ago, make his age, 82, a serious handicap to his chances against Donald Trump, himself 77.

Mistakes, calling the Ukraine president Zelensky Putin being just one example.

Biden falls again [Photo courtesy of The Telegraph]

Trump’s popularity ratings have soared since the failed assassination attempt and then Biden contracted Covid.

The guy had to go!

Senators, congressmen and former president Barack Obama, were lining up calling for Biden to step down.

Curiously Bill and Hilary Clinton continue to support Biden!

      Trump Missed! [Photo courtesy of Reuters]

Kamala Harris ... or?

     Kamala Harris [Wikipedia]                   Gavin Newsom [New York Times]

     Michelle Obama [BBC]

So, will Ms Harris be the challenger to Trump? She has not been popular to date, but then, which VPs ever have been? Harris is from a privileged, well-to-do background, so has little appeal amongst Americans living in the rust belt. As a woman, and a woman of colour at that, she is unlikely to enjoy the support of misogynists nor racists.

Would Senator Gavin Newsom from California be a better bet? He is white, male and young.

Would Michelle Obama be a good choice, if she could be persuaded? Despite being black and a woman, she is very popular.  

I think Barack needs to remind her how pleasant it was living in The White House for eight years.

And wouldn’t Barack Obama make a great vice-president? The first ever man to hold that office and black to boot!

The US presidential election, which dominates the news agenda in any case, just got VERY interesting.

©  Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

BBC

New York Times

Pablo de Ronda

Paul Whitelock

Reuters

The Telegraph

Wikipedia

Tags:

Barack Obama, Bill and Hilary Clinton, BBC, Donald Trump, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, misogynists, New York Times, Paul Whitelock, Putin, racists, Reuters, Telegraph, The White House, Ukraine president, US presidential election, vice-president, Wikipedia, woman of colour, Zelensky