Puntos de vista - a personal Spain blog

When Charlie Mullins became a regular columnist for The Olive Press newspaper, I thought:

"Omigod! Jon Clarke (editor of said free paper published in Southern Spain) has hired a 'Leapy Lee', the racist, sexist, failed pop-star pr**k who writes for the EuroWeekly News (another free paper here on the coast)".

Charlie Mullins, OBE [Photo: Elite Business Magazine]    

The story

Mullins' debut column didn't augur well for the future, I have to say.

However, since then this self-made millionaire who has decided to make his home in Estepona, Spain, has grown on me.

His recent column (Vol. 19, Issue 478) tackles the issue of immigration.

"You don't have to scroll far these days to find someone sounding off about immigration - whether it's in the UK or right here in Spain."

Writing about the many "Brits" who have made Spain their home, he opines that the "Spanish people have been incredibly welcoming" towards him.

[Photo: Issuu]    

He contends that this is because he has always shown respect for their country, their way of life, and their culture.

He writes: "This isn't about Spain v. the UK, or locals v. expats. It's about decent people who make an effort, versus those who turn up with a sense of entitlement and no interest in fitting in".

As he writes, they are loud, brash, no manners, no clue. I agree.

A typical 'guiri' [Photo: Facebook]    

Mullins claims he has never pretended to be Spanish. He lives in Spain, and is a "guest", which brings responsibilities. I agree absolutely. We will always be "guests".

He refers to the British "expat" lady who left the UK because there were "too many foreigners", and moved to live in Spain.

She is now exactly that, a foreigner. In Spain. She has made no attempt to integrate.

"Guiris" [Daily Express]    

Mullins is quite accepting of her - I am most definitely not! She is a hypocrite big-style!

In conclusion, Mullins writes: "This isn't about being anti-immigrant, it's about being anti-ignorant".

You have "hit the nail on the head", my friend.

Well done!

And well done to The Olive Press for hiring an excellent columnist, Charlie Mullins, OBE!

©  Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

Daily Express, Elite Business Magazine, Facebook, Issuu

Thanks:

Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press, Wikipedia

Tags:

Charlie Mullins, Daily Express, Elite Business Magazine, Estepona, EuroWeekly News, Facebook, guiri, Issuu, Jon Clarke, Leapy Lee, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com

This latest meeting of the Costa Press Club (Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol) was a real treat. Laura López of the University of Malaga’s Faculty of Communication Sciences led us on a walking tour of important sites and landmarks which tell the history of journalism in the city.

[Photo: Neil Hesketh]    

Laura lectures on the topic to undergraduate students and always includes this tour as part of the course.

On Tuesday of this week, she gave us journalists, media people and communicators the very same tour.

    [Photo: Neil Hesketh]

Ruta por la Malaga periodistica (siglo XIX-XX)

There were nine "stops" on our tour, which covered the History of the Press in Malaga in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Highlights included the workplace of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, who began as a journalist before becoming Spain’s prime minister .....

..... and the archive of Narciso Díaz de Escovar, chronicler of Malaga’s bourgeois era.

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

CPC members and their guests also heard stories of political conspiracies, murders, and the Civil War divisions between republicans and monarchists, which had tragic consequences for journalists.

Laura emphasised two themes:

Malaga’s overlooked status as a pioneering press hub, rivalling Madrid and Barcelona;

and the relatively recent professionalisation of journalism, once dominated by lawyers, politicians, and writers.

The tour concluded with a reference to the Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga, Spain’s first press association, currently celebrating its 120th anniversary.

[Photo: Daryl Finch]    

Time for Dinner!

Tour over, we were hungry and thirsty. We went for dinner to the delightful Restaurante El Gallo Ronco, where we enjoyed a selection of delicious tapas and raciones and chatted about the tour ..... and other things too!

    [Photo: Paul Whitelock]                                    [Photo: Joanna Styles]    

I met a couple of people I didn't know, including Neil's 92-year-old mum in Malaga on a visit from Liverpool, and Jose Maria, aka "Mister Joanna Styles".

A memorable evening!

All I had to do now was find my hotel ..... which proved to be easier said than done!

But that's a story for another day .....

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Daryl Finch, Joanna Styles, Neil Hesketh, Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Costa Press Club, El Gallo Ronco, Joanna Styles, Laura López, Liz Parry, Neil Hesketh

Tags:

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga, Barcelona, Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol, Costa Press Club, Daryl Finch, El Gallo Ronco, History of the Press in Málaga, Joanna Styles, Laura López, Liz Parry, Madrid, Narciso Díaz de Escovar, Neil Hesketh, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Ruta por la Malaga periodistica, University of Malaga

Sounds like a pirate ship, doesn't it? I'll come back to that later.

"La Perla Blanca" is a small boutique hotel in Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda. It backs onto my garden, so we're neighbours.

Aerial view of La Perla Blanca[Trip Advisor]    

It's a charming place, well, was - I've heard it's gone downhill lately, but we'll come back to that too.

"La Perla Blanca" 2011

When we moved to our new "home" in February 2011, we got to know the incumbent "landlords". The hotel is leased from the owner, allegedly the richest man in Ronda.

The landlords back then were a German couple and we got quite friendly with them. Then, all of a sudden they were gone!

The next incumbents were Dutch. We knew them too. They took over the Hotel Don Benito as well, but they didn't make a success of either and did a "runner" leaving a trail of debt!

A couple from South Africa had a go, but they didn't last long either!

Hotel Don Benito, now Hotel Ronda Valley [Central de Reservas]    

"La Perla Blanca" 2015

Next came S, a Yorkshireman, and his wife. They came from the Caribbean where they had been working on yachts as crew.

They split up within a short time, but S stayed. He put his heart and soul into "La Perla Blanca", renovated the rooms, changed the public areas and worked hard on the extensive grounds.

After a while he took up with a Scottish Widow (No, not the insurance company!), who had been living in the area for years. We all knew her. She moved in and took charge of the cleaning, changeovers, etc.

Then, all of a sudden, S gave up the lease and moved in with this lady (she has asked to remain anonymous). He started work as a peon - a builder's labourer - and proved to be very good at it. He worked for me and regularly for K, an English builder friend of us all.

Next, the couple went back to the UK, to Huddersfield, S's home town. I don't know the details, but I understand that he stayed there and she came back to Andalucía.

"La Perla Blanca" - the pirate era

The "pirate" was Julian M, Scottish-born, but from Leeds. His gorgeous much younger wife, J, also came from Leeds. They had had two children together, who shall remain nameless. They all came out and took over the hotel.

I helped them get their kids in school in Ronda, and enrolled the parents on a language course. Julian never attended.

At the beginning of their tenure they did good things and the hotel was often full. We became friends, as well as neighbours.

Julian was very generous, and often bought our drinks. He even loaned me his Land Rover to go to the coast to pick up some furniture I'd bought down there.

Next I bought his VW Transporter from him, which he later incinerated in a drunken rage. It was a write-off!

"Julian" [Courtesy of Freepik]    

The police know it was him, and so do several neighbours, but they refused to help the police investigators. Great neighbours, eh?

Julian Marshall eventually did a prolonged "midnight flit" and went back to the UK leaving a trail of debts behind him. Astonishingly, Spain and the UK do not have an extradition treaty, so he's got away with it!

Last I heard he and J have divorced and, according to HIS OWN POSTS ON FACEBOOK, he spends a lot of time in the Philippines in the company of teenage prostitutes.

What was the attraction, we all wonder? He was short, fat, ugly, bald and operated "under the radar".

Either he's "good in the sack" or these women are attracted by his money.

[Disclaimer: Having taken legal advice I have named Julian Marshall, because, as far as the police in Ronda are concerned, he is guilty of arson. It is therefore legitimate to "name and shame" him. Marshall is regrettably "out of reach" because of the lack of an extradition treaty between Spain and the UK.

All other people mentioned in this article have been anonymised, in accordance with current journalistic practice.]

"La Perla Blanca" - post-thug

T, from South Africa, took over the lease and, once settled, brought his wife and children over. I met T a few times, but he preferred to keep himself to himself. I only met his wife and oldest daughter once.

Then, they too suddenly went ..... to be replaced by .....

E, a Dutchman with an estate agency on the Costa del Sol. I never met E, but met his lovely Colombian wife.

Then, they too disappeared .....

They have been replaced by a Moroccan couple, who I've not clapped eyes on yet. Rumour has it that they've let "The White Pearl" go. That would be a great shame.

Should I go round and introduce myself?

(Answers on a postcard to .....)

© Pablo de Ronda

Pictures:

Central de Reservas, Freepik, Trip Advisor, 

Links:

LA PERLA BLANCA - RONDA - Official Site. Book Direct and breakfast is FREE

Importing a UK vehicle to Spain and re-registering it onto Spanish number plates

Tags:

Caribbean, Central de Reservas, Freepik, Huddersfield, La Perla Blanca, Hotel Ronda Valley, Julian, Land Rover, Leeds, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Philippines, Ronda, South Africaa, teenage prostitute, Trip Advisor, VW Transporter

In Andalucia every man has a nickname - "un apodo". The women don't. Whether men have "apodos" in other parts of Spain I am not sure.

I've travelled the length and breadth of the country for more than fifty years and have lived for periods in Barcelona (Catalonia); El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona); Extremadura; Frigiliana (Málaga); Jaca (Aragon); Madrid; Olot (Girona); Oviedo (Asturias); and San Sebastián (Guipuzkoa). I've never noticed the widespread use of nicknames in those areas.

[Anon.]    

Some of us "guiris" have "coined" nicknames too, but for things, rather than people.

"Apodos"

"Apodos" have proved a challenge for me, and doubtless for other foreigners of a certain age, in that as we become ever more forgetful, to have to learn "two names" for every male is really difficult!

Who are Caniche, Chico, El Gitano, Jesulin de Ubrique, La Raspa, and Pingu? 

Antonio, Alonso, Diego, Álvaro, Javi and - por Dios, I've forgotten Pingu's real name! (Just kidding - he's called Cristobal!)

Nicknames

Monty Jack, Ben and Joan and Big Ron are recognisable as Montejaque, Benaoján and Ronda (the first two courtesy of Bill La Peche, an Englishman who lived round these parts. Bill sadly died some 14 years ago, but his widow Jill still delights in using these witty alternative names.

Bill La Peche superimposed on a photo of Montejaque [Karl Smallman]

Mercadonuts and The Chocolate Moose are two more of Bill's, the latter referring to a chocolate coloured statue of a stag located to the north-west of Ronda.

"Noms de plumes"

Many writers over the centuries used "noms de plume" to hide their true identity, mainly female authors who used men's names because of the male-dominated literary world, eg George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) and George Sand (Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil).​​ 

    Photos of George Eliot and George Sand [both courtesy of Wikipedia]

But who were Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell? (Answer below).

Anonymous bloggers

Nowadays many bloggers use a nickname in an attempt to hide behind a cloak of anonymity as they peddle their extreme views, their bullying and their "hate speech".

Here are some I come across regularly: BrainwashReigns, El Bombero and lesleyfb. Despite challenging these people to come clean, they refuse.

I use "pen names" too, but it's easy to know who I really am.

I am not ashamed of what I write and post.

I am currently Der Auslands-Korrespondent, Diary of a Nobody, Don Pablo, Only Joe King, Pablo de Ronda, Serrania Kitchen, Sporty Sam, The Crazy Guy, The Culture Vulture, The Curmudgeon, The DIY Guy, The "Guiri" Gourmet, The History Man, The Merry Tippler, The "Namer and Shamer", The Spanish Fly.

Each of these "threads" deals with a different topic, as the nickname in each case implies.

But they are all me - Paul Whitelock.

Paul Whitelock aged 21 [Photo: Dave Holt]    

Answer to quiz question:

Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell were the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne.

Links of interest:

Ben and Joan, Monty Jack and Big Ron - Eye on Spain (2021)

Ben and Joan, Monty Jack and Big Ron - Help me, Ronda (revised version 2024)

Ben and Joan, Monty Jack and Big Ron - Olive Press News Spain (original version 2010)

My Special Places in Spain - Eye on Spain

Remembering Bill - Secret Serrania de Ronda 

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

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Dave Holt, Jill La Peche, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia

With thanks to:

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Diego Sanchez Sanchez, Jill La Peche

Tags:

Acton Bell, apodo, Asturias, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Barcelona, Ben & Joan, Big Ron, Bill La Peche, BrainwashReigns, Brontë, Catalonia, Chocolate Moose, Currer Bell, Dave Holt, Der Auslands-Korrespondent, Diary of a Nobody, Diego Sanchez Sanchez, Don Pablo, El Bombero, Ellis Bell, George Eliot, George Sand, Guipuzkoa, guiri, Jill La Peche, Jon Clarke, Karl Smallman, lenox, lesleyfb, Madrid, Mercadonuts, Monty Jack, nickname, Only Joe King, Oviedo, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, San Sebastian, Serrania Kitchen, Sporty Sam, The Crazy Guy, The Culture Vulture, The Curmudgeon, The DIY Guy, The "Guiri" Gourmet, The History Man, The Merry Tippler, The "Namer and Shamer", The Spanish Fly, Wikipedia, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.secretserrania.com, www.thecollector.com, www.theolivepress.es

My blog, "Diary of a Nobody", was trundling along with mediocre interest, judging by the number of views my posts were getting.

Then all of a sudden, throughout August, "views" are through the roof, with posts getting around 3,000 views and rising.

Analysis

I thought that the sudden surge in views was because I was writing about more global topics rather than personal recollections, but that's not true either.

The August "posts" were about:

Eye on Spain statistics        3400    -   clear from the title    
De-cluttering                         3182    -   personal. about me
The "Barber of Seville"        3618    -   about a "sevillana" I met in a bar
September                            2866     -   about what happened to me in September
The Prodigal Wife                2645     -   about my wife

And now?

September posts are back to normal levels, although they've not been online for long.

I'll keep you posted.

La alcaldesa de Ronda, Maria de la Paz Fernandez Lobato (PP), has been indicted on five criminal charges and faces a prison sentence and a huge fine.

    La Alcaldesa de Ronda faces the Press last Friday [SUR]

The news broke this weekend that the mayoress has been charged with prevaricacion, malversacion, fraude and falsedad documental (prevarication, embezzlement, fraud and falsification of documents) in connection with the town's cleaning and rubbish collection company, SOLIARSA.

Fiscalia (Public prosecutor's office) has demanded a prison sentence of five years, an eight-year ban on holding public office and a fine of 42,000 euros for both Fernandez and her pre-decessor as council leader, the PSOE (socialist) Maria Teresa Valdenebro. 

A Soliarsa refuse lorry [Diario Ronda]    

Reaction in Ronda

Fernandez has vigorously denied the charges and has vowed to defend herself. 

The mother of three children has significant health problems. The births of her three children have all been complicated.

Maripaz and me

I have known Maripaz Fernandez for 20 years. I like her as a person, but our politics do not coincide.

If she is found guilty, she must pay the price.

Whether Maripaz is found guilty or not, I would still question many of her recent decisions. She prefers vanity projects over more fundamental issues.

The mayoress poses on the Puente Nuevo in Ronda [Diario Ronda]    

There is a long list of questionable decisions taken by Ronda Council under her leadership:

• The construction of a new open-air swimming pool that only opens for three months a year!

     "White elephant" swimming pool [Photo: Ronda Today]

• The creation of a concrete park on Avenida de Malaga with no shade and no grass!

     Concrete park [Diario Ronda] 

• The construction of a a massive car park on a burial site to the south of the city.

• The building of a new road through virgin countryside to the west of Ronda.

• New "coloured pavements" in the Poligono Industrial.

I could go on …..

My opinion

Fernandez' time is up and so is that of the Partido Popular (PP). The People's Party is right of centre and like the Tories in the UK, is only interested in looking after the better-off in society.

Ronda is a wealthy town, yet it has areas of deprivation and the policies of the PP do nothing to improve the lot of the people living in these parts of town.

Building on fire in Ronda [101TV]    

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements (Photos):

101TV, Diario Ronda, Diario Sur, Ronda Today

Tags:

101TV, alcadesa de Ronda, ban on holding public office, car park on a burial site, cleaning and rubbish collection company, coloured pavements, concrete recreational park on Avenida de Malaga, council leader, criminal charges, Diario Ronda, Diario Sur, embezzlement, falsedad documental, falsification of documents, Fiscalia, fraud, fraude, malversacion, Maria de la Paz Fernandez Lobato, Maria Teresa Valdenebro, new road through virgin countryside, open-air swimming pool, PP, Partido Popular, PSOE, People's Party, Ronda, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, prevaricacion, prevarication, prison sentence, Public prosecutor's office, Ronda Today, socialist mayor, SOLIARSA

"Space", the final frontier? The "Space Race"? "2001 A Space Odyssey"?

Nope! I'm talking about "outside space".

[Netflix]    

My "Space" History

Since I became an adult, the outside space available to me has fluctuated.

As a student

I lived in a Hall of Residence in Salford, in a grotty flat in Upper Kersal, Manchester, two flats with no outside space in San Sebastian (Guipuzkoa), a "Wohnheim" (a workers' hostel in Stuttgart, Germany), a bedsit in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and a tower block with no balcony in Salford.

    Davy Hall, Salford [Flickr]                                              Briarhill Court, Salford [Reddit]

As a married working man

After I got married and started work, Jeryl and I got a mortgage to buy a semi-detached house in Walkden, Greater Manchester, which had tiny gardens front and rear.

Then in 1980 we bought a detached house on a corner plot in Thelwall, Cheshire. That had gardens all round the house. I could at last start gardening.

We stayed in that house for a quarter of a century until my wife and I split up and divorced.

For a while I lived in Bryn-Y-Maen, North Wales with my new girlfriend, Maude, in her cottage with a massive garden and a field.

After that relationship ended I had nowhere to live, so my mum took me in at the ripe old age of 57! She had a semi-detached bungalow on the south bank of the Manchester Ship Canal in Thelwall (qv).

The bungalow had gardens front and year, plus I "annexed" a chunk of MSC land, in common with most neighbours. I had an allotment there.

Then I bought a detached house on a large plot on the other side of the Ship Canal in Latchford, Warrington. I was retired by now, so had time to continue with my gardening activities. It was 2008.   

100 Wash Lane, Latchford [PW]

Spain

Pre-dating this my first wife, Jeryl, and I owned two properties in Ronda, Andalusia, Spain.

The first was a flat with a small terrace on the first floor, which we bought in 2001. The second was an end terrace house 50 metres away. We bought this in 2003 as a project, a "do-er up-per". That had a large private terrace with great views to the rear.

    Piso Blanco, Ronda [Photo: PW]

After our divorce I was left with the two Ronda properties.

Maude, the girlfriend from North Wales, also bought a little house in Ronda centre with a long garden to the rear. Since I was retired I was able to spend lengthy periods in the City of Dreams, finishing off my house in the barrio and doing up Maude's house and garden.

Then, in 2008 my life changed for ever - and for the better. I met Rita in Ronda. In fact last weekend was the 17th anniversary of that fateful meeting.

I emigrated at the end of 2008, to "live in sin" with my new German girlfriend in her house in Montejaque, near Ronda. From the outside space point of view we had a huge roof terrace and an internal patio and a small sitting area in front of the house.

After marriage in 2010, we also decided to move to a larger property with easy access and lots of land. That's what we got - a 3000 m2 plot laid to lawns and a 10,000 m2 field.

I let a neighbour, Juan Antonio use most of the field to grow hay for his horse to graze in the summer. My gardener Rafael has a sizeable huerta where he grows vegetables, and another neighbour, Mercedes, uses a small plot, also as a huerta.

Both "pay me" in fruit and veg, Merche also gives us eggs laid by her free-range chickens.

Managing the "space"

I undertook a major project this year to create more allotment space for fruit trees and vegetables. Also to furbish a "man cave" and to re-organise terraces and seating areas.

The expansion of my huerta is complete, and the terraces are ready. The "man cave", in a wooden shed at the bottom of the garden, still needs tidying up.

    Above photos by Paul Whitelock, except top left, by Karl Smallman

Links:

© Pablo de Ronda

Images:

Flickr, Karl Smallman, Netflix, Paul Whitelock, Reddit

Tags:

barrio, Casa Blanca, Flickr, Jeryl, Karl Smallman, Maude, Montejaque, Netflix, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Piso Blanco, Reddit, Rita, Ronda, Villa Indiana, www.help-me-ronda.com

This Saturday journalists, writers and media professionals from the Costa Press Club (Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol) took part in a very enjoyable Press Trip to the Axarquia area of inland Malaga province. The day was organised by club member and journalist Jennie Rhodes together with APTA, the Association for the Promotion of Tourism in Axarquía.

[Map courtesy of absolute axarquia]

The Press outing centred on the towns/villages of Almáchar and El Borge and focused on the history of the Axarquía region through its traditions and the cultivation of muscat grapes, recognized by the FAO as an Important Agricultural Heritage System (SIPAM).

Visit 1

First stop was a visit to a lagar, Tunante de Arriba, to learn how the moscatel grapes are processed before being turned into the distinctive Moscatel dessert wine.

This was fascinating, as we learned from the owner Jose Luis that the harvested grapes still in bunches are laid on the ground to "bake" in the sun. Periodically they have to be turned by hand. When they are sufficiently "done", they are taken inside where they are snipped from the stalks and peeled.

   L to R: Mangoes ripening; Moscatel grapes drying; Cutting the "pasas" (sultanas) from the stalks; De-skinning the sultanas

   [Photographs by Paul Whitelock]

Nowadays, further processing takes place at a cooperativa, where the harvest is turned into the sweet Moscatel wine.

Visit 2

Back on the coach for the short drive to Almáchar. Our visit coincided with the village feria, so the place was packed. And the atmosphere was great.

We walked around, passing by stalls selling everything imaginable, and visiting places on the way. 

I like getting souvenirs of the places I visit, so I ended up with a fridge magnet (iman), a key ring (llavero), a book by Isabel Allende, as well as a fig loaf.

We also got some free ajoblanco, a cold soup made from almonds and garlic. Delish!

    My souvenirs [PW]                                                 Ajoblanco [Andaluciamia]

Apartamentos Turísticos La Lipa

A new concept. The owners - Juan from Almachar and his wife Carmen from Santander, northern Spain - bought an old village building and "reformed" it into a luxury aparthotel with modern furnishings and decor.

    Outside the Lipa suites [PW]                           Yours truly on the roof terrace [K. Ogilvy]                                                                                                                                                     

The views from each of the seven rooms and the roof terrace are to die for.

Museo de la Pasa

Then a couple of us got detached from the group, so we headed back to the coach. We were the first to arrive. The others were at another visit, to a bodega, which we missed.

Visit 3 - Bodega Fabio Coullet

We missed it!

But our fellow group members assured us we had missed an enjoyable experience.

Visit 4 - Centro de Interpretación Galería del Bandolero

This was a very enjoyable visit. We learned that the El Borge centre had purchased most of the artefacts and exhibits from the Ronda Museo del Bandolero, when it closed in 2020. 

    The former Bandit Museum in Ronda [Wikipedia]       The Bandit Museum in El Borje [PW]

It was a scandal that the Ronda Bandit Museum was closed five years ago. Ronda Council should have stepped in to support it, instead of wasting money on "vanity projects".

But at least the contents have survived.

After the visit and an amusing interlude when we were "attacked" by bandits, we adjourned to the projection room.

    Bandits! [Photos by Paul Whitelock]

Antonio Yuste, the mayor of Moclinejo, another local village, welcomed us and outlined the collaborative work between the three councils in Almáchar, El Borge, and Moclinejo, to promote the area as a tourist destination.

We each received a "goodie bag", with promotional gifts, leaflets and maps, as well as a bottle of Moscatel.

There was also a fridge magnet to add to my collection! Yippee!

"Goodie Bag" [PW]    

Visit 5 - "almuerzo tradicional" en el Restaurante Hotel Posada Del Bandolero

We were hungry by now. We were quite a large group, around 27 including our hosts, and the restaurant was busy anyway, being feria and a Saturday, so the service was rather slow.

Nevertheless, when the meal came it was worth the wait. It was a traditional lunch with a leitmotiv of pasas.

I had chosen ajoblanco con pasas, followed by solomillo de cerdo en medallones con pasas y papas fritas. The accompanying complimentary wines were from the bodega we missed out on, Fabio Couillet!

    My choices: ajoblanco and solomillo de cerdo [PW]

Then, all of a sudden, it was home time. The coach took us back to the centre of Malaga where I picked up my car and headed for home, very satisfied ..... and looking forward to the next CPC meeting on September 30th.

©  Pablo de Ronda

With thanks to:

andaluciamia, Antonio Muñoz, Elisa Páez, Ezequiel, Fabio Couillet, Jennie Rhodes, Neil Hesketh, Raquel (coach driver)

Tags:

absolute axarquia, Agricultural Heritage System, ajoblanco con pasas, Almáchar, "almuerzo tradicional", andaluciamia, Antonio Muñoz, APTA, Association for the Promotion of Tourism in Axarquía, Axarquia, bodega, Club de Prensa de la Costa del Sol, Costa Press Club, El Borge, Elisa Páez, Ezequiel, Fabio Couillet, FAO, Jennie Rhodes, Malaga province, Moclinejo, muscat grapes, Neil Hesketh, Pablo de Ronda, papas fritas, Paul Whitelock Press Trip, Raquel, Restaurante Hotel Posada Del Bandolero, Ronda Museo del Bandolero, SIPAM, solomillo de cerdo en medallones con pasas

Today is the 17th anniversary of the day I met Rita, who became my wife two years later.

Yes, it was the Friday evening of the Feria y Fiestas de Pedro Romero. The year was 2008.

I had flown in from Frankfurt Hahn airport and had arrived that morning at Malaga airport.

[Poster courtesy of Portal Tematico de la Serrania]

I had just broken up with my girlfriend in Luxembourg, where I had spent the summer helping out with DIY and house renovation. She said it was just a summer romance. I thought it was more than that and I was devastated.

So, I decided to fly to Spain and spend a long weekend in Ronda (I had property there).

I met up with my pal Michael who had moved to Ronda from North Wales a few years before.

His brother was visiting from North Wales with his girlfriend, so after an early dinner we all headed off to the Recinto Ferial (showground). I was not keen - I was tired - but they talked me in to it.

On arrival we entered a caseta, a sort of beer tent, which was full of guiris (what the Spanish call us northern European immigrants). I already knew a handful of those present, as I'd been coming to Ronda frequently for some eight years.

As I went round the group, at least 20 people, I was introduced to each one in turn.

The rather lovely lady who appeared to be on her own, ie not with a bloke, and who had a funny accent, was a German divorcee who was living in Montejaque, 20 minutes from Ronda.

I'm a fluent German speaker, so she was delighted to chat with me. When I found out that her name was Rita, I immediately christened her the "Meter Maid" (The Beatles, 1964 - geddit?).

[Rolling Stone]    

To listen to the Beatles' song, click here: Lovely Rita

***

We saw each other again that weekend and agreed to keep in touch. We were both smitten with each other.

Over the next four months we courted in England, Germany and Spain and then, just before Christmas of 2008, I emigrated to be with her.

Two years later Rit and I got married in Maulbronn Abbey in Germany, the school there having educated Hermann Hesse, who would later be the author of "Steppenwolf".

Now, 15 years later, we're still together living in Ronda.

Maulbronn Abbey [Minube]    

Endword

We have never been to the Feria since. Rita doesn't enjoy such things, and I'm hardly going to go on my own (I might meet someone else -¡Ojala!)

Links:

A1 HOLIDAYS

Lovely Rita

MY SPECIAL PLACES IN SPAIN - Help me, Ronda

Ronda Romántica: Falling in Love in the ‘City of Dreams’ - Help me, Ronda

©  Pablo de Ronda

Pictures:

Minube, Portal Tematico de la Serrania, Rolling Stone 

Tags:

caseta, Frankfurt Hahn, guiri, Maulbronn Abbey, Minube, Hermann Hesse, "Meter Maid", Montejaque, Pedro Romero, Portal Tematico de la Serrania, recinto ferial, Rita, Rolling Stone, Ronda, "Steppenwolf", The Beatles,

I don't think there is a general rule.

Most "guiris" speak little Spanish, but they have purchasing power.

So are we liked or just tolerated for our dinero?

A stereotypical "guiri" [source unknown]    

I am a guiri - a Northern European immigrant to Spain - but I do not fit the stereotype of a sunburnt person who wears sandals with socks, a "kiss-me-quick" hat, and totally inappropriate clothing, who speaks only English (or German) ever more loudly, in order to be understood.

"Guiris" have a well-deserved bad reputation, in my opinion.

And .....- ?

I am different, I hope.

I speak fluent Spanish and I didn't immigrate to Spain for the sun, sand and sangria.

I moved to this country because I loved the people, the lifestyle, the relative lack of stress and the low cost of living.

[Photo courtesy of Secret Serrania]    

My story

I first came to Spain aged 20 to spend my year abroad, a compulsory part of a university languages degree. I was sent to San Sebastian (Guipuzkoa) in 1970. Franco was still alive (BTW a worse war criminal than Adolf Hitler) so it wasn't looking promising.

    Bay of La Concha, San Sebastian [Civitatis]

But I was fascinated with this slightly backward country with no video shops, with chaperones, little western influence and no contraception.

When my girlfriend from university visited me she spotted straightaway that I felt at home in the Spanish environment.

We later married, by the way, had two children, travelled extensively in Spain and bought two properties in Ronda (Malaga).

After 30 years together, however, it all unravelled. I had a nervous breakdown, was made redundant from my job as a schools adviser/inspector and got divorced. It was 2005 and I was not in a good place. 

    Puente Nuevo, Ronda [Fenix]

But, Spain, in particular Ronda, rescued me.

Now 20 years later, I am a Spanish resident, I am re-married, have a great house and a vibrant social life.

Franco has been dead for 50 years and is a disgraced figure.

Spain is one of the most advanced and sophisticated democracies in Europe and the economy is booming under the socialist government of Pedro Sanchez, a formidable, likeable, and English-speaking politician prominent on the European and world stage.

Villa Indiana, Ronda [A1]

Links:

"Guiris" galore - Eye on Spain

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

© Pablo de Ronda (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

A1, Civitatis, Fenix, Secret Serrania

Acknowledgements:

Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock

Tags:

A1, Civitatis, Eye on Spain, Fenix, Franco, Guipuzkoa, guiri, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, Plaza de toros, Puente Nuevo, Ronda, San Sebastian, Secret Serrania, Spain, Villa Indiana