Costa Tropical Blog

The San Juan Festival takes place in June and this really is a ‘must do’ for your diaries. This Festival is celebrated all over Spain between 20 June and 24 June annually although the night of 23 June is the most important. On this one night of the year, rules are relaxed on the beaches and you can have a bonfire and BBQ on the beach, play music, dance and watch the fireworks. Salobreña really gets into the spirit of the occasion as many people flock to the beaches from the inland villages to celebrate the evening. The celebrations of San Juan are pagan in origin and comprise a degree of rituals, customs and practices that are originally from pre-Christian celebrations and encompass fire, water and sun. The night of San Juan on the 23 June celebrates the triumph of light over dark. Having a bad year? Then it is said that on this one night of the year you can change a bad year into a good year by leaping over your bonfire on the beach at least three times. This is fine at the beginning of the evening but perhaps a little more risky as the night wears on! It is also said that the bonfires lit on this night can cure diseases of the skin and cleanse the body and soul. Don’t try to get down to the beachfront by car on the evening of 23 June as they close off many of the roads due to the sheer numbers of cars trying to make their way to the beach. Get to the beach early to get a good spot and remember to invite your friends, take along the cool box with a good supply of drinks, a comfy beach chair or two and something to eat. The beachfront road will be packed with people enjoying the atmosphere, there is always a live band performing mid-way down the beach with a huge bonfire lit at midnight as the fireworks explode into the sky from land and sea. If you don’t fancy the crowds on the beachfront, many of the bars and restaurants in the old town of Salobreña put on a special menu or tapas for the evening. Wherever you end up, you are bound to enjoy it!

The literary competition that took place in Salobreña has now exhibited its entries in the Library and announced the winners. The Short Story prize goes to a resident of Sevilla and the Poetry prize goes to a resident of Madrid. And I thought this was a local competition? It is often quite enjoyable to study Spanish names and translate them. The gentleman from Madrid who won the Poetry prize translates to Luis Manuel Blacksmith Mountain Range. One of the jurors on the panel was Maria Jose Watered Down Casanova.

The Salobreña Nazari, a recreation of a fourteenth century Salamwiya (as Salobreña was called then) medieval market took place during the last weekend of April. This annual event (started in 2007) got postponed for a week due to bad weather conditions and we therefore couldn’t give you an update on it last month. There were said to be over 1,000 residents, adults and children, who took part in the event and many people dressed up in traditional clothes of the period. It was good to see so many of the foreign residents of Salobreña getting involved with the three day event and really enjoying themselves. The Nazari takes place on the Paseo de los Flores next to the castle walls which creates a very authentic atmosphere with magic shows, theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, a bizarre, crafts, a tea shop, cake shop, children’s area and most importantly five taverns (bars). The general consensus I received from those who visited and those who were actively involved in the event over the three days was a) everyone had a great time, b) it was well worth the visit, c) a lot of effort had gone into putting the Nazari together and d) the Saturday evening was perhaps the most entertaining for visitors (although each day was packed with entertainment). This is a newish event on the Salobreña social calendar and one that shouldn’t be missed if living in the area or visiting. Get it into your diaries for next year now!

The Guadalfeo river is an uncontrolled dumping ground according to the IU party who have now made a denouncement concerning the dead goats found regularly dumped by the river’s perimeter. The Town Hall has now removed the latest offending carcass to be found from the scene of the crime and have asked all residents to ensure that they do not lob (throw) their dead animals willy-nilly around the countryside. Owners of goats and other livestock should have insurance which covers the safe removal of dead animals when they keel over. Sounds as if not many owners have insurance and if they haven’t got insurance why are they going to pay for their safe removal when the Guadalfeo makes a supremely logical cementery?

A new Punto Limpio (rubbish collection) area is to be built commencing in April 2008 and should be finished by the end of the year. The site will be close to the new cementery in Lobres and will cover an area of 4,414 square metres with a total cost of 524,642.82 euros. The subject of its location has been rather a sticking point with various members of the Town Hall but the Mayor has responded by saying that when the Punto Limpio was approved back in 2005, at that time no other locations were possible. As it now stands, the proposed location is in a good area considering the future necessities of Salobreña and its ease of access to those living in the area. The Punto Limpio is a park full of containers where you will be able to take unwanted furniture, equipment, garden rubbish, scrap metal, tyres, batteries, paints and household electric goods for safe disposal. Does this mean that finally people will stop throwing their rubbish into the roads and ramblas in the area?

Campervans (motorhomes) are again invading Salobreña over the winter period. On a recent trip along the seafront there were none parked on the front road but quite a few tucked into the side streets. Where had most of them gone? Were the police winning the annual battle to keep the campervans off the main beach road? Travelling up into the old town and looking out towards La Guardia, the answer was plain to see. Over thirty campervans were parked together on a parcel of land although we are told that there are often more at this parking point. A recent conversation with a campervan owner highlighted many of the problems they face when they are travelling through Spain. In many other European countries, France being mentioned as one of the most forward thinking in their approach to the campervan tourist, there are Aires which are sites especially for the use of campervans and shouldn’t be mistaken with camping sites. At these Aires, usually situated in walking distance to towns or other central locations, the campervan travellers have the use of water supplies, electricity and a CDP (chemical disposal point). The costs are minimal and are usually much less than a camping site. France is alleged to have over three thousand Airies throughout the country but as soon as you drive into Spain the situation changes dramatically. In other European countries the campervan tourist is seen as someone who brings additional economy into the towns and villages and are welcomed but in Spain its either park in the designated camping sites or face the prospect of being moved on. A campervan is an expensive piece of kit to purchase and the owners have probably thought long and hard over the pros and cons of owning one and most of them are usually responsible and law abiding people who want to enjoy the freedom of waking up each morning and to choose their direction and pace of travel. Many owners do enjoy what is known as ‘wild camping’, to pull over and stop where and when they want to but they are usually respectful of their surroundings and will ask for permission from a landowner before parking. However, there are always those few who spoil it for the others. Back to the campervan site that has grown larger by the week in Salobreña. Where are the campervans disposing of their black water (waste from toilet holding tanks) or their grey water (waste from sinks and showers)? The landowner has obviously given his permission to the campervans to park on his land and with any luck is getting some financial reward, the police and local residents are no doubt happy not to have the presence of campervans on the beachfront road and the shops in Salobreña are no doubt gaining from them economically. Perhaps it is time for Salobreña to arrange for a designated campervan site with water, electricity and a CDP and show the campervan owners they are wanted and welcomed, especially over the quieter winter months.

Salobreña tourism statistics have just been released for the 2007 year. These figures are based on the number of people visiting the tourist information centres either at the entrance to the town or on the beachfront during the summer months. In total, twenty six thousand four hundred and fifty five people visited the offices during 2007 and a further one thousand and forty nine people consulted the offices through fax, email or telephone. The figures show an increase of 5.8% over the same period in 2006, with thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy coming from different points in Spain followed by the United Kingdom and Germany and then by forty other nationalities. A whopping 45% of the tourists arrive over the July, August and September months although there has been an increase in visitors outside these periods as travel agencies and tour operators (mainly Spanish) are now beginning to include Salobreña as a stopping off point. It will be interesting to see if the 2008 figures overtake 2007 with the removal of Monarch flights in to Granada and the general downturn in the economy.

The Junta de Andalucia has now given the green light for the construction of a new bus station next to the new football ground in Salobreña. The Council have already prepared a first draft proposal for the station to be built on an area of 5,470 metres of land next to the N340 road. Included in the plan are ten bus ‘docks’ and three or four ticket offices plus toilets, an information centre, taxi pick up/drop off point, cafeteria and administrative offices.

Driving up into the old town of Salobreña isn’t as much fun as it used to be especially when you go up one of the streets to find it blocked off. There you are, half way up the hill into the old town, weaving your way round the tight corners, when suddenly in front of you the road has diggers and men laying new pipes. Where was the diversion sign? OK, that in itself is a pretty silly question in this part of the world. Now you are stuck in a one way system with no way out other than to back right the way down. Many of the works now taking place in the old town are for new piping and in eliminating the overhead cabling attached to what seems every building and street corner. The Council admit that while this work is being done it is going to create quite a few ‘annoyances’ for the residents although they are endeavouring to keep this to a minimum. They ask for the understanding and collaboration of the residents and Olga Garcia, Urban Department, has said that throughout the schedule of works they will try to give out precise information which will hopefully help let us know about the changes in direction of the streets and a minibus will be put into operation to help the residents. Unfortunately, as with most information that comes out from the Council, it is often far too late to be of any practical use and we would advise those new to Salobreña or visiting the town to stick to foot patrols around the upper town! (unless you fancy yourself as the next Fernando Alonso reversing down the narrow streets of Salobreña).

Salobrena Council is going digital and has started a new initiative to try and save on the thousands of kilos of paper that are generated yearly by their staff. Someone at the council has been number crunching and has proudly announced that 20% of its paper consumption can be saved by using electronic mail to send and receive information. Welcome to the twenty first
century Salobreña! Gustavo Aybar from the Environment Department says that not only will they save paper and money but they will also be able to manage the flow of documentation more quickly and efficiently. They will also be getting to grips with an intranet system at the council offices to exchange documents and assist with all their internal communications.