Wednesday 24 April 2013

I'm an alligator. I'm a mama-papa coming for you.

I'm an alligator. I'm a mama-papa coming for you.



The 3rd. Ruta de la Tapa (Tapas Trail) came to a gastronomic end on Sunday afternoon. We only did the Saturday leg (it was over 3 days) and managed to get round 11 bars out of 35. (It was tough).  Last year's winners, Meryl and Gwyn did the whole three days again and we ran into them in Bar el Azahar. (astute Álora spotters will notice that this photo was actually taken in Bar Los Dos Caballos) They were 'on a mission' to win again and ask the alcalde, Epi when they could expect to receive their winner's  prize from last year.

 
Meryl and Gwyn


                                                   I don't think the prize for 'Best Tapa' will have been won by Manolo at Bar El Madrugon. His 'Dracula' really was blood and onions. It was all right but I don't think his heart was in it. His chances weren't helped by him shutting the bar at 2.00 pm. to go to a 'First Communion'. You can see his tapa and all the others by following the link.
http://www.alora.es/Inicio/N.asp?IdArticulo=4334

My favourite was 'Caprichos de Codorniz' at Bar El Mocho in the Plaza Baja. Two pieces of smoked bacon on lightly toasted bread,  coated with cream cheese and crowned by a fried quail egg. A mini English Breakfast and delicious. Mmmmmm.

We ended up at the Hermandad de Dolores on Calle la Parra. They had run out of their tapa, Potaje de Bacalao (salt cod stew) but we had a couple of cañas and other snacks and sat in the late afternoon sun discussing the difference between anchoas and boquerones. Best skip the next bit if you want to stay awake.

 I am still not clear about this. According to the experts in the hermandad, anchovies caught in the north of Spain and tinned in oil and salt are anchoas (anchovies). The Álora boquerones you are served fried or marinated raw in vinegar, garlic, oil and parsley and served cold are boquerones but  when uncooked or unprocessed look the same as anchovies. They are caught in the Med. and are allegedly not as fatty as those from the north. 'Boquerones' is nearly always translated as 'anchovies' on 'English Version' menus and therefore avoided by many foreigners in the same way that 'Callos' is translated as 'Tripe'. Got it?

    
                                   Anchovy experts at the Dolores Hermandad


Alligator sighted in the Mijas Area

Don't worry if you have difficulty distinguishing between an anchovy and a boquerón. In the Mijas area (not very far from Álora) they are looking for an alligator, even though the sign says 'crocodile'.

Alligator on the loose on the Costa del Sol.
The Mayor of Mijas - where hundreds of Britons holiday or own homes - said the round-the-clock surveillance post will be in place in time for the busy Easter period.
Police and animal experts have been on high alert since the presence of alligator tracks confirmed an earlier sighting of the reptile at lakes near Marbella.
Experts have calculated that the beast is around 12-18 years old and could weigh 70kg.
Police believe the alligator was released by an "unscrupulous" individual - probably a resident who kept it as an exotic pet.
Spanish warning signs saying "Grave Danger. Crocodile On The Loose" went up last week around the Majada Vieja de Mijas lakes, an area popular with walkers next to a golf course.
The Mayor of Mijas, Angel Nozal, headed a meeting where councillors and members of the police nature protection group, Seprona, discussed how to trap the alligator alive.

SKY NEWS

 
Mario Calvente ,37,  first raised the alarm two months ago when he 'spotted' 'a large reptile' in the lagoon whilst passing by on his motorbike. Traps were set by  Mijas town hall's Environment Department and last week 'after a routine inspection of the traps' the body of a highly aggresive Nile Crocodile was found. It weighed 80 kilos, measured 2.13 metres from nose to tail, was 15 years old and had been dead for approximately three days. 'It looked strong but exhausted and had some damage to its head and tail.' The owner of the nearby 'Crocodile Park' (not surprisingly) says it isn't one of his. No wonder it was exhausted if it had walked all the way uphill from Fuengirola.
 
Just when the residents of Mijas thought it was safe to go out, the mayor announced that the crocodile's feet did not match the tracks found nearby and Mario Calvente says the dead crocodile is not the animal he saw. 'It was much bigger and broader'. The environmental arm of the Guardia Civil, SEPRONA have ordered the signs to be kept up and warned everyone to watch out for signs of large reptiles.
 
Here's how to spot the difference between a crocodile and an alligator but I expect this information will not be of immediate use if your leg is being eaten.
 
 
                                                         An alligator
 
 
                                                     Another alligator
 
                                                    
                                                            Er......

Is it an alligator or a crocodile?

All the species of alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and gharial together are known as “crocodilians.” That is sometimes shortened to “crocs” and still refers to all the species as a group.
But many people want to know what the difference is between an alligator and a crocodile. If you really want to know for sure, you need to know the particular characteristics of each species. But don't worry—there are a few general ways to tell the two apart:
Shape of the jaw— Alligators tend to have wide, U-shaped, rounded snouts, while crocodiles tend to have longer, more pointed, V-shaped snouts.
Teeth—The fourth tooth on the lower jaw sticks up over the upper lip on crocodiles, so you can see it when their mouths are closed. In alligators, this fourth tooth is covered up. (!!!!!)
Habitat— Crocodiles also have special glands in their tongues that can get rid of excess salt, so they tend to live in saltwater habitats. Alligators have these glands, too, but they don't work as well as the crocodiles', so alligators prefer to live in freshwater habitats.
With 23 species of crocodilians, though, these general rules don't always apply—there are exceptions!

Well, there you are, and if you are planning a trip to Mijas or have booked a no refund  holiday there, take this handy guide and don't go near the water, especially on golf courses.

As for the dead crocodile, Mijas ayuntamiento is going to have it stuffed and put on public display. That's nice.

24th. April 2013.

 




Thursday 18 April 2013

The Álora Tapas Trail starts tomorrow.

 
 

The 'Tapas Trail' begins tomorrow. These posters have gone up around town and the weather is set fair for what could be three days of eating and drinking whilst taking some gentle exercise. It ´could´ be if you can stand the pace. The idea is this. The ayuntamiento have persuaded as many bars as possible to offer a ´special' tapa and a drink for a set price (probably 1.50€) for the three days . Hundreds, possibly thousands of people will hit the ancient squares and streets of Álora to indulge in the delightful pastime of tapeando. Hungry and thirsty punters will arrive (some in coaches) from all over Málaga province.
35 bars will be participating and competing for the top three prizes of 150€ for the best tapa, the best attention to  customers and the best cocktail. (what?) and three prizes of 100€ for the  three bars with most votes.



This morning I collected my folleto containing a street plan of Alora with the participating bars marked. There are spaces for 43 stamps (8 places are just doing cocktails) You can get your folleto stamped at every bar you visit (it would be polite to buy a drink and a tapa). If you can collect 35 stamps you can enter a draw for a night at La Garganta Tourist Complex in El Chorro, 50€ (not quite the 52.50€ you will have spent on the drinks and tapas) and a gastronomic experience at the Los Conejitos restaurant up the Ardales road and a year's free entry for two to the Cervantes Theatre.

This is beginning to sound like a publicity shot for the 3rd. Ruta de la Tapa. It is rather exciting, though. I asked Manolo what his special tapa will be at Bar El Madrugon tomorrow. 'Dracula.  .he replied. 'Blood and onions'. And that's exactly what it says on the sheet!

Here's a short note for people learning to speak Spanish. I was a bit puzzled by the title ´'CÓMETELA',  especially with the fork and spoon trick. It is, of course, the 2nd person imperative of 'to eat' (it). I didn't need to tell you that, did I?.

Oh, and by the way, some British friends of ours actually managed to stagger round the whole course last year and completely filled the card. They were the only ones in the draw. They are still waiting for their prize!

See you in El Madrugon.

April 18th. 2013

Sunday 7 April 2013

Alora rejoices as Jesús comes home

 
Alora Rejoices as Jesús comes home
 

                                                    Jesús de las Torres

The drums returned yesterday afternoon. Crowds gathered in the Plaza Baja for 'un traslado' (transfer). Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno  de las Torres who was last seen reversing at speed  up Calle Ancha was due to return in style to the parish church where he will stay until called upon again. He has been in the  chapel up at the castle in the part of the original church which was not destroyed in the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 (300 miles away).
 In Lisbon, itself,  between 10,000 and 100,000 people were killed. It was the equivalent of 8-9 on the Richter Scale which was not invented until 1935.

 
The Richter Magnitude Scale
 
 
The doomed church of Las Torres was built on top of the mosque abandoned by the Moors in the 1480s. Jesus de las Torres does not spend much time up there. (22 days this time).  I think it is felt that he will be safer down in the parroqia.



                                     El Castillo. The chapel is on the far right

The castle itself has had a lot of work done on it recently. Possibly thousands  of tons of concrete have been used to make the ruins stable and on the whole it looks a lot tidier, especially since all the crumbling empty funeral  niches have been demolished and removed. It certainly looks good from a distance when the new floodlights are on and during the morning and evening  the kestrels circle the towers  with obvious pride.

Unfortunately the ayuntamiento has decided it can no longer afford the services of Joseli who has been the vigilante (caretaker) for the last couple of years while the work was going on. He has 4 or 5 dogs and a horse which grazes on the hillside. There is massive unemployment here and Joseli has no chance of getting another job.  He used to sing in a folkloric group and is a prominent character in the Plaza Baja. Naturally he is very upset and angry and I think he  told me the other day that one of the new floodlights has already been ripped out. He speaks a bit quickly, especially when he's cross.


                                                                 Joseli

I was told by the owner of the house with the disappearing balcony that it will all be sorted out tomorrow. His balconies will be rebuilt and with proper supports. People still stand in little groups looking up at the empty balcony. A reader of this blog (there are some) asked me how I managed to photograph the balcony just before it collapsed.
Hmm. amazing floorsight I guess.

I sprayed the grapevine with sulphur yesterday. It burns the eyes a bit but it keeps the Powdery Mildew away.

There was a winner of the popular caption competition. Mrs.Moran of Bromley suggested.


                  
                                    "I swear, Toblerones at the airport, this big!"

Off to Portugal tomorrow.

April 7th. 2013

Thursday 4 April 2013

All over bar the shouting in Álora. Oops! Where's my balcony?

All over bar the shouting in Álora. Oops! Where's my balcony?
 
 
This week's caption competition
 
 
 

Semana Santa in Álora was a qualified success. All the main processions took place except for those scheduled for the night of Viernes Santos (Good Friday ) and Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday) when rain stopped play. In fact, the procession of Santo Cristo Resucitado on Sunday could have gone ahead as the expected showers did not arrive until late afternoon. The Friday evening processions, which many regard as the highlight of the week would have been watched or joined by thousands, but, as usual,  only a handful of people gathered  to see Jesús Resusitado emerge from the parroquia. For most people here all the excitement is over by Friday night. No chocolate Easter Eggs either, let alone Easter bonnets.

While we all waited outside for him to emerge he was being paraded around the interior of the church accompanied by the town band and some important people. He appeared at the door for a few minutes, photographs were taken and back he went. And so did we. He didn't appear in Málaga either. They had seen the same weather forecast.


                             
                                           Waiting for the resurrection


                                                     As far as he got

The main event of the week, La Despedía, went ahead this year. La Despedía is unique to Álora and is now listed as a tourist attraction nationally. At about 2.15 pm. on Viernes Santo (Good Friday) Jesús de las Torres and María Santisima de los Dolores Coronada meet in the Plaza Baja to say  farewell (despedía).
After they arrive in the square there is a lot of theatrical to-ing and fro-ing around the raised centre of the square, the two thrones showing off their skills in being able to go backwards, forwards and even being held aloft by the costaleros. Finally they mount the centre platform from opposite sides (to great applause) and advance towards each other.

 
                                        A few seconds before the despedía

At a signal from somewhere the two images appear to dip down and nod to each other as if saying goodbye. (again to great applause). This manoeuvre is a very difficult one and depends on the strength and co-ordination of the young men carrying the thrones. A few years ago one of the Jesús front men dislocated his shoulder and they nearly dropped him.

What happens next is this. Some of the paratroopers who have been escorting Jesús take charge of the throne and make for the bottom of Calle Ancha with Jesús apparently travelling in reverse. Dolores follows him for a bit, they say a final goodbye and then the paras carry him backwards at a fair old lick all the way up Calle Ancha to the Castillo follows by crowds of young people trying to pinch  flowers from the throne.

This event is watched by a vast crowd which spills into the streets surrounding La Plaza Baja de la Despedía. 
 Last year it was cancelled and thousands of people were disappointed, not least the bar owners of the town who lost thousands of euros in lost takings.
This year there was a delay because one of the balconies being used by spectators collapsed. Several people were injured, but fortunately,  none seriously.
I had photographed the same balcony only a couple of hours before.
Can you spot the difference? (apart from there being an arm in the first one).


 
Before

 
After
 
Here's a clue
 

There does not appear to be any support at all for the floor. I have spent the last few days looking up at many balconies and walking under very few.
 
 
                                        "That doesn't look very safe to me"
 
4th. April 2013