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Finally, the dreaded month of August has shot its bolt for another year, with fiestas, fireworks, noise, crowds, queues, mosquitos, concerts and some unexpected rain. Most enjoyable. But now our own private summer month of September allows us to remember how lucky we are to live here in Spain.
Things are changing, though. Our forgotten community is becoming better known and more people are buying a holiday home here, or even a permanent residence. According to the latest figures from the London Foreign Office, over a million Britons have moved to Spain. While our area is relatively quiet, there must be more of us in Almería than even the wildest estimates. With this onslaught of settlers, comes better communications. We have fine new motorways and toll routes, more cheap flights into Murcia and Almería (despite Ryan Air pulling out) and, sooner or later, a high speed train to connect us to the rest of the world with a station in Vera, making us, in essence, not much more than a dusty suburb of Madrid or Barcelona.
Huge government projects, like the AVE, the motorways, the power stations, the desalination plants and their various pipes, tubes, towers and overhead pylons are being erected, laid, built and dug without, it appears to us, the proper planning, warning or care. The town hall of Mojácar has sent a ringing letter to the representative of the Junta de Andalucía for the environment complaining about the mess caused by new water pipes coming along the hills from Carboneras. The subject is dealt with in this edition as is the relationship itself between Seville and Almería in an editorial by Angel. The word 'independence' is raised, and not for the first time. Lenox contrasts tourism with - what do they call us? - 'residential tourism' and the Brigadier longs for the days when there was enough water in his beloved village. Richard takes a nap as Gwyneth enjoys a good read, JAFO works his magic and Peter goes to Navarre. Sergio discusses the rising menace of gun-crime and Terry attacks Rome while seated on the back of an elephant. Hugh got in some travelling as well, with a visit to Ephesus. Jocelyne has been watching the spots in her food and David chooses a pet. Catherine recalls the first time she came to Almería and Lenox returns with the 'lowdown' on Digital Plus - Spain's answer to Sky TV. There's a full page of letters this month, a picture of our German councillor Albert in a helicopter and some splendid jokes.
Our picture adorning the front of this edition is of the El Torrente restaurant in the Desert Springs Golf Resort in Las Cunas, Palomares. This fine restaurant is worth a visit as is its neighbour The Crocodile Club, a giant thatched building with barbeque dinners and Sunday lunches. September is the ideal time to visit Desert Springs and to enjoy a day of golf. In all, there's so much to be thankful for, living here in our 'corner of enchantment'. |
