Welcoming the rain in Spain

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía

Our first autumn rain arrived today and it´s been a good kind of rain. I took the above photoraph this morning from the Mirador overlooking the village of Cómpeta, which shows a different kind of scene than the last time you saw it.

Often, at this time of year, after a hot summer, our first rains come in the form of huge thunderstorms and we are deluged with so much water that most of it runs off the parched earth without doing much good.

Yesterday we had grey skies, and this morning we were first of all treated to gentle rain which gradually became harder as the morning progressed. It´s stopped raining now, which is good because there is opportunity for the water to be absorbed into the earth before the next rainfall.

I only wrote about the water level in Lake Viñuela last week, and whilst there wont have been much difference made this morning, we are expecting heavy rainfall over the next couple of days.

Not only did we enjoy the rain, but this little chap had a great time too. He´s a regular visitor and usually hides amongst some plant pots near the house, often digging down into them, dislodging the contents.

UPDATE – 29TH SEPTEMBER: Yesterday (Friday 28th) we experienced very heavy rain, with lightning and thunderstorms throughout much of the day. The Axarquía area, east of Málaga, suffered less than surrounding areas, with up to 77 litres of water per square metre of land. Today has been cloudy with showers, but a normal service of wall-to-wall sunshine is expected to resume tomorrow 🙂

Click here to see videos and reports of flooding from other parts of Málaga province.

You might enjoy looking at these articles:

East of Málaga: The Weather in Autumn

Patatas a lo pobre: Poor man´s potatoes

Photographs I love …. and why!

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?: The One-Armed Lady of Málaga

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Photo challenges, Places

Málaga Cathedral was constructed between the early sixteenth and late eighteenth centuries and has one very unusual feature.

Have you spotted it yet?

Although the Cathedral´s North Tower is 84 metres high, making this building the second-highest cathedral in Andalucía, after the Giralda Tower in Seville, the South Tower remains unfinished.

A plaque at the base of the tower informs us that funds raised by the parish to finish it were used instead to help the British colonies (which later became the United States of America) to gain their independence from Great Britain.

This unfinished state has led to the Cathedral being known affectionately as “La Manquita”, which translates into English as “The One-Armed Lady”.

This post is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Solitary

When life gives you curves, flaunt them!

Travel Theme: Texture

In Plane View: Inside Out

Autumn: It´s a Game of Three Halves!

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía

Even though the intense heat of summer has now passed, the throngs of August tourists have finally returned home, the evenings are getting darker just that bit earlier, and the X Factor has returned to our TV screens – nothing says “autumn” to me more than the start of the rugby season!

When we lived in the north-west of England, we were season-ticket holders at Fylde Rugby Club, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with ex-England captain, Bill Beaumont, on the terraces at the Woodlands Memorial ground for every match. Season after season we stood in the rain and cold, with pride and passion, shouting support for our local club.

But, when we moved to southern Spain and based ourselves east of Málaga, we thought our live rugby-watching days were over.

Of course, we can still enjoy the excitement of the Six Nations tournament, or an emotionally-charged Haka performed by the mighty All Blacks, in glorious close-up on the huge TV screens in many of the local bars, but there´s nothing quite like watching rugby in the flesh, so to speak.

Imagine our delight when we discovered (by accident and at the last minute) that rugby was indeed alive and kicking in La Axarquía. The poster advertised a match taking place between the Axarquía and Málaga Rugby Clubs at the Fernando Ruiz Hierro stadium in Vélez-Málaga on Saturday afternoon at 17.30, with free entry, so we went along to find out what it was all about.

We witnessed a physical and entertaining game of rugby, fought out between two great rivals, in front of an enthusiastic and vocal crowd of around a hundred people. With squad members keen to impress their respective coaches ahead of the new rugby season, both teams put on a spirited display.

Without a scoreboard, it was difficult to keep track of the points and, even though Málaga appeared to score more tries (and some of the conversions of both kickers looked rather dubious to me), it was eventually agreed by the powers-that-be, that a 33-33 draw would be a fair result! Well, it was only a pre-season friendly match.

What was even more curious was that at the end of the second half, when we naturally presumed that the match was over, both teams congregated for another huddle on the pitch – and then resumed with a third half! At least this allowed more time for the players waiting on the Substitute´s Bench to take their turn to impress.

I later mentioned about it being “a game of three halves” to the club´s Press Officer, and when he sent me a copy of the Press Release yesterday, I´m sure you can guess the title of the article written for the Costa del Sol News – “Rugby Season Starts – It´s a Game of Three Halves!”. You read it here first, folks!

The Axarquía Rugby Club provided us with an afternoon of good sport, friendship and a club shop (well, more of a club table) selling cool drinks, tee-shirts and where social memberships can be bought for the princely sum of €15, which includes free entry to all games.

We´ll be back to watch more of the fastest growing sport in Spain.

This post is my contribution to the Sunday Post: Autumn

Other articles you might like to look at:

East of Málaga: Following in the footsteps around Comares

Cheeky Monkey: Now you see him, now you don´t!

Back to the Future: An Evening at the Medieval Market

The heart of Cómpeta: El Paseo de las Tradiciones

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Places

El Paseo de las Tradiciones (The Walk of the Traditions) is just off the main square, Plaza Almijara, of the white, mountain village of Cómpeta. Completed in 2009 on the site of the old municipal market, El Paseo de las Tradiciones is annexed to the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción).

As you stroll from the busy square, through the archway into the Paseo de las Tradiciones you will discover an oasis of calm. The floor is decorated with an intricate Moorish pattern of terracotta and white tiles, alongside a series of stunning ceramic murals celebrating the lives of generations of the ordinary working people of the village.

One wall of the Paseo de las Tradiciones pays testament to the trades and deeply-rooted traditions of the people of Cómpeta through the ages. The beautifully modern, brightly-coloured tiling in each of the alcoves was developed in the workshop of potter and sculptor, José Antonio Rivas.

The nine alcoves, each 3 metres high and 2 metres wide, not only depict the history of the collecting of the local vines, the muleteers and village smithy, old olive oil factory and the public laundry, but also recognize the contribution made by the Moors, who for 800 years did so much to improve the cultivation of the summer-dry, winter-wet sierras, bringing the first prosperity to the village.

The 500 years since the building of the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption have not been easy for the people of Cómpeta.

The expulsion of the Moors, two great earthquakes followed shortly afterwards by a cholera epidemic, and the vine disease phylloxera, which devastated crops all over Europe in the mid-19th century, have all taken their toll. But the spirit of the villagers continues to thrive, as epitomized throughout the Paseo de las Tradiciones.

Where is your “oasis of calm”?

Whilst you´re here, why not have a look at:

The elegant, main shopping street of Málaga

I can see Africa from my terrace!

All at sea with the Virgen del Carmen

Cost of Living in Spain to rise from today

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Marianne under Axarquía, Slice of Life

New IVA/VAT rates came into force throughout Spain today, meaning that already-cash-strapped families will have to tighten their belts still further.

Here´s what´s changed:

The general rate rises from 18% to 21%.

The reduced rate rises from 8% to 10%. Many items previously included in the reduced rate list are now excluded, with their tax rate rising to 21%. This means that entrance tickets for theatres, cinemas, shows, attraction parks etc; hairdressing; flowers, plants and funeral services will all cost considerably more.

The super reduced rate of 4% remains unchanged. Again, many items in this category previously have now been excluded and placed within the general rate of 21%. The cost of many stationery items and school materials will rise steeply – which won´t go down well with parents as their children return to school shortly.

You can read the full list of changes here .

You might also enjoy reading:

Cost of Living: East of Málaga, Spain August 2012

I can see Africa from my terrace!

Bus Services: East of Málaga