BID TO SAVE THE PEROS RONDEÑOSBy David Eade
The ‘Yemas del Tajo’ are already a famous dessert of the Ronda region. Now comes the “Peritos de Ronda”, a sweet made with a variety of Apple that can only be found in the Serranía and is in danger of extinction as few trees bear the fruit.
Step forward local confectioner David Verdú who has is heading an initiative for CEDER, the rural Serranía development centre. It wants to restore and promote the ‘Peros rondeños’ so Verdú has created a recipe for a small desert using the apple. It is proving very popular with local people and boxes have even been sent to the Canary Islands.
The recipe combines the apple with butter, sugar, cinnamon and puff pastry and a box of nine sells for just over four euros. The rare apples presently only come from two family plantations which each season produce some 180 kilos of the fruit.
To encourage more people to grow the apple CEDER has started a promotion campaign at a national level including its appearance at the ‘Madrid Fusión’ gastronomy fair where aguardiente made from the fruit was presented.
The technicians in charge of the repopulating programme have found the DNA of the trees in both Ronda and Arriate. They believe there are six genetic profiles for the rare apple. The trees were popular between the 1950s and 1970s when they were found in most of the orchards along the Guadiaro river but with the appearance of commercial varieties of apples the Peros duly died out. Until now!
WALKING THE DOGS FROM GAUCÍN TO SANTIAGOIn March members and supporters of Estepona’s animal protection society, Adana, will start a very special walk. Its leader, Patrick Elvin, stated: “It’s a charity walk from Estepona to Santiago de Compostella covering 1200 Kilometres in seven weeks.”
It will be a gruelling walk although it will be backed up by support vehicles and the Adana dogs will join in for part of the trek over short sections. If you are going to take part in such a walk along the Via de la Plata then Patrick Elvin is a good person to lead the way.
Patrick was a Commander in the Royal Navy. Now retired he was a walking guide for Andalucía Safaris from 1998 – 2001, founded the Gaucín walking club, has published over 20 walks in the Gaucín area and is publishing a book of Gaucín walks this year.
More importantly he has walked the Via de la Plata from Sevilla to Santiago de Compostella and also acted as a vehicle support when his wife walked the entire distance in 2004-5. Patrick added: “It is a lesser known but very beautiful route.”
The walk starts on March 15; ends on May 2 and there are still a few places left but would be participants need to be able to sustain a speed of around 4kms an hour over the walking day.
Adana has three prime objectives for the venture: to raise awareness of animal cruelty; to encourage care and compassion towards animals; to raise funds for community based care and educational programmes and build a new sanctuary.
There is much more information on the website at http://www.elcamino.adana.es/. If you can’t do the walk then you can help the project through sponsorship or by making a valuable donation to Adana which does such valuable work caring for abandoned and mistreated animals.
FIVE MONTHS
A giant billboard has appeared by Ronda’s soccer stadium announcing that Eroski will soon start to construct a commercial centre. However no work is expected to start for five months as the company is now in the process of having all the licences approved by the regional government. With similar projects in Andalucía this process has never been completed in less than five months and there is no reason to believe application will be dealt with any quicker.
A giant billboard has appeared by Ronda’s soccer stadium announcing that Eroski will soon start to construct a commercial centre. However no work is expected to start for five months as the company is now in the process of having all the licences approved by the regional government. With similar projects in Andalucía this process has never been completed in less than five months and there is no reason to believe application will be dealt with any quicker.
NO ENTRY
Ronda’s opposition are up in arms claiming the Partido Andalucista and PSOE coalition have closed access to the public to the second floor of the town hall. Two security guards are on duty to restrict access requiring proof of identity and reason for visit before allowing people to pass. The administration said the move was to ensure more orderly contact with ruling councillors.
Ronda’s opposition are up in arms claiming the Partido Andalucista and PSOE coalition have closed access to the public to the second floor of the town hall. Two security guards are on duty to restrict access requiring proof of identity and reason for visit before allowing people to pass. The administration said the move was to ensure more orderly contact with ruling councillors.
CLOSURE FEARS
Parents of children at the Giner de los Rios school in La Dehesa, Ronda, fear it will be closed and have organized protests. There are only 90 pupils and it is likely that it will be amalgamated with the nearby Virgen de la Cabeza college. Regional government approval is needed for the closure but parents insist that with the new housing being built in the area there will be a future demand for the school.
Parents of children at the Giner de los Rios school in La Dehesa, Ronda, fear it will be closed and have organized protests. There are only 90 pupils and it is likely that it will be amalgamated with the nearby Virgen de la Cabeza college. Regional government approval is needed for the closure but parents insist that with the new housing being built in the area there will be a future demand for the school.
EQUALITY PROJECT
The municipalities of Benadalid, Cortes de la Frontera and Gaucín are the first to benefit from a 6,000 euros social equality educational scheme organised by the Serranía development agency, CEDER. They will receive books and DVDs for use in their local libraries. The items will remain in these locations for a year and then be moved to other libraries in the area.
The municipalities of Benadalid, Cortes de la Frontera and Gaucín are the first to benefit from a 6,000 euros social equality educational scheme organised by the Serranía development agency, CEDER. They will receive books and DVDs for use in their local libraries. The items will remain in these locations for a year and then be moved to other libraries in the area.
WINE PROMOTION
The regional government intends to mount a campaign to promote the wines of the Ronda region. The Málaga delegate for agriculture and fisheries wants to meet the wine makers to discuss an initial 12,000 euros investment. Antonio Moreno explained that it was all part of the programme to stave off the financial crisis and the funds will come from the Andalucía 120 million euros aid programme.
The regional government intends to mount a campaign to promote the wines of the Ronda region. The Málaga delegate for agriculture and fisheries wants to meet the wine makers to discuss an initial 12,000 euros investment. Antonio Moreno explained that it was all part of the programme to stave off the financial crisis and the funds will come from the Andalucía 120 million euros aid programme.
ROYAL FAIR
The regional government wants to grant special status to Ronda’s Real Feria de Mayo. The annual May agricultural fair is the oldest in Andalucía and one of the oldest in Spain dating back to the Reyes Católicos. Once it has been granted ‘Feria Exceptional’ status it will achieve higher prestige, be more actively promoted in the region and be open to additional grants.
The regional government wants to grant special status to Ronda’s Real Feria de Mayo. The annual May agricultural fair is the oldest in Andalucía and one of the oldest in Spain dating back to the Reyes Católicos. Once it has been granted ‘Feria Exceptional’ status it will achieve higher prestige, be more actively promoted in the region and be open to additional grants.
AUDIT DEMAND
The Partido Popular at Cortes de la Frontera are demanding an audit of the town hall’s accounts. The municipal employees were not paid their January salaries till February 18. The PP insists the finances are “a disaster” adding the 2007 budget was not approved to 2008. The socialist mayor insists the late payment was because it had not been paid for the cork harvest.
The Partido Popular at Cortes de la Frontera are demanding an audit of the town hall’s accounts. The municipal employees were not paid their January salaries till February 18. The PP insists the finances are “a disaster” adding the 2007 budget was not approved to 2008. The socialist mayor insists the late payment was because it had not been paid for the cork harvest.
HISTORIC DECISION
Ronda is to pass the protection plan for its historic centre in March. The document will ensure the preservation of buildings and zones that are of cultural and tourist value. One of the main threats to Ronda’s heritage comes from intense traffic and many areas will now be made vehicle free. In addition the new local development plan (PGOU) for the entire municipality is due to be approved in September.
Ronda is to pass the protection plan for its historic centre in March. The document will ensure the preservation of buildings and zones that are of cultural and tourist value. One of the main threats to Ronda’s heritage comes from intense traffic and many areas will now be made vehicle free. In addition the new local development plan (PGOU) for the entire municipality is due to be approved in September.
BLESSED LEOPOLDO
The beatification (a step on the path to sainthood) of Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire comes nearer. The friar was born in Alpandeire near Ronda in 1864 and died in Granada in 1956 where he collected alms for the poor for over 50 years. A Vatican medical tribunal is now studying a miracle to see if it can be attributed to the friar.
The beatification (a step on the path to sainthood) of Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire comes nearer. The friar was born in Alpandeire near Ronda in 1864 and died in Granada in 1956 where he collected alms for the poor for over 50 years. A Vatican medical tribunal is now studying a miracle to see if it can be attributed to the friar.
VALUABLE BOOK
The library of the Real Maestranza de Caballería in Ronda has many valuable books that detail the history of the society, Ronda and Spain. A new addition is a volume dating from 1782 that shows the society’s activities from that year to 1819. The existence of the book was unknown until the De la Cruz Cortés family came forward to donate it to the library.
The library of the Real Maestranza de Caballería in Ronda has many valuable books that detail the history of the society, Ronda and Spain. A new addition is a volume dating from 1782 that shows the society’s activities from that year to 1819. The existence of the book was unknown until the De la Cruz Cortés family came forward to donate it to the library.
