A View from the Mountains

The heavy rain and thunderstorms of the last couple of weeks, combined with a lousy infrastructure has left whole areas of the Serrania de Ronda flooded, with roads blocked by rockfalls and houses soaked, gardens waterlogged and frequent power cuts.

Worse still, a major rockfall has blocked the main route from the Costa del Sol and the towns of San Pedro, Marbella and Estepona to the capital and main town of the Serrania, namely Ronda.

Roads into and out of Estación de Jimera de Líbar have been blocked by flood water and mud and rocks washed down from the surrounding mountains.

Further down the River Guadiaro, the village of Cañada del Real Tesoro (Estación de Cortes de la Frontera) has also suffered.

What to do?

According to experts the blockage of the A 376 will take at least nine months to fix. It could be longer. So, what happens next?

The hundreds of workers from the Serrania who race down the San Pedro road to work on that part of the coast, will have to find a new route, which will take them longer and cost them more in fuel. I doubt their bosses will increase their wages to compensate them.

Tourists who come up to Ronda in their coaches will have to find another route or not come.

Ronda residents who need to go to the coast for medical treatment will have to make a detour.

The alternative routes

There are four alternatives, I reckon. All of them will take longer than previously. But it is what it is – we’ll just have to adapt and make the best of it.

Ronda – Gaucín – Casares/Estepona

Ronda – Gaucín – Puerto de Manilva

Ronda – Cortes de la Frontera – San Luque/Gibraltar/Tarifa

Ronda – Ardales – Malaga/Alhaurín El Grande - Fuengirola

[Map courtesy of niamhanddavid.com]    

Other damage in the Ronda area

Benaoján

The Hotel Molino de Cuatro Paradas by the river Guadiaro has been flooded and is closed.

Fuente de la Higuera

The Hotel Ronda Valley (formerly Hotel Don Benito) has been closed for several days because run off from the hills above crossed the road and inundated the cellar, where the beer equipment and the heating system are housed.

The bar re-opened today (Thursday 13 March) but the kitchen, the restaurant and the hotel remain closed.

The Hotel Molino del Puente escaped unscathed and has been open all week.

Our garden at Villa Indiana is a lake. The huge quantities of water have knocked out our boiler, so we have no hot water and no central heating. Thank God we have a chimenea and plenty of dry logs! 

Yesterday we had no running water at all and several electricity circuits were knocked out, including the kitchen and at one point all our lights.

This morning, I managed to get the lights and water back on, but the caldera (boiler) has defeated me. We’re hoping our heating engineer can get to us tomorrow.

If not, we shall decamp to Montejaque (Málaga) where everything is working, despite the constant rain.

Photos and Images:

andalucia.com, Diario Sur, Karl Smallman, niamhanddavid.com, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania, SUR in English

© Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Andalucia TV, Diario Sur, Guardia Civil, Julie Wilkinson, La 1

Tags:

A 376, Alhaurin El Grande, all our lights, a major rockfall has blocked the main route from the Costa del Sol, andalucia.com, Andalucia TV, Ardales, bar re-opened today, beer equipment, Benaoján, blocked by flood water, boiler, caldera, Cañada del Real Tesoro, Casares, cellar, chimenea, constant rain, Cortes de la Frontera, decamp to Montejaque, detour, Diario Sur, dry logs, electricity circuits, Estación de Cortes de la Frontera, Estación de Jimera de Líbar, Estepona, frequent power cuts, Fuengirola, Fuente de la Higuera, gardens waterlogged, Gaucín, Gibraltar, Guadiaro, Guardia Civil, heating engineer, heating system, heavy rain, hotel, Hotel Don Benito, Hotel Molino de Cuatro Paradas, Hotel Molino del Puente, Hotel Ronda Valley, houses soaked, hundreds of workers from the Serrania, infrastructure, Julie Wilkinson, Karl Smallman, kitchen, knocked out our boiler, La 1, main town of the Serrania, Málaga, Marbella, medical treatment, mud, new route, no central heating, no hot water, no running water, niamhanddavid.com, open all week, Paul Whitelock, Puerto de Manilva, restaurant, River Guadiaro, roads blocked, rockfalls, rocks, Ronda, Ronda residents, run off, San Luque, San Pedro, Serrania de Ronda, SUR in English, Tarifa, thunderstorms, tourists, Villa Indiana, 

áéíóú

The situation in Ukraine is at a critical stage, following some bizarre statements and behaviour coming out of the White House at the end of last week. Europe's leaders met at a summit in London on Sunday 4 March to wrest the initiative back. 

Ukraine summit in London on 4 March [France 24]    

The so-called “coalition of the willing”, is the name given by UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to those nations which are in a position to further the four aims of the summit meeting in London without delay.

Which countries are in the “coalition of the willing”?

The UK and France have already confirmed their commitment.

Spain had already made a significant commitment at the conference in Kyiv two weeks ago, although they currently have no further plans to commit funding.

Norway indicated before the London Summit on 4 March that they would be on board.

Summit meeting at Lancaster House [The Guardian]

Germany too, according to outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Countries that border Russia will be especially keen to join the coalition, with the exception of Hungary. Their autocratic president Viktor Orban is a pal of Vladimir Putin. “Kick Hungary out of the EU,” I say!

It was interesting that Turkey was represented – not EU members of course and never likely to be with their human rights record, but clearly concerned about Russia to their north.

Canada was also at the summit, which was good to see. They have been heavily involved in training Ukrainian volunteers.

The Baltic States were conspicuous by their absence. A reason was given but this commentator didn’t understand the reasons. Nevertheless, they must be “quaking in their boots” if Putin decides to invade more former Soviet territories.

Ii is understood that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are fully on board and intend to commit to the "coalition of the willing".

Map of Europe [Wikipedia]

The UK's position

Sir Keir Starmer is quite clear about what the UK government will contribute straightaway. In his remarks ahead of the summit he declared:

“Three years on from Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we are at a turning point. Today I will reaffirm my unwavering support for Ukraine and double down on my commitment to provide capacity, training and aid to Ukraine, putting it in the strongest possible position.” 

In the press conference following the summit meeting, Starmer confirmed that the European powers must realise it is “not a moment for more talk, it is time to act.

"Every nation must contribute ..... in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden.

Starmer Press Conference [UNITED24 Media]

The following steps were agreed:

"First, we will keep the military aid flowing and keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine now.

“Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, and Ukraine must be at the table.

"Third, in the event of a peace deal, we will keep boosting Ukraine’s own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion.

“Fourth, we will go further to develop a 'coalition of the willing' to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace.”

Whilst acknowledging that "not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency.”

He stated quite clearly that the UK will put "boots on the ground" and planes in the air.

“Europe must do the heavy lifting.”

France

The details of France’s commitment were not made clear in any detail, but they are believed to be similar to those of the UK. Emmanuel Macron is fully committed to taking the lead with Starmer.

Macron was the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House, where the signs were of a positive “relationship” with Trump.

    Emmanuel Macron [El Correo]

France has the largest standing army in Europe and is also a fully independent nuclear power.

Spain

It is being reported that Spain is not on board.

However, the fact that arguably Spain was “first out of the blocks”, announcing increased support last month, surely means it is indeed part of the “coalition of the willing”.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced in Kyiv on Feb. 24 during the “Support Ukraine” summit, that Spain will deliver a new 1 billion euro ($1.04 billion) military aid package to Ukraine in 2025.

Spain and Ukraine will also set up the “House of Ukraine” in Torrevieja (Alicante).

This centre will cater to the needs of the Ukrainian community in Spain.

    Pedro Sánchez [Agencia EFE]

The “House of Ukraine” will become one of four Reception, Attention, and Referral Centres (Creade) set up by the Spanish government, alongside those in Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga.

“House of Ukraine”

The decision to place the “House of Ukraine” in Torrevieja is no coincidence. Before the war, the city already had a significant Ukrainian population.

Over the past two years, Ukrainians have become the largest foreign community in Torrevieja, with 9,500 registered residents. They outnumber the Russian and British communities, which are also well-represented.

Local schools have adjusted to the growing Ukrainian population. Since February 2022, additional teachers have been assigned to help Ukrainian students. In schools 14 and 15, the entire class consists of Ukrainian children. These students share classrooms with many Russian students, as Torrevieja is also home to around 6,000 Russian residents.

[Image courtesy of Facebook]

Further updates will be made as soon as they are confirmed by individual nations in the coming days.

© Paul Whitelock

Photos and images:

Agencia EFE, El Correo, Facebook, France 24, The Guardian, UNITED24 Media, Wikipedia

Acknowledgements:

Bing, El Confidencial, EWN, Le Figaro, MSN,

Tags:

Agencia EFE, Baltic States, Bing, Canada, “coalition of the willing”, conference in Kyiv,  El Confidencial, El Correo, Estonia, EU, EWN, Facebook, former Soviet territories, France, France 24, Germany, Hungary, “Kick Hungary out of the EU", Lancaster House, Latvia, Le Figaro, Lithuania, MSN, Norway, Olaf Scholz, Paul Whitelock, Russia, Sir Keir Starmer, Spain, summit in London, The Guardian, training Ukrainian volunteers, Turkey, Ukraine, UNITED24 Media, UK, UK prime minister, Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, White House, Wikipedia

áéíóú

UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has come to the fore this week. After a friendly and successful meeting with US president Donald Trump in The Oval Office on Thursday he has emerged as "the adult in the room" following the disgraceful ambush of Ukraine president Vlodymyr Zelenskyy and childlike temper tantrum from Trump and his co-conspirator, vice-president J D Vance, in the same venue on Friday.

Trump "loses it" with Zelenskyy [Video courtesy of CNN]    

Even Piers Morgan, close buddy of Trump for 10 years, conceded that Starmer has just had his best week in the job of UK prime minister. Words and phrases like "statesmanlike" and "stepping up to the plate" have been uttered across Europe as European leaders have declared their support for Zelenskyy and the beleauguered Ukraine.

On Saturday, in Downing Street, Zelenskyy and Starmer signed an agreement to accelerate $2.8 billion worth of loans to Ukraine. The first tranche of funding is expected to be disbursed next week, according to the UK government. The loan will ultimately be repaid using Russian funds seized by the West in the early stages of the war. Zelenskyy said “This is the fair way: the one who started the war should pay.” 

That so many leaders "downed tools" and flew to London at short notice for this afternoon's summit is testament to the important point Europe, NATO and the world have reached in the last few days. A "once in a generation moment", according to Starmer.

Some 18 dignitories have assembled at Lancaster House for the summit, including Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, whose country is not directly involved. 

    Zelenskyy and Starmer at the London Summit [AP News]

Noticeably absent were the leaders of the three Baltic states, Estonia,  Latvia and Lithuania, but we were given to understand that they are fully behind Ukraine and NATO. These three republcs are deemed to be the most at risk, should Vladimir Putin's expansionist plans not be stopped.

The agenda for the summit has been set by Starmer in consultation with Zelenskyy and French president Emmanuelle Macron, who also had a successful visit with Trump last week. The plan is to thrash out three goals: "Ukraine’s short-term needs; securing a “lasting deal” to end the conflict; and “planning for strong security guarantees.”, according to a statement from Downing Street.

"Family photo" of the delegates at the Ukraine Summit in London [France 24]

Back row (L-R): 

NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte; Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof; Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson; Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz; Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store; Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Fiala; Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni; Turkey's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan

Middle row (L-R)

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; European Council President Antonio Costa; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Romania's Interim President Ilie Bolojan

Front row (L-R)

Finland's President Alexander Stubb; French President Emmanuel Macron; UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk

In a statement ahead of the London summit Starmer said: “Three years on from Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we are at a turning point. Today I will reaffirm my unwavering support for Ukraine and double down on my commitment to provide capacity, training and aid to Ukraine, putting it in the strongest possible position.” 

The delegates at the Ukrainian Summit in London [The Guardian]

STOP PRESS:
 

After the meeting broke up several participants answered questions from the Press, while Vlodymyr Zelenskyy flew by helicopter to Sandringham House in Norfolk for an audience with King Charles III.

Reaction to that meeting and the official Press conference by Sir Keir Starmer to come .....

King Charles III meets Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sandringham [SKY News]

UPDATE:

At the official press conference following the summit, Sir Keir Starmer said that the European powers must realise it is “not a moment for more talk, it is time to act.

"Every nation must contribute ..... in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden.

"So we agreed some important steps today.

"First, we will keep the military aid flowing and keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine now.

“Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, and Ukraine must be at the table.

Starmer's press conference 2 March 2025 [UNITED24 Media]

"Third, in the event of a peace deal, we will keep boosting Ukraine’s own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion.

“Fourth, we will go further to develop a 'coalition of the willing' to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace.

"Not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency, the UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others. Europe must do the heavy lifting.”

Starmer declined, when asked, to say which countries were "in", saying that it was their prerogative to announce their intentions themselves in the coming days.

He also announced that the group would reconvene "soon" to keep developments moving at pace.

© Paul Whitelock

Photos and videos:

AP News, CNN, France 24, SKY News, The Guardian, UNITED24 Media

Acknowledgements:

BBC News, CNN, Manchester Evening News, MSN, SKY News, The Guardian

Tags:

"adult in the room", agreement to accelerate $2.8 billion worth of loans to Ukraine, Alexander Stubb, ambush of Ukraine president, Antonio Costa, AP News, CNN, Canadian Prime Minister, "Charmer Starmer", childlike temper tantrum from Trump, close buddy of Trump, France 24, BBC News, CNN, Chancellor, Czech Republic, Danish, Dick Schoof, Donald Trump, Donald Tusk, Downing Street, Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President,  European Council President, Finland, French President, Germany, Giorgia Meloni, Hakan Fidan, Ilie Bolojan, Italy, Jonas Gahr Store, Justin Trudeau, Manchester Evening News, Mark Rutte, Mette Frederiksen, MSN, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands, NATO secretary-general, Norway, Olaf Scholz, "once in a generation moment", Paul  Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, Petr Fiala, Piers Morgan, Polish Prime Minister, President, Prime Minister, Romania's Interim President, SKY News, Russian funds seized by the West in the early stages of the war, Sir Keir Starmer, Spain, "statesmanlike", "stepping up to the plate", Sweden, the one who started the war should pay, The Guardian, The Oval Office, Turkey, Ulf Kristersson, UNITED24 Media, UK Prime Minister, US president, Ukrainian President, Ursula von der Leyen, vice-president J D Vance, Volodymyr Zelenskyy,