Puntos de vista - a personal Spain blog

By Pablo de Ronda

Basically squatters (okupas) are bad news for property owners. But I must tell you that I know two, who have become good friends and are absolutely not a threat to my property assets nor anybody else’s.

Squatters [Photo: Bella Virtual Staging]

"San Jorge" el gallego

Jorge, an army veteran, an ex-foreign legionnaire who was based at the Ronda camp, found himself homeless on being discharged, divorced by his wife and  with no contact to his children, . First of all he occupied a small house on the grounds of a restaurant for a number of years, with the owner’s blessing.

Last year he had to move and Jorge took over a small house which was owned by a bank after a repossession. He has created a living environment which is enough for him, as a single man, and his several dogs. The bank is aware of this and has no problem. There is little chance of anybody buying the house.

Jorge has no electricity, but he has installed a small solar dish which gives him some power.

San Jorge and Pablo de Ronda [Selfie]

José "el suave"

José, an accredited albañil (bricklayer) has been forced into life as an okupa following major upheaval in his life – teenage son convicted of murder, and divorced by his wife.

As with Jorge, the bank is aware that he occupies the property and are happy that he has restored it and looks after it.

Neither Jorge or José is causing a problem to a homeowner.

These two guys have worked for me and helped me with the renovation of a house I invested in as a doer- upper. They also do small projects and odd jobs for us in our other properties.

They are both autónomo (self-employed). When the work for me dried up they worked for building companies on the coast and in Ronda.

    José "el suave" [Photo: PW]

And the moral of this story is .....

So, let’s try and make sense of this. If I had a holiday home on the coast which had been taken over by okupas, I would not be happy.

However, Jorge and José haven’t done that. They are occupying properties that nobody wants and which are owned by banks who don’t give a s**t, quite frankly.

Back to the Press story

Spain’s Congress has just dropped a legislative bombshell that promises to evict "okupas" faster than you can say “o-ku-pa". 

In a move that’s sparking heated debate across the country, the newly approved "anti-okupas" law aims to slash eviction times from months to mere hours.

[Photo courtesy of 20 Minutos]

This sweeping reform, which has already passed through Congress, now heads to the Senate for its final seal of approval. Once it appears in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), it’s game over for squatters.

What’s changing?

The reform targets articles 245 and 202 of the Penal Code, making squatting a fast-track offence. Usurpation and unlawful entry will now be dealt with in expedited trials – think eviction in 15 days or less. No more standard trials dragging on for months; it’s all about swift justice.

To put this in perspective, Spain currently has over 15,000 illegally occupied properties, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

The new law is set to bring lengthy and costly eviction processes to an end and hopefully bring some stability to the house rental market, as owners will feel more protected.

[Photo courtesy of La Razon]

Pizza plots and eviction loopholes

Squatters have become increasingly creative in dodging eviction. One cheeky tactic involves ordering pizza to the property they intend to occupy. By showing a receipt dated more than 48 hours earlier, they’ve been able to claim residency – a loophole that’s left property owners fuming.

But with the new law, such antics won’t stand a chance. Squatters will face the boot quicker than they can finish their slice of pizza margarita.

What about families with children?

Here’s the sticking point. If children are involved, social services step in to assess the situation, potentially dragging out the process. Protecting minors remains a priority, even under the new expedited system.

A legal game-changer

When fully implemented, the "anti-okupas" law promises to be a landmark moment for property rights in Spain. While it’s being hailed as a lifeline for homeowners, critics argue it could trample on social protections for the most vulnerable.

With evictions about to get turbo-charged, one thing’s clear – the days of squatters living rent-free are numbered.

But where will all these people go? Sure, some will be forced to do “the unthinkable” and pay rent, but the truly vulnerable may be left exposed.

    [Photo courtesy of El Corte Inglés]

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

Euro Weekly News

Marc Menendez-Roche

Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

20 Minutos

Bella Virtual Staging

El Corte Inglés

La Razon

Paul Whitelock

Shutterstock

Tags:

albañil, anti-okupas law, army veteran, BOE, Boletín Oficial del Estado, bricklayer, Congress, divorced, El Gallego, el suave, Euro Weekly News, ex-foreign legionnaire, house rental market, Jorge, José, living rent-free, Marc Menendez-Roche, Ministry of the Interior, murder, okupa, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Senate, Shutterstock, solar dish, squatter, Squatters in Spain,

The Spanish Post Office is quite unlike the UK equivalent. There are no sub-post offices as such. Big cities in Spain have a main Correos and maybe a few others dotted around. Ronda (pop: 34,000) now has two.                                                                                            

Photo courtesy of Correos

You don’t have to go there to buy stamps however, as these are on sale in estancos (tobacconists) and also in tourist shops.

Correos is a state-owned company. It is one of the largest postal services in the world.                                                                                      

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Correos

Correos is a normal business with a profit motive. You can do all sorts at the Correos, pay traffic fines, pay your IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles - Council Tax), pay your electricity bill, your water bill, your gas bill  and your annual road tax.

You can also use Correos as a bank, to pay in money and withdraw cash. Indeed, they will even deliver cash to you at home. But Correos will charge you. If you’re “knocking on a bit” and don’t have a car, these services are worth their weight in gold.

The post lady (la cartera) has just left a leaflet from Correos in my buzón: detailing all their services, mentioned above.

    Photo courtesy of FCCCOO

Endnote

I’m impressed. This is a great service.

I heard today that The Post Office in the UK is planning to close over 100 crown post offices with the loss of thousands of jobs, it’s another reason why I shall never again live in the country of my birth!

Just need to get around to applying for Spanish nationality.

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

Correos

Facebook

FCCCOO

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

annual road tax, bank, buzón, cartera, Correos, electricity bill, estanco, gas bill, IBI, Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, Pablo de Ronda, pay in money, post lady, property tax, Spanish nationality, Spanish Post Office, stamps, sub-post office, The Post Office in the UK, tobacconist, tourist shop, traffic fines, water bill, withdraw cash,

Friday, November 1, 2024 
 

“The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain” sang Rex Harrison in the musical “My Fair Lady”. By Lerner and Loewe.

Well, they got that wrong, didn’t they?

At the moment, the rain in Spain stays/falls mainly on Castilla-La Mancha, País Valenciano and Andalucía.

Photo courtesy of Benito Link

Why?

The atrocious weather has been caused by DANA, which has brought the worst weather in living memory to these three areas of south-eastern Spain.

I know we’ve been crying out for rain, to fill our reservoirs, irrigate our crops, water our golf courses and fill our swimming pools, but this is too much all at once.

150 deaths so far but dozens missing presumed drowned.

[UPDATE: Sat 08.45 am: the death toll has risen to 207]

The worst-hit area has been the Valencia region, but Castilla-La Mancha has experienced major flooding too as well as golf-ball sized hailstones.

Andalucia has suffered also with rivers bursting their banks and deluging towns like Alora, Pizarra, and Alhaurin de la Torre, all not too far from where I live in Ronda.

More misery and devastation are expected as the storms head west. Parts of Malaga, Cadiz and Jerez have been inundated and several coastal resorts have suffered, with their beaches being washed away. Some chiringuitos have been badly damaged and will have to be demolished.

What is DANA?

DANA, or “Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos” (Isolated Depression at High Levels), is also known as a "gota fria” (cold drop) and occurs when a cold air mass becomes isolated in the atmosphere. When this cold air collides with the warm, humid air of the Mediterranean, it triggers torrential rains and extreme weather conditions.

Photo courtesy of 20Minutos

Watch this space

This is an ever-changing story. Look out for updates …..

© Pablo de Ronda

Acknowledgements:

20Minutos

ABC

Benito Link

BBC News

MSN

Wikipedia

Links:

At last – good weather! It’s pouring down!

BREAKING NEWS - DANA – Who or what is it?

Tags:

ABC, Alhaurin de la Torre, Alora, Andalucía, BBC News, Cadiz, Castilla-La Mancha, chiringuito, DANA, “Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos”, fill our reservoirs, golf-ball sized hailstones,  "gota fria”, irrigate our crops, Jerez, Lerner and Loewe, Malaga, “My Fair Lady”,  MSN, Pablo de Ronda, País Valenciano, Pizarra, Rex Harrison, Ronda, “The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain”, top up our swimming pools, water our golf courses

The NUMBER 2 can mean a pair, a duo, a couple, a duet, a double or even a deputy boss.

For Pablo de Ronda the number 2 has been and still is a significant digit in his life.

He was one of TWO SONS born to Vera and John. Pablo had TWO CHILDREN, of his own, Amy and Tom. Each of them, in turn, has TWO SONS; Amy has Felix and Jude while Tom has Wilbur and Buckley.

    [Copyright: Freepik]

Pablo de Ronda gained a joint honours degree in TWO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, Spanish and German. He was awarded a TWO.TWO (2.2). This choice of languages proved to be prescient, since he now lives in Spain and his second wife is German, meaning he uses both on a daily basis.

Pablo had TWO CAREERS in a working life which lasted 30 years and has had TWO MARRIAGES, one before retirement and one since.

Pablo writes here about the significance of this numeral in his past and current life here in Spain, where he has clocked up almost 16 years as a resident.

Life in Andalucia

I’ve been here nearly sixteen years and have lived in TWO HOUSES, one in Montejaque (Málaga) where the German lady, Rita, who is now WIFE NUMBER TWO, was living when I met her in Ronda on 2^ND September 2008, and the other just outside Ronda in the pedania known as Fuente de la Higuera.

    Rita on the roof terrace of Casa Rita, Montejaque          Villa Indiana, nr. Ronda, where we live now

    [Photos courtesy of Karl Smallman]

I own TWO HOUSES of my own, my aforementioned domicile and a vivienda rural (holiday rental) in Montejaque, which I have been renovating for the last TWO YEARS.

  Casa Real, Montejaque [Photo courtesy of Airbnb]

A previous life

Before my divorce and when I was still working, my first wife and I lived in TWO HOUSES, first in Greater Manchester and then in Cheshire. We also had TWO CANAL BOATS, the first moored on the Bridgewater Canal near our home, and the second on the Rochdale Canal at High Lane, Stockport.

In my second career, I was the NUMBER TWO (Deputy Director) of the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative (TVEI) in St Helens LEA (Merseyside).

***

My first wife and I fell in love with the Ronda area in the year TWO THOUSAND (2000) and over TWO YEARS bought TWO PROPERTIES in Barrio San Francisco, Ronda.

    Piso Blanco, Ronda [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

After that major turning point in my life in 2005 (TWO MAJOR EVENTS - redundancy and divorce), I retained the TWO RONDA PROPERTIES and gave up the family home in England to my ex-wife.

Back to Ronda

I met The Meter Maid (Rita - geddit?) in Ronda in TWO THOUSAND and eight (2008), emigrated shortly afterwards and within TWO YEARS we were married.

The nuptials took place in Germany where we had TWO WEDDINGS, one at the Registry Office in Talheim, near Heilbronn, and the other, TWO DAYS LATER, in the Abbey at Maulbronn (Baden-Württemberg).

    Our church wedding, 31 July 2010 [Photo: HMR]

We have TWO CARS, both Peugeots, and we have had TWO CATS and TWO DOGS, since we've been together.

The first cat in Montejaque, Cleo, was poisoned by a nasty neighbour; and the second, a rescue kitten called Pauline, who is a recent acquisition and is still with us (she’s trying to bite my toes as I type this!).

The first dog, also Cleo, was a rescue dog, a pedigree, which was stolen and, we think, killed (we know who it was, and José Maria O is currently serving time in Huelva High Security Prison for unrelated offences).

The second, Berti, a pointer, also a rescue dog, was run over and killed by a speeding - we think drunk - driver, who didn’t stop.

   Berti, front, with Hungarian pal Cocoa [Photo: PW]

More TWOS

It has recently been reported by Radio Television Española (RTVE) that Spain currently has the NUMBER TWO economy (ie SECOND-BEST) in the world after Singapore.

As Rafael Nadal (Spain) announces his retirement from professional tennis he is SECOND in the all-time list of Grand Slam Winners behind Novak Djokovic (Serbia).

Djokovic is still active and has 24 titles to his name. Nadal has 22. Third is Roger Federer (Switzerland) with 20. Federer is also retired.

After that it’s a long gap down to 14 titles won by Pete Sampras (USA), also long retired.

    Rafael Nadal [Photo: El Confidencial]

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Airbnb

El Confidencial

Freepik

HMR

Karl Smallman

Paul Whitelock

Tags:

Airbnb, Baden-Württemberg, Berti, Bridgewater Canal, canal boat, Cheshire, Cleo, Cocoa, El Confidencial, Freepik, Fuente de la Higuera, Grand Slam Winners, Greater Manchester, Heilbronn, High Lane, HMR, Huelva High Security Prison, José Maria O, Karl Smallman, Maulbronn, Novak Djokovic, Pauline, Paul Whitelock, Pete Sampras, Radio Television Española, RTVE, Rafael Nadal, Rochdale Canal, Roger Federer, Ronda, St Helens LEA, Singapore, Stockport, Talheim, Technical and Vocational Education Initiative, TVEI

Changing our clocks and watches twice a year is to become a thing of the past - in Spain at least

By Paul Whitelock

The farce of putting the clocks back in Autumn and forward in the Spring is to come to an end, at least in Spain. This change was introduced in the UK during the first world war to allow more daylight working hours. And it’s never been changed since.

As for Spain, their time used to be based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) like the UK and Portugal, but General Franco was pressurised to change to European Central Time (ECT) by Adolf Hitler around the time of the Spanish Civil War. Since then, Spain has been out of step.

Background

On October 27, Spain will put its clocks back one hour, signalling the start of winter. However, this practice of adjusting the time has its days numbered.

Under current regulations, 2026 will be the last year in which Spaniards modify their clocks and watches, ending a practice that has been in place since the 1970s.

This discrepancy between the official time and daylight has generated criticism, as it affects the biological cycles of the population and complicates the balance between personal and working life.

Returning to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is still an option, but it would imply significant adjustments in daily habits.

Moving forward in Spain

For now, the debate on which time to choose will remain on the public agenda. Everything points to Spain preparing to say goodbye to the time change, joining other countries that have already decided to adjust their clocks for the last time.

Since 1974, the main reason for moving clocks forward or backward has been to take advantage of natural light and reduce energy consumption. However, recent studies indicate that the impact of this measure is minimal at present, which has led to questions about its usefulness.

Despite the doubts, the Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE) [Official State Gazette] has confirmed that the transition between winter and summer time will be maintained until 2026, as established by Royal Decree 236/2002.

After that date, Spain will have to decide whether to adopt a fixed schedule and, if so, whether it prefers a summer or a winter timetable. This measure not only requires political consensus, but also a massive information campaign to avoid confusion among the populace.

The decision to stop changing the time has also reignited another discussion: Spain's time zone. According to its geographical location, the country should be governed by the Greenwich Meridian (GMT), as is the case in the United Kingdom and Portugal.

Until 1940 it was so, until Francisco Franco, under pressure from Adolf Hitler, adopted Central European Time (CET) to align with other countries on the European continent.

Conclusion

So, the farce of changing the clocks in Spain is to end in 2026, and not before time (excuse the play on words!). The question is will Spain revert to GMT where it belongs, alongside the UK, Ireland, Portugal and its own Canary Islands?

It should do that, in my opinion.

©  Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Boletin Oficial del Estado

Daniela Machorro

Facebook

Mundo Deportivo

Time and Date

Torrevieja.com

Wikipedia

Tags:

Adolf Hitler, Boletin Oficial del Estado, Canary Islands, Daniela Machorro, ECT, European Central Time, Facebook, General Franco, GMT, Greenwich Mean Time, Ireland, Mundo Deportivo, Paul Whitelock, Portugal, putting the clocks back in Autumn, putting the clocks forward in Spring, Royal Decree 236/2002, Spanish Civil War, Time and Date, Torrevieja.com, UK

We are now well into Autumn in Spain. In Andalucia pupils started school on 15 September, public swimming pools closed, the temperature dropped, and much-needed rains came.

After the August/September holiday period life has returned to normal, with shops opening for more hours and businesses and companies working longer. On 27 October the clocks go back one hour.

Puente Nuevo, Ronda

Autumn in the Serranía de Ronda

It’s now an ideal time for those who are retired, have no children in school and who enjoy walking, cycling, bird-watching and other country pursuits.

So, why not come to Montejaque? Lots of accommodation available: some small for two people, others larger sleeping six or more; some at the top of the village, others well-located; some pretty basic, others well-renovated and well-equipped; some with no adequate heating, some with pellet stoves and open fires; some accommodation is cheap, other places are more expensive; some with no outside space, others with patios and terraces; some noisy, others peaceful and quiet.

Montejaque [Photo: Karl Smallman]

Casa Real

This recently completed village house meets the second of all the above criteria.

Casa Real sleeps six plus a child in three double bedrooms.

Casa Real is well-located, half a minute from the village square, yet with stunning views all round.

Casa Real has been renovated and equipped to a high standard, with all new beds, new towels and bedding, etc. The kitchen and laundry room have all new appliances.

Casa Real has a new pellet burner plus several oil-filled electric radiators.

Casa Real’s prices reflect what is offered and the quality of the accommodation. HOWEVER, generous autumn discounts are available if you book directly with the owner (see below).

Casa Real has an internal patio and a huge roof terrace. There is also a sitting area to the side of the house.

Casa Real is very tranquil. There is no noisy bar nearby and the main house is double-glazed.

Guest Reviews

Casa Real has proved popular with guests from many countries and nationalities.

To date guests from Albania, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, South Africa, Ukraine, USA and from various parts of Spain, including Alicante, Bilbao, Extremadura, Jimera de Libar, Madrid and Ubrique.

Autumn/Winter 2024

I am able to offer a generous discount of 20 per cent per night, if you book direct with me. With booking.com, AirBnb, VRBO and the rest you will pay even more than my normal price, to allow for the fees I have to pay them.

As of today my prices are as follows:

Up to 6 nights 80€ per night.

At least 7 nights, one night is free.

Over 14 nights, two nights free.

Please note that for Christmas and New Year, prices return to the normal 100€ per night.

All prices are fully inclusive. There are no extra charges for electricity, gas, and water; pellets; cleaning; welcome pack.

Breakages are chargeable if significant.

How to book:

By phone: (+34) 636 52 75 16

By email: paulwhitelock@hotmail.com

Via WhatsApp: (+34) 636 52 75 16

Further information:

www.help-me-ronda.com

www.simplyowners.net

Photos:

AirBnb

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque

Facebook

Karl Smallman

Paul Whitelock

Secret Serrania

Tags:

Albania, Alicante, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Bilbao, Britain, Casa Real, Croatia, Denmark, Extremadura, Facebook, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Jimera de Libar, Joe  King, Karl Smallman, Madrid, Málaga, Montejaque, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Paul Darwent, Paul Whitelock, pueblos blancos, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Simply Owners, South Africa, Spain, thinkSPAIN, Travelnest, Ubrique, Ukraine, USA, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.simplyowners.net

Let me explain. Southern Spain has experienced drought conditions for the last three years. The water levels in our reservoirs are very low – indeed, some are officially empty. Restrictions on water use have been extremely strict, although, with an eye on earnings from tourism, they were relaxed for the summer season.       

Reservoir at Zahara de la Sierra [Photo courtesy of Alamy]

Since 1 October, restrictions have been re-introduced: no filling of pools; no use of garden hoses; no washing of cars except in auto-lavados (car-washes); no hosing down of streets by councils in the early hours; no sprinklers on golf courses.

In some areas water has been switched off during the hours of darkness. Beach showers have been turned off on the eastern Costa del Sol.

Hace buen tiempo

A couple of times I have been admonished by my neighbours, most of whom depend on rainwater for their crops, by referring to the odd downpour as bad weather.

¡Hombre, no! Hace buen tiempo. Nos hace falta agua urgentemente.

 Obvious when you think about it - for agricultural workers and wine producers/vintners rain represents GOOD weather.

Photo courtesy of BenitoLink

The Rain in Spain

I have been resident in Spain for more than 15 years and have written complainingly about the wet weather we had in 2010, 2018 (twice) and 2021, which caused lots of devastation and some loss of life.

December 2010

It hardly stopped raining in the Serranía de Ronda in December of that year! Over 500 litres per square metre fell in just two weeks, according to the Spanish Met Office (INM)!

Local rivers burst their banks five times! Hotels and other holiday accommodation were inundated and put out of business, some for good, homes were flooded and crops ruined.

The infrastructure was significantly damaged: roads, rail lines, public buildings, housing stock, drainage systems.  Houses grew mould inside because of the ongoing damp conditions and no chance to dry out.

September 2018

“The rain in Spain falls mainly on the pla–ain”

This lyric from the musical My Fair Lady is a load of nonsense. In my years of experience living in the Serranía de Ronda, the rain in Spain falls mainly on the adjacent Sierra de Grazalema. In fact, the town of Grazalema is the wettest place in Spain. According to official statistics, more of the wet stuff falls on this pretty mountain town than anywhere else in the whole of Spain.

In the spring heavy rain fell over a short period and caused major flooding around the Serranía de Ronda. At the Hotel Molino del Puente, at the bottom of the hill below our house, the restaurant, bar and terrace ended up under 30cm of water. Miraculously the hotel was cleaned, dried out and re-opened within 48 hours!

Hotel Molino del Puente, Ronda before the flood [Photo: KAYAK]

October 2018

Then in October of the same year, so much rain fell in three hours that the whole of the area was declared an emergency zone.

The hotel suffered again – this time water was lapping the ceiling of the bar and restaurant, and first floor rooms were flooded by the torrent that ran off the fields, busted the land drains and entered through the front door of the hotel. This time the clear-up took longer and the hotel didn’t re-open until April 2019.

The road past our house became a river. A friend’s car was washed away and mine was left suspended over a ditch that had been created when the water rinsed away the side of the road where my car was parked.

In Ronda, the emblematic Arab Baths were badly damaged and many streets, including the main shopping street Calle La Bola, were flooded, as the drainage infrastructure failed to cope.

Around the Serranía low-lying villages such as Benaoján Estación, flooded,de Líbar Estación, La Cañada del Real Tesoro and El Colmenar were severely flooded and some houses wrecked.

Flooding around the Arab Baths in Ronda in 2019 [Photo: La Sexta]

January 2021

“Here comes the rain again!”

We experienced a period of rainfall, but fortunately, toca madera (touch wood) it didn’t cause a huge amount of damage. Given the amount of dry weather in the preceding years, the water was very welcome for the farmers and in order to top up our rather empty reservoirs.

2021 – 2024

Since the start of 2021 until the beginning of October 2024 it has not rained to any great extent. For the last week, however, and for the foreseeable future heavy rain is forecast.

At last, a spell of good weather!

© Pablo de Ronda

Links:

Aemet eleva a naranja el aviso por fuertes lluvias en toda Málaga: hasta 50 litros en una hora (malagahoy.es)

The rain in Spain... (secretserrania.com)

Photos:

AEMET

Alamy

BenitoLink

KAYAK

La Sexta

Tags:

Arab Baths, Baños Arabes, Benaoján Estación, Calle La Bola, El Colmenar,  Grazalema, Hotel Molino del Puente, INM, Jimera de Líbar Estación, La Cañada del Real Tesoro, My Fair Lady, Pablo de Ronda, Rain, rain in Spain, Ronda, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Spanish Met Office

By Paul Whitelock

Netflix shoots “Seven Dials” in Ronda, a mystery series based on an Agatha Christie novel, in various locations around the stunning Málaga province mountain town.

The series is based on Christie's novel “The Seven Dials Mystery” and stars “Game of Thrones” actor Iain Glen, Oscar-winner Helena Bonham-Carter, up-and-coming star Mia McKenna-Bruce and Martin Freeman of the films “Love Actually” and “The Hobbit”, as well as television series “Fargo”.

Filming in Ronda

Helena Bonham-Carter, Martin Freeman and Iain Glen          Mia McKenna-Bruce

[Photo: Cordon Press]                                                           [Photo: Wikipedia]

Filming by the production company 72 Films took place this week from Monday 16 September to Wednesday 18 September in iconic locations in Ronda such as the Puente Nuevo (new bridge) over the gorge, the area around the Fuente de los Ocho Caños drinking fountain, the Duquesa de Parcent square, the Arab Baths, the Alameda del Tajo park, the Ermita and the Plaza de Toros.

Ronda town councillor Jorge Fernández said: “There will be some minor short-term traffic interruptions for the filming. We aim to reduce the possible inconvenience that may be caused to local people".

Ronda mayor María de la Paz Fernández stated: "This international filming by a company that has created products such as the latest 007 film brings a team of around 120 people to Ronda for the shooting, which gives an idea of the magnitude of this production."

The Local Police have contemplated various traffic cuts with the intention of alternating the passage of pedestrians and vehicles, so long as the filming allows it.

Mari-Paz Fernández [Photo courtesy Diario Ronda]

Mayor Fernández added: “Ronda has here a new platform for international promotion at no cost, since the filming of an international series in English of this calibre means that millions of people from all over the world can contemplate the many charms that our city offers."

“The city has already been the scene of other international creations such as 'The Warrior Nun', and 'Feria'.

Other celebrity visitors

And, in recent years, a number of music videos by, for example Madonna and Daniel Bedingfield, as well as TV documentaries by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and Michael Portillo for his series Great Railway Journeys.

Madonna at bullfight in Ronda [La Razon]            Michael Portillo at the Puente Nuevo [CharryTV]

Jamie Oliver making a giant paella in Benaojan [Paul Whitelock]

In the more distant past celebrities such as the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, the American writer Ernest Hemingway and the American actor and film director Orson Welles fell in love with Ronda’s charms.

In fact, Welles is buried here and all three have streets named after them. Rilke also a car park and a driving school

    Ernest Hemingway [Acento]                                Orson Welles [IMDb]                      Rainer Maria Rilke [El Mundo]

Access denied

Despite having my Press pass, I was denied access to the filming and to the actors. Head of production Guillermo explained that the production company wanted to keep tight control of the rights and the publicity for the series.

Head of security Miguel forbade me from taking photos of the actors when they emerged from the filming, despite being on the public highway.

Then I had an idea: I went to the terrace cafe on the fourth floor of the Hotel Catalonia which is opposite the bullring. This is a great vantage point for looking down on proceedings in the arena. There was nobody there apart from a couple of British hotel guests. I managed to take a few shots of scenes involving Martin Freeman.

Martin Freeman filming in Ronda's bullring for the series "Seven Dials" [Photos: Paul Whitelock]

I had learned that the production company would be filming in the bullring all day, so in the early evening I returned to the Hotel Catalonia roof terrace. The cafe was heaving with guests now. But, you won't believe this, Miguel, the aforementioned security man, was patrolling up and down the terrace STOPPING PEOPLE FROM TAKING PHOTOS!

What? This was outrageous! This was a hotel terrace - nothing to do with the filming!

I recall similar over-the-top secrecy surrounding the filming of chef Jamie Oliver back in 2009.

Wednesday - same story of secrecy

They started filming at the Puente Nuevo before the sun was fully up, but there were no actors present. Despite the heavy security I managed to get a couple of shots.

[Photo to follow]

Later they blocked access roads for traffic to the Ocho Caños and the Baños Arabes. By the time I parked and walked down, they'd been and gone.

On a hunch I drove to the Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza. One crew member, Pedro from Sevilla, was blocking the road to the Hermitage.

"They've all gone off for lunch", he told me.

I set off to try to find where they were dining, but drew a blank.

***

I returned to the Ermita in the evening. Seguridad prevented me from approaching the film set (surprise, surprise!) but I met a couple of special effects people (artists) who were preparing props for later filming. I chatted to Isi from La Mancha, Antonio from Almagro (Ciudad Real) and security guard Miguel from Málaga for ages and found out a lot. They didn't appear to be bound by any secrecy clause.

I learned where some of the 120 cast and crew were staying, and that filming had been extended by a few days. They were happy for me to take a photograph of them.

[Photo to follow]

Conclusion

I hope the series is a success. The writer - Agatha Christie - and the actors - Iain Glen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mia McKenna-Bruce and Martin Freeman -  are great actors and the director, Chris Sweeney, also has pedigree. I just feel the secrecy was totally unnecessary.

I look forward to watching it later in the year.

STOP PRESS:

Three new links:

Exclusive: Martin Freeman is spotted filming for Agatha Christie Netflix series in Spain's Ronda - Olive Press News Spain (theolivepress.es)

Netflix grabará en Ronda una serie de misterio con Iain Glen, de Juego de Tronos | Diario Sur

'Seven Dials', la nueva serie de Netflix que están grabando en Ronda y se basa en una novela de Agatha Christie (malagahoy.es)

Notes:

72 Films is an independent production company founded by David Glover and Mark Raphael.

Their aim is to make programmes that inspire, entertain, and make a positive contribution to the cultural landscape.

72 Films have won major commissions with the BBC, National Geographic, Channel 4, Sky, Paramount, Netflix, Apple and Amazon.

©  Paul Whitelock

Links:

El día que prohibieron a Madonna torear en Ronda (larazon.es)

In Ronda a street bears his name and there is a statue in his honour in the grounds of a hotel - but who was Rilke? (secretserrania.com)

Michael Portillo and Andalucía - Help me, Ronda (help-me-ronda.com)

VIDEO: Three Jamies - including celebrity TV chef Jamie Oliver - in one day! (secretserrania.com)

Acknowledgements:

Diario Sur

Francisco Griñán

Javier Amellones

Laura Plaza Rodríguez

Ronda Semanal

SUR in English

Vanessa Melgar

Photos:

Acento

CharryTV.com

Cordon Press

Diario Ronda

El Mundo

Fuente de los Ocho Caños

IMDb

Javier Flores

La Razon

Malaga Hoy

Paul Whitelock

SUR in English

The Olive Press

Tags:

72 Films, Agatha Christie, Alameda del Tajo, Amazon, Apple, Arab Baths, Baños árabes, BBC, Channel 4, Chris Sweeney, Daniel Bedingfield, Diario Sur, Duquesa de Parcent, Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza, Ernest Hemingway, “Fargo”, Francisco Griñán, Fuente de los Ocho Caños, “Game of Thrones”, Helena Bonham-Carter, Hotel Catalonia, Iain Glen, Jamie Oliver, Javier Amellones, Jorge Fernández, “Love Actually”, Madonna, Málaga, María de la Paz Fernández, Martin Freeman, Michael Portillo, National Geographic, Netflix, Orson Welles, Paramount, Paul Whitelock, Plaza de Toros, Puente Nuevo, Rainer Maria Rilke, Ronda, Ronda mayor,  Ronda Semanal, “Seven Dials”, Sky, SUR in English, “The Hobbit”, “The Seven Dials Mystery”, Vanessa Melgar

Pablo de Ronda has been “de Rodríguez” since last Wednesday, when his wife jetted off to Germany to look after her older sister, who has just come out of hospital after major surgery.

“Footloose and fancy-free” is the best “translation” Pablo can muster for “de Rodríguez”. For a more in-depth discussion of the topic, click here: ... de Rodríguez? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Anyway, if you’ve now read the article, you’ll be expecting Pablo to give a “nudge-nudge-wink-wink” account of what he’s been up to while the missus has been away. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here’s what has happened so far:

Where can I get a coffee?

I dropped the “Meter Maid”, Rita (geddit?), at Málaga Costa del Sol airport at just before 5.30 am. Her flight to Paderborn (North Rhine Westfalia) was due to take off at 7.00 am.

I’d already decided to spend a few hours down on the coast, to do a bit of shopping in stores not available in Ronda, and then to have a swim in the Med and have a snooze on the beach.

First things first, I needed a coffee. So, I toddled off to Torremolinos to look for a café or chiringuito overlooking the beach. What better than seeing dawn break on the beach with maybe a chance for a skinny-dip?

Well, I drove the entire length of the coast, some three kilometres, and nowhere was open.

I was driving so slowly that I appeared to arouse interest by a local police patrol – probably thought I was a kerb-crawler.

What to do? The shops don’t open till 10.00 and it’s only 6.00 am?  I followed a sign for the centro urbano and almost immediately found a 24-hour bar.

“In for a penny, in for a pound,” I thought, so I entered.

The clientele was a fascinating mixture of workers on their way to work, topping up with a coffee and a chupito of anís or coñac; people who’d clearly been up all night clubbing; alcoholics; whores; and a transvestite. And that was just inside.

The terrace outside was also full: with smokers (I caught a whiff of wacky-baccy); other “alternative types”; and a guy drinking pints of lager.

“Must be British,” I thought.

Oh, well, each to his own – we all have our little quirks, idiosyncrasies and addictions, don’t we? I’m not normal either!

Oh, he was British, by the way, as I discovered later.

So, I sat at a table and got my work out. I had some press cuttings to read and some writing to do and had brought my laptop with me.

I had two coffees, mainly to keep me awake, but was surprised that you had to pay en seguida, ie at the moment of ordering. With hindsight, probably a good idea with the dodgy clients the bar attracts.

I more or less finished what I wanted to do, and it was getting hotter inside by the minute, so I decamped outside.

What happened next?

“Lager man” was at the next table. He seemed to know everybody, local and guiri alike, but he was definitely English. From his accent I reckoned he was from the North West.

And so he was. When I engaged him in conversation, it emerged that he was from Bury, Greater Manchester. Not far from the second school I taught at in Middleton, in fact. He now lives in Bolton, another of my old stomping grounds.

He was here in Torremolinos for the umpteenth time – that’s why he seemed to know everyone – but he still works in the UK.

As he ordered his third pint of lager while I’d been in the bar, he told me he never drinks in England.

“I more than make up for it when I’m out here, though!” he remarked straight-faced.

“So I’m not an alcoholic,” he added.

Sorting things out

After leaving Torremolinos, I headed for Málaga City. I noticed that Leroy Merlin was already open, so I popped in for a coffee and breakfast in their cafetería, before going into the store to buy the stuff I needed.

Then I headed for Carrefour in Málaga. This enormous French-owned hypermarket has everything. I was there for ages.

But I got what I went for: cat food for kittens, plus a few other things that are hard to come by in Ronda.

A quick trip to Aldi and LIDL to see if they had certain things they don’t have in Ronda -they didn’t!

By this time, it was mid-day. Should I go to the beach for a swim, which was what I had intended?

No, I needed to head back home, see to the kitten and so on and so forth…..

Back in Ronda

Paulinchen was fine. I fed her then popped to my local, Hotel Ronda Valley, for a “quickie” before preparing some dinner at home.

My day out? I enjoyed it immensely.

© Pablo de Ronda

Tags:

Alcoholics, Aldi, alternative types, Bolton, Bury, Carrefour, chupito, “de Rodríguez”, “footloose and fancy-free”, Germany, Greater Manchester, Leroy Merlin, Lidl, Málaga, Málaga City, Málaga Costa del Sol airport, “Meter Maid”,  Middleton, North Rhine Westfalia, Pablo de Ronda, Paderborn, Paulinchen, Paul Whitelock, people who’d clearly been up all night, pints of lager, Rita, skinny-dip, smokers, Torremolinos, transvestite, wacky-baccy, whores

It’s officially Autumn in Spain. In Andalucia pupils start school on 15 September, public swimming pools close and the temperature starts to drop. Parents are back at work after the August holiday and life gets back to normal, with shops opening for more hours and businesses and companies working longer hours. On 27 October the clocks go back one hour.

Autumn in the Serranía de Ronda

It’s now an ideal time for those who are retired, have no children in school and who enjoy walking, cycling, bird-watching and other country pursuits.

So, why not come to Montejaque?

There is lots of accommodation available: some small for two people, others larger sleeping six or more; some at the top of the village where no car can reach, others well-located; some pretty basic, others well-renovated and well-equipped; some without adequate heating, some with pellet stoves and open fires; some accommodation is cheap, other places are more expensive; some with no outside space, others with patios and terraces; some noisy, others peaceful and quiet.

Casa Real

This recently completed village house meets the second of all the above criteria.

Casa Real sleeps six plus a child in three double bedrooms.

Casa Real is well-located, half a minute from the village square, yet with stunning views all round.

Casa Real has been renovated and equipped to a high standard, with all new beds, new towels and bedding, etc. The kitchen and laundry room have all new appliances.

Casa Real has a new pellet burner plus several oil-filled electric radiators.

Casa Real’s prices reflect what is offered and the quality of the accommodation. HOWEVER, autumn discounts are available if you book directly with the owner (see below).

Casa Real has an internal patio and a huge roof terrace. There is also a sitting area to the side of the house.

Casa Real is very tranquil. There is no noisy bar nearby and the main house is double-glazed.

Guest Reviews

Casa Real has proved popular with guests from many countries and nationalities.

To date guests from Albania, Britain, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, South Africa, Ukraine, USA and from various parts of Spain, including Alicante, Bilbao, Extremadura, Jimera de Libar, Madrid and Ubrique.

***

Our first guests at Casa Real back in September 2021 are good friends. I invited them to “test” Casa Real free-of-charge once Phase 1 was complete.

“This is our 13^th visit to one of Paul and Rita’s properties. This time we had the honour of being the first guests in newly renovated Casa Real.

“Having seen the photos [beforehand] it was everything we had expected with a well-equipped kitchen and two excellent super modern bathrooms. A bonus was the delightful patio area downstairs and the roof terrace with lovely views.”

"Hovis" and Jacqui (Sheffield) and Richard (Belfast)

***

Joe King stayed in December 2021.

“Just checked out Casa Real for winter warmth as a favour to my pal Paul, the owner. The weather was really cold [at this time of year]. Nevertheless, this old house with its super-thick external walls proved easy to warm up. A gas heater was sufficient to take the chill off the L-shaped lounge, dining room and kitchen. The bedrooms just needed an electric oil-filled radiator to make them comfortable for sleeping and the wall heater in the bathroom warmed the room up quickly while you took a bath or a shower. Recommended.”

***

Oliver, Lily, Leyla, Amy, Alice and Cailan (Germany)

A family of two parents and four children from Montejaque’s twin town Knittlingen in Germany stayed rent-free in Casa Real for two months in the early part of 2022. In lieu of rent Oliver, a member of the Guild of Joiners, and mentor and friend of Johannes, my wife Rita’s elder son, also a joiner, carried out a number of carpentry and other jobs on Casa Real and in our other two houses in Montejaque and Ronda.

He also had time to carry out several paid commissions for local residents.

Lily, half-Scottish and a physiotherapist, earned a bit on the side treating locals with ailments, in between breast-feeding baby Cailan.

The three girls, Leyla, Amy and Alice, enrolled at the local primary school and loved it!

Leyla (10) wrote: “We loved going to school here….. Everybody was very friendly, we even called the teachers by their first names, which was strange for us ….. because in Germany the teachers are always Herr “This” and Frau “That”!”

***

Semana Santa (April) 2022

Juanjo, María and Juan from Mérida (Extremadura) wrote that they had had a great experience staying in Casa Real:

“Nos ha gustado mucho la casa, es muy típica, y muy cómoda. Nos hemos sentido como en casa. Todos los detalles están muy cuidados, limpia y confortable.”

***

May 2022

Marta and Juanma from Alicante

“[Nuestra visita] ha coincidido con las fiestas del pueblo y había mucho ambiente. Hemos estado muy a gusto. La casa es fresca para el calor que ha hecho estos días.

“Además tiene todos los servicios necesarios.”

***

July 2022

Hazel and Peter Terry from Derbyshire (England): “Fabulous location, so close to the main square. Very spacious house, with excellent outdoor terraces.”

Kevin and Carolyn Emmett from Montejaque, via England, Canada, Botswana and South Africa: “A fun, quirky house! Very spacious double bedrooms, two fabulous bathrooms, and a secluded patio and a roof terrace. Highly recommended as rental accommodation.”

***

September 2022

Tom, Su and Wilbur from Hastings (East Sussex)

“We stayed here with our 3-year-old son. No problems – the house was perfectly safe for a toddler.

“We coincided with La Batalla de La Puente, which was great fun. Wilbur was fascinated!”

[Author's note: Tom is Paul Whitelock's son and a chip-off-the-old-block. He is currently finishing off the renovation of their home, a large Victorian terraced house in Hastings.]

***

November 2022

Miguel, Silvia, Curro and Jessica (from Ubrique):

“Querida Casa Real:

….. podíamos imaginar que eras una casa con mucho encanto. Entre tus paredes existen tantos detalles singulares que nuestras primeras horas dentro de ti fueron de total recreación y ensimismamiento.

“Tus muchos relojes marcaron segundos, minutos y horas llenos de momentos vividos que no podremos olvidar. Sin duda, una casa impregnada de la personalidad de su dueño y creador, una mezcla especial anglosajona y especial de la Serranía de Ronda.”

***

Semana Santa (April 2023)

“Hemos estado alojados en Casa Real en Semana Santa mi marido (Alfredo), mis tres hijos (Iker, Alicia y Nicolás) y yo (Beatriz) y ha sido estupendo.

“….. La situación del pueblo es ideal para visitar el parque natural con comodidad.

“En cuanto a la casa, todo perfecto. Tiene todo lo que puedas necesitar en cualquier momento, cualquier cosa. Nos ha gustado mucho ojear por las noches la gran biblioteca de Paul, [quien, como anfitrión] atento en todo momento, muy simpatico y amable.”

***

8 August 2023

La Familia Sánchez spent 4 nights in Casa Real:

“La casa es espectacular, con muchos detalles y habitaciones amplias, los baños grandes y limpios.

“La casa está equipada con muchas referencias a Andalucía (detalles que nos gustó mucho).”

Cristián, Gumersindo, Iker y Silvia Sánchez

***

15 August 2023

“La familia Lorenzo Sintoiu está muy satisfecha con la estancia en “Casa Real” y sobre todo con el trato del anfitrión “Paul”, un inglés que ama Andalucía y España.

“Y lo refleja en su casa donde hemos disfrutado mucho de la estancia. Su trato hacia nosotros ha sido espectacular.”

***

Visitors from France on 25 August 2023 were also very happy.

“Nous sommes très satisfaits d’avoir passé du temps à Montejaque qui est idealment place dans le secteur de Ronda. La maison <<Casa Real>> est de type andalouse et s’intègre bien.

“….. la  maison est très spacieuse et les equipements de la maison sont complets.”

***

October 2023

Richard and Penny Rice from Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK enjoyed their visit to Andalucia where they spent three weeks in total.

“We enjoyed staying in Casa Real ….. Paul was very welcoming and provided most helpful information.

“This very quirky rental home is ideally placed in this beautiful limestone mountain pueblo ….. The roof terrace is a great feature of the house.”

***

May 2024

Marta and Juanma from Alicante made their second visit to Casa Real. Juanma, a guardia civil likes to take part in the 101 km race, the bicycle/running/walking event, organised by the Spanish Foreign Legion, based in Ronda. This time he brought his friend Roberto.

“Es nuestra segunda vez en Casa Real de Montejaque.

“En las dos ocasiones con motivo de realizar la carrera de los 101 km de la Legión.

“Una casa muy acogedora y sobre todo un anfitrión muy atento.”

***

July 2024

Paul Darwent, originally from Yorkshire, is married to Synnove from Denmark. They live in the Serrania de Ronda. Together with a Scottish couple, Elaine and Martin, from Gibraltar, and another English friend, Bev, they stayed in Casa Real for the third year running, to coincide with The Pueblos Blancos Music Festival, where Paul is the Emcee.

“As always Casa Real is ideal for us. Near to the square where the stage is set up and big enough for our group,” said Paul.

***

August 2024

Klodiana, a police detective from North London, and of Albanian heritage, wrote:

“Our first time in Montejaque has been absolutely fantastic. Thank you, Paul, for being so accommodating and for letting us stay in this beautiful house.”

Marlene is from Paraguay but has lived in London for more than 25 years, and is married to Gustavo, also paraguayo. They have two children: Esteban and Emily. All four of them are fluent in three languages – Spanish, guarani and English. Marlene commented:

“Gracias Paul en especial por ayudarnos esa primera noche. Lo pasamos muy bien. Hasta la próxima.”

Klodiana Geci (Albanian) [Photo courtesy of Facebook]

[Footnote: Rumour has it that Gustavo and Marlene paid the deposit on a house in Montejaque during their stay. ¡Fantástico! ¡Bienvenidos!]

Autumn 2024

I am able to offer a generous discount of 10 per cent per night, if you book direct with me. With booking.com, AirBnb, VRBO and the rest you will pay even more than my normal price, to allow for the fees I have to pay them.

As of today my prices are as follows:

Up to 6 nights 90€ per night.

At least 7 nights, one night is free.

Over 14 nights, two nights free.

All prices are fully inclusive. There are no extra charges for electricity, gas, and water; pellets; cleaning; welcome pack.

Breakages are chargeable if significant.

Coming events:

5 – 8 September           Feria de Pedro Romero         Ronda

27 - 30 September       Batalla de la Puente              Montejaque

How to book:

By phone: (+34) 636 52 75 16

By email: paulwhitelock@hotmail.com

Via WhatsApp: (+34) 636 52 75 16

Further information:

www.help-me-ronda.com

www.simplyowners.net

Photos:

AirBnb

Ayuntamiento de Montejaque

Facebook

Paul Whitelock

Secret Serrania

thinkSPAIN

Tags:

Albania, Alicante, Ayuntamiento de Montejaque, Bilbao, Britain, Casa Real, Croatia, Denmark, Extremadura, Facebook, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Jimera de Libar, Joe  King, Karl Smallman, Madrid, Málaga, Montejaque, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Paul Darwent, Paul Whitelock, pueblos blancos, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Simply Owners, South Africa, Spain, thinkSPAIN, Travelnest, Ubrique, Ukraine, USA, www.help-me-ronda.com, www.simplyowners.net