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A fire broke out yesterday at that big SACYR warehouse above Los Gallardos. There was a pile of rubbish and wood round the back, which caught fire, or was set alight. Kids, I suspect. Turre bomberos rushed up and put it out. The large flames were clearly visible from the motorway, and a crowd quickly gathered for the fun.
This vast building is just another abandoned relic from Spains past. Another notch on the coffin of its economic dream, another testimony to past folly. I’m told that it was built by a Catalan couple who had inherited the land from ancestors who passed away in Los Gallardos, although nobody seems to know them personally. Possibly he was an architect. Others say he was a builder. What does seem certain is that the promoter of Continue reading The abandoned hotel between the AVE and the Rambla in Los Gallardos
My latest history pamphlet is out! Just in time for the 90th anniversary of Los Gallardos. In 1924 a small village called Los Gallardos broke away from its mountain neighbour of Bedar and formed an independent new village in Almeria, southern Spain. This is the story of these first steps of an independent and proud village that was only founded 50 years before independence. Here I investigate how independence came about, the key first steps Continue reading The birth of Los Gallardos – 1924 to 1927
In 1998 there were about 100,000 foreigners living in Andalucía. By 2012, this had jumped to 750,000, or 8,8% of the population here. Quite a few forasteros. 6 towns in Andalucía have more than 50% of foreigners resident on the padron. Of these, 5 are in Almeria: Arboleas (68,4%), Partaloa (62,4%) Mojácar (61,5%), Los Gallardos and Bedar. The first two are dumps, the third a fascist run right wing penal colony, the fourth a nice place to live Continue reading 6 towns in Andalucia are 50% foreign. 5 of those are in Almeria!
As we speed down the A370 towards Garrucha (or up towards Pedro’s petrol station at Los Gallardos) we often forget about the first ancient and twisting road between the two villages, the AL150, which heads off at the Alfaix motorway junction towards Turre. This article has been moved and updated. It is now available from this page or you can purchase the whole article in pdf format for just €1 by pressing the button below. Continue reading A brief history of the first road between Los Gallardos & Garrucha
Long term reader and occasional restaurant informant Hudson Stubbs writes to tell me that: As residents of Los Rodriguez we were delighted last night to try out La Bodeguita de Alfaix a delightful bar and restaurant recently opened in the village of Alfaix (just outside Los Gallardos). We shared a tasty pizza for starter followed by Chicken Pedro Ximenes for my partner while I had an excellent John Dory. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and Continue reading La Bodeguita de Alfaix
Someone blew up the Cajamar in Los Gallardos last night, in an attempt to force open the ATM machine. In the process, they took out the front window and entrance to the bank. Tried to get a photo but there were far too many coppers around looking efficient, and so slunk away.
Los Gallardos is to get a new indoor sports hall and theatre, after the plans were handed over yesterday by the técnicos of the Diputación. The plans were handed over by Ken Livingstone* at a ceremony in the village last night. The new Edificio Polivalente will cost 480,000€ and be a 570 m2 multiuse building, suitable both for indoor sporting events and also as a local theatre, with seating for 216 people. Here’s a photo Continue reading Ken Livingstone grants Los Gallardos a new sports hall and theatre
A warrent has been issued by the Guardia Civil for the person who set Bedar on fire last Saturday. Police have refused to identify the suspect but say that patrols are actively looking for the person and they expect an arrest later today, although Europa Press breaking news has said that the person has now been arrested and charged. The person has been reported to be a A.F. (69), who set fire to the hills Continue reading Police arrest Bedar arsonist
The final figures released on the Bedar fire say that 374 ha of land, mainly scrub and pines, were burnt by the weekend forest fire. A great deal of the land was included within the special conservation area (LIC) of the Sierra Bedar. A number of houses – the exact number has not been released- were damaged, mainly isolated villas and cortijos around the Serena / Los Pinos area. A search of facebook will bring Continue reading Junta promises reforestation aid to Bedar