October 2012 - Pass the salt please!

The Volunteers of La Mata (the Asociación de las Rutas y Caminos de la Sal) enjoyed a guided visit to the Salinas (Saltworks ) site, to see how the salt is produced.  Several members of the group are also members of Torrevieja U3A.

 The process was explained and also the fact that this is the only place where salt is produced in this way, with a type of dredger, whereas much salt, as in Santa Pola is by the drying out of salt pans.  The highlight of the visit was a trip out onto the Laguna in a flat bottomed barge type of boat, where we saw the dredging machine in action, scooping the salt and debris from the lake, and tipping the salt and other detritus into barges, pulled by a tug.  We then saw the washing and separating process.  Next time we shake salt onto our meals we shall think a bit harder as to how it arrived there!  The Salinas Company welcomes groups of visitors so as to further involve the public in this unique production of a vital substance.  There is a very good video of the process in the Salt Interpretation Centre, which is just next to the Alzheimer centre in Torrevieja.

The volunteers

13 October 2012 - The Art Appreciation Group in Cartagena

The Museo Regional De Art Moderno once again provided four floors of food for thought when the U3A Art Appreciation Group visited the display of Contemporary Aboriginal art.

We met by the marina for coffee and Helen Fuller explained a little about the art we were about to see. This type of art is not merely decorative but uses symbolism to depict scenes which the artist may have witnessed, knows about, or may simply have imagined.

Much of the art is based on the Aboriginal concept of "Dreamtime". The Dreaming or Dreamtime is a term used by Aborigines to describe the relations and balance between the spiritual, natural and moral elements of the world. It is an English word but its meaning goes beyond any suggestion of a spiritual or dream-related state. Rather, the Dreaming relates to a period from the origin of the universe to a time before living memory or experience - a time of creator ancestors and supernatural beings.

The photographs do not do full justice to the paintings as one needs to be close up and see the meticulous care with which the dots (which make up most of these paintings) are placed, and to see them at full size. Most canvases were in the order of 1.5m x 1.0m.

24 September 2012 - Spanish Dancing

At our first meeting of the Autumn season we were Royally entertained by a group of dancers performing traditional Spanish Dances.

All amateur, they are from various backgrounds and nationalities, and meet and train at the CMO. They are led and taught their skills by Councillor Inmaculada Montesinos who appeared in some of the dances.

There were eight dances in all and included the Pasodoble, the Sardana, El Chotis and Isa from the Canary Islands.  The audience was thoroughly entertained by the dancing, music and costumes of the dancers, some of whom were Torrevieja U3A members.

The dancers practice every Wednesday afternoon at the CMO and there are also classes (on various days) for line dancing, Sevillanas and Flamenca Rumbas, amongst others.  If you are interested in joining the group you need to be a member (free membership) of the CMO.  To join the CMO you need to be on the Padron and have a SIP card.

Our thanks go to Inmaculada and her Group.

16 June 2012 - Summer BBQ

With the Channel 4 TV Grand Designs featured house at one end of the vista and the shimmering lake at the other, with inbetween the sparkling swimming pools and paved terraces of Casa La Pedrera, what more scenic venue could there be for our second Summer Barbecue? After being directed to park neatly by the yellow “hi-viz” jacketed U3A stewards, over 100 members and guests enjoyed the early evening sun in this most relaxing atmosphere before the festivities began.  The evening got off to a fabulous start with costumed dancers, three of whom are members of our U3A, skilfully and passionately executing a selection of stirring Sevillanas dances.

Then it was the turn of maestro “Smithy”, welcomed back by popular demand, to continue the musical theme with a great selection of backing tracks whilst teams circulated around the tables encouraging everyone to participate in a variety of highly comical “guessing games” each of which promised a prize for the winner. Much fun was had by all. Winners were duly declared and awarded their prizes.

A superb meal was then served by Jenni of Casa La Pedrera and her seemingly tireless band of helpers. Following the meal the attention turned to the Petanca piste for rounds of Knockout Petanca. Spurred on by Jenni, the rivalry between tables was extremely keen with everyone cheering on their respective teams.  A champion duly fought her way through the heats and was rewarded with a great prize.

As the excitement died down “Smithy” moved seamlessly into his act singing everyone’s favourite sing-a-long songs from “our era”. Eventually the tempo was raised again and those with energy to spare hit the dance floor.

Eventually as the sun dipped behind the hills at the far end of the lake, the sky gradually deepened into velvety blackness and hundreds of twinkling stars filled the night sky and reflected in the water below, it was time to draw the bumper raffle. Then back to “Smithy” to slow the evenings’ excitement down with a selection of “smoochy” tunes. Slowly the revellers began drifting homewards although some seemingly reluctant to leave, lingered on over a last coffee and a slice of homemade cake.

Thanks indeed to Pen Taylor and her team of helpers for organising the event this year, creating truly another great U3A summer barbecue.

Bob Hill

April and May 2012 - Walking Group

Two recent outings by the Walking group took us first on a visit in April to Finca Bonelli's Eagle, a rustic finca in the mountain canyon of Crevillente, offering spectacular views overlooking the El flare mountain. After meeting at Las Palmeras camp-site, the winding narrow roads leading to  Finca Bonnellis Eagles were negotiated with care, to be rewarded by a welcome cup of coffee upon arrival. Then, following an exhilarating10km walk through wonderful scenery, the group were welcomed back to refreshments followed by a superb lunch. The eagle parents and chicks were clearly seen on the opposite cliff face.

In May the group scaled the heights to reach The Peñarroya Chimney, a soaring landmark high above the Port of Cartagena. The walk to the towering chimney part of the mining heritage of the area, was begun on a beautiful sunny morning in late May.  After the walk refreshments were taken at the beach side bar/restaurant before departing for home.

30 April 2012 - Presentation to Ars Aetheria

April 2 2012 - Art Appreciation Trip to Cartagena

Museum of Modern Art, Plaza de la Merced

The Art Appreciation Group made their way to Cartagena in order to visit an exhibition of paintings by Luis J. Fernandez, an artist born in Murcia in 1974.

His paintings are mainly abstract and are based on street or interior scenes from major cities around the world. He has had many exhibitions of his work, mainly in Spain but some in France and Italy. A selection of his exhibits are shown below along with one or two photographs of bronzes by Maite Defruc, a sculptor from Murcia, which were in a separate gallery within the Museum.

The Museum of Modern Art is housed in a fine old building in the heart of Cartagena. It is really two buildings in one. The entrance is into the Museum itself and this is very modern with four floors of exhibition space connected by stairs or lift. Adjoining is the 19th century Aguirre Palace, built for a mining industrialist Camilo Aguirre.

Our guide from the Museum took us on a private tour of the palace and we were shown around the beautiful staircase, reception rooms, and private chapel where we had a short presentation of photographs of Cartagena from the early 20th century.

After the viewing we retired, in the time-honoured fashion, to a local restaurant where lunch and wine had been made ready for us.

Our thanks go to Chris and Mick Kerton who organised the visit, the lunch, and the tour.

The bronzes are by Maite Defruc

26 March 2012 - Columbus and the Salt Lakes

March 2012 - Cuenca

AGM and Inaugural Meeting at the CMO, 30 January 2012

The Torrevieja U3A combined our AGM with our first meeting at the CMO (Centro Municipal de Ocio) building.

The event was excellently attended with over 200 existing members there for the meeting, and over 50 new members and guests came along. We estimate that this is our biggest single attendance at a monthly meeting.

The mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon, with Councilors Rosario Martínez, Councillor for Foreigners, Inmaculada Montesinos Pérez - Councillor for the Third Age, and Graham Knight - Director of the Foreign Residents Office visited the meeting as it opened and welcomed the U3A to what the Mayor described as its "New Home". It was exciting to hear these words as one of the Committee's fears was always that as political parties changed in local government, councils sometime change their minds about permissions to use their buildings. His words now confirm that the Torrevieja Ayuntamiento are now firmly behind our Association and will cement even stronger bonds for the future.

We have been in consultation with the Ayuntamiento for a long time to try to obtain larger premises for our ever growing Association and were delighted to accept their offer to use the CMO building on the last Monday of every month from now on.So welcome to our "New Home".

After the introductions and congratulations were over the AGM  was held and Bob Hill was unanimously voted back in as Chairman for another year. Bob Cook was re-elected as Treasurer, and after the retirement of our long running Secretary, Sheila Rolt, Sue Kenyon was elected as Secretary. There have been a number of changes to the Committee during 2011 due to retirements so invitations were issued in 2011 for members to come along and offer their assistance. Happily all places were filled and the new Committee Members along with the existing Members wishing to remain in place were voted in unanimously to act for 2012. Full details of the 2012 Committee may be viewed on "The Committee" page.

We had a new visitor in the form of Francisco Morales, a member of the Guardia Civil, who made a brief speech about his work and announced that he will be one of our future speakers. His theme is likely to be along the lines of "Driving Legalities in Spain" which will help to iron out some of the uncertainties about Spanish road-rules and regulations. Don't write in yet but an announcement will be made if we wish for questions to be submitted from members which Francisco could answer for us.

The general feeling about our first visit to the CMO was that it had been a great success. We hosted over 250 people which we could not have accommodated at La Rustika, and the catering was well organised. Those who partook of the Desayuno Ingles afterwards were very pleased with the service and quality and prices. The catering manager may in future agree to cook lunches for us if there is enough demand so watch this space.