Jimena-born Miguel Trillo brings his photography to Algeciras

ALGECIRAS Miguel Trillo was born in Jimena in 1953. He graduated from the Complutense University in Madrid with degrees in Image and Hispanic Linguistics and has become one of Spain's best-regarded photographers. Amongst other things, he has followed and photographed Spanish youth for many years, beginning at towards the end of the Franco regime, an era known as La Movida. This show is about that youth since the advent of democracy and the derogation of many of Franco's repressive laws. His pictures are full of intense colours, this series showing that the young have been converting streets and corners of towns, villages and cities into colourful background for their new-found aesthetics of freedom. The show, organised by ALCULTURA with the cooperation of UFCA, the photography collective, and the Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía, opens on Friday, July 12 at 9pm, at the Red Containers on Ensenada de El Saladillo, Avenida de la Hispanidad, in Algeciras (Access from the Paco de Lucía roundabout - but find your way here) For more info: www.alcultura.es; asociacionalcultura@gmail.com; or 956 572 508. (See also: Spanish Youth Through Miguel Trillo's Camera)

Ice-cream as an example of solidarity

ALGECIRAS / LOS BARRIOS Much as this item may seem like an advertorial, it is in fact a way to express our admiration for a business that has been setting an example for some time. A family ice-cream business based in Algeciras is an example of solidarity with the less fortunate: it donates one third of its profits and cooperates with numerous charities. So far this year Heladísimo, 'La Gourmet del Helado', has bought and distributed over four tons of food, that, as well as toys of a line that develops and encourages proper values among the young. However, that's not enough, either: they were one of the organisers of last year's Campeonísimo sports event, which they want to make an annual event. There are several other things they've organised, including charity cycling routes, help for child victims of cancer and MS. They can do with our support. In Algeciras, the Heladísimo shop is at Avenida de España, 13, in San José Artesano; in Los Barrios at Calle Plata, 24, both of which offer Italian ice-creams improved with local resources. Worth a try, right?

Photographer is censored by Facebook

See 'The Making Of' this 2010 photo

ALGECIRAS Mariano Vargas Castaño is in constant evolution, according to Europa Sur. He started out years ago with an analog camera but has taken the digital age to heart. His photos are interesting, provocative, sometimes erotic, and nowadays censored. He has made the fact public through the same Facebook page where he publishes much of his work - and where some of his work has been removed. But he says he's not really bothered, though he does mention - not just in passing - the double standard used by that social network where images of death and destruction are all too frequent; yet Facebook says that many of his photos do not meet its policies. The fact is that Mariano Vargas is a well-known artist whose work is sold via the prestigious Imaginart gallery in Barcelona, and which has been exhibited in Hong Kong, South Korea, Paris, soon in Venezuela and Colombia, on to Miami and next year, to London and New York.>>>

Julio Iglesias concert in Algeciras in August

ALGECIRAS  Only a day after Algeciras presented its summer events programme (about which more later), it was announced that the world's favourite Latin crooner, Spaniard Julio Iglesias, will be onstage at the Las Palomas bullring in Algeciras on Wednesday, August 14, as part of his world tour, which is taking him to Jordani, Israel, Portugal, Norway,Holland, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, The Philippines  China, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. According to the star's schedule, he will be in Marbella less than two weeks before that, for the Starlite Festival. The Julio Iglesias official website does sell tickets, but not (yet) for the Algeciras gig. His latest recording happened in November, 2011, and Guinness World Records gave him the record for selling the most Latin music records in the world.

Woman's body found at El Saladillo dock

ALGECIRAS The body of a woman was found yesterday in the waters at Algeciras port, at the El Saladillo docks.. The Guardia Civil (GC) had not been able to identify it by the time this was written, but was nevertheless investigating the circumstances. The matter was reported at about 3pm, when a GC patrol boat was alerted by a man fishing onshore, who reported hearing something heavy fall into the water, after which he saw the body.

60 years teaching English

(Photo: europasur.es)

ALGECIRAS Antonio Rubio learned English at the School of Commerce in London, way back in 1952. He then returned to his native Algeciras where shortly after he started sharing what he had learned in a couple of rooms in his home, Villa Virginia. His spot was taken up by Esther Rubio, one of his daughters, who with Virginia, the other sister, are still giving classes in what was then a pioneering 'academy' for the area. It started with British English and so it continues. But Antonio Rubio was no rich kid: he financed his studies in London by washing plates and threading wool, among other jobs. Academia Rubio, now under the management of daughter Esther, was 60 years old last month. Congratulations.

Arrested for setting 96 baits to poison dogs

(Illustration only)

ALGECIRAS A man was arrested recently for wrapping poison in cold meats and setting them out for dogs to eat. The Seprona unit of the Guardia Civil was alerted when the owner of one victim had to take his dog to vet as an emergency, who reported it. The man, who lives in the Pelayo section above Algeciras, is accused of setting 96 baits in the area. Officers of Seprona's Canine Unit carried out an investigation along the Cañada Real in Pelayo, which eventually led to the bait and poison being found inside a car owned by the accused. The bait contained poison certified as extremely and highly toxic by the World Health Organization.

The Henderson family lunches in San Pablo

Station on the Algeciras - Ronda line,
with evident British influence

JIMENA /San Pablo de Buceite Who are the Hendersons? you ask. They are the descendants of Sir Alexander Henderson, the man who built the Algeciras-Ronda railway, as well as the Reina Cristina Hotel in Algeciras and the Reina Victoria Hotel at the other end of the line in Ronda. The Henderson family had lunch recently at that wonderful jewel of restaurant in San Pablo, (appropriately) La Estación in San Pablo, run by Nieves Domínguez and her son, Samuel. The family were apparently on a trip up the hills in preparation for a Michael Portillo TV programme about the British-built railway (about which we reported here years ago). More, no doubt, later, so watch this space.

Food Bank beats it's own record in April

ALGECIRAS The Campo de Gibraltar Food Bank operates out of a large space in the town, ceded for free by its owner. Headed by José Cabello, it recently announced that it had beaten its own record thanks, he says, 'to the solidarity of the people and businesses of the area.' Over 90,000 kilos of foodstuffs were distributed in April, almost double the approximate 50,000 that is the norm. Much of it is the result of Operación Kilo run by the Carrefour chain's branches in La Línea and Los Barrios, which encouraged customers to donate a kilo of non-perishable goods. The company collected some 25,000 kilos, and then doubled that amount in donations. The Food Bank thanked the Fundación Solidaridad Carrefour, also for the donation of a large electric fork lift, which will make the work at the distribution centre much easier. Cabello pointed out that this kind of thing encourages the volunteers on which the Bank depends.

New techniques against glaucoma are applied in Algeciras

New system being applied at
Punta de Europa Hospital

ALGECIRAS The Punta de Europa Hospital's ophthalmology department recently began applying a very new technique to combat a common type of glaucoma, which is considered difficult to treat because it presents considerable resistance to the reduction of intra-ocular pressure as treated with traditional clinical treatment as with surgery. Glaucoma is an illness that affects the optical nerve and can lead to blindness; there are several types. The new system is reportedly more efficient and presents less secondary complications. Four patients underwent the new technique at the hospital recently and all are reported as progressing well.

Buildings over 40 will have to undergo inspection

Old building in Algeciras
(Illustration only)

ALGECIRAS In a piece of legislation that might be expected in other towns and cities in response to regional or national law (Royal Law Decree 8/2011 of July 1), Algeciras is about to order that buildings of 40 years or more must undergo technical inspections to ensure that conditions of safety, sanitation, accessibility and ornamentation are adequate. This applies to all kinds of buildings, from blocks of flats to townhouses and single-family homes. Initial approval of the municipal regulation has been done, and it is now in the public allegation stage until May 22, after which it and the obligation of owners will be in effect.>>>

Biggest ever hash haul caught at port

(Photo: Guardia Civil)

ALGECIRAS The Guardia Civil detachment at the Port of Algeciras on Monday uncovered almost 33 tons of hash hidden inside a truck supposedly transporting fruit that was coming into Spain from Tangier. This is the largest haul ever taken on land and is almost double the total taken in the whole of last year. The illicit drug was hidden behind a screen behind two pallets of melons, which is what the lorry's manifest said it was transporting. On another matter (and in another article) importers of perishable goods, meeting at the Reina Cristina Hotel, are asking for less or lighter inspections at the Customs shed.

Guardia Civil to watch over Straits with drones and by satellite

Camcopter S-100 helicopter drone

ALGECIRAS The frontier-watch unit of the Guardia Civil (FRONTEX) is to open a new era of innovation. The latest technology, as offered by helicopter drones and satellites, will be the starting point. Under the name 'Closeye' (sounds like a Hollywood spy movie, but isn't) the GC will be gradually incorporating new systems to its effort at stopping smugglers and 'illegal' immigrants from crossing the Straits of Gibraltar. This is a first for similar European operations, and consists of three phases, the first of which is experimental, aimed at fine tuning the systems to be used.

Five new judges are assigned to the courts

Courts in Algeciras

ALGECIRAS The courts of this jurisdiction have been undergoing a number of changes this month, although this does not mean an increase in their numbers, which remains the same at 19, despite the clogged arteries of the courts in the area. To those 19 should be added another four who work for the Algeciras section of the Provincial Courts (Audiencia Provincial. The five new judges will be replacing the five who are leaving for different destinations. In Spain, becoming a judge -a separate career from that of a lawyer- is quite an achievement, requiring years of studies and a complex examination system (called oposiciones).One of the new judges, Macarena García, who will take over as support judge at the Court of First Instance number 1, is actually from Algeciras and becomes Spain's youngest judge at age 25.

264 kilos of cocaine seized from container at the port

(Photo: Guardia Civil)

ALGECIRAS The Guardia Civil announced yesterday that it had seized 264 kilos of cocaine hidden in a container in transit at Algeciras, coming from Argentina. Four people were arrested when they attempted to collect the drug, all of whom are in jail. The GC statement said that they established an operation that watched the container, loaded onto a tractor truck at the cargo terminal; when the truck was stopped and inspected, they found several bags full of the packaged cocaine and arrested three men. Involved, too, was a third man who had access to the container terminal with a van belonging to his employer; he was also arrested. 

Taxi prices to go up by 3.4% this year

Waiting on Blas Infante

ALGECIRAS Taxi rides in Algeciras, or starting there, will be costing a maximum of 3.4% more, which is the CPI (Consumer Price Index, or IPC in its Spanish acronym) for September last year, the annual yardstick. This does not mean that prices will all be going up by that percentage  and close details will not be available until after the Council's session this morning, which will be giving its approval. As an example, a run of, say, €6 (at midday on a weekday), will very likely be going up to €6.16, about 2.6% more, which is considered an average. If the increase is approved by the Council, the revision will also have to be approved by Junta's Dirección General de Relaciones Financieras con las Corporaciones Locales (General Directorate of Financial Relations with Local Corporations).

Landslide cuts Algeciras - Granada rail line near Gaucín

(Photo: europasur.es)

Storms batter Andalucía · Better weather ahead

ANDALUCÍA A landslide between Jimena and Gaucín caused by the storms forced line closures on the Algeciras-Ronda-Granada route, which in turn affected the Algeciras-Madrid one as well. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, had the railway line administrator (ADIF) making alternative plans for passengers. The line is also used for cargo but no alternative measures could be taken for that as yet. ADIF said later yesterday, Thursday, that they didn't know how long the line would be closed because the 'situation is complicated by the weather.'>>>

Whether the weather is wetter, depends on where you look

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR It's raining, it's pouring, it's hissing down this morning in most of the Campo de Gibraltar. What's happening lately, then? Well, temperatures are coming down, and we're either on a yellow or orange alert in this area, which will be due to strong winds. This forecast map is for 7 a.m. on Sunday, but who's up at that time anyway? (You are? Oh, okay, you're just getting home... ) We're changing the link to our Weather Widget to offer a better service. Check here for yourself.

Algeciras-Ronda train service cuts

Stop at San Pablo de Buceite
(Photo: buceite.com)

ALGECIRAS / RONDA Improvement, that is, expansion and connections, to the Ronda to Algeciras train line has been on the books for at least fifteen years. Area businesses, and in particular the Algeciras Bay Port Authority, are adamant that connections with the Campo are essential to progress and employment. However, recent developments on the 'rationalization' of infrastructure front has that specific line set for elimination altogether. Blame the crisis. The only alternative on that line, which was originally built by Britain for R&R of the troops stationed in Gibraltar, will be to board the Granada and get off at Ronda. The service that is to be eliminated is the train that leaves Ronda at 7.30am, arriving in Algeciras at 9.15; the return journey leaves Algeciras at 7pm and arrives at Ronda at 8.42. So what is left is the Granada train leaving Algeciras three times a day (at 6.35am, 11.45 and 3.55). It remains to be seen whether any stops on the way are to be eliminated, and when this all comes into effect. One of the area's great joys has always been a train ride to Ronda in the spring, when all the wild flowers are out in their splendour.

Two arrested for causing abortion on minor

Punta de Europa Hospital, Algeciras

Prescription medication obtained online · Hospital calls in National Police

ALGECIRAS The Family Attention Service (SAF in its Spanish acronym) of the National Police were called in last week by the Punta de Europa emergency staff, who were concerned that an under-age girl had had an illegal abortion. Investigation ha so far resulted in two arrests, with charges of provoking an illegal abortion on a minor. The girl arrived at the hospital complaining of severe stomach pain and it turns out she had taken a very large dose of medication intended for digestive problems. The medication needs a doctor's prescription. However, the two people now under arrest are also accused of obtaining medication under false pretenses, although the medicine is freely available online.