The History & Archaeology Workshops are in full swing in Jimena despite the rain, but there is a human story that emerged at yesterday's tribute to the municipality's Favourite Daughter Ángeles Vázquez (photo), who died recently. In one of her books, Vázquez tells of an incident that happened when she was fleeing, on foot, the advancing Nationalist forces on the Carretera de la Muerte (Road of Death) between Málaga and Almería. Exhausted and terrified, the young girl threw herself into a ditch by the side of the road ready to die. Hearing a horse and rider approaching she thought this was the end of her. It turned out that the horseman was a Republican, who scooped her up and took her to safety. Ángeles Vázquez spent the rest of her life trying to find the unknown rider to thank him for saving her life. She never did, although she discovered indirectly that he had died many years ago. But here's the good part.>
At yesterday's tribute to her, José Regueira, the Official Chronicler, told of how last Tuesday four women of different ages turned up at his house asking about Vázquez's book, which they thought contained a story about a relation of theirs. "They turned out to be the horseman's sister-in-law, two nieces and a grandniece," said a visibly emotional Regueira. "Even though she did not believe in them, miracles do exist."
Ángeles Vázquez's daughters, Carmen, Susana and Mari Luz, also visibly touched by Regueira's story, went up to receive a commemorative plaque. Carmen Gómez Vázquez addressed a crowded Misericordia church: "Our mother's writing returned to life the lives of many people who have remained forgotten. She denounced the (Spanish Civil) War with all her strength, but never with hate or revenge in mind."
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