II Spirit of the Wind horse 'raid' starts this afternoon

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CASARES The second edition of the Raid Hípico Espíritu del Viento is scheduled for this weekend. This is a race that values the state of the horse at the finish line, than the time it takes to get there. Some 30 riders are expected to turn up on Saturday morning for the race. But the event also has a series of parallel activities, too. The weekend begins this evening at the Casa Natal Blas Infante with a chat from the organizers, plus another by a veterinary podologist (a 'hoof man') starting at 5pm - as well as a riding fashion show that begins at 7pm. You can get more info by calling the numbers on the poster.

Casares goes back in time this weekend

CASARES The hillside white village turns back to the Middle Ages this weekend. The sixth edition of its Medieval Market, a pioneer on the Costa, gets under way on Friday. Aside from the marketplace that takes over the town's old quarter and is always interesting, there are all kinds of things to see and to take part in: from jugglers and musicians to craft workshops and storytelling, from people on stilts to fire eaters, street theatre, archery, swordfighting and lots more. It all begins on Friday 8th at 8pm with a street parade (for which an information and scheduling workshop has been scheduled for noon that day but is not for the general public). See the full programme below.>>>

Casares Mayor announces her team at the Council

CASARES (Press release) Having discussed the matter with her local Izquierda Unida group, the Mayoress of Casares, Antonia Morera, has chosen her team. The number of municipal departments has been expanded to 22 with the creation of those for Foreign Residents, Citizen Participation and Cooperation; and a change of name from that of Women to one of Equality. Thus, the governing team (called Junta de Gobierno) is headed by Morera, who takes charge of Treasury, Equality and Personnel, with three Vice-Mayors in the following order: Pedro González (Town Planning, Education, Health, Youth and Sports), Pepe Carrasco (Infrastructure, Environment, Tourism and Citizen Participation) and Juan Luis Villalón (Council representative at Secadero, Communication and Citizen Safety). Sonia Saborido will be the Councillor for Local Development and Employment, Culture, Festivities and Social Services, while Juan Sánchez continues in charge of Institutional Relations, plus Housing and the new department of Cooperation and Juan Jesús Rodríguez carries on as the Coast delegate but now takes on the newly created Department for Foreign Residents.

Visitors Reception Centre is open to the public

CASARES  (Press release) A new visitors' centre created under the Plan Qualifica scheme will allow for personalized information to tourists 24/7 and 365 days a year. Located at the entrance to the village on the Ronda road, the centre gives an overview of Casares and its features. In one room they can find out about where to eat, where to stay, ferias, traditions, etc. while another room delves into the history of Caares, including archaeological finds from digs at Villa Vieja and Cueva del Duque. A third room is dedicated to audiovisual material used as promotional material. In addition to the panels as described, the new centre is part of the information network for the Western Costa del Sol, that is included in the Plan Qualifica, covers over 5000 points of interest in the area and uses touch screen technology. Opening hours are from Monday to Friday 11am to 2.30pm and 4.30 to 6.30pm, and on Saturdays from 11am to 4.30pm.

Mountain bike race coming to Casares next weekend

CASARES (Press release/Photo: illustration only) The second edition of the Blas Infante Marathon, which brings together the top mountain bike racers of Andalucía because it counts towards the Provincial Circuit and falls within the Millenium Titan Series 2011, is scheduled for April 3. The winners get invited to take part in the Millenium Titan Desert by Powerade event that takes place on May 9 to 14 between Morocco and Granada. Some 150 riders have registered to take part so far but the organization expects over 200. Registration ends on March 30 and has space for a maximum of 350 riders. The new route for this second edition is 60 kms long, and an aternative of 35 is ready for the Cadete class. Although both start and end in the Historic Quarter of Casares, they mainly run through rural, forest and urban roads, with some spectacularly beautiful spots along the way.
The registration fee for federation mmbers is €15, and €25 for non-mambers, which include provisions, lunch and gifts for all participants. Trophies go to the first three in each category. More information is available on the municipal website: www.casares.es.

Two divorces, one marriage?

JIMENA/CASARES (Agencies) Secadero, at one end of the straight stretch over the bridge, belongs to the municipalitry of Casares,  province of Málaga. At the other end of the bridge road is San Martín del Tesorillo, which belongs to Jimena de la Frontera, province of Cádiz. Both of these villages, however, are in a more or less advanced stage of separation from their mother municipalities. This happens through an ELA (Entidad Local Autónoma, or Local Autonomous Entity), a sort of quasi-independent Council, often of a different political colour to its mother. Such, at any rate, is the case with Tesorillo (as it is known to its friends - others call it San Martin). Given their proximity, there is always the possibility of intimacy despite the river that separates them. Lovers will always find a way. If and when they both obtain their divorces, it is not impossible to imagine that they will marry each other to form their own municipality, or join another one such as rich San Roque. Just a thought probably ahead of its time...

Casares uses golf cart to help elderly visit the cemetery

As has become customary at this time of year, when so many people visit the cemetery in preparation for All Saints Day, November 1, Casares Council has made available a  golf cart, on loan from nearby Finca Cortesín, to help the elderly to get up the steep hill to the cemetery, which is at the very top of the village, by the castle, where the streets are cobbled and difficult to walk on. There is a carefully drawn up schedule that tries to make sure everyone's needs are covered.

Feria de Casares begins tomorrow

Our neighbouring town, Casares, begins its annual fair tomorrow. This feria is one of the largest of the smaller villages in the area. It includes all the usual fare of a fair (ooops, sorry!) and more. Starting with a parade of gigantes y cabezudos (google it) tomorrow, Thursday 29th, at 8pm, it ends on Sunday with fireworks from the castle. See the whole programme below.>

He cycles across Spain to raise money for his kids' school library

CASARES
Jan Doorakers lives in Casares and has three children at the Colegio Blas Infante there. The school library needed a boost and Jan came to the rescue. The photo shows him handing over a cheque for €3,300 which he collected  after cycling 2,300 kms in 23 days. He left his home town of Oisterwiik on May 8 for Paris, boarded a train to Perpignan and then crossed Spain from North to South all the way to Casares - about 100 kms a day. Councillor Pedro González and the school teachers were not only grateful but also amazed at the amount Jan collected, which will now go towards setting up a reading programme for the kids.