11 - 17 May 2023
AXARQUIA - COSTA TROPICAL • EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
HELEN GRAZIANO: Travelled to the UK for the Coronation.
on, would have been proud of him.” Helen actually spoke to King Charles and said: “Sir, I wanted you to read
AXARQUIA’S shores achieved a re‐ markable feat on Thursday, May 4, picking up an impressive 20 Blue Flags, making it a top destination for the summer of 2023. Nerja was particularly notable in the region, collecting four Blue Flags, while Velez‐Malaga also held onto all of theirs. Beaches and marinas in the Mala‐ ga region garnered a record‐breaking 47 Blue Flags, with Axarquia con‐ tributing significantly to this achieve‐ ment. Axarquia’s Tourism, Culture, and Sports Representative, Arturo Bernal, expressed his pride and grati‐ tude for the recognition, stating that “our beaches and coasts are one of our greatest strengths as a destina‐ tion, and these awards are critical in motivating tourists to visit.” Andalucia is leading the pack with an impressive 148 blue flags, second only to Valencia in the whole coun‐ try, making it the best year yet for
my message. I had it made especially. “He said ‘yes, thank you’ and was shaking my hand. He stopped to actu‐
ally read it. It was all a bit surreal and extremely emotional,” she added. The Torrox Business Hub, on Avenida del Peñ‐ oncillo, is truly a hub of the community and sur‐ rounding areas. Their food bank feeds 25‐30 people weekly, including locals and Ukranian fami‐ lies, people on the street, referrals from the Red Cross, and even a few pets! The Hub also works closely with a lady who feeds, traps and neuters street cats. You can also find print‐ ing and posting services with DHL and UPS, PO Box hire, sim cards, British sweets and cards, tech accessories, and more! Website: torroxhub. com Telephone: +34 951 545 392 Email: info@torroxhub. com
Flying the flag Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Nerja
HELEN GRAZIANO, from the UK and now living in Torrox, asked the owner of Torrox Business and Community Hub Colin Fintz to create an eye‐ catching poster to take with her to the Corona‐ tion celebrations, which has since been featured in The Guardian and Bangkok Post! An avid supporter of the Royal Family, Helen camped outside the palace awaiting her turn for even a glimpse of the new King. Helen told us: “Having travelled to the UK for the Queen’s funeral to show my support and as a gesture of thanks for her service, it was only fitting that I should support her son by travelling to Lon‐ don again to celebrate his Coronation. “I wanted him to know that his Mother, whose role he was now taking
Images – Helen Graziano/Torrox Business Hub
PROUD QUEEN
REMARKABLE FEAT: Axarquia earned a total of 20 Blue Flags.
the region. The coveted Blue Flag award is a testament to the region’s commit‐ ment to maintaining high environ‐ mental and quality standards. This prestigious accolade is given by the Association for Environmental Edu‐
cation and Consumer Affairs (ADEAC), which manages Blue Flags in Spain. Internationally, Spain also stood out, maintaining its place on top of the podium with a whopping 729 Blue Flags nationally.
FREE • GRATIS
Harvesting goodwill Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Periana (via Facebook)
Issue No. 1975
Periana celebrates its patron saint with a unique ceremony.
LIKE many towns in the Axarquia region, Periana is preparing to celebrate its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, with a unique celebration. The town is known for its rich traditions and strong sense of community, and this weekend’s celebra‐ tions are expected to showcase this. Over 40,000 kilograms of wheat are set to rain down on the town’s streets as families partic‐ ipate in an age‐old cus‐ tom. Each household do‐ nates an amount of wheat equivalent to the weight of their eldest family member, symbol‐ ising their gratitude for a plentiful harvest and their commitment to charity.
However, the wheat offering is more than just a symbolic gesture. It serves as a heartfelt act of charity, with the funds raised from the donated wheat being dedicated to various causes. This year, the proceeds will go towards supporting those affected by the war in Ukraine. Celebrations are set to begin on Friday, May 12 and will last until Mon‐ day, May 15 with the tra‐ ditional wheat throwing, a mass and a religious procession led by local Catholic Brotherhoods. A detailed schedule is available from the local council. All are welcome to wit‐ ness the town’s unique traditions.