England (1977), BA (Hons) in European Politics and French from the University of Derby (2001). Before coming to Spain, Jennie worked for the late Phillip Whitehead MEP in the UK and Brussels, Arts Council England as a Local Government Liaison Officer and for the DCLG (Dept. for Communities and Local Government) as a project manager. She has been in Spain since 2009 where she combines journalism with her work as a qualified English teacher and examiner. She has been with SUR in English since May 2015 and in January 2016 she became the correspondent for the Axarquía region.
Seguir por emailRecibe un email cuando Jennie Rhodes publique un nuevo trabajo
What to do
The First International Art Exhibition at the Azucarera, in Guadalfeo, Salobreña will be taking place from Friday 21 until Sunday 24 June. INFORMATION What: International Art Exhibition Where: Azucarera, Guadalfeo, Salobreña When: Thursday 21 t
LifeStyle
More than 100 patients, staff and family members attended the third Diaverum dialysis clinic party at the Santa Rosa hotel in El Morche last Sunday. The party was organised by staff who work at the clinic and was free for those attending. Among th
Local
Animal lovers are up in arms in Benamocarra following the publication of a leaflet by the town hall which threatens fines of up to 750 euros for feeding the local cats. Antonio Fernández Arcas, who says he has been feeding the felines every mornin
What to do
The 59th Nerja Caves International Festival of Music and Dance will get under way on Saturday 16 June with a performance by African-American soprano and jazz musician, Barbara Hendricks, inside the cave itself. INFORMATION Where: Nerja Caves and Pl
LifeStyle
Liz Brown can be easily identified by her British nurse uniform. She is a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in the UK as well as being, as far as she is aware, the only Briton registered with the Colegio Oficial de Enfermería in Malaga. "It was a very
LifeStyle
Almuñécar, on the Costa Tropical, is celebrating 20 years of gastronomy this weekend, with the annual Feria Gastronómica in the town's Parque El Majuelo. The event, which is organised by the Almuñécar Valle Tropical hospitality association, officia
What to do
The village of Árchez is today celebrating its second Residents' Day as part of the annual cultural week. There will be music from Jukebox Bandits at 8pm and Proyecto Mandarina at 10pm as well as a market selling food from the countries represented i
LifeStyle
British athlete, Julia Chi Taylor has achieved her goal. She arrived in Almuñécar last Saturday, on her 59th birthday, after running 1,000 kilometres barefoot across Spain. Julia started her epic journey in the town of Suances in Cantabria on 23 Ma
LifeStyle
Readers may be familiar with Ian Rutter's voice from his Life Stories programme on Talk Radio Europe. Classical music fans may also have heard him presenting his show on The Wireless Radio; an internet-based radio station. Ian, 55, and his partner
What to do
Nerja Cultural Centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a number of special events throughout May. INFORMATION What. Nerja Cultural Centre 20th anniversary events Where. Nerja Cultural Centre and other locations. Further information. www
Local
A community fundraising event in aid of the Cudeca hospice in Benalmádena will take place at Cómpeta's municipal swimming pool this Saturday at 10am. The swimming challenge will involve two teams; an Elite and a Challenge team, whose aim is to swim
What to do
Ars Nova, a Granada-based quartet, will be playing at El Molino de Cajiz on Sunday 6 May and then on Thursday 10 May at the Sala Unicaja de Conciertos María Cristina in Malaga. They will be accompanied by pianist and owner of the Molino de Cajiz, Cor
LifeStyle
Don Dossett has met some of the biggest names in Hollywood and knows who the more easygoing and more difficult film directors are. For almost 20 years he designed and built sets for movies including Superman, Judge Dredd and Kenneth Branagh's Haml
Local
Nerja town hall foreigners' department is reminding residents that car and motorbike tax must be paid by Thursday 17 May. This can be done by taking the invoice to any bank and that a standing order may be set up for future payments by going to the
Local
Local police officers along with Almuñécar's beach cleaning and maintenance company, Urbaser, were called to identify and remove a dead horse which had been washed up onto the town's Cabalajío beach during last week's bad weather. The animal did no
What to do
The village of Frigiliana will be combining its fifth Día de Miel de Caña (molasses day) with the annual May Cross Day on Saturday 28 April. The event will start at 10am and finish at 3.30pm. Most activities will be centred around the village's Ingen
National
Bremain in Spain, the anti-Brexit group formed by British residents in this country, joined last weekend's launch of the PeoplesVote campaign, aimed at securing a public vote on the UK's final deal for its exit from the EU. Pro-Europe organisations w
Local
Scottish triathlete, Christopher Roy, took first prize in Almuñécar's Pikaeras triathlon last Saturday. He completed the competition, which consisted of a 750-metre swim in the sea, 20-kilometre bike race and a five-kilometre run, in one hour and sev
Local
All of the political parties at Moclinejo town hall have voted in favour of creating an animal protection and rescue unit. The unit (Unidad de Protección y Rescate Animal or UPRA in Spanish) will form part of the Moclinejo-El Valdés civil protectio
LifeStyle
This year is a special one for the Arts Society, Formerly Nadfas (National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies), both in Malaga and internationally; the latter is celebrating 50 years this year, while the Costa del Sol branch, which was t
LifeStyle
The sun came out for the 19th Nerja Residents' Day last Sunday. The event started at 12 noon and was opened by local mayor, Rosa Arrabal, and foreign residents' councillor, Jorge Bravo. It attracted around 2,500 people, many of whom are foreign res
LifeStyle
Kassandra Stultiens Zandstra is hoping to organise events in the area to inspire other young women to consider being a pilot. She often uses the new flight simulator, Flight Experience, in Marbella and would like to arrange events to show women in pa
Local
A jeweller's in Almuñécar reopened this week after work was carried out to accommodate a 15th-century water system as well as earthenware pots that were found during renovation work. Jeweller Manuel Torres said that the work had "taken longer than
Local
The sun came out for the 19th Nerja Residents' Day last Sunday. The event attracted around 2,500 people throughout the afternoon, many of whom are foreign residents in the town. Nerja's population, according to the latest figures is 22,121 people, of
What to do
Myra Cecillia Azzopardi from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Spain will be talking to members of the U3A (University of the Third Age) Axarquía, as well as anyone who wishes to attend, on the subject of Brexit and how it will affect Britons living i
What to do
The village of Cómpeta will be celebrating its 10th art walk over the Easter weekend. F 31 March, and 1, 3 and 4 April, the doors of the village's art studios and galleries will be open. Thirty-five international artists, representing ten national
What to do
George Orwell's only son, Richard Blair, will be talking to the Arts Society both in Fuengirola (Costa del Sol branch) and in Nerja on Tuesday 27 March. INFORMATION What: Talk by Richard Blair, George Orwell's son. Where: Danish Club, Fuengirola
Local
Organisers of Almuñécar's annual Jazz en la Costa festival have announced that American-born Cécile McLorin Salvant (1989) will open this year's event. McLorin Salvant has won two Grammy awards; one in 2015 for her album 'For One to Love' and again
Local
This year Save Our Homes in Axarquía (SOHA) is marking a decade since it was set up by a group of Spanish and foreign residents in the area who had learned that their houses were, to all intents and purposes, illegal in the eyes of the Junta de Andal
Local
Organisers confirmed the final line up for this year's Weekend Beach festival last Thursday, which will take place in Torre del Mar over the first weekend in July. The event is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year with 95 artists on the bill i
LifeStyle
Justin Smith, 48, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales, and Sonia Janin, 40, from Lyon, France are a husband and wife team of artists who have chosen the town of Casares in Malaga to make their art. They first met 15 years ago in London, where So
LifeStyle
The Missing Migrants project tracks incidents involving migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers who have died or gone missing in the process of migration. According to the website (missingmigrants.iom.int), 81 people have died trying to cro
LifeStyle
The next exhibition at El Casino will open on 31 March and will feature a number of artists. There will be workshops and activities on each Saturday throughout April, for which booking is essential. Roberta explains that the type of art and artist
Local
Coral Coraxalia are looking for members to sing in a Royal British Legion concert at the Nerja Caves restaurant on 21 April. Under the leadership of Eusebio Pita, the choir will be rehearsing on Thursdays from 5.30 to 8pm in the Casa Cultura on the A
Local
Around 30 people, including volunteers and representatives from charities and the Axarquía hospital, attended a presentation given by British Consul in Malaga, Charmaine Arbouin and Neil Hesketh, from Support in Spain, at the Axarquía hospital in Tor
LifeStyle
The Arts Societies Costa del Sol and Benahavís shared a joint celebration of the society's 50th Anniversary in the ballroom of the Gran Hotel Benahavís last Thursday afternoon. Around 100 members took part in the event which was given the name Gold
LifeStyle
I was first introduced to Roberta Gordon-Smith at the Acompalia Artística exhibition at the Azucarera in Motril last December. After seeing one of the pieces she was exhibiting, a sofa with a life-size painting of a nude woman sprawled out on it, I k
LifeStyle
On 2 March 1944, General Francisco Franco's government passed a law to issue all Spanish citizens with a personal identification number (DNI). The Council of Ministers approved the introduction nationwide for "total efficiency for the unquestionabl
National
Bremain in Spain has said that it "welcomes the progress made with the second reading of the Overseas Electors Bill" which aims to give Brits living abroad a 'vote for life' in UK elections, instead of the current 15-year cut-off period. The second
LifeStyle
Chris O'Hare, 42, and his partner, Gabriella Gratrix, 45, are relaxing in the mid-February sun in a bar on the N-340 road that runs through Torrox Costa when I first meet them. Both a picture of health and sipping fresh orange juice, the only thing t
LifeStyle
Paul Bradley, 68, who has lived in Nerja since 1992, was taking a stroll through the town when he saw an old friend sitting at the well-known Kronox cafe near the Balcón de Europa. He stopped to have a coffee with his fellow Englishman and this chanc
Local
Nerja town hall foreigners' department, together with the Pérez Parras law firm, will be holding a conference in English on holiday rentals and the new requirements introduced by the regional government, the Junta de Andalucía last year. The confe
LifeStyle
Bruce Reynolds will be performing at El Molino de Cajiz near Vélez-Málaga on Sunday 4 March along with Nick Graham as part of the Paradise Blues duo. "Nick came up with the name after a few days at our place. I think he quite likes it there," Bruce
Local
Two table tennis tables have been installed on Torre del Mar's beach, next to the biblioplaya. Bats and balls may be rented from the biblioplaya (storytelling area), which is located in front of the El Boquerón beach bar. The tables are free to u
Local
Wyclef Jean, best known for being one of the three members of American hip hop group, The Fugees, is the latest confirmation for this year's Weekend Beach music festival in Torre del Mar. The group's biggest hits include, 'Ready or Not' and a cover
National
Following her research trip to Malaga in October 2017, Professor Karen O'Reilly has published an interim report on the initial findings of the Brexit Brits Abroad research project. The report, 'What Does Brexit Mean for British Citizens Living in
National
The organisation British in Europe has published guidelines explaining how the agreement reached by the UK government and the EU negotiators, following the first round of Brexit negotiations, which concluded in December 2017, affects Britons living i
National
Groups campaigning for the rights of Britons living abroad are encouraging citizens to write to their UK constituency MP to ask them to back the Votes for Life bill. The second reading of a Private Member's Bill, which is being led by Glyn Davies,
Local
An event is to be held on Wednesday 7 February about how to apply for Spanish citizenship. The talk will be given by local language academy, Aprendo Idiomas, and will be aimed at British residents who may be considering becoming Spanish citizens in
LifeStyle
Foreign residents from across the Axarquía attended the event which started off at the town's Agro-olivarera cooperative. Participants were able to see first-hand how the olives are sorted upon arrival when they are brought in by local olive growers,
LifeStyle
Our lady of the Candelaria is celebrated every 2 February in a number of towns and villages across Spain, South America and even in the Philippines. The celebration is particularly important in the Canary Islands and notably in Tenerife, where the
Local
Weekend Beach festival organisers along with the deputy mayor for Torre del Mar, Jesús Pérez Atencia, used Fitur to announce that internationally renowned DJ, David Guetta, would be performing at this year's Weekend Beach festival. The announcement
LifeStyle
Lux Mundi Fuengirola and Torre del Mar received donations of women's and men's clothing as well as children's toys over the Christmas period. The donations were distributed to homeless people in the area who use the centres' weekly soup kitchens a
LifeStyle
There will be great excitement in the streets of Malaga this evening, just as there has been since 1923, when the first 'cabalgata' or Kings' parade, took place in the city. Since 1913 it had been a tradition in the city to take toys to children i
Local
Local police in Almuñécar detained a driver with French nationality last Friday on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and falsifying documents. The driver was stopped during routine checks on the Avenida Rey Juan Carlos I when the officers caug
Local
Frigiliana's councillor for tourism, Carmen Cerezo, presented the town's new promotional video last week. The two-minute video, which can be watched on YouTube, will be used to promote the town through social networks and replaces the last one whi
Local
The dates were announced last week for the tenth Cómpeta Art Walk. The event will coincide with Easter Week and will run from Saturday 31 March until Wednesday 4 April 2018. The Art Walk will not be open on Sunday 1 April. Various locations, incl
Opinion
It was impossible not to be moved by the last carol sung at the Lux Mundi carol service in Torre del Mar last Saturday: Silent Night. Noche de Paz in Spanish and Stille Nacht in German. The words were put up on giant screens in all three languages so
Local
Mayor of Nerja, Rosa Arrabal, along with councillors and representatives from Malaga province's Diputación signed off the completed work to the town's fire station on Tuesday. The service, which will cover Nerja, Frigiliana and Torrox, is expected
LifeStyle
Father Christmas chose the town of Periana in the Axarquía for his dress rehearsal last Sunday ahead of the big night. He said that he likes to "make sure everything is ok" a week before he does it for real in case he has to make any changes. This
Local
Tucked away in a valley overlooked by the Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama mountain range lies the diminutive hamlet of Acebuchal. Situated between Cómpeta and Frigiliana, this once forgotten place is enjoying a renaissance. During Spain's Civil War it
What to do
As has been the tradition for 36 years, this Sunday Torrox Pueblo will be holding its Fiesta de las Migas. Every year, on the Sunday before Christmas, the town shares one of its traditional recipes with residents and visitors. INFORMATION When: S
What to do
While many towns and villages display nativity scenes in their town halls or other buildings (in Torre del Mar there is one in the Azucarera building, complete with live goldfish, while in Cómpeta a local father and son take over a premises on the ma
What to do
Highlights of La Herradura's Christmas activities include a Christmas sweet-making workshop today, Friday 15 December, at 11am and again at 4pm in the civic centre. On Saturday 16 a Christmas concert will be given by the Bahía de la Herradura choir
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's Weekend Beach Festival added new names to the 2018 line-up earlier this week. American rock band, The Offspring, along with Jamaican reggae legend, Jimmy Cliff, will be two of the biggest names at the fifth Weekend Bea
Local
City Sightseeing, the open-top bus tour company which operates in cities such as Malaga and Seville in Andalucía, as well as major cities around the world, inaugurated a sightseeing train in Nerja on Tuesday. Nerja is the eighth Andalusian destinat
National
There was bitter disappointment from British in Europe to a 17-page report which talks of "agreements in principle" and states the caveat "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed", leaving millions of EU in UK citizens uncertain about their futu
LifeStyle
Today, 8 December, is the second of two public holidays in Spain in early December. The first is 6 December, or Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución) which marks 6 December 1978 when the new constitution was approved following the end of the Fran
Local
Businesses connected with the tourism sector in Nerja completed the first phase in a training programme aimed at teaching the sector how to welcome Japanese tourists. The course included an introduction to Japanese, to the country, Japanese touris
LifeStyle
Acompalia Artistica's three-week-long exhibition opened on Saturday evening in the Azucarera de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar sugar factory) in Motril. It is the culmination of three months of work by a group of international artis
What to do
The Arts Society Nerja currently has an exhibition, Golden Andalucía, on in the Sala Mercado in Nerja, which is the start of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Selected pieces that are currently on display will be sent to London to join other work
LifeStyle
Helen Sijsling is the current chair of The Arts Society - Nerja, formerly NADFAS. The UK- based organisation, which has five branches in Malaga and Gibraltar alone, changed its name in May this year and Helen says that she "supported the change 100 p
LifeStyle
Tr3s Puertas, a contemporary and international cultural association, is exactly what Torre del Mar needs. At a time of exciting cultural developments for this small seaside town, a place where anyone can feel welcome, international artists can expres
What to do
The El Valle Drama Group's 2017 panto - Dorothy and the Wicked Witches -which they describe as "a pantomime loosely based on The Wizard of Oz" will be performed on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd December (matinee). INFORMATION When: Frid
Local
While there is great uncertainty surrounding many of the rights of British citizens living in other EU countries post Brexit, applying UK law to a will is not one, according to Sandra Wrightson of De Cotta Law. Anyone living in Spain has the right to
Local
As more and more foreign people come to live, and inevitably die, in Malaga, Spanish-run funeral homes are having to accommodate the wishes and cultures of a host of different nationalities, at least this is according to Jaime García Fernández, an ad
Local
Friends, neighbours, foreigners' councillor, Jorge Bravo and infrastructure councillor, José María Rivas Gálvez, joined Alfons Mettel who retired earlier this year after 30 years as president of El Capistrano village in Nerja last Thursday for the re
LifeStyle
The charity spa day at Las Orquideas hotel in Los Romanes last Saturday raised 815 euros for the Los Ángeles de La Noche charity. With the help of the hotel, the therapists who give up their time, and the clients, the spa days have raised over 5,00
LifeStyle
Karen O'Reilly is a professor of anthropology and sociology currently employed part time by Goldsmiths, University in London, to work on the BrexitBritsAbroad research project, which is researching the impact that Brexit is having on British national
What to do
The Moldavia National Opera and Concerlírica Internacional will be presenting Verdi's Nabucco at the Casa de la Cultura on Wednesday 15 November. INFORMATION When. Wednesday 15 November, 8pm Where. Casa de la Cultura, Almuñécar Tickets. From 1
What to do
Italian-born jazz singer, Alessia Desogus, will be performing on Saturday 11 November at the Casa de la Cultura in Almuñécar. INFORMATION When. Saturday 11 November, 8pm. Where. Casa de la Cultura, Almuñécar. Tickets. 10EUR in advance, 12EUR on th
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's Weekend Beach Festival announced last weekend that 10,000 tickets were bought in just two hours after they went on sale via the Weekend Beach website for the next event, which will take place from 4 to 7 July 2018. Th
LifeStyle
The Junta de Andalucía's Social Services department was overwhelmed by calls from families across the region after announcing a campaign to take in children who had become victims of hurricane Mitch, which struck central America in October and Novemb
Local
Almuñécar town hall has issued a reminder to residents that a free collection service for unwanted household furniture is available by calling the council before collection day. The call comes following an increasing number of such items being found
LifeStyle
Symphonic Rock is quite a thing and orchestras are becoming more intrepid in their compositions. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has an album which covers versions of Bon Jovi's Livin' on A Prayer to Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell. Malaga's Cervantes Th
LifeStyle
Daniel Fichera is a professional pianist originally from Michigan in the USA. He and his partner have lived in the Axarquía for 12 years. When they bought their first Spanish property in Chilches, Daniel, 58, says that the house was initially suppose
Local
Nerja town hall will be running nine-month Spanish courses for beginners and intermediate level students at centres in the town. Those interested in the intermediate level classes should contact the teacher, Pilar Medina, by email: pilarmedinaarra
National
Following the end of the fifth round of Brexit negotiations last week, the British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, released an update via the British Embassy in Madrid's social network pages. In his statement, the ambassador said that on citizen
Local
The BrexitBritsAbroad Project is an extensive and innovative sociological study that questions what Brexit means for Britons resident in other European Union member states. Working closely with Britons living across the 27 member countries of the
What to do
The fifth Festival del Mar will be taking place on 7 and 8 October in La Herradura. The event will start with a street parade and other activities include conferences, workshops, children's activities and talks by marine experts. Information
LifeStyle
Following on from the success of the free, outdoor Flamenco Abierto concerts on the Cerro San Cristobal in Vélez-Málaga over summer, an autumn programme has just been unveiled and is being given a helping hand with publicity by British couple, Ben an
Local
A third Phoenician necropolis has been discovered in Almuñécar, with the remains of a man and woman, along with a funeral urn and ceramic amphora. The find confirms a theory that there were Phoenician artefacts buried in the Monte Velilla area of t
Local
Nerja Museum, which belongs to the Nerja cave foundation, has reported record visitor numbers this summer. Over a three month period from 15 June to 15 September, 27,000 people visited the attraction; an increase of 19 per cent on the same period
What to do
St Andrews in Los Boliches will be holding an animal blessing service on Wednesday 4 October at 6pm while St George's Church in Malaga and Vélez-Málaga will be holding similar services over the first weekend in October. In Malaga the service will t
LifeStyle
When professional singer, Simona Mango and her partner, musician Bruce Reynolds, ended up spending a night in a hotel in Malaga due to a cancelled flight, little did they know that fate was actually dealing them a good hand. The musical couple, who
Local
Almuñécar firefighter, David Cabrera, has flown to Mexico to help following this month's devastating earthquakes. He joined seven other firefighters and six dogs from across Andalucía as they embarked on the mission last week. Cabrera said that
Local
Work started on Monday to restore Torre del Mar's second oldest lighthouse, which is situated next to the iconic blue and white one on the town's promenade. The restoration work, which is expected to take around three months, will include moving so
What to do
The Gálvez museum in Macharaviaya will be hosting a collection of Salvador Dalí's paintings of horses. The exhibition, which will run from 15 September until 11 December, comprises of 24 of the artist's works. Animals featured heavily in the surre
National
Citizens' and Brexit groups in Spain have shown mixed reactions to the conclusion of the latest round of Brexit negotiations. Ending recent talks, the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier and UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis,
Local
The Red Cross (Cruz Roja) Axarquía, based in Vélez-Málaga, has a new recruit: Richard Weale. Richard, 57, who lives with his partner Carole in Riogordo, has been with the charity since May this year and is currently the only English-speaking voluntee
Local
Jorge and Kiko Montoro, the twin brothers who cycled from Torre del Mar to Copenhagen and then took part in the city's Ironman competition have returned to their hometown having completed their challenge. Despite difficult weather conditions, incl
What to do
The Festival Tres Culturas de Frigiliana is celebrating its 12th year and will take place from 24 until 27 August. It has become one of the most popular festivals in Malaga province attracting people from all over Spain and abroad. Last year some 3
LifeStyle
On the opening day of his first ever exhibition in Spain, at the Galería de Bellas Artes in Cómpeta, Ray Murphy learned that his entry had been chosen as this year's Cómpeta Noche del Vino poster. Ray is from Essex, where he lives and runs a busin
What to do
Vélez-Málaga is attracting some of the biggest names in flamenco this August with its programme of Flamenco Fusion nights, all of which are free, in the open-air auditorium in Cerro de San Cristobal. Tonight, 11 August, Sanlúcar de Barrameda-based
LifeStyle
The coastline that stretches out along the N340 coastal road from Torre del Mar, through Almayate, Valle Niza, Benajarafe and Chilches is not only steeped in history but also a treat for the eyes and soul in the 21st century. The road, which was once
LifeStyle
Scott Huston, originally from the USA, and his Danish wife Nete have come up with an innovative way of raising money for animal charities in the Axarquía and also helping local businesses to attract customers. They have established the ¡Give Me Five!
Local
Nerja town hall's Foreigners Department has issued an urgent reminder to its foreign residents to check that they are still registered with the town hall. The 'padrón', or town hall census, means that the more people who are registered on it, the m
What to do
Acompalia, the Granada palliative care charity, is holding a flamenco charity concert called 'Flamencos por Acompalia'. The event forms part of the fifth Ciclo Flamenco Ciudad Almuñécar and takes place on Sunday 6 August at 10pm. The charity night
What to do
The Me Vuelves Lorca theatre and music festival has just started its third year in the small village of Laroles in the Alpujarras. The festival is the second phase of a project that Briton Anna Kemp, started around four years ago to try and create
Local
Thousands of enthusiasts crowded onto Torre del Mar's beach over the weekend to see the town's second international air show. During the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, spectators were treated to displays and acrobatics from more than 16 diffe
What to do
Following the success of last year's international air show, Torre del Mar is hosting its second such event this weekend. From Friday 28 until Sunday 30 July residents and visitors will be treated to displays from over 40 different aircraft includ
LifeStyle
Twin brothers and cycling enthusiasts from Vélez-Málaga, Kiko and Jorge Montoro, began a 2,400-kilometre bike ride to Copenhagen on Thursday morning. The 37-year-olds set off from the town's iconic lighthouse at 9.15am, accompanied by other cyclis
LifeStyle
British television programme, Superfoods: The real Story, visited one of Almuñécar's mango plantations last week with presenter, Kate Quilton. The El Pinero farm in Almuñécar received the visit and, with the help of the farm's owner, Antonio Guerre
Local
The story of a retired British couple whose house in Almayate is the subject of a demolition order has captured international attention after they posted their plight on social media, as well as attracting support from SOHA (Save our Homes Axarquía).
LifeStyle
What was it about Almuñécar that kept making British writer, Laurie Lee, return, despite being evacuated from the town by a British destroyer and taken to Gibraltar at the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936? Possibly its unassuming charm, its
LifeStyle
Nerja's famous caves are a favourite among visitors and locals alike, while Rincón de la Victoria's Cueva del Tesoro is a relatively unknown secret, despite being the only marine cave in Europe. An underground favourite Quite possibly the only pl
National
The Weekend Beach music festival, which will be celebrating its fifth anniversary next year, finished in the early hours of last Sunday morning. Organisers and town councillors said in a press conference on Tuesday that an estimated 130,000 people ca
LifeStyle
Oliver Perry is about to open his latest exhibition of sculpture in the Sala el Pósito, a former granary on Plaza de la Constitución, in Vélez-Málaga. The Pennsylvania-born artist is no stranger to exhibiting in Malaga; he first came to the provin
Local
The fourth Weekend Beach Festival got under way on Wednesday evening under tighter security in the wake of recent terrorist attacks across Europe. National Police sources at the event, which around 30,000 people are expected to attend, confirmed that
What to do
El Faro de Torrox is starting guided visits of the archaeological site located next to the lighthouse, as well as the lighthouse itself, in English and German. The visit includes the Factoría de Salazón, the necropolis, the Roman villa and baths.
What to do
The fifth Festival Tropical gets under way on Saturday 24 June in Almuñécar and will see more than ten different marching bands from Scandinavian countries playing in different locations around the town. Information When:Saturday 24 June
What to do
The fourth annual Festival of Improvised Music will be held in Riogordo this Saturday, 24 June. The event will take place at the Ethnographic museum, starting at 7pm. This year's event will feature a wide range of jazz, improvised music, dance and
National
The state opening of Parliament on Wednesday following the 8 June general election had Brexit at its heart. However, it was the Queen's choice of hat for that captured the attention of many pro-remainers on social media as they felt the blue number,
National
Official Brexit negotiations got under way at the European Commission in Brussels on Monday. Chief EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, met David Davis, the UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, two days before the Queen's Speech in the
Local
An 82-year-old British tourist was found dehydrated and disorientated on the side of the A7 motorway 30 hours after disappearing from his holiday home in the Capistrano area of Nerja. The man, who had gone to throw the rubbish out at around midday on
National
The British Prime Minister Theresa May received sceptical responses from German Chancellor, Angela Merkel and European Commission president, Jean Claude Juncker, to her announcement of plans to safeguard the futures of over three million European cit
Local
Almuñécar's local police detained a British citizen on Thursday who was in possession of narcotics including hashish and heroin with a street value of 7,160 euros. The arrest was made at the town's bus station when 'Otto', the police force's newest
Local
Details of the second Torre del Mar International Air Show were unveiled by mayor of Vélez-Málaga, Antonio Ferrer and Deputy Mayor, Jesús Antencia, last week. The event, which will take place on 28, 29 and 30 July, will see 40 aircraft flying over th
LifeStyle
When thinking of a link between crime writer Agatha Christie and Spain, Poirot's The Mystery of the Spanish Chest or the writer's own trips to Mallorca and the Canary Islands may spring to mind. Few, however, would come up with the mountain-top villa
What to do
The small town of Árchez in the Axarquía is holding its first Residents' Day on Friday 16 June, dedicated to its foreign population. The event forms part of a cultural week which comes to an end on Saturday. The total population of the village, wh
Local
Leading representatives from the Nerja Cave foundation allowed journalists access to parts of the Nerja cave system not usually open to the public on Tuesday, with the aim of promoting the idea of making June 6 a UNESCO international subterranean wor
Local
Joan and Reg Elliott celebrated 75 years together with their son, Cliff and his wife Diana, neighbours and carers at their apartment in Nerja last Friday. Their Spanish neighbours provided a cake and cava to toast the couple's anniversary and the non
Local
Cleaning operatives working on the beach in La Herradura expressed their, "surprise and incredulity," when they came across a class B explosive pertaining to the American military near to the town's secondary school yesterday. Staff from the Urbase
LifeStyle
Thomas Kaurich will be giving two piano recitals in May; one on 10 June at Bodegas Bentomiz and on 17 June in the grounds of St George's Church in Malaga. He hopes that these will be the first of many and would like to gather support and momentum for
What to do
INFORMATION When: From 3 until 25 June, every day from 11am - 2pm except Sunday and Wednesday Where: Galeria Centro de Bellas Artes, C/ San Antonio 6, Cómpeta Further info: www.galeriacentro.com Irish artist, Noel Lewis, is starting the summer
LifeStyle
Thomas says he has chosen a "traditional programme" which will be the same for both concerts: on 10 June at Bodegas Bentomiz and 16 June at St George's Church in Malaga. It includes Schubert's Impromptu Op. 90 No 4, Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight"
Local
The Junta de Andalucía has withdrawn its plans for mussel beds off the coast of Almuñécar and La Herradura. After months of protests by local companies and the town hall, mayor of Almuñécar, Trinidad Herrera, announced the decision on Tuesday. She sa
LifeStyle
Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan soldier, politician and one of the most prominent figures in the independence of many South American countries, married María Teresa del Toro y Aleyza in San José church in Madrid on 26 May 1802. Bolívar, who had come to Spa
LifeStyle
Françoise Rajewski isn't your typical 'expat' charity president. For a start, at just 40, she is still very much of working age, and she has a number of piercings. Originally from France, Françoise has lived the UK, Ireland, Poland and Belgium, wh
LifeStyle
Acompalia supports terminally ill patients and their families in Granada province. It provides services free of charge that help patients live each remaining day as fully as possible. The charity offers a helpline, company, legal and interpretation /
Local
Lux Mundi Torre del Mar welcomed a number of new faces to its open day last Friday. Around 150 people attended the event, which was held in order to show people the numerous activities organised by the centre. Volunteer, Sue Bell, said, "We have s
What to do
Three gardens in the Alpujarra will be open on 27 and 28 May to raise money for charities. The Jardín de la Alpujarra, Órgiva Tea Garden and Jardín Nevada in the Alpujarra region of Granada province will be offering the opportunity for visitors to
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's increasingly popular Weekend Beach Festival announced last week that this year's event has almost sold out. With just under two months remaining before it gets underway, 85 per cent of the full weekend tickets have bee
Local
A new boutique hotel, the Peña Parda Bay, named after its predecessor, the Hostal Peña Parda, as well as the beach on which it is located, is due to open its doors in time for the summer season. The hotel will boast 18 en suite rooms and two restau
Local
Nerja town hall's Foreigners Department is reminding residents to pay the annual road tax and garage entrance fee. The road tax deadline is 19 May, while the garage entrance fee must be paid by 22 May. In a note in English to foreign residents, the
What to do
Towns throughout Malaga province will be celebrating their patron, San Isidro Labrador, this weekend. As the patron saint of farmers, he is recognised in many of Malaga province's agricultural towns and villages including Periana, Nerja, Alhaurín el
LifeStyle
The author of the Culture Crime Series of novels, Janet Pywell, has recently launched her latest offering, Book of Hours, which starts off during a Semana Santa procession in Malaga. The book describes in detail the "pomp and pageantry" of the reli
LifeStyle
For Janet Pywell, "flying back to Malaga is like going home" and many of its landmarks are mentioned in Book of Hours. For example, protagonist Mikky dos Santos has breakfast in Café Central before visiting her friend Carmen at the Picasso Museum. Sh
National
With just a month to go before the UK's snap election on 8 June, Britons on the Costa del Sol who are still eligible to vote are being reminded to register to do so before 22 May. The organisation Bremain in Spain has put together a fact sheet wit
Local
Almuñécar police force have recently recruited a new member to their unit. Otto is a Belgian Shepherd, or Malinois, who will work with agents in the fight against crime in the Almuñécar area. Otto made his debut at the beginning of April and was fo
Local
The Mancomunidad de Municipios, a collective of the town halls in the Axarquía, has announced a pilot scheme of free Spanish classes aimed at foreigners with little or no Spanish. The course is designed to prepare students to take the official Span
What to do
Cómpeta will be showing off its abundant visual art again this Easter week. From Wednesday 12th, until Sunday 16th (with the exception of Good Friday, 14th) the annual Art Walk will be taking place. Nearly 40 new and ArtWalk regulars will be displa
LifeStyle
On this day in 1988 the Spanish government passed a law to allow private companies to broadcast on Spanish television, paving the way for the likes of Antena 3 and Telecinco to make their mark on the airways. The law was passed by 169 votes to 112,
Local
Javier León is the new foreigners-department officer at Frigiliana town hall. He has been in the job since 1 March this year, after successfully passing the 'oposiciones', or civil service exams in January. Javier, 48, is already a well-known figur
What to do
British poet, music composer and performer Keith James is back in his beloved "second home" of Andalucía to give a series concerts dedicated to the late Leonard Cohen. A well-known character already in towns such as Cómpeta, where he took part in
Local
El Paso, Riogordo's famous Passion Play, has been performed at Easter in the town since 1951. It is as popular with tourists as it is with locals, regularly attracting around 10,000 people. The event has been designated by the provincial government
Local
Vélez-Málaga's councillor for beaches and tourism, Jesus Pérez Atencia, announced on Tuesday that the area's beaches are to have lifeguards over Easter week for the first time. Thirteen professionals will keep watch over the Torre del Mar and Caleta
What to do
INFORMATION When: Sunday 2 April then the first Sunday of every month, except July and August. Where: El Camping bar, Mirador de la Axarquía, Comares. The Comares Eco Market will open for the first time this Sunday, with a Spring Fiesta, at El Ca
National
Nine months after the UK's referendum on European Union membership resulted in a vote to leave the bloc, the UK's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, handed over the official communication of Britain's exit from the EU to European Council president
LifeStyle
For many years Nerja, Malaga province's easternmost coastal town, has been attracting northern Europeans and in particular Britons, not just for holidays, but as permanent residents too. In fact, approximately one third of Nerja's population is made
Local
Frigiliana's foreigners' department reopened earlier this month and information is available in Spanish, English and French. The post, which had been previously held by Briton Kevin Wright on and off for a number of years, has been filled by Javier L
What to do
INFORMATION When: Sunday 2 April. Where: Torre del Mar beach. Further information: www.facebook.com/colorenlaplaya or www.c-i-eventosdecolor.es You can now sign up for the Torre del Mar Carrera de Color, or 'Colour Run', which will take place o
National
Britons living in European Union countries and European Union citizens living in the UK suffered a blow on Monday when MPs voted against an amendment by the House of Lords to publish plans to guarantee citizens' rights within three months of Article
Local
An article published in SUR in English on 27 January referred to an 'exodus' of British residents from the Costa del Sol. The report quoted the most recent statistics available regarding numbers registered on their local town hall's 'padrón', or popu
LifeStyle
On this day in 2005 a total of 41 people were arrested in Marbella, Estepona, San Pedro de Alcántara, Mijas and Sotogrande, including three notaries and several lawyers in the Ballena Blanca (white whale) case - the largest money laundering ring in S
Local
Vélez-Málaga town hall has confirmed that it is to receive 130,000 euros from the central government to repair damage to the area's beaches caused by the heavy rain and storms in February. The money will go towards repairing the dog beach to the west
Local
Organisers of Torre del Mar's Weekend Beach Festival, along with deputy mayor Jesús Pérez Atencia, held a press conference on Tuesday to officially announce the line-up for this year's instalment. Although information had been released previously a
Local
The head of the Malaga office of Spain's national statistics institute works closely with town halls across Malaga to get up-to-date information about the number of foreign residents living in the province. He and his team work with the local authori
LifeStyle
Cornelia Lenzin, is a professional pianist and piano teacher from Basel in Switzerland. After many years of holidaying in Malaga province and inheriting some money, she decided to buy property in the Axarquía and have more of a permanent base here.
LifeStyle
The official inauguration of Merle Kumschier's exhibition of sculpture and painting will take place at 4pm, today, 3 March. · For more information, visit www.elmolinodecajiz.com or call 672 731 117 This will be followed by a concert at 6pm with
LifeStyle
Aleks Kashefi, a science teacher from Buxton in Derbyshire, passed through Vélez-Málaga last Friday, on the final leg of his 6,200-kilometre solo adventure to run the entire length of Europe, a distance of almost 150 ultra-marathons. He completed
LifeStyle
A new art gallery, run by English couple, Wendy Holmes and her partner Doug Elliot, has opened in Periana. 'La Galería' has been open since the end of January and exhibits work by local Spanish and foreign artists. The current collection has paint
What to do
INFORMATION When: Until 3 March. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 2pm. Where: Espacio Creativo, Calle Baja del Mar 14, Almuñécar. Further info: Facebook: Annabel Keatley. Phone 699 801 613 (for paper workshops). English artist and paper-maker, Annab
Local
The Gálvez museum (Museo de los Gálvez) in Macharaviaya opened its doors to the public once again on Saturday, 10 months later than planned, following an auguration ceremony which took place at the town's Jacinto church. Mayor Antonio Campos Garín
LifeStyle
When Jenny Mahimbo retired and moved to Spain in 2015 she felt restless and couldn't get used to life in the slow lane. "I needed to feel useful," says the retired social worker, who received a MBE for services to children in the Queen's birthday hon
What to do
From Saturday the Museo de los Gálvez in Macharaviaya will once again be open to the public. The inaugural exhibition is a collection of 31 portraits of women by the artists Pablo Picasso and Alfredo Opisso. The museum also offers the opportunity t
What to do
INFORMATION uWhen: Until 17 Februaray, Tuesday to Saturday11am - 1.30pm, Sunday 11am - 10pm uWhere: Casa Fuerte Bezmiliana, Avda. Mediterráneo, 194 Rincón de la Victoria Local British artist Derek Worthington has returned after a long break with
LifeStyle
Members of a group that meets monthly to share advice and information about horses has been able to help someone with no experience to rescue and adopt an abandoned horse. Silvia Willers, 62, originally from Germany, explains that when she heard a
Local
Over 100 English language teachers will be meeting for the ACEIA Málaga 3rd Annual English Language Teaching (ELT) conference on Saturday 4 February. The conference, at the Hotel Puerta Málaga, offers the opportunity for English language teachers fro
What to do
The Ytre SulØens Jazz ensemble with Tricia Boutté will be performing at the Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja in Calle Granada on Wednesday 1 February. Information When: Wednesday 1 February. Where:Centro Cultural, Villa de Nerja, Calle Granada 4
National
Simon Manley, the UK's Ambassador in Spain, and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, have both reacted to the speech Theresa May made on Tuesday in which she announced plans for the UK's departure not only from the European Union, but also the Single Market
LifeStyle
Vilostrada, a non-profit organisation based in the Axarquía which runs community projects through its foundation, recently started a shoebox fundraiser for nomad children in the heart of the Sahara desert. The founders of the organisation, Swedish
LifeStyle
Gwen Ferber has been the councillor Volunteers and Tourism in Cómpeta since 2015. She and her late husband, Tom, first visited the town in the summer of 1993 when they spent the six weeks' school holiday there. As school teachers in the north of E
What to do
INFORMATION When. 13, 15, 20-22 January. Where. Cómpeta, Algorrobo, Faraján. The Fiesta de San Sebastián, known as the 'patron saint of winter', is celebrated on the anniversary of the saint's death, 20 January and as patron saint of Cómpeta, Alg
What to do
INFORMATION When. From 17 to 21 January. Where. Civic Centre, La Herradura. Further information. www.certamenandressegovia.com The 32nd international guitar competition held every year in La Herradura will this year be marking the thirtieth a