Blog #Paul Whitelock

Starting from home in Ronda we headed for the start of the Genal Valley, which begins with the pretty "Enchanted Forest" in Parauta. We then continued on to Cartajima; to the Smurfs' blue village Juzcar; past Farajan; and on to Alpandeire, which celebrates Fray Leopoldo, a recently created saint. Alpandeire was our lunch destination.

We have entered meteorological Autumn and are more than half-way through September. Night temperatures are dropping and the first frosts won't be far away. Time to get ready for the cold winter months. The climate in this part of Spain is defined as continental: "Nueve meses de infierno y tres de invierno."

Maria de la Paz Fernandez Lobato (PP), has been indicted on five criminal charges and faces a prison sentence and a huge fine. The news broke this weekend that the mayoress has been charged with prevarication, embezzlement, fraud and falsification of documents.

The town where I chose to live 17 years ago is hitting the news a lot lately. Hardly surprising. After four decades spent discovering Spain, it's the place Paul Whitelock decided to emigrate to. On arrival in 2008 he lived in Montejaque for three years, before he and his new second wife decided they needed more space, a garden and a pool. They moved to the outskirts of Ronda. So, why is Ronda in the news? Take a look:

​Paul Whitelock first heard about this pilgrimage route when he was an undergraduate studying Spanish. Several writers on Spain referred to it. He attended a course through the EU Socrates programme which was held in one of the starting points. ​ Two parishioners from his local church did the walk and gave a presentation in church. ​Hollywood star Shirley MacLaine wrote a book after she had walked the route. ​ There was a TV series and several films.

Not only is it the start of the fiesta de Sanfermines in Pamplona, it's also the 20th anniversary of the London Bombings, when four suicide bombers attacked three underground trains and a London bus during the morning rush hour. While the encierro in northern Spain is a joyous occasion, the events in London represented a colossal outrage. More here.

The other weekend I went on a journey into the unknown - to the East. To East London, to Stratford. To visit my daughter in her new home there. I still hadn't seen it since she moved last year. Although she wouldn't be there the first day and night, she sent me directions and instructions for getting the key. Then the fun began .....

"Animal House" is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis. It stars John Belushi, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Thomas Hulce and Donald Sutherland. ​The film is about a trouble-making fraternity whose members challenge the authority of the dean of the fictional Faber College. "Animal House" became one of the highest-grossing comedy films of all time. This article has absolutely nothing to do with the film, by the way.

The last four weeks have been incredibly busy for us, with lots going on. It all started with the death of a Pope, continued with a massive power cut in Spain and Portugal, May Day, my dad's birthday, the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the naming of the new pope, a confirmation in Germany and ended on my 75th birthday. Let's take a look at what's been going on .....

It's just been the 101 again. The 2025 edition was the 25th anniversary of this important event in the Ronda calendar. Catering for MTB cyclists, runners, walkers, as well as a shorter junior event. The 101 has a national and international profile. Participants come from all over Spain, as well as from abroad - 10 foreign countries in 2025. The 101 is organised by the Spanish Foreign Legion in Ronda.

Deep shock permeated the village of Montejaque, near Ronda (Malaga) (pop: 970), on Tuesday of last week when a young man from the village fell to his death on the winding road out of the village. Cayetano Postigo Hidalgo (30) was enjoying a bike ride in the vicinity of La Presa de los Caballeros on the road to Sevilla, when disappeared from sight. What had happened?

The missus and I have just enjoyed a week's holiday in the south of France. I'm a keen Francophile yet, because of circumstances, I haven't been to the land of Asterix the Gaul for some 15 years. I am loving it. There are positives and negatives about wherever you go, but the negatives haven't spoilt it at all for me so far. Here's the story.