Manilva’s department of culture will be inaugurating the exhibition of paintings by Charo Gonzalez on Saturday December 1st 2012 at 19:00.

The artist, Charo González Iglesias was born in Algeciras and in 1968 moved to Cordoba where she joined the School of Applied Arts completing all the studies of drawing and painting.

Art exhibition at El Castillo de La Duquesa, Manilva, Spain

The activities begin with a series of collective exhibitions in whichwill appear \’Pintura outdoors \’, gardens of Victoria, Cordova, 1983 and 1984; \’Segunda A.S.A.P. auction \’, 1984; Traveling exhibition \’Artistas natives of Cordoba \’, cultural Jaima, Excma. County council, Cordova, 1984; it takes part in the \’Concurso Gaudí of Watercolor \’, Provincial Box of Savings in 1987 and 1991; exhibition in solidarity with Center America, Excma.Delegation of Cordova, 1988; collective to recover a picture of Rosemary of Towers, Gallery Architects’ School, 1989; collective in the Conference hall and Exhibitions of Cordova, 1988; exhibition Is Salted by Bartolomé Bermejo, of Cajasur, 1989; opening of the Room of art \’Ocre \’, 1989; collective in homage to Alfonso Ariza, Excma. County council, 1990; exhibition of drawings in Room of art \’Ocre \’, 1991.

The town councilor of Culture, Eva Galindo, recommends it would be a very pleasing way to pass some time over the next couple of weeks.

Manilva’s department for Tourism has announced details of its photography competition “Our Essences” or “Nuestra Esencias”.

The aim is to reward pictures that best reflect the essence of the beautiful Municipality of Manilva.

Participation in this contest presupposes the full acceptance of all the clauses contained in these rules and in particular the authorisation of the author to publish to the Manilva tourism website and that of the municipality of Manilva and in any promotional publications made by the delegation of tourism as well as the transfer of rights.
As stated in the contest rules, it is eligible to persons 18 years and over and of any nationality and country of residence. Photographs need to be received between December 15, 2012 to May 30, 2013 inclusive.
Photographs may be submitted both in digital form and on paper. The photographs filed on paper shall have a minimum size of 15 x 21cm and there is no maximum limit. The photographs submitted in digital format will have a minimum of 1,600 X 1,200 pixels. Color and black and white photos will be accepted. Protected with glass works will not be accepted.
Those interested in the contest must send pictures via the formon www.turismomanilva.com. They must complete correctly all fields requested in the form.  Only pictures that are sent through the form above with the required data or  handed in at the tourist office located in the Puerto de la Duquesa or the office RTV of Manilva.
The photographs must be original, not presented in any previous contest and not edited with computer.  They must also specify its location which must be within the municipality of Manilva.
The jury, which shall be appointed by the delegation of tourism of the municipality of Manilva, reserves the right of interpretation of the bases and resolution of the cases not referred to, in accordance with their best judgment.  The result of the contest will be announced before the end of May 2013, and will be final.
All works are published on the website of the delegation of tourism, www.turismomanilva.com and will be showcased to the public the date of award of the same business day.

1st Prize: Plaque and 300€
2nd Prize: Plaque and 200€
3rd Prize: Plaque and 100€
Notes of interest:
-No author will get more than one prize.
-The winning photographs remain the property of the municipality of Manilva, which reserves all rights on them including playback, editing and display cultural, artistic, tourist and promotional purposes.
Participation in the contest implies the non-exclusive cession by the authors to the delegation of tourism of the municipality of Manilva, exploitation rights on the photographs, including rights of reproduction, collection, transformation, distribution and communication to the public, for the whole world, for the maximum period of time that recognizes the law to the rights holders and by any means or support.

Full details of the competition rules can be found on the municipal website www.manilva.es.

“Who is Guy Fawkes?” my daughter asked me this morning while we were getting ready for school.  And it occurred to me that unlike Halloween, the British tradition of burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire every 5th November wouldn’t be one adopted here in Spain.

Why?  Well Guy or Guido Fawkes was born in 1570 in York to a family with strong Catholic ties at a time when Britain was a Protestant country and Catholics were being persecuted.

Guy Fawkes was 18 when the Catholic Spanish Armada attempted to invade Britain and as it had been supported by the Pope, the persecution of Catholics became more severe.  Catholic Priests were forced to say Mass in private houses and Catholics had to attend Protestant services.

When Guy Fawkes was 21 he went to Europe and fought for Catholic Spain against the Protestant Dutch and even travelled to Spain to ask King Phillip III for support for a Catholic rebellion (which was rejected).

By 1605 discontent had grown to the extent that some Catholics were willing to take extreme measures. Guy Fawkes was involved in one such measure – the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament at the opening of Parliament on November 5th, when King James I and leading politicians would be present. The intention was that with the King dead they would be able to restore a Catholic Monarch to the throne.

Unfortunately for Guy Fawkes, he was caught red handed in the cellars of the House of Lords with matches and a fuse next to 36 barrels of gunpowder.  He was questioned and tortured until he confessed to the plot and immediately before his execution he jumped from the scaffold and broke his neck.

Four centuries later and people in England still commemorate this failure to blow up the Houses of Parliament by burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire followed by a firework display giving the effect of what blowing up the Houses of Parliament would possibly be like.  It is also a reminder to all not be traitors…

“Remember, remember the 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder and treason should ever be forgot.”

I have fond memories of wrapping up warmly and going to bonfire nights with friends and standing around the bonfire, writing my name with the sparklers and drinking hot tomato soup.  I vaguely remember one year making our own Guy Fawkes and walking him around our neighbourhood in a wheelbarrow “collecting for the Guy”.  I also remember the excitement of watching the fireworks, the oooohs and the aaahhhhhs and loving the loud bangs.

So are my kids missing out on this….. well in a sense yes but they gain in so many other ways.  And we celebrate a similar type of bonfire night here in Manilva every 23rd June which is just as if not more spectacular – El Noche de San Juan.  I will blog about this some other time but if you are thinking about booking a holiday in June, make sure you are here for the evening of the 23rd as it is an amazing evening for all the family.

Manilva’s councillor for foreign residents, Diego Urieta, is encouraging both foreign residents and Spanish residents of Manilva in general to participate in this next activity organised by his delegation.

It is a one day trip to the Cadiz town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.  It is a very interesting town steeped in history.  In 1498 Christopher Columbus left for his third voyage to the New World from Sanlúcar  and it is one of Spain’s three better-known sherry producing towns.

I have visited Sanlúcar de Barrameda several times – it is the venue for the incredible horse race meetings on the beach every summer, next to the stunning Doñana National Park and is worth a visit even just to see the beautiful scenery on the way there.

The trip is scheduled for next Saturday, November 17 and the plan is for the bus to leave at 8.30 am from El Castillo de la Duquesa (Duquesa Castle).

There will be a guided tour of the historic area of Sanlúcar, a guided tour and tasting at Bodegas Barbadillo, a tour of La Rondeña polvorones factory and then free time in the afternoon to have lunch and do some shopping.  The bus is scheduled to leave Sanlúcar at 6 pm.

The price for this trip is 16€ and lunch is not included in the price.

Those interested in reserving a place or wanting more information please contact the Foreign Residents department on 952893584 or e-mail extranjeros@ayto-manilva.com.