Young Spanish people do not have the same aspirations as their parents it seems.They are not very interested in studying or working .They are Walter Mitty people who never want to grow up .They are becoming known as the ni–ni –generation .When questioned 54% of 18 to 34 year olds felt that nothing really interested them or made them particularly excited.This economic crisis has been something of a shock.They have never had it so good and now they are looking at a slow down in their quality of life and a crach in the job market.Diplomas and degrees are meaning less and less and more and more Spanish people are losing their jobs.Hanging in there is becoming more and more difficult.
The Spanish system washes its hands of you after two years of benefits and with jobs being lost and homes repossessed more and more young people are having to return to the family homes.The younger ones are becoming disallusioned and are beginning to question the point of bothering to get an education.It is possible that this mind set has been in place long before the economic crisis set in.In fact only 40% of those living in Spain with university educations actually have jobs which match their qualifications.In fact there are some highly qualified supermarket cashiers,shelf stackers and shop assistants.Most of the conversations with orange pickers recently were with highly qualified graduates,some even doctors.These people are living for the present and the future ,well it is a long way away,isn’t it?
Are these indicators of a disallusioned society .Have they seen their parents work hard and not achieve happiness ,so they are going to settle for less and live the life they have to the full?Who knows,maybe an upturn in the economy across Spain and Europe will change things.
Pilar de la Horadada is way down south of Torrevieja ,almost on the Murcia border.The council has launched a competition for a poster for the Virgen del Pilar local fiestas.Children up to 14 years can enter one category and then there is one for adults.The poster must show something which relates to the fiesta and also the cultural identity of the town and it must have the title”Fiestas Patronales Pilar de La Horadada 2009″Each contestant can submit three entries on A3 paper.Entries have to be submitted by July 24.
Until September 24 dog owners in the town can have them microchipped,vaccinated and passported at a special price .Each person using the service has to prove that they are citizens of the town by presenting their Padron registration.These requirements are mandatory and this is a scheme to help people to do that .The town is aiming to have a register of all dogs in the town in an attempt to control them.
Three mobile tourist offices have been set up in the town in an attempt to help all of those visiting the area.Paseo Riviera in Mil Palmeras,Avenida mediterraneo in Torre de la Horadada and CalleAlheli near to de Higuericas beach.
Public pools are now open again seven days a week now that the schools have closed for summer.The pool in the Parque 30 de Julio in the town centre is open from 10am to 8pm .Tickets are two euros for children under 12 and three euros for adults.A 15 entry ticket is available for 12 euros ( children ) and 25 euros(adults)
Mazarron in Murcia on the Costa Calida has had the tenth defibrillator presented to Dr Juan Carlos Artero of Clinica Virgen del Carmen.The presentation was done by a member of PALS (Protection and Lifesaving).The organisation has one defibrillator left to presentwhen a suitable location is found in the Mazarron area.PALS is seeking recommendations from members of the public .
In San Javier the inland road F-23/24 from Lo Romero to San Cayetano crossing El Mirador is to be resurfaced.The route is an alternative for people living in inland San Javier and also for farmers to reach the C-3319 motorway to Murcia.A third lane will also be builtfrom the motorway to the roundabout at Santiago de la Ribera beaches and the road will be resurfaced.
In Catagena the organisers of this year’s Mar de Musicas Festival have come up with a novel way for those who are going to visit the festivalto preview what is on offer.Scanner FM,a Barcelona based online radio station ,has dedicated one channelto the festival.It will be playing tracks by all of the artists taking part this year.There will be 42 concerts at various venues throughout Cartagena during the month of July.Marianne Faithful,Taj Majal,Lucinda Williams and the Buena Vista Social Club will all be taking part.
In San Pedro del Pinatar the council and a local environmental group have signed an agreement to protect the local coastal area.The scheme is focused on saving the dunes and the flora of La Llana beach and Las Palomas salt marsh.In particular it will check the seahorse population.A nursery will be established for native flora to replace those which have been damaged or lost.The Mayor has shown his support by saying that we all have a duty of care to protect the environment.
The San Juan fiesta in Benidorm was a colourful affair and last Saturday the streets in the town centre were full of wonderful coloursas more than 300 people took part in the annual procession and flower offering to San Juan.
The procession started from the Plaza Neptuno and finished in the Plaza de Castelar in front of the San Jaime and santa Ana church.Many official dignitaries from the council took part in the procession including the fiesta councillor Manuel Aguera.
Similar processions took place in other Costa Blanca towns such as Javeawhere the tradition was revived this year,only the second time in the last 60 years.The costumes in these processions are wonderful and a real spectacle.