Healthy Morning
THE Albox Town Hall is organising a special morning of health and wellness activities for older residents and their caregivers on Thursday, April 24. The event kicks off at 9:00am in Plaza Mayor with a healthy breakfast and light exercise sessions to promote fitness for all ages.
At 10:30am, there will be a short speech honouring home care workers as part of International Home Care Workers’ Day. The town wants to recognise the hard work of those who take care of the elderly every day, and caregivers are especially welcome to join in the fun.
Local gyms Sano, Kronos, GymPower, and Soto are helping out with the activities. If you’d like to take part, just sign up at the Albox Heated Swimming Pool.
It’s a chance to enjoy a relaxed morning, meet others, and celebrate the people who make a difference in the community. Everyone’s invited, come along and join in!
Tourism Push
ALMERÍA’s tourism leaders took part in Andalucía en Andalucía, a major regional tourism event held in Sevilla, Jerez, Málaga, and Granada from April 7-10. Organised by Andalucia’s regional government, the event aimed to boost local travel and highlight lesser-known destinations within the region.
Fernando Giménez, Deputy Chairman of Almería’s Provincial Council, said the event was a key opportunity for local businesses to connect with travel agencies and tour operators. ‘Many Andalucians don’t realize what Almería has to offer,’ he noted. The delegation promoted the province’s unique attractions, from its sunny coastline to its inland experiences, hoping to attract more weekend and short-break visitors.
Andalucian travellers are crucial for Almería’s tourism industry, helping balance seasonal dips by taking multiple short trips per year. Last year’s data showed that nearly a third of Andalucia’s tourists came from within the region, while another third were domestic travellers from elsewhere in Spain. The rest were international visitors.
At the same time, Almería’s Costa de Almería tourism board joined Routes Europe in Sevilla, a leading aviation conference. The event brought together airlines, airports, and tourism reps to discuss new flight routes and improve connectivity. With over 1,200 attendees, it was a prime chance to position Almería as a growing destination.
Albox Transforms
THE Albox Council has recently carried out improvement works in several parks and squares across the municipality, responding to long-standing requests from residents.
Families can now enjoy the upgrades at Parque Beato Juan Ibáñez, where a worn-out sports court has been replaced, a new play area for children has been installed, and safety measures such as shock-absorbing flooring and artificial grass have been added. The council funded these changes using its own budget.
Meanwhile, Parque San Juan Evangelista, built last year, has been fitted with a large awning to protect children from the sun. Additionally, major renovations have been completed at Plaza de Los Dolores, a historic square in La Loma that had been neglected for over a decade. The upgrades include new yellow pavement, improved lighting, better accessibility, and new greenery.
Mayor María del Mar Alfonso emphasised the council’s commitment to listening to residents: ‘We want all areas of Albox to be well-maintained. The Plaza de los Dolores is iconic, and now families can enjoy it again.’
The changes reflect the council’s efforts to improve public spaces based on community feedback.
Kindness Wins
THE PAWS-PATAS animal shelter in Los Gallardos is celebrating after their recent ‘Paws on the Paseo’ dog walk fundraiser collected €537.95 to help care for abandoned pets.
Dozens of supporters and their dogs enjoyed perfect weather during the charity walk. Local business Spanish Property Choice, whose director Sharon Garner also stars in the TV show Sun, Sea and Selling Houses, not only sponsored the event but surprised organisers with an extra donation. The popular De Tap Room kept walkers refreshed with drinks and tapas along the route.
‘This money will make a real difference for our dogs and cats,’ said a shelter volunteer. ‘We’re so grateful to everyone who came out to support us.’
PAWS-PATAS, run entirely by volunteers, provides food, medical care, and new homes for abandoned animals. The no-kill shelter relies completely on donations and fundraising events like this.
Their next events include a bingo brunch on May 1 and a gala dinner on May 8. Follow them on social media for updates.
Big Success
MOJÁCAR Area Cancer Support (MACS), a fully registered Spanish charity serving patients, survivors, and carers across Almería, hosted The Big MAC 10 on Sunday, March 30 at Hostal Rural and Chiringuito Extreme. The event was a huge success, raising an impressive €3,274.49 to support cancer patients in the region.
MACS expressed deep gratitude to everyone who contributed, including attendees, bakers, food donors, and dedicated volunteers. Special thanks went to the talented performers who entertained the crowd: The Blues Chico’s, Kay Francés, Atila FD, Marilyn Shipley, Sharon Reagan, Seldom Sober, and Sky Fall.
The charity also acknowledged Mario Moriche and John George for their hard work setting up sound systems on both stages, as well as Cheryl Woods and Pronto Imprenta for designing and printing promotional materials. Additional thanks went to Manuel Rivas and the teams at Hostal Rural and Chiringuito Extreme for their support.
The funds raised will directly assist MACS in providing vital support to patients and their families. The charity thanked the community for their generosity, ensuring continued help for those affected by cancer.
Past Preserved
THE Cerrillos Tower in El Ejido has been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. Now, the Provincial Commission of Historical Heritage has approved restoration plans for this 16th-century watchtower, declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) and listed in the Andalucian Historical Heritage Catalogue.
Juan José Alonso, Delegate of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, stated that the tower, part of an old coastal surveillance system, is currently unused and deteriorating, with its upper section partially collapsed. The restoration project prioritises structural stability while preserving original features.
The first phase involves rebuilding the lower third of the cylindrical base using traditional masonry and lime mortar to support the unstable upper section.
Further work includes reinforcing the middle section, cleaning exposed stonework, and repairing damaged areas with lime mortar. Severely degraded sections will be restored using recovered stones from the site.
To protect the tower from weather exposure, a new lime mortar roof with drainage spouts will be added. Walkways will be stabilized, and informational signage and seating will be added for visitors.
The project aims to secure the tower’s future while respecting its historical significance. Work is expected to begin soon, marking a key step in preserving Almería’s coastal heritage.
Kitchen Stars
MOVE over MasterChef Junior, Almería has its own budding culinary stars! The Educa Chef competition, a collaboration between Sabores Almería and La Salle Virgen del Mar School, is turning classrooms into kitchens as students compete to create the tastiest, healthiest dishes using fresh local ingredients.
With nine schools already battling it out in the first round, the competition is heating up. The final, set for April 30, will see young chefs put their skills to the test, crafting traditional Almerían dishes under the watchful eyes of professional chefs from Almería Gastronómica.
‘We want kids to fall in love with cooking while learning why healthy eating matters,’ said Carlos Sánchez, the provincial Agro-Food Promotion Deputy.
The rules? Teams must use at least three local ingredients from Sabores Almería like tomatoes, sweet peppers, or olive oil straight from the groves. But creativity counts too: presentation, originality, and even the story behind each dish will decide the winner.
The idea started years ago at La Salle, where a teacher mixed cooking lessons with nutrition talks. Now, it’s a full-blown competition.
In the final showdown, teams will have one shot to impress the judges. One thing’s certain, Almería’s next generation is proving that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring.
Virtual Fun
THIS Easter, tourists visiting Pulpí can dive into the underwater world of San Juan de los Terreros, without even getting wet! The town hall has introduced a new virtual reality (VR) experience at San Juan de los Terreros Castle, letting visitors explore the area’s stunning marine life through 360-degree video.
The VR tour takes users beneath the waves to see seagrass meadows, colourful fish, and unique underwater landscapes, all part of a protected marine zone. Normally, these sights are only visible to scuba divers, but now anyone can enjoy them with a VR headset.
Local officials, including Mayor Juan Pedro García Pérez and Tourism Councillor Juanba López, recently tried out the experience. The project received €16,606 in funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, along with support from the Spanish government and Andalucia’s regional authorities.
The castle will be open for visitors Tuesday to Sunday (10:00am–2:00pm and 4:00pm–7:00pm) during Easter week but will be closed on Good Friday (April 19).
This new attraction aims to boost tourism while highlighting the natural beauty of Pulpí’s coast, a perfect activity for families and travellers this holiday season!
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