Malaga appeared not to have a camping site. So I called Virginia of Cyd Santa Maria that I would come that afternoon. Still two hours to go in the burning sun. The venom is always in the tail. So on arrival I had made 150 km, and that, again, is too much.
Concordia and Virginia run a centre of abandoned and mistreated horses. This is a big problem in Spain. It looks like many Spaniards don't know how to fill in their responsibility towards 'their' annimal. Sometimes they tie the horse on a rope and keep it, in the burning sun, limited to the space of its rope, without any freedom to move where it should move.
Sometimes they are beaten at the head, which causes eye diseases.
In Cyd Santa Maria these annimals get a good treatment and a chance for a new and better life. Up until now about 360 horses passed this centre and many found a new and better 'owner'.
What Concordia and Virginia are performing is very positive and necessary. Unfortunately authorities do not cooperate very much, so there is always a shortage of everything. Every activity costs money. Inherrent on this kind of work the veterinarian is very important, but it costs a lot. It would be a very good chance for Spain to show how animals SHOULD be treated, when (local) authorities would adopt this centre and would support this work.
Very strange: there is a crisis going on. On my trip I have seen a lot of Talleros de empleo, say social workshop, where unemployed go to work. It would be such a logical combination to combine these two factors: a good centre that needs hands-on support, and unemployed needing sensible work.
I met 3 dutch girls who are doing a workplacement practice here. This is a very good combination.
My relationship with this. Since a while I am in the board of Gewoon-doen.nu (same website) which has adopted this centre. I was curious to visit the centre.
I would recommend this centre to my readers. More info via the website www.cydanimals.com or www.gewoon-doen.nu.
I got explanations from Virginia. After my trip (or the explanation ;-)) I was exhausted and could not go on that night any more. So I could sleep in a mobile house on the premises. The local peacock and cats could not keep me from sleeping very well. Thanks for your hospitality!!!!
I am on my way along the south coast, to Almeria and Cabo de Gata. Compared to my trip to here this is terible. They say Spain is marvellous, and they are right. But cut of 6 km of coast and it is perfect.
After 60 km I stay on a camping 7 km before Torre del mar. The first camping site in my life (and I have a lot of experience, believe me) where they are able to calculate a fee for my bike (€4). Everything is about 50% more expensive along the coast than in the inland.
Swimming in the Mediteranean was not my best experience. The watter is colder then I had expected and it is very windy.
