It has now been 22 weeks without a regular weekly market, the traders once again gathering outside the Town Hall to protest, but there is a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, although it could still turn out to be another oncoming train.
Since the outset, many people have been suggesting Parque Verano Azul as a possible site for the market and now, it seems, this is being seriously considered.
The proposal was made during a meeting between PP spokesman José Miguel García, the Councillor for Markets José Miguel Jimena and the head of the Market Traders Association, Juan Rojas. The Council will now pass the matter to their Technical Services Department who will investigate the possibility and prepare a report.
The idea appears to be that the Council will be in a position to respond to this latest proposal by Monday of next week.
A glimmer of hope, but probably not much more than that. One would have to ask the question, if Parque Verano Azul turns out to be suitable, why wasn’t it considered as an option in the first place? It would have saved an awful lot of time, money (protesters who have been fined) and aggravation.
ken fleming says:
I do not profess to be a clever person, but i suggested this site to my wife when the decision to move the market was first touted. It is by far the most natural site in Nerja, what a waste of time money and ammenity to locals and tourists alike. Lets just hope that common sense evetually prevails, if somewhat belatedly.
ken fleming says:
I do not profess to be a clever person, but i suggested this site to my wife when the decision to move the market was first touted. It is by far the most natural site in Nerja, what a waste of time money and ammenity to locals and tourists alike. Lets just hope that common sense evetually prevails, if somewhat belatedly.
jacjie and michael says:
we think that verano azul is an excellent idea not just for frequent visitors like ourselves but also for the locals especially the older people.
jacjie and michael says:
we think that verano azul is an excellent idea not just for frequent visitors like ourselves but also for the locals especially the older people.
barbara & marshall says:
Verano Azul would seem to be ideal site for the much missed nerja market,far more accessable for senior citizens both local and visitors.
barbara & marshall says:
Verano Azul would seem to be ideal site for the much missed nerja market,far more accessable for senior citizens both local and visitors.
Robin Watson says:
The Best Solution so far that and 4 traffic wardens to control the “crazy” traffic conditions on Market Day would be an assett!
Robin Watson says:
The Best Solution so far that and 4 traffic wardens to control the “crazy” traffic conditions on Market Day would be an assett!
The Captain says:
It’s such a glaringly obvious, logical, consensual and sensible solution to the situation that, unfortunately, one would imagine it is almost certainly doomed to failure.
The Captain says:
It’s such a glaringly obvious, logical, consensual and sensible solution to the situation that, unfortunately, one would imagine it is almost certainly doomed to failure.
The market trader says:
Güiris tenian que ser. I’m happy to see, that in these pages, sensible people gifted with common sense, have been glad to hear, that the weekly tuesday market, had been suggested to set up in parque verano azul. Sadly,as the captain says, even if this place is a “glaringly, obvious, logical and sensible solucion” its probably doomed to fail… WHAT does that mean??!!
What is happening with the Nerja market is not easy to explain, but it is very interesting from an antropological point of view. As a foreigner living in Spain for 25 years, most of them as a market-trader, this is my view of what has been happening for the last 30 weeks, where there has been no market in Nerja for the first time anyone can remember.
The site of Almijara was chosen by the local government, which has absolute majority, with the deliberate idea of killing the market slowly. The neglect of the former emplacement, El Chaparil, where there was no control of traffic, garbage, illegal sellers etc,. was also part of this strategy, to get angry neighbours who could blame the market traders. Needless to say, there was no interest whatsoever, to know what the traders thought of the new place, we were simply ordered to move.
The day we were told so, we parked our cars in our places to talk about what to do, and the local police would give us all fines for bad parking. When we asked for permission to demonstrate, it was denied several times, and when we walked down from Almijara armed with t-shirts claiming “a decent market” more than 20 persons were fined with 3-6000 euros. Politicians from pp, psoe and iu alike, have tried to help us talk to Armijo and Jose Miguel Jimena.
The private owner of Huertos Carabeo has said to all of them, that he has no problem whatso ever, to lent this land 9 hours a week for the market, as he lends it everyday as a parking place, and to the feria more than two weeks a year, as long, of course, there is political consensus, and THIS is the difficult thing to find, so officially, the poor owner, who has been in the eye of the hurricane much against his will, is tremendously against the market, course he obviously just want to be good friends with all the politicans (who are supposed to give him building licence in the future, even if its not allowed now,- it was actually supposed to be green area, but thats another story).
So, what a pity, Armijo sights to the public opinion, sadly enough there is only Almijara. Ah, and then once the summer, the best time for selling is over, he recognizes, that as we had claimed for months, The “goat-cage” in Almijara was too small, but he can fix it by using the parking place outside, and make more for the expected clients further up the mountain.
The severely impoverished and demoralized traders spent some more money to a technical architect, who made a detailed plan of Parque Verano Azul. It was not going to be easy for us to set up, but it was possible, and really, I can assure you, we are tough people, used to having all sorts of difficulties in our work.
The mayor promised to answer us. It took him a month to find a date, but he had forgotten the christmas holidays, so the meeting would be moved a couple of weeks, all together seven weeks, with no income, and all the fixed expenses of being “automono”, and of course the licence to the townhall. (Funny enough I have only 4 meters license, and it was never possible to get the normal 6, but since we don’t work, the townhall is charging me 6…).
And now finally, big surprise, except for well-adapted foreigners like myself, the Captain, and The Cynical, Verano Azul is not AT ALL possible. The only possible place is Almijara, ‘cos Armijo says so, and if it’s him that rules, he is right!! You got it??!! For Armijo market sellers are CRAP, and as such we should be hidden away, and if we starve to death, even better, and there are many ways of doing it, sending us to Almijara was one good idea, but 30 weeks without market is not bad either.
Franco had his law of “vagos y maleantes” Armijo has much more refined methods, which are just as efficient. If I survive I would like to continue to comment this pintoresque novel of the local ways. Thanks anyway for all the moral support received in this forum and in the real life of the streets of Nerja. You’re great, and I know you want the market in town.Thanks for all your support!!
The market trader says:
Güiris tenian que ser. I’m happy to see, that in these pages, sensible people gifted with common sense, have been glad to hear, that the weekly tuesday market, had been suggested to set up in parque verano azul. Sadly,as the captain says, even if this place is a “glaringly, obvious, logical and sensible solucion” its probably doomed to fail… WHAT does that mean??!!
What is happening with the Nerja market is not easy to explain, but it is very interesting from an antropological point of view. As a foreigner living in Spain for 25 years, most of them as a market-trader, this is my view of what has been happening for the last 30 weeks, where there has been no market in Nerja for the first time anyone can remember.
The site of Almijara was chosen by the local government, which has absolute majority, with the deliberate idea of killing the market slowly. The neglect of the former emplacement, El Chaparil, where there was no control of traffic, garbage, illegal sellers etc,. was also part of this strategy, to get angry neighbours who could blame the market traders. Needless to say, there was no interest whatsoever, to know what the traders thought of the new place, we were simply ordered to move.
The day we were told so, we parked our cars in our places to talk about what to do, and the local police would give us all fines for bad parking. When we asked for permission to demonstrate, it was denied several times, and when we walked down from Almijara armed with t-shirts claiming “a decent market” more than 20 persons were fined with 3-6000 euros. Politicians from pp, psoe and iu alike, have tried to help us talk to Armijo and Jose Miguel Jimena.
The private owner of Huertos Carabeo has said to all of them, that he has no problem whatso ever, to lent this land 9 hours a week for the market, as he lends it everyday as a parking place, and to the feria more than two weeks a year, as long, of course, there is political consensus, and THIS is the difficult thing to find, so officially, the poor owner, who has been in the eye of the hurricane much against his will, is tremendously against the market, course he obviously just want to be good friends with all the politicans (who are supposed to give him building licence in the future, even if its not allowed now,- it was actually supposed to be green area, but thats another story).
So, what a pity, Armijo sights to the public opinion, sadly enough there is only Almijara. Ah, and then once the summer, the best time for selling is over, he recognizes, that as we had claimed for months, The “goat-cage” in Almijara was too small, but he can fix it by using the parking place outside, and make more for the expected clients further up the mountain.
The severely impoverished and demoralized traders spent some more money to a technical architect, who made a detailed plan of Parque Verano Azul. It was not going to be easy for us to set up, but it was possible, and really, I can assure you, we are tough people, used to having all sorts of difficulties in our work.
The mayor promised to answer us. It took him a month to find a date, but he had forgotten the christmas holidays, so the meeting would be moved a couple of weeks, all together seven weeks, with no income, and all the fixed expenses of being “automono”, and of course the licence to the townhall. (Funny enough I have only 4 meters license, and it was never possible to get the normal 6, but since we don’t work, the townhall is charging me 6…).
And now finally, big surprise, except for well-adapted foreigners like myself, the Captain, and The Cynical, Verano Azul is not AT ALL possible. The only possible place is Almijara, ‘cos Armijo says so, and if it’s him that rules, he is right!! You got it??!! For Armijo market sellers are CRAP, and as such we should be hidden away, and if we starve to death, even better, and there are many ways of doing it, sending us to Almijara was one good idea, but 30 weeks without market is not bad either.
Franco had his law of “vagos y maleantes” Armijo has much more refined methods, which are just as efficient. If I survive I would like to continue to comment this pintoresque novel of the local ways. Thanks anyway for all the moral support received in this forum and in the real life of the streets of Nerja. You’re great, and I know you want the market in town.Thanks for all your support!!
Michelle says:
What can we do to support the traders? I love the market but to go almijara I must take a taxi, and there is only one single bar up there… I think most foreign residents and tourists love the market,miss it, and think verano azul or huertos carabeo are much better options. This should be considered by the local politicians, but maybe they dont know, that not only the traders but also the customers prefer the market within reach.
Michelle says:
What can we do to support the traders? I love the market but to go almijara I must take a taxi, and there is only one single bar up there… I think most foreign residents and tourists love the market,miss it, and think verano azul or huertos carabeo are much better options. This should be considered by the local politicians, but maybe they dont know, that not only the traders but also the customers prefer the market within reach.
nuevanerja says:
Well said Michelle we have been visiting Nerja for over 20 years and do not understand what the town hall is trying to do the market attracts people to the town like the entertainers on the Balcon Nerja needs to attract it is loosing the tourists. I am surprised that the lucky lucky men have not been stopped touting their wares around the bars in the evening they can be a pain. Come on everyone lets get behind the market traders something needs to be done very soon
nuevanerja says:
Well said Michelle we have been visiting Nerja for over 20 years and do not understand what the town hall is trying to do the market attracts people to the town like the entertainers on the Balcon Nerja needs to attract it is loosing the tourists. I am surprised that the lucky lucky men have not been stopped touting their wares around the bars in the evening they can be a pain. Come on everyone lets get behind the market traders something needs to be done very soon
tony says:
Would have to agree with other comments.We visit Nerja twice every year for over ten years and have to say we enjoyed the visit to the market where it was located.Great location and a nice strool down the lovley town of Nerja
tony says:
Would have to agree with other comments.We visit Nerja twice every year for over ten years and have to say we enjoyed the visit to the market where it was located.Great location and a nice strool down the lovley town of Nerja
Larna says:
I have always thought that taking the market from the town centre is a big mistake. Tourists, on whom Nerja depends, will have difficulty finding it. Many people living in Nerja, and visiting, are retired and not so mobile to get to the uphill location. As a regular visitor, I have contacted the Town Hall a few times, and have not received any reply. Such is their contempt for tourists, as well as market traders. We love Spanish markets, and there are other towns in which to holiday. I hope Nerja survives.
Larna says:
I have always thought that taking the market from the town centre is a big mistake. Tourists, on whom Nerja depends, will have difficulty finding it. Many people living in Nerja, and visiting, are retired and not so mobile to get to the uphill location. As a regular visitor, I have contacted the Town Hall a few times, and have not received any reply. Such is their contempt for tourists, as well as market traders. We love Spanish markets, and there are other towns in which to holiday. I hope Nerja survives.
Jon says:
Market days really get my goat as there is nowhere to park in town and you just cannot move. However, what the council fail to grasp is the amount of outside tourists who come into Nerja for market day and return to holiday in Nerja having sampled to town.
Parque Varano Azul or better still, Huertos Carabeo, would be ideal places to relocate the market to, yet still bring “outsiders” into town.
Jon says:
Market days really get my goat as there is nowhere to park in town and you just cannot move. However, what the council fail to grasp is the amount of outside tourists who come into Nerja for market day and return to holiday in Nerja having sampled to town.
Parque Varano Azul or better still, Huertos Carabeo, would be ideal places to relocate the market to, yet still bring “outsiders” into town.