Wednesday 3 September 2008

El coché "Nellie"

Our trusty car, Nellie, was due her first annual service yesterday so we drove to Moron, about 40kms north of Olvera, to drop her off at the dealership.










The service would take about two hours so we wandered off in the diection of the town centre.












We sat down for a coffee before taking a short walk to the tourist office where the assistant was very helpful in providing information about Moron and other places of interest in the area.











The Ayuntamiento (Town Hall).












The Iglesia de San Miguel, built between 1506 and 1730.

























The ruins of the medieval arab castle.












The tourist office had made particular reference to the "Paseo del Gallo", a park area with views looking over Moron.

In the park was a statue commemorating "The Legend of the Plucked Rooster of Moron".
Briefly, it is dedicated to a period in the 1500's when Moron was divided and the land was in dispute between the aristocracy and the people, eventually turning into riots.





In 1597, the government in Granada eventually sent a representative, Doctor Juan Esquivel, to try to resolve the situation. The Doctor however did not endear himself to either side with his bad ideas and lack of respect, proudly proclaiming that where he came from there wasn't any Rooster other than he. Because of this he was named "The Rooster of Moron".
With both sides unwilling to accept any outside intervention or arbitration, a plan was hatched to get rid of him. One night, he was kidnapped by the Lords of Moron, stripped of his clothes and beaten with sticks and "kindly invited" to leave Moron.
Since that time there is a saying in Moron, presumably to those who lack respect and try to impose their will, "You are turning into the rooster of Moron, plucked and crowing is the best you can do".



The views looking north over Moron from the park.


























Making our way down from the park we came upon this tiled mural, depicting the famous flamenco guitarist Diego Del Gastor.













The Casa De La Cultura, built in 1735 and the beautiful internal patio area below with it's red marble columns.


































A fountain on the entrance to town.

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