It was an early start for the 9 members of the history group Strathleven Artizans who flew out from Glasgow airport to Malaga in the Costa del Sol, Spain for this year El Douglas Festival which is held in the beautiful Andalucía village of Teba.
This is the village in which the Good Sir James Douglas and several other Scottish knights lost their lives while taking the Heart of our most Illustrious and famous King, Robert 1st (King Robert the Bruce),
on route to the Holy Land to fulfilll Bruce’s last wish which was that his heart be presented to the Church of the Most Sepulchre in Jerusalem and present to God and ask for forgiveness and absolution.
It was in helping Alfonso the Great fight the Moors at or near the Castle of the Stars in Teba that the Good Sir James and Co. where killed in battle, that they are held in such high esteem by the Spanish people that today 679+years later, they still remember and Honour, the Good Sir James and King Robert the Bruce, the local people of Teba have this Festival every year and this is the 3 year in a row that member of Strathleven Artizans have attended this wonderful and very moving event, this year was the first time that 5 of the group had made the trip to Teba.
Our trip to Teba from the airport got off to a bit of a bad start when 10 minutes into our journey a young lady driver ran into the back of our hired car while at a junction, this cost us about 2 hours or so while the police carried out their paper work no body was injured and all was well to go on our way we did not arrive at our digs till around 4.00pm. The 5 guys who had not been before were blowing away when they saw the Castle and the villa that we were staying in, the villa called La Calera sits right below the Castle of the Stars looking over the battle field and surrounding country side
After unpacking our cases we had a siesta by the pool for the next few hours then we all headed up into Teba for a bite to eat, although Teba is a small and compact village it has plenty pubs and restaurants with both drink and food pretty cheap compared to the Costa del sol, we found a nice little pub that we not been too before, there we had a few drinks and then we went down stairs to have our first meal in Teba which I must say was fantastic, we had local produce i.e. Jamon ham, cheeses, salads, sea food and the local pork was superb all washed down with local beer and wine, the meal lasted about 2 hours and between the 9 of us the bill worked out around 18 Euros each brilliant for what we had to eat.
Some of the guys and girls then headed off to the local pubs and 4 of us oldies headed for ours beds after all it had been a very long day with a 3.00am start and we were now into Friday morning.
Friday 12th. September
After a nice lie in we spent the morning by the pool relaxing in the glorious sunshine with the temperature around the low 80’s, our fabulous host Lyndsay made us rolls of bacon and eggs which went down a treat.
In the afternoon we took the new guys up into Teba to see the Monument to Sir James Douglas which is situated in the middle of the village we had photos taken etc then we headed down to the town hall to see Juan the organiser for the weekend festival and let him know that we add arrived but there was no need as he all ready knew because several of the party where showing the local how to PARTY all night in the pub it came to our attention that the guys who went to the pub did not get back to the villa until 5.30am and had been having a ball with the local through the night the locals certainly loved the company of the Artizans and gave us freedom of the village.
We headed off for some of the local coffee which was delicious and a bit of shopping it was back to the villa for some siestas and more time in the pool.
In the evening we had been invited down to the hotel just outside of Teba called Rancho El Mirador by the owner Ted, (9 of us and our host from the villa Mark & Lyndsay Comer and their friend Martin) this is a beautiful hotel with Horses, bike hire, country walks, a great swimming pool as well as eating facilities anybody looking for some where to stay in Teba should check their website it great.
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We had our dinner down at the rancho which again was really good and plenty to drink to after a nice relaxing evening the King’s Piper Philip Barlow performed for our guests with several tunes on the pipes which went down well with the other guest by the time Philip came on the place was very busy with local and ex pats the party went on till around 2.00am then back to the villa for some shut eye, oh and some went partying in Teba again till 6.00am the place never shuts amazing, the Artizans were led astray this time by a guy called Mark ??. |
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Saturday 13th
After a heavy night another lie in was needed what was left of the morning was spent by the pool some breakfast was provided by Mark and Lyndsay rolls and sausage and egg which went down a treat the rest of the day was laying recovering by the pool again the weather was great mid 80’s.
4.00pm time to get ready for the event in which we came to be involved in.
Everybody mustered at 5.00pm to be led through the village by our piper and drummer Philip and David Barlow, we headed off from the villa up into Teba to arrive at the Monument where we had 10 minutes to ourselves then down the hill to the town hall bringing the place to a halt with the pipes and drums the locals loved it applauding us as we came down the hill, we then turned into the town square which was decked out in Saltires, Lions Rampant and Spanish flags the square was awash with stalls and people the atmosphere was electric, we mingled with the local meeting and greeting folk that we met last year as well as the new friends we had made in the few days that we had been in Teba. This year it was great to see and meet again some of the Scots and expats that he Artizans had met in Fuengirola earlier on in the year while taking part in the International Feria De Los Pueblos as part of the UK Caseta this was a fantastic experience for all the Artizans who took part and hope to do it again in the future.
The event got under way about 6.30pm in the town square with Juan introducing the Mayor of Teba who thanked every one for coming and supporting this wonderful occasion he also paid a special thanks to the Strathleven Artizans who made there way over to Teba once again, he then gave a speech in Spanish then he introduced the British Consul for Andalucía who again spoke to the gathered crowd in Spanish, he then introduced the Chairman of Strathleven Artizans Duncan Thomson who presented the Mayor and the village of Teba with commissioned painting for the museum. This was a painting of the Good Sir James Douglas charging into battle at Teba with the heart of Bruce whirling as he gallops.
This painted by a lady from the village of Renton where the Strathleven Artizans are based and from where the Good Sir James Douglas left with the heart of the Bruce to travel to the Holy land.
This was followed by a local historian giving a full and comprehensive account on the history and battle of Teba after the speeches finish every body lined up for the parade the Artizans had the privilege and honour of leading the parade through the village up to the Douglas Monument where they had a laying of wreathes and more speeches and photos it seems that the whole town had gathered around the El Douglas Monuments the place was packed again the atmosphere was electric.
After more photos and mingling with the local we were then delighted be told that we were guest of honour at the El Douglas Banquet which happened to be in the same restaurant that we where in on our first night in Teba, and what can I say but fantastic again all local produce with about 6 or 7 courses the meal lasted around 4 hours we where all well looked after and can’t Thank the village of Teba enough for their highland hospitality thank you Teba.
Near the end of the evening Philip played the pipes for the people who had sat down at the Banquet as a result the folk up stairs in the pub heard the pipes and so he had to go up stairs and play in the bar the whole pub was jumping they all loved it and wanted more.
After the festivities the party of guest headed to the town square to listen to the flamenco guitar player and singer which brought the festival to a close at around 1.00am.
Once the event came to an end the Artizans where in a party mood and headed to one of the local bars called Albaicin where we were joined for the first hour by the British Consul and his lovely wife before they headed home the coast near Malaga.
As the night or that should be morning wore on the bar filled up pretty quick and was packed out, Philip and our two Highland dancers put on a show which went down a storm, the local could not get enough of them in the end the only place with enough room for every body to see them play and dance was out in the narrow street what a party the people of Teba are brilliant friendly and fun loving, Magic.
Sunday 14th
Due to work and university commitments Philip & David left Teba in the early hours of Sunday morning to catch their 11.30am flight home.
The locals had their parade up to the castle leaving from the El Douglas monument led by the local historian explaining about the battle as they went this was well attended by the local and visitors, in the early afternoon the Artizans met up with returning crowd from the castle down in the town square where the medieval market was in full flow, in the square they had a siesta when all the people of Teba take part in the festivities with free food and drink for everybody once again the Artizans where guest of honour, the event finish around 6.00pm every one involved had a really great time it was then time to say goodbye to our friends from Fuengirola Tom & Stella McDaid and the guys and girls from the Brigadoon Bar who where heading back home to the coast.( it was great meeting you all again and hope to see you all again soon).
As this was our last night we went up to the castle for one last visit and we could not have picked a better time as we where about to leave the sun was setting over the mountains of Andalusia and what a beautiful sight to see it was wonderful we all stood there in amazement.
Then we dropped 3 of the guys off in Teba the rest of us drove out into the surrounding country side to a Michelin star restaurant, this was a large roadside restaurant which was busy and we sat down to another wonderful feast of Andalusian food we did not have a word of Spanish between us but we manage to get through OK, the food was superb 4 starters, 2 steaks 1 sword fish and the biggest leg of lamb we had ever seen with plenty drink (soft and beers) the bill came to 118 Euros ( 27 euros each) which was fantastic for a Michelin star, we will being back there next year for sure.
We then returned to the villa around 10.30pm there we spent the next few hours with our wonderful hosts and friends Mark & Lyndsay Comer, we had a farewell drink and we cant thank them enough for their wonderful hospitality and for every thing that they did for us Thank you both from all at Strathleven Artizans, we are all ready looking forward to next year.
Monday 15th
It was an early rise to get ready to leave behind Teba for another year, Mark took our cases and one of the guys to the airport and the rest followed we got to the airport accident free, we said our goodbyes to Mark and headed for the check in for a pleasant and trouble free flight home.
I wish to thank all who took part in this trip they are ----------
Duncan Thomson, Graham Kemsley, Jim Tannock, Philip & David Barlow, John Thomson, Jimmy Mitchell, Jayne Shedden and Jennifer Renton. Thanks guys enjoyed your company and will see you all again next year.
Anybody wishing to join us on our next trip to Teba feel free to get in touch with us details on our website.
A Special Thanks to Philip Barlow ( King’s Piper) and David Barlow (King’s Drummer) for this weekend would not be the same without their patriotic playing skills we are sure and feel that the Douglas and the rest of his Knights wait in anticipation to hear the wonderful skirl of the pipes once more from their home land Mother Scotland
Also Special thanks to Celtic Storm Dancing members Jayne Shedden and Jennifer Renton for traditional highland and Celtic dancing displays.
Thanks also to the the guys from Strathleven Artizans Duncan Thomson, Graham Kemsley, Jim Tannock, John Thomson and Jimmy Mitchell,
Look forward to seeing you all next year Yours In ca Var Jim Tannock
By Jim Tannock
