Costa del Sol

Mijas moves ahead with “El Burrito” donkey sanctuary plans with new centre design

Published

1 day ago

May 15, 2026

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Mijas Council has awarded the design contract for the ‘El Burrito’ donkey centre. This project is meant to increase awareness, protection and preservation of the iconic Mijeño donkey breed that symbolises the Costa del Sol village.

Construction specialists OLUZ will create the facility on a 10,000+ square metre plot at Vial Sur beside Camino de las Canteras. The council has allocated almost €40,000 for the initial design phase, with completion scheduled within just 3 months. Completion of this stage will allow the council to tender the main construction works and transform the rugged site into an interactive recreational park where visitors can engage with donkeys living in semi-freedom.

Project goals focus on animal welfare

Plans include raising global consciousness about animal rights and wellbeing. Designers will incorporate an observation area dedicated to the donkeys plus shaded walking trails through wooded sections. Donkeys will contribute to forest management tasks while enjoying retirement spaces within the park. Rescue facilities will accommodate adult animals needing recovery before relocation to suitable homes. A dedicated Mijeño donkey visitors’ centre will form the educational heart of the development, supported by extensive trail networks and leisure zones.

Facilities designed for 48 animals

Builders are planning to erect three large donkey housing modules together with separate veterinary and storage units. Each of the 24 compartments will house two donkeys comfortably and allow full movement, including turning and lying down. Every space will feature drinking water points, lighting and wall rings for safe tethering during cleaning and health checks.

Stables will integrate into the natural slopes with partially buried structures covered in vegetation to minimise visual impact. Plentiful local utilities already serve the area, including drinking water, electricity and wastewater networks running parallel to the existing stream.

The path network organises visitor and maintenance flow

A five-metre-wide main path will serve as the central spine with two-metre access tracks branching towards the stables. These routes accommodate maintenance vehicles and feed delivery trucks. Artificial gravel surfaces will ensure durability while dividing the park into dedicated animal zones and fenced meadows linked to riding areas plus waste management spaces.

This initiative, originally proposed by Amaya Isert at Donkey Dreamland, reinforces Mijas’s commitment to its cultural heritage while at the same time gives practical conservation measures that balance education, recreation and animal care on the scenic site.

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Costa del Sol

Torremolinos’ Ruta del Rock is back, 60 free concerts, two weekends, zero excuses not to go

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2026

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Torremolinos is ready to rock again as its bars and restaurants transform into live music venues for the 14th edition of the Ruta del Rock treating everyone to 60 free concerts across two weekends.

What is the Ruta del Rock?

Ruta del Rock is a hugely popular free, city-wide music crawl that takes over the bars and restaurants in Torremolinos. It has a massively successful track record as it is now in its 14th year. You can hop between venues trying the different food and music at your own pace. Most performing artists are locally based and homegrown talent. Held in varying sized locations means you get to be really up close and personal with real true musicians.

Dates, times, and neighbourhoods

There is plenty of time to give everyone a chance to get to the concerts, as the festival runs across two consecutive weekends, first from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24 and Friday, May 29 to Sunday, May 31. Friday and Saturday performances are scheduled between 7pm and 11pm, and Sunday sessions run from 5pm to 9pm.

The venues taking part are spread across Torremolinos neighbourhoods including the town centre, Playamar, Los Alamos, El Pinillo, La Carihuela, El Calvario, and Montemar, easy for everyone depending on wherever you happen to be.

Who is performing?

Even though it is the Ruta del rock, a variety of different genres are covered, including rock, pop, soul, blues, jazz, and indie. Confirmed performers include Suzette Moncrief, Alvarock, Elise Soul Sistah, Mr. Proper, Lady Punk, MayDay, Maika Lavera, Red Bus Rock, Wayne Ward, Turkish Gang, Buddy and the Crickets, RM Latin Band, Mama Cath and the Soulsisters, Jassy Ojeda, Billywood Crackers, Money Makers, and Malbec, among many many others.

Grab a drink, turn up the volume and discover new talent.

Full concert listings and venue details are available via the official Torremolinos Cultura website.

Costa del Sol

Skin and mole checks: What to look for, and why now

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2026

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Skin checks are a short, painless, and effective form of cancer prevention. Credit: La Cala Medical

By Dr. Hanna Raitio, MD, PhD, Consultant Dermatologist

Summer is coming. UV exposure is about to increase remarkably, and so are the risks, especially for fair skin. Now is a good time to have your skin examined, before the strongest months arrive.

Skin cancer is a common cancer in fair-skinned populations. Most skin cancers are visible from the outside, and when found early they can be treated with simple procedures. Melanoma, the most serious form, has a cure rate even above 95% when detected and removed in an early stage. Early signs are often subtle: a small change in colour, a slightly uneven edge, a spot that itches or bleeds, a patch that does not heal.

What a dermatologist actually does

A proper skin check is a full-body examination. The dermatologist looks at the scalp, behind the ears, between the fingers and toes, the soles of the feet, and other areas patients rarely check themselves, or simply cannot reach on their own. A dermatoscope (a handheld magnifying tool with polarised light) shows structures inside a mole that are not visible to the naked eye. This improves the accuracy of diagnosis and reduces unnecessary biopsies. For patients with many moles or a personal or family history of skin cancer, mole mapping may be recommended.

What to look for at home

Between visits, examine your own skin regularly. The ABCDE rule is a useful guide:

Asymmetry: one half of the mole does not match the other
Border: edges that are uneven, blurred, or notched
Colour: more than one shade, or a recent change
Diameter: larger than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
Evolving: any change in size, shape, colour, height, or sensation

Also pay attention to the “ugly duckling” sign: a mole that looks different from the others on your body. If a spot itches, bleeds, crusts, or does not heal, have it assessed.

Why this matters more on the Costa del Sol

Light skin types, a tendency to sunburn, and decades of recreational sun exposure all contribute to the risk. Damage from past summers accumulates. Our skin has a good memory. It surfaces years later, often after the age of 50.

The practical step

If you have not had a full skin examination recently, book one before the hottest months begin. Annual checks are reasonable for most people over 50 in this region, and sometimes even more frequent checks for higher-risk patients. Examine your own skin regularly between visits.

Skin checks are short, painless, and one of the most effective forms of cancer prevention we have. The earlier a problem is found, the simpler the solution.

Dr. Hanna Raitio is a consultant dermatologist practising in La Cala de Mijas.

www.lacalamedical.com

Tel: 681 231 350

Av. Mare Nostrum 13, La Cala de Mijas

Automated External Defibrillators

Save A Life and community efforts bring life-saving defibrillator to Yorkshire Linen on Mijas road

Published

20 hours ago

May 15, 2026

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Save A Life charity has delivered another automatic external defibrillator (AED) to a busy location on the Carretera de Mijas.

This latest unit now stands ready at the entrance of Yorkshire Linen Beds & More. Local residents and shoppers can rest easier and in emergencies gain quick access to vital equipment if cardiac emergencies occures.

Community fundraiser success behind progress

Yorkshire Linen hosted a popular charity market on May 2. Crowds browsed stalls offering crafts, jewellery, honey and second-hand goods in the car park behind the store. Organisers raised substantial sums through raffles and sales. Steph from Yorkshire Linen reported €850 from the raffle and the market plus around the same was donated from S.A.L’s own fundraising. At the installing of the AED on Friday, May 15, Steph said that it was time they got one, and that the whole team would receive a training course from S.A.L in the coming days on CPR and AED use.

Funds from the market contributed directly to purchasing and installing the new AED. Gerry and Jenny Hannam, founders of Save A Life, expressed gratitude for the strong community turnout and Steph’s forward thinking. Their initiative has now placed multiple devices across Mijas, Fuengirola and nearby areas. The Hannam family was at the unveiling with the Yorkshire Linen team and Euro Weekly News’ own resident medical columnist Dr Marcus Stephan to celebrate this the eleventh AED installed in the area. The twelfth is already lined up for Mijas Golf in the coming days.

Why public AEDs matter

Cardiac arrest strikes without warning. Survival rates drop by about 10 per cent with every minute that passes without defibrillation. Locations like retail outlets see high footfall, so placing equipment there maximises response potential. Save A Life also runs CPR and first aid training sessions to equip people with essential skills.

Yorkshire Linen’s support demonstrates how businesses can play an active role in community safety. Shoppers at the store and passers-by can benefit from far better protection on this busy stretch of road.

Wider impact on the Costa del Sol

This installation adds to a rapidly growing network of publicly accessible defibrillators. Save A Life has reached double figures in units provided so far. Recent placements include locations in Calahonda and Benalmadena.

Community members continue to back the cause through fundraising markets, lunches, galas and donations.