23.6.13 Cork Harvest; Adriano; Luna de San Juan

The cork extraction season has begun in the Montes de Propio near Jerez.  The production of cork provides a fundamental economic base with a yield of 650,000 kilos of cork, which gives an economic yield of 900,000 euros.

Cork oaks (alcornoques) can only be stripped every 9 or 10 years, and the season begins on the 1^st of June. It is highly specialised and skilful work done by men using axes who cut the bark without damaging the tree, which is not easy. They are casual workers nonetheless, as the work is not available often. The cork stripping work follows previous work to clean up the hillsides from tree detritus, which not only gives the workers room to move easily, but helps to prevent forest fires.

The lengths of bark are loaded onto mules for transport to the yard, and from there, by lorry, to the factory. Here, the cork goes through an industrial process to produce wine bottle corks. The Montes de Propio were a gift to Jerez from Alfonso X “El Sabio” (the wise) in the XIII century, and comprise a number of fincas totalling 7,200 hectares in the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales. You drive through this lovely natural park when you approach Jerez from the south.

Adriano, the boat which takes people across the mouth of the Guadalete at El Puerto and the Bay of Cadiz, which sank at the quayside in Cadiz in 2011, is nearing completion of repairs. She should be ready at the end of the summer, 500,000 euros having been spent on her. While ashore, she will undergo some modifications to make her more of a tourist attraction, such as various salons for receptions, a bar and space for souvenir shops.

 La Luna de San Juan took place last night in the old part of Jerez. It takes place every year at ten o’clock on midsummer night until late, and is a fantastic festival of flamenco. San Mateo, La Cruz Vieja, Santiago and the Plaza de la Asuncion were the venues, and there were almost as many flamenco artists as members of the public and tourists enjoying the rythms on a decently warm night. The only downside was that many performances were taking place at the same time, something which needs to be addressed.

The Noche de San Juan is a christianisation of an old pagan midsummer solstice festival where it is traditional to burn fires. La Luna de San Juan is simply a flamenco festival which takes place on the same date.