2001–2005

The gardens at Playa Tropical

2001

In 2001 the renovation of bathrooms in Blocks A and B was in full swing, and kitchen taps were also being replaced.

CurioIt was also the year that restaurant Il Gabiano opened at the eastern end of the water park.
On the disused campsite by Playa Pozuelo, Hotel Bahia began to take shape, and a boat service was launched between Playa Velilla, Heradura and Nerja, running return trips 3 times a day.
In July, it was announced that Al (deputising for Andres Palacios) was no longer working for Playa Tropical.

2002

I 2002

a computer was purchased for the office, and an office assistant, Nieves Robles López, was hired; her main task was to transfer all data from the old index cards onto the computer.
It was also the year that a large new supermarket, Mercadona, opened in Almuñécar near Lidl and DIA. Unfortunately, this meant that the Mercadona in "the house with the blue balconies" on Paseo de Velilla closed down.
Finally, it was the year the peseta was replaced by the euro, causing the daily service charge of 500 ptas to be changed to 3.01€.

Following the opportunity that arose in the year 2000 to acquire a "right of use", Club Andalucia gained several new members. Sadly among them were a few individuals who began stirring up discord, eroding the good spirit that had prevailed in Club Andalucia for more than 30 years.

2003

I 2003

the year began with the owners' association holding its general meeting in Granada, attended by 66 owners and right-of-use holders. Eleven of these were Danish, who – with right-of-use holder and club member Flemming Knudsen interpreting – mistakenly believed they had voting rights.
Of course, only representatives, who must be owners, have voting rights.
At the meeting, it was agreed that the annual fee for a fortnight period should be increased to 114/103€.
Renovation of the last bathrooms is underway, and the first new kitchen in Block C is finished.
After 30 years as General President of the owners' association, 77-year-old Antonio Villén has begun looking for a successor.
On 17 December, the owners' association held another general meeting, attended among others by Club Andalucia board member Preben Mikkelsen, who called for a list of owners acting as representatives for their apartments.
It turned out that a list from 1987 existed, but 40% of those listed had either died or sold up, and nobody knew the status of the remaining 60%, except that they probably had no voting rights due to arrears!
It became clear at the meeting that none of the Spanish attendees knew anything at all about the right-of-use scheme.
Little else could be discussed before a wild uproar broke out with threats against the General President, prompting one of the other presidents to threaten calling the police if things got any worse.
In Almuñécar, construction of a large underground car park beneath the paseo had started in October, but was suspended due to large demonstrations by local Spanish residents protesting against the closure of numerous restaurants and bars.
In Club Andalucia, the chairman and the editor, together with the board, decided that to mark its 20th anniversary, the club magazine would henceforth show our world in colour. At the same time, the board re-elected this year decided to celebrate the club's secretary, Irene Mikkelsen, marking her 25th anniversary as the club's sole paid employee.

2004

I 2004

it was announced that Playa Tropical's long-standing administrator, Manuel Fernandez Rodriguez (Manolo), had been dismissed with effect from 31 March. The reason was reportedly that, despite several reminders, he had not completed and submitted the accounts for the period 1 Aug 2002 to 31 Dec 2003.

Many owners and tenants have now chased up the start of the planned kitchen renovations in Block C, but they have been told that until 85–90% of the kitchen contributions are paid in, nothing will happen – as of 1 July, only 66% has been received.

In April, work on the underground car park in Almuñécar resumed.

On 3 September, Club Andalucia held its general meeting for the last time with Kaj Grosen as chairman. At the meeting, he and the rest of the board faced strong criticism from the aforementioned "troublemakers" over the board's conduct towards the presidency at Playa Tropical.
This led Kaj Grosen to convene a board meeting, attended by Julius Nielsen, Preben Mikkelsen and newly elected alternate Birgit Dideriksen. Here, Kaj Grosen announced his resignation from the board with immediate effect and also stepped down as editor of the club magazine.
Subsequently, Birgit Dideriksen joined the board, which constituted itself with 75-year-old Preben Mikkelsen as chairman and editor.

2005

I 2005

in April, it came to light that Block C's president, Cipriano Marin, had on 28 July 2004 secretly and unlawfully resigned his post and handed it over to General President Villén.
Club Andalucia and representatives of the Spanish and British owners now put so much pressure on the General President that he announced he would step down at an extraordinary general meeting to be held in Granada on 13 May.
There were three items on the agenda:
1. Resignation of President Antonio Villén.
2. Resignation of President Cipriano Marin.
3. Election of two new presidents.
Following discussion of the first two items, Club Andalucia chairman Preben Mikkelsen was elected president of Block 2, and Señora Mari-Carmen Zurita Cobo was elected president of Block 3 – marking the second time Playa Tropical had a Danish president.

From that moment on, order was finally restored to Playa Tropical's affairs across all fronts.

Do you have memories, photos or club magazines from 2001–2005? We would love to hear from you.