{"id":2330,"date":"2016-08-17T14:07:29","date_gmt":"2016-08-17T13:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grapevinelifestyle.com\/?p=2330"},"modified":"2024-10-08T09:23:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T07:23:09","slug":"the-last-bandolero-of-malaga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grapevine-properties.com\/lifestyle\/2016\/08\/17\/the-last-bandolero-of-malaga\/","title":{"rendered":"The last Bandolero of M\u00e1laga"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How is it that Clint Eastwood has not yet made a movie called ‘Long Steps<\/strong>‘?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bandoleros – or ‘Bandits’<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For that is the translation of ‘Pasos Largos<\/strong>‘, one of those infamous Malague\u00f1os that have got ‘film script’ written all over him:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was the last bandit who hid in the hills and roamed the country roads of M\u00e1laga (some say of Andalucia, some even of the whole of Western Europe).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from any stone in our valley already seeping with history, those of you who bought property in El Burgo<\/strong> and Yunquera<\/strong> are not only walking in the footsteps of Romans, Visigoths and Vandals, but also living in ‘Bandolero Country’: for it’s in El Burgo that Pasos Largos was born, and at a cave near Yunquera where he hid and was shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was in 1934<\/strong>, after a lifetime of 60 years, of which a good 30 years dedicated to creativity with the landscape and the law – and having kidnapping as specialty. The mayor of Ronda was one of the victims, but especially the very wealthy landowner of Cuevas de Becerro who, at the time, was a person of such standing and national influence that it triggered the police station of all surrounding communities to go on a manhunt of epic proportions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pasos Largos (1873-1934)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mainly targeting the bourgeoisie or those high up the social ladder, resulted in some secretive popularity with those a few steps down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Juan Mingolla Gallardo, by the way, was his actual name: born in  El Burgo in 1873,  and taking the name  ‘Pasos Largos’ over from his father who seemed to have had a peculiar walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you have never heard this story before, if you have ever taken the road from Yunquera to Ronda it might not come as a surprise to you: you might not be the first to suddenly wish you brought music of Ennio Morricone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a province not short of breathtaking views, these in this corner of our valley still stand out. It is little wonder that the triangle El Burgo-Yunquera-Casarabonela<\/strong> is our valley’s top spot for anyone who loves horses, bird watching or hiking – or of absolutely stunning and unspoilt landscapes, and the real Andalusian life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monument in El Burgo<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It might not come as a surprise that when ‘Long Steps’ was offered a job and finally found stability as keeper of a finca, he felt the pull of his adventurous life and turned back to the hills. And it definitely won’t be a surprise to hear that when the troops yelled “surrender or<\/em> we are going to kill you”<\/em>, the last words were: “Then kill me<\/em>“! (Clint Eastwood, are you reading this?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the last Bandolero is largely forgotten – he has become the material of myths, making that one can find positive (admired by villagers) as well as negative (mean character) accounts – but mainly no accounts at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1985 a movie was made about him, and in El Burgo you still find a ‘Parque de Pasos Largos<\/strong>‘ with his bust, but that’s where his long steps in the sand of time start to become invisible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same El Burgo, by the way, where you can enjoy the XXXI Festival de Flamenco<\/strong> this Saturday August 20th – as of 23:00 on the patio of the Colegio de San Augustin in the centre of town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flamenco in combination with El Burgo – the experience can’t get more Andalusian than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With for example this song in the car: Don Quijote has quite specific definitions of ‘Bandolero’<\/strong> and ‘Bandido’<\/strong> but both terms are largely used as synonyms. All together: “Tus ojos, bandido…”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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