Spanish Scouts hoping it's third time lucky for Moray visit
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IT will hopefully be third time lucky for a troop of Spanish Scouts in their bid to visit Moray next week.
Las Culturas troop, which is based in Torrevieja, aim to set up camp in Cullen Community and Residential Centre from Thursday, April 13 to Monday, April 17.
The visit has sprung from a link which has been forged with Fochabers Scouts after a couple of leaders from the troop, who have a house in Punta Prima just to the south of Torrevieja, thought that it would be good idea to contact a local scout troop with a view to forming ties.
The Fochabers Scouts were subsequently invited to a shared camp with Las Culturas in 2019 at the Siula Centre Sierra Espuma regional park in Murcia. Nineteen scouts and four leaders from Fochabers had a fantastic week where they were completely immersed in to the Spanish way of life. The Scouts kept to the Spanish daily routine and were served excellent Murcian cooking.
To repay their Spanish hosts for their kindness, Las Culturas were invited to come to Moray and base themselves at Cullen Residential Centre in Easter the following year, but Covid restrictions put paid to that and again the year after that.
Bill Hodgetts, from Fochabers Scout troop, who is keeping his fingers crossed it will be "third time lucky" for the Spaniards.
He said: "A programme has been put together to give our Spanish guests a great time giving them a taste of Scottish cuisine and the beautiful scenery around the area.
"A visit to Ballindalloch Castle and gardens and a Scottish ceilidh are among the activities planned.
"With the very dry climate in Spain during the summer fires are not allowed so we will give the Spanish scouts an opportunity to try campfire cooking and songs around the campfire on the Friday.
"On Saturday there will be walk along the old railway line to Portnockie which will give them a chance to view the coast. After this we will take them to our Scout Hall for a fish supper from Fochabers fish and chip shop and then onto Elgin Football club for a traditional Scottish ceilidh that is being organised by the Explorers.
"After a day of activities on the Sunday there will a Burns Supper before the Fochabers Scouts depart as they have school the next day. On the Monday Las Culturas will depart the Cullen centre and will then visit Ballindalloch Castle and grounds on their way to Aberdeen airport for an evening flight back to Alicante."
