Juzcar to remain blue

REVELLING in its title of Pueblo Pitufo – Smurfville in other words – houses in Juzcar (Malaga) will remain blue.

In a village poll organised by mayor David Fernandez, villagers decided that they did not want their homes to change colour.

After Juzcar – located between Ronda and Estepona – was picked by Sony to be the First Smurf Village last June to promote the 3D film version of “The Smurfs” (Smurfs are a comic franchise of small blue fictional creatures) residents held a referendum to decide whether or not to accept the offer.

Most voted in favour and Sony provided 9,000 kilos of blue paint to transform Juzcar’s 250 homes as well as the parish church, the town hall and cemetery.

Then came the second poll last weekend, with 141 in favour of retaining their blue homes and only 33 voting against.Roughly 80,000 people have visited Juzcar since it turned blue and was declared the world’s First Smurf Village where visitors can now buy blue candy floss and Smurf souvenirs.

Tourism was generating more jobs, Fernandez said, there was increased self-employment and new businesses had opened.

Even the villagers who voted for Juzcar to return to its former colour had only done so because life was less peaceful than before.

By Linda Hall