Many Santas in Torrevieja

LAPLAND came to Torrevieja via both Motorbike and Pick-Up on Christmas when more than 70 Santa’s arrived in town to bring a little joy and colour to the Town Centre.

More than 20 Santas who said they came specially from Lapland and are distant members of the ‘Ilusiones Infantiles’, left from the ‘lucky” bar’ The Piscolabis” on Christmas Eve, to walk the main streets of Torrevieja handing out sweets, hula hoops and some small gifts for the city’s youngest children who were out shopping with their parents.

During their walk, with presents piled up in the back of their pick-up truck, the Santas, distributed thousands of gifts that had been acquired through raffles, events, overstocked items and donations.

The Association of ‘Ilusiones Infantiles’ have made their Christmas Eve walk an annual event which is growing bigger and bigger every year. In what has become another traditional event, a group of torrevejenses bikers rode into Torrevieja on Christmas Day, beginning at the Plaza de la Constitution, and riding along the main streets of the city, making a stop in the vicinity of the monument to the “Man of the Sea.”

With everyone dressed in Santa suits, the riders surprised hundreds of passing children and their families with small gifts. On this occasion, about fifty bikes were cheered on, as they rode around the city.

The tour ended in Yoni’s Bar, where the street was cut-off to accommodate the bikers and they also enjoyed a hearty Christmas lunch.

The generosity and warmth given by the biking Santas helped paint a different picture to what some would say is a ‘clichéd’ view held about the biking community.

The club also distributed information sheets as to the objectives and responsibilities of the “Club de Moteros de Torrevieja” the “Bikers Club of Torrevieja”, in which they are trying to raise awareness about responsible biking and to get their concerns over to the public and also to let others know about the fun and joy that can be spread by taking part in festive events like this.

The event was sponsored by Cárnicas Ríos, Motocenter Torrevieja, Inmobiliaria Grupo 43, Nayala Gas, J.B. Instalaciones and Construcciones Pámies Morales.

By Keith Nicol