PHOTOS: Sergio Betancort
El Charco de San Ginés hosted this Sunday the XIX Meeting of Senior Citizens of Arrecife, within the festivities of the city. The event began at 7:30 p.m. with the welcoming words of the mayor of Arrecife, Eva de Anta, who was satisfied with the reception that the elders had given her and thanked them for their presence, inviting them to enjoy a meeting prepared especially for them.
Next, the Councilor for Social Services, Victoria Sande, spoke, who took the opportunity to introduce herself to all those who, in the short time she has been in charge of the Council, did not know her, putting herself at the service of all those who need her, the staff and the existing resources.
Afterwards, Francisco González García, popularly known as "Paco el Practicante", was recognized. Both the mayor and the councilor praised the professionalism shown by the honoree in difficult years and so many hardships in Arrecife and Lanzarote, and that despite the obstacles he had to face one day and another also, he won the affection and respect of all those who needed his help. At that moment he was given a sculpture of the Puente de las Bolas, a symbol of the city of Arrecife, which Paco el Practicante collected with great joy. Then he addressed all those present, thanking the authorities for having remembered him for this recognition. However, in his speech he stated that he never practiced his profession thinking that he would be taken into account. As he explained, he did what he liked. And he did it with great responsibility and always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it, because his resources were very scarce, not to say nil. Francisco González García was very supported by his family and friends.
Music and lively dance
Once the protocolary act of the tribute was finished, the staff in charge of attending to the nearly 500 people who attended the event distributed some jars of handmade jams made in Lanzarote of different flavors, such as breva, fig, strawberry, sweet potato, mojo and Indian fig, accompanied by bread. While they tasted the jams, the Raíces parranda enlivened the afternoon with a wide repertoire, which lasted for 90 minutes, and that many of the elders took the opportunity to mark some lively dance steps.
Then came the turn of the dinner, a piece of grilled hake accompanied by wrinkled potatoes and mojo, in which there was no shortage of lively chat among the elders. Once the performance of the Raíces parranda was finished, the musical duo formed by Norbi and José Domingo joined, who continued with the musical entertainment and managed to get a good part of the attendees out of their seats, prolonging the evening and the dance until midnight.
The transfer of the meeting of elders this year to the Charco de San Ginés was well valued by the attendees, who were able to enjoy an outdoor restaurant, with summer weather and in one of the most special corners of the city. In addition, they also highlighted the attention of the Social Services staff, who were aware that no detail was missing, and also of the service in charge of the distribution of food.
