The eighties were coming to an end. He came from contemplating the surroundings of the place where the viewpoint was to be erected. That day he was alone and thoughtful, he was probably making his calculations about the most suitable location for its creation, perhaps he was about to finish drawing it in his imagination, or perhaps he was beginning to dissect the process to be followed in the construction to achieve its most perfect integration with the landscape, without renouncing the vertigo caused by the cliff of the ravine; or perhaps he was reflecting on aspects that escape our capacity for understanding, because: who could be in his mind in the moments of projecting his creativity towards the world?
Be that as it may, it was almost noon when the first meeting took place. On one side, with his arms on his waist and his back to the ravine, was him with a stern face and an extremely critical look towards the large sign, which crowned with the logo of a famous cola hung from the facade of the premises; and on the other side, right on the threshold of the door, Conchita appeared with growing curiosity about the man who was approaching. As soon as he arrived at the door of the restaurant, he started with an impetuous tone, asking about the ownership of the business and, once identified, questioning her: how could such a beautiful Canarian woman have the bad taste to place such an advertisement that marred the entire Valley? She, after the preaching received, could only respond with her open and frank smile with a brief: "but, come in!".
Needless to say, after a few weeks the sign in question disappeared, being replaced by another designed in wrought iron that, from that moment, announces the meals of "Casa Conchita".
Once the construction work was started by a local company, he contemplates, in one of his trips, how the clearing was being carried out and the rubble was being thrown down the hillside of the ravine, so he orders the work to be stopped immediately. It is then, when the pilgrimages begin - one day yes and another also - of the contractor to Casa de Conchita so that she would please intercede with the author of the project, in order to continue with the work with the offer that from now on he would execute it following his express instructions. In the end, the construction of the viewpoint is resumed, although it is true after some pious requests from Conchita because she was very excited to see it finished.
What followed were the comings and goings to the island of La Gomera, the frequent visits to the work, as well as the meals of the famous watercress stews and, of course, the rich torrijas in the kitchen of the restaurant, since he never wanted to do it in the dining room. At that time, a son of Conchita who was studying in Tenerife, when returning for vacation, finds him eating next to the stoves, so he goes to reproach his mother: "how do you think of giving this well-known man food in the kitchen?", to which she totally resigned responds: "what am I going to do, my son, if he says that it is the place where the food tastes better to him".
Over time they had conversations watered by her enthusiasm in telling him customs and traditions of her beloved Arure. She also told him about the secret ingredient of her watercress stew and the elaboration of the bouquets of fruits in offering to the Virgen de la Salud and San Salvador. He, on the other hand, never tired of transmitting to her the beauty he appreciated for all Valle Gran Rey that he intended to capture in his work, he also told her about the stillness he experienced in the sunsets of Charco del Conde.
In those meetings they shared complicities and made promises. One day he announced to her: "When the viewpoint is inaugurated, you will be the godmother and I will personally come to pick you up in my car". The vicissitudes of fate prevented him from fulfilling his word, as he died before its inauguration. She always remembers that when she received the news she could only say: "what a pity, what a pity!", while she dedicated that afternoon to rescuing from her memory the good times shared in order to escape the sadness of the moment.
The Minister of Tourism of the Government of the Canary Islands of those years, Don Miguel Zerolo Aguilar, main supporter of the work and knowing of the promise, made sure that it was not broken by telephoning Conchita to announce: "that on the day of its inauguration he would stop by her house to pick her up personally to fully comply with César's wish".
The appointed date arrived and a brand new convertible sports car appeared in the town driven for the occasion by the Minister of Tourism, who transferred Conchita to the Mirador del Palmarejo (today, many call it the Mirador de Manrique). That day, at the inauguration ceremony in her capacity as godmother, she could be seen radiant and friendly among the authorities present, although without ceasing to remember, with some nostalgia, how she met César Manrique!.
Signed by Eugenio Pérez
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