A loyal couple who’ve racked up greater than 200 years between them have been thrown a particular celebration in Spain to mark 72 years of marriage.
Gerardo Rodriguez Ruiz, 101, and his spouse Carmen del Aguila Segura, 98, have been celebrated on the Centro Damian Bayon in Santa Fe, a city within the province of Granada in southern Spain, on sixth December.
The pair have spent greater than six many years dwelling in close by Granada metropolis and are well-known regionally not only for their lengthy life collectively however for his or her love of piononos – small rolled sponge truffles crammed with candy cream and topped with caramelised cream, typical of the world.
At the tribute, they have been introduced with a big cake iced with the message “200 years Gerardo and Carmen”, which they shared with relations and buddies as they smiled for pictures and soaked up the applause.
Gerardo and Carmen first met again in 1943 at a baptism within the Diezmo neighbourhood of Almeria, the place Gerardo was taking part in music. Nine years later, in 1952, they tied the knot and have been inseparable ever since.
Gerardo spent a lot of his life as a navy musician and clarinettist within the band of the IX Military Region earlier than ultimately settling with Carmen in Granada within the Nineteen Sixties after a sequence of postings.
He later positioned his musical scores and legacy within the Centro de Documentacion Musical de Andalucia – the regional Music Documentation Centre – in order that future generations can research his work.
Carmen, in the meantime, has been described by her household because the unbreakable pillar of the family, representing a technology of girls who saved properties operating for many years with quiet work and endurance.
They raised three kids – one among whom has since died – and now have 5 grandchildren.
Relatives say the key to their lengthy lives is easy: wholesome dwelling, common walks, no smoking, no heavy consuming and staying mentally energetic. The couple have studied on the University of Mayores and volunteered on the Parque de las Ciencias, Granada’s interactive science museum.
Gerardo nonetheless loves music and might reel off the phrases of the Spanish nationwide anthem from reminiscence. Officials joked that his age generally even breaks pc programs as a result of some kinds are usually not set as much as settle for numbers over 100.
The pair are also referred to as unofficial ambassadors for the pionono. Wherever they travelled, they have been mentioned to take packing containers of the native candy as presents, and in the course of the ceremony an previous picket field from 1945 – as soon as used to hold piononos – was proven off and praised. Their son had not too long ago handed it again to descendants of the Ysla household who created the pastry.
Local dignitaries, together with Santa Fe mayor Juan Cobo Ortiz and Granada Provincial Government president Francisco Rodriguez Guerrero, joined household and buddies for the celebration and praised the couple for overcoming hardship and serving to to construct a greater society.
The tribute additionally included official greetings from Spain’s royal household, the nationwide and regional governments and the defence minister.
Among the presents, Gerardo obtained a plaque and a small sculpture of a Santa Fe arch, whereas Carmen was introduced with a shawl and a bouquet of flowers.
The ceremonial cake was equipped by Casa Ysla, the well-known store that invented the pionono, and Carmen later mentioned she had felt “like a queen” in the course of the celebrations.
