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Alberto Di Lolli / AP
Bernardo, 77, left, talks to a young woman during a meeting between men and women in the village of Candeleda, Spain, April 21. Sixty-eight women were bused in to the village to meet with the local men with the hope that some will form relationships and settle in the village, where the main population is male.
Alberto Di Lolli / AP
A group of women arrive in a bus before a meeting between men and women in Candeleda, Spain.
Inspired by a Hollywood western, a Spanish dating association is trying to slow a population drain from the country's beleaguered central villages, introducing bachelors to women bused in from the big city of Madrid with hopes of ending a bride shortage.
Candeleda, a town of 6,000 on the banks of the picturesque Lobera River, hosted a weekend fiesta to welcome 68 women for a meet-and-greet with the village's single men. Ancient cave paintings show Candeleda has been inhabited for some 5,000 years, and resident Jose Miguel, 67, said he would hate to see its population dwindle after such a long history.
-- Reported by the Associated Press
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You could get many
Spaniards, I mean mexicans to help-we have lots here,sincerely,the USAGreat, just what the world needs, more spainish people...
Spaniards are not Hispanic; they are one of the oldest cultural group in Europe; in the late 1700's the same thing happened in New Orleans, the casket girls were brought in from France and Spain to meet and marry the settlers in the new Spanish colony in new Orleans; some of the oldest family's in Louisiana trace their heritage back to the casket girls. if you ever see some of the Spanish-french creoles of new Orleans, you will see why the population grew so fast.
Wonder if these guys in the village have internet? Lots of meeting and greeting going on there!
It was a real deal, not some electronic "virtual reality". Who needs internet when they bring those live, hot blooded women, instead of some male pervert from the internet pretending to be a young woman :)
Geeez smoothoperator what kind of websites have you been visiting?
It is a well known fact that some people on the internet aren't who that claim they are. Oh, and also that can be true without the internet. haha!
They should have just sent pics. Few look like it'll be a long trip back.
I bet five bucks that Ole Bernardo has lots of cash! Lots of it! Any takers?
I like it! Very honest approach, (although none involved should rush right into marrying the first one off the bus)
A group of single men looking for brides, and a group of single women looking for husbands. No loud music to get in the way of conversation. Hopefully no "almost single" women or men in the mix. Won't work out for everyone, but I wish them all the luck!
But is it free or some kind of tourism or subscription service? Who pays for the bus ride and the lodging for the ladies? That's what I'm curious about.
It sounds like it could be an incredibly clever dating service. I hope it's not just another pimping service, but I could see how it could be. The photo with the 77 year old guy talking to the young girl looked suspicious and I wonder if that's typical. Most girls that age would only be interested in a guy his age if she only cared about money. And we all know how that works. ie when the flood of money runs out, so does the girl.
Bernardo has the most experience in these matters.
Could have been the local Chamber of Commerce who sponsored this ~ I wouldn't be too skeptical.
some folks on here seem to think that on-line date sites may have some posers on them
what will they think of next only on the internet you say
Sounds like Alaska & North Dakota; Yee-Hah, bus in those desperate single women!
"North to Alaska....the rush is on....."
And....."Here comes the brides".
I think it's the men who are desperate if the town is busing the women in.
Yep, those 77 year old guys look to be very desperate alright.
well ont thing to be said
I don't see any guards holding these ladies at gun-point on the bus and if one ot two of the bus load hook-up I think it was worth it
I don't believe Bernardo will be doing her a whole lotta good.
That's the only picture they could come up with in a photo blog? A 77 year old man looking for a gilly...
Looks like these women may have heard that "It is better to be an old man's darlin than a young man's slave". In any case, I would think that all the men who are looking for wives are probably in an economic position to take care of their future wives.
Very cute idea--hope some nice things develop!
It's something to think about. Not everyone is so fortunate to find the perfect spouse in their home location. And just because some places have fewer of one gender or another doesn't mean that innovative solutions can't be found. Best wishes to them all. Hope springs eternal.
(One thing I've notice about most of the comments on this story is that the majority are very, very negative. How sad that so many people find squashing someone else's hopes and dreams is their whole purpose in life. [Perhaps I shouldn't limit that statement to this story. So many enjoy squashing all sorts of positive things. **shakes head**] What a narrow scope and sorry point of view these sad individuals must have.)
Zapper -- would love to give you TWO checks!
My high school was only 42% female. Wish someone would of bused in an extra bus load of Cheerleaders! For me the solution was to leave, it was a big world out there (and still is...)
At any rate, I hope it works out for them!
I saw an old Spanish film and the story line was identical to this--very funny!
@Bobs- as usual we can count on someone NOT reading the story now how about a surprise for us and try reading this time--then tell us who is desperate.
With only 3 sentences of in-depth reporting (whole story), the reader has to draw a parallelism to the familar struggle men have in America.
bobs ur uncle, tell me about it. In America it's like there are men, and then these other humanoid creatures that are searching for walking ATM machines.
Yes, Allison, you beat me to this post. When I saw the story, I said, yeah, I saw a foreign film about a small village in Spain that had women bused in so the bachelors and widowers could find themselves a wife. It was kind of quaint and charming to see a film like this in the age of technology.
Some people still value one on one courtship over evil behavior masked by the clever use of a backspace key.
The guys have been nailing the east European working girls for cheaper than a wife. The Spanish girls have moved on said a article on MSNBC a few weeks ago.
This is just like the old TV show, "Here Come the Brides"! Bernardo's cute, but he's no Bobby Sherman or David Soul--but maybe he was back then...and time's moved on for Bobby and David too...
Best wishes, hope they make some good matches!
Geez, just what women were made for -- the sexual needs of men. Those guys are not interested in a healthy, loving relationship.
only someone with a dirty mind would think of that.
Some one sounds bitter.
I'm sure that 77 year old man was looking for a bride to settle down and have kids with...
Glad women are all sugar and spice, and never look for much else but a loving relationship. That's why they gravitate to all them po boys obviously.
Worst part is this doesn't even address the needs of the community. The lack of women is not the reason for the population decrease. The issue is that this town has a lack of economic opportunity.
If jobs and meaningful work existed in this town people would be flooding it from all over Spain. There would be no need for buses. This is classic socialistic nonsense from a group of educated idiots in the town council.
Well, judging form the picture: not for long term. Title should be more like: "here come the widows"
Took 9 posts before someone had to comment about men taking advantage of women.
From the picture, I didn't see any of the women in chains, so relax.
I think what's even more sad is the sorry state of journalism at MSNBC. Why is this the top story on the front page? There are elections going on in France and political turmoil all over, and you decide to post a story about Spanish men meeting women? You have no right to criticize FOX News when you're doing crap like this.
By the way, I think FOX is complete crap too. I'm just ticked at the state of news coverage these days. It's an absolute shame when "The Daily Show" is the best station for bringing to light what's really important.
come on Ranman, don't be such a party pooper. The world is wonderful and we're all having so much fun.....keep it light man.
I blame Obama
Because the U.S. gov't has everything to do with this...
This obvoiosly all starts with Bush's name.
Hope it works. Sounds like lots of blind dates going on.
Literally.
it's the economy Deb, the women are lonely and broke while the guys are horny and have material goods to offer.......
Wrong Jeff it's a left-over Bush (pun intended) problem. The things we do for love, somebody once said. Anyway hope everyone lives happily ever after and nobody gets their eye poked out.
From their recent location in Venezuela ? Maybe ?
From their recent location in Venezuela ? Maybe ?
No offense but it looks like they just dug Bernardo up! That woman is young enough to be his Granddaughter!
Are all the men as old as him! Just wondering1
LOL! Damn Gloria, sometimes you have Ice water in your Veins...
Why gloria, plan on catching a bus?
They should contact the American Secret Service, they know a lot of cheap hookers.
Not cheap, they thought they were free. Obama's spread (yes, pun intended) the wealth ideology.
They got "stiffed" by the SS in ore then one way!!!!!!!
The film, referenced in the story, that came first to mind was "Westward the Women" (1951) with Robert Taylor leading a wagon train of women only (aside from Taylor and a few hands) across country to a male-dominated mining/logging town out west. It was a great film. It was not a fun-filled comedy or romance as seen in "Here Come the Brides," "North To Alaska," and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."
I can see why Bernardo is smiling, but he will never keep up with her at age 77,
She seems to be smiling just as much.
Maybe there's a good reason why the women aren't there in the first place. If kids are being born there, the population should be 50-50 - what is going on?
Bernardo, be careful, my Spidey Senses tell me this Gal might not be what you think.
Why do you all assume that all these men want is sex? Remember, this is SPAIN, where prostitution is LEGAL. If all these men wanted was sex, they could go get a prostitute.
I myself am an American man engaged to be married to a Mexican woman. I've heard it all before; people telling me all I want is a "slave" or a "legal prostitute". No, what I wanted was a relationship but all the American women were too busy off screwing bad boys and getting pregnant, and then once they had a baby deciding "I'd better look for a nice guy."
Mexican women blow American women out of the water. A man who is looking for an honest relationship in the United States is called a "creep". A man looking for an honest relationship in Mexico is surrounded by women who won't leave him in peace! Not only that, but Mexican women accept that sex is a NEED for both genders. American women think that if a man wants sex, he's a pervert. I have never had a Mexican woman call me a pervert for desiring sex, probably because she desired it too.
I hear ya. If you go out to a bar it's a amazing how many girls there have babies at home. Dating websites are the same way, just crawling with single mothers. When I ask these single mothers where the father of their child is I hear "he's in prison" "he's with another girl" "he's a loser" and all I can think is "then why did your dumb@ss choose to be with him??". It's incredible how dumb American girls are.
Hey Joe, so you are looking for an honest relationship, but feel you are too good to waste you're time on a single Mother.Or perhaps you are not man enough to accept added responsibility for a piece of a**, oops, I meant honest relationship. Hmmm, every honorable Mexican I've ever met was Catholic and took their religion seriously which meant only abstinence for birth control, yet seems your chica somehow has managed to not become pregnant and therefore not worth your time, but also gives in to her natural desires (a trait you seem to find worthy) I doubt she will stay with you longer than getting her citizenship..at least I hope not-I have a feeling your not going to like that fat, squat and with a mustache look..and I don't think she will be treated very well.
Ah! Come on, guys! Get out of this country for once in your lives and see something of the rest of the world.
Small European villages and towns have been doing things like this for centuries. Before buses, it was wagons and carts. Why do you think small places like those have been around for 5000 years or more.
I think it was a slow News-day for someone at MSNBC, and they just picked-up a story about something that's as common as dirt elsewhere, and thought they could make a splash in the U.S. news with it.
I am not sure if this town needs Brides or Home Health Care Providers...
All-American Joe-I'm on your side the mexican women that I have met are genuinely good,decent,honorable,religi-ous,caring women that love their family as a matter of fact Mexican people as a whole are a kind and caring people .All of the Mexican women that I have met are better people than the average American woman who is either after your money or has a serious drug problem.I know some Mexican people have drug problems also but I don't think the percentage is as high.But my point is I'll take a Mexican as a friend over an American anyday.
Well, live in Mexico and be in heaven. Duh.
Tired is right. Peace of mind is more important than ethnicity. Some men may require four hundred divorces to learn this important lesson, namely that American women are sh*t; God help them, because reason no longer can.
Well are you just SO special...sexist PIG!
Sexist? More like indifferent, actually, a conclusion most men are inevitably reaching after having had enough of the entitled, selfish, ungrateful psychotic monarch that is the typical American woman.
Like I said, you are a self-centered PIG. No self respecting woman would want to be in the same room with you so you don't have to worry about being "victimized".
There are no self-respecting American women, just selfish, superficial prostitutes whose only power & worth reside in the hole under them. It is highly unlikely that I'll ever have any use for them.
We're ALL self respecting. That is why we want nothing to do with the likes of you!