Almeria welcomes back Arnie

ARNIE came back to Almeria last Sunday, September 28, to take his place on Almeria’s Paseo de las Estrellas (Walk of the Stars).

Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has made it back to Almeria for the first time since the filming of the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian catapulted the bodybuilder to stardom.

In the meantime, the ex-governor of California has become a household-name for his roles in films ranging from The Terminator series, Commando, and even Kindergarten Cops.

It is, however, the image of the bare-chested barbarian riding a horse through Almeria’s stark but striking scenery that has stayed with many film-fans over the last 30 years, and the Austrian star may well have had that scenery in mind when he said on Sunday that “There’s no place in the world like Almeria.”

Back to receive the prize ‘Almeria, tierra de cine’ (Almeria, land of cinema) in recognition for his long and illustrious career, Schwarzenegger found the time to leave his name engraved on the Paseo de las Estrellas: Spain’s Mecca for movie-lovers.

Accepting the award in characteristic good-humour, the actor said: “This is very important for me.

“It has been wonderful to come back and meet so many welcoming people: especially when we are looking for where to film the new Conan film.”

He joked that the timing of the award was very clever when production was looking for locations to shoot the new Conan film.

Schwarzenegger seemed genuinely happy to be back in Almeria, and can now add another award to his heaving trophy cabinet, which includes a Golden Globe and various Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia titles.