What's Happening. Positive Sp(a)in

Spanish Invention

2008-07-23T20:58:00.000+02:00

To put a positive spin on this is difficult but the ingenuity of it is fantastic. In discussing the biggest sporting b**tards the Guardian have pulled out this beauty from Spain. The full report can be found here with a myriad of other suggestions in the comment section

4) The Spanish Paralympic basketball team, Sydney 2000

They pretended to be mentally disabled so they could win the Paralympic gold medal. They pretended to be mentally disabled so they could win the Paralympic gold medal. You just can't go any lower than that. It was only once the team had won the learning-disabled gold that it was revealed that the players hadn't actually been disabled. Not only were 10 of the 12-man squad entirely learning-able, some of them were actually club basketball players. Their coach actually instructed them to dumb-down their play because the ease with which they were winning was making people suspicious. Even then they tore through the competition, notching up a 24-point win over Russia in the final. "There were two or three players who could have competed in our national basketball league," observed Australia's coach. "What they did with, and without, the ball was way above what any of our athletes could have achieved." Sensing that they were on the brink of being rumbled, the team were kitted out in false beards and spectacles to disguise them on their return to Spain.

Fantastic ruse don't you think?

More About a Beautiful Guest House

2008-07-19T08:35:00.001+02:00

My friend Amanda down in Cordoba has updated her website and it now looks even more appetising to visit. Have a look here Just a short drive from the beautiful white town of Iznajar, if you want a really good place to wind down with a great hostess then this could be the place for you.

Some Good Press Finally

2008-07-18T00:37:00.000+02:00

The Sunday Times this week has come up with a greta selection of the 22 best coastal restaurants in Spain. Do you agree with their choices? Two are in Valencia and I have had the privilege of going to both of them. One day I will get to El Bulli though. Check out the article here

Have a great day

The Drought Must Now Be Over

2008-06-09T09:23:00.002+02:00

Rain, rain and more rain. Seville's Easter Week and Feria, since Fallas in Valencia, most football matches from the last few weeks of the season. If you have seen any coverage of Spain on the TV or images in the press recently it was probably accompanied by raindrops falling on the reporters or players' heads.

A month and a half of rain in Valencia virtually every day and the images from around the rest of the country have convinced me that if the country complains about lack of water this summer then there is a conspiracy about. As the saying in Spain goes "En Abril aguas mil" (The equivalent is about April showers) What it doesn't mention is May and June too.. So right now I am off out to get myself wet before the summer heat arrives.

Valencia Tourist Numbers Growing

2008-06-05T11:36:00.000+02:00

In the first quarter of 2008, 1.6 million international tourists visited the Region of Valencia, according to the Encuesta de Movimientos Turísticos en Frontera (FRONTUR) survey of inbound tourist movements. This figure represents an 8.7% increase on the same period of the previous year, putting the Region of Valencia above the average growth figure registered for Spain as a whole (3.3%).

The survey reveals that in the first four months of the year, a total of 15.2 million international tourists arrived in Spain. The Region of Valencia was one of three regions that registered the highest growth in foreign tourism in comparison with last year, along with Madrid and the Canary Islands, and is now the fourth most visited region in Spain. This positive outcome is largely due to outstanding growth in tourism from the main country of origin, the United Kingdom, which increased 4.4%, as well as from secondary countries of origin, France and Scandinavia mainly, which currently represent 52% of all international visitors to the Region of Valencia.

April, the strongest month

April was the busiest month for destinations in the Region, with an increase of 4.2% in international tourism, a figure that contrasts sharply with the trends observed in other Spanish tourist destinations, where foreign tourism has decreased by 1%. In turn, these figures show that Valencia has been one of the least affected regions by the negative impact of this year's early Easter Break. In total, 483,000 tourists visited the Region of Valencia in April, 43.6% from the United Kingdom and 16% from France. These figures denote an increase in the number of visitors from these countries in comparison with April 2007: the British market has grown 1.2% and the French market has increased 17.4%. There was also a significant increase in visits from Italian and Scandinavian tourists, with increases of 16% and 54.9%, respectively. In April 2008, 4.7 million tourists arrived in Spain, 1% less than the previous year. However, when comparing the figures for March and April 2008 with the same two-month period the previous year, a 2.9% increase is observed in the influx of international tourists to Spain, which translates into 250,000 more arrivals.

Air travel and hotel accommodation

The vast majority of foreign tourists who visited the Region of Valencia came by plane. According to the survey, in the first quarter of 2008, 81.7% of all arrivals were by air. El Altet Airport, in the province of Alicante, was the main point of arrival for these visitors, accounting for 72% of all visits with a year-on-year increase of 30.9%. Manises Airport in Valencia also experienced growth of 27.1%. As for the rest of the country, close to 12 million tourists travelled to Spain by air in the first four months of 2008, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.9%. Road travel, on the other hand, experienced a decrease of 3.1% in the flow of tourists. In terms of accommodation, foreign tourists tended to opt for hotels, with an increase of 5.8% in comparison to the first quarter of 2007, which has led to a decrease in the figures for accommodation outside hotels. Over 10 million tourists stayed in Spanish hotels, representing 66.5% of the total. As for travel arrangements and organisation, in the period from January to April 2008, most foreign tourists preferred not to go on a package holiday (68%), whereas the remaining 31% did choose this mode. Both options, however, experienced year-on-year growth of 4.1% and 1.5%, respectively.

Fernando Torres Ad

2008-05-31T16:24:00.003+02:00

Well combining a couple of things dear to me, Liverpool and football of course, this video on you tube of the new Nike advert in Hungary is rather cool.
The effects of Torres, Benitez and the like at Liverpool has meant that many schools have changed to Spanish as the second language above French and there is a great appreciation for Spanish cuisine and culture in this year's European City of Culture. Check out the video.

Fancy Going Walking in Spain?

2008-05-19T09:48:00.004+02:00

Nothing majorly positive about this except to think that maybe you just can do many interesting and sometimes frankly stupid things in Spain. Thanks to Ben at www.notesfromspain.com for the heads up on this video. If you are of a nervous disposition you shouldn't really watch this.

It is the Camino del Rey in Malaga and if anybody fancies going there this summer for a walk get in touch. I will put yu in touch with a psychiatrist.

To Counter All the negativity

2008-04-27T15:09:00.002+02:00

Here is a post I have placed on our Valencia Property Blog I thought it appropriate for this blog too as Spain continues to be a great place to live despite the impending World Economic Recession if you wish to see it that way. However as you are reading a positivity blog you probably won't be thinking like that dear reader.

If you have been following developments recently in Spain in the UK press you could be mistaken for thinking that the sky was falling in as the country grinds to a halt. The British press loves giving grief to others when ignoring problems at home except when it is politically expedient to point out the problems. Look at the news in the UK last week about mortgage approvals being down 47% year on year and prices down 2.5% in a month and you have a much truer comparative picture with what is happening there. Here in Spain, much the same really but mortgage approvals have dropped about 20% despite the banks seriously cracking down on credit. Prices are dropping as many sellers were asking over the top prices. On our page we have some sellers who are British who need to take out money because of the huge increase in the cost of living in the UK. That allied to the weakness of the pound against the Euro has given them the opportunity to drop their prices to achieve a quicker sale.

So what about quality of life. Here we generally wake up in the morning knowing that it will probably be sunny and warm and knowing that when we use the water or gas for our morning shower, go to do the shopping or even fill the tank with petrol that, despite the fact that the Pound has depreciated against the Euro 15% recently, it is still much cheaper here to live a simple life. Public transport is cheaper and you can get about happily by metro, train or bus for pennies rather than pounds. It's not all good news though, electric is roughly equivalent to the UK and phones and mobiles cost more. Crime is lower, people are generally healthier and the World Health Organisation recommends Valencia and the surrounding area as one of the best places to live in the World from a health perspective.

According to the UK press the Brits over here are all bored as they do nothing all day except drink. Untrue again, many of our clients here work in multinationals, in the oil industry, in I.T, in international sales and development roles and they are given a choice of living anywhere as long as they have good communications. Believe it or not they choose Spain and more particularly Valencia as their base and have a thoroughly great time.

So what will your money get you currently? Evidently you have to spend fewer Euros to get a great property because sellers are more willing to accept offers whereas previously they would only sell at asking price. Factor in the need of the seller and you will generally get good discounts but don't set your heart on one single property as there are plenty on offer. Take a good look through the main site at www.valencia-property.com and see for yourself what you will get.

(The photos illustrating this article are of two houses at the following links, Almansa, La Pobla a typical Valencian Paella, an image of the current America's Cup holders Alinghi and the end of a rambling route by Olocau.) For more info get in touch on info@valencia-property.com

The Elections and The Guardian

2008-03-09T12:05:00.004+01:00

Spain has elections today against a backdrop of a typical negative campaign with the politicians taking pot shots at each other. Whoever wins not much will change but the prediction is for the government to get back in. Valencia is in a strange position because it is run on a regional level by the PP and obviously has to answer to the PSOE at national level. Whoever gets in has some great possibilities to build on and a few challenges too.

The Guardian newspaper has been running a series of articles this week comparing Spain and Italy as Italy too is on the verge of elections and if you read the articles you will find that Spain comes out very well. Have a good read and get back to us with your thoughts.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/series/rometomadrid

Have a Laugh

2008-02-07T16:32:00.000+01:00

If you know a little bit of Spanish and want to learn more I will give you a great site to hear a lot more in a minute but first have a look at the following video. Excellent mickey take of your first term of Spanish classes.

Anyway I have found a great site for learning Spanish through blogs and vlogs. Try it for yourself and sign up for their course. Spanish is a great language to know and not only because of the huge variety of swearing you can indulge in. The site is at http://www.notesinspanish.com/ Also check out their site in English at www.notesfromspain.com. Join the forum. It is rare to find a forum so friendly but have a look.ç

If You Want A Place to Stay Near Granada

2008-02-02T13:38:00.000+01:00

I have been contacted by someone I now consider a friend in Granada. She has a beautiful B+B Guest House in the mountains near Antequera in a small town called Iznájar. If you are in the area and want somewhere to stay or even if you want an idea about somewhere to stay then read on and check out the website link at the end.

Casa La Celada

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Subbética mountains, to the south of the ancient and historic capital of Córdoba, La Celada is a small but beautiful white "aldea", or satellite village of Iznájar - famed for overlooking Andalucía's largest freshwater lake.

Iznájar means "Happy Castle", and it is a truly classical White Village, or Pueblo Blanco, complete with the essential dozens of bars, narrow winding streets and festoons of colourful flowers and fiestas all year round.

One hour from the cities of Málaga, Granada and Córdoba, La Celada and Iznájar are ideally placed for all manner of holiday requirements. For the sports enthusiasts we are in cycling country, abseiling and canyoning terrain, we offer myriads of wonderful walks from the famous El Torcal in Antequera to any number of walks around the lake and surrounding carpet of ancient and beautiful Olive Groves. For the family centred holiday we have our own "beach" by the lake together with the famous Belen de Navidad made by Galleros out of pure chocolate, or Flor de Rute's spectacular spun sugar displays in Rute. Further afield are many water parks, wolf parks and zoos .. but for the children the safety of the streets is the biggest attraction - and the friendship that the local children automatically and wholeheartedly give.

And for those amongst us who simply wish to relax ... we offer here at Casa La Celada a beautifully appointed Guest House offering Bed and Breakfast, where we happily cater for Gluten, Wheat and Dairy Intolerances, a blissful retreat from the hectic lives we live ....

Suites with jacuzzi baths and four poster beds; twin rooms tastefully furnished; a huge and well supplied sitting room; and above all our roof terrace with hot tub, barbeque, sunbathing and shaded seating areas.

We look forward to welcoming people from all walks of life to our own Piece of Paradise.

Visit us at our website www.casa-la-celada.com

January Weather and Life

2008-01-19T13:05:00.000+01:00

I have a friend back in London at the moment on a visit and every time he sends an email he ends with the words "brass monkey weather" Here in Valencia I can see the sun at the moment. Yesterday was T-Shirt weather and when playing football at 5.30pm yesterday let us just say that we were sweating profusely.

Today again is a really sunny day and the kids are playing in the garden. The garden is full of trees with lemon trees in full producing mode and a lovely lawn that isn't too muddy to play on. This evening we will go out for a walk as the fiestas are on in the town and that of course in Valencia means Fireworks, bonfires and more fireworks.

Now when you hear about Spain in the news the picture painted is usually a black one these days but from a quality of life perspective I really wouldn't wish to be anywhere else at the moment.

Global Warming to be Addressed

2007-11-10T13:47:00.000+01:00

The recent joint Nobel Prize winners the IPCC, are holding their annual meeting in Valencia this week from the 12th-17th of November so expect traffic jams and lots of extra security.
They are preparing to release their annual report which will point out areas where urgent action needs to be taken. Why is this positive? Well, they are seen to be doing something and Valencia has been chosen for this major event.

You Know You Have Lived in Spain When...

2007-11-03T12:26:00.000+01:00

Thought it would be good to put a few light hearted things on here. I particularly like 3, 20, 28, 38 and the last one.

This list comes from a great group on Facebook. Here Join the group.

1) You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is perfectly acceptable. Especially at lunch time.

2) You can't get over how early bars & clubs shut back home - surely they're shutting just as you should be going out?

3) You aren't just surprised that the plumber/decorator has turned up on time, you're surprised he turned up at all.

4) You've been part of a botellon.

5) You think it's fine to comment on everyone's appearance.

6) Not giving every new acquaintance dos besos seems so rude.

7) You're shocked by people getting their legs out at the first hint of sun - surely they should wait until at least late June?

8) On msn you sometimes type 'jajaja' instead of 'hahaha'

9) You think the precious aceite is a vital part of every meal. And don't understand how anyone could think olive oil on toast is weird.

10) You're amazed when TV ad breaks last less than half an hour, especially right before the end of films.

11) You forget to say please when asking for things - you implied it in your tone of voice, right?

12) You love the phenomenon of giving 'toques' - but hate explaining it in English

14) You don't see sunflower seeds as a healthy snack - they're just what all the cool kids eat.

15) You know what a pijo is and how to spot one.

16) Every sentence you speak contains at least one of these words: 'bueno,' 'coño,' 'vale,' 'venga,' 'pues nada'...

17) You know what 'resaca' means. And you probably had one at least once a week when you lived in Spain.

18) You know how to eat boquerones.

19) A bull's head on the wall of a bar isn't a talking point for you, it's just a part of the decor.

20) You eat lunch after 2pm & would never even think of having your evening meal before 9.

21) You know that after 2pm there's no point in going shopping, you might as well just have a siesta until 5 when the shops re-open.

22) If anyone insults your mother, they better watch out...

23) You know how to change a bombona. And if you don't, you were either lazy or lucky enough to live somewhere nice.

24) It's not rude to answer the intercom to your flat by asking 'Quien?' (or maybe that was just my flatmate...)

25) You don't accept beer that's anything less than ice-cold.

26) The fact that all the male (or female) members of a family have the same first name doesn't surprise you.

27) The sound of mopeds in the background is the soundtrack to your life.

28) You know that the mullet didn't just happen in the 80s. It is alive and well in Spain.

29) You know the differenc between cojones and cajones, tener calor and estar caliente, bacalao and bakalao, pollo and polla...and maybe you learned the differences the hard way!

30) On a Sunday morning, you have breakfast before going to bed, not after you get up.

31) You don't see anything wrong with having a couple of beers in the morning if you feel like it.

32) Floors in bars are an ideal dumping ground for your colillas, servilletas etc. Why use a bin?!

33) You see clapping as an art form, not just a way to express approval.

34) You know ensaladilla rusa has nothing to do with Russia.

35) When you burst out laughing every time you see a Mitsubishi Pajero (thanks Stuart Line for reminding me of that one!)

36) You have friends named Jesus, Jose Maria, Maria Jose, Angel, maybe even Inmaculada Concepcion...

37) You know that 'ahora' doesn't really mean now. Hasta ahora, ahora vuelvo...etc

38)When you make arrangements to meet friends at 3, the first person turns up at 3.15...if you're lucky!

39) Central heating is most definitely a foreign concept. In winter, you just huddle around the heater under the table & pull the blanket up over your knees...and sleep with about 5 blankets on your bed!

40) Most women under 30 own a pair of those attractive 'Aladdin' style trousers with the crotch around the knees (you know what I mean!)

41) Aceite de oliva is 'muy sano', of course. So you help yourself to a bit more.

42)When women think that clear bra straps are in fact invisible.

43) When it's totally normal for every kitchen to have a deep-fat fryer but no kettle.

44) Te cagas en la leche....

45) To avoid that cheap Eristoff vodka you have to ask for 'un esmirnoff'

46) When you know what a guiri is / have been called one

47) When you add 'super' in front of any adjective for emphasis

48) When it's completely normal for men and women to have at least one facial piercing

49) When you pay for something that's, say, 8.50, you always ask, 'Quieres el cincuenta?'

50) Blonde girls actually start to think their name is 'rubia'

51) When you accept that paying with a 50 euro note is going to get you a dirty look if you're buying something that costs less than 40 euros

52) If something is great, it's 'de puta madre'

53) You can eat up to 5 times a day - first breakfast, 2nd breakfast around 11.30, almuerzo, merienda, cena

The Real Truth About the Market

2007-10-28T00:59:00.001+02:00

If you believed all the hype about what is happening in the Spanish property market then you would be looking for the blood letting everywhere. While it is true that the market has slowed considerably compared with five years ago, we at Valencia Property said for many years, rises year on year of over 20% in property values were not sustainable. However bear in mind the following. Foreign investment in Spain in the first six months of 2007 went up by 30% compared with the same period last year.

My explanation is that Russian money is flowing into the country and all of the immigrants from South America and Eastern Europe are now starting to settle into jobs here and want to buy property. Short term prices may start to fall but long term the future looks pretty stable due to the increasing immigration and disparity between demand in large cities and availability. It is also a good time to rent out properties that you may have bought some time ago as demand is growing because higher interest rates are moving some people out of the possibility of buying. Expect rates to start dropping next year.

Levante Win A Trophy

2007-10-01T11:19:00.000+02:00

Levante are the other team in Valencia. The one supported by thos living in the port and beach areas. They do not have a great history but now their only ever trophy is to be remembered. Could this be a sign that finally the Spanish are coming to terms with the stupidity of the divisions caused by the Civil War from 1936-9? Hopefully it is.

The article is taken from the Guardian newspaper and the url is here.

Levante pick up football trophy - 70 years on

Levante sit bottom of the Spanish football league, with a single point, and were thrashed 4-1 by Barcelona on Saturday. But Levante will be picking up one trophy this year - even if it is 70 years overdue. The Spanish parliament has voted to recognise Levante's victory in the Republican Cup final of July 18 1937, a game that had long been wiped from the official records.

In 1937 Spain was divided; the fascist forces of Franco occupied just over half of the country, while the republicans were besieged on the other side. Football still had its place, and the eight clubs on the republican side organised their own league, with the four top-placed teams competing for the Republican Cup, an offshoot of the King's Cup, the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup. That year Barcelona, having won the league, went on a tour of the US and Mexico to raise money for the republic, allowing fifth-placed Levante to take their place in the cup. Levante went on to beat their cross-town rivals Valencia 1-0 to lift the only trophy the club has ever won.

But Franco's regime rejected the republican league and cup, removing all mention of Levante's victory from the record books. The only evidence of Levante's win comes from newspaper reports and their fans' memories. One fan in particular was desperate to get the history books rewritten. Xavier Rius appealed to the Spanish football federation to reinstate their victory, but initially met with little success. He went to the Valencian MP Isaura Navarro of the leftwing IU-IVC, who took the issue to parliament. Success was achieved last week, with the help of a rebellious centre-right People's party MP. Parliament approved a call for the football federation to recognise the Republican Cup. Seventy years on, Levante's long-suffering fans can finally celebrate their one trophy.

A Positive Turn On Immigration

2007-08-25T19:47:00.000+02:00

The Spanish secretary of state for EU affairs, Alberto Navarro, claims that over the last six years Spain has become the second emigration destination country in the world, after the US.
He said there are some five million legal migrants living in Spain, more than half of whom are from EU countries. Two million are from Latin America and the rest are largely from North Africa and Eastern Europe. He added that it is estimated there are a further 700,000 people who are living in Spain illegally.
He did not say how many immigrants are only here on a temporary basis, on their way to a third country.
“It is this government’s opinion that immigrants should accept and assume the culture and traditions of the host country and I consider immigration to be a wholly positive phenomenon,” he said.
“Statistics show that 50% of Spain’s economic growth can be attributed to the effects of immigration and half of all jobs being created here are being taken up by immigrants. Every year 600,000 immigrants join our labour force.”

All Eyes On Valencia

2007-08-16T15:42:00.000+02:00

A great article taken from the San Francisco Chronicle. The original can be viewed here.

All eyes are on Valencia, Spain, vibrantly transformed by native architect Santiago Calatrava's City of Arts and Sciences. It's an extraordinary complex of futuristic buildings surrounded by shimmering water and sweeping green spaces.

Architect Frank Gehry put Spain's northern port city of Bilbao on the map when his curvaceous Guggenheim Bilbao Museum opened 10 years ago. Valencia's newfound panache extends to its port, elegantly rejuvenated to coincide with the America's Cup competition, which the city hosted in June. Befitting the jet-set yachting event, the seafront has chic restaurants, glittery hotels and broad promenades of palm trees and lavish flower beds.

Yet long before the media began trumpeting the America's Cup, Valencia's Turia Gardens attracted international attention. The project goes back to 1957, when floodwaters devastated the Ciutat Vella, the historic district, and threw the province into chaos. In an effort to avoid another such deluge, the government diverted the Turia River. Rather than turn the dry riverbed into a highway, a proposal rejected by Valencia's residents, the city made it into a public "green zone."

Architect Ricardo Bofill led the gardens' planning during the 1980s. Bofill imagined a greensward meandering through Valencia toward the sea. The former dry riverbed - a 105-square-mile expanse - comprises sports facilities, bike paths, exercise stations and lush gardens. Visitors can stroll eastward around the heart of old Valencia's serpentine streets and plazas, rich with Baroque, Romanesque, Gothic and Islamic architecture.

Here, running parallel to the riverbed, is the 19th century Alameda, a leafy, Moorish-inspired walkway. In contrast, a series of evocative bridges define the newly landscaped Turia spaces, unfolding as you amble toward the site of the City of Arts and Sciences.

Approaching Exposition Bridge, you'll observe its startlingly contemporary white-bowed form, playing off the tactile stone wall of the riverbed, resonant of centuries past. The iconic span, designed by Calatrava in 1995, is affectionately referred to as "the comb" by locals.

The old wall continues to embrace the walkway with a view to Flower Bridge. A popular pedestrian crossing constructed in 2002, its masses of colorful blooms are replanted seasonally.

Bofill's modernist aesthetic characterizes the Turia area, linking the 16th century Bridge of the Sea, where a spacious, circular pool below evokes the river, to the Bridge of the Guardian Angel.

Bofill laid out the parcel in a symmetrical, rectilinear arrangement, softening the straight lines with a lush green oasis that incorporates groves of orange trees with an orderly progression of fountains set into the ground and enlivened by red-tinted walls.

The fountains serve as a gateway to Valencia's Palace of Music, where concrete colonnades articulate the palace's formal courtyards. Characterized by olive trees, emerald lawns and elaborately patterned carpet bedding, the popular spot is animated by a vast reflecting pool with dancing water jets synchronized with music from the concert hall.

The mirror image of Bofill's design is restated in the path beyond, its soothing geometry leading directly to the recently completed urban complex of the City of Arts and Sciences.

The gleaming white buildings of glass, steel and concrete have risen in a formerly depressed industrial area near the sea.

Exhibitions and performances take place in the arts center, science museum, oceanographic park (designed by Felix Candela) and combined planetarium, IMAX theater and Laserium. The vast, undulating grounds are densely planted with swathes of fragrant herbs and trees, which will braid together as they reach maturity.

This mecca of art and technology has some magical effects. One concept involves pencil cypresses breaking the surface of the pale blue water encircling L'Hemisferic, the planetarium building inspired by the human eye.

The domed entry pavilion, L'Umbracle, stands atop the parking garage. Designed as a public space, the innovative open-air structure captures the imagination with its clarity of light, illuminating allees of palm trees, ornamental vines and aromatic specimens.

Adding to the impact, Calatrava created emphatic sculptural forms sheathed in mosaics to house elevators and mask air-conditioning units.

The scope of the Turia is growing. Recent additions include the 86-acre Cabecera Park at the western boundary, which formally connects the diverted river to its former site. The parkland's reconfigured terrain gives rise to naturalistic hills and a lake, threaded with winding paths culminating in a series of overlooks.

Plantings emulate a Mediterranean pinewood and natural wetland habitat, enhanced by enclaves of exotic trees. And work goes forward on the Bioparc, a natural zoo reserve adjoining Cabecera.

A few hours south of Barcelona, perched on the Mediterranean coast, Valencia is drawing garden lovers to neighborhoods vivified by 21st century landscapes.

More secret gardens both old and new await. The achingly romantic Monforte Gardens hold sway in the city center and are not to be missed. A classical, mid-19th century gem encompassing magnificent statuary, murmuring fountains and a pool shaped like a water lily, its garden rooms are given form by clipped hedging, while a canopy of cypresses, laurels and pines offers a haven from the sun.

Horse Racing on Sand. Red Rum all over again

2007-08-07T22:57:00.000+02:00

Hi Again and welcome to a story of tourism that is positive because it is so unusual, and no I don't mean the Tomatina, that is next week in Buñol. Thanks to Typically Spanish for the story.

Along the shore of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, these are the oldest official horse races in Spain

The oldest officially-regulated horse race which still exists in Spain today was held on the beach in 1845 in one of the three towns of Cádiz province which, together with Jerez de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa María, make up the world-famous sherry triangle: Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Lying in the northwest of Cádiz province, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Sanlúcar de Barrameda has a long history which dates back to pre-Roman times. It was later the site of a defensive fort during the Moorish occupation, and, once retaken by the Castilian monarchy, was first a major trading port and then one of the points of departure for the conquistadores after the discovery of the New World.
Christopher Columbus set sail from Sanlúcar on his third voyage in 1498. Another historical departure came in 1519, when the explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, set sail with 270 men on his attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

According to tradition, the Carreras de Caballos owe their origins to the informal races which used to take place between the owners of the working horses which were used to transport fish from the former port of Bajo de Guía to the local markets and other nearby towns.

The first race was organised by an association which was set up specifically to promote the Andalucía breed of horse, the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It has been held almost without interruption ever since, and now straddles the festivities held in honour of the town’s patron saint, Nuestra Señora de la Caridad Coronada.

This annual race on the flat southern sands of this part of Andalucía is today renowned all over the world, and has been classed as International Tourism Interest since 1997. The King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, is Honorary President of the Racing Club.

The races take place every August, and are spread over two separate three-day events.
At low-tide at the mouth of the Guadlquivir River, just as the sun is setting, and with the marshes of the Doñana National Park as the backdrop across the other side of the river.

The racehorses run for distances ranging between 1.2 and 2 kilometres, while a crowd of thousands watches jockeys from Spain and elsewhere in Europe resplendent in their racing colours as the horses’ hooves pound across the wet sands. There is official betting, with an unofficial system run by children on the side, and total prize money running into the millions.

The largest purse is awarded during the last weekend of the races, for the first horse to cross the line in the two kilometre stretch in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Sanlúcar.

Spanish farmers modernize water control

2007-08-05T22:36:00.000+02:00

Fantastic Article in a newspaper in South Carolina, The State, about how Spanish farmers are leaving behind the traditional Moorish irrigation methods.

VALENCIA, Spain --
The Moorish invaders who once ruled Spain brought with them a clever irrigation system that helped turn arid land into verdant fields. A millennium later it is still largely in use, and Spain remains one of Europe's breadbaskets.

But after years of chronic drought coupled with vastly increased water use, not to mention worrying climatic change, farm groups have realized it's high time for change.

Spain's federation of irrigators, known as Fenacore, is promoting an initiative to computerize Spain's irrigation system by 2010, connecting some 500,000 farmers to an irrigation network headquartered outside Madrid.

The scheme should allow valuable water to be monitored and controlled by computer, drop by precious drop.

"We're jumping from the 13th century to the 21st century," said Juan Valero, Fenacore's secretary general.

While computer-assisted irrigation is not new, Fenacore believes no other country is organizing it at a national level. So far 200,000 farmers have signed up for the project, Valero said.

"The only way to manage water is to measure how much enters each channel, and computer technology is the best way to do this," he said.

Farmers are being encouraged to move away from outdated, wasteful Moorish-style flood irrigation systems toward drip and dispersion irrigation. They are also asked to lay highly efficient telecommunications cables alongside main water conduits so that the irrigation grid can be monitored from a national computer center.

"In almost half of Spain, the irrigation technique used is flooding, which uses up to three or four times more than the water that is necessary," Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said recently.

Fenacore estimates computerized irrigation will mean up to 20 percent water savings.

Spanish scientists use maths to cure terminal liver cancer

2007-08-01T20:00:00.000+02:00

This is a story that appeared in 2005. Steps have been taken since but it is quite fascinating.

By using a mathematical formula designed to strengthen the immune system, a team of scientists in Spain have succeeded in curing a patient who was in the last stage of terminal liver cancer.

The team of researchers from the Complutense University in Madrid believe that this discovery could open new doors for the treatment of solid cancerous tumours.

The new treatment was developed in 1998 by a team led by Antonio Bru, a physicist who bases his theory on the idea that the evolution of solid tumors depends on a mathematical equation which defines their biological growth. An equation is then obtained in the laboratory and used to design a therapy to destroy the tumor.

The scientists, who have carried out successful tests on mice over the past few years, announced yesterday that the only human experiment they have carried out so far has been a complete success.

Apparantly the patient was suffering from liver cancer which had been diagnosed by his doctors as terminal and in its final stage. The scientists used a mathematical formula to create a treatment based on neutrofiles that strengthened the patient's immune system. The patient responded well to the treatment immediately and has since made a total recovery and has returned to work.

The treatment produces no side effects.The Spanish scientists believe that their theory could be applied to treat all kinds of solid tumors although they will need to carry out many more tests on human patients before they can be sure.

Closed for Holidays

2007-07-12T10:41:00.001+02:00

We are closed from today until the 26th of this month for holidays. If you need to get in touch, want to offer up an article for consideration or anything else then feel free to get in touch on grahunt@gmail.com. There may be a delay in replying but anything urgent will be answered asap. Leave email address and phone number to contact.

Valencia From Above

2007-07-04T22:50:00.000+02:00

Fancy a look at what Valencia has to offer from above. Well this is just a lovely compilation.

Spain vs India

2007-06-29T23:39:00.000+02:00

I just love this. We are always reminded that driving in Spain is like taking your life in your hands. Well recently with the new points licence apparently driving has become a lot safer despite the police being rather zealous in their approach to the new law. Deaths, accidents and cautions are all down and apparently speeding is drastically down.

However even without the new laws driving in Spain will never be like driving in India and that is the positive news story for today. Enjoy the video.

Inspiration and Favourite Places

2007-06-29T00:21:00.000+02:00

My life in Spain is differentiated into two different parts. Firstly, the wet North and Asturias, one of the most beautiful areas in the World (In my very humble opinion). Then down to the Mediterranean lifestyle of Valencia, a fantastic place to live and work. The landscapes are different, the people are different and the lifestyles are different.

However there are also other places in Spain that are special to me and here I have included some photos of the most impressive places I have been to in Spain, for whatever reason, nostalgia, wow factor or simply put pure beauty.

Have a good look. If you have any questions about any of the places or would like to know where they are then get in touch with me on devanio66@gmail.com