More About a Beautiful Guest House

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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