Spain is getting battered at the moment by everything but it still remains a marvellous country to live in or to aspire to live in. Maybe what it needs is a little self belief and confidence rather than the constant navel gazing and inferiority complex that seems so prevalent. This video has got nothing to do with Spain but it shows what a bit of self belief can do.
Believe In Yourself - video powered by Metacafe
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Friday, 30 January 2009
Barter with Bart. New Concept for Getting Stuff for Free in Spain
Bartering is the age-old practice of swapping or trading a skill or item you have with someone else for something you want or need. Pete Clarke has brought this concept into the 21st Century with a clever website www.barterwithbart.com. This takes the concept of bartering in Spain to the next level and enables people to exchange their skills and time for things they really need.
Pete identified that the main problem with the traditional barter was finding someone who both wanted what you were offering and had something you needed. For this reason, he has established a currency called Barts which you can earn for providing your service to someone and then “spend” with another person on the site who has something you need. This credit system makes the bartering a lot easier and more rewarding for the individuals and businesses taking part.
If you have a skill, service, time or product you can offer, then you can benefit from www.barterwithbart.com. For example; Hotel owners could barter a few spare rooms, Mechanics could offer their hours, Baby-sitters could get new clients, Teachers could offer their skills, Beauticians or Hairdressers could pledge treatments, Gardeners could get rid of excess produce or Decorators could paint a room in exchange for Barts. In return, they can use these credits to trade with other professionals or individuals who have something they are looking for.
Be part of this online bartering community and swap your skills and time for something you need. Register at www.barterwithbart.com; search for what you need close to where you live, visit the product exchange and let the other members know what you can offer. Bartering will minimise your outlay, allow you to make new contacts and take advantage of the skills and products on offer in these difficult times. www.barterwithbart.com will be launching in Spain on February 1st 2009 visit today to see what you could get through bartering.
Pete identified that the main problem with the traditional barter was finding someone who both wanted what you were offering and had something you needed. For this reason, he has established a currency called Barts which you can earn for providing your service to someone and then “spend” with another person on the site who has something you need. This credit system makes the bartering a lot easier and more rewarding for the individuals and businesses taking part.
If you have a skill, service, time or product you can offer, then you can benefit from www.barterwithbart.com. For example; Hotel owners could barter a few spare rooms, Mechanics could offer their hours, Baby-sitters could get new clients, Teachers could offer their skills, Beauticians or Hairdressers could pledge treatments, Gardeners could get rid of excess produce or Decorators could paint a room in exchange for Barts. In return, they can use these credits to trade with other professionals or individuals who have something they are looking for.
Be part of this online bartering community and swap your skills and time for something you need. Register at www.barterwithbart.com; search for what you need close to where you live, visit the product exchange and let the other members know what you can offer. Bartering will minimise your outlay, allow you to make new contacts and take advantage of the skills and products on offer in these difficult times. www.barterwithbart.com will be launching in Spain on February 1st 2009 visit today to see what you could get through bartering.
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Hotel Molino Santo in Ronda
A friend of mine has just won a prestigious award for his fantastic hotel in Andalucia. See what Trip Advisor has to say about this extraordinary hotel below.
"Hotel Molino del Santo has been chosen as a Best Hidden Gems Hotel (Europe) and a Best Bargain Hotel (World) by TripAdvisor® in its 2009 Travellers' Choice® awards. Now in its seventh year, the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards honour the world's best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best - real travellers.
Hotel Molino del Santo Managers and owners, Andy Chapell and Pauline Elkin, said, "These are amazing accolades for us and our brilliant staff. We don't know how many hotels are listed on Trip Advisor but to be recognised in one category as amongst the best in Europe and in the other as amongst the best in the World is excellent.
It makes our new season even more exciting and helps to consolidate our position as the leading rural hotel in the Ronda area. Our bookings for 2009 are already very good and this will help to ensure a great season for us. We are so grateful to our guests for their fantastic support"
Unlike any other hotel awards programmes in the world, TripAdvisor® Travellers' Choice® winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews and opinions about hotels on tripadvisor.com™ and content from across the web.
"TripAdvisor travellers always appreciate great values, and 2009 is certainly no exception. The 2009 Travellers' Choice awards highlight more bargain properties than ever before with 190, nearly five times as many as last year," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. "Millions of real travellers worldwide have helped identify these outstanding hotels, recognized for their exceptional accommodation, service, and value."
Contact Details
info@molinodelsanto.com
Tel 952 16 71 51 Fax 952 16 73 27
For reviews on Hotel Molino del Santo, go to this link
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Valencia and New York
The direct link from the Big Apple so that New Yorkers can come and experience Valencia is now official. From June there will be four flights a week coming into and obviously going out of Valencia direct to JFK with Delta Airlines. Prices start at 383 Euros so all of you Americans out there who wish to visit a beautiful Mediterranean city relatively cheap can now do so. (Oh and Valencians can go to New York for the weekend and go shopping)
Saturday, 17 January 2009
The 33rd America's Cup Looks Like Coming Back to Valencia
There have been debates, arguments and my dad is bigger than your dad moments but finally it looks as if an agreement is imminent for the 3rd America's Cup to take place in 2010 in Valencia with Challenger Races in 2009. There are many teams involved in the negotiations which can only be good news for Valencia's tourist prospects for the next two years and also for the property rental market too.
The teams currently discussing the way forward are Alinghi, the Holders (SUI), Desafío Español (ESP), Shosholoza (RSA), Team Origin (GBR), Team New Zealand (NZL), DCYC (GER), Green Comm Challenge (ITA), Ayre Challenge (ESP), Victory Challenge (SWE), Argo Challenge (ITA), Mascalzone Latino (ITA), Team French Spirit (FRA), Luna Rossa (ITA), Russian Challenge (RUS), Italia (ITA), K-Challenge (FRA), Greek Challenge (GRE) and Dabliu Sail Project (ITA).
I find it difficult to believe that there will be five Italian challengers but you never know.
The teams currently discussing the way forward are Alinghi, the Holders (SUI), Desafío Español (ESP), Shosholoza (RSA), Team Origin (GBR), Team New Zealand (NZL), DCYC (GER), Green Comm Challenge (ITA), Ayre Challenge (ESP), Victory Challenge (SWE), Argo Challenge (ITA), Mascalzone Latino (ITA), Team French Spirit (FRA), Luna Rossa (ITA), Russian Challenge (RUS), Italia (ITA), K-Challenge (FRA), Greek Challenge (GRE) and Dabliu Sail Project (ITA).
I find it difficult to believe that there will be five Italian challengers but you never know.
Friday, 26 December 2008
Torrevieja Good News
Now Torrevieja is not in my area but as Liverpool Veterans played there recently here is their new initiative which looks really cool. This is how football clubs in Spain can move forward
"The presentation on Tuesday evening at the Torrevieja Theatre was spectacular to say the least. The whole project should make Torrevieja the envy of the whole country if not Europe in the sporting field. Apart from the 10,000 all-covered all-seating football stadium, 2 open air swimming pools will be built, a covered Ice rink, rugby pitch, another football pitch, hockey park, updated athletics stadium, 7 tennis courts including a 700 seater show-court, a fully operational residential sports hotel incorporating medical, physio and recovery facilities. The list and plans are truly staggering.
It was explained that all finances are in place and that work will be done in stages and will start almost immediately. Apart from the sports side of things, the Friday market will be moved to the area in front of the aqua park which was were the sand pitches were. This space will also be used to events and concerts with a capacity of 50,000. The Fun Fair down by the port area will also be permanently based here. A superb initiative which will no doubt give employment to hundreds of people in the town and more importantly, give FC Torrevieja the chance to became a big Club in the future."
"The presentation on Tuesday evening at the Torrevieja Theatre was spectacular to say the least. The whole project should make Torrevieja the envy of the whole country if not Europe in the sporting field. Apart from the 10,000 all-covered all-seating football stadium, 2 open air swimming pools will be built, a covered Ice rink, rugby pitch, another football pitch, hockey park, updated athletics stadium, 7 tennis courts including a 700 seater show-court, a fully operational residential sports hotel incorporating medical, physio and recovery facilities. The list and plans are truly staggering.
It was explained that all finances are in place and that work will be done in stages and will start almost immediately. Apart from the sports side of things, the Friday market will be moved to the area in front of the aqua park which was were the sand pitches were. This space will also be used to events and concerts with a capacity of 50,000. The Fun Fair down by the port area will also be permanently based here. A superb initiative which will no doubt give employment to hundreds of people in the town and more importantly, give FC Torrevieja the chance to became a big Club in the future."
Thursday, 18 December 2008
"Taking the Heat" Nick Snelling's take on life in Spain
A few weeks ago we had a meetup in Valencia of a bunch of ecademists and Nick Snelling turned up to regale us all with his impressions of the current situation in Spain.
Now Nick gave me a copy of his book Taking The Heat and the next day I broke my collarbone and as a result holding a book and turning pages has been, let us say, a challenge. So I finally finished it a couple of days ago and I have to say it does exactly what it says on the tin. A really funny account of an incompetent's life at Casa Desolada. Now to all of us who went to the dinner, Nick didn't seem too useless, I think his own character assassination may well be ever so slightly exagerrated, but exaggerating to make a point has always been a favourite of mine, so these bite sized chunks of incompetence in the full glare of Spanish life are great fun and if you want a stocking filler this Xmas Amazon have it here
Now Nick gave me a copy of his book Taking The Heat and the next day I broke my collarbone and as a result holding a book and turning pages has been, let us say, a challenge. So I finally finished it a couple of days ago and I have to say it does exactly what it says on the tin. A really funny account of an incompetent's life at Casa Desolada. Now to all of us who went to the dinner, Nick didn't seem too useless, I think his own character assassination may well be ever so slightly exagerrated, but exaggerating to make a point has always been a favourite of mine, so these bite sized chunks of incompetence in the full glare of Spanish life are great fun and if you want a stocking filler this Xmas Amazon have it here
Guide2Valencia going well
My friends John and Chris from PeekProp have started a new website in the Guide2 series. Their focus on Valencia is full of good news today including IKEA and the announcement of two other shopping developments. Check out their page here. And look at the news as it's all good
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
50th Post so IKEA time again
IKEA has been umming and ahhing for a long time now. The Valencian regional government has been doing the same as they are worried about the giant Swedish multinational putting greater pressure on Valencian furniture manufacturers, of which there are lots. Finally, it seems that IKEA has plumped for the new Alfafar Parc area to the south of Valencia. Completion will be sometime in 2010 apparently and the huge park already has 91% of its surface area agreed on for new outlets, mostly furniture, that will create 3900 new jobs. More good news from Valencia.
Monday, 8 December 2008
Top Sevens
Spain Expat is a very informative and hugely complete site about living in Spain. It has a series of Top 7`s of which the link here goes to the top seven Spanish contributions to the World. An emphasis on culture so have a look and then search through the site to find out more info. It's good.
Just to give you a taster
1. Pedro Almodóvar
2. The Spanish language
3. Zara
4. Pablo Picasso
5. Don Quixote
6. The Alliance of Civilizations
7. Sherry
If you crave to know more about the quixotic filmmaker or any others follow the link above. If you have any other suggestions then make them known here in replies.
Just to give you a taster
1. Pedro Almodóvar
2. The Spanish language
3. Zara
4. Pablo Picasso
5. Don Quixote
6. The Alliance of Civilizations
7. Sherry
If you crave to know more about the quixotic filmmaker or any others follow the link above. If you have any other suggestions then make them known here in replies.
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