Things of huge interest to some

The annual autumn market brings 150 artisans and entertainment to the streets of Cartagena.

Cartagena is hosting its annual autumn mediaeval market, filling the streets of the old quarter of the city with artisan crafts, music, entertainment and of course, lots of food.

This isn´t quite the biggest in the region as Caravaca de la Cruz has slightly more stands, but is certainly the most atmospheric and tends to attract a better mix of artisans, bringing in traders from other parts of Spain and across into the Pyrenees.

This year the market has been spread out more than in previous editions to avoid some of the crush which inevitably occurs during this popular event and more entertainments are on offer, with a total of 150 stalls selling a wide variety of craft goods. the main stalls centred around Plaza de la Merced, Calle del Duque, Plaza San Ginés, Plaza del Risueño, San Antonio el Pobre, Plaza San Francisco, Calle Cuatro Santos and Calle Palas.

Opening Times:
Thursday 28th November 11am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 10pm
Friday 29th November 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 10pm
Saturday 30th November 11am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 10.30pm
Sunday 1st December 11am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 10pm

Read more at  Murcia Today 
 

Thousands told their homes were built illegally after they bought them

'Barmy' planning rules and topsy-turvy laws leave residents in limbo. 

Concrete jungles left behind as construction stops mid-development

The 200 people sitting in the cafe in the square of  the Spanish town of Albox, Andalucia, make for unlikely protesters.

All are British expats who are smartly dressed and polite. They don’t shout; they even put their placards to one side to hold a Christmas raffle for a hamper of Spanish food. If it weren’t for the bright sunshine and orange trees lining the Plaza Major, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the Home Counties.

These protesters have come from miles around to discuss the next stage in their fight against the Spanish authorities which want to demolish their villas.

The majority have spent their life-savings on properties which, unbeknown to them at the time of purchase, were built illegally. 

The previous month, bulldozers razed the home of John and Jan Brooks, a British couple who lived in the nearby village of Cantoria. Now, every person at the meeting fears their dream home will suffer the same fate.

One woman in her 60s sums up the mood. "What the authorities are doing to us is monstrous,’ she says. ‘It’s like living in a dictatorship. We will not be walked over or allow our concerns to be swept under the carpet. We are determined to fight this situation until there is no breath left in our bodies".

Continue reading article in ... Daily Mail

EAT CHEAP, get a new hairdo, stock up on British goodies, buy some Euros or just soak up the atmosphere!

The Indoor Market in Benidorm suffered a great deal when the financial dip hit us way back in 2009.  However, it is all good these days at the famous market in the centre of the Rincon de Loix in Benidorm!  Having ridden the storm pretty well the retail outlets are once again almost full with only a handful of empty units remaining.

You really notice the difference in the market of today compared to only a few years ago. With few empty units (just 6) the variety for shoppers is now greater than ever.  If you have not popped over to the market for a browse on recent visits, you are certainly in for a surprise.

There are more cafés today with more seating areas where you can rest for a while and enjoy a cheap brunch or very late breakfast from just a couple of Euros.  As has been the case for many years, the Indoor Market is a mix of local Spanish stall holders and a large number of British units offering all manner of products from tasty homemade Sausage Rolls to branded toiletries that we recognise!  You could be forgiven for thinking that you are in a local market in Stockport rather than sunny Spain.

There are some long established stall holders who have been trading for many years.  These include Sheila´s Money Exchange (no rip off fees) for good rates on your Euros and for those on a self-catering holiday there are two superb family Butchers who make fresh meatballs, fresh burgers and sell best quality meats.

Last Friday afternoon the people were certainly arriving in their hundreds, the market was busy with serious buyers and lots of folks browsing.  The old Indoor Market is certainly back on top where it belongs and is a must visit place whilst in Benidorm.  Whatever you are looking for or when you simply cannot find something in town chances are the Indoor Market will have it in stock!  Enjoy a few fun hours of happy shopping at the Indoor Market of visit  http://www.benidormindoormarket.com  for details.

Opening times are Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 15:00 closed Sunday.

Source:  RTN

Seen in a forum local to Torrevieja ...

"I saw this recent article in my Fiscal Representatives magazine (August 2013) about a new succession law that could define who actually inherits property in Spain.

As I understand from the article and if I am correct, I don't think it affects non-residents, as long as we already have a Spanish Will (including a Will in our home-country).

However, it could be of interest to Residents in Spain to ensure that they have the correct Wills in place."

My friend, Cathy Reynold's owns Cathy's Curiosity Corner in Benijofar, which is a superb Aladdin's cave of the best & often unusual second hand furniture & bric a brac at wonderfully realistic prices compared with most, well worth a visit. 

The shop is up a side street off the main road through Benijofar alongside the Citreon garage/sales. As you approach the town from Quesada side look for the garage on your right as you enter the town then turn right at the side of it. Cathy's shop is a few metres along the street, on your left on the corner & parking there is easy. Address is Calle La Rambla 5

Cathy's Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/CathysCuriosityCorner?ref=ts&fref=ts

The shop opening hours are Mon to Fri 10-6, Sat 12-6  Tel 622 899 906

My reason for writing about Cathy is that she helps to raise funds to help the Elche Children's Home. She donates money from her sales, she acts as a Drop off Point for the Orphanage, be it clothes, brik a Brak, toys, furniture...... anything she can sell and give to the Charity will be gratefully received. Dried food such as rice, pasta etc for the orphanage can also be left, along with toiletries, cleaning items, anything they can use. Times are very hard for these youngsters. 

Cathy has converted one of the rooms in the shop into Santa's Grotto so every Friday and Saturday from the 16th November Santa will be in the shop between 3pm and 6pm. It's 3 euros per child to visit and receive a gift....ALL MONEY received will be given to the Elche Orphanage...so come down and say hi to Santa no matter how old you are, & help youngsters who are so much less fortunate. 

Should you want to donate a Christmas gift either to hand to the home or use in the grotto please do. Of course, it goes without saying that Cathy has a collection box there so, if you are in the area, please call to look around & maybe buy something & please donate something, it's coming up to Christmas, help these youngsters have a better time, please! Cathy has many pieces in which are very unusual, they are far too inexpensive from her. 

Cathy's a great lady, you feel you've made a friend for life from your first meeting. 

..................................................................................

Santa works his magic on the grown ups & dogs too!

Seen this in a forum local to Torrevieja...

"Just been on line to check in our flight home and to my horror discovered my booking doesn't exist!, on the phone for 20mins with Jet2 who tell me that the flight has been cancelled and a letter was sent to our UK address informing us, anyway at least I have been able to transfer to another flight for more money.

We were flying Murcia to Leeds Bradford ..all flights up to the 27th Dec have been cancelled !!"

The Dog Friendly Beach in El Campello in Alicante is to become a permanent feature. The Cala de la Punta del Riu, which was an experiment this summer, is now to become an official dog friendly beach. 

http://www.diarioinformacion.com/alacanti/2013/11/11/campello-inicia-promocion-polemica-playa/1436040.html

Also San Vicente in Alicante has put a permanent dog agility course in place in Calle La Huerta.

http://www.diarioinformacion.com/alacanti/2013/11/10/nueva-zona-mascotas-san-vicente/1435826.html

A DOZEN TECHNICIANS, engineers and architects of various ministerial departments were given access to Corvera airport this week, to check the status of facilities, equipment and operational systems. This was in compliance with an order by the Superior Court of Justice who authorized the right of the Government of the Autonomous Region to conduct an inspection. The Ministry of Public Works and Legal Services Department of the Autonomous Community have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to execute a termination order for the Aeromur contract and to take over possession of the airport.

The president of the Community, Ramón Luis Valcárcel said on Tuesday, that if the concessionaire Aeromur changes their position then this would be “hunky-dory” as long as the airport receives a sovereign guarantees to cover the 200 million euro that otherwise would have to be covered by the cash strapped Community. Negotiations are still ongoing with Aeromur as to whether they will lose rights to the concession or when the time is right, remain in control when the airport is ready to open for business.  

Valcárcel added that “at any time we may sign the agreement with AENA to close San Javier airport.” The president said that it was only a matter of “fixing the day,” and that he prefers to sign the document in Madrid, for which he says he has a journey that is pending to meet with the Ministers of Finance and Justice.

The Spanish Press and members of the opposition Socialist Party PSOE are still expressing their concerns over the viability of Corvera. The Vega Media Press noted that Alicante is expanding their facilities offering special deals to airlines to use their facilities, hoping to reach the three million-visitor mark per year, which was once the projected numbers for Corvera. 

It remains that San Javier has two runways and magnificent modern facilities including a control tower, all valued at 60 million euros, while in Corvera, nobody seems to know whom this belongs to at the moment. The Vega Media Press commented “What is the solution for Corvera? From where will two million passengers a year come from?” Who knows indeed. 

Source: RTN