Hola,
We visited Arcos over the weekend of 20th December to see the "Living Nativity". This an annual celebration usually on the last Saturday before Christmas, where the whole of the old town is taken back in time to the birth of Christ, this year there were 30 seperate scenes from that period in time including working Bakers, Blacksmiths and Potteries. The main square in front of the Parador was transformed into a village scene with live donkeys, a working water wheel and two mules being used to plough a "field". This was particlarly amazing as anyone who has visted the square previously will remeber that it is usually a rather restricted car park for around 30 cars. The final scene was the baby in the manger with a live newborn baby in the manger. It is considered a great honour for the baby and its parents, the names of every baby who has appeared in the scene for the last 25 years is listed in the glossy guide produced for the event.
We took nearly 200 photos while we were there, lots of the backs of peoples heads ! but also a lot of good ones which will remind us of our trip for years to come.
If you get chance it is well worth a visit next year, just remember that although the day time temperature is around 18 degrees as soon as the sun sets the temperature falls to around 3 or 4 degrees. Our apartment in Block 1 has had the air-con / heating fitted, for which we paid twice (Thank you Sunset Estates !!!!!!) but it was still very cold at night needing a blanket or two as well as the duvet. You have been warned !
The building work is coming along well, as you can see from the pictures (we have added a few dated 29.12.08). The deveolpers are concentrating on the apartments and as far as we can tell there has been little or no progress on the next phase of houses.
Although we have had a troublesome year with the wondeful Tim & Duncan, having visited Arcos three time this year for long weekends and a longer break in September, we still feel that we made the right choice and look forward to returning next year. Arcos is still a beautiful town and the locals are friendly at any time of year.
Also, on the Sunset Estates front, we travelled through Estepona last week and noticed that The Sunset Estate office has been transformed into a Smoothie Shop, I guess that as they were already renting the shop Tim & Duncan have made use of it for their new money making venture, however I doubt that it will make a such a large profit as their property business has !!!!!!!
Happy New Year
Manuela 69