Let's take a quick look at the highs and lows in Spain over the past twelve months.  It seems that most of the highs tend to relate to sporting successes!

January

Spanish rally driver Carlos Sainz  won his first ever Dakar race, the first Spaniard!

February

The divorce between the Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar was finalised.

March

Cervantes prize winning novellist Miguel Delibes died at aged eighty nine. His novels included Five hours with Mario and The holy innocents which were adapted for the stage and screen.

April

A thirteen year old girl from Seseña, Toledo died from blood loss after a brutal beating from a classmate.

May

Zapatero presented his social spending cuts to Congress, including the controversial freezing of pensions

June

Tragically, on the night of San Juan, 23rd June, 12 people were killed and 13 injured on a local train line in the Castelldefels Playa station near Barcelona.The group of young people decided to cross the tracks instead of using the underground subway, and were hit by an Aparis train which had travelled from Alicante destination Barcelona.

July

I don´t think it can be denied that the highlight of 2010 took place half way throughout the year when Spain won the world cup. Millions of fans in Spain gathered in the streets to watch the football on giant screens in villages, towns and cities across the country.

During the same month Spaniard Nadal won his eight grand slam title at Wimbledon.

August

Spain was still the top holiday destination as proven by Michelle Obama and her daughter who spent four days in Hotel Villa Padierna in Benahavís, although all the press said she was in Marbella!

September

The Malaya corruption case finally went to court in the Palacio de Justicia in Málaga. The largest municipal corruption case ever in Spain, based in Marbella Town Hall has even been adapted for a film that was shown last week on Spanish television.

October

Sean Connery failed to show up in court as he faced money laundering charges associated with the sale of his property in Marbella.

November

Pope Benedict received a mixed reception on his visit to Santiago de Compostela.  It was considered distasteful that costs were paid for by public funds given the current financial situation.

December

Spanish air traffic controllers brought chaos to the country by striking against working hours.


So what will 2011 bring?  A recovery in the Spanish property market?  A new Spanish Prime Minister?  What are your predictions for this year in Spain?