Fiesta frenzy

THE Day of Murcia was celebrated throughout the region in a variety of ways. Over the long weekend, the Region of Murcia has seen a surge in tourism, with hotels reaching an impressive 90 per cent occupancy rate. The beaches and restaurants were filled with locals celebrating their long weekend but also attracting both Madrid residents and locals from various parts of the region. Families and couples, in particular, flocked to the sun­soaked shores, making the beaches, beach bars, and restaurants brim with activity and creating a lively atmosphere throughout the area.

President Fernando López Miras delivered a heartfelt speech paying tribute to the rich heritage of the region. He said the following about his beloved region of Murcia “My world was not big, but it was the one I had and it seemed to me to be the best of all. You only had to open your eyes to see that many important things were valued, among them the authentic and the simple.”

Another unusual tribute to Murcia on the holiday came from Alicia Catalán, an accomplished artist and designer known as ‘kalonbay’, who has taken the internet by storm with her mesmerising body paintings, each one beautifully capturing the essence of the Region of Murcia.

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Catherine McGeer THANKS to the Cartagena Town Hall you can now get married on the beaches of the Costa Calida. Sixteen different locations have been authorised for these celebrations to be held along the beautiful coastline of the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean in La Manga, Cabo de Palos, La

Azohía, San Ginés, and Los Urrutias. Two hundred weddings and civil ceremonies will be held along the coast this year already proving to be popular with both Spanish couples and foreign couples. This decision will work wonders for year ­ round tourism with wedding parties usually staying in the area for three or four days, the wedding party and their guests use more than just the hotel and the facilities of the venue.

They often use local businesses like hairdressers, taxis,