A life in Spain Edition 22 – July 2018

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South Town

Pinar de Campoverde

North Town

Wine Region

Cabo Roig

Volvo Ocean Race

Extremadura

Final Leg

issue 22 JUL 2018

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#Edition 22 • July 2018

Spanish recipe

All you should know about video surveillance in communities of owners.

(Part 1)

AJO COLORAO’

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6

Wine Region:

Volvo Ocean Extremadura Race 8&9 20 & 21 A life on the course...

La Cala Golf Hotel

12

36 pottery and ceramics Places to visit in a day

Corvera

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Welcome to the July edition of ALIS. Summer is here at last. Is it me, or was June a little strange? In 17 years, I dont think I have known so much rain and weather changes this late in the year. At least it kept the summer temperature away for a little longer.

The winner of the 4 Terra Natura tickets worth 100€ this year was Bethan from Los Alcazares. Well done, the tickets are on their way. Enjoy, and thanks to everyone that entered.

This months magazine is packed, as always, with interesting articles for you to read whilst sipping your G ‘n’ T by the pool.

The wine feature this month focuses on the region of Extremadura. Whilst the places to visit in a day is Corvera, where the new airport will open...eventually.

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This months golf review is on La Cala Golf Hotel Spa, which is located in Andalucia.

Three superb championship courses, each presenting its own unique challenges

Moratalla Sportif 2018

contact ALIS:

enquiries@alifeinspain.com peter.clarke@alifeinspain.com

Remember – all of our articles and over 10,000 properties for sale and rent are available online at:

www.alifeinspain.com ALIS is not responsible for the accuracy or content of any articles published in the magazine or online and proffessional advice is reccomended. ALIS does not endorse any company advert or article herein. We try to make sure the content is accurate but cannot be held responsible for inaccuracy.

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All you should know about video surveillance in communities of owners.

(Part 1) We have since; change the cameras to high definition quality. Now days there is a remote maintenance technique to fix the cameras in case they breakdown without having even to remove them away. If it breaks down the recording circuit jumps a warning in real time and the problem can be solved quickly.

Need to improve on safety in your own community? It seems that the burglary has grown in the neighbourhood where you live and you do not feel safe without surveillance measures in the building or complex where you live?

The problem arises at the time of convincing the rest of your neighbours within your own community How to know if video surveillance has much acceptance among other fellow owners who may have certain apprehension about security cameras and the lack of privacy?

How often cameras break down? And there is the issue of who has the authority to see the recorded images. I will try to answer those questions and show that these unfounded fears should not prevent you from having video surveillance, which incidentally I consider to be an effective and safe method of protecting against thieves or at least to be a good deterrent against intrusions and theft.

A professional security company.

The most important thing is to engage a professional security company approved by the Ministry of the Interior and registered in the Register of Security Companies. In this way it is made sure they will follow literally everything that the law specifies.

What is there be aware of?

Is privacy is guaranteed?

Well only security authorized personnel can watch the recorded images by security cameras. After one month or so all images are erased, except those which are required by the police or judicial authorities to clarify a particular crime.

In addition, the orientation of the cameras must not invade any intimate and private spaces of owners, and should be located only in public areas.

Everyone will know that there is video surveillance and it is recording from the information signs which need to be installed in visible places.

It is a very effective deterrent: because thieves will think twice before attacking a house with security cameras. And if they do, they may be recognized in the recording, as long as it has a high definition quality.This last fact is important.

I recall in my own community the time we tried to identify a “witty� guy who has used the communal stairs to urinate during a Murcia Festival. When the company came to identify the person in question the camera did not have sufficient definition as to clearly identify this person. So the whole thing was a waste of time and money.

The following info has been obtained from the Spanish Data Protection Agency. (AEPD).

For the installation of cameras in common areas there has to be an agreement in an Owners General Meeting. The minutes of the meeting should reflect this point clearly beforehand. It is recommended that the agreement reflect some of the characteristics of the video surveillance system, as the number of cameras or space taken up by them.

Image Recording File.

Whenever images of people are to be recorded, it is necessary to proceed to register the file in the General Data Protection Register of the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD). The AEPD offers on its website a model for the registration of video surveillance files.

Duty to inform.

There must be in the entrances and in various strategic places, signs to inform that the area is been video monitored. The signs must indicate clearly the identity of the installation and to whom and where to go to exercise the rights under the rules of data protection. The AEPD has a model poster which could be used. The Information could also be available from the concierge, reception, offices and notice boards or be accessible via the Internet.

Do you think so you can convince your neighbours now?

If your intention is that the video surveillance is used to control working staff, there are additional requirements that must be met, so we recommend consulting practice surveillance record number VI. On my next article we will look at the procedures to follow when we require installing cameras for corporate control.

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Wine Focus...

Extremadura Extremadura is one of Spain’s 17 administrative regions (officially ‘autonomous communities’) and is located the southwest of the country, bordering Portugal. It is separated from Andalucia in the south by the Sierra Morena mountains, and from the central plateau and Castile by the Sierra de Gata range.

BACKGROUND Extremadura is sparsely populated, but has plentiful wildlife such as deer, otters and even lynxes. Its wild black pigs, which feed on acorns, go on to become the famous jamón ibérico (Iberian ham). It is not, however as famous for its wine, despite the fact that viniculture here dates back many centuries.

The basic wines produced in the region have not traditionally attracted the attention of the outside world – not least because the local wineries have lacked modern technology. However, the Ribera del Guadiana DO title was established within the region in 1999 to represent the best that Extremadura has to offer. A push to export the local wine has also resulted in an increase in quality and in the modernization of wineries.

Tempranillo has traditionally been the favourite grape variety as it responds well to the regional terroir. More adventurous winemakers are experimenting with other international varieties but these grapes have yet to make a mark on the overall quality of the region’s wines. Extremadura’s vineyards are also home to local white varieties such as Cayetana.

Some Extremadura vineyards are permitted to produce Cava, the sparkling white wine more often associated with north-eastern Spain. This is by far the most remote Cava-producing region, some 500 miles (800km) south-west of the Cava heartland in Catalonia.

Apart from the wines made under the Ribera del Guadiana DO designation, all others produced in Extremadura are permitted to use only the term Vino de la Tierra Extremadura (Extremadura VT). Vino de la Tierra is a lesser category than DO. Whilst Extremadura’s wines may not yet be world famous, its cork is certainly appreciated.

This remains an important export of the region and Quercus suber (cork oak) trees are abundant, particularly near Cáceres.

The climate in Extremadura ranges from mild near the coast, with influences coming in from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Oceans, to the more continental weather experienced in the inland, northeastern areas close to the central plateau. The River Guadiana has a moderating influence on the hot summer temperatures, which can sometimes reach 104F (40C).

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Designed by the renowned Cabell Robinson, each 18-hole course has been created to ensure a testing, yet truly exhilarating experience.

The Resort The promise of a thrilling round of golf in magnificent natural surroundings.

A lazy lunch with friends on the Club House terrace. A cooling dip after a luxurious aromatherapy massage. At La Cala they’ll help you to create your own experience, with every little luxury included to make your stay special.

The idyllic rural retreat is worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the busy coast, yet just 10 minutes from the sweeping Mediterranean beaches of the Costa del Sol and only 30 minutes from Malaga Airport. The promise of sun-drenched days on the fairways and laidback al fresco evenings, relaxing under the stars is hard to resist.

But there’s so much more to discover at La Cala… a gorgeous destination spa, golf academy, superb sports facilities, three superb restaurants… come and find out for yourself.

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South Town...

Pinar de Campoverde

Pinar de Campoverde Pinar de Campoverde (Pine Forest in/of the Green Field literally) is a small village located at the foot of the Sierra de Escalona mountain range, nine kilometres from Pilar de la Horadada, in the province of Alicante, Spain.

The town has around 3000 inhabitants and is ten kilometres from the Mediterranean coastline.

The town has only developed since the mid1980s when many British, German, French and Scandinavian expatriates settled in villas. Originally, the area had been a large pine forest, next to the Río Seco river and had little agricultural importance until much of the wooded area was cleared for orange and lemon groves. The name Pinar de Campoverde or Pinar de Campo Verde derives from the fact that the area was once pine woodland (Pinar) and its impression on its first residents was a ‘green field’ (Campo Verde)

Since the recent advent of tourism, the majority of the population are expatriates, mainly from the United Kingdom and Germany. The traditional centre of the village is based on the two kilometre long Avenida del Pino which runs from the main Pilar de la Horadada-Orihuela road to the municipal sports fields (Polideportivo) at the Río Seco.

This strip has numerous bars and restaurants, estate agents and shops. There is also a medical centre and veterinarian. On Sunday there is a small street market held in the centre of the village, close to the free car park.

The ‘New’ area, located to the west of the village has been in construction since the late 1990s and is almost exclusively inhabited by foreigners

(although a few Spanish families do live amongst them). There is a second commercial area at the top of the village with a pharmacy and a few bars and shops, which have stunning views across the countryside. Having been built on the side of the Rio Seco (dry river), the residential areas tend to be rather hilly and the ‘old’ area has very narrow footpaths in places. It is here you will find the Parque Central (Central Park).

The village boasts two supermarkets, the latest being at the newly built Plaza at the entrance to the village; the other at the far end, in the ‘Old’ area where you will also find the Sabadell bank.

There is also a new garden centre on the main road into the village.

•Every street and avenue in the village takes its name from a plant, herb or horticultural zone.

Examples include Calle Bosque (Forest Street), Calle Lavanda (Lavander Street), Calle Meloncotonero (Peach Tree Street) and Calle Abedul (Birch Street).

•The footpaths in the village are block paved in Verde (green).

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Moratalla Sportif 2018 Here we are again another 5am start from the shop on a beautiful Saturday morning in May, this time 12 of us in 3 vehicles are heading to Moratalla in the North of Murcia to participate in the XX Moratalla cycle Marcha (Sportif ). There are 2 routes to choose from and as 2 of the guys are doing their first one and 6 are competing in their second one we decided that 4 would do the complete 180km with 2500metres climbing and the other 8 of us would do the 100km with 1400metres climbing including myself as I’m waiting for a new hip and struggle to sit in the saddle for more than 4 hours.

We arrived at 7am and found the perfect parking spot right next to the start line which was already being set up. We located the only open restaurant after a nice walk around the town and had our coffee and tostadas. We then made our way to the sports centre and registered, collected our numbers, goody bags and snacks before walking back to the cars to prepare our bikes. At the cars we unloaded our beloved bikes attached our race numbers, pumped up the tyres and got changed into our cycling gear. We were soon on the start line along with 700 other riders of all ages and abilities, all out to achieve the same as us, to successfully finish with a good time.

At 9am sharp the gun sounded and off we went, following the safety car for the first 25k at quite a brisk pace passing through the beautiful picturesque town of Carravaca de la Cruz. It wasn’t long before the car sounded its horn which meant ‘Trama Libre’ (free ride) and we were off straight into the first climb of the day which lasted for 7k with an average gradient of 8%, this sorted everyone out and our team was already split into several little groups with the fast guys making a rapid getaway, there was quite a lot of under 23 semi-professional Spanish riders taking part and you could see how good they were by the speed that they left everyone behind. The route was excellently thought through with everything from gentle climbs to tough climbs, switchbacks, downhills and level sections, as usual in this part of Spain the scenery was fantastic especially as we gained height. he group that I was riding with were all of an equal level approx. 20 of us, all working together to complete the ride. The weather was great with hardly any wind, 10k from the end I ended up taking the front of our group, pushing the front back to Moratallaand the 100k mark,

The group that I was riding with were all of an equal level approx. 20 of us, all working together to complete the ride. The weather was great with hardly any wind, 10k from the end I ended up taking the front of our group, pushing the front back to Moratallaand the 100k mark, as we got closer to Moratalla I could see one of our young riders in the distance but could not make out who it was, as I got closer I realised it Was Dom TJ whose legs had started to cramp up. As we passed him at a rapid pace I shouted at him to get on the back of this group but it was too fast for him as he had blown. We continued up into Moratalla to a massive crowd shouting us onto the finish line.

At the finish line there were 2 lanes, the lane on the right was the finish for the 100k riders but the lane on the left was for the 180k riders to continue on. After crossing the line I made my way to the water stop for a coke and a baguette, I then went back to the finish line to await the next one of our group, next was Kevin James followed by Jack Swift, Graham Hope, Alistair Gray,Terry Wye and Dave ‘Sniffer’ Robertson. We all waited here for another 30 minutes but there was no sign of Steve ‘Snooky’ Snook who was the last of our group to complete the 100k. As we walked back to the vans to stow away the bikes there was still no sign of him and just as we had loaded the last bike, there he was coming round the corner into the last 10% climb which took him to the finish line. He was completely exhausted and ended up stopping halfway up for a breather, he managed to carry on and make it to the finish line. When he rejoined us he told us that he had been knocked off his bike and also had had a puncture which cost him a lot of time.

We all made our way back to the finish line where there was a beer tent and we helped ourselves to soft drinks, beers and pasta, we managed to get a brilliant seat on the finish line and waited for our main 3 riders. First back out of our group was Mathew ‘Moth’ Robertson who had a brilliant time of 5hr 45 and an overall position of 46, next was Alan Quearns then Harry Morrow both with good times. Many of the riders in their group had been riding for many years and had lots of experience, however Mathew who only moved to Spain last year and has only been riding a road bike for 12 months is already flying.

Mathew and Harry are both looking forward to participating in the Tour De Juguette and the Quebrantahuesos in June. We waited for the prize giving but unfortunately none of our group received any prizes this time round, however as always I tell the guys it’s not about the winning it’s about the competing and doing your best along with 700 like minded individuals. Another great sportif, well organized, well marshalled and plenty of water stops, well done again Murcia Region.

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19

Cardiff in-port race

The top three teams in the In-Port Race Series for the Volvo Ocean Race held down the podium positions on Friday afternoon in Cardiff, as Dongfeng Race Team made a pass on the last lap of the race course to claim the win.

The overall leader in the In-Port Series, Xabi Fernández’s MAPFRE, limited the damage on the points table with a second place finish, while Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel battled all afternoon to secure third place.

Conditions were good for racing, with wind near 10 knots and racing taking place in moderate currents during the turn of the tide. A large spectator fleet was on hand to enjoy the competition.

Cardiff to Gothenburg

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet had a slow start to Leg 10 as a high-pressure system brought bright sunny skies and warm weather but very little breeze to Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.

With nearly no wind at the scheduled 1500 UTC start time, the Race Committee pushed a short postponement to allow the tide to turn, so the strong tidal flow would assist in pushing the fleet out to sea.

The inshore portion of the race start was also cancelled in an effort to get the fleet out of the Bristol Channel before the tide turned again on Sunday evening and the boats would have to fight the current to clear the channel.

The Spanish team MAPFRE led across the starting line in a slow motion ballet, with Team Brunel, Vestas 11th Hour Racing, team AkzoNobel and Dongfeng Race Team alongside them.

Both SHK/Scallywag and Turn the Tide on Plastic found themselves too close to the start line with the current pushing them over early. As they manoeuvred to get room to start on time, Scallywag was penalised for not keeping clear of Turn the Tide on Plastic and needed to offload a penalty turn putting them at the back of the fleet.

Leg 10 is a 1,300 nautical mile sprint – at least it will be once the wind picks up – from Cardiff to Gothenburg, Sweden.

Team Brunel has completed one of the great comebacks in sailing, setting up an epic final leg to The Hague next week in what will be the closest Volvo Ocean Race in history.

Three teams – MAPFRE, Team Brunel and Dongfeng Race Team – will start the final leg in a dead heat at the top of the table, with the overall title on the line. It’s an unprecedented scenario in the 45year history of the race.

On a rainy, blustery Thursday evening in Gothenburg, skipper Bouwe Bekking led his Team Brunel to a come-from-behind win in Leg 10 over Xabi Fernández’s MAPFRE squad, who claimed second place, less than two-minutes behind after nearly 1,500 nautical miles of bow to bow racing.

Gothenburg in-port race Charlie Enright’s Vestas 11th Hour Racing showed great patience and sailed a clean race for a victory in the Gothenburg In-Port Race on Sunday.

But it was Xabi Fernández’s MAPFRE team who rode a third place finish on Sunday to a win the overall In-Port Race Series, sailing 11 points clear of their closest pursuers, Dongfeng Race Team.

With one In-Port Race left in The Hague, MAPFRE can now not be overtaken on the leaderboard.

Gothenburg to the Hague Three teams started the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race on Thursday afternoon in an unprecedented dead-heat on the overall leaderboard.

And in the winner-take-all sprint from Gothenburg to The Hague, it was Charles Caudrelier’s Dongfeng Race Team taking the early advantage over their rivals for the overall title, Team Brunel and MAPFRE. While Dongfeng Race Team found a clean lane to windward for the race start, Xabi Fernández’s MAPFRE and Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel were entangled at the leeward end of the line.

In fact, MAPFRE was boxed out at the line and needed to circle around before starting behind the fleet.

In the closest finish in race history, Dongfeng Race Team has won the Volvo Ocean Race 201718.

Skipper Charles Caudrelier led his team to victory in the final leg of the race, a 970-mile sprint from Gothenburg, Sweden to The Hague.

Incredibly, it marked the first leg win for the team and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Three teams started Leg 11 of the race on Thursday in a dead heat on the overall leaderboard.

The finishing order between MAPFRE, Team Brunel and Dongfeng Race Team at The Hague would determine their place on the overall race podium.

Each of those three teams led at various points on the leg and had their opportunities to grab the prize.

But it was Caudrelier and his team made a bold call on Saturday evening to take a coastal route to the finish, pinned against the shoreline by a series of Exclusion Zones.

It hurt them in the short term as they tumbled down the leaderboard. But by Sunday morning, with less than 100 miles left to race, weather routing projections had the top teams finishing within minutes of each other. None had been able to break-away, despite the significant splits on the race course.

At 15:22:32 UTC, it was Dongfeng Race Team, flying in down the coast from the north to win the leg, and the race.

It was the closest finish in the 45-year history of the race and the first win for a Chinese-flagged team.

MAPFRE was projected to finish second on the overall leaderboard with Team Brunel earning third on the final race podium.

Team AkzoNobel, projected to finish in second place on Leg 11, would be the first of the two Dutch-flagged boats to the finish in The Hague with a solid fourth place finish in the overall race.

Volvo Ocean Race Overall Points Leaderboard after Leg 11 1. Dongfeng Race Team – 73 points 2. MAPFRE – 70 points 3. Team Brunel – 69 points 4. team AkzoNobel – 59 points 5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 39 points 6. SHK / Scallywag – 32 points * 7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 32 points *

ti i t e p m o c . s s e ’ r r a a z e a y c l is A h t s f o o L r e m n o n r i f w n a e h h t T Be

... s i on

Spanish recipe

AJO COLORAO’

. . . s t n e i d e r g n I

Ingredients for 4 people: 1 kg of potatoes.

3 dried red peppers 2 ripe tomatoes.

1/2 kg of ray.

6 cloves of garlic.

2 spoonfuls of sweet pepper.

3-4 strands of saffron.

1 dl of olive oil.

1/2 teaspoon of cumin.

Salt.

. . . t i k o o c o How t

Preparation Boil the potatoes with the dried peppers and the tomatoes.

When they are about half cooked, add the pieces of ray and allow to boil for a further 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, grind the cumin, saffron, garlic, cooked red peppers and tomatoes.

Mash the potatoes and add the above.

Then check the salt and add the oil, paprika, a little of the stock, and the de-boned fish meat.

Mix together with a wooden spoon.

Presentation Serve accompanied by fried cornflour balls and several strips of baked peppers.

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27

North Town...

Cabo Roig

Cabo Roig The delightful town of old Cabo Roig has broad avenues lined with palms and landscaped gardens with views of the Mediterranean to the La Manga peninsula and the Mar Menor providing a picturesque setting alongside the lovely beaches.

Cabo Roig can be found 10 kilometres to the south of Torrevieja, on the southern Costa Blanca in eastern Spain.

Less than one hour’s drive from Alicante Airport and around 30 minutes drive from Murcia San Javier Airport.

Golf Cabo Roig is an excellent location for golfers, being close to many fine championship courses, including the three Villamartin courses. The world famous La Manga golf complex is also within easy reach.

Beaches There are many fine blue flag beaches close by. The beach next to Cabo Roig marina is very popular, with excellent views.

Cuisine Cuisine from the Costa Blanca combines delicacies from both land and the Mediterranean Sea. Many civilizations have lived in this area (Celts, Iberians, Greeks, Romans, Muslims), all of which have all left their mark on the gastronomy.

The diet is a typically, healthy Mediterranean one; the Costa Blanca is rich in fish, vegetables, olive-oil, rice and fruit and the ingredients which are all used to prepare delicious, healthy dishes, such as Paella Valenciana, Arroz Negro (black rice), Arroz al horno (Oven baked rice), Arroz a banda (fish and rice stew), Arroz del Señoret (Princes rice).

If you have a sweet tooth then you will enjoy the local homemade pastries and deserts that the area is famous for. Or Jijona ice-cream (Nougat), which is made with the almonds of the region.

While on the Costa Blanca you can delight the palate with the wonderful regional wine selection. It’s worth giving a special mention to the local wine ‘Jalon’, due to its quality and bouquet.

There are many international restaurants close by offering a wide choice of different cuisines from around the world.

Climate The Cabo Roig enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with cool sea breezes in summer and protection by surrounding mountains against the cold North winds in winter. The area averages nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine each year and the average temperature easily exceeds 20 degrees.

In 1986 the World Health Organisation recommended the climate of the area as one of the most equitable in the world - neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. On average it can boast 325 sunny days each year making it an ideal all year round destination.

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Places to visit in a day

Corvera is one of the largest districts in the Municipality of Murcia and was, for centuries even larger and more important when it included the localities of Lobosillo and Valladolises. It is now set to re-establish it’s prominence in the area due to the imminent opening of the new Corvera airport, possibly in January 2019.

There is a lack of a focal water source though in the region so the first real sign of habitation evidence can be found dating back to the late Iberian and later Roman epochs, the latter totally dominant following the invasion of Cartagena in 209BC. By 50BC Iberian culture had all but disappeared but even roman settlements were sparse. (Nobody had told them that an airport was coming).

After the decline of the Romans, the area was occupied by the Visigoths and then by the Moors who invaded Spain in the early 8th century. For the next 500 years the Moors farmed the land until 1243 when Alfonso X of Castile gained Murcia as part of his kingdom. Although Moorish settlers were allowed to remain, they rebelled in 1266 and were largely expelled leaving empty territories which were distributed amongst noble families.

a r e v r

Co

It was a difficult task to repopulate the area with Christians in the 13th 14th and 15th centuries and as an area on the frontier close to the last Moorish kingdom, Granada, it was far from safe. It was subject to constant attacks from the Moors and from the Berber pirates of North Africa. After the Moorish kingdom fell, Corvera continued to flourish.

The main Fiesta in Corvera is in honour of the Virgen del Rosario on the 7th October. It lasts nearly two weeks and follows the patterns of many other local fiestas which include the election of a Fiesta queen and her maids of honour with sporting events, special days for children, ladies and gentlemen, musical events and religious processions etc. Timetables are available at the local town hall.

There is a nice small market on Sunday mornings and a stroll around the town will reveal lots of good bars and restaurants and the church is well worth a visit. Parking is no problem. Just watch Corvera expand over the coming years!

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pottery and ceramics Over the last few years, the colourful ceramics for which Spain is famous has become big marketable business abroad. But, ceramics in Spain is more than a business, it is a tradition, earthenware dishes, tiles, vases, and other ceramics with bright colours and beautiful designs have been crafted in the Iberian Peninsula for centuries.

The majority of intricately designed azulejos (tiles) that adorn the walls of the Alhambra palace in Granada - as well as many houses throughout the southern Andalusia region- are heavily influenced by Arab culture, Islamic religion does not allow representation of humans in artwork, therefore many azulejos, potteries and other crafts were decorated with florals and complex geometric patterns. Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí took decorating with azulejos to new levels in his native Barcelona. Gaudí incorporated millions of broken natural and glazed ceramic tiles into his works of arts to create the strikingly odd displays of colourful mosaic-style creations that can be admired in places such as Parc Guell and Casa Batllo.

Although big cities like Valencia and Sevilla are home to large manufacturers that take care of mass ceramic productions, small towns also make their marks by making their own pottery and ceramics in distinctive styles. A town with a rich legacy of artisan ceramics can be found right on the banks of the Tajo River about forty-five minutes from Toledo. This town is Talavera de la Reina, and is renowned for maintaining centuries-old traditional Castilian pottery and for setting the highest standard for the rest of the world. In Latin America, especially in Mexico, the common term for hand-painted ceramics produced in colors like cobalt blue, sunflower yellow, green and white is “Talavera,” paying homage to its origins. Talavera also holds a Ceramics Museum which displays astonishing ceramic pieces ranging from the XVI century to the XX century on a year-round basis.

The typical colours used in the decoration of ceramics are those associated with the sunny Mediterranean coast: cobalt blue, deep yellow, red, purple, pink, and white. Since a good deal of the ceramics made in Spain are individually hand-spun on a wheel or molded by hand, and then fired, glazed, painted and fired again, you will often find that although common in resemblance, no two pieces are exactly alike. Their lively bright colors - which are trademarks of Spanish ceramics - mask these “imperfections” and make these artworks great for table use or simply as decoration!

Some Spanish ceramics lack colours and yet remain beautiful. Cazuelas de barro, for example, are glazed clay bowls that are practical in every way, they can be used as serving plates, are freezer safe, and tough enough to handle baking in your oven, stovetop and microwave cooking!

Cazuelas come in a variety of sizes, from 10cm (4inch) to a whopping 36cm (14 inch). This type of earthenware cookery is traditionally used to present a crema catalana, cook a mean stew like the fabada asturiana or serving strongish flan!

A wide selection of handmade and hand-painted bowls, plates, vases and tiles to suit everyone’s tastes, needs and decoration style are available for purchase from numerous manufacturers and shops throughout the region and for that matter the whole of spain.

‘Source: murciaturistica.es’

Now available at:

Ref: 1259

Ref: 1260

Ref: 1262

Ciudad Quesada // €295,000

Ciudad Quesada // €109,000

Ciudad Quesada // €179,950

Ref: 1234

Ref: MF02

Lo Crispin - Algorfa // €205,000 Orihuela Costa // From €190,000

Ref: MF01

San Miguel // From €316,000

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talk radio europe

Tre_take tre with you_190x133mm - A LIFE IN SPAIN 2018.indd 1

18/6/18 18:13

4 Questions To Help You Decide, How Big Your Home Should Be. Whether you choose a property to live in permanently, or you’re in the market for a holiday home, size is a factor on deciding which home you’re most suited for.

Bigger doesn’t always mean better, but it’s finding that perfect balance that’s neither too big, nor too small.

3.

How spacious does the home feel? Even if the home doesn’t have a big footprint, it can feel more spacious if it is open plan. Even large homes can feel cramped if they’re dark, or have an impractical layout.

4.

Mortgage or cash? If you’re contemplating whether to buy a larger home with a mortgage, take a look at what your finances will look like, in a few years time. How valuable does that guest bedroom look to you now?

To help you decide, ask yourself these four questions to determine how much space you really need: 1.

Is this my forever home? If you’re relocating to Spain, then you need to figure out if this will be your “stepping stone” home for right now, or somewhere for you to grow old in. Everyone feels they should be looking for their forever home, when really they may not need something so big for “right now.”

2.

What are my priorities? If you’re thinking of buying a home with a guest bedroom, to allow you to accommodate your long list of friends and family whilst on their holidays, then you need to focus more on your own needs, and not so much on theirs. They will still enjoy visiting you, even if they have to sleep on a bed settee!

So, stop focusing on the amount of rooms in the home, and start paying attention to the actual size of the rooms you’ll be spending most of your time in!

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