A life in Spain Edition 24 – September 2018

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SPAIN A Life in

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South Town

Mar Menor & La Manga

North Town

Wine Region

Alicante Province

Company Profile

Ebro River Valley

Care 4 you in Spain

issue 24 SEP 2018

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Cover picture by Murcia Golf Homes, see advert on back page

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PAGE 38

PAGE 25

#Edition 24 • September 2018

Food & Drink Section

Why Spain has the most expensive electricity bill in Europe.

(Part 1)

Main article

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Wine Region: Ebro River Valley

8&9

13 Restaurants you must visit in the Murcia Region Part 2 Spanish recipe

AJOPRINGUE

19 - 22 A life on the course...

La Sella Golf

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e l fi o r P pany

Com

34 Welcome to the September edition of ALIS.

Places to visit in a day El Tendre olive grove

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September is here, and as I write there are claps of thunder in the background. The signs that the summer heat is coming to an end are up on us. The return of our friends and neighbours after they tried to escape the heat of Spain, only to be met by the rare heatwave of the UK. This month has mixed emotions for most parents. Part proud and part sad as the children return or start school. For us, our son is starting University to study Architecture.

The new section on food and drink continues with the main feature on the second part of top 13 must try restaurants in Murcia region, supplied by Murcia Services.

27th Edition

Miguel Indurain Sportif 2018.

contact ALIS:

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

The wine region this month is on the little known region of the Ebro River Valley. This is well worth a visit, and a must for true wine lovers searching for something different 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.

TEL: 660 170 355 deposito legal: MU 1390-2016

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Why Spain has the most expensive electricity bill in Europe. (Part 1)

I am afraid my love for Spanish electricity companies remains at its lowest level.After the new laws on solar cell panels and after increases on our electricity bill of nearly 80% from 2004 to 2014 it is more of a hate relationship.

I decided to do an in-depth research to find out why we have the most expensive electricity bill in Europe so that perhaps I can recuperate my lost affections for Spanish electricity companies.

It could well be that to produce one Spanish Kw of electricity is more costly here than anywhere in Europe. Armed with patience and after a few days of research on the web, I found a few articles written by the journalist David Page Polo which led me to the book called: “The Frankenstein Report”written by Inaki de lasHeras, a real bombshell.In fact these coming articles are based basically on the work written by those two extraordinary journalists.

The highest bill on electricity of Europe.

They actually explain why in Spain consumers support one of the highest billon electricity of Europe (only behind Cyprus and Ireland), after suffering a dramatic rise in the bill of 72.5% between 2004 and 2014. And yet, we consumers have to absorb a debt that borders the 30,000 million Euros because we do not pay enough to cover all costs. No the actual costs (what it costs to produce electricity and to take it to households), but the costs that regulation has created. And between those costs that are not really costs, but the law says that they are, which cannot be justified, and others which are tremendously over inflated.

On how the famous debt of 30,000 million Euros was created.

The book exposes three decades of excesses of all the players in the Spanish electricity sector. And it does so by exposing this charade without dogmatism but with a brutal honesty.It is a system which now has a surplus of about half of the power generation capacity because large investments were made in new facilities with a predicted consumption of unbridled optimism. A system that made Spain for years one of the first world power in renewable energy for instance and now, the government is desperate to prevent a continues grow (in some cases without control), which has led Spain to overtake Venezuela as the country with most demands of international arbitration.

A unique system in the world.

In recent years it has become a habitual public talk subject (and published) the desire to battle among each other to find the culprit of such enormous 30,000 million Euros debt. And each of the protagonists (and their related pressure groups) accused, of course, the other parts. The traditional electricity companies accuse the renewable of taking millions of Euros in bonuses for years. The main electric companies exploiting wind farms however point out that only the solar energy as the guilty party. Renewable Companies denounce the bonuses received by the traditional nuclear and hydro power generators, as a bastion of waste. An all look at the politicians as responsible and accountable to allow this squandering of public money. And among so many skewed versionsdrive by personal interests, this report now pinpoints all the causes

of an endemic native electrical system. And it does untethered, but without false equidistance, stoking all without apportioning false blames as do those who do not want to blame anyone. The journalist Iñaki de lasHeras published the “Frankenstein Report. Why when you click the electric switch the electrical system goes crash”. It draws our attention on how thirty years of regulatory excesses have created a horrific creature.

And few scary stories end well.

The case of the electric deficit is an example of how the confusion of public and private interests and an apprehensive double set of regulations, misguided planning and a failed market can produce some disastrous results.

Companies benefited at the expense of widespread over remunerations that has had the effect that now consumershave to pay extremely expensive electricity which not so long ago had a reasonable price. A failure of the Spanish politicians and their obligations not only to pursue the general interest but also to discern which particular interests are hidden behind apparent general interests,and that has been the main theme for decades.

The five causes This fantastic report (harsh report, in addition to a good book, in addition to a great story) identifies five generalcauses that made possible the creation of the “Spanish electric deficit” as it is known, which it is the debt between income and recognized costs. Five causes are intertwined for decades: the decision to open the door to pay electricity in instalments, accumulating debt rather than pay the recognized price at one time; the enormous costs that were added to the bill, were real, were gratuities or were mere aid under the counter for the electricity companies; the decision of politicians, either by electioneering either by social sensitivity (you decide), to postpone increases prices in electricity and not to address the real causes of increased costs; the collapse of consumption as a result of the economic crisis, plunged the revenue system and made it impossible to cover the recognized costs; and all seasoned with regulatory mistakes that short-circuited the management of the regulated part of the bill and gave birth to a malfunction market.

The result: Almost 30,000 million of Euros of debt that users of electricity have to ultimately pay to the industry (though the debt has been used by the companies that money is now owed to banks and investment funds ... and with interest of course.

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Wine Focus...

Ebro River Valley The Sierra de Cantabria mountains shelter some of Spain’s most important vineyards, including those in Rioja and Navarra. Farther south, Calatayud, Campo de Borja, and Cariùena offer great value. To the east, vineyards nestled along the base of the foothills of the Pyrenees hold vineyards as well, where tributaries of the River Ebro nurture the vineyards of DO Somontano and the rare Moristel grape that charms many tasters with its tangy fruit and easy ways, along with more muscular Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other red varieties.

BACKGROUND The region’s most important river isn’t Rioja’s namesake, Rio Oja, but the Ebro River. Snaking between the Sierra Cantábrica and the Sierra Demanda, the Ebro and its tributaries have helped carve out vineyards that have been celebrated for at least two centuries.

Rioja itself has three sub-regions — Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta, and Rioja Baja — and while each has distinct differences, there is no hierarchy of quality between them. Among the varietals grown here, Tempranillo is king, certainly, but Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carineña), Graciano and increasing numbers of other indigenous grapes are generating new ideas and styles in the region.

Reds, whites and rosés all have a home in the Ebro Valley, but the reds account for the greater part of its fame. Ageing classifications are the primary means for differentiating red wines from one another: Joven (“young”) wines are for early drinking. Crianza wines are aged for two years (one of those in barrel) while Reserva wines (three years ageing with one of those in barrel) can be age-worthy or offer serious immediate consumption. Gran Reserva wines are regarded as the region’s pinnacle.

They are at least five years old and generally ready to drink, but they can age for years too.

If Rioja has been known as the traditional area of quality in the Ebro Valley, Navarra is not far behind both in its wines and in the minds of Spanish wine enthusiasts. International grapes such as Cabernet, Syrah and Merlot have been more recently planted, alongside the DO’s historic Garnacha vineyards.

The bold Garnacha is still beloved, but Navarra is finding its voice internationally and combining tradition with change.

Other areas in the Ebro Valley are also growing in popularity, especially the four Garnacha driven DOs of Aragon, Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Cariñena and Somontano. Juicy Garnacha is the primary driver, even in Cariñena, where its namesake grape is little planted.

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. . . e s r u o c e h t n o A life

La Sella Golf La Sella Golf Course was designed by the prolific José María Olazábal in 1991

RESERVATIONS Tel.:(+34) 966 454 252

José María Olazábal was double champion of the Masters in Agusta.

Enjoy in Denia a 27-holes course, known internationally for its excellent conditions for playing golf throughout the year. La Sella Golf has been headquarters of the Ladies European Tour, Spanish Female Championship and has hosted national team events and other big events. It is a wide and varied course, surrounded by the Natural Park of El Montgó. Its design is appropriate for all levels of players.

This is a very nice and spacious course. Good conditions of fairways and greens. I rented clubs and got brand new Taylor Made. I would recommend this course to everybody.

Year Built 1991 Designer/s Jose Mª. Olazábal Manager Carlos García Miranda de Larra President MaraBañó Greenkeeper Francisco García Golf Professional José Manuel Carriles y Dino Ferrer Layout difficulty 3 (1 easy to 5 hard) Approx. tee interval 8 min.

Buggy recommended No Buggy allowed in fairway Not necessary Maximum Handicaps Gents: 35 Ladies: 35

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South Town...

Mar Menor & La Manga

Mar Menor & La Manga The Mar Menor is an extensive coastal lagoon measuring some 170 square kilometres. Consisting of warm salt waters. this lagoon was originally a bay that opened out to the Mediterranean, but is now separated from the sea by a narrow bank of sand some 24 kilometres long known as La Manga. A curious whim of nature that presents extensive beaches washed by the sea on both sides. Due to the excellent climate in the area this is an ideal spot for pursuing all kinds of water-sports throughout the year.

Things to see San Pedro del Pinatar. The Regional Park of Las Salinas y Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar is an ideal place from which to observe migratory birds, such as the flamingo in autumn; it has its own Wetlands Research and Conservation Centre, “Las Salinas”, which houses the Park’s Visitors Centre. Neither should the Windmills of Quintínand La Calcetera be missed, or stately homes such as those of the Baron of Benifayó and the House of El Reloj, the latter built in the Modernist style. The fish auction at La Lonja, the Museum-Collection of the Sea and the Ethnographic Archaeological Museum are also well worth a visit.

San Javier. The Church and Parish Museum , the Museum of San Javier With its Hall of El Belén, the Ethnologicai Museum and the Museum of El Reportero.

Santiago de la Ribera. Based on a model grid design, the town features a beautiful promenade lined with age-old palm trees, the unique building of the Sailing Club and a number of summer mansions dating from the early years of the last century.

Los Alcazares. As well as enjoying the marvellous sea promenade, we can also admire the Tower of El Ramé (16th century), the Municipal Aeronautical Museum and the Hotel Spa of La Encarnación (19th century), which is equipped With a peculiar thermal system.

Cabo de Palos. In this fishing village we find the Lighthouse of Cabo de Palos (19th century), formerly used as a lighthouse operators’ school, and the Documentation and Exhibition Centre for the Region’s Tourist Resources.

Things to do The Mar Menor Sea Resort consists of a series of sailing, water-sports and tourist infrastructures grouped around the shores of the Mar Menor, offering visitors an entire range of activities and services at its more than 20 shoreline bases, enabling them to learn, perfect or simply enjoy sailing, water-skiing, scuba diving, motor-boating, canoeing, flysurfing, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. For scuba-diving lovers, these warm waters harbour sea-beds teeming with plant and animal life, such as the Marine Reserve of Cabo de PalosIslas Hormigas. Scuba divers will also be captivated by the remains of a number of sunken ships. Visitors can also enjoy a number of previously designed routes, either by sea (in canoe, sailing boat or motor-boat), or on land (bicycle, on horseback or on foot), as well as under the water.

You can also play golf on the nearby courses at La Manga Club Resort in Los Belones, at the Mar Menor Golf Resort in Torre-Pacheco, at Roda Golf in San Javier or at La Serena in Los Alcazares. Alternatively, you could discover small deserted coves where you can bathe naked, visit the Regional Parks of Calblanque and Las Salinas de San Pedro, undergo mudtherapy treatment at the thalassotherapy centres of La Manga and Lo Pagán or at the well-known Mud-baths at Las Charcas de las Salinas, or discover the “Winter beaches” of Santiago de la Ribera, which are perfectly equipped for visitors to enjoy the mild climate throughout the entire year.

The magnificent cultural delights on offer Include events such as the international Jazz Festival, the International Theatre, Music and Dance Festival, the Músicas del Alma Cycle and the Pecataminuta Music Festival, all of which are staged at San Javier. At Los Alcazares, visitors will enjoy the Semana de la Huerta (“Countryside Week”) in August and the “lncursionesBerberiscas“ (“Berber invasions”), a Medieval market and series of theatrical performances, during Holy Week, whilst in San Pedro they will be able to witness the Fiestas of La Virgen del Carmen in July, with the traditional seamen’s procession, as well as Holy Week itself, both of which have been declared to be of Regional Tourist interest.

Things to Buy and Eat The cuisine of the Mar Menor area is mainly based on local fish and shellfish products: Exquisite prawns from the Mar Menor, rice stew, salted fish and fried fish.

San Pedro del Pinatar. Salted fish products. Market on Monday mornings.

San Javier. Pastel de Cierva (typical pie) and tocino de cielo (rich custard dessert). Markets every Thursday morning in San Javier and Wednesday in Santiago de la Ribera.

Los Alcázares. Market on Tuesday and Saturday mornings.

Cabo de Palos. Market on Sunday morning.

La Manga. Leisure Centres are located at the Plaza Bohemia, El 2000 and the Tomas Maestre Harbour.

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27th Edition Miguel Indurain Sportif 2018.

On Friday 20th July 2018 we left the shop at 4.30 am four of us, our mechanic Harry Morrow, Martyn Stone and Stepson Mathew Moth Robertsonall set to travel the 700kms to Pamplona in Navarre for the 2019Pinarello roadshow and the 27th edition Miguel Indurain Sportif. It was an early start and a long journey however without any problems and quiet roads we arrived at our Hotel safely at 12noon where we immediately noticed the change in temperature, it was 10 degrees colder up here. We unloaded our bikes and checked in to our rooms then proceeded to the dining room for lunch as we were absolutely famished.After lunch we drove 10km to Pinarello’s factory where we were treated like royalty by the staff. We had cheese and wine and were shown round the factory before seeing the exciting new 2019Pinarello range, including new e-bikes and the reborn Prince superbike.

All dealers were given a 2019 model Pinarello Gan Disk with Ultegra groupset especially designed for the event which one of us had to use during the Sportifalong with special commemorative cycle top and shorts. We had a good chat with the Pinarello staff and learned all about the history of PinarelloEspana. It was their 25th Anniversary and we were all presented with a beautiful 1.5 lt bottle of Rioja in a lovely wooden case as a thank you for being part of the Pinarello family. We returned to the hotel at 6pm, got washed and changed ready to board the bus which took us to the El Torro Hotel in Villava, home of Miguel Indurian. The dining room was beautifully set for our 6 course evening meal with Miguel Indurian’sPinarello Time Trials bike and his Pinarello road bike both on display – these were the bikes that he used when he won the Tour De France on 5 separate occasions, 1991, 92, 93, 94 and 95.

After dinner Miguel Indurian gave an excellent presentation about his life and cycling in general (I’m glad that we had Harry to translate). At 1am we then boarded the buses to return to our hotel, it was an early rise the next morning with breakfast at 6am followed by a photo shoot with all the Pinarello dealers in Spain on Pinarello bikes in front of the hotel. Martyn was testing the new Gan. We left the hotel at 7am and cycled en mass for 30 minutes to the centre of the town in Vallava where again we had our photos taken with Miguel Indurain and Pinarello. All riders had to sign on just like the start of every stage in the tour before making their way to the start line where we got to start right at the front with Miguel as we were guests of Pinarello. There was 2 separate routes this year 160km and 100km, Harry, Martyn and myself opted for the short one whilst Moth had no choice he was doing the long one like it or not.

The race started promptly at 8.00am and the 4000 riders were soon underway. There were police outriders to the front and rear and at most junctions, the roads were completely closed for the first 50-60km after which the groups had thinned out considerably, the whole race was also televised by helicopter which followed us most of the way. There were many small accidents on route, especially now that it had started to rain and the usual amount of people at the side of the road with punctures.

Passing through all the small towns and villages it was amazing to see all of the inhabitants out cheering us on, this has been a major event for this area for the last 27 years. There was 2 category 3 climbs and one category 2 climb on our route giving a total ascent of 1500metres with a total distance of 100kms and the temperature never rose above 20 degrees which was great for us. After 2hr 58 Harry crossed the finish line and had secured a Gold medal for his class, I finished 12 minutes behind Harry and Martyn finished in 3hrs 29 meaning we both also got Gold medals in our class. Moth who was doing the long one had come off in the rain along with another 5 riders however he just picked himself up checked his bike and got on with it finishing in 55th position and just missing a gold medal by 10mins but still got Silver and a big scar on his leg, the main thing is we all finished safely. The event was well sponsored with live music at the end, food for the competitors and many of the large sponsors had tents and were displaying bikes and accessories. There was secure parking for all bikes, free food and drink, and also massages for anyone willing to queue.The weather by now had settled and was dry. The prize giving unfortunately was not until 4pm and as it was only 12 noon we decided to cycle back to the hotel for a gin and tonic.

We had decided to stay overnight as last year we drove home immediately after the race and were all knackered.Saturday night we got a taxi into the centre of Pamplona for supper then back to the hotel for an early night. Sunday morning we were up early refuelled the van after loading the bikes and hit the road. It was raining most of the way back and it soon turned into sleet followed by heavy snow forcing the traffic almost to a standstill after about 10km it cleared and we soon saw the temperature rise and as we approached the Costa Blanca the sun was out.

This was a fantastic weekend which was exceptionally well organized from the start to the finish, it was so nice to meet Miguel Indurain again in person and also get the opportunity to cycle with him on the Saturday morning, he is a really nice guy. Pinarello did us proud with their commitment to their own road show and to the Sportif making sure everything went smooth and was a success.

Looking forward to next year’s event already .

Team “Cyclogical” meet every Tuesday and Thursday nights at 5.30pm and Sunday mornings at 8am and cover between 90 and 120kms at a moderate to fast pace so if you fancy a challenge come along and join us. Looking to improve your fitness,riding ability and speed and also have a new group of friends to train with then why not come along and give it a try or call Gary on 637487377.

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od k Fo rin D

D.O. Food

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Food & Drink Section Part 2

A wide variety, and delicious too - There are over 250 foods and drinks protected by this quality control system.

Getting to know them will also give you the chance to visit different regions of Spain. There is a wide variety of products: from cheeses, vegetables, pulses and cured meats, to drinks, sweets and spices. Nevertheless, there is one group that stands out especially - wines. Who hasn’t heard of wines from La Rioja or cava sparkling wine?

Alongside them there are other D.O. wines of extraordinary quality that you could sample in a very enjoyable way: by going on Spain’s wine routes.

To go with the wine there are top-quality foods such as Iberian cured ham: some of the most famous hams are those bearing the seals of Guijuelo (Castile-León Region), Dehesa de Extremadura (Extremadura Region), Huelva and Trevé lez (both these last from Andalusia). As far as cheeses are concerned there is also plenty of choice, including, Cabrales (Asturias), Idiazábal (Basque Country), Mahón (Balearic Islands), Tetilla (Galicia), Manchego (Castile-La Mancha) and Palmero (Canary Islands).

For those with a sweet tooth, there are products like honey from Granada or “turrón“ (almond sweet) from Jijona (Region of Valencia). Salads take on a whole new meaning with an olive oil from regions like Jaén or Cordoba, and vinegar from Huelva or Jerez. If you like paella and rice dishes, then try one from Albufera Valencia, seasoned with saffron from La Mancha - the results are spectacular.

There is a wide, varied list of Spanish products with the Designation of Origin seal. Choose your destination and discover the quality of its produce

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13 Restaurants you must visit in the Murcia Region Part 2

supplied by Murcia Services.

According to a recent survey, the majority of expatriates living on some of the golf resorts and urbanisations, really aren´t getting the most out of the Murcia region´s vibrant cuisine. Murcia Services have compiled a list of restaurants (in no particular order) you absolutely have to try, hopefully most of them will be new to you. Enjoy!

Angela restaurant / pizzeria – Rio Nalon – Los Alcazares Angelas restaurant / pizzeria is a great restaurant established 18 years ago. Their moto is, Enjoy the full Italian experience at the Mar Menor, and at Angelas you certainly can do just that. Whether your Italian favourite is pizza based, or pasta, Angelas cater for everyone. They also a great range of starters including cesar salad and a plate of Italian ham and cheese.

This is one of those restaurants that when you have been once, you will want to go back to again and again. From friendly staff to excellent food and wine the experience is just faultless from start to finish.Situated directly opposite the hotel spa Narejos, why not combine a trip to angelas with a romantic stay at the hotel.

Recommendations – Everything Address: Los Narejos, Los Alcazares Phone: 968 57 42 88

Escuela de Pieter – La Manga Escuela de Pieter is an absolutely stunning restaurant situated towards the top of La Manga strip. The restaurant spoils its guests with arguably one of the most spectacular sunsets in the region and its own private beach.

The outdoor dining area features a wide variety of seating arrangements, from circular booths to beach-side tables and tall bar stool tables, all without feeling crowded or over-looked by other guests.

The service and knowledge of the staff are impressive and the variety of food is wide enough to please most,from vegetarians to meat-eaters. Our recommendation – Paella – Fresh and authentically made, the paella at Escuela de Pieter is a definite crowd-pleaser.

Telephone: 968 437 059 / 617 329 326 Address: LA MANGA DEL MAR MENOR, SAN JAVIER (Murcia) Email: reservas@escueladepieter.com

Cafe Cielo Bar – Marina de Las Salinas Cafe Cielo Bar is a family run business who have worked tirelessly over the past 9 years to establish themselves as one of the best restaurants in the San Pedro del Pinatar port.

Over the years they have modified their menu to keep up with the times. Now catering for the vegan and celiac market, there is definitely something for everyone on the menu.

We recently visited Ceilos and were blown away by the food and especially impressed by the attention to detail and knowledge of their products. We tried the Lamb Leg “Burger”, a blend of minced lamb meat and 15 herbs and spices on a potato rosti with a side salad and for the vegan eater at our visit, sauteed mushrooms marinated in red wine with roasted almonds complemented with a cannellini bean and garlic puree, enough to get even the most fullblooded meat-eaters watering at the mouth.

Recommendations – Ask the staff about their selection of rare wines Address: Marina de Las Salinas, San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia Telephone: 686 12 08 54

El Sibarita Restaurant – Torreagüera

El Pasaje de Zabalburu – Murcia City

El Sibarita is a hidden gem in the village of Torreagüera.

With ample indoor seating, El Sibarita is more than big enough for large groups (we have more than a handful of events there ourselves). Their menu is extremely creative and is updated regularly with some interesting additions.

Over the years we´ve been astounded by the versatility of their chef, serving up some incredibly intricate dishes. One that stands out, in particular, is the tuna tartar coated in an edible wax to give it the appearance of a tomato, as well as a mixture of other compliments, all of which are not whatthey appear to be.

Hidden towards the back of Plaza de Las Flores in Murcia city centre, El Pasaje de Zabalburu is one of the best restaurants in the entire region of Murcia, with its squid ink croquette being voted the best tapa in the region. Apart from the croquettes, El Pasaje is full of incredible dishes that will definitely have you coming back for more. Our personal favourite is the “Queso Explosivo” – Melted cheese fried in breadcrumbs, seasoned with popping candy! A strange combination I know, but the two ingredients compliment each other fantastically. They also make for a great conversation piece for anyone who doesn´t know what to expect.

Considering the sheer complexity of some of their dishes, the final bill will definitely surprise you! A meal for 2 including 4 starters, a bottle of wine, a couple cocktails, main course and dessert, will give you change from 70€. They also offer set menus with an open bar and 5 courses from 20€ pp.

You can choose from either the seated dining area at the rear of the restaurant if you prefer more of a formal dining experience, or you can sit at the bar area and enjoy the delicious tapas they have to offer. It’s not all tapas though, there are also some beautiful fish and meat dishes,as well as their enormous house salad.

Recommendations – Magret de Pato Address: Torreaguera, Murcia Phone: 968 87 40 84 *given the location, you won´t be likely to find English speaking staff, although they do provide an English menu.

Recommendations – “Queso Explosivo” Address: Plaza San Pedro, Murcia Telefone: 622 62 21 67

Del Gallo Blues – Murcia City

Meson del Vino – Sucina

Located just outside the city centre of Murcia, Del Gallo Blues has been voted as one of the best restaurants in the area. With live music year-round and a varied modern menu, you´ll be sure to have a memorable experience.

Meson del Vino is a gem of a restaurant located off the beaten track in the small tourist town of Sucina. Inside the restaurant, the walls are traditionally decorated to look like a Spanish bodega.

The overall design of the place has been thoughtfully laid out and offers you a wide choice of eating situations, from the outdoor chillout area to the impressive dining hall.

Using locally sourced produce, the menu includes a great range of dishes such as Sushi, Steak Tartar and JamonIberico. Set menus with an open bar starting from 32€ per person.

They offer an extensive menu featuring traditional authentic Spanish cuisine. This can be accompanied by their vast range of wines. If you need help pairing your wine to your menu, ask your knowledgeable waiter.

There are always daily specials to tempt you further and help you experience traditional Spanish cuisine

Recommendations – Funghi Rissoto Address: Camino del Palmeral, 12 – 30100 – El Puntal – Murcia Telefone: 968 830 161 / 968 858 118 Email: info@grupodrinkandeat.com

The restaurant can be busy so booking is recommended.

Recommendations – Steak or camenbert Address: Camino de las Cercas, Sucina Telefone: 693 95 58 88

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Spanish recipe

AJOPRINGUE

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

Ingredients for 4 people: 1kg of pig’s liver 1 heaped spoon of lard 4 cloves of garlic 1 teaspoon of oregano a pinch of ground cinnamon 2 spoonfuls of breadcrumbs 2 teaspoons of pine nuts

. . . t i k o o c How to

Preparation Chop the liver into cubes and put it to fry in a saucepan with the lard.

Save two pieces.

Put the peeled garlic cloves, the two pieces of liver, the oregano and the cinnamon into a mortar.

Mash them well by hand while adding a little water.

When the mixture is ready, put it into the dish where the liver is frying and let it boil.

Add the pine nuts and breadcrumbs to thicken the sauce and leave it on the heat for another 5 minutes until the sauce is ready.

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Situated on the popular La Torre Golf Resort with on-site facilities such as a supermarket, hairdressers & beauty salon 16 communal pools, bars and a clubhouse.

G¨ Åw%‫ژ‬Fk ¨‫ ژ‬¥ ¨¾u-w¾ kƌȽ‫¾ژ‬ƷȵȵƌɼƌȽ‫ژ‬ưƷ‫ژ‬kƌ‫¾ژ‬ȏȵȵƷ 2 bedrooms - 1 Bathroom - Private Terrace & Lake Views.

This apartment on Las Terrazas Golf Resort has its own private terrace and garden area with spectacular golf views and a stream at the bottom of the garden.

-k‫ژ‬Ý kk-‫ژ‬G kF‫ ژ‬k ¨‫ژ‬ -ǹ‫ژ‬ÝƌǹǹƷ‫ژ‬GȏǹǑ‫¨ژ‬ƷȽȏȵɋ 3 bedrooms - 2 Bathrooms - Private Pool & Lake Views.

Finished to an incredibly high standard, there are very few Aclor Villas left that are as impressive as this one.

Get in touch today for more information

w-Þ‫ ژ‬ÅUk%‫ژ‬ÝUkk ° kȏȽ‫ ژ‬ǹƩƌɼƌȵƷȽ 2/3 bedrooms - 2 Bathrooms - Private Pool.

With prices starting from just 219,950€, these new build

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villas offer fantastic value for money in a great location just 5 minutes from the beach.

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North Town...

Alicante

Alicante Province The province of Alicante is located in eastern Spain in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, in the region known as Costa Blanca, the province is bordered by Valencia to the north, Murcia in the south west and the Mediterranean Sea to the east.

Alicante is one of the most popular provinces as a tourist destination, with the famous resorts of Alicante, its capital city, Benidorm, Denia, Elche and Torrevieja.

Thousands of visitors flock here every year to enjoy beautiful blue flag beaches, all year mild climate, delicious cuisine and friendly, warm welcome from the locals.

History Documented records show that the Iberians were the first inhabitants of the Alicante province and there are several archaeological sites in the region, which depict this era, one in particular is La Serreta (near Alcoy).

Javea is a small, historic town; free of high rise buildings offering a relaxing holiday atmosphere. The local people are friendly and affable. The clean, warm, blue Mediterranean Sea laps the beautiful beaches and coves that Javea has to offer.

The area was subsequently occupied by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthagians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and finally conquered by Ferdinand III in the 13th century. At one point in history, the region formed a part of the Kingdom of Valencia.

Santa Pola is located approximately 20 minutes drive south of Alicante airport. A small fishing port, Santa Pola is famous for its variety of landscapes, from the views of the distant mountains to the wild sand dunes.

Towns and villages of Alicante The air in the capital city of Alicante is pervaded with the scents of the sea; indeed the city has been an important seaport for many centuries. There is nothing as pleasant as strolling along the quayside promenade lined by four rows of palms, tessellated with marble in Alicante red, cream and black in imitation of the waves of the Mediterranean.

In the centre of the La Marina Baixa region, in the province of Alicante, is the popular Spanish resort of Benidorm, one of the main tourist destinations along the Costa Blanca. Its excellent beaches, wide variety of accommodation, restaurants and many recreational activities means it’s a hit with tourists from all over Spain and Northern Europe.

At the heart of the Costa Blanca, within the province of Alicante, lies the ancient fishing village of Calpe. Calpe has a wonderful modern marina that sits alongside the old fishing port; from here it is possible to take boat rides around the rock and to the nearby resort of Benidorm.

Denia is a delightful cosmopolitan town that sits at the foot of a hill crowned by a castle. The city has well preserved ancient walls and bastions.

Benitachell is a tranquil and picturesque village, originally an Arab outpost, with a stunning coastline nearby, which is formed by a succession of cliffs of more than a 100m high that descend vertically into the sea.

Altea is without doubt one of the most charming towns to be found on Spain’s ‘White Coast’, located in the region of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. The town is just 11 kilometres north of Benidorm, yet the two resorts are worlds apart. Altea is similar to other Costa Blanca towns in that it has a new and an old neighbourhood. The old section is perched on top of a hill from where you will find really spectacular views.

Cuisine Try any of the delicious varieties of rice dishes, combined with shellfish, fish or meat that are renowned in the region of Alicante. To complete your meal, Alicante has some excellent local wine denominations, and for dessert, don’t forget the famous ice creams, Turron and dates.

Climate The province of Alicante enjoys a privileged location and an excellent mild climate, with an average year round temperature of 18-20° C.

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  - -

WE HELP PEOPLE THROUGHOUT SPAIN EVERY DAY

The Avalon team explain how diǀerent the complex funeral system is here in Spain to both non-residents and those that live here all year round.

This aǀects everybody so we are committed to helping all UK, Irish and European citizens make informed choices.

• We also check all types of insurance to ensure each person is covered for everything they need to be.

• We oǀer a tailor made funeral plan to suit every client which is fixed at today’s cost.

Avalon Team Avalon has onjces throughout Spain

671 935 072

All our members are covered in Spain and the UK. You will automatically be covered immediately regardless of health issues or age.

www.alifeinspain.com - JAN2017 2018 31 www.alifeinspain.com - AUG 31

Places to visit in a day

El

e v o r G e v i l O e r Tend

The oil press company “El Tendre” dates back to 1839, when Don Joaquin Sempere Garcia founded the olive oil mill on 20th April 1939. Since it´s foundation, the company has maintained it´s traditional and familiar structure and working methods. This ongoing work has made this mill one of the oldest mills in Spain .

Six generations of the Sempere family have been taking care of this “gold liquid” thereby offering the world the opportunity of improving their quality of life.

Olive Oil Process at El Tendre

Do you want to know how Extra virgin olive oil has been made since ancient times?

1.Separation of the olives. By using vibrating belts we can remove the olives from the leaves, stones and dirt.

Visit El Tiendre Oil museum, where you can enjoy a walk through history, discovering the instruments that were used for the extraction of this liquid gold.

History, art and culture come together in the oil museum, which has the permanent exhibition of the local artist Antonia Soler.

2.The olives are washed in water before being stored in tanks to start the grinding process.

The museum shows a historical part of past times of the city and also offers the exhibition of utensils for the pressing of olives and producing olive oil. From the origin in 1839 until 1990 the mill worked with presses and the packaging was by hand. You can also find out how the oil was made in antiquity, as well as objects related to the founder of the mill Joaquín Sempere and all his descendants to the present day.

An oil mill with 179 years of history, tradition, evolution and innovation. Awaits you Some of the countries they export to •Canada: 5,000 litre´s per year since 2008 •United States of America: 30,000 litres per year since 2008 •France: 50,000 litres per year since 2005 •Germany: 10,000 litre´s per year since 2007 •Austria: 10,000 litre´s per year since 2007 And Now in Taiwan Almazara El Tendre Partida de Alzabares Alto, 233, 03290 Elche Tel: 965 45 23 39 628 52 52 55 (English, French, Arabic, German) Email:info@eltendre.com

It is not easy to explain the whole process of olive oil production in just a few lines, but these are the most important steps

3.With a total capacity of 150,000kg, at El Tendre we grind the olives at a rate of 10,000kg per hour, 24 hours a day for three months per season. This lasts from November to January.

4.In the mill, we break the bones of the olive and extract the oil and vitamins and knead together to mix with the skin.

5.Our machines work the mass to separate the oil from the bones.

6.After initial extraction the olive oil is thicker because we use a filter to separate the rest of the bones 7.Then a machine works as a turbine to separate the remaining water from the oil. The oil is now ready to be stored underground.

8.The oil is stored underground for at least one week, to allow any possible excess water and oil grind to move to the bottom of the well, before being removed and stored in drums.

9.When required, the olive oil is then bottled in numerous shapes, sizes and formats for our clients. We bottle an average of 30,000 litre´s per day and more than 1,000,000 litre´s per season. In the “El Tendre” shop, visitors are able to buy our olive oil as well as being able to visit the museum and also taste our products.

902 123 070

TM

*Based on fully comprehensive. O ffer valid for new customers only. O ffer ends 31/08/18. Not valid for renewals. Subjec t to company under writing regulations. **O ffer valid for existing customers only. Discount on second polic y. Cashback paid on first premium.

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e l fi o r P y Compan Care 4 You in Spain has one philosophy, “We are passionate about care, provided in a professional manor, ALWAYS delivered to the highest standard, fulfilling every individuals needs and expectations.”

Care 4 you in Spain is a fully insured domiciliary care company established in Spain for 13 years providing much needed care at home, taking over where the Spanish health system ends. Over the years we have forged a good relationship with the local hospitals in the area, and have numerous contacts and colleagues in many fields to assist in making life a little easier.

We offer services from 1 hour of companionship, home help to personal and live in care. Our team of professional carers ́ are highly experienced in caring for people of any age who may be suffering from any medical condition, hospital after care and those who find themselves in a mental or physical situation.

Many of our clients are simply elderly people living alone where assistance and security can aid the sense of well-being for some while helping towards recovery for others. In many cases we support the families and friends of those we care for so they can carry on with their lives secure in the knowledge that one of our carers is there.

When we are called, a senior member of the team visits the home and makes an assessment totally free of charge. A care plan is compiled which clearly sets out the needs of the individual and the services that will be provided, this is also accompanied by a daily record book that will be filled in by the carer.

Care 4 you in Spain

Tel:968 198 590 Email: info@care4youinspain.com Av. Doctor Artero Guirao, San Pedro del Pinatar 30740, Murcia

If you are in need of some assistance or you have a family member, neighbour or friend that you are concerned about don ́t hesitate in contacting us. We are here to help in any way we can at any time and promise you our absolute discretion at all times.

See our ad on page 25

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Buying or selling property in Spain?

Relax and let moneycorp take care of your international payments.

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4 Signs A Buyer Isn’t Serious About Your Home Everyone loves to see an excited home buyer walk through their door. They love to hear the ooh’s and ahh’s as the buyer takes their time, and walks through their home. Hearing the buyer say “this is exactly what we’re looking for,” and “this is the house for me, I can feel it!” as they excitedly hold their chest, would make any home seller think they’ve found the perfect buyer for their home. But, as everything in life, it’s not what people say, it’s what they do that really matters.

3.A cheeky offer: Everyone wants a bargain – BUT, if the buyer is offering an unreasonably low amount, this is a sure sign that they don’t really want the house.

Serious buyers make their best offers, because they don’t want to lose the house. When buyers know their low offer was refused, this gives them an excuse to walk away without any shame.

It’s hard not to get your hopes up, as a home seller, when you hear such comments, but when the buyer doesn’t follow through and disappears into the night, it leaves you with a feeling of disappointment and thoughts of “did we say something wrong?”

Here are 4 signs that a buyer isn’t serious about your home: 1.The buyer is flying solo: If only one half of the couple is out on the viewing appointment, and their other half is not with them. This is usually a sign of lack of interest in the home. 98% Of the time, the buyer cannot and will not make a decision alone, without their partner viewing the property with them.

2.A speedy visit: Time is everything, and when a buyer is quicker than Speedy Gonzalez, this is the biggest telltale sign that they have no interest in your home whatsoever. When they make you feel like you have to push them inside the rooms, to make them look around, means you are losing the battle from the start. Body language is everything, and although the buyer may think they are being polite because they aren’t saying much, their body language is speaking volumes of what they really think.

4.Lots of nitpicking: When a buyer says in one breath, “you have a wonderful home,” then in the next “but there are lots of things that need changing” this means they are trying to find as much fault with your home as possible. If someone was genuinely interested in your home, they would see past any minor issues, but when they come along with their long list of “things in the home that need attention” means they are obsessed with finding fault, and more importantly provides them with an easy exit.

Remember, if your buyers are taking their time to have a good look around, they are trying to imagine themselves living there! Slow and steady, wins the race!

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