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SPAIN A Life in inside...
South Town
magazine • portal • webtv
.COM issue 30 Mar 2019
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Valley of Ricote & Cieza
North Town
Zamora
Places In A Day
Wine Article Let´s talk wine
Alhama De Murcia
Cover picture by Inmobiliaria, see advert on page 18
find your dream property at
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PAGE 26
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ALifeinSpain.com #Edition 30 • March 2019 Contents...
Food & Drink Section
Architects Angle
How much is your house in Spain worth? (Part 1)
Main article
32 Wine Article:
Let´s Talk Wine
8&9
Spanish migas Spanish recipe
Spanish migas
19 - 22
Go Plastic free to save the sea Nº6 - 0 Waste & Plastic Free
16
Let´s Learn Spanish
12 Places to visit in a day Alhama de Murcia
Welcome to the March edition of ALIS. Winter is ebbing away, and the temperatures are rising. For me, the next 2 or 3 months are the best time to be in Spain.
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Andres Gomez, Sommelier and Manager at La Diligente is continuing his writing the wine section and filling us with knowledge about Spanish wines. You can also contact them for wine tasting and purchases. See details on page 9.
Agent´s Diary
We are also starting 2 new features this month which will hopefully enlighten us to this beautiful country. The history of Spain will take us back in time so we can see how Spain developed into what we know today. Whilst there is also a feature on learning Spanish courtesy of CSE.
39
with Rebecca Serwotka
Places to visit in a day focuses on Alhama de Murcia. This lovely town has something for everyone, even down to an english afternoon tea room.
24
Enjoy!
A Night at
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Places to visit in a day Alhama is one of those places you can go to visit, park your car and spend a full day just wandering around. However,there are certain places that you must see on your walk about. The first port of call needs to be the excellent tourist office in the centre of the town not far from the Ayuntamiento (town hall). Indeed a prior phone call is recommended to check opening times and events for the week ahead (+34 968 63 35 12). Tuesday is a busy day in Alhama as it is Market day. It is one of the largest markets in the region with goods to buy varying from fresh fruit, vegetables and fish to clothing, plants and fresh roast chicken. After you have bought your goods visit any of the many cafes within a five minute walk and enjoy excellent coffee and cake or “tostada” and give your feet a rest. On the theme of food,there are so many restaurants and cafes in the town you are really spoilt for choice. We have never encountered a bad one and most will do a really good value lunch and be open in the evenings for a more varied menu.
a i c r u M e d a m Alha For the more adventurous, there are walks around the town and to the castle which is still undergoing renovation but is still accessible. If you want to head for the hills, the Sierra Espuna is a short drive away. Maps are available at the tourist office and look out for guided walks. Many are free. At the foot of the castle you will find “Los Banos” Archealogical Museum. It is close to the church “San Lazar Obispo” . Los Banos were constructed to preserve the 2000 year old Roman and Arab baths. It is a very authentic experience and entrance is free so there is no reason to miss it. Opening times are varied so it is worth checking but is open to the public all year round. The church next door is a beautiful building built, allegedly, over an old mosque. Given the proximity of the baths ((for cleansing before prayer) this would be logical. The plaza to the side of the church is the site of the original cemetery. There is a very imposing entrance which is very practical as the starting point for the Easter Parades (Semana Santa). Alhama is very cultural with art exhibitions, craft fairs, free outdoor concerts and much much more. Too much, in fact, to include here. There are also regular bus services to nearby cities and a train service to Murcia (and beyond) and in the opposite direction to Aguilas via Totana and Lorca. If you prefer, you can just explore the town and find all that is available at random but to plan your trip make us of the excellent Tourist office where English is spoken or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/d/spain-alhama-demurcia/events/ Finally, maybe you should consider going more than once!!
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Wine Article
Let’s talk WINE
. … t s a o t ast or not to
To To
In these times we know mostly the toast as the moment of a celebration in which the guests get up and clash the glasses to express good wishes. The definitions according to every dictionary of “a toast” is an expression of good wishes or respect for someone that involves raising your glass and drinking. This is the most beautiful part of a toast. Everybody loves to raise and drink, it is also the best way to express gratitude, and sometimes we could say a toast is the starting line of a celebration or party. CHEERS! It is curious to know, unless you speak German, that the term toast comes from the German phrase“bring dir’s”which means ‘I offer this to you’ and it was said at the moment of the raising. Centuries before we assigned this ‘Germanism’ to refer to the toast, is when the act itself was originated. The darkside of the TOAST. According to studies in the IV century B.C. in ancient Rome, people normally liked to poison people. It was a common habit in the high society; Political conspiracies, crimes of forbidden lovers and family quarrels could be solved by poison.
The best way to use this functional and effective troubleshooter was in the wine glass of the victim. This way the taste of the Wine will hide the strong flavours of the poison and the poison will be served with the Wine. To keep safe, people started to strong clasping their glasses (horns and pottery glasses) between the guests in the event, which caused the liquid to pass from one glass to the other. This simple gesture would make every glass at the celebration have the same content, making it clear that there had been no poisoning by any of the guests and thus they drank the same. Fortunately those times have passed and now it is not so usual to poison people through drinking. So we can drink again without fears and with passion, You have no excuses to offer and choose a good wine since this way you will enjoy more of the experience and enjoy the toast as a form of celebration and good wishes. To complete the enjoyment of the senses that the wine gives (sight, smell, taste and touch), now we can hear the ‘clink’ between glasses, sounds also participate in this tasting ritual. Cheers.....
h t n o m e Wine of th
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Pazo de Barrantes 2017
Grape variety: Albariño 100%, Rias Baixas DO controlled fermentation in stainles steel, and a short ageing with fine lees.
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Bright lemon pale white wine with thin legs on the glass. Medium aromas intensity with lemon blossoms and pear and some grapefruit aromas. It also has some fresh mint notes. A good work with the fine lees has allowed to obtain a perfect balance and an excellent volume in the mouth, dry with freshness and a strong expression of the Albariño variety.
Pairing: Carabinier tartar, bass cebiche grapefruit and orange salads with
crunchy bacon, white asparagus, white prawns, grilled scallops, all the croquettes you can find, marinated sardines and anchovies ...
The Pairing Challenge: Taste this fresh and balanced white wine with the LA DILIGENTE typical mediterranean baked or grilled octopus.
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controled lees.
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MURCIA www.ladiligente.es
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You can find and buy this wine in LA DILIGENTE. Wine tasting from 8€ pp. Min. 8 people. Contact for details. Located in Avenida Murcia, 9 - El Jimenado 30708 - MURCIA www.ladiligente.es Opening Time Monday to Friday 10h - 14h and 17h -20h Saturday 10h - 14h Also delivery contact ladiligente@ladiligente.es
nd 17h -20h Saturday 10h - 14h te@ladiligente.es
09
a d a s e u Q d Ciuda
If it’s a place that you’re looking to reside in permanently, or a place you can enjoy holidays, then Ciudad Quesada is definitely the perfect place to be. Established back in the 1970’s Ciudad Quesada belongs to the small Spanish village of Rojales and offers a multitude of places to shop during the day with entertainment at night. Quesada itself is famous for it’s “La Marquesa” 18 hole Championship Golf Course, with Putting Green and Driving Range. The Golf Club House with restaurant facilities are open to the public year round, which makes it inviting to both professional and novice golfers. Entertaining kids of all ages, is the water park that operates from June to September. A popular attraction since opening in the 1980’s! From the well known “Arches” at the entrance of Ciudad Quesada, the main street welcomes even the most discerning resident or guest into its warm and
Inmobiliaria Real Estate Email: sales@homes4u.es Tel: 966 718 392 Website: www.homes4u.es
diverse culture. Especially with so many different nationalities living here! Numerous restaurants, bars, banks, supermarkets and medical centres you’ll find located amongst this vast village, together with a bus service if you’re more inclined to take things easy and not drive! A mere 15 minute drive from Ciudad Quesada, you’ll find beautiful white, sandy and safe bathing beaches of Guardamar del Segura, or Torrevieja. Ciudad Quesada is a highly sought after area, as the 30 minute drive from Alicante-Elche airport, means you’re never far away for a speedy commute.
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Let’s Learn Spanish Phrases
TAPAS
English / Spanish / Pronunciation What can I get you? / ¿Qué te pongo? / Kay te pohn-go I’ll have / Pon me(item) / Pohnme (see list below) An individual portion / una tapa / oona ta-pa A portion for sharing / una ración / oona rah-thi-on I’d like to pay / Quiero pagar / kyer-o pag-ar In cash / en efectivo / enn eff-eck-tee-vo By credit card / con tarjeta - kon taar-het-ta
Hot tapas
Cold tapas Ensaladilla Rusa / en-sal-la-deeya roo-sa / diced cooked vegetables and tuna in mayonnaise
Magra con tomate / mag-rar kon tom-ah-tay / cubed pieces of pork in a thick tomato sauce
Ensaladilla de Marisco / en-sal-la-dee-ya dayma-reesko / diced seafood in mayonnaise
Croquetas / kro-keh-tas / often jamón or cheese, fish or even game, with a thick creamy centre with breadcrumbs and then fried.
Tortilla / tor-tee-ya / omelette cooked with potatoes or another ingredient Jamón y Queso / ha-mon ee kay-so / Spanish dry cured ham and cheese Embutidos / em-boo-tee-doh-s / a selection of dried, cured meats and sausages
Albóndigas / al-bohn-dee-gas / meatballs, often served in a watery broth or tomato sauce Buñuelos / boun-nwel-los / often made with cod, a deepfried batter with fish pieces Revuelta / rrh-well-ta / scrambled eggs with another ingredient, eg. mushrooms
Now try our wordsearch:
Centre of Studies Escobar Email: info@csemurcia.com Tel: 968 00 22 53 Website: www.csemurcia.com
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13
South Town... Valley of Ricote & Cieza
Valley of Ricote & Cieza Also known as the Valle M o r i s c o (“Moorish Valley�). due to the fact that this was the last redoubt of the Moors in Spain, the River Segura has made this a lush and almost unknown corner of Murcia, creating a fertile landscape of fruit and palm trees. Any visit to the valley must start at the Visitors Centre in Archena, a good starting-point for discovering the area and enjoying a form of tourism based on active tourism and rural and health pursuits.
www.espuna-adventure.com
968 631 008
Things to see Archena. Set among dense gardens located on the banks of the River Segura, we find the thermal waters of the Spa, which were used during the Roman Age and in whose enclosure we can visit the Shrine of the Virgen de la Salud (1854) and the Casino, of Neo~ Classical style. The cultural itinerary includes the Church of San Juan Bautista (18th century), the Castle of Don Mario and the Visitor Centre at the Small Palace of El Parque Villa Rias.
Things to do Archena. Enjoy the charms of the Spa, which still preserves its late 19th century atmosphere, while also offering the latest in health and beauty treatments. Riverside walks or bike rides.
Villanueva. This secluded and peaceful town invites us to stroll up to the Church of La Asunción, of Neo-Classical style and then walk down to the river bank by crossing the paths of La Huerta Vieja, the “Nuns’ Meadow”, or climb up to the viewing-point at the Hermitage of San Roque.
Ulea. Routes through the town to enjoy its unique buildings and riverbank landscapes. Don’t miss “El Gurugú”, where you can enjoy views across the area’s agricultural landscapes
Ulea. From the viewing point of El Corazón de Jesús we can admire the town, with its Church of San Bartolomé (16th century), the Casa Parroquial (Presbytery) and the Small Temple of El Henchidor, where the Cross is washed every 3rd of May. Ojòs. The houses of noble families still preserve their coats-ofarms and grilles dating from the 17th century. Visitors really must see the Church of San Agustin, the Dam of El Azud, the Wash House and the Natural Beauty Spot of El Solvente. Ricote. Set in the mountains and surrounded by palm trees and lemon trees, the town’s streets and small squares transport us back to another age. Visitors will find two marvellous examples of Baroque architecture: the Small Palace of Llamas, with its magnificent stairwell, and the Church of San Sebastian. These two buildings preserve two veritable jewels: a sculpture of San José de Salzillo and the organ of Llamas, of Baroque style and the oldest instrument of its kind in the diocese. Blanca. Departing from the Moorish Fortress located on Pena Negra, we cross the old Moorish neighbourhood and reach the Church of San Juan Evangelista, the House of La Favorita (19th century) and the Mansion of El Conde de Trenor (19th century), which has been converted into a hotel and restaurant. On the outskirts of the town we find the Hermitage of San Roque (18th century). Abaran. Visit the Hermitage of the Holy Doctors, San Cosme and San Damian, the Shrine of La Virgen del Oro and the Church of San Pablo (17th century) or take a stroll along the Route of the Water Wheels. Cieza. Visitors will admire the remains of Medina Siyasa, a Moorish site located on the Castle Hill, the Shrine of La Virgen del Buen Suceso (panoramic view), the Church of La Asuncion (18th century), the Balcón del Muro with its ancient fortress and walls, the La Serreta cave and the interesting Wind-power Station (guided visits), not to mention the Museums of Medina Siyasa, the Teodoro Mill and the Small Esparto Museum.
Villanueva. Walking route across La Huerta Vieja, “El Golgo” and “El Pilarico“. Route along the banks of the River Segura, which features information boards and areas for fishing
Ojòs. Stroll through the gardens and paths along the river to discover the multiple uses of water. Ricote. Enjoy the excellent local food and wine. Excursions on foot or by bicycle through magnificent mountain ranges. Blanca. Canoeing and rafting along the river, horse-riding routes, and trekking and bicycle routes. Ecological routes. Go swimming at the river beaches at El Arenal or the canoe club. Abarán. Route of the Water Wheels, including the Great Water Wheel that dates back to 1805, this being the largest wheel still in use in Spain. Cieza. Climbing on the Peak of El Almorchón. Why not have a dip in the beauty spot known as La Presa and visit the Spring of El Gorgotón, located in the Canyon of Los Almadenes, Trekking and mountain bike routes. Things to Buy and Eat. Archena. Horn of Merengue y Pitisús. Traditional sausage meats made in accordance with handcrafted methods. Villanueva. Murcian rice, roast lamb and bread baked in woodfired ovens. Palm leaf brooms. Ulea. Esparto products. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Ojós. Bizcochos borrachos (a typical sweet dish). Ricote. Home made wine, roast lamb and suckling pig. Local handicrafts. Blanca. Esparto rugs, traditional sausage meats and honey Abaràn. Picardias, turones (nougat) and handmade sweets. Lacework and Nativity Scene accessories. Cieza. Split olives seasoned with fennel and salt, peaches, horchata de avellana (ground hazelnut drink) and tortas de pan domino (fiat bread cakes),
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Find us at: Playa Flamneca on Saturday Zoco Market on Sunday
Go Plastic free to save the sea
e
Nº6 - 0 Waste & Plastic Fre
Plastic Free living - get a refillable ceramic or metal cup for hot drinks and carry it with you. I have treated myself to a nice ceramic cup with whale motif from Starbucks with a plastic sealable lid (ok it’s s plastic lid but at least it isn’t single use) but pricey at €22. I used to take a lot of takeaway hot drinks to the office or in the car from the restaurants after breakfast, but I have stopped doing that. The easiest thing in Spain is to drink the coffee at the bar rather than take away. But for longer drinks like teas, I drink a lot of camomile tea in the winter, it is so easy to carry in these refillable cups. However, ironically Starbucks are serving everyone in the restaurant with plastic coated paper cups with plastic lids, they could just as easily serve clients with ceramic cups and mugs in the restaurant and the do not. Why!!!!!!. For better priced metal and glass refillable drinks bottles and cups, Carrefour in Dos Mares have a great selection. of my hot and cold thermos which was heavily used all weekend, it was ideal for cold water during the day and hot water in the evening for tea. To me all drinks taste better out of plastic By, Hilary from Murcia Golf Homes
17
talk radio europe
It’s hard to avoid summer sangria these days. Bubbly sangria, rosé sangria, Hennessy sangria, red, white, blue sangria, the Spanish wine punch has deviated so far from its simple origins it’s nearly unrecognizable. For years, sangrias have been gracing red and white picnic cloths and restaurants with outdoor seating. Sangria seems endlessly adaptable, vaguely Spanish, and not connected to any set traditions. But traditional sangria goes back, way back, as wine mixed with whatever is nearby. Early Greeks and Romans mixed their wine with sugar, spices, and whatever was on hand (sound familiar?). It was called “hippocras,” and it was sometimes heated like mulled wine. Hippocras is likely the common ancestor of both sangria and mulled wine, and was drunk everywhere because water was bacteria-filled and unsafe to drink. A touch of alcohol made the liquid drinkable, and mixing the watered-down wine gave it flavor. People who lived in modern-day Spain were doing something similar with grapevines planted by the Phoenicians around 1,100 B.C., and then with vines planted by the Romans after. But in the 700s, the Spanish wine business, and by extension the Spanish sangria business, faltered. Islamic Moors conquered the peninsula in 711 A.D. Sangria didn’t
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Food & Drink Section
return until the Moors’ rule ended in 1492, and with the return of wine there was the return of sangria. Variations on house sangria, which means blood in Spanish, in reference to the red wine used. Traditionally, it’s been made with Spanish Tempranillo and other wine from Rioja with added citrus fruit. But even then, no Sangria was made the same. In the 1700s and 1800s, a style of sangria was made in England and France using traditionally French grapes. There was also white sangria, sparkling sangria, and sangria made with peaches, which was called zurra. The drink in all its forms had flashes of popularity in the U.S. in Spanish restaurants and certain city alcoves. The current craze for sangria in the U.S. dates back to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. Spain’s sponsored pavilion featured the drink, and Americans have been thirsty for sangria ever since. Today, under European law, all sangria must be made in Spain or Portugal and have less than 12 percent alcohol by volume. The best sangria, however, is homemade. Check out VinePair’s sangria guide to find your next favorite summer drink.
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Spanish migas
One of the most popular and traditional Spanish dishes is called Migas. It is as popular and common in Spain as the Paella. So what is Migas? Migas means “crumbsâ€? in Spanish. It is a Spanish and Portuguese dish which consists primarily of day-old bread crumbs soaked in oil and water and seasoned with spices. It is traditionally served for breakfast, though it is now also commonly eaten as a midday meal. There is a different version of the dish made with tortillas and scrambled eggs which is popular in Tex-Mex cuisine. The specific recipe for migas varies among different regions. Varieties of migas across Spain include different methods of preparation, ingredients, and typical accompaniments. Common ingredients can include garlic, spinach, alfalfa, pimentĂłn, chorizo, or bacon. Migas can be served with substantial foods such as pan-fried pork ribs or with lighter fare, such as grapes. It can also be served with a stew of curdled blood, kidneys, liver and other parts of a recently butchered animal. Migas in Portugal is commonly made with corn or wheat bread. It can also be prepared with potatoes in lieu of bread. In addition to the olive oil and garlic common in the Spanish variety of migas, the Portuguese version can include coriander, red pepper paste, tomato, and wild asparagus. Some regions commonly include kale, beans, and rice as well. It is often served as an accompaniment to meat.
Regional Variations The ingredients of migas vary across the provinces of Spain. In Extremadura, this dish includes day-old bread soaked in water, garlic, paprika, and olive oil, and contains spinach or alfalfa, often served with pan-fried pork ribs. In Teruel, Aragon, migas includes chorizo and bacon, and is often served with grapes. In La Mancha, migas manchegas is a more elaborate preparation using basically the same ingredients as Aragonese migas In AlmerĂa and Murcia, in southeastern Spain, migas is similar to North African couscous, using flour and water, but no bread. Preparations commonly include a variety of ingredients, including fish. In AlmerĂa it is traditional to cook them when it rains.
Portuguese migas Migas is also a traditional dish in Portuguese cuisine. It is usually made with leftover bread, either wheat bread traditionally associated with the Alentejo region in Southern Portugal, or corn bread as used in Beira. In Alentejo migas can also be made with potatoes (Migas de Batata) and no bread is included. Garlic and olive oil are always an ingredient. Other ingredients such as pork meat drippings, wild asparagus, tomato, and seasonings such red pepper paste and fresh coriander are usually included in Alentejo, while in Beira the other ingredients typically are cooked kale cut in caldo verde style, cooked beans (pinto or kidney beans) and sometimes cooked rice. Migas usually accompanies meats or other main dishes.
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Spanish recipe
Spanish Migas
. . . s t n e i d e r g n I
. . . t i k o o c o t How
Ingredients for 4 people:
Preparation:
•150g of stale sourdough, crusts removed •2 tbsp of milk •2 tbsp of olive oil •200g of cooking chorizo, sliced into 1 inch pieces •100g of pancetta lardons •1 onion, sliced •2 garlic cloves, sliced •1 red pepper, sliced •1 tbsp of pimentón salt •4 eggs, (optional)
1.Place the stale bread in a blender and pulse to a chunky crumb. Alternatively, dice into 1cm cubes 2.Place in a bowl, pour over the milk and stir to coat the bread evenly. 3.Leave covered for at least 1 hour, or overnight if you have the time 4.Heat a splash of oil in a large frying pan and add the chorizo and pancetta. 5.Fry until the fats start to release then add the onion, garlic and peppers. Cook until soft 6. Next add the bread and paprika and season with salt, you may need to add a little more oil too. 7.Fry the bread until soft with the juices of the chorizo but not too crunchy
A Night at Crevillente Velodrome
It was a drab, windy Tuesday evening in January and for our usual Tuesday training night we decided to head to Crevillente to try out the Velodrome which although we all cycle past on a regular basis none of us have been on before. We left the shop at 5.30pm sharp in 2 vehicles and arrived at the Velodrome at 5.55pm got changed, took our bikes out and headed to the reception of the Sports centre. We showed our Spanish Cycling Licences and paid €2.60 each to get on, we couldn’t believe how cheap it was. We cycled through the gate and had to carry our bikes down a flight of steps, under a tunnel and their it was, it looked huge. We couldn’t wait to get going so off we went in single file at first then as we found our rhythm we soon split up and we did our own thing. After 6 laps we were absolutely exhausted and couldn’t believe how tiring it actually was, we stopped and took a few pictures and spoke to the Junior Crevillente Mountain Bike Group who had just arrived, we also spoke to the guy in charge who asked us just to be careful and to respect the young children who were all under 8 years of age. This group were one of the groups responsible for securing the funding to build the Velodrome a few years ago and had made Tuesday and Thursday evenings their Club Training nights. It was now completely dark but the floodlights were on meaning we could stay as long as we liked. We continued lapping round the track going faster and faster each time, respecting the safety of the kids, we were also starting to get higher and higher at each end. After an hour we stopped and decided to time each other a few times to see who could do the fastest lap. This was brilliant and we were all at maximum effort for the complete lap, we then went into a 6 man team and did the Velodrome proper with the leader going high at the ends until the team passed through when he then dropped down onto the back of the pack. After a few laps we all did our own thing again for about another 30 mins, during the night we all did between 65-80 laps of the track which is 330m long.
This was a great night and a great way to let of steam and very, very physically demanding, an hour on here is as good as doing 100k on the flat. (We found it hard work and we had gears, the professionals don’t have gears so god knows how tough that must be). We are like little kids and are looking forward to going back again in a few weeks time.If anyone is interested in going, it is definitely worth a visit but please note that you do require to have a current Spanish cycling Licence. Team “Cyclogical” meet every Tuesday and Thursday night’sat 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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s e r a z á c Los Al
Los Alcázares Town is home to more than 15,000 inhabitants, of varied nationalities, but mostly Spanish. It offers a rich local, gastronomic and beach culture that has nothing to envy to the other regions of the Spanish coast. Its festivals and gastronomy attract a large number of tourists each year, making each year better and more interesting. Among its festivities, it is worth mentioning “La fiesta delCaldero” or the “XIX Berberistic Raids” that are close to be held from Thursday, March 29 to April 1. Four days of MEDIEVAL MARKET, one of the largest in Spain, attended by more than two hundred artisans from different national and international points.
trips of dromedaries and donkeys, bird flight exhibition, geese ride, fakir show , musical animation, puppets, street theatre, ... environment that surrounds children and adults, that invites them to participate in each of these activities and participatory workshops that take place during the day in the RINCÓN INFANTIL. Activities that are transferred to FESTIVE CAMP, in the “PeñasHuertanas Park”, where more than seven hundred people who make up the Berber peñas, dress as peasants, pirates, fishermen, courtiers or buffoons ... in a show of coexistence during these four days; and in which all visitors are welcome to eat, drink or dance every night with live entertainment. Put it in your agenda and do not miss it!
Animation itinerant throughout the day by the market, ... inaugural parade, fair of medieval wooden attractions with human traction, farm of domestic animals, caravan Premium Golf Properties Email: info@premiumgolfproperties.com Tel: 868 619 100 Website: www.premiumgolfproperties.com
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North Town...
Zamora
Zamora The city of Zamora in Castilla-Leรณn, preserves in its old town an important legacy of Romanesque art, which has earned it the declaration of Historic-Artistic site. Set on the banks of the River Duero and right on the Via de la Plata (Silver Road) route, its medieval importance has left a mark in the shape of walls, palaces and churches. To get to know the history and art of the province better, there is nothing better than looking round one of the towns on the Duero Route or the Via de la Plata. You can get to know it in more depth through its cuisine and traditions, like the celebration of Easter, declared to be of International Tourist Interest.
The Puente de Piedra (Stone Bridge) that crosses the Duero takes you into the city with a strong medieval imprint, known as the City of Romanesque. Its buildings effortlessly take you back to the Middle Ages, a period when the city withstood sieges and attacks. Known as “the Well Protected”, because of its triple defensive ring, it preserves the first of these walls almost entirely. Among the stretches of wall, three gates, the Portillo de la Traición, the Puerta de Doña Urraca and the Puerta del Obispo, are outstanding. Dominating the whole layout are the Castle and the Cathedral.Romanesque Jewel Surrounded by the Castle Park is a fortress of Arab origin which still preserves its Keep, gate and the moat. Beside it stands the tower and dome of the Cathedral of Zamora, which are undoubtedly its most characteristic elements. The gadroon dome and roof with flakes of stone, in Byzantine style, were built in the 12th century; while the Romanesque tower that accompanies them dates from the 13th. Inside the church, the wrought iron screens and pulpits, the bas-reliefs of the choir stalls and the Neoclassical cloister, which houses the Cathedral Museum, are the outstanding features. On your way to the Plaza Mayor, through narrow cobbled streets, you can admire a fine set of Romanesque churches, like those of San Ildefonso, La Magdalena or San Cipriano. Vaults with Gothic arches, apses and doorways decorated with plant motifs and the oldest reliefs in the city are some of the jewels that you will encounter in this lovely walk among the monuments.
menu centred on products of Castilla-León. However, if what you want to do is to follow the customs of this place you should go to the area around Calle Herreros, which you will be served wine from the Toro Denomination of Origin (chato) accompanied by a slice of bacon or fried pork (a tapa). Easter is the best to come to Zamora is during the Easter celebrations, a Festival of International Tourist Interest, or in summer, when visitors can walk around the city guided by the medieval legends of the Romancero, which are staged in the most charming corners of the city. The province of Zamora has interesting historic places set in countryside of great landscape and natural value, which you can get to know through some of the bestknown tours of this region. The Vía de la Plata route that links Seville with Oviedo has passed through here since Roman times. On it, you will discover the treasures preserved in Benavente, Valparaíso, and La Hiniesta. The other great spine route through this landscape is the Ribera del Duero. Among its scenery you will find many castles as, in the 10th century, it was the frontier with the Muslim world. Toro, covered in vineyards, and Arribes del Duero are other points of interest. Lovers of natural areas have the opportunity to go to the Lago de Sanabria Natural Park, where they will find, among lovely mountain landscape, the largest lake in Spain. Its Interpretation Centre shows the best paths for walking around the area.
It is worth stopping amid the capitals and archivolts of all the Romanesque churches you will find on your way. In civil architecture, we should point out some emblematic buildings of Renaissance design: the Hospital de la Encarnación, seat of the Provincial Council; the Old City Hall, ordered to be built by the Catholic Monarchs; the Palace of the Momos, nowadays the seat of the Provincial Courts; and the Cordón Palace, which houses the Museum of Zamora. Another jewel of Renaissance architecture is the Palace of the Counts of Alba de Aliste (15th C.), nowadays a Parador de Turismo. In it you can relax on a canopied bed, admire its courtyards and try the region’s culinary specialities. Zamora-style rice, stuffed hake and custard with almonds are some of the suggested of a varied
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www.alifeinspain.com - AUG 2017
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How much is your house in Spain worth? (Part 1)
When we face the purchase or sale of a home we always have the same doubt: is it expensive or cheap? How do I calculate it? It does not matter if you are the owner, the buyer, the landlord or the possible tenant, everyone doubts about what would be the appropriate price of a house for sale or rent. At some crucial time in one’s life this could be an essential question. It might be because a large sum of money is required for an emergency, or it might be that an exchange for a larger or smaller property is wanted or simply just because you want to know the value, full stop. Well, if you read these coming articles you will find in the last part an approximate method to put a value to your home which can be reasonably accurate but a degree of impartiality is required during the calculation. Now, it will be important to bear in mind that there are several formulas for the calculation and that the valuation value of the real property varies, both in time and by the purpose of that valuation. Same house, different valuations done by experts As mentioned earlier, your home may have a different valuation depending on its goal. Thus, for example, the value that the property can achieve for sale and the value that is set in a sale to request a mortgage will not be the same. The difference is established by the rules applicable to the valuation of housing in Spain; Order ECO / 805/2003. This regulation argues that market value is simply what a third party is willing to pay, an aspect that will have a lot to do with market conditions at that time. For instance a mortgage appraisal is done by a bank. The value will be obtained by a professional and prudent appraisal normally is carried out, which will take into account the market conditions and many other aspects. An important point for this calculation is that it will exclude all speculative elements. To the previous valuations ones can add more valuations​​ to the same property, as for example the fiscal value. In this case, the method that Hacienda will use for the settlement of taxes will depend on the autonomous community in which the house is located.
The application of a coefficient on the catastral value of a dwelling or the establishment of a minimum per built-up meter are some of the systems used to calculate the value for tax purposes, which may not coincide with the real value, in fact it rarely coincides. Methods to value a property When you want to present an alternative appraisal to a bank or an official body, or in cases where a legal valuation is required (divorce or inheritance, for example), it will be necessary to commission an official report, namely a property valuation performed by an accredited professional. Normally it will be an architect, who will be responsible for the appraisal, in the case of housing, will generally be carried out following the comparison method, which is delimited in the regulations and which will take into account six market values or sales of comparable properties. But this will not be the only criterion to establish the price, since issues such as price developments, the market situation and everything the technician can extract from a home visit will come into play. Its age, if improvements have been made, its energy efficiency, its distribution or the services of the building will be determining factors for the result of this appraisal, which, in addition, has a short period of time due to the fluctuations of the market. So, as you have seen, it is not only possible to know how much your home is worth, it is very likely that at some point you will need to request an appraisal of it. Therefore, when you need it, do not hesitate to consult several experts who, do not forget, will have to be accredited professionals. Do it yourself valuation In the following articles I will explain other methods that might not be as exact as that carried out by a professional but it might give you an approximate estimation of the actual market value of the property.
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Lets talk History
of Spain
Let’s talk history. Over the next few months we are going to delve into Spain’s history in the hopes to know more about this fascinating country Carthage Begins to Conquer Spain 241 BCE Beaten in the first Punic War, Carthage, or at least leading Carthaginians, turned their attention to Spain. Hamilcar Barca began a campaign of conquest and settlement in Spain which continued under his son in law. A capital for Carthage in Spain was established at Cartagena. The campaign continued under Hannibal, who pushed further north but came to blows with the Romans and their ally Marseille, who had colonies in Iberia.
Second Punic War in Spain 218 –206 BCE At the end of the First Punic War, in 241 B.C., Carthage agreed to pay a steep tribute to Rome, but depleting the coffers wasn’t enough to devastate the north African nation of traders and merchants: Rome and Carthage would soon fight again. In the interim between the First and Second Punic Wars (also known as the Hannibalic War), the phoenician hero and military leader Hamilcar Barca conquered much of Spain, while Rome took Corsica.Hamilcar longed to get revenge against the Romans for the defeat in Punic War I, but realizing that wasn’t to be, he taught hatred of Rome to his son, Hannibal.
Hannibal - Second Punic War General The Second Punic War broke out in 218 when Hannibal took control of the Greek city and Roman ally, Saguntum (in Spain). Rome thought it would be easy to defeat Hannibal, but Hannibal was full of surprises, including his manner of entering the Italic peninsula from Spain. Leaving 20,000 troops with his brother Hasdrubal, Hannibal went further north on the Rhone River than the Romans expected and crossed the river with his elephants on flotation devices. He didn’t have as much manpower as the Romans, but he counted on the support and alliance of Italian tribes unhappy with Rome. Hannibal reached the Po Valley with less than half his men. He had also encountered unexpected resistance from local tribes, although he did manage to recruit Gauls. This meant he had 30,000 troops by the time he met the Romans in battle.
Hannibal’s Greatest Second Punic War Victory: TheBattle of Cannae (216 B.C.) Hannibal won battles in Trebia and at Lake Trasimene, and then continued through the Apennine Mountains that run down through much of Italy like a spine.
With troops from Gaul and Spain on his side, Hannibal won another battle, at Cannae, against Lucius Aemilius. At the Battle of Cannae, the Romans lost thousands of troops, including their leader. The historian Polybius describes both sides as gallant. He writes about the substantial losses: “Of the infantry ten thousand were taken prisoners in fair fight, but were not actually engaged in the battle: of those who were actually engaged only about three thousand perhaps escaped to the towns of the surrounding district; all the rest died nobly, to the number of seventy thousand, the Carthaginians being on this occasion, as on previous ones, mainly indebted for their victory to their superiority in cavalry: a lesson to posterity that in actual war it is better to have half the number of infantry, and the superiority in cavalry, than to engage your enemy with an equality in both. On the side of Hannibal there fell four thousand Celts, fifteen hundred Iberians and Libyans, and about two hundred horses.”
Polybius - The Battle of Cannae 216 B.C. Besides trashing the countryside (which both sides did in an effort to starve the enemy), Hannibal terrorized the towns of southern Italy in an effort to gain allies. Chronologically, Rome’s First Macedonian War fits in around here (215 - 205). Hannibal allied himself with Philip V of Macedonia. The next general to confront Hannibal was more successful, that is, there was no decisive victory. However, the senate in Carthage refused to send in enough troops to enable Hannibal to win. So Hannibal turned to his brother Hasdrubal for help. Unfortunately for Hannibal, Hasdrubal was killed en route to join him, marking the first decisive Roman victory in the Second Punic War. More than 10,000 Carthaginians died at the Battle of Metaurus in 207 B.C.
Scipio - Second Punic War General Meanwhile, Scipio invaded North Africa. The Carthaginian Senate responded by recalling Hannibal. The Romans under Scipio fought the Phoenicians under Hannibal at Zama. Hannibal, who no longer had an adequate cavalry, was unable to follow his preferred tactics. Instead, Scipio routed the Carthaginians using the same strategy Hannibal had used at Cannae. Hannibal put an end to the Second Punic War. Scipio’s stringent terms of surrender were to: - Hand over all warships and elephants - Not make war without permission of Rome - Pay Rome 10,000 talents over the next 50 years. The terms included an additional, difficult proviso: should armed Carthaginians cross a border the Romans drew in the dirt, it automatically meant war with Rome. This meant that the Carthaginians could be put in a position where they might not be able to defend their own interests.
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f l o G e l l a V l E El Valle Golf Resort is an exclusive place to live or holiday in Spain for all generations. It was designed as the most exclusive of the golf resorts with luxury villas and apartments set around a beautiful 18 hole desert style golf course . It is a safe and gated resort with 24 hour security guards who keep the entry gate safe but also assist in any emergency, such as health, motor. The resort is one of the best run resorts in the Murcia golf area. It is like living in an exclusive park that offers swimming pools, tennis, paddle, basketball courts and outdoor gym. It is a very safe place for children and families, with large green areas to play and enjoy the countryside together with many playgrounds for the younger children. It has all amenities on site such as a club house Restaurant and bar
Murcia Golf Homes Email: info@murciagolfhomes.com Tel: 691 403 018 Website: www.murciagolfhomes.com
It is situated very close to major links and access to the beaches of the Mar Menor where you will find great water sports and sailing as well as other water sports are just 10 minutes away. Also situated just 25 minutes to Murcia city, a a beautiful historical city full of beautiful old buildings and little streets, a great place to visit for gastronomy, history and shopping. And of course the golf course itself is one of the best and most popular18 hole Championship golf courses around. It was designed by Jack Nicholas and it is sponsored by Nike.
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Agent´s Diary with Rebecca Serwotka
Do You Have A Property Addiction? Many people enjoy looking around other people’s homes. For some, it’s to get ideas on how to update their own home, for others it’s because they are genuinely looking at being tempted to make the move. Going around new model homes, will show you the trends of latest styles and designs. Local architecture has definitely changed over the years. For the new builds, it’s all straight lines and glass, whereas over previous years the typical Spanish designs offered arches and white balustrades. Whichever your personal style is, you could be amongst the many people that all have one thing in common. You could be addicted to house hunting!
But, if you’re actually losing sleep trying to keep up-to-date with market trends and prices, let your Professional Real Estate Agent do it for you. They’re the ones in the know! They can take that pressure away and are easily able to get in touch, once they find a home that could be suitable for you, letting you get a good nights rest. And a good nights rest my friends, will allow you to be bright eyed and bushy tailed to view the home of your dreams!
With today’s technology at your fingertips, it’s so easy to keep looking online to see what’s newly listed in your neighbourhood. Do you find yourself having a sneaky quick look on your mobile phone as soon as you wake up in the morning, just to see if that property you’ve had your eye on has reduced the price, or a new home in the area you want has come to the market? If you’re nodding your head in agreement you could make up the 69% of online house hunters that say shopping for houses is fun! In some cases, 64% say they keep checking to see what’s on the market, even after they’ve purchased a home!
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