A life in Spain Edition 31 – April 2019

buying & selling your next property in spain

SPAIN A Life in

magazine • portal • webtv

.COM

inside...

issue 31 APR 2019

South Town

free

SAN JAVIER

North Town Albir

Places In A Day

Alhama De Murcia

Wine Article Let´s talk wine

Cover picture by Villaquest, see advert on page 25

find your dream property at

www.alifeinspain.com

PAGE 36

PAGE 26

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ALifeinSpain.com #Edition 31 • April 2019 Contents...

Food & Drink Section

Architect’s Angle

How to select a hard floor finish in Spain.

Main article

32 Wine Article:

Let´s Talk Wine

8&9

Lets talk History

D.O. food and drink Spanish recipe

‘Caldereta’ (meat stew)

19 - 22

n i a p S f o 34-35

Let´s Learn Spanish

12 Places to visit in a day Granada

6

This month will see extra tourists, and second home owners descend to the beaches in their droves. Why? Because we are in the month of Easter. On a positive... for a few days we can eat as much chocolate as we want.

Please remember in Spain the red days are Friday 19th April Sunday 20th April Andres Gomez, Sommelier and Manager at La Diligente is continuing to write 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.

39

Agent´s Diary

We continue with the history of Spain taking us back in time so we can see how Spain developed into what we know today. There is also a continuation of learning Spanish courtesy of CSE.

with Rebecca Serwotka

24

There is also the chance to win 4 tickets to Terra Natura in our word search competition on page 12

Cycling the

Enjoy!

Sierra

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

Espuña

contact

Welcome to the April edition of ALIS.

:

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

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

05

Places to visit in a day Although it is technically feasible to visit this beautiful City in a day, at least if you live south of Alicante, you would be mad to do so. Not because of the potential 4 hour drive each way including a relaxed comfort break, but because there is so much to see and do!

Most important is the Alhambra palace. If this is the first attraction you wish to visit, you can either use the ample car park, or if you stay overnight, booking into your hotel first is highly recommended. To get into the Alhambra, advanced booking is absolutely essential. You can book online but using your local travel agent ( who may charge a couple of Euros commission) is more reliable. Booking for the gardens only is possibly the best option for which you would need up to 3 hours. If you want to pay extra to see all the jewelry and artifacts, this is an optional extra and may involve a long queue.

A great option if you are staying more than 24 hours, is to book tickets on the open top hop on hop off tour bus which stops outside the Alhambra entrance and can be joined anywhere en route. A good spot to catch the bus and buy your ticket, is outside the Cathedral.

Granada There are dozens of inexpensive hotels available and many are within walking distance of “Plaza Nueva� which is also full of wonderful restaurants and bars. You would also be near the Cathedral which is a must see and right adjacent to it is a fabulous Moroccan market. An evening visit for great atmosphere is highly recommended. There are many side streets nearby with great shops for souvenirs and many many tapas bars.

There is a very good walk to the Alhambra Palace starting at the Plaza Nueva alongside the Rio Darro on the Carrera del Darro. This will take you around the back of the Alhambra past restaurants, shops and many street artists and musicians. Come back down the other side of the Palace, through a beautiful wooded area then down yet another street full of shops ending back in the Plaza Nueva.

For a longer stay, the tourist office is a must as is as much research as you can on the internet.

However, if you are not internet savvy, JUST GO!!

You will not be disappointed. And as a bonus, if you are a skier, then the slopes of The Sierra Nevada are a real magnet with public transport available to get you there in half an hour. Snow is guaranteed every winter.

One word of warning. Check out where you are going to park in the centre of Granada. There are no parking zones and areas you cannot enter with an unauthorized vehicle. Otherwise you will get a 60 Euro fine and a nice photograph of your car.

07

Wine Article

Let’s talk WINE

. . . e n i W n i r The colou

Had you ever been told that red wines must to be deep red or garnet colour?, Do you think there is a law that says “White Wine is better when its younger”? or do you think rosé Wine is made with…. Pink grapes?

Welcome to LET´s TALK WINE! We have much to talk about!! Wine is a living drink. It has a probable life which we call the “evolution curve in Wine”.

It is used to understand through tasting what moment the Wine will be perfect to be drunk, and how the wine changes in aromas, taste and in appearance as well. Yes! as you read, Wines are getting older!!

The oxygen, sunlight, vibrations, temperatures, and many other factors make the wine “suffer” and for this reason it can “die”.

To reduce this process we must understand “HOW I SHOULD KEEP MY WINES”, which I will tell you next month, so make sure you pick up your copy of A Life In Spain magazine.

When a red Wine (I am generalizing) is recently made or young (joven in Spanish), normally its aspect is violet or bluish due to the anthocyanins; the phenols and polyphenols. A red grape is mostly “purple”, it means a young red Wine keeps the purple character from the grape origin. So if we understand this concept, and we think about a wine that, after this fermentation has a special elaboration, like a barrel ageing, due to this barrel ageing the Wine can become ruby colour; even garnet if we also add a long ageing in the bottle as well. It loses its purple colour and starts to change because of the oxygen passing through the Wood. Yes air passes through the wood of the barrel. This is why a wooden barrel is used.

In a mature red Wine you could also see shades of orange. This is the colour scale of a maturing red wine in a very simple way. But there is more, of course there is much more.

In a White wine, the chromatic scale from youth to mature is the colour range from green lemon, lemon, gold or amber colour. These colours will help us to define wine life and how this wine was made. It will also give us some tips about the character and feelings of the Wine. Because if I take a glass of White Wine in Green lemon colour, I have to expect a fresh young White Wine. But if I take a glass of a Deep gold Wine, it means the Wine has much more to give me in flavours and aromas than a fresh young one. In the case of rose Wine. It could be made with red grapes, red and White grapes, or White grapes with red skins. But Wine will be just a blend of grapes before fermentation NOT MIXED WINES. In the rose wine colours there are more factors. The

maceration of the grape juice with the skins before the press and fermentation will determine the colour tone. For a Blush or pale pink colour, normally the grape has a short maceration with the skins in cold temperature. But for a fuchsia rose Wine, the timing is longer with those grape skins. However if we think about a mature complex rose Wine, the orange or the onion skin colour will be very present.

A friend of mine who is a winemaker affirmed with passion that “wine is for hedonism” and I totally agree with her. The satisfaction that produces a wine attends to each one of the notes that make it unique. With every shine and tone in your glass, to the melodies that dance the threshold balance between aroma and smell ... To a caressed drink that is able to chill your skin or to leave you in silence and contemplative as if a thousand million flavours have crossed all of your tongue and palate…

Enjoying wine is easy, simple. FOR THE PLEASURE OF ENJOYING, wines are made.

Every one of us knows how to recognize what makes us enjoy and what does not. To enjoy In Wine concepts is to look with open eyes, to smell with curiosity and also to taste and feel the experiences

h t n o m e h Wine of t

Allende 2010

n a c u o Y ocated in A L

Grape variety: Tempranillo 100%, DOCa RIOJA vineyards from Briones, Village in Rioja Alta. 14 months ageing in French barrel oaks.

Intense cherry colour with ruby hints. On the nose, fruit sensations (blackberries, blueberries, black fruits) dominate the perfectly integrated tones conveyed by ageing in wood barrels that provide sensations of cedar and tobacco. It is serious and lively on the mouth with power and a great balance; broad and flavoursome combining fruity freshness and the elegant structure of a wine that is suitable for ageing.

Pairing: Perfect partner for white meats like lamb and pork. Because of the smooth and elegant tanins it is a great wine to take with grilled tenderloin or in special elaborations like wellington.

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LA berries DILIGENTE aromas and tastes will make perfect match with the milky and creamy The Pairing Challenge: Taste this smooth red wine with milk chocolate. The red

sweet notes in the chocolate.

MURCIA www.ladiligente.es

light clove

V Ă DYRXUV nd it is a And it is a

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You can find and buy this wine in LA DILIGENTE. Wine tasting from 8â‚Ź 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

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Let’s Learn Spanish Phrases

E N I W & R BEE

What would you like to drink? / ¿Qué quieres tomar? / Kay ki-yer-es to-mar?

I’d like / Quiero (ítem) / Ky-er-o ….

What can I get you? / ¿Qué te pongo? / Kay te pohn-go I’ll have / Pon me (item) / Pohnme …

Anything else? / ¿Algo más? / Al-go mahs That’s all thanks / Es todo, gracias / Es to-do, gra-see-as I’d like the bill please / La cuenta, por favor / Lah kwen-ta, pour fa-vour

Wine

Beer

Beer / Cerveza / ther-bay-tha Usually lager style served cold.

Sold in bottles 1/5 litre / un quinto / oon kin-to 1/3 litre / un tercio / oon teur-see-o 1 litre / un litro / oon lee-tro Or by the glass Small glass / una caña / oo-na kan-ya Large glass / un tanque / oon tan-kay

Wine / Vino / bee-no

Red wine room temperature / vino tinto natural / bee-no teen-toe nat-ur-al Red wine cold / vino tinto fresco / bee-no teen-toe fres-ko Rosé wine / vino rosado / bee-no ros-sah-do Dry white wine / vino blanco seco / bee-no blan-ko sey-ko Sweet white wine / vino blanco dulce / bee-no blan-ko dul-they To make a Spritzer / con agua con gas / kon ag-wa kon gas With ice / con hielo / kon yell-o Is sold by the standard 70cl bottle una botella / oo-na bo-tay-ya Or glass / una copa / oo-na co-pa Or carafe / jug / una jarra / oo-na ha-ra

Now try our wordsearch:

Cerveza Vino Tanque Quinto Tercio Caña Tinto Rosado Blanco Dulce Centre of Studies Escobar Email: info@csemurcia.com Tel: 968 00 22 53 Website: www.csemurcia.com

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13

South Town...

San Javier

SAN JAVIER Famous for its summer festivals and its dedication to agricultural and nautical activities, San Javier, located in the Mar Menor, goes way beyond the expectations of beaches. Cool air and the fresh taste of seafood provide alternatives to this area, whose main tourist hotspots are Santiago de la Ribera and La Manga del Mar Menor.

Located on the coast of the Mar Menor, its history began after the period of the Berber invasions in the area. It arose around a shrine that was built at the beginning of the 17th century and dedicated to the Apostle San Francisco Javier. Its territory, which is dedicated to agriculture and the sea, has the outstanding coastal locations of Santiago de la Ribera and La Manga del Mar Menor, both of eminent tourist interest.

Santiago de la Ribera was created in 1888 with the construction of a shrine dedicated to the Apostle St. James. Currently, this modern-looking town has a beautiful sea front and holds on to its fishing village flavour. La Manga, which mostly belongs to the municipality of San Javier, offers the possibility of choosing between two seas with different temperatures, saltiness and waves. Moreover, its special qualities for water sports and its wide range of leisure and accommodation possibilities have turned it into a magnificent tourist resort.

FROM THE SEA... CALDERO The local specialty is called Caldero, a typical coastal dish made up of rice and fresh fish with a secret ingredient ñoras (a sun-dried pepper grown in Murcia). The following are typical Murcian items: fish eggs, dried tuna, and the richest langoustines of Mar Menor as well as home grown vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, artichokes and peppers. For dessert, we suggest that you enjoy the sweet and savoury Pastel de cierva or, if you have a sweet tooth, the Tocino de Cielo (very similar to flan in Southern Spain).

LET’S GO TO THE FESTIVALS The San Javier Jazz Festival is considered as one of the best in Spain. The annual event takes place in July and offers a whole month of concerts, where the most outstanding Jazz musicians perform. Can you think of anything better than spending your summer nights listening to Jazz on an outdoor stage just a few minutes from the sea? The summer festival of Theatre, Music and Dance is another very important one in San Javier. The range of classical and avantSan Javier perhaps widens the options for the rural garde theatre, world music, prestigious soloists tourist with its many inland villages and protected and internationally renowned classical and modern areas away from the coast, such as Cabezo Gordo, dance groups all attend this annual event. and make it an excellent alternative to bear in mind if you’re looking for something other than its excellent FESTIVALS AND CUSTOMS beaches.

The Romería de San Blas is one of the most wellknown festivals in Murcia, which takes place at the THE FLYING ACROBATS beginning of February. During the summer in Santiago Those who regularly come to the Mar Menor know de la Ribera, they also celebrate the Festival of the that at any moment, one of the most amazing Virgen del Carmen with a maritime procession and spectacles that exist can happen above our heads. popular street parties.

The acrobatics of the Patrulla Águila team, which is based out of the San Javier Air Force Academy, defy the laws of physics to delight all those that are lucky enough to see it. Once you have seen the acrobatics, you cannot look away from the sky.

THE SEA AND GOLF Like the rest of the Mar Menor, the San Javier coast is ideal for water sports. The majority of the sailing, diving or paragliding schools take place in the Mar Menor Marine Resort, and they give you an unforgettable experience in a unique setting in the Mar Menor.

15

Three reasons to buy A proven product that everyone should protect themselves with.

Life insurance is a necessary purchase that has the benefit of giving you and your family peace of mind. There are many different types of cover that can be tailored to suit your needs and lifestyle.

Life insurance not only provides financial protection in the event of death but it is also a savings product that offers benefits that are becoming ever more extensive and customisable, so it is not surprising that, after car and home insurance, it is the third most contracted insurance cover in Spain. The average profile of a person who contracts life insurance is a married male aged between 35 and 44 years old, but it is never too late or early to take out a policy.

1. Arrange a mortgage to buy a house

In Spain, six out of ten homes are bought with a mortgage. In this case, it is advisable to take out life insurance because, in case of death or permanent disability of the person who contracted the mortgage, the insurer will take over the payments to the bank and remove your partner or relatives from the economic responsibility that could be difficult to continue with. In fact, with most banks it is a pre-requisite as a guarantee before signing the mortgage. Until recently, banking entities conditioned their mortgage lending with an “obligation� to contract some linked products, such as Life insurance.

But since a few years ago, with the approval of the European Parliament of the Mortgage Credit Directive, banks are prohibited by law from linking a mortgage to the purchase of insurance. You only need that your insurance company includes a clause in your policy registering your lending bank as the mortgage beneficiary. In that way, you comply with the request of the bank but you also save money. You could even save a difference of 700 euros as the products offered by the bank can be up to 300% more expensive.

2. Start a family

Life insurance can also be a guarantee for those who are thinking about starting a family. It should be taken into account that raising a child in Spain can be expensive. It has been estimated that a baby can cost 14,266 euros during its first year of life and 14,056 euros during the next two. On average, a child can represent the disbursement of 1,183 euros per month during its first three years, which represents 80.78% of the average monthly net salary of a worker.

It will depend on each person’s standard of living, but before the child turns 18 the parents could have spent between 115,000 and 350,000 euros.

If at any time one of the parents dies, it will be difficult for the family to maintain the same rhythm of life. In those cases, although the personal loss will be irreplaceable, life insurance could guarantee the necessary capital to meet family expenses. With Liberty Seguros, even if the insured dies in an accident along with his/her spouse and they have children younger than 18, the beneficiaries will receive double the sum insured.

e c n a r u s n i e f li

3. Protect your income level

Last year there were 3,796 serious occupational accidents in Spain. Of these, 618 had fatal consequences. The possibility of suffering an accident at work or outside that causes a permanent or temporary disability exists, so it is a wise choice to protect your income level. It will depend on each policy, but the insured can receive an advance payment of the contracted capital in case of temporary or permanent incapacity that prevents them from working and, therefore, affects their income, whether as a result of an accident or illness. In fact, with Liberty Seguros, the insured will be advanced the sum insured for death if he/she is diagnosed with one of the following serious illness or needs one of the following operations: cancer, heart attack, cardiovascular accident, kidney failure, bypass surgery, paralysis and transplant of vital organs, in accordance with the terms established in the special conditions of the policy.

With insurance, not only for life, but also car, home, business, commercial, funeral, etc., Liberty Seguros is considered the preferred expat insurer in Spain today. Liberty Seguros has an extensive network of over 300 brokers and agents that are dedicated to providing unbiased, friendly and expert advice, because every home is different and such an important decision deserves a face to face chat with a professional insurance advisor, in your own language, to discuss the most suitable cover for you.

To find out more visit www.libertyexpatriates.es or simply call 91 342 25 49.

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Find us at: Playa Flamneca on Saturday Zoco Market on Sunday

17

talk radio europe

Food is very important in Spain as it forms part of the Spanish lifestyle.

El desayuno (breakfast) is always eaten but is usually small to keep room for the main meal of the day, lunch!

El almuerzo is the official word for lunch, but in Spain, you usually hear people talking about la comida and this is also used in restaurants. La comida means ‘food’ as well as ‘lunch’.

od k Fo rin D

s l a e M h s i Span

&

Food & Drink Section

el desayuno - breakfast el almuerzo - lunch (official) la comida - lunch Merienda - Snack la cena - dinner

Lunch is eaten from 1pm - 3pm and sometimes followed by una siesta – a nap. Shops, businesses and schools often have a 2-3 hour break in the middle of the day for this. Sometimes, there is an extra snack between lunch and dinner called merienda. La cena (dinner) is eaten later than in the UK, often from 8pm – 10pm but sometimes as late as midnight!

19

& Foo D d rin k

D.O. food and drink

The international prestige of Spanish gastronomy continues to grow day by day. In Spain you will enjoy healthy, imaginative and, above all, highly varied cuisine. Part of the secret lies in the ingredients, top quality products that you can take home as souvenirs too. And what is more, with the best guarantee, the Designation of Origin certification. Discover what they are and where to find them.

Tapas, traditional desserts, mouth-watering dishes, the Mediterranean diet‌ Travelling in Spain means enjoying a wide range of delights when it is time to sit down to eat. Furthermore, some of these delicacies can be taken home with you too, when you try Spanish ham, cheese, wine and olive oil, you will discover that they make mouth-watering souvenirs and gifts to take back for your friends.

To make sure you get the right thing, go for quality.

In Spain, the Designation of Origin (D.O.) seal will guarantee this. This mark ensures that the foodstuff in question is of excellent quality, produced in a specific geographical area, with its own unique characteristics.

Designations of Origin are protected by European Union directives, and include Spanish gastronomy’s most famous products.

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 Trevélez (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

21

& Foo D d rin k

Spanish recipe

‘Caldereta’ (meat stew)

. . . 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:

1/4 k of lamb cut into small pieces 1 lamb’s liver 2 large onions chopped 1 chopped sweet pepper 1 slice of bread 1 spoonful of cayenne pepper or paprika (according to taste) 3 chopped cloves of garlic 2 dl of olive oil 1 dl of water 1/2 l of meat stock 2 dl of red wine Thyme, oregano, 1 bay leaf, pepper & salt

1, Sauté the lamb and liver in a casserole dish with a little oil.

2, Fry the onions, pepper, bread and garlic cloves separately in a frying pan for five to ten minutes.

3, When it is golden, but not brown, add to the casserole dish with the lamb.

4, Mix the liver, two of the garlic cloves, the thyme, oregano, wine, cayenne pepper and water.

5, Mix well and add to the casserole dish with the lamb.

6, Cover with the stock and cook slowly for forty-five minutes.

7, Check the flavour half way through cooking.

Cycling the Sierra Espuña.

The Sierra Espuña regional park is by far the area in Murcia of the most outstanding natural beauty and is the first protected natural area in the Murcia region.

We travel here three to four times per year to cycle the great roads and tracks that it has to offer. The Sierra Espuña has been part of the Tour of Valencia and the Tour of Spain on a number of occasions and is a fantastic hill climb.

We normally travel by vehicle with bikes loaded on the back and park outside a lovely little Spanish Tapas bar called Restaurant Ora on the outskirts of Alhama de Murcia. Here we have our customary Coffee and Tostada before unloading the bikes and setting off up this great monster of a climb. We start off at a leisurely pace with everyone talking for approx. 1km however we soon start climbing gradually at first but it soon gets steeper and steeper and the speaking fritters out.

On the way up we pass many parking / barbeque areas and many trails suitable for walking and cycling and there are family’s everywhere cycling, running, walking, barbequing and basically just enjoying this vast national park.We carry on regardless and after approx. 45 mins we pass the central point with the restaurant and large parking area where we usually stop and regroup on the way back down. Just past here we are still climbing and reach the start of the 26 switch backs which are fantastic you can look down and see how far ahead you are from the rest of the group or you can look up to see how far everyone is in front of you the average gradient here is 8% - 10%.

Up and up we go until eventually it levels off to about 4% and we eventually arrive at the view point. At the view point there are usually loads of people stopping taking pictures including us, the views are incredible and you can see for miles. After a quick 5min stop we are off again still climbing, this time the grades reach 15%18% for another 5kms up to the Military observation station which is a controlled zone and is fenced off, we cycle right up to the gate and take more pics, this time you really feel on top of the world and sometimes we are even higher than the clouds.

On the way back down we travel at a considerable pace usually passing the cars as they try and negotiate the tight switchbacks, everyone normally works at their own pace and it usually only takes about 30mins to get right back down to the Restaurant Ora and the cars where we get a large table in the sun and order beer and Tapas before heading back home.

This is a brilliant but tough ride which you can add on many more miles if you want to by coming down a different route or some of the guys come down and cycle the back roads home all the way to Quesada passing through Mula, Pliego, Archena, Fortuna, La Murada, Orihuela and Hurchillo before hitting the home straight. If you haven’t done it before then what are you waiting for give it a bash.

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.

25

To QROPS or not to QROPS? QROPS stood for Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme. HMRC dropped the ‘’Q’’ without an explanation, but still referred to as QROPS within the industry.

So what are the benefits of a QROPS? Consolidate all your UK pensions into one easily manageable QROPS. No more long telephone calls to the UK, view your fund 24/7 online or via an App facility.

Nominate beneficiaries to your fund. Don’t let the UK government prosper upon your death.

Tax efficiency. Receive cash lump sums and regular income with no withholding tax. Be in control of your own taxes.

You will require Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) advice If you hold a defined benefit plan valued over GBP 30,000. It may be advised that you should not transfer into a QROPS or receive 100% access.

Do you have a QROPS but no adviser or unhappy

! n o i t s e u t is the q

Tha

with your existing adviser? The change of adviser is a simple process.

Lost and forgotten UK pension are easy to find. Have you worked in the UK and paid into a works pension?

100% access to your UK pension or existing QROPS. Could you do with some extra cash?

I’m thinking about a QROPS. What should I consider?

Is your adviser qualified and regulated to provide QROPS advice? Check their website before committing to advice.

Have all initial charges and ongoing charges been made clear? Ask to sight a full Suitability Report / Statement of Advice.

If you are considering a bond, have exit charges been made clear?

Have you completed a Risk Questionnaire that will indicate the right portfolio for you?

Callaghan Financial Services Tel: 698 243 745 Website: www.gcqrops.com

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North Town...

Albir

Albir The Little Gem of the Costa Blanca The small, modern resort of Albir can be found about 50 minutes drive North along the motorway from Alicante just beyond the lively resort of Benidorm. Unlike many other Costa Blanca towns Albir has been carefully planned virtually from scratch.

Only one or two of the buildings are over five storeys high, its avenues are broad and tree lined, and there is plenty of parking. There is a sense of space and an relaxing atmosphere make getting around a pleasure.

Accommodation Hotels and Apartments are modern and limited but all are extremely good and offer excellent value for money. The clientele is International.

Out and About A holiday in one of Albir’s modern hotels and apartments puts visitors in easy reach of some of the Costa Blanca’s best destinations.

Altea, with its charming old town packed with restaurants and artist’s workshops, is just a short journey from Albir, while its busy harbour is quite literally a seafront stroll away.

Benidorm, chock full of entertainment is easily and cheaply reached by the frequent bus service or taxi. The atmospheric Old Town, the shopping area, the big theme parks and wonderful shows and concerts are some of the highlights for daytime or evening pleasures.

Festivals Albir’s climate, hot and dry in summer and nearly always dry and mild in winter, means that whatever the time of year its fiestas are celebrated outdoors in comfort.

The main festivals are: March 19th – San Jose May (1st weekend) – Fiesta de la Creuta July (1st week) – Albir Film Festival August 1st to 15th – Summer Festival November - Honor del Santisimo Cristo del Buen Acierto December – Fiestas de la Purisima.

bathers can take in the views of the Sierra Helada nature reserve to one side, and to the other, the famous Peñon de Ifach, the massive outcrop of rock by Calpe.

Beach facilities are excellent, in summer there are three lifeguards on duty, a first aid post and an ambulance on standby for minor injuries.

There are public loos in the centre of the promenade, how very convenient, and even fresh water foot showers.

The beach side promenade, the Paseo de Las Estrellas, with Hollywood style plaques honouring the stars who have won awards at Albir’s film festival, is the focal point throughout the day.

Morning joggers open it for business and it’s the main thoroughfare for beach users in the sunshine hours. The Paseo then comes into its own when a craft market is held there on balmy summer’s evenings and people stroll about without a care in the world.

Eating Out and Shopping Albir is blessed with plenty of all types of restaurants; with cuisine from all over Europe and further afield to choose from you will find it easy to find the food for the mood. Also there are lots of nice little shops which make a pleasure to buy your souvenirs.

Leisure & Culture as well as the summer fun Albir also has a host of activities in the cooler season. The Casa de Cultura cultural centre is busy all year round and has a concert hall, TV studios and exhibition space.

Visit www.alifeinspain.com and watch a video of this and other towns to get a real feel of the life here.

Courtesy of upnowcostablanca.com.

The Beach With almost 600 metres of clean safe beach, there’s always plenty of room to stretch out. The Playa de Racó de l’Albir has been awarded the prestigious EU Blue Flag classification, denoting its excellent facilities and cleanliness, every year since 2001.

The beach is comprised of very fine smooth pebbles and

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  - -

um t c e j a r T a s o M f o The History o g i d n e M y s o ñ a B and Mosa Trajectum is an urbanisation just outside Murcia.

According to official old maps the resort was built on a hamlet known as San Esteban de Mendigo.

According to ancient chronicles, Murcia and the surrounding area was founded by the Caliph of Cordoba, Abderraman II, in 825. A village called Baños was used by Abderraman’s armies and his Arabian successors who used the Muslim-built Arabian Baths from 825 until 22 December 1248, when they were destroyed by the Christians who considered such baths to be decadent.

The name Baños was later changed to Los Baños according to maps from the Middle Ages. The nearby hamlet of San Esteban de Mendigo was part of the district of Baños y Mendigo. According to legend a pilgrim arrived in the hamlet and lived in a cave, surviving on alms he received from the local people, mostly in the form of food (the literal translation of Mendigo is a beggar…). The pilgrim totally dedicated himself to the saint (San Esteban) and the area became known as San Esteban y Mendigo and apparently that is still the official name.

According to legend, around the 17th or 18th century the owner of the land built a family residence here, plus smaller houses and buildings for the workers and horses and cattle, thus creating a community that cultivated and farmed the land.

One year, in the 19th century, snow fell on the penultimate Friday of September - which was unusual weather for this part of Spain - so the owner of San Esteban de Mendigo built a chapel and named its statue of the Virgin Mary as “Virgin of the Snow”.

To commemorate this event, every year there is a celebration with a religious pilgrimage where local people come to attend Mass at the chapel and the villagers of Baños y Mendigo bring their statue “Virgin of Rosario” in celebration. The only main difference is that this event (known as the Romeria) now takes place on the penultimate Saturday of September.

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How to select a hard floor finish in Spain.

On an article written 4 years ago I described the most common hard finishes available in Spain. This week I would like to jog your memory on the hard floor finishes mostly used in this part of the country, such as natural stones and ceramic tiles.

Natural stones for floor finishes.

Pavements for floors are usually classified into three major groups: hard, medium and soft. Cleaning procedures vary according to their characteristics. In this article we will analyse hard floor finishes.

Types: According to the material of which they are compounded, we have: . Natural stone: marble, granite, slate... . Artificial stones: terrazzo, tiles, porcelain, mosaic, ceramic tiles. . Clay: brick, porcelain, Florentine... . Clay polished: ceramic and glazed stoneware, glazed tiles, etc. . Cement: polishing, burnishing, washed or shielded.

Although marble is an abundant material in Spain, there are a variety of qualities mostly linked to its hardness so one has to be careful in the selection of this material because a shining sample doesn’t necessarily mean a good quality marble, it could be that it has been treated with a wax finish, but the material itself is soft and crumbly, only seen after a few weeks of supporting normal walking traffic.

One other aspect that many people may not be aware of is that marble is not very resistant to contact with fat and abrasive products, while slate and granite are waterproof.

Natural stone is used for exterior walls, facades or floors.

In general, it is a very tough finish that endures the passage of time and the aggressive action of external agents. To succeed with the selection, it is advisable to know beforehand the characteristics that distinguish each type of stone. The most common are marble, little resistant to contact with fat and abrasive, there are some limestone such as “Crema Marfil� often mistaken as a marble when really it is a limestone although it has properties very similar to marble.

Marble and limestone Marble is a limestone very hard and dense, but with a low resistance to acids, fats and abrasives products that easily may damage its surface. Their appearance varies depending on the diversity of substances and impurities that make it up. There are white, black, green, red, etc. To differentiate them, it is common for industry to highlight the colour and place of origin of the stone such as white Carrara or green Alps coatings are some of them.

Sandstone.

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock grey or pale beige colour which is composed mostly of silicon sand.

Mostly used in indoor applications, in slab format, while the outdoor is used in large blocks of rock to mark traffic areas or walkways. It is a less slippery stone, its appearance remains almost matt although it is polished, now days wax is used to finally bring up a shiny finish.

Slates.

Slate is one of the most traditional natural stone finishes. It has a very fine grain mostly used in north Spain; it is a bluish black, rock although there are varieties in other colours such as green and red. The majority are used for covering floors and roofs. Inside of homes, it is common to find it on the floors and walls of bathrooms and kitchens.

Granites.

Granites are made up of hard materials, they are very resistant to shock and wear, and are therefore very durable. They support moisture and cleaning products, so it has a low maintenance cost. In general they are homogenous and have low porosity, although some types can acquire porosity over time and require special polishing treatment. There is a wide range of prices.

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Lets talk History

of Spain

Spain Fully Subdued 19 BC Rome won the Cantabrian War, in Spain, during the rule of the first emperor, Octavian, who had recently earned the title by which we know him, Augustus.

Although Augustus brought troops from Rome to the battlefront and unintentionally brought about victory, he had retired from battle when victory was achieved. Augustus left a stepson and a nephew, the aediles Tiberius and Marcellus, to hold the victory celebration.

Cantabrian Wars

He also left Lucius Aemilius to serve as governor when he returned home. The victory celebration was premature. So was Augustus’ closing of the Janus gates of peace.

In 27 B.C., when Augustus and his right-hand man Agrippa were consuls, Augustus decided it was time to subdue the border-raiding Cantabri and Astures.

These tribes lived in the northern part of Spain, by the Pyrenees, in the province of Gallacia.

In his 2010 Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion, Australian writer Stephen Dando-Collins says when Augustus headed from Rome to Spain, he took some of his Praetorian Guard with him, members of which he later gave land from the conquered territory.

Augustus was embarrassed by his inability to clinch the battle, became ill, and retired to Taracco. The legates left in charge of the Roman legions in the area, Antistius and Firmius, won surrender through a combination of their skill and the enemy’s treachery -- the Astures betrayed their own people.

The Cantabrian forces had resisted the type of battle formation Rome preferred because their strength lay in fighting from a distance so they could hurl their weapon of choice, the javelin: But these peoples would neither yield to him, because they were confident on account of their strongholds, nor would they come to close quarters, owing to their inferior numbers and the circumstance that most of them were javelinthrowers....

Cassisus Dio Augustus’ Departure Leads to Over-Confidence The tribes successfully avoided being roped into other types of engagements until Augustus retired to Taracco. Then, believing Augustus had given up, they felt superior to the legates. So they allowed themselves to be drawn into the Roman-preferred, set-piece battle, with consequences disastrous to them.

Accordingly Augustus found himself in great embarrassment, and having fallen ill from over-exertion and anxiety, he retired to Tarraco and there remained in poor health.

Meanwhile Gaius Antistius fought against them and accomplished a good deal, not because he was a better general than Augustus, but because the barbarians felt contempt for him and so joined battle with the Romans and were defeated.

Augustus

Victorious, Augustus gave two of the legions the honorary title of Augusta, becoming the 1st and 2nd Augusta. Augustus left Spain to return home, where he closed the Janus gates for the second time in his reign, but the fourth time in Roman history, according to Orosius.

Caesar carried away this reward from his Cantabrian victory: he could now order the gates of war to be barred fast. Thus for a second time in these days, through Caesar’s efforts, Janus was closed; this was the fourth time that this had happened since the founding of the City.

Orosius Book 6 Meanwhile... the surviving Cantabrians and Asturians, acted as they had done repeatedly before, with trickery. They told governor Lucius Aemilius they wished to give the Romans gifts in token of their acceptance of the Romans and asked him to send a sizable number of soldiers to transport the gifts.

Foolishly (or without the advantage of hindsight), Aemilius obliged. The tribes executed the soldiers, starting a new round. Aemilius renewed the fighting, won a devastating victory, and then removed the hands of the soldiers he defeated.

Even this wasn’t the end of it. Agrippa faced rebel Cantabrians -- slaves who had escaped and returned to their mountainous homes and those of their countrymen they could persuade to join them.

Although Florus says Agrippa was in Spain at an earlier date, Syme says he didn’t get there until 19 B.C. Agrippa’s own troops were getting on and were tired of fighting. Although Agrippa won the round of anti-Cantabrian fighting, he wasn’t happy about the way the campaign had gone and so declined the honor of a triumph. To punish his less than competent troops, he demoted a legion, probably the 1st Augusta (Syme), by stripping it of its honorary title. He captured all the Cantabrians, executed the military aged men and forced all the mountain folk to live down on the plains. Rome experienced only minor difficulties afterward.

It was only in 19 B.C. that Rome could finally say it had subjugated Spain (Hispania), ending the conflict that had started about 200 years earlier during the conflict with Carthage.

Germanic Peoples Conquer Spain 409 – 470 CE With Roman control of Spain in chaos due to civil war (which at one point produced a short-lived Emperor of Spain), German groups the Sueves, Vandals and Alans invaded. These were followed by the Visigoths, who invaded first on behalf of the emperor to enforce his rule in 416, and later that century to subdue the Sueves; they settled and crushed the last imperial enclaves in the 470s, leaving the region under their control. After the Visigoths were pushed out of Gaul in 507, Spain became home to a unified Visigothic kingdom, albeit one with very little dynastic continuity.

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e m l e u q i R Hacienda

Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort is a fantastic place to live or holiday in Spain for all generations. It is an oasis of green in a dry, hot landscape and can offer its residents beautiful green views of the golf course, lakes and olive trees, gardens and pools. It is a safe and gated resort with a 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 15 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 Spar supermarket, El Cason Restaurant with its large garden. During the

Murcia Golf Homes Email: info@murciagolfhomes.com Tel: 691 403 018 Website: www.murciagolfhomes.com

summer there are many activities for children whilst the parents can dine on the terrace overlooking the garden. There is a chillout bar during the summer with outdoor sofas on the lawns overlooking the lake where you can enjoy a cocktail and some live music. It is 1 kilometre to Sucina Village which offers restaurants, bars and great fiestas during the summer, there is a free bus at the weekends from HRGR. 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

The 5 Emotions Of Buying A Home In Spain Buying a home in Spain is, and should be, a very exciting time for all buyers. It’s probably the biggest dream that’s being fulfilled after a long working life, or the ideal holiday home for you and your family to enjoy during the upcoming years.

5. Relief: You’ve kept your nerve and made it to completion. You can now sigh with relief as your purchase went through without a hitch, and you’re now the proud new owners of a dream home in Spain!

I’ve noticed many people experience very similar emotions from the time of reserving their new home in the sun, through to completion.

It’s normal to experience these emotions, but you need to remember you’re not alone. You’ll soon be joining the rest of the lucky homeowners that have all been in your shoes, at some point in their Spanish home-buying lives!

Here are the 5 most common emotions buyers can experience, once they’ve decided to purchase their dream home in Spain.

1. Excitement: Once you’ve found that perfect property, you’re so excited and pleased with yourself that you’ve finally made a decision, and signed on that dotted line.

Hold your nerve and enjoy the ride! It’ll be worth it!

2. Anticipation: After signing on the dotted line, you can’t wait for the time to pass in order for you to complete your purchase, but must remain patient.

3. Frustration: You feel you should be doing more to be ready for your upcoming completion, but have to rely on your Real Estate Agent to notify you of anything you may need to do along the way.

4. 2 Types Of Fear: A) What have we done? This is a common fear, but you need to have more faith in yourself and know that you’ve made a great decision. B) Everything is going through too smoothly and something has to go wrong. Reality is, nothing does go wrong!

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