Los Alcazares supplement February 2023 CBS Issue 84

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LIFE ON THE LAGOON

THE first museum solely dedicated to the Mar Menor lagoon will showcase the area's fishing industry in a disused air force building in Los Alcazares.

One of the buildings on the former seaplane base in the town, which acted as a mess hall in the early 20th century, will be converted into the new centre. Los Alcazares council will pay for the improvements including eliminating damp and repainting

the building plus installing a new fence and security cameras as the rest of the area is still owned by the military.

The building is over 100 years

old, with Los Alcazares mayor Mario Perez Cervera hopeful that other structures on the site will be

ceded by the air force for 'educational, cultural and environmental functions'.

“The old mess hall will be the first interpretation centre for the Mar Menor allowing tourists to get to know the area better,” said Perez Cervera.

The new Museum's collection will feature the collection of Francisco Javier Olmos who spent his life researching and compiling the history of Mar Menor fishing traditions.

Old fishing gear and tools used for decades in the lagoon will be

displayed as well

Francisco Javier Olmos said:

"This Mar Menor centre will be start of creating a workshop of pieces which visitors can see and ask questions about.”

“There will be riverside carpentry tools, from mallets to irons, as well as fishing pots and lines, in addition to other equipment used by fishermen, which will all be restored to their former glory,” he added.

Old airforce base building to become first museum dedicated to the Mar Menor, writes Alex Trelinski

MUSEUM: will be housed in the old mess hall (above), while (right) how the seaplane base looked in its heyday

Los Alcazares

HOME FROM HOME

A maritime gem on the Mar Menor that’s both ancient and modern

THE resort of Los Alcazares lies in Murcia on the Costa Calida, in the heart of the Mar Menor region. It takes its name from the ancient palaces that were built along the shore during the Middle Ages, and extended into the sea.

With about 175,000 inhabitants, expanding to 250,000 in high season, Los Alcazares offers a home from home for Brits, combining modern culture with traditional Spanish lifestyle. The resort has a wealth of visitor attractions, monuments, natural spaces, celebrations, and fiestas. Numerous events take place throughout the year, some re-enacting the Mar Menor’s rich history of pirates and

fishing.

One of the most popular destinations in the region, Los Alcazares attracts Spanish holidaymakers as well as foreign tourists, and is the ideal place to enjoy the seaside all year round.

LOCATION AND AMENITIES

THE Mar Menor is a salt water lagoon separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a 22km strip of land called La Manga. Los Alcazares sits on the shore, directly north of Cartagena, and is just off the A-P motorway. The nearest airports are Alicante and Murcia, both just a 30-minute drive away. The resort has a wide range of tour-

ist amenities including ice cream parlours, cafes and restaurants, and a nightclub, many of which are located on the ‘main drag’. There are plenty of commercial centres conveniently close, while for local supermarket shopping there’s Mercadona, Dia and Lidl. For chilling out afterwards, you have Blue Flag beaches,

By Jo Chipchase

the nautical area, and the lagoon. Additional amenities for residents include dentists, doctors, a hospital, international school, private school, and a beauty parlour. There is a public barbeque area, a children’s park, and even a dog park. The area has various motorhome parks where ‘van lifers’ are living their dream. This part of Murcia has a temperate climate, with over 320 sunny days per year; long hot, balmy summers and mild winters; and warm spring and autumn seasons. Whether you enjoy action adventure, golf and watersports, or simply relaxing on a beach, the weather won’t let you down.

BEACHES AND HARBOUR

FAMED for its fishing and maritime activities, Los Alcazares has a seafront that stretches for seven kilometres, and seven different beaches: Las Salinas, Los Narejos, Las Palmeras, Del Espejo, Manzanares, Carrion, and La Concha (some of which have disabled access). There’s a marina development, a nautical club, and a 5.5km coastal walk. The open market by Manzanares beach is one of the best places to buy fruit, vegetables and homewares.

The popular nautical club, located at the end of La Concha beach, has

a large boardwalk area, mooring for many yachts and smaller craft, a restaurant, and sunbathing area. Open to the public, it’s an ideal place to enjoy a ‘sundowner’, reasonably priced food, and marina views.

At Las Salinas, there’s a port with a marina development. This sits directly on the La Manga outcrop, with access to the Med. It comprises two L-shaped breakwaters: one that rises from the beach, and another providing four docks with a 20-metre entrance for boats to pass through.

You’ll find restaurants, yacht hire, jet-ski hire, a diving and sailing school, kayak school, and a sling school here, as well as a crane, dry dock, and parking. With an average annual tempera -

ture of 18C, visitors can enjoy the sea all year round. The waters contain a high concentration of salt and iodine, giving them medicinal properties. They were first used in spa treatments in 1904.

FAMOUS LANDMARKS

LOS ALCAZARES has many landmarks – historical and modern – that are included on local ‘culture walks’, allowing you to learn about the area and keep fit at the same time.

RAME TOWER

The Rame Tower is one of Las Alcazares’ most emblematic symbols. Lying on the border of Cartagena and Murcia, it was built at the end of the 16th

Alhambra Villas 25 years turning dreams into reality

With our Spanish lawyer, also a registered bonded API estate agent. We offer added confidence and guarantees to buyers.

WE ARE URGENTLY LOOKING FOR ALL TYPES OF PROPERTIES ON THE COSTA CALIDA, ESPECIALLY PROPERTIES WITH COMMUNAL POOLS OR PRIVATE POOLS. WE ARE OFFERING FREE VALUATION.

MAR MENOR: has a rich history of pirates and fishing

EMBLEMATIC: the Rame Tower is just one of the famous landmarks

century at the behest of Don Diego Bienvengud Rosuque, captain and alderman of Cartagena. It was designed to defend his domain from Barbary pirates.

It may sit on the remains of an Arab tower dating back to the 13th century. The Rame Tower was one of a network of watchtowers built to monitor attacks along the coast.

SPA LA ENCARNACION

Built in 1904 and open to this day, Spa La Encarnacion was the first hotel in Mar Menor and is possibly the oldest hotel still in operation in Murcia. It took advantage of the local waters to offer therapeutic thermal treatments. Guests would come to take heated seawater baths in the marble bathtubs. The building has preserved its original appearance, and has an extensive interior patio, and the thermal baths and marble tubs.

RAFTS OF LOS DIEGOS

Dating from the second century BC, the Rafts of Los Diegos might be part of a hydraulic complex associated with a Roman villa. It was probably used in artisan-industrial work, such as water storage for agriculture, esparto grass treatment, clay settling or salting. Its walls are made of lime mortar, locked with small and medium-sized stones, the remains of mollusks, and small ceramic fragments.

AERODROME

The 1915 aerodrome was Spain’s first seaplane base. The inaugural military seaplane flight took place in December 1915, and, from then until the end of the Spanish Civil War, the aerodrome was a major base for Spanish military aeronautics. In 1921, an Air Combat and Bombardment School was established. It became one of Spain’s leading military air schools where fighter and bomber pilots, and aerial observers were trained by skilled aviators. The aerodrome had a 1,000 x 600m airfield, along with hangars, workshops, a radiotelegraph station, railway branch, and seaplane docking ramps.

SCULPTURES

Among the more modern visitor attrac tions, there is a sculpture on the sea front of the famous comic actor Jose Sazatornil (Saza) by Armando Lopez Gullon. Saza once won the Award for Best Support ing Actor and spent many summers in Los Alcazares. Monument to the Fisher men , created in 1998 by Manuel Nicolas Al mansa, is a tribute to the seafarers of Los Alcazares. The sculpture depicts a fisherman with a sorrowful look on his face dragging an empty net after a hard

A GUIDING HAND

Alhambra Villas has the experience and local knowledge to take the stress out of buying

ALHAMBRA VILLAS has been established in Los Alcazares since 1999 so can offer almost 25 years of real estate expertise in the Costa Calida area. Their experienced and friendly staff will help and guide you with the purchase of your new permanent or holiday home and will make the whole process informative, pleasurable and as stress-free as possible.

Once you have moved into your perfect property, they will also be on hand to offer their local expertise to help you settle into your new life.

Alhambra Villas also share their office with an experienced Spanish lawyer, who is a registered and bonded API estate agent. This means that all the legalities regarding your property will be checked to give purchasers additional confidence and guarantees.

When you have settled into your new home you may wish to explore the beautiful surrounding countryside and beaches.

Alhambra Villas can also help with that by offering an affordable car hire service through Easy Wheels Rent a Car. The process is simple and for one inclusive price, your car will be fully insured and either delivered to you or waiting for you at Murcia Airport.

To offer clients as wide a range of homes as possible Alhambra Villas is always looking to increase their property portfolio. Please ask for a free valuation.

For more information, call or WhatsApp

Alhambra Villas on +34 711 075 474, email alhambravillas22@gmail.com, visit www.alhambravillas.com or pop into the office at Avenida Rio Nalon, 8, 30710 Los Alcazares, Mercia

day’s work. Behind him, mounted on seahorses, are two mermaids, symbolising the Mar Menor and Mediterranean Sea.

PROPERTY

DEVELOPMENTS in the Los Alcazares area offer modern accommodation options along wide boulevards, while the traditional Spanish homes are more typically found in the older streets. The town is divided into three parts: Los Narejos, with traditional housing where permanent residents generally live; the town centre with apartments that are mainly rented by holidaymakers; and the old town, which is traditional and Spanish. According to recent data, in Los Narejos and the old town, it’s possible to buy an apartment for €45,000, while a villa on a decent plot might cost €190,000. A town centre apartment will set you back around €110,000 and a villa around €360,000.

Semana Santa), the town becomes a time machine, returning to the 16th and 17th centuries when Berber pirates marauded the coastline. The history of Barbary pirates is celebrated with the re-enactment of Barbary Raids. This is an area with many fiestas. As well as the Barbary Raids, there’s San Juan on June 23; the fiesta of Lomas del Rame in July; festivals of the sea in July and August; Punta Calera fiesta on August 2; Day of the Virgin on August 15; International Week of the Garden and Sea in August; Surfari Mar Menor in October; the local autonomous community fiestas; Cauldron Day on October 12 (large cooking pots appear); Halloween on October 31; the town’s patron saint fiesta on December 6; and Christmas celebrations which include a special night-time race. You won’t be bored, but you might need a rest!

Continues on page 5

TAKE A HIKE

Discover the area’s multiple attractions on either of these two main walking routesLos Alcazares or Los Narejos

landmarks

MINERS’ TRAIN OF LOS ALCÁZARES – Finish off with another children’s attraction: the El Habanero tourist train

LOS DIEGOS ROMAN BATHS – An example of Roman enterprise, dating to the second century BC

LA HITA BEACH – Check out the nearby small wetlands and old salt mines, and discover local nature

Walking route 1

MILL OF UNCLE MANUEL LAMBERTOS –A century-old windmill that was used to irrigate alfalfa crops

MILITARY QUARTERSA 1915 aerodrome, this was Spain’s first seaplane base and trained fighter pilots

FEAR NOT!

IF you’re afraid of dentists, Mayz Dental Care in Los Alcázares understands exactly where you’re coming from!

This new dental practice opened on January 23 and specialises in helping nervous and anxious patients. The team understands that a visit to the dentist can be a fearful experience, so their priority is to give you slightly longer appointments; this allows plenty of time for frequent rests during treatments and for your dentist to explain everything in simple terms.

MONUMENT TO JOSÉ SAZATORNIL – the statue to commemorate comic actor, ‘Saza’, is on the seafront

HOTEL BALNEARIO LA ENCARNACIÓN – built in 1904, this spa hotel, the first in Mar Menor, retains many original features

Mayz dental care takes the fear out of dental visits

tative dentistry, helping to reduce future complex and expensive dental procedures.

The UK-trained Hygienist/Therapist has had specialist training to acclimatise phobic patients to dental treatments and one of the dentists has a Masters Degree in dealing with medically compromised, special needs and phobic patients.

FISHERMAN MONUMENT – Depicts a local fisherman returning empty-handed, with two mermaids behind

Walking route 2

DENTAL TREATMENTS

Based in Calle Irene, Los Narejos, the Mayz dental care team works together to promote preven-

Specialising in nervous and anxious patients

The fully-computerised dental practice and latest high-tech dental equipment includes digital X-rays, state-of-the-art sterilisation techniques and intramural cameras, makes for a smooth and easy visit for each patient. Their appointment system will also issue reminders and fol-

low-ups. Practice owner, Elkie Barks, is a fully-qualified Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist, specialising in oral cancer detection, managing sensitive teeth, managing adult dental phobic patient, whitening techniques and much more.

Welcome to Mayz Dental Care, a brand-new, English, and Spanish speaking dental practice located in Los Alcázares, Murcia

“Since

Initial consultation

Recall check-ups

Emergency treatments

CARE: The team at Mayz helps patients anxious about dental care

moving and working here, I have come across lots of people who have not been to a dentist for many years, usually due to fear and lan guage barriers, so my mission is to provide a dental service to the local community that people aren’t afraid to visit,” she explained. Besides dentistry work, Elkie enjoys yoga, playing golf, walking her dogs and learning Spanish.

Dental hygienist

White fillings

Root canal treatments

Extractions/oral surgery

If you’d like to know more about the Mayz Dental Care practice or to make an appointment, you can contact them by email: info@mayzdentalcare.com or call: +34 711 07 22 16 - all staff are fluent in English and Spanish. Their website is mayzdentalcare. com and you can find them on Facebook and Twitter @mayzdentalcare

you.

Veneers

Crowns Bridges

Dentures and repairs

RAME TOWERBuilt in the 16th century, this is one of Los Alcázares’ main

PARK ALJIBE COLORAO – One for the younger members of the family, a colourful playpark

CHURCH OF OUR LADY ASUNCIÓN LOS ALCÁZARES – Catholic church that holds mass in English on Saturdays

From page 3

Time to dine out

WHERE TO STAY AND EAT

Los Alcazares offers a range of accommodation, including pensions, aparthotels, and hostels. Some popular options are Hotel Costa Narejos, 525 Hotel, Hotel Cristina, Hotel Spa Torre Pacheco, and Hotel Traina.

As it’s a diverse resort catering for different nationalities, eateries include English, Scottish, Italian, Spanish, Bulgarian, Indian, Asian, Irish, American, Mexican, fusion, fish and chips, roof terrace restaurants, sports bars… whatever takes your fancy.

The area is strong on seafood, tuna, salted fish, stews… and also sausages.

For seafood lovers, Restaurante El Patio is a must-visit, with its fresh catch of the day and extensive wine list. Restaurante La Tropical serves traditional Spanish dishes, while Restaurante La Encarnación offers Mediterranean cuisine in a historic building with a beautiful terrace.

For vegetarians and vegans, there are several options such as Restaurante Vegetariano la Bohemia.

Other popular options are Spinosa seafront bar, La Playa with its coffee and mince pies, Chato, Galin’s, Zarcos cocktail bar, and Pearl’s Plaice. You’ll also find traditional British pubs, such as the Tipsy Thistle and The Crown, which serve beer from the UK. There’s even a Burger King.

THINGS TO DO

● Take a cruise: There are passenger routes to the Mar Menor Islands, Isla Grosa and Perdiguera Is- land. Boats for the last two destinations specify they are ‘with bathroom’, so watch out for the boats that are ‘without’.

● Enjoy a stroll around the old town, which is more traditional in contrast to the modern develop- ments.

● Walk the ‘10,000 paces’ path along the seafront. You’ll see how far you are along the route as you take in all the beaches.

● Play golf: Roda Golf Course is the nearest to Los Alcazares, but there are several other clubs with- in a short distance, including La Manga, Torre Pacheco, Las Ramblas, Campoamor, Villamartin and Mosa Trajectum.

● Visit the salt lake: a 30-minute drive will take you to the Parc Natural de Las Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja (the Natural Park of the Lakes of La Mata and Torrevieja).

COVERING THE COSTAS

Space Real Estate expands operations onto the Costa Blanca

THE team at Space Real Estate led by Managing Director Jeremy M Webster continues to grow with a new office for the Costa Blanca to add to their offices on the Costa del sol (Marbella & Fuengirola) and Costa Cálida (Los Belones).

Covering the Costa Blanca is a natural progression for Space, a company that has been marketing Spanish homes overseas since 1988.

“Over the past few years we have been seeing more and more demand for the area and specifically the high level of service that we provide as a company, so it is only natural that we service that demand,” explains Jeremy.

Space has experts in every area and can provide all the help needed

Julian Abbasciano is the Director of Space Real Estate - Costa Blanca and brings with him a wealth of experience in real estate client service.

From his new office in Plaza 525, Los Alcazares, he has built a team that will provide the highest level of client service. Julian explains that what makes Space dif-

ferent is the level of professionalism that the team brings to the real estate experience. Being a team of over 30 professionals, Space has experts in every area and can provide both buyers and vendors with all the help and assistance that they need. For vendors, Space can provide a level of local and global marketing exposure that is unmatched in the area. Together with secure accompanied visits, regular feedback and updates are all combined to make sure vendors get the best price for their property.

For buyers Space bring to the Costa Blanca an experience totally different to what already exists in the area. Our property searches are based around information, area and property and ensure that our clients not only find what is right for them, but are also fully informed and able to make a decision with confidence.

For more information visit Space Real Estate at their Plaza 525 office or contact Julian directly on +34 968 971 778 or email on julian@realestate-space.com

Thecaringtouch

The businesswoman who founded a hospice charity that covers the costas

LIKE many of those who end up living in Spain, it was after enjoying a holiday with friends on the Mediterranean coast that Jennifer took the decision to relocate from North London to sunnier climes for a quieter life.

But the move gave Jennifer a new lease of life and with it the realisation that she wasn’t quite ready to retire. Instead she started up what has become one of the most successful expat businesses in Spain.

With one of the highest densities of foreign residents in Spain, Murcia and the Costa Blanca were crying out for someone to design special insurance packages for the expat market and the business thrived.

What began with one small office in Javea has now grown to seven branches including one in Los Alcazares.

Initially the La Marina branch of Jennifer Cunningham Insurance opened in 2007 followed by another in Benijofar before she expanded further south along the coast to ensure all the major expat communities were covered, including Los Alcazares.

At the same time as she set up business, Jennifer set about doing something that really mattered to her on a personal level.

She created a hospice charity that offers invaluable support to the terminally ill and their families among the expat community.

The charity is very close to her heart as she set it up following the death of her son Paul from cancer when he was only 33-years-old after witnessing the care he was given during his last days in a Sue Ryder hospice in Bedfordshire.

“They had taken such exceptional care of my son but on my return to Spain I looked around to see what would happen if someone was in the same circumstance here in Spain and discovered that there really wasn’t anything similar. People were simply being sent home to die to be cared for by their family, but what if that wasn’t pos sible?”

The realisation led her to set up the Paul Cunningham Nurses Charity, which is run thanks to volunteers and funded by dona tions.

“The community spirit has been key to making the charity a success,” explains Jennifer.

“We have found that local residents are very generous, offering lots of great

stuff that we can sell to raise funds for our hospice work.”

Not only that, but over the years dozens of local businesses and community clubs have offered venues and hosted fundraising events from live music performances, lunches, raffles and dances.

Although fundraising efforts were paused during Covid, the charity managed to keep afloat and activities have once again returned to pre-pandemic levels.

These efforts enable the charity to provide free hospice care for people in their own home - those who are discharged from hospital once there is nothing more doctors can do for them.

“We supply the equipment needed for them to be cared for at home, such as a hospital bed, wheelchair and pressure mattress, as well as nurses to provide palliative care and give support to any family they may have,” explains Jennifer.

Over the last year alone, the charity and its team of 20 volunteers has helped more than 100 people by providing care at the end of life.

“The nurses are absolutely incredible. How they do it day and day after day I don’t know,” she added.

“I admire them so much.”

PICTURE CREDITS: Ayunt de Los Alcazares

MUCH MISSED: Jennifer’s son Paul inspired her charity from her La Marina base

The charity provides free hospice care for people in their own home

STROKES OF GENIUS

Los Alcazares is a tiny coastal town, but is home to Spain’s largest urbanair museum

OVER the past nine years Los Alcazares has been transforming dull sections of walls and concrete all over the coastal town into beautiful works of art.

It started as a fun project in 2014 to turn the already-idyllic holiday spot into an even more fascinating place to live and visit, and it’s become a serious business.

Five local artists first decorated 18 walls nine years ago, with the city council quickly impressed and encouraging even more.

Today, it’s considered the largest open air museum in Spain, with about 160 murals dotted all over Los Alcazares.

In 2016, a festival to celebrate the art was given the name ‘painted village’, and has since turned into a three-day street party with live music and selection of international painters from all over Europe, Africa and America.

The murals depict anything from wildlife +and human expressions to landscapes, each one in the unique style of the respective artist.

The movement has inspired neighbouring towns and cities to do the same with Murcia city revealing a giant 400m sq mural of Spain’s new golden boy of tennis, Carlos Alcaraz.

The 19-year-old is from Murcia and became the world’s youngest men’s number one player in 2022.

PICTURE CREDITS: Ayunt de Los Alcazares