THE T HE NEW W NAME FOR SM SMART MART MAGAZINE AND STILL L FREE FREE! E!
Autumn Cool
Costa C osta B Blanca lanca S South outh No.4 Autumn Edition 2013 www.ultimatealmeria.com
Chupa Chups the lolipop from Spain...
Halloween why so spooky?
Norman Wisdom the master of comedy
The Worlds Most... ...Expensive Footballers
gourmet guide • culture • fashion • reviews • technology • property • entertainment
Go Karts Orihuela Costa Ctra N332 (Torrevieja to Cartagena) Km 5.700 Orihuela Costa
Tel. 965 328 069 www.gokartsorihuelacosta.com
Open 7 days a week. Opening hours: 11th September to 20th June from 11 am to 10 pm
WELCOME Welcome to the all new Ultimate Costa Blanca South magazine. Up until now this magazine has been under the Smart Magazine banner but as it is now being run along the same way as Ultimate Almeria magazine it made sense to change the name, especially with Ultimate Costa Blanca North coming out soon. Costa Blanca North will be based around the Javea and Denia area and should be on stream before the end of the year. In the next edition of this magazine we will be working very closely with Andy at Nova Radio and this will really be the magazine of Nova, so you will be able to listen to them on 87.7FM and also read all about them in print, this will obviously give advertisers a great presence in the area being “seen and heard�. The next magazine will be for November & December, so yes it will be the Christmas edition so don´t forget to get your menus, presents, gifts etc ready for advertising in the end of the year bumper edition. This magazine has lots of interesting articles on travel, food, nature and pastimes and events. Please let us know if there is anything that you would like to see featured in future editions especially if you feel it could enhance your particular type of business. Feel free to contact us at info@ultimatealmeria.com or by telephone at our office on 950 473 102
Ultimate Costa Blanca (South), Paseo de Meditteraneo, Mojacar. 04638 Tel: 950 473 102 and remember to check out our website. www.ultimatealmeria.com If you are a writer or wish to advertise your business in the next edition please do not hesitate to contact our office in Mojacar on 950 473 102 or e-mail info@ultimatealmeria.com Ultimate Costa Blanca (South) has taken due care and diligence in compiling this guide and cannot accept responsibilty for advertisers work, services or goods. Please use standard practise and take up further references. We endeavour to ensure that all contents are correct at the time of going to press but cannot be held responsible for the effects of errors or omissions.
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CONTENTS
4
06
The History of The Parador Hotels
09
Food Glorious Food: Citrus Crunch Recipe
10
Gourmet Guide
16
QI: Interesting Facts
19
Pata Negra
20
Come Wine With Me: Origins of Beer
22
Quesada Business Section
31
The Best Thing About Spain
34
Citizens Advice Bureau
36
Norman Wisdom
38
Halloween
41
Things to do: Marbella Film Festival
44
Chupa Chups
46
Classic Comedians
48
Destination Report to: Spain’s Atlantic Coast
51
The Golf Page: El Saler
54
Worlds Most Expensive: Footballers
56
The Book Shelf
ultimate Costa Blanca Issue No. 04 Autumn 2013
www.ultimatealmeria.com
Next Issue no.05 Nov-Dec 2013
PUBLISHER Gary Funnell SALES DIRECTOR Gary Funnell 634 365 367 FIELD SALES - VICTOR 693 798 489
GENERAL ENQUIRIES 950 473 102 info@ultimatealmeria.com
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the history of the
PARADOR HOTELS The ideas prospered during the 1920s and between 1930 and 1933, four new National Parador Hotels were opened in Oropesa, Úbeda, Ciudad Rodrigo and Mérida.
With over 80 years of history, the National Tourism Parador Hotels in Spain are a chain of luxurious state-run hotels that are located in buildings and sites chosen for their rich history or beautiful surroundings. In 1910, the Marquis de la Vega Inclán was selected by the Spanish government to create a Spanish hotel chain aimed at improving Spain’s international reputation. In 1926, Vega Inclán initiated the construction of the nation’s first Parador Hotel in the Gredos Mountains surrounded by impressive scenery. In 1928, the first National Parador Hotel was inaugurated and received enthusiastic support from King Alfonso XIII. Thus, the first Parador Hotel of what would become a chain of 93 Spanish national hotels was born: the Gredos Prador (El Parador de Gredos). With this first hotel, the Royal Tourism Commission was formed to with the objective of searching for emblematic sites of historical or natural interest to create new National Parador Hotels.
6
With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the National Network of Parador Hotels suffered a decline in growth. Additionally, many of the hotels were converted into hospitals for wounded soldiers and subsequently suffered severe infrastructural damage from battle. However, when the war ended, the idea to create a national chain of Parador Hotels was reborn. The damaged National Parador Hotels were rebuilt and projects for new Parador hotels were launched.
In the 60s, Spain underwent major touristic development which propelled the creation of more Parador hotels, doubling the number from 40 to 83. Among those inaugurated during this time were the Spanish Parador Hotels of Córdoba (1960), Cañadas del Teide (1960), Jaén (1965), Guadalupe (1965), In 1945, one of the most attractive Parador Nerja (1965), Ávila (1966), Olite (1966), Gijón Hotels was opened in the San Francisco (1967), Zafra (1968), Hondarribia (1968) and Convent in Granada, inside the famous Toledo (1968). Alhambra Palace. Following the opening of this spectacular National Parador, In the following years, more National others were opened in Santillana del Mar, Parador Hotels were opened in Salamanca, in the Gibralfaro fortress of Malaga and Trujillo and Cáceres, among others. In Potevedra. 1991, Tourism Paradors of Spain, S.A (Paradores de Turismo de Espana S.A) was created with the purpose of managing and overseeing the 85 National Parador Hotels distributed throughout the country. As of 2011 there are 93 Parador hotels in total operating in every Autonomous Region of Spain except the Balearic Islands. The Spanish hotel chain owned and operated exclusively by the Spanish state, plans to grow to over 100 hotels in the coming years.
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TEL: 966 730 527
www.paddys-point.com
oldRestaurante asia
serving authentic Chinese, Thai and Japanese Food Tel: 966 773 016 centro comercial zenia golf • locales 8-9 • urbanización la zenia maestro torralba, 4. 03189 orihuela costa (alicante)
Glorious food food
Citrus Crunch
Here in Spain we have an abundance of oranges, lemons and limes. This recipe is a lovely flavoursome desert, which is simple to make and can be adapted to suit your taste. You can garnish with zest ,fresh fruits or even coconut!! Ideally this should be made in advance to allow for it to chill and set.
Ingredients: • 1x Can of condensed milk 397g (available in supermarkets ´LECHE CONDENSADA´) • 75g/3oz Butter (softened) • 2 eggs med sized (separated) • 150g/6oz Crushed biscuits: digestive, chocolate digestives, ginger nuts, coconut. (What ever you fancy!). • 2 lemons or 2 limes or 1 large orange. • 100g/4oz caster sugar (optional if you want meringue topping) • Carton of whipping cream (optional if you do not require meringue topping)
You will need: • 1x Med. Saucepan. • 2x Large mixing bowls ( one for mixture, one for meringue or cream if desired) • Oven proof pie dish. • Rolling pin and plastic bag – to crush your biscuits. • Wooden spoon. • Grater & juicer • Hand or electric whisk for cream or meringue topping.
Method:
• Pre-heat oven to 190c (375F), gas mark 5. • Melt butter, stir in crushed biscuits and press into base of pie dish – allow to cool in fridge. • Put condensed milk, egg yolks, juice and rind into bowl and beat/mix with wooden spoon, ensuring that all ingredients are combined. Pour into pie dish and return to fridge. • Topping: You can have this desert without any topping and once cooked and chilled decorate with fresh fruit of your choice or alternatively whip cream until thick and spread over when cooked and cooled. • Topping with meringue. Put egg whites in bowl and whisk until stiff , then gradually whick in sugar and pile on top of filling. • Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes for mixture to cook or until meringue is crispy. • Put in fridge to chill and set.
Enjoy!
9
With this new food and gourmet section we hope to bring you all the best of the local restaurants, bars, hotels and cafes to make the decision of where to eat and drink a much easier task. Presented by location it should be a breeze to find the establishment you are looking for. If your establishment is not listed please e-mail: info@ultimatealmeria.com to be included in the next edition.
Ciudad Quesada Restaurants & Bars
Mulberrys Restaurant Tel: 966 719819
El Bancal Bar Restaurante Tel: 966 718 016
Lo Marabu Restaurant Tel: 966 716 012
Living Room Restaurant Tel: 966 731 556
Laurel & Hardy’s Restaurant Tel: 966 719 023 or 671 084 901
Grande Italia Restaurant Tel: 966 716028
Las Naciones Restaurant Tel: 965 718536
Downtown Restaurant Tel: 966 719 071
Indian Ocean Restaurant Tel: 966 718211
Patagonia Steak House Restaurant Tel: 966 795 277
Happy Garden Restaurant Tel: 966 719610
leCafet PANADERÍA DEL MUNDO
p o p l a o C TAKE AWAY FISH & CHIPS PIZZERIA
Kitchen open 365 days a year from 8 am till 10 pm Daily Choice Menu & A la Carte Menu English and Continental Breakfasts • Sandwiches • Snacks • Salads • Various Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Drinks • Coffees • Teas and Much Much More... Every Wednesday: Top quality Grilled Spareribs, served with BBQ Sauce, Pineapple and Jacket Potato or Chips Every Friday: Mussels served in a steaming pot of Savoury Broth. Available in different varieties
Live Music every Saturday from 8 pm +34 966 775 578 info@lecafet.es www.lecafet.es leCafet Panaderia del Mundo S.L. C.C. La Fuente local 25 C/Pirineos No.6 03189 Orihuela Costa
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FREE BOTTLE OF WINE WITH ORDERS OVER 18€
HOME DELIVERY SERVICE (+1€) CoppolaTakeawayPizzeria
Tel: 633 512 133
Centro Comercial La Finca Golf 66 Calle San Miguel, Algorfa. 03169 Only 5 minutes from Quesada and Los Montesinos
Gateway to India Restaurant Tel: 965 725 580
The Stray Sod Tel: 685 643 211
DJ’s visit our facebook page
China Town Laguna Restaurant Tel: 966 719 966
Rincon Espanol Tel: N/A
222 Restaurant Tel: 965 725804
Tandoori mirch masala Tel: N/A
Isabellas Italian cafe restaurant and pizzeria Tel: N/A
Antica Italia Restaurant Tel: 966 718737
Chillies Tel: 966 775 830 or 680 691 307
Lime Bar and Restaurant Tel: 966 731 971
WOK Buffet Tel: N/A
La Fuente Restaurants and Bars
Le cafet Tel: 966 775 578
La Piazza Tel: 96 677 4534
The 19th hole Tel: 966 774 620
The Stone Grill Tel: 656 613 356
Evolution Tel: 966 189 029
Restaurant Harmonies Tel: 676 024 378 or 966 774 682
Fuego Tel: 966 775 044
La Sahara Tel: 966 189 967
The Champagne bar Tel: 603 348 358
Crystals Tel: 698 494 597 Jashans Tel: 966 844 697 Harmonies Restaurant Tel: 676024378 Ki Ki Ri Ki bar Tel: 644 317 498 Viva la Vida Tel: 693 979 240 La Zenia Restaurants & Bars La Zenia restaurants and bars are spread across five areas. Zenia Golf, Zenia Mar, Zenia Park and Costa Zenia on the West side of the N332 and La Zenia villlage on the East (Seaward) side of the N332.
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Old Asia Tel: 966 773 016
Run Tao Cocina Asiatica Tel: 966 730 792
Mickey Finns Tel: 965 072 999
Bollywood Tel: 632 357 721
Wagners Tel: 619 434 506
The Royal bar and grill Tel: 627 743 6560r 966 730 762
La Parada Tel: 966 723 228
El Abuelo Tel: 96 673 0530
King Indian bar restaurant Tel: 966 448 653
Bar Alejandros Restaurante Tel: 966 760 623
Al & Benny’s American restaurant Tel: 966 773 171
de Bassus Tel: 966 773 458
La Zenia Fish and Chips Tel: 697 978 923
Indigo Tel: 670 528 908 or 96 676 16 59
Villamartin Restaurants & Bars
Sandwicherie Tel: N/A
Little Italy visit our facebook page
The Copper Chimney Tel: 965 071 856
Cafe Bar Milenio Tel: 96 676 1334
The Hop Tel: 616 331 045
Oscars Tel: 965 832 393
Paddy’s Point Tel: 966 730 527 or 606 802 017
The Red Sea cafe Tel: N/A
Quesada Fish & Chips 2 Tel: 966 764 441
Bar Molino visit our facebook page
Paiporta Tel: 966 773 365
PJ’s Sports Bar & Internet Café Tel: 966 705 724
The Randy Leprechaun Tel: 966 761 837
Cambridge visit our facebook page
Bogey’s Tel: 96 676 55 51 or 619 949 144
Chino Feliz Tel: 96 673 0242
Restaurante Casa Manolo Tel: 966 760 678
Indian Ocean Tel: 966 718 211
Chaplins visit our facebook page
Wok Asia 5 visit our facebook page
Jameson’s Tel: 679 129 277
Flying Farmer pub Tel: 966 730 242
Bocados Tel: 966 733 060
Shandon Bells Tel: 96 676 4900
SUMMER & WINTER LETS AVAILABLE 3B Bedroom d Luxury L Vill Villa with private pool in Denia, Costa Blanca.
Call 950 473 100 or 634 365 367
or visit www.homeaway.co.uk Ref: 95770 prices from 450€ per week 12
Bollywood Indian
Restaurant
Special M S Menu for 2 persons: Any starter Any main course Any Rice or naan Plus Desserts and a bottle of housewine or 2 pints
1st
sary AnnivelrMenu Specia
For ONLY € 24,95
Bollywood
AP-07
radio taxi
N-332 cartegena
a la zenia
N-332 torrevieja
playa la zenia
Eat E at in or Take awa away ay 632 357 721 721
Open 7 days a week 17.30 – 24.00
Centro Ce C en nttro C Comercial ome om ercial ci Z Zenia e ia Gol en G Golf, ol lf, f, L La a Ze Zenia enia
OO! T C I S U M LIVE table NOeW r u o y k o o B re limit d a s e c a l p as The Clubhouse Tel: 966 265 298
Caesar’s Bar restaurant Tel: 966 765 482
Eduardo’s Restaurant Tel: Day 659 609 004 or Night: 966 765 148
Birdies Tel: 966 765 056
The Gaiety Restaurant Tel: 966 765 161 Morgan’s Lounge Tel: 966 765 161 Olaf’s Monarch Tel: 670 807 519 Che !!! - American style Tel: 966 764 098 or 659 470 560 Harlekin Tel: 639 966 681 or 96 597 6544 Bar Lareto Tel: N/A
201 3
er person p 5 ,9 4 1 € For ONLY
Red Onions curry Tel: 96 676 56 62 or 608 638 384
Morgan’s on the Plaza visit our facebook page
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obe r
Starters: Bha ji s • Onion ka Poppadom hicken Tik C • a r o k a Chicken P in Course: Ma la ikka Masa Chicken T alfrezi to Chicken J mbay Pota o B • s a r ine Lamb Mad d house w e it im l n u & rts and desse
CHE !!! - Steak House Tel: 966 765 297 or 659 470 560
Munchies Tel: 966 764 310
28t
Oct
Fairways Tel: 966 764 444
Rumours Tel: 606 690 925
The Fox on the Fairway Tel: 606 690 973
The Square Tel: 619 859 693 (day) 966 765 629 (evening)
The Clubhouse Restaurant Tel: 966 765 298 or 660 067 546
Cafe bar Rinconito Tel: 671 404 644
Chemies Bar Tel: 646 824 570
Eduardo’s Sheesh restaurant Tel: 965 322 830
Birdies Bar & Bistro Tel: 966 765 056
Fusion Tel: 966 764 376
Chadwicks Tel: 616 324 427
Mr Bigs Tel: 966 764 329
New Shalimar Tel: 637 158 607, 608 406 513 or 966 765 352
Vecchia Roma Tel: 610 274 331
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Harlekin Tel: 965 976 544
Bar Med Tel: 965 320 507
Bar Estabio – San Miguel Tel: 966 791 108
Monarch Tel: 966 765 142
Cabo Roig Restuarant Tel:966 760 175
El Torro – Benijofar Tel: 966 715 225
Bogey’s Tel: 96 676 55 51 or 619 949 144
Chez felix Tel: 966 760 342
La Caballeria-Guardamar Tel: 966 726 443
Sebastians Tel: 966 765 134
Piccolino Tel: 677 581 384
Che – Villamartin Tel: 966 765 297
Jameson’s Tel: 679 129 277
Manhattans Tel: 966 112 605
Pub Grub
Shandon Bells Tel: 966 765 205
Balti Tower Tel: 623 456 789
Cabo Roig Restaurants & Bars
Shakira Tel: 966 764 467
Arthur G’s Tel: 693 955 297
Steak Houses
Bar Studz – Benijofar Tel: 966 713 885
La Braseria – La Fuente Tel: 692 108 057
Bar Wicked – Orihuela Costa Tel: 697 784 827
El Rancho – Los Montesinos Tel: 966 260 882
Inn The Dog House – San Miguel Tel: 679 603 479
El Otro Lado Tel: 965321053 Flannigans Tel: 965 323 707
Montys Bar – Algorfa Tel: 965 724 870 All Salts – Orihuela Costa Tel: 649 223 040
See your Bar, Restaurant or Hotel in this Gourmet Guide section of ultimatecostablanca
from only 85€ for a professional advert. Adverts in other sections of the magazine start from as little as 50€ This magazine is distributed over a two month period to give maximum exposure to your business Call our office on 950 473 102 for a media pack or visit www.ultimatealmeria.com for more information. 14
amici
The Sportsman – Playa Flamenca Tel: 608 701 598 Spanish Restaurants La Cata – Benijofar Tel: 966 714 960
pizza
pasta
by Casa Carmelina
lounge
The authentic flavour of an Italian Trattoria with his antipasti, homemade pizza and pasta, selected meat and fish specialities.
Chez Victor – Guardamar Tel: 966 728 512
Enjoy your meal with one of our superb cocktails then enjoy a game on our English Pool table or watch live sport on widescreen TV in our friendly atmosphere
Family Friendly Bars Rockys Arena – Playa Flamenca Tel: 672 830 240
try our Menu del Dia ONLY 10€ per person
The Royal Oak – Campoamor Tel: 692 746 742 La Amsteleria – Quesada Tel: 966 719 475 Chryselios – Quesada Tel: 966 719 331
ZONE
Galadriel – Orihuela Costa Tel: 966 798 122
C/ Agua, 1 - local 1, Urb Cabo Roig, 03189 Orihuela Costa (Alicante)
tel: 671 553 399 La Regia
Star
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IVA inc
Sunday from 18,90€ IVA inc
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amici
budapest Day Evening from from 12,90€ 17,90€
N332 Torrevieja BANCAJA
Cabo Roig
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Casa Carmelina L’arte della cucina italiana
www.casacarmelina.com • contacto@casacarmelina.com
Enjoy the real taste of an authentic elaborated Italian kitchen with an extensive variety of hors-d’oeuvres, fresh pastas, meats, fish,, homemade desserts and Ice Cream
Hotel La Laguna
CV-905
TORREVIEJA
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Open Tuesday to Sunday
Avda. del Mar, Nº02 CIUDAD QUESADA - ROJALES
www.restaurantebudapest.com
Tel: 966 717 406 • 617 424 760
Villamartin
Conjunto Valencia II y III, 03189 Orihuela Costa (Alicante)
Tel: 628 202 865
Cabo abo Roig
Centro Comercial Cabo Roig 1-3 03189 Orihuela Costa (Alicante)
Tel: 966 773 209 15
QI
When the Mona Lisa was stolen from Bugs bunny is not a rabbit but a hare. the Louvre in 1911, one of the suspects was Picasso. The Inca measurement of time was based on how long it took to boil a Under extreme high pressure, potato. diamonds can be made from peanut butter. On a clear, moonless night the human eye can detect a match being struck 50 Liechtenstein, the world’s sixth miles away. smallest country, is the world’s largest Just some random facts that we feel to exporter of false teeth. Richard Gere’s middle name is Tiffany. be “Quite Interesting”. Ideal for boring your friends or looking intellectual at In 1811, nearly a quarter of all the After two weeks of wear, a pair of jeans the pub. Either way, enjoy! women in Britain were named Mary. will have grown a 1,000 strong colony of bacteria on the front, 1,500-2,500 on The Queen is the legal owner of one- People in Victorian Britain who couldn’t the back and 10,000 on the crotch. afford chimney sweeps dropped live sixth of the Earth’s land surface. geese down their chimneys instead. In 2010, Ghana banned the sale of second-hand underpants. The ozone layer smells faintly of On average, every square mile of sea geraniums. on the planet contains 46,000 pieces of Each year, drug baron Pablo Escobar had to write off ten per cent of his cash The average person walks the rubbish. holdings because of rats nibbling away equivalent of three times around the Harry Houdini could pick up pins with at his huge stash of bank notes. world in a lifetime. his eyelashes and thread a needle with In 2010, the Catholic Church had an Forty-six per cent of American adults his toes. income of $97 billion. can’t read well enough to understand the label on their prescription medicine. When customers visited the first supermarkets in Britain, they were The French for ‘paperclip’ is trombone. In his first year at Harrow, Winston afraid to pick up goods from the The Icelandic phone book is in order of Churchill was bottom of the whole shelves in case they were told off. first name. school.
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Jimmy Carter once sent a jacket to the dry-cleaner’s with the nuclear detonation codes still in the pocket. The Vatican City has the highest crime rate in the world. Though the resident population is only just over 800, more than 600 crimes are committed there each year. Two-and-a-half million Mills & Boon novels were pulped and added to the tarmac of the M6 toll motorway to make it more absorbent.
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In 2005, the 54 billionaires in Britain paid only £14.7 million in income tax between them. Of this, £9 million came from James Dyson. More than 90 per cent of all the blackcurrants grown in Britain go into Ribena. It costs more to make the cardboard box that Shredded Wheat comes in than it does to make the cereal itself.
Opening hours: Monday - Saturday from 11am till 8pm &Sundays from 2pm till 8pm
The American secret service tried to spike Hitler’s carrots with female hormones to change him into a woman.
Situated in C.C. La Fuente. Local No.30, Dehesa de Campoamor
Ants can survive in a microwave: they are small enough to dodge the rays.
ON PRESENTATION OF THIS ADVERT YOU WILL GET AN EXTRA 10% DISCOUNT
The sun’s core is so hot that a piece of it the size of a pinhead would give off enough heat to kill a person 160 kilometres (99 miles) away...........More to follow next issue.
Tel: 965 320 044
16
Quality always wins at The Dutch Butcher The Dutch Butcher in Benimar (Benijofar) is famous in the entire region for their top quality meat. Many people from all nationalities found their way to the shop in the past 11 years to get the most tender steaks, the best meat for your roast and the nicest ham (which is prepared by themselves. Maybe you think: “it’s called the Dutch Butcher, so that is not my kind of meat.” In that case you’d better pop in the shop and find out for yourselves why you’re wrong. We have our very own qualified English Butcher working for us along with Ron, the owner & Butcher. He has built up so much experience with all kind of nationalities whilst running the shop in Benimar so they can serve everybody to their own wishes. The beef is self imported from Holland, the lamb from New Zealand and they only sell the best quality Pork and Chicken from Spain. They spend a lot of time to prepare most products themselves, to make sure everything is fresh, handmade and without any preservatives, something what most supermarkets use to make sure they can keep it in the fridge for a longer time. Not at The Dutch Butchers though, everything is fresh. That is why their slogan is “Quality always wins” Besides the regular meats you can find various kinds of sandwich fillings, salads and ready made meals like beef stroganoff, chicken curry and Beef stew. And everything is freshly homemade. We also sell various Dutch cheeses, sauces, margarines and grocery items. Maybe you just sit on a terrace, reading this article and enjoy the sun and a nice cold drink, but Santa Claus is preparing for his visit in December to make sure you have a nice Christmas. That’s why you can place your Christmas orders at The Dutch Butchers already from the 1st of October. Turkey, turkey crown, ham, gammon, chipolatas, pigs in blankets or whatever you like can be ordered. As well as homemade salads, Meat plates for the hot stone, fondue or hotplate.
When you place your Christmas order and mention you read this article in Ultimate Costa Blanca, you will get a free bottle of wine. We are situated next to party centre El Mundo in C.C. Benimar (Benijofar) Opening hours: Tuesday – Friday 8.30am ‘til 5pm & Saturday 8am ’til 3pm.
Tel. 966 713 965
www.thedutchbutcher.com 17
Gota Fría in Spain Spain, especially the east coast areas, can experience intense rain and wind storms in the autumn months. These storms, known as gota fria, can take you by surprise unless you know what to expect and are prepared... Gota fría, or “cold drop”, is a weather phenomenon often occurring in the Spanish autumn. It is experienced particularly along the western Mediterranean and as such, most frequently affects the east coast of Spain (although it is by no means limited to this area). Gota fría is the name given to the storms. These most commonly take place after the summer months when the sea temperature is still high, but the temperature in upper airstreams suddenly drops. The warm air, saturated with water vapour, rises and cools too quickly when meeting the upper airstreams. The result is extremely intense rainfall, accompanied by high winds (up to 140 km/h), hail and thunderstorms. A gota fría is more intense on or close to the coast, and can be powerful enough to uproot trees. In the Event of a Gota Fría Expect extremely heavy rain, flash flooding, power cuts and no telephone reception. Prepare the home for floods: • Make sure the roof is clean and the drains are free of leaves • Clear the outdoors areas and garden in the end of the summer (bring in furniture, garden tools and other moveable objects that might be blown or washed away) • Swimming pools should be partly emptied, to avoid flooding • Keep a couple of days’ worth of dry food and water, along with a torch, batteries and a radio in a high place where it can be quickly reached • Important documentation and items should be kept at the highest part of the house
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In the event of storms and flood • Turn of the electricity • Listen to local radio news, but avoid using the phone • Be prepared to leave the house and go to a safe place if ordered by the authorities On the road in floods • Try to tune in to the local radio channel • Prepare to drive towards higher locations • Prepare to abandon the car and head to higher ground if the water levels begin to rise or if the car is stuck • If the car is submerged in water, and it’s difficult to open the door, exit through the window without loosing any time Avoid unnecessary danger: • Stay on main roads • Never cross flooded areas by car • Watch out for loose electricity cables and falling objects, beware tha tunnels and drains can be hazardous • Never park on riverbeds • Avoid driving after dark
Pata Negra Jamón ibérico or “Iberian ham”, also called pata negra and carna negra is a type of cured ham produced mostly in Spain, but also in some Portuguese regions where it is called presunto ibérico. According to Spain’s Denominación de Origen rules on food products, the jamón ibérico may be made from black Iberian pigs, or cross-bred pigs as long as they are at least 75% ibérico. The black Iberian pig lives primarily in the south and southwest parts of Spain, including the provinces of Salamanca, Ciudad Real, Cáceres, Badajoz, Seville, Córdoba (DO Los Pedroches) and Huelva. It also lives in the southeast parts of Portugal (Barrancos), where it is referred to as porco de raça alentejana. Immediately after weaning, the piglets are fattened on barley and maize for several weeks. The pigs are then allowed to roam in pasture and oak groves to feed naturally on grass, herbs, acorns, and roots, until the slaughtering time approaches. At that point, the diet may be strictly limited to olives or acorns for the best quality jamón ibérico, or may be a mix of acorns and commercial feed for lesser qualities. The hams from the slaughtered pigs are salted and left to begin drying for two weeks, after which they are rinsed and left to dry for another four to six weeks. The curing process then takes at least twelve months, although some producers cure their jamones ibéricos for up to 48 months. In particular, the ibérico hams from the towns of Guijuelo in the Salamanca province and Jabugo in the Huelva province are known for their consistently high quality and both have their own Denominación de Origen. Almost the entire town of Jabugo is devoted to the production of jamón ibérico; the biggest producer is 5J Sánchez Romero Carvajal. The town’s main square is called La plaza del Jamón.
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come
Wine with me
The golden nectar By Adele Land
Lager, ale, stout or mild...whichever your preference you are in good company. Beer is the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic drink and comes third overall after water and tea. It is also the oldest known alcoholic drink, dating back to Neolithic times and drunk in abundance in ancient Iraq and Egypt. Germanic tribes introduced the ‘golden nectar’ into Europe where it developed into the drink we know and love today. The main ingredient in beer is water, making it a suitable drink for hydrating the body, in fact a recent study by scientists in Spain showed that drinking beer in moderation can actually be good for you as it contains potassium, antioxidants and other beneficial ingredients. In the brewing process, sugar and malt or barley are added to the water to begin the fermentation process, turning the sugar to alcohol. Yeast and hops are added, followed by a source of starch such as maize or rice. Finally more hops are added for flavour and a clarifying agent to give the beer it’s transparent sparkle. Beer comes in many varieties, stout is a rich dark beer, popular in 18th century London. Mild, popular in northern UK is malty and light. Ale comes in hundreds of varieties and aficionados have very specific tastes and travel the length of the UK to enjoy the more rare brews. CAMRA (campaign for real ale) was formed in 1971 by a group of men from the north-west who were disillusioned with mass produced ‘tasteless’ beer. The group now boasts some 149,424 members across the world, and has been described as the most successful consumer campaign in Europe. Beer is relatively low in calories and the experts say that a ‘beer belly’ is most likely caused by overeating and lack of exercise rather than beer-drinking. Non-alcoholic beer is widely available with most mainstream brewers offering this option and these days you can hardly taste the difference.
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People in the Czech Republic drink the most beer per-capita in the world, with Germany a close second. The UK comes 18th and Spain, surprisingly is 22nd. Although renowned as a country of wine-drinkers, Spanish beers have grown in popularity. San Miguel is probably the best known, based in Madrid and boasting a huge brewery in Malaga, this popular brand has been refreshing the taste buds of tourists and locals alike since the 1960s. Another popular beer manufacturer Mahou, bought 70 percent of the company in 2000 and changed its name to Grupo Mahou-San Miguel. Servings of beer in Spain are quite random and vary in size from bar to bar. A ‘caña’ is a small draught beer and can be served in a goblet type glass or a long glass, a ‘tubo’ is served in a long glass, a pint of beer is a ‘pinta’ or if you are sharing, why not order by the jug (jara). Easier still, order a bottle and ditch the glass! In a tragic event, 45-year-old Joaquín Alcaraz Gracia died after winning a beer drinking contest in July. The competition was part of an annual festival in a town in the region of Murcia. Gracia allegedly consumed up to three litres of beer, lifted his trophy in the air and then complained of feeling ill, he was rushed to hospital where he died later that day. On that note, while we celebrate the long tradition of drinking beer, please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
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Calle Los Arcos The New High Street of Quesada!
If you hear “Ciudad Quesada” maybe you wouldn’t think I´ll go and spend the day there but probably the “Calle Los Arcos” is an undiscovered area for you. So that´s a good reason to go down there, park your car or bike and walk down the street. There is a pavement on both sides and plenty of parking space in the streets around this area. You will be surprised how many businesses are situated along this road. From sports and leisure, to garages and from bikes to insurances. Everything in one street. You can buy a bicycle or get your bike serviced at Cyclogical or get fit at Howards Gym. Fitness training, Zumba and much more to get a healthier life. If you´re looking for a vet or food for your pet then pop into San Anton´s. everything for your pet under one roof. Having problems with your car, or it needs servicing, Call Lee at Quesada Auto´s. They have many years of experience and work at really affordable prices. Say Hello to Jo at Discount Electrical. They have a large range of electrical household goods, from a hairdryer, to a washing machine and from an electric kettle to a Freezer. But also beds, sofa´s and other furniture is available Time for a little break at Costa Café. They serve an excellent cup of coffee, breakfasts, lunches and much more. Once you have had their coffee, you will be back for more. In the commercial centre you also find Gold Rush. You can sell your unwanted gold, diamonds watches and jewelry. But also buy a nice ring for your loved one or bring your jewelry in for any repairs or alterations. If you want some leisure time, then play minigolf at the Quesada minigolf or challenge your friends in the Quesada Bowling. Both premises also have an excellent kitchen so it´s really worth a visit. If you are fed up with smoking but you really can´t without your cigarette, or you don´t want to go outside your local bar to smoke, then pop into Discount depot. In the right hand corner you find Margi´s E-cigarettes. They sell all type of E cigarettes. Discount depot it selves, supply you different kind of UK products like British toiletries, Household products, Sweets, Pet Care etc. etc. and because they buy big, they can sell cheap. Going up the stairs you find JP Golf. They can provide you everything you need for your game of golf. Dicounted greenfees, repairs, and much more. If you´re looking for an experienced insurance adviser then you really need to go into the office of Spanish insurance, you name it, they insure it. Last but not least, having problems with the Spanish authorities then call for help at Trans Lingua. They will provide written and verbal translations, Notary services, NIE numbers, Car registration etc. So you see there are many reasons why you have to go left just before the arches when you come into Quesada.
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SUPERSTORE OPEN IN QUESADA Indoor and outdoor furniture & electrical all under one roof
From Sofa´s to TV´s and from Kettles to Fridge Freezers ALL now available in one store Established since 2002 Opening Times Monday – Saturday 10.00 – 14.00
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The
BEST THING about Spain... ...is SPAIN! Quite often I am asked “what is the very best thing you like about Spain”? The answer is easy. Having survived here almost 45 years I have had the opportunity to bounce about this place and that is truly why I like living here. You can go anywhere, a short trip down the road or an entire journey across country and you will invariably come in contact with people or even regions of a surprising difference between back home in Mojacar and far away. Spain is always interesting, if not challenging and absolutely full of learning. It seems that each small village or large metropolis contains it’s own powerful history, a special and unique cuisine (and wines) and so much to learn.
What’s even better yet - is the people; always smiling and helpful, reaching out to help your experience.
the Phoenicians, Visigoths, then Romans and Moor’s the true kaleidoscope of Spain’s multifaceted and colourful personality will be clothed If modern scientists can now in earnest with a historical teach monkeys an English understanding. vocabulary of 600 words within one year you too should be able Keep a diary because each to match that to aid your travels of these explorations will be and enhance your discoveries. worthy of some righteous Adjust gradually with short trips “expose chatter” during cocktail within your daily drive radius hour. And, if you don’t go—you and then gradually increase your will lack lies to spin. A more journeys into a deeper orbit that unfortunate fate or dismal entails overnight stays. There circumstance couldn’t occur are plenty of good pictorial to anyone pretending to thrive guide books for the museums living in Spain! and must see tourist places. These are not to be missed By Ric Polansky © because once you understand something about
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A SONG
FOR THE LIVING Preparing today will help your loved one's tomorrow
It's a sad and daunting thought, but one thing for sure in this world is the fact that one day we will all pass over to a hopefully, even better place! Monthly Funeral plans often leave the family with extra costs when you pass away, and that could cause even more unnecessary stress during a very sad time. We take no monthly fees, and we will arrange things to your exact wishes until the funeral is over. Your family and friends will not need to get involved with any arrangements, leaving them valuable time to grieve. We help with funeral arrangements worldwide!
We are pleased to introduce to you a new product designed by Mortis Nostrae, S.L., which is unique.
A song for the living SL offers the opportunity of arranging all those things we need for our passing, avoiding unnecessary pain for the loved ones we leave behind.
It makes an especially difficult moment in our lives much easier. When we are making plans for a trip, we know we must have it already beforehand, so that the result is as expected. We plan everything according to our needs and wants.
We are neither an insurance company nor a funeral company. Our aim is to arrange a customised funeral for you, following your desires and wishes.
Why then leave our last trip for the people we love most to arrange, and pass onto them the burden of having to sort it all out in such a difficult moment?
It is always hard to think of the day which comes for all of us, even more if it is for yourself, but we must admit that, even though it is not pleasant, death is a fact, and it is best to face it and accept it without taboos or fears. We are positive our product will meet with your requirements.
Our company, Mortis Nostrae, appeared as a solution to this problem. Relatives and friends just want to say goodbye and mourn the loss of their loved one. The last thing they want is to start choosing among the different products i.e. casket, flowers, etc. and have to discuss with other relatives these matters until the decision is made, something that can be difficult at these times.
Thank you. Ms Nuria Delgado Manager and Promoter of Mortis Nostrae, S.L.
E-mail: contact@asongfortheliving.com | We will respond within the next 24 hours and phone you if required. Telephone: 648 715 876 | From 09:00 to 21.00. 32
ABOUT NURIA Nuria Delgado Gros, creator of A Song for the Living, is a soprano. When she was a little girl, she wanted to become an oceanographer, and this might be the reason for her gift to dive into emotions and turn them into music.
Nuria is a bird that wakes up singing, thankful for living one more day , with all the good and bad that day might bring, and at dusk, when the house becomes silent, she closes her eyes and dances among the stars, knowing for sure that: “There is no such distance when we have truly loved”.
Nowadays, she is a consolidated, generous, bold, and positive businesswoman, with a great capacity to see into the future, who knows that the best asset in her companies is the people working for them. She takes advantage of her journeys to write, invent, and develop projects in which she continues creating new jobs, and help make the world a cleaner place. She was born in Catalonia, and even though she has been living in Madrid for many years, she admits she would love to escape to a little village in the Pyrenees, called Arros, and carry out her passion there: writing until dawn. She cannot stand mediocrity or lack of honesty, and she will not tolerate children abuse. She is humble, curious and really wise when hiring good professionals. She thinks that living with worries is not living, and according to her “what hurts most about dying is dying with remorse”. Nuria loves her hands, birds, cinnamon, her favourite colour is lilac, and she adores yellow roses. She is fascinated by the voices of tree leaves moved by the breeze, by nature and its sounds, and she finds the wind most relaxing. Nuria is sensitive, happy, expressive, and she feels moved when she caresses the ring she keeps from her husband, or when she talks about her children and grandchildren, to whom she has always taught not to be afraid of death, to be brave, and to fight for their ideals.
© 2013 A Song for the Living. All Rights Reserved. 33
Ultimate Almeria would like to welcome a new, exciting article, featuring a relatively new organisation CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SPAIN. The organisation was founded by Myra Swainson, who is legally trained. The aim of CAB Spain is to assist and support both Spaniards and Expats who struggle to understand the existing and ever changing laws and rules. Join their FACEBOOK page CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU SPAIN. Soon to launch their website www.citizenadvice.org.es Here are a few articles which we hope will be of interest to you: IT IS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE IN FLIP-FLOPS IN SPAIN It is unlikely that tourists visiting Spain, are familiar with all the laws relating to driving on the Spanish roads. We as residents, are expected to be aware of the laws on the circulation on Spanish reads. I believe where we expatriates may fail in our knowledge of the laws, is due to the fact, that the majority of us took our driving tests in other It is equally as important to draw up a will in each country where there European countries. We all remember are asset. Take note: Only mention the assets in the relevant country. the theory tests where laws were listed Adding assets abroad in the Spanish document will only complicate and often learn parrot fashion. matters. Remember as a European citizen, you have the advantage over your Spanish counterpart where the law dictates who must inherit. Non We are presently enjoying the great Spanish residents may bequeath their assets to whomever they wish. It weather and or the summer holidays, is fair to point out that a sibling or anyone else, who feels they have an we have kicked off our winter shoes entitlement as an heir, does have the right to contest the will in Spain and dug out our lighter footwear. A as in any other country. A problem may arise if you have disinherited note of warning, be careful what you children. A Spanish court may reach a conclusion favouring progeny. wear whilst behind the driving wheel. Off to the beach? It is illegal to drive in HOW TO REPORT A CRIME BY TELEPHONE IN YOUR LANGUAGE Flip flops or in bare feet. If you are a victim of crime in Spain, you can make a police report in English by phoning the National Police helpline on 902 102 112. The You will be given a fine if you do drive in these types of sandals? This will service provides assistance in seven languages. This number is to report all crimes but not to be used as an emergency depend on the mood of the policeman number where you need immediate attention. For these circumstances, who stops you, and if you have the you can call the emergency number 061 for emergencies and misfortune to be asked to step out of your vehicle. ambulances. ARE BRITISH AND IRISH WILLS VALID IN SPAIN? There is still a consensus amongst the European community that drawing up a British will is sufficient for assets in Spain. It is both legal and within your rights to do this. The problems occur when the executer of the will has to go to the expensive and lengthy process of sending the will to probate. You will have to contact a lawyer in Spain who will in turn contact a lawyer in the country where the will was drawn up. Having a Spanish will, allows the relevant authorities to simply adhere to your wishes ensuring that a property and or assets can be easily passed down to your inheritors.
You will be able to give details of the incident over the telephone and the operator will give you a provisional police report number. You can then go to the nearest National Police station within forty eight hours and hand over the reference number. The documents will already be available for you to sign, reducing the waiting time at the police station. This will be of great assistance to those with little knowledge of the Spanish language and avoid the long wait to be attended at your local station.
ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES These became obligatory in Spain from the 1st of June, 2013, with property owners becoming liable for ensuring their home is graded as per the rating from “A” through to “G”, relevant to the energy efficiency of the property.
This service is available in English Monday to Friday from 9.00 am until Officially called the Certificado de Eficiencia Energética in Spain, or CEE, 9.00 pm. the property is given a standard rating
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based on energy efficiency and carbon won´t even be permitted to advertise your property for sale or rent without emissions, with grade “A” indicating one. This isn´t something you can just ignore either. The process of selling the most efficient property, whereas or renting can only continue if you have the certificate in place. “G” is the least energy efficient. The third most important question revolves around the issuing of The aim is to both raise awareness the certificate. Because this is a government led initiative, with huge of how inefficient buildings effect the implications on both the environment and the economy, nobody can just environment, as well as indicating go and buy a “do-it-yourself” kit, nor can just anybody set up in business how savings can be made in the home providing the documents. Only certified and registered assessors are by adopting some minor changes or able to issue the certificate, these companies and people are regulated investments. through the government scheme. The certificate is mandatory for properties which are being sold or rented, and failure to provide the certificate can result in a fine of between 3,000 and 6,000 euro. As part of the property sale process, it will be standard practice for notaries to ask for the certificate, as it will also form part of their obligations.
The fourth question you are likely to have is how often do you need to have the certificate issued, well the good news is that the certificates are valid for 10 years, so once you have it, you don´t have to panic at any frequency less than you would for your own passport. Which brings us to the final question of holiday lets, a number of people are bound to wonder if they need a certificate if their property is only used for this purpose, either privately or through an agency, to which the answer is YES. Agencies will not be legally allowed to offer your property for rent without one and may face prosecutions if they do.
The first question which needs answering is whether or not you will need a certificate. Well, if you have no intention of selling or renting your property, then you don´t need to worry too much as this stage, the primary focus is for those properties which are offered to buyers or tenants. In other words, if you intend to sell or rent your property, or if it is already on the market, then you WILL need the certificate, otherwise you will not be able to sell or rent your property. It really is that simple. The second question is when is the certificate needed? The answer to that question is NOW. The legislation comes into force on the 1st of June and you will not be able to sell or rent your property without one. In fact, you
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Wisdom...
“As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two”. Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE (4 February 1915 – 4 October 2010) was an English actor, comedian and singersongwriter best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring his hapless onscreen character Norman Pitkin.
Second World War. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Wisdom was sent to work in a communications centre in a command bunker in London where he connected telephone calls from war leaders to the prime minister. He met Winston Churchill on several occasions when asked for Norman Joseph Wisdom was born in the updates on incoming calls, and once was Marylebone district of London. His parents disciplined for calling him Winnie. were Frederick, a chauffeur, and Maud Wisdom (née Targett), a dressmaker who Wisdom then joined the Royal Corps of often worked for West End theatres. The Signals, and performed a similar military couple married in Marylebone on 15th function at the unit headquarters based in July 1912. Wisdom had an elder brother, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Frederick Thomas “Fred” Wisdom (13th Early career. December 1912 – 1st July 1971). Whilst performing a shadow boxing routine The family resided at 91 Fernhead Road, in the army gym, Wisdom discovered he Maida Vale W9, where they slept in one had a talent for entertainment, and began room. Wisdom quipped, “I was born in very to develop his skills as a musician and sorry circumstances. Both of my parents stage entertainer. were very sorry.” In 1940 aged 25, at a NAAFI entertainment He and his brother were raised in severe night, during a dance routie section Wisdom poverty and were frequently hit by their stepped-down from his position in the father. After a period in a children’s home in orchestra pit, and started shadow boxing. Deal, Kent, Wisdom ran away when he was Hearing his colleagues and officers giggles, 11 but returned to become an errand boy he broke into a duck-waddle, followed by a in a grocer’s shop on leaving school at 13. series of facial expressions “ They were in hysterics. All the officers Having been kicked out of his home by his were falling about laughing”. father and becoming homeless, in 1929 he walked (by his own account) to Cardiff, Wisdom later credited this as where he first Wales, where he became a cabin boy in the patented his persona as “The Successful Merchant Navy. He later also worked as a Failure”. coal miner, waiter and page boy. Over the next few years, until he was deWisdom first enlisted into the King’s Own mobbed in 1945, his routine would be Royal Regiment (Lancaster), but his mother suffixed with his characteristic singing and had him discharged as he was under age. the trip-up-and-stumble. He later re-enlisted as a drummer boy in After Wisdom appeared at a charity concert the 10th Royal Hussars of the British Army. at Cheltenham Town Hall, actor Rex In 1930 he was posted to Lucknow, in Harrison came backstage and urged him to the United Provinces of British India, as a become a professional entertainer. bandsman. There he gained an education certificate, rode horses, became the flyweight boxing champion of the British Wisdom gained a celebrity status in lands Army in India and learned to play the as far apart as South America, Iran and trumpet and clarinet. many Eastern Bloc countries, particularly in Albania, where his films were the only ones 36
by Western actors permitted by dictator Enver Hoxha to be shown. Charlie Chaplin once referred to Wisdom as his “favourite clown”. Wisdom later forged a career on Broadway in New York and as a television actor, winning critical acclaim for his dramatic role of a dying cancer patient in the television play Going Gently in 1981. It was broadcast on the 5th of June that year. He toured Australia and South Africa. After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a hospice was even named in his honour. In 1995 he was given the Freedom of the City of London and of Tirana. The same year he received an OBE. Wisdom was knighted in 2000 and spent much of his later life on the Isle of Man. Some of his later appearances included roles in Last of the Summer Wine and Coronation Street, and he retired from acting at the age of 90 after his health deteriorated.
HALLOWEEN
Everyone knows about the ghosts and ghouls of Halloween and the trick or treat , pumpkins, fancy dress and apple bobbing but how many of us know of the history and when and where it all started. So here are a few facts that may enlighten you and if you are going to a Halloween party have a spooky time!!! Halloween also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is a yearly celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows (or All Saints) and the day initiating the triduum of Hallowmas. According to many scholars, All Hallows’ Eve is a Christianised feast originally influenced by western European harvest festivals, and festivals of the dead with possible pagan roots. Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.
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The word halloween was first used a very long time ago in the 16th century so people have been spooked and scared on this night for over five centuries.
Halloween imagery includes themes of death, evil, the occult, and mythical monsters. Black, orange, and sometimes purple are Halloween’s traditional colors.
Because Halloween comes in the wake of the yearly apple harvest, toffee apples are common Halloween treats made by rolling whole apples in a sticky sugar syrup these are usually a favourite for all children and many sweet toothed adults.
In Spain, Halloween is a three-day celebration, starting from 31st October every year. The first day is referred to as Halloween or Dia de las Brujas (Day of the Witches). This is also called Samhain or Noite dos Calacús (Night of the Pumpkins) in the north-west region of Galicia.
The modern imagery of Halloween comes from many sources, including national customs, works of Gothic and horror literature (such as the novels Frankenstein and Dracula) and classic horror films (such as Frankenstein and The Mummy). One of the earliest works on the subject of Halloween is from Scottish poet John Mayne, who, in 1780, made note of pranks at Halloween; “What fearfu’ pranks ensue!”, as well as the supernatural associated with the night, “Bogies” (ghosts), influencing Robert Burns’ Halloween 1785. Elements of the autumn season, such as pumpkins, corn husks and scarecrows, are also prevalent. Homes are often decorated with these types of symbols around Halloween.
This is followed by the celebration of ‘All Saints Day’ (Dia de Todos los Santos) on the 1st of November. Finally, on 2nd November, the natives observe the customs and rituals of All Souls’ Day (Día de Los Muertos). The three day celebration is together referred to as “El Dia de los Muertos” and is widely observed by the natives of Spain, Latin America and also by the Latinos residing in different zones of United States and Canada.
BATS
As we are heading towards Halloween and all those creepy stories, dark nights and ghouls we thought it would be a good time of year to look at a couple of bats. From the large Flying Fox bat to the small Bumble Bee bat, I hope you find these two species as interesting and amazing as I did researching about them. Editor
The large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus), also known as the greater flying fox, Malaysian flying fox, kalang or kalong, is a southeast Asian species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. Like the other members of the Old World fruit bats, it feeds exclusively on fruits, nectar and flowers. It is noted for being one of the largest bats.
The Bumblebee Bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), also known as Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat, is an endangered species of bat. It can be found in western Thailand and southeast Burma. It usually lives in limestone caves along rivers. This is the smallest species of bat and one of the world’s smallest mammals. It has a reddish-brown or grey coat, with a distinctive pig-like snout. Colonies range greatly in size, with an average of 100 individuals per cave. The bat feeds during short activity periods in the evening and dawn, foraging around nearby forest areas for insects. Female bats have only one offspring each year. The Bumblebee bat is about 29–33 millimetres (1.14–1.30 in) in length and 2 grams (0.07 oz) in mass). This is the reason for its common name “bumblebee bat”. It is the smallest species of bat. The bat has a distinctive swollen, pig-like snout with thin, vertical nostrils. Its ears are relatively large, while its eyes are small and mostly concealed by fur. Its teeth are typical of an insectivorous bat. The wings are relatively large and darker in colour, with long tips that allow the bat to hover. Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat has no visible tail. There is a large web of skin between the hind legs which may help in flying and catching insects, although there are no tail bones to help control it in flight. In Thailand, Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat is restricted to a small region of the Kanchanaburi Province, within the drainage basin of the Khwae Noi River. Since the 2001 discovery of a single individual in Burma, at least nine separate sites have been identified. The Thai and Burmese populations are morphologically identical, but their echolocation calls are distinct.
The large flying fox is among the largest species of bat. It weighs 0.65–1.1 kg (1.4–2.4 lb) and has a wingspan of up to 1.5m (4 ft 11 in). As with all megabats, it has a foxlike face, hence its name. It lacks a tail and has pointed ears. The hairs on much of its body are long and wooly, but are shorter and more erect on the upper back. The mantle hairs tend to be the longest. The color and texture of the coat differ between sexes and age classes. Males tend to have slightly stiffer and thicker coats than females. Immature individuals are almost all dull grey-brown. The young have a dark-colored mantle that becomes lighter in males when they mature. The mantle can vary from pale dirtybuff to orange-yellow, while the chest is usually dark-golden brown or dark russet. The large flying fox ranges from Malay Peninsula, to the Philippines in the east and Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Timor in the south. In certain areas, the bat prefers coastal regions, but it can also be found at elevations up to 1,370 m (4,490 ft).
BATS here in Southern Spain: The Brown Long-Eared Bat or Common Long-Eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) is a fairly large European bat. It has distinctive ears, long and with a distinctive fold. It is extremely similar to the much rarer grey long-eared bat which was only validated as a distinct species in the 1960s. An adult brown long-eared bat has a body length of 4.5-4.8 cm, a tail of 4.1-4.6 cm, and a wing length of 4-4.2 cm. The ears are 3.3-3.9 cm in length, and readily distinguish this from most other bat species. 39
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MARBELLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2013 2nd - 6th October H10 Andalucía Plaza If you love Cinema or Film and are interested in new, upcoming artists in the industry, then is a must for being so close to Marbella. Van Gogh cut off his ear. Artists are known for displaying their tempestuous passion for their craft. Oddly enough, despite this passion and often remarkable talent, artists find it difficult to emerge into the commercial world. This is because most artists are left unequipped with the means and often the knowledge to have their talent appreciated, thus rendering success as an artist exceedingly difficult. Remember, in his life Van Gogh only sold ONE painting. Tickets for the 2013 Marbella International Film Festival are now available, though you’ll have to move quickly to get your hands on one of the industry’s hottest tickets. The packages come in two flavours: Festival Package A VIP Pass to all screenings, pass to the red carpet ceremony and cocktail party, invitation to all parties, access to workshops and fringe events, ticket to the Gala Dinner and awards ceremony including dinner, wine and entertainment, five nights stay in the four star Andalucia Plaza Hotel, Puerto Banes, Marbella, and much more. Click here to find out more or to book. VIP Pass A VIP Pass to all screenings, pass to the red carpet ceremony and cocktail party, invitation to all parties, access to workshops and fringe events, ticket to the Gala Dinner and awards ceremony including dinner, wine and entertainment. Should you need further information, please visit www.marbellafilmfestival.com
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Chupa Chups® is a world wide registered trademark. It was originally used on a lollipop and now is a popular confectionery brand sold in over 150 countries around the world. The brand was founded by the Spaniard Enric Bernat in 1958.The name of the brand comes from the Spanish verb chupar, meaning “to suck” In the early 1950s, Bernat worked for an apple jam factory called “Granja Asturias”. After he broached the idea of making lollipops, the investors left. Bernat took over the company in 1958 and renamed it Chupa Chups. He built the production machines and sold a striped bonbon on a wooden stick for one peseta each. Bernat got the idea of a “bonbon with a stick” from a cursing mother as her child got sticky hands from melting sweets. Bernat felt that at that time, sweets were not designed with the main consumers — children — in mind. Shopkeepers were instructed to place the lollipops near the cash register within reach of children’s hands, instead of the traditional placement behind the counter.
outlets. When the candy was first created, the lolly sticks were made of wood but they switched to plastic sticks.
After the end of the Francisco Franco In July 2006 the company as a whole dictatorship (1939–75), the self-funded was acquired by the Italian group private company went international. Perfetti Van Melle. In the 1970s the lollipops appeared in Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia, as well as Australia. In the 1980s it expanded to the European and North American markets, and in the 1990s to most Asian countries, such as South Korea and Japan.
In China they were manufactured by Tatagum in Panyu, near Guangzhou. As of 2003, 4 billion lollipops a year are sold to 150 countries. The company has 2000 employees, The Chupa Chups company was a makes 90 percent of its sales abroad, success. Within five years Bernat’s and has a turnover of 500,000,000 sweets were being sold at 300,000 euros. 44
In 1991, Bernat passed formal control of “Chupa Chups” to his son Xavier. The Smint subsidiary brand/company was founded in 1994.
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MY father only hit me once — but he used a Volvo.
I RECKON my cat should be the regimental mascot for the SAS. All it does is eat, kill and bonk. LAUGHTER is the best medicine — unless you are diabetic. Then insulin comes pretty high on the list. I LOVE going to Argos. It’s staffed entirely by people who failed their Woolworths exams. IF rhino horn is an aphrodisiac, then why are they an endangered species?
BOB MONKHOUSE I’D never be unfaithful to my wife. I love my house too much. I WANT to die like my dad, peacefully in his sleep not screaming and terrified like his passengers.
SILENCE is not only golden — it is seldom misquoted. A MODEL village in Bournemouth caught fire. The flames could be seen nearly three feet away. I CAN still enjoy sex at 74 — I live at 75, so it’s no distance. I’M not saying my wife’s a bad cook, but she uses a smoke alarm as a timer. THEY laughed when I said I was going to be a comedian . . . they’re not laughing now. A TOMCAT hijacked a passenger jet, stuck a pistol into the pilot’s ribs and demanded: “Take me to the Canaries.” MY wife said: “Can my mother come
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EDY FUNNY JOKES LAUGH COMEDY FUNNY JOKES LAUGH COMEDY down for the weekend?” So I asked: “Why?” — and she said: “Well, she’s been up on the roof two weeks already.”
moving sir, we’re stock-taking”. I’VE just had some bad news. Tomorrow it’s the mother-in-law’s funeral — and she’s cancelled it.
PERSONALLY, I don’t think there’s intelligent life on other planets. Why should other planets be any different from this one?
WHEN my mother-in-law fell down a wishing well, I was amazed. I never knew they worked.
I GOT my start in silent radio. I spilt stain remover on my sleeve. Now how do I get that out?
LES DAWSON
I ASKED my doctor for something for persistent wind. He gave me a kite. MY mother-in-law has come round to our house at Christmas seven years running. This year we’re having a change. We’re going to let her in.
FUNNY how you meet the woman you marry. I first met the wife in a tunnel of love. She was digging it.
JIMMY TARBUCK I WOULDN’T say my mother-in-law is fat but when she was run over recently the driver said it was because he didn’t have enough petrol to go around her. I WAS pulled over by the police the other day. The copper said: “You were doing 85mph.” I said: “I know, but my wife ran off with a traffic policeman the other week. I thought it was you bringing her back.” I WAS in the chip shop waiting for the fish to be cooked and I asked the guy behind the counter: “Will the fish be long?” He said: “No, but it will be thick.”
I’M not saying the wife’s ugly, but last Christmas she stood under the mistletoe waiting for someone to kiss and she was there until Lent. In fact, I WENT to the doctor last week. I said: she went to see the Elephant Man and KIDS these days are tough. I parked “Can I have some sleeping pills for the the audience thought he was making a my car and some said, “Ere, mind your car mister?” I told them, “It’s all right, wife?” He asked why. I said: “She’s personal appearance. I’ve got a bull terrier in the back.” They woken up.” THE wife’s mother said: “When you’re said: “Great — put out fires, can he?” I TOOK my mother-in-law to Madame dead, I’ll dance on your grave.” I said: GUESS who I bumped into in Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors, and “Good, I’m being buried at sea.” Specsavers the other day? Everyone. one of the attendants said, “Keep her
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Atlantic Coast d’s n a L e Adel
ON I T A IN T S ... E O D T T R O P RE
Spain’s ‘coast of light’
Vejer de la Frontera
Miles of wide, sandy beaches, cloudless skies and rickety beach-shacks serving fresh fruit smoothies and cocktails. Sounds like a Caribbean island or the coast of Thailand? In fact I am describing the Atlantic coast of Spain.
Driving south, leaving behind the high rises of the Costa del Sol. Beyond the rock of Gibraltar which rises imposingly from the sea as you wind along the coastal road. Past the industrial port towns of La Linea de Concepcion and Algeciras. The scenery changes from the dry arid rocky landscape of the Mediterranean coast, to green lush fields at the foothills of craggy mountains with the Atlantic sea stretching out into infinity as far as the eye can see. The Costa de la Luz (Coast of light) stretches from Tarifa to the Guadiana river and the border between Spain and Portugal, taking in the provinces of Cadiz and Huelva. Less built-up than the Mediterranean Costas, the Costa de la Luz boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, the sand is powdery beige in contrast to the darker golden sands of the Mediterranean and the sand dunes created by the infamous strong winds compare to those found in the Arabian Gulf. Our first port of call in Cadiz province is Tarifa, the southernmost town in Continental Europe, so close to Africa in fact, that the Atlas mountain range can be seen clearly with the naked eye. 48
Populated in Roman times and later a Muslim stronghold during the Moorish occupancy of Spain. The town’s name is said to derive from the Berber warrior Tarif ibn Malik. Tarifa has a mild climate with less variations in temperature throughout the seasons than the rest of Spain. Strong winds whistling through from the straits of Gibraltar make the town a Mecca for kite surfers from across the globe, their colourful kites brighten up the landscape along the long beaches. The winds create a great environment for renewable energy and hundreds of wind turbines are dotted across the hillsides. Nature lovers will enjoy the array of migratory birds which can be observed particularly during autumn and spring months. Whale watching trips and ferry rides to nearby Africa are worthwhile pastimes during your visit. The town itself has a bohemian feel and you will find many funky shops around the town and if it’s a new surf-board you are after, then you are in the right place. Don’t know your ‘rocker’ from your ‘rails’? In other words you are a ‘kook’ (wannabe
surfer) there are plenty of hip boutiques selling ‘surfer-gear’ so you won’t feel out of place! Restaurants are in abundance, many with a distinctive North African flair, such as Mandrágora, located just behind the San Mateo church. Slightly out of town, on the E15 coast road is the funky restaurant Pacha Mama, with amazing sticky-ribs and steaks, washed down with a selection of cocktails, also a great place to enjoy sporting events on their super-huge TVs. Accommodation in Tarifa is varied, townhouses in the backstreets have been delightfully converted into guest houses and rental apartments, check out www. holidaytarifa.com. Prefer to stay right on the beach, the famous Hurricane Hotel (www.hotelhurricane.com) offers well priced accommodation from 40 euros per night, with a great restaurant. The Hotel Dos Mares (www.dosmareshotel.com) has a selection of rooms and bungalows from 80 euros per night, just metres from the Atlantic. Further along the coast are the towns of Zahara de los Atunes, Atlanterra and Barbate. Zahara is a typical whitewashed village, famed for its old church where boat-loads of tuna would be stored for
salting and curing, a bustling fishing village with daily fish and meat market, popular with tourists from neighbouring resorts. Atlanterra is a more ‘purposebuilt’ resort with low-level luxury apartment complexes and stunning individual villas with price-tags for the rich and famous. Strangely the modern architecture comfortably sits juxtaposed against the rugged hillsides overlooking the magnificent beaches.
The vast Doñana National Park is home to a diverse variety of wildlife including migratory birds, fallow deer and endangered species such as the Spanish imperial eagle and iberian lynx. In 2011 a team of American archeologists said they believed that the park was the location of the lost city of ‘Atlantis’ , suggesting that a huge tsunami wiped the city off the face of the earth and buried it in what is now swampland within the park, Investigations are ongoing! The closest hotel to Doñana on the Huelva side is the four star Gran Hotel del Coto in Matalascañas, reasonably priced at 70 euros per room, including breakfast, located right by the beach with views to the park, the hotel also offers tempting spapackages.
Barabate is a coastal town with a handful of hotels, popular with Spanish holidaymakers in the summer months, with lovely beaches and a good selection of bars and restaurants.
Some 10 kilometres from the Portuguese border is the fishing town of Isla Cristina, called an ‘island’ because it is almost completely surrounded by water. The town is the second largest sardine port in Spain after Vigo with the fishing industry playing a huge part in the town’s economy.
Slightly inland and impossible to miss if you are driving along the coast, is the town of Vejer de la Frontera, a typical whitewashed Andalucian village on the hilltop. With one of the prettiest town squares in Spain, the village is well worth a visit.
Isla Cristina is extremely popular in the summer months with Spanish holidaymakers, ‘Sevillano’s’ making the relatively short journey to escape the searing heat of the city.
Just before the turning up to the village is a large sherry factory and shop where you can sit and sample the delights of the local brew. Remember someone has to drive and this stuff is potent! The province’s capital Cadiz sits on a narrow peninsular jutting out into a bay. Built by the Phoenicians in 1100BC it became an important port in the 16th century, with explorers setting out to the new world. Sir Francis Drake tried to gain control of the city, seeing it as a potential trading post. Some of the original city walls can still be seen and although it was largely ignored by the Moors, their architectural style still had some influence, with cobbled streets and small squares, each way you turn. Not quite a ‘shopping mecca’ but you will still find some smaller boutiques and the ubiquitous department store El Corte Ingles. North of the City is the so-called ‘sherry triangle’ with the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Puerto de Santa María all producing their own version of this famous Spanish liquor. Jerez sherry is probably the most famous. As well as its sherry production, Jerez is famous for its equestrian tradition and is said to be the birthplace of Flamenco. Immerse yourself into traditional Spanish entertainment only seen in the dark backstreet bars of the town, a world away from the glitzy ‘tourist Flamenco’ seen in showbars on the Costa Blanca. Where the bar man could be serving your drinks one minute and the next, singing and stomping his Cuban heel clad feet in a colourful display of machismo. Leaving behind Cadiz province, across the other side of the Guadalquivir river is the province of Huelva which shares a border with Portugal. Home to the Doñana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Huelva is one of the least developed coastal provinces in Spain. Rich in minerals and with a temperate climate, the province’s economy relies mainly on mining and agriculture. It is also famed as being one of the ‘greenest’ places in Europe providing energy to the National Grid via wind, solar and biomass power.
The Aparthotel Vime Islantilla has rooms with kitchenettes for as little as 40 euros per night. Located 50 metres from the beach and surrounded by pine forests this modern hotel is perfect for a relaxing break, www.vimehotels.com. Eating out, somewhat off the beaten track are the restaurants Meson el Gato and Casa Joaquin, both worth seeking out for standard of food and service. Now we have reached the end of Spain, fancy a trip into Portugal’s Algarve region? The magnificent Guadiana International bridge spans the Guadiana river between the Spanish town of Ayamonte and Castro Matrim on the Portuguese side. There is rarely any border control at the crossing but take your passport just in case and remember to change your watch as Portugal is one hour behind Spanish time! So from here we say ‘hasta luego’ to Spain and ‘bom dia’ to Portugal. Travelling to the Costa de La Luz is a straightforward drive from The Costa Blanca and the journey can easily be broken up with a night on the Costa del Sol. The A7/E15 takes you all the way down the coast to Algeciras, from there you pick up the E5 and E1 which take you as far as the Portuguese border. by Adele Land
Tarifa
T
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THEGOLFPAGE ...your regular insight into Spain’s best and most played golf courses, world tournaments and news.
this issue
El Saler The Parador de El Saler (Valencia)
The Parador de El Saler (Valencia) golf course is considered one of the 60 best in the world and one of the 3 best in Europe - a view which is vouched for in testimonies from both professional and amateur players, institutions and the specialized press.
The club also offers a golf school; driving range; putting greens; 2 approach greens; a pro-shop; rental of clubs, hand carts and electric golf carts; and a restaurant and snack bar. GREEN FEES: Low season: months of January, February, July, August, September, November and December
Built in 1968 by the internationally recognized “architect of Spanish golf,” Javier Arana, the course is located in the El Saler Nature Reserve, on the shores of the Mediterranean sea in the Autonomous Community of Valencia. This Community is a leader with respect to economic development in Spain, and considers this course a source of pride.
18 holes = 95 Euros 9 holes = 57 Euros
The course’s design took into account its integration in the protected landscape (with native plants such as the famous pale stonecrop plant, locally called “cat’s claw”). The course layout is varied, ranging from the beach links reminiscent of the famous Scottish golf courses, to areas of typical Mediterranean forest. The par-72 course measures 6.042 m, spread out over 18 holes.
Low season: months of January, February, July, August, September, November and December = 48 Euros
High season: months of March, April, May, June and October 18 holes = 105 Euros 9 holes = 63 Euros Customers staying at the Parador:
High season: months of March, April, May, June and October = 53 Euros The golf season begins on October 1st 2012 and ends on September 30th, 2013.
The first Seve Trophy was played at El Saler. From the 1979 Ryder Cup, where Continental players took part in the competition and thanks to Seve Ballesteros’s huge thrust given to the European team, this event turned to be one of the greatest sports events in the world. Twenty – one years after, also due to one of the greatest players of all times a new event was born, the Seve Trophy. This tournament is staged biannually and will be a match play format. A team of golf players from the British Isles (Great Britain and Ireland) against one from Continental Europe. Each team will be made up of 10 players and the selection parameters will take into account the world ranking as well as the European list or nowadays, The Race to Dubai. “Golf is to a great extent an individual sport though everyone who has followed my golf career will be aware of how passionate I turn when I am playing a team competition. I am delighted that the PGA’s European Circuit has teamed with my own company Amen Corner to promote this event. Obviously I feel so honoured that it carries my name”. Seve Ballesteros
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the world’s
our new feature bringing you a host of astonishing facts and figures from around the globe.
MOST... expensive football players
These days the Price of footballers wages and transfers have gone sky high, for example in 1979 Trevor Francis was the UK´s first 1 million pound player, moving from Birmingham City to Brian Clough´s Nottingham Forest. Now you would struggle to get any half decent player for ten times this amount. But even 10 million pounds is dwarfed by the top 6 transfers in the world for these 6 great players below. Just imagine how much George Best, Pele or Maradona would sell for these days or the current world´s greatest, Lionel Messi if he ever came on the market.
Nº1 Gareth Bale
Nº2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Nº3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
£85.3m
£80m
£59m
With Gareth Bale’s move to Real Madrid from Tottenham recently completed, the world transfer record has been broken again. Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left back and earnt acclaim as a free kick specialist. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007, for an eventual £7 million fee and now plays as a forward.
The second best player on the planet behind Lionel Messi, he became the most expensive footballer in history on 26 June 2009 when he signed for Real Madrid from Manchester United for £80 million pounds. He had scored 143 league goals in 132 appearances for Real Madrid and rumours that a recent £100m transfer didn’t come to light.
He wins titles wherever he goes, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and now PSG, all in the last 10 years or so. In 2009 Barcelona signed him from Inter Milan for £59 million. In 2011 he had just scored 28 goals in 32 matches for AC Milan convincing the rich owners of PSG to sign him on 17 July 2012. In his first season he took his team to the Quarter Finals of the Champions League losing narrowly to Barcelona.
When Willie Groves joined Aston Villa from West Brom for £100 in 1893, little could the Scot have known that 120 years later, a lineage would be traced directly from him to a Welsh winger joining Real Madrid for £85 million. Groves was the first player to be transferred for £100 – a fee Villa were ordered to pay their Midlands rivals by the Football Association having been found guilty of tapping up – and since then the transfer record has been broken a further 42 times, culminating in Bale’s monumental move from Tottenham to Real Madrid. But in football’s formative decades it was Britain where the money was being thrown around, with a steady increase up until 1932 when River Plate paid Tigre £23,000 for Bernabe Ferreyra in the first record transfer outside of these Isles. 54
the world’s
MOST...
Nº4 Kaka
Nº5 Fernando Torres
Nº6 Zinedine Zidane
£56m
£50m
£45m
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite or “Kaka” for short signed for Real Madrid from AC Milan on the 8th of June 2009.
The Spaniard had four great seasons at Liverpool scoring 65 goals in 102 league games but in January 2011 Chelsea put in a £40m bid which Liverpool rejected, they wanted £50m, which, on the 31st January 2011 Chelsea paid to secure his services. He has never really settled at Chelsea and has struggled to look like a world class striker.
The reason for Milan selling him was purely economic, they could not let £56 million go. Scored 8 goals in his first season and in 2011 graced the cover of FIFA 2011
Probably one of the best players ever to grace a football field. In 2001 Real Madrid parted with 150 billion Italian lire (£45m) to sign him from Juventus. He scored a famous volley in the 2002 Champions League Final with his weaker foot as they beat Leverkusen 2-1. He retired at the end of the 2006 season and famously got sent off for his head butt in the World Cup Final
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This edition we are featuring some more classic comedians and their tomes which should have you smiling.
Norman Wisdom My Turn
Ronnie Barker All I Ever Wrote
Tommy Cooper Always Leave Them Laughing
Very funny, engaging and really interesting. Norman had a very hard upbringing, with an alcoholic and violent father, which drew his mum to run away and secretly see Norman and his brother when they were at school. Great stories about childhood, the army in India and then his climb to fame.
What a lot of people don’t know is that Ronnie Barker was responsible for writing most of the material he performed - whether solo, with Ronnie Corbett or in sitcom. The fact that he often hid behind a number of pen names may explain this...
This is a book written with the kind of desperate care that only a true fan can muster. John Fisher has spent the years since Tommy Cooper’s death in 1984 trying to piece together just how the bad magic worked.
Ronnie is already loved by millions for his roles in “Porridge”, “Open All Hours” and that perennial worldwide hit, “The Two Ronnies” (which ran to 12 series). But now you can discover for yourself the wealth of his talent, from his early radio and “Frost on Sunday” sketches to classic monologues and the immortal songs, his (almost) silent films - including “Futtock’s End” - to his final sitcom, “Clarence”, the play “Mum” and the previously unseen “Rub a Dub Dub” (“Two Men in a Pub”).
By what alchemical process did a great bruin of a man in a silly hat manage to make people laugh simply by stumbling on stage? Why did those hoary literalisms so beloved of seven-year-olds - “Doctor, doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains.” “Well, pull yourself together” - seem hysterically funny when delivered in Cooper’s sloppy West Country burr?
And, thinking about the man, what a great title for this book. Norman is possibly the only person who can make you laugh just by seeing him doing nothing. It really feels like you are sat with Norman telling you all this about his life. Some great pictures to accompany too. A must read for all lovers of the man. As long as people have a sense of humour, they will always laugh at Norman... truly timeless.
You cannot put this book down when you You can’t even look at this book without a start... smile coming to your face; open it up and you may never stop laughing.
And how, finally, did those ham hands manage to move from bungled fumble to skimming effect in a matter of moments?
A haven of tranquility...
B&B Casa Los Arcos Bed & Breakfast in Mojácar +34 950 473 165 or +34 607 400 294 www.casalosarcos.eu 56
For the most original and exclusive Christmas Decorations. Come and visit us from Monday to Saturday from 10 am till 8 pm and see for yourself, You wont be disappointed
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• Detached Villa • 3 Bed • 2 Bath • Unfurnished • Communal pool Ref: 1883
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Visit our Dutch supermarket and find out why we are different. Over 1800 articles such as 30 different kind of teas, coffee, biscuits, marinades, a wide range of Indonesian products, soups, sweets, gift articles, flowers, fresh vegetables and dairy products, etc.
Opening hours Monday - Saturday from 8am ‘til 7pm
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Now that’s a bargain! You’ll have it professionaly designed to your spec and included on our website for more exposure. You’ll struggle to find a better deal. To book your space, please contact design@ultimatealmeria.com or call 950 473 102 now! remember, this size ad for less than a 1€ a day in the fastest growing glossy magazine in this area...its a no brainer 58
If you are looking to purchase or sell a property around Guardamar, Quesada, Torrevieja and surrounding areas, we can offer you a professional and friendly service.
NEW PROMOTIONAL PRICES
EL RASO Ref. G1035D
DETACHED VILLA
129,950€ JUST REDUCED!!
EL RASO Ref. G799ES
TOWN HOUSE
79,000€
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2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Air conditioning Storage cupboard Off road parking Solarium Easy to maintain garden Communal swimming pool
2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Communal swimming pool Air conditioning Off road parking Countryside views Terrace Fully furnished
2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Communal swimming pool Pre-installation for air conditioning Off road parking DETACHED VILLA Large Solarium 125,000€ Immaculate condition BUNGALOW STYLE VILLA Easy to maintain garden
EL RASO Ref. G1040A
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DETACHED VILLA
164,950€ VERY SPACIOUS
GUARDAMAR Ref. G734L
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83,000€
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DETACHED VILLA
256,000€
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3 bedrooms 3 bathrooms Air conditioning Terraces Off road parking Large plot Fully furnished Communal swimming pool
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EL RASO Ref. G922W
DETACHED VILLA
119,950€
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55,000€
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2 bedrooms 1 bathroom Air conditioning Off road parking Furnished South facing Garden Close to golf course
For your choice of property on the Costa Blanca, do not hesitate to either visit Property Choice at their office in El Raso or contact them by the following means:
Tel: 966 111 970 607 898 336 617 513 351 propertychoiceelraso@yahoo.co.uk www.propertychoicespain.com PRICES MAY DIFFER FROM OUR WEBSITE AS THESE PRICES ARE ONLY FOR THIS ADVERT
All our food is prepared on the premises from scratch. Our meat carefully selected by our head chef and fish bought daily via fish markets in Alicante and Galicia. All desserts including ice cream are homemafe by our trained Pastry Chef.
“Fine dining at affordable prices” “The wonderful steaks are worth the visit alone”
Our Sirloin, Rib Eye, Fillet and T-bone Steaks are all 28 day aged and cooked to your specifications. All come with Triple-cooked Chips or Creamy Mash, Mesclun Salad or Mixed Green Vegetables, Onion RIngs and a choice of our special sauces from Hot Peppercorn, Mushroom & Garlic, Béarnaise, Blue Cheese or Madeira.
Open Tuesday - Saturday 6pm - 11pm • Closed Monday • Sundays 1pm - 4pm (Sunday Lunchces) & 6pm - 11pm For Reservations please call 966 186 899 Calle Maestro Torralba • La Zenia (next to Gogarty’s and Paddy’s Point Irish Bars)