The state system in Spain, an hilarious insight!
Well, you cannot keep a great gag down and my Spanish lawyer has just sent me a fabulous (short and hilarious!!) video about the state system in Spain. In fact, I featured this video in an article on Culture Spain earlier in the year entitled Bureaucracy in Spain – but I think I am more than justified in highlighting the [...]
The most perfect Art Déco house in Spain
Just occasionally, perhaps only once every four or five years, I come across a house in Spain that is truly extraordinary – somewhere that really does have the ‘Wow!’ factor. Frankly, this is rare in Spain as many Spanish properties lack personality and this applies even to expensive villas on exclusive estates. The latter can appear wonderful but often boast [...]
Gandia, Valencia Province, Spain
Gandia is a town located on the mid eastern side board of Spain. It is within Valencia Province (one of the three Provinces of the Autonomous Region of Valencia Comunitat de Valencia) and is situated some 70 kms south of Valencia City. The immediate area around Gandia is known as La Safor which comprises a number of small towns and [...]
Summer holidays in Spain – 10 things not to forget!
Are you going to be spending your summer holidays in Spain? If so – then make sure that you are well prepared beforehand and pack everything that you need. After all, there is nothing worse than setting out for your holidays and arriving at the airport to find that you have left behind something critical! So, what should go on [...]
Spain, rabbits and the Iberian Lynx
Did you know that there is a really interesting connection between the name España and rabbits – and that the devastating decline of the Iberian Lynx is intimately bound up in both? Well, there are good reasons to believe that the name of Spain (España) derives from the Phoenician word ‘ispanihad’ which evidently means ‘land of rabbits’. This word was [...]
Valencia City of Arts and Sciences
I defy anyone who comes to Valencia city not to be entranced by the City of Arts and Sciences. It is, justifiably, one of the greatest tourist attractions in Spain and a tribute to modern Spanish vision and design. Indeed, the City of Arts and Sciences is such a triumph that, alone, it makes any visit to Spain worthwhile. However, [...]
Culture Spain, Running of the bulls Pamplona – the rules!
The first thing is never consider running with the bulls in Pamplona if you have not seen the encierro before. Even if this is only the Spanish TV1 broadcast (excellent coverage every day of the feria de San Fermín from 7.30 to 8.30 am) which first transmits the run live, then has commentaries, then a re-run with a commentary, and [...]
Las Fallas Valencia, the most incredible fiesta in Spain!
Las Fallas must rank as one of the most extraordinary fiestas in Spain. Indeed, over the past few years it has gained international recognition as one of those remarkable events that you should see – at least once in your lifetime. Certainly, the sheer scale of La Fallas is astonishing with the main festivities taking place over five days (15th [...]
The Alhambra and the Moors in Spain
Some years ago, I was commissioned to write an article which ended up entitled ‘What did the Moors do for us?’. This was, needless to say, a ‘take’ on the famous scene in ‘The Life of Brian’ where the same question was asked about the Romans. Before I started my research my answer to ‘What did the Moors do for [...]
Culture Spain: La Tomatina (the greatest tomato fight in the World!)
Few people would argue that Spain has some pretty incredible fiestas. However, one of the most bizarre has got to be La Tomatina – which is a massive tomato fight. Amazingly, some 30,000 people a year crowd into the village of Buñol to hurl rotten tomotoes at each other. The mess is simply beyond imagination but taking part has become [...]
Culture Spain : MARBELLA VILLA OR BARRIO?
Marbella villa or barrio? The doorbell rang. It was Perla carrying a bucket full of fish. They were small dorada and they were still wriggling. When I had met him in the street yesterday he had asked me if we wanted any fresh fish and I had said yes. This is what he normally does, as he has no phone, [...]
CULTURE SPAIN: THE SAGRADA FAMÍLIA, GAUDI AND BARCELONA
I have to say that whenever I find it difficult to get things done in Spain I think of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. This fabulous building was started in 1882 and is still not finished – with the projected completion estimated to be sometime in 2026. This means that if this date is actually met(!) the Sagrada Família will [...]
CULTURE SPAIN – BULLFIGHTING IN SPAIN
I am sure that most Spaniards would think (probably correctly) that few people outside Spain have the faintest clue about bullfighting. Most non-Spaniards instinctively dislike it – and are shocked by the bloodletting and apparent savagery. And yet, bullfighting in Spain remains popular and is considered by many Spaniards to be a fundamental part of the very culture of Spain. [...]
LIFE IN SPAIN – TEN REASONS FOR MOVING TO SPAIN
I think, like everyone else, I often tend to get too wrapped up in Spanish property and the state of the Spanish property market. It is important, undeniably, but, within it all, I think the whole reason for moving to Spain (or buying a property in Spain) – can be lost. Indeed (and this I have stated countless times), living [...]
SPANISH POLICE – THE POLICE IN SPAIN
Few matters are more confusing initially to someone coming to Spain than the array of police forces encountered around the country. It can be difficult to know who to go to when you are in trouble and why one police force will attend a crime in one place and another elsewhere. In fact, essentially, Spain has three police forces: the [...]
The pound has hit 1.25 against the euro this past week, its highest rate since Oct 2008, as Spain struggles to get to grips with its banking sector and Greece contemplates a euro exit. So what next for the continent in crisis, and the exchange rate? Here is my latest update of the British pound to euro exchange rate, covering [...]
The backlash against austerity has begun, following the victory of Socialist Francois Hollande in Round One of the French presidential contest this weekend. So what next for Europe, and the euro? What next for Europe? This question has quite suddenly gripped the markets in the last day or two, following events that have apparently reduced the edifice of European austerity [...]
The pound has continued its climb against the euro, as speculation Spain will need external aid reaches fever pitch. There’s no doubt then: the slow motion car crash that is the Eurozone debt crisis is back with us. Furthermore this time it’s centred on Spain, where this week yields on government bonds (a good indicator of market confidence) breached the [...]
The pound has hit its highest point against the euro since August 2010 this week, as markets react to Spain’s deficit cutting measures with incredulity. Welcome to my account of changes in the foreign exchange rate in the past week, covering the 3rd to 10th April 2012. Is the dragon (that is, the European debt crisis) set to re-awaken? Judging [...]
Welcome to my weekly account of changes in the pound-to-euro exchange rate, covering 27th March – 03rd April. This is intended as a guide to what’s been affecting the exchange rate this past week, whether you’re relocating to Spain or sending funds back to the UK! The euro has lost a lot of ground this past week, bringing the pound-to-euro rate [...]
Welcome to my weekly account about changes in the UK pound to euro foreign exchange rate, covering 20th-27th March. The euro has crept up just half a percent against the UK pound this week, bringing the GB/PEUR rate to 1.1950 at the time of writing. This means that the pound-to-euro has hovered close to 1.20 for a full three months [...]
It has been another helter-skelter week for the foreign exchange rates, as the UK pound remains at an impressive 1.20 against the euro. Welcome to my weekly account of changes in the UK pound-to-euro exchange rate! This updates covers 14th-21st March 2012. The UK pound has stuck fast to 1.20 against the euro this week, at the ceiling of the 1.1750-1.20 range [...]
Here is my weekly update regarding changes in the UK pound-to-euro exchange rate this past week: The UK pound had shed a cent and a half against the euro since March 6th, in large part on reports that Greece has secured its critical €130bn bailout, while in the UK there is growing concern about a lack of economic direction in [...]
Here is my latest update regarding changes in the pound to euro exchange rate this past week. The pound has gained 2.65% against the euro this past week, as the Eurozone debt crisis takes another turn for the worse. For one, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is defying Brussels concerning agreed spending cuts, just weeks after signing over economic sovereignty [...]
Here is my latest update regarding the pound to euro exchange rate as of the 29th February 2012. The pound has lost two cents against the euro this past week, putting it in the 1.1850 area. This might sound like a significant decline, but in fact the pound has been moving against the euro inside a two cent range (coming as high as 1.2030 [...]
Europe contracted –0.3% in the last three months of 2011, bringing it close to technical recession. Is this going to be reflected in euro weakness? Is the euro about to slide? It looks increasingly possible at the moment, as economic data shows Europe is drawing closer to recession. The continent as a whole declined –0.3% in the last three months of 2011, as [...]
Double dip? What double dip! In spite of the recent downturn in growth, the UK looks set to avoid a second recession, setting up sterling for gains. You might not realise it if you’re still living in the UK (I’m writing from Madrid) but the negative atmosphere among journalists and pundits in Britain is overpowering. For instance, following reports that [...]
The euro has gained this week, suggesting the markets are feeling increasingly calm regarding Europe. Greece though has been getting it in the neck. “Oh – to be anything but a Greek politician!” This is the thing Greek prime minister Lucas Papademos must be telling himself this week, as EU officials continue to pile on the spending cuts Greece must [...]
It’s been a week of ups and downs for GBP/EUR exchange rate! Each day has bought news that has set the rate diving and climbing, swinging between 1.19 and 1.20. Of course, if you’re someone that doesn’t pay much attention to currency exchange rates, it might look like not much has happened! But in fact, these wild swings reflect market nervousness at events in Europe that [...]
Is the euro bouncing back – or set to meltdown? In the past fortnight the pound and US dollar hit 12 month highs against the euro, reaching 1.21 and 0.79 respectively. Since then the euro has clawed back ground. But is this the start of euro resurgence, or a last gasp – preceding terminal decline? Watching the crisis in Europe play [...]