House Insurance in Spain.

When you take out your annual house insurance do you stop to think what it actually includes ? Probably not ... you just assume that it covers all your bits and bobs incase of fire, theft or accidental breakages like I did. Well, let me enlighten you all.

My current  policy with Libery Seguros is due for renewal so I decided to shop around. I rang Linea Directa, as I have very good car insuarnce with them and they are always in the press advertising. I went through the requirements for building and contents and was astonished to be told that accidental damage was NOT included apart from glass in windows, doors and ceramic hob top!  As in the UK I assumed that my expensive crystal vases were covered incase I dropped it when cleaning and if my plasma fell that would be too. WRONG! I was told by the lady at Linea Directa that no Spanish insurance company covers such things !!!! The quote she gave me was double that of my current policy ....but still neither company covered accidental damage as I imagined.
 Last year the glass on my oven door shattered. It was a double oven that I had specially delivered from the UK as they do not manufacture double ovens here - but I chose Fagor, a Spanish manufacturer incase I ever needed spare parts and so easily available here. I took photos of the oven door and emailed them to Libery Seguros. The oven model I had was no longer manufactured and the model that superseeded it cost £750. An assesor came after 3 weeks and 2 weeks after that  they would only give me 100€ which would have been the cost of replacing the glass - but when I explained that it was no longer available therefore meaning that the oven was unuseable they said its wasn't their problem. So I had to get another double oven from the UK because they still do not have them here... the 100€ covered the transport cost!
Building insurance is also affected. You take out cover so that if something happens you are covered. Some neighbours had an incident 2 years ago. The roof to the rear of their property just collapsed! They called the insurance who duly sent out an assesor to be told that they were not covered as it was due to "shoddy workmanship" and it was the builders fault!!!!! Yes really ..... they didn't build the house but bought it already built so had no idea who the builder was and were left with the cost of repairing the roof themselves.
So when your policy comes up for renewal just check exactly what is and isn't covered and if you are paying for something which you do not actaully get!

On a seperate note as the holiday season comes into full swing you are probably going to have guests staying. Many think that as they are staying with you then they don't need to bother with medical insurance... but they can still have an accident! Ensure that they at least have their EHIC - European Health Insurance Card  (blue card which replaced the E111 form). This card entitles you to reciprocal medical treatment if you become ill or have an accident during your stay. Without it you will be charged for any treatment and then its a long and arduous process to claim the money back - showing your UK passport will not cut the mustard at the Centro de Salud (Medical Centre). Applying for the card is FREE so there really is no excuse - and it also works the other way so any expats going back to the UK over Summer make sure you have yours too! The NHS will treat asylum seekers for free without any hesitation but for those of us that paid into the NI system for most of our working lives forget it - we need our little blue cards!!!!

Communions in and around the Benidorm area.

Today and last Sunday were 1st Holy Communion weeks across Spain. Many people were rubbing their hands together at this annual windfall .... from retailers selling the "mini bridal gowns" or sailor outfits for the boys to restaurants and photographers! Yes its BIG business here - infact, it really appears to be a trial run for the  wedding in 10-15years time ... by which stage the poor parents may possibly have paid off the bank loan. I passed by a communion reception in Altea this afternoon - a gigantic marquee had been erected and it was themed "pirates" so I assume it was for a boy and an equally impressive bouncy castle stood beside it. The guests arriving where dressed to the nines - as if attending a wedding! Catering trucks lined the street - it was an incredible sight.

A good friend of mine has just been through this ritual for the 3rd time in the last 5 years..... 3 girls! Its no good thinking that you can pass the 500€ dress down to the others ... thats not the done thing! It has to be new. Organising the reception is another painfully expensive procedure. Go into a restaurant and say you want to book  40 people for a set lunch and you'll be told 8-10€ per head but mention the C word  and suddenly its a minimum of 25€ ! Gift buying is also a competition as to who buys the most extravagant and original present.... shops are advertising communions gifts from April onwards. Then there are the photographers to book and obviously new outfits for parents..... the list is endless!

Call me a synic but I feel that the true meaning of communion has possibly been lost to a competition of one upmanship amongst parents and who hosts the most elaborate and expensive reception in the class.

UEFA match live from Benidorm!

An hour to go before kick off and "The Square" in Benidorm was awash with red Manchester United football shirts and scarves. Virtually every bar had massive plasma screens in all corners to ensure that no kick was missed. Spirits - enthusiasm and the alcoholic variety - were high before kick off and in many of the bars lads had bottles and pints lined up infront of them to last them to half time ! They didn't want to miss any of the action..... The police were already out in numbers patrolling the area but enjoying the cheerful atmosphere - wonder if that will be the case at full time ?

By contrast, the Spanish bars were relaxed and subdued with coffee and a brandy the drink of choice.

            CONGRATULATIONS  to Barcelona .... winners of the UEFA Champions League

Driving in Spain.

With the influx of visitors to our shores at this time of the year this creates alot of extra traffic on the roads - especially in holiday hotspots such as Benidorm ..... a welcome site for the police! Whether you are hiring a car here or driving over from the UK there is one particular rule you MUST remember. NEVER EVER drive in flip flops, croc's or anything without a back - it is illegal and subject to a hefty 150€ on the spot fine if caught (confirmed by Stuart from Alba Consultas.com - a team of lawyers & advisors based in Altea ) It is also illegal to drive barefoot... I am supposedly ok if I drive in my 8 inch diamante encrusted Jimmy Choos but flips flops are a no no!

As of March this year the maximum speed limit on motorways was reduced to 110 km p/hr (68mph). If caught driving between 111 - 140 km h/hr that is subject to a 100€ fine and speeds between 141 - 160 km p/hr incur a 300€ fine. In addition,the local police force responsible for Benidorm and the surrounding areas have been attending a 4 day course to familiarise themselves with  foreign driving licenses and vehicle documents ie. Log books and so be able to detect forgeries.

This reminds me of an incident 2 summers ago when we drove back to the UK in our Spanish registered right hand drive Landcruiser. We were stopped by some police in London doing tax disc spot checks. The policeman (only just as he looked about 15) asked why we were not displaying a valid tax disc. We pointed out to him that although it was a right hand drive it was infact a foreign plated car. He then looked and acknowledged this and asked to see the documents - which we handed over. He "inspected" the green Tajeta Inspeccion de Vehiculos nodded and said everything was inorder - he looked at it upside down - which shows that the Spanish police are onto something by sending its officers on a course!

Other regulations are the same as in the UK: Do not use your mobile whilst driving unless its a hands free system, driver and passengers must all wear seatbelts and alcohol limits to be under 0.25mg/l in exhaled air ie. when breathalised. The sensible option is to not drink at all if you intend to drive.

The Guardia Civil are especially on the look out at this busy time of the year so take extra care.

Lost your passport in Benidorm ? What next .....

So you've finally arrived for your long awaited 2 week holiday in Benidorm/Altea/Albir. You've relaxed on the beautiful beaches, sampled the tapas, enjoyed the nightlife and wearily embark on the packing and last minute cigarette purchases only to discover that you can't find your passport!!!!! Panic stricken you empty everything inside out but to no avail ..... what do you do next ? ( a large Vodka is not the correct answer)

Well, its not an unusual senario but will be a costly one. First and foremost, you must report it to the local police station. Whether its been stolen or misplaced and so not in your possession, this is essential. You will be given a copy of the police report and you then need to contact the British Consulate in Alicante. The telephone number is: 902 109 356 between 8.30am and 1.30pm. Out of these hours you need to call: 913 342 194. You will be told to come up to the Consulate with the police report,  flight details/confirmation of your return flight home and 1 photograph ( in some cases more information may be required) and they will be able to issue an emergency travel document for your return flight. This is only valid for that 1 journey and once back in the UK you will need to reapply for a proper 10 year passport. The cost of this emergency document is now 122€ - yes they do take credit cards!

So the moral of the story is keep your passport safe. You do not need to take it out with you - use a hotel safe if available. When using a credit card your photo driving license is sufficient ID ... most places have chip and pin now so no further photo ID is required anyway. 

As well as the 122€ for the emergency document you will spend half a day getting up to Alicante and also the cost of a replacement passport once back home...... so keep it safe!

Relevant articles
Document security when on holiday
British Consul Road show
Changes at the Consulate

Volcanic disruption ... again ?

It was almost this time last year that the Icelandic ash cloud caused travel mayhem across most of Europe and its happening again by the looks of things!
Air transport bosses are demanding to know why a crucial cloud monitoring plane was not being used as thousands of holidaymakers faced travel chaos. The research aircraft was used during the last Icelandic eruption to monitor ash levels above Britain but today it was "unavailable"as forecasters were forced to take far less accurate readings from the ground. Flights to and from Scottish airports were cancelled yesterday (Tuesday) but other UK airports remained open.
Giovanni Bisignsni, director general of the International Air Transport Association demanded to know why the plane was not in use. He is quoted as saying " It is astonishing and unacceptable that Her Majesty's Government cashes £3.5 billion each year in air passenger duty but is incapable of using a small portion of that revenue to purchase another Cesna to use as a backup". Officials are in discussions to borrow an aircraft from German scientists which could be available by the weekend.
So it is with trepidation that holidaymakers, all packed for the half term break make there way to the airports over the next few days..... will they be sunning themselves in Benidorm or sleeping on the terminal floor - lets hope for all its the former!
If you are planning on travelling then you are advised to check with your airline before leaving.

Car Hire surcharge by airlines when coming to Benidorm.

Following an article in a Sunday paper about rip off car hire booked via airlines I decided to investigate for myself. With the tourist sector an important industry in Benidorm it is essential that any visitors here are not "taken for a ride" - excuse the pun!
When you book that all important holiday break to Benidorm on one of the "Low Cost" carriers you are often delighted that you managed to bag a bargain .... so obviously feel confidant that the car hire "partnerships" offered will be just as money saving. WRONG !

I checked the 3 biggest carriers from the UK to Alicante: Monarch, Easyjet & Ryanair using the same criterior: 1 week hire from Saturday 28th May 10am till Saturday 4th June 10am (half term week in UK) for an economy car - in each case an Opel Corsa/VW Polo was quoted as an example.

Monarch uses "Sixt"  and quoted 161.93€

Easyjet uses "Europcar" and quoted 140€

Ryanair uses "Hertz" and quoted 160€

I  checked "Goldcar"  independantly online and was quoted 93€ !!!!!

On Easyjets website under their carhire partnership they quote "Lowest price guarenteed - We'll always have the best price or we'll refund double the difference"

Another car hire ploy is to charge an extortionate amount to reduce the excess (up to 1000€) incase of an accident or damage to the car. This can range between 13 - 18€ per DAY. You can easily avoid this by taking out an annual car hire excess policy for as little as £40 per year. This will cover you across the whole of Europe for the entire year - you make your money back on 1 weeks hire so if you go on holiday again later in the year you're quids in. I did take one out with "icarhireinsurance.com" but there are many other companies offering the same.
So the moral of the story is shop arround and don't assume ... it'll make an "ass" out of  "u" and "me".

Election results around the Benidorm area

Voting took place across Spain yesterday with both local and regional elections taking place. Ex-pats could only vote in the local elections - basically choosing their local Town Hall council.

BENIDORM: NO overall control - 13 seats required.  PSOE 11 / PP 11 /  CDL 3 ....  so CDL hold balance and they will decide who takes power !

ALFAZ: PSOE remain in power. PSOE 12 / PP 7

ALTEA: PP remain in power. PP 10 / PSOE 5 / OTHERS 6

LA NUCIA:  PP remain. PP 13 / PSOE 3 / CDL 1

Turnout for these elections was poor. In Benidorm there was only 63% turnout ..... considering it was held on a Sunday no excuse of work! In La Nucia, where the population is in the region of 20,000 only 12,000 registered to vote and of those only 59% voted meaning out of 20,000 residents only a third actually voted! Perhaps Spain and certainly the UK should go the Australian way and make it compulsory to vote?

Sporting Alfaz victory over Valencia

Sporting Alfas secured a 4 wicket victory in the top of the table clash with Valencia this afternoon at the Woodbridge Oval. Alfas won the toss and elected to put the visitors into bat first. The home side opened with Laundon and Fletcher and the bowling was tight and economical without making in roads into the Valencia batting.

That all changed in the 8th over when Laundon had Wasim caught behind by wicket keeper Ali with the score on 32.

The next over Alfas bagged their second wicket when Munoz, with his first ball, had Ushan caught easily by Crompton to put both Valencia openers back in the pavillion with the score on 34. Ex Alfas player Mudassar, and his counterpart Safraz came together and began building an healthy score for the visitors.

Mudassar, in particular, looked in fine form, and he made the most of the lifeline he was given by a dropped chance by Munoz off the bowling of Laundon, to post a personal score of 62. Safraz also contributed a well crafted 26, and with Ashan and Jamshaid making 37 and 31 respectively towards the final part of the innings the league leaders ended up with a total of 242 all out from 42 overs.

This meant Alfas would need to bat well to stop the visitors winning streak. The top 3 batsman in the Alfas batting order, Shafique Ali, Mark Spencer and Gary Crompton showed why they are Belgium bound with the National squad by each playing an innings that kept Alfas on the front foot.

Ali and Spencer put on 137 for the first wicket before Ali was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Mudassar off the bowling of Naveed for79. Things did not get better for the Valencia bowlers as Crompton joined Spencer and the also put on a substantial partnership before Crompton mis-timed a ball from Wasim and was caught at cover with the score on 219.

With 12 overs left Alfas required 24 for victory. Spencer was clean bowled for 79 by Ashan and suddenly a middle order collapse sparked renewed interest from the Valencia players.

Ashan, the Valencia captain also bagged Howe, Munoz and Fletcher in an excellent second spell but the wise old heads of Laundon and Evans kept their composure under pressure to see the Albir side home by 4 wickets and a few overs to spare.

The flurry of wickets that Alfas lost mean´t they received one shy of the maximum 20 points whilst Valencia took 7 points from the game to keep them at the top of the table for the time being.

Sand sculptures on Benidorm beach

If you thought building sand castles was childs play then you haven't been to Levante beach in Benidorm ! As you take a stroll along the front, dotted along the length of the promenade you will be astonished to find the most beautifully designed sand sculptures.



The details are amazing ......

"Sand Castle" ... literally!

The above sculpture of a castle, complete with moats, bridges and water fountains took two men 15 days to craft . It has to be sprayed with water at regular intervals otherwise the sand will dry out and the sculpture will collapse. Once finished they will remain for around 3/4 weeks before being demolished and another one built in its place. However, if a freak thunderstorm hits then its sooner as has been the case in the past month! The creators are on hand to repair any damage - often caused by wayward balls . There is someone guarding it 24 hours a day to stop it being vandalised  - in particular from Stag & Hen party participants.... normally in 2 shifts, day & night we were told.  

The creators are more than happy for you to take photos of their creations and appreciate any donations - for which there is a bucket nearby.

Cowboy still under construction..

                                                                      

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Simpsons taking a break....

The smaller sculptures are quicker to construct ...... the Simpsons for instance took just 4 days ... so if you are here on a 2 week holiday you may get to witness the sculpture being painstakingly created. Get in touch with the SSA (sand sculpture association) to find out the project dates.

Perhaps this has given you the inspiration to try one yourself... have a little competition with the kids and see what you can create... then send us a picture of your efforts!

Relevant articles

New attraction on Levante Beach

Beach attractions in Benidorm expensive?

Benidorm beaches could soon look different

Perils of Levante Beach

Peace in Benidorm and the surrounding towns !

Well its nearly all over ..... today is the final day of electioneering ! Tomorrow, the day before election day is a day of "reflection and decision" by the voters and no further canvassing is allowed. So the streets will finally be peaceful again without cars driving around, speakers strapped to the roof announcing the benefits of voting for that particualr party. Can you imagine health & safety in the UK allowing a large speaker being strapped with little more than a luggage strap or piece of rope driving around ..... they'd be in their element !

Polling stations will be open from 9am until 20.00pm on Sunday 22nd May and you MUST take some form of photographic ID with you..... check on the voting slip received through the post where your allocated voting station is. As ex-pats we are only allowed to vote in the local elections - using the white slips - and not in the Regional government elections, which have pink slips.

In our town we have had all the parties knocking offering an assortment of "gifts" including a very nice pot plant .... I still have the one from  the last round of elections 4 years ago and its flourished beautifully!

More proposed costs when flying

The UK government seems adamant on causing havoc to the tourist industry ! Aviation plays an important role in the UK economy yet they have put foward proposals to raise APD - Air Passenger Duty on short haul flights from £12 to £16 from next April 2012 meaning a family of 4 would be paying an extra £16! In Benidorm you could have a good night out for that! This will not only cut passenger numbers visiting the UK next year - when London are hosting the Olympics, but also slow down travel out of the country. It isn't unusual to now be paying more in taxes than it is for the actual flight - especially on the no-frills carriers such as Easyjet and Ryanair. I have in the past managed to book a return flight from El Altet (Benidorm) to London for 40€ on a "no tax" Ryanair flight.

Easyjet in particualr have been very vocal on this proposal launching a campaign against its introduction. They would prefer a "per plane tax" which carriers such as British Airways oppose - possibly because whilst the APD rate is set to increase on short haul flights on long haul it will FALL from £85 to as little as £65 and long haul is a key part of BA's bussiness!

Consultations are due to finish end June when the proposals will be published once figures have been analysed. Lets hope for the tourist industry its a no go!

Tourism in Benidorm.

The people who speak badly of Benidorm are those who have usually never been! Manuel Cabezuelos, current Councilor for Tourism in Benidorm has spent the last 18 months developing ways to promote the city - working closely with various tourist organisations. He is quoted as saying "Benidorm has absolutely everything and at an affordable price which makes it an ideal and appealing destination". The council have been trying to recuperate lost markets by introducing events such as the Electrobeach festival in August and also  a "Pinchos & Tapas" competition back in April. This years Electrobeach festival is scheduled to take place from 24th to 27th August - last year it attracted over 22,000 people so an extremely important event for the town. However, he also recognised that Benidorms infrastructure needs improving - especially the Avenida Mediterraneo and Avenida Europa.

The theme parks in and around Benidorm are hugely important and attract many families - Terra Mitica, Terra Natura which are already open and this Saturday Aqualandia opens its doors for the season.

Aqualandia means fun for all the family, with rides to suit all tastes. The Big Bang, for example is unique, the largest water slide in a European park. The park has hydrotherapy areas with two jacuzzis next to the unforgettable Niagara, offering you the chance to relax. Other rides such as the Pistas Blandas, the Kamikaze, the Zigzag, the Lagoon or the Rapids, ensure an unforgettable day out.

Small children are not forgotten. There are children´s areas with water games and small slides offering Mum and Dad the chance to enjoy time with their little ones.This years entrance prices are 28€ for adults and 21€ for children (age 3-12yrs)... however, if you plan on going to Aqualandia or any of the other theme parks get hold of a copy of "Round Town Times", a FREE local paper available at most hotels and bars around Benidorm as you will have cut out discount tokens saving you money!

Tapas in Benidorm .....

If you are fed up of pie & chips and fancy a taste of real Spain then head to "Tapas Alley" in the Old Town. It is so named because the entire street is made up of tapas bars! The biggest and busiest is  "La Cava Aragonesa" which has a constant stream of visitors - both locals and tourists.

The word "tapas" is derived from the Spanish verb taper - meaning "to cover". According to legend, the tapas tradition began when King Alfonso X recovered from an illness by drinking wine with small dishes between meals. After regaining his health he ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine unless it was accompanied by a small snack or "tapa". The original tapas were slices of bread or meat which sherry drinkers in Andalucian taverns used to cover their glasses between sips to prevent fruit flies from hoovering over the sweet sherry.The meat used was normally ham or chorizo - which being very salty encouraged more drinking .... even back then the proprietors weren't daft - and so began the tradition of serving a varirty of snacks which in turn increased alcohol sales!

In Spain, dinner is usually served between 9pm and 11pm .... sometimes as late as midnight - especially in the hot summer months and lunch would have been between 1pm and 3pm therefore a long gap hence the popularity of tapas as a means of filling the gap between meals.

Tapas has evolved over the years and varies depending on region. At "La Cava Aragonesa" the selection is vast to say the least. Most are so beautifully presented that they look like little works of art. Some are served cold such as salmon, lettuce & crab whilst others are heated such as aubergine, ham & cheese or loin of pork; cheese & fried onion which I indulged in! Other varieties included spicy chorizo with yellow pepper; bacon ,wild mushrooms, spicy sausage & cheese as well as the expected squid, pinchos and mussels. If you want a gastronomic experience I would definately recommend trying some.

All the tapas are displayed behind glass and you can walk up and down pointing to whatever takes your fancy - at this tapas bar all the dishes are labelled in both Spanish and English. The prices vary depending on which ones you choose but are between 1.50€ and 2.20€ and you get a small one on the house too..... so our 4 plus 2 complimentaries & 2 glasses of wine came to under 11€..... which we paid for - it wasn't on the house! A hint to tell if a tapas bar is good is to look at the floor - if there are lots of serviettes screwed up and thrown down that means its good -really!

Relevant articles

Tapas week in Benidorm

A bit of Spain in London

Alcorcon visit Woodbridge Oval in Alfaz near Benidorm

Alcorcon visited the Woodbridge Oval for the league opener. Openers, Tariq Ali and Razzaq found the going tough against the SACC pair of Laundon and Fletcher. Ali(8) edging one to Spencer at first slip and Razzaq(0) hitting one at Lupson at mid on. Qaiser Ali(0) watched four balls go by then edged the next one to Ali behind the stumps, Fletcher was replaced by Muñoz and the Spanish international did his job, Safrarali(0) edging one to Ali behind and next ball Ul Haq edged to Spencer at slip. 35-5 SACC well on top. Number 4, Akmal(86) watched in horror as his team collapsed around him. Abbas(16) stayed with him for a short while getting into double figures, Lupson replacing Muñoz, got his wicket in his first over. Taylor came on and got 3 for 11 including Akmal who decided to take the game on by himself and paid the price well held by Fletcher at mid off. Taylor then Bowled Wassem(5) and got Narash(2) caught by Crompton. Spencer grabbed the last wicket taking a easy return catch from Bundela(0), Jaffer(2) the not out batsman.143 All out after 26 overs.

SACC regular openers strode out with a easy total to chase. Spencer chased his first ball and was gleefully held at gully by Naresh off Jafar. 5-1, Crompton joined Howe. SACC reached 20 before Crompton(5) paddled the ball back to Tariq. 20-2. Next over Howe(10) spanked one to cover and Tariq took a belting catch diving low. 20-3. Pennick and Ali looked to have taken control, both getting to double figures, before Pennick (12) gave Jaffer a simple catch, then Ali(13) going for the big one missed it and was clean bowled. 58-5. Muñoz and Fletcher decided that a little bit of time in the middle might help the Alfas course and took the game away from Alcorcon getting the winning runs in the 26th over, Muñoz ending with 58 and Fletcher 20. A splendid win in what was a low scoring game. Alfas 17 points Alcorcon 4.

 Visiting team from south Alicante.

Eurovision ... next year Asiavision !

Yet another dissapointing year for the UK which has not won the competition since 1997, when Katrina and the Waves bought home the title. For those who couldn't keep their eyes open for the extremly long and arduous voting process, Azerbaijan won with 221 points - the UK notched up 100  points placing them 11th which was a far sight better than last years entry - which came last! Poor Spain only managed 50 points putting it 23rd....

At one point in the voting process the UK were actually in top position and the host Graham Norton shouted "Quick, someone take a picture"
In case you are trying to find an atlas you are quite right to be baffled ... Azerbaijan are NOT in Europe ! However it is part of the EBU - European BROADCAST union ..... so there you have it - you do not have to be in Europe to participate !!! Perhaps they should change the title for next year - especially as it will be held in Asia. Out of the 25 entries, only 5 countries sang in their native tongue ....  the other 20 all sang in English !

As every year it is more a political contest with neighbouring countries voting for each other - which leads me onto another issue..... phone voting. From the UK the calls cost 15p .... from Spain a call was charged at an extortionate 1.95€ !!!!!! The ex-pats watching in Benidrom most certainly weren't going to call from their mobiles on a pay as you go tariff- which was even more therefore loosing the UK votes from the Spanish judges. Let me think about this .... 2 pints of San Miguel or a phone call to vote for Blue ????? Goodness me - a lucrative evening for Telefonica!

Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovison Song contest will be televised tonight, Saturday 14th May on BBC 1 at 8pm in the UK and on TVE at 9pm in Spain.

The Eurovision has been going for 55 years - the first ever contest taking place in 1956 in Switzerland.

The UK has won 5 times - 1967 being the first win by Sandy Shaw singing "Puppet on a string". This was followed up by Lulu in 69, Brotherhood of Man in 76, Bucks Fizz in 81 and lastly Katrina and the Waves in 97.Suprisingly everyone believes Cliff won with Congratulations in 1968 - but he never did. He lost out to Spain by 1 point when Germany had the deciding vote and gave 6 points to Spain!  Spain has won the contest only once since then.

This years UK entry is from pop group Blue singing "I can"  and at present are listed as second favorites to win with odds at 6/1 according to William Hill - so there may be hope for the UK yet! The favorite to win is France at 5/1 ..... poor Spain, being represented by Lucia Perez singing "They can't take the fun away from me" is all the way down the bottom with odds of 125/1.

Good luck to both countries ......

Benidorm guide to happy holidays

Constable & Robinson has acquired a series tie-in to ITV comedy hit, "Benidorm", penned by Derren Litten, the programme's creator and writer.
Constable publishing director Andreas Campomar signed the deal for UK and Commonwealth rights from Vivienne Clore at Richard Stone Partnership.
"Benidorm" won the most popular comedy programme award at the National Television Awards in 2008 and 2011. It is set in Spain at the Solana, an all-inclusive hotel complex, and has recently been recomissioned for a fifth series.

The book, The Benidorm Guide to a Happy Holiday, will include tips from the programme's different characters on how to make the most of your sunshine break. It will include tips on tanning from sharp-tongued Madge; a guide to holiday romance from lothario and hotel staff member Mateo; and advice on how to make your holiday "swing" from sexually adventurous couple Donald and Jacqueline Stewart.

Campomar said: "I am thrilled to be publishing Derren's book. He really is one of the sharpest and funniest writers writing for television at the moment. I am a huge ‘Benidorm' fan."

Constable will publish on 6th October, as a £14.99 hardback

Article from http://www.thebookseller.com/  by Charlotte Williams

Well for fans of the ITV hit you know what to put on your Xmas wish list for this year !

Special price to enter Terra Natura in Benidorm

Terra Natura has a special offer on for RESIDENTS of the Marina  Baixa area  enabling them to visit the park for the amazing price of 9 euros per person. The offer runs until the  31st  May 2011 and is the same for adults, children and pensioners.

For those people who are interested, all you have to do is make your way to Terra Natura and at the ticket office show your Residents Card, NIE card or show proof of legal electricity, telephone bill or letter that has your name and address on it.

Terra Natura hopes that this promotion will give the residents a chance to visit the park with all it's animals and beautiful settings. There are also events and activities within this peroid to be enjoyed and admired. All this for only 9 euros !

For more information so see what the events are go to http://www.terranatura.com/ and click on the Union Jack flag for information in English.

Live at Ricky Tomlinson's shoot in Benidorm

Ricky's latest music single " I speak no Spaniardo"  is available NOW to download on i-tunes. He, alongside the production team and fans were  at "The village Pub" in Benidorm this morning filming a video to go alongside the release.
The lyrics have been written & produced by Patrick Ahere, brother of Caroline and Maurice Cheetham who have the record label "Millie On Air" ... so named after Maurices daughter Millie.

Ricky, always the perfect gent was only too happy to stop and have photos taken with fans who wanted a memorable holiday pic of them together and took time to chat with the extra's participating in the shoot. Here fan and local resident Jennifer Watson of Villa Joyosa even had a shot sat on Rickys lap!

Ricky is a great fan of Benidorm and has a house in Albir ... he can often be spotted in the local restaurants when over.

He has another Xmas special of "The Royale Family" coming out  this Xmas and is busy working on other projects. Good luck with the single Ricky ... and don't forget its only 99p to download  on i-tunes- with its catchy tune and ammusing lyrics Im sure it'll be a hit. The video will be available on "you tube" shortly.

Ricky Tomlinson is in Benidorm.....

Benidorm is becoming a magnet for celebs filming soaps such as ITV's  Benidorm's and now music videos!

Ricky Tomlinson, best know for his character Jim Royle from the BBC hit comedy series The Royale Family is in the area shooting a video to go with his soon to be released music single on i-tunes... according to our sources.

Today, Tuesday he has been filming in Villa Joyosa and tomorrow, Wednesday he will be in Benidorm ...so if you are a fan make sure you are around "The Village" just off the Avd Europa.

European Day festivities in La Nucia

La Nucia hosted the Europen Day Festivities for the Alicante Region, and did not fail to impress. The setting in the Les Nites Sqauare was perfect, where a marquee was erected for shade from the midday sun for people to sit and enjoy the day. The day started with a Valencian band playing traditional  Spanish tunes ... as the promised Scottish bagpipe group never arrived ( maybe they ran out of wind!). The speeches and official opening was kept to a minimum ... aprox. 15 mins rather than the normal tedious hour or so. The mayor Bernabe Cano thanked everyone for coming and to enjoy the free paella and drinks....

he was even handing out plates of paella to every recipient. As there was plenty of seating in the marque it was a very civilised occasion - they even had some live entertainment provided by a Yorkshire lad singing some great UK hits and another from the West Indies singing some fab UB40 and reggae..... certainly an eye opener for the old Spanish residents of La Nucia! As the afternoon passed people were getting up and dancing in the open air square... what a delightful way to spend a Monday afternoon.

Mayor Bernabe handing a plate of paella to the writer of blog , Stefan - otherwise known as  Bod the Builder!

Sucessful "European Day" in Albir

The sun shone and the crowds turned out to cheer on the parade as it made its way down the main street of Albir  led by the loud drum beat of "Sakumba" to the sea front where the stalls where lined up to a beautiful backdrop of the Med.

Flags of all the countries particiapting were carried  by a representative of that country wearing the national costume .... and the British rep looked fab, if not rather hot wearing his pinstripped suit and bowler hat!

A stage had been erected at the top end of the promenade and throughout the day a variety of acts including dance groups, singers, theatre groups, musicians and even a Zumba display gave performances to the ensembled masses. You could taste traditional food and beverages from many of the represented countries..... the Cuban mojito's proving very popular - yes I know that Cuba isn't in Europe but I suppose they speak a European language - Spanish!!!

Monies raised by stall holders from food and beverage sales were donated to a charity designated by Alfaz del Pi Town Hall - who organised the event and the "Companians Club, Albir" an ex-pat social club, raised 150 euro's from traditional natioanl food.

... and don't forget that La Nucia is holding Europe Day tomorrow, Monday 9th starting at 11.30am.

Remember your bags when shopping around Benidorm!

Well they say things go round in cycles and how true ..... who remembers these images of shopping  in the fifies when you had to remember your tote shopper or basket  as there was no such thing as free carrier bags!

 Well Mercadona, the last of the big Spanish supermarkets is going to charge for plastic bags from Monday in all its Costa Blanca stores in its efforts to stop excess waste. Plastic bags will be 10c and stronger "materials" ones will be 60c. The bag tax is part of a government incentive to reduce the use of plastic bags in an effort to lessen pollution. It is already commonplace in the UK with all the major supermarkets charging for their bags.

So don't get caught out ..... remember your bags - but Iceland's are still free !

Zumba craze hits the Costa Blanca !

Take a Zumba class and you'll feel like you're on the streets of Brazil in the middle of Carnival time! It is a Latino inspired dance/fitness program and suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

Vicki is a fully qualified & certified instructor, having taken a training course at the University of Loughborough in the UK which is very important. "There are alot of so called instructors cropping up due to the phenomonal demand but many are not qualified and could result in you sustaining nasty injuries" said Vicki.
Originally from Hamilton in Scotland, Vicki moved to Alfaz where she has lived for 9 years and was inspired by a friend who was an instructor to go on a  course and take up the craze.


Zumba is a mix of Salsa, Rumba & Merenge moves set to catchy addictive Latino music. Vicki tailors the classes depending on the fitness levels of the participants ...... so all ages whether 15 or 75 can join in the fun.  You wouldn't even know that you were exercising its so much fun. Vicki runs classes in The Club, located on Bello Horizonte, La Nucia  every Friday morning 11.30-12.30 and also an evening session on Tuesdays 7.00-8.00pm.

In addition to The Club she also has classes in various locations in Albir, Alfaz and Benidorm throughout the week. So whether you are resident or holiday maker, old or young - theres NO excuse not to join in and get fit!
You can meet Vicki on Sunday in Albir where she will be doing a demo class during the "Europe Day" celebrations. She will be located almost opposite the Kaktus hotel on the promenade at 2.30pm ... so join in and have a taster!

Medieval Market in Benidorm

The Medieval Market will be held in the Town Hall square (where the ice rink is located over the Christmas season) from Friday 6th May until the evening of Sunday 8th May - finishing at 9pm.

It will be oficially opened at 1pm on Friday 6th with displays of dancing and acrobatics. There will be many stalls selling products and demonstrating ancient arts and crafts.Most of the stall holders dress in medievil costumes to make the fair more authentic.  You can watch food being made in medieval tradition and even sample it, watch a blacksmith make artistic pieces alongside stalls selling herbs, spices, soaps amongst many. There will also be street entertainment, singing, dancing and magic displays which should keep everyone happy. So if you're around the Benidorm area its certainly worth a visit.