The 18 ‘hot property zones’ in Spain

Although home sales have fallen 0.48% in the last quarter of 2013 and prices continue to drop, there are also reasons why real estate professionals see half a full glass, at least in 18 Spanish provinces as sales transactions increased with respect to the same period in 2012, according to data provided by the association of property registrars.
Read full article here: http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2014/02/the-18-hot-property-zones-in-spain/

Frigiliana

Brits lead the way in the Spanish Property Market

In 2013, 11.15% of all property sales in Spain were made by foreign buyers, according to the official property registrar. The British were once again the main investors, with 15% of all purchases made from abroad. The French with 10%, and the Russians with 8.6%, ranked second and third respectively in property acquisitions. Of interest, were buyers from Luxembourg who hadn’t previously figured in the list in 2012. Here is the ranking of the top foreign buyers during 2013:
Read full article here: http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2014/02/brits-lead-the-way-in-the-spanish-property-market/

Frigiliana

Broadband for Frigiliana

Hi
Am looking for a broadband provider that does a pay as you go system, as we are only out for a maximum of 8-10 weeks a year. Can anyone recommend a company with a reliable connection.
Thanks
CK

Special Offer: Get FREE Foreign Currency Money Transfer

Are you transferring money overseas for mortgage & maintenance payments… or maybe you are looking to buy a property??

LPG Spain and Excel Currencies (London – UK) have been working together for quite some time now and as a way to celebrate this, we’re going to offer all new clients cost price currency on their first transfer…meaning we wont make a penny on it, just so they can test out our award winning service at a price never seen before! After the first transfer we will put in place a guarantee to beat any exchange rate they may receive elsewhere. This includes if you have a friend or family member who works in the industry, we will still guarantee to come in under them to make sure we won’t be beaten.

T’s & C’s

The Cost Price Currency applies to transfers under £10,000. Anything over that we still guarantee to beat any rate in the industry. Proof of your rate may be requested to ensure we can beat it. For simplicity reasons we would advise clients to get their exchange rate before contacting us to compare rates. Comparisons can be done on previous trades if there are no up-coming trades. Promotion runs until close of business November 29th. Client can take advantage of their cost price trade up until January 31st 2014 as long as account is registered by 29th November 2013.

How we achieve a guaranteed unbeatable exchange rate?

We use a system called Group Bookings which means if you are buying £ 5,000’s worth of Euros, we group it together with around ten other clients looking to transfer roughly the same amount on the same day. We will then buy all of the funds collectively from the currency markets as this gives you a buying power in excess of £ 50,000 and the rate reflects this as in the FX markets – the more money you buy, the better you achieve. Doing this is what has kept us unbeaten on exchange rates in over nine years and we have NO HIDDEN TRANSFER COSTS OR FEES.

Getting the best rates in the industry is always guaranteed with us, but our most beneficial asset to our clients is that we can guide them on the right time to get an exchange rate secured as the currency markets are very volatile and can the rate can change up to two times per second. Getting the rate secured at the right time can make a big difference in the amount you receive at the other end. Leaving it until the last minute is not always the best strategy as it does not guarantee the best rate.

Our goals and aims as a company are simple. To offer you a better exchange rate, quicker payments, no transfer fees and give you the opportunity to understand and interact with our dedicated dealers on a personal level. We are fully licensed by the FCA and comply with all local rules and regulations. Our customer service centres are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Use this offer for regular monthly payments that you make abroad, such as pensions, mortgage repayments, a property rental or purchase, maintenance and living expenses or even obtaining a Golden Residence Visa in Spain.

How to open an account in just minutes…

All you need to do is click the link below to the original article and then click on the banner and fill out our 30-second form in the ‘Start Trading – Signup’ section, attach your two documents of ID and I will get our accounts team to get your account set up and ready to go straight away for you. Once your account is open you will be under NO OBLIGATION or CONTRACT to use our services.

When setting up the account…in the ‘how did you hear about us’ section enter ‘LPG-VIP’ and you will automatically be signed up for the promotion!

If you have any questions or would like to do a free comparison with your current provider please feel free to get in touch via the Terms & Conditions link at the foot of the on-line form.

LPG (Leading Property Group) Spain & Excel Currencies (UK).
http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2013/10/special-offer-get-free-foreign-currency-money-transfer/

Frigiliana

Almuñecar Summer Jazz Festival – 26th Edition – From 17th – 21st July 2013

The annual International Jazz Festival celebrates its 26th edition strengthening its position as the most important event of its kind on the Andalucian coast. Jazz on the Coast, an extension of which takes place in Granada in November, is one of the international meetings of European jazz veterans.

Located in the southern most part of mainland Europe, with a scene that looks straight towards Africa, surrounded by lush vegetation and historic heritage, under a Moorish fortress and beside Phoenician ruins, Jazz on the Costa del Sol enjoys proximity to the sea and the lush vegetation of the Costa Tropical.

Considered as one of the most important jazz concerts each year in Spain, the event has always attracted some of the best jazz musicians from all over the world. This year is no exception with daily concerts each night at 22.30 running from 17th – 21st July.

The program consists of a series of concerts requiring tickets, and some free parallel events.

See full program...
http://www.leadingpropertygroupspain.com/en/2013/06/almunecar-summer-jazz-festival-26th-edition-from-17th-21st-july-2013/

Frigiliana

The Moscow Ballet Company to perform Swan Lake in Almunecar

As part of the 2013 European Spring Tour, the Moscow Ballet Company will perform Swan Lake at the “Auditorio Casa Cultura” in Almuñecar on 12th May, at 20.00h.
Act I

The Garden of Prince Sigfried’s Castle

After a glittering musical introduction, the first scene is set in a splendid park, with a fairy-tale castle in the background. Prince Siegfried and his friends are drinking, and peasants enter to congratulate him; meanwhile, his friends dance for the young Prince’s entertainment.

A messanger presages the arrival of the young Prince’s Mother. She follows to pronounce that her son should now marry, choosing a bride from the young women to be presented to him at a ball the following evening. She leaves and the rustic dancing resumes until darkness suddenly falls and a flock of swans appear.

The court jester has an idea of shooting one of the noble birds and, armed with a crossbow, sets off with his friends and heads to where the swans are heading.

Act II

The lake Shore

By the banks of a lake by moonlight, a flight of swans glide past, led by their own Queen.

The Prince’s friends are eager for the chase, but he begs them to leave him, and whilst he is alone the Swan Queen comes to him in the human form of Odette and tells her story. She is under the spell of an evil magician, Von Rothbart, and reveals that by day she and her friends are turned into swans. That subjection will only end when she marries; until then she has only her crown to protect her.

The whole swan group arrives and they reproach the Prince for attempting to deprive them of their beloved leader. Odette intercedes and the Prince discards his crossbow. He and Odette dance, professing their love. The entire flock joins in; and the act ends as an owl (the wicked Van Rothbart) flaps heavily above.

Act III

It is the following evening and in a luxurious hall in the Prince’s castle preparations are underway for the feast. The court jester orders the servants around; guests start to materialise; and finally, the Princess-Mother and her entourage. A sequence of turns commences until the Princess asks her son which of the women he favours. ‘None’, he replies to her annoyance. At a sudden fanfare Baron Rothbart enters with his daughter Odile, whose resemblance to Odette strikes the Prince.

Odile herself dances enticingly, followed by an elaborate sequence of national dances by the company. The Princess-Mother is pleased to see that Odile has caught her son’s favour. The young couple themselves conjoin together and the Princess-Mother and Rothbart advance to centre-stage to announce a betrothal. With that, the scene ominously darkens, an agitated version of the principal swan theme is heard; a window flies open noisily and through it can be seen a white swan replete with crown. Horrified, the Prince pushes Odile away and rushes out amid general confusion.

Act IV

The girls, including Odette, gather around the lake. Odette is heartbroken. Prince Siegfried finds them consoling each other. He explains to Odette the trickery of Von Rothbart and she grants him her forgiveness. It isn’t long before Von Rothbart appears and tells the prince that he must honour his word and marry his daughter or both he and Odette will die. Prince Siegfried refuses. A fight follows, Von Rothbart’s evil spell is broken by the power of Odette and Siegfried’s love for each other and the swans, are released from their enslavement.

Frigiliana

A Guide to Easter in Andalucia

A Guide to Easter in Andalucia

Holy Week in Andalucia is one of the most extraordinary events in the cultural calendar. Deep-rooted in tradition, both social and religious, the processions that take place throughout the region are well worth including on your holiday to Spain.

The largest and most spectacular processions take place in Seville and Malaga. Seville is most famous for its ‘Madrugá’ procession with the Macarena and Triana virgins who appear in the small hours of the morning. In Malaga, it’s the procession led by the Legionnaire soldiers (complete with their goat mascot) who take centre stage.

But all towns and villages, whatever their size, celebrate Easter with processions. You’ll often find that these smaller, less elaborate events give you the chance to soak up the atmosphere without the crowds in the larger cities. Probably the best place to see all this in the Axarquia region is in Nerja where the pretty, narrow streets add even more mystique to the occasion.

An Easter Procession Guide

For the uninitiated a Spanish Easter procession can be a confusing affair raising plenty of questions. It’s always better to know a little about what you will see prior to the event so this guide will help give you a general idea of who is who and what is what in a typical Andalucian Easter procession:

Brass band: The local band accompanies the procession and plays most of the time. The music is usually slow and solemn except on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday when it’s more upbeat to match the happier occasion.
Brotherhoods: Local religious associations who own and look after the statues and floats that make up the main part of the procession. It’s considered a great honour to belong to one of the brotherhoods (most towns have several) and membership is traditionally passed down the family.
Floats: Called tronos or pasos in Spanish (literally thrones), there are usually two floats in each procession (one with a statue of Christ and the other of his mother in mourning, the Virgin Mary). The floats are decorated with hundreds of flowers and candles that surround the statue centrepiece.
Each float is massive and weighs several tonnes. Members of the brotherhood (known as costaleros) stand at each side of the float and walk along supporting it on their shoulders. The weight and effort involved in this means they can usually walk no more than a few paces before having to rest, the reason why processions last hours. Some bearers walk blindfold and/or barefoot.
Nazarenos: Men, women and children dressed in dark robes (usually black or purple) parade in front of the floats and they usually carry a candle or lantern. They also wear a long pointed hat that covers their face and has just two slits for their eyes. (It’s believed that the Ku Klux Klan adopted this outfit after seeing it during Easter in Spain.) On Easter Sunday, nazarenos dress in green, red or white.
Penitents: Men and women dressed in black (the women usually wear a black lace mantilla) and carrying lighted candles and rosaries, walk in front of or behind the float. Those doing actual penitence walk barefoot or even crawl along on their knees.
Saeta: This is an improvised song, part of the flamenco cante hondo (deep song) genre, in honour of the statues. It’s sung by an onlooker when the floats get to certain points in the itinerary and forms one of the most moving parts of the procession.

Easter Dates

This year Easter week falls between 24th and 31st March. The key processions include:

Palm Sunday (24th March): A joyful celebration involving floats with statues of Christ on a donkey, this procession is joined by children and families who carry typical palm decorations.

Easter Monday-Thursday (25th-28th March): Mournful processions that increase in solemnity as they approach the small hours of Good Friday. Many that take place on the Thursday evening are silent except for the occasional saeta.

Easter Sunday (31st March): In stark contrast, this is a happy event with upbeat music and church bells. Floats depict the Resurrection of Christ.

Frigiliana

Residents Day Nerja 2013

This year’s Resident’s Day will be represented by a record number of 39 associations, companies and groups, to take place in the new Plaza de España square (behind the Nerja town hall) on 14th April.

The event was presented by the Council member for Foreign Residents, Innocence Quintero, and the head of the Department of Foreign Residents for Nerja, Jacqueline Gomez. This beats the previous best of 37 representatives.

The associations, companies and groups that will be participating are: American International Club, APCUN (Nerja Communities President), Almijara Bowls Club, Caritas, CAS (Animal Protection Society), Casa Argentina, Ecuador House, Rincon Clinics, Santa Cecilia Clinic, Coastline FM, Costa Camera Club, Costa del Sol News, Euro Weekly News, Francophone Costa del Sol, Cudeca Foundation, Gins Golf Society, Hispanic-Nordic Association, International Club, Liberty Seguros (Pet Insurance), Lions Club, NADFAS Fine Arts, National Health Federation (Alternative Health), Nerja Bridge Club, Nerja Donkey Sanctuary, Sanysol Residence, Seniors Residence, Royal British Legion, The Royal Navy, Sanitas Health Insurance, Andalusia Shanty Choir (German Choir), Radio Sol Almijara, Nerja SPA (Animal Protection), Sur in English, Svenska Magasinet (Swedish magazine), Workshop Friendship, Weightwatchers Club, 41 Club Round Table and the Foreign Residents Department of the Nerja Town Hall.

The event takes place from 12:00 to 19:00 hours and will begin with a concert by the local Municipal Band, followed by live music on stage throughout the day with performances from representatives of the various participants.

In the case of rain or high winds, the event will be postponed to the following Sunday, April 21st.

Frigiliana

The 54th Nerja Caves Music Festival announces its program for summer 2013.

The President of the Nerja Cave Foundation, Jorge Hernández Mollar, accompanied by the two vice presidents, José Alberto Armijo and Bendodo Elijah, and the manager, Angel Ruiz, today introduced the program in Fitur for the 54th International Festival of Music and Dance in the Caves of Nerja this summer.

The Festival will begin on Wednesday, July 24 (2013) with a concert by the classical string quartet of soloists of Salzburg, accompanied by renowned clarinetist Ferdinand Steiner. On Thursday 25th the Ballet of Victor Ullate will perform, which this year celebrates its 25 years of existence. On Friday the 26th will be the turn of singer Pastora Soler, Nerja’s Tourist of Honor, and will close with a concert by guitarist Manolo Sanlúcar together with the Malaga Symphony Orchestra performing the works of “Medea”.

In his speech, the mayor and vice president of the Foundation, José Alberto Armijo, stressed the importance this year that the cave has from a scientific point of view, as it could confirm that its paintings are the oldest artistic samples of Humanity. They also highlighted the artistic and cultural side, as this is the first time that the International Festival of Music and Dance has been presented in Fitur (Madrid). The mayor enthused about this year’s program and welcomed at the presentation the presence of both Pastora Soler and Manolo Sanlúcar. He also stressed that the official presentation of the festival will take place in Nerja in March.

Frigiliana

Buy to Rent in Spain

Whilst the Spanish property market maybe going though hard times, property is selling, albeit in much lower numbers than during the boom time. On the other hand, both the holiday rental and long term property markets are in high demand in our area of the eastern Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical.

Buy to Rent in Spain

When you buy a holiday home, you’re not only making a property investment. It is also an opportunity to make money in the long run by renting the holiday home in the weeks and months that you are not using it yourself, or take advantage of the much lower prices and buy a property to let all year round.

The video (in the full article) will show you a few but important things you must consider in the acquisition of holiday homes – things that matter most in the rental potential of the property.

Frigiliana
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