It´s January 7th, and I can report that the sales have officially started. At 11am this morning, I can testify that Zara in Marbella´s main shopping mall, La Cañada, was being torn apart by frantic bargain-hunters, and queues were stretching down the aisles of most shops.

Who can blame them with discounts of up to 60%?

In fact, in one shop, I witnessed quite an ugly example of queue jumping – the offender, a man in his 50s was told in no uncertain terms of the error of his ways by an elderly lady further back in the queue – it would have been comical had they not been so stressed.

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The thought of yet another public holiday in Spain on 6th January was seriously starting to depress me – no shops open, too cold to sunbathe, fed up of seeing my family for what feels like the 50th time in the last 2 weeks, too fat for another long lunch with friends.

What should I do?

I know, I´ll go to Gibraltar!

I made sure I checked my facts as Gibraltar is a strange place. Where else boasts proper British bobbies, traffic lights, road signs, a Morrisons supermarket and cheap fags, yet driving on the right hand side of the road, and all within 45 minutes of Marbella? Continue reading »

Yesterday, I was privileged to witness the procession of the ´Three Kings´ in Marbella.

In anticipation of the celebrations of the 6th January, El Dia de Los Reyes, traditionally the high point of the Christmas calendar for the children of Spain, the procession on the evening of the 5th winds its way through most towns and cities in Spain, and is quite a spectacle.

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Ok, ok, I admit it – I´ve had a great time here in Marbella….and it seems the whole of Spain has enjoyed itself as well. What am I talking about? Well, it´s now the 6th January, and most Spanish workers have been off work since 24th December.

First, we had the traditional Xmas festivities concentrated around the 25th December, and although Boxing Day is a normal working day in Spain, many workers weren´t inclined to go anywhere near their workplace as it fell on a Friday…and who can blame them!

Perhaps some staggered into work for the last 3 days of December, but I can guarantee that there won´t have been many! After all, what´s the point?! Continue reading »

Just 12 kilometres to the East of the centre of Marbella lies a district called Elviria.

Prior to the recent property boom on the Costa del Sol, Elviria was best known as the home of the prestigious (although rather ugly) Don Carlos 5 star hotel and the 18 hole golf course at Santa Maria Golf & Country Club.

Now, Elviria is a thriving tourist resort, with much to offer. In three distinct sections, Elviria offers something for everyone.
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Last week the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced that even though the economic situation may be tough at the moment an economic recovery is expected to start in the second half of 2009, refuting a report by the IMF stating that this would not happen until at least 2010.  He also said that this year would be a serious challenge for his government but how he was determined that the recovery in Spain would be managed efficiently.

A huge 11 billion euro recovery budget was unveiled recently aimed at kick-starting the economy, by creating 300,000 new jobs using 8 billion euros and the remaining 3 billion euros is going into a Special State Fund which will be spent on the environment, struggling industries and research and development.
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With the rapid demise of sterling (today´s rate is a record low of €1.02), it is thought that many people will be looking to scrap their plans for a 2009 holiday in Spain (or any other Eurozone country), and instead opt for countries that seemingly offer better value for money, such as Turkey and the United States.

Sky News research yesterday reported that instead of abandoning plans to holiday in Spain altogether, most prospective travelers were more likely to increase the frequency of their foreign holidays, but to spend a shorter period of time away from home during each break.
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So we´ve reached my favourite night of the year – NOT!

I hate it, I really do. I´ll be the one sobbing into his beer at midnight while everyone around me is doing the hokey-cokey or linking arms for Auld Lang Syne with relatives who they swore they couldn´t stand the sight of 10 minutes earlier! All this while complete strangers tell each other how mush they love each other while they pucker up for the traditional New Year´s Eve snog.

Aaaargh, I hate it….all that forced frivolity. And don´t think that you´ll be escaping the nightmare by taking your end of year holiday in Spain. I noticed that some of the bars in Puerto Banus are advertising ´Big Ben – LIVE at midnight´ - can someone explain how that´s going to work then? – won´t London be one gong short while we are counting down to midnight on the Costa del Sol. Oh, who cares! Continue reading »

Spain isn´t perfect. For the majority of expats, Spain will never feel truly like ´home´.

But recently, I´ve got to thinking about the simple things in life, and now appreciate Spain so much more for being able to offer the simplest pleasures in life on a regular basis.

The weather is the key. While the UK and Northern Europe languishes in a dreary, grey blanket of cloud, incessant rain and freezing temperatures, Southern Spain basks in 320 days of sunshine. Continue reading »

IS THERE ANY HOPE for the Spanish Property Market?

“Yes, there is still hope. We know this because we work in the market and speak to buyers and sellers on a daily basis. We get to see what´s really motivating both groups of people. Here is what we have found:
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