A visit to the Isla de Tabarca is practically a must-dotrip for anyone visiting the Costa Blanca. It is the only inhabited island in the Region of Valencia and is located opposite the city of Alicante, 11 nautical miles offshore and near the Santa Pola headland. In fact, it’s more than just an island: it’s a small archipelago that comprises the islets of La Cantera, La Galera and La Nao as well as the Isla de Tabarca itself. It is approximately 1,800 metres long and measures some 400 metres across at its widest point.

In the past, its shores were a refuge for Berber pirates and, in the 18th century, King Carlos III ordered the island to be fortified and a town built, in which to house several families of Genoese fishermen who were being held prisoner in the Tunisian city of Tabarka.
The walls surrounding the town have been officially declared a Historical and Artistic Site and an Asset of Cultural Interest.

The island’s waters have been officially declared a Mediterranean Marine Reserve for their excellent quality and for the biodiversity of their flora and fauna. Organising Your Trip
A visit to the island usually lasts one day. There are numerous departure times from the port of Alicante, although the regularity of these depends upon the time of year. The boat ride is comfortable and lasts for around one hour. The island can also be reached from Santa Pola, Guardamar, Torrevieja and Benidorm.

Once on the island, visitors can enjoy the coves and beaches with their crystal-clear waters and a picturesque fishing port with excellent eateries offering the opportunity to try the traditional “caldero”, the island’s typical dish.
We recommend a stroll through the town and a visit to the island’s museum.
Visitors can now even enjoy an overnight stay on the island, thanks to the recent opening of accommodation. The boat trip to the Tabarca Island can be comfortably made from Alicante, Santa Pola, Guardamar , Benidorm,and Torrevieja.

Playa Flamenca – Costa Blanca – Spain
Playa Flamenca – Situated on the Orihuela Costa coastline the beautiful resort of Playa Flamenca is a popular location for holidaymakers visiting the southern Costa Blanca in Spain. With a superb beach, a newly refurbished promenade area, an excellent choice of rental accommodation and a great range of facilities, Playa Flamenca is an ideal spot for a family holiday, for relocation or just for a weekend break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Playa Flamenca grew up in the 1970’s when a group of Flemish investors saw potential in the area, and developed a section of barren coastline into the modern resort that it is now. A number of other fine resorts have also developed along this stretch of coast making it a popular area with visitors of all nationalities.

Playa Flamenca is in the centre of a very busy piece of coast called the Orihuela Costa, and this is located south of the well known town of Torrevieja and extends from Punta Prima in the north to Mil Palmeras in the south taking in the resorts of La Zenia, Campoamor and Cabo Roig, the golf courses of Villamartin, Las Ramblas and Campoamor and the urbanizations of La Florida, Los Balcones, Zeniamar, Horizonte, Aguamarina and San Jose to name but a few.

Playa Flamenca is a fairly compact resort and the beach area is backed by some good facilities on the beach side of the N-332 including the Post Office (Correos) and some fine shops and restaurants, within walking distance is the Flamenca beach commercial centre with a huge range of shops, bars and restaurants, with plenty of live entertainment available. Beside the N-332 coast road you will also find the Mercadona supermarket and complex with more shopping opportunities.

A short walk from here and on Saturdays you will find the large street market, which is very popular with visitors to Playa Flamenca, but also draws crowds from the entire area. The market is more spacious than the typical Spanish street market although it can still get very packed, so it is always best to arrive early (the market starts around 8.00am and finished at 2.00pm).

Playa Flamenca enjoys a superb Mediterranean climate with hot summers, mild winters and low rainfall making it an ideal all year round resort. Playa Flamenca is within easy driving distance of both Murcia (San Javier) airport (25 minutes) and Alicante airport (45 minutes) and can be easily accessed from both the N-332 coastal road and the AP-7 motorway (La Zenia exit).

Remember that old travel guide image of Spain as a country of only bullfighting, flamenco dancing and mile after mile of sun-drenched beaches?

They’re all still here of course, but anyone travelling to Spain will discover a world far beyond these stereotypical images. From the world’s party capital Ibiza, to the overflowing art gallery that is Madrid, Spain satisfies all tastes, whether they are for egg and chips, or for jamon serrano. Busy beach resorts of the Costa Blanca, Mallorca and Tenerife keep the crowds happy with the three S’s, Sun, Sea and Sangria, while some of Spain’s best cities to visit like Valencia and Barcelona attract others with their culture, amazing architecture and world-class museums…

…whatever reason you chose to come to Spain you’re sure to have a good time

Of course if you get off the beaten track you’ll find another world completely. Medieval cities like Murcia with their World Heritage sites, fairytale castles perched on hilltops and beautiful towns littered with Islamic architecture are waiting to be discovered. Even the countryside is in on the act. Believe it or not Spain has one of Europe’s most varied landscapes, from impossibly lush pastures in the northern region of Asturias, to the stunning deserts of Andalucia in the south.

In Spain it is a very festive time at Christmas. On Christmas Eve, as the stars come out, tiny oil lamps are lit in every house, and after Midnight Mass and Christmas Dinner, streets fill with dancers and onlookers. There is a special Christmas dance called the Jota and the words and music have been handed down for hundreds of years. They dance to the sound of guitars and castanets.
Children think of the Three Wise Man as the gift bearers. Tradition has it that they arrive on January 6th, the date the Wise Men gave gifts to Jesus.

Shoes are filled with straw or barley for the tired camels that must carry their riders through the busy night. By morning the camel food is gone and in place of the straw or barley are presents. Shoes also may be placed on balconies on the night of the 6th January in the hope that the Wise Men will fill them with gifts.

Most homes have a manger, like cathedrals and churches. These are complete with carved figures.

During the weeks before Christmas, families gather around their manger to sing, whilst children play tambourines and dance.

The Spanish especially honor the cow at Christmas because it is thought that when Mary gave birth to Jesus the cow in the stable breathed on the Baby Jesus to keep him warm.

Christmas is a deeply religious holiday in Spain. The country’s patron saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas season officially begins December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is celebrated each year in front of the great Gothic cathedral in Seville with a ceremony called los Seises or the “dance of six.” Oddly, the elaborate ritual dance is now performed by not six but ten elaborately costumed boys. It is a series of precise movements and gestures and is said to be quite moving and beautiful.

Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or “the Good Night.” It is a time for family members to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy.

December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. Young boys of a town or village light bonfires and one of them acts as the mayor who orders townspeople to perform civic chores such as sweeping the streets. Refusal to comply results in fines which are used to pay for the celebration.

The children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi are particularly revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with straw, carrots, and barley or the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.

The Spanish Christmas is Navidad, people go to church, exchange presents, and many play on swing sets set up especially for the occasion. Swinging at solstice time evokes an ancient desire to encourage the sun, urging it to “swing” ever higher in the sky.

Torrevieja is about 50 kilometers south of Alicante airport and is right on the coast just south of the other large resort of Guardamar del Segura. Torrevieja used to be a tiny fishing village (like many of the towns on the Costa Blanca) but it has witnessed a huge explosion in size and population in recent times – most of which is from the huge numbers of people moving to Torrevieja from Northern Europe or buying holiday homes in the area.

Torrevieja is surrounded by salt lakes and as a result the climate is meant to be very healthy especially for people with arthritus. The salt lakes are protected and form the habitat for numerous protected species of bird such as the greater Flamingo and Montagu’s harrier. The salt is also commercially extracted providing one of the Torrevieja’s main industries.
Any visitor to Torrevieja is bound to visit the harbor area with it’s numerous restaurants, tapas bars and shops. The fish restaurants are a must as the fish is fresh in from the local fishing boats.

Torrevieja has many attractive parks, gardens and squares where you can sit down and just relax under the shade.

Torrevieja’s indoor market offers fish, meat and fresh vegetables. Make sure you visit the local market selling fresh fruits and vegetables as well as other locally-made goods and produce – market day in Torrevieja is on a Friday.

For sightseeing in Torrevieja you can enjoy the harbor, the fish market, the Church of La Inmaculata Conception, tour the S-61 Delfin submarine and the museum of sea and salt.

There are more than a hundred bars with the majority located in the El Baluarte area in the La Punta district, which attracts thousands of visitors every year as the place to enjoy the nightlife of Torrevieja.

Torrevieja is almost becoming a city it is expanding so rapidly and as a result facilities are very good with three excellent hospitals. There are also private and national health clinics with many doctors and dentists of all nationalities.

Torrevieja has two water parks and a large indoor sports centre with an Olympic sized swimming pool.

The Costa Blanca or White Coast extends along the eastern coast of Spain (approximately in the middle) and covers the province of Alicante.

To the north of Denia is the Costa del Azahar and to the south of Torrevieja is the Costa Calida.

The Costa Blanca is not as cold or wet in the winter as the Costa Brava, north of Costa Blanca, nor is it as humid or hot in the summer as the Costa del Sol, in the south. The Costa Blanca has the best all year round temperatures. The climate is recognised as one of the best in the world by the World Health Organisation. Many people with arthritis come to the Costa Blanca and within days feel much better. In the winter months the Costa Blanca is lucky enough to have nearly as many sunny days as in the summertime.

The Costa Blanca is famous for its tourism. Once upon a time the places along the coast were mostly just tiny fishing villages. Then the fantastic climate and beaches attracted tourists and the area boomed. Some towns have restricted their development and retained their original charms while others have over-developed and lost what charm they originally had.

The Costa Blanca has over 100 kms of sandy beaches and rocky coves and many of the beaches have the coveted European Blue Flag signifying cleanliness and safe bathing.

Of course the charms of the area have meant that many foreigners now live here. There has been a property explosion with many people regarding the Costa Blanca as the California of Europe. Not just people retiring, nowadays many young families move to the Costa Blanca searching for a better lifestyle. Every nationality can be found here but especially English and Germans (oh and some Spanish too!).

The Costa Blanca is a beautiful region with mountains stretching along most of the coast. The A7 motorway (with some toll sections) stretches from north to south along the coast. The N-332 also runs parallel yet is free from charges although much slower as it passes through the middle of many towns.

There are huge amounts of flights into Alicante airport, especially from Northern Europe. Valencia airport to the north is also well serviced. Further to the south of the Costa Blanca is Murcia airport. With the advent of many low-cost airlines many people live in Spain and commute to work in England. Flying time is only about 2 hours which often doesn’t get you far when driving on congested roads in England.

The northern Costa Blanca is typically mountainous with cliffs and coves, a mixture of pebble beaches and fine sandy beaches. North of Altea it is surprisingly very green and lush.

The southern Costa Blanca is mostly flat with fine sandy beaches, palm trees and salt lakes. The south is much drier and more typical of what a person who had never visited Spain would expect to see.

The Costa Blanca has something for everyone from tiny rural inland villages to cosmopolitan tourist resorts on the coast such as Benidorm.

The Costa Blanca isn’t necessarily a place one would go to see historical monuments (although there are many). Its attractions lie in its beauty – the amazing vivid blue Mediterranean waters, the lovely sandy beaches, the old towns and villages with their old narrow streets, the restaurants and bars where one can sit and relax outside because of the wonderful all-year round climate. It’s simply a wonderful place in which to enjoy life (as we should do but often don’t) and feel rejuvenated and refreshed.

Benidorms is one of the cities that has the most tourism during peak seasons in the entire levante area of Spain. Whether it be in winter with organized tourism for senior citizens or in the summer when the older folks make room for younger tourism to enjoy the beaches and nightlife, Benidorm is always a great city no matter what time of the year. It has a population of 70,000.

Benidorm is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Mediterrenean Coast. It is a municipality that every year millions of Europeans flock to for it’s beautiful weather. Great weather all year round, but also for it’s great beaches, the services offered to tourists, it’s beautiful natural environment etc…Benidorm also has many nearby localities that are just as enchanting such as Calpe, Santa Pola, Villajoyolla, El Campello and of course the famous Altea, one of the most beautiful fisherman towns in all of Spains, coastline. In all of these towns you’ll find apartments, chalets, villas, as well as hotels and hostels to stay in while on holiday. Come and enjoy your holidays in this paradise.

The beaches of the Costa Blanca (white coast) are of vital importance. Benidorm started to re-organize in the 60’s in order to make the best out of its resources…in other words it’s beaches. They have been the main ingredient in the growth of this city. The city has built hotels and apartments in order to accomodate the increasing tourism levels. It offers everything that you may need while on holiday. There is no other place like it.

Spain has no plans for more spending cuts on top of May’s austerity measures, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said in an interview with El Pais newspaper on Sunday.

The government implemented a 15 billion euro austerity package six months ago, including civil servant salary cuts and scrapping bonus payments to new mothers, in an attempt to deflect fears Spain was heading for a debt crisis.

“It is not foreseen that more cuts will be necessary,” Zapatero told Spain’s most-read newspaper.

ECB Executive Board Member Jose Manuel Gonzalez Paramo said on Friday Spain’s reforms were enough to protect it from contagion from debt crises elsewhere in Europe, although he said also that any extra steps taken by EU states would be welcome.

Markets have started to differentiate Spain from other potential euro zone trouble spots such as Portugal and Ireland, which is thrashing out a multibillion euro international aid deal to support its massively indebted banks.

Spain drew solid demand for 3.6 billion euros of long-term debt on Thursday, showing buyers took a relatively positive view of Spain’s prospects after measures taken this year including labor reform and an overhaul of the country’s banking system.

The Socialist prime minister said it was essential pension reform was carried out by the first quarter of next year. The reform would have to show savings but would not necessarily mean a cut in payments, he said.

He declined to say if he would stand in elections in 2012, saying he would take that decision when the time was right.

Paramount Pictures to open theme park in Murcia, Spain!
Paramount Pictures said Friday it has reached a deal to open its first theme park in Europe in Spain, the world’s third most visited country, which will create thousands of jobs.

In a statement, Paramount Licensing said it “will not be an investor in the project but will licence intellectual property from its vast library of films and provide conceptual master planning and design for the project.”

The park will be located in the southeastern region of Murcia on the Mediterranean coast at a yet-to-be disclosed date, it added.

“More details about the project will be announced in the next few months,” the statement said.

Paramount Pictures is a unit of US-based media conglomerate Viacom Inc.

Rival US media conglomerate Time Warner runs a theme park, Warner Bros Park, in the town of San Martin de la Vega located just south of Madrid which opened in 2002.

Spanish media reported that Paramount’s planned theme park will create some 20,000 jobs and will attract nearly three million tourists each year.

Spain’s unemployment rate hit 20.09 percent in the second quarter, the highest level in the 16-nation eurozone and its highest reading since 1997 as the collapse of a property bubble continued to take its toll.

Spain received 52.2 million visitors last year, making it the third most visited country in the world after France in the United States, according to data from the Madrid-based United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Playa Flamenca on the Costa Blanca continues to enjoy the lovely warm sunshine. The nights are cooling slightly though remain very pleasant. The days are continuously warm and sunny from 9am until 8pm. Now that the summer season is beginning to slow down and the areas are slowly quietening it is a great place to come a grab a fews warm days relaxing on the local beaches. Properties are available to rent at very competitive prices which helps to make that late summer break a comfortably affordable one as well!!