Weekly Weather Report throughout Spain and the Canary Islands.

This is one of the most even-temperature areas of Spain, particularly on the coast.

There are, on average, 320 sunny days a year on the Costa Blanca.

The temperatures below do not take into account wind chill factor in the winter (November to March), which can often reduce the temperature by about 5 degrees.

Spain Is The Best Place to Live In Europe! - Written by Louise Clarke - Thursday, 15 October 2009

Spain has been ranked as the best place to live in Europe whilst the UK and Ireland ranked much lower, according to a recent poll. The uSwitch.com Quality of Life Index has said that British families are worse off than some of their fellow Europeans when it comes to the cost of fuel, quality of healthcare, life expectancy, education, retirement age, working hours and holiday entitlement.

The poll said that while British families have highest net income after tax (£35,730 against average of £25,404), they face the highest prices in Europe for diesel, second highest prices for unleaded petrol, and third highest spend on gas and electricity, despite prices in other European countries like Spain, rising significantly in the last year. Early retirement is a luxury many can’t afford in the UK as the country will soon have the highest retirement age of 66 compared to Spain’s age of 62 and Poland’s age of 58.

80% More Sunshine in Spain
Although the UK’s working hours are in line with the European average, British workers suffer the shortest holiday entitlement, with a whole week below the average. Unsurprisingly, Britain receives 80% less sunshine than Spain and 17% below the European average. The findings confirm what many analysts in the UK have been suspecting for a while and alongside a warning that the price of goods will continue to grow in the coming months as the country battles against the recession, this will do little to move the UK ahead in the rankings for some time. Spain took the top spot in the poll despite families earning an annual net income of only £16,789 which is £8,500 below the average and less than half that of the UK.

Lifestyle Factors
Spain fared well in most categories, with low taxation and cheaper essential goods. The quality of life in Spain is boosted further by higher than average life expectancy, the most hours of sunshine and a generous holiday allowance. France came second in the index, boasting the second highest spend on healthcare and faring better than most when it comes to the cost of goods, taxes, hours of sunshine and the highest holiday entitlement in Europe of a whopping 40 days. The uSwitch.com study closely examined 19 factors in order to understand where the UK sits in relation to nine other major countries across Europe. Variables such as net income, taxes and the cost of essential goods were examined alongside lifestyle factors (hours of sunshine, holiday entitlement, working hours and life expectancy) to provide a complete picture of the quality of life experienced in each country.

Positive Signs
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: “The UK average wage may be substantially more than that of our European neighbours but, when it comes to quality of life, the British remain the ‘sick people of Europe’” She continued: “With the global economy stuck in recession, British households are facing huge financial pressure as take home pay stagnates, inflation continues to rise, and economic growth and house prices fall.

Living outdoors, eating out, sitting out, people-watching over a leisurely glass, or strolling along the palm-shaded promenades, are all part of a normal way of life.

Although there are not many branches of British Banks in Spain, most have English speaking staff.
Banks are only open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 1pm in the summer and 8.30am to 4.00 pm in the Winter. In this area, we now have Halifax, Barclays and Lloyds.
Many banks DO NOT accept Travellers Cheques so always bring cash (or use credit cards).
There are some exchange bureaus, but many have a bad reputation for high commission rates, "extra" hidden charges or short-changing you.
Credit or debit cards can be used to obtain cash from cash machines. The machines accept all the popular cards including Visa, Mastercard, Switch, Cirrus and Link. Preferably use a machine located inside a bank. Use with caution (watch out for strangers observing you) and never disclose your pin number to anyone.

The most expensive way to hire a car is directly at the airport when you land. Its also time consuming due to the paperwork. It is slightly cheaper, and quicker, to prebook a car from the UK or Eire for collection at the airport. However, collecting ANY car at the airport can involve lengthy queues in the arrivals area, particularly if a number of planes all land at the same time. Personnel in car hire bureaus are not renowned for speed.
Many people do not feel comfortable driving as soon as they arrive in the country, on the opposite side of the road!, particularly if they are going to a rental property in an unknown area.
Many new urbanisations do not have road names and signs and often do not appear on local maps so its usually better to use a local airport service to take you to the property, at least for the first time.
Hiring cars locally in the Spanish towns, perhaps on the day after you have arrived, is the cheapest method, although many of the large car hire companies will try and frighten you away from them with various stories (because they want your business at their higher costs!!). Even in peak season, you can get a small car for a week for as little as 150 €. See the "Flights" page for some car hire companies. You can usually arrange for a car to be delivered to your property as necessary. Please contact car hire companies direct as we have no direct involvement with them.

Print > Guide to Driving In Spain

As in most continental countries the Spanish drive on the right hand side and overtake on the left.
An international driving licence is no longer necessary.
Minimum legal driving age is 18 years, although many car rental companies have a minimum age restriction of 21 and some require you to have held a full licence for 5 years or more.
Whilst you are driving you are required by Spanish law to have your driving licence, identification with photo (for British Citizens, your passport would suffice) and the rental documentation given to you by the company.
Seat belts to be worn by all people in the car.
You must carry spare bulbs, 2 warning triangles and a high visibility waistcoat for each available seat within the vehicle.
The use of mobile phones, apart from a hands free set, whilst driving in Spain is now banned, even at the roadside.
Spain has strict drink driving laws, only allowing 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood - stricter than the UK where the limit is 0.8. New drivers are effectively forbidden to drink and drive, with a very low 0.1 mg/l limit. You have to pull of road away from traffic, also you are not allowed a device in both ears to listen to music or your mobile. You are allowed hearing assisted aides. You are not allowed earpiece bluetooth devices.
You are not allowed to have a radar speed detector in your vehicle, let alone use one.
Offenders of traffic laws who are fined and cannot produce proof of their residence in Spain, are obliged to deposit the money on the spot, or guarantee payment through any means allowed under Spanish law (i.e. any Spanish citizen may assume responsibility for the fine). Fines paid on the spot qualify for 30% discount. If the fine is not paid immediately, or its payment is not guaranteed, the vehicle of the offender will be taken away to the Police compound!!
Click on the map to view A-37 motorway - Alicante to Cartagena The law for pedestrian crossings until recently was not as strict as other European countries where the driver is always at fault if the vehicle hits a pedestrian on the crossing. You must step onto the crossing, remembering to look left, and show the palm of your hand to any approaching vehicles. Previously, they still did not have to stop, but under new law involving penalty points means that the drivers can be penalized now for not stopping.
If you park illegally, especially in a foreign car, you will almost certainly become the victim of the GURA, the local tow truck. A sticker should be left on the curb with the phone number/address of where your car has been taken to. Getting your car back is a hassle and will cost you around 70 euro. However, the Spanish still tend to park wherever they want, even crossings, pavements and roundabouts, but now the new 2005 laws mean that penalty points can be given.
AUTOPISTA (MOTORWAY). A or E prefix to road number these can be toll roads, maximum speed 120 kmph.
AUTOVIA. Duel carriageway, not necessarily with central reservation. Speed limits vary from 80 -140 kmph.
CARRETERA NACIONAL. N or CN prefix to road number, main roads. 100 - 60 kmph.
CARRETERA COMARCAL. C prefix roads, 100 - 80k mph.
CARRETARA LOCAL. Highway speeds are as signed, but usually not more than 100 kmph.

• Alicante 47 km.

• Barcelona 570 km.

• Benidorm 77 km.

• Madrid 445 km.

• Valencia 217 km.

In a nutshell - YES.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fish and succulent meats are available in profusion.
Spain has long been a major provider to the colder countries of early salads and vegetables as well as fruits - melons, oranges, lemons, grapes, tomatoes as most will be aware, but also of the lesser known delicacies like dates, pomegranates, peaches, artichokes, avocados, walnuts, almonds…and the rest.
Numerous restaurants provide cuisine for all tastes, from traditional Spanish Tapas to the delights of Italian, French, Chinese, Indian and Mexican food.
Thousands of years of history and tradition are wonderfully blended in today's Spanish cuisine. The country's delightfully rich food culture has been influenced by Romans, Arabs, Latin-americans and, of course, the Spanish themselves. The Romans introduced ham, and the Arabs brought various spices such as saffron, chilli and almonds. Columbus's discovery of America not only revealed a new continent but many other novelties like potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, pineapples, cocoa, corn, and beans. Many different culinary traditions were formed across Spain as a result from this wonderful mix. In all of them you will find the most important ingredient of Spanish cooking: olive oil. It is used everywhere, almost entirely replacing butter or other similar products. Olive oil was introduced in Spain 3,000 years ago by the Phoenicians and the Greek. Europeans also have the Spanish to thank for our traditional three-course meals. This habit came with the Arabs, who began their meal with a soup and finished it with a dessert.
Those who think that Spanish food is spicy and hot have perhaps not tried it. On the contrary to what many believe, the use of chilli is very moderate. Garlic, on the other hand, is very generously used and may give a spicy impression. A good example of a famous and widely known dish that is traditionally associated with Spain is the Paella, originally a traditional rice dish from the region of Valencia. However, the Spaniards themselves, when asked about a national dish, would probably answer "cocido", a stew normally made on salted meat, beef, chicken and beans, although many variations exist.
Another Spanish specialty consists of small portions of tasty snacks served in bars and known as tapas. It is said that this tradition started when a bar owner served a glass of wine covered (to cover in Spanish: "tapar") with a small snack. Cured ham is another very popular Spanish delicacy. Many prefer to eat thin slices of it with their hands and wash them down with a good red wine. Our own way of eating has been influenced by Spanish traditions in many ways, which makes it so easy to blend in on the Costa Blanca and its cuisine. Add a good wine, and the result is a superb food experience. Ending on the local recipe.
The cuisine along the rivers Vinalopó and Segura is fundamentally based on agricultural products. Here you may be seduced to try a special kind of stew, "cocido con pelotas", or other dishes with strong cultural roots such as the "olla viuda", "arroz con costra" or "la pava borracha".
There is also a wide selection of red, white, sparkling and rosé wines to accompany all meals. And those who love good desserts run no risk of being disappointed. There are many delicacies made with ice cream, grapes, almonds, honey, raisins, dates, or nuts. Spanish ice cream is said by many to be among the best in the world. You will also easily encounter other temptations like almond tarts, gloria pastries and almojábenas, pastries of Arabic origin. A delicious dessert can be washed down with some coffee liqueur from Alcoy or herb liqueur from Sierra Mariola.
However, should you feel nostalgic and long for a regular Sunday roast, there are many bars and restaurants open all year with staff and menus that will make you feel at home.
The Spanish cuisine is an adventure for anybody with a curiosity for gastronomy. Feel free to try different things and find your own favourite tastes. Spanish food is a mix of different cultures with regional and local variants. Why not try Basque, Catalonian, Andalusian or Castilian food, or the endless options of international cuisine available. Let your taste buds guide you!

Jan 1 - New Years Day
Jan 6 - 3 Kings Day
February - Carnival
March - St Joseph the Worker
April - Good Friday
April - Easter Monday
May - May Fair
May - Our Lady of something or other!
June - St John the Baptist
July - Virgen Del Carmen & election of the Queen of Salt
August - Habanera Songs
August - Feast of the Assumption
October - Valencia Day
October - National Day
November - All Souls Day
Dec - Constitution Day
December - Immaculate Conception
December 25th - Christmas Day

Here's a good one for listings of Fiestas all over Spain: www.fiestas.net

The Easter Holy Week is a big holiday all around the country. Every city and little town organize solemn processions in the street to commemorate the passing and resurrection of Christ. Although the celebrations have a strong religious content, these processions are a display of joy and colour, with highly elaborate costumes and ornaments.

Alicante's most see worthy fiesta is the Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians), a show based on the region's history. This celebration reunites people clad in luxurious costumes that are used at shows, dances, parades and fights at several different times of the year, accompanied by loud music and the scent of gunpowder.
The most famous Moors and Christians festivity is held in the month of April in Alcoy, where many battles between Arabs and Christians are staged to remember how the last mentioned won back their land. Every local fiesta has its own unique character.
At the arrival of the summer solstice, the streets of Alicante display big elaborate sculptures made from paper mass. On the night of Saint John they are set on fire while the sky is lit up with fireworks and the party hits the roof. Their name is adequately Las Hogueras de San Juan or les Fogueres de Sant Joan in the Valencian language (the fires of Saint John).
Another fire-related festivity, Las Fallas, is held in March. This fiesta is typical of Valencia but is also celebrated in Benidorm and in Denia.
Another unique piece, the Mystery of Elche, is staged in August. This ancient traditional show combines music, singing and sacral lyrical drama. It is based on the inheritance of a relic, and allows the public to witness the Virgin Mary's rising to the heavens.

• Monday Agres, Callosa d’En Sarria, Cox, Denia, Elche, Formentera, Granja de Rocamora, Ibi, La Nucia, Llocnou de Sant Jeroni, Parcent, Petrer, Penaguila, Playa de Miramar (summer evenings), Monover, Real de Gandia, Santa Pola, Sax, Xeraco

• Tuesday Alicante, (Rastro), Aspe, Altea, Barx, Bellreguard, Benijofar, Campo de Mirra, Castalla, Elda, Orihuela, Palma de Gandia, Piles, Playa de Piles (summer evenings), Rafelcofer, Relleu, San Fulgencio, Sella, Tibi, Villalonga, Xalo(Jalon), Xeresa

• Wednesday Ador, Albatera, Alcoi, Alqueries, Almoines, Banyeres, Barx, Benjema, Beniaries, Benidorm, Benilloba, Benitatxell, Biar, Callosa de Segura, Calpe (Rastro),
  El Cammpello, Elda, Guardamar del Segura, La Font d’en Carros, Muchamiel, Monforte del Cid, Novelda, Orba, Ondara, Petrer, Polop, Potries, Rotova, San Miguel de Salinas, Sella, Teulada

• Thursday Agost, Agres, Albatera, Alguena, Alicante, Aspe, Benidoleig, Cocentaina, Hondon de los Frailes, Llocnou de Sant Jeroni, Pego, Playe de Bellreguard (summer evenings), Rafelcofer, Rojales, Tavernes de Valldigna, Villajoyosa, Xabia (Javia), Xixona (Jijona)

• Friday Albatera, Almoines, Banyeres, Benejuzar, Beniarres, Benidoleig, Crevillente, Daimus, Denia (Rastro), El Verger, Finestrat, Gata de Gorgos, Granja de Rocamora, L’ Alfas del Pi, Monforte del Cid, Monstesinos, Moraira, Muro de Alcoi, Oliva, Onil, Petrer, Pilar de la Horadada, Playa de Daimus (summer evenings), Rafol d’ Almunia, Sella, Tibi, Torrevieja, Villalonga.

• Saturday Alcoi, Alicante, Almoradi, Alqueria, Banyeres, Bellreguard, Benifairo, Benissa, Callosa d’En Sarria, Calpe, Castalla, Castell de Castells, Catral, Elche, Elda , La Font d’En Carros, La Romana, Gaianes, Hondon de las Nieves, Novelda, Ondara, Pedreguer, Tavernes de la Valdigna (summer evenings), San Vicente del Raspeig, Salinas, Relleu, Santa Pola, Xalo (Jalon) Rastro

• Sunday Benidorm, Elche, La Nucia, Campoverde, Camp de Guardamar, Algorfa, La Marina, On the road to Guardamar from Quesada (Lemon Tree Grove). Zoco market next to Masa Cement Plant on the road to San Miguel from Quesada (for UK products and British bedding).

The Cabo Roig, Orihuela Costa Medical Centre, is often used for assessment before you are taken to the General Hospital in Los Balcones (by Salt Lake). Drive over Cabo Roig roundabout, the one with the pyramid, on the N332 and take the Campoamor exit (next one) and drive over the N332, you have to turn right at the end of the road, go around the new roundabout and back on yourself, at the beginning of the service road, the road splits into 2. In front of you is a low white building - that is the Medical Centre - entrance on right split of road.

If you are planning to spend Christmas in Spain then you are in for a treat so long as you are going to stay into the New Year. In Spain the traditional day for celebrating is not the 25th of December but the night of January 5th when the Three Kings come into each and every home and leave presents for the children in the fireplace. The 25th December is a public holiday and some children now have a Papa Noel that comes to them then too but the main celebrations in all the towns and homes are on the night of January 5th. If you cannot stay in Spain until then, you will miss out on the major part of Christmas here.
On January 5th as it begins to get dark each town will have a major procession going through it and all the children line up on the edge of the road to watch the arrival of the Three Kings. They arrive on horseback or camel and as the floats go by sweets, rather hard ones usually, are thrown by the children and adults on the floats to all the people lined up on the streets. Children bring cones and bags to fill as the sweets pour or bounce onto the pavements. It is a wonderful 30-45 minutes for the children and afterwards the adults usually go in search of a tapas bar where children are of course welcome ( this is Spain!) and the rest of the evening is passed away merrily.
On the day of the 6th it is a public holiday and the Spanish have a feast of seafood, ham and a traditional cake made of almonds, sugar, flour and turron.
Christmas in Spain is far less commercial than in the UK. The streets will hang out lights but only the larger stores will go to any great effort to decorate their windows with festive Christmas trees and reindeer. Families do not put out lights outside their homes as they do in the UK, the whole thing is far less “twinkly.” If you hate the commercial side of Christmas in the UK then spending Christmas in Spain is a good choice. Crackers, cards, mince pies, Christmas cake, turkey, baby sausages, festive paper, real Christmas trees are all hard to find here in Spain. If they are important to you bring what you can over with you. You will find some Spanish supermarkets sell turkey and mince pies. Better to be on the safe side and pack a few extras in your suitcase.

Firstly, yes, there is crime here but just like anywhere else, just take sensible precautions such as never leave doors or windows unlocked, lock the security gates if you want the doors open (prevents sneak thieves), only carry the amount of cash you require for the day, put a wallet in your front trouser pocket (not the back pocket), don't take a handbag unless absolutely necessary (a thief wouldn't know it didn't contain anything of value), take copies of your passport in case of loss as well as theft, keep telephone numbers handy in case of emergency (British Consulate, Police, credit cards, bank, etc). If the property has a safe, use it!
Don't sleep at night with the windows open with anything of value (or the keys) within view or a fishing rod may come through the window! Don't sleep on balconies with the house doors open!
Keep vigilant, as you would at home, and with the hire car, if it has a sticker on the back showing the hire company name, remove it AT the airport. If anyone approaches you either in or out of the car - it may be a diversion for the accomplice to act. Beware at bustling markets, particularly for women offering you a flower.
There is nothing to fear here, you just need to be aware that there is crime just like back home. Don´t let scare mongering ruin your holiday, just remember to keep alert and not to leave common sense at the airport!! Enjoy your holiday!!
Would you really leave a bag in the car in UK?
Would you leave your front door open while you are in the back garden?
If you suffer from a crime and need to report it , the Guardia Civil Office at the Ayuntamiento at Orihuela Costa is now open for the making of a Police report (denuncia) on Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Another persons comments:
"I live here permanently and have never felt unsafe. If you go to a market, use your commonsense. Don't have wads of banknotes in your back pocket, don't let them see you peeling off a €50 for a €2 item, hang on to your handbag - all the usual things that I personally would do in the UK anyway.
Lock up properly when you go out. Take hire signs off a car, if you can get them off, and just generally be relaxed but vigilant. If you get stopped by anyone asking for any directions, information etc, just tell them you don't know or don't speak Spanish and walk away quickly.
I honestly can't say that I behave any differently here to when I was in the UK and I feel every bit as safe here (safer, even that in many parts of he UK) - and I'm a pensioner on my own with no big butch bloke around to safeguard me".

Bowling or go-karting, meal in town at the Chinese, then at 10 minutes to midnight, dash out to the main Torrevieja square with a bottle of cava and 12 washed grapes each (hard to eat if they are sandy!).

Wait till the bell chimes, eat the grapes and spray cava at each other, save some to fill some plastic cups to drink.

If you stay late, they give chocolate and churros to everyone free.

Newspaper article January 2006 - Foreign residents outnumber Spaniards in many towns
The demographic growth of the Costa Blanca was revealed this week with figures showing that the five municipalities in Spain where registered foreign residents outnumber their spanish hosts are all in alicante province.
Rojales, Teulada, Calpe, Jávea and Alfaz del Pi are the Spanish towns where there are more foreign residents than Spanish. In Rojales there are 4,798 registered Spanish residents and 9,009 foreign; Teulada follows closely with 4,749 and 7,234 respectively; and Calpe has 10,425 Spanish residents and 14,765 foreign ones. Jávea figures are 13,777 Spanish and 14,465 expats, and Alfaz del Pi has 8,571 foreign residents and 8,272 Spaniards.
In a further nine municipalities at least 40 per cent of the population is foreign, while 19 per cent of all registered residents in Alicante Province and 12.4 per cent in the Valencia Region are foreign.
The figures, published by the National Statistics Institute, and based on registration details provided by local councils on January 1, 2005, also showed that of the 44,108,530 people living in Spain, 8.46 per cent or 3,730,610 were foreign.
Analysts also looked at the number of people aged 65 or over and found that the highest number of people in this age bracket also lived in Alicante Province. They found 14 municipalities where more than 25 per cent of the population is aged 65 or over, with 10 of them being in Alicante.
The study also revealed that number of Romanian and Moroccan immigrants coming to Spain grew faster than any other group during 2004.

We believe that there is only one exclusive veggie restaurant in Torrevieja. Have the fountains in town behind you, look to your right and you'll see some 'pizza' style restaurant. At the far end of these is the veggie restaurant, though just across the road. The pizza places do some really nice pizzas, with veggie choices, and also in that row is a Chinese restaurant.
Kashmir Asian Restaurant also has a great veggie choice.
Waikiki, two roundabouts after Carrefour, also has a veggie selection.
In Playa Flamenca, go to the Indian restaurant Ask31 on the main road up from the Celtic Isle towards La Florida.

There is a big choice but some have been recommended to us: 'El Pato Loco'. it's Spanish owned and not as expensive as the rest. Great food, especially chicken breast and salmon. You can watch your food being cooked if you sit in the right place. It's on the ground floor, on your right as you go in the main entrance next to the BBVA Bank. Tel +34 96676502.
Fusion. Not particularly cheap but very nice food and surroundings. They do a variety but mainly Italian/Mexican. Their cooked breakfast is also excellent quality and excellent value. Accompanying drinks can be a bit steep! Tel +34 966764376 / +34 647891129.
Eduardos. Expensive but very nice food and surroundings. They also do traditional English food like sausage and mash, etc, but nicely presented. Tel +34 966765148 / +34 630759514.
If you like Mexican, Pancho Villa in the far right-hand corner on the ground level is good, and reasonably cheap. Tel +34 966765113.
Bogeys. Good menu with French connotations. Tel +34 966765133.
NEPTUNE at the PLAZA. Good fish & chips, though a tad expensive. Tel +34 966764329.

02/04/06 - British foreign secretary Jack Straw has launched ‘Support for British Nationals Abroad: a Guide’.
This is the first time that the details of what the Foreign Office can - and can't - do to help British people in trouble abroad have been set out in a single document.
The new guide comes against a context of rapidly-rising demand by Britons overseas for the Foreign Office's help, with three times as many trips abroad from the UK as in the mid-1980s, and 13 million British nationals now living abroad. It sets the service that British embassies and consular offices can offer in a range of different situations - whether visiting people who are in hospital or prison, working to rescue victims of forced marriage abroad, or simply issuing emergency passports to people whose documents have been lost or stolen.
Equally, the guide sets the boundaries for what help the FCO can provide. It makes clear, for example, that people cannot expect public funds to be used to cover medical costs incurred abroad or to help find property overseas, and that the FCO cannot get people out of jail. The guide contains a wealth of tips on how to stay safe overseas, and how travellers can protect themselves if things go wrong.
Jack Straw said: “Falling sick, being a victim of crime or facing an emergency are traumatic events under any circumstances. When these problems happen abroad, they can be even more difficult and frightening. So there is no more important task for the Foreign Office than our work to help British nationals in distress overseas. I hope that this new Guide will help British nationals travelling or living abroad know what support we can offer in different cases.”
The guide will be available through libraries, Citizens Advice bureaux and community centres throughout the UK, and through the FCO's website: www.fco.gov.uk/travel/publications. A summary document, in leaflet form, will be available at selected airports and through many of the FCO's 180 travel industry partners in the "Know Before You Go" travel safety campaign.

Sat Nav GPS
Co-ordinates to popular facilities, local motorway junctions.

Carrefour, Torrevieja
Latitude = 37.9917, Longitude = -0.6867
Lat    = 37 degrees,   59.5 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   41.2 minutes   West

Habaneras Commercial Centre, Torrevieja
Latitude = 37.9901, Longitude = -0.6867
Lat    = 37 degrees,   59.4 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   41.2 minutes   West

Aquapark, Torrevieja
Latitude = 37.9921, Longitude = -0.6820
Lat    = 37 degrees,   59.5 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   40.9 minutes   West

Torrevieja Marina Car Park
Latitude = 37.9736, Longitude = -0.6787
Lat    = 37 degrees,   58.4 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   40.7 minutes   West

Eroski Centre, Punta Prima
Latitude = 37.9488, Longitude = -0.7148
Lat    = 37 degrees,   56.9 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   42.9 minutes   West

Carrefour, Playas de Orihuela
Latitude = 37.9427, Longitude = -0.7183
Lat    = 37 degrees,   56.6 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   43.1 minutes   West

Go-Karts, Orihuela Costa
Latitude = 37.9410, Longitude = -0.7196
Lat    = 37 degrees,   56.5 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   43.2 minutes   West

Lidl, Playa Flamenca
Latitude = 37.9382, Longitude = -0.7211
Lat    = 37 degrees,   56.3 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   43.3 minutes   West

Flamenca Beach Commercial
Latitude = 37.9351, Longitude = -0.7238
Lat    = 37 degrees,   56.1 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   43.4 minutes   West

Supercor, La Mosca Commercial
Latitude = 37.9366, Longitude = -0.7220
Lat    = 37 degrees,   56.2 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   43.3 minutes   West

La Zenia Toll, AP7 Motorway
Latitude = 37.9258, Longitude = -0.7393
Lat    = 37 degrees,   55.5 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   44.4 minutes   West

AP7 Motorway Junction 770, Campoamor
Latitude = 37.8785, Longitude = -0.7726
Lat    = 37 degrees,   52.7 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   46.4 minutes   West

AP7 Motorway Junction 758, Torrevieja South
Latitude = 37.9718, Longitude = -0.7467
Lat    = 37 degrees,   58.3 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   44.8 minutes   West

AP7 Motorway Junction 745, Torrevieja North
Latitude = 38.0599, Longitude = -0.7444
Lat    = 38 degrees,   3.6 minutes   North
Long = 0 degrees,   44.7 minutes   West

Can anyone tell me what you have to do if you lose your passport and where to go to get a renewal (question in 2007)

Comments by various people, not necessarily up to date now.
- Assuming you are British, you need to go to the British Consulate in Alicante their telephone number is 965216022. You should take copy of any police report, flight details if you are on holiday, details if you can of your existing passport. You need to take 4 passport photographs and they will then issue you with an emergency one to get you home. If you are resident here and not in a desperate rush then I suggest you phone them and ask what documents they need. The British Consulate is near El Corte Ingles (the one nearest the port). It is past Cortifiel, turn right and it is above the pharmacy. The Consulate do have a photo booth inside the waiting room and the photos are good and cheap. The temporary passport ( £ 73.00 each in 2007) is just a one trip (a “get-you-home job”) and will be taken from you as you enter the UK where you will have to apply for replacement ones. Website for more information - click here.
- If you are Irish the number of the Irish Embassy is 914364093.
- My wife and I had our passports stolen and got back just by showing the Police Report. No problem leaving Spain, only a bit of a lecture by Immigration in England as they said we should have gone to Consulate in Alicante.
- We had to go 3 weeks ago for ours. First we tried at Murcia airport for advice and where told any theft within 24 hrs of your booked flight and they could sort it with the immigration dept, but even a minute over 24 hours and you would have had the time to apply at Alicante.

What can I use for Mosquito bites?

We can recommend "Neosayomol" for putting on the bites to take away the pain & redness. Available from a Pharmacist, its a cream in tube. Very effective & acts quickly. Costs about 4 euro.
Lanacane (over the counter tube of cream) is good to stop the itching.
Avon Skin So Soft is good at keeping the mossies away. It has to be the dry oil body spray (soft and fresh).
The main Mosquitoes breeding times are May and September.

The beaches all the way from Orihuela Costa to the Mar Menor are all more or less sandy. The more popular ones have beach bars, La Zenia, Cala Captain, Campoamor for example. All very clean but all have problems with strong under currents which can obviously be potentially dangerous. The Mar Menor starts at Lo Pagan (15-20 minutes drive south of La Zenia on the main coast road N332) and it is like a mill pond most of the time. Some lovely smaller towns all along it, i.e Los Alcázares for example, have clean and sandy beaches and safe paddling, swimming and general water fun for all ages. Avoid Lo Pagan on a Sunday, the Spanish use it as a day out and it is very busy. The natural mud baths there are excellent for skin complaints.

All over Spain you see massive bulls that stand by the motorways. The bulls have become an iconic symbol of Spain. They were erected in the 1950's for an advertising campaign for the Osborne sherry company. Some 500 Osborne bulls appeared and are seen as a sexual icon and fertility symbol for the Spanish and were very daring design for the 1950´s.
In 1988 the Roads Ministry ordered the bulls to be removed due to the fact that they were a distraction to motorists. There was a massive public outcry and a save the bulls campaign began. Opinion polls found that 75% of people thought the bulls were a Spanish icon and they did not consider them advertising. Osborne removed their advertising wording from the bulls and the Supreme Court ruled the bulls as “aesthetic and cultural” interests to Spain.