Bringing you the best of expat life in Spain every month! FREE HOW REIKI CHANGED MY LIFE Your local market is your best anti-inflammatory medication! for the locals...by the locals..! AVOID DELAYS SENDING & RECEIVING MAIL OFFICE: C/San Luis 2, 03187 Los Montesinos Alicante Tel. 966 720 959 Visit our website: www.easypost.es Email: [email protected]GOT AN ACCOUNT? • COST effective postal & courier services • NO language barrier - we speak your language • NO queueing • FULL worldwide postal & courier service • DISCOUNTS for bulk mail (50 letters or more) Try us! SAVE MONEY! All parcels delivered within 48 hours NO DELAYS! Tracking Service FINAL document check prior to sending DAILY service to the Passport office in Belfast. The No. 1 Choice for Expats! Renew your British passport www.allabroad.es July 2015 issue number 48 Sleeping COOOOL..? Cover: Alicante Old Quarter Lebanese & International Cuisine A World of Flavours 5 COURSES LEBANESE MENU for 2 people 19,95€ including dessert & 1 drink served all day (from 12 o'clock) Avda. Escandinavia, 72 - Urb. Altomar 2 GRAN ALACANT Tel. 96 669 9553 LIVE Entertainment OPEN - Every Day from 11.00am www.currencies4you.es • Expert advice • Simple process Talk to our friendly team! Alternatives & renting www.rentscooter.info [email protected]Tel. 619 072 832 RENT scooter
Transcript
Bringing you the best of expat life in Spain every month!
FREE
HOW REIKI CHANGED MY
LIFE
Your local market is your
best anti-inflammatory
medication!
for the locals...by the locals..!
AVOID DELAYS SENDING & RECEIVING
MAIL
OFFICE: C/San Luis 2, 03187 Los Montesinos AlicanteTel. 966 720 959 Visit our website: www.easypost.es
CRUISES 2015 / BOOK YOUR CRUISE JUST FOR 50€ALL CRUISES INCLUDED TRANSPORT & PORT TAXES
8 DAYS
24 OCTOBER
AIRPOT SERVICEBEST PRICE / BEST SERVICE
VEHICLES UP TO 55 PLACES AVAILABLE
Open from 4.00pm til late Tuesday to Friday and from 10.00am at the weekends til late
Sunday lunch is a local favourite and you can have a choice of meats from chicken, lamb, beef or pork all at a very reason-able 8€ for 1 course, 11€ for 2 and 13€ for the full 3 courses not forgetting your homemade apple and berry pie.
children’s menu, high
chairs and baby changing
facilities too.
Football or any other sport you fancy – this is the place. Brothers has one very large, crystal clear screen for your viewing pleasure
Thatchers Gold and Peroni 3€ a pop
Carlsberg 2€ and a glass of wine for 2€!
Wednesday nights are poker nights, darts practise with some free food is on a Thursday and with karaoke and live music on at the weekends, what more could you possibly want.
If you haven’t already...
it’s time you discovered...
CARABASI CANTRE- GRAN ALACANTat the...
www.facebook.com/Brothers.Telephone: 0044 7863178870 - Ave Noruega 214 Gran Alacant 03130
SPORTS!MUSIC!GREAT FOOD!
SPORTS!MUSIC!GREAT FOOD!
4
Standing proud, elegant and bathed in sunshine on the south-eastern coast of Spain, Alicante is a city bursting with Mediterranean culture, history and the very best of modern Spain. Don’t just take my word for it either – see for yourself; hit the streets and let the real Spain give you a cultural bear hug in this city that shows off the Mediterranean way of life perfectly.
Chic and trendy and yet bohemian and historical Alicante greets the visitor like nowhere else, oozing character and blending a fascinating and eventful history with the traditional and contemporary way of life that Alacantinos are so good at. Alicante is a baptism of Spanish cultural fire – from its famous and outrageous fiestas to its wonderful and varied cuisine. A real Mediterranean experience! With Dave you can journey through history from the 8th century to the 21st along the narrow streets of the old quarter in Alicante passing some of the most interesting and different types of bars and restau-rants in the whole region.
As you stroll you will hear about the local legends and myths as you head along ancient ‘caminos’ next to some of the oldest buildings in the city, taking in spectacular vews and the wonderful ambience of an historic city that truly represents what life living on the mediterranean is really like, and how it was in times gone past.
Of course how can we visit a region like this with-out stopping to sample the very best in tapas and local wines at traditional street cafés and bistros where the waiters will welcome you with typical Iberian friendliness and before you know it a ta-pas and perhaps a cool drink will be in front of you - and all of course in amongst the rich cul-tural atmosphere of a city that has experienced a colourful history.
Alicante offers more than any other city for a real taste of authentic Mediterranean life amongst locals going about their daily lives in this wonderful city of sunshine.
From atop Mount Benicantil take in some of the best views to be had on the Costa Blanca; looking south along the coast and across the rooftops of the whole of the city as your guide explains how the city has grown through the various civilisations that have settled in the area over more than 2000 years.
The tour lasts approximately 3 hours 30 mins + op-tional lunch in a typical Alicante restaurant where guests can ask questions and find out more about this historical city n a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Meet: Port entrance – Café Soho MarStart time: 10.00am + 4.00pmDuration: 3.5 hours (optional lunch after)End point: Port entrance – Café Soho MarPrice: 40€ per person Tel. 606 540 408email:[email protected]
What people say about Alicante walking Tours
“Went round the old city with Dave, and boy, does
he have good legs! I even listened to what he had
to say now and then, and just loved his funny ac-
cent. Mmmm”
Joleen Marchant, Georgia, USA
“Dave brought Alicante alive for me! I’d read about
its history before, but you never really know a place
until somebody with such depth of knowledge shows
you all the sights, ancient – and modern. An experi-
ence to treasure, and cheap at the price.”
Ken Broughton, history student
Walking tours:
Alicante City
10% OFFAlicante Walking Tour
(Min 4 people)
with this voucher(Please mention All Abroad)
The Mediterranean experience!
Open from 4.00pm til late Tuesday to Friday and from 10.00am at the weekends til late
Sunday lunch is a local favourite and you can have a choice of meats from chicken, lamb, beef or pork all at a very reason-able 8€ for 1 course, 11€ for 2 and 13€ for the full 3 courses not forgetting your homemade apple and berry pie.
children’s menu, high
chairs and baby changing
facilities too.
Football or any other sport you fancy – this is the place. Brothers has one very large, crystal clear screen for your viewing pleasure
Thatchers Gold and Peroni 3€ a pop
Carlsberg 2€ and a glass of wine for 2€!
Wednesday nights are poker nights, darts practise with some free food is on a Thursday and with karaoke and live music on at the weekends, what more could you possibly want.
If you haven’t already...
it’s time you discovered...
CARABASI CANTRE- GRAN ALACANTat the...
www.facebook.com/Brothers.Telephone: 0044 7863178870 - Ave Noruega 214 Gran Alacant 03130
SPORTS!MUSIC!GREAT FOOD!
SPORTS!MUSIC!GREAT FOOD!
5
Standing proud, elegant and bathed in sunshine on the south-eastern coast of Spain, Alicante is a city bursting with Mediterranean culture, history and the very best of modern Spain. Don’t just take my word for it either – see for yourself; hit the streets and let the real Spain give you a cultural bear hug in this city that shows off the Mediterranean way of life perfectly.
Chic and trendy and yet bohemian and historical Alicante greets the visitor like nowhere else, oozing character and blending a fascinating and eventful history with the traditional and contemporary way of life that Alacantinos are so good at. Alicante is a baptism of Spanish cultural fire – from its famous and outrageous fiestas to its wonderful and varied cuisine. A real Mediterranean experience! With Dave you can journey through history from the 8th century to the 21st along the narrow streets of the old quarter in Alicante passing some of the most interesting and different types of bars and restau-rants in the whole region.
As you stroll you will hear about the local legends and myths as you head along ancient ‘caminos’ next to some of the oldest buildings in the city, taking in spectacular vews and the wonderful ambience of an historic city that truly represents what life living on the mediterranean is really like, and how it was in times gone past.
Of course how can we visit a region like this with-out stopping to sample the very best in tapas and local wines at traditional street cafés and bistros where the waiters will welcome you with typical Iberian friendliness and before you know it a ta-pas and perhaps a cool drink will be in front of you - and all of course in amongst the rich cul-tural atmosphere of a city that has experienced a colourful history.
Alicante offers more than any other city for a real taste of authentic Mediterranean life amongst locals going about their daily lives in this wonderful city of sunshine.
From atop Mount Benicantil take in some of the best views to be had on the Costa Blanca; looking south along the coast and across the rooftops of the whole of the city as your guide explains how the city has grown through the various civilisations that have settled in the area over more than 2000 years.
The tour lasts approximately 3 hours 30 mins + op-tional lunch in a typical Alicante restaurant where guests can ask questions and find out more about this historical city n a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Meet: Port entrance – Café Soho MarStart time: 10.00am + 4.00pmDuration: 3.5 hours (optional lunch after)End point: Port entrance – Café Soho MarPrice: 40€ per person Tel. 606 540 408email:[email protected]
What people say about Alicante walking Tours
“Went round the old city with Dave, and boy, does
he have good legs! I even listened to what he had
to say now and then, and just loved his funny ac-
cent. Mmmm”
Joleen Marchant, Georgia, USA
“Dave brought Alicante alive for me! I’d read about
its history before, but you never really know a place
until somebody with such depth of knowledge shows
you all the sights, ancient – and modern. An experi-
ence to treasure, and cheap at the price.”
Ken Broughton, history student
Walking tours:
Alicante City
10% OFFAlicante Walking Tour
(Min 4 people)
with this voucher(Please mention All Abroad)
The Mediterranean experience!
6
Everybody has to contend with inflammation at some point. It’s the body’s natural response to trauma or injury, and the area af-fected will be hot, swollen and red, as well as painful. That’s down to two factors: the release of white blood cells, containing chemi-cals to protect the scene of the crime, and increased blood flow to the area due to the automatic response of the immune system to any perceived threat to the body.
Inflammation may be acute or chronic, and it can also affect the internal organs. Internal inflammation contributes to a several chronic, life-limiting illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, arthri-tis and coronary heart disease. Poor lifestyle choices and excessive stress can set off an internal inflammatory response, which is in-variably chronic, or long term. The single most significant factor in chronic inflammation is diet –you really are what you eat. If you put junk into your body, rub-bishy things will happen inside you. Regular overeating can also trigger an inflammatory response, and habitually taking in more calories than your body needs messes around with the immune system, thereby hampering any attempts by your body to fight in-flammation.
I have Lupus – it was a deciding factor in moving from divine but damp Devon to the healthy climate of the salt lakes of the Costa Blanca, and I battle chronic inflammation on a regular basis. For reasons I won’t bore you with, I can’t take any sort of anti-inflam-
matory medication. However, in the seven years since I moved here, I’ve discovered that I can control my internal inflammation naturally, just by rocking up at the local market on a regular basis.
Anti-inflammatory diets are mostly based around the Mediterra-nean Diet, and that’s acknowledged by health and nutrition ex-perts to be just about the healthiest diet going. It’s also the way we eat here in Spain, so there’s lots of fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish, as well as lots of fibre and healthy complex carbohydrates.
Now here’s the science bit – those with a low boredom threshold might want to skip this. Fruits and vegetables are brimming with lots of antioxidants which combat inflammation. That’s flavenoids and carotenoids to you. Here’s a tip - brightly coloured stuff has the highest antioxidant content. It looks prettier on the plate too, but maybe that’s just me being whimsical.All plant-based foods contain different, naturally occurring phyto-chemicals, and the People Who Know believe these help to control chronic inflammation. Okay, phytochemicals like lycopene in to-matoes, or flavenoids in fruits are not essential, and you won’t die if you don’t get them. However, they do help to protect plants from disease, and it appears that they can also do the same for humans when it comes to internal damage due to oxidation and those pesky free radicals we keep hearing about.
So, what’s the market got to do with it? Well, that’s where I get all
Sandra in Spainwww.sandrainspain.com Your local market is
your best anti-inflammatory
medication!
my anti-inflammatory medication, in the form of fresh, in season produce that’s picked ready to eat, so the flavour is perfect and the vitamin and nutrient content is at its best. If you buy Spanish strawberries in England, they won’t taste the same as mine from my local market, because they’ll have been picked before they’re ready to eat, then shipped in cold storage. Not only will you be disappointed with the flavour, you won’t get the full antioxidant hit either.
I’ve highlighted strawberries because not only are they my fa-vourite fruit, they are also just about the best anti-inflammatory food going. The latest research concludes that eating 3 – 4 bowls of strawberries a week has the same anti-inflammatory effects as taking COX inhibiting medication. That does fancy things with enzymes in the body to help reduce inflammation, but it is also a no-no for people with hypertension or a history of heart disease in the family, as it can cause strokes and other nasty side effects. I might be wrong here, but I never heard of anyone getting a stroke through eating strawberries!It’s not just strawberries either. At the time of writing - (June) - the cherries, blueberries and apricots are piled high on the stalls, and there are avocadoes a-plenty to be had. Sweet potatoes (boni-atos) are also looking good. Try one baked with tuna and home-made coleslaw for lunch. Those lovely pointy sweetheart cabbages make great coleslaw, and you can get three or four for a Euro.
Google ‘Anti-inflammatory foods,’ then head down to your local mercadillo to fill your granny trolley. It may take a while to notice a significant difference, but I find that I hardly ever need to take pain killers now, and the only lifestyle change I’ve made is switch-ing to an anti-inflammatory diet. Give it a try – you have nothing to lose, and great new taste experiences to gain!
Open Mon-Fri 09.30-17.30 Sat: 10.00-14.00Call Gary or Lynn: 637 487 377www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com
Calle Los Arcos, 7 QUESADA
Sales, Repairs, Hires, Accessories & Clothing
9
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Abrimos todos los dias a partir de 18.ooh & los Sabados y Domingos tambien a
medio diaWe are open every day from 6.00pm
and from 12.00pm at weekends
@pizzeriacocoa
/pizzeriacocoa
Summer HoursFrom 1pm every day
Our rooftop terrace is open for drinks and cocktails, and tables laid for al fresco dining, with views across the Vega Baja valley toward the Callosa mountains
Come and enjoy warm hospitality and great food, relaxing in our comfortable and smart surroundings.
Serving our guests the best freshly prepared dishes and offering an inspired, vibrant and regularly changing menu.
Calle Los Arcos, 21, Ciudad Quesadaw: laurelandhardys.com f: Laurel & Hardy’s, Quesada
BAYA BAIXA beautifully restored Spanish country home. 250m² with 4 bed, 2 bath on 7,300+m² of land with pool, orchard. Close to beach and airport, more. €360,000. AA6240
GRAN ALACANT new construction townhouses with modern high end finish-es. 2 beds, 2 baths with mezzanine and 25 m2 of garden. €95,000. AA7480 Other layouts available.
LAS BAYAS lovely 3 bed, 2 bath country house minutes from Elche, beach-es and airport. Set among beautifully landscaped gardens with pool, more. €265,000. AA6135
GRAN ALACANT 3 bed 2 bath house in Novamar. BEACHFRONT Stunning views of the Med. Garage parking, inverter aircon, security bars and more. €249,950. AA5950
GRAN ALACANT luxury 3 bed villa with garage and private swimming pool. Ex-clusive Isla de Izaro gated community. Fully furnished with many extras. €360,000 €325,000. AA6118
GRAN ALACANT 3 bed, 2 bath house on popular gat-ed community of Med III with 2 pools, children’s play area, tennis court and private covered allocated parking. €176,500. AA5923
ALICANTE Exceptional 5 bed, 4 bath villa on Playa Albufereta in Alicante. Amazing sea views. 250 m2 house on 2000 m2 of gar-den with private pool. €3,250,000. AA7124
GRAN ALACANT 2 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse (82 m2)walking distance to the beach and amenities. Com-munal pool and gardens. KEY READY. Price includes a car. €92,000. AA7492
GRAN ALACANT walk to the beach! 3 bed, 2 bath house in gated community of Costa Hispania III. Communal pool, gardens, allocated parking, more. €141,000. AA5657
MONTECID spacious 5 bed, 4 bath villa with large pool and bar perfect for entertaining. Move in ready! Fully furnished with security bars, aircon, many extras. €285,000. AA1105
GRAN ALACANT jaw dropping views of the Med from this bright and airy 2 bed, 2 bath house. Guest apartment in basement. Private pool, garage, much more. €395,000. AA6499
GRAN ALACANT 3 bed townhouse in Altomar I. Communal pool and gar-dens. Close to post office, cafes, more. Views of can-yon and sea views from solarium €139,950. AA7459
Proud sponsors of the Gran Alacant Darts League and friends of ASPETGA
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Back to reality...
Summer is well and truly in full swing, the beaches are fi lling up and the sun is burn-ing the delicate skins of the tourists. There are more tourists than locals this time of year, of course. The locals go away to es-cape the tourists and the natives that are left are easy to spot because they’re the ones wearing jeans! In June and July tem-peratures of 25ºC +! The tourists look at them like they’re bonkers and ask why. I’ll tell you...they know August is coming. And they know just how hot August is. As for the tourists, they’re usually the ones with the white socks and sandals! (Bum bag op-tional).
Tourists bring cars. (Well, some of them do, no, make that MOST of them do) Which brings me nicely to my next point. The bars and pubs around here are happily blocking off already scarce parking spaces to make room for ‘alfresco’ drinking. Usually about half the street, if not more. There are lots of bars here in town, of course. There’s also plenty of car parks but who will pay for parking when you can drive round and round looking for a space while scowling at tourists raising their cañas at you? It only costs half a tank of petrol, after all...and it’s a nice walk back when you park out of town, sweating and in need of a caña. I haven’t mentioned the builders over the road that seem to be rebuilding the block of fl ats, tak-ing up yet more parking spaces with rub-bish skips and vans. Oh, and roads are usu-ally repainted at some point at this time of year as well, just to annoy drivers a little bit more. Ok, ok...to tell them EXACTLY where they should be going. But there aren’t re-ally many drivers who take too much notice.
Personally, I am now a proud NON car own-
er, (driving in England was an experience, this is true) and I certainly do not envy driv-ers around these parts in the height of sum-mer. It’s also an excuse for bad / crazy / road rage (delete as appropriate) driving. A red traffi c light means STOP all over the world, right?
You’ll fi nd me on the balcony this summer, (if I’m not at the beach) with a cool glass of wine, enjoying the drilling of the build-ers, breathing in the summer sea air...and dust. I’ll be chuckling at (and probably writ-ing about) watching the same cars driving round and round and round, beeping horns, asking “You going?” to be told “NO! I’ve waited for this space and I’m staying! Drive on!” before probably abandoning ship on the corner, facing the wrong way on a one-way street (it’s all one-way round here) on a ze-bra crossing! I’ve seen it happen...!
I was chatting to a Brit tourist on the Urb the other day and I was saying that after urbanisation life I am a lot happier living in town. “You live in Santa Pola? I don’t like Santa Pola” when I questioned why on earth not, because it really is a lovely town, I was told: “Too Spanish...” Even my dad, who is the most English man I know and refuses to eat a curry (“It’s foreign, innit?”) says he much prefers to stay in town when he visits. He says he won’t go back to urbanisation life. He’ll try a tapa and can ask for the bill in Spanish. True, there are no fi sh n chips shops, but plenty of fresh, local seafood, and you can buy your PG Tips in most of the supermarkets round here.
So if you do decide to pop into Santa Pola this summer, take the bus...because parking is almost impossible. Bring on the madness!
Gotta love summer.Until next time!
Kelly McLachlan
Notes from small town Spain
14
Tel: 966 69 53 99
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FEEL AT HOME
Estate Agent Victoria, established
some 30 years ago, offers its
clients a top quality service,
which can only be offered by a
company exclusively devoted and
experienced in property services
with a long running track record on
the Costa Blanca property market.
Over the years, Victoria Estate
Agent has satisfied the needs
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Our priority has always been the
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looking after their interests not
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Anyone who wishes to be informed
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also enquire about all the other services
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under no obligation what-so-ever.
All our staff have a good knowledge of
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a German speaking member of staff.
Although the last couple of years have
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optimistic that this year we shall start
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Inmobiliaria VictoriaAvda. Escandinavia, 72 C.C. Altomar II L.1003130 Gran Alacant · Santa PolaTlf. 966697779 · 966698180Fax 966697378 [email protected]
www.victoria.es
inmobiliaria - estate agent
Estate Agents Victoria
15
Your one stop shop for property on the Costa Blanca
GRAN ALACANT TV is a family business with a great experience in the Telecommunications sector,which is constantly adapting to the new technologies. With more than 30 years experience, working in Santa Pola and later in Gran Alacant areas, we have won our clients´confidence
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TO HAVE OR NOT TO HAVE...…WATER (part 1)
We have met and made very good friends that have brought, and still do bring joy to our lives, wine to our glass and inches to our waistline.Knowing we were due out, one checked our ac-commodation to find the water turned off and tagged for non-payment.
Now there are some things one can’t do with-out, one is wine the other water.Time to ring the Spanish water board, who in-formed us we had not paid for three months saying,‘We do not give out water if you don’t pay, BUT… if you pay €125 on your credit card we will reconnect you immediately.’ I paid not wanting to be without water on my holiday, and finished the conversation with. ‘Okay, do it, I fly in a couple of days and I’ll come in to sort it then.’
On arrival in Spain, we took a trip to our post box then our favourite restaurant on the strip for dinner; you may know it from the Harry Potter books. We told our sad little tale, but said we knew we would get our money back. They grinned at each other and spoke though semi-gritted teeth saying
‘Good luck with that.’ We began to feel edgy.Bearing in mind the W/Board have our English address, mob phone, landline number, both email addresses and husbands work number, how do they inform us they have not been paid. Yes, one letter in Spanish to our Spanish post box full of sand, dead flies and dust cov-ered flyers crammed in by the hundred, plus the odd lizard seeking refuge.We drove to the bank with the dusty letter fly spotted letter which I handed to the Bank man-ager after explaining our predicament.BANK ‘Ha, I see now… When did you change banks?’ME ‘We haven’t.’
MANDY’SSpanish Diary
by Mandy Tams
BANK ‘Yes you have, this says you have.’ME ‘We haven’t’BANK ‘But this account is for your new bank’ME ‘We haven’t got a new bank’BANK ‘Oh you better go to the water board’….We did.
For those that have not had the joy of a visit to the Water board it is an experience I would not have missed because once done never repeated, a bit like sticking your fin-ger in the electric socket while sitting in the bath. People and their ubiquitous cigarettes hung around the doorway looking shifty, but they obviously knew more than we did. We squeezed through and were met by a machine offering three types of ticket; we took potluck and hit a button.
It looked quiet until we turned to our left and saw 30+ people queuing with only three customer service reps on the desks, but we were lucky we had a number 3B ticket and the board was showing 2B… boards A and C flashed up 27, and, 32 respectively. We sit on the edge of our seats ready to jump… A28… A 29… C33. No movement on BTime ticked on, the ladies behind the desks greet friends, wander round, sit down check their nails take a tea break and every now and then press a button ... this must be ours, no, A30. continued next month...
Right about now, millions of Scandinavians are forcing their freezing bodies into the sea – where the water temperature is just 16°C.
We have the buyers! We are Sweden’s leading real estate agency in Spain. And we’re growing fast, from Barcelona to Gran Canaria. We know the market and have a register full of frozen Scandinavians who dream of a life in the sun. Let us prove ourselves! If we don’t manage to sell your home, you don’t pay anything. But since we sell more than one home every day, that’s probably not going to happen...
FASTIGHETSBYRÅN IN ALICANTE - GRAN ALACANT / +34 966 695 [email protected] / FASTIGHETSBYRAN.SE/OVERSEAS SWEDEN’S LEADING ESTATE AGENT IN SPAIN
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BALEARIC BANTERBy Johnny Mahonny (The Barnsley Marinero)
Greetings from Menor-ca. Mr Dave Bull, the Ayatollah of the Airwaves, the Prince of Print, the Crown Prince of the Cos-ta, has dangled the golden carrot (not to be sniffed at) and commissioned another pageful of nonsense from the Marinero.
Greetings from Menorca. It’s 8.45 pm, still warm, but the
sun has slipped over the ridge to the west of us so the
air will quickly cool to a more comfortable temperature,
although still very humid. Average humidity on Menor-
ca is about 70% which is good on the one hand (heavy
overnight dew keeps the flora watered ensuring a green
island all year round) and not so good on the other (mil-
dew on walls in unaired villas and apartments in winter,
breathing problems for bronchitic or asthmatic people).
As Mrs Mahonny and I left our little village of Addaia this
morning we had a fairly heavy rain shower accompanied
by large threatening cloud cover but on arrival in the big
city (Mao, pop. about 26,000) the sky was clear and the
temperature around 28 C. For such a small island the
difference in weather between different areas can be as-
tounding; the west of the island can be shrouded in cloud
but at the same moment the southeast will be sunny and
hot, and vice versa.
The reason for our trip to Mao (or Mahon, if you prefer)
was to get some proper money for Mrs M’s impending vis-
it to Blighty. She’s going over to visit daughter Jess, who
now lives in south London before starting work at our
local bar/restaurant next Wednesday, July 1st.
I suppose it is symptomatic of the way our tourist season
has shrunk that she can even contemplate leaving at this
time. Nine years ago, when we first arrived, the season
was May to October, with some visitors arriving in April.
Now it’s reckoned to be June-September with work con-
tracts becoming shorter and shorter. In 2007, our first
summer here, we both found work very easily, with full
six-month contracts ensuring we would receive subsidio
(winter unemployment benefit). These days half-year
contracts are like hens’ teeth and the usual length is now
three months with a one-month extension if there’s suffi-
cient trade.
Mrs M has a four-month contract from July 1st but hopes
to carry on working into the winter as the restaurant
stays open all year round, the only one in the area to do
so. Fingers crossed, I think.
I gave up on employment a few years ago and am now
self employed so, just as in the UK, I can expect no help
from anyone, but I acknowledge the fact and although
circumstances are more difficult now, I still wouldn’t
want to live anywhere else.
Last month I mentioned the local elections. Well, the
votes are in and the two main parties got a right thump-
ing. A number of small opposition groups did rather well
and hold enough power to be able to make significant
changes in return for coalition agreements. I don’t know
much about politics, local or otherwise but do know that
monopolies are bad news so it’s good that new opinions
and ideas have a platform.
A few years ago, when the PSOE took over from PP, an
outgoing official, probably in a fit of pique, stated that
Menorca could survive without tourism. He may be right
but the second and third most important industries in
Menorca after tourism are cheesemaking and leather
goods. I rest my case.
And now, a cry for help, ladies and gents. On Fridays I
run the quiz here in Addaia. It’s a good night out, not too
serious, and usually the quiz is finished by about elev-
en, although the roistering doesn’t end until the early
hours. My problem is this: I’ve run out of quizzes. Folks
in the UK send me their pub quizzes occasionally but I
need a more regular supply without having to pay actual
money for them (remember I’m a Yorkshireman on my
mother’s side) so if anyone out there has a batch of fairly
recent quizzes available for recycling, please contact me
very happy. Also, if you have any nice comments about
my articles, please tell me. If, on the other hand, you
have any nasty, horrible, tastleless comments, please di-
rect them towards Mr Dave Bull, Bullseye Mansions, Posh
–bit-of-Alicante.
My friend said to me the other day : ‘Close the curtains
next time you make love to Mrs Mahonny, the whole
street was watching last night and they’re all laughing
about it’. I replied: ‘The joke’s on them. I wasn’t even
home last night’.
I leave you with a witticism from Groucho Marks: ‘I never
forget a face but in your case I’m willing to make an ex-
ception’.
See you next time.
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Computer help & advice
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BAR KATA
In order to locate the delightfully friendly Bar Kata, you need to take the first left turning opposite AES Services and then immediately take the first right turning on to Calle Antonio Orts and the bar is 75 mts. on your right hand side if you are coming from the Ciudad Quesada direction and the same directions in reverse if you are coming from the Rojales direction as soon as you see Car Broker Spain on your right hand side. Mari Carmen and her team have created a very welcoming and bright environment with comfortable seating, a wide screen projector and 4 TV´s which show all the football, rugby, and horse
racing live on a daily basis, they also have a betting machine for your daily flutter´s, a pool table and a dart board. Outside there is an ample terrace and the interior is fully air conditioned.
Their specialty is daily freshly prepared tapas and Dish of the day. Other special offers include Burg-er and a Pint for €4, Sunday BBQ´s on the terrace and their Curry Menu, available Wednesday eve-nings and Saturday´s from 1.30pm, it offers you a choice of two types of curry with rice or chips and onion bhaji and poppadoms with pickles for start-ers, all for €7.90, without doubt a fantastic meal! Private parties and special events are welcome as they have an indoor seating area which holds up to 79 people! Opening hours are seven days a week from 8am until late. For more information please ring 649 489 959.
THE CLUBHOUSE RESTAURANT & CHILL OUT COCKTAIL BAR
The Clubhouse Restaurant at La Maquesa Golf was re-
opened in 2013 after a major renovation and makeover.
The decor and atmosphere is perfect and along with the
new chill out cocktail bar and the stunning panoramic
views over the fairway makes this venue totally unique.
You can experience fine dining at its very best with the vast
International menu offering an extensive choice for both
lunch and evening meals. Sunday lunches are very popular
and it is advisable to pre-book.
The large indoor restaurant is fully air conditioned, is taste-
fully and comfortably furnished and can accommodate in
excess of a hundred people. Perfect for large groups or so-
cieties and of course private parties. Outside on the terrace
the Chill out Cocktail Bar is again a most relaxing and com-
fortable area where you can enjoy very reasonably priced
bar meals, snacks and drinks and unwind whilst you enjoy
both the views and the soft background music.
The pool area for adults and kids alike has comfortable
loungers and seating and plenty of shade for those very hot
days! Once visited you will definitely want to return. Open
daily from 8am til late.
For reservations or more information call
966845598/637583373
OASIS BAR BISTRO
The OASIS BAR BISTRO is located in the heart of Benijofar on the town square directly opposite the fountains and Church.New owners Stephen and Alex took over the Oasis in November 2014, bringing a wealth of experience of the catering and service industries and a passion for producing excellent food to the town. A makeover in early 2015 has given the Oasis a bright and relaxing atmosphere which includes an
indoor lounge area. Outside, a new canopy on the sun drenched terrace adds to the comfort of the outdoor seating space overlooking the square. The daily menu includes a range of fresh foods with European and International themes and daily home-made specials. On Thursday to Saturday evenings there are new dining options that include ‘Tapas on the Terrace’ or a seasonal fresh Menu de la Noche that includes Sangria and appetizers on arrival, a choice of 3 courses including wine, with tea or coffee to finish. Oasis is open daily from 10am and now into the evening. For more information call 603 169 090, find us on Facebook oasisbenijofar or go to www.oasis-benijofar.es
TheCOSTA BLANCA
GOOD FOOD GUIDE
A great guide to some great places to eat and drink on the Costa Blanca - Steve Hall. Thisisspain.com
Something for all tastes and all budgets...for the first time a guide that is actually helpful and we especially loved the towns being seperated to help us when we go out - Gary Keene, Food Critic
“The best guide around!”
SALES: 606 540 408 - 638 323 962
Get your business noticed in the Costa Blanca GOOD FOOD GUIDE!
La MarquesaDowntown Quesada
Ciudad QuesadaTel: 966845598/637583373
Eating out...Some recommendations from:
good food& drink
guide 2015
Calle Ramon y CajalBenijofar
Tel . 965 66 89 89
Plaza de la ConstituciónBenijofar
Tel. 603 169 090
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31
Computer help & advice
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I am a Reiki Master/Teacher, and having practiced Reiki for thirteen years I can’t im-agine how my life would have turned out had I not been introduced to the beautiful univer-sal energy of Reiki.
Reiki was founded by a Japanese gentleman by the name of Mikao Usui over 100 years ago and was introduced to the West in 1937.
The word Reiki when translated into English, means ‘Universal Life Force’. Split into two syl-lables ‘Rei’ means ‘boundless spirit’ or universal transcendental spirit, and ‘Ki’ represents ‘Life force energy’ or ‘sacred energy’.
Reiki is a complementary therapy which is not con-nected to any religious practice. It is a spiritual form of healing and assists in developing self love by looking for the truth within. It helps to restore the body’s natural energy and supports its abil-ity to heal itself. Reiki helps to alleviate physical pain, stress, and depression as well as restoring the body’s natural energy balance by aligning the chakras and releasing any blockages.
What to expect during a Reiki treatment
At the start of your Reiki session the practitioner will discuss with you what to expect as well as an-swering any questions you may have. You will be asked to remove your shoes, but you will remain fully clothed. The practitioner will ask you to lie down on a Reiki bed and you can have a pillow un-der your head or be covered with a blanket if you so wish. During the session you have your eyes closed and there are no words exchanged during the treatment. As you become more relaxed you will feel a deep sense of peace and you may fall asleep. There is no need to worry if you feel emo-tional – this is perfectly normal as Reiki has a way of releasing that which the body no longer needs. Reiki healing addresses the whole person working on the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical.
The practitioner will place their hands on certain parts of the client’s body starting at the crown chakra (top of the head) and finishing at the feet. The treatment is non-intrusive and Reiki as a whole is about loving intent, so a good practitioner will do everything they can to ensure their client feels relaxed and comfortable. The treatment can last for anything between 45 minutes and an hour.
During the session it is usual to feel heat emanat-ing from the Practitioners hands as the Universal energy is transmitted to the recipient. An expe-rienced practitioner will know which parts of the body will need the healing the most. For example, I feel a ‘pull’ to certain parts of a client’s body and when I place my hands over that area, my hands start to tingle and the heat builds up in order to heal that part of the body.
I remember when I had my first Reiki treatment around 13 years ago. I hadn’t heard of Reiki as it wasn’t as well known then as it is now, but as I was going through an emotional time in my life it was recommended to me by a friend who had been attuned to first and second degree Reiki.
As I lay on the couch and gentle music played in the background I could feel the heat from the practitioner’s hands as they worked through my chakra’s helping to balance and realign my body. I felt extremely relaxed if not a little emotional and I saw lots of blue, purple, green and white swirl-ing colours.
The treatment had a profound effect on me so much so, that I decided that I wanted to be a Reiki Practitioner myself and six months down the line I found myself sitting in a chair being attuned to First Degree Reiki! That day was the start of a beautiful friendship between me and Reiki as a whole, and everyone around me said that I posi-tively glowed.
I went on to be attuned to Second Degree Reiki and eventually became a Reiki Master/Teacher. I have attuned many students to Reiki over the years and it never fails to amaze me how Reiki can help bring a clearer sense of spiritual awareness and self-healing into one’s life.
A brief outline of the three degrees of Reiki
First Degree
Reiki one is a permanent attunement to the Reiki ray. There are four initiations with First Degree Reiki and you will learn about the History of Reiki, the Reiki Precepts, The Reiki Hand positions for treating yourself and others, and The Principles of Reiki.
Second Degree
During your second degree attunement you will learn 3 of the sacred Reiki Symbols and their uses and how to send distant healing to others as well as learning how to heal aspects of your own life. You will also be taught how to set up your own Reiki Practice including preparing a relaxing space in which to treat others.
Third Degree/Master Attunement
The third degree consists of learning the final sym-bol in Reiki and how to teach others the wonders of Reiki. In becoming a Reiki Master you should have a deep understanding and commitment to Reiki and you may find at this level that your psychic abilities are heightened.
Case study of one of my client’s
“At a time in my life when I was emotionally upset I approached Alison for a Reiki treatment. She provided both direct and distant healing to support me through this difficult time. During my treat-ment I felt relaxed and close to family who have passed over. Each time I visualised a beautiful peaceful spot where I could relax in tranquillity. I doubt whether I could have recovered without the support and inner peace that I experienced during my Reiki healing treatment.”
HOW REIKI CHANGED MY LIFE
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