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Spanish News

Latest News from Spain

This news is brought to you in association with 1Casa. Cristina Sanchez is head of their Customer Liaison Department, they specialiize in Affordable Property in the inland regions of Andalucia starting at under 30,000 Euros.

1Casa utilise their years of experience to offer a wide range of affordable properties and aim to provide a smooth, hassle free purchase and relocation.

For more information please contact 1 Casa on FREEPHONE 0800 081 1939 (24/7) or visit www.1casa.com/1.

06 October 2007

Two Spanish Pilots Fly an Auto-gyro in Historic Journey

Two Spanish air force pilots based in San Javier have begun a 20-day journey which will take them across the skies of Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands and back again flying an auto-gyro. The journey is in tribute to the man who invented the machine in 1919, Juan de la Cierva y Cordorniu, the Spanish Civil engineer who was born in Murcia on 21st September 1895. The rotorcraft made its first successful flight at the Cuatro Vientos Airfield in Madrid on 9th January 1923.

The two pilots are flying a Spanish-made ELA-07 autogyro. They began the first leg of their journey (from Cuatro Vientos to Getafe) last Sunday 30th September.

Reduced Taxes on Private Yachts and Planes

The Spanish Socialist party has announced it will be reducing taxes on private yachts and planes as part of the new Air Quality legislation. The registration tax will be taken down to 9.75%, the same as for a family car. It comes as the price of a litre of diesel has reached the 1 euros level in Spain, which is up 3.2% since September despite the strength of the euro against the dollar.

Spanish Airline Ordered to Pay Compensation for Lost Cat

Iberia, the Spanish airline, has been ordered to pay 711 euros in compensation after they lost a cat on a flight between Barcelona and Ibiza. The company had previously offered to pay the cat's owner, Cristina Guasch, 6 euros 40 centimos in compensation. She had placed two cats on the flight in separate cages and was shocked to see one cage come on to the luggage carousel open and empty (her other cat had arrived safely in a separate cage).

Cristina took the case to court and won but was only awarded 6 euros 40 centimos for the cat, which was considered to be the same as a lost suitcase. Iberia also refused to pay 180 euros for a later flight to return to look for the cat and also refused to pay 6,000 euros claimed in compensation.

The airline claimed the owner’s other cat could have more kittens to remove the pain the loss has caused’. On appeal, however, the judge has now ordered Cristina be paid an additional 500 euros in compensation, plus the money for the flights.

Gibraltar to Madrid Flights Suspended

Iberia and GB Airlines have decided to suspend their daily service between Gibraltar airport and Madrid. The service was established ten months ago following a three way agreement which included joint use of the airport for the first time. Local politicians and businessmen say they are trying to get the companies to reverse the decision to suspend the service but it appears that the route is not profitable as it stands. Airline figures show the planes have been operating at about 50% capacity since the service was established.

In addition to the increased costs, the timing of the flights which leave at 11.50 am and return at 2.45 pm for the Iberia service and leave at 6.50 pm returning at 9.50 pm for GB Airlines often saw the later flight delayed, and as Gibraltar air traffic control closes at night, the flight would have to be diverted to Malaga.

Low cost Airlines Criticised for Misleading Advertising

The National Consumers Institute has issued a warning about misleading advertising for air tickets which are sold online. Twelve companies were investigated following an increase in complaints from consumers, and seven of the 12 were found to be lacking. Free tickets, which later had taxes added was one problem found in Ryanair and Vueling, and Iberia and Spanair were among the companies who advertised prices which later were nowhere to be found. Ryanair, Transavia and Tuy-Fly only publish their terms and conditions in English, which is illegal for trading in Spain. Air Berlin and Easyjet were highlighted as sites who sell as advertised.

Gwyneth Paltrow to Film Programme about Spain

Gwyneth Paltrow is to film a US television series about Spain. The actress, who speaks fluent Spanish, will travel around the country exploring Spain's food and culture for a programme entitled Spain ... On The Road Again. The 13-part series will be shown in the US in both English and Spanish, look for 1Casa in episode 9.

At a press conference in Madrid, she said: "I don't know what we are going to do, but it is going to be fun." Paltrow be travelling for around four months with New York Times food critic Marc Bittman, chef Mario Batali and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols.

Manolete Film Reported to Have Financial Problems

The new film about Spanish bullfighter ‘Manolete’, which stars Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz has run into financial trouble. The production company, Iberoamericana Films, has been embargoed by the Spanish Social Security for lack of payment of 999,000 euros.

The company which prepared much of the scenery for the film, Construcciones Escenicas Moya, has taken the producers to court in the first of seven legal complaints it has placed, demanding almost a million euros. The film had a budget of more than 20 million euros and started shooting last April.

Stolen Ptolemy Maps Recovered in Australia

Police in Australia have recovered two maps of the world by the ancient Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy which were stolen from Spain's national library on 21st August. The maps, printed in 1482, were found in Sydney at the home of an Australian antiques dealer who had bought them at an auction in London. The two maps came from two identical works by Ptolemy, who lived from 83 to 161 AD, and were printed by Leinhart Holle in 1482 in what is now the German city of Ulm. Police believe the maps were stolen by a Uruguayan Spanish national living in Argentina, the names of the Australian dealer and the London auction house were not revealed.

Work Begins on Andalucia's First Eco Park

Work begins next week on Andalucia's first eco park, the 9.5 hectare green area will be built on the site of a former garden nursery in San Pedro de Alcantara. Named the ‘Parque Forestal de los Tres Jardines’. The 'tres jardines' part of the name reflects the three different types of garden which will be created there. One garden will be an Arabic garden, another will be planted with vegetation typical to the Marbella area, including jacaranda, orange trees and oleander with the largest dedicated to the Mediterranean. The eco park is funded with 4 million euros of regional government money and will take 36 months to complete. All the water that will be used to keep its plants and trees alive will be either recycled or from the rain water.

Andalucia Suffers Torrential Downpours

Still recovering from the storms and flash floods of two weeks ago, Andalucia suffered more torrential rain and storms last Tuesday evening (2nd October). The downpours, complete with thunder and lightning, flooded roads and garages in several municipalities in the province of Malaga, blocking roads and putting traffic lights out of action.

Sierra de Yeguas, Humilladero, Manilva and Ronda suffered flooding while in Marbella the tunnels leading to Puerto Banus had to be closed to traffic. The Coin fire brigade had to put out a fire after an electricity pylon was struck by lightning.

Andalucia to Introduce New ITV/MOT Regulations for Mopeds

Andalucia is to apply new Government regulations for ITV tests on mopeds, with a view to ending the noise nuisance of mopeds with defective silencers and also to check that they are in a reasonable condition for use on public roads. Malaga province has the third largest number of mopeds with at least 135,000.

Any bike which makes four decibels more noise than its official specification will be failed, and if the specification is not known a limit of 91 decibels has been introduced. Bikes registered before 2002 are called first to be tested at the ITV/MOT testing stations across the region, while later models will be called for testing within a few months.

Jerez Zoo Announces the Birth of Baby Giraffe

A 16 year old giraffe named Palma has given birth to a baby Rothschild giraffe at Zoobotanico in Jerez this week. After a fifteen month pregnancy, the birth took two hours while the father, Jerez, watched over the fence. It took an hour for the baby giraffe, which fell to earth from a height of roughly two metres as its mother gave birth standing up, to struggle to its feet.

Phoenician Necropolis in Velez Malaga

Investigations carried out over the last 20 years by the German Archaeological Institute have concluded that the remains in Cerro del Mar are of Phoenician origin from around the 8th century BC. The remains consist of 20 vertical tombs, two metres deep along various artefacts such as pots and plates. According to a municipal expert, this is the second most important necropolis of this type in Andalucia.

Earth Tremors Recorded in Granada and Almeria

A minor earthquake was recorded in Granada province early last Monday (1st October), with its epicentre in Alhama de Granada. It registered 2.8 on the Richter scale, with effects felt in Loja and in Velez Malaga. There was another tremor further to the East in Almeria province on Sunday evening (30th of September), with the epicentre in Nijar, and registering 3.2 on the Richter scale.

Monarch Cancels Gatwick to Granada Service

Monarch Airlines has announced that it is cancelling its Gatwick service to Granada. The final flight will be on 4th November. The service is being cancelled due to a lack of demand, however the Granada Provincial Government say they are surprised by the news as a new bilingual advertising campaign had recently been agreed.

British Man Rescued from Guadalhorce River in Malaga

A 65 year old British man escaped with minor injuries last Wednesday (3rd of October) after he was swept away by the rain-swollen waters of the Guadalhorce River in Malaga while he was out walking his dog. He was swept down to the sea, but managed to reach safety on an island at the mouth of the river until he was rescued by firemen.

Malaga to Display Rodin Sculptures in Calle Larios

Malaga city is to display two of Rodin's most famous sculptures in Calle Marques de Larios later this month. The La Caixa Foundation has arranged the loan with the Rodin Museum in Paris, making Malaga the first Spanish city to be allowed to display them in a public thoroughfare. The first of the sculptures is the world famous The Thinker and the second is a group of six sculptures known as The Burghers of Calais. The bronze figures will be guarded 24 hours a day from their inauguration on 17th October until they leave, bound for Granada, in mid-December. There are many replicas of both works since copies could easily be cast from the original moulds, but experts say that the sculptures which will be seen in the centre of Malaga are considered to be the originals.

Malaga Man Advertising for a Girlfriend Using Posters

A 46 year old single man in Malaga has come up with an idea which he hopes will find him a girlfriend. After trying salsa classes and internet chat rooms, Domingo Alvarez has started putting up posters on lamp posts around the city centre, advertising for his ‘media naranja’ – his other half. He is looking for a non-smoker less than 40 years old, keen on sport and reading, and who weighs around 60 kilos. He’d also like her to know some English. According to a newspaper report, he received eight phone calls after his first attempt at Operation Novia, but the only one he arranged a date with failed to turn up. He plans to repeat the exercise again this Saturday (6th of October).

New Footpath Opens Between Bellavista and El Puente

The work to unite the two barriadas of Bellavista and El Puente in Alora by footpath has been completed apart from a few finishing touches. The work started last May with an objective of providing a safe walk along the busy road between the two communities. The pavement is 3 metres wide and runs for a little under a kilometre.

Poli Ejido 2 – 3 Malaga

Malaga continue their unbeaten run with a win against El Ejido making it six out of six for the team. Malaga play today, Saturday 6th October with kick off at 6.30 pm. They play Las Palmas.

Chinese Grand Prix

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix on pole position hoping to become Formula One's youngest and first rookie world champion. Hamilton secured his sixth pole of the season to line up alongside Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. If he wins this race he wins the championship, Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa is in third place with Fernando Alonso in fourth.

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