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12 July 2008

EU Law Forces Airlines to Show Full Prices

The law which obliges airline companies to show full prices including taxes and other charges has been ratified by the EU and will come into force at the end of this year.

Regional Languages Confuse Visitors

The increasing use of regional languages in Spain is causing confusion among visitors according to tourism bosses. Languages such as Catalan in the northeast and the Balearics, Basque in Pais Vasco and Navarra, and Galician in the northwest are even replacing Castilian Spanish on road signs and notice boards. The issue is a sensitive one for the Government since the languages were suppressed during the thirty years of Franco rule.

Ferry Service Proposed from Ireland to Spain

The port of Cork, already in talks with ferry operators, is seeking EU financial assistance for a proposed ferry service from Cork to Gijon in northwest Spain. The proposed freight and passenger service would run three times per week and take about 24 hours for the crossing.

New Rail Link in Madrid

A new Cercanias rail link between Atocha and Chamartin stations was inaugurated this week by the Minister of Development in Madrid. This North-South tunnel connection is expected to reduce journey times for about 250,000 travellers each day and reduce congestion at Atocha and on the existing line 1 of the Metro.

Four Airlines Denounced by Consumer Organisation

The consumer organisation FACUA has denounced low-cost airlines Clickair, Vueling, Ryanair and Easyjet for charging customers for baggage following a study on eighteen companies regarding tariffs for excess baggage. It has also criticised Ryanair for charging for the mere fact of checking in at the airport. The report has been sent to the relevant government departments for consideration.

Recommended: Seven Olives a Day

Nutritional experts have recommended that we eat seven olives a day to keep the doctor away. They say that however prepared, whether green or black, the olives contain vital minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants necessary for healthy living.

Granada: Sierra Nevada Guided Tours

Guided tours over the main peaks of the Sierra Nevada are to be provided this summer by the Servicio de Interpretacion de Altas Cumbres. Two thirty seater minibuses will transport visitors to starting positions for a North face route and a South face route, taking in places such as Veleta, Capileira, and Mirador de Trevelez.

Granada’s Beaches Suitable for Bathing

A report by the Health Council has declared that all 29 beaches in the province are suitable for bathing, although ten of them lack clarity below 1 metre in depth.

New Malaga Traffic Website

Councillors for Mobility and New Technologies have unveiled a new website which will allow people to check the traffic situation in the area in real time before travelling by road. The site, http://movilidad.malaga.eu/opencms/opencms/movilidad/portal/index.html created by the Municipal Information Centre (CMI), will give information on road works as well as other information on footpaths, parking, cycle routes and disabled access to beaches. Users can look on the web before setting off on their journey to check the traffic situation and plan their journey accordingly. It is anticipated that by the end of the year a service will also be available to access images of the roads from cameras installed throughout the city and information panels.

Giant Turbine to be Moved Through Malaga

A 4600 tonne turbine which will be used in the new power station being built at Campanillas is to be moved through the city next week. The move, which will be accomplished over three nights to avoid traffic congestion, will begin Monday July 14th after the turbine arrives at the port.

Malaga-Cordoba Motorway Completed

The opening this week of the Encinas Reales bypass means that the A45 motorway between Malaga and Cordoba is now complete. The new 100km stretch of motorway will enable travellers to drive between the cities in about an hour and a half.

Traffic Lane Separators in Malaga

Plastic lane separators similar to those in use in Madrid are being installed on two roads in Malaga next week. The flexible “sharks fin” design separators, which bounce back up when run over, are intended to keep cars out of the bus lanes. They will be placed on Avenida Manuel Dominguez and Bulevar de Louis Pasteur.

Greyhound Championships

The twenty second Championship of Spain will take place in Humilladero on Saturday July 19th. The trials, featuring 72 greyhounds of English and Spanish breeding, will include races of 500 and 700 metres over a fixed course with a mechanical hare. Approximately 4500 spectators are expected to attend the event which for the first time takes place at night under illumination.

Fiestas and Ferias

Torremolinos, Teba, Yunquera, various villages in the Arxarquia: Fiesta del Carmen all start on Sunday July 13th.

Casares: Medieval Market all this weekend.

Broadband Access for Rural Antequera

Over 4,000 people living in rural areas of Antequera will have access to broadband Internet by the end of the summer after some minor coverage problems are resolved. The pioneering installation of the system in the rural areas of the town began several years ago. So far, 120 people have wireless access to the internet and many others use the service in municipal facilities.

Concerts in Support of the Train

A series of concerts by local musicians is taking place at various locations in the Guadalhorce, Guadalteba, Ronda and other regions in support of local train services under the title of “Subete al Tren”.

Alora’s New Health Centre Opens

The much delayed and long awaited new Health Centre at Fuente de la Mania was opened by the Mayor this week Friday July 11th. The final touches are being carried out over the next few days to enable the unit to be in operation some time during the coming week. The existing temporary buildings near the central car parks will be quickly dismantled and the site prepared to accommodate the annual feria which begins August 6th.

Football

Malaga FC has announced that former manager Antonio Tapia has been re-appointed as manager for the coming season in Liga 1.

The FIFA rankings issued after the Euro 2008 final have put Spain at number 1 ahead of Italy, Germany, Brazil, The Netherlands, and Argentina. England is at number 15, one place in front of Scotland.

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