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18 October 2008

Change to Car Insurance Rule in Spain

From Monday October 13th, it is no longer obligatory to produce the insurance payment receipt for your motor insurance on request by police. The revised law of Obligatory Car Insurance approved recently by the Council of Ministers makes it the responsibility of the insurer to prove the existence and validity of your insurance.

Spanish and Portuguese Companies Against Illegal Logging

Around 20 Spanish and Portuguese companies are to join forces in efforts to stop imports of wood from illegal logging operations across the world. A WWF initiative, the Iberian Forest and Trade Network has been formed and pledges to buy only wood products from sustainable and properly managed plantations in order to combat environmental destruction of the world’s rain forests.

Coach Driver had Moped Licence Only

A coach driver stopped by police near Pontevedra only had a licence to drive mopeds. He said he had been driving coaches all his life without any complaints. In court he was fined 1 euro per day for a year, 4320 euros total, and ordered 180 hours of community service.

Fine for Policeman Who Lost Gun

A policeman who left his gun in a toilet last April was fined a month’s pay by authorities in Alicante. He stated that he put his gun on top of the cistern with his sunglasses while he attended to a call of nature then forget them when he left. On returning minutes later both items had disappeared.

Junta to Compulsorily Purchase Land near Historic Site

The Junta de Andalucia is to compulsorily purchase land adjoining the historic Medina Azahara site near Cordoba. The plan is to buy about 10 hectares near the site, declared a National Monument in 1923, to protect it from development.

Junta to Allow More Golf Courses

It has been reported that the Junta de Andalucia is to allow the construction of more golf courses complete with residential housing in areas of touristic interest. News of an amendment to existing legislation allowing more flexibility in areas not previously covered was given to Spanish press sources last weekend.

Trackdays Spain

The next Trackdays Spain event is to take place at the Tabernas circuit near Almeria on Wednesday October 29th. The event is for aficionados who like to see what their cars can do on a modern racing circuit and watch others doing the same. The track is about two and a half hours from Malaga and a short drive from Almeria and Granada.

Exhibition for Granada Science Park

A permanent exhibition is to be created in the Science Park of Granada under the title of “The window of the National Museum of Science and Technology”. The show will feature pieces from the National Museum of Science and Technology including a 13th century astrolabe whose four pieces were manufactured for the cities of Toledo, Ceuta, Zaragoza and Almeria. A 1920’s Guzzi motor bike will also be on show in what the organisers hope will be a project that “promotes scientific culture” in a museum of the 21st century.

Jaen Property Market

A recent study has concluded that the province of Jaen has the most dynamic property in Andalucia. The study found that only 14.6% of second hand properties had been on sale for more than a year, the lowest figure for all the Andaluz provinces. The average figure for Andalucia was 20.3%.

Wrong Type of Rainfall

ecent rains in Andalucia, while welcome, have been the wrong type of rainfall according to experts. Apparently, there have been insufficient quantities and when it does rain it is too heavy to benefit the reservoirs. Figures for the local reservoirs show this year’s figures down on those for last year. The good news is that the underground aquifers are recovering their levels.

The Calima Comes to Malaga

The weather phenomenon known locally as la Calima arrived in Malaga province last week. The warm, dry fog like weather comes from the Sahara and contains sand particles which can cause some respiratory problems. Rain falling at the same time led to cars being covered with a thin muddy deposit.

El Caminito del Rey to be Repaired

After many years of announcements of vague intentions to repair the legendary Caminito del Rey (walkway along the rock face) of El Chorro gorge it seems that the task is finally going to be undertaken. The Diputacion de Malaga has budgeted 300,000 euros for the task and interested constructors are to be invited to submit details of the project. The 3km path has been closed since 2001 following the deaths of several walkers, although some people still walk along it illegally, (see clips on YouTube). Contractors will have ten months to come up with a project and, given the difficulty of the task, it is unlikely to be ready for the public to walk along it in less than five years.

Banderas Wins Medal of Merit

World famous Carratraca, Malaga born actor Antonio Banderas was presented by the King with a Medal of Merit for Bellas Artes this week at a ceremony in A Coruna. In his speech of acceptance he called upon fellow artists to renounce vanity and self satisfaction. Earlier he had expressed his wishes to return from Hollywood to live in Spain.

Pipeline for Recycled Water to Golf Courses

A pipeline is to be constructed from the La Cala sewage treatment works to allow recycled water to be pumped to irrigate golf courses around Mijas. It will have a capacity of 3750 cubic metres per day and will cost around 565,000 euros.

Algorrobo has Own Oktoberfest

The Malaga village of Algorrobo recently held its own Oktoberfest. The event was organised by the Ayuntamiento in honour of the German residents of the village, some 10% of the 6000 population.

Guadalhorce Football Teams Sponsored by Bristol Firm

A young student from Sheffield, living and studying in the Guadalhorce Valley village of Sierra de Gibralgalia, has formed two football teams in the village. The teams have now been kitted out and sponsored by a Bristol company run by a friend of his father.

Pizarra’s Tapa Winners

Best tapa in the recent Ruta de la Tapa competition in Pizarra was judged to be the lomo en manteca at Bar Roma. Best service prize was awarded to Cafeteria Oci.

Formula 1

This week the Chinese Grand Prix takes place at the Shanghai circuit at 9.00 pm Spanish time on Sunday October 19th. Spain’s Fernando Alonso will be hoping to add to his last two straight wins, while Lewis Hamilton, having secured pole position again, needs to get back to winning form after last weeks aberration in Japan in this, the penultimate race of the season.

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