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27 September 2008

New Vehicle Daytime Lighting Rules from 2011

New EU rules demand that all new cars and small vans will have to be fitted with special daytime headlights from February 2011. The requirement is designed to reduce accidents and is expected to add around 150€ to the cost of a new vehicle. The rules will be applied to buses and trucks eighteen months later.

20% Spanish Speakers in Four U.S. States

A survey has shown that about 20% of people in the states of Texas, New Mexico, California and Arizona speak Spanish as their first language. Meanwhile, Justice Department officials in Boston have ruled that the state of Massachusetts must provide voting forms in Spanish after ruling that the 9.9% of Spanish speaking people in Worcester had their voting rights violated in 2001 by the lack of Spanish translated forms.

Golf Courses Escape Slow Down

It seems that the building of new golf courses in Murcia has escaped the economic slow down affecting the rest of the construction industry. A report states that with 27 projects either underway, about to start or currently operating, there will soon be 41 courses in the region. Local operating requirements are in force, which ensure that the courses use only about 1% of the water that agriculture takes up in the region.

More Bike Lanes Wanted

Bike riding protestors held up traffic in Madrid this week demanding more bike lanes for the city. They say they will hold similar protests every Thursday until their demands are met.

Increased Tourist Numbers in Baza

The Municipal Bureau of Tourism has reported an increase in tourist interest over the first eight months of this year compared with 2007 with figures up from 6000 to 7500. Visitors, attracted by the delights of the Natural Park of the Sierra de Baza, ancient monuments and accommodation in caves in the area, have sought maps, details of local fiestas and destinations in Granada, as well as information on cycling and walking routes. The months of March, May and August have been the busiest periods. Also, the Museum, with its archaeological remains and features such as the Dame of Baza and the Warrior, has received 2622 visitors in the same period, a notable increase, with their busiest time in May.

Queen Baptises Donkey

Queen Sofia of Spain this week attended a centre for preservation of the increasingly rare Andalucian Burro in Rute near Cordoba. While there she performed a baptism ceremony on one of their latest additions using the traditional local Anis de Rute drink to anoint the beast.

Free On-line Market

The Ayuntamiento of Granada has begun a new free on-line “rastrillo” (market) service. The idea of the market is to promote recycling and will initially feature household goods, furniture, utensils etc. All transactions or exchanges will be free of charge for those registering at www.granada.org/rastrillo.

Malaga- Madrid AVE Passengers Double

Since the coming of the AVE high speed train to Malaga the number of passengers letting the train take the strain has almost doubled since the same period last year. The number of passengers on the Malaga – Madrid run in the first 9 months of the service was almost one and a half million, a 91% increase on the figures for the old Talgo service. It is expected that the full year figure will surpass 2 million, fulfilling the forecasts RENFE bosses predicted.

High Speed Birth

A young Senegalese woman gave birth to a daughter on the 11.00am AVE train from Malaga to Madrid on Tuesday this week, the first occurrence of this kind on a high speed train in Spain. The birth took place about half way through the journey, attended by a midwife who happened to be on the train and members of the train crew. Passengers organised themselves into groups to visit the baby and bought a teddy bear from the on-board RENFE catalogue.

Explosions over Malaga Province

Two loud bangs were heard over many parts of Malaga province yesterday morning September 26th. Ministry of defence sources later suggested that they were caused by two Eurofighter military planes from Moron de la Frontera breaking the sound barrier. The sonic booms were heard from Malaga city to at least as far inland as Alora and along the Costa del Sol.

Anti Traffic Bollards in Centre

From February 2009 bollards will be in place to bar traffic from five more streets in Malaga city centre. Commercial and essential vehicles will be allowed entry by number plate recognition or inter-com telephones. The streets involved are c/Cisneros, c/Cister, c/Mendes Nunez, c/Sancha de Lara and c/Nosquera, and others are to be considered in future.

Bigger Plaza Mayor

The Malaga commercial centre Plaza Mayor has been enlarged to a new total of over 150 sales and leisure outlets. The additional 58 feature Zara, Oysho, C & A, H & M and many others.

Electric Bus Test in Malaga

During the city’s car free day last weekend a preview was given of a new electric bus soon to be given a trial on the streets of Malaga. The bus, which carries 31 people and has a range of six and a half hours, will be tested over one of the circular routes in the city for a month.

Rowing Championship in Malaga

This weekend, September 27th and 28th, the Fourth Campeonato de Espana de Remo de Banco Fijo (fixed seat rowing) del Mediterraneo takes place over a 1.4 km course off the Malagueta beach. Some 900 rowers from 30 clubs are expected to participate.

Surrealism at Picasso Museum

The Picasso museum in Malaga will be housing an exhibition of 57 examples of the surrealistic works of the artist Max Ernst until March 2009.

French Film Festival in Malaga

The fourteenth Edition of the annual French Film Festival started in Malaga this week. Various film showings will take place in different locations in the city and other places such as Marbella until October 10th and organisers are hopeful that attendances will surpass last year’s 4300.

Feria de San Miguel in Velez

This weekend until midnight Sunday September 28th sees the culmination of the feria of San Miguel in Velez Malaga with parades, food tastings, dancing and singing.

Guadalhorce Gastronomic Days

During the next month from September 26th to October 26th some 20 restaurants around the Guadalhorce valley will be participating in a celebration of local food products, Jornadas Gastronomicas Saborea Guadalhorce. These include Candela and Los Conejitos in Alora, and others in Alhaurin el Grande, Almogia, Cartama, Coin, Pizarra, El Chorro and Valle de Abdelajis.

Inauguration of Mirador

The refurbished Mirador in Alora’s Plaza Baja will be officially opened on Thursday October 2nd at 8.30pm. The Mayor and other dignitaries will be in attendance and the Municipal Band will entertain those present.

Sopas Perotas Day in Alora

The sixth edition of the annual Dia de las Sopas Perotas takes place next Saturday October 4th in Plaza Baja from lunchtime with the usual free distribution of the local recipe dish. Bring your own spoon!

Football

Last Sunday Malaga lost away to Almeria 1-0. This was followed by a midweek home defeat 0-2 against league leaders Valencia. After four matches this season they have only one point and no goals scored. This Sunday September 28th they entertain Valladolid at the Rosaleda at 5.00pm.

Formula 1

This Sunday September 28th the Singapore Grand Prix takes place at the Marina Bay circuit at 2.00pm Spanish time. The first ever night-time practice sessions proved spectacular for watching enthusiasts and gave no visibility problems to drivers. Spain’s Fernando Alonso just took top spot from Lewis Hamilton in a re-run of last season’s rivalry.

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