2012 July

International athletes train in Nerja for London 2012 Olympics

July 23, 2012
Costa del Sol East, Nerja News, Sports News
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deportes, London Olympics 2012, nerja, Olimpiadas 2012, sport

Athletes from Ireland, Great Britain and Australia are using the Nerja athletics ground to do their final training for the London Olympics which starts in just four days.

Those interviewed said that they found the installations in great shape and were very appreciative of the friendly local atmosphere. Amongst the athletes were Joanne Cuddihy, a 400 metre runner, and Irish Champion. Michelle Carey, also from Ireland was practising for the 400 x 400 relay. Both gained entry into the London Olympics by qualifying in the recent European Athletics Championship in Helsinki.

From Perth in Australia, Lynday Peakin was shaping up also for the 400 x 400 relay. From Britain, Faye Harding y Elaine O’Neill, although not classified for London, were practising for other championships to take place later in the season.

José Alberto Tomé, the Nerja council member for sport, was most enthusiastic that top athletes should choose Nerja for training and went on to say that all of those present were vey pleased with the standard of the grounds.

The Nerja Athletic Association is one of the most successful athletic clubs in Spain with continuous and ongoing success at national and International level.

Bollywood comes to Nerja!

July 19, 2012
Costa del Sol East, Nerja News
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Bollywood, costa del sol, filming, nerja, TV

The Indian cinema industry has taken note of Nerja and is going to film scenes in the town for future Bollywood film productions.

According to Bernardo Pozuelo, the council member for tourism in Nerja, an Indian film crew will be in Nerja during August. Film locations are apparently still being studied. The scenes are expected to involve colourful dance groups, very typical of Bollywood film sets. Other locations have also been chosen in Andalucía such as Seville and Marbella.

Interest from India in Spain has been inspired by a recent film, a couple of years ago, titled “You Only Live Once”, a story of three visitors on holiday to Spain, which received 7 nominations in the Bollywood Oscars. A song in the film, a rumba called “Señorita” sung by María del Mar Fernández was a huge hit in India.

The demand for filming in Nerja is constant, from film sets to adverts, documentaries, video clips and holiday television programs.

53rd Edition of the Nerja Caves Festival on YouTube

July 17, 2012
Costa del Sol East, Costa del Sol News, Nerja News, What's on Costa del Sol East
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Cuevas de Nerja, cultura, culture, music concert, Nerja Caves, What's On, YouTube

The 53rd edition of the Nerja Caves Festival commences today, 17th July.

The chances of any unsold tickets are extremely low, but from experience they can sometimes be obtained by queuing on the day an hour or two prior to each concert at the ticket office outside the caves.

If you simply can’t attend this year, the Nerja Caves Foundation will be showing each night’s concert in HD quality on their official YouTube channel the morning afterwards:

Nerja Caves Foundation on YouTube.

Sterling hits highest rate in 4 years against the Euro

July 16, 2012
General News, Property News
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España, exchange rates, Libra esterlina, Pound sterling, Spain

The Pound Sterling hit a new high of €1.2703 on Friday, the best rate of exchange for the last 4 years.

This increase comes from ongoing and continual rumours affecting the Eurozone, and in particular, growing concern and uncertainty from Greece, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

Far from kick starting a sudden surge of British buyers in Spain; it should at least go some way towards an increase of interest in the Spanish property market as prices continue to fall.

On the other hand, for those Brits selling their properties in Spain, the continual increase of the Pound against the Euro is eroding their purchasing power of Pounds when selling in Euros. There is an argument that whilst British sellers in Spain are forced to reduce their prices, in order to sell, and whilst the Pound continues to rise, there comes a point that a decision must be taken to avoid loosing at both ends of the scale, both in the sale price and in the cost of purchasing Euros with Sterling.

New rates of VAT in Spain to take effect as from 1st September 2012

July 13, 2012
General News, Property News
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España, IVA, new property purchase, Spain, VAT, vivienda

The Spanish government today approved the VAT increases in Spain to take effect as from 1^st September 2012.

The standard rate of 18% increases to 21%. The reduced rate of 8% rises to 10%. The super reduced rate of 4% remains unchanged.

However, the purchase of a new property in Spain is currently governed by the super reduced 4% VAT, an extension to the law passed in January running through till the end of 2012 made by the present conservative government, after the previous social government introduced a reduction in August of 2011 from 8% to 4%.

As the purchase of a new property originally belonged to the eight percent VAT group, and since this will increase in September, the 4% VAT concession upon a new purchase that runs out on 31^st December will now rise to 10% as from 1^st January 2013.

Stocks of unsold new property in Spain are still very high, but with only 5 and a half months to take advantage of the current reduced rate of VAT, it is unlikely that the levels of stock will drop significantly. But, it is an opportunity for those who can.

This temporary situation will only help those developers who still have unsold new stock still in their possession which hasn’t been taken over by a bank. It’s worth noting that this situation won’t help in any great measure either the stock held by banks, as both re-possessed properties and those from a developer are considered as at least a second transmission of the property and are not governed by the VAT tax.

In the case of resale properties, the tax levied is not VAT but a government transmission tax of 7% or 8% (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales), depending on which autonomous region the property is located, and is not expected to change, for the moment.

VAT on a new property purchase in Spain to remain at 4 percent

July 11, 2012
General News, Property News
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España, IVA, new property purchase, Spain, VAT, vivienda

In a special debate in parliament yesterday, the Spanish government has proposed and agreed to increase VAT (IVA) in Spain.

VAT currently at 18% will rise to 21%, the middle rate of 8% will change to 10%, but the super reduced rate of 4% will remain the same, which covers all products considered as basic needs including the purchase of a new property in Spain which many experts considered might increase again.

Although there was great pressure from Brussels on the Spanish government to increase the tax upon the purchase of a new property, the fact of the matter is that with such a huge stock of unsold property still in Spain, this would have had a very negative effect on the recuperation of the Spanish property market. Maintaining the VAT at 4% is good news indeed for Spanish and foreign buyers alike.

These measures are expected to be approved in parliament this Friday but as yet there is no firm date as to when they will take effect.

UPDATE: New rates of VAT in Spain to take effect as from 1st September 2012.

New Ferry Service from Motril to Alhucemas in Morocco

July 10, 2012
Costa Tropical News, Granada News, Motril News
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costa tropical, Ferry service, Morocco, motril, Naviera Armas, tourism

Motril port continues to expand its maritime operations with a new Moroccan connection providing a daily ferry service from Motril to Alhucemas on the northern coast of Morocco, approximately half way between Ceuta and Melilla. This service to be provided by the shipping line, Naviera Armas.

This is an addition to the recent cruise trade that Motril port has embarked upon in conjunction with Ocean Cruises.

This new ferry service will provide an additional route across the Alboran Sea for both the Moroccans that travel to their country each summer, especially for Ramadan, and tourists from Spain wishing to explore the delights of Morocco. For those travelling from the north to southern Spain, Motril saves going the extra mile down to Algeciras or Tarifa to pick up the ferry.

All this extra maritime traffic will also boost local tourism in the area of the Costa Tropical and Costa del Sol with excursions to local towns and villages such as Almuñecar, La Herradura and Nerja.

Salobreña To Tango in July

July 5, 2012
Costa Tropical News, Granada News, Salobreña News, What's on Costa del Sol East
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Compañía Arcos de Buenos Aires, costa tropical, cultura, culture, salobreña, Tango, What's On

The Argentinian national dance orchestra, Arcos de Buenos Aires, will be performing on the Costa Tropical at the “Jose Martin Recuerda” auditorium in Salobreña on Saturday 21^st July 2012 at 9.00 pm, organized by the Culture Department of Salobreña Town Hall.

The Company is conducted by the prestigious violinist and conductor Walter O. Tejeda Carranza, introducing a unique combination of music and dance with 16 artists on stage performing Argentinian Tango and Argentinian Folk Music and Dance. Arcos de Buenos Aires is a unique string chamber orchestra combining Argentinian Folk music and ballet. A trip to Argentina´s heart.

Arcos de Buenos Aires has performed in many of the most important International Festivals and Stages like Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Bosforous International Music Festival (Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall – Istanbul), Oldenburg International Festival, 2nd International Music Festival “Inessa Galant” (Dintzari Concert Hall – Jurmala, Letonia) and Istanbul – 2010 Culture Capital (Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall – Istanbul).

Tickets can be obtained calling tel. (0034) 654 57 63 63, and also 2 hours before the show in the theatre. Tickets: 10 Euros.

Great value detached villa for sale in La Herradura (Granada) at reduced price

July 3, 2012
Costa Tropical News, La Herradura News, Property News
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chalet en venta, costa tropical, la herradura, property, se vende, villa for sale

Beautifully appointed 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, modern detached villa with own swimming pool, overlooking the bay of La Herradura on the Costa Tropical in the province of Granada. Fully furnished and equipped, with central heating and air conditioning.

Originally priced at 545.000 Euros. Now down to just 329.000 Euros.

More details and photographs…

Guide to La Herradura.

Malaga FC warms up for Champions with pre-season match against Everton

July 1, 2012
Costa del Sol News, Málaga News, Sports News, What's on Costa del Sol East
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Champions League, deportes, football, fútbol., málaga, sport, What's On

Malaga’s historic entry into the Champions League for next season is subject to a 2 leg qualifying game at the end of August.

To prepare for these games, Everton football club have announced a pre-season friendly with Malaga here on the Costa del Sol at the Rosaleda stadium on August 11th.

Supporters of Malaga are looking forward to matches with the European football elite this coming season and this is a perfect warm-up for things to come.

UPDATE: Tickets for the Costa del Sol Trophy are now available at the Rosaleda ground from today 13th July, or online at ticketmaster.com, ranging from 15 – 70 Euros.