Number of illegal migrants arriving in Spain falls

MADRID -- The number of illegal immigrants risking their lives in rickety boats to reach Spain's Canary Islands from northwest Africa has descended to levels last seen a decade ago, officials said Saturday.

In 2009, a total of 2,041 adults - and 201 children - arrived in the islands or were rescued as they sailed toward them, an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said.

Levels this low were last recorded a decade ago, when 2,165 people made landfall on the archipelago, made up of seven main islands - and two tiny ones - 1,380 kilometers (858 miles) off Spain's southwestern tip.

The number of immigrants began to shoot up in 2002, when 9,929 arrived, and peaked in 2006 when 31,859 had to be housed, the spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity in keeping with government rules.


More than 96,116 people have sought shelter and a chance of a better, European-style life on the islands since 1994.

The recession, which has caused unemployment in Spain to ascend to nearly 18 percent, along with coastal patrols, have helped slow immigration.

The European Union agreed in 2006 to beef up Frontex, the bloc's external borders agency, after Spain lobbied for years for more funding. In May of that year, it agreed to deploy planes, boats and rapid reaction aid teams from its member states to deal with the flood of African illegal migrants trying to reach the Canary Islands.

It is not known how many people have died trying to make the perilous ocean crossing against prevailing trade winds. However, 45 died in 2008 compared to 32 in 2009.

In February a ramshackle boat with 32 migrants aboard overturned just 20 meters (22 yards) from the northeast coast of Lanzarote and 25 of its dazed and exhausted passengers, including four children, drowned.

Source:washingtonpost.com/

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Spanish Inquisition: Is It All Downhill From Here For Barcelona

As the Blaugrana return home to celebrate their sixth title this year, Goal.com’s KS Leong explores the wise old saying that what goes up, must come down.

Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but the future does look rather bleak for Barcelona... but in a good, complimentary kind of way. And besides they were coach, Pep Guardiola’s own words, not mine.

But the former midfield maestro turned prodigy coach does have a very valid point. And he is making those declarations as a pre-emptive measure to play down any expectations from fans and critics that the team will effortlessly waltz away with 12 titles in 2010. Not that that’s possible, even for the wizards and magicians of Camp Nou, but you get the gist of what he’s trying to do.

Everyone at the Barca camp, including Pep himself, had remarked that it would be near impossible to repeat the kind of success that the club attained over the past 12 months.

Everything that Barcelona do from here on out, whether it’s Guardiola’s team or a completely different squad five, ten years down the line, will always be compared to the history-makers of 2009. Real Madrid had to live in the shadows of the Alfredo Di Stefano-led glory era from the 50’s and 60’s for a long time, while Milan had to contend with their own achievements from the 80’s. More recently, Arsenal have had to cope with a barrage of condemnation because the current young stars are struggling to revive the team of ‘Invincibles’ from the 2003/04 season when they won the league title without losing a single game.

Even now, Barca are drawing critique after critique for their performances, simply because they do not look as vibrant and as exhilarating as they did last season, eventhough they are still playing beautiful, possession football and getting the required results. One can only guess just how much they will be slandered and disparaged should they walk away with only the Copa del Rey in 2010.

The fact of the matter is, their achievements in 2009 do not need to be topped or even replicated. There’s no official rule in football saying that a club must win the same amount of titles or more one year after the other to join the annals of the all-time greats. The class of 2008/09 won the sextuple and it will be this group of players who will be recognised as the immortals of their generation.

But football, as with all things in life, doesn’t quite work like that. People will celebrate and embrace Barca’s unprecedented success, but in the long run, it is ultimately failure that will be remembered and revisited the most.

Which of these two games will people bring to light more often in the future: the 6-1 mauling of Real Zaragoza or the 2-1 home defeat to Rubin Kazan in the Champions League?



The bar has also been raised monumentally not just for the Blaugrana, but for the next administration who will take over Joan Laporta’s reign. It will be even tougher for Guardiola. There is absolutely nothing he can do that will top his outrageous achievements in his first 18-monts at the job. Such is the exaltation that has been showered on Pep that if and when he chooses to leave Catalunya to coach a different club abroad, he will forever have to carry the six winners’ medas around his neck wherever he goes, and be expected to deliver the same level of success, whether it will be at Roma, Brescia or Rubin Kazan.

While the harshest of critics will demand that Barcelona go on to win another six titles in the new year before they can be convinced that Guardiola’s Drean Team II are a champion outfit, there’s a small part inside the rest of us who do not want the Calatan behemoths to duplicate another hextuple-winning campaign.

Records are meant to be broken and the history books are there to be written on, but it’s always more unique and treasured when a crowning achievement is accomplished only once. If it happens to often and repeated too frequently, the allure and the myth will disappear.

And if everything does go downhill from here for Barca, they will always have 2009.

Source:goal.com

Costa del Sol holiday attractions, activities & things to do

There is more to the Costa del Sol than just beach holidays. For family entertainment, the Costa del Sol has a huge range of holiday attractions and activities to keep the whole family happy and busy during your holiday stay in Andalucia.

ADVENTURE THEME PARKS
Isla Magica is an exciting and modern amusement park located in Seville. It is divided into seven themed areas centred on a lake, each representing a different episode in Spanish 16th century history. The seven areas are Port of the Indies, Amazonia, Pirates Cove, Gate to the Americas, Fountain of Youth, Eldorado and the Fury of the Gods.

Tivoli World in Benalmadena is one of the best amusement parks you will find in Spain. There are a host of attractions including an amusement park, funfair rides, water flume, wild-west theme town, open-air theatre and a mock Spanish plaza offering a host of shows overlooked with cafes and restaurants.

DOLPHIN WATCHING IN GIBRALTAR
Fantastic opportunity for photographing and getting close to up to 3 different species of dolphin, 7 species of whale, turtles and flying fish, while enjoying a cruise around the spectacular bay of Gibraltar. Gibraltar itself is a great place to visit and less than a 2 hour drive from Malaga International Airport.

MINI HOLLYWOOD
The desert hills of Almeria were the location for many of the famous Spaghetti Westerns such as A Fistful of Dollars and A Few Dollars More. It is now where you will find the Mini Hollywood near Tabernas on the A370. A full-blooded Western Theme Park with realistic sets, saloons and staged gunfights throughout the day.

NERJA CAVES
Discovered in 1959, the Caves of Nerja have become one of the most visited attractions in Andalucia and each summer hosts the spectacular Festival of Music and Dance. They are truly worth a visit to see nature's creation of the great hall with magnificent limestone designs, the centrepiece of many theatre productions.

RACE COURSE AT MIJAS HIPODROME
The Mijas Hipodromo on the Costa del Sol was the first racecourse to open in Spain for 25 years. There are two concentric tracks, floodlighting for nighttime racing, a grandstand for 5,000 spectators and trackside seating for a further 5,000 people. Knowing that many horse ridings are also dog lovers, there is a dog hotel available where you can leave your pets.

SCUBA DIVING
There are several scuba diving and PADI dive centres near Nerja on the Costa del Sol and Costa Tropical in southern Spain. There are PADI dive programs for all levels of divers and snorkelling trips from beginners to advanced divers.

WALKING AND HIKING IN ANDALUCIA
Andalucia is one of the best walking regions in Spain because it has everything to offer the seasoned and novice traveller. It has a great climate, one of the highest mountains in Europe, fantastic towns and cities full of history and culture. There are also wild unfrequented areas filled with dramatic scenery and some of the most interesting flora and fauna to be found anywhere in Spain.

WATER-PARKS
There are many water-parks on the Costa del Sol so you shouldn't have much difficulty finding one near your holiday resort. Water-parks are a great place to spend the whole day as a refreshing alternative to the beach.

Aquatropic water-park can be found next to Velilla beach in the town of Almunecar, on the Costa Tropical. The park offers an array of water slides including the firm favourites like the kamikaze & ring-rapids, with a range of swimming pools with wave machine, waterfall, and revolving current with inflatables. There are plenty of green areas to relax and eateries offering snacks, meals and refreshments.

Aqua-Velis water-park can be found opposite the El Ingenio shopping mall in Torre del Mar. It has over 20 different rides for all ages including some super fast slides for the more adventurous. There is an inflatable ring ride and wave machine along with a large sun terrace for sunbathers and cafeteria serving food and drinks.

The water-park at Torremolinos is especially large, offering many water-based attractions including water flumes, huge slides, large pools, and artificial river with wave machine.

CONCLUSION
The Costa del Sol offers a host of holiday attractions and activities to help you make the most of your stay in Spain. As an alternative to a visit to the beach, they are a great opportunity for some fun, adventure and excitement for the whole family. Well worth a day out from a busy schedule of sunbathing and shopping.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

Buying holiday property in Spain

Buying a holiday property in Spain, like buying a property in England, is most likely to be one of the biggest purchases we make in our life. Therefore, it is never advisable to be in too much of a hurry and rush into a deal without full consideration. It is well worth taking the time to look around your chosen area and make sure you have a clear picture of the relative prices and types of property available.

The Costa del Sol is a very popular region of Spain and life can be very different depending on which town you choose to live in. It is also well worth considering spending some time visiting the town of choice to see what amenities, nightlife and places of interest are available. Out of season, holiday resorts can appear very different with few people in the streets, deserted beaches, cold nights and occasional rain. Visiting at this time of year will help you to decide whether this is your ideal holiday destination. With Torrox and Nerja being voted as having the best climate in Europe, the weather is probably the one thing not to put you off living in Spain.

OFF-PLAN & RESALE PROPERTIES
Off-plan involves buying a property yet to be build either from an Estate Agent, or directly from a developer and is typically cheaper than purchasing a resale property. Another advantage of off-plan is that you usually have a say in some of the specifications, fittings, and possibly even the furnishings of the completed property. It is advisable to get a good Spanish lawyer to draw up a cast-iron contract and ensure the developer has obtained all the required licences, owns the land and there are no outstanding mortgages or loans on the property. This is especially important as all loans are taken out on the property itself rather than the owner of the property.

PROPERTY PURCHASE COSTS
The costs associated with a property purchase in Spain are around 10% of the property purchase price. If property values increase at an average of 3% per year, then it will take 3 years to recover the costs associated with buying. There are many fashionable areas in Spain whose properties have greatly benefited from the huge increase in foreign investors over the past 5 years pushing up prices considerably, but there are still bargains to be found.

SPANISH MORTGAGES
Typical loans that are available are 60% for non-residents and 80% for residents of the declared property value. Original documents must be shown when obtaining a mortgage that usually includes passport, driving licence, last 3 months pay slips and P60 for British people buying abroad.

INMOBILIARIAS (ESTATE AGENTS)
There are many Inmobiliarias in Spain that typically have many different types of property to view including apartments, villas, townhouses, fincas and rural properties. Commissions vary considerably and a typical value of 6% is not uncommon. It is a good idea to ensure that the Estate Agent you choose to buy a property from has a good reputation, is officially registered and holds a licence.

SPANISH LAW
When buying a property in Spain, it is important to check with the local Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) for debts, charges, mortgages and court orders as these are registered against the property and not the owner. If you purchase a property with outstanding debt, then this will be transferred to yourself. Within two months of signing the Escritura (Property Deeds), ownership must be registered with the local Town Hall within 2 months.

TAXES
Wealth Tax is charged annually at 0.2% for residents and 0.7% for non-residents of the value of the property. Residents also have the added benefit of the first 108,000 euros being exempt. Capital Gains Tax is charged on any profit you have made when you decide to sell your property. Residents are charged at the lower price of 20% as compared to 35% for non-residents. A further concession for residents is total exemption from Capital Gains Tax if aged over 65 and have lived in the property for at least 3 years.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
Above all, when purchasing a property in Spain ensure you get yourself a good Spanish Lawyer who is fluent in your language, and who knows the complexities of the Spanish buying process. The nearest UK Consular Office will supply a list of local Lawyers. Legal fees are typically 1-1.5% of the purchase price, but do agree on a price beforehand. The Lawyer should be able to warn of any potential problems, draw up an initial pre-sale contract, handle the customary 10% deposit and accompany you to see the Notary for final exchange of contracts.

A good Lawyer will ensure you end up with a property that is legally yours and free from financial debt. There are pitfalls with buying a property in any country, but by taking your time and doing a little local research, you should end up with your ideal place in the sun.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com

Bullfighting in Madrid

Bullfighting is as ubiquitous in Madrid as cricket is in the Indian sub-continent, and bullfighters are given the same celebrity status as sport stars. Your trip to Madrid would not be complete, if you are not intending to witness a spine-tingling bullfight.

Plaza Monumental de Toros de las Ventas, often referred to as the Mecca to bullfighting, draws some of the finest matadors in Spain. It is believed that a matador who hasn’t proven his bullfighting skills in Las Ventas is not considered to be a top-fight artist.

Bullfighting season in Madrid is between March and October. During this period, bullfights are organized every Sunday at 7 PM at Las Ventas, but during the Feria de San Isidro and the Feria de Otoo, there are bullfights everyday. Talent scouts mingle with the spectators on these two occasions, and matadors who distinguish themselves in the ring are signed up for Majorca, Málaga, and other places.

Bullfighting is all about testing the strength of matador and bull. The chief matadors also called toreros, are the ones who actually kill the bull, and they are dressed in gold, while their subordinates wear either a silver or black dress. A typical corrida (bullfight) is divided into 6 fifteen minutes sections called faenas, which are further segregated into three sections.

In the first section, the matador and his assistants use large magenta and yellow capes to test the bull’s (toro) strength. Picadors on horsebacks pierce the bull in the back of the neck to weaken it as well as compel it to drop it’s head to the level of the matador’s capes.

In the second section, the banderilleros stab the banderillas into the back of the oncoming bull. The banderillas are long, brightly colored barbed sticks that remain in the bull’s back for some time and aggravate it.

In the final section, the matador faces the bull alone and displays his bravery and skills through a series of elegant manoeuvres. His ultimate aim is to kill the bull and to achieve his goal he exchanges the long straight sword he has been using to position his cape for a smaller one with a curved end.

To execute the kill, the matador tries to mimic the angle formed by the head of a charging bull with his cape. As the bull reiterates, it’s vital area between the shoulder blades is exposed and the matador simply inserts his sword to reach the bull’s heart. A skilled matador, executes the bull in one go, but generally several attempts are required to subdue the bull.

Tickets for the bullfight can be purchased from Las Ventas itself. Alternatively, you can contact one of Madrid's best ticket agents, Localidades Galicia for bullfight tickets. The prices of tickets vary depending upon the day and where you plan to sit.

Sombra are the best seats, as they are available in shades. The cheapest seats are filas, but they are always in the sun and provide the worst view. Barreras are the front row seats and Delanteras are third row seats. Delanteras are available in both the alta (high) and the baja (low) sections. The bullring isn't too big but, if you plan to see the action without paying a lot for your seats, binoculars are probably a good idea.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticlelibrary.com