Plane Comes Off Runway At Dortmund Airport

An aircraft belonging to German airline Air Berlin is seen after coming off the runway at the airport in Dortmund, western Germany, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010. A jet headed for Spain's Canary Islands came off the runway at Dortmund airport in western Germany on Sunday, but no one was injured, authorities said.




A jet veered off the runway at a western German airport Sunday, but no one was injured, authorities said.
The pilot of the Air Berlin Boeing 737-800 had braked to abort the takeoff from Dortmund airport because of a "technical irregularity," but the plane left the runway in wintry conditions, airline spokeswoman Diane Daedelow said.
It came to rest with its nose pointing down a slight, snow-covered slope.
None of the 165 passengers and six crew members was hurt, and the plane was undamaged, Daedelow said. Passengers left the aircraft normally using steps, and were taken to nearby Paderborn airport where another plane flew them to their destination of Las Palmas, in Spain's Canary Islands.
Later Sunday, the airline said takeoff was aborted because the pilot and co-pilot were being shown different speeds by their instruments.
Dortmund airport was closed after the incident at 7:05 a.m. (0605GMT) to allow for the aircraft's recovery. Other flights were canceled or diverted.
Dortmund fire service official Thomas Osthoff said on n-tv television that some 120 officers initially were dispatched to the scene — but "fortunately it turned out that a deployment on this scale wasn't needed."
The plane is the second Boeing 737-800 to leave the runway in recent weeks. On Dec. 22, an American Airlines flight from Washington left the runway as it landed in Kingston, Jamaica, in heavy rain.
In that case, the fuselage cracked open, the left main landing gear collapsed and the nose was crushed as the plane lurched to a halt at the ocean's edge. There were no deaths, but many passengers needed hospital treatment.



A plane of German airline Air Berlin is stuck in the snow behind a runway at the airport in Dortmund, western Germany, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010. The jet headed for Spain's Canary Islands came off the runway at Dortmund airport in western Germany on Sunday, but no one was injured, authorities said. The pilot of the Air Berlin Boeing 737-800, with 165 passengers and six crew members on board, tried to abort the takeoff because of a "technical irregularity" that is still being examined, airline spokeswoman Diane Daedelow said. The aircraft braked but came off the runway in wintry conditions.


Source:npr.org/

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/

Ahmadinejad: European politicians are stupid

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says "European politicians are stupid, that they know nothing about politics and even less about history". He added that "one was more stupid than the other".

According to the semi-official Fars news agency, President Ahmadinejad said "Iran's foreign enemies cannot harm the Islamic state," adding "they had planned a very complicated and wide-ranging scenario... but they don't know that a nation which is ready to sacrifice its life for its religious figures will destroy all their Satanic attempts".

Mr Ahmadinejad said European politicians erroneously believe that a ban on building minarets will restrict the Islamic religion, saying, "minarets do not cause people to believe, they are a result of belief".

At the end of November, more than 57 percent of the Swiss electorate voted in favour of a referendum banning the construction of minarets. The decision was widely condemned.

Source:rnw.nl/

Spain to rescue stranded air travellers

The Spanish government has chartered four aircraft to take thousands of travellers stranded by the collapse of the Air Comet airline to their destinations.

Air Comet offered mainly cheap flights between Madrid and several destinations in Latin America. It has been experiencing financial difficulties ever since the global financial crisis erupted.

Earlier this week, Spanish aviation authorities withdrew the airline's licences after it requested protection from its creditors and laid off all 600 employees. Since then, travellers have been stranded at airports in Latin America and Spain. Because it is Christmas-time, other airlines have been able to offer only a few vacant seats.

The Spanish government expects to pay six million euros for the charter flights.

Source:rnw.nl/

Spanish airline Air Comet suspends all flights

Spanish airline Air Comet announced today that all its flights have been suspended owing due to financial problems due to which it is unable to pay its debts. The airline has a fleet of 13 planes and around 1500 passengers use its services everyday.

The airline, which specializes in flights to Latin American countries, has said that the main reason behind its problems is the decision by a commercial court in London on Friday which allowed the German bank ‘Nord Bank’ to deny the airline the right to redeem the mortgage against its debt. It is reported that the debt amount was close to 20 million dollars or 14 million euro.

This has ruined travel plans for a large number of passengers, and that too at a time of the festive season and holidays. The airline is also gearing up for staff lay-offs and declaring its inability to clear off the debts.

Source:spanishnews.es/

Holidays in Aragon (Zaragoza, Teruel, Huesca)

The region of Aragon can be found in northeastern Spain and comprises the provinces of Zaragosa, Huesca and Teruel. The region lies approximately with the historic kingdom of Aragon and is bounded to the north by France; the south by Valencia; the east by Catalonia and on the west by the regions of Castilla la Mancha, Castilla Leon, Navarre and La Rioja. The official spoken language in Aragon is Castilian Spanish, although in some of the valleys of the Pyrenees it is possible to hear the original language of Aragonese.

Aragon is traversed by the river Ebro, which offers fish of such numbers and proportions that the Ebro is considered one of the best locations in Europe for Cat and Carp fishing. With a population of just over 1.3 million people living in Aragon, and half of them living in the capital city of Zaragoza, the region is mostly deserted with beautiful, mountainous scenery to the north, and mainly barren land in the south.

The greatest peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains can be found in Aragon with Aneto, the highest of them all, being found in the province of Huesca. In amongst the mountains can be found some beautiful secluded valleys, which remain largely un-spoilt due to their inaccessibility. Spread thinly through the valleys and plains can be found small towns and churches with great views of the rugged landscape.

The region of Aragon has three provinces whose capital cities Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel take the same names as their province. There are many, small towns all across the region, and especially in the province of Teruel where out of the 236 municipalities, more than half the villages have a population of fewer than 200 people. In-between the villages the land is mostly deserted and quite barren.

Zaragoza, capital of Aragon
The huge Plaza del Pilar is the social centre of Zaragoza, looked over by some wonderful old monuments and fine fountains. Here can be found the Basílica del Pilar; whose domes and towers dominate the city and this is where legend has it the Virgin Mary appeared. To the west of the city centre can be found the La Aljaferia palace. An Islamic-fortress, it was once the residence of Arab kings and later by Christian kings, Aragonese kings and then by Spanish monarchs. Nowadays, the building houses Aragon's regional parliament.

Aragon Monasterio de San Juan de la Peña
Located 30km southwest of Jaca, this monastery church that is dedicated to saint John, is situated beneath a huge overhanging rock. The monastery has had special significance since Muslim times where pilgrims would stop here in the hope of viewing the Holy Grail, a Roman chalice which was hidden somewhere in the monastery. The Roman chalice is now on view in Valencia Cathedral. The lower church represents the heart of the monastery that was founded in 920. On the second floor is the Pantheon where can be seen the tombs of noblemen from both Aragon and Navarre. Inside the apse of the High Church of San Juan can be seen a replica of the Holy Grail which was kept inside the walls to protect it against Muslim invasion.

Ordesa National Park
Declared a national park in 1918, an area of more than 15,600 hectares is now protected in the Biosphere Reserve or Ordesa as declared by UNESCO is 1997. Most of the park is limestone and a retreating glacier still exists on the north face of Monte Pedido, the third largest mountain in the Pyrenees. The park's dramatic mountain scenery comprises of limestone cliffs, canyons, caves, chasms and crystal-clear streams with forests of pine, birch, ash, willow and oak. Great birds fly the skies including the royal eagle, hawks, royal owls, ospreys and the snow partridge, while on the ground can be seen the marmot, wild boar, chamois and the red deer. The park is open all year round but the months between April and October offer the best conditions for walking and hiking.

Aragon is a wonderful region of Spain to visit. The Pyrenees Mountains offer wonderful dramatic scenery to the north and the ancient cities of Zaragoza, Teruel and Huesca have many important historical buildings. If you are looking for a different holiday experience in Spain, Aragon may just be the location of choice.

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

Top Four City Museums In Spain

Spain , with its myriad of influences and epic history, is a country with a diverse gamut of sights and sounds to offer its 45 million tourists who visit every year. An area where this can be seen in particular is in its museums and galleries, a rich history of art and culture has left Spain a huge legacy in this department with names such as Dali, Picasso and Miro leading the list:

Guggenheim, Bilbao:

Now one of the most easily recognised buildings in Europe, the Guggenheim in Bilbao is a work of art itself. Opened in 1997 and designed by American architect Frank O. Gehry, the museum has been a lynchpin for the city’s redevelopment programme and in many ways the museum symbolises the new, modern Bilbao.

Standing right in the city centre alongside the river the museum offers 11,000 sqm of exhibition space over three galleries. The museum has a body of permanent work always on display as well as large exhibitions which run for months at a time. Currently on View is the “Aztec Empire” comprising of a huge body of work from the pre-columbian civilization. Previous exhibitions have encompassed an eclectic blend of art with work from the likes of Matisse, Michelangelo, Reubens and Warhol having graced its corridors.

Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres

Located in Figueres, the Dali Theatre-Museum is the broadest collection of his work in the world tracing his first artistic forays, the surrealist period and even including some of the last works painted before his death. Figueres also happens to be Dali’s hometown and the decision to build the museum from the ruins of the town’s Spanish civil war-damaged theatre, didn’t seem like a difficult one. Indeed, it was here as a boy where Dali first had the chance to display his work so is a fitting place to exhibit the cream of his life’s work. Dali himself supervised the building and creation of the museum turning it into a huge surrealist playground. Dali also created some works specifically for the museum itself – the “Mae West Room”, the “Wind Palace Room” and the “Monument to Francesc Pujols and the Rainy Cadillac” are larger than life and superb examples of Dali’s fertile imagination.

Reina Sofia , Madrid

One of Madrid’s most celebrated museums, the Reina Sofia houses a huge collection of contemporary art. Once the city’s San Carlos hospital, the museum was originally founded in 1986 but underwent a serious revamp in 1990 at the hands of British architect, Ian Ritchie. They envisioned creating something to rival the Tate in London and the Pompidou centre in Paris, and, with 36,000 sqm of exhibition space, it’s one of the world’s largest museums and an extremely impressive place. The most famous painting housed there is undoubtedly Picasso’s Guernica, an immense cubist work and war protest and probably the great painter’s most famous work. Visitors can also see the many preliminary sketches that he made for the work. Other great Spanish artists on display are Dali, Miro and Orteiz to name but a few as well as Spain’s most important artists of the last 20 years.

Fundacio Joan Miro, Barcelona

One of Spain’s most important artists and often overlooked due to the lure of Picasso and Dali, the Fundacio Joan Miro in the Montjuic area of Barcelona is well worth a visit. Spacious and set in its own grounds, the museum is a step away from the regular metropolitan museums and galleries – the white building built around an internal courtyard is typically Mediterranean. Huge amounts of natural light help to bring Miro’s surrealist works to life and the museum also houses some of his sculptures and ceramic works as well as the paintings he’s more famous for. The museum also has a permanent exhibition space in which the foundation gives special attention to Spain’s more experimental artists – not everyone’s cup of tea, granted, but worth a look if you’re visiting the museum.

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