The Word on the Street - News and Information from Spain

News and Information from Spain

International Edition - December 2016

Welcome to the December issue of 'The Word on the Street'. This is your monthly news and information from Spain provided by Ábaco Advisers. We hope to keep you in touch with the news, events and just a little bit of gossip.

More opportunity to claim compensation

More opportunity to claim compensation

The European Court of Justice has recently ruled that those victim to bank floor clauses prior to 2013 can also claim their money back. The floor clauses meant that people with a mortgage continued to be charged above a set  level of interest no matter how much the market’s interest rate fell. We explain more in our article:

EU commission rules on floor clauses

Changes to working hours

Changes to working hours

It’s been talked about before but could Spain now be closer to moving time zones and bringing its working day in line with other European countries? This article from the Guardian, suggests that it could:  

Working 9 to 8

More EasyJet

More EasyJet

We apologise that there was a little confusion over the last newsletter’s reporting of the new flight from Antwerp in Belgium to San Javier. Apparently this is a change of flight rather than a new one opening.

Easyjet is advertising some new routes, however. It was published in El País in English that the airline will fly to the two new destinations of Granada and La Palma on the Canary Islands. Their new routes include Valencia-Hamburg; Valencia-Toulouse; Palma de Mallorca-Venice; Granada-Milan; Granada-Manchester; Bilbao-Paris; Santiago de Compostela -Milan; Murcia-London and Menorca-London.

Of particular interest to those living in the Murcia and Alicante regions will be the new route from San Javier to London Southend. The additional flights look set to start from April until October and are planned for early Thursdays and Sundays. Already on EasyJet’s website you can get an approximate idea of how much the flights might cost:

Cheap flights from London Southend to Murcia

Easyjet to open 10 new routes in bid to double growth in Spain

Eddie Izzard interviewed by El País

Eddie Izzard interviewed by El País

If you want to practise your Spanish and pick up some tips for learning another language then you should watch this interesting video published on El País’ Facebook page:

Learning another language

It’s one of a series of weekly bulletins by the El País English editor, all of which are worth listening to if you have the time.

Spanish theatre in London

Spanish theatre in London

A new theatre in London is dedicated to Hispanic theatre. The Cervantes Theatre is undaunted by the challenges of Brexit and is already finding a demand from Spanish and English speaking audiences. El País tells us more about this interesting bi-lingual development:

The Spanish theater company stealing the show in Shakespeare territory

Don’t try this at home

Don’t try this at home

Of all the sports we’ve recommended you can practise in Spain, freediving isn’t one of them. This interesting article explains a little more about this extreme sport, unfortunately as a result of the loss of one of its most famous exponents in Ibiza:   

The lure of the deep

An unusual place to plant flowers

An unusual place to plant flowers

Where would you not expect to find a garden? Of all the answers you could give to this question, on top of a bus could well be one of them. Just look at the plans they are making in Madrid:

Madrid wants to put gardens on top of its buses

What’s your favourite Spanish dish?

What’s your favourite Spanish dish?

There is plenty to choose from. In this article the BBC have selected their top ten favourites. You’re sure to have tried some of them but a few are a little more unusual. Do you agree with their selection?

Top Ten Foods to Try in Spain

Looking for somewhere new to visit?

Looking for somewhere new to visit?

If you’ve already been to the main hotspots in Spain and are looking for some ideas for where to go next, this link might just help. The 12 Most Beautiful and Underrated Cities in Spain does include some that are already high profile, as well as more unusual destinations. Worth a look:

The 12 Most Beautiful and Underrated Cities in Spain

Not just a sunny beach

Not just a sunny beach

For those of you who have taken the time to travel in Spain and visit some of its inland towns and cities, the beauty and scope of what this country has to offer comes as no surprise. To many people, however, Spain remains simply a tourist destination for a cheap holiday with predictably dry weather. Now some towns and cities in Spain are trying to promote a different type of tourism:

Costa little more: Spain questions its tourism strategy 

Rick Parfitt in Spain

Rick Parfitt in Spain

Most people are aware that this year Rick Parfitt, ex Status Quo member, was added to the long list of celebrities who died. Did you also know that he had property in Spain? His death was actually recorded in a hotel in Marbella:

The legendary rock star who 'enjoyed every moment' of his hedonistic lifestyle 

Rick had been a regular visitor to the Costa del Sol and, according to the Olive Press, had even opened up an estate agents in the area last year:

Status Quo star Rick Parfitt launches estate agents in Marbella

Enjoy the Three Kings

Enjoy the Three Kings

If you happen to be in Spain at the beginning of January then we would recommend you take time out of your schedule to watch a Cabalgata parade. The Cabalgata de Reyes Magos is a traditional procession of the arrival of the Three Kings. It is held on the evening of the 5th January in most towns and cities across Spain and attracts families whose excited children are eagerly waiting for their Three Kings presents.

For more information about the tradition

The Three Kings in Madrid

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

2016 has been an unusual year to say the least. Aside from all the personal issues, highs and lows, that we each face, there have also been a few momentous decisions taken across the world. However, you feel about these, we will all look optimistically to 2017 to bring a peaceful and harmonious new year.

 Ábaco Advisers would like to wish you a Very Happy 2017.

What interests you?

What interests you?

We would welcome any suggestions for future themes you would like us to cover either in the newsletter or in an article on Spain Explained.

Please let us know by email at newsletter@abacoadvisers.com.

Thank you!