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News and information from Spain
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International Edition - December 2018 |
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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.
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David Ruiz reminds us – be legal!
David Ruiz has helped countless numbers of people apply successfully for their Spanish residency. However, he is still amazed at the number of people who continue to avoid ensuring that they can stay in Spain after Brexit.
In this article he illustrates the danger they are now putting themselves in with a little allegory. There is no good reason to delay your application if you’re not an official resident already and you are living in Spain for more than six months a year. David reminds us why and how: |
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ALPE – a very worthwhile organisation
La Asociación Comarcal para la Rehabilitación del Discapacitado was opened in March 1982 in Torrevieja. It caters for children, young people and adults with disabilities, helping them to access education in an environment that supports their special needs.
ALPE is a charity that Ábaco supports and this year the Christmas cards that we sent to our partner associations were those hand made by the people attending the ‘Centro Ocupacional ALPE’. This is the part of the organisation which caters for people with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 65.
You can see pictures of ALPE on their website:
You can find out more about what they do there and how they are financed on our Spain Explained web page:
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Find out more about Spanish wine If you are an Ábaco client then you will already have seen our article in the Christmas 2018 magazine about Spanish wine. This product is celebrated and enjoyed both here in Spain and in many countries across the world. In this article in Costa Daily you can find out more about the different regions and the most popular wine routes:
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What will happen with a no-deal Brexit?
As speculation continues and it looks increasingly as though a no-deal might be the eventual outcome of the last two years, the Spanish government is making plans of its own. In this article from El País they explain what can be expected in relation to citizens, aviation, trade, fishing and Gibraltar:
Spanish government finalizing plans ahead of a possible hard Brexit |
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Don’t forget the Three Kings
When Christmas is over in many European countries, it’s still going strong in Spain. The 5th January marks the Three Kings parades across the country. This is the time when children come out to watch the Three Kings and their entourage arrive in their town or city.
It’s a very popular event as the children line the streets in the hope that sweets will be thrown their way. After the procession they can expect to return home and find out what the kings have brought them for Christmas.
Although Father Christmas is increasingly popular in Spain with many children receiving their presents on 24th December, the 5th January is the traditional time when they open their gifts. Every town and city has its own Three Kings route and it’s worth taking time to find out more about what happens where you are.
Here, the Guardian publishes some images from celebrated Three Kings parades in Spain, particularly those of Barcelona and Madrid: |
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Ice skating in La Zenia
It can seem a little bizarre to be ice skating out in the open in Spain in December but that’s what you can do if you visit La Zenia Boulevard in Orihuela Costa. The ice rink is located in the middle of the shopping centre and can provide an incentive if you’re struggling to take your children or grandchildren shopping.
You can find out more about what this commercial centre has on offer from their website. The listings are in Spanish but those who aren’t Spanish speakers should still be able to work out what they refer to:
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Money tips if you’re coming to live in Spain In this article Blacktower provide us with some dos and don’ts for financial management if you’re moving to Spain. They cover what to do with UK accounts, opening accounts in Spain and some general advice:
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Felipe’s VI’s Christmas speech
The challenges facing young Spaniards and the need for coexistence were two of the themes of the Spanish King’s Christmas message. The speech was generally well-received and El País in English explains more about the reaction of the major political parties:
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Lesser-known traffic fines
Did you know you could be fined for leaving your car running whilst putting in petrol or washing your car in the street? Money Saver Spain has put together a list of 12 ways in which you might get fined that you may not be aware of.
Some are pretty obvious simply because they would be dangerous to carry out. For example, putting on your make up whilst driving. But… people still do it. Take a look and see if there are any of these that you’re guilty of:12 Lesser-Known Traffic Fines in Spain
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Do you like listening to the radio?
It may not be as popular as it once was, but many people still enjoy listening to the radio, especially when they’re in the car. If you are an English-language speaker and live in Spain you might enjoy listening to Bay Radio. They broadcast along Spain’s Mediterranean Coast and you can find out the exact frequency you need to use by visiting their website.
Their website is also a useful source of news and information and includes regular updates on Brexit as well as the latest Spanish news:
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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! |
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We wish all our readers a very Happy New Year! |
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