What do you know about Salamanca in Spain? It’s not as well-known as many Spanish cities, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t got plenty to offer. Salamanca dates back to the Iron Age and its famous university has been there since 1218. As you might expect, there are many ancient buildings with architecturally interesting features to visit. David Ruiz invites us to explore this fascinating and important city:

It’s still a work in progress but spreading rapidly. The EES Entry/ Exit System has now been installed in many Spanish airports and travellers are learning to navigate the changes. There are still variations but this article from EuroWeekly provides a glimpse of what your experience might be:

Every year on December 6th, Spain celebrates its ‘Día de la Constitución’. This annual bank holiday celebrates the 1978 referendum that confirmed the country’s transition to democracy. On the following Monday (8th December) a second bank holiday (Inmaculada Concepción) means that you can expect a true holiday feel and various shop closures over a long weekend:

If you are interested in the Spanish news and are keen to keep up with what is happening politically then you might enjoy the Spain Speaks videos that are posted on YouTube at regular intervals. Stuart outlines what’s happening in Spain and receives comments from viewers. In his latest video he draws our attention to the increasing number of smoking bans on Spanish beaches:

Jasmine Harman from A Place in the Sun has done it so why don’t you? This article from their website explains why renovating a property can be the way to go:

You might also want to find out more about Jasmine’s own renovation project:

And if you want some expert advice on buying Spanish property why not download this guide from A Place in the Sun? It’s free but you do have to provide some details to access it:

Where do you stand when it comes to the twice-yearly clock change? Should it continue as it always has or is it no longer fit for purpose? Following Pedro Sánchez’ (the Spanish Prime Minister) statement that he intends to apply for an end to the bi-annual change there have been voices of dissent from the scientific community:

If you are living in Spain as a digital nomad or are considering being one you might want to read this article from Healthplan Magazine. It outlines new Spanish legislation surrounding the conditions for remote working that include telework agreements. Most of the legislation centres around employer responsibilities:

We are a little bit biased having two of our offices in the Costa Blanca, Alicante Province – but we do happen to think the Costa Blanca has a lot to offer as a place to live. This article gives a comprehensive tour of places to buy, according to your pocket, available schools and what the work opportunities might be:

Yes, you’ve read it correctly. The British pub chain of Wetherspoons is about to make its appearance at Alicante Airport. It won’t carry its traditional title, however, but instead will be called ‘Castillo de Santa Bárbara’ after Alicante’s famous castle. You might have mixed feelings at such an infamous intruder but there’s no doubt that it will be popular amongst travellers:

Will you be in Spain for Christmas? If so, what are you planning to have for your Christmas dinner? Of course, the Spanish traditionally eat their festive meal on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day and seafood is often a staple. In this article from Spanish News Today, we find out how the Spanish supermarkets are preparing and there’s some good news about the importance of eating fresh food:

Or so it seems according to a piece of research comparing bilinguals and monolinguals across 27 European countries. Apparently, the brain having to choose between different languages gives it a workout. So, another very good reason for sharpening up on your Spanish-speaking skills:

Or at least, very nearly and if you are going to be in Spain over the festive season you might want to find out more about what to expect here. There isn’t the same level of build up as you might find in other European countries. In fact, you can be easily well into December before it registers that Christmas is here. For many people, this delay is more than welcome and doesn’t detract from a Christmassy feel. We recommend that if you are in Spain you should at least visit the traditional Spanish nativity – the Bélen:

For more information about its origins: