Mojacar Town Hall has released their latest cultural programme which includes everything from photography exhibitions to carnival fun.

The exhibition by photographer Laurence Blackwell is currently underway until the end of the month and is open to the public from Tuesday to Friday from 10.30am-1.30pm and again in the evening from 5-8pm. It is also open weekends from 11am-2pm at the Municipal Art Centre in Calle Cuesta de la Fuente.

Carnival season kick starts February's fun and runs from the 17th-19th and if that gets you in the mood for dancing then Dia de Andalucia on 28th February is for all lovers of movement with performances from the School of Dance at the Centro de Usos Múltiples.

More details can be viewed on the Town Hall website www.mojacar.es

In a report predicting key trends for the coming year based on surveys and customer data, the company revealed that 30 per cent of sun seekers are planning to visit the Iberian peninsula for their main holiday.

Alicante, Ibiza, Majorca and Malaga will continue to welcome high numbers of British visitors, according to the research, while Dalaman in Turkey and the Greek island of Crete are also attracting interest.

Jet2′s study indicated that persistent doom and gloom about the economy and the eurozone crisis have not dampened demand for holidays, with more than a quarter (28 per cent) of survey respondents saying a break is “vital” to their health and wellbeing.

All-inclusive trips are set to prove popular among consumers trying to stick to a budget, with Jet2holidays reporting that 60 per cent of all family bookings for the coming year are for packages of this kind.

Some 70 per cent of couples visiting beach destinations and taking city breaks in 2012 want to experience local culture and customs, according to the research, while nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of people would rather escape on a beach getaway than enjoy a summer of sport with the Olympics and Euro 2012 football tournament.

Steve Heapy, managing director of Jet2holidays and chief commercial officer of Jet2.com, said: “The travel landscape is changing, with socio-economic factors meaning travellers want something different from their holidays.”

via Travelbite.co.uk.

Then, about 8:00 pm, and after the fireworks, the royal party will continue its journey through Sant Llorenç, Pais Valencia, María Cristina Bridge, the Paseo de Cervantes, Alçamora and Sant Roc Bridge where acts will end at 10:00 pm. Declared of National Tourist Interest, the newspaper El Heraldo de Alcoy narrated the celebration for the first time in 1866, although it was not until 1885 when the act took on the characteristics that define it today.

The Magi will also make an appearance in other towns and cities of Valencia. From Castellón to Alicante the royal party will carry out many stops. Among them, Benissa, Castellón de la Plana, Riba-Roja del Turia, Pego or Pinós. Furthermore, in Tibi will start the celebration of the Dance of the Kings with a full program of events that begins on 6th January.

via Official Tourism Site of the Region of Valencia.

Among the most immediate openings are:

Parador de Cádiz (Andalusia) – an extension of the Hotel Atlántico, this property offers panoramic views of the Bay of Cadiz and the Atlantic as well as private pools, beaches, and palm-lined streets. In 2012, the location will add between 70 and 100 rooms as well as a thalassotherapy center for rejuvenating spa experiences.

Parador de Corias (Asturias) – founded in 1028, the ancient monastery of San Juan Bautista, located on the banks of the Narcea River and known as “El Escorial de Asturias,” became an important spiritual center. The property will occupy the four floors of the building and have 86 rooms, six of them suites. The location will also feature a spa, meeting rooms as well as underground and outdoor parking.

Parador de Ibiza (Balearic Islands) – The first parador to be built in the Balearic Islands will be located in the 18th century Almudaina Castle, in the heart of the historical center of the city of Ibiza. The district, known as Dalt Vila, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The hotel will have 72 double rooms and several suites, as well as venues for meetings and conventions. It will also have a gym, spa, and two swimming pools.

For a complete listing of planned and existing properties, visit www.parador.es/en/portal.do. For more information on travel to Spain, visit www.spain.info.

via Travel Agent Central.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Valencia, in Spain, found that poor handling of the oranges and insufficient cleaning of the juicer equipment stimulated bacterial contamination.

The team collected 190 batches of squeezed orange juice from different catering locations and analysed their microbiological content on the same day.

The results reveal that 43 percent of the samples exceeded the enterobacteriaceae levels deemed acceptable by food regulations in Spain and Europe. Enterobacteriaceae infects the human gut.

The researchers recommend that oranges are handled correctly, that juicers are washed properly and that the orange juice is served immediately rather than being stored in metal jugs.

Orange juice is known for its high content of vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolic compounds and other antioxidant substances.

The presence of Staphylococcus aureus (responsible for several difficult to treat infections) and the Salmonella species was found in one percent and 0.5 percent of samples, respectively. Salmonella infects cattle and poultry, causes food poisoning and typhoid.

Isabel Sospedra, study co-author warns that “generally, a percentage of orange juice is consumed immediately after squeezing but in many cases, it is kept unprotected in stainless steel jugs”.

via `Orange juice served in Spanish bars contaminated`.

Sony, which made the film, had promised to return the village to its original state, with homes painted in dazzling white, as is typical of southern Spain.

But the 250 locals are expected to vote for the unusual look to be retained, because since filming the hillside village has become a huge tourist attraction, pulling in more than 80,000 visitors.

They embraced the makeover with such gusto that some dressed up as giant Smurfs and held a Smurf fair in the village square.

David Fernandez Tirado, the mayor, who has been nicknamed ‘Papa Smurf’, said there were “many benefits” to the village being blue. The makeover distinguishes Juzcar from all the other ‘pueblo blanco’ white villages that dot the landscape of southern Spain.

via Telegraph.

This coming Thursday December 22, 2011 at 17:15 there will be the first International Carol Concert held in the Cathedral in Orihuela.

The organization has been arranged by the Council department of Tourism, Protocol and Co-ordinated Services with Orihuela Costa, which has made this possible by receiving special permission from the bishop representatives to hold this type of concert for the very first time in the Cathedral in Orihuela.

All the residents of Orihuela Costa are invited to take part in this international carol concert.

Cllr Mancebo reported that he is very proud to be able to offer what will be a wonderful evening to the residents of Orihuela Costa. “This will really be an international evening,” he said. “We have music groups from Orihuela, two international choirs including our Spanish, English, German, Swedish and Dutch neighbours from the town and the coast.”

“We could not think of a better form of integration at Christmas time as an international carol concert. The gothic cathedral of Orihuela is a perfect backdrop for this first international carol concert. The international choirs will sing various Christmas carols in different languages and a reading appropriate for Christmas time will be read.“
After the concert Councillor Mancebo invites everyone to enjoy mince pies and wine.

“Thereafter, those attending will visit the Belen (the nativity scene) and the Christmas tree before we make our return journey to the coast,” he confirmed.
Councillor Mancebo asks if you would like to take part in the carol service to please call the office for International Residents in Playa Flamenca – tel: 966 760 000 ext: 34 to reserve your seat. This should be done by Wednesday. The buses will depart Playa Flamenca at 16:00.

The programme for the outing to Orihuela is as follows:

16:00 Buses depart Playa Flamenca (directly across from Mercadona supermarket on the roundabout at Playa Flamenca).

16:45 Estimated time of arrival in Orihuela where you will be met by a local guide.

17:15 Carol concert in the cathedral – including musical bands from Orihuela and two international choirs who will sing a variety of Christmas carols in Spanish and English. Christmas readings will be read from the Bible.

18:15 Mince pies and wine will be served outside the cathedral. We will then take a stroll to visit the Belen (nativity scene) and also the Christmas tree. Time allowing there will also be a little free time.

20:00 Buses depart Orihuela towards Orihuela Costa. The drop off point will be the Mercadona roundabout at Playa Flamenca.

PEDRO MANCEBO
Councillor for Tourism, Protocol and Coordinated Services with OC

Rosa Aguilar, minister for the Environment, Rural and Marine, visited the facilities in the Changping district in Beijing (China) that will accommodate, next February, the 7th World Congress of Strawberry, in a area where the space for the European Union, about 5,000 square meters, is totally taken by greenhouses of a consortium of Spanish companies.

Spain strongly supported the celebration of the 7th Congress in China in 2012, after Huelva was the 2008 host. It was then that the managing project for a consortium  in Changping was started, with the objective of investigating the application of Spanish technology in the Chinese traditional cultivation method.

The companies in the consortium, to which the minister acknowledges their initiative of working in China, are: Ritec, working with fertile irrigation; NGS, specialized in hydroponic cultivation; Eurosemillas, bringing up the seeds varieties; Solplast, working on plastics for greenhouses; and Tecnova, a foundation specialized in agricultural technology.

The presence of Spanish companies at the 7th world congress means a big opportunity for a sector where China has a big interest. The Asian country is, at the moment, a leader producer of strawberry, with an area of 84,300 hectares.

The national consumption of strawberry also grew rapidly as a result of the economic development in the country and the raising of income.

Before her visit to the facilities, the minister had a meeting with the vice-mayor of Changping, Shi Weidong, to whom she thanked for making the area available for warehouses construction and the collaboration of local authorities for the implementation of Spanish companies in Changping.

via Spain: 7th World Strawberry Congress will be in China.

So you have the possibility of discovering the most beautiful spots of Dénia, admire the views from its spectacular Castle, see the remains of houses and fortifications of the Roman Diannium and remember the Islamic origin of this fortification.

This intense competition was created as a result of submarine archaeological findings that showed trade between the Islas Pitiusas and Dénia. The Copa del Canal is the best way to celebrate this small milestone of shipping. One more year, the Copa del Canal de Dénia-Formentera will count towards the Copa de España de Regatas de Altura de la Zona Mediterránea.

via Official Tourism Site of the Region of Valencia.