Costa Blanca Vida
The following are the 4 most recent articles:
The Leading Housing Bubble Indicator In Spain is...
Irresponsible, exuberant journalism? There is not a single doubt that Spain, along with some other European countries, has been experiencing a housing boom in the last... Well, for a very long time.
Aquí en España se vive muy bien.
One thing that my wife picked up on when I first lived here were some peculiar little phrases and questions that Spanish folks would say to me.
The Botellon - Time for a crackdown?
In Alicante the state of the botellon may be forcing the sometimes raucous but always colorful bars of the el barrio to charge entrance fees or a one drink minimum.
Buying a Home in Spain? Well, Buyer Beware
I mentioned on this blog sometime before Christmas that my wife and I were in the market for a home on the Costa Blanca. Well, here is what I learned from my home buying process in Spain.
End of the Violence?
In what is excellent news for Spain should it lead to a peaceful end, yesetrday the Basque separatists declared a permanent cease-fire and pledged to step away from decades of violence, a major breakthrough that could end Europe's only current armed conflict
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Happy Holidays!
Been quiet around here, tying up loose ends so as to hopefully get 2006 off to a fresher start.
2006 Vuelta a España Announced, and an Interview with Oscar Sevilla
I'm a huge cycling fan, and lucky for me, the Costa Blanca tends to get it's share of big events like the Vuelta a España and the Vuelta Comunidad Velenciana.
Notes From Spain
I came across another blog about Spain today that I quite like. The author seems to share many of the feelings and experiences that I have had here in Spain, and has written about a few things that I have been wanting to write about here at Costa Blanca Vida.
IVA Not Included
One of the things I find a bit easier in Spain than in Canada, is that stores include IVA (sales tax) totaled with the prices that are shown along with goods. Or so it seemed.
Home Appraisal in Spain
My wife and I are in the market for a home here in the Costa Blanca. We're not being very picky, but we do like being in the south of the province, close to Alicante if possible.
Spanish Constitution Turns 27
The Spanish Constution (see also) turns 27 today, and is celebrated with a national holiday.
Costa del concrete
SOMETIMES Spain seems to be a huge, cacophonous building site.
Thus starts an article from the Economist entitled Costa del concrete...
Automatic Teller Network Charges
I'm not sure what the charges are in other countries for using another bank's automated teller, but I seem to recall that in Canada they weren't too high.
Christmas Costa Blanca Style
Made a trip to the capital today, and it seems that Christmas is in full swing down in Alicante. The festive season in Spain is celebrated differently than most places, and takes a little getting used to.
Is this an Omen?
So my wife and I are in the market for a new home. We're thinking hard about whether to buy or wait, where to buy etc etc.
Mercadona Online Shopping and Home Delivery
If you have ever tried to go to a village Mercadona, I'm talking ones in the centro of a small to medium sized village, you know that parking can be quite hard.
Walking the Costa Blanca
A nice succint article was pulished in the Guardian about a walking tour in the Costa Blanca. While many people associate this area with sun and surf, there is a whole other side to be enjoyed.
The Costa Blanca: What is it and Where is it?
The coastal provinces of Spain each have their own special name for their coastline, and the Costa Blanca belongs to the province of Alicante.
Central Heating
Most people, when they think of Spain, tend to think of beaches, sun, sand and sangria. Why is it then that I have passed some of the coldest days of my life here on the white (cold) coast?
Some Spanish History
I can't say that I knew many of the details of Spanish history until I moved here and began reading up on the topic.
Humble Beginnings
Well, you have to start somewhere, and this post is the official start of my time on Costa Blanca Vida.