Extremely Good Explanation of Why You Should Learn Spanish

My friend Steve Hall runs a few websites about Spain and is an erudite authority on Spain, he speaks the language fluently too. He has tweeted today an answer he put on a forum in Jan 2008 and I think that it is even more relevant now. Have a look at the link and see what you think. Comments welcomed below.
Here is the article link

For one of my previous blogs on learning Spanish have a look here

Valencia Campus Party

Just a little video taken this morning outside the Campus Party. What is the Campus Party? - A geek gathering of the very best allowing you to collaborate real time with over 4000 other geeks on the latest in web technologies. Ok so most of the people there will spend the whole of this week in sub Glastonbury mode playing World of Warcraft together and stuff but some really good collaborations come out of this. 8.5 Gigas of Wi-Fi so get yourself down there and have a look at the way technology will influence your life for the better in future.

Battle of the Flowers on Sunday

Sunday in Valencia in the Paseo de la Alameda is one of the weirdest fiestas in the Valencia calendar. If the Tomatina is a mess as you get covered in Tomatoes while throwing things at people then the Battle of the Flowers is a bit more genteel. What happens is that a load of decorated floats with girls and women in Fallera dresses parade up and down the Paseo de La Alameda in Valencia avoiding the flowers and petals being thrown at them by using tennis racquets. Sounds fun?



It is happening tomorrow Sunday in the Paseo de la Alameda in the centre of Valencia in the afternoon/evening (Sorry but that is the best I can do. My mate Google won't tell me when.)

Here is a link to last year's pictures

2009 Valencia Formula One Ticket Details

Learning from the experience of last year and the hordes of unsold seats, a bit of common sense has come into the Formula One World with the ticket prices for the qualifying or race day alone. You can now get tickets for individual days at Valencia's Formula One Race for 50, 100 and 150 Euros on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. You can still get the three day tickets starting at 230 Euros and ranging up to the frankly insulting 720 Euros

Ticket prices are still high of course but with Fernando Alonso's results getting better and the introduction of the new driver for Toro Rosso Jaime Alguersuari, the youngest ever Formula One driver and also Spanish, the organisers are hoping to get 60000 people in of the 75000 tickets available.

If you are still wanting tickets then you can get them online or at authorised outlets in the city. remember the date of the race is the 23rd of August and all hotel places are already taken so if you are looking for accommodation for Formula One Race Week then get in touch and we will see what is available.

Remember also to keep an eye out locally for balcony rental. The local council has put a ban on renting out balconies for the race but that hasn't deterred people from selling hats and pens at 400 Euros but you must come to pick them up with free drinks during the race!

Spain After the Crisis

Spain After the Crisis

I have just put together a Hubpage about Spain After The Crisis. Have a look and comment please

Valencia Magazines

There are quite a few English speaking magazines aimed at the city itself. In the video here I have brought you a quick look at the latest issues and the aim of each magazine that was available in the Tourist office today. I am missing Hello Valencia as there were no copies available and also Britchat as it is not aimed at the city itself but more at the surroundings. However we have included Valencia Connect, 24/7 Valencia, CV News and The InGuide which is about Canovas and is more of a map with ads.



All will give you great information about what to do and where to go to enjoy your visit or your life in Valencia. Check them out by picking them up from any of the tourist offices in Valencia.

Upcoming Audiobook

Success in Spain - An Introduction

Here are two videos telling you about what it means to live and work in Spain. I recorded them carcasts last week and now they are here to introduce you to the audiobooks that I will be producing very soon to help people out who are moving to Spain. There are two distinct areas of the audiobook and it is aimed at people who are thinking of coming to live in Spain and also those already here who are searching for their own particular roadmap. It will be accompanied by a document with links, tips and that extra special sauce for getting the most out of living and working in Spain.

The first video talks about the mistakes that people make before coming over and how they can be avoided. The second takes it to a deeper level and introduces you to the Audiobook about Success in Spain, how you too can be successful when coming over to live in Spain. The audiobook comprises a series of interviews with people who live and work successfully in Spain and provides a roadmap for those wishing to come over to avoid the crash and burn scenario so common among expats who move abroad on a wing and a prayer.

It provides a road map for coming to live in Spain that gives you all the information that you want and need for starting up in Spain and setting yourself up. It should be ready by the end of the month but meanwhile keep an eye on this site and our other sites for more announcements about the audiobook and how many lucky clients will be able to get a discount on the audiobook when it comes out.

Like any good launch it comes with bonuses one of which is something I have thought about for a long time and never got around to doing until now, the Estate Agent Confessions. An inside look at how estate agents in Spain operate and how you can avoid falling for the tricks of the trade. This audiobook will save you thousands on any potential purchase and hundreds on rental costs. It is more than worth the value of the course on its own. Apart from this there are free chapters from other books by those featured in the interviews and lots of other goodies you can get hold of.

I am aiming for a launch date around the end of July so sign up for the newsletter from this site or Houses for Sale in Spain and I will give you first notification on the launch.

(By the way why is it in two parts? Camera stopped recording during the first one!)

Price Drops in Valencia

I have just changed a couple of the prices at the request of the owners on flats in Valencia City. A drop from 190k to 155k makes this one the featured property on Valencia Property for a couple of days. Great three bedroomed flat near the Beach and Port.









This second property near the riverbed has been dropped too by 13000 Euros. Very well situated right near the Carmen and again three bedrooms but with two bathrooms this time.




This allied to other price drops means that Valencia Property in the city is getting ever more affordable and as a lifestyle choice you really should look at it with a view to purchase or rental because it is a great city to live in. Have a look at our YouTube channel to get that proved with loads of videos of Valencia and its surroundings.

Valencia Land of 400 Holes

July has arrived and with it the hell that are the roads in the city of Valencia. Every year they decide to dig up the roads and install cabling, gas pipes, water pipes etc and it is always done in July and August for two reasons as far as I can see. Firstly more people are not in the city and therefore disruption is minimised, very laudable. Secondly to really annoy the workers doing the jobs as the thermometer reaches over 30 degrees every day and they work directly in the sun.

Why is it so bad this year? Well the "New Deal" put in place by the government has meant that loads of public works have been started in order to disguise the real unemployment figures just like Roosevelt did in the States.

Anyway my take on it in video.