Virgen del Rosario - Guardamar

We had a few weeks holiday in Guardamar during a very warm and dry October. Not many photos taken but managed to take these of the local fiesta.

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Sergi Darder

It is reported that both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in the new 19 year old starlet Sergi Darder who currently plays for Malaga in La Liga.

Will they entice him to the English Premier League ??

Originally an Espanyol player he is thought to be worth about 11 million on the transfer market.

We await the next round of transfers with expectation.

Canal Nou / Nou 24

Unless there is a change of heart by those in authority we have seen the last of the Valencian TV channels Canal Nou and the news programme  Nou 24.

They were disbanded on November 5th as untenable - previously Radio Television Valenciana had reduced the workforce by 75% because of financial reasons however this labour adjustment was nullified by the National Court and RTVV was unable to continue.

Operating from Burjassot the channels broadcast in Spanish and Valencian.

No doubt they will be missed by the Valencian speaking community.

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Spanish Debt

Public debt in Spain for June reached a record high - 942.8bn euros equal to 92.2% of the country's entire economic output.

Worrying times - any further austerity measures are likely to make the high unemployment rates even worse. Unemployment now stands at 26% of the population.

The government of Mariano Rajoy is aiming to reduce public spending between 2012 and 2014 by 150bn euros.

The only good news is that Spanish banks are now borrowing less from the European Central Bank.

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South Park Guardamar

Just a few snaps from the South Park in Guardamar.

More wall art ..

I can not remember quite where I saw this wall art but it must have been somewhere in Guardamar I think.

New pathway at Guardamar

It has been announced that there is to be a new beach pathway in the Moncayo area - see the Leader

This will stretch from Els Vivers to playa Babilonia - now this is what I find confusing !! Moncayo is not near Els Vivers and Babilonia. These are two separate area in the town the later being near the port from what I can remember.

So I guess we should just wait and see what happens

Water tanks and pumping systems in the area will be removed from public view in order to make the area more attractive.

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Guardamar - Parking charges

Guardamar has joined the group of towns who now charge for parking - 850 parking spaces have been created near to the beaches and payment has been required since July 7th.

A new idea for this part of Spain but in the UK you will find very few towns that do not charge for parking. Car parking charges have been a way of life for many years and add a considerable amount to town hall coffers.

No doubt there will be a lot of complaints and arguing !!!!

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Across the field.

This building has seen better days  - roof gone - no door !!

N322

Looks like the work on the N332 at Guardamar is now at last completed.

El Siglo now Donate II.

El Siglo the bar and restaurant has changed name and owners over the years and now is known as Donate II.

A Churreria and Heladeria - still waiting to open when this photo was taken in May.

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Confederations Cup

Spain ended an unbeaten run of 29 competitive matches to be trounced by Brazil 3-0 in the FIFA Confederations Cup at the Maracana.

Goals from Fred 2 and Neymar 1 ended the hopes of the Spanish team.

To add insult to injury Sergio Ramos missed a penalty and Gerard Pique was shown a red card.

What of the Spanish team in the World Cup ?  Watch this space...

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Guardamar Hill

No progress on this building site during our two year absence from Guardamar.

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Guardamar Hill

We now have some apartment blocks occupied on the Guardamar Hill site.

Photos taken on a rather dull day - rain was expected.

Guardamar Hill

This little park up at Guardamar Hill has grown quite lush in the few years since it was planted but now needs a bit of tender love and care and the weeds removing.

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Guardamar

The centre of Guardamar never seem to change much - photo taken one sunny morning in May.

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Guardamar Playa

Time to head down to the beach.

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Guardamar - The Pines

We've not walked around this area for some time and there is evidence that at some stage there has been a fire but I can find no one who can confirm this.

Still looks very pretty.

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Valenti Guardamar

It may not look too grand from the road entrance but this bar overlooks the sea and one can sit drinking a beer just a few feet away from the sand and sea. 

It is in a real sun trap - the sea and sand must reflect the heat.

  

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Hotel Las Dunas - Guardamar

An opportunity as they say - the Hotel Las Dunas is available for sale or rent. From what I can see this hotel only opens during the height of the summer months. Just a few yards from the sea front and in a prime location.

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Guardamar streets - Calle Maestro José Gonzalez Hernandez y Av. del Puerto

Calle Maestro José Gonzalez Hernandez and bottom Av.del Puerto. All newly constructed apartment blocks in Guardamar.

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Unwanted ...

The start of a grand construction project - still the bare bones after quite a few years. Leaves a blot on the landscape.

Here the swimming pool and tennis courts were constructed first but the main block never got started by the look of it.

These eyesores will remain for many many years.

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Rio Segura Guardamar

Several years ago the Rio Segura at Guardamar was cleaned up and the vegetation removed from the banks.

This same vegetation now appears to be returning but the main water channel seems to be clear which I assume is all that matters.

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Fumigacion - Picudo Rojo

I assume that the Picudo Rojo is a Red Spider but can not find the translation in my dictionary

The fact is there are a lot of dead and dying palms down by the river Segura and it looks like something is going to be done about it.

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Manuel Pellegrini

Manchester City F.C. have confirmed that the 59 year old Chilean Manuel Pellegrini has joined them on a three year contract as manager.

He moves from Malaga and starts the new job June 24th.

Good luck.....

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Furniture delivery

One way to get your furniture delivered if you live above the ground floor - send it up on this little gadget .. !!

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What a view..

What a view - through the woods and out to the blue sea. A very pleasant sight.

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Spanish Spring

You will always find a splash of colour during spring - lovely bright red flowers.

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Guardamar Marina

No changes down at the marina - boats still floating along.

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Mud Dauber

While absent from our apartment we had a visitor who left this on the balcony. I understand that it is a nest of a Mud Dauber - a type of wasp. The nest appears to be made of mud and the holes are where the young have emerged.

I did not destroy it but left it in situ. Hope on our next visit that it has not been colonised by something nasty.

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The circus came to town ..

Early May saw the circus arrive in Guardamar - Richards Bros. El perro de Tintin would appear to be the star of the show.

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Guardamar - Sand dunes

Several years ago this area was bare of vegetation and part of it was a car park - now after a few years of tender care and replanting the vegetation has grown lush and is binding the sand together.

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Jesus Navas

Sevilla winger Jesus Navas Gonzalez age 27 is most likely to transfer to Manchester City this summer for a reported £22.5 million.

He is currently away with the national Spanish side at their training camp and is expected to complete the deal in two weeks time.

I'm sure he'll find the weather in Manchester somewhat different to Sevilla..

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The Russian tourist ..

Since our last visit to Guardamar in 2011 we have noticed that there are more Russian speakers - you hear them in the bars and streets.

Some of the speakers are quite young and have obviously come over to Spain to work but quite a few are tourists and some must own their own apartments.

Spain is trying to attract people from Russia to not only visit as tourists but to buy holiday property.

I'm told that many British and German residents who do not wish to declare their worldwide taxable asserts to the tax authorities ( new rules introduced recently ) are returning to their original countries of origin in order to avoid making declarations and in fear of extra taxation. How true this is I do not know. 

I do wonder if Russian people find the cost of living in Spain expensive or cheap / Spain was once considered a cheap place to live but I think this is no longer so.

We'll see what happens in the future.

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Still here ..

Two years ago this was lying on the same stretch of beach - nothing much has changed in Guardamar during our absence.

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Return to Guardamar

Late April saw us return to Guardamar after an absence of nearly two years - a wet week to start our visit. Here a few brave souls head down the beach.

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Robbed ... Manchester United - Real Madrid

Well the football match of the year took place last night - the score Manchester United 1 Real Madrid 2.

The sending off of Nani in the 56th minute caused an uproar and there are a lot of disgruntled Mancunians this morning. Alex Ferguson the United manager was so angry he could not allow himself to attend the press briefing after the match.

Until this sending off United looked like they were heading for a victory.

So they will have to now wait until next year but that is no consolation....


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Snow..

Yes anyone sitting on the beach in sunny Spain may be interested to know that yes it is snowing in the UK.

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