Spanish want to speak English

A recent poll conducted by Cambridge University Press showed that about a quarter of those Spaniards questioned would give up sex for a year – in exchange for speaking perfect English! A larger number, 64%, stated that they would pay 10,000 Euros, if someone could wave a magic wand providing them with English fluency.

The poll, yet again, illustrated the desperate need for most Spaniards to have fluent English.

The Truth about El Cid

El Cid is one of the great heroes of Spain and, unlike Britain’s beloved King Arthur, he is someone who really existed.

Born sometime in 1040, close to Burgos in the kingdom of Castille, El Cid was a true adventurer who had an extraordinary life, during which (somehow) he managed to survive despite fighting, at various times, for both the Moors and for the Spanish. By the end of his life, this remarkable soldier had carved out his own fiefdom in Valencia. This he ruled with little more than cursory attention to King Alfonso VI – the most powerful Christian king in Spain at the time.

Of course, to many people, the image of El Cid that springs to mind is that imprinted by the great 1961 Hollywood epic of the same name, in which Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren star. The most memorable image of the film is when a dead El Cid, fully armoured, is strapped to his war horse, Babieca, and led into battle – just as the dastardly Moors are about to conquer the Spaniards. Finding the great El Cid unkillable, the Moors retreat in terror…

In fact, probably to the surprise of anyone who knew him in real life, El Cid died peacefully! Equally, it would certainly be wrong to think that it was El Cid who drove the Moors from Spain. This was far from the truth.

More People expected to buy in Spain in 2013

In 2013 Spain will see an increase in foreign investors interested in snapping up bargains in their struggling real estate market. The British agency, Inmoaction, who specialise in attracting investors from the UK, estimate that in 2013, foreign interest in Spanish properties will grow beyond the classic British, German, Scandinavian and Russian markets.

A multi million offer has been made to buy Castellon airport buy a private company.

If the sale goes ahead they expect to create over a 1000 jobs in the area and could have flights taking of as soon as June this year.

Its that time of the year

Charity Cycle ride to Spain

THIS crazy lot have just cycled 1,200km all the way to the Costa del Sol from the UK.

The eight-strong Mad English Cycling Team, who set off on October 16 from St Albans, raised a mammoth €40,000 for the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospice and Grove House Hospice.

Expats Still Love Spain

This year’s annual 'HSBC Expat Explorer Survey' ranks Spain ahead of any other European Union country
Expats praise the lifestyle in Spain and rate the country particularly highly on the ‘experience’ list.