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On 12th November the Mayor of Ayamonte at a meeting with the Community of Owners at Costa Esuri confirmed that work on the Costa Esuri Marina will start by the end of 2010.

In the shorter term, work on the Hotel next to the Golf Club should recommence very soon now that Martinesa-Fadesa has sold both that building and the Commercial Centre.

A company has already sought permission from the Town Hall to install and open a supermarket in the Commercial Centre.

No indication has been given as to whether that permission has been granted but it is looking very likely that great improvements to the amenities at Costa Esuri are likely in the near future.

The whole stretch along the side of the marina is no longer free but at least the “pests” who find you a space you’ve already seen should find alternative work!

The zones are colour coded (pained on floor) and the times for payment generally coincide with shop opening times times…

Monday to Friday

09.30 – 13.30

16.30 – 20.00

Saturday

09.30 – 13.30

Sunday & Bank Holidays

Free

Fees are as follows:

Blue Zone
35 min – 0.40€
1 hour – 0.70€
2 hours max – 1.50€
Residents 1 day – 0.60€, 1 week – 2.40€

Fines: – excess time 3€ – no ticket 7€

Red Zone
35 min – 0.50€
1 hour – 0.80€
2 hours max – 1.60€
Residents 1 day – 0.30€, 1 week – 1.20€

Fines: Excess time 3€ – no ticket 7€

Green Zone
35 min – 0.40€
1 hour – 0.70€
2 hours – 1.50€
3 hours – 2.50€
Whole day 7€
Residents 1 day – 0.60€, 1 week – 2.40€

Fines: Excess time 9€

I found Neil Marks Photography and contacted Neil to see what he could offer.

As you can see from his website, Neil not only photographs property in the Costa De La Luz area (he lives in Ayamonte) he also has a wide range of great shots of the area for sale which can be used on websites as required.

I work in a “service” industry, where most organisations seem to have totally forgotten what the word “service” means. At best they pay lip-service to it but generally they drive me to distraction with their total disdain for their clients.

What a pleasure it was, therefore, to deal with Neil. We agreed to meet at the Costa Esuri Golf Club (arranged via email whilst I was still in England) and he was already waiting for me when I arrived. We drove the short distance to my apartment and Neil started his work. As he needed to take some long exposure shots I was asked to keep my children from running in and out so I took them off for as couple of hours while Neil completed the assignment.

He promised he would prepare a CD for me prior to my return to the UK and sure enough he called a day later to arrange to meet at the golf club again to show me the results.

Again, Neil was already waiting for me when I arrived and he showed me the photographs on his laptop.

The results are amazing – so much better than anything I could create and I am happy to highly recommend Neil to anyone looking for a photographer in Costa de la Luz.

You can see the photographs Neil has taken for me on many of the pages at my site but as a starter you may like to visit Costa Esuri Apartment Living and find your way around from there.

If you are in fact looking for accommodation I’ve now added a reserve and book on line” feature and can accept all major credit cards.

At least that is the official word but having seen delays after such previous announcements, until the first ball is hit I’ll reserve judgement!

It will be 5 weeks until I get my first round so I’d really welcome a review or comments from anyone that plays the course in the meantime.

I guess, following Tiger Woods withdrawal from competition for the rest of the season we’ll not be getting his review!

I’m in the process of compiling a report on the beaches in the immediate vicinity of Costa Esuri – both in Spain and Portugal and if you have any favourites that you don’t mind sharing with the world please provide details as a comment to this post. (Click the Comments link just above this post).

What I’m particularly interested in is the location (obviously), the facilities – restaurants, bars, sun shades etc, parking, distance of walk, typically how busy.

I already have some details posted at the Costa Esuri Squidoo lens and any extra information you can provide regarding beaches in Costa de la Luz or the Eastern Algarve will be much appreciated.

Add to Onlywire

Costa de la Luz Golf Courses

If any one has played Monte Rei yet please leave a comment – I’m itching to play a round there.

Costa de la Luz Golf Holiday

I’ll create a pdf of this in the next day or two and post a link for anyone interested to download

The 2nd golf course at Costa Esuri is reportedly due to open at the end of February 2008. When I last saw the course at the end of summer it was looking good. It is very different from the first course:  since it seems to meander amongst various areas of the development making the fairways look tighter than course one, which is much more open, particularly the front 9.

I’m really looking forward to trying it out as soon as possible.

I’ve also heard that the big commercial centre at the entrance to Costa Esuri is scheduled to open in May 2008 – my guess is the paint will still be drying but we’ll see!!

Don’t forget I’m now taking bookings for my 2 bedroomed apartment and until the commercial centre opens in May there are discounts for any period. Could be a great opportunity o get some low cosat golf in – and maybe try the 2nd Costa Esuri Golf Course as soon as it is open. Visit Costa De La Luz Golf Holiday for more details.

It’s about time I learned at least some basic Spanish – personally I think it is rude to expect people to speak to me in English in their own country.

So I decided I will learn Spanish. Being an internet junkie I scoured websites looking for information and the right program – I’m not a night school person, apart from not having the time to attend regularly, so I needed something I could use as and when time was available.

I found a website offering a free 6 part mini-course -

The fantastic FREE 6 Day Mini Course is a great taster for the full program

and thought I’d give it a try. The free course is excellent and I learnt a great deal straight off but the course itself is something else. You can order a hard copy but the download is much cheaper and is perfect for me. It’s much cheaper than everything else I could fin, mainly because, it covers beginner right through to advanced rather than separatley priced modules offered elsewhere.

I’ll let you know how I get on, maybe I’ll start writing this blog in Spanish before too long.

The trip across from Spain is very cheap and takes about 10-15 minutes. With such regular ferries its well worth a trip.

We had hoped to take a trip up the river past Costa Esuri but heard that it would be an all day trip. We decided we’d take the evening cruise (90 minutes) thinking it might pass Esuri but unfortunately it set off in the direction of the coast.

It was a beautiful evening and as we returned the boat went past Ayamonte and up to the bridge just at sunset.

So although we didn’t get to see Costa Esuri from the river the the sunset was spectacular and the trip worthwhile.