Spain Snowbirds

SNOWBIRDS FLOCK TO SPAIN'S EASTERN COAST

2012-08-18T23:13:00.000-07:00

Fall, winter and spring are the ideal times to see Spain as everything is back to normal after its outrageous summer tourist season. Everything is reduced in price from rental cars to restaurants, fashion shopping to tourist attractions.

During the non-summer months you can travel the country, see the sites, climb castles, frolic at fiestas, walk alone on the beach for hours, without crowds and without roasting yourself in the extreme heat of summer.

Spain is an exciting country, perfect for exploring and during the non-summer months the temperatures are very pleasant with sparkling fresh air and bright sunshine. Plus the Spanish government and the Spanish culture in general - respect their grandparents. This makes for great senior discounts and happy, tolerant people.

Snowbirds can benefit from Spain's sunshine, warm weather and coastal regions, its great food and entertainment and of course its fabulous wines. But Spain has more to offer like super new motorways, great hospitals and discounts for seniors on rental cars, buses, trains and at the national Paradores.

Paradores are truely unique as they are castles and monasteries, which have been coverted by the government into 5 star hotels. Golden Days - "Dias Dorados" - is the name of the Paradore's national seniors discount program and with this promotion, seniors enjoy 30% discount on the Official Rate in any kind of room, for stays with room and breakfast. To enjoy this promotion, breakfast is mandatory. Besides, with the “Golden Days” promotion, your companion in the same room will also benefit from this discount. To benefit and enjoy the conditions of this offer, it is mandatory to book previously, indicating that you want to enjoy the offer before you arrive at the Paradore.

Driving in Spain is easy because it is basically the same as driving in Canada or the USA. Spain does have more roundabouts - or "gloriettas" - as they hate turning left.

With your travel insurance, you can go to any emergency hospital in Spain. Because Spain has been gearing up to be the retirement capital of Europe, the hospitals have all been revamped or built new to accommodate both the hordes of summer tourists as well as the retirement communities. The hospital that is closest to your Snowbird accommodation is the Denia hospital and it brand new. It is busy in the summer but during the snowbird seasons, it is easy to get rapid consultations and treatments.

The Spanish are very tolerant and helpful to tourists and seniors who can only speak English. Plus - at your Snowbird coastal rental accommodation, the surrounding area has more English speaking foreign persons than locals. It is a really international hub with British nationals as well as Dutch nationals - who all speak English. English is the second language now taught in the Spanish schools, so you will find that most of the young Spanish people who work in the restaurants and banks - all speak English. However - you should try and speak Spanish and carry your little language dictionary with you at all time.

Karla is from Canada and loves her home in Spain. Together with her Valencian husband, they reside on Spain's most easterly point on a cape in the famous residential holiday park called Cumbre del Sol. You might have viewed Karla and her husband on the Travel Channel in a TV series called Exotic Lives.

Karla and José offers a special experience for Canadians and American Snowbirds who wish to come visit Spain.

MORE INFO:
info@SpainSnowbirds.com
http://www.SpainSnowbirds.com/
0034 96 597 3234

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PALACE IN ZARAGOZA IS A BEAUTIFUL CLASH OF CULTURES

2011-09-11T02:58:00.001-07:00

The Aljafería Palace is the perfect example of how Islamic and Christian cultures merged to create beauty. The Mudéjar art in Aragón is a direct consequence of the singular nature of the Christian Reconquest, in the early 12th century, of territories that had been dominated by the Moors since the 8th century. For various practical and political reasons, the Christians allowed the Moors to remain on the reconquered territories and keep their own culture and religion. On the other hand, Islamic art fascinated the Christians, who continued using its themes for a long time. Because of this cohabitation, many Islamic buildings were preserved, such as the Aljaferia Palace in Zaragoza.

MY SPAIN GARDEN

2011-04-20T01:43:00.001-07:00

April is a wonderful month for colour in My Spanish Garden. If you love to putter in the garden, then Spain is the place for you. You are rewarded with colour all the year, but April is Spring and my garden really jumps to life. You can never be sad when so many living things are growing and maturing right in front of your eyes! Together with the warm sunshine and blue skies - the smell of the sea and the freshness of the mountain air - all of your senses feel wrapped with love. I love Spain!

TV FOOTAGE OF THE CREMA AT CITY HALL ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE FALLAS FESTIVAL IN VALENCIA CITY

2011-03-22T03:07:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect night for fireworks and the burning of the magnificent statue or falla that was positioned in front of the Valencia's city hall building.

The queen of the Fallas Festival was full of emotions as she launched the flames that would conclude the festival for yet another year, and burn to the ground this glorious creation of craftmanship that is the trademark of this provincial festival and the coming of spring!

TV BROADCAST OF OPEN CEREMONIES TO THE FALLAS FESTIVAL IN VALENCIA CITY * 2011

2011-03-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

Under clear skies, Valencia swung open yet another season of its legendary festival of fire - or the Fallas Fiesta. The opening ceremonies (La Crida) took place at the main entrance to the city, which is the old castle gate. The Queen of the festival and her younger companion gave a heart-felt and arousing speech that got the crowd kicked up. Then when the Valenican provincial anthem struck its first note, you could see that the Queen was moved to emotions. The fireworks were spectacular as usual. It was a amazing launch to an amazing festival that rocks this city and the whole province of Valencia until the 19th of March when the conclusion combusts into a cascade of flames!

ALMOND BLOSSOM ADVENTURES IN FEBRUARY

2011-02-14T03:51:00.001-08:00

FEBRUARY is almond blossom season in Spain. It is a great time to pack a picnic and set off on an adventure to scout the landscape for patches of pink. Once inside an almond grove, the sweet smell tantalizes your senses. You will find lots of big bumble bees - so busy that they won't even know you are there! Here is our famous landmark mountain called El Montgo. Does he not look majestic framed with blossoms? On your adventure, you will also find plenty of almond trees that have white blooms as well. You might even discover other friendly folks along the way.

SPENDING A SUNNY FEBRUARY AFTERNOON WITH THE HORSES

2011-02-06T23:11:00.001-08:00

Sunny Sunday afternoons are fabulous in February when you visit the Spanish horse riding stables just outside of Denia. Once you are there - you can sit back and relax, order a beverage at the bar - and take in all of the horse riding action. There are professional horse trainers working with their their proud stallions. Every so often, the trainer will give a little wistle or a clicking sound and his horse will know the command and change direction or speed up to a running gallop or whatever the trainer wants him to do.
Riding students of all ages line up to get their lessons. Inside the stables the horses are so tame that is easy to get up close and rub a nose and tickle an ear. The beauty of the Spanish landscape together with these incredible creatures makes your heart skip a beat. You might even find an albino horse to say hello too.

EARLY WINTER MORNING COFFEE AT THE JAVEA GOLF CLUB

2011-01-23T03:29:00.000-08:00

It’s an early winter morning at the Javea Golf Club and the sun is shining and skies are clear and blue. There are not too many golfers yet out on the course, but soon it will be full of active golfers enjoying their game and the beauty of the day. Because it is still early in the morning, it’s all quiet at the driving range and the putting green.
Even though the skies are bright and sunny, it really isn’t warm enough today to swim in the pool, however maybe later people will come out to enjoy the tennis courts.
We have made a special trip to the Javea Golf Club on this bright sunny morning – not to golf – but to visit the club house. As you can see, there is no one yet in the lounge or eating in the dining room. We have come to enjoy the sunny coffee shop and order our café con leche y un café cortado ;)

SWIMMING AT THE BENITACHELL MUNICIPAL POOL

2011-01-18T00:19:00.000-08:00

Do you love to swim for exercise or for enjoyment? Well for a very low, low price you can swim in the very new and special climatized swimming pool in Benitachell. It has lanes for fast swimmers and a chair lift to help the disabled with a special lane for the slower swimmers. Plus, there is always a life guard on duty. The stucture is made of glass so even in the winter you can still enjoy the mediterranean blues skies and the bright sunshine.

TASTY TREATS AT TEULADA STREET MARKET

2010-12-29T05:18:00.000-08:00

Getting your daily requirements of vitamins is never a problem when you shop at the Teulada street market every Wednesday morning. Spain is the Garden of Eden for the rest of Europe. Delicious and fresh veggies of all shapes and sizes can be purchased for incredible prices. And if you are a fruit freak, then dive right in to the sensational selection of fruit that is sure to keep you healthy and full of vitality. Still hungry? Then try some of the other food choices like cheeses, meats, olives, dried fish and candy can be found at the market as well. Spain is also famous for its domestic products so while at the market why not pick up something for yourself, or your home? How about a Spanish leather belt, bag or hat as a gift? After the market, you can just pop around the corner and visit the community center. There you can get a discount on tapas and coffee. See you at the Teulada Market!

CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST

2010-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER is all about Christmas, but is also about oranges. A 45 minute drive from your Snowbird rental is the midieval town of Xàtiva and all around that special place are the Valencian orange valleys, deep and thick with tasty, sweet Valencian oranges.

CUMBRE DEL SOL COVE CATCHES NOVEMBER RAYS

2010-11-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

The beach cove at Cumbre del Sol is called Moraig and is very famous in Spain for its cave that sports the longest underwater fresh water river in the world. The beach is wind protected so enjoying November rays is easy. When the weather stays good, our local beach bar stays open. Here on the coast, we call beach bars "Chiringuitos".

FEBRUARY BLOOMS WITH ALMOND BLOSSOMS

2010-02-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

FEBRUARY is bursting with colour around every corner. It is almond blossom season and every where you turn you are met with blue skies and pink and white blooms.

TRIBUTE TO CUMBRE DEL SOL

2010-01-18T01:24:00.000-08:00

LA CUMBRE DEL SOL

is The Summit of the Sun

A Recreational & Residencial Resort on the South Side
of the Cabo de la Nau - the Most Easterly Tip of Spain!

5 STAR RESTAURANT WITH FEEL GOOD FACTOR

2010-01-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

Restaurante La Cumbre is like a 5 star eating establishment but without the attitude. Surrounded by incredible sea views, La Cumbre restaurant serves up a marvelous menu and fine wines. The menu of the day starts with sensational selection of tapas that are so tasty and so tantalizing that tourists often take photos of them. The main course is of your choosing - so if you like fish with peanut sauce, pork with a Roquefort sauce or the duck with a sauce of grapes and port wine, you must save room for desert. Whatever you choose, you are guaranteed an exceptional experience at an affordable price. Restaurante La Cumbre is the pride of Cumbre del Sol.

A CAKE MADE FOR A KING * Three Kings Day Celebration Cake!

2010-01-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

While many other countries have packed up their Christmas seasonal experiences, we here in Spain are still celebrating into January 6th with the Epiphany and the coming of the Three Kings. During this time, it is traditional to indulge yourself with a freshly baked circular cake stuffed full of delicious cream and topped with candied fruit and coconut.

It is called El Roscón de Reyes (the Kings Cake) and it is a truly heavenly delight. One of the top bakeries to purchase your El Roscón de Reyes is just on the edge of the old town in Jávea and is called PASTELERÍA DIEGO. This bakery is full of amazing traditional Spanish delights. Even their Roscón de Reyes come with four different fillings including plain, vanilla or chocolate cream as well as a sweet pumpkin spread.

This year we chose the vanilla cream.The unique thing about these special cakes is that they come with two tiny surprises baked into their bounty. One surprise is a ceramic king who brings luck to the person who gets him in their slice. The other surprise is big lima bean and to the person who receives this prize – is obliged to pay for next year's roscón.

PLEASING PIZZA DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PRICEY

2009-12-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

Pizza is an international food favourite, but getting good pizza on the coast isn't always so easy. We like to savour the atmosphere and charm of the main plaza in Moraira and enjoy freshly made Italian pizza at the Tiger restaurant. At Tiger the pizzas are considerable in size and they have a more solid crust. They also offer a varied selection of toppings in generous amounts.
A personal pizza can easily be shared by two people, unless you are super hungry or a robust eater. A pint of beer or a glass of wine and a coffee to finish the meal will not set back your wallet but is sure to satisfy your taste sensations.

LA CREU DEL PORTIXOL & CAP PRIM COASTAL PARK

2009-12-29T05:21:00.000-08:00

La Creu del Portixol or the Cross of Portixol is not only a Mirador or Lookout but it also marks the entrance to a hiking trail along Cape Prim. Cape Prim is a unique ecological micro-reserve park. You can see the multi-mix of marlston or mudstone and clay cliffs, which caress this coastal enclave. It also has rare indigenous plants of great ecological value, so it very important to stay on the marked paths and not to pick the plants or alter their environment in any way! On the one of the park you can see the tiny island of Portixol. On the other side of Cap Prim you get a fantastic view of El Montgo, the elephant mountain and its long adjoining trunk-like cape of San Antonio. Cape Prim can be found at the southern tip of Javea Bay and is enjoyed and it is appreciated by many visitors both locally and from all over the world.

MORAIRA IS THE JEWEL OF THE COSTA BLANCA

2009-12-07T02:35:00.000-08:00

Once a tiny fishing village, Moraira is now one of the most glamous yet cozy holiday spots in the world. With two beaches, a harbour, and a village packed full of fine dining, cafes, shopping and bars; it is like a super resort location. Celebrities frequent Moraira and enjoy the place the same as us normal folks. The village hosts a giant open market every Friday that sells fresh fruit and vegetables, shoes and souvenirs, leather bags and other bobbles. Moraira is marvelous!

PROMENADE AT THE JAVEA PORT

2009-11-29T08:15:00.000-08:00

The port in Javea is a great place to get your morning exercise. After the fishermen have brought their boats back in, they leave their nets out to dry. Other fishermen kick back and relax and fish from their chairs along the docks. There is always some kind of exciting action happening at the Javea port.

THE MARINE PARK TRAIL AT LAS ROTES - DENIA

2009-11-15T01:45:00.000-08:00

Getting your exercise is easy when you explore the "paseo" at Las Rotas Marine Park in Denia. This walking trail takes you along a jagged coastline that is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but a snorkelers dream. Here you will find coral colonies, caves and other natural enclaves. In fact, you might want to curl up in a crack of rock and picnic or read. You might even see the coast guard zipping by in his high speed motor boat. When you return from you walk, the Las Rotas restaurant is a seafood treasure. Looking up you will see a pre-medieval Arab guard tower and as always - blue skies.

BEST BREAKFAST ON THE COAST

2009-08-30T01:07:00.000-07:00

Austriaco & Cafe Wien on Javea's beach front has the most amazing breakfast special before 11am. It consists of large coffee or hot chocolate, freshly squeezed orange juice, fluffy scrambled eggs or fried - whatever style you want, 3 large slices of smoked bacon, wedges of tomatos and a basket of freshly baked rolls with butter and jam. Or you can select something exotic from their confectionery counter like coffee cake or cinnamon rolls, mixed fruit cake or coissant and so on... all baked fresh. Austriaco also serves up great food for lunch and dinners too!

WEE TURTLE ADVENTURE AT JAVEA GOLF CLUB

2009-08-30T01:03:00.000-07:00

Javea has a really lovely golf club where not only the golfers enjoy themselves. This video was taken at the pond that sits beside the club house and sports a large variety of monster multi-coloured fish and is also the home to a fun-loving bunch of painted turtles. Watch as this wee turtle gets caught up in the middle of a turtle turmoil.

EXPERIENCE THE DRAMA IN DENIA DURING THE FALLAS FIESTA

2009-03-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

MARCH is Fallas Festival season and you can also celebrate this event is in the port town of Denia on the Costa Blanca coast. Here you can get up close and personal in order to catch all the action, thrills, sounds and excitment while capturing those memorable photographs and videos.

VALENCIA CITY IS FALLAS FESTIVAL FRENZY

2009-03-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

MARCH is an exciting season in the Valencian community. It is the month that celebrates spring in a big way. To get a feel for the action you must day trip to the magnificent city of Valencia around the 17th and 18th of March.