Benidorm, royal honeymoon destination

As the Daily Mail quoted an 80 to 1 chance that Prince William and Kate Middleton would choose Benidorm for their honeymoon destination, now The Mayor of Benidorm, Agustín Navarro, has decided to make an official invitation to spend his honeymoon on the Costa Blanca because he believes the Prince and Kate Middleton would spend an unforgettable few days close to their fellow Britons and he also pointed out that one million British tourists visit the town’s beaches every year.

EFE reports that the Mayor sent a letter to Buckingham Palace on Monday, saying it would be an honour if the couple were to choose Benidorm for a ‘stopover’ he promised security guarantees as well as a good climate and quality.

Benidorm is also home to more than 5,500 British residents, and Alicante province to more than 130,000 Britons.

Government, immigration & English opinion

As read in the newspaper and in bold the opinion from a native

British Government announced changes in its immigration system that will mean that companies will not be able to bring immigrants from outside the European Union to work in fast food outlets (or those with a delivery service), beauty salons, hairdressers and estate agents. In total, the Government has eliminated seven professions with the aim of reducing access to the country by low skilled workers.

The Interior Ministry advised that with these new rulings, which take effect in April, immigrants wishing to come to work as cooks in the UK, will have to demonstrate academic qualifications, at least five years experience and a minimum wage of 28,000 pounds (approx 32,300€) after deductions for accommodation.

What is bigger? English working or getting benefits?
How many English has proper qualifications?
How many English earn a minimum of 28000 pounds?

With the elimination of the named professions, jobs available for unskilled immigrants from outside the EU will be reduced from the current half a million to around 230,000 - only 1% of the labour market and positions, that in many cases, can be occupied by British nationalists

Why the government thinks British want those jobs?
Why the government thinks British want a job?
Is the government sure about the problem is because immigrants?

Spanish airport strikes for holidays Easter until Summer

For all of those who are thinking to travel to Spain around Easter or summer holidays, you've been warned.

In a statement, Ryanair called on the EU Commission to take urgent action to ensure that strikes will not cause cancellations and delays to passengers this Easter

Spanish unions called a strike on Tuesday to protest the privatization of airport operator AENA that will last 22 days, including key dates of Easter and summer vacation.

Transport Minister Jose Blanco has said the government will meet union officials on Thursday for talks to avert the walkout.

The plan, which was registered with the Labor Ministry, slated the strike for five days of April during Easter week, five in May, three in June and August, and six in July.

Are you planning to head to Spain for Easter?

Spanish wine (Where are they?)

Oh my god!!! how difficult can be to get a good wine (cheap and known for my pocket) in England, here you have a little bit of culture-tips and my own selection. Prices are in Euro because I have just found two of them in Tesco, (Albariño «Rias Baixas, the best choice to me) I really don't understand why it's so difficult to find them when they are cheaper and the taste is much more better than the other wines.

In recent times the Spanish wine industry has really come onto the world scene with a whole new range of wine styles which have adapted to market demands and an enormous improvement in quality.

Spanish wine - labels

-Bottles labelled Joven (Young) are the juniors.
-Crianza is aged for one year in a barrel and one year in a bottle before release.
-Reserva spends one year in a barrel and a further two in the bottle.
-Gran Reserva is aged for a minimum of two years in wood and held in the bottle for three.
You may also notice the initials DO on a bottle.
It stands for Denominación de Origen - literally meaning "Denomination of Origin", portraying where the wine comes from.
This now has an "upper level" for the very best wines - Denominación de Origen Calificada - or DOCa

Top selection

• Ribera del Duero Crianza 2005 - Bodegas Resalte Peñafiel - 26€.
• Ribera del Duero Viña Mayor Reserva 2004 - Hijos de Antonio Barceló - 19€.
• Rioja Crianza 2006 - Bodegas LAN - 9€.
• Rioja Reserva 2005 - Bodegas Beronia - 14€.
• Rioja Reserva 2004 - Bodegas Ondarre 13€.
• Albariño «Rias Baixas Lagar 2009» - Bodegas Bouza do Rei - 10€.
• Ribera del Duero 2006 - Bodegas Dominio de Atauta - 24€.
• Albariño «Rias Baixas 2008» - Viña Nora - 13€.
• Syrah-Petit Verdot Dominio de Valdepusa Caliza 2006 - Marqués de Griñón - 12€.

Another good reason to learn a foreign language

Expats who speak Spanish 'ward off dementia for longer'

USING Spanish in everyday situations and sticking to regular classes can help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease, say doctors.

Learning a foreign language could put back the first signs of dementia by at least five years, recent research has shown.

Expatriates in Spain are at a particular advantage, since those who regularly use the language they have learnt are even more likely to fight off Alzheimer's than those who have merely studied one and let it lay dormant.