News

July 2006
The running of the bulls takes place on July 6th - 14th every year in Pamplona.

The Encierro or bull run is the part of the Pamplona Fiesta, San Fermin that is world famous. Thousands of visitors flock to the festival every year., and it is one of the reasons why thousands of people keep going back to San Fermin year after year. The "Running of the Bulls" has occurred for hundreds of years.

Click on picture to visit website on bull running

June 2006: On Sunday 4th June 2006, The Murcia Region hosted "Aire 06" over the Mar Menor Spain. Among air displays from Spain France Italy and Switzerland were The Red Arrows from the UK. They gave a superb performance and delighted the 30,000 strong crowd who instead of lying on the beach were on their feet and clapping.

March 2006: Resident cards must be abolished by April 2006 - E.U. Directive 2004/38/EC

This latest Directive is probably the greatest leap forward ever, over citizen's rights of free movement, with
'dignity', without 'obstacle' or 'formality', when traveling within, or taking up residence in, a Member State. Those E. U. citizens, who have arrived in Spain on or after 29 January 2006, where it is their intention to take up permanent residence here, have no obligation to apply for a 'residents card', since their previous time limit to apply for such a card was 3 months. This period will now be preceded by the 'transposition' date of 30 April 2006, when amongst many other new rights, the new Directive includes the abolition of the need to acquire a 'residents card'. Even where a Member State fails to transpose this directive into their own law, any citizen may plead 'legitimate expectation', under settled law. Further, any State, which fails to properly adopt the Directive, will be liable for any hurt caused, or any loss of rights citizens would otherwise have acquired. However, where citizens, already in possession of a 'residents card', which is due to expire before the transposition date, or any earlier date where Spain decides to transpose this Directive, should apply for a renewal, so as to comply with the current law of Spain.

March 2006: Mar Menor hospital promise.

A new state-of-the-art hospital which is to be built on the Mar Menor is set to open in 2009, it was announced this week. The 250 bed centre, Hospital del Mar Menor will provide for the fast growing population in San Javier, Los Alcazares, San Pedro and Torre Pacheco.

Health chiefs revealed this week that the centre will be built on 57,000 square metres of land in the village of Pozo Aledo close to the C-3319 San Javier-Murcia road.

Plans which have now been drawn up for the 70 million euro health centre show an ultra-modern building with 12 operating theatres. Modern treatment techniques such as thermotherapy and hydrotherapy will also be available and a total of 49 external consultants will serve the hospital.

Work is due to start on the new building at the end of the year.

January 2006: Town and Country Spain in conjunction with their UK office had a very successful 3 day exhibition at The Viva Espana Show in Olympia, London. Many property visits were arranged proving Spain is still the number one country for people to buy property for holiday homes, permanent living and as an investment. For details of UK exhibitions please visit our UK offices website.

More information...

A new sea bus with the capacity to seat 120 people will be introduced this summer connecting the La Manga strip with Santiago de la Ribera.

The sea bus will leave every hour from the port of Thomas Maestre and dock in Santiago de la Ribera. The trip is expected to take approximately 20 minutes and the service will start in April.

The boat has been specially built for this trip and will carry foot passengers, bicycles and motorcycles.

Initially the sea bus will only run during day time hours but there is a possibility of this being extended into the night, especially during the fiesta and festival times.