Heart FM’s Lee Jay Interviews David Laver

Lee Jay of Heart FM Spain interviewed our Estate Agent David Laver last month so here is a copy of the interview for those of you that missed it. Tune into Heart FM on 95.7FM in the Alhaurín El Grande area or listen online at http://www.heartfmspain.com/. Our thanks go to the staff at Heart FM for providing us with the recordings.

Hide Caller ID In Spain

Block Caller ID

It seems that many people have inquired about how to hide their number when making telephone calls within Spain. It’s very easy to do.

For mobiles, there is normally a  permanent option normally via a menu section to hide the caller ID (“Ocultar Número” or “Envío ident. llamante” if your phone is in Spanish). If you just want to hide the number before a particular call, then dial #31# before the number you want to dial on your mobile.

For landlines, simply dial 067 before the number you want to call and your number will be hidden. Simple!

I hope this helps. I have tried this with a mobile phone on the Orange network and it works just as well.

Málaga on Yellow Alert for Temperatures Up To 36ºC

Málaga Beach

There are few clouds in the sky over Málaga again today and this will contribute to the temperatures increasing slightly according to the AEMET (State Meteorological Agency).

The minimum temperature recording during the wee hours of the morning was 26ºC and they are predicted to rise up to 36ºC. That is why AEMET have put the Costa del Sol on Yellow Alert (important risk) between the hours of 12 noon and 7pm today.

If you are planning to visit the beach today, then here are a few things to keep in mind to make your trip a pleasurable one:

• Use sunscreen but bear in mind that it wears off, gets rubbed off and also comes off with perspiration and there goes your protection so APPLY IT OFTEN!
• Wear a wide brimmed hat – even better if it is an anti-UV hat which covers your head, face and neck.
• Seek shade during the hours of 10:00-17:00 (10am-5pm).  That’s why it is good practice to take a big golfing-style umbrella with you. Anti-UV umbrellas will give you UV protection, and will cut some intensity of the sun.
• Use these methods of protection every day, not just when the sun is shining.  Clouds are do not protect you from ultra-violet rays that can cause skin cancer.

Spotlight On Alhaurín El Grande

The beautiful whitewashed town of Alhaurín el Grande is located at the foot of the Sierra de Mijas mountain range in the Málaga region of Spain. It offers wonderful views over the stunning Guadalhorce valley, which is made fertile by the rivers Pasadas, Fahala, Jurique and Torres that flow through it. In fact, the region produces an abundance of fruit, vegetables and cereals, and boasts numerous olive groves.

During Roman times, the settlement was thought to have been blessed by the gods due to its fertility, favourable climate and proximity to precious mineral deposits. This led the Moors to later name the town Alhaurín, literally meaning the “Garden of Allah” (or “God’s Garden”).

The town has undergone many tribulation, including an earthquake in 1680, various plagues, and numerous invasions and occupations by the French, Romans, Moors and others. Today it is a prosperous town with a population of 27,000 of which roughly 2,000 are foreigners.

Why buy there?
With only a short drive from Málaga’s famous beaches and close to the Sierra Nevada ski resorts, Alhaurín el Grande is perfectly situated for those seeking a traditional area untouched by tourism, yet close to all the attractions and amenities of the Costa del Sol. It is close to Málaga’s major cities, being just south of Coín and north of Mijas, and it is only 15 kilometres from Málaga airport. It lies in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with a number of lakes and waterfalls in Barranco Blanco, while to the southeast there are extensive forests, dotted with Neolithic remains.

Alhaurín el Grande enjoys an average annual temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and is a pretty town with whitewashed houses and colourful window shutters. There are a number of attractions including the 12th century Moorish Archway, the old Arabic fort and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, with its Roman columns and town church. The Churches of La Ermita de San Sebastián and El Convento y las Agonias are also well worth visiting.

The town is famed for its many traditional celebrations, including the “Feria de Mayo” and the “Día de la Cruz” in May, “Día de Jesús” in June, and the “Día de la Virgen” in August. In addition to these the Easter week celebrations attract tourists from across Europe. Improvements are currently being made to the area’s infrastructure. However, there are already two golf courses nearby, while the surrounding countryside offers plenty of hiking, cycling and climbing opportunities.

Where to buy
There are many nationalities purchasing property in Alhaurín, and demand from foreign buyers is high, especially within urbanisations such as the Alhaurín Golf & Country Club development. With strict building regulations in place, fincas to renovate and traditional whitewashed townhouses are extremely popular and this has caused prices to increase significantly in recent years. Nevertheless, property in this area remains significantly cheaper than on the coast.

Typical properties
There is a healthy mix of the old and new in Alhaurín. Property in the area includes newly built apartments in the centre of town, while there are a number of villas available in the urbanisations on Alhaurín’s outskirts. Look outside of Alhaurín’s boundaries and you will see a plethora of cortijos and fincas to be found in the surrounding countryside.

Most buyers are looking to purchase a traditional country home, complete with two acres of land and some fruit trees. Wherever you buy, given the geographical situation of Alhaurín, property is virtually guaranteed stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valley.

If you live in the Guadalhorce valley, you’ll find that you’re never more than 25 minutes from the coast, which makes this area hugely popular among tourists. Consequently, it can be very profitable in terms of rental income As well as offering a healthy short term market, there is also a strong long term rentals market, as many potential buyers arrive in Alhaurín with the intention of renting for between six months to a year before they buy.

Living Here
An area of outstanding natural beauty, life is lived in a traditional Spanish vein in the Alhaurín area, with centuries of culture and tradition being evident. In fact, values reflect those seen 30 years ago in the UK. Even though the town of Alhaurín has become very cosmopolitan and there are a large number of foreign residents living here, life maintains a Spanish feel. This is enriched by the local cuisine, such as “Migas” (breadcrumbs fried with garlic) and “Gachas Cachorrenas” (porridge with spices).

The local population refer to Alhaurín as ‘inland Marbella’ due to its thriving economy and beauty, plus the local government is currently undertaking a project to develop the town, with plans for many new facilities. It already boasts a great selection of bars, clubs and restaurants, which makes the area great as a family holiday or rental destination.

John and Lynda Laver decided to leave their Bedfordshire home for warmer climes and a more relaxed way of life. Both had stressful jobs in the UK but neither of them felt ready for early retirement they just wanted to work fewer hours and spend more time together, and with their family. They settled on Spain, but from there it was important to ensure the area they chose was accessible, as they had a daughter with young children who needed to be able to reach them easily. John and Lynda had visited the Costa del Sol many times but didn’t want to live in the busy coastal area, instead seeking a location that offered a more Spanish lifestyle.

“A friend recommended that we look inland from Málaga Airport, and suggested towns such as Alhaurín el Grande, Coín and Monda. What we found was the Guadalhorce Valley, an area largely untouched by tourism with stunning villages and countryside,” says Lynda. They knew it was exactly what they were looking for and had soon purchased a brand new, four bedroom house in the countryside surrounding Alhaurín el Grande. It came complete with an acre of land, fruit trees and a working well. John enthuses: “We’ve spent many hours working on the landscaping and have now created a beautiful home where many of our family friends have spent happy holidays with us.”

Fans of outdoor activities will find that there are many leisure activities to pursue, while the beach is only 15 kilometres away. There are local and international schools in the region and both private and state healthcare are available. Despite there being a cosmopolitan mix of nationalities, it is still important to learn the language and make a real effort to integrate yourself into the local community. That way, you can make the most of living in a traditional and welcoming environment.

So why not visit Alhaurín El Grande for yourself and treat yourself to the taste of real Spanish living.

Books for learning Spanish

One question I get asked a lot is “what did you use to help you learn Spanish?” The answer is simple. Apart from living in the country and in an area void of “guiris” (foreigners), I learnt from a great book called “MADRIGAL’S MAGIC KEY TO SPANISH” by MARGARITA MADRIGAL. Right from the very first chapter I was speaking Spanish within a week, seriously and I was reasonably fluent within 6 months. Of course, living with Spanish people and working with them was by far the best environment to be in to learn the language but apart from this, the book is amazing. Unlike most books that teach you to memorise a whole list of vocabulary, this book teaches you to actually think in Spanish and use words that you already know in the language without even realising it. You can read more about it HERE and if you want to have a peek at the first chapter and start speaking Spanish right away with the words that you don’t know you already know, then click HERE!

A second book that I’d recommend is really a reference work but is especially usefully when trying to conjugate your verbs (eg. I READ, She READS, They READ, We READ etc). It’s called “501 SPANISH VERBS” by CHRISTOPHER KENDRIS and it contains 501 main Spanish verbs (like the title says really!) but also teaches you how to conjugate other verbs not in the book based on what you already know. For more info you can read about it on AMAZON.