Don’t drink the water! (Unless you’re thirsty)

Landing back in Spain after a jaunt away, I was surprised to see that Galasa has had its water supply condemned and we’re all drinking contaminated water. I mean, this is news? Been like this since day dot. Anyway, best look it up I thought. The problem stems from the floods last year, which seem to have washed a load of organic crud into the Cuevas dam which is only just starting to work its Continue reading Don’t drink the water! (Unless you’re thirsty)

War in Libya is becoming personal

There are many reasons to cheer for, and oppose, the Western War on Libya. I shall not enter into them, at least tonight, in a brevity that shall surprise many of my loyal readers. Instead, I shall touch upon how the War in Libya has become quite personal for me, in a way that is affecting my personal life. It seems that the the Levante of Almería is in a direct line between the US Continue reading War in Libya is becoming personal

Luciano Alonso witters on about tourism (you’d almost think it was his job)

There is an incredibly boring, yet long, article in today’s La Voz de Almería by Luciano Alonso Alonso, Andalucian Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Sport, in which he manages to quote Shakespeare, Washington Irving and Darwin whilst reflecting on the importance of tourism for Andalucia. All of them, of course, great exponents of tourism. It seems that today is the World Day of Tourism (sadly, I missed the fireworks and free paella). Tourism, as Luciano Continue reading Luciano Alonso witters on about tourism (you’d almost think it was his job)

Mojacar’s tourism future – quality or quantity?

There is currently a debate raging about the future of Mojácar’s tourism. To understand the debate, you must understand that Spain attempts to quantify tourism into neat little socio-economical blocks, which academics can then pigeonhole into whatever half assed plan the politicos come up with. So we have many different types of “theoretical” types of tourism, such as turismo rural, where people go and stay in a rural hotel; turismo gastronomico, which are tourists attracted Continue reading Mojacar’s tourism future – quality or quantity?

Why are we having so many power cuts?

This was the question I posed to José Luis, my friendly Endesa rep who popped round this morning with Christmas cheers and a bottle of fine whisky, courtesy of Endesa. (That’s a lie, it was actually a business card holder with the Endesa logo blazoned on it). He intially gave me the standard foboff about bad weather, high consumption, etc. Not good enough, said I, to explain the 20 odd power cuts we’ve had since Continue reading Why are we having so many power cuts?

An overview of the POTALA

The Potala A quick overview and analysis UPDATE: Here’s the link to the very latest plans as published on the Junta de Andalucia website: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/site/web/menuitem.a5664a214f73c3df81d8899661525ea0/?vgnextoid=15bf5f4eecac9110VgnVCM1000000624e50aRCRD What is the POTALA? The POTALA (Plan de ordenacion terretorial del levante almeriense, or plan for the territorial planning of the Almeria levante) is a macro plan developed by the Junta de Andalucia that intends to bring order to the overall development of this region over the next 10 years. Continue reading An overview of the POTALA