Imagine that before you die you have the privilege of rubbing a magic lamp, just like Aladdin, to make a wish come true. You perhaps have opportunity to wish for something that you have never been able to do before. A last wish. Four health workers have established in Murcia a scheme that enables people […]

Many people travelling up and down the old Alicante Road or Cortes Valencianas in Torrevieja will never have noticed ALPE (Asociación Comarcal para la Rehabilitación del Discapacitado). It’s on the side of this very popular stretch of road and provides education and life-long learning opportunities for children and adults who have a disability. The facilities […]

On Monday 12th February the British Consul, Sarah-Jane Morris, visited Torrevieja town hall to meet the public and answer questions about Brexit. In this article we share the advice she gave. We are now approaching the second year of preparing for Brexit and those people who live abroad are understandably feeling a little uneasy. Although […]

The most recent padrón statistics show changes in the local population. We look in more detail at what they tell us and why all residents should be registered. The padrón is the town census which should include the names of all the people who live there. The latest statistics recorded in Torrevieja suggest that there […]

Most of the property sales that Ábaco assists with are for homes. They are on behalf of those residents and non-residents in Spain who recognise the importance of enlisting a solicitor who will look after their interests. However, there are occasions when Ábaco is asked to help with the purchase of something a little different. […]

If you want to go hiking in Spain then you really are spoilt for choice. Spain has 14 national parks, every one of which can be an interesting alternative for a hike. We mention some of these routes in this article, but it is impossible to cover all of them. It’s worth noting that although […]

You’d think with the seemingly endless sunshine in Spain that solar power would be its chief form of energy. However, this is not the case. Why doesn’t Spain invest more heavily in solar power? Spain has a reputation for the number of sunny days that it can boast. Even in the winter it rarely rains […]

If you regularly visit Spain during the summer then you really should at least once watch a Moors and Christians parade. This mixture of history, tradition and sheer dressing-up madness is a must for all ages. It can also be a long night ahead if you have the stamina! In virtually every town and city […]

Erasmus is a European Union student exchange programme which has built a reputation for being a life-changing and inspirational experience. Not surprisingly, many students want to come to Spain. In this article we consider why and what the benefits are. There are currently more than 4,000 higher education institutions such as universities taking part in […]

From the homely tapas to the sophisticated Michelin starred restaurant, the food in Spain has something for everyone. If you think of Spanish food, what are the first images that come to mind? It might be garlic, paella, tapas, or the display of hams and cured meats at the market. Spanish food is often simple, colourful […]

Some people think of Torrevieja as just a seaside holiday resort. In the hustle and bustle of the summer season you could be forgiven for this. However, it’s also a town with a history and salt is at its heart. Torrevieja’s population has rocketed in the last half-century, but its growth hasn’t always been due […]

Most people think of Torrevieja as primarily being a seaside resort. It’s not a package holiday destination as such but, with its prime location on the shores of the Mediterranean, it’s a popular holiday destination for Northern Europeans and Spanish alike. Although this swells business during the spring and summer season, it leaves the town […]

This is the fourth article of a series of five articles on Spanish residency for EU and British citizens. David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translations explains the process and what you need to comply.   The table of contents is: Spanish Residency Overview Pensioners Workers Self-employed/business Unemployed Today’s article will only concentrate on EU and British self-employed and […]

If you buy a property in Spain then you will need to take out insurance. Insurance in Spain works very similarly to that in other European countries, more or less. You pay a Premium and, unless you have to make a claim, that is it. However, there are a few differences and some issues that […]

Noisy neighbours, barking dogs, bars and restaurants playing music to the early hours. We’re often asked what can be done about noise in Spain. In this article Marina Lorente from our legal department looks at the issue and the possible actions that can be taken. Spain is not renowned for being the most restrained of […]

This is the third article of a series of five articles on Spanish residency for EU and British citizens. David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translations explains the process and what you need to comply.   The table of contents is: Spanish Residency Overview Pensioners Workers Self-employed/business Unemployed This article focuses on EU and British job seekers. You can […]

The number of tourists visiting Spain keeps on rising. In 2015 68.1 million people came to Spain whilst in 2016 the number recorded had reached 71.6 million by November. In this Infograph we can clearly see how the number of tourists visiting Spain over the past three years has been growing. The increase has been […]

Jamie Oliver certainly caused a storm when he recommended that paella be made with chorizo. Eduardo Simón from the Customer Care Department at Ábaco explains what should and shouldn’t be in this very important Spanish dish.  What conjures up Spain more than a large, colourful paella? It’s a truly fabulous dish, not only because of […]

Carnaval, the Spanish spelling of carnival, is quite an event in many parts of Spain. It can also be something of a conundrum if you are not a native of the country. In this article we delve a little into what ‘carnaval’ is all about. It’s February in Spain and it’s not warm. At night […]

Many people are confused when it comes to what they need to apply for residency in Spain. In this series of four articles, David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translation, explains what the general requirements are.   Welcome to the Mini guide to Spanish residency. This is the first article of a series of five articles on Spanish […]

Many people are confused when it comes to what they need to apply for residency in Spain. In this series of four articles, David Ruiz of Torrevieja Translation, explains what the specific requirements are for pensioners. This is the second article of a series of five articles on Spanish residency for EU and British citizens. […]

When Bob Bray first fell in love with Harley Davidsons at eight years old he didn’t envisage that he would be touring Spain on one. Now, he plans to share the varied and marvellous scenery with his wife too. ‘I was in Bognor Regis when I saw my first Harley Davidson. It was love at […]

Spain is famous for its wine and deservedly so. It has a huge number of vineyards many of which welcome people to come and find out about the grapes that are grown there and the wines that result. The bodega is officially the warehouse where the wine is stored but it has come to mean […]

Spain has a reputation for having one of the best national health services in Europe. How can you make sure you can access it if you come to live here? Caroline Clinton explains what the options are. For those people considering coming to live in Spain permanently, how to access the health care in Spain is […]

Of course it’s not only dog owners who want to know what is and isn’t allowed in Spain. Anyone spending time here is affected by the way in which others look after, or not, their pets. Barking dogs, dangerous dogs, dog mess left on the pavements have an impact on everyone. In this article we […]