With the beginning of the new season, we have made significant improvements to the sun terrace areas around the pool at Villa Florencia. Previously, there was a wooden decking area at one end of the pool with a paved area to the side, leading down to a tiled terrace in front of the barbecue.

The wooden decking has now been replaced with paving that matches the rest of the pool surround, as well as being extended to the right. Running along the back of this new terrace is a built-in stone and tile bench-seat, which all combine to greatly extend the size and useable area of the previous decking.

The existing paved terrace to the side has also been extended, and now leads down to the area in front of the barbecue with full width steps, and the previous tiles there have been replaced and paved to match the other terrace areas.

The overall effect is to make a much more generous sun terrace area, with a great deal more usable space, that will make that whole area of the gardens there much more accessible.

This weekend we were pleased to welcome Emma and Jacob, who had booked in for a romantic Valentine’s break away from Valencia City. They travelled down by train, so we were happy to collect them from Gandía station – the service is regular and reliable, so they were able to give us a ring and let us know what train they were on and when to collect them.

They are both actors with a theatrical group that tours around Spain and performs in English to Spanish schoolchildren, acting out well-known stories and plays in an effort to help them improve their use of English and tune their ears to the spoken language. It is a job they both love, and it also gives them a chance to visit many different places in the country – and certainly not always towns on the traditional tourist routes!

They arrived on the Friday evening for dinner with us, never having been to this area of the Costa Blanca before. We were happy to tell them all about this part of the country, and on Saturday morning they were eager to set off for Gandía to explore the market and of course to have a look at the award-winning beach at Playa de Gandía. We dropped them off in the town centre – close to the market area – and pointed out some of the places they might enjoy looking at during the rest of the day. They spent all day out and about, exploring the town in the morning before walking down to the beach area, where they spent most of the rest of the daylight hours. After that, it was another walk back from the beach to Gandía town where they enjoyed a drink and a pizza in one of the main squares. They caught a taxi back to the villa later on, and had had a thoroughly enjoyable day, with Gandía proving once again to be a delight to the first-time visitor, especially in the lovely spring sunshine that made us feel that maybe winter was finally to be a thing of the past!

After a leisurely breakfast on Sunday – which was another lovely day – both Emma and Jacob wanted to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings here, and spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon walking through the orange groves behind the villa, going right up to the treeline on the hills at the back. After that they walked up to the lower climbing faces of Penya Roja (otherwise known as Gandía Crag), which is a famous climbing rock immediately in the vicinity of the villa, and enjoyed the views back along the whole of the Marchuquera valley. When they returned to us at about 2.30pm, there was just enough time to sit in the garden for a while for a coffee and a light snack before it was sadly time to drop them off at the railway station for their return trip to Valencia city once again.

However, they had had a really great time and had found the tranquillity of the whole area a welcome change from the bustle of the city. They agreed that it had not only been just the break they needed, but that they would almost certainly return when the weather was even warmer and they would be able to enjoy the swimming pool here and beach at Playa de Gandía to the full.

It would be great to see them back with us again, and we look forward to the next time they are able to pay us a visit at the Gandia Casa Rural.

Casalasafor, selling property in the La Safor region of Valencia Casalasafor is an estate agency specialising in the sale of property in the Gandia area – a small and charming region on the coastline of Valencia Province comprising a range of villages and small towns, the capital of which is Gandia.

La Safor is notable for the range of properties for sale in the area – which have a variety of prices and designs, making them attractive to foreign buyers and inland Spaniards alike. This is something recognised by Casalasafor and what helps to make Casalasafor (as a local estate agency) effective in selling properties – as Casalasafor sells property not just to foreigners but also to the Spanish. This is combined with the significant Internet presence that the director of Casalasafor has, as the web master of Culture Spain (a highly regarded authority information site on Spain).

Of course, the past few years have made selling property in the Gandia area difficult. Indeed, few people would argue that the property market in Spain has been tough, nor that sellers of property in La Safor have not also suffered.

However, Casalasafor has continued to sell properties around La Safor area throughout the Spanish property crash and, as a consequence, is constantly in need of quality properties (of all prices) to sell.

In fact, over the past few months, there has been a marked increase in enquiries from Northern Europe, with buyers requesting information about townhouses in Oliva and Villalonga and properties in Rotova, Potries, Marxuquera and Ador. Meanwhile, the demand for quality villas on the estates of Monte Corona, Monte Pino, Monterrey and Tossal Botes continues. Well priced villas in a La Drova, needless to say, remain popular, with the Barx area somewhere attractive to anyone wanting great views and the convenience of living within 15 minutes of Gandia and the Blue Flagged beaches of La Safor.

As a ‘soon to be broadcast’ programme from ‘A Place in the Sun’ will show, Gandia is a largely unknown destination for many foreign buyers. However, that is set to change and now is a good time to take advantage of what may be a new foreign buyer interest in the Gandia area. This may well make properties in Gandia and its surroundings more saleable than they have been for several years, in which case having them listed with Casalasafor – may well turn out to be an inspired move!

Sellers of properties in the La Safor area can contact Casalasafor here to list their property for sale and this is normally achieved very quickly with properties usually loaded onto the site within 24 hours. So, whether you are Spanish or English speaking, if you are trying to sell your property in the Gandia area get hold of Casalasafor – and enjoy the best possible chance of selling your home quickly!

A Place in the Sun, Ador, Barx, Casalasafor, Gandia, La Drova, Marxuquera, Monte Corona, Monte Pino, Monterrey, Oliva, Potries, properties La Safor, property Gandia, property Gandia area, property in La Safor, Rotova, Tossal Botes, villa for sale Gandia, villa Gandia, villa La Drova, Villalonga

Are you selling your property in la Safor or within the Gandia area? If so, then you need Casalasafor, the local estate agency that successfully sells property internationally.

Christmas Eve saw the arrival of two guests from Liverpool – Gary and Andy – who had made a reservation to visit us for 10 nights, staying right through until into the New Year. They arrived in the early evening, settled into their room, and then joined us for dinner that night. It turned out that this was the first time they had spent Christmas outside the UK, and had chosen our part of Spain because they wanted somewhere a bit different and not one of the usual Costa Blanca resorts which they felt were rather over-run with British holidaymakers in search of some winter sun. They were looking for a destination that was a favourite with the Spanish themselves, had done some research on the internet to find somewhere that fitted the bill, and Gandía came top of their list. They had spent time in other parts of Spain, but this was their first visit to the northern Costa Blanca.

Christmas Day was a beautiful, sunny day and Gary and Andy were delighted to see such breathtaking scenery right on their doorstep – they had arrived the previous evening in the dark, after all! We had a most enjoyable Christmas lunch together on the dining terrace, and this was followed by a relaxing afternoon in the sun for Gary and Andy – a very welcome change from the weather they had left behind in Liverpool! Boxing Day was also a lovely day full of sunshine and again they were more than happy to relax in the garden and unwind from their journey and the everyday life back in the UK. For the next few days they fell into a routine of breakfast and a leisurely morning around the house and garden – alas the pool was far too cold for a swim! – and then in the afternoon they would go on a trip to one of the many places of interest in the area.

Out of curiosity they ventured to Benidorm, but found it overall not to their taste, despite the admittedly beautiful beaches. The monastery at Simat – only a half hour’s very scenic drive from the villa – was one place they visited that they felt was very well worth seeing, and then they also spent a whole day in Valencia, which far exceeded their expectations. They took the city bus tour to give them a quick idea of the general lay-out of the main places of interest, and then spent the rest of that day walking around the historic area and through the Turia gardens which have been constructed in the riverbed of the long-since diverted River Turia. They also spent time admiring the amazing architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias) before eventually heading back to the villa after a long but most enjoyable day.

They spent New Year’s Eve with us in the villa, along with the other guests who had arrived by then – a large group of friends from Romania who were visiting for the rock-climbing in the area – and everyone enjoyed a thoroughly convivial time seeing in 2012. The weather for their entire visit was warm and sunny during the day – although of course much cooler at night – and New Year’s Day was no exception, dawning bright and sunny with a beautiful clear sky. This was in stark contrast to the weather in the UK, which was cold and windy, making them even less keen to return home when the time came.

Sadly, however, that time inevitably did come and Gary and Andy left for their flight from Alicante to Liverpool with firm promises to return to us in the future. In the ten days that they were with us we became firm friends, and they realised that there was still so much more to see in this part of Spain, so hopefully they will come back to us soon and sample the area in even warmer weather later in the year. It was an absolute pleasure to have them visit us, and we very much look forward to their return.

Penya Roja Climbing Lodge is a beautiful and spacious country home, located just minutes from two of the Costa Blanca’s best climbing rocks, Gandia Crag and El Bovedon or an easy drive to any of the Rock climbing sites on the Costa Blanca.

Your hosts , Nigel and Mark, run the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge with all of its facilities and comforts like a small country hotel and combine this with a welcoming feeling of informality and relaxation. Our aim at the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge is to provide an exceptional standard of individual service to our guests, making them feel that they are in a friendly and informal atmosphere where they can relax and unwind without the usual constraints of a conventional hotel.

Our B&B accommodation consists of 5 spacious bedrooms (three twins and two doubles) all have air-conditioning and heating, are well furnished and benefit from housekeeping services on a daily basis. Complimentary tea and coffee making facilities are provided in each room and all have modern en-suite bathrooms with power showers.

Additionally there is a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom self contained, self catering apartment for rent.

The lodge also has ample car parking facilities – we would suggest that guests hire a car in order to derive the greatest benefit from the surrounding towns and countryside.
The public rooms of the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge include a bar and lounge for the use of all our guests, where – depending on the season – you can either have a refreshing drink after a hard day’s rock climbing around the pool, or enjoy your favourite after-dinner liqueur in front of a log fire on the cooler winter evenings.
Breakfast and dinner are both served on the glass-enclosed terrace which has panoramic views of the nearby orange groves and mountains.

For those who wish to venture further afield, the Penya Roja Climbing Lodge provides an ideal base for daily excursions to Valencia, Benidorm or Alicante.
Bouldering, climbers accommodation Spain, Climbing, climbing in Spain, Costa Blanca, Rock Climbing, Rock Climbing Holidays, Rock climbing in Spain, Sports Climbing in Spain

Spain is not just about sun, sea and sangria, it’s about the Moors, the Reconquest, El Cid, Hernan Cortes, the Conquistadors, the Golden Age, Don Quijote, the Camino de Santiago, Flamenco, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, paella, seafood, the Alhambra, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Velazquez, Goya, Murillo, Andres Segovia, Joaquin Rodrigo, Carmen, Napoleon, Wellington, the Spanish Armada, Catalyuna (Catalonia), Andalucia, or Andalusia if you prefer, Rafael Nadal, Fernan Adria – the list goes on and on.

Books4Spain has been established by Rod Younger, an Anglo-Spaniard and author, to help you discover Spain and its rich history and culture through books, as well as to provide you access to useful, relevant and interesting information about living, travelling or holidaying in Spain.

Our intention is to try and re-create the experience, attractions and benefits of a traditional bricks & mortar independent bookshop but with the added convenience afforded by the Internet and technology to offer better choice, an easier way to discover books about Spain, great customer service and, ultimately, to enable our clients to learn more about Spain, its culture and history.

We have a small but growing network of reviewers who are either experts in a particular field, e.g. Therese Wassily Saba for flamenco and classical guitar (www.myflamencodiary.com), or who are book lovers and lovers of Spain and who write the Books4Spain Reviews for specific books.

Customer service is a priority for us and we aim to respond within 24 hours to any emails and to try and resolve any questions or queries as quickly as possible. We are human and we are new so the site is constantly being improved and our book selection increased.

We welcome any feedback or suggestions you may have with regard to the site and our book selection – we are always looking to add quality books about Spain to the site so please do email us your suggestions/recommendations to suggestions@books4spain.com and we will use our best efforts to source the relevant book(s).

Authors such as Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, Laurie Lee, Gerald Brenan, George Borrow, Richard Ford and Washington Irving have long been fascinated by this amazing country and we hope that Books4Spain enables you to discover, and share in, their experiences and those of many others.

We look forward to being of service to you.

Super-fast, easy to use and free, the Ubuntu operating system powers millions of desktops, netbooks and servers around the world. Ubuntu does everything you need it to. It’ll work with your existing PC files, printers, cameras and MP3 players. And it comes with thousands of free apps.

Desktop
Perfect for business use, Ubuntu is safe, intuitive and stable. Easy to integrate, you’ll be able to create documents, spreadsheets and presentations and share them with Windows users stress-free.

Server
Reliable, fast and powerful, Ubuntu Server fits into your existing infrastructure seamlessly. That’s why so many businesses and schools are using Ubuntu Server every single day.

Cloud
Ubuntu cloud computing puts you in control of your IT infrastructure. It helps you optimise resources and reduce costs while you access computing power as and when you need it.

More bang for your buck
No hidden costs, no lock-in

Ubuntu is used as a desktop operating system by thousands of businesses on millions of desktops around the world.

Looking to escape the cycle of endless Windows upgrades? Now, there’s a real alternative. No licence fees. No subscription costs. With Ubuntu, you can scale your desktop infrastructure without scaling the expense.

And Ubuntu is naturally free of viruses, so there’s no need for expensive anti-virus software, and you can save on all the costs of maintenance associated with malware on Windows.

Ubuntu is, and always will be, absolutely free. Created by the best open-source experts from all over the world, Ubuntu is available in 24 languages and ready for download today.

Ubuntu Review

Many people are seeking alternatives to the seaside resort holiday that is centred around lots of sunshine and doing as little as possible except maybe reading a book on the beach or around a swimming pool.  Pleasant as that prospect may be, spending two weeks with nothing else on the agenda can become a little monotonous.  More and more holidaymakers are looking to combine some of the lazy sunshine holiday concept with a certain amount of activity, and it is here that the area around Gandía and the whole area along the Costa Blanca can really come into its own. 

The beautiful mountain scenery that lies almost immediately behind the coastal resorts along the Costa Blanca provide for a whole host of activities that are only now being fully recognised by local towns and businesses as equally valid and attractive reasons to come to this part of Spain.  An obvious recreation in the La Safor mountains near Gandía is that of hiking and walking, and there is a wide choice of routes that have been mapped out for the enthusiast, ranging from easy, gentle walks to more strenuous hikes and climbs.  Local authorities have started producing maps showing the recommended routes to follow, and these are also signposted along the way to make things even easier and more “user friendly” and less daunting for the first-time hill walker.  There is also a hiking information centre in the hills behind Gandía where many of the local routes are centred upon, set in an area designated of special interest and natural beauty.  As an extra point of interest, some of the routes also make use of disused railway lines in the area and the hiker will find themselves taking unspoilt and scenic routes between towns and villages, often even walking through former railway tunnels along the way. 

If walking and hiking does not appeal, an alternative is cycling and mountain biking.  This is a recreation that is hugely popular amongst local people, and it is not hard to see why.  Bikes can be hired locally, either as an independent daily or weekly rental, or in the company of a guide who can take the enthusiast along routes in the hills and mountains if a road trip is not what you have in mind.  Stunning mountain views are the reward for a steep climb through many of the villages and towns in the area, and then of course there is always the extra reward of the exhilarating downhill trip at the other side!  It is very easy to combine a route that takes in a mountain section, followed by a return along the coast and maybe a swim in the sea all in the same trip – the best of everything! 

Nature lovers can also indulge themselves along the Costa Blanca by visiting the areas frequented by the many species of birds in the area – both local and (depending on the time of year) migratory.  There is a large designated nature reserve of wetlands to the south of Valencia City that will be of particular interest to the bird watcher, and this is home to a great number of species as well as a stopping point for birds that are passing through on their seasonal migrations.  In addition to this specific area, the entire stretch of coast provides excellent opportunities for spotting a wide range of birds, including many birds of prey in the mountains.  Guided bird watching tours can be arranged by local experts who can take the visitor to the best starting-off points, depending on the particular types of bird that are of particular interest.  This can in fact be an excellent way of combining the different activities that the area lends itself to so well – walking through beautiful scenery whilst at the same time spotting varieties of birds and wildlife the visitor is unlikely to encounter at home. 

And all this, of course, is available along the Costa Blanca in a climate so very much milder and warmer than what the visitor would probably be used to at home.  Indeed, the long mild season that this part of Spain generally experiences makes it perfectly possible – and maybe even preferable – to take a break at a time when the mainstream holiday crowds have either not yet arrived or already returned home.  The visitor can then benefit from lower airfares (rather than having to pay the premium normally levied during school holidays), cheaper accommodation costs, and of course a less crowded environment than during the traditional peak season.  

Alternatively, if some members of a group want the more traditional high-season holiday activities of sun and sea, this can be combined with the interests of the walker and nature lover all in the same trip.  The Costa Blanca and the La Safor region in particular really does have a lot more to offer than first meets the eye.

Autumn and Winter Sunshine The weather is most definitely beginning to cool down in northern Europe now generally, but this year has seen a wonderful, long summer in Spain, and particularly along the Costa Blanca. September and October have so far been unusually warm and settled, and this weather seems here to stay for a while yet.

What better time can there possibly be to leave the grey and cold of impending winter behind and head to the Costa Blanca for what must surely be a bargain break in the sun? Hotels and self-catering accommodation throughout the region are offering great deals on holiday rates, and of course air fares are generally much lower now that the school term has resumed. All in all, a great opportunity for those who can take a holiday at this time of year – all the facilities are here and waiting for the autumn traveller – but with none of the crowds, lower prices and fabulous weather too!

The Costa Blanca has some of the best beaches in Spain – and indeed in the whole of the Mediterranean – but travellers are sometimes deterred from visiting by reports of crowded resorts and rowdy holidaymakers. These resorts and beaches are now at their best and can be enjoyed in relative peace and quiet, giving visitors the impression of what they must have been like in years gone by.

The Costa Blanca has so much more to offer than just holiday resorts and stunning beaches, however, and visitors are often impressed – and surprised – by what they find if they venture away from the better known destinations. Stunning mountain scenery and fascinating castles and attractions are to be found for those that venture slightly inland, with towns such as Xátiva and Guadalest being amongst the most well-known fortifications. Inland lakes and reservoirs are also amongst the surprises that await the intrepid traveller, with a huge choice of scenic drives to choose from.

If driving is not such a preferred option, the Costa Blanca also offers a huge opportunity for the walker and hiker. Designated routes are marked out and signposted in many parts of the region, as well as an indication of estimated journey times and distance. These are to be found not only in the hills and mountains of the Costa Blanca, but interestingly some of these routes encompass old railway tracks and tunnels, which gives an unusual dimension to a walking route and takes the visitor through parts of the region that would otherwise be completely forgotten by now.

If a city break is higher up the list of priorities than a beach or a scenic break, then of course Valencia City has so much to offer the visitor – and the scorching heat of summer has abated, so exploring the city is so much more pleasant in the more gentle warmth of Autumn. Public transport to the city is reliable and inexpensive, so if you are staying in one of the holiday areas along the coast (either north or south), a quick train ride will take you straight to the centre. Valencia has an historic part that is compact and easy to get around on foot and the usual tourist bus can be used to get a quick handle on which sights should be seen in greater detail. There are two routes to ride around, and passengers can hop on and off at any of the stops, and switch between routes at points where they intersect. In stark contrast to the historic centre is the stunning architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias) – a complex that includes (amongst other facilities) a science museum, the largest aquarium in Europe and an Imax cinema, as well as being a visual delight in its own right. As well as all this, the recently refurbished beach and port areas that include the part of the city featured in the European Grand Prix route are also a recent addition to the “must see” list for the city visitor.

So – now would seem to be the perfect time to visit this beautiful region of Spain. The Costa Blanca and the Comunidad Valenciana have something for everyone, and with accommodation prices offering particularly good value at the moment, airfares past their summer peak pricing structures and a settled outlook of warm and sunny weather, what better time could there be to leave the grey of the north behind and get a last dose of sunshine and warmth, with a Costa Blanca Sunshine Holiday?

Accommodation, Accommodation Spain, Costa Blanca 2011 Sunshine, Costa Blanca Spain, Costa Blanca Sunshine, Costa Sunshine Spain, Free WiFi, Holiday Spain, Spain Sunshine, Spanish self-catering holidays, Spanish Sunshine, Spanish Sunshine Holidays, Sunshine Holidays Spain