La Marina Advertiser brings you news and views on local issues in La Marina Urbanisation, La Marina Pueblo and San Fulgencio.
If you have any QUESTIONS for Samantha about local issues, please email Sam on info@lamarinaadvertiser.com
It's a Local Affair!
with Samantha
Hull
San Fulgencio Councilor
Answering all your questions about local issues as well as exploring life and culture in Spain as a San Fulgencio local.
THE
TARJETA DEL MAYOR AND IMSERSO HOLIDAY PROGRAMME FOR OLDER RESIDENTS IN LA MARINA
Older residents in La Marina have access to several benefits designed to promote wellbeing. Two of the most important are the Tarjeta del Mayor (Older Person’s Card) and the IMSERSO subsidised holiday programme. Both schemes are available to residents in La Marina.
The Tarjeta del Mayor
The Tarjeta del Mayor is issued by the Generalitat Valenciana and is available to anyone aged 65 and over, or those aged 60 to 65 already receiving a state pension – it grants access to a catalogue of discounts, services and activities.
Benefits of the card:
• Discounts on public transport within the Valencian Community.
• Reduced entry fees for cultural events, museums and theatres.
• Priority access to some regional or municipal social services.
• Reduced prices for municipal sports and leisure facilities.
• Access to special programmes for older people, such as workshops, courses and cultural trips organised by the Generalitat or the local council.
How to apply:
Applications can be made either online through the official website of the Generalitat Valenciana or in person at San Fulgencio’s Social Services office on Calle Lepanto 9.
You will need:
• A completed application form (Solicitud de la Tarjeta del Mayor).
• Proof of identity (DNI or NIE).
• Proof of residence (certificate of empadronamiento).
• For those under 65: a certificate confirming pensioner status.
For assistance, residents can contact San Fulgencio Social Services at 966 794 517 or use the “Cita Previa” system on the Town Hall website: www.sanfulgencio.es.
The IMSERSO Holiday Programme
The Spanish Government also offers the IMSERSO holiday programme (Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales). This long-established initiative enables older residents to enjoy subsidised holidays throughout Spain. The aim is to promote social interaction, health and wellbeing, and to combat loneliness among pensioners.
What the programme offers:
For the 2025–2026 season, IMSERSO has announced around 879,000 places across Spain. Destinations include coastal resorts on the mainland, the Balearic and Canary Islands, and cultural or inland nature routes. Typical prices for the 2025–26 season range from €244 for a week’s stay to €309 for ten days, depending on destination and time of year. Pensioners with very low incomes may be eligible for special places at €50. Some trips allow small pets to accompany travelers.
Eligibility:
To participate, applicants must:
• Be a legal resident in Spain and registered with Social Security.
• Be a pensioner receiving a retirement, widow(er)’s or similar state pension, or be aged 60 + and retired.
• Reside permanently in Spain (foreign residents who are officially registered and meet these conditions are eligible).
• Spouses, partners or dependent disabled children may accompany the main applicant.
How to apply:
Applications open each summer (for the 2025–26 season, between 1 and 23 July 2025). Successful applicants receive an accreditation letter with a booking code. Booking opened in early October 2025 for the Valencian Community. Holidays can be reserved:
• Online through the official IMSERSO website or authorised booking platforms (such as www.turismosocial. com), or
• In person at participating travel agencies.
Priority is given via a points-based system, considering age, income and previous participation. Lower income and higher age give more points. The IMSERSO programme helps residents remain active, offering companionship, recreation and a positive impact on mental health.
San Fulgencio’s Social Services can advise residents on how to apply and confirm eligibility and assists with completing forms for those who may have language or accessibility difficulties.
Vyjuvek is a medication that is greatly helpful to children suffering the Butterfly Skin conditionapplied directly to wounds it helps them heal, even those that have been open for years. It is not a definitive cure, but it relieves pain and reduces the risk of infections. This medication was approved in the European Union in April 2025 and is already available in some EU countries such as France, Italy, and Germany.
In Spain, it has not yet been introduced, and during this time without the medication, we have accumulated 4 million minutes of wound care, which means over 7 years of continuous pain.
TO SIGN THE PETITION USE THE QR CODE IN THE PICTURE OR VISIT www.pieldemariposa.es
Do you have a couple of hours spare every week as we are looking for volunteers to join our vibrant and fun team to help in our shop. We have various roles including sorting donations, help in the shop and if you like ironing we have a role for you! Pop in and have a chat with Mary at the DEBRA Charity shop on Consum Square as every hour you volunteer you are helping our Nurses to support all children in Spain with Butterfly Skin.
Our NGO, DEBRA Butterfly Skin, is collecting signatures to show society’s support, raise awareness, and speed up the approval of Vyjuvek. Each signature is one step closer to the medication — and takes minutes away from pain.
We would like to wish all our customers and collaborators a Happy Christmas & A Healthy New Year, thank you for your continued support which is greatly appreciated as you give us Wings!
My La Marina with Marco van Zanten of La Marina Bike Rentals
When and why did you come to La Marina?
I moved permanently to La Marina at the end of November 2024. After many holidays in Spain, I already knew that the Costa Blanca — and especially La Marina — was the place where I wanted to build my new life. The climate, the peaceful atmosphere, and the warm international community made the decision easy.
At 61, I felt far too young to slow down. I wanted a fresh start in the sun, with new energy and new opportunities.
Where were you living previously and what were you doing?
Before moving here, I lived in Harderwijk in the Netherlands, where I ran my own driving school for 37 years. I taught thousands of students, and safety on wheels has always been my passion. Whether you’re on two wheels or four, safety always comes first — although a car has a slight advantage with its four wheels.
What do you do now?
Here in La Marina I run La Marina Bike Rentals, located next to Bianco’s on Consum Square. What started with just a few e-bikes has now grown into a busy rental business with electric bikes and Segways used by customers from all over Europe.
Thanks to my driving-school background, I give clear instructions, personalised tips and always a bit of safety coaching — old habits die hard.
One part of my work ethic has never changed: I’m only satisfied when my customers are satisfied.
That’s how I worked in the Netherlands, and that’s how I work here — friendly, honest and with 100% dedication.
What is your favourite thing about La Marina?
The mix of nature, space and lifestyle. Within minutes you’re at the dunes, the beach, the salt lakes or riding through quiet country roads. The weather makes it
possible to cycle all year round — ideal for e-bike lovers.
But the best part is the people. The friendly atmosphere, the conversations I have every day, and the smiles of returning customers make La Marina feel like home.
And the future?
I hope to continue expanding La Marina Bike Rentals — more routes, more bikes, and always the same personal service.
Moving to Spain wasn’t just a change of address; it was the start of a new chapter. And every happy cyclist reminds me that I made the right choice.
LA MARINA BIKE RENTALS
Consum Square, La Marina 03177
Tel: . 622 509 939
www.lamarinabikerentals.com
Dani’s Diaries A SPANISH CHRISTMAS
We definitely do Christmas differently here in Spain. For one, I’m writing this under a perfectly blue sky whilst sipping coffee in a T-shirt on the beach. It’s not quite the magical white Christmas, but the festive period in Spain has its own charm.
By the beginning of December, streets and town squares have filled with lights, nativity scenes and shop shelves are stacked with turrón, mantecados, marzipan, polvorones, and other seasonal sweets that crumble when you touch them or explode into a ball of dust the moment you put them in your mouth.
The true festive period starts December 22nd with the most dramatic soundtrack imaginable: schoolchildren singing winning lottery numbers on live TV. This is El Gordo, the Christmas lottery, and everyone from your neighbour to your doctor buys a ticket just in case destiny feels generous. While other countries rely on Santa Claus to deliver joy, Spain counts on statistically improbable luck.
Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena, is the night of the big family feast. Picture oceans of seafood, lamb and suckling pigs. Some children open gifts that night, though traditions vary - more traditional families save the big presents for Three Kings Day.
Christmas Day itself is often more relaxed. A nice morning stroll, coffee with the neighbours, another lunch with the family while the children play with their toys. And so December 28th arrives. Though biblically this day carries a deeper, sadder meaning, Spain has created its own version of April Fools’ Day - Día de los Santos Inocentes, a day filled with pranks, jokes, and playful fake news .
New Year’s Eve, or Nochevieja, is celebrated with elegance, sequins, and
the deeply stressful ritual of eating twelve grapes during the twelve chimes at midnight. The theory is simple: one grape per bell = good luck for each month of the new year. In practice, it’s a nationwide choking hazard disguised as tradition. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve watched millions of people frantically chew, swallow, panic, and try to shout “¡Feliz Año Nuevo!” with their mouths full! And let’s not forget, of course, the tradition of wearing red underwear for even more good luck...
Spain’s festive marathon continues into January with El Día de los Reyes Magos - Three Kings Day. The Three Kings- also known as the Wise Men - travel from the East by camel (or, in modern parades, by floats with dodgy hydraulics). On the evening of January 5th, every town and city stages a cabalgata, a parade where the kings throw sweets to screaming children.
That night, children leave out water for the camels and sweets for the kings, who reward the well-behaved with gifts and the mischievous with a symbolic piece of coal - nowadays made of sugar. Breakfast on the 6th features Roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped cake containing two hidden treasures: a tiny figurine (luck) and a bean (shame - and you pay for the roscón next year). Another choking hazard, of course, so make sure to check inside the cake for ceramic figurines before biting into it!
And so the decorations begin to come down after another great holiday season. It’s quirky, it’s heartfelt, and it’s uniquely, wonderfully Spanish. www.speechlessinspain.com
Successful watercolour painting exhibition in La Marina!
On Monday, November 17th the Papagayo Art Class held a beautiful exhibition of watercolour paintings by beginning and advanced artists.
As visitors gather on the terrace of the Papagayo 3.0 Bar & Dining Café it´s clear it´s going to be busy! With a glass of cava and musical accompaniment, the works of art are viewed and the public is very positive. Given the time that the artists have been practicing, the level is high. A major achievement by both artists and teacher Yolande.
The artists are frequently approached by the enthusiastic visitors. Several visitors buy a painting, others commission paintings. An great success!
After the exhibition, many visitors enjoy the terrace.
Yolande gives weekly watercolour lessons at Papagayo every Monday (3pm). Every four weeks there is a theme, every week a specific assignment within that theme. Everybody is welcome to have a look on Monday afternoon (3.15pm). Do you want to come by or participate? Send an e-mail to Yolande: papagayo.artclass@gmail.com.
Cooking with Sue
Sue has been making us delicious home-made dishes at Sue´s Kitchen, here in La Marina, for over 3 years... and we´ve persuaded her to share some of her secrets with us!
Ingredients
350g plain flour
175g butter
A little cold water
250g mincemeat
A little milk
3 tablespoons icing sugar
This month Sue is cooking up a festival, Christmas special – Mince Tarts!
Sue´s Kitchen
Home-made Mince Tarts
Instructions
Combine the flour and sugar a large bowl, mix and add in butter.
Stir in a little water and milk gradually until all ingredients combine into a thick dough.
Roll 2/3 of the dough out on a floured surface to a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch (3mm). Cut circles from this dough as the base of the tarts and place them in a greased pie baking tray. Roll out the remaining dough and cut out circles for ´lids´ of the mince tarts.
When you´ve placed all your tart bases in the pie baking tray, fill them with mincemeat and top with the pie ´lids´.
Place the tarts on an oven preheated to 200C (gas mark 6), 180C for fan ovens and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven, leave to cool and carefully remove the tarts from the baking tray, transfer them to a wire rack, sprinkle with powdered sugar and... enjoy!
THE WRITING GROUP
A WOMAN TIME FORGOT
By Lifa Jolly
She tilled the soil, mowed the lawn Without any moan or groan. A sprightly girl of sweet sixteen, Waiting for her love each morn.
Wild meadows they did run. Danced and pranced in rain. Butterflies and bees they did chase Dandelion seeds they blew away.
He helped her milk her cows, Churn creams to butter and whey.
Gather apples and fallen chestnuts, Store them for wintry day.
Then one cold winter’s dawn, He rushed in great hurry, ‘Wait for me sweet Caroline, I seek my fortune in the city’.
‘I will be back with a wedding ring, To make you my bride and wife. Together we will build our home On that meadow by the riverside’.
Rain washed away her tears, She heard not the thunder. Nor the earth move beneath her feet, She stood in daze and wonder.
One long lingering kiss he gave. Her heart broken forever. Not knowing what to make of it all, Why this hasty departure?
Winter turns to Spring. And Spring to Summer and Fall. Our Caroline waits for that footfall, Her life will change and all.
Each day she tends her cows and ewes. As she did many years before; Churning cream into butter and whey, Cheeses to sell at the market store.
Tilling, sowing, reaping corn. Enough for a lone woman’s needs. Enough to feed all her creatures. Enough for a good night’s sleep.
Her golden hair has mellowed to grey. Her skin has furrowed like the earth she tills.
Blurry eyes, watching and waiting, She has promises to keep.
Her worn out hips cry out in pain,
The Writing Group is a friendly mix of local creatives who meet every second Tuesday at 11am in The Palm Tree Bar, La Marina, to share ideas, write for fun, and enjoy supportive, relaxed company.
For more info, email Paddy at paddychristie7@gmail.com or call/ whatsapp him on 634 343 956
Her broken heart wants to stop. Mercy on us shout her blistered feet, But our Caroline falters not.
One summer’s day there comes a youth Walking across the meadow. Backpack and joystick in his hand, Guiding his drone to take some pictures.
‘That’s my Victor’ shouts Caroline ‘He has come for me at last’. She rushes across the meadow. Face in a blush, she sprints so fast.
Her faithful heart comes to her rescue, Spares her any more anguish and pain. ‘Is that 999’ shouts the youth on his iPhone. ‘An old woman has collapsed’, he flies his drone again.
I’VE NOTHING TO SAY!
By Nina Saunders
I´ve nothing to say so I won´t speak. Perhaps for a day or maybe a week. It might even be for a fortnight or more. I´ll just have to see, Oh! What a bore!
Too much chattering makes me feel ill. Gossiping, nattering, my mind can´t be still.
So I´ll zip my lips at least for today. No quotes or quips...... I´ve nothing to say!
MUSICAL THEATRE AT IT´S BEST!
Some Studio32 highlights from 2025
December is an excellent month to celebrate another year of fun and entertainment delivered by The Studio32 musical theatre group! What a year it has turned out to be! Music and acting rehearsals ran twice weekly and as show week approached, this became three rehearsals each week. Many of those taking principle parts, also took on extra rehearsals - it takes dedication and commitment to deliver such a high standard of singing and acting for the much acclaimed St32 Sister Act Musical production. To quote just a few of the many comments post show, "This show matched the West End", "We could have watched this show again", "If not already sold out, we would have bought tickets to watch it all again", "This am dram group produced a professional level of musical", "This company should tour Spain and beyond". The number of people who took the time to add their comments and congratulations was unprecedented and deeply appreciated!
For all involved in the production of the shows, the excitement from seeing the audience reaction, is the icing on the cake that makes it all worthwhile. Thank you!
There are many aspects to producing the level of entertainment we strive to deliver. To name a few, the wardrobe department involves a team of dedicated seamstresses, who, under the guidance of our show director, design and create the costumes. The group we fondly call our ´Makers & Shakers´ build all our stage equipment and props. Some of you may remember the flying piano in Sister Act. Yes? All built by our team of carpenters! Watch out for many more original props to be rolled out for our next show ´9to5´.
Behind the scenes, the backstage crew spend weeks preparing sound equipment,
lighting, digital uploading and much more.
We are so very fortunate to have Mark Feakins, our show director and Nicole Casey, our musical director. You can discover more about their talents on Facebook. And for ´9to5´, we will increase from one to two choreographers.
Planning is on schedule for our next production at The Cardinal Belluga Theatre in May 2026. Precise dates will be released once agreed with San Fulgencio council. In the meantime, audition workshops are being held this month which will give us in excess of four months of rehearsals.
As a musical theatre group, we have donated more than €47,000 to local charities and we aim at increasing this figure in 2026.
Would you like to join us? Whether experienced or not, you can contact us on our Facebook page and also on www.studiothirtytwo.org.
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INTERNATIONAL ARTIST EXHIBITS IN LA MARINA
Until December 23rd Viridium Gallery Coffee is holding an exhibition of art by internationally renowned artist Zoltan Pavel-Grosz, much of whose work explores time and timelessness. See here just some of the pictures in the exhibition. The works are also available to buy (speak to Iris).
Gallery Coffee
C/Madrid 3, La Marina (next door to SATS)
@Instagram: pavelgrosz.art
Viridium
Quiz time Quiz time SUDOKU
To solve the puzzle each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column must contain all the numbers 1 to 9. For hints and information visit www.sudoku.org.uk
1. Which South American country is named after Venice?
2. The Jets and Sharks appeared in which Broadway musical?
3. Who rode Marengo?
4. What are the three cardinal virtues?
5. Who was the pilot hero of Captain W.E. John’s stories?
6. Which two teams contested the first Wembley F.A Cup Final to go to a replay?
7. What two Scrabble letters have eight point values?
8. What fishes skin was once used commercially as sandpaper?
9. What would an American call a car bonnet?
10. What is the cube root of 64?
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