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NEWS DFAS talk BENAHAVIS DFAS will be holding a talk, The Cult of the South Pacific from Cook to Gauguin, on April 28 at 6.30pm at Benahavis Town Hall. For more information www.benahavisdfas.com. Puppet show CHILDREN are invited to a free puppet show, El Libro Magico, at Alhaurin el Grande’s public library at 5pm today, Thursday 23, to celebrate World Book Day.
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23 - 29 April 2015 / Costa del Sol
Promising summer bookings THE Costa del Sol is gaining ground against international competitors for summer holiday bookings from the UK, Germany, France, Italy and other parts of Spain. While tourists from abroad are reportedly choosing the Costa instead of other sun and sea destinations due to the stability and relative safety it offers, increased
confidence in the economy in Spanish homes is leading more national tourists to book up too. A total of 920,214 visitors stayed at Costa hotels between November and February, giving signs of hope for what is to come this summer. Confederation of Spanish Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (Cehat) president Juan Molas stated that the summer is certain to be a
good one as bookings are already up by 7 per cent compared to this time last year with the UK and other European countries confirming 2 to 3 per cent increases. Molas added that travel agents had reported a 20 per cent increase in Spanish tourists over the Easter period, which could well be a sign of increased last-minute bookings to come.
More building THREE construction projects for homes in Las Lagunas and La Cala have been approved by Mijas Council and are expected to provide work for local builders.
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Tax rebates
ALMOST 61,000 people in Malaga Province sent in their tax returns during the first week of Hacienda’s current tax campaign, and more than €14 million has been sent out in rebates in the area so far.
A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD from La Cala del Moral arrested by the National Police force is suspected of being the urban Midas who has recently been painting waste bins and benches gold in Malaga City and Rincon de la Victoria.
Pollen updates
Children take over SCHOOLCHILDREN dressed in typical costume to represent different countries held a mock-up United Nations Assembly at Marbella Town Hall as part of World Education Campaign activities.
Work accident FIREMEN had to lift a 1,000 kilo tank of bleach and retrieve three fingers a worker lost at Peñon del Cuervo water-treatment plant in Malaga when his hand was trapped underneath.
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Suspect caught
Cleaning replacement FUENGIROLA’S town cleaning department will be replacing its 18-year-old street-cleaning machine with a new one, the council has announced.
Survivor recovering THE survivor of a recent tragedy during which three Turkish people drowned on a Marbella beach has left intensive care and at the time of going to press continues his recovery on a ward of the Costa del Sol Hospital.
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HAYFEVER sufferers will be pleased to know that the Andalucian Health Service is giving information on pollen levels on its free Salud Responde app, available from App Store and Google Play. INNER SANCTUARY: For an overwhelming scent of jasmine, geraniums and orange blossom.
Blooming wonderful festival in Cordoba
THE COURTYARDS, or simply ‘Patios’ festival of Cordoba 2015 will run from May 4, until May 17. ‘Los Patios de Cordoba’ is Cordoba’s most anticipated, and fragrant yearly event. The first two weeks of May see the most beautiful kept courtyards in the world fling open their doors to the public. Carpets of flowers, handmade Islamic mosaics, striking water features combine with an overwhelming scent of jasmine, geraniums, carnations and orange blossom. Since 1921, the town hall has organised a competition of Courtyards and Crosses in the first week of May, where the owners decorate their houses with great care to try and win the prestigious award offered by the authorities. Over 50 patios will be open free of charge to the public. The town hall has published nine sug-
Quote of the Week I’ve got to kill more people,” said a 13year-old secondary school student in Barcelona over and over again after killing a teacher and injuring another four people on Monday during what authorities are describing as a psychotic outbreak.
gested routes you can visit on your own accord, or you can join a paid tour party to take in these wonderful authentic inner sanctuaries that date back hundreds of years. Firstly the Romans, and later the Muslims adapted the typical design of the popular house to their needs, making the home centre on an inner courtyard (or patio), normally with a fountain in the middle and often a well to collect rainwater. The Muslims made further adjustments, giving the house an entrance from the street which passed through a porch, and filling the courtyard with plants to give the sensation of freshness. A visit is indeed worth the effort, but bear in mind, nearly all the patios close between 2pm and 6pm. For more details and routes, see the website at www.patiosyrutascordoba.com.
Number of the week
34,974
non-Spanish people began paying into social security system in March said reports by the Employment and Social Security Ministry. March was the second month in a row to see increases in the number of foreigners finding legal work in Spain.
New projects ALHAURIN DE LA TORRE Council has announced that projects for two new hotels, a golf course, a McDonalds and a Dia supermarket are being considered to attract tourists and create more jobs.
Better fairground THE fairground in Los Barrios will be improved thanks to a new project to add parks, sports facilities and a children’s playground, encouraging year-round use.
Convention visit INTERNATIONAL Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) will be holding next year’s annual Spanish and Portuguese group assembly in Marbella.
And finally... A VIDEO of a choir from Jacaranda school in Sevilla singing La Musica No Se Toca, a song by Alejandro Sanz, has gone viral on the internet after the singer shared it on his Facebook page, stating that he had fallen in love with the entire school.