Will international football soon be on its way to Gibraltar?

There are a couple of areas of discussion where a recently arrived Brit in Spain should tread carefully when interacting with the locals: politics and football.

Politics is always a touchy subject for any country at any time, and times right now are pretty tough for the average Spaniard. So it’s best to steer clear.

And football? Well, with Spain current World and European champions twice over – plus boasting arguably the two biggest clubs on the planet in the form of Real Madrid and Barcelona – and England nowhere near their level (and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland even further out of sight), it makes perfect sense to keep schtum…

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Spanish consumer confidence levels are going in the right direction

April saw consumer confidence in Spain improve by 4.6 points, according to the country’s Sociological Research Centre (CIS).

Following the increase, confidence now stands at 56.7 points along the Consumer Confidence Index, which is based on a scale between 0 and 200 points. Any rating over 100 points is considered an optimistic level of confidence, while those below 100 indicate widespread negative or pessimistic opinions…

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The Russian connection - a welcome shot in the arm for the Costa del Sol

Barely had the ink had time to dry on the new agreement between Air Europa and Málaga City Hall to establish daily low-cost flights connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg with the Costa del Sol, than Vueling also announced its own initiatives.

The launch date of the Air Europa service is still to be confirmed, although following a meeting in Madrid between representatives of Málaga City Hall and the president of tour operator Globalia, Juan José Hidalgo, it’s expected to be announced imminently…

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Food forethought: Trobado's solution to economic woe is a smart one

It’s an innovation that is both a sign of the times and an encouragement for the future. A restaurant in Spain’s Catalonia region has devised a solution for people who cannot afford to eat out: dine there, then give up an hour of your time to work there – serving, cleaning or clearing up…

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Have people's opinions of the Costa del Sol been tainted by films such as Sexy Beast?

Depending on which circles you move in, it’s either a little- or well-known fact that the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) used to be known as the Costa del Viento (Coast of the Wind) until some sharp-witted marketing man had their bright spark of inspiration.

In truth, the Costa has been the del Boy for all sorts of monikers over the years. A tabloid favourite – exhumed in the wake of the dramatic recent arrest of British fugitive Andrew Moran – is the oft-quoted Costa del Crime.

Evoking images of sun, sex, sangria and ‘Cockernee’ wideboys living the life of Riley on the run, the ‘Costa del Crime’ tag has always carried an element of danger and glamour. Following Moran’s arrest, even the normally mild-mannered The Guardian newspaper has been swept up in the fervour, (mis)labelling the Costa del Sol as the haven to end all havens for UK criminals keen to lay low for a while… Continue Reading

The Spanish poster for Almodóvar's new film, 'I'm So Excited'

He is one of Spain’s most renowned and revered filmmakers, whose opinion and viewpoint is sought on a variety of topics. So when Pedro Almodóvar releases a film that aims to tackle and reflect upon the country’s current economic climate, critics the world over sit up and take notice.

Almodóvar’s I’m So Excited (Spanish title: Los Amantes Pasajeros) touches on debt, deficit, unemployment and despair. A perfect parable of Spain’s current woes, or an overwrought artistic misrepresentation of the situation? That should be for the audience to decide, but it’s a telling new direction for Almodóvar, who has hitherto refused to be drawn on matters relating to politics and the fiscal state of the nation…

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Soak up some guilt-free sun in Spain this summer

After years of health warnings, handwringing and skin cancer campaigns backed by the weightiest scientific evidence this side of the anti-smoking brigade, boffins at the University of Edinburgh are now saying that the benefits of sun exposure may outweigh the risks.

Good news, surely, but does it surprise you? If you’ve ever spent a memorable holiday in somewhere hot and sunny – Spain, for instance – you cannot fail to have noticed just how good you feel during your break and in the immediate warm glow afterwards…

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Calmer seas ahead for Spain's job market as the summer season hits

The number of unemployed Spaniards fell for the first time in months in April as the traditional seasonal uplift began.

Spain’s jobless figures have now fallen below five million, which – while hardly anything to crow about – shows that the country’s forthcoming summer season is still a reliable source of income for many beleaguered Spaniards…

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The innovative poster uses lenticular printing to display two messages simultaneously

Spain can be a brilliantly inventive country at times. Despite its image as a laid-back country steeped in tradition and cloaked in centuries-old practice, it has a streak of modernity running right through its heart.

From its high-speed rail network and stunningly swift toll roads to its sleek architecture, Spain is often at the forefront of innovation…

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The stunning wind farms around Tarifa form a spectacular backdrop

Statistics from Red Electrica de Espana (REE) – Spain’s grid operator – have revealed that 54 per cent of the country’s power requirements were met by renewable energy for the month of April, breaking all previous records.

In March, renewable power accounted for 51.8 per cent of all energy production – itself a record at the time…

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