Fernando, Martin, Sergio and the rest of the Drivalia Team wish you a very Happy New Year.

As I write it is a beautiful sunny day in Alicante and a great start to the year. At 18 degrees Centigrade it is a comfortable temperature for being active in the Province whether it’s simply enjoying a stroll along the promenades of the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida or perhaps cycling or hiking in the hills and mountains of inland Alicante and Murcia.

almost gold
While you plan your winter escape to Alicante let me just bring you up-to-date on some local news you might have missed.

In the local Alicante News

Torrevieja – Property Hot Spot

According to this report,  Torrevieja is Spain’s top spot for sales with more than 3000 properties sold in 2012. With two-bedroom properties available from €40,000 it is great news for buyers but perhaps not so much for sellers. Hopefully the activity will at least bring some stability.

Floating buoys to protect seabed

Alicante’s Tabarca Island is a victim of its own success. Although a marine reserve since 1986, it seems that the volume of pleasure boats anchoring around the island are negatively impacting upon the eco-system. Fortunately the engineer of the Port Authority of Alicante has a plan: read more.

Pleas for a toll-free AP7

The mayors of Benissa and Benidorm, both towns on the Costa Blanca, have called for tolls on the AP7 to be removed. This motorway (or auto-pista) is the fast route joining Alicante Airport in the south with the coastal towns of northern Costa Blanca and beyond.

With no money in the local coffers it seems unlikely to happen but no harm in asking. Read more.

Events

St Anthony’s Day [LINK]

On 17 January towns throughout Alicante and Murcia will be celebrating the patron saint of domestic animals. During this fiesta there will be bonfires, parades, processions and most significantly the blessing of animals. Also in Alicante there will be Porrat de San Antón, local street markets featuring nuts and dried fruits.

Carnival

It will soon be carnival time in Torrevieja (18th January to 9th February 2013) and in Alicante City (07 – 17 February 2013). We will bring you more information shortly.

Drivalia Car Rental

Fernando and Martin are off on their travels again this month to participate in the first of this year’s international trade shows, FITUR, which is taking place between 30 January and 03 February 2013 in Madrid. Last year, according to official figures, the event attracted 9,506 exhibiting companies from 167 countries/regions, 119,322 trade participants and 91,555 members of the general public. Martin and Fernando will be representing Drivalia at the Comunidad Valenciana Stand in Pavilion 7, Stand 7A04. If you are attending the Show please drop by.

For more news and highlights please check out the Drivalia Facebook page.