Finca Arboleda’s 100th Review

Michael Petty Finca Arboleda 0 Comment

 

Celebrating 100 Great ReviewsWow! we have just received our 100th guest review on our own independently hosted guest book.

We had stopped using the guest book for a while as listing sites like Owners Direct, Spain Holiday, Trip Advisor pressure it’s clients to get guests to post reviews  and we are very aware that people returning from their holiday have better things to do than post multiple reviews. There are more than 100 more reviews scattered around the web but our own guest book is the one that stays with us.

A big thank you to all the guests who have taken the trouble to review us over the last 11 years. I’m going to look back at some of the early ones but they are all here if you are interested http://tinyurl.com/yc98pex

 

100th Review Received

Michael Petty Finca Arboleda , , , , 0 Comment

Celebrating 100 Great ReviewsWow! we have just received our 100th guest review on our own independently hosted guest book.

We had stopped using the guest book for a while as listing sites like Owners Direct, Spain Holiday, Trip Advisor pressure it’s clients to get guests to post reviews  and we are very aware that people returning from their holiday have better things to do than post multiple reviews. There are more than 100 more reviews scattered around the web but our own guest book is the one that stays with us.

A big thank you to all the guests who have taken the trouble to review us over the last 11 years. I’m going to look at some of the early ones but they are all here if you are interested http://tinyurl.com/yc98pex

Dreambeach Festival Villaricos 2017

Michael Petty Culture, Local Interest, Things to Do, Whats On , , , 0 Comment

2017 is the 5th anniversary of the Dreambeach Electro, Techno, Dance festival at Villaricos. It runs from August 10th until 15th.Dreambeach line up 2017

I must admit the only people I’ve heard of are Chase and Status and that’s only because I’ve seen them plastered all over the London tube a couple of years ago.  But hey it’s for people a lot younger than me, a bit like when my parents couldn’t understand why I sat in a field all weekend listening to people who needed a damn good haircut, happy days!

When we first moved here the festival was part of the Creamfields group and did use to feature some more mainstream acts, even The Pet Shop Boys played one year. Other acts included The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Goldfrapp,Fatboy Slim, Massive Attack, Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx who I’m familiar with but wouldn’t go and see.

Four days of music on 4 stages will be enjoyed by over 100,000 people with the campsite holding around 30,000. The first sign that something is happening is when the average age of people in the supermarkets plummet as the sales of booze rises. We then realise there is a bass pounding in the distance at bedtime and that it is still there when we wake, great stamina these kids.

It normally passes without incident and we hope they all have a great time.

Dreambeach Villaricos 2017

Vera Media Maratón

Michael Petty Local Interest, Whats On , 0 Comment

Vera Half Marathon 2017Vera’s half marathon as well as 5K and 10K races will take place on the evening on 15th July 2017.

Deadline for registration is 12th July and it costs €12 for all categories. It is designed to be a basically flat course as you would expect being by the playa.

TELÉFONO / FAX: 627 866 423 (Félix) / 670 028 833 (Pedro) for information.

If you need accommodation for that weekend our one bedroom garden bungalow has availability at the moment from the 8th – 17th July, minimum stay is 3 nights but it would make the ideal place a a summer break.  http://www.fincaarboleda.com

 

Traditional Pottery Workshop in Vera

Michael Petty Culture, Local Interest, Things to Do, Whats On , 0 Comment

Vera Pottery CourseStarting yesterday Vera will be holding holding traditional pottery workshops.

They will be held by local craftsman, Salvador Hernández.   The workshops, which will be held in the Plaza de Toros from June 19 to September 15, will be divided into 4 groups with a maximum of 8 students per group , thus giving personalized attention during the training. It will include everything necessary to make the pieces.

The cost of registration is 50 euros for a month, or 120 euros for the entire three months duration of the workshop. For more information you can contact by phone 600 06 26 87.

50 euros for a months pottery course has to be a great offer and will no doubt be very popular.

San Juan, Party On The Beach Time

Michael Petty Culture, Local Interest, Things to Do , , , , 0 Comment

San Juan GarruchaThe Summer Solstice in Spain is celebrated on the beach, where else? At midnight on 23rd June, family and friends, young and old all head for their local beach with some wood for a bonfire, food and drink, a blanket to sit on and a pen and paper to write down their 3 wishes.

It’s common to see people jumping over fires which, according to legend, cleanse the body and the soul. Jumping in the sea at midnight is supposed to be a way to wash away evil spirits. It is ritual that rules San Juan. After midnight, for example, people wash their faces and feet three times in order to be granted three wishes to ensure a happy twelve months thereafter.

Whether you want to partake in the rituals or just have a great party it is far more fun than when we celebrated “Midsommar” in Sweden and normally we were huddled together to keep warm outdoors before heading in to thaw out with a large whiskey in front of a fire. (It was warm sometimes!)

If you are here on holiday head down to Garrucha, this is what you can expect.

 

Another Couple Living The Dream

Michael Petty Finca Arboleda, Local Interest , , , 0 Comment

We left the UK 14 years ago to start a completely new lifestyle adventure at Finca Arboleda. This programme on Channel 5 tonight features another couple making the leap. It’s always interesting for us to see how they get on but the main reason for watching this particular one is that the lovely Alex Polizzi is presenting. If you didn’t catch her “Spectacular Spain” series which finished a few weeks ago make sure you look out for it on one of the catch up options that are around.

Casa Cuevas Alex Polizzi lends her expertise to British expats Mark and Shirley, who have spent the past eight years living and working on the southern coast of Spain. A weekend break to a traditional Spanish cave house has inspired the pair to open their own. Setting their sights on a hillside in Granada, the duo plan to use their 25,000-euro savings and a £50,000 inheritance to set up a three-bedroom B&B, but an ambitious 10-week turnaround period could leave them struggling to open the doors on time.

Cuevas Helena