LA CREU DEL PORTIXOL & CAP PRIM COASTAL PARK

La Creu del Portixol or the Cross of Portixol is not only a Mirador or Lookout but it also marks the entrance to a hiking trail along Cape Prim.
Cape Prim is a unique ecological micro-reserve park. You can see the multi-mix of marlston or mudstone and clay cliffs, which caress this coastal enclave. It also has rare indigenous plants of great ecological value, so it very important to stay on the marked paths and not to pick the plants or alter their environment in any way!
On the one of the park you can see the tiny island of Portixol. On the other side of Cap Prim you get a fantastic view of El Montgo, the elephant mountain and its long adjoining trunk-like cape of San Antonio.
Cape Prim can be found at the southern tip of Javea Bay and is enjoyed and it is appreciated by many visitors both locally and from all over the world.

CHRISTMAS SEASON MEANS VALENCIAN ORANGES - YUMMY!

DECEMBER is all about Christmas, but is also about oranges. A 45 minute drive from our coastal home is the midieval town of Xàtiva where we lived for 6 months when we first arrived in Spain back in 2001. Xàtiva is surrounded with orange valleys, deep and thick with tasty, sweet Valencian oranges. There is nothing better in this world than picking a fresh orange off the tree and eating it right away. You can feel the vitamin C curse throughout your body. That is one of the reasons we are very rarely sick here in Spain because we get plenty of vitamin C daily ;)

MORAIRA IS THE JEWEL OF THE COSTA BLANCA

Once a tiny fishing village, Moraira is now one of the most glamous yet cozy holiday spots in the world. With two beaches, a harbour, and a village packed full of fine dining, cafes, shopping and bars; it is like a super resort location. Celebrities frequent Moraira and enjoy the place the same as us normal folks. The village hosts a giant open market every Friday that sells fresh fruit and vegetables, shoes and souvenirs, leather bags and other bobbles. Moraira is marvelous!


info@SpainDiscountHolidayRentals.com

ALOE VERA GEL - Daily Use - Daily Protection - Are you protecting your family?

The Spanish have always known about the healing properties from the gel from the aloe vera plant, but science understands why the cooling liquid from the aloe vera plant is so important in the daily protection of the whole family including your pets.

Aloe Vera gel, when used daily can protect your family from disease. Applied to the skin, the gel reduces inflammation thus helping the healing process and there is substantial scientific evidence to show this.

Studies conducted at Texas A&M University and Texas Children's Hospital by Drs. Bob Bowden and Wayne Smith have now demonstrated that aloe extracts mediate a second anti-inflammatory mechanism by blocking certain integrins.

Integrins are proteins that mediate cell adherence. Thus in inflamed tissues, defensive cells such as blood neutrophils must first bind to endothelial cells on blood vessel walls before entering the tissues.
This binding is integrin-mediated. Neutrophils, although critical for host defense, are unfortunately able to cause significant tissue damage as a result of the release of potent enzymes and oxygen metabolites. Thus compounds that block neutrophil emigration will prevent tissue damage and so reduce inflammation.

Another part of the healing equation is that the gel forms a rich mixture of vitamins and minerals, which together with water combined in the gel allows those properties to absorb quickly into the blood stream. The gel of the aloe vera when applied daily also hydrates the skin leaving a thin film over the skin that not only holds the moisture in the skin, but protects the skin from harmful pollutants and free radicals. It also acts as a toner for the skin, firming the skin immediately upon application. This means that it is the best solution for diaper rash and other skin irritations.

Aloe vera gel is a form of pectin, but not like the kind you would use to make your jams and jellies. Scientist have studied aloe pectin and call it "cell cement" because of the way that it acts as a binding agent to aid the growth factor that cells need to divide and grow.

"So we believe that when we drop this pectin into a wound, it forms a soft gel and then binds the growth factors and makes them persist for much longer," explains immunologist Ian Tizard of Texas A&M in College Station. "The effect we see is a significant acceleration of wound healing."

The healing power is particularly potent for older victims who normally take longer to heal than younger people. Testing aloe vera gel on wounds, Tizard found that in older people the wounds that normally would heal in 3 weeks - healed in 2 weeks. This is important information for elderly folks who might suffer from bed sores or pressure ulcers.

And when it comes to your pets, nothing beats aloe vera for healing their wounds as well. Respected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they have already licensed the use of aloe vera to treat cancer in dogs and cats.

You can research all these studies on the Internet – or you can learn more about how aloe vera gel is made and how you can protect your family and pets daily by contacting Karla Darocas who works for the Costa Blanca’s only aloe vera laboratory in Benitachell @ 648 156 607 or info@AloeLand.info . You also visit the website to buy fresh aloe vera gel directly from the laboratory – http://www.aloeland.info/ 
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FALLAS FESTIVAL POSTER COMPETITION WINNER 2011

Every year at this time, the Fallas Festival starts its season with a marketing poster contest. This season the winning design came from Rafael Vilches, who lives in Valencia, and it was selected out of 79 candidates who came not only from Valencia, but from all over Spain.

The winner was revealed by Laura Caballero, the Falla Queen for 2011





Here is Fallas Queen Laura Caballero with the winning poster

MARINE PARK TRAIL - LAS ROTES - DENIA

Getting your exercise is easy when you explore the "paseo" at Las Rotas Marine Park in Denia. This walking trail takes you along a jagged coastline that is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but a snorkelers dream. Here you will find coral colonies, caves and other natural enclaves. In fact, you might want to curl up in a crack of rock and picnic or read. You might even see the coast guard zipping by in his high speed motor boat. When you return from you walk, the Las Rotas restaurant is a seafood treasure. Looking up you will see a pre-medieval Arab guard tower and as always - blue skies.

NOVEMBER ROCKS!

So far, November has been incredible with rich blue skies, clear air and bright sunshine. Our Chinese Maple tree is showing its colours as you can see. And our oranges are starting to turn their colour too.

GRAND OPENING OF JAVEA HOMES - REAL ESTATE OFFICE

Recently, our long time friend - Carmelo Vicens Ash - had a grand splash opening at his new office at the Javea Beach. The party was just featured in Casas & Villas magazine. Check out Jose in the bottom left of the page. Carmelo is the smiley guy with the stylish eyeware :) To See Full Size - Click on Photo

To See Full Size - Click on Photo

CRUISING THE PORT HARBOUR

What a great day to hang out in the Javea / Xabia "Aduanas del Mar" port harbour. Whilst the history of the harbour stretches back to the 15th century, the first jetty was built in 1871 and it became an important gateway for the export of raisins. The raisin trade collapsed at the end of the 19th century and the settlement became a mere fishing harbour. The modern harbour was built in the 1950s and 1960s. The nautical club has been in the central area of the harbour since 1963.

Bruce Willis making his movie in Granadella Park

Bruce Willis is so impressed with our beautiful area he expressed a desire to own a holiday home here! It wouldn't be the first Hollywood celebrity to be in our area... just ask Madonna, Michael Douglas, the Bee Gees, Hugo Boss and more!

Bruce Willis queda prendado de La Granadella mientras rueda en Xàbia. Las Provincias

WEE TURTLE TRAVELS

These turtles and their giant fish friends all live a life of luxury at the Javea Golf Course - Alicante, Spain

SEPTEMBER STORM CLOUDS OVER GRANADELLA PARK AT SUNRISE

BENITACHELL ON CNN NEWS - AGAIN!!!

Yesterday, a guy was arrested in a house beside the church in town for recruiting members into Al Queda. He is 26 or 27 years old and eveyrone in town knew him and said he was a friendly, helpful guy. Plus his mother is married to a citizen of Benitachell. The whole town was shut down and even the priest couldn't get into his own church. This isn't the first time our town has been on CNN in relation to Al Queda. Back in 2003 the Guardia Civil arrested a guy in Cumbre del Sol - again another friendly, well-liked member of the community, and he ended up in prison accused of being a terrorist.

EXCITING CELEBRITIES COME TO OUR BACKYARD

EXCITING NEWS - Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver, Emma Hamilton and Henry Cavill will be shooting their film at the Granadella park, where I walk my dogs every moring - and at the beach. New movie is called "Cold Light of Day". The film tells the story of a young American who uncovers a conspiracy during his attempt to save his family who were kidnapped during their Spanish holiday. So wild - I wonder if Bruce would come for a BBQ and a swim?? Better yet - Sigourney!! Filming starts Septemeber 7th, 2010

AUGUST STORM CAUSES PROPERTY DAMAGE

A full day and night of solid pounding rain brought extensive damage to some neighbours by pulling down walls and filling swimming pools with mud.

AUGUST STORM BRINGS FLASH FLOODS

The water really piled up down the bottom of our street. This poor red car nearly floated over the wall.

AUGUST SUNRISES OVER CUMBRE DEL SOL

The mornings are so pretty and different as the sun reaches up over the Mediterranean sea :)

CRAZY SUMMER SOUNDS

This summer in Spain, we are all stuck on this crazy mix of an old Italian song by Renato Carosone - We Don't Speak Americano - and all the different DJ's making their magic mixes. Here is a dance mix of the song is Yolanda be Cool & DCUP - but this creative person made a video tribute by using footage from the film - "Toto', Peppino e Le Fanatiche". Watch it and you will see what I mean - TOTALLY INFECTIOUS!!!

SALVADOR DALI'S LETTERS FROM THE 20'S - BEFORE THE WAR - AS A 22 year old student

DOUBLE CLICK ON ARTICLE TO ENLARGE

GARAGE GEKKOS

Are you crazy for Geckos? Meet our little gecko friends who live in our Spanish garage! There is a rugged male, first photo - that we call - "BIG G". There is another male - called "STUBBY", and a lovely female, who enjoys being a model for the camera - and she is "GIRLY".

XATIVA in Valencia - A little historical article in El Pais today

Double click on article to enlarge

MORAIG - The Lost River of the Phoenicians Now A Divers Playground

At the bottom of my street is a seafront cave called MORAIG.
It is the entrance to the largest subterranean river in the Iberian peninsula.

The Phoenicians who landed here and settled Denia and Calpe back in 1000 B.C., knew this cave as the mouth of a fresh water river and came to draw their water supply. Of course, the world sea levels were about 3 meters lower then.

Today, divers come from all over the world to explore Moraig's underwater labyrinth.

Here are some videos I found on YouTube - to give you an idea!

State of the Spanish Economy - No Comparison Between Spain & Greece

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LYNX REPOPULATION PROGRAM SUFFERS SETBACK AS DISEASE INFECTS ANIMALS

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MAP OF CIVIL WAR VICTIMS' GRAVES TO GO ONLINE

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PENÉLOPE POWER

DOUBLE CLICK ON PHOTO - TO READ IN FULL SIZE

SAD TALE OF VIKING PRINCESS IN SPAIN

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HERON HANGING AT THE LAGOON IN MORAIRA

Sneaking up on a Spanish heron isn't easy, but getting these photos made it all worth it!

FOGGY CONDITIONS & GIANT MUD PUDDLES

February has been foggy and wet. It has rained every other day. However when the sun does come out - neighbourhood dogs enjoy the big muddy puddles.