With the assistance of a good veterinarian in the UK and a similarly helpful one in Spain, this should never be an issue.

The basic outline below, as I said before, at first glance, seems quite complicated, but if you follow the procedure by the letter, you will have no difficulty in transporting Rover or Tiddles to your new home!

Here’s how it works …………….

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) started on 28th February 2000 and allows cats and dogs resident in the UK to visit certain other countries and return to the UK, without quarantine, provided that certain conditions are met. To use this system, you need to comply with the
law, down to the last detail. This is to prevent the transmission of disease from country to country.

Spain is one of the countries that partake in the scheme and this includes the islands but not Ceuta and Melilla. Only certain sea, air and rail routes are included in the scheme and these include: By ferry, Calais to Dover, Cherbourg, Le Havre and St Malo to Portsmouth. By rail, Eurotunnel shuttle service but not Eurostar. By air, certain routes from Europe into London Heathrow. Please check with your airline or tour operator for exact details.

The conditions of the scheme:
All cats and dogs must:

Be fitted with a microchip that meets an ISO specification so that it can be read by a standard microchip reader.

1. Be vaccinated against rabies with an approved vaccine and have booster vaccinations as recommended. Pets must be at least 3 months old and be already fitted with a microchip before they can be vaccinated.

2. Be blood tested about 30 days after vaccination. If your pet fails the blood test it will have to be vaccinated and tested again.

3. Wait at least 6 months after a successful blood test result before being allowed entry or re-entry into the UK (unless your pet was resident in the UK and micro chipped, vaccinated and blood tested before 28th February 2000).

4. What documents do you need? You will need three documents to allow your pet to re-enter the UK. The PETS re-entry certificate issued by a vet in the UK, certifying that the above conditions have been met before you travel.

1. An official Certificate of Treatment against a potentially dangerous type of tapeworm and ticks, which must be carried out by a vet 24-48 hours before re-entering the UK. This treatment has to be done each time you enter the UK.

2. The Declaration of Residence which you will be asked to complete to declare that your pet has not been outside any of the qualifying countries in the six months before entering the UK. This will be available from the transport company or from MAFF.

3. Certain countries including Spain also require and Export Health Certificate, issued in the UK,  to allow your pet to enter the country. It is different from the PETS scheme and your pet may be refused entry if you haven’t got the certificate.

4. How does the scheme work? Before your pet re-enters the UK, the transport company will check the microchip and the official documents. It is very important that all the conditions have been met. You are advised to discuss your plans with your vet as early as possible and allow at least 7 months before your departure date to take advantage of the scheme. Further information is available on the British Embassy’s website

Regulations for the entry into Spain of pet animals from the United States and Canada Requirements for non-commercial imports of dogs, cats, and ferrets
The following requirements concern the non-commercial import of cats, dogs, and ferrets exclusively from the United States and Canada into Spain on or after October 1, 2004, pursuant to Regulation (CE) 998/2003. The entry of dogs, cats, or ferrets will be considered a non-commercial import when the importation consists of five animals or less, accompanied by the owner or the owner’s representative.
The entry of dogs, cats, or ferrets under three months of age is not allowed. For the entry of more than five animals, or any number of animals travelling alone, please check the rules for commercial imports.

The ownership in Spain of certain dogs is subject to strict requirements regarding registration and safety. Information is readily available on which dogs are classed as dangerous in Spain.

Beginning October 1, 2004, all animals will be identified with either a tattoo or a microchip compatible with standards ISO-11784 or ISO-11785 (check with your veterinarian). If the animals are identified with a non-compatible microchip, the importer must supply the appropriate reading equipment.

The animals will also be accompanied by a veterinarian certificate, issued by an official veterinarian, which will include the following:

Identification of the owner or person responsible for the animal(s)

1. Description and origin of the animal(s)

2. Microchip or tattoo number, location and date of insertion.

3. Information on the rabies vaccine (the vaccine type must be inactive, and in compliance with the standards of the OIE).

4. The veterinary certificate will be valid for 4 months or until the vaccine’s expiration date, whichever is first. Animals without the certificate will be denied entry into Spain. If, from Spain, the animals are going to travel to Finland, Ireland, Sweden, or the UK, the
veterinarian must also fill parts V, VI or VII of the certificate, as appropriate. Please contact the Embassy of the country you’ll be travelling to.

The cage or carrier in which the animal is travelling must be labelled with the name, address in Spain, and phone number of the owner or the owner’s representative. The maximum number of animals allowed as non-commercial imports is five (dogs, cats, and/ or ferrets) per traveller. The entry of more than five animals or of any number of animals travelling alone is considered a commercial import

Once in Spain, pet animals need a passport, in order to travel to other countries within or outside the EU. Ask your veterinarian in Spain about the passport.

I spent the first 40 years of my life in that tropical oasis called Manchester where summer in a good year consists of four or five days in July where it doesn’t rain (Or doesn’t rain too much). Mancunians are born with webbed feet and new cars sold in this area arrive with the windscreen wiper switch super glued in the ON position! Without labelling this point for humorous effect, I´m sure the casual reader who is unfamiliar with my home town, will get the picture, Manchester is not akin to the Bahamas!

I am not going to insult myself, I am not a stupid man, I knew it was going to be warm and I timed my emigration from my birthplace so that I wouldn’t arrive in the middle of summer, to give me time to acclimatise in my new home. And using the familiar words of doom from a certain Mr Jeremy Clarkson, I set off to Spain thinking, ‘How hard can it be?’
I arrived in Fuengirola in Early April and set to work in my new bar. Within 48 hours I was quite prepared to send all long trousers and anything with long sleeves to the local charity shop as I was convinced that I would never need them again.

My leather jacket would be an item of my past, a relic to tell my grandchildren about!
Also with the heat came dehydration, sunburn, headaches, lack of sleep, mosquito bites (with a newly discovered allergy to them) and a generally miserable person, and if it hadn´t been for some good advice from a local, my tenure in Spain may have been dramatically cut short.

First and foremost, drink a minimum of five pints of water a day in the height of summer. Beer is also a fluid but alcohol can also dehydrate you and have a reverse effect. The simple test for whether you need more fluids is simple. How many times have you peed today??? You should be going the same as you were in your home country. If you find yourself going only once a day, you are in serious danger of being dehydrated.

Another telltale sign is increased frequency of hangover style headaches. The water in Spain has improved greatly over the last ten years or so and despite the many urban myths, it is absolutely fine to drink. In some areas it can taste quite metallic, but even then, bottled water is cheap and plentiful (some shops sell a five litre bottle for as little as 23 cents).

Nowadays, there is no excuse for sunburn. There are so many suntan lotions available and you should introduce yourself gradually to the tanning rays. Don’t sit out too long, where the right factor and if you are swimming as well, remember to re-apply regularly. Sunburn is painful, and so easily avoided.

Nothing will ruin your time in the summer more than a lack of sleep. The simplest solution will cost you from 30€ at the local ferreteria (DIY shop) and will take the most amateur of DIY enthusiasts about 30 minutes to install. A ceiling fan. If you go to bed with it set onto its lowest setting, the sensation of that circulation of air, will be the equivalent of dropping the air temperature by about ten centigrade. This was one of the biggest improvements in my life here. After this was fitted, I slept like a baby.

I was horrified to find my left arm swollen like a balloon as I awoke one morning and a swift visit to the hospital revealed that I had an allergy to mosquitoes. Not very good news! However, another simple piece of advice was to take an antihistamine tablet each day as a precaution. I was still being bitten but the redness and swelling was at a minimum. A secondary snippet from a local was to buy some citronella patches from the supermarket which are applied to pulse points and repel the mosquitoes. Nowadays, I suffer very few bites.

Another good bit of advice to repel all flies, especially when dining ‘al fresco’ is to spray the table with insect repellent.

As we get older, whether we admit it or not, our bodies are more resilient to change and a dramatic change in climate is difficult to say the least. August on the Costa Del Sol is bloody hot and even people who have lived here all their lives can find it an uncomfortable heat and keep themselves in the shade wherever possible. This aside, I am happy to confirm that this 43 year old has found that with each passing year, the heat has become, not only bearable, but more than a little enjoyable.

Our winter here now feels cold. My jeans, sweaters and everything warm gets worn plenty at that time and I still get to wear my favourite leather jacket!

As I write this, it is July, the sun is shining and beloved is just taking an ice filled jug of Sangria down to the pool edge. I must apologise for ending early on this piece but I think the best piece of advice I can give is to come and try it for yourself, Spain that is, not my Sangria!

Cheers!

Laurence Pike

More from Laurence on this blog: www.costabusinesses.com

1.   Reality Check

Less so nowadays, but people used to have a Utopian idea of buying a bar in Spain, spending lazy days on the beach, working the bar for a few hours a day and having an incredible lifestyle from the profits.

Here is the reality check, particularly with a bar.

A bar, or any business, is exactly the same, wherever you are in the world.  It is hard work, requires dedication, commitment, and if you are running it yourself, many hours of your time.  The work you put in is directly proportional to the profits you take out.  Those who bought a business without thinking that there would actually be ´work´ involved,  soon become disinterested and put less and less effort in and soon saw it disappear under a mountain of debt.
Advice…. Before you buy any business, establish with the current owner or an owner of a similar business, what hours they normally work and decide whether you could cope with those hours and conditions on a permanent basis.

2.  Safety Net

When you buy your new business, you must be sure to set aside sufficient capital to see you through the initial set up or settling in period. This is probably the most common failing of a new business or a new proprietor of a business.  It is so easy to do if your planning has not been meticulous before your move.

So many people buy their business solely based upon the funds they have and they leave too little to cover their running costs for a long enough period of time.  Again, this is no different in Spain to anywhere else in the world.  A brand new business is unlikely to be in profit within the first year and similarly, when you take over a business, the existing clientele is not guaranteed to stay with your establishment, so if you haven’t planned on a little security, it is very easy to become unstuck.  (Very few agencies will advise you on this subject because they are too interested in a quick sale.

At COSTABUSINESSES we would always advise that you kept a minimum of 12 months running costs as a reserve, ideally allowing for 18 months) People who thought they had planned ahead but ran into problems usually have the same story.  They kept aside, the equivalent of 12 months rent on their business as a safety net, however they neglected to keep anything aside for rent on their new apartment, electricity, gas, travel expenses or even food!  In effect, their twelve months safety net became a 4 month reserve, or less!

Advice..  Research your costs for running your business and your accommodation carefully.  Try to keep a minimum of a full year as a reserve.  A well run business should not eat up all of the reserve but simple logic once again says it is better to be safe than sorry

3. Hablo Español

How many times have you said, in your own country, of foreigners, ´They should learn to speak the language´?? Is it any different here?  Of course it isn´t, yet there are still thousands of people living on the Costa Del Sol who barely speak any Spanish at all.

Does this destroy their business?  Of course it doesn´t, a massive percentage of the population on the coast speaks English including the Spanish residents, but the native Spanish speakers are unlikely to frequent a business more than once if the owner and staff cannot use the language of the country, why should they?  Would you in your country?  Of course you wouldn’t!
It is not just for making money that you need the language.  You need to deal with suppliers, telecom companies, power and water companies, Police, other shopkeepers when you buy your groceries and a million others.  How can you exist without speaking the native tongue?  It can only lead to problems and can so easily be avoided.  (A good point to know is that when COSTABUSINESSES sell an establishment, we put you in touch with our Gestoria (Spanish equivalent of Accountant/Lawyer) who will deal with all of your language issues with ‘officialdom’ in the early days and will always help with complex local issues.  For a nominal monthly fee, they deal with all matters financial to ease your shoulders of that burden)

Advice..  Learn the bloody language!!!!!  Spanish is a Latin based language and is remarkable similar to our own in many respects.  There are many courses available, some provided by the Town Hall which are free and some better ones which are very reasonably priced and you can work them around your working hours.  Simply put, don’t be lazy and do what you expect those to do in YOUR country!

Stuck in the holiday spirit

When you first make that huge step and emigrate to another country, you arrive in the party spirit in celebration of your move, and that is fine, enjoy it!  However, it is easy to keep in that spirit as you make new friends and discover the later drinking culture, club life and general merriment of this great country.  Unfortunately, some people enjoy that culture too much and find it hard to settle back into a routine, despite the fact that they have to work at some point the following day.  This leads to a vicious circle of tiredness and exhaustion and you can see people running into downward spiral as they get addicted to this more relaxed way of life.  This is quite a rare situation and it usually hits those who have had a very orderly life in the UK and discover this new culture of freedom.

On the flip side to this point, there are others who apply themselves too much to their new venture, working seven days a week, and all the hours God sends.  Particularly in the summer months this is exhausting in the extreme and the new business can quickly take over their life.  This can easily cause burnout and an intense dislike of your new career.

Advice..  When you make the move, party your head off and celebrate like you never have before.  When the hangover settles down, accept that work needs to start and get stuck in.  It doesn’t mean that there are no more parties, but be sure to treat your work with the respect it deserves, and then go and party like a demon whenever you take a well earned day off.  Time away from the business can be more beneficial than 7 days a week working.  A regular day off gives you something to look forward to each week as you find new ways to relax, explore other parts of your new country and generally enjoy your new life.  This regular break also means you go to work the next day, fully revived.

None of the points above are anything more than logic but as you take up your new life in the sun, you will see ALL of the above issues affecting more than a few people.  Bad planning is the biggest failing of human beings!  With a little caution, a splash of common sense and a sprinkle of reason, you will avoid being one of the victims and instead, be one of the many who have made a better life in sunny Spain.

Written by
Laurence Pike
http://www.costabusinesses.com

If you have ever visited the Costa Del Sol, you will know that every single street contains a bar or an eatery of some sort and to the casual observer, the obvious question has to be, ´How do they all survive?´

Well in any environment, in any business, in any part of the world, the simple answer is that only the strongest and the best survive.

Equally with any business, with true dedication, it is not difficult to rise above the weaker establishments and actually grow, even in harder times. Bars are definitely not an exception to this rule. People will always want relaxation time, will always want a beer and will always want to be entertained. This is my guide to attracting new customers, keeping them in your bar for longer and most importantly, getting them to come back for more.

Whatever the theme or style of your bar, it must always look inviting and friendly. The coast is not just for holiday makers, people live here too and they also need a good local. This also covers cleanliness which must be visible at every turn. Nobody wants to visit a dirty and scruffy establishment.

When you are running the bar, remember you are never just a barman. You are a listener, an entertainer, a friend and above all, the perfect host. However funny it may appear on the television, nobody wants to visit a bar run by Basil Fawlty! Every time somebody enters your premises, your approach must always be that you are happy to see them and for that precise moment, they are the most important people on the planet. Customers want to feel appreciated and welcome on every visit.

So many people, and I am sorry to say, mainly English, believe that they can open a bar in Spain and just cater for the English market. Indeed it is possible, but they are missing on a massive potential for the Spanish locals, Scandinavians, Germans, French, Dutch to name a few. The Spanish particularly love to try new bars but if they feel they cannot use their own language in a bar, why on earth should they use it more than once? It is THEIR country! The Spanish language is not difficult to learn, there are hundreds of courses available very cheaply and the best part is that if the Spanish see you trying to use the language, they will help and encourage you by visiting regularly! This improves your speaking ability and your takings!

The Spanish culture is a very relaxed one compared to many other European countries and it is easy to become accustomed to the ´mañana´ lifestyle but never confuse this with laziness. To this end, a successful bar will have strict opening times and will always stick to them. Trade for a bar can be wildly unpredictable but if you say you are open until 2am, you must be open until 2am. This may mean you have some nights where you sit and talk to your reflection, but as time passes, the locals particularly will always know that your bar is open whenever they want it and you will fast become a first choice rather than a last one. Many bars fall into the trap of shutting early whenever they see fit, this is a very poor business decision in a country where the native population rarely go out in the summer before 11pm. (In those early days when you may have a slack spell, don’t be lazy, use this time to learn some more Spanish!)

Unlike in the UK and many other places, bars should always represent good value for money and this is particularly noticeable in the measures received in bars. These are not a specific measure but more a timed pour. Visitors would rarely notice a meaner measure but if you try to give skimpy measures to people who live here, you would very quickly lose your yearlong bread and butter trade, and nobody can afford that.

Never identify your bar with a particular allegiance to a country, football club or religion. The customers don’t care about your beliefs and loves, and as soon as you define such an affinity to one particular thing, you are, in effect, excluding all those who do not share your view. By all means, an Englishman should celebrate St George´s day on April 23^rd, it is his right to celebrate his Saint´s day and all other nationalities will respect this as they drink in the bar on that day. The problem is when he waves his flag on the other 364 days of the year. The Costa Del Sol is home to a great many nationalities and cultures. Would you really want to discourage any single drinker from your bar?

You must always listen to your customers. The general running of your bar is entirely in your hands and your decisions define the way it is run, but listening to your regulars can lead to many an interesting decision on the tiny details and can make the place so much more desirable. By keeping your mind open to change, you may attract a whole new additional clientele without any more effort than a little tweak here and there. An open mind may not change the world, but it can always add profit. Obviously the very drunk clients may not have as coherent an opinion as other, more sober ones, but remember, a good host listens and smiles regardless!

From personal experience, running a successful bar in Spain is not difficult. Yes it is hard work, and yes it can be frustrating in quieter times and some customers can be annoying in the extreme. However, the rewards are phenomenal. The rich tapestry of people, the laughter, the fun and the cash register ringing with the fruits of your labours.

The easiest way to sum it up?

If you can enjoy your work, you will enjoy the rewards!

Laurence Pike
Costa Businesses S.L.

It's a Werner

Right off the motorway N340 in Mijas, passing el corte ingles, there is a big Supermarket called the Euromarket. Its very popular amongst the foreign community of Mijas and Fuengirola for its wide selections of imported goods from all over Europe.

Right in front of ots doors there are Ellen and Werner, a German couple running a , well what is it actually? It’s a snack bar, a wagon selling sausages literally, but to many of the locals its much more then that. It’s a meeting point where lot’s of fun has been had, friends have been made, drama has been experienced lots of gossip has been exchange and lots of beer has been drunk.

A snack bar? Yes! An ordinary snack bar? certainly not. Come, see yourself and have a beer and a laugh with us.

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Flight bookings
Connected to all major European airlines, viajes Marcla can make all your flight arrangements for you.They can get you the best deals in real time to all holiday destinations and major cities around the globe.

Money Exchange and Western Union
Every day fixed rates and usually between 4 and 7points over the bank rates for selling pounds.

Regional Excursions

Here some examples

Granada

Departure from your hotel towards Rio Frio, short stop. Afterwards we proceed to Granada to visit the Alhambra, famous fortress and supreme monument of Arabic architecture and the gorgeous Gardens of the Generalife, enjoying the suggestive panoramic view of the city and the gipsy gardens of the Albaicin. Lunch,free time and return to your hotel by the same route. Granada without lunch is the same programme with some free time for lunch.

Price: 51.90 plus 16.00 Euro for lunch in Andalucian Restaurant

Cordoba

Starting from your hotel we’ll go to Cordoba via Antequera.On arrival a local Guide will take you across its historical centre know all over the world for its Arab and Jewish monuments, such as the famous mosque, the Jewish district, the synagogue and the roman bridge.Lunch is  in a local restaurant, followed by a sightseeing tour of the typical ‘Patios’ and gardens of Cordoba. Finally we take the same road back to the hotel. Cordoba without lunch: Same program. Free time for lunch.

Price: 40.50 Euro plus 16 Euro for lunch.

Gibraltar

Departure from your hotel, drive along the coastal road to Gibraltar, frontier crossing and tour of the city, tunnel and Punta Europa by minibus. Minibus tour of the rock, San Miguel caves and Monkey reserve. Free time for shopping during your stay in Gibraltar.

Prices

Gibraltar shopping: 13 Euro
Gibraltar trip with cuevas and monkeys: 32.90 Euro
Gibraltar Shopping Express: 14.90 Euro
Gibraltar shopping express with cuevas and monkeys: 34.50 Euro

Nerja y Frigiliana

From your hotel we drive along the attractive east coast road,bordering the sea and crossing several white villages.After a short stop at Frigiliana we continue to the picturesque town of Nerja at 36 mls from Malaga.Visit of the prehistoric caves of impressive dimensions where various halls and galleries can be admired. Free time to enjoy the beautiful views from the terrace ‘Balcon de Europa’. Return by the same road to your hotel.

Price: 19.50 plus 7 Euro entrance to the cuevas.

Ronda

Journe along the Costa del Sol and drive through the magnificent Ronda mountain range. On arrival sightseeing tour of this beautiful Andalusian town of Celtic origin., with its cathedrals (roman, Gothic and Arabic styles), the old town, the oldest bullring in Spain and the Tajo gorge 660 feed deep. Lunch at a local restaurant, free time and return to the coast along the same road.

Prices:
Ronda trip: 27.95 Euro
Lunch in Andalusian Restaurant: 16.00 Euro
Ronad plus ceneic train and the lakes with lunch: 35.00  Euro

Tanger

From your hotel we drive along the coast to Algeciras, where we embark to cross the Straits of Gibraltar.On arrival in Tanger an extensive visit of this typical Moroccan town, including the Kasbah, full of narrow, busy streets and Islamic monuments. After lunch in an Arab restaurant we embark again for Spain and wqe continue our return voyage to the hotels. Option for two days with stay in a 4 star hotel is also available.

Price for one day: 59.90 Euro (includes tickets and lunch)
Price for two days: 114.00 Euro (includes half board)

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Adress and contact Details

Viajes Marcla
Avenida Ramon y Cajal 52
Edificio Sol, Bajo
29640 Fuengirola

Tel.: +(34) 952 466 618
Mobil: +(34) 670 981 674
Email: franciscofernandez@viajesmarcla.es

How to find us:

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Restaurant El Mar Negro in Fuengirola

All right, so you think you are a true cosmopolitan gourmet?

You have done it all: from the Chinese at every corner, to Sushi for lunch and you started pronouncing your own name with an Italian accent for all the pasta and pizza you had in the last 20 years. You  are even familiar with German sausages, Swiss Fondue and Hungarian Goulash – home made of course.

But let me tell you one thing: You haven’t made it yet to deserve the title “cosmopolitan gourmet” unless you tried “ El Mar Negro” in Fuengirola.

The restaurant “El Mar Negro” has a strong Romanian influence. Now let me ask you: Do you know what that really is? No, you probably don’t, but that’s nothing to be embarrassed about.  I didn’t know either, until I started writing this very article.

Romanian cuisine is a diverse blend of different dishes from several traditions with which it has come into contact, but it also maintains its own character. It has been greatly influenced by Ottoman cuisine while it also includes influences from the cuisines of other neighbours, such as Germans, Serbians, and Hungarians.

Quite different types of dishes are sometimes included under a generic term ; for example, the category ciorbă includes a wide range of soups with a characteristic sour taste.

These may be meat and vegetable soups, tripe and calf foot soups (shkembe chorba or iskembe), or fish soups, all of which are soured by lemon juice, sauerkraut juice, vinegar, or traditionally borş (fermented wheat bran). The category ţuică is a generic name for a strong alcoholic spirit in Romania, while in other countries every flavor has a different name.

Romanian recipes bear the same influences as the rest of Romanian culture. The Turks have brought meatballs (perişoare in a meatball soup), from the Greeks there is musaca, from the Bulgarians there are a wide variety of vegetable dishes like ghiveci and zacuscă, from the Austrians there is the şniţel and the list could continue.

This actually makes the “El Mar Negro” (which means the black sea) an unique attraction right in the center of Fuengirola just few steps away from the port and the beach (see map below for exact location).

The plates are simply not available at any other establishment in town.

I had a chat with the owner Christian, and ask him what would he does most recommend of what is offered on the menu. When he explained me the different dishes and variations of Romanian food, it became obvious to me that the man is truly dedicated to his job. You could actually see in his face the excitement and passion when he was explaining why his “marinated lamp” is so special and different from Mediterranean lamp dishes or when telling me what is a “black sea meat plate”.

Christian is especially proud on his desserts. The home made apple tort or home made donuts with  jam of forest fruits and cream, only to be topped by the Sundays only, home made cheese cake.

I couldn’t resist looking to the right side.

You know what I mean, the place where the prices are. To my utmost surprise most main plates are below 10 Euro and even the a bottle of red wine is available for as little as 11.00 Euro.

Needless to say, I will try the place myself tonight together with the most critical and  picky gourmets in town: my wife.

Watch this space….to be continued!

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Restaurant El Mar Negro
Calle Dr. Galvez Ginachero 4
29640 Fuengirola – Malaga

A romantic dinner for two or a celebration for one hundred or more people, our professional team of waiters and cooks with more than 20 years experience in the gastronomic services, is looking forward to seeing you and will convince you with excellent service.

Take advantage of the parking in the immediate vicinity of the restaurant and enjoy your stay at the Ku-Damm Berlin.

For information and examples of what is on the menu, please visit our website:

Ku-Damm Berlin  – German Restaurant in Fuengirola Spain

Contact Details:

KU-DAMM Berlin
Puerto Deportivo
Fuengirola
Tel.: (+34) 952 47 28 64
E-mail: info@kudamm-fuengirola.com

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This restaurant is for sale, see details here: Restaurant for sale in Port of Fuengirola Spain.

Somewhat difficult to find is Fuengirolas best hidden gastronomical highlight:

The restaurant “Kufsteiner” in the Marina of Fuengirola.  Named after a popular Austrian town on the bavarian border, its an easy guess what specialities are on offer. A mix of Austrian, Hungarian and Bavarian specialities home made and unmatched in quality.

The concept of the restaurant is to provide high quality food and service at crisis prices. Hence the reason you can get an original “Wiener Schnitzel”, made of fresh veal for less then 10 Euro.

Other “must try” specialities on the menu include, “Schweinsbraten mit Sauerkraut”, “Rindsgulasch mit Spaetzle”, “Kaesespaetzle” and of course the famous Austrian “Apfelstrudel”.

Tina and Laszlo, originally from Hungaria, have 30 years experience in the hospitality business. They previously worked at a sophisticated restaurant in the town Kufstein. Because of health issues a doctor advise them to live in a better climate, preferably mediterranean hence the move to Spain, which always had sparked their interest anyway.

Special Events at the Kufsteiner

Plans for special events are parties every Friday evening. The next one being a “Kesselgulasch” – party, followed by a Gruenkohl – party. A great way of tasting an Hungarian speciality and at the same time mix and mingle with other ex-pats in town.

Join them its gonna be fun.

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A “must” are the Spare Ribs ( the best of Spain ! ) and Chicken “PIRI-PIRI”.
All our products are reasonably priced.

You can find us opposite to HOTEL FLORIDA SPA and the “Caroussel ” in Fuengirola.
c/ Hernan Cortez 3.

For a reservation or information:
Tel. : +(34) 952 478 644
Mob: +(34) 677 678 219

Open: 13.00 u – 16.00 u
19.00 u – 24.00 u
Closed on Monday

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How to find us:

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=el+candil+fuengirola&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.90509,67.763672&ie=UTF8&ll=36.553017,-4.615288&spn=0.016927,0.033088&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=13591790825324047931&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

If you don’t want to go out we bring some of our dishes right to your door with our

TELERIBS SERVICE
Every day from 18.00 u – 23.00 u
Saturday and Sunday from 13.00 u – 23.00 u

Dishes as: Spare Ribs, Chicken “PIRI-PIRI” , ½ Spare Ribs – ½ “PIRI-PIRI” , Chicken Satay or grilled Salmon menu. Check our website for further information: www.teleribs.es

Contact:
Tel.: +(34) 952 468 331

The Swedish owned place is also called the “Rumpan Bar” which is some kind of Swedish play with words: It means “the naked ass” . Swedish humor does my head in, and no, it is not a gay bar, if you thought that’s what it implies, naughty you!

The customer base consists largely of local Residents from different nationalities, all-though the Swedish hold a strong majority. However a lot of regulars are English, Irish, Norwegian and German, including myself.

Local gossip and politics are predominant topics of discussions and because of the “size” of the bar one can hardly avoid not to be part of the discussion.

Its busy at night time , closed on Mondays.

The ideal place to go, when you are new in Fuengirola and want to get to know local Residents. So don’t be shy and join us for a beer and a laugh at the naked ass. Dressing yours is optional but highly recommended.

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Our lemma is to offer an excellent meal and a professional & polite service. We offer authentically Swiss dishes and also international dishes like:

Crêpes SuzetteDuring the hunting season we offer some dishes like Deer loin or deer scallops with cognac cream sauce, spätzli (home made pasta), red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, pineapple, grapes, peach, apple & special chestnuts.Wild boar scallops with cognac cream sauce, spätzli, red cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

Private Dinning
Business, social, or whatever the occasion, Old Swiss House is the place for your next event.
Our dining is available anytime of the day – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner.
Professional service provided by experienced staff ensures your event will be enjoyed.

Hotel / Rooms
Our rooms are of alpine style. Located 50 meters from the beach and just 5 minutes to the town center and ideal place for holidays and business stay overs alike.

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We are open : Lunch 13:00 – 15:30 Dinner 19.00 – 23:00. Tuesdays day off.

Address and contact
Old Swiss House
Marina Nacional 28
29640 Fuengirola

Tel : +(34) 952 472 606
Web.: http://www.oldswisshouse.com/english/

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Unfortunately that is not the case. Most places are made just for the quick buck of the tourists. So-called international kitchen restaurants you can find one after the other, just walking down the beach front promenade.

But what about these really special places? You know, the ones you get excited about when you start telling zour friends.

If you know such restaurant share it with us, here on the blog.

Regards

Wolfgang Brand

In my case its simple.

When I first moved to the Costa del Sol in 2002, i came for a specific job interview at the Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort. I had a flight booked from Munich to stay three days. I did get the job in the end and had two days left to organise an apartment before flying back and organise the move with my family to Spain.

In such a hurry, and on limited budget you don’t think where would you prefer to live, you just take what you can get. In that year finding accommodation was far more difficult then it is today, so I took a small two bedroom apartment in Las Lagunas de Mijas Costa.

I moved apartment recently, but still decided to stay within Las Lagunas. Why? Well the kids go to school in Las Lagunas and we did not want them having to change.

Also my wife made quite some friends in the local Gym and so on. We ended up by chance in Mijas Costa and settled in nicely. Now we feel at home here and don’t want to live elsewhere on the Costa del Sol.

A good argument for choosing Las Lagunas is the fact that prices to rent an apartment are much better then in Fuengirola center and the quality of the accomodation is usually better. We pay 700 Euro for a very comfortable 3 bedroom , 2 bathroom apartment.

I am not working at the Marriott’s Resorts anymore. In actually only stayed there for two months . I did found my own business afterwards offering online marketing services to companies in Spain and other countries. My main expertise is SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and I became to specialise to offer such services to real estate agents and developer in Spain.

Well that’s how I did end up in Mijas Costa, and whats your story? Would you mind sharing?

Wolfgang Brand

Brits in Spain

Regards

Wolfgang Brand

The Interior Ministry say more arrests could be made in a joint National Police and Customs operation which has seized almost a ton of cannabis resin in Mijas and so far taken seven people into custody. Most were resident in Fuengirola.

Officers discovered that the organisation used a yacht based in Marbella to transport drugs for Moroccan suppliers of cannabis and set up a surveillance operation when the yacht set sail on its latest drugs trip. It was located a mile off the coast of Mijas with both engines broken down, just as the two crew were preparing to escape in a small boat and dump the cannabis overboard. Police seized 38 packages of the drug, totalling 920 kilos.

The organisation’s leader and deputy were amongst those taken into custody on land. The Interior Ministry has not released any information on the nationalities of the suspects.

The entrance is around the corner. The bar is at night time very busy, mainly frequented by Spanish people of all ages. Popular Spanish music and a fun atmospheare makes this a must see place. Despite of the fact that it is a relatively small pub, they manage to hold live eventsand concerts on most week ends.

We appreciate comments from anyone who has been there recently. Did you like the place?

There may be some real concerns in your mind as a new investor in Fuengirola, we hope that by reading this we are able to put your minds to rest.

These items are listed in no particular order, with the “myth” in bold type and the actual facts underneath.

Myth: The police/local authority can close foreign owned businesses down at any time .

Fact: The local authorities, including the police, treat both Spanish and foreign businesses in exactly the same manner. They will close a business only as an absolutely last resort, and only after a business owner persistently fails to comply with local licensing and by-laws. In our many years of trading in Spain we have never known of ANY example of closing a business that has complied with the local laws.

Myth: Lease ( Traspasso) holders can be made to give up the business premises at any time .

Fact: Lease (commercial rental) law is very well defined in Spain and is strictly enforced by the judiciary. Once a contract is signed, it can only be terminated by the landlord under instruction by the local court. This will only be granted in the case of gross breach of the contract by the tenant, for example persistent non payment of rent etc.

Myth: You have to have a “Music Licence” to play music in your bar/restaurant.

Fact: Most venues can play music at reasonable levels, including on their terraces with no special licenses provide no nuisance is caused. If you wish to play loud live music, karaoke disco etc, you will have to bring the premises up to the local authority sound insulation specifications. It is only in the case of night clubs and discothèques that a specific music licence is needed, and this will be dependant upon many issues including location, sound proofing, fire doors etc.

Myth: Spanish people will not use a foreign business.

Fact: it would not be surprising if a bar or café had a sign that said in English only something like “Sams Chip Café” and all the menus were in English, that not many Spanish clients came in. Ask yourself if you would ever have gone into your local Indian Takeaway if the menus were only in Urdu. By simply making the effort to have your signs and menus printed in dual language you will quickly attract a lot of local Spanish business. If you do not speak Spanish, this will not hold you back, as the locals will consider it great fun to teach you Spanish as well as practicing their English.

Myth: In Fuengirola, the bars and businesses are controlled by “mafia” gangs and you have to pay “insurance”

Fact: This is one of the most popular urban myth, probably because some people like the idea of telling their friends back home what its like to be involved in “the new wild west” The facts however are much more “ordinary”. Over the past few years the local authorities have worked very hard to isolate any general criminal groups, and respond very quickly to any hint of problems, whether that comes from Spanish, English or Eastern European groups. Unless you purposely involve yourselves in any major criminal activity i.e. drugs, prostitution etc, the chance of you ever experiencing any problem of this type is practically zero. This brings us to another myth..

Myth: The Spanish police are not interested in helping foreigners.

Fact: During a local authority meeting in 2001, the then mayor of Fuengirola stated that the local Spanish population should not forget the financial advantage of having such a large influx of foreign, mostly British people coming to live in their town. For this reason she said, the local council was going to employ 8 English speaking police officers, and encouraged all of the others to learn English. Since then most other major towns have followed suite. Due to this positive attitude, we have noted a great change in the way that the police respond to the problems of foreigners, especially local business owners. If for any reason a business owner of any nationality were to contact the police, they would find a rapid and sympathetic response.

Written by
David Ballard
http://www.ballard-consulting.com/

Well, you can see that in Fuengirola, which is at the mercy of Doña Esperanza Oña since the early nineties, I believe.

It comes as no surprises that the council of the city is predominantly female. I wonder if the amount of flowers, in and around public buildings, greenery, easy obtainable opening licences for shoe shops and the heavy restrictions on night clubs and late night venues are in direct relation with the female dominance in our town hall.

Might well be, but maybe not

However I found particularly odd at first , that Fuengirola has, believe it or not, an official “department of equality for women”. (Concejalía para la Igualdad).

They even operate since the early nineties a ” Centro Municipal de Información a la Mujer del Ayuntamiento de Fuengirola” , which means municipal information centre of the town hall of Fuengirola for women.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I do believe that men and woman are equal…ish.

Men discriminated?

But where comes the equal factor into play here? Men do not have any of that. Isn’t equality having the same rights as the opposite sex? In Fuengirola it seams that women get more attention then men. Under the label of “equality” they discriminate the other sex:. us men?

This centre is giving any women in town:

- free information services, for example about courses, travelling and activities with a special sensibility to gender, whatever the heck that is.

- free legal services. About? Surprise, surprise: Divorces, separations, custody and everything else that helps a woman empty the pockets of a man.

- free advice and services on finding employment, really an urgent need in a city where the unemployment rate almost hits 1%, just almost.

Now here comes the best one: The same centre actually offers a “department of sexual orientation”. I start understanding now the enormous amount of transsexuals in the streets of Fuengirola. Is there some kind of pro-feminist gender-change-propaganda under way? Or is being a woman just so much better in Fuengirola?

Unfortunately not. If that would be the case it would be funny at least.

Reality teaches a markedly different lesson: Many Spanish men are simply violent chauvinistic pigs. Their male pride, or what they think is male pride, makes any kind of rejection impossible to accept, never mind to understand and result all too often in brutal attacks on women, sometimes even murder.

The amount of violence against women in Spain, especially in Andalucia leaves any civilized person in a state of shock or at least with some terrified amazement. In the year 2008 , 2500 men had to be arrested for violent attacks on women, in most cases their own wife , partner or ex-partner. This number is only the arrests inthe province of Malaga!!

The centre is not a luxury, its actually a need.

Their focus is actually helping women who found themselves in these unfortunate circumstances.

In addition to the above, they provide

- Psycholocial treatment and assistance for victims of violence

- Legal help and advise how to get state protection

This is what its really about, ….well done Doña Esperanza!

Wolfgang Brand

Contact details for the centre:

Much has been said and written about corruption in Marbella. We know the city had three consecutive mayors arrested for corruption related to constructions of property developments and money laundering for Russian criminal gangs.

This is so incredible it bears repeating:

Three mayors of the same town arrested for corruption!

If you think about it, this alone is quite scandalous. How many cities do you know in your home country that had THREE mayors arrested and sentenced to prison for illegal activity.

Note, that I am not talking about the little charming attempts of bribery like a 50 Euro note in the passport whilst in a traffic control after having had a beer or two. Nor am I talking about this dinner with the consejal to speed up the processing of your “licencia de apertura”.

No, I am talking about multi-million Euro theft . I am talking about a politician of Marbella, namely Antonio Roca, becoming one of the richest men in Spain by “doing little favours” in return for “financial support”.

Now, I thought that is already to much to be true. But apparently this seams to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Imagine this scene (turn up the music): A phone shop in Spain. The cabins are empty some guys lurking around not having much to do it seams. A client enters asking for a phone cabin, he wants to phone home. He sits down in the cabin and suddenly the whole place drives mad.

Police cars stop in front of door, officers with machine guns in the entrance, the lurking guys suddenly have guns in their hands, one pointing at that clients head, whilst another man is saying something down the lines : You have the right to shut up and you better do.

Fantasy? No, not at all. Something like that, must have been the scene when Paolo Pesce a member of the Naples mafia, the camorra, and on the run since 17 years was arrested in a phone shop in Fuengirola this week.

Paolo Pesce arrested

To top it all up: An Italian newspaper. La Rupubblica, claims to have information about the Italian mafia having major interests in constructions of property developments on the Costa del Sol

Mafia interests on the Costa del Sol

I think its time that the Spanish authorities get their act together and clean this mess up. Why have they been so lazy about it? Turning a blind eye in favour of an ever booming real estate business?

Too busy celebrating Marbella as the European Beverly Hills? Well, the party is over, who cleans up after?

Regards

Wolfgang Brand

P.S: You can turn the music down now.