Curated by Graham Hunt (Co-Author of Laptop Entrepreneur)

27/04/12

IT’S JUST TOO BUSY HEREAs I explained last issue there is just too much work sometimes and when there is too much work it is impossible to get a copy of the magazine out every week. It takes about four or five hours to put this thing together, despite it being all about curation, and at times that four or five hours is just not available in a week.

Therefore a decision has been made. The magazine will become fortnightly for now which gives me the time to find the best stories for you to read about Spain and also do some writing for you too.

In this issue there are stories about Spain from many parts and lots are taken from our contributors who are in my new Facebook group of “Writers and Bloggers About Spain” If you are writing about Spain and want to be in the Facebook group do a search and apply. There is a load of great resources in the group for anyone writing about Spain.

Remember too that if you would like to contribute something, make comments, participate in any way or you have a blog or website you want me to look at then just get in touch on grahunt@gmail.com and tell me about it. Happy to take a look at suggestions and ideas as well as your content.

I read a lot of stuff online about Spain and much of it is very interesting and i think it will interest you too. The people who are on my newsletter get a whole lot more. To get first look then you should visit this link.

WELCOME TO THE NEW BI-WEEKLY SPAIN IS DIFFERENT

Spain Is DifferentSQUEEZING THE JUICE FROM THE ORANGE / ISSUE 16

I WANT YOUR EXPERIENCES

AND IDEAS

I have put out a blog post on Houses for Sale in Spain with a video of little old me asking you two questions.

The first one is aimed at people who are already living in Spain and it is simple, What is great about living in Spain?

I am not interested in hearing about what isn’t great, we get that all of the time, whinging people complaining that they don’t make cups of tea in the same way or that it’s not easy to find Crabbie’s Ginger beer (That’s me by the way for the Crabbie’s)

The second question is for those planning to come and live in Spain. Simple again. What are you most looking forward to in your new life in Spain? Please don’t say sitting around a swimming pool all day drinking Gin and Tonics. As you will see in the video I expect you to do more when you come to Spain not less.

And finally for all of you who have visited the page to see the video, yes I know, the pose on the still is pure Dr Evil ;-)

Curated by Graham Hunt (Co-Author of Laptop Entrepreneur)

THE EUROPEAN

KIDS ASSOCIATION

I was told about an interesting project this week, the European Kids Association. The idea is to get children involved in entrepreneurial activity from an early age and create a different mindset for the kids from that usually prevalent in Spain. It is an expat project but all are welcome to join.

Their website is here and their facebook page can be found here. (It’s a work in progress so be gentle with them)

Anyway they produce a magazine which the kids themselves sell and distribute. The last issue sold well and now they are looking for more distribution points, contributors and more.

It’s always good to see new initiatives coming out of Spain and this one has the added advantage of being a response to the times we are living in. It is about time that young people started thinking in a different way and helping to give them soft skills used in the production and distribution of a magazine and the problem solving issues that they will encounter along the way has to be a step in the right direction.

Do you know of any other Spanish based projects that are doing this or something similar?

27/04/12Spain Is DifferentSQUEEZING THE JUICE FROM THE ORANGE / ISSUE 16

SOMETIMES JUST PUTTING A SIMPLE QUESTION OUT THERE CAN CREATE A

WHOLE HEAP OF NEW INFORMATION AND OPINIONS. AND SOMETIMES IT JUST MAKES YOU SMILE AND CONFIRM THAT IN LIFE ITS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

I asked a simple question on my Facebook page for “Writers and Bloggers About Spain”. What is great about living in Spain. It started getting immediate traction and developed into a full blown eulogy to living in Spain with each contributor reminding the last of even more little things that make it a special place to live. As I said on page one, no negativity allowed, you get too much of that.

So I have taken a selection of the comments to place on here. I will be blogging about this in the next week or so and the group has decided that all comments will be there. Keep an eye on Houses For Sale In Spain to see the whole thread. It is definitely worth it.

This selection is simply a eulogy to what most of us call home in different parts of Spain. I hope that you enjoy it.

Charlotte Hanson Entrepreneurial spirit amongst the expat community. Like · 2

Simon Harris Were it not for the fact that Bayern have just dashed Madrid's Champions League chances, I'd also mention Spanish football - on the pitch not off! 17 April at 23:19 · Like · 1

Lauren Aloise Top things-- Wine, Cheese, Olive Oil, Anchovies, Olives... I could continue with more examples of how much I love the Spanish diet's staple ingredients!17 April at 23:28 · Like

Steve Hall Boquerones or Barcelona (the city not the junior club of the same name)17 April at 23:29 · LikeJackie Cruz I love pan con tomate. To see the faces of our Brit visitors when I say: just gonna grate some tomatos for brekkie! Shock, horror...18 April at 08:35 · Unlike · 4Maureen Dolan Agree with the above. Also, the style of the traditional Spanish house in tile, getting El País every day, Spanish bars without tiny measures, the climate, the "colour" - realised on my last trip home how grey the UK is!18 April at 08:46 · Unlike · 1Pierre-Alban Waters In Madrid, I love the balance between the quality of life (human-size capital city, amazing infrastructures, the food... ) and the amazing number of opportunities for entrepreneurs.18 April at 09:48 · Unlike · 1Molly Sears-Piccavey Seasonal Fruit and Produce, Pumpkins in Season, Cherries in Season whatever, I love it all.18 April at 12:16 · Unlike · 2Alex Bramwell Calamares, coffee, fruit, weather, bread, lack of earnest people.18 April at 21:24 · LikeJohn Wolfendale being a hero because you have children - in queues, on the street, in the

supermarket - children welcome everywhere - not having them taken into care because their still up at midnight19 April at 12:02 · Like · 3Yolanda Solo Seeing babies, parents, and grandparents all starting the night out together until later when the youngsters go and do their own thing til ridiculous hours of the morning. They fit if spending time with the family AND partying on their own19 April at 13:02 · Unlike · 4Lindsay InSpain Having every landscape available on the continent pretty much within a 4 hour round circle19 April at 13:41 · Unlike · 3Fiona Pitt-kethley Free public paellas and sardinadas. Free concerts. Wonderful snorkelling where I live19 April at 13:45 · LikeMike Cliffe-Jones I can't believe that nobody has said sun, sex and sangria yet.19 April at 13:47 · Like · 2Graham Hunt I was leaving that to you Mike Cliffe-Jones but you missed sand from the list19 April at 16:12 · Like · 1Alex Bramwell I think I am even starting to enjoy the bureaucracy. It's a sort of zen challenge. Can I have everything ready on day one and not lose my patience. Hasn't happened yet!20 April at 10:44 · Like · 3Jackie Cruz We were stuck for 3 hours on the motorway Malaga side of Granada yesterday. A fertiliser truck had self combusted and was blocking the road. 3 hours to put the fire out and the Spanish turned it into a party! Couldn't have been in better company. Must say in other parts of the world this would have become a riot.22 April at 21:06 · Unlike · 3Christopher Gamble And what about the pata negra (Iberian ham), that the natives consider the food of the gods?Monday at 22:05 · LikeLisa Sadleir where else can you enter a bar you have never been to before & buy round after round of drinks & pay the bill as you leave?Monday at 19:47 · Unlike · 4Lisa Sadleir a picnic day on the beach costs next to nothing and what better way to spend the day ? our kids also think that donkey taxis are the norm & a ride in a horse & carriage is an every day occurrence lolTuesday at 10:51 · Unlike · 1David Leigh I don't know about Spain, but Catalunya is bloody brilliant ;)Tuesday at 11:20 · Unlike · 1Maya Middlemiss It's just such a great place to raise your kids. Family matters - that's not embarrassing, weird or judgemental, generations just enjoy each others' company and hanging out together. Contrasting with the UK, where would you want to bring up your family?Tuesday at 11:39 · Unlike · 1

ANYTHING TO ADD YOURSELF?

FACEBOOK DISCUSSIONS ROCK

Curated by Graham Hunt (Co-Author of Laptop Entrepreneur)

How to Avoid Chicken Pox - Spanish Style

Typically Spanish reported on a story that puts a whole new slant on keeping the kids isolated to make sure they avoid getting chicken pox.

Apparently a father thought it would be a good idea to lock his daughter in the boot of his car to avoid contact with other members of the family and friends who had chicken pox.

I seem to remember my mum taking me round to friends’ houses who had chicken pox to make sure I did catch it (I didn’t) so I got it young when it causes fewer problems (Thanks Mum)

Anyway this novel solution wasn’t looked upon very favorably by the Spanish police. They broke into his car and rescued the stepdaughter and then they arrested him and put him away for a bit.

Read the rest of the story at Typically Spanish

Does anyone suspect that it may just have been a bad excuse by the stepfather? Does anyone think that was the actual reason. I get the feeling that there is more to come from this story just like many other weird stories that come out of Spain every week

What Makes The Spanish So Spanish?

British Expat on the Costa Del Sol fights off an Eagle trying to get away with one of her dogs. Hitchcock’s “The Birds” comes to life in Spain. Photo: Rex

As the son of Spanish immigrants, born and raised in the UK but having spent most of my working life doing business in Spain and the last seven years living here, I have given a lot of thought to trying to understand what gives the Spanish the character they have – loud, opinionated, proud, autocratic, confrontational and individualistic. Yes – they can also be kind, helpful and hopelessly optimistic but, in my experience, that is the exception not the norm.Ok, so this is a rather negative view of Spaniards and is perhaps less true the further north in Spain you go, but it happens to be one shared by many outside observers who know them well – both professionally and socially. I think the way the Spanish ‘ran’ their Empire in South America and Europe and the way the Civil War was conducted by both sides, provides ample evidence of some of the characteristics I have identified above.More recently, the disputes and posturing of the larger Autonomous Regions in Spain are

continuing examples of these characteristics – at least at a political level. Also, just watch and listen to a group of Spaniards talking with any conversation invariably descending very quickly into a shouting match – with no one listening and everybody expressing an opinion. In fact, even after all this time, I keep expecting to see a murder committed in front of my eyes.  Thankfully everyone usually ends up as best friends – at least on social occasions!So, what influences have contributed to the essence of the culture of Spain and being Spanish? My own view is that the main factors which provide the foundation for the character and culture of a race are:Climate and natural resources;Geographical location; andTopography.These in turn affect economic, social and political development. In all three cases, Spain suffers from extremes: hot and cold weather with very few natural resources – other than sunshine; the country is at the Western extreme of Europe; and, it is the second most mountainous state in Europe.The size and topography of the country means that until recently, and I mean the last 30 years or less, much of the country was remote and relatively inaccessible. This, combined with poverty, meant that ordinary people did not usually travel.

To see Nick’s conclusions and make your own get across to Culture Spain and read the rest

Visiting Caceres in 24 Hours. Is it really possible to see a city in just 24 hours and get to know it? If it were Albacete 24 minutes would be more than enough but...

Nine Bodies Found in Mass Grave From Franco’s Execution Squads in Burgos. The judiciary haven’t even bothered to visit the site to look.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009Sound Of Today 27/04/12Spain Is DifferentSQUEEZING THE JUICE FROM THE ORANGE / ISSUE 16

Curated by Graham Hunt (Co-Author of Laptop Entrepreneur)

NOW THERE’S A SURPRISE

The news that Valencia’s government are trying to sell Castellón airport is something that shouldn’t really surprise anyone. The news (Which still hasn’t appeared of course) that someone would be interested in buying an airport with no planes just 55km away from another major airport to the south and 100km to an international airport to the north (Reus) would cause a lot more surprise.

So if you build an airport for 150 million Euros without any licences, without any contracts in place and without any hope of having neither the one nor the other should you really be surprised if it doesn’t sell quickly.

I have a question though, do you want to buy a pristine new airport with a 30 metre statue of a local politician outside to welcome you a la Kim Jung Il?

TOURIST FIGURES CONTINUE TO RISE

In a horrible week of economic news for Spain one thing stood out like a beacon. Think Spain reported on the 2.6% rise in tourism in the first quarter of the year compared with last year.

The good news on the tourist front keeps coming in and last week was a really weird one in Valencia. It was absolutely packed with Japanese, Chinese, Germans and italians. I guess the cruise ships were in.

The rise in tourism isn’t across the board as there are drops in tourists from Greece, Ireland and Portugal for example but the numbers coming in from the United States has risen by 19.6% and the numbers from the UK, already the highest, rose by 1.6% too.

31.2% went to the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are getting better figures too. Catalunya was second behind the Canaries and their figures went up by 12.5% in March alone (Must have been lots of hen nights on the Ramblas) One of the surprises was that hotel bookings were up by over 6% whereas rental accommodation bookings were down by over 10% suggesting more people coming on packages and less independent travel packages being booked (And that is very surprising due to the influence of the internet in everyday life now.)

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

51 Things Learnt In Spanish

Business Last Year

The second part about what I learnt in business last year is just as relevant as the first one that we showed in the last issue.

26 there are not enough hours in the day27 traditional advertising is dead, almost28 brand loyalty can be created easily29 trust the process30 the Fenton Video is awesome31 I should do more video32 we are in a new world regarding property33 the world is our oyster34 it is ok to sack clients35 it is easy to beat the competition36 collaboration works as long as you choose well37 Spain continues to be different38 the romantic vision of Spain is still alive39 twitter still believes that everyone in Spain has a siesta every day40 iPads are good and next year Kindle Fires will be41 I don’t sell property, the property sells itself42 I need to take more time off43 working must always contain the element of fun44 the next client could come from anywhere, both geographically and online45 Smartphones rock46 free wifi is awesome47 all types of property sell if priced right48 location still remains location x349 images count for everything50 people still come to Spain for hugely different reasons.

There is a Nº51 in the post ;-)Read The Rest at E-Solo

27/04/12Spain Is Different

SQUEEZING THE JUICE FROM THE ORANGE / ISSUE 16

Curated by Graham Hunt (Co-Author of Laptop Entrepreneur)

I HAVE DOWNGRADED S+P, FITCH AND

MOODYS

I am really sick about the ratings’ agencies. They come out with pronouncements every other day downgrading a debt that they had previously classified as three letters and a + into two letters and a -.

And nothing happens right?

Well not actually. Things get worse for a lot of people due to this totally arbitrary measurement of the worth of debt. And when a country has 25% unemployment, 50% youth unemployment and a debt which threatens to overwhelm it (Along with a government which has NPI, (Look it up or ask me what it means but don’t be surprised if you are offended by the answer) then the arbitrary ramblings of companies that previously gave triple A+ ratings to credit default swaps of toxic loans from American banks shouldn’t really have any effect. They do though!

So anyway before the car above becomes our only way of getting around (Hey it could be worse, it is nippy and is easy to park) have you got any opinions about the ratings’ agencies or do you just sit there and take in their pathetic pronouncements and sit scared in the dark?

This is so good I am repeating it here again. REGULAR readers will know that along with Nick, a contributor in these pages often, I wrote Laptop Entrepreneur and it was released a couple of months ago. Here is the admission. Sales have not been as good as we first hoped, good but not good enough. So we are asking the question what are people scared of ? After all in this recession we thought that any tips, help and advice would be welcome to small and medium sized businesses.

I have just set up a Facebook group for writers and bloggers about Spain which is becoming a second online home for me in the last few weeks and it features a lot of people who have taken the concept of the Laptop Entrepreneur and run with that particular ball not after reading the book but prior to it, we used their experience in some of the examples given in the book.

Examples abound in the group of using the techniques we teach in the Laptop Entrepreneur and applying them to businesses all around Spain (And the rest of the World too) They include how you can make an informational blog pay more than a regular job in just one year writing about a rock off the coast of Africa, Lanzarote to the uninitiated. How to take the lessons you learn every day on Facebook and Twitter (Social media in general) and apply them to a business so that the business prospers even during the leanest and meanest recession ever. How online networking

can work to your advantage and give you a huge advantage over your competition in any field and how you can use your skills and knowledge in your local market to help the mum and dad shop compete online with major long established businesses.

The reactions to the book have been elevating for us as writers. Every week we receive great feedback and stories from people using the techniques to start up an online business or how they are using what they have learnt to support their current business, which in some cases is just a traditional bricks and mortar business, and be successful.

In the last week I have been contacted by an estate agency in Spain that has just made their first two sales in a long time after changing the way they work to things advocated in the Laptop Entrepreneur. A blogger thanked us for getting them to see the light and start actually having the guts to charge for ads on their site and suddenly the blog has gone from earning next to nothing to bringing in a couple of hundred Euros per month, not life changing but better than a kick in the teeth. This is humbling and great to read.

So what are you waiting for? Where is your plan B, C and D. What are you doing to prepare the rest of your life? Get yourself a copy of the book here in full colour PDF, here in traditional book format or here in Kindle ebook format.

Rocky Mountain Way. Fancy a coastal walk slightly inland from the Costa Del Sol? Guy Hunter Watts takes us on a tour along a great walk away from the beaches.

The residents of Port Vell in Barcelona are apparently up in arms about plans to make a new mega yacht marina overlooking the area. Or maybe not.

Looking for a job in Spain? Do you speak a few languages and are based on the Costa Blanca South? Then this could be an interesting job for you with Girasol Homes.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009Sound Of Today 27/04/12Spain Is DifferentSQUEEZING THE JUICE FROM THE ORANGE / ISSUE 16

LAPTOP ENTREPRENEURS AND SURVIVING THE CRISIS EASILY

Curated by Graham Hunt (Co-Author of Laptop Entrepreneur)

ASHES TO ASHES

SUN

SUNSET

One thing that Spain doesn’t lack is great raw materials for taking photographs. There is a new service in Valencia teaching you how to take photographs and it’s in English or those of you who speak Spanish. I have been saying for years that it is a business waiting to happen because of the great backdrop that Valencia provides.

NEW BAR IN LA POBLA

MORE BLUE SKIES

I read a lot of stuff online about Spain and loads of it is very interesting. The people who are on my newsletter get a whole lot more. If you want to sign up too then visit this link. You can also get older copies of the magazine there. The first seven are linked up. I am not promising that the magazine will be every week, I may leave it two weeks now and again depending on the stories that come in (Although so far I have managed to do it on a weekly basis)

Just put in your name in the first box and your mail address in the second to receive updates. Every week or two we wi l l send you the lates t newsletter as soon as it comes out. (You will also get other stuff related to Spain and updates to the magazine but you a re guaran teed the newsletter)

Also if you have photos that you want featured in the magazine or you have an article you want featured just send it to me at grahunt@gmail.com and I will take a look.

MORE IMAGES OF SPAIN THIS WEEK

The photo competition is still ongoing because I don’t have many entries yet. Therefore I am still using my own photos but would love to use yours. If you have any images you would like to see in here just send me them to grahunt@gmail.com and see your photo in lights. Like this week’s issue? Want to feature in it yourself ?

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009Sound Of Today27/04/12

Spain Is DifferentSQUEEZING THE JUICE FROM THE ORANGE / ISSUE 16