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Vol 2 Edition 6 November 2001
Costa Blanca Netguide Newsletter
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com
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CONTENTS:
1) Nisperos
2) Todos Los Santos
3) Spanish Video, Software and Book Recommendations
4) Sticker Information
5) Subscription Information
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Hi,
Welcome to this edition of the Costa Blanca Netguide Newsletter.
This month we have an in-depth and informative article on "Nisperos". If you're not
sure what a Nispero is read on and you will be suprised at their colourful history. Also
we have a short article about "Todos Los Santos" or "All Saints Day" which is not just
another fiesta but an annual religous celebration for deceased friends and family.
(It's not as sombre as it sounds).
With Christmas fast approaching our December edition will be delivered slightly
earlier with our usual articles and features along with some Festive gift ideas so look
out in your email around the 7th of December.
One final note from me:- Today is our 1st Birthday. On the 15th November 2000 the
Costa Blanca Netguide was launched and since then 35,000 people have visited
the site and it's subscribers. Our marketing department have done some excellent
work to help us achieve this number in the first 12 months and our traffic continues
to grow each day.
Until Next Month
Robin
Editor - Costa Blanca Netguide.
editor@costablanca-netguide.com
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1) NISPEROS.
When driving around the Costa Blanca particularly the more lush parts you can't help
but notice that agriculture is one of the main sources of income. If you ever see fruit
orchards entirely covered with fine netting the chances are that they are "Nispero"
trees. Nispero is roughly translated to Medlar or Loquat. The Nisperos that are grown
in CALLOSA D’EN SARRIÀ (ALICANTE) are also known scientifically as Eriobotrya
japónica which is a tree pertaining to the rosebush family. It is always green and very
productive and its remote origins are located in China and Japan. Nisperos have a
thin skin but at the same time resistant and can be easily peeled. They ripen at the
beginning of Spring. Around a thousand years ago they were used as ornamental
trees in China, Japan and India, not being grown as a crop until around 1700. Jesuits
took them to the Mauritius Islands; and from here they were first taken to France in
1784 and then to Italy in 1812. They were then introduced into Spain when a
merchant seaman named Captain Roig brought them to Sagunto’s harbour and
spread them throughout the Eastern and South Eastern coast of the Iberian
Peninsula. Nisperos grow best in the Mediterranean Basin due to the excellent
climate and grow particularily well in the Marina Baixa Area in the town of CALLOSA
D’EN SARRIÁ (Alicante / Spain). I do know of someone who took a nispero stone
back to England and planted it in their back garden and now has a healthy nispero
tree growing although I'm not sure whether it fruits. You can find an array of Nispero
products here from bottled fruit, jam, honey, nectar and liquor. If you do see any
nisperos to buy as a fruit they are about the size of an apricot, slightly oval in shape
and yellowish in colour and might look slightly marked or blemished on the skin but
this is normal. The taste is actually not too sweet.
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2) ALL SAINTS DAY
Everyone seems to think that Spain is always having "Fiesta Days" but many of the
fiestas are not so much party time but a valid religious festival of some kind. Being a
Catholic country "All Saints Day" (Todos Los Santos) is celebrated each year on the
1st November. Preparations begin a few days beforehand with the cleaning and
tidying of your loved ones graves. Remember that in Spain graves are not in the
ground but in the wall so to speak. Many of the graves not only have beautifully
engraved marble stones but photographs of the deceased too. The florists are
extremely busy with fresh flower arrangements ready to be placed on the graves
some of which have specially made vases to hold the flowers. On the actual day a
Mass is held in the Church after which everyone then proceeds to the cemetry to
pay their respects to the deceased. It is not a sombre affair but quite a happy event.
Researched and Reviewed by Suzanna
info.es@costablanca-netguide.com
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please feel free to pass it on.
PLEASE NOTE: These articles are for personal use only and may not be posted
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3) Spanish Book, Video and CD recommendations
i) Ay Carmela! [1990]
VHS Video
Starring: Carmen Maura, Andrés Pajares, et al.
Director: Carlos Saura,
Set against the political passion and turmoil of the Spanish Civil War, the story follows
Carmela and Paulino, the Republican-supporting owners of a touring cabaret group.
While retreating to the safety of Valencia, they pick up a young waif before being
captured by Franco's army. Spanish dialogue with subtitles.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/ayc.html
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ii) Tell Me More - Spanish 3 Advanced
Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT CD-ROM
Features
State of the art speech recognition
Automatic detection of pronunciation errors
Learning paths you can adapt to your objectives
Your own teacher via the internet
Excellent CD ROM for students of Spanish, 30 October, 2001
Reviewer: Jamieson C C Little from London, England
I have used a few language CD ROMs in the past and never been impressed
However this is an excellent package. I would particularly recommend this package
for anyone doing A-Level Spanish. It is ideal for gaining substantial vocabulary
(which A-Level requires) by covering a particular topic one by one. It also goes
through all the necessary grammar points and there are verb and grammar drills to
help you make progress. It is easy to use once you have got used to it and there is
a guided mode to help those unfamiliar with the programme. There also related online
services and you can send your work to an online tutor for additional help and advice.
The best feature on this programme is the pronounciation exercises. They are at an
authentic speed and difficulty. You repeat after the programme and it gives you a mar
out of 7. What I like about it is it knows the key words or syllables you are struggling
with - or even if you are not speaking fast enough! You are able to practice key words
of a sentence or even key syllables. My pronounciation has certainly improved and is
on the road to being more authentic.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/tmm.html
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iii) Costa Blanca Mountain Walks Book 1
Covering the area north and west of Benidorm, this guide includes walks in:
Sierra Aitana, Monte Ponoch, Puig Campana; the Val de Arc; the Benidorm Area
- Sierra Helada, Sierra Cortina; Sierra Serrella/Aixorta; Val de Algar;
Val de Galinera/Forada; and the North-west Sierras.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/cbmw.html
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4) Sticker Information
We have available our Costa Blanca Netguide car or shop window stickers
that we will send out to you free of charge.
Just email stickers@costablanca-netguide.com with your name and postal address
and how many you require (3 Max) and we'll post them out to you anywhere in
Europe FREE.
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