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Vol 2 Edition 7 December 2001
Costa Blanca Netguide Newsletter
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com
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CONTENTS:
1) A Spanish Christmas
2) El Gordo
3) Christmas Stocking Fillers
4) The Netguide Screensaver
5) New Maps section information
6) Sticker Information
7) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
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Hi,
Welcome to the Christmas edition of the Costa Blanca Netguide
Newsletter.
This month we have a report on the Spanish festive season as
well as an insight into "El Gordo" plus the stocking fillers
section contains some last minute gift ideas for Xmas. The
Netguide screensaver is now finished with the order and download
area of the site being tested at the moment.
More details below.
As this is the last newletter of 2001 all that remains is to
wish all our Newsletter subscribers a very Merry Christmas and
a prosperous New Year from myself and all the staff of the
Netguide.
Until Next Year
Robin
Editor - Costa Blanca Netguide.
editor@costablanca-netguide.com
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1) A Spanish Christmas
With Christmas fast approaching I have compiled a festive
Newsletter report this month with a glimpse of how the Spanish
enjoy this time of year. Unlike in Northern Europe children in
Spain are far more excited about the Three Kings (Los Reyes)
arrival who bring their gifts on the night of the 5th January.
However with more influences from Europe the children are
actually enjoying double pressie deliveries with Father
Christmas (Papa Noel) appearing on Christmas Eve as well!
Christmas Day is traditionally a family day with Mass taken in
church followed by a Christmas dinner. Although turkey is very
popular other game is also eaten plus certainly in this area
Seafood as a starter would be quite usual with gambas and
langostinas in great supply.
At Christmas after the meal traditionally a plate of Turron
(nougat) would be offered. Alicante and Jijona Turron is very
famous and fiercely guarded recipes hold the secret to this
sweet. Where Selection Boxes are to be found everywhere for
instance in England the wide variety of Turrons are stacked in
all the shops here. Typical light coloured nougats, chocolate
nougats, soft nougats, hard nougats - a truly amazing array.
The ingredients include almonds, honey, and sugar so the result
is incredibly sweet.
Spaniards always take their champagne (cava) at the end of the
meal. Freixenet, one of the most popular and well known makes
advertise their products on television at this time of year
sometimes filling up to a ten minute spot so it can only be
assumed that they sell a vast quantity at Christmas.
So after Christmas New Year's Eve must be celebrated
Noche Vieja - literally Old Night). Most restaurants put on a
gourmet meal for New Year's Eve with live music. Again at the
end of the meal Turron will be offered and also sweet
pastries. The Cava will be reserved to accompany your bag of
Lucky Grapes. The idea of these is you have twelve white grapes
and on each chime of midnight you eat one grape and this will
bring you luck for the new year. One piece of advice though
.....deseed the grapes beforehand!!! You also have Cotillion
for midnight which is basically a bag of goodies, paper hats,
blowers, streamers etc because basically this is a fiesta and
as I have said before Spaniards like to fiesta.
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2) El Gordo
There is one very important part of Christmas I have saved
until last. Spaniards are renowned gamblers and I can't imagine
one Spanish household which wouldn't take part in the Spanish
Lottery "El Gordo" (literally "the fat one"). The draw is twice
a year and I would think the most important
one is on 22nd December. It is actually a world famous lottery
probably because the odds of winning
a prize are so high. All the village festeros sell "decimos"
which are fractions of a ticket. Each ticket costs 3.300pts but
the winnings are massive. I have compiled a few facts and
figures surrounding "El Gordo" and if you get chance to buy a
ticket good luck.
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With US$1.3 Billion in Cash Prizes Given Away in 2 Draws Every
Year, El Gordo is the Biggest Draw in the World.
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Biggest Cash Prize Payout
In the December Draw, El Gordo will be giving away cash prizes
totalling almost US$1.25 Billion to the winning ticket holders.
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Lump Sum Payout
Cash prizes are paid out in a single lump-sum.
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Largest Number of Winners
In December, 10,419 prize winning tickets will be drawn giving
you 10,419 chances of winning a share of the huge cash payout
in each Draw.
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Guaranteed Safe and Secure
El Gordo is backed by the full authority and support of the
Spanish Government.
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Best Odds of Winning
Your odds of winning one of the 10,419 Winning Tickets in El
Gordo are 1 in 6! No other Draw even comes close.
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Tax-Free Winnings
All cash prizes are free from Spanish Government taxes. Whatever
amount you win, you keep in full.
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Pays Out 70% of Revenue
70% of all monies invested in El Gordo are returned to players
in cash prizes - compared to only 45% or 50% paid out by North
American and European Lottos.
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So all that remains to be said is Happy Christmas or Feliz
Navidad.
Researched and Reviewed by Suzanna
info.es@costablanca-netguide.com
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If you know someone who may benefit from any of the articles in
this newsletter please feel free to pass it on.
PLEASE NOTE: These articles are for personal use only and may not
be posted on any website, newsgroup or bulletin board. If you
wish to use any of our articles for commercial purposes please
contact us articles@costablanca-netguide.com
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3) Christmas Stocking Fillers
i) AutoRoute Great Britain & Europe 2002
AutoRoute 2002 combines Microsoft's leading street mapping and
trip planning titles and technology into one comprehensive
product. Find and map places and street addresses, locate points
of interest (e.g. hotels, restaurants, etc.), plan detailed
cross-country driving trips, and calculate driving directions
throughout Western Europe
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/ar2002.html
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ii) A Place in the Sun
"A Place in the Sun" is one of Channel 4's most successful
daytime programmes in which potential buyers are taken look at
four very different properties in the location of their choice.
These must be accessible and affordable - and in a warm climate!
The first series travelled to Spain, Italy, Portugal and France,
with the second going to the Canaries, the Caribbean and Florida
in search of winter sun. The third series returns to Europe and
additionally includes properties in Greece, Turkey, Slovenia,
Croatia and Romania. As well as being a guide to all the countries
featured in the three series, it is also a practical companion
leading you through the process from deciding your budget and
choosing a location to buying a house and settling in.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/apits.html
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iii) How to Make Money from Your Property
Your home is your biggest asset. In this book, Fiona Fullerton
covers everything the reader should need to know - from choosing
the right house to substantially increasing its value, and from
renovating creatively and cost effectively to buying the best
property to rent. She advises on: what to buy
(and what not to buy); the importance of location, location,
location; tips to enhance the value of your property; easy ways
to sell your house in only one week; how to buy the perfect
rental..
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/htmm.html
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iv) Top Ten of Everything
The worst storms, the richest rulers, the fastest cards, the
highest jumps, the deadliest snakes, the brightest stars and the
hottest hits. These are just some of the top "pick-of-the-lists"
and record breakers included in this reference.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/ttoe.html
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v) The House Book
A reference for anyone interested in houses. Following the format
of "The Art Book", it presents houses and dwellings from all
periods and all corners of the globe. The houses selected
represent a broad variety of styles, structures and aesthetics.
From Hadrian's Villa to Palladio's Villa Rotonda to Le
Corbusier's Villa Savoye and the contemporary houses of Richard
Rogers or Frank Gehry, it features a range of architect-designed
houses as well as traditional types of dwelling. There are 500
houses altogether, each classified by architect, designer, patron
or cultural tribe and people, in A to Z format. There is a
full-page reproduction of each house and a text that describes
the building, placing it and its designer in its historical
context. The volume also includes an easy-to-use glossary of
technical terms and movements, and a directory of houses open to
the public.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/thb.html
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vi) Complete Guide to Digital Photography.
Sales of digital cameras are predicted to overtake those of
film-based cameras. This is a comprehensive guide to digital
photography which provides guidelines for choosing suitable
equipment (cameras, PCs, monitors, scanners and printers), and
techniques and professional tips for digital camerawork. Answers
to various questions about the equipment, technology,
installation and use are also included in the book.
http://www.costablanca-netguide.com/bac/gdp.html
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4) The Netguide Screensaver
The Netguide Screensaver is now complete and will be available
exclusively to Newsletter subscribers from this Friday until
the end of December at a specially discounted price. We will be
sending out the discount coupon and download URL to all of our
subscribers later this week and this coupon can be used to get a
20% discount off the retail price. The screensaver goes on sale
to the public in January 2001 when the price will be $14.97.
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5) Updated Maps Section
The new maps section will be available early next week with new
maps for Benidorm, Torrevieja, Moraira and Denia amongst others.
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6) 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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7) SUBSCRIBE INFORMATION
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