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| 0.00 | 0.00% | 101.25 | 01:00:00 |
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Posted at 27/8/2007 10:35 by waldron no, in France,so my languagesare like mixed salade. extended family learning spanish and tends therefore to visit Spanish speaking countries. Spain, Morocco,Cuba, Dominican Republic,Chile et al. always returning with view of buying a casa or finca |
Posted at 07/7/2007 11:28 by ariane Put your shirt on the tipsters' tippleLast Updated: 12:01am BST 30/06/2007 Top Four Sherries Manzanilla, seafood and horses are the essence of Andalusia, says Andrew Catchpole It's approaching midnight on the Plaza del Cabildo and the heat of the Andalusian day is finally subsiding. Children skitter around packed café tables as elders look on and the smell of seafood, with a hint of manzanilla, washes over the square. Sanlúcar de Barrameda's beach plays host to regular races It's the weekend of the annual palio when some of Spain's finest jockeys compete along the golden sands at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river. Sanlúcar de Barrameda is abuzz with holiday atmosphere. In the La Gitana tapas bar, beneath ranks of pata negra ham, the fiesta feel is matched by the ankle-deep debris of cigarette ends and prawn shells. Above the laughter and clouds of Fortuna cigarette smoke, the barman catches my eye and, with a meaty thumbs up, proclaims my tortilla de gambas (shrimp omelette) ready. I've spent the day with Javier Hidalgo, a keen amateur jockey and seventh-generation descendant of the family whose bodega, La Gitana, is a short walk away. "People from all over Spain make gastronomic pilgrimages to Sanlúcar for the seafood," he says. "This is good for us as manzanilla works especially well with fish.' Manzanilla is the lifeblood here. Slumbering bodegas bearing the names of La Gitana, Argüeso, Barbadillo, Delgado Zuleta and Williams & Humbert dominate the whitewashed squares and winding streets of this seaside town. It's in the cathedral-like warehouses, as the wine is slowly shunted from barrel to barrel, at each stage submerged beneath a layer of living yeast, known as flor, that the sherry's unmistakable style is born. As with the fino sherries of nearby Jerez, these solera systems constantly blend new with old, ensuring a mellow but spirited character is passed on to each new generation of wine. "The difference in Sanlúcar is that cool ocean breezes flow through the bodegas, infusing a distinct sea-fresh tang to the maturing wines," says Javier. As we walk through his vineyards in the nearby coastal hills, his mind seems more on the race tomorrow than the virtues of the pink-tinged Palomino fino grapes from which the base wine is made. Sanlúcar, I discover, is the traditional home of this suitably neutral grape and it was later adopted as the standard variety by the fino sherry-makers of Jerez. Manzanilla is the lifeblood of the town It thrives in the whitish soil, as do red-legged partridges, which dart between the vines devouring bugs. When Javier departs to get some rest, I pitch up at the bar hoping to pick up racing tips. But the local accent, as gritty as the dirt still clinging to my shoes, defeats my smattering of Spanish and finally - ahead of several toddlers - I turn in for the night. On the day of the races, Sanlúcar's old town and beach are packed. The action begins in the relative cool of late afternoon, so I join Tim Holt, an Englishman responsible for the worldwide export of Hidalgo wines, for lunch at Casa Bigote. One of several fish restaurants lining the Guadalquivir quayside from where sherry was once shipped to the world, Casa Bigote is apparently a favourite with the King of Spain. Tim, who visited Sanlúcar 16 years ago, fell in love with a Spanish girl and never left, is more of a convert to Andalusian custom than many locals. "I haven't met anybody who has tried manzanilla with the food here and not liked it," he says. "The difficulty is in persuading people to carry on drinking it when they go home, but my job is becoming easier in Britain because of the current fashion for Spanish food and culture." Asian food is particularly good with manzanilla and, according to Tim, the Japanese, with their love of sushi and sashimi, are thirsty for more. Unlike classic combinations such as Sancerre and goat's cheese, manzanilla can also see you through the best part of a meal. At four o'clock, we cut our lunch short (this is Spanish time) and walk along the beach for the start of the races. Javier isn't riding until later but, buoyed by a good lunch, I'm keen to master the odd local betting system and inspect the horses. We head for the temporary stands where several bodegas are entertaining their guests. Socially it's more Badminton than Ascot, but as the first horses thunder along the wet sands, the cheering crowds, many still in bathing costumes, leave one in no doubt that this is a distinctly Spanish affair. Top Four Sherries Gonzalez Byass Tío Pepe Fino (£8.49; Co-op; Sainsbury's; Tesco; Waitrose) A classic bone-dry fino from the most famous sherry producer in the world. Drink as an aperitif or with Asian-spiced dishes. Hidalgo Oloroso Viejo (£45; Berry Bros & Rudd, 0870 900 4300; Waitrose) The rich, mahogany-hued, nutty and raisiny intensity of this fabulous dry oloroso could convert almost anyone to the pleasures of sherry. A majestic palate-pleaser of a wine to mull over at length. Hidalgo La Gitana Manzanilla (£7.49; Threshers; Sainsbury's; Somerfield; Waitrose) With each sip of this superbly refreshing wine, you catch a whiff of Sanlúcar's tangy seaside air. Ideal for cool summer sipping and with shellfish. Valdespino Amontillado Tío Diego (£14.50-£15.50; Moreno Wine Merchants, 020 7286 0678; Vinoteca, 020 7253 8786; Harvey Nichols, 020 7235 5000) Amontillado is essentially a fino that continues to age after the life-giving layer of yeast, or flor, dies off, gaining a nutty richness from contact with the air. This is a winning example of the great style of wine. The horse races take place daily along Sanlúcar de Barrameda's beach in southern Spain on August 9-11 and August 23-25. Contact the Spanish Tourist Office (020 7486 8077) or Sanlúcar de Barrameda Tourist office on 00 34 956 36 6110. Jonathan Ray returns next week |
Posted at 29/5/2006 08:12 by waldron Madrid shares AFX at a glance outlookMADRID (AFX) - Shares are expected to open flat to higher in quiet trade after Wall Street extended gains Friday, but trading will be quiet with many US and UK traders away due to public holiday's in those countries, dealers said. Friday, the IBEX-35 index ended up 206.6 points or 1.84 pct at 11,414.8, after trading in a range of 11,225-11,415, on turnover of 4.589 bln eur. The June future on the IBEX-35 index closed at 11,399, up from 11,186 the previous day, on volume of 18,406 contracts. FORTHCOMING EVENTS -Jazztel's 377 mln eur law suit against Telefonica begins TOMORROW -Banco Popular AGM -Logista press conference(10.00 am) -Iberia AGM (2nd call) -Spain preliminary May HICP TODAY'S PRESS -Iberia has 2.0 bln eur war chest for Latin American acquisitions (Europa Press) -Prisa plans to seek listing for radio assets in end 2006, start of 2007 (El Economista) -OHL raises stake in Chilean motorway unit to 70 pct ahead of listing (El Economista) -Gas Natural says Endesa bid 'permanently damaged' by Supreme Court ruling (El Mundo) -Spain's CNMV approved Telefonica's 2005 Terra buyout despite irregularities (El Mundo) -Spain's Technicas Reunidas to make market debut with 250 mln eur war chest (Expansion) -Teliasonera expects to close acquisition of majority Xfera stake tomorrow (Expansion) -ACS plans to increase windfarm capacity to 2,281 MW vs 430 currently (Cinco Dias) WEEKEND PRESS -Jazztel loses three out of four new clients in April (Cinco Dias) -Repsol YPF mulling acquisitions - Chairman (Cinco Dias) -IMF's Rato sees continued 'moderate' rises in global interest rates (El Mundo) -Inditex to study accusations co used child labour in Portugal (Europa Press) LATE CORPORATE NEWS -Telefonica outlook revised to negative; 'BBB+' corporate credit rating affirmed MACROECONOMIC NEWS -Spain April PPI up 5.7 pct yr-on-yr; energy, metal industry prices weigh heavy MARKET COMMENT -Equities are expected to open higher after Wall Street held on to last week's gains, with Telefonica still expected to be strong after the stock gained 3.69 pct Friday. "Telefonica still looks cheap and Friday's dividend news together with the company's announcement it is slowing its acquisition drive should still boost the stock, any profit taking will be minimal," a dealer at a local brokerage said. Arcelor could recovers from Friday's losses on news that investors in Arcelor have criticised the European steelmaker's proposed merger with Severstal. Arcelor's current suitor, Mittal Steel is reported to be continuing with its 25.8 bln eur hostile offer, while its advising bank Goldman Sachs is seeking to co-ordinate formal resistance to the Severstal deal. afxmadrid@afxnews.co jg/ks |
Posted at 30/3/2006 06:55 by ariane Zara is homing in on Britain with launch of new furniture outlet By Elizabeth Nash in La Coruna Published: 30 March 2006 Spain's clothes retail giant Inditex, the parent company of the Zara clothes chain, is planning to launch its home furnishings line Zara Home into the UK this year, the chief executive Pablo Isla said yesterday. The move reflects the company's continued confidence and plans for growth in the "especially competitive" British market, he said. Britain's first Zara Home store will open in a prestigious site in London's Regent Street. "This marks an important expression of our expanding operation in the UK, since Zara Home represents a flagship project for us," Mr Isla said. He was speaking at Inditex's headquarters in Arteixo, near the northern Spanish city of La Coruna, the design and distribution centre for all Zara's clothes sold worldwide. Mr Isla announced a 21 per cent increase in Inditex sales for 2005, from 5.57bn to 6.71bn. Gross margins were 23 per cent and net profit rose 26 per cent to 803m in 2005, compared with 638m in 2004. The latest figure eclipsed first-quarter figures from its Stockholm-based rival Hennes & Mauritz which disappointed analysts with a rise of just 11 per cent. Inditex announced a 40 per cent increase in dividend for shareholders. Mr Isla said the company planned to devote 50 per cent of profits to dividend payments and 50 per cent to new investments. Some 34 per cent of shares are publicly quoted. The rest remain in the hands of the company's reclusive president, Amancio Ortega - Spain's richest man - and his family. Inditex plans to open 410 to 490 stores next year and step up investment in new shops by up to 850m. "This ambitious plan of growth and investment will guarantee the future of the company in coming years," Mr Isla said. He attributed the international success of the group's "rapid fashion" formula to its "absolutely avant-garde" computerised system of design and distribution. The opening of Regent Street's Zara Home will mark the debut of a line the company is rolling out worldwide with much fanfare. Last year Zara Home opened 48 stores internationally, and plans to open up to 45 in 2006. The group, which includes the successful teenage fashion chains Bershka and Oysho, opened 448 new stores in all. The opening date for the Regent Street store has not been fixed, and depends on when the building is available. Zara, which uses window displays and shop fronts as almost its sole means of advertising, chooses its sites with care. It likes to locate its stores alongside luxury designers who charge higher prices. Italy, France, the UK and Germany continue to be the main growth areas, but the company plans ambitious growth and expansion in Asia and the Pacific region. Results in the UK continued to be "very satisfactory," Mr Isla said, although he acknowledged that the British market was "very developed". He declined to comment on cut-throat price competitors in the British market, but said prices "eased slightly" worldwide by about 5 per cent. More branches of Zara will open in Britain in 2006, he said. A Zara spokeswoman said it could withstand pressures from low-cost competitors "because we compete not just on price but on quality - we sell the latest designs at accessible prices". She added the UK market is one of the most competitive in the world. |
Posted at 30/3/2006 06:53 by ariane Inditex "buy"Wednesday, March 29, 2006 9:55:50 AM ET Ibersecurities LONDON, March 29 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Ibersecurities maintain their "buy" rating on Inditex (IXD.ETR). In a research note published this morning, the analysts mention that the company is likely to hike its special dividend, while maintaining its ordinary dividend for 2005. The analysts expect Inditex to report healthy 2005 results, with a 4% rise in same-store sales |
Posted at 05/6/2005 08:35 by maywillow Mentor for AndorraDavid Baines says that there is a simple dichotomy in the attitudes of people visiting or staying in Andorra; they either like it a lot, or they don't like it at all. (Filed: 07/01/2002) Andorra Geography Language and Culture Taxes Government and People Crime Health care Ask questions and read the answers on the Mentor Noticeboard. I am a retired Cathay Pacific Airways pilot. I retired in 1987 with the intention of living in Hawaii, where my wife and I had built a house in 1982. In 1984 we decided to buy a pied-a-terre somewhere in Europe. We purchased the smallest reasonable apartment in Andorra after a quick exploration of accommodation in France, Switzerland and Italy. Two years into retirement we found that we were in Andorra most of the time and decided to take out residency, build a larger house, and plant our feet firmly in the Principality, and, would you believe it, I think we get more sunshine here than we did in Hawaii. Although I was educated in the UK, I have lived abroad for most of my life, in Canada, Germany, Hawaii, and Hong Kong and expect to enjoy the remainder of my dotage in Andorra, where we have an international group of friends and little interference from a benign government. In the 19 years since we owned property here we have met with every level of the eclectic and polyglot society, and we do feel that we know the place well. I have built two 2-seater aircraft in my retirement, but while they still fly, I find that my eyesight and reflexes indicate that I should give them up to the active syndicates that have helped me to build them, and returning to writing seems a good next step. I am happy to answer any questions, I love Andorra and I am happy to share it with others. Andorra: There is a simple dichotomy in the attitudes of people visiting or staying in Andorra; they either like it a lot, or they don't like it at all. To examine the negative vote; I remember asking a real estate broker who was naturally enthusiastic about the Principality, what was wrong with it? "Getting here" was her only comment and she referred to the three hour journey from either Toulouse or Barcelona where airline connections are available. Those arriving by car from the UK are liable to find themselves caught up, at the end of a two-day journey, in a mind-numbing crawl of French or Spanish holiday shoppers, loading up with cigarettes and alcohol. Geography: Andorra with an area of 175 square miles, is about the same size as the Isle of Wight or two and a half times the area of Washington D.C. The population in 2001 was 67,159 and their life expectancy was a healthy 83.49 years. Steeply sloped valleys present attractive scenery but sometimes a pressing sense of closeness for the claustrophobic. Most people like it, though some who have surrendered their pulmonary fitness to inactivity or tobacco, find that the mountain air, at 4000 to 7000 feet, is not sufficient for an energetic life. Basically the country consists of a major road, 20 miles long, that connects the French border at Pas de la Casa with the Spanish border at Farga de Moles with numerous spur roads running into smaller valleys totalling 170 miles. It is not a big place. The capitol, Andorra la Vella (Andorra the old) has merged with Escaldes-Engordany to form the civic centre where the shops are sufficient to cater to the 11,500,000 annual visitors, who arrive in the winter for skiing in Europe's largest network of ski-runs, or in summer for shopping or hiking in the well tended network of trails. Language and Culture: There is a vigorous expatriate society centred either within the La Massana Comu, which is built on a confluence of two river valleys without a through road, hence ignored by the shopping frenzy, or in the numerous villages in the mountains above St Julia towards the Spanish border. The expats of both these communities are English speaking. French influence increases as one nears the northeastern border. The national language is Catalan, and while it is politically beneficial to speak it to an Andorran, they all understand Spanish, which they refer to as Castilian, and most know French. English is a poor third language, except among the expatriates of any country. There are signs of human occupation from the Neolithic era 6000 years ago, and while there is some evidence of internal struggle in the 13th century, and a visit by Charlemagne in the 9th, it is a country that has never been at war, nor occupied by a foreign power throughout the history of mankind. Andorra joined the United Nations in 1993 and raised its flag, which incidentally is the same as the flags of Chad and Romania. Taxes: The belief that Andorra is a tax haven is not totally correct, as 50.55% of government revenue is derived from taxes in a total budget (2001) of 350,468,240 Euros. It is true that Income Taxes, Capital Gains and Death Duties are absent, as are Sales Taxes, but there is an Import Tax, usually 2% to 5%, and there are taxes on business which does not effect the expatriates, who are, in most cases prevented from working by restrictions on their residencia. Government and People: Perhaps the following items illustrate the Government's attitude to its public. All internal mail is delivered post-free. Stamps are only required on foreign mail, though it's true that the post office is a bit slow. Government car parks all give free parking for the first hour to facilitate quick errands, and, with the parking meters, from one o'clock until three to assist lunchtime diners, and evenings and Sundays to help everybody, which clearly illustrates that the modest fees are there only to control parking and not boost the exchequer. I have received two parking tickets in the last 15 years. They were polite messages asking me not to park illegally. There was no demand for money, though fines are not unheard of. When we decided to apply for permanent residence, which necessitated a lot of form filling, one of which was a statement from the mayor saying that we did live in the area. The town clerk asked me if I had paid the tax on the purchase of our apartment. I replied that I had given the lawyer a lot of money and I did not know how it was dispersed. She checked with the computer and found that I hadn't. I had to return on the morrow to collect my signed statement and said I would attend to it then, and returning to consult my neighbours about the tax I'd never heard of. They both said, "Don't pay it. We've never paid it. Just keep quiet about it." I pondered over the success of a residency application from an applicant who started off saying he wouldn't abide by the regulations, versus an unnecessary payment of an un-enforced tax and on returning to collect the letter from the mayor said that I couldn't afford the tax, which was an outright lie. "All right" said the clerk and that was that, until two years later I received a letter from the Town Clerk noting that I had never paid, and if I wanted to do so, the office was open from nine to five each week day, and that was all. No threats. No surcharges. No offer of jail or deportation, No deadline. I was thoroughly ashamed of myself and hurried down to settle the bill that was less than 1% of the purchase price. And have paid anything else requested ever since. Like any other contented resident I've come to terms with the drawbacks of living in Andorra. Not every expected deliveryman nor repairman seems to use a watch, and sometimes not even a calendar, but when they do arrive they are usually efficient and not too expensive. Crime: There is no sign of poverty in the Principality and there is no record of unemployment, although the building trade among others, governs foreigners, mostly Portuguese, by issuing or withdrawing work permits. Crime is low. I've never heard of a mugging on the street or a car theft. The banks removed all the barriers between the cash and the customers 10 years ago and had a bank robbery shortly afterwards, by two teenagers who made their get-away in a taxi and were caught within 90 minutes. Any robber planning a serious crime is faced with the escape route, which can be instantly blocked at either border crossing. Health care: There is a good medical service, voted number four in the world by the World Health Organisation and, when needed, patients are referred to France or Spain for more serious care. |
Posted at 15/2/2005 12:56 by maywillow MADRID (AFX) - Share prices extended gains in moderate early afternoontrade, reversing early profit-taking losses after a positive reading for German economic sentiment from the ZEW institute, with REE outperforming after a solid set of full-year results, dealers said. At 1.00 pm, the IBEX-35 index was up 35.6 points at 9,620.2, after trading in a range of 9,574-9,635, on turnover of 1.06 bln eur, with put-throughs accounting for about 18 pct. The IBEX-NM gained 4.8 points to 2,507.7. Equities opened flat, shifting in and out of positive territory in early deals before moving higher to midday after the February reading for economic expectations from Germany's ZEW institute beat expectations. "The positive reading for the ZEW dispelled this morning's light profit taking and the market's resumed its upward trend," said a dealer at a leading Spanish bank adding "I can see us going up to 10,000 points on the IBEX-35." REE gained 0.27 eur to 18.98, boosted by a solid set of full year results at the top end of estimates and ahead of tomorrow's strategy presentation. Other electricity companies underperformed, with Endesa down 0.07 at 17.83, extending yesterday's declines after a disappointing set of full-year results, while Iberdrola added 0.03 to 19.91, and Fenosa also edged 0.03 higher to 21.99. Repsol was firm, up 0.04 at 20.00, reversing earlier losses, as was blue chip peer Telefonica, up 0.09 at 14.55, off a low of 14.4. Main banks remained in the black, with SCH up 0.03 eur at 9.78 and BBVA up 0.07 at 13.40, while defensive Popular outperformed up 0.75 at 52.25. Among TMTs, Jazztel was up 0.04 or 3.74 pct at 1.11, extending yesterday's gain of over 10 pct, and today's most traded stock on volume of over 89 mln shares, ahead of a business presentation later today. Other TMTs were mixed, with Indra off 0.01 at 13.64 after going ex-dividend for 0.326 eur per share, while TPI added 0.04 to 7.22, supported by positive sentiment for the directories business after UK peer Yell's solid nine months results. Other Telefonica units were weaker, with Terra down 0.03 at 3.27 and Moviles off 0.02 at 10.12 in profit taking after yesterday's gains fuelled by the parent's announcement of a planned buy-out of the minorities in Terra. Small caps continued to attract interest on M&A hopes, with Ercros up 0.04 eur or 4.88 pct at 0.86 and Urbas 0.09 or 8.57 pct higher at 1.14. Europac gained 0.15 or 3.60 pct to 4.32, on positive sentiment after Friday's stake-building in Gescartao, which according to the Spanish company was made at a discount to the Portuguese company's book value afxmadrid@afxnews.co jg/tc |
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