MURCIA SIGHTSEEING AND CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TRIP

There is a coach trip organised from Mar Menor golf Resort on the 9th of December 2010, to Murcia, see below for details:

MAR MENOR CHRISTMAS SOCIAL 11 DECEMBER

Mar Menor golf Resort will be holding a Christmas Social on the 11th of December at the Hotel Intercontinentals Nomad Restaurant, for details see below:

CHRISTMAS MENUS

As I find out what restaurants are offering christmas menus, I will post on this entry, so keep checking back.

HACIENDA RIQUELME and EL VALLE GOLF RESORT

The old Hacienda Restaurant El Cason and El Valle Golf El Asador are offering a Christmas day lunch menu for 30 euros. 4 course meal. Click here for the menu http://www.hrgr.es/images/photos/social/christmas2.jpg

They are also Offering a New years day lunch for 35 euros. Menu can be seen above on the link too

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEKEND? 26th- 28TH NOVEMBER 2010

This weekend there are a variety of things on:

LA TORRE GOLF RESORT AND ROLDAN

Friday: KARAOKE NIGHT at the Clover Bar

Saturday: COVERTIME BAND plays at the Clover Bar

Sunday: I LOVE HOUSE MUSIC at Cumlaude bar in Roldan

Starts at 5pm

MAR MENOR GOLF RESORT AND CLOSE BY

Saturday: DJ DINAMO AND RUBEN BONEL at Delicius Discoteca

TAPAS TRAIL MURCIA

From the 23rd November 2010 to the 3rd December 2010 there will be a tapas trail around Murcia.

Price 2euros for a tapa and a drink (soft drink, beer or wine)

These are great fun and a superb way to try different tapas and discover new bars and restaurants you would have never found.

There are almost 40 establishments participating and each one will have a different tapa on sale.
You can pick up the programme with the map in the first bar you go to, but below is a copy to get you started and to plan your route.

 The idea is you go round at least 6 establishments try their speciality tapa, you get a stamp for each tapa tried. You are suposed to vote on the tapa and give it marks out of 5. The place with the most marks will win.
Also if you get at least 6 stamps you can post it i one of the special urns in the plaza cardenal and be i with the chance of 3 special prizes.
Prize 1st - your weight in Beer (estrella levante)
Prize 2nd - A christmas Hamper
Prize 3rd- A variety of hams and a meal or dinner for 4 in the Restaurante Abrasador Canovas.

So go and Enjoy :)

WINE TASTING IN MURCIA

Wine tasting in Murcia from Thursday 25th of November 2010 to Sunday 28th of November 2010
From 15:00 to 18:00
And 20:00 to 23:00
Location Plaza de la Universidad, Murcia. See map below

According to the Poster

3 wine tastings (which is normally a whole glass) plus a cristal wine glass = 5 euros

Plate of cheese = 2 euros

Plate of ham= 5 euros

So for 12 euros you can have, plate of cheese, ham, 3 wines and a glass!

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MEDIEVAL MARKET CARTAGENA

There will be a medieval Market in Cartagena from Friday 26th of November 2010 to Sunday 28th of November 2010, throughout the centre(old quarter) of Cartagena (see map below)

From 12 till 2pm and then from 6pm till 10pm

MORNINGS

12:00 - Parades
13:00 Animation with the jump of death and magic
14:00 The Devil and human pyramides

TIME FOR LUNCH- HEAD DOWN TO TAPERIA CASA TOMAS http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/taperia-casa-tomas-and-tapas.html

AFTERNOONS

18:00 Parades
19:00 The german wheel
20:00 Circus workshop
21:00 Music Concert
22:00 Fire and acrobatic spectacle



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Medieval Markets are great for all ages, and even Men and people who hate shopping enjoy them. Head down to Cartagena and enjoy.

NEW YEARS EVE AT THE ALHAMBRA PALACE

The Alhambra Palace will be holding a New Years Eve Night, Starting at 19:00 and going on till Late
Cost 69,90 per person
Free bar till 11.30pm
Entertainment
Menu Below

Location is on the Industrial Estate (Poligono municipal de Balsicas) next to Balsicas, see map below,


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MEDIEVAL MARKET

From the 4th to the 8th of December there will be a medieval market in San Javier. In the Plaza España.


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If you haven´t been to a medieval market in Spain, it is well worth a visit, it will entertain, men, women and children alike, and also a great place to get some unique christmas presents and grab something yummy to eat.
Enjoy

TAKING BETTER PICTURES OF YOUR PROPERTY

Taking better pictures of your property

                                           By Mike Frisbee (www.fris.co.uk)
How do you make your property stand out from the crowd?


One of the biggest selling points is good photography. ‘A picture paints a thousand words’, as the saying goes.


Imagine you’ve looked at two adverts of two almost identical villas, next door to each other on the same resort. Same price, same facilities. But the photos in one are dark, fuzzy, with unmade beds, pans in the kitchen sink and toys on the terrace. The rooms look small and cramped.


In short, it is uninviting. Basically, you don’t want to spend your holidays there.


Yet the other has bright and clear images, well lit, showing a neat and tidy property, with wide, spacious rooms. Clean and inviting. Yes, I’d like to stay there!


If an owner can’t be bothered to display good photos, then surely their service – and attention to detail – in other areas will fall short too?


It is vitally important to make sure you show your property in the best possible light (literally), otherwise you may lose a potential booking at the first hurdle.


Here’s my list of ten top tips for taking better photographs of your property. I don’t intend to baffle you with science – what F-stop to use, which focal length lens, digital noise, that sort of thing. I’m working on the assumption that you’re using a compact digital camera and your knowledge of photography is limited. (If it were advanced, then you wouldn’t need my advice!)

1. Blue sky thinking


Don’t take exteriors on a dull, grey day. Wait for a clear blue sky. Have the sun behind you and take the front in the morning, then the back in the afternoon, or vice versa, depending on which way the property is facing.

 2. Beware shadowy figures



Try to avoid deep shadows across the picture, otherwise you’ll lose detail in either the highlights or the shadow areas. Be patient, keep checking the light and take it later in the day, if you have to.

3. People power


Yes, people have the power to spoil your shots. Remember, these are not your holiday snaps, so don’t have Auntie Dorothy in the foreground with a gin and tonic in her hand, or your children splashing about in the swimming pool. Much as you may love the pictures, most potential renters would prefer a blank canvas.

4. Daylight delight


Do the interior photos during the day, whilst you have available light from the windows, unless you want moody shots showing off your room lighting, of course, in which case it is best to take them as the light is fading, rather than when it is pitch black outside.


Try a few with the lights on and a few with them off. Blinds open, then blinds shut, and so on. Then pick your favourite later, when you view the results on your computer. It’s good to experiment.


5. Don’t be flash



Set your camera to manual, switch the flash off, then use‘the highest ISO. (This determines how sensitive the camera's sensor is to the light that reaches it. Use a low setting, such ISO100, for outdoors, on a sunny day, then change it to 800 or 1600 for those indoor shots, but don’t leave it on that when you are taking people pictures, with flash.)


You may find it strange that I recommend switching the flash off, but that’s because the flash will only light the foreground objects, whilst not reaching the far end of the room. It also makes for uneven lighting and doesn’t look natural.


Try the same shot with and without flash (changing the ISO from 100 to 800 or 1600 first) and compare.


It still makes me smile when I see someone take a picture of a tall building at night, using flash. It would take a mighty powerful flash to cover a whole building!

6. Cut the clutter



Don’t leave anything lying around, such as an inflatable by the pool or a mop and bucket in the corner of the kitchen. Clear the work surface and kitchen sink, leaving just the essentials, such as the microwave and kettle. Don’t have a car in the drive.


Remember – more is very often less.

7. Be a copycat


Look at what other owners have done with their photos and study carefully those that you like. Pick on the ones that stand out from the rest. Ask yourself what it is that makes them better than yours. Pay special attention to composition and mimic it as best you can, within the limits of your camera.

8. Make it large



Stand in the corner of the room, making sure nothing is partially obscuring your view, such as the edge of a lampshade; set your camera lens to its widest, to take in as much of the room as possible. Hold the camera steady, or use a tripod or monopod (a sort of one-legged tripod, if that makes sense) if you have one. You may even be able to rest the camera on something, although that would probably mean you would lose the best viewpoint.


9. Rise to the occasion


There’s no rule that says every shot must be taken at eye level. Be adventurous and do a few low-level shots, better still, high level: stand on a chair or hold the camera above your head. Experiment. Try a few quirky angles. You might be surprised at the results. After all, you’ve nothing to lose and it’s not as if you’re going to ran out of film!

Try it one way – landscape:

Then the other portrait

Shot of a bathroom, from a high viewpoint. Always make sure the toilet seat is down:

Try one at an angle

A mix of available daylight and room lights

 
 

10. When all else fails, call a professional!


It may not be as expensive as you think. Bear in mind, you should recoup more than the cost of hiring a photographer with just one extra rental booking. And that’s a one-off fee, as you can use the images year after year, on several websites. (Check the photographer’s terms and what licence he grants for the images first.)


Copyright – Mike Frisbee.






Mike Frisbee has been a professional photographer for thirty years and is based in Manchester.


He has a townhouse at La Torre Golf Resort in Murcia, Spain, which he visits every few weeks. Whilst there, he photographs properties for rental websites.


For examples of his work, visit http://www.fris.co.uk/ (password – Spanish property).


For stock images of the region, visit http://www.fris.co.uk/ (password – Murcia stock).


For an example of a 360 degree photo, go to www.fris.co.uk/MoorPan/The-Moor-Suite


Mike can be contacted by email: mikefrisbee@fris.co.uk or phone: 0044 (0)7976 894624.


MIKE WILL BE IN SPAIN FROM THE 2ND OF JANUARY FOR 6 DAYS AND IS TAKING BOOKINGS TO TAKE PICTURES
COST: 10 POUNDS PLUS VAT PER IMAGE (MINIMUM OF 6 MUST BE ORDERED)

WEDDING AND HOME FAIR

Wedding and Home Fair being held from the 19th to the 21st of November 2010 at the IFEPA in TorrePacheco

Print the voucher off below and cut out and you will get 33% off entry so instead of being 6 euros will be 4 euros.

Directions can be seen below:

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CHRSTMAS ARTESAN MARKET

In Roldan (which is next to la Torre Golf Resort)

There will be an Artesan Market

On the 4th, 5th and 6th of December in the Towncentre

You Can see pictures of past artesan markets in Roldan here:
http://www.panoramio.com/user/2848010

NUTCRACKER - MURCIA

Ballet? you do not need to speak spanish to enjoy ballet, on the 23rd of December at 8pm in Murcia they are holding the performance of "THE NUTCRACKER"

The Moscow Ballet www.sistemaproducciones.com  will be performing,with music from Tchaikovsky. You can purchase tickets here: http://www.ticktackticket.com/ttt/minternet/PKG_TTSAC.TTTLink_lista?claves=.&p_frames=2&p_operador=AUMU prices from 20 euros

DELICIUS DISCOTECA EVENTS NOVEMBER

Delicius Discoteca which is located on the road from torre pacheco to Los Alcazares, just past the Mar Menor Golf resort, is holding 2 special nights over the next few weeks,
The first on is this Saturday 13th of November, a wild west party.

The following saturday they have 2 djs playing, Dj Nano and Ruben Bonel.

This night will be played live on Loca FM, cost is 12 euros which includes a drink.

NEW YEARS EVE

Finally, what´s on at New Years Eve has been released.

There are 3 different events so far that I have come across:

1)LA TORRE GOLF RESORT
Is holding a dinner at the intercontinental for 170 euros with dinner, drinks and a dj. I have been to one of these before and although they seem expensive are exceptionally good

2)EL VALLE GOLF RESORT
Are holding a New years eve celebration, for 80 euros for residents, there is also an option to travel from La Torre by bus.

3)HACIENDA RIQUELME
Is Holding a 6 course dinner for 89 euros for residents

OPTION 4, would be to book a hotel room in Murcia city, you can pick these up for as cheap as 40 euros, and go and savour what the city has to offer. Please note that you will struggle to get dinner in Murcia.

ALHAMBRA PALACE
The Alhambra Palace have a new years eve menu and entertainment on for 69,90 click here for more info http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-years-eve-at-alhambra-palace.html

Enjoy

BONFIRE NIGHT AND TREASURE HUNT AT MAR MENOR GOLF

Tommorrow night - remember remember the 5th of November, well get down to Mar Menor Golf Resort

for 7.30pm

Then on the 14th of November there is  treasure hunt! details above, but note you must book your place by 7th November

Enjoy!

BANDS PLAYING AT CLOVER LA TORRE NOV-DEC

Throughout November and December there will be a band playing every Saturday night at The Clover, starting this Saturday with Covertime.

JAZZ FESTIVAL CARTAGENA

Cartagena Jazz Festival started yesterday 5th of November and runs till the 21st of November. This year is their 30th anniversary of holding this event.

Sábado 06 Noviembre 2010 - Wayne Shorter & Maceo Parquer

Miércoles 10 Noviembre 2010 - Starlicker, Tortoise y Adasiewics

Jueves 11 Noviembre 2010 - Stacey Kent + Portico Quartet

Viernes 12 Noviembre 2010 - Sax Summit & María de Medeiros

Sábado 13 Noviembre 2010 - Howe Gelb & A Band Of Gypsies + Zenet

Jueves 18 Noviembre 2010 - Michel Camilo & Tomatito

Viernes 19 Noviembre 2010 - Macy Gray + David Saborn Trio

Sábado 20 Noviembre 2010 - Roberta Flack + Esperanza Spalding

Domingo 21 Noviembre 2010 - Eli Paperboy Reed

If you click on the flyer above it will take you to the cartagena jazz webpage where you can see more info on booking and concerts.

Enjoy

A NIGHT OF RUSSIAN MUSIC

On the 5th of November at 22:00 there will be a concert at the "Teatro Cine Moderno" in San Pedro del Pinatar which will pay homage to Russian Music with Arias, Ballads and Russian songs.

Cost will be 12 euros and tickets can be bought on the night or from Monday to Friday at the ticket booth at the cinema, from 10am-1pm and 17:00 to 19:00

You can find the Teatro cine Moderno here:

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