New Ambassador makes first visit to Costa Blanca

LESS than four weeks into his new role as Her Majesty's Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, CMG, has made his first visit to Alicante province.
After meeting members of associations and charities working to support the British community, including The Royal British Legion and Age Concern, he met with invited members of the media at a reception in Benidorm. Accompanied by British Consul from Alicante Paul Rodwell, the Ambassador said Spain was the biggest and most important consular region, dealing with around 14 million British holiday makers each year and around 800,000 people resident in Spain.
In a bid to reach these people in a quicker, more effective and efficient way, the Ambassador announced the launch of new Facebook and Twitter pages: “We are in a digital age and are keen to make the most of social media to ensure people are well informed so they are less at risk whether they are staying three days or 33 years.”
The importance of social media became apparent during the Boston Marathon bombing when it was really used for the first time allowing people to access minute by minute updates. “I hope it is a genuine two way communication.” However the Ambassador was keen to stress that it is not a substitute for the consulate service that the team provides as the team in Alicante dealt with 1,200 cases last year: “We want to enable Paul and his colleagues to reach the most vulnerable so the two will work in tandem and allow to get more information out there and give the correct information.”

Source: euroweeklynews.com

AN ATTRACTIVE CRAFT FAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF ALICANTE

If you fancy the idea of getting really exclusive but not expensive Christmas presents before the rush, take a trip to Alicante town centre. 

There, in the Avenida Federico Soto, more or less in front of the Corte Inglés, some 40 stalls with real "Artesanía de Autor" work  will set up shop.  Real craft work, because "Artesania de Autor" means that the person selling the work is the person who made it.  Nothing imported and nothing from a factory.
The regional craft association Amata has been holding real craft fairs all over Spain these last twenty years and has built up a large circle of aficionados in the craft world.  Amata selects participants after looking at the quality of their work and considering how they will fit in - the market should not have too many people selling the same sort of material.
A good variety of ceramics, leatherwork, paper, silver, macramé, wood, original jewelry, fabrics, forged iron, handbags, cushions, wooden toys is to be found on one of their markets.
This market in the middle of Alicante is especially interesting because many of the participants will be working at their stall.  Watch Chema bind books, José carve bone and horn to make spoons or costume jewelry, Thomas painting T-shirts, Diego decorate boxes with filigree paper and Ramón weave intricately patterned buttons with Celtic motifs.
Often they can add to or change part of their design to suit the taste or need of a potential customer - a name, another colour or perhaps a slightly different sized.
Many of the pieces to be seen in this craft fair are the sort of thing you will see in expensive art galleries where you pay a lot more.  Here you can buy directly from the craftsman or woman - cheaper, more fun and a lot more interesting.
And the people in the stalls much prefer to see where their lovingly made articles will find a new home.  Most of these people choose this sort of work because they enjoy making something original, but they have to earn a living, which is why Amata spends its time holding markets to which it hopes to attract people who are really interested in this sort of work.
The Craft Market will be set up in the Avda. Federico Soto and is open on Friday 8, Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November, from 11 to 2 and from 5 to 9.  Many (but not all) stalls will stay open from 11 to 9, as will the big department stores in this rather up-market part of Alicante which also stay open on the Sunday.

Source: theleader.info