New Images of Condado !

I cant believe that the last few weeks have gone by so quickly without ANY posts, apologies for anyone who is wondering whether the site is still live !

YES it is.... and all being well this site will be something that I can devote more time to in the future - update to follow on that when its "boxed off" as they say in Birmingham !

In the interim and following the posting on our Facebook page

See below some great PDF image set's from Milennium...
 
Los Naranjos

Penthouses

Villas Jana

Jardines

Murcian President Resigns - Austerity to follow !

The Murcian regional president... Ramon Luis Vacarcel has resigned from his post in order to stand for the forthcoming European parliament elections on May 25th.

Vacarcel of the Partido Popular (Peoples Party) has served in the role since his election in 1995. He started his political career in 982, the year in which he joined the Partido Popular and later took on responsibility for the territorial organization of the Local Meeting of the municipality of Murcia.

In October, 1983 he became a member of the Executive Regional Committee of the PP, as the leader of the Territorial Area of the Region of Murcia. Four years later, in 1987, he was nominated a regional vice-president of the People's party. In the Municipal Elections of 1987 he was elected as a councilman of the Town of Murcia, regaining the role of president and speaker of the Municipal Group for the People's party.

In 1991, as head of the People's party, he won the Municipal Elections to the Town of Murcia, although an political agreement between the Socialist and the United left parties prevented him from acceding to the Mayoralty. In November 1991, he was elected president of the People's party of the Region of Murcia, a post that he has retained in successive congresses.

The immediate successor for Vacarcel and the candidate chosen by him personally will be his current No2....Alberto Garre, born in the town of Torre Pacheco Murcia in February 1952 . Garre is a lawyer and his political career was boosted by his pharmacist father who was a councillor in his hometown. Garre also served as counclilor and spokesman of the Popular Party in the city from 1987 to 1995. He was regional deputy for the People's Party from 1991 to 2004 .  

After his formal takeover of the role its is expected that Garre will work hard to tackle the Murcian regional deficit which is currently the highest in the country. To this end a period of austerity and a reduction in central office functions and administration is expected, two key figures in the administration have already been given the Spanish Archer (El-Bow) - Juan Bernal the finance minister and Pedro Cruz.

Of particular interest is the demise is Pedro Cruz who has been the main force behind regional tourism in the area and a strong advocate and promoter of  "Paramount Park" and the airport at Covera  - further lengthy delays in both of these projects seem inevitable  - and it was all going so well on 1st April !!

Flights Scheduled into Covera for Paramount Park Opening

This is a total exclusive for today only......

I understand from my contacts within the aviation industry, that not only is Covera undertaking test flights today, but the initial scheduled flight in 2015 will coincide with the opening of the Paramount Theme Park.

I also understand that the 1st flight will arrive directly from Washington DC and the opening ceremony for Paramount Park will be conducted by Barrack Obama himself, it appears that when a young senator he and his family spent many happy hours watching paramount movies at the local drive in with such titles as "What did you say" and "I dont believe it" 

Its well known that the new theme park will have a wide ranging Star Trek Theme and we look forward to "boldly going" and trying out this wonderful new asset to the Condado area.

Sources tell me that these dual projects while initially slow to get off the ground have very recently been revitalized by a combination of Brazilian and Nigerian finances and money is now no object in getting both of these key entertainment and transport projects into public use.

We have no idea who is behind this new consortium of wealthy investors but my sources tell me the code name for this project team is  "Loof Lirpa"

Earthquakes.... and a Geography lesson !!

Lorca....May 2011.....and I wonder if you were as surprised as I was to hear about a 5.1 level earthquake that took place in the close proximity of Condado....

The images of destruction and the tragic loss of life were things I had never imagined happening in Europe, but on further investigation I discovered that the Alhama region sits on a prominent and well known earthquake fault line, indeed its even known as the  "Alhama de Murcia fault" and its a prominent oblique fault that runs from south-west to north-east for over 100 km through the Murcia province.

Concerned by this I did a little research on Wiki ref earthquakes and our locality, apologies if this takes to you back to "Geography 101" at school....but its interesting stuff..... easy concepts 1st

Tectonic plates are large plates of rock that make up the foundation of the Earth's crust and the shape of the continents. The tectonic plates comprise the bottom of the crust and the top of the Earths Mantle.  There are ten major plates on Earth and many more minor ones. They float on a plastic-like part of the Earth's mantle called the asthenosphere. The plates are most famously known for being the source of earthquakes.

The tectonic plates are about 100 km (60 miles) in thickness, with continental plates tending to be thicker than oceanic ones. The composure of the two types of plate is also quite different. Oceanic plates consist of thicker basaltic rocks, compressed by the pressure of kilometers of water. Continental plates have a lower average density, containing granitic rocks with a heavy composition of aluminum and silica.. The mantle underneath the tectonic plates is constantly recirculating, causing the plates to float around slowly in a process called tectonic drift. This process was described well by the theory  of plate Tectonics, which solved several scientific dilemmas about the distribution of species when it was introduced. When plates push up against each other, they create mountain ranges and volcanoes. Mt. Everest was created in this way !!

The shortening between the African and the Iberian plates is absorbed by a number of faults distributed over a very wide zone with very low slip rates and long periods of seismic loading. Thus a seismotectonic map based only on faults associated with seismicity or with expressive geomorphic features is incomplete. It is possible to characterize seismogenic faults using paleoseismology.

First, paleoseismological results based on trenching analysis in the eastern Betics (Lorca-Totana segment of the Alhama de Murcia fault) are presented. The main paleoseismic parameters of this fault segment are (1) a minimum of two to three M _w 6.5–7 earthquakes in the last 27 kyr (shortly before 1650 A.D., between 830 and 2130 B.C. and shortly before 16.7 ka, respectively), with a mean recurrence period of 14 kyr, and a very short elapsed time, and (2) a net slip rate of 0.07–0.6 mm/yr during the last 30 kyr. These results were extrapolated to the rest of the known active faults in the eastern Betics and were added to the slip rates of the active faults at the African margin. The total slip rate of the transect, which crosses de Alhama de Murcia fault in Spain and reaches the Cheliff basin (Algeria), would represent 21–82% of the total shortening between Africa and Eurasia estimated from plate motion models and seismic moment summation. A number of factors could account for this discrepancy: (1) hidden seismogenic faults in the emerged areas, (2) absence of correlation between current and late Pleistocene slip rates, (3) extensive small faults that are undetected and that absorb a significant amount of the deformation, and (4) possible overestimation of the convergence rates.

The earthquake in Spain that occurred on 11 May 2011 appears to be the latest in a series of earthquakes occurring along the Alhama de Murcia fault; a prominent oblique fault that runs from south-west to north-east for over 100 km through Murcia province.  Geological studies have confirmed the importance of this fault as one of the structures controlling crustal shortening as Europe collides with Africa. The fault can be partitioned into a number of segments, and of these, only the segment close to Lorca appears to be seismically active in historical times. The shallow depth of the 11 May earthquake, which contributed to the amount of damage caused, and which has been estimated to have been as little as 3.5 km, appears to be typical of the behaviour of the Alhama de Murcia fault . Earthquakes in the range of 5 to 6 in magnitude have occurred at regular intervals, notably in 1579, 1674, 1783, 1818, 1855 and 1907.

The most recent activity on this fault segment was in 1977 and 1978; however, these earthquakes were only around magnitude 4...... long may this dormant period continue...

Mickey Mouse Tales ??

You would think that it wouldn't be possible to build not one...but two brand new airports and then have both of them them sit there unused...

But as this has already occurred both at Castellon and Corvera,  nothing I ever hear about the much heralded  Paramount Theme Park will convince me of its existence..Not until I am standing in the sunshine, queuing for a white knuckle ride, while holding a monster hot dog !!

That said the annual 2014 FITUR tourism show opens in Madrid this week, and offers yet more chances to view impressive 3D models and sexy videos while behind the scenes the Premursa  team scurry around looking for investors.


Click on the Link for the PDF of the park plans !!

Pres Release follows - sounds like a roller coaster ride.... somewhat reminiscent of the last few years of Paramount discussions ??

PARAMOUNT THEME Park will take centre stage at next week’s Tourism Expo in Madrid. Murcia’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Pedro Alberto Cruz, said that Paramount Park, which will once again star at the 34th International Tourism Fair (FITUR), to be held from 22nd to 26th January.

Jesus Samper, president of flagship projects Murcianos (Premursa) said during last week’s press conference that, “skepticism does not worry me in the least. There was also skepticism about the New Condomina but there we have a stadium.”

Samper indicated that they are working with eight investment funds, all foreigners, but again refused to give the names, for reasons of confidentiality: “They did not wish their names to go out in the media.” He added that “The first buildings on the ground will be seen within eight months, upon completion of the installation work for water supplies, telephone and light as well as the implementation of security measures and houses for workers, plus the infrastructure needed to begin constructing the buildings and the installation of the attractions.”

The total cost of the works, according to Samper, is 100 million euros, corresponding to capital, while between 130 and 140 million is the investment provided by financial institutions. The remaining money will come from the sale of individual plots and hotels, Park Lifestyle Centre, the area where they will have hotels, shops, bars and restaurants.

Paramount will occupy 50 of the 311 square meter pavilion at Fitur. The theme park will be recreated by a three-dimensional visual that will cover each step of the most significant areas, from West Fargo to The Enchanted Castle, Main Square and the Future Sleepy Hollow. All the major recreation attractions will be displayed at the show, among which there will be four roller coasters, the largest of which can 'travel' up to 160 kilometers per hour, dropping from a height of 120 meters.

Cruz said the installation is, “absolutely stunning and an attraction in itself. It has been produced in Los Angeles, and provides a static 3D virtual walk where visitors can enjoy the picturesque attractions and areas. It will be exactly like this in reality.” The facility will accommodate up to ten people per session, which will last for about ten minutes.

2014 - Where would I rather be today ??

 

I am just back in at work and chained to my desk after a wonderful Christmas....and as I sit here watching the rain pouring down outside, my thoughts turn (as they do often) to Condado.

A quick check on the the weather forecast shows that the high today is due to be 20C and  Sunny - why on earth am in cold wet rainy London when I could be in Spain !!

Its been just over a year since I last posted....but buoyed by New Year enthusiasm and a sincere hope that 2014 will finally be the year that my wife and I are able to spend an extended period in Condado, I thought it would be appropriate to start posting again !

We spent our limited time on site in 2013 and think the total days spent were around 20  - just not enough when there is so much of everything onsite now - peace and quiet and great facilities...

A few Highlights of  2013 and in no particular order !!

• American Breakfasts at Big Gs
• Eating outside at late in the evening at La Cata
• Beer and Football Coverage at the Clover.... excellent as always
• Massive blue cocktails at Boakao
• The market onsite and others elsewhere
• The covered market in Mazarron
• The new french restaurant
• Sitting on the empty beach at Bolnuevo in glorious sunshine on November 5th
• A long evening on July 4th with Elvis and cocktails
• The feeling that we always get when we drive back up entrance boulevard and say."it's great to be back"