Archived articles from Fuerteventura's popular English Language Newspaper
ARCHIVE - Mar / Apr 07
New Hospital Opens for Business...
The first phase of the new improved hospital in the Capital should be unveiled and open for business this month.
The vice president for Health at the Canarian Government announced the good news in a recent visit to the General Hospital .
The redevelopment of the hospital has already taken several years and forms part of a pledge by the Canarian Government to improve health services on the island particularly as Fuerteventura has experienced the largest population growth in the archipelago but possessed the most archaic health facilities. The opening of the new services will go some way in helping to alleviate the existing demand.
The new improved General Hospital has been designed to make use of the latest diagnostic technology and an integrated approach to delivering health services. The hospital will not only combine rapid access to one-stop medical services, such as quick access to out patient clinics, specialist diagnostic services and day surgery, but also ‘on demand' services, such as a Drop-in Treatment Centre and A Patient Support Centre. This will help patients with chronic or long-term health conditions. Surgery theatre rooms will increase from the current 4 to 8 as will the maternity and labour clinics from two to four.
In addition to the increase in the consultations and services, there will be 249 hospital beds, increasing from the present 120 to 165 in the first phase and a further 84 added in the second phase.
The vice president, Maria del Mar Julios congratulated the speed in which the work had been carried out in response to the “efforts made by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Health department to improve the health services in Fuerteventura ”.
She also stated that the present legislation has the intention of securing and beginning the second phase of the hospital improvement as soon as possible.
Although stretched the health care received on the island is of a high standard – particularly when compared to the UK . From initial diagnosis to treatment the process is rapid, certainly for cancers you do not join ‘waiting list' in the hope that you live within the right postal area to receive treatment.
Sam Roberts was diagnosed with skin cancer; he had visited his local GP in Antigua with what at first appeared to be a boil. After several weeks of discomfort, Sam was in continual pain, he had been prescribed antibiotics and creams but had to return to his GP in Antigua .
The GP had referred Sam to a dermatologist specialist at the General Hospital however this appointment was some months away. After another examination the GP lost no time in rescheduling the dermatologist appointment for the following week to be checked out immediately. Thankfully Sam was treated immediately he says “I can't say enough good things about them. They were perfect. The care I received was excellent I always felt that I was in the right hands. You could not have been in a better place, the care leaves England standing”.
If you are a resident and need medical assistance in a Spanish hospital you will always have to present your social security card or, if you are not covered by Spanish social security you will have to provide evidence of your health insurance or the ability to pay. The exception is of course in emergencies as they will of course provide the necessary medical treatment in any urgent case. If your private insurance company doesn't have an arrangement with a Spanish hospital to pay bills direct, you will have to pay the bill yourself (credit cards are usually accepted) or seek assurance from your insurance company that they will pay the bill. The hospital might also ask for identification, as this is routine everywhere in Spain . Either your passport or your residence card will be sufficient.
If you have to stay in a Spanish hospital and do not speak Spanish, you will probably find that at least some doctors or nurses can speak a little English, however this is the exception and not the norm. The General Hospital does on occasion have interpreters available but it's always wiser to take your own or a dictionary.
Residence cards banished!
Recent legislation will now abolish residence cards for EU residents in Spain . However the new decree establishes the requirement for British nationals and other EU citizens planning to reside in Spain to register with Spanish authorities.
The legislation approved on 16 February 2007 by the Spanish Council of Ministers establishes that from 28 March 2007, European Union citizens will no longer be issued with residence cards. But, the new decree requires all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than 3 months to register in person at the Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in their province of residence or at designated Police stations. They will be issued a certificate stating their name, address, nationality, identity number and date of registration.
Those EU citizens in Spain who already have residence cards will not need to re-register until their residence card expires upon which they will be issued with a certificate.
We recommend British citizens in Spain to always carry with them some proof of identity
Tourists flocking to Fuerte
Tourists are continuing to flock to Fuerteventura according to the recent figures released by the tourism office at the Cabildo. The numbers of international visitors continues to grow as seen in the rising trend last year. During January there were almost 10,000 more visitors than the same period the year before.
The largest numbers of visitors continues to be the German market with a 12% increase compared to the same period last year, closely followed by the British, Scandinavians and Italians. However the positive figures do not mean that the tourism office can sit back on its laurels.
Olivia Estevez (left), the Tourism Councilor at the Local Government said: “Although the results continue to be good, we need to continue our efforts in order to maintain our levels of excellence – not only as the airport with the largest percent of visitors in the whole of the archipelago but also as a quality holiday destination”. The numbers of tourists from Italy , Ireland , Sweden and France continues to grow due to the increase in promotional and advertising campaigns last year.
The promotional trend is set to continue, last month the tourism offices throughout the island visited FITUR, the largest trade & consumer fair in Spain and this month Fuerteventura will attend the BIT fair in Italy . The BIT is an important tourism trade fair for international tour operators and tourism companies. Also included in the figures are visitors from the newly emerging markets from Northern Europe that are beginning to choose Fuerteventura as their preferred holiday destination.
Wet'n'dry clean-up
By N.Collingwood
On Sunday 04 of March the Environment dept. of the Ayuntamiento de Puerto del Rosario & the Red Cross Environment group took to the “Charco” zone of the town with a double ‘clean-up' act…the seafront and the seabed along the outside harbour wall where great chunks of steel girders, tubing and construct waste were hauled up carefully by a group of ecologically orientated divers.
Meanwhile back on the stony beach front some 30 be-gloved volunteers cleaned up the plastic, glass and other deposits of less than mindful citizens. Included in the group were the regulars of the Red Cross with some new faces and a youth group from a collective, who came along to appreciate the importance of maintaining a healthy waste free environment.
The diving front had to be carefully organized so as not to create too much disturbance of the marine environment, since, much hollow rubbish discarded gets to be an instant house for a variety of species. These include small crabs, octopus, residential fish, sponges, anemones and algae. One also saw a rare sea snake, which is largely harmless and measured some 3 feet in length.
A marine clean-up can do much damage and unnecessary disturbance to an already prejudiced marine biodiversity. Therefore some ‘foreign items' were left to the advantage of the marine life dwelling there by the divers who came as volunteers from two local dive clubs. The collection of residues was supported by a large container lorry and Hiab crane hung out over the bay on this beautiful Sunday morning.
It is not easy to work underwater and items had to be brought carefully to the lift point. The divers were also supported by Zodiacs from the Red Cross and the local Sailing Club. After some 3 hours of diligent work by all on wet'n'dry, a reward of a good meal was provided at the Herbania restaurant attended by some 60 people all in all.
Your country needs you!…
well not quite…!
This island always needs the help of civic minded people to help keep the island clean. The Red Cross has organised a series of beach clean ups and is looking for volunteers.
We need a few more helping hands for the new 2007 programme of Environmental Issues and the main one being coast/beach clean-ups with the rather un-invited guests of rubbish that daily come ashore assisted greatly by the embracing winds which have nothing to do with the meaning of the name ‘Fuerteventura'.
On the dates March 03/04 there is a Puerto del Rosario clean up along the coastal path with an underwater clean-up on the Sunday for certified divers…
On the dates April 14/15 there is a coastal clean-up along the airport side shore of Matorral, from the Parador southwards over 2 days of engagement…
On the date April 28 (Sat) the Ayuntamiento de Antigua would appreciate the civic minded under the Red Cross flag to assist with the famous Caleton between Nuevo Horizonte and Caleta.
And finally in this despatch the dates of May 12/13 are designated for the wild beach of Jarugo clean-up which features an overnight stay with interesting ecological presentation…bring a sleeping bag and warm clothes.
For all this civic minded-ness one will receive the due rewards of “grub and wash-down” in the shape of tasty bocadillos and paellas or similar good end of day meals. In the case of Jarugo transport will be provided by the Ayuntamiento of Puerto del Rosario.
So it's into the trenches of rubbish with gloves and sacks (provided) and quite a few laughs along the way…if you have visiting friends tell ‘em it's their duty and all will be gratefully received…For more information call Nigel on 690 16 24 39. See you at a clean-up.
Cultural Tourists
Museums, art centers and places of cultural interest like the Tiscamanita Windmill centre (left), were enjoyed by a record number of visitors during 2006. According to figures released by the tourism office the numbers of visitors has doubled compared to 2005.
This increase is related to the opening of two new attractions on the island, the Cueva Del Llano and the Aboriginal village of Atalayita . The Cueva Del Llano is over a million years old and is a lava tube similar to a subterranean cave. It houses one of the most extraordinary species of arachnid in the Canaries. The Maiorerus randoi is an animal similar to a spider although it does not spin webs. This arachnid is exclusive to the Cave and is not found anywhere else but Fuerteventura .
The aboriginal village of Atalayita is an archeological site whose origins go back to the indigenous people of Fuerteventura known as the ‘Mahos'. Here the visitor can glean information on how the first settlers of Fuerteventura lived.
Cirilio Gonzalez head of the ‘Red de Museos de Fuerteventura ' (Museum network of Fuerteventura ) said: “The opening of new attractions such as Atalayita means that the island is able to offer complementary cultural tourism”.
Since it reopened the Mirador de Morro Velosa has been attracting tourists and residents. Here they can experience views of the incredible landscape of the central north area of the island from a perspective not found anywhere else on Fuerteventura .
During 2006, a total of 151,482 people visited the 12 cultural attractions of the island more than doubling the 60,000 visitors registered back in 2005.
Hollywood – Canarian style
The city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria once again plays host to the International Film Festival now in its eighth year which is to be celebrated between 16th and 24th March. This year the main guests are two real superstars, actress, Susan Sarandon and actor, Ed Harris. Amid the spectacular surroundings of the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, both are to receive the Lady Harimaguada Honour award for their outstanding contribution to the world of the seventh art.
The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria film Festival has been singled out, not only for the important international film stars it has attracted, but also because it is a true reflection of cinema today. On the other hand it also explores the cinematographic periphery with the projection of films from all parts of the world. In this eighth edition many film connoisseurs will be surprised when they view a varied selection of films – some dedicated to Moroccan cinema, together with others by the Israeli director Avi Mograbi plus the works of some of the most outstanding directors from the Far East. Far removed from the commercial circuit, this year cinema buffs will be able to enjoy independent USA productions revealing the most outstanding works of a new generation of film makers.
“One Night in Heaven” Sheraton – Caleta de Fuste.
Article written exclusively by Director El Sol News Linda Martin.
After island hopping endlessly for business, I decided I deserved a treat, so I booked myself into the newly opened Sheraton Hotel for a night of relaxation and luxury.
The Hotel is located in Caleta de Fuste next to the Atlantico Shopping Centre, I was immediately greeted on entrance by friendly staff, and booked in. My room was a deluxe executive double with fantastic views and a huge terrace. This was almost the size of a 1 bedroom apartment with a bathroom to die for with a huge walk in power shower.
Once I had finished my hectic day. I had a refreshing shower and met friends in the Piano bar located just off from the reception.
The Sheraton has a choice of restaurants which include an Asian fusion restaurant ‘Wok-n-Zen Pan-Asian'' with influences from Thai, Malay and Chinese cuisines. For meat lovers there is the steak restaurant ‘El Faro', a Mediterranean restaurant called ‘La Veranda', and the main buffet restaurant ‘Los Arcos'. We chose to eat at El Faro. This had faboulous décor, accompanied by pleasant background music, superb service, and although a steak house, there was fish available and the menu even offered a choice for vegetarians.
If you are a wine connoisseur there is a comprehensive wine list that includes wine from all over the globe from California to Chile to New Zealand to France . Prices reflect the quality. The fine dining complemented by the excellent choice of wines, makes the Sheraton the perfect location to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant staff was attentive throughout the meal so we all felt that we had been well taken care of.
On my return to my room, I discovered a robe, slippers and a turned down bed with chocolates.
It is good to remember that the hotel offers residents monthly special rates for that special treat – including overnight stays or just for the dinning experience.
Unfortunately I did not have the time to visit the spa to take advantage of the many treatments offered such as the hot stone therapies, facial treatments, body wraps, massages, and of course the pools with the water jets perfect for relieving stress and backaches.
For families there is kids club open from 9 – 5pm and later a mini club from 8pm. This means that the kids are entertained while the adults enjoy some real rest and relaxation amongst the 5 outdoor pools, 2 of which are heated. There is also a small lake with sand which is ideal and safe for children.
If you have over indulged at one of the many restaurants there is a tennis court, volleyball, fitness centre open 24hrs equipped with the latest machines. If you fancy a jog along the seafront the hotel is located first line to the beach!
After a relaxing and restful nights sleep I went down for breakfast. The spread was amazing – the choice was mind boggling! From the super healthy selection of fresh fruit, yoghurts and cereals, to your traditional English breakfast with bucks fizz and the continental breakfast of cheese, ham and salami. Everything screamed luxury and I loved it – I only wish I had not eaten so much the night before, so I could have fully enjoyed sampling the gourmet breakfasts available!
Next time I intend to take my family along for some luxury pampering and to enjoy the amazing food on offer. So remember if you are looking to celebrate a special occasion then don't forget this amazing place - decadence at its best!
Anna Villacampa, Marcos Carrasco, Luis el Bomba, Juan de María y Rafael Carrasco.
Auditorio Insular. Puerto del Rosario.
9.00pm
Friday 23rd March.
Internacional Blues Festival of Corralejo 2007
Master - Class: The Suitcase Brothers
Documentary ‘The profane and sacred' (Charles Burnett)
Café Concierto: Kitara (Fuerteventura )
Hotel Lobos Bahía Club
From 12:00 h.
Bang (Germany/Fuerteventura)
The Suitcase Brothers Band (Serbia/Barcelona)
Sam Kelly's Station House (Jamaica/UK)
La Iguana Blues Band (Canadà/Germany/Las Palmas)
Plaza Patricio Calero de Corralejo.
From 7pm
Saturday 24th March
Internacional Blues Festival of Corralejo 2007
Master – Class – In english. Martin Harley
Documentary ‘Piano Blues ' (Clint Eastwood)
Café Concert: Eric Sijpestijn (Holland)
Hotel Lobos Bahia Club
From midday.
Txus Blues & Jose Bluefingers ( Barcelona )
Martin Harley (UK)
Sinelefante (Tenerife)
Red House (Madrid/Usa)
Plaza Patricio Calero de Corralejo.
From 7pm
Thursday 29th March
Lebrancho Rock Concert 2007
Recinto Ferial de Puerto del Rosario.
7pm.
Friday 30th March
Flamenco Festival
‘Poesía de lo flamenco'(The poetry of Flamenco)
Anna Villacampa, Marcos Carrasco, Luis el Bomba, Juan de María y Rafael Carrasco
Auditorio de GranTarajal.
8pm
Lebrancho Rock `07.
DJ Tony Rojas, Pink Cone, Dusk, Beath-3, Deimos, Jinetes del Mal, Histeria Colectiva, Coz, Nadien, Obús, Imetra, AMR, Natribu, Trópico 28 AKR, Lolaimon
Recinto Ferial de Puerto del Rosario.
6pm
Saturday 31st March
Flamenco Festival
‘Poesía de lo flamenco'(The poetry of Flamenco)
Anna Villacampa, Marcos Carrasco, Luis el Bomba, Juan de María y Rafael Carrasco.
Casa de la Cultura de Morro Jable.
9pm
Lebrancho Rock `07 .
PD Neketán, Night Carpinter, White Piss, La Vieja Morla , LS Brancho, Impaze X, Mento, MPS, Avernessus, Hamlet, The Mistake, Butch, G-7,
Perro Cuántico
Recinto Ferial de Puerto del Rosario.
6pm
SPANISH WORK CONTRACTS
Employment in Spain is highly regulated, with the main purpose being to protect an employee's rights. The regulations are complex: jobs are grouped into categories, and each category has a different set of regulations. It's important both as an employer or employee to be aware of the different types of work contracts, holiday entitlement and social security requirements when considering the options of working in Spain .
The regulations are complex: jobs are grouped into categories, and each category has a different set of regulations, called the convenio colectivo. These convenios regulate, for example, the legal salary range for each job, hours in a work day, vacation days per year. The following norms, generally hold true for employment in Spain :
A 40-hour week.
Either 14 payments or 16 1/2 payments annually. (yes, that's true. If you choose 14 payments, you pay the monthly salary plus two extra payments due by July 10 and December 15.
Vacation of 21 business days for each full year worked. There are no sick days per se. If an employee gets sick, they should find a doctor to sign a baja confirming that they are unable to work. With a baja, social security then takes over to pay the salary of the employee after a period of time.
If you lay off someone without sufficient cause, you pay 45 days of indemnization for each year that the employee worked for you.
The employee has a right to 15 days (including weekends) for a marriage, 2 days for the birth of a child or the death of a family member, 1 day for home relocation, and 4 months for maternity leave.
You can't be too careful about employee issues. Spain is not at all a litigious country EXCEPT when it comes to an employee who has been fired.
Types of work contracts
Indefinite contracts
This category includes the normal indefinite contract as well as several types of indefinite contracts with government incentives. The main characteristics of this type of contract are:
In the absence of any other formalized contract type, the contract is presumed to be normal indefinite.
Severance pay for improper dismissal is a maximum of 45 days salary for every year worked, up to a maximum of 42 months equivalent salary.
The main types of Temporary contracts are:
Contract for a specific project or service. This is arranged for the purpose of performing work or providing a service which is temporary but of uncertain duration.
Casual contract due to production overload or backlog. The maximum duration of this type of contract is six months in any twelve-month period.
Contract to sit in for employees entitled to return to their job. The duration of this contract is the period during which the absent employee retains the right to return to his or her job.
Trainee contract. This type of contract can be arranged with workers aged 16 to 21 who do not have the necessary qualifications to obtain a "work experience contract". The duration of this contract ranges from six months to two years, although it may be extended to three years by a collective labor agreement.
WHAT PAPERWORK DO I NEED?
What is an NIE number and why do I need one?
In Spain you cannot legally buy a property, car, boat etc without having applied to the police for your NIE* number and had your NIE documentation returned. Likewise, you cannot enter into a contract for the supply of electricity, water or a telephone line etc without giving your NIE/NIF number together with your bank details because these services will only accept clients whose bills are paid automatically from a bank. Neither can you arrange an insurance policy or order goods or services, sign on for the National Social Security, Health Service or commence a job without showing your NIE number.
What is the difference between an NIE and NIF number?
People often talk about or ask for your NIE or NIF number. In actuality they are the same. The NIE is used for confirming your identification whereas, if you wish to carry out any fiscal function such as opening a bank account, buy a property, car, boat etc it is referred to as an NIF (fiscal) number. Application requirement and the document issued are the same.
Do I have to apply to the police personally for an NIE? Yes
A Law passed in July 2003 and reaffirmed since then states that everyone must make a personal attendance to a Spanish police station with the appropriate documents and sign the application on site.
If a solicitor offers this service, you must accompany him because he will really be acting only as an interpretor.
Applying for your NIE number when in Spain
Go to your local National Police Station and ask for an application form. If you don't speak/read Spanish it is advisable to be accompanied by someone who does. Alternatively you can collect an application form to take away for completion but that will entail waiting in the queue on a second visit. Take with you:-
Your Passport
A photocopy of your passport
Two coloured passport size photographs
You must give a Spanish address of your residence in Spain . It can be a friend's property so long as they will accept the responsibility for you as living with them them and to notify you of any communications received.
Remember to notify your change of address when you are settled into your final home.
Take Note! Processing your application takes a minimum of one week or as long as 5 weeks.
Caution! You will often be asked to show your NIE registration document at the various ministries etc. Always carry photocopies but never allow anyone to retain your original.
*The Decree (Real Decreto 338-1990) of 9th March establishes that everyone, of whatever nationality, resident or not, who has any "official business" in Spain, must have a fiscal number (NIF) which is used to identify them on all official documents.
March 2007 NEW LEGISLATION DOES AWAY WITH REQUIREMENT OF RESIDENCE CARDS FOR EU RESIDENTS IN SPAIN
British Embassy Press release 7 March
Madrid
2007 NEW LEGISLATION DOES AWAY WITH REQUIREMENT OF RESIDENCE CARDS FOR EU RESIDENTS IN SPAIN New decree establishes requirement for British nationals and other EU citizens planning to reside in Spain to register with Spanish authorities Royal Decree 240/2007 approved on 16 February 2007 by the Spanish Council of Ministers establishes that from 28 March 2007, European Union citizens will no longer be issued with residence cards. However, the new decree requires all EU citizens planning to reside in Spain for more than 3 months to register in person at the Foreigners' Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) in their province of residence or at designated Police stations. They will be issued a certificate stating their name, address, nationality, identity number and date of registration. Those EU citizens in Spain who already have residence cards will not need to re-register until their residence card expires upon which they will be issued with a certificate. We recommend British citizens in Spain to always carry with them some proof of identity. Royal Decree 240/2007 is a transposition of European Directive 2004/38/EC to Spanish legislation.
Spanish plates
We get lots of E-mails from people wishing to put Spanish number plates on to imported cars. The general advice is, for right hand-drive cars, unless the car is a classic or is special to you for sentimental reasons, DO NOT BOTHER. It is better to sell it in the country of origin, or arrange to swap it with someone returning there.
If it is a motor-home or a medium to large right-hand drive commercial vehicle, you will not be allowed to anyway for safety reasons.
If you are coming from a right-hand drive EU country, then it is not so difficult, but unless you speak Spanish, use the services of a gestor or registered business advisor. It will save you a lot of sweat and heart-ache.
The following applies for new English speaking residents in Spain who wish to do it. First of all, it must be done within 30 days of your registering to stay here for more than 6 months.
You will need a certificate of permanent export from UK DVLA, or similar elsewhere, which is free.
An NIE number. This registers you to stay for up to six months in Spain , but the authorities may question why you are registering a foreign vehicle if you are only staying for less than six months. A residencia is up to five years at a time and signifies that Spain is then your main place of residence.
A certificate Nota de Empadronamiento from the town hall where you live. This is free.
A Certificado De Baja from the British Consulate. This cost is over €100 Euros, and is not always asked for, but can save the payment of Spanish import tax if dates correspond with other paper work. If the vehicle is a moped or scooter with an engine up to 49 cc, you do not need to carry out this action as it is deemed to be personal belongings and free of any import duties.
Your Passport.
If you have owned the vehicle for less than six months, or did not register it in your home country and pay all relevant taxes (in the EU country of origin), a registration tax (impuesto municipal sobre circulacion de vehiculos) of 12% is payable on vehicles imported into Spain and is calculated on the vehicle's current value which is based on the price which would have been paid new in Spain.
A Spanish ITV (MOT); this is to ensure that the vehicle is technically OK. Remember that the front head-lights must be changed (“stick on papers” are not accepted) to dip right. Many modern cars achieve this by turning the lamp/bulb in the holder as designed by the manufacturer for this purpose.
There is a lot of running around to do, and if you do not speak Spanish fluently, you will need the help of a patient friend who does, or better still, use a gestoria- although you may still need the help of a friend at east you will be safe in the knowledge that everything will be done properly and legally.
DIARY OF OUR DECISION TO MOVE TO FUERTEVENTURA
BY SANDRA ROWLEY
There is so much to think and do when you decide to move to another country. One of the most exciting things is that the old brain cells are stretched every single day as each new challenge comes your way. Tasks that you had not thought about before or took for granted are now new learning experiences.ÂÂ
For instance, we heard from a neighbour that if you have children that will be going to Spanish School , you are required to show their record of inoculations, and you will need the child's birth certificate, photocopies of parents and child's passport or residencia. The school must be contacted for an application form. It is also useful to know, that education is provided free of charge, but unlike England you need to provide all course books, paper, pens and pencils.
At the moment, there are no British Schools on Fuerteventura . Children may start school here when they are 3, but it is compulsory from the age of 6. The school year runs from mid-September through to mid – June with a three-month summer break and approx 2-week Christmas and Easter breaks. There are no half-term holidays, but you would obviously need to confirm this with your local school.
What a wonderful age to be introduced to a new language. Children do not suffer any of the hang ups that adults do and soon become confident speaking Spanish. But, if you think your child may have a problem with the language, speak to the school (take an interpreter with you if necessary). They can suggest ways to help your child. Some schools offer extra curricular classes or they may have a list of people who give private tuition.
Parents should try to keep up with the children. To be able to speak to your child's teachers and to help with their homework is very important.
The Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) run courses for foreigners wishing to learn Spanish, go to your local Ayuntamiento and enquire, there is only a minimal fee. At the end of the course tutors will take you on a little tour of your Municipality, they may show you where to pay your taxes or how to join the library.
Spanish conversation classes are available at many of the local schools; there are classes in Rosario, El Mattoral, and Parque Hollandes. Or, there are many private tutors, ask friends and neighbours for information.
BUYING A NEW CAR
Diary of our decision to move to Fuerteventura By Sandra Rowley
During the first few weeks of our new life in Fuerteventura , we hired a car. Now as many of you know, this can be costly. So, we needed to act quickly to buy a car for ourselves. We knew the car we wanted but when we went to look at it, found it was outside of our price range. We were very disappointed but picked ourselves up and drove around Puerto del Rosario looking for car dealers to see what we could afford. Even 3 years ago there were fewer dealers than there are now so it was a difficult job. We eventually found the car for us and the dealership was very helpful.
You must have an NIE number to be able to buy a car. The NIE is a fiscal number that follows you everywhere and identifies you to the authorities. You will also need to produce evidence of your address; the Local Police may check that you live there. A good dealership will do all the necessary paperwork for you. You will need one year's road tax from your local Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), which again the dealership may do for you. The cost of road tax is very reasonable; depending on the car it can be as low as €30 a year.
A tip for you, if you are too specific about the make and colour of car you want, you may have to wait many weeks or even months. If you can be more flexible and take what they have in the showroom, you may be able to have your car within a week, fingers crossed.
PLEASE NOTE – VERY IMPORTANT: You are required to keep your documents in the car, if you do not you are liable to a fine. Do not keep the originals in the car. Documents required are, registration document, which first you can photocopy and take to your local Ayuntamiento where they will stamp the copy which you can then keep in the car. Keep the original registration document safe as it is difficult to get a replacement. You also need to carry your insurance certificate and the receipt to prove you have paid your insurance.
You will not get the registration of your car until possibly the day you purchase. Don't forget that you will need insurance cover.
YOU MUST CARRY YOUR DRIVING LICENCE ON YOU AT ALL TIMES.
There has been much speculation about driving licences and whether you need to change your British driving licence. As far as I am aware, if you are in Fuerteventura for less than 6 months you can use your British licence. If you intend to stay for longer and become a resident you will need to change your British for a Spanish driving licence. To do this you will need to go to Trafico in Puerto del Rosario and surrender your British licence. Trafico will give you a form and a copy of your British licence that has been stamped by them. There is a date on the copy you have been given, if your licence is not ready within the date, you must go back and ask them to re stamp with a new date. You must carry this with you until your Spanish licence is ready. This can take about 3 months or more. They will also give you a form to fill in to apply for a licence. You need to take 4 passport type photos, your passport and money for the fee (it is not much). I believe you have to be at the office before 12 noon .
If you are over the age of 50, you are required to take a test every 5 years. This consists of an eye test (reading from a chart) and a video game type test to ensure you are aware of the Spanish Highway Code.
Also remember, that your English driving licence has an English address on it. If you were to go to England for any reason and used a car over there, your English licence would not be valid. There is a fine of about £1000 for driving without a valid UK licence, and valid means your details have to be up to date.
BUYING A SECOND HAND CAR
There are far more good quality second hand cars to be had in Fuerteventura today. There are some things to remember:-
Make sure the car has a current ITV test certificate. ITV is required when a vehicle is 4 years old. You also need the technical sheet (ficha tecnica).
Make sure the chassis number is the same as on the registration document.
You need the registration document and a photocopy. Make sure the registration document is in the name of the seller.
Get a transfer of ownership document (tranferencia) from the seller.
Check on what warranty you will get if you are buying through a second hand dealership.
You will need to have the registration document changed to show your details. This is fairly complicated and if you do not want to tackle it, get the help of your Gestoria.
You need the road tax receipt and a photocopy.
A receipt for the payment of transfer tax.
NOTE: You have 15 days to register the vehicle in your name.
As with property, the debts on a car follow the vehicle, it is vital that you ensure that there are no debts associated with the vehicle or they will become your debts on purchase.
ITV (MOT) is for cars over 4 years old. The centre is in Antigua (on the outskirts, heading south); you need to ring for an appointment. You will need to take all the cars paperwork, your identification and the fee for the ITV.
If there are any faults found and they are minor you are allowed to take the car away and get it fixed within 2 weeks. You then return for a re-test and a certificate. If there are more dangerous faults they will not allow you to take your car away but must arrange for it to be picked up (by Grua) and taken to a garage for repair.
A CAUTIONARY TALE
I recently heard of a lady who was out driving her car when it burst into flames. As a result it was deemed to be a right off. When she tried to claim on her insurance she was told she was not covered for fire damage.
We got in touch with our insurance company to make sure we were covered. They explained that English people are used to the English system of 3rd Party Fire and Theft Insurance Policies. Seemingly, 3rd party in Spain is just that. Please ensure you are covered, your car will be very expensive to replace.
Well, 3 years on and we have been able to buy the car that we originally wanted and we are very happy with it.
Cost of Living
You've taken the plunge, decided to move to Fuerteventura and finally found a place to live. Or you're renting short-term while you look around. Having been here on holidays a couple of times, you think you know how much it's going to cost you to live here when you finally get settled.
But do you really know? There's every chance that it will turn out to be a lot different. No doubt there will be a lot of things you didn't factor in because being on holiday and living somewhere are two very different things.
Buying your property
Some estate agents may say that you don't need to use a lawyer (abogado). This could prove to be a costly mistake. Your estate agent may speak fluent Spanish, will know everything necessary to sell you the house or apartment and can get it all done efficiently by the notario. And this works for a lot of people.
But for the one time it goes wrong, you can end up losing money. You have no legal comeback as your estate agent has no legal authority. So using a lawyer is well worth the money. They will charge a percentage of the purchase cost.
And don't forget the cost of shipping your household goods out here.
Other property-related costs
Whether or not you intend to live full time in your new house, you are better off to set all charges up with your bank by direct debit. This makes all payments very easy, as bills may not always reach you in time.
If you buy in a community area – for example Tamaragua - you will pay a community charge every month. This cost varies depending on the size of the house. The charge may be something between €30 and €40 per month.
There's an annual rate payment – your lawyer can sort this out
Water is on a meter and the cost can mount up. Bills are every two months. For two people this may be about €40 - €50 per bill.
Electricity about €50 per month
Rubbish collection and sewage are paid with the rates in July of each year
Buying a car
This is something you may consider a luxury, depending on where you live. In Puerto del Rosario, where most of the conveniences are on the doorstep, you may not need a car. But in Caleta, Nuevo Horizonte, Corralejo, or anywhere down south, getting around by bus is awkward. For example, to get from Tamaragua to the airport by bus means a bus to Corralejo, a bus to Puerto and a third bus to the airport. This will cost a total of about €5 but time wise, about two hours. More than double the time by car.
And a taxi will cost €50. So if you have friends and family visiting on a regular basis or if you travel from the island to the UK or Ireland , it can cost money.
So how much does a car cost? It depends on how much you want to pay, but in the main, it's cheaper as long as you buy from a reputable dealer. You can pay up to €20,000 for a new car but you should be able to get a second-hand for about €5,000 to €10,000. And then there's the cost of tax and insurance, this depends on engine size, age of driver, age of car, whether the driver has had accidents in the last 5-10 years, approximately its around 390€ for a small hatch back with 3rd party insurance.
Petrol at about 70cent per litre is very much cheaper than the UK . Certainly, running a car for anyone who has come from Ireland is a lot cheaper than back home.
Tax on income
If you earn more than €21.035.42 per annum, you will have to pay income tax. This starts at 15 per cent and rises to 45 per cent. Non-residents also have to pay tax on any income that comes from within Spain – this includes property rental
Social security is high – something around €200 per month. Most workers have a contract and in some cases, the employer pays a lower basic wage but picks up these costs.
Food and drink
Some basic items of food are expensive – fruit and vegetables are imported and cost quite a bit more than in the UK or Ireland . Surprisingly (though not to the Irish who have a similar situation at home) fish can be expensive. Though it's eaten, certainly by the Spanish, in large quantities. Meat is relatively cheap.
Alcohol is, naturally enough, very inexpensive. The bars don't use a measure so you can get a decent amount of booze for the price. Local beer is cheap, especially on tap. Imported bottles cost about €3 each. Wine is wonderfully great value. Moving from a country where the cheapest bottle of wine is at least €5, most of which is Government tax, so that the wine costs about 50 cents, to Fuerte where you can get a decent bottle for a fiver, must mean sales here improve! And buying bottles of alcohol is half the price of home.
Eating out. Definitely very good value. And again, anyone who has moved here from Dublin , one of the most expensive cities in the world, will be delighted at the cost of eating out.
Out and about
In general entrance charges to museums, places such as La Lajita, trips and excursions are good value.
HOME INVESTMENT
Well you've got a few options. It all depends on your circumstances. Anyone who buys a second home will buy for two mains reasons, as a return on investment or for pure pleasure.
It is not difficult to discover how to enjoy your new home. However, getting a return on your investment is an entirely different ball game. There are two obvious ways to go about this. Sit back and let the property accrue value year on year or rent it out. If renting is the preferred option, more questions. Do you manage this yourself or do you bring in a professional management company? Do you long let to locals or holiday let to tourists? Do you do it on a large scale or just enough so the property pays for itself?
If you are considering letting your property then make sure you buy wisely. Choose new properties, which when completed, will have the type of facilities which will attract people back time and time again. Alternatively, go for established properties which have a good rental track record. These are the best types of properties for quick returns as repeat business is key to maximising this particular market.
Something else to bear in mind when you decorate your property is the quality of the furnishings. Although buying cheaply at the time may save you money initially, in the long term it might cost you more. Cheap furnishings have shorter shelf lives, as well as swaying potential clients to other better furnished properties. They definitely affect how many people come back to your property. For those looking for healthy returns this is important. Some owners will already have bookings from their regulars for 2007 and beyond. We are creatures of habit.
So, what sort of returns can you expect? Well it depends on the property, its location and its rental history. However, as a general rule of thumb, for short term lets you could be realising between 7% and 12% return on your investment per annum if you choose and manage the property well. For long term lets, between 4% and 8% net is more realistic.
The difference in return from long and short-term letting is not as large as people think. Both options are attractive, however the real winner at the moment is the growth in the equity of your property. You might be realising an average of 12% out of your property a year through renting, however this pales into significance against how much your house is earning against the market.
Potentially exciting investments can be new developments which are at the planning stage, or have just been started. As soon as the property is completed, you could put in a long term let which would give an approximate 7% return. Then when the complex is finished and brand spanking new you could sell it for a 20% return.
The first phase of the new improved hospital 
The vice president, Maria del Mar Julios congratulated the speed in which the work had been carried out in response to the “efforts made by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Health department to improve the health services in Fuerteventura ”. 
Olivia Estevez (left), the Tourism Councilor at the Local Government said: “Although the results continue to be good, we need to continue our efforts in order to maintain our levels of excellence – not only as the airport with the largest percent of visitors in the whole of the archipelago but also as a quality holiday destination”. The numbers of tourists from Italy , Ireland , Sweden and France continues to grow due to the increase in promotional and advertising campaigns last year. 
On Sunday 04 of March the Environment dept. of the Ayuntamiento de Puerto del Rosario & the Red Cross Environment group took to the “Charco” zone of the town with a double ‘clean-up' act…the seafront and the seabed along the outside harbour wall where great chunks of steel girders, tubing and construct waste were hauled up carefully by a group of ecologically orientated divers. 
This island always needs the help of civic minded people to help keep the island clean. The Red Cross has organised a series of beach clean ups and is looking for volunteers. 
Museums, art centers and places of cultural interest like the Tiscamanita Windmill centre (left), were enjoyed by a record number of visitors during 2006. According to figures released by the tourism office the numbers of visitors has doubled compared to 2005. 
The aboriginal village of Atalayita is an archeological site whose origins go back to the indigenous people of Fuerteventura known as the ‘Mahos'. Here the visitor can glean information on how the first settlers of Fuerteventura lived. 
The city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria once again plays host to the International Film Festival now in its eighth year which is to be celebrated between 16th and 24th March. This year the main guests are two real superstars, actress, Susan Sarandon and actor, Ed Harris. Amid the spectacular surroundings of the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, both are to receive the Lady Harimaguada Honour award for their outstanding contribution to the world of the seventh art. 
After island hopping endlessly for business, I decided I deserved a treat, so I booked myself into the newly opened Sheraton Hotel for a night of relaxation and luxury. 
Flamenco Festival 
Txus Blues & Jose Bluefingers ( Barcelona ) 
Employment in Spain is highly regulated, with the main purpose being to protect an employee's rights. The regulations are complex: jobs are grouped into categories, and each category has a different set of regulations. It's important both as an employer or employee to be aware of the different types of work contracts, holiday entitlement and social security requirements when considering the options of working in Spain . 
business advisor. It will save you a lot of sweat and heart-ache. 
For instance, we heard from a neighbour that if you have children that will be going to Spanish School , you are required to show their record of inoculations, and you will need the child's birth certificate, photocopies of parents and child's passport or residencia. The school must be contacted for an application form. It is also useful to know, that education is provided free of charge, but unlike England you need to provide all course books, paper, pens and pencils. 
During the first few weeks of our new life in Fuerteventura , we hired a car. Now as many of you know, this can be costly. So, we needed to act quickly to buy a car for ourselves. We knew the car we wanted but when we went to look at it, found it was outside of our price range. We were very disappointed but picked ourselves up and drove around Puerto del Rosario looking for car dealers to see what we could afford. Even 3 years ago there were fewer dealers than there are now so it was a difficult job. We eventually found the car for us and the dealership was very helpful. 
Some estate agents may say that you don't need to use a lawyer (abogado). This could prove to be a costly mistake. Your estate agent may speak fluent Spanish, will know everything necessary to sell you the house or apartment and can get it all done efficiently by the notario. And this works for a lot of people. 
This is something you may consider a luxury, depending on where you live. In Puerto del Rosario, where most of the conveniences are on the doorstep, you may not need a car. But in Caleta, Nuevo Horizonte, Corralejo, or anywhere down south, getting around by bus is awkward. For example, to get from Tamaragua to the airport by bus means a bus to Corralejo, a bus to Puerto and a third bus to the airport. This will cost a total of about €5 but time wise, about two hours. More than double the time by car. 
Some basic items of food are expensive – fruit and vegetables are imported and cost quite a bit more than in the UK or Ireland . Surprisingly (though not to the Irish who have a similar situation at home) fish can be expensive. Though it's eaten, certainly by the Spanish, in large quantities. Meat is relatively cheap.