I am posting this edition early because today (October 31st) is, All Hallows' eve. Here in Spain, it is the day that the Spanish people carry flowers to the graves of the dead. Cemeteries are filled with people not only cleaning and decorating the graves but many also stay through the night and into the following day as a mark of respect. The glow of candles illuminating the tombs makes quite a dramatic backdrop, while at the same time the youngsters dress up and pass through the streets trick or treating – a real mix of past traditions and modern life.

Tuesday November 1st is All Saints day – and is our second bank holiday weekend this autumn and consequently many businesses will be closed. 

As ever at this time of the year thoughts turn to the weather and the prospect of snow. But not here on the Costa Tropical, no! Eyes are further inland and the Sierra Nevada ski season. The first snows fell during the last week of October, and although the recent warm weather has melted this light sprinkling, the forecast for the coming weeks suggests that the season and slopes could be available from November 26. As ever there seems to be the expectation of a long and successful season in 2011-12, the Sierra Nevada ski station has invested heavily International promotion of the resort and its facilities – with the dedicated snow park for boarding and free styling enthusiasts, inaugurated last season proving a popular attraction. 

Traditionally this month is the time when many mountain villagers and surrounding rural communities begin slaughtering their "home-grown" pigs. Getting ready for  the winter, preparing dried hams and sausages, at a fiesta that is popularly known as la matanza – (literally, the killing). Usually the events take place around the second weekend in November, an just after the feast day of San Martín de Tours.  It is customary that once the animal has been killed in the early morning, then the men do the butchery  while the women prepare stews and arrange various cuts for the barbecue, at the same time stuffing spiced sausages and making rich black puddings to last through the winter. If you are invited to take part then expect to be received with a large amount of food and copious amounts of the local wine to drink.

At the time of writing the November events calendar had not been published, but as soon as it is you will find more details here .

Perhaps the BIG event – or rather the smoke & mirrors of said event – is Spain's (no pasa nada) General Election which takes place on November 20. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the socialist Prime Minister since 2004, (often mimicked for his likeness to Mr. Bean) decided to step down back in April this year – almost 12 months prior to his elected term ends. Given the current situation in Europe in general, and Spain in particular then it is almost a forgone conclusion that there will be swing to the right. Mariano Rajoy, as leader of the People’s Party is tipped to be the next leader. But what is very strange is that no party has come forward with any manifesto, or offer any real solutions or radical advice to help a country which has now tipped to 21.5% unemployment – over half of them under 25. At a recent PP party conference, down in Malaga, Snr Rajoy closed the meeting that weekend without outlining any policies. In his statement he listed a series of ambiguous 'undertakings' to his supporters but how he intends to put them into practice remains a mystery. These included -

"I undertake to tell the truth, although at times it is uncomfortable to say"

"I undertake to explain what I'm going to do and to do it, to explain the decisions we take"

"I undertake to govern from responsibility. Spain needs solutions, not improvisations"

"I undertake to govern with bravery"

"I undertake to govern from a point of dialogue. I will be open to any idea that we can make use of. I don't claim to always be right. But it has to be reasonable"

"I undertake to work for concord among the Spanish. I want to govern with truth, responsibility, bravery, dialogue and always looking for concord"

Mariano Rajoy is expected to blame the Socialists (and Zapatero) for the mess the country is in, and has indeed already done so by publicly claiming that he will face "the worst ever inheritance from a previous government." However, we can not ignore that Zapatero has made a significant impact on Spain's social reformation this last decade; legalizing same sex marriage, reform of abortion laws, women rights, Church funding reforms, tobacco restrictions, regional government reform, and most controversially – dialogue with the Basque group ETA. All said though, the problems facing Spain and the Eurozone remain based in the banking sector, and all previous governments have done little if anything to control their excesses. Or perhaps Spain could be in a collation by the end of the year. Sound familiar?

Locally, news is that the Almunecar town hall are appealing to the regional government of Andalucia to help to finance and support the Pena Escrita Natural park some 45 minutes drive inland to the mountains at the back of La Herradura. The park, opened in 1997, cost a recorded 30 million Euros, and today houses over 150 animals across 32 different species including apes, bears, hippos, wolves and tigers. 11 people used to be employed at the park but this has now been reduced to just 2, with a vet and biologist making regular visits. The park is not licensed as a zoo, and organizers have often been attacked by animal rights groups and biologists since they claim that the caging conditions and the climate (very hot in the summer, and snow in winter) is simply not suitable for many of the species kept at the park. If there is no significant funding available then many of the species will be either moved to other appropriate locations in Spain, or the park could be used as an animal rescue centre.

International property owners and purchasers now have the opportunity to get better access to property information in English, thanks to new measures announced by the Spanish authorities. Expatriate home owners and buyers are now able to request a Land Registry certificate (nota simple) in English from the Colegio de Registradores (College of Registrars). This certificate, including the translation fee, costs €29 (plus VAT) and can be requested from the Colegio de Registradores website at-  https://buyingahouse.registradores.org.  

Looking for something different to do with family and friends this month then why not invest 10 Euros, and pick up a copy of the useful pocket guide – Granada Tapas Tours: 100 Tapas Bars in Granada; researched and written by Vernon Grant & Gayle Mackie. With 18 routes of 4 bars each to choose from, and 72 bars in various parts of the city where you will be treated the same as the locals. The book guides you away from popular tourist bars, and as you stroll from one to the other (using the simple to follow directions given), then you are made aware of some of the lesser know attractions of Granada city. The book also offers 28 bars that you can drive to in the vast and varied province of Granada, including the Costa Tropical, the Lecrin Valley, La Alpujarra and some that are hidden in spectacular countryside locations. The book also offers tapas tips to ensure you get the most pleasure from your tapas experience, a glossary of the dishes you are most likely to be served and, crucially, how to pronounce them.

The book is for sale via www.guiribooks.blogspot.com ,

www.lecrinlet.blogspot.com  and

www.granadagardens.blogspot.com

And then for a more individual experience you can contact Vernon to arrange guided tapas tours and, or, tours of Andalusian gardens around the area.

For the latest news and updates, you can find me at www.twitter.com/SpainCostaTrop