No 948
Monday 5th - Sunday 11th December 2022
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Keeping people safe and informed for over 18 years - The Costa Blanca’s oldest ‘FREE’ English language newspaper
IT’S BEGINNING TO FEEL A L O T LIKE CHRISTMAS
M
erry Christmas…..or is it! Bah Humbug is a phrase that might be more in keeping for many, but regardless of your personal feelings, it's almost here. One of the most anticipated months of the year has arrived and, with it, a large dose of Christmas spirit. And it's not just lights and turkey’s that are making their appearance, but gatherings between families and friends are starting to take centre stage. Until now I haven’t been feeling very much Christmas cheer at all, but with the switch on of the Christmas lights across the region, and as we begin to seek out those Maria Carey, Bing Crosby and Slade cd’s, at least it’s now finally dawning on many that the big day is actually less than 3 weeks away. Way up north in Valencia, despite the inflated price that we are all now paying for energy, there is little evidence of the city council tightening it’s belt as the city will be laying out very nearly €400,000 to light up the town hall and surrounds over the holiday period. Thankfully it will be a little cheaper in Torrevieja, but not a lot, where the town burst into light ten days ago, as the Christmas illuminations were switched on in the Plaza de la Constitución. The Ayuntamiento has said they will make savings by switching the lights off at 2am in line with energy-saving regulations, instead of the 6pm-7am schedule of previous years. A trip into Torrevieja is certainly worthwhile. The lights are most impressive, particularly in front of the Inmaculado Concepcion church on Ramon Galud, the location once again, also, of the town’s exceptional belen/crib scene. Nevertheless, the council is increasingly being criticised for wasting public money, with many citing the concerts held in the town over summer, at a huge cost to the public purse, but without seeing any return.
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