We aim to bring you the local news and reviews from around the region covering all manner of topics relevant to life here in this beautiful corner of Andalucia.

In addition we will also bring you details of new properties and special offers from our business partners.

In this months issue we discuss motoring matters, wedding fever, and summer celebrations.

New Driving Laws

Important news if you are planning to drive in Spain this summer. The new Spanish driving laws which were announced by the Dirección General de Tráfico at the beginning of the year will come into force on the 1st of June.

Highlighted below are the main changes which will apply to anyone driving a vehicle in Spain.

- The obligatory wearing of a high visibility reflective vest in the event of having to get out of your vehicle on the roadside of major highways and motorways.

- At least one vest must be carried inside the vehicle cabin (not in the boot) at all times and there is a fine for non compliance. Therefore all hire cars should now carry one so please check this before you drive off.

- Mobile phones only to be used 'hands free' whilst driving and other driver distractions such as tv/dvd/computer screens are prohibited. The exception being use of GPS navigation systems.

- Another change is the mandatory use of hazard lights as a warning to other drivers when approaching very slow moving or stationary traffic.

For more advice on driving in Spain see our Getting Around page.

Forthcoming Events

The countdown is on for the Spanish royal wedding of Felipe de Asturias and Letizia Ortiz due to take place in the Catedral de la Almudena in Madrid this Saturday 22nd May.

Letizia a former TV journalist, is popular with the Spanish people and is in line to be the first Queen not to come from a royal bloodline.

Despite being the wedding of the Spanish heir to the throne, the day has not been declared a public holiday, much to the disappointment of many of the locals, many of whom will be working when the ceremony gets under way at 11:00 a.m.

Noche de San Juan

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer you can sense that summer is almost here.

In truth the Spanish summer is still a month away and it is not until the arrival of the longest day on 24th June that summer can truly be said to be here. In the Axarquia summer's arrival is celebrated in good style with the fiesta of Noche de San Juan. All along the coast all night beach parties are held, as thousands of partygoers set up camp for the night on the regions beaches.

For more information on Noche de San Juan and the rest of the fiestas that take place during the year see our fiestas page.

New Accommodation

We are pleased to have added a number of new properties during the past few weeks some of which still have availability for the summer months. For more details and prices see our Accommodation page.

Special Offers

If you are planning your summer holiday and want to save time and money on those essential holiday items such as sun blocks and mozzie repellents then check out Boots.com who are offering 10% off for all new Boots.com customers until 1st June 2004.

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter and we look forward to bringing you more news and offers next month.

¡Hasta luego!