Polaris World Property

 

As you get older there is a very real sensation of time flying. Some days pass us by leaving us to wonder what day of the week it is. Days become weeks, weeks become months. Months become years. One minute you’re singing Auld Langs Aign to bring in the New Year and a few Happy Birthdays later someone’s standing on your doorstep singing Silent night. But some days are simply unforgettable, grabbing you by the throat and shaking you to your core. An encounter with two large pods of Dolphins and one large group of Pilot Whales here just off the coast in La Azohia, Murcia, Spain was one of those days.

We set off early morning on the 2^nd of July from the small coastal port of Puerto de Mazarron on Spains south east hoping to encounter Dolphins but also with the hope that we might, just might, get lucky enough to get up close and personal to Whales. Bleary eyed through lack of sleep and lack of coffee we set off in search of marine life. To be honest I wasn’t that optimistic of seeing whales as I knew that Pilot whales in particular spend most of their time in deep water.

Forty five minutes later having taking a southern course towards Africa we spotted a large pod of Dolphins in the distance. Making sure to give them a with berth our Captain “Paco” reduced the throttle and to our delight up to 20 bottle nose dolphins joined us at our bow and began hitching a lift as we cut through the early morning waves. Our drowsiness was obliterated as we watched in amazement as these beautiful creatures took turns to criss cross and zig zag in front us us. Their propensity for playfulness is a joy to behold and you are always left a gasp at their speed and agility.

Heading south west we curved in an arc towards the large port of Cartagena. Here we once more encountered another large pod of Dolphins who took great delight at leaping out of the water and spinning on our bows stream clicking and squeaking as their bodies broke the glistening surface. Isn’t it any wonder that these beautiful creatures are used to stimulate communication among those to whom communication is an eternal struggle? As my Mother says “They’d do your heart good”.

So as we reached the highest point of our arc we changed direction and began to head back towards the barely visible land. Within 10 minutes off in the distance small fins could be seen breaking the waters surface. To our delight one fin became two became three as fine volcanoes of mist rose above them. The marine biologist who accompanied us couldn’t contain her delight as the size of the group ahead of us became apparent. There before us was a large family of Pilot Whales. There is something about an encounter with whales or dolphins that leaves you breathless. There is something in the way that they look at you, looking deep into your eyes as if they were the windows to your soul.

Cutting the engine, the only sound the gentle swash of the water lapping against our boat, our Captain informed us that we would keep a safe distance from the group and leave it to them to make the first move. And so one by one the larger members began to approach. Our smiles became huge grins as up to five Pilot Whales surfaced just below us. Clicking among one another the younger members of the clan approached in a less cautious manner and began to play amongst the adults. And there they stayed for upwards of 20 minutes spy hoping and rolling beneath us. It truly was a magical experience.

Having swam with Dolphins just off the coast of Kaikoura in New Zealand and been lucky enough to see Killer Whales off San Juan Island near Seattle on Americas North West Coast this wasn’t a first for me. Yet to know that these beautiful creatures are just kilometres off the coast here in La Azohia, Murcia is somewhat comforting. To those of you looking to relive adventures experienced on your year out in Australia or New Zealand look no further than Murcia Spain. The province boasts over 300 days of annual sunshine, a stunningly beautiful coastline and has its very own National Park in the Sierra Espuña just ten minutes from Polaris Worlds Condado de Alhama Resort. If you’re tired of the grey unyielding nine to six Monday to Friday lifestyle and you would like to go Whale Watching in Murcia why not take a break and come see the place for yourself. After all the Spanish philosophy is that “Life is for Living”. Isn’t it time you started?

 

 

Interesting Facts about Pilot Whales.

1. They are sometimes referred to as the cheetahs of the ocean.
2. Eat up to 30 pounds of squid a day.
3. Have 40 to 48 teeth.
4. Are jet black or a very dark grey colour.
5. Males measure up to 6.1 metres and weigh in at up to 3 tons.
6. Females measure up to 4.9 metres and can weigh up to 1.5 tons.
7. Newborn whale’s dorsal fin is flexible at birth so as to facilitate the birthing process.
8. Their life span is approximately 45 years for males and 60 years for females.
9. Have a distinct rounded head with a very slight beak and an up-curved mouth line.
10. There are likely to be almost a million long-finned pilot whales and at least 200,000 short-finned pilot whales worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part III

The complete journey through Spain took us from the North Eastern coastal town of Roses (which seemed to be the retirement home of the entire cast of cocoon) to Calle de Parfrugal. From there we moved along the coast moving inland when ever we thought there might be a place worth visiting. Places like Prades in the hills near Barcelona where time seems to have stood still. Or Barcelona itself. A vibrant beating pulse of a City where all colours, creeds and nationalities meet. The place is steeped in history and yet offers its visitors an eclectic mix of both old and modern architecture. But if it’s a modern, vibrant, classy and fresh you’re looking for then don’t miss out on Valencia. Its outskirts could be anywhere Spain but the centre of the City is stunningly beautiful and well worth a visit. Then there was Denia on the coast below Valencia, which is still Spanishy (if that’s a word?) and where we would have lived had we not found Murcia and lots more besides, but you’ll have to discover those places for yourselves.

Because we had ruled out living in the major cities we continued our search for somewhere that still felt like Spain and wasn’t merely a high rise tourist town. The reality was though that we were beginning to loose hope and had begun to wonder if we’d ever find that place that we could call home. The strange thing was though that the words of our Limerick friend kept coming back to me “Don’t stop until you’ve seen Murcia”. So as the terrain changed from relatively flat to mountainous we left the province of Valencia and crossed into the relatively unknown and untouched Murcia.

What swung it for me was staying on a campsite in the Sierra Espuna National Park. I was simply blown away by its beauty and the knowledge that this could be on our doorstep made deciding to live here that much easier. From there we discovered the small coastal towns of Isla Plana, La Azohia and Bolnuevo where the beaches vary from long and sandy to small and private. Some are and are lined with palm trees, others backed by sand dunes or enclosed by rocky coves. The view along the coast is that of small low rise towns and field upon field of tomatoes. The province is a mixture of Mountainous with a scattering of fertile plains where the Moorish farming influence is still evident. Its two major cities, Murcia (Inland) and Cartagena (Coastal), are steeped in history and are well worth a visit, Then there’s the weather. With average yearly temperatures of 20oC and over 300 days of sunshine making Murcia an extremely pleasant place to live.

So as I write from magical Murcia, the late afternoon sun beginning to lower and cool the surrounding mountainside, I leave you with a taste of what could be yours. Tomorrow, if you get a chance, pop into your local supermarket and buy some nearly ripe fat and juicy tomatoes (which have more than likely been grown here) and buy yourself a good bottle of red from Murcia’s very own Jumillia region. Now when you get home chop those nearly ripe fat juicy tomatoes into chunks and sprinkle with good olive oil, black pepper and salt. Open your bottle of Jumillian wine and pour yourself a generous glass of claret. Now pop a chunk of the juicy tomatoes into your mouth and wash down with the ruby red. Now close your eyes and imagine sitting out on your balcony or terrace on a warm Murcian night, listening to the crickets song, watching as the sun sets beneath a blood red sky with the promise of more to come tomorrow. You see, this too can be yours, but first you have to make that decision.

 

When you live and/or work in Spain and/or you own a property here you will need to pay tax like you would in any other country. Below you will find an overview of the different taxes you will come across. It is advisable to check with your financial advisor or accountant for taxes and rates that apply to you. Most rates vary from region to region as the regional and local governments regulate those.

Read the full article about Spanish Taxes

Firstly you will have to establish where you want to buy and whom you are buying the property for. Do you prefer being close to the sea or would you enjoy the tranquility of a rural location. Visit the area’s you have chosen and maybe even holiday there for a while to get a feel for the place. Check weather charts to find the perfect climate that suits you, Murcia is a large province and Spain is a big country that has a rather varied climate with many microclimates (palm- and orange trees are generally a indication of a warmer climate). It is of course a great place to soak up the sun but there are also some fantastic places to enjoy winter sports such as ski-ing in Granada, just a two-hour drive from your property in Murcia.

Read the main article about Buying Property in Spain