When it comes to choosing an off-plan or new build property, make sure you dodge the cowboys and work with a reputable company

After suffering at the hands of cowboy builders, no one could blame Debbie and Andrew Pettingill for changing their minds about purchasing a home in Spain. But the couple was determined that this bad experience wouldn’t stop them from buying their dream home on the Costa del Sol. Debbie said: “We researched various companies in Spain, picked one and bought a home from them off-plan.

Forget all the fiddly preparation – Spanish food is at its best when it’s straight-forward, simple and all cooked in a single pot

Although today’s Spanish cooking has gone upscale, it is still the epitome of one-pot meals and hearty, down-to-earth peasant cooking. In fact, the national dish of Spain is cocido, a hearty meal in a pot with chickpeas and meats, which is found in regional variations all over the country. Who would think that a simple potato stew, enlivened with little more than Spanish smoked paprika and a few pork ribs, could be so delicious and memorable? And, of course, what could be more spectacular than paella – the ultimate one-pot meal – so festive, colourful and crowd-pleasing, and made in its own unique pan.

Jason Webster, author of Sacred Sierra, loves the quirky individuality of Spain, a quality he went in search of – and found - by buying a farm on Valencia’s ‘lucky’ mountain.

Spain has a magic to it that you either get or you don’t. For years I’ve explored my fascination for the country through a series of books looking at emblematic Spanish themes such as flamenco, the Moorish heritage and the Spanish Civil War, all the while trying to express something of the appeal of the place – something that gets under your skin and stays there.

Although proudly Catalan, there are few better places to brush up your Castellano than on a language course amidst the winding streets and beautiful beaches of Barcelona

Note book. Check. Pen. Check. Barcelona guidebook. Check. I meander through the dusky, architecturally charming streets of Spain’s Antoni Gaudi-marked city, to be met by the loving linguistic arms of International House – a world class college that teaches English and modern languages – with the kind of butterflies in my stomach reserved for A-level exams way back when.

Estrella Morente, daughter of famed singer Enrique, has rapidly made a name for herself as a flamenco artist. But, like her father, she’s not too worried about playing by the rules

"Flamenco's going through a wonderful period," says Estrella Morente. "It's reaching out into every corner of the world, and every one of us who is doing their bit to make it universal is proud of that."
Estrella Morente herself is in the vanguard of those responsible. Still only 28, and with only three albums behind her, she will be appearing at Sadler's Wells as part of the 2009 London Flamenco Festival. She sounds distinctly unfazed by the prospect: "When you're onstage, you put a bandage over your eyes and you give yourself up to the moment just the same, wherever you may be."

In part two of our three-part series on health, we look at undergoing dental procedures in Spain

With dental surgery it’s not always necessary to have a pre-treatment consultation face to face – most of the big dental clinics in Spain are set up to give very accurate diagnoses and patient treatment plans over the Internet. But if it’s important for you to see someone face to face in the UK, do ask as plenty of clinics have surgeons visiting the UK on a regular basis.

Rising star of the restaurant world, Mark Parris, is earning his reputation in his own restaurant in Almuñecar, a labour of love he shares with wife Sandra

“We had talked a lot about moving to Almuñécar, though not as quickly, but we just liked this place and thought it was a good time to sell what we had in England, so we sold our flat in London and invested everything we had in Los Laureles.”
It seems like setting up his own restaurant, Los Laureles, is a move that is working out beautifully for Mark Parris, who is rapidly gaining a reputation as a celebrity chef with an enviable reputation and appearances on local television. He and wife Sandra moved to Sandra’s hometown of Almuñecar in early 2007.

In February Spain goes carnival crazy, with parades, meringue fights and feasts – and the best part is that anyone can get involved

The scene is a swirl of colour and noise, with music, whistles, singing and shouting blending together to signal the arrival of that special time in the Spanish calendar – the carnaval.

Brilliantly coloured feathers and skimpy sparkling clothes in bright colours are de rigeur for the flamboyant processions parading down the palm-lined streets against a backdrop of mountains and cloud-scudded blue skies. The carnival queen, dwarfed by an elaborate costum,e is carried on a float, followed by people on foot dressed as anything from pirates to exotic peacock-like creatures.

Watch the sun set into the Mediterranean, and you’ll discover why Nerja out of season is one of the most romantic getaways on the Costa del Sol.

Perched on cliffs at the very eastern end of the Costa del Sol, the last sizeable coastal town before departing Malaga Province for Granada, Nerja was once at the extreme limit of the Spanish package holiday trail. From November through to Easter, Nerja’s old town is a lively place to visit, but the pace of life is much slower and the few coachloads of tourists tend to be mostly Spanish senior citizens from up-country taking a break on the mild south coast. The snow may be lying on the Sierra Nevada mountains, just an hour away in neighbouring Granada, and the Spanish may be wearing their winter jumpers, but most days the thermometer will be high enough for T-shirts on we Brits.