According to the organisers, 15,000 people demonstrated last weekend in Perpignan (Southern France) against the planned building of the high voltage transmission line over the Pyrenees. The demonstrators came from both sides of the border.

In Empuriabrava the cesspits, installed in the sixties, are to be replaced by main drainage. The work has started already, and by the year 2011 all households will be connected to the drains system. During the summer months work will be suspended, to avoid disturbance during the tourist season.

Llançà municipal council has a new website: www.llanca.cat. So far, it is only in Catalan and Spanish.

Roses wants to locate new night clubs in a zone around the fortress. This initiative should prevent disturbance to nearby residents in the city centre. The former Disco Picasso in the old part of town is to be re-designed as a commercial centre.

The shops and restaurants along the N II in La Jonquera have been suffering a large fall-off in trade in the last few months. French customers in particular are not coming any longer but do their shopping in Le Perthus instead. Some shops and restaurants that have been in business for a long time have announced their closure.

Vicente Ortiz from Cadaqués has just celebrated his hundredth birthday. The local council marked the occasion by giving him a medal.

	Over 800 guests attended a concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Catalonia in Figueres in the El Jardí theatre. The proceeds went to non-profit associations of the Alt Empordà.
El Jardí

The police have seized three men who attacked the “La Closa” bar in l'Escala. They are 23-year-old Spaniards. One of them had already committed a similar crime.

Catalonia is mourning the loss of one of its greatest sons, Josep Palau i Fabre (Barcelona 1917 – 2008), who is considered one of its most important writers of the 20th century. A particular expert on the work of Pablo Picasso, he had acquired an international reputation. He did most of his work in Llançà, where he settled at the beginning of the sixties in the Grifeu quarter. He lived there very privately and only went away on business, mostly to Barcelona or to France. However, he spent his last years in Barcelona, primarily for health reasons. The beach promenade at Grifeu carries a reminder of him in the form of a commemorative plaque put up two years ago.

The local council in Roses is taking a number of measures to handle the water shortage caused by the drought. Among other things, it is forbidden for private individuals to use tap water for filling swimming pools, watering gardens, or washing down terraces and garages. More to the point, there is now a hosepipe ban  in Roses. Businesses are also affected by water restrictions; for example, cleaning leisure boats with tap water is no longer permitted. The supply of water for drinking is, however, secure for the summer, so that there should be little effect on the tourist season. The quality of the water still remains perfect. Nevertheless, there are swindlers taking advantage of the present situation, and we therefore give warning: these people first telephone to arrange a visit in order to examine the quality of the tap water. Once in the house, they fake low water quality readings using manipulated instruments and then sell useless equipment for water purification to the victim for about 1,000 euros.

The new hotel management school in Figueres will begin its training activities in the academic  year 2009/2010. It will offer instruction in several disciplines, and all exams are officially recognised.

The beach between Empuriabrava and St.Martí d'Empúries was contaminated during the last “Llevante” by fuel spillage of uncertain origin. However, the remains have now been completely cleared away. A helicopter of the Catalan government flew over the coast and was able to ascertain that there were no more fuel slicks out to sea. The same problem also occurred at the beach at Sant Pere Pescador, but the mess was also completely cleaned up. Nevertheless, it required the removal and disposal of  4 tons of sand.

Sant Pere Pescador

Roses has been included by the Catalan government in the ARE program. This promotes new building development such that 50% of the new dwellings are subsidised low-rent housing (“de protecció oficial”).

	The police have arrested three men from Sant Miquel de Fluvià, who are suspected of stealing and then reselling building materials. They are two Romanians and one Spaniard.
Sant Miquel de Fluvià

The local council in l'Escala has plans to promote cycling for sport and as leisure activity.

Two masked robbers attacked the “La Closa” bar in l'Escala. At the time of the hold-up, at approximately 11.30 pm, only one customer and two employees were in the bar. The thieves stole 11,000 euros from the cashbox, the slot machines and the cigarette machine.

“Salvem l'Empordà” has reminded the Catalan government of its promise to restore the area around the mouth of the river Fluvià and integrate it into the Aiguamolls nature park. This promise was originally made when the ruined “Fluvià Marina” was cleared away, three years ago now.

Palau-Savadera is having abandoned vehicles removed from the locality. Some have already been removed by their owners, while others will need the use of a tow-truck.

The singer Antonio Orozco gave a concert in the Disco Pacha in Empuriabrava. As expected, his performance was a great success.

The village of Torroella de Fluvià, with its 550 inhabitants, has not had any shop in which to buy daily necessities since last December. This is particularly annoying for older residents who have no car to go shopping in neighbouring Sant Pere Pescador. Unfortunately, no improvement in this situation is foreseen.

The Cadaqués music festival is getting a new director this year; the style of the festival is also taking new paths. A first material sign of the changes is the installation of an amphitheatre for the concerts at the “Olivar de Sa Conca” beach.

L'Escala is also taking measures to save water. Because of the continuing drought, swimming pools may not be filled with tap water, private car washing is forbidden as is garden watering. Consumption by the fresh water showers on the beach is to be lowered likewise, using a card system that will make only 2 litres of water available within 25 seconds for users.

Roses still needs 30 more new citizens to reach the threshold of 20,000 inhabitants. If this is achieved, Roses will get a new status under the Catalan government. This affects subsidies, which then become bigger, but means too that Roses will have new obligations towards its citizens.

La Vajol is planning to build a youth hostel, particularly with walkers in mind.

The new school building of Cadaqués will be ready for the academic year 2008/2009, when the first pupils can be taught there.

Figueres has already received 75 requests for scholarships for artistic work, nearly twice as many as last year.

For some weeks there have been no daily papers to buy in Port de la Selva. The only book store of the place stopped this service a while ago, so that the readers of the daily papers have to go into the next place, Llançà. The city hall wanted to defuse the situation, by offering the newspapers in the tourism office, however would have needed for it a licence, to that extent that was also not possible.

The new museum of the exile Museu Memorial de l'Exili (MUME) in La Jonquera organised days of the open door on last weekend. Over 150 visitors followed the call. The museum, the only one of its kind in Europe, is opened from Monday until Saturday from 10 to 19 o'clock and  Sunday and holidays from 10 to 16 o'clock.

The library Jaume Vicens Vives in Roses offers recently over 200 daily papers from over 60 countries for double-sided printing in the format DIN A3.

The archaeological museum of Empúries plans to arrange its mechanisms in such a way that also deaf visitors can understand its programs.

If the dryness continues not to stop, Figueres wants to reduce in August the water consumption of the private households, with a water barrier of 22 to 6 o'clock.

A strange phenomenon employs the natural protection of the Guardia civil (Seprona): In Port de la Selva the nets of a fishing boat came up in flames, when they were brought back. Cause was apparently a red substance, whose condition is so far still unknown. None of the involved persons can remember a similar incident.

At the local entrance of Castello d'Empuries two large panels refer to the tourism highlights cathedral and the nature park Aiguamolls. Also some signposts on the access roads around Castello were improved, by referring more clearly to the city. Those non-residents who want to go to Empuriabrava, should know however still that “the largest Marina of the world” belongs to Castello d'Empúries.

Palau-saverdera officially opened the “Slot club Verdera“. This concerns a club with so far 16 members and a course for model cars. The course is 38 metres long, with six lanes. This is accessible not only for members, but for everyone.

Approximately one hundred young people from Roses protested before the city hall because of its policy against the night life. The trip for this action happened at the Friday’s night carnival, when the police wanted to close the bar “Sperpentic” at three o'clock, although the mayoress had verbally assured that it could remain opened longer.

Sant Pere Pescador publishes a book with old photos of the place from the time before 1950. The book is to appear before the summer. The city hall looks to that extent for photos from this epoch and asks everyone for assistance.

L'Escala bought a building in the Carrer Nantré. This has over 300 square metres and is to serve public purposes. Which kind these will be, is so far not yet decided.

Llançà plans at the local entrance, from Figueres coming into the zone “Mas d'en Gifre” a new industrial area. In front of the industrial zone green areas are to adorn the view toward the road.

The road Doctor Josep Vidal Geli in Sant Pere Pescador is renamed, as Carrer Major. The deserving doctor will give however the name of a new road.

Figueres extends the Park&Ride service between the fairground and the city centre starting from 21 February. So far one could park Saturday afternoon the vehicle there and arrive by bus free of charge into the city. Although the offer had been accepted so far by only very few, it is expanded on Thursday morning. Thursday is market day in Figueres and there are always particularly scarce parking spaces.

The businessmen of Llançà give a new purchase card in circulation, the “Comerç de Llançà”. Thus discounts and other advantages can be granted purchasing in the attached shops.  

Associations and citizen movements, which vote against the building of new high voltage transmission lines in all Spain, met in Madrid, in order to discuss and coordinate their actions, under them also representatives of “NO a la MAT” which fight against the planned line with 400 Kv over the Pyrenees to France.

Anna Marés Godo from Roses (~ June 2007) left three buildings at the plaça Sant Pere by means of a donation to the city of Roses, with the condition that these are never again to be sold and are to serve in the future for social and cultural purposes.

Castelló d'Empúries requested the “Agència Catalana de l'Aigua” assistance, in order to be able to temporarily forbid the use of drinking water for filling private swimming pools because of the water scarceness in Castelló d'Empúries, Llançà, Roses and Cadaqués. For the swimming pools at the channels of Empuriabrava is to be created the possibility of filling these with sea water

The Spanish state takes over the financing of the renovation of the birth house of Salvador Dalí in Figueres.

The port of Llançà will be better protected from the wind Llevante. The work is still this year to begin, the federal state government pays for this 4.7 million euro.

The city hall of Sant Pere Pescador offers a course for Windows and Internet. It takes 16 hours and begins on 19 February. The courses take place Tuesday from 20 to 22 o'clock, the participation costs 75 euro.

An ultra light aircraft had to make an emergency landing on the flight to Dole (north France) from Empuriabrava because of engine problems beside the new cemetery of Llançà, close by the road to Figueres.

The level of the artificial lakes moves towards the 20%  mark: Boadella 22.46%.

The church Santa Maria in Portbou will be repaired, specifically the roof, the front and two towers.

Llançà's municipal budget for the year 2008 amounts to 11.215.800 euro, 6% more than in the previous year. 2,9 million euros are intended for investments for the improvement of the townscape. The opposition parties PSC and ICV refused their agreement to the budget.

Port de la Selva requires an improvement of its public means of transport. At present only two motorbuses stop there on weekdays, both in the morning.

Castello d'Empúries, Empuriabrava and the nature park Aiguamolls presented their advantages on the tourism fair “Fitur” in Madrid.

8 municipalities in Catalonia with more than 2500 inhabitants have a foreign-born component of more than 30%. At the Top of the list is Castelló d'Empúries with a foreign contingent of almost 50% which mainly consists of citizens residing in Empuriabrava from other EU countries.

Palau-saverdera officially inaugurated the plaça Mirador-Balcó de l´Empordà. The place at the local entry is equipped with banks, a pergola, wells and a monument that reminds of the 21 victims of Palau-saverdera during the Spanish civil war.

Castelló d'Empúries officially opened the newly-restored chapel of the cloister Convent de Santa Clara. The building from the century XVII will henceforth serve as a place for cultural meetings, concerts, exhibitions and conferences.

The works for the final disassembly of the buildings of the former club Med in Cadaqués will begin after the summer season.

In Cadaqués a new Hostal was opened. The Hostalet de Cadaqués offers rooms with very modern equipment as well as a bar.

The street of Figueres to Llançà will be extended four lanes.

The work on the Passeig de Montgó in L'Escala will be completed before summer. There a zone arises directly behind the beach for pedestrians.

	If you are interested in the Agenda 21, a plan for the environment of Cadaqués, Port de la Selva and Selva de Mar, you can find information at http://www.agenda21local.org/index.php?a21_port_selva_mar_cadaques.  The site is only in Catalan.
Selva de Mar

Within the framework of the “Festa de la Candelera 2008" the town hall of Castelló d'Empúries exhibits "castellocs," pictures by Pilar Farrés Coll.

A 92-year old Barcelonese, who was visiting the carnivals of Roses as part of a bus group, lost orientation and spent the night in the open air. When he had not appeared at the bus meeting place the travel management alerted the police. This found the tourist in relatively good health. In spite of that, he spent the next night in the hospital for observation.

The caroches Fórmula 1, Mickey i Minnie and “N'hi ha que neixen estrellats" won the first prizes at the carnival of L'Escala.

The town halls of Roses and Castelló d'Empúries will split an employee that cares for the interests of the new citizens.

The urban library of Castelló d'Empúries drew a positive balance during 2007; attracting about 40% more visitors than in the previous year.  Also the (Gratis) Internet access was well accepted. More than 8000 users took advantage of this access. Even though most books are in Catalan or Spanish, there are newspapers in several languages that are of interest to foreign visitors.

The old bridge over the Muga in Castelló d'Empúries is restored as a historical monument. Since 2004, when the new bridge was put into operation, it served only for strollers and cyclists.

The environmental protection organization “Iaeden” organized a bicycle route from the Rambla of Figueres to the city hall, in order to request the city to do more for traffic by bicycle. Twenty cyclists followed the call, among them also active politicians, who identify themselves with the goals of the action.

The city hall of Castelló d'Empúries decided at its last plenary assembly to take over some co-workers of the public company “Castelló 2000”, concretely the cleaning service, one carpenter and two painters. The city hall obtains thus substantial savings without reducing the quality of the services.

The containers for the old clothing collection in Port de la Selva were shifted to other places: On the parking “dels horts” and at the road crossing to Selva de Mar. The container at the “Moll de la Timba” remains existing.

The entrepreneurs of the industrial area “Mas Ferrer” in Figueres worry because of threatening thefts to their businesses. There much material and cash were stolen, in the course of one year happened there 15 break-ins. Since the police could not get the thieves so far, the entrepreneurs now organize a guard service at night for the factory buildings.

The city hall of l'Escala created an agency for the economic development of the city. Very soon different conferences will take place, to explain the goals of the agency to the entrepreneurs.

After the last rainfalls the wells of Port de la Selva are again filled, that no restriction of the water consumption is necessary

	The German automobile club ADAC awarded the prizes for the best camping sites of Europe in the context of a Gala. The “camping Laguna” in Castelló d'Empúries (Empuriabrava) received thereby the highest honour: Superplace.

Figueres had not participated for twelve years in any tourism fair. Now Figueres decided to participate this year in the fairs in Toulouse, at the international Catalan tourism fair, the “Navartur” in Pamplona, in San Sebastian and Lleida.

The hospitals as well as the centres for first medical attention (CAP) of the region made it well-known that the flu infection is rising strongly. Of a real flu wave cannot be spoken however yet.

The city hall of Figueres decided to close the “Carrer Nou”  between the Rambla and the plaça de Ernest Vila for traffic in order to accomplish some improvements and to arrange the road as a pedestrian precinct. This is considered as pilot project for the Rambla, which shall likewise become one day a pedestrian precinct. The businessmen of Figueres face these plans however critically, since they fear thereby income losses.

Not only France, also the Empordà has its (small) bank scandal.  Employees as well as helpers facilitated taking from the Caixa Girona 5 million euros by mortgage swindles. Of the 12 accused, 3 fled abroad. The Caixa Girona believes to be able to get back 2 million again.

The court in Barcelona condemned the company ArtsMode network, with seat in Figueres, to no more sell a line of products, which are inspired of the work of Salvador Dalí, and to compensate the foundation Gala Dalí for the past “illegal use” of the work of Salvador Dalí. The commercialization of some “dalian”  products by ArtsMode network is however further permitted. The company had acquired relevant rights before the time of Dali’s ex secretary John Peter Moore and goes with the court decision to all appearances by no means conformal.

In the year 2007 11,667 new leisure boats became certified, about 4.9% less than in the year before in Spain. In the province Girona were put about 500 new boats to water.

In the nature park Cap de Creus the water birds wintering there were counted again. 22 kinds were registered, among them some which are threatened by becoming extinct.

In Reus (Barcelona) a very strange theft occupies the police. 53,000 litres of mass wine, a speciality of the family business, were stolen in the winery De Muller. The thieves had opened the entrance gate by force, how they could remove however such a quantity wine, remain a mystery. For the quantity two tankers are necessary. Nevertheless the neighbours did not notice anything at the night of the theft.

The city hall of Roses invested 15,000 euro into an advertising campaign, which promotes the carnival of its city in the south of France, in Andorra and in the remainder of Catalonia in the right light. In the carnival participate over 6000 persons actively, about 50,000 spectators are expected.

Llançà owes his place name to the concept of the "lance." Three lances adorn the local coat of arms and on the occasion of the Fiesta Mayor (St. Vicenç) the town hall awards lances as an honour for deserving citizens. Pere Pacreu i Turró received the golden lance for his good work with the Club Esportiu to which he sacrificed a part of his leisure time for over 40 years. Two silver lances were awarded: Onto Gerard Marín (CN Llançà) for his exceptional results in sailing and to Sandra Juanola for her brilliant academic merit in biology. The youth team of the football club Llançà received the copper lance.

The Dalí-museum in Figueres is pleased with the loan from a private collector who would like to remain anonymous. The picture “Autoretrat desplegant-se en tres", created by Salvador Dalí in 1926, will be shown until end of summer.

Port de la Selva expands the street to Selva de Mar.  Also, cyclists have a new gift: they get their own cycle track.

The Pagaia Club from Llançà will participate this year in the competition of the Spanish kayak-league. Its goalobjective is the rise of the club into the second league.

More than 150.000 visitors found their way to Espolla last week. Their objective, the twelfth Fira de l'Oli i l'Olivera.

The free parking lot on the fair grounds of Figueres had been more or less deserted on first Saturday of his operation.  Few visitors took the city up on their offer for free parking and a free bus transfer into the city – initially, only available on Saturday.

About 5000 citizens of Figueres belong to the Islamic faith. The Centre Cultural Islàmic made some demands on the town hall so that his members can practise their faith. Among other requests was for 10.000 square metre’s ground as well as the possibility for burials according to their rite.

Llançà wants to build behind the already existing gym a covered swimming pool. The project is still in the planning stage . . . but the eventual approval and construction is likely.

Cèlia Caula and Eduardo Márquez were elected as “pubilla" and “hereu" of Llançà. They will represent Llançà during official occasions in 2008.

Llançà opened, during its Fiesta Mayor, the new tourism office at the local entrance (Direction Figueres).

The “oficina de català" of Roses (C/ Sant Josep, 10; Tel. 972 25 39 47, roses@cpnl.cat) offers, beginning on 12 February until 13 May Catalan language courses for adults.

Because of the continued dryness since the summer of 2007 the olive harvest of the Empordà turned out to be quantitatively considerably smaller than in prior years.  The high quality of the harvest tends to balance some of the loss as the fruits gave up between 15 and 20 % more olive oil. In spite of that the olive oil production of the Empordà (138 cooperatives, represented by Empordàlia in Pau) ended with 600.000 litres less than in previous years.

The Ministry of Education gave Roses a subsidy of 300.000 euros to continue, for another year, the restoration works at the citadel.

Portbou made application to build a by-pass street from the end of the tunnel of the C-260 to the railway station. This would avoid lorries having to pass through town to get to the railway station.

Good thing take time. The central government formed a commission for the second phase of the return of the former ground of the club Med in Cadaqués into a natural state. The cost will be about 7 million euros.

A fair with the choir “Vergelitana” is the final ceremony for the 500 year anniversary of the church Sant Martí d'Empúries. Since November more than 3000 persons have participated in the events. At the same time the exhibition about the origins of the Christianity in Empúries will close.

	In spite of some semi-violent rainstorms the water scarcity remains a serious problem for our region. The artificial lakes are filled to less than 30 % of their capacity; Boadella only has 26,17 %.
Boadella

The civil union “Antimolins” from Portbou presented to the Supreme Court of Justice of Catalonia their objection to the planned wind mill park “Tramuntana” between Portbou and Colera. According to Antimolins the affected zone is a protected area of high regional value and not appropriate since the wind generators are in the path of migrating birds. Furthermore, the project does not respect the European norms with regard to the carrying out of Border-Comprehensive Measures.

The new mayoress of Roses, Magda Casamitjana, made first contacts with the civil union Roses Cara al Mar. One of their objectives is to assure that around the fishing port no big industrial companies are developed.

The municipality Llançà opened a new swimming pool in the quarter „La Farella”. It is opened Monday until Thursday from 17 hrs 30 to 19 h 45 and on Friday from 17 hrs 30 until 20 hrs 45. In the near future swimming lessons for children and adults will be offered there.

Roses will put a third school into operation for the next school year, at first in temporary classrooms on the ground of the former equestrian sport place. The actual school building will be built in the quarter “Puigmal”.

Roses are installing new road signs.  Old, unattractive signs are to be replaced and places without signs will get new signs, such as in the quarters Santa Margarida, Canyelles and Puig Rom.

Perpignan (Southern France) is the Catalan culture capital for the year 2008. As the first ceremony the exhibition “Gala, Musa de Dalí” was opened, until the end of August at the Couvent des Minimes.

In the context of the 500-year anniversary of the church of Sant Martí d'Empúries in L’Escala there will be an exhibition of Christianity in Empúries.

The fishermen of Roses continue to be victims of thefts and damage of their equipment. To mitigate the risk a part of the dock and auction arena will be locked off so that visitors will be unable to enter the area.

The population of Cadaqués decreased in the year 2007 by 116 inhabitants.

The parachute jump centre Skydive in Empuriabrava, the largest of its kind in Europe, will again organize the Christmas Boogie. 400 sportsmen participated in it, accumulating over 10.000 jumps.

The shops of the region began the winter sale. They offer their goods at greatly reduced prices for two months. They can even be open on certain Sundays if they wish. Expectations of the businessmen are not very high.

Miquel Ferrer i Vilanova was re-elected for a four-year term as president of the club Nàutic Llançà. The choice was only a formality, since there was no rival candidate.

Thieves in Castelló d’Empúries began an unsuccessful break-in attempt into the sports palace. After they had broken a windowpane, they were deterred by the alarm.

	The former barracks of the Guardia civil in Port de la Selva, at present unused, will be prepared to serve as the local police offices. Also the old part of town of Port de la Selva is to get a new face. The city hall plans to invest a million euro into the improvement of the streets.

The Consell Comarcal (advice) of the Empordà submitted eight projects to the federal state government, which, if approved, are to be completed between 2009 and 2012. Among them is also an animal home, which will cost 2.1 million euro

Figueres will become the Catalan cultural capital for the year 2009. In this year Figueres will also celebrate the 150th birthday of Narcís Monturiol (considered the inventor of the submarine and as one of the greatest sons of the city).  The year will be filled with many ceremonies and other events.

The past boss of the Mossos D' Esquadra in Roses, inspector Eduard Campà, is now the director of the local police.

In the last few months the rental prices increased in Figueres by around 22%. An average dwelling costs 520 Euro per month, still more favourably than in Girona, where rents average 709 euro per month.

The exhibition “Gent de Mar” in L'Escala shows photos from the sixties to 1978, in the town’s exhibition hall.

	Ports de la Generalitat will invest during the year 2008 28 million euro for the improvement of Catalan ports. The building of a protective wall for the harbour facilities of Llançà will cost 3,1 million euro.
Port de Llançà

Roses has begun to install new street lighting in the quarter Puig Rom.  Initially in the streets Cant dels Ocells, Tordera, Francesc Alegre, Llobregat, Foix, and on a part of the ascent to Puig Rom. The overall plan is to provide the whole quarter with new lighting; altogether 700 lamps will be installed.

Archaeological excavations in Santa Creu de Rodes (Port de la Selva) has found that a necropolis existed from the VIII and IX century and that between the XI and XVI century the area was inhabited. The archaeologists assume that there were about 250 inhabitants in the XIV century.

The exhibition areas at the lighthouse at the Cap de Creus can be used by Cadaqués for the next five years.  The port authority extended the necessary agreement.

The road of the local entrance to Cadaqués up to the sea is the property of the Direcció general de Carreteres. Therefore the city hall must request permission for any change in the road, even for the installation of a sign. These variances were always granted, but the task resulted in additional work for the city hall. In order to streamline the process the city hall has requested that the road becomes municipality-owned. The Direcció general de Carreteres has agreed, verbally.

Palau saverdera opened, in the Carrer Nou 49, a building to serve the local associations. There are 400 m2 available.

	Although the transfer of the station of Figueres to the outskirts of town to Vilafant seems to be decided thing, citizens continue to resist it. The group “Defensem el tren de L’Empordà” (we defend the train of the Empordà) demands that the station remain where it is and that the rails are put underground.

The Internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia is offering a new search engine http://alpha.search.wikia.com -- as an alternative to Google. At this time it does not seem to be very useful. A search of “CapCreus online” garnered only 60 results and they were often nonsense.

The Christmas Children park of Llançà closed with positive balance. During one week over 700 children visited the park.

Since the renovation work on the fortress is almost final, the construction crane was removed from the Castell de la Trinitat in Roses. Now the work will be to recondition the environment of the Castell.

La Jonquera is the only municipality of Catalonia with 3000 inhabitants and a 14-person police force. Nevertheless this number is far too small, since the shopping strip of Le Perthus is constantly visited by thousands of tourists and creates urban problems similar to a city with 20,000 inhabitants. Money is not available to recruit more personnel for the local police since the tax receipts correspond only to a municipality with 3000 inhabitants.

La Jonquera now expects the national police Mossos d'Esquadra will be stationed there to augment the police.

Close to Bàscara, in the course of the construction work for the route of the TAV, archaeological remainders were found. The ministry for education and cultural estimates their value is not sufficient to interrupt the construction work.

The Galeria d'art in Cadaqués opened the exhibition < Orgànic >, a mixture of painting, sculpture, photos and audiovisuals. The Cap de Creus is the hero of the show.

	In Empuriabrava a car landed in a private swimming pool in the morning hours of Sunday, after it had torn through the wall of the property. Fortunately the swimming pool was in the way; otherwise the last stop would have been in the canal.
photo: Bahia-Blick

Because we still have a very dry climate, along with violent gusts of wind, the Alt Empordà remains a high fire risk.

Figueres exceeded the magic number of 40.000 inhabitants. At present 41.115 inhabitants are registered. Figueres expects further strong demographic growth. Within the next 20 years the number of the inhabitants is expected to double.

Despite some rain, recently, the water level of the reservoir lake of Boadella remains in the critical range, filled to only 25% of its capacity.

The town hall of Portbou organises measures to prevent a water shortage.

10 municipalities of the Alt Empordà want to forbid prostitution on the roads within its municipalities. They have applied to the government representatives in Girona to be able to enforce this new regulation.

The school of Darnius receives a donation of 240 thousand euro from an industrialist from Venezuela. Josep Soler Batlle (88) was born in Darnius, spent his childhood here and immigrated during the Spanish civil war to Venezuela, where he founded one of the most important companies in Venezuela. The donation is divided into ten annual instalments of 24 thousand euro.

The police confiscated at the border in La Jonquera three tons of fish, which had been transported in a truck from Italy. A portion of the load did not meet international regulations, since they were too small to be sold.

The bus (Buhobus) to the nightclubs in Empuriabrava stops at the bus station of Figueres, at the hotel Emporium in Castelló d'Empúries, at the tourism offices of Roses and Santa Margarida and in the nightclub zone of Empuriabrava. Riding on the bus is free. The organizers, satisfied with their success, do not exclude the possibility of expanding the scope to include La Jonquera and L’Escala.

Intensive rainfalls determined the climate of the days before Christmas. The rain was nit so bad that it caused flooding.

To marry in the church has become quite rare.  In the year 2006 the number of church weddings fell to under one thousand. In contrast, there were1822 civilian weddings.

The Plaça de les Escoles in L’Escala, including the tourism office, will be reconditioned in the year 2008.

Sant Pere Pescador announced the budget 2008 at 4,77 million euro. A majority of the planned investments (2.755 million euro) is allocated to the completion of the general-purpose gymnasium.

The Bible of the monastery Sant Pere de Rodes has returned to Port de la Selva, but this time as a facsimile version. The original, dating from the XI century is considered one of the most important documents of Catalonia.  In the XVIII century the Bible was taken as war booty and moved to France. The original is in the national library of Paris and can be viewed only very rarely. The original Bible was originally only one manuscript of 566 pages, but it was divided in XVIII the century, in France, into four volumes. New, complex techniques now permit a faithful reproduction of the Bible, which can be visited in the library of Port de la Selva. 

The ski stations in the Pyrenees expect a snowy Christmas. Also the peaks of the Albera Mountains are now white.  Even at the coast we saw a few snowflakes. At higher elevations traffic problems were noted. The road between Port de la Selva and Vilajuïga, the road to the monastery Sant Pere de Rodes, was temporarily closed as a precaution.

Ferran Adrià, world-famous kitchen boss of the El Bulli in Roses, received from the university Barcelona the honour doctor honoris causa.  This is the first time a cook in Spain received such recognition.   Adrià self-learned mechanics as they relate to cooking, and on the occasion of the award suggested that we introduce cooking as a university discipline.

In Castelló d'Empúries a working group in the city hall worries about the use of bicycles in the context of urban traffic. A new association with the name “Amics de la bicicleta” is in the establishment phase, and their goal will be to improve the existing, and add more, cyclist lanes.

The company Pescagirona with headquarters in L'Escala now sells 20% of its fish via the Internet. During the holidays it is expected that their sales over the Internet will grow to 50%.

If everything goes as planned, Cadaqués will have its own bus station in the summer 2008, located beside the parking lot at the local entrance. Whether the number of bus connections to Cadaqués will increase is still not known. If this should happen however, a trip by bus for daily visitors would be a viable alternative because of the chronic shortage of parking space in Cadaqués.

Roses plans to install a day-care centre for handicapped children. This will be opened only during the summer months, for the time being.

Llançà intends to use renewable energies in public buildings.

The city hall of Figueres has reached an agreement with the tenants of the shop Can Tamarís, located in the birthplace of Salvador Dalí, for an early termination of their lease. Something similar is planned with the two remaining rentals in the house.

The new industrial area of Roses, at the road toward Vilajuïga, begins in February with the sales of properties. So far only the company Zodiac is located there. The area will be adaptable to the needs of small and mid-sized enterprises.

The federal state government initiates the program Banda Ampla Rural, which is to also make possible for all municipalities with over 100 inhabitants to have (A)DSL service. The Alt Empordà is of particularly concern since it ranks among the regions with the worst ADSL internet access in Catalonia.

Portbou plans a new by-pass road for trucks, which leads directly to the station.

The Catalan government plans to build 7 new sport airports. The facilities for light airplanes in Viladamat and Ordis, already existing will be further developed to fit the new plans at an expenditure of 2.3 million euro. The airport in Empuriabrava cannot be revised however, since an extension of the runway is not possible due to its location.

For the first time in 15 years the prices for real estates has fallen on the Costa Brava.  In some regions the prices have decreased by up to 9% in the past six months. Because of the large number of homes for sale, the buyer has the upper hand.

At the passeig Nou of Figueres the branches of the trees have been radically pruned and there is no place for the starlings to roost  . . .  much to the joy of the auto owners, who heretofore had spent time each morning cleaning their automobiles.

In Bàscara, during the construction work for the TAV route, 20 ancient silos were discovered.  Their origin is still unknown. Further archaeological excavations will continue along the route, with the possibility of further finds.

The planned windmill park in Biure received the necessary permission. Eventually there will be 11 wind generators.

The ERC of Figueres is working to permit young people less than 18 years to use the public transportation free of charge.

The Parking lot in the port of Roses is becoming a meeting place of truck drivers, who during the weekend, on which they may not drive, park their trucks.  For businessman this is not a problem because these drivers may spend some of their money. Neighbours however are being disturbed by the noise, especially from the refrigerators of the fresh goods transporting trucks. Also the fishermen feel handicapped in their work. In response, the city hall is considering measures to forbid truck parking there.

The association of businessmen of Roses is seeking to encourage business premises to be rented for longer term. At present, many shops open only during the summer months, which reduce the attractiveness of the city centre in the winter.

Llançà had opened the Roman tower on the Plaça Major during the past summer as a pilot project. The offer was so well accepted -- over 1000 visitors -- which the city hall now plans to recondition the tower.

The ice skating rink on the Rambla in Figueres, planned for the Christmas holidays, will be 30 x 15 meters.

At the delta of the Rio Muga 800 dead fish were found, victims of poisoning from ammonium. This was caused, in all probability, by a purification plant located outside of the city.

Gerard Marín (CN Llançà) plans for his next project after his successful participation on the MiniTransat 2007.  He plans to participate again in the year 2009, this time with a prototype. At present Marín is seeking about 135 thousand euro for the project.

In the centre for young art in Madrid there is an exhibition of works by twenty artists from the Empordà, in the context of the Transart 6. The exhibit was organized by the museum of the Empordà and the city hall of Girona.

The centre civic of Colera organizes a painting competition for children on 1 December starting at 17 o'clock.

Magdalena Álvarez, minister for the building industry, announced that the train connection by TGV between Barcelona and the French border would be operational in the year 2010.  But, initially with provisional trains which will not achieve the maximum speed.  The high-speed trains will begin in 2012.

Roses will enlarge its tourism office during the next four months at an expenditure of 196 thousand euro.

Castelló d'Empúries will try to improve the traffic facility between the historical town centre and Empuriabrava by utilizing electrical mini busses.

L'Escala inaugurates its Christmas lighting on 30 November at 18 o'clock at the place before the city hall.

The artist Dolors Caballero presents from 2 until 16 December in CanLaporta of La Jonquera her exhibition CARÀCTERS.

Palau saverdera is installing a Wi-Fi system, available to all citizens. The system will also be used to control public road lighting as well as monitoring cameras in public buildings.

Roses is considering building a plant for the demineralization of the seawater in order to guarantee the supply of industrial water.

Castelló d'Empúries is trying to save water.  Because of the continuous drought the city hall requires that the urban cleaning companies stop using drinking water, but instead use water from the purification plant.

On 9 September Castelló d'Empúries will organize, in the old part of town, its classical market with Christmas products. On the same day the artist Anna Mª Constanseu opens an exhibition with her painting in the LLotja Comunal.

The bar Dalicatessen in Figueres shows an exhibition of the artist Maria Tor until 31 December, “Palassos.”

5 wine cellars of the Alt Empordà will offer, this year, the Vi Novell (new wine), similar to the Beaujolais primeur: Marià Pagès and Pere Guardiola (Capmany); Cooperative of Espolla; Cellar Trobat and the cooperative of Garriguella.

The planned ice skating rink on the Rambla of Figueres during the Christmas holidays seems to going to happen, despite the cost of approximately 100,000 euro.

The new kindergarten of Roses is expected to be available for the school year 2008/2009. Because of the large need the original plans were expanded to include two additional halls.

The city hall of L'Escala adopted a new plan for the improvement of the town centre. The project by the architects Quim Espanyol and Francesc Hereu developed both medium-term and long-term plans for the future of the old part of town.

The Department of the Environment in Madrid approved the phases 1 and 2 for the improvement of the 1,2 kilometre bypass between Port de la Selva and Llançà. The planned costs will be 889,098 euro.

The city hall of Roses will produce a DVD of an appearance of its young musicians, with Carwill, Ripper, Boc guru, 40 grados, Aurània, Àngels Ortiz i Carles Garcia, Rusó, Romanyach i Olvido. The film was taken on 11 September during a concert on the Plaça Frederic Rahola.

The Department of the Environment (Medio Ambiente) is determined to move ahead with its plans to remove hotels, camping grounds and block of flats along the Costa Brava which are too close to the sea, to return the coast to its original condition. The plans impacts places in our region, such as in Colera the hotel Tocamar, apartamentos Lido and also the sports port, as soon as the concession expires. Also affected is the holiday complex Ciudad de Vacaciones in the Cala Montjoi in Roses, an area with bungalows, sports fields and restaurants. In Cadaqués and the region around the Cap de Creus some buildings as well as bars with terraces are to be dismantled.  Likewise the Hostal L'Arola in Port de la Selva must be removed. The study by the Department of the Environment is quite explosive. It requires the removal of private houses and dwellings at the beaches of Roses and L'Escala. And the camping sites La Laguna and Amatá in Empuriabrava.

Colera

Gerard Marín (CN Llançà) is at the second stage of the mini Transat 2007. He has attained second place on the regatta from Madeira to Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), only following the Frenchman Hervé Priveteau.

The French General Consul Pascal Brice visited Roses, L'Escala and Figueres. Brice promised to establish in the Empordà a French High School. However for this to occur the proof of need must be established.

In Capmany a park with solar energy modules joined the electrical grid.

The publishing house Alpina brought a new map of the Cap de Creus on the market. “Cap de Creus Parc Natural” is a map on a scale of 1:25.000, with notes for walkers in four languages, Catalan, Spanish, French and English.

The Bungalows of the former Club Med in Cadaqués continue to be difficult to eliminate. So far they have not been removed because some needed approvals have not yet been garnered.  The mayor of Cadaqués, Joan Borrell, urges the federal state government to accelerate the necessary administrative steps so that the work can be completed.

The power supplier Fesca Endesa invested 44,000 Euros, at the Cap VOL (Port de la Selva) to place power lines underground.

The former military facilities on the area of the Punta Falconera in Roses receive a new painting to allow the 13 buildings to be better integrated with the landscape.

The city hall and the local police of La Jonquera see themselves unable to control or even contain the large number of illegal ambulatory dealers by the roads of the purchase mile Els Limits. In the past few weeks the number of illegal dealers has greatly increased.  The mayor has announced that he was throwing in the towel, if the national police Mossos D' Esquadra do not come to his rescue.

Castelló has already installed in its town centre and in Empuriabrava the year’s Christmas lighting, mostly in commercial roads and places.  But the lights will not be illuminated until December.

Within the framework of the Fiesta Mayor of Sant Martí D' Empúries, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the church, the artist Lluís Roura transferred a painting to the municipality as gift.

Figueres installs an ice rink on the top Rambla for the Christmas holidays.

In L'Escala the roundabout between the roads Gi-623 and Gi-632 is now finished. This is to improve the flow of traffic from Girona and Figueres as well as from the entrance to the city.

Castelló d'Empúries regulate the local association life by means of a recently approved regulation. This can be read before its enactment until 7 December in the city hall.

The steps to the basilica of Castelló d'Empúries received a special painting to prevent visitors from slipping.  This has been a serious problem in the past, particularly during wet weather.

Archaeological excavations in the northern part of the hermitage Sant Baldiri del Taballera in Port de la Selva uncovered several graves from the time of the Middle Ages.

The city hall of L'Escala increased the municipal budget for the year 2008 from 18,4 to 22,3 million euro. Also the investments portion increased from 4,3 to 6,9 million euro. Thus L'Escala will soon build the la Caixa on the Plaça Víctor Català, to accommodate the new municipal library.

Portbou closes the small dumping ground at the Pujada de la Riera. The complaint is that uncontrolled dumping of un-separated waste was unacceptable. Portbou will, however, establish a new small place for dumping, near the existing one, but with up-to-date equipment.

The police confiscated 186 kilograms hashish in two passenger vehicles trying to pass at the border near La Jonquera.

Rumours that the medical centre (CAP) in the community centre of Empuriabrava is to be closed is absolutely not true, assured Anna Massot, who is responsible in the city hall for health services.

At the site of the current train station of Figueres with its railway tracks will eventually be a residential area after the opening of the new station.  The federal state government plans to develop 1800 new dwellings.

The city hall of Castelló d'Empúries starts a campaign to sensitize and encourage citizens to separate domestic refuse.

As in prior late autumns, it is time to trim trees in Castelló and Empuriabrava. In the visor of the gardeners are 3800 trees.

Roses has now two readers to identify the chips embedded in cats and dogs. With the readers the owners of run away domestic animals can be identified.

Figueres plans a fair with an ecological theme in April 2008.

The company Servimar, user of a plant for the processing of shellfish in the port of Roses has received offers from Galicia to shift their company there. At present their location is endangered in the port and the city hall is reviewing alternatives to be able to keep the enterprise.

In the first floor of the medieval prison of Castelló d’Empúries two graffiti were discovered. They represent two ships and originate from the XVII and XVIII century.

The music youth of Figueres offers a competition for the jazz festival 2008 poster. This festival will take place in March and April.  The closing date for the competition is 11 January 2008.

Wow, really new  . . .the Disco Chic in Roses will waive the entrance fee if you arrive by taxi. Just show the taxi receipt.

Roses lowers the IBI (tax on real estate ownership), but increased the fees for water, garbage disposal and sewer.

Last week, in the region around the N-260, between the Albera Mountains and the massif of the Cap de Creus, the fire brigades put controlled fires.  

	Ryanair adds new air routes from Girona . . . to Linz (Austria), Brünn (Czech Republic), Fez (Morocco), Malta, Poznan (Poland) and Hamburg (Germany).

Tourists from the Eastern EU countries stay at the Costa Brava longer than guests from Western Europe. Turismo de Catalunya intends to emphasize its promotion to these countries.

Empuriabrava will install 8 monitoring cameras.

In Figueres the school for the hotel trade began classes substantially later than originally planned for the school year 2008/2009.

Roses cuts their plane trees, as they have done in prior years to prevent starlings from stopping.

So far 500 households in Llançà have town gas; according to their town’s plan this number will eventually reach 3000 by the year 2008. At present the households in Port de Llançà are being hooked up.

	The statue of the Aesculapius, one of the most important finds during the archaeological excavations of Empúries will soon return to its home. The more than 2200-year-old statue will be returned after extensive restoration in the museum of archaeology of Barcelona.  The public will be able to see it in a new state, with its arms attached.

Vilafant will offer -- starting on 7 November, each Wednesday -- Flamenco courses.  The courses will run through June and cost 20 euro per month. More information can be received by calling 972646020.

The opposition party ERC has directed six suggestions to the commission for traffic in the city hall of Figueres in support of 800 new chargeable parking spaces, under it the public zone Garrigals in the proximity of the Dalí - museum as parking lots for busses.

The club Náutico of L’Escala begins the second cycle of their sailing school. The project will integrate the practice of sailing during the last quarter of the school year as a sport instruction.

The public library of Sant Pere Pescador wants to arrange a digital picture archive of the municipality. For this project it will begin campaign to collect old photos of the area to be digitized.

Sergi Sarrià (Figueres) and Òscar Amoroso (Cadaqués) are the winners of the first prize of the competition “PhotoDalícatessen.”  The competition awards the best photos taken in the area near the Dalí museums, both in Empordà (Figueres, Púbol and Profligate), and in Florida, USA (St. Petersburg).

	The Plaça Josep Pla and the gardens Puig Subidas in Figueres were filled on Sunday for the third meeting of the friends of Tintin in Catalonia. This year Tintin’s Belgian creator Hergé would have been 100 years old.

The city hall of Roses has added new names to several roads and places, which had existed without name.  The new names are in the urbanisations Santa Margarida, Puig Rom und Canyelles

	The hunters from Castelló d’Empúries consider the new ammunition which is required if they are to hunt in the nature park Aiguamolls.  They say that it is less safe and effective and also 50% more expensive than the normal ammunition.

The spokeswoman for the environment, Maria Teresa Lara, visited the zone Rubina in Empuriabrava with the intention of advancing the project for their restoration and improvement. In the year 2002 the Department of the Environment had made 3,5 million euro available to Castelló d'Empúries.

The town halls of Colera and Portbou have decided to deny Cosam the licence for the planned windmill park. The building of the project depended on this license.  Had it proceeded it would have been the only project of its kind in the province of Girona.

In Figueres a previously owned dwelling with 100 square meters costs on average 226,000 euro. According to the Ministerio de la Vivienda the price increase of 5,4% was only half as high this year as it was last year.

The distribution of mail by the post office in Castelló d'Empúries and Empuriabrava has continued to be a long-term source of complaints.  Hopefully, this is soon to change. The city hall has negotiated a series of measures to generally improve the distribution of mail and also to improve service at the postal office. Among the changes negotiated with the post office are more post boxes, longer opening times and faster and more regular distribution by the post office. Particularly for the latter the post office will train more locally well-informed personnel who understand the difficult address patterns in Empuriabrava.

Figueres plans to improve difficult traffic conditions in the city centre by adding more motorbuses. At four points at the local entrance parking lots are to be built, where visitors can park their cars and transfer to a bus. In this way, during the day, the number of private vehicles in the city will be reduced. Likewise it is planned to limit trucks in the city centre.

Gerard Marín (CN Llançà) holds the fifth position in his class on the regatta MiniTransat. In the general classification he advanced to 26th place. The regatta leads from Madeira to Brazil.

In addition to the numerous demonstrations of Catalan culture at the book fair in Frankfurt, the German writer Günter Grass is also associated with designs from the Empordà.

Work for the Cami de Ronda, the footpath along the sea between Llançà and Port de la Selva has begun again after the summer break.

In La Jonquera it is no longer legal to attach parabolic antennas to balconies. Installations already existing will be tolerated until the year 2010.

A commission of technicians and politicians from the city hall of Castelló of d’Empúries are working on the problems in the nightclub zone dels Arcs of Empuriabrava.  Among other things considered will be the installation of monitoring cameras.

Castelló d'Empúries contracted with a company to control the pigeon population in the old part of town. The birds are not to be removed from the townscape, but the eventual reduction will ensure that historical buildings are not damaged by their presence.

The local police of Roses hired 5 new policemen.

Citizens of L'Escala complain about the bad public transit connection of their town and Figueres.

According to a congressional resolution all memories of the Franco regime must be removed.  This edict includes dedications, commemorative plaques or military images in the cities.  Some of the elements will be archived as historical property.

The state government in Madrid will provide financial assistance of over 600.000 euro for the restoration of the birth house of Salvador Dalí in the Carrer Monturiol in Figueres.

The first for used car fair in Figueres resulted in many cars being sold, so the fair’s likelihood of a repeat in the year 2008 seems certain.

	Representatives from Collioure (France) to Port de la Selva agreed on a conference to assure that there will continue to be a train connection uniting their towns, despite the TGV, since many inhabitants of the region need this connection to go to work or school.
Collioure		Port de la Selva

The commission for urbanization in Girona does not go conformal with the execution of the special plan for the Urbanisation of the zone Palandriu in Llançà. The commission requires among other things a hydrologic study of the area.

The German parliament president Norbert Lammert visited the city hall of Castelló d'Empúries. He was received by the mayor Salvi Güell. Lammert has maintained a close contact for years with Castelló.

On the sailing world championship of the class laser in Roses the Australians dominated. They could place winners in all three competitions.

The weekly market in Empuriabrava (Saturday on the beach promenade) will be better arranged according to the will of the city hall. Stands without license are not any longer wanted and operators must abide by the cleanliness regulations.

In Espolla a 63-meter wind-measuring tower was torn down. This was to provide information on wind velocities vis-à-vis the building of a windmill park. The tower had been erected 2005, but without the proper permission.  Since the windmill park cannot be built the tower had no reason to exist.

Figueres has applied to be chosen as the Catalan culture capital for the year 2009.

The foundation Gala Salvador Dalí agreed with the Salvador Dalí museum in Sant Petersburg (Florida) for an exchange of paintings for temporary exhibitions. First will come three works by Dalí to Figueres, until February 2008, a self-portrait in oil and two small format works.

Forty-two municipalities of the province of Girona are more than 80% completed; that is 80% of the available land has been used up due to the construction boom of the last few years. Particularly some smaller municipalities are nearly absolutely full from border to border: Cabanelles (99.8%), and Boadella/Les Escaules (93.8%) at this time.

The Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam shows until 20 January 2008 an exhibition of the period of promoterism of Barcelona, from 1880 to 1909.

The democratic habits often allow new governments to be gently treated during the first 100 days of their term. Now the hundred days have gone by and we will soon see how the opposition will work within the city halls of our region.

Figueres wants to resolve, as soon as fast as possible the woeful lack of parking spaces. Soon 1500 new parking spaces will be available.

Also Roses is conscious of the strained parking situation. To react to this problem the mayoralty plans to construct five new underground parking lots; the first of them will probably open under the Plaça Catalunya, with approximately 300 places.

The sports port of Roses wants to set accents into the future also on the culture, as for the example with concerts or exhibitions.

The Festa de la Sal in L'Escala finished the ceremonies with a round travel of the sailing boat Rafael. Because of the beautiful weather the Fiesta attracted a large crowd.

The beaches Rubina and Muga in Castelló d´Empúries had to hoist the red flag on the last weekend because of dangerous conditions for bathing.

In order to secure the continued existence of coral, researchers of the Consell Superior d´Investigacions Científiques (CSIC), recommend that the region of the Cap de Creus should limit professional fishing with the Palangre. The Palangre is a line between two buoys, on which fishhooks are fastened.  Up to now this kind of fishing was considered ecologically safer for the environment than nets, which drag on the bottom of the sea.

The 30 largest tourism enterprises in Spain, represented by Mesa del Turisme, are lobbying to lower the value added tax for touristic activities. Such a measure is appropriate to strengthen Spain’s competitive edge in the ever more competitive international market. Officials of the Empordà regard this as a good step but feel that there is little prospect of changing the tax at this time.

As in most coastal places L'Escala found itself during the summer confronted with many mobile homes using up public parking spaces during a short or also long duration. Now are not these guests are not welcome. The city hall of L'Escala is seeking another infrastructure solution to accommodate them away from the public parking lots.

Al Pacino will play the main role of a film on the life of Salvador Dalí in the years between 1960 and 1980, "Dali and I: The Surreal story"; the shooting begins 2008 in Spain and New York. The script is based on the book "Dali and I" by the Belgian author Stan Lauryssens, once Dali’s neighbour in Cadaqués.

The federal state government has made 1.579 million euro available for the monastery Sant Pere de Rodes (Port de la Selva) for the continued restoration of the monastery during 2007 and 2008. For this phase special attention will be directed to the former monastery garden and its walls. Since May 2007, the monastery, which was first mentioned in the Xth century, is the official starting point of the pilgrimage Sant Jaume. This route leads for a distance of 389 kilometres passing by the monastery Montserrat on the way to Alcarràs.

Llançà will help parents by subsidizing 40% of the costs of schoolbooks of its pupils, up to a maximum of 100 euro.

The city theatre of Figueres, El Jardí, begins its autumn season on 21 September. For the season, until 30 December 22 performances will be offered, with emphasis on the artists of the region.

The Fiesta 17è festival Terra de Trobadors in Castelló d’Empúries attracted crowds of visitors. Over 30,000 persons were drawn to the streets of the local centre.

Members of the association NO A la MAT met on the national holiday in the monastery Montserrat close to Barcelona. NO A la MAT opposes the planned high voltage transmission line over the Pyrenees’s to France.

A suggestion by the Ministry Of Agriculture alarmed the fishermen of the region. The plan is to prohibit fishing around the Cap de Creus, including the bay of Roses.  So far professional fishing is there still reduced possible. The fishery cooperatives call these plans completely unrealistic.

A French bather died in the water at the beach of Grifeu (Llançà). The 81-year-old man, Lucien Enric A.B., was discovered floating in the water.  The rescue forces could only declare the man dead. The cause of death is not yet known.

Citizens of Cadaqués complain about the high number of accidents with mopeds and scooters. The affair has a sensitive character – and thus is not easy to resolve. A large proportion of the inhabitants of Cadaqués use such vehicles to manage living in a town with a year-round acute shortage of parking spaces.

Sant Pere Pescador plans to establish on the area of the torn off building ruin Fluvianàutic a centre for various kinds of water sport.

The police investigation of the misfortunate incident on 25 August in Port de Llançà – when one adult and two children threw rocks into the sea and seriously hurt passengers in Kayaks – is not progressing as they would wish. The perpetrators were photographed by a camera at the club Nàutic, but the quality of the pictures does not permit a clear identification of the persons. The police have distributed the pictures in hope that someone will recognize the people in the picture.

After announcements of different counterfeit products the police combed numerous shops in Roses. They confiscated falsified branded articles valued of 1.3 million euro.  Included in the falsifications were articles labelled as Nike, Dior, Prada and Ray Ban. Five persons were arrested.

The hospital of Figueres contracted with six Italian physicians to fill gaps in its cadre of specialists.

The last race of the season of the Catalan rowing team from Colera ended with protests by the participating crews. Particularly the club Xon's rem Empuriabrava was disadvantaged. Its men crew would have achieved the Catalan championship with a victory at this race but they came in second. The course distances were however inaccurate and so the Xon's rem (according to own data, checked by GPS) started 120 meters further back than the winning crew. The club Xon's rem Empuriabrava announced an official protest.

The port authority in Barcelona, responsible for the lighthouses along the coast, promised Roses the use of the lighthouse at the Punta de la Poncella. The city hall wants to initiate a design competition for pupils, associations and citizens to recommend how this emblematic building should be used.  The only thing certain is that it will be used for public purposes.

In August the average temperature of the seawater was around 1,8 degrees C ° below the average value for the last fifteen years.  On 25 August in L'Estartit 21.5 degrees were measured, the annual average for this time period from 1990 to 2004 was 23.3 degrees. In the year 2006 in L'Estartit water temperatures were measured at over 25 degrees. A fortuitous side effect of these low temperatures was lack of medusas, which stayed away from our coast. The fishermen, who had been engaged to catch the medusas before they reached the beach, had little to do.  Any bather who was stung by a jellyfish certainly had bad luck, since there were so few.  We have not had reports, yet, of air temperatures during August but it is likely that they were below average, vs. the last years.

The renovation of the small station of Colera is finished. The access to the train tracks was facilitated and the passengers can wait under new shelters.  Also, for handicapped persons a special entrance was created.

Roses plans to establish in the area around the lighthouse a recreational park with sea water pools.  These are primarily meant for older adults, children or other persons, who, for whatever reason, find a trip to the beach too cumbersome.

The still incomplete restoration work on the Castell de la Trinitat of Roses is being subsidized by the Ministry for buildings.

At the beach of Riells in L'Escala the first fresh water shower has been installed, but users must have an access card. The card is free this year, but by next year there will probably be a change and the card system will be expanded to the other showers.

The office for the boat owners in Empuriabrava in the Centre Civic is already opened. It is now responsible for all questions of boats and anchorages in Empuriabrava.  The personnel are multilingual.

The antique washing house in Castelló d’Empúries has been completely renovated during the last month; it can now be visited again.

The bridges in the channels of Empuriabrava are often too low, so that larger boats cannot pass. They were built forty years ago and at that time there were few large boats.  Today, the boats are larger in Empuriabrava. The administration of the channels wants to fix the problem by increasing some of the bridge heights by approximately one meter.

The music festival Peralada closed with a concert by Joan Manuel Serrat and Joaquín Sabina in the palace garden. Despite threatening rain the songwriters showed up in best form and were able to excite the audience, who seemed to be cool to the performance at first.

	OSCAR Amorós, a photographer living in Cadaqués, won in Los Angeles the first prize in the “Abstract” category at the International Photography Awards. Amorós won the prize for his series of Blue Sea and was also distinguished with four honourable mentions.
OSCAR Amorós

In Montgó, belonging partly to L'Escala and to Torroella, new road lightings were taken placed in operation.

After the summer holidays the removal of the debris from former club Med at the Cap de Creus in Cadaqués will re-commence. Hundreds of truckloads will be on the way to the dump.  Since the access road is very narrow, large trucks cannot be used.  When the disposal task is completed, the road to the club Med is expected to be in very bad condition due to the many heavy vehicles.  New asphalting will become necessary and the city hall has already requested funding for the road repair.

The city hall of Castelló d'Empúries and the manager of the channels of Empuriabrava, Port Ampuriabrava SA, entered into a contract on 9 August and how to regulate the water routes of Empuriabrava. The owners of anchorages are represented by the society Manteniment control i Supervisió de Marina d'Empuriabrava (MCSME), which opens on 16 August in the first floor of the community centre of Empuriabrava. The partners plan to improve both the aesthetics of the channels and to adapt the services to the needs of the users. The vested titles of the owners of anchorages are not going to change, but in order to finance the planned work they will be required to make financial contributions.

Behind the citadel of Roses there are many parked home mobiles that use this space rather than pay fees for a camping site. Roses wants to prevent this next year by placing barriers to prevent access.

The police saved a boat in the bay of L'Escala which had become disabled because of engine damage. The crew, three Frenchmen, had spent the night floating on their boat.

On the NII between La Jonquera and Figueres auto queues are to be expected in the next days. Because of emergency work on a bridge over the Rio Llobregat the road will be passable only on one lane.  Traffic will be rerouted partly onto the A7 between exits 2 and 3.

Empuriabrava will become in 2008 an even more attractive destination. The Marina could be the venue for the boat race Class 1 World Powerboat, a meeting for the fastest boats in the world.

The condition of the beaches and the quality of the sea at Empuriabrava can be called up on the Internet under http://www.castello.cat/upload/File/altres/analitiques.pdf. The measurements are made once per week; the results are only in Catalan but they are easy to understand. At present all beaches are classified as "molt bo “(very good).

Apart from the official concerts of the music festival Cadaqués there are also presentations by the new generation of artists in the Sala Art i Joia (the former Dalí museum), mostly on Tuesdays at 22 o'clock 30.

The Basilica Santa Maria de Castelló d’Empúries has entered the information age: A PowerPoint program will transfer text and pictures to a large screen.

The zone Rosa Lau of L'Escala, heretofore rather neglected, will get a new look. The building of 251 new dwellings is planned as well as generous green areas.

Sant Pere Pescador looks for 1000 volunteers who want to take a bath in the tides of the Mediterranean for scientific purposes. “Banya't by la ciència” (bathe for science) is a project of the University of Tarragona and examines the effect of bathing on the epidermis, i.e., your skin.

The urban museum of Darnius will show this summer a photography exhibition by a former teacher Montserrat Oriol which will show hundreds of photographs of Darnius, from the past up to the present.

The fishing port of Roses will be converted. The building at the entrance with the restaurant will be torn down and in its place, of course, another roundabout. The fishermen will gain area for storing, even for smaller enterprises.  Roses does not want to forget that the interests of tourism coincides with respecting the fishing harbour.

Roses will participate in an advertising campaign to show off the advantages of the bay of Roses, together with the neighbouring municipalities l'Escala and Castelló d'Empúries.

L'Escala would prefer that their policemen learn foreign languages so that they can understand the foreign guests. The city hall wants to offer courses, but only on a voluntarily basis. Also the temporary policemen for the summer months should speak foreign languages. At present there are members in the police force that understand English, French, German or Italian. The city hall plans to equip these policemen with banderoles in the appropriate national colours.

Palau Saverdera will build an area with 480 solar units, which are expected to supply 100 KV. Also some public buildings will receive solar plants on their roofs.

Although the new industrial area of Roses is not yet in operation, because of the large demand the city hall is already looking for land for another industrial park.

The new centre for tourism information at the entrance of Llançà is to be operational in January 2008.

The rowing club Xon's from Empuriabrava could place itself at the last race in Lloret de Mar again along with the best competitors: All four crews reached the second place.

The Cambra de Comerç de Girona has identified a certain slowing of the economy in the Alt Empordà, attributed primarily to the slowdown in building activity. Still, the study shows that the Alt Empordà remains an economically dynamic region.

Cap de Creus, Parc Natural. Guia d´Itineraris is the new book by the biologist Ponç Feliu. It presents (in Catalan) ten ways to see the nature park Cap de Creus, on foot, by bicycle or by car.  The book describes the local fauna and flora and highlights particularly delightful landscapes.

The city hall of Castelló d'Empúries intends to better serve the needs of its citizens with an expanded database. In the database will be added complaints which will be organized in such a way that the city hall can react faster to problems.

Mobile telephones are a practical thing. The necessary mobile radio aerials are less popular, however. Their electro-magnetic radiation has been measured in Catalonia for some time at numerous stations. These data are now accessible to the citizens through the Internet at http://www15.gencat.net/pres_mratm .

The museum of Cadaqués shows by  6 January 2008 177 photographs of Salvador Dalí and its surrounding field. Author of the pictures is the French photographer Robert Descharnes, who accompanied  Dalí – one of the most photographed personalities of the XX century – during 40 years as a friend, photographer and later as private secretary . The Archives of Robert Descharnes contains over 60,000 negatives from the life of Dali and his work .

The very much-liked small hotel ave de paso in Fortià can be rented as a holiday house for groups and larger families. Sometimes this leads regular customers to be confused, and the hotel’s status needs clarification: The ave de paso operates as it has always done, that is, in addition to serving individual guests it also is available, by reservation, for guests who wish to rent the entire property.

The city halls of Portbou and Colera want to jointly oppose the planned building of the windmill park Tramuntana. They are considering how they can refuse the license for this without legal consequences. In Portbou the earlier government party, and now the current opposition party, CiU, signed agreements for the park to operate.  The CiU stresses that the windmill park would provide economic development support to Portbou.

The cultural centre Els Estudis in Selva de Mar will organize this summer a series of concerts. Tuesdays will feature singer-songwriters.  On Thursday jazz will be on the program.

In Alt Empordà the time of the fruit harvest has begun. For this season approximately 700 temporary workers come to our region, most originate from Romania and Colombia. They usually remain between one and two months. The horticultures expect a qualitatively good harvest, but expect the quantity to be less than in the last year.

The road between the port of Roses and the bay Almadrava is again passable sine the asphalting is now complete..

The traditional fishermen’s house in L'Escala, also known as CanCinto Xuà, is to be restored and used as a museum. The city hall of L'Escala is studying plans for financing and has already received from the Direcció general de Pescaa promise for a subsidy of up to 30,000 euro.

The new centre for first medical supply (CAP) in Castelló d'Empúries has begun service. There is also a new bus stop, which connects the centre with the public transport of the municipality. The bus service to the CAP is free for pensioner.  One only has to show a pension document of identification. Tuesday and on Fridays at 8 o'clock the bus will also run from Empuriabrava. The old CAP on the plaça de Catalunya was closed, the dispensary in the civic centre of Empuriabrava remains opened.

At present the access to the Puig Rom in Roses between the roads Tordera and Àusias March is being asphalted.

Finally, the bar Felip on Plaça Major of Llançà is again open! Completely rebuilt, with modern equipment inside and fine seating opportunities outside.  We will all enjoy the new tables on the Plaça, with many new large umbrellas. The former building of the bar Felip had been torn down because it was connected to the historic tower on the Plaça which deserved to stand alone.  The new building is in very good taste and a special pleasure for the regular customers who were pleased to share the happiness of opening day, after such a long delay.

May, so far has had a stable and mild climate, but the whims of the Alt Empordà were evident when within a day the thermometer fell from 32 degrees to 22 degrees.

The emblematic restaurant Terra Nostra in Palau saverdera opens its gates after some changes and is now named Can Muni. The kitchen, which was German with a Mediterranean flair, will now concentrate on upper class Catalan food.  The restaurant has retained Paco Perez as an advisor.  Perex recently received a Michelin star for his restaurant Miramar in Llançà. The price for an a la carte meal will be between 40 and 60 euro.  Weekdays the restaurant will offer a midday menu for 25 euro.   The restaurant is closed Monday evening and Tuesday.

The Modern Tate Gallery in London will show from 1 June to 9 September the exhibition “Dalí & film”, a homage to the cinema work of Dali with famous collaborators such as Lluís Bunuel, Walt Disney and the Marx Brothers

The call by call service again lowered its tariffs. Long-distance calls from Spain to most European countries and to the USA now costs only 5.5 cent per minute (before, the price was 6.5 cent). As the company has their headquarters in the Canary Islands, there is no additional value added tax. This makes call by call the most favourable offeror of telephone calls from Spain to abroad.

Port de la Selva, has been spared the trouble of road renovation disruptions.  The town is building their first round point, at the local exit toward Cadaqués.

Most municipalities of the region have retained the Red Cross to provide lifeguard security at the beaches during the summer season. Colera and Cadaqués do without this service, since their beaches are small and they rely on the local services such as police and ambulance.

The emblematic Casino Menestral in Figueres is progressing through the stages of renovation. So far about 60% of the planned works are complete, but money is not available to complete the entire project. The responsible persons expect additional financial support to allow the work to resume.

Empuriabrava has established a free parking lot for owners of boat trailers in the Avinguda Marinada.  This lot is not guarded, however.

The company Port de Roses SA began the cleaning of the sea in the bay of Roses.  By 15 September in the course of the action regularly firm and swimming objects are removed.

The federal state government distinguished the toy museum in Figueres (Museu del Joguet) with the Creu de Sant Jordi. The toy museum was established 25 years ago.

The Frenchman Antoine Albeau won the Gran Premi Catalunya Costa Bravade windsurf in Sant Pere Pescador. The race counts toward the world championship of the Windsurfer in the discipline slalom.

At the XXXV Aplec de la Sardana of Llançà three orchestras will encourage dance: Ciutat Girona; Bisbal Jove, Baix Empordà. In the event of bad weather the Aplec will take place in the gymnasium, otherwise on the pinedeade les Esplanes.

The central party PP in Madrid seems to have no interest of their members Julián Genovés and Jesús Carrasco forming a coalition government for the town council of Castelló d'Empúries along with the ERC, the Entesa per Castelló i Empuriabrava (ECE-EPM) and with the party defector Maria Dolors del Fresno (formerly PSC). The PP rejects formations of a government with party defectors. If Julián Genovés and Jesús Carrasco should carry out their intentions nevertheless, the party threatens exclusion. The PSC is trying to obligate Maria Dolors del Fresno to the party discipline, in order to govern together with the CiU under the past mayor Xavier Sanllehí. A possible option continues to be another configuration of ERC, CiU and PSC.

Llançà honoured the deceased water colourist Josep Martinez Lozano with a memorial plaque at his former studio in the old part of town.

The wine Puntils Rosat from the cooperative Garriguella won the gold medal at the annual wine competition of Radio Turismo from Madrid. The Puntils Rosat could become accepted in its category as the best wine vs. 100 competitors.

The XII  Triumvirat de L’Escala, Fiesta of the Greek-Roman past of L'Escala and Empúries, was a bit smaller this year, with fewer visitors than in the prior years, probable because of the local council elections and some sport events in the proximity. Despite fewer visitors at the Greek-Roman market, those who attended spent more money than last year.

Ferran Adrià, kitchen chief of the El Bulli in Roses and celebrated world-wide as the world’s best cuisinier, was invited by the Dokumenta (16 June by 23 September) in Kassel (Germany) to present his cooking art. The Dokumenta, one of the most important art events of the world, expands its scope, for the first time, to include cooking art. Ferran Adrià called the invitation a high point of his career.

El Bulli

The high-speed train TAV will be a work in progress for some time. According to the latest announcements the line between Perpignan and Barcelona will probably not be in operation until 2012.

Port de la Selva gets a new life raft, the current one will be relocated to Roses.

On the N-II at Bascara a motorcyclist was caught by the radar trap, clocked at 232 km/h.

The Schubertiada in Vilabertran announced their dates for 2007: From 17 August to 8 September. The opening concert is by the quartet Ebéne. The baritone Matthias Goerne, a regular performer in Vilabertran, will be accompanied this time by the pianist Elisabeth Leonskay.

The miniprint exhibition (30 June by 10 August) of the Taller Galeria Font in Cadaqués will hold its 27th edition and will again attract participants from the entire world.  Expect to see works by 649 artists from 51 countries and 5 continents.

The city halls of Portbou and, beyond the border, Banyuls sur Mer begins a permanent co-operation to promote the memory of the German philosopher and art theoretician Walter Benjamin. Walter Benjamin died in Portbou while escaping before the Nazis.  The means of his death have never been determined. A first product of co-operation is the official inauguration of the way which Walter Benjamin had used during his escape over the Spanish-French state border.

Walter Benjamin

The XII concert series of the Centre Cultural Sant Domènec de Peralada (15 July to 17 August) will honour this year the composer Joaquim Serra, who had died 50 year ago. The artist, originally from Peralada, composed numerous Sardanas, but his body of work also included chamber music, piano sonatas and Lied.

The beach of Empuriabrava received the Bandera Blava. This certifies the excellent quality of its beaches and ports.

Figueres plans to build a new water purification plant in Vilatenim. This project will treat the city’s waste water in such a way that it can be used for the irrigation of the nearby golf courses and the public parks. The costs of the project will total 22.6 million euro, and will begin in 2008.

The police arrested five members (including 4 Englishmen) of an international drug ring in Santa Margarida and seized three tons of hashish.  The gang had its operational base in a mansion in Santa Margarida, from where it distributed the drugs all over Spain. The hashish was confiscated as it was being transported by sailboat from Malaga into the mansion. Eight months of continued police surveillance preceded the arrests.

	Jordi Cassú is the winner of the photography competition over the cultural inheritance of Castelló d’Empúries. Anna Riera received the second price; the third price went to Ricard Forn.
third price, Ricard Forn

A forest fire in the proximity of the sport palace of Cadaqués engaged 3 helicopters and 3 fire engines; about one hectare of area was burned. The fire was extinguished without problem, and no one was harmed.

	The artist Josep Malats presented his newest works in the presence of numerous officials last weekend in Llançà, a large mural at the parking lot Paratge de la Creu.  Josep Malats will show his current production during the summer season in the hotel Gri Mar; the inauguration will be on 13 July.
Josep Malats

TheServei de Control de Mosquits de la Badia deRoses i el Baix Ter began the annual fight against mosquitoes. On over 4000 hectares surface will be treated through the middle of August to help contain the propagation of the mosquitoes.

L'Escala will not use the services of the Red Cross for security at the beaches. The city hall signed a contract, this year with the company GIEM, valid from 23 June to 16 September. They will guard the beaches from 10 to 19 o'clock.

The regatta of the Open class in L'Escala was won by the Spanish champion Gerard Marín (CN Llançà).  Marín led starting from the second day and did not start at the eighth and last regatta, since he had already decided  the competition after the seventh regatta for himself. Also for the ladies there was no surprise. The Spanish champion Helen Montilla (CN Lloret) won also here.

La Jonquera plans to polish the image of its old part of town. Among other things two municipality-owned buildings behind the church are to make place for a green belt .

Castello d'Empúries supplements its police contingent during the summer with around 50 guardians. They are particularly used in Empuriabrava, with emphasis on the night life in the zone dels Arcs.

The port authority approved new anchorages for Santa Margarida: at the end of the Riu Grau the new Port Canadell is to develop. These plans are not completely in agreement with the association of the citizens of Santa Margarida however.  It is not in principle against the project, but it doubts that the port authority can give appropriate permission, since it concerns the Riu Grau which is a river and not a channel, and for this the port authority is not responsible. The new mayoress of Roses, Magda Casamitjana, remarked to the state of the things that the new zoning plan POUM was not yet discharged and that modifications can still result.

The shops of the region began already with the summer sales.

The association “Defensem el tren de l'Empordà“ presents two plans for the retention of the current station of Figueres in the center of the city. They plan to shift the existing line underground. “Defensem el tren de l'Empordà“ regards this solution not only as the most inexpensive, but stressed besides that thereby the distance Portbou – Figueres would not lose its attractiveness.

	The Spanish Ministry for work is training in Dakar (Senegal) 146 young men as  fisherman. After successfully finished training a job is assured to them in the Spanish fishery trade. A large part of the young fishermen come to Catalonia; among others the fishery cooperatives of Roses, Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Port de la Selva announced need.
Port de la Selva

The Department of the Environment stands briefly before the conclusion of a contract with the fishery cooperatives, in order to contain the Medusa (jellyfish) plague during the summer. The fisherman shall detect Medusa banks and destroy these. They receive then for their expenditure a financial remuneration. The Department of the Environment stresses that the action is not exterminating the Medusa; one wants thereby only to avoid the annoyances of the bathers. So far this year only isolated Medusa were located, among them in Port de la Selva and Roses.

The new opening times for nightclubs during the summer time concern the places Empuriabrava, Port de la Selva, L'Escala and Roses in Alt Empordà. There discotheques can open  up to 7 o'clock and music bars up to 4 o'clock on the weekends.

The government will station two water airplanes at the Aerodrome in Empuriabrava during the summer months to be ready to fight forest fires.

In the course of the last year Llançà experienced many important changes to the townscape; the roads in Port de Llançà were reconditioned, roundabouts were built and many cables were shifted underground. The most important and most urgent measure however, i.e. a roundabout at the local entrance is still in the planning phase. Now, however, the mayor of Llançà, Pere Vila has promised that the Ministry will soon give the necessary approvals for the new roundabout.

The legendary Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior began a trip from Valencia to bring attention to the ecologically threatened Mediterranean Sea. Under the slogan Recuperem la Mediterrània, the ship will travel through Spanish waters to inform the citizens about the necessary measures to ecologically stabilise the sea.

Woody Allen began shooting his newest film in Barcelona with Scarlett Johansson in the title role. About the precise contents of the film little is known, except that Woody Allen says that it will be a declaration of love to Barcelona.

The road between Figueres and Roses is at peak times a parking lot, especially near Vilatenim.  Particularly on weekends one should avoid this road if possible, and if you must travel between these points you should search a detour. A sensible and usually lightly used street leads over to Vilanova de la Muga: From Figueres direction Portbou, branch off on the overpass of Peralada to Vilanova de la Muga to Castelló d'Empúries. From there a street leads from the roundabout before the bridge to Empuriabrava, more or less parallel to the main road.

At the first plenary session in Roses after the elections Maria Dolors del Fresno presented herself as a party-independent town councillor. For the election Maria Dolors del Fresno had presented herself as a candidate of the PSC.

The opposition parties in the town hall of Llançà (PSC, ERC and ICV) railed against the salary increase (+20%) approved by the CiU, for members' of the district council. The councillors of the PSC announced as protest to donate 20% of their salary to non-profit organizations.

L'Escala offers to young people alternative events for the visit of the discos and bar with the initiative Sortim de nit? (Go out in the night?)

Joan Borrell (ERC), mayor of Cadaqués, founded a commission for urban growth. This initiative responds to the concern of many citizens of Cadaqués who feel the massive construction activity as harmful to the town. The commission will consider