Justin and Diane Bridges at the start of their pilgrimage. Photo: J Bridges / The LocalTheir rescue made headlines last month after authorities revealed that they had been called to the aid of a British couple who had become lost on the route to Santiago and had been wandering the hills with no provisions for four days. Here they tell The Local how they got lost. And how they survived. Justin and Diane Bridges, a British couple from Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, admit that they had doubts as they set off from the French town of Saint Jean Pied de Port on the first stage of their hike along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. At the tourist office where they had collected their ‘pilgrim passport’ – the accreditation that gives all official pilgrims access to hostels along the route – the couple had been waed that the first stage involved hiking up and down mountain paths across the Pyrenees to reach Roncesvalles, the first town on the camino over the Spanish border. The pil

King Felipe is in no rush to hold further talks. Photo: AFPSpain's king will delay holding a fresh round of talks with party leaders to find a solution to the country's political deadlock after a failed attempt to form a new govement, the speaker of parliament said on Monday. King Felipe VI has decided "not to engage in further consultations yet with party representatives, so they can implement the steps they consider necessary" to end the impasse, the speaker of the parliament, Ana Pastor told reporters after meeting the monarch. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), lost two parliamentary confidence votes last week in his bid for a second term, deepening the nation's political crisis. Party leaders now have until October 31th to explore alteative alliances. If their efforts come to nothing election-weary Spanish voters will be asked to retu to the polls in December for the country's third election in a year. Spain h

Maya waited for six days until her owner was discharged, Photo: Elda Hospital / FacebookMaya was finally reunited with her owner after waiting patiently for six days at the doors of a hospital in Alicante. Sandra Iniesta, 22, was discharged from Elda hospital near Alicante on Saturday where she rushed a week earlier after suffering a ruptured appendix. Waiting loyally for her at the door of the hospital was Maya, a two-year-old Akita Inu, who had steadfastedly refused to leave her vigil while her owner was recovering. Even when her owner’s father attempted to pull her away tempting her into the car with offers of treats, the dog refused to budge. “She knows what is happening and she is showing that she can be patient,” he explained to local Alicante newspaper Información of Maya, whose Japanese breed is famous for its loyalty. She quickly became a favourite with hospital staff who posted a photograph of Maya on their facebook page and the story soon went viral on social media. I

It won't begin to cool until Thursday. Photo: AFPAlmost the whole of the southe half of Spain has been put on alert for high temperatures as the late summer heatwaves continues. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 C in parts of Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia and Extremadura as well as across the central regions of Castile-La Mancha and Madrid. The national weather agency Aemet, put 17 provinces on amber alert for high temperatures with only the very north of the country escaping what is expected to be the last heatwave of the summer. The high temperatures are forecast to last until Thursday when storms will bring cooler temperatures. The high temperatures raise the risk of forest fires and in Javea, south of Valencia, firefighters were struggling to bring blazes thought to be set deliberately, under control.

A huge forest fire is raging across the hills surrounding the Costa Blanca resort of Javea, threatening to scorch homes and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of holidaymakers. Three separate fires appeared to have been started deliberately on Sunday afteoon between Jávea and Benitatxell and spread quickly as the flames were faed by strong winds. At least two dozens homes were damaged while residents in huundreds more were told to leave their and campsites and seek refuge in schools and sports centres as well as local hotels and restaurants outside the danger zone. One man was arrested for refusing to leave his home. Firefighers battled throughout the evening and oveight to control the wildfires which spread out to form a 7km front. Firefighters resumed the deployment of 14 water carrying aircraft and helicopters early Monday moing to bring the flames under control.

Julien Lopetegui tried and failed to awaken the dragon at Porto. Can he do a better job for Spain? Photo: Francisco Leong/AFPJulien Lopetegui is the man charged with restoring Spain's former glories, but he faces a demanding task in just getting La Roja to Russia in two years' time with Euros' conquerors Italy lying in wait in qualifying. Faint hopes Spain's spectacular fall from grace at the 2014 World Cup was a mere blip were extinguished as another early exit at Euro 2016 finally ended Vicente del Bosque's eight-year reign as coach. Spain haven't lost a World Cup qualifier for a remarkable 23 years and that record shouldn't be challenged when Liechtenstein visit Leon at the start of the long road to Russia on Monday. Yet, Lopetegui's new era needs to hit the ground ruing with a trip to Italy next up in early October and only the group wiers guaranteed to qualify. Lopetegui's appointment after Del Bosque's resignation was generally seen as an underwhelming one. Despite success

More people will be heading for the job centre after summer. Photo: AFPThe number of people registered as unemployed in Spain rose by 14,435 to 3.69 million in August from a month earlier, its first increase since February, the Labour Ministry said on Friday. But the number of jobless was down by 370,459 people from the same month last year, the ministry said in a statement, which called it "the best figure for the month of August since 2009". Spain's economy relies heavily on tourism and August is usually a weaker month for the job market as summer hiring by hotels and restaurants tails off, factories slow and teaching contracts end. All sectors saw an increase in unemployment in August although the rise was more pronounced in the services and industrial sector. The increase in unemployment comes as politicians are still struggling to form a new govement following two inconclusive elections in December and June which resulted in a hung parliament. Spain's unemployment ra

The house rules at Restaurant Blau Grifeu. Photo: Salvador Sandoval / TwitterA café owner at a beach resort in Catalonia is encouraging good maers by charging customers less if they mind their p’s and q’s. Marisel Valencia Madrid, the owner of the Restaurant Blau Grifeu in Llança on the Costa Brava, became so fed up at being barked at by customers that she has introduced a pricing system to penalize those who are impolite. Those who demand a coffee will find they are charged an extortionate €5, those who say please will pay a more affordable €3.50, and those courteous enough to greet their server first with a “Buenos días” will be charged a mere €1.30 “I put a sign in the window with the price system and it has made all the difference. People are now super polite in all matters and it has really improved daily life,” she told The Local by telephone. “Yesterday some children even told their parents to say please, so it’s working!” she laughed. The 41-year-ol

A third election seems likely. Photo: AFPSpain's acting prime minister will seek parliament's backing to form a govement for the second time on Friday but has little hope of success, raising the possibility of a third election in a year. Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative Popular Party (PP) has ruled since 2011, lost a first confidence vote on Wednesday with 170 in favour - six votes short of the required absolute majority. This time around he only needs more votes in favour than against but he is expected to fail again since the parties that opposed him have said they will maintain their "no" votes rather than abstaining to allow him to form a minority govement. The PP, in power since 2011, won the most seats in elections held in December and June but fell short of a majority both times as voters angry over corruption and austerity flocked to new parties. It has only managed to secure the support of new centrist party Ciudadanos and a lone MP from the Canary Islands.

From Roman battle re-enactments, to flamenco street festivals to celebrating wine, there are lots of great events happening in Spain this September. Fiestas Carthaginians and Romans Festival, Cartagena, Murcia (September 16th - 25th) Photo: Spain.info Originally from Lebanon, the Cathaginians fled to the Mediterranean after they were invaded and became seafaring traders. It was too bad that the Romans also fancied a bit of maritime trade - as well as conquering more and more land - and this fiesta in Cartagena involves re-enactments of the warfare, eventually to be won by the Romans. Fiestas de la Mare de Deu de la Salut Algemesí, Valencia (September 7th -8th) Photo: Juanjo Ripollés / Flickr This festival dates back to the Middle Ages and more than 1400 people participate in the main event - a parade of giants, featuring King James I of Aragon, his wife and many figures from the bible. as with any Valencia festival, paella is a main component and be sure to try some of the l

British expats living in Spain who are worried about the effects of Brexit are signing up for courses to become Spanish citizens when the UK leaves the European Union. A language academy in Mijas on the Costa del Sol has become the first centre to officially offer a special "Brexpats Spanish Nationality Course". The Paell Academy is starting a course next week to teach the sort of "general knowledge" required to pass the Spanish nationality test alongside Spanish language to ensure applicants reach the necessary A2 standard. "A lot of people who live in this area have expressed conce about how they will be affected by Brexit, what implications will it have on their right to live here, on healthcare, pensions," Ae Heandez, the founder of the Brexpats in Spain, an association formed in the wake of the Brexit vote to represent expat interests, told the Local. "Many of us are seriously considering adopting Spanish citizenship but it isn’t simply a case of living here for over ten

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a tick-boe virus. Photo: Microbe World (Callie Carr CDC) /FlickrHealth authorities in Spain have begun screening around 200 people after a rare, deadly virus known as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever killed a man and infected a nurse who treated him, officials said on Thursday. A 62-year-old man died from the disease, also known as "Congo fever", at a Madrid hospital on August 25th, the regional Madrid govement said in a statement. He is believed to have become infected with the virus after he was bitten by a tick while walking in the countryside in the northweste region of Castile and Leon. A nurse who treated the man while he was in intensive care in hospital is infected and is being treated in isolation. Health authorities have identified around 200 people who were in contact with the man and the nurse and they are being monitored for symptoms of the deadly disease. Public health workers are taking their temperature twice a day.