Category: News

The Mystery of Blue Monday: Fact, Fiction, and Fun

Each year, as January rolls along, we encounter a peculiar day dubbed “Blue Monday.” Often touted as the “saddest day of the year,” Blue Monday conjures images of post-holiday let-downs, dreary weather, and mounting New Year’s resolutions that already seem impossible. But what is Blue Monday really about? Let’s uncover the story behind this day and share some interesting facts along the way.

Why is it Called Blue Monday?

The term “Blue Monday” was popularized in 2005 by a travel company, Sky Travel, as part of a marketing campaign. They claimed to have calculated the date scientifically based on a combination of factors, including:

• Weather conditions: Short days and cold weather can leave many feeling low.
• Debt levels: The financial strain of holiday spending tends to set in around this time.
• Time since Christmas: The festive cheer has faded, and regular routines are back.
• Failing New Year’s resolutions: Initial motivation may dwindle by the third week of January.

The formula they used has since been widely debunked as pseudoscience, but the idea stuck, making the third Monday of January an infamous annual phenomenon.

Fun Facts About Blue Monday

1. A Marketing Stunt Turned Tradition: Blue Monday started as a PR initiative to encourage people to book vacations, presenting holidays as a remedy for the January blues.
2. Not Scientifically Proven: Experts, including psychologists, have dismissed the formula for Blue Monday as overly simplistic. Emotions and mental health are far too complex to be pinned down to a single day.
3. The Power of Positive Reframing: Some initiatives now use Blue Monday as an opportunity to promote mental health awareness, encouraging people to check in with loved ones and practice self-care.
4. Alternative Celebrations: Instead of letting Blue Monday get you down, some people embrace it as a chance to try something uplifting—from starting a new hobby to organizing a game night or movie marathon.
5. International Perspective: The concept of Blue Monday is largely Western. In other cultures, January might hold entirely different significance, ranging from celebrations of the new year to festivals marking seasonal change.

What Can We Do on Blue Monday?

While the science behind Blue Monday is shaky, the feelings it reflects—of winter gloom and post-holiday fatigue—are relatable to many. Here are a few ways to brighten your day:

• Get Moving: Exercise is a natural mood booster.
• Treat Yourself: Indulge in something you love, whether it’s a good meal, a cosey blanket, or a new book.
• Connect With Others: Call a friend or spend time with loved ones.
• Soak Up the Sun*: If possible, get outside during daylight hours to lift your spirits.
• Start Small: Tackle small, manageable tasks to build a sense of accomplishment.

The Takeaway

Blue Monday might not have scientific backing, but it serves as a good reminder to check in with ourselves and others during what can be a challenging time of year. Whether you believe in the concept or not, it’s an opportunity to embrace positivity, create joy, and set the tone for a fulfilling year ahead.

How will you spend this Blue Monday? Share your tips for beating the blues in the comments below!

• Soak up the sun with Nerja Beach Holidays, this will surely beat Blue Monday! Winter Sun Holidays in Nerja, Costa del Sol, Spain 2025.

 

The Weather Has Hit Southern Spain Leaving Death and Destruction to People and Properties

The Rain in Spain:

After a dry September and early September, the weather has gone to hell in a handcart!

What has happened to the weather?

South East Spain is currently experiencing severe and unprecedented weather challenges this October, with flash floods, powerful storms, and rapid temperature changes wreaking havoc across the region.

Heavy rainfall, particularly in Valencia and Murcia, has caused widespread flooding, leading to multiple casualties, extensive property damage, and road closures.

This season’s rains have been unusually intense, with some areas receiving up to a year’s worth of rainfall in a few days, leading authorities to issue red alerts and call for residents to stay indoors where possible.

These weather events are partly attributed to Storm Kirk, which has compounded the impact of the autumn storm season by bringing heavy rain, hail, and lightning to several regions.

The weather in the New

This year’s erratic weather can be traced back to a mix of atmospheric instability and climate change impacts, which have led to more extreme weather patterns in Spain and across the Mediterranean.

Tourists and residents alike are advised to heed official warnings and prepare for possible interruptions to transportation and public services as the region manages the aftermath of these storms.

Many experts predict that this volatile weather pattern could continue throughout the season, making it a challenging time for both emergency services and the local community as they work to prevent further tragedies and protect infrastructure.

Nerja also felt the brunt of the terrible weather.

Keep updated on what is happening via the Sur in English News.

 Cooler Temperatures and Showers Headed for Málaga and Costa del Sol

It seems this September isn’t shaping up to be the sunny ‘Indian summer’ many in Málaga and the Costa del Sol had anticipated. Unlike previous years, cooler weather has already made an appearance, and the trend is set to continue. Spain’s state weather agency, Aemet, has warned that rain and storms are on their way, set to sweep across much of the Spanish mainland starting Wednesday. However, don’t expect Málaga to be drenched in downpours—rainfall here is likely to be modest.

While temperatures will dip, it won’t be frigid, but definitely cooler than usual. The week ahead will see daytime highs that barely reach 25°C, about 3°C lower than average for this time of year. At night, temperatures will settle between 20°C and 22°C. By Sunday, there’s a slight uptick on the horizon, with highs approaching 27°C, though the skies will remain cloudy.

Malaga Weather – Showers on the way?

The main weather drama this week? A chance of showers. The latest forecasts have been hinting at heavy rain along the Mediterranean coast, although the heaviest of it is expected to affect areas like the Levante region and Catalonia. What’s driving these weather patterns? According to local Málaga meteorologist José Luis Escudero, a “retrograde trough” is at play.

He explains: “A strong anticyclonic block is forming over the British Isles and Scandinavia, pushing a trough from east to west. Later, a ‘Dana’ depression is predicted to develop over northern Spain, though its exact position remains uncertain.”

The anticyclonic block is steering the storms from east to west, and while the resulting depression may graze Málaga, it’s unlikely to bring anything too severe. Escudero remains cautious, saying, “There may be some impact, but nothing too dramatic. These are typical autumn storms—like the ones we saw a few days ago—that could bring a few showers, but nothing major, unless we get a last-minute surprise.” If the rain does come, coastal areas are more likely to see it than inland regions.

As of yesterday, Aemet reported a 65-70% chance of rain in Málaga city between Thursday and Saturday.

Aemet Issues Advisory

In its latest advisory, Aemet confirmed the arrival of “rain and storms across large areas of the mainland.” While the Valencian region, Catalonia, Teruel, and the Pyrenees will be first in line to experience the wet weather starting Wednesday, Málaga may not see action until Thursday. The rain is expected to spread across the mainland in the afternoon, with northern, central, and eastern Spain facing the brunt of it on Friday and Saturday, possibly with hail in tow. By Sunday, the weather should begin to stabilize, bringing some much-needed relief after the stormy stretch.

So, while it may not be beach weather this week, you might want to keep an umbrella handy, just in case the skies open up!

If you haven’t booked your autumn or winter break, why not check out the Nerja Beach Holidays website? You will find some fantastic apartments, villas and townhouses there.

What is a Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most spectacular and well-known meteor showers of the year. It occurs annually between mid-July and late August, with its peak typically around August 11-12. The meteors are called “Perseids” because they appear to originate from the constellation Perseus.

The Perseids are actually debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 133 years. As Earth passes through the trail of debris left by the comet, these particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds and burn up, creating bright streaks of light in the sky.

During the peak, you can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The best way to view the Perseids is to find a dark spot away from city lights, lie back, and look up at the sky after midnight. You may have the perfect spot from your Nerja accommodation.

Although the Perseids occur annually, there’s already anticipation for a potential Perseid meteor storm in 2028, so be sure to mark your calendars!

The Perseids result from Earth passing through debris — bits of ice and rock — left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last passed close to Earth in 1992.

The shower peaks around Aug. 11-12, when Earth travels through the densest and dustiest part of this debris. In years without moonlight, the meteor rate appears higher, and during outburst years (such as 2016), the rate can reach 150-200 meteors per hour.

Here are some key meteor showers to look out for in Spain in 2024:

1. Perseid Meteor Shower:
   • Peak Dates: August 11-13, 2024
   • Best Viewing Time: Late evening to dawn
   • Details: The Perseids are one of the most popular meteor showers, known for their bright meteors. In 2024, you can expect to see around 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions¹.
2. Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower:
   • Peak Dates: July 30, 2024
   • Best Viewing Time: Late July through early August, mid-evening to dawn
   • Details: This shower is best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere but can still be seen from Spain. It tends to produce fainter meteors compared to the Perseids².
3. Lyrid Meteor Shower:
   • Peak Dates: April 21-22, 2024
   • Best Viewing Time: Late evening to dawn
   • Details: The Lyrids are known for their bright meteors and occasional fireballs. The peak is narrow, so it’s best to watch on the night of April 21³.

For the best experience, find a dark location away from city lights, and give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Happy stargazing! Take the opportunity to see this magnificent display while you are enjoying your holiday in Nerja.

Mass Protests in Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Canary Islands, Malaga, Baçelona and more.

To write a holiday rental blog, such as this, and, not write about the Spanish people protesting about mass tourism, would be to ignore the elephant in the room. So; here goes.

Mass anti-tourism protests in Spain

Thousands of residents took to the streets in the Balearic Islands this weekend to protest against the overwhelming influx of tourists and the resulting overcrowding.

On Saturday, demonstrators marched through the streets of Menorca and Mallorca, voicing their frustration over the rampant “massification” of tourism in Spain’s island regions.

Tourism significantly contributes to the Balearic Islands’ economy, making up approximately 45% of the region’s gross domestic product, according to industry organization Exceltur. However, locals argue that the booming holiday rental market is driving up property prices and making it difficult for them to afford housing.

Carme Reines, a representative from a collective that organized the protest in Palma de Mallorca, stated, “We want the authorities to prevent people who haven’t lived here for more than five years from buying properties and to enforce stricter controls on holiday accommodations.”

Barcelona Tourists got sprayed with water by anti-tourism protesters

Less mass tourism and more sustainable tourism

Javier Carbonell, a real estate agent in Mallorca, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We want less mass tourism and more sustainable tourism.”

A spokesperson for the Spanish National Police estimated that around 10,000 people participated in the protest in Mallorca, while several hundred marched in Menorca.

The Balearic Group of Ornithology and Nature Protection of Menorca (GOB Menorca) highlighted on its website that the protest was against the mass influx of tourists, housing accessibility issues, water management problems, and the need for economic diversification on the island.

In a social media post, the group shared that demonstrators transformed Menorca’s Plaza de la Biosfera into a mock beachfront with deckchairs, towels, and sunglasses to symbolize their concerns.

Demonstrations against mass tourism

This protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations across Spain’s islands against mass tourism. The events in Menorca and Mallorca coincided with an anti-tourist march in Barcelona and followed a day after approximately 1,000 people demonstrated in Ibiza.

It has to be said, that the protests are against private rentals and private rental companies, not against places that were built especially to attract tourists. Think of Air B&B and you will understand.

 

As the summer continues, the water is, yet again, a source of concern

Water is a vital commodity on the Costa del Sol

I was reading the Sur in English, online, and a story jumped out. I wasn’t surprised by the article, we are aware that water shortages are concerning. The article is nothing new, the rains were not as numerous this year. What great downpours we did have, made little difference.

From the Surin English

Malaga province’s reservoirs are beginning to feel the effects of irrigation, an increase in tourism and evaporation as the temperatures rise, despite the increase in levels thanks to storms Monica and Nelson in March. The two periods of heavy rainfall raised the reserves from a meagre 97 cubic hectometres at the beginning to more than 170 in the middle of the year.

Thanks to this abundant and well-distributed rainfall, water is guaranteed across the province as summer gets going, with the measures above of 225 litres per inhabitant per day on the Costa del Sol and 200 in Malaga and the Axarquía. A small amount of emergency watering in gardens, showers on adapted beaches for people with reduced mobility and filling of swimming pools are all permitted this summer.

But how have surface reserves evolved this month? Although consumption is still very restricted, with drastic drops in pressure and nighttime cuts in many municipalities, the number of arrivals at Malaga Airport continues to soar.

Check out the rest of this article from those link.

Drought in Andalucia

There is an excellent article that goes a bit deeper. I hope it explains in more detail. Smart Water Magazine.