NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 4.8 MILLION

Maria J. Alcon, Town Hall Counsellor of Culture, accompanied by Alfonso Novo, Town Hall Counsellor of Heritage, presented photos of the coins and 15 pieces of Iberian and Carthaginian ceramic found during the construction of a Municipal Parking lot for 450 vehicles. The find dates from the III and IV centuries BC and is the first indication of human activity in the city of Valencia founded by the Romans in the year 138 BC.

The Windsurf Club of Santa Pola, Alicante, announced at the recent International Tourism Show in Madrid, that it will host the World Formula Windsurfing in Santa Pola Bay in 2009. Francisco Camps, President of the Valencian Government (fourth from the left in the top photo) and Angelica Such, Councillor of Tourism (fourth from the right), as well a Joaquin Ripoll, chairman of the Alicante County Council (extreme right in the bottom photo), and Miguel Saragossa, Mayor of Alicante, expressed their support of the event.

Fernando de Rosa, Valencian Government Councillor of Justice and the Civil Service, is visiting Sao Paolo, Brazil, where he met with L. Antonio Guimaraes, State Secretary of Justice and Citizen Defence, and with S. Estanislau Beraldo, State Secretary for Public Management, to offer information on the 24 hour services in Valencia to aid women, victims of violence.

Miguel Dominguez, Town Hall Counsellor for Public Safety and Media Relations, inaugurated the I Congress of the European Federation of Professional Photographers, in the Valencian Convention Bureau.

New Zealander Sheree Curtis celebrated her 29th (again!) birthday in a very special way this year - by opening a restaurant on the Valencian Promenade, right opposite the Five Star De Luxe Las Arenas Hotel, and all her friends were there for the housewarming that included a fantastic Carnival dinner washed down by an abundance of Italian liquid.

Sheree came to Valencia to work with the Luna Rossa team participating in the 32nd America's Cup Yacht Race, fell in love with the city and the people, and after the race was over, decided to stay, so now, together with a group of friends, she has launched the Hosteria El Vizio Restaurant offering Italian fare, "and not only pizza" says Sheree.

But why an Italian Restaurant? Perhaps an Italian husband had something to do with the choice. You may eat (she offers LARGE PORTIONS) at Hosteria el Vizio at Eugenia Viñes Street number 107, in Valencia 46011.

More information is available at the website http://www.hosteriaelvizio.com - and it is advisable to book a table in advance with a choice of eating either inside or outside the Restaurant - E-mail: info@hosteriaelvizio.com. THE RESTAURANT CLOSES ON TUESDAYS.

We advise our readers that a fault in the electronic system of the gear shift of Fiat automatic drive cars, causes sudden stoppages that can produce whiplash to the driver. This has been the experience of our editor while driving an automatic Fiat Stilo Abarth. The stoppages are also highly dangerous if they take place when passing out another vehicle, or in heavy traffic.