NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 4.8 MILLION

Valencia Mayoress Rita Barbera, and J. Ramon Garcia, Valencian Government Councillor of Environment, Water, Urban Planning, and Housing, signed a collaboration agreement to undertake a global system of hydraulic infrastructures in Valencia that includes six projects costing 107,600,000 euro. M. Angeles Ramon-Llin, Town Hall Counsellor of the Environment, and Ramon I. Sanchis, who previously occupied her post, were also present at the signing ceremony.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, presented the new Zoo (to be called the Professor Ignacio Docavo Bioparc) that will be inaugurated the 27th February. The Mayoress was accompanied by Alfonso Grau, Deputy Mayor, by Jose Maldonado, chairman of the company Rain Forest Valencia, and by Koen Brouwer, director of the new Zoo that will cover an area of 80,000 square metres, house 4,000 animals of 250 different species, and have a capacity for 6,000 visitors.

The Rain Forest Company has invested 60 million euro in the project that is second only to the Disney Animal Kingdom in Orlando, U.S.A.

The new Zoo will have two restaurants, two shops, and parking space for 800 vehicles.

The two gigantic chandeliers in the Crystal Ballroom of the Town Hall of Valencia, received a thorough cleansing that has restored their original brilliance.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia accompanied by Maria J. Alcon, Town Hall Counsellor of Culture, and Alfonso Novo, Town Hall Counsellor of Heritage, visited the construction site of a Municipal Parking lot for 450 vehicles where the director of the Municipal Archaeological Services, Albert Ribera, explained details of the coins and 15 pieces of Iberian and Carthaginian ceramic that were found during the excavation of the plot, along with Roman and Arab remnants of glass and iron.

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.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, signed the deeds for the Marcol Sports Pavilion, that covers an area of 2,937 square metres with a capacity for 3,000 spectators, with the owners Ernesto Martinez and Vicente Pascual.

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.