NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 4.8 MILLION

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, accompanied by the 2008 Fallas Queens Gloria Martinez and Victoria Blazquez, presided the Firecrackers Show or "Mascleta" that takes place daily in the main square outside the Town Hall of Valencia. In the photo above Mayoress Barbera poses with members of the Russian Duma, while in the photo on the left, the Genie escapes from Aladdin's lamp as part of the Falla monument being erected in the main square of Valencia.

A group of photographers pose with Valencia Mayoress Rita Barbera during a lunch she hosted for the Press.

Publishing services in the Valencia Town Hall presented a book "Fireworks in Valencia" by Jose E. Ferriols, Mikel Pagola, and Juan J. Sola, that was attended by the 2008 Fallas Queens Gloria Martinez and Victoria Blazquez.

Angelica Suchs, Valencian Government Councillor of Tourism, met with members of the Foundation of James I University to discuss the Tourism Congress to take place at the University in the near future.

A group of members of the Valencian Association of Sommeliers - ASVASU, led by chairman Rafael Perez, and a number of oenologists - among them Rafa Galvez from the La Matandeta Restaurant, met for dinner to discuss ways to foment wine culture and use. Bruno Murciano, a Valencian from Caudete de las Fuentes, and chief of the team of sommeliers in the Hotel Ritz in London, was also present at the dinner.

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.