Traditionally, British ex-pats living in nearby Spain have flocked to Gibraltar to bank and to shop for those tastes of home such as Cheddar cheese and tea bags. The latter are now freely available in Spain but the ex-pats still flock to the Rock for a different shopping experience.

Gibraltar is a multi-racial community so it follows that its range of restaurants reflects the tastes of its inhabitants. Running parallel to Main Street is the pedestrianised Irish Town that is well worth a visit with its historic coffee houses, specialist ironmongers, Irish pubs and attractive restaurants.

The Rock of Gibraltar is a giant slab of jagged Jurassic limestone. It has dominated the Straits of Gibraltar for around 200 million years and of course over such a period has continually changed and evolved. The porous limestone ensures that the Rock always has a plentiful water supply. So when nearby Spain is often arid and brown the Rock will be lush and green.

There are two marinas in Gibraltar, Ocean Village and Queensway Quay offering excellent berthing facilities, shops and restaurants. Sailing boats are available for charter.

The land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week both for vehicles and pedestrians. There is no limit on the number of frontier crossings you can make.

Gibraltar does not lack accommodation and has several luxury hotels, as well as more basic, affordable ones. There are also many self-catering rental options, including apartments and villas, for those who would like a bit more privacy or simply prefer to rent.

While Gibraltar has much in common with its next door neighbour, southern Spain, it also has a fascinating history all its own as well as special climatic conditions, its own particular geography, and of course a unique culture.

If you are buying property in Spain, investing or starting a business, or making a will (among other reasons), you should definitely employ the services of an experienced lawyer. You will find that fees are generally lower than those charged by lawyers in northern European countries and when preparing contracts involving a sum of money, (ie property purchase), fees are calculated as a percentage of the sum involved.

Depending upon your personal situation, there may be several safety considerations to keep in mind. The family with small children or elderly or handicapped members needs to pay attention to some or all of the following issues, while others are valid for any age and are simply things to consider when looking for a home.

It's the new year, time for new starts and new resolutions. Many of us swear we will get fit when January arrives, to rid ourselves of all the excesses from Christmas over-indulgence, but it can be hard to keep the motivation going. If you join a gym, try to do it with a friend so you can convince each other to keep up your attendance, and check out the classes on offer.

It can be quite a culture shock to up sticks and live abroad. Many people decide to settle in Andalucia, after many years of spending pleasant vacations in this beautiful part of Spain. However, if you have been used to hotels, rented accommodation or perhaps staying with friends and family.

With the continuing changes in social security regulations across Europe and its neighbours, your situation as a visitor to Andalucía deserves clarification. Residents of EU countries and participating neighbour countries are covered by the reciprocal health care agreements struck by these countries.

Every year Andalucía welcomes thousands of tourists, business people and new residents from other countries. Although many have a good understanding of the Spanish language, at one time or another they will usually all need the services of either a translator, who converts the written word of one language into another, or an interpreter who does the same with the spoken word.

Those living in Spain who miss their favourite UK stores will be delighted to know that many major international names such as Marks & Spencer and Amazon ship products directly to your home address in Spain - you can browse and order online in minutes.

Whether you are visiting or living in Andalucia, the Andalucia Directory should make life a little easier to find the information and services you may need.

Some 10 minutes drive from Estepona, Puerto Deportivo La Duquesa offers good restaurants, bars and boutiques. Duquesa Marina is charming; part of the attraction is that it is more peaceful than other Marinas on the coast. In the summer the port comes alive in the evenings with plenty of bars and restaurant offering live music and entertainment.

Andalucia is a top destination for many nationalities seeking a relaxed pace of life in the sun. Foreign settlers are arriving in their droves to Andalucia, not only drawn by the fantastic climate, but also by the rich variety of natural beauty to be found in the mountains and on the coast, as well as the plethora of golf courses and other recreational activities to choose from.

Every year Andalucía welcomes thousands of tourists, business people and new residents from other countries. Although many have a good understanding of the Spanish language, at one time or another they will usually all need the services of either a translator, who converts written texts from one language into another, or an interpreter who does the same with the spoken word.

Living in a foreign country is a wonderful and enriching experience, which requires that you understand the local customs and ways of doing things - these may be considerably different from what you've experienced in your home country.