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Vol. 4 Issue 85 www.theolivepress.es July 24th - August 6th 2020
See pages 9 - 10 - 11
Corona comeback SPAIN’S COVID-infections have tripled since July 3. They have risen from 8.76 for every 100,000 inhabitants to an alarming 27.39. This is the same number of cases as when Spain first began de-escalation in May. Aragon, Catalunya and the Basque Country have all experienced outbreaks. Controls have been put in place, while some confinement measures have been issued.
Brits brawl!
Cashback CONSUMERS’ group Which? has demanded action to make airlines speed up refunds for cancelled flights due to COVID-19. It claims that many of the victims are ‘suffering serious financial and emotional distress’ as they struggle to claim refunds for flights. The group has compiled a dossier of more than 14,000 refund complaints that it has now handed over to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as part of its review of how airlines have handled cancellations. They are collectively worth more than €5.6 million.
VIOLENCE ERUPTED: Boozed-up troublemakers turned away from party strip cause mayhem in Magaluf as they search for parties
Local businesses and holidaygoers hit with fines as Magaluf coronavirus crackdown ramps up as revellers run amok
BOOZED-UP Brits are back causing havoc on the streets of Magaluf as bars and clubs on the party strip reopen their doors for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Holidaymakers were seen throwing punches and jumping up on parked cars after going on a post-lockdown lash following the easing of UK travel restrictions. Revellers brazenly flaunted social distancing rules and ditched their masks for a night on the town, despite face coverings being made mandatory by the Balearic Government. In one viral video, filmed by a local resident, partygoers could be seen throwing punches and
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jeering at one another before turning their attention to security staff on the Plaza Emporium. According to the Diario de Mallorca, the young Brits had been prevented from accessing the square’s bars due to being heavily intoxicated. Tensions have been mounting in recent weeks since the UK Government lifted quarantine restrictions to Brit holidaymakers. But in a response to the eruption of anti-social behaviour, scores of British holidaymakers and local businesses were also
closed. The popular German hotspot of Calle de la Cerveza on the Playa de Palma was also shut down in the same order. The measure has sparked anger from local businesses who have had to close with a collective lawsuit now being mounted against the government. A regional government spokesman said: “The government has decided to extend to two more streets the provisional closure of businesses that sell alcohol. “They are added to the three closures announced yesterday (Wednesday) and that means the number of streets now affected is five. “The new closures will take effect immediately, with the object of protecting the whole population and avoiding the spread of coronavirus. “Although initially the decision was made to close businesses in Punta Ballena...that has been extended to the two new streets adjacent to Punta Ballena to avoid the possibility certain excesses could move on to those streets.” The order only applies to businesses that sell alcohol but fears had been raised that the problem could spread elsewhere as partygoers look for other places to socialise.
fined during the crackdown for flouting the COVID-19 restrictions. Spot checks are now being carried out regularly by the Policia Local and community inspectors across the island, on the orders of the Balearic Government. A total of 24 bars were dealt a fine for breaking the governmental rules under ‘a new normality.’ Infringements included exceeding the set capacity, a lack of social distancing among clients and a failure to wear face masks by staff. Establishments in breach of the laws will now have to pay out around €3,000, with some serious violations costing local business a hefty €300,000 fine. Meanwhile, locals and holidaymakers were slapped with more than 50 on-the-spot fines for failing to adhere to the rules enforced to halt the spread of infection. Five infamous party streets were shut down on the island by the Balearic Government following a request from Calvia Council, the authority covering Magaluf. Punta Ballena, Calle del Jamon, Calle General Garcia Ruiz and Calle de Federico Garcia Lorca in Magaluf were
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In the clear
NEWS IN BRIEF Back up PALMA police are sending in 120 reinforcement officers to busy areas to make sure tourists follow coronavirus regulations this summer.
Drug bust POLICE arrested eight men after raiding properties in Pollensa Port on Monday where they discovered large stashes of cocaine and other drugs.
Old foes TWO men have been arrested for stabbing a 25-year-old man, who they had an old feud with, in Port de Pollensa.
Fascist flags POLICE have fined a Sa Pobla resident €2,000 for hanging the Francoist Falange flag along the Calle Marina.
CRIME
July 24th - August 6th 2020
But the family of tragic Kirsty Maxwell slam ‘flawed’ investigation and ‘disgusting’ way five men have been found innocent of her death
SAD: Kirsty and hotel THE family of a young holidaymaker who fell to her death from an apartment in Benidorm have slammed a court’s ruling not to appeal her death. They are convinced five Brits on holiday caused Kirsty Maxwell’s death in April, 2017. A private detective who looked into the case described the decision as flawed. However, a panel of judges in Alicante ruled that there was no ‘strong evidence’ of criminality. They added there was nothing to indicate the 27-year-old, from Scotland, had not jumped to her death following an alcohol-fuelled hen night with friends. The five lads on holiday, all from Nottingham, were accused of spiking her with cocaine and pushing her to her death. She had mistakenly entered a 10th floor room at the Apartamentos Payma hotel, instead of her friends’ neighbouring
apartment. It comes after Kirsty’s grieving family hired retired CID detective David Swindle to conduct their own investigation into after vital evidence was lost and police failed to preserve the scene of the investigation from contamination.
Shortcoming
Mr Swindle, concluded the investigation was seriously ‘flawed’ and added it was ‘disgusting’ the family had to find out through the media that there would be no further probe. He said: “There has been no consideration given to Kirsty’s family in this, and for them to find out like this has compounded their grief. It is disgusting. “The family has been let down just as they have been let down throughout the investigation. The Spanish police did not manage the scene, significant witnesses, exhibits and evi-
By Andy McInnes & Dilip Kuner
dence as would be expected for such a tragic loss of a young life in unexplained, confusing circumstances. “Kirsty and her family appear to have been let down by apparent irretrievable shortcomings in Spanish police, forensic and crime investigation procedures which may have resulted in evidence being lost.” Kirsty’s parents Brian and Denise Curry had appealed a Spanish judge’s decision last September to shelve a criminal probe into her death. The three judges based at Section Two of Alicante’s Provincial Court ruled that she was ‘affected by alcohol’ and after consuming the equivalent of 10 spirits the night before, appears to have left her apartment 9A and voluntarily entered 10E where the five men were. “Nothing points to the contrary,” it said. “Although it is true cocaine was found in the
bathroom and the dead woman’s fingerprints were discovered on an interior bathroom window, it has not been possible to obtain strong evidence of specific and individualised criminality.” The five men - Joseph Graham, Ricky Gammon, Anthony Holehouse, Callum Northridge and Daniel Bailey - will not face any further charges. Their lawyer, Roberto Sanchez, said: “I am very happy with the court decision and I imagine my clients are looking forward to putting all this behind them.” Kirsty’s dad blasted the decision, saying: “We were not told the appeal had been lost, and now we are having to go to the court to find out what has happened. For us not to have been shown the courtesy of being kept informed is appalling. “All we have asked for is the truth and yet again the opportunity to get to the heart of what happened to Kirsty has been denied to us.”
Dive horror A woman has allegedly been raped while on dive excursion off the south coast of Mallorca. The tourist, thought to be German, was reportedly pounced on by a dive instructor while on a boat trip close to Cabrera national park on Friday, July 17.
Jumped
The horrified holidaymaker claimed she had been attacked on board by one of the monitors while her friends swam in the nearby waters. She filed a formal complaint at a Civil Guard station in Santanyi before undergoing a medical examination at Son Espases Hospital in Palma. The dive instructor, who has not been named, has denied any wrongdoing and has been released without charge by an investigating judge pending an ongoing criminal probe.
Taken the Mickey ONE of Britain’s most notorious gangsters has died while hiding out on the Costa del Sol. Mickey ‘The Pimpernel’ Green lost his life last week following a six-month battle with skin cancer. The 77-year-old, who evaded capture for decades, passed away in his luxury villa in the hills near Estepona after amassing an €80 million fortune. The pensioner enjoyed a fruitful criminal career, including running a drug smuggling operation dubbed The Octopus due to its extensive tentacles. Londoner Green started out by running an armed robbery gang nicknamed The Wembley Mob in the 1960s, which raked in the equivalent of more than €20 million in today’s money over
MODEL: Green was model for Sexy Beast film
four years. After a stint in prison beginning in 1970, he immediately returned to crime in the late 1970s, teaming up with mob pal Ronnie Dark to lead one of the first ever gold Krugerrand VAT scams. The scam saw the pair fly in VAT-free gold coins by private jet. They would then melt them down into ingots before selling them back to the bullion houses and charging them VAT. Over a period of six months they made more than €6 million. But when the UK authorities began to close in on the gang, Green did a runner to Spain, which had no extradition treaty with Britain at the time. He quickly built up his drug empire, moving drugs from North Africa to Europe via the Costa del Sol. The gangster was often seen cruising around Puerto Banus in his white Bentley and by the mid 1980s had amassed a fortune. However Spanish police seized two tonnes of hashish in 1987 and cuffed Green before releasing him on bail. He immediately escaped to Morocco and then France, but police were hot on his tail. He would wind up in the US working alongside the Colombians and US mafia before returning to Spain in the late 90s, where he had remained ever since. He is believed to have left his criminal career behind after having made a fortune worth €80 million. His funeral was held near Marbella on Friday.
NEWS
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Big city lights ANTONIO Banderas has been lured to the bright lights of Madrid with his new stage show A Chorus Line. Malaga’s favourite son, 59, starred in and co-directed the musical with John Breglio at his Soho Caixabank Theatre. He will now take the production to the Capital’s Bankia Gran Teatro Principe Pio from
Well heeled SARAH Jessica Parker has opened a new shoe shop in the former boutique of Spanish designer Manolo Blahnik. Following on from the Olive Press’ article (100 Spanish icons, Issue 347, pg 10), the Sex and the City star, 55, unveiled her brand’s new flagship store in Manhattan. Known for playing Carrie Bradshaw in the hit series, Parker has often donned a pair of ‘Manolos’ on the streets of New York. Her new site at 31 West 54th Street stocks shoes, candles, sunglasses and other items from the SJP Collection she founded in 2014 with ex-Manolo Blahnik USA President George Malkemus.
WELL SHOD: Carrie
September 17 - November 15. A Chorus Line to centres on auditions in 1970s Broadway, led by no-nonsense director ‘Zach’ (played by Banderas for the first 10 shows). Tickets start at €19 and Banderas said his team had ‘taken all measures’ to ‘minimise the possibility of the spread of COVID-19’. DANCE: Banderas leading the way
Forgetful Felipe King reminded to wear his mandatory face mask by teenage daughter
EVERYONE is adjusting to a new normal amid the coronavirus pandemic and it seems the King of Spain is no exception. King Felipe needed a nudge from his 14-year-old daughter, Princess Leonor, to wear his compulsory mask at the Royal Palace in Ma-
By Lydia Spencer-Elliott
drid last week. The heir to the throne tapped her father on the arm and subtly pointed towards her own mask to alert King Felipe to his forgetful error. This absent minded mistake was espe-
Bargain-loving Brits BRITISH expats have been called on to appear in a new series of Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun. The hit Channel 5 show needs Costa del Sol-based Brits who are ‘living their dream in the Spanish sun.’ A spokesperson said: “Do you live a tremendous life on a tight budget? Have you recently moved to Spain or are you a seasoned expat? “Do you run your own business or do you have an interesting job? Are you facing a new challenge or have a fascinating story?” Filming for Series 6 will start soon on the Costa del Sol and those interested should contact Jess at jessica.foster@blakeway.tv
cially surprising as King Felipe had just given a speech commemorating the 28,400 people who have died of coronavirus in Spain. The memorial, which was attended by the family members mourning those lost to COVID-19, included a minutes silence and ceremonial laying of white roses. Felipe VI initially removed his mask to speak and failed to place it back on his face when he returned to his socially-distanced seat. “This act cannot heal the pain felt by so many families at not being at the side of their loved ones in their final hours,” said the king in his speech. “Let us work together, using all our will, our capacity, our knowledge, all our effort and the strength to be able to look to the future with confidence and hope.”
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July 24th - August 6th 2020
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Spring in his step PALOMO has emerged from isolation with a spring in his step to reveal his new Paris Fashion Week collection. The 28-year-old designer from Cordoba showcased the lockdown-inspired range in a five-minute digital runway. Flowers and plants sprouting from the flies of trousers and necklines are inspired by the wildlife, which ‘popped up in unlikely places’ during Spain’s state of alarm. The London Central Saint Martins graduate said his ‘spring we never had’ collection also made use of the ‘scraps of clothing lying around’ during lockdown.
COLLECTION: Palomo’s (inset) new range
Catherine sends temperatures up! Catherine Zeta-Jones sent temperatures soaring when she posted a picture of her sunning herself at her multimillion Mallorcan property. The 50-year-old actress - who shares the €5.5m holiday home with husband Michael Douglas - has been making the most of the luxury estate during the coronavirus crisis. The Chicago star, originally from Wales, gave fans a sneak peek inside their glamorous villa when she shared a stunning selfie to her Instagram. “Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Happy Sunday,” she captioned the image. Catherine looked every inch the A-lister, lounging in front of their coastline view in a pink floral kafata. Just days before the Chicago actress posted a picture of her lookalike daughter Carys, 17, posing in the garden of the s’Estaca pad. The Hollywood royalty are staying together in the five-bedroom estate near Valldemossa that Michael Douglas bought with his ex-wife Diandra. The 75-year-old Oscar winner came close to selling the sprawling 250 acres cliffside estate last year, but eventually had a change of heart and pulled the plug on the sale. Catherine and Douglas have been coming to Mallorca for more than 30 years - with the loved up couple previously revealing that they fell in love on the island. “Even if we leave, Mallorca will always be in our hearts and our lives,” he said. “We have spent many, many hours here and it’s where I fell in love with Catherine, so for that reason the i sland means a lot to me and I am already part of its history.” The snap comes as Catherine celebrated the launch of her new cruelty free makeup line, Casa Zeta-Jones. As of now, three products—a mascara and two pencil eyeliners—are available on the to buy but the star hinted this is just the start to the collection.
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NEWS
July 24th August 6th 2020
Hotels shutdown
Owners wary of cost of keeping doors open by Isha Sesay
CRISIS-HIT hotels in Mallorca have considered closing next month after registering more cancellations than stays in July. The Association of Hotel Chains (ACH) say the number of holidaymakers who have decided to cancel their room bookings far outweighs those going forward with their stay this month. According to the ACH, the average occupancy rate in July is between 30 and 45%, far below the usual monthly figures. They attribute the cancellations
SPARCE: Lack of tourists being felt by hotels and the Castell Bellver concerts to a policy implemented in the majority of hotels which allows tourists to postpone or cancel
Expat death horror A MINUTE’S silence was held outside Palma City Hall to pay tribute to a 52-year old Swedish woman beaten to death by her husband in Palma. Lillemor Christina Sundberg was found by police in a pool of her own blood after her husband reportedly kicked and hit her in the face multiple times. Police say 55-year-old Spaniard Jose Ignacio Blesa attacked his wife during a blazing row at their home in Son Cotoner. Reportedly Blesa had stormed out of the apart-
their trip at any time without cost. COVID fears - there are 13
ment the night before, taking with him Sundberg’s money and phone to prevent her from leaving in his absence. When he returned, Sundberg confronted her husband and was punished with a violent beating. Sundberg’s roommate called the police when she found the victim bleeding to death on the apartment floor. She was then rushed to intensive care but lost the fight for her life on Tuesday, after eight days in Son Espases Hospital. Blesa has been arrested and remains in custody. Sundberg had previously reported her husband’s abuse to the police, which saw him issued with a sixmonth restraining order in March 2019. But, when the protective measure expired last September, authorities failed to renew it.
current outbreaks on Mallorca - and the order to wear face masks at almost all times, has put off many people from visiting. “Hoteliers are concerned about remaining open without any clients which would be a very serious economic risk,” added the ACH. Adding more economic strain, the ACH explain that hotel owners are still waiting for German and British tour operators to pay for cancelled bookings during the nationwide lockdown. “These groups have said they will delay payments indefinitely and so far, they have not paid a single euro for operations carried out until mid-March.”
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Hot water THE infamous Nikki Beach in Mallorca has been condemned for brazenly breaching the COVID-19 restrictions. Footage of the raucous party shows the Magaluf poolside venue, popular with British holidaymakers, failing to enforce sanitary measures laid down to halt the spread of coronavirus. Clients can be seen packed around the swimming pool, not only failing to keep any distance from one another but also without wearing face masks. The partygoers also dance whilst standing up which is strictly prohibited under the Balearic Government’s ‘new normal.’ The directors of Melia Group who now own the hotspot have condemned the ‘unacceptable behaviour shown by the club’s managers,’ stating that it ‘will not be repeated.’ The group are likely to be now slapped with a heavy fine of between €3,000 and €300,000. The party has also come under fire by both the Balearic Association of Night Leisure and Entertainment (ABONE) and the Confederation of Business Associations (CAEB). CAEB president Jesus Sanchez deemed the actions to be ‘outrageous,’ and has since passed the video on to the government’s general director of tourism Rosa Ana Morillo.
Keeping busy SOS: Seven mountain rescues in just five days
HELP: Guardia Civil team lifts a man to safety in dramatic rescue THE Guardia Civil has carried out seven mountain rescues in just five days across Mallorca including the recovery of a missing British tourist. Members of the Guardia Civil’s specialist Mountain Intervention Special Rescue Group (GREIM) worked alongside the Air Service and firefighters for the rescues. A seriously injured Spaniard, 69, in Cala Estellencs and a badly hurt hiker found at the bottom of a cove in Alcudia
By Isha Sesay
were the first to be rescued. Next up was a French expat, 46, who was found on the Cabo Blanco cliffs suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. Two days later, help was called for a man, 33, who was unable to complete a group hike on the Torrent de Pareis due to underlying health problems. Later that afternoon, a walker called the emergency services
reporting that he was lost in the mountainous region of Orient. Then a missing British tourist, 54, who disappeared between Sant Elm and Estellencs was rescued suffering from scratches all over his body and extremely dehydration, but otherwise unharmed. Finally,a German woman, 57, was helicoptered to hospital from a swampy area in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range.
July 24th - August 6th 2020
Let off TWO men aged 26 and 35, who raped a 15-year-old girl, have had their sentences slashed to just two years after their lawyers cut them a plea deal. The pair were due to spend 11 years behind bars. As one of the men has no previous convictions, he will receive a suspended sentence and spend no time in jail for his crime. After a night of partying in Magaluf, the girl asked the men to drive her home to Palma because alcohol had made her dizzy. Instead, the two men - one a friend of the victim’s family - drove the car to a remote area and took turns raping the girl in the back seat. The predators then dumped the teenager in her doorway where her father later found her shoeless and paralytic.
Bent copper A GUARDIA Civil officer has been detained for transporting immigrants from Ceuta to Spain’s Algeciras in the interior of his own vehicle. The 56-yearold officer made the same trip on 23 occasions, over a period of three months and nine days. The man has been arrested, together with his 23-year-old Moroccan wife and two other collaborators, on charges of a crime against the rights of foreign citizens and being in a criminal organisation. The couple would charge between €5,000 and €6,000 for each trip.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Tragic deaths AN alarming 33 people drowned around Spain in June despite most public swimming pools still being shut and severe restrictions on beaches.
Ruff justice A MAN claims he was left barking mad when RyanAir allegedly banned his guide dog from boarding a flight from Mallorca with him reporting the incident to authorities.
Doctor’s note THOSE who can’t wear a mask for health reasons can now fill in a self-declaration form to sidestep the rules, announced the Balearic Islands’ Health Service this week.
Holiday blues A GERMAN family have had to quarantine after one of them tested positive for Covid-19 following their return from a holiday in Mallorca.
OPINION
Shoddy treatment
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The Fight is on!
Kirsty Maxwell’s parents Brian and Denise Curry have endured more than three years of hell since their daughter died after falling from a Benidorm hotel balcony. She was in the company of five English men in their hotel room just prior to her death and there has always been the lingering suspicion that one or more of them were responsible for her demise. However, that wasn’t how the Spanish legal system saw it and it was initially ruled by Benidorm judge Ana Isabel Garcia-Galbis that Kirsty’s death was an accident. Her parents appealed against that decision to the regional court in Alicante but last week it emerged that the appeal had been thrown out by three judges. So it really is the end of the line now, legally speaking, and Brian and Denise will have to accept the verdict. It would appear that the family’s suffering will never end. In shockingly frank language, the judges, in a 10-page written sentence, insisted there was no ‘strong evidence’ of criminality and nothing to indicate the 27-year-old had not jumped to her death. The judges didn’t even bother to inform the family’s lawyer about the verdict, a common courtesy. It’s been a shoddily handled case since the start and this was the final insult.
The Olive Press shines a torch on two alarming plans in the Cabo de Gata natural park, writes James Warren
Nature is healing IT has been difficult to find the bright side of the coronavirus crisis. But one perk of a worldwide shutdown is the positive effect it has had on wildlife and the environment. After 60 years, the endangered Iberian Lynx would appear to have returned to the Serrania de Ronda. Elsewhere, 122 Kashmiri goats took over the seaside town of Llandudno in Wales. Venice finally has clean canals and deer have even been spotted in the usually hectic streets of London and Paris. Thanks to us staying home, air pollution has decreased so monumentally that the Himalayas are visible for the first time in 30 years. Quickly, the internet generated viral images captioned ‘nature is healing, we are the virus’ one photoshopping dinosaurs onto New York’s Times Square, another placing a giant rubber duck on the Thames. But, as we navigate our new normal, littering has surged and congestion is set to exceed pre-lockdown levels. Surely, we can find a way to enjoy our planet and look after it at the same time.
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HE fight against two new hotel projects in an unspoilt national park is starting to ramp up. The Junta de Andalucia has given the green light for a 30 room four-star hotel and land development in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park in Almeria. It will be built near the stunning Bahia de Los Genoveses. Now a proposal for a two-
star rural hotel close to the equally beautiful Cala de San Pedro has also been submitted. The Los Genoveses proposal, submitted by Torres y Gonzalez Diaz SL, has been deemed ‘environmentally viable’ by the regional government, despite the land supposedly being protected. The hotel was initially planned for 2017
but the first draft was turned down. However modifications to the plans, re-submitted in November 2019, have now been given the go-ahead. Two large parking areas have been removed, and have been replaced by a single 70 space parking area on a patch ‘devoid of flora and fauna’. Environmental groups Amigos del Parque
A big welcome
A
recent report in UK newspaper The Sun said that British tourists are not welcome in Spain until the coronavirus outbreak is over. A YouGov poll of 1,000 people across all of Europe. It found that nearly two thirds (61%) of Spaniards wanted a ban on UK tourists entering the country. The Olive Press decided to investigate further, and sent our reporters out to discover what Spaniards on the Costas really think. Without exception every single one we spoke to would welcome Brits back with open arms - as long as visitors take care and stick to the coronavirus rules. Maria Paredes runs a consultancy and real estate business in Los Montesinos was surprised by the YouGov poll. She said: “I don´t know of any Spanish people who would not want UK visitors. We are a very welcoming country and anybody that comes here is good for our economy.” Anna Boj, who owns a herbal and health food store in the town agreed, saying: “Of course we have to have to be careful with the health situation but I need British customers to come and spend money with me. I’ve not heard anybody say that British tourists should not be allowed to come to Spain.” It was a theme supported by Luis Garcia, who runs the award-winning La Posada restaurant also in Los Montesinos. He said: “Bars and restaurants need our regular customers from Britain and other countries at this time of the year. We want as many of them to return as soon as possible to help us get through the crisis.” Kike Pelao, manager at The Yellow Rose of Texas in Benimar was also welcoming - providing precautions are taken,
saying: “I don’t care if the British come, as long as the appropriate measures have been taken in the country of departure and arrival.” Meanwhile, Lorena Wilson, a partner at Olivia Real Estate agreed. She said: “Safety comes first, but also Spain can’t afford not to have tourists. “I agree with starting to get back to normal slowly and gradually to help the economy move, but the government should control the number of tourists coming into the country and everyone should follow our guidelines. “My job will be there in a few months but some lives might not.” Her safety concerns were echoed by Juanlu Mena, 40, who works at La Villa Marbella, in Marbella, the city’s number one hotel on TripAdvisor. He told the Olive Press: “I’m definitely for tourists coming but I hope they follow the rules. “I have seen some parties with a lot of people not wearing masks, but that’s everyone, including Spanish people. Everyone needs to follow the rules.” Estepona-based waiter Miguel Trujillo, 31, was also up for tourists coming back, as long as they ‘follow the rules’. He said: “I’m not against British tourists coming but they should be tested at the airport before. “Otherwise it’s like ‘back to Phase 0’. We need you guys coming here. In Andalucia we don’t have factories like in the north of Spain.” A Spanish teacher from Estepona added: “I am not against tourists per se but I think tourism has returned too early in Spain. “I also think that in Andalucia the government could pursue other sectors, tourism is seasonable and not sustainable.”
What Spaniards really think about Brits arriving this summer
WELCOME: Anna and Lorena
June 24th - July 7th 2020
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Being sociable
CONCRETE: Set for Los Genoveses (above) and below and (left) San Pedro
A
S the world moves on, the Olive Press moves with it. While proud of our quality print edition now in five regions and having just won a Google award - we have not been one to rest on our laurels and were quick to notice the importance of social media. With approaching 30,000 genuine followers on Facebook and 8,500 more on Twitter it’s clear more and more people have been turning to these Olive Press platforms to find trusted news. Businesses and organizations have also cottoned on to its far reach and have been eager to get on board. This includes Gibraltar University which is using our Facebook site to attract new students, knowing we have a wide and young audience on the costas. BinckBank has also recognized its reach and effectiveness and conducted a campaign solely online, while numerous other big financial companies have booked sponsored posts.
29,000 reached, 1000 likes
and Grupo Ecologistas Mediterraneo have denounced the project, calling it ‘incompatible’ with the current protected status of the land. When the plan was first brought to the table, over 6,500 signatures were collected on their Change.org petition. Meanwhile, public information has been revealed on the nearby Cala de San Pedro
project that makes use of the controver- Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata-Níjar', sial new LISTA Urban Planning Law. as currently there is only limited access The site is located 300 metres from a to the site. derelict farmhouse in the Los Ricardillos With a proposed 22 rooms, a dramatic area close to the virgin beach. increase in traffic is expected to the unThe plan is for a two storey hotel, along spoilt area of the Cabo de Gata. with access roads and parking. The Cala de San Pedro is well known as Developers are hoping that once the being home to one of the last remainplan gets the go-ahead, ing hippie communities in the project will take two Andalucia which has been years to complete at a cost there since the 1970s. Virgin beach of nearly €1 million. The community is a popuAccording to the developwill be subject lar destination for tourists ers, they are making use seeking tranquility and to a ten-fold of the new law – controvera taste of the remote life sially passed during lockas the 50 inhabitants sell increase in down – to rezone land from crafts, food and drinks to visitors residential to commercial. passersby. Environmental protection If the hotel plans come to groups say the project is life, the beach area and the yet another blow to the battle to save Las Negras trail that is used to access it Spain’s last unspoilt costas. will be subject to a tenfold increase in Access and parking is a key concern for foot traffic, putting extreme pressure on the environmental group 'Amigos del the tranquil community, say protestors.
But the power of social media is best underlined by the success we had when we teamed up with the Kempinski hotel group for a competition. The offer to win a two-night stay with supper at the five-star hotel in Estepona reached a massive 29,000 people on Facebook - and garnered 982 ‘likes’. The bosses of the hotel were even more delighted with the 9,000 hits it got online, as well as the incredible 4000-plus entrants for the competition. Last year, a similar prize with a hotel in Casares got ‘more bookings than an article in the Times’... worth ‘over €10,000’ for the price of a few sponsored posts.
Winning combination We recognize the power of social media - but also know that it works best with print media in all its guises. For this reason we have a range of different and highly flexible marketing strategies that can be combined on various platforms for businesses to get a higher profile. With a website that attracts over 50,000 unique visitors a day, tens of thousands of social media followers a week and Spain’s best English language printed newspaper every fortnight, we have a winning platform for your business. Get in touch at sales@theolivepress.es or call 951 273 575 to see what we can do for you.
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: Brits cancel holidays to Costa del Sol 1- Several following mandatory mask ruling (58,628) ‘Child therapist’ tracked down by 2- REVEALED: OP was Maddie McCann suspect’s ‘partner in crime’ (24,706) officially mandatory in Andalucia from 3- Masks Wednesday and you WILL be fined for non compliance (21,602) Masks MUST be worn on beach and at swim4- ming pools in Andalucia with these exceptions (21,567)
(top) with Luis
DISASTER: The notorious illegal Algarrobico Hotel was built inside the Cabo de Gata natural park just 100 metres from the beach. While now the subject of a demolition order, it is not known when - or if - it will be knocked down. The new LISTA law might put paid to that and could be a sign of things to come, it if is perhaps used to somehow try and legalise it. The fear is that Valencia and Murcia could now follow suit and loosen planning regulations as they too try to inject some cash into their local economies.
Costa Blanca tourist area joins Anda5- Spain’s lucia and Catalunya in extending mandatory mask wearing (16,072)
Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for a special quote
8
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NEWS
July 24th - August 6th 2020
Female accomplice link to Maddie snatching SUSPECT: Brueckner
MISSING: Maddie
As searches of wells begins near Praia da Luz, it emerges main suspect may have worked with a female accomplice THE main suspect in the disappearance of Maddie McCann may have had a female partner in crime in Portugal, it has been revealed. German ex-girlfriend Nicole Fehlinger, 44, has been named as Christian Brueckner’s crime ‘accomplice’ in a series of burglaries on the Algarve in 2007. In an explosive documentary on Portugal’s RTP, the attractive German from Wurzburg, has been accused of pinpointing ‘good properties to rob’ for the pair. In one burglary alone, in Albufeira, in November, 2007, the pair are said to have taken over €100,000. At the property in Praia da Gale, near Albufeira, Christian was later recognised by neighbours. “The victims contacted me and I have now confirmed
it with the court files,” RTP journalist Sandra Felgueiras told the Olive Press. “I have evidence that Christian committed burglaries with Nicole,” she continued. In a police report unearthed by the programme, Nicole admitted communication at the time with Brueckner who is also from Wurzburg - but claimed he was in Germany. The Portuguese victims, for whom Nicole worked as a babysitter for five months from June to October 2007, insisted the only person to know about the cash was the German. They also saw her various times with Brueckner and even met them at their home in Lisbon, where they insisted she was the ‘dominant one’ in the relationship. They immediately de-
EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke in Portugal
nounced her to police, who brought Nicole in for questioning. She denied the claims and neither she or Brueckner were officially charged. It is now suspected that a number that Brueckner rang half an hour before Maddie went missing in May 2007, could have been Nicole’s. German detectives are said to now know who owned the number he called, while just outside the Ocean Club apartment, where she vanished. The Olive Press revealed last month that Fehlinger claimed to be a child psychologist and ran a rehabilitation programme for trou-
bled German teenagers from her home in Foral, 45 minutes from Praia da Luz. Locals told this paper that Nicole had three children of her own, and spent a lot of time with Brueckner, who she dated for at least a year.
Strange
One local primary school teacher added that Nicole led ‘a strange and complicated life’ and ‘her story didn’t add up’. “I didn’t believe she was really a child psychologist as she claimed. The set up was always very odd,” she revealed. At one point one of her troubled teens ran away and was allegedly brought back pregnant some weeks later by Brueckner, who was described as a detective and ‘carried a gun’. The half German, half Russian girl, who can be exclusively identified today as ‘Lina’, was 16 at the time of her disappearance. While police investigated the case, particularly as the teenage girl came back pregnant, no charges were ever brought. However, in a police report, seen by the Olive Press, it said she had been socialising with three Russians or Ukranians at the O Foral restaurant on the day she went missing. The missing persons report, filed by Nicole, added that she was the tutor of the ‘traumatised’ girl and that she had vanished before. The owner of Villa Bianca
LOVER: Nicole and the home she rented in Foral
(above), Lia Silva, told the Olive Press last month that Nicole rented her home for around six years (some four years without paying rent), and had a ‘very violent’ boyfriend Romano. She confirmed that Brueckner was a frequent visitor to the home and was there soon after the disappearance of Madeleine. Other neighbours told the Olive Press how they had spotted his various vans there before the toddler vanished and he is said to have arrived in his huge Alegra Tiffin winnebago some weeks after she vanished. While Nicole has denied being close to him, her father Dieter, a taxi driver, recalls meeting Brueckner in Portugal, when he insisted he could ‘hide children’ in his expensive winnebago bought just after Maddie vanished. It comes after Brueckner’s former best friend Michael Tatschl revealed to the Olive Press that he was a prolific burglar while he lived with him in Praia da Luz in 2005 and 2006. The Austrian revealed that he kept hundreds of passports, expensive watches and jewellery in a secret hiding
place in the so-called ‘Yellow house’ they shared just outside the resort. He said he particularly targeted British and German tourists, as they were easy pickings. The pair spent eight months in prison together, after being caught stealing petrol from cars in April 2006. During the time in prison he revealed that Christian had asked two friends to go into the house to remove any incriminating evidence that could be held against him. This included a video recorder found to have a film of the German raping an elderly woman, believed to be a 72-year-old American in Praia da Luz in 2006. Intriguingly, Tatschl also talked about a ‘long-term German girlfriend’ - believed to be Nicole - that Christian would ‘often go off and see’. It comes after cops in Portugal began a series of searches in various locations, some 20 minutes inland from where Maddie was allegedly snatched. The searches, in a joint operation between the country’s GNR and PJ forces, centred on three wells near the village of Vila do Obispo.
I didn’t believe she was really a child psychologist as she claimed. The set up was always very odd
Heavy for pet owners PET owners face a possible four-month wait for travel between Spain and the UK after the Brexit transition period is over. If a hard deal Brexit happens and the UK becomes ‘unlisted’, a current EU pet passport issued in the UK will not be valid in the EU. As an ‘unlisted country’ the procedure for travel will include pets needing to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Pets will also have to provide a blood sample taken at least 30 days after their last rabies vaccination (whether that’s a booster or initial vaccination). And then the sample will need to be sent to an EU-approved lab and a three month waiting period will be required before travel is permitted. In addition, vets will have to provide a copy of the test results and enter the day the blood sample was taken in an animal health certificate (AHC). For travel in the opposite direction the procedure may take up to four months.
LA CULTURA We dig ‘em! Finding a quiet beach, now more than ever, is a goal for locals and holiday makers alike. With the coronavirus regulations in place and many people being turned away from their favourite beaches, Scarlet Jenkins rounds up the alternative beach locations that you can go to instead:
Do you have a what’s on? Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es
July 24th - August 6th 2020
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Platja des Coll Baix. Alcudia
I
f you enjoy hiking and a secluded beach with turquoise waters, then this ultra-scenic hangout is the perfect destination. Tucked into the northern Mallorca coastline and nestled between cliffs, it’s usually very quiet because you need hiking boots to get there. But the
pay off is well worth it as you take the plunge into its cool, clear waters. Getting there: Follow the signs to the Museo Sa Bassa Blanca, then climb the south trail to Talaia d’Alcúdia which will lead you to the Coll Baix trail.
Cala Mondrago Cala Varques, Manacor
C
onsidered one of the most pristine playas in Mallorca, Cala Varques is your solution to overcrowded Balearic beaches. Located on the east coast of Mallorca, this sandy cove is surrounded by pine forests, lapped by turquoise waters and begging you to swim through its underwater galleries and natural sea caves. Better still, it’s easy to access this little piece of heaven
from Manacor if you don’t mind the 15-minute walk to reach it. Getting there: Take the road from Porto Colom to Porto Cristo and after the detour to Manacor, turn right to Cala Falco and the parking area.
L
ocated within the Mondrago National Park, this protected playa is considered to be one of most scenic on the island with its sand dunes, pine forests and rocky coves. With parking aplenty and only a six minute walk down to its sandy shores, the gently-shelving beach is ideal for families which means it can be pretty popular in summer, although perhaps not this summer. On the plus side, you don’t have to stir from your sunlounger to get out the picnic as there’s a bar, restaurant and all mod cons including showers, loos and lifeguards in season. Getting there: Take the Palma-Portopetro road to s’Alquería Blanca, then follow the signs to Parque Natural de Mondrago.
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Olive Press Mallorca – 170mm x 256mm – Colour
10th July
LA CULTURA
10 July 24th - August 6th 2020
10 books for Lydia Spencer-Elliott recommends your essential page turners for the playa this summer
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Hot Milk - Deborah Levy
S
UN, sea and a spiky mother-daughter relationship. Set in post-financial crisis Spain, Hot Milk tells the story of 25-year-old Sofia Papastergiadis who has travelled to Andalucia to find a cure for her mother’s unusual ailments. The Mediterranean setting isolates Levy’s characters and allows the plot to descend into a surreal other-reality. Levy presents remarkable occurrences with such frankness that the reader has no choice but to accept them as fact. The writing is strong, strange and unapologetic much like many mothers.
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HEN the BBC adaptation of Normal People aired this April, over 16.2 million people rushed to view the show, such is the popularity of Sally Rooney’s work. The novel follows the passionate but tortuous relationship between two Irish teenagers Marianne and Connell. From school, to Trinity College Dublin, the pair struggle to navigate the power dynamics of social status, class and competing intellect. So beautiful is the writing, the novel evokes surprising nostalgia for the heartbreak and angst of adolescence. But, at its core, Normal People conveys the stifling intensity of being young and in love.
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The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
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The Shadow of the Wind Carlos Ruiz Zafón
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3
OT since Don Quixote has a Spanish novel enjoyed such huge success as The Shadow of the Wind. Inspired by the 19th-century literary giants Charles Dickens, Honoré de Balzac and Victor Hugo, Zafón weaves a plot packed with tragedy, mystery and romance. In 1940s Barcelona, civil war survivor Daniel Sempere discovers he possesses the final copy of The Shadow of the Wind by Julián Carax. Someone has been destroying the author’s work book by book, but why? Despite its notoriety, the novel is unpretentious, its characters are memorable and the narrative is wonderfully unpredictable.
4
HIS is the tale of Santiago, a young Andalucian shepherd who travels in pursuit of a treasure trove he dreams is hidden beneath the Egyptian pyramids. A coming-ofage narrative, Santiago experiences sacrifice and consequential growth on his journey and ultimately, his search for treasure will lead him to his life’s purpose. Coelho combines philosophy with spirituality and demonstrates the importance of following your dreams with nothing but faith and determination. It is a MUST READ for anyone visiting Tarifa.
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Delight J.B Priestley
VERY chapter of Delight provides a reason to be grateful for the minutiae of everyday life. Amidst the chaos of 2020, this is a lesson worth revisiting. Frying sausages outdoors, drinking a G&T alone, fountains, having an incredible idea and smoking in a piping hot bath, are just some of the joys Priestley divulges. His wicked sense of humour reminds the reader there is always something to smile about, whether in his post-war context or amidst the current pandemic.
Do you have a what’s on?
the beach 6
J
Three Women Lisa Taddeo
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The White Tiger Aravind Adiga
OURNALIST Lisa Taddeo spent almost a decade embedding herself in the lives of three strangers. For eight years, she inhabited the respective homes of Lina, Maggie and Sloane. As Taddeo rummages scrupulously through their personal lives, these seemingly average American women display remarkable openness and honesty. An intimate study, Three Women delves into the grey areas of physical and emotional connection. Taddeo writes with lyricism and an understanding of the human condition that teaches the reader as much about themselves as the book’s three case studies.
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
R
T
HE White Tiger was only the fourth debut novel to win the Man Booker prize. Aravind Adiga tells the darkly humorous tale of Balram Halwai, from the end of his childhood in a rural Indian village through his journey first to Delhi, where he works as a chauffeur to a rich landlord, and then to Bangalore, the place to which he flees after killing his master and stealing his money. The novel examines themes of caste, religion, corruption and poverty. The White Tiger offers a story of wit, suspense and questionable morality, told by a volatile but captivating narrator.
Call Me by Your Name André Aciman
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ENI Eddo-Lodge became the first black British author to top the UK book charts in June after Black Lives Matter protests galvanised readers. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race demonstrates Britain’s problem with structural racism and holds the hierarchy to account in each erudite essay. “White privilege,” writes Eddo-Lodge, “is a manipulative, suffocating blanket of power that envelops everything we know, like a snowy day.”
July 24th - August 6th 2020
Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es
9
ASED in 1980s Northern Italy, André Aciman’s critically acclaimed novel Call Me by Your Name is synonymous with summer. Elio, a 17-year-old American-Italian becomes infatuated with an archeologist named Oliver who comes to live at his parents house on the Riviera for the summer. In 2017, the film adaptation propelled Timothée Chalamet to stardom and scooped the Oscar for best screenplay. The sequel is underway, with Aciman collaborating on the script, so now is the perfect time to get acquainted with this heady tale of passion.
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I
T is the current zeitgeist… that AI will have taken most of our jobs within two decades. And computers and robots will run the world. Not according to Simon Roberts’ book The Power of Not Thinking: How our Bodies Learn and Why we should Trust Them. His take is; forget it! Us humans have got a few centuries left. At least. Embodied knowledge is vital and it simply cannot be transplanted for so many reasons. And Roberts should know having spent many weeks working with Google on its Waymo driverless car project in Arizona, as well as teaching executives at Duracell and telling News International a few things about running their global publishing business. Big Data simply doesn’t have all the answers, he insists. The way we learn to ride a bike, drive a car or simply listen to our gut on a big decision: This cannot be emulated by computers or AI. At least thus far. The business anthropologist insists that so much is about people themselves, brainstorming and learning together. Clever, witty and intriguing, you’ll sleep easier at night after reading it.
Power of Not 10 The Thinking - Simon Roberts
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BUSINESS
July 24th - August 6th 2020
Spain hits COVID jackpot
Rolling in it SPANISH businessman Amancio Ortega has been sinking billions of euros into property. The 84-year-old founder of the Zara clothing and home furnishings retail chain now has real estate holdings worth €15.2 billion after he invested €2.1 billion in property last year. The purchases - mostly in the USA - were made through various subsidiaries of his holding company Pontegadea.
SPAIN has hit the jackpot after an EU bailout fund to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic was announced. EU leaders from all 27 member states unanimously agreed to set up a fund worth €750 billion to help deal with the crisis. The plan will allocate €390 billion in grants and €360 billion in loans And Spain will be one of the major beneficiaries with €140 billion earmarked for the country. Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, described the package as ‘a real Marshall Plan’
SPANISH businesses are being hamstrung by restrictive rules, hitting economic growth and employment prospects. This is the conclusion of the Index of Economic Freedom 2020, which ranks Spain bottom of Eurozone countries when it comes to ‘freedom of enterprise’. The report published by the Heritage Foundation said that Spain has the worst conditions in Europe for growth. Globally, the top 1o nations for economic freedom were Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Ireland, the United
Super-rich
It is thought that this makes him the biggest real estate investor amongst Europe’s super-rich. Pontegadea, which owns 59.3% of Zara parent Inditex, made a net profit of €1.8 billion last year. Some €1.64 billion of that came from Inditex. According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, Ortega has a net worth of $58.5 billion (€52.66 billion).
EU splashes the cash on bailout
He added: “The European Commission will get into debt for the first time in history to finance programmes.” Spain will get the cash over six
Red tape disaster Kingdom, Denmark, Canada and Estonia. Spain came 58th on the list, one down on last year. Spain scored particularly poorly in the efficiency of public spending and judicial effectiveness, with red tape holding the country’s businesses back. The study highlighted the importance of bringing in reforms aimed at making market operations easier and more flexible.
years, with €72.7 billion coming in grants and the rest in low-cost loans. Sanchez said: “It is an extraordinary boost… a great agreement for Europe and for Spain.” The agreement is being hailed as historic, as for the first time the EU has decided to go into debt to fund its new €1.8 trillion budget including the bailout fund. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a ‘historic day for Europe’ while German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “It wasn’t easy, but in the end we found each other. Europe has shown that it is capable of making its way in such a special situation.” EU President Charles Michel said: “It is the right agreement for Europe at this time. “We have shown that the European project works.”
What a relief
JUST 40 minutes after launching, the multi-million euro pandemic relief fund for struggling self employed workers across the Balearic Islands ran out. In under an hour the €15 million scheme received an avalanche of requests, far exceeding the 10,000 expected quota. The site crashed multiple times generating a flurry of criticism from frustrated applicants online. Self employed people, whose income has been damaged by COVID-19, could apply for grants between €2,000 to €3,000. When the initial requests have been processed the scheme will reopen for further applications, announced the Ministry of Labour. Portions of the fund have been assigned to each island and Mallorca will receive the lion’s share with 76.8%. Meanwhile Menorca gets 8.1%, Eivissa 14% and Formentera 1.1%.
NEGOTIATIONS: Government talks cash
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PROPERTY We’re doomed! MORE than half of Spanish real estate companies expect recession to hit their companies in the coming months. According to a report by Intrum, economic forecasts are that there will be a major economic recession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But in the European property sector, the majority of companies do not think it will hit their businesses in the longer term. The exception is Spain. Intrum’s European Payments Report revealed that 54% of Spanish companies surveyed predicted that the recession will badly hit their businesses. This compares to an average of 38% of property companies across Europe making the same pessimistic prediction. Only four other countries have a similarly gloomy outlook - Poland, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany. Belgium, Greece, Ireland and the Netherlands were more upbeat, with fewer than one in four companies expecting a very negative effect on their development as a result of the recession.
July 24th - August 6th 2020
13
Isle take it
BEAUTIFUL: Tagomago has been a stop off for Ronaldo, Bieber and Hurley
IF you have a spare €150 million now’s your chance to buy Europe’s most exclusive private island. Cristiano Ronaldo, Justin Bieber and Liz Hurley are amongst a stellar list of guests who were willing
Cheap rent… A FAMILY of squatters who lived for two years in a luxury Spanish home will only have to pay €540. This is the fine an Alicante court has imposed on the family for taking over the villa in the exclusive San Juan Beach area. But they will probably get away with paying absolutely nothing as they have now declared themselves bankrupt, meaning the property’s owner will not be able to claim a penny. To add insult to injury, the owner must pay more than €2,300 in property taxes for the past two years, even though they did not have access to their house. The six squatters - all members of the same family - entered the house illegally in the winter of 2018. The first thing they did was hook themselves up to neighbouring properties’ water and electricity supplies. The squatters showed the judge a rental contract which turned out to be a fake that had been downloaded from the internet. He decided it was a false contract but still fined them the low amount. Not content with this, the squatters appealed to a higher court, which has since confirmed the original sentence. Squatting has been a problem in Mallorca where rents remain relatively high. One of the more jhigh profile cases on the island in recent times was when four squatters took over the Arta estate that once belonged to Boris Becker in 2018. Earlier this year they were order to pay a fine of just €480 each. Boris Becker bought the 2,900 square metre Villa Son Coll in the 1990’s. It has four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a tennis court and a basketball court and sits on a 265,000 square metre plot of land. It ended up in the hands of the banks after he entered insolvency.
By Dilip Kuner
to pay €20,000 a night to stay on Isla Tagomago, which is also a popular choice for luxury weddings.
It offers privacy – there is just one villa on the island – surrounded by crystal clear waters and sits 900 metres off the coast of Ibiza. The price tag may be eye-watering – but you
Hefty price tag for Isla Tagomago do get a lot for your money. In fact you get to own every corner of the island, all 600,000m2 of it. Included is a state-of-the art villa – better described
Brits undaunted SPANISH property has not lost its allure to British buyers, despite Brexit and COVID-19. A recent survey by the Property Guides website revealed that 60% of the 2,800 people polled want to buy a property in sunny Spain after the summer. Of those wanting to make a permanent move to the country, 73% are looking for a healthier lifestyle, while 64% see Spain as a place to have a happy retirement and
49% are looking for new life adventures.
Permit
In addition, 61% of the participants are aware that they can get a residence permit and the right to Spanish healthcare if they buy a property in Spain before the end of this year. And 66% say they do not even consider Brexit when deciding to buy a property in Spain.
as a mansion – equipped with every modern convenience. It features a professional-standard kitchen, large living room with a connecting dining room and large windows that allow you to enjoy stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. There are five spacious double bedrooms, naturally all en-suite, as well as a large outdoor swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub, a spa, helipad, and a jetty to moor your yacht at.
Stunning The island has seen some controversy. Owner at the time, German entrepreneur Matthias Khün - the long-time partner of Spanish film star Norma Duval - was handed a six month sentence plus a fine of €10,800 for building on the island. The real estate agent, who owns Kuhn & Partner, carried out construction works on the Tagomago without permission and licenses. Among the offences he committed was building a 470 m2 concrete terrace adjacent to the main villa. The island is catalogued as a Natural Area of Special Interest, carrying thehighest level of protection.
COLUMNISTS
Loud and Clear M
July 24th - August 6th 2020
Giles got a bad reaction from cyclists after his last column
I
T’S been an interesting couple of weeks since my last column. Once again I managed
Y language learning journey in Spain has come to an end as I return to the UK for a few months. After almost two years in this wonderful country I am moving back to Rochdale to continue my journalism diploma and sit some exams. The beach will be replaced by the canal and I will have to make do with pints in English pubs rather than cañas in bustling tapas bars. One thing that I hope won’t change will be my efforts to learn Spanish. It will definitely be a challenge swatting up on español in Greater Manchester, a region known more for its curry sauce than its castellano. Although, like many workplaces that have been forced to adapt, the long months of lockdown have prepared me for distance learning. During the pandemic I had Spanish lessons via Skype with my teacher Carola at the Millinguals school in Estepona.
to upset a number of cyclists who, after reading the reaction to my witterings, obvious-
ly regard me as one of Satan’s minor demons. Or the Marbella version of Jeremy Clarkson.
Adios amigos As Charlie Smith packs up his Spanish phrase books for Britain, at least he can stop telling people he’s ‘horny’... And I have already lined up a couple of intercambios with willing Spaniards for when I get back to Blighty. If you are trying to learn Spanish, these meetups with a native are a great place to start, be they virtual or down at the cafe. In the past I have also recommended budding linguists dip into apps like Duolingo and Memrise, as well as the podcast Coffee Break Spanish, which was the one that really helped me nail the everyday situations you face in Spain.
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However being among Spanish people when you can is invaluable and really does boost your confidence to converse. Charlie Smith And never was this more apparent than this week, as I was being burnt to a crisp in a long queue outside the bank. A man from Cadiz began to machine gun-fire some rapid Gaditano Spanish at me, leaving me dumbfounded and tongue-tied. But after realising I was a guiri he slowed down a bit and we ended up getting on quite well. I’ll miss these face-to-face interactions with Spanish people. Even the bizarre and incomprehensible encounters with the opinionated abuelas who are my neighbours. It is a privilege to be able to move to another country and learn the language from the locals, especially when they are so forgiving, as they usually are on the Costa del Sol. When I landed at Malaga Airport in 2018 I only had hola and gracias under my belt. Now I have much more Spanish, the majority of which I learned from podcasts and chatting to people I met. For those starting out, do NOT give up, make sure to engage with Spaniards, and remember – if you still confuse ‘tengo calor’ (you’re hot from the weather) with ‘estoy caliente’ (you’re hot as in horny) – we’ve all been there! At least that’s one mistake I won’t be making in the chilly north of England this winter!
I’m not sure which is worse, to be honest. Just for the record, I haven’t really replaced the rear seats with industrial hand sanitiser and am not merrily water cannoning bike riders as I pass. In the same way that I did not attach a snowplough to the front of the 4x4 and two massive lobster pots to the rear to scoop them up and then deposit them at the bottom of the Istan road. Or borrow Mad Max’s Holden V8 to terrorise them on my drive down to the studio.
Reactions
The order by the Junta de Andalucia about the wearing of masks also managed to stoke up a mixed bag of reactions. Once again, social media was awash with various theories about why we have to wear them, ranging from the stoical to the more ‘alternative’ – including that it was an exercise in mind control. In other words, the thin end of the New World Order. The shadowy figures of the Illuminati were about to take over. Or something like that. Judging from the complete muck up that a number of governments seem to be making of the state of affairs at the moment, I toyed with the idea that maybe being ruled by a bunch of 12 foot tall subterranean lizard overlords with a connection to Prince Phillip might be worth a try. Although I decided not to post that.
Suffering
To top it all off, I went down with my usual summer cold. The 24-hour lurgy was gone as soon as it had arrived, but the house guest decided I was obviously suffering from a combination of COVID, Ebola and the Black Death. She took to wearing a mask around the casita and covertly spraying me with an essential oil spray every time I stumbled into the kitchen from my sickbed. And yes, I can hear the Lycra-clad legions laughing at the karma of it all from here!
OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 7 Night owl, 8 Edgy, 9 Nutshell, 10 Maim, 11 Arrival, 14 Jewel, 15 Stiff, 17 Apostle, 21 Sync, 22 Upstairs, 24 Muse, 25 Smoothen. Down: 1 Liquor, 2 Ohms, 3 Topeka, 4 Slyly, 5 Seamless, 6 Ignite, 12 Infected, 13 Lea, 16 Try-out, 18 Pastor, 19 Larger, 20 Burst, 23 Acts.
SUDOKU
14
HEALTH
July 24th - August 6th 2020
Working it out
Lisa Burgess
Whether you’re a worker or a boss, life isn’t easy these days but the only way from rock bottom is up, writes Lisa Burgess
Kin Covid
OVER 100 COVID-19 outbreaks have been recorded in Spain since the beginning of Spain’s de-escalation phase. Coronavirus has caused recent outbreaks in almost all of Spain. The biggest was in Lleida with some 800 people testing positive in several outbreaks, followed by Huesca (369 cases), Lugo (165) and Malaga (109). With the exception of La Rioja, Asturias, Ceuta and
I
STARTED my working life as a summer dishwasher at a five-table cafe in Bournemouth in order to treat my dear departed brother, Michael, to a Spandau Ballet gig at the Pavilion. From secretary to TV stylist and restaurateur, my toughest job was working in live TV. The easiest? Working for movie producers Bob & Peter Farrelly in Hollywood. It wasn’t a job, it was a never-ending barrel of laughs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the most stress-related hazards on the job relate to work content and work context. The first concerns lack of variety, shift system hours, workload and control over your destiny. The latter is about career development, status, pay, bullying and harassment. Apparently, an unhealthy work environment causes mental and physical health problems including stress, anxiety, depression, alcoholism and hypertension. To overcome this an employee needs more control, fewer work hours – which increases productivity – and an ability to manage work/family conflicts. Also important is fairness and justice in the workplace, health insurance, social support and good communication with economic security. But ‘being appreciated is one of the most important factors in a job that increases motivation and satisfaction as well as health and well being’, says the WHO. I have been both employer and employee and it’s a difficult balancing act. You need to be firm but fair and a kind word never goes amiss.
PROUD: Annabel (left) has been promoted. My partner, French chef Joffrey Charles, has struggled to find his niche since we gave up our restaurant due to my cancer diagnosis in 2018. He has just started doing a Moonlight Dinner @ Lakala Beach in La Cala De Mijas every Sunday evening. The combination of a three-course menu for €27.50pp, live entertainment and that sea view has made it an instant success. If at first you don’t succeed, try again is my eternal motto. There is more good news in my household. My daughter Annabel recently received a big promotion at the Dept. of Labour in the States. She worked tirelessly with vulnerable people during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic while caring for my two young granddaughters. My family have had an extraordinarily difficult two years but I always took solace from the words of literary giant JK Rowling who said: ‘Rock bottom became the solid foundation from which I rebuilt my life’. We can all take a leaf out of her book.
15
Some 40% of COVID-19 outbreaks in Spain originate from family reunions By Cristina Hodgson
Melilla, the rest of the communities have detected one or more new outbreaks in recent weeks. According to Health Minis-
Fat chance A SURVEY has revealed that liposuction is one of the most demanded cosmetic surgeries in Spain. According to the Spanish Society of Plastic Surgeons, the treatment accounted for 12% of all interventions by the organisation’s members. This was behind breast enlargement surgery which stood at 17%. The society added that just 30% of women who had undergone mastectomies as part of cancer treatment opted for breast reconstruction afterwards. The report also high-
ter Salvador Illa, Spain has 118 active coronavirus outbreaks. However, exact details of where the active outbreaks are or how many positive cases each is not clear. The transparency on the situation of the virus is in the hands of each autonomy, and very few are publishing these data. With the exception of Andalucia, none do it systematically and constantly.
Wedding
GETTING SLIM: Liposuction is popular
lighted that the numbers of operations for gender reassignment had doubled in the past five years.
Since the de-escalation began on May 11, the communities have reported at least 95 new outbreaks, 36 of which were caused by a family gathering, including a wedding in Tudela, a celebration of San Juan in a neighbourhood of Castellón and a meal with friends in Alcanar (Tarragona). The Ministry of Health has defined an outbreak as ‘any cluster of three or more confirmed or probable cases with active infection in which an epidemiological link has been established.’ An outbreak ceases to be active when 14 days pass since the last positive.
OLIVE PRESS
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FINAL WORDS
POPULAR restaurant in Madrid, ‘El Brillante,’ got some hate on Twitter after a customer revealed he was charged €19 for two coffees and an orange juice.
Shark bait CADIZ beach Zahara de los Atunes was temporarily closed down after a two-metre long predatory mako shark was spotted near swimmers.
Buzz Off SPANISH fans of cleaning influencer Mrs Hinch have discovered that placing small change in a freezer bag of water and hanging it by your door will stop pesky flies from invading your kitchen this summer.
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Vol. 4 Issue 85 www.theolivepress.es July 24th - August 6th 2020
The only way is up!
PAINTING its planes magenta and guaranteeing customers sparkles is part of a wizard move to get punters back in the air. But the signing of ex-TOWIE star Gemma Collins as the face of Wizz Air is a masterstroke. The larger-than-life celebrity - who spends a good chunk of the year in Marbella - has signed a lucrative six-figure deal to promote the airline. A GANG of 28 bird traffickers that were earning over €1 million a year smuggling feathered pets to Africa have been arrested. A total of 280 parrots, macaws and cockatoos, all protected species, were rescued. The combined operation took place in Murcia, Alicante and Asturias. It was found that the gang would sell the endangered birds using forged documents to get round international restrictions on transporting animals.
Wizard move as Wizz air sends famous diva Gemma Collins into the air as its new global ambassador In her continuing pursuit of the high life, the self-proclaimed diva is part of a drive to get British punters to take advantage of the new air bridges around Europe. From this week, each plane will have a giant photo of Collins on the body, while the
Into Africa
planes will be painted magenta pink - the reality star’s favourite colour. Some inflight announcements will even be voiced by the Essex star. Welcome on board BABY !! LETS GO !!! Don’t forget your masks and who wants Prosecco! There’s only one way A TRIO of locals were treated for smoke inhalation after an electric scooter exploded in Alicante. The battery of the so-called ‘Madge mobile’ blew up inside the owner’s house. Firefighters had to be called out to the blaze, which left two neighbours and a local police officer needing medical treatment, one in hospital.
to travel !!! WIZZ AIR,” announced Collins to her 1.9million followers on Instagram. It comes after Collins spent a couple of weeks in Marbella amid her messy breakup with TOWIE co-star James Argent. But Collins didn’t rest in the 30-degree heat. Instead, she
Hot wheels A large bang woke up the owners who discovered that the battery had caught fire. Luckily a sofa that caught alight in an ensuing blaze was thrown out of the window into the street. It is the latest in a series of call-outs caused by scooter battery fires in recent months.
continued her latest fitness regime poolside. She revealed that Argent who had been set to move to Marbella to buy a home with her, called her ‘a hippo’ as their relationship deteriorated. “It’s not all fun in the sun guys, we are exercising today. We’ve just done deadlifts, squats, press ups, lunges and we’re now off for a run,” she said. During her pandemic reality show Diva in Lockdown, Collins told her family she’d fly them to the sun and sand in a private jet when lockdown measures were eased. There is one budget airline that will be expecting her to travel with them ONLY from now on.
TM
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