Mallorca Olive Press - Issue 59 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

30? Really? Are you takin’ the Michael?

Your expat

voice in Spain

BACK ON: Bullfighting in Palma

Fight back A SERIES of heated protests are expected after Mallorca announced its first bullfight for years. Animal rights groups are furious after it was announced that Palma’s bullring will host its first corrida since July 2017. The fight next month is to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the construction of the Balearic Coliseum. A total of eight bulls are set to be slain by four of the world’s biggest toreros; Juan Pedro Domecq, El Juli, Jose Maria Manzanares and Roca Rey on August 9. “They will kill eight bulls to vindicate this spectacle of violence, blood and death,” blasted a spokesman for animal rights group PACMA, which is likely to organise a demonstration against it taking place. “What a monstrosity,” he added. The fight has been made possible after Spain’s Supreme Court declared parts of a 2017 Balearic ban on the bloodsport as ‘unconstitutional’ last December.

Freedoms

The so-called ban made it illegal to mistreat, injure or kill cattle and declared a maximum of three bulls per show. It also declared that bulls could not be in the ring for more than 10 minutes each. All three tenets were declared unconstitutional. Other parts of the law will remain in place, however, including the banning of minors and alcohol consumption at the event. Far right party Vox applauded the return of the bullfight, claiming it was ‘just the beginning of recovering’ lost freedoms. “The ban was only introduced to please radical animal rights groups,” insisted regional leader Jorge Campos. “This event is the first step in the recovery of our freedoms:” Posters advertising the fight have been plastered all over the capital and the event is expected to be officially registered with the city in the coming days.

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Jet setters...

BIG FANS: Obama, Cameron and (far right) Saudi royalty know how to spend it

By Timothy McNulty

ALMOST 200 terraces have been GOOD times Ahoy! scythed from Palma’s vibrant food Voted BEST and drink scene over the last few expat paper weeks. in Spain It comes after a draconian dictat came into force removing an initial 179 outdoor seating areas from some of Palma’s most popular restaurants. Coming into effect in the middle Wasn’ of t me the busiest time of year, the new regulations have already seen Palma lose an estimated 17% of its terraces, with many more expected to close. STANDING The new law to create more space UP FOR for pedestrians was approved last SANTA CATALINA July despite a hard fought campaign launched by the Olive Press to protect the livelihoods and businesses. “It’s a really awful law and it’s scary because this season has been very quiet as a result,” Alex Giannandrea of highly-rated A Casa Mia, in Santa hree Lionsrules, pavements have to be a Catalina, told the Olive Press this Under the Tnew pub week. minimum of 2.5 metres free of any obstructions, “Naturally customers have been leaving little space for tables. complaining, they want to sit out- As the Olive Press reported in February 2018 side and enjoy the good weather but when we launched our Standing up for Santa now they can’t. Catalina campaign - the new rule was only being 15:36 “It’s a ridiculous law and it’s driving introduced after a few disgruntled locals comaway business.” plained about noise. FLIGHTS

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THE alleged lynchpin in Spain’s biggest ever political fraud claims he made SIX previous confessions up. Former Junta de Andalucia employment boss Francisco Guerrero insists he did not personally gain from the ERE scandal, that saw up to a billion euros embezzled over a decade. He claims he only gave details of the so-called ‘reptile fund’ that he allegedly oversaw, after police put considerable pressure on him. Guerrero is facing eight years in prison for embezzling €65 million of money from the €647 million emergency public fund that he managed between 1999 and 2008. The money had been set aside to support struggling Andalucian businesses. Instead, Guerrero allegedly awarded fake grants to companies registered in the names of more than 100 of his family members, friends and fellow PSOE politicians. His driver, Juan Francisco Trujillo - nicknamed the ‘cocaine chauffeur’ - claims he set up bogus shell companies to receive public money to spend on ‘cocaine, parties and drinks’.

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PROTESTS: Are expected

or tea/coﬀee

Dozens of jobs and a big loss of trade in Santa Catalina if ‘nightmare’ new pavement law comes in EXCLUSIVE By Gillian Keller

luf’. “This is only being done to keep This week (Thursday) a THE Olive Press is backing a a few elderly locals happy,” in- planned meeting is set to take campaign to protect the livelisisted fellow restaurateur Luca place at the town hall so all the hoods of dozens of expat busiVeronesi, of Prosecco. nesses in Santa Catalina. relevent parties could get their The Italian added: “The au- views across. It comes after a draconian thorities have allowed this area What is certain is that the resproposed law could see an es- AT RISK: Terraces are a staple for Mallorca visitors to become a hip and vibrant taurant scene in Santa Catatimated 42% of terraces in the but what they are proposing is place and now they are going lina is unlike anywhere else Palma district shut. nightmare,” complete a “It’s to completely alter it with this in Mallorca and has a very Many businesses fear a dra- said Bin Shah, owner of Bindi’s extreme. It’s so scary.” matic impact - and a loss of restaurant in Santa Catalina. “I She continued: “We work with law. unique international vibe. a dozens of jobs - if the plan completely rely on my terrace tourists from Germany, Swe- “This could potentially ruin While the area has gentrified and England and they all lot of businesses.” comes into effect. and changed rapidly, it has in summer and I don’t know den The new law to create more how I would survive without it. want to sit outside as they don’t Manager Marie from La Lol- brought substantial business space for pedestrians would “I would certainly have to get that chance at home. This is lija agreed. “We are just wait- that has mostly benefited the ing to hear at this point, and area. lead to 37% of terraces having get rid of a member of staff,” very scary.” to shut in Pere Garau area and added the 50-year-old, from Under the new rules, pave- hoping. Any changes to our for minia terrace would be terrible ments will have to be around 40% in Es Jonquet. Loughborough. Minority Of the capital’s existing 1,650 “I don't understand why they mum of 2.5 metres free of business.” little estiis associaobstructions, leaving The local restaurant restaurant terraces, it “It’s a very small minority that are doing it. I understand peo- any tion, the citizens defence asso- want this change, everybody mated around 500 would be ple need to get down the road, space for tables. 16/06/2017 ciation, and the Palma neigh- else is here for the vibrant life affected. 15:36 bourhood association have all that has come with the resunited with business owners taurants,” said El Aqua Nauta to get a temporary stay on the owner Pitxi Vellver, from plans. Catalunya. They say the plans have come “It's thanks to the terraces that in after a few complaints about we have all this business and noise from terraces, and other jobs… there were no jobs here irritations like more rubbish. a few years ago,” she added. One group complaining is One local British expat Vicky Barri Civic, which claims there Edmondson, from Brighton are too many terraces and not added: “Most of my neighlocals. for space enough bours are a young internationIts president Marilen Mayol al crowd, who love this mini says that pedestrians are un- metropolitan area. able to walk down the pave- “It’s like a 'village inside the people, old ‘especially ments, city' as we call it. It would be a people in wheelchairs and big shame to destroy that.” mothers with prams.’ Opinion Page 6 She adds that the area is beMagalike XX 15 ‘become to page on ginning more

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As the summer hordes descend, the Olive Press looks at the entourages and bloated budgets of the rich and famous who regularly holiday in Spain

Daylight robbery

Crackdown sees nearly 20% of Palma’s terraces closed, leaving expat owners struggling to make ends meet

CHASING CORRUPTION P6

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What 30th event IS Michael Douglas really celebrating? Find out on page 5

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PAVEMENT BATTLE: Angry expat restauranteurs are hitting back against the new terrace law which the Olive Press ‘Standing up for Santa Catalina’ campaign fought last year “This is only being done to keep a few elderly locals happy,” said Luca Veronesi, of Prosecco restaurant, also in Santa Catalina. “The authorities have allowed this area to become a hip and vibrant place and now they are

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PROTESTERS have taken to the streets as the fight for Palma’s terraces continues. Dozens of angry restaurateurs gathered on Calle Blanquerna to voice their disapproval of new terrace rules, which could see around 500 terraces affected. Under new rules, pavements will have to be a minimum of 2.5 metres free of any obstructions, leaving little space for tables. It could mean dozens of expat owners - the majority in Santa Catalina will no longer being able to serve clients outside their premises. Protesters argue that the street has 'more than reasonable space for both pedestrians and the terraces’. “The current dimensions have not caused any problems before," said a spokesman for a new group opposed to the plans We All Fit in Palma. A petition has so far garnered

STANDING UP FOR SANTA CATALINA nearly 1000 signatures, while the island’s PP party has come out in support of the restaurants. Restaurant owners in Santa Catalina meanwhile, insist that a ‘one rule fits all’ new law will be very damaging to them. Italian Luca Veronesi, at Prosecco, said: “We all rely on these terraces to make a living. Shut mine, I will have to lay off staff for sure and may even be forced to close.”

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NEWS IN BRIEF Facing justice PROSECUTORS have requested three years jail for reckless homicide for David Serrano, the owner of the land where little Julen died down a well in Malaga last year.

Cheap gas BUTANE has gone down in price for the fourth time this year. The orange bottles with 12.5 kilograms of butane now costs only €12.77, more than a euro less than July last year.

True born INES Madrigal, the woman at the centre of a long running child abduction scandal has tragically discovered she was not among an estimated 30,000 babies stolen during Franco’s reign after her birth mother revealed she gave her up willingly.

July 19th to August 1st 2019

Race rant

A SPANISH school teacher has launched a disgusting racist attack on two black British men, calling them ‘monkeys’. Shocking footage taken by the young British travellers shows the unidentified middle aged woman also call them ‘shitty Moors (muslims)’, ‘immigrants’ and ‘f**king Africans’. The video, filmed on a train in Bilbao, was released by nonprofit group SOS Racismo

Black tourists victims of disgusting racist attack by a teacher on a train Madrid on its website Es Racismo. “We were on the train and my friend and I put up our feet on some seats that were free,” one of those targeted, told Es Racismo. “Ten minutes later a woman

Brits behaving

Sick note THERE is no judge available to try Mallorca’s most infamous criminal. A series of sick leaves and personal biases has left NO judge able to preside over the case against Tolo ‘King of the Night’ Cursach (right). The investigation into the nightclub mogul is now suspended, with no silkable to file applications or see evidence relating to the case. The historic trial involves high ranking police officers and has left those involved under ‘enormous pressure’. He is accused of attempted murder, bribary, corruption, money laundering

and various other crimes, taking place across the island over the last two decades. The first judge requested a transfer shortly after receiving the case while the second, Manuel Penalva, was removed for personal bias. The third, Miquel Florit, has been charged with undertaking illegal investigation methods after he notoriously seized the phones and computers of Palma journalists last year.

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walked in and started to tell us that this is a ‘world of women’ and that there is no longer any room for sexist men.” The woman teaches at a school in the Bilbao suburb of Deusto according to Es Rac-

NO Brits have been arrested in Playa de Palma so far this summer compared to dozens of Germans. It comes after police revealed 150 have been cuffed during the first six weeks of the season, including 16 cases of drug trafficking, 47 minor thefts, 10 domestic violence charges and one attempted murder charge. Some 40 of the arrested were Spanish, while 25 were German and another 25 Senegalese. The top five was rounded out by Romanians with 18 arrests and Nigerians with nine.

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VILE: Racist teacher ismo. One of the men can be heard replying to the angry woman by saying, ‘we’re just passengers init’, before she labels them ‘monkeys’ and makes racist gestures. The man filming tells his friend to ‘relax’, before saying to the woman: “You’re a fool, you’re a big fool, n****r.” The men also attempt to speak Spanish to the woman, but she says that she, ‘doesn't understand anything’. It is unclear exactly where the men are from, but both speak with southern English accents.

Corrupt to the core A FORMER President of the Balearics will serve a maximum of three months in jail despite running a billion-euro corruption ring. Ex-leader Jaume Matas rigged construction bids for the Son Espases hospital, the largest public works on the islands at the time. Between 2005 and 2006, he ensured the more than €1 billion in contracts went to pals or companies which had bribed him. Some 13 years later and following a trial, the courts have handed Matas a 10-month sentence, of which he will serve a maximum of three. He managed to swerve a €31.6 million fine the prosecution were seeking for peddling influence. The ex-president of the government is currently spending almost four years behind bars for his part in the infamous Noos case, which involved the former King Juan Carlos’ sister and brother-in-law. It comes after Matas was sentenced to seven months for ANOTHER influence peddling case. Dubbed the Opera Case, Matas hand selected an architect to design an opera palace in the bay of Palma without opening bids to the public. He was fined €1.2 million in compensation costs.

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Alive and kicking Jon Clarke sees a trio of British rock legends wow audiences at Nos Alive in Lisbon

GALVANISED: Thom Yorke performs on stage in Lisbon and (inset) Robert Smith of The Cure

July 19th to August 1st 2019

T was 1997 at Glastonbury - one of the wettest in history - and the Chemical Brothers were about three quarters of the way through a rousing set on the second stage. It was around 10.45pm when a mini exodus saw literally hundreds of revellers trudge through a foot-deep morass of mud towards an even muddier field in front of the Pyramid stage. As the rain continued to pour down on came Radiohead to what has been described as a seminal moment in rock history and, certainly, one of Glastonbury’s best ever performances. It was the night the five talented members, led by Thom Yorke, came of age. So it was fascinating to witness Yorke’s first live show in Portugal, supporting headliners the Chemical Brothers this weekend at Nos Alive in Lisbon. In a steamy circus tent, with the temperature nudging 30 degrees, he shuffled on nervously all dressed in black, apart from his Stan Smith trainers. But it was soon apparent that the crowd loved it. Atmospheric and moody, with understated graphics and lighting, the electronic sound, coupled with light electro drums, came over brilliantly in the intimate space. In particular, songs like Traffic swirled around like a dust storm, while Suspirium soared as high as the Trip Hop flag he is so perfectly flying these days. The encore of Dawn Chorus

LONDONER: Jorja Smith was on form was beautiful. But it was the hypnotic Black Swan that really stole the show, with its ‘f**ked up’ chorus, before we all skipped over to the main stage, where Tom and Ed of the Chemicals were soon to blow us all away with a stunningly well rehearsed and planned set. Not exactly a role reversal, but these two former Manchester University students are at the top of their game and alive and kicking in more ways than one. More than capable aided by the amazing graphics of Vegetable Vision, who have been doing it for them for over two decades, it was impossible to stand still. This was a greatest hits medley, with legendary tunes like Hey Boy Hey Girl and Under the Influence - now 20 years old - amazing live. Galvanise from the 2005 album Push the Button went down well. Nos Alive is a superb festival to attend, in particular it being so close to Lisbon and just €7 euros by taxi from the centre. Now well established in its 13th year, it manages to combine enough big name acts, with good up-and-coming groups to justify 20% of its 55,000 daily punters coming from the UK. It’s large, but not too large, with the Portuguese locals charming and welcoming as ever and with prices at just €60 euros for a day ticket excellent value for the amount of acts on show.

He’s the daddy!

After a court ruled that a 43-year-old Valencian was Julio Iglesias’ son, his mother (right) tells the Olive Press about her famous exlover’s decades of denial WHITE-gloved waiters doted on a young Enrique Iglesias as he grew up among palm trees and two swimming pools in a multi-million euro mansion just off Miami Beach, Florida. Julio Iglesias’ second-born son enjoyed a life of celebrity drop-ins and round-the-clock nannying following a speedy divorce from Enrique’s mother Isabel Preysler. But not a cent meanwhile was offered to a secret lovechild, Javier Sanchez, who was scandalously conceived just two months after Enrique’s birth in 1975.

Pregnancy

A Valencia court ruled Javier was Iglesias’ third-born son last week, but the lifestyles of his doppelganger children could not be further apart. While Enrique was being pampered in ultra-elite circles, Javier hung out in a dingy restaurant near Valencia’s port where his mother Maria Edite scrubbed floors to make ends meet. The former ballerina revealed to the Olive Press how an unexpected pregnancy forced her to shelve a career as a ballerina

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

and raise her eldest child. And while Spain’s mostsuccessful singer went on to sell more than 250 million records worldwide, he has not stooped to sing even one note of ‘Happy Birthday’ to his 43-year-old son. “When Julio and I met we were both stars,” she said from her home in the El Cabanyal district. “We were equal performers on stage when we met in July 1975 in the Las Vegas music hall, in Sant Feliu de Guixols, near Girona. “But Julio destroyed my dreams. I should’ve known what I was doing, but it’s always the woman who has to pick up the pieces.” Maria may be about to reclaim those pieces, however, after Valencia’s court 13 ruled that Javier will be entered into the Spanish registry as Julio Iglesias’ official son. “This means that Julio is obliged to take responsibility if Javier suffers illness or is in poverty,” Javier’s lawyer Fernando Osuna, told the Olive

Three times a lady

QUEEN Letizia has recycled her favourite high street dress for the third time while attending a cancer charity workshop in Madrid. The famously thrifty monarch looked elegant in the €80 embroidered pink dress from ASOS. The 46-year-old refreshed the look with bright pink accessories. Letizia was first spotted wearing the number on an official visit in Zaragoza in May 2018, before donning it a second time in November 2018.

CONTRASTS: Father Julio lives in luxury homes around the globe, including this Miami villa, while son Javier grew up in this humble local apartment

Press. “It also means that Javier will have a claim to inheritance.” He revealed that throughout two previous court cases, which first began in 1991, Ju-

lio has consistently refused a paternity test. The white-toothed crooner also ignored an order to attend court last month. This last legal action was only

sparked after a private investigator acquired a bottle of water used by Julio Jnr, while out surfing in Miami in May 2017. DNA analysis proved that Javier and Julio Iglesias Jnr were brothers ‘with 99% accuracy’. The judge eventually based the verdict on their joint-father’s refusal to agree to a test, and striking facial similarities. Iglesias’s hotshot lawyers have 17 days to appeal the verdict, while Javier and Osuna are ploughing ahead with plans to sue for moral, psychological and spiritual damages. “When Javier was 13, we tried to go backstage at a concert and introduce Julio to his son, but we were thrown out,” Maria added. “What kind of man behaves like that? And not turning up to a court summons? What is that about?” “We’ve suffered so much. The press has called me every name under the sun. “For Javier, his whole world has changed. But my victory is that I am exactly the same person, because I have always been telling the truth.”

Infectious

Other highlights included a soulful, infectious show by Londoner Jorja Smith, a wild, angry explosion by Idles, plus the much anticipated performance by American Bon Iver, which was as interesting, as it was flat at times. That said, 666 was superb, while wonderful Holocene had more people in tears over the weekend than Federer losing at Wimbledon, and was worth the journey from Spain alone. And finally, the Cure headlining on Thursday night as part of their 40th anniversary tour, was about as good as any Cure fans can remember… once they had got through the first few songs, including the rather tedious Shake Dog Shake. Highlights were Just like Heaven and Love Song, while the encore of Boys Don’t Cry and Friday I’m in Love sent everyone home with big smiles.

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July 19th to August 1st 2019

In come the big guns

COWBOYS OWNER: Jones (inset) shows of yacht

TRADING PLACES MALLORCA tennis legend Rafa Nadal has traded his yacht Beethoven for a €4m catamaran after a sailing holiday in the Bahamas. The Mallorcan tennis ace (below) is putting his 23-metre ship up for sale following a family trip around the Carribean on a luxury Sunreef 74 Chrissy. The French Open champion, who is set to marry his longtime sweetheart Xisca later this year, is believed to have ordered a similar 30-metre catamaran. Sunreef catamarans come with seven cabins, large spaces to store jet skis, kayaks and also have deck terraces that can be accessed directly from the main lounge. The price of Nadal’s new boat could reach up to €4.8 million.

HE’S a global big-shot and appropriately travels in style. So few were surprised when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones rocked up in his massive 109-metre yacht Bravo Eugenia this week. The wealthy American has been seen sailing around Santa Ponsa in the avant-garde style vessel that sleeps 14 guest and 30 crew members. The boat is only rivalled so far this summer by the 106-metre long Russian-owned Black Pearl, which is easily recognised for its massive black sails.

BLACK PEARL: Owned by Russian Burlakov

together at last!

Spain’s first recognised ‘stolen baby’ is reunited with family after 50 years

A WOMAN who was stolen as a baby during the Franco dictatorship has located her biological family through a DNA bank. Thanks to US company 23andMe, Ines Madrigal was put in touch with a second cousin following a saliva swab designed for testing ancestry and health-related concerns. Madrigal, 50, has now been reunited with her three bio-

AT ODDS: Sanchez and Iglesias

Losing the lead SPAIN’s caretaker prime minister has called an end to power-sharing talks and ratcheted up the risk of a fresh election in the autumn. Pedro Sanchez has accused the Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias of acting in bad faith and called off talks three months after his PSOE party won April’s election. A repeat election would plunge Spain’s young democracy into an unprecedented crisis as it would be the fourth in as many years. Sanchez had previously insisted the two parties policy differences were too large to accommodate a coalition. Podemos spokesman Pablo Echenique said: “We were surprised to hear that the prime minister said that negotiations had collapsed. “For our part, this is not the case.”

MOVING: Ines embraces her sister logical brothers and sister after 32 years of searching. The Madrid-born Madrigal was involved in Spain’s firstever ‘stolen baby’ trial in 2018. During the benchmark case, 83-year-old doctor Eduardo Vela was convicted of child abduction, faking a birth and falsifying her childbirth records. The case has wider implications for an estimated 300,000 babies who were snatched in a scandal that began under the Franco dictatorship and continued until the 1990s. Doctors and nuns would tell single or impoverished mothers their children had died during childbirth – meanwhile giving them away to other, often wealthy, families who were unable to conceive. Many times the victimised

families were identified as former Republicans by the ruling authorities. In 2012, after receiving a class action lawsuit from 250 families, the Spanish Attorney General’s Office confirmed the operation. Madrigal described finding her ‘true family’ as a ‘triumph’, this week. The good news was tinged with sadness, however, as she discovered that her biological mother died in 2013 at 73. But the new family connection has further legal implications, as the conviction against Doctor Vela was overturned as she had taken too long to complain, the court ruled. Madrigal has now confirmed that prosecutors will seek to get him convicted again via an appeal to the Supreme Court.

‘Absolute filth’

ANIMAL loving comic Ricky Gervais has slammed a Spanish ‘horse-wrestling’ festival. The Office star, 58, branded participants of the ‘Rapa das Bestas’ festival ‘absolute filth’ in a Tweet, liked by 16,000 people. Briton Gervais is opposed to the festival where local Galician men jump on the wild horses and wrestle them to the ground. The 400-year-old Galician tradition which roughly translates as ‘Shearing of the Beasts’ sees hundreds of wild horses in various villages herded into small arenas. Locals then attempt to trim the terrified animals’ manes and delouse them before freeing them back to the wild. It’s not the first time the outspoken Gervais has called Spain to account on social media.

Deadly hike AN American tourist has been found dead by a rescue crew after the man fell while hiking near Deia. The New Yorker, aged 60, was hiking the Camí dels Cingles de Son Rullan trail, a route that links Valldemossa and Deia. He had been hiking with friends when he went ahead of his party to get back to his hotel and pick up his wife from the airport. When he did not show up at the meeting point the group alerted police and went out searching for him. Firefighters and rescue crews including a helicopter team searched until dark, but his body was not found until the following morning at the bottom of a cliff.

Save our terraces From front

THREATENED: A Santa Catalina terrace going to completely alter it,” he added. Other restaurant owners in the trendy suburb, famous for its mixed and buzzing food scene, have seen a dramatic drop in custom. One restaurateur Binda Shah explained: “It has really affected our business, our takings are lower, we are losing bookings as people prefer to sit outside.” The 50-year-old British businesswoman from Loughborough added: “We have had to let a member of staff go and the rest are now working reduced hours.” It is feared that up to 42% of all the 1,650 terraces in Palma could shut, including 37% in Pere Garau and 40% in Es Jonquet. Opinion Page 6

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Teesside to poolside THE UK has unveiled 10 new flights from the northeast of England to Mallorca next year. Airline Alba Star has partnered with travel agent JetsGo Holidays for the new services. Brits will have a choice of weekly flights to Palma from Teesside International, which has rebranded from Durham Tees Valley Airport. Package holiday prices start at around £349 (€388) per person, including accommodation. The once-weekly flights will leave Durham every Sunday from July 19 next year.

Rush to judgement A tardy lawyer who raced along the motorway to attend a court case in Murcia has been arrested immediately afterwards – by cops attending the same case. Much to the amazement of those attending, the police giving evidence at the trial arrested the man, who had earlier been chased by Guardia Civil and a helicopter, before leaving his car badly parked outside court. The excuse for his reckless driving was that he didn’t want to be late for the trial in which he was due to testify – that of a traffic accident from September.

TRIPLE DECADE

LOVING IT: Michael’s 30th anniversary trip

HOLLYWOOD legend Michael Dougle has celebrated his 30th annual trip to Mallorca. The Wall Street star marked the occasion with an anniversary cake (right), which he shared with British wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and son Dylan, 17. The trio have been spotted in various parts of the island enjoying the summer weather. They also celebrated Independence Day on July 4 at Douglas’s stunning S’Estaca estate, which is still for sale, despite dropping the price by 50%. The beautiful home, which sits near Valldemossa, was bought by Douglas and his former wife Deandra in 1989. He put it on the market in 2014 for €50m with the price now dropping to €28.9m. Catherine meanwhile spoke about her love for

July 19th to August 1st 2019

Mallorca, squashing rumours that she doesn’t enjoy the island. She insisted she herself had wonderful childhood memories of the island, holidaying here with her family, and that it was in Valldemossa where she fell in love with her husband Michael.

Dump on them Trio of constructors behind giant shopping centre face €2.4m fine for illegal fly-tipping CONSTRUCTORS behind Mallorca’s most famous shopping centre are set to be fined millions for illegal dumping. The trio who helped build the Fan shopping centre in Coll d'en Rabassa will this week be ordered to pay €2.4m in fines for disposing of a ‘huge amount of rubbish illegally’. Described as the largest illegal dumping case in Mallorca’s history, the trio dumped a shocking 84,000 cubic metres of rubble in the Barranc de Son Gual-Xorrigo, in the protected Son Olivaret area in 2016. The series of late night dumps

- over a shocking seven hectares - came as the builders constructed the giant shopping centre and supermarket Carrefour. The authorities have now identified three men, who they are set to fine €824,000 each. While not yet named, it is believed one of those is the owner of Carrefour Property, one of the building firms behind the site. The case only came to light after a denuncia was made by local green group Terraferida. It denounced that the area of mostly pine trees between the Manacor highway and the air-

PROBES: Fan builders dumped rubble port was one of ‘notable eco- always properly disposed of all logical value and landscape’. building rubble. “It has been seriously affected After a two year investigation, by the thousands of tons of the city hall has announced rubble,” announced the group. it found three individuals reWithin a few days Mallorca’s sponsible for the illegal disposenvironment department was al methods. probing the case and con- The city hall has yet to anfirmed it would launch an in- nounce who the three indivestigation. viduals are, or which company Carrefour Property has denied they work for. that it was involved, insisting it

Balearic butt ban MALLORCA has added another three beaches to the growing list that have banned smoking. The important announcement was made from one of the beaches (Cala Estancia in Palma) by health and environment ministers, Patricia Gómez and Miquel Mir. As well as the obvious long term damage to holiday-makers' health, the other concern is to the environment. Discarded cigarette butts still contain poisons and take anything up to 10 years to decompose. They are often eaten by marine wildlife, endangered species such as turtles, and curious children. Currently, smoking bans are only imposed on a voluntary basis, but the measure is about increasing awareness.

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www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION War on Terraces The true impact of Palma town hall’s short-sighted terrace cull has finally come to pass. It makes grim reading for restaurateurs in the oncebooming restaurant scene, already struggling with an overall drop of tourism to the island. Some two hundred terraces have gone already with more to follow. As the Olive Press highlighted last year the stark truth is up to 42% of all the 1,650 terraces in Palma are at risk. This means the bad situation has the potential to get a whole lot worse, something the town hall need to wake up to. The dramatic drop in customers at this crucial time of year is totally unacceptable and some jobs have already been lost. The facts are few holidaymakers opt to sit indoors while nurturing a cold glass of wine or sipping on a gazpacho on a glorious summer evening? All of this for the sake of 2.5 metres breathing space for a few moaning minnies.

She must be prosecuted THE news that two British men were racially abused on a train in Spain by a school teacher is horrific. This country doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to race and identity as it is. But the fact that a TEACHER is the perpetrator of this tirade of racial abuse, may also be quite telling. This personal attack on black people is not the first and will certainly not be the last on Spanish soil. And with a teacher now caught on camera peddling the same old racist stereotypes of ‘monkeys’, is it any wonder racism continues. As well as black people being made to feel like outsiders, this behaviour has also allowed the likes of Vox to flourish freely. The right wing party succeeds by using stereotypes like those seen in the shocking footage of this attack. Vox’s success means that in turn, Spaniards feel able to be racist in public, thus continuing the vicious cycle. The government of Spain should reach out and make sure she is prosecuted. It would send out the right message that racism is not acceptable.

Publisher / Editor

FEATURE

July 19th to August 1st 2019

The Filthy Rich and their entourage How the other half live when on holiday in southern Spain, from Saudi Royalty to British prime ministers and American billionaires

Pope Benedict XVI

his ultra-conservative El Papa whose papacy was tarnished by several scandals and a controversial past was a frequent visitor to Spain. Among his most memorable trips was his visit to Valencia in 2006 for the fifth World Meeting for Families, a ‘public affirmation of the invaluable worth he places on the family’. According to an audit, the Valencian government spent €3.1 million on public loos, €1.7 million on hotels for the papal entourage and his guests, more than €500,000 on 284 planters of varying sizes, €7.5 million on megaphones and screens and €1.5 million on the papal altar. The official centre where the Pope celebrated mass cost 39% over the original budget, with €451,000 spent on the metal work, €124,000 on zoning costs, and the rest squandered on electricity, plumbing and special curtains to offset the heat from the television lights. The audit was part of an investigation opened in 2016 into the Valencian government’s contracts under President Francisco Camps who, alongside the Archbishop of Valencia, was suspected of committing crimes of administrative prevarication, embezzlement and fraud. The Pope’s 2010 pastoral trip around Spain was equally draining on the taxman, requiring a scandalous €4.8 million from public coffers to cover the costs. The visit prompted Europa Laica-Observatoria de la Laicidad, an organisation advocating the separation of church and state, to marshal a ‘symbolic bill’ making both Pope and public aware of

WO HUNDRED brand-new, imported Mercedes. ONE THOUSAND POUNDS for fresh flowers. HALF A MILLION EUROS on an altar and circa €200,000 on a flight. These are just a few of the luxuries the world’s super-rich have indulged in during their visits to Spanish shores. As celebs, royals and the super-rich descend on the Spanish coasts for the summer, Maya Eashwaran and Regina Lankenau see how their entourages and expenses stack up.

The Swazis

he Swazi king, Mswatti III, has long been criticised for his over-the-top spending habits, as his country is one of the poorest countries in the world. He’s certainly got form. So it should have come as no surprise when, this summer, Mswatti III flew into Marbella for an extravagant stay at a villa in the resort’s most expensive hotels - the Marbella Club, where rooms can cost a whopping €900 a night. He arrived for his Spanish stay with all 14 wives and 35 children in tow, bookended by a massive security entourage. For his 40th birthday celebration in 2008, by his own royal command, ‘a 15,000seat stadium was built and a fleet of topof-the-line BMW sedans was ordered for the comfort of visiting dignitaries’, according to the New York Times.

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the exorbitant costs associated with his Spanish travels. According to them, the papal visit to Santiago de Compostela cost taxpayers €3 million while his stop in Barcelona racked up another €1.8 million. However, it was his visit to Madrid in 2011 that met with the biggest backlash. Arriving in the capital for World Youth Day, this orthodox Pope brought together a group (or should that be hoard) of two million young people whose stay ran up an eye-watering €50 million bill. However 70% was paid by the kids themselves and 30% was covered by company donations. The possible profits of the event were projected to be at more than €100 million.

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Michelle Obama

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50+ SWAZI: King Mswatti III

he former First Lady of the United States’ 2010 vacation to Marbella and Mallorca attracted worldwide attention. The ‘FLOTUS’ landed in Malaga in early August to a crowd of over 200 Spanish journalists and an assembly of uniformed Spanish Civil Guard, all of whom had been waiting

The Kuwaitis

uwaiti royals and businessmen have been padding Marbella with petrodollars for over four decades, mainly investing in luxury property in Mijas, Marbella and Sotogrande. Unlike the Saudis, the Kuwaitis are known for their more reserved spending habits. As reported by El Pais, one Kuwaiti entourage member stated that ‘the Kuwaitis have no need to show off their wealth’. Indeed, despite being world famous for Saudi opulence in the area, the Kuwaitis own more property in Marbella than their Arabian neighbours.

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her daughter, Sasha, two friends and four of their own daughters, several White House aides and a few select staff members. They arrived in an Air Force One jet that cost over $11,000 an hour in operation costs, bringing the total cost of the round trip across the Pond to just under €177,408. While the Obamas were in flight, a fleet of 14 vehicles awaited in Malaga. From there, they were whisked away to Marbella for a few days of luxury at the five-star Hotel Villa Padierna. Michelle had booked around 30 extra rooms for her entourage, both security and staff. The particular villa she stayed in, boasting three floors, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and three terraces. It has since been renamed the Obama Villa. This opulent pad, hemmed on all sides by pristine golf courses, can cost up to €3,600 a night. Judicial Watch, a US-based conservative organisation, requested and obtained official travel expenses from the US Air Force and Secret Service, as well as documents from the Department of Homeland Security. They reveal a total cost of €414,765 for the Obamas’ Spanish getaway. Secret Service protection alone came to €225,716 — a sum that included the Obamas’ private car costs, payments to a travel company and secure hotel accommodation.

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for several hours for her arrival in the unforgiving Costa del Sol heat. What was initially supposed to be a relaxing, private mother-and-daughter vacation quickly turned into the event of the year for the Spanish media. According to reports, Michelle was accompanied by

FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

July 19th to August 1st 2019

olive press online

The Saudis

that’s the

Spain and Gibraltar’s best English daily news website

UP UP AND AWAY

T M

arbella is home to a replica of the United States White House known as Palacio Rocio. Previously christened Palacio Mar-Mar, it is a 200-acre personal playground for Saudi royals vacationing on the Costa del Sol. The Saudis first put down roots in Marbella in 1974 with the arrival of King Fahd who visited the glitzy resort on a regular basis, accompanied by a numerically mind-boggling entourage, until his death in 2005. During his final visit, Fahd arrived with a party of 3,000 hangers-on and injected some €90 million into the local economy during his seven-week vacation. Fahd’s escapades in Marbella are extensively documented in a fashion that reads more like rumour than reality. In 2002, it was reported that Fahd spent thousands of pounds on silk sheets, villas, five-star hotels and other luxury accoutrements. On fresh cut flowers alone, he splurged around €1000 per day. On top of this, each time he visited his palatial pad he would replace his stable of 200 Mercedes cars with the latest models. At the end of the summer, it is said that the used cars were stacked on top of each other in

hangars to make room for next summer’s bounty. The wealth of the Saudi royals contributed a large chunk to the Marbella economy. When word was out that they were back in town a crowd of eager locals looking for employment would gather outside the palace gates. Fahd’s big-spending ways made him a legend in Marbella where he reportedly splashed the cash to the tune of €32,692 a day during each of his frequent trips. He has also made extremely large donations to Marbella in the past, including €2 million for a local affordable housing project in 2002. By the mid-80s, the wealthy friends of Fahd had built over 400 mansions in the Marbella area, it has been reported. At the time of his demise, the king’s estate alone in Marbella amounted to a staggering €120 million. His death came as a blow to the entire community. For three days, the flag was lowered to half mast as residents and particularly business-owners felt his loss both emotionally and financially.

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David Cameron

he ex-British PM’s visits to the Spanish coast have mainly been of a personal nature - family escapes away from Westminster to soak up some Mediterranean sun. He and wife Samantha like to fly by budget airline but they’re not averse to the lap of luxury when they get here. Frequently snapped roaming the Spanish countryside, the premier responsible for the Brexit referendum has made the trip to sunny Spain an almost annual affair going back a decade. Among the Camerons’ preferred spots are Mallorca, Ibiza, Granada, Ronda, and Lanzarote. If recent visits are any indication, the latter appears to be a particular favourite. Despite being well known as a regular, the former British leader tends to lean towards low-profile holidays, often enjoying his vacation without much fanfare. In 2011, he and his wife arrived in Granada unannounced - much to the surprise of the local Granadinos - to celebrate Samantha’s 40th birthday and their 15th wedding anniversary. The couple flew in on budget airline Ryanair, and were tailed by a small inconspicuous entourage of bodyguards as they strolled through Granada’s quintessential Alhambra, blending in like any other tourists. Un 2013 the pair enjoyed a quiet, weeklong holiday relaxing beachside in Ibiza. The following year, the PM once again flew Ryanair to San Bartolome, on Lanzarote, where he was picked up from the landing strip in a guagua (bus) and taken to a secure zone within Lanzarote airport. Family in tow, the leader enjoyed his holiday accompanied by four

HE Olive Press website has gone stratospheric. We are now ranked at 137,000th place in the world, having soared by 20,000 places in just one month, according to Amazon’s Alexa.com. With nearly 30,000 visitors a day - nearly 10% from America and the same from Scandinavia - we can promise local businesses in Spain comprehensive exposure to tens of thousands of potential clients every week. This is a healthy mix of local expats, as well as thousands of wealthy tourists every day. Complimented by our 20,000 loyal Facebook followers and 7,000 Twitter fans, there are few people interested in Spain, who are not being reached. Take the experience of one exclusive luxury hotel on the Costa del Sol that has recently contracted a series of articles on our website. DDG Retreat received a record 22 requests to book from just one of these posts in both the newspaper and online, costing just €275. In the words of its manager Daria Doubinina, that article ‘did better than one in the Times newspaper’ earlier this year and earnt the hotel thousands in income. Why is YOUR BUSINESS still spending far too much on Google adwords and other inferior websites, magazines and newspapers, when the Olive Press GUARANTEES results? Send us an email today at sales@ theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 so we can find you a better, more effective way to market your business

bodyguards, each in separate cars, and versary holiday with his wife, the pair stayed at Casa Tomaren, one of the most splurged on a chic €270-a-night Alcuzexclusive rural resorts in the area. The cuz resort in Benahavis. visit caused a remarkable stir among the British press whose coverage of the Camerons lthough never actually pictured, at play was estimated the Olive Press has it on good auto have an advertisthority that the US billionaire visited ing value of more than Ronda back in 2012. €1.2 million for the A loose-lipped vineCanary Island. yard owner told this paReturning to Lanper how the Microsoft founder zarote in 2016, travelled to the area under the this time by Easyradar and amazingly without Jet, the family was ANY form of security, at least driven around in a none visible! He stayed in a Volvo without a signifiprivate villa with his wife and cant entourage. Notatwo friends for three days and bly, they stayed at Hotel nobody had a clue it was him. Gran Castillo, an ille“He did all the sights and ate at a gal hotel on the island couple of restaurants and visited a few vineyards,” revealed the whose building permit bodega owner, wjp was revoked in 2007, asked not to be as previously reported named. by the Olive Press.Most conspicuously in 2017, on his 21 year anni-

4/5

Bill Gates

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

- Costa del Sol beach shut down after bacteria found in water pump (26,107)

2 3 4

- Man drowns in sea at Costa del Sol beach (25,506) - Irish teenage lad raped by two men in Spain holiday hotspot (21,084)

- British woman dies after getting into pool on Spain’s Costa Blanca (19,340)

- Two British mates die in 30ft horror plunge while taking selfie on Spain’s Costa Blanca (18,282) Visitors: 489,948 Page views: 666,323

LA CULTURA

8 www.theolivepress.es July 19th to August 1st 2019 what’s on

oncert with a view

CAP de Formentor hosts a classical musical festival with world-renowned musicians every Friday or Saturday from July 26 through the end of August.

ings Cup

THE prestigious King's Cup sailing regatta returns to the Bay of Palma from July 17 through August 3, with special events and activities for the whole family.

it de l'Art

SA Pobla's local artists and galleries off all types will exhibit their latest works under starlight on July 27 for the town's Night of the Arts event.

harity Jazz

JAZZ returns to Inca for their popular Inca Jazz Festival, full of concerts and workshops on July 21 and 28 – entrance is free but a €2 charitable donation is suggested.

Do you have a what’s on?

Espanol Por Favor

SPANISH is fast becoming Britain’s favoured foreign language. Two reports from the British Council and the Cervantes Institute put the popularity of Spanish ahead of that of French and German. The British Council believes that 2020 will be the year that Spanish overtakes French as the most popular second language. But while Spanish is rising through the ranks, the number of British students learning the language in schools has actually dropped by 2% to reach 88,022 in the last five years. “There is a feeling that it is easier and of course it is a language that is used on account of the large number of tourists coming to Spain,” said Cervantes Institute London Director Ignacio Peyro.

Send your information to

newsdesk@theolivepress.es July 19th to August 1st 2019

PRICELESS Local man located Roman ship while swimming with his wife off busy Palma beach

HE had been swimming off one of Mallorca’s best known beaches, when he looked down and thought he saw something interesting on the sea bed. Snorkelling next to his wife off busy Can Pastilla beach, Felix Alcorcan believed he spotted traces of something

fashion flix

EAGLE-EYED: Local Felix spotted ship and amphora(inset) potentially historic just three metres below. So he was stunned when it turned out he had located a series of Roman ampho-

A NEW documentary has offered a glimpse into the hidden life of Spanish fashion designer Palomo. Entitled Boys, Some Girls and Other Cookies, the short film looks at Alejandro Gómez Palomo’s rise from Cordoba to the catwalks of New York Fashion Week. Palomo left Andalucia aged 18 to go to London where he worked at a bar in Knightsbridge before enrolling at the London College of Fashion. The Palomo Spain label’s AW19 collection, inspired by rural 20th century Spain, debuted earlier this year in New York. “Even though I’m private, I decided I had to show people what my real world is,” explained the 27-year-old designer. TALENT: Palomo

ras, that had sunk on a Roman galleon, more than 1,500 years ago. The discovery, some 50 metres off the shore, could turn out to be one of the most exciting archaeological finds on the island for years. It has now been confirmed that the amphoras are sitting over a submerged ship that was carrying a big cargo of produce, most likely oil, towards the mainland. A team of divers from the Consell’s environment department have now confirmed that the ship was

from the 3rd to 5th century. Described as being of ‘great value,’ over the next few weeks a team of divers will continue exploring the sunken ship. It has been put under a 24-hour police watch, with everything taken off the ship going to the Museum of Mallorca to be analysed. Mallorca’s Head of Patrimony Kika Coll revealed that when she was told about the ship, she simply didn’t believe it. “I told them to stop joking with me,” she said.

Property

go S - p m to p ain ag ro ’s az pe in rty e

www.theolivepress.com

Issue 31

July 2019

The art of renovating ancient buildings See Keeping history alive, P12

It’s an order!

BOTCHED OR BEAUTIFUL: Everything you need to know about transforming those ancient spaces

Former dictator Franco’s €5 million mansion seized following government ruling and legal action against family

SEIZED: Franco’s house Pazo de Meiras is to be repossessed

THE Spanish government has seized General Franco’s summer palace after telling the dead dictator’s family its sale was ‘fraudulent’. Pazo de Meiras, in Galicia, valued at €5 million, was allegedly bought for Franco from the forced donations of Spaniards during the Spanish Civil War. But the stunning 19th century property has now been claimed by the Ministry of Justice, which said it has a ‘solid argument, documents and legal position to defend public ownership’. Legal action has been launched against Franco’s relatives over the illegal sale of the property to a pro-Franco organisation in 1938 before being sold on to Franco himself in 1941. However the move has been blasted by Franco’s grandson Francis Franco, who labelled it part of a ‘strategy of retaliation’ by Spain’s

HOUSE OF HORROR: General Franco’s luxury pad taken by Spanish government

socialist government. It comes as Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE administration has pushed on with a plan to exhume the remains of the Fascist dictator. He is currently buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Fallen, a memorial on the outskirts of Madrid to victims from both sides of the Civil War. The Spanish Supreme court blocked his exhumation, just days before it was planned for June 10.

July 2019

PROPERTY

Mark Stucklin

Bad model

NLESS the EU puts a stop to it, or unless you have at least €1 million in liquid assets which open up investment strategies to avoid it, the Spanish ‘Worldwide Asset Declaration Form’, known locally as ‘Modelo 720’, is a serious problem for Spanishresident expats with offshore assets worth €50,000 or more that have to be declared to the Spanish tax authorities in a process that is fraught with risks and ruinous penalties. Though not a problem for nonresidents buying second-homes in Spain, it’s a reason for expats troduced back in 2012 in the depths with less than €1m in liquid assets of the economic crisis by Treasury to think twice before investing in a Minister Cristóbal Montoro from home that the Spanish taxman can the People’s Party, the Modelo 720 embargo in the event of problems was supposed to be, in the words of with the Modelo 720. Montoro, a ‘carrot and stick to reguWith its impractical reporting re- late the submerged economy,. But it quirements, and crippling fines for turned out to be a stick to beat ineven innocent mistakes, the Mod- nocent expats with rather than corelo 720 leaves you at the mercy of rupt Spanish politicians like many of the imperious Spanish tax authori- Montoro’s buddies from the PP. ties even if you act in The aggressive way it good faith. is designed to punish “All on its own merit, offshore wealth hits Going soft on in recent years the expats the hardest, as Modelo 720 has befew Spaniards have wealthy tax come the terror of wealth to the tune of cheats hiding taxpayers with assets €50,000 or more outabroad,” comments side of Spain, whilst their assets Spanish lawyer José tens of thousands abroad María Salcedo, who of expats do. So the specialises in pursuModelo 720 looks ing appeals against suspiciously like a the tax authorities. cynical trap designed by the Spanish Even Spanish courts are starting to tax authorities to relive expat retirees rule that the Modelo 720 penalties of some of the wealth they built up are out of all proportion. during a lifetime working and saving I suspect that the 720 Form’s oner- outside of Spain. That said, I don’t ous reporting requirements, and think it’s a cynical trap, I think it’s extortionate penalties, put many just very badly designed tax law, as foreigners off relocating to Spain, is often the case with Spanish tax leaving the country poorer for it. In- regulations.

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

The Modelo 720 is no longer fit for purpose and is putting prospective expats off moving to Spain, writes Mark Stucklin of Spanish Property Insight

Your Spanish home is the first thing the tax inspector will embargo if you trip over the Modelo 720 At least in theory your Spanish home is the first asset the tax inspector will embargo whilst pursuing you for ruinous fines if you fall foul of the Modelo 720. So even if you decide to move to Spain for the unbeatable quality of life, the Modelo 720 should make you wary of putting wealth into Spanish property, where it is within easy grasp of the highhanded Spanish tax authorities. At the very least, the Modelo 720 gives you a reason to think twice before investing in Spanish real estate, which you can’t move offshore in the event of trouble with Spain’s 720 Worldwide Asset Declaration obligation. As an expat in Spain, perhaps renting is a better option if you have wealth offshore. If, on the other hand, you have €1m or more in liquid assets, then investment strategies become viable that allow you to avoid the Modelo 720 problem altogether. As usual it’s the average expat with a bit of wealth back home, rather than the wealthy expat with lots of wealth outside of Spain, who is most at risk from the

Spanish Modelo 720 Worldwide Asset Declaration threat. ‘Modelo 720’ Worldwide Asset Declaration form under pressure from Europe Even though the Modelo 720 gives Spain a bad reputation abroad, and probably reduces tax revenues at home, the current Spanish Government shows no signs of scrapping it, because on the surface that would look like going soft on wealthy tax cheats hiding their assets abroad, or at least that’s the way the hard-left Podemos party the Socialists need to support them would see it. But at least the EU is showing an interest in putting Spain under pressure to do something about it. The European Commission is taking Spain to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the Modelo 720 for being disproportionate and discriminatory, and for infringing fundamen-

tal liberties of the EU. So far Spain has ignored all advice from Europe to reform the Modelo 720, and now it will have to go to the ECJ to defend it. That might lead to improvements in the next few years. Investment solution that gets round the Modelo 720 problem There is an investment solution that allows expats living in Spain to invest any amount offshore without having to declare those investments in the 720 form. The solution I have found also comes with extra, additional tax breaks that make the solution hard to beat from a fiscal point of view. However, the setup and running cost of this investment vehicle only make sense for people with €1m or more of liquid assets to invest. Get in touch here if you live in or plan to move to Spain and want to know more. www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

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July 2019

Bound to be a riot!

ISLAND BOUND: loved up Ricky and Grace in Menorca

LEAD singer of the Kaiser Chiefs, Ricky Wilson has revealed he could be upping sticks to Spain with his bride-to-be. The British rocker, 41, is splashing out on a new love nest in the Balearic Islands with his fiance, stylist Grace Zito, 31. The pair are buying a villa on the stunning white island of Menorca, having spent a number of holidays there. The couple, who first met on The Voice in 2013, may be

moved in by Christmas, with their wedding expected next month. Frequent visitors to Menorca, the pair were pictured living it up on the island last summer, shopping for art and eating ice creams. Wilson, who wrote hit songs I Predict a Riot and Ruby, has also described his ‘weird’ deja vu moment during a date with Zito at restaurant Es Moli des Raco.

EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith

The musician realised he had been there as a kid, when his dad worked in television in Spain. He actually remembered the waiters ‘made a bed’ for him out of chairs when he got sleepy. Currently living in a swanky London pad, complete with a marble staircase, Wilson has said he needs ‘somewhere a bit more leafy’ for his ‘next big adventure’.

PRICEY: Palma de Mallorca

Shooting star

PALMA and Marbella have been ranked among the four most expensive places in the country to buy an apartment. The Mallorca capital has the third highest number of apartments valued at more than €1 million. It was followed by Marbella, Valencia and Ibiza. Madrid and Barcelona claim the top two spots accounting for 94% of the €1m plus valued apartments in Spain.

A MALLORCA design studio has been nominated for a prestigious ‘rising star’ prize at the Dezeen Awards 2019. Palma-based firm, OHLAB, received its place on the longlist for the ‘Emerging interior designer of the year’ gong. The studio is one of five from Spain at the awards, and is the only Balearic nominee. Headed by creative duo, Paloma Hernaiz and Jaime Oliver,

Milliondollar question

Local studio is firmly on the map in the world of architecture after string of awards

Bubbling up

DESIGN LAB: OHLAB nominated for Can Bordoy hotel

OHLAB specialises in ‘design, architecture and urban strategy’.

HOUSE prices in Ibiza have risen above those seen during the 2008 property bubble. The average cost per square metre on the Balearic island now stands at €3,455, compared to the €3,080 seen in the third quarter of 2007. That is according to a report by appraisal firm Tinsa, which analysed 159 municipalities on Spain’s Med coast, each with over 10,000 people. The White Isle was among 45 municipalities where prices have risen 10% yearon-year.

Its previous accolades include winner of best house of the year 2017 at the Architectural

Record in New York and being a finalist at the Dezeen Awards 2018.

Military operation THE former artillery barracks of Son Busquets in Palma will be turned into more than 800 apartments for social housing. The military site is set to be auctioned off for at least €46 million to a private developer

with the condition of renting out the flats at affordable prices to low income families. The Balearic Government and Palma town hall put the project out to tender after failing to afford the costs. The 111,000 square metre building, which housed over 1,000 soldiers from the 1950s onwards, has been abandoned for years. The city is open to approving plans for commercial space on the BARRACKS: To become social housing ground floor.

Meanwhile, its Can Bordoy boutique hotel continues to be shortlisted for awards around the world. The Palma hotel has been praised for its design and most recently made the shortlist for ‘Best Hotel’ at the INSIDE World Festival of Interiors awards. At the Hospitality Design Awards in New York last month, meanwhile, it picked up the most gongs, claiming the prize for best Luxury Public Space, best Luxury Guestroom and best Restoration and transformation project. It comes after it was included in the Hot List of Conde Nast Traveler magazine as one of the ‘Best New Hotels of the World 2019.’

July 2019

PROPERTY

Keeping history alive In the second part of a series on the renovation of a protected townhouse in Ronda, Gabriella Chidgey reveals what to preserve and some tips on how to get planning permission and find the best builder

t is a privilege to work with historic buildings. While it scares the hell out of most people, generally they are better constructed than anything built over the last 30 to 40 years. Most Andalucian properties built over 100 years ago are solid with metre-thick walls and often made of stone. If their roofs have stayed intact, chances are their interiors, including beams, floors and decorative features, will also be in a decent condition. We were very lucky at Ronda Romantica Apartments that the

former owners of this 19th cen- of its charming hidden features. tury townhouse - built by legend- It had a trio of wonderful oak ary torero Pedro Romero, once doors, plenty of beams, two arpainted by Goya - maintained eas of vaulted ceilings and a charming fireplace. it well and even put Doors from an inon a new roof a few ternal courtyard years ago. We were led to a large exEven better, it had inspired to ternal courtyard, been on the market for years and the restore beauty with chicken and pig sheds, a back price had almost to this once kitchen replete with halved, we learnt, as a manger. a result. happy home Meanwhile, a Much of this was due narrow stairway to the sheer scale of the place (around 350m square) climbed into a long loft space and the higgledy-piggledy na- where the metal roof beams had ture of its layout, not to mention hooks intended for curing hams the long reces- and a string of garlic still dansion that Spain gled from one. had suffered In every space, dusty but dry furniture, baskets, pots, pans, tea from 2008. It was immedi- sets, rush chairs, beds, framed ately clear that prints of Saints and family phothis had once tos detailed the lives that had been a grand been lived here over the last cenold property tury, at least. With the exception and poking of the roof the property needed around it we a complete renovation. And my spotted many husband and I were inspired to restore beauty to this once happy home.

THE BUILD During my years here in Spain I have observed that there appears to be two distinct speeds in which things get done; either at a pace so slow that I nearly implode with frustration or at such unparalleled speed and competence that I am left agape. In Ronda, while the bureaucracy crawled forward millimeter by millimeter, much due to getting planning permission and the mortgage, the build ‘incredibly’ took just four months to finish. The main goal while renovating Ronda Romantica Apartments was to maintain its historic charm. So charming was the front of the property, which sits in the casco historico

beside the ancient Plaza de San Fran cisco, it needed nothing more than a lick of paint and the removal of some pebble dash footings on the wall. We naturally kept Pedro Romero’s cres in the stone portal by the front door as well as the original metal reja (wrought iron grills) on each window. And that was our philosophy with the entire build: Only where the structure was dangerous, the beams rotten o the plaster cracked, would we strip back to start again. One fireplace in the old kitchen wa completely intact and so atmospheric we merely removed a line of rather bi zarre lime green paint. Under the vaulted ceilings we discov ered solid pillars of Roman style bricks which we decided to leave uncovered

HOW TO GET PLANNING PERMISSION

NOTABLE: Goya’s portrait of Pedro Romero, who also built Ronda’s famous stone bullring, left and above right

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From experience, so much of this is about finding the right architect. You may think you can do this on your own, but having a local professional with the right local knowledge and, most importantly, connections (or as they say here ‘enchufes’) is vital. Our architect Andres Melgar was not just that, but was also insistent and unrelenting in his zeal to get the job done. He knew the town hall like the back of his hand and was well versed in the power play Game of Thrones-style politics that exist in most Spanish towns today. Even more important is to perhaps understand the grading of your property, whether it is rustic or urban, and whether it affords protection status, or as in some cases, there is almost complete prohibition on touching it. We were already aware that our building had the highest level of protection in Andalucia, but didn’t realise that permission needed to be sought from the culture department in Malaga city - not in Ronda - just to touch it. This meant an inevitable delay, which we thought would be months but in many cases, we discovered, can take up to three years to get a building licence. It was a very nerve-wracking process, and in the end we were lucky having to wait just eight months for ours.

CONTRAST: While the front of the property was perfect, the back was a junkyard

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July 2019

What lies beneath

in two places. It turned out that most of the house had been built with these bricks, and the more typical mixture of rubble and Continues on Page XIV

Exposing beams and vaulted ceilings can be risky, as if anything goes wrong the entire ceiling can cave in. We got conservation specialist Linda Watson (pictured) an architect in the UK, to double check before picking away and exposing two of the 18th century pillars.

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Contact us now for full details Avenida Rey Jaume 1, No. 111, Local 5, 07180 Santa Ponsa (Calvia), Mallorca info@imperial-properties.com +34 971 692 434 www.imperial-properties.com

PROPERTY

July 2019

CONSERVATION PROCESS: As many barro floor tiles were saved as possible, as well as original beams, with end result (right)

Flooring it From Page XIII

stone was found only in the courtyard for animal shelters.

The number of beams used to construct the ceiling also confirmed that this had once been a house of some note, since this was a very expensive way to build. We found no less than four separate layers of wood between the ground and first floor in the most intriguing

pattern, perhaps to offer insulation, as well as solidity. All the ochre painted doors have either remained in place or have been reused for wardrobes. The original earthenware barro floor tiles were lifted to repair rotten ceiling beams, however enough survived to surface two apartments and all the window sills. We had planned to remove

the terrazzo floors laid in the front apartment, but eventually decided to keep it since terrazzo is made from local, natural materials and is very typical of the Ronda area. Not to mention that it is also, rather fortuitously, having its moment in the world of interiors. For other floor areas and showers, we were lucky to

be offered old, encaustic cement tiles that were being removed from two local convents. They looked amazing and couldn’t be distressed this way even if we tried. NEXT ISSUE I’ll give you a few tips on design, decoration and colours.

ments comprises of five spacious apartments and a swimming pool in the Ronda Romantica Apart- heart of the old town in Ronda. Each has a kitchen, bathroom, HOW TO GET THE BEST BUILDER sitting area with e had plenty of time to find the best builder. television, a sofa This process involves having an architect to help create bed and double the designs and then a technical architect to price the job bedroom. Most and create a point by point costing of the entire build. have private outOur technical man Vicente Compas made a specific document and door terraces, and then we took it to the various builders we had in mind. The architect then made a comparative table of the quotes and filled all benefit from in the gaps that almost all builders leave out, as a typical trick. a courtyard garWe then got a real price of what the job should cost and could choose den. All flats can our favourite builder. sleep four people, We chose three, but in the end, used a fourth who also happened to while one is debe the building firm of the technical architect. signed for wheelThis is not generally the best idea, as he should be independent but chair accessible. in our case we discovered Compas’ firm Ari Contratas had a good Visit www.alcanunderstanding of local historic buildings and was undertaking work tarilla.co.uk or to on a local convent as well as a local school. He had also built a couple of large supermarkets on the coast. It is of book this stylish course vital to go and visit the previous jobs of any builders you are new apart-hotel in interested in, and naturally, also get a number of references. Andalucia’s most A contract always needs to be drawn up and this can be done via your charming town own lawyer or by the lawyer of the builder and then checked by yours. call 654152122

MD let us guide you home

Buying or Selling a property come to visit us in our brand new office, Plaza Portals nous. 3. or visit www.themallorcadeal.com

July 2019

Starchitect wars Projects in Malaga and Madrid up for top industry gongs

ALAGA and Madrid are battling it out for the best Housing Project and Urban House at this year’s Dezeen Awards. The New Brick Tectonic apartment complex in Malaga, designed by Munoz Miranda Architects, will go toe-to-toe with the Elcano Housing complex in the capital, designed by the FRPO studio. Both have made it on to the long list of Dezeen’s prestigious annual awards in the Housing Project category. Meanwhile, the original XO House in Madrid has been shortlisted in the Urban House category. Dezeen is one of the most respected and read architecture publications in the world. It launched its annual awards last year.

CHIC: Madrid apartment block hides a bright yellow interior behind domino-like shutters

Keys Isl nd

By Amanda Butler

to the

SQUARING OFF: Cool Malaga apartment block to battle against Madrid counterpart

Mixed messages

Whether we like it or not, tourism boosts the economy and sways the property market, writes Amanda Butler

NE minute the Mallorca press and general populace are full of alarm and despair about the level of tourists arriving on the island, and the next there’s concern about a downturn...can you please make up your mind? According to the state flight control center AECFA, there is a marked downturn in air and passenger traffic at present, expected to continue through September, with an average decline of 8% to date. I would have thought that should bring a smile to all those alarmists previously concerned about overcrowding? However, looking at the downside, this naturally leads to a reduction in hotel bookings, reportedly around 30%, and all other tourist related industries including restaurants, bars, shops, etc. Let’s face it, tourism is a major revenue stream for a large percentage on this island - it being a key European holiday

WATCH YOUR STEP: Amazing set of perspex stairs in the XO House in Madrid, up for ‘Best Urban House’ award

MUST HAVE: Busy tourism season

destination. Perhaps our hoteliers will need to start adjusting their hotel rates to be more competitive...just saying! This inevitably affects property sales, although more so at the lower end of the market – this of course differs from agent to agent. Some agents I speak to are having a bumper year, others not so. For those following my article from the last edition, well my ‘fantasma’ has still not yet committed to a date, now

supposedly coming towards the end of July, or beginning of August. Meanwhile two other clients I am expecting, have also delayed their visits – I’m hoping they aren’t going to all arrive at once, or when my brother arrives for his annual holiday with his daughter. Neither is ideal! So whilst I wait I am focusing on expanding my property portfolio, so if any of you reading this article have any nice properties to send my way, please do get in touch.

For any questions or if you require assistance with selling or buying a property you can contact Amanda on ajb@mjcassociates.net

We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just sell homes, We change lives !

HEALTH COCKROACHES have begun developing a cross-resistance to powerful insecticides, an alarming new study has found. Scientists from Purdue University exposed cockroaches to different insecticides, and found that populations not only developed a resistance to what they were exposed to, but also to other

British holidaymakers are being overcharged by insurers THE Spanish Private Health Alliance (ASPE) has called out UK-based insurers for ripping off British tourists. Representing over 600 groups, the body has criticised companies for making Brits pay for services already covered by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

July 19th to August 1st 2019

Cock-blockers

insecticides. The vile bugs, which come out in force across Spain in the warmer months, can actually pass their resistance on to their offspring, the study concluded. “This is a previously unrealised chal-

lenge in cockroaches,” said Michael Scharf, the leader of the study. Cockroaches are a threat to human h e a l t h because they spread bacteria by defecating and regurgitating on food.

Sepcsavers Opticas have everything you need to know about eye safety in the sun

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“These companies are charging for assistance they are not providing,” said David Medina, who sits on the ASPE board of directors.

ASPE has singled out up to 15 different British health insurance firms that engage in these ‘fraudulent’ activities. They include: Ok To Travel, In-

Creamy confusion SPAIN has ruled that sun creams labelled as dangerous by a consumer group are ‘not a risk’. The Ministry of Health responded to the Organization of Consumers and Users’ (OCU) damning assessment of the Isdin and Babaria brands. Despite being labelled SPF 50+, the children's creams were found to be just SPF 15 and 30, respectively. “A certain unfair variation has been observed in the methodology used in the laboratories,” said a spokesperson from the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS). The OCU and AEMPS have both now called for testing to ‘standardised’ so discrepancies are less likely to occur.

sure Pink, Staysure, Suretravel Citybond, Covered 2 Go, Good to Go, All Clear Traveler, Alpha Travel, ERV Medi-Care, Leisurecare Multi-traveler X5, World First Traveler and Get going Travel Insurance. It comes as a no-deal Brexit could see an end to these ‘fraudulent’ practices, as Brits may have more restricted access to Spanish healthcare. ASPE filed a complaint with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority back in 2016, according to El Pais. Fraudulent insurance policies represent a loss of between €75-100 million a year for the Spanish health sector. The tourist hotspots of Andalucia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia and the Canary Islands are the worst-affected by these policies.

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Olive Press Mallorca -19th July 2019 - 170 h x 256 w

URING the hot Spanish summer, it’s vital that you protect your eyes from damaging UV rays. Specsavers Opticas in Santa Ponca are offering eye protection advice and sharing their tips for being safe and stylish, with this summer’s coolest sunnies. Always use eye sun protection and choose lenses which are UV400 effective. Polarised lenses offer protection from glare, which is especially useful when driving. Supersize your lenses, or choose wraparound styles so that less light will filter in through the sides. Here are three top styles to choose this summer to keep your eyes protected and look great too! ROSE TINTED Pink is the colour of the season for women. We love the contrast of this translucent rose acetate with the dark-grey tinted lenses. Annipe Sun RX €89 ADD A LITTLE COLOUR These cool shades embrace the trend for colour and prints and are a great way to inject some fun into your look with confetti-like pops of colour. MARC JACOBS SUN RX 02 €149 for 2 pairs. MAKE A STATEMENT Express your individuality and stand out from the crowd with hyper intense colour, bold prints and standout shapes this summer. KENZO KZ3500S SUN RX €199

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July 19th to August 1st 2019

BUSINESS

Ball’s in their Corte EL Corte Ingles has launched an ambitious bid to be the next Amazon, as it elects its first female president. The luxury department store chain, headquartered in Madrid, has just secured a new partnership with China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba. Chinese customers in Spanish stores will now able to pay in their own currency on mobile phones thanks to the AliPay technology. El Corte Ingles’ 97 stores across Spain and Portugal are hugely popular with Asian customers, as well as those from the Middle East. The new deal comes as

the Spanish retailer has just elected Marta Alvarez as its president, the first ever woman in the post. The daughter of former president, Isidoro Alvarez, who died in 2014, takes on her new role, as net profits have just surged by 28%.

Inroads

Despite this increase, during the 2018/2019 financial year, to €258.2 million, margins are still lower than those before the Spanish financial crisis, which began in 2008. El Corte Ingles has made inroads into online retailing, launching its Click & Express service to rival the likes of Amazon. This new feature prom-

EXCITING TIMES: For El Corte Ingles

ises to deliver products within two hours of orders being placed, which Amazon is currently unable to do. El Corte Ingles was founded in 1940, one year after the Spanish Civil War ended, and today 700 million customers visit its stores every year. Spain’s only remaining department store chain is the biggest in Europe and ranks third in terms of size worldwide.

Rental retreat

Holiday rentals in Mallorca see unprecedented price slash as British and German markets shrinks

A FALL in demand from Mallorca’s main tourism markets, the UK and Germany, has led to price reductions of up to 30% having to be offered for holiday rental accommodation. The British market has slipped 20% and the German 10% according to the president of the association for holiday rental businesses - Miquel Cifre. Discounting for July and August has not happened before on the island but has been made necessary be-

PRICE DROP: in Mallorca rentals worrys Cifre (right)

cause of a fall in demand, according to Cifre. “The worrying thing is that these two countries represent 70% of our part of the rental market. There is concern across the whole sector,” he said. Cifre has argued for an im-

Off the rails VIRGIN Trains has revealed it is eyeing up Spain’s railways after being disqualified from bidding for new British contracts. It comes after the Spanish government announced it would be opening up its high-speed train network to bring competition to the state-backed Renfe from December 2020. Virgin Trains was banned from bidding for the HS2 line between London and Birmingham this year while its partner Stagecoach was barred from East Midlands Trains and Southeastern

FOUNDER: Richard Branson tenders over its failure to quantify future pension risks. Patrick McCall, Virgin Group’s senior managing director, confirmed the company has declared interest in Spain. “We’ve revolutionised UK rail over the last 22 years,” he said.

provement in competitiveness, in particular focused on bettering standards of accommodations and facilities. This is in part due to foreign competition being a factor behind the fall in bookings, with prices in the like of Turkey are lower. Revenue, adds Cifre, is down by around 15%, though he does anticipate there being something of a last-minute reactivation of the market. A further factor, that has influenced reservations across the board in the holiday industry, is the better than expected hot weather in the UK and Germany. Certain parts of Mallorca are affected negatively more than others because of high prices for accommodation. Palma ranks as the third city in Spain with the highest number of apartments valued at over one million euros.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Eats meets west

Making the cut?

A JAMON emoji has been put forward for selection on World Emoji Day, July 17. Cured meat company Eresma, has given the public three choices for the new text symbol in an online campaign. An image of a leg of jamon cut open is so far the favourite in the poll on Change. org, which uses #PorUnEmojiDelJamon. All new emoji hopefuls, one of which is ‘turron de Alicante’, will have their fate sealed by non-profit organisation Unicode Consortium on July 17.

Couple behind Mollorcan sushi restaurants embarks on new latin american street food project THE husband and wife team behind two hit sushi restaurants in Mallorca have set out plans for an

FOUNDER: Felipe (right)

innovative Latin-Japanese street food revolution. Felipe Preece and Veronica Silva, the founders of Sushi House in Manacor and Japo Express in Palma, have launched an exciting new dish - NoriTacos. The couple have used their experience of running an east London food truck to create a dish that’s easy to eat on the go. “We were keen to make something different, unique, simple, but cool. “We were inspired by To-

POET: Simon Armitage

barrel, or ‘butt of sack equivalent to 600 bottles. Yorkshireman Armitage follows the previous three poet laureates, Ted Hughes, Andrew Motion and Carol Ann Duffy, who have all taken part.. Armitage has said that he’ll keep a few of his bottles on the side, but will auction most off for charity.

What’s on for foodies!

op patty

BATTLE of the Burger returns to Palma's Son Fusteret on August 31 and September 1, with 20 restaurants from around Mallorca competing for the title of best burger.

NORI TACOS: Fusion of Japan and Latin America

kyo’s Piss Alley street food market and Latin America’s street food stalls, so we decided to fuse the best of the Latin and Japanese tradi-

Armitage thanks BRITISH Poet Laureate Simon Armitage has confirmed he will travel to Jerez to bring a barrel of sherry back to Britain. The 56-year-old, who is a professor of poetry at Leeds University, continues a tradition that began in 1668. The custom, revived in 1984, sees the Queen’s poet pick out and sign a

July 19th to August 1st 2019

SHERRY BARREL: Signed by ex poet Laureate Ted Hughes

tions, cultures and flavours to get a new hard-core street food concept,” explained Felipe. Half Japanese nori roll and Half Mexican taco, the NoriTaco is a firm seaweed tempura shell packed with rice and various fillings. The new brand has been called Sugoi JPN which translates from Japanese to something cool or awesome. Venezuelan-born Felipe said: “We chose the name very carefully as we were looking for something that represented our passion and respect for the Japanese culture and its discipline, flavours and – at the same time – the happiness and traditions of our Latin American heritage.”

BQ for friend

A MEMORIAL car show and BBQ will be hosted at The Boat House in Palma on July 24 to remember Russell Stevens, a British expat and car enthusiasts who died in a car wreck a few years ago in Mallorca.

azz and dinner

CANADIAN Jazz and Soul singer Molly Johnson is performing only once in Spain, at a private outdoor concert with a special tasting menu dinner and drinks at Livingdreams homestore and restaurant in Santa Maria.

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FOOD,DRINK

July 19th to August 1st 2019

The art of taking it slow

SLOW TRAVEL: Maya practices getting lost in Ronda

Olive Press Princeton interns Regina Lankenau and Maya Eashwaran run down their rev count in Ronda where slow travel is the new mantra

T CROSS-CULTURAL: Hub of Entrelenguas

WO hours before midnight, the whitewashed walls and polished cobblestones of Ronda’s Barrio de San Francisco are momentarily painted an olive oil gold. We follow the creeping sunrays down a callejon on Calle de Angelita Aparicio, the slap of our sandals the only sound in this corner of the cloistered mountain town. At the end of the dipping alleyway we come to a plot of well-tended land where Jose Luis, a Rondeño with salt-and-pepper hair, waves us over. Crouching down, he tells us his allotment is ‘just a hobby,’

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Taste the history

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and, chuckling at our fascination, hands over a zucchini the size of his forearm. ‘A gift,’ he says. Shortly after, he adds a cucumber to the mix, clumps of dirt still clinging to the knobby skin. For many, travelling is a desperate race to hit the top attractions before the sun sets. Itineraries in hand, they eat quickly, walk fast, ticking the sights off their checklists like chores. Each day is swallowed before it can be chewed. But for others, the act of travel is less planned. Days are spent wandering. A 20-minute walk could take an hour. Detours are welcomed, and locals become the best of guides. Slowness, as a concept, began in 1986 with the slow food revolution. After the first McDonald’s opened in Italy on Rome’s Plaza de Spagna, thousands assembled to protest. Then-journalist Carlo Petrini made a name for himself by passing out plates of FRIENDLY: Pongo the dalmation says hi traditional Italian penne pasta to the protestors. Three years later, about Spanish language, culture, proponents of the centre’s novel Petrini found himself at the fore- and tourism. Mar Rodriguez, approach. front of what is now known as the Javier Criado, and Alejandro “There’s no way you can underSlow Food Movement, an interna- Montesinos — a trio of Rondeño stand the culture of a place with tional organisation dedicated to specialists — founded this cross- ordinary tourism. You have to get the preservation of local food and cultural hub in 2014 to provide a under the skin of the place,” said the traditional lifestyle. different approach to tourism in Annie. “We’ve been in Ronda for With tapas and sobremesa their hometown. 12 years now, and we’re still disamong the national pastimes, Espousing the slow philosophy, covering new things.” Andalucia is ideal for this kind at one end of this hip locale is a “We came with the intention of of unstructured exploration. And brightly-lit classroom, at the other assimilating into the culture,” one town in particular has made an array of artisan products, John added. Petrini’s slow living principles its from wine to fans. The relaxed Entrelenguas actively works to mantra. vibe is completed with a mosaic- protect that cultural authenticity Ronda, surrounded by the Serra- encrusted bar, an indoor swing, and stave off the influx of mass nia de Ronda and punctuated by a back terrace with picture post- tourism. craggy outcropcard views and “Many places attract tourists by pings, has manthe friendly pres- making up products. These placaged to maintain ence of Pongo, es aren’t real, and they aren’t beFlamenco agricultural tradiing honest with tourists,” said Rothe dalmatian. tions dating back In its five years, driguez. As a native who doesn’t classes, leather E n t r e l e n g u a s dance flamenco or condone bullto the Reconquista. has formed fighting, she’s also keen to show workshops, If, from a disseveral partner- other sides of Spain not covered organic farming ships offering an in glossy travel brochures. tance, the town does not look authentic taste “We know the local produce, the and free hikes very alive it is of life in Ronda. local wines. Those other places because resiFlamenco class- are contributing to the clichés of dents are probes, leather work- Spain,” she added. ably ensconced in one of the shops, organic farming and free However, for the traveller pressed many plazas. Retirees in Panama hikes are among the immersive for time, it isn’t always easy to hats shuffle around in groups of Spanish experiences on offer. Ac- differentiate between the manuthree, chatting over drinks. Fami- cording to Montesinos, ‘the goal factured and the authentic. It was lies gather for al fresco dining, of these cultural events is to meet surprising to learn that the ‘paella their kids playing until late eve- other people from Ronda’ which, individual’ commonly advertised ning. There is no need for secu- he added, ‘is what many people in restaurants was a phenomrity cameras, as all the terraces who pass through are most look- enon invented for the checklist are equipped with observant ing for.’ For British retirees John traveller; the overpriced dish is abuelas. and Annie, Spanish classes at far from the family ritual of sharIn a corner of one of Ronda’s Entrelenguas are key to helping ing a cauldron-sized paella on a winding streets, Entrelenguas them become Spanish citizens. Sunday. invites both transient visitors They have been taking classes To guide travellers away from the and settled expats to learn more for the past three months and are trite, Entrelenguas offers a map

& TRAVEL

July 19th to August 1st 2019

AUTHENTIC: (Left) a bounty of jamon while (centre) view from Entrelenguas and (right) a typical Ronda sunset highlighting places that have been vetted for jamon on top and drenches them in olive oil. authenticity. Distinguishable by an ‘Experience This classic bocadillo is the perfect accompaniLocal’ sign, these shops provide the best sea- ment to a stroll through the town. sonal goods. By sourcing their products entirely Across the Puente Nuevo, past the camerafrom surrounding farms, they happy sightseers, sits El Lechualso contribute to the town’s guita, a bar offering over 80 difsustainable development. The faces of the ferent tapas at less than a euro In the old town, La Tienda de each. Owned by three brothTrinidad is all you expect from people who gave ers, the unpretentious decor a traditional venta: an impresand standing-only room does sive line-up of jamon iberico you directions to nothing to reel in unsuspecting hung from the ceiling, and an places unlisted tourists. And that is precisely its assortment of chorizo, goat charm. on maps cheeses, wines and beers It’s a different story round the from which to sample the full corner in Ronda’s bustling PlaAndalucian experience. za España, where McDonald’s Miguel, the owner, recommends visiting the is doing a brisk trade — a sight that would have bakery down the street, Antonio’s Panaderia made Petrini weep. Alba, to pick up some fresh bread first. Slicing Our shoes skid along slippery Puente Viejo, it in two, he expertly drapes several slices of worn smooth by centuries of travellers, both

friendly and conquering. The walk to the bus station under the sweltering sun is one we severely underestimated; carting our suitcase up the bridge was an almost Sisyphean task. Earlier that morning, we carefully wrapped the zucchini and cucumber Jose Luis had so thoughtfully gifted us. Sandwiched between a sun hat and a water bottle, the vegetables jostled around in our case during the journey back to the Costa del Sol. Travel can be a dislocating experience in so many ways. But, tucking into our fresh ‘campo’ zucchini stir fry back home, it becomes obvious why it’s worth it. Far more than the picturesque sights and Instagram opportunities, the human memory bank stores the best moments. The faces of the people who gave you directions to places unlisted on maps. The kids who showed you shortcuts to the best views in town. The simple kindness of a farmer.

Friends.

Reset.

Music.

At OD Port Portals we have our own star rating. In fact, we have all the stars of the Mallorca sky and we will enjoy them all together every summer night at OD Sky Bar, on our spacious terrace and at our restaurant On Top. A hotel full of local experiences, music, art, gastronomy, yoga, pre-parties, flea markets, brunches, concerts, Pilates, tardeo, sea, sun and all the stars. A hotel full of life.

Horizon.

Sunset.

Memories.

July 19th to August 1st 2019

COLUMNISTS

Mallorca diaries

Putting down roots

VEN though we rent our place I spend considerable time and effort trying to make it somewhere I’m actually happy to live. The flat is a lost cause to be honest, but the garden has made up for a lot. I am lucky enough to have a front and back garden, both of which were just plain oblongs of unloved grass when we moved in. This grass is absolutely nothing like a traditional English lawn in that it’s not made up of individual blades but a carpet of green creepers with thick short fronds sprouting off them. Mediterranean gardens were a whole new concept for me and basically everything I planted died, and pretty quickly. Rather than doom more poor innocent and unsuspecting plants to this fate I changed tactics. If plants wouldn’t live I needed to think outside the box a bit. As I say we rent this place so while I don’t mind making the effort I really don’t want any great expense. So I’ve carved out beds from the lawn edges, and made features with rocks and drift-

By Lesley Keith

Creating a proper garden has been two years of rewarding work, writes Lesley Keith

wood. friends dogs to stay. Rocks The driftwood was easy, just were much more difficult to wait for a storm and head for find, believe it or not. Cala San Vincenc beach. The beach was a complete Loads of interesting drift- no-no, as if we all did that wood would be marooned there’d be no beaches left. there. Private land or public open Fascinating shapes and sizes spaces were also unacceptthat would inspire even the able. least artistic of us, free and I didn’t want to be changing ready to take home provided any landscapes so my opyou get there before the log tions were quite few. Basically burner brigade I was reduced arrive to stock to screeching up their supto a halt in my plies. I’d drag car because a His was the my partner random rock along so that was lying in the opposite to fly he can take gutter, or strollcare of really tipping, let’s call ing past buildheavy stuff like it rock-napping ing sites with actual tree a very strong trunks of which bag, where there can be large holes had many. been excavated and a few After all there’s an awful lot random stones had strayed of steep steps at Cala and onto the pavement. he needs the exercise you Basically this was the oppounderstand. These have site to fly tipping, let’s call it been used as random wood rock-napping, in my book sculptures which I love but removing them was a public they tend to get severely service, they were in the way rearranged as I often have and a hazard.

GARDEN: With potted plants and driftwood (inset)

This has been a work in progress and it’s taken about two and a half years but I reckon I’m about done, my rock-napping days are over for now and though I say so myself I’m quite pleased with the result. Talking of ‘pleasing results’ what a sporting weekend we’ve just had. Lewis Hamilton doing his stuff at Silverstone, then that four and a half hour Wimbledon Men’s Final which was mind blowingly phenomenal. Follow that up with a frankly (and I never thought I would ever say this) nail bitingly exciting Cricket World Cup!

By the end of Sunday afternoon I was a spent husk, completely wrung out. Good job it’s only every four years! When did cricket become interesting? As a child I was forced to watch it because my dad absolutely loved it. You weren’t allowed to speak or walk in front of the TV screen. I never really understood the attraction as whoever was playing it always seemed to end in either a ‘draw’ or ‘rain stopped play’. It was a shame I wasn’t more interested in sport then. I grew up in a very boring suburb of London but location

wise it was brilliant. I could take short bus rides to the Epsom Derby, Wimbledon Tennis, Crystal Palace sports arena, The Oval or the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. Did I ever go to any of these things? No I didn’t, what a waste. No chance of that happening here, I’m trying to visit everywhere on this lovely island. There’s so many special places and I’m on a mission to see them all. I’ll keep you posted.

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SLAPPED: Gerard Pique

Piqued off BARCELONA defender Gerard Pique has been ordered to pay €2.1 million in back taxes and fines over tax evasion. The 32-year-old Spaniard, who made 52 appearances for Barca last season, saw a decision concerning image rights payments from 2008 to 2010 upheld. The ex-Spain international can now appeal to the Su-

preme Court, after being slapped with the fines. Pique joins Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who was also ordered to pay €2 million for tax evasion, and former Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo who had to fork out €18.8 million. It comes after Pique’s partner, Colombian pop star Shakira, was also accused of a €14.5 million fiscal fraud.

More from Moreno RCD Mallorca manager Moreno signs contract until 2022 ahead of the club’s long awaited return to La Liga

NEWLY promoted RCD Mallorca have handed manager Vicente Moreno an extended contract which will keep in at the club until 2022. Moreno has one season remaining on his deal, but after leading the club to successive promotions,the club has been eager to secure his continued presence in the dugout. Under Moreno the Los Bermellones climbed from Spanish football’s third tier to the top flight in only two years. "I want to thank the coach-

COACH: Scariolo

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EXTENSION: For manager Moreno at RCD Mallorca

ing staff, with good people next to me, everything is easier. I'm where I wanted to be," said Moreno. The 44-year-old has already turned his thoughts to the upcoming season which will see the Palmabased club fight to retain its La Liga status.

Mainly on the plane SPAIN’S 16-man squad for the Basketball World Cup 2019 in China has been announced by Italian coach Sergio Scariolo. A notable exception is Serge

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Ibaka, a player with Toronto Raptors, which just became the first Canadian club to win the NBA. Ibaka’s fellow Raptors teammate Marc Gasol, has however been awarded a place on the Spain team plane to the Far East. Scariolo, who is also an assistant coach for the Raptors, also left out Sergio Rodriguez, a European champion with CSKA. Spain kick off the tournament on August 31, taking on Tunisia in Guangzhou.

"This year will be a difficult season, difficult and we need everyone's help. "We are very happy with the bulk of the promotion squad, but there will be some changes and we will be able to make the best possible team to compete in a beautiful but also complicated league,” said Moreno. Mallorca have also extended the contracts of Moreno's assistant Dani Pendin and fitness coach Fernando Maestro. Former player Moreno spent most of his career playing in Spain's lower leagues before moving into coaching where he has previously worked with Xerez and Gimnastic Tarragona. RCD Mallorca earned promotion to La Liga for the first time since 2012-2013 last month after a dramatic comeback against Deportivo La Coruna in the Segunda Division Play-off final.

McLaren kids

SPAIN and Britain have combined, with the announcement of McLaren’s F1 team for 2020. At just 19 years of age, Brit Lando Norris has been chosen again alongside Spain’s Carlos Sainz, 24. The Spaniard replaced Fernando Alonso, who retired from the sport last year.

Norris has impressed bosses in his debut season, describing his own progress as ‘pretty awesome’. “They are the future for this team,” said McLaren boss Andreas Seidl. The chief executive of the team, Zak Brown, also said that the lineup of drivers was ‘never in doubt’.

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FINAL WORDS

THE Love Island girls have suffered an embarrassing geography fail as Belle Hassan, 21, asked Joanna Chimonides, 22, and Jourdan Riane, 24, if ‘Barcelona was in Rome’. Jourdan replied confidently: “No, Barcelona is in Italy.”

Stalker Style HARRY Styles has brought his alleged Spanish stalker Pablo Taeazago-Orego to court after claiming he has been putting notes in his mailbox and ‘making his life a misery.’

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Hail Mary

American football star leaps bulls with ease at ‘too safe’ San Fermin festival A CELEBRATED American sportsman has been caught on camera performing a series of death-defying leaps over bulls. High-octane footage shows Washington Redskins player, Josh Norman, 31, hurdle not one, but two toros at the annual Pamplona festival. “It was really worth it,” he said after his acrobatics at the San

Oa-dis NOEL Gallagher has angered music fans after replying ‘what’s that?’ when asked his opinion of Spanish flamenco-pop sensation Rosalia.

A BALD attempt to smuggle drugs into Spain has been stopped after a man was found with half a kilo of cocaine hidden under his toupee. Arriving at Barcelona airport from Bogota, the Colombian man attracted suspicion with a disproportionately large hairpiece under his hat. Officers detained the man and found a package stuck to his head with about €30,000 of cocaine.

Fermin festival, in which eight people were gored by bulls. While he was certainly dicing with death or injury, this year’s festival was criticised for ‘not being dangerous enough.’ Veteran bull-runners have slammed the daily runs known as encierros - claiming they have been ‘adulterated’ with the bulls running

Hell toupee

the course in much quicker times than before. Over the last decade the 875-metre runs have generally decreased to nearly two minutes which is half the length that they were in the 1990s. FEARLESS: Norman leaps over bull Critics insist the bulls are no stage a sit-down protest on the longer able to break free from course before one of the eight the castrated steers, who ac- runs. It came despite numerous company them and are too fast injuries this year, one involving a man’s arm being split open and trained. This makes the entire run far ‘like a fillet’ and another suffering serious head injuries. safer for the runners. “This is the end of the encierro “Society has said for 20 years as we know it,” said Joe Distler, that the run was too risky,” inan American, who has complet- sisted a spokesman for the fesed 50 bull runs. He was among tival. “Now they complain that several runners - or mozos - to there is no tragedy.”

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A TEEN with cerebral palsy who crowd surfed in his wheelchair at a heavy metal gig has described his ‘incredible’ moment. “I felt like God,” said Alex Dominguez, 19, who went viral after he was filmed being held aloft by crowds at the Resurrection Fest, in Galicia. The second year law student was watching Swedish band Arch Enemy, who later thanked their fans for ‘being awesome.’

Ladies first SPAIN’S Armed Forces have their first female general. Patricia Ortega Garcia, 56, is the first elected female leader in the army’s 500year history. She takes up her role some 31 years after women were first allowed into the army. The servicewoman, from Madrid, signed up in 1988 as a student lieutenant. Mum-of-three Ortega is no stranger to making history, after becoming Spain’s first female lieutenant colonel in 2009 and colonel in 2015.

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