Mallorca Olive Press - Issue 53 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 3 Issue 53 www.theolivepress.es April 26th - May 9th 2019

We’re here to stay!

Is this Mallorca’s

Brexit

“Some of them just say they ‘want to escape the UK’.” By the end of 2018 there were 10,315 British nationals registered in Mallorca, compared to 10,196 in 2017. The drop of expat numbers mostly happened since 2013 due to the deep six-year recession, which was the worst in Spain’s history. This now looks to be in reverse in Spain as a whole, despite Brexit. “I know many British people who are continuing to move to Spain,” said British councillor in Malaga Dean Tyler Shelton. “At the same time I think Brexit has been a factor in pushing more Brits to register in Spain. Most have no intention of going back,” he added. There are 330,911 Brits registered as living in Spain. Alicante has the highest number with 69,289 registered in 2018, up from 66,397 in 2017. Last month, a royal decree was passed giving Brits living in Spain until December 31 2020 to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card, granting TM after them legal status in the country Brexit.

hippest barrio?

TALENT: Masterchef Arber at Tema

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PALMA DE MALLORCA SANTACATALINA-MALLORCA

HIVE: A market trader with his wares and an impromptu exercise class in a Santa Catalina square

One of Spain’s most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, Santa Catalina is a true melting pot for foodies people watchers, writes Jon Clarke and Gillian and Keller

DESCRIBED by locals as ‘the village in the city’ Santa Catalina has the same charming ed over the last few years. feel of Montmartre in Paris or Hampstead in There has been a huge influx of expat buyers, in particular Scandinavian over recent years, London. At the same time Palma’s trendiest neigh- and Santa Catalina today is vastly different bourhood has the sort of hip locals you would to the area that Palma residents remember more normally expect to find in Ibiza or New a decade ago. “It’s amazing how much it has changed in York’s Greenwich Village. With the city’s best food market, some of such a short time,” explains estate agent its most exciting restaurants and, bit by bit, Miguel Llinas, from First Mallorca. some of the coolest shops, it is little surprise “We have seen houses selling there for up to that this achingly cool barrio has become - by two million euros and it is not just the interthe square metre - one of the most expensive national market that loves Santa Catalina. We are increasingly getting local Mallorquins places to buy in Spain. The area may be small - only seven streets also looking to buy,” he explains. wide, stretching from Feixina park to busy This is perhaps no surprise, as the suburb Calle Joan Crepsí - but it has literally explod- increasingly becomes THE place to eat in Palma and more and more hip and trendy FELAFEL KING: Ronan at Simply Delicious

The Olive Press spends a week in fashionable Santa Catalina

April 26th - May 9th 2019

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Catch these conmen British families scammed out of thousands from fake holiday rental sites

A BRITISH TV star has slammed a Kent, revealed that when his family bogus Palma based travel company arrived this month, the owner, who that stole ₤5,000 for a non existent gave his name as Klaus, was completely baffled and knew nothing rental. Professional chocolate taster Angus about the rental or website. Kennedy lost Kennedy told the Olive Press they the money when had chosen the seven-bedroom villa his family dis- in Arta out of 780 different homes covered a Ger- for rent on the site. man man living But he only realised they had been at the Mallorcan scammed when an airport pick-up villa they had never arrived, and they caught a taxi booked through to the €600-a-night property to find Untitled-1.pdf 1Dream 16/06/2017 15:36 the bewildered German. Villas Spain. “I was determined to get to the See page 32 Kennedy, from house and immediately contacted

Tel: 952 147 834 282 902 123

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Santa Catalina

ll about

Vol. 3 Issue 53

T PA urn GE to 11

HUNDREDS of new British residents have registered to live in Spain. The number of registered UK nationals has zoomed up despite the spectre of Brexit. In Mallorca there were 119 more Brits registered at the end of last year compared to 2017. And the numbers are expected to have risen further over the last quarter, believe experts. “I think many people are worried, so that has increased registrations,” Anne Hernandez, president of national support group Brexpats in Spain told the Olive Press. “And a lot of Brits are currently moving to Spain, because they don’t want to leave their dream move any longer.

2/8/18 17:01

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Avenida Rey more Jaime on 1, Santa Find out pagePonca XX 0034 871 510 277

the press” Angus told the Olive Press. “I think many more have been duped and the scam could be worth millions.” Sadly this seems true, after we exposed a string of fake holiday websites duping tourists coming to Spain two years ago and again last year. In a series of investigations we

found dozens of tourists had been scammed out of millions of euros from various sites, which illegally uploaded villa photos from legitimate sites. Among those scammed were British Rugby Union star Dean Schofield, who lost €50,000 on a fake villa in Mallorca. This time, the website used to book the trip, dreamvillasspain.com, was remarkably similar to those created before. Among its claims is the goal to ‘creContinues on Page 4

NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF Clean up your act PALMA is one of Spain’s dirtiest cities, consumer group OCU has said, along with Cuenca, Alcala de Henares, Alicante and Jaen.

More riders PALMA'S EMT bus services saw more than 3.4 million users in March, a growth of more that 7% compared to last year. The TIB intercity buses saw a 6.4% growth in the first quarter of this year as well.

There was blood everywhere EXCLUSIVE

WITNESSES of a horror attack of a British soldier by her female friend in Spain have described the scene as ‘a bloodbath’. They told the Olive Press how they saw blood all over the pavement outside Bananas

New line FIVE companies have submitted proposed plans for a new and speedy metro line from Palma to Son Espases Hospital – the chosen project is expected to be completed within nine months.

Open sesame THE Cathedral of Mallorca has announced it will reopen its doors to public visits from May 2, with entry prices starting at €12.

April 26th - May 9th 2019

REVELLER: Charlie Martin stopped fight

Eyewitnesses reveal the carnage of a drunken fight between two female soldiers in Mallorca nightclub in Magaluf’s infamous Punta Ballena strip. “I couldn’t look it was so horrible,” said Pakistani kebab shop worker Suleiman, who was working next door when the injured girl Sarah Garrity, 22, fell on the floor unconscious outside his restaurant. He told the Olive Press: “It was horrific. There was blood everywhere, all over the pavement. I could hardly bring myself to look. “There was a group of around 80 or more people around her when the ambulance turned

up.” Garrity’s friend, squaddie Sydney Cole, 19, was initially arrested but then released after it was agreed that the glassing of her friend was accidental. Cole, from London, told a judge in Palma a glass she threw on the floor broke and a shard pierced Garrity’s neck. “It was an accident, Sarah and I were very drunk because we had been drinking since 11.00 on Monday morning but I didn’t want to cut her throat,” said Cole. Her claims were backed up by another reveller Charlie Martin, 24, who told the Olive Press during the arrest, including a that the fight €145,000 Porsche. Other stolen that broke out cars were found near other vicduring a foam tim’s houses, leading police to beparty had not lieve they used stolen cars to do been ‘intenpre-break-in surveillance and then tional’. dump them nearby. “We were Agents have discovered the duo all covered used mounted video surveillance in foam and during their break-ins to stay one soaking when step ahead of police who might arI saw these rive on the scene. two girls ar-

Dangerous duo A PAIR of Albanian thieves have been arrested for robbing more than 50 luxury homes around Mallorca. The two men are accused of breaking into high-end homes, usually while the residents were asleep, and stealing large amounts of valuables – including luxury cars. Police have arrested the pair following an investigation last year after a pattern was noticed in the break-ins. Police found four stolen vehicles

COMBAT: The squaddies guing next to me at the bar,” said Martin, from Portishead. “They were really rowing when suddenly the bigger one punched her friend hard on the nose, drawing blood. “It was a real shock and I immediately stepped in between them and said: ‘come on, come on, there’s no need for that’ when suddenly ‘bang’ the other smaller girl smacked her on the shoulder blade with her beer bottle. “It was a really nasty hit but she certainly didn’t mean to do so much damage.” Garrity has since been released from hospital after receiving 24 stitches. Royal Logistics Corps clerk Garrity said: “I’m alive and that’s all that matters.”

Arson Arrest

TWO Spanish men have been arrested for burning bins in Palma. Both the Local Police and National Police have united in a joint venture to make the arrests just hours after another devastating fire in Palma. Police are accusing the men of several recent fires, including a fire over the weekend that burned five cars and the entrances of an apartment block, where the flames engulfed the entire facade of the eight-storey apartment building. Residents were forced to take refuge from the smoke on the roof as the entrance and lower stairwell were ablaze. Police were forced to break a front window to communicate to those inside, giving them instructions to leave. Police continue to investigate how many of the hundreds of bins that have burned in the last year were started by the two suspects, ages 48 and 51.

Mafia in Mallorca TWO members of the Russian Mafia based in Mallorca have been sentenced to over a year in jail for tax fraud. The men, Jurij Salikov and Gennadios Petrov, have been charged with using the purchase of a property in Portals Vells to launder millions.

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NEWS

April 26th - May 9th 2019

Red-hot holiday

RED HOT: Gingers wanted for calendar

Summer sounds THE Low Festival of Benidorm has revealed its poster, featuring British legends New Order. Headed by Bernard Sumner the Blue Monday stars from Manchester head up the festival from July 26 to 28. Tickets went on sale on April 24 for the summer bash, that also features Foals and Bastille, with prices starting from just €38. Around 25,000 revellers are set to attend the event, which is in its 11th edition this year. Located at the Ciudad Deportiva Guillermo Amor, festival organisers have so far announced 44 of the total 60 acts that will perform.

ARE you a sexy ginger who knows it and fancies a trip to Ibiza? The Red Hot European Boys 2020 calendar is searching for the hottest red-headed men to fill out their fiery line-up. Six of the 12 young men have already been chosen out of thousands of submissions, but six more ‘mouth-watering redheads’ are needed. The perfect candidates must be naturally gifted with bold red hair, be athletic, and ‘have an awesome personality’. The chosen 12 will be flown to Ibiza in a few weeks time, so make sure to

Va va vroom

lather on that high UV sun cream for a steamy photo-shoot. The project is run by Red Hot, a notfor-profit dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture, with profits from the calendar going to support the Terrence Higgins Trust – an organisation whose mission it is to end the spread of HIV in the UK. The calendar is aiming to raise £12,725. To enter the ‘Red Hot European Boys’ model search, you need to submit a couple of images of yourself in the Red Hot underwear in a message to their Instagram page.

Holywood ANTONIO Banderas has once again returned to Malaga to take part in the Semana Santa processions. The 58-year-old Malagueño film star was joined by his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, 38, at his family church of San Juan. “It's my neighborhood, the neighborhood where I grew up,” he said on Palm Sunday, in the church where he was baptized and his parents were married. Banderas donned traditional white robes to take part in carrying the shrines, along with many of the congregation he grew up with.

The former babysitterturned-model - who met the Ferrari driver, 34, in February - first rose to fame in 2015 when Justin Bieber shared a photo of her online. ‘OMG who is this?’ the Ca-

Tommy in town

PORTSIDE: Hilfiger in car

FASHION megastar Tommy Hilfiger has jetted into Spain to help launch a new collection designed by his wife Dee Ocleppo. The fashion power couple toured a boutique at El Corte Ingles in Puerto Banus where Ocleppo will market her exclusive clothes line.

Costa Blanca model ‘dating’ British racing driver Lewis Hamilton A SPAINISH stunner has reportedly bagged one of the UK’s most eligible bachelors. Cindy Kimberly, 20, from Alicante, is rumoured to be dating Formula 1 hotshot Lewis Hamilton.

Brand

COUPLED: F1 star Hamilton and model Kimberley nadian pop singer asked his Instagram. fans. But she has kept coy when Cindy, who was just 16 at the pressed over rumours of her time, was soon fighting off the relationship with Hamilton, modelling offers, but eventu- one of the most successful F1 ally signed with prestigious drivers in history, now worth agency Uno Models. more than €200 million. The brunette beauty has since “Lewis is my friend, we met worked for Dolce&Gabbana a year ago and we have many and Sephora and even walked friends in common,” she told in Milan Fashion Week and reporters at a fashion show in appeared on the cover of GQ Barcelona this week. magazine. “We’re really good friends, it’s Born in Holland to a Spanish all I can say.” father and Indonesian moth- It comes after the pair were er, Cindy has lived most of seen travelling together at her life on the Costa Blanca. Barcelona’s El Prat airport in She became a big name in February and seen partying the social media ‘influencer’ in the same nightclub during world, with 5.3 million fol- Paris Fashion Week. lowers on photo-sharing app A source said they sneaked out together later in the evening. They were also rumoured to have met up at the Coachella music festival in Los Angeles this month but they were not pictured SNAPPED: Celeb couple share moment together.

Ocleppo confirmed the clothes, bags, shoes and accessories will be marketed under the Hilfiger brand. “I’ve always been giving Tommy ideas for his collections until, one day, he encouraged me to launch my own brand,” said Ocleppo. “I love what I do, I love designing shoes and bags.”

LOVED UP: Tommy and Dee

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4 www.theolivepress.es Green Lawless tax for hotels GREEN groups are unlikely to be impressed with PP plans for the so-called ‘ecotax’. It comes after PP leader Biel Company insisted that millions collected via the controversial tourist tax would be diverted into upgrading of hotels rather than the environment if he wins the elections next month. He criticised how the current government, led by Francina Armengol, was spending too much of the tax on green projects and historical and cultural schemes.

Prestige

"We are committed to making an investment in tourist resorts of at least €30 million each year in ‘beautification’ plans," said Company. “We will return to prestige tourism.” In particular he wants to use the money to help two and three star hotels become three and four star hotels. They have also pledged to increase security in the more dangerous tourist areas like Arenal and Magaluf.

A MALLORCA town could be left with ONE police officer after 99% of its cops applied for a transfer. The mass exodus comes after officers in Binissalem claim they have been working in an ‘unsustainable’ office environment. The group say they demanded changes weeks ago but have heard or seen nothing from above. There is currently nobody on call in the evenings, except on Fridays and Saturdays, while officers have expressed concerns over their ability to properly ensure order and protocol at the polling stations in the upcoming elections. The town has just nine police officers, six of which are on call. Two are police controllers and the ninth is on leave.

Fears for Mallorca’s economy as British and German markets plummet by up to 25% THE Balearics are bracing themselves for a 20% drop in tourists this summer due to a ‘paralysis’ in British and German bookings. That’s the stark prediction being made by tour operators following six years of record-breaking numbers for the islands. Hoteliers are backing up the prediction, confirming a near 20% drop in bookings this summer.

NEWS

April 26th - May 9th 2019

Fire fury PALMA firefighters have demanded more funding after a blaze in an elevator almost ended in tragedy because they do not have a tall enough ladder. The bomberos had to borrow equipment from the Mallorca Fire Department when extinguishing a fire in a lift which had got stuck on the sixth floor. The Palma crew’s ladders could not extend higher than three stories, meaning they could not reach the flames at the Isla de Son Armadams hotel. Now, 98% of the capital’s firefighters have united, holding a press conference demanding 'a unanimous commitment from all parties to end the catastrophic situation'.

It is not the first time firefighters have demanded more cash from government coffers, with groups last year reporting they did not have enough funds to replace helmets and protective clothing.

Summer bummer While some blame is being placed on the uncertainty of Brexit, there has also been a ‘worrying’ dip in the German market, as well as that from Scandinavia. Bookings from Germany are down a staggering 15% on last year, almost double

EXCLUSIVE By Gillian Keller & Laurence Dollimore

the British drop of 8%. “Mallorca has had a good run over the last few years, boosted by safety concerns in other key tourist destinations such as Egypt and Tunisia,” property expert Amanda Butler told the Olive Press. “But with confidence returning and much more competitive offerings there, Mallorca is losing out. “Add to that, high hotel prices and, of course, the tourist tax that other Mediterranean resorts are not charging, therein lies the deficit for the German market.” She added: “Needless to say the British market is being affected considerably by Brexit, tightening of purse strings with concerns about the future. “The previously buoyant Scandinavian market has been hit also due to economic conditions.” On a more positive note however, she added:

“Were the weather to worsen in mainland Europe compared to here, tourism figures will sure to be boosted by short term bookings, but that remains to be seen.” According to Mallorca’s Hoteliers association president Maria Frontera, there has also been a worrying decrease from Nordic countries.

Struggling

The news has led airlines to move 20% of their flights from the Balearics to rival destinations like Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia. According to experts, a struggling economy in the EU powerhouse is leading travellers to seek out cheaper alternatives in Egypt and Turkey. "It is impossible to increase reservations, despite the very competitive prices that have been put on the market from €50 60 per night,” added Frontera. “The competing destinations are imposing their economic conditions and this is hurting Mallorca.”

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Hols scam from front page

ate your dream holiday experience and exceed your expectations’. But Kennedy is already not the only victim. The Olive Press has discovered another British family who have lost their money via Dream Villas Spain. The Bolton family from the West Midlands told us of their shock to find their villa advertised as available on a completely different website this week. Susan Bolton, 61, soon realised she had lost the ₤1,300 deposit when the fraudulent company, supposedly based in Palma, shut off all contact. The mother-of-two had spent weeks finding the perfect holiday villa, near Alicante, before transferring the deposit for the holiday in June. She has now confirmed that her family have been scammed over the holiday. “We were this close to leaving for our holiday that never existed,” Bolton told the Olive Press. “I knew we had been conned when I contacted them regarding an airport pick up and got no response. It made me become suspicious.” She added the company is now not responding to any calls or emails. Spain Dream Villas, who operate as Digital Dreams SL, declined to comment. Jannich Petersen, CEO of Spain Holidays, which legitimately advertises the property Bolton tried to book, told the Olive Press customers must ‘research the company’ they are using before losing money through these scams. We were unable to contact anyone at Dream Villas Spain as we went to press. Opinion Page 6

Heads in the clouds STUDENTS from two schools in Mallorca have the rare chance to speak with the International Space Station. The four students will interview US astronaut Tyler Nick Hague via radio while he is up in the ISS (International Space Station) this weekend. The students have been preparing all year for the interview, which will be first time Mallorcan pupils will chat a crew member of the ISS. They have been calculating the orbit of the station since its launch.

NEWS PALMA WATER FRONT EXCLUSIVE

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April 26th - May 9th 2019

Unique front line house with direct access to the beach. The house is 465 m2 with a permission to build a swimming pool, lift and other amenities.

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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 Catch this scum Another family holiday has been ruined by fraudsters. So it is now high time we all wise up to the con and learn to spot the pitfalls. Angus Kennedy and his family arrived in Mallorca expecting a dream break but instead found their villa occupied by a bemused German. The crooks operating the bogus Palma-based travel company Dream Villas Spain had robbed the Kennedys of their holiday and ₤5,000. Olive Press investigations have for three years in a row reported on how these scams take millions off unsuspecting punters every year. Just like the scumbag timeshare touts before them. But such scams can be avoided if a careful amount of precautions are taken. Remember to always do your research on any travel company before booking and press to speak with an actual human being. Never be afraid to go back and ask for more details and if it smells fishy it probably is.

Brits are for turning THE news that Brits are returning to Spain again, despite Brexit, is the best news we have had for six years. It emerged that more 119 more Brits had registered in Mallorca at the end of 2018 than the previous year. It is the same around the country. The statistics, released by the Spanish Government, mark the first growth in Brit registrations here since 2013, when David Cameron promised an in-out EU referendum. By the end of 2018 there were 10,315 British nationals registered in Mallorca, compared to 10,196 in 2017. These numbers should be welcomed by all, because they show that Brits can continue to make the best of Brexit. One reason for the increase in registrations was that some had been living here undocumented. However, there seem to be equal numbers of Brits who have decided living here is a whole lot more bonny than back home currently. We couldn’t agree more.

Publisher/ Editor Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es

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AWARDS

2016 - 2019 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2019 Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

FEATURE

A guiri’s election guide Don’t know your PACMA from your PSOE? Join the Olive Press on the campaign trail for a whirlwind tour of Spanish politics

OLITICAL deadlock has led Spain’s embattled Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to go all-out with a snap election-scheduled for April 28. Politicians of all stripes are now out trying to woo voters across the country amid a backdrop of persistently high unemployment and out-of-control national debt. It comes as immigration fears and the Catalan crisis have deeply polarised Spanish society and birthed a resurgence of the far-right. Pre-election polls suggest Spain’s most important vote in decades is on a knife edge with no main party likely to emerge able to govern on their own. To better help our readers understand the electoral landscape, the Olive Press has provided a breakdown of each of the main parties running, the key issues on which they stand and, importantly, how expats can get their piece of the political action.

April 26th - May 9th 2019

●●

Spain is a parliamentary democracy with a ruling monarch who acts as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. ●● Women first won the right to vote in Spain in 1933, only to have it taken away by Franco. Universal suffrage was eventually restored in 1977. ●● In Spain the parliament is known as the Cortes Generales which consists of two chambers: the Upper House, which is the Senate of Spain and the Lower House, called the Congress of Deputies. ●● Under Spain’s proportional ‘closed’ list voting system, instead of putting a cross next a name, voters choose between lists of candidates put forward by their parties. ●● Blind people are able to vote without assistance in elections thanks to a system of Braille guides that Spain claims is a world first. ●● The size of the Spanish electorate is almost 35 million voters, 1.2 million of whom live abroad.

DID YOU KNOW?

PSOE

Partido Popular

Ciudadanos

Ideology: Social Democracy European Affiliation: S&D Predicted to get: 29%

Ideology: Christian Democracy European Affiliation: EPP Predicted to get: 20%

Ideology: Liberalism European Affiliation: ALDE + En Marche Predicted to get: 16%

The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party is Spain’s oldest political group. It traces its roots back to 1879, and forms the country’s current government. Once proudly socialist and overtly Marxist, the PSOE now clings to more of a centre left democratic socialist position. PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez became Spain’s Prime Minister by way of a ‘no confidence’ vote against the Partido Popular government of Mariano Rajoy in June 2018. Sanchez was forced to call the snap election for April 28 after smaller parties that propped up his minority PSOE government withdrew their support and voted down his budget. The PSOE proposes a socialist platform which looks to strengthen regional parliaments and nationalise water and energy ‘as services of public interest.’ It also seeks new taxes on financial transactions and digital services, alongside an increased rate for high earners. Sanchez is also considering banning prostitution in a bit to win over woman, who make up 40% of undicided voters.

Founded by Manuel Fraga, a prominent cabinet member under Spain’s longtime dictator Francisco Franco, the rightist PP is now the country’s largest conservative political party. A member of the European People’s Party, the federation of conservative parties from across Europe, the PP holds 16 of Spain’s 54 seats in the European Parliament. The party won a landslide victory in the 2011 elections under Mariano Rajoy who was eventually brought down by the massive Gurtel corruption scandal in 2018. Current President Pablo Casado has steered to the right in an attempt to manoeuver the party back to power. The PP manifesto includes plans to to lower the highest tax rate from 45% to 40% and reduce workers’ rights to make firing cheaper. The PP election platform also proposes mandatory life sentence for murderers and repeat rapists.

Offering voters a blend of social democrat and liberal policies, ‘Citizens’ is a secular centrist party which emerged out of Barcelona in 2006. ‘Citizens’ was founded by middle class Catalan intellectuals - university professors, writers, lawyers - who are opposed to independence from Spain. The party went on to shed its Catalan identity and expanded rapidly, setting up branches nationwide. In the European Parliament, Ciudadanos is a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe alongside Britain’s Liberal Democrats. Under Albert Rivera, Ciudadanos defines itself as ‘the party of the centre, progressive, and liberal’ but rivals like PSOE and Podemos are quick to label it right-wing. The party has already said it would not be willing to form a coalition with the PSOE if Sanchez is in charge. Citizens go into the election with commitments to tackle corruption and support the middle class. Standout policies include decriminalising euthanasia and subsiding pet adoptions.

FEATURE

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espite being barred from voting in Spain’s general elections, expats seeking their political fix are welcome to vote, and stand, in the local and European elections. The path to the ballot box begins with registration in the local census, the padron municipal, which enables EU citizens to join the electoral register. A visit to the ayuntamiento, armed with proof of ID and address and a completed registration form, will secure you some wellearnt democratic rights. The entire process is free of charge and can be completed before residency papers are received. An electoral census form should promptly arrive at your door. If one fails to materialise, it can be obtained from the town hall in person or online. Once securely on the padron, expats are recommended to return

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1.19

to the town hall once more to declare their desire to vote. Avg. Session Duration Being on the register does grant voting rights but a separate dec00:05:16 laration is required. This can be as simple as walking up, taking your position in front of an official and confidently declaring: ‘yo quiero estar censado,’ Language literally ‘I would like to be in the census.’ 1. en-gb On election day you will find a list of the parties running in the 2. en-us polling booth. 3. en-ie Select the lists of candidates that has won your support and place 4. es-es your chosen ones in the envelope provided. 5. nl-nl On vacating the booth, go to the attendant to show your identificaen-ca tion and hand over the envelope, then go home and wait6. for the 7. sv-se results. 8. en-au

9. nb-no 10. de-de

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Page Views

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Returning Visitor

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Avg. Session Duration New Users

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BIG WEEKEND

1. en-gb Users 2. en-us

10.53%

Sessions

New Users

32,088

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IT has been another record-breaking month for the Olive Press website, which 1.31 is regu41,881 1.20 larly getting 50,000 visitors A DAY. Take last weekend, which saw 50,388 visitors on Saturday 26.2 and1% a massive 71,000 visitors00:0 on3:46 Sunday, according to Google’s official stats. Readers from around the world logged in to read about robberies in Mercadona, floods in Alicante and a group of pesky British kids © 2019 Google who nearly died on a Manilva beach. All exclusive stories from our team of fully-qualified NCTJ-trained journalists not scared to put in a shift over the weekend when needed. Providing original content on an almost hourly basis, seven days a week, means that our Alexa ranking - created by Amazon. com, the world’s biggest online retailer - has continued to soar. As well as being in the TOP 10,000 In Spain, we are inside the WORLD’S TOP 180,000 © 2019 Google sites. 4. es-es Number of Sessions per User 5. nl-nl

Pages/Session

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Users

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46,672

7. sv-se

8,038

Bounce Rate

% Users

78.02%

13.44%

1,170

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426

0.71%

387

0.65%

299

0.50%

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0.39%

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0.30%

2. en-us

169

0.28%

Session Duration Avg. 8. en-au 9. nb-no

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PACMA

Ideology: Left-wing populism European Affiliation: GUE/NGL Predicted to get: 12%

Ideology: Right-wing populism European Affiliation: NA Predicted to get: 11%

Ideology: Animal rights European Affiliation: NA Predicted to get: 1%

A patchwork coalition of left-wing parties, Unidos Podemos or United We Can originally formed to contest the 2016 Spanish elections on an anti-austerity platform. The largest party within the coalition is Podemos, a populist anti-capitalist party that grew out of the 2010-11 indignados protest movement under the leadership of Pablo Iglesias. Podemos’ junior partner is Izquierda Unida, ‘United Left’ which is itself a amalgamation of the Spanish Communist Party and the smaller Republican Left party. The other party to stand candidates under the Unidos Podemos banner is EQUO, a environmental group founded in 2010 by former Greenpeace Spain director Juan Lopez de Uralde. The coalition is seeking support for a progressive vision for Spain with 100% renewable energy by 2040 and expanded rights for LGBTQ+ groups.

The youngest kids on the political block and by far the most controversial, Vox - which means ‘voice’ - is a right wing party launched by disillusioned PP members in 2014. Controversial Vox leader Santiago Abascal has called feminists ‘bitches’ and expressed a desire to reverse gay rights. Abascal has also called for a new ‘reconquista’ - a reference to the violent expulsion of Jews and Muslims from 15th century Spain. The party ran a successful hardline anti-immigration platform in the 2018 Andalucian elections and emerged with 12 seats, tipping the balance of power in the region to the right. On a national level, Vox wants to recentralise Spain and eliminate the current system of devolved powers to the regions. The far-right party also supports the deportation of illegal immigrants and the construction of an ‘insurmountable wall’ in the Spanish African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Championing the rights of animals in a country with a rich culture of blood sports, the Partido Animalista has spent 13 years campaigning against animal cruelty. The party has been leading the fight to abolish bullfighting in Spain as well as the use of wild animals in circus acts. PACMA activists have organised protests against the practice of mutilating and abandoning hunting dogs, which occurs at the end of Spain’s hunting season each February. But the party has struggled to secure parliamentary seats, despite solid grassroots support nationwide. This is partly due to Spain’s electoral system which disproportionately rewards incumbent parties. PACMA’s policies look to strengthen the welfare and protection of animals with a call to ban hunting and sport fishing. The party also want to see a ban on animals in circuses broadened to include zoos and aquariums.

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

- British expat fuming after chairs and tables don’t fit into tiny new terrace Mallorca town hall painted outside her cafe (46,827)

- Level 1 emergency declared as largest Easter storm in 73 years hits the Costa Blanca (39,464)

3 4

- Spain’s Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol to be hit by five days of rain, flash floods and strong winds (33,421)

- BREAKING: British and Spanish children almost die after dangerous game ends in fireball on Spain’s Costa del Sol (26,684)

-British expat robbed twice in same Costa del Sol supermarket in just 10 days loses priceless personal mementos from dead daughter (25,218)

Visitors: 530,627

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Audience Overview

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http://www.theolivepress.es

ress.es livep Analytics www .theo06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00

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Courtesy of El Pais

All Users

Page views: 703,888

Average time on site: 09:57

BIRTHDAY SPECIAL

www.theolivepress.es

April 26th - May 9th 2019

Happy birthday to us!

Yours Jon Clarke, Publisher

Vol. 1 Issue 1

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Expat bar owners protest over draconian sound limiters stopping music quieter than a vacuum cleaner

Page 3

Ring any bells?

Pride

Page 4

AROUND 100 island bar owners and entertainers are expected to stage a silent protest today after being forced to install new €3,000 sound limiters. It comes after Calvia Council imposed draconian new rules, in effect from May 1, in a bid to ‘reduce noise pollution’. But British and Spanish business owners say the new laws are ‘killing’ the party hotspot and are ‘prejudicing’ live music and karaoke venues. The new limit is - incredibly the level of an air conditioning unit at 100 feet and less than a vacuum cleaner. “This could put us out of business, it’s unreal,” Fennigan’s bar owner Mick Cormican, 55, told the Olive Press. “A car going by is louder than the limit, it’s particularly prejudicial to live music and karaoke bars as they simply cannot perform within the sound limit.” A collective of 20 business owners and entertainers yesterday

Dirty dozen

The OP’s roundup of Spain’s most corrupt politicians

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Best in world?

Editor Jon Clarke reviews Spain’s alleged best restaurant

Page 28

‘THEY’RE KILLING US’: Singer Steffi (right) and bar owners fear for the future marched down to Calvia town hall to petition the mayor, where they were met by Guardia Civil, police and a TV crew. They plan to return at 3.30pm today (Thursday), when the councillors discuss the new limiters, in the hope they can change their minds. If unsuccessful, all venues around Calvia will be ordered to install the limiters through the same engineering company by May 1. Once installed, the device automatically turns down music if it goes over 62 decibels, described as ‘restaurant conversation or background music’ by industrialnoisecontrol.com. Those going over the limit will face hefty fines, with some allegedly already being fined €6,000. “I already have a limiter that

works fine and I have never had a complaint,” said owner of Stepps, Dave Woodward, 59. Meanwhile, British singer Steffi Lorena, 25, claims the limits are affecting the livelihoods of performers. “It’s impossible to sing within the new limits,” the owner of Santa Ponsa’s Retro bar told the Olive Press. “We opened in February and I was forced to fork out €3,000 on a new limiter and if we have a loud crowd or they start clapping the music goes down and you have to strain to be heard. “It’s got to a point where it is actually damaging performers, it’s not worth it.” Some local singers have devel-

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Don’t bother visiting Palma Cathedral, so says TripAdvisor

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Courageous

Captain’s amazing scrapes with drug barons and CIA

Page 16

By Laurence Dollimore

Forget stars

Olive Press interviews masterchef Ferran Adria

Page 27

Expat family’s urgent plea for blood donors for their cancerstricken daughter, 11

APPEAL kaemia in just four hours and she was immediately rushed in for a blood transfusion. But, now it has emerged there is a desperately low supply of her blood type and few people are eligible to donate due to a ruling over Mad Cow disease. Her father John Chappell, 34, has now appealed to big hearted Olive Press readers to come to the rescue. The removal man, from Yorkshire, who now lives in Valldemossa with wife Sarah, said: “Serena is doing amazingly, but needs as much help as she can get. “She is brave and strong and is facing many of her fears, especially needles, which have been a massive issue for her before.” The father, who has been by her side in hospital for the last two weeks, added: “We have started to cut her hair shorter as she will lose it from chemotherapy. She knows everything that is happening with her treatment and diagnosis.” As well as frequent blood

BRAVE: Serena and mum

SACRE BLEU! What has this jobsworth Ports’ Policeman got against this unfortunate teenager? FIND OUT ON PAGE 8

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PALMA Aquarium has blasted the plastic pollution harming Mallorca’s marine life. In a damning interview its conservation boss insists the problem is ‘getting worse’ and there is an ‘urgent need’ to tackle it or face seeing hundreds more turtles, sharks and dolphins die. It comes after the Olive Press revealed that the authorities are being probed over the alleged illegal use of plastics in the expansion of the Muelle de Ponent port in Palma. “The rubbish we find in the sea is just horrendous,” Aquarium director Debora Morrison told the Olive Press. “It is very rare we do not find a turtle that is not affected by plastic. “Seven years ago one of the major problems was fishing hooks. Now most of our animals - I would say 90% - are entangled in plastic or ropes. “We had one this week with a quarter of her shell missing. She was wrapped up in a massive ball of plastic and ropes. We operated on her yesterday.” She added: “It is definitely getting worse.” Morrison’s team has been subcontracted by the Mallorca government to rescue and rehabilitate turtles, sharks and dolphins since 2014. And as the summer months bring tourist crowds to the island, the problem of rub-

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Dad’s joy on being reunited with daughter, 7, after church ‘abduction’ EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

A MALLORCA-BASED dad has thanked the Olive Press after he was reunited with his seven-year-old daughter after she was ‘abducted’ and taken to a Norwegian church by his ex-partner. British expat Dominic Shepherd, 40, said he was ‘elated’ after winning back Maia, six months after Tonje Bjornsen, 37, fled to the church seeking ‘asylum’ with their child. As we reported exclusively two months ago, Bjornsen ‘abducted’ Maia and her 10-year-old brothers, Tobias and Christian, last year after claiming she was going to Norway to visit her sick mother.

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AN investigation has been launched over the rental of council flats to tourists. The probe is looking into how properties in the Sa Gerreria area of Palma are being rented via rental sites, including Airbnb and Booking.com, for up to €150 a night. Owners currently benefit from lower protected rents, New quality homes and under rental rules,since ten-1958 ants are banned from renting to tourists. The Olive Press found that at least three properties in the area were being rented by the online sites. All of them are fully booked until September. 971 706 972 taylorwimpeyspain.com

Confusion reigns

SPAIN’S prime minister has accused Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing a declaration of independence. Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really declared independence following Tuesday’s nail biting address to the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy insisted he could trigger Article 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalunya is going through - to Continues on Page 7

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MALLORCA CULTURE

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EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

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2017

PAGE 26

BRAVE: Ignacio Echverria and (top) Sergio Farina

EXCLUSIVE

TRUE HEROES

A PAIR of Spanish heroes came to the aid of Londoners attacked by three crazed terrorists at the weekend. Ignacio Echeverria and Sergio Farina stepped in to save the lives of innocent bystanders caught up in the carnage that killed seven and injured 48. It has now been confirmed that Ignacio Echeverria, from Madrid, who defended woman from one a the terrorists, died of in the attack. Echeverria, 39, said to have been is his way home fromon a skate park on the Saturday night when attempted to defendhe a woman with his skateboard in Borough Market. He was last seen lying on the pavement.

CONFUSION reigns over who should foot the bill for Mallorca hotels hit by the collapse of airline Monarch. Balearic hotels are facing a €10million bill over the collapse that saw the emergency repatriation of over 110,000 back to the UK, many from Palma. Administrator KPMG told the Olive Press ‘the debt owed by Monarch to hoteliers will rank as an unsecured claim’ against the defunct airline. “They will have to file a claim to the joint administrators for all the money they are owed,” said a spokesman. “It has not been determined (yet) how much money will be available to creditors.”

Onslaught

In a second incident, a heroic Spanish waiter put his life on the line during the onslaught. CCTV footage shows Sergio Farina, from Galicia, throw himself with kids against the door of bar to prevent onehis of the knife-brandishing terrorists from enterChoking back tears, the ing. ish expat, continued: BritHe managed to keep just concentrating on “I am the man from entering my head together keeping, before opening those kids need a dad. because the door to help anwant Maia back so we We just other person find can live a normal life.” safety. His ordeal began last “You do not even think when Bjørnsen left August, about it,” he said, Spain “I with the children, ostensibly could have simply left, for a holiday, after living as everyone did, but the island for three years. on I would have left 28 However two weeks people behind.” later he received a call from his He added that ‘all he ner to say she was not partcould see was a guy coming back. with dynamite’ as he Mystified, the distraught tried to lower the bar dad was forced to use the windows’ shutters. Hague Convention to win legal He added: “We did custody of their children. not know how many But despite three court terrorists there were verdicts in his favour, and whether they forced to travel to he was would return.” Norway to get his children back Dozens of pedestrians Bjornsen refused to after were mowed down return them. by a van on London After picking up the two Bridge before attackTobias and Christian boys ers stabbed a police from school, he was stunned officer and to revellearn Bjørnsen had fled lers around Borough their daughter - whose with Market with 12-inch day is this week - to livebirthknives. in a local church. More than 20 remain “I was utterly lost for in a critical condition. words,“ said Shepherd, who has spo Continues on Page Opinion Page 6 2

holding’ her daughter from joining her twin brothers in Mallorca. “I’m numb, but the boys make me strong,” Shepherd, an IT expert, based in Ponsa, told the Olive Santa “I’ve had nothing but Press. support from friends and family.”

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PLEA: Dominic Shepherd

Desperate dad’s fight to win back seven-year-old daughter from Norwegian church asylum

AN expat has made an appeal to have his urgent sevenyear-old daughter returned from a Norwegian church worship in February. after his ex-partner ran Despite Shepherd winning off with their child. custody of their three BritishHeartbroken Dominic born children, Bjornsen is not herd, 40, is involved Shep- allowing his daughter Maia to nightmare battle within a leave Spjelkavik Church in Tonje Bjornsen, 37, after ex Ålesund. she sought ‘refuge’ in the She now faces criminal place of es in Spain for ‘illegallychargwith-

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MALLORCA PROPERTY

Give her back! PAGE 9

Mauled

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Remembering civil war demic Hugh Thomas aca-

Spycatcher Spy Garbo’s links to Mallorca

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FLASHBACK: June 9th were. “But I told her it seems to have worked and it was the angle we wanted to go in on these are British citizens and they have been abducted illegally’.” He continued: “Basically people stood up and listened and I’m sure I got more cooperation from the government in Norway because of the press articles.” Maia wasn’t allowed to leave the church to go to school, and Christian could only access a swing at dad Dominic and brothers Tobias play FAMILY SELFIE: Maia with with your the back of the church to plight was report- “I am so happyone Norwe- on and passed time learning Shepherd’s ger she was.” the church organ. ed exclusively in the Olive help...although Bjornsen now faces two crim- Press before being covered in gian journalist gave me a bit to playdidn’t have any friends of stick for how direct you “She with,” said Shepherd. inal charges in Spain over the the Mail On Sunday. to play abduction case. “She turned seven in there. I asked her how her birthday was and she shared it ‘with another girl’. DE MALLORCA “I said, ‘That’s nice, how how old was she?’ She said, ‘98’.” Shepherd is now hoping to get Maia into the same school MORE as her brothers in September. “It was very emotional when revenue with they all met up again. ChrisGerman clients! tian broke down crying and Put your ads in gave her a big hug. They all missed each other. EL AVISO “I feel elated. To have all newspaper! three back together and see them all grow and develop together. CONTACT US “They shouldn’t have had to go through all this. But I 971 619 234 couldn’t be prouder of all of 661 901 290 them.” Info@el-aviso.es Ave de Gabriel Roca 4, Palma See our adverts inside

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CHASING CORRUPTION P6

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Vol. 1 Issue 22 www.theolivepress.es February 15th - February 28th 2018

OUCH! Which original British expat was tortured by Spain for his loose lips?

SURFS UP Don’t miss our three-page travel special on Brazil

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DRINK TO THAT Some great Spanish alternatives to French classics which are easier on the wallet SEE PAGE 20

SAVE OUR TERRACES

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

AT RISK: Terraces are a staple for Mallorca visitors “It’s a complete nightmare,” said Bin Shah, owner of Bindi’s restaurant in Santa Catalina. “I completely rely on my terrace in summer and I don’t know how I would survive without it. “I would certainly have to get rid of a member of staff,” added the 50-year-old, from Loughborough. “I don't understand why they are doing it. I understand people need to get down the road,

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STANDING UP FOR SANTA CATALINA

EXCLUSIVE By Gillian Keller

THE Olive Press is backing a campaign to protect the livelihoods of dozens of expat businesses in Santa Catalina. It comes after a draconian proposed law could see an estimated 42% of terraces in the Palma district shut. Many businesses fear a dramatic impact - and a loss of dozens of jobs - if the plan comes into effect. The new law to create more space for pedestrians would lead to 37% of terraces having to shut in Pere Garau area and around 40% in Es Jonquet. Of the capital’s existing 1,650 restaurant terraces, it is estimated around 500 would be 16/06/2017 affected. 15:36

Flat wrong

Opinion Page 6

Ave de Gabriel Roca 4, Palma

SPECIALIZING IN: CRIMINAL LAW CIVIL LAW BANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE) FAMILY LAW

DISASTER SPECIAL

They’ve been getting stoned for centuries. Now UNESCO is interested in Mallorca walls. SEE PAGE 6

CMY

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Best English Pub in Palma Great food Live Music Every Night from 12am

but what they are proposing is extreme. It’s so scary.” She continued: “We work with tourists from Germany, Sweden and England and they all want to sit outside as they don’t get that chance at home. This is very scary.” Under the new rules, pavements will have to be a minimum of 2.5 metres free of any obstructions, leaving little space for tables.

“This is only being done to keep a few elderly locals happy,” insisted fellow restaurateur Luca Veronesi, of Prosecco. The Italian added: “The authorities have allowed this area to become a hip and vibrant place and now they are going to completely alter it with this law. “This could potentially ruin a lot of businesses.” Manager Marie from La Lollija agreed. “We are just waiting to hear at this point, and hoping. Any changes to our terrace would be terrible for business.” The local restaurant association, the citizens defence association, and the Palma neighbourhood association have all united with business owners to get a temporary stay on the plans. They say the plans have come in after a few complaints about noise from terraces, and other irritations like more rubbish. One group complaining is Barri Civic, which claims there are too many terraces and not enough space for locals. Its president Marilen Mayol says that pedestrians are unable to walk down the pavements, ‘especially old people, people in wheelchairs and mothers with prams.’ She adds that the area is beginning to ‘become like Maga-

luf’. This week (Thursday) a planned meeting is set to take place at the town hall so all the relevent parties could get their views across. What is certain is that the restaurant scene in Santa Catalina is unlike anywhere else in Mallorca and has a very unique international vibe. While the area has gentrified and changed rapidly, it has brought substantial business that has mostly benefited the area.

Suits EU, ma’am

“It’s a very small minority that want this change, everybody else is here for the vibrant life that has come with the restaurants,” said El Aqua Nauta owner Pitxi Vellver, from Catalunya. “It's thanks to the terraces that we have all this business and jobs… there were no jobs here a few years ago,” she added. One local British expat Vicky Edmondson, from Brighton added: “Most of my neighbours are a young international crowd, who love this mini metropolitan area. “It’s like a 'village inside the city' as we call it. It would be a big shame to destroy that.”

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REuse REduce REcycle We use recycled paper

As Spain celebrates Hispania Day, the Olive Press runs a rule over Columbus

As sherry gets big in London, we look at some quirky Jerez cocktails

SEE PAGE 10

SEE PAGE 20

PENSION OUTRAGE

Expats lose millions in life savings through failed investment scheme EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

HUNDREDS of British expats are battling to retrieve their pensions after losing up to £20 million in a failed pension OFF TO OZ: Boss Kirby and (above) team at March investment scheme. charity bash Spanish-based financial adviIt is believed at least 300 of sory firm Continental Wealth One Marbella-based expat remain anonymous. Management (CWM) folded told the Olive Press he sunk “The adviser kept telling me, CWM’s 900 clients have had last month obliterating many £59,000 through CWM, only ‘This is guaranteed, it can’t go their pension pots decimated, with victims shocked to later heartbroken Brits’ life savings. realising he had lost £39,000 below a certain level’.” Many of them had transferred when his pension trustees sent His money, and that of others discover the value of their inacross Spain and France, was vestments had plummeted their private UK pensions a statement. through the company, whose “I couldn’t believe it. I have put into high-risk ‘profession- dramatically. Untitled-1.pdf 15:36 lost thousands of pounds,” al investor only’ assets, it has However, a source close to boss Darren Kirby has now1 al- 16/06/2017 the case insisted: ‘There are revealed the victim, asking to been claimed. legedly moved to Australia. still many customers who are happy with their pension portfolio.’ Andalucia-based tax specialist Angie Brooks, a leading expert on pension liberation schemes and the founder of Pension Life, has now launched a fight to help get victims’ money back. She is working alongside pension trustees Trafalgar Inter-

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Geldof weds

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BEST

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Expats’ rights closer THE rights of 1.2 million Brits living in the EU and three million EU citizens in the UK appears to be inching closer. The initial focus for Brexit will be on expat rights, a financial settlement and ‘other separation issues’, it was confirmed after the first day of negotiations in Brussels. At the joint press conference on Monday, David Davis and Michel Barnier also said the issue of common travel in Ireland was important.

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THE Queen of England's outfit looked a little familiar to FREE Vol. 1 Issue 5 some as she opened parliament yesterday. As she spoke of making Brexit ‘successful’, social media became abuzz with how her blue and yellow ensemble ‘blatantly’ imitated the EU flag. “Is it me or is her Maj sporting a Euro flag on her head?” one viewer said. While the Queen remains officially neutral on political topics there has been debate since the referendum about Our exclusive look at Pixie her view. Geldof’s Mallorca nuptials One person remained convinced on the issue, saying: Page 2 “I always knew she was a remainer.”

Minority

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Let down

“Two ladies told me their friends have stopped coming due to the muggings… they don’t know if they will be back either, they have been coming the last 20 years or so!” One bar owner confirmed the problem. “I feel let down by the authorities’ inability to deal with the threat that is posed by the gangs posing as prostitutes.” Speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisals, he added: “There are victims every day, many of whom don't report the incident for fear of embarrassment.” The council failed to comment as we went to press. It comes after it introduced its controversial sound limiter policy that keeps sound in bars no louder than 62 decibels.

“As they do not test the blood here they simply refuse to accept it,” explained Chappell, “Even if we pay privately for the tests they will not accept the blood.” Chappell says the whole family is remaining strong for Serena while having tests to see if they are a match for a potential bone marrow transplant. “Her little brother misses her terribly and juggling time is tough right now, but we are getting there,” he said. Serena, who attends school in Valdemossa, is said to be doing ‘ok’ after her chemotherapy and is hoping to be in her own room soon, but she still needs around the clock attention. “I hope people can find it in their hearts to donate,” added Chappell, “The blood that comes to the hospital can't be guaranteed for Serena but it does have a good chance. “In any case it’s not just for Serena, many other children in the hospital may also need blood, so this will help them too.” Blood donation can be done at the Hospital Son Espases on Thursdays from 8.30am to 3pm planta O module F, or at the Red Cross Palma from Monday to Friday.

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EXPAT bar owners are demanding a crackdown on muggings by criminal gangs in Calvia. The group insist the problem is getting ‘out of control’ and the council must take action. It comes after a British tourist, 70, claimed he was attacked by a ‘gang of prostitutes’ in Magaluf. The regular visitor, who has a home in the area, is understood to have lost over €100. “The saddest thing is he knows not to take too much money with him as he can guarantee he will get propositioned on the way home,” said his friend Abbey Wright. Another expat Craig Beattie claimed that the problem is affecting tourism.

BACKING DOWN: Carles

SHE’S HOME

Shepherd, an IT specialist, based in Santa Ponsa, won back all three children after taking the case to the Hague Convention, and was victorious in every subsequent custody court battle. But after the doting dad flew to Norway to collect the children in February, Bjornsen hid in the church in Alesund with Maia before Shepherd won a final court battle in July. “It was very emotional when I saw Maia again,” Shepherd told the Olive Press. “There were tears in both our eyes. “I hadn’t seen her for nearly a year. It’s almost impossible to describe that moment when you haven’t seen your own child for such a long time. “There are just so many emotions flowing but obviously just one of huge relief. She a lot as well. It was had grown 15:36 16/06/2017 quite a shock how much big-

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’.

ROBBED: Tourist mugged

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August 3rd - August 16th 2017

Victorious

SON Sant Joan airport is set for its busiest ever day this week. A record 190,000 passengers and 1,117 flights are due to land or take off this Saturday, with a plane landing or arriving every minute. “From June to September we have more flights than Madrid and Barcelona,” said airport boss Antoni Planells. This summer, 18% more Germans have flown to the island, with a 14% increase in British visitors and 5% more Spaniards.

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Wasn’t me

Strong

As the show on everyone’s lips drew to a close, our romeo reporter Joe got an exclusive look at the Love Island mansion SEE PAGE 6

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Recordbreaking flights

Vol. 1 Issue 8

Opinion Page 6

IN DENIAL: Guerrero

transfusions she has had an eight-day chemotherapy course and bone marrow and lumbar punctures. “We are in intensive care 24 hours a day and treatment continues, but the hospital is now very short on her type of blood and she needs more,” added her father. The main issue is that getting the type has been hampered by legislation. Chiefly, if you lived in the UK for more than two years between 1980 and 1996 you can’t donate the blood in Spain due to a risk of carrying traces of Mad Cow’s disease, which rocked the UK back then.

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oped nodules, making them unable to perform. “It’s affecting our work and health,” she added, “It could prevent us singing.” During a meeting of 100 business owners and performers, attended by the Olive Press, the group blasted the council for ‘giving in’ to tourists who come to the party areas for a quiet holiday. “The council are protecting the wrong people,” one exclaimed, “They are protecting two Brits who come for a quiet holiday and complain about the noise, it’s a disgrace!” One bar owner, on the island for 15 years, claimed the council is being manipulated by hotels and clubs who want to drive business away from the bars. “The new rules are twisting the spirit of EU rules, and instead of helping us, they are punishing us,” he said. “We will be forced to keep noise levels lower than in the industrial areas… the rules are impossible to comply with and we fear police are likely to fine anyone who fights back!” He alleged that clubs sell tickets from stands without the correct licenses but that the authorities look the other way. “The council knows that the sale stands from the clubs break the rules as they use secondary licenses known as ‘Licencia com€99 plementaria’ when the primary license operating the business is closed,” he added.

Must stop the muggings

HELP SAVE SERENA! A BRITISH family have made a heartfelt plea for blood to help save their daughter’s life. They urgently need donors of the type O Negative, as Mallorca runs desperately low on supplies. It comes after 11-year-old Serena Chappell found out she had leukaemia following a random test last month. The Mallorca-born girl - a keen dancer, who is trilingual - had been complaining of having no energy and began to look increasingly pale. Doctors at Son Espases Hospital discovered the ‘normally energetic girly girl’ had leu-

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DESPERATE NEED FOR BLOOD TYPE ‘O NEGATIVE’ TO BEAT MAD COW RULING

Waste of space

After operating for a decade in Andalucia and Gibraltar, our team of professional journalists pride themselves on understanding the needs of our discerning readership. We also promise to ensure that our editorial takes up, at least, half of the paper and we will not jam it full of adverts, particularly of a sexual nature. Finally, we would like to thank everyone for making us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived. We now clearly understand why Mallorca is leading the way in Spain for property and tourism and why so many celebrities and dignitaries visit the island and make it their home. The incredible scenery, great local food, cosmopolitan feel, accompanied by the warmth of the locals makes it truly unique. It’s safe to say, we will be sticking around!

By Laurence Dollimore

Rocker’s villa going for a song on Mallorca

Olive Press probes the 10-year Maddie case

t’s the most exciting launch to hit the island in a decade! The first edition of the Mallorca Olive Press is now on the loose… and totally free! Already voted the best expat paper in Spain, we now promise to deliver the news that really matters in Mallorca. Available in the four corners of the island, we also vow to deliver a blend of irresistible, entertaining and informative features… as well as campaigning on key issues and problems. Aimed at the huge foreign market in Mallorca, the readers will be a healthy mix of Scandinavian, Dutch and Germans… not to mention the British and Irish, of course.

Listen up

Lordy Lordy!

A who’s who of the island raise money for expats

Alive in Spain?

rca* two a o m ll

WELL we made it. To our second birthday and 50 issues, at least. When we first launched the Olive Press in Mallorca in April 2017 it was very much an adventure. A punt, if you like. While I had known the island since my early 20s when I visited for the first time, then working as an English teacher in Madrid, I had no idea if we could sustain a business there. Sure the island was stunning and there was so much to see and do. But, would the local expats welcome a new newspaper? During my research I was quickly encouraged by a local German publisher and the fact that there was a massive shortage of decent publications on the island, particularly in English. There were no free publications with any real journalism or investigative reporting. And few publications with much quality editorial. Well now the island has one - a paper that provides news on a local, regional and national level, as well as political analysis and cultural and historical features. On top of this our travel and food articles around Spain are original and colourful and our investigations into fraud and crime are second to none. We are proud to serve the expats of all nationalities on the island and vow to continue for years to come. Remember we are at your service but YOU are our eyes and ears. So please get in touch with anything that needs investigating or publicising. Here is a selection of some of our best front pages and features over the last two years. If you missed any, they are all online. All that remains is for me to thank our hard-working local staff on the island, journalist Gillian Keller, columnists Lesley and Amanda and distributor Graham. And of course our loyal and faithful advertisers who trusted us with their hard-earned money. We wish you all a happy and healthy 2019!

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Two and counting

April 27th - May 10th 2017

ye ing ars r z a e

HE Mallorca Olive Press is celebrating its second birthday. We have now been bringing you hard hitting news, investigations and campaigns for two years running - as well as heaps of original features and online content. From day one we set ourselves apart from our rivals by not only having actual journalists on the island, but by offering a product that was genuinely informative and impactful. And what a busy two years it has been. Rarely a month has gone by without a big story and we have covered everything from wanted criminals to celebrity weddings, as well as located fraudsters and reported on floods. One of our most positive stories came when we managed to get the island’s supplies of a rare blood type restocked to help save a young girl, Serena, who needed urgent surgery to treat her Leukemia. We also helped raise global awareness of the plight of a Norwegian expat, whose children were taken ‘hostage’ by their mother in a church in Oslo. After being printed in the Daily Mail and a string of papers around Europe, the mother released the children and the father was reunited with his kids. We’ve also thrown our weight behind local campaigns, including backing bars and restaurants in calling out the new terrace limits and reporting the plight of music venues battling prohibitive noise limits. And it’s safe to say our coverage of huge events, like last year’s biblical floods, were second to none when compared with our English-speaking rivals. So while patting ourselves on the back, we would like GOOD times Ahoy! Voted to take this opportunity to thank all of our advertisers expat paper in Spain who have continued to support our product over the past couple of years, and of course our readers who keep picking up the paper every fortnight. We look forward to continue bringing you the news and hope there are many more years of the Mallorca Olive Press to come.

OUR BOAT’S COMING IN!

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g rtin for t h po

A message from the publisher

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June 22nd - July 5th 2017

LGBT heroes

A look at Spain’s greatest LGBT during International Pride Monthicons

Fake news Space-tastic Did it all begin in Important Spain?

observatory to survive thanks to Olive Press

CATCH THE SCAMMERS! Page 6

EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

Page 10

Page 15

WARNING: Olive Press investiga string of fake holiday rental sitestion discovers conning customers this summer

THE Olive Press is demanding action against a string of fake holiday rental sites falsevilla rental company Bonder ly advertising luxury villas and Co. across the Balearic Islands. Both fake websites SpainviIt comes after we reported pholidays.com and Balearlast issue that scam site RenticVillaEscapes.com are listholidaysvillas.com was coning the same properties, use ning British tourists out of the same website template, thousands of euros each year. with both website domains In total, British victims lost having the same Google veri€8.16 million in holiday fication key. scams last year, a year-onAn IT expert told the Olive year rise of 20%, claims the Press that this was a classic Association of British Travel case of ‘domain farming’ and Agents (ABTA). criticised Google for not takIn one of the worst examples, Future ing the sites down immedireported last issue, rugby star "We've laid solid foundaately. Dean Schofield and friends tions for future discusCOPIED: How genuine site was All three scam websites are shelled out nearly €50,000 scammed by sions and an ambitious but Spain VIP Holidays hosted by US-based firm Gofor a fraudulent villa break in achievable timetable," said Daddy, which also hosts RenMallorca. Davis, Britain's Brexit minmassively reduced prices to We have now discovered NEWS ister. panies you have never heard holidaysvillas.com. lure victims in. many other websites running Davis insisted that talks about. Don't let scammers The UK’s Action Fraud conHelle firmed Heredia, similar it is now investigatfrom Mallorfraudulent schemes, about trade would occur ‘in ca-based rental firm Nova- ruin your holidays.” ing rentholidaysvillas.com, including balearicvillaesparallel’, but Barnier said sol, said she had heard of ‘25 The fraudsters, who are very although at the time of going capes.com, Luxurydreamsthey would start only in a to 30’ recent cases of people difficult to track down, are to press had not responded to villas.com and www.digsecond phase. being scammed but believed very good at creating fake our enquiries. italdreamsholidays.com. First, ‘significant progress’ profiles and, as revealed last there were ‘many more’. GoDaddy was made aware Photos of an eight-bedroomed would need to be made on issue, the photo for the agent of Rentholidaysvillas.com’s “It’s so scary with these scam Mallorca property, advertised the EU's priority issues, nosites - they pop up with just ‘Flavio’ for rentholidaysvil- fraudulent activity in April, from €800 per night on a tably the rights of expatriate one purpose, of robbing peo- las.com was actually an Aus- but the site, and the three fourth site spainvipholidays. citizens and a settling finanple of their money in the most tralian estate agent. others, are still live. com, have been lifted from a cial accounts. important time of everyone’s We have now discovered that A GoDaddy spokesperson genuine US website luxuryreEU negotiators have insisted a photo of Balearicvillaesyear Asylum drama told the Olive Press: “Our treats.com. that current Top-end properties around said. - their holidays,” she capes ‘property agent’ Alba Digital citizens’ rights Untitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 On the genuine Crimes Unit still have 15:36 site the actual should remain unchanged. Portillo Olivares is actually a the whole of Spain are being “Just not received any inquiries or ensure price is from €2,930 a night. not to be tempt- stolen photo of Paloma marketed by the scammers at ed by Bond- requests from law fantastic offers by com- er, director enforceof top Ibiza luxury ment on these websites.”

national and Momentum Pensions. “People are terribly distressed,” Granada-based Brooks told the Olive Press. “They have lost large amounts of their retirement savings.” She added: “Some of these people are going to end up back in Britain on benefits.” “I have nothing but praise for Tony Barnett [Trafalgar MD] and Stewart Davies [Momentum chef executive]. They have been magnificent in trying to recoup people’s money.” The Olive Press understands it

EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

RUGBY star Dean Schofield is urging action after being mauled in a sophisticated holiday shakedown. Wasps international Dean (right) and wife Gemma, both 38, were set to take a dream break to Spain with friends to celebrate the England international’s retirement. But the vacation turned into a nightmare after the group of 16 from Cheshire unwittingly booked via a fraudulent holiday property rental website. In total, scammers took payment and deposit of €5,700 €11,400 and (£5,000) (£10,000) respectively before swiping another €29,800 (£26,000) for the stunning villa in Mallorca, which is owned by a wealthy foreign owner. The group only rumbled the scam, via rentholidaysvillas. com, the day before they flew. “We were very angry when we found out,” Gemma told the Olive Press this week. “It was a horrible moment and we weren’t sure what to do. “We started Googling it and other stories came up. When we emailed the person we’d been dealing with at the site called ‘Flavio’ he sent an abusive email back. “Luckily we were in a fortunate position where we could arrange an alternative villa and

is highly possible legal action may be taken by some parties against CWM, based out of headquarters in Alicante, and its executives. Both the office in Javea and the website have recently shut. The group were pictured celebrating at a charity ball as recently as March this year. When the Olive Press spoke to boss Kirby he ‘definitively’ denied responsibility over the crash. “I have lost my world,” he said. A close associate of Kirby’s said former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. “It is still quite raw for them, and they are working out what to do next,” he said.

Rent rage

www.theolivepress.es

England rugby international and friends fury at €50,000 holiday scam

June 9th - June 22nd 2017

SCAMMED: Holiday group and (right) fake site with profile stolen from Oz agent still get the flight over. But what if we were from a normal family and couldn’t afford to come? We were at least able to salvage the holiday.” The group had come across the stunning eight-bedroom villa with a huge pool and grounds and got in touch with the website via email. The website looked extremely credible and even had a photo of its alleged owner, Flavio Hernandes Davila, who did the negotiating.

“I must confess we did think it was a bit cheap for where it was, and it in fact rents for a lot more,” admits Gemma. Thankfully, the group of eight adults and eight children - who are still on holiday on the island - are now trying to reclaim their money as the booking was made via a credit card. The website meanwhile is still live, despite being reported to its web hosting company by the Olive Press and to UK police. Despite boasting that ‘you can

put your trust in us’ and that they ‘believe in honesty’ the scammers have stolen photos from hundreds of properties across Spain, Portugal and Greece and has a series of fake testimonials from ‘happy’ clients at the bottom. There are 18 properties for rent on the Costa del Sol and 38 in Mallorca, as well as 38 in Ibiza and 21 on the Algarve, in Portugal. Various genuine rental firms we have spoken to on the Costa

another email to say he had given me the wrong bank account number. “I immediately felt very uncomfortable. I believe he was going to hit me twice. I phoned my brother and said. ‘I think this is a scam.’” Anne phoned both hers and the recipient’s bank and her money was returned four days later. “I can’t stand the thought of families heading to a villa with their children to find they have nowhere to stay.” While she got her money back, she was forced to apply for a new passport after sending a copy of her passport to the fraudsters. This week, an Olive Press reporter, posing as a holidaymaker, enquired about renting an exclusive property with rentholidaysvillas.com. ‘Flavio’ offered us a price of £3,850 a week, plus a 10% discount for full payment up front, requesting a passport copy and full address. When asked why he needed this, ‘Flavio’ replied: “When we make the contract, we need to be sure of your passport details.” One genuine property rental site, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed her ‘regret at the negative impact this could have on holidaymakers who have paid their deposits.’ “We are deeply shocked and saddened,” she said. “This is extremely clever criminal activity and we will always do our best to help people who have been treated in this way.” Helle Heredia from Malagabased holiday property rental firm Novasol, said: “We hear about these types of scams all the time and the name ‘Flavio’ has been mentioned several times by guests that have been scammed before reaching to us for help. enforcement on alleged “My advice for holiday makers, fraud and have processes is to book with well-known and for taking action. If anyestablished holiday rental comone believes they have panies, check there is a valid they defrauded been phone number, always use a should contact law encredit-card when you make a forcement.” booking, Google the websites Contact your local pofirst to check if they have been lice and Action Fraud reported for scams before and and email newsdesk@ always remember if it sounds theolivepress.es if you’ve too good to be true – it probbeen scammed. ably is!”

del Sol and in Mallorca are demanding legal action after their own properties were taken and offered to rent at much cheaper prices. We have discovered that the photo of Davila (left) is actually a photograph of an Australian estate agent, whom we are not naming, for legal reasons. Another British victim of the site, pensioner Anne Landon, said she became suspicious after booking a break through the site and transferring £4,600 into one of their UK bank accounts. “I take my grandchildren on holiday every summer and was getting pretty desperate trying to find somewhere,” said Anne, 74. “The price was very reasonable and I was so excited. But immediately after booking he sent

STOP THE SCAMMERS

Rentholidaysvillas.com is hosted by US-based server GoDaddy, which was warned as long ago as April of the scam by a leading holiday rental site in Spain. When asked why it was still live this week, GoDaddy Digital Crimes boss Ben Butler, explained: “We communicate regularly with law

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OWD OWDDD MY

A Norwegian Supreme Court will probe Bjørnsen’s asylum claim this month. Bjørnsen’s lawyer, Vidar Helgheim, claimed that ‘new information’ had now ‘changed’ the case, but refused to disclose it. “The (original) case was based on very little information. You have to go deeper and ask why she ended up in this situation,” he said. A Norwegian police spokesperson told the Olive Press they would not intervene while Maia remained in the church. “The police will not enter a church and arrest someone who has requested protection,” said Ingar Boen, Chief of Police District Møre og Romsdal.

DE MALLORCA

The gates of hell opened

WISHES: On Maia’s birthday this week

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ken to his daughter just once since. “It’s morally wrong, seeking asylum to avoid the law. “My lawyer said if everyone in Norway with a legal problem ran to a church to escape the law we better start building more churches,” he continued. He claims Maia is not attending school and is only able to learn to play the organ and sing with the choir, which is ‘hardly an appropriate syllabus’. Local vicar Knut Bjune denied this however, insisting local teachers were coming to the church to give her lessons ‘almost all the time’. “Socially she is not isolated and their living conditions are good,” he told the Olive Press. “We are not hiding information and we have made it clear this cannot be long term.” In the one, heartrending phone call to Maia which Shepherd taped - the tearful youngster can be heard telling her brothers she wants to return to Spain. Shepherd’s Norwegian lawyer Sol Elden, confirmed this week: “A church is not a place to withdraw yourself from legal responsibilities. It is an abuse of church asylum. “It is her duty to now bring the girl back to Spain after the final court ruling.” Shepherd has now written to Norwegian government minister Solveig Horne demanding help after local child services dismissed Maia’s case, saying no further action would be taken.

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ON DUTY: Pedro Sanchez visits affected zones while (inset) tennis champ Rafael Nadal cleans up hometown

h wrath Nature’s wrat Natu I

DESTROYED: Van overturned on main road

Opinion Page 6

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H w

CELEBRATION: Jon toasts the anniversary

A HOTEL is to be knock

quickly T could have been a scene from the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was on the scene, pulling on wellies, to declare Old Testament. he vowed Millions of litres of rain bombed the area as a disaster zone as to down the hillsides in biblical propor- to offer all financial support necessary tions in what believers would have de- rebuild the lives of those affected.meaningWhile welcomed, it’s probably scribed as the wrath of God. son, or the Streets were turned into violent rap- less to the mother who lost her ids, hurtling cars towards the sea and family who lost their grandfather. tragedies of carrying people, young and old, to The chaotic night left a string in its wake, like the man who drowned their deaths. knowing But this wasn’t God, this was mother while trying to rescue his pets,them. nature - a brutal force which shows he’d rather die than live without how no mercy when it rears its destructive A British mother and son described with peothem past swept car a saw they head. inside. A nine-year-old boy with his whole life ple trapped and clearly panicking died. ahead of him, was killed in a mat- They are later believed to have of the diThe tragic nature ter of seconds before saster is matched only by his lifeless body was its method of surprise. found strewn across is250 litres fell in A yellow warning was the ground in the aftersued by Spain’s official math. 5 hours, a record weather agency, AEMET, at Another lad - even before being upgradyounger - is still missAEMET said was 12pm ed to orange at 8.30pm. ing. catch up An elderly man, who a ‘once in a 1000 As if playing red warnnature, a was too immobile to 2017 19th until - December event’ 6th with yearDecember wasn’t issued ing escape the rushing wa10.20pm. ter as it filled his base“We weren’t expecting it,” ment, drowned alone said one local, “The weather alert went in his home. time. The A British couple - who hours earlier from yellow to orange in a short too much had most likely been dining out on brook was in good condition but time.” their holiday - were swept away be- water has fallen in too short a fled fore spending their dying moments Indeed long before then, hundreds escaping to together trapped in a taxi as it filled their homes while others were their roofs and praying for a break in the with water. A Dutchman died in a similar predica- deluge. Some ment, while even the former mayor of The statistics are simply terrifying.litres by Arta, Rafel Gili, 71, was swept to his 175 litres fell by 6pm, some 220 litres - a re250 over finally and midnight, death. claimed At least six other people lost their lives cord according to AEMET, which event’. in what was has been described as this was a ‘once in a 1,000 years Ses Planes the worst floods to hit the island in The heavy rainfall flooded the brook, which is typically dry. more than 100 years.

H Not enough stars

m m M

WELL ROUNDED ndepth epo ts on flood ng and P x e Ge do s g amo ous De a wedd ng FRUIT growers in the Axarquia are facing a 60% reduction in water use from the La Vinuela reservoir with no solution in sight. The Junta has decided to limit its use as the reservoir is already at 22.7% capacity and could drop even lower if the dry weather keeps up.

A Ho

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CARNAGE: Dozens of cars washed away

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April 26th - May 9th 2019

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Stroke of luck

THE Metropolitan Museum in New York has unearthed another painting by Diego Velazquez in its collection, bringing the total number of works it holds by the Spanish master to six. The moody oil painting known as Knight Marquand, donated to the museum in 1889 by Henry G. Marquand, was identified by Spanish expert Javier Portus, head of Conservation of Spanish Painting pre-1700 at the Prado museum in Madrid. Previously the work had been attributed to Juan Bautista Martinez del Mazo, Velazquez’s son-in-law, who was also a painter. The museum is cautious but Portus says he is confident it is by Sevilla’s most famous son.

Leading

“I think it is a Velazquez. It is a work that has always caught my eye at the Met and it deserves attention. “It is a portrait with quite remarkable qualities, and it seems plausible that Velazquez is the author,” he said. Portus believes the painting was completed in 1649 or 1650 during Velazquez’s second trip to Italy and that the subject may have been Juan de Cordoba, King Felipe IV’s business agent in Rome, who spent most of his time collecting classical sculptures for the royal household. Velazquez, born in 1599, was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV, and one of the most important painters of the Spanish Golden Age.

Can you dig it?

ART LOVE: Me Lata work

Host of acts promise to take you back to the 1970s this summer A THROWBACK of a concert line-up is set for this summer in Port Adriano. The Village People along with their most famous wedding-reception song YMCA have announced on August 3. The New York band, founded in the 1970's, is still led by original 'cop' Victor Willis.

URBAN artist double act Me Lata are exhibiting their works in Mallorca for the first time. The duo have scattered some 50 messages, created on paint cans, across the island for their exhibit Look what we love. The messages are painted in bright colours, written in Mallorquin, Spanish and a few in English. The couple met in Sant Jordi five years ago, but now live in Barcelona, where they have left more than 500 loving messages around the city. The colourful art messages have also been spotted in Paris and London.

pril fair M U R O brings out the crafts, market stalls, parades and live animals for the annual Sant Francesc Fair on Sunday, April 28 – running for over 200 years!

Old School M

ook lovers VINTAGE and secondhand books are centre-stage at the 13th annual old book fair in Palma at the Botanic Gardens off Via Roma – open daily through May 5. ay Fair ACTIVITIES for the whole family come to the town of Ses Salines for the May Fair on May 1, with a huge market of local goods and crafts, a gastronomic festival and a very popular equestrian show.

F Bennett. Legendary American saxophonist Maceo Parker,

best known for working with James Brown in the 1960's, will also hit the

Ancient ruins

REVEALED: Knight Marquand is a Velazquez

what’s on

Legendary

Spandau Ballet's former lead singer Tony Hadley, meanwhile, will be performing some of the band's classics like True and Gold on August 9 at the chic Calvia port. . The 58-year-old singersongwriter will also perform solo work inspired by Frank Sinatra and Tony

April 26th - May 9th 2019

THE mysteries of Spain’s very own Stonehenge have been uncovered by a joint team of Spanish and American archaeologists. Dolmen de Soto, a 6,000-year-old megalithic monument, was discovered in 1923 near Huelva, where excavations revealed carved and painted standing stones depicting figures holding weapons. An investigation by the universities of Alcala, Huelva, Sevilla, Castilla-La Mancha and Texas revealed an entire ancient complex buried beneath a 60-metre wide mound.

stage with his funk and soul-filled jazz. Many of the sax solos in Brown's hits are the work of the talented Parker.

Phenomenon

Experts also found eight skeletons in the monument which has been dated back to the 4th millennium BC.

German phenomenon Nena with her worldfamous war song, 99 Red Balloons, will be performing at Port Adriano on August 14 as part of her 40th anniversary tour, 'Nothing Missed'. The Les Humphries Singers are also stopping by the stage on August 10, bringing their 70's style hippy music to Mallorca.

irst position THE Moscow Ballet returns to Mallorca with a double performance at Palma Auditorium of Swan Lake on May 4 and Sleeping Beauty on May 5.

irtual insanity JAMIROQUAI are headlining the Mallorca Live Festival, alongside Two Door Cinema Club in Magaluf on May 10.

LETTERS

10 www.theolivepress.es 10 April 26th - May 9th 2019

Brexpats

Check out our issues online at

www.theolivepress.es In Andalucia Issue 316

Online readers react to news of ‘bonkers’ Benidorm expats flying from the UK to Spain to support Nigel Farage’s new Brexit party

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Mijas Costa

A Estepona A KIND OF MAGIC ll about

Vol. 13 Issue 316

Estepona has managed to avoid the mass market tourism of the rest of the Costa del Sol, writes Charlie Smith

Vol. 13 Issue 316 www.theolivepress.es April 24th - May 7th 2019

A WOMAN holding the world in her hands above the blue Mediterranean sea. This is a fitting image for Estepona and is the subject of the town’s latest mural. Called Atlantis, it is the 49th work in the town’s series of street art, located up the steep hill of Avenida de los Reales, which offers unparalleled views down to the sea (see page 20). But this new painting by Jose Fernandez Rios, unveiled on International Women’s Day, reveals more than just a celebration of female contributions to society. It captures the constantly evolving nature of Estepona and its impressive global credentials, despite being a medium-sized town. Within Estepona’s mural series alone, you have the largest vertical mural in Europe, and even the first braille mural in Spain, using ceramic pieces, to assist the learning of the visually impaired. Perhaps one of the most unusual examples of Estepona’s worldwide appeal is Disney’s discovery of the area in the ear-

SHOP HORROR

We’re here to stay!

CRIME SPREE: At La Cala supermarket

Expats demand action after spate of robberies at Mercadona

SPAIN’S biggest supermarket chain has refused to up its security despite a string of British expats claiming they were robbed at one of its stores. It comes after half a dozen British shoppers told the Olive Press how

“By the time I had gone out they had EXCLUSIVE jumped into a waiting car and been By Laurence Dollimore driven off.” Another Brit, Laureen Pye, who splits they had fallen prey to brazen thieher time between Mijas and the UK, ves in the La Cala de Mijas branch of said she was Mercadona. targeted in November last year. The group, who are appealing “My purse was tucked in rifor action, warned that the ght at the bottom of my same problem is occuring bag,” said Pye, who works at various other branches of the store along at the Lions Club charity the coast. shop. One expat, Dee March, Finally a fourth victim 55, from Portsmouth, revealed she was robbed claimed she was robbed at the same supermarket a shocking TWO times in by two eastern European men while a third distrac10 days at the same branch. ted her by asking her about The mother-of-three, who li‘the sugar levels in the bread’. ves near to the store, lost hundreds “I never take my bag into any store of euros alongside ‘priceless’ menow, everything I need is in my pocmentos of her dead daughter. kets,” she said. “I was so upset yet they didn’t even Meanwhile, Teresa Jane Sykes, take me to an office or offer to call rethe vealed she had police,” she said. been robbed at a Mercadona store in nearby Coin. But when she asked for the store for Appalled CCTV footage, it was refused, despite insisting she would be able to identify “The female manager simply couldn’t the assailant. care less. I was appalled.” “The thieves took my purse with €180 and all my credit cards the CCTV first time and €30 the second time, “Even the Guardia Civil in Coin refuas well as priceless mementos from sed to let me see the CCTV. And Mermy daughter who passed away three cadona wouldn't look at the CCTV years ago. without police authorisation.” “One was a card from her funeral Despite the complaints, a spokesman which I can never replace, it’s terrifor Mercadona insisted that current ble.” measures are sufficient. She insists the supermarket should He added that the company would now erect barriers at tills, introduce not be introducing more cameras, more cameras and hire more security erecting barriers at tills or hiring guards to deal with the problem. security guards. Another victim, 64, who has lived “When we get a report of a theft in Spain since 1972, added: “I was we targeted in the same hand over CCTV to police to deal shop when two wo- with,” he added. men stole a purse and Dee March meanwhile has decided to vote with her feet and will shop my mobile phone. el“I realised instantly sewhere from now on. what had happened “I’m now going to Lidl and Carrefour, and ran to an assis- which are no dearer in any case, and tant who called a co- with much better security,” she adUK BASED lleague for help. He ded. watched two women stroll out of the shop Have you been a victim at Merand said it was them, cadona? Contact newsdesk@ but made no effort to theolivepress.es stop them. for Spanish Opinion Page 6

My Brexit vision

The Olive Press meets British art genius Mat Collishaw at his new exhibition Brexit brushstrokes, Page 14

GATES OF HELL: Mat’s Madrid show has parallels with Brexit

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s April 24th - May 7th 2019 Vol. 4 Issue 95 www.theolivepress.e

Eyes in the sky

Brits flocking to Spain

Out of their holes

ready for action later this MILITARY drones will year. be patrolling the Strait of It comes as the Guardia Gibraltar this year after Civil has struggled to Spain signed a huge €216 tackle the surging drug million deal with the US. epidemic Reaper trafficking MQ-9 Four which has seen outbursts drones are to carry out of violence along the surveillance to tackle ille- coasts over the past two gal immigration and drug years. trafficking. It has been suggested this The unmanned aircraft summer will see even will soon be arriving at more drug activity than their new base in Tala- last year. vera la Real in Badajoz,

HUNDREDS of new British residents have registered to live in southern Spain. The number of registered UK nationals the in Malaga has zoomed up despite spectre of Brexit. A sizeable 600 more people were registered at the end of last year compared to 2017. And the numbers are expected to have berisen further over the last quarter, lieve experts. so “I think many people are worried, that has increased registrations,” Anne Hernandez, president of national supthe port group Brexpats in Spain told Olive Press. “And a lot of Brits are currently moving to Spain, because they don’t want to leave their dream move any longer.to “Some of them just say they ‘want escape the UK’.”

STILL IN DANGER

Growth

By the end of 2018 there were 47,193 British nationals registered in Malaga province, the first growth since 2013. That year, there were 76,000 Britonsin Malaga - the highest of any year while 10 years ago 63,000 Brits were accounted for in the area. The large drop of expat numbers mostly happened over the following couple of years due to the deep six-year recession, which was the worst in Spain’s history. This now looks to be in reverse, despite Brexit. are “I know many British people who continuing to move to Spain,” said TyBritish councillor in Manilva, Dean EXCLUSIVE ler Shelton. has A RIGHT wing coalition government By John Culatto “At the same time I think Brexit that includes Vox could cause difficulbeen a factor in pushing more British ties on the border with Spain, former who was people to register in Spain. Most have Chief Minister Sir Joe Bossano has their jobs here,” Bossano, knighted last year, told the Olive no intention of going back,” he added. warned. Almeria had a total of 15,000 British The Minister of Economic Develop- Press. that before and I expats registered by the end of 2018, ment’s stark words come after the “The PP has provenan advance of the making it the second-largest British rising political force vowed to close think there will be they have taken right wing, because population in Andalucia. the border if it got elected into govdisenchantment Meanwhile, Alicante had 69,289 regis- ernment in the April 28 national elec- advantage of the there is.” tered Brits in Spain in 2018, compared tions. Gibraltar Gi- Vox’s aggressive stance on years to the for with 66,397 in 2017. disaster a be would liv- This would turn the clock back 50 There are 330,911 Brits registered as braltar economy that relies on thou- 1969 when General Franco ordered a ing in Spain, as of 31 December 2018. sands of workers from Spain to cross border closure. Last month, a royal decree was passed ofDe- the frontier every day. The party, led by former military giving Brits living in Spain until “If there is a right wing majority govhas consiscember 31 2020 to apply for a Foreign- ernment they would not care about ficer, Santiago Abascal, of what it sees as er Identity Card, granting them legal the 15,000 people who would lose tently been critical status in the country after Brexit.

Dear the Olive Press,

gets into Border problems loom if Vox Sir Joe a coalition government, warns Bossano

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STARK WARNING: From former Britain’s ‘colonisation’ of the Rock. “We are fed up with the pirates who our harass our fishermen and use compatriots as hostages,” Abascal said about those ruling Gibraltar. will “While we recover Gibraltar wetaxes make them pay or go live with the monkeys,” said the controversial leader during his election campaigning. Vox had previously helped unfurl a huge Spanish flag on the BASED Rock, before gaining their first 12 regional seats in neighbouring

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Filth such as this never goes away (Rise of the far right, Issue 52, pg 6-7). It lurks under stones, slithering out to enact it’s evil work when it finds a ‘believable’ enemy of the state. Now Muslims and refugees are the new Jews in Europe. We are never very far from a ZyklonB style ‘solution’ when these twisted ideas become generally accepted. It’s not just Spain, the world begins to stink of 1939, thanks to Trump, Orban, Bolsonaro, Le Pen, Farage, Putin, Abascal, Yaxley-Lennon, Guaido, Netanyahu, and the rest of the running dogs of hate. It’s well to remember that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men/women to do nothing.

leader Joe Bossano Andalucia last December. In a wide-ranging interview, Bossano EU also warned that Spain, like all member states, could still veto legisbelation on the future relationship tween the UK and the EU. This is despite the Government stopping Spain from having a Clause the 24-style veto that would allow Rock to remain in a Brexit transition stage. re“We do not know what that future lationship will be, and even if we want all,” at relationship to be in that future Bossano said. “But what we do know is that the veto is when Spain believes it can corner us.”

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FLOODY HELL

Brexit brushstrokes, Page 14

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HUNDREDS of new British sidents have registered to live rein Spain. The number of registered UK nationals in Alicante has zoomed up despite the spectre of Brexit. Around 3,000 more people were registered at the end of last year compared to 2017. And the numbers are expected to have risen further over the last quarter, believe experts. “I think many people are worried, so that has increased registrations,” Anne Hernandez, of support group Brexpats in Spain told the Olive Press. “A lot of Brits are currently moving to Spain, because they don’t want leave their dream move any longer.to “Some of them just say they ‘want to escape the UK’.”

Recession

By the end of 2018 there were 69,289 British nationals registered in Alicante province (In 2017 there were 66,397), the first growth since 2013. The large drop of expat numbers mostly happened over the years following 2013 due to the deep sixyear recession, which was the worst in Spain’s history. This now looks to be in reverse, despite Brexit. “I know many British people who are continuing to move to Spain,” said British councillor in Malaga, Dean Tyler Shelton. “At the same time I think Brexit has been a factor in pushing more British people to register in Spain. Most have no intention of going back,” he added. Almeria had a total of 15,000 British expats registered by the end of 2018, making it the second-largest British population in Andalucia. Meanwhile, Malaga had 47,193 registered Brits in Spain in 2018, and there were 330,911 Brits registered as living in the whole of Spain. Last month, a royal decree was passed giving Brits living in Spain until December 31 2020 to apply for a Foreigner Identity Card, granting them legal status in the country after Brexit.

2/8/18 17:01

Thousands of homes flooded, hundreds left homeless... and dozens of roads scenes rock Spain’s celebrated blocked as Biblical holy week IT will go down as the heaviest Easter rain in a century. An incredible half a year’s rainfall fell in just four days across Semana Santa, with Javea hit by a record 330 litres/m3 of rain in just 12 hours on Sunday night. Houses were flooded, cars were washed away and trees uprooted as firefighters received more Continues on Page 2

STRANDED: Fireman inspect submerged car as (inset) a home became an island when Javea’s Gorgos river burst it’s banks at the weekend

Stefanjo, Palma

Opinion Page 6

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SCHOOL suspensions have increased by 75% in just threes years in the Balearics. Education officials say the increase is due to an increase in neglected and struggling children.

Click ‘n’ Buy HALF of Balearic residents shop online, making it one of the communities in Spain where the most online purchases are made.

Flood damage THE government has already paid €30.5 million in aid to towns, businesses and individuals for the damages of the deadly floods in Mallorca last October.

Death with dignity EUTHANASIA has been the topic of hot debate and is close to being legalized in the Balearics with carefully set laws around it.

Palma council slaps ‘ridiculous’ yellow lines on bar owner’s terrace leaving no room for a table

NEWS

Out of line

April 12th - April 25th 2019

EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith

Power grab SPAIN’S PP party has set out audacious plans for a power grab to take back control from the Balearics

and the other auA BRITISH expat cafe owner place,” tonomous regions. has been left fuming after advisor the retired financial Leader Pablo Casado ansaid, “but now they council workers marked off will nounced his commitment to her terrace making it too next have to be moved right strengthen the central governto the road.” small for tables and chairs. ment’s role in the run up to Despite Maggie Smith, 72, from Sur- square requesting a 5.7 national elections in a fortnight. metre terrace outrey, has run the Palma busi- side He insisted that such a move ness for 19 years, but now threeher cafe, which employs would prevent corruption and fears her trade could be se- issuedSpaniards, the council lead to a drop in taxes. Maggie just a meagre verely affected. It comes as the party attempts 4.23 The mother-of-one told the The square metres. to see off the threat from an demarcated area also Olive Press she was ‘shocked’ includes insurgent Vox Party, whose a large tree, makleader has described the auto discover her seating area ing it impossible to seat any tonomous parliaments the had been confined to a tiny customers, while doors from OUTRAGE: Bar owner ‘cancer of Spain’. Under the painted box on the pavement parked slams council markings plan, the PP wants to increase outside Bar San Marino, in across cars also intrude that was installed the lines. outside the gust.” resources for regional governSan Agustin. Meanwhile, Maggie is also cafe prior to the yellow lines. Maggie serves a range of hot ment delegations and paralyse “The chairs and tables have applying for the relocation “If I’m forced to put people in and cold dishes at always been in the same of her cafe, any further transfer of power to an intrusive parking meter the new area, I’ll have to buy including a classic Spanish the regions. something to cover over it breakfast of a tostado and and I’ve only just bought new cafe con leche. Constitution chairs and tables,” she added. Palma “People won’t want to sit out tacted City Council was conby the Olive Press, but Casado insisted the A BAR in Magaluf has been fined there in June, July and Au- declined move after offering ‘20 hours to comment. would see Spain being adminisof free drinks’ online.

Booze patrol

The venue was one of eight sanctioned for promoting binge drinking this week as part of a crackdown by Calvia town hall and local hotel associations. A party boat was also fined for the first time after illegally using the dock to transport 180 revellers from a bar to the lighthouse. Others were sanctioned for offering authorities see as working against ‘happy hours’, which their efforts to attract ‘higher quality’ tourists. Venues face fines of up to €1,500 for advertising alcohol consumption, with researchers ‘free bar’, ‘2 for 1’ and ‘3 for 1’. tracking buzz words like

Flaming Red outrage road

A SPANISH fireman has been accused of human trafficking and faces 20 years in prison after he saved thousands of migrants in rescue missions.

A NEW poll has found that the PSOE will win the April 28 election by between 123 and 128 seats, but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will fall short of an absolute majority.

tered ‘more effectively’. The election hopeful stated that his party would carry out a sweeping review of how the regional authorities operate looking at ‘efficiency and equity.’ Spain’s quasi-federal political system of ‘autonomous states’ was added to the constitution in 1978. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez strongly opposed the plan, insisting the PSOE would defend ‘tooth and nail’ the principal of regional self-government.

So a British couple return to their own country, to have a say in the democratic process that is dividing the country. What is so ‘bonkers’ about that? They are not anti-Spain, they are anti EU, just like the ‘majority of their country folk’. This couple choose to live, and spend their money in Spain, just like the millions of people for the last 40 years. Many people chose to live, work, and retire, in many European countries, long before the EU, and I’m sure plenty will continue to do so, when this unelected Mafia finally disbands. Viva España.

Michael Bath, London

Get the hell out Really? Do these people even have a brain in their heads? Farage is a total fraud. He’s an MEP. He gets paid a lot of money for that. Now he wants to form a ‘Brexit’ party. This man has caused more problems for the British public than anyone else. Seriously get a brain, and think for yourself. And if you really believe in Brexit, then get the hell out of Spain.

Jill Handley, Valencia

Bad logic They live in Spain, a country that will stay in the EU. Their rights to stay in Spain will be affected by Brexit, and yet they support it. That’s why it is so mental.

Joe Fry, Malaga

Families at war We too were disenfranchised, because we have lived in Spain for more than 15 years. The Remain side also told lies and £9 million was spent on a leaflet to all UK households. Unfortunately the referendum has split many families and friends but everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion.

Sell out We are selling our house on the mainland in Mojacar, which we’ve had since the 70s, because of this sort of thing (Out of line, Issue 52, pg 2). The Guardia Civil and local councils seem intent on pissing everyone off. Kelvin Daniels, Mojacar

Things we do for love Many people with property in Europe voted Leave (Price of leaving, Issue 52, pg 3). It’s not about Europe, it’s about people that we love. It’s about the terrible time the UK is having, and they need to get it sorted. Katie Price’s mum was putting her country first. Sharon Tallent, Palma

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Ah yes another proud British export (Female squaddie accused of ‘glassing’ army pal in the throat at Magaluf club, online, April 18). The Spanish must be beginning to wonder if Brexit and Visa controls would be such a bad thing after all.

MORE than 4,000 people have applied for the 450 open positions as administrative assistants for the Ministry of Health.

I can see why they want to support Nigel Farage. It’s because he walked all those miles from Sunderland to London, and he cares a lot for working class people. Don’t forget how well he attended the EU parliament, and for such little money. A true hero, ha ha.

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HUNDREDS of new British residents have registered to live in southern Spain. The number of registered UK nationals in Malaga has zoomed up despite the spectre of Brexit. A sizeable 600 more people were registered at the end of last year compared to 2017. And the numbers are expected to have risen further over the last quarter, believe experts. “I think many people are worried, so that has increased registrations,” Anne Hernandez, president of national pport group Brexpats in Spain told suthe Olive Press. “And a lot of Brits are currently moving to Spain, because they don’t want to leave their dream move any longer. “Some of them just say they ‘want to escape the UK’.” Opinion Page 6

A town in bloom... Estepona special inside

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April 2019

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Across 1 Stonework (7) 5 Hirsute (5) 9 Rephrase (5) 10 Once ruled by Idi Amin (6) 11 Largest Japanese island (6) 12 Second-smallest banknote (6) 13 Extinct flightless bird (3) 14 Heaps (5) 16 Fill with high spirits (5) 18 Highest mountain in Crete (3) 20 Institution for mentally ill (6) 22 Dried strip of egg dough (6) 24 Convex cylindrical wooden container (6) 25 Wary (5) 26 E.g. Tarka (5) 27 Struggle hand-to-hand (7) Down 2 Texan mission (5) 3 Supervise (7) 4 Highly radioactive metallic element (6) 6 Once more (5) 7 Beef or lamb (3,4) 8 Allotted quantity (5) 15 Moment (7) 17 Elsa, perhaps (7) 18 Suggest (5) 19 Fisherman (6) 21 Big (5) 23 Faithful (5)

We are lucky (Baggage claims, Issue 52, pg 18). Over many years only one bag went Has anything piqued your interest in this missing. We had flown from Tenerife to Malaga where we week’s Olive Press? live with Norwegian Air. We Have your say on the matter by emailing reported it at Malaga and letters@theolivepress.es or alternatively were assured we would have message us on it delivered to our home the Facebook at www.facebook.com/ next day. We live in a village OlivePressNewspaper or one hour from Malaga. By 1pm the next day it was deTwitter @olivepress livered to our home after they called us to ensure we would be there. Such a brilliant service, could not fault14:57 them. Olive Press 2018_Layout 1 16/04/2018 Page 1 Angie Benson, Mollina

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April 26th - May 9th 2019

The Big Cat One of Spain’s most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, Santa Catalina is a true melting pot for foodies and people watchers, writes Jon Clarke and Gillian Keller

DESCRIBED by locals as ‘the village in the city’ Santa Catalina has the same charming feel of Montmartre in Paris or Hampstead in London. At the same time Palma’s trendiest neighbourhood has the sort of hip locals you would more normally expect to find in Ibiza or New York’s Greenwich Village. With the city’s best food market, some of its most exciting restaurants and, bit by bit, some of the coolest shops, it is little surprise that this achingly cool barrio has become - by the square metre - one of the most expensive places to buy in Spain. The area may be small - only seven streets wide, stretching from Feixina park to busy Calle Joan Crepsí - but it has literally explod-

ed over the last few years. There has been a huge influx of expat buyers, in particular Scandinavian over recent years, and Santa Catalina today is vastly different to the area that Palma residents remember a decade ago. “It’s amazing how much it has changed in such a short time,” explains estate agent Miguel Llinas, from First Mallorca. “We have seen houses selling there for up to two million euros and it is not just the international market that loves Santa Catalina. We are increasingly getting local Mallorquins also looking to buy,” he explains. This is perhaps no surprise, as the suburb increasingly becomes THE place to eat in Palma and more and more hip and trendy

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PALMA DE MALLORCA SANTACATALINA-MALLORCA

HIVE: A market trader with his wares and an impromptu exercise class in a Santa Catalina square

12 April 26th - May 9th 2019

ll about

Santa Catalina

Super Santa From Page 11

CHILLED: Locals sit out and relax outside their homes

people move in. This includes James Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen, 32, who has already snapped up three properties in the area, the Olive Press revealed last year. The Hollywood heartthrob, who also starred in the hit US series Hannibal, ‘has bought one apartment for himself and two for his wife and daughter’, a source reveals. Aside from Mads, who is regularly seen shopping in the market and eating out, you have a number of professional golfers, as well as leading European models investing here. “There’s SoHo in New York, there’s Soho in London, and now there’s Santa Catalina,” local entrepreneur Francesca Lagartera tells the Olive Press. “There is always good food to taste and wine to drink, and more importantly there are so many interesting and friendly people around the streets,” she adds. This is one of the main differences between Santa Catalina and the rest of Mallorca - the crossing of so many cultures and backgrounds in one small neighbourhood.

“Everyone co-exists really well, and ap- restaurants here. preciates the international feel - it’s not “There are over 100 different places to segregated and people are open and eat here,” explains Ronan Levy, from friendly,” co-owner of BConnected Vin- Simply Delicious, an Israeli, who grew tage Design Angela Kholodny, from New up on a kibbutz, before moving to Santa York, explains. Catalina, via Sweden, a few years ago. This is all too apparent when walking “And many of them are unique to the through the streets, even on a rainy day, island.” with most people making the effort to There is no doubt the vibes in the area nod hello and even the shopkeepers at revolve around the concept of fresh, least trying to smile. healthy and authentic ingredients. This is the clear pride in Locally sourced prodthe neighbourhood that ucts are the norm for everyone shares. the neighbourhood… Second hand “It is the most amazing and beyond this, many shops are melting pot,” says Tuniestablishments boast sian Ali el Harbi, of hugely using local pottery, tiles beginning to successful joint Gin Burgand decor, fabrics, packer. “And the sheer variety aging and endless other thrive, where of nationalities here creMallorcan-made goods. ates an almost unique reuse is a priority Second hand shops are buzz.” beginning to thrive in His story is so typical of the area, where reusing the new residents flocking into Santa and recycling is a priority, while trendy Catalina, arriving here as a tourist, via new wine shops and delicatessens are London, after eating ‘the best burger in opening almost by the month. his life’ at his recently-bought restau- Santa Catalina however, has not always rant, with two fellow co-owners. been the trendy village it is today. And then you’ve got Ronny from Greece, Its history began with fishermen and Irene from Peru, Alex from Italy and Josh flour millers, and later numerous factofrom Luxembourg, all owning their own ries covered much of what we find today.

“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.”

TEMA – Santa-Catalina Carrer de Pou 31 07013 Palma de Mallorca

Tel: +34 671 638 003

www.tema-santacatalina.com

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NEW LOCAL: Mads Makkelson and (right) mix of expats outside a restaurant

The neighbourhood is named after an old hospital, dedicated to Saint Catalina of Alexandria, appropriately, the patron saint of sailors and merchants. Santa Catalina - and its seafront neighbour El Jonquet, which is usually included within its orbit - were the first areas outside Palma’s old town to be built up with houses. Palma was overcrowded, but there was a ‘no build’ law outside the city walls, until finally a piece of the wall was taken down, and Palma had its first expansion. In 1865, a series of ship captains and shipbuilders began constructing charming two and three storey houses from the sea up into the middle of Santa Catalina. Soon they were joined by fishermen, rope makers, and flour millers, who built a variety of houses with colourful facades, and tradition wooden shutters. In 1897, a Palma town planning contest was held with proposals for expanding Palma westwards. This was won by Bernardo Calvet, whose plan for wide streets and low buildings letting in light and fresh air came into effect, in contrast to the dark and narrow streets in the old city. Calle Fabrica - the main street in Santa Catalina - still represents this vision today. The wide streets leave room for pedestrians and large restaurant terraces, w h i c h are ideal next to the low buildings, letting the sun shine all day long. “This is what really makes the area so popular today with northern Europeans,” explains Christine Silke Leja, boss of real estate company B Connected. “The fact that the houses are lower and the streets wider means the homes get more light and sun.” The year after Calvet’s plan was adopted, a theatre was

built and to this day the Mar i Terra Theatre is a key cultural centre and drama school. Shops and businesses popped up along Calle Industria, furthest from the sea, with factories occupying most of the business space until the line of windmills near the sea, a number of them still existing to this day. Take a walk around the back streets around Calle Industria and you will find a series of unique Andalusian-style cottages, that still today boast the modest size, colourful facades and traditional green shutters. You will still often find locals sitting out on chairs during the later afternoon and early evening, as well as plenty of interesting property features. But the best was to come in 1920, when the famous Santa Catalina market was first built, with a local branch railway line running through the middle. It became the lifeblood of the area and one of the key markets for the whole city… and to this day is still supplying fresh fish, meat and vegetables to the local area… and many of the local restaurateurs. “I get almost all my food from the market,” says Chilean chef, Hector Marcelo, from Sa Fulla. “It’s fantastic. I go early like many chefs around 8 to 8.30am and get all my vegetables, lots of fish and meat and flowers of course. “We are so lucky to have it so close.” T h e neighbourh o o d served as a simple village for traders and workers for many decades. Things went well until the 1960’s when the booming tourism industry took a grip on Mallorca, leading to decades of growth with new holiday resorts popping up along the coast, east and west of the city. Santa Catalina started to fall through the cracks and fell into disrepair. Many of the origi-

HISTORIC: The area still counts many original shops such as this 1924 haberdashery and (left) knife shop

nal tradesmen and workers, moved to work in the tourism industry, leaving the central city location behind. Bit by bit this led to the area becoming dilapidated, with various homes becoming squatted or taken over by gypsies, and numerous drug dealers and users. The charm however, never went away and it was thanks to a few pioneers, who could see the true potential of the area that helped to bring it back to what it is today. One of these was Antonia Martorell, 67, a local from Santa Ponsa, who launched her first real estate business in Santa Catalina in the early 1980s. A woman with a very international outlook, having lived in

London, Germany and Stockholm, she could see the potential of the rundown area thanks to its close location to the marina and central Palma. She started to buy up and renovate old apartments in the area, the majority to rent or sell to yacht captains, many of them British. “I realised there was a market for these guys once their boats were out of the water come winter time. Where would they live? I started buying and restoring properties with a South African boat owner and soon we had 14 of them, all of them rented. “It was a great business and these guys loved the area for its vibe and location and it

went on from there.” Today Antonia has 50-plus apartments and runs Caimari Real Estate from the heart of Santa Catalina. “Our clients now are from all

around the world and we get foreigners coming in to enquire about property every day. The place has completely changed and mostly for the better,” she insists.

VARIETY: Team at Enoteca offer classic service with a smile, while (left) chilling at Eleven

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Century Santa Catalina’s market has been one of Palma’s main shopping hives for 100 years, writes Gillian Keller (right)

Church for abandoned orphans

MASSIVE MIX: From fish to flowers

NE of the key buildings in the heart of Santa Catalina is the striking Catholic church on Carrer de Sant Magi. It has its roots dating back to the 14th century and sailors stuck outside the city walls. The church has the privilege of two names, The Church of the Immaculate Conception, and Saint Maginus, or ‘San Magín’ locally. The church is named after Saint Maginus, who was a Catalan hermit in the late third century, orphaned when he was a young boy, and later persecuted for his faith. The site of today's church was originally an orphanage with a small chapel and legend has it many of the children were abandoned by sailors, who set off to sea for years on end. Later, a more substantial chapel replaced the orphanage in the 16th century. Construction began on today's church in 1867, and was finished in 1920, the same year the market came to Santa Catalina. The main altarpiece is a grand piece of baroque art, designed by Italian Giuseppe Dardanon for the Palma Cathedral in the 1720's. It had been part of the city’s main cathedral until celebrated architect Antoni Gaudí came to Palma and re-designed the cathedral, moving the altarpiece to the nearby Santa Catalina church.

LANDMARK: Sant Magi church has a 1720 alterpiece

www.themallorcadeal.com

HE lifeblood of Santa Catalina is, without a doubt, its market. Now, nearly 100 years old the Mercat de Santa Catalina is the oldest in Palma. Founded in 1920, it counts on dozens of stalls selling everything from flowers to wine and cheese to nuts. But, without a doubt, its strongest selling point is the freshness of its produce, with hundreds of chefs from around the city using its excellent stalls to shop. “Without the market there is no Santa Catalina. The best people are inside here, every day,” Bernat Contesti, of Contestí Fruits explains. His family has run their fruit and vegetable business for 70 years and it has been passed down for three generations. “We are well known for our well selected produce, much of which we grow ourselves locally, such as the strawberries and oranges.”

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old

HAPPY: The market traders are generally a happy bunch, while (below) new food stalls are setting up

LONG-TERMER: Bernat Contesti

The market is full of stalls like Barnat’s ness that her grandparents started 54 and in recent years the market has un- years ago. dergone a few make“I’m lucky to be here in overs, and there is a Santa Catalina, it’s our clear move towards SoHo with such a We still get all the local little quality of produce. mixture of people,” Ca“It’s all different now. rina says. ladies, who come in In fact another world “A lot of our customers from before,” says Llo- every day for their daily come from the yachts, rens Picornell, owner shopping as they have we carry things they of Es Banyalbuferi. “It can’t find anywhere done for decades certainly feels very else - but we still get much alive.” all the local ladies, Some of the market who come in every day is part of the original for their daily shopping structure, while new stalls were added in as they have done for decades.” 1978, and a new roof in 2000. Open Monday through Saturday, rain or Owner of Ramon Fruits, Carina Ramon shine the market is bustling with people, call herself the ‘happiest girl in the world’ from neighbours to tourists picking up because she gets to run the family busi- the islands best offerings.

SMILES: The traders are a good-tempered bunch

Abrimos todas los días de las 12.00 a las 23.00

Open 7 days a week from 12pm to 11pm

Pruebe nuestro servicio a domicilio

New home delivery service

www.proseccosantacatalina.com

Tel: 971 731 043

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Santa Catalina

Carry on Kuro Kurobota is about to be joined by sister restaurant Kuro Pizza

April 26th - May 9th 2019

HAPPY DAYS: Boss Gian Mario (far left) and Pamela (above) keep clients happy with Kurobota’s mix of Asiatic-fusion food

I DELICIOUS: Asiatic style dishes, at the hip joint Kurobota

T has long been one of the hippest places to eat and hang out in Santa Catalina. And little has changed since restaurant Kurobota was taken over by new owner Gian Mario. This talented dynamo, from Bologna, in Italy, has maintained the excellent reputation the Asiaticfusion joint has built up over the last few years. Its head chef, co-owner Pamela Menegoli has many years experience in Italy and worked in a Michelin star restaurant and learnt to cook in Paris. The restaurant is Japanese/Asian fusion with a ‘touch of Mediterranean’ and she is supported by a strong team of experienced chefs. Now however, the team is about to strive forward with a brand new venture. The group Kuro & Co will open Kuro Pizza this Spring, just up the road on Carrer de Cotoner. Promised to be a new way of interpreting pizza, it will use mother yeast and biological flower pressed with natural stones. Bossed by consultant Stefano Callegari, something of a cult chef in Italy, as well as ‘pizza guru’ Valerio Piccirilli, who has been nominated the best emerging pizza chef in Italy, it is bound to be a success. It’s manager is Pierfranceso Pascali, a capable experienced restaurateur. Project manager and brand owner Gian Mario explains: “Our unique gourmet pizzas and Asian bao buns are always made with mother yeast in the best Italian tradition. “Come and try it for yourself to believe it.”

Plaça del Progrés, 9, 07013 Palma - 871 51 59 94

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Santa Catalina

Global attraction T Olive Press editor Jon Clarke (above right) is blown away by the incredible mix of restaurants in Santa Catalina

HEALTHY LIVING: Ronan at Simply Delicious

HE clinking of wine glasses, clicking of de- Running the show alongside a Peruvian, a Thai signer heels and the cacophony of foreign and Aung, from Myanmar, he drummed up one languages… welcome to a typical lunch- of the most original meals I have eaten this year. time in Santa Catalina. “I knew we had to be creative as Santa Catalina While San Sebastian might have the most Mi- has the most international mix of restaurants chelin stars - and probably the best tapas - San- I have found anywhere in the world,” explains ta Catalina has probably the biggest variety of Flohr, who also owns a series of mega-yachts. restaurants I have come across in Spain. “So I spent a long time finding the right team, There are well over 100 eateries in this trendy which even meant waiting for two years to get barrio of just over a dozen streets - and most are my Thai head chef Peter from Abu Dhabi,” he completely different in style of cuisine. adds. Restaurants from Vietnam and The wait was certainly worth it Japan, sit cheek by jowl with though and while it has a simple eateries from Peru and Mexico, menu with only six starters and The former while Greek chefs vie for attenseven main courses, it more tion next to Israelis. than came up trumps. financier brought This is global cuisine in a microIn particular, I was impressed in Masterchef cosm and it is hard to have a bad with the sweetcorn fritters, meal in Santa Catalina. with kaffir lime, basil and spicy winner Arber While I have reviewed many of guacamole, while the tempura Spain’s top restaurants, it is prawns on cuttlefish ink waffles, Togani hard to remember a collection of with a mango salsa were divine. chefs as entertaining as the ones The Angus beef spring rolls were here. superb too, as was Flohr’s beTake Josh Flohr, from Luxembourg, who recently spoke and varied wine list. opened a stylish new restaurant here called For originality, it’s also hard to beat Simply DeTema (www.temasantacatalina.com). licious (www.simplydelicious.es), almost next Realising how important it was to be fresh and door, which you would be hard pressed to chaloriginal, the former financier took no chances lenge with the Trade Descriptions Act. and brought in four chefs, including Albania’s It is exactly what it says on the tin, simply deliMasterchef winner Arber Togani. cious, although with a bent very much leaning

In beautiful Santa Catalina, Palma de Mallorca

MAMMA MIA: Matriach Fabrizia A Casa Mia

towards healthy food. The creation of livewire Israeli Ronen Levy, who lived in Sweden for two decades, it is mostly vegetarian, but certainly not all, and I have rarely eaten such good Middle Eastern fare. “Most of our clients are vegan and women, so I’m catering for them, but I also like to serve up a little meat,” he explains. This included an amazing dish of organic lamb with hummus, as well as a homemade beef invention, that takes some beating. It was however, by a babaganoush, no less, which has genuinely changed my view of the dish, rich and creamy and even dreamed of since. When it comes to Italian restaurants, you are spoilt for choice in Santa Catalina - and I probably met at least half a dozen Italian chefs plying their trade here. A Casa Mia (www.acasamiamallorca.com) is easily one of the best...a true family affair, set up in 2013 out of ‘love and passion’ for dining, with a nice mix of Italian and Mallorquin food. Run by three friendly brothers and with mum Fabrizia in the kitchen, you will rarely find such a friendly, homely place.

19 April 26th - May 9th 2019

DYNAMO: Josh and dish at Tema

With a massive attention to detail, the food is bought every day at the local market and could be anything from mussels to oysters, but is most likely to include some fabulous filled raviolis and splendid fresh salads. A Vitello Tonnato of sliced veal with creamy tuna mayonnaise and capers was splendid, while the La Parmigiana (aubergines with tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella) was delicious. The wine list is second to none, with some of the true Italian classics, as well as plenty of wines

by the glass. For a more classical Italian style you can’t go wrong with ProSecCo (www.proseccosantacatalina.com) which has a fantastic terrace, busy for most of the year and a friendly owner Luca Veronesi, who has a good eye for quality ingredients. Expect to eat plenty of fresh pasta, fantastic pizzas and the best tiramisu in Palma. There is also an excellent-value menu del dia at just 12.50 euros, which has a choice of three starters and five main courses. The wine list is good too. While Italian-owned, Kurobota is a completely global look at cuisine and has a superb mix of Japanese, Asian and a touch of Mediterranean. The food however is delicious, particularly the soft shell crab bao and miso-glazed Iberian pork, not to mention its amazing mix of cocktails. Its owner Gianmario is from Bologna - Italy’s cathedral of cuisine - so more than anything understands how important it is to get the balance right. He is also soon to open Kuropizza, just around the corner and promises it will be like no other pizzeria you have ever tried. Another exciting new place is Bistro Esencia (www.bistroesencia.es), also owned by an Italian, Luciano Sanso, a trained architect, no less. This beautiful new place in Calle San Magin is the very epitome of style. And you are unlikely to be disappointed by the food, with Luciano and his wife Andrea, the Maitre d, from Sardinia, making a talented team. They have worked in many places around Europe, with Luciano training at Michelin-starred Chalet Mattias in Livigno, in Italy, as well as other Michelin-starred joints in Italy. The food is original and varied including such delights as grilled quail, with celeriac cream and cherry demi glace, a well as oil-poached cod, with quinoa and grilled vegetables. Also look out for the recently-opened Eleven, which was recently-opened in a charming townhouse, owned by

ATTENTION TO DETAIL: Setting the tables at Tema

Continues on Page 20

PROUD: Chefs at Prosecco and (below) Luciano at Bistro Esencia

From Tuesday to Sunday 13:00-15:30 & 19:00-23:00 tel: 971 45 30 04 www.acasamiamallorca.com Carrer de Sant Magí, 61, 07013 Palma, Illes Balears

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VARIETY: Malloquin Toni at Tartaro and Chilian Hector at Sa Fulla

IMPRESSED: Ali (far right) loved the Mare burger so much he bought the restaurant Gin Burger From page 19

a local family for decades. It is now run by Daniel, who grew up in the house, on Placa Progresso, and is a lovely light space with a cool entrance with sofa and a big dining area with garden at the back. Currently concentrating on breakfasts and dinners, it is evolving by the month and is bound to get better and better. One of the best-established and popular places to eat is Gin Burger, a very cool con-

Melting pot!

cept restaurant hard to miss on Carrer de Pursiana. Recently taken over by a trio of Tunisian pals, two based in Paris, one in London, it remains one of the busiest and most successful restaurants in Santa Catalina. With a fabulous mix of burgers - 15 in total and each named after a gin - it also has to be one of the most original places to eat on the island. There is also the most wonderful story behind the purchase of the place earlier this year. It happened when one of the owners Ali was on holiday in Palma and just happened to eat ‘by far the best burger I had eaten in my life’ there. It was a tuna burger, the Mare Burguer and after trying it myself, I think he is possibly right. But either way, he was so impressed he decided to buy the place and straight away contacted his best friend Ale, who was living in Paris, to become a coinvestor. To cut a long story short, the pair, plus Ali’s brother, are now all living and working in Santa Catalina and running this excellent spot to hang out, eat,

Enjoy our new selections! Ven a disfrutar de nuestra nueva selección!

have cocktails and, naturally, enjoy a superb gin & tonic. Another true character in Santa Catalina is Benabe at Vandal (www. vandalpalma.com). The Argentinian of Italian descent is making big ripples in the Mallorcan food stakes. He calls his cuisine ‘traveller or adventurer style’ and his adventure has taken in Thailand (near Chiang Mai), Japan for two stints and even the celebrated Noma, in Denmark. Unsurprisingly the food at Vandal is adventurous and original, and there is nothing standard about it from the school-report style menus to the graffitied walls. Looking for somewhere classical, but with a creative twist on top? Head to recently-opened Taller de Mar (www.tallerdemar.com) where Ricardo, from Ancona, in Italy, is producing some excellent fare A friendly, softly-spoken fellow, he has a true artistic talent, learnt working for years around Germany (with Alfons Schuhbeck) and Austria (three Michelinstarred Eckhard Witzigmann). The real winner here is the scallop ceviche with cantaloupe melon, with edible flowers and coriander, poured over with an amazing tiger milk soup. Another great spot is Sa Fulla (www. fulladostra.com) which gets five-star for style. And the food luckily matches, with Chilean chef Hector Marcelo and team of Venezuelan and Senegalese, creating a wonderful melting pot of tastes. It’s a tried and tested formula, Hector having previously won plaudits with co-owners Claudio and Martha Arais in Barcelona. You must definitely try their excellent Chilean-style ceviche (‘while the Peruvians claim it as their own, it is actually an ancient Inca dish, created before Peru existed,’ insists Hector) as well as the duck breast with fennel. On the subject of creativity, a MUSTVISIT is Naan Street Food (www. naanstreetfood.com), where Argentinian Nicolas ‘Nico’ Malenchini has

created one of most popular places to eat in Palma. It has an excellent mix of international flavours, from Vietnamese to American, and Peruvian to Japanese and presentation is unfussy and the vibe is loud and buzzy. Top picks include the amazing fish tacos (I ordered them again, they were so good), while the pastel de camerones had a great mix of flavours. And let’s not forget the Mallorquins, with local character Toni Ripoll running his fabulous Tartaro (www.tartaro.es) with true aplomb. Now open for four years, having run another restaurant Paladar for 20 years nearby, Toni has created one of the most warm and sumptuous joints in Palma. Nearby, for light bites you must also check out Claro, which is another hip spot opposite the market. It describes itself as a ‘concept food store’ and has a nice range of Italian fast food dishes as well as great breakfasts and light lunches, plus superb fresh juices. Another true stalwart for the area is Duke, run by Ronny, from Greece, a pensive chap, who runs a tight ship, providing meals for up to 50 people at a time. Describing his food as ‘world cuisine tapas’, there are dishes from all around the world, and the place is a truly charming spot to eat. I loved his trio of ceviches, not to mention his excellent broccoli falafels, healthy stuff, with a nice spicy kick.

ALL SMILES: The team at Naan and (right) Ricardo at Taller de Mar

21 April 26th - May 9th 2019

Aigua-plus

T was back in 2011 that the wellestablished Aigua Sea School first took a dive into Santa Catalina. Only then starting its journey to become the hub of the nautical industry in Palma, the young sea school chose to make the distinctive barrio its home. In the search for suitable premises, owner Linda Revill (right), noticed a handwritten 'se vende' sign on a twobedroom ground floor apartment on San Magin, and signed up to reform the property into a bright office and

STOP PRESS: Santa Catalina’s best-known sea school is moving to exciting new premises just around the corner spacious classroom. Settling in during the snowy February of 2012, the school quickly became a hub for maritime training within Palma and has played a part in helping the area blossom into the vibrant, bustling area it is today. As bars and restaurants and new companies start out, the area became one of mutual support for the business owners who have chosen this quirky barrio as their home. Greeting each other with a smile as they open their doors every morning, 'Santa Cat' has an atmosphere of friendliness and safety. Now the area is really starting to expand into the streets beyond, and the magic of Santa Cat is expanding to take in the streets slightly north of Plaça

del Pont and Plaça del Progrés. Inspiring new stores are opening, cosy bars with tons of character, and new eateries with exciting menus are being opened by people who share a dream. “It's so good to see,” explains Linda, who has also decided to move the school to larger premises in that direction. The new premises provide the school with more flexibility and help to expand their itinerary of courses and the service they can provide to the yachting community. Right on the very artery running between the two placas of Pont (Puente) and Progrés (Progresso), the team have found a unique place, tripling the space of their original premises and offering a huge expansion for training rooms, staff facilities and storage, all with a wow factor of 4m high walls, and massive windows. Aigua Sea School is a maritime training centre that is continually introducing new initiatives: to further support the local businesses of the area, the school created the AIGUA PLUS card to encourage their students to visit

the bars, restaurants, stores and services within the Santa Cat area. The associates are welcomed to provide incentives, discounts and promotions and their information is available to all AIGUA PLUS card holders on the school’s website. Offers can change regularly and the

card is available, free of charge, to everyone who trains with Aigua. The card is valid for life. If you would like to be involved with the initiative please contact the school. The school will move in to the new premises this weekend, appropriately the weekend of the Palma Boat Show. Visit www.aiguaseaschool.com

SANTA CATALINA – MALLORCA

Palma’s coolest burger and gin bar OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 6.30PM TO 12PM

tel: 971 77 37 68 info@ginburger.com Calle Pursiana 18, Palma De Mallorca, Spain

BUSINESS Club bust AN unnamed nightclub in Magaluf is facing a two-year closure and €30,000 fine after being caught selling alcohol to minors. It comes after the same club was caught selling alcohol to 15-year-olds last year. A parent of the teens reported the bar when she found out they paid just €5 for a plastic cup that could be refilled all night with the drink of their choice. Other bars and clubs are also under investigation for similar offences.

Brexit fear MORE than a third of Spaniards fear Brexit will have a ‘very negative’ impact on their country’s economy. A survey by El Cambio en Europa found that 37% thought the UK’s departure from the EU would have a direct impact on their economic well being. Meanwhile, 45% believe the negotiations have not been carried out effectively and that Spain’s national interests were not defended enough. The survey also revealed many people do not know what the European Parliament does (63.5%), while even more see the European Commission as a mystery (66.3%). The UK has until October 31 to find a solution to Brexit.

Trump threatens Spain’s booming citrus exports SPAIN’S booming citrus market is facing a rocky future after Donald Trump threatened to impose harsh tariffs. The US president included Spain’s citrus exports on a list of products in line for more than €9 billion worth of tariffs as part of an ongoing feud with the EU. Growers are now fearing for the future after betting on the US as one of the key markets for growth. Last year saw a significant increase in lemon shipments to the US, with figures showing Spain exported 6,315 tonnes in 2018/19. This was a 71% increase on the 3,700 tonnes shipped the previous year.

Turning sour UNDER THREAT: Spain’s lemons and (right) Trump

“The US is indeed an export market with potential for growth for Spain and is

A major Spanish solar farm company has seen its profits soar thanks to an unprecedented boom in renewable energy. Grenergy Renovables SL posted a net profit of €13.1 million for 2018, more than doubling its initial forecast for the year. The rise is almost triple the amount attained in 2017. The company saw total revenues soar by 16% to €55 million thanks the construction and development of solar farms in Chile and wind farms in Argentina and Peru.

framed as a key destination within our strategy to increase our sales outside the

Greenspiration

EU,” Citrus export body Ailimpo’s Raul Alcazar said. “Evidently this news is not positive and generates concern but at the moment we do not have any more information about the additional tariff that would be established or about the date from which it would be applied.” Spain exported more than €50 million of fruit and vegetables to the US in 2018, with stonefruit, citrus, apples, pears and avocados among the main products.

April 26th - May 9th 2019

Bedding Success A BRITISH medical furniture business is set to supply beds and trolleys to hospitals and care homes across Spain. Suffolk-based Seers Medical secured a five-year contract for more than 120 items with support from the British Department for International Trade. The firm agreed the deal with Hidemar, a medical distributor based in Madrid, after showcasing at MEDICA - the largest medical trade show in the world. “We are an ambitious business and know that there’s demand for our products worldwide,” said Matt Clarke, Seers Medical marketing manager. “The Spanish market was one of the few countries in Europe we were yet to do business with.” Seers Medical is a market leader in manufacturing medical furniture for the healthcare sector and counts the NHS as a customer Clarke said: “If we can export our equipment worldwide, other British brands can, too.”

30 years serving the expatriate community in Mallorca

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April 26th - May 9th 2019

PROPERTY

Hot listing Mallorca hotel a ‘must-visit’ this year, global magazine declares

MADRID is no stranger to superstar footballers and another could be about to move in. Chelsea ace Eden Hazard has reportedly been looking for property in the Spanish capital, as speculation grows that he will move to Real Madrid this summer. The Belgian forward is said to be looking at

Real deal homes in La Finca, one of the most luxurious and expensive postcodes in the capital. It is also where many of the Real Madrid players reside, including Welshman Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and manager Zidane.

A NEW Mallorca hotel has made it onto Conde Nast Traveller’s coveted ‘Hot List’ for 2019. Palma’s Can Bordoy was praised for its leafy and tranquil vibes by the magazine, which every year compiles a list of the best hotels to visit around the world. “You’ll love this spruced-up secret-garden hideaway in Palma’s most characterful neighbourhood, on an island that just keeps getting better,” said the Hot List judges. The boutique hotel was created inside an old building that sits in the largest private garden in the Old Quarter. The mansion was a family home for many years before becoming a convent school taught by nuns in the 1970's before finally opening as hotel this year. “There’s a shady courtyard and a long, stone bar with a low-key reception area; a living room with beautiful creeping vines across the ceiling connects to a din-

STYLISH: Palma’s hottest new hotel

ing room and a library with views out to the back,” the judges said. Inside the boutique hotel is a dramatic mix of both vintage and new furniture and designs. Many of the rooms boast custom-made walnut beds and in-room cocktail bars that

play guests’ favourite music. The basement spa, rooftop sun deck and secluded garden make this hotel a must see for visitors and locals alike. The Mallorcan hotel is one of only two 'Hot Spots' in Spain – a new Barcelona beach house made the list as well.

Beautiful Ibiza-Style Villa with upper level sea views, Sol de Mallorca 4 Beds

3 Baths 220 m²- Living 1.470 m² – Plot Pool €2.500.000 Ref: 18011

OUR SERVICES We offer a wide range of services at very competitive prices – managing every detail of the preparation of the property to ensure your stay is hassle free. General maintenance &

✔ upkeep of your property Regular property inspections

Property reforms &

✔ project management Management of

✔ throughout the year

✔ all trades people

✔ 24 hour emergency assistance

✔ Painting & decorating

✔ Concierge services for owners & guests

✔ Electrical installations

✔ Swimming pool & garden maintenance ✔ Cleaning & laundry services

✔ Carpentry

✔ Plumbing

CCTV & alarm

✔ system installation UK TV & Sky

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✔ heating installation ✔ Home automation installation

✔ Broadband installation

Situated second line to the sea with lovely lawned garden, 15m salt water pool, and covered al-fresco outdoor living space with bbq. 3 double beds plus guest apartment. Open plan living/dining, spacious master suite with stunning sea views with 2 large terraces. Lots of lovely features.

Contact Amanda J Butler your one stop property advisor in Mallorca email: ajb@mjcassociates.net or tel: (+34) 690 075 169

April 26th - May 9th 2019

Keys Isl nd Active Germans

Mallorcan hotel chain starts afresh in bid to attract big spenders to new Playa de Palma development A SPANISH hotel chain has poured millions into a new luxury Playa de Palma complex under plans to attract wealthier high quality travellers. Riu Hotels & Resorts has torn down the old Riu Playa Park, owned by the chain since 1982, and has built a new 4-star hotel. The beachfront hotel has over 100 mediterranean style rooms, with 17 exclusive suites set to have swimming pools for private use. With a view to offering an authentic and high-quality range of cuisine, Riu Playa Park has a main restaurant, ‘Mallorca’ and a themed restaurant, ‘Spices.’ RIU Hotels CEO Luis Riu said: “The total invested amounts to more than 35 million euros and I believe that the result will be highly valued by our customers.” Riu Playa Park is located a few meters from the beach and offers a 24-hour all-inclusive service and free Wi-Fi throughout. When at 100% occupancy the hotel will be able to accom-

By Amanda Butler

to the

The German market remains active as Brexit rumbles on in the background, writes Amanda Butler

Play park

AMAZING CHANGES: New improved Riu Hotel

modate 1,300 guests. "When we considered the renovation of Riu Playa Park, we decided to make a bigger investment and build a new hotel, which means we can move up in a category and attract new clients.

“After this project, the only renovation that remains to be done in Mallorca is the Riu Concordia, which will begin later this year and is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020," explained Riu.

O no change on the the British, but I am happy Brexit front - we go to say that the Germans and round and round in other markets continue to be circles, a virtual reality active. Groundhog Day, which shows Anyone reading my regular no sign of being resolved. reports might be interested There is a Star Trek joke mak- to know that my 10-20 million ing the rounds on the internet enquiries have sadly evapowhich seems to sum it up rated as quickly as they apquite nicely: peared...what a ‘The year is shame. There are some Easter was qui3038. Parliament enact the eter than norinteresting weekly ritual mal for me, but of voting down developments in the weather ‘Theresa May’s here was quite Deal’. No one the trendy Santa atrocious. can remember I felt rather Catalina area how this ansorry for our cient tradition holiday makstarted or what it means.’ ers watching the fantastic Need I say more? weather reports back home. It could be that the Brits are Fortunately, I still have some rather bored of all of this as enquiries for a first line luxthere seems to be a bit more ury apartment in the Portals activity in the market from area which are keeping me

busy – but no firm offers as of yet. Santa Catalina development plans There are some interesting developments in the trendy Santa Catalina area. Plans for the quaint fishermans’ area of Es Jonquet and the redevelopment of the three windmills has finally been agreed, which will be very popular with the locals since the Windmill nightclub has always been rather a sore point. There are also some other areas within the neighbourhood where further expansion has been agreed - so watch this space if you are looking for a trendy modern pied-a-terre, since more will be coming to the market very soon.

Contact Amanda J Butler to buy or sell your home: Tel: +34690075169, www.mjcassociates.net. Your professional one stop property shop around the Island!

Vida Balear Real Estate, Paseo Maritimo 9 Bajos, 07014 Palma de Mallorca

Bendinat Apartment – 490,000€

La Rambla, Palma Apartment – 790,000€

BEDROOMS: 2 BATHROOMS: 2 BUILD: 90M2

BEDROOMS: 3 BATHROOMS: 2 BUILD: 120M2

A two bedroom two bathroom apartment situated in the heart of Bendinat with views over the golf course. This first level apartment offers 90m2 of open plan kitchen, large bright sitting room leading to a beautiful terrace that offers views of the golf course with two double bedrooms and bathrooms ensuite. The apartment has a stair case leading to a spacious roof terrace 90m2 with a bar and jacuzzi for entertaining guests. This is a well situated property within walking distance to Portals village and to all the amenities Portals offers including shops and bars and the well known marina.

Magnificent apartment offering 107m2 and 13m2 private terrace situated in the heart of La Rambla. The apartment has two lifts to the 11th floor of this historical building. Public parking area opposite the property. This apartment has been refurbished to a very high finish, luminous living, open plan kitchen which includes ultra modern and energy saving equipment. The property is fitted with Miele appliances, ducted air con systems water filtration and osmosis system, spacious lounge leading on too your open terrace which boasts views of the city and cathedral and sea.

ref: BEN.230

ref: PMI.114

Tel : (+34) 971 450 422 / (+34) 686 359 268 info@vidabalear.com www.mallorcapropertyvb.com

April 26th - May 9th 2019

What’s on for foodies!

FOOD,DRINK Number munch

Balearics see record-breaking sales of protected products, including almonds, wine and sobrasada

SALES of protected produce in Mallorca have shot up by 4.51%, new figures have revealed. Products with the seal of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) brought in just over €85 million to the island in 2018. It comes after figures have been continually rising since 2010, according to the Minis-

eer Palma BEER Palma is back! The waterfront festival showcasing the best beers from around Mallorca and the globe runs in Palma's Parc de la Mar from April 26 through May 5.

ine time POLLENSA'S famous wine festival has been announced for May 11 and 12, with samples of awardwinning Mallorcan wine - and entire bottles of course, and the chance to stomp some grapes.

and-held fair

WE ARE

SANDWICHES are the theme of Palma's annual Llonguet fair on April 28 in Es Pilarí, with fillings for everyone including the most popular fresh sobrasada with honey.

try of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries. The Government department also said that sales of the region’s 18 protected products had doubled in 2018, compared to those of 2001. Wine recognised under the ‘Vino de la Tierra Mallorca’ area was the highest-grossing protected product of 2018, with sales up 8.24 % on the

Fisherman’s friend FISHERMEN in the Balearic islands have called for greater dialogue with the government amid a feeling anglers are being ‘undervalued.’ The Association of Fishermen of the Balearic Islands (APIB) has called for a recreational fishing board to be setup to bring together the authorities, fishermen and scientists. The APIB want recreational fishing to be encouraged as an activity of ‘immense social, cultural and economic value.’ APIB President Toni Cayuela said: “The time has come for the authorities to listen to this group which until now has been undervalued. “The future of recreational fishing needs to be guaranteed and the policy of prohibition ended because it as been a failure.”

STAR: Maca de Castro GOING NUTS: For Mallorca’s almonds figures in the Balearics last previous year to €19 million. Almonds saw the biggest year, with harvests growing overall jump, with 2018 sales by 90.21% to 9,130kg. increasing by 117.03%, bring- There was also a huge 17.86% boost to sobrasada sales, ing the total to €81,260. The nuts also led production the Balearics’ famous cured sausage, which brought in €11.75 million. Meanwhile, neighbouring Menorca saw a decline in its protected Mahon cheese, which saw a slump of 1.77% to €16 million. Products protected by PDO are regarded by the EU as the most unique, and must originate from and generally be manufactured in a specific region to gain the status.

Hiring!

A MALLORCAN chef has been chosen as one of three culinary stars to appear at a unique new wine event. Michelin starred Maca de Castro, who runs her restaurant of the same name in Alcudia, will appear at the Estrellas entre viñedos event on May 3 in Briones. The elBulli-trained cook will prepare a menu that uses wine as a principle ingredient, alongside two other chefs. Also set to appear are Andrea Tumbarello, who is known as ‘the king of truffles’ and footballer-turned chef Juan Antonio Zaldua.

e Sales Execut outir awvard

GENEROUS: The bill and cash

We need agents urgently in Mallorca and Costa Blanca

WAITERS in the Canaries were left beaming after a group of tourists left a very generous tip of more than double the cost of their meal. Workers at the La Placita Food and Coffee restaurant on the island of La Palma, have launched a search for the tippers.

Would you like to represen winning media group, with a basic and good commission?

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Top tip

Party

The party had spent €53.70 on the meal consisting of drinks, baked cod, meat lasagna,and bread but left €110 for bemused staff. “Possibly when paying a couple both put money in, without realizing that the other had already done," said owner Sergio Acosta. "If nobody comes to ask for it, we will distribute it among the team as a tip.”

& TRAVEL

April 26th - May 9th 2019

Holy caracole!

F you thought snails were only a French thing, think again. Caracoles are a huge tradition in Spain, and Snail Season - mid-April to late June - is upon us. Spain consumes around 16 million kilos of snails each year, which makes it the second largest consumer in the world after France. The gastropods are so popular in Spain that the country hosts the largest snail festival in the world in Lleida, Catalunya. Every spring, around 12 tonnes of the slimey shell-dwellers are consumed in three days in the Catalan town. This year, the festival will be held from May 31 to June 2. And according to Josep Marcelo, president of the ANCEC (National Association for Cultivating and Rearing Snails), their offspring is also a delicacy. “People are rediscovering snails and especially their eggs,” he says.

Expanding

Spaniard’s love of snails goes way back. A 2014 study found that Palaeolithic humans in Spain started eating them 10,000 years before their french Mediterranean neighbours. Much later, snails became a delicacy for wealthy Romans who bred them in protected spaces called cochlearia. In his Naturalis Historia, Pliny the Elder tells us that a certain Fluvius Hirpinus started that trend, in between the reigns of Julius Caesar and Pompey. Nowadays, Spain imports most of its snails from Morocco, Mauritania and Eastern European countries. However, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, snail breeding is expanding in the country, with the number of snail farms rising from 26 in 2000 to 614 in 2018. Traditionally sold at a cheap price by street vendors, you can now buy them by the kilo in mar-

Snails are blazing a trail in Spanish foodie circles (well, they are gastropods!) writes Claire Leibovich kets, street stalls and even supermarkets throughout Andalucia. The average price for a kilo of snails is €7.50. Bars serve them as tapas, typically with tomato and garlic sauce. Snails are also the main component of numerous dishes such as rice and rabbit.

And athough Spanish gastronomy usually avoids spices, snail recipes will include aromatic herbs, peppers, and even saffron and hot paprika. Snails are also good for your health, as researchers from the Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía have recently highlighted. They are low in

Caracoles are easy to prepare at home, so give it a go! RECIPE for 4 servings: 200 caracoles ½ kg tomato 2 Catalan sausages 2 garlic Parsley Salt Pepper Aromatic herbs ½ glass White wine ½ glass of brandy Preparation: Place the snails in a pot of water until it boils. Wash them several times until they are completely clean and then leave them boiling in a season of aromatic herbs and salt till well cooked. Fry in a pan the onion, tomato and the sausages. Add the white wine and the brandy; salt, garlic and parsley; pepper and aromatic herbs. Add the boiled snails and cook it all till it is ready (1/2 hour approx.).

calories (about 90 kcal for 100 gms) and are a source of protein, iron, Vitamin B12, magnesium, selenium and omega-3. Additionally, snail slime is used in cosmetics for its supposed anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing and moisturising agents. Caracoles are easy to prepare at home, so give it a go!

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FOOD,DRINK

April 26th - May 9th 2019

It’s back! Palma prepares for the island’s biggest nautical event with this year seeing more international companies than ever before, writes Gillian Keller

HE Palma International Boat Show is returning for its 36th year with a huge 270 exhibitors and 600 boats set to be open to the public. From April 27 until May 1, the Port of Palma will open its doors to the

Hop on A PALMA born designer has drawn up plans for the largest luxury mega yacht ever seen in Spain. Architect Ivan Salas Jefferson has designed the 394-foot two story yacht, named Hop, complete with outdoor terraces, large bay window and double living room. The experimental design has placed 37-year-old Jefferson amongst the finalist of the 2019 International Yacht & Aviation Awards. This is the first time a Spanish architect has proposed the construction of a yacht of this size. But for now the boat only exists on paper as the design team search for a millionaire to bankroll the project.

public to show off some of the biggest yachts and the best of what top notch nautical companies have to offer. Open daily from 11am until 8pm, the boat show is a must-see event, bringing together top businesses from the island’s largest sector. There will be activities for all ages, including testing the newest water toys and performances from local bands and DJs. Although it is a boat show, some of the best products from the Balearics will also be there, including the fashions and fabrics from Teixits Vicens from Pollensa and sturdy bags from O Bags in Palma. On April 30, a special Sea Night will see booths and yachts stay open until 11pm. This special evening will give guests the chance to see the marina – and the views from out at sea – under a starry night. It promises to be a chic affair filled with cava and trendy music. This year there will be more international exhibitors

HIGH SEAS: Palma International Boa

than ever before with 51 foreign companies, 16 more than last year, proving the quality event is growing in notoriety. It comes after the event has been promoted around the globe, from the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Miami to the Yacht Shows

THE paper not to miss on Mallorca island THE Olive Press is now distributing all over the island in an incredible 500-plus locations. Found at golf courses, tourist offices, museums and petrol stations, it has become the most sought-after English newspaper in MalAlaro Alcanada Alcanada Alcudia ALGAIDA Andratx Andratx BENDINAT BENDINAT BENDINAT Binissalem Cala Estancia

lorca every fortnight. Look out for one of our many stands, as seen here at Santa Catalina market, in Palma, and in Andratx town centre. We print between 8,000 - 10,000 copies every issue and take our distribution very seriously,

Acros Bar Alcanada Golf Spar Tourist Information EROSKI Tourist Information CCA Andratx CAN NATURA Lindew Hotel Real Golf at Bendinant Eroski Aqua Restaurant

EASY TO FIND: Fara Homes in Andratx

Cala D’or Cala D’or CALVIA CALVIA Cala Llamp CAMP DE MAR CAMPOS CAN PASTILLA CAN PASTILLA CAN PASTILLA Can Picafort COSTA DE LA CALMA Costa den Blanes Costa den Blanes Deia Deía EL TORO ES CAPDELLA Esporle Festival Park Inca Inca Llucmajor MAGALLUF Maioris Manacor Manacor PAGUERA PAGUERA PALMA

and need you, the readers to keep us informed of numbers... and more importantly if each location needs more or less papers. We also want to know where you would like to see it and where you don't think we should

Yacht Club Eroski ROSITA RESTAURANT TOWN HALL Gran Folies Golf De Andratx HIPER CENTRO SPAR EROSKI AQUARIUM Ponderosa Beach Bar THE GLASGOW SUNDOWNERS MOODS Robert Graves Museum Forn Deía SPAR BAR NOU Spar Tourist Info Office Barretts Hipercentro EROSKI Golf Club Pontiene Maioris Gof Club Lidl Bar Mingos VILAMIL HOTEL TOURIST INFORMATION BOATHOUSE

bother. Here are a select group of a few dozen key drops. Please get in touch at Newsdesk@theolivepress.es to find your nearest drop or suggest another.

WELL STOCKED: Stands are always regularly stocked such as Santa Catalina market PALMA PALMA PALMA PALMA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMA NOVA PALMANOVA PALMANOVA Palmanyola Pollensa

Santa Catalina market Palma University Real Club Nautico First Mallorca Eroski Tourist Office GOLF FANTASIA EROSKI Palmanova Gardens Mari Cunningham Son Termens Golf Pollensa Golf

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Advertise with The Olive Press TEL: (+34) 951 273 575 EMAIL: sales@theolivepress.es

& TRAVEL

April 26th - May 9th 2019

SEA CLEAN: Emission free engines

FESTIVAL: Crowds can visit yachts via a floating footbridge

at show

in Monaco, the Netherlands and the UK. Last year's expansion of the grounds and port, meanwhile, has led to a large increase in both booths and boats. The installation of a floating footbridge will also allow crowds to circle the festival and visit the largest yachts with ease.

For the first time ever, guests can purchase tickets online to avoid long queues at the three entrances. There is also a brand new app for Apple and Androids, giving visitors the latest news and highlights, the schedule of activities and a map will all exhibits and attractions. Tickets can also be bought through app.

Going green

HIS year’s boat show is set to be greener than ever. There’ll be talks and demonstrations throughout the weekend while brands will be showing off their huge ranges of electric products. “The boat show is challenging the sector to strive for new technologies which can improve aspects such as efficiency in electric and hybrid engines or emission-free engines, making it more mindful of its impact on the environment,” said this year’s organisers. The Libera Project, meanwhile, will give talks to raise awareness about littering, while presentations on cleaning up the sea will this year be led by Fanautic Club. A majority of the booths, in fact, are set to promote eco-friendly products, with the likes of Clean Sailing offering a range of ecological cleaning and refurbishing equipment. Visitors to the fair will also be able to see quieter engines that are emission-free, electric, more autonomous. Ending on a green note, the boat show will close with a sea-cleaning day on Saturday May 4 in Palma Bay.

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.

April 26th - May 9th 2019

COLUMNISTS

Make it rain

Mallorca diaries

By Lesley Keith

When storms strike, a restaurant is the perfect place to hide out, and in Mallorca you are spoilt for choice, writes Lesley Keith

COUPLE of weeks ago, there I Well correct me if I’m wrong (as if I’d was hoping for rain! ever be wrong) but these worthwhile I bet you all wish I’d kept my and meaningful activities can be done mouth shut seeing as we’ve all whatever the weather so why does he endured some truly awful Easter weath- make it such a big deal? er whilst back in Blighty they’ve been To lift our spirits yesterday I decided that basking in record temperatures. the best thing to do to alleviate the boreThis is nothing new though, when my dom was to go and eat somewhere a bit daughter was young and we were special. chained to only going away during I’m always up for that, so we took ourschool holidays we were often com- selves off to afternoon tea at The Illa pletely rained out over easter in some d’Or, a really lovely hotel on the Pinewalk totally unsuitable European location. at Puerto Pollensa. I really did feel for the soggy holiday- They positioned us right in the front makers I saw miserably trudging along window where we could watch the in matching sodden capoor saps outside batgoules. tling against the driving Sadly that has been my drizzle. Cakes, scones lot on many occasions. We were brought an arMy partner definitely of wonderfully deliand sandwiches ray doesn’t handle bad cate cakes, scones and weather well. sandwiches together together with He sits looking mournwith real tea in china real tea in china pots with matching cups fully out of our windows giving regular helpful and saucers. pots updates such as ‘it’s How good is that? getting worse’ and All was wonderful, great moaning continually view, great food, great that he’s got nothing to do. service so I turned to smile smugly at I do normally point out at this point my partner when I realised something that mostly his days are spent indoors was a bit off. watching sport or chuckling at his Ipad You know that feeling that there’s someon which Facebook is showing random thing wrong with this picture. fat strangers falling into puddles or be- One of the lenses had fallen out of his ing inflicted by some painful accidental glasses. injuries. I’m sitting in pole position in arguably

SHELTER: Restaurants make good places to hide out during bad weather Puerto Pollensa’s finest location with a local version of Corrie’s Jack Duckworth. He then proceeded to get down on his knees to find it. Now I’m not normally very forceful, happily being walked over at all times, but oh no, no way, I drew the line at this. He sat like a chained animal throughout, finally asking the waiter to look for him. The lens was never found, oh well back to the Chinese shop for another pair. In fact one of the best things about living here I believe is the wonderful phenomenon that is a menu del dia. Many a day we’ve headed off into the distance, finding ourselves a little hidden village, somewhere with cafes that

have unpronounceable names and partake of this feast. There’s usually a limited choice, so no agonising needed, it’s either fish or stew. The desert can often be a bit of a mystery. In Soller once, I was handed an unpeeled banana, no choice, take it or leave it. I took it and it was very nice. Then throw in some dodgy vino that needs lemonade to make it drinkable and you’re set for the afternoon. This usually ends up costing you less than €10. You can easily pay that for three coffees in more salubrious places.

I know nearly every place that offers this treat locally. It’s great because it fills you up so much you don’t need to cook in the evening. Win win! By far the best value anywhere here is the magnificent Menestralia buffet in Camponet. The ‘all you can eat’ description is actually an order. How they actually make a profit I just don’t know. There is so much food and, as with beer on tap it is my idea of heaven. I’ll go again soon, purely in the interests of research, and report back to you. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it.

SPORT

April 26th - May 9th 2019

Super hoop

RAFAEL Nadal has revealed he was very emotional while watching fellow sporting great Tiger Woods win the Masters. The 32-year-old said: “What happened during the last year for Tiger is an inspiration for everyone.” The 17-time Grand Slamwinner also said the American is probably his ‘favourite sportsman in the world’. Nadal is currently defending his title in the Rolex

CELTIC legend Billy McNeill has passed away shortly after he was honoured in Spain for only playing at one club during his entire career. McNeill, 79, was to be presented with the ‘One Club Man’ award by Athletico Bilbao but died before he could collect the prize after a long battle with dementia. During his 19-year career, McNeill played all of his club matches and broke the club’s appearance record. The centre-half captained the team, dubbed the ‘Lisbon Lions’, to their first ever European Cup in 1967 by defeating Inter Milan 2-1.

Wood friends

Monte-Carlo Masters, a competition he has won 11 times.

Wolf Pack AN expat family from Wolverhampton have managed to track down their football heroes at a secret training camp in Marbella. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC had jetted out to the Costa del Sol for some warm weather training ahead of their next Premiership clash - but the cameras were kept at bay. However, Wolves fan Kay Fellows, 37, her husband Ben, 39, and their two boys Hayden, 10, and Sonny, 9, managed to spot the stars. “The security guard at the

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Expat family track down footy heroes in Marbella ground wouldn’t give anything away, just that Wednesday was their last day,” said Kay. “We saw all the players,”she added, “except Neves who had just had a baby.” Goalkeeper John Ruddy, defender Conor Coady and forward Raul Jimenez were among the Wolves players pictured with Kay and her family before the squad flew

ON TOUR: Lads visit La Sala

back on Thursday. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is hoping that the break at the Marbella Football Center will provide a boost to his side’s hopes of qualifying for the Europa League. Despite losing in the FA Cup semi-final, they can still qualify by finishing seventh in the league. They are currently sitting in eighth. “We had a good week of training sessions and, at the FANZONE: Kids meet Wolves same time, some social time together,” said Santo. The team’s last Marbella trip in February saw them dining at celeb hangout La Sala in Puerto Banus.

Top tips Three snippets of car advice from Linea Directa and why we should be the insurance company you choose

Mad about motoring? Whether you’re a car enthusiast or rely on your car for just about everything, keeping your vehicle on the road is a costly endeavor. Prices for car insurance can vary greatly between providers depending on different risk factors. While reducing your annual mileage and keeping your car in a secure location will help keep your preOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd 1 miums down, Línea Directa recommend shopping around for insurance quotes to get the best possible price with the best possible cover. Minor car problems At this time of the year in the early morning sunshine, condensation is particularly troublesome especially in older vehicles. Motorists and other road users are at risk. Accidents can be caused when drivers try to wipe down the windscreen. Here are some handy tips to help you tackle condensation. Wash your car regularly as dirt and dust attract moisture and early morning dew. Remove any damp items like towels or coats from inside the car. When safe to do so, leave the windows open for a few hours. Switch on the air conditioning and wipe down the inside of the

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FINAL WORDS

TOY Story fans in Spain were left disappointed when the man who dubs over the voice of the character of Woody quit over working conditions.

Paella to go KITCHEN workers fell foul of gravity when trying to maneuver a giant paella dish through a narrow doorway in Valencia, the results being a large mess and a viral video.

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Vol. 3 Issue 53 www.theolivepress.es April 26th - May 9th 2019

Good Samaritan accused of abandoning dogs outside supermarket collected them minutes later POLICE have warned social media addicts about fake news postings in the Costa Blanca. It comes after a Good Samaritan who helped an ill neighbour home from a supermarket became the centre of a vicious

Fake news shocker

online attack leading to a police investigation. It happened after the Gandia local was spotted by a young woman leaving two dogs in the car park of Mas y Mas in the town.

Jumping to conclusions - in classic fake news fashion - she posted a picture of his car and number plate on Facebook. Under the claims of abandonment, she described him as a ‘son of a b****’ and appealed for

Fido dodo

All laid bare

A TRAPPED dog has been rescued by Palma firefighters after getting his head stuck in a kitchen vent hole. Firefighters had to make the hole larger to release the scared animal.

ANTI-FASCIST protestors in Coruna greeted Vox leader Santiago Abascal with their bare backsides, dropping their trousers to reveal bare cheeks painted in Spanish colours.

‘help’. Police were soon called and traced the car to his home, finding his ‘abandoned’ dogs at home, well-cared for. They also had obligatory microchips and up-to-date vaccinations. The man explained that since dogs were not allowed in the supermarket he had expertly trained them to wait in the car park. And they were there waiting patiently when he returned ten minutes later. He had simply taken the neighbour home and was caring for her when police called around.

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THE Food Safety agency has issued a warning over cannabis found in children's cookies from the Netherlands. The Girl Scout Cookies Chocolate Kush and Girl Scout Cookies Ginger Cookie Kush, by Dutch company Dr Greenlove, are made with '100% real cannabis bud'. The alarm was first sounded in the Canary Islands during a routine check, in which health authorities queried the products for not correctly labelling the type of flour used. Despite having a large marijuana leaf on the package, it was later discovered that the cookies contained an unauthorised ingredient: cannabis. The Spanish Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide investigation and believes the cookies are likely to be in establishments around Spain. Other products advertised on the Dr Greenlove website include Cannabis Bears, Cannabis High Tea, Cannabis Lollipops and Cannabis Instant Chocolate.

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