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Suits EU, ma’am THE Queen of England's outfit looked a little familiar to 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 her view. One person remained convinced on the issue, saying: “I always knew she was a remainer.”
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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Vol. 1 Issue 5
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Geldof weds
LGBT heroes
Our exclusive look at Pixie Geldof’s Mallorca nuptials
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
A look at Spain’s greatest LGBT icons during International Pride Month
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Fake news Space-tastic Did it all begin in Spain?
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Important observatory to survive thanks to Olive Press
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Catch the scammers! EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan
THE Olive Press is demanding action against a string of fake holiday rental sites falsely advertising luxury villas across the Balearic Islands. It comes after we reported last issue that scam site Rentholidaysvillas.com was conning British tourists out of thousands of euros each year. In total, British victims lost €8.16 million in holiday scams last year, a year-onyear rise of 20%, claims the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). In one of the worst examples, Future reported last issue, rugby star "We've laid solid foundaDean Schofield and friends tions for future discusshelled out nearly €50,000 sions and an ambitious but for a fraudulent villa break in achievable timetable," said Mallorca. Davis, Britain's Brexit minWe have now discovered ister. many other websites running Davis insisted that talks similar fraudulent schemes, about trade would occur ‘in including balearicvillaesparallel’, but Barnier said capes.com, Luxurydreamsthey would start only in a villas.com and www.digsecond phase. italdreamsholidays.com. First, ‘significant progress’ Photos of an eight-bedroomed would need to be made on Mallorca property, advertised the EU's priority issues, nofrom €800 per night on a tably the rights of expatriate fourth site spainvipholidays. citizens and a settling financom, have been lifted from a cial accounts. genuine US website luxuryreEU negotiators have insisted treats.com. that current citizens’ rights On the genuine Untitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 15:36 site the actual should remain unchanged. price is from €2,930 a night.
WARNING: Olive Press investigation discovers string of fake holiday rental sites conning customers this summer
COPIED: How genuine site was scammed by Spain VIP Holidays massively reduced prices to NEWS lure victims in. Helle Heredia, from Mallorca-based rental firm Novasol, said she had heard of ‘25 to 30’ recent cases of people being scammed but believed there were ‘many more’. “It’s so scary with these scam sites - they pop up with just one purpose, of robbing people of their money in the most important time of everyone’s year - their holidays,” she Asylum drama Top-end properties around said. the whole of Spain are being “Just ensure not to be temptmarketed by the scammers at ed by fantastic offers by comJune 9th - June 22nd
Rent rage
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England rugby international and friends fury at €50,000 holiday scam 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 to break to Spain with friends celebrate the England international’s retirement. a But the vacation turned into of nightmare after the group 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) be(£10,000) respectively fore swiping another €29,800 (£26,000) for the stunning villa by from Oz agent in Mallorca, which is owned site with profile stolen group and (right) fake a wealthy foreign owner. the SCAMMED: Holiday put your trust in us’ and that The group only rumbled must confess we did think they ‘believe in honesty’ the scam, via rentholidaysvillas. still get the flight over. But what “I a bit cheap for where it photos com, the day before they flew.we if we were from a normal fam- it wasand it in fact rents for a lot scammers have stolen from hundreds of properties “We were very angry when the ily and couldn’t afford to come? was, admits Gemma. more,” Portugal and found out,” Gemma told We were at least able to salvage Thankfully, the group of eight across Spain, a series of fake Olive Press this week. “It was - who Greece and has cliwe the holiday.” the adults and eight children testimonials from ‘happy’ a horrible moment and The group had come across still on holiday on the is- ents at the bottom. are do. to villa what sure weren’t stunning eight-bedroom are now trying to reclaim There are 18 properties for rent pool and grounds land “We started Googling it and we with a hugetouch with the web- their money as the booking was on the Costa del Sol and 38 in other stories came up. When and got in made via a credit card. Mallorca, as well as 38 in Ibiza emailed the person we’d been site via email. website meanwhile is still in Pordealing with at the site called The website looked extremely The despite being reported to and 21 on the Algarve, ‘Flavio’ he sent an abusive email credible and even had a photo live,web hosting company by the tugal. its Various genuine rental firms back. of its alleged owner, Flavio Herand to UK police. the Costa who did the ne- Olive Press “Luckily we were in a fortunate can we have spoken to on ar- nandes Davila, Despite boasting that ‘you position where we could gotiating. range an alternative villa and
2017
givanother email to say he had en me the wrong bank account number. “I immediately felt very uncomfortable. I believe he was going my to hit me twice. I phoned is brother and said. ‘I think this a scam.’” the Anne phoned both hers and recipient’s bank and her money was returned four days later. of “I can’t stand the thought families heading to a villa with their children to find they have nowhere to stay.” While she got her money back,a she was forced to apply for new passport after sending the a copy of her passport to
fraudsters. reThis week, an Olive Press porter, posing as a holidaymaker, enquired about renting an exclusive property with rentholidaysvillas.com. of ‘Flavio’ offered us a pricedis£3,850 a week, plus a 10% decount for full payment up front, del Sol and in Mallorca are and copy passport their a after action requesting manding legal full address. own properties were taken and When asked why he needed offered to rent at much cheaper this, ‘Flavio’ replied: “When prices. the we make the contract, we need We have discovered that deto be sure of your passport photo of Davila (left) is actually tails.” a photograph of an Australian not One genuine property rental estate agent, whom we are site, who asked to remain anonnaming, for legal reasons. the at ymous, expressed her ‘regret Another British victim of the negative impact this could site, pensioner Anne Landon, afhave on holidaymakers who said she became suspicious the have paid their deposits.’ ter booking a break through “We are deeply shocked and site and transferring £4,600 exacsaddened,” she said. “This is into one of their UK bank tremely clever criminal activity counts. on and we will always do our best “I take my grandchildren to help people who have been holiday every summer and was treated in this way.” getting pretty desperate trying from MalagaAnne, said Heredia Helle somewhere,” to find based holiday property rental 74. firm Novasol, said: “We hear “The price was very reasonable all imabout these types of scams and I was so excited. But the time and the name ‘Flavio’ mediately after booking he sent has been mentioned several times by guests that have been us scammed before reaching to for help. enforcement on alleged “My advice for holiday makers, Rentholidaysv illas.com fraud and have processes is to book with well-known and is hosted by US-based for taking action. If anyrental comholiday established which server GoDaddy, one believes they have panies, check there is a valida they was warned as long ago by been defrauded phone number, always use a as April of the scam should contact law encredit-card when you make a leading holiday rental forcement.” booking, Google the websites site in Spain. When asked Contact your local pofirst to check if they have been why it was still live this lice and Action Fraud reported for scams before and week, GoDaddy Digital and email newsdesk@ always remember if it sounds Crimes boss Ben Butler, theolivepress.es if you’ve too good to be true – it probexplained: “We commu- been scammed. ably is!” nicate regularly with law
STOP THE SCAMMERS
From front page
since. ken to his daughter just once asylum to avoid “It’s morally wrong, seeking the law. in Norway with “My lawyer said if everyone to escape the a legal problem ran to a church more churches,” law we better start building
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he continued. school and is He claims Maia is not attending the organ and sing only able to learn to play an appropriwith the choir, which is ‘hardly ate syllabus’. this however, Local vicar Knut Bjune deniedcoming to the insisting local teachers were ‘almost all the church to give her lessons time’. their living and “Socially she is not isolated the Olive Press. this week conditions are good,” he told and we have WISHES: On Maia’s birthday “We are not hiding information long term.” Supreme Court will probe made it clear this cannot be call to Maia - A Norwegian asylum claim this month. In the one, heartrending phone tearful youngster Bjørnsen’s lawyer, Vidar Helgheim, claimed which Shepherd taped - the she wants to Bjørnsen’s now ‘changed’ the can be heard telling her brothers that ‘new information’ had it. to disclose return to Spain. Elden, con- case, but refused Sol lawyer case was based on very little Shepherd’s Norwegian and ask is not a place to “The (original) firmed this week: “A church responsibilities. information. You have to go deeperhe said. ended up in this situation,” the Olwithdraw yourself from legal she why police spokesperson told It is an abuse of church asylum. the girl back to A Norwegian would not intervene while Maia “It is her duty to now bring ive Press they ruling.” Spain after the final court to Norwegian gov- remained in the church. and arrest Shepherd has now written Horne demand- “The police will not enter a church said ernment minister Solveigservices dismissed someone who has requested protection,” of Police District Møre og ing help after local child action would Ingar Boen, Chief Maia’s case, saying no further Romsdal. be taken.
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panies you have never heard about. Don't let scammers ruin your holidays.” The fraudsters, who are very difficult to track down, are very good at creating fake profiles and, as revealed last issue, the photo for the agent ‘Flavio’ for rentholidaysvillas.com was actually an Australian estate agent. We have now discovered that a photo of Balearicvillaescapes ‘property agent’ Alba Portillo Olivares is actually a stolen photo of Paloma Bonder, director of top Ibiza luxury
villa rental company Bonder and Co. Both fake websites Spainvipholidays.com and BalearicVillaEscapes.com are listing the same properties, use the same website template, with both website domains having the same Google verification key. An IT expert told the Olive Press that this was a classic case of ‘domain farming’ and criticised Google for not taking the sites down immediately. All three scam websites are hosted by US-based firm GoDaddy, which also hosts Renholidaysvillas.com. The UK’s Action Fraud confirmed it is now investigating rentholidaysvillas.com, although at the time of going to press had not responded to our enquiries. GoDaddy was made aware of Rentholidaysvillas.com’s fraudulent activity in April, but the site, and the three others, are still live. A GoDaddy spokesperson told the Olive Press: “Our Digital Crimes Unit still have not received any inquiries or requests from law enforcement on these websites.”
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
A-list crowd descends on Deia for
PROUD DAD: Bob and wife arrive
Princess
By Joe Duggan and Gillian Keller
I
T was one of the most glamorous weddings Mallorca has ever seen. Pixie Geldof and rockstar fiancé George Barnett tied the knot at a star-studded ceremony on the outskirts of idyllic Deia on Saturday evening. Arriving in a grey ROIG bus with her bridesmaids - including Daisy Lowe and Alexa Chung - Geldof, 26, looked stunning in a traditional white dress with tiered white gown as she clutched a white bouquet. Proud dad Sir Bob Geldof wore a smart dark suit as he walked daughter Pixie down the aisle at the exclusive Son Marroig mansion venue.
GUESTS: Harry Styles and (right) Paul Simonon
Fashion designer Chung, 33, and model Lowe, 28, sported off-theshoulder pink dresses and carried elegant pink and white bouquets. Celebrity pals attending included One Direction star Harry Styles. Other stars celebrating the couple’s nuptials included The Clash bassist Paul Simonon and Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw along with Pixie’s sister Fifi, half-sister Tiger Lily Hutchence and Peaches Geldof’s widower Thomas Cohen. Tying the knot overlooking the Mediterranean in front of around 140 guests, the couple exchanged vows in the venue’s majestic gardens as the early evening sun began to dim. Gazing into one another’s eyes, IT might seem like a sleepy Geldof and These New Puritans village, but Deia has actually drummer Barnett, exchanged been rocking for decades.
Deia: A Hotspot for artists for decades
One employee confirmed it was a riot of colour inside rings in front of an open-air, white-marble folly offering commanding coastal views. The ceremony, which lasted half an hour, was performed by David Waller, chaplain of the Anglican Church in Palma. He later told the Olive Press that the service had been ‘pretty normal actually’ and that there were about a dozen bridesmaids and grooms. The happy couple chose Elvis Presley’s I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You for their first dance as husband and wife. The decorations were supplied by Palma company Moments –
And it is not just rock stars, like Geldof, who have homes in the area, with Virgin boss Richard Branson owning a home and formerly a hotel in the village. But Deia - population 850, half of whom are ex-
pats - has been popular with all sorts of artists since the early 20th century. Poets, musicians and writers from all over the world have come to Deia for inspiration, and a few never left. English poet Robert Graves, whose home is now a museum, was one of the first to settle in the village and spent much of his life there until his death just over 30 years
ago. The I, Claudius writer had numerous celebrity guests to stay, including Sir Alec Guinness, Hollywood heartthrob Ava Gardner, and Oscar winning English actor Sir Peter Ustinov. Andrew Lloyd Webber meanwhile owns property in the area and for his 60th birthday flew 50 guests to the village including Michael Caine, Roger
Moore and Tim Rice. Others who have stayed in the village include Princess Diana, Harrison Ford and George Lucas, as well as models Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss. Rock star visitors include Kylie Minogue, Mick Jagger, Mike Oldfield and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. And quite a few have actually played there, including Irish band The Corrs,
CAPTION: and Consecul luptas ducipsaesto eum fdoluptae venis sendignatem
which spent the morning kitting out the venue. One employee confirmed that it
was a riot of colour inside: “So many colours, every colour, too many colours!”
Guests had started leaving Deia’s exclusive La Residencia hotel around 6pm on a
as well as Robbie Williams who famously serenaded his then fiance at gourmet restaurant, El Olivio. The village is also famously where Kevin Ayers, Robert Wyatt and Daevid Allen, all from Soft Machine, moved to ‘escape the changing world’ back in the 1960s. They went on to form hippy band Gong.
bus to transport them to palatial Son Marroig, formerly the mansion of Austrian archduke Luis Salvador. Guests, even including the bride, piled on for the short 5-minute drive to the venue. The wedding party danced into the wee small hours to a live band in the outdoor courtyard at the magnificent country pad, where 17 tables were laid out for a lavish dinner. A three-tier, all-white wedding cake was spotted being brought into the venue. In the days leading up to the top-secret wedding, celebrities partied the nights away in
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
3
Return of the mack
Geldof wedding
Pixie
EX-MADE In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh has been sunning herself in Mallorca. The brunette beauty was with boyfriend Hugo Taylor to celebrate a friend’s wedding in Puerto de Pollenca.
The 27-year-old looked sizzling hot in a white lace-up
bikini in photos she posted of her break on Instagram. Fashion designer Mackintosh was attending the nuptials of friends Alex and Sophie Potter. The former reality TV star founded her own clothes label three years ago.
Summer transfer? Redknapps selling up luxury Balearic bolthole
IT is a transfer that will upset many a local. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp is selling his Mallorca villa after a decade on the island, it can be revealed. Ex-Liverpool and Spurs star Redknapp and wife Louise have had a second home in Bendinat for several years, but an Olive Press source claims they are saying adios to the luxury bolthole. They had first bought the home in 2007 after a friend’s wedding on the island. Louise later revealed how Mallorca - and the nearby Portals Nous area - had ‘captured her heart’. “There's a marina below us, and you can watch the boats coming in and out of the harbour at just about any time of
Deia’s hip Cafe Sa Fonda, knocking back beers, wine and cocktails. On Thursday evening, Bob Geldof, who owns a house in the area, looked crisp in an allwhite trouser and shirt combo and trademark cap at the cool bar. Strictly Come Dancing beauty Lowe looked a knockout, arriving in a dark dress around midnight as dozens of party guests mingled on the bar’s outdoor terrace before dispersing around 2 am. On Friday evening, the wedding crowd, including Styles, Lowe and Chung hit the bar again, arriving around half past ten. Former punks Geldof and Simonon, who was rocking a white fedora hat, spent the night chatting together as the
A-List revellers got in the party mood in the sleepy village. During the day, the wedding party relaxed by their hotel pools and kicked back in the village’s cafes and restaurants as the summer sun blazed. The Olive Press was the only local paper present, along with two UK national papers.
MOVING: The Redknapps and (left) with the Barnes family day,” said Louise. “It's a particularly special view at night, when you can see Palma twinkling, and the lights from the ships out on the bay dancing on the waves.” The area is a big hit with celebrities, with the likes of John Bishop, Ryan Giggs and Jamie Carragher often spotted relaxing in nearby restaurants and cafes. The Redknapps were pictured with John Barnes and his family two years ago at their home. It is not known if they are looking to buy another home on the island.
Soccer mum Madonna
ABOVE: Bob with bridesmaids and Pixie arriving, Barnett (left) and (below) stage for live music
ON VACATION: Vicky and John
Queen Vic GEORDIE Shore’s Vicky Pattison has been soaking up the summer sun in Mallorca. The 29-year-old beauty flaunted her figure on a break with boyfriend John
Noble. Stunning MTV star Vicky looked fantastic in a bikini which showed off her hourglass figure as she frollicked in the water.
MADONNA has splashed €5.7 million on a palace in Portugal. The 58-year-old has splurged on the property in Sintra, near Lisbon, to help her 11-year-old adopted son David - who is currently training with Benfica football club's junior team. The 18th Century Quinta do Relogio Palace was once owned by a Portuguese nobleman, whose colourful life inspired Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count Of Monte Cristo. “Madonna visited Portugal in March and the fans went wild,” said a source. “One even sent her a message saying they were an estate agent on Instagram and she started following them back. “It was then it became pretty apparent that she was looking to make a move permanent. "Now the town is abuzz.” "It's a stunning building in the hilltops with a huge number of bedrooms and bathrooms all decorated in striking Islamic style, although there are huge plans for a redesign inside already."
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NEWS IN BRIEF
That’s rubbish HOTEL workers from Hotel Araxa and local residents are continuing to complain to the Town Hall about
Lorry worry A LORRY stuck under a bridge in Pont d'Inca caused huge tailbacks on Wednesday morning with police having to deflate the tyres to move the vehicle.
Terror swoop THREE suspected Islamist terrorists have been arrested in Madrid, with one of them, thought to be a member of Islamic State, allegedly caught with a bomb-making manual.
Dope den POLICE have arrested a Bulgarian man after uncovering a marijuana factory with 500 bushes in a Port d’Inca garage.
June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Doubts on snatch attempt By Joe Duggan and Gillian Keller
A MALLORCA hotel has cast doubt on a British mum’s claims that her baby was nearly kidnapped while on holiday. Management of the HYB Eurocalas Hotel insist they can find no CCTV of the incident, nor other proof. They also denied that they refused to call the police when tourist Blaise Deacon claimed a mystery woman tried to snatch her 23-month-old daughter at the Calas de Mallorca hotel (pictured right).
Hotel claims there is no evidence of attempted kidnap
CLAIMS: From Brit mum
Deacon told the British press that the woman had allegedly grabbed the tot
Drug bust NEARLY 200 police officers were involved in the round up of a huge drug gang. An incredible 193 agents, 75 from the mainland, were involved in the arrest of 18 suspected drug traffickers around Mallorca. The officers swooped on addresses in Capdepera, Manacor, Inca and Palma, seizing 1.5 kilos of cocaine, heroin and four marijuana plants as well as €45,000 in cash.
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at around 11pm while her partner and sister were in the toilet. She added that the hotel ‘refused to call the police as it would make the hotel look bad’. But a hotel spokesperson hit back, saying: ”We aren’t aware that the clients have reported the facts to the police or to the judge as was recommended. “The hotel has looked at the CCTV and hasn’t been able to establish anybody that matches the description given.”
The spokesperson added: “It’s not true that the hotel refused to call the police. We behaved in a diligent way, offering all our support.” Deacon, from Kent, said the woman came up to her and tried to snatch the child. “The lady put her arms around her telling us that she was taking her. But I held on tight as my sister told her no. When the women realised she wasn’t getting her she took off running,” she said. “I chased her and she ran out of the hotel into a car.” She described the woman as blonde with dark skin. Police are now investigating the claims. The family returned to the UK last Tuesday.
Fighting spirit A BRITISH expat’s cancerstricken daughter is ‘doing much better’ following an Olive Press campaign for blood donations. We launched an appeal after John Chappell’s daughter Serena, 11, was rushed to hospital in April and was diagnosed with Leukemia. Her rare O Negative blood type meant there was not enough blood to treat her. But she is now on the mend, said Chappell. “She’s feeling a lot more like herself. “She’s a bit bored, obviously, but she’s doing better, she’s still in fighting spirit.” Serena is still receiving chemotherapy, with another round due to start next week. “There is still a good supply of her blood type at the hospital which is great as people are still donating,” added Chappell, “so a big thank you to those who have.”
NEWS
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It’s sick
Brits busted over fake holiday sickness claims in Spain By Joe Duggan
Thomas boys unwind AFTER spending weeks in the wild filming Bear Grylls' Celebrity Island, Ryan Thomas let his hair down in Mallorca. The ex-Coronation Street star joined Love Island star and brother Scott, 28, at a BH Mallorca Hotel pool party. The siblings toasted Ryan’s 33rd birthday in style, mixing with the revellers and drinking vodka.
TWO British holidaymakers who claimed compensation for food poisoning while in Spain sunk at least 109 alcoholic drinks in just nine days. The holidaymakers from Liverpool were caught out by undercover investigators from holiday firm Jet2, while in the Canaries. Vomiting The company found CCTV footage of the pair at the Gloria Palace hotel in
Gran Canaria binging on cocktails, beers and spirit, despite later claiming they were ill with diarrhoea and vomiting Hotel boss Jose Maria Mañaricua said: “They enjoyed a wide range of
Shark bite A SHARK has attacked a bather at one of the Balearic Islands’ most popular beaches. The 82-year-old Spaniard suffered a two-inch gash on his hand after what is believed to have been a blue shark struck at Ibiza’s Playa d’en Bossa. Terrified swimmers ran to shore following Saturday’s attack. Blue sharks are one of the most common in the Mediterranean and the same type of shark is thought to have been behind another attack on a tourist on the Costa Blanca last August.
Parkinsons support A NEW Parkinsons charity group is being launched in Mallorca. The Parkinsons Support Group Mallorca will team up with the Association of Parkinsons Disease Balearics to offer support to patients and families. Organiser Ivan Lythgoe said: “Apart from the doctors and nurses diagnosing this awful disease there is no other support.”
L NDON
drinks, despite supposedly being sick and bedridden.” It comes as the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) launched a ‘Stop Sickness Scams’ campaign, demanding the UK governemt get tough on the fake claims. Meanwhile, police arrested two suspected ‘touts’ for allegedly encouraging tourists to post bogus insurance claims for sickness. The pair were held in Mallorca for allegedly asking holidaymakers to lie about having stomach bugs. They are believed to be the first arrests of their kind in the scams, which are costing hoteliers tens of millions a year. Some 90% of claims are believed to be false. “A sharp rise in claims is costing hotels and firms dear,” said Jet2holidays boss Steve Heapy.
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
‘We’ve had enough’ ANGRY Mallorca business owners are fighting back against loutish tourist behaviour. Island residents have launched a Change.org petition complaining about a ‘lack of civility
By Gillian Keller
and dirt’ from badly-behaved holidaymakers. The group are demanding authorities impose stiffer fines and punishments for offenders and for increased police action to tackle criminal behaviour. “Residents CAN’T 10 of cope with this type the 64 of cheap tourism,” Dos and Donts for the petition pleaded. Earlier this month, Magaluf a group of 18 British tourists who fight in public I Don’t streaked along Palplaces manova’s sea-front No abusive language II sparked outrage among locals. III Respect others Two British women were filmed walking Don’t damage benches IV naked around Magaluf at the weekend. V Don’t lie about your identity It comes as a list of VI No shining of laser beams 64 rules banning bad behaviour in VII Bars must not serve drunks Magaluf is about to come into effect. VIII Dont drink in the street Visitors are warned they must respect Don’t rip off branches IX from trees others, and must not climb trees. Anyone falling foul carve names into X Don’t the bark of the crackdown faces fines from €100 to €3,000,
10 COMMANDMENTS
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A BRITISH dad whose expartner is hiding out with their daughter in a Norwegian church has lashed out at the Norwegian legal system. Santa Ponsa-based Dominic Shepherd, 40, thought a final ruling on Tonje Bjornsen’s ‘asylum’ claim was imminent. It comes after we revealed last issue how Bjornsen, 40, had fled with the couple’s three children, forcing Shepherd to use the Hague Convention to win them back. But her lawyer is now involved in ‘stalling’ tactics insisting he has not received the Appeal Court Judgment. It has led to further delays and agony for the doting dad, who moved to Mallorca in 2013. “Enough is enough,” IT expert Shepherd told the Olive
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MALLORCA CULTURE
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Saluting Hugh
Remembering civil war demic Hugh Thomas aca-
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Spycatcher Spy Garbo’s links to Mallorca
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MALLORCA PROPERTY
Give her back! PAGE 9
Mauled
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MALLORCA CLASSIFIEDS
2017
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BRAVE: Ignacio Echverria and (top) Sergio Farina
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.
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 his bar to prevent one 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 enterkeeping my head together because ing, before opening those kids need the door to help anholding’ her daughter from want Maia back a dad. We just other person find joining her twin brothers so we can live in a normal life.” safety. Mallorca. His ordeal began “You do not even think “I’m numb, but the boys when Bjørnsen last August, about it,” he said, make me strong,” Shepherd, left Spain “I with the children, ostensibly could have simply left, an IT expert, based in as everyone did, but Ponsa, told the Olive Santa for a holiday, after living on I would have left “I’ve had nothing but Press. the island for three years. 28 support However two people behind.” from friends and family.” weeks 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 DE MALLORCA 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 MORE forced to travel to he was would return.” Norway to get his children back revenue with Dozens of pedestrians Bjornsen refused to after were mowed down German clients! return them. by a van on London Put your ads in After picking up the two Bridge before attackTobias and Christian boys EL AVISO ers stabbed a police from school, he was stunned officer newspaper! and to revellearn Bjørnsen had fled lers around Borough their daughter - whose with Market with 12-inch day is this week - to livebirthknives. CONTACT US in a local church. More than 20 remain 971 619 234 “I was utterly lost for in a critical condition. words,“ 661 901 290 said Shepherd, who has spo Info@el-aviso.es Continues on Page Opinion Page 6 2 PLEA: Dominic Shepherd
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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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Press. “No more games. I do not understand why there are these massive delays.” Shepherd’s lawyer, Sol Elden, added: ‘In my opinion they are just stalling.’ When Shepherd travelled to Norway in February to retrieve all three kids, Bjornsen, 37, ran into a church with seven-year-old Maia to claim asylum. She now refuses to leave, despite Shepherd winning custody of all three children. Bjornsen faces possible criminal charges in Spain for ‘illegally withholding’ her daughter from joining her dad and twin brothers in Mallorca. Shepherd added: “My next step may be the European Court Of Human Rights. Maia is being held against her will and we want her back.”
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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 Time to act IT is mystifying why US internet hosts GoDaddy has yet to remove the scam sites that are causing mayhem with British holidaymakers. Despite repeated requests from this newspaper, pointing out exactly what is happening, the firm is sticking to its guns and is refusing to take action. Meanwhile, holidaymakers and genuine agents alike are suffering. With the summer season getting into full swing, hard-working families hoping to enjoy a relaxing break are being conned out of their hard-earned money. GoDaddy needs to act - now! If it doesn’t, the only way of warning people and highlighting this problem to the world is via the press.
Brexit begins A YEAR after Britain took the momentous decision to quit the EU, Brexit talks have finally got underway. With a final deal needing to be struck by this time next year to give the European Parliament time to vote on the outcome, time is short. In fact, it seems almost impossible that the extraordinary complexity of what is at hand can be resolved in such a short space of time. According to the Ministry of Employment, there are 25,000 Brits living in the Balearic Islands. Expats in Spain and elsewhere are now in the firing line. If no overall deal is struck, any deal for expats retaining current citizen rights will not stand, according to EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier. The stakes could not be higher.
Sick man of Europe A NEW Stop Sickness Scam campaign by ABTA is a welcome move that will hopefully move the UK authorities to clamp down on fraudulent holiday illness claims. The group has written to Justice Secretary David Lidington, urging him to act swiftly to stamp out the appalling practice. In Mallorca, the Federation of Mallorcan Hotels has warned that hotels will be cracking down on touts and UK holidaymakers submitting fake claims. Anyone found guilty could face up to three years in Spanish jail with no opportunity for a suspended sentence. And it would be fully deserved.
Fe at u r e
Rainbow
SINCE the 1970s, Spain has been ahead of the pack when it comes to LGBT rights. The nation’s rapid ascension into the 21st century came after decades of Franco rule, which saw sexual minorities imprisoned or even killed simply for being who they are, including the legendary poet Federico Garcia Lorca. But when Franco was finally toppled in the 1975, his ‘Vagrancy
June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Spain’s past and present offer up a raft of trailblazing LGBT heroes, writes Laurence Dollimore Act’ was abolished, kick-starting the country’s march towards equality. The year 1979 welcomed Madrid’s first Gay Pride march, attitudes drastically softened during
Federico Garcia Lorca Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of ‘27, a group of poets and writers who introduced the tenets of European movements - including symbolism, futurism, and surrealism - to Spanish literature. Lorca’s writing was considered deeply homoerotic and was banned until 1954 and censored until 1975, while his family rarely spoke of it. Even as late as the 1980s, when Sonnets of a Dark Love was posthumously published, its title was changed to Love Sonnets. Lorca, who is believed to have been in love with the artist Salvador Dali, was executed by Spanish Fascists in 1936 after he took refuge in a friend’s house in his hometown of Granada. It is said that one of the men on the death squad claimed to have ‘fired two bullets into his ass for being a queer.’ Lorca, whose body has never been found, is believed to have been killed for for being homosexual, as well as for his left-wing beliefs. He has become a symbol of the crimes of the Spanish Civil War.
the 1980s while the 90s saw the election of the first openly-LGBT member of a regional parliament in Catalonia. Then in 2005, Spain became one of the first countries in the world to
legalise same-sex marriage and in 2007 it was hailed as having the most developed LGBT rights in the world. In celebration that year, it held Europride in Madrid, and welcomed more than 2.5 million people over the course of one week. With June being International LGBT Pride Month, with Mallorca also celebrating at the weekend, we focus on the trailblazing ‘rainbow warriors’ of Spain.
David Delfin Malagueño Delfin was world-renowned in the fashion industry. The 46-year-old, who tragically passed away from cancer this month, first made his mark as one of Spain’s most provocative designers by covering models’ faces with hoods and putting nooses around their necks at the Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in 2002. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy paid tribute to the designer after his death. In a telegram sent to Delfin’s family, Rajoy said he ‘was one of the most charismatic and creative fashion designers in Spain’ who ‘leaves an incomparable legacy’. Delfin founded his studio in Madrid in 2001 and was later praised for ‘developing his own avant-garde universe.’
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Pedro Almodovar One of Spain’s most internationally successful film directors, the openly gay 67-year-old from Ciudad Real came to prominence during La Movida Madrileña, the cultural renaissance that followed the death of Franco. Early films like The Law of Desire (1987), themed on a gay love triangle, captured the sexual and political freedoms of the period. Although the man from La Mancha dislikes being branded as a ‘gay filmmaker’, his movies are well known for challenging traditional ideas, and transgenderism and homosexuality are recurring themes. He first achieved international recognition for his black comedy-drama Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He went on to win two Oscars. All About My Mother (1999) received the award for Best Foreign Language Film while Talk to Her (2002) earned him the award for Best Original Screenplay.
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Cristobal Balenciaga Balenciaga was a Basque fashion designer and the founder of the Balenciaga fashion house. During the 1930s he lived openly with his lover, the French-Polish aristocrat Wladzio d’Attainville, above his Paris studio. As a couturier he had a reputation for his uncompromising standards and was referred to as ‘the master of us all’ by none other than Christian Dior. Coco Chanel said he was ‘the only couturier in the truest sense of the word’, adding that ‘the others are simply fashion designers’. To this day he is revered as the supreme deity of the European salons and is known as ‘The King’. Since 2011 the purpose-built Museo Balenciaga exhibits examples of his work in his birth town Getaria. Many of the 1,200 pieces in the collection were supplied by his pupil Hubert de Givenchy and clients such as Grace Kelly.
Angela Ponce Ponce was the first openly-transgender woman to compete for the Miss World Spain title. The 25-year-old from Sevilla, who was representing Cadiz, lost out to Miss Barcelona in the 2015 pageant. She had been the favourite to win the title, but failed to make it to the final ten in the beauty show, which was held locally in Estepona. She said: “I have the regional crown on my head and I will keep fighting to make us seen, to make us heard and to demonstrate that I am already a queen with my own crown.”
Patricia Yurena Former Miss Spain Yurena came out as gay in 2015. The beauty queen shared a photo posing intimately with her girlfriend, Spanish DJ Vanesa Klein, with the caption ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Yurena held the title of Miss Spain in both 2008 and 2013, and told Spanish press that she came out because it made her happy to be in a relationship with Klein. “I did it because I am happy about what’s going on in my life,” she said. As the first openly gay national beauty queen, she has opened the door for other women to be true to themselves.
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LOUD AND PROUD: Madrid Pride is one of the largest and most popular LGBT Pride marches in the world, attracting tens of thousands of Spaniards and international tourists every year. Next month it is hosting World Pride. It promises to be a major festival that coincides with the 40th anniversary of the first LGBT Pride protest in Spain. It will likely be the largest parade ever held in the capital with more than two million visitors expected.
Bibiana Fernandez Bibiana was born with the name Manuel and spent her childhood in Málaga. She later went to Barcelona to fulfill her dream of being an artist. After a period of making shows in several of the city’s vaudeville haunts, she made her debut into the film business with a Vicente Aranda film, Cambio de Sexo (Sex Change). She was soon famous across Spain, making appearances and releasing several single song hits such as Call me Lady Champagne and Sálvame (Save Me). In the 1980s, she began working with Almodóvar, and performed in many of his films before hosting several TV shows.
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Miquel Iceta Llorens Miquel became the first the first openly-LGBT member of a Regional Parliament in Spain when he was elected in Catalonia in 1999. The 56-year-old is currently First Secretary of the PSC (Socialist’s Party of Catalonia). He spoke out against independence for his region in March, saying it would be a ‘nightmare’. “It would be so much like recognising that you are unable to find a good relationship with your neighbours,” he said.
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John Galliano John Charles Galliano is a Gibraltar-born British fashion designer who has headed French fashion companies Givenchy, Christian Dior, and his own label John Galliano (1988 to 2011). The 56-year-old is currently the creative director of Paris-based fashion house Maison Margiela. He first studied at the Saint Martin’s School of Art in London, where he graduated in 1984 with a first in Fashion Design. His first collection, inspired by the French Revolution and entitled Les Incroyables, received positive reviews and was bought in its entirety for resale in the London fashion boutique Browns. He then started his own fashion label alongside long-term collaborators Amanda Harlech. He soon rented a studio space in London, but his love for London’s nightlife soon took its toll. After becoming bankrupt, he moved to Paris in search of financial backing and a strong client base. He won the support of Moroccan designer Faycal Amor, who invited him to set up his base in Paris. His career has been on the up ever since. Galliano has been named British Designer of the Year four times, received a CBE and a French Legion of Honour.
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Felix Alvarez When Alvarez tried to bring his non-EU, same-sex partner to the Rock, he was shocked by the insurmountable bureaucracy and prejudice he encountered. As deputy leader of the Independent Liberal Forum (now defunct), he persuaded his party to back him in the establishment of what was to be known as Gib Gay Rights (GGR). In a GBC television news broadcast in 2000, Alvarez said ‘the fear factor’ was over as far as gay citizens were concerned and that from then on, they would be demanding equal rights as full citizens. GGR is now known as the Equality Rights Group, it has been at the forefront of the LGBT movement on the Rock and was instrumental in pushing for samesex marriage legislation.
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PP four probed in Gurtel case FOUR EX-PP ministers have denied being receiving illegal backhanders in the Gurtel political corruption case. Appearing in court, Javier Arenas, Ángel Acebes, Jaime Mayor Oreja and Rodrigo Rato rejected allegations that the party’s former treasurer Luis Barcenas had paid them from a slush fund. They were called as witnesses by Barcenas’ lawyer to shed light on the PP’s role in the scandal. “I have never received a euro of anyone else’s money into my pay, and nobody has ever suggested that to me,” said Arenas, who served as the party’s secretary general from 1999 to 2003. “I never received money from Barcenas. Everything I received I have declared to the tax man.” The Gurtel case into political corruption within the PP party has been ongoing since 2009, with Barcenas accused of running slush funds to pay party officials.
PP deputy linked to controversial parties organised by ‘king of the night’ Cursach PP MP Alvaro Gijon has denied taking drugs and using prostitutes at orgies run by nightclub owner Tolo Cursach. It comes after a witness in the case has claimed Cursach said he would pay her to take part in orgies with Gijon and fellow PP member Jose Maria Rodriguez. Denying he knew ‘King of the night’ Cursach, who is currently in jail awaiting a string of corruption and one murder charge, Gijon insisted he had offered to take a drug test to prove his innocence. It comes after witnesses in Cursach’s trial fingered the politician for allegedly attending sex parties at luxury country pads with Cursach. Gijon said: “I have never been in any finca or party of the kind they are saying. “I am facing a diabolical situation. It’s impossible to be able to show something like that, simply because it never hap-
June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Gijon denies drug orgy
claim
DENIAL: Gijon refutes orgy and cocaine claims pened,” said Gijon. “It’s difficult to prove I took drugs and to say I went with prostitutes is perverse. In my
case, the presumption of innocence has disappeared.” He added: “I have spent a year trying to prove my innocence,
when nobody has proved I am guilty of anything.” The unnamed female witness told a journalist: “Cursach wanted to pay for orgies for two politicians with a lot of power and influence. “I don’t know if after paying for the orgies Cursach received something in return. I saw Rodriguez taking cocaine with my own eyes.” Following the explosive claims, rival politicians called for Gijon’s suspension from parliament. Jose Hila, the mayor of Palma, said he ‘felt disgust’ and ‘sick to the stomach’ that Gijon was continuing as a councillor, despite the allegations. “The magnitude of the witness allegations override corruption - now we are speaking about mafia practices,” added Mes MP David Abril.
Rajoy wins no-confidence vote PABLO Iglesias has lost a motion of no-confidence in prime minister Mariano Rajoy. Only 82 MPs voted in favour of the Podemos leader’s motion, with 170 voting against and 97 abstentions. Iglesias filed the motion in protest
at a series of corruption scandals that have engulfed Rajoy’s rightwing PP party. Rajoy said: “I am happy because the motion has been rejected by an absolute majority. “It has been a very important rejection because in other coun-
tries in Europe rejection has produced radicals and extremists.” Podemos were only able to muster the support of 15 MPs outside their own 67 congress representatives. Albert Rivera’s Ciudadanos voted with Rajoy’s party in the no-confidence vote.
Bungs for the boys THE Balearic government’s financial watchdog has identified hundreds of irregularities in the awarding of public contracts between 2013 and 2014. It claims numerous contracts weren’t put out to tender and were then awarded to projects which didn’t have ‘public, social, economic or humanitarian interest’. La Sindicatura de Comptes ruled that under Jose Ramon Bauza’s presidency long-term contracts that should have been short-term contracts were also awarded. In a report published this week, the audit body said in 2013 government grants of €34 million were awarded to 2,706 beneficiaries. In 2014, the cost had risen to €38 million with 2,671 beneficiaries.
Riding into trouble
A JUDGE has ordered exgovernment president Jaume Matas should face trial over alleged corruption. Jose Castro ruled Matas and businessman Miguel Romero should be grilled over irregularities in the awarding of promotional contracts for the 2007 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, which was held in Palma. Castro ordered the pair to pay a bond of €114,000 within 24 hours or face having assets or property seized
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Expats help serve up The Beach Boys Caught lunchtime Live by David Whitney Mallorca T wasThe a truly Californian Olive Pressflamenco night when the legendary CAUGHT LIVE
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Beach Boys came to town. TOP for news in Spain! THE sound of daytime flaWe all bathed in the warm menco has started echoing evening air and danced to the around Palma’s Teatre Sans. sounds of Surfin’ USA. The beautiful venue - origiMike Love and Bruce Johnston nally a palace built by an brought their classic harmonic olive-oil merchant - is hostsounds to the Son Fusteret ing lunchtime Flamallorca venue, bringing plenty of good shows, organised by expats vibrations to the mixed fan Andy Marshall, Bjorn San base of oldies and youngsters. Pedro and Bilbao-born Julio Since 1962 the band have Piñero. recorded and sold an incredJulio linked up with the gypsy ible 100 million-plus records community when he created with number ones all over the the Flamenco Association in world, including Californian Red Balear and started orgaGirls, Help Me Rhonda and nizing concerts and events, Good Vibrations. explains Andy. Mike Love told us how he had “Flamallorca came from what first visited the island in 1972, we saw as a need to build a and we watched videos of their platform to promote the art time meditating in India in the 60s and 70s. It was a night of hits from their many albums including tunes from the Pet Sounds album to new songs highlighting the pollution of the Planet. It was all there as the favourite songs brought the fans to their feet, arms waving and everyone singing, many dressed in their Californian surfing shirts. Good, good, good, good vibrations indeed!
ART FORM: Flamenco during the day and culture of Flamenco with artists from the island,” he told the Olive Press. “It’s in their culture, their way of acting and being as persons, but only some of them feel it, practice hard every day
and live the hard way of being an artist on an island where they just make a handful of shows each year.” A platter of tapas greets customers upon arrival before an excellent three-stage show
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gets underway in the venue’s domed cellar. As the sonorous tones and accompanying guitar of cante jondo swell around the chamber, the lunchtime crowd are connected to the centuries-old soulfulness of Spain’s own blues. Next stage of this musical triptych is performed in the theatre’s courtyard, an elegant dance by a traditionallyattired raven-haired beauty. Finally, we retire to the main hall, where musicians and dancer rotate around the room, at one stage tapping out Aa rhythmic beat on a kitchen table in the style of gypsy families at home. Flamenco’s full range - energetic, sombre, playful - is all here, performed by a local group of musicians, four of whom hail from Mallorca. And for €15, this is an excellent way to while away an hour and a half, for both the flamenco first-timer and afi-
what’s on
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anta Maria del Carni market, June 25 WEEKLY market held on a Sunday from 9am to 4pm with wide range of wonderful fruit and vegetables.
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’Atlandina Film Festival, June 26-July 2 SUPERB line-up of new films at Palma festiva, including the directorial debut of Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave’s Sea Sorrow documentary about the migrant crisis.
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n Bass Festival. June 30July 1 HIP beats and funky sounds at this weekender in Santa Maria’s industrial estate, with DJs including headliners King Earthquake, Potential Badboy and Asphalt Pirates.
ON SHOW: Glorious finca
Raixa to open doors Tramuntana Rocks on MALLORCA is gearing up for this summer’s Tramuntana Rocks Festival. The day-long event takes place at Esporles on August 5, with bands playing including Moscoman, Camera, Zombies in Miami, Escorpio and Zulu Zulu. Both English and Spanishspeaking bands will take part in the festival.
CROWDS: At festival
THE Mallorca government is planning to open up the stunning Raixa finca for cultural events. Politicians are eager to start holding concerts at the venue this summer, and to limit the number of weddings and private parties at the venue. Currently, Raixa can be hired for between €300 and €2,000 by private groups. It comes as the Mallorca government officially launched its new cultural guide website, www. Culturamallorca.cat, showcasing some of the best cultural events on the island.
Van the man
LEGEND: Morrison
A MALLORCA record shop is celebrating the 20th anniversary of a legendary Van Morrison gig on the island. Palma music cafe Espai Xocolat is holding an exhibition to mark what is regarded as one of the Belfast musician’s greatest ever performances as well as his four other Mallorca concerts. The Van Morrison in Mallorca show will include rare press cuttings of his Mallorca gigs. “For Xocolat, the promoter for that gig in ‘97, and his four other concerts on our island, it is a great pride,” said Xocolat owner and concert promoter Miquel Àngel Sancho.
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
How a lost suitcase changed photojournalism, by Jack Gaioni FAKE NEWS’, ‘alternative facts’ and ‘post-truth’ are popular euphemisms destined for the Oxford Dictionary’s list of new words and phrases this year. Although the terms are contemporary, the role of journalism in ‘manufacturing opinion’ has been a human activity as far back as reliable evidence suggests. From ancient cave drawings to radio and television and from Cold War propaganda to today’s Twitter feeds, all are communicative attempts to influence an audience and/or further an agenda by presenting facts selectively. One particularly interesting chapter in journalism’s attempt to manufacture opinion happened right here in Spain. It involved a man with a camera, Spain’s darkest days and a lost suitcase. Let’s connect the dots…. The practice of illustrating news
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you are Fake news
Baggage claim
stories with photos, known simply as photojournalism, began nearly two centuries ago in London. The Illustrated London News (1842) first paired news with pictures using primitive engravings. Over the next hundred years or so, great advances in photographic and printing technologies brought photojournalism into the modern age. The Spanish Civil War - perhaps Spain’s greatest nightmare - was the catalyst for some of the most dramatic imagery ever witnessed in reporting the news. The Spanish war experiences of Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell are legendary. But with the addition of action photos matched with the popularity of the reporting by Hemingway, Orwell and others, the Spanish Civil War became recognised as the ‘Golden Age of Photojournalism’. Readers now felt like they were in the same foxhole as the actual com- in the world”. batants. The addition of action pho- Capa would go on to cover the Dtos captioned by these infamous Day invasion, World War II, postauthors enhanced the perceived war Russia and Germany and the founding of Israel (1948). In May ‘truthfulness’ of wartime news. Action photos put forth the adage of 1954, in covering the early stages of the Vietnam War, he fatally that the ‘camera does not lie’. A man named Robert Capa, a stepped on a landmine. He was 41 years old. But the close associate of legacy of the man both Hemingway did not die that day. and Orwell, was the bellwether photog- The discovery has Rather, it was just beginning… rapher in this new age of photojour- changed the way In December of 2007, some 53 nalism. He would we look at the years after his often accompany war correspondents Spanish Civil War death, one of Capa’s lost suitcases was like Hemingway to found in an attic in photograph battleMexico City. Someground action. Life how or other, a lower-level diploMagazine, Esquire Magazine and others published many exclusive mat in exile in Mexico after the Hemingway pieces, often paired war, had came into possession of with Capa’s dramatic photos. The some of Capa’s belongings, possiPicture Post, a pioneering photo- bly holding them for him while he journalism magazine published photographed combat worldwide. from 1938-1957, described Capa The forgotten suitcase contained as “the greatest war photographer over 4,500 previously unseen photos from the Spanish Civil War. This
Robert Capa’s photo The Falling Soldier and Pablo Picasso’s infamous painting Guerni ca exist as two of the most iconic images to emerge from The Spanish Civil War. ●● Trisha Ziff, a British scholar and curator at the Guggenheim Museum, directed a film about the controversy surrounding Robert Capa’s long lost suitcase. Her film, The Mexican Suitcase, was produced in 2011. It can be viewed at www. youtube.com/the Mexican Suitcase ●● The entire Mexican Suitcase exhibit is preser ved and periodically on display at the International Center of Photography in New York. It is scheduled to be on loan next year at yet to be announced locations in Spain. Go to www.icp.org for more information. ●● Ernest Hemingway was, in part, inspired to write his classic For Whom the Bell Tolls from his experiences with Robert Capa.
DEATH: One of the world’s most famou photos by (right) Capa, shot in Cordoba
treasure trove of historical records has become known in journalistic circles as the ‘Mexican Suitcase’. The discovery not only changed the way we look at the Spanish Civil War, but has cast doubt on the perception that the ‘camera does not lie’. Experts of photojournalism, in researching and interpreting these images, have raised questions about the pure objectivity of Capa’s photographs. Some experts now claim that many of these unseen photos were ‘staged’, discrediting the notion that the p h oto g r a p h e r was indeed ‘in the thick of battle’. Many
of the photos show larger sequences of the same event, suggesting that Capa may have ‘cropped out’ real time combat action in favor of a more dramatic yet staged photo. Also found in the suitcase were some of Capa’s notebooks which reveal the man as a passionate partisan who favoured Republican (anti-Franco) ideology. Was Capa trying to sell his ideological position to sympathetic foreign readers? Could this be one of the first attempts to use the camera as a propaganda tool? What came first - Capa’s photos or Hemingway’s captions? Some of these same experts have come to Capa’s defense. This was an age of infancy in war photography. Perhaps Capa was merely experimenting in camera angles, vari-
ous lighting effects and how best to create dramatic effect to tell a larger story. Perhaps his purpose was to bring the horrors of war - any war - to his and Hemingway’s readers. If re-staging events achieved that goal, then is there not value in Capa’s work? These questions that have arisen in unpacking the Mexican Suitcase (pun intended) are indeed rhetorical. They can never be fully answered. What is undeniable is that the intensity of Capa’s imagery changed the way news was reported. Photojournalism, the symbiotic relationship between the written word and photography born during the Spanish Civil War, became an established form of representing a news story. Robert Capa’s dramatic war photos derive their intensity not only in what they depict but also from the ideologically-charged historical context from which they emerge. Is this an example of ‘fake news’ or ‘alternative facts’? Again, the questions are rhetorical.
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
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la cultura
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The carer of Alexander Fleming’s granddaughter reveals her extraordinary life as an artist in Spain
ER grandfather invented penicillin. But surprisingly few people know about the fascinating life of Alexander Fleming’s granddaughter, Penelope Fleming, who made Andalucia her home. The daughter of esteemed crime author Joan Margaret Fleming and Harley Street eye surgeon Norman Bell Beatie Fleming was also sister to UK Green Party developer David Fleming and a renowned artist in her own right who found fans around the world. Now, her long-serving Moroccan carer has told the story of the talented Brit who spent the last 30 years of her life in Cadiz province’s tiny village of San Pablo de Buceite. Jamal Benblal Zayout, 30, is the sole beneficiary of the estate of Fleming, who died in February 2016 in La Linea Hospital of a suspected heart attack. aged 83. Initially unbeknown to him Fleming, who is buried in the San Pablo Buceite crematorium, enjoyed an illustrious career as an artist whose work was sought-after in Gibraltar and worldwide. “She was a truly talented woman,” said Zayout, who still lives on Fleming’s country estate where she lived from the late 1980s. He started to look after Fleming around
“Well-known people from the art world would come to the house” 13 years ago. She had a fascination with the country. “I had no idea who she was when I first started working for her. “I knew nothing about her art or her grandfather. “She did not really paint by that time due to having problems using her hands so I only found out about her art gradually as I gained her trust. “The breadth of her work was fantastic. “She loved to paint landscapes. One of the reasons she came to live in Andalucia, aside from the climate and lifestyle, was the beautiful surroundings. “She told me she had painted since she was a child and worked in all manner of mediums, from oils to pencil drawings. “She created hundreds of paintings, maybe 400, during her career and was considered unusual because she used to paint with her left hand. “A lot of very well-known people from England and the art world would come to the house but I didn’t know who they
HEIR: Carer Jamal Benblal Zayout
whole
SEDUCED BY ANDALUCIA: Penelope loved the landscape of Spain
The
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picture
PASSPORT: Her original document, below
EVOCATIVE: Flemming’s paintings sell for thousands
were. She was very well-regarded in the art world. “Her buyers came from places as varied as England, Gibraltar, France, Morocco and Germany.” Along with her remaining paintings, Zayout closely guards a folder that contains scores of articles illustrating her exhibitions, held everywhere from London to Istanbul. “She travelled very widely, which suited her as she had a love of visiting different countries, especially places like Iraq and Turkey. “Even though she didn’t paint while I knew her, I travelled with her to many places where she was still holding exhibitions. “We went everywhere from La Linea to Morocco. “She had a big exhibition in Tangier and we also went to my home town of Sidi Kacem five times.” As Zayout and Fleming’s bond deepened, he also learnt more about her family’s fascinating past. “It was around seven years before I found out who her grandfather was but after she opened up to me she would refer to him often. “She said Alexander was the best man and doctor in the whole world. “She was also very proud of her brother David, a leading green thinker who wrote a lot of books. I still have them, along with those of her mother who wrote Deeds of Dr Deadcert which was turned into the Rx for Murder film. “But Penelope was also a writer in her own right. I have kept her work safe but unfortunately I have not been able to read it as it is written in English. Fleming tasked Zayout to sell her remaining paintings following her death and gave him permission to keep the proceeds. “A Gibraltarian gentleman is currently interested in buying her whole remaining collection, but I can’t disclose who,” said Zayout. “She was just a wonderful person to be around, so very good and kind. “She was the best person in the world and was as important as my mother to me. “She never married or had any children of her own and told me I was her son. “She was always concerned about me and was holding my hand when she died, I miss her so much.”
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SPAIN is still the number one property destination for international buyers. According to TheMoveChannel.com’s latest Top of the Props index, Spanish property accounted for one in ten of all enquiries in April, stealing back the top spot from the US. It comes after theDownload Spanish ourRegistrar’s app now and latest annual report showedtheforeign begin enjoying best Spanish transactions make up a record 13.25% of all transactions. news on the go. On TheMoveChannel.com, Spain accounted for 31 of the 50 most searchedfor locations in the first three months of this year – an all-time high for any country.
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
BOSSES: Cox and Wells
IN COME THE BIG BUCKS! A HUGE US property fund is splashing €45 million on three new Costa del Sol developments. The American bosses behind Real Capital Solutions have snapped up sizeable plots in Estepona, Mijas and Benahavis and continue to look at further opportunities along the coast. The company, based in Marbella since 2013, already has five other developments, including The Retreat, in Elviria.
“We have spent around €86 million here so far and have a fund of €100 million to spend,” explained Managing Partner Peter Wells, based in Colorado. “We are one of the largest developers on the Costa del Sol and our emphasis is on distressed properties.” He added: “Also we do things transparently and always try and deliver on price and quality.” The company - which made hundreds of millions buying and selling distressed properties in the US - has 16 staff working out of its office at Centro Plaza. Local boss Taylor Cox, added: “The coast is really starting to come alive and it’s a pleasure to live in such a beautiful part of the world.”
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Booming July predicted following ‘pause’ in run-up to EU referendum Special report by Iona Napier ESTATE agents in Spain and Gibraltar are lining themselves up for the busiest July on record. It comes as some British buyers put purchases on hold due to the forthcoming EU referendum on June 23. Most agents the Olive Press spoke to confirmed they had various sales currently ‘paused’ awaiting the result, despite the British market remaining strong. The majority believe that the expected result - to stay in Europe - will lead to the pound strengthening with a red hot summer of sales to follow. Ben Bateman, at Holmes Sotogrande, described the referendum lead up as a ‘pause for thought for British buyers’ due to concerns over the weak pound. “After a remain vote however, we expect to see a strong finish to the year - and a sudden wave of bids from British buyers,” he told the Olive Press. One agent in Gibraltar has gone one step further actually employing extra staff for July. Savills director Sammy Cruz-Armstrong said: “Everything is on hold due to Brexit, but I am convinced we will stay in Europe and am taking on extra staff in July to deal with the expected deluge of business.” Benahavis agent Scott Marshall of Proper-
Roll on Remain tieSpain, meanwhile, described the pause as ‘very psychological’. He said: “It’s a combination of the uncertainty of the vote and the exchange rate right now.” While many agents have a couple of sales currently on hold, some have seen more. “We have up to ten sales currently on hold until after the referendum,” said Victor Witkowski, boss of Castles, in Manilva. “Buyers are not necessarily pulling out, but they are biding their time to see what happens.” Fellow Manilva agent, Shani Hamilton, also confirmed a slowdown, but added: “We are predicting a huge influx of business as soon as a decision is made.”
Where is Gillian buying?
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Deals
Spanish property sales by nationality and quarter
www.spanishpropertyinsight.com Source: Registradores Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
Either way, official statistics out this month confirm the British market remains strong and tens of thousands continue to look for their dream home. Respected analyst Mark Stucklin insists that foreign demand for Spanish property was up 16% in the first quarter with Brits the biggest group of foreign buyers at 22% of the market share. “The British still dominate the foreign market for property and there is no evidence of a noticeable decline in demand as yet,” he said. And certainly not everyone is suffering. One agent, Graham Govier of Inland Andalucia has seen ‘no negative impact’ at all during the referendum lead-up. “In fact it is the opposite. Prices are extremely cheap right now and we are selling two times as many properties as we were last year,” he said. He added: “My salesman Paul - already a bit of a local celebrity - has just completed his seventh consecutive sale and people are buying because they can see that the incredible deals won’t wait around for them forever,” he added. Paul made headlines in the Olive Press last year when he sold an impressive nine properties in a row.
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Out of this world!
Holding court PADDLE tennis fans are well served by this stunning sevenbedroom Mallorca mansion. On the market for €16 million with GC Property, this elegant country estate is set in 46 hectares near Llubi and counts its own court. As well as that, it has a fantastic pool, Roman fountain and stunning manicured gardens. A FUTURE: For important Mallorca observatory
MALLORCA’S Observatory may Dutch developers eye up Observatory have a potential buyer following for astrology project, thanks to Olive appeal in last month’s Olive The Olive Pressan NEW S Press. Press appeal HOTTYOAKS A Dutch company is looking to TOP for news in Spain! save it from developers and turn it into an international centre for The company is now set to under- Along with scientists from its sister SOME 55% of Britons considering buying a take a feasibility study La Sagra planetarium in Granada, astrological study.Balearic property abroad insist Brexit has no impact for an, as yet, foreign volunteers from the Mallorca planThe iconic observatoBernie on their decision. Frank-ly speaking university. etarium have uncovered an astonry near Costitx is one Meanwhile, 10% of those surveyed said they It is believed they are ishing 7,000 asteroids, second beof the most imporwere actually MORE LIKELY to buy in Euexploring the possibil- hind only the USA. tant in Europe, with rope now that Britain has decided to leave ity of adding accom- The combined asteroid discoverastrologers from the the EU. modation as well as ies made in the rest of the world centre the first to The research by Spanish Legal Reclaims opening the facilities to during the same are only half spot DA14, one of the also revealed that Spain remains the most schools. those made by the two Spanish most dangerous aspopular choice for Brits looking to buy Last month, the Olive centres. teroids to pass near abroad, with 45% saying it was their first Press reported how the The most important discovery was choice, followed by France 37% and Italy earth. Come on you observatory had gone in 2012 with DA 14, which would 20%. “It would be great Spain CEO Luis Cuervo said: “It’s not surprising to on the market after it have had a ‘blast radius’ of 2,000 for the island if it hear that Spain remains the favourite deswent bankrupt (see left). square kms. is sold to someone tination for British people who want to buy The observatory’s plane- “If it had landed on Mallorca it with its best interproperty in Europe. Despite the horror stotarium, which was added would have destroyed the island ests at heart,” said ries you may have heard of disappearing deMJC agent Amanda Butler, who is in 2003, has been one of the most with the force of an atomic bomb,” velopers, it continues to deliver on lifestyle, important star-gazing platforms observatory guide Joan Guillem handling the sale. Barcelona beats property prices and climate.” in the world. told the Olive Press.
Brexit be damned!
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ZOOMING IN: Bernie
It’s spotted more asteroids than Star Wars, now Mallorca observatory needs to find a buyer
S o m e 78 of the victims were aged seven to 12 and 68 were aged six or under.
EX-FORMULA 1 Bernie Ecclestone hasmogul spotted dining out been in the Balearic Islands. Billionaire Ecclestone , who says he ‘was deposed’ head of F1 after 40 years as at the helm, was seen enjoying dinner with Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi at Ibiza’s Marina Botafoch. Ecclestone, 86, left EXCLUSIVE his job as F1 chief executive By Joe Duggan in January, has been a frequent visitor to Ibiza, and IT would make the perfect was last month seen mountain escape for a privawith former world dining cy-obsessed chamfilm or pop pion Niki Lauda. But, in truth, it would star. be best for a lover of real stars… the ones in the sky! For the Mallorca observatory , which has just come market, is celebrated on the the world for its track around of discovering comets. record Astronomers at the Observatorio Astronomico de Mallorca, in Costitx, have spotted no less than seven comets during its 26-year history. These include DA14 had it struck earth, which, would have created a 100-foot-hig h tsunami.
Tragedy
SPOTTED: Alli and
Mae
TOTTENHAM star Dele has been spotted soaking Alli the sun in Ibiza this month. up Alli, 20, was seen playing in the sea with model girlfriend Ruby Mae, 22, before ing a plate of sushi devouron the beach. The loved up pair were on the party island by joined fellow spurs stars Kieron Trippier, 26 and second choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm, 33. Both Vorm and Trippier were joined by their wives, with the latter also bringing along his daughter Charlotte. The holiday came mere days before Spurs sealed spot in a 2-1 victory second Manchester United in against the last ever game at White Hart Lane.
2017
3
The Hollyoaks cast are in Ibiza filming for the upcomin g Six Weeks of Summer episodes. Scenes have been island, including filmed across the Woodward, 25, the debut of Adam joined the cast to who has recently play Brody Hudson. The 25-year-old star has yet to debut in the show, but has ing out on the beach been seen worktures of the cast on and posting picsocial media. The Manchester-born actor has previously appeared in Emmerdale, as well as BBC daytime drama Doctors.
On sale for €1.8 agent Amanda Butler million, Associates hopes the at MJC local landmark will be unique bought by an astronomer and kept open to the public. She claims that a group velopers are currently of deing to buy it and plan to lookit into a private estate. make "It is in the interests of one to keep it open," everyinsisted Butler. "It's a wonderful facility and it would be a great shame to lose it. “It would be a tragedy Balearics if it was shutfor the am determined to try and I someone interested to find in the universe to saveenough She believes the right it.” sort of buyer would get help the town hall to use it from in part as an eco-lodge or hostal. “This would make it commercially viable more would end up attracting and ternational study groups, inas well as schools and universities from the mainland, an interesting addition to our tourism industry,” she continued. Mallorca’s space-age etarium was added in plan2003,
EX-WORLD heavywei Frank Bruno has paid ght boxing champion The popular former a visit to Mallorca. fighter was the star traction at Mood atrevellers flocked inBeach as Saturday night Bruno was onstage to hear him speak. with former Chelsea host Joe Allen for the star and event, which included versation with the former a conWBC champ.
STAR BUY: Mallorca’s observatory
Home for stars
and, together with its sis- covery was ter La Sagra planetarium in 2012 with DA 14, in which would Granada, discovered an as- dius’ of 2,000have had a ‘blast ratonishing 7,000 asteroids, square "If it had landed onkms. second behind only the it would have destroyedMallorca The combined asteroidUSA. the isdis- land with the force coveries made in the of an atomic rest of bomb," observatory the world during the same guide Joan riod are only half those pe- Guillem told the Olive Press. made "It came within by the two Spanish centres. 30,000 kms of earth, or one tenth The most important of the disdis- tance to the moon, so very close."
FIGHTER: Frank Bruno
in Mallorca
BALEARIC beach favourite Cafe Del Mar is breezing way to the mainland. its The Ibiza clubbers’ chillout venue, which became mous with 90s clubbing culture, is opening up synonyvenue in Barcelona. its biggest
Big is not beautiful A NEW Mallorca law will allow smaller flats to be built. The urban law, approved this month, will lower the restricted size of new flats, which currently have to be built at no less than 45sqm in Palma, Inca and Manacor. Town halls can now increase the density by 50% . The law had allowed for 50 flats per hectare (120 residents) but from now 75 flats housing 180 people will be permitted.
CG Property C/ Julia Bujosa Batle, 6 07184, Calvía Mallorca Tel: (+34) 971 670 300 Mob: (+34) 628 196 939
www.gc-property.com
Finca, Calvia – 495,000€
ref: CT127
A very old ruin in the Calvia countryside to restore back to former glory. The finca has approx 150m2 of construction and 12.000m2 of land. There is also a neighbour with approx 30m2 construction and 9.000m2 of land which could be bought as well. A sizable project but potentially very rewarding. No electric or water currently.
Finca, Es Capdella – 1,795,000€
ref: CAP37
A beautiful stone finca dating back hundreds of years with a private peaceful location 5 minute drive from the village of Es Capdella. The property has a constructed area of 290m2 and sits on 11,000m2 of land. The main house consists of a large kitchen, dining room, lounge, study, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & w/c. There is also a separate casita with a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. Outside there is a private pool and deck with beautiful country views, various terraces and eating areas, and lots of garden/land with trees. Other features include a storeroom, 2 fireplaces, electric radiators & fans.
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Property
June 22nd - July 5th 2017 June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Why holiday rental sites aren’t always the best ones to use, explains Helle Heredia from
surance included in all rentals covering minor damage, so the homeowner gets payment for any small damages directly into their account. “We care about our clients, there’s a reason our motto is ‘houses with a heart,’” explains Helle. One of the biggest pitfalls when it comes to private rental, for homeowners at least, is last minute cancellations. They can leave you in a tight spot when you had been relying on that income. Novasol - which has 2,200 properties for rent across Spain - seeks to avoid that headache by guaranteeing you will be paid 28 days before your guests arrive.
T
FREE house presentation in catalogues and on the internet
HE private rental market has seen an astronomical boom thanks to property portals Good performance up to 42 like WEEKS OF Airbnb. RENTAL But with the new technology has FREE INSURANCE for Novasol house owners come opportunities for scam artists to con unsuspecting homeownersContact and NOVASOL holidaymakers. on +34 868 864 800 “Some scam artists will use photos spain@novasol.com of real homes and market them as their own,” explains Helle Heredia from Novasol - Northern Europe’s longest running holiday rental company. “But when the holidaymakers arrive, they knock on the door and find someone else is already there. “The scammer has obviously marketed a property which is not theirs.” Other scams are more complex. “We have even seen people market properties under one identity, then steal people’s credit cards and use them pay for a stay at the same property, pocketing the stolen money, it’s quite clever. “But this underlines the main problem, the lack of a personal service.” Companies like Novasol, which began in a basement in Copenhagen some 50 years ago and now operates across 29 European countries, offer the antidote. BOOKINGS through 20,000 travel agencies and main portals
Security
Portal of truth “We meet the homeowners, take the photos, do all the marketing, it’s extremely personal,” she explains. It also creates a budget for every homeowner based on how much they need to earn and how fast. “Anyone can rent out their home successfully in the summer, you can literally walk up to a random
guy on the street and he could do that for you, we actually plan and work to rent out properties all year around.” The company also offers cheap contents and damages insurance and will always have a team nearby who can check on the home if something goes wrong. The company has homeowner in-
“It gives them that extra sense of security which can be impossible to find with a typical portal.” Usually, with Airbnb, cancellations can be made as close as two days to the arrival date, leaving many renters high and dry. And while they have proven popular with scores of holidaymakers, it may also be a reason why many are still preferring to use the tried and tested ways of Novasol. “Portals like Airbnb have actually helped us,” explains Helle, “they have encouraged more people to rent out their homes, which means more and more people come to us for help, so it has been great.” Novasol, which has properties around the entire country, including the Balearics, is going on a huge expansion drive over the next few years. Contact Novasol at www.novasol.com or 0034 868 864 800
FREE house presentation in catalogues and on the internet BOOKINGS through 20,000 travel agencies and main portals Good performance up to 42 WEEKS OF RENTAL FREE INSURANCE for Novasol house owners
EUROPE’S LEADING HOLIDAY RENTAL COMPANY NEEDS for civilised clients from Germany, Benelux and Scandinavia.
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Property
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Keys Isl nd to the
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017 June 22nd - July 5th 2017
By Amanda Butler
Watch this Space!
Sky Newsflash - OP columnist Amanda Butler is delighted that the Observatory may have a genuine star buyer Property of the week AM delighted to report that we unsuspecting holidaymakers and -
I
have had success in finding a potential buyer for the Mallorca Observatory, after my column in the Olive Press last month (see Out of this world, p15). A Dutch development company are preparing a feasibility study on behalf of a foreign university into enhancing the facilities - to include accommodation - and develop it into an International Centre for Astrological Study. This will be a great resource for local schools, as well as students abroad and, of course, it will also stay open to the public. So, as they say in Fleet Street...watch this ‘space’!
Rental battle On other matters, the rental market is again a key focus in the Balearic Islands, with the government trying once again to crack down on illegal short term holiday rentals. Since it is apparently not permitted to contact renters using false aliases, they are instead using neighbourhood sources and police to surprise
as of last week - are actually cracking down on local rental agencies and fining them instead for any illegal properties on their books. Unique to the Balearic Islands and Catalonia, this action is being fought in the EU courts by companies such as Airbnb. With such a powerful hotel lobby arguing that apartments are unfair competition, this will be a difficult battle to win, but personally I feel the government is missing out on a substantial additional revenue stream from a different clientele to that of the hotel market... particularly small families with children wishing for more private space. It is against owner's rights to be denied the option to rent out as they wish, so long as they declare the income. So why shouldn’t an individual be permitted the chance to earn extra income of renting a room if it means they make their mortgage payments? In my own case, I was stopped from short term renting my ageing father's apartment when he was taken into care in order to pay for his care home costs. Shouldn’t there be exceptions to the rule?
Historic Palma building from Gaudi era to become swish hotel
3 bed frontline apartment in Puerto Portals - €985.000 Location Location Location! This three bedroom frontline apartment is situated in the heart of the exclusive Puerto Portals Marina, with direct access to the Marina itself. The apartment comprises of an open plan lounge/dining room with sliding patio doors leading to a spacious full length terrace, fully fitted open plan modern kitchen with breakfast bar, three double bedrooms, and two bathrooms, master en-suite with a jacuzzi bath. The terrace has views over the yachts moored in the marina. The apartment includes a covered garage space.
Contact Amanda Butler at +34 690075169 or by email: ajb@mjcassociates.net
Gremi Sabaters 21, 2nd Floor 24, Pol. Son Castelló, 07009 Palma de Mallorca
Modernist makeover A HISTORIC Mallorca building from Antoni Gaudi’s modernism era is being turned into a hotel. Palma’s four-storey Almacenes de Aguila, dating from 1908, is set to open its doors to guests at the end of the year. Businessman Josep Milian bought the building near Plaza del Marques in the 90s. “When we bought it, it was in ruins.” said Milian. “Over the years, it has been our office. It was a bit of a luxury using it like that, so we decided to turn it into flats and, recently, we got the licence to make it into a hotel.” Architect Jose Francisco Rey-
Be My Guest!!
Property of the week!
nes, who currently has an office in the building, will lead the renovation project to turn the building into the Aguila Suites. “We are not looking a huge rehabilitation,” he said. “The most complex thing about this job is the location of the interior, spiral staircase.” The building facade’s ‘historical interest’ has led to calls it should be protected because of the use of iron by architect Gaspar Bennazar. “The iron as the main structural is not normal in modernisme architecture, but is more usually associated with railings and balconies,” said property expert Fernando Chueca Goitia.
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Over 160 Mallorca buildings given listed status
Can’t touch this THE Port of Molinar has been placed on a list of protected buildings. The buildings are seen as ‘emblematic’ and the ruling will grant protection to their structure. Employees at Port Petit celebrated the move: "The building is part of our history, the urban landscape and the current heritage values of the neighborhood of Molinar” said a spokesman.
A LEGION of Mallorca buildings have been given protected status by the Town Hall. The 162 properties cannot be destroyed or significantly altered by developers. Among the buildings included are the Club Nautico in Molina, Hotel Araxa, the Rivoli cinema and Mallorca Tennis Club. It raises to nearly 700 the number of Palma buildings protected by law, with many of them having outstanding historic, artistic or architectural value. The process of cataloguing the buildings has taken a decade, revealed local councillor Antoni
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017 June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Project protection Noguera. “Owing to the serious lack of an actual property list, we started a revision process, which affects contemporary architecture and the Eixample,” said Noguera. Some properties where businesses have closed, such as Casa Roca and Café Lírico, will still have their architecture and interiors protected. “We won’t know what they are being used for, but it will be more difficult to change them,” said Noguera. Town Hall arThe most popular locations are Puerto de Anchitect Magdratx, Santa Ponsa, Bendinat and Portals, with dalena Riera many potential clients aiming to invest more pointed out that than €8 million euros in a property. now a hamburgGerman, Swiss and and British buyers, as well as some from the Middle East, are looking for er bar, for examsophisticated properties with ocean views and ple, couldn’t be privacy. opened at Casa “We are also seeing a rise in demand for propRoca as their is erties over €20 million, including from new space for public source markets such as the USA and Scandibathrooms or a navia”, said Lenz. Amenities such as a wine celsmoke extraclar, home cinema and a fitness and spa area are tor. highly sought after.
UP A QUARTER! THE average property price in the southwest of Mallorca has risen by 25% since the start of the year. Average property prices in the area are now €2.11 million, up from €1.68 million in 2016, according to Engel & Völkers. In particular, new-build apartments have shown particularly strong price increases. “Prices in the region have risen further in parallel. Compared to the previous year we have seen an increase of 25 percent in the average sale price in the southwest”, says Hans Lenz, Managing Director at Engel & Völkers Mallorca Southwest.
Bar-red UNDER-THREAT chiringuito owners in Mallorca are battling to stay in business. The government has inquired about the legality of 14 beach bars built on beaches around Mallorca. Bar owners are determined to fight any possible closure of the chiringuitos, with six bars on Trenc beach shut down last month. One chiringuito owner, Gabriel Bisquerra, runs the ses Casetilles en Camp de Mar, which opened in Andratx in 1963. “It forms part of our local landscape and we are the first to look after our coastline,” he said. He added that the establishment employs five different families. The proprietors are adamant the bars are part of the history of the local area and are used by tourists and locals alike.
Sales slump House sales have fallen in Andalucia by 10.8%. A total of 5,970 properties were sold in April of this year, a 10.8% fall compared to the same month last year. According to the National Statistics Institute, these figures are a steeper decline than the national average, which saw sales fall by 8.6% to 32,227. Despite the large drop, Andalucia still tops the charts for house sales, closely followed by Catalonia on 5,289.
Newly built sea view apartments in Santa Ponsa Located in Mallorca’s southwest, Nova Santa Ponsa is the ideal place for weekend getaways and year-round living. Where time is precious, a surrounding of sandy beaches, picturesque golf courses and a selected choice of restaurants makes life valuable. GREEN ELEMENTS is composed of only 26 units, each of them with their own individual design, which offers the optimal utilization in relation to privacy and sun orientation. The modern architecture is softened by natural Mediterranean elements. Special attention is dedicated to the large pool area surrounded by lush gardens. The generously sized apartments feature a constructed area of 156 to 385 m². On the ground floor, the apartments have private gardens and from the first floor, each property enjoys impressive sea views from the terraces. The penthouses not only feature generous level terraces but also roof terraces large enough to install a private pool if desired. E&V ID: W-028G9Y · Prices from € 745,000 Engel & Völkers · Santa Ponsa Tel: +34 971 69 90 63 · SantaPonsa@engelvoelkers.com www.engelvoelkers.com/greenelements
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Million-euro move
A MILLION euros will be saved by axing a controversial bonus to former Balearic political officials. Public coffers will be boosted after the government ruled the Level 33 payment should be withdrawn from 170 former public-sector officials.
CANNABIS production in Spain is booming. The Spanish police took 379,846 plants out of the market in 2015, an amount only surpassed by those in the Netherlands and the UK, acDownload app now and cording to newourdata released by thebegin European Monitoring enjoying the best Spanish Centrenews foronDrugs the go. and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The surge is believed to be due to to a higher demand and prices. A gram can range from five to 25 euros while penalties are much lower than other drugs, appealing to criminal gangs SPAIN’S economy is ‘exlooking to make big money. ceeding expectations’, While The Spain Olive has longPress been with unemployment fallan entry point for cannabis ing to 18%, the Minister of resin, it is now increasing its TOP for news in Spain! own marijuana production to Economy has said. satisfy local and external de- Luis De Guindos pointed to GDP growth of 0.8% mand. Seizures of cannabis plants in the second quarter of grew by 53.6% between 2013 2017, with annual growth and 2014 and an extra 40.3% of an estimated 3%. the next year, the statistics show. Bailout “Cannabis resin has always Spain is now the star perbeen a very plentiful product in Spain, like in France, or It- former in the Eurozone aly, and it is also the case that following a 2012 bailout now the herb is more frequent by the EU. that cannabis resin. So in this “The main thing is to consense Spain is part of a gener- tinue on this course,” said al European trend”, said Lau- De Guindos. “It’s going rent Laniel, a scientific analyst to be difficult for Spain’s for drug supply reduction economy to grow by less
Economy booming as Spain is Eurozone’s best performer in 2017
The PSOE’s tax minister Catalina Cladera, welcomed the move. Cladera said: “[This is good] not so much for the money saved, but because we come from an era in which the PP cut lots of things but never thought to cut Level 33.”
More growth THE Balearic Islands’ economy soared by 4.1% in the second quarter of 2017, it has been revealed, as the summer tourist season got underrway. Government president Francina Armengol made the announcement in Parliament.
Jobs jump than 3% this year.” Spain’s growth exceeded the eurozone average of 0.5%, with economists predicting the trend will continue. “Looking ahead, the Spanish economy is set to continue outperforming the rest of the euro area in 2017 as a whole; however, this will partly be down to carry-over effects,” said Michala Marcussen at Societe Generale. Spain’s unemployment is now at a post-recessionrecord low after jobless figures touched almost 30% during the country’s savage property slump.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Main changes COMMERCIAL delivery times on Main Street have changed. Changes include a reduction in the hours commercial vehicles can deliver goods in the morning and a new evening slot. Loading and unloading zones, requiring specific permits, have also been designated.
Warning THE Eurogroup of finance ministers may block an €8.5bn loan to Greece if it does not grant immunity to privatisation agency officials from Spain, Italy and Slovakia, Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos has warned.
Five years SPANISH prosecutors have asked for former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato to be jailed for five years over the failed 2011 listing of Bankia, which had to be rescued by the state.
AGONY Property ANT
MORTGAGE THINK TANK by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola
YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
Banc-no Popular
B Olive Press columnist Tancrede de Pola offers his top tips on finding a Spanish mortgage 1. Better deals are to be had through your broker than the internet 2. Avoid flashy advertising which is often mis-leading 3. Quotes can only be compared on the same day due to market changes 4. Watch out for incomplete Ts & Cs 5. Don’t rush: if you are offered a quote without giving over all your details, be aware! 6. Make sure you keep up with all existing mortgage and loan payments 7. Improve your credit score by putting all expenditure on a credit card and paying it off in full each month 8. In the twelve weeks before you apply for a loan, run your bank account as if you already have a mortgage 9. Make sure you are registered on the Electoral Roll at home 10. Ensure you have a good estate agent, a good mortgage broker and a good lawyer.
Top ten tips
To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 Email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nOffice No. 7 Guadalmina, 29670
ack in 1993, the London-based Up to 300,000 Banco IBCA rating company, later absorbed by Fitch Ratings Inc., Popular shareholders to sue hailed Banco Popular as the most profitable bank in the world, for for their lost investment a fifth time in a row. And Just over a year ago, the bank issued €2.5 billion worth of new shares, bought up by both consumers and institutions investors. Fast forward 24 years from the heyday of the bank and it is worth exactly €1, to the dismay and horror of hundreds of thousands of shareholders who have lost everything, literally overnight, victims of a bank that suffered terminally from the uncontrolled lend- law firms (larger firms are always on ing that financed the previous con- banks’ payrolls) are lining up to grab a struction bubble. piece of the impending litigation cake. Santander Bank was ordered by the For its part, the largest Spanish conSingle Resolution Board sumer group OCU sent a (SRB) -an independent letter to the Bank of Spain agency set up by the Euroand the Ministry of Econopean Commission in 2015 Shareholders dub my demanding that Popuand charged with winding lar’s 300,000 retail invesdown banks- to take over the EU-sponsored tors should have claims Popular for a symbolic heard quickly, rather than operation price, €1, a rescue that the years that it normally ‘expropriation’ has been free from cost takes to resolve. for Spanish taxpayers. And on the firing line But the terms of the takeSantander bank, universal over of Popular are likely successor of the disapto be challenged in court; whilst share- peared bank and the Spanish authoriholders dub the EU-sponsored opera- ties, allegedly responsible of a gross tion ‘expropriation’, ‘confiscation’ or supervisory failure to warn the public ‘daylight robbery’, several peripheral of this disaster.
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com
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INTERNATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EXPATRIATES
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Smashing stereotypes
ALMOST 60% of Spaniards never have a siesta. According to a recent survey by Simple Logica, just 18% will sometimes have a midday nap It comes after it was revealed that the Spanish spend far more time working than many
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Hotels and unions battle over workers’ salaries
of their counterparts in Europe. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Spaniards rack up 1,691 hours at work each year while British workers do 1,674 annually and the Germans work just 1,371 hours per year.
Wag € s of war
HOTELIERS and unions in the Balearic Islands are preparing for a showdown over wages. Negotiations over salaries, which will affect 115,000 people, are set to take place with unions demanding pay rises of up to 20% over the next four years. The Mallorca Hoteliers Federation (FEHM) had wanted to raise salaries
by 1.25% over the same period, in line with the current arrangements, but unions rejected the offer.
Tough
The main trade unions the UGT and CCOO have vowed negotiations will be tough ‘because workers have to recover the spending power they have lost’. “In the last four years,
Bank blows TWO of Spain’s weakest financial lenders have sent ripples of panic through financial markets. Liderbank, formed from three failing savings banks, saw the value of its riskiest bonds fall by 60% this month. The bank is saddled with bad property assets and regarded as one of Spain’s highest risk financial institutions with its stock market value almost halving at one point this month. However, following an emergency ban on short selling Liderbank’s value leapt by 36% last Monday. It follows the near-collapse of Banco Popular, which was sold to Santander for €1 this month. “Last week’s punishment of Liberbank’s shares was excessive as its situation is not identical to that of Popular,” banking analyst Nuria Alvarez said. “The ban on short selling will probably limit the volatility on the shares.” Unicaja, which looks after 2% of Spain’s bank deposits, also saw its bonds plunge by 15% in the past few weeks. It faces a €600m debt repayment in the coming months and is under pressure to float on the stock exchange.
hotels have managed to improve their business by making hard cuts at the cost of workers,” said UGT leader Antonio Copete. Unions are set to reject an FEHM offer of a 3% rise when talks begin, a figure unions say is ‘very far’ from what they have in mind. “We know the hotels are not interested in any kind of problem, especially since 2018 is looking to be as good as this year, with record sales and rents,” said a union spokesperson.
Dropped the ball CRISTIANO Ronaldo is being prosecuted for allegedly defrauding Spanish authorities of €14.7 million between 2011 and 2014. Spain’s prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the Real Madrid forward had knowingly used a ‘business structure’, set up in 2010, to hide his income from the sale of image rights. According to the statement, it involved a ‘voluntary’ failure to comply with his tax obligations in Spain. Real Madrid and the Portugese national’s management agency have so far declined to comment. Prosecutors allege that Ronaldo, 32, defrauded the tax authorities of €1.4m in 2011, €1.7m in 2012, €3.2m in 2013 and €8.5m in 2014. The father of one became a Spanish tax resident in January 2010 and in November 2011 opted to follow the Spanish tax regime that applies to foreigners working in Spain.
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Business as usual
Spanish multinationals to continue investing in UK despite Brexit
SPAIN-UK trade relations are only improving since last year’s Brexit referendum. Despite the pound’s depreciation, Spanish exports to the UK reached a record high of €19 billion in 2016. Meanwhile, a staggering one in four Brits came to Spain for their holidays, making them the largest contributor to the €77 billion the country
made from its tourism industry. While Santander’s UK business saw net profit fall by 14.7% due to the weaker pound, like most other multinationals, it has not sig-
Smashing stereotypes ALMOST 60% of Spaniards never have a siesta. According to a recent survey by Simple Logica, just 18% will sometimes have a midday nap. It comes after it was revealed that the Spanish spend far more time working than many of their counterparts in Europe. According to the Organ-
isation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Spaniards rack up 1,691 hours at work each year while British workers do 1,674 annually and the Germans work just 1,371 hours per year. The figures counter stereotypes of the Spanish as being lazy or extremely laid back.
nalled that it will decrease its investments into the country. The UK is still the number two destination for Spanish foreign investment, with Spain multinationals holding a €60 billion stock of investments in the country. Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Sánchez Galán has assured that the company will continue to invest in Scottish Power and in the numerous projects underway in the UK. Ana Botin, who headed up Santander’s business in the UK (23% of total group net profit) before taking over from her father, stated she remains ‘as committed as always’ to this market. The same goes for Sabadell chairman Josep Oliu. He repeated the message: a risk in the short term, yes, but the trend will be positive in the medium and long-term.
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THIRD MAN
Dragged
A PAIR of Spanish heroes came to the aid of Londoners attacked by three crazed terrorists. 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. Fears however are now growing for Ignacio Echeverria (pictured top left), from Madrid, who defended a woman from one of the terrorists. Echeverria, 39, is said to have been on his way home from a skate park on the Saturday night when he attempted to defend a woman with his skateboard in Borough Market. He was last seen lying on the pavement and his family have been unable to locate him despite calling the Spanish consulate, and hospitals. The Red Cross has also made an appeal to locate him.
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 against the door of his bar to prevent one of the knife-brandishing terrorists from entering. He managed to keep the man at bay, before opening the door to help another person find safety. “You do not even think about it,” he said. “I could have simply left, as everyone did, but I would have left 28 people behind.” He added that ‘all he could see was a guy with dynamite’ as he tried to lower the bar shutters. He added: “We did not know how many terrorists there were and whether they would return.” Opinion Page 6
Mosquito Screens
However, he insisted he is entirely innocent and was wrongly dragged into the investigation over missing Brown, who mysteriously vanished November 4, 2015. Beasley was pals with Lisa’s boyfriend at the time, Simon Corner, who he sold a boat engine to. He was pulled in for ‘withinformation’, holding alongside Stephen Jackson and Corner, both of whom are still under investigation. gave me 24 hours to leave or in Alcaidesa port. “I was held for three days del Sol drug mafia’. he could “I’m just a guy on a boat try- they said they would slit my and grilled constantly,” he He says they believe after ing to enjoy the easy life, I throat.” told the Olive Press. “If they be a police informant He added: “They think I’m a to people mind my own business. to Spain had anything they would being docked close drugs trade “But they came to me and grass, if I go back have charged me by now, who work in the I’m a dead man.” it’s ridiculous, I told them He claims he has been everything I know,” pleaded with the British Speaking on a mobile from Embassy for help, but nohis boat in Portugal, he addbody had not returned his ed: “The last time I saw Lisa calls. Lisa’s sister, Helen Jordan, 50, has insisted her was on November 1, (three Lisa’s sister claimed she family will never quit until those responsible are days before she vanished), could not comment directly behind bars. It comes two months after Simon when I asked her if she had Corner was released on bail, payabout his involvement. got some antiques I had deing €10,000. Helen Jordan, 50, said: livered to her home. “We are Lisa’s voice now and will “We just want him to tell “If I knew where Lisa was, I never stop pushing for answers,” the truth and maybe the would have told the police.” Jordan told the Olive Press. authorities will then help she legal a in where know involved He is now “The people who him.” tussle with Spanish police to is are living normal lives among have his passport returned. you. They are walking your streets If you have informaThe Swansea-born expat, and are dangerous.” tion contact the Olive who has a wooden leg and Police fear she was murdered at Press on 951 273 575 or thrown was body her needs heart medication, before home at newsdesk@theoliveclaims he was forced to out to sea. press.es leave La Linea by the ‘Costa
LGBT heroes
A look at Spain’s greatest gay icons during Pride month
Page 6
Missing expat Lisa Brown suspect flees Spain to escape Costa del Sol ‘drug mafia’
Marbs magic Our annual Marbella travel supplement
Sister’s promise
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Fit for royalty
Exclusive look at Spain home that was built for a Princess
Page 33
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BRAVE: Ignacio and Sergio (right)
TRUE HEROES
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Remembered
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England rugby international demands action over sophisticated holiday scam website that netted nearly €50,000 from him
Mauled EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan
RUGBY star Dean Schofield is urging action after being mauled in a sophisticated holiday shakedown. Wasps international Dean (above) 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 website that has dozens of homes on the Costa del Sol. In total, scammers took payment and deposit of €5,700 (£5,000) and €11,400 (£10,000) respectively before swiping another €29,800 (£26,000) for their stunning villa in Mallorca, which is owned by a wealthy British owner.
SCAMMED: Holiday group and (right) fake site with profile stolen from Oz agent 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
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 enforcement on alleged fraud and have processes for taking action. If anyone believes they have been defrauded they should contact law enforcement.” Contact your local police and Action Fraud and email newsdesk@theolivepress.es if you’ve been scammed.
THREE DECADES IN BUSINESS
42
Food, drink & travel
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www.theolivepress.es
43
ago 30
years
A year in the life of Andalucia’s favourite molino hotel, as it reaches its 30th birthday
TODAY
Patience of a Santo!
1987
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2017
other stories came up. When we emailed the person we’d been dealing with called ‘Flavio’ he sent an abusive email back. “Luckily we were in a fortunate position where we could arrange an alternative villa and 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 six-bedroom villa with a huge pool and grounds and got in touch 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,” admitted Gemma. Thankfully, the group of eight adults and eight children who are still on holiday are now trying to reclaim their money as the booking was made via a credit card. The website however is still live, despite being reported to its web hosting company by the Olive Press and to UK police. The website boasted that ‘you
SCAM: In last issue The Olive Press toasts the 30th anniversary of two of Andalucia’s yet leading hotels, Molino del Santo and Sunset Beach Club
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I
2000 WEDDING MADNESS
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2002 BARKING SPECTFUL
2008 SURPRISING GUESTS PART THREE
DISRE-
1994 BEST RURAL HOTEL
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A B
ll about www.theolivepress.es 1988 COLLAPSING PARTNERSHIP enalmadena
1991 NAKED ACTRESS
1995 HEIRESS NUMERO DOS
1992 HEIRESS NUMERO UNO
fl
2009 CHANGE OF TACK
HOTEL OFFERS
NOW!
2010 OH MATRON
2015 LOCAL ECONOMY
30% DISCOUNT - yes book a meal with us within the above dates and you will get a FULL 30% discount on your final bill - BUT it only applies to a total of 30 meals - once they’re gone, they’re gone.
TALENT: Ricky helps raise
2005 EDUCATIONAL ISSUES
Giving back
2011 CHEEKIEST GUESTS
Sunset Beach Club, the emblematic hotel, has reached its 30th birthday
HOW ANTO GRAB OFFER
2016 GRATEFUL OWNERS
Laura Duckett writes 1998 GUIDING GUESTS 2006 FOOD THIEF
YOU dine to the sound of a very generous green salad, waves, which almost lap at while the brochette of chicken and salmon was delicious. your feet. Romantic in the extreme, you A starter of vegetarian spring could not ask for a nicer ‘chir- rolls were excellent in sweet inguito’, which sits a short chili relish, while a rack of stroll up the beach from the lamb is available for the more hearty eaters. Sunset Beach hotel. Subtly-lit, this natural spot - all There was a catch of the day thatched roofs, simple deck- and a nice range of puddings ings and rope fences - also as well. counts on an excellent menu, A wine list includes the excellent Payoya Negra from at extremely good value. I particularly liked the grilled Ronda, as well as the good langoustines, which came value Habla de Silencio from with a choice of sauces and Extremadura, at 22 euros.
RESTAURANT OFFERS
30 MEALS - we are offering JUST 30 meals at very special rates between the 15th June and the the 26th July 2017.
2004 FLOODING
CLUB!
NOW!
We will only accept bookings for these special offers via e-mail. Mention this advertisement when you enquire. info@molinodesanto.com.
Measuring up
Don’t leave it too late - once 30 people have booked we’re closing the offer. ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
| Mob: 661 84 33 83
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Luna Beach Club review
30 ROOM NIGHTS - we are offering JUST 30 room nights at very special rates between the 15th June and the 26th July 2017. 30% DISCOUNT - yes book a stay with us within the above 25 dates and you will get25 a FULL 30% discount on our normal rates - BUT it only applies to a total of 30 room nights - once they’re gone, they’re gone. Maximum of two nights per booking at this special rate. Subject to availability.
2014 HONOURS AT FITUR
1996 FAMILY ILLNESS
1997 VIPS DINING
SEA FOOD DIFFERENTLY
• Early Bird 20€ - 6.00 - 8.00pm • Á La Carte Menu
ERCHED on a headland below the pretty white village of Benalmadena SERIOUSLY GOOD FOOD lies Sunset Beach Club. Surrounded by lovely beaches and Open Tuesday - Saturday from 6pm with stunning views across the Med, it is no surprise it has become one of the Costa del Sol’s best known hotels. But while it is already a major landmark re1999 A DIFFICULT NIGHT ceiving thousands of visitors from around the world each month, it has now reached Avenida de Rota, Urb. Torrenueva, Local 1, La Cala de Mijas legendary status. For Sunset Beach has just celebrated its 30th birthday making it a true Malaga stalEIGHTIES STYLE: But with computers wart. Celebrating in style with a big anniversary bash, which raised €12,200 for charity, the years. An incredible range of guests and nationhotel has never been in ruder health. the year, including Aside from the hundred-plus weddings it alities come throughout people from most hosts every year, it has countless returning Canadians in the winter, plenty from furguests and a capacity rate of an incredible European countries and ther afield. 93% between February and November. guests who “That’s a rate almost unheard of on the “We regularly have returning families as children coast,” explains Mark Wardell, who has used to stay with their Wardell, a cultured, been managing the hotel for the last 13 in the 80s,” continues softly-spoken Irishman, who is incredibly approachable POSTCARDS THROUGH and hands on with both staff THE AGES: and guests. “And it is great to have them back.” How things have chanSo what is the key to the hoged from the 1980s to tel’s success? today in terms of qualiSunset Beach is a complete ty and comfort and in resort as opposed to a hotel. terms of the amount The guests needs are entireof entertainment and ly taken care of and waited huge range of guests, on hand and foot by up to who come from over 220 staff at peak times. 100 countries around Its Irish owners - who also own upmarket La Cala Rethe world sort in Mijas - have spent over €22m upgrading its facilities since the Millennium. Oasis excellent Oasis the excellent including the bars, including and bars, rants and Without a doubt the price/ its extensive facilities. rants the and the bar and Panorama bar Beach, Panorama Luna Beach, restaurant, Luna quality level is one of the On site, there’s a supermarket, gym, beautician restaurant, cahas aa cawhich has venue, which Bar venue, Moonlight Bar popular Moonlight best on the coast across all and hairdresser, as well as a variety of restau- popular PERFECT LOCATION: By a headland in Benalmadena
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2013W RETURNING GUESTS
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So much on offer
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evolve throughout the years - from a quality three-star establishment, to the more luxurious four-star property it is now. the UK and on offer, including aerobics, cookery and While most visitors hail from been atSpanish classes all year round, not to men- Ireland, the resort has recently tracting more and more customers from tion billiards, live music and scuba diving. nationaliThe rooms are all one or two-bedroom around the world, with up to 100year. apartments with fully-equipped kitchens, ties staying here throughout the enjoys the free Wi-Fi and satellite TVs with several in- This is one of the things Lopez most about working there. ternational channels. - CanadiBlas Lopez, who has been at the hotel since “You get all kinds of people here - it really its opening in 1987, says the resort has al- ans, South Africans and Germans days are ways been ahead of the game in terms of depends on the year. So no two the same working here. “ technology. he feels “When I arrived, even the guests were sur- That along with the satisfactionrequests prised that we had computers at the recep- by helping his guests with their large or small. tion,” he recalls. to Lopez, along with several other long-term It’s staff like this and their commitment give the reloyal staff members, has seen the hotel hospitality that, undoubtedly, sort its gleaming reputation.
BIG CHEQUE: For one of three charities with Ricky and Steve Day, of Oak Land Furniture
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THE Olive Press is demanding action against a string of fake holiday rental sites falsely advertising luxury villas across Spain. It comes after we reported last issue that scam site Rentholidaysvillas.com was conning British tourists out of thousands of euros each year. One of its victims Rugby star Dean Schofield shelled out nearly 50,000 euros for a fraudulent villa break. In total, British victims lost €8.16 million in holiday scams last year, a year-on-year rise of 20%, claims the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER
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Worst
We have now discovered many other websites running similar fraudulent schemes, Spainvipholiincluding Luxurydreamsdays.com, villas.com and www.digitaldreamsholidays.com. Top-end properties in Marbella and Sotogrande are being marketed by the scammers at massively reduced prices to lure victims in. Helle Heredia, from Costa del Sol-based rental firm Novasol, said she had heard of ‘25 to 30’ recent cases of people being scammed but believes there are ‘many more’. “It’s so scary with these scam sites - they pop up with just one purpose; of robbing peoin the most money ple of their important time of everyone’s year - their holidays,” she said. “It is too easy to make a website today - just ensure not to be tempted by fantastic offers by companies you have never heard about. Don’t let scamContinues on Page 2
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Our British expat readers react to the shock UK election result and Theresa May’s coalition with Northern Ireland’s far-right DUP
Enough is enough The British voters have decided enough is enough and have left Theresa May as the unelected. The result may be a chance for Great Britain. If the Tories and DUP cannot agree on a Brexit scheme, then in early 2019 the electorate may be asked, again, if they want a Brexit. What a pity for the UK that within the coming 21 months the government will not be able to run the country, let alone Brexit negotiations.
info@simply-shuttles.com Tel: 951 279 117 www.simply-shuttles.com
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years
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A THIRD British man arrested over missing expat Lisa Brown has fled to Portugal on his grandson’s boat, it can be revealed. The Olive Press has spoken to the Welsh pensioner, who confirmed that he was currently ‘living in a Portuguese port’, but refused to give further details. Ron Beasley, 71, confirmed he had broken his bail conditions, which required him to report to San Roque police every day, but had been forced to leave Spain to escape the clutches of the ‘Costa del Sol drug mafia’.
1987
xx See page 12
Exclusive look at Pixie Geldof’s star-studded wedding
1987
Mijas Costa 1 23/02/2017 11:31 EXCLUSIVE 679702_DFS_SPANISH_BOX_AD_40x40_MIJAS_COSTA.indd By Laurence Dollimore
Geldof weds
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GIBRALTAR CULTURE
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The Rock’s original community newspaper FREE
Vol. 3 Issue 47 www.gibraltarolivepress.com
A BRAVE Gibraltarian firefighter was among the first to enter the fire-ravaged Grenfell Tower in London. Russell Gonzalez, 31, was part of a search and rescue team which saved the life of a woman on the 21st floor of the 24-story block. The third-generation firefighter, based in Paddington, was able to use special breathing apparatus which allows firefighters to stay in burning buildings for longer. This was pivotal for the dangerous mission of making it to the upper floors of the block. His father watched his TV screen in horror as the tragic scenes unfolded. He said: “When I saw those images, I thought to myself: ‘If he’s in By Laurence Dollimore there, he’s dead’.” and Laura Duckett Thankfully Russell made it out safely, making his family THE Government has promand Gibraltar proud. ised to address the state of the North Front Cemetery thanks to an Olive Press probe. It comes after we drew attention to the poor state of the graves and mounting anger of relatives of those buried there. Photos sent to us by Ivana Finlayson, whose mum, sister in law and grandfather are buried there, are now also circulating on social media. The 47-year-old Gibraltarian and many others are concerned about Exclusive look at Pixie Geldof’s “It’s the lack of maintenance. dangerous and in a very wedding day poor state of repair,” she told the Olive Press this week. Page 3 “It needs to be made respectable and tidied up not only for my loved ones but for everyone visiting the place.” She added it is very hard to reach some of the graves, GRAVE: Under weeds which are strangled by thick have a very serious injury,” she shrubbery and weeds. said. “If you are lucky enough to get She claims its current state is to your relative’s grave you ei- the worst she has ever seen it ther get your legs scratched or in the 13 years she has been dirty from the amount of high visiting. weeds. Another relative added: “When Our annual Marbella travel “I worry most about people I visit my son's military grave I supplement tripping up and falling in the cringe as the cemetery is a disprocess. grace.” Page 11 “An elderly visitor could easily Another said: “When is some-
The Olive Press launches campaign for much needed makeover of North Front cemetery
OF GRAVE CONCERN M
Geldof weds
Costa gem
The Rock has had many inspirational LGBT leaders. We honour them during International Pride Month, see page 6
E THE GIV
RESPECT
An
CAMPAIGN thing going to be done? I feel bad that I have to step over graves just to visit relatives.” Last year a change.org petition was launched to counter ‘years of neglect’, gaining more than 700 signatures, but it has garnered little attention from the government. Opposition MP Trevor Hammond of the GSD fully backed our campaign this week, however, insisting that the public’s
concerns are ‘falling on deaf ears’. Last November, he tabled a motion to Parliament, calling for the government to put together a management plan for the cemetery. He explained last night that despite it passing unanimously, nothing has been done since. “While the Minister's attention is elsewhere, many people struggle to access the graves of loved ones. This is simply not acceptable,” he told the Olive Press. The Gibraltar Heritage Trust declined comment. Environment minister John Cortes insisted the government was due to act ‘imminently’ on the matter. He told the Olive Press yesterday that a ‘major announcement on the maintenance of the cemetery will be issued imminently.’
Sign the petition here: https://www.change. org/p/cm-gibraltar-govgi-improve-our-cemetery
Oh, snap! Downfall She was arrogant and never debated anything and her plans regarding school meals, taking homes away from people in later life, plus the pensions lock situation have all been her downfall. She did what Ted Heath did years back and he got flung out as well. Lynda Addi, London
Common sense
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Populists are down. Common sense is up. The percentage of idiots in the US is around 50%. In Russia it is 90%. In Turkey it is unknown but presumably high. In Europe, the common voter is not an idiot. They seek what is best. And they see that absolute power is not a good thing. With absolute power, you do not have to talk
Right person with anyone, because you can say you have ‘the mandate of the voter’, and ignore all common sense for four years. There is simply too much at stake. Joanna, Valencia
All these leading international companies have chosen to trust the Olive Press with their campaigns in Spain over recent years
With 44% of the vote she did better than most since Margaret Thatcher! She is the right person for the job. Jean Heathcote, Madrid
Result!
This is a brilliant result. Chaos for arrogant May. Julie Frank, Malaga
Disaster It's not brilliant. It puts this country further in the s**t. I wish people would stop being so flipping selfish and think about the country. We needed a strong win. However it looks like May will continue to reign with a DUP coalition to keep out the Labourites. Moreno Intranova, Barcelona
Don’t count your chickens A soft Brexit? Don't be so sure. If the EU think it’s going to be easier now they are very wrong. If no agreement can be formed by the infighting of whatever government is formed then it could result in an even harder Brexit. Phil Slanely, La Linea
Lessons to be learnt Lesson for Spanish Government: don't kill the Golden Goose of holiday rentals (Holiday rentals take over in Spain for the first time). A lot of people prefer to stay in private apartments or homes than in hotels. Worry less about the competition to hotels and more about enhancing long term tourism as well as the local construction industry.
So sad
Ron Adam, Mallorca
RIP to you, sir. You were so courageous (Spanish ‘skateboard hero’ confirmed as one of the dead in the London terror attack). But why was any of this necessary? People need not die so young. Terrorism is cowardly, evil and immoral and it MUST be stopped for good
And here is why
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Good riddance I offered 50p but they said no! Good riddance another awful company bites the dust (Santander buys struggling rival Banco Popular for €1, online). Adrian Day, Marbella
True gents I must say that I have found the men in Spain, especially the young men, have always offered their seats to a woman! They have also been eager to help with lifting bags, on and off the buses and trains (Women’s group seeks to ban ‘manspreading´ on Spanish public transport). Sylvia Barraclough, Vancouver
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CURRENCIES DIRECT ARE MARKET LEADERS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE, OFFERING OUR CLIENTS THE OPPORTUNITY OF OBTAINING THE MOST COMPETITIVE COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE RATES. DUE TO CONTINUED EXPANSION WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING FULL-TIME VACANCIES:
We are looking for an outgoing self-motivated individual to fill this key position for the Mallorca edition. This is an important role that will command a basic, plus generous commissions. Key Requirements: ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●
A year of proven sales experience, preferably in media Good phone maner and strong work ethic Good at building key reliationships with clients Good admin and communication skills Spoken English and preferably Spanish
Business Development Executives – Mallorca. YOU WILL BE AN ENTHUSIASTIC, RESULTS-DRIVEN PERSON AND WILL NEED TO DEMONSTRATE A FIRST CLASS TRACK RECORD IN EXTERNAL BUSINESS-TOBUSINESS SALES. BASED OUT OF OUR MALLORCA OFFICE YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPLAINING AND MANAGING OUR SERVICES TO NEW AND EXISTING AFFILIATES AND SALES SUPPORT TO OUR CLIENTS. IN RETURN WE OFFER A GOOD BASIC SALARY, EXCELLENT BONUS SCHEME, COMPANY CAR & MOBILE PHONE / LAPTOP, SPANISH CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT, AND THE CHANCE TO JOIN A FAST MOVING, INTERNATIONAL COMPANY. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE PLEASE SEND YOUR CV TO: andrew.b@currenciesdirect.com Andrew Brown Head Of Eastern Spain Currencies Direct Limited
Journalist and writers We are looking for a trained journalist to sniff out and stand up a range of interesting stories in and around Mallorca, as well as writers for features and specialist sections Key Requirements: ●● ●● ●● ●●
Experience of writing for newspapers preferable Good phone maner and strong work ethic Being fearless and outgoing Spoken English and preferably Spanish DIRECTOR OF SALES
Due to recent expantion of the brand we are looking for a mature and experienced Director of Sales for our head office in Malaga. This is a multi-facated role building on 10 years success of the business. Excellent pay and benefits are available to the successful applicant. Key Requirements: ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●
Five years proven sales experience, preferably in media Excellent management skills Building key reliationships with clients Good admin and communication skills References essential
Please send your CV to admin@theolivepress.es
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+TheolivepressEs World music BE ‘APPY! for Vegan fest
Wining on
VEGAN-FOOD fans are lickingDownload their lips ahead of our app now and next month’s Vegan Day begin enjoying the best Spanish Out festival. news onvegan the go. festival The largest in Mallorca is aiming to attract more than 3,000 visitors to Palmanyola on Sunday, July 2. The foodie festival has now teamed up with Son Amar to provide a free World Music Concert in The Olive Press the evening. An Eco Market has also been added to news the list of TOP for in Spain! tasty options available to HEAVY rains have led festival goers, with perfor- to a ‘disastrous’ cereal mances by band and DJs crop this year, a farmer’s throughout the day. spokesperson has said. Winter downpours forced farmers to sow their crops later than they normally would. “And the Spring has been very dry,” said Biel Torrens, from the Union of Farmers.
Crop harvest ‘killed’ in Mallorca’ this year
A US documentary crew has recorded an hour-long special on Mallorca’s wines. The I Love Wine show came to the island during filming of the series, which is visiting Spain’s best wine regions. The programme looks at the culture, food, landscape and local residents in Mallorca. “In Mallorca we have found a super-fresh zone and in every way,” said director
Alicia Van Assche. “The sector is really exciting and Mallorca wine is really up and coming.” The crew filmed around Sa Calobra, the Torrent de Pareis, Santuario de Lluc, Formentor and Soller. Mallorca wines have experienced a boom in recent years, with sales up 21% in 2016. There are 13 bodegas under the Denominación de Origen (D.O.) Pla i Llevant de Mallorca.
Cereal failure
being harvested and encouraged the appearance of weed that damaged the quality of the crop.” Oats, chickpeas and pulses, which are planted quite late, are expected to perform better. “After these heavy winds and high temperatures, vegetable farmers will have to be vigilant, because it’s possible they will be hit by fungus,” said Torrens. Almond and fruit trees and olives have been the biggest beneficiaries of the late rains, since they will have a reserve of water for the summer.
Destroyed
In trouble SPANISH stone fruit farmers may be forced to destroy their crops in a bid to increase prices. According to Luis Ochoa of Olympic Fruit, the market is in serious trouble. “Spain is producing huge volumes,” he said, “There are even reports that the growers are leaving fruit to rot on the trees or destroying them to push prices back up again. "We now find ourselves in a situation where people are willing to give discounts just to make the sale." The importer says there is no short-term solution. “There is good demand, but the supply far exceeds this. This will only change if there is less produce, which will reduce the supply and increase the demand.”
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“The cereal crop has been damaged and its performance will be much lower than average.” Many farmers have decided not to harvest the crop this year and are instead using it as food for animals. “The rain of a few weeks ago killed us again,” said Joan Simonet, manager of farmers’ association ASAJA. “It destroyed the cereal that was at the point of
AFFECTED: Farmer Biel Torrens
Fast(er) food IF you thought McDonalds couldn’t get any more unhealthy, think again. The fast-food giants are rolling out their new home delivery service in Spain, meaning you won’t have to even move from your home to munch a Big Mac. The España: McDelivery service is currently being used in Madrid and Barcelona, with customers able to order via an app. Orders can be made during opening hours of local outlets, including those open 24 hours.
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GREEN CHEF: Rakel
Fish to foul THREE top Spanish chefs have joined forces with the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) to highlight overfishing in the Mediterranean. With an astonishing 90% of the Med’s fish species overexploited, Valencia cooks Rakel Cernicharo, Alberto Ferruz and Andres Pereda are backing the WWF Fish Forward campaign. The campaign hopes to raise awareness with fish eaters to help them buy in a more sustainable way. Spain is the fourth biggest importer and ninth biggest exporter of fish in the world, with the majority of fish eaten in Spain consumed in bars and restaurants. Between 12 to 28% of fish caught worldwide each year is illegally fished, with 31% of the world’s fish now overfished and some 800 million people worldwide depending on fish to live.
Sunny delight AS the mercury rises and Spain sizzles, it’s more important than ever that children’s diets are healthy, leading nutritionists have said. Kids should eat fruit, vegetable, cereal and drink mainly water during the baking summer months, according to Jose Manuel Moreno from the Spanish Association of Pediatricians. Summer holidays abroad were also a good time to ‘diversify’ eating habits, said nutritionist Amil López Viéitez from food awareness group Dieta Coherente.
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Food, drink & travel
R
ESTAURANTS across the country have been taking advantage of this special time of year. As it is birthing season, the months of May and June are the best time to eat goat, in particular male baby goat, or chivito. The meat is a great a favourite of the West Indian community, who most often enjoy it stewed and at any age.
Favourite
In Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain, they prefer the meat to be very young with cabrito - roasted kid - being a firm favourite. If you have qualms with eating a baby goat, it is worth knowing that as they cannot produce milk they are usually killed very soon after birth. If you want to make your own goat-inspired dishes, here are a few recipes to try.
L NDON
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June 9th - June 22nd 2017
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Goat on board As goat season is upon us, check out our cabrito-inspired recipes
Goat curry
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MALLORCA PROPERTY
AN expat has made an urgent appeal to have his sevenyear-old daughter returned from a Norwegian church after his ex-partner ran off with their child. Heartbroken Dominic Shepherd, 40, is involved in a nightmare battle with ex Tonje Bjornsen, 37, after she sought ‘refuge’ in the place of
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PAGE 26
PLEA: Dominic Shepherd with kids
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 Santa Ponsa, told the Olive Press. “I’ve had nothing but support from friends and family.”
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BRAVE: Ignacio Echverria and (top) Sergio Farina
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 a woman from one of the terrorists, died in the attack. Echeverria, 39, is said to have been on his way home from a skate park on the Saturday night when he attempted to defend a woman with his skateboard in Borough Market. He was last seen lying on the pavement.
Onslaught
Desperate dad’s fight to win back seven-year-old daughter from Norwegian church asylum
worship in February. Despite Shepherd winning custody of their three Britishborn children, Bjornsen is not allowing his daughter Maia to leave Spjelkavik Church in Ålesund. She now faces criminal charges in Spain for ‘illegally with-
June 9th - June 22nd 2017
MALLORCA CLASSIFIEDS
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Give her back! EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan
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Choking back tears, the British expat, continued: “I am just concentrating on keeping my head together because those kids need a dad. We just want Maia back so we can live a normal life.” His ordeal began last August, when Bjørnsen left Spain with the children, ostensibly for a holiday, after living on the island for three years. However two weeks later he received a call from his partner to say she was not coming back. Mystified, the distraught dad was forced to use the Hague Convention to win legal custody of their children. But despite three court verdicts in his favour, he was forced to travel to Norway to get his children back after Bjornsen refused to return them. After picking up the two boys Tobias and Christian from school, he was stunned to learn Bjørnsen had fled with their daughter - whose birthday is this week - to live in a local church. “I was utterly lost for words,“ said Shepherd, who has spo Continues on Page 2
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 against the door of his bar to prevent one of the knife-brandishing terrorists from entering. He managed to keep the man from entering, before opening the door to help another person find safety. “You do not even think about it,” he said, “I could have simply left, as everyone did, but I would have left 28 people behind.” He added that ‘all he could see was a guy with dynamite’ as he tried to lower the bar windows’ shutters. He added: “We did not know how many terrorists there were and whether they would return.” Dozens of pedestrians were mowed down by a van on London Bridge before attackers stabbed a police officer and revellers around Borough Market with 12-inch knives. More than 20 remain in a critical condition. Opinion Page 6
Ingredients: Marinade: 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup curry powder 1/4 cup chopped garlic 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 pounds goat meat, cut into 2-inch chunks
The curry: 1/2 cup oil 4 cups coconut milk 2 cups chopped onions 1 cup chopped bell peppers 1/2 cup chopped carrots 1/4 cup chopped green onion 4 bay leaves You can’t go wrong with a curry, and this one is easy to make. For the marinade, mix the soy sauce, curry powder, garlic, basil, crushed
pepper, oregano and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the goat to the bowl and marinade overnight. For the curry, remove the goat from the marinade. Heat the oil in a large pan and add the goat. Turn the heat to medium and sear the goat until brown, about 15 minutes. Add the coconut milk and 4 cups water. Cover and cook, about 2 hours. Add the onions, bell peppers, carrots, green onions and bay leaves and simmer, about 1 hour. Serve with rice or rice and peas.
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
June 22nd - July 5th 2017
DID
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ago. nimals first a ,000 years lorife h t g 0 mon ns over 1 , is less ca her a were a at ot Goats ated by humsaturated f sterol than s ic le t s s o h me eat has le er in c n the The m is much low eats o conm r la opu tion ic andeats. mos t p popula rticured m one of thethe world’s lar diet, pa is u f t g o a e r Go - 70% f their ickplanet it as part o frica. han c h t n o A ir sume Asia and levels of . larly intains higherwith protein , known It con is packed itamin B12kin. en and cked with V e healthy s It is pa you achiev to help
Galicia style Ingredients: 4 shoulders of suckling goat 600g each, two cloves of garlic, 10ml of olive oil, 1/2 litre of water, one sprig of thyme salt For this simple dish, a hot favourite in Galicia, Crush the garlic, thyme and salt and add a splash of oil. Spread the shoulders with this mixture, and place in the oven to cook for about 90 minutes at 180ºC. Sprinkle with water and its own juice.
Hotpot Ingredients: 1.5kg goat leg meat on the bone, cut into chunks 2 tbsp olive oil 3 onions, chopped 6 garlic cloves, crushed 200g small button mushrooms 250g chorizo, cut into 1 cm discs 200ml red wine 500ml beef stock 400g can chopped tomatoes ½ bunch thyme, tied with string ½ orange, zested 400g can white beans, rinsed Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Season goat pieces with salt and pepper. In a large ovenproof casserole dish, sauté goat pieces in olive oil until brown and golden. Remove from pan. To same pan, add onion, garlic, mushrooms and chorizo. Cook for 10 minutes, until tender. Deglaze pan with red wine, scraping up the little golden bits stuck to the pan. Return goat to pan along with beef stock, tomato, thyme and orange zest. Season with salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Cover the mixture with a circle of baking paper and cover with a lid. Place casserole dish in the centre of the oven and bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven, stir mixture and then add beans. Return to oven and bake for a further 30-45 minutes, or until goat meat is soft and tender. Check seasoning and serve in a large bowl.
Spanishstyle stew Ingredients: 4 tablespoons of olive oil 1 kg diced goat meat 125 gr chorizo 1 medium onion sliced 2 gloves garlic sliced 100 mls dry white wine, optional 400 gr or 1 tin chopped tomatoes 400 gr tin of cannellini beans, washed and drained Small sprig thyme salt and pepper to taste Brown the goat meat in olive oil, cover with stock or water and simmer until soft, approximately 1 1/2 hours. Gently fry the onion, garlic and chorizo until translucent, add the dry white wine, tomatoes, beans and thyme. Combine with the goat meat and stock, add salt and pepper and cook for a further 20 minutes. Thicken the sauce if required. Serve with potato wedges, rice or couscous.
Telephone Reservations: 971 491 121 Open: 12:00 - 02:00 C/ Virgili, 3 (07610) Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Sports &
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017
olivepress olivepress olivepressnews olivepressnews +TheolivepressEs +TheolivepressEs HE’S just served up his 10th French
Open win, but Rafa Nadal could be about to score a unique Mallorca ace. Political party Ciudadanos has sugBE BE‘APPY! ‘APPY!gested the King Of Clay should have a street or square named after him in Manacor. The party has now petitioned the town hall should change the name of Avenida des Parc, where the Mallorca Tennis
European clubs make play for Ronaldo following news that he wants to leave Spain
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United willing to SPAIN’S Jon Rahm lost his offer Real Madrid €208 cool at the 2017 U.S. Open. million and David De Gea TOP TOP for forby news news ininSpain! Spain! The rising star was seen for Cristiano Ronaldo and many experts as a real con- Alvaro Morata. tender to take home the tro- It comes after shocking phy on Sunday, but things revelations that Ronaldo seemed awry from the start. is said to be considering The 22-year-old pro bo- leaving Spain following geyed his first two holes, recent tax fraud allega10 and 11, and four of his tions. first eight holes in the first The Real Madrid star is round. He finished with a being prosecuted for al76. legedly defrauding SpanOn Friday, Rahm made bo- ish authorities of €14.7 gey at the 1st and was even million between 2011 and on the day, well outside the 2014. cut line, when he got to the “Despite the player’s deep par-5 14th hole. passion for Real, RonalEn route to making bogey do’s decision is taken and at 14, Rahm slammed and the player wants to leave kicked his wedge and tossed Spain shortly after the a bunker rake after hitting short holiday following into fescue. the Confederations Cup,” After another bogey at 17, according to Portugese Rahm fell to five over and publication A Bola. missed the cut. Paris Saint-Germain have arePress reportedly The TheOlive Olive Press
Rafa eyes up grass
Rafa’s road Club is situated, to Rafael Nadal Avenue. Ciudadanos spokesperson Jeroni Ferrer said: “It’s time Mallorca has an avenue with the name of the most famous Mallorca sportsperson in the world. “He deserves it.”
Up for grabs
PRICEY: Cristiano Ronaldo
also been linked with a move for the 32-year-old, while Bayern Munich de-
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nied interest earliert this week. The father-of-one is said
to be ‘deeply disillusioned’ by the allegations, and feels he is ‘a victim of persecution’. When asked by a reporter about the lawsuits, Ronaldo said: “I have a clear conscience.” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said the star’s apparent dissatisfaction is ‘all very strange’ but that the club expects the superstar to stay at the Bernabeu this summer. "Not I nor anyone at Madrid is contemplating that Cristiano could leave the club," he said. "He is not a business - he forms part of this club's history. He's at the level of Di Stefano."
RAFA Nadal is back in training for next month’s Wimbledon. The King of Clay is back on grass as he eyes up his third All England Club Grand Slam. Nadaly, currently number two in the world rankings, returned to training in Mallorca with his uncle Toni ten days after securing his fifth French Open. The 31-year-old announced this week he was pulling out of London’s Queens tournament, citing exhaustion, and will prepare instead in Santa Ponca. “I am sad to make this decision because I love Queen’s,” said Nada. “I won the tournament in 2008 and every time I reached the Wimbledon final it was after playing Queen’s. “I was hoping to take some days off and then be ready, but at 31, and after a long clay court season with all of the emotions of Roland Garros, and after speaking to my team and doctor, I have decided my body needs to rest if I am going to be ready to play Wimbledon.” Nadal has struggled on grass in recent years, failing to get past the fourth round since 2011.
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Qatari crown jewel ONE of the world’s largest superyachts has motored into Palma. The Katara, the 20th largest yacht in the world, is owned by the Qatar royal family. The 124-metre-long vessel boasts a cinema, a fully computerized bridge, accommodation for 32 VIP guests, several swimming pools an on-deck jacuzzi. It was custom built in 2010 for Lurssen Yachts and is rumoured to hold a beach club with sea terraces. With a top speed of almost 26 knots and a gross tonnage of 7,922, the Katara is one of the most distinctive yachts on the high seas.
MAMMOTH: Superyacht is world’s 20th largest
Warrior spirit Jordan slam dunks Ibiza MICHAEL Jordan has continued his yacht cruise around the Balearic Islands with a stop in Ibiza. The former Chicago Bulls superstar began his trip in Mallorca earlier this month before heading to the White Isle. Jordan has been enjoying a private yacht trip around the Mediterranean, partying in Ibiza in celebrity hotspots like the restaurant Tatel. While in Ibiza, Jordan hooked up with cartoon artist Raul Moya, who sketched the basketball legend.
Ainslie’s anguish
Greenpeace dock in Palma to deliver plastic message GREENPEACE vessel Rainbow Warrior docked in Mallorca with one activist revealing there are 1,455 tonnes of plastic on the Mediterranean’s surface. The environmentalist group’s flagship dropped anchor in Palma , with its crew giving lessons on battling plastic pollution. Campaigner Luis Francisco Ruiz-Orejon, who works at the Centre of Scientific Investigations (CISC) said one discarded plastic bag lasts ‘between 100 and 500 years’. “[The 1,455 tonnes of plastic] is only the tip of the iceberg,” he said. The eco-warriors campaign
to clean up the seas is called Less Plastic, More Mediterranean . Elvira Jimenez, head of Greenpeace’s campaign to clean up the sea, revealed that north of Mallorca and Eivissa there were areas with more than a million pieces of plastic per square kilometre. “In only a few decades, plastics have had a huge impact on the environment,” said Jimenez. “Marine fauna is being suffocated with these plastics. They even ingest them.” The Rainbow Warrior 30-strong crew headed to Valencia after their Palma stop.
GREAT Britain has been knocked out of the America’s Cup after losing to New Zealand. Ben Ainslie’s team crashed out after going down 5-2 to the Kiwis in a best of nine contest. It was a sweet victory for New Zealand, who had earlier suffered a nasty capsize in high winds that week to sink Ainslie’s hopes. “I am really proud of the way the team sailed,” said Ainslie, “We will be back next time and we will be stronger.” New Zealand faced Oracle Team USA after the win.
SAVE OUR SEAS: Greenpeace
Boats, bikes and automobiles…
Just another day in Palma Bay...
OP columnist Hamish Goddard watches the boats - and superyachts - dock into Palma
I
WAS lucky enough to be invited onto the newly refitted 40m superyacht Zalmon for a sea trial this week. It never ceases to amaze me what we see out and about in Palma Bay – and we have perhaps all become a bit blasé. In Cornwall, where I come from, anything bigger than 40ft grabs attention. Over here, change feet into metres and even then we barely raise an eyebrow when seeing some of the largest and most beautiful yachts in the world. Zalmon is a stunning example. Formerly named Kokomo of London and designed by the late great Ed Dubois, she is now resplendent in black (sails, spars, lines, indeed everything) with a discreet fire flash along her topsides from stem to stern in deference to her biblical warrior namesake. Next to us on the quay was the dramatic 65m Lady M – the largest motor yacht built by the American yard Palmer Johnson for a cool $55 million. The owner’s wife's love for felines is shown in the yacht’s logo, a cat reproduced on the transom and engraved into a skylight and gates. Also capturing the yacht’s powerful yet agile personality is a stunning prow figure - a chiselled jaguar designed to mirror the curves and angles of the yacht. On our return from our sea trial, Lady M´s place had been taken by no less than Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior III – visiting Palma within the framework of its international campaign Less Plastic, More Mediterranean – an inestimably worthy cause. And this was before the motor yacht Katara, the 300 million dollar yacht belonging to the Emir of Qatar turned up and parked outside our office in Puerto Portals. Just another day in Palma Bay. On the business front, we at Baxter Marine are busier than ever with some great deals at present – please see our top deals in association with The Olive Press!
Zalmon
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Classic cars are generally pretty uncomfortable by modern standards, occasionally tricky to drive smoothly and less reliable than what we are generally used to. Of the 15 cars we had in the Moto Mallorca Rally a few years ago, four came back on flatbeds after a two day event. We had a Healey 3000 for a rally a few weeks ago: soft brakes and loose steering, loud and hot.. Fabulous fun and rewarding for a day or so, but tough for much longer... It was a relief of sorts to get back in the R32! This stylish and glamorous discomfort enthuses the many classic car owners to enjoy their beautiful machines and Mallorca’s warm summer evenings are a perfect time to drive somewhere spectacular (we are spoiled for choice…) to watch the sun go down. The Mallorca Classic Car Club’s Sunset Car Show takes place on June 25, finishing at the Santuari de Cura atop Puig de Randa east of Palma. So if you´re a classic car enthusiast and looking for a sunset with a backdrop of beautiful cars – or vice versa – you know where to go! For further details on the club, visit www.ccc-mallorca.com.
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June 22nd - July 5th 2017 June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Mallorca diaries By Lesley Keith
U
PON arrival to this small island last year I had to do a fair bit of shopping. We’d driven over from England in a large estate car and anything that didn’t fit in it couldn’t come over with us. That concentrated the mind I can tell you. There were several rather colourful discussions about why my partner wanted to bring two full sets of golf clubs… he needed them so his future guests could play, apparently. Not forgetting all his tools plus winter clothes and toy car collection. And how many t-shirts does one person really need? Surely not in excess of 30? Where was my therapy table and equipment going to fit? On the roof rack as it happened, a bit of torrential rain never hurt anything, and let’s not mention my guitar. I digress, however, the point is that I had to replace an awful lot of things once I got here. To do any sort of serious shop-
Regular Olive Press columnist Giles Brown on living with dad
I
read a report last week that that many Spanish children do not leave home until they are nearly 30-years-old, a decade later than other European countries. It raised a wry smile as I lived with my Dad, on and off, both in London and Marbella for more than a few years. If you imagine a cross between Steptoe and Son meets The Odd Couple and you get the general idea of chez Brown at the time. Apart from a few idiosyncrasies we actually get on famously – he's
SUPERMARKETS: Alcampo, (centre) Fan and (far right) HiperCentro
Supermarket sweep Knowing which store to visit can be tricky at first, writes Lesley Keith
ping I found there was only really three options; Alcampo, Fan and Inca. And I went to all three... a
lot. Fan soon fell by the wayside as there’s not a lot of homeware
The Odd Couple
there and it was a 130km round trip. Inca was good but spread out so Alcampo was my destina-
I heard the sound of a party in full swing next door. I knocked on the neighbour's front door to be greeted with a cry of "Oh, you must be the son!!!", and found my Dad holding court with his motor racing stories in the garden. I retreated to the kitchen – always my signature move at house parties – and found myself chatting to a huge, but thankfully friendly Nigerian, who I thought I recognised. He told me his name was Steve, that he lived in Bath and that he played a bit of rugby. Fortified by a few swift San Miguels, I launched into a comprehensive rundown of my own `glittering´rugby career (a couple of really bad seasons for a Saturday morning Richmond pub team).
Super-charged
MESS: Living at home with dad
an ex international racing driver and great company, although he does have an unexplained fondness for 'Eastenders' that I have yet to comprehend as he was born in Rhonda in Wales. Explaining to female guests could also be tricky - it might be seen as terminally uncool to be living with your father when you are over 30. I tried passing him off as a retired manservant whose family had been in our service for hundreds of years, but with little success. Mind you, that trick worked both ways as on occasion he would try passing me off as his driver, once famously getting into the back seat of the car and regally
FAMILY: Giles with dad Chez
asking me to pick him up ‘at the usual time’. It's little wonder that he didn't get me a chauffeur's cap to wear. Having said that, living with my father meant that we got to know
the neighbours. On one Friday evening, following a particularly tough magazine deadline, I returned home late at night to find the house deserted. I was somewhat puzzled by this until
I was halfway through my spiel when I realised where I knew him from. "Steve. Nigerian. Lives in Bath and plays a bit of rugby" I said. "Yes" he grinned It was Steve Ojomoh. The then England flanker What was even worse was that his mate, Adedayo Adeyemi, the then England winger was with him. "Ade, meet Giles" said my new best mate Steve "He plays a bit of rugby!" "Really" replied Adedayo "Rugby player? Well you better come drinking with us!" The next thing I knew, I was being bundled into a taxi with two current England international and a Leicester second row who obviously didn't think much of me, and was being taken on a supercharged bar crawl of Banus. As the shot drinking started I soon realised that I was well out of my league, and left the field of play an hour later, staggering as if the entire French pack had just run over me. In the morning my head felt the same. I decided it was time to fly the nest soon after!
tion of choice. Let me just say here that I actually dislike shopping intensely and this was no picnic. At this point I had no knowledge of anything Spanish, either language or their customs, and it was a big shock. They wanted to take my bags off me and seal them in another bag. They would only sell things one at a time like glasses and cutlery. Pillow cases were a nightmare! Frankly how many sizes of pillows do you need? Obviously a whole lot because it took me about three goes to get some to fit. Night-lights, ha, you’ll be lucky. In Alcampo if I didn’t buy anything I then couldn’t get out as there isn’t an exit except at the checkouts. On the plus side, however, they have a great café and it’s here I first discovered encimadas, I’ll forgive them for anything for that.
Frankly, how many size of pillows do you really need?
We were renting a flat, you know all orange pine and pyrex with a kitchen circa 1975, and I was trying to make it seem a little more like the 21st century. (I’ve long since given up on that one, it’s just not going to happen). Someone suggested I try the Chinese supermarkets. Well they were amazing and they sell everything, they really do (except night-lights) and there’s one on every street. They became slightly addictive if I’m honest and interestingly enough I was not alone, I often would see the same customers whenever I went in, to the point where we’d be on nodding terms within less than a week. I have to say that customer service in some shops did leave a little to be desired. Your whole weekly shop can be run through the checkout and paid for without your existence even being acknowledged, although they will break off from their phone call if they think you might be trying to pinch something. My partner being the one trying to put my renovation plans into action, needed the more practical stuff, and so we discovered the treasure trove that is the ferreteria. Oh WOW how we both love these places. It’s like turning the clock back 50 years. They have fan-belts hanging from the ceiling, they smell of dust and oil, you can find all those little things you’d forgotten you needed, they smile and are helpful. And guess what? They sell night-lights!
and it’s goodbye from us... www.theolivepress.es
Write stuff AN author’s new murder mystery novel is based among Mallorca’s expat community Belfast-born Deirdre Quiery’s thriller The Secret Wound is set in Soller, but begins with the murder of a man’s mother in Quiery’s native Northern Ireland. When the main character moves to Mallorca for 40 days, he finds a member of the expat community harbours a deadly secret, with Quiery drawing on her experiences since moving to the island 15 years ago.
Explore
“He is with this tight-knit community, and I wanted to explore how relationships among the expat community can become more and more complex and even twisted,” Queiry told the Olive Press. “The main character’s father then moves over, and he has dementia. “My own father developed dementia when I was here and that helped me find out what love really was.” It’s Quiery’s second novel, with her Troubles-era debut novel Eden Burning nominated for the UK’s People's Prize award. Queiry moved from Oxford to Mallorca after quitting her full-time job, living in an olive grove with no running water, TV or internet. The 60-year-old has also won the Alexander Imich Competition in the USA for inspirational writing. A third novel, also set in Mallorca, is in the pipeline with Quiery hoping to have it within the year.
Mallorca producer’s new film about Clint Eastwood’s western classic A MALLORCA film producer has reunited Clint Eastwood and composer Ennio Morricone for a documentary about The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Luisa Rossello Cowell’s film tells the story of one of cinema’s most famous locations, Spain’s Sad Hill Cemetery, the scene for the spaghetti western’s climax. In 1966, the Spanish Army built 5,000 graves at the cemetery near Almeria specifically for Sergio Leone’s masterpiece. But with the area completely neglected for 50 years, it was left to a group of Spanish film-makers to unearth the overgrown site
Don
June 22nd - July 5th 2017
Good, the sad and the ugly
Breaking bad A BREAKING BAD-style lab assistant has been sentenced to three years in prison. The unnamed Bulgarian, 29, was caught making MDMA and other ‘designer’ drugs in a laboratory in Palma. The man posed as a university professor to buy the supplies he needed to cook up the drugs, leading Palma police to label the case ‘Breaking Bad Mallorca’. Police found 9.2 grams of opium when they raided the man’s flat and chemicals such as sulphuric acid, as well as scales and filters.
Knee-mare! A SURGEON who operated on the wrong knee of a patient in 2015 has received a €540 fine and three months probation. The prosecution requested five months behind bars for removing the wrong meniscus from the wrong knee, but the courts were kinder. The victim, who took over 200 days to heal from both knee operations, received €50,000 from the doctors insurance.
ICONIC: Cemetery scene from Eastwood flick
’t miss
Into the fire
M
ANY a brave soul will be jumping over a fire to ward away evil spirits this weekend. At midnight on Friday, as tradition dictates, you must also walk into the sea backwards, cleansing the soul and honouring St. John. June 23 is possibly Mallorca's favourite holiday for ancientmeets-modern late-night festivities. Saturday is the feast day of John the Baptist, known locally as Sant Joan, and to celebrate the occasion the night before everyone joins together for beach fires and midnight dips in the sea the night before. A ban on burning fires on beaches is lifted and almost all coastal towns will have local celebrations, while many places have celebrations lasting a week, including fire runs, firework shows, parades and ceremonial fires. At midnight some revellers have started to send light floating lanterns into the night sky, but this should be checked locally as some areas have bans. Large beaches such as Playa de Palma and Playa de Alcudia see plenty gping on until the sun comes up.
A briefs encounter A SUSPECTED robber who stormed into a Palma chemist wearing a pair of pants as a mask has been arrested. The 28-year-old suspect was discovered by police hiding in the pharmacy after breaking in around 3am. He had a pair of boxer shorts wrapped round his head to hide his face. Officers found €1,325 in notes and €38 in change on his person and arrested him. He now faces charges of breaking and entering the shop in Mallorca with force.
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in 2015. “Eastwood’s agency told us he couldn’t talk because he was recording Sully,” said Rossello. “After a month, we went back and they said no again, then told us not to ask anymore. “Then, out of the blue, they said yes.” Eastwood gave a series of excellent anecdotes, including one about a scene where a bridge explodes. “It blew it up by mistake when nobody was filming,” she continued. “So they had to rebuild it. ‘What
Deaf ears more can we do for you?’ The Spanish government asked: ‘A cemetery with 5,000 graves,’ Leone told them.” The film, Sad Hill Unearthed will be released in the autumn.
PALMA city council has announced that all employees working in offices dealing with the public will be required to take basic sign language courses. It insists that the deaf community has a fundamental right to communicate with the government.
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Do’s and Don’ts of Sant Juan DO bring bonfire materials and drinks to stay hydrated DON’T bring tents or camping equipment, no sleeping allowed DO partake in traditions and go at least ankle deep in the sea at midnight DON’T take valuables, or leave things unattended DO mind your neighbours as beaches get crowded DON’T take up more space than needed DO plan ahead, only take what you can bring back DON’T leave plastic and rubbish behind. Bring rubbish bags DO have fun, and enjoy the special festivities
We are back on July 6th. In the meantime visit our website www.theolivepress.es for daily stories... and send comment to newsdesk@theolivepress.es
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