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OLIVE PRESS
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COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA FREE Vol. 1 Issue 22 www.theolivepress.es September 3rd - September 16th 2020
Parents divided
RESCUED: Banksy says EU officials are ignoring the mercy mission
EXPAT parents are completely split over whether it is the right time for children to return to school. An Olive Press reader survey shows that mums and dads are unsure whether September is too soon to send pupils back to the classroom. In our online poll, we asked readers to share how they felt about schools reopening for the first time since March. Exactly half said they were happy for their children to be back with their teachers and peers while the rest wanted a vaccine before they let their sons and daughters return.
Uncertainty
And while not all parents want to keep their little ones at home, 56% said that they did not feel their child would be safe on their return. A whopping 83% agreed that social distancing would be impossible to maintain in the classrooms and 78% thought all children should be made to wear masks at school. Ominously, just 28% of parents said it was likely that pupils would be able to complete a full school year. Spanish education officials have for weeks been debating how to get pupils safely back to school this month for in-person classes. Opinion Page 6
NO BULL! Toreros are flying high and NOT killing animals, see page 10
How could EU? BANKSY has accused European officials of deliberately ignoring distress signals after a refugee rescue boat he financed was left stranded in the Med. The iconic artist hit out after his new mercy vessel, launched from Valencia in August, failed to receive any help when it came close to sinking, overloaded with over 200 refugees. It came after the ship captain made a distress call after it became marooned due to overloading, with many of the refugees ill and one already dead. The British street artist took to social media to attack the slow response saying that ‘EU authorities deliberately ignored the pleas from non-Europeans’. The 31-metre rescue vessel Louise Michel, named after a 19th century French anarchist, set sail in secrecy from Burriana, near Castellon, on August 18. Its aim is to save refugees making the dangerous sea crossing from North Africa to Europe. “Like most people who make it in the art world, I bought a yacht to cruise the Med,” Banksy posted online, accompanied by a video of the ship mixed in with footage of people stranded at sea.
Iconic British artist accuses officials of ignoring distress calls from Spanish refugee boat he financed By Alex Trelinski
“Because EU authorities deliberately ignore distress calls from ’non-Europeans’,” he continued. “All Black Lives Matter.” But within weeks of launching, his ship, estimated to have cost €950,000, it also found itself in trouble off the Sicilian island of Lampedusa. After floundering for hours with 219 refugees on board, Italian coastguards and charity Sea-Watch finally stepped
in to save the day, last week. A coastguard motor vessel took 49 of the most vulnerable travellers to the island of Lampedusa, while Sea-Watch 4 took the rest to Palermo, where they were eventually given sanctuary. The Louise Michel is hard to miss, painted bright pink with a trademark Banksy mural on the boat’s hull, depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy. It sails under a German flag and is captained by a professional crew of 10 European activists with a ‘flat hierarchy and a vegan diet’. The motor yacht, formerly owned by French customs authorities, is smaller but considerably faster than other NGO rescue vessels. It is capable of reaching speeds of 28 knots. The planning of its latest mission was carried out in secrecy between London, Berlin and Burriana, where the Louise Michel had docked to be equipped for sea rescues. The crew feared that media attention could compromise their goals.
If word had circulated that a project financed by Banksy would set to sea to rescue migrants, the European authorities could have attempted to thwart the mission. A spokesman for Burriana’s port confirmed that the Louise Michel docked there on June 23 and left on August 18.
Gay
“During this time, they have been repairing and preparing the boat but they did it by themselves, they did not use the port services”, he said. Referring to Banksy, he added: “If he has been here, he came incognito,” the official said. Burriana, which has 34000 residents is best known for its Arenal music festival each summer. Locals in the town had no idea what its planned mission was, but they dubbed it ‘Orgullo gay’ or ‘Proud to be gay’. Opinion Page 6
NEWS IN BRIEF Beached ALICANTE police formed a human chain last Saturday to flush out 200 young people who were on Postiguet beach at 4.00am.
Pizza Plot TWO Spaniards were arrested in Orihuela after lying in wait to steal pizzas and money from delivery men arriving at empty properties.
Fakery 800 counterfeit items were seized by Torrevieja police in a raid on traders operating in the city´s Paseo Martimo Juan Aparicio area.
Rescued AN 83-year-old woman was saved after she displayed drowning symptoms in the sea at Guardamar´s Centro beach.
Wobbly End A DRUNK man fell six metres down onto the rocks of Torrevieja’s Los Locos beach and had to be stretchered out by firefighters.
DISGRACE! POLICE have busted a Murcia drugs gang that had held captive 10 victims of sexual exploitation. According to cops the women were incarcerated with chains, whips and other paraphernalia. Eight men were arrested as alleged perpetrators of crimes related to prostitution, drug trafficking and illegal immigration. Investigations into human trafficking earlier this month revealed a property in Aljucer, where all manner of exploitation was carried out. Both sex and drugs were offered at the premises and in the surrounding areas, with tariffs posted on the walls. Cocaine, hashish and marihuana was found in pre-prepared packets ready for sale. Those arrested are believed to be the owner of the premises, his wife, two female ‘managers’ and four collaborators.
Art attack A STUDENT from Murcia has been jailed for vandalising a Picasso painting at London’s Tate Modern gallery. The San Javier-based ‘anarchist’ Shakeel Massey, 20, was handed an 18-month sentence at a London court for causing €400,000 worth of damage. He attacked Picasso’s Bust of a Woman after wrapping his hand in a scarf to break the protective glass before tearing into the canvas. Massey said it was a ‘performance’ and had used social media to plan the attack for three years.
CRIME
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
Love triangle ‘killer’ freed AN IRISHMAN accused of beating a friend to death in a fit of jealous rage has been freed from jail after just 18 months in custody. Wayne Walsh, 32, from Kilkennny, was released by a Torrevieja judge after posting bail worth €3,000. His freedom is conditional on having to report daily to the court. He was jailed in January 2019 after the body of fellow-Irishman Carl Carr, 38, was discovered in a
GIRL FRIEND: Mily Leonard
Body of Carl Carr found in shallow grave after lovers’ dispute By Alex Trelinski
shallow grave off the AP-7 highway in the Rojales area. Carr died in an apartment in Torrevieja in September 2018 when housemate Walsh confronted him over a relationship he was having with his ‘on-off girlfriend’, British model Mily Leonard. The Guardia Civil claimed
DEAD: Carl Carr
that Walsh used a knuckleduster to batter Carr to death. Carr was a convicted drug dealer, having served a jail-term sentence for drug offences in Ireland before relocating to the Costa Blanca. Girlfriend Leonard was arrested alongside Natalie Edwards, a local bar manager, in 2018 for concealing the crime and spent two months in jail before being released on bail for €22,000. Party girl Leonard had boasted of her luxury lifestyle by posing in skimpy shorts on the bonnet of a Hummer. In 2008, Irish police pounced after mounting a surveillance operation at St Joseph’s Hospital in Dublin and seeing maintenance man Declan Broderick hand over drugs to Carr. Carr and Broderick were both sentenced to eight years in prison.
Just joking guv! A MADRID man has had hate crime charges dropped by a judge after he appeared in a video claiming to be spreading COVID-19 along the Costa Blanca. In a high-profile CORONAVIRUS SPEC IAL case, the 61-year-old had been YOU SICK PUPP arrested Y! in April over his comments w h i c h caused local outrage. The footage showed him saying that he had come to Torrevieja to 'f*** over' the residents by spreading the coronavirus (see story above). He claimed to have gone to a supermarket close to the main bus station, along with thousands of others from Madrid, in order to clear the shelves of food so locals would 'die of hunger'. However, he insisted it was 'purely a joke' and a Torrevieja judge has shared his view that he merely sent the video to a friend for fun. Initially a magistrate had bailed him on condition he not set foot in Torrevieja where he now lived - and confiscated his passport. But a prosecutor’s report showed there was no evidence of a hate crime and he has been released. www.theoli vepress.es
APPLAUD ING: Medical workers clap a patient who survived the virus a hospitalat Cataluny in a
April 16 - April
29 2020
Mike Riley
www.theolivepress.es
Photos by
2
SMILI street NG: A Barcelsweeper on ona’s famou La Ramb s la
Madrid man Costa Blanc banished from Torre a resort with vieja after Covid-19 he threatens to
8,000 live s saved
A MAN has been expelled the Costa Blanca from Mercadona UP to 8,500 he’d travelled after boasting The order ’. from Madrid Valenciana lives have been saved spread coronaviru prohibits claims were thanks to nearly to BD from, in the Comunita at home, claims s. Torrevieja ‘residing or Antonio 90% of residents In reality, hefalse. t a study. Torrevieja magistrates ja. Phone data staying the 62-year-old during the going to revieja since has lived in Torsent gation.’ investiAdditionall away for his the new year, of Statistics obtained from Spain’s own safety but the expulsion National Guardia Civil been takeny, his passport has nicipalities (INE) showed that video went after an online no longer allowedmeans he is residents Institute of Denia and man on Marchfirst arrested the viral in which cannot leave away, meaning he ciplined, with insulted locals, within the Benicarlo were in the muboundaries he accused 8, after 96% of locals He reportedlythe country. the most disof a hate crime, he was he would ‘infectclaiming that Across Valencia investigatio of the town until not going out. told police police spokesman ns are over. ‘was a joke’ with a shoppers at that it ple either stayed as a whole, an estimated Once summoned suring the public initially asthe video. and he was sorry for , the under89% sic necessities at home or only standing is that the man’s that he appears ventured out of peoany court other The study by . for bain than Torreviesities, claimedthe INE, alongside Vulgar six Valencia an estimated in their homes’. died in the The clip in univer8,500 people A BOY has Comunitat question sees “I came here would have were from making been imposed. COVID-19 him vulgar arrested online he if no measures after posting my hospital in three days ago, because had COVID-19 in Torrevieja, insults to locals The study claimed ing just arrived Madrid COVID-19 that if and the otherclaiming that he ing measures ,” he posted. is full and I have in Gandia symptoms hav- “If The young were advised,ONLY basic social distanc‘4,000 people’ from I don’t recover that had just died. er, wrote man, believed to be Madrid. 4,500 people that he’d come drid would, arrived from Maa teenag- to hospital and seein a few days I will would have If social distancing called Gandia ‘F*** Torrevieja what happens. go the ar**’ was advised and laughedto the ‘pig farm’ erwise I will continue of schools and up Othalongside the at locals ‘stuck to the beach, my daily He claimed The death toll events, 3,300 would closure stay in your enjoying the sun, outings was also estimated have died. ‘starve’ the his plan was to while homes all sential businesses bitter. Haha.” you supermarketslocals by infecting remained open.at 1,500 had non-esThe telecomm them go out. and preventing unications distances data
No laughing
f*** the
matter
travelled dropped also showed Alicante and that daily 59% in Castellon, The average 52% in Valencia. 58% in across Spain was recorded as a 51% drop.
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NEWS
www.theolivepress.es CRISTIANO Ronaldo could be signing the biggest contract of his life - after a recent pic sparked speculation of a glitzy engagement to longterm Georgina Rodriguez. Rumours are swirling that the 35-year-old football ace popped the question to Georgina after she shared a series of sizzling snaps on the pair on social media. The couple, who are sunning themselves in the French Riviera with their kids, posed for photos while holidaying onboard their €6.1 million yacht. The first picture showed the former Real Madrid star dressed to the nines smiling with the 26-year-old in an incredible sunset snap.
Engaged ROYAL wedding bells will soon be ringing again after the cousin of Spain’s King Felipe announced his engagement. P r i n c e Philippos of Greece – nephew of Queen Sofia and fifth son of her brother King Constatine and Queen Anne - will marry his bride Nina Flohr. The Greek court officially announced the news this week, although no date has been set for the big day. The youngest cousin of King Felipe, 34, started dating Flohr, from Switzerland, in 2018 after bumping into each other at many social events in London and New York. Prince Philippos, like his older brothers, studied at the Hellenic College in London and completed his secondary education in New Mexico (United States).
Ronald-i-do
The pair scored high in the fashion stakes, with Georgina stunning in a scarlet dress while Ronaldo wore a navy printed Louis Vuitton shirt with ivory trousers. Although Georgina’s hand was hidden, fans were quick to guess that Ronaldo had already proposed when she captioned the photo ‘YESSS’ followed with a rose emoji. The former Gucci shop assistant, who has been dating the football superstar for three years, then posted another glamorous snap of herself flaunting a giant ring on her wedding finger and holding a rose.
IN LOVE: The happy couple
Claudia Schiffer shares special moments from five decades of Spanish holidays
Swashbuckling back Antonio Banderas has survived his brush with COVID-19. The Zorro star is swashbuckling back on the streets of Malaga again after 21 days of quarantine. “I was not asymptomatic. I had fever and pains, but I feel very well now,” he revealed. “My thoughts go to those who weren’t as fortunate as me, and to those who suffered more than I did. I also wish strength to the ones who are in the middle of the fight,” he wrote. He announced he had contracted the virus and was in quarantine on the day he turned 60 on August 10. It was a good way to avoid having to
IN STYLE: Claudia celebrates in Spain
Balearic gem, having celebrated her birthday there many times over the last few decades...with Port d’Andratx being her favourite haunt. The German beauty also holds a deep adoration for the uber-exclusive La Cuchara in Palma, owned by friend Peter Newman and a favourite of King Juan Carlos, which closed its doors permanently in 2015. She was such a big fan of the island that in 1997 she be cheerful on what would have been built an iman angst-ridden day for many. pressive
SPOKEN
mansion in Camp de Mar and spent many summers there with her British film director husband Matthew Vaughn alongside their three children. She has always held a reputation for being particularly warm and polite to the press who without surprise followed Schiffer wherever she went. However, she became famously enraged when a photographer took pictures of her topless during a sailing trip with music legend Peter Gabriel. Concerned with her privacy, the supermodel decided to sell her property in 2017 to a European investor for a whopping €5 million. Despite no longer owning a home on the island, Schiffer will always have a connection with Mallorca since she financed the restoration of the stunning Cap Andritxol tower in 2004.
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Depping in
Viva Espana GLOBAL supermodel Claudia Schiffer has paid a glowing tribute to Spain as she hits her landmark 50th birthday. To celebrate the beginning of a new decade, the 90’s fashion icon shared a series of special moments from her childhood summers spent on her favourite holiday island of Mallorca. Schiffer has an extensive history with the
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
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ONE might have expected him to be heading for a desert island. But - fresh from his high profile brush with the courts, described as a ‘wife beater’ - Johnny Depp is heading to a Balearic isle next month. The US film legend, who just fought a legal battle against the Sun newspaper in the London High Courts, is set to appear at the Fiesta! Film Festival in Palma de Mallorca. In the fifth edition of the festival, Depp will be promoting his latest role in the movie Waiting for the Barbarians. Directed by Colombian filmmaker Ciro Guerra the film is based on the novel of the same-name by J. M. Coetzee, and also stars Mark Rylance, Robert Pattinson and Greta Scacchi. The festival serves to promote Italian filmmaking, this year forging ties with those working within the industry in Spain. Depp, best known for his performances in Eduardo Scissorhands and the Pirates of the Caribbean, has confirmed his attendance for the October 14 to 17 festival. The Hollywood legend has had countless legal issues after his split from ex-wife Amber Heard, who accused him of verbal and physical abuse. Depp alleges the many claims she made were ‘completely untrue,’ ‘one-sided’ and ‘not researched at all’ by the media.
4
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
Mum’s Fight For Ariya
A COSTA BLANCA mum has launched an appeal to give her baby the best possible chance of fighting a rare condition. Stacey Smith from the Benissa area gave birth to Ariya on September 3, 2019. She was diagnosed with Sturge Weber Syndrome (SWS), which affects one in 50,000 babies.
SWS is a neurological disorder marked by a distinctive port-wine stain on the forehead, scalp, or around the eye. It´s caused by a random gene mutation and, in Ariya´s case, it covers 90% of her face and part of her neck. She has had the first of many scheduled eye operations and has to make an
Weever horror
Sky-high
suddenly reappearing and stinging him on the lip. A small wound of between 2 and 3 millimetres was found on the boy’s trachea as well as marks on his face. This deadly creature, notoriously for their venomous spines, are widely distributed along the eastern Atlantic coastline from Norway to Morocco and in the Med.
A DEMOLITION bill of €130m for Benidorm’s illegally-built 'Gemelos 28' tower 'would be an unjustifiable cost for the public, insist officials. The town hall insists it would be pointless as there
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eight-hour monthly trip to a Barcelona hospital for treatment. Stacey, who lives in Fanadix, said: “My pregnancy was normal and after Aryia was born with a red birthmark, the paediatrician said that it would disappear. The following day, we were told that it was probably SWS.” Check her Go Fund Me page.
Bill to demolish controversial tower at €130m is pointless, claims council
DANGER: Tiny fish can be deadly
A TEENAGER has died after being stung by a weever fish while snorkelling near Girona. His body was found when dozens of bathers joined in a search looking for him. According to an autopsy he suffered anaphylactic ‘shock’ due to a severe allergic reaction. A video he had shot on the incident showed how the fish had vanished before
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
•
SHIPPERS
COST: Nobody wants to foot the bill
would be 'nothing to stop the towers being rebuilt a few metres away.' The €130 million demolition bill would actually have to be funded by the Valencian Government which allowed the blocks to be built on protected coastal land. The Valencian Anti-Fraud agency said it was looking at 'opening a preliminary file' on the matter. The huge demolition costs come from the work needing to be done floor-byfloor to limit environmental damage. There is also the issue of compensation for the apartment owners, which could amount to around €30 million of the total figure quoted by the Benidorm secretary. The two 22-storey blocks featuring 168 luxury apartments were built in 2005 and approved by the regional government which was run at the time by the Partido Popular. The Valencian High Court ruled in 2012 that the government had allowed the illegal encroachment by several metres onto a protected right-of-way, which broke Spain’s strict coastal laws. They ordered the blocks to be pulled down, and their verdict was backed by the Valencian Supreme Court in 2018.
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A three-year-old French boy drowned in a swimming pool at a Pilar de la Horadada holiday home. It was the third pool death involving young children in less than a month in the area. A four-year-old Belgian boy died in Quesada on August 5 and four days later a twoyear-old toddler from France died at a community pool in La Zenia. The latest tragedy saw paramedics spending nearly an hour trying to revive the three-year-old at Calle Madroño in Pinar de Campoverde. Reports suggest that the youngster walked out of the house and fell into the pool without his family even noticing what had happened. An older sibling, believed to be aged under six, spotted the boy in the pool and got him out of the water.
Hard times OVER 100 ‘illegal’ brothels are being investigated by police around Valencia. Regional justice minister Gabriela Bravo said that owners operating without a licence will be fined heavily. Of 143 premises on the radar, four have already been closed for not following coronavirus safety guidelines while eight are awaiting sentence. The push comes after a series of COVID-19 outbreaks in brothels across the country. It also comes amid concerns that such establishments are allowed to circumvent the current ban on nightclubs and late bars by being allowed to open. Bravo also called on the national government to introduce a law to ban prostitution. “This practice just leads to violence and the mistreatment of women,” he said.
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NEWS FEATURE
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.
OPINION Big-hearted In an age when the mega-rich continue to flaunt their wealth while a mega-recession bites hard, it’s heartening that iconic graffiti artist Banksy continues to use his wealth to help make the world a better, more caring place. The British cultural phenomenon has shown what a big heart he has by funding refugee rescue ship, the Louise Michel. The famously secretive millionaire contacted the ship’s captain, Pia Klemp, last year via email, asking how he could help: “I am an artist from the UK and I’ve made some work about the migrant crisis, obviously I can’t keep the money. Could you use it to buy a new boat or something?” The funds were gratefully received and the vessel is now carrying out its work saving refugees heading from Africa to Europe in the utmost secrecy, which is surely appreciated by its generous benefactor. Banksy has plenty of experience of giving money to worthy causes and only two months ago he auctioned off three of his paintings detailing his take on the migrant crisis to raise €1.4million for a hospital in the West Bank. It is particularly edifying that he does all this anonymously as we all know that the only true altruism is when the donor doesn’t need to be lauded from the heavens.
Trying times It is a worrying time for parents. The time is fast approaching when they will have to send their children to school. It is a trying time for youngsters too. Despite the thought that they have just ‘enjoyed’ their longest holiday ever thanks to coronavirus. Despite the assurances of the authorities, the thought persists among many that it is still too soon for children to go back to school. Our survey (see front page) reveals that there is an exact split between those parents happy to see their offspring return and those who prefer to wait it out for a vaccine. The stark reality though is they have no choice. So the best all parents can do is make sure their children follow the official guidelines - and trust the authorities know what they are doing.
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Should have smelt a RAT! Isha Sesay on being floored by COVID-19 on an outing from her sitting room to her kitchen - to catch a rodent
F
OR the best part of this year coronavirus has entirely consumed my existence alongside, I assume, many Olive Press readers. Not only due to the nature of my work as a journalist, but because of my father’s profession – a leading scientist working on the frontlines in Africa to help curb the spread of the virus. I have written dozens of stories and read every scientific study on COVID as dad made a habit of relentlessly drilling down my throat the risks of ‘gallivanting’ around Mallorca, where I have lived for a couple of years. Truth be known, I am anything but the gallivanting type. I am actually quite anti-social and enjoy my own company, preferring to hang out with my cat than most humans. So, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of contracting COVID-19 in the comfort of my very own home. It came after I called a ratcatcher into my Palma flat having heard some strange noises at night and finding Werther’s Originals wrappers I had left on the kitchen countertop eerily appearing under my fridge, washing machine and, wait for it, my bed. Talk about unsettling. After finding a grand total of 11 wrappers scattered around my flat, a call was swiftly made to the landlord. I am sure he thought I was making it up to get a reduction in my rent, but he valiantly called around and helped me set up some traps. Both masked up, we went around laying down bait and poison, before he headed off with a wave and a ‘good luck’. I should, of course, have guessed it, as it turned out I got much more than
the capture of my furry squatter, who I christened Jimmy. Some two days later I got a call from the ‘COVID-19 Primary Care Tracker Team’ on the island, telling me that my landlord had tested positive for coronavirus. The next morning two health workers were at my door, much to the shock of my decidedly nosey neighbour (I saw you peeping through your letterbox Sheila!) and by the end of the next day it was confirmed – I too had My ‘friends’ on the island became coronavirus. So, you are all probably wonder- oddly busy and quiet during my period ing what the symptoms of a healthy of isolation. 33-year-old exactly were…well it took Anyone would think I’d been diaga few days, but when it hit, I felt like nosed with Ebola, which is illustrative of the fear instilled in so many over absolute crap! this coronavirus crisis. As well as breaking the Luckily I found a new Guinness World Record – Mercadona for the longest sleep in I experienced amigo home delivery… and on history (I challenge you to fevers so day three I had enough beat 18.5 hours), I expedelights to last me for six rienced fevers so strong strong I felt months, but oh how I unI felt like I was in a tsulike I was in a derestimated my ability nami. to eat. I was struggling to tsunami On day five, I ran out of breathe and feeling realfood. I learnt to pace myly alone and quite frankly self by the end of the two scared. I started to worry that I would most weeks, and by that I mean sticking an likely starve to death, that’s if the A4 sheet of paper on the fridge that bubonic plague didn’t get to me first, read ‘You greedy b****rd!’ as Jimmy was still definitely still alive As the days passed, I began to accept my need to sleep, welcomed my new and kicking. found addiction of re-runs of Judge Judy and realised exactly who cared and who didn’t care about me in times of need. Shout-out to my parents, my cat, my colleagues at the Olive Press, and of course, Jimmy, who god bless his soul was found dead on day 13. The daily telephone conversation with my father Abdul definitely helped the most, and I think it worked both ways given the amount of pressure he is now under with his work in the Gambia. Dedicating his life to genetics for almost 40 years in London he is now in charge of the British-run National Institute of Medical Research there. Specialising in the sequencing of infectious diseases (best to Google that one), he has now been nabbed by the country’s Ministry of Health and is busy working all hours of the day to set up testing points around the country. “The majority of people live in poverty and the health system is poor. We do not have enough hospital beds for the seriously unwell and two months ago, testing was practically non-existent,” he explained. With just under 2,000 active cases there, 97 deaths, four of which my father personally knew, the struggle in Africa is real and only makes me appreciate how very easy overcoming the virus was for me in Spain. I’m now on the road to recovery and thankfully my flat is finally rat free! SAGE ADVICE: Isha’s dad Abdul is a COVID scientist
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
www.theolivepress.es
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Safeguarding real news After two years of rapid expansion, the Olive Press announces an online pay wall
A
S the Olive Press approaches its 15th anniversary it’s a good time to take stock of what we have experienced down the years. But even more important is to take the lessons we have learned as Spain’s only English language investigative newspaper and apply them for the next 15 years. Back in 2006 when a small but dedicated band launched the very first issues out of Ronda we couldn’t have dreamed how much we would expand in the coming years. A move to our head office in Sabinillas near Estepona proved to be a key move and within a few short years we went from covering all of Andalucia to launching editions in Gibraltar, Mallorca and the Costa Blanca North and
South. But perhaps the biggest change has been the rise of the internet as the medium through which we can reach a hugely expanded audience. We have striven to provide engaging, well researched and original content, with regularly over 20 stories and features a day. This has involved a heavy investment in the most important factor for any news organisation – the staff. Our dozens of fully-trained, NCTJ-qualified reporters have uncovered hundreds of exclusives which would make many a ‘bigger’ media group proud. It helps that many of our team have worked at UK national newspapers, including Dilip Kuner at the Sunday Mirror, Kirsty McKenzie at The Daily
Olive Press online ‘Spain’s best English news website’
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
Village engulfed in mammoth 2- Laguna fire on Spain’s Costa del Sol (27,542) Levante Beach to end 3- Benidorm’s restrictions this Monday as domestic tourist season ends (24,402) footage from inside Laguna 4- Terrifying Village fire on Spain’s Costa del Sol (21,677) Fire at Estepona’s Laguna Village: 5-Exclusive pictures from the scene (19,212) Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for a special quote
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Olive Press is following in the footsteps of The Times, Telegraph and New York Times and respected Spanish dailies such as El Mundo, El Pais and Diario Sur to introduce a pay wall. And it is extremely positive news. For, by charging just €4.99 a month (or €49 a year) we can dramatically increase investment employing more journalists and writers to provide a news service that
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1
- Benidorm officials say 130 million demolition bill for illegal towers is not in the public interest (30,996)
Record and Jon Clarke at the Mail on Sunday, while our Costa Blanca reporter Alex Trelinski worked for many years at the BBC. This highly experienced group of journalists help to bring our young trainees through, showing them how to stand up stories and how to find and develop the many entertaining features that go into the Olive Press. And it takes a lot of resources. Historically our business model relied mostly on advertising, allowing our papers and website to be freely accessed at all times. But one thing the coronavirus crisis has taught us is that to rely on advertising alone is too slender a reed to hang our entire business on. While confident that businesses in Spain will bounce back from the present crisis as they have in the past, our thoughts have turned on how to guarantee our next 15 years as Spain’s leading English news outlet. Sure, we could go down the easy route and just translate what is in the Spanish news. That is cheap and easy to do, but offers no value to the reader. We prefer to employ real journalists and writers to look behind the headlines and come up with original content. This is why from this week the
Yes, those subscribing will see a 90% drop in pop ups and adverts being served up every time you want to check up on your favourite English news site in Spain. And a fringe benefit is that our print editions will all remain free, just as they always have been. We are sure that our loyal readers will continue to support us. After all, when we asked for donations to help us provide news during the lockdown nearly 1000 of them rallied to the cause. And we in turn have not forgotten these generous and loyal readers. Anyone who donated €25 or more will get a free subscription for a year, while anyone who gave €5, €10 or €20 will get the first two months free. We thank them and look forward to welcoming aboard many new subscribers in the coming years as we strive to maintain our position as Spain’s premier English language news site.
8
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
NEWS IN BRIEF Fatal Dip A 24-year-old man drowned after going for a swim at Crevillente reservoir where bathing is prohibited.
Speedsters ALICANTE police stopped a group of bikers from staging races in the middle of the night around the Playa de San Juan area..
Deja Vu THREE land plots worth €21 million for new holiday homes on the Orihuela Costa are to be auctioned off for a second time this year after nobody made a bid in the spring.
Winner A EUROMILLIONS ticket bought at the Gran Alacant shopping centre has landed the holder with €1 million from last Friday’s draw.
Chilly night OVERNIGHT temperatures fell to 16.4 degrees in Alicante City on Sunday, making it the coldest night in July and August since 1997.
Nightlife Gloom ALMOST a quarter of the nightclubs and bars in the Valencian Community have gone bust, according to a survey. The study by five nightlife associations found 588 businesses - accounting for 23% have permanently closed. They predict that the figure will climb to nearly 69 per cent by the end of this year. Pressure increased on nightlife-orientated businesses when the Valencian region ordered their closure for at least 21 days starting on August 18. Late bars and clubs were seen by authorities as a major source of new COVID-19 infections among younger people.
Hotel Suffering
JULY was a terrible month for Costa Blanca hotels according to the Benidorm-based Hosbec hoteliers association. Figures compiled by Hosbec showed that Benidorm managed just 192,061 overnight stays, nearly half of last year. The Costa Blanca as a whole saw a fall of 75 %in overnight occupancy. Around 80%of the region’s hotels reopened in July following their enforced State of Alarm closure, but an anticipated significant influx of foreign visitors has not materialised.
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
STAMPEDE! Schools set to go back on Monday By Kirsty McKenzie
ALL children over the age of six must wear masks when they go back to school on Monday. The latest rules for schools in Valencia will see all pupils go back on September 7, with smaller class sizes on the cards. In Infant and Primary the class size will be kept below 20 pupils, a limitation that can be extended to the first year of ESO.
The region has also invested €207million into hygiene measures, including the purchase of three million masks and 86,000 litres of gel. All pupils across Spain will be back at school this month, following agreements between Spain’s central government and regional Education ministers. And new guidelines, signed up
Lockdown returns after triple spike! LOCKDOWN returned this week to part of the Valencian Community for the first time since the State of Alarm was lifted on June 21. Restrictions in Beniganim, near Xativa, were reimposed on Monday after a major spike in COVID-19 cases in the second half of August. Infection rates have rocketed from 34 cases per 100,000 residents in mid-August to almost 100 cases per 100,000 last week. Entry by road into the municipality has been restricted, with residents told to stay at home unless they are going to work, seeing a doctor, or doing essential shopping. Bars and restaurants have closed, along with all leisure, educational and social facilities. Valencian health minister, Ana Barcelo, said: “It was a difficult decision to make but a necessary one.” “The rise in cases around Beniganim shows that there has been a significant transmission of the virus and we need to stop further contagion.”
to by all 17 regions, except the Basque Country, state that all schools must welcome all children aged 14 and under back to classrooms full-time on the agreed dates. Each school must also have a Covid coordinator and parents will face sanctions if they allow their children to play truant. For children over 14, it is up to each school to decide the amount of remote learning that is suitable. While the central government has issued a series of rules, it devolved powers over education and healthcare to the regions. Earlier this week Torrevieja’s mayor was left ‘outraged’ by the decision from the Generalitat Valenciana that banned the council from testing its 1,100 teachers for COVID-19 ahead of their return to school. An email was sent to mayor Eduardo Dolón only hours before serological tests were to be done in the city, warning that testing educators would be committing a crime of disobedience.
Tax avoidance or tax evasion – don’t get them confused! THE complexity of tax should not be overlooked and becomes even more of a challenge when you live overseas. Often the accountants we use here in Spain have limited knowledge of UK investment products and pensions, and the advice we are given can often be ‘lost in translation’ So how can we trust that the advice we are given is correct? How do we know if by trying to save tax we are actually committing tax evasion? Let me try and simplify it and give some basic examples of tax avoidance and tax evasion. Firstly, I should point out that tax avoidance is the legal use of tax laws to reduce one’s tax burden and can be particularly fruitful when investing. For example, a £500,000 investment which has been structured appropriately (e.g. held within a Spanish Tax Compliant Bond) which grows by 5% (£25,000) there would be no tax due until you actually withdrew money from the bond. Therefore the £25,000 would be reinvested at 100% as opposed to being subject to savings tax at 19% (£2,250). Over a five year period you could have over £10,000 more invested than what you would have if it was taxed at source. A great tax saving! Now let’s look at an example of tax evasion. For this example, I’m actually going to use a product which we are seeing recommended more and more in Spain, a QNUPS – Qualified Non-UK Pension scheme. This product is an overseas pension sche-
me in which cash and assets that are not eligible for UK tax relief can be contributed. QNUPS are generally designed for individuals who have reached their pension lifetime allowance, currently £1,073,100, and wish to have an additional retirement savings plan. One key benefit to a QNUPs is that they are free of UK inheritance tax, and it is this factor that has led to many people being mis-advised and potentially committing tax evasion. We also see them commonly used (and often illegally) in an attempt to avoid Spanish Wealth Tax. Let’s have a look at a scenario: Mrs Harvey is aged 70 and has been retired for 20 years. She has UK assets worth a total of £2 million. She has been told if she transfers money into her QNUPS, it will immediately be outside of her estate for IHT and Spanish Wealth Tax purposes. She wants to transfer £1million into her QNUPS and she wishes to take benefits straight away. In this scenario, it is clear that the QNUPs isn’t being used as a retirement savings plan and HMRC would not consider it reasonable. The individual would be committing tax fraud. Remember, it is not the person who gave the advice (e.g. a Financial Adviser) who would be held responsible, it would be the client. In addition to committing tax fraud, moving your savings (which you would have already paid any tax due on) into a QNUPs would instantly mean that any income
Army trackers
THE Valencian Community is set to receive 150 soldiers to help in coronavirus contact tracing. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has made 2,000 troops available to regional governments across the country to help in tracing, as new coronavirus cases continue to climb. The soldiers went on a special training course in August and are expected to be deployed soon. Two main assignments will be made in the Valencian Community, with one group of army tracers concentrating on Valencia City which has seen the greatest rise in cases in the region. Another team will have the flexibility to move across the area to deal with any major outbreaks.
Britain in the dog house
THE UK quarantine on travellers from Spain has been blamed for worse than expected summer earnings on the Costa Blanca. The Beaches Business Association said normal revenues collapsed by 50% as countries like Britain unexpectedly introduced 14-day self-isolation orders on returning visitors. The group added that they expected an 80% fall in revenue for September, with Spain’s peak domestic season finishing last weekend.
Providing multi-award winning advice for your pensions, investments & tax planning.
By Tracy Storer, Senior Partner your take from the QNUPs would be considered as pensionable income and taxed up to 45% here in Spain. So on the example I gave above, moving £1million into a QNUPs and taking an annual income of £100k per year, would lead to an unnecessary tax bill of up to £45k per year. Over 10 years you’d be giving away nearly half of that £1 million to the taxman! You may also be promised that a ‘special’ annuity arrangement will help you save substantial amounts of tax, but remember, if this isn’t a real annuity, then you are making a false declaration to the tax authorities, and that is a criminal offence! Added to these issues is that in our experience QNUPs contain layers of unnecessary fees, and are often accompanied by an unnecessary high cost life insurance policy with a long tie-in. Even if you were lucky enough to not be caught by the tax authorities, any tax you are hoping to save would be eaten away by fees. Regardless of what you may be told in a meeting or phone-call about amazing tax mitigation opportunities, the UK and Spa-
nish tax authorities are nearly always one step ahead and it is essential to always remember the old adage, ‘if it sounds too good to be true…’. A solid financial plan from an honest and ethical adviser can help offer you maximum tax benefits as a Brit living here in Spain but trying to evade taxes altogether is a far greater risk to you and your family than it is worth. If you want a financial adviser who will always put you first, please contact me direct on t.storer@chorusfinancial.es, call 693 107044 or visit www.chorusfinancial. es for more information.
Investment contracts are intended as medium to long term investments, and all investments have some level of risk. Figures in our articles are examples of what can be achieved and cannot be guaranteed; the value of your investments can go down as well as up. Fees and charges can vary and will be fully explained to you before any advice can take place. This article should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular product.
The advisers trading as Chorus Financial are members of OpesFidelio and authorised to give financial advice subject to contract in parts of the EEA, including Spain, CNMV Nº Registro Oficial 3970. OpesFidelio is a trademarked network of the Aisa Group which includes Aisa Financial Planning Ltd and Aisa International s.r.o. Aisa Financial Planning is authorised and regulated in the UK as an independent financial adviser for UK retail clients by the Financial Conduct Authority, Reference number: 189652, and has permissions throughout the EEA under both directives IDD and MiFID. Aisa International s.r.o. is authorised and regulated in the Czech Republic as a financial adviser by the Czech National Bank and has permissions through selected EEA countries, including Spain.
965 641 163
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LA CULTURA
Do you have a what’s on? Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
Snappy find A TEAM of Spanish archaeologists has unearthed a hoard of 11 mummified crocodiles. The researchers from Andalucia’s Jaen University discovered the creatures in a necropolis in Aswan (Egypt). They believe the animals were an offering to the god Sobek (or Sebek), who is said to have created the Nile river with his own sweat, and represented fertility.
By Dilip Kuner
about 4,200 years ago. However, the crocodiles are thought to be much younger, with the Jaen archaeologists dating them to after 31 BC in the time of Augustus Caesar. The creatures were found in necropolis Qubbet
Mummified crocs found by Spanish researchers el-Hawa, which was reserved for nobles and governors. Although the team is reasonably confident with its conclusions, the remains of the crocodiles will be examined by a specialist ar-
Unearthed He is usually represented as a crocodile or a man with a crocodile’s head. Although offerings of mummified animals to gods were common, the diggers were not expecting to find crocodiles. Of the 11 specimens found, just one remains in a good condition. It had been embalmed. The reptiles were found about five metres from the tomb of Shemay, a vizier, or top-ranking official serving the Pharaoh who is thought to have lived
UNHAPPY: embalmed croc found
chaeozoologist for a more accurate dating. Excavation leader, Professor Alejandro Jimenez, said he hoped data from such an examination may help place the offerings into a better context.
9
what’s on
R
ock on
FOUND: divers explore
For the first time since lockdown, Doble Esfera are returning to the stage of the emblematic Murcia music venue - Garaje Beat Club - on September 8 for a night of guitar riffs and vocals.
Diver’s delight D A DIVER had the find of his life when he stumbled across the remains of a pre-Roman era ship in the sea off Denia. Initial estimates suggest the vessel could date back to the fourth century BC. The man’s scuba diving session also turned up an old container known as an amphora amongst the wreckage some two kilometres offshore from Les Marines beach. A professional team have subsequently uncovered another amphora and part of a ceramic vase during a detailed inspection of the ship’s remains. The amateur diver reported his find to the Policia Local in Denia who then brought in the Valencian Community Underwater Archaeological Centre to secure any items from the area. The first amphora that was found was said to be well-preserved and was probably used to transport food and water. Subject to a detailed analysis, experts believe that the amphora dates back to the Punic age some 2,400 years ago.
inners served
Head to the Institución Ferial Alicantina (IFA) in Elche from September 18-21 for a taste of Alicante’s gastronomic offerings and cooking workshops.
A
hoy
Join Torrevieja Boat Parties for their Amsterdam City Beach Festival on September 5 for cava and karaoke on the high seas.
G
olden age
Join Alicante City University for their free talk on 14 September to discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s best films and how cinema has changed in over 40 years without him.
10
LA CULTURA
Welcome to the bull-et
ACROBATIC Matador springs into action HE parades across the dusty Vinaro bullring, chest puffed and back arched staring straight ahead into the eyes of a half tonne bull, ready to charge. With a flick of the wrist, Valencian local Jose Felix deftly moves a pink muleta as he hollers, ‘Touro! Touro!’ and the 500-strong crowd look on in eager silence. But instead of going in for the kill, the torero springs into action, leaping over the bull and into the air with the grace of a Prima ballerina, the bull’s horns barely grazing his crisp white shirt. Welcome to bullfighting - but not as you know it. The Arte y Emoción company, headed by toreros Javi Gonzalez ‘Viza’, taunt, tease and perform elaborate acrobatics with the
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
No animals are hurt in the making of this sport
bulls they fight - but no animals are harmed in the making of this sport. And this clash was a cause for celebration like no other. It was the first in the Valencian Community since the COVID-19 outbreak and the last ever challenge for Niebla, a bull who has fought for over ten years and acknowledged as the uncontested star of the show.
Applaud
Over 500 spectators rose from their seats to applaud Niebla - Spanish for fog - in a moment organisers described as ‘eternal’. He will now be put out to pasture and enjoy the last of his days being cared for on a Valencian farm. “Bulls matter,” said Javi González, adding: “This is a hobby for life.”
ACROBATIC: Torero springs into action
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PROPERTY REALITY star Kerry Katona celebrated her birthday with a lavish vacation in a luxury Spanish villa - that costs a whopping £1,000 a night. The former Atomic Kitten singer - who turns 40 on September 6- threw a ma-
LUXURY: Katona mansions
11
Party Pad
jor bash during her stay at the glamorous six-floor pad, worth £15million, in Granada. Mum-of-four took to social media to flaunt snaps of her bikini body and give followers a sneak peek inside the swanky rental property. The hillside home boasts seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms and four separate toilets as well as a lush private pool, gym, game room, home cinema and expansive wrap-around balconies with showstopping views. The I’m a Celeb winner posted a shot of the sprawling property on
Spain’s expensive addresses MARBELLA and the Balearics dominate a list of the most expensive streets in Spain to buy a property in. According to property website Idealista the average asking price for a home in Calle Mozart in Marbella is €8,416,461. Second place – perhaps stretching the concept of most expensive street – is up the road in the town of Benahavis where the luxury villas on urbanisation Coto Zagaleta have an average asking price of €6,741,037. That is slightly more than the Paseo de la Marquesa Viuda de Aldama, in La Moraleja de Madrid, which is in third place with €6,303,281. Next is Calle 7, in Marbella, whose owners ask an average of €5,967,000 for their exclusive properties. The Balearics then make their
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
first appearance: Calle Tapies in Andratx (€5,883,461) and Calle Cosconar in Palma (€5,589,500). These are followed by the Paseo de los Lagos in the municipality of Pozuelo, Madrid, (€5,370,967)
Instagram along with the caption: “Not a bad place to be celebrating your 40th @ silverfieldvilla honestly this place is unreal... seeing my kids faces when we pulled up was amazing. I’m truly blessed and grateful.”
Streets of gold
Millions
And Camino del Sur also in the exclusive urbanisation of La Moraleja, where properties are an average €4,815,909. Rounding off the top 10 are Avenida Portals Vells, in the Mallorcan municipality of Calvia, with an average price of €4,803,846, then back to Marbella where properties in Calle Rossini Street cost an average of €4,616,958. In the Comunidad de Valencia the most expensive address is in
MILLIONAIRE MANSIONS: The average cost of a house in Mozart Street is €8.4million Javea. Properties cost an average €2,670,333 in Calle Penaguila. Prices are rather more modest in Murcia, where the priciest street is in the regional capital. Homes in Gran Vía Al-
fonso X El Sabio are an average €638,846. To qualify for the list each street needed to have at least 10 properties, whether flats, townhouses or villas.
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TheOlivePress-256x170-CAR0720.indd 1
20/7/20 13:08
Online boom for Costa Blanca-based furniture retailer Don Baraton
A
N ill wind like this year’s COVID-19 pandemic in Spain has blown in some new opportunities for businesses to expand. That’s certainly been the case for Costa Blanca-based online furniture dealer, Don Baraton, who has a showroom in Almoradi (near Torrevieja) which is open to the public in addition to its large and expanded warehouse facility in Rafal for its extensive online operation. The company started trading in 2015, and despite the fact that it was growing fast, the ironic effect of Spain’s lockdown from March to May was that it helped trade to go through the roof. Home delivery was never curbed by the lockdown measures, and that meant that Don Baraton could continue business as normal, along with the necessary protection measures like wearing masks. People forced to stay at home started to pay more attention to what was around them. The company discovered that they suddenly wanted new sofas, beds, mattresses and other furniture, meaning the company gained lots of new customers, who were mostly Spaniards doing their first ever bit of online shopping! Company co-founder, Andrew Cherkashin said: “It was quite extraordinary as the new customers needed a lot of support because they had never used the internet to buy anything, let alone expensive items like furniture.” Andrew continued: “Having a lot of products in stock ready for immediate delivery helped us a great deal.” Don Baraton now delivers anywhere in Spain, Andorra, Portugal and France, and delivery is quicker then ever as their own vans can take three to four orders to one area. “We miss our expat customers who are not able to come to Spain and we hope that the situation will get better soon,” Andrew said. One way of getting them buying is the Don Baraton deferred delivery service, which is proving to be very popular as Andrew explained: “You place an order online while in the UK or any other country and then we deliver the item on a set date when you are back in Spain. Andrew added; “If a customer is stuck in the UK, then we will hold their order in our warehouse until they can get over. And don’t forget that if a homeowner has a key holder, then we can
also make delivery arrangements.”
More information: donbaraton.es or phone 634 167 957.
12
BUSINESS
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
Virus deals blow Industry risks losing more than €9.7 billion as foreign visitors cancel trips Spain’s tourism is the second worst hit in the world following the outbreak of COVID-19, according to new research. The only country to have suffered bigger losses within the tourism sector is United States of America. The findings from Official-esta.com estimates that Spain saw a revenue loss of €9.741 billion, following a 98% drop in international arrivals in June, while the USA revenue
was sliced by €31 billion. Elsewhere, Turks and Caicos Islands have lost more than 9.2% of their GDP due to the lack of tourism while Aruba, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia and Grenada also fall in the top 10 worst affected countries - making 50% of the countries most affected by losses to GDP located in the Caribbean. The total loss in revenue worldwide, as a result of the
THE majority of the estimated 1.8 million Britons living in the European Union are ‘increasingly financially fearful over the risk of no-deal Brexit. The warning from James Green, deVere Group’s divisional manager of Europe, comes after the latest round of critical talks – the seventh - between the UK and EU ended in deadlock. EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he was ‘disappointed’ by the lack of progress. Green observed: “With just months to go until the end of the transition period, the risk of a no-deal Brexit is real and it’s rising. “Currently, there seems little hope of a deal getting done as both sides are showing no indications of altering
COVID-19 pandemic, comes to €195 billion so far. Tourism is Spain’s third biggest industry with 11% of the nation’s GDP is made from travel and hospitality business.
Brexit worries
their positions. “This saga is making Britons living across Europe increasingly financially fearful – and rightly so – as they could be disproportionately affected by the UK crashing out of the EU.” According to research from deVere Group, 36% of UK clients who live overseas have actively sought to mitigate the financial impact of Brexit, or are currently doing so.“In the circumstances, it’s perhaps no surprise that those most likely to be adversely affected are taking measures to create, build and protect their financial assets in a likely no-deal era,” said Mr Green.
Last year, nearly 84 million people visited Spain, but less than 12 months on the country has been left crippled by cancelled flights and a drop in hotel reservations. Some places, including the UK, have imposed a strict two week quarantine on tourists returning from Spain and holidaygoers have been put off by Spain’s new nightlife regulations. Currently restaurants and bars have to close at 1am and no new customers can be accepted after midnight. The new rules also prohibit smoking in public places unless social distancing of at least two metres can be observed and capacity limits are being slashed in restaurants and bars. Andalusia’s regional government has warned of tough fines if the coronavirus rules are broken and closure of premises if necessary.
OP QUICK Crossword Across 7 Elude (5) 8 Love affair (7) 10 Obscurity (7) 11 High building (5) 12 Pastry (6) 13 Actor (6) 15 Mock (6) 17 Expels (6) 21 Pole thrown by Scottish athletes (5) 23 Youngster just walking (7) 24 End result (7) 25 Recess in a wall (5) Down
OP Sudoku
Top of the order
1 Anise-flavoured liqueur (6) 2 Nationalist China (6) 3 Freed (8) 4 Forest (5) 5 Send forth (4) 6 Closer (6) 9 Recently (5) 14 Cherished relation (5,3) 15 Physician (6) 16 Capital of Morocco (5) 18 Plain-woven cotton cloth (6) 19 Loud shrill cry (6) 20 Refined iron (5) 22 Chess piece (4)
All solutions are on page 15
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Rotten tomatoes
THE 75th anniversary of the famous tomato-slinging festival of Buñol turned out to be – well, a bit rotten. Organisers had gone the extra mile to lay on what promised to be the best Tomatina ever, only for the celebrations to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last year 22,000 people crammed into the Valencian town (population 9,516) to spend a happy hour flinging 144,000 kilos of ripe tomatoes at each other in the annual festival that hits headlines worldwide. But this year the streets were empty, with organisers instead asking for people to enter into the spirit of Tomatina from the safety of their own homes. The idea was that people would send in photos or videos of their own home-based festivities – featuring tomatoes of course – for the Tomatina Virtual . This they did, but it wasn’t quite the same – especially for the town’s cafes and restaurants who usually make half their annual earnings in just the one day of the celebration.
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
Storm in a beer glass
Octopus crisis
Protest from Hindu organisation after sacred figure Ganesh is used in advertising for alcohol fuelled event
HINDU god Ganesh isn’t the first figure you would equate with drinking pale ale. But Spain’s brewers association (ACCE) has stirred outrage by plastering the elephant-headed deity - beer-making ingredients in hand and hops atop his head - across advertising for IPA Day 2020. The event, to be held in Burgos on September 19, has been accused by the Universal Society of Hinduism of trivialising the deity by linking his
By Lydia Spencer-Elliott
image to the alcoholic beverage. Ganesh is a highly revered figure in Hinduism and is worshipped in temples and home shrines around the world. Worshipped as god of wisdom and remover of obstacles, Hindus pray to Ganesh before any major undertaking. “Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world with about 1.1 billion ad-
herents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken frivolously,” said Rajan Zed, president of the Universal
It’s Really baking off Cake is always popular, but it really had a year in 2020. Since the start of the pandemic, searches for baking recipes have gone up 136% between March and June. Flour ran out in shops, eggs were suddenly scarce, and reruns of The Great British Bake Off pervaded the airwaves.
Spain’s slice of choice is carrot cake, with 34,000 people a month craving the delicious dessert, according to research by cake makers JackandBeyond.com. Meanwhile in the UK, chocolate cake reigns supreme with a ginormous 90,500 searches online each month.
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Society of Hinduism. “Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled.” The Spanish brewers have since apologised. “We never wanted to hurt any religious worship and we will recall all the IPA Day advertisements and will stop using this religious image from now to the future,” said a spokesman. Zed thanked the ACCE for their apology and suggested companies should send their senior members for training in religious and cultural sensitivity so that they understand the feelings of communities when launching advertising campaigns or introducing new products.
A SPANISH favourite dish is in danger of being priced off the menu after the catch of octopus crashed to a tenth of its normal amount. The nation’s fleet has caught just 38 tonnes of pulpo since July 1 compared with the average haul of 378 tonnes in the same period. It is an unprecedented drop, even though populations can be volatile depending on environmental factors such as currents and sea temperatures. And it means fishermen have seen their incomes drop by 84% in the Galician region – which is famous for its octopus dishes such as Pulpo a la Gallega. This in turn has seen prices for octopus shoot up throughout Spain, despite imports from Portugal and Morocco.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
cooper of cordoba
H
IDDEN among vineyards, olive trees and centuries of history, stands Montilla, home to Casknolia, Artisan Coopers. Only 40 kilometres from Cordoba, Montilla is a town of wineries and a stroll through its historic centre will enchant you with its architectural treasures and unforgettable corners. In this Cordoban town, surrounded by an expanse of rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards, high-end casks specifically crafted for the finest whiskies in the world are made. The distinct aromatic tang from the fermentation and ageing of the wine that envelops the town gives way to smoky charred wood as I step into the craftsman’s workshop. At the entrance a young man, skilfully operating a forklift, meets me. I politely ask for Rafael Cabello, Master Cooper of the family-run business founded in 1974. Looking around as I wait for the head honcho to arrive, I observe the rows and rows of casks and towering slabs of American oak virgin wood, ready to be cut into staves and adapted to the final shape of the barrels. The young man jumps off the forklift, revealing his tattooed arm sleeve and heavy metal looking T-shirt which reads The Soul of Spirits. No doubt the name of some rock band I’m unfamiliar with. “I’m Rafa, pleased to meet you,” he says, his eyes twinkling, a smile doubtlessly hidden under his mandatory facemask. I instantly comprehend that this young man, the current driving force behind the 46-year-old business, has no qualms about getting stuck into the nitty gritty chores and with it, broke the mould of the typical pijo —snob—often deep-seated within the wealthy Spanish families of inland towns. A tour around the artisan workshop and I felt like I’d stepped back in time. Every stage of the barrel making process is handcrafted with utmost care. CONSTRUCTION: “Our Casknolia brand is an Building a cask example of innovation that respects tradition. Modern
Cristina Hodgson discovers the tradition of artisan Sherry casks made in the heart of southern Spain
ideas based on ancient values,” Rafa explained as he led me around the factory. Rafa continues to inform me that everything is done by eye in his workshop, making each barrel unique. As the young artisan explained, Casknolia is a newly released trademark of Toneleria del Sur, a company founded by his father, which has seen almost half a century of craftsmanship, and serves barrels of up to 500 litres to over 28 countries around the world. Sherry casks - also known as botas - are a crucial part of the ageing process of Sherry wines and they have also been used for well over 200 years to age Scotch whisky. “But what are distillers looking for when choosing casks?” I ask, intrigued to know how different casks can produce specific flavours. Rafa aptly helped make sense of it all. “A distiller wants a cask to contribute flavour to the maturing whisky - America oak will add exotic notes of vanilla, coconut, spice and coffee, TOUR GUIDE: Rafa and Cristina whereas European oak proffers tannin, resin, clove and dried fruits. “Here at Casknolia, we manufacture signature barrels because the distillers decide according to their needs. are crafted and seasoned, but went beyond the walls of the casks’ “The client can select from virgin wood barrels, seasoned barrels or workshop, from promoting art competitions on the barrels, to the infrom historic barrels- the latter, casks renovated from 30 years old vestigation of the region’s cooper history. sweet wine staves. Rafa’s next enterprising project, a cooperage museum, possibly the “The client can also choose the format and the level of char, of which first in Europe where visitors will experience, on site, the cooper trawe offer three levels: light, medium or heavy. dition. “Finally, the type of wine for seasoning and, even, the winery. It is a venture where Rafa hopes to display the barrel-making craft “All these compounds then interact over time with the maturing spir- from the moment the oak is selected, replicating with sensorial stimit,” he explained. ulations the woodland areas where the oak trees are grown, as well Casks are not mass produced, but artisan and moulded according to as the smell of the charred wood, and nuances of the final seasoned each distillers’ particular requirements. timber. I was fascinated to find out that one of the innovating ventures of He pays special attention to making the activities and site universally this artisan barrel-making company is their alliance with Bodegas friendly with a whiskey tasting session to round off the visit. Robles, a local winery, pioneers in the production of organic wine in “The cooper spirit is in every part of the process,” Rafa says as we the region. make our way to the entrance once more. Casks are seasoning with organic wine, a growing demand in the spir- I turn and re-read the slogan on his T-shirt The Soul of Spirits, finally it world where the essence of environmental care is the new trend. comprehending that the message wasn’t music related at all. It was clear after just a few minutes in the presence of this creative Rather it is the motto of this unique artisan business, where barrels young craftsman, that his ideas didn’t stop at the ways the barrels are made with soul, the soul of spirits.
HEALTH
September 3rd - September 16th 2020
Patient patience
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COVID-19 victim recovers after 155 days in intensive care
SITTING UP: Doctor Vicente with his recovery team cian, from a health centre in the Andalucian city, tested negative for COVID-19 two
Vacc-soon SPAIN’S Minister of Health, Salvador Illa hassaid that he expects a vaccine to be available ‘by the end of the year’. Illa announced that an agreement had been reached with British - Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The vaccine, AZD7442, has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. Spain secured an order for 31 million dose of the potential vaccine on August 14. But the doses will not be delivered until clinical trials on 30,000 volunteers have been completed. The AstraZeneca order will bolster a further 80 million doses authorised by American laboratory Moderna to be manufactured in Madrid. Other companies such as Sonfi, GSK and Janssen are also in talks with the European Commission to supply Spain with vaccines, honouring their word of supplying a minimum of 1.1 billion doses in Spain by 2021.
months ago, but he remained so ill from its effects that he remained in intensive care. Vicente’s recovery follows that of another patient recently discharged from the ICU at the Gregorio Marañon Hospital in Madrid, who had spent 144 days in intensive care. Since March, a total of 78 patients have required admission to an ICU in Cordoba due to coronavirus, with 318 health professionals to have tested positive in the province. As of August 24, Andalucia had 29,425 accumulated cases of coronavirus (24,541 positive by PCR) and 1,481 deaths. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 6,923 people have been hospitalised in Andalucia, of whom 827 have gone through intensive care.
OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 7 Evade, 8 Romance, 10 Nowhere, 11 Tower, 12 Danish, 13 Player, 15 Deride, 17 Evicts, 21 Caber, 23 Toddler, 24 Outcome, 25 Niche. Down: 1 Pernod, 2 Taiwan, 3 Released, 4 Trees, 5 Emit, 6 Nearer, 9 Newly, 14 Loved one, 15 Doctor, 16 Rabat, 18 Calico, 19 Shriek, 20 Steel, 22 Rook.
SUDOKU
A MAN who has been in a critical condition for the longest time in Spain - five months - due to COVID-19 has recovered. Vicente, a family doctor, was admitted to Reina Sofia Hospital in Cordoba on March 18. After 155 days in intensive care, he was finally discharged from the ICU unit. The primary care physi-
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The
OLIVE PRESS
Reuse Reduce Recycle We use recycled paper
Rough justice A BARCELONA homeowner who seized his chance to brick up the doors when a couple who had been squatting in his flat for six years went on holiday could face criminal charges.
FINAL WORDS
Not good ALL 27 residents of a home for elderly nuns in Huesca (Aragon) have tested positive for coronavirus, with two hospitalised and one dying.
Fire up A MADRID judge has annulled COVID-19 smoking restrictions in the capital, saying the regional government did not have the right to impose them, although the ruling does not apply to other regions.
About time
MINISTER for equality Irene Montero has called for all brothels and ‘hostess’ clubs to be shut during the coronavirus pandemic.
Your expat
voice in Spain
Cool chicks
COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA FREE Vol. 1 Issue 22 www.theolivepress.es September 3rd - September 16th 2020
Ho ho hold on! YOU really can’t blame anyone for wanting to forget 2020 and a city in Spain has decided to time travel to Christmas. In Vigo, Galicia, festive lights are already being set up around the town in a bid to compete with the world-famous displays in New York, London and Paris. The city’s mayor, Abel Caballero, has said the gargantuan display will have over 10 million LED lights. “Some people don’t like Christmas for ideological reasons, but we do. We like OUTRAGED Brits on a delayed flight back to the UK it very much,” from Gibraltar must now quarantine for two weeks he said. after EasyJet bussed them over to accommodation The 73-yearin Cadiz. old mayor The Gatwick flight was delayed due to bad weather has vowed and forced passengers into an overnight stay. to make the While many were given rooms on The Rock, 80 uncity’s Christlucky travellers were forced to cross the Spanish mas lighting border. On their return, they must self-isolate for display the two weeks or face a fine. biggest in the
Rocked off
Xmas lights going up in Spanish city By Lydia Spencer-Elliott
world. Last year 465 Christmas trees, one of them 60 metres tall decorated 334 of the city’s 1,700 streets. The mayor’s decision to spend €800,000 on Christmas decorations during Spain’s post-pandemic financial struggle has lit up debate with residents. “It does not seem very reasonable, sensible or responsible to us that right now the only concern of city council is to inaugurate Christmas in August,” Xabier Pérez Igrexas of leftist-nationalist party BNG told Spanish media. Environmentalists have also criticised the plan due to the waste in electricity. However, local hotel owners reported full occupancy when the city switched their display on last year and are hoping they will get an early boost this time round.
A LESBIAN penguin couple at Oceanografic aquarium in Valencia have adopted a chick to raise as their own. The power couple, Electra and Viola, have incubated and raised an egg from another penguin family at the marine centre. They are the third Gentoo penguin couple to welcome a baby bird during the aquarium’s breeding season. “Although same-sex couples are common in more than 450 species in both zoos and nature, it’s the first time this has happened in our aquarium. Welcome to the world, little one,” said the Oceanografic. Penguin keepers noticed Electra and Viola were pining for a chick to raise when they started constructing nests out of pebbles. After monitoring this broody behaviour, the aquarium decided to give the pair a fertile egg to raise. Electra and Viola are not the only same-sex penguins to hit the headlines recently. Same sex penguin couples in Sydney, London and Denmark, have also successfully fostered and incubated eggs. Liberal birds, penguins are intrinsically progressive. Last year, London Aquarium even announced its first-ever gender neutral penguin. Though the Sea Life centre usually gives newborn penguins gender-based names, aquarists realised that this was inappropriate as penguins are naturally gender neutral.