THE EXPAT SURVIVAL ISSUE
OLIVE PRESS
The FREE
Inside this week’s special edition we have dozens of tips and ideas on how to survive the Covid crisis, including...
MALLORCA
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 3 Issue 77 www.theolivepress.es April 3rd - April 16th, 2020
Why Mallorca remains a beacon of hope see p6
see p11
LIFE OF BRIAN: Always look on the bright side of life scene
...REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL Global warming reverses
Price of petrol is down
Infection rates are slowing
Wuhan’s back to work
New shelves are finally up
Bees are buzzing
No weeds in the garden
Quarantinis in abundance
Parking spaces everywhere
Kane and Son will soon be back
From Joe to Ulysses... the Top tomes to catch up on see p10
The best inland escapes once the lockdown ends see p12 And even some advice from Oprah and Chopra see p15
ASK BEA! UK BASED
TRAVEL INSURANCE for Spanish residents
on 951 273 575 or contact Josh at Olive Press TV on YouTube
52 147 834
Contact the Olive Press special Corona crisis helpline..
Tel: 952 147 834
See page 16
www.globelink.co.uk
96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 699082
OLIVE PRESS
The
While the army is on the streets, 10,000 have died, millions of jobs are at risk and everyone is on a four-week lockdown, there are...
The key ingredients to keep you in tip top condition
TM
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Helping hand THE Fuerte Hotel group in Malaga has donated more then 1500 kilos of perishable food to vulnerable families and individuals to be distributed by the Fundacion Fuerte after having to close.
Leading by example
MARBELLA Mayor, Angeles Munoz, has been drafted in as a volunteer doctor at the Hospital Costa del Sol, while also allocating €34 million for the coronavirus crisis.
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
TOGETHER, WE BEAT THE BUG
TEAM LEADER: Boss Graham at Iceland/Overseas
I
T was with some trepidation that the Olive Press distribution force set out on their journeys a fortnite ago. After dozens of anxious calls, confirmation and cajolling, a dozen hardy souls set out from the four corners of the country to brave roadblocks and grillings from cops and concerned partners. It was always going to be a nerve-wracking day with so much uncertainty about the spread of the coronavirus and who was allowed out and to do what jobs. And the end result was a com-
How Olive Press distribution team (including the editor and three writers) got all FIVE editions out last issue
prehensive success as 100% of the papers got out into the hands of expats and locals around the country. By focusing on putting double and triple the numbers in the hundreds of supermarkets, vets and petrol stations normally served around the country we were able to make up for the hundreds of restaurants, hotels and other businesses closed. It was an important special virus issue updating readers on the state of the country and the way that expats were positively
Better call Bea! WHILE the majority of Olive Press staff have been working from home - or out on the streets reporting, one plucky receptionist has been plugging away in the office. With her gloves and hand sanitiser at the ready, Bea Sanllehi, 35, has been on call every day answering dozens of queries from worried expats. ‘Bea’s Helpline’ has so far fielded calls about supermarkets, driving, police, the Royal Decree rules and even walking the dog.
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
The mother-of-two, from Catalunya, recently lent a hand to a vulnerable 80-year-old man in Fuengirola, helping him cancel a standing order at the bank. Meanwhile another Olive Press reader in Valencia called on her to help him find out what time his hospital appointment would be. As if that wasn’t enough, Bea also spent hours chasing up local pharmacies for protection masks. She eventually found out stocks have almost completely run out due to the incredibly high de-
mand, with deliveries due this week. But Bea’s finest hour came as she assisted a British doctor’s scramble back to the UK on one of the last flights out of Spain. “Bea is fantastic,” said Dr James Davies after she helped
demonstrate. “And it was as supporting the lockdown. The paper was full of fun and well received as any editions I have distributed,” Distribution colourful ways to Manager Graget around the ham Warters lockdown and what to do with the kids One policeman explained. “Even some at home. kindly gave us of the places I It is worth noting thought would that there were two pairs of be open were considerably more rubber gloves to shut, includcopies of the Olive ing paper Press in key spots wear shops. One like Overseas supoliceman permarket in Mijas kindly gave us and Marbella than our rivals, as photos clearly two pairs of rubber gloves.” He continued: “Most of the guys were very upbeat, even Giles, him get a last minute Easyjet who does Marbella, was his norticket so he could fly back to be mal self.” with his family. Columnist Giles Brown, who Bea said: “I feel obliged to help has done the Marbella distripeople and frustrated I cannot bution for six years, wasn’t so help more.” happy though when he got back The hard work put in by Bea to find his girlfriend insisting is admirable and sends out a he couldn’t come back in for clear message that we all have ‘THREE weeks’. a part to play in helping those “I’m sure she’ll come round in need. The Olive Press rethough,” he joked. mains open for business and One key change was the usual ready to answer your quesGibraltar route, which had to tions. be undertaken by editor Jon Clarke, and Gibraltar journalist Give our team a call on +34 John Culatto. Due to the uncer951 27 35 75 (office), +34 665 tainty over the border’s closure, 79 86 18 (mobile) or write to the pair were tasked with the us at newsdesk@theolivecomplicated procedure of get-
MUCKING IN: Journalist John at Morrisons in Gib and (left) John Murray at the Village Store ting through customs at this stressful time. But in the end there were no problems and the papers sailed through to all our key spots including Morrisons supermarket, and Eroski. Meanwhile in the Costa Blanca, while many papers went out as planned on Thursday, plenty had to wait till Friday as many supermarkets were shut due to Father’s Day. If there is anything to sum up the week, it was the joy of British expat supermarket owner John Murray (above) on receiving an extra bundle at The Village Store, in Mollina, a 30-minute drive inland. “It’s great to get the paper and, particularly this week, with extra copies,” he said. “People will be thrilled.” To conclude: Never a day late in 14 years, we didn’t plan to hit the newsstands late this week of all weeks! And remember, if you miss it, you can always find it at www.theolivepress.es
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Hospitals under strain SPAIN’S hospitals are near ‘breaking point’ with a deluge of critical Covid cases in the last few days. A total of six autonomous regions are ‘very close’ to the limit of critical ICU beds, while Madrid and Catalunya have hit their capacity. Deputy director of health alerts and emergencies, Maria Jose Sierra told a press conference: “What worries us most is the pressure on the ICUs. Although the trend is decreasing, the pressure in the coming weeks will be significant.” Sierra was speaking, having stepped in for stricken Health Minister Fernando Simon, who has come down with the virus. While she did not name the six regions, she added that an ‘impressive effort’ was being made to bring in more ICU beds. Communities around the country are converting municipal buildings into temporary ICUs.
Unfair cop AN alarming 700-plus police have copped coronavirus, while 7,400 are in isolation around Spain. It comes after three Guardia Civil agents died in Valdemoro, Aranjuez and Ciudad Real. Four Guardia Civil bosses meanwhile are in isolation after three tested positive. A joint letter from various unions has called for officers to be recognised as ‘high-risk personnel’.
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
Leading the charge
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Spanish flu survivor - 105 years old!
LEGENDS: From left to right, Leo, Rafa, Pau and Pep are all playing the part in the fight aginst coronavirus SPANISH sporting hero Rafa Nadal has teamed up with basketball ace Pau Gasol in a Red Cross campaign to raise €11 million to fight coronavirus. They hope thousands more will donate to the Red Cross Responds campaign, which is giv-
Look up A PRIEST has carried out a blessing from his church rooftop in Extremadura. The priest of Arroyo de la Luz wore robes to conduct the moving 20-minute sermon. The neighbours watched from their balconies.
Blocked off
A SHANTY town renowned for being the epicentre of drug dealing in Mallorca has mounted a blockade to prohibit customers from entering inside. Yesterday, civilians from the Son Banya estate placed a barricade at its only access point to make clear that outsiders would not be welcome. Made up of sofas, garbage bins and concrete slabs, the roadblock was accompanied by a large sign reading: ‘No one from outside the town is allowed to pass. Coronavirus.” It is understood that patriarchs of the clans had unanimously voted to cut off access to customers at a town meeting over the weekend to protect their community from COVID-19. This message was soon echoed across the island, leading to several people making a last-ditch attempt to pick up narcotics. One ‘buyer’ had managed to bypass the barricade, but was met with strong resistance from residents. Hauling stones at the man’s car and fracturing his windows, the Policia Nacional were called to break up the confrontation.
Sporting heroes - including Messi, Nadal and Guardiola - join campaign to raise €11 million in Covid battle ing aid to hospitals. “This pandemic has changed everyone’s life, especially those who have experienced it first hand or with a family member,” said Mallorca ace Nadal. “The news is not entirely en-
Idiots at bay A HOLIDAY down on the costas wouldn’t be the same without a walk and picnic on the beach for anyone visiting from Madrid. Except Spain has been on coronavirus lockdown for 15 days. But that didn’t stop one Madrileno family heading to the nudist Cala de Ambolo beach in Javea, which has also been closed for the last seven years due to a risk of landslides. The family’s excuse to police when grilled was they ‘had to take the children out of the house’. A total of five members of the family have been issued with fines.
Royal death
SPANISH royal Princess Maria Teresa - dubbed ‘the Red Princess’ - has passed away at the age of 86 from Covid-19. She became Professor of Sociology at Madrid’s Complutense University after graduating from the Sorbonne in Paris. Her death came a day after Prince Charles tested positive.
couraging, but we must be strong and stay united to beat the virus.” Nadal added he believed his help would encourage many more donors, as ‘the Spanish people, have never failed us athletes.’ Nadal called on other sportsmen and bodies to make urgent donations.
The appeal comes after Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi each donated €1 million to the fight against coronavirus. Guardiola made his donation to the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation in Catalunya, while Messi’s contribution goes to hospitals in Barcelona and Argentina. Real Madrid also made an undisclosed donation to purchase vital medical equipment for hospitals.
Thorny future BRITISH snooker legend expat Willie Thorne has been locked down in a Costa Blanca hospital battling leukaemia. The sportsman, 66, who is also fighting prostate cancer, remains cut off from his three kids in the UK, due to the lockdown. “It’s unbelievable, you couldn’t have written my script,” Thorne revealed, adding he was ‘punch-drunk’ after receiving his diagnosis, which he thought was a kidney infection. “I’m vulnerable,” he added, “I’m not allowed visitors. I’m sitting in a room on my own. It’s absolutely terrible. All I’ve got is a 24-hour news channel and that’s all about the coronavirus, which is hard to watch.” Thorne is held in isolation at the Costa Blanca hospital because he is at a higher risk of the Covid-19 virus. The 80s star, who also appeared on Strictly Come Dancing after a stint as a BBC commentator moved to Villamartin, Alicante last year. It came as he also split from his wife of 24 years, former Miss Great Britain Jill Saxby, who moved back to the UK. He has recently undergone a second round of chemo after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015, before going bankrupt a year later.
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SPAIN’S only living survivor of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, ‘La Grippe’ has issued a dire warning about the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. Jose Ameal Peña was four when the flu virus swept across the globe, claiming the lives of over 50 million people, making it the deadliest pandemic in human history. Now aged 105, Jose has recallsed his experiences from his home in Luarca, Asturias, where 500 lost their lives to the disease. “I watched from my window as a steady stream of funeral processions made their way to the cemetery,” he recalled, adding that he was the only one of seven siblings to catch the disease. “I still can’t figure out how I’m here. When I woke up I could barely walk. I had to crawl on my hands and knees,” he recalls. As he wrestled with a relentless fever, a doctor prescribed vapours of boiled eucalyptus and seaweed. He now fears a similar fate for the world if nations don’t stick together and history will repeat itself. “He knows exactly what is happening and is afraid that something similar will happen again, even though we’re living in very different times,” explained his daughter Anunciata.
Can’t pension us off! A SUPER-strong Spaniard in his NINETIES has beaten off the coronavirus. The 93-year-old has been discharged from hospital after battling the vicious virus in Valencia. He was saluted as he left Gandia’s Francesc de Borja Hospital with policemen and ambulance drivers sounding their horns, while hundreds of health workers applauded. His recovery brings a ray of hope to the 15% of victims in the Valencia region, who are over 80. It comes as a 98-year-old victim Antonio Magdaleno also made a full recovery in Sevilla. The Granada man was clapped out as he went home.
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OAP warning POLICE have warned pensioners to be vigilant when going to banks to pick up pensions or using the ATM in a bid to tackle theft during the state of alarm.
FOUR youths were arrested after a policeman was seriously injured with brain damage after being run over at a virus checkpoint near Toledo by a stolen car.
Evil hackers POLICE in Madrid have uncovered an attempt by hackers to ‘infect’ hospital computers with a virus. The cyber criminals are targeting civilians as well, trying to steal personal information.
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
Into the frying pan
NEWS IN BRIEF
Checkpoint
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
EXCLUSIVE By Charlie Smith
A STRANDED British chef who feared he had coronavirus has been placed in an ‘impossible situation’ by his hire car company in Spain. Yianni Papoutsis, 44, named as one of Britain’s 500 most influential people by society bible Debrett’s, fears he could be arrested after his Goldcar contract expired. The restaurant mogul behind London’s ‘MEATliquor’ brand had ‘a nightmare’ after he jetted into Granada on March 10 with girlfriend Sophie O’Hara to celebrate her 26th birthday. He rented a car for €220, but when the couple’s flights were cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, they desperately tried to extend its lease.
Gone Viral
SPAIN’S summer anthem has already arrived and is – you guessed it – about the coronavirus pandemic. Part Latin dance banger, part public information broadcast, ‘#QuedateEnCasa’ has got the nation bopping along to a very serious message – ‘stay in your house’. Singer-songwriter Ariel de Cuba’s nowviral tune is helping lift the nation’s spirits since a state of alarm was declared in Spain. The Cuban artist introduces the song by
Biggest recession in history
Catch-22 as quarantined UK celebrity chef faces arrest whether he takes hire car back or not However, after repeated attempts, he was unable to modify the agreement, which expired on March 21. The pair are now stuck with the car - which they are not driving - in the town of Gojar, and, incredibly, were told by Goldcar to ‘expect a visit from police’. An email from the rental giant on March 23, seen by the Olive Press, explains that police could ‘seize’ the vehicle due to its ‘misappropriation.’ Marketing specialist Sophie told the Olive Press that she and Yianni, who is on pain medication and has heart problems, have had ‘anxiety
saying: “Hello my people, my best contribution to the campaign #QuedateEnCasa against coronavirus is with music.” Ariel who currently lives in Spain, performs the song complete with dance moves accompanying the lyrics, covering his mouth with his elbow as has been advised after coughing or sneezing. The upbeat track advises people that the best course of action is to stay at home as ‘the planet needs your attitude’. It is the perfect tempo for a spot of zumba, and can also be enjoyed blasted across the street to those on a neighbouring balcony.
attacks’ over the situation. “I’m literally shaking,” she revealed, “We don’t know if we will be able to sleep tonight both from the fact that Yianni thinks he has the virus and the police could arrest us at any time.” The rental giant confirmed it is offering free contract extensions to affected customers, but after ‘dozens’ of calls and emails, the couple have so far been unsuccessful. A Goldcar staff member in Madrid confirmed that the Granada Airport office is closed and does not have a key deposit box in order to return the car. They advised that Yianni, who has advised the British government on food policy, instead make the 300km-round trip to the next-nearest drop-off point at Malaga Airport, but added that Goldcar would NOT cover the return taxi fare. They would also effectively be breaking current quarantine rules in force in Spain. Yianni said: “If they have reported the car as stolen I will be arrested at the first roadblock. “I’m really sick and the fact that I’m being told to drive
ANXIOUS: UK pair to an airport and get in a taxi is just absurd. “I should be lying in bed and self-isolating and not going out,” he continued. “It’s an impossible situation, it’s Catch-22.”
Extended
According to the couple they have been told that there are ‘more than 1,000 customers’ in this situation. A Goldcar spokesperson confirmed they would be helping the couple and that they would not be charged a late return fee. She said: “The safety of our customers is a priority, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. “Our Customer Service team has been in touch with Mr Papoutsis and his rental period has been extended until April 7.” The pair have since set up their lockdown food blog @ nice.olation on Instagram, which includes recipes for gazpacho and Plato Alpujareño.
OP QUICK Crossword Across 7 Ceded (7) 9 Wear away (5) 10 Creatures (7) 11 Scowl (5)
Island tragedy
12 Remove dirt with a broom (5) 14 Cosmetic brand (7)
THE Coronavirus crisis will cost Mallorca €1.8 BILLION and lead to 400,000 job losses. The alarming figures come as thousands of businesses opted to implement ERTEs, a temporary lay off of workers, around the island. More than 2,000 companies have already submitted a request to roll out ERTEs since the lockdown was enforced by the Spanish government.
16 Permanently inactive (7) 18 Aegean island known for its sweet wine (5) 20 Gaiety (5) 22 --- Ffestiniog (7) 24 Form of address for a woman (5) 25 Late (7)
Women at risk
Down 1 Road around an obstruction (6) 2 Dregs (8) 3 Notion (4) 4 Acts (8) 5 Game played on horseback (4) 6 Minute (6) 8 Miller’s nickname (5) 13 Wide view of an extensive area
OP Sudoku
(8) 15 Fruit drink (8) 16 Bivouac (6) 17 Forbidden (5) 19 Shallow dish (6) 21 Whirlpool (4) 23 Peak (4)
All solutions are on page 13
THE Economic and Social Council (CES) has predicated that the Balearic Islands will suffer the biggest recession in its history due to the coronavirus crisis. Economists at the CES have forecasted the impact of the pandemic on the economy in response to demands made from employers and unions. Through undertaking a detailed study, the council analysed current trends to make three predictions for the region. In Scenario 1, the most optimistic of the three, they estimate that between March 15 to 31, activity in the hospitality sector will be reduced by 50%, trade by 40%, and transportation by 40%. In Scenario 2, they predict that up until June 15, activities in the tourism and hospitality sector will be reduced by between 60 and 80%. Finally, in Scenario 3, they forecast that until June 30, trade will fall by 70% and activities in the hospitality and tourism sector will be reduced by up to 90%. This means that the Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) will fall between -3.7 and -9.7% for 2020, a figure they say is unprecedented in the Balearic Islands’ history and could equate to losses of more than €3.2 billion. In 2009, in the midst of the economic crisis, the GDP in the Balearic Islands stood at -3.9%. However, the CES warns that the changing nature of the health crisis could result in a variety of consequences. “As the pandemic evolves, we may experience the most drastic and fastest recession seen in over a century,” concluded the CES. Last week, Fundacio Impulsa predicted that the tourism sector in the Balearic Islands would take a 1.8 billion hit between March and May, with more than 400,000 people being laid off. Director and economist Antoni Riera explained that the region will be paralysed by COVID-19 at a time when it usually thrives and the consequences will be catastrophic for the islands.
Troops check in THE Melia Palma Bay Hotel has become the first tourist establishment in the Balearic Islands to be transformed into a healthcare centre. Expected to open its doors to patients on Thursday, the hotel will be dedicated to providing medical care to citizens diagnosed with COVID-19. In aim of lessening the strain on the health system, the hotel will care for those with mild symptoms or live with someone who is considered vulnerable. This will allow Son Espases and Son Llatzer Hospital to focus their efforts on treating more serious cases. Soldiers from Palma’s 47th Infantry Regiment are already busy adapting 250 rooms at the hotel to ensure it is fully equipped to deal with new patients. The military have also moved furniture and beds from rooms into the hotel’s open spaces, including their restaurant and cafe.
A CRIMINOLOGY professor has warned of a surge in domestic violence and cybercrime during the coronavirus lockdown. Alvaro Pintado from Murcia University explained that ‘coexistence often enhances aspects of psychopathy, which may lead to gender violence or cybercrime.’
Freedom bid A MAN has been arrested by the Guardia Civil for a series of crimes after failing to stop at a police checkpoint in Mallorca. The 27-year-old Spaniard had been flagged down by officers manning a roadblock in Alcudia. Ignoring the request, a dramatic police chase then ensued for several miles until the suspect lost control of his car and crashed into a lamppost. The suspect proceeded to attack an officer. They attempted to restrain him in handcuffs, but the man resisted arrest and fled on foot. He was later found hiding out in the surrounding area.
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Pitstop peril TWO tourists allegedly headed to Gibraltar on their catamaran have been prohibited from making a pitstop in Mallorca. A German couple had attempted to dock their boat in Port’dAndratx on Friday morning. The vessel was intercepted by the Guardia Civil who are currently surveilling the port which is closed under the Government’s lockdown rules. It is understood that when officers went onboard, the pair hid in the boat’s quarters. Upon being questioned, investigators say the couple claimed they had a residence and boat rental company in Mallorca and wanted to refuel before setting sail to Gibraltar. However, the Guardia Civil were able to verify that the couple did not in fact own any property or business on the island and would therefore be blocked from entering. Before turning the tourists away, the Guardia Civil granted permission for the pair to take diesel and provisions from the Port d’Andratx Sailing Club. As per the state of emergency decree to halt the spread of coronavirus, all ports have been closed across the island and private boats are strictly prohibited.
CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
EXCLUSIVE: Expat takes on court over child visitation rights
Home alone A BRITISH expat has denounced Alicante’s family court over its suspension of shared custody agreements. John Carey (right), who lives in Murla, on the Costa Blanca, made the denuncia last Saturday after going nearly a month without seeing his children.
By Joshua Parfitt
He said his basic ‘parental rights’ had been quashed by the court – one of few provinces to suspend shared custody rights. “There will be a lot of very angry single parents out there, so
These are the rulings of expat hotspots in Spain: These are the rulings of expat hotspots in Spain: Murcia has ruled separated parents are allowed to uphold custody agreements and use public roads to this end. Malaga has suspended all
It’s a cakewalk! GIBRALTAR leader Fabian Picardo has brushed off the forced lockdown as little more than a cakewalk and a chance to catch up on what we had missed on TV. “Let’s not be 21st Century snowflakes,” he told the enclave. “The evacuation generation went through war... The referendum generation went through General Franco... The closed frontier generation went through a siege... “All we have to do is go through our Netflix collections or very full kitchen cupboards. Let’s not pretend that this is harder than it is.”
custody agreements and visitation rights. The Balearics ruled separated parents are allowed to uphold custody agreements and use public roads to this end – but inter-week visits are suspended.
Funeral trio THE government has restricted the number of people allowed to attend funerals in Spain. Only three relatives or friends are allowed to attend under new COVID-19 edicts - and they must all stand at least one metre apart. The Ministry of Health has, however, ordered that during the state of emergency, the prices of funerals may not be higher than the price on March 14. If the price is higher, customers are entitled to a refund.
CUT OFF: John Carey I’m challenging the decision,” Carey told the Olive Press. “My kids are in Jesus Pobre [20km away] and I have a court order for every two weekends plus one day – ie. Friday to Tuesday. “My mum went to collect them and was told by their mother she couldn’t have them. Now I’ve had the kids on FaceTime begging to see me.” Due to the state of alarm the ‘visitation rights for minors’, based on their circulation on public roads, is suspended. It came after an emergency meeting of judges ruled that the shared custody agreement posed a ‘clear risk’ to public health. “The possibilities for minors to get infected or infect others is multiplied,” the ruling reads. Parents will be able to make up their lost hours in the future. Spain’s central court insisted that local decisions advised that each of 50 provincial judges should decide how they interpret the state of alarm decree concerning family rights.
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
From Russia with love
THE first Russian plane chartered by the Government of the Balearic Islands has landed at Son Sant Joan airport from China. The aircraft has delivered over 17 tonnes of medical equipment and supplies which will be distributed at hospitals across Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. This includes ICU respirators, half a million clinical face masks, 10,000 rapid response COVID-19 tests, as well as millions of gloves, hospital gowns and packs of hand sanitiser.
Wild and free AS the island remains under lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus, dolphins have taken full advantage of usually crowded spaces. Reclaiming their natural habitat, the majestic marine animal has been captured reappearing in several ports across the island, much to the awe of residents. This is the moment a dolphin was spotted enjoying the usually polluted waters of Playa de Palma, once plagued with reports of intolerable sewage from its nearby marina.
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House of horror
THE Government of the Balearic Islands has ordered the closure of a nursing home in Mallorca where 90% of residents became infected with coronavirus. Officials revealed that a total of 24 elderly residents tested positive for COVID-19 at the Elena Nursing Home in Palma, in addition to five of its employees. Those that have been infected have either been transferred to hospital due to their fragile state of health, or are being cared for by healthcare professionals at a family member’s homes. The only two inhabitants who were given the all clear have been moved to the state-funded Oms-Sant Miquel residential centre. The news comes as Government spokesperson Dr. Javier Arranz announced that 101 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus at nursing homes across the Balearic Islands. Out of these confirmed cases, three have died and 14 workers have been infected. The Son Ametller residence in Mallorca is one of the worst hit establishments, with 15 people testing positive and one person losing their life to the virus. Elderly found dead in beds in Spain after being abandoned by care home staff amid coronavirus pandemic Arranz explained that a series of measures are being enforced to ensure the elderly are protected at nursing homes. This includes increased testing and moving those that have been infected.
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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 two million people a month.
OPINION We’ll all get back in the water IT is now the third week of the most draconian lockdown in Spanish history and the army is on the streets. Everyone is wondering how much longer it will last, praying that April 11 will be our last day of confinement. Then there is the fear of uncertainty, the fear for our loved ones, fear for our jobs, and fear for the future and what the fallout of this unprecedented crisis will hold. Yet amid this period of alarm, there is an incredible sense of togetherness. All around the country locals are trying to stay positive by joining together each evening at 8pm to applaud the nurses, doctors and police working hard on the frontline to keep us all safe. Meanwhile we are all sharing tips and tricks to stay busy and sane...and sending out hilarious videos and memes. Above all, we are trying to use the time wisely (and remember we may never have anything like this again) as we search for positives, such as a much necessary drop in air pollution and fewer road deaths. With the army and police halting movement, it is a time to sit back and hope that the governments of Europe have the people’s best interests at play. We must trust that they really believe that these extreme restrictions will lead to results. So sit back and enjoy the sound of birds and bees in the garden, the chance to play with the kids and to improve your Spanish, and remember - once this is all over, and it WILL be over sometime soon - we will get back to normal and enjoy our lives as we did before. It may, of course, take some time for people to want to submerge themselves back into crowds or get back on a plane, but as seen in the 80s blockbuster Jaws, eventually we all go back into the water!
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CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
A picture of SURREAL. There is simply no other way to describe the sensation of walking through Palma de Mallorca during lockdown. An eerie stillness has settled upon a once teeming capital, where streets normally full of life are desolate, roads usually filled with traffic jams are empty and memories of wading through crowds seem as if they were a lifetime ago. It is fair to say that a bustling city inhabited by some 400,000 people has become nothing short of a ghost town amid the coronavirus pandemic. Mindless chatter between locals, a symbol of the warm
The spirit of the island reigns supreme in the face of COVID-19, discover reporter Isha Sesay and photographer Allan Binderup and welcoming nature of the island, has been completely eradicated as those milling around only walk with a hurried purpose to pick up vital supplies. Those that stop to say hello to familiar faces are firmly separated by an invisible barrier, and heartfelt embraces between Spaniards have bec o m e
LIFE GOES ON: A butcher cuts a lonely figure in Mercat d’Oliver
somewhat cold. One could cut the tension with a knife and it is evidently clear that people are stressed, and perhaps even scared. Absolutely everyone I encountered had shielded themselves with a face mask, leaving me to contemplate if they were purchased on the dark web, considering the recent cries from healthcare professions on their overwhelming shortage in hospitals. Meanwhile, the elderly appear to be shut firmly behind closed
doors, and it is not surprising, as for them, the health crisis is far more frightening than most. The laughter of children is replaced with ethereal songs from birds, and I am sure that lurking pigeons, dependent on crumbs scattered by tourists sat at terraces, may assume the human race has been swallowed up by an apocalypse. Going through my usual goto shopping spots is a rather peculiar feeling as a veil of silence has transformed a world
Warmer welcome than ever SPECIAL DISPATCH: locals in Valencia have shown a spirit and humour, not witnessed since the Civil War days, writes Barnaby Bouchard in this touching, colourful essay TO walk through the centre of Valencia today is to see the city at its least ‘Spanish’. Or so it would seem. While one could fill a book delving into why painting ‘Spain’ as a single cultural entity can never end well for anyone, us expats who live here have all observed the difference in outlook that sets the people of our adopted homeland apart from those of the grey, drizzly climes from which we originate. The Spanish differ from us in their in-built belief that it is their right, if not their duty, to have a good time. We see it in their festivals. We see it in their cuisine. We see it in their music, their art, and their architecture. We see it in the way they say hello, the way they say goodbye, and in the hours of raucous, bravasfuelled joy in between. From their colourful buildings to their colourful language, from their thirst for dry humour to their thirst for dry wine. Where else could they sell cigarettes for €4 a pack and still boast the highest life expectancy in Europe? Where else would regional holidays see locals running through town chased by bulls (Navarra), burning a fifty-foot
plaster sardine (Murcia), and backpackers, but that’s all the letting toddlers run amok with life one can hope to see on what are, essentially, grenades the streets of one of Europe’s (Valencia)? most effervescent cities. Where else would take as The Las Fallas lights still hang its foundational piece of lit- across every street, but now erature a novel about a senile serve only to heighten the knight who spends his days sense of empty, echoing desoshouting at windmills? lation. The Spanish are a race from It would seem, then, that the whom we can all learn much virus has put paid to these about contentment. most admirable of Spanish Not that any of qualities, to this trademark their easy-going positivity can amiability, their Solidarity and be seen on a generous huwalk through support among mour, their conValencia today, viction that anyValencians has thing that can of course. Today, in every be fun should been nothing street, from be fun. the fashion- short of incredible And yet living able apartment through this blocks of Rulockdown has zafa to the Meshown me that dellinian slopes of Burjassot, these very qualities have selthe silence deafens more than dom been so evident, nor so any Fallero’s firework. timely. The bars are shuttered, the My regret and frustration at parks empty, the squares pos- this crisis is matched only by itively funereal. my gratitude at having been The only sound throughout able to witness first-hand the most of the day will be the unprecedented sense of combarking of a dog, the clatter of munity that has crystallised a pigeon taking flight, or the here in Valencia. dull, distant hum of trains, ar- People here are, as we all are, riving empty, leaving empty. confused and frustrated. Occasionally one might see They are no more immune to the odd flinty-eyed wino or this virus, nor to any of the clutch of confused German social or economic issues it’s
touched off, than anyone. Indeed, as I write, Spain is among the worst-affected countries in the world, with over 3000 loved-ones already dead from the wretched virus. I would never claim that people here suffer any less from pain, anxiety, loss, than any other human. Still less that what is happening here now is anything short of a catastrophe, the effects of which will leave an indelible mark for years to come. Having said that, the sense of solidarity and support among Valencians (most of whom have no previous acquaintance with one another) has been nothing short of incredible. Young people have been providing the elderly with their contact details, lest they feel isolated. Local bakeries have been serving free coffee to health workers. Just in my street, some neighbours have been providing nightly classical music concerts on their balcony. The facades of apartment buildings rustle with handwritten signs offering vulnerable residents help with their shopping. Every day at twelve, the ‘city of a hundred bell towers’ is filled with a merry chorus of chimes, ringing out from the
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Going national
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DESERTED: Palma’s usually-bustling La Rambla and (right) the city’s iconic Costa del Teatre steps, which are normally heaving
renowned retail paradise into a deathly quiet wasteland that seems somewhat off limits. Life can however be found at the city’s many markets, and that in itself provides me with a small amount of hope that not all small businesses will go under as a result of this unprecedented pandemic. It is understood that thou-
squat little churches to the stately cathedrals of El Carmen. And, of course, at eight o’clock every evening, every Valencian goes out to their balcony to join the applause, cheering and music that ripples across the city. It is the most moving and heartening display of spontaneous human solidarity I have ever been lucky enough to see. The Spaniards have taken to the internet to bring their acerbic wit to bear on a situation at which, at times, one can only laugh. They have posted photos of rolls of toilet paper with bike locks around them. They have jokingly (one would hope) suggested avoiding shaking hands by reverting to the old dictatorshipera salute. Refusing to allow the pandemic to divert attention from their shaky coalition government, they remark that President Sanchez’s vow to relentlessly oppose the virus means he will have entered a political pact with it by the weekend. For the Spanish, the pandemic is, like all of life’s peaks and troughs, just another opportunity to laugh at themselves. They are consummately aware of what cannot be changed in life, and what can be. The bars may be closed. The streets may be silent. The future may be uncertain. But Spain’s welcome has never been warmer.
sands of companies have already implemented ERTEs, a temporary lay-off of workers, and hundreds may never be able to recover. More frightening, is economists making the stark prediction that the Balearic Islands will soon experience the worst recession in its history with losses reaching into the billions. But I felt grounded after speaking to Maria, perhaps the first ‘friend’ I made in Mallorca, a wonderful woman who has been at the helm of a fruit and veg stall in the iconic Mercat d’Oliver for more than 15 years. “We will get through this together, you are not alone,” she
said while preparing my usual order of strawberries, bananas and apples, one that she has memorised since my very first visit more than a year ago. All that was missing was her signature smile now hidden beneath her face mask as she said: “The future is uncertain, but nothing can break our spirits.”
Although there have been reports of lockdown rebels getting up to their usual mischief while the attention of police officers is diverted, what is sure is that the lockdown is working in Palma. Mallorcans are not ones to stay indoors and it is certainly not in their nature to keep themselves to themselves. The region being placed in the lower tier for confirmed cases in Spain is a triumph, and finally, infections are now starting to decrease day by day. This is undoubtedly why the virus, however frightening, has made me feel more connected to my community, despite being alone in self-confinement.
LOCKDOWN LIVING: A man keeps his distance at the meat counter, while (below) a cyclist in Placa d’Espanya
T is not often you get to include yourself in a select group of publishers, some who’ve been in business for OVER A CENTURY. But this week our online portal www.theolivepress.es has soared to new heights... and even above the UK’s long-established Daily Mirror, set up in 1903. Sitting at 134th position in the most-read websites in the UK this week, we are also above the Metro, the Daily Star AND every regional newspaper you can name, according to Amazon’s Alexa.com. It is a true honour to be jostling for position with one of the true greats of British publishing, the campaigning Mirror, a once five-million selling tabloid, whose famous editor Hugh Cudlipp, wrote the book Publish and be Damned!. Of course, we know much of this is down to the current coronavirus crisis, but equally it is down to our excellent team of hard-working journalists. The group of 16 scribes scattered around the country (and one currently trapped in London), have written a steady stream of exclusive stories on the biggest health emergency of our times. So good they are, that over three days last week, one lazy, low-rent local rag, copied A SHOCKING 34 of them onto its website within a few hours of us publishing them. But that’s not all.
Top 200 in Spain
In Spain, our website has also soared into the Top 200, sitting at 183rd position this week. And globally, we sit at 6,372th most important site (by hits), if you accept Alexa’s analytics (right). But even if you don’t you’ll hopefully trust our actual Google analytics figures, which we publish above. They make for enticing reading for any business owner looking to get seen around Spain in these troubling times.
6,372 # 139
# 183 2.4 million audience in March For if you had a banner on our website, or a story - be it a sponsored, native or natural post - you could have been seen by up to 2.4 MILLION unique visitors in March alone.Now the country is just a couple of weeks from finally opening up again, isn’t it time you gave us a call to see how we can help get your business a much-needed post Covid head start?
Here are the top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks: - Lock-down may be working in Alicante province, no new Coronavirus cases for 24 hours (62,804 visitors)
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BEEN WARNED’: Police and military 2- ‘YOU’VE to crackdown on rule-breakers (55,568) Spanish actress and La Casa de Papel 3- Famous star tests positive for coronavirus (45,054) ALL airports and ports to close in 4- BREAKING: Spain from midnight tonight (44,218) TOUCH: Pornhub offers free access to 5- NICEpremium content in Spain (40,682)
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Beer we go Road BEER sales have skyrocketed deaths as Spaniards settle into the coronavirus lockdown. While spirits went up by 24%, plummet with ‘quarantinis’ becoming a hit around the country, beer purchases zoomed up by 78%. Jams meanwhile went up by 23%, while hygiene products also soared by 34%. Oddly, bleach sales however, went down by 8%, which other staples such as olive oil dropped by 58%, pre-prepared meals by 48% and rice by 46%. Pasta (-33%) and toilet paper (-10%) also saw a drop in sales, according to the weekly analysis by supermarket coupon app Gelt. The figures follow from the week in which the public ‘panic’ shopped as Spain entered a state of alarm, which began on March 14. “After shopping more motivated by fear, citizens are beginning to manage consumption more rationally,” Gelt CEO Carlos Prieto explained.
DEATH crashes have dropped by three quarters since the coronavirus crisis began. The number of deaths since the lockdown was imposed is 73% lower than the same period last year. Only 13 people have died in traffic accidents compared to 48 in the same period in March last year. There were five days in March when nobody died on the roads.
Plasma plans
BLOOD transfusions from COVID-19 survivors are being tested in a Madrid medical centre for use as a groundbreaking treatment. The trial has not been approved by the Ministry of Health, but a leaked document from the Centre has seen hundreds of offers of blood on social media.
Not on our watch!
A GROUP of residents have ignored government orders to remain indoors in order to stop a man from breaking into a car in Mallorca. After hearing a commotion on Calle Villalonga in Manacor in the early hours of the morning, residents came out on their balconies to see where the noise was coming from. Spotting a man breaking into a parked car, several residents rushed outside to restrain the criminal as the police were called. The suspect was able to free himself from their grip momentarily, running several metres down the road. However, his bid for freedom lasted only a few seconds as one of the residents chased him down and tackled him. The group then surrounded the suspect, pinning him down on the footpath. Policia Nacional officers arrested the man, who has an extensive criminal record. The residents will not face a fine despite breaking the self-confinement rules.
AND (MOSTLY) ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
Silver lining
POLLUTION levels around Spain have plummeted thanks to the coronavirus. Cities have seen drops of up to 83% as traffic and industry abates. Barcelona saw the biggest drop in Nitrogen Oxide (NO2) levels of 83%, while Madrid had a 73% drop and Valencia followed with 64%. Other cities have also seen huge decreases in pollution, such as Castellon 76%, Ali-
Nationwide pollution drops dramatically - as do deaths - thanks to coronavirus By Joanne Oakley
cante 68%, Bilbao 66%, Malaga, 55%, Zaragoza, 52% and Sevilla, 36%. According to Greenpeace, the amount of NO2 currently being emitted in Spain is under half of the levels permitted by
the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is the first time since the regulations came into force in 2010, that Madrid has not breached the designated levels. In Barcelona the accumulation of NO2 halved after just three days.
Lockdown is working SPAIN’S draconian lockdown measures have saved the lives of 16,000 people, a British study has discovered. Researchers at Imperial College London analysed the 11 European countries with the most coronavirus cases, identifying each nation’s ‘reproduction number’ with pandemic modelling. They believe that Spain, which has introduced some of Europe’s harshest measures, has saved between 5,400 and 35,000 lives – or an average of 16,000. “Governments have taken significant steps to ensure that health systems are not overwhelmed,” said lead author, Samir Bhatt. “There is strong evidence that they have started to work and have flattened the curve. We believe a large number of lives have been saved.” The study estimated that between 21,000120,000 were saved by March 31.
The paper estimates that 15% of Spain’s population is infected with coronavirus – the highest in the 11 European countries studied. This is based on the country’s high infection rate and that not everyone will present serious symptoms of Covid-19. The news came as a Spanish professor discovered that infection rates are slowing due to the lockdown. By studying infection increases over fourday periods, Francesc Pujol, at Navarra University, found that rates on the whole are slowing. At the beginning of March, infections were quadrupling across Spain, he found, while today they are not even doubling with a rate of 1.94. “The goal is to reach an infection rate of 1.0 over a four-day period,” he explained. Reaching 1.0 would mean no – or negligible – new Covid-19 infections.
The majority has been due to a 60% drop of traffic on the roads of Madrid and Barcelona, while in Andalucia up to 80%.
Clearer
An added halt in human activity and consumption, plus a reduction in industrial production is all helping to create cleaner air and clearer waters. “The extraordinary situation will reduce the thousands of deaths that poor air quality causes each year,” said Adrian Fernandez, head of the Greenpeace mobility campaign. An estimated 4.5 million people die each year from coal, oil and gas pollution around the globe.
Crime drop CRIMES in Spain have dropped by 50% since the state of alarm began Almost all crimes have dropped dramatically apart from cybercrime which has increased however due to a change in habits since the lockdown, revealed the Guardia Civil.
Sister act
NUNS in Mallorca have sewn more than 1,200 face masks in response to the shortage of basic medical supplies on the island. Sisters from Santa Clara Convent were contacted by officials from the Consell de Mallorca at the end of last week, asking for their immediate help. After discussing the matter together, the group decided that in addition to praying, they would create masks to help the most vulnerable in their community. They are now working around the clock to make the face shields which will be distributed to those at high risk of catching coronavirus, such as the elderly, disabled and homeless. The group have already made more than 700 using cotton sheets which they say can be easily washed for reuse. Nuns from Palma’s Clarisas Convent have also joined the initiative, hand sewing more than 500 masks using sheets, elastic bands and coloured ribbons. Each mask is blessed by the nuns before being packaged and will be handed out to disabled centres and firefighters.
No entry
A BRITISH woman has been prohibited from entering Mallorca after flying in to holiday at her friend’s vacant property. The woman had flown from London to Hanover this morning, where she then took a flight to Son Sant Joan airport. Upon arriving, she was questioned by the Policia Nacional and explained that she wanted to spend a few days at her friend’s empty house in Andratx. However, she was ordered to remain
at the airport as she failed to meet the requirements laid down in the royal decree. The new measures only permit entry to residents of the Balearic Islands and those who are registered at an address in Mallorca. The British national will now spend a night at the airport and be put on a flight back to the UK tomorrow. Although the majority of commercial flights have been prohibited from landing at Son Sant Joan, the airport is running a reduced schedule to allow residents to return home.
LA CULTURA
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April 3rd - April 16th 2020
Lockdown with a good book Where the Crawdads Sing by Delian Owens A masterfully written debut about a girl growing up utterly alone, abandoned by family and shunned by the locals, her isolation is intense and often unbearable, but she never loses hope. A beautiful read.
Professional bookworm Alicia Duggan reveals the top 10 self-isolation reads that should be on every expat’s list Ulysses by James Joyce Ulysses is famously the book that most people own but few have read. This is the perfect opportunity to have a go at this witty and erudite literary classic.
DK (Hugo) Spanish in 3 Months So, hopefully the lockdown won’t last for a full three months! However, selfimprovement is always a good way to pass time and Learn Spanish in 3 Months is an easy and comprehensive approach which takes you from beginner to intermediate level.
The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz This novel rereleased in 1989 is a standard, run-ofthe-mill thriller except for one aspect; it deals with a virus originating in Wuhan, China which becomes a global pandemic!! Is Dean Koontz the new Nostradamus? (The 1981 edition has the virus originating in Russia but by 1989 it has changed to China)
Joe Wicks – Literally anything by him! In lockdown it is easy to become sedentary. Joe Wicks’ books offer delicious, healthy recipes and easy to follow exercise routines which you can also find on YouTube.
The Ghosts of Spain by Giles Tremlett Written with humour, great affection and full of interesting insights, this is considered The Bible for extranjeros who want to learn some Spanish history and understand Spain.
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami Killing Commendatore is the perfect introduction to the genius that is Haruki Murakami. His novels are enchantingly surreal and this one involves a reclusive artist, a mysterious hidden painting, a secret Nazi assassination attempt and a trip through the underworld. And at 704 pages it will pass many a lockdown hour!
The Enemy by Charlie Higson A sickness has swept through the adult population killing most and turning the rest in to flesh eating zombies. Only those under 14 are immune. Now they must fight for survival. Although marketed as a YA book, this post-apocalyptic novel is an exciting, fast paced action horror for all ages.
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Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett Maybe now is not the best time for a novel about the end of the world, but Good Omens is like a warm duvet of a book, enveloping you in it’s good humoured and good natured tale of fussy, sensitive angel Aziraphale, charming demon best friend Crowley and their attempt to avert the apocalypse.
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The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy in Five Parts by Douglas Adams Now, more than ever, we need a good laugh. These five hilarious novels by the late, great Douglas Adams will have you laughing out loud. Follow Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect as they travel the galaxy looking for the ultimate question to life, the universe and everything while trying to get a really good cup of tea.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
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April 3rd - April 16th 2020
Great eight The EIGHT key ingredients and superfoods to help get you through Spain’s coronavirus quarantine
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S the nation stays behind closed doors for the foreseeable future it is important to stay healthy and to eat right. Many key ingredients and so called ‘superfoods’ can help keep your body strong, keep your immune system in check and guide you in the supermarket while stocks are running low. Kim Gillespie, owner of the Travelling Kitchen and expert in healthy cooking and vegan and vegetarian cuisine, gives you eight key ingredients that will help lift your meals throughout the lockdown.
1. SALMON It is packed with Omega-3 Fatty Acids and a great source of protein. It is high in B vitamins as well as a good source of potas-
sium and contains the antioxidant, astaxanthin. How to use - grilled, baked, pan fried. Pairs well with basil, sun dried tomatoes, blue cheese, herbs, cheese sauces and tomato-based dishes. Serve with pasta, salad, vegetables, rice and potatoes. 2. BROCCOLI A great source of vitamins K and C, a good source of folic acid and also provides potassium and fibre. It is also high in Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant and protects the body from damaging free radicals. How to use - steamed, sautéed. Pairs well with all meat and fish, in soup, pasta, curries, broths, cheese sauces and blue cheese.
3. BLUEBERRIES A great source for fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and the phytonutrient content in blueberries supports heart health. Blueberries are the king of antioxidant foods, having one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables (4 , 5 , 6). The main antioxidant compounds in blueberries belong to a family of polyphenols antioxidants called
flavonoids. How to use - when in porridge, muffins, pancakes, dried, salads, mixed fruit, smoothies. Pairs well with cheese, oats, yoghurt and turkey.
4. GARLIC It has so many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, purifying the blood, a natural anti-inflammatory effect, a reduced risk of cancer, and plays a huge part in maintaining a stronger immune system. 5. MUSHROOMS They contain B vitamins as well as a powerful antioxidant called selenium, which helps to support the immune system and prevent damage to cells and tissues. How to use - sautéed with garlic, butter and parsley. Pairs well with cream, red wine, herbs (thyme, rosemary, bay, sage) and cheeses. Goes well with pasta dishes, side dish to meats, in stews and broths and risotto.
6. WATER Good old simple water ensures we stay alive...But staying hydrated also helps balance your blood sugar, helps relieve headaches, and promotes healthy skin. If you don’t drink water every day, your body could experience dehydration which could cause tiredness, slow brain function, irritability, dryness, and high temperature and lead to your immune system being compromised 7. LEAFY GREENS These are packed with vitamin A, B9, D and K they also play a huge part in immune boosting properties. How to use - steamed, sautéed, roasted, served in with pasta, stews, soups, salads and as an accompaniment to any dishes. They can be the hero of the dish with their own flavour and can paired with almost anything.
to name a few. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger, responsible for much of its medicinal properties. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. How to use - in smoothies, soups, stir frys, curries and Asian cuisine. As supermarket shoppers fill their trolleys with toilet roll and pasta throughout the crisis, if you shop smart and try to add at least a handful of these ingredients into your meals over the coming weeks it will go a long way to improving your chances of staying away from the COVID-19 virus.
8. GINGER It is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. It helps with digestion, reduces nausea and helps fight the flu and common cold,
Friends.
Reset.
Music.
At OD Port Portals we have our own star rating. In fact, we have all the stars of the Mallorca sky and we will enjoy them all together every summer night at OD Sky Bar, on our spacious terrace and at our restaurant On Top. A hotel full of local experiences, music, art, gastronomy, yoga, pre-parties, flea markets, brunches, concerts, Pilates, tardeo, sea, sun and all the stars. A hotel full of life.
Horizon.
Sunset.
Memories.
12
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
W
ITH two weeks left of self-isolation (fingers crossed), keeping sane is a daily strug-
gle. But there is one uplifting activity you can add to your new regime of cooking, baking, exercising, reading (and excessive drinking) to keep stir craziness at bay planning your next trip. If this virus has taught us anything, it’s that life is unpredictable and tragically short, so why not experience as much of the world as you can starting at home in Spain. There’s enough to see on these shores alone, including places even our most travelled readers have yet to tick off their bucket lists. So check out our collection of some of Spain’s less-visited areas well worth a trip later this spring. Osuna, Sevilla The city of Sevilla generally grabs all the glory but the gorgeous ancient town of Osuna, one hour’s drive east from the capital, does not deserve to remain in its shadow. It was dubbed Urso by the Romans who left behind a quarry, theatre and necropolis, which are all still visible today. Meanwhile its Archaeological Museum in the Torre del Agua on Plaza Mayor, tells the story of its many years under Islamic rule. Other artefacts from that era include the still-standing walls from the Alcazaba fortress and the unmissable collegiate church on Plaza Encarnacion. Dating from 1531, this jewel of a church is a showcase to Baroque architecture and houses a world
As the countdown to the end of the coronavirus lockdown begins, here’s some inspiration of where to visit upon your release
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Osuna
Cuenca
Albarracin
Sierra de Gata
El Coto
Sierra de Gata
Cuenca Catedral
Alcala del Jucar
Plan your escape
class collection of art from the 16th to 18th centuries. Sierra de Gata, Extremadura If you’re a campo lover you’ll be
in your element in the Sierra de Gata. Nestled in a corner of the Extremadura region, the rolling hills are dotted with a collection
of picture perfect white towns that will transport you back in time to a much simpler Spain. Santibanez el Alto, perched on a hill some 650 metres above sea level, has been standing since the 9th century. Rumour has it that this delightful pueblo was established by a French woman who fled to Spain from persecution at home. These vertiginous villages are populated by just a few hundred people at the most and ooze oodles of charm with their cobbled, narrow streets, stone houses and scattering of ancient ruins. If driving, steer clear of the tightfitting streets in town centres and don’t be alarmed to see many of them named after the dictator Franco. Albarracin, Aragon This ancient village in Aragon was recently named among Spain’s most beautiful and it’s easy to see why. The town is a masterclass in pretty with its red-washed buildings seamlessly etched into the mountainside since the 12th century.
WIth less than 1,000 inhabitants, Albarracin was declared an official National Monument in 1961 while its surrounding red sandstone cliffs make it a popular rock climbing destination. The town is a historic site in its own right but while you’re there, don’t skip the outer city defense walls (Murallas de Albarracin), constructed by Muslim rulers in the 900s. Other must-sees include the stunning 16th century Catedral de Albarracin and the quirky Casa de Julianata, a (tiny) home in the centre of the citadel standing since the 1300s. Cuenca, Castile- La Mancha Famous for its ‘casas colgadas’ - hanging houses cantilevered over the cliffs as if clinging by a thread - the Romans ignored Cuenca but the Moors saw it as highly strategic. Following their successful invasion in 714, they quickly built a fortress, named Kunka, straddling two gorges between the Jucar and Huecar rivers. The location was secured by a surrounding kilometre-long wall,
allowing an agricultural and manufacturing city to grow and thrive. Today its breathtaking beauty is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss the impressive Cuenca Catedral, originally built between 1182 and 1270 and restored in 1902, and the 16th century Bridge of St Paul for panoramic views of the citadel. Alcala del Jucar, Albacete This unassuming but striking town was only deemed an official site of historical importance in 1982. Like much of Spain, it has seen invasions by Muslim, Christian and Catholic rulers alike who all left behind valuable mementos of their empires. The Castillo de Alcala del Jucar is just one of these treasures, built by Arab settlers in the 12th and 13th centuries on a hilltop, providing a strategic vantage point over the entire town. Don’t miss the quirky bullring whose irregular shape makes it a global one of a kind.
T? U O D N DO I STA
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PROPERTY Rent strikes 13
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
Housing bodies threaten strikes if tenants are forced to pay rents
A PAIR of housing bodies BARGAIN HUNT: Just are set to call strikes over €3,000 for home in Tremor tenants struggling to pay rent during the Covid-19 crisis. The tenants associations in
Catalunya and Madrid insist that rents for families, small business owners and selfemployed workers should be suspended during the crisis. “The economic costs should
A TINY village in Castilla y Leon has begun selling homes for as little as €3,800 in a desperate bid to curb the effects of rural depopulation. The municipality of Iguena (above) has so far sold 100 out of 130 homes for less than €5,000 in the village of Tremor de Arriba. The properties are located on an abandoned estate built for miners in the 1960s. Tremor de Arriba’s population has been left on the brink with just 320 residents after a once-healthy figure of 3,000 in the 70s.
son to 2018 when it was 11.06. Across Spain, 503,875 sales were recorded last year, a number that represents a 2.5% drop compared to 2018, the first drop in five years. When it came to foreign buyers, the country saw a drop in sales, from 65,400 in 2018 to 63,000 last year. The Balearics had the most, with 42.28% of houses purchased being from foreigners. Valencia came in second with 27.08%.
Don’t go!
Hard sell VALENCIA had the highest number of property sales in Spain in 2019. The eastern region registered a total of 15.2 sales per thousand inhabitants, while Andalucia came second with 11.9, alongside La Rioja and the Balearic Islands. The country saw a decrease of its house sales to 10.8 per one thousand inhabitants, in compari-
OP Puzzle solutions
Across: 7 Yielded, 9 Erode, 10 Animals, 11 Frown, 12 Sweep, 14 Yardley, 16 Extinct, 18 Samos, 20 Cheer, 22 Blaenau, 24 Madam, 25 Overdue. Down: 1 Bypass, 2 Sediment, 3 Idea, 4 Performs, 5 Polo, 6 Teensy, 8 Dusty, 13 Panorama, 15 Lemonade, 16 Encamp, 17 Taboo, 19 Saucer, 21 Eddy, 23 Apex.
SUDOKU
Quick Crossword
Arranging a funeral abroad can be
complicated
not fall on the State or small landlords but on companies and financial entities,” insisted a spokesman. In the case of small landlords, who depend on the income to pay their bills, the State should be forced to step in to help them. The news comes as Barcelona mayor, Ada Colau also asks for a suspension of rent payments for flats and commercial properties in the city during the pandemic.
Vulnerable
Colau has sent a letter to the presidents of the College of Real Estate Agents, the College of Property Administrators and the Chamber of Urban Property asking for this. In it she insists that action must be taken to ‘protect the most vulnerable and to prevent the spread of Covid-19.’ “The council has approved the suspension of rent of more than 8,000 subsidised council houses and almost 400 commercial properties,” said the 46-year-old. This comes after the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, called for the Government to suspend the payment of rent for flats and commercial properties during the coronavirus crisis, with the State compensating landlords.
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BUSINESS
14
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
Urgent action plan needed as Spain and rest of the world head into recession
SPAIN and Italy’s economies will be affected more than countries in northern Europe from the Coronavirus crisis. Analysts predict a drop of around 10% this year for Spain, due to the collapse in tourism and various other key sectors of the economy. Italy meanwhile, will see a drop of up to
S
PAIN has tightened the screws on its coronavirus lockdown, risking a further crippling of an economy already on its knees. The construction sector has been hit hardest by an updated ‘essential workers list’, which in one draconian swoop was reduced from 40 key services to 25. Effective since Monday, the new list requires that aerospace workers stay home, as well as cleaners and domestic workers, not caring for children or the vulnerable. Essential workers are now also required to carry certificates to prove they are legitimate. However this raft of updated measures, published in the Government’s official BOE buletin (journal), still leaves many questions unanswered regarding benefits and pay. Here, we take a look at a few of them:
What is an ERTE?
An expediente de regulacion temporal de empleo (ERTE) is a special file allowing companies to temporarily lay off staff or cut hours, while allowing them to claim unemployment benefits. It is a positive step for both the economy and workers as their contracts are not terminated but merely ‘suspended’. For the first six months workers are entitled to 70% of their base salary and 50% from the seventh month. This is calculated from an average of the previous 180 days’ employment and does not cover food and transportation costs. Companies can add to the 70% when and if they are able to, and if hours are cut normal wages will be paid for the percentage of the day they work. To qualify for unemployment benefits a worker must have: * Done 360 days work in the past six years * Have had their hours reduced by between 10% and 60% This means that a salary of reduced hours added to any benefits can only total a maximum of 85% of the previ-
HOLD TIGHT!
12%, according to various financial pre- ing above 9% and France at around 7.5%. while Fitch Ratings predicts only 4% dictions. In contrast, Germany’s indus- Incredibly, the GDP of China may only for the Asian giant. trial output should prevent the drop go- fall by 3% according to Goldman Sachs, Forecasts range from a contraction of around 7% in Spain by France’s Societe Generale to 9.7% from Goldman Sachs. The Goldman Sachs team of analysts believes Italy will contract by 11.6%, Germany by 8.9% and France 7.4%. As the economy crumbles, the Olive Spain is particularly affected What if I am quarantined or get due to its huge reliance on Press business survival guide will coronavirus? tourism which is around 12% Once you have informed work and taken the necof its GDP, with over 80m help you navigate the rubble essary precautions, you should be entitled to 75% tourists normally arriving of your base salary during the time you are off. ous salary with a minimum of €501.98 and maximum of per year. This will be paid through Social Security and can €1,411 depending on dependents, etc. According to the World Travbe topped up by the employer to the full amount. An ERTE application can be made for a company’s entire el and Tourism Council, the workforce or only part of it. tourism sector needs on avThe number of those expected to go under an ERTE is at Self-employed (autonomos) erage about 19.4 months to least 760,000, but could rise to two million by 2021, ac- Since 2019 all self-employed workers – or autonorecover from epidemics. mos – have been able to apply for the paro de los cording to right wing economist Daniel Lacalle. autonomos. Contraction To claim this unemployment benefit you must How does ERTE work? Once the lockdown is over ERTE will be handled by the employer and SEPE, the Span- have worked as an autonomo for 12 months, be registered and be up to date with Social Security and normality begins to reish body that deals with benefits. sume, tourist numbers will The company is obliged to inform workers of its ERTE re- payments. But in the wake of the current crisis the central still be far lower due to the quest and must then submit an application. fear of travelling on planes Supporting evidence must be provided to explain why coro- Government has unveiled an unprecedented and leaving the country. navirus has damaged business activity and SEPE will con- package of measures for the self-employed. IVA (VAT), corporation tax and personal income tax Experts say Britain is also firm the claim within five days. ‘heading for a recession of Companies do not have to pay Social Security for ERTE can now be deferred for the first time for businessthe scale we have not seen workers laid off and only have to pay a proportional amount owners whose turnover did not exceed €6 million in 2019. in modern history’ with JP to staff who have had their hours cut. It has also approved a benefit for those whose Morgan predicting an 8% business ceased trading or where turnover has contraction in the second Which workers are essential? fallen by 75%. quarter of 2020 alone and Commerce – Includes banks, vets, Regional governments are thought to have earsome analysts predicting a tobacconists, chemists, opticians, food shops, marked billions for autonomo workers and small drop of almost 15% this year. press, petrol stations, laundrettes and medium enterprises (SMEs), including the The G20 group is due to conJunta de Andalucia, which set aside €600 million. vene to discuss an ‘action Essential service providers – Includes A six-month suspension of Social Security payplan’ in order to respond to farmers, fishermen, clothing manufacturers, ments for the self-employed was set to be apthe outbreak and the foreutilities workers and telecommunications proved this week. seen global market downturn.
HOW TO STAY afloat
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If your car breaks down it can be an upsetting experience, especially if you don’t have roadside assistance cover. But they are also the most common type of problem on the road.
STAY SAFE
If you break down, stay calm and safe until rescue support arrives. Remember that while you wait for help, your priority is to safeguard yourself and any fellow passengers. Línea Directa policyholders simply call 919 171 171 and inform the emergency hotline where you are. Línea Directa provides emergency roadside assistance anywhere in Spain 24/7 and 365 days a year, with a national network of operators and recovery vehicles.
GEOLOCATION SERVICE
This service is exclusive to Línea Directa and allows breakdown recovery and roadside assistance services to pinpoint your location and send help directly to you. This service is available throughout mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. The technology is simple to use and really useful when you need it most.
batteries, w a r m clothes and blankets, high-visibility jacket, first aid kit, jump start cables, empty fuel can, food and drink, two reflective warning signs, a road atlas, and a mobile phone charger.
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BREAKDOWN KIT
To help you stay safe here is a checklist of some important safety items in the event of a breakdown. This emergency breakdown kit should be kept in your vehicle at all times. The kit includes: a torch and spare
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T
HEALTH
HIS morning I woke to the sun streaming through the window and for a while all was well... until that jittery, anxious feeling welled up - the one that has been bubbling under ever since the word coronavirus entered our vocabulary - and that little demon voice inside your head is telling you, ‘what if…?’ With the virus’ rapid spread, grounded flights, economic fallout, and most importantly for those of us with family overseas - are they OK, when will I see them again and of course the big one, when will normality return - the helplessness that many of us feel is understandable. So how can we keep ourselves on an even emotional keel in these unpredictable times? Jill Hannam (top right) has
15
April 3rd - April 16th 2020
PEP up your PMA Keep calm and carry on with Life Coach Jill Hannam’s five top tips for cultivating Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)
been a Life Coach for many years, originally working with Blue Chip companies in the UK, before moving into private practice. Now based near Marbella, she offers
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one to one consultations and a Skype service to clients around Spain and in the UK. “All our feelings come from thoughts, if we can identify the thought we can change it, rebrand it, crush it with facts and ultimately feel better,” she says. “It’s natural to worry, feel anxious and panicky. But worrying pushes you into the future and that is beyond our control. It’s important to be in the here and now. Control “During these uncertain times it’s important to look after yourself both physically and mentally, to put yourself first so you are in the best possible state to help others.” Jill’s five-point plan to stay calm: Don’t worry - be happy All of us like a degree of control and in troubled times it’s what we crave and need. Understanding what’s in your control and focusing on that is empowering, comforting and essential. If you find yourself worrying about something, the first question you should ask is ‘Is this within my control?’
COACH: Jill Hannam
HOPE: Deepak and Oprah team up for mediatation course
BRAVE: Anne Frank
If it isn’t, then worrying is like putting yourself through it twice, like hitting yourself with a big stick. Worrying will not stop you from getting sick. If anything it will weaken your immune system. Follow the advice from the experts in terms of protecting yourself, cleanliness and isolation. Do what is within your control. If someone gets sick, trust your instinct in
And breathe…. When all is chaos, connect to calm with Headspace - This app is brimming with relaxation and meditation programmes with courses for beginners to more advanced. Download is free and there are plenty of free sessions or you can upgrade to Headspace Plus to unlock more content, priced £4.99 a month with the first 14 days free. Try the Basic course, ten sessions of between 3-10 minutes which are a great introduction to meditation, mindfulness and ‘being in the moment’. There are also programmes for better sleep and stress release workouts.
Finding Hope in Uncertain Times Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey
A free 21-day meditation course by one of the world’s most respected mind body advocates in collaboration with American media star Oprah. It promises to help you feel less overwhelmed with the world at the moment. Oprah has a velvety voice that’s easy to listen to, while Deepak is calm and reassuring. There’s an app to download or access through your browser. www.chopracentermeditation.com
terms of the severity, seek and follow professional advice like you normally would. Again, look at the facts. The likelihood of getting the disease is still low and the chances of survival are high. Whilst I appreciate the threat of this particular disease is unprecedented, worrying won’t protect you. Fill the void Focusing your mind on something that brings you joy leaves less room for overthinking and unhelpful thoughts. Work it out It’s the perfect time to take on a personal keep fit challenge.. Exercise makes us feel good, and you’ll never regret a workout (once it’s done!), it makes us healthy and strong! All good things and all within our control! Interact socially How on earth did people like Anne Frank (above left) survive a ‘lockdown’ without technology? Most of us are so lucky to have access to amazing tools to help us communicate with people all over the world! We’ve signed up for an app called ‘Houseparty’ and last night my husband did a ‘pub quiz’ with his mates whilst I caught up with some of my pals in the
UK. FaceTime, Whatsapp, Skype… a good old fashioned phone call! Reach out to people who are vulnerable and alone. Practice gratitude Sit quietly and list the things you are grateful for... the things that make you happy, the people you love. What is it about them that makes you happy? Spend five minutes a day on this. I promise you that when you are doing this, it is impossible to feel anything other than happiness, joy, optimism and thankfulness. What’s not to love about all those feelings! Sit and do this every time any unhelpful feelings come knocking at your door! For more advice on this, read Jill’s blogs www. jillhannamlifecoach.com At this current moment, most of us are healthy; our loved ones are well, and life is fine. So, be grateful for the things that are going well in your life right now and focus on the present – it is a powerful antidote to worrying about the future. And let’s remember we are not alone in this. We are dealing with this as a community, as a country and as one world. Draw strength from your loved ones, and in turn, try to be strong and stay positive for them.
OLIVE PRESS
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Vol. 3 Issue 77 www.theolivepress.es April 3rd - April 16th, 2020
Plane daft
TWO men have been arrested for driving their car into Barcelona Airport. They entered Terminal 1 via a revolving door, while the airport was practically empty. The two men – both of whom are Albanian nationals – were apprehended by police, who claim they made an ‘Islamist-style proclamation’ but this has not been confirmed. Neither man has a terrorist past and no explosives were found in the car.
Bread-handed POLICE in Granada have fined a man who could only produce a hard loaf of bread as evidence of a trip to the supermarket. The man was stopped in Motril and asked to prove where he had been. He was fined after police discovered he had only one loaf of bread ‘as hard as rock’. Since March 16, the Motril Policia Local has issued 278 fines.
Stripper-gran
AN 80-year-old Spanish granny has been denounced for breaking the lockdown, possessing drugs and flashing police officers.
The woman from Navarra was stopped when walking down the street and asked why she was out of the house. Her reply was that she was delivering the drug speed to her granddaughter. The police then proceeded to search her and found three small bags conA BISHOP has been fined for driving with a neighbour taining the narcotic substance. in the passenger seat. The Bishop of San Sebastian was The situation worsened for the octofined riding shotgun, which is in violation of the state genarian when she lifted up her skirt of emergency laws. He is facing a fine of €600 despite during the search and flashed the telling cops he was taking the man to the dentist. agents.
Frocking cheek
Shame of the parade A GROUP of penitents are facing real trouble after heading out for an impromptu Easter parade during the lockdown. The five quarantine-breakers from Utrera, near Sevilla, were stopped by police while undertaking a fake Semana Santa parade to dance music. Two of those arrested were wearing the traditional nazarenos robes for the stunt, while two women wore the black outfits of the manolas. The fifth person in the group can also be seen carrying a miniature paso – the elaborate religious floats paraded in Spain at Easter. It comes after the virus caused the week-long Semana Santa celebrations to be cancelled for one of the only times in Spain’s history. The cost for the city of Sevilla alone is expected to be around €400 million.
Get me out of here! A MAN has asked police to arrest him as he can’t bear being confined at home with his mum. The Galician man, 44, visited the local police station insisting he had coronavirus and needed to go to hospital. But after confirming he did not have the virus he was sent home by officers and ordered to stay there.
Quickie in quarantine A RANDY couple have been told they could face a €30,000 fine after flouting quarantine by having sex on a beach in Estepona. The frolicking duo, a south American man and a Spanish woman, were caught mid-romp behind a chiringuito at night and were arrested for public disorder.