Olive Press Spain - Issue 363 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

ll about

Education

February 2021

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SPAIN could be gearing up for an avalanche of tourists to its shores in May. Airlines and travel agents have seen the number of Brits booking holidays abroad soar this week after the UK announced its roadmap out of lockdown. UK tourists will finally be able to leave the country for holidays from May 17, the government announced on Monday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the move as part of his fourstep plan for gradually lifting restrictions in England, with all social contact rules finally lifted by June 21.

tile or pre-escolar, nursery in the UK. equivalent to a The only costs you’ll have to cover are books, school trips and, if them, uniforms. the school has There are, however, to Spanish schools, downsides your child is older or particularly if There are sad – but more timid. common – stories by no means of the 11-plus ‘guiris’ being ignored teachers and bullied by their by their classmates, or finding themselves left entirely untutored. Continues overleaf

ILENCE. There is not a single peep as I climb upwards through the valley to meet my maker. of the I poke my head out the cable car window and alSierra Nevada’s fresh pine air hits my lungs. Then I hear it – a sweeping white crunch down the crisp piste, as a snowboarder whizzes past below. and Another tears through, weaving all then a third, at down the mountainside blistering speed. terriI’m definitely more fied than the three Spanish guys sharing the carriage with me. the We have left behind restaurants and bars cosy main in Pradollano, the ski town of Andalucia’s only resort. We step out at Borreguiles, mewhich sits some 2,700 tres above sea level. for This is the basecampruns, many of the Sierra’s the which range from facil’ green-coloured ‘muy lablack, in those to pistes belled ‘muy dificil’.

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Vol. 14 Issue 363 www.theolivepress.es February 24th - March 9th 2021

You’ve got no mail! La Linea shut down

THE border town of La Linea de la Concepcion has been handed extra harsh coronavirus restrictions by the Junta de Andalucia. The municipality, which borders Gibraltar, has been placed into Level 4.2 of the region’s coronavirus tier system. The town is facing an unprecedented climb in the number of cases and was forced to order all non-essential business and trade to cease activity from midnight on Sunday. This includes shops, hotels, restaurants and bars - with the exception of essential businesses such as supermarkets or petrol stations. Experts made the decision along with regional president Juanma Moreno on Friday ter the town’s cumulative afincidence rate reached 1,247.9 cases per 100,000 people.

Double

That is more than double the average rate of the currently besieged Campo de Gibraltar health district, which stands at 506.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The whole district, made up eight towns, is currently

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BATTLING: Mike wants his crisps and spices, and (right) our previous front page

closed down, meaning no one can leave or exit without a justified reason, such as medical, legal or for work. These measures will remain in place until at least January 25, Moreno said at a press conference today. The campo was first closed off when health authorities discovered the more contagious UK variant of the virus had arrived in Gibraltar. Since then, La Linea, which receives cross-border workers daily, has seen an extremely sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. One worker told the Olive Press this week that the situation in the area was ‘out of control.’ The young woman, who works on the Costa del Sol but lives in the Campo, and her partner are still both waiting be tested after coming into to direct contact with a COVID-19 infected person.

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THERE have been a total of 16 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic first struck in Gibraltar. The last four occurred on the weekend the vaccines finally arrived on January 9. The majority of the deaths were of elderly people with underlying conditions although there were also some exceptions. COVID-19 active cases surpassed the 1,000 mark just after the Christmas period although they have since stabilised. The strict measures imposed in the social lockdown introduced by the government on December 27 and January 2 have finally taken effect. Public health experts believe the start of the third wave was initiated by Black Friday shopping on November 29. As the pre-Christmas shopping spree continued and families started to meet together it is believed to have spread further.

c u s t o m e r s

o n l y .

S u b j e c t

STUMPED: Lathey was angry when A BRITISH expat has branded Spanish border officials ‘ridiculous’ and ‘clueless’ after they confiscated his Nando’s Peri Peri sauce at the Gibraltar border. Joseph Lathey, 27, was left fuming when much of his weekly shopping was binned as he tried to cross back into La Linea. This meant seeing his bananas and leeks being tipped into a customs officer’s bin. It also included his vegetable samosas, one of his favourite weekly treats he buys from Ramsons, on Waterport Road. Meanwhile, his chilli and cloves were deemed acceptable. “I was completely stumped. I had chicken which I thought might havea been stopped but not the Peri-Peri sauce,” Lathey told the Olive Press. “The officials said it contained onion puree, meaning it contained processed veg and was therefore not allowed over.

his chilli and cloves were accepted

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t o

c o n d i t i o n s .

but his Peri-Peri hot sauce was confiscated

E n d s

at the border

British expat left fuming after including the Peri-Peri sauce most of his shopping - was labelled ‘contraband’ at Gib border due to new Brexit rules

“I said it was ridiculous as that would mean most of my shopping would also not be allowed in.” Indeed, officials told the Brit the only items from his £55 shop that could cross the frontier were his cloves and chilli powder. “It didn’t make any sense,” he added, “they seemed to be pretty clueless. “I asked them to provide documents to justify what they were taking and they just sent me a photo of a link to a Spanish Government website.” Lathey was told he could take shopping back onto the Rock his to store it. “I ended up selling it all for £20, which is better than nothing,” added Lathey. It comes after several reports on social media of Brits See page 16 having food seized at the border. One expat,

Exclusive by Laurence Dollimore

who asked not to be named, admitted that he stuffed bacon down his underwear after hearing they were seizing the majority of someone else’s products. The EU now classes the UK as third country, bringing in toughera controls on what can and cannot cross the border into the bloc. According to the Gibraltar Government website, several items for personal consumption are now banned, including all meat and milk products (bar powdered infant milk, baby food and special food required for medical reasons or pet food quired for animal health reasons).reYou cannot bring in more than 20kg of any fish product or more than 2kg of other specific animal products, including honey, oysters, live mussels and snails. The Government reminder, published on January 4, does not vegetable products as being on list the

prohibited list. But Spanish legislation, specifically law 2019/2072, dictates that vegetables and vegetable-based products are prohibited from entering the peninsula from a ‘third country.’ The Gibraltar Government told the Olive Press: “The Government’s understanding is that EU law specifically exempts plant products intended for personal consumption from official controls at Border Control Posts on introduction to the EU.

Agreement

“Therefore, the Government will be seeking to clarify this matter with the relevant Spanish Authorities. “Until the final agreement with respect to Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU is settled, and unless the Government advises on specific bridging measures or derogations having been agreed whilst that agreement is negotiated, Gibraltar will be treated as a third country for the purposes of EU customs controls.”

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

1 21/6/19 13:30

Expat’s fury as birthday gift containing favourite UK goodies seized by customs due to Brexit A BRITISH expat has branded post-Brexit rules ‘his worst nightmare’ after a birthday present of his favourite treats from the UK was banned from entering the country. M i k e B a t tle, 41, was left stumped when he heard his package of good-

EXCLUSIVE By Kirsty McKenzie

ies had been held up by customs in Madrid for over TEN days. The gift, sent from his family, via courier company Fedex, contained crisps and spice mixes - but Mike never got to unwrap them. The parcel, valued at around €20, was deemed unacceptable by customs chiefs and returned to Mike’s mother in Leeds. “It was confirmation of my worst nightmare when it comes to receiving anything from the UK,” Mike told the Olive Press. “Before Brexit it was the same as receivTHE SKY ing deliveries from around DOCTOR the corner, now ALL AREAS COVERED receiving products from the 4G UNLIMITED UK is just as INTERNET difficult as from

Peri-Peri 2

Continues on Page 4

Choosing the best of algebraic proportschools for your kids can be a problem ions - particularly a tightrope with now visiting can COVID restrictions be

to You can finally slope off Andalucia’s skiing heaven, writes Charlie Smith

Confidence

Airlines, including easyJet, said bookings for the summer season were more than four times higher compared with the same period last week. Malaga, Alicante and Palma were among the most popular Spanish destinations, according to the budget holiday giant, with August its busiest month. The announcement was described by chief executive, Johan Lundgren, as a ‘much-needed boost in confidence’. “We have consistently seen a pent-up demand for travel and this surge in bookings shows that this signal has been what UK consumers have been waiting for,” he said.

WHETHER you are in Spain or were newly arrived here, one subject born and bred unites all parents - how to make sure their children get the best possible education. It can be a tough call, especially for those unfamiliar By Dilip Spanish system, but with the Younger children, (dad of 3 kids Kuner in general, schooled in Andalucia you are fortunately thrive in state Costa del Sol) on the spoiled for choice. youngsters under schools, with nine normally Of course your make for younger children, picking as pri- Spanish up impressive spoken depend on certainselection will mary schools throughout (usually, far better key factors: are more Europe their parents’ than distance from home, or less comparable. Spanish) ademic standards, budget, ac- Around 80% of expats year, just by socialising within a with their and word-of-mouthteaching style children to the local send their Spanish friends. dations, to name just recommen- – called ‘colegios’ state schools The majority of foreign for primary and parents So where do you start?a few. schools and ‘institutos’ students find that integration for sec- with other The first item on ondary schools. nationalities is normalyour checklist should be Public or Private - do There are two serious advantag- ly handled with skill and considyou opt for a Spanish es to Spanish schools. eration. The first The second or an international state school is that children will key advantage is that college? learn Spanish It’s generally an easier fast state decision to theirand should integrate well into from schooling is free of charge new home country. the age of three, when children can begin attending infan-

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China,” continued Mike, who has lived in Spain for 27 years, currently based in Malaga. “There is supposed to be a trade agreement in place, but no-one knows exactly what that agreement is - just as no-one knew exactly what Brexit was when they voted for it,” added the businessman, who recycles electronic products.

Nando’s

It comes just a month after the Olive Press broke the story that guards at the Gibraltar-Spanish border confiscated a furious expat’s Nando's Peri-Peri sauce under new Brexit rules. Joseph Lathey, 27, a Brit who works in Gibraltar but lives in Spain, said was left fuming when much of his weekly shopping was binned as he tried to cross into La Linea.

Tel: 952 147 834

See page 40

“I was completely stumped. I had a chicken which I thought might have been stopped but not the Peri-Peri sauce,” Lathey told the Olive Press. “The officials said it contained onion puree, meaning it contained processed veg and was therefore not allowed over. “I said that that was ridiculous as that would mean most of my shopping would also not be allowed in.” The EU now classes the UK as a third country, bringing in tougher controls on what can and cannot cross the border into the bloc. A spokeswoman from Fed-Ex told the Olive Press: “Food and Beverage are included among our prohibited items for international shipments.” Any perishable foodstuffs requiring refrigeration are prohibited, as well as a specific restriction for Spain for other foodstuffs, including olive oil. She added: “These restrictions are in place for any third country outside the Community Customs Territory, and now they apply to UK as well since it left the EU”. Opinion Page 6

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Coke crackdown A DOZEN suspected international cocaine traffickers have been arrested after raids across Algeciras, Los Barrios, Cadiz, Malaga and Sevilla.

Hash bash A POWERFUL hashish smuggling syndicate has been dismantled after 35 arrests were made in San Roque and La Linea.

Pensioned off A SPANISH woman who claimed her dead brother’s state pension for 18 years has been given a 20 month jail sentence. She will not serve the term so long as she repays the €165,000 she stole, with €41,000 currently outstanding.

Racist attack AN attempt to burn down a mosque in San Javier, Murcia, on Sunday was thwarted after residents spotted smoke and contacted the police, who extinguished the fire.

CRIME

Police attack on teenage girl led to riot

February 24th - March 9th 2021

Gilt Trip

TWO police officers have been remanded in custody after a bar brawl led to one of them smashing a bottle over a teenage girl’s head. The incident led to a riot in the Jaen town of Linares after angry crowds went on the rampage torching cars and stoning police. The attack by off duty cops left the 49-year-old father with a broken nose and cuts to his eye. His 14-year-old-daughter was punched and hit with a bottle as she stepped in to help her stricken dad, during the pub fight. The victim - named only as Carlos - is reported to have accidentally barged one of the off duty officers. The policeman turned and confronted the man, shouting ‘let's go asshole’. The victim responded with ‘you're the asshole’, which led the officer's colleagues to attack the man in what the judge described as an 'act of cruelty'. The incident led to angry crowds to gather outside the police station where more violence erupted. Rubbish containers were set alight and 20 police injured in the fighting that followed. Some 14 further arrests were made.

CRUEL: Three of the ten pigs were found dead

A MAN has been arrested for selling live pigs on streets of southern Spain after someone squealed to police. The suspect was found flogging the animals in the Torreblanca neighbourhood of Sevilla after the alarm was first raised by concerned animal lovers in December. Cops believe the man stole the top quality Iberian pigs, used to make expensive jamon iberico products, from a farm in nearby Dos Hermanas. A patrolman uncovered a truck loaded with 10 pigs as the group of men handling the animals on Calle Manzano fled on foot. Three of the pigs were found dead while the rest were taken to the Municipal Zoosanitary Centre.

Gunned down AN open verdict has been recorded on the death of a British gangster shot 38 times by police after the Spanish authorities refused to disclose the findings of an investigation. Yorkshireman Sean Hercules died in a hail of bullets fired by police at the Autosole Aparthotel in Cancelada on September 10, 2018. Wakefield Coroner Kev-

Open verdict on Brit gangster killed by Spanish police By Alex Trelinski

in McLoughlin heard that Hercules, 39, had a history of drug trafficking, robbery and weapons possession. In addition, just 12 weeks after being released from a four-year jail sentence

in 2006, he shot a man in Leeds. "As the Spanish authorities have not disclosed details of the findings from their investigation, the exact sequence of events immediately prior to his death is unclear,” ruled the coroner. The inquest was postponed a number of times in 2020 because a police report had not been sent to Estepona Court, to pass on to British authorities.

Partying

Last February, the UK Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, wrote to Estepona Court to try to unsuccessfully break the log-jam. On the fateful night in September 2018, Hercules crashed his car following a night of partying in Puerto Banus and abandoned the vehicle. Police found ammunition in the back of the car and they went to the hotel to speak to him. The father of two opened

DEAD: Sean Hercules

his room door, walked down the corridor and is said to have drawn a weapon, which led to the policemen firing back and killing him. The officers stated that two firearms and four cartridges were found next to his body. His mother Martha Friel, 66, told the Olive Press last year: “They shot him 38 times which is surely an excessive number. “I want to know why would Sean pull a gun on policemen, that’s suicide? I think they had him confused for someone else.”

Fire Horror

FIRE has ravaged a migrant camp in an agricultural area of Almeria leaving over 200 workers homeless and 500 unable to return to the site. The fire also burnt out 50 cars as it raged through the shanty town in the Barranco del Búho near Nijar. The fire spread quickly due to the plastic roofs on most buildings and within an hour had destroyed most of the upper part of the encampment. Thankfully only one man was injured with burns to his hands and was treated on site by health workers.

Macabre Case POLICE are looking into an alarming rise in the numbers of dead dolphins off Almeria. Specialists at the Guardia Civil’s environmental arm Seprona have raised the red flag over potential human involvement.

Mutilation

In particular, there has been a rise in the number of deaths showing clear signs of human interaction, directly or indirectly. This includes cuts in the caudal fins or intentional mutilation, with in one case a person’s name ‘Juan’ had been written into the dolphin’s side with a knife.

Run for it TWO people have been arrested after dozens of hidden cameras were found in public toilets around Malaga. A father and his niece were arrested over 71,000 intimate images recorded in the toilets scattered around the province. The images were taken with the alleged intention of publishing them online to earn money. Police also seized an addional 1,187 sex tapes.

Busted bar POLICE have raided a bar in Marbella with over 100 people inside, violating coronavirus regulations. The premises, in the Nueva Andalucia area, was evicted and provisionally closed and the bar owner reported. The incident comes as the restrictions on all non-essential businesses in Marbella was lifted.

Hospital alone POLICE have arrested a 23-year-old woman accused of abandoning her newborn child in the Punta Europa hospital in Algeciras. Just a few hours after the baby was born, a doctor from the maternity ward found the newborn alone in the room. After searching for the young woman, they found that she had left and abandoned the baby in the room. An investigation was launched by the Policia Nacional who tracked the mother down and arrested her a day after she left the hospital.

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February 24th - March 9th 2021

Cruz control

Riots and violence as rapper Pablo Hazel (right) jailed

BEING a mother is more important to Penelope Cruz than her acting career. The Hollywood star has insisted that bringing up her children is the ‘most important mission of my life’. The 46-year-old Latin star, who is married to fellow Spanish actor Javier Bardem, insisted she is no longer a ‘workaholic’ and has now learnt the values of ‘patience, rest and silence’. It comes as she put her children, Leo, 10 and Luna, seven, before her career.

Pause on play

A PRICY €700 a gig in Spain and €575 in Italy is a massive disincentive for British bands to tour in southern Europe this year. But this is the fee that needs to be paid for every concert a British band plays since Brexit came in last month. Now a groundswell of support is rising in the UK to secure visa-free travel for artists in Europe. A campaign to get the government to negotiate with the EU to scrap such charges is gathering speed. Some of Britain’s most popular actors, including Sir Ian McKellen and Julie Walters (above) have thrown their weight behind a petition backed by the actors’ union Equity urging the UK

government to act fast. Musicians ncluding Bono, Ed Sheehan and Radiohead, have already spoken out on the issue. The campaign is calling on the government to negotiate a free cultural work permit to help all artists, including actors and musicians. It comes after a botched Brexit deal means stars now need to get an individual visa for each country where they perform, plus pay the additional fees per gig. Such costs will make most tours extortionately expensive and no longer profitable in many countries. Some countries, such as France, may be exceptions as they charge nothing per concert.

Streets of flame

NOT since NWA has a rap act caused so much controversy. Or in this case, the decision to jail one. Almost a week of riots have broken out after Spanish rapper Pablo Hasel was arrested at Lleida University QUEEN Letizia took a close inwhere he terest in an anti-slavery poster had taken on a visit to Spain’s National Lirefuge. brary on Valentines Hundreds of Day. people were During her solo arrested in engagement to Madrid and the exhibition Barcelona, on humanist while propassions betests were tween 1820 also seen in

Queen of hearts

and 1839, she wore a suitably show-stopping romantic red dress. Her daughter, Leonor meanwhile is set to study in the UK for her International Baccalaureate. The heir to the Spanish throne will join classes at UWC Atlantic College, in Wales, from September, COVID restrictions allowing.

KIM CLARK

By Glenn Wickman

Valencia, Malaga and Sevilla. The worst rioting for years came after the Catalan wordsmith was sentenced to more than two years in prison, after an initial sentence of nine months was extended due to a refusal to pay several fines. This is the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1977 that an artist has gone to prison for his lyrics and, in this case, Twitter messages. The Spanish Supreme Court, in Madrid, ruled that the messages constituted offences against the Spanish monarchy and various state institutions. Since he was seized by police last week, the country has been

thrown into political turmoil. Trouble flared initially in several cities including Barcelona and Madrid before spreading nationwide. On Saturday 6,000 people marched in the Catalan capital in favour of freedom of speech. Dozens have been hurt in the rioting - including a 19-yearold woman who lost an eye from a foam bullet. Human rights’ organisation Amnesty International slammed Spain describing Hasel’s arrest as ‘ ‘terrible news’ after he was ‘exercising his right to free speech’. Spain meanwhile, has dropped two places in the global corruption rankings by Transparency International, being overtaken by Qatar and the Bahamas.

The Loving Pablo actress made the admission to Marie Claire magazine explaining how she and husband Javier were coping during the pandemic. In particular she never looks at anything written about her online and she puts her family first. “Becoming a mother made me aware that this was the most important mission of my life and that I wanted to accomplish it as best I could,” she said. “In my 20s, I was a total workaholic, I would even wake myself up in the middle of the night to respond to emails and things like that, and then I had to learn patience, rest, silence. “The things that I appreciate a lot now.”

SHE’S one of the world’s most in demand models, walking runways for some of the world’s biggest brands. And Bella Hadid looked every inch the star as she flaunted her lithe limbs on the cover of Vogue Spain for its March issue. The 24-year-old, from California, took to Instagram to share a sneak peek from her shoot with photographer Micaiah Carter for the fashion bible.

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THE third wave of the coronavirus in Andalucia is slowly starting to abate as the region begins to reopen. The majority of towns and cities are starting to open as their contagion levels dropped dramatically over the last week. Malaga capital finally opened its perimeter and allowed residents to leave last weekend, after seeing its incidence rate drop to 373 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The only main Malaga towns that were kept closed for now were Estepona, Marbella, Manilva and Ronda. They could be allowed to reopen this weekend. Meanwhile in Sevilla, the contagion level has fallen to 245 positive cases per 100,000, mean-

NEWS

February 24th March 9th 2021

Region reopens ing that residents there can leave the city and province. In Cadiz and Granada, the rates are 318 and 255 respectively, meaning they can also move around. The total rate for Andalucia is 259 per 100,000, with 100 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours. Andalucia residents are still unable to leave the region, unless it is for work or other special reasons. In bordering Murcia, just six towns remain in the ‘extreme risk’ category, preventing residents from leaving their perimeter.

Fuming!

Bride slams hotel for failing to refund hen party after it burnt down with no sign of reopening A BRITISH bride has been left fuming after being told that she could still use hen party refund vouchers at a swanky Marbella hotel - SIX MONTHS after it went up in flames. The Sisu Boutique Hotel burned down in August last year just days after Victoria

BLAZE: One man died in the Sisu fire

Tompkins accepted vouchers worth €1,200. Owners of the TOWIE haunt, loved by Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan, tried to argue that Victoria couldn’t claim a refund because she has ‘no evidence’ that the hotel destroyed by fire has even closed. The 31-year-old was due to jet off to attend the Kisstory Marbella event at the hotel with 12 pals in August to celebrate her upcoming nuptials in nearby Fuengirola. However, her plans were ruined when an air bridge between Spain and England was suddenly closed and the event was cancelled. “I felt bullied into taking the voucher to a hotel not even open in a country I can't currently get to,” she told the Olive

More black money bribes

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NEW evidence of black money deals by Spain’s beleaguered PP party have come to light. A total of at least €194,000 was paid in cash to secure licences for public works contracts in Madrid between 1998 and 2008. The bribes were made by the company Degremont in order to secure deals to work on the Isabel II Canal scheme, near Madrid. According to a police investigation now handed to a judge at Spain’s National Court the so-called ‘caja b’ money was paid in six installments. It was for projects, including the installation of a giant €500,000 turbocompressor at a sewage works. CROOKED?: In further proof that this was linked to a Barcenas national industrial-scale style of corrup- (top) and tion by the PP, its party treasurer at the former PMs time Luis Barcenas was allegedly involved. Aznar and Taped phone calls by the ex-treasurer Rajoy (below) to Degremont boss Rafael Palencia have been included in the high court denuncia. It comes as the former treasurer goes on trial in a number of cases linked to corruption in Madrid under the leadership of the PP between 2000 and 2004, and later under former PM Mariano Rajoy, who has been called as a witness. Other big names ordered to appear are ex PM Jose Maria Aznar, as well as former Andalucia boss Javier Arenas and ex ministers Rodrigo Rato and Maria Dolores de Cospedal. Under the so-called ‘Barcenas Papers’ case, a total of 23 large public contracts awarded during the leadership of former PP Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar are being looked at. The contracts, collectively worth over 600 million euros, were awarded to Spanish companies allegedly with friendly links to the PP government of the time. The projects handed out - allegedly after cash bribes - are linked to organisations including Adif, Renfe and even the Agencia Tributaria, or the national tax agency.

Hooray for holidays From front

Holiday bookings were up by 630% and flights by 337%. “While the summer may be a little while off, we will be working around the clock to ensure we will be ready to ramp up our flights to reconnect friends and family or take them on a long-awaited holiday to remember." Travel firm Thomas Cook mean while said traffic to its website doubled in the day after the Prime Minister’s statement, while Ryanair confirmed there had been a ‘large surge’ in bookings. While Boris Johnson said there was ‘every chance of an aviation recovery later on this year’, Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged caution. He warned that the effectiveness of vaccines against coronavirus strains will dictate whether or not international travel can go ahead.

Brazil

NEWLY-WEDS: Victoria and husband Aaron Press this week. “I didn't want the 2021 voucher but felt I had no choice or I would completely lose all my money.” She was amazed then when she found out the hotel had been burned down in a shocking blaze that saw frantic guests leaping from the windows and one French tourist dead “My friends started sending me the articles about the hotel being on fire and I was shocked,” she said. However, when Victoria tried to get in contact with Sisu in order to secure a refund for the voucher she was unable to reach anyone. She said: "I received no communication. In fact there have been no announcements of any sort from the company, not even a date of a potential reopening.” Victoria then tried to claim a refund through her credit card company and was further enraged when she was told by her bank that Sisu were disputing the claim. While her bank Halifax approved the refund in November, Sisu had 25 days to fight it. The hotel actually responded after 47 days saying she ‘wasn’t entitled to a refund because the voucher is still valid’.

Mad

“It’s ridiculous. The event I had booked didn’t go ahead and the hotel burned down. The fact that Sisu are trying to say otherwise is mad,” she said this week. After the Olive Press contacted Halifax with proof of the blaze, the bank confirmed the refund had been finalised. “In this case, the merchant’s challenge was not upheld, so the refund has been finalised and will remain on the customer’s account. Ms Tompkins has received confirmation of this.” We reached out to Sisu Hotel for a comment but received no response.

He said: "We do have to protect against these new variants, and that is a big challenge.” Hancock added that ‘we can be much more relaxed about international travel’ if vaccines work well against the South Africa and Brazil strains. "If the vaccine doesn't work against them, then that will be much, much more difficult," he said. It comes as the government confirmed they are looking at the idea of vaccine passports to allow travel abroad. Speaking to Sky News, Johnson said he would launch a review into the possibility of rolling out domestic vaccine passports. “This is an area where we’re looking at a novelty for our country. We’ve never thought of having anything like this before, that you have to show when you go to a pub or a theatre,” he said. “There are deep and complex issues that we need to explore, ethical issues about what the role is for the government in mandating people to have such things or indeed banning from people doing such a thing.” At the moment Brits are only permitted to travel for essential work purposes.

Proof

No one is allowed to enter Spain from South Africa, Brazil or the UK via air or sea until 6pm on March 2 under the current restrictions. But there are exceptions to Spanish nationals and those who are a legal resident in Spain. The ban was first introduced in December when scientists first detected a more-transmissible variant of the virus in the UK. Tight restrictions were originally supposed to end on January 19 but the ban has now been extended multiple times, with restrictions currently in place until March 2. This ban comes after Spain confirmed its first case of the Brazilian variant on Friday, with two cases of the South African variant and 479 cases of the British variant of the virus. Anyone flying into Spain must also proof of a negative Covid test, which should be taken up to 72 hours before departure.

NEWS

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February 24th - March 9th 2021

Wheel concern Did you see giant winnebago with dance floor and casting couch Maddie suspect drove around Spain and Portugal in 2007 to 2009?

NEWS IN BRIEF Rattle & Quake GRANADA reported a further two earthquakes, with the strongest of the two tremors registering at a 3.5 magnitude.

Pedal Power

SUSPECT: Brueckner

NEARLY 2,000 cyclists took to the streets in Malaga to protest a new mobility law introduced that takes bikes and scooters away from pedestrian areas.

EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke

PICTURES have emerged of the giant winnebago owned by the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case around the time the toddler went missing. The Tiffin Allegro - with a spinning seat, casting couch and dancefloor - was allegedly owned by Christian Brueckner when the British girl vanished in Portugal in 2007. The vehicle, which he bragged could ‘hide drugs and a small child’, was snapped at Brueckner’s derelict box factory, in Germany, where police found over 8000 images and videos of child abuse in 2016. It was photographed by the German’s then-girlfriend in 2009, soon after he had bought the factory with five acres at auction. The engineer, now 62, told a new documentary on the Discovery Channel, that the huge campervan had broken down on his arrival back from Portugal.

Where’s Wally? ON MOVE: Allegro was often on the costas and seen in Granada “He said he had ended up here because it wasn’t working and he couldn’t move on,” she told the programme Prime Suspect: The Madeleine McCann Case. Giving her name as ‘M’, she said he had been living in it at the factory near Neuwegersleben, so she allowed him to move in with her, until his behaviour deteriorated due to his ‘chaotic’ lifestyle and frequent late nights. Meanwhile, the father of a German woman that Brueckner had dated in Portugal in 2007, told the documentary

how he had been given a tour of the ‘gigantic’ vehicle. Dieter Fehlinger, whose daughter Nicole lived with Brueckner on and off for much of 2007, said when he first met him in the village of Foral, near the Algarve, he was ‘playing with my granddaughter on the grass in front of his bus’. “We started speaking about the camper because it was so big,” he said. “I went in there to look… there was a big sofa and a rotating seat and, in front, some sort of dance floor. “At the back there was another huge space. It really was a

gigantic thing. “He told me right away he used to smuggle weed in the camper. 50 kilos, he said he could hide it so well, no one will find it. It is so big that you would be able to hide a small child.”

Snatched

The black, white and cream RV, seen for the first time, is understood to have been seized by German police in their continuing investigation into Brueckner, 44, who was in the resort of Praia da Luz on the night three-year-old

Maddie was snatched on May 3, 2007. The American-built winnebago was being used by Brueckner that year and Olive Press sources saw it parked both in Foral, on the Algarve, and also in Spain. Indeed, the Olive Press first revealed last year, how he spent up to a week living in it, near the town of Orgiva, in Granada, a few weeks after Maddie went missing. “He parked it up in Orgiva and came looking for me,” his close friend Michael ‘Micha’ Tatschl told this paper.

RESIDENTS in Roda de Ter, Barcelona, were bemused to find a black wallaby hopping around their neighbourhood after it escaped from its owners’ vehicle, who run a wildlife transport firm.

Nine lives Cristiano Ronaldo’s €3000 hairless cat Pepe has been sent home to Spain to recover after being run over by a car outside the family’s home in Italy.

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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 Taking flight PLANES, trains and automobiles at the ready, there’s light at the end of the COVID tunnel. Families separated by the current international travel restrictions between Spain and the UK could soon be reunited and bars and hotels might once again enjoy a busy summer season. For once the over-optimistic Prime Minister has offered a deliberately cautious - but ultimately hopefultimetable that could see this nightmare over soon. And we can only hope that a similar route will be outlined by the Spanish government to make sure the county can once again open its doors to Brits. For some, the 12-week wait for UK holidaymakers to return to Spain will be too long, both for the tourist industry that is on its knees and the families separated by red tape. And for others the possibility of summer holidays in Spain will seem unrealistically ambitious or even deadly. Managing expectations, in what we have learned is an uncertain world, will be the next big task for political leaders. For the rest of us, sticking to the safety rules remains the biggest challenge. But if we do that over the next few months then, with some real encouragement, things will start moving in the right direction.

True cost BREXIT has come with a hefty price tag, one we will all be paying off for years. From the musicians and actors being asked to pay over €600 for a single performance in Spain to the families who can no longer send a simple birthday gift to their loved ones abroad, the burden of leaving the EU is weighing heavy on our shoulders - and our wallets. When it comes to the true cost of Brexit, it seems that once again the British government has picked on the wrong people to pay the cost. Publisher / Editor

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Why has almost every mayor for the past 20 years been linked to a criminal investigation? Laurence Dollimore poses the questions

mayor is also being investigated. “It was a civilised search of his office, very calm, no drama,” one witness, who works in the same complex, told the Olive Press, “they are still operating now and

the gossip has moved on.” He added: “You know in Marbella, nothing really surprises people anymore.” Indeed it’s not the first time Broberg has courted controversy.

Outgoing Olive Press digital editor Laurence Dollimore puts the UK’s quarantine hotel scheme to the test after a short trip across the Portugal border in his final week with us

T was after a weekend’s work in Portugal for the Olive Press on the Madeleine McCann story that left me in limbo and facing a potential 10-year prison sentence on a trip back to the UK. I didn’t have any idea that our Iberian neighbour would be red-listed when I booked my flight back to London a few months ago. But there I was sitting nervously on a packed flight from Sevilla to Madrid to catch my connection to Heathrow (I’m heading back to a new life in the UK, after five years with the Olive Press in Spain, in case you didn’t know). I am slightly consoled by a complimentary alcoholic wipe and the Spanish commitment to wearing masks (which is not to

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Vic Vice e

PROPERTY magnate, a drug trafficker and a dodgy cop all walk into a bar…where are you? Add in a local mayor and it’s probably Marbella. Yes, the gem of the Costa del Sol has once again become the centre of an alarming money laundering story, this time involving the husband of the current mayor. Should anyone be surprised that big-time developer Lars Gunnar Broberg, married to Mayor Angeles Munoz, has been arrested over money laundering? This is, after all, Marbella, where four out of the last six mayors have gone to prison for corruption. The facts are sketchy. But what we know is that Swedish businessman Broberg was picked up by police on February 10 and taken to his offices where agents from the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) combed through his documents and hard drives. The 70-something businessman is being probed for money laundering along with his son Joakim Broberg, who is, in addition, being probed over links to an international drug trafficking ring. Broberg was returned to his home after the search as police continue to analyse documents from his Wasa company. Predictably, a member of Marbella’s Policia Local force and a personal minder of the

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QUARANTINE: Red signs show the way

be taken for granted, as I discover later in the UK). Thankfully in row four and by the window, I’m able to keep to myself for the short 60-or-so minutes to the capital. Here things are much more controlled. Every flyer has their PCR test and passenger locator forms checked before being permitted to queue for boarding, which is done by rows, in sets of five. One unlucky fellow is denied boarding after showing up without a test result. I end up with a whole row to myself, as do ly airport worker who unfortunately wore all the passengers, unless they are trav- her mask under her nose the entire time elling together - which explains the larg- she was with me - a sanctionable offence er-than-usual Airbus A350-900. on the streets of Spain! Upon landing at Heathrow all passengers I hope it’s a one off until after I collect my leave the aircraft and travel to passport bag I am gathered in a cordoned off area control together. And it is impossible to with the other red list passengers from my miss the numerous airport stewards car- flight. rying bright red clipboards It is then that another worker emblazoned with the words asks each of us which hotel ‘RED LIST COUNTRIES’. we are booked with, pulling The question They will ask which country his mask down every time he you have been in and tell is: what will speaks, ironically. you that you must have a An hour after landing we are I want for quarantine hotel booked and taken to our coach and transa negative PCR test before ported to the Blu Radisson breakfast in pointing you down a specially Edwardian Heathrow hotel, 10 days time? where we gather in a foyer designated alley to the farthest passport desk. and sit on socially distanced I could have easily have lied chairs to fill in another conabout not being in Portugal a few days ear- tact information form and - despite a whole lier on my locator form and they would have day of travelling - are expected to select our been none the wiser given that I had flown breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the in from Spain - although I’d say the threat next 10 days. of a 10-year jail term is enough to put most “How on earth will I know what I want for people off that route. breakfast in 10 days’ time?” shrieks one After my forms and passport are checked I elderly British woman, who is quarantining am escorted to baggage reclaim by a friend- with her husband.

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Jesus Gil 1991 - 2002 Party Grupo Independiente Liberal (GIL) Gil was forced to resign and sent to prison for a week in 2002 after he was accused of embezzling over €30 million of municipal funds. In December of that year he was acquitted by the Provincial Cour t of Malaga, with Julián Muñoz in the Rider case.

Julian Muñoz 2002 - 2003 (GIL) Muñoz, former mayor and ex-boyfriend of singer Isabel Pantoja, was jailed for two years and banned from public office for ten years for fraud. He was convicted of over 50 offens-t es, mostly of bribery, embezzlemend and breach of trust, and sentence to 45 years in prison for real estate crimes as part of the Malaya case.

As widely reported by the Olive Press it hadn't been blocked by the Andalucia back in 2015, Marbella town hall, un- Superior Court of Justice (TSJ). der Munoz’s leadership, attempted to News of the scheme caused outrage, redraw its border with Benwith thousands of resiahavis in order to gift it a dents writing letters of 170,000sqm area of land, complaint to the town hall. Marbella has known as the Vega del And while the couple Jaque. have once again made long been The plan was to shift the the headlines, Munoz has area, which was protected been quick to distance known for and classed as non-urban herself from the latest afcorruption and fair, with a Marbella city inside Marbella’s boundary, into Benahavis’ tercouncil statement declarshady deals ritory - with the plan for ing: “None of these actions Broberg to then construct bear any kind of relation50 luxury villas. ship with the mayor.” It also helped that the pair lived in a stun- But it’s anything but good PR for Marning property in the Vega area and would bella, which has long been synonymous be liable for less IBI tax after the deal - if with corruption and shady dealings. In fact since 1991, almost every single leader has been investigated or sent to prison for bribery, money laundering, cooking the books and more. Let’s not forget the infamous Jesus Gil, elected in 1991, who was forced to resign in 2002 after €390 million of muHOME FROM HOME: nicipal funds were suddenly unaccountLaurence’s hotel room ed for. and (inset) room In the end he stood accused of embezservice meals zling over €30 million, but the real figure could and almost certainly was much higher. He died in 2004 before he could face justice. Julian Muñoz, who took over the leadership, was cuffed in 2006 and again in 2013. He was convicted of over 50 offences, mostly of bribery, embezzlement and breach of trust, and sentenced to 45 years in prison for real estate crimes alone. His successor Marisol Yagüe Reyes enjoyed a three year reign but was sent to prison for corruption in 2006. Tomás Reñones, an ex-football star, was next to have a stab at the job but was fingered in the historic Malaya corruption case and got the boot a year later, ushering in the reign of Maria Angeles Munoz, who has remained in power ever since, with a brief two-year hiatus from 2015-17. She is quickly calmed on being told she can change her mind later on. A businessman asks if he can have a laptop delivered to his room and we are told we can all have deliveries as long as COVID guidelines are followed, including food. We are escorted to our rooms one by one and told dinner will arrive at around 8pm. For me, it’s pasta arrabiata and a kale salad, washed down with a bottle of coke. The food is good, but anything tastes great after a stressful day of travelling. Unfortunately, no alcohol is included in the £1,750 package - but you can order it at an extra cost, with beer bottles going for £5 and the cheapest glass or bottle of wine £7 and £26 respectively. There are certainly worse places to spend 10 days, with a comfortable double bed, big screen TV and bath promising to make quarantine life more bearable. There’s even an armchair and footstool for reading. I would say the huge window running the width of the room is a plus but I wouldn’t call a McDonald’s car park much of a view - even les so when it’s crawling with paparazzi from the main national newspapers.

The Miami of Spain Marbella is often compared to Miami. Both have strategic coastlines which make them a haven for drug mafias and international crime syndicates. In the latter, cocaine smuggled in from South America made millionaires and even billionaires overnight in the 1980s, with gang leaders transforming the city by funnelling their bundles of cash into property and construction - but also into the back pockets of crooked cops Jose Bernal Gutierrez 2015 - 2017 Spanish Socialist Worker's Party (PSOE) The only mayor for the last 20 years to not have been linked to criminal activity - so far, so good!

Marisol Yagüe (GIL) 2003 - 2006 Arrested as part of Operation Malaya and later fined €2 million and jailed for seven years.

Cheque-book, please! About time the tax-avoiding social media giants paid newspapers for their content

A Thomas Reñones 2006- 2007 (GIL) Former Atletico Madrid footballer Reñones, who was assistant mayor, was jailed for four years for fraud in the Malaya case.

VITAL victory for the media has been won in Australia after Facebook was ordered to pay news outlets for sharing their content. It’s a ruling that could be repeated world wide. The social media giant has now backed down after initially banning all news content down under out of protest. After admitting defeat, bosses are said to be in talks with several media giants to reach agreements - and it’s about time! For years, Facebook has been leeching off - and effectively killing - the media by using its content without paying for it. It has seen local journalism suffer, while national newspapers have been forced to resort to clickbait headlines and other tricks to get readers directly to their websites. While Google was also named in the case, the search giant has at least been more willing to address the problem.

Lip-service

Angeles Muñoz 2007 - 2015 Partido Popular (PP) Munoz’s Swedish husband Lars Gunnar Broberg (pictured) was arrested in connection with financial crimes earlier this month.

and shady politicians who looked the other way. It’s a similar story in Marbella, situated near the Gibraltar strait, which sees billions of euros of hashish from Morocco and also cocaine from South America, smuggled across its waters each year. The low salary of Spanish police officers makes them easier to bribe - and mafias have admitted to spending 30% of their profits on bent Guardia Civil officers. The loosely regulated property market also allows gangs to better launder their cash. And just like Miami, Marbella is a beautiful place to live, and with at least 120 organised criminal gangs operating on the coast, it’s inevitable that the criminal underworld rears its ugly head into everyday life. The last few years have been some of the deadliest in Marbella’s history. In May 2018 a business owner was assassinated in his car next to his family outside a church in San Pedro, over debts to the Colombian cartel. A Frenchman would be shot to death in his car outside his home in Nagueles a few months later, by a hired killer armed with an AK-47. Every year since, the killings have continued, with one Brit shot in the face just four months ago during a fight between rival Liverpool gangs in Aloha.

As well as negotiating with publishers in Australia, it last year gave awards to the best media groups around the world, including the Olive Press, one of a small handful in Spain to win a special grant for our outstanding journalism. Facebook, on the other hand, ignored our requests for aid, despite paying lip-service to helping regional newspapers during the harsh COVID crisis. But it has had no problem in allowing racists to spread fake news content and conspiracy theories for YEARS. Just look at how a whole generation of people have been brainwashed by the QAnon cult - a lot of its content widely shared on Facebook. Readers often complain of clickbait headlines and so-called ‘churnalism’, but often don’t realise that it’s thanks to plummeting media sales and the fact that everyone expects news for free that standards have been falling. If newspapers were paid their dues there would be more money and time available to invest in better quality stories and more importantly more journalists. Let’s hope Facebook, which pays practically no tax, is forced to cough up all over the world and, in turn, this leads to an upturn in the quality of global news.

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: - Marbella and Estepona can reopen bars, 1vid-19 restaurants and shops from Saturday after Coincidence rate drops below Junta threshold

(10,183 views)

The municipalities closing or opening 2- Listed: their borders in Spain’s Andalucia today after Junta updates list (9,490 views) Bars and restaurants can reopen in Spain’s 3- balearic islands from March 2 (9,040 views) Sale of alcohol to be banned in Spain’s Anda4- lucia after 6pm in bid to fight Covid-19 (7,648 views) Light at the end of the tunnel: Bars and restau5-rants in the Valencia region to reopen in March (7,531 views)

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IN DEPTH: As the Catalan elections loom, the Olive Press explores the mass grave issue that casts a shadow over them - and who the main candidates are

‘Fraudsters’ who ‘stole €6 million’ from British expats to stand trial after Olive Press probe

The story that inspired a children’s true-life fairytale See page 11

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Pensioner hell, as expat couple forced to sleep three days at airport as airline refuses green residency cards

In disguise

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But which controversial expat fasion designer had a day in court this week? Page 4

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The pacifist bull they refused to kill and a chat with Spain’s hottest young matador Page 14 and 15

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are A PAIR of British pensioners demanding compensation after debeing refused a flight to Spain spite having their green residency cards. 76 Roger and Linda Wilson, aged on and 78, were forced to sleep chairs at an airport for three days after Lufthansa wouldn’t allow them to board a flight from Dubai to Frankfurt. The couple, who had been visit-a ing their son, were due to catch connecting flight to Malaga, where the they have lived since 2009, but check-in clerks said their documents were ‘not acceptable.’ “We were not given any further information other than being told to seek alternative travel arrangements ourselves,” Linda, a former legal secretary from Hertfordshire, told the Olive Press this week. on However they managed to get an Emirates flight to Madrid without issue.

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money AN alleged serial fraudster is facing being laundering charges in the UK after exposed by the Olive Press. WilFormer Marbella-based couple RhysBOTH liams, 39, and his wife Lisa, 38, have Prosecubeen charged by the UK’s Crown tion Service. The pair are due to appear at Birmingham charged Magistrates Court on March 17 and with one count of acquiring, possessing count of using criminal property and one spokesfraud, a Crown Prosecution Service person confirmed. reIt is three years since the Olive Presslinks vealed the couple - who had Gibraltar euros of millions swindled - had allegedly while off numerous friends and contacts, living on the Costa del Sol. Wales We reported how the pair from Rolex drove top-of-the-range cars, wore priwatches, and paid for €10,000-a-yearup to vate schooling, while allegedly taking €1.6m from victims in ‘a Ponzi scheme’. folwas pair the into Our investigation the lowed up in the UK press, including despite Daily Mail and Wales Daily Post, heels the Spanish authorities dragging their

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c u s t o m e r s

A GROUP of British expats have called in police after losing more than €6 million to an alleged Costa del Sol fraudster. The unsuspecting Brits invested up to €1.64 million each into the alleged ponzi scheme operating out of Marbella, Dubai and India. Welsh expat Rhys Williams, 36, is accused of snaring various local expats, including wealthy parents at his children's €10,000-a-year private school in Marbella. The victims insist the businessman, who was declared bankrupt in the UK, persuaded them to invest huge sums into a paper recycling and printing business, as well as trading platforms in Dubai, 'guaranteeing them a 2% monthly return'. One British pensioner, Brian Livesey, 84, invested €1.64 million in late 2014. The former soldier, who has lived in Marbella for decades, has yet to see any return. "It has destroyed him," his son Paul told the Olive Press this week. "He had a stroke earlier this year from the stress of it, we are barely keeping our heads above water paying off debts." Livesey, who once ran a successful UK construction company, was introduced to Williams by a director at one of Gibraltar's cryptocur-

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er clothes and Rolexes. "They live the high life out here with all the apparent credentials to prove they are successful and making money." Not initially convinced, Parsons flew out to Dubai where he was shown around various facilities that apparently backed up the claims. “He reinforced all this with detailed bank statements and lots of official paperwork, which we now think was fake,” he continued. Initially, the investment seemed to be genuine and for the first six months he was paid back the promised 2% agreed per month. “But then the money suddenly

stopped coming in,” he said. “I’m sure this was some sort of Ponzi scheme. Clearly they ran out of investors.” For two years, Williams kept promising the money would be returned, claiming his company Impact General Trading, based in Dubai, had been embargoed and had accounts frozen after 'illegally dealing with Iran'. Parsons has since asked for his €500,000 investment back to care for his sick father, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Cancer

"Williams promised me I would get my money back, telling me how his mother had also had cancer and that he wouldn't let us down," added Parsons. But the money never materialised. Another alleged victim, Michael McVicar, claims to have lost €1.5 million, while up to a dozen other expats have apparently lost between €100,000 and €1 million each. Collectively the group claim they are owed €6.28 million. The Olive Press has discovered that Williams left Llys Meddyg Llangristiolus, in North Wales almost a decade ago after being

declared bankrupt and having his care home company investigated for fraud. Despite this, he has been able to help set up several companies, including Impact General Trading, in Dubai, and others in Panama. According to the victims, Williams and his family have recently vacated their exclusive rented villa in Marbella. “We understand they have now, rather rapidly left the coast and returned to Wales,” added Parsons. "Until last month, they had three kids at private school, were still going to all the top restaurants just like nothing had happened. "At the same time he has left a trail of destruction behind him and many lives in tatters." This week, the UK's Serious Fraud Office confirmed to the Olive Press that it is looking into the Williams, but could not comment any further. Following various denuncias, the Guardia Civil, in Estepona, is also investigating Williams. After numerous attempts to contact Williams by phone, he finally replied by email to insist his innocence. "I totally and utterly deny any allegations,” he wrote, but did not reply to any further questions.

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million Offer Livesey, 84, said he invested €1.64 in late 2014, but never saw a return.told the “It has destroyed him,” his son Paula stroke Olive Press back in 2018. “He had we are earlier this year from the stress of it, paybarely keeping our heads above water ing off debts.” UK Livesey, who once ran a successful to construction company, was introduced crypWilliams by a director at a Gibraltar tocurrency company. with “They were clever and snared him Sweden trips to Wimbledon for tennis, nothing and to fancy meals out, which was excompared to what they got off him,” plained son Paul. Meanwhile, victim Parsons, from Birminginto ham, revealed he invested €500,000 the Dubai-based recycling company. Par“He was very convincing,” explained per sons. “They were living in a €10,000 dressed month villa in Marbella and were wore head to toe in designer clothes and Rolexes. with all “They lived the high life out here were the apparent credentials to prove they • Car • Home • Pet • Business • Health • Marine • Travel • Holiday home

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AN expat fashion designer behind the alleged loss of €35 million of investors money has insisted regular threats of violence were behind her involvement with the company. Jody Smart, the sole director of failed firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM), accused her former partner of being the real owner and aggressively forcing her to be the figurehead on paper. The ex-fashion model told a court hearing how her past lover Darren Kirby frequently turned violent and aggressive when she threatened to quit. She told a judge at Denia Court that every time she tried to leave the British-run pension company, Kirby would get violent. And despite failing to report Kirby to the police, because she was ‘afraid’, she has kept videos and phone messages of him threatening her. She was giving evidence in a private prosecution by 17 of up to 1,000 British pensioners, from all across Spain including Andalucia, who put their savings into Alicante-based CWM. The business collapsed in 2017. Some of the individual losses added up to €800,000. The private action accuses Kirby and Smart, along with Paul Clarke, and Stephen Ward of fraud, disloyal administration, and forging victims’ signatures onto investment dealing instructions. A judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for a full trial to go ahead. The solicitor leading the private prosecution, Antoni Bertomeu, told the Olive Press: “The most significant aspect of the hearings was that the accused did not deny that CWM was responsible for any wrongdoing.” “They are merely trying to save themselves by saying they knew nothing about it and had nothing to do with it,” he added. The prosecution has resumed

c o n d i t i o n s .

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EXCLUSIVE By Alex Trelinski

The solicitor leading the private prosecution, Antoni Bertomeu, told the Olive Press: “The most significant aspect of the hearings was that the accused did not deny that CWM was responsible for any wrongdoing.” “They are merely trying to save themselves by saying they knew nothing about it and had nothing to do with it,” he added. The prosecution has resumed after oral testimony was suspended last spring due to the pandemic. Statements last year from ex-employees of CWM said that the claimants had lost their money due to risky investments. Answering questions from the judge, Jody Smart said she

SALES & RENTALS SPECIALISTS Moriara•Calpe•Jalon•Javea•Denia•Altea

96 649 1883 www.moraira-hamiltons.net

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EXCLUSIVE By Alex Trelinski

after oral testimony was suspended last spring due to the pandemic. Statements last year from ex-employees of CWM said that the claimants had lost their money due to risky investments. Answering questions from the judge, Jody Smart said she became a partner in CWM, formed by Kirby, in 2012. In the testimony, seen by the Olive Press, she also admitted he transferred up to €8,000 a month into her private bank account through to 2017. She said her salary was ‘€5,000, €6,000 or €7,000

a month’ and it was ‘sometimes as high as €8,000’, depending on ‘what Darren wanted to pay’. Smart said she only put her name to the firm to help out Kirby who was having ‘issues with his wife’ and wanted to stop her accessing company assets. Smart, who owns clothes company Jody Bell SL, declared that her livelihood

See page 11

Angela and Antoni

S u b j e c t

t o

c o n d i t i o n s .

Surreal sights

The birthplace of Spanish

was fashion and insisted she had no knowledge of what went on with CWM. She added she was merely the ‘face’ of the company. She did however, refuse to answer questions from Bertomeu, who has been leading the private prosecution for two years, and left the Denia courthouse via a fire exit. Case coordinator Angela Brooks, who brought the 17 claimants together, told the Olive Press: “Watching the defendants walk in and out of court was disgusting as they bobbed and weaved to get out of the way of photographers.” One of these was Paul Clarke, who was involved in helping Kirby build up CWM. He denied forming the company and being Kirby’s business partner, claiming he merely helped in the office and trained some staff members, as well helped do some supermarket shopping and ‘getting Darren coffees’. He added that he left in August

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expat

Vol. 4 Issue 99 www.theolivepress

LEFT IN LIMBO .es February 12th - February

25th 2021

A PAIR of British pensioners are demanding compensation after being refused a flight to Spain despite having their green residency Roger and Linda Wilson, cards. aged 76 and 78, were forced chairs at an airport forto sleep on three days after Lufthansa wouldn’t allow them to board a flight from Dubai to Frankfurt. The couple, who had ing their son, were due been visitto catch a connecting flight to Malaga, where they have lived since check-in clerks said2009, but the their documents were ‘not acceptable.’ “We were not given information other thanany further to seek alternative travelbeing told ments ourselves,” Linda, arrangea former legal secretary from Hertfordshire, told the Olive Press this However they managed week. to get on an Emirates flight to Madrid without issue.

HOME: Roger and Linda

artists

Page 14

And crucially, they were accepted on arrival in Madrid, ther hitches, except without furtheir connection flightthey missed to Malaga due to the late arrival of their cases. The nightmare scenario on Janu- turned ary 7 went from bad to the Gate due to technical to worse, as a problems.” succession of flights back to Malaga Incredibly EXCLUSIVE implemented at very were cancelled. the pensioners were givshort notice, By Laurence Dollimore are exceptionally complex. en no “We ended up spending This is a three whole Iberia,offer of help or assistance by challenge in practice nights in Madrid Airport who they eventually booked for Lufthansa sleep- with. employees as well as for da claimed. public secing tor employees. on “No food, Since returning c h a i r s , ” offered,” drink or vouchers were have consulted home the couple “In regards to this added Linda. “And each specific passenwith various Govc o n t i n - time a flight was cancelled we had ernment offices, including the Min- ger case, Lufthansa employees have ued Rog- to go out followed the requirements istry of Interior er, who and back of the Departures Area government, in Germany, the UK by the official authorities. outlined out to the and the Spanish and For this was reason, we kindly ask a to rebook another Check In desks British Consulates. that you diflight. b u i l d i n g “There were rect your questions “All of them c o n t r a c - Departures no desks open in the been allowedtold us we should have Iberia told the Oliveto them.” to board in Dubai. All area. We Press it would tor. investigate the matter through security and had to go our paperwork was in order. the bag check “We “A total FIVE times.” added that when the further but had been to see our Wilsons were of FIVE The pair, first time in three years son for the at Madrid airport the city who live in Alcaucin, was unand took all der siege f u r t h e r the Axarquia in the right precautions. by historic amounts of region, finally landed f l i g h t s in Malaga snow. “We are now in the process of trying were can- find that on January 12, only to to get our expenses their baggage had been repaid together celled or lost. with a sum of compensation VIP d e l a y e d “There was the extraordinary amount due to of stress “The situation that plus one lost baggagealso no one to report the and anxiety weekend was this has caused us. to and the Iberia desk terrible,” flight re- telephone was not answered,” Lin- “So far we have had no communi- we sent it said, “In spite of that, clients to hotels, but cation from Lufthansa some other of them a generated automaticthan cause couldn’t enter in Spain beof their documentation. response.” “We also gave them Lufthansa told the some food (restaurants in the airport Press: “Lufthansa Olive closed), were also blankets and we opened travel regulations verytakes the See page 11 & 16 VIP lounge to let seriously and does everything there, no matter their families be flight status. in its power to ensure that “We did as much as we could they are applied correctly. with the little possibilities we had.” “The new travel restrictions, some of which are Opinion Page 6

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Crypto risk

THE Bank of Spain has released a statement warning of the high risk nature of cryptocurren cies after Tesla founder Elon Musk invested €1.5 billion in Bitcoin.

Animal source

A CRACK team of scientific investigators the World Health from isation has ruled OrganCOVID-19 virus that the certainly came almost from a wild animal.

Black hole

Do your homework Roger and Linda Wilson didn’t read the regulations or check the Lufthansa website, which clearly states that Germany doesn’t allow transit from a high risk area (which Dubai is classed as) to another Schengen state. I don’t know why Luftanhansa doesn’t allow this, but it doesn’t. So this is a case of people complaining when they didn’t do their homework... Such travellers needed to transit through somewhere else. Neil Hollow, Fuente de Piedra

Disgraceful

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Pensioner hell, forced to sleep as expat couple three days at airport as airline residency cards refuse green

China Li, via FB

S u b j e c t

Stressful times

A RECENT survey has found that 45% of Spanish healthcare staff were at risk of some type of mental illness after the coronavirus first and that 3.5% had wave suicidal thoughts.

NEWS

LEFT IN LIMBO Vim-NO!

A PAIR of British pensioners BRITISH expats are demanding compensation left without theirhave been after being refused a flight grocery items due favourite to Spain despite having their to ongoing Brexit issues. green residency cards. Supplies of Marmite, Roger and Linda Wilson, aged Yorkshire Tea and 76 and 78, were forced dried up in someVimto have on chairs at an airport to sleep trade between the areas after days after Lufthansa for three UK and the bloc became frustrated allow them to board wouldn’t without issue, but missed their a flight connection by the extra red tape. from Dubai to Frankfurt. flight EXCLUSIVE It comes after major The couple, who had to the late arrival to Malaga due of By their been Laurence cases. visiter the British CornersuppliDollimore ing their son, were Shop announced that a connecting flightdue to catch it was temBad to worse Incredibly the pensioners porarily suspending where they have to Malaga, lived were orders The since given nightmare to EU countries 2009, but the check-in no offer as DHL had clerks went from bad scenario on tance by Iberia,of help or assissuspended collections. said their documents who they evenwere ‘not succession of to worse, as a tually booked Brits in Spain have acceptable.’ flights with. said they Malaga were cancelled.back to “No food, drink have been stuck “We were not given or vouchers were home favouriteswithout their information other any further “We ended up spending three “And offered,” added Linda. than being nights in Madrid no options to traveland have told to seek alternative each Airport to other trav- ing on chairs,” continuedsleep- cancelled wetime a flight was HOME: Roger and stores as most el arrangements Linda Rog- the departureshad to go out of than a from travelling are banned Linda, a former legalourselves,” er, who was a building contracgenerated automatic area and back to re- their municipality outside of sponse.” the check in. from Hertfordshire secretary tor. . , told the “A total of Olive Press. five further flights “We had to go through security Lufthansa told the Olive Press: were cancelled or “Lufthansa takes and the bag check However they managed travel regulafive times.” to get one flight returneddelayed plus The pair, who on an Emirates flight live in Alcaucin, tions very seriously and does to the gate to Madrid due to technical everything in the Axarquia in problems.” its power to enregion, finally sure landed in Malaga, that they are applied corSPENDING by that their baggageonly to find rectly. foreign had been “The tourists lost. in new travel restrictions, Andalucia plummeted by at some of which are The couple have least €9.6 billion in 2020, new various governmentconsulted ed at very short implement- MALAGA’S Policia Local figures Survey notice, are begun have revealed. including the Ministry offices, exceptionally complex. (Egatur) to hand out the have first of Inte- is a challenge Border Movementsand the This fines The most populous rior in Germany, Survey region, (Frontur). in practice for scooterto cyclists and electric which includes ernment, and the the UK gov- Lufthansa employees riders caught on as well as ga’s pavements Maladel Sol, receivedthe Costa The depressing British Consulates.Spanish and for public sector employees. and pedestrian reports 9.3 mil- show lion fewer internationa areas. that in 2020, just “In regards to this “All of them told 2.7 specific pas- After l million foreign travellers due to have been allowedus we should senger case, Lufthansa an tourists viscoronavi- ited to board in ees employ- riod, in initial informative perus pandemic. Andalucia, a whopping Dubai. have followed which officers 77.5% The grim data has ments outlined bythe require- warned people about merely “We are now trying been re- They less than in 2019. the official law, fines a new to get our authorities. leased by the National also expenses repaid are now being dished For this In- billion, spent just €2.877 stitute of Statistics compensation fortogether with kindly ask that you reason, we out. representing a (INE), direct the extraor- questions your Both e-scooters the Tourist Expenditure year-on-year decrease dinary amount of to them.” of stress and Iberia 76.8%. are prohibited and bicycles anxiety this has caused has been approached us. for den and parkedfrom being ridcomment. “So far we have had on pavements, no commuwith those flouting nication from Lufthansa the regulaother Opinion Page 6 tions liable to be hit with a penalty of up to €500.

Natasha Passano, Gibraltar

Tel: 952 147 834

o n l y .

Responses to pensioners, Roger and Linda Wilson, who had to sleep three days in airport

THE rate of contagion in Spain has dropped by nearly 20% in the weeks, with somelast two such as Malaga - cities registering their lowest coronavirus rates in a month.

The vast majority of those who passed away on the Rock in January had all tested positive for Covid-19 at the end of December 2020 or at the beginning of January. That means that none had been vaccinated before catching the virus. The vaccine is effective and not to blame for deaths.

Jab well done

www.theolivepress.es 952 147 834

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Flattening curve

I've seen lots of stories now about Spain turning back UK citizens because they did not have their correct ‘residence’ papers. Spain also refused entry to a lady who was returning to her Spanish home, only to be refused entry. Her terminally Ill husband was there and yet they still would not let her in. It’s a disgrace. But Spain will be glad to have the millions of euros that the British tourists spend on their holidays, I'm sure, when the time comes.

Press explores the mass grave issue that casts a shadow over them - and who the main candidates are See page 6 & 7

Your voice in Spain

Nightmare

21/6/19 13:30

o n l y .

102 and Continues Page on Page

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

GRILLING: Jodie Smart turns up to court disguised as a private detective and went on to blame former lover Darren Kirby (inset) of threatening violence to leave CWM

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and left the Denia courthouse via a fire exit. Case coordinator Angela Brooks, who brought the 17 claimants together, told the Olive Press: “Watching the defendants walk in and out of court was disgusting as they bobbed and weaved to get out of the way of photographers.” One of these was Paul Clarke, who was involved in helping Kirby build up CWM. He denied forming the compaThe being pacifist ny and bull they Kirby’s business refused to kill and partner, claiming a chat he withmerely Spain’s hothelped testinyoung the office and trained matador

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Pensioner hell, as couple forced to sleep expat three days at airport as airline refuses green residency cards

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became a partner in CWM, Kirby who was having ‘issues formed by Kirby, in 2012. In the testimony, seen by the with his wife’ and wanted to Olive Press, she also admitted stop her accessing company he transferred up to €8,000 a assets. month into her private bank ac- Smart, who owns clothes company Jody Bell SL, declared that count through to 2017. She said her salary was ‘€5,000, her livelihood was fashion and €6,000 or €7,000 a month’ and insisted she had no knowledge on with CWM. it was ‘sometimes as high as of what Butwent which controversial added she was expat merely €8,000’, depending on ‘what She fasion designer had athe ‘face’ of the company. day in Darren wanted to pay’. court this week? refuse to anSmart said she only put her She did however, name to the firm to help out swer questions from Bertomeu, Page 8 who has been leading the private prosecution for two years,

Costa Blanca Issue 49

EXCLUSIVE: Violent threats kept Jody Smart linked to the disgraced firm CWM, which paid her ‘up to €8,000 a month’

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Lockdown, no contact and low numbers have led to the drop in contagion rates. The vaccine has nothing to do with it. After all, it’s not a one-off protection, and only at best stops severe symptoms. You can still contract and pass on the virus if vaccinated.

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OP QUICK Crossword Across 7 Fungal reproductive cell (5) 8 Summary (7) 9 Model might be good or bad (7) 10 Refine (5) 11 Vintners’ vessels (4) 12 Kind of loan (8) 16 Multipurpose roll (4,4) 18 Might contain uranium, if yellow (4) 20 Ball girl? (5) 22 Retailers’ additions (7) 23 Fingerlike (7) 24 Cut into small pieces (5)

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Restrictions do the real work

Lee Nthat, via FB

AN expat fashion designer behind the alleged loss of €35 million of investors money has insisted regular threats of violence were behind her involvement with the company. Jody Smart, the sole director of failed firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM), accused her former partner of being the real owner and aggressively forcing her to be the figurehead on paper. The ex-fashion model told a court hearing how her past lover Darren Kirby frequently turned violent and aggressive when she threatened to quit. She told a judge at Denia Court that every time she tried to leave Expats Paul and the British-run pension compaGeraldine angry ny, Kirby would get violent. as mayors jump And despite failing to report Kirby to the police, because she queue was ‘afraid’, she has kept videos and phone messages of him threatening her. Page 5 She was giving evidence in a private prosecution by 17 of up to 1,000 British pensioners, from all across Spain who put their savings into Alican‘Fraudsters’ exposed by Olive te-based CWM. The business Press special investigation collapsed in 2017. to face the music Some of the individual losses added up to €800,000. Page 2 The private action accuses Kirby and Smart, along with Paul GRILLING: Jodie Smart turns Clarke, and Stephen Ward of private detective and went on up to court disguised as a fraud, disloyal administration, Kirby (inset) of threatening to blame former lover Darren and forging victims’ signatures violence to leave CWM onto investment dealing in-

Your voice in Spain

Vol. 2 Issue 33 www.theolivepress.es February 11th - February 24th 2021

elections loom, the Olive Press explores the mass grave issue that casts a shadow over them - and who the main candidates are ACCUSED: Rhys Williams has vacated villa

EXCLUSIVE

rency companies. "They hooked him in with trips to Wimbledon for the tennis, Sweden and to fancy meals out, which was nothing compared to what they got off him," explained son Paul. "They need to be stopped." Another victim, Adrian Parsons, 53, from Birmingham, invested €500,000 into the Dubai-based recycling company. "He was very convincing," Parsons told the Olive Press, "He and his partner were living in a €10,000 per month villa in Marbella and were dressed head to toe in design-

for Spanish residents

practice for Lufthansa employees EXCLUSIVE as well as for public sector employtechnical problems.” By Laurence Dollimore ees. Incredibly the pensioners were to this specific pasgiven no offer of help or assistance home the couple “In regards by Iberia, who they eventually Since returning with various Gov- senger case, Lufthansa employees have consulted have followed the requirements booked with. offices, including the “No food, drink or vouchers were ernment of Interior in Germany, outlined by the official authorities. we kindly ask that offered,” added Linda. “And each Ministry and the Span- For this reason, you direct your questions to them.” time a flight was cancelled we had the UK government, Consulates. told the Olive Press it would to go out of the Departures Area ish and British told us we should have Iberia but and back out to the Check In desks “All of them to board in Dubai. All investigate the matter furtherwere been allowed added that when the Wilsons unto rebook another flight. in order. was the in paperwork our open desks no at Madrid airport the city was “There were go “We had been to see our son for the der siege by historic amounts of Departures area. We had to in three years and took snow. through security and the bag check first time precautions. all the right FIVE times.” in the process of tryin now are “We Alcaucin, in live who The pair, VIP our expenses repaid tothe Axarquia region, finally landing to get a sum of compensation that weekend was ed in Malaga on January 12, only gether withextraordinary amount of “The situation “In spite of that, to find that their baggage had been due to the anxiety this has caused terrible,” it said, to hotels, but some and clients stress sent we lost. beof them couldn’t enter in Spain “There was also no one to report us. have had no communidocumentation. the lost baggage to and the Iberia “So far we Lufthansa other than a cause of their “We also gave them some food desk telephone was not answered,” cation fromautomatic response.” airport were the in generated (restaurants Linda claimed. Lufthansa told the Olive Press: also closed), blankets and we “Lufthansa takes travel regulations opened the VIP lounge to let famithere, no matter their flight very seriously and does everything are lies be in its power to ensure that they status. applied correctly. “We did as much as we could with See page 18-21 “The new travel restrictions, some the little possibilities we had.” of which are implemented at very short notice, are exceptionally Opinion Page 6 in complex. This is a challenge

July 4th - July 17th 2018

LIFE OF LUXURY: Rhys had Rolex and fancy cars

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Vol. 12 Issue 295

Police probe launched after expats claim €6 million scammed in dodgy investment scheme

EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore

probing the case. who Fortunately for the alleged victims, courts in collectively lost €6.28 million, the the UK were taking more interest. all the “It has been many years coming and Adrivictims are extremely happy,” victim an Parsons, 54, told the Olive Press.both re“We are all hoping that they will it is ceive custodian sentences even though money unlikely we will recover any of the invested. “We can only hope that they are convicted to others so that their records be a warning future.” the who come across them in that the The Olive Press revealed in 2018 operatWilliams’ alleged ponzi scheme was ing out of Marbella, Dubai and India. Williams A series of victims accused Rhys of snaring wealthy parents at his children’s €10,000-a-year private school in Marbella, with the help of his wife. who businessman, The victims insist the in the was previously declared bankrupt sums UK, persuaded them to invest huge into a paper recycling and printing business, as well as trading platforms, all in Dubai. In return they would See page 11 & 16 be ‘guaranteed a 2% monthly return’. One British pensioner Brian ex-soldier and

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couple Rhys and Lisa Williams of first FACING JUSTICE: Gibraltar-linked while (right) the Olive Press’ charged with money laundering, 2018 many front page exposes from

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Nightmare

And crucially, they were accepted on arrival in Madrid, without further hitches, except they missed their connection flight to Malaga due to the late arrival of their cases. The nightmare scenario on Janu-a ary 7 went from bad to worse, as of flights back to MalaThe birthplace of Spanish artists succession ga were cancelled. Page 18 “We ended up spending three whole nights Madrid in A i r p o r t bike rentAL • e-scooters sleeping on • repairS BIKE TOURS chairs,” continued Roger, who was a building contractor. “A total of FIVE further flights were cancelled or delayed plus one flight returned to the Gate due to

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VALENCIA / COSTA AZAHAR February 11th - February 24th 2021 FREE Vol. 1 Issue 6 www.theolivepress.es

For most people, there is no reason to question the government or its integrity. Sadly, it gives such conflicting messages, stories and statistics, as well as out and out blatant lies - like American testers are being paid $100 for each test; every UK hospital is being paid for each test; and that the EU is paying each country for every positive Covid person. Money is the primary factor in keeping this going and the actual cost of the pandemic is high - not in terms of those suffering from covid, but the fact that 100% of us are directly affected by it.

EXCLUSIVE: Violent threats kept linked to the disgraced firm CWM,Jody Smart which paid her ‘up to €8,000 a month’

MEET Yantar, the Bronze Age man who has become the latest attraction at the Gibraltar Museum. The head and shoulders sculpture of one of the Rock’s earliest was residents reconstructed from the DNA of a 4,000-yearold corpse found in a burial site at Bray’s Cave on the Upper Rock. It was created in conjunction with Harvard Medical School using genetic information stored in the burand eye colour of the ied brain to find out the skin, hair individual. 3D model of the brain The Gibraltar Museum, where the five names for the bust was put together, shortlisted from the public’s suggestions. They were Brayman, GiTHE SKY bray, Gib-son, Lithos and Yantar, with the winner DOCTOR announced last night. ALL AREAS COVERED An amber bead buried with the Bronze Age man 4G UNLIMITED has led scientists to beINTERNET lieve that these ancient IDEAL FOR residents of the Rock arSTREAMING TV rived from the Black and Caspian Sea. ALSO IPTV, They replaced the Bronze SATELLITE TV Age Iberian population in the area and some of them tel: (0034) 952 763 840 settled in present-day Giinfo@theskydoctor.com braltar.

grave issue loom, the Olive Press explores the mass that casts a shadow over them - and who the main candidates are See page 6 & 7

OLIVE PRESS

COSTA BLANCA

Vol. 2 Issue 49 www.theolivepress.es February 11th - February 24th 2021

HE FORCED ME TO STAY

See page 6 & 7

Hello, Yantar! IN DEPTH: As the Catalan elections

OLIVE PRESS

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In it for the money

Jackie Quick-Rice, Fuengirola

Margot Andrew, Valencia

Bringing dignity to the hidden victims of Franco

NEWS IN BRIEF

‘Blatant lies’

UK a It is unfair to say the EU is giving the d are hard time. The new export laws vote EU more going to give both Britain and the years.” four or e thre for time d than a “har are losBusinesses are failing and many ing jobs. after If Britons knew what was coming interwere who y man so did Brexit, why referenviewed on the street before the rchill dum just shrug their shoulders? Chu we did if rn retu t migh ors horr t wha knew World not create a union after the Secondr have neve t mus “We , War when he said e are another bloody war like that.” Therns we pea Euro as and e ther out rs Hitle still trade. had strength in numbers and free be why to s seem tity iden l A loss of nationa this has many Brexiters voted leave, but now by time long a for ed erod g bein n bee is up to globalisation. Making an identity ors of auth the that is y you. The final iron the ‘remoaners’ letter live in the EU.

Uncovering the grim truth

February 24th - March 9th 2021

1 Lovey-dovey (8) 2 Worn-out old cars (5) 3 Punt propeller (4) 4 Affirmed (6) 5 “Let ‘em have it!” (4) 6 “A bushel and a ---” (4) 7 Veered abruptly (7) 13 Tide or cord (3) 14 Like the White Rabbit (2,1,5) 15 Made a stab (7) 17 Unlawful takings (6) 19 Extract by force (5) 20 Organisation (4) 21 Racing sled (4) 22 Exploit (4)

All solutions are on page 38

Pricey Wheels

LA CULTURA

All Chinese to me

SPANISH and Taiwanese scholars have discovered the world’s oldest Spanish-Chinese language dictionary. Dr. José Luis Caño Ortigosa, from Sevilla University (UST) and Dr. Fabio Yu-Chung Lee from Taiwan’s National Tsing-Hua University (NTHU), uncovered the 400-year-old Dictionario Hispanico Sinicum, which was originally labelled as ‘of little value’’ in a dusty archive in the Philippines. It was cataloged in the archives as ‘Spanish-Chinese Vocabulary with Chinese Characters,’ according to UST. However, Dr Henning Klöter, a professor at Germany’s Humboldt University, said that, “Nothing could be further from the truth,” adding the dictionary is “the most comprehensive collection of Hokkien lexical items” of its time. He told the Phillipine Daily Inquirer: “Historians will find a wealth of information on the early history of the Spanish-Chinese encounter in the Philippines.” The dictionary was the work of Spanish Dominican missionaries in Manila who produced it in the 17th century. The researchers estimate it to be around 70 years older than the previous candidate for oldest Spanish-Chinese dictionary. This is the Kangxi Dictionary, which was commissioned by the Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi in 1716.

Do you have a what’s on? Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es

A tasty discovery

February 24th - March 9th 2021

A STUNNINGLY ornate 12th-century Islamic bath house has been unearthed behind false walls during construction work at a tapas bar. Much to the surprise of the builders - and the owners of popular tapas bar Cervercería Giralda in Sevilla - the building work uncovered dazzling skylights, geometric motifs and murals thought to date back to the same time period as the city’s cathedral. Researchers said that documentary evidence of the baths’ existence dated back to a few decades after Christian forces captured Sevilla in 1248. Workmen realised they had discovered something truly unique when they broke through the false ceiling of the Giralda and saw elaborate Islamic skylights. “It was a wonderful surprise,” added Fernando Amores, an archaeologist who has helped to research the find.

A star is born

Find You First

by Linwood Barclay

he bestselling author of Elevator Pitch is back with another nail-biting page turner. Miles Cookson is a tech billionaire who has been diagnosed with terminal Huntingdon’s disease. Before making it big in the tech industry, hard up Miles sold his sperm to a fertility clinic for some extra cash. With no children of his own, Miles feels obliged to find his genetic offspring and inform them that they may have inherited this disease. He also decides to leave his vast wealth to them. However, as Miles tracks down the children they begin to disappear in mysterious circumstances. A riveting and compulsive mystery thriller from one of the masters of crime noir. €20.50 The Bookshop San Pedro, www.thebookshop.es

dro Almodovar (below) has a penchant for ‘adopting’ actresses and turning them into stars, usually appearing in most of his films from then onwards. And the latest entry into that select club has been revealed. Milena Smit, 24, was born in Elche (Alicante), where she lived during her childhood with her Castilla La Mancha-born mother and Dutch father before relocating to Madrid four years ago to look for work. Although she admits that she nev-

EXPAT: Milena was raised by a Dutch father and Spanish mum in Alicante By Glenn Wickman

er planned to be an actress, she was invited to attend an audition for a Spanish feature-length drama by Catalan director David Victori, which she passed with flying colours. She was then coached by none other than Bernard Hiller, who has worked with Leonardo Di Caprio and Cameron Diaz, among other major stars. Milena debuted with Victori last year in the film No mataras (translated as Cross the line), which is cur-

State of the art A GERMAN art collector and dealer has gifted a state of the art museum to Caceres (Extremadura). The recently remodelled building was made to house Helga de Alvear’s unique collection of contemporary art, which she has also donated to the city. The collection boasts work from more than 500 artists including Joseph Beuys, Dan Flavin, Jenny Holzer Joseph Albers, Paul Klee and Nan Goldin. Around 200 pieces, collected by Alverar over four decades, will be unveiled to the public when the museum opens its doors this Spring. The museum will be free to the public.

Free

Meet the newest ‘Almodovar girl’ Milena Smit, who is half ‘guiri’ IF there is one term that sums up Spanish cinema, it is ‘Almodovar girl’. The country’s most famous and successful director Pe-

rently showing at cinemas throughout the country. Her part has already earned her a nomination for ‘Best new actress’ in this year’s Goyas, the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars taking place in Malaga on March 6. But it didn’t stop there. Her work impressed legendary director Pedro Almodovar so much, that he has revealed that Milena Smit will costar in his next blockbuster, Madres paralelas, together with fellow Almodavar girls Penelope Cruz, Aitana Sanchez Gijon and Rossy de Palma. Shooting for Almodovar’s next work is scheduled to begin imminently. Not bad for a debuting actress who was working as a hotel receptionist just two years ago.

De Alvearsaid in a statement: “I am interested in contemporary art because it tells us about our time and about ourselves, because it creates and develops a language that can explain, in a new way, the world in which we live and from which we often empty ourselves.” A smaller version of the Museum and the Alvear Foundation has been in operation on the same site since 2010. The museum’s first site, a villa from 1913, still stands, but is now built by a very modern building with a white facade, which was designed by Tuñón Arquitectos. The construction of the site began in 2015 at a cost of €10 million, which was paid for by de Alvear and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Junta de Extremadura. The architect Tuñón explained that ‘both buildings are similar and differ in size and shape’ He added: “They are complementary in size and different in structure and shape. But together they form the new image of Caceres.”

GIFT: The new museum

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Young trader. 1910

LA CULTURA

February 24th - March 9th 2021

A journey through history

Beach vendor, 1880

Take a fascinating voyage into the 19th century from the comfort of your own home, writes Dilip Kuner

Panorama de Malaga, 1860 Ship launch in Puerto Real, Cadiz, 1927

ITH COVID lockdowns leaving many people kicking theory heels at home, now is the time to learn a little about Spanish history from the comfort of your own sofa. A perfect place to start is a remarkable series of photographs, collated by Fernandez Rivero, which portrays life in 19th century Spain and is available online. The researcher started his collection as a child with old stamps and postcards, before moving onto photographs 25 years ago. He first started with pictures of Malaga, his home city and the birthplace of Picasso, but soon expanded to the whole region and further afield in Spain. The result is a fascinating glimpse into the past, with the images on this page just a fraction of the 35,000-strong collection.

Old style motor. 1903

Explaining the reasons behind his passion for the 19th century, the collector said that people had found a revolutionary way to capture reality that they had never had access to be-

History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.

Malaga bandit, 1880

fore. The result was the lives of everyday people were recorded extensively for the first time. You too can silently witness life in the 19th century by visiting www.cfrivero.com

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling. Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist. PROUD

BRITISH

For further information call: Gibraltar Tourist Board +350 200 74950 Or to download a brochure go to: www.visitgibraltar.gi

www.visitgibraltar.gi

Heritage STREET PARTIES MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE HISTORY MUSIC

Phoenician Empire Calentita

Jazz

INTERNATIONAL

THE ROCK The Moorish Castle Festivals Food Festival Pillars of Hercules Music Week, Chess, Snooker, Darts, Backgammon Championships 100000 YEARS National LITERARY FESTIVAL

Neanderthal Settlements

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A year of Culture

Bring hearts, minds and souls

ll about

February 2021

A 12-page Olive Press special pull out supplement

Education

Getting top marks WHETHER you are newly arrived in Spain or were born and bred here, one subject unites all parents - how to make sure their children get the best possible education. It can be a tough call, especially for those unfamiliar with the Spanish system, but fortunately in Andalucia you are spoiled for choice. Of course your selection will depend on certain key factors: distance from home, budget, academic standards, teaching style and word-of-mouth recommendations, to name just a few. So where do you start? The first item on your checklist should be Public or Private - do you opt for a Spanish state school or an international college? It’s generally an easier decision to

Choosing the best schools for your kids can be a problem of algebraic proportions - particularly now visiting can be a tightrope with COVID restrictions By Dilip Kuner

(dad of 3 kids schooled on the Costa del Sol)

make for younger children, as primary schools throughout Europe are more or less comparable. Around 80% of expats send their children to the local state schools – called ‘colegios’ for primary schools and ‘institutos’ for secondary schools. There are two serious advantages to Spanish schools. The first is that children will learn Spanish fast and should integrate well into their new home country.

Younger children, in general, thrive in state schools, with youngsters under nine normally picking up impressive spoken Spanish (usually, far better than their parents’ Spanish) within a year, just by socialising with their Spanish friends. The majority of foreign parents and students find that integration with other nationalities is normally handled with skill and consideration. The second key advantage is that state schooling is free of charge from the age of three, when children can begin attending infan-

tile or pre-escolar, equivalent to a nursery in the UK. The only costs you’ll have to cover are books, school trips and, if the school has them, uniforms. There are, however, downsides to Spanish schools, particularly if your child is older or more timid. There are sad – but by no means common – stories of the 11-plus ‘guiris’ being ignored by their teachers and bullied by their classmates, or finding themselves left entirely untutored. Continues overleaf

HEALTH DEMANDS:Most private schools have kept running almost as ‘normal’ thanks to successful COVID planning

dm O iss pe io n ns

Today more than ever, we believe in providing a safe and happy learning environment for our students to achieve more than they dreamed possible. Contact our admissions team for more information on our unique international curriculum from 3 to 18 years. Avda. La Coruña 2 San Pedro Alcántara

952 799 900

info@laudesanpedro.com

www.laudesanpedro.com

2 February 24th - March 9th 2021

FREE OR FEE? From previous page

Older children with limited Span- will be low (according to reports, ish can often have trouble adjust- Andalucia does indeed come ing, finding the move to a different well below average), or because country combined with schooling you prefer to have your children in a language that might as well educated in English, then you will be Greek to them way too much have no choice but to go private. to cope with. Learning maths and Budget is a major consideration physics in a foreign idiom isn’t for but many expat parents find that sissies! choosing an international school It is definitely worth considering gives their child a gentler introextra language tuition outside duction to schooling in a foreign school hours to help ease the country, with smaller classes transition. Budget for up to €20 taught in English. per hour for private lessons. Your Most international schools even child will not only be more able follow a UK curriculum, with GCSE to keep up with and A-levels, with lessons, but is a number of local far more likely to regularly British schools schools make friends if getting kids into they can socialise are now said to the top British uniin the same lanversities, includaccount for two ing Oxbridge. guage. “It is fine if you International get the kids into thirds of private schools have school early at a very different schools here young age, but if personalities and they are nine or philosophies, and 10 then they will it’s very much a find it harder,” advised one En- matter of personal preference. glish parent, whose two children But with more than two dozen have been through the local sys- on the Costa del Sol alone, there tem in Manilva. are more than enough to choose “They will almost certainly need from. some extra tuition and watching Marbella – with more than carefully. It also helps if the par- 40,000 foreigners living in the ents get involved in the school town – has the largest concenand try to get to know the other tration of international schools, Spanish parents. Joining the par- after Madrid and Barcelona. And ents/teachers association cer- Malaga, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benaltainly helps.” madena, Estepona, Almunecar If you decide against the Spanish and Sotogrande all have their state system, either because you own options. fear the educational standards The rise of international schools

ll about

Education

Tips for choosing a new school lIgnore the glossy brochures - go to the school and see for yourself lMeet the head, meet the teachers, and meet the students lIf the students seem happy, chances are your child will be happy too lBe clear about what you want from a school - do lots of research lLook at the exam results lFind out about opening or taster days in Spain can be traced back to former dictator General Franco, who introduced tourism to the Costa del Sol. Since then, a torrent of foreign visitors settling along the coast has turned it into a melting pot of cultures, providing endless opportunities for education start-ups. British schools are now said to account for two-thirds of the international schools on the coast. The oldest is Swans International School, established in 1971, and named after its legendary headmistress and founder, Tessa Swan. Others include Sotogrande, established in 1978, as well as Benalmadena Inter-

national College, which is celebrating its quarter century on the coast this year. Others such as Laude, in San Pedro, has around 1000 students and is acknowledged as one the top 100 international schools in Spain by El Mundo newspaper. Most British schools are members of the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) and are inspected regularly by the group, a set-up similar to the UK’s Ofsted inspections. A great advantage for many parents is that international schools often have a more multicultural environment than state schools, with most having more than 20

CAPTION xxxxxxxxxxx xx different nationalities attending and offering a bilingual study programme. Paul Kelly, an education consultant and former headmaster of

Mayfair Academy in Marbella – which has 20-30% Spanish pupils – said: “Pupils meet other students from so many different countries.

3 February 24th - March 9th 2021

WINNING THE COVID BATTLE

: It’s been a tough year for everyone but it must have been very challenging running a school and having to look after students and staff. What kind of protocols have you put in place to make sure everybody is safe?

Due to COVID restrictions, many state school pupils are only being taught on alternating days due to large class sizes or via alternating weeks. In contrast, most private schools have managed to keep all classes going. At most of the leading private schools on the coast pupils stay in their class bubble for the entire day and are expected to wear their masks throughout. So far, it has certainly been working with almost no classes having been halted in the half dozen schools that we canvassed for information.

Safe, Happy and Learning Laude San Pedro Principal Amanda Hughes on the hard work and changes last year

AH: I have to say it was an experience I don’t think anyone ever dreamt we would have to go through. It is actually incredible loo- what our commitments would king back at the changes be, how learning, being safe the school has made in the and happy would always relast year and how much we main the focus for us and the have learnt and adapted on children, and then of course, the way. following the Junta’s protocols. This time last year, a few Also, we are so lucky where we weeks before the lock down, are and the campus we have; we had already begun plan- we now use four entry gates so ning our online learning we are one school but four viplatform and reviewing with llages now, so we have a little families who would need village for youngest learners, electronic devices to work the Early Years Foundation Staat home. So the whole team ge and Key Stage One, Primary got together to actually work have their own village, Seconout how we would deliver dary and Sixth Form have got the whole curriculum online, their own village and our ESO which I have to say went in- and Bachillerato students, they credibly well. have a village in school as well. And then bringing children We have little or no movement Today more than ever, we believe in providing a safe and happy learning environment back into school in Sep- between those areas. for our students to achieve more than they dreamed possible. tember, we wanted to make SAFETY FIRST: Most private schools have kept classes in ‘bubbles’Contact with our masks wornteam allfor day admissions more information on our unique understood international xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx sure our families Q: How is life at Laude conticurriculum from 3 to 18 years. “This is such a valuable opportunity as it awakens a curiosity for other cultures, languages, traditions, customs and even food from a very early age.” To tie in with this, many of the top schools are increasingly offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, as well as the local secondary school qualification, the Bachillerato. The IB – which may be unknown to some English readers – is the normal route to university for European students. The main difference is that IB students take six or seven subjects – which often include elements of community work and public-speaking – as opposed to just three or four at A-level. Catherine Davies, based at Laude, in Marbella, said: “You can go anywhere in the world with an international education, it’s like an international currency.”

Avda. La Coruña 2

Pedro Alcántara As well as a more up-to-date, re- communitySanoutside the classlaxed approach to teaching, in- room. ternational schools are generally But international schools are beconsidered to offer a better learn- ginning to fight this effect, with ing environment. many more SpanThe most obviish extracurricular ous downside, activities availof course, is the able, and more Flamenco cost. Schools access to local classes, range from basic culture on school to luxurious but, trips. basketball and take note, they Many of the sailing, plus come with fees to schools also inmatch. clude Spanish even polo Fees range from offerings such as €3,000 a year for flamenco dancprimary school to ing classes after between €6,000 and €20,000 school finishes, while others ofper year for secondary schools. fer basketball, sailing and in one This generally does not include case, even a polo academy the cost of books, school trips or Education consultant Paul Kelly uniforms. concluded: “Effort and attitude A further downside is that chil- varies considerably from family to dren may find themselves in family. Some are content never to something of a Spanish vacuum, venture into ‘Spanish’ situations, unable to integrate with the local while others make every effort to integrate, join sports clubs etc. and have much more exposure to the language.” No guide can decide your child’s education for you, and there is no easy answer. Choosing a school in Spain is as much a personal choice as in any other country, whether your biggest consideration is cost, integration or a smoother transition. Just one final tip for parents who decide to go with the Spanish system: learn the language yourself. How else will you chat to your kids’ teachers at open days? And, more important for your kids than that, how will you help them with their homework!

952 799 900

info@laudesanpedro.com

nuing with the obvious limitations that all schools are facing with the pandemic? AH: The pedagogy has changed so much to make sure we don’t lose outstanding practice; so everything from parent-teacher meetings, graduation and prize giving events are now done online. We have recently had the most incredible futures and university online fair for our Year 11 and Year 12 students as part of the ISP group of schools, covering everything from how to gain a sports scholarship to study in America to Oxbridge applications. It’s important our students understand we are working together to get through this tough time and look A after dm each other, but their future is is really there. All their O dreams pe sio n and aspirations will n nots change, and it is very important we work alongside them so that they do access the universities and careers they have always wanted to have.

www.laudesanpedro.com

Bright future

Benalmadena International College celebrates its quarter THE BENALMÁ century, as it takes important steps forward to ensure INTERNATIONAL C pupils are as happy and healthy as possible EVERY parent’s goal is to make sure their children’s time at school is filled with happy memories, making friends and skills that will set them up for life. But in the middle of an ongoing pandemic, it’s understandable that mums and dads have never been more anxious to wave their kids off at the school gate. “It is our job to be here for the children and help put their minds at ease,” explains Director Keith Ellis. “It is understandable that families are feeling very anxious, which is why our priority is making sure our pupils feel not only happy but safe.” The school, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year has an excellent reputation for academic success and caring staff, with outstanding facilities for learning and preparation for university life. With over 30 different nationalities, pupils are surrounded by different cultures, and many can speak several languages before reaching the senior school. But Mr. Ellis believes it is helping children connect with so many diverse cultures helps create a ‘happy, family environment’. He said: “We’re truly just all one big family and it has been such a joy to run this place for 25 years and see the smiles on the kids’ faces everyday.” And while Mr. Elllis acknowledges that the last 12 months may have been some of the toughest times pupils and teachers have ever faced, he’s also been delighted with the resilience and independence his students have shown, and the support from all the parents. On the bright side, with all the new technology developed over this last year, the school is embracing these new ideas to enhance its teaching and further development of the school. Live on-line viewing from the classroom can now give virtual lessons anywhere in the world. It also increases our ‘A’ Level subject list to

Nurs

more than 20. “Online lessons via zoom and google classes learning Where tel: (+34) 952-561-666 give pupils live viewing from our classrooms. www.bic-benal.com There is no disruption and they couldis be a an-pleasure info@bic-benal.com ywhere in the world and they are not going to miss a thing. It has opened up a lot of potential.” Technology aside, Mr. Ellis promises that most of school life will continue as normally as possible, with an expanded range of subjects, from History of Art to politics and psychology, and even more extracurricular activities on the horizon as the school gears up to build a state of the art sports complex. “It will have everything a child could ever want,” says Keith. There will be a heated swimming pool, a gym, health and spa area, even a restaurant and terrece.” The idea is that the sports centre will be used exclusively by pupils during the day but at night and over the weekend, will be opened up to local residents. Mr. Ellis believes that involving the whole community in the future of the school is ‘key to its success’. He says: “A school plays a big part in the community and in return the environment around the school is of massive importance. The more involvement we can have in the community, the stronger the school can be.”

www.bic-benal.com - (+34) 952 561 666

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February 24th - March 9th 2021

Education

Get to know the Spanish state system There are four phases: •

Educacion Infantil (Pre-school) - 3 to 5 years of age (inclusive, i.e. three years). This is optional.

•

Educacion Primaria (Primary Education) - 6 to 11 years of age (six years). Compulsory.

•

Educacion Secundaria Obligitoria or ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) - 12 to 15 years of age (four years).

•

Bachillerato (Post-Compulsory Schooling) - 16 and 17 years of age (two years).

The Pre-school stage (infantil or popularly known as pre-escolar) is free for all children but not compulsory. However, it is regarded as an integral part of the education system with infants’ classes at almost every primary school. There are some separate nursery schools, colegios infantiles, also. The next two phases, primary (colegio) and secondary school (instituto) education are compulsory and free of charge. At the end of the ESO successful pupils are awarded a Secondary Education Certificate, which is necessary to enter the post-compulsory stage of schooling for their university or vocational studies. Alternatively they may leave school and get a job. Once pupils have their Bachillerato they can take their university entrance exam.

Cyber scourge B

ULLYING may begin in the school playground but it no longer ends there. The greatest threat to 21st century schookids is cyber bullying and it can happen relentlessly anytime, anywhere. This insidious form of antisocial networking is the biggest battle parents, schools and pupils are fighting and it's a massive problem not only in Spain but throughout the world. The National Police say mobile phones were a game changer and in their experience, most bullying cases also start to involve cyberbullying over time and

Mobile phones for minors is ‘like giving kids a car without explaining the rules of the road’

the probelem is getting worse. "The talks we used to give to 15-year-olds, we now give to elementary school kids,” said a spokesman. “Parents give phones to their kids without much thought, it's as though they were giving them a car without explaining the rules of the road." Statistics show that 45.2% of 11-year-olds have a phone, rising to 75% of 12-year-olds and 92% of 14-year-olds. And not having one can also be a reason for social isolation. Spain has in the past cracked down on the problem. Madrid banned the use of mobile phones in classrooms, following the lead of schools in Galicia and Castile La Mancha. Around 1,700 public schools and around 800 thousand pupils were affected by the ruling.

Sunny View School, a place to thrive

NE of the most important things a school can do is to create an environment which allows its students to truly thrive – academically, emotionally, personally and socially. Sunny View School, in Torremolinos, places a high value on its inclusive, caring and respectful atmosphere, a quality often commented on by visitors and newcomers to the school. This special environment, combined with quality teaching and modern resources and facilities, makes the school a place where students can, and do, thrive. The school’s academic success is evidenced by its students’ examination results, which are consistently well above the UK national average. The majority of its A-level students go on to study at universities in the UK, Spain, elsewhere in Europe or the USA. The school firmly believes that the path to such success is as important as the results themselves. At each stage of the curriculum, from Preschool to A-levels, the school’s team of experienced, UK-trained teaching staff strive to make learning fun, interactive, engaging and inspiring, with students actively involved in their own learning and development. This has continued to be the case during this unique academic year when the school has adapted its facilities and routines to ensure safety while maintaining a dynamic and stimulating learning

"This is a measure aimed at improving students' academic achievement, especially those who have major problems with studying, and is also focused on fighting cyberbullying and bullying," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Education. But this measure came in before the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen youngsters spend large periods of time at home rather than in school, which in turn has left them even more vulnerable to cyber bullying. Children are using social media and apps like TikTok, FaceTime, and Zoom a lot more frequently than in the past. These leave them exposed to more online risks such as cyberbullying, shaming, and exploitation. In fact, initial research indicates that cyberbullying is on the rise during the stay-at-home orders. According to L1ght, an organisation that monitors online harassment and hate speech, there has been a 70% increase in cyberbullying in the US in just a matter of months.

CALPE SCHOOL Bringing a new dynamic approach to Primary Education on the coast

environment. As always – and while strictly adhering to the current safety protocols – a wide variety of activities inside and outside the classroom allow students to broaden their experience and take on new challenges in an inclusive and supportive environment that engenders confidence and an enthusiasm for learning. Looking to the future, and to meet the needs of its growing student population, the school has also continued to expand and upgrade its facilities and resources. Last school year saw the launch of new libraries for both Primary and Secondary students, as well as a sixth form study area with an adjoining outdoor terrace. Playgrounds in Preschool and early Primary were remodelled and outfitted with new equipment. Yet while always evolving and advancing – as well as adapting to special circumstances such as the current public health situation – Sunny View School has maintained its strongest focus on what it does best: delivering quality, British education here on the Costa del Sol. And doing it within an environment that allows its students to truly thrive. www.sunnyviewschool.com

ALPE School is a private Primary School offering the British National Curriculum. Founded in 1973. It has been successfully teaching children of all abilities, from the ages of ‘2 to 11 years’ for over 48 years. Calpe School enjoys a stunning beachside location in San Pedro, Marbella; and provides a vibrant and supportive environment where every child is valued as an individual, and inspired to achieve their full potential. Our aim is that every pupil placed in our care feels safe, nurtured and valued. With a long history of educating the whole child, which is an important aim of our school, means that our children are independent, well-mannered, show respect for others and are resilient. It is these values that provide a strong foundation on which to build our future. Pupils flourish in this caring and professional setting due to the ‘high teacher to pupil ratio’. The school is known for its high academic standards of achievement and progress with strong educational foundations. Calpe School provides a high level of care and safety, and the children leave with the confidence to succeed and a life-long love of learning. This makes Calpe School the ideal start! A warm welcome awaits you at Calpe School from the moment you step through our door, fulfilling our ‘Happy to learn’ motto. For more information, go to www.calpeschool.com Viewing is by appointment only Contact us through info@calpeschool.com or call us +34 952 786 029 Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

50 years of experience | Fully qualified and experienced teaching staff Modern facilities and well-resourced classrooms Safe, inclusive, nurturing school environment National Curriculum taught throughout | Highest academic standards Students from 2 to 18 years of age

To see for yourself what makes Sunny View School so special, contact us to arrange a visit email: admissions@sunnyviewschool.com tel: 952 38 31 64

Sunny View School, S.L. – C/ Teruel 32, Torremolinos, 29620 Málaga – Spain

www.sunnyviewschool.com

6 February 24th - March 9th 2021

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Education

Lessons from life I

Spanish is the best language to learn SPANISH is the most important language for Brits to learn, according to the British Council. It topped the list of those deemed ´most economically vital to learn, followed by Mandarin, French, Arabic and German. The study, Languages of the Future also revealed 75% of Britons cannot speak any of the languages listed in the study. John Worne (below), director of strategy at the British Council said the UK stands to lose out economically and culturally if it doesn't act to tackle the shortfall. He said: “Schools have their job to do but it’s also a problem of complacency, confidence and culture – which policy makers, businesses, parents and everyone else in the UK can help to fix.”

T wasn’t seven years cramming French grammar at school or even four years at uni studying the language and literature that got David Wilson speaking it like a native. It was a job teaching English in Italy! Chatting to staff at the Centre Culturel Français in Milan and plucking up the courage to speak to locals on the train through France during his regular trips back home were what really worked the magic. “That and the fact that I really wanted to learn French and enjoyed doing it,” he says. Pablo J. Rumoroso Solana, a primary school teacher from Asturias, had a similarly formative experience when he first tried to put years of English language theory into practice while on holiday in Mallorca, and fluffed his only line. Happily, both went on to become respected linguists fluent in multiple idioms, with careers teaching English as an international language to students of all ages. H e r e they share the personal experiences that changed their views on how another language can be learned. David: “Frank Smith (the linguist, not the boxer!) once said ‘One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way’. I’ve spent a lifetime walking down that corridor and opening the doors. I’ve learned several languages besides English, my own native language, and I’ve taught three of them. In all that time, I’ve noticed that although many people ask the question ‘How are languages best learned?’ they very rarely ask themselves the equally important question ‘Why do I want to learn languages?’ Success in learning languages also depends on the goals you have as learners and, of course, teachers. But little of what has happened in formal language learning up to now really makes it attractive to most people. Many students learn languages simply to fulfil requirements of the school syllabus or pass exams. But most people want to learn another language so that they

If speaking Spanish leaves you tongue-tied, take inspiration from the struggles of David and Pablo – two professional language teachers who’ve learned that sometimes it’s simpler to ditch the books

can use it to communicate in the everyday world beyond the school gates. In his book, Frames of Mind: The theory of multiple intelligences, Howard Gardner points out that there are several different learning styles. Approaches to learning and teaching foreign languages should always take account of this insight. Like many people, I’m basically an interpersonal learner, to use Gardner’s term. I learn to speak and understand languages best by listening and speaking to other people. Ironically, my level of competence in Italian is far greater than that of any other language I learned through academic study alone. After four years of living and working in Italy and hearing hours of spoken Italian, I reached a C1 level (proficiency). My experience as a language learner and teacher of international English has confirmed my convictions that: • •

People learn languages successfully in different ways, They learn most quickly and effectively when they have experiences of listening to and communicating directly with other people

‘I’m fine’, ‘I’m sad’, ‘I’m hungry’) followed by ‘Why?’, where they can explain the reasons they feel that way. That simple exercise is my attempt to put emphasis on communication. It doesn’t matter if the students make mistakes. Step by step I try to provide them with tools to improve so that they At present, most of us are in find their own words and ways lockdown with limited opportu- of expressing their thoughts nities for contact with others. and feelings. But we can use YouTube video When a baby listens to their clips for listening practice and parents saying ‘hello’ or ‘look grammar lesDaddy”, nobody sons, a host of stops to explain other apps such to them what By listening, as Duolingo and those words looking and Tandem and mean. There’s websites such need. Conbeing exposed no as www.mylantext and body guageexchange. language proto the world com for practisvide meaning around them ing pronunciaby themselves. tion and chatYoung children ting with people have no fear or in their language around the barrier, they just learn … by lisworld. tening, looking, being exposed to the world around them. LitPablo: tle by little, first orally and then “I’ve always been interested in when they start to read and learning English, fascinated by write, children become more the culture and the language. accurate in the use of their naI found myself listening to tive language, whatever it is. music in English from a very young age, at school it was part of the official syllabus and We don’t spend time thinking my subject at university. But I remember one day … about how we have learnt our I must have been 18 or 19… mother tongue, we ‘just know waiting for a lift to the airport it’. But when we learn a new from a hotel in Mallorca when language, things change. We a tourist approached me and suddenly become aware of asked ‘Where are you going many things involved in the to?”. I shall never forget my language learning process. We answer ‘From Asturias’. Many become stressed and scared times afterwards I’ve asked of making mistakes. But sucmyself why I hadn’t replied cess comes through just ‘hav‘To Asturias’ which I knew was ing a go’ and not worrying the correct answer. But I was about what other people think. so worried about the grammar There is no one ‘perfect’ that I felt my level of English method to learn a language, was not good enough. I was but there are many good thinking about accuracy, for- methods. We must work with getting completely about com- a combination of approaches till we find the right formula munication. Nowadays, as a language for us. And we shouldn’t lose teacher, the first thing I try to track of our purpose for learndo in class is ask my young ing languages if we really students ‘How are you?’ (we want to be able to achieve any work on expressions such as kind of competence in them. •

When people really want to learn the language and maintain their long-term motivation they feel increasingly successful as learners as they build their confidence in communicating.

Mistakes

A Sierra Nevada ll about

Vol. 14 Issue 363

www.theolivepress.es

February 2021

Slide away You can finally slope off to Andalucia’s skiing heaven, writes Charlie Smith

ILENCE. There is not a single peep as I climb upwards through the valley to meet my maker. I poke my head out of the cable car window and the Sierra Nevada’s fresh alpine air hits my lungs. Then I hear it – a sweeping crunch down the crisp white piste, as a snowboarder whizzes past below. Another tears through, and then a third, all weaving down the mountainside at blistering speed. I’m definitely more terrified than the three Spanish guys sharing the carriage with me. We have left behind the cosy bars and restaurants in Pradollano, the main town of Andalucia’s only ski resort. We step out at Borreguiles, which sits some 2,700 metres above sea level. This is the basecamp for many of the Sierra’s runs, which range from the green-coloured ‘muy facil’ pistes to those in black, labelled ‘muy dificil’. Continues overleaf

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February 24th - March 9th 2021

Sierra Nevada Photo by Telemark

Snow speed ahead From Front

Blinded by the brilliant white sheen given off by the snow, I meet my teacher for the day, Joey, from the British Ski Center. Having only ever skied on the dry slope in Halifax, Yorkshire, on a school trip, it’s fair to say I am out of my depth. Joey takes me over to a small conveyor belt up a very gentle incline slope, that is probably classed as ‘muy muy facil’. He puts me through my paces and after an hour of intensive training, I’ve gone from Bambi on ice to actually skiing. It’s time to hit the slopes. The pair of us hop onto the Emile Allais ski lift, named after the French alpine ski champion of the 1930s. And maybe Emile would have been proud – if not a bit bored and bemused – as I safely ‘snow ploughed’ my way to the bottom. Saying goodbye to Joey, I pop into Restaurante Borreguiles for a much-needed and reasonably-priced cafe con leche and bocadillo, while I reflecting on my newly-discovered sporting prowess.

With the sun now beating down, I take my confidence – or should that be cockiness – back up the slope and prepare for my first solo run. All goes well until I cross a small but slippery patch of ice – a rarity on most of the Sierra Nevada slopes, which are generally icing sugar-soft. A €9 million cash injection for the 2019/2020 season saw the introduction of 33 new snow cannons, which produce the same amount of snow in half the time, meaning the environment benefits as well as the slopes.

As I hurtle over the ice, desperately trying to slow myself, I clip the skis of 10-year-old boy, sending us both flying. As I look up I realise his classmates have witnessed the whole thing. But rather than giving me a dressing down, the lad’s teacher imparts some words of wisdom and encouragement. This friendliness is a characterising feature of the Sierra Nevada, as locals and tourists – from Portugal, Britain, Germany and Scan-

dinavia – seem at peace among the tranquility of the idyllic landscape. Given that my ‘victim’ and I both walk away unscathed, all in all, I count my first ever day’s skiing as

a roaring success. The prices for all this fun in the snow are not to be sniffed at either. My adult’s one-day ski pass was just €33 at the special current

Going downhill fast Jon Clarke on the terrors of teaching your children how to ski

F there’s one golden rule of skiing it’s DON’T teach your children how to do it. It was a lesson I learnt the hard way when I found myself flailing down a green run in the Sierra Nevada with both my youngsters in tow a few years ago. Enthusiastic and fearless - like their dad - they had somehow persuaded me to take them up for a couple of runs before their scheduled lesson was set to begin at 11am. But when we all fell over in the first lift queue I got the hint that I might have been a touch foolhardy. Pulling them both up again we finally alighted the chair only for Alfie, my then five-year-old, to fall off the other side, stopping the lift for him to be scooped up by the lift operator. Within 30 seconds of moving again came the first cry of cold and then the announcement that he was ‘not going to ski down’ And after falling over again as we got off

the lift, I felt pretty certain he was going to have to be carried down. However, he suddenly got his ski legs and we took off - well tumbled really – down the slope. I had tried to get their skies into the classic snowplough position and told them to head sideways not straight downhill. But, of course, it doesn’t work like that and while Alfie went left, Maia, then eight, shot off to the right, screaming blue murder. A horrible moment having to decide which of your two children to save, I plumped for the youngest, a daredevil, with no fear, but no sooner had I picked him up, I skidded off after Maia, who was by now on a totally different run 100 metres away and in floods of tears. We regrouped and I attempted to get them to follow me down in a zig zag with promises of bravery medals and hot chocolate at the bottom. After five falls each and a shout from an

CHILD’S PLAY: It’s fun for kids on the slopes... but not if their dads are teaching them

angry teacher, when we bombed straight through his class sending the pupils tumbling, they made it to the bottom with, guess what, huge smiles on their faces. It was a lesson in damage control and I just about passed, but I vowed to leave the job of training them to the professionals. The rest of the hour before their lesson was spent on the very, very nursery slope (and its bizarre ‘magic carpet’ tunnel), luckily with a Dutch friend and her daughter, who was an equal novice. Up there on the one degree slope practically nothing can go wrong, and it was a huge relief when I handed them over to the very capable teachers at the Las Gondalas ski school, whose patience apparently knows no bounds. So why on Earth am I so keen for my youngsters to learn to ski? The unselfish reason is I want them to develop a skill that will keep them fit and that they can enjoy for years to come. The selfish reason is that I want an excuse to go to the Sierra Nevada as much as possible throughout the season. For there is nothing as lovely as taking in the mountain air and breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada. Bright sunshine, a gentle breath of wind and a glass of Veuve Cliquot in the champagne bar on the way down. Now something of a winter ritual since moving to Andalucia 16 years ago, a day or weekend away in the Granada skiing resort is always great fun. Heading up with friends, there are usually between 50 and 100kms of runs in a good year and the choice of places to eat in the resort is surprisingly good, not to mention good value compared to the normal skiing resort prices. Then, of course, you get the health benefits. All that fresh air and movement for

NO TUNNEL VISION: Maia and Alfie on the way up hours at a time has got to be good for you. My search engine produces millions of results when the keywords ‘health benefit’ and ‘skiing’ are entered. A random look at one describes it as so ‘Pure zingy mountain air contains lower levels of oxygen than we are generally used to… the body becomes more efficient in its circulation and oxygen delivery… which is great for sluggish deskbound types! Quite. It goes on to talk about stress-busting, facing fears and overcoming frustrations. And so ultimately came as a lovely sur-

prise that after one of the most exhilarating mornings skiing I could remember, I picked up my kids with huge smiles on their faces. I proposed lunch down in the resort with their mother to which, they screwed up their faces and insisted it should be a bocadillo and chips at the top, followed by an afternoon’s skiing with dad. I can tell you it got better. And by the end of the second day, these two tornadoes were hooked. It made my year, and we have been coming back ever since.

3 February 24th - March 9th 2021

You’ll ski for sure WITH so much shut due to the pandemic, people may be wondering whether they are actually allowed to head for the ski slopes. The good news for winter sports fans is that the Sierra Nevada resort is open for business - although some restrictions do apply. While some sports have been badly curtailed, skiing has not been so dramatically affected with Andalucian residents allowed to cross provinces if they want to reach the slopes. There are a couple of important rules to follow: • •

IDYLLIC: The Sierra Nevada puts skiers on top of the world

SURFS UP: Some daredevils ditch skis and snowboards as they ride the slopes

COVID rate. and you can see why it is one of Get the best views by taking adSeven-day options start from just the most attractive resorts in Eu- vantage of the ski lifts, which in €196, while there are generous rope. summer carry both people and discounts for children, elderly “One of my favourite new addi- bikes to the summit to enjoy the and disabled customers. tions is the Pista del Mar in the breathtaking routes back down. This is a bargain when you look at heart of Borreguiles. Borreguiles, the resort’s impreswhat the Sierra Nevada has to of- “This has been created to make sive ski bowl, boasts a bike park fer, with 124 different runs for ev- a fun and safe area where fami- in the hotter months. Youngery ability, whether you’re Shaun lies and beginners can enjoy the sters can test their strengths in White or Barry White. snow.” the mini-olympiads zone or race Beginner and intermediate slopes Santi is far from the only skier against each other on the pedal are in abundance with 19 green smitten by Pradollano’s charms. car track. runs and 41 blues – my kind of In a normal year, over one million Guided dawn and dusk walks and territory. people visit the resort each year. a bumper running and cycling And for Beijing Winter Olympics That is an impressive achieve- race calendar are a magnet keephopefuls there are 50 red runs ment considering it was only ing the resort busy 12 months of (difficult) and 14 black and or- constructed in 1964, making it a the year. ange (very difficult). newbie in comparison to some of Back in the icy present, it’s time It’s hard to believe that when fully France’s long-established resorts to sample some of Pradollano’s open 106,8 kms of like Chamonix and legendary apres ski scene. pistes and 124 runs Courchevel. For the perfect start, drop into lie just two hours The bar’s walls But there is much Bar Esqui where affable landlord from sunny Marbella more to the Sierra Nichu slings cañas across the on sea and half an include a family Nevada than slid- counter like a bartender in a westhour from Granada. down it on two ern saloon while blasting punters photo featuring ing It truly lives up to the planks of wood. with everything from Michael a fresh-faced marketing hype as a You can tackle it by Jackson to 90s club classics. place where you can and snow- A hearty pub grub menu – with King Felipe VI toboggan ski in the morning board, or on a snow- quality albondigas – is on offer as and sunbathe on the shoe hike (akin to you scrutinise the history adorncoast, pina colada in walking with a tennis ing the bar’s walls, including a hand, by the afternoon. racket strapped to each foot). family photo featuring a freshExpert skiers treasure the snow Family-oriented Mirlo Blanco park faced King Felipe VI. which, particularly in springtime, gives kids their adrenalin fix as An equally-tasty post-ski belis quite unlike the tightly-packed they brave the star attraction, Tri- ly-warmer is the lentejas, freshly ice found in many European win- neo Ruso (Russian served up by Jose ter sports resorts. sled), which whisks Carlos and his team Some ski fans even brave the riders around a sevthe cosy and modThe melt in the at mountain descent in bikinis for eral hundred metre estly-priced Casathe last day of the season in May track with tight turns mouth carillada blanca. (la bajada en bikini), an unmissa- and a 550 metre deLa Visera is also a is a must, as is great spot for steak, ble occasion charged with cham- scent. pagne, hedonism and near-nudi- A magic carpet slide the courgette while Swell, Tito ty. and bouncy castles Tapas and La Bodecarpaccio Even on my trip in cold December can also be found in guita are all definiteI spotted some shoeless surfer the zone, along with ly worth a trip too. dudes, wetsuits and boards in mountains of snow For those with a bit tow. for DIY fun. more spending money, La Mural“Constant improvements and an And if that sounds like too much la’s revamped menu makes that ability to produce a lot of snow action, you can always swap icy hard work on the slopes all worthare just two of the strengths of snow for a hot steam bath and while. The melt-in-the-mouth carour resort,” said Santi Sevilla, soak up some me-time at one of rillada is a must, as is the courwho has been working at Cetur- several hotel spas. gette carpaccio with fig sauce sa, the resort’s administrator, for But all year round, the Sierra and the peanut tart to finish. And eight years. Nevada is paradise for fresh air of course, nothing goes down “Add to that the arrival of the fiends. better at this time of year than a Freestyle Ski World Champion- After ‘the melt’, the resort be- steaming glass of tinto de Inviership and Snowboarding here, and comes a haunt for walkers, wild- no - spiced, mulled wine. Salud! the affordability of ski passes, life lovers and mountain bikers. www.britishskicenter.co.uk

Prospective skiers must have purchased a ski pass in advance, online, Be coming from a municipality whose borders are not closed

That is good news for those living in expat hotspots including Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmadena, Torremolinos and Alahaurin de la Torre, as well as Malaga City, for example, whose borders are all open. In fact, currently there are only 10 municipalities in the whole of Malaga province who are not allowed to travel, including Estepona, Marbella and Ronda. However, restrictions are expected to be lifted by this weekend or at least next week. In addition, the capacity of the ski resort is limited to 50% of normal, meaning you’ll need to book early on busy days. This, of course, works two ways, as it also means the slopes will be much quieter than normal. Finally, cable cars have a reduced capacity of between 60 to 75% while masks are compulsory.

The Seventies skiers

HEY have been coming to the Sierra Nevada for decades from their home in Almeria. And, best of all, retired expats (above) Martin and Brenda Carney, 72 and 70, now get their ski passes completely free of charge. “All we have to do is rent our gear and we have been using the same shop Ski Sol since we first came,” explains former UK hotelier Brenda. “We love it up here and the snow is usually excellent.” Shop boss Montse (pictured with them) explains that they have dozens of clients in their 70s, and one Norwegian in his NINETIES. “He’s been coming down here for years,” she reveals. “He is amazingly fit and I think skiing really helps him stay that way.” Many of the local business owners still ski every day, well into their sixties. They include Jose Carlos, at Bodega Casablanca, and EOE skiing school boss Jose Luis Hernandez, 64, who explains: “It’s a great sport, using almost all your muscles, your arms, your legs and your dorsals, not to mention the heart. “My brother Manolo still skis and he’s in his 80s and I intend to ski when I’m 90.” Statistically 2.7% of skiers in the Sierra Nevada are over 60 years old. Last but not least there are a lot more Asian skiers coming these days, including the group (left) from China who live in Malaga.

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February 24th - March 9th 2021

Sierra Nevada

Après scoff WHERE TO EAT

There are normally mountains of good places to eat in the resort, writes Jon Clarke (article written Feb 2020)

N their matching outfits and sparkly tops, there is a real sense of fun at Ci Vediamo. But the real reason to visit is the wonderful creative food of chef Stevie Silva and his team of hip, young chefs. Now in his 11th year on the slopes, this talented young chef spends his summers in Asia or south America, with girlfriend Luna, picking up new dishes to test out on his faithful clients. The pair deserve all the success they have had, opening just as the worst recession in Spain’s history kicked in. Their excellent dishes this season include a ceviche of scallops in a bloody Mary sauce and an amazing false

TOP TUCKER: OP editor Jon enjoys Nevada Suiss, while (right) team at Ci Vediamo

risotto with coconut milk, kimchi and prawns. Also look out for the amazing uzukuri of turbot with yuzu and an amazing soft crab tempura. But let’s not forget they also have some of the best pizzas in the resort and lots of more traditional dishes to boot, not to mention a great wine list. They also have a new Japanese inspired restaurant Shimbuya, halfway up the resort, that keeps getting better and better. Staying faithful to the Japanese style of minimalism, it

PALS: Javier and Luis at Tito Luigi (right and above)

has electric blue tiles on the wall and lots of plain wood and even a slot machine at the door. I particularly liked their California Roll with a king prawn, salmon and sesame seeds. Next door, keep an eye out for the excellent local Swell next door, which is a cool place to hang out, grab a burger, salad or wok and watch the football. Close by is another recently-opened restaurant, La Cariguela, run by the team behind the most popular bar in town Bar Ski, set up by Nichi two decades ago. Here you will find Nichi’s partner Fatima running a classic soul kitchen concentrating on excellent quality

fish and the resort’s only Moroccan dishes, including a delicious chicken tagine. This is a classic local place, warm and friendly, where service is at a premium and where you will eat some of the resort’s best food, including my personal favourite the tartare of bluefin tuna with avocado, apple, cucumber and caviar. In particular, stop to chat to Fatima’s son Mohamed, who is a livewire of information and at 22 as ambitious as anyone I’ve met in the Sierra Nevada. In the heart of the resort, few places come more traditional than Tito Luigi, where at least two kings of Spain have eaten. Take a look on the walls and you’ll find evidence of the royal family’s many sojourns down to the golden slopes… and plenty more aside. Indeed, over the last three decades, this wonderful restaurant, run by pals Javier and Luis, has also provided dinner for bullfighters, Hollywood stars and politicians.

HIP: Tito Tapas has great wines by the glass

And it’s perhaps no surprise for a joint that consistently provides for 250 covers every evening during the busy season. Specialising in good Italian fare, it serves up great pizzas, pasta dishes and my favourite squid-ink spaghetti with prawns. The pair have another, hipper restaurant Tito Tapas just up the road and a third more formal restaurant up the hill in the middle of the resort. See next page

BUSY: La Muralla is always bustling in normal times (above) but social distancing is now the norm (far left and inset)

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The Olive Press all editions - FP_342x256 - PROMO WOMAN - FEBRUARY 24th

A Sierra Nevada mountains of choice ll about

February 24th - March 9th 2021

From previous page

TUCK IN: Enjoy a warming plate of lentils at Casablanca, while (below) team at Al Dente

Next door look out for the also well established La Muralla, run by Argentinian Gonzalo Funes, and appropriately with the best steaks in the resort, not to mention excellent wines by the glass. The melt-in-the-mouth carrillada is a must, as is the courgette carpaccio with fig sauce and the peanut tart to finish was a surefire winner. The ‘tostas’ are also great and come in various guises, while I loved the milhoja of foie gras. He and his brother Luciano also run the brand new Muralla Burger, almost next door, which specialises in the best quality burgers on the slopes. It’s a lovely spot and makes a great addition to what is easily the most competitive run of restaurants in the Sierra Nevada. And don’t forget the brothers’ other bustling spot Las Gondalas, right in the heart of the town and perfect for some apres ski light bites, a hot drink or a beer. The cool sounds playing to the terrace attract a cool crowd and you will struggle to find a seat on many days. Just up from here, look out for the amazing Bodega Casablan-

ca run by Jose Carlos Villanueva, who grew up on the slopes, with his father opening one of the first hostals in the 1960s. The historic photos add to the atmosphere (as does a framed Olive Press article!) and the heart-warming soul food is always excellent, and includes stews, lentils as well as prawns wrapped in potato with a soya mayonnaise and lovely lamb chops with whisker-thin wild asparagus. Looking for views, the recently-opened, Al Dente faces right onto the slopes and has a superb mix of Italian and Spanish dishes. My tomato, mozzarella bruschetta with basil and black olives was original, while I particularly loved the Saltimbocca, which is fillet steak stuffed with ham and with a rich ricotta sauce. There were some delicious ‘niscalo’ mushrooms added for extra measure. Owned by friendly Granada lawyer Antonio, his team are knowledgeable and service is crisp. He also co-owns the well established La Visera next door, along with chef Pepe, who is a very capable chef and always leading the charge in the kitchen. Another excellent place overlooking the slopes is Tia Maria, which has a good mix of dishes and is a great place for breakfast. Run by Carlos, the brother of

FACES: Boss at Vertical, team at La Croissanteria, Carlos at Tia Maria and Nichu shows off his skills at Bar Ski

Tito Luigi’s Javier, this is an institution and place to while away the day. Newer and really leading the charge food-wise is La Mar Sala, where Carlos has created an ambient spot, perfect for tapas and wines by the glass. This prime spot by the Melia hotel is normally filled to the

ORIGINAL: Las Gondalas tables and (right) Carlos and chef at La Mar Sala

AUTHENTIC: Historic Casablanca while (right) the amazing views from La Visera

rafters and counts on some excellent wines by the glass and the very best seafood from Motril, including boquerones, cigalas and conchas finas. A genuine find. He has also just opened another place called La Mar del Bueno, which is a stylish place and promises to be a true winner this winter, with a decent, creative looking menu. For coffee, breakfast, and in fact just about everything, Vertical is hard to be beaten and also has a great range of snacks and light bites, including hot dogs for the British clientele. Another brilliant option, particularly for great coffee and amazing pastries, is La Croissanteria, in the heart of the main square. Run by friendly Argentinians Cristian y Jessica, service is very much with a smile and there are even a couple of unusual south American chestnuts I had never tried before.

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Education

The hunt is over Map for expat parents charts all British schools worldwide

F you would like to see where to get your children an education offering the British curriculum world-wide, then an interactive map is available online. Spain - a top destination for British expats - has one of the most complete coverages of British schools in the world, with more than 60. The map was created by expat advice service Expat&Offshore as a resource for British families who want a smooth transition when moving abroad. The majority of the schools are scattered throughout Europe, but there are also large concentrations in India, Pakistan and down the coasts of Africa, particularly in Nigeria. They all follow the British curriculum from Key Stages 2-5 to the end of GCSEs. More than 1,000 schools are listed on the map, along with important information such as address, website and student population.

7 February 24th - March 9th 2021

Overcoming difficult challenges Standards and safety top of the curriculum at Prior Park

HEN Gibraltar, along with most of the world, went into lockdown, the Prior Park School community faced some difficult challenges and urgent decisions on how best to continue the delivery of its curriculum to students. Many of us had to learn how to use various new technologies in a short space of time and for education it was no different. As a school they quickly enacted a Remote Teaching Policy, which allowed staff to continue teaching their lessons directly to the circumstances. Somehow, all of a sudden, students’ homes via Microsoft Teams. the school’s contingency planning for any The usual daily timetable and routines con- changes post-BREXIT seemed so much tinued and daily contact between teachers more manageable! and students was sustained. The PE depart- With all Gibraltar’s schools reopening on ment was even able to deliver virtual Zum- Monday, much planning had been put in ba lessons via video link and many other by the staff at Prior Park. Outstanding extensive department areas academics, found creative ways to A schoolco-curricular spokesperson said: “Plans for a keep students engaged in their lessons. safe return for all staff and students have and an inspiring environment. Prior programme An important area of normal Prior Park learning been given the highest priority. School life is their pastoral “We know that a return a School offers a quality British education right ontoyour Park care system and this remaiphysical school setting will be ned a key consideration for daunting for some for students age 11 tospeak 18 in Gibraltar andstudents. doorstep, Children students throughout the two Our main considerations directly to their continue to be the health Spain Southern month lockdown period. Every student had a chance and wellbeing of our school tutor each to speak directly to their tutor community and our strong week to talk each week to talk through Tutor and House systems will Please contact for information on our open events, visits from prospective families are co-c Outstanding academics, extensive concerns orus worries and this ensure that there are multiple about issues welcomed at any time. is something that also eased layers of and care an andinspiring support learning e programme the worries of parents. everyone – inclu- British edu Parkavailable Schooltooffers a quality The feedback received on the Remote Tea- ding staff!” said the spokesperson. students 11 to 18 in Gi ching Programme Email was overwhelmingly “Weadmissions aredoorstep, very much for looking forwardage to a Molly Mor in positive and reassured the entire commu- return toSouthern some ‘normality’ Spainand with a remmor@priorparkschools.com nity that Prior Park can continue to offer a newed gratitude for the privilege of educaquality education, even in the toughest of tion and a tight-knit school community.”

Life is inspiring... “

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Life is inspiring... “

BRITS ABROAD: Mapping the spread of British schools

A spokesperson for the British School of Valencia said: “Our teaching and training activities reinforce the ties between Spanish and British culture, encouraging the integration of our students and stimulating the

Looking for a J-O-B in ELT, but you don’t know your CELTAs from your DELTAs? Breaking down confusing terminology in English Language Teaching by Scott Donald Looking for a change of career and considering English language teaching? The profession is rich in opportunities. You can travel the world, integrating with new cultures, or you can teach from your own home via the increasing number of online classes. But the moment you start doing your research, your first question is probably going to be: “What on earth do all these abbreviations mean!?” Many areas of our lives are full of acronyms, abbreviations, and jargon. English language teaching is no exception. The industry is full of terms like: ELT, TEFL, CELTA, DELTA, which can be confusing if you don’t know what they mean. Just as words like gif, mobile/cell, and SMS were once an enigma to us, it’s easy to crack the secret code of English Language Teaching terminology. In this article, we’ve broken down some of the most common (and commonly confused!) terms to help you better navigate the world of English language teaching.

person from the academic and personal point of view.” The map and full list of schools can be viewed at www.expatandoffshore. com/british-schoolsabroad.

ELT ELT stands for “English Language Teaching” and usually refers to the industry as a whole. Although this definition is fairly straightforward, you might want to avoid using the term ELT Teacher. English Language Teaching Teacher(!?). Bit of a mouthful, right? Also, this type of thing can sometimes upset the grumpy grammarians! ELT is the preferred industry name for many, but there are others: TESOL, ESL, EFL, EAL, where English is referred to as a Foreign/Second/Additional language. Technically, there might be small differences between these terms, but they are often used interchangeably. The most popular term, however, aside from ELT, is also probably the most problematic...

TEFL (usually pronounced TEF-UHL) One of the most frequent comments on social media teaching groups is, “Hi, I’m moving to Spain. I’m getting a TEFL, and I’m looking for job offers!” The problem is that there isn’t really such a thing as “getting a TEFL”. TEFL stands for “Teaching English as a Foreign Language”, so it doesn’t make any sense in the context of the sentence above. It may sound like something official, but, like ELT, it’s simply an initialism for the industry.

”

Tel: +350 200 62006 Please contact us for information on our open events, visit welcomed at any time. www.priorparkgibraltar.com

Email Molly Mor in admissi mmor@priorparkschools.c If you want to get into the English language teaching industry, employers will be looking to see if you have any qualifications. But remember – if a course or certificate has the word “TEFL” in it, it’s giving no indication of how official or recognised it is! It’s simply the equivalent of a chef saying, “I’ve got a certificate in food.” In fact, there are only a couple of certificates that many of these employers will even consider. So what are they? Which certificates would be deserving of Michelin Stars? The answer is...

CELTA and CertTESOL These are usually short, intensive courses where trainees get to practice on real-life students. These courses take a minimum of four weeks to complete, although some centres also offer the option of part-time study too. During the course, you will learn to teach English through a variety of eclectic methods which require no knowledge of your students’ first language. They are a fantastic way of learning by doing, where you are given constant support and feedback from your tutors and peers. The CELTA is provided by Cambridge University, and the CertTESOL by Trinity College London.

In many language schools all over the world, your CV won’t even be considered without one of these certificates. According to Cambridge, three out of four English language teaching jobs request the CELTA, making it the most widely recognised English teaching qualification in the world.

study the DELTA in a variety of ways. Tel: +350 200 62006 Some teachers opt to fit the course www.priorparkgibraltar.co around their existing teaching schedule; others prefer to dedicate a block of time to the intensive course. Travel restrictions have opened up new possibilities for doing the course online too.

Many people have travelled far and wide to do their CELTA courses, with Spain often topping the list! At CLIC, we offer a range of courses in the beautiful Spanish cities of Seville and Malaga.

The DELTA is also modular, meaning you don’t need to do the entire course all at once, which allows for greater flexibility. So whether you are interested in online, face-to-face, part-time or full-time, CLIC has a number of different options available.

The current Covid travel restrictions have also led to Cambridge launching an online option where the entire course is delivered virtually. This means that everything from the training to teaching practice can be done from the comfort of your own home.

DELTA There’s no doubt that the aforementioned courses open the doors to language schools throughout the globe, but for those who have some experience and are ready for a new challenge, the next stop is the Cambridge DELTA. The DELTA takes what’s covered on the CELTA to the next level, while also looking at some of the underlying theory and principles of language teaching. Teachers who do the DELTA are often looking to progress to more senior teaching positions or management roles. Like the foundation courses, you can

Conclusion. . . English language teaching is full of potentially confusing terminology – and that’s before you’ve even started your training! The good news is that, as with many of the cases discussed in this article, often there is just a variety of words for the same concept. The most important thing is, whichever word you use for ELT, you know that a reputable course like the CELTA is your best way of getting that dream J-O-B. If you are looking for more information or course dates and prices for either the CELTA or DELTA, find out more at tefl.es.

ti Christian-Catholic Indep onal endent Senior School 8 An excitillngabout opportunity for a quality British education February 24th - March 9th 2021 ; ideally located for families in Gib raltar and Southern Spain. New Sixth Form now open !

Education

running a rule School name: Prior Pa

rk School

Location: Gibraltar Founded: 2016 School Principal: Mr Curriculum:

Peter Watts

Students aged 11 and year 7, we follow the Bri18. Starting in Key Stage 3 in and A Level examinationtish Curriculum, with GCSE’s s Contact: 00350 2006 www.priorparkgibraltar.c2006 or om Prior Park School is the independent secondary first and only co-educational a new choice for familie school in Gibraltar, offering Spain. We offer studen s here and across Southern Curriculum with subjects the very best of the British cilities. Outside the cla t specialist teaching and faricular opportunities is ssroom, our range of co-curOur small class sizes anvast, from sailing to robotics. pastoral care, means thad outstanding reputation for behind. Our students havt no child at Prior Park is left as the views from our ter e ambitions as boundless races.

Life is Insp

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12-18 Day Co tish National m:naBri -ed ulutio uca rric Cu l Ca tholic Senior School m ulu Curric

m 9 –www.calpeschool.co Contact: 952 786 02 info@calpeschool.com Reasons for choice:

Reasons for choice:

From Gibraltar to Malaga, the Olive Press presents report cards from five leading private schools School name:

Sunny View Sc

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a To Find ou t m or e vi sit our : Andr

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m the ldren of all abilities, fro Successfully teaching chice 1973. ages of 2 to 11 years sine Primary School, providing a Calpe School is a privatenvironment where every child vibrant and suppor tive l, and inspired to achieve their is valued as an individua ting full potential. ing and professional set enool Pupils flourish in this car Sch lpe Ca to pupil ratio. due to the high teacherachievement and progress with of s ard nd sta h hig s joy ations. strong educational foundhigh level of care and safety, a es vid pro The school ice. making it the ideal cho you from the moment you step A warm welcome awaitsng our ‘Happy to learn’ motto. through our door, fulfilli

Email: mshatwell@priorp arkschools.com Tel: +350 20062006

Contact: 952 com – www.su 38 31 64 – admin@sunn nnyviewschool yviewschool. .com Reasons for choice: Established 50 long tradition years ago, Sunny View Sc with a strong of bringing out the best in hool has a personal deve focus on both academic its students, and safe envirolopment within a nurturinsuccess and and Secondar nment. Throughout Presch g, inclusive teaching staff y, the school’s fully qualifiedool, Primary as they work strive to make learning enga UK-trained to equip studen gi edge and confi ts with the sk ng and fun de nc e th ey ever-changing will need to su ills, knowland caring enviworld. Sunny View is prou cceed in an d of its warm develop a lifel ronment, where children ca ong love of lear n thrive and ning.

Opportunities Abound: Why Consider Studying in The US Now? A With everything that's happened in the last year internationally, it might not feel like the right time to approach a study abroad program. But 2021 might just be the best year yet to get acclimated with the opportunity a study abroad program brings with it

PARTNER: Auburn has been welcoming foreign students for decades

s COVID-19 vaccinations are sweeping the world, universities across the United States are prioritizing their students' safety WELCOME: President Biden and health with added securi- NEW is bringing a new face to America, ty and public health measures. while (right) Agave partner FIU Students attending campus activities are largely required to take ted States alone might make it their temperature and monitor feel like now isn't the right time to their health daily, reporting every travel. Under the new administrasymptom as soon as it occurs. tion, things are changing rapidly. Students, faculty, and visitors are President Biden has advocated for required to wear masks in com- study abroad experiences, plans pliance with Centers for Disease to tackle immigration reform, and Control and Prevention (CDC) is in the works to make temporary guidelines, and hand sanitization and permanent work visas more is highly encouraged. These cam- readily available. He is already puses are probably the cleanest cultivating a more welcoming enthey have ever been right now. vironment for students and visitors Right now, many from abroad. universities are utiUniversities have lizing combination Biden is more been focusing on online learning and the improvement of welcoming to are looking to do so their study abroad into the near future, programs in recent students who so whether you are years. After student ready to apply now wish to study in activities and reguor you're looking lar scheduling was the US ahead to apply in taken out of the coming years, there picture last year, should be more learning options there was more time to focus on than usual. This will make lear- the needs of students across the ning more accessible and often spectrum. The universities Agave easier to acclimate to. Education partners with offer foThe political turmoil in the Uni- cused attention on international

students. This includes additional material to help them acclimate to their environment, and an array of unique career and academic advancement opportunities. Reach out for your free consult today!

Contact Rachel at rachel@agaveeducation.org or on +34 663267018 or visit www.agaveeducation.org

9 February 24th - March 9th 2021

San Sc hool name: Laude llege Pedro International Co Málaga Location: San Pedro, Founded: 2004

Be creative

School name: International CoBenalmadena llege Location: Be nalmadena, M álaga Founded: 19 97

Head teache

Sc hool Principal:

r: Keith Ellis

Amanda Hughes

Curriculum:

E, from 3-18 years (IGCS Full British Curriculumtional Curriculum (ESO & Na ish A-Levels). Span years of age. Bachillerato) from 12 slmenar, Head of Admi Contact: Mercedes Codesanpedro.com lau s@ on sions. admissi Reasons for choice:

ational College is a reLaude San Pedro Intern ol offering an inclusiveho Sc al puted Internation ere students are en wh and bespoke education ieve academic success, couraged not only to ache of every opportunity to but also take advantag gh amazing learning exdevelop life-skills throu m covers from the Early cperiences. The curriculu stage through to the Se Years and Foundation th Form. The school has ondary School and Six100 international schools been voted in the top to be part of the Internain Spain and is proud ership, a growing educational Schools’ Partnw operates across Europe tional group which no South America, the Midas well as North and st Asia dle East and Southea

Curriculum: UK national cu rriculum with completing A-le sixth form vels Contact: 952

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Reasons for ch

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oice: Benalmadena International Co tation for academ llege has an ing facilities for ic success and caring staff,excellent repule with outstandar ni ng and preparat The co-educatio ion for focused learningnal college’s philosophy is to university life. give ea and confidence ment. in an enjoyable ch child environWith committed and science techstaff, the college prides itsel dren’s overall de nology, with sport playing a f on languages nationalities, puvelopment. Home to more thvital role in chiland many can pils are surrounded by diffean 28 different speak several la nior school. Just nguages befo rent cultures, square metre ca 300 metres from the beacre reaching secafeteria and ga mpus comprises the senior sch, the 17,500 sports centre mes room, and a new primar hool building, tion. The collegeand swimming pool are still uny building. The by a team of Br has been officially inspected der construcis also registereditish inspectors from the Briti and approved Authority, allowi and licensed with the Spansh Council. It entrance level ng the college to teach studen ish Education ts to university

OME 67% of Spaniards think schools should promote creativity as a top priority, while 51% of Brits prefer the three Rs. The PEW Research Centre asked parents in 19 different countries whether they think schools should focus on resourcefulness or basic academics. Public opinion in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Canada also showed a clear preference for an education system that emphasised creativity and independent thinking. The survey of global attitudes, showed big cultural differences towards education - and widening political polarisation. In Spain, 67% of people wanted schools to prioritise the teaching of creativity, compared with 24% who wanted schools to focus on the academic basics and discipline. But at the other end of the spectrum was the UK, where researchers found that 51% wanted schools to prioritise the basics and discipline, compared with 37% who thought schools should pay more attention to cultivating creativity. This approach came clos-

er to that of less-developed countries such as Kenya and Nigeria, where the expectation was that schools should get on with teaching the basics. Countries such as the United States, Australia and Japan hovered somewhere in the middle, with opinion divided. In China, there was the strongest demand to have an equal emphasis put on all aspects of education, without choosing between them. As well as wanting to test public opinion on the style of education, the Pew research investigated how much liberal or traditional views of education were proxies for political divisions. The researchers said that in most advanced economies, such as in western Europe and North America, ‘educational preferences are an ideological issue’. They found that by far the most politically divided countries were the United States and the UK, with right or left-leaning people having very different ideas about education. In countries such as the Netherlands, Canada and Germany, views on education were more likely to overlap between all political groups.

THE BENALMÁDENA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form

tel: (+34) 952-561-666 www.bic-benal.com info@bic-benal.com

Where learning is a pleasure

Calle Catamaran s/n, Nueva Torrequebrada, Benalmádena Costa, Malaga, Spain

10 February 24th - March 9th 2021

TUDYING at college or university should be the happiest time of a young person’s life. Free from the watchful eye of mum and dad, youngsters have the time, independence and resources to discover what really makes them tick, while, of course, making a few mistakes along the way. In short, for a handful of years, it is all fun and grades. But as the impact of coronavirus sweeps the globe, it’s almost certainly students who are facing the brunt of the restrictions and suffering the most. In March 2020, Spain closed all its schools and universities in accordance with government regulations to contain the disease. Overnight, the country’s 9.5 million students were left in limbo. At first they were able to cope, enjoying the lie-ins and extra reading time - one study reported that levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were generally low during the initial stages of the pandemic; however as the period of confinement was extended, the stress levels of students sky-rocketed. The study concluded that young people, particularly students suffered the highest levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Take Miguel, a 21-year-old

ll about

By Kirsty McKenzie

student in his third year at the University of Granada. He was ordered to stay in and self isolate in his room for a number of days last month to find out if he was negative after a flatmate had contracted COVID-19. “My stomach dropped,” Miguel told the Olive Press. “I found being locked up last year so difficult I really worried I wouldn’t be able to do it again. “To stay trapped in a tiny room, not able to go outside and see my friends. I thought I might go mad. It’s not normal for young people to be locked up like this. “Thankfully I was OK and I tested negative but it has made me extra careful. I couldn’t deal with going through this again.” Miguel said he knows a handful of people who have had the virus, three from university. “One friend lost his mum to COVID. He wasn’t even able to say goodbye to her in the hospital. That was the hardest thing to bear.” The class of 2020 and beyond bore the brunt of the disastrous home-learning experiment, who have spent months glued to screens. The ones who couldn’t meet their c l a s s m a t e s and now face the intense disappointment of curtailed or cancelled activities such as sport, socialising and collaborative learning. The Olive Press itself has already had to postpone its long-running exchange

Education

A degree of uncertainty It should be a period of fun, grades and learning heading to uni… but many students in Spain are struggling with a myriad of COVID issues including anxiety and depression

programme with American uni- socialising it would entail. versity Princeton once last sum- Granada, Spain’s largest stumer, and this year it is again dent city, soon reported a highlooking in peril. er infection rate per capita, than “It is such a shame for the stu- Madrid, with its string of big students who really look forward to dent parties taking place. their two month study trips over By October, the University of to Europe in the summer,” said Granada, which has nearly International Internship advisor 40,000 students, found that Mariella Diaz, at the Ivy League 236 youngsters had tested posinstitution. “We are trying to itive since classes began in late salvage as many internships as September. possible by doing them online, Some 60 of those cases were but it is definitely not the same reported over one single weekthing.” end after a series Unlike any previof large parties ous generation, where youngThe Olive today’s students sters disregarded are facing a and social Press’ annual masks distinct lack of distancing measocial contact sures. Princeton while paying for Videos of stuprogramme has teachers they will dents partying on never see and the city’s streets been affected accommodation went viral online they will never and officials said use, plus strugpolice were too gling with many more cancelled busy to stop the vast number of plans. parties. There is also the uncertainty “Not even the army could have over their future with the pan- stopped the students from gathdemic and its ever-changing ering,” said local health official restrictions knocking the resil- Cesar Diaz. ience of this age group - and the “Yet, I don’t know anyone who battle to keep students inside has had COVID,” says Archie, is proving more and more chal- an 18-year-old from the nearby lenging as the months roll on. Alpujarras area, studying to be When classes restarted in Sep- an electrician at IES Hermenetember, universities proved ill- gildo Lanz. equipped to handle the return “They say we spread it like wildof students on mass - and the fire but I don’t know anyone who

A student’s guide to Granada

while studying from home. Of those students, 53% said they now suffered ‘high’ anxiety and 44.7% said they had depression. Over 53% of students said they were struggling with social dysfunction. Nadja, an Erasmus student from Germany found it ‘a pretty scary and weird’ time to move to the country adding that it was ‘impossible for her to have the normal student experience’. The 22-year-old, who is studying Cognitive and Media Science, said her ‘well being was affected pretty hard’ as she was unable to meet classmates or integrate with the student com-

Culture

Cost of living

IF you were to visit just one city in Spain, Ernest Hemingway wrote, it should be Granada - and there are few student cities to rival the undisputed capital of culture in Andalucia. With multiple diverse higher education institutions, Spain’s largest student population soaks up the buzz beneath the inspiring skyline, dominated by the Alhambra. And while the Moorish fort is the main sight to see, attracting 2.7 million visitors each year, there’s much more for students to explore. Over 75,000 of the city’s 240,000 people are students and the University of Granada has been named as the most popular university in Europe for Erasmus students. Youngsters are spoilt for choice between the courses on offer between the Universidad de Granada, the Escuela International de Gerencia and Escuela Superior de Arte y Diseño de Andalucía.

has symptoms so it makes us all pretty sceptical,” he said. “Why are we being cocooned? Is it even helping? It’s been a year. At what point are we going to go back living our lives?” Like many students, Archie’s main concern is the future. With an overcrowded job market, little casual work available, and unemployment sky-rocketing, students with fragile financial situations are no longer able to support themselves. “I worry about my friends who don’t study because it is a tough time to find any kind of work but at the same time those who are studying history or whatever - what future do they have? I chose to study something practical which means I will be able to start my own business as an electrician after I graduate and hopefully be able to find work. “I am lucky that a lot of my classes are in school and are practical. That keeps me motivated.” But he warns not everyone feels the same. “The enthusiasm is just so low. I know that some people only have online classes so don’t bother showing up. It’s easy to skip classes and not feel guilty, especially if you are just sitting in front of a screen. It’s mind numbing.” Spanish research found that over half of students said their mental health has declined

Rent is notoriously inexpensive. One-bedroom flats cost between €450 to €600 a month while shared flats start at an average of €300. This is a student city and so discounts are guaranteed. Expat-owned Bar Poe offers huge plates of ‘exotic tapas’ for under a tenner, and popular Taberna Mercantil has plenty of potent wine to keep the students happy.

While the Alhambra is the main attraction - students are unlikely to get up at the crack of dawn to book tickets and dodge tourists. You can still see a great deal of the sprawling complex without stepping foot into t h e fortress itself - and penny pinching students would do well to visit Generalife, the Alhambra’s or the Carmen de los Martires Gardens. For art lovers, the Museum of Fine Arts sits in the heart of the Charles V palace with over 2,000 incredible pieces of classic work. Elsewhere Abadia del Sacromonte Is the neighbourhood’s key historic site while the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte shares the stories of the ancient gitano quarter.

Nightlife From traditional taps to discobares and raves in caves, students have an overwhelming choice of nightlife in Granada. Sala Vogue kicks off the week playing indie pop-rock and techno across two dancefoors Monday to Sunday from midday until 6am. Aliatar always has a full crowd, where DJs play unashamedly brash in the converted cinema. For a more unusual night out, students head down to El Camborio in Sacromonte for flamenco dancers, live music and cheap drinks.

Transport Most of the city is accessible by foot and most students stick to the Calle Gran Capitan and San Juan de Dios, both in the university area, that come alive at nighttime. The city’s main bus station, on Ctra de Jaen is a little further out the centre but handles most services, including those to Sierra Nevada. Train tickets to Madrid and Barcelona start at €30, with stops to Córdoba, Zaragoza, Lleida and Tarragona. Just 18km from the city centre, is Granada airport. Despite only having one terminal it has multiple airline providers including British Airways and direct flights to major destinations including Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Ibiza, Menorca, Mallorca, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

11 February 24th - March 9th 2021

NIVERSITY OUR

r is establishing itself as a d quality standards, a focus ersonal learning experience.

living in a safe, sunny rant business hub. Discover ing to study closer to home.

The University of Gibraltar is establishing itself destination for UK-aligned quality standards, a on employability and a personal learning expe

University of Gibraltar: An institution in growth

he University of Gibraltar is a dynamic institution that combines British academic standards with all the benefits that come with a warm, Mediterranean location. In the five years since its launch, the institution has embarked on an ambitious programme of academic development and now attracts students from across the world who seek a more personal learning experience and quality, on-campus learning. It adheres to the highest UK academic standards and its qualifications are recognised across the world.

Its students benefit from living in a safe, sunny environment within a vibrant business hub. Di why more people are opting to study closer to

for entry in 2021. In contrast, the University of Gibraltar has chosen to scrap international fees completely. This means that those from abroad will pay the same fee as its home students. It is not a private institution and therefore offers parity with UK tuition fees.

The University of Gibraltar offers a small, yet Undergraduate diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that align with the Gibraltar’s vibrant economy and unique lo- (Hons) - Bachelor of Business Administration cation at a cultural, historical and biogeogra- UK’s highest academic standards. Subjects inphical crossroads, enables the–Nautical University to cludeor business, leadership, maritime science, - BSc (Hons) Maritime Science Engineering offer its students valuable industry experience marine science, teaching and nursing. its undergraduate programmes - BSc (Hons) Adultthroughout Nursing and deliver a unique university experience. Gibraltar as a centre for business Alternative to UK Gibraltar attracts many local and internatioPostgraduate nal investors in part due to its first-rate proIt has been widely reported that pandemic has fessional infrastructure, fully compliant with - Postgraduate Certificate inonEducation – PGCE regulations. It is home to numerous had a negative impact the student expe- European rience at many universities across the world. international trading companies and financial - MA Leadership and Management Students across the UK have experienced services institutions, and has a healthy and various levels of lockdown from their student - prosperous - Masters of Business Administration MBAeconomy. accommodation and many of their lectures were delivered online. Whilst the University of Gibraltar, then, is an excellent place to get - MSc Marine Science and Climate Change Gibraltar shifted to online delivery for a brief your start in business. The Bachelor of Busi- PhD Research period this year, they have welcomed students ness Administration (Hons) undergraduate back this week and have started in-person teaching. This makes the University of Gibraltar a good alternative to the UK for international students. In a global IDP Connect survey dated October 2020, more than half (56%) of international students said they were likely to choose study destinations on the basis of which institution offered in-person learning.

business degree stands out as it offers annual industry placements and the choice of majors that include marketing, management, finance and accounting.

Europa Point Language Centre - English and Spanish language classes For those looking for a postgraduate degree, the University offers full-time and part-time - General or specific classes options including an MBA and a new MA in

munity. spanish people. She said: “To some classes I “I found it also pretty hard to have never been, not even in communicate with the profesthe beginning, so I didn’t know sors just online because I think anybody from my university they don’t care about you that which made it really hard to find much as they have never seen workgroupsai161364213524_UniGiband of course also you. “As an erasmus student half page Olive press1.2.pdf 1 18/02/2021 10:55:36 make friends or get to know you depend on help from other

students and professors.” She added that she found the blame being placed on erasmus students as the ones responsible for spreading the virus as “pretty difficult’. Still, Nadja has a degree of optimism. “It’s getting better and better.”

The University of Gibraltar fees freeze

Leadership and Management plus an MSc in Marine Science and Climate Change.

Brexit has seen the UK implement new immigration protocols for students coming from within the European Union and many UK Universities have set higher international fees

The University is accepting direct applications to its programmes starting this September. Find out more at unigib.edu.gi

Visit unigib.edu.gi today

CMY

A BRITISH UNIVERSITY RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP The University of Gibraltar is establishing itself as a destination for UK-aligned quality standards, a focus on employability and a personal learning experience. Its students benefit from living in a safe, sunny environment within a vibrant business hub. Discover why more people are opting to study closer to home.

Undergraduate - Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) - BSc (Hons) Maritime Science –Nautical or Engineering - BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Postgraduate - Postgraduate Certificate in Education – PGCE - MA Leadership and Management - Masters of Business Administration - MBA - MSc Marine Science and Climate Change - PhD Research Europa Point Language Centre - English and Spanish language classes - General or specific classes

Visit unigib.edu.gi today

Life is inspiring...

“ Outstanding academics, extensive co-curricular

programme and an inspiring learning environment. Prior Park School offers a quality British education right on your doorstep, for students age 11 to 18 in Gibraltar and Southern Spain

”

Please contact us for information on our open events, visits from prospective families are welcomed at any time.

Email Molly Mor in admissions mmor@priorparkschools.com Tel: +350 200 62006 www.priorparkgibraltar.com

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es

Going deep ENERGY giant Iberdrola is planning the first industrial-scale floating offshore wind farm in Spain with an investment of €1 billion-plus. The 300MW plant will produce clean energy off an as yet unidentified part of the Spanish coast, from 2026. The study, design and engineering could begin this year and it could generate more than 2,800 jobs through design and construction. The scheme involves 66 companies and technology centres, and will contribute to the fight against

In a new green column, Martin Tye asks are you aware that Spain is the Dirty Man of Europe?

ALL I NEED IS THE AIR THAT I BREATHE…

Green matters By Martin Tye

climate change, with 202,500 tonnes of carbon emissions saved per year once operational. Iberdrola has now submitted the plan to the Next Generation EU programme.

Burning issue By Dilip Kuner

THERE is nothing many expats love more than a roaring fire or a fuel efficient log-burning stove. But beware. While a log fire might be charming it could be bad for your health, two studies have found. A UK Department of the Environment report says that wood-burning in the home accounts for 38% of PM 2.5 pollution – a form of fine particle pollution that is considered particularly dangerous as it penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream. This figure is triple the same contamination emitted by vehicles, which makes up 12% of the UK’s total.

February 24th - March 9th 2021

Log stoves and fires are more harmful for health and environment then road traffic

A second report shows that wood-burning stoves and fires are much more polluting than thought. The Dutch study by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) says that fires are responsible for an alarming 23%

Down in the dumps SPAIN has been ignoring critical European-wide waste recycling targets. The country has not just been missing an EU set 50% recycling (or re-use) target, but the situation is getting worse. An alliance of 16 environmental organisations have filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) demanding the government is forced to act. The complaint, which has been accepted by the EC, is a ‘historic milestone and is motivated by years and years of erratic policies, stagnant selective collection and recycling rates and total disinterest in promoting prevention and reuse’ according to Ecologists in Action. According to the latest government data, the recycling rate for municipal waste in Spain stood at 35% in 2018. The complaint states that ‘not only has this insufficient figure worsened, but Spain has not implemented any of the policies that the Commission has been recommending in recent years to reach the 50% target by 2020’.

of fine particulate emissions in the Netherlands. This is double the previous estimate of 10% and is set to lead to new urgent legislation around Europe. European guidelines now rule that particulates produced as condensation just outside the chimney should be included in the figures, as well as those in the air. This means log fires and wood burning stoves are important contributors to fine particulate pollution, along with traffic, industry and agriculture.

Comfort

According to another report by the environmental planning bureau PBL, the cheapest way of dealing with particulate pollution would be to ban diesel cars without a particulate filter and older generation wood-burning stoves. There could however be some comfort and a temporary let off for expats, most of whom live in the campo. The unhealthy effects of wood-burning are far worse in urban areas where emissions can concentrate, leading to health problems.

...So The Hollies sang back in 1974. An iconic song, covered by many artists, and wrongly interpreted as a love song. Not true. The lyrics were written by Mike Hazlewood (British) and Albert Hammond (Gibraltarian) shortly after they arrived in LA for the first time. And there, they saw for the first time SMOG. As they looked out over the Hollywood Hills all they could see was an ugly yellow monster. That was then, but what about now? Try and wrap your mind around these harrowing facts: ●● Air pollution accounts for 1 in 8 deaths worldwide ●● According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution has the greatest impact on global health ●● Air pollution is clearly linked to a large number of medical conditions, namely: • Cardiovascular disease • Cancer • Acute respiratory infections • Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD) ●● 91% of the world’s population live in places where air quality exceeds WHO limits.

So what about our beloved Spain? In 2015 Spain was labelled Europe’s most polluted country by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Ouch! I’ll wager not many readers knew that! Obviously pollution varies regionally, and comes in many forms. From plastics on our beaches to heavy emissions from industry and vehicle exhaust fumes. The worst affected areas in Spain are Madrid, Barcelona and the coastal area around Valencia. Pollution levels on the Costa del Sol fare well, behind only Galicia and the wider Levante region. In Andalucia, Malaga province performs well. Why? Lack of heavy industry and living on the coast we are subject to continual easterly and westerly winds which act as drains for harmful gases.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch copany Mariposa Energy. Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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Spain has had in place targets and frameworks to ensure sustainable development and improve environmental conditions. The economic difficulties of 2008-2014 impacted on this programme. In 2018, Spain announced an ambitious environmental policy that would see the country end its dependence on fossil fuels, and instead draw 75% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, rising to 100% by 2050. Politicians are renowned for making future commitments that they won’t be around to see finalised! Still, where there’s a promise there is hope. Pressure from within the European Union has stimulated Spain’s resolve. Until recently Spain occupied the unenviable position of being the only country in the world with a ‘Sun Tax’. Truly unbelievable! People who installed solar panels were taxed for the electricity they produced. Utter madness. Thankfully all that has now gone, enabling the solar panel industry to emerge again and give consumers the ability to reduce their electricity bills in an environmentally efficient way. Ultimately, Spain’s goal is to completely decarbonise its economy. Spain has stopped issuing new licences for oil and gas production, has closed most of its coal mines, and is running down its nuclear energy programme. Spain is increasing its efforts with particular focus on solar and wind. This renewable energy plan seeks to reverse rising carbon emissions. According to the British market research and data analysis firm YouGov, over 80% of Spaniards believe that climate change is a threat. Let’s see what they do about it! After all, All I need is the air that I breathe... 100% Certified Green Energy

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PROPERTY

Cheaper PROPERTY OF THE WEEK digs

Sales plunged

THE average cost of renting a property in Spain has fallen for the first time since the financial crisis. Rents had been rising every month since June 2013 according to property website Idealista. But in January this year falls were seen as landlords of tourist accommodation started to try to attract an alternative income. This phenomenon had been signposted in the early stages of the pandemic in the big cities where private landlords offering tourism accommodation had been particularly badly hit.

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Trend

Three of Spain’s main real estate portals, Fotocasa, Idealista and Pisos.com have said that this trend has now spread to coastal resorts and the countryside, meaning that average rents have now dipped across the whole country rather than just the cities. The Spanish average rental now stands at €11 per square metre, according to Idealista.

Yanks are coming

February 24th March 9th 2021

HOUSE sales in Spain plunged 18% last year, with some tourist hotspots the hardest hit. According to the country’s National Statistics Institute, 415,000 houses were sold in 2020, the lowest number in four years – but industry insiders say the recovery is well under way. Overall, property transactions were at the lowest since 2011 despite a modest recovery in the second half of the year as pre-pandemic demand was finally put through the books A spokeswoman for property portal Fotocasa, Anaïs Lopez, said: “Once the confinement began winding down, house sales grew. “The dynamism registered in the second half of the year meant sales data recovered rapidly, despite ending the year in the red. “The demand for purchase is experiencing an unprecedented boom and many Spaniards have switched from looking to rent to home buying – particularlñy for larger houses. The intention to buy a home has

A Costa del Sol property developer has revealed a surge in interest from American investors for property in the region. Bright says that up to 15% of their recent client enquiries have come from US citizens. The health crisis and the complex political situation of recent

Property lows last seen in 2011, but signs are good for 2021

OPTIMISTIC: Despite slowdown hopes are high experienced a growth in six real estate sector too directly months that we had never seen and we will continue to see how before.” it evolves in a positive way.” Lopez said: “”The pandemic In fact, regions blessed with and confinement has awakened beaches, plentiful natural a demand for housing that con- space or a low population tinues to be very active in our density like La Rioja, Galicia country. If we continue with and Cantabria saw house sales this rhythm of closing opera- soar between 37% and 28% in tions, it is possible that the eco- December compared with the nomic crisis will not affect the same month in 2019. But the Balearic and Canary Islands were particularly badtimes in the United States has ly hit , losing 20% and 17% accentuated the interest of the respectively of housing sales North American market in setyear-on-year. tling in Spain, a spokesman for New-build, single-family propBright said: “All of them are erties equipped with terraces looking for reliable investment and gardens held up better opportunities, modern construcagainst the downward trend tion qualities and a sustainable compared to older apartments. lifestyle with good connections.”

Going for gold

The Property Insider

by Adam Neale

Post Brexit advice on moving to Spain with a Golden Visa

INCE the start of 2021, following the more ‘irregular’,” Blanca continues “they still United Kingdom’s exit from the Europehave the right to formalise residency, but need an Union, Britons who wish to live, work to prove they had already begun living permaor buy property in Spain to use as their nently in Spain before December 31, 2020.” primary residence or a holiday home are now Then, there are Brits who were neither officialsubject to a very different set of rules than bely resident nor informally present before the fore. beginning of 2021. “These people are going to The UK’s withdrawal from the EU took place have a tougher time spending time in Spain in after a last-minute trade deal was reached at the future,” Blanca says. the end of the transition period that lasted for One way that affluent Brits can leverage their most of 2020. But a long list of issues remain to wealth to secure rights to reside and do busibe resolved between Europe and the UK, meanness in Spain is to get a Golden Visa. ing negotiations are set to continue for years to This confers a number of desirable rights: unlimcome. ited entry and exit from Spain; visa-free travel to For citizens of England, Scotland, Wales and and around Schengen countries (up to 90 days Northern Ireland, Brexit raised in 180, not counting time spent an equally long list of questions on Spanish soil); family reunifiabout their rights to travel to, cation, letting spouses, civil partVisa-free travel ners, dependent children and reside and work in the 27 European Union countries. This all live in Spain with the to and around parents article looks at how Britons who visa holder; and the right to work wish to spend time in Spain from and do business in the country. Schengen now on can do so beyond the Brits who purchased a property in countries is on Spain after September 28, 2013 maximum of 90 days in any sixmonth period that are permitted are eligible for Golden Visa status, offer for tourism. as long as their investment meets To make sure we got the best the following three conditions: advice possible, we consulted Firstly, the price or prices paid, as Blanca Loring, of Loring International, a Marbelper the deeds, for one or more properties must la-based legal practice that specialises in immibe €500,000 or more gration and nationality law. Secondly, at least €500,000 of the total must Blanca says there are various classes of British come from personal funds, although more can citizens under Spanish law, to whom distinct be mortgaged rules apply: “Britons already registered as resAnd thirdly, it must be made by an individual or idents of Spain and who hold either a EU citizen by a company controlled by one individual. registration certificate (Certificado de Registro As a result, Blanca points out, properties that de Cuidadano de la Union, which takes the were or are purchased by married couples or form of green card) or a Foreign Identity Card people in civil unions that have shared assets (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero or TIE, which (which is the usual regime for British people) is plastic and carries a photo), have the right to and that are registered in joint names will not permanently reside in the country and to travel qualify either person for a Golden Visa, unless visa-free in the Schengen area.” the share paid by one of the parties is more “For British people whose situation in Spain is than €500,000.

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BUSINESS

February 24th - March 9th 2021

Bounce back Spanish economy to surge in 2021

Toy shops chopped POPULAR toy shop chain Imaginarium is being cut down in size. The company has said that it will close all but two of its stores nationwide. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has become too much for the shopping centre stalwart with dramatic losses causing the brand to cull 82% of its workforce. Imaginarium will keep just two of its physical stores open, one of which operates out of the El Ingenio shopping Centre in Velez Malga. The other store chosen to remain open is in Zaragoza. The closures will mean that 119 of a total of 144 employees will be laid off. Imaginarium will still continue to operate its online store for now but it is unclear in the long term whether it will be affected.

SPAIN will enjoy the biggest post-COVID economic bounce in the European Union. This is the forecast of the European Commission (EC), which has raised its forecast for the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to a startling 5.6% in 2021. It is the biggest increase forecast for any of the 27 nations in the bloc.

A NEW supermarket price war led by German giants Aldi and Lidl has been predicted by one of Spain’s major retail market research analysts. Florencio Garcia from Kantar España believes that increased demand from consumers will see further price reductions over the next few weeks. Garcia said: “Price cutting between Aldi and Lidl is inevitable but shoppers also want quality, and rivals

A SPANISH region is targeting motorhome owners who park up ‘illegally’ overnight a part of a raft of new tourism accommodation regulations. Other parts of Spain are looking on to see what sort of effect the new regulations in Valencia will have. The law will come into effect in tourist zones across the Valencian Community from May 8. The new rule mirrors a recent nationwide ban announced in Portugal on motorhomes parking up wherever they want to to save money, or to perhaps stay ‘under the radar’.

ARE YOU OWED THOUSANDS FROM YOUR BANK?

RECOVERY: Huge EU grants will aid regions did not take into account the impact of the European recovery fund, which will offer

Battle lines to chains like Mercadona have learnt lessons from the past where they simply wanted to copy the success of the Spanish supermarket giant”. The country’s traditional top three of Mercadona, Carrefour and Dia all lost market share in 2020, with Lidl breaking in to overhaul Dia in terms of sales. The threat from Aldi and Lidl has seen Carrefour and Dia both enter a price war via special promotions and loyalty cards, but Mercadona has held back from joining in the fray. “Mercadona is still the number one retailer with a market share of 24.5% in 2020, which was a 1.1% fall on the previous year,” Garcia commented. “The chain has to reinforce online sales and also tempt previous customers who have shopped around during the pandemic and not returned.”

Spain as much as €140 billion in grants and loans. Madrid estimates that this financial boost will add 2.1% to the growth rate. The EC report said: “While the outlook for the near term looks weaker than expected last autumn, growth in the European economy is set to resume this spring and gather momentum in the summer, as progress in vaccinations allows for a gradual unfreezing of economic activity.”

Vaccines

Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said “Because the recession in 2020 was not as deep as expected, and thanks to the breakthroughs regarding vaccines, we now project the EU economy will return to its pre-crisis GDP level already in 2022.”

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Grow

According to the EC’s Winter 2021 Forecast, GDP will grow three-tenths of a point higher than the 5.3% previously predicted. It also thinks GDP will rise a further 5.3% in 2022, but this will still leave it below pre-pandemic levels. Although the EC figures can be viewed as optimistic considering the EU average for GDP growth predicted is 3.7% for 2021, ithey are not as rosy as the Spanish government’s own predictions. These for a spectacular rise in GDP of 7.2% this year. Part of the reason for the discrepancy is that Brussels

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February 24th March 9th 2021

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FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

Takeoff

THE Junta expects a ‘reasonably normal’ summer for the tourism sector in the region. According to Juan Marin, Junta Vice-President, this summer is expected to be relatively ‘normal’ compared to ‘what we had pre-COVID-19’ The Junta Vice-President estimates that ‘travel will reactivate in May’ with the ‘reopening of territories.’ Marin, however, clarified that everything depends on ‘how the pandemic evolves and the rate of vaccination.’ Despite uncertainties, Marin encourages the tourism sector to start ‘programming the second half of the year ‘now’ in order to be ‘more competitive’ when the time comes. “We have to start planning ahead now”, he said “in order to have a relatively normal autumn in which the sector recovers significantly, ready to takeoff again in 2022”.

February 24th March 9th 2021

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Big spenders LOCKDOWN has Brits dreaming of their next escape, with trips to Spain top of their wish list. TUI said families are shelling out an extra 20% more on the summer vacations in 2021, as they splash cash on longer breaks and better hotels. The travel giant has seen a booking boom, taking over 1.5million orders for the summer months. Foreign travel for leisure purposes remains illegal under the lockdown rules in England, Scotland and Wales, but Brits are already forward planning for when the travel restrictions are lifted. Demand has been fuelled by the vaccine roll-out and TUI said bookings made in January are up by around 70% compared to December across all

Brits are shelling out 20% more for summer holidays

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the countries it operates in. But sales for this summer are still down 44% compared with 2019. Greece and Spain are

Hard bitten travellers THERE has been uproar in Ireland after it was revealed people were booking trips to Tenerife for dental appointments in order to get round travel restrictions. A dental surgery on the sunshine island reported that it had been hit with a surge of appointments from Irish people who then failed to turn up. Non-essential travel abroad is a breach of Ireland’s COVID-19 regulations. Travel for medical care is permitted - but Irish

police have said that they do not consider dental work as serious enough to permit flying to Tenerife. Now Gardai have begun mounting checkpoints at Dublin Airport to stop people leaving the country who shouldn’t be. The clinic on the Canary island has said it has kept a list of 50 people who failed to turn up for appointments ‘for when the police come and ask’.

the most popular countries to travel to, with Brits spending an average 20% more on their holidays abroad. TUI said the surge in prices was due to customers ‘trading up’ by booking longer breaks, staying in better hotels and going in larger family groups. On a like-for-like basis, prices were the same, it said. TUI chief executive Fritz Joussen said: “The English market has a special significance for our company. “We see an impressive pace and ambitious targets for vaccinations there. “Vaccinations and rapid tests make an end to the standstill in tourism possible.” “I am hopeful that after a slow start, more energy is now being put on vaccination and the availability of rapid tests in other countries.”

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

The HIGH-light hikes

Carved into sheer cliff faces or teetering above dizzying drops, Spain is home to

a host of hiking routes that will make your hairs stand on end. Laurence

February 24th - March 9th 2021

Caminito del Rey, Malaga

Crumbie picks out eight of the country’s most kneetrembling trails

El Barranc de l’Infern Loop (Hell’s Ravine), Valencia

Infernal by name, infernal by nature: this demanding 15km trail in the north of Alicante includes a gruelling stretch of 6,800 steps that wind up La Vall de Laguar. Curiously, its nickname is the ‘Cathedral of Trekking,’ though the only blessings on this route are numerous photo opportunities of the jaw-dropping rocky valley.

Pinned into the steep walls of El Chorro gorge, this 3km boardwalk rises to over 100m above the river below and was dubbed the ‘world’s most dangerous walkway’ following five fatal accidents in the space of two years. After decades in disrepair, the route was reopened in 2015 and can now be traversed by those with the nerve and a head for heights.

Puigsacalm pels Ganox, Catalonia

Winding through a craggy gorge of the same name, so narrow at times that trekkers have to sidle along the river edge as they cling to the rock face, Los Cahorros is a tricky route popular among walkers and climb-

This circular route that takes you up the mighty 1500m Puigsacalm mountain is actually gentle going for the most part and offers sublime views of the eastern Pyrenees, as well as the wedgedshaped stone summits that distinguish the Transversal Range. Once you reach the pels Ganox, however, your heart will hammer as you realise that this series of small metal walkways and hooks are all you can use to scale the sheer rock face.

Ruta de Los Cahorros de Monachil, Granada ers alike. Its highlight is a 63m suspension bridge that trembles as you cross it. Or maybe that’s your knees …

Ruta de Las Pasarelas de Montefalco, Catalonia

Also known as the Divine Gorge, this 11km trail traces the crystalline Cares River as it weaves through the rugged Picos de Europa. Its narrow pathway sculptured into rocky hillsides boasts breathtaking views of the mountains that can be enjoyed by all. However those with vertigo are perhaps better off averting their eyes from the dizzying gorge below.

Ruta del Cares, Asturias Zigzagging up a steep orange cliff face on the border of Catalonia and Aragon, these wooden ‘pasarela’ walkways offer some of the most spectacular views in the Sierra de Montsec. The route is not for the fainthearted, as local guides

El Saltillo, Axarquia Strung between the rugged hillsides of Sedella and Canillas de Aceituno in the Sierra de Tejeda y Almijara, this 52m bridge forms part of the seventh stage of the Gran Senda de Malaga and is set to become a tourist hotspot. It hangs 50m above the Almanchares River and has been branded the ‘Caminito del Rey of the Axarquia’ - another thrilling fix for adrenaline junkies in Malaga province.

will tell you, but it does lead to one of Catalonia’s most celebrated natural wonders – the Congost de Mont-rebei, an awesome gorge brimming with sparkling turquoise water that meanders into the distance.

Windsor Suspension Bridge, Gibraltar

Part of the Thrill Seeker’s Trail in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, you feel a bit like one of the Rock’s nimble macaques as you creep across this 71m feat of engineering while drinking in vistas of the glittering strait, city and bay. But only look down if you are as comfortable with heights as those cheeky monkeys - that 50m drop is enough to make anyone’s heart skip several beats...

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February 24th - March 9th 2021

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COLUMNISTS

’ve been wondering recently if we’re becoming ruder in general. The reason behind this came while shooting a promotional video on the beach in Fuengirola. There was I, strolling along the shores of the Mediterranean with my rather beautiful co-presenter. The sun was coming up, the castle looked magnificent, the sea was shimmering and it was all in all another picture perfect day on the Costa del Sol My reverie on life, the universe, and all things rather splendid, however, was abruptly shattered by a Scandinavian gentleman of boomer years who was walking his dogs. As he passed the camera crew he assailed us with the following, I presume, traditional Swedish greeting. “Put your F****** masks on.”

Rude Boy

February 24th - March 9th 2021

COVID manners leave something to be desired

It was one of those increasingly frequent whatever and there seems to be no midmoments where I count myself blessed dle ground. If I am pro-mask and jab I’m with the fact that we are not obviously a foot soldier of allowed to carry firearms in the illuminati and if I’m anti Spain, or I would have been I'm a Muesli knitting yoga It now reaching for the 9 millimetype of the worst sort. Social seems that tre. Instead I replied with a media has seen considered friendly ‘Happy Valentine’s conversation replaced by a rudeness is Day to you too!’ scattering of profanities and now socially If 2020 has told us anything, insults as the norm. I’ve lost it seems to be that rudeness count of the number of times acceptable is now socially acceptable. my posts have attracted such As with many things, COVID ‘sheeple’ and ‘wake up’ comseemed to take the blame. ments, normally in caps You are either pro or anti mask, vax or When I moved to Andalucia in the 80s

How can we survive? The difficulties of movement and visas over Brexit, issues over the darned virus. Benny Davis is more worried about where to get his Bovril

OL D HA CK IN TH E SU N

VER the centuries, Benny Davis us Brits have maintained our traditio- Ramblings of an 80-something expat nal stiff upper lip through a multitude of catastrophic situations. Don’t panic, keep No, it’s not Covid, it’s the calm: keystone foundation sight of empty shelves in words that generations British food shops along the have faithfully adhered to costas. while sheltering under the No matter how we try to symbol of free society, our adapt to foreign environments, our main bloodline very own Union Jack. We have survived world is not A, B, AB, or even O, it wars, bubonic plagues, is RBY, (roast beef and Yordroughts, floods, and even kies,) some with a flavouring various strains of this dar- of F&C (fish, and chips). ned pandemic. Baggy Nothing has budged us from our loyalty to the flag. We may have ditched the But now we are facing the black socks and sandals, singly most challenging the baggy Eric Morecombe time of our lives, a situation shorts, and even had a peck that could well see the total at paella or fiddled with collapse of the expat stan- seafood fideua, but deep dard of integrated life in our down we don’t do ‘foreign’ adopted country Spain. very well. Real fresh veg and GRUMPY: Vital supplies for Benny Davis good old fashioned home cooking is our unshakable The successful roll-out of Covid vaccines in heritage. the UK, underlines the fact that the EU rapid So, unless the EU stops plaresponse to emergency situations is about ying silly games with our UK not are ‘uns old us nd understa we though archronic as fast as a sloth suffering from food deliveries, we could a be to seems there list, priority the of top thritis. see an uprising of Brit exthe when to as tion informa While it seems that all over 80s have recei- total blackout of pats on a scale never seen out. dished be will vaccines le vulnerab Blighty, in ved their jabs back since DH Lawrence’s Lady derumours e inevitabl the are there Then or God for expats in Spain are still waiting Chatterley’s Lover was bansigned to confuse our little grey cells to the V-Day, whatever comes first. ned from the bookshelves. ruction. self-dest of point liy hopefull the of n protectio the Lacking priority over receive s We will be demonstrating national Spanish Will are 80s over the needle, fe-saving magic turn to China and Rusoutside town halls and gotrying to keep safe by virtually locking them- ex-pats? Will the EU ? vernment offices, loudly selves away in Alcatraz-like conditions, sia for substitute vaccines and family back home friends all ask I So, shouting pidgin-English the through anyone to talk even to afraid (be it Holland, Sweden or Yorkshire) to stop while madly waving our letterbox. by asking why we still arms and hands in desperaLoneliness and lack of care have aged the piling on the agony vaccine as you finished te attempts to also connect once rejuvenated Sangria-injected expat haven’t received the weeks ago. through mime and help thocommunity back to reality. takeand cheap wines se officials too lazy to learn Dream over! This mentally insane situation Just let us wallow in sorry for ourselves. has been compounded by the fact that al- away meals while feeling English. Mark my words, be prepared for expat-Armageddon happening sometime soon before lockdown is lifted. Late news flash: Sorry, canQuick Crossword cel Armageddon. Just had a phone call from my local Across: 7 Spore, 8 Outline, 9 Example, 10 Tweak, 11 Vats, Iceland to inform me they 12 Bridging, 16 Duct tape, 18 Cake, 20 Belle, 22 Markups, have had a delivery of Shi23 Digital, 24 Shred. pman’s bloater paste, steak and kidney puddings and Down: 1 Romantic, 2 Heaps, 3 Pole, 4 Stated, 5 Fire!, 6 Peck, 7 Swerved, 13 Rip, 14 In a hurry, 15 Guessed, 17 cod in beer batter. Must Thefts, 19 Wrest, 20 Body, 21 Luge, 22 Milk. get there before any greedy, selfish ex-pats beat me to it!

V-DAY VIRGINS

SUDOKU

OP Puzzle solutions

from Stoke on Trent, I could not believe the volume and passion of everyday conversation. It seemed the whole of Marbella was in a furious argument and I was half expecting punches to be thrown and knives unsheathed at any moment. The ‘full on’ natural average Andalus conversation is, however, far better than the anonymous and snivelling sniping from keyboard Warriors on social media In the meantime, stay safe, be kind and, if you must say something rude, say it from behind a mask!

Making movies is a big gamble

Lisa Burgess

Moving miracles

MAUREEN O’HARA: Two faces of the famous Irish beauty

HE esteemed movie maker Steven Spielberg once said: “The older I get, the more I look at movies as a moving miracle. Audiences are harder to please if you are just giving them special effects but they are easy to please if it’s a good story.” Most of us in Spain don’t go out past 6pm so we have all relied on the film industry to feed us some entertainment and keep us sane. I often prefer to watch a movie I have already seen, fearful of trying something new. Goodfellas is my all-time favourite. The Hollywood Reporter puts The Godfather I and II at the top of the list for best movies of all time. In that top 10 are some great movies, Casablanca, E.T., Schindler’s List and the incredible Shawshank Redemption. Friends often recommend movies or a new Netflix series but I have learnt everyone has different taste when it comes to films. Some fall very short on really attracting my attention. Out of Hollywood’s top 20 for Netflix, I can recommend Ozark, House of Cards, Mindhunter, The Crown and Narcos. I recently saw the Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, thinking beforehand it was a boring story about chess when in fact it had me bingeing all night. The quick synopsis of the series on Netflix can often be misleading. I remember reading Michael Caine’s autobiography and he discussed the many movies he made which he should not have touched. Some actors end up in movies purely by fate. Jack Nicholson was supposed to play Al Pacino in The Godfather, Molly Ringwald was meant to be Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and John Travolta should have been Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. The beautiful and witty Irish actress Maureen O’Hara gave some sage advice on this matter. She said: “Making movies is just like betting on horses at the racetrack” and I think choosing one is the same.

HEALTH

February 24th - March 9th 2021

Sunny D-iscovery

Sweet temptation SPANISH researchers say that breakfast cereals crammed with sugar are playing a big part in the country’s rising childhood obesity numbers. The transition from the traditional Mediterranean diet to the consumption of processed foods with low nutritional value is a key contributor, with child-targeted advertising also partly to blame according to Mireia Montaña from the University Oberta of Catalunya.

Claims

Montaña, claims the majority of breakfast products marketed for children contain three times as much sugar as those aimed at adults, influencing their choices for one of the most important meals of the day. Her study analysed 355 advertisements from 117 different products between 2015 and 2019.

VITAMIN D reduces coronavirus deaths by 60%, a study in Spain has suggested. Research has shown that a vitamin usually procured from natural sunlight could help boost COVID-19 survival rates. Scientists from Hospital del Mar in Barcelona found that doses of Vitamin D given to COVID-19 patients ‘reduced mortality in more than 60%’. They also found that patients treated with the vitamin were also 80%, less likely to require ICU treatment. The research, published by the Social Science Research Network evaluated the effectiveness of calcifediol - a Vitamin D3 - on more than 550 people. Those who took part in the trial were randomly assigned as either recipients of the calcifediol treatment or as controls on admission. Although the paper is still in the preliminary stages and awaitThe Sports Department of Malaga City Council has designed six new routes for the ‘Walk around the city’ programme. This programme is a further commitment by the city through the Sports Medicine Section, to promote healthy habits among citizens and is directly linked to other programmes in the

Sunshine vitamin linked to a dramatic 60% drop in the COVID death rate By Kirsty McKenzie

ing peer review, results showed 36 of the 551 patients treated with calcifediol died from COVID-19, compared to 57 patients out of 379 in the control group. Researchers found only 5% of the calcifediol group were admitted to the critical care units. The study has resulted in calls for hospitals to start using Vitamin D ‘immediately’ to treat COVID-19 patients. The UK’s former Brexit Secretary, MP David Davis, said the findings from the Spanish hospital are part of a ‘very important study’ and could ‘save many thousands of lives.’ He said: “Since the study

Healthy walking area such as ‘Physical fitness for the elderly’ and ‘Prevention of childhood obesity.’ All the routes, which are of low intensity except for the Morlaco-Limonar route, last

Over 80s Jab SPAIN’S new health minister, Carolina Darias, has pledged that 80% of over 80s will have been given a COVID jab by the end of March’. Seven regions - Andalucia, Valencia, Aragon, Murcia, the Canary Islands, Cantabria and Catalunya - have begun to administer jabs to the elderly.

High risk

demonstrates that the clear relationship between vitamin D and COVID mortality is causal, the UK government should increase the dose and availability of free vitamin D to all the vulbetween 60 and 90 minutes and are aimed at all citizens, regardless of age or previous physical condition. The walking-routes, with individual maps can be consulted on the Sports Department’s website: deporte.malaga.eu/ medicina-deportiva/ paseos-por-la-ciudad/

nerable groups. “These approaches will save many thousands of lives. They are overdue and should be started immediately.” Scientists wrote: ”Adjusted results showed a reduced mortality of more than 60 per cent for people who received the treatment. “We have observed that, in hospitalised COVID-19 patients, treatment with calcifediol reduced the requirement for critical care by more than 80%. “This supports the conclusion of a prior pilot trial in Cordoba in which calcifediol treatment led to a reduction of more than 50% of ICU admission in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.”

The Andalucian health service (SAS) has started vaccinating over 80s who do not live in retirement homes. This ‘high risk group’ belongs to group 5 and will be summoned by telephone by the Andalucian Health Service (SAS) in order of age, from oldest to youngest. The first, therefore, will be those over 90 years of age, some 37,000 people in the community. In Andalucia there are estimated to be 450,000 octogenarians, of whom approximately 80,000 live in Malaga province. They will receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and will need to remain in the vaccination area for at least 15 minutes after being injected.

50% off varifocal lenses Something to smile about

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Olive Press Costa del Sol – 170mm x 256mm – Colour

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FINAL WORDS

Square eyes EIGHT in 10 - or 43 million - Spaniards use the internet for an average of six hours and 11 minutes every day, with two of those hours dedicated to social media, according to the report ‘Digital 2021’.

Petrol money SOME of the money collected for motoring offences will now go towards funding driving lessons for under 26-year-olds who have no job or are on very low incomes.

expat

voice in Spain

Everyone freeze!

Vol. 14 Issue 363 www.theolivepress.es February 24th - March 9th 2021

Doggy style SPAIN’s leading fashion designer, Zara, has introduced a new clothing line for pets, giving dogs the chance to strut about the streets in cotton scarves, bomber jackets, rugs and other stylish accessories.

Your

STICKY FINGERS

A SPANISH lorry driver has been arrested after selling a stolen 12-ton consignment of German chocolate at a bargain-basement price. The bumper haul was scheduled to arrive at the Elche Business Park, but the goods never got there. The owner of the haulage company told police that his employee, who only joined the firm eight days earlier, had gone missing on his return from Germany. GPS tracking revealed that the lorry spent two hours at an industrial estate near Alicante on the final leg of its journey. The driver sold the cargo for just €1,200 for a consignment with a retail value of €250,000.

Unholy row IT is one of the most stunning cathedrals in Spain and well trodden by pilgrims on the Ruta de Santiago. But residents of Burgos have - so far - been unable to keep out three unwelcome interlopers: the Virgin Mary, Jesus and God himself. The trio recently arrived in the form of three huge brass doors set to adorn the entrances to celebrate the building’s 800th anniversary. A hellish row has broken out over them with 31,000 people so far signing a petition to have them repelled. Even UNESCO has been forced to step in after locals dubbed the doors at the World Heritage Site as an ‘artistic outrage’. The petition attacked the doors as ‘an eyesore’, claiming ‘no anniversary warrants such ill treatment of our heritage’. Acting on a report by the International Council on Mon-

UNESCO wades in to hellish battle over monstrous cathedral doors

IT is one of the 20th century’s most iconic images. The moment when Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero raised his pistol into the air and fired into the ceiling to show he meant business and an attempted coup was under way in Spain. It is exactly 40 years since 40 bullets ripped into the ceiling of Madrid’s parliament as he and his men attempted to wind Spain back to the days of the dictatorship.

Rogue

By Kirsty McKenzie

uments and Sites (Icomos), UNESCO has recommended scrapping the project. But Cathedral chiefs said the doors, designed by the award-winning artist Antonio Lopez, must stay. They insist the doors complement ‘a monument al-

ready rendered in five artistic styles that are the fruit of each stage of its eight centuries’. The current wooden doors are old and in a poor state of repair. The final decision on the new doors will be taken by the culture department of the government of Castilla y León.

Filmed live on television, the February 23 attempted coup saw Tejero achieve infamy as he led 200 rogue Guardia Civil into Madrid’s parliament and shouted ‘Everyone freeze!’ The overthrow attempt thankfully fizzled out as King Juan Carlos ordered soldiers to stay in their barracks, but it put Spain through a shaky few days. Tejero’s face certainly became familiar through his criminal trial for sedition, which led to him serving 15 years in prison. Few people today know that the 88-year-old allegedly lives in Fuengirola, while his son is a priest in Marbella.

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