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Vol. 2 Issue 37 www.theolivepress.es April 8th - April 21th 2021
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‘Fury’ at Spanish airport as 40 Brits deported back to UK, while dozens are kicked off flight from Gatwick NEARLY all of the COVID-19 restrictions in the Valencian Community are expected to be renewed today (April 8) but there’s a chance that bars and restaurants could be allowed to stay open for longer. The current package of measures is due to expire this Monday. The region is the only one in Spain that is classified as ‘low risk’ for the spread of the coronavirus. Health Minister, Ana Barcelo (pictured), said: “We will analyse infection figures to see if there is any scope for making changes and that will include bars and restaurants.” The regional hospitality sector has a current closing time of 6 pm. Valencian officials will almost certainly extend the 10pm curfew and regional border closure until next month. They are both expected to run through till May 9, which is the end of the second national State of Alarm order.
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EXCLUSIVE By Simon Wade
DISAPPOINTED: Stuart Miller DOZENS of Brits arriving at Alicante airport have been refused entry to Spain and sent back to Manchester on the same plane despite having evidence that they had residence status. B o r d e r guards had erected a sign in the terminal stating, ‘NO TIE CARD, NO ENTRY’ to the amazement of travellers, some of whom were flying to Spain to collect their TIE cards. Some 40 people who
had arrived from Manchester Airport were left upset, angry and confused - considering UK border officials AND airline staff had approved exit from the country. Stuart Miller, a 47-year-old offshore-worker from Manchester, described the situation as ‘absolutely diabolical”. “Even travellers who had letters from Alicante Foreigners’ Office asking them to collect their residency cards were turned away,” Miller told the Olive Press. “I mean what more proof do you need of residency?” Some of the others sent back included a woman wanting to see her sick father, stranded and alone in hospital. So heavy handed was the arrivals desk that border agents were flanked by armed police, putting ‘the terror of God’ into those waiting to be questioned. “It appeared that only those who were actually on a list of legal residents, possibly checked in advance against the plane’s manifest, were allowed in,” said Miller.
Tension “The rest of us were sent back without even being able to explain our legitimate reasons.” As the 40 plus travellers re-boarded, the flight was subsequently delayed, adding further to tension in the cabin. Miller added: “There was no advice, no help and no good reason for us being turned back at Alicante.” Ryanair staff had assured every traveller that their documentation - including COVID tests, letters and passports - was sufficient to gain entry into Spain.
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DIABOLICAL: Brits were turned away by Spanish authorities Mr Miller’s wife, Caz, warned other travellers: “Whatever paperwork you have with you, and whoever tells you that you’re okay to travel, be prepared to be carted back on to the plane and sent back. “I think the airport policy depends on nothing more than the mood of the officials at the border.” Since the incident, other Brits travelling from UK airports to Spain have been subjected to ‘arbitrary rules made up on behalf of another country’, according to one Olive Press reader. One expat based in Rincon de la Victoria, near Malaga, told the Olive Press that a ‘staggering dozen or so passengers’ were refused to board his flight from Gatwick to Malaga yesterday (Monday). The retired businessman, 60, who asked not to be named, described it as ‘running the gauntlet’. “It was so traumatic. You just had no idea who was going to be allowed on. “Everyone turned away had valid PCR tests or they had valid reasons to travel, whether to see ailing relatives or to secure or visit their properties,” he said. Meanwhile, a retired IT professional described how he was turned away from boarding a Ryanair flight to Alicante at Manchester on Monday. He had specifically checked the gov.uk
website to check that buying a property was one of the ‘reasonable excuses’ for travel to Spain. He described how he and six others were turned away at the gate because they weren’t in possession of a TIE card, regardless of their reason for travel. “Ryanair staff had made the arbitrary decision to deny their passengers travel on behalf of the Spanish authorities,” said the 63-year-old who only wanted to be identified by his first name Alec. He claimed that staff had ‘no intention’ of engaging in any conversation and couldn’t back up or justify their own ruling with any evidence in print or online. Others refused on board the FR4007 included a woman with Italian citizenship who was travelling back to her family home in Spain.
Embassy And a married couple, where the husband had the TIE card, but not his wife. “It is crucial that when making plans to travel from the UK to Spain, a UK National must make sure that they meet both the requirements to leave the UK and those to enter Spain, bearing in mind that they are not the same,” said a statement from the Embassy in Madrid. Opinion Page 6
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NEWS IN BRIEF Mozzie misery TORREVIEJA has boosted its mosquito fumigation squads after an earlier than normal rise in pest numbers caused by higher temperatures and increased rainfall.
Hard times FOREIGN tourists visiting the Valencian Community fell by 94.7% in February compared to a year earlier, with a third of the total coming from France..
Dosed up VACCINATIONS across the Valencia region were stepped up this week with Pfizer doses offered to people aged 79 and AstraZeneca jabs to residents aged 65.
Bad dad MURCIA police arrested a 38-year-old man for punching his wife several times in the face while they were in their car. They were arguing about their two children who were in the vehicle to witness the assaults.
Pringles pullover TWO drug dealers couldn’t fool the Guardia Civil after officers discovered drugs and cash in two Pringles snack tubes. The men from the Valencia region were pulled over in a routine stop but their nervousness made the officers suspicious about what they were up to. The Guardia spotted the Pringles snack tubes and decided to take a look inside them, finding €930 in notes stashed in it. Both tubes had false bottoms, which they unscrewed to discover 11 plastic pouches containing hashish and marijuana ready for potential customers. A SOCIAL media con run by two men netted over €70,000 from lonely people looking for love who thought they were in contact with soulmates. One female victim in Navarra sent €40,000 to a fake US army general who apparently wanted money to buy a house in Spain. She made a series of transfers from bank accounts and money exchange companies. She eventually realised
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CRIME
April 8th - April 21th 2021
Bad date
Gang that relabelled out of date food on industrial scale busted By Alex Trelinski
AN operation that was relabelling hundreds of thousands of out of date food products and selling them on after relabelling has been busted. Police seized over 500,000 date-expired food items that were destined to be distributed throughout the Valencia region. A Spanish-Pakistani couple ran the enterprise in La Nucia and employed unregistered workers to work from three Benidorm warehouses.
The price of love
that she had been hoodwinked and reported the scam to the Guardia Civil. The two fraudsters, aged 66 and 29, were arrested in Elche and Santa Pola. Guardia investigations uncovered victims in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Taiwan, and the United States as well as closer to home in Valencia.
A Caravaca de la Cruz man has been arrested for stealing bees from their hives and then selling them around Spain. The Guardia Civil received reports last year of an increase in thefts from beekeeping farms in Caravaca, Moratalla and Mula. It’s believed that the bee thief may have stolen the contents of at least 100 hives but he has so far been charged with six crimes. The man struck at night and coaxed the bees out of their hives into a container that had a
INDUSTRIAL: Scam could have affected thousands The items were imported warehouses which had no from Romania, Poland and business licence. Employees Turkey and stored at the spent their time using solvents to remove the sell by dates and then add stickers A Guardia spokesman with a new expiry date. said: “The men created The scale of the operation bogus profiles on varionly became apparent when ous social networks to police visited one of the establish romantic rewarehouses after receiving lationships with people a complaint from a disgrunwho they then persuadtled customer ed to make bank transFour retailers were being fers.” supplied with products and The scammers would officers learned that two othalso ask for money to er buildings were being used pay for a trip to see their to store the cheap imports. new girlfriend; cash to The investigation is continucover the cost of hospital ing with criminal charges treatment following an laid against the wareaccident; and the cost of house owners that would bail and a lawyer after a lead at the moment to over wrongful airport arrest. €120,000 in fines.
Buzzing trade queen bee already in it to tempt them in. He sold the stolen bees to interested parties around the country and put them into home-made boxes with ventilation holes which were shipped to purchasers via a trucking company. A Guardia raid on the unnamed man’s address uncovered 50 of the specially-constructed containers that were full of bees that he had stolen a few days earlier. He had even created a feeding system so that the bees would be fully nourished. The man told officers that the bees were his and produced tenyear-old ownership documents to try to fool them.
Just the job ORIHUELA mayor, Emilio Bascuñana, will appear in court to answer a charge that he was paid €200,000 over five years for a non-existent job. The Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office has denounced Bascuñana, of the Partido Popular(PP), who has been mayor since 2015. The charge predates his time as mayor and concerns his old job as a doctor. Prosecutors say that Bascuñana worked as a health inspector for the regional health department from November 2007. A year later they claim that there was no record of him doing any work in spite of him getting paid. They allege that he pocketed €202,170 for doing nothing for five years.
Lie
Bascuñana used a social media video to describe the charge as an ‘absolute lie’ and that everything would be ‘made clear’. The health ministry launched a probe in 2019 and last year their file was used as the basis for anti-corruption prosecutors to start their investigation. Prosecutors say they found no record of the mayor working as a health inspector for most of the period. Bascuñana has countered by saying that he provided ‘advice and support’ which did not require written reports.
Fatal leap
A MURCIA man leapt to his death out of an apartment window as police arrived to arrest him for domestic violence. The 36-year-old died in Aguilas after locking himself in the bathroom. The tragedy unfolded after his partner went to the police to report that she had been abused. The man fled their home to go to the apartment of a family member on Calle Donante de Sangre. The police knew where he was hiding and when they rang the apartment bell, the man jumped out of the bathroom window and died instantly when he hit the ground. CALLOUS crooks are conning people into buying potentially dangerous fake COVID-19 vaccines online. The untested, unsafe products could lead to deaths, insisted the boss of global crime body
Jab in the dark Interpol. Secretary General Jurgen Stock said there are numerous individuals behind the risky products.
NEWS
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April 8th - April 21th 2021
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LOVE RETURNS ONE of Britain’s most popular reality series is set to be filmed in Spain this summer. Love Island is gearing up for its big return after the coronavirus halted last year’s production plans. Producers of the hit dating show confirmed yesterday that the series would be going ahead as hoped for 2021 and that it will return to Mallorca this year. A source said: “All precautions have been taken to make sure it goes smoothly. They’ve included COVID safety measures and increased checks on contestants’ mental health.”
Walk off
VALENCIA football team walked off the pitch after an allegedly racist slur directed at one of their players. The game against Cadiz on Sunday night was temporarily abandoned after 30 minutes when Cadiz’s Juan Cala allegedly flung insults at defender Mouctar Diakhaby. Cala, who has since ‘strenuously denied’ allegations against him, received a yellow card for his actions and seconds later Valencia players made the decision to halt the match and walk off the pitch in protest. Diakhaby eventually urged his teammates to continue the match and Hugo Guillamon took his place on the pitch. Cala stayed on for Cadiz and the team eventually won the match 3-0. Following the incident, Valencia released a ten-point statement entitled ‘no to racism’ on their official website. They added that Diakhaby is the ‘latest victim of racism in football’.
Royal approval
Footballers behaving badly Stars flouting COVID travel restrictions
TROUBLE: Goncalo Guedes
HAPPY FAMILY: But Marcelo could be in the dog house REAL Madrid star Marcelo could be fined €2,700 for breaching COVID-19 regulations after he posted a photo of himself enjoying an unauthorised day trip to Valencia.
By Kirsty McKenzie
The club’s €10 million player is under investigation after he shared a snap of his family at
QUEEN Letizia never puts a foot wrong, and continued to show off her array of high fashion ensembles as she attended celebrations to mark 275 years since the birth of Spanish artist Francisco Goya. The royal, 48, opted for a tailored jacket and skyscraper heels for her appearance in Zaragozaher alongside her husband King Felipe VI, 53, to remember the painter who was born near the city in the town of Fuendetodos in 1746. The mother of two cut a stylish figure as she greeted members of the Goya Foundation in Aragon.
Malvarrosa beach on Instagram last week. In the image, Marcelo can be seen beaming alongside his wife and children, with none of the family wearing a mask. Marcelo, his wife and eldest son now face being slapped with individual fines amounting to €700, €600 for not respecting the perimeter closure plus €100 for not wearing a mask in a public space. The fines amount to 0.01% of his salary. Marcelo is not the only one who has been misbehaving of late - Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman was spotted in Marbella and Valencia player Goncalo Guedes went to Ibiza over the Easter weekend.
Jammy Queen! SEVILLA’s Moorish Royal Alcazar palace is famed for the colourful splash of its orange trees. But palace authorities face a problem of what to do with all the fruit when they pick them to encourage new blossoms. Now they have decided to get rid of some of the problem by sending them to Queen Elizabeth. In a revival of an old tradition, a crate of the citrus fruit is to be packaged up and presented as a gift, with the oranges destined to be turned into marmalade to grace the royal breakfast table. The tradition of Sevilla gifting oranges to the British royal family dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria. Her granddaughter Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg married into the Spanish House of Bourbon.
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No cash back
And another one... A TORREVIEJA court says there is a case to answer involving alleged corruption by the Los Montesinos mayor, Jose Manuel Butron. He is accused of breaking planning laws and of administrative prevarication in three matters. The decision from Judge Juana Lopez Hoyas now adds to Butron’s legal commitments. Oral testimony has already been given in an ongoing case where the mayor is one of a number of people accused of workplace harassment and bribery at Los Montesinos Town Hall. He has strenuously denied those charges. Butron has been the PSOE mayor of Montesinos ever since the municipality became independent from Almoradi in 1990.
TWO British residents on the Costa Blanca want their money back, nearly four years after it was seized by police. Over £24,000 in Scottish banknotes has gone missing and the Brits are suing the Justice Ministry for a refund. The Guardia Civil seized £36,390 during a criminal investigation and house search in June 2017. Six months later a Denia court acquitted the two Brits of money laundering but most of their cash has not been returned as the authorities ‘don’t know where it is’. The financial crimes division of the Guardia Civil deposited some of the money into a bank account controlled by the Denia court, but the rest cannot be accounted for. It was also admitted that the Bank of Spain would not accept the Scottish notes despite the fact that they were legal tender.
April 8th - April 21th 2021
SPAIN is giving €650,000 to help pay for the exhumation and identification of Civil War victims buried at the infamous Valley of the Fallen site outside Madrid. The remains of 33,833 people are interred at the site from both sides of the conflict. They were mostly brought there from cemeteries across Spain between 1959 and 1983. Around half of the bodies have never been identified. On the orders of former dictator General
Closing a chapter Franco, construction of the monument began in 1940 and continued over the next 18 years. The dictator was himself buried at the site when he died in 1975 but the current socialist-led government of Pedro Sanchez ordered the removal of his remains to a family mausoleum in 2019.
Optimistic Sanchez PRIME Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has said that he does not plan to ask Congress to extend Spain’s second State of Alarm beyond its scheduled ending of May 9. Sanchez also detailed the country's vaccination schedule at a news conference on Tuesday with 70% coverage to be achieved by late August. The current State of Alarm was introduced to give the country's
A NEW law has caused a backlash after it appeared to make wearing a mask obligatory even on beaches or in the countryside. The daft decree led to headlines around the world, damaging Spain’s already reeling tourist industry. Until now, the coverings
No plans to extend State of Alarm past May 9 17 regions legal support for introducing local curfews and border closures to slow down COVID-19 infections. Pedro Sanchez said: “We want May 9 to be a full stop and we are working towards that. We have no plans to extend the State of Alarm any longer.”
Mask off! were only compulsory in public and outdoor spaces when it was not possible to keep safety distances, specifically in urban areas and indoor public spaces, as well as on public transport.
Sanchez was bullish over the vaccine roll-out programme with a large rise of doses expected to be delivered over the coming weeks and months. Ever since December, the Prime Minister has stuck to his guns that 70% of the population would be inoculated by late summer. He backed up his confidence with details of Spain's vaccination timetable. “We will be getting 3.5 times more doses in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the first,” he stated. That adds up to 38 million doses, rising to 48 million between August and September. “10 million people will have got two injections by the first week of June.”
On the prowl
A WOLF has been spotted in the Vall de Boi (Lleida). The snapshot was taken thanks to a motion-activated camera set up by Rural Agents to survey wildlife, especially bears in the Pyrenees. The sighting of a wolf in the Alta Ribagorza in Aragonese has recently been confirmed and experts are now studying whether the image belongs to the same specimen or to a different one. According to members of the Department of the Environment of the Generalitat, DNA samples are being sought throughout the High Pyrenees, in order to determine the origin of the animal.
Jellyfish return PORTUGUESE man o’war jellyfish have returned to beaches around La Manga and the Mar Menor. Their arrival in the Murcia region is caused by strong westerly winds bringing them in on currents from their natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean. In 2018 many local beaches were closed to bathers due to the jellyfish danger.
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The Olive Press all editions - FP_342x256 - PROMO MAN - April 7th
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NEWS FEATURE
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.
OPINION GET A GRIP! THERE was a depressing inevitability about the latest round of bad news relating to Brexit and the ongoing travel restrictions between Spain and the UK . The blame for this fiasco lies squarely with an incompetent and disorganised relationship between the two governments. Boris Johnson and his cronies were part of a dishonest campaign during the 2016 referendum which led to the country voting narrowly for leaving the EU. In the mess that followed, Johnson refused to back sensible compromises and instead pursued an ideologically rigid Brexit that was oblivious to the concerns of thousands of people who rely on free movement, whether it is to be with their families or boost the economy. We’re still paying for the recklessness of Brexit – with no end in sight. And while vaccines will deliver us from the worst of the travel restrictions, the hard truth is that it will take some time before faith in travelling between Spain and the UK is restored. But there is something that the Spanish government can do now - and that is GET A GRIP! It is unforgivable that it can not ensure its own agents - police and border controls for example follow ITS OWN RULES. These incidents reported on our front page must not be swept under the carpet or tied up in knots with red tape. And while potential solutions are not obvious, the UK Government must provide as much support to Brits to help them navigate this nightmare - not wash their hands of the problem or worse, direct them to another vague statement on the government website. The rules need to be clearer, the communication needs to be stronger between the EU and the UK and airlines need to assure passengers that they won’t be hauled back home on arrival. We can accept Brexit has happened. But no one agreed to this fear and uncertainty as a result.
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Driven to distraction EXCLUSIVE By Fiona Govan
S
PAIN and the UK are holding high level discussions to allow Brits to continue to exchange their driving licences for Spanish ones without the need to take the Spanish driving test, a senior British diplomat has told the Olive Press. It is one of those issues that has been a thorn in the side of Brits living in Spain as Brexit loomed; the need to exchange British driving licences for Spanish ones. The issue took on an urgency for Brits as the end of the transition period approached. Appointments at the DGT were scarce due to a sudden last minute rush compounded by delays during the pandemic Brits were told that as long as they registered their intent to exchange their driving licences before December 30 then they would have six months in which to do it.
Test
Battle of 100 DAYS ON: The phoney war’ is well and truly over three months after the end of the withdrawal transition period and the consequences for expats are just starting...
T
HOUSANDS of British expats who were oblivious to rule changes in the New Year have been left exposed and unprotected in the new age of Brexit, warns The Expat Centre in southern Spain. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, Britons wanting to enjoy the rights and freedoms they previously enjoyed living in Spain, must now prove they lived here legally prior to December 31. While most registered as residents under repeated advice by both British and Spanish authorities, and hundreds more are still in the process of getting their documentation, there are still many who failed to start the process before the end of year deadline.
Those who missed the boat have been told they will have to take the Spanish driving test. However, there is some hope that a simple swap may be re-introduced. David Hunt, the Head of Citizens’ Rights and Mobility Department (Europe Directorate) at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office told the Olive Press: “We are working on an agreement with the Spanish authorities that will allow Brits to exchange their driving licences for Spanish ones without the need to undergo a practical test.” However, he could not guarantee that a bilateral agreement would be in place before the present June 30 deadline and warned people to follow the legal requirements in the meantime. “We are hopeful for a future agreement, but in the meantime ask people to follow the rules of the road in the countries where they live.”
By Fiona Govan
Brexit is ringing the changes in Spain - but it’s not the sound of till bells
L
This leaves potentially thousands of Brits unprotected in Spain without healthcare, without rights and – thanks to COVID-19 – without a way of easily getting back to the UK. Those who are not legally resident or in the process of applying for residency, risk falling foul of the 90-day rule that came into effect at the end of March. “Any stays beyond the 90 days in any 180-day period will be dependent on the applicable visas and immigration rules for Spain. This may require applying for a visa and/or permit,” warns the British Embassy. Many of those struggling to get their paperwork in order have
HOMEWARD BOUND: How many Brits will have to leave?
Costa packet OST deliveries, disastrous delays, hefty hidden customs duties when goods do arrive – business owners in post-Brexit Spain report that things have changed but not for the better. Nadine Walker (pictured below), who runs Nest gift boutique in one of Madrid’s coolest neighbourhoods, has faced nothing but obstacles in the three months since the Brexit transition period ended. Over 13 years she has built up the business to become the capital’s go-to place for British greeting cards, funky wrapping paper
By Simon Wade
and handcrafted knick-knacks imported from the UK. “But since Brexit I have had huge problems with deliveries,” she fumes. “Orders used to arrive within three to seven days but since New Year, I’ve had deliveries go missing, packages that have been turned around and returned to the UK and had to be resent … And I’ve had to pay couriers cash on arrival to cover customs duties that weren’t included in the original price.” When you run a small business with narrow margins, this is more than a mere annoyance. “At the beginning of January, I made a big order of cards and gifts for Valentine’s Day but it didn’t arrive until well after February 14, so I lost out on all that trade,” she adds. She now has to pay between €10 and €50 extra on each delivery and often has to struggle to get receipts so that she can claim it against tax. “My margins have become smaller, and I’m trying to source things from elsewhere within the EU, such as Ireland. But I set up the shop specifically because there was a gap in the market for the sort of things I could find in the UK but not here.” Nadine hopes that these are just teething problems that will be sorted out in the coming months. “The big problem seemed to be that no-one knew what the new rules were, especially the courier companies. I’m already worried about Christmas which is when I need to rely on deliveries coming in on time.”
Fighting for
A
NNE Hernandez is supposed to be retired. Instead she spends her days and much of her nights helping Brits across Spain sort out problems that have been caused by Brexit. “Since January 1, I have been busier than ever,” the President of the Brexpats in Spain organisation told the Olive Press. “It’s incredible how often I was accused of scaremongering when insisting people needed to sort themselves out and get their paperwork in order before the deadline. “Now they are coming and asking for help to get residency, sort out their driving licences, get in the health system, but many of them have just left it too late. “There was this arrogance of ‘Oh I’m British and the Spanish need us here so they’ll sort something out for us,’ and only now are they realising the full impact of not being registered as residents,” she said from her home in Mijas Costa “I just can’t fathom why so many people left it until the last minute. There are those Brits who just had their head in the sand about the whole thing and ignored the warnings and have no-one else to blame but themselves,” she explained. “But there’s also a whole lot of people who tried to do things properly and went to lawyers or gestors and unfortunately were given the wrong advice.” She complains that different issues arise from region to region, province to province and often depending on different civil servants working within the same office. “We have a Spanish system that has just
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Time’s up!
Olive Press online
By Kirsty McKenzie
become overwhelmed with applications and apparently confusing guidelines that means the decisions are often left to individuals behind the desk. “The decision on whether your residency application is accepted or rejected could come down to whether the clerk is having a good day or has skipped their morning coffee,” she said. Spanish authorities have not stated what measures will be taken for those who overstay or whether exemptions will be made for those affected by travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic. “No-one knows the real implications of overstaying as we have no real guidance about what will actually happen to people if they don't leave when the 90 days is up. Could they be fined and told to leave the country? Or will they be deported?” Hernandez asked. “Some of these people don’t have homes anywhere else and yet could be banned from Spain,” she said. “Brexit has caused a hell of a mess,” she concluded.
BUT The good news is…
B
RITISH holidaymakers can now claim back the IVA (VAT) on goods bought in Spain - as long as they are not resident in an EU country. As Francesca Cerqua, Knowledge Manager at Marosa VAT in Spain, clarifies: “If a UK traveller visits Spain and makes purchases where Spanish VAT is charged and the value of those purchases is above €90.15, he or she will be able to reclaim that Spanish VAT at the airport before taking the plane back to the UK.” In addition to spending a minimum of €90.15, a British holidaymaker shopping in Spain must: - Live in England, Scotland or Wales. - Take the unused goods outside of the EU within a three-month period. - Display their passport upon purchase together with a separate document providing proof of address. - Complete an electronic refund document while in EU territory and have it validated at EU customs.
When making the purchase, request an electronic refund form (known by the initials DER in Spain), which you must validate electronically before checking in your luggage at the airport. To do this, go to the indicated counters, or the offices displaying the tax free seal, and show them: - Your passport. - The goods for which you are requesting the refund. - Your boarding pass or ticket. This is a fully digital process, so you won’t receive a physical document after validation. However, people can check the status of their refund at any time by putting their CSV number (secure verification code), which appears on their electronic tax free form, into a search bar at the official website. And remember, if the goods are worth more than £390 in total, they will have to be declared at customs in the UK, incurring import VAT and possible duties. Happy shopping!
ro ehT egaugnal-hsilgnE ylno dna lanigi evni aículadnA ni repapswen evitagits
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THE START: The first edition of the
Olive Press in 2006
March 24th - April 6th 2021 Vol. 15 Issue 365 www.theolivepress.es
As the Olive Press reaches its 15th birthday, we recall a few of our favourite interviews and remember a couple of our top readers, such as ex-prime minister Rajoy (above) and prime joker Paul Gascoigne...
after a EXCLUSIVE: Private school warning moved to Spain, convicted British paedophile and found dodged criminal record checks work as an English teacher Spain INTERNATIONAL schools around a British have been put on high alert after most man began teaching at one of Madrid’s conexclusive colleges months after being victed in the UK. Lewis, Questions have been raised after Ben be31, was able to work at the school despite ing on the UK’s sex offenders register. Lewis, The Olive Press has discovered that sex ofwho is now awaiting trial for child V, fences at Centro Penitenciario Madrid and a managed to hoodwink TWO schools
NAMES: two different passports
Fiona Govan in Madrid
idenlanguage academy after creating a new tity, using forged documents. reFormer colleagues of the sex offender to dodge vealed that he created a new namerun sumcriminal record checks in order to to mer camps and teach private classes young children. after He had changed his name to Ben David and being convicted in June 2016 of taking in possessing indecent images of children England. As well as being placed on the sex offender list and being handed a two-year suspended sentence, he was barred from leaving the country or working with children. Yet within weeks he had moved to Spain and found work in Zaragoza as a livein au pair to a family with three young children. The following year he relocated to Madrid and began teaching children at a well-known language academy after getting a criminal record check from Zaragoza police to show he had no convictions in Spain over the previous 12 months. Then in December
Horrified
for 18 “We worked together at the school gomonths, took on private classes together for ing to the homes of some of the children summer extracurricular teaching and ran a said the camp at the school during 2018,”horror at Irish colleague, who is filled with the access he had to children. the day The Olive Press has discovered that his after sentencing in the UK he changed Lewis name by deed poll from Ben David just 15 to Ben David, in a process that takes minutes. a British He then applied for and received also prepassport in his new name, while he Israeli sented a doctored photocopy of his a passport stamped and verified by non-existent law firm that showed his name as Ben David Rose. The Olive Press has seen photocopies of these, plus a teaching degree and Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) certificates presented in the name ALL AREAS COVERED of Ben David Rose as well as certificates in his original name. 4G UNLIMITED What is amazing is that by April 2019 he had applied for a teaching INTERNET job at a leading private school in the IDEAL FOR upmarket Arturo Soria district that STREAMING TV teaches the British curriculum to the ALSO IPTV, children of Madrid’s elite. By now he also had a DBS certificate SATELLITE TV
X
Award Winning Rehabilitation Clinic
post DANGER: Lewis got teaching teacher 2017 he accepted a job as an English secat a leading semi-private (concertado)from ondary school that receives subsidies the state. David by “He was going by the name Ben another then and was offered the job aftera former teacher dropped out mid-term,” the Olive colleague Natasha Fitzsimons told Press. the posi“I think they were desperate to fill as tion so maybe they weren’t as thorough they should have been.
...meanwhile, we spend time at the home of the world’s most famous plumber as he announces he’s becoming a Spanish citizen, after 15 years here and losing €15m to his ex-wives...
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Opinion Page 6
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Vol. 15 Issue 365 March - April 2021
Getting things done
ROM its very first issue in 2006 the Olive Press has been campaigning for its community. Whether fighting for the environment or digging into crooks, we have taken some big scalps. Starting from Issue One (see top right) we highlighted the ridiculous plans to build 2000 houses, two golf courses and two hotels on UNESCO-protected land near Ronda, as well as exposed the madness of building a 350-room monstrosity on a virgin beach in Almeria’s Cabo de Gata. Both schemes - Los Merinos, in Ron- maverick Jeremy Griffiths, and Nigel da, and the Algarrobico hotel, in Alme- Goldman, a degenerate gold-dealing ria - went into reverse after our stories dirt-bag, who had a restaurant column made the UK AND Spanish national in a local newspaper, which he used to newspapers and green groups includ- cover his tracks. ing Greenpeace and Ecologistas en Ac- We also tackled timeshare crook Toni Muldoon, who certainly deserves a cion joined our protests. And then there were the crooks, like mention for conning thousands of peoCrimestoppers’ Most Wanted Daniel ple and eventually went to prison for Johnston, a bank robber, and Matthew setting up fake escort websites. Sammon, a dangerous paedophile, Meanwhile, our crime reporting on who we single-handedly tracked down missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick ‘blew open to a village near Sevilla and a car park the case’, to use the words of her grandmother, while our continuing investigain Fuengirola. And fraudsters like David ‘the dogman’ tion into missing Maddie McCann has yielded exclusive after exclusive, with its Klein, pet transport frequent links to Spain. DON’T MISS OUR 20-PAGE
ON ESTEPONA
Vol. 8 Issue 186
www.theolivepress.es
CONMAN FOUND
PEDDLING COINS
The Olive Press
A decade and a half of campaigning has scored some big wins for the Olive Press
Andalucía’s Fortnightly
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Issue 26, January 24th 2008
Where are they?
EXCLUSIVE
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OH TO BE IN OLVERA
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On behalf of all at the British Embassy and Consulates, I want to wish huge congratulations to all at the Olive Press on your 15th anniversary. The English language press plays a vital role in keeping UK nationals in Spain informed. And we very much appreciate your help in getting key messages out to UK nationals here. After an incredibly difficult year for so many of us, including many businesses, it is great to see the Olive Press thriving. We look forward to seeing what the next 15 years bring. BRITISH CONSUL CHARMAINE ARBOUIN
Publication
HOW TO DEAL WITH A MID LIFE CRISIS
**Western Edition** PR ON THE PROWL
Living Consciously
page 16
We send our hot new columnist to interview designer Sophie Cranston
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The hulking shell SWATHES of set for a 311-room of concrete - once danger of beingrural Andalucia are in mega resort remained an eyesore has a new planning concreted over after for years after work was halted by the regional law was brought in Bunkers are also by the courts. Green groups government. 700-home golf being dug to stop a tas en Accion including Ecologisand Greenpeace Nerja, which course scheme, near joined with hundreds have ment of one will see the developof local associations to fight final stretchesof the Costa del Sol’s fronts opened on a series of new up during the And protestersof pristine coast. crisis. COVID digging in to in Mijas are also SOON LEGAL?: They are up Algarrobico used to build stop the law being called LISTA in arms over the so- one, but TWO in woods overlooking the new hotels on the lockdown law - passed during beaches in virgin Thesea at El Chaparral. - that is set to the dozens of previously allow ed natural park supposedly protect- took first of many planned protests of outlawed proj- The place outside ects to go ahead. first involves Cabo de Gata. council offices la in In particular, a 30-room hotel the green light for It Cala de Mijas this week. activists are outraged could also see about a controversial famous Bahia near the globally Valdevaqueros the controversial de Los Genoveses new golf beach, while course in Nerja, project of hundreds stand of woodlandas well as a final star hotel the second is for a two- of homes go up on a heavily-proclose tected in Mijas. They are also de San Pedro to the pristine Cala Under virgin beach, near Tarifa. furious about bay the recently not Protestors fear the(pictured above). resubmitted project, backed new law will now allow the legalization of also Rosa Quintana,by TV celebrity Ana nearby between the stunning Bolonia and Tarifa area El Algarrosee a series of would bico hotel, Ecologists are hotels get built. built also worried that dis- Los Merinos the gracefully project for on a virgin courses and hundreds two-golf of housbeach, near es on UNESCO-protected Carboneras, land near Ronda could be virgin due to a despite being quashed by revived, the Sup l a n n i n g preme Court. mix up. Fairway to hell: See page 6
GREEN CAMPAIGNS: Against golf courses (left and top) Tel: 952 147 834 in issue See page 24 one and coastal lopment (above) develast year
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Within an hour, team scrambled the Olive Press car, Sammon learning from to Fuengirola, and remainedcovered his face another builder silent when that he was currently questioned by the Olive camped He was out at the feria then bundled Press. ground. into the After a day working BMW and taken nearby, the be Londoner duly fingerprinted to Madrid to English-plated arrived in his for extradition. and prepared cream Moncayo campervan. Following the Parking up, he two Reid said arrest, father-ofas he took his looked relaxed to see Sammonhe was ‘relieved’ dog for a walk taken away. around the feria “As ground and the soon as I saw his face among spoke with neighbours. most wanted I felt sick,” Once identified, we called the said Reid, from Blackpool. Guardia Civil and Crimestop- “I let him hang around my pers and so began children, we took him in with a tense threehour waiting game, with Reid arms and at first were noneopen sitting in the car wiser. the Sky News crime beside us. reporter Mar- “But we always thought he tin Brunt was was a bit weird, he’s Eventually, assoon there too. never talks abouta real loner and his family. and truly fell, night had well “He creeped an unmarked my family out black BMW much that so plain clothes arrived and two Incredibly, I fired him.” detectives swiftly police moved in for the evidence from did not take any cating his passportarrest, confis- cluding his his campervan incomputer and Frisking him at and phone. other the side of the CONTINUES
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page 24
Exclusive story
Longest established British bar
Open
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EXCLUSIVE: snare one of Expat tip leads Olive Press UK’s most wanted team paedophiles to
EAGLE-EYED readers helped Olive Press snag one of BritWORDS AND ain’s most wanted By Rob HorganPICS Spain, just hours fugitives in and Laurence Dollimore after he had been named. Following a tip off to the paper, al Crime Agency, who arrived suspected paedophile the scene after at the arrest. Matthew “Well Sammon was campervan in dragged from his thanks done Olive Press and to the expat community time raid and a dramatic night- for tipping whisked away an unmarked police in son we run us off, this is the reathese car. Working closely The dramatic campaigns.” day had started Daniel Reid, with informant when Crimestoppers firstly track we were able to annual issued its to Fuengirola, down Sammon tives in list of most wanted fugiTorremolinos Guardia Civil tothen call in the day morning. on ThursOn the run for arrest him. two years, Sam- Leading to hundreds mon - a blackbelt of press stories around in Jujitsu the world and was wanted in the UK for shar-- on national television, ing indecent images the hunt was immediately on. His seizure came of children. But, it was to popular just 10 hours after he was named local newspaper the in Opera- that Olive Press tion Captura and expat plasterer recorded arrest is the quickest reached Reid, in the joint UK out to, trusting 40, and Spanish police us to SUCCESS: ‘do the job properly’. Reid, Horgan, “It was a fantastic operation. Reynolds and result,” said In a series of Facebook Brunt Steve Reynolds, from the Nation- sages, he announced that mes- as a labourer and was Sammon, 45, had worked for him living in a campervancurrently the Mijas and Fuengirolaaround area.
INVESTIGATIONS: Tracking 59€ down paedophile Matthew Sammon, probing missing Amy (right) and exposing animal cruelty (far right)
Fuengirola
21st 2020
page 3
19th 2007
the
olive INVESTIGATES press
AN ecological nightmare, hundreds of “This is ancient oaks parently stand ap- attempt a cynical and botched to create ambience Pulled up for dead. a huge golf mac- around the golf roproject, they course and create space,” line up in rie rows like said tree surwar graves in ee- geon Kit Hogg. Somme. “I am sure the very few of these Many centuries old, they have trees will survive. protected been sacrifi It is disgusting.” ced for Europe’s insatiable desire Despite ongoing holiday homes. for golf and stop the work, EU efforts to Part of investigations and – crucially costaficationthe unrelenting guarantee – no of Andalucia, of they sound Los Merinos,water, work at the death knell nature conservation near for continues unchecked. Ronda in southern Spain. This is the true price of golf.
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BANGED UP: into police carSammon bundled and (inset) campervan his
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Fortnightly News
EU steps in to investigate El Algorrobico hotel opening after Junta u-turn that “disgraces” Spain... while a pair of British pensioners watch as their house - which DID have a licence - is torn to the ground.
on page 3
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Last stretches by new law, of pristine coast endangered alongside inland beauty spots EXCLUSIVE
Full story on page 16
While Brits’ dream home is demolished in Almeria
can reveal that The Olive Press may the Russian President a multimillion have bought with a euro Marbella mansion group of six businessmen.
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the olive press
for Sick safari hunters jailed shooting tigers and lions Hypocrisy in Spain
See page 8 & 9
in the sun
Cartel behind Putin’s mystery costa home
IMPACT: Tracking down crooked Nigel Goldman (above) and covering the devastating Costa del Sol fire in 2012
legends Ferran Adria and Gordon Ramsey. And it was nice to chat to Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera, as well as the only newspaper to be able to pose a couple of questions to Michelle Obama on her visit to Marbella a few years ago. Indeed, the positives far outweigh the negatives and we would prefer to be judged over 50 rather than 15 years. As far as we are concerned we have only just begun.
www.theolivepress.es
CAGED!
And were these men involved?
El Horrible opens
can Nigel
EXCLUSIVE: fraudster and By Tom Powell using reveal that convicted Jamie Micklethwaite is back in business Monte’ fraudster Ni- Goldman ‘Howard Del COSTA del Solis hiding out the false name gel Goldman last year country Goldman fled Spainof fraud, in a classic English Couling false name his partner Suzannewares via amid accusations cottage under the dozens of vicleaving behind peddling their mil‘Howard del Monte’. ‘Del Monte’ - are account called tims owed a total of €15 Goldman - aka to the busi- a joint Ebay lion. answer has also returned and selling ‘Bensons Emporium’. staff told the he refused to happy ness of buying antiques, it Village post office he regularly While he seems Olive Press that addressed to questions, Couling, her two coins, stamps and living with in the can be revealed. month lease collects parcels and also ‘sends daughters and two cats propRenting on a six Berkshire ‘Del Monte’, modest three-bedroom in the charming he and many packages’. erty. village of Kintbury, are Kintbury’s (top) with Suzanne While the pair conversation, UK bolthole and hottest topic ofseen and ‘keep HIDEOUT: Goldman’s a parking ticket. why he they are rarely themselves’. to say to you, with understand themselves to live nearby “I have nothing if a trafto meeting “I don’t hasn’t been arrested, but I look forward happier in Couling’s family find him then he called down. BRITS are stillreports sugfic warden can in Hungerford.secretive man you again,” can,” said Spain, despite have abansurely the police In fact, the who wished to is seemingly gesting 90,000 dream. the neighbour, from Del Monte leaving the Parking ticket doned the expatOlive Press remain anonymous. village only ever seen post office. An exclusive but “Everyone in the more than house to go to the Press conGoldman, whathair was disheveled, survey found that of our readWhen the Olivehis country- His did not have the mous- knows he’she goes under.” three quarters since makhe his claimed he ever name fronted him in refused ers are happier tache some haveas part of his Goldman, who deleted is side retreat, Goldman recently, door, instead now sporting ing the move. Facebook accountinvestigated to come to thehis head out of is disguise. Coul- currently being see No briefly poking to return millions For the full story, The previous morning, dream on leaving the for failing his fihis bedroom window. end to Spanish ing was seen load up their of euros to investors in page 4. house at 9am to Zafira with nancial companies. Olive silver Vauxhall off, possibly Various victims told the are practically boxes and head Press that they life after losing their to a car boot sale. Building explained that destituteto his schemes, that One neighbour Costa Del Sols Leading into the savings since 1996. Page 4 the day they moved warden arContinues on and Window Specialist, house, a traffic the couple rived and issued
It’s MORE fun
When it comes to corruption we were the first English newspaper to write about the ERE scandal at the Junta de Andalucia that cost an estimated billion euros to the taxpayers, while we also tackled town hall theft on a local scale on dozens of occasions. Animal cruelty has been a continual bugbear and we have exposed so many evil abusers, as well as the scoundrels who allowed hunters to kill innocent circus lions and tigers at a finca in Extremadura (see below). On a more positive front, it was great to interview everyone from Princess Diana’s ex-lover James Hewett to cooking
the olive press
14 2014
FROM ENGLISH
The man from Del Monte
EXPOSED: COSTA
on page 2
www.theolivepress.es
only English-language The original and in Andalucía investigative newspaper
April 30 - May
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girls A PAIR of young Max Clifdophile PR guru on the ford sexually assaulted led to his Costa del Sol have conviction. visiClifford - a long-time and involved tor to the coast local events in charities and guilty of - has been found sexual assault, eight counts of mostly on minors.groomed on At least two were being lured in the coast, afterof stardom. with promises here with his He is pictured Kenny Lynch showbiz chum at a bash in Marbella.
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...and our team of long-term writers, recall their decade and a half living in the world’s most exciting country. See pull-out inside.
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their rights
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Roughly half of the 800,000 British property owners in Spain have residency, but the rest, like Sue and Dave can now only spend a maximum of 90 days in the country during any 180-day period. Sue said: “It doesn’t make sense for us to become residents as we only spend three months a year here and the process of getting residency is long and complicated. “But now our hands are tied. We have to go back whether we like it or not.” Dave agreed: “Brexiteers say they voted for freedom but I don’t feel free. I feel diminished.” Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, the task of returning to the UK hasn’t been easy on the pair - or their finances. The couple shelled out nearly £800 in travel expenses and COVID tests and had four flights cancelled since the start of the year. “If we had failed our COVID tests or if the airline had cancelled the flight we would immediately have become illegal immigrants through no fault of our own. It’s daunting,” said Dave.
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turned to get help from The Ex- have access to social media or pat Centre based in Ciudad Que- trustworthy news sources, have sada on the Costa Blanca. been unaware of the recent and “Brexit has changed so many ongoing changes. things in a wholly negative way,” “This leaves Brits vulnerable and Moira Carmenate who runs at the mercy of hearsay – I really The Expat Centre told the Olive feel for them.” Press. Pressure on some Spanish auThe Withdrawal Agreement thorities has forced them to wasn’t properly amend the required thought through and documentation that the consequences A lot of elderly Brits would use to for some individuals prove their residenfolk living here cy status. and businesses have been catastrophic,” have not been It has emerged that she continued. the Foreigners Ofaware of the “After four years fice in Alicante will of soundbites and now only accept a changes false promises from copy of the 2020 pathe UK government, dron as proof that an those picking up the applicant was living pieces are the vulnerable Brits in Spain before December 31. right throughout Europe, not just Barbara Cobos is an established Spain. translator and residency expert “As a consequence a lot of el- based at The Expat Centre who derly folk living here who don’t told the Olive Press that the change in requirements was to ease the strain on the authorities that process residency applications. She said: “The strain on the system has been unprecedented since the new year, and the auShe may thorities just can’t cope. “Currently, there is still no forbe retired, mal agreement in place between but Anne UK and Spanish governments to clarify what the Third Country Hernandez ruling is regarding residencia eligibility,” said Cobos. has never
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HE Olive Press launched in 2006 and has just celebrated its 15 year anniversary (below left). This is the 366th edition of the newspaper in print and now we have some exciting news to share about our next project. While across the Costas our readers enjoy picking up their free newspaper every fortnight to be informed on the big issues in Spain and what’s going OLIVE on locally, our team of PRESS 15 YEARS journalists are also workOF FUN ing every day to bring up Lessons to date reliable news from needed across Spain on our website, which receives over 1 million visitors each month. We aim to serve our readers with not just the top news of the day from around Spain but explain the stories beyond the headlines and explore those issues that could impact your life and experience in Spain. It is here that we can provide the latest news from extreme weather warnings, to new travel restrictions as well as breaking exclusives and campaigning on those issues that are important to our readers. We will imminently be launching a new dedicated travel website that will provide detailed guides, re- FOOD,DRINK ILLA & TRAVEL SEV SPECIAL views, travel tips from our team of writers who want to share their experience of destinations across Spain and what we love about SNAPSHOTS them. reipaN anoI :OTOHP
LINES DRAWN: Britain and the EU are both looking after their own interests
A site well travelled
The
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FTER spending almost every summer in Spain for 50 years, Sue Cronin and husband Dave Cronin (pictured below) couldn’t wait to buy their very own apartment on the Costa del Sol. Five years ago they found the perfect spot – an idyllic flat in Estepona overlooking the Med where the pair could leave behind rain and responsibilities in the UK and enjoy long, hot days in the sunshine. But their carefree retirement plans were short lived. Not long after they purchased their dream home, the UK voted to leave the European Union. “When Brexit was announced we were horrified,” said Dave, 73, who voted to remain. “We knew it would have terrible consequences for British people living in Europe, but no one could have predicted how much of a complete and utter disaster it would be. “I don’t think the British Government is fully aware of the hidden consequences of Brexit affecting the day to day life of people in Europe.” Now after five months riding out the pandemic from their holiday home, Sue and Dave are one of the thousands of Brits who wereforced to return to the UK by March 31. “It’s terrible timing. The restrictions are lifting and the sun has arrived, it really is the perfect time to be here,” said retired musician Sue, 69. “We’ve always been able to come and go as we please and now we are no longer able to stay in our own home. We had no choice in the matter. We would have become illegal immigrants on April 1.”
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April 8th - April 21th 2021
www.theolivepress.es
ON PAGE 2
Bracing for Brexit
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January 18th
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THERESA May has vowed Britain won’t half out’ Brexitaccept a ‘half in, speech that is in a landmark likely to have long-lasting effects on Gibraltar and all expats in Spain. The Prime Minister issued 12-point plan to take Britaina out of the EU, ing Street looking with Downto scrap EU single market and current customs union access. In the biggest month tenure,speech of her sixclear, what I amshe said: “To be proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.” She added Britain would no longer give ‘huge EU, however she sums’ to the Parliament will conceded that vote on the deal. have the final Maintaining the common travel area between the United Kingdom and EXCLUSIVE Ireland is also the Republic of By Gabrielle a priority during Pickard-Whitehead the Brexit negotiations. and Laurence Dollimore However, the tar with Spainborder of Gibral- A BRITISH was not menexpat rushed to the tioned. after finding five has called in police vets he died 30 later. of her dogs executed minutes a late-night massacre. in An X-ray showed The Guardia in 2004, found Control shot through the he also had a bullet ing the horrificCivil are now investigatin their pens onthe five rescue dogs shot Meanwhile, roof of his mouth. “We want to attack that one of the Reyes (ThreeJanuary 6, the night of was migration fromcontrol our im- of Illona Mitchell’s horses also left one also attacked, Mitchell’s 12 horses Kings). with its eye Her beloved seven-year-old so savagely May. “We also the EU,” said gouged out. eye may have to be removed. that its of the friendliest Dizzy, ‘one Vets importance of recognise the The detectives from the have been struggling environment the brightest section Seprona meet’ and a puppydogs you will ever four-year-old, and the best coming to treat the told called Maisie shot dead at the here. We it was one of the worstMitchell, 48, that were he has become named Rocco, because recognise the attacks too nervous and Meanwhile Cocogates of their pens. have made.” contribution they seen and were visibly shocked they had Deeply traumatised skittish. They have put shot in their beds, and Domingo, were thankfully by the May is believed on extra patrolsby it. with Mitchell was not seen attack - that ing they had permit system to favour a work- an eye on the estate at weekendsto keep by her daughcowered in their believ- ter Ella, 11 - Mitchell before being killed and at kennels so angry continued: “I trigger Article 50as she looks to night. in cold blood. am that someone “I am sickened Coco, two, had would do someIt comes as the by March. thing as disgusting as to why range betweenbeen shot at point-blank animals.” as this to innocent published data House of Lords would carry out such a cruel someone the eyes, while and bar- week. year-old Domingo three- Mitchell, der closure withshowing a bor- baric attack on innocent, was shot through from side of his face. put 40% of jobs Spain would animals,” she told the Olivedefenceless The mother-of-one, the tack is linked Chester, believes the atPress this her at risk in Gito her recent They later found above, who bought braltar. ban hunters from decision to estate in mountains German Shepherd,Jack, a six-year-old estate her huge 173-hectare near Granada The 32 page-report, that sits in stunning having convulsions under a nearby based on Gibraltar the Sierra de Baza. scenery in tree, but despite government evibeing dence, estimates Continues on Rock’s 26,000 10,500 of the Page 4 the border daily.workers crossed Opinion Page Est 1984 6 “A frontier which necessary fluidity lacked the fore put directly would thereAntiques, Jewellers of 40% of the at risk the jobs For all your Gibraltar work& Pawnbrokers force,” said a spokesman. insurance needs! May’s speech A huge variety was cheered of over Leave campaigners, by 1 carat diamond pushing for a ‘hard’ who are jewellery. Brexit. She said:“We adopt a model do not seek to HIGH STREET PRICES: already enjoyed estepona@ibexinsure.com by other countries. Choose one of 7,000€+ our great We do not OUR PRICE: 1,500 seek to hold on lens offers or - 2,000€ get 30% bership as we to bits of memoff selected Fuengirola “The British leave,” said May. frames UNBEATABLE change. And people voted for PRICES GUARANTEED See our ad inside it is the governWE BUY, WE ment’s job to deliver for details. fuengirola@ibexinsure.com PAY MORE, WE it.” Diamonds@anthonys-diamonds.com PAY CASH Opinion Page 6
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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER
18 January
Happy 15th anniversary!
April 7th - April 20th 2021
As the Olive Press prepares to launch a brand new travel website, we give you a preview by taking a look around Andalucia’s historic capital
Thanks
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OF SEVILLA
STUNNING: Sevilla is a city noted
for its beauty, architecture, gardens
and lifestyle
in Spain. By Dilip Kuner In this four-page special, to celebrate our dedicated travel portal to Spain, the launch of HE streets of Sevilla are normally thronging at takes the this time of year. a look at some of the highlights ofOlive Press Sevilla. The first city to be spotlighted in Tens of thousands of people flock our new to the capi- website, tal of Andalucia to witness and savour in the coming months we will be travel the solemn taking pasos, or processions, that wend their way through a close look at Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Madrid the historic heart of the city at Easter. and Valencia, plus all the other key destinations An extremely popular tourist destination around - equally Aside Spain. busy for the Feria de Abril a few weeks later - Sevilla dozensfrom the articles included here, there will be is famous for its beautiful architecture more vignettes and features on Sevilla and its outdoor lifestyle and terrace dining. as well as its wonderful province. But, as these pictures show, now This includes potted guides to the if you want to avoid the queues - is the time to visit mona, Ecija, Osuna, as well as key towns of Carand it is all down special features on to COVID-19 restrictions. the curious communist town of Marinaleda, mounOf course you may have to wait tain escapes like Cazalla de la Sierra and the wonthe restrictions to finally lift, but a few weeks for derful Roman city of Italica. you a taste of the treats in store these photos give At the moment, while many foreign tourists are when you CAN finally make a trip to one of the most missing out on their travel dreams, famous cities local at expats can make the most of whatleast the is easily Europe’s most diverse and colourful country. Watch out for the new portal which will be at:
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It’s been a year with few opportunities to travel thanks to the coronavirus pandemic but we are optimistic that Spain will open up to tourism again soon, so we want to inspire you to plan your next trip. We are starting with a focus on that most fabulous of all Spanish cities, Sevilla, a firm favourite among our staff who have gone to great lengths to discover not just the highlights of the Andaluce capital itself but also places of interest within the province. We have eaten typical Andalucian delicacies, sipped sherry in squares filled with the scent of orange blossom and walked miles across cobblestones all in the name of journalism. You’re welcome! https://travel. theolivepress. es/
EMPTY: Sevilla’s streets are normally
packed at Easter (below centre)
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: Fury at Spain’s Alicante Airport as 40 Brits 1 -deported back to UK after clearing customs at Manchester Airport (55,057 views) No plans to deport British citizens as au2 -thorities in Spain urge calm over 90 day rule (views 5,070) away at UK boarding gate by 3 - Brits turned staff acting on behalf of Spain (views 3,956) Backlash as controversial new rules for 4 - Spain’s beaches are being reviewed within hours of starting (views 3,956) Semana Santa hats conical and 5 - Why arearethethey linked to the KKK? (Views 2,636)
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LA CULTURA
Floored!
ONE of the biggest Roman mosaics ever found has been unearthed. The El Altillo Roman Villa complex was discovered in an olive grove near the village of Rus in Jaen after fragments of the floor were spotted. A team from Jaen University led by Marcos Soto Civantos and Jose Luis Serrano Peña excavated the site to reveal an extensive villa dating mainly from the 4th century AD. Within the villa, a mosaic measuring 18 metres by nine was discovered. It consists of geometric designs and guilloche patterns. Next to the villa, archaeologists also found a cemetery, a tile kiln and an olive oil mill. Rus Mayor Manuel Hueso now wants the site to be declared an Asset of Cultural Interest allowing the town council to secure grants for future digs and to preserve the remains.
IT is one of the most famous and popular beaches on Southern Spain’s Atlantic coast. Its kilometres of white sandy beaches have proven to be an irresistible draw for families bringing their children for a fun day by the sea. But it would seem that there is nothing new in this – proof has just been discovered that Neanderthal man did just the same thing 106,000 years ago.
Do you have a what’s on? Send your informa tion to newsdesk@theolivepr ess.es
April 8th - April 21th 2021
Footloose Modern humans following in the footsteps of Neanderthals
Play Fossilised footprints from what appears to be a family group – young children included – have been found that scientists believe show the youngsters skipping around – as if at play around a lagoon. The discovery was made by chance. Two biologists from the nearby Doñana national park - Dolores Cobo and Ana Mateos - were taking a stroll along the Matalascañas beach when they came across a section of beach in front of the Asperillo Cliff that had been washed away by winter storms. Revealed were numerous footprints made by deer, wild boar and dogs. But what re-
SPAIN will use tax credits as an incentive to boost TV and film production by 30% over the next four years. Bolstered by the international success of Money Heist and an increase in big budget movies and TV shows working out of Spain, the government has announced a move to expand production still further. Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, unveiled the plans which also include the creation of an Audio-visual ‘Hub Bureau’ to entice foreign producers to invest in Spain and Spanish companies.
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PRINT: Proof that the beach has long been popular
By Dilip Kuner
ally caught the attention of the team of researchers from the University of Huelva who came to study the site was
the presence of hominid footprints. After months of analysis, the results of the study have just been published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. In addition to studying the shape
Cash action Over €2 billion of film tax credits will be offered as an additional carrot up to 2025. Spain has a recent history of providing locations to series like Game of Thrones and more recently Warrior Nun on Netflix, as it offers tax incentives and low overhead involving local production companies and facility providers.
of the feet of the Neanderthals who made them, they have been able to establish the biological and social characteristics of the group that set foot on the beach of Matalascañas millennia ago. Researchers believe the footprints were made by nine adults, 15 adolescents and seven children. The presence of children and women indicates that the lagoon could have served as a playground for the youngest members of the group, while the abundance of mammals and the proximity to the coast made it a very useful place for hunting and fishing.
Love of music A RECORD number of people gathered at a concert hall in Barcelona to watch the Spanish band Love of Lesbian perform, marking Europe’s largest musical event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 5,000 packed into the Palau Sant Jordi hall as part of the government sanctioned concert to test whether events in controlled settings could restart again without contributing to the spread of coronavirus. Ticket holders were asked to take a high-speed antigen test ahead of the sold out show, with ticket prices covering the cost of the test as well as a face masks which had to be worn for the duration of the show. People with heart disease, cancer, or those who have been in contact with someone infected by COVID-19 in recent weeks were asked not to sign up. The concert was backed by local authorities .
A HELPING HAND
Care work may not be your first career choice but now is the perfect time to help the community and your bank balance back in the UK for a few weeks
LA CULTURA You beaut! 10
April 8th April 21th 2021
Spectacular beauty site to get extra protection
W
ITH a recession once again “There really isn’t a better time to start crippling the job market in your career as a live-in carer at Helping Spain, many expats have been Hands Home Care where you will enjoy left without seasonal or per- the flexibility of working in the UK while manent work. residing in Spain,” she said. Some have been separated from their “We see our overseas carers as part of families in the UK and are uncertain on our family and we constantly have amazhow to make ends meet. ing feedback from our customers about Helping Hands, a family-run care busi- how supportive and empathetic their ness, who was voted UK’s carers are. Best Places to Work 2018, “Carers from abroad have want to offer expats an opbeen coming to Helping There really portunity to visit their famiHands for a number of isn’t a better lies and regain some finanyears, and we are very pascial stability. sionate about continuing time to start Care work is a rewarding this. The diversity of our and diverse job that allows your career as workforce is something we for flexible work placements take great pride in, and we a carer and, with Helping Hands, inare committed to supportdepth training and extremely ing any of those with concompetitive pay. cerns.” Helping Hands has been running regular With an assessment centre Fuengirola, carer assessment events on the Spanish Malaga anyone interested in working mainland for several years managed by for Helping Hands can complete our astheir Spanish-based recruitment team. sessment and selection course before Lead Dementia Care Specialist, Jayne coming to the UK to start work as a liveVale, has worked for Helping Hands for in carer. over 16 years and heads up their re- Helping Hands will then deal with all refcruitment training Spain is really keen to erences and police checks before carers meet with anyone with a passion for join- fly out to the UK. ing the care industry as a live-in carer to come and work in the UK.
For more information call Jayne on 07964464654 or 0034658521907 about the role and get the application process started.
By Alex Trelinski
ONE of the largest and most significant geological areas in the Valencia region is set to be officially classified as a ‘Natural Monument’. La Falla del Moraig (Moraig Fault) will get added protection once the procedure has been processed and approved by the Valencian Government’s Agriculture department. It’s popular with tourists who can access a 219 metre long path with spectacular sea views of the Benitatxell area. La Falla del Moraig is in effect a spectacular rocky wall and is an example of a fault that runs parallel to Cala del Moraig.
STUNNING: La Falla del Moraig may be protected It runs through the Cova dels Arcs and reaches the sea. The polished appearance of the rock wall and the grooves formed by the friction of the blocks indicate the direction of geological
Tongue lashed
A MOTORCADE protest was staged in Pilar de la Horadada against the compulsory use of Valenciano in school lessons. The language is barely used in the Vega Baja region of the Valencian Community but regional laws now mandate its use for teaching alongside Spanish. Groups like ‘Hablamos Español’ and the ‘Pilar Association for Language Freedom’ were joined by regional Partido Popular politicians and mayors in the demonstration, Banners were displayed demanding that ‘children should have the right to be taught in Spanish’. A number of parents said their youngsters were being taught just over the border in the Murcia region to avoid the Valencian rules.
displacement that originated it. The fault seems to be suspended in the air over a lagoon which also houses the underwater entrance to the Blanc river. Valencia’s Agriculture Minister, Mireia Molla said: “La Falla will get the right kind of protection that will be tailored to all of the challenges of conservation.” The area is already classified as a ‘Place of Geological Interest’ by Spain’s Geological and Mining Institute. Experts say that the fault was created 11 million years ago which sank mainly limestone material to form the Cueva des Arcs. Erosion over the years then created areas like the Moraig Cave.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL As the Olive Press prepares to launch a brand new travel website, we give you a preview by taking a look around Andalucia’s historic capital
SEVILLA SPECIAL
April 8th - April 21th 2021
11
Snapshots of Sevilla
STUNNING: Sevilla is a city noted for its beauty, architecture, gardens and lifestyle By Dilip Kuner
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HE streets of Sevilla are normally thronging at this time of year. Tens of thousands of people flock to the capital of Andalucia to witness and savour the solemn pasos, or processions, that wend their way through the historic heart of the city at Easter. An extremely popular tourist destination - equally busy for the Feria de Abril a few weeks later - Sevilla is famous for its beautiful architecture as well as its outdoor lifestyle and terrace dining. But, as these pictures show, now is the time to visit if you want to avoid the queues - and it is all down to COVID-19 restrictions. Of course you may have to wait a few weeks for the restrictions to finally lift, but these photos give you a taste of the treats in store when you CAN finally make a trip to one of the most famous cities
in Spain. In this four-page special, to celebrate the launch of our dedicated travel portal to Spain, the Olive Press takes a look at some of the highlights of Sevilla. The first city to be spotlighted in our new travel website, in the coming months we will be taking a close look at Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Madrid and Valencia, plus all the other key destinations around Spain. Aside from the articles included here, there will be dozens more vignettes and features on Sevilla and its wonderful province. This includes potted guides to the key towns of Carmona, Ecija, Osuna, as well as special features on the curious communist town of Marinaleda, mountain escapes like Cazalla de la Sierra and the wonderful Roman city of Italica. At the moment, while many foreign tourists are missing out on their travel dreams, at least the local expats can make the most of what is easily Europe’s most diverse and colourful country. Watch out for the new portal which will be at: https://travel. theolivepress. es/
EMPTY: Sevilla’s streets are normally packed at Easter (below centre)
12
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Barack Obama
April 7th - April 20th 2021
Time travel
Uma Thurman
Columbus
Y
OU can easily picture Christopher Columbus setting off for the Americas as you stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir in Sevilla’s central neighbourhood of El Arenal. The medieval shipyards here - which have existed since the days of Julius Caesar - are central to this ancient city’s history. Boasting a Gothic style, the galleys they built played an important role in the battle for the Strait of Gibraltar and the Hundred Years’ War - and more notably as the launchpad for Columbus’ explorations. (They also played an important role in the fictional world of Game of Thrones, posing as the crypts of the Red Fortress in the seventh season of the hit fantasy
There’s no better place to get lost in history than Sevilla, the city which hosted the departure of Christopher Columbus - just ask the likes of Barack Obama and Uma Thurman, writes Laurence Dollimore
series). the explorer’s plundering of South AmerTo this day you can sail along the river, ica, saw the country’s empire become just as the explorer did, and gaze in awe among the most powerful in the world. at the medieval marvels along the way. Between 1492 and 1681, gold and othAnd just a stone’s throw er minerals from the ‘New away in the Santa Cruz World’ catapulted Spain neighbourhood you’ll find into an era of wealth and Murillo and the tomb of Columbus at prosperity, with its literaVelazquez are ture and arts also flourthe Catedral. The largest Gothic church ishing (showcased best just two who in the world, covering at the Museo de Bella some 23,500sqm, it chose to live in Artes). was completed in the Just ask the greats Muearly 1500s before being the historic city rillo and Velazquez, who registered as a UNESCO chose to live in the romanWorld Heritage Site in tic city. 1987. The former has gorgeous gardens It is one of dozens of remnants from named after him while you can still visSpain’s Golden Age, which, thanks to it the birthplace of the latter tucked behind a narrow street in the Alfalfa neighbourhood. Luckily for us, the era also saw the Habsburg Dynasty solidify HE Alameda neighbourhood is the area surrounding and including the Alaand create some meda de Hercules, a long mall accompanied by bars, cafes and restaurants of the cities most on either side. stunning sites. Lying in the northern part of the city’s old town, the Alameda was once a These include meeting point for the elites in the 1800s. the stunning Real However following the Spanish Civil War, it quickly deteriorated into one of the Alcazar palace poorest barrios and was ravaged by drugs and prostitution - with up to 35 brothand gardens, just els operating in 1989. opposite the CatBut it is now back in action following a rescue plan in the early 2000s which saw traffic limited and the promenade edral. restored, and lined with poplar and hackberry trees. Declared a World Today it is the place to be for the young, cultured and anyone looking for a good time. Heritage Site by It also the most gay-friendly quarter of Sevilla, with bars like Dilema, Nua and 1987 acting as the warm up acts to nightUNESCO in 1987, clubs Holiday, Fun Club, Men to Men or Itaca. it is among the There are also great cocktail bars like Gigante (which does a great Moscow Mule) and a flavourful selection of restauoldest palaces rants, from the traditional to the nouvelle. in Europe having begun conEATING... struction in 913, If you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava (on Calle Eslava). You may have when the caliph to queue to be seated (opt for a spot at the bar for a shorter wait) but it is more than worth it with one of the quirkiest of Andalucia Abd and tastiest menus around. al-Rahman III first Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef tataki), vegetable strudel and manchego cheese ice cream. For Middle Eastern fusion head to Arte y Sabor, situated along the Alameda promenade. Boasting a sun-kissed terrace it is unique in its wide range of vegetable dishes and innovative and creative salads. If you want something more traditional, stop at Casa Ricardo, which has been serving locals since 1898. Their melt-inthe-mouth jamon can be knocked back with a cold sherry while enjoying the old-school writing of orders with chalk on the bar and walls adorned with religious art. If you’re looking for something less Spanish, Nickel has some of the best burgers in Sevilla while Al Solito Posto has delicious pizzas. Or if you want a taste of gentrified London, head to the Cereal Cafe.
Potted barrios guide to... Alameda
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decided to build a fort. However, it was along Calle Betis. over 500 years that the grounds were The riverbed comes alive with food and added to by successive Moorish, Chris- drink stalls lining the riverside calle while tian and finally Catholic rulers, making it during the day a centuries’ old competione of the most emblematic attractions tion known as the La Cucana sees parin a region characterised by its multicul- ticipants attempt to walk along a boat’s tural history. bow which has been slathered in grease And don’t miss the Giralda bell tower at- and attempt to catch a little flag attached tached to the Catedral, the top of which at the end - with prizes for those who is accessed via a series of ramps which complete the task. used to be ascended by Moors on horse- Back over the river, however, something back before calling citizens to prayer. new is brewing. But it’s not just the old town centre In the central neighbourhood of Alfalpacked with sites, with medieval church- fa, the Soho Benita area is proving this es, convents and centuries-old food mar- ancient city can also host 21st century kets around every corner. gems. No neighbourhood knows this more than Covering six streets (Golfo, Perez Galdos, Triana. Don Alonso el Sabio, Ortizo de Zuniga, Once home to sailors, potters, Flamenco Santillana and Jose Luis Luque), it indancers and bull-fighters, Triana’s rich corporates around 20 small businesses, history is as colourful as its buildings including a modern art gallery, nail salon which light up the river bank on its iconic and traditional barbers, and was recently Calle Betis. tipped as a must-place to visit by the New The barrio was once known as an arra- York Times. bal, the name given to areas separated The newest arrival is the RecoVeco from the centre of Sevilla. And many in restaurant on Calle Ortizo de Zuniga, the town still see themselves as strictly opened just this year. trianero and distinct from The Spanish ‘heritage’ the rest of the Sevillanos, eatery promises traditionoften referring to the al and seasonal AndaBelieved to neighbourhood as the lucia dishes but with an Independent Republic of Avant Garde twist - and all have been Triana. in a super-chic setting... founded by the the perfect place to treat Believed to have been founded by a Roman col- Roman emperor yourself or loved ones for ony under emperor Traa night. jan, it is entered by crossAnd you wouldn’t be the Trajan ing the Isabel II bridge, a first to want to hang out in landmark in itself. the Alfalfa barrio. It’s home to a traditional Former US President pottery and tile industry - with a museum Barack Obama was papped entering the paying homage to the crafts - vibrant fla- popular eatery Bache San Pedro after menco festivals and hugely popular mar- attending a climate change summit in kets and festivals. the city. If you’re braving the Sevilla heat between No one knows what he opted for, but the July 21 and 26, don’t miss the Vela San- pork with ‘special sauce’ is sublime, as ta Ana festival held every day and night is its famous cheesecake, made with
SITES….
At either end of the promenade you’ll find two Roman-style columns. The northern side features a lion atop each column while the other end features Hercules and Julius Caesar. The two lions and Hercules represent the emblem of Andalucia, which bears the Pillars of Hercules and, obviously, two lions. Legend has it that Hercules founded Sevilla while Julius Caesar also ruled it for a time. Head to Convento Santa Clara and marvel at its impressive cloister which is frequently used for exhibitions. While there, don’t miss the Torre de Don Fadrique, named after the late owner of the site and which offers a stunning example of early Gothic architecture in Sevilla. Built in 1252, the tower is also surrounded by beautiful gardens. Finally, the Convento San Clemente is adorned with fascinating frescoes and artwork from the 1500s and you can also buy some pastries made by the nuns who live there. STUNNING: The Moorish Alcazar is a must-see in Sevilla
A L L I V E S FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL L A I C E SP
April - April 21th 2021 April 7th8th - April 20th 2021
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OLD AND NEW: The architecture of Sevilla is stunning, whether it is the El Salvador church (far left) historic centre or the modern La Seta (above) payoyo cheese from the hills of Cadiz. Back in 2015, Uma Thurman dressed up as the Virgin Mary while drinking at the uber traditional El Garlochi bar - a watering hole like no other, with more religious art than wall space and only the holiest of music blaring through the speakers. Alfalfa provides the perfect snapshot of Sevilla, where centuries’ old traditions live in harmony alongside 21st century upgrades. Just head to the modern-day Las Setas in the neighbouring Encarnacion barrio. Officially known as the Metropol Parasol, the imposing structure boasts six parasols and is spread over four levels. It was designed by Berlin architect Jurgen Mayer who entered into a government-run competition to renovate the area in the early 2000s.
Repeatedly ranked as the number one tourist attraction in Spain by TripAdvisor users, the Plaza de Espana is truly a work of art. Designed by Caidon Fox for the 1929 Sevilla Expo, it was created to showcase Spain’s industry and technology exhibits at the historic fair. The complex is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running around the edge, boasting a mix of 1920s Art Deco, Baroque and Neo-Mudejar styles The buildings are accessible via four bridges - representing the
Plaza de España four ancient kingdoms of Spain - built over a moat which runs the whole length of the complex. In the centre sits the Vicente Traver fountain while by the walls are tiled alcoves, each depicting a different province of Spain. If you REALLY have time to kill, you can row a boat in the moat in what is possibly the most unnecessary tourist trap - although it does make for a nice photo.
New Tax Year, New APARI
H
APPY New Year! No we haven’t gone mad, or hopped into a time machine - we, of course, mean Happy New Tax Year! And a new year means a new start and big changes all around! With the spring budget announcement in March, new tax rates and allowances are now in effect, and it also looks as though we are starting to see the green shoots of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic - putting an end to a year most of us would rather forget! Alongside government and economic changes, APARI are also embracing that ‘New Year, New Me’ feeling with an amazing new look, new logo and, more importantly, at the end of April, we will be releasing our New Software! APARI has been a labour of love for our founders Sudesh & Anita Sud, and the whole team
It’s the time to be thinking about the UK tax year are really proud of what’s been achieved by the original APARI Product - but staying ahead of an emerging market means we have to adapt and adjust with our users and their UK tax requirements. As showcased during our March Webinar, the upcoming upgrade of the software includes enhanced features designed to make your transition to Making Tax Digital (MTD) as smooth as possible. APARI has been created with you in mind it is not only a tool to calculate and submit tax, but also to manage your property and business portfolio. Our brand new mobile application will enable you to keep up to date on the go, and amazing features such as snap and save receipts along with bank feed connection, will make digital record-keeping near effortless. Some things will stay the same - APARI
has always, and will always, remain free for the whole MTD submission journey, and we will only charge for enhanced optional features.
Right
So, how do you know that APARI is the right product for you? Well, to be honest, that’s something only you can decide - but the joy of APARI is that you can sign up and find out for free! And, even if you’re still unsure, it really is the best time to prepare and start digital record-keeping, ready for the official switch to MTD in the UK in 2023.
But just remember, even though the new APARI software won’t be released until later this month, the current APARI software is always here to support you in the transition to MTD.
Find out more at www.apari-digital.com
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL IT is known as El Sarten, the frying pan of Spain because it’s location in a dip surrounded by the olive groves of La Campina means it regularly records the hottest temperatures in southern Europe. But Ecija is also dubbed the ‘City of Towers’ and ‘City of Palaces’, no surprise when you see the skyline interrupted by several dozen towers, some with detailed ceramic work and usually topped by a stork nest. Located 85km from Sevilla, a visit to this gem of a town is like stepping back in time. And if you are struggling under the weight of tourism in the provincial capital, or nearby Cordoba, you certainly won’t be here: It’s unlikely you’ll hear a single English accent, even after COVID. Narrow cobbled streets, white-washed
SEVILLA SPECIAL
April 7th - April 20th 2021
Fry away inland Ecija: A visit to the charming city known as ‘the frying pan’ of Spain, where ‘cat soup’ is on the menu By Fiona Govan
houses and alluring porticos reveal glimpses of bloom-filled patios within. While avenues are lined by orange
STUNNING: One of dozens of mosaics found
ROMAN CITY: Ecija is awash with historic monuments and priceless Roman statues
trees, their blossom filling the air with the powerful scent that screams this part of Andalucia. Once an important Roman settlement known as Astigi on the via Augusta, or A-4, the longest and busiest Roman road in ancient Hispania, the town became Madinat al-qutn (City of Cotton) when it fell under Arab rule in 711 and was renamed Ecija when Christian settlers moved in after the reconquest in 1240. This is the place to visit churches, even just to raise your eyes to admire towers such as Las Gemelas (the twins) of the Iglesia de la Purísima Concepcion or the exquisite triple bell tower of Iglesia de San Juan. For fans of the Baroque style, don’t miss a visit to the Church of Limpia Concepcion with its fabulously ornate plasterwork ceiling, decoration that was added in the 18th century and the Iglesia de los Descalzos with an altarpiece which is said to rival that of Sevilla’s cathedral. Then there’s the palaces. In the 18th century the city was home to 40 noble families whose patronage saw Ecija transformed under a golden age that is still possible to see glimpses of today, with some open to the public. At the Palacio de los Palma the rooms
are preserved as they were in its heyday with all the original furniture, while Palacio de Peñaflor is the place to marvel at frescos - some of the best in Spain - stretching across 60 metres of its exterior walls. The Palacio de Benamejí is home to the tourist office, a good courtyard restaurant Las Ninfas (with its Roman statues) and the Museo Historica which boasts a series of breathtaking mosaic floors from Roman times. It also housesthe 2,000-year-old Amazona Herida, a perfectly preserved statue which was discovered in 2007 when digging out a car park under the city’s Plaza España. Dine out with locals at one of the many restaurant terrazas in Plaza España or around the fountain in Plazuela de Santa Maria or grab a table on the little Plaza del Nuestra Señora del Valle and enjoy views across to the magnificent half ruined Iglesia de Santa Cruz, which was damaged in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.
WHERE TO EAT
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eing the capital city of Andalucia, the dining scene in Sevilla is unsurprisingly diverse. Famous for its central tapas bars, where locals typically tapear at up to five or six different bars in a session, it also has a bustling restaurant community that is as competitive as it is var-
ied. I first found the likes of Tribeca and Abantal over a decade ago, buzzing joints that I included in my book and website Dining Secrets of Andalucia. They are still around today, with the latter now with its own Michelin star, thanks to the hard work of its chef Julio Quintero. He himself had trained at the legendary Taberna del Alabardero, a glamorous grand dame of the local dining scheme that had its own culinary training scheme, but is, to be fair, a little stuffy. I also picked Vineria de San Telmo in a great location next to the Alcazar, which brilliantly combines good food and wine. Its Argentinian boss Juan
MIX: duck ham tapa at Casa del Tigre and La Sal terrace
MY TOP FIVE IN SEVILLA Jon Clarke shares his dining secrets in the Andalucia capital
Tarquini skillfully manages to provide both at excellent prices, and it’s still around today. But you should also look next door where there is a brand new hip joint freshest seafood on offer called Bar la Sal, serving up the very and changes by the day with best local seafood - particularly tuna a new menu. - that you can imagine. It’s not cheap, but it’s the Opening in December 2020, its dy- place to have shellfish, namic owner Charo Alvarez already such as razor shells, which has another restaurant in the city were served with a delicious and a famous joint in cream of algas Zahara de los Atunes, soup or the on the Costa de la Luz, amazing puntilA wonderful in Cadiz. litas with fresh With this place she peas and an mix of flavours wanted to make it more onion caldo. informal, less punishBut its piece de from around ing on the pocket, yet resistance was Spain and still serving up the best the medley of bluefin tuna you will cuts of Mero, Spain’s abroad ever eat in a dozen difmost popular fish ferent guises. known as ‘grouper’ At least three of her in English. We had tuna starter dishes have won prizes an amazing trio of belly, fillet and as the best tapa in Zahara’s famous spine, some of the tastiest fish I annual tapas competition. have ever eaten. It’s the most buzzing spot around this The wine list is great and you can Spring and you will need to book one have Bollinger champagne by the of the excellent terrace tables that glass at €10. sit next to the For a totally different take on dinc e l e b r a t e d ing, head to the recently opened Jardines de La Casa del Tigre which is one of Murillo park the most romantic, original diners with its amaz- in Andalucia. ing trees. Opened by four friends just before A n o t h e r the COVID lockdown in December amazing fish 2019, it got its name after an old restaurant - zookeeper who infamously kept a probably the tiger upstairs in his flat for years. best in Sevilla It is sumptuously decorated with and, among acres of velvet, but also stylish the best I patterns and artworks, doffing have eaten at their hat appropriately to African in Andalucia - wildlife. is Canabota. The food is hard to describe as This minimal- anything other than eclectic, but ist joint only it is a wonderful mix of flavours has the very from around Spain and abroad, in-
cluding fish cheeks, beef mollejas (glands next to the heart basically) and the most amazing Taco de Puchero, basically an unreconstructed grandma-style croquette. Don’t miss the cool foie and duck ham starter that comes on a bed of lettuce, while the wine list was exceptionally good, with plenty of wines by the glass. Finally, if you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava (on Calle Eslava conveniently). You may have to queue to be seated (opt for a spot at the bar for a shorter wait) but it is worth it for one of the most original menus around. Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef tataki), vege• La Casa del tigre table strudel • Canabota and manchego cheese • Bar la Sal ice cream. • Esclava
• Vineria San Telmo
952 147 834 * O f f e r
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PROPERTY
AN apartment in Sevilla has become a nationwide first by being the first property in Spain to be sold using crypto currency. Investors hope that it is the first of a new trend in property sales. The apartment was bought using Ether (ETH) the digital currency of the crypto provider Ethereum. It was put up for sale on the Spanish crypto exchange program Criptan through the real estate invest-
Crypto buyer ment firm Rental IT for the price of €55,000. The funds were raised through a collective of 32 international buyers from Spain, Argentina and Mexico who invested a minimum of €100. The property will now be rented out by Rental IT.
April 8th - April 21th 2021
Looking up Optimism over prospects of property market recovery
AN international real estate consultancy says it is optimistic about a property recovery later this year as the COVID-19 vaccine continues to roll out. CBRE Spain commissioned an investor survey which shows that 55% of European property investors plan to build in Spain this year. That takes in both commercial and private developments with purchases potentially climbing up to 20% more than last year, when business
was severely curtailed due to pandemic restrictions. CBRE Spain's Mikel Marco-Gardoqui said: “The survey suggests that there are genuine grounds for optimism in the property sector, helped by in-
Sales suffer big drop HOME sales fell by 14.5% last year in the largest drop since 2013. Figures from the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda show that 486,982 sales were recorded in 2020 due to the depressed market resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. It was the second straight year of sale falls after a 2.1% decline in 2019. The 2013 figures recorded a 17.3% drop in home deals. Real estate transactions were falling last year before the full effects of pandemic restrictions started to kick in. The period between January and March 2020 saw a fall of 16% on a year-to-year basis. The third quarter of last year actually saw a 6.7% increase on the same period in 2019. Though over 87% of property transactions were in second-hand housing, new property sales produced a rise in 2020, with a hike of 7% compared to 2019. 42,607 out of the total of 486,982 home sales were from non-Spaniards, which was 22% less than the previous year due to pandemic travel restrictions.
creased vaccinations.” The survey says 56% of investors are keen to attract and retain solvent tenants, and to work towards increasing their rental income by expanding their portfolio of homes and business properties. Pressure on landlords to keep home rental prices affordable, especially in large cities, could mean residential property investors who are able to undercut market rates for tenants will find the houses and apartments they buy in high demand.
Climbing
In spite of the sharp rise in home-working forced upon most countries by the pandemic, sales and purchases of office blocks continue to be one of the favourite areas for investment, with 52% saying this was their preferred option. Domestic properties like apartment blocks or urbanisations consisting of several villas, are the second-most popular type of likely investment in Spain this year. 14% of investors told the survey that this would be their main objective for 2021.
SKY HIGH RENTS VALENCIA region has seen the sharpest rise in home rents in Spain, with one third of residents now paying more than they can afford. A new report by trades union Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) entitled ‘Rented housing in Spain’ warns that nearly a quarter of a million people currently spend more than 30% of their income on monthly rent payments. This is leading a large percentage of these 244,900 citizens to be in a situation of high risk of poverty or social exclusion.
On the other end of the scale, most property owners are said to have two or more houses on the market, while there is a growing interest on behalf of investment funds such as CaixaBank and Blackstone to cash in on the renting sector. Official figures show that the Valencia region is leading the increase in rent costs in Spain due to demand being higher than offer, with prices doubling over the past five years thanks to a boom in the foreign market.
Recently become resident in Spain? Looking for financial advice? The Spanish tax and succession regime can be hard to navigate at the best of times, more so when we are social distancing. Blevins Franks has been providing effective tax and estate planning solutions to British expatriates for 45 years, along with investment and pensions advice.
Talk to the people who know 965 705 502 gerald.turner@blevinsfranks.com
Our local Partner, Gerald Turner, has a wealth of experience advising expatriates in Spain. You can benefit from his expertise from the comfort of your own home – simply contact the office to arrange a video or phone meeting and he can help you adjust your financial planning for your new life in Spain.
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I N T E R N AT ION A L TA X A DV IC E • I N V E S T M E N TS • E S TAT E PL A N N I NG • PE NSIONS Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of trusts, retirement schemes and companies. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.
www.blevinsfranks.com
ABOUT ME AND THY WILL BE DONE
FIVE FANTASTIC OFFERS Offer 1
Hi, I’m Paul Blackmoore and I’m the sole Director of Thy Will Be Done (Spain) Ltd. I live in Quesada with my 2 little helpers, Benny and Frankie who are both rescue French Bulldogs.
AN ENGLISH OR A SPANISH WILL - JUST €199 PER PERSON
Offer 2 AN ENGLISH AND A SPANISH WILL - JUST €299 PER PERSON
Offer 3 Who would make decisions for you in Spain or back in the UK if you lost mental or physical capacity?
AN ENGLISH OR A SPANISH LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND PROPERTY AND FINANCE INCLUDING AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE - JUST €499 PER PERSON • English set includes registration with the Office of the Public Guardian and us overseeing the signing of the document at the Expat centre. OR • Spanish set includes IVA, notary fee and registration and revokes all powers previously given to your legal advisor when you bought your property and appoints your chosen family and loved ones to act for you instead.
Offer 4 ENGLISH AND SPANISH LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND PROPERTY AND FINANCE INCLUDING AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE - €995 FOR BOTH SETS FOR A SINGLE PERSON / €1990 FOR BOTH SETS FOR A COUPLE
Offer 5
ENGLISH EXPATS FULL MONTY PACKAGE
Paul, Benny & Frankie 1. We will conduct your consultation over the phone 2. You will be able to pay by card or by bank transfer 3. You will receive your drafts within 72 hours by e-mail or post 4. You can change these as many times as required for free 5. Once approved your legal documents will be sent to you by recorded delivery or you can collect them or have us witness them at the Expat centre 6. You must sign the documents and have them witnessed as soon as you can THE
BRITISH WILLS AND PROBATE AWARDS
2020 WILL WRITING FIRM OF THE YEAR
HIGHLY COMMENDED
YOUR ENGLISH AND SPANISH WILLS
Plus
YOUR ENGLISH AND SPANISH LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND PROPERTY AND FINANCE INCLUDING AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE ALL FOR JUST €1294 FOR A SINGLE PERSON / €2450 FOR A COUPLE
Call now to arrange your free telephone consultation
Call: 965 023 596 or Email: pb@thywill.co.uk www.thywill.co.uk/spain
The Expat Centre, C/de Villena 12 Urb Dona Pepa Cuidad Quesada 03170 Alicante Registered in the UK at Companies House under number 10791190. UK trading address: The Mill Building, 31 Chatsworth Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1LY.
Prices are valid from 1/1/21 until 31/12/21
My main areas of expertise are; Wills, Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Prepaid Funeral plans and Probate. It has always been my mission to bring to everyday folk the same protection opportunities that the rich and famous have had for generations. I achieve this by ensuring my prices are transparent fair and reasonable at all times. Many people are concerned about: 1. The complexities of Spanish succession law. 2. Living with partners but not being married. 3. Having arranged Power of Attorney for their legal advisor when they bought their property in Spain but not having officially revoked that power since, leaving them potentially vulnerable. 4. How much their families may need to pay in probate and inheritance tax fees. 5. Protecting their children if they leave everything to a spouse and the spouse then remarries after their death. 6. How to ensure their children will not lose half of their inheritance if they divorced after inheriting. 7. How to protect vulnerable or disabled beneficiaries. 8. Being forced to sell their homes to pay for care fees in the UK in the future. I am able to deliver solutions that are 100% legally effective in England, Wales and Spain in overcoming all of these problems and many more besides. If you would like to have a chat with me just give my reception team a call on the number below and they will book you in a convenient time slot for you to have your FREE telephone consultation with me. Take care and chat soon
• The provision of your English Will together with a spare legal copy to give to your executors • Full listing on the UK Wills register • Us providing your witnessing service at the Expat centre OR • The provision of your Spanish Will with full translation into English also • The inclusion of the Brussels IV clause (Regulation EU650/2012) within your Spanish Will enabling all of your Spanish assets to be dealt with the way you choose and not according to standard Spanish law • Including the Spanish Notary’s fee and full registration
GREEN
www.theolivepress.es
What is Bitcoin doing for our environment, asks Martin Tye
A
GOOD question when you consider Spain’s move to a renewable and sustainable future. We all prefer good news rather than bad. Sweet is better than sour. Positive better than negative. How inevitable when elections were looming in Spain in 2019, the Government raised its renewable energy target to 74% by 2030, with a goal of 100% sustainability by the year 2050. This is all conveniently in line with the climate neutral strategy set by the European Union. The main technologies to be employed to achieve this target are wind and solar. How are we faring so far:
WIND
In 2020 wind power generation represented 28,000MW capacity. The target for 2030 is 50,000MW. So basically an increase of 78%. 100% Certified Green Energy
April 8th - April 21th 2021
IS THERE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL? So is this going to be possible? We would all like to think so, but as I have commented before, if we (the government and us) all do a little, we will only achieve a little. I really want to believe we are on the right track, but then I read an article that illustrates human madness in its finest form.
SOLAR
In 2020 solar power generation represented 8,500MW capacity. The target for 2030 is 37,000MW. So an increase of 335%!
Bitcoin in the works
A SPANISH city is turning a squishy mess into green electricity. While orange trees are an emblematic part of Sevilla - with the heavy scent of their blossoms ladening the air at the moment - disposing of fallen and rotting fruit has long been a problem. The bitter oranges are not a popular choice for eating amongst Spaniards and are grown mainly for their fragrance and colourful display. Some of the fruit from Sevilla’s 50,000 orange trees are exported to the UK, to make ‘Seville’ marmalade, but most end up falling onto the city’s streets, where they rot and can cause people to slip as well as attracting flies and insects. Now, the city is turning this nuisance into clean energy. The city’s water utility company Emasesa has started a pilot scheme that uses the waste oranges to generate clean energy that runs one of its purification plants. The juice from the citrus fruit is combined with sewage and left to rot. As the mix decomposes and ferments, methane is released. This in with Mariposa Energía turn is burnt to power a generator to produce king a switch electricity. Results of the pilot show that a ton of oranges can produce up to 50 kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough to power five homes for A QUOTE TODAY one day. Emasesa says if all Sevilla’s oranges were harvested, they could create enough electricity to 20 830 power 73,000 homes. AENERGIA.ES The skin and pips of the fruit are used to make organic fertiliser. AENERGIA.ES
Green matters
By Martin Tye
No matter how many times my learned friends try to explain Bitcoin to me, my eyes still gloss over. It’s a bit like Ohm’s law and why Easter is a different date every year, and Christmas not. What I do understand though is that creating bitcoins uses more energy than Spain does, according to research by the University of Cambridge this year. In order to ‘mine’ Bitcoins, as you do, specialised computers (usually large numbers of them, even warehouses full of them) are connected to the cryptocurrency network. They all commune together for a period of time, using a lot of electricity, and, hey presto, a bitcoin is birthed! The problem is, do we really need to have them? Why can’t we just use the normal banking system? I can’t help but think all this electricity is being wasted in a lottery, fuelled by human greed. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Or are we our own worst enemy? You tell me. SEND ME YOUR COMMENTS AT….. Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es
ECTRICITY
Plenty of juice YOUR ENERGY BILL
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100% Certified Green Energy
SAVE UP TO 35% ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL Switch with Mariposa Energía It’s easier than flicking a switch! No need for any new equipment or any work to be done. Simply send us a recent bill and we will show you how much you can save.
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cal Bajo 4, San Pedro de Alcántara, 29670, Marbella
ENERGY: Oranges are the new green
Staying clean MORE than half of the energy generated in Spain during March came from renewables. Some 53.7% of power came from solar, photovoltaic and wind energy, and 76.9% was produced from technologies that do not emit CO2 equivalent, such as hydro and nuclear. Wind energy was responsible for 25.5% of the electricity produced and continued to be the leading technology in the national mix for the fourth consecutive month. Electricity demand grew 5.2% on the mainland to 20,835 GWh. and increased 1.4% in the Balearic Islands and fell 4.4% in the Canary Islands.
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22/01/2021 17:03:05
Innovation and determination keeps hopes of Spanish Property ownership in 2021 very much alive.
B
ritish people with their hearts set on buying a Spanish home shouldn’t let coronavirus or Brexit shatter their dreams. Market conditions, technology and innovation continue to make purchasing property in the Costas attractive this year. Demand and prices across Spain dropped for most of 2020, before stabilising towards the end of the year. Current sentiment indicates a downward curve again, during the third (and hopefully final) lockdown. Expectations are that the market will bounce back in the second half of 2021. All this means prices are negotiable right now, especially where owners are keen to sell. Favouring British buyers is the buoyant pound. Its value has held up well since January 1 and is now back to levels not seen since last May. The speed of the UK vaccination rollout could inject further strength into the pound. Borrowing remains cheap in Spain. With the European Central Bank’s Euribor rate at -0.5%, Spanish mortgages are very affordable, including for non-resident/holiday home-owners. Lockdown means currently it’s not possible to view properties on the ground. But clients who know where they want to buy are using Zoom to do much of the groundwork for their purchase from the UK. With ‘virtual viewings’, we have helped a number of clients complete purchases from the UK during lockdown. Meanwhile, for British people hoping to move to Spain in 2021 but concerned about residency options, the door is still open with different visa schemes available. Looking ahead, Spain may introduce a visa for British people wishing to come and work or one that allows Brits to come and go relatively freely, such as exists for Swiss and Norwegians, who also are not EU citizens.”
About Sun Lawyers José Maria Lomax is CEO and a Partner at Sun Lawyers which was formed in 1985 and has helped over 5,000 people buy a property in Spain. It has offices in the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida and was named ‘Best Spanish Expat Law Firm 2020’ - AI Legal Awards.
Website; www.sun.lawyers.com Email: admin@sun-lawyers.com Head Office Address: Calle Cielo 9, 3PB, Cabo Roig, 03189 Orihuela Costa (ALICANTE), Spain.
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RECORD breaking chef Pepe Becerra has passed away at the age of 70. He had become a symbol for Spanish gastronomy,and was regarded as a hero in his local town of Castellon. His many successes include Guinness World Records for the largest ever potato omelette, the biggest fideua – a typical Valencian fish and noodle dish – and the largest salad in the world. Although originally from Badajoz (Extremadura), Chef Becerra - as he was best known - was linked to Castellon Province for the whole of his professional career. After running several top restaurants in the 1970s, Becerra was best known as the manager of Restaurante Molimar in Benicassim, where he prepared giant paellas for thousands of diners during the local fiestas for over 30 years. Beyond Castellon, Chef Becerra was famous for his work in countries such as Italy, France and Belgium, and he received several awards for his work during the Magdalena festivities.
BOTTLED water sales in Spain have risen by 8.5% between 2015 and 2019 with higher increases in regions where people don’t like the taste of their tap water. A survey compiled by the Sustainability Observatory showed that in 2019, which offers the last available annual figures, the average Spanish bottle spend was €62 per annum. People in the Canary and Balearic Islands spend up to €140 each year on bottled water. The Costa Blanca re-
April 8th April 21th 2021
Tapped out gion has shown a 12% hike in bottled water purchases in the four years up to 2019, with an average annual spend of €85. Murcia’s average is just below €90 per annum. At the other end of the scale, the northern Basque Country comes in at €20, which the survey concludes is a strong endorsement of their local tap water taste.
Pay up!
SPAIN’s principal airline did not pay a single cent for 83% of its CO2 emissions within the EU in 2019. A study conducted by environmental organisations Transport & Environment and Carbon Market Watch, was the first to cover airline emissions in the whole of the EU and not just in the European Economic Area (EEA). Significantly, it found that 70% of all the CO2 released by airlines within the EU were not subject to regulation and therefore went untaxed. “After a whole year wasting aid on airline bailouts, governments must consider a change of course and focus on making the sector more environmentally friendly,” said Andrew Murphy, Aviation Director at T&A, referring to cash handouts resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. “Airlines should be forced to pay for emissions from all their flights, and required to use cleaner fuels." Under the current EU framework, airlines only pay for the greenhouse gas emissions of flights that take place within the EEA. The biggest polluters were Lufthansa (19.11 mtCO2), British Airways
FOOD & DRINK Getting back to normal
April 8th April 21th 2021
SPAIN’S Tourism Minister has said that she is ‘confident’ that the new EU vaccine passport will be ready by July. Reyes Maroto (pictured) says it will play a key role in allowing foreign holidaymakers to return this summer. “The digital passport will hopefully be ready by July and will help everybody to be safer,” she commented. Officially called the ‘Digital Green Certificate’, the pass will be free and bilingual in
By Alex Trelinski
the language of the issuing EU member state and English. It will be available in either digital or paper formats and will have a QR on it to guarantee security and also the authenticity of the certificate.
THE drive to legalise the sale of cultured meat in Spain and Europe is under way. As the product is so new and revolutionary, it requires an entirely new legal framework to regulate the market. According to Valencia-based technological centre Ainia, the European Commission is currently considering including laboratory-grown meat products for human consumption under the ‘Novel food’ regulation. This refers to the marketing of ‘constituted foodstuffs and those produced via cellular cultures.’
S of April 1, the green card -which verifies the validity of Compulsory Liability Insurance for vehicles- was no longer green and will now be sent by email to policy holders by their insurance provider. In a move that will see more of the sector enter the era of digital transformation, drivers will be able to print their own green cards, with black and white prints on standard A4 paper. This change has been driven within the decision of The Council of Bureaux, the organisation acting for the protection of cross-border road traffic and coordinating the activities of the different EU members of the Green Card system, to check the validity of Third Party Liability Motor Insurance through a new centralised single platform. Now, using advanced security measures, its centralised web platform will allow insurers of its member countries to generate “QR-coded” Green Cards, which will then be sent to policy holders as downloadable PDFs. So, these documents no longer need to be printed on the
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Maroto said that her department had done surveys that show that ‘travellers want to come to Spain’ and that the pandemic had ‘not damaged the brand’. The minister added that previous mooted plans for ‘safe tourist corridors’ would not be needed as the digital passport was now the way forward
Summer
“It may not be the summer that we all want but are getting ready to welcome back tourism on a gradual basis,” she stressed. The vaccine passport works ‘both ways’ and will therefore allow people living in Spain to travel freely to other EU countries. The UK, as a non-EU member, still has to decide on whether it will introduce a similar scheme.
traditional, green-coloured paper and as such, the traditional Green Card may simply become black and white. These changes mean that when you are driving in a Bureaux member country, the authorities will be able to check automatically, through this platform, if a vehicle is duly insured. But, despite these changes, LIBERTY SEGUROS reminds that when you are visiting countries that are not part of the European Economic Area (such as the UK and Gibraltar), the green card document, although now a printed version, will be mandatory as it always has been. In the same manner, insured vehicles from countries OUTSIDE of The Council of Bureaux and those that are not part of the European Economic Area (including, UK and Gibraltar-registered vehicles) will also be required to carry the document whilst driving in Spain. For LIBERTY SEGUROS, no longer having to print and post Green Cards in a specified colour and
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All change LIBERTY SEGUROS explains the new changes with respect to the so-called Green Card format will be a welcome change. For policy holders, LIBERTY SEGUROS assures drivers that the new process is as easy as printing an airline boarding pass. With the changes that surround Brexit, LIBERTY SEGUROS understands that there’s a real need for clear and transparent information regarding changes to driving in Spain, and it remains on-hand to keep you informed with regard to your obligations as a driver. The expat’s preferred insurer, LIBERTY SEGUROS offers a wide range of covers for car insurance that can be tailored to your individual needs, with advantages that stand out against competitors. For example, with LIBERTY SEGUROS, there’s no need to declare vehicle accessories if they have been fitted by the manufacturer; and, in the case of a claim, any luggage or personal belongings are covered up to 500€. LIBERTY SEGUROS also offers extended cover in case of Total Loss or Total Theft at 100% of the value ‘as new’ if the vehicle is less than 2 years old, or at 80% of the value ‘as new’ if the vehicle is between 2 and 3 years old. A courtesy car is included as standard for up to 45 days (35 days for vehicle breakdown) and policy holders are free to choose a garage of their choice in the event of a claim. What’s more, LIBERTY SEGUROS has specific
cover for electric vehicles too. There are other benefits as well. With LIBERTY SEGUROS there’s no maximum age for drivers – provided they have a valid driving license – and Roadside Assistance is available from Km.0.
Welcome Furthermore, with LIBERTY SEGUROS you can also take out car insurance for UK-plated vehicles (except for vehicles registered in Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Gibraltar), as well as cover for classic vehicles and Spanish and UK-registered motorhomes! With an extensive network of more than 300 expatriate brokers and agents that speak YOUR language and who are at YOUR disposal for friendly and expert advice that’s tailored to you, it’s easy to see why LIBERTY SEGUROS has become expat insurance provider of choice in Spain with over 175,000 expat clients.
To find the location of your nearest broker/agent, simply visit: www.libertyexpatriates.es. or call 91 342 25 49.
Now’s the time O NLINE gambling has seen a big rise over the past year due to the COVID pandemic with people having more time on their hands. Marbella-based Villa Paradiso Rehab Spain provides the help and knowledge needed to overcome such addictions that have sadly risen during the last 12 months. Matthew Idle, who is Villa Paradiso’s lead therapist, said: “The last year of restrictions has produced many cases where people who have had drug or alcohol additions that they’ve conquered turning their attention to online gambling.” A controlled flutter on the internet can be fun but it can spiral into an online gambling problem.
LOCKDOWN BOOSTS ADDICTION Major life changes and stress like lockdowns over the last year can lead to problem gambling in otherwise completely healthy, independent people. Matthew Idle observed: “Boredom and isolation have been big factors and sometimes family and friends don’t even know that this is going on as you can just gamble out of sight on a smartphone app.” It can happen to anybody as online gambling moves from a bit of a harmless diversion into something that spirals into an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. “It’s just as likely to hit both men and
Break with gambling addiction: Experts Villa Paradiso advise
women of all ages through a variety of of experience in addiction treatment. games like bingo or a casino-style card She says that there are warning signs of problem online gambling to game or fruit machine,“ adlook out for. ded Matthew. “Gamblers may have erra‘It’s just as “Big companies have investic sleep patterns or eating ted a lot in all of this with likely to hit disorders, especially if they persuasive and aggressive TV advertising and free both men and are going online late at night or in the early morning,” cash plays to reel people in women of all Dr. Ruth observed. further.” “There are times when they Villa Paradiso offers in-paages’ become surprisingly agtient treatment sessions gressive and that can lead of no more than five peoto huge rifts within a family ple with specially-tailored plans to help gamblers beat the habit and also trigger the use of alcohol and for good like for other additions like al- drugs.” cohol and drugs. Matthew also observed that online gambling fuels the ‘highs and lows’ of GETTING A FULL RECOVERY winning and losing by playing on the psychology that fresh gambling sessions will continue that ‘buzz’ as the participants rack up more big losses. Dr. Ruth explains: “Anybody who comes “You’ll gamble whether you’re up or to us clearly must want to be cured and down, broke or flush, and you’ll keep the fact they want help is a big start.” gambling regardless of the consequen- “We want our clients to be totally hoces - even when you know that the odds nest about their problems so that the isare against you or you can’t afford to sues and triggers behind the gambling lose. It’s addictive on the brain and its can be addressed.” losing that brings you back. We will “Therapy is a very powerful tool that we help you address that issue.” have in our armoury but each person has a different set of circumstances. Addiction is a form of mental illness and we study everybody’s personality SPOT THE WARNING SIGNS and develop an individual programme that they can follow,” commented Dr. Ruth. Dr. Ruth Arenas Mata, is Villa Paradiso’s “We are looking for a permanent recoin-house psychiatrist and has many years very which means emphasising positi-
Award Winning Rehabilitation Clinic
Mathew Idle ves in coping as well as setting up personal tailor-made plans for the future.” Villa Paradiso keeps in close touch with their clients for a full 12 months aftercare which includes one-to-one sessions and online Villa Paradiso recovery support groups. They also offer treatment in Tunisia for any Arabic and French speakers in a beautiful, luxurious private villa overlooking the sea.
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Take the first step to recovery Private drug and alcohol addiction treatment
Contact us now in complete confidence +34 689 806 769 www.villaparadisospain.com
Psychiatrist assessment on arrival | Private en-suite rooms | 1 to 1 therapy Group therapy | Fitness program | Weekly excursion | Massage | Private chef Pick up and drop off service | Family visiting days | After care
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HEALTH
Healthy hook up
PHONE operator, Yoigo, has launched a telemedicine service for its customers. At €6 per month, the Doctor Go telemedicine service offers video-consultations with family doctors and specialists, as well as pharmacy services for electronic prescriptions and the delivery of medicines. The service covers two adults and all children within a family unit. The initiative aims for immediate round-theclock medical care, which includes a chat platform with specialists, access to over 40,000 professionals in the Quiron private medical network, booking of COVID-19 testing and electronic prescriptions with the delivery of medicines.
April 8th - April 21th 2021
Eyes right
Jab on
SPAIN will remove the upper age limit for AstraZeneca’s (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine,. Spanish press have reported that the decision to not use it for people aged over 65 has been reversed at the same time as giving approval for the Johnson&Johnson jab to be used for those aged 66 and over. The move came a week after Spain decided to reintroduce the AstraZeneca treatment for people aged 18-65. Several European countries including Germany have restricted use of the AZ drug over blood clot worries. German authorities say nine people have died due to clots soon after being vaccinated with the AZ jab.
Don’t miss out on eye tests
PEOPLE are being warned to not skimp on eye tests during lockdown restrictions, with new research revealing 42% of people have noticed sight deterioration since March 2020. This represents a significant increase in the number of people noticing a deterioration in their vision during the first lockdown (34%) as reported by Specsavers Opticas last year. Yet, the new study by the high street opticians shows that half (50%) of those suffering any deterioration are yet to address the issue and see an optician. It also showed that people are feeling ever more concerned about leaving their home. These results have been released for World Health Day
www.laterlife.es IMPORTANT: Tests can spot many hidden diseases (April 7) because an eye test is an important health check, and missing these tests can not only put eyesight at risk, but potentially other aspects
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of their health too. Jorge Martinez de Lizarduy Araico, from Specsavers Opticas, said: “It’s important that anyone noticing a change in their vision gets it seen to right away. “There are several changes we may notice in our vision which could be a sign of a wider health condition. For example, red spots on the front of your eyes, persistent floaters, changes with your eyes such as blurred vision, or yellowing of the eyes can denote health issues from high blood pressure and cholesterol, to liver issues or diabetic retinopathy.”
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WHILE most of us can’t wait to forget all about coronavirus, it seems some people want a permanent reminder, with the numbers of COVID related tattoos featuring bats and masks on the rise, according to tatooists in Malaga.
Boar on NIGHT time curfews have given wild animals the chance to roam further than before, with many towns and cities now hosting growing populations of boars totalling 1 million, according to Madrid University.
Strike a light A DAZZLING meteor has been filmed soaring across the Spanish sky at 96,000km per hour, with it being spotted streaking from Castilla-La Mancha to Jaen (Andalucia).
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Vol. 2 Issue 37 www.theolivepress.es April 8th - April 21th 2021
Job’s worth BOTCHED restoration work on a historic Spanish monument has been slammed by critics, comparing the work to a jobbing builder. The renovations completed at Antequera Dolmens in Antequera, Malaga have been lambasted as sloppy by experts from the Department of Prehistory and Archeology of the University of Seville. The professors, who were asked to review the work done on the 6,000-year-old monument, said the damage to the complex
was ‘urban cruelty’. Expert Leonardo Garcia Sanjuan quipped: “An architect who builds terraced houses cannot intervene in a 6,000-yearold monument.” Garcia Sanjuan, along with co-author Coronada Mora, warned that the excavations in the Menga dolmen between 1842 and 1847 by Rafael Mitjana and Ardison already ‘changed the appearance’ of this megalithic construction, with ‘the presumed accumulation of the tumular mass extracted in
HISTORIC: The dolmens date back 6,000 years another area different from the original one. They continued that by beginning in the 1980s, ‘there were
Turtley dangerous
PEOPLE are being warned to be on the lookout for a potentially dangerous breed of turtle whose beak can snip of fingers. The Andalucian Environmental Agency (AMA) is investigating the discovery in Huelva of a snapping turtle, an exotic, large freshwater species, originating from America.
Experts blast bodge job restoration
It was found in El Portil, on the coast of Huelva. The turtle is approximately half a metre long and belongs to a species that is potentially dangerous. While rare, a snapping turtle can bite off human fingers or toes with its impressive jaw strength of over 1,000 pounds.
also interventions that affected the physical integrity of the monuments’ including ‘the brutal exterior transformation of the Viera dolmen in 2004’. The experts also blasted the renovations done between 2001 and 2003 on the interior walls of the Menga dolmen, which they note was done ‘without geologists who knew the properties of the rocks or specialists.’ The authors added that today there is an ‘urban fierceness’ in the Antequera dolmens, which ‘is an intensely urbanised area with concrete paths and squares, parking lots and a visitor centre’.
A CYCLIST crossed paths with the law after giving his bicycle extra speed by attaching an engine to it. The 41-year-old man redefined the meaning of pedal power as he whizzed up an incline on the CV-905 in Torrevieja (Costa Blanca). A Guardia Civil patrol was bemused by the bicycle’s speed especially as the cyclist did not appear to be pedalling. They also thought they heard a purring-noise coming from the two-wheeler. The cyclist realised he had been spotted and decided to revert to peddling the bike himself in the hope of continuing his journey, but to no avail. He was pulled over and the Guardia patrol discovered that he had gone to a lot of trouble to convert his bicycle into a moped. A small engine was attached to the bike’s frame and the diesel tank was hidden underneath a T-shirt so as not to attract any attention. The handlebar had been modified to include links to an accelerator and a brake. The Guardia seized the bike and took it to the ITV test station in Torrevieja who confirmed it had a two-stroke engine capable of going over 50 kilometres per hour.