Costa Blanca North and Valencia Issue 111

Spain’s 10 best buildings in our Property Magazine inside

O P LIVE RESS The

Is this the best seafood dish in Spain?

The critics think so. The Olive Press went to find out why Asador Etxebarri is the world’s fourth best restaurant

See inside

I DIDN’T STRANGLE KIRSTY

of killing his girlfriend while on holiday in Spain has insisted his total innocence. The former British soldier - who once guarded the Queen - told the Olive Press how he had found Kirsty Ward’s body lying prone with a ligature around her neck.

Speaking from prison in Catalunya, Keith Byrne, 30, revealed his girlfriend had ‘serious mental health problems’ and had tried to kill herself on ‘various’ occasions.

The former Irish Guard - who protected the royals at Windsor Castle and

EXCLUSIVE:

EXCLUSIVE

By Jon Clarke

Buckingham Palace for four years

- insisted: “I try to protect lives, not take lives.”

The salesman, from County Meath, had actually administered CPR in the doorway and not, as alleged, in the corridor of their hotel room in Salou.

He, along with another hotel guest, a British tourist, tried to bring the mother-of-one back to life.

The ex-soldier insists he had been at a beach bar all day, as verified by CCTV, and came back to find she had strangled herself with an electrical cord.

He had returned to the room at the Hotel Magnolia to get his passport and suitcase, after they had argued and decided to split up.

But when he got there the door ‘wouldn’t open’, as she was rigid and lying prone blocking the door from inside.

“It was awful. Her eyes were grey and her lips were cold and blue,” he revealed by phone from the low security unit, near Barcelona.

“I will never get this image out of

my mind.

“She had been dead for some time and was so cold. I never felt cold like that before. I just can’t get it out of my head,” he added.

“I took the cord off and screamed for help and some British tourists next door rushed over and one took over and started giving her CPR as well.”

Clearly upset, he continued: “Now I am being accused of killing her, but I have never been arrested in all my life.

“I am stuck here away from my three children and it could take months to prove my innocence. Nobody knows for how long and there are no criminal charges yet,” he continued.

His family meanwhile told the Olive Press that Kirsty, 36, had been suffering serious mental health issues for some years and was ‘on medication’.

His sister Tara, 33, said Kirsty had a ‘borderline personality disorder’ and had ‘tried to kill herself a number of times’.

“She had been an inpatient at a mental health facility in Dublin and was visiting as an outpatient every three weeks,” she revealed.

“Things got so bad in Spain that Keith

actually called me on the second day of the holiday saying he wanted to come home. “He said he couldn’t ‘do this anymore’ and was going to get an early flight. He said her drug addiction was too tough and she was drinking too much. He said she was ‘too high’ and he just couldn’t ‘calm her down’.”

FROM LOVE: to tragedy - Kirsty with Keith on flight to Spain

with someone and they agreed it was over.”

The pair met in November, via a dating site, and moved in together ‘within weeks’. They fell ‘madly in love’ and at first didn’t stop ‘laughing and joking’ and even went on a skiing holiday with friends.

But, after a couple of months, Kirsty started to get ‘needy’ and ‘possessive’. The holiday in Salou started badly

when they rowed on the second night about staying out or going home and she allegedly went off with another mystery man.

“Keith woke up on Sunday morning and she’d been out all night,” claimed Tara. “She admitted she had been

While Keith wanted them to split up on ‘good terms’ and go home together, Kirsty had ‘other ideas’ and stormed off.

Keith spent the afternoon with a German expat called ‘Lars’ and eventually went back to the hotel at 9.17pm to get his passport and bag.

“Fortunately video cameras can prove all the timings, but he entered the hotel at 9.17pm and went up to the ninth floor, where the alarm was raised at 9.22pm,” insisted Tara.

“The police and paramedics were on the scene very quickly, but she was already dead.”

She continued: “There was literally no time for Keith to have killed her. Evidence revealed to us in court on

Former Queen’s guardsman insists he found ‘suicidal’ girlfriend dead at Catalan hotel

Family firm

A FATHER and son were among three men arrested in Calpe for stealing catalytic converters from vehicles in car parks across Alicante and Valencia provinces.

Sick kids

VALENCIA'S Central Park was closed last Thursday to replace all the water in its facilities after seven young children picked up an infection caused by a micro-organism.

Full up

GANDIA was the top area in the Valencia region for hotel occupancy in the first half of July, reaching 95.1% to beat off Alicante, Benidorm, and Valencia, according to the Hosbec hoteliers association.

Safe stay

BENIDORM has launched a poster campaign in English and Spanish offering tips for tourists on how to enjoy a safe holiday in the resort, with 500 posters being distributed to hotels.

Naked sex cult arrests

LEADERS of a sect that recruited young people, drugged them and stripped them naked have been arrested on the Costa Blanca.

The group called itself ‘The Family of the Soul’ and masqueraded as a conventional psychotherapy group in La Pobla Tornesa, near Castellon. They offered ‘therapies’ to over 100 young victims, some minors, which involved shamanic rituals.

The sessions, costing €10,000, involved drugs given to victims to curb their free will.

Attendees of the collective group sessions had to be naked and sexual therapies were administered - mostly ‘against the will of the victims’.

So far three people have been arrested including the leader, who branded herself as a guru that claimed to know ‘the absolute truth’.

It is the second cult group to have been broken up in Castellon province in just over a year.

In March 2022 the leaders of a sex sect that operated for decades in Vistabella del Maestrat were snared.

Some of the collective had been attending meetings for over 15 years and payments were always made in cash to avoid attracting the attention of authorities.

No place to hide

EXCLUSIVE Liquidators in Ponzi scheme target Russian fraudster’s expat wife in Alicante

By Walter Finch

LIQUIDATORS attempting to recover €40 million missing in a giant crypto fraud are zeroing in on the expat wife of one of the chief suspects. Gibraltar courts are trying to pin down Alicante resident Alla Babenko, 35, who is married to Globix executive Pavel Sidorov.

The Russian is now the subject of a disclosure order and will face public examination over her role in moving the unaccounted millions. Babenko claims she was kidnapped outside her El Campello villa by a gang of investors who her husband had allegedly ripped off via a giant Ponzi scheme.

Four individuals posing as police - including one female Russian acting as translator - allegedly attempted to seize Globix crypto accounts which had been put in Babenko’s name.

Yet somehow Sidorov managed to contact his lawyer,

who alerted the po lice and the June 2022 kidnap at tempt was thwart ed with all four ar rested.

Judge Yeats grant ed the disclosure order against Babenko during a hearing in the Gibrlatar Supreme Court in which Globix bosses Damian Carreras and Sidorov finally made an appearance by video link. Carreras, 39, allegedly funnelled tens of millions in investors’ cash to his business partner’s wife. According to prosecutor Daniel Feetham KC, the shady manoeuvre has made Babenko ‘a key player’ in efforts to trace the missing millions. She has been given seven days to respond to the order or be held in contempt of court.

If she fails to comply, lawyers in Madrid will open proceedings in Spain, while liquidators are also working with a legal firm in Moscow, should

Much loved

July 5 shows the window of opportunity was only two minutes tops.”

A Spanish judge decided however, to refuse Byrne bail as he doesn’t have a Spanish residence.

At a secret court hearing in Tarragona he was remanded in custody, while police undertake more enquiries.

A funeral was held for Kirsty at a packed St John the Evangelist Church in County Dublin last week.

The mother of son, Euan, was described as an ‘adored daughter’ and ‘much-loved friend’.

CASE CRACKED

WANTED: Alla Babenko in the aftermath of her kidnapping

they try to flee to Russia.

Gibraltarian Carreras is hiding out in Barcelona ‘afraid for his life’ after reportedly being ‘dangled by his ankles’ over a ledge in order to return the money. It was the kidnap attempt that first alerted Spanish authorities that something was amiss with Globix.

Dozens of key establishment figures in Gibraltar, including the leader of the opposition and a former chief minister, have been controversially stung in the fraud.

POLICE in Villajoyosa have arrested a pair of safecrackers who stole €50,000 plus jewellery in 16 robberies from hotel rooms across Spain. They forced open room safes by drilling a hole in their sides. The investigation was carried out in association with Europol as the men were part of a gang operating in Germany, Portugal, Austria and the Czech Republic.

The men entered hotels posing as guests in their search for wealthy victims, sometimes checking in the night before.

The thieves have been remanded in custody with associates also nicked in Austria and Portugal.

HE might be 78, but Rod Stewart shows no signs of slowing down.

The rocker has just completed three dates in Spain - in Madrid, Marbella and Chiclana de la Frontera. These dates were a prelude toa gru-

HAPPY FAMILIES

elling world tour taking in Canada, the USA and South America. But while in Spain Rod decided to have some quality family time and posted a picture of some of his extended family relaxing in the country.

The rare photo shows son Alastair, 17, and his girlfriend, next to Liam Stewart, 28,

holding Rod’s latest grandson Louis with fiancé Nicole Artukovich on his arm, followed by Renee, 31, who posed next to her dad. On the other side of Rod stands youngest son Aiden Patrick, 12, who is just in front of his mum Penny Lancaster, 52. Next to Aiden is Rod’s daughter Ruby holding her son Otis. Also pictured are his son and daughter Sean, 42, and Kimberly, 43.

THAT’S RICH

Former King Juan Carlos tries to have €126m ‘damages’ case thrown out

A LONDON High Court judge has been asked to throw out a €126 million damages claim against Emeritus King Juan Carlos by his former lover Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.

Her long-standing legal battle - which began in 2020 - has seen her sue Juan Carlos for personal injury that caused her mental anguish by spying on her and harassing her after their relationship ended in 2009. The former monarch has denied any wrongdoing and has challenged the claims made against him. She claims that Juan Carlos tried to resume their relationship and, when she rejected him, the for-

By Alex Trelinski

mer sovereign undertook a ‘pattern of behaviour equivalent to harassment’.

For Juan Carlos, Adam Wolanski KC said zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn - also known as Corinna Larsen - wanted ‘damages in excess of £126 million’.

Realistic

He told the judge that her case had ‘no realistic’ prospect of success and that evidence was ‘not viable’ to proceed with the hearing.

“Many of the matters the claimant relies on are subject to state immunity,” Mr Wolanski told the judge.

“The pleaded case of ha-

ADVERSARIES:

rassment is a diffuse collection of complaints, some trivial, mostly historic.” he added.

Different legal teams hired by Juan Carlos have been trying for two years to prevent the merits of the matter from being judged. They argued that as head of state and member of the

Passing of the million milestone

A FOOTBALL legend who became Britain’s first £1 million player has passed away at his home on the Costa del Sol.

Former England star Trevor Francis suffered a heart attack at his Marbella villa, where he spent half the year.

He was just 69 and had been ‘enjoying life’ when he was struck with his second attack.

During an illustrious playing career, he played for Birmingham City, Manchester

Hot date

COLOMBIAN warbler Shakira, who has reportedly been on a date with F1 legend Lewis Hamilton, could face a date of a different kind.

Sizzling hot

City and Nottingham Forest, where he won back-to-back European Cup winning medals.

The football legend maintained his fitness with daily power walks and an annual health check.

According to his spokesman, Francis had been ‘enjoying life very much having eventually got over the death of his wife.’ Helen had passed away six years ago after a battle with cancer.

Royal House he could not be tried in England. Judges at the Court of Appeal agreed , but decided his immunity did not cover the time since he abdicated in June 2014.

Zu Sayn-WittgensteinSayn's legal team led by Jonathan Kaplan KC said the application to throw out her claim should be refused.

“The defendant continues to make every effort to prevent the court from determining this claim,” said Caplan.

“The suggestion made on behalf of the defendant that the claim is somehow abusive in that it is by itself designed to harass a vulnerable elderly statesman is both unfounded and bold,” he stated.

AS temperatures hit sizzling highs around Spain, A Place in The Sun star Laura Hamilton has found a way to cool off. Following the shooting of the latest series in Spain, Laura decided to have some ‘me time’.

The 41-year-old slipped into a swimsuit, grabbed a cocktail and headed for the pool, before posting this snap on Instagram, hashtagging it ‘I love my job’.

And she advised fellow visitors to use plenty of high factor suncream as temperatures reached 39C.

The 46-year-old mother of two has had a second investigation into her tax affairs opened.

She is accused of defrauding the Tax Agency in personal income tax and wealth tax for 2018. But no details of the sums involved have been given.

She was at the time living in Barcelona with her ex -husband Gerard Pique, 36, who is father to her children.

Shakira is already set for a trial for allegedly failing to pay €14.5 million in taxes on income earned between 2012 and 2014.

She has denied those charges stating that she did not live in Spain during those years.

Prosecutors say she spent more than half of that period in the country and should have paid taxes to Spanish authorities, even though her official residence was in the Bahamas. The singer and the youngsters permanently left Barcelona earlier this year for a new life in Florida.

Corinna and Juan Carlos

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Head-scratcher

A MYSTERY skull found by a dog walker near Granada two years ago belonged to a young man missing from Catalunya.

Police have revealed the head unearthed by an expat, near Orgiva, was that of a 21-year-old man from Barcelona.

They told the Olive Press they solved the mystery after running various DNA tests on the skull and later body that turned up two months later nearby.

It also helped that the man’s credit card was found next to the body.

The man had been reported missing in early 2021, having vanished in unusual circum

By Alberto Lejarraga

stances.

While they ruled out foul play the body and head were found some distance apart, yet both were right next to a popular car park where dozens of hippies live in vans.

“After running a DNA test, we confirmed the skull belongs to a young man who went missing in Barcelona earlier that year,” Juan Carlos Lo- pez, a Guar-

GRUESOME DISCOVERY

dia Civil spokesman told the Olive Press. “He was a Spanish national who was 21 at the time he disappeared.

“His body was found further down a nearby cliff in January 2022 and next to it, there was a credit card that allowed us to

know his identity.”

Despite the victim's head being separated from the body, Lopez says the autopsy did not reveal any signs of violence.

“We closed the investigation because the autopsy revealed he died of natural causes, with a hypothesis being an accident.”

The claims fly in the face of the Romanian expat whose dog Dragon found the head on November 18, 2021. She revealed she had been taking a walk around the alternative community of Beneficio, near Orgiva, when the animal dug up the skull by the main car park. She first linked the discovery to the Spanish Civil War, but soon dismissed the idea as the smell was very strong.

“Nothing like this has ever happened to me before and I knew straight away I needed to call the police,” she told the Olive Press

At the time the discovery led to considerable speculation that it might have belonged to a Dutch expat woman who had lived in the community years before. The Guardia Civil is unable to reveal the identity of the deceased, as the family has not given them permission to do so.

ALICANTE province is dealing with the hottest July nights for a century, according to weather agency Aemet.

The worst affected areas didn’t see temperatures go under 25 °C on Monday.

Xabia recorded 27°C, Orihuela 26.4 °C and Alicante city 25.2 °C that night.

“These are abnormally hot nights, mostly on the coast, due to the high sea temperature,” said Aemat Valencia boss Jose Angel Nunez.

The average temperature during the first 25 days of the month was 28.3 °C. This is 2.5 °C higher than the average temperature between 1991 and 2020.

Third lane for A-7

AN extra lane of the A-7 motorway is to be introduced along a stretch of 17 kilometres.

The extra lane will be built between Crevillente at the intersection with the AP-7 and the Orihuela-Benferri CV-870 exit at a cost of €94 million.

The project will also see the revamping of five junctions. It's the culmination of a long campaign to see improvements to the busy highway which, according to Ministry of Transport figures, is used daily by 9,000 lorries.

Decapitated skull found in the Alpujarras belonged to missing young man who ‘died of natural causes’

Smashing event

OVER a million carnations will feature at Valencia’s brightest coloured event this Sunday.

The ‘Battle of the Flowers’ will see over 40 floats parade down Paseo de la Alameda from 8pm.

Hundreds of girls throw flowers at each other attempting to hit them away with tennis rackets.

The Paseo ends up being covered in a long line of flowers with the scent lingering.

A RIGHT KICKING

THE leader of Vox went on the attack after his far-right party took a hammering in the general election.

Santiago Abascal was furious after losing 19 seats in the 350-seat Congress of Deputies after Sunday’s poll.

The horse-riding politician

By Simon Hunter

blamed the ‘disengagement’ of right wing voters turned off by Popular Party (PP) leader Alberto Nuñez Feijoo. He also railed at the media, which he said had ‘demon -

BAH HUMBUG!

ANOTHER general election could be called for December.

Sour grapes as Vox leader slams media for ‘demonising’ his party which lost 19 seats in election

ised’ his party and ‘manipulated’ the vote that saw Vox

While the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took considerable criticism for the late July poll, he may now hold one at Christmas.

Either way, the clock is now ticking in terms of the parliamentary schedules. Once a speaker of the house has been elected a first likely investiture debate will be held to choose a prime minister in the first week of September. Any potential leader will have to either win an absolute majority of 176 votes in the 350-seat chamber, or a simple majority in a second round 48 hours later.

Should the situation be one of deadlock, parliament would be dissolved in November, with a 47-day period until fresh elections – taking the date to Christmas.

PP candidate Alberto Nuñez is unlikely to be able to get a majority as most parties in Congress refuse to back a Vox/PP administration.

The PSOE meanwhile will need the support of left alliance Sumar as well as the pro-Catalan independence party, Junts pel Si (Together For Yes) to stay in power.

drop from 52 senators to 33. Despite most exit polls predicting Vox and the PP would have enough seats (over 176) for an absolute majority, in the end the two groups fell well short. The pair only gained 169 seats between them meaning they cannot automatically attempt to form a government. While Vox suffered a near 20% crash in the polls,

Kings of cocaine

AN incredible five tonnes of cocaine - worth €265 million - has been seized at a warehouse in Alicante.

Police arrested five Albanians over the haul that is the largest bust ever recorded in the province.

The confiscated drugs, concealed within a shipment of bananas, had an 87% purity.

The raid came after months of careful investigation centred upon Alicante's Llano del Espartal industrial estate. The gang members were extremely cautious, frequently travelling abroad and maintaining multiple residences to evade detection.

The criminals had registered both the warehouse and the vehicles used in their operations under seemingly legitimate companies.

One Spanish national also arrested has possible connections with other criminal groups in the Valencia region, utilising front companies for vehicle rentals and warehouse leasing.

Police swung into action when several containers arrived at Malaga port from Ecuador in June.

952 147 834

its biggest drop came in Castilla y Leon where the party lost five of its six deputies.

It came as the ruling PSOE party under Pedro Sanchez actually gained two seats taking its total to 122.

The new left wing Sumar group - expected to side with the PSOE to form a government - got 31 seats.

Neither of the two main parties however, can form a government alone and both will need support of their natural partners, plus some of the regional parties. Indeed the various regional parties, who have gained the remaining seats, now have the balance of power.

Most have already stated they will not consider working in a coalition with Vox.

They followed two of the containers to Alicante and only made arrests when they were unloaded at the warehouse. Inside the containers were 400 packages of cocaine, weighing a total of 4,800 kilograms.

Raids were then undertaken at various homes in Alicante and Elche, where €6,000 in cash and four high-end vehicles were seized.

FISH DEATH PROBE

THOUSANDS of dead fish have appeared in Javea’s Canal de la Fontana marina.

The fish died as the high temperatures reduced oxygen levels in the canal. Water samples were taken after green group Ecologists in Action reported it, with the town hall later ruling out pollution being the cause of death.

*Data extracted from process closure surveys after using our roadside assistance and breakdown services.

Voted top expat paper in Spain

OPINION

Read behind the headlines

‘DON’T believe everything you read in the papers’, was the old adage.

And today it’s the perfect advice for half the things that pop up on Twitter, Facebook and TikTok

Above all, don’t be satisfied with the obvious story and always look behind the headlines.

The experienced hands at the Olive Press have decades of national newspaper experience behind them and we know dogged determination is needed to get to the root of the matter.

It’s sometimes called good old fashioned journalism, at other times digging.

But above all, it’s always worth going the extra mile to get to the truth.

Two stories in this issue exemplify this.

On our front page we tell the heart-rending story of a former soldier behind bars accused of strangling his girlfriend on holiday.

While investigations into Kirsty Ward’s death continue, Keith Byrne languishesin jail thousands of kilometres from his three young children.

To make matters worse, sensationalist reporting in the international media has all but dubbed him a murderer, as well as claiming he’s (wrongly) a member of the Kinahan crime gang.

Only the Olive Press has actu-

CRACKING UP

AS Spain suffers under record sweltering temperatures the drought affecting most of the country continues to worsen.

ally sought out his side of the story and it throws the suspicious death into a whole new light.

We appreciate that such a serious alleged crime needs to be investigated fully. But with a solid alibi maybe the humane course would be to allow Byrne bail.

Now turn to page 5 for another example of proper reporting by following something up. When we broke the story in 2021 of a dog called Dragon finding a human skull, the Spanish media followed us. It made headlines across the country but then the media went quiet. It was a short-lived sensation.

But what the papers forgot was that basic tenet of journalism - always follow it up. We did what no one else remembered to do, and never lost track of the story.

Now two years later we can finally reveal the skull belonged to a young man who went missing in Barcelona. We felt it important to follow up for a simple reason.

We had in the past been contacted by worried relatives of missing people wondering if the victim- was their relative.

At least now they know he is not and will no longer have to continue fretting.

With the power of the press comes responsibilities, and we take them seriously.

water restrictions start to kick in, Dilip Kuner

of 1995

Reservoir levels are dwindling, particularly in Catalunya, Andalucia and Alicante –and with the falling reserves, restrictions on water usage are starting to be rolled out.

On the Costa del Sol town halls are reducing the number of beach showers, using non-potable water for street cleaning and watering plants, among other measures.

But there is still some way to go before the restrictions are as Draconian as seen in the tinder dry drought experienced across Spain in 1995. When I moved to Spain in 1994, I thought it was normal: No rain and scorching weather were just facts of life on the sun ny Costa del Sol. What I didn’t know was it was actually not nor mal at all.

Since 1993 the country, and An dalucia in partic ular, had been in the grips of a drought that was killing crops and livestock.

But if you weren’t a farmer it was hard to notice. The taps flowed on the costas, with little apparent effort made to save water.

Each winter since 1992 water authori ties had watched reservoir levels drop as they prayed for rain that simply failed to fall.

Their hopes that God-sent inundations would refill reservoirs and top up groundwater proved unfounded.

Their historical inaction when it came to fixing leaking pipes, arranging water transfers from wetter regions of the country - or building desalination plants - was founded on complacency. Well, the chickens were about to come home to roost. In a big, big way.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Alberto Lejarraga alberto@theolivepress.es

Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month. AWARDS

It all reached its nadir in the summer of 1995, when drastic measures had to be taken as the taps – quite literally – began to run dry.

Large swathes of Malaga’s population were warned not to drink the tap water. The underground aquifers were so low that they became brackish.

In Mijas Costa, where I ran the Curry House restaurant at El Chaparral (I’d left a job at the Mirror in London to help my ailing father keep things ticking over), we didn’t even get the undrinkable water for most of the day.

Water supplies were cut, except for two hours a day in the morning and two in the

early evening. This presented a challenge just for simply living. I didn’t finish work until 3am.

So that meant getting up just a few hours later for a shower before collapsing back into bed. Then when I reached work, it was a question of waiting for the water to come back on before washing the floors, and filling drums of water for toilet flushes before the supply was cut off again.

And remember – this was not drinkable water. For that we had to wait for a water lorry sent round by the town hall once a day. People queued with bottles and plastic containers to get their fill.

Fortunately, I did not have to hang around waiting for hours for the tanker to show up.

We found a different solution: My father lived on the road to Mijas pueblo and so he had Mijas spring water. Fresh, refreshing and unlimited!

So each day I would load up my car with six 25-litre drums and fill them with water at his house, before carting them back to the restaurant, where I would use this drinkable water for cooking and washing the dishes.

Things were worse elsewhere: Sevil-

CURRENT RESERVOIR LEVELS

la was so badly affected that various (seemingly crackpot) schemes were floated as the city and surrounding region gasped for water.

Serious consideration was actually given to evacuating the entire city as water supplies slowed to a trickle.

Last ditch proposals to sail tankers of water up the Guadalquivir and even float an iceberg to the region were made. In the event turning off the water in Sevilla for 14 hours a day proved just about enough to tide the city through until the drought broke. And boy did it break! I clearly remember when it did as I was on my honeymoon in Extremadura.

After 12 days of touring, we were in Badajoz when the skies finally opened. The heaviest rain I had seen literally fell – and fell – and fell.

After 24 hours sheltering in the hotel, my wife and I decided to cut the honeymoon a week short and head home – in the nick of time.

Just three hours later the entire city of Badajoz was cut off by the rising flood waters.

The reservoirs actually overflowed as it pelted down for the next three months. God had finally answered the water authorities’ prayers.

Since then, a new reservoir has been built for Sevilla (with EU money - with the condition the authorities had to reduce the amount of water lost to leaks by half).

The Costa del Sol also got a desalination plant - although politics of course reared its ugly head.

Corrupt Marbella mayor Jesus Gil, who eventually went to prison for fraud, kept getting reelected despite his criminal activities because ‘he got things done’.

35.81%

Nationally, levels are 44.66% capacity compared to 30.37% in 1995

In this instance he really did. In 1996 he used Marbella money (around €40 million) to build the plant with a pledge the water produced was for the entire costa. It was actually completed in 1997. But the Junta refused to take on the running costs, preferring to sit back and watch as it remained unopened while, inevitably, reservoirs started to run dry again within a few years.

It took another drought before agreement was finally reached, and the plant was finally opened in 2005.

It says a lot that a convicted crook and embezzler was willing to do more for the residents of the Costa del Sol than the Junta was.

Complacency rules down here.

As

takes a look back at the last serious drought

DRYING UP: Roman bridge emerges from lake while (left) fish are dying

Silver screen battle

MORE than 11,000 people have signed a petition opposing the conversion of Murcia’s last historic cinema.

They are furious that Cinema Rex is to be turned into a multipurpose space, including a gym.

The cinema opened its doors as the Teatro Ortiz in 1914 but switched to screening movies in 1926. It was renovated in 1946 but screened its last film in August 2019, having outlasted all of the city’s other major theatres.

The building owners submitted their conversion plans in April and now Murcia City Council is going through a public consultation phase, which prompted the petition.

Sales slide

A group collected signatures outside the Rex last week and called for it to reopen ‘since it is an irreplaceable piece of people’s memories’.

“This is the last historic cinema located at the intersection of four districts which contributes to a way of city living that refuses to die,” insisted a spokesman.

The Rex was even mentioned by Murcia filmmaker Elias Leon Siminiani during his acceptance speech in February’s Goya Awards in Sevilla after winning the best short film category.

The Madrid-based AISGE Foundation that manages copyright and intellectual rights for 17,000 Spanish actors has also backed the Rex in a letter to Murcia’s mayor.

CROWD APPEAL

NORMALLY the collection plate is passed around when church repairs are needed. But with just 27 residents, the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in the tiny hamlet of Masa had to move with the times to hit its necessary €55,000 target. An online crowdfunding ap-

Ancient church turns to modern methods

By Alex Trelinski

peal has been set up for the Burgos province church, which needs urgent renovations.

BAD DISGUISE?

EUROPE’s largest vertical mural has been completed. Covering over 6,000 square metres, Les Rivages de Almunecar, by artist Jose Rios, is painted on three 12-storey buildings. The mural, on Granada’s Costa Tropical, depicts a figure of a dog walking on the beach, the silhouette of a woman and waves and sand.

Its conception was to convey a sense of transparency and disguise the ugly tower blocks on which it is painted.

As of mid-July, €26,000 had been banked with contributions from all round the world to fund a new clock and altar.

Standing since the 13th century it is the cornerstone of the village, which has only eight permanent residents, the rest coming at weekends or holidays.

“We are the

HELP NEEDED: The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption

classic example of depopulated Spain,” said Josechu de Miguel, who is leading the fundraising drive.

The key innovation has been joining forces with heritage charity Hispania Nostra to launch the crowdfunding drive with donations starting

Slowing down Mark Stucklin

Spanish home sales in May 2023 show cooldown continues

THE Spanish property market continues to cool down after a post-pandemic boom in 2022 but there is no sign yet of a crash in sales, as shown by the latest housing market figures from the Spanish notaries’ association. There were 58,880 home sales witnessed by Spanish notaries - actually more than recorded by the National In-

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

stitute of Statistics - in May, down 8% on last year, and the seventh consecutive month of sales dropping.

However, if you compare sales (see graph) to previous years looking just at the month of May there is no sign of a crash, just a return to normal business after a boom that followed in the wake of the Covid-19 disaster. Sales

this May were lower than 2021 and 2022,

years of 2018 and 2019. Looking at the 12-month rolling sales total, which smooths out the ups and downs of each month and gives a better picture of the underlying trend, you can clearly see the end of the boom and downward trend that looks like it will be with us for a while. All regions of interest to for-

at just €10. Contributions have so far arrived from as far away as Canada.

Each donor, depending on the amount, will receive a gift that can range from a thank you card to key chains, coasters or even a guided tour of

the village. Other options include sponsoring pews, the choir, or the weather vane from €150. Work will begin once €40,000 is reached, as it is now backed up by a promised €10,000 grant from the Burgos Provincial Council.

HOME sales registered in May showed a fall of 6.4% compared to the same month last year according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Some 56,137 deals were completed but May’s percentage fall was lower than April’s 8.1%. It was the seventh successive month of negative figures, according to the INE report published this month. The sale of older homes fell by 8.6% in the fifth month of the year accounting for 45,479 of the overall total.

In a month-on-month comparison, home purchases went up by 29.6% compared to April - the biggest May increase since 2017. In the first five months of the year, home sales have fallen by 4.1%, with new properties down by 2.4% and used homes down by 4.5%.

Andalucia had the most transactions in May with 11,736 sales, followed by the Valencian Community (9,453) and Catalunya (9,000). In terms of sales per 100,000 people, the largest total was in the Valencian Community (232), Cantabria (183) and Andalucia (173).

*Slowingdown,seebelow

Million euro home club

THE exclusive enclave of Benahavis (pictured) is once again dominating the national rankings for the most expensive municipality in Spain. Based on listings published by real estate portal Idealista, the average price of properties in Benahavis, home to exclusive urbanisation La Zagaleta, is an eye-watering €1.9 million. But there are a few other exclusive resorts where the average price is over a million.

The select million euro home club includes Calvia, in Mallorca, with an average price of €1.58 million, while Marbella, has an average asking price of €1.37 million.

Closer and closer to joining the club is Sotogrande, in Cadiz, where the year started with an average price of €995,000.

Close behind is Sant Cugat, in Catalunya, in fifth place with an average of €810,240. Madrid has the priciest homes for a city, with the average price sitting at €428,100.

eign investors have been following a similar downward curve with modest variations, Sales fell the most in the Balearcis (-19%) followed by Madrid (-17%), Catalunya, Andalucia and the Canaries (-12%), and the Valencian region (-10%). Sales in Murcia bucked the trend with a 1% increase.

The national average house price increased by 1% in May, according to the notaries, suggesting the boom in prices has also come to an end . By region, prices increase the most in the Balearics (+17%), followed by Murcia (+9%), Andalucia (+7%), Valencia (+5%), Catalunya (+4%), and Madrid (+2%).

Safest city

MALAGA has been ranked as the second safest city in Spain, one of the safest cities in Europe and 58th worldwide, according to Numbeo’s 2023 crime index rank.

San Sebastian tops the list for Spain and Europe and comes seventh in the world ranking.

There is no sign of a crash, just a return to normal business

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Spain grabs second best place for expat life in global survey

MAYBE it’s because of the laidback lifestyle, the cafe culture, the beaches and good weather or perhaps it’s just the good food. But Spain has smashed expectations in the latest Expat Insider survey of the best place in the world to live for expats. Coming in as the second most sought-after destination in the poll of nearly 12,000 expats around the globe, it marks a remarkable ascent from its previous fifth position in 2022. Earning its expat-friendly reputation, Spain has consistently ranked within the top 10 for quality of life since

the inception of the survey. Spain claimed the title of global winner in the leisure options category for 2023, with a staggering 91% of expats expressing their contentment with the wide range of recreational sports available in the country.

By Walter Finch

The country's vibrant culture and nightlife have also garnered significant appreciation, with 88% of expats expressing satisfaction with the

diverse offerings.

Enhancing the allure of expat life in Spain, the nation ranks third worldwide for its agreeable climate. First place was snatched by Mexico, but third place was taken, surprisingly, by Panama.

We have a multilingual, hard-working and friendly team. We use our knowledge, experience and dedication to find you your perfect home with the best service in the area!

Gorgeous newly renovated 3 bed apartment (master with en-suite) with a vast rooftop terrace. The apartment it is situated outside the Old Town, within walking distance to the Port of Javea.

stunning 4 bed villa, distributed over 3 floors with open panoramic views to

If you are buying property in Spain or have problems with a property you already own, a professional structural survey can help identify and record defects whilst suggesting remedial solutions and cost implications.

Cultural icons

IT is known as the Nobel prize of the architecture world. And this year the Pritzker prize, as the Olive Press reported in the last issue, was awarded to British architect David Chipperfield, who has a firm affinity to Spain. Aside from having a holiday home in Galicia, he has designed many masterpieces in the country - as have a host of other Pritzker prize winners. The gong is awarded each year to architects who have used their craft to

The ten key buildings in Spain designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects

By Regina Roberts

‘contribute to humanity and the built environment’ and the work of the winners can be found around many of the country’s favourite cities.

Many of them have become major cultural attractions with their unique designs that pay homage to Spanish culture. Here, the Olive Press picks 10 key buildings designed by winners of the illustrious prize which showcase how important Spain has become as a centre for the latest ideas in architecture.

PHILIP JOHNSON, GATE OF EUROPE TOWERS OR TORRES KIO, MADRID, 1996

American architect Philip Johnson was the first recipient of the Pritzker Prize in 1979.

Ten years after receiving it, he collaborated with John Burgee to design

this remarkable twin office building on Plaza de Castilla, in Madrid. The world’s first inclined skyscrapers, slanted at a 15 degree angle, they are the second tallest towers in Spain

standing at 115 metres in height. The tower’s iconic design has made them a well-known part of the Madrid skyline and they have been featured in various movies.

JEAN NOUVEL, TORRE AGBAR/TORRE GLORIES, BARCELONA, 2005

French architect Jean Nouvel, winner of the 2008 prize, also partnered with Fermin Vazquez to design the Torre Glories, the third tallest building in Barcelona. The bullet-shaped building has become a tourist attraction and one of its enticing features is its night lighting. Its futuristic construction, configured by aluminium, concrete, and glass, makes it stand out alongside Barcelona’s historic architecture.

RAFAEL MONEO, TOWN HALL, MURCIA 1998

ZAHA HADID, LOPEZ DE HEREDIA WINE PAVILION, HARO, RIOJA, 2006

Visionary Hadid was commissioned for this winery by Lopez de Heredia for its 125th anniversary. Chosen for her innovation and daring designs, the pavilion combines the architect’s modern style with the winery’s traditional feel.

Hadid described the design as a ‘bridge between the past, present, and future evolution’ of the bodega.

Spaniard Moneo, who won the Prize in 1996, was commissioned to design this modern institutional building for Murcia’s town hall. Set in historic Cardenal Belluga Plaza, between the 16th century cathedral and the Episocal Palace, it needed to be sensitive, but also impactful. The building’s design shows a contrasting modernity that has made it a subject of controversy… but it certainly stands out. Continues on Page 12

In 2004, she became the first woman to be awarded the prize.

DAVID CHIPPERFIELD, AMERICA’S CUP BUILDING ‘VELES E VENTS,’ VALENCIA, 2006

Winner of the 2023 prize, Chipperfield designed the America’s Cup Building ‘Veles e Vents,’ which was inaugurated in 2006.

The building was constructed to be the social centre for the America

Cup, the world’s premier offshore racing competition.

It was designed specifically with the sport in mind, with its overlapping panels that provide shaded views of the sea and outdoor space

that takes up more than half of the building.

The four-story building offers two bars, restaurants, a wellness centre, and VIP lounge, making it the hub of activity during competition season.

RICHARD MEIER, BARCELONA MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, BARCELONA 1995

Showcasing

TOYO ITO, FIRA TOWERS TORRE REALIA BCN AND HOTEL PORTA FIRA, BARCELONA, 2009

The

verging line in the middle to add a touch of colour. In contrast, the Hotel Porta Fira is entirely red and in the shape of a distorted cylinder. In 2010, it won the Emporis award for the best skyscraper globally.

The winner of the 2013 Prize, Ito collaborated with Fermin Vazquez to design these two red towers, which are 112m in height.

Torre Realia’s surrounding windows give it its clean-cut translucent appearance with a red di-

Located close to Barcelona’s gothic centre, this enticing museum was designed by 1984 winner, Meier.

many modern influences, it was conceived as a collection of several prisms and

its centre is made up of a cylinder that extends to all floors of the buildings. Even with its separate wings, the building is tied together by its pockets of natural light and geometrical elements.

JEAN NOUVEL ET AL., HOTEL PUERTA AMERICA, MADRID, 2005

No less than five Pritzker prize winners took part in designing this hotel, making it a major collaborative work in Madrid.

Jean Nouvel was in charge of the attic, 12th floor, and façade, which was decorated with lines from the poem, Liberté, by Paul Eluard.

Zaha Hadid oversaw the first floor, designing it with curves and white lighting.

Norman Foster worked on the second floor highlighting elements of luxury and elegance. Recent winner, David Chipperfield developed the third floor using geometric elements and unique materials, such as terracotta.

Finally, Arata Isozaki, the 2019 prize winner, designed the tenth floor, using Japanese influences and wood panelling to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Other famous architects and designers including Ron Arad and Marc Newson worked on different aspects of the building, making it a showcase of internationally renowned work.

free power!

MiSolar answer: How to pay €0 bills with solar panels

MANY people are asking us if it is really possible to get an electricity bill of €0?

And the answer is YES, but we believe it is very important to explain the

WHAT’S A SOLAR FEED-IN TARIFF?

A new law on self-consumption of solar energy was published on Apri 5, 2019 in Spain’s national bulletin.

THE NEW RULE WAS THIS:

Excess kWh you send into the national grid should accumulate as credit and be discounted from your electricity bill at the end of the month. You should be ‘paid’ for the electricity you produce but don’t consume.

This is called a ‘feed-in tariff’ and the two most important figures in a contract are:

1. The price you pay for energy from the grid (in 2022 this reached a high of €0.40 per kWh)

2. The price you are ‘paid’ for energy given to the grid (between €0.05 – €0.18 per kWh) NOTE – with a feed-in tariff you still pay a standing charge that covers contract costs, service costs and taxes.

Every month the count starts all over again and if you sell more than you use, that extra is kept by the electricity company MiSolar is used to installing solar panel systems that cut a client’s electricity bill down to only the fixed charge of €15-40 per month by offering the best feed-in tariffs on the market. However, the complaint against feed-in tariffs is this: you can never get your bills to €0. But there is a new deal with which we can bring the bill down to almost €0.

different steps that are necessary to get there. And it doesn’t mean a bigger financial investment. Read on and we’ll explain.

Solar Panels Systems

THE DEAL IS CALLED A ‘VIRTUAL BATTERY’

But what’s a virtual battery in Spain? How do they work?

Here are three of the most important features:

1. A better rate – suppliers credit the kWh you export to the grid with the best possible price.

2. No standing charges – your excess energy can cut the standing charges down to €0

3. Excess energy is saved in a ‘wallet’ as credit – if you reduce your electricity bill to €0 in a month by using that credit, then any extra credit is saved in your account and will be used in the following months.

VIRTUAL BATTERIES ARE GAME-CHANGING

● They mean you can design a system that stores up credit in your wallet which you will use to pay future bills.

● It means thousands of homeowners who don’t live full-time in Spain can get a cost-effective solar panel system.

● If you live here full-time, then the rightsize system can get your bills down to €0 or close to €0.

● We’ve been watching the virtual battery closely and are now offering it to solar panel clients in Spain.

BILL: Our clients receive monthly reports clearly showing their savings

But we only work with trusted partners that pay a fair rate.You might be wondering if it’s worth installing solar panels on your property in Spain.

If you’ve looked at feed-in tariffs you might have felt cheated that you’re credited less than half the price you’re charged for energy. But paying close to €0 each year for electricity is now a reality thanks to the virtual battery. If you want us to help you with the switch to the virtual battery, we can do it for you. We hope this article helps you to understand better the amazing world of solar panels. So, what next? If you’re interested in going solar after reading this article, we have a special offer for OLIVE PRESS readers like you. Simply use the coupon code ‘OLIVE 10’ when you contact us for a solar consultation and you’ll receive a free survey of your property’s solar potential, plus a direct discount of €250 off your solar installation. This offer is available for a limited time, so don’t wait to make the switch to solar and start enjoying the benefits of clean energy for your home or business.

Solar Panels Systems

RAFAEL ARANDA, METAL HOUSE, GIRONA 2017

SPANIARD Aranda (and partner Carme Pigem) created this wonderful building for Michelin star chef Fina Puigdevall in the countryside, near Olot. A private home, it challenges traditional assumptions about homes and farms.

It came about when Fina was chatting with former classmate Carme about revamping her restaurant Les Cols plus building a new home. Neither of them could have imagined that ten years on the former would become a

celebrated Michelin-starred chef, and the latter a Pritzker-prize winner in 2017.

The building sits 1.5m below the top level of the field, creating a differentiation between the two lifestyles. The house seems disjointed on the surfa-

EVERYTHING YOU NEED

BATHROOM renovation can be an exciting but overwhelming task. Don’t worry,we at Big Mat Aliazul can help you transform your bathroom into an elegant and quality space.

Planning

Before beginning any renovation project, it is important to plan properly to ensure you get the results you want.

Aqua has some tips to help you in the planning process:

1. Set a budget: Determine how much money you are willing to spend on your bathroom renovation. This will help you to have a clear idea of what your financial constraints are and what renovation items are priorities for you.

2. Make a list of priorities: Decide which aspects of your bathroom are most important to you. Do you need to replace the toilet or shower and do you want to update the tiles or fixtures?

A renovated and stylish bathroom can give you a haven of tranquility

3. Research and get ideas: Look for inspiration in magazines, interior design blogs or specialised bathroom renovation websites.

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Optimise your bathroom

Once you have planned your renovation, it is important to optimise your bathroom so that it is functional and efficient.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Organisation: Make sure you can easily access your toiletries and keep everything in its place.

2. Lighting: Adequate lighting in your bathroom is essential to create a cozy and functional environment. Make sure you have good lighting in the mirror area to make shaving or makeup application easier.

3. Ventilation: Proper ventilation via a window or exhaust fan is important to avoid moisture buildup and prevent mold and mildew problems.

Key elements for your bathroom renovation

There are several key elements you can consider when renovating your bathroom for a spectacular result. Here are some ideas and suggestions:

1. Update the tiles: Tile is an important element in the look of a bathroom. Consider updating the wall or floor tiles to give it a fresh look.

ce but the hidden long corridor that acts as the ‘backbone’ for the building, connects the main areas with large glass windows framed by steel. Even though this is a private home, its architectural design makes it a one-of-a-kind villa.

NORMAN FOSTER, CONGRESS CENTRE, VALENCIA, 1998

Global British legend Foster completed this building a year before winning the prize in 1999.

And the Congress Centre, in Valencia, certainly helped it along, being both bold and eye-catching.

Designed for the hot Mediterranean climate the large pavilion provides shade and surrounding windows that allow for natural light.

The conference venue was designed to host large crowds and has multiple auditoriums.

“It is truly a Valencian building –rooted in tradition, but forward looking,” explained Foster.

2. Refurbish the tub or shower: If your tub or shower pan is worn or outdated, consider replacing it. Choose an option that fits your needs and lifestyle.

3. Update fixtures: Accessories, such as taps, door handles and towel racks can make a big difference to the look and feel of your bathroom.

4. Add storage: Adequate storage is essential in a bathroom to keep it organised and clutter-free. Consider adding shelving, cabinets or extra drawers for storage.

5. Change the colours and decor: Opt for light, neutral colors to give a feeling of spaciousness and brightness, or choose bolder hues if you want to create a vibrant environment with personality.

‘SPANISH STYLE’

AN unsuspecting Twitter user waded into a storm of controversy after tweeting pictures of what she described as ‘Spanish style homes’ in the US.

Savannah Vicario’s tweet racked up more than 11 million views and thousands of replies in just three days. They ranged from the serious to the comic, such as this reply from a user named Salma:

American’s tweet about a ‘Spanishstyle’ home led to a deluge of replies and much debate

By Simon Hunter

“Spanish style is not a thing.

This is Mudejar architecture, inspired by Al-Andalus, combining Islamic aesthetics with

Iberian structures.” And as for the comic, users all around

Spain sent her their own versions of ‘Spanish style homes’. These included ugly housing blocks surrounded by riot police, pictures of the ugly ‘gotele’ dimpled wall paint used to hide often uneven walls in apartments, and a sitting room typical of a grandparent’s home. The jibes appeared to have been taken well by the original poster, who took advantage of the huge traffic from her tweet and invited people to follow her on Instagram

HISPANIC FLAVOUR: Or is US home more Mudejar or Al Andalus in style?

REALITY: Some of the true design ‘abominations’ in Spain

Not so hidden assets

AUKRAINIAN newspaper has tracked down a string of properties in Spain supposedly belonging to sanctioned Russians, who support their country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Journalists from Ukrainska Pravda spent a week tracking down the luxury homes in Spain and then, armed with a drone, took photos they then published to the world.

The roll call of leading Russians all continue to enjoy their wealth and privileges in the West while endorsing and supporting the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

Among them is a prominent Russian film director known for his role in denigrating the West, including Spain, and spreading

By Walter Finch

Kremlin propaganda.

Nikita Mikhalkov has been identified as the owner of a villa in San Roque, between Gibraltar and Marbella, according to records from the Spanish property registry.

We are not publishing its exact location, but it sits nestled among a number of similarly lavish villas facing out over a picturesque golf course.

It is co-owned by Mikhalkov’s wife, Tetiana, and their children, but holds significance as Mikhalkov fell under Western sanctions in December.

Mikhalkov has also allegedly invested in property by the prestigious five-star SHA hotel

Torrevieja, Alicante, Marbella, San Roque, Catalunya - The luxury villas in Spain owned by Russian supporters of Putin

and wellness clinic on the Costa Blanca. His daughter has three apartments in Alicante.

President Putin’s ex-wife Lyudmila is also reportedly the owner of a cliff-top mansion on the Costa Blanca.

The property is truly luxurious, looking out over the Mediterranean, boasting curvaceous architecture and a dolphin-shaped pool. It also has the tell-tale name ‘Casa de Papa’ - Daddy’s House.

Further north, the parents of Russian Foreign Minister Sergiy

Lavrov’s son-in-law own two apartments in the outskirts of Girona, on the Costa Brava. Lavrov’s daughter, Ekaterina, has been spotted there.

His son-in-law Alexander Vinokurov meanwhile, faces sanctions for attending a meeting of oligarchs with Putin on the first day of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Yet his parents and wife still retain access to their Spanish apartments without any restrictions.

Let’s also not forget the incredi-

ble €40m mansion that President Putin is understood to own in the hills above Marbella.

The Olive Press has long reported on the luxury villa located in the super-exclusive enclave of La Zagaleta, in Benahavis.

Indeed, we broke the story a decade ago.

The property that sits in its own street - King Lion Road - boasts three underground basements and has its own vineyard, bowling alley, and, perhaps predictably, a ‘shooting range’. Bought through a string of shell companies, officially it is now owned by Artem Sheikin, a senator for Amur Oblast in Russia’s Far East, although typically, it is registered in a company owned by his ex-wife, Anna Kviria.

The Olive Press understands it is actually owned by five Russian oligarchs with Putin being the majority owner.

Another Russian senator, meanwhile, Alexander Bryskin owns a more modest seafront apartment in Torrevieja. Despite officially criticising Spain on television, it seems he still enjoys the luxury of owning a property here “Some muppets say that visiting Spain is a privilege! What the hell?” he shouted during an interview. “Visiting Russia is a privilege!”

The revelation of these Spanish properties linked to influential Russian figures has caused ripples of concern amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The discovery sheds light on the potential financial ties and interests of these individuals, raising questions about whether authorities in Madrid and Brussels should be doing more to prosecute corrupt Russians complicit in Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Nikita Mikhalkov San Roque

Putin’s ex-wife Lyudmila Costa Blanca

Artem Sheikin La Zagaleta

Alexander Bryskin Torrevieja

Lavrov’s son-in-law Girona

GET ENERGISED

AS climate change accelerates and Spain faces increasing concerns over drought and heat, the EU is finally amending its energy efficiency laws. In a sensible bid to make buildings more carbon neutral the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has recently been passed in Brussels.

It is getting difficult to sell energy inefficient homes

However, while broadly good news for Europe, it could cause problems for people wanting to sell or rent their property in Spain, by making energy rating requirements more demanding.

But let me make this clear: The EPBD legislation isn’t new. It was first introduced in 2002 and has been updated several times since then - most recently in 2018.

As anyone who has bought, sold, or rented aty in Spain will

know, all buildings have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) when constructed, sold, or leased. And if you were recently selling you needed a visit from a property professional, such as a surveyor, who could assess your building and provide the relevant certification.

The EPC rates energy efficiency on a scale from A to G, with A being the most energy-efficient and G the least.

It considers a range of factors including insulation, heating, ventilation, and lighting.

The plan is to make all existing residential buildings net-zero by 2050.

The ruling proposes that all existing homes should be renovated to meet a minimum energy performance standard of F by 2030 and E by 2033.

Currently, though, in Spain, particularly in the countryside, many are more likely to achieve a G rating, particularly those draughty cortijos and fincas Should owners be concerned, given a ban on renting property that is ‘energy-intensive’ already exists in France? And in Belgium, owners who don’t upgrade now face fines.

Standardising the ratings

Europe wants to standardise energy ratings meaning the worst performers, category G properties, represent the 15% of worst-performing buildings in

each country.

The scheme was first proposed in December 2021 – after eight building renovation strategies submitted by member states fell short of the EC’s requirements.

Estate agent, Mathew Wood, based in Granada, estimates ‘around 80% of Spain’s housing stock won’t comply’. Clearly, this is problematic for Spain – especially when these schemes are introduced with insufficient advance publicity.

It’s no surprise then, that there are already calls for a raft of exemptions and tweaks for older properties.

The impact in Spain

Unless exemptions are made, the potential impact here and particularly in rural areas, is going to be significant. Think of the thousands of fincas and townhouses, particularly holiday homes, built to poor standards.

The old housing stock was constructed without energy efficiency in mind and as a result, properties are likely to get a low EPC rating (G). There are other issues. For example, who would be responsible for the costly expensive upgrade in the case of inheriting a home? Currently that would fall on the inheritors to cough up before selling. Over time, owners are likely to find it increasingly difficult to sell energy-inefficient homes, as buyers become alarmed by resale worries.

DOWNSIZE TRENDS

THE last few years have seen a trend of homeowners downsizing property in the Costa Blanca North region, which can be attributed to several factors:

Lifestyle Changes

As people go through different stages of life, their housing needs may change. For example, empty nesters whose children have moved out may find their current home too large for their requirements. Downsizing to a smaller property can provide a more manageable living space and reduce maintenance responsibilities.

Michelle Hughes, owner of VillaMia estate agency in Javea, has put together some of the reasons why people are choosing to downsize their property

Financial Considerations

Downsizing can be a smart financial move. By selling a larger property and purchasing a smaller one, homeowners can potentially free up equity and reduce housing-related expenses. This can include lower mortgage payments, reduced IBI taxes and smaller utility bills. Addition-

Although the rules aren’t retrospectively applied to old properties (at present), more demanding building regulations have already been introduced for new builds in Spain. The country has already implemented the EPBD through its Technical Building Code (CTE), which defines efficiency requirements.

Under the CTE rules, all new buildings must meet minimum requirements, and an EPC must be presented to the buyer or tenant when a building is sold or leased.

The CTE also rules that significant renovations or changes to a building must comply with the new laws. Any renovation must include improvements, such as installing insulation, energy-efficient heating or cooling systems, or solar panels. If you want to change the use of your property, you could be facing

a large bill.

However, it’s not all bad news. Spain also offers financial incentives for improvements, such as grants and tax credits. So pop down to your town hall and see if you can get any help.

The EPBD is soon to be passed making sure all EU member states incorporate it into their national laws.

Each member state has some flexibility, but the basic principles remain the same.

And as the EPBD is part of the EU's broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions, it may become even more stringent, rather than being watered down, over time.

So, if you are thinking of selling, it’s time to start considering how you could improve the energy rating of your property.

Now, not later.

The simple measures to improve your energy efficiency include:

● Installing a pellet stove instead of your woodburner

● Install solar panels for energy and water

● Insulate the roof, walls, and floor – in that order of priority

● Improve the glass of your windows (to double glazing) and change old doors

ally, downsizing can unlock funds for other purposes, such as retirement savings or travel.

Simplified Living

A smaller property often means less upkeep and maintenance. This can particularly appeal to those seeking a more relaxed and low-maintenance lifestyle. Downsizing allows homeowners to focus on enjoying their time and pursuing other interests rather than spending excessive time and effort on property maintenance.

Location Preferences

Many villa owners have downsized to move to Javea’s Port area, where amenities and a rocky beach are within walking distance. There is no need for a car and more social activities on the doorstep.

Travel and Flexibility

Smaller properties often require less time and effort to maintain, making it easier for homeowners to travel or spend time away from their primary residence. Downsizing can provide the freedom to explore new destinations or live a more flexible lifestyle without worrying about extensive property upkeep. In many apartments, you can lock up

and go, unlike a villa where a water leak can remain undetected for a long time or humidity issues arise from a lack of ventilation. It obviously depends on individual circumstances but generally I think downsizing offers more freedom as there is less to worry about and fewer costs.

Villas normally need constant maintenance, which can be hard work as people get older and it can be expensive to pay other people to do the work.

I know most of my weekends are taken up doing things around the house.

We are finding more and more clients coming to us to downsize and most of the time they want a property where they can walk to the beach and amenities, to make the most of what is on offer in this area.

The new European energy efficiency laws mean selling or renting your property will soon get more complicated, writes Jo Chipchase

The sunny side of life

Dreams on the shores of the Mediterranean. Dreams we tailor-made. Dreams you can relive over and over again. Live life, dream awake.

PAYING HOMAGE

IT’S a food pilgrimage that thousands of Americans, Japanese and Europeans make every year…but, as far as the French go, it’s nothing to get excited about.

Gallic food bible Michelin almost begrudgingly admits Asador Etxebarri is ‘worth a stop’, but only gives it one solitary star and then adds, with no sense of irony, you’ll need to book ‘a minimum two months ahead’.

Sacre Bleu! Is it any wonder the Spanish leapfrogged the French in the global cookery standings over a decade ago.

This rural retreat in the heart of the Basque Region has been in the world’s Top Ten best restaurants for a decade for its incredibly original and simple way of cooking.

Now firmly cemented in Spanish foodie folklore, chef Victor Arguinzoniz hasn’t fallen out of the prestigious World’s 50 Best list since entering in 2011 and, well, quite frankly he probably couldn’t care less.

This chef’s chef launched his style of ‘fire cooking’ three decades ago in the small village of Axpe, where he grew up without electricity and gas and where his mother and grandmother would

cook on an open hearth.

He also cooks entirely on an open grill - everything, including pudding - and the world’s top chefs rave about him and plan their annual holidays around a meal here.

It’s a romantic tale and this village, sitting on the GR-229 walking trail by the beautiful Urkiola natural park, is almost impossible to beat. So I certainly wasn’t expecting to land a table when I found myself driving through the area on a weekday earlier this month.

But logging onto its website a couple of days before out of interest, I miraculously discovered a 1.30pm slot for two people on the very Tuesday we were passing.

After my heart missed a beat and I slammed the button to ‘book’, I heard nothing, except an email saying we would get another email asking for our credit card details.

It wasn’t looking optimistic, but as the restaurant was shut on the Monday, I figured we’d just rock up and hope for the best. I also sent a personal email to Victor, congratulating him on, once again, making the Top Five, last month. With these things, you simply never

know. Of course, we arrived to find the booking was not confirmed… but, despite a disdainful look, Maitre D Mohamed, from Algeria, did understand the mix up and sat us down on an outside table and brought us a

Once again in the world’s Top Five, Jon Clarke moved heaven and hell to grab lunch at mythical Basque restaurant Asador Etxebarri

couple of cold beers. He did insist there was ‘no space’, but he promised to see what he could do. After a 30-minute wait, enjoying the peaceful surroundings, with views across the church spire towards faraway peaks and braying Monchina and Betizu cows, a delicious cold broth suddenly arrived. ‘Just to try,’ exclaimed a waitress, making sure we didn’t get our hopes up… and then suddenly a tablecloth came out and our table was dressed. “We can’t do the full 15 courses, but we can offer you a lobster, a steak and a few starters,” ventured ‘Moha’, as he is known to his fellow staff. Are you kidding? We bit his hand off and sat down to, arguably, the most authentic meal of our lives.

First things first, it might seem amiss to be reviewing a restaurant when you’re not sampling the full tasting menu. But the Asador does have an a la carte option and, in any case, it turned out Moha was under-selling. The first thing that arrived was a plate of thinly-sliced chorizo, which I knew was a signature dish and made on the premises. And boy was it good, so unbelievably moist and melt in the mouth, despite being hung for just two months.

Next up were anchovies on toast with olive oil and tomato. They come from nearby Ondarroa, where Victor is a long-time buyer and he salts them for six months in a special drying room. Again, the tenderness and flavour was the ticket.

I was really starting to relax, enjoying the leafy terrace with its oxidised iron feed-

ers full of rhododendrons, bees and blue tits. Sure, there was a sense of missing out by not eating

in the buzzing main dining room, with its beams and double height ceiling, but we weren’t the only diners on the terrace and, by now, Moha was really starting to warm to us, explaining each dish and particularly wines (he’s the sommelier too, it turns out).

We really loved his choice of flinty dry albarino, called ‘O Equilibrio’ by the bodega Fulcro, which was the perfect choice for what I can only describe as the best seafood dish I’ve ever eaten. Quite simply, you will never try anything like it. And yes, I’ve dined on the amazing turbot up the road in Getaria, the bluefin tuna in Zahara and giant red shrimps in Sanlucar de Barrameda, but the lobster served at Etxebarri is simply remarkable.

Garnished with exactly nothing - it is simply cooked to a tender tee on Victor’s wood grill, its juices taking the plaudits. It may seem hard to believe, but once you’ve mopped up the juice from its brains and ink with the local bread, the extraordinary richness will stay on your palate for weeks. Indeed it’s still helping me sleep.

But that wasn’t all. Next came out a veal chop, so beautifully cooked that, even though we were full, you wouldn’t dream of leaving a sliver.

And then came the climax: a bowl of smoky ice cream that was also smoked over the grill and then served with a beetroot coulis, so sweet I thought it was cherry.

Even better, all the ingredients come from the village, as does as much as Victor can get, including plenty of the vegetables that he grows in this garden. All in all, an exceptional meal, one that - thanks to its unfussy staff and plain simplicity - actually deserves four stars. Now hop off, Pierre.

www.asadoretxebarri.com

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Garnished with exactly nothing - it is simply cooked to a tender tee on Victor’s wood grill, its juices taking the plaudits

SIMPLICITY: Asador Etxebarri’s simple food, including smoked ice cream and lobster, complement the mountain location

CHEF’S CHEF: Victor Arguinzoniz and (top) his anchovies and a steak

Desert warning

‘Iberian oven’ tag given to Spanish city by weather expert

ANOTHER heatwave in Sevilla leaving temperatures above 40 degrees has led a weather expert to predict the city is becoming a desert due to climate change.

It’s dubbed by some as the ‘Iberian oven’ as hot air comes in from the Sahara and because it is in the foothills of mountains, it is a regular candidate for some of the highest urban temperatures in Spain.

So much so that one weather expert believes the city’s future is gloomy if changes are not made.

Jim Dale from British Weather Services said:

“We’re getting into the category of between 40 and 50 degrees and you’ll find temperatures increasing as the summers go on, as essentially, the city is turning into a desert.”

“Locals might be accustomed to the hot weather, but tourists need to be careful over risks of sun -

HOT WATER

EXPERTS are predicting new record highs for sea water temperatures in Spain.

Last summer saw sea temperatures of up to 32.4C recorded. With the scorching temperatures already recorded in July, it is predicted that those levels will be beaten, negatively affecting marine ecosystems.

By Alex Trelinski

stroke and dehydration.”

The heatwave of 2022 in Spain alone killed at least 2,064 people as a result of the high temperatures. Droughts have directly affected crops and the disruption in production also led to a disruption in supplies for all of Europe.

Wildfires also dramatically increased with many serious incidents last summer across the country.

change

A NEW EU regulation requires that all batteries sold must be recyclable within the next four years.

The law was initiated by Spain’s minister for ecological transition, Teresa Ribera, in an effort to increase sustainability and promote a circular economy.

Producers must adapt the design of their products to ensure that batteries within appliances are removable and replaceable for consumers.

The regulation applies to types of batteries used in all items, from phones to cars.

Governments everywhere need a proper kick up the backside

We’re in uncharted territory

CLIMATE temperature records are tumbling, leaving planet Earth in uncharted territory.

Scientists are understandably worried at the speed at which global warming is advancing. Ocean temperatures are higher than ever. Antarctic sea ice is melting just as fast. Heatwaves are becoming increasingly dan gerous.

The cause of global warming is the burn ing of fossil fuels. Add into the equa tion the heat generated by the first El Niño since 2018 ( a warming natural weather system) and, to coin a fa mous quotation, HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

● Last month was the hottest on record

● The average global temperature topped 17C for the first time on July 4

● The Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the last three months have recorded higher temperatures since Met Office records began in 1850. Extra heat trapped by the buildup of greenhouse

gases has gone into warming the ocean’s surface

● Recorded heatwaves are more frequent, hotter, and longer lasting I have said it before, and without doubt will have to say many times more, that unless we make dramatic reductions to greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures will continue to rise. We do not have the resolve or the available technologies available

to cut our emissions. Runaway warming and climate collapse alarm bells are ringing.

ADMIT YOUR FAILURES

So says the president of this year’s COP 28 conference, Sultan Al Jaber. Ironically he is the head of the UAE’s state oil company. That’s enough in itself to spark another debate.

How can the head of one of the world’s largest oil producers host a conference aimed at getting the world’s leaders to commit to saving the planet?

Despite the blatant hypocrisy in this, the message is bang on.

Governments do need a proper ‘kick up the backside’.

I remain unconvinced that the boot is on the right foot to make this happen. His argument is that only when the world has enough renewable energy can the production of oil, gas and coal be reduced. Does anyone else see a conflict of interest here ?!?!

Martin Tye is the owner of Mariposa Energía, a green energy company specialising in solar

Green Matters By Martin Tye

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

Holiday go ahead

A CHANGE in temporary residency rules means that those who spend more than six months outside of Spain will no longer have their permits revoked. Now, individuals with temporary residence permits in Spain, which can last up to five years, may now travel abroad for more than six months within one year.

The Spanish Supreme Court made the decision to cancel the clause in Spain’s immigration rulebook.

Although some note that the decision might not be the final word on the matter and could be superseded by future changes to the Immigration Law.

DEAL DONE

No more summer strikes at Air Europa, as agreement reached

THE Sepla pilots union has reached a deal with Spanish airline Air Europa that will avoid any fresh strikes in the short term. A series of three stoppages were staged this year between May 1 and July 2, causing the cancellation of more than 300 flights.

An internal document from Sepla states that the union considers the airline to have satisfied the majority of its demands for the signing of a new collective agreement. These include a substantial

FOOD company Grupo Palacios has decided to withdraw its Spanish omelettes from the market after they were connected with several cases of botulism.

Spain’s AESAN food safety agency has not, so far, been able to link the tortillas with the reported cases, but Grupo Palacios has decided to be cautious and take the products off the shelves.

The group has called on consumers to not eat them if they have bought them, and to return them to the point of sale in order to receive a refund.

Five cases had been reported including a 49-year-old man who was hospitalised in

improvement in conditions that is aimed at recovering income lost during the pandemic, as well as better-quality accommodation and food when pilots are flying long-haul routes. Sources close to the negotiations revealed salaries would be raised by 4% this year, and then 3% during

Tortilla danger

the Galician city of Ourense and had to be taken to intensive care.

Other cases include a 23-year-old woman and her 61-year-old father, who returned to Italy from the Spanish city of Valladolid on July 1 having consumed one of the affected tortillas the day before.

Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal illness that is caused by a toxin produced by a bacteria. The disease causes weakness, blurry vision, fatigue and problems speaking. It is treated by using an antitoxin.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

the next two consecutive years. Air Europa, whose finances were already in a precarious situation before the industrial action, has also committed to withdrawing a lawsuit it filed at Spain’s national High Court in which it accused the unions of staging illegal and abusive strikes. The legal action was demanding nearly €30 million of damages.

Rescue

Air Europa is Spain's third-largest airline after Iberia and Vueling. It is awaiting authorisation from Brussels for its sale to Iberia. It must also pay back a €475 million rescue package it received during the Covid-19 pandemic and a €140 million loan that it received from the state ICO credit institute.

Dear Jennifer:

Take care of the family

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The first question would be – have you taken out Life Insurance?

You may have a Mortgage Protection policy, which means on your death the mortgage will be paid. But of course, this does not provide your family with some financial security when they really need it.

Mortgage Protection is a good policy to have as it will pay off any mortgage you have on your house, keeping your family secure in their home. This is death only cover, however there are some additional options you can add on if you require them.

For example for Mortgage Payment protection, for €100,000 of cover for a 50 year old can be as little as €305 per year.

Whereas life insurance provides a payment to your family. You can tailor the life policy to your own requirements and create a bespoke life insurance – whether to cover the initial costs incurred on your death or give your family a lump sum to provide for their future.

For example, life cover of €50,000 for a 50 year old, can be as little as €155 a year.

Our bespoke life policies can give you the cover most suited to you needs with standard death only cover and additional covers to include:-

● Repatriation

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR A QUOTATION, PLEASE CALL ONE OF MY OFFICES, EMAIL INFO@ JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET

Colluding giants fined €194mn for restricting competition

SPAIN'S competition watchdog, the CNMC, has fined Amazon and Apple a total of €194 million for

BAD APPLE

By Alex Trelinski

collusion in the sale of products.

The two firms had limited the sale of Apple prod-

Battery boost

ucts on Amazon’s Spanish websites ‘which restricted competition’, a CNMC spokesman said.

It launched a probe in July 2021 for ‘possible anti-competition practices in the sectors of in-

SEAT has announced that it will build a vehicle battery cell assembly plant in Martorell, Catalunya.

The car maker - owned by Volkswagen - says the €300 million project will create more than 400 direct jobs.

The new factory will cover an area of 64,000 square meters and will also be used to assemble PowerCo cells that will be made at a new gigafactory in Sagunto, Valencia province, where construction started in March.

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 Anarchy, 8 Group, 9 Tames, 10 Observe, 11 Yokel, 13 Ecology, 15 Mariner, 17 Sleep, 19 Dunster, 21 Other, 22 Cubic, 23 Leotard.

Down: 1 Earthy, 2 Haymaker, 3 Ices, 4 Bygone, 5 Door, 6 Speedy, 8 Gaseous, 12 Lunatic, 14 Overheat, 15 Medico, 16 Rarely, 18 Parade, 20 Nibs, 21 Oxon.

ternet sales of electronic products and the provision of marketing services to third-party retailers through online platforms’.

The CNMC said at the time that it had access to ‘certain information’ from which it had found ‘rational indications’ that Amazon and Apple were in breach of laws related to the defence of competition and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Both firms agreed in 2018 to sign two contracts in which they updated Amazon’s role as an authorised distributor of Apple products.

The CNMC discovered that only a series of distributors approved by Apple could sell its wares via Amazon’s Spanish portals.

“This meant that 90% of resellers on Amazon in Spain who had been selling Apple products were excluded from the country’s main online market,” the watchdog commented. There was also a price rise in Apple products on Amazon, according to the CNMC.

Amazon says it ‘disagrees’ with the ruling and plans to appeal it.

We use recycled paper

Wedding gift

LOS ALCAZARES will give €500 to the first three couples who get married on local beaches after the council approved wedding ceremonies to be held at three locations.

Horse power

TWO horses were spotted running amok on the A-7 in Marbella after escaping their nearby paddock, with police closing the motorway before catching them.

High temper

FLOWER sellers are fuming over Barcelona cannabis shops bypassing zoning rules by registering as florists, with 118 of them in one district alone.

O P LIVE RESS The

Turned off

VICTIMS of noisy neighbours will be giving a (quiet) three cheers after a man was jailed for blasting out electronic music at full blast for five years. And to top it off he has been banned from any profession linked to electronic music. The Catalan has been given a 15-month prison term and ordered to pay €18,000 compensation to his neigh -

Noisy neighbour jailed for pumping out electronic dance music for five years

By Alex Trelinski

bours for playing the music with a thumping beat at full volume day and night between 2012 and 2017.

Flip flop voter

His neighbours certainly did not feel like dancing as the selfish music lover ignored a series of com plaints.

Escaping the Rat Race

DOZENS of doped up rats on a city break have been spotted approaching locals on the Costa Blanca.

Instead of scurrying away to hide, the rodents are nonchalantly strolling the streets of Alicante, with local authorities claiming they have been ‘stunned’ by poison rather than killed.

And what’s more, a representative of the local pest control company is claiming they are ‘country’ rats causing the problem, rather than their local city-dwelling kin.

VOTERS and election operators were treated to a comedic sight on a most serious day in Spanish electoral politics: a man coming in to vote wearing flippers, snorkel and clutching a cool box. Sunday’s snap general election, held in high summer on the day of rest, provoked the ire of one lottery salesman irked that he had been dragged away from the beach to vote.

Jorge, known for his quirky sense of humour, made his splashy entrance at the Manuel Fernandez school polling station in Malaga.

In desperation, long-suffering residents called police reached 56 decibels at night26 above what was permitted. A Mataro court also fined the man - named as Jordi F - €2,160 as well as imposing the professional ban. One of his neighbours in El Masnou - north of Barcelona - suffered from insomnia resulting from the noise, which required specialised medication. Another person had their Alzheimer’s disease condition worsened due to anxiety caused by the high volume of electronic music pumping out from his home.

out several times over the fiveyear period - but he still refused to turn down the volume. Measurements showed the music blasted out at 57 decibels in daytime22 decibels above the limit - and

Shady business

UMBRELLA summer beach war comes to Malaga, with several beaches in the province taking action to those beachgoers who keep hogging the sand including in Algarrobo, Torrox and Velez Malaga. Leaving an umbrella in place is considered a minor offence, punishable by a fine of up to €300 euros, but higher fines of up to an eye-watering €3000 can be slapped out.