Costa Blanca North Olive Press - issue 56 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

OLIVE PRESS COSTA BLANCA

The SAN JAVIER Mijas Costa

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Vol. 3 Issue 56 www.theolivepress.es May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Voted Spain’s most popular historic city

Prime suspect

Tragic mystery

Girl power

Bear in the frame for series of grizzly livestock killings in the Pyrenees

The Olive Press helps TV investigation into the death of Kirsty Maxwell

The female warriors who took on Drake’s army - and won!

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See page 6

See page 14

See page 12

I beg your padron

A GROUP of British expats have been detained by police after their padron certificates proving they lived in Spain appear to have been doctored. At least eight people have been grilled over the town hall registration forms, which were all handled by the same gestor company on the Costa Blanca. National Police confirmed to the Olive Press that detectives are working alongside the Guardia Civil to now investigate all residencia applications in Alicante made in 2021. It comes after ‘widespread fraud’ was allegedly detected

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

96 649 1883 www.moraira-hamiltons.net

‘Hellish and humiliating’ as British expats arrested over ‘fraudulent’ residency applications

in over 22 Britons attempting to become resident here. This week a number of elderly expats described the situation as ‘humiliating’ and ‘hellish’, after they were held for questioning under caution. They told the Olive Press how they were carted to Alicante police station and grilled about falsifying documents submitted with their TIE card applications. “We were wrongly arrested for submitting fake padrons, even though we put the correct ones in with our paperwork for residencia,” said Jay Elliott, 66, of Orihuela Costa, who has lived in Spain for over five years. She and her friend Lily Higgins, 71, had planned for a peaceful retirement in the sun but are now living with the threat of a court case or even deportation. “I’ve never been in trouble before but here I am, being treated like a common criminal,” said Higgins. “It’s humiliating.” They added that the same gestor is being investigated for changing the date on at least 22 more British applicants. Another couple, who asked not to be named, told the Ol-

Tel: 952 147 834

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EXCLUSIVE By Simon Wade

ive Press how they had been questioned when they went to collect their TIE cards. “We were taken into a room, read our rights and told to explain why our 2021 padron had been doctored to show a 2020 date - it was hell.” All those detained had used One Way Services, a gestor based in Quesada to process their applications - including the padron. Owner Matt Smith insisted that his is anything but the only gestor business to be dragged into the investigation “Nobody has been arrested, that is a fact,” he insisted, adding: “Other gestors are also being brought in as part of an ongoing investigation into TIE applications.” A police spokesman told the Olive Press: “All residencia applications from every gestor in the province will be investigated in case of possible connections.” All fraudulent submissions will be cancelled with applicants given the right to appeal. “The outcome of the appeal will be either ‘you now have

residencia’ or ‘you have 15 days to leave Spain’, they said. A source told the Olive Press that a court date in Torrevieja has yet to be confirmed, as evidence is still being gathered. Anne Hernandez of Brexpats in Spain warned that a lack of clear national guidelines means rules can differ from region to region.

Money

She added that the complicated application process is leaving expats vulnerable to unscrupulous gestors. “One would expect that when you turn to a professional for help, you pay the money and get professional advice but we hear lots of stories about people being given the wrong information or even being exploited and landing into trouble by so-called qualified gestors,” she warned. “This case of fraudulent padrons being submitted is shocking but it’s by no means isolated.” Hundreds of British expats have turned to the services of brokers or gestors for help with the residency process since the issue became more complicated with Brexit and

COME AND GET INSPIRED! Jávea / Altea

yorkshirelinencostablanca.com

HUMILIATED: Lily and Jay Spain experienced a rush of applications as the end of the transition period approached and in the months since. Appointments are difficult to get, paperwork can be confusing and requirements can differ between Extranjeria offices. Recent procedural changes at Alicante Foreigners’ Office now suggest that only a padron dated 2020 will be accepted as proof that an applicant lived in Spain prior to the Brexit deadline on December 31. Those applying directly, or on behalf of someone, are likely

to have their TIE submission refused without that specific document even though the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement is supposed to guarantee the rights of those who were living in Spain before January 1st 2021. If you have been affected in a similar way by this, or any other gestor, please get in touch with us on newsdesk@theolivepress.es

Opinion Page 6

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NEWS IN BRIEF Vicious beating TWO Javea men were jailed for five years after kidnapping and beating up a man in a basement to steal money and drugs. The victim was awarded €30,000 in compensation after he was repeatedly coshed by a baseball bat and iron bar during his July 2019 ordeal.

Life savers BATHERS at Alicante’s Postiguet beach saved a female swimmer from drowning last Sunday morning. The lifeguard shift had not started yet and paramedics took her to Alicante General Hospital.

Grass fire SOME 5,000 square metres was burnt in a grassland fire at Realet de Finestrat last Saturday. The blaze was brought under control within 90 minutes and nobody was injured.

Dog ban AN alcoholic has been slapped with a lifetime ban from keeping pets after she let her sixmonth-old puppy die from neglect. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier lived in the courtyard of his owner’s house without any shade, food or water. The animal had no vaccinations and contracted the deadly parvovirus disease. The woman from San Vicente del Raspeig has now lost an appeal against the sentence which also included a threemonth jail term. Judges heard about the owner’s ‘disorderly’ life where she was often drunk or under the influence of drugs.

Beer bully A JEALOUS man has been barred from seeing his wife after he drenched her in beer because her miniskirt was ‘too short’. It came after a long period of controlling behaviour by her husband. The husband seethed over the skirt’s hemline when they were entertaining friends at home. When she refused to change it, he lost his temper and poured beer over it. He then stopped her leaving home in Murcia city by hiding her bag. A court has granted an interim restraining order against the man.

CRIME

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

HELPLESS A BRITISH domestic violence victim has revealed how she feels ‘helpless’ and ‘trapped’ after being caught in Spain for over half a year waiting for a trial that keeps getting postponed. Mhairi Campbell, 60, told the Olive Press she has been ‘completely stuck’ on the Costa Blanca since November waiting for the case against her ex-partner to be heard. The Scottish woman was allegedly stabbed by her ex William McDonald, 61, four years ago. McDonald is accused of trying to kill her and leaving her for dead with medics insisting she was just 30 minutes from death. But after months of postponements, Mhairi said she now feels ‘trapped’ in her Quesada holiday home where she nearly lost her life. She claims she is struggling to keep the lights on as she waits for the trial to begin. The former Miss Scotland finalist added she felt ‘exhausted’ and ‘helpless’ as she watched her debts mount up and the cost of getting back to Scotland proved prohibitive. “I’ve already had to set a payment plan to keep my electricity switched on yet the only reason I am here is that I was the victim of a brutal assault in Spain,” Mhairi said. “But now I feel nothing but trapped. I am exhausted and I am running out of money. I am the victim but this is costing me thousands.

British pensioner feeling trapped and lonely as she waits for justice in attempted murder case with dangerous ex-partner EXCLUSIVE By Kirsty McKenzie

“I have spent months here because I simply can’t afford the cost of PCR tests and hotel quarantine to return to Scotland. “But no-one here wants to hear anything about it.” The mother-of-one was stabbed multiple times in their holiday home back in July 2017. Her injuries were so severe doctors at Torrevieja Hospital placed her into a medically induced coma. Miraculously she survived but is now no longer able to work as a result of her devastating injuries. “I can’t walk and I am on crutches.”

McDonald was arrested 10 months after fleeing from the scene and flying back to Scotland. He was eventually captured in Glasgow on a European Arrest Warrant and extradited. The trial has now been rescheduled to begin on June 16. “I plan to leave the next day, so I really hope we can get this done and I can move on, added Campbell

Vile exploiters A ROMANIAN couple have been accused of bringing over struggling fellow nationals to Spain and forcing them to beg for up to 14 hours a day in Alicante City. Many of those exploited were disabled or had mental health issues. The duo built up such a psychological hold on them by reducing their self-esteem that the victims regarded their ‘captors’ as family. Violence or death was threatened if anybody made a complaint to the police. The 48 and 51-year-old couple have been charged with human trafficking with the purpose of exploiting victims for begging.

Cash to splash

A BADLY paid waiter enjoyed a lavish lifestyle when he stole a stunning €840,000 from his bosses’ till over the course of four years. Amazingly the alarm bells failed to ring when the €1,000 a month Spaniard splashed out on trips around the world - even taking pals along for all expenses-paid breaks. And he also enjoyed buying high-value designer gear, which included an €8,500 jacket, trousers worth €1,500 each, and shoes at €740 a pair. It was only when the Denia restaurant where he worked - identified by police as ‘well known’ - installed a computerised till that his illicit money-spinning scheme was uncovered. The 36-year-old Spaniard was viewed as a ‘highly’ trusted staff member who had worked at the restaurant since 2012.

I don’t believe it! A VICTOR Meldrew-type pensioner fed-up with customers blocking his garage took his anger too far when he slashed 20 tyres in a months-long campaign of vandalism. The 75-year-old San Vicente del Raspeig man has now been arrested and charged with criminal damage. He is accused of puncturing 20 tyres belonging to 14 cars since last summer.

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May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Great result!

OUR GIRL: Reporter Cristina took bronze (far right)

OLIVE PRESS writer Cristina Hodgson has temporarily swapped reporting for racing - with incredible results. The 46-year-old expat, who lives in Montilla, took home two bronze medals at the Andalucia Championship coming third in both the 1500m and 800m masters race. Despite officially hanging up her running shoes three years ago, Cristina was persuaded to compete at the Malaga tournament by friends and family. Mum-of-two Cristina told the Olive Press: “My kids told me not to bother coming home without a medal! So I was happy to be able to bring back two for them.” Even more impressively, Cristina barely trained for the race - but says the victory has reignited her passion for competing. She is now heading to the national championships - but this time she has pledged to train seriously!

Prime suspect

Paw of blame pointed at bear for string of grizzly livestock slaughters in the Spanish Pyrenees

NOT CUDDLY: Bear is accused of livestock killings PABLO Picasso has been revealed to be the most Googled artist in the world, apart from in his home country of Spain. He beats the UK’s Banksy into second place, according to website MyArtBroker. A total of 100 artists were included in the study which found the most popular artist in each country. While Banksy topped the list in 30 – mostly European – nations, Picasso was way ahead when it comes to online

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Pablo beats Banksy searches by country. The Spanish genius came top in a staggering 90 countries,

Eltossallanucia

HE looks as cuddly as Rupert or Paddington bear. But make no mistake Goiat the bear is no marmalade-eating vegetarian. In fact, he is on the Wanted list, suspected of being a serial killer. Officials have named the adult brown bear prime suspect in a recent spate of mystery livestock killings in Catalunya that have farmers up in arms. His name means ‘lad’ in local dialect but in this bear’s case that’s not so much Jack the Lad as Jack the Ripper. His bared fangs are thought to be the last thing seen by his countless victims … sheep, goats and even horses … before he tore out their throats. More stereotypically for a bear, the paw of blame is also being pointed at Goiat for the raiding and destruction of two beehives. Goiat, originally from Slovenia, was released into the Val d’Aran in Catalunya in 2016 leaving other famous figures, including Andy Warhol, way behind. But Banksy can lay claim to being the most Googled artist in the world by number of searches. He edged out Picasso in terms of volume of online queries as well as coming top in, somewhat ironically, Picasso’s birth nation of Spain. The Malaga-born artist is hugely popular worldwide, with his ‘strongholds’ being in Asia and Africa.

By Dilip Kuner

as part of an EU project to boost the brown bear population in the Pyrenees. The GPS-tagged animal soon became ursa non gratis and in 2018, after the slaughter of 10 horses, four sheep and a goat, a local farming union called for him to be ‘removed from the area’ permanently. Farmers hoped they had seen the back of him when he slipped across the border to France.

Forensic

But officials lost track of him when his GPS collar fell off in October, and he has not been seen since, apart from by a trail of dead livestock. The recent attacks resulted in the death of five goats and a sheep and coincided with a decrease across the border, leading the authorities to consider him the likely culprit. Forensic experts have now been drafted in to analyse samples taken from the ‘crime’ scenes. Meanwhile a team will be sent out to fit the animal with a new GPS collar for further study, with his ‘removal’ a possibility if he turns out to be a ‘problem bear’. Brown bears have been a protected species in Spain since 1973. The project to consolidate the population in the Pyrenees with Slovenian imports has seen their number rise from three in 1993 to over 60 today.

POLLY’S International Bookshop

Quality Used Books since 1985 Polly’s Bookshop in Javea Port is 35 years old. “Polly’s is as old as me,” says Sam, her proud owner, “and to celebrate, we are opening a new Polly’s Bookshop in Moraira.”

Saturdays Live Music: 15.00 - 19.00 Menu Del Dia – 9.95€ Thurs-Friday 17.00 - 23.00 – Sat & Sunday 14.00 - 23.30 (Kitchen Closes At 22.15)

Tel: 642 58 44 82 Carrer Mar de Liguría 7, 03530 Urb. El Tossal, La Nucía, Alicante info@eeltossalrestaurant.com www.restauranteeltossal.com

Like Polly’s Javea, the new shop has thousands of quality used books, fiction and nonfiction, in English, Spanish, German, French and Dutch. Apart from the books that are extra special, they’ll still be 3 euros each with a euro credit if you want to return it. We are continuing with our busy proofreading and editing services and our popular book finding and ordering services too. It feels great finding an out of print book for someone who has been searching for it.

Javea Port, Calle Santisimo Cristo del Mar 03730 – tel: 665 314 404 Moraira-Teulada, 237 Moraira Calpe Road 03724 – tel: 711 010 439

Wild wild west

IT looks about as English as the Amazon. But the BBC is shooting a Western in the deserts of Almeria called The English, starring Emily Blunt. The Devil Wears Prada star, 38, is starring alongside C h a s k e Spencer, Toby Jones and Nichola McAuliffe. The six part series centres around the arrival of Englishwoman Cornelia Locke (played by Blunt) in the Wild West of America with a plot to avenge the death of her son. The deserts around the town of Tabernas have long been used as the backdrop for Western films, including Once Upon a Time in the West and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Amazon has snagged the film rights in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

BRIT: Blunt stars in The English, while (top) The Good the Bad and the Ugly

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Unveiled

NEWS IN BRIEF Con job TWO people have been arrested for tricking South American women to come over to the Costa Blanca and forcing them to work as prostitutes at a Benidorm apartment.

Fashion mogul, once married to supermodel Linda Evangelista, lives the high life in Ibiza, while courts probe multiple rape claims of teenagers

Coo off BENIDORM council is asking people not to feed pigeons in public parks and gardens. Overfed pigeons multiply at an unhealthy rate and their droppings can cause human diseases.

Hot tuna FOUR illegally-caught red tuna weighing in at up to 70 kilos each have been seized by the police from the ports at Altea and Villajoyosa. Pleasure boats were used for the catches which were destined for local restaurants.

Fatal step A 67-year-old woman died in Pinoso when she was hit by a lorry on Calle Balle de Rico Lucas last Friday lunchtime.

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

TRIO: Ex-wife Linda and two victims, Lisa Brinkworth and Carre Otis THE Olive Press has tracked down a beleaguered modelling agency boss alleged to have raped over a dozen teenagers on his books. French fashion mogul Gerald Marie has been living the

highlife around Ibiza, taking long lunches and shopping, when not luxuriating at his multi-million euro villa on the island. We watched the mogul dining with friends and new wife, Russian model Irina Bondarenko, while the courts in Paris continue to investigate years of shocking claims. The ex-Elite agency boss is accused of grooming and sexually assaulting a string of women in attacks akin to those of Americans Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. While he strenuously denies the claims, we have helped to expose his luxury lifestyle for a hard-hitting TV documentary for Australia’s Channel Nine. The 60 Minutes documentary, which aired at the weekend, heard from many alleged former victims, including ex-Hollywood star Carre Otis, journalist Lisa Brinkworth and British model Paula Thomas. “He basically said if you want to be paid you're going to have

EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke in Ibiza

to have sex with me,” Thomas, 52, told the show, Beauty and the Creep. The former Elite chief is being probed by a French court over the claims of at least 13 former models, who claim he either raped or sexually abused them. French prosecutors confirmed last year that Marie was accused of raping three models aged between 17 and 20 in the 1980s and 1990s. Many more have since joined the prosecution. Such crimes are punishable by up to 15 years in prison but the statute of limitations is normally 20 years so most alleged offences are proscribed. In the case of sex with a minor, this statute can be raised to 30 years which may see him in court. A lawyer, Anne-Claire Le Jeune, handling their case in Paris told the documentary she is representing 14 former models and there are ‘12 more’ she

LUXURY: Expensive meals out for Marie and wife Irina is also speaking to. The 71-year-old is expected to be shortly charged with the offences that stretch back over 30 years. He even managed to continue in his role as a fashion boss despite a BBC documentary into his abuses in 1999. A former colleague of Marie’s told the documentary he is helping Paris detectives investigate the historic allegations of abuse. Whistle-blower Omar Harfouch claims Elite bosses had a scoreboard they called 'the podium of pussy' which handed points for having sex, gain-

ing more points for virgins and young girls. “My first impression was he was a sexual predator,” said the businessman, who claims Gerald threatened his life for going public. He gave chapter and verse on how the grooming process worked, all backed up with footage from a former undercover BBC investigation by journalist Donal Macintyre in the 1990s. In the documentary in 1999 the Irishman went undercover as a photographer alongside aspiring journalist Lisa Brinkworth, who posed as a model.

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Kitty Rescue

A LITTER of kittens cheated death after being crammed into a suitcase and dumped in a river. Luckily they were spotted by a sharp eyed resident of San Anton who heard their cries and rescued them. They are now being cared for by an animal shelter, while police have appealed for information on who may have dumped them. He or she could face a fine of €18,000 as well as a separate charge of animal abuse .

Poor Deal A 33-year-old builder has been arrested for taking €18,000 from clients in Alcoy, Elda, and Petrer for home improvements that he never did. ALICANTE Council has cancelled this year’s San Juan Hogueras (Bonfires) celebrations. It’s the second year that the Hogueras have been scrapped due to the COVID pandemic. There were hopes that the June festival could

Legal, at last

AN elderly British couple who have been living in a garage since their dream villa was demolished 13 years ago have finally legalised their property. It means Len and Helen Prior can now be connected to mains water and electricity. It has been a long battle for the Almeria-based couple, who became infamous in 2008 when bulldozers were sent in to flatten their villa in Vera, over socalled ‘planning irregularities’.

Expat couple who saw home demolished in Spain’s Andalucia finally get legal right to live in their garage oliv www.theolivepress.

the

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‘SPAIN’S BEST

Vol. 7 Issue

Szekely in crisi s

Top expat agent in trouble owing €250,000 but insists she is not bankrupt EXCLUSIVE By Kathryn Richardson

THE Costa del Sol’s most famous expat estate agent is in financial turmoil. Kristina Szekely for the Spanish has filed version of bankruptcy and admitted she owes €250,000. The Hungarian has an exclusiveagent, who deal with Sotheby International, told EMBATTLE the Olive Press D: Szekely she intends insists to ‘battle on’ she will out the storm ride Currently inregardless. negotiation ‘number with a with her creditors, of big sales firmed: “I have she con- on the horizon’ filed for what they call in America, in the 1980s Chapter 11. dominated theand quickly estate industry. coast’s real Optimistic Bubbly and outgoing, “We owe €250,000, she forged but I and wasa global reputation am hopeful of frequently quoted it as we have getting out of in the international press. coming in. some big sales Until last week, “The word fices in Marbella,she had ofbankruptcy Gibraltar completely wrong, is and it hurts been Sotogrande but has the business. struggling to pay “There is a big difference staff and creditors for her between somebody several months. going bankrupt and our situa- Last week the office in Gition.” braltar was chained shut She added: “We are also at 5pm. selling apartments One competitor, think it is optimistic and I asked to who remain anonysome- mous, how. I am keeping said The Hungarian staff on.” enormous Ms Szekely had overheads agent arrived on the Costa del Sol would find the next and few months very tough.

NEWSPAPER IN ENGLISH’

- The Rough theGuide olive

press - February The original and 21- March 6, 2013 only English1 language investigative newspaper in Andalucía Don’t let the Don’t thein bankslet cash banks cash in www.hifx .co.uk www.hifx see page .co.uk 13 s

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INSULT 154

www.theolivepress.e

February 21

- March 6,

seepage see page13 11

Priors finally ‘ridiculous’ awarded €30,000 compensation years living after spending five in their garage their home was demolished since A RETIRED

who have spentexpat couple However, years living in the last five ruled that a court has now the original their garage after their home application, granted was de- their molished have knowledge inwithout received “a 2004, ridiculous” €30,000 was illegal. com- The pensation bill from their the Priors only learnt about town hall. plans to bulldoze Helen and Len their home two years later in May was ripped down Prior’s villa 2006. ta in January 2008by the Jun- Their villa, one of around after their 100 building licence illegal was revoked. area, was thehomes in the only one to be

INJUSTICE

: Len and Helen

demolished. They have since

WHICH TYPE OF BIRDS WILL FLOCKING BE DOWN TO THE DEL SOL THIS COSTA SUMMER? Find out on

page 12

Prior

tice. We aren’t

happy about been sent the from pillar to post to find but insulting €30,000 offer someone responsible we are happy that it has for the been proved fiasco. it was an illegal Mrs Prior told order.” The Olive She Press: “The insisted whole thing ridiculous. It’s is to get ‘€5m she would need a horror stoin damages’ ry and just stupid make to because have up for the way they all of our neighbours been treated. were The couple’s saved but us.” The couple have against Vera main claim Council, to live in their been forced €700,000, is still ongoing.for rage without converted ga- Despite their living condirunning water. electricity or tions, and losing Talking about Spain’s justice all trust in the damages, system, she she added: “That’s said they did not want to renot jus- turn to the UK.

Special

They have now finally been granted an AFO certificate for their property – the special licence issued in Andalucia to normalise properties built ‘illegally’ on rural land. For more than 13 years they have been living in the garage they converted into a living space after their €400,000 villa was reduced to rubble. They use a noisy generator to power their home and bring in bottled water.

Damp squib be rearranged for the Autumn, but 83% of local associations questioned said they felt it was bet-

NIGHTMARE: Len and Helen Prior have been through 13 years of hell, as reported by the Olive Press (Above) By Fiona Govan

“It’s a huge relief,” Helen, 77, told the Olive Press this week. “Hopefully we will be conter to cancel it until next year. The decision is in contrast to Valencia City’s move to hold the traditional March Fallas festival between September 1 and 5, subject to the health situation. See Fallas, page 11

nected to mains services soon and then maybe we can get a proper roof in as at the moment every time it rains we run around with buckets to collect the leaks. “We never imagined we would spend all these years fighting for fundamental rights just to live in a garage,” added the grandmother of six, who has three great-grandchildren. “We moved out here to have a peaceful retirement after working hard all our lives but ended up like this.” Len, also 77, is recovering from life-saving open heart surgery.

May 20th - June 2nd 2021 ELCHE and Molina del Segura were the two hottest towns in Spain as temperature records for May were broken around Spain. The mercury shot up to 37.7 degrees in Elche (Alicante), while Molina (Murcia) was only slightly cooler at 37.1 degrees. The temperatures peaked after the so-called Terral wind arrived from the south. The sizzling temperatures were widespread across large parts of Spain. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that 2020 was the hottest year on record for Spain according to the state meteorological agency, Aemet. Last year’s average temperature of 14.8 degrees was 1.7 degrees higher than the average between 1850 and 1900. Alongside three heatwaves,

Mayday! Spain was struck by many extreme weather outbreaks in 2020 including Storm Gloria, which killed 13 and led to record rainfalls on the east coast. “Extreme meteorological events cost our country around 700 lives and €900 million a year,” said Environmental minister Hugo Moran. Greenhouse gas levels also logged record highs in 2020, despite a temporary reduction caused by lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven of the 10 hottest-ever years in Spain occurred in the last decade, according to the report. See green, page 18

Flying the flags! ALICANTE Province continues to be Spain’s leading province for beaches and port areas. And the Valencia region as a whole has more coveted ‘Blue Flag’ beaches than anywhere else in Spain. The region has a whopping 138 flags in total, beating Andalucia (with 137) by just one award. The 2021 honours have given out 74 flags to the Costa Blanca, which is one more than last year. The new beneficiary is Ermita Beach in Santa Pola. There are 33 blue flags in the Castellon province and 31 in the Valencia province. There are 36 blue flag beaches in the Murcia region with nine in total in Aguilas. Spain itself has also gained a record number of flags this year, with a total of 713 of the coveted flags, the highest number of any country taking part in the scheme. The Blue Flag programme is an international honour which was first started in France in 1985 and in areas out of Europe in 2001.

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 Wrong side of the law SOMETIMES you can do everything right and still find yourself on the wrong side of the law. At least, that is the case for foreigners in Spain, especially when dealing with the powerful adversary that is the clunking arm of Spanish bureaucracy. Being a foreigner here and often not having a good command of the language means that many of us must rely on the advice of experts, those supposedly in the know, to whom we pay good money to help guide us through a system that is not easy to navigate at the best of times, even for Spaniards. The Priors did everything possible to ensure that they bought wisely when they sold up in the UK and sunk their savings into a dream property in which to spend a peaceful retirement.

Battling

And yet they have spent the last 13 years living in a garage without access to the basic amenities of mains electricity and water while battling through a judicial system that only now has delivered a hollow victory. The latest scandal is the dozens of Brits trying to get their residency in order who have fallen victim to apparently unscrupulous practices by gestors who should’ve known better and have now jeopardised their future in Spain. Unfortunately there will always be crooks ready to prey on the vulnerable, but this is compounded by Spain’s lack of clear national guidelines with differing rules from region to region and even town hall to town hall on important issues such as planning laws and residency applications. We can all do our due diligence but isn’t it time Spain stopped making things so complicated and gave us a helping hand? Publisher / Editor

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es

Kirsty McKenzie kirsty@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Isha Sesay isha@theolivepress.es

James Warren james@theolivepress.es

Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es

Glenn Wickman glenn@theolivepress.es

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2016 - 2020 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2021

Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

Seeking the truth Olive Press reporter Kirsty McKenzie helps probe mystery death of Kirsty Maxwell for TV documentary

IRSTY Maxwell was just 27 when she Friends and family had no clue what connecplunged from a 10th floor balcony in tion Kirsty had to the men or what prompted Benidorm after a night out partying her to leave her own apartment, barefoot and with her friends. The Scottish lass was without her mobile phone or purse, and climb discovered lying beside the pool as the sun up to the top floor in the early hours of that rose the next morning — April 27, 2017 — so morning. peacefully still that at first no one realised the What’s worse, they had no idea what hapextent of the horror that had unfolded. pened inside the men’s room in the minutes I remember Kirsty’s story well. I wrote about leading up to her fall. her death as a trainee reporter at a Scottish It’s those unanswered questions that led me national newspaper and the to investigate her death for a details always stuck with me… new documentary series foAfter all, we were close in age, cusing on young people who A young had grown up just a few towns lost their lives in mysterious apart and even shared the woman, newly circumstances. same first name. It was a crisp January morning Reporting on tragedy - the colliwhen I drove eight hours from married and sion of absolute horror with orthe Costa del Sol to meet the planning a dinary daily life - is always upteam, fixer Javier and my two setting, but it has a devastating family had died cameramen Adrien and Vicpotency when you can so easily tor in the boozy party capital identify with the victim. of Spain. Due to COVID-19 The initial facts upset all of us restrictions the director, proin the newsroom that day: a young woman, ducers and MTV host Linda Adey were stuck newly married and planning a family, had died in England and it was up to me and the crew while on a hen weekend abroad. to find out as much as we possibly could in Yet as more details of the case emerged it Benidorm, retracing Kirsty’s final steps and became clear this was no typical story - Kirsty looping back to the team at at home in the UK. had not fallen from her own room on the ninth And investigate we did: hunting down the ownfloor, but from the tenth floor of an apartment er of the apartments where Kirsty died, speakon the opposite side of the building. ing with the manager of a nearby hotel who Suspiciously this was occupied by five men held all the contact details of eyewitnesses from Nottingham. from that fateful morning and knocking on the

OLIV PRESSE

The

Bonnie Did Maddie suspec n Brueck t & Clyde aChristia female accompner have lice?

voice Spa

IN THE CLEAR

Corrupti on appeal bid

Issue 19

CIA

www.theol ivepress.es July 23rd

- August 5th

ANTI-CORRUP TION prosecutors are against a launching an appeal 34 people verdict that cleared the awardiof taking bungs over ng of an waste disposa Orihuela l contrac Alicante Provincial t. Elche acquitt Court ed the group, in cluding former inmayors Monica Orihuela PP Lorente and Jose Manue l Medina, ruption charges of cor. The Suprem cide if a new e court must deafter prosecu trial can be heard tors failed to get conviction corruption in the biggest-evera trial to be Alicante Provinc held in e. The court’s ter judges decision came afof phone ruled that wiretap s conversations inadmissible, along with were cerns over consurveillance.house searches and The 34 people in the dock accused of were millions taking bribes worth granting ofof euros over the the Orihue contract dating la waste back in what became to 2006, known as Brugal case. the Millionaire Orihue la busines man, Angel saccused of Fenoli, had been and faced being the ringleader up to 37 years if he had been in jail After hearingfound guilty. the verdict Fenoli broke said: “Justic down in tears and, done after e has finally been 14 years.”

ON CAMERA: Kirsty (right) in Benidorm and (inset) our most recent Corona comeback front page on the case office doors of both detectives and judges. A mecca for bargain holiSPANISH NUMBER PLATES days, the coastal city has Destina tion Rel axa tion long been considered Spain’s tourist hotspot brimming with 671 2 147 83 608 503 bars and spine-chillingly high 95 apartment 4 blocks. “The Manhattan of Spain,” fixer Javier joked to me as I craned my neck to take it all in. But in January, with so few tourists in Spain, and a complete ban on pubs opening in the city, the party strip had come to a standstill. Locked doors, shutters pulled tight and signs

That’s the ticket

exp

COSTA BLA NCA SUR FREE Vol. 1 / MUR

Page 8

But the fam and ‘disg ily of tragic Kirs usting’ way ty five men Maxwell slam ‘flaw have been ed’ inves found inno cent of

THE family idaymaker of a young holdeath from who fell to her By Andy SPAIN’S McInnes Benidorm an apartment in have tripled COVID-infections & Dilip detective have slamm Kuner court’s ruling David Swindl ed a old, They have since July 3. conduct their not to appeal e to Kirsty’ from her risen from own investi every 100,00 tion into 8.76 for Theydeath. jumped to Scotland, had not ga- them s fam her are convin an alarmin 0 inhabitants to was lost after vital evidence to fin ced five Brits ing an alcoho death followon holiday compo This is theg 27.39. l-fuelled preserv and police night with caused Maxwell’s hen vestiga e the scene failed to disgustund same numbe cases as when death in Kirsty The five friends. tion from of the in- “The ing. lads on Spain first r of 2017. April, from gan de-esca contamination. family be- A private Nottingham,holiday, all just as the gon, Catalunlation in May. Aracused of spiking detecti were aclooked ya ve down throu who caine into Country have and the Basque and pushinher with cothe decisio the case described Shortcom all experie tigation. outbreaks n as flawed g her to her death. nced Howev ing . Mr Swindl did not Th er, a panel have been of concern. Contro She ma had e, ls of judges Alicante ruled put in place, conclu mistak investi some confine while no ‘strong that there in 10th floor room enly entered a ‘flawedgation was ded the significant w ment measur was mentos seriously its and evide have been at the Aparta evidence’ ’ es inality. issued. Payma hotel, of crim- gusting’ and added it was ‘disexpecte of the d her friends for instead out family They added Wear it or ’ neighbouring through the had to find of a young lifes apartment. there was pay up P5 ing to indicat media that confusing there would noth- It comes e the 27-yea circ be no further probe. “Kirsty and r- ing familyafter Kirsty’s grievhired retired He said: pear to have h CID no conside“There has by appare ration givenbeen shortco nt mings to police, forensi investigation which may hav evidence being l Kirsty’s parent Vehicles re-reg s Denise Curry istered in Spain ha Spanish judge’s For the re-reg September istration of nal probe to she motorbikes cars, The threeinto her , motorhome s Section Two judge as well as the transfer and caravans, vincial Courtof Ali of ownership Spanish regist was ‘affecte rule of d by al ered after vehic consuming Properties les, contact: t lent of 10 to rent and spirits the buy in the fore, appear sunny Costa s to ha Blanca apartm We have beaut ent 9A and who, after entered 10E v iful re-registerin where men were. and luxury homes for sale g over 3,000 will put villas

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Breaking the new speed limits can mean hefty fines

EW speed limits now apply on many roads across Spain and it’s important to know about them as those caught speeding face steep fines. The new general speed limits as outlined in the Royal Decree apply to urban roads and are as follows: ●● 20 km/h on roads that have a single lane with one way traffic and with a raised path/pavement. ●● 30 km/h on roads with one lane in each direction reduced from 50km/h. ●● 50 km/h on roads with two or more lanes per traffic direction. This speed limit remains the same except for vehicles carrying heavy or dangerous goods which must reduce their speed to 40 km/h. Which roads will the new speed limits apply to? The new rules apply to vias urbanas which doesn’t actually mean any roads within a town but is defined by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) as ‘any roads that form part of the internal communications network of a settlement, as long as they are not through roads (travesias) or form part of an arterial network’, according to Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT). So this encompasses most streets within a village, town or city unless they are major thoroughfares or ring roads. To give you an idea, by far the majority of Spain’s roads are classified as vias urbanas, 165,600 km in fact, whi-

le travesias, which include motorways and dual carriageways, count for just 17,228 km or less than 10% of all of Spain’s roads.

HALVED: The footpath is on the same level

What are the penalties for breaking the new speed limits? Failure by drivers to comply are considered a ‘serious’ or ‘very serious’ road offence by traffic authorities depending on how much over the speed limit they were caught going at. Fines will range from between €100 to €600 depending on how fast they were going plus the loss of up to six points on the driver’s licence. So on a two-lane road with traffic in both directions where the maximum speed will be 30 km/h, the penalty for driving between 31 and 50 km/h will be €100. If the driver exceeds the 50 km/h mark but doesn’t reach 60km/h, it will result in a €300 fine and the loss of two points off the driver’s licence. Driving between 61 and 70 km/h will land a fine of €400 and four points; and speeding at between 71 and 80 km /h will cost the driver €500 and the loss of six points. It is considered a ‘very serious speeding offence’ if a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, which results in a €600 penalty and the loss of six points. And exceeding the speed limit in urban areas by 60 km/h is considered a crime against road safety and is punishable with a prison sentence of three to six months, or community service for 30 to 90 days, and in all cases a ban from driving vehicles of between one to four years.

BIG DROP: the lack of pavements means the

NEW LIMIT: A single lane road is now just

BIZARRE: One side of the road with two

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

www.theolivepress.es

7 Olive Press online ‘Spain’s best English news website’

Don’t miss out!

TRAGIC: Kirsty fell from 10th floor

our

pat

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

e in ain

h 2020

THE FIVE KEYS/ THEORIES ON KIRSTY’S DEATH

stigation f her dea th

Suicide SAD: Kirsty

and hotel mily in this, nd out like and for “Nothi ded their this has trary,” ng points to the grief. It is it said. “Althou con. is true cocaine gh it y has been was the bathro om and found in ey have let down woman been let ’s fingerp the dead ughout the rints were discove he Spanis inves- bathro red on an interio om window r anage theh police been possibl , it e to obtainhas not witnesses, scene, evidence strong exhib- viduali of specific ence as would and indised crimin such a tragic be The five ality.” men - Joseph e in unexpl loss ham, Ricky Graained, thony Gamm cumstances. Holehouse, on, Anher family Northridge Callum and Daniel ap- ley been let - will not Baidown charge face any further irretrievable s. Their lawyer in Spanis ic and crimeh chez, said: , Roberto San“I am very with the court proced happy ve resulte ures imagine my decision and I d in ing lost.” forward toclients are lookputting all behind them.” s Brian this ad appeal and Kirsty’s dad ed decision lasta cision, saying:blasted the detold the appeal “We were not elve a crimihad been and now r death. lost, we are having to the court es based at has happen to find out to go icante’s Prowhat have been ed. For us not to ed that she shown the of being kept courtesy lcohol’ and informed palling. the equiva is ape night be-- “All we have asked truth and for is the ave left her portunity yet again the opvoluntarily to get to the what happen heart of e the five been denied ed to Kirsty has to us.” Opinion

Tel: 952 147

Her parents are adamant she was cheerful and happy and this coul not have happened. Her frien d ds backed this up insisting she was ‘happy and full of life.’ Balconing

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on the doors and windows of restaurants and bars, clubs and takeaways alike — “Sorry we are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions” - the party was well and truly over, the streets silent with nothing but the sound of Union Jack and

Now

as the road so speed is restricted to 20kph

speed limit is just 20kph

30kph when before it was 50kph

lanes limited to 50kph, the other is 30

Images taken from DGT.es

s .

E are proud at the Olive Press to provide expat communities in Spain with the latest news - and plenty of features - in our six print editions. But while each copy is guaranteed to be full of at least 50% editorial, sadly plenty of things do not make the edition, which is fortnightly, after all. Hundreds of articles - from restaurant reviews to travel features and from crime stories to explainers on new laws - are FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SEVILLA SPECIAL not making the printed paper for many reasons. But fortunately, modern technology has come to the rescue in the shape SNAPSHOTS OF SEVILLA and form of our website. The portal www.theolivepress.es gives us unlimited space to expand on topics and really go to town on the most interesting subjects. Our team of trained journalists, who have experience at The Daily Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail, spend hours each day investigating and producing great content for the site. Take our four-page special on Sevilla last month. While we printed three articles SEVILKLA & TRAVEL FOOD,DRIN SPECIAL FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL in the paper, TIME TRAVEL over a dozen more were only Y published on the website. T It will be the same with our travel special on Cordoba this issue, with plenty of other articles on the city going out over the next few weeks. It is the same for Ibiza and the same for Madrid and other popular destinations like Ronda and Barcelona.

other northern European flags flapping in the wind. It was somewhat appropriate that the streets felt haunted. Four years on no one has ever been charged with Kirsty’s killing. Last year, three Spanish judges in Alicante ruled that there is no ‘strong evidence’ of criminality surrounding the death and none of the five men staying inside the apartment at the time of Kirsty’s death have ever been formally accused of any crime, despite the booze and unidentified white substances found in their room by police the next morning There’s no doubt that Kirsty’s death, and others like it, have had a grip on the collective consciousness in the UK for many years, in part because she was a Brit abroad who had lost her life far too young. But what I found over the course of my investigation in Benidorm is that Kirsty’s age and nationality are potentially why the Spanish justice system failed her. Indeed, it is more than possible that she was just seen as another drunk Brit abroad, her death all too easily filed away as an accident. The true mystery isn’t what happened in Kirsty’s final moments. It’s how the Spanish authorities were able to treat her case with a carelessness that bordered on contempt. As for the theories buzzing round true crime forums, the more I investigated, the less they made sense. It’s almost impossible to imagine that Kirsty was suicidal or sleepwalking as some Reddit threads suggest. Her father said that she was ‘happy and full of life’ and had ‘never slept walked in her life’ - and after looking up at the terrifying height of the apartments, I am convinced not even an adrenaline junkie would attempt to try ‘balconing’ from the tenth floor. Certainly not Kirsty, who friends insisted was scared of heights. Indeed, up until the last hour of her life, all of Kirsty’s actions made sense. Going away with friends for a hen party, the accommodation had been carefully picked: My Pretty Payma, self catering apartments with a pool, a two minutes walk away from the hustle and bustle of the main party strip. Nearly 20 girls flew out for the hen weekend, wearing matching pink t-shirts, all looking forward to the pool and beach and instilled with the pure joy of heading out with friends into a warm evening of laughter, drinks and dancing. Kirsty acted as any of us would have. What we still don’t know is what led her to leave her bedroom, less than an hour after friends captured a video of her peacefully snoring in bed. I wonder now, in retrospect, whether the crazy theories, the accusations of drinking too much and why exactly she was in a room with five men stem from the fear of accepting something bad happened… the need to erect a clear barrier between people who behave

The idea of ‘balconing’ - as jumping off balconies into a pool is known is unlikely on various levels, in par-ticular as she was scared of heights. Sleepwalking One theory suggests that Kirsty may have slept walked upstairs and into the apartment, although an expe rt believed it odd that nobody saw her do this and her family insisted she had never slept walked before. Her clothes Damage to her skirt when her body was found suggested she was facing into the balcony. when she fell. There was a snag in the fabric although her clothes which coul d have held key DNA evidence have bizarelly since been destroyed by Spanish police. The men in the room Her friends did not know what connection Kirsty might have made to the five men who claimed she had come into the room acting ‘drun k and strange’. They insisted they didn’t speak her and did not witness her fall. to A Spanish detective allegedly said he believed she may have been ‘intimidated’ by the men to jump.

abroad and the people who end up losing their lives. But the truth is, Kirsty is exactly like us, exactly like anyone on holiday. Optimistic, care free. Full of life. The only barrier that exists now, for the family, for the private investigators and for journalists like me, seems to be the Spanish authorities. Over the course of our investigation we uncovered some truly horrifying truth about the mistakes made by the police - and yet any attempt to get the cops or court system to explain their missteps was met with hostility or silence. I hope pressure from the documentary will change that. Her parents Brian and Denise maintain her death was never investigated properly and that they are still waiting on answers. We need justice for Kirsty’s family. We need to make sure that when a foreigner dies abroad, the case is always treated with respect, sympathy and, above all, without errors. What happened to Kirsty could happen to many of us, or our children, and that is terrifying. - True Life Crime UK is available on MTV on demand

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 when you CAN finally make a trip to one of the most missing out on their travel dreams, tourists are 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:

https://travel. theolivepress. es/

April 7th - April 20th 2021

EMPTY: Sevilla’s streets are normally

packed at Easter (below centre)

April 7th - April 20th 2021

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

Columbus Uma Thurman Barack Obama was along Calle Betis. decided to build a fort. However, it alive with food and the explorer’s plundering of South Amergrounds were The riverbed comes become over 500 years that theMoorish, Chris- drink stalls lining the riverside calle while series). OU can easily picture Christopher To this day you can sail along the river, ica, saw the country’s empire added to by successive old competithe world. making it during the day a centuries’ Columbus setting off for the Amer- just as the explorer did, and gaze in awe among the most powerful in oth- tian and finally Catholic rulers,attractions tion known as the La Cucana sees parBetween 1492 and 1681, gold and icas as you stroll along the banks at the medieval marvels along the way. the most emblematic attempt to walk along a boat’s er minerals from the ‘New one of of the Guadalquivir in Sevilla’s And just a stone’s throw characterised by its multicul- ticipants bow which has been slathered in grease World’ catapulted Spain in a region central neighbourhood of El Arenal. away in the Santa Cruz attempt to catch a little flag attached into an era of wealth and tural history. The medieval shipyards here - which neighbourhood you’ll find miss the Giralda bell tower at- andthe end - with prizes for those who Murillo and prosperity, with its litera- And don’t Catedral, the top of which at have existed since the days of Julius the tomb of Columbus at and arts also flour- tached to thevia a series of ramps which complete the task. Velazquez are ture Caesar - are central to this ancient city’s the Catedral. over the river, however, something ishing (showcased best is accessed history. be ascended by Moors on horse- Backis brewing. The largest Gothic church new at the Museo de Bella used to just two who Boasting a Gothic style, the galleys they back before calling citizens to prayer. the in the world, covering the central neighbourhood of Alfalbuilt played an important role in the some 23,500sqm, it not just the old town centre In this chose to live in Artes). Just ask the greats Mu- But it’s with sites, with medieval church- fa, the Soho Benita area is proving battle for the Strait of Gibraltar and was completed in the Velazquez, who packed city can also host 21st century Hundred Years’ War - and more notably early 1500s before being the historic city rillo and and centuries-old food mar- ancient gems. chose to live in the roman- es, conventsevery corner. as the launchpad for Columbus’ explora- registered as a UNESCO kets around Covering six streets (Golfo, Perez Galdos, tic city. tions. No neighbourhood knows this more than Don Alonso el Sabio, Ortizo de Zuniga, in World Heritage Site in The former has gorgeous gardens (They also played an important role Luis Luque), it invis- Triana. still Jose 1987. can and you while Thrones, Santillana of him after Game of Flamenco named the fictional world Once home to sailors, potters, It is one of dozens of remnants from around 20 small businesses, it the birthplace of the latter tucked bull-fighters, Triana’s rich corporates posing as the crypts of the Red Fortress Spain’s Golden Age, which, thanks to behind a narrow dancers and colourful as its buildings including a modern art gallery, nail salon in the seventh season of the hit fantasy traditional barbers, and was recently street in the Al- history is as up the river bank on its iconic and as a must-place to visit by the New falfa neighbour- which light tipped Calle Betis. hood. York Times. arraan as known once was arrival is the RecoVeco Luckily for us, The barrio given to areas separated The newest the era also saw bal, the name of Sevilla. And many in restaurant on Calle Ortizo de Zuniga, Habsburg from the centre just this year. the see themselves as strictly opened The Spanish ‘heritage’ Dynasty solidify the town stilldistinct from eatery promises traditionand create some trianero and including the AlaSevillanos, and the of Andarest surrounding the area the seasonal is al and of the cities most HE Alameda neighbourhood by bars, cafes and restaurants Believed to often referring to the lucia dishes but with an stunning sites. meda de Hercules, a long mall accompanied the Avant Garde twist - and all include neighbourhood as of These on either side. have been Republic the Alameda was once a in a super-chic setting... the stunning Real Independent Lying in the northern part of the city’s old town, place to treat founded by the the perfect loved Alcazar palace Triana. meeting point for the elites in the 1800s. quickly deteriorated into one of the have been ones for or and gardens, just Believed toa Roman colHowever following the Spanish Civil War, it prostitution - with up to 35 brothemperor yourself a night. opposite the Cat- founded by emperor Tra- Roman poorest barrios and was ravaged by drugs and ony under And you wouldn’t be the and the promenade edral. els operating in 1989. Trajan by crossplan in the early 2000s which saw traffic limited first to want to hang out in Declared a World jan, it is entered But it is now back in action following a rescuetrees. II bridge, a the Alfalfa barrio. Heritage Site by ing the Isabel restored, and lined with poplar and hackberry and anyone looking for a good time. itself. Former US President UNESCO in 1987, landmark in a traditional as the warm up acts to nightToday it is the place to be for the young, cultured with bars like Dilema, Nua and 1987 acting it is among the It’s home totile industry - with a museum Barack Obama was papped entering the It also the most gay-friendly quarter of Sevilla, eatery Bache San Pedro after oldest palaces pottery and clubs Holiday, Fun Club, Men to Men or Itaca. (which does a great Moscow Mule) and a flavourful selection of restauto the crafts - vibrant fla- popular in Europe hav- paying homage and hugely popular mar- attending a climate change summit in There are also great cocktail bars like Gigante ing begun con- menco festivals the city. rants, from the traditional to the nouvelle. what he opted for, but the struction in 913, kets and festivals. the Sevilla heat between No one knows with ‘special sauce’ is sublime, as when the caliph If you’re braving (on Calle Eslava). You may have EATING... 26, don’t miss the Vela San- pork famous cheesecake, made with cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava of Andalucia Abd July 21 and If you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you bar for a shorter wait) but it is more than worth it with one of the quirkiest held every day and night is its al-Rahman III first ta Ana festival to queue to be seated (opt for a spot at the tataki), vegetable strudel and tastiest menus around. jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or it cream. terrace ice a sun-kissed and manchego cheese situated along the Alameda promenade. Boasting For Middle Eastern fusion head to Arte y Sabor, and innovative and creative salads. is unique in its wide range of vegetable dishesat Casa Ricardo, which has been serving locals since 1898. Their melt-inIf you want something more traditional, stopa cold sherry while enjoying the old-school writing of orders with chalk on the-mouth jamon can be knocked back with the bar and walls adorned with religious art. Nickel has some of the best burgers in Sevilla while Al Solito Posto has If you’re looking for something less Spanish,

El Sevilla is stunning, whether it is the OLD AND NEW: The architecture ofcentre or the modern La Seta (above) Salvador church (far left) historic

payoyo cheese from the hills of Cadiz. up Back in 2015, Uma Thurman dressedthe as the Virgin Mary while drinking at 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. of Alfalfa provides the perfect snapshot 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. JurIt was designed by Berlin architect gen Mayer who entered into a governthe ment-run competition to renovate area in the early 2000s.

Repeatedly ranked as the number by one tourist attraction in Spain EsTripAdvisor users, the Plaza de pana is truly a work of art. the Designed by Caidon Fox for 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 mix around the edge, boasting a of 1920s Art Deco, Baroque and Neo-Mudejar styles via The buildings are accessible the four bridges - representing

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.

Potted barrios guide to... ALAMEDA

delicious pizzas. head to the Cereal Cafe. Or if you want a taste of gentrified London,

a lion atop each column Roman-style columns. The northern side features At either end of the promenade you’ll find two Caesar. while the other end features Hercules and Julius of Andalucia, which bears the Pillars of Hercules and, obviously, two The two lions and Hercules represent the emblem lions. while Legend has it that Hercules founded Sevilla Julius Caesar also ruled it for a time. at its Head to Convento Santa Clara and marvelfor eximpressive cloister which is frequently used hibitions. While there, don’t miss the Torre de Don Fadrique, ofnamed after the late owner of the site and which fers a stunning example of early Gothic architecture in Sevilla. Built in 1252, the tower is also surrounded by beautiful gardens. with Finally, the Convento San Clemente is adorned1500s fascinating frescoes and artwork from the by the and you can also buy some pastries made nuns who live there.

SITES….

STUNNING: The Moorish Alcazar is

a must-see in Sevilla

FOMO So if you feel you are missing out (the so-called FOMO effect), the solution is at hand: Just go to our website and SEVILLA FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SPECIAL you will find a huge amount of FRY AWAY INLAND high-quality articles, news and views – all at your fingertips. We are also pretty sure that you’ll soon get registered like tens of thousands of other users, ensuring you get a daily email giving you a breakdown of the main stories of the day. You’ll even get one a week on travel, with more to follow shortly. With theolivepress.es you never have to miss out! April 7th - April 20th 2021

pan IT is known as El Sarten, the frying dip of Spain because it’s location in a La surrounded by the olive groves of Campina means it regularly records the hottest temperatures in southern Europe. of But Ecija is also dubbed the ‘CitysurTowers’ and ‘City of Palaces’, no prise when you see the skyline interrupted by several dozen towers, some with detailed ceramic work and usually topped by a stork nest. to Located 85km from Sevilla, a visit this gem of a town is like stepping back in time. And if you are struggling under the weight of tourism in the provincial cercapital, or nearby Cordoba, you tainly won’t be here: It’s unlikely you’ll hear a single English accent, even after COVID. Narrow cobbled streets, white-washed

as Ecija: A visit to the charming city known soup’ ‘the frying pan’ of Spain, where ‘cat 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

WHERE TO EAT

Roman statues

trees, their blossom filling the air with this the powerful scent that screams part of Andalucia. Once an important Roman settlement or known as Astigi on the via Augusta, A-4, the longest and busiest Roman beroad in ancient Hispania, the town came Madinat al-qutn (City of Cotton) and when it fell under Arab rule in 711 setwas renamed Ecija when Christian in tlers moved in after the reconquest 1240. This is the place to visit churches, even just to raise your eyes to admire towers the such as Las Gemelas (the twins) of or Iglesia de la Purísima Concepcion 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 the was added in the 18th century and 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 is transformed under a golden age that 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 to Palacio de Peñaflor is the place in marvel at frescos - some of the best of Spain - stretching across 60 metres its exterior walls. to The Palacio de Benamejí is home the tourist office, a good courtyard Rorestaurant Las Ninfas (with its man 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 the when digging out a car park under city’s Plaza España. Dine out with locals at one of the many restaurant in terrazas 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 which Cruz, was damaged in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

IN SEVILLA MY TOP FIVE Jon Clarke shares his dining

ied. eing the capital city of Andalu- I first found the likes of Tribeca and cia, the dining scene in Sevilla Abantal over a decade ago, buzzing is unsurprisingly diverse. in my book and Famous for its joints that I included of Andalucia. skillfully manages to provide central tapas website Dining Secretstoday, with the Tarquini still both at excellent prices, and it’s bars, where They are still around star, around today. typi- latter now with its own Michelin locals work of its chef But you should also look next door freshest seafood on offer cally tapear thanks to the hard where there is a brand new hip joint changes by the day with at up to five Julio Quintero. at the legend- called Bar la Sal, serving up the very and menu. new or six differ- He himself had trained local seafood - particularly tuna a not cheap, but it’s the Alabardero, a glamIt’s ent bars in ary Taberna del of the local dining best you can imagine. - that to have shellfish, session, orous grand dame a in December 2020, its dy- place its own culinary it also has scheme that hadbut is, to be fair, a Openingowner Charo Alvarez already such as razor shells, which namic bustling training scheme, a city were served with a delicious has another restaurant in the cream of algas r e s t a u r a n t little stuffy. de San Telmo in a famous joint in soup or the community I also picked Vineria to the Alcazar, and Zahara de los Atunes, amazing puntilthat is as a great location next good food the Costa de la Luz, litas with fresh A wonderful competitive which brilliantly combines boss Juan on in Cadiz. peas and an as it is var- and wine. Its Argentinian With this place she mix of flavours onion caldo. wanted to make it more But its piece de around from informal, less punishresistance was ing on the pocket, yet the medley of Spain and still serving up the best cuts of Mero, Spain’s abroad bluefin tuna you will most popular fish ever eat in a dozen difknown as ‘grouper’ ferent guises. in English. We had At least three of her an amazing trio of belly, fillet andI tuna starter dishes have won prizes spine, some of the tastiest fish as the best tapa in Zahara’s famous have ever eaten. annual tapas competition. The wine list is great and you can It’s the most buzzing spot around this champagne by the Bollinger have Spring and you will need to book one glass at €10. of the excellent terrace tables that take on dinsit next to the For a totally different opened c e l e b r a t e d ing, head to the recently which is one of Jardines de La Casa del Tigre original diners Murillo park the most romantic, with its amaz- in Andalucia. Opened by four friends just before and La Sal ing trees. in December MIX: duck ham tapa at Casa del Tigre A n o t h e r the COVID lockdown after an old terrace amazing fish 2019, it got its name kept a restaurant - zookeeper who infamously flat for years. probably the tiger upstairs in hisdecorated with best in Sevilla It is sumptuously but also stylish and, among acres of velvet, doffing the best I patterns and artworks,to African have eaten at their hat appropriately wildlife. in Andalucia The food is hard to describe as is Canabota. eclectic, but This minimal- anything other than mix of flavours ist joint only it is a wonderful and abroad, inhas the very from around Spain

secrets in the Andalucia capital

CREATIVE: sea urchin dish at Canabota Eslava

and (right)

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: tourist desperate for a holiday in 1 - UK spain might get a COVID cost cutting bonus very soon found of British women missing 2 - Body for days on Spain’s Costa Blanca away - police tell people to avoid 3 - Stay la Linea as rioters take to the streets over sea deaths gets his spanish 4 - Strummer finallyplaza considering return 5 - Spain’s Andalucia to nighttime curfew

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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 seat-a ed (opt for a spot at the bar for 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 tigre tataki), vege• La Casa del table strudel • Canabota and manche• Bar la Sal cheese go • Esclava ice cream.

Telmo • Vineria San

LETTERS

8Simply crazy Dear Olive Press,

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Come off it!

cazares (Murc a) WE have a ho day home n Los A and March ober Oc ween be used y wh ch s on reasons o enab e The purchase was made or hea h ers exper enced n n w p dam and d us o avo d he co he UK e) and he n roS nce Brex ( or wh ch we d dn vo w no onger be duc on o he 90/180 s ay ru e we ab e o s ay or he w n er omy dur ng he We he p o suppor he Span sh econre a ed bus nesss our he n whe hs mon er s ow w n bus nesses wou d es are h hardes I m sure he oca change h s crazy o ng ry n case he p o suppor our ru ng o see a change We won be wa ng around we cannbe se ng up o happen ng be ore he w n er We wng buy e sewhere and won be re urn rd max mum s ay The UK has adop ed a s ra gh orwa non-res den s I o 180 days per ca endar year o a wou dn be a Spa n rec proca ed h s po cy here ke us ands hous y man prob em or us and bad enough by Sure y h ngs have been made ry hro ng o COVID-19 w hou ur her unnecessa he recovery n Spa n

COME on Barry Ryan o Warr ng on (Le ers as ed on) The curren prob ems w h Spa n are BECAUSE o Brex NOT because o Spa n - hey are us hav ng o o ow he EU ru es You a vo ed or Brex now you can see he consequences On another matter a message to Benny Davis Old Hack in the Sun More please! We loved your column Tick-tock time made us laugh out loud Thank you!

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No point IT S a shame Spa n d dn t make t onto the UK s green st but unt the Span sh government removes the necess ty or trave ers rom the UK to be Span sh res dents they can t come here anyway

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Madrid Spain Fiona Govan in schools around INTERNATIONALhigh alert after a British have been put on at one of Madrid’s most idenman began teachingmonths after being conafter creating a new language academy exclusive colleges post tity, using forged documents. sex offender revicted in the UK. Lewis got teaching colleagues of the raised after Ben Lewis, dodge Questions have beenat the school despite be- Formerthat he created a new name to sum- DANGER: vealed to run as an English teacher 31, was able to workoffenders register. record checks in order classes to 2017 he accepted a job (concertado) secprivate ing on the UK’s sex discovered that Lewis, criminal from camps and teach at a leading semi-private receives subsidies The Olive Press has trial for child sex of- mer children. after ondary school that V, young who is now awaiting his name to Ben David by Penitenciario Madrid name Ben David a He had changed in June 2016 of taking and the state. fences at Centro TWO schools and in “He was going by the the job after another being convicted images of children managed to hoodwink then and was offered mid-term,” a former possessing indecent England. Olive on teacher dropped out Fitzsimons told the As well as being placed and be- colleague Natasha the sex offender list posisus- Press. desperate to fill the ing handed a two-year as he was “I think they were weren’t as thorough pended sentence, the tion so maybe they barred from leaving with they should have been. country or working children. Horrified he had 18 Yet within weeks found at the school for worked together classes together gomoved to Spain and as a live- “We took on private work in Zaragoza with months, homes of some of the children for in au pair to a family ing to the and ran a summer the three young children.he re- extracurricular teaching during 2018,” said The following yearand be- camp at the school is filled with horror at who located to Madrid at a Irish colleague, to children. gan teaching children the access he had that the day NAMES: two Press has discovered well-known language his get- The Olive the UK he changed different passports academy after after sentencing in Ben David Lewis ting a criminal record name by deed poll from that takes just 15 in a process check from Zaragohe to Ben David, za police to show in minutes. a British for and received also prehad no convictions He then applied while he Spain over the previ- passport in his new name, Israeli photocopy of his ous 12 months. sented a doctored and verified by a Then in December passport stamped firm that showed non-existent law Rose. his name as Ben David seen photocopThe Olive Press has a teaching degree ies of these, plus Status (QTS) and Qualified Teaching in the name certificates presented as well as certifALL AREAS COVERED of Ben David Rose name. icates in his originalis that by April What is amazing 4G UNLIMITED for a teaching 2019 he had applied school in the INTERNET job at a leading private Soria district that IDEAL FOR upmarket Arturo curriculum to the STREAMING TV teaches the British elite. children of Madrid’sa DBS certificate ALSO IPTV, By now he also had SATELLITE TV Opinion Page 6

time at the ...meanwhile, we spend most famous home of the world’s he’s plumber as he announces citizen, after becoming a Spanish losing €15m to 15 years here and his ex-wives...

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after a school warningto Spain, EXCLUSIVE: Private paedophile moved convicted Britishrecord checks and found dodged criminal teacher work as an English

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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 A decade and a half of campaigning land near Ronda, as well as exposed has the madness of building a 350-room scored some big wins for the Olive Press monstrosity on a virgin beach in Almeria’s Cabo de Gata. Both schemes - Los Merinos, in Ron- maverick Jeremy Griffiths, and Nigel When it comes to corruption we were da, and the Algarrobico hotel, in Alme- Goldman, a degenerate gold-dealing the first English newspaper to write legends Ferran Adria ria - went into reverse after our stories dirt-bag, who had a restaurant column about the ERE scandal at the Junta and Gordon Ramsey. made the UK AND Spanish national in a local newspaper, which he used to de Andalucia that cost an estimated And it was nice to chat newspapers and green groups includ- cover his tracks. billion euros to the taxpayers, while we to Ciudadanos leader ing Greenpeace and Ecologistas en Ac- We also tackled timeshare crook Toni also tackled town hall theft on a local Albert Rivera, as well cion joined our protests. Muldoon, who certainly deserves as the only newspaper a scale on dozens of occasions. And then there were the crooks, like mention for conning thousands of Animal cruelty to be able Crimestoppers’ Most Wanted Daniel ple and eventually went to prisonpeo- bugbear and has been a continual couple of to pose a questions to for we have exposed so many Johnston, a bank robber, and Matthew setting up fake escort websites. evil abusers, as well as the scoundrels Michelle Obama on her Sammon, a dangerous paedophile, Meanwhile, our crime reporting on who allowed hunters to kill innocent visit to Marbella a few who we single-handedly tracked down missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick ‘blew open circus lions years ago. to a village near Sevilla and a car park the case’, to use the words of her grand- tremadura and tigers at a finca in Ex- Indeed, the (see below). positives in Fuengirola. mother, while our continuing investiga- On a more far outweigh And fraudsters like David ‘the dogman’ tion into missing Maddie McCann has to interview positive front, it was great atives and the negeveryone from Princess Diwe would Klein, pet transport yielded exclusive after exclusive, with its ana’s ex-lover James Hewett to cooking prefer to be judged frequent links to Spain. over 50 rather than 15 years.

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Undermined

of “As a result, the effectivenessOfimportant legislation, the Sex Sex fenders Register, the Child the Offender Disclosure Scheme, Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, the DBS are undermined and effectively rendered redundant,” it states. “The case of Ben Lewis/Rose highlights why Spain should be aware of this very serious safeguarding an loophole and should pioneer protect international movement to its children from those abusers the who slip under the radar using name change loophole,” Konstantas added. Opinion Page 6

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SCHOOLS PAEDO CALL OP EXCLUSIVE investigation leads to child protection plea from UK charity

THE UK’s leading child protection group is calling on authorBy Fiona Govan dren and those most ities to tighten the recruitment in Madrid at risk,” she warned. vulnerable process of English teachers “There are potentially abroad. dreds - if not thousands hunThe plea by The Safeguarding that he had used his position - of as known sex a teacher at private Alliance aims to protect schools in under the offenders slipping radar country against a British the Madrid to gain access to chil- seek work abroadin the UK to loophole that has allowedlegal dren whom he photographed where po- and filmed. can continue to abuse they tentially hundreds chilof British He then dren,” she continued. paedophiles to find work the kick to Henderson’s abroad material disseminated the sick “This loophole is head, said to have caused including in Spain. on paedophile forums arguably the biggest safeguarding as he lay on the ground. his death on the dark web around The campaign follows scandal the the world has A witness said someone vestigation by the Olivean in- world. ever seen and else had committed the assault. there is an opportunity that revealed how easy Press for it Waugh’s Spanish boss was Spain to lead the way in tackling for a who stood acconvicted UK sex offender Sick cused ofSee it at a global level,” she trying to cover page 19up the attack to change his identity said. was also cleared and find Emily Konstantas, CEO Her charity wants Spain of any wrongdoing. work as a teacher to inin several Safeguarding Alliance, of The troduce the need Madrid schools where to present an ed the Olive Press for applaud- original birth he was arrested for abusing highlightcertificate alongat least 36 ing the issue: “The Ben children. Lewis side a passport and criminal case as revealed by record checks that would We reported how Ben allow Press highlights this the Olive potential employers had changed his nameLewis, 31, and loophole to unearth as shocking as this is, poll, applied for a new by deed nothing it is a change of identity. new and unfortunately “It’s a simple way passport, and dodged British represents to E n d s 3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 . just the tip of the ice- that extra check,” she provide DANGER: Lewis got teaching record checks despite criminal berg insisted. post, with help as to the magnitude of ‘fake’ the UK’s sex offenders being on problem.” of this “The severity and danger this papers register. loophole presents to the whole Police in Spain issued a state- She warned: “Whilst the ment last week de21/6/19 13:30 status world cannot be underestimat- terrent as the offender already quo remains ed.” scribing Lewis - or sserp evilo in situ this An extensive report by The Safe- has the propensity to commit Ben David Rose, as s i g n i f i c a n t guarding Alliance is being used very serious crimes,” states the he is now known - as report, seen by the Olive and OLIVE ‘a dangerous child Press. very to lobby the UK parliament for PRESS d a n g e r o u s legal change in the managementa Through extensive research sexual predator’. and case law The safeguarding of registered sex offenders. The National Police Safeguardloophole will It explains how the current sys- ing Alliance has identified that press release ruled continue to tem relies on the registered sex offenders are not notifying as pose a threat, offender to notify the police required and are continuing not just to with details of any name change, to abuse children by changing UK Nation- alongside any change of address their names and obfuscating their identities as seen als, but to and passport information. through the rest of “Currently the onus lies solely the case of Ben Lewis/Rose absconding overseas to the continue world, with the offender and although EXCLUSIVE: OP splash putting chil- it is an offence to fail to notify, to abuse. one could argue this is not a de-

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Que, en el día de la fecha, consultada la Base de Datos del Registro Central de Delincuentes Sexuales, NO CONSTA información penal relativa a:

A BRITISH expat has been acquitted of killing a holidaymaker in the tourist resort of Magaluf. Paul Waugh, who worked DANGER: got at Mulligans bar on Lewis the popular teaching party strip, with help was clearedpost, of manslaughter of ‘fake’ after he papers was accused of kicking daymaker in the head an Irish holiin April 2018. Waugh, 35,Opinion was alleged 6 have caused father-of-fourPage to derson to suffer a bleedAaron Hento the brain after launching the savage attack outside the nightclub where he worked. Henderson, 30, who had been on IN the United Kingdom a personholiday does notwith needhis to follow girlfriend an at the official process to start using a new time, diedbut in hospital name, they require four adays later. ‘deed poll’ to apply for or to change Spanish then arrested officialcops documents such Waugh as a new passport. as well as the 40-year-old manager This can be done simply and easily of Mulligans bar or onno online for little Magaluf's infacost in a process that takes no longermous Punta Ballena than 15 strip. minutes to process

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and can even be completed from a prison Under section 84 of the Sexual Offences cell. Fatal of 2003, kick an offender must report a name change within Act three working from days Middlesbrough, to the police, and failure to so Waugh, is a criminal acquitted offence which by was of manslaughter could result in a term not exceeding nine jurors fiveon years theimprisonment. basis the kick was not However, evidence demonstrates picked that up noton every CCTV. registered sex offender will act with honesty Theand defendant report a admitted change to of slapping name as required. the 30-year-old shopkeeper’s The Safeguarding Alliance discovered son after taking the Freedom through stand at the of start of Information requests to 16 of the hisUK’s two-week trial 46 police at the forces Audiencia that 913 people with sex offence convictions Provincialhad Court in Palma. gone missing after changing their names without Waugh denied being informing the person who the police. delivered

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Andalucia Issue 368

“As a result, the effectiveness of important legislation, the Sex Offenders Register, the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, the DBS are undermined and effectively rendered redundant,” it states. “The case of Ben Lewis/ Rose highlights why Spain should be aware of this very serious safeguarding loophole and should pioneer an international movement to protect its children from those abusers who slip under the radar using the name change loophole,” Konstantas added.

Valencia Issue 12

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El Horrible opens

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IMPACT: Tracking down crooked Nigel Goldman (above) and covering the devastating Costa del Sol fire in 2012

Undermined

MINISTERIO DE JUSTICIA

REGISTRO CENTRAL DE DELINCUENTES SEXUALES

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Vol. 15 Issue 365 www.theolivepress.es March 24th - April 6th 2021

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Undermined

“As a result, the effectiveness of important legislation, Sex Offenders Register, the the Child Sex Offender Scheme, the DomesticDisclosure Disclosure Scheme, Violence are undermined and the DBS rendered redundant,”effectively it states. “The case of Ben Lewis/Rose highlights why Spain should be aware of this very serious safeguarding loophole and pioneer an international should movement to protect its from those abusers children under the radar using who slip the name change loophole,” Konstantas added.

Pagina 1 de 1 Ref: 00003143792/2017

I DON T know about you but I m very t red o the UK med a portray ng Br ts n Spa n as ager-sw ng flag-shagg ng d ots The magery used s qu te nsu t ng as they a ways use stock mages o vest-c ad att es sat outs de some Ben dorm pub w th a Br t sh name Comments on soc a med a are genera y negat ve accus ng Br ts n Spa n o try ng to ve under the radar dodge taxes or - even worse vot ng or Brex t The rea ty o t s that most expats are decent peop e en oy ng the r e n Spa n and deserve a better press than they get

READERS shou d be wa ned abou a scam ha we have been oub ed w h A 9 05 am (a ways) a man speak ng En g sh bu w h a o e gn acc den phones and says He o am ca ng om M c o so you have a p ob em d dn e h m ge any u he us pu he phone down We a e n ou a e 70 s and when you ge a ca ha ea y you mmed a e y h nk bad news and p ck up w hou ook ng ca e u y a he numbe eav ng you se open o be ng d dd ed The abso u e SCUM ha a e abou now s unbe evab e hey have no consc ence He ang aga n h s mo n ng bu we now d sconnec he phone un a eas 10am and why on ea h shou d you be o ced o do ha !

Name and address supp ed

Bank plea ARE he e any banks ha DO NOT demand paymen o ece v ng o ou pens on? he e a e cou d you p ease pub sh he names so ha we can ans e ou accoun om hose ha do sav ng us 13 pay men s as s a e pens on s pa d eve y ou weeks

Lucy and Lex Ong ey by ema

Great read W TH ega d o you on ne s o y A NA T ON D V DED Spa n s b oody pas s s caus ng d v s ons oday” o e s a asc na ng ns gh n o a chap e o Spa n s ecen h s o y ha s ves w h us oday A g ea ead ba anced and ns gh u hank you

Simon Varnish A icante

Opinion Page 6

Freh ey Bor and v a theo vepress es

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Across 7 Assassinated (5,3) 8 Coarse file (4) 9 Stirred the embers (5) 10 Doubting Thomas (7) 12 Initial impression (5,7) 14 Stasi milling about sources of unwanted letters (7,5) 17 To a much greater degree (3,4) 19 Rows (5) 21 Like a wet noodle (4) 22 Duke or baron (8)

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Costa Blanca Sur - Issue 39

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THE UK’s leading child protection group is calling for Spain to arrested for abusing at least 36 unfortunately represents just By Fiona Govan the tip of the iceberg as to the tighten the recruitment process children. in Madrid magnitude of this problem.” of English teachers. She warned: “Whilst the status that extra Criminal The plea by The Safeguarding check,” she insisted. Alliance aims to protect the We reported how Ben Lewis, quo remains in situ this signif- “The severity and danger this icant and very dangerous safe- loophole country against a British legal 31, had changed his name presents to the whole loophole that has allowed po- deed poll, applied for a by guarding loophole will contin- world cannot be underestimatnew ue to pose a threat, tentially hundreds of British British passport, and dodged not just to ed.” paedophiles to find work in criminal record checks despite UK Nationals, but to the rest of An extensive report by The Spanish schools. being on the UK’s sex offenders the world putting children and Safeguarding Alliance is being those most vulnerable at risk,” used to The campaign follows an in- register. lobby the UK parliashe warned. vestigation by the Olive Press Police in Spain issued a ment for a legal change in the that revealed how easy it was ment last week describingstate- “There are potentially hun- management of sex offenders. Lewdreds - if not thousands - of It explains for a convicted UK sex offender is - or Ben David Rose, as how the current he is known sex offenders to change his identity and find now known - as ‘a dangerous slipping system relies under the radar in the UK to sex offender on the registered work as a teacher in several child sexual predator’. to notify the poseek work abroad where they lice with Madrid schools where he was The National Police said details of any name that he had used his position as a can continue to abuse chil- change, alongside any change sserp evilo teacher at private schools in dren,” she continued. of address and passport inforMadrid to gain access to chil- “This loophole is arguably the mation. dren whom he photographed biggest safeguarding scandal “Currently the onus lies solely the world has ever seen and with the OLIVE NAYMTDLLIUOGG and filmed. offender and although PRESS He then disseminated the sick there is an opportunity for it is an offence to fail to notify, 15 YEARS material on paedo forums on Spain to lead the way in tack- one could argue this is not a deOF FUN Lessons the dark web around the world. ling it at a global level,” she terrent as the offender already needed Emily Konstantas, CEO of said. has the propensity to commit The Safeguarding Alliance, Her charity wants Spain to in- very serious crimes,” states the applauded the Olive Press for troduce the need to present an report, seen by the Olive Press. highlighting the issue: “The original birth certificate along- Through extensive research Ben Lewis case as revealed by side a passport and criminal and case law The Safeguardthe Olive Press highlights this record checks that would allow ing Alliance has identified that loophole and as shocking as potential employers to unearth offenders are not notifying as EXCLUSIVE: a change of identity. OP splash this required is, it is nothing new and + + “It’s a simple way to provide to abuse and are continuing children by changing A

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Spain. The campaign follows an investiregation by the Olive Press that vealed how easy it was for a convicted UK sex offender to change

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OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE investigation leads to child protection plea from United Kingdom charity

children,” she continued. DE REGISTRO CENTRAL SEXUALES “This loophole is arguDELINCUENTES ably the biggest safeguarding scandal the a world has ever seen and his identity and find work as there is an opportuniteacher in several Madrid schools en ZARAGOZA ty for Spain to lead the Gerente Territorial where he was arrested for abusing way in tackling it at a CERTIFICA: at least 36 children. Delincuentes Sexuales, Registro Central de 31, la Base de Datos del fecha, consultada global level,” she said. We reported how Ben Lewis, Que, en el día de la penal relativa a: NO CONSTA información Her charity wants Spain nº 22807454 had changed his name by deed ROSE con Pasaporte D./Dª BEN DAVID Sick to introduce the need to a la organización poll, applied for a new British de 26 de febrero, relativa re2009/315/JAI del Consejo entre los Estados miembros, en la Decisión Marco antecedentes penales impuestas por otros de los registros de passport, and dodged criminal the He then disseminated the sick ma- present an original birth Conforme a lo dispuesto en su caso, las condenas sin intercambio de información certificado incluye, hayan sido notificadas, y al contenido del alongside españoles, el presente the certificate en que tales condenas y los tipos delictivos tratándose de ciudadanos en los mismos términos cord checks despite being on del Estado de condena terial on paedophile forums on de la Unión Europea, los tipos delictivos Estados miembros una equiparación entre a passport and crimique exista necesariamente UK’s sex offenders register. dark web around the world. nacionales. that statea checks issued The en la fecha de su expedición. of record Spain nal CEO in del titular interesado/a Police refleja la situación El presente certificado Lewis Emily Konstantas, potential ment last week describing agosto de 2017 sserp evilo Safeguarding Alliance, applaud- would allow Zaragoza a 29 de to unearth a ed the Olive Press for highlight- employers ing the issue: “The Ben Lewis change of identity. proto way Olive simple a the “It’s by case as revealed extra check,” Press highlights this loophole vide that OLIVE NAMYTDLLIOUGG “The severand as shocking as this is, it is she insisted. this loopPRESS DANGER: Lewis got teaching Mijas Costa 15 YEARS nothing new and unfortunately ity and dangerto the whole world post, with help of ‘fake’ iceOF FUN presents the of hole represents just the tip papers berg as to the magnitude of this cannot be underestimated.” An extensive report by The Safeproblem.” is being used to as the offender already has the She warned: “Whilst the status guarding Alliance leserious a for very commit to parliament UK propensity electrónicamente quo remains in situ this signif- lobby the in the management of by Documento firmado crimes,” states the report, seen icant and very dangerous safe- gal change offenders. Press. guarding loophole will contin- registered sex the current system the Olive extensive research and Through ue to pose a threat, not just to It explains how The Safeguarding Alliregistered sex offendUK Nationals, but to the rest relies on thethe police with details case law identified that offenders 13:30 ance has er to notify of the world, putting children and she of any name change, alongside any are not notifying as required and EXCLUSIVE: OP splash those most vulnerable at risk,” change of address and passport are continuing to abuse children 3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 . warned. E n d s obby changing their names and information. + + “There are potentially hundreds the onus lies solely fuscating their identities as seen sex - if not thousands - of known ra- “Currently it through the case of Ben Lewis/ with the offender and although offenders slipping under the to connotify, one to seek work abroad is an offence to fail to deterrent Rose absconding overseas 21/6/19 13:30 dar in the UK this is not a tinue to abuse. where they can continue to abuse could argue - or Ben David Rose, as he is now known - as ‘a dangerous child sexual predator’. The National Police press release ruled that he had used his position as a teacher at private schools in Madrid to gain access to children whom he photographed and filmed.

expat

SCHOOLS PAEDO CALL

OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE investigation leads to child protection plea from United Kingdom charity

By Fiona Govan in Madrid

Your voice in Spain

May 6th - May 19th 2021

expat

SCHOOLS PAEDO CALL THE UK’s leading child protection to group is calling on authorities of tighten the recruitment process English teachers abroad. AlThe plea by The Safeguarding liance aims to protect the country against a British legal loophole that has allowed potentially hundreds of British paedophiles in to find work abroad including

Flag-shaggers

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May 6th - May 19th 2021 Vol. 2 Issue 39 www.theolivepress.es

COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA

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1 Hush money (3-3) 2 Introduction to a specialist, perhaps (8) 3 Weep (3) 4 Self-detrimental syndrome (9) 5 Stagehand (4) 6 One of Handel’s “Messiah” sources (6) 11 Wandering worker (9) 13 Not appropriate (8) 15 “All the perfumes of --- will not sweeten this little hand” (Shakespeare, “Macbeth”) (6) 16 Resident of Aleppo (6) 18 Charts (4) 20 Rocket killer (1-1,1)

All solutions are on page 22

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13/4/21 12:32

PROPERTY

Dear Jennifer: How important is correct paperwork for driving in Spain?

had my second vaccine two weeks ago and sadly, once again I had a severe reaction, actually worse than the first time, and I am still feeling very tired and drained. An issue with Brexit that is now coming to light is that some British Health Insurance companies are no longer covering residents in Spain. If this is the case for you, please call my Head Office, where you will get the advice and information you need. Another issue is that there are a large number of British number plated vehicles still on the road in Spain, many of which should be changed to Spanish plates, with residents requiring a Spanish driving licence. It has been reported in the press that there are over one million vehicles recorded in Spain without a current ITV. I understand there are nearly three million cars on the roads in Spain, without all the correct paperwork, which represents 8% of all cars registered. The largest issue is cars with a lack of insurance. If the police stop you, unless you are properly and legally insured and have all the correct paperwork, you will be fined very heavily. Now we have the new speed restrictions in place for urban areas, throughout the whole of Spain, and the government is promising far more speed checks. That means the chances of being pulled over have increased dramatically as the police are far more active with this new situation. This will result in a large number of fines, possible points on your licence and in some cases, vehicles impounded and this obviously means your paperwork could be checked more frequently. Why people think they can drive uninsured cars, is amazing to me. Hopefully this will help to decrease uninsured cars being driven on the road. The risks involved with not being insured and being involved in an accident, where there are injuries or death – it is just not worth the risk. If you have any concerns regarding your vehicle paperwork, please give us a call.

For help, advice and information, please contact one of my offices or visit my website www.jennifercunningham.net

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Looking Frozen down pensioners

THE Valencian Community has suffered a 21% drop in home sales. A total of 19,043 fewer transactions were made in 2020 than in 2019, according to data from the Notary Association. And that meant that the value of the market in the region plunged from €9.5 billion to €7.5 billion in just a year. There is no surprise in the reason given - the COVID pandemic is thought to be most to blame.

Finland beats sunny Spain for retirement quality of life

SPAIN may be a popular retirement spot but according to a new report chilly Finland is actually the best country in Europe in which to spend your sunset years. From the sun and sand in Spain, to the snow capped mountains of the Alps, Europe hosts some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. With over 40 countries to choose from finding the perfect location to retire can cause a headache for millions of Europeans.

Revered

Blacktower Financial Management Group has updated its annual retirement report to reveal the best (and worst) European countries for retirement in 2021 using weighted metrics of cost of living, crime rates, life expectancy, property prices, and population age. And perhaps surprisingly, the laid-back Finnish atmosphere and magic of the northern lights pushes Spain’s sun and

CHILLY: Helsinki (above) but picturesque too (below) sand into second place. Many retirees go ‘off-grid’ to enjoy their well-deserved retirement in the Nordic country. With breath-taking views, fresh lakes, vast forests, and quaint cities, Finland draws millions of visitors to its one looking to relax in their borders each year. ‘golden years’. Second in the rankings is Spain. The top 10 nations for retirees The historic country hosts a had Slovenia in third, followed wealth of great towns, cities and by the Netherlands, Italy, Dencoastal locations which attract mark, Portugal, Estonia, Germillions of retirees each year. many and Austria. The great weather, food and The UK comes in at a mid table friendly locations make Spain 24th on the list with Belarus the perfect destination for any- bottom.

Price

In the notaries’ latest report it was revealed that the average price of housing in the Valencian Community exceeded €100,000, and the most expensive properties are in the Marina Alta and Baixa. In 2020, 69,216 properties were sold in the Valencian Community, compared to 88,259 in 2019. An important part of the slump is due to the fall in sales to non-resident foreigners, who are holding off buying properties on the Costa Blanca. But despite the collapse in sales, notaries predict a rapid recovery of the market and point out that the average purchase price is rising.

UK Landlords With HMRC’s new Making Tax Digital rules

What do you need to do if you live abroad? Keep digital records of property income and expenses Submit 4 tax returns a year using a HMRC recognised software

Scan to find out more!

LA CULTURA Operatic triumph

MADRID’S Teatro Real has won the top honour at the 2021 International Opera Awards which are opera’s equivalent of the movie Oscars. The virtually-hosted event saw the Teatro Real given the ‘Opera Company of the Year’ award. The jury said the company had been recognised ‘not only for its outstanding work in 2019’ but for ‘its trailblazing efforts’ to bring back live opera in spite of the pandemic.

Open

The Teatro Real reopened on July 1 last year and it has remained open since. Artistic director, Joan Matabosch, said: “Thanks to everyone who every day, with determination, professionalism and enthusiasm, manages to raise the curtain.” Congratulations came from the Royal Family who proclaimed that ‘Spain has the best opera in the world’.

Spanish palaces are amongst most loved in the world TWO of Spain’s best loved palaces have been ranked in the World’s top 10. The Palacio Real in Madrid and Granada’s spectacular Alhambra were voted amongst the ‘world’s most loved’ rankings Homedit.com decided tolist 20 of the most well-known royal palaces, or former royal palaces, on four criteria to determine which is the most loved by the public. The historic sites were judged on average TripAdvisor rating, global monthly searches, hashtags on Instagram, and pins on Pinterest. Each criteria was marked out of a maximum of 25 points to create a total score out of 100. The Palacio Real came fifth with a score of 66, while the Alhambra was ninth with 58 VALENCIA’S famous Fallas festival has been given the go ahead for September this year after the usual March celebrations were cancelled for a second year running. The organising committee voted unanimously to move the festivities to September 1 to 5 as long as coronavirus conditions allow. However, a sudden interruption of the vaccination process or the appearance

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May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Royal approval

Top dollar By Dilip Kuner

points. The Palacio Real scored highly for its hashtags on

Fall Fallas

of a new, untreatable strain of the virus could threaten the plans. Most Fallas groups had lobbied for festivities to take place in July, to coincide with the summer holidays and guaranteed good weather.

Instagram, but was let down by its TripAdvisor rating and global monthly searches. On the other hand, the Alhambra scored highly for its TripAdvisor rating, but struggled in other categories.

Beaten

Both were resoundingly beaten by Buckingham Palace (London), which achieved a score of 80. Second spot went to Neuschwanstein Palace in Bavaria with St Petersburg’s (Russia) Winter Palace coming in third and Versailles in France taking fourth spot.

A PAINTING by Pablo Picasso has been sold for an eye watering $103 million (€84.87 million). Femme assise pres d’une fenêtre (Marie-Therese) was sold at Christie’s 20th-century auction in New York. It was the first time a painting had sold at auction for more than €100 million in nearly two years. The price places Femme assise among Picasso’s top-10 works at auction. The sale helped boost Christie’s total for evenings sales, including fees, to US$691 million (€569 million) in just a week. The result for Femme assise, which carried a third-party guarantee, happened after a 19-minute-plus bidding war that escalated until two specialists from New York fought it out in a private battle. The hammer came down on a price of US$90 million (€74.1 million), before fees from the anonymous bidder. It was expected to sell for around US$55 million (€45.3 million). Femme assise is one of a series of portraits Picasso painted of Marie-Therese, his muse and lover, during the pivotal year for the artist of 1932, and was a featured work in Tate Modern’s Picasso 1932, exhibition of 2017-18.

LA CULTURA

N V I R O N M E N TA L I ST S aren’t the only ones counting the days until the big scheduled O’Burgo Estuary clean-up in La Coruña. Funding has been approved to dredge nearly 600,000 cubic metres of sediment from the mouth of the Galician port to improve drainage, current flow, water quality and shipping lanes. However historians also have their beady eyes on what lies beneath the seabed which could show Sir Francis Drake’s Armada victory in a slightly less swashbuckling light. It is the long-held belief that sunken English ships commanded by the British Admiral are buried in sediment at the entrance to the estuary. If this is indeed the case, it could shed light on an overlooked chapter in Spanish history that has literally been buried

FAILED: Sir Francis Drake by the sands of time. Hence, before the €8.5-million project begins, an environmental impact statement is being considered by La Coruña officials to safeguard potentially vital new evidence. The subtext of the infamous defeat of the Spanish Armada

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Dredging up history is well known. The vastly superior ‘Invincible Navy’ of Spain was defeated in the waters off England by inclement weather, poor strategy and by faster, more nimble English ships under Drake’s command. A year later, swelled by national pride, Sir Francis sailed to

The true aftermath of the Spanish Armada has been buried by the sands of time … until now, writes Jack Gaioni La Coruña to drive home the advantage of what he considered newly-acquired English

SEARCH: Divers are investigating the O’Burgo estuary

naval dominance. His plan was to destroy what was left of the depleted Spanish Navy.

But things did not go well for Sir Francis, even though his fleet of 150 ships and 23,500 men greatly outnumbered the four Spanish galleons and 1,500 soldiers docked in the defenseless Atlantic harbour. A heroic resistance by the Spanish troops and local militia held off the invading English while, according to legend, it was the women of the city who actually forced the retreat. In one instance a woman named Maria Pita was assisting her husband in combat when he was killed by a spear. Full of rage, she snatched the spear and killed the attacker. The man was Admiral Drake’s brother. Another woman instrumental in that battle was Ines de Ben. From her small metal shop, she was able to fashion weapons and ammunition. Wounded twice in the head and thigh, she heroically carried stone and sandbags to fortify the defensive positions. In the harbour, Spain’s galleons were able to trap, and later sink, an undetermined number of ships near the entrance to the estuary.

Retreated

BATTLE: Maria Pita (inset) slays Drake’s brother and depiction of the naval engagement that saw the English fleet vanquished

Drake retreated demoralised. Artifacts such as cannon balls, dishes, coins and a 2.5 metre English brass cannon have been salvaged but location, the timeline, and other details have become unclear over the past 450 years. After failing to deliver the knockout blow to the Spanish Navy at La Coruña, Drake went on to Lisbon where he was unable to stir up a Portuguese uprising against Spain. In a last-ditch effort to establish English dominance in the Atlantic, he also failed to take the Azores and Spain remained a major naval power on the global stage for another 200 years. The environmental impact report, authored by Arqueo-Atlantica Consultants, recommends that future dredging takes into account the ‘safeguarding of this heritage’. The firm classifies the estuary as an ‘underwater area of great archaeological potential’. The hope is that the necessary environmental dredging work will work in concert with archaeologists to add to the historical record while also improving the O’Burgo Estuary environment. A statue of Maria Pita dominates La Coruña’s central plaza. As she looks down on her beautiful city and harbour. My guess is that she, too, would agree with those sentiments…

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Best of the best

A COSTA Blanca hotel has been named Spain’s most romantic place to stay. And Cases Noves, in Guadalest, came in second in the world - and top in Europe - for romance, according to Tripadvisor. The boutique hotel, that sits in a valley high above Benidorm, also came in as Spain’s top small hotel, in the website’s annual poll. The 19th century family home was voted eighth best small hotel in Europe and 22nd in the world, according to Tripadvisor users.

Romance guaranteed as popular Costa Blanca boutique hotel wins string of top awards, writes Simon Wade

the early afternoon. Owners Sofi Alonso Balaguer and Toni Serrano Ortuño told the Olive Press they were ‘extremely proud’ of the recognition.“It’s been a rough year for everyone - a year where closeness and personal service has

been almost impossible with social distancing,” said Sofi. “We’ve barely been able to interact with people, so this recognition makes us reaffirm that people value immaterial things. “That makes us proud and ea-

ger to move forward.” Guadalest is often described as the jewel in Alicante’s crown. Packed full of history, art and culture, it sits on a high hill overlooking Guadalest Reservoir and is topped by El Castell de Guadalest.

Think Regional SPAIN’S Foreign Minister believes that the UK must ‘rethink’ their quarantine strategy and look at regions rather than whole countries. Arancha Gonzalez Leya said that she was ‘optimistic’ that British tourists would be able to go to Spain this summer, but the UK policy needs to change. Spain has not been

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As well as boasting incredible views of the Mediterranean from it’s dining terrace, the six-bed hotel specialises in quality service. It has an a la carte menu using fresh ingredients sourced on the same day and guests are invited to use an app to order their evening meal, as it may not be determined until

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

SPANISH state train company RENFE’s 80-year-monopoly has ended with French operator, Ouigo, launching services between Madrid and Barcelona. Ouigo is owned by France’s SNCF firm and is offering cheap fares on the lucrative route between the country’s biggest cities. It’s Spain’s busiest train route and Ouigo is pricing one-way tickets from €9, going up to €79. The trains are larger than those put on by RENFE.

included on any ‘Green’ travel lists from the UK four nations because its average infection rate is 165 cases per 100,000 residents. The Valencian Community, including the Costa Blanca, is only averaging 35 cases per 100,000. Arancha Gonzalez Leya said: “The UK should move to consider regions rather than countries for inclusion on the ‘Green’ list. If that happens, then my sense is that the summer would look good for both Britons and Spaniards.” “Spain loves British people and we are looking forward to welcoming them back to our country”, she added.

Prospect

There appears to be no immediate prospect of the whole of Spain being placed on an English ‘Green’ list with the next update in early June expected to include Malta and Finland along with some Caribbean islands. The current list though does include Spain’s neighbours Gibraltar and Portugal. Spain is on the ‘Amber’ list which mandates a quarantine period for people returning to the UK.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

For most tourists Cordoba is all about the Mesquita, the Alcazar and the Roman bridge. Laurence Crumbie took the road less travelled and found a city chock full of treasures lesser known

PAIN is not short of beautiful cities oozing history from between the cracks of their ancient iconic buildings, such as Granada’s Alhambra and Sevilla’s Alcazar. But one comes above the rest, according to a poll published by global travel bible Lonely Planet this year: that of Cordoba, a true melting pot of ancient, modern and everything in between. The birthplace of renowned Roman playwright Seneca and Jewish philosopher Maimonides, to name two great thinkers, the place is a veritable warren of historic sites. Now is the perfect time to visit Cordoba’s numerous attractions without the crowds and clamour, drifting through the town at your

Walk this way

own pace. I wanted to explore the city without going to ‘the big three’ - the Mezquita, the alcazar and the medina - as I have a pretentious passion for taking the path less trodden. Just follow your nose and take an aimless amble around.

You won’t be disappointed. Cordoba entertained right from the get-go as I stumbled across the Church of San Francisco, built by Fernando III in the 13th century with its adjacent square with red and white porticoes. Heading west, I wound my way through sin-

uous stone streets and chanced upon the Calleja de los Flores, a quaint alleyway lined with flower pots. From here it is just a gentle stroll to Casa Arabe, also known as Casa Mudejar, an arts and culture centre that hosts qual-

ity photography exhibitions on niche topics, including Morocco’s breathtaking blue-washed town, Chefchaouen. After a delicious lunch of tortilla and salmorejo, Cordoba’s celebrated tomato purée topped with serrano jam (or in a vegetarian’s

100 ye flowe

As Cordoba’s famous patio festival marks its centennial, Fiona Govan visits the city that goes potty for plants in May

T’S a botanical binge to inspire the most relucFrom as far as back as the Roman occupation tant gardners. of Cordoba, houses have been built around inner For a fortnight in May, all Cordoba opens its gardens enclosed within thick walls to provide a private courtyards to the hoi polloi who traipse haven of shade during the summer months when through the cobbled alleys and duck through the mercury often tops 40ºC. doorways to be amazed by the green-fingered These internal spaces were refined to include skills of those who live here. As the child of flofountains and water features under Moorish rule, ra-obsessed parents I recall many trips around when the Umayyad caliphate built the mosque – the formal gardens of National Trust properties since converted into a cathedral - that remains a - most often in the rain and endured only for the highlight of every city tour. promise of ice-cream or a cream tea in a chintzNowadays these spaces have been elevated to filled café. works of art, where each wall in every garden has Now with a patio of my own in Madrid sprouting been designed with the festival in mind, each pot several sad yuccas, a few hardy spider plants and of geraniums carefully placed to maximise conone pitiful geranium, it was time to seek inspiratrasts and provide sensational bursts of colour. tion from a city that packs more So good are they that the patios flower power than San Francisco have been afforded UNESCO-produring the merry month of May. tected status. A perfumed This year marks the 100th anniSome gardens belong to single versary of the Feria de los Patios, properties and others are collecpromenade when residents open their floral tions of courtyards with different through private inner sanctums to the public and dwellings looking out on them. compete for the prize of prettiest One of my favourites was No. patios in the walled garden space. 6, Calle Marroquíes where low old quarter Usually mobbed, but with COVID-19 bungalows are home to artisan keeping tourists away, it was easy workshops within a labyrinth of to find an affordable, last-minute interlocking corridors and patios Airbnb. Mine was ensconced in a quaint alley a bedecked with tumbling greenery and blooms. cobblestone’s throw from Plaza de la CorredeIt’s easy to tell the serious gardeners (the ones ra, a colonnaded square filled with terrazas fresnapping close-ups of leaves to identify plants quented by Cordoba’s student population. that might thrive on their own windowsills) from The route map provided on the website takes the nosey parkers (me). I had more fun peeking visitors on a perfumed promenade to dozens of through doors and windows, enjoying the access private patios throughout the old quarter and it’s to private spaces sealed off behind closed doors an olfactory overload even if you only visit half of for all but this fortnight in May. them. My guide was Cordoba local Chapi Pineda, a I interspersed courtyard visits with stops at tapas celebrated flamenco guitarist with a deep love bars and bodegas and sightseeing around the of his home city and an insider knowledge that Mezquita and Juderia - a joy to do in this beautihe is proud to share: including where to taste fully compact walking city. the best tortilla in town (Bar Santos) and how to Thankfully the queues for patios were shorter find a table with unrivalled views of the cathedral and faster this year, despite social distancing (upstairs on the terrace of the Pairi Daeza restaumeasures which, fortuitously, gave everyone a rant). few brief moments alone to enjoy the space withSomewhere in the maze of narrow white-washed out crowds of selfie-takers and couples romantilanes between the synagogue and the Mezquita cally posing beneath bougainvillea. he also revealed a real local treasure: Bodega

case, diced egg), I meandered along the riverfront and over the marvellous Puente Romano, a 250m stone bridge that dates back to at least the second century AD. Founded around 152BC by the Romans, Corduba, as it was

BEAUTY: The patios are a colourful treat Guzman, its dark tiled interior exuding the musty aroma of fermenting wine, where a glass of local fino can be enjoyed for a staggeringly good value €1.10. In the evening we dined at Taberna San Miguel Casa el Pisto, a typical Andalus restaurant where we sat in a tiled courtyard covered in feria memorabilia. Beneath a portrait of the greatest matador of all time, Cordoba-born Manolete - painted by Chapi’s own father, the artist Rafael Pineda - we devoured local delicacies including the simple but divine cogollos al ajillo - who knew lettuce could taste this good? Cordoba in May is exquisite, even for those who don’t think flowers are that interesting. In fact, I dare you to visit and not come away with a few souvenir pots and a head full of ideas for improving your own urban garden. I certainly did.

A B O D R O C SPECIAL

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Simply stunning

T SO SPECIAL: The Roman bridge (left), the Alcazar (above), Roman pillars (below) and a work by Julio Romero de Torres

called then, was the capital of Hispania Ulterior and flourished economically by virtue of its prized olive oil. It became a Roman colonia between 46 and 45BC, but after the city put its money and troops on the wrong horse in the civil war

between Pompey and Caesar, the latter sacked it and slaughtered some 30,000 people. These seismic events would inspire Lucan, born in Cordoba just six years earlier, to compose one of the most extraordinary poems in the Latin language - the

years of er power

Pharsalia, a subversive, gory epic about the aforementioned civil war whose quality scholars still debate fiercely today. Next up was the Museo Julio Romero de Torres, where I was the only visitor. Tucked away on the Plaza del Potro, this cosy, elegant museum dedicated to the eponymous local painter was the unexpected gem of my trip. Romero, born 1874, was possessed with the fervour of Flamenco, which he often personified as a naked or scantily clad lady, such as in La musa gitana (‘The Gypsy Muse’). As is the case in so much art produced by men, many of Romero’s busty women were conveniently spilling out of their garments in one place or another, leading feminists to vilify him; nonetheless, his striking style that fused a gamut of motifs - classical, mannerist, Christian, Andalucian - made a stronger impression on me than the artwork in the Bellas Artes museum opposite and lingered with me long after I left.

Unmissable monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984

HE iconic symbol of Cordoba is the stunning Mosque-Cathedral, which is an extraordinary example of the blending of Muslim and Christian cultures. Built in the 8th Century under the rule of Amir Abd ar-Rahman I, the mosque became a Christian church when Cordoba was conquered by Fernando III of Castilla in 1236. Such was its stunning beauty, the christians decided to preserve the mosque rather than destroy it, enhancing its beauty by adding new spaces and monuments. The central focus of the edifice is a shellshaped prayer niche built in the 10th century. The mihrab traditionally faces Mecca. However, the one in the mosque of Cordoba faces south. The striped brick and stone arches are supported by 856 granite and marble pillars from the Roman and Visigothic ruins. The sun’s rays create an impressive play of light between the pillars and the arches. Also, like many cathedrals in southern Spain, the Mosque of Cordoba has an orange tree courtyard. You can enter the Patio de los Naranjos free of charge, and this is where you will find the kiosk to buy your ticket for the oficial tour. Entrance to the Mosque costs €11 per person. Children between 10 and 14 years old will pay €6, and children under 10 are free. Early risers can visit the mosque for free from Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 9:30am.

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Lavish

My last stop of the day was the Viana Palace. Dating back to 1492, this lavish manor exhibits an unusual intertwining of Roman and Arabic architectural styles and boasts 12 beautiful patios à la the Cordoban custom, not to mention sumptuous salons that evoke the lifestyles of the various nobles who were lucky enough to call this place home. Flowers and fruits fragrance the air and nearly every courtyard is bursting with colour. My favourites were the reception patio, with its porticoed galleries supported by stately Tuscan columns, and the serene Patio de los naranjas whose trickling fountain and spectacular purple wisteria lend it a soothing, serene atmosphere. It made for a superb end to an excellent day round Cordoba which reaffirmed an age-old truth of travel: even if a city is best known for one building alone, scratch below the surface and you’re sure to find that the place has a whole lot more to offer as well.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Novelist Joan Fallon guides us around the ruined city that proved to be an inspiration...

HEN I first heard about the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra, I was intrigued by the idea that a palace-city of such magnificence should have lasted for such a short time. Civilisations come and go, as any reader of history knows but for it to last no more than 75 years seemed a tragedy. It was the summer of 2001. I picked up a leaflet about an exhibition that was to be held in the museum at Madinat al-Zahra, just outside Cordoba. It was entitled The Splendour of the Cordovan Umayyads. I remembered my childhood love of Tales of the Arabian Nights and I was hooked. So we drove across from Málaga, on a blistering hot day to see what it was all about. I have been back many times since and the place holds a fascination for me; so much so that it inspired me to write a novel. I decided to tell the story of the city through a family that lived there; I had the bare bones of my novel before me, in the stone walls and paved paths, in the narrow passages ways, the ornate gardens, the artefacts in the museum. All I needed to do was to make the city come alive through my characters. I’ve called the novel The Shining City because ‘Madinat’ (or medina) is the word for town and ‘Zahra’ means shining or brilliant. It’s said that the caliph called the city al-Zahra because, at the time it was being built, he was in love with a slave girl called Zahra. It could be true; there are certainly written references to a concubine of that name, but I think ‘Zahra’ referred to the magnificence of the city itself.

As the principle character in my book, Omar, tells his nephew: ‘It means shining, glistening, brilliant. Possibly his concubine glittered and shone with all the jewels and beautiful silks he showered upon her but then so did the city. It was indeed the Shining City. When visitors entered through the Grand Portico, passing beneath its enormous, red and white arches, when they climbed the ramped streets that were paved with blocks of dark mountain stone, passing the lines of uniformed guards in their scarlet jackets and the richly robed civil servants that flanked their way, when they reached the royal residence and saw the golden inlay on the ceilings, the marble pillars, the richly woven rugs scattered across the floors and the brilliant silk tapestries, when they saw the moving tank BE AMAZED: The arches of Medinat (above) reconstructed of mercury in the great reception from the ruins (right) pavilion that caught the sunlight and dazzled all who beheld it, the tradition of previous caliphs had good roads to communicate then they indeed knew that they and build himself a palace-city, with Cordoba and there was grander than anything that had even a stone quarry close by. were in the Shining City.’ The caliph left much of the reOf course today, looking at the been built before. ruined paths, the piles of broken The site he chose was eight ki- sponsibility for the construction tiles, the reconstructed arches lometres to the west of Cordoba, of the city to his son al-Hakam, in present day who continued work on it after and pillars, we Andalucia and his father’s death. need to use our measured one One of the most curious quesimagination to This and a half kilome- tions about Madinat al-Zahra is see it as it once tres by almost a why, despite its importance as was. magnificent kilometre. It was the capital of the Umayyad dyThe construction of the city of Ma- city endured no sheltered from nasty in al-Andalus, this magnifthe north winds icent city endured no more than dinat al-Zahra more than 75 by the mountains 75 years. When al-Hakam died was begun in the behind it and had in 976 AD the city was thriving; year 939 AD by years an excellent van- all the most important people in Abd al-Rahman III tage point from the land lived there. and took 40 years which to see who The army, the mint, the law to complete. Having declared himself the ca- was approaching the city. It was courts, the government and the liph of al-Andalus in 929 AD and well supplied with water from an caliph were there; the city boastwith the country more or less old Roman aqueduct and sur- ed public baths, universities, at peace he wanted to follow in rounded by rich farming land. It libraries, workshops and cere-

CORDOBA SPECIAL

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Mad about Medinat monial reception halls to receive the caliph’s visitors. But al-Hakam’s heir was a boy of 11-years old. The new boy-caliph was too young to rule, so a regent was appointed, the Prime Minister, al-Mansor, an ambitious and ruthless man. Gradually the Prime Minister moved the whole court, the mint, the army and all the administra-

Discover the thrill First-time waterskier Cristina Hodgson dives into inland Spain to discover the thrill of wakeboarding at Cordoba’s Xtreme Gene Watersports—and the benefits of lake water in hydrating and steaming out the sinuses

EING sport mad as I am, any opportunity to try a new, exciting and thrill-seeking sport is a must on my bucket list, even if I’ve never heard of the full throttle tubing experience I’d signed up for—the more adventurous the better, or so I boast. But on the wrong side of 40 and with a keener sense of danger since motherhood forms part of who I am, I was somewhat nervous on my drive to

Almodovar del Rio in Cordoba, where Xtreme Gene Watersports are located. However, as soon as I set foot on Europe’s most popular wakeboard, wakesurf and waterski camp, the shimmering green alkaline lake that could be seen in the distance, together with the rustling, restful woodlands around, swallowed up any pre-nerves in an instant - that together with the four-legged welcome committee who had come to greet me, wagging tails, which I was later infomed, belonged to Snoop, Choco, Lambsy and Loca. Then, before I knew it, after a quick chat and coffee with Debbie Kelly, co-owner of Xtreme Gene Watersports, I had a life jacket strapped to me and was about to experience first hand what wakesurf - the newest craze in watersports - was all about. But first a demo exhibition by the current European Wakesurf Champion, Jordan Elizondo-Darwin, also wakeboard and wakesurf head coach at Xtreme Gene. With the fresh air on my face and the wind playing with my hair, for an instant I fancied myself to be Jackie O in her prime on the

Christina, with the advantage that I got water on the skis without swallowing a to watch Jordan in action. gallon of lake water! Though I’m sure all the flips, spins and The water came later, and it was like aerial somersaults he performed have an intense hydrating and steaming a technical name, for the out of the sinuses as my sake of simplicity, I’ll just knees wobbled, legs buckled and I tumbled into abbreviate them as ‘all The fresh water the lake, where the fresh freaking impressive’ and I sprayed up my water sprayed up my nose was given the best masterclass I could have wished and, I do believe, out nose and, I do for. through my ears again. believe, out Not that anything of what I effectively got the best of through my ears! I had just seen was remoboth worlds, an intense tely feasible for me to pull spa session mixed with the off, of course. Just getting out of the personal satisfaction that I can now water on the skis, without swallowing say I walked on water - if only for a a gallon of lake water would be rated split second. as success in my books. Mission accomplished and a huge And so then it was my turn. I carefu- thanks to the Xtreme Gene team for lly listened to the instructions given such a fun day out (and the towel)! to me by ski coach Matthew Southam, co-owner of Xtreme Gene with wife Debbie, formerly ranked in the top 10 in the world in waterskiing, but for the life of me - and I blame it on the throttle of the speedboat’s motor and not my age - I couldn’t hear a word of what he shouted at me. Something about knees bent, arms stretched … vroom, vroom, vroom! And I was off!! Miraculously I did get out of the

tive functions back to Cordoba, leaving the boy caliph in Madinat al-Zahra, ruling over an empty shell. Once the seat of power had been removed from Madinat al-Zahra, the city went into decline. The wealthy citizens left, quickly followed by the artisans, builders, merchants and local businessmen. Its beautiful buildings were looted and stripped of their treasures and the buildings were destroyed to provide materials for other uses. Today you can find artefacts from the city in Malaga, Granada, and elsewhere. Marble pillars that once graced the caliph’s palace now support the roofs of houses in Cordoba. Ashlars that were part of the city’s walls have been used to build cow sheds Excavation of the site began in 1911 by Riocardo Velazquez Bosco, the curator of the mosque in Cordoba. The work was slow and hampered by the fact that the ruins were on private property.

Keen Landowners were not keen to co-operate and eventually the State had to purchase the land before the excavations could begin. The work progressed slowly but gradually over the years a number of government acts were passed which resulted in the site being designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest and in 1998 a Special Protection Plan was drawn up to give full weight to the importance of the ruins. Today the site is open to the public and has an excellent visitor centre and museum. I can recommend a visit. Having completed writing The Shining City, I then went on to write The Eye of the Falcon and The Ring of Flames, covering the period that is known as The Golden Age of Moorish Spain. The three books form the al-Andalus trilogy and are available as ebooks from Amazon and in paperback from bookshops, both local and online.

www.theolivepress.es

Going neutral

Climate change law passed as country sets brave CO2 target

SPAIN has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050 with a total ban on non-electric cars by that date. Congress has just passed a new climate and energy bill, which will mean only electric cars will be sold from 2040 when it comes to new vehicle sales. Ten years later the total ban of combustion engined cars will come in. The passage of the law was delayed by two years due to a series of general elections and the coronavirus pandemic. The only party to vote against legislation was the far-right Vox party, with the right-of-centre Partido Popular abstaining. The Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, said: “This measure is 10 years overdue compared to our European colleagues.” In a swipe at her political opponents, Ribera added: “This law has been postponed for too long since there are threats that do not follow political lines.” The measures look to cut carbon emissions by at least 23% by 2030 based on 1990 figures, but the aim is to substantially improve on that target. The law requires cities of 50,000 or more people to introduce low carbon emission zones. Coalfired power plants will be decommissioned by 2025. The government believes that its ‘green’ policies will create up to 350,000 new jobs per year until 2030. It estimates that the Spanish economy will grow by around 1.8% in 2030 as a result of the investment in new green policies.

Cricket honours A NEW species of cricket has been named after two murdered forest rangers. The Sometera Davier, discovered in Catalunya, has been named after Xavier Ribas and David Iglesias, who were killed by a hunter while on duty in Lleida in 2017. The new species of orthopteran is a cross between a cricket and grasshopper and was discovered by scientist Josep Maria Olmo.

GREEN

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

It’s half a century since Marvin Gaye’s prophetic hit Mercy Mercy Me slammed environmental destruction, writes Martin Tye

Green Matters

By Martin Tye

THERE IS NO PLANET B!

OST readers of this column will know the iconic Marvin Gaye masterpiece Mercy Mercy Me. (If not take a peek on YouTube). It was released in 1971. That’s right...50 years ago. This week, I’d just like to remind you of some of the relevant lyrics he gracefully delivered in it. Relevant because half a century on and we, the human race, still have not taken sufficient action to protect our planet.

‘

Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me Ah, things ain’t what they used to be, Where did all the blue skies go?

Poison is the wind that blows From the north and south and east Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas Fish full of mercury Radiation underground and in the sky Animals and birds who live nearby are dying What about this overcrowded land? HOW MUCH MORE ABUSE FROM MAN CAN SHE STAND?’

It was one hell of a message then. And it is still a very strong message now. How many warnings do we need? Time to reflect dear readers.

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Cough up OWNERS of the most polluting vehicles will be made to pay more tax in Catalunya. From this November, a long awaited new law will bring in a sliding scale of taxes depending on how dirty the car’s emissions are. This measure was approved four years ago, but its execution has been delayed until this year because of COVID-19. Cash raised will be spent on cutting greenhouse emissions and on measures to protect biodiversity. The regional government calculates that it will affect 2,3 million vehicles and will raise €67 million in the first year. The Catalan government expects owners to pay an average of €35 a year, with the most polluting vehicles being hit with an annual fee of €96. While welcoming the initiative, some experts say much more needs to be done. “It’s a good sign that shows the path we should go, but I believe it wont have a significant impact on reducing emissions”, said professor Jordi Roca.

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HEALTH

Your Choice

ALL Costa Blanca medical centres have reintroduced face-to-face doctors appointments that were stopped due to the pandemic. Phone consultations are still being offered.

Zero deaths! THERE were no COVID deaths in the Valencian Community reported yesterday (Wednesday) - for the first time in nearly a year. The last ‘death-free’ day was August 17, according to the regional health department. In total just 138 new cases were reported in the entire region. In the community, a total of 7,411 people have died from COVID-19: 803 in Castellon province, 2,827 in Alicante province and 3,781 in the province of Valencia. The 138 new cases brought the total who have caught the disease in the region to 392,906 people - 40,646 in Castellon, 147,253 in Alicante and 205,005 in Valencia province. There are currently just 148 people in hospital in the region because of COVID - 34 of them in intensive care.

SPAIN’S government has called for people to behave ‘responsibly’ after two weekends marked by people celebrating the end to the state of alarm without masks or social distancing. “The end of the state of emergency does not mean the end of restrictions. Far from it. The virus threat is still real,” Spain’s Justice Minister Juan Carlos Campo insisted. “That’s why the authorities will continue to take action and the public must keep on behaving responsibly,” he wrote. The state of alarm that had been in place for six months expired bringing an end to curfews and restrictions on travelling across regional borders, and caps on the numbers allowed to meet in a group. After months of these restrictions people took advantage of the new freedom to dance in the street, take part in botellones (drinking in the street) many without wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. Spain’s television stations broad-

Behave yourselves!

Lips

PARTY TIME: People celebrated the end of restrictions cast images of crowds of revellers meeting in city squares in scenes reminiscent of festivities usually seen on New Year’s Eve. Asked about the images during an official visit to Greece, Spain’s Prime

Minister Pedro Sánchez warned against “lowering our guard”. “Vaccination is progressing well, with very positive results,” he said, but “the virus continues to circulate and we must maintain barriers.”

Better air saved lives during COVID lockdowns IMPROVED air quality in Spain caused by last year’s pandemic lockdown restrictions may have prevented at least 170 premature deaths. It’s largely down to fewer cars on the road, especial-

SPAIN’S Health Ministry will allow Pfizer vaccinations for around two million ‘essential’ workers like police, teachers, and fire-fighters who got their first AstraZeneca jab. A ‘Combivacs’ study by the Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid concluded that getting a second Pfizer dose on the back of an AstraZeneca injection produces a 40 times higher production of antibodies within seven days to a fortnight. The survey says that the overall protective response is seven times stronger compared to two AstraZeneca inoculations and does not produce any serious side-effects. Spain paused second AstraZeneca injections to around two million people aged under 60 in early April after around 200 blood clot cases were noted around Europe. Supplies of the Pfizer vaccine in Spain are substantial, while new shipments of the AstraZeneca doses have virtually ground to a halt. There are some supplies in cold storage that are set to be used for second doses for people in their sixties. The EU announced earlier this month that they were not planning to renew their contract with AstraZeneca when it expires in June.

Unmasked vaccination coverage and he believes that by June the immunisation figures ‘will put us in a very favourable position to reduce some measures, including face masks.’ Spain’s health chief added that there are a number of alternatives to wearing face masks and that ‘different measures can be proposed for different groups’ for example groups with very high vaccine coverage, such as people in care homes, may see the reduction of some measures first.

Mask solution STALL holders in Zaragoza’s fish market have started wearing transparent masks to help deaf people lip read. City officials handed out the masks as part of an initiative with the Association of Cochlear Implants of Spain.

Pandemic plus

Yes to vax ‘cocktail’

THE use of masks outdoors in Spain could be relaxed in the coming days says the government’s Chief of Health Emergencies Fernando Simon. As Spain’s vaccination drive goes up a gear and the contagion rate across the country continues to fall, the Spanish Health Ministry has suggested that once the incidence rate drops below 150 cases per 100000 inhabitants in 14 days, he would ‘consider reducing some coronavirus measures, including face masks.’ Simon said the situation is improving, with very good

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

By Alex Trelinski

ly those with diesel engines. The first-ever Spanish study to look at early deaths and their link to pollution studied mortality rates in the country’s 47 provincial capitals. The Barcelona Institute for Global Health(ISGlobal) analysed nitrogen dioxide(NO2) levels during the first State of Alarm between March and June in 2020. The findings were dra-

CLEAN: Less traffic meant lower emissions

matic with the amount of NO2 across the cities falling by 51% during the

Immunity claim PRIME Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has claimed that Spain's population will reach herd immunity levels against the coronavirus by mid-August. Sanchez said: “The worst calamity suffered by humanity in a hundred years is being overcome.” An estimated 75 million people died during the Second World War while estimates place the worldwide COVID death toll at 3.2 million so far.

Setbacks

“We are under 100 days away from the European Union objective of having 70% of the population vaccinated,” added Sanchez. Despite setbacks with some vaccine supplies like the AstraZeneca doses and a delayed roll-out of the single shot Johnson & Johnson inoculations, Sanchez has maintained his stance of the 70% August target since late December. “The vaccination figures lead me to be optimistic,” he stated. The proclamation of herd immunity by mid-August is a bold claim. Scientists around the world differ on what percentage level of vaccinations is needed for that to become a reality. 70% is viewed as the bare minimum level that herd immunity might kick in.

full lockdown up to midMay, and then by 36% as restrictions were eased up to late June. Researcher, Herve Petetin, said: “NO2 is produced by mainly diesel cars and in some cities we discovered 65% falls during last year’s lockdown.” The ISGlobal study estimated that at least 170 premature deaths were prevented due to lower pollution levels, and that figure could actually be higher across Spain. Co-ordinator, Joan Ballester, explained: “We only looked at major cities, so there will be other smaller centres where deaths were avoided.

Health

“Our findings show the major short-term health benefits associated with reducing air pollution,” added Ballester. “With a permanent reduction in emissions, the positive effects could be even greater as respiratory infections are cut.” The survey results were published in the same week that Spain’s Congress approved a climate change and energy bill, which will see new car sales limited to electric vehicles by 2040.

Many people with hearing difficulties communicate by reading lips when the people talking do not use sign language. This has raised obvious problems during the pandemic, with masks covering people’s mouths. The communicative mask was designed to have a four-layer fabric outer part and a transparent central window that allows the mouth to be seen. They are also washable and reusable.

Good news! THE impact of the COVID pandemic may not have been as bad as many experts thought might be the case. According to the European Health Survey the pandemic has worsened the mental health of the population by a relatively modest 3%. And while the percentage of people who have problems falling asleep has increased by 2%, remote working has actually left many people feeling better after a change in diet to healthy options.

Lack

Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) said that remote working or a lack of employment for millions has significantly reduced the numbers of people ‘feeling tired’ by up to 5% and those suffering from ‘lack of appetite’ or ‘excessive food intake’ by 1%. Consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish has increased as people spent more time cooking for themselves. In addition, 5% of people polled reported a reduction in the consumption of soft drinks, while intake of fast food also fell, albeit by just over 1%.

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COLUMNISTS

Living in the slow lane under the new rules

ITH lockdown restrictions lifted, you might have been tempted to head out on the highway and enjoy the open road. Not all the roads however, as new driving regulations came into force throughout Spain last week that limited the maximum speed in certain parts of municipalities to 30kph. This presents something of a problem if one drives a supercar or sports car, as it limits you to second gear. In addition, it is rather galling for people like myself who have an

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Life begins at 30?

‘interesting relationship’ with cyclists allows me to crawl along without that as the Lycra brigade sail past. Even much effort. Perhaps this is the permore so on pedestrianised fect time to invest in a new streets where the limit is car stereo and just sit back down to 20 kph, and you and relax. If you find yourIf you find will probably have electric self in a 20 zone, you could yourself in a scooters zipping by as well. pass the time with a crossRegular readers will know word, take on a fiendish Su20 zone, pass that with my lack of luck doku or even try your hand the time with a at that thousand-piece jigwith all things relating to cars, I don’t tend to saw puzzle that you have crossword go above 30 kph. Mainly been itching to complete because I’m pushing the In other motoring matters, bleeding thing. I visited my local petrol One of the benefits of having a large station and asked for a factura. I have 4x4 is that it is an automatic, which been using this particular station for

Who’s Who on TV? YOU know you’re old when watching TV programmes involving, ‘well-known’ personalities, and you don’t recognise any of them.

OL D HA CK IN

F you need an excuse TH E SU N to excuse your celebrity Benny Davis ignorance, even their names make no logical Ramblings of an 80-something expat sense whatsoever. “On today’s programme you watched and ended up we welcome four familiar wondering what it was all faces, Grime artist Moggy about? Or why casting choDirtbox, Poolside influencer se attractive, slim, able boSleezy Snotball, Rick-Rock died elegant, middle aged music critic, El Thicko, and females, moving around finally just returned from a like models on a catwalk, successful tour of his own to demonstrate immobili£45 million country resity products ranging from dence, religious rapper, scooters to walking frames and Dyno-Rod sewage conand showers to seated basultant, Avery Greaseball.” ths? Who are they kidding! Same with quiz programNext, I cast my beady eyes me questions. “Who is the on reality programmes with twice-removed, very distant their Real Housewives, and cousin of Godzilla, and siLove Island type contestants. dekick actor starring in the I am sure the production hit American Metflex, all acteam includes wardrobe by tion-drama series, Who cut Steptoe and Son, complete Muffin The Mule’s strings? from ragged, torn jeans to TV commercials fare no be1940’s Utility dresses. Make tter. How many ads have up by Dulux Paints, personally applied by the Old English Sheepdog himself in vaccines COVID of roll-out THE successful and hair-styling by the mirapid EU the the UK, underlines the fact that litary team responsible for response to emergency situations is about clearing patches of jungle as fast as a sloth suffering from chronic ar- top of the priority list, there seems to be a for helicopter landings. have 60s over all that seems thritis. While it information as to when the of t blackou total vulsome received their jabs back in Blighty, Mystery vaccines will be dished out. nerable expats in Spain are still waiting for Then there are the inevitable rumours deThen of course we have God or V-Day, whatever comes first. signed to confuse our little grey cells to the those wonderful two-hour Lacking the protection of the hopefully li- point of self-destruction. Will Spanish naepisode crime mystery se60s over fe-saving magic needle, some the Will tionals receive priority over expats? ries such as, Midsummer are trying to keep safe by virtually locking EU turn to China and Russia for substitute Murders, Vera, Poirot, Marthemselves away in Alcatraz-like conditions, vaccines? ple and others. Love them afraid to even talk to anyone through the So, I ask all friends and family back home all and always start eagerletterbox. stop to e) (be it Holland, Sweden or Yorkshir ly looking for subtle clues Loneliness and lack of care has aged the piling on the agony by asking why we still and red herrings. But by once rejuvenated Sangria-injected expat haven’t received the vaccine as you finished the end, I emerge as concommunity back to reality. weeks ago. fused.com, totally blitzed by Dream over! This mentally insane situation Just let us wallow in cheap wines and takea convolution of subplots, has been compounded by the fact that al- away meals while feeling sorry for ourselves. twists and turns to the point though we understand us old ‘uns are not of not caring who dunnit and to whom. And of course, that essential police series, Line of Duty, had me glued to the screen, irrespective of being lost in Quick Crossword a Bermuda Triangle of totally alien acronyms and enAcross: 7 Taken out, 8 Rasp, 9 Poked, 10 Sceptic, 12 ding up with a finale that First thought, 14 Mailing lists, 17 Far more, 19 Tiers, 21 reminded me of how I felt Limp, 22 Nobleman. on my 10th birthday when I expected a brand new shiny Down: 1 Pay-off, 2 Referral, 3 Sob, 4 Stockholm, 5 Grip, bike, but ended up with a 6 Isaiah, 11 Itinerant, 13 Unsuited, 15 Arabia, 16 Syrian, pair of hand-knitted socks 18 Maps, 20 A-B M. and a balaclava.

V-DAY VIRGINS

SUDOKU

OP Puzzle solutions

a while, speaking my own ‘peculiar’ brand of Spanish. Giving my NIE number for the factura, the cashiers looked incredulously at the name on their screen ‘Gil?’ they asked ‘But you speak Spanish with an Andalus accent! You must be some sort of mixture between a guiri and an Andalusian. A guiriluz! Ever since then, whenever I walk through the sliding doors, I’m greeted with a rousing chorus of ‘Guiriluz!” At least it is nice to be remembered.

Light at the end of the tunnel Curfew lifted and vaccine programme well underway in Spain

INALLY, the wheel seems Terenia Taras to be turning Telling it like it is as the majority of the world is getting ahead of COVID. I say the majority but there are still countries, India being the worst, which is battling to cope with the sheer volume of infections and deaths from Covid. Boris may have been criticised throughout the crisis for getting things wrong, but the UK vaccination roll-out has surpassed expectations with more than 35 million people having received their first dose, which is pretty remarkable compared to the rest of Europe. But it doesn’t matter who leads the race because the whole world needs the same level of protection against COVID, if we’re to finally beat it. As we’ve seen recently the UK is reluctantly opening up international travel but with only Portugal one of the popular holiday destinations making the green list. Meanwhile, Spain’s placement on the Amber list means people who do go against the guidance will require two post-arrival PCR tests and also have to self-isolate at home for 10 days making Spain an expensive and inconvenient holiday destination.

Welcome

For those of us living here hoping to finally be able to welcome family and friends, the wait persists! I’d hopefully at the time booked flights with Ryanair for my son Anton to visit towards the end of May, but the flights were cancelled and until Spain moves onto the green list, there’s no way he’s going to visit if it means taking another 10 days off his annual holiday allowance just to sit at home in the UK and self-isolate. Living in Mallorca I’m well aware that it’s not just about holidays, but a matter of survival for millions throughout Europe. My partner is employed by Jet2 but has still yet to return to work and he’s not alone. Like so many people working in hospitality, travel and tourism which are the majority in holiday hotspots, they’re all just hanging by a thread. I fully understand that for other countries still in the midst of their COVID nightmare, they maybe a long way off yet with vaccinations. But those countries which are faring better should be doing whatever it takes to help other ones and that can only happen by getting the worldwide economy going again. We all desperately want to get back to normal and despite the UK leaving the EU, it shouldn’t be a case of ‘look how well we’re doing compared to the rest of you’, because there will be no real normal for anyone until we’re all on the same page.

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BUSINESS

Hotel expansion

TRAVELODGE has announced plans to open new hotels in Spain as part of an £175 million (€203 million) expansion. The 'premium economy' chain says the investment will see it’s network expand to 597 locations in the UK, Ireland and Spain. Bosses at the hotel chain hope the new sites will be open in time for the summer holidays as Brits are allowed to travel abroad.

Chain

It comes as the budget accommodation chain revealed that 17 new hotels would be opened in the UK alone, creating 360 new jobs. New sites will be developed across Europe with cash from third party investors and will also include three more ‘higher-end’ Travelodge PLUS hotels. Craig Bonnar, Travelodge chief executive, said: “After a challenging 12 months, today's announcement demonstrates the strength in the Travelodge brand and is a key step forward as we emerge out of lockdown.” EROSKI supermarkets have seen a big pandemic boost of 30% with the company operating income growing to €252 million last year and sales rising by 2.1% on 2019 levels. The figures are in keeping with all of Spain’s supermarket chains, with Eroski saying that its online business grew by 82% boosted by lockdown restrictions. Eroski has gone through a

May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Bad to worse Cash strapped airline slashes jobs

TROUBLED low-cost carrier Norwegian Airlines has announced that it will cut 1,200 jobs across Spain in a European restructuring plan as it battles with debt during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oslo based company announced that it would be laying off 85% of its Spanish workforce, a figure amounting to 1,191 jobs across the country. The job cuts will be the result of the closure of three national bases in Spain, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur.

Hubs

Union bosses have announced that its hubs in Alicante and Malaga will remain open but with reduced capacity with just one aircraft operating out of each. The cuts are part of a global restructuring plan of the airline, with it ceasing all its long haul operations, putting an end to its US, Asia and UK flights.

Happy Eroski

major restructuring in recent years with a number of closures, especially in the southeast of the country. Nevertheless, it still has almost a thousand outlets and last year saw a 13% rise in business in northern Spain, where it was formed in 1969.

Light sky A SERIES of mystery lights in the Spanish sky heralded the coming of high speed internet to rural Spain. Several readers contacted the Olive Press to report the unusual ‘train’ of lights. ‘It’s like something I’ve never seen before’ said one reader after seeing the strange sight over Casares in Andalucia. We can reveal that what they saw was a string of 60 Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX. These are part of SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s vision of a vast network of satellites that will provide internet connections to remote areas. Consumers will have to pay €400 for a package including satellite dish and router, plus a monthly fee of around €40 to access the high speed network.

TROUBLE: Norwegian is scrapping routes This plan has also reduced its entire air fleet from 156 to just 50 aircraft as of April 2021. The long haul scraps have been made to protect its core domestic and regional flying routes according to the company, who are in the midst of battling the severe financial damage caused by COVID-19. The airline, once Europe's fourth most popular budget carrier behind Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair, has amassed debts of over €4.3 billion over the past 18 months. This led the airline to seek out support from the courts who approved a survival plan last month to bail out both Norwegian and its subsidiaries. Eroski President, Agustín Markaide, said: “2020 will go down in history as an exceptional year due to the incidence of COVID that has conditioned all social and business life. “The general performance of Eroski has been very positive, although some of our businesses such as gas stations and sports have suffered a significant negative impact.”

Pay to drive SPAIN is planning to turn all public-managed highways into toll roads during 2024, with a view to making drivers pay depending on their usage of roads and as a de facto ‘polluters tax’. The measure was announced as part of the conditions demanded by Brussels in order for Spain to qualify for funds under a national recovery plan. Under the plan, drivers would initially have to pay not only to use the autopistas (mo- TOLLS: Are on the cards torways that in many places already have a toll in place) but the report states is the most extensive high-capacity road network in Europe. also the vast network of autovias. “This is generating a cumulative maintenance deficit, leading to a loss of valFees ue and a deterioration of quality of serBut with time it would be scaled up to vice, which has consequences for road include fees on other national and re- safety,” reads the plan sent to the EU gional roads. Commission this week, with the govThe Spanish government insists that ernment admitting a deficit of €8 bilthe new model is needed to pay for lion has been racked up on road mainSpain’s huge network of roads, which tenance alone.

AN expat in Valencia is setting out stall to help small farms and family-run enterprises thrive in a post pandemic world. German Lena Edich has launched the CampObert (‘Open Countryside’) project to encourage farm shopping. She is planning on organising an open day for a regional network of farmers to welcome families on to their small holdings, show them around, explain what they do and sell their own products directly without losing out to

Money Matters

with Tracy Storer, Senior Partner, Chorus Financial.

New vision the middlemen. The project is aimed at small, family-run farms of any description, including livestock, agricultural, dairy, beekeepers, wineries, oil mills, and all manufacturers of natural products. The benefits of the open day will work both ways. While producers sell their own products straight to the customer and hopefully establish long-lasting relationships, families have a

chance to meet the animals, find out how farms work, and enjoy a nice day out in the open air No date has yet been set for the event, as Lena is waiting to get as many family-run farms on board before reaching a consensus on the best time.

Network

She is currently in the process of contacting producers and setting up a network of participants, and has already enlisted more than 20 throughout the Valencia region.

Why has my financial advisor dropped me?

Money Matters answers all your questions on finance, tax, pensions, investments and more here in Spain. This week we received the following question from Ms Jane M Why do I need to move my UK pension? Hi Tracy, I have recently been advised by a Spanish based financial adviser that I need to move my UK based pension which I have with Aviva into a QROPs. Can you confirm, it this is necessary as I am a little confused?

Hi Jane, MY starting point with any client that is considering a pension transfer is to try and leave it where it is. A large proportion of UK based pension providers can facilitate nearly all pension withdrawal options to clients living abroad. Just because you move to a new country does not automatically mean that you have to move your pension! If for example you require flexible access to your pension, and your current scheme provides you with this option, then there is typically very little reason why you would need to transfer it. There are some key benefits to consider when moving your pension. For example, if you have multiple schemes that you find it hard to keep managed, or maybe one or all of your schemes has restrictions on how you can access them now you are a Spanish resident. Another benefit that people consider is the ability to appoint a local adviser to manage their pension and investment portfolio. My point is you have options, your first steps should be to contact your scheme and get a better understanding about what your drawdown options are as a non UK resident. Once you have that information, give me a call. I will be able to summarise your options and give you my recommendations on what you should do next. If you have any questions about finance, tax or money matters here in Spain, call +34 965 641 163 or please email them to me on t.storer@chorusfinancial.es with subject ‘Money Matters’. All emails will get a response, and some may even appear in our column!

Money Matters answers all your questions on finance, tax, pensions, investments and more here in Spain.

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A MEMBER of VOX has been suspended from Twitter for 12 hours after tweeting ‘a man cannot get pregnant’, which broke its hate speech policy.

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Vol. 3 Issue 56 www.theolivepress.es May 20th - June 2nd 2021

Red alert POLICE raided an Elche nightclub that flashed red warning lights if a police inspection was imminent. Despite the alert, police found that social distancing laws were broken, and under age drinking allowed.

Cheap deal TAM Wilson from Glasgow has booked flights from his home city to Malaga for £35 (€40) after finding out a return trip was cheaper than the £40.50 cost of going to Dundee for a minibreak by train.

Going batty

COSTA BLANCA

CASHED IN: Marina Abramovic won the prize

A 74-year-old Serbian performance artist, who sat in complete silence for 716 hours as people sat and stared at her, has won Spain’s top arts award. Marina Abramovic took the arts prize in the Princess of Asturias awards, where €50,000 in prizes were handed out in each

A BLUNDERING crook who has been arrested 125 times has been nabbed again after he dropped his wallet complete with ID card at the scene of his latest offence. The 45-year old man is a drug addict. His only source of income was to break into cars and seize valuables which were sold to fund his habit. His last act was in April when he broke into a car boot. He fled with €2,000 of items when the vehicle owner confront-

Prize winning artist who sat and did nothing scoops €50,000

of eight categories, which included fields like the social sciences and sport. The jury said that the work of Abramovic revealed a hitherto unknown ‘sensorial and spiritual compo-

Darwin award ed him. Unfortunately for the thief, a wallet with his ID cards fell out of his pocket leading to a prompt arrest by the Policia Nacional. It was his 20th offence this year including stealing €5 from a child. He has been remanded in custody, and crimes of theft from cars has since plummeted in Alicante.

nent’. Abramovic spent 716 hours sitting still at a table while thousands of visitors took turns to sit in front of her and stare.

Courage

The Princess of Asturias jury said that ‘Abramovic’s courage in her dedication to an absolute art produces moving experiences that demand an intense connection with the spectator and make her one of the most inspiring artists of her time’. Her work has seen her strike up friendships with the singer Lady Gaga and rapper Jay Z.

A SPANISH park is bringing in furry and feathered allies to battle a plague of mosquitos and processionary caterpillars. Bats can eat up to 1,200 mosquitos in an hour - and now bosses at El Recorral Park on the Costa Blanca want to make use of this ‘super power’ to keep the pest down without using nasty pesticides.

Shelters

They are doing this by installing bat and bird shelters to attract the creatures. While the bats take on the mossie population, it is hoped birds will eat their way through the lines of processionary caterpillars that are normally controlled using powerful chemicals. The pest not only damages protected pine trees, but can inflict serious ‘stings’ to children and even kill dogs. A park spokesman said: “By not resorting to insecticides, we minimise any inconvenience to people who use the park as well as protecting endangered species.”

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May 21st