Costa Blanca South/Murcia Olive Press - Issue 62 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

st be ag ’s m ain rty lish Sp pe Eng pro in

Property

APRIL 2022

on page XII

Life in the shade

THE enclave of Zagaleta has often been described as It’s one of Spain’s most exclusive place‘southern Europe’s to live’. on behind the highmost expensive places to live. But few And when you count tech fences of La Zagaleta, know what goes ties, captains of industryon the celebri- a giant the second member and, now, the palace. Olive Press of the family,” adds global dictators who Property takes a peekwhere Putin is said to own the agent. stalk its privileged spaces, that’s no surprise. gated community that “It’s real royal golf The multi-million price rity is ‘its number one claims that secu- “Our perimeter shielding, of the locals are to and the attitudes priority’. tags certainly Indeed, match,” he confollow suit, as does tems and security routinesdetection sys- around 240 homes security is of so much its incredible golf have so far been tinued. “It’s ultra exclusive and will thwart imporcourse, which has just tance so snobby, way more than a few hundred year, that after a late-night incident last most attempts to attack properties, built. the Chelsea or people allowed to which explains why an Israeli company the incident rate is “Most homes go for around 7 to 8 mil- Cheshire set. was commisthere’s its intriguingplay… and then sioned to build a new “Owners put 10,000 recent links to fence. ‘high tech electric’ 100 times lower than in other residen- lion euros,” explains one British agent, Russian dictator Vladamir tial complexes,” he claimed. who has sold a number club bar so they can euros behind the Putin, who Expected always get a drink owns a property there. The estate there over the last year. of properties or cigar when they to become the most want and “And some have expen- Baraka’ and was originally called ‘La even doubled The giant 2000 sqm sive in Spain, literally it owned crawling with Astonthe place is in price over the last by disgraced bilthe Rock of the King palace, known as 900-hectare estatewill run around the lionaire Saudi Martins, few and DB4s and years.” that (or Roca del Rey) McClarens.” counts on its own private vis, between Marbella sits in Benaha- Khashoggi, who arms dealer, Adnan All surrounded Thesedays, was and the foothills licopter pad and bowling vineyard, he- of the Serrania de some of the world’s said to have held they have either by deep woodland, galeta is runthe company behind ZaRonda. alley. sea by most or Ignacio mountain views debauched (or both), But it’s the three floors “The residents are parties at the hunting ter his father died two Perez Diaz, afwhile there is also lodge in the equestrian years ago. a private According that has got eyebrows underground euros each in two being charged 5,000 1970s. center and golf course, Europe’s security and raised among pay for it,” reveals installments to help Today it is the with in 2019, itsto its last available accounts clubhouse of the resort, a second one on the way. a source. “They are immediate holding As revealed by the defence elite. not exactly happy about which was acquired company Zagaleta International by a group of in- The amazing course, said to be one of it.” month, it counts Olive Press last It comes after Head UK Inc is based in Panama, while on armed guards of security Jose vestors in 1989 led by Andalucian bank- the best in Spain, only counts on 250 two other enand has a deep bunker Miguel Navarro boasted er, Enrique Perez monitoring the Flores, who came members, which is because only home- tities, Soto Properties SA and Campo last year that Straits of Gibraltar owners can join. Alto SA, are based in 24/7. And this in a his team have a ‘maximum response from Huelva. Switzerland. time of three minutes The giant estate was “The price for membership to any alert’. alone is approximately 420 then divided into 120,000 euros and plots, of which then it’s 10,000 a See pages II and III to find out year for the lead member more on the properties and 7,000 for Zagaleta available in

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Vol. 3 Issue 62 www.theolivepress.es April 7th - April 20th 2022

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HYPNOTISED BY JESUS!

HE grew his hair long like Jesus and was looked up to ‘like a god’. A so-called ‘healer’ (or curandero) he had a herbal medicine practice on the costas and a series of intelligent graduate friends. But sex cult leader Tio Toni, 64, was allegedly an evil child abuser, who brainwashed dozens of people into effectively living in slavery. Now, after police arrested Tio Toni - real name Antonio GL - along with eight other followers, five of them female, he is set to face 80 years in prison.

PSYCHIATRIST: Miguel Perlado

Victims and therapists tell Olive Press of ordeal at the hands of sex abuse cult leader Tio Toni By Jorge Hinojosa

In a shocking investigation, the Olive Press can reveal how Antonio allegedly hypnotised his followers to believe he was a spiritual healer over a staggering 30-year period. Victims and psychologists told us how the alternative medicine practitioner conned his respectable middle class patients into giving him money and sometimes even their homes. He even managed to enlist them into ritual sex sessions, some of them filmed on camera. In some of his most depraved acts, he allegedly took the virginity of teenagers, in front of his followers, also on camera. He managed to first snare his victims through an alternative health practice in the coastal city of Castellon. At the clinic, which doubled as a health shop, he conned his victims into believing their health and lives

vices and computers and ‘a bunker full of security and surveillance equipment’ revealed the local mayor. There were also allegedly videos of sexual orgies in which ritual practices regularly took place. Meanwhile, they seized training manuals for members, including one, ‘A course of Miracles’ which gave them a series of exercises and orders to follow.

Services

This week, a long-time neighbour of his home in Castellon, told the Olive Press Tio Toni would initially not charge for the ‘health’ services he provided. The woman, a fortune teller, visited his practice in Castellon on many occasions and ‘nearly got sucked in’. She said: “I spent months going to his consultation because he said he was a healer. He put his hands on me, claiming it would cure me. “But it soon became clear he was trying to manipulate me, especially when after a few sessions he asked me to go to a private back room with him. “That was the moment when I felt something strange was going on.” Asking to remain anonymous, she continued: “He was over-friendly with me, and told me he was sent from God and that’s why he grew his hair out like Jesus. “He was certainly very Portals Nous, persuasive and I saw a lot of people be07181, come totally obsessed with him,” she continMallorca. ued. “He made them SITE: The sect’s compound in rural Valencia feel they were totally

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- would improve by joining his cult, called Vistabella. As well as saying that he had been chosen ‘as an envoy from God’ and he was ‘cleaning up society’, he told them he was able to cure their ailments, including cancer. But once they had moved to live on his giant inland estate in the rural Maestrazgo region of Valencia, they effectively became his slaves. Working around the clock on a schedule their leader dictated, they had no idea, at least initially, that behind the scenes he was allegedly abusing their children and often their wives and partners. When police finally raided his huge finca, Mas de la Chaparra, a bright pink building, near the village of Vistabella del Maestrat, on March 15, they were astonished by what they found. Aside from €15,000 in cash, they discovered over 100 valuable watches, but the most unusual was a collection of keepsakes and mementos. These included drawers full of bizarre hair cuttings and dozens of religious calling cards. There were numerous storage de-

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SECT: Leader Tio Toni loved.” Over the course of ‘a few years’ she lost an alarming four friends to the sect, as well as a female member of her own family. “I was so worrie I ended up organising a meeting with them to try and tell them that this guy was manipulating us, but they just refused to believe me,” she continued. She revealed how Toni continually managed to expand and add to his inland estate in order to house his growing number of ‘believers’. When she tried more recently to get her friends out, she revealed how Toni had sent some of them to her home threatening to expose her as a witch. “They accused me of having done witchcraft on a child in the sect who had got really ill or died,” she explained. “It was very intimidating.” A psychologist, who called in police after he began working with a number of victims last year, said the abuse on the group and, in particular, children was ‘truly shocking’. Miguel Perlado told the Olive Press that the victims had first come to him ‘very confused’ about what was going on inside. “They could barely even describe the place where they had lived for so long,” he revealed, adding that they were threatened about speaking out ‘or they would get bad energy’. He said they ended up becoming very isolated from their family and friends and Tio Toni even made them become isolated from each other and ‘encouraged conflict between them’.

Burdened

They were burdened with many chores and the house was continually upgraded and maintained, so they ‘could not think for themselves’. He added that many of the minors Continues on Page 2

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF

AN illegal crop-spraying drone using dangerous chemicals has been brought down to earth in Orihuela. Police are probing how its operator was able to fly it just 200 metres from Orihuela City Centre and next to the River Segura.

Stole to order A SIX strong gang who stole goods to order from supermarkets for bargain-hunting Elche restaurants has been arrested by Alicante police.

Station assault AN axe-wielding man, 29, who tried to rob an Alicante petrol station was arrested after an employee locked himself inside the building and phoned police.

Shock fall A GIRL aged seven was rescued by firefighters after she fell five-metres into a cave at the Paraje de las Cuevas de Velez Rubio archaeological site in Puerto Lumbreras. She escaped unharmed.

April 7th - April 20th 2022

Aerial menace The craft was spewing out insecticides that are banned in aerial fumigation. As well as lacking approval for aerial spraying, the operator had no authorisation or certification to use a drone.

Pushing it First blood for prosecutor as ‘Requena Rambo’ refuses to testify while facing 60 years A MAN dubbed ‘Rambo of Requena’ after he shot someone in a botched robbery then fled to the hills for months, is facing life behind bars. Pedro Lozano, 30, also shot a policeman, before he was finally tracked down by a crack anti-terror unit in the Pyrenees. He is this week facing 60 years in prison during a trial in Teruel in which he is accused of

Bad trip POLICE are looking for a home robbery gang that travelled from Murcia to plunder properties in Gata de Gorgos and Pedreguer. One gang member, 25, was caught at a property and charged with 11 break-ins, eight of which happened in one evening.

By George Mathias & Jack Gaioni

attempted murder, abduction, coercion and multiple auto thefts. Gimenez, from Sagunto, near Valencia, is alleged to have stolen three cars and held a man hostage in a rampage in February 2020. Prosecutors allege he went on

Poor interpretation

TWO Russian interpreters have been arrested in Alicante for defrauding vulnerable Ukrainian refugees. Police say the mother and daughter scammed €5,000. The women snared their victims in queues of refugees at police stations who were obtaining Spanish residency permits. The duo spun a yarn that they were employed by the police. They falsely claimed they could speed up the processing of documentation in exchange for cash. Adults were charged €250 each and children were billed at €150 per head.

to burgle a villa in Requena before shooting and wounding the homeowner. It was then he went on-the-run, knowing that he was Public Enemy number one and the net was closing. He went to ground in the depopulated mountains between Requena and Teruel, where he would break in and sleep in unoccupied farmhouses. After numerous reports of break ins and sightings he was finally tracked down by Spain’s counter-terrorism Rapid Action Group, to the village of Muniesa, in June 2020. But police were unable to capture him and after a gunfight Gimenez escaped after wounding an officer with a sawn-off shotgun. He somehow managed to carjack a local driver before heading north, towards the Pyrenees. But police were soon on his tail,

using a flotilla of 4x4 vehicles, drones and even a helicopter. They finally cornered him in Albalate del Arzobispo, where they got involved in a second gun battle which ended with Lozano wounded multiple times.

Killing

Prosecutor Jorge Piedrafita has asked for a 60-year prison sentence as well as €180,000 in compensation. While Lozano has so far refused to testify, his defence insisted he had no intention of killing the Guardia agents. They said he deliberately did not aim at ‘any vital organs’ and should face no more than a two year sentence for serious injury, six months for illegal possession of a weapon, and one year for trespassing. The case continues.

Sex crime From front

didn’t attend school and also created ‘alternative identities’ because they didn’t have the capacity to explain what was going on. He added that it was possible the place was visited by foreigners and other expats, but the main sect was Spanish. A total of 12 victims were freed when police raided the farm, including two children, aged 13 and eight, who have been taken in by social services. This week, six of nine adult members were given bail while three, including Toni remain in custody.

Mail order crooks A GROUP of British marijuana farmers who sent their crops via a mail-order service have been busted by the Guardia Civil. The trio of growers were sniffed out after a parcel bound for the Netherlands oozed a strong stench of marijuana at an Almoradi courier despatch office. Two British men, 30 and 32, and a British woman, 26, have been arrested in Quesada for growing and distributing drugs. All three were bailed by an Orihuela court but their passports were removed in case they fled Spain. Two properties, accommodating indoor drug farms, were raided by the Guardia Civil. Some 500 marijuana plants were seized.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es SPANISH megastar Rosalia has revealed secret screenshots from fellow singing sensation Harry Styles - but it appears the pair’s interaction got lost in translation. During an interview on The Tonight Show the Catalan-born songstress explained that she changes her number a lot to help her focus when she’s working in the studio. When host Jimmy Fallon suggested that friends would then be texting someone else, she responded: “That happened to me – I didn’t know that someone else gets your old number. I thought you use that number and then it disappears or something.” The 28-year-old revealed that confusion over her digits recently left her red-faced when boyband star Styles tried to reach her. Instead of speaking to the Spanish warbler, clueless Styles accidentally messaged

April 7th - April 20th 2022

Lost in translation a mystery individual who inherited Rosalia’s old phone number. The Spanish pop star pulled her phone out to show the host screenshots of the bizarre exchange Styles had sent her, saying: “Your texts are so confusing.” In the screenshot, you can see that the British star had sent Rosalia a message about her song ‘Dolerme’, calling it ‘so beautiful’. The person with Rosalia’s old number then replied: “I know my darling.” After exchanging ‘love you’ messages, the stranger then revealed that they didn’t know who they were texting. When Styles told them he was ‘confused’, they replied: “This number belongs to someone before. But now it’s my number. So don’t bother me anymore. Good night.”

SLAP (UN)HAPPY… Pedro Almodovar reveals his thoughts about THAT Oscars slap and ‘cult leader’ Will Smith

Top score BARCELONA’S Camp Nou stadium was packed out as a world record 91,553 fans watched the home team beat Real Madrid 5-2 in a Women’s Champions League semi-final. The previous record for a women’s game was 90,185 at the 1999 World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

SPANISH director Pedro Almodovar has described how seeing Will Smith slapping Chris Rock over a misguided joke about his wife’s alopecia provoked ‘a feeling of absolute rejection’ in him. Almodovar wrote about the incident in a diary on his experience at attending the awards ceremony, for which his film Parallel Mothers was nominated for two Oscars. He reveals that he had a ringside seat and was ‘barely four metres from where it happened’. “In the general overhead shots, I am the little white head you see in the photo,” he revealed. “What I saw and heard pro-

BAD DEED: Almodovar unhappy with Smith duced a feeling of absolute rejection in me. Not only during the episode, but af-

…but Oscar happy

Win

THE Oscar headlines may have been taken by Will Smith’s infamous slap on Chris Rock, but a Spanish filmmaker has made a little bit of history. Spain took home its first ‘Best Animated Short Film’ Oscar, with animator Alberto Mielgo victorious thanks to a 15-minute movie called The Windsceen Wiper. The short took seven years to make with Madrid-born Milego having to finance the project himself. The Oscar success came as a surprise as an entry from the award-winning Aardman studio backed by Netflix was the hot favourite to win.

Up until now the record for a club fixture was 60,739 supporters who saw Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano back in March 2019. Club bosses were keen to see a bumper crowd for Wednesday’s match which saw Barca win 8-3 on aggregate. They allowed Barcelona’s 147,000 members four free tickets each, with non-members able to buy entrance for between €9 and €15.

terward, too, in the acceptance speech — a speech that seemed more like that of a cult leader,” he wrote. “You don’t defend or protect the family with your fists, and no, the devil doesn’t take advantage of key moments to do his work,” he said in reference to the advice Smith said he received from Denzel Washington.

Devil

“The devil, in fact, doesn’t exist. This was a fundamentalist speech that we should neither hear nor see.” His diary also featured deliciously indiscrete revelations about Kenneth Brannagh scouting for a part in his next film and gripes about America’s tendency to overuse air conditioning.

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TO SIR WITH NO LOVE SPAIN’S former king, Juan Carlos, is to appeal against a decision that he is not immune to a civil damages case brought by his ex-lover. A decision by High Court Justice, Matthew Nicklin, means that the emetrius king, who abdicated in 2014, could face a civil damages claim in London’s High Court. It has been brought by Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 58 and may mean that Juan Carlos, 84 and now living in Abu Dhabi, might be forced to give evidence in the case. She is suing Juan Carlos because she believes he asked Spain’s intelligence service in London to put her under surveillance since 2012, after she allegedly rebuffed his marriage proposal.

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QUEEN Letizia stood alongside Prince Charles to cut the ribbon at the first museum in the UK devoted entirely to Spanish art. The Spanish Gallery, located in a converted high street bank in Bishop Auckland (County Durham), wants to be the Prado of the North. On its walls hang masterpieces from the Spanish Golden Age by painters including El Greco, Murillo and Velazquez. The new museum is part of the Auckland Project, a regeneration scheme backed by art collector and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer. In 2010, he bought Auckland Castle and its contents which included several paintings by Francisco Zurbaran. Many pieces included in the first show are from Ruffer’s personal collection with additional loans from Museo del Prado, the Hispanic Society of America and other major collections of Spanish art.

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CRONYISM SCANDAL TORREVIEJA council has been slammed after it was revealed it paid out €27million - a quarter of its budget - to companies without contracts. Almost 250 payments were authorised without the full legal protocol being followed. This included the correct public tendering stage and an official review. Many of the payouts were justified by the council because they were considered to be for ‘urgent repairs’ or ‘essential services’. Street cleaning company Acciona, was the biggest beneficiary, charging over €18million for its services, without a proper contract. Vaersa was paid over €500,000 for rubbish disposal, also without a contract. Meanwhile, coach company Avanza billed the council almost €3.5 million. Other agreements being scrutinised are Actua (which maintain irrigation networks), Esatur (the sports activities and schools service) and the Post Office.

April 7th - April 20th 2022

Royal response

FOXY BABIES THIS cute bundle of fur is one of six flying fox pups born at Benidorm’s Terra Natura Zoo. The youngsters, who are doing well, will begin to fly when they reach three months. The park now has 49 flying A BRITISH man hosting a Ukrainian refugee family has had cash raised through a crowd-funding app withheld because he didn’t include his middle name when he registered. Teacher, Mark Bicknell, 51, from Entre Naranjos, in Orihuela, is furious with GoFundMe after taking in the family-of-three from Kyiv. They escaped to Spain with just three small backpacks last month. Mark decided to launch a GoFundMe appeal to help his guests, including a five-yearold girl. But weeks after raising over €500 to buy essential items for the family, it still can’t be accessed.

ONE in 10 of vehicles on Alicante province’s roads are uninsured. The high percentage exceeds the national average of 9%, according to government figures published this week. As well as risking fines between €601 and €3,000, owners are unable to pass their Technical Vehicle Inspec-

foxes who belong to the bat family. The world’s flying fox population has fallen by 30% over 15 years due to hunting, deforestation and the degradation caused by palm oil farming.

NoFundMe Expat can’t get cash donated to help him look after Ukrainian family EXCLUSIVE By Alex Trelinski

“The first few donations were processed but everything stopped as the fund-raiser was set up in the name of Mark Bicknell, but my bank account is registered as Mark William Bicknell,” he told the Olive Press.

While happy that GoFundMe flags up concerns, he believes that this time ‘it has gone too far’. It comes after he gave the organisation copies of his TIE card, passport, bank statements, and other personal details to clear up the matter.

Absurd

“All my communications were done via email with somebody called Bashir and despite the very extensive personal data I supplied they were still not satisfied,” said Mark. “This is patently unreasonable and absurd,” he added. Mark revealed that he had used GoFundMe before and had no problems over the

Trying it on tion (ITV). Throughout the Valencian Community, over 310,000 vehicles don’t have insurance, with a significant increase in the past 12 months.

RIDICULOUS: Mark Bicknell can’t get funds name variation. The Olive Press contacted GoFundMe’s media department in Spain, with boss Macarena Arcos promising she would be ‘contacting Mark to see how the problem can be solved as soon as possible’.

MURCIA'S teen tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz got a surprise call from the King to congratulate him on winning his first ATP 1000 Masters title at the age of 18. Alcaraz, from El Palmar, walked off court after defeating Norway's Casper Ruud in the Miami Open final to speak to King Felipe.

Nervous

The youngster, who turns 19 next month, said: “It’s pretty amazing to get the call from the King. I was more nervous about it than the match.” Alcaraz, coached by former Spanish star and Grand Slam winner, Juan Carlos Ferrero, has raced up to a new ATP world ranking of 11 after b e coming the first Spaniard to win the M i a m i event.

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Caring church THE Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante has welcomed 213 families fleeing from war in Ukraine. Some 1,019 people, mostly women and children, have been directly supported by the local church, along with various municipal support services. So far, €125,000 has been raised to support the work of Caritas in Ukraine and along its borders. Locally, aid has been focused on larger cities and coastal areas, where there are more Ukrainian communities. The Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, Monsignor Munilla, has now appealed for more families to welcome refugees into their homes.

Bogus brands

A fraud involving bogus brand labels being slapped onto cheap clothes imports has been broken up by the Guardia Civil in the Murcia region. A warehouse was raided in Archena with almost 10,000 counterfeit products seized and over 16,000 home-made labels and boxes featuring well-known brand names like Nike. The retail value of the fake products was an estimated €1.7 million. Six men and six women are being investigated.

NEWS

April 7th - April 20th 2022

RAINBOW’S END

But no gold for British couple as their dream home is bulldozed in another sad chapter in Spain’s planning history FOR two decades it had been the dream retirement home of British couple David and Janet Hartshorn. The four-bedroom villa in the hills above the Costa del Sol had all the hallmarks of the perfect escape from rainy, cold north-west England. The retired publicans from Cheshire, had long dreamed of their place in the sun. So when the opportunity of buying the dreamy Torrox plot came up, they jumped at the opportunity. However, Villa Arco Iris (meaning ‘rainbow’) has proved to be anything but its BEFORE: The couple’s dream home Arcos Iris

EXCLUSIVE by George Mathias

namesake and rather than a pot of gold it has left them hundreds of thousands of euros out of pocket. The couple had fallen for the age-old trick of trusting local tradesmen in southern Spain. They had been assured by building firm Nertor that they would be able to develop a small shack on a plot of land into the sizable retreat they valued at €500,000 last year. But just one year after buying it, they discovered it was illegal. And that is where their nightmare began. Some two decades later at exactly 9.01am on April 5, 2022, a town hall bulldozer started on a 40-minute rampage to bring it down to

DEVASTATED: Janet and David, as home is demolished rubble. Their countless pleas to Malaga Court to reconsider, even including a request to give up the property to Ukrainian refugees, were all in vain. The authorities were adamant that it should not have been built and never had the correct permission. Despite enlisting lawyers and local pressure group SOHA nothing could be done. To add insult to injury, the cost of the demolition work will be charged to the couple - to the tune of €24,000. Now the plot, formerly an idyllic setting for the Hartshorn’s and their family friends to spend long summers, has been reduced to a derelict building site. “It is very distressing and a big part of our life’s work has been turned to rubble,” David told the Olive Press, last night.

“We have put all our life savings into this work, and now it is all going to be taken away.” He continued: “It beggars belief how this can happen. Consultation with certain Spanish contractors is a downfall from the beginning. They bend the truth.” On Monday morning, David, accompanied by daughter Adelle, 46, who had flown over from England for moral support, finally accepted the fate of their beloved home. The only legal part of the house is an uninhabitable 20-square-metre annexe. This was spared by the demolition team but it will come as little consolation to the Hartshorn’s, who have been forced to move in with friends nearby and who will leave the country for good on May 6. The case echoes that of Len and Helen Prior in Almeria

who watched as bulldozers flattened their villa after it was deemed illegal by the town hall in Vera. For 13 years they lived in the garage on the plot, while they mounted a legal battle that eventually declared the demolition was illegal. They won damages. Another victim, Gurney Davey, saw his home razed to the ground in the Guadalhorce Valley last year.

Painful

The Olive Press has previously reported on 30,000 homes in Andalucia that were retroactively made legal in urban planning law change. But such a law has not been extended to the Cheshire couple. “I was not able to watch the demolition, it was too painful,” David added last night.

NEWS FEATURE

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OPINION NOT AGAIN! THE horror and heartbreak of seeing one’s home smashed into smithereens isn’t a fate reserved solely for those living under threat of Russian bombs in the Ukraine. And while Andalucia is far from a war zone and noone is in fear for their lives, it must feel pretty close to it for the couple who this week watched their dream home reduced to rubble. It’s a travesty that such a terrible outcome continues to happen to those who fall foul of Spain’s planning laws, either because they were duped by unscrupulous developers, trusted the wrong legal advice or unwittingly failed to follow the proper procedure. Or in some cases, like the infamous Priors, did everything right yet ended up having to live in their garage. For decades Andalucia’s political factions have passed the buck on ending such abuses and streamline the planning process, not just to prevent rampant corruption of town halls but to protect those who bought in good faith and invested their hard-earned life savings to spend their retirement in the sun. Despite amnesties, ombudsmans and appeal processes, we are still writing headlines about bulldozers rolling in. It’s time Spain took responsibility once and for all to protect homeowners instead of penalise them.

FINGERS CROSSED IT’S hard not to feel hopeful with Easter just around the corner that we are finally putting the hardships of the pandemic behind us. After two years of cancelled Semana Santa, tourists are set to return in numbers close to pre-Covid times. Whether flocking to the beaches for some much needed sunshine or crowding the streets to watch the religious spectacle of the processions, let’s keep our fingers crossed that the recent storms clear and it doesn’t rain on the parade! Happy Easter!

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A viable alternative Forget mystery skulls and the Maddie McCann suspect, Orgiva’s globally-known alternative community is bustling with cultural links to Robert Graves, Genesis, the Olive Press, and even the Romans, writes Jo Chipchase

PAIN’S most famous alternative community has been in the news this year after a human skull was found in its midst, while it also emerged the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann mystery spent considerable time in Orgiva. Christian Brueckner, 45, was a regular visitor to the Dragon Festival and frequently stayed in the Alpujarra area following the toddler’s abduction from Portugal in 2007, as we revealed. However, these are just a handful of the rich and varied things that happen in and around this thriving Granada market town. With an artistic and colourful community that attracts people from around the world, Orgiva is one of Spain’s only rural places that is a hive of activity for most of the year. The hub of the country’s alternative scene, rather like Glastonbury or Totnes in the UK, hundreds of free-spirited individuals live in Orgiva, where coincidentally the Olive Press launched in 2006. But forget the town itself, nearby is a trio of alternative settlements - Ben-

UCH! Another electric bill arrived today as more evidence of the skyrocketing price of energy. Electricity costs have quadrupled - yes quadrupled! - from February last year to February this year, according to official figures. You might assume then that any additional source supplying power to the grid would be much welcomed. Not so, if you consider the current hot debate in town halls around many parts of Spain. Take inland Valencia. Requena, Utiel and Siete Aguas are all opposing the installation of 10 new wind turbines in the nearby Sierra de Tejo. These turbines are massive significantly larger than those in nearby Buñol and other parts of the province - and would be installed atop towers of up to 110 metres and with blades measuring 150 metres (normally 40 to 90 metres). To proceed, two forest tracks will have to be built and maintained to accommodate the oversized turbines around Siete Aguas. Healthy stands of pine and oak will need to be cut, resulting in potential erosion, while a high voltage line will run to a substation on the opposite side of the A-3 highway. Such are the concerns for bird mortality, the town halls are preparing a motion to expand the special ZEPA bird protection zone, an EU directive that already covers much of the Sierra del Tejo area. On many levels, I hope they are

eficio, Cigarrones and El Morreon that date back to the 1980s, when the UK had a thriving new age traveller scene – one that easily relocated to sunnier climes at the drop of a hat. Completely multinational Beneficio is the only true ‘community’, explains Ela Graves, the grand-daughter of celebrated writer Robert Graves, who has lived around Orgiva for four decades. And, as the Olive Press discovered, not everything is rosy in these ‘social experiments’.

Beautiful Beneficio Some 400 people live in this stunning valley between Orgiva and Canar, with various long-term residents living high up on the land, near an old Roman road. Very international today, the community was originally established by Brits, mostly from Wales, including Sorrell Badger, who came from the Tally Valley, in the 1980s. “We were discussing finding somewhere warmer and drier to live under canvas,” she explains. “So a small group left Tally and came to Spain to look for a suitable place to live, and here they discovered Beneficio.”

They initially bought and settled on a finca and soon many like-minded people joined them investing time and money, including John and Yvonne, who started a communal tipi called ‘Big Lodge’. One British old-timer – who visited on holiday in 1992 and simply never left – invested with some other community members, who bought two adjoining farms. Today, most of the land is privately owned, although some is natural park and people aren’t permitted to camp within 15 metres of the river. While described by some as a ‘peaceful retreat’ and ‘a spiritual

Wind of change Two sides of the ecologist movement clash as Spain debates renewable energy, writes Jack Gaioni

successful, but there is another side to this debate: On windy days in Spain, wind generation supplies up to 71% of the nation’s demand - surpassing all other electricity sources. It is cheaper per kilowatt hour, emits much less greenhouse gas and uses less water consumption than any other energy source. Furthermore, it makes electricity

directly, circumventing the need to burn fossil fuels (coal) or process uranium for nuclear power. Spain has a favourable topography and climate for wind power and is, in fact, the fifth largest wind power creator in the world. As it did with tunnelling (due to its mountains), the country has developed proven technical know-how to improve and ex-

pand in wind generation. Climate impact vs. high c energy debates will not en arguments both for and a wind power are symptom complex, multi-faceted that have no easy solution The energy companies an halls, like those in rural cia, both make convincing ments for their side.

cost of nd. The against matic of issues ns. nd town Valeng argu-

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April 7th - April 20th 2022

MEET THE OP TEAM

A busy life

A focus on Olive Press journalist Alex Trelinski

H awakening’, others revealed a growing division between some of the old-timers and the more recent (and transient) car park dwellers, over ‘partying’ and keeping the place tranquil. There are also tales of ‘fake gurus’ targeting younger girls, and most residents agree that ‘Bene’, as it is often known, has more than its fair share of problematic people. “A lot of people with mental health problems are attracted to Beneficio,” explains Tony,

who has also lived in El Morreon. But half the time, explained another, the local police and Guardia Civil literally send them up there. “They sometimes literally drop them off at our entrance track,” she adds. Despite this, there are many positive features to Bene, in particularly its woodland setting. Romanian mother-ofthree, Chunga, who has lived there for 12 years, showed us its communal lounging and cooking facilities, a natural pool for a cool dip, a women’s space, clothes sharing spaces, and an adventure play area for children. Despite claims by some local authorities that the locals aren’t correctly registered in Spain, the majority are actually on the official ‘padron’ at nearby Canar town hall.

Counterculture of Cigarrones

There are no easy answers; the exponential rise in electricity costs are draconian and the arguments against turbines are often strong. The best we can do is apply careful scrutiny and scientific rigour to the debates in each specific area… and all the while, turn off the lights, and watch our energy consumption.

Along the riverbed, near Tablones, are hundreds of alternative people who privately own their land. Famed for the annual Dragon festival, which was eventually banned, Cigarrones had an alternative scene in the 1970s, when dozens of English students left the UK to buy and renovate a series of abandoned buildings. Forward-thinking individuals, including Ela Graves, who bought in the 1980s, they believed in the concept of permaculture and utilised the already-existing irrigation system. Graves, the grandchild of celebrated writer Robert (I Claudius and Goodbye to all That) she was joined by her recently-deceased counterculture hero brother, Davey Graves. Across the river, Driving Over Lemons writer, Chris Stewart, carved out his own little corner of sustainable paradise. A creative scene developed, involving the arts and music and, in 1987, a series of new age party crews from the UK started parking up and joining until in 1996 the Dragon Festival was born. During its heyday in the early 2000s, this anarchic festival attracted over 10,000 revellers, which didn’t please everyone, including the then-mayor, Adolfo Martin Padial, who sent in the police. A more receptive socialist mayoress helped a little but the antagonism between the organisers and the town hall eventually became too much and, in 2009, it came to a halt, with large fines issued to the organisers. They had been on the authority’s radar since activist Vittorio Miotto organised a series of protests against a quarry scheme in 2004, which led to arrests, but, in the end, derailed the plans. As Miotto recalls today: “I first turned up in Ciggy to help someone sort out a clutch problem on a bus. It was love at first sight - I’d landed in

paradise with food growing everywhere.” And he’s still there today. “Ciggy is forever changing, it’s an un-intentional community - everyone just does their thing with respect for others. The ‘elders’ who have been there since the early 90s are all still there, so it must be working.” Cigarrones has a collaborative vibe where people can display their arts and crafts, and share home-grown vegetables and snacks.

Autonomy in El Morreon El Morreon runs along the Rio Suico towards the Rio Guadalfeo. Set up by Israelis in the 1980s, they launched a campaign for anyone to turn up and join their free-spirited, open-minded community, where they were told you would ‘never starve’. Nikki B, who came from the UK in 1994, explains: “It’s a village of many nationalities, including Spanish. Although it’s not a community in the sense of everyone working together as a whole, the village comes together in times of need, change, work, necessity, and the occasional celebration. “We are a group of similar-minded individuals connected by common aims and inspirations such as self-government, self-responsibility and sustainable living through exchange. “We also believe in hard work in the gardens, as well as alternative energy sources and low impact dwellings, plus respecting our neighbours and our differences.” The place has certainly changed a lot over the years, she continues. “When I arrived it was dry and barren, while now it’s green and abundant. Every year I make olive oil, dry almonds and fruits and preserve vegetables.” Nikki certainly didn’t starve. “In this environment, I have lived from donations and exchanging skills and food with others. “Consumerism does not rule my life and I have time to explore my art and music. “I was able to follow some of my dreams. I was once told ‘when you live here, you become more yourself than you ever thought. Nobody will take responsibility for you here’. What a beautiful introduction to autonomy and authenticity.”

AVING interviewed a legion of political leaders, from Tony Blair to David Cameron and Paddy Ashdown to Tony Benn, getting a comment from a councillor in Javea or Orihuela must sometimes seem trivial. But there’s never been a dull moment for Alex Trelinski, since he rocked up on the Costa Blanca 13 years ago. Now the rock of the Olive Press reporting team in the East of Spain, it was certainly a change of lifestyle for a man, who worked since 1981 as a presenter, producer, and manager at the BBC. Cutting his death at Radio Humberside, his first major interview was with actress Rula Lenska, which he conducted in Polish for 20 seconds to shock both himself and his listeners. He went on to present hundreds of sports shows for over 25 years following the likes of Derby County and Nottingham Forest. He also worked as a presenter for BBC Sport in London rubbing shoulders with presenters like Chris Evans and Chris Moyles, before becoming boss of Radio Derby. Political programmes were also his passion and election night programmes were frequently anchored in the Midlands and the North. Grilling the likes of ‘Red’ Ed Milliband and Neil Kinnock came easy, while not so easy was handling a drunk councillor suggesting studio guest Margaret Beckett wasn’t wearing underwear, live on air. His most memorable broadcast moment came when he was dragged from the pub on a Sunday night in 1989 to present all-night coverage of the Kegworth air disaster, which killed 47 people as the plane landed on the M1 motorway. His reporting team went on to recieve an international award for its coverage. Come the late noughties, he approached his personal half-century and fancied a life change and a move abroad. Spain and the Costa Blanca came out of the hat, and Alex has worked on local radio and other media over the years before ending up in a key role with the Olive Press. Despite occasionally missing the BBC, it’s a move that he has not regretted.

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: PICS: It looks like armageddon Costa del 1-SolIN turns orange yet again as another calima hits Spain brown Spain’s white villages call for 2- Stained help to clear up after Sahara sandstorms have gone forward but here’s why 3- TheSpainclocks is still stuck in the wrong time zone never buy pre cut fruit and 4- Why youvegshould at supermarkets in Spain Putin: despite Spain declaring there 5- Chateau are no oligarchs based here, the Olive Press can reveal at least one

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GREEN

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOR NEVER

Calls for Spain to stop plans for farms in protected wetlands LEADING supermarkets across Europe including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Tesco and Asda are calling on Andalucia to halt plans to allow more strawberry farms near protected wetlands. A public letter signed by major food companies and sent to regional president Juanma Moreno urged him not to approve a plan that would allow the creation of new farms in an area already threatened by water theft that has drained vulnerable aquifers. Moreno is studying legislation that could approve more agriculture within the Donaña National Park, one of Spain’s most valuable wetlands and a UNESCO protected wildlife site.

Lynxes

The marshes are visited by millions of migrating birds each year and the area is also home to a sizeable population of endangered Iberian lynxes. Some 1,900 acres of the park is occupied by greenhouses cultivating strawberries. “The existing special plan is an important tool to ensure more sustainable cultivation at the origin of the supply chain,” they say. “We are concerned that the proposed changes undermine this goal and endanger the Doñana national park,” says the letter. “Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure the sustainability of water and soil management in Doñana in the long term,” it continues. “Should this

By Katharina Beiersdoerfer

not succeed, we believe that the reputation and the long-term development of the region as a supply area are at risk.”

April 7th - April 20th 2022

Take a bow THE UK’s first liquified natural gas-powered ferry has made its inaugural voyage as it sailed from Portsmouth to Bilbao. Brittany Ferries’ Salamanca departed with more than 600 passengers and freight vehicles on a trip that will now become a regular route. Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu said: “LNG-powered ships like Salamanca are a clear statement of our commitment to the future and to fleet renewal. “They are cleaner vessels, significantly cutting air quality emissions like soot and sulphur.” The Salamanca will now make two trips to Bilbao each week as well as a weekly return-voyage to Cherbourg in France. Both Bilbao and Santander ports will host refuelling terminals to power the ships in partnership with Spanish fuel giant Repsol.

Environmental disasters that need action now

HEED THE NEWS! APART from the devastating and deeply upsetting events unfolding in Ukraine, two very noteworthy pieces of news were in the news last week that should not be allowed to pass by without comment. I will cover them both separately. They equally reinforce my constant message that more needs to be done to protect the environment for future generations. PLASTIC IS TOXIC A new study has revealed that of those people tested, 77% had plastic in their blood. Microplastics (tiny plastic particles) are pollutants found almost everywhere on Earth. Scientists have detected microplastics on Mount Everest, in the Mariana Trench, in baby poo. AND NOW IN HUMAN BLOOD. Polthylene Terephthalate (PET), commonly used in disposable water bottles, was the most widely encountered plastic, closely followed by Polystyrene (PS) which is used for food packaging.

Green

WHERE IS IT GOING IN OUR BODIES?

Some will be excreted, but some will be retained in our organs. Not a pleasant thought. Microplastics, like all plastics, are non-biodegradable. They can take hundreds of years to degrade in the environment. Our bodies do not last that long. It is yet another wake up call for us all. Plastic pollution is a widespread problem. It contributes to climate change, threatens ocean health, damages the health of marine species, food safety and quality and affects coastal tourism. And now it is being proven to affect human health and it is all at a phenomenal cost to the world’s economies. Experts predict that the societal cost of plastic pollution produced will exceed €7 TRILLION by 2040. Last year, the estimated costs of plastic pollution topped €4 trillion. In addition 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels gas, oil and fracked gas. It is truly toxic and harms all aspects of life from the moment production begins. HEATWAVE IN THE ANTARCTIC How does the coldest place on earth have a heatwave? It is yet another wake up call. At the end of March an unprecedented temperature was recorded in the Antarctic. A temperature of 40C ABOVE AVERAGE was recorded at the French/Italian research station Concordia, located over 3000 metres above sea level on the Antarctic plateau. Meanwhile at the other extreme of the planet in the Arctic, in the absence of sunlight, a temperature 30C

higher than the March average was recorded. With both the Antarctic and Arctic breaking records this calls into question even the most pessimistic climate change models. So what does all this mean? Scientists are predicting catastrophic polar ice melt that will cause sea levels to rise and disrupt ocean currents. This reinforces my regular message - climate change is NOT a future problem, it needs tackling now. Every fraction of a degree increase in global warming matters. Francisco Navarro, a glacier expert at the Technical University of Madrid, warns that these polar heatwaves contribute to many recently documented disasters. And what more, if we warm the planet by two degrees more (which we are on track to do) these events will be 14 times more frequent. The damage caused by global warming in these regions is irreversible. A temperature spike on February 8 this year caused the collapse of an ice shelf measuring 3,800 square kilometres. Sea levels in Antarctica are predicted to rise by up to 1.7 metres by 2100. All this sadly has consequences for us all.

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Property

S pr pa op in’ in er s b En ty es gl ma t ish g

APRIL 2022

€12.7m

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The rules for rural home hunting, see our guide on page IV

Life in the shade THE enclave of Zagaleta has often been described as ‘southern Europe’s most exclusive place to live’. And when you count on the celebrities, captains of industry and, now, the global dictators who stalk its privileged spaces, that’s no surprise. The multi-million price tags certainly follow suit, as does its incredible golf course, which has just a few hundred people allowed to play… and then there’s its intriguing recent links to Russian dictator Vladamir Putin, who owns a property there. The giant 2000 sqm palace, known as the Rock of the King (or Roca del Rey) counts on its own private vineyard, helicopter pad and bowling alley. But it’s the three floors underground that has got eyebrows raised among Europe’s security and defence elite. As revealed by the Olive Press last month, it counts on armed guards and has a deep bunker monitoring the Straits of Gibraltar 24/7. And this in a

It’s one of Spain’s most expensive places to live. But few know what goes on behind the high tech fences of La Zagaleta, where Putin is said to own a giant palace. Olive Press Property takes a peek gated community that claims that security is ‘its number one priority’. Indeed, security is of so much importance that after a late-night incident last year, an Israeli company was commissioned to build a new ‘high tech electric’ fence. Expected to become the most expensive in Spain, it will run around the 900-hectare estate that sits in Benahavis, between Marbella and the foothills of the Serrania de Ronda. “The residents are being charged 5,000 euros each in two installments to help pay for it,” reveals a source. “They are not exactly happy about it.” It comes after Head of security Jose Miguel Navarro boasted last year that his team have a ‘maximum response time of three minutes to any alert’.

“Our perimeter shielding, detection systems and security routines will thwart most attempts to attack properties, which explains why the incident rate is 100 times lower than in other residential complexes,” he claimed. The estate was originally called ‘La Baraka’ and owned by disgraced billionaire Saudi arms dealer, Adnan Khashoggi, who was said to have held some of the world’s most debauched parties at the hunting lodge in the 1970s. Today it is the clubhouse of the resort, which was acquired by a group of investors in 1989 led by Andalucian banker, Enrique Perez Flores, who came from Huelva. The giant estate was then divided into approximately 420 plots, of which

around 240 homes have so far been built. “Most homes go for around 7 to 8 million euros,” explains one British agent, who has sold a number of properties there over the last year. “And some have even doubled in price over the last few years.” All surrounded by deep woodland, they have either sea or mountain views (or both), while there is also a private equestrian center and golf course, with a second one on the way. The amazing course, said to be one of the best in Spain, only counts on 250 members, which is because only homeowners can join. “The price for membership alone is 120,000 euros and then it’s 10,000 a year for the lead member and 7,000 for

the second member of the family,” adds the agent. “It’s real royal golf and the attitudes of the locals are to match,” he continued. “It’s ultra exclusive and so snobby, way more than the Chelsea or Cheshire set. “Owners put 10,000 euros behind the club bar so they can always get a drink or cigar when they want and the place is literally crawling with Aston Martins, and DB4s and McClarens.” Thesedays, the company behind Zagaleta is run by Ignacio Perez Diaz, after his father died two years ago. According to its last available accounts in 2019, its immediate holding company Zagaleta International UK Inc is based in Panama, while two other entities, Soto Properties SA and Campo Alto SA, are based in Switzerland.

See pages VI and VII to find out more on the properties available in Zagaleta

APRIL 2022

PROPERTY

ANOTHER YEAR OF BATTLE?

AVING barely recovered in 2021, international demand for property in Spain faces another challenging year in

ANALYSIS: How the Ukraine war might affect property sales in Spain, writes Mark Stucklin

2022. Under the circumstances, foreign demand recovered reasonably well last me an average purchase price of year from a deep slump in 2020 that €150,000. was largely due to the pandemic. By the end of 2021 the foreign marThat said, the market is still smaller ket share had fallen to 10.8%, down than it was in 2019, and this year from 12.5% in 2019. But the truth the international market faces a new is that the decline started before the headwind in the fallout from the war pandemic, with sales falling 4% in in Ukraine. 2019 after nine years of uninterrupAs I pointed out in my last column for ted growth. the Olive Press Property Magazine in Then along came 2020 with the coFebruary, the market ronavirus pandemic. staged a remarkaCovid-19 was undersble recovery in 2021 tandably challenging as sales increased It’s remarkable for foreign buyers, an annualised 38% with international trathat there nationwide last year, vel being hit hard. and by almost 20% Many potential buyers were 50,000 compared to 2019. were unable to travel international But most of that to Spain in 2020, and growth was driven by travel restrictions have sales in 2020 strong local demand, lingered to this day. while foreign demand All things considered failed to recover all it’s remarkable that the ground it lost over the pandemic there were close to 50,000 internayear of 2020. tional sales in 2020, and 61,000 in Foreign demand is not an insignifi- 2021. cant segment of the Spanish proper- But although foreign buyers increaty market. In the last decade foreign sed by 29% last year they were still buyers have gone from a low of 6% down 3% compared to 2019. Local market share in 2011 to a high of demand, in contrast, was up 14% 13% in 2016. compared to 2019. That represents an investment of By nationality, the British were still €8 billion that year if you assu- the biggest group of foreign buyers

in 2021, but not as dominant as they used to be. Ten years ago the UK represented almost 20% of the foreign market for Spanish property, and was almost double the next biggest market every year for more than a decade. By 2021 the British market share fell to 11%, just ahead of Germany on 10%, and France on 8%. The UK is now just another big market vying for the top spot. The Germans even overtook British buyers in the third quarter of last year - the first time that has ever happened. Declining British demand is a big reason why the international market failed to make a bigger recovery last year. UK demand recovered a modest 8% in 2021 compared to the pandemic year, and remained 23% below 2019, while German demand recovered 58%, and 30% respectively. Brexit is undoubtedly a big part of the explanation for weak British demand, especially the 90/180 day rule. So all in all, 2022 looks like another challenging year for the international market. The ramifications of Brexit are still unfolding, the pandemic is still a fly

in the ointment, and now the awful war in Ukraine is making everyone nervous. One conveyancing lawyer reports the market has ground to a halt like the Russian advances as investors opt to wait and see, while other property professionals I have spoken to report business as usual. Ultimately, it’s too early to tell. Some muse that the conflict in eastern Europe will increase demand for homes in Spain, which is protected by the Pyrenees and about as far away as you can get in Europe from Russia (by that argument, Portugal is even better placed). But the conflict could also exacerbate the economic problems caused

by the pandemic, with high energy prices pushing up inflation and reducing purchasing power in many European countries. Will the conflict reduce the number of buyers from Russia and Ukraine, who numbered 2,000 in 2021 combined, and represented 3.4% of the foreign market, or will it increase their numbers as they flee the region? I expect more will want to move to Spain, but less will be able to do so. Check out more from Mark Stücklin at Spanish Property Insight for the latest news and analysis to help you navigate the Spanish property market as you buy or sell real estate in Spain.

Unique family villa resort in sunny Spain, Benicull, Valencia, ready to enjoy and create new family memories

For Sale

€690.000

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III

APRIL 2022

IN THE MONEY!

FIVE STAR BOON A HOTEL builder is planning a further 590 five-star bedrooms. Around 235 million euros are to be invested by the Millenium group in properties including two in the business district of Madrid. The group’s latest hotel, the Radisson Collection Hotel Gran Vía, has just opened in Bilbao with 137 rooms. The group has another hotel in Bilbao, plus others in Sevilla and Sotogrande.

Not breaking in the Top 10 CATALUNYA has the highest percentage of burglaries in Spain. Meanwhile, Spain had 142,780 break ins in 2019, the last available figures, making it 11th globally. Just 15% of these burglaries were solved and the total cost was 213 million euros, according to insurance company Budget Direct. The highest break-in rates in the world are in Peru, which had 2,806 burglaries per 100,000 inhabitants.

VALENCIA, Toledo and Granada are the most affordable provinces in Spain. According to property portal Idealista there are 89 towns in Valencia with homes offered for sale below €1,000 per square metre. The cheapest properties are in the village of Benifairo de la Valldigna, at just €430 per square metre. Toledo province in Castilla-La

Mancha had 65 towns and Granada 40 meanwhile. The town which has the cheapest property in Spain is that of Alcaudete de la Jara, in Toledo, where the average price was just €316 per square metre. It is followed by the nearby Cordoba towns of Fuente Obejuna, with €341 and Belmez with €370. In total, 815 towns across Spain have homes for sale below €1,000 per square metre. On the other end of the scale are the four provinces where not a single property can be found with a price tag below €1,000 per square metre. Not surprisingly, these are the Balearic islands, the provinces of Guipuzcoa and Vizcaya in the Basque Country and finally Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

Peak of luxury Stunning rock star mansion acquired in the Pyrenees

A STUNNING mountain retreat where a famous Spanish singer sheltered for the last year of his life has sold for €2.2 million. The 912 sqm home of Pau Dones, who died in 2020, has been acquired by a middle aged couple, believed to be from northern Europe. The farmhouse, in the village of Betlan, in the Val de Aran region of the Pyrenees, is just 20kms from Spain’s top skiing resort Baqueira Beret. The six-bed, six-bath property has three wings and includes its own gym and recording studio for Pau’s band Jarabe de Palo. He bought it in 2000 and united three separate buildings, as well as building a treehouse for his daughter Sara. The wood and stone built farmhouse was the perfect retreat for Pau, when he died of advanced colon cancer at the age of 53. Sitting on the edge of the village it had a 6000 sqm garden, with breatht a k i n g views across the nearby peaks and valleys.

Live healthy in Valencia Pic credits: Engel & Volkers

PROPERTY investment in Spain is at record levels and more than double last year. Transactions in the first quarter are expected to hit €3.7 billion, a 136% increase on 2021. According to real estate consultancy firm JLL, residential rental property has become the main segment for investment. This year has also seen a strong return to investment in hotels, following uncertainty in the sector due to the pandemic.

BARGAIN BUYS

SNAPPED UP: Mystery buyer purchases former rocker’s house

It has a separate guest cottage with its own parking space. It has been described

Bullring up for sale THE Plaza de Toros de Fuengirola is looking for new owners. Turina Victoria, the company that owns the bullring, has set an asking price of €4.5 million for the historic building, which has a capacity of over 4,000. The premises were refurbished in 2012 preserving the facade and expanding the premises by 2,500 square metres. A statue of bullfighter Antonio Jose Galan, known as Feungirola’s favourite son, is one of the defining features of the grounds. The bullring, built in 1962, is being advertised on Spain’s property portal Idealista and includes the bullring, the car park, and all commercial premises. “Over the course of 60 years, the most outstanding figures of bullfighting have performed here including Antonio Ordoñez, El Cordobes, Paco Ojeda and Espartaco,” the listing on Idealista said. Bullfighting in the square normally takes place in the summer season and during the month of October as part of the Fair

as being ‘among the best properties’ in the entire Val de Aran region. “The family who bought it wanted a unique house in the valley but not too near the skiing slopes,” explained Xavi Cardona, of the agency that sold it, Engel & Volkers. “For reasons of discretion I cannot give you any more details.”

VALENCIA has been named the healthiest city in the world to live in, followed by Madrid. The study, conducted by money. co.uk, looked at a range of factors such as air pollution, obesity, and number of sunlight hours as well as healthcare quality and affordability. Valencia has been top of the list for the second year in a row, owing to its good weather and high life expectancy. Barcelona was also featured, coming in at 17 on the list. Despite this, Spain did not feature in the top 20 healthiest countries. Japan was deemed to be the healthiest country in the world, thanks to its incredibly low rates of obesity and healthy diet, followed by Switzerland. Surprisingly, Cuba was third on the list. Despite being a relatively poor country, it has a world renowned healthcare system. Neither the UK nor any of its cities were featured on the top 20 lists. The study was released in advance of World Health Day on April 7, a global health awareness day in partnership with the World Health Organization.

My Spanish saviour

of the Virgen del Rosario, patron saint of the city. Not limited to bullfights, the ring has hosted a wide variety of cultural events over the years including equestrian shows, dressage events, and carriage displays. A number of parties are thought to have already expressed interest in acquiring the bullring, with at least one interested in changing its use. However, under law, the building must be retained for predominantly cultural use.

SELLING a villa in Mallorca saved singing star Claire Sweeney during the pandemic. The former Brookside actress, who is currently starring in 9 to 5: The Musical, sold it for just under €1million in 2019, which helped her ‘sit it out comfortably’. It more than made up for her paltry earnings of just 6,000 euros during the whole of 2021 with almost no work. “Our industry was decimated. Thankfully I’d sold this big house in Spain so I was blessed that I could sit it out comfortably,” she told the Sunday Times. “It broke my heart to sell but it was in its own grounds and my little boy didn’t want that - he wanted to be with other kids.” She bought the house in 2004 for €690,000 and sold it for €950,000, but ended up ‘more or less’ even after all the taxes. “I wanted to do everything right and paid both Spanish and English taxes…I got back more or less what I’d put into it,” she continued.

APRIL 2022

PROPERTY

GUIDE TO BUYING IN THE CAMPO

INVEST IN A DREAM, NOT A NIGHTMARE... The Olive Press asks a series of industry professionals how to avoid falling into traps when buying rural properties

ANY people dream of buying in Spain’s beautiful ‘campo’ (countryside) but, if you don’t proceed with caution, your vision of a tranquil life could easily turn into a rural episode of ‘Homes from Hell’. Some common nightmares encountered by unsuspecting buyers include paperwork irregularities, a lack of water, border disputes, access problems and hostile neighbours. And that is just the half of it. Here we take a look at some of the key issues that need to be considered: Boundaries matter First and foremost, don’t buy anything that doesn’t have a ‘Nota Simple’ (an official land registry report) which means it isn’t legally registered. Spain has two different property registration systems - the Registro de la Propiedad (Property Registry), which is focused on ownership and title, and the Catastro or Cadastre, which shows the geographic location of the property, with a physical description and the boundaries defined. The latter is used to calculate property taxes. It’s always best if the two property records match up, although this is quite often not the case, especially with older properties. However, you don’t want a lot of divergence. In 2015, a law was passed to coordinate the two databases. “The first thing to do is to check the boundaries of the property - that the description coordinates with the square meters shown on the Castastral,” says architect Julian Dominguez of MDV Construction, in Orgiva, who does a lot of work for estate agencies and buyers in rural Granada. He recommends buyers request the current certification from the Cadastre with a full description of the property so they can check and compare that there are no discrepancies. Judi- th Sunley, one

By Jo Chipchase buyer who got caught out in the rural Axarquia area of Malaga, insists: “Make sure the vendor or their agent shows you the actual boundary walking it with you - to avoid disputes with neighbours later.” She has a cautionary tale having bought a charming rural home in 2013 with her solicitor telling her it wasn’t a problem that the Catastral It can be a ‘legal building’ but may record was different to the Land Re- only be a nave (storage room or wagistry. rehouse) and not an actual vivienda “But it then led to four years of in- (home).” creasingly acrimonious arguments If you’ve bought land with a ‘nave’ with our neighbours, who were ‘gra- on it, local regulations mean you mibbing’ our land and planting on it. ght not be able to expand the buil“Eventually, we took them to court. ding or reclassify it. And you may But it was only a day not even be able to before our court case live in it. that they finally agreed Julian Dominguez Beware of on the boundary in the agrees: “Before bubuying in presence of our resying, make sure you pective topographers verify what protections natural parks and lawyers.” there are in the area and classified She concluded it was and whether you can a long and costly proobtain permission rural land cess that could have from the town hall to been easily avoided. build.” And remember even if the house is leCan you build? gal, if you buy in a natural park even restoring a swimming pool can be If you’re buying land with the idea of problematic. restoring a ruin, ensure it’s not just One expat Tom Down, who bought a pipe dream that will simply never near a village in the Sierra Nevada happen, leaving you thousands out natural park area, explains: “I reof pocket. ceived a ‘multa’ fine of €1,400 for Don’t assume that because it’s a re- a small concrete repair around a mote location, planning permission damaged swimming pool that was doesn’t apply – it does. Above all, hazardous to children.” beware of natural parks – meaning The local town hall architect explaiareas with environmental protections ned that pools aren’t allowed in the in place. And remember that plan- natural park, even though the pool ning permission can be expensive in was marked clearly on his ‘escritura’ Spain. as a ‘deportiva’ – a swimming pool “In protected areas and national - and other neighbouring properties parks, it’s virtually impossible to get have them. anything legalised that has not already been done, but possible for exis- Water – too little or too much ting buildings – although difficult,” says Matthew Wood, of Lanjaron Water is vital to life and is also imProperty. “Natural Parks are different, portant to your rural purchase! If you but also difficult.” don’t have sufficient water, you might He adds: “Buyers should need to have it delivered by tanker, check the legalities which can be very expensive. of the build. In some locations, the ‘acequias’ (irrigation water courses) may run dry in hotter months – so do your research first. Just because it says there are water rights in the ‘escritura’, does not mean they exist. “When I bought my mountain ‘cortijo’, I

didn’t get a lawyer to check the water rights,” explains Tom Down. “It turned out that I was only entitled to five minutes of water once a week.” In contrast, some places can have too much water. Remember buying at the bottom of a hill means, when it rains, you will get the lot and heavy rain could mean flooding. There’s also the issue of wastewater and cess pits. These are quite complicated and will depend on whether the property is already legal, or is being legalised, as well as its proximity to an already existing ‘acequia’. “The exact requirements vary between town halls,” explains Matthew Wood. “So, look them up before proceeding.” Research the neighbours and neighbourhood Location, location, location is important. Is your property in the shadow of a mountain for most of the day, meaning it will be dark and inhospitable? Will you need a 4x4 because the access track is liable to degrade and wash away? Your rural idyll could easily be spoilt by pests – human or otherwise. Do your homework outside the property before committing to buy and always talk to the neighbours. Mark Stucklin, of Spanish Property Insight, insists you check if other people believe they have rights concerning the property you’re buying. “Keep an eye out for ‘suspicious’ signs, such as conspicuous pathways running across your land, lots of spent cartridges or other evidence of hunting on the property, signs of people extracting water from ‘your’ stream etc. “If you see anything of concern, draw it to your lawyers’ attention.” Other issues to be aware of are ac-

cess being allowed along farm tracks, which are under the control of the local farmer – possibly with gates. Make sure they are happy. And remember if you want mains electricity connected, you may need to pass over your neighbour’s land which requires their permission, so keep them onside. The same also applies to water pipes. You’ll obviously also need to check mobile and internet signals and easy transport links as well as the location of the nearest medical centre. Employ a good lawyer Don’t try to buy a property on your own, and never sign documents presented to you directly by the vendor’s side. “Always seek professional help and don’t take advice from Facebook groups,” insists Matthew Wood. “Use a legal advisor who is fully compliant with rural properties and will visit the property in person. Otherwise, it is impossible to check it properly.” Francisco Ortega of AF Consulting in Motril, who has 20 years’ conveyancing experience, says: “Clarify all the conditions of the sale with the estate agent. However, don’t believe that you don’t need a lawyer to purchase a property, and they’ll do all the paperwork and legal documentation for you. I have many clients who are fighting legal proceedings in the courts for this reason! “We’re talking about a very large investment and the consequences of making a mistake can be financially and emotionally catastrophic.” He adds: “My advice is to find a lawyer in the area – or at least the region where you’re going to buy. Being ‘on the ground’ locally and knowing the surroundings will ensure your lawyer has greater knowledge of your purchase.”

952 147 834

TheOlivePress-256x342-MP0122.indd 1

25/1/22 16:49

APRIL 2022

PROPERTY

€14.7m

PUTIN ON THE GLITZ! O

T is already known as the most exclusive place to live in southern Europe. With its round-the-clock security, low density houses and incredible location between Marbella and Ronda, La Zagaleta has price tags restrictive to all but the world’s wealthiest captains of industry, celebrities and, well, dictators. After the Olive Press revealed last issue that its most expensive home, el Roca del Rey, is linked to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, we decided to see what else is on offer.

Given that the triple-basement, double-guardpost ‘VP palace’, as it’s sometimes called, is estimated to have cost €40 million to buy, it’s amazing that you can buy something here for as little as €3 million. But don’t forget when your on-off neighbours include the likes of Hugh Grant and Cristiano Ronaldo, you’ll be paying a fair amount more per year for the services. Here are a few of the current properties on the market that can be viewed from estate agent Reas.es:

HIS newly mansion blends modern design with Italian style furnishing. The property rests on a large flat plot with lush landscaped gardens, an impressive infinity pool, and breath-taking panoramic views of the Mediterranean.

€10m

NE of La Zagaleta’s most iconic residences is now on sale. The recently completed, state-of-the-art mansion boasts pristine panoramic sea views in blissful privacy. Nestled atop the highest point of La Zagaleta, Casa Sohaeal is a feat of architectural design, showcasing luxury scale and unmatched sophistication.

Zagaleta is back in the news as it emerges that one of its luxury homes - one of Spain’s most expensive - is likely owned by President Putin. So what does it cost to buy there?

A safe haven

VER 3,000 kilometres separate the ‘tranquillity’ of the costas from the horrors of Ukraine. However, the effects of the war have become the ‘trigger’ for a sharp rise in inflation and shortages that have been building up since the financial crisis in 2007/8. This has been building with 14 years of quantitative easing, which basically means the ‘watering down’ of currencies. Add in a sudden shortage of fuel, wheat and other commodities, alongside disruptions of trade caused by Covid, and consumers are suddenly finding they’re not getting so much for their Euros, Pounds or Kroner, and definitely not their Roubles. Inflation is traditionally slowed by wage and price controls, with the latter now being implemented in Spain for fuel, as well as restrictions on rent increases. It is also controlled by reducing the amount of money available, by increasing interest rates. This leads to cash and savings having less value, meaning people start using it to buy things that will hold their value, such as property. While rising interest rates make mortgages more expensive, at a time when consumers

Is the Ukraine war (and inflation) affecting Spain’s property market, asks Campbell Ferguson of Survey Spain

are spending more of their income on general living costs, there are some positives. In particular, property is seen With some, there is an as a safe haven in times of in- urgency to buy just to get the flation… and Spain has a nice security of a ‘fixed’ asset before range of it as far away as one anything major happens. can get from the troubles in With others, there is greater northern Europe, including the caution and a wish to hold onto what they’ve got. One lawyer Ukraine war. Then there are the obvious even said that two clients had pulled out of factors like the deals within the weather and last few days, cost of living, but also things like There’s greater losing their 10% deposits. the ‘free’ energy uncertainty Either way, from the sun beabout the agents have ing readily avairarely been so lable here. future busy with deals Over the last being concluded week, I’ve asked and the difficulty many professionals if they are finding any evi- of finding properties for their dence of changes in the local clients to buy. The logic is that demand should market. Overall, the answer has been, go down for those just looking ‘Not yet’. But there’s greater for a holiday home, as there uncertainty about the future, will be less money around. British buyers are likely to be particularly from their clients.

some of the worst affected as they are already suffering from the impact of Brexit. Russians, too, will be absent. However, the reduction in these sectors are being made up for by buyers anxious to place their funds in solid assets, far away from the current conflict. And the costas have already seen significant increase in buyers from Germany, and interestingly Romania, over recent months.

Golden visas Something else worth considering is the EU’s planned changes on the granting of investment-backed visa’s. This is likely to cause a rush

of applications with ‘golden Visas’, as they are called, getting granted to families investing more that €500,000 in property here. They can also be acquired by investing the same amount in Spanish companies or even Spanish Government Bonds. Overall, expensive property should not see any significant changes, with an increase of interest rates. However, lower value property purchases are more often linked to mortgages, and that market may stutter as buyers find it harder to find a mortgage or shy away from them in case interest rates rise substantially.

Fixed rate mortgages are becoming hard to find. We tend to forget that higher interest rates were once common around Europe, with them being as high as 17% in the UK in 1979, when inflation averaged 13%. Fortunately, and hopefully, we are a long way away from those levels. To conclude, I believe the demand for property from those with money will continue, therefore encouraging the upper price sector of the market in Spain. However, buyers, agents and other professionals will be ‘looking over their shoulders’ with unease, unsure of what lies ahead.

Campbell D Ferguson, FRICS. Chartered Surveyor in Spain. RICS Registered Valuer. Director – Survey Spain SL. Regulated by RICS. Tel: 00 34 952 923 520 & Mobile: 00 34 650 599 701 - www.surveyspain.com

VII

APRIL 2022

€9.4m

€10.8m

THIS spectacular property is a work of art in itself representing the very best in contemporary architecture. This large-scale villa is the ultimate dream home for luxurious living by the ocean boasting not one but two swimming pools.

€6m

€9.4m

BUILT with the highest quality of finishes and exquisite attention to detail, this accommodation comprises, a hall, living room with long fireplace and access to the terrace and the pool in addition to a dining room, a lounge, open-plan fully equipped gourmet kitchen japanese style with breakfast bar, with direct access to the terraces and the garden area.

THIS imposing villa is situated on an extensive plot with a superb southern orientation offering breath-taking views to Northern Africa and Gibraltar. It is complete with a blue infinity pool that brings the surrounding greenery and glistening Mediterranean right up close.

€14.7m

€12.7m

THIS 6-bedroom villa with delightful gardens has unrivalled views of the mountains and is complete with a billiard room, wine cellar, spa and substantial basement space with a cinema and gym and a garage with space to park six cars.

€6m

THIS newly built eco-friendly masterpiece is designed to blend into the natural surroundings with elegance and class. With its ultra-modern design, the property boasts is situated in a lap of nature, in the residential La Zagaleta Country and nearby golf club.

THE villa, of classic architectural style, has a double height entrance hall with beamed ceilings and classic French windows. The elegant bedrooms and classically tiled bathrooms all enjoy private terraces and the fantastic views complete with a snooker room, cinema room and gymnasium.

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LA CULTURA Final drum roll April 7th April 20th 2022

FOO FIGHTERS have cancelled their 2022 tour following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. It means the band will no longer be playing two planned gigs in Madrid and one in Valencia. Emergency services were called to a hotel room in Bogota, Colombia after Hawkins complained of chest pains whilst

Foo Fighters cancel Spain gigs in Madrid and Valencia after death of drummer By George Mathias

on tour with the band last weekend. They found him unresponsive upon arrival and administered CPR, but were unable to revive him. A band spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that the Foo Fighters confirm the cancellation of all our tour dates due to the shocking

loss of our brother, Taylor Hawkins. We are sorry and share the disappointment of not seeing each other as planned. Instead, let’s take this moment to heal, to draw closer to our

Don’t make him cry CELEBRITY chef Dabiz Muñoz has ignited fresh debate on the eternal question of what should go in an authentic Spanish tortilla. Muñoz claims that onion in the omlette is strictly a no-go, saying that the sweetness of the vegetable tarnishes the overall flavour. The Spanish staple has countless recipes that vary drastically by region. The three Michelin star chef admitted that his remarks were likely to cause considerable controversy: “Whenever

I say that tortilla should be made without onions, people tell me that I am silly, and I have no doubt that I am.” Dabiz Muñoz, who will soon open a new restaurant - RavioXO in Madrid, - claims that the onion gives an ‘excessive and unnecessary sweetness’ to the tortilla. “A good egg, a good oil and a good potato is a good combo that does not need anything more than a little salt,” he added during a presentation at Fusion, held at Madrid’s Ifema.

loved ones, and to cherish all the music and memories we’ve built together.” The band also announced that anyone with tickets will be automatically refunded. The promoters of the gigs in Spain, Live Nation, said: “It is with great sadness that we announce that the Foo Fighters concerts in Valencia and Madrid are cancelled.”

Opioids

Hawkins, 50, joined the band in 1997 and went on to record eight studio albums with the band. A toxicology report found at least 10 substances in his body, including opioids and cannabis, though the cause of death has not yet been established.

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LA CULTURA

8 essential Spanish literary works that are not Don Quijote, writes Elena Goçmen Rueda

April 7th - April 20th 2022

DON QUI-NOT

Nada by Carmen Laforet

Luces de Bohemia by Ramon Maria del Valle Inclan

HE oldest literary prize in Spain, the Nadal Prize, was awarded to this book in 1944 in its first edition. The title Nada (nothing) captures the essence of this novel: an existentialist work that captures the day to day life in post-war Barcelona: Sadness, poverty, desperation... A young Andrea arrives in Barcelona to study literature and sees her initial enthusiasm and innocence clash with the reality of his tragicomethe times. dy novel starring Calisto and Melibea was published in 1499. The mad passion of Calisto for Melibea leads him to break all moral and social barriers and ally himself ew works of theatre define tragedy as aptly as the with a dubious malast play by the great Granada writer Garcia Lorca. dame, Celestina. A After the death of her second husband, Bernarrace then begins da, the mother of five daughters, goes into secluin which the charsion and imposes a rigorous and suffocating eight-year acters selfishly period of mourning on her grown-up girls. But a love seek their own affair that entangles the daughters who all hanker for benefit: Calisto the same man will change the lives of all of them. The to have Melibea play begins and ends with Bernarda saying the same and Celestina to word: Silence. get rich at the expense of his master.

WHENEVER iconic Spanish literature is mentioned, the first and sometimes only work that comes to mind abroad is that of Miguel de Cervantes. And that’s no surprise as his famous tome Don Quijote de la Mancha is not only one of the best-selling books in history, it is after the Bible the second most translated book in the world. But in reality there are other novels and plays that are shorter, easier to read and with more exciting subject matters than the senile old gentleman who famously tilted at windmills.

La Celestina by Fernando de Rojas

lso a tragicomedy, this Valle Inclan play is about literary life in Spanish society in the early part of the 20th century. It focuses on the nocturnal stroll through Madrid of a blind poet, Max Estrella, accompanied by his agent Don Latino. The story recounts the last hours of elderly Max’s life and visits countless spots in the capital and a cast of fictional and real people.

La Casa de Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca

Fortunata y Jacinta by Benito Perez Galdos

San Manuel Bueno, Martir by Miguel de Unamuno

his realist novel reveals a writer committed to his times and a progressive Spain. The stormy love affair between Juanito and Fortunada, unable to overcome the difficulties that their different social status, takes place in the traditional atmosphere of the late 19th century. The book portrays the role of women in society, with the pair as its greatest exponents.

he novel revolves around the author’s great obsessions, immortality and faith, although they are presented with a new approach for him: the alternative between a tragic truth and an illusory happiness. When Angela Carballino writes the story of Don Manuel Bueno, a parish priest of his little village Valverde de Lucerna, multiple events show him to be a saint of flesh and blood. Everything changes when the parish priest confides to Angela’s brother Lazaro - of progressive and anticlerical ideas - his most intimate secret: he does not believe in faith or in God, but pretends to do so in order to maintain peace and belief in the afterlife among his faithful followers.

El Lazarillo de Tormes by an anonymous writer

Fuenteovejuna by Lope de Vega

ope de Vega’s play, written in verse and published in 1619, belongs to the Spanish Golden Age. Fuente Ovejuna is a small village under the rule of Fernan Gomez, a cruel and unscrupulous man who exploits his vassals. The people get fed up with his malice and decide to kill him, agreeing to all insist the killer ‘was Fuente Ovejuna’. It is considered a symbol of the unity of a whole people against feudal tyranny.

ritten in 1554 by an unknown author, this is an adventure of a roguish, but appealing hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. Dickens, Mark Twain and Burroughs were all influenced by the novel that revolves around Lazaro, a naive boy who, struggles to get through all the adversities and complexities of life. In a nutshell, after his father dies, his mother puts him in the service of nine masters, all of whom represent a criticism of society.

FOOD & DRINK

April 7th April 20th 2022

EARNING HIS BREAD MADRID is officially home to the best sandwich in Spain - and it’s creator has bagged €1,500. Neotavern of Santerra was crowned at Spain’s ‘Sandwich Oscars’, when its chef took the top title at the Madrid Fusion Sandwich Contest. The gourmet tapas bar, located on Calle Ponzano in Chamberi, triumphed after a taste-off against hundreds of sandwiches from across the country. Chef Maximo Benagues’s ‘Ventresca Madurada’ - a combination of tuna tartare, garlic, oil, pepper sauce, mustard, lettuce and smoked cheddar - won the judges over. Benagues said it was the tuna that made his sandwich so special. The red tuna belly is matured with sea salt for 24 hours and wrapped in ribeye fat, the chef revealed. He scooped the winning trophy along with the cash.

Rationing go ahead Attempt to stop hoarding amid Ukraine war shortages By Jorge Hinojosa

milk. But supermarket bosses say there is plenty to go around - as long as people stop panic buying. Some supermarkets had been attempting to limit the sale of certain products to prevent

Just the ticket TRAVELLERS will now be able to take advantage of a combined ticket that includes both air and rail journeys to reach 14 destinations across Spain The scheme is a partnership between Spain’s flagship airline Iberia and state rail operator Renfe which is being upgraded and expanded to include more cities around Spain. The Train&Fly scheme will now include Zaragoza, Sevilla, Malaga, Cordoba, Valladolid, Valencia, Alicante, Leon, Palencia, Pamplona, Salamanca, Albacete, Zamora and Orense. The combined ticket also includes journeys on the local commuter train network known as ‘cercanias’ to connect between Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez Barajas airport and Atocha or Chamartin. The service is available for both single and return travel with one ticket valid for the entire journey from the city of origin outside of Spain to the final destination within it. So for example it will enable the traveller to make the journey from London Heathrow to Orense in Galicia with just one ticket.

stockpiling but did not have the legal backing to do so. Spain’s government has now announced that it had approved rationing on a temporary basis as part of the raft of measures introduced to mitigate the impact of the Ukraine war that will be in place until June 30.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1

8 9

Legal

Trade Minister Reyes Maroto said: “The law change provides legal backing so that they can limit the number of items bought and thus avoid hoarding, and to ensure fair access for all consumers.” But not everyone agrees. General Secretary of consumers’ association FACUA, Ruben Sanchez told the Olive Press: “A practice prohibited for almost 30 years is being authorised. This will encourage hoarding by limiting the number of products that a consumer can buy. “This new power should not be left in the hands of supermarkets who will take advantage by raising the prices of items. This is wholly irresponsible by the government.”

13 14

15 17

Across 1 Tag for an out-of-town railway station (7) 5 Bumpkins (5) 9 What the retina’s cones detect (6) 10 Deadeye Annie --- (6) 11 Creeps (6) 12 Oxfordshire power station town, with a railway museum (6) 13 Pivotal (3) 14 Starry-eyed (4) 15 It might be frozen in unfriendly welcomes (4) 17 Chihuahua’s bark (3) 19 Fallacious (6) 21 Cash in Kolkata (6) 23 Cheerless (6) 24 Lifers rampage on aeroplanes (6) 25 Hard as granite (5) 26 Beef (7) Down

OP SUDOKU

SUPERMARKETS will be allowed to ration essentials in a bid to stop shelves from being emptied by panic buyers. Milk and sunflower oil have been particularly scarce in supermarkets across Spain over the past week, as hoarders stocked up amid fears that supplies of cooking oil from Ukraine could dry up. A lorry drivers strike has affected dairies with several shutting down production as they could not distribute

2 Future oak (5) 3 Practical skill (4-3) 4 Threatened (2,4) 6 Netanyahu’s party (5) 7 Became extinct (4,3) 8 Far from chic (5) 14 He looks down in the mouth (7) 16 Publishing brand (7) 17 Loud cries (5) 18 Like better (6) 20 Toga sporter (5) 22 Sandwich and Derby, for example (5)

All solutions are on page 23

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

April 7th - April 20th 2022

DRAWING YOU IN Five lesser-known reasons why Spain’s arty capital should be drawing you in this Spring, writes Jon Clarke

ET set, ready… Go! The masks are off and it’s time for an adventure. But nothing too exotic. Madrid is the perfect Spring escape. And not just because of the weather. Spain’s most exciting city - and easily the friendliest capital in Europe - has more exhibitions and art galleries than Picasso had lovers. So good is its so-called Golden Triangle of Art - which has, conservatively, a dozen good museums - that the area and its adjacent Retiro park just landed its own UNESCO World Heritage status. Dubbed a special ‘landscape of Arts and Sciences’ this 200-hectare cultural zone was lauded for being a vital green space, that evolved since the creation of the tree-lined Paseo del Prado in the 16th century. A wide boulevard with remarkable fountains and buildings, it was one of the first in Europe where all citizens, without distinction of class, could enjoy leisure and a stroll. Weather permitting (and chances are you’ll be fine, the city boasting over 300 days of sun a year) you can pretty much walk around the entire area in a day, dipping in and out of museums and restaurants at will. The golden trio are the Prado Museum, the Thyssen Museum and the Reina Sofia, but there are hundreds of other good places to visit in the city, be it shops, restaurants or markets, all easily reached on foot.

Here are five hot things not to miss in Madrid, all within a 30-minute walk of the Golden Triangle, plus two nearby places to eat and a wonderful hotel, the Ritz, recently reopened after a three year renovation.

MURALS AT THE TABACALERA

FORGET GOYA AND VELAZQUEZ…

T has become one of the city’s most instagrammable sites… but don’t be put off. Muros Tabacalera (or the Madrid Street Art Project) is worth hunting out for its inspirational line up of 25 giant works by graffiti artists from around the world. All set at a former 16,000 sq.metre tobacco factory, in Lavapies, each artist was handed a giant section of wall facing Glorieta de Embajadores to create a mural. Given the area being one of Madrid’s most multicultural barrios, it is appropriate that many have a clear social conscience, such as the excellent boat people. While the interior of the old factory is also dedicated to street art it is currently shut. But keep an eye out at the website www. promociondelarte.com

A CHILD-ISH LOOK AT SOROLLA

T used to be the sleepiest art museum in Madrid back in the 1990s when I lived in the city. Set in the beautiful belle époque mansion of a relatively unknown, hopeless romantic artist, overshadowed by the Spanish greats, such as Velazquez, Goya and Picasso, it was a great place to while away an hour (including in its lovely gardens) and there were never queues. But at some point in the early 2000s, this all began to change for Joaquin Sorolla. An exhibition of his works alongside that of American great, John Singer Sargeant, started in Paris and quickly moved to Madrid and London. Bang, his renaissance happened, leading to new museums in Valencia, where the railway station has now been named after him, as well as the value of his paintings tripling and more. Today, timing is the key to visiting this museum (his former home) just north of the Golden Triangle. My tip: head there at lunchtime, around 3 to 4pm, or late in the day at 7pm when it’s quiet again. It’s well worth the visit and particularly this Spring, when a major retrospective on the top floor is looking at his inspiring series of works based around children. One of the very few happily married painters for most of his life, his portraits of his own children and wife Clotilde are both mesmerising and moving, while his now famous oils of children frolicking on the beaches around Valencia in summertime are joyous. But what really makes this exhibition, La Edad Dichosa, are the thoughtful paintings at the end that he created of less fortunate children, from humbler backgrounds, giving them an equal billing in a bid not to brush them under the carpet. He will stand as a true humanist and must surely now be up with the greats.

www.culturaydeporte.gob.es

…AND skip Hieronymus Bosch’s revolutionary Gardens of Delight, there are so many other highlights in the Prado Museum to hunt out. Pieter Bruegel’s Triumph of Death, painted in 1562, is eye-opening and startling in equal measures and entirely fitting given the current invasion of the Ukraine. Like a Middle Age Zombie film, it shows a blackened scorched earth landscape, where nothing lives and a legion of skeletons wreak havoc as far as your eye can take you. There is so much going on and it is bleak. Very bleak. OPEN AIR ART The highlights include the man with a rock around his neck The city is known for its amazing light and exabout to be drowned, while a treme weather (certainly among its locals, who describe it as nine months of winter, three pack of skeleton hounds chase months of hell). a man to his death. And no one But, while this won’t bother most tourists, the is saved… not aristocracy, nor highest capital of Europe has mostly clear, kings, with one humorous part crisp daylight, making it popular with artists showing a cardinal being led to and, perfect for the outdoor life. his fate by a skeleton who mockAn absolute must for any visit to Madrid is a ingly wears his pointed red hat. stroll in its famous Retiro park, now part of the Acquired by the Prado in 1827, Unesco protection status and not just to see it is not always on display, but how the locals live, particularly at weekends. it is currently proudly out. Don’t Aside from its amazing statues and the main miss it! boating lake, there are two key pavilions, always full of art, that need to be visited. www.museodelprado.es Both administered by the Reina Sofia museum, the best is the wonderful Palacio de Cristal, a glass conservatory in the shape of a Greek cross. Decorated in stunning ceramics, it is 22 metres in height and sits beside a pond and fountains. At the nearby Palacio de Velazquez meanwhile, you will currently find an intriguing exhibition of painted banners/canvases by Swiss-Argentinian artist Vivian Suter. On till May 2, best of all tickets are free.

Visit www.museoreinasofia.es

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

April 7th - April 20th 2022

NEW KID: Maria Cristina Masaveu foundation is open

GREAT DANE

HISPER it, but don’t pass it around. There is a new kid on the block in the Golden Triangle is this splendid new art foundation that squeezed open just as the pandemic kicked off two years ago and then firmly shut for a year. Well, the Maria Cristina Masaveu foundation is open again and what a joy it is. A sort of little sister of the Thyssen, but with perhaps more taste, this inspirational collection of paintings and sculptures, from Goya to Sorolla is so worth a look in. Tucked away a few blocks up from the Thyssen, it’s set in a reformed neoclassical mansion with 13 rooms, courtyards and a top floor roof terrace.

The private collection of wealthy dane Maria Cristina Masaveu Peterson, it is as exciting, as it’s hip. A not-for-profit foundation, it has a refreshing sense of place and aims to promote ‘urban art’ with young artists including Valencian Mario Mankey and Sabek and, of course, Banksy and Keith Haring. One definite highlight is the amazing Jaume Plensa giant head sculpture Silencio, that emerges out of nowhere in a corridor. Get there before it gets in vogue, for it most surely will do at some point this year, just as the Sorolla museum did at the turn of the century (often now frequently swamped). Visit

www.fundacioncristinamasaveu.com

WHERE TO EAT

DELIGHTFUL DEESSA

T must be easily the most elegant restaurant in the capital. A true sense of grandeur awaits the lucky diners who get to try out the hippest new Michelin-star restaurant of Quique Dacosta at the Ritz Hotel. Spain’s chef of the moment had to be on top of his game to make it work in this large open plan dining room with Romanesque pillars, gold capitals and crystal chandeliers. And he more than does it with his choice of two menus, highly seasonal, changing regularly and with a number of his celebrated dishes from back home in Valencia. Hence you’ll eat the wonderful red shrimps of Denia, or a Valencian pumpkin seed soup with black truffle from nearby. Continues on Page 22

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

April 7th - April 20th 2022

WHERE TO STAY

RITZY FOR A REASON

F FINAL TOUCH: Care is lavished on each dish From Page 21

Delicate dishes But the real highlight for me apart from the ingenious smorgasbord of caviar with Deutz champagne - was the Shiso saam with red tuna and ‘starry moss’, the most delicate of dishes, reminiscent of an Andalucian tortillita de camarones, but far subtler. I won’t ruin the ‘hard boiled egg’ course, but it’s ingenious, while the simpler plates, such as shelled peas with eels, easily held their own. Unbelievably grateful to be given an opportunity to export his three Michelin star expertise from Denia to the capital, Quique has installed his long-term sous chef Ricardo Vega - and spends a few days there himself each week. The investment has clearly paid off for all, with the French food bible awarding Deessa a first Michelin star just six months after opening. No complaints from me.

NO BALONEY IF you are looking for a hip, buzzing joint at the other end of the scale from Deessa, search out La Burlona Bar. You’ll struggle to get one of its dozen tables so book early… and be prepared for one of the freshest and creative meals around. Set in the edgy barrio of Lavapies, a short walk from the southern tip of the Retiro (behind the Reina Sofia Museum), is the culinary pop-up of Jorge Reina, who dominates the pass, glowering at both his chefs and diners. A classic perfectionist he sends out some of the best-looking dishes I’ve witnessed in years. Having trained with Quique Dacosta, Zalacain and DStage and then travelled the world, even cutting the mustard in London (Cambio de Tercio) he’s picked up plenty of tricks. His cannelloni of game was as rich as could be while his Cantonese-style ribs in aniseed and plum rocked. It won’t suit everyone, but Mussels in callos (tripe) was from that very barrio, as good a working class Madrileno dish as one will ever find. A scallop came out with a real Peruvian kick, while lighter dishes like yellow gazpacho with a blue fin tartare were so good, we asked for more. After a lemon meringue tart with strawberries and a bottle of wine, we both marvelled at the price of just €89. IN CONTROL: Jorge Reina keeps a watchful eye

ROM the sitting room of my suite I can see the queue for the ticket office at the Prado and the entrance of the Thyssen Museum across the regal fountains of the Plaza de Neptuno. And if it weren’t for the densely tree-lined Paseo del Prado, I would also be able to see through the windows of the Reina Sofia, where the 20th century’s most iconic painting, Guernica, by Pablo Picasso is housed. Welcome to the Ritz, Spain’s most emblematic hotel, recently-reopened after a giant three-year overhaul. Right in the heart of the Golden Triangle, this five-star Grande Dame has been catering for the world’s most fortunate travellers for over a century. Cesar Ritz’s favourite amongst his famous hotels, it commands the same status as the Savoy, the Copacabana Palace or the Plaza. And rightfully so, with its famous roll call of guests, including dozens of presidents and an army of celebrities, such as Madonna, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly, not to mention historical figures such as Haile Selassie, Mata Hari and Randolph Hearst. This was my third stay (care of one of the few careers that allows such perks) and it was a joy to see how much the place has opened up, in terms of light, since its €100 million refurb as part of the Mandarin Oriental group. It is comforting to report that on the face of it not much has changed, particularly the sense of arrival, the incredible level of staffing and the grandeur within. The key is its huge glass atrium that has created a buzzing central space for guests and visitors alike, somewhere to park up for a splendid tea, accompanied by a pianist, or to take a light lunch. The theme throughout is gold and white and an accentuation of the grand pillars installed for its 1910 inauguration, at the behest of Spain’s then King Alfonso XIII. There are liberal splashes of gold everywhere, particularly in an delicate dripping sculpture that hangs over the reception area. The main obvious changes are the incredible bar area, sumptuous and hip, and the fabulous new Deessa restaurant, commandeered by Spain’s current three Michelin star darling Quique Dacosta. Fittingly taking up perhaps a quarter of the ground floor, restau-

ANOTHER WORLD: Space and luxury are watchwords at the Ritz

rants rarely get this grand, so a big name like Dacosta was essential. The Valencia maestro does it proud. I was particularly taken by the leafy garden restaurant and bar terrace that lords over it. It is surprisingly good value if you choose carefully and will, I predict, become one of THE places to be seen this summer, particularly at sunset when a DJ swoops in. The wonderful white roses and foliage surrounding the tables give a sense of being in an oasis. Much of the giant refurb has been understandably spent on the rooms, which are sumptuous and sensible in their design. Compared to other five star hotels in the capital, there is nothing left wanting, from

TERRACE LIFE: Jon and partner Gabs and (right) the fabulous bar

hair straighteners to a wardrobe (not mini) bar with just about anything you might want. Half a dozen bottles of water were renewed each time you went out, while the hotel clearly has shares in the famous Madrid confectioner that makes the lovely violet sweets, that were first made popular, fittingly, by Alfonso XIII. (Yes, a mouthful, indeed, but a thoughtful touch nonetheless.) The VIP unpacking service was recommended by our ‘personal butler’ and definitely worth a try, especially to see your socks folded up in a drawer. Clearly designed for royalty, it was appropriately I bumped into the Ecuadorian president (well his security team) as I checked out with no less than three huge packing cases with his name on them queueing up outside. Visit www.mandarinoriental.com

BUSINESS LA CULTURA Tough luck

Algae success

Russian oligarch behind Dia supermarket chain moans about ‘hardship’ of sanctions

THE oligarch behind Spain’s Dia supermarket chain has moaned about the hardships of not being able to access his fortune since sanctions were imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mikhail Fridman, who has an estimated fortune in excess of $10 billion told the Spanish newspaper El País this week that he was ‘practically under house arrest’. The businessman, who is based in London, said he was unable to access his bank accounts and his credit cards have been blocked. The 57-year-old said he had applied for permission to access funds to pay for his living costs but that if it were to be successful he could only with-

SPANISH energy company Cepsa will spend €8 billion in a shift to using more low-carbon energy sources by 2030. The plan is for half the firm’s earnings to come from sustainable energy within eight years, as opposed to a projected 14% this year. Part of the strategy is a major overhaul of its network of 3,000 fuel stations in Spain to promote the use of electric cars. It will create an ultra-fast road charging network that includes at least one 150-kilowatt charger every 200 ki-

Spiralling prices INFLATION in Spain has soared to 9.8% in March - the highest rate since May 1985, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). The rate stood at 7.6% in February. The INE said the March increase was due to the surge in electricity and fuel prices, but also by the rise in the cost of food items due to the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “It is a bad figure which affects our economy, especially more vulnerable groups … due to runaway energy prices.”

By Fiona Govan

draw £2,500 a month. He complained that it was barely ‘enough to live a normal life without excesses’. “I can’t even take anyone out to a restaurant. I have to eat at home and I am practically under house arrest.” Home is the sprawling Victorian mansion Athlone House in Highgate which Fridman purchased in 2016 for an eye-watering £65 million. Fridman co-founded LIHS who hold 78% of shares in the Dia supermarket chain in Spain. The struggling retailer reported a €257 million loss

GOING GREEN lometres on the country’s main roads. The Cepsa plan backs the concept of green hydrogen, produced by passing renewably-produced electricity through water to split the element from oxygen. By 2030, Cepsa plans to have a green hydrogen refuelling station for heavy goods vehicles on all of the main routes that link Spain with Europe.

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How to protect yourself against the volatility in the Pound Euro exchange rate, writes FX specialist Peter Loveday

LA ZENIA

HE Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate has seen some wild swings in recent months. In March alone, it fluctuated between €1.183 and a fiveyear high of €1.217 – a movement of around 2.8%. While we’re seemingly past the worst days of the coronavirus pandemic, other crises have stepped in to fill its place, injecting fresh uncertainty into the currency markets. Here’s what’s driving GBP/EUR at the moment and how you can protect against volatility:

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CENTRAL BANK POLICY Both the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB) are in the unenviable position of deciding on monetary policy at a time of surging inflation and faltering growth. Monetary policy has a massive impact on exchange rates. Usually central banks signal plans ahead of time so that any changes don’t shock markets. However, the huge amount of uncertainty at the moment makes it hard for policymakers to even decide on the best course of action, let alone communicate it in advance. That’s why the March meetings at the ECB and BoE both surprised markets, causing sharp changes in the GBP/ EUR rate.

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CRISIS PLANNING RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR Dominating the headlines at the moment, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also behind a lot of the movement in the Pound Euro pair. While both the Eurozone and UK economies are exposed to the economic fallout of the war and the sanctions levelled at Russia, the EU is particularly vulnerable, largely due to its energy links. So when there is positive news – such as progress in peace talks – the Euro tends to get a boost, while negative developments in Ukraine downgrade it. Of course, the situation in Ukraine is rapidly developing and constantly changing and even the savviest analysts are unsure how it will unfold.

SUDOKU

TWO Spanish companies have joined forces to cultivate algae that stops nitrate pollution in water, as infamously seen over recent years at Murcia’s Mar Menor lagoon. Mediterranean Algae and G2G Algae Solutions have won an Agritech Startup Europe Award which encourages solutions to environmental and climate change issues. The success of the companies, which were only formed in 2020, means they will get training in applying for European funding to take their joint-project, known as ALGALI-TIC, onto the next stage. If successful, they could win grants totalling up to €7 million. They plan to put the algae into water courses which will filter out harmful nitrates.

April 7th - April 20th 2022

Avenida de Lóndres 1A, Local 6, Urb La Marina San Fulgencio, La Marina, Alicante, 03177 costablanca@currenciesdirect.com +34 965 994 830 ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY Adding to the volatility, both the UK and the Eurozone face increasing economic uncertainty. Britain and the EU initially bounced back from the pandemic but Omicron, soaring inflation and the Ukraine war have cast doubt on growth outlooks. When forecasts are cloudy, volatility can increase. Long-term planning becomes harder, so markets are prone to more shocks, spikes and dips as new economic data emerges. PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £20,000 transfer, that threecent gap between €1.18 and €1.21 translates to a €680 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer different tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager here in Spain to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. The people at Currencies Direct are a friendly - and locally based - bunch, so get in touch with them if you want to find out how they can help you.

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Vol. 3 Issue 62 www.theolivepress.es April 7th - April 20th 2022

Drive for equality

Black Hawk Down

Talking turkey TURKEYS escaping from Torrevieja’s (Alicante) Parque de la Naciones have been terrorising passers-by and flocking on to the N-332 main road, leading the local council to call in a specialist trapping firm to rehome the birds.

FINAL WORDS

Your

Police catch dive-bombing hawk that attacked humans and caused terror A BIRD of prey that was causing havoc in the town of Tobarra, Albacete, has finally been caught. The Harris hawk had escaped from its owner, a local falconry enthusiast from Murcia. It decided to settle in Albacete, some 150 km away, and was causing panic for the town's 8,000 residents. It was seen swooping down

Hands off! VETS at Barcelona zoo have been unable to find out the sex of a rare newborn Spider Monkey as its’s mother is so protective they can not examine it.

on children in the streets, striking fear into locals that someone could be seriously injured. Environmental rangers were called in to help a team from Seprona, the nature protection arm of Guardia Civil. Together, they hatched a plan to catch the rogue bird with a trap involving decoy birds, culminating in its capture in the net of a five-metre-long pole.

WINGS CLIPPED: The rogue hawk was finally captured

The operation was not made easy for them due to the bird’s use of the town’s electricity

Ham fisted

HAMBURGLAR STRIKES AGAIN

A 52-year-old man has been arrested for stealing premium legs of ham from a Malaga market, with him accused of nicking €10,000 worth of the delicacies after climbing a street light to get in the premises on six occasions.

A RESTAURANT bill dodger has once again proven there is such a thing as a free lunch. Hamburglar Antonio Miguel Grimal fell back into his old ways and tried to flee without paying for a burger - mere days after being released from prison. The Olive Press previously reported that the 47-year-old

from Zaragoza was cuffed after he refused to pay a €70 bill. The crook was sent to prison but on his release went straight back to skipping payment and refused to pay a €47 bill at a hamburger restaurant. The fraudster has been arrested over 30 times since 2016 for the same crime.

poles as a vantage point. The raptor was captured safely and without being harmed before being sent to the Wildlife Recovery Center of Albacete. The bird, native to America, is known to be very aggressive when stressed. It is a popular bird among falconists and they are often used to disperse pigeons from London’s Trafalgar Square and the tennis courts at Wimbledon. Harris hawks range in length from 46 to 59 cm, with a wingspan of up to 120cm.

MORE than half of women in Spain say they have been the target of sexist statements about being bad drivers. A survey reveals that 50.6% of Spanish women have had the trope about women behind the wheel said about them. Meanwhile 18% of men admitted to believing that women are worse drivers than men. The findings were published as part of a campaign by car maintenance firm Midas to bust the myths that women are worse drivers than men. The company has now teamed up with the charity Ayuda en Accion to empower women on the roads by paying for driving lessons for women who can’t afford them.

Paws for court A MADRID court is to bring in dogs to help support and calm witnesses and victims when they are about to testify. The programme, launched under the name ‘Dogtor Animal’s Courthouse Dogs Research project’, is being trialled. Research in the US has shown that pooches can aid in calming the victim and eases the process.

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