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VALENCI A / COSTA AZAHAR FREE Vol. 1 Issue 1 www.theolivepress.es
November 26th - December 9th 2020
OLIVE PRESS
The
We did it again
The
Joy of six!
OLIVE PRESS
The Olive Press proudly launches its SIXTH edition
LOCKDOWN LOCK-IN EXCLUSIVE
COUNTDOWN TO BREXIT
GIBRALTAR
Don’t forget The new rules allowing you to drive in Spain until next summer Page 6
UNABLE to have his regular Friday night down the boozer during lockdown, expat Conor Wilde hit on novel idea for this one - to build a his own pub! The Irish expat, 46, got his mates over and converted his garden shed into what he claims is Spain’s smallFORGET THE DRAUGHT: Conor est watering hole. and pals at makeshift local Measuring 2.4m by 2.5m, it counts
By Eugene Costello
‘sensible’ approach, which has kept the economy running as best as possible.
Back to Blanca
“Life goes on and we must move forward,” insisted Antonio Bernabé, director of the Turismo Valencia Foundation, to the Olive Press, this week. “We have struck a good balance be-
How Amy’s guitar-maker from Valencia won over the world Page 15
Blueprint
A bunch of crooks tried to sell my hotel for a song Page 16
THE WORD ON THE STREETS
BEST FOOT FORWARD: The Olive
HAPPY: An early present In the midst of one of the toughest times in recent years, with your help we have managed to expand to an exciting new region. Despite the spectre of Brexit and COVID-19, the Olive Press now has a SIXTH edition in Valencia and the Costa Azahar. Our fortnightly mix of news and features, experts and entertainment went down well in Spain’s third biggest. city. Delivered to over 100 spots around the city and up the nearby coast, it is most easily found on stands at Mercat Central or at the El Saler shopping centre. It is also well sited at the excellent Paris-Valencia bookshop by Corte Ingles in Plaza D’Alfons and at the popular Bear Club Irish pub.
Flying start
“It’s certainly been flying off the stand outside our office,” said Chris Solomon, manager of HomeEspana estate agency. “It’s obviously convenient being next to an Irish pub… but we’ve noticed quite a few Spanish also taking it.” Meanwhile, you’ll also find it up the coast in town’s like Castellon, where restaurants Puerto del Sol, el Faro Industrial and L’Antigua Valenciana all stock it. Meanwhile golf clubs like Escorpion, in Betera, and the four star Porto Cristo hotel in Peniscola welcomed it with open arms. “It is great to have an English newspaper launching in the area,” said chef Isaac Sidro, owner of the el Faro Industrial restaurant, in Castellon.
No deal danger! Lifting the Val
Is Baqueira really Spain’s top skiing resort? Page 20
Oh la landing Brexit!
Tel: 952 147 834
952 147 834 European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, confirmed that an EU summit will begin on Thursday to address the disagreements. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has been firm that talks will not continue past Wednesday and is ‘very downbeat’ and ‘very gloomy’, according to the Irish government. As Johnson took to Twitter to celebrate the first day of the coronavirus vaccine roll out, Belgium’s president jibed that the jab had been ‘Made in Europe’. Meanwhile, Fabian Zuleeg, head of the European Policy Centre in Brussels, wrote he was optimistic Johnson would ‘get a little on fish’ and ‘swallow everything else’.
See pages 24 & 11
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tween keeping life normal and keeping it safe.” While tourism is down 80% on last year, the tourist boss says all activities, including cinemas and museums, are open. Best of all, unlike much of Spain, locals and tourists must only stay in between midnight and 6am. “It’s a great time to discover the city as there are no queues,” adds Bernabe.
“We take the pandemic seriously, but we also believe in the right to have a full life.” Currently few places in the Comunidad face tough restrictions due to high infection rates. The city meanwhile, has developed an activity card called Valencia an app anyone can download, On, not just aimed at tourists.
Palace con
Vol. 5 Issue 137 www.theolivepress.es December 9th - December 22nd 2020
REACHING a trade deal with the EU is looking ‘very very difficult’ claimed Britain’s Prime Minister this week. It comes after weeks of claims that a deal was close to being finalised. “We’ll do our level best, but I would just like to say to everybody - be in good cheer, there are great options ahead for our country,” Boris Johnson said yesterday. Talks with the EU have remained in deadlock for days thanks to disagreement over fishing quotas. While it comprises just 0.1% of the UK economy, the fishing disagreement could spell a hit of up to 3% for the economy and up to the same for Spain, the biggest predicted victim in Europe. A final last minute push will see Johnson travelling to Brussels in the ‘coming days’ in an attempt to salvage a deal.
turning it into Spain’s smallest pub. And if I say so myself, we’ve done a grand job.” Called El Irlandes, after his favourite Martin Scorsese film, it happily fits his closest pals in for the usual Friday night Blarney. Wilde, from Skerries, near Dublin, has run the Found Valencia agency for two decades.
Valencia is open!
VALENCIA remains open for visitors, with COVID restrictions more relaxed than most other regions, insists tourist chiefs. The city has been praised by businessmen and tourists alike for its
The Rock’s only free local paper
on a cornucopia of Emerald Isle collectibles… and it even has Guinness on draught. “After being cooped up like a man in solitary in March I came up with a plan,” the Valencia-based real estate consultant told the Olive Press. “I had an old shed in the garden. got the lads over – Tuejar, El Gal-I lego & Champ – and we set about
o n l y .
S u b j e c t
t o
c o n d i t i o n s .
E n d s
Press Valencia team getting the message
A TRADE deal between the EU and is on the verge of being finalised, Britain EU looked set to cave in on fishingafter the An MEP broke ranks to say that itrights. likely the French would have to looked compromise with Boris Johnson’s demands over UK waters. Christophe Hansen said the EU have to meet the UK’s demands to would clinch an agreement. "There will be compromises to be made on fisheries. The status quo, that is somewhere we're not going to land,” he told an event. French fishermen are understood to have backed the compromise despite losing on access to certain fishing grounds. out It came after the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier demanded the need to com-
out around the city this week By Dilip Kunar
promise in order to get an agreement. France had previously been refusing to back down on any fishing deal, demanding near-parity to the UK’s coastal waters. It comes as the governor of the Bank gland warned that a no-deal Brexit of Enbe more economically damaging would than COVID to the UK. Andrew Bailey said failure to get a deal signed would create a massive cross-border trade blockage and damage goodwill tween Brussels and the UK for years. beMeanwhile, Ireland leader Micheal said on Monday he was hopeful that Martin a Brexit deal would be completed this week.
Run by Visit Valencia it offers a huge range of discounts for museums, events, restaurants, transport and even hotels. You can find it at www. valenciaon.com, and it is completely free. Roland Wareham, 55, a company director from Andalucia, was impressed by how well the city was handling the pandemic. On a business trip from his native Mijas this week, he said: “I was struck by how normal life seemed. In Ruzafa, all the bars and restaurants were open, and the terraces were crowded with families and friends enjoying the al fresco lifestyle. “In Andalucia, meanwhile, bars and restaurants must close by 6pm, and my town is like a ghost town at night. “Valencia should serve as a blueprint for the rest of Spain.” Opinion, page 6 Taoiseach Martin said ‘by the end week we could see the outlines of a of this He said it would come down to deal’. will, both in the United Kingdom ‘political clear the political will is there fromand I’m the European Union’. EU ambassadors were told over the end that a trade deal with Britain weekis on the verge of being finalised. They were told the majority of the 11 main negotiation issues have ‘joint legal texts with fewer and fewer outstanding points’. The European commission president, sula von der Leyen, struck a positive Ursaying: “After difficult weeks with very,note, very slow progress now we have seen in the last days better progress, more movement on important files. This is good.”
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21/6/19 13:30
Get jabbing! Green light given to COVID vaccine as roll out starts in the UK
CHEERS: Health workers applaud as the first doses of the vaccine are administered in the UK yesterday suit. reunited with our loved ones, not forgetBy John Culatto The news of the vac- ting the very important lessons that this cine’s imminent ar- terrible pandemic has taught us.” rival comes as num- With a 95% effectiveness in trials, the THE green light has been given to Gibers of active cases shrunk to 46 on the vaccine is now due to be supplied via the braltar to vaccinate its population Rock, with only four in hospital. against coronavirus. NHS to the GHA after months of testing. The Gibraltar Government said it was The first citizens to be vaccinated will be Now the government has pledged to ‘delighted’ by the approval of the regula- the over-80s group as well as healthcare get 35,000 doses of the Pfizer-Biotech tor in the UK. COVID-19 vaccine ‘as soon as possible’. staff who look after them and the most “This is excellent news indeed, and I urge vulnerable in the community. Although the exact date is still unclear, everyone to take up the opportunity to However, until then, the Chief Minister the Medicines and Healthcare Products If you suffer from... Or you need... be vaccinated against COVID-19 at the urged people to ‘not let down our guard’. Regulatory Authority has given the go• Mobility problems • Help with earliest possible opportunity,” said Chief “The virus is still out there and a vaccine ahead for its use in the UK and with it Minister Fabian Picardo. Gibraltar. The first vaccinations started washing /dressing • Pain / Breathlessness is not a cure,” he said. “There is no better way to round off 2020 “Please, continue to protect yourself, in the UK yesterday (Tuesday), and it is • Falls / Stumbles • Supervision than with this extremely uplifting news, your loved ones, our GHA and our econexpected that the Rock will soon follow for which we omy. You could be entitled to extra income have all been “Wash your hands, wear a mask where hoping for a you have to and keep a safe distance by claiming UK sickness/disability long time now. from others.” benefits while living in Spain “The vaccine Gibraltar’s normally resilient economy is the first real has suffered a big blow to its tourism secSee page 11 step towards tor from COVID-19. FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION getting back to With the arrival of the vaccine it is excall 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 a more normal pected to make a swift recovery - Brexit www.ukbenefitsinspain.com life and being deal permitting.
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CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF Knife attack POLICE called to Constitution House for a domestic abuse case arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly having a blade, harassing conduct and owning drugs.
Face off A MOTORCYCLIST who crashed into the wall of Trafalgar Cemetery last weekend was treated for injuries to his face at St Bernard’s Hospital.
Begging for justice A 41-year-old Brit was arrested for begging on Main Street, a crime on the Rock looked upon much more seriously than being a street artist.
Hairy find SCIENTISTS believe that mammal hair trapped in amber around 110 million years ago and unearthed by a team in Aragon may be the oldest ever found.
Criminal earnings
Official coffers swollen by confiscated cash
THE Gibraltar Government has had a £200,000 windfall from suspected money launderers. The first wad of cash totalling around £80,000 in euro notes was found in the possession of a man entering Gibraltar through the frontier. “The person claimed that the money was not his, but failed to give the name of the owner,” said a Customs spokesman. “Not satisfied, officers detained the cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2015 in order to investigate the matter further.” The suspected money launderer did not appeal and the Magistrates Court has since ordered the cash be forfeited. In the second case, almost
SEIZED: Cash was confiscated at the border ed in March 2018 by Drug Squad officers after cocaine By John Culatto and hashish with a value of £11,600 were found at his £120,000 was confiscated home.A local judge valued his after an investigation into total profits from drug dealthe illegal profits made by ing to be £117,000 and had jailed drug dealer Anthony them seized. Casey, 46. Casey was arrest“We will continue to carry out our role as part of the Government of Gibraltar’s wider strategy on Anti-Money Laundering and the CounterA DRUG smuggling attempt has been foiled by the ing of Terrorist Financing. Guardia Civil in Algeciras. “As such it will pursue those A launch carrying 500kg of hashish was found at persons benefiting from crimPunta Carnero after being tracked coming into inal conduct of any kind with Spanish waters. the view of confiscating their Its owners had fled the scene by the time the narill-gotten gains,” police said. cotics team arrived on the scene to stop it being “The assets confiscated are unloaded. transferred to the GovernThe boat had four 350cc engines which were used ment of Gibraltar and are not to try to outmanoeuvre coastguard launches and retained by the Royal Gibralhelicopters as it crossed the Straits of Gibraltar. tar Police.”
December 9th - December 22nd 2020
Triple swoop
A TOTAL of 1,250 cartons of cigarettes have been seized by Customs officers before they were smuggled to Spain at the end of November. Small quantities of drugs were also found on three separate occasions as customs officers kept guard on the Rock. In the first incident officers were on patrol on Devil’s Tower Road. They spotted a Gibraltar-registered vehicle travelling towards Eastern Beach at speed. Upon arrival, the suspects abandoned the car with the 750 cartons inside and fled on foot. In the second, a local man was searched at Four Corners near the frontier. He was found to be in possession of a small quantity of drugs and arrested for importing it into Gibraltar. Soon afterwards, a Spanish registered car was spotted on Halifax Road suspected of being used for tobacco smuggling. The people in the car saw the customs officers and made a run for it, leaving behind 500 cartons of cigarettes inside the vehicle. All suspected vehicles with commercial quantities of cigarettes inside were taken into storage. Customs officers are investigating all three incidents to continue improving their procedure.
Hash haul
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NEWS
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TOP: Letizia Ortiz, Isabel Diaz and Elena Ochoa
No kidding around NINE-year-old Solea Fernandez Moreno from Sevilla, the youngest contender at this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest, has done her country proud by taking third place. Born into a family that is part of the famous flamenco clan Farrucos y Fernandez, Solea proved that musician’s blood runs in her veins by interpreting Palante, a catchy number that fuses flamenco and urban pop. Her performance earned her 470,000 online votes – over 10% of the total share – and proved that Spain may well have a new Rosalia in the making, as many have suggested. The winner was France’s 11-year-old Valentina, with J’Imagine who burst into tears at the result.
FORBES has done what it’s known best for and made another list that ranks society’s elites. But the twist in this tale is that all of Spain’s ‘most influential people of 2020’ are women. Clocking in at number one is the Reina de España herself, Letizia Ortiz. A public sweetheart, Queen Letizia has presided over numerous important events this year when her husband, King Felipe VI, has had to self-isolate.
Girl power
The rest of the list is largely dominated by politicians, presidents and CEOs. Ana Botin, President of Santander bank, is the silver medallist, while the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayudo, comes in at third. Other famous faces on Forbes’ list include psychologist and gallery owner, Elena Ochoa Foster.
December 9th - December 22nd 2020
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pops
Love is blind LOVE ISLAND’S Theo Campbell is suing an Ibiza beach resort after nearly going blind from a flying fizz cork. The reality star, who rose to fame after appearing in the third season of the hit ITV show, was partying at a champagne spray party
TV star sues swanky Ibiza beach club after champagne cork blasts in face and leaves him partially sighted By Kirsty McKenzie
hosted by Wayne Lineker when tragedy struck.
PAIN: Theo partying and, right, recovering
TENNIS star Rafael Nadal has raised over €20,000 in the fight against coronavirus. The world number two donated one of his prized match winning shirts, worn at the prestigious Roland Garros tournament in France last year The donation formed part of the #LaMejorAsistencia, or The Best Assistance auction to raise much needed funds for the Spanish Red Cross. Organised by Liga ACB, Spain’s premier basketball division, Nadal’s shirt proved to be a big seller, bringing in a whopping €20,500 Before the auction opened, Nadal shared a video to social revealing that he would be donating a ‘precious object’. He said: “I wanted to donate the shirt with which I won Roland Garros in 2019. “Obviously, I do not know if it is the one I ended the match with, but one with which I played on the day of the final. “It is a shirt that has great meaning for me, I hope you value it and the auction raises as much money as possible for all these people
Getting shirty
GENEROUS: Rafa Nadal who are suffering so much and need all of our support.” Nadal previously donated €1 million to help flood victims in Mallorca in 2018.
While enjoying the celebrations at O Beach Club one of the party’s official bottles popped in his direction and penetrated the cornea of his right eye. Theo required 11 stitches after surgery in Ibiza and the UK, but is still suffering severe sight issues. The 29-year-old Great Britain runner says the incident has significantly reduced his ability to work, and wants answers as to why his sight has never fully recovered. “The last 15 months or so trying to come to terms with what has happened have been hard,” he said. “I’m a positive person and try and remain upbeat but as time goes on the chances of my sight getting back to normal become reduced. “I’m speaking with doctors about what may or may not be possible but I also have a number of questions about what happened to me. “I don’t know what the future may hold with regards to my sight but I feel that the least I deserve is answers to what happened and why. “Bringing this case was something that hasn’t been done lightly but I feel that at present it’s the best opportunity for me to get the answers I deserve.”
BarING All SPANISH on-screen superstar Penelope Cruz is set to reveal the most intimate details of her life in a new documentary TV show, Pongamos que Hablo de, available on Atresplayer Premium this December. The detailed series will track the actress’ life from Alcobendas to Hollywood to Madrid, through over 30 interviews with the star herself and those closest to her.
POPULAR: Bad Bunny
LATIN rapper Bad Bunny has been named as Spotify’s most-streamed global artist of 2020 with fellow reggaeton singer J Balvin trailing close behind. Bad Bunny, 26, born in Puerto Rico, shot to stardom after collaborating with Cardi B on her single I Like It in 2016 and went on to become one of the best-selling Latin music artists in the world. Famous for performing Latin trap and reggaeton, Bad Bunny - real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio - has garnered millions of fans in Spain, the UK and beyond. In 2020 he hit more than 8.3bn streams, beating out the likes of Drake and J Balvin for the global top spot. His second album YHLQMDLG was the most streamed release of the year, ahead of After Hours by the Canadian singer The Weeknd, Hollywood’s Bleeding by Post Malone and Fine Line by British SINGER: J Balvin singer Harry Styles.
‘Gobby, loud and brassy’ CHRIS Tarrant has slammed Kerry Katona as he recalled meeting the ex-Atomic Kitten star in Spain. The 73-year-old presenter was first introduced to Katona, 40, at swanky golf event in Marbella. But the meeting left a bad taste in his mouth, with the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? labelling the buxom blonde ‘a monster’. Chris told the Mirror: “She was upsetting everybody. I think you can imagine. Oh gosh, a monster.” Kerry hit back on Instagram, sharing Chris’ comments and captioning her post: ‘Wow! Honestly I was soooo excited about meeting Mr Chris Tarrant! I remember going up to him at a golfing event in Marbella, and he said “why are you so gobby and common” amongst other things.” This is not the first time Kerry has brought up the manic
SNUBBED: Katona meeting. Kerry has also written about the incident in her column in New! magazine, saying Chris called her ‘gobby, loud, rude and brassy’ when she went up to introduce herself. She wrote: “I went up to him to say hello and he told me - to my face - he didn’t like me, that I was ‘gobby, loud, rude and brassy.’ What? I was so disappointed.”
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NEWS
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Fighting climate change
CRACKDOWN: No parties
Party poopers
POLICE officers have been cracking down on party lovers who have been creating discos in their own homes. With all bars and nightclubs closed after midnight, officers have been knocking on doors after neighbours complained of loud noises. Police officers visited Anderson House, Seagull Lodge, Seashell House, Hood House and Jamaica House at government estates but took no further action. Only a boat-owner at Queensway Quay was reported for the offence at 4am on November 29 and released on bail. Others chose to party while on the wheel, creating a real danger to road users. Two local people were breathalysed and charged with drink-driving at Reclamation Road and Winston Churchill respectively. A cyclist reported that a 44-year-old man who lived in Varyl Begg Estate was driving dangerously and he was arrested.
December 9th - December 22nd 2020
GIBRALTAR has chaired a meeting about the environment at the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council with the UK. The Prince of Wales was present and spoke about how it was important to protect biodiversity and praised the territories for playing their part in this plan.
The loss of EU funds, the effects of COVID-19 and the shift to renewable energy were all discussed in relation to the environment. High-level UK ministers commented on the need to move to nature-based solutions to climate change and the need to protect the oceans.
Fighting abusers A NEW law to protect the victims of domestic abuse and prosecute offenders is being prepared. The landmark legislation was presented on the UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. “The definition of abusive behaviour in the Command Paper includes violence, threats or coercive or controlling behaviour,” said a spokesman for the Gibraltar Government. “This includes making a person dependent or subordinate, isolating them, controlling or regulating day-today activities. “It also includes making the person feel frightened, humil-
Tougher measures for domestic abuse victims By John Culatto
iated, degraded, punished or intimidated.” Abusers face a maximum of 14 years in prison with courts able to impose protection orders for victims. Minister for Equality Samantha Sacramento is also aiming to help victims overcome their trauma through therapy. “It is vital that victims of domestic abuse speak out and seek help, and that their friends and families support them in calling out their
A VISITOR to Gibraltar has tragically drowned at Catalan Bay after going for a swim in rough conditions. An elderly Polish couple who were on the Rock to see a relative decided to go for a swim at the picturesque bay, but quickly came into trouble, leading an onlooker to call RGP at around 11am. “Whilst an ambulance was called, officers immediately attended the scene and found a male on the shore and a female on the nearby rocks,” said the Royal Gibraltar Police. “Officers gave CPR to the male whilst other
Baking Trays
FIGHT BACK: Police targeting abusers abuse,” said Sacramento. “Our strategy is about victims, their families, children and finally
Drowning tragedy officers attended to the female who had minor injuries to her legs. “Ambulance staff tended to both patients before transferring them to St Bernard’s Hospital where the male was pronounced dead shortly before 1pm.” Amateur swimmers often get stuck behind the rock groyne in the bay while being pushed by the rip currents and start panicking. The coroner has opened a routine investigation.
perpetrators.” All RGP officers have now been trained up to handle these attacks, mainly directed at women. A Domestic Abuse Team (DAT) and Victim Support Team (VST) have been set up within the force to specially target this form of crime. RGP Commissioner Richard Ullger said: “Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime and is totally unacceptable in Gibraltar or anywhere else. “Supporting vulnerable people and victims is a key part of policing and is a commitment we have pledged to make them feel safer.”
Critic’s choice RENOWNED British writer and critic Simon Calder has visited Gibraltar’s attractions and hospitality hotspots this week for an upcoming feature in The Independent. The senior travel journalist was spotted writing and filming on The Rock after lunch with His Excellency the Governor, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE DL and Minister Vijay Daryanani.
Welsh connection
MINISTER John Cortes has been in talks with the Welsh education minister to ensure Gibraltar students get a fair deal post-Brexit. The Minister for Education talked online to the Welsh Government’s Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, about university fees after Brexit. Baroness Sugg had already confirmed that Gibraltar students would pay the same fees as before Brexit at English universities. However, with education being run by each country of the UK in its own way, Gibraltar is engaging the education ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland separately.
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The Olive Press all editions FP (342mmx256mm) December 9
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LA CULTURA
NYE cancelled
A TV and online countdown and band will replace New Year’s Eve festivities at Casemates Square on December 31. Gibraltar’s cultural team are working to bring together an alternative programme events because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The New Year's Eve countdown will be presented by James Neish and Christian Santos,” revealed Gibraltar Cultural Services. “It will include a pre-recorded variety show style evening with performances by local singers and dancers.
December 9th - December 22nd 2020
Crowing glory
Spanish city had a starring role in the Netflix series
MALAGA was transformed into the Australian outback to provide the set for the most recent season of the hit Netflix show The Crown. The largest city in southern Spain had a starring role in the royal drama, with spots including AC Hotel Malaga Palacio featured in the fourth season. The big-budget series, rumoured to be one of the most expensive TV shows ever to
Modern vibes
By Kirsty McKenzie
be made, cut costs by filming scenes set in Oz in the Andulucian city. Scenes for Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane were all shot in the city of Malaga while Uluru, the landmark formerly known as Ayer’s Rock, emigrated to the deserts of Almeria. The brief appearance of a well-known city in the epi-
CINE MAGIC: O’Connor and Corrin on location sode - named Terra Nullius - also had Spanish fans pretty excited. One Twitter user joked that Brisbane ‘was filmed in the
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most Spanish city you’ve ever seen in your life’. Another spotted that one scene was captured from the top of AC Hotel Malaga Palacio. Shooting for the special Australian episode which follows Charles and Diana on their 1983 tour down under, took place last year. Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor, who play the young royals, were also spotted filming in Almería , where Clint Eastwood filmed many of his famous spaghetti western films. Actor Richard Roxburgh, who plays Bob Hawke in The Crown, said the spot had ‘a desert kind of light’ that was the perfect substitute for the Australian Outback. Netflix added that they relied on ‘a little cinematic magic’ and used special effects to superpose iconic famous Oz landmarks like Uluru and The Opera House onto the background.
SHOW: Art given a free reign at Kitchen Studios
A GROUP of 18 exciting artists are taking over the GEMA Gallery in Montagu Bastion until December 23. Kitchen Studios will put a joint exhibition featuring ceramics, installations, film, paintings and photography at weekly intervals. The group, known for their original perspective on art, will transform the space into a much lighter environment. “It will be more of a playground, with artists able to have more of a free reign in their creative outputs,” said Lizanne Figueras, one of the organisers. Gibraltar’s gallery of modern art will be open on weekdays and will even include interactive art.
A Vol. 5
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The ll about
Issue 137
errania de Ronda
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December 9th - December 22nd 2020
City of dreams Inspirational to novelists and poets, its Moorish history, Renaissance architecture and excellent cuisine make Ronda an irresistible destination
‘
NICE promenades, good wine, excellent food and nothing to do…’ Thus Ernest Hemingway wrote off the town where he spent numerous holidays drinking the local wine and carousing at corridas, no doubt disappointing many of Ronda’s proud residents with his puzzlingly lacklustre review. Most of today’s travellers - including Britain’s last two prime ministers and an American First Lady - would certainly disagree with him. Ronda has been crowned Andalucia’s third most-visited town and it’s not hard to see why. The so-called ‘City of Dreams’ is a true wanderlust gem and somewhat of a celebrity hang-out. Theresa May, Anne Hathaway, Ricky Gervais, Jodie Whittaker, Gordon Ramsay, Kristin Scott Thomas and Spain’s ex-premier Mariano Rajoy have all allegedly visited the stunning mountain town... so say locals in the know.
Picture by Jon Clarke
Obama
Michelle Obama also made headlines when she visited in 2010, touring the old town and discovering the Moorish dynasty with her daughter Sasha. Celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli went house hunting in the town after falling in love with it in 2009. With its spectacular high sierra setting, leafy parks, cobbled lanes and atmospheric ventas it’s no wonder Ronda has stolen the hearts of so many travellers. Over the centuries a slew of writers have waxed lyrical about its timeless character, stunning views and charming locals. The German poet Rilke baptised it the ‘City of Dreams’, Orson Welles took a shine to its bullfighting scene and COLOURFUL: Legends, including Hemmingway, Michelle Obama, Anne Hathaway, Jodie Whittaker and Ricky Gervais have enjoyed Ronda’s sites
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tel: 952 87 89 85
Calle Virgen de los Dolores 11 29400 Ronda, Málaga, España Tropicanaronda@gmail.com
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December 9th - December 22nd 2020
City of dreams
S
errania de Ronda
Hemingway himself capitalised on its culture of bullfighting for two of his own works. Ronda’s legendary torero Pedro Romero who slew more than 5,600 bulls was the muse for his noble matador in The Sun Also Rises; while the fierce rivalry between Luis Miguel Dominguin and Antonio Ordonez, the city’s other most famous bullfighter, is chronicled in The Dangerous Summer. But it seems the good people of Ronda overlooked the Nobel Prize-winning author’s slight on their hood. Instead, they paid homage to him with the Paseo de Ernest Hemingway, a pathway that teeters along the top of Ronda’s crown jewel – El Tajo gorge – which offers up gorge-ous views across the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. This 120-metre-deep chasm slicing the city in two is bridged by Ronda’s most photographed structure. The magnificent Puente Nuevo is anything but new, having been completed in 1793. As you cross the cloud-touching bridge, it’s like stepping into a medieval fairytale. The backdrop of soaring mountains crowned with traditional Andalucian white villages is equally dramatic. Taller than London’s Centre Point tower, the structure took a staggering 40 years to complete, claiming the lives of some 50 builders who died bridging the gap. They left behind an awe-inspiring fusion of na-
Picture by Geoff Scott Simpson
From front page
Trailblazers IRISH novelist and poet James Joyce (1882-1941)
“Ronda with the old windows of the houses, the eyes which spy out hidden behind the latticework so that their lover might kiss the iron bars.”
The word on the street from some of Ronda’s famous visitors…
Syrian prince Abu’l-Fida (1273-1331) “Elegant and lofty city in which the clouds serve as a turban and its towers as a sword belt”
American author Orson Welles (1915-1985) “A man is not from where he is born, but where he chooses to die.” German poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986)
“It is here, in Ronda, in the delicate penumbra of blindness, a concave silence of patios, leisure of the jasmine and the light sound of water, which summoned up memories of deserts.”
ture and architecture connecting the new town of Mercadillo with the old quarter, La Ciudad.
A chamber above the bridge’s central arch was used as a prison during the Spanish Civil War. Leg-
REGULAR VISITOR: Orson Welles end has it that Republican and Nationalist prisoners were tortured and thrown from the windows to the
“The spectacle of this city, sitting on the bulk of two rocks rent asunder by a pickaxe and separated by the narrow, deep gorge of the river, corresponds very well to the image of that city revealed in dreams.” deadly rocks below. Later it housed a bar, today it’s a museum dedicated to the history of the bridge and
At the heart of nature F INCA La Donaira is a luxury eco-retreat, organic farm and equestrian centre with Lusitano horse breeding. The hotel is a nine-bedroom farmhouse designed and decorated with the simplicity of the traditional Andalucian vernacular and the uniqueness of the contemporary. The retreat in the Serrania de Ronda includes a state-of-the-art spa and an infinite list of tailor-made activities ranging from horse riding, paragliding and ‘bee bed meditation’. There are numerous home-grown products including organic wine, extra virgin olive oil, honey, almond milk, as well as eggs from free-range chickens. You are bound to find yourself in good company, with conversations around the table continuing late into the night under starry skies, with one or two glasses of good biodynamic wine. La Donaira counts on stunning custom suites and two international award-winning yurts, and guests wake up to birdsong, before swimming in the infinity pool. Take a walk around the 1,700 acre estate, which homes over 50 mares that live in free-
Horse whispering, bee bed meditation and more at Andalucia’s finest 1,700 acre eco-retreat
Finding a sanctuary, a place separate from time, is not so different from finding faith - Pico Iyer
dom with their foals as a backdrop. All your five senses will be awakened at an altitude of 1,000 metres during the four
STUNNING: Views towards the Grazalema Natural Park greet guests at the luxurious finca
seasons of the year. Everything is designed to help guests feel good, from the healthy, eco-friendly food designed by chefs each morning with the fresh produce they harvest in the garden, to places for meditation, the outdoor swimming pool powered by spring water or the yoga platform. Interested in riding? The equestrian activities are designed for beginners and advanced riders, while you can learn natural horsemanship with a horse whisperer, or practice grounding, a way to connect with the horse through breathing exercises. Guests can also visit the organic farm and orchards and even be a farmer for a few days and collect their own free range eggs. They might also like to visit the medicinal garden with over 350 varieties of healing plants, or meditate on one of only four bee beds to be found around the world. There are a variety of hikes and guests can
take a bike to go for a cycle. Then again you might just want to do nothing more than relax under a 700-year-old holm oak and enjoy the peace and views across beautiful mountain meadows towards the soaring peaks of the Grazalema Natural Park. La Donaira grants one of the most precious gifts - it allows its guests the simple and forgotten luxury of enjoying nature and time.
For more information call (+34) 951 39 00 59 or email info@ladonaira.com
9 December 9th - December 22nd 2020
Gateway to history It’s been a key nerve centre since the time of the Romans and back in the days of Al Andaluz, Ronda was a key stopping off place for travellers. Today, it is famous for its old doorways and will definitely feel like you are stepping back in time.
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE AT AN ORGANIC VINEYARD IN RONDA Guided visit of the Kieninger bodega and vineyard, plus a tasting of four distinct wines, alongside a range of delicious local quality tapas from the Serrania.
Picture by Jon Clarke
RESERVE: Tel: 952 879 554 Mob: 618 685 152 Email: araceli@bodegakieninger.com VIDEO PRESENTATION:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL3VdNftgUE&t=13s
www.bodegakieninger.com
BIBLICAL: Shepherd pats his sheepdog under old town walls, while (left) the famous bullring ated by a water wheel, bringing water up from the River Guadalevin below. A stroll around the immaculate chambers, arches and columns conjures up images of the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by travellers in what was then the Kingdom of Granada. A fantastic reconstruction film brings it all to life. Another Moorish highlight is the Casa del Rey Moro, the palace where Michelle Obama surprised onlookers in 2010 when she descended the 300 perilous steps down to La Mina the water mine – an experience many tourists choose to pass on. Built in the 14th century during the Moorish occupation, it was on these vertiginous steps that chain gangs of Christian slaves formed a human conveyor belt to pass up containers of water from the river Guadalevin. The heart of the new town is the bustling main shopping street, Calle Espinel - known as ‘La Bola’ by locals. It’s bursting with handicraft shops, local produce and infinite places to stop off for churros and chocolate or Ronda cheeses and wine. Another way to explore Ronda is via its exquisite wine tours. Since Phoenician and ancient Grecian times, wine has been produced here and probably transported to the great cities of the Roman Empire. Take a visit to any of the 20 or more bodegas (we recomend that of Kieninger) and you’ll be filled in well. If you’re spending more than a couple of days in Ronda, the cave art at the Cueva de la Pileta is another mustsee. Nestled in the village of Benaojan some 20 kilometres southwest of the city, the belly of the cave reveals Stone Age paintings of horses, goats and fish which can be marvelled at by torchlight with a guide. A trip to Ronda, whether it be for a day, a week or even a month has the uncanny ability to transport any visiHISTORICAL: Alleyway leads up to Spain’s oldest bullring tor to another time.
Picture by Jon Clarke
its skyscraper jail. For a picture-perfect view of the bridge, hike down to the bottom of El Tajo. You can access the scenic walking routes from either side of the bridge. Take the old town side for a more challenging hike or the new town side for the easier route. Ronda’s bullring, poised between new town and old, also gets huge amounts of attention for being the oldest and most beautiful in Spain. There’s a museum inside and you can take a tour. Despite bullfighting’s alleged waning popularity, this famous arena is mobbed in September for the annual Goyesca bullfights, a homage to Ronda’s two most famous matadors and the Spanish artist Goya. Ronda is a tale of two cities. Its old and new towns each have their own distinctive styles with Roman and Moorish influences. Built in 9 BC, it’s one of Spain’s most historic settlements and was a key military bastion in the Roman Empire. It was completely transformed by the Moors, who were responsible for many of its tourist-magnets today. The banos Arabes is one, originally built in the 13th century and oper-
10 December 9th - December 22nd 2020
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Secret Serrania From bandit hideouts to Roman wine cellars, there is so much to see and do close to Ronda, writes Jon Clarke
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ONDA is surrounded by two natural parks, the Sierra de las Nieves and the Sierra de Grazalema, not to mention its very own breathtaking Serrania. These surrounding hills are creaking with wonderful walks and pretty towns and villages to visit, all easy to reach in the car and most with their own excellent places to stay and eat. Here are a few top picks for a trip out of Ronda.
S
errania de Ronda
THE historic Roman town of Setenil de las Bodegas is a real eye opener and amazing for p h o to g r a phy. Nestled in the rolling landscape, 20 minutes out of Ronda, it was built around a series of caves, w h i c h served to keep the wines of the Romans cool in summer, hence its name. It is best to leave your car outside the town, wander up to the old fortress before heading down to the famous overhanging cave for a fine tapas lunch.
REPUBLIC OF FUN FRIENDLY Arriate sits just five minutes outside Ronda, but is a completely different world. This charming village of nearly 5000 souls is a bustling place and fiercely independent of big sister Ronda, from whom it officially broke free some 400 years ago. It has a warm, homely feel about it and a great mix of local shops, restaurants and places to stay. Pick of the bunch to eat is El Muelle, a converted train station, while you must spend the weekend at either Hotel Arriadh or finca Alcantarilla. Its Fiesta en el Aire festival in early Autumn - hopefully back next year after COVID - is now legendary and attracts nearly 20,000 punters over a long weekend.
Preaching the blues
Cavemen colony
WHILE it’s about as stunning as any of the pretty villages around Ronda, there is one big difference with Juzcar… it’s blue. This is thanks to the Smurf movie that in 2011 decided to use the tiny village as the ‘mythical ‘base of the tiny creatures. It has been used a handful of times since and voted to stay blue some years back despite the film-makers’ offer to return it to a more traditional white. But apart from the many attractions for kids, based around the movie, it is also the perfect place for a walk and to see Griffon vultures and crag martins.
Bandit territory THE Serrania was once a major stronghold for bandoleros (bandits) and the tiny towns of Benaojan and Montejaque were famously where many holed up. But there is much more, such as the Cueva de la Pileta, near Montejaque (left), which has the oldest cave paintings in Spain, while Benaojan is the centre of the ham and sausage industry. There is also a fabulous walk from Benaojan Estacion down the river to Jimera de Libar, from where you can get the train back. At each end is a great lunch spot, with hotel Molino del Santo, when open in season, the obvious pick.
OUTDOOR VIBES: Visitors to Fiesta en el Aire festival
Fanning its fortune
Prehistory kept alive FOR anyone wanting an idea of what life was like in Ronda 5,000 years ago, head to Algaba, a short drive out of Ronda. This wonderful estate has recreated a prehistoric village showing clearly how the area’s forefathers lived, how they ground their bread, decorated their homes and what they did with their dead. There are also lots of rare breeds of cows and goats and you can even stay in the nearby finca if you fancy it. Visit www.algabaronda.com
Roman Ronda A 15-minute drive from Ronda takes you to the ancient city of Acinipo, where the Romans built another ancient settlement. The highest hill for miles around, it still has much evidence of their skills with a large part of its amphitheatre intact and a lot more to look at, not to mention the views. The visitor centre is only open for the morning, but one can always climb up to the amphitheatre out of hours.
AN hour walk from Ronda will take you to one of the most stunning natural sites, the Cueva de Abanico (the Fan Cave). Near here celebrated flamenco star Estrella Morente, and husband bullfighter Javier Conde were planning to build a hotel and it is no surprise why. This is one of the most beautiful walks imaginable, with bits of Roman road to discover, ruined towers and then the amazing cave and river at the end, perfect for a picnic.
BUSINESS
Going bust
TWO clothes shops in Gibraltar could be under threat from closure after reports that their parent company is in financial trouble. Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, both part of Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, could shed up to 13,000 jobs if the company goes under. The retail giant has recently been in talks with lenders to borrow €33.5 million. “I don’t care,” an employee at Dorothy Perkins Gibraltar told the Olive Press. “They send us clothes to sell but we’re part of a different company so it shouldn’t affect us.”
Survive
With €33.5 million worth of debts, financial experts have doubted that Arcadia will survive the coronavirus pandemic. “Obviously, if the whole company closes that will be a different thing,” the employee said. “They haven’t told us anything so we have no idea what will happen next,” she said. Amid mounting speculation, Arcadia have said: “The forced closure of our stores for sustained periods as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has had a material impact on trading across our businesses. “As a result, the Arcadia boards have been working on a number of contingency options to secure the future of the group’s brands.
December 9th - December 22nd 2020
Self-isolation covered Cash for COVID hit workers
WORKERS who need to self-isolate for COVID-19 reasons can now be paid by the government in a new scheme. Wage-earners and the self-employed will receive £52.50 a day when they have already used up all their sick leave. Part-time or casual workers can also apply for the scheme, which can be received after a simple email is sent to the authorities. The amount has been calculated based on the monthly BEAT COVID-19 payment of £1,155 arranged over the sum-
BEAT COVID: payments for people in isolation mer for ‘inactive’ workers. who cannot work remotely Only those told to self-isolate will be applicable for up to 10 by the medical authorities and days in self-isolation. “This scheme gives businesses the financial support to pay their employees when they are unable to work,” said the Gibraltar Government. “It is also for employees to feel safe in the knowledge that they will receive an income if they are unable to work beONE of the world’s biggest nautical electronics firms will cause they have to self-isolate. move its global marketing and digital transformation “This is a last resort scheme base to Spain. as an employee that has sick Norwegian-based Navico already has a presence in Alipay should use their sick pay cante with its Navico Iberia division. and receive their contracted The city will now also be home to a Digital Lab that will salary. come up with new products and promote the company’s “But we want to avoid someinternational expansion strategy. one who has used all of their Navico supplies navigation, instruments and fish detectsick pay from returning to ing equipment to both the leisure and commercial mawork because they need the rine sectors. money.”
Top marine firm sails in to Spain
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Holiday pay ALL workers made redundant due to COVID-19 will have to be paid their holiday pay, the Gibraltar Government has ruled. This Unite the Union demand was met after the government suspended holiday pay and annual leave to all workers when they were inactive during the lockdown. “We are identifying employers who have made redundancies and will need to adjust their calculations following this
policy clarification,” said a spokesman for the Department of Employment “Any employees who have any queries in respect of the impact of this policy in respect of their calculations are encouraged to contact their union or email the Department of Employment.” More information for employers and employees is available online in a leaflet explaining citizens’ rights.
Working towards a four day week WORKERS in Spain could soon be enjoying a four day week under proposals being considered by the Spanish government. The Spanish finance ministry is examining proposals to offer financial incentives to companies that reduce the working week to 32 hours without cutting employees’ salaries. Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias has said they are studying how shorter working hours could help boost employment and productivity as part of the 2021 budget. The €50 million plan to offer grants to companies who cut working hours with no pay loss was proposed by small leftwing party Mas Pais.
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PROPERTY
Holy goal
EIGHT Spanish neighbours have made it their duty to rescue a crumbling Gothic church in their village, and are succeeding. Founded in the 16th century, the iconic San Lorenzo Martir church in Fuenteodra, northern Spain, is blessed with awe-inspiring architectural features. However, its grandeur is marred by patches of mould on the columns and numerous cracks that zigzag through its walls and ceiling – defects that both lend the building a haunting beauty and put it at risk of imminent collapse. Now locals are taking matters into their own hands and have already raised â‚Ź40,000 of the â‚Ź300,000 needed. “We are obliged to future generations to preserve this unique legacy of our ancestors, which they raised together, with a titanic effort,â€? they said on their Crowdfunding page.
December 9th December 22nd 2020
House for â‚Ź3
A BRITISH couple are offering potential buyers the chance to purchase tickets for their â‚Ź400,000 home complete with a swimming pool - for less than â‚Ź3. Gina and Wayne Ironside have lived in the luxury pad worth nearly half a million for seven years but have decided to move from Tenerife to be closer to family in the UK. The pair are selling their homeon the website Prizevillas, where potential buyers can purchase a ticket for just â‚Ź2.80. The family are selling 23,0000 tickets to raise the sum of â‚Ź440,000 - just a little over the estimated asking price if it was sold on the
Expats put luxury home up for raffle
BARGAIN: buy a ticket and take your chance open market. Once all the tickets are sold one lucky winner will be
Rental concerns
RENTAL home prices have fallen in Spain in tandem as defaulting tenant numbers rise. With the economy contracting due to the pandemic, the average price of rental housing reached just over ₏10 per square metre between July and September this year. That’s a fall of 8.4% over the first three months of 2020, with Barcelona, Madrid, and Palma hitting above average figures, according to the real estate platform, BrainsRE. Figures taken since mid-September show that the number of people unable to pay their rent has risen from 3.5% to 5.9%, according to contracts monitored by the File of Defaulting Tenants. A combination of job uncertainty during the second wave of COVID-19 cases along with economic concerns is said to have caused the spike in non-payments.
chosen at random and given the keys to the incredible home that boasts three bedroom, stunning hillside views and a jacuzzi. Set in the picturesque Adeje area of Tenerife, the villa has three double bedrooms on the first floor with two having en-suite bathrooms, each with their own private balconies.
Spacious
Downstairs there is another double bedroom and a large study, playroom or store room. Additional features include a high spec kitchen, living room and spacious gardens complete with a terrace and a communal pool.
OP QUICK Crossword
Across 6 Loses signal strength (6,2) 8 Hogwarts posties (4) 9 Load (6) 10 Close, but no cigar (6) 11 Together, they're a charm (12) 14 Ghostly cop is incoherent expert on how we tick (12) 17 Small settlement for a Shakespeare character (6) 20 Coordinated (2,4) 21 Indolently (4) 22 Meets up with (4,4) Down
OP Sudoku
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1 Hunkers down (8) 2 Very widespread (8) 3 Leaped (6) 4 Wordsworth words (4) 5 Mountains (4) 7 Branch of Islam (5) 12 According to some ... (2,2,4) 13 Set off (8) 15 Uproar (6) 16 Three bright stars are his belt on high (5) 18 Increases (4) 19 Narrative songs (4)
All solutions are on page 14
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Takes the cake!
All aboard
CANFRANC train station, situated in the Pyrenees between Spain and France, is set to reopen next month after being shut for half a decade. A historical landmark, the terminal was where many Jews fled Nazi Germany, including the painters Max Ernst and Marc Chagall. Originally opened in 1928, the station was used to transport goods - including Swiss gold.
Spanish lesson for Italians as Iberian panettone scoops awards
By Alex Trelinski
A SPANISH bakery has won a major Italian award by showing the locals how to make the world’s best panettone. The sweet bread was originally created in the Milan area and has spread around the globe as a treat that is especially popular over the festive season in countries like Spain. Fartons Polo sent off some of their special bakes to Rome and got a gold award in a contest organised by the Italian Federation of Pastry, Ice Cream and Chocolate. The 60-year-old Alboraya
Chateau
Once called the ‘Titanic of the Mountains’ the terminal boasts a French chateau design and the second-largest high-speed rail network in the world. The gargantuan building - that’s ten times the size of St. Pancras in London -had its services brought to an abrupt halt in 1970 when a derailment destroyed a bridge.
OP Puzzle solutions Across: 6 Breaks up, 8 Owls, 9 Burden, 10 Almost, 11 Hummingbirds, 14 Psychologist, 17 Hamlet, 20 In sync, 21 Idly, 22 Runs into. Down: 1 Crouches, 2 Pandemic, 3 Sprang, 4 Poem, 5 Alps, 7 Sunni, 12 It is said, 13 Detonate, 15 Outcry, 16 Orion, 18 Adds, 19 Lays.
SUDOKU
Quick Crossword
December 9th - December 22nd 2020
Pain in Spain THE world’s love affair with Spain appears to be on the wane after new figures showed tourists heading for the Costas fell by 87% year-on-year in October Figures from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed the number of international travellers had plummeted compared with the same period in 2019. International travel restrictions combined with strict curfews and early bar closures in Spain were blamed for the decrease in visitors.
Decline
TASTY: Spain beat Italy at its own game (Valencia) based company has been baking panettones for over a decade, both in a traditional version and one with
chocolate chips. They started work last year on creating an artisan panettone made with homemade sourdough. Fartons Polo thought they had come up with something special and decided to see how good it was by entering the competition, which featured over 300 international rivals. They are keeping the exact baking process under their hat, but besides the fresh sourdough, the Fartons blend includes vanilla from Tahiti, orange and lemon zest, and cream.
The year-on-year decline in October was similar to the decline in September and steeper than the 76% decline in August. Overall, the number of tourists visiting Spain fell by 76% in the first ten months of the year, with just 17.9 million travellers arriving in Spain compared to 83.7 million the year before. In the same period, tourist spending was down €18.6billion from €81.8billion.
Dazzling Display THE dazzling Christmas lights of Spain’s Malaga have been switched on. This year there will have been no musical performances or lighting inaugurations to avoid crowds in the city centre. However, as a novelty, an additional seven streets of the capital have been included in Malaga’s twinkling light display. The lighting features a musical thread made up of carols that will be played for as long as the lights are lit. Further additions to brightening up the dark winter nights include a luminous nativity scene in the Manuel Atencia Gardens and in the area of Alcazabilla an almond tree has been set up. The Malaga Christmas lights, are one of the highlights of the festive period particularly those in Calle Larios. A festive forest theme, decorated with suns, angels and autumn leaves, has brought much needed cheer to the capital.
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A SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOU AT LA SALA THIS CHRISTMAS SKI LODGE 2020-2021
E YOUR HOM OME MH AWAY FRO TMAS! THIS CHRIS
YOUR HOM E AWAY FRO M OME hrisHtm THIS CHRCIS as 2T0M 2A 0 S!
Christmas may feel a little different this year, however you can always count on La Sala Puerto Banus to make it one to remember. Whether you are looking to enjoy an unforgettable Christmas dinner together with family, celebrate the New Year in style or organise a pre-Christmas celebration with friends or colleagues, we guarantee that you will experience the finest festive season at...
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CHRISTMAS PARTIES • CHRISTMAS DAY • BOXING DAY • NEW YEARS EVE
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HEALTH
RED ZONE
THE province of Malaga still has 20 municipalities classed as being at an ‘extreme risk’ for coronavirus. Despite a generalised drop in the COVID-19 infection curve in Andalucia, there are still areas that register a cumulative incidence of more than 250 cases of illness per 100,000 inhabitants. The following 20 Malaga districts still in the red zone are: Cuevas del Becerro, Alpandeire, Algatocín, Gaucin, Juzcar, Alameda, Cortes de la Frontera, Alfarnatejo, Montejaque, Archidona, Ronda, Humilladero, Casabermeja, Arenas, Benaojan, Jimera de Libar, Antequera, Benamocarra, Alora and Archez.
Alarming
Additionally, there are a further 15 towns in Andalucia with an extremely alarming cumulative incidence of more than a thousand cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Elias Bendodo, the Minister of the Presidency, Public Administration and Interior, has said “We have managed to reduce the infection curve.” The Junta maintains five levels depending on the incidence of the coronavirus in a given municipality: minimum, low, medium, high and extreme risk, the latter being the most concerning. Overall, official figures suggest that the majority of Spain has come out of the extreme risk level.
December 9th - December 22nd 2020
FERNANDO Diez, general director of Elix Pharma, has announced that the first models of the pharmaceutical company’s COVID-19 home testing kit will arrive in Spanish pharmacies ‘between December 10 and 15.’ Priced at €25.50, the ‘Primacovid’ home test is much more affordable than the PCR tests and, according to Elix Pharma, is 95.7% reliable.
Health kick SCIENTISTS are studying how exercising twice a week for 50 minutes can help boost recovery from so-called ‘LongCOVID’. Exercises used in the study include a programme of strength and aerobic exercises to help people return to full health post-coronavirus. Understanding the best rehabilitation methods is becoming increasingly important as people continue to report ‘long Covid’ symptoms - such as fatigue and dehydration - that have continued for many months after first contracting the virus. The push towards exercise is particularly important as, in the first lockdown, Spaniards gained on average three to five kilos due to consumption of unhealthy foods and lack of exercise.
Home test It works with a simple prick of the finger, detecting the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-COV-2 in the blood, and produces results within 15-20 minutes. Currently under manufacture in Switzerland, Primacovid bears the CE au-
thorisation mark, meaning it has been approved by the EU. Elix Pharma hopes to distribute the first 500,000 models within the next three months. Unfortunately, however, a prescription is required to buy the home test kit. Nor are the prescription criteria themselves entirely clear. Nonetheless, Diez told 20Minutos,
‘the demand [for Primacovid] far outweighs the supply.’ With any luck, the Primacovid home test kit will not spark the same fiasco as the Chinese-made coronavirus self-diagnosis kits distributed in Spain earlier this year. Of the 640,000 models purchased, 58,000 proved defective, leading to the entire batch being pulled.
Pandemic lottery
Plan to chart extent of COVID-19
PUBLIC Health Gibraltar is carrying out a random testing programme of Gibraltar citizens to identify the spread of
the virus on the Rock. A thousand people have been selected at random to represent the whole population
RANDOM: People have been selected for programme
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and find out what measures will have to be taken during Christmas and New Year festivities. “The people of Gibraltar are asked to respond to these invitations, and present themselves to the Midtown Drive Through for testing as soon as possible,” said Public Health Gibraltar. “Those tested will have the choice of remaining anonymous, if they so wish.” This is the second random test after the one carried out in April. On that occasion it was found that one in 10 people were carrying the virus, most of them without knowing it. Invitations to those being selected were sent out by mail and people were encouraged to cooperate.
Helping hand G I B R A L TA R IANS were reminded to regular- l y have sexual health check-ups to identify AIDS early. As part of World Aids Day the authorities reminded the public the condition can now be controlled. “People that receive effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication can expect a normal life expectancy,” said the Gibraltar Government. “They are also protected from passing HIV on to others because effective treatment reduces the virus in the body to an undetectable, un-transmissible level.” The public can use the anonymous sexual health clinic at St Bernard’s Hospital to get tested for AIDS and other STDs.