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Paedos in crime
EXCLUSIVE: Expat Maddie murder suspect may have had an accomplice in 2017 sex crime
Vol. 4 Issue 87 www.theolivepress.es August 21st - September 3rd 2020
On location
The settings of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters are closer than you may think
Lockdown lies By Laurence Dollimore & Dilip Kuner
THE Spanish government was forced to step in after an English news site claimed the country would go into a second lockdown on September 18. Fernando Simon, director of health emergencies, made it clear that no such plan has existed. He singled out the story by the Euro Weekly News as ‘fake news’ - or a ‘bulo' in Spanish - in a heated, late-night press conference. And Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, yesterday called the report ‘science fiction’, when questioned by the Spanish press. She said: “At this moment there are no plans for a new confinement.” She added that although there was no telling what could happen in the future, ‘no media, much less foreign media, knows
this’. The story claimed the government would be introducing the extreme measure next month. It gave the specific date and cited 'two government ministers' it had allegedly spoken to. Written by 'journalist' Alistair Pike, it insisted the clampdown was needed – without explaining why. Pike, who is unknown to the Olive Press, has been writing for the newspaper group for a few months. Incredibly, he and his publishers stood by the story despite the Olive Press confirming with the Spanish government and British embassy that there was no basis to the claim. The group even added that the Spanish government was keeping UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson informed of the alleged lockdown plan - something denied by
Spain’s government dismisses fake news story that shook expat community
STEPPED IN: Fernando Simon dismissed lockdown claims
the UK embassy. Understandably, the story caused considerable panic in Spain, par-
ticularly amongst the expat community, with many people taking it for truth.
Coronavirus clampdown: Last orders NEW regulations have been introduced by the Spanish government in a bid to stop the rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases across Spain, particularly amongst young people. It comes as the number of COVID-19 cases amongst 1534 year olds has increased by almost 50% on the Costa Blanca alone. With a focus on nightlife, the new measures order that all nightclubs and bars with a drinks-only licence must be closed down. But restaurants and bars with a cafe licence - the vast majority - can open. Smoking on public roads is now prohibited. This measure also includes terraces, unless a two metre distance between smokers can be guaranteed. Valencia has taken the smoking ban a step further and prohibited lighting up on all beaches in the province. Hotels, restaurants and bars with food licenses must be closed by 1am, with no new customers permitted entry after midnight. Additionally, a 1.5 metre dis-
By Lydia Spencer-Elliott
tance must be kept between each party dining in the restaurant and groups cannot be larger than 10 people. Capacity must also be kept at 75%. Events with more than 400 people must now have authorisation from the public health authority. So, it looks like the party is well and truly over on the Costa Blanca. The move is aimed at halting the rise of coronavirus cases, Health Minister Salvador Illa said. Care homes have also been affected by the measures. New residents and staff returning from holidays must have a PCR test for symptoms. Visitors are only permitted to see their loved ones for one hour and one person at a time. Minister Illa instructed Spain’s 17 autonomous communities to bring in the new measures with some provinces adding additional rules. In Torrevieja, beaches close at 8.30pm with Marbella on the Costa del Sol following suit and closing beaches at 9.30pm. New regualtions have also been brought in for the Balearics, over and above the national rules, including a ban on boat and pool parties. Minister Illa has also recommended citizens limit social contact as much as possible and avoid those from outside their household. If meeting friends, groups of 10 people or less are advised by the authorities. However, these safeguarding suggestions are not currently enSee page 5 forced by the government.
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A media storm erupted, leading to several instances of tourists cancelling holidays in September, adding to the substantial damage already inflicted on the fragile tourist market. However, a fierce backlash via social media has seen thousands condemn the story with many even calling for an advertising boycott of the newspaper group involved. Nationally, the story was largely ignored until various Spanish websites followed up the story, including respected news organisation el Correo. Finally, the government stepped in at the weekend to deny the claims with Fernando Simon angrily stating at a press conference in Madrid that it was ‘a bulo’. “I have no information of a second lockdown and the idea has not been mentioned.
Hoax “They have printed a hoax story.” He added however, that the rest of August is crucial in ensuring the spread of the virus does not spiral out of control. "The priority is to control the transmission, to reach September with the lowest possible level," the epidemiologist said. "But we have to make an extra effort now." The health chief added that with an exerted effort, the situation in September could actually improve, but the public must continue to be vigilant. He insisted that schools would still go back as planned next month. "If a select amount of classrooms or schools need to close, it will have to be done.”
2
CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF Self inflicted A BURGLAR who had tried to rob a property in Soledat, Palma but was caught by the owner has now stabbed himself in the neck with a spoon in jail and has been transferred to Son Espases hospital.
Fake boss A MAN has been arrested for fraud in Palma after impersonating his boss. The detainee had taken out a loan of €6,000 in his superior’s name using his ID and payrolls.
Felon freed AMAN aged 34 who was accused of drugging and raping a 20-year-old girl in S’illot has been released after friends of the pair said they mutually agreed to go to the beach.
Pickpocket crackdown THE Policia Nacional has taken down an international pickpocketing gang which preyed on tourists in Mallorca. A total of 34 members, all of Romanian nationality, were arrested during multiple raids across the island. The suspects had targeted unsuspecting tourists in the capital over several years, stepping up their activity by recruiting new members during high season. Their mode of operation was to steal wallets and purses from holidaymakers while they were distracted inside stores. According to the police, the gang had stolen several million euros since they began their criminal activity by undertaking thousands of thefts. Covert surveillance led to over 20 dawn raids involving more
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
International gang responsible for thousands of thefts broken up
HELD: Pickpocket was spotted by victims By Isha Sesay
than 120 officers. The investigators managed, as they intended, to surprise all of the suspects while they were sleeping in their bed. It comes as two French tourists took matters into their own hands and detained another Romanian pickpocket
Repeat offender
Migrants detained
THE Policia Nacional this week cuffed a man, 22, who broke his ban from entering the Intermodal Station in Palma 10 times. The offender reportedly preferred to be behind bars.
TWENTY-THREE migrants have been detained by the Guardia Civil in Santanyi. Authorities located 11 men on foot near Ses Salines lighthouse and recovered their boat in the water nearby shortly after. Just hours later, police apprehended a group of 12 other men in Cala Santanyi. Both groups had been detected by an external surveillance radar system. All 23 of the migrants have now been handed over to the National Police in Manacor.
48 hours after being robbed by the man in Palma de Mallorca. The holidaymakers had been walking in the same area that they were mugged in when they bumped into the alleged thief. They pounced on the man and pinned him to the floor while the police were called. However, two plain clothed Policia Nacional officers saw the scuffle from metres away and rushed to the pickpocket’s aid thinking he was being assaulted. With their police report in hand, the tourists explained that the same man had nabbed their bags containing money and documentation while they were swimming on the Playa de Palma. Investigators say the man had been arrested five times in just three weeks.
Cat killers
Party’s over
TWO youths have been arrested for animal cruelty in Mallorca after allegedly torturing, blinding then killing a cat. The heinous act was uncovered by residents in Manacor who were awoken in the early hours of Sunday morning by a howling feline. Locals then watched a group of four youths, whose ages have not been disclosed, tying the cat up with rope. One of the boys then stuck his fingers in the cat’s eyes completely removing them from the sockets. Another boy then proceeded to stamp on the feline before the group fled on foot, leaving the animal’s lifeless body in the middle of the road. A Policia Local patrol arrived at the scene a short time later and confirmed that the cat was dead. With detailed descriptions of the assailants in hand, officers searched the area, finding two boys nearby. Both have since been charged with animal cruelty and remain in police custody. The investigation has now been handed over to the Policia Nacional who are attempting to trace the two remaining members of the group.
OWNERS of two nightlife venues in Santa Ponsa have closed down after reports that they were handing out 12-inch straws so revellers could drink from the same huge cocktail. Calvia local police issued the businesses with hefty fines for failing to comply with social distancing measures and allowing customers to use the dance floor. Guardia Civil officers and government inspectors have been carrying out weekend operations to ensure that all venues in the area are complying with COVID-19 health and safety regulations.
Knife attack
A MAN, 31, has been arrested for attacking a father and son with a broken bottle and two knives in a bar on the Playa de Palma. The duo were kept from serious injury thanks to two locals who detained the aggressor. Policia Nacional say the man had threatened a woman in the bar the previous day.
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Rebound
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
3
STUNNING: Rebecca looks good in pink
TOWIE star James Argent (left) has been spotted at Elliott Wright’s La Cala restaurant Olivia’s swarmed by beautiful women just weeks after his messy break-up with costar Gemma Collins (right). The Essex boy hit the town smiling in the sunshine before spending the evening chatting to two glamorous blondes and a brunette.
royal-ta!
ROBBED: Caprice Bourret
Caprice shaken MODEL Caprice Bourret has been left shaken after her Ibiza home was robbed and tens of thousands of euros worth of jewellery stolen from the property in broad daylight. The TV personality has had a house on the island for years and spends her summers with the likes of Rebekah Vardy there every year. Bourret was spotted at the Island’s courthouse filing a report soon after the crime took place.
Kate and Will send letter of thanks to school in Spain after Prince George was mocked on American TV THE DUKE and Duchess of Cambridge have sent the Public School of Hurchillo, near Orihuela, Costa Blanca, a letter of gratitude in response to their support for Prince George’s commitment to dance. Much was made of the sixyear-old’s school curriculum, after an American TV presenter mocked his apparent love of dance on Good Morning America in August 2019.
Heartless
ABC co-anchor Lara Spencer laughed and said: “Prince William says George absolutely loves ballet. I have news for you Prince William, we’ll see
All loved up in Marbella...
GRATEFUL: Kate and Will appreciate support By Simon Wade
how long that lasts.” Her ridicule sparked outrage among the dance community and modern
Girls in the mix...
LITTLE MIX girl band members Leigh-Anne Pinnock (left) and Perrie Edwards are living it up in Ibiza. While Edwards relaxed on a luxury yacht with Liverpool footballer boyfriend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Pinnock partied on a hen do at the boutique hotel Wi Ki Woo. “We aren’t allowed to dance but we still brought the party,” she told fans online.
KIM CLARK
CHILL: Perrie and Alex
society in general, leaving her no option but to issue an immediate public apology. It also prompted the Orihuela school, which has been committed to introducing dance into its curriculum for three years, into writing to Kensington Palace after the controversy, supporting the choices of the third in line to the throne. Almost a year later, the Duke and Duchess wrote on behalf of Prince George to thank the school for supporting his commitment to dance. School director Joaquin Marza said: “The letter received from the British Royal House is an award to the students, and helps us to continue with our dance projects.”
LOVE island couple Rebecca Gormley and Biggs Chris have been sunning themselves in Spain for over a month and show no signs of heading home to quarantine. Gormley, a former beauty pageant queen, has been posting loved-up pics online in Ibiza and Marbella as well as some stunning bikini shots.
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Rocking the lockdown
FATBOY Slim has rocked the lockdown in an ingenious show in Ibiza. The British DJ played to 300 revellers, who were carefully socially-distanced in a hotel venue on the island. Under the banner: ‘Eat. Sleep. Stay in your Seat’ the celebrated DJ entertained the crowd at sunset for over two hours. With new strict social distancing laws coming into effect this week, the audience were spread over daybeds, two metres apart, and on the balconies of their rooms which overlooked the cleverly set up circular stage. They were only allowed to dance in the pool below the stage… and kept apart by over a dozen security guards at the famous Ibiza Rocks hotel. Punters had to wear masks in all communal areas and temperatures were taken on the way into the venue. Meanwhile passport details were also taken for each bed or room in case of later track and trace needs. “It’s been a complete mission to get this off the ground and get all the health and safety certifi-
Deadly fall A BRITISH man has fallen to his death from a famous sunset viewpoint in Ibiza. Richard Lloyd Canavan, 30, lost his life after plummeting from the cliffs close to the Torre des Savinar. This is an infamous spot popular with holidaymakers that overlooks the small island of Es Vedra. According to the Diario de Ibiza, the emergency services were notified of the fall by one of the Brit’s friends at approximately 10.30pm at night.
Deployed
Eight firefighters and members of the Vertical Rescue Group were swiftly deployed to the scene where a drone was used to locate Canavan. Two further rescue specialists, who travelled to the scene from Mallorca, then descended down the cliffs to reach the Brit’s lifeless body. It is estimated that the victim fell from a height of approximately 150 metres. However, due to the area’s challenging terrain, a decision was taken to move Canavan by boat which arrived at approximately 4am in the morning. The investigation has now been handed over the the Guardia Civil in an attempt to find out how the Brit came to fall from such a height.
Fatboy Slim star of the socially distanced show that kept Ibiza rocking
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
Drugs shock for villa owners THE expat owner of a villa has spoken of her shock to find a tenant had turned it into a cannabis farm. Radas Balkevicius and his partner Kelley O’Toole this year rented a villa in Pinar de Campoverde which was solely used as a marihuana farm, with the owners left to pay for repairs and utility bills. The Olive Press spoke to joint-owner of the property, Amanda Lamb: “This has been a totally heart-wrenching situation for myself and the other co-owner as we have to pay for all the damage to be repaired, in addition to the cost of an illegal electricity supply and a massive water bill.” Balkevicius paid the monthly rental via a bank transfer and all seemed fine until Amanda discovered what was actually going on at the villa. “The couple said they were going to use it as a family home having recently had a new baby, but they never actually moved in.”
Disbelief
“We even gave them a discount on their rent because of the child,” Amanda added. The Guardia Civil and the Policia Local from Pilar de la Horadada have opened up an investigation into the drug plantation, while Balkevicius and O´Toole are believed to be somewhere in the Pilar and Mil Palmeras area. Amanda continued; “I was shocked to see all the damage caused by them making holes for ventilation systems.” It turns out that Balkevicius was convicted of 169 burglary offences in Essex and London. The 29-year Lithuanian was given a four-year jail term at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2014 after admitting his crimes. He is said to have netted over £1million worth of items in a five-year period.
DISTANCED: Fatboy Slim played an ingenious set By Jon Clarke
cates in place,” owner Andy McKay told the Olive Press. “But in the end I think we have proven it is probably
safer here than it is on the beach.” The Ibiza club owner, who has been booking Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, for over 20 years, said the event would at best break
Risk zone THE Balearic Islands has been declared a ‘risk zone’ for travel by Germany. The risk upgrade comes as the number of coronavirus infections in the region has now exceeded the threshold set by the German government. The criteria to enter is 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last seven days. According to the Ministry of Health, yesterday, the Balearic Islands went over that number with 55 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Being declared a ‘risk zone’ means that Germans holidaying in the Balearics would need to quarantine for 14-days upon their return home. The upgrade is likely to spell disaster for the Balearic tourism sector since Germans pres-
even. “We’ve had 3,500 people in here for bands like the Prodigy and New Order, as well as Ed Sheeran and Madness, so this is small stuff,” he added.
ent its largest international market. As in the case of the UK quarantine, Germans may be put off travelling to the region, as seen with a huge proportion of Britons. The ground-breaking move by the British government was branded disastrous by Balearic officials and resulted in over 60% of holidays in the region being cancelled by Brits.
Birthday treat SOARING 2,000 feet over the Spanish countryside isn’t how most people spend their 70th birthday. But this didn’t stop expat Linda Goatcher from taking to the sky for her birthday this month. Recently diagnosed with cancer, the fearless lady flew on a tandem paraglide trip alongside Summer Paragliding pilot Juan for half an hour. An adventurous expat, Goatcher has lived in Spain for 30 years and is currently settled in Jalon. Her friends were filled with pride as she set off on her expedition and have said they greatly admire her daring spirit.
Daring: Linda Goatcher
Doctor tragedy THE first doctor has died of coronavirus in the Balearic Islands. Bernd Harald, 59, lost his life to the virus on Tuesday according to the Official College of Metges (COMIB). The German national had relocated to Mallorca almost 10 years ago and worked primarily at Clinica Rotger in Palma. Harald also ran his own practice in Son Severa, in addition to attending to patients at private centres across the island including the renowned Llevant Hospital. Reports indicate that the physician was a professional swimmer in his early adulthood and that he had no underlying health problems. However, at the end of last week, Harald began to suffer from a high fever and dry cough, suspecting that he had contracted coronavirus. A COVID-19 test was subsequently performed at his home over the weekend, with a positive result being confirmed. Unfortunately, his health dramatically declined in just a matter of days until he went into cardiorespiratory arrest on Tuesday morning. Cronica Balear report that the doctor’s wife, also a
healthcare professional, had attempted CPR on her husband until the paramedics arrived at their home. Despite their swift arrival, Harald was pronounced dead after two hours trying to revive him. In response to the sudden death, COMIB have expressed their ‘deepest sympathies for the loss of a deeply respected doctor in the Balearic Islands.’ A minute of silence at the doors of the collegiate institution was also organised. It comes as hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Madrid over the weekend to show their anger against the COVID-19 restrictions. The rally served to criticise the government’s handling of the pandemic where many held signs stating that the ‘the virus does not exist’. Despite the growing conspiracy theories, the Balearic Islands itself recorded its highest number of new infections last week since the start of the pandemic. This sharp rise in active cases led to the Balearic government introducing tougher measures to combat the spread of the virus, including a partial ban on smoking in the street.
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Paedos in crime Mystery man may have abused children alongside prime Maddie suspect Brueckner MADDIE MCCANN suspect Christian Brueckner may have had another accomplice during a recent child sex crime in Portugal, the Olive Press can reveal. The blonde man of a similar height to the German paedophile was seen out with him on a night when he was arrested for exposing himself to chil-
EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke in Messines
dren in 2017. According to police sources in the Algarve, he arrived at a village festival with the mystery man. The pair were drinking at the local fiesta, an annual bash
Card Clarity THE BRITISH Embassy in Madrid has told the Olive Press that there is no need for expats with existing residencia papers to switch to the new TIE card after fresh rumours suggested that people need to make the change. Debbi Christophers from the Embassy said that there is no legal requirement to do so under the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. “So long as you were registered as a resident before July 6 2020, then the current green A4 certificate or credit-card sized piece of paper will continue to be a valid document, even after the transition period of Britain leaving the EU ends on December 31.” Debbi continued: “The green paper residence certificate and the new biometric TIE card are and will be equally valid in proving your residence status and rights in Spain. This is irrespective of whether or not the UK and EU reach an agreement over future trade arrangements.”
NEWS
Blitz Spirit
PARTNER: Brueckner had a mystery friend centered around the local delicacy of snails, in Messines. That night at around 1am, Brueckner exposed himself in front of four children. The convicted paedophile was hiding under the slide of the park’s playground with his trousers by his knees, a police source told the Olive Press. Parents were alerted to the German by the children, who ran over to them distressed and alarmed. It was then an off duty officer approached Brueckner and demanded documentation. She held back four furious fathers as she quizzed the German. Brueckner claimed he had been merely urinating but the parents pointed out that the ground was bone dry. The officer called for back-up before asking Brueckner how he had arrived at the festival. He first told the policewoman he had arrived by car, but later changed his story after she asked where the vehicle was. It came as witnesses claimed a man who he was with had fled
5
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
the scene as the drama unfolded. They described him as having a similar appearance to Brueckner, measuring the same height with blonde hair. It is believed he may have taken off in the vehicle. It is known that two blonde men of similar height were seen outside the McCann apartment on the day she went missing in 2007. One was said to have blue eyes, like Brueckner, while the other had green. They were seen by two sisters who were on holiday, outside the Praia da Luz resort in 2007. Brueckner was announced the prime suspect in June after discovering his phone had been used outside the Ocean Club half an hour before Maddie vanished. On the night of his most recent arrest in June 2017, police discovered he had an Interpol arrest warrant against him. The warrant revealed he had a history of child sex crimes and was wanted in Germany, police in Portugal said.
NOTHING encapsulates the British mentality more than the ability to smile in the face of adversity, to be able to show strength and courage through even the toughest of times. And no better example of this ‘Blitz Spirit’ has been displayed in the Andalucian town of Mollina. Residents of the Lazy Days Caravan Park were going about their daily business in the heat of the day, unaware that their lives were about to be turned upside down. At 4.30pm, a fire broke out to the south of the park, quickly taking hold as the warm afternoon winds carried the flames across the static homes. “I was watching the F1 on the TV when I noticed flames out of the window” explained Peter Thacker, a retired bus driver from Sheffield. “A young lad ran past the window with a fire extinguisher trying to put out the fire but it did no good,” he said. Without warning and with little time to react, residents of the park were forced to flee as flames engulfed the site. In total, 40 homes were completely destroyed and 70 people were evacuated, leaving just 15 homes still standing. “We were one of the lucky ones,” explained John Reid, a retired army veteran who had only been on the site for one month. “We had the flames just on the other side of the path to our home, but thankfully all that was damaged was a plastic sign that hung on caravan.” At the height of the blaze, 30 firefighters were on the scene with air support coming from the Andalucian Forest Fire Service (Infoca). By the time the fire was controlled, the town of Mollina was already beginning to come together to help the stricken residents. Official translator and liaison between the ayuntamiento and the British population, Miriam Lopez told the Olive Press: “The town hall’s main priority was organising the safety of everyone involved with special attention to their primary needs: food, medication, temporary shelter.” When we visited the Injuve centre, the place was eerily quiet except for two or three people enjoying the afternoon sun. “We lost everything, completely gone,” explained Sue Johnston, resident of the park for just 12 months before the accident. “We tried to grab what we could but it was too late, even our brand new car was destroyed.” Next to Sue was Carol Piper and her beloved dog Bonnie. “I tried to run back in to grab Bonnie but the firefighters told me I couldn’t, I told them to sod off! She was all I had time to rescue, it all happened so fast.
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NEWS FEATURE
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A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.
OPINION Line crossed THE recent massive raid against drug smugglers in La Linea’s Narcoville came as a surprise to many. For years these drug lords had inflicted their reign of impunity over the Gibraltar Campo. In the Rock’s shadow they had become social kings, riding sports cars and living a life of luxury. It had even got to the point that La Linea schoolchildren dreamed of being drug smugglers themselves as opposed to firemen. Through fear and their big bucks they dominated the Campo and few dared to challenge them. Even Gibraltarians lived there, hiding from the law and its consequences. It all came to a head a couple of years back when they had some serious run-ins with the forces of the law. First they ran over a local policeman in the street and then rescued one of their own from a hospital ward under police guard. They then barged into a Guardia Civil 4x4, with the officer claiming he felt like he was ‘in an episode of Narcos’. As news spread to all of Spain it was clear they had crossed a line and the reaction was swift. Suddenly, elite units were posted at road exits, checking traffic and looking for clues. When a police commander of the drug division was detained for working with the smugglers, it was clear the end was in sight. The big raid came after a COVID-19 lockdown that must have shocked the drug clans as much as everyone else. Narcoville had been untouchable because it was a symbol of opportunism and power, in a capitalist system that respects gain above all else. But that same power got to their heads to the point they felt they could extend their influence beyond any barriers. While it is clear that other clans will seek to fill the void left by those arrested, a line has at least been drawn in the sand which they will not dare to cross. Publisher / Editor
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Life on the Line Welcome to Narcoville Kirsty McKenzie reports on one of the most criminal and dangerous spots in Spain
C
risto keeps her eyes low as she serves us our drinks. A Fanta Limon and a Coke, both straight out of the freezer, she blasts the cans with hot water to melt the ice that encases them before sliding the drinks over to us. She’s been here since 2002, she tells me, but she won’t say her real name. She is working in a place that skims the line between La Linea and El Zabal, where the air is thick and the people are sparse - an industrial wilderness on the Spanish-British frontier. She knows better than to answer too many questions. She swats my probes away with the same ease that she bats away the flies that swarm
POVERTY: La Linea is one of the poorest cities in Spain around her cafe, making no effort to hide her disdain. Instead she exhales: “It’s frying here” and I watch a bead of sweat roll down her cheek. “Si,” I reply, “this place is on fire.” Welcome to La Linea, an enclave in southern Spain that got its name - the line- because it
DIVIDE: High walls separate luxurious homes from shabby apartments
Juan Carlos has been well and truly ‘cancelled’* but Spain’s reviled and exiled ex-king was once a symbol of unity revered by his loyal subjects.
Y
OU aren’t really the king of Spain until you’ve been exiled. Alfonso XIII slunk off in the shadows in 1931 after failing to implement a constitutional regime. Now, like his grandfather before him, Juan Carlos has fled the country in disgrace, this time following allegations of financial corruption. Accused of accepting a multi-million euro bribe from Saudia Arabia’s late King Abdullah in exchange for a high-speed rail contract, the runaway royal was sighted touching down in Abu Dhabi last week. In a letter to his son, King Felipe VI, Juan Carlos wrote that he had quit Spain due to the ‘public repercussions of certain episodes of my past private life’. One episode being the huge sum of money he reportedly transferred to his mistress Corinna Sayn-Wittgenstein in an apparent attempt to hide his railroad commission from authorities. Meanwhile, every animal lover in the entire world has heard about his hypocritical hunting trip to shoot elephants while Honorary President of the World Wildlife Fund. Born in exile in Rome in 1938, Juan Carlos was only 12 months old when General Francisco Franco defeated the Second Republic of Spain in the Spanish Civil War and began his 36 year dictatorship. Like Simba to Pride Rock in
is the crossing point from Spain to Gibraltar. Each day 36,000 people move daily across the border from La Linea to Gibraltar, along with 10,000 vehicles, 180 trucks and 40 buses. The imposing silhouette of the Rock of Gibraltar offers no shade to the residents of this gritty city, but there’s no doubt the shadow of drug crime and violence looms large here. It’s the proximity to both Gibraltar and Morocco - and the extreme isolation that the industrial town guarantees - that has made La Linea a key base for criminal gangs and drug kingpins. Located roughly eight kilometres south of San Roque, history tells it that when Franco closed the frontier in 1969, it was La Linea that suffered the most. Workers lost their jobs on the Rock overnight and the town’s population dropped by 35%. After 16 years of Spanish-imposed isolation, the gates were reopened in 1985 but the damage was done. Today the area remains in a perpetual state of decay and for the past 40 years or so, drugs have been the economic bedrock of this stifling and sterile nook of southern Spain. Unemployment rates in 2020 hover around
HUNTED: King shot elephant
By Lydia Spencer-Elliott The Lion King, the boy returned to his kingdom aged 10 as part of a covert plan to restore the monarchy in Spain. Dictator Franco took Juan Carlos as a royal hostage and governed the child’s life for just under two decades. But the allegiance proved advantageous when Franco named the prince his successor in 1969. Unlike his adviser, Carlos favoured reforms and quickly took apart the authoritarian regime. Twelve years later, Carlos publicly supported democracy amidst an attempted army coup and was praised by his subjects for derailing a return to dictatorship. The king became a symbol of unity and was fondly admired as the father of Spain’s third republic. His stock had never been so high. He was viewed as a hero for standing up to the forces of reaction and repression. He remained popular for years, but then controversy began to follow Juan Carlos. Along with a regular smattering of dodgy financial dealings, the king had been regularly lambasted by the public for his luxury hunting trips. In 2004, Carlos prompted significant outrage when he killed four bears - including a pregnant female - on a trip to Romania. And that wasn’t the end of his bloodthirsty hobby.
A right royal rogue... Amidst the devastating 2012 Spanish financial crisis, the king spent over €50,000 on a jaunt to Botswana to hunt elephants. This while he was Honorary President of the World Wide Fund for Nature, a title of which he was instantly stripped. He apologised and gave up his yacht in aid of the crisis but failed to quell the anger bubbling in the blood of the nation. After involvement with a tax avoidance scandal alongside his daughter Cristina and her questionable husband, Inaki Urdanarin, in 2014, tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets to demand a referendum to abolish the monarchy. Juan Carlos was forced to
abdicate and pass the crown to his son Felipe VI, later officially retired from all royal duties. From the days of glory to international embarrassment, Juan Carlos’ string of shameful sagas has sent shock waves through the once sturdy foundations of the Spanish monarchy. As the disgraced ex-king returns to the exile into which he was born, banishment appears increasingly like a royal right of passage. Now, with anti-monarchist fervour growing in the country, King Felipe will have to do a lot more than exercise his sovereign prerogative to safeguard the future of the Spanish throne. * You’ll have to Google it
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LUXURY: Police have targeted El Zabal’s high-end homes
look at our top ranking web stories over the past two weeks is revealing. Page view statistics are a crude but reasonably accurate way of seeing what our readers are interested in. Then why don’t we simply slavishly follow the online stats when laying out the newspaper? The answer is that we do use them as a guide, but they do not OLIVE give the complete picture. PRESS For an interesting read – and Right pair a newspaper that people look forward to picking up as soon as it’s out – there has to be a little of something for everyone. And this is where good old fashioned journalism comes in. 952 147 834 It is a judgment call and our team of experienced reporters and writers are well placed to make that decision. We all work hard and strive Complete package to put together the complete package. Of course news comes top of the agenda and we certainly print more than our fair share of hardnosed news reports. This is where website stats can help - for example the breaking news of a nightclub and partial smoking ban garnered plenty of hits, as did just about all our COVID related stories. But when it comes down to it, it would be an extremely dull paper if that’s all we put in. Which is why we always leave plenty of space for interesting in-depth features and articles. These not only allow our reporters and writers to stretch their wings, more LA CULTURA importantly they RESURRECTING RED HUGH provide you with I a fascinating and informative read. But it comes at a price – to the Olive Press not the reader! While the paper is free, the Olive Press still IN DEPTH: Fascinating features has to pay for the staff to keep on producing a quality newspaper and popular website. Some media groups have been cutting back on reporters –hundreds of posts have gone during lockdown in sections of the UK media. But the Olive Press believes in the value of its journalism so has continued to invest heavily in its staff during these moist difficult months. We believe there is light at the end of the tunnel – and when we reach it we will be ready and raring to go full steam ahead. We investigate continuing plans that threaten to destroy this paradise
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though we were on a public street. “How long have you been watching us? Why are you here?” he yelled over and over. “Borrar el video. Delete, delete, delete.” I was marched into the courtyard of the estate, littered with dirt, trash and empty bottles, where police were reprimanding a man. He was grunting and yelling - resisting arrest - and the crowd sur- FAMILIAR: Police are no strangers to the area rounding us was swelling. Police clasped their guns a little tighter. Morocco to document how drugs are taken I protested, ‘I am a journalist’, but the police from Africa across the water and into Europe. refused to let me go. The result is a miniseries for Netflix that’s Shay, a colleague with me that day, was been marketed to viewers as a glimpse at the sent to the car by officers to retrieve my ID. I ‘day-to-day of the conflict in one of the largest made moves to follow him and three officers enclaves in the country’, set to be released stepped in front of me, cornering me back later this year. The streets seem almost to be pulsing red on into the courtyard. “No,” one said. “You stay.” “La Linea is not a safe place,” says John Burthe humid August afternoon when we arrive. Shay returned with my ID - a driver’s licence. gess, an Anglo-American who’s worked on the After gleaning little from Cristo in our cafe Not good enough, apparently. Rock for a geo-tech company. stop, we park the car on the backstreets be- “This only proves that you drive, not who you “I know that two Spanish guys tried to abduct tween La Linea and El Zabal and open Google are,” a female officer said in Spanish. I was one of the girls on my team and the only reaMaps, flipping to satellite view in the hopes of incredulous. son they didn’t get away with it finding… something. It was clear the police didn’t was because Port Authorities Above the hum of the car engine and the buzz want anything filmed or phosaw it happening. This is not Two Spanish of mosquitos, I heard first a scream, then the tographed, insisting that I pera place you want to spend any angry voices of a crowd rising. We get out of manently delete whatever I had time in.” guys tried to the car and see that about a dozen armed recorded. That does not make I know I am lucky to leave La Linabduct one of ea with little more than a telling men, their faces masked but wearing black good journalism but attempting uniforms and the badges of the Policia Nacio- to argue with them only brought - and I am aware this incident the girls on my off nal, had surrounded the area. threats and increased hostility. is small fry compared to what The four story block of apartments is filthy - “We will take you to the police others have seen and suffered team sun bleached and peeling, the scene drained station,” the leader of the offiin this city this summer. of colour save for the damp, bright laundry cers continued to shout at us. For most of the year, the Spandraped from a stick outside the barred win- Later Shay explained my error - I had a flip cov- ish authorities have been closing in on Jesus dows. er on my phone and each time I was folding Heredia — better known as El Pantoja and alWe walked down the dusty road, into the fur- it over the officer was becoming more irate. legedly the biggest drug lord in the Campo de nace heat and I silently pulled out my phone “He didn’t trust you, that you were hiding Gibraltar area — with the brute force of the to film what looked to me like a drug raid. something. He didn’t believe you deleted it Central Narcotics Brigade. His apprehension On our way past, one of the officers caught and he didn’t believe you were who you said,” was the latest in a string of high-profile blows sight of us and was furious; he threatened to Shay said later. “He was worried they were against the drug barons. take me to the police station for filming, even identifiable.” Armed forces burst into his associates’ com“Even in a hat, pounds and the gang’s safe houses were mask and glass- raided by black-jumpsuited officers. On June 29, a huge raid on the secret properties saw es?” I asked. “Si,” Shay replied. 38 people arrested, 11 of whom are being “They are obviously held without bail. One had 52 bales of hashish weighing 1.5 nervous.” And they have a tonnes hidden underneath the base of a right to be. A city shower. Another had bundles of cash hidden with a population in the toilet and under the sink. Heredia himAs a leading provider of of 63,279, police self had been arrested on June 24 — while Telecommunications in Spain, officials estimate dining with his family at a restaurant in ChiTelitec continues to do it's that there are more clana de la Frontera - all thanks to tip-offs duty to keep operating in than 30 gangs here from to the police and an ill-advised decision that employ around to let his top-secret mansion be used as the order to facilitate location for an outlandish music video by reg3,000 people. communications during the It’s this harsh envi- gaeton star Canelita last autumn. Coronavirus crisis. ronment and boom As a result, police stepped up their search for in drug trafficking the gangsters and their associates, uncovering If you or anyone you know are alone during this that first caught the 17 high-tech hideouts across the El Zabal area. isolation period, just a 5 minute phone call to or eye of the produc- With Heredia behind bars awaiting trial and from a friend or family member can make all the tion company Atar two key members of the Castañas gang, Gadifference. Contact Telitec today to stay in touch Agreements togeth- reth Mauro and El Potito, on the run, the criminal empire in La Linea is starting to crumble. er with Mediaset. for less during this challenging time. Producers carried For the police, uncovering the hidden narcoout 81 interviews ville shows the city is making progress in its and shot 336 hours struggle against the drug gangs - but how Tel: 965 743 473 of footage, speak- many more people will have to put their lives sales@telitec.net ing to agents from on the line before the city can recover? different police forcwww.telitec.com Opinion Page 6 es and travelling to the 33% mark - a fact that has pushed many of its people into assisting the Rock’s smugglers by warehousing contraband tobacco from Gibraltar and drugs from Morocco before it is distributed throughout mainland Spain. The air is thick with dust and pollution and when I put my hand on the car window and heat ripples through the glass. We had come here to report on the secret narcoville busted by police earlier this summer in El Zabal. The luxury villas, many built illegally using criminal funds, boast swimming pools, hidden underground tunnels, escape routes, armoured doors and sophisticated surveillance systems. None of them have numbers and all are surrounded by metres high walls, making them only visible from the sky, where they are notable for their perfectly pristine lawns made of artificial grass - not even a gardener is welcomed into this impenetrable fort.
Football fan responsible controversial All Lives for rubs shoulders with Matter banner extremist Tommy Robinson, as he plans Costa move
PALS: Jake Hepple (left) with THE man sacked for Tommy lives matter’ banner flying a ‘white Robinson EXCLUSIVE above a football game has been spotted By Kirsty McKenzie shoulders with far-right rubbing activist tention in the Tommy Robinson on UK." the Costa del Robinson, Sol. the former remains in Spain and EDL leader Jake Hepple, 24, claimed was bility for the outlandish responsi- cently spotted on top of most reIs this Liverpool fan Spain’s the Rock, stunt at the teasing oldest Manchester City v Burnley plans that he was ‘moving ex-pat? game last Gibraltar’. to month. Robinson Both teams had taken said: “My fat little Page 5 support of Black Lives the knee in me to the top of this. Movinglegs got to Giminutes before Hepple Matter just braltar, stick that in your f*cking s*it plane to fly a White Lives arranged a paper.” Matter sign Extremist above the pitch. Robinson, who has been banned from Twitter, The Burnley fan and Instagram Megan Rambadt, who his girlfriend and Facebook following racist employment terminatedalso had her has been hinting for weeks rants, in relation making a about to posts she made on big move. fled to Spain earlier thissocial media, In an earlier video, filmed after enjoying racket sports at Hepple posted in supportmonth. a posh leisure on Facebook and appearedof the EDL centre in Marbella, the far-right acto with its former leader, in a pho- tivist said he was 'fleeing' to Spain Tommy from Robinson, as the pair met up on the attackthe UK after an alleged arson Costa Del Sol. on his wife’s UK Speaking from Manolo property. Hepple had been seen Santana in the Racrola 'Fish Alley' party strip. Fuengi- quets Club in Marbella, The fight is on as Spain Robinson tries to claim revealed A source, who did not a multi-billion euro fortune want to be sia's VK in a video posted to Rusdiscovered named, said: "He platform that he had on the sea bed... was here with places his girlfriend. I saw at local schools for secured O'Brien's Irish pub. them both in children but was still 'in thehis three Page 20 again.” of finding a permanent process' “They seemed relaxed place for something and having them to live. for the record. I am not a good The Brexit supporter, tribes and moving who has vo- nently. abroad or anywhere perma- becoming the perception he was now time, and cally opposed one himself. were say- UK, went on immigration into the “I’ve just had family issues and lo- The rabble-rouser, who does not unto say that he is looking ing they at permanently derstand Spanish, previously cation issues stated had been ‘which is pretty relocating his family, not me, that to deal with. My family that if a person See page 9 & 12 ‘does will free me up for the forced to with COVID’. hard to do, especially work that I do.” language, he should not speak our not be in the come to In another United Kingdom’. video he contradicted him- He added: “For all you snowflakes Spain to self and pledged I tors in the Spanish Now commentawill be back in the UK very press have questo return to the UK. soon, on the tioned whether e s c a p e Robinson, he will learn Spanish. real name Stephen Yax- streets of England, doing what I do.” media at- ley-Lennon, said: “Let me just clarify The 37-year-old admitted many had One twitter user in Gibraltar said: “We embraced refugees been ‘triggered’ when during the he was said to be weighing up leaving Civil War. We rejected Franco. Many of us marched in a show of anti-racthe UK, given his previt o c o n d i t i o ous anti-immigrant dia- ism on July 4. n s . E n d s 3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 “Our history is nothing . without anti-fascism. Tommy Robinson is the worst of the English far-right and we don’t want 21/6/19 13:30 imperialist crap in Gibraltar.”
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Years’ War would be immortalised by the 1960s Disney film - The Fighting Prince of Donegal. Based on the novel Red Hugh: detta against the En- of Donegal by Robert T. Reilly, Prince glish monarchy must depicts the film the Irish leader’s ascension be fearless, persistent to the throne after the death and pretty nifty with of his father. sword. In the mountainsa tional Like all good heroes, the ficHugh successfully multi-tasks of 16th-century Ireland his preparation for battle while there existed such simultaneously man; a warrior with de-a Kathleen courting his love interest, McSweeney. termination, valour and Some critics thought the tale Spanish soldiers on was side, who lost his life his predictable and simplistic, others the pursuit of freedom. in embraced it as unostentatious fun. Whatever the reception, one fact reThe story of ‘Red Hugh’ importance for Spain has huge mains indisputable: the reality was and the more grisly than northern city of Valladolid, Disney audiences where could have stomached. he was believed to be the chapel grounds of aburied in can convent. But when FrancisWarning the astery was leveled in 1836,mon- At just 15 years old, Red Hugh the convent and the bones of Red was kidnapped by the English Hugh were not there. Now, army cheologists are searching ar- Castle.and imprisoned in Dublin His abduction served for the skeleton of the eight-toed a warning to the O’Donnell as clan: Irish rebel beneath a branch if you rebel against the English of Banco Santander in the monarchy you will face the concity centre. sequences. The red-headed rebel was But after five years of captivity, born into the powerful he escaped with help from a loyO’Donnell dynasty in Coun- al friend ty Donegal and fought ney homeof his father. The jourduring a bleak Irish valiantly for control of his winter nearly cost the renegade nation against Queen his life. Red Hugh recovered from Elizabeth I. But, rather severe fatigue, but lost his two than a Mel Gibson his- big toes to frostbite. torical fiction epic, the The chieftain was quick to begin chieftain’s bravery invasions to reclaim Irish land in the Nine that had been commandeered the English in his absence. by As a fellow Catholic territory fighting to rid itself of protestants, Spain’s King Phillip III supported the effort and sent boats of warriors to Kinsale. When Spanish ships docked at County Cork, English troops tiator, Red Hugh ventured surrounded the ar- after the siege to plead with to Spain His body was taken to the royal mada and killed to continue his support and the king ace in Valladolid with pomp and palsend fur- emony. A four-wheeled cerh u n d r e d s ther soldiers to Ireland. But the mishearse drove of men in sion proved fatal. Before help could the corpse to its resting place, sura bloody be granted, Red Hugh mysteriously rounded by guards, state officers and flaming torches to signify died a few miles from battle. admiration. the city. Some A persua- said an infection killed the 29-year- As a mark of respect, the king honsive nego- old warrior, others claimed he was ored Red Hugh with a special burial in the Chapel of Wonders poisoned by a British spy. - a Franciscan convent where explorer Christo-
THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES
by Suzanne Collins
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ANEM, it is 64 years Games trilogy and the before The Hunger country is still rebuilding its bitter war with the districts. following Eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow, the future tyrannical dent of Panem, comes presion hard times. With theirfrom an influential family that has fallen fortune almost gone they on good name alone. are surviving On the morning of the Games, Snow hopes to reaping for the tenth annual Hunger tribute, however, when regain glory by mentoring the winning trict 12, he realises thathe is given the female tribute from disthe odds are not forever Snow must do everything in in his power to climb thehis favour. success at all costs. ladder of Collins proves she is a master of world building development in this longawaited Hunger Gamesand character Prequel. €24.90 The Bookshop San Pedro, www.thebookshop.es
August 5th - August 18th
2020
11
The bones of a fearless Irish chieftain could be entombed beneath a branch of Banco Santander in northern Spain
By Lydia Spencer-Elliott
F Braveheart taught us anything, it’s that a rebel with a ven-
Train of thought
HERO: Red Hugh
LEGEND: Archaeologists
are trying to find Red Hugh
who has been remembered
in statues (left)
pher Columbus would be Relatives of the buried a century later. rebel offered DNA samples have afterlife, Red Hugh has Now, nearly two centuries af- identify which belong to help become an Irish symbol ter his remains were reportto the of Gaelic resistance. chieftain. ed missing from the site, The dig for answers and the the Archeologists will also have bonesdiscovery of his true to study the height, could finally location of his burial chapel sex, age of each skeleton and confirm whether infeccontinues beneath a for tion or English cunning in Valladolid where 16street clues - unless one is discov- brought skel- ered with two toes the chieftain to etons have been unearthed. missing. his suspicious demise An escapologist even in his in Spain.
BBC TV viewers got a taste of Spanish culture when mer UK Secretary of forfor Defence Michael State llo launched his latestPortiprogramme.
Sporting his trademark colourful clothing, he travelled to Spain for the first episode in a new series of Great Continental Railway Journeys. It was a deeply personal journey for Portillo. TRIP: Michael Portillo He carried with him a copy of Bradshaw’s guide book, 1936 – the year that the from yer before seeking asylum in ish Civil War eruptedSpan- Britain. most travellers to the and There he was shown his facoun- ther’s secret try were volunteer soldiers political file beor fore he headed war reporters. off to Madrid He stopped in Salamanca, and Aragon. Here he explored and where Portillo’s father, shared worked as an anti-fascistLuis, with viewers different aspects law- of Spanish culture.
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: woman arrested after lying that €140 had 1- British been illegally withdrawn from her bank account (21,901) British expat on Spain's Costa del 2-SolEXCLUSIVE: has card details hacked losing nearly €500, but bank refuses to refund amount (20,363) Police in UK and Spain reopen case 3- ofEXCLUSIVE: Costa del Sol bar owner who vanished 27 years ago (18,001) Two arrested in Benidorm after robbing foreign 4-cars at ‘40 golf courses’ across Spain’s Costa Blanca (17,958) From June 8 you can travel throu5- BREAKING: ghout whole of Spain's Andalucia, Government announces (14,853)
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is regarded as
one of Ireland’s
greatest heroes
LA CULTURA
8
what’s on
l
ive performance
The eighth edition of the Port Adriano Music Festival continues this weekend, in a reduced format due to the COVID-19 crisis. Enjoy a comedy show and performances from Spanish sensations Antonio Jose and Diego El Cigala from Friday.
A
ll that jazz
The long running Sa Pobla Jazz Festival this year will offer a jam packed schedule of performances. The five-day event which begins on August 25 will bring renowned international musicians to the stage.
p
roject zero
Brought from Carnaby Street in London, the NGO Project Zero will showcase an environmental exhibition at Port Adriano next Saturday August 27. The event aims to raise awareness about the global issue of plastic waste.
w
elcome return
Palma Auditorium recomences its activity next Sunday August 29 with a spectacular flamenco show from the infamous choreographer Maria Paget. Delight in the traditions of southern Spain through this traditional dance form.
Google it!
GOOGLE has joined forces with more than 110 Spanish institutions so people can sample the best of the nation’s cultural heritage from the comfort of their own homes. The project, called Maravillas de España (Wonders of Spain), seeks to explore ‘the cultural and heritage richness of Spain through the five senses’. It is a collection that includes virtual tours, reports and high resolution images all accessed online. The portal has also included an exhibition called ‘The Thyssen on a Plate’ in which 25 Spanish chefs prepared a dish each inspired by a painting housed in the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. The exhibition is divided into five major chapters, and works such as La botella de Anis by Juan Gris and the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona are explored virtually. The exploration of the archaeological site of Madinat Al Zahra also stands out amongst the 150 options.
A NEW festival has been launched in Ibiza to attract holidaymakers to the island in autumn. The Ibiza Onspring-Offspring Festival serves to extend the summer season until November 16 and shows that the White Isle has much more to offer than its famous nightclubs. Led by island native, Marc Rahola, CEO of OD Group, and Diego Calvo, CEO of Concept Hotel Group, the Festival will see more than 100 events take place from October 1. From gastronomical delights to sporting activities, comedy nights to art exhibitions, there will be something for everyone to enjoy across the island. With the Balearic Government imposing tougher restrictions on the region, including a ban on usually popular pool and boat parties, the new festival will give exposure to what Ibiza really has to offer. Agenda Infamous institutions such as Pikes Hotel, Las Dalias Hippy Market, Pacha Group and Ibiza Rocks will all feature on the jam-packed agenda, as well as lesser-known local movements. The idea had been born out of discussions at the beginning of the health crisis where Ibizan businesses began to preempt the likelihood of longterm closures and losses of income. The innovative festival, which
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
Festival attraction Keeping Ibiza-s businesses alive during the coronavirus pandemic
STAYING ALIVE!: Plenty of fun is promised for the first time will bring life to autumn in Ibiza, is a testament to the way in which the island’s entrepreneurs and businesses can adapt in trying times. Aiming to boost the economy, the calendar of events is
Diver’s delight A DIVER had the find of his life when he stumbled across the remains of a pre-Roman era ship in the sea off Denia. Initial estimates suggest the vessel could date back to the fourth century BC. The man’s scuba diving session also turned up an old container known as an amphora amongst the wreckage some two kilometres offshore from Les Marines beach. A professional team have subsequently uncovered another amphora and part of a ceramic vase during a detailed inspection of the ship’s remains. The amateur diver reported his find to the Policia Local in Denia who then brought in the Valencian Community Underwater Archaeological Centre to secure any items from the area. The first amphora that was found was said to be well-preserved and was probably used to transport food and water. Subject to a detailed analysis, experts believe that the amphora dates back to the Punic age some 2,400 years ago.
aimed at keeping Ibiza alive and visible, elevating the island as a top holiday destination outside of the summer months. Find out more about what the Onspring-Offspring Festival has to offer visit at ibizafestivalcalendar.com
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August 21st - September 3rd 2020
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Nautical dreamer 100
3. Narciso Monturiol Did you know the submarine was invented in Spain? Meet Narcisco Monturiol the man who revolutionised underwater navigation. Who was he?
What happened next? With his life in turmoil, Narciso began to think that scientific knowledge, not political activism, was the best hope for a more
What did he do? Narciso Monturiol walked away from his revolutionary past. He went from utopian communist to a submarine inventor. He studied oceanography, nautical engineering, biology, physics and surrounded himself with experts in these fields. By 1859, he developed his first submarine prototype named Ictineu I (from the Greek: “fish-ship”). It made its first “dive” in Barcelona’s harbour. It was a submersible built out of olive wood and supported by oak rings.Over the next 2 years, Ictineu I completed over 50 dives.
A new prototype Ictineu II was launched in 1867 with improvements in ballast tanks, oxygenation systems, underwater propulsion, double-hull designs and depth control. These were major breakthroughs and among the first innovations to solve the fundamental problems of deep-water submarine navigation. So his invention was a success? Yes and no. The submarine worked, but getting it to the next level came at a price - namely funding. His requests to the Madrid central state fell on deaf ears. Ironically, this dedicated communist, turned to venture capitalism. He targeted the public to raise funds, formed a company (La Navegacion Submarina) and did what all good capitalists did - sold shares. While he may have compromised his communist vision for cap-
italist backing, he never lost his belief that science, not politics, was our best hope. Ultimately, the money dried up and a devastated Narciso had to abandon his submarine construction, but not his vision. He continued to write and lecture, always passionate that under-water travel would improve the world. Monturiol was correct that submarine technology would benefit mankind.. He died in 1885, a man ahead of his time. But in 2013 Ictineu 3 was launched from a Catalonian ship-building facility. It is capable of reaching depths of 1,200 metres making it one of the deepest submersibles in operation today. Its name pays tribute to Monturiol’s Ictineu I &II. A replica of Ictineo II proudly overlooks Barcelona’s harbour, while a metal sculpture of Ictineo I can be seen on Avinguda Diaguda in the city centre.
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Narciso Monturiol was born in Figueres, a coastal city in northeast Spain,in 1819 and got his law degree in 1845. He would never practice law. Instead, he wrote journals and pamphlets espousing what were then considered radical beliefs in pacifism, communism and gender rights. He believed that each individual should contribute to society “according to their abilities, according to their needs’. It was communism - pure and simple. He also published Spain’s first communist newspaper La Fraternidad, but the political climate was opposed to such beliefs and it wasn’t long before his work as a writer and publisher was suppressed. Narciso was forced into exile in France.
perfect society. Back in Spain, he looked out over the sea from his home in Figueres, and thought ocean travel might be the way forward.. Narciso wondered if oceans might hold new medicines, or new and undiscovered minerals that could foster new industries. Underwater plantations could harvest new food supplies or introduce new fibres for textiles. The economic possibilities were endless!
Friends.
Reset.
Music.
At OD Port Portals we have our own star rating. In fact, we have all the stars of the Mallorca sky and we will enjoy them all together every summer night at OD Sky Bar, on our spacious terrace and at our restaurant On Top. A hotel full of local experiences, music, art, gastronomy, yoga, pre-parties, flea markets, brunches, concerts, Pilates, tardeo, sea, sun and all the stars. A hotel full of life.
Horizon.
Sunset.
Memories.
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PROPERTY
Sales crash
DATA released by the Registrars shows the number of property transactions in Spain during last June was only 26,000, a 33% drop compared to the same month last year. However, the figures show a slight improvement on the previous months of April and May, when they saw sales down by 38% and 53%, respectively. Mortgages were also down, as in previous months, although nowhere near as bad, with loans going from almost 40,000 in June of last year to just over 36,000, 9.1% less.
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
Bargain hunt
IF you want to buy a luxury pad in Madrid, now might be a good time. According to the latest report by Knight Frank, the capital’s high-end property market is one of the worst performing ones during the coronavirus pandemic out of 45 major cities around the world. From April to June prices in the luxury property sector in Madrid fell 1.5%, for a year-on-year decrease of 0.9%. The average second quarter fall across the 45 major cities was 0.6%, with just 20 cities – nine in Europe – seeing price decreases.
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Silver lining THE coronavirus pandemic may be having the unexpected side effect of breathing new life into Spain’s small villages. For years many smaller municipalities, particularly inland, have struggled to hold on to their dwindling populations as young people moved to the cities and coasts in their search for work. But the lockdown and increase of telework would appear to have encouraged a growing interest for houses in villages of less than 5,000 inhabitants.
Villages becoming more popular during pandemic
Searches According to the Idealista property portal, in January 10.1% of searches for property on its site targeted smaller villages. By June that percentage had increased to 13.2%. By communities, only the Balearic Islands registered a reduction in interest in smaller towns (from 11.4% in January to 11.1% in June). Castilla y León had the biggest incçrease, from 23.7% of searches in January to 33.7% in June. It is followed by the communities
SEARCH: Spanish villages seeing surge in interest
of Navarra (from 18.1% to 26.6%), Castilla-La Mancha (from 35.5% to 43.4%) and La Rioja (from 20% to 26%). In Madrid they grew
SPANISH people under the age of 34 would have to double their average salary to be able to buy a property. According to the Spanish Youth Council (CJE) under 34’s earn an average €961.03 when they need to earn €1,935.57 per month to afford their own home. At that level they would be able to spend less than 30% of their income on mortgage and other costs involved in owning a property - the level banks consider viable when making home loans. The main obstacle for millennials when it comes to buying a property is scraping together enough cash for a deposit. The CJE says that together with the money needed for taxes and fees, youngsters would need to save about four times their annual salary. Renting an apartment is not a viable option for many, with rents in some areas reaching 90% of average salaries, forcing people into sharing an apartment, renting a room or living with their parents.
Pricy Balearics FOUR of the five most expensive municipalities in Spain are on the Balearic Islands. According to property portal Idealista, the most exclusive municipality in Spain is Formentera where the asking price for property averages €7,643m2. Next on the list are Deya (€5,909m2), Sant Joan de Labritja (€5,165m2) and Eivissa (€4,910m2). Breaking the Balearics mo-
from 3.7% to 6.2%, while in Catalonia they grew from 9.7% to 11.9%. Conversely, Canarias was the community in which
this type of municipality generated the least interest (3.2%), followed by Madrid (6.2%), Andalucia (9.9%) and Asturias (10.3).
No chance
nopoly on the top five is San Sabastian in the Basque Country where asking prices average €4,818m2. Sant Josep de Sa Talaia (€4,792m2), Andratx (€4,649m2) and Santa Eulalia del Rio (€4,641m2), continue the Balearic domination. Next on the list are Zarautz in Guipuzcoa (€4,493m2), Calvia (€4,268m2) and Barcelona (€4,084m2). Coming in below €4,000 per square metre are Naut Aran in Lleida (€3,840m2), Sant Antoni de Portmany (€3,825m2), Madrid (€3,687m2), Sitges in Barcelona (€3,664m2) and Canyamel in the Balearic Islands (€3,629m2).
BUSINESS
AROUND 1.35 million AROUND 1.35 million jobs have been lost in jobs have lost in Spain sincebeen the start of Spain coronavirus since the start of the panthe coronavirus pandemic. demic. this Of number, Of this werenumber, 1,074,000 lost in 1,074,000 lost in the second were quarter of the second quarter of 2020 according to INE, 2020 according to INE, Spain’s official statistics Spain’s official statistics department. department. This was the biggest This was fall the inbiggest quarterly emquarterly infall employment the in country ployment the country since 1976,inwhen official since were 1976,first when official stats gathered. stats number were firstdwarfs gathered. The the The number dwarfs the
Jobs Jobs blow blow
770,899 jobs lost in the 770,899 jobsmonths lost in the first three of first three months of 2009, after the global fi2009, after the global financial crash. nancial285,000 crash. workers About About 285,000 lost their jobs in workers the first lost theirofjobs in the quarter 2020, asfirst the quarter of ofthe 2020, as the impact COVID-19 impact of began the COVID-19 outbreak to make outbreak itself felt. began to make itself felt.
August 21st - September 3rd 2020 At the moment anothAt 1the moment another million workers are er 1 million workers are furloughed under the furloughed under ERTE scheme, whichthe is ERTE scheme, which is set to end in September, set to end itin may September, although be exalthough it may be extended. tended. The services sector has The services sectorbadly has been particularly been particularly badly hit with 816,900 jobs lost hitthe with 816,900 jobs lost in second quarter. in the second According toquarter. Eurostat, According Spain has to theEurostat, highest Spain has the highest official unemployment officialin unemployment rate the EuroperateUnion in at the15.6% European just an Union at 15.6% just ahead of Greece (15.5%). ahead of Greece (15.5%).
Falling behind
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Unprecedented HOTELS across Mallorca have offered discounts of up to 50% in a last minute bid to avoid closing their doors this month. With the Balearic Islands being blacklisted for travel by the United Kingdom, Germany and a dozen of other European countries, the island’s hotels have been left with a historically low occupancy. In an attempt to increase their capacity, reported in some to be as low as 30%, hoteliers are now introducing unprecedented discounts this month. Melia has opted for the most competitive prices, offering
50% discounts in six of its hotels in Palmanova and Magaluf – two areas usually populous with British holidaymakers in August, The group has also extended price cuts to their hotels in the capital, with reductions of up to a healthy 35%. The Riu hotel chain has also been negatively impacted by the heath crisis despite welcoming German tourists in June as part of the pilot test for tourism. With their occupancy reported to be at 35% according to Diario de Mallorca, the chain
are now offering discounts of up to 40%. Iberostar have also put a host of deals on the table including reductions of up to 25%, free stays for children and a 10% discount for Balearic residents. It comes as the Balearic government imposed a raft of new measures to combat coronavirus this week. Business unions in Ibiza have since criticised the ban on pool and boat parties, since this is an activity that many of its tourists undertake whilst on holiday.
Spanish economy dragging its heels on road to recovery
SPAIN is in danger of lagging behind the main advanced economies in Europe in recovering from the coronavirus crisis. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) the Spanish economic position worsened last month while other Eurozone countries saw a strengthening of their position. The organisation’s Com-
DISCOUNTS: Big savings on offer at Mallorca hotels
Stories to treasure posite Leading Indicators Index (CLI) which forecasts economic activity in
Last orders
A STARK future has been predicted for thousands of restaurants across Mallorca. According to the Confederation of Business Associations (CAEB), one third of eateries will permanently close this year due to Spain’s coronavirus crisis. Although a proportion have entered an ERTE, a temporary lay off of workers, establishments that have chosen to remain open are reportedly struggling to stay afloat. Significant loss of profits are attributed to the lack of visitors on the island, as well as the commitment to keeping employees on a temporary contract. “Six month contracts are unsustainable for many small to medium sized businesses and is a factor that will lead to the demise of many,” said CAEB in a statement. Although admitting that it is a ‘deeply worrying time,’ the business union has asked the Balearic government to ensure ERTEs are extended until the end of the year. At present, the financial programmes, which allow employers to lay off or temporarily suspend workers during crises will expire on September 30. CAEB earlier forecasted a recession for the Balearic Islands if ERTEs were not extended.
the next six to nine months, gave Spain a score of 93.72 points, down from 94.31 in June. By contrast the average for developed countries strengthened from 97.04 to 97.98 points over the same timescale. An OECD spokesman said: “The CLI for Spain points to tentative signs of a slowdown.” In June, the organisation had warned that the Spanish economy was the one most threatened by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated contraction of GDP in 2020 of between 11.1% and 14.4%, depending on whether or not there is a resurgence of the virus.
Resurgence
The CLI index in the United States rose to 97.44 points from 95.99 the previous month, although it is still 1.74 points below the reading for July 2019. It shows a ‘continued strengthening’ of the economy. This improvement in the economic outlook for the US is shared by most of the large OECD economies, including the euro area, whose CLI index has improved to 97.29 points from 96.68 the previous month, although still 2.39 points below the level of a year earlier.
In a wonderful new idea, Spoken Portraits takes on tributes and your life story
T
IM was a theatre impresario putting on a B e t w e e n ballet starring Rudolf Nureyev. them, they During one show he was summoned described what backstage by stage manager Dan. he was like at significant In a bizarre case of mistaken identity, the points in his life for a ‘Portrait world-famous dancer had punched him in the of Adam Through the Ages’. stomach before leaping in front of the audience. His old friend William, for example, reDan was refusing to start the second half until he membered how as a 30-year-old TV lawyer got an apology, but Nureyev was unrepentant. living in Manchester, Adam became obsessed The Punch is one of the wonderful stories from with Coronation Street because his office had Tim’s life that he had been trying to write down live CCTV of the set. for years but was finding it impossible to put pen “He would call me up and tell me that Vera had to paper. just put on her wig!”. Then he found Rosie Oliver. Rosie is an audio His ex-flatmate Nick also recalled how, ‘in the producer who makes ‘Spoken evenings Adam would go to the Portraits’ – privately commislocal salsa club in a tight fitting Tim found the sioned radio-style features about open-neck shirt with chest hair people’s lives in their own words. whole interview popping out,and dance the She guided Tim on what would night away with divorcees from process be best to talk about and he Bolton’. quickly unblocked once she got April, Rosie produced a tremendously This out the microphone. surprise tribute to NHS workers After a couple of recorded interLisa and Stephen. liberating views and lots of very careful edThey were due to get married iting, she produced a beautifully but had to call off the wedding packaged 60 minute audio CD with copies for because of lockdown.Their families commishim to give to his family. Tim said: “I found the sioned Rosie to call up and record 14 friends whole process liberating.” and relatives who told the story of the couple Tim is just one of many people Rosie has made and what’s great about them. Spoken Portraits about. “Everyone knew how disappointed we were Adam is another. when we had to cancel the wedding,” said bride-to-be Lisa. “It really was brilliant to hear them say those wonderful things … I laughed a lot, I cried a lot, and smiled till my face couldn’t His was a surprise 50th birthday gift from take it!” family and friends from around the world who As Shola, who commissioned Rosie to intercouldn’t get together for a party. view her father, remarked: “I don’t think it is Rosie interviewed 22 of them over the phone an exaggeration to say that a Spoken Portrait and internet, from Ronda, in Spain, to San is one of the most precious gifts you could ever Francisco, in America. give to yourself and those you love.”
SURPRISE BIRTHDAY
To find out more about Spoken Portraits by visiting www.tickertapeproductions.co.uk or contacting Rosie directly at rosie@tickertapeproductions.co.uk or on +44 (0) 7985464314
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FOOD & DRINK
HEALTH bosses have discounted fears that coronavirus can be spread via food. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said there was no need to worry after China announced that it had discovered COVID-19 particles in imported food. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of
August 21st September 3rd 2020
Stay healthy
the WHO's emerging diseases unit, said: “We do not believe the coronavirus can be transmitted through food. If we have understood correctly, China looked for the virus in wrappers, and tested
for it on hundreds of thousands of samples and only found it in very few - less than 10 were positive.” However, she added : “We know that it can stay on the surface (of wrappers) so have given guidelines for food workers to stay safe in their working environment.”
No go! LOVERS of Spanish ham still have a chance to celebrate Spain’s favourite cured meat . A festival celebrating jamon in all its many varieties is in full swing in A Cañiza in Pontevedra (Galicia). The gastronomic event is a perennial favourite attracting lovers of speciality hams to the lush region of northern Spain. The festival continues until the end of August and includes many fun activities as well as the chance to sample many different pork specialties. Magic and music shows are always popular, while the characteristic ‘cabezudos’ (big headed costumed figures ) will hold processions, all with COVID-19 distancing restrictions in place.
“Due to the ongoing uncertainty, customers due to travel to all areas of Spain before Monday August 31 can amend for free and receive an incentive up to £500, or cancel and receive a full cash refund. “Customers currently on holiday will be able to continue their holiday as planned.” The UK introduced a 14 day self-isolation period for anyone arriving from Spain on June 27 despite pressure from Spanish
Hands off our ham TRADITIONALLY, Iberian ham comes from acorn-fed blackfoot pigs. It is an ingredi-
Wizzing in WIZZ Air has revealed it will be opening up new routes to Alicante and Malaga from this autumn. The budget airline, which is setting up a permanent UK base at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, will also expand its range of flights to Larnaca in Cyprus, Faro in Portugal, Lublin in Poland, Kosice in Slovakia and Suceava in Romania. The new routes are expect-
CANCELLED: TUI holidays to Spain put on hold
ed to take off from October 22 and are available to book on the Wizz Air website, with prices starting at £17.99. The airline claims it has nearly 1.8 million seats on sale, with 107 routes from the UK on offer for the rest of 2020. The Foreign Office currently advises against non-essential travel from the UK to Spain and Portugal.
ent unique to Spain and is deeply intertwined with Spanish culture. Yet, two American companies have now made moves to import Iberico hogs stateside to produce their own version of the ham. Acornseekers and Iberian Pastures, set up in Texas and Georgia respectively, have been launched by Spaniards abroad to take the delicacy to the US market. The news has caused uproar in Spain. Further fuelling outrage is Iberian Pastures’ decision to not feed the pigs acorns but instead experiment with a diet of pecans and peanuts. According to experts, the meat’s flavour is unique and can only be achieved through the pigs’ acorn based diet. It is also essential to dry cure the product for a minimum of 36 months. This is not the first time international relations between America and Iberia have caused outrage. Scandal struck the ham industry in 2017 after a regulation allowed Iberico pigs to be cross bred with American Durocs. A leading German newspaper subsequently called 90% of the exported jamon ‘a huge fraud’. Costing as much as €4,100 per leg, Iberian ham is the world’s most expensive cured meat. So, the porkie pies were no laughing matter.
authorities the restrictions remain in place. Tourism authorities in Spain are desperate for the government to change its stance - but the Foreign Office has shown no sign of doing so. The current FCO travel advice is “The FCO advise against all non-essential travel to Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands, based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks in the country.
man with an open shirt, glistening six-pack and pair of binoculars may not be the first image most places would use to attract tourists. But this is no ordinary man. This is Bond, James Bond. And visiting the exact spot where he met Halle Berry emerging from the water in Die Another Day, is a surprisingly easy mission to accomplish. Forget the Hollywood Hills, Spain is the place movie buffs need to flock to if they want to see the locations from their favourite flicks. Although the film was imagined to be set in Cuba, the movie’s breathtaking scene was actually filmed on La Caleta Beach, in Cadiz - and is one of a series of blockbuster moments that set-jetters can reenact this summer. Not only has 007 and his perfectly shaken martini graced our shores - Bond has also shot in Bilbao for The World Is Not Enough and Madrid for From Russia with Love there are dozens of other famous faces who got ready for their close up right here. Across the Bridge, Lawrence of Arabia, The Bourne Ultimatum, Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Kingdom of Heaven, Perfume: Story of a Murderer, 55 days in Beijing, and even Kubrick’s Spartacus have also played a role in making Spain a star of the silver screen. Here’s our roundup of all the must-see spots from your favourite movies.
OP QUICK Crossword Across 1 Rubber (6) 5 False (6) 8 Burden excessively (8) 9 Principal (4) 10 Family (4) 11 I o W town (8) 12 Irritate (4) 13 Gone by (3) 14 World’s longest river (4) 15 Skew-whiff (8) 18 Lower jaw (4) 19 Flightless bird (4) 20 Tied up (8) 21 Elder (6) 22 Something unusual (6) Down
OP Sudoku
Piggy delights
People already abroad will be able to return. The flights and holidays company said that the cancellations are due to travel restrictions imposed by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is advising against all but essential travel. A company spokesperson said: “Due to the continued UK Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to all areas of Spain, TUI UK has extended holiday cancellations to mainland Spain up to and including Friday August 28 2020 and the Balearic and Canary Islands up to and including Sunday August 23 2020. “All affected customers will be able to amend their holiday for free and receive a booking incentive or cancel and receive a full cash refund.
By Kirsty McKenzie
A
TUI cancels holidays to Spain until end of the month TUI has cancelled all its flights and holidays to Spain up until August 28 on the mainland and August 23 on the Canary and Balearic islands.
Set jetters
2 Effect a radical change (13) 3 Squeeze together (7) 4 Spacious (5) 5 Experience (7) 6 Characteristic rhythm (5) 7 Thick (13) 13 Account checker (7) 14 Atomic (7) 16 Literary genre (32) 17 Discourage (5)
All solutions are on page 14
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
jetters
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
Mad about film? Live the dream and go visit the dreamy locations seen in your favourite movies
Y
our first mission, should you choose to accept it, is to be on the lookout for Bond Girls in Cadiz. Die Another Day was filmed at La Caleta, squeezed between the castles of San Sebastian and Santa Catalina at the west end of the city. Enjoy a drink at Parador de Cadiz, where there is a poolside café bar, before following in 007’s footsteps and heading out to La Caleta beach. Later, take in the sunset with a walk along the seafront promenade, said to be Spain’s oldest, with a view to kill for.
ICONIC: La Caleta beach and Bond both witnessed Berry emerge from the sea
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A
lmeria is the ultimate spot for thrill seekers - it’s where Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford filmed several scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Sergio Leone shot his spaghetti westerns here too, after seeing the star potential of the sandy Tabernas Desert. Now, 60 years on, it is still worth a visit. Here you’ll find Fort Bravo, a working film set that is open to the public, where bandidos still bite the dust following the daily botched bank job. The expansive mountain range provides the ultimate backdrop, but there are also sets - a small crumbling white church, the town square, the stables, courtroom and saloon bar, where you can enjoy a can-can show after a long day of riding alongside Spain’s Lone Rangers. Also worth a vistit is Cabo de Gata Natural Park, where, as well as a dip in the sea, you can visit Cortijo del Fraile, the setting for Lorca’s Blood Wedding and used in a couple of Sergio Leone’s ‘Dollars’ westerns.
SET: Clint Eastwood is no stranger to Fort Bravo
Looking for the perfect escape once the lockdown finally ends? A weekend of fresh air, mountain scenery and walks will revive your senses
run to the hills
ARRIVAL: Natalie Portman arrived in Sevilla
S
ultry Sevilla is a must-see for everyone, movie-buff or not. If it’s good enough for the A-listers, it’s good enough for us. Hightail it around arguably Spain’s most stunning city on this high-end trip where every corner is picture-perfect. Take in the sights by foot and kick-off off your day with tapas before whirling around the Royal Alcazar fortress-turned-palace. In 1962 the Alcazar was used as a set for Lawrence of Arabia, while The Patio de las Doncellas was used for the court of the King of Jerusalem in the 2005 movie Kingdom of heaven. Lastly, stop off at the Plaza de España - it’s best viewed at night when the queues ease and the building lights up in its entirety. The jaw dropping centre of the Spanish-American exhibition of 1929 was chosen by George Lucas as the spot to immortalize Amidala’s arrival to the planet Naboo in The Attack of the Clones.
Visit amazing Ronda Romantica apartments - ranked 9.7 on Booking.com and 5* on airbnb - via www.alcantarilla.co.uk or call 654 152 122
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COLUMNISTS
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
‘L’etat Covidigitalitis c’est moi’ A spot of self-isolation from the computer can reboot your health, writes Lisa Burgess
Lisa Burgess
Time stands still for no one as Giles has found out down the years
I
OUCH: Give yourself a break
teem issues, sleep disruption, depression, anxiety, fear, isolation and feelings of worthless leading to suicide in some heartbreaking cases. We should limit computer time for our kids. Computers have lots of memory but no imagination which is crucial for a healthy, rounded, automation-free childhood. But we should all keep an eye on their overuse so give your mouse a minibreak and your body time to reboot. As John F. Kennedy memorably said: “Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all”.
What a palaver... Terenia continues her tale of the Terenia Taras trials and tribulations of ticking Telling it like it is all the right boxes to get Spanish residency. Last issue €6,000 had seemingly vanished into thin air...
A
fter seven worrying days and another trip to my bank to provide evidence of my business back in the UK and to prove that I wasn’t laundering funds for some Cartel, my money finally landed in my Spanish bank account. Finally, I had proof of funds and I’d taken out quite a reasonably priced healthcare plan with AXA, another requirement for my residency application. AXA offer several options, but I was told that as long as the policy covers hospital stays that would be sufficient, so don’t get bamboozled into taking out the most expensive option. After having to wait several weeks for an available appointment at the Palma police station I met up with my English-speaking lawyer Natalie Turwood. She told me I was one of the first people to get the new residency cards. The whole residency system is in the process of changing. So, for those of you who may be living in Spain without making it official it may be worth getting some professional advice, because as from January 1, 2021, UK people applying for residency will not be automatically entitled. Natalia said that the Spanish were making UK applications a priority to enable peo-
ple to sort out their residencia before the new regulations are in force by 2021. What this means is, if someone wants to come to Spain and work without being a resident then they will need to apply for a work visa, which can take up to three months and might not be granted. Also, for people like myself, instead of the €6,000 required to prove you are financially self-sufficient this figure will rise significantly. So, for all of those Brits whose main Brexit concern was the immigration situation, perhaps they may now regret their decision? As it’s not just about them, what if their children, or grandchildren want to enjoy working in Spain as so many young people do each year? This may not be as easy in the future, especially for bar and restaurant workers, as Spain will rightly prioritise their own people who don’t need a working visa. As for me, I have to wait up to 40 days for my application to be accepted and then it will be another trip to the police station to have my fingerprints taken and provide a passport picture for the new style ID cards. I would be so happy to be accepted as a resident in Spain as we’ve already decided that Mallorca is our forever home. @tereniataras
PIONEER: Young Carlos denouncing a military coup saved the country’s flegling democracy
I
T’S been a busy week broadcasting, what with reporting on the rise of coronavirus cases and the shutting down of late night bars and discos – although my own Saturday Night Fever sessions are now thankfully, long behind me. There’s nothing worse than going clubbing in Marbella and bumping into a friend’s kid. I gave up on the nightlife scene after a 20th anniversary bash at a club I used to frequent. Chatting to a young woman at the bar, I mentioned that I had been at the opening night two decades before. ‘I don’t remember the opening night’ she replied. ‘Yeah, it was pretty wild, heh?’ I said, unleashing my most Clooney-esque grin. “No, the reason I don’t remember the night is that 20 years ago I was four.” I gave up being a night owl shortly after.
One of the pieces of news that hit home, however, was the emeritus King Juan Carlos leaving Spain and going into self-imposed exile. If you were born in the 80s, then the story seems to be a simple case of an ex-monarch fleeing Spain to avoid financial disgrace.
Transformation But if you came to Spain in the 80s, as I did, then the story takes on a different aspect. For many people, Juan Carlos was the embodiment of Spain and its remarkable transformation from dictatorship to democracy. Franco never intended that the young Juan Carlos would change Spain to a modern democracy. Under the dictator’s plan. Juan Carlos would rule as a 20th century equivalent of an absolute monarch. It says something of the young Juan Carlos’ determination that when he
OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 1 Eraser, 5 Untrue, 8 Overload, 9 Main, 10 Clan, 11 Yarmouth, 12 Itch, 13 Ago, 14 Nile, 15 Lopsided, 18 Chin, 19 Kiwi, 20 Tethered, 21 Senior, 22 Rarity. Down: 2 Revolutionize, 3 Scrunch, 4 Roomy, 5 Undergo, 6 Tempo, 7 Unintelligent, 13 Auditor, 14 Nuclear, 16 Sci-fi, 17 Deter.
SUDOKU
SPEND way too much time on the computer so I’ve now set limits on my technology use. COVID-19 has forced many of us to work from home and overuse of the laptop is creating a myriad of health problems. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one, caused by repetitive movement of your joints, especially your wrists, and one in eight tech professionals are sufferers. Back problems are another. I regularly hunch over my computer leading to incorrect posture and musculoskeletal problems. Then there’s computer vision syndrome which comes from prolonged use and causes degenerative eye problems. More alarming still are the psychological ill effects of online trolling and cyberbullying, which I unhappily encountered. I appeared in an episode for a Channel 4 series and a member of Ladies of Spain Facebook group commented, ‘What an awful woman who clearly can’t dress properly’, among other nasty jibes. They got a surprise when I responded and instantly backtracked. Be careful what you write online! As Rudyard Kipling wrote, ‘Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind’. So use them wisely. I feel truly sorry for children who face online abuse. The physical and psychological effects from this include self-es-
ascended to the throne he chose not to take that path, and when the coup attempt came in 1981, he appeared on national television to denounce it. From that moment on, Juan Carlos was Spain. As the country became full EU members, images of the handsome king and his family were regular features on TV. The high water mark came in 1992 – Sevilla held the World Fair and Barcelona a magnificent Olympics where the young Prince Felipe led in the Spanish team and a nation burst with pride.
Scandals And now this. The old king, the Royal Family riven with financial and domestic scandals, flees the country as it heads into a medical and economic disaster. As another Bourbon monarch once said: “L’etat c’est moi.”
HEALTH Staying safe
THE Government of the Balearic Islands has introduced a raft of new measures to combat the spread of coronavirus. Speaking at a press conference President Francina Armengol and Health Minister Patricia Gomez outlined the new restrictions which have come into force. Boat and pool parties are now strictly prohibited, since according to Gomez, these are where contagions are most likely to occur. As with the majority of Spain, nightlife venues such as bars must close their doors at 1am, an hour earlier than before. Nightclubs will also remain closed, a measure that has
Wash it to use it UNTIL a COVID-19 vaccine is available, facemasks are a necessary part of our daily routine. In the case of reusable masks - these are made with fabrics authorised by the Spanish Ministry of Health - wearing it is only half the battle, you also have to wash it. After their use, it is necessary to clean and disinfect them correctly to maintain their effectiveness.
been in force in the region since the end of the state of alarm. Places of worship must also now reduce their capacity from 75 to 50%, as seen during the deescalation phase. Furthermore, any individual who wants to organise a public demonstration must seek authorisation from the Ministry of Health first.
The Ministry of Health’s recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting reusable masks— of which they give two options— are as follows:
New measures to halt spread of coronavirus now in force Large gatherings of more than 300 people must also obtain prior approval from the Ministry. Regarding sporting activity, all contact sports have been banned for 15 days. In addition, all sports competitions scheduled from September must be postponed until at least after October 1. It is also forbidden to smoke in public spaces when a distance of two metres cannot be maintained. The wearing of masks will
also remain mandatory unless an individual has health reasons to justify their use. It comes as the Balearic Islands recorded its highest number of new COVID-19 infections since the start of the pandemic. Despite the rising number of active cases, the Balearic government has dismissed claims that there will be a second lockdown next month. It said there is no need as the situation is under control.
1. Put the reusable hygienic masks in the washing machine, with the usual detergent and a washing cycle at a temperature between 60º and 90º. This recommendation also applies to clothing. 2. Immerse the masks in a 1:50 dilution of bleach (20ml bleach, 980ml water) with warm water for 30 minutes. Then wash them with soap, and water and rinse to remove any remaining lye. Air dry. PARTY’S OVER: Strict new rules ban boat parties
August 21st - September 3rd 2020
No lockdown THE Government of the Balearic Islands has ruled out the possibility of the region entering a second lockdown. President Francina Armengol asked for calm in the population after meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Armengol assured that people would not be confined to their homes again as seen under Spain’s state of alarm. The President did however warn that restrictions may be put in place to help halt the spread of coronavirus. This she explained could include stepping up controls at ports and airports. Here, travellers from within Spain would join international passengers in having to undertake a temperature check and fill in a health questionnaire. Armengol also said the government would be carrying out mass COVID-19 testing across the region. She added that the Ministry of Health is also working with experts to see how they can better isolate people who are asymptomatic.
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New record THE Balearic Islands last week recorded its highest number of coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic. Setting a new record, the Balearic Ministry of Health confirmed 228 new COVID-19 cases last Tuesday. This represents an increase of almost 80% over the week prior when 128 cases were reported. At this time, this was the highest number of new infections recorded since March 28 when 107 infections were confirmed and Spain was under a state of alarm, confining all citizens to their homes. Despite the alarming figures, the Ministry explained that the majority of all infected patients are asymptomatic and are self-isolating at home. With the total number of confirmed cases now standing at 1,364, 99 people are currently hospitalised. Breaking the number of infections down by island, the majority have been confirmed in Mallorca. Here, 93 people are hospitalised with 10 patients in intensive care. A further 1,192 are being monitored by the Primary Care Management team at home. There are also 35 infected health care professionals.
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FINAL WORDS
THE creator of The Wire David Simon has been in an online spat with right wing Francoists after Pablo Iglesias, leader of the political party Unidas Podemos, recommended the show on Twitter.
Own goal NICOLA Sturgeon warned Scottish football matches could be cancelled after Celtic defender Boli Bolingoli snuck off for a secret holiday to Spain without quarantining on his return and further breaches from Aberdeen players.
Melon bonanza MURCIA is forecast to have a bumper year for melons and expects more than 220,000 tonnes of the fruit to be harvested despite hail storms destroying much of the crops in June.
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Vol. 4 Issue 87 www.theolivepress.es August 21st - September 3rd 2020
Flummoxed flamingos
Some friend!
Road racer writes off best mate’s Lamborghini AN adrenaline junkie has been left red faced and facing charges after ploughing his best friend’s €265,000 LamACCLAIMED matador Enrique Ponce got a surprise when he stabbed the bull he was fighting at El Puerto de Santa Maria stadium in Cadiz. The raging animal got its own back when it stabbed Ponce in the bum with its horns. The Valencian bullfighter came away from the tussle with torn ligaments, bruising and a five-inch gouge on his right buttock.
borghini supercar into an electricity substation. The boy racer’s blunder occurred last Sunday morning at
Bummer
Ouch: Ponce caught
WRITE OFF: Lamborghini was left in a sorry state around 7am in the south-western Andalucian town of Huelva. Local emergency services were called to a collision involving the high-performance car after reports of local idiots driving recklessly and road racing. In a video circulating online, the driver can be seen revving up the 639 horsepower engine of the lime green Lamborghini in a built-up area of the town before speeding off out of view. Moments later, the vehicle is observed crashing through a wall of a local substation. According to ABC de Sevilla, the two occupants of the vehicle fled the scene. However, they were tracked
down later that morning receiving medical attention at the Juan Ramon Jimenez Hospital. The hapless pair will be charged with reckless driving and endangering public health. A statement from the Policia Local of Huelva said that the car was loaned to the driver by a friend. The crash caused power outages for more than two hours in the area as firefighters and local electricians worked to repair the damage caused. The car in question is a €265,000 Lamborghini Huracan Performante. It has a potential top speed of 325 kilometres per hour and accel
SOME of the 800 flamingos born last spring on Torrevieja´s salt lake have been finding it a little bit tricky to establish their sense of direction. Most of the hatchlings managed to fly off safely to their new homes, but one bemused bird caused problems for astonished motorists as it playfully darted between cars on the CV-90 around the Costa Blanca city. Another ended up chilling out on La Zenia beach, around five kilometres from its birthplace. It spent a day fleeing bathers and sampling the local fare before it got tired and graciously allowed rescuers to take it to the Santa Faz nature centre in Alicante. The salt lake was established as the Costa Blanca’s first detected flamingo breeding area in 2002 and almost all of the birds have now left. Naturalist Juan Antonio Pujol, said: “Many of the youngsters go to humid areas like the Hondo de Elche and Santa Pola, as well as closer by at Torrevieja’s La Mata lake. “Occasionally some do get lost and that could be dangerous if they fly next to a road.”
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