Olive Press Gibraltar - Issue 145 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

Hottest new restaurants, secret escapes and hidden gems... Sevilla is the first in our new series of incisive Insider’s guides to the very best of Spain

OLIVE PRESS

The FREE

Vol. 5 Issue 145

VIP visit

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo) visited Gibraltar as a show of support for the Schengen treaty to be worked out with the EU later this year. At a historic Joint Ministerial Council held at No.6 Convent Place, ministers and officials settled the terms by which Gibraltar would remove its land frontier with Spain. Fabian Picardo, welcomed Raab and gave him a personal tour of Gibraltar’s streets and nature park on March 29. Both of them welcomed the Spanish approach which had made this treaty possible. The visit by Raab is being seen as one of the biggest indications since Brexit of the UK’s commitment to Gibraltar’s self-determination. “The UK will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes,” assured a government spokesperson. “Nor will it enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.” The Foreign Secretary was looking to reassure Gibraltarians that the UK’will play its part in giving the Rock the best future, despite how difficult the Brexit pill has been to swallow. “Our position reflects the unique situation of Gibraltar and the opportunity that this negotiation brings,” said Raab.

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The Rock’s only free local paper April 7th - April 20th 2021

Green light Gib getting ready for return of UK tourists as it ranks high on safe countries list

Prosperity

“At the core is a shared aim to secure future prosperity for Gibraltar and the surrounding region. “This will be delivered through a treaty which brings confidence, legal certainty and stability to the lives and livelihoods of the people of Gibraltar and neighbouring communities, without prejudice to legal positions on sovereignty and jurisdiction.” Raab said the aim was to have ‘fluid movement of people and goods between Gibraltar and the EU’. However, he warned that if a treaty was not beneficial to Gibraltar or the UK, he was ‘fully prepared to accept the implications’. He added that whatever hapALL AREAS COVERED pened, ‘the UK will stand fully behind Gibraltar, its peo4G UNLIMITED ple and its economy in any INTERNET scenario’.

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ON THE WAY: An influx of tourists is hoped for as Gibraltar is expected to be put on the UK’s ‘green list’ GIBRALTAR is getting ready for a flood of tourists when the ban on UK residents travelling abroad is lifted on May 17. UK authorities could greenlist The Rock in its proposed traffic light system to rate countries that have the lowest infections and highest vaccinations. With active cases now at seven in Gibraltar and no-one

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with the virus in hospital or elderly nursing homes for the past two weeks, COVID-19 is no longer the threat it once was. Almost the whole population have taken their vaccinations too, so it is less likely that there will be another outbreak. All these factors point to Gibraltar being placed on the green list, although its close proximity to Spain could be a problem. The Rock’s Minister for Tourism talked about handling COVID-19 on the BBC Five Live radio programme recently. “This was an excellent opportunity to inform UK radio

listeners about our intentions of welcoming British tourists to Gibraltar as soon as the UK Government allows its citizens to travel,” said Daryanani. “They were keen to know that

we are a safe destination for travel. “As we continue to raise awareness of Gibraltar, we will advertise our product in the UK news media as much as possible.”

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF

SEEN HIM?

Bookworm chat

BRITISH police are appealing to expats in Gibraltar and Spain in the belief someone in the country may hold the key to solving a 27-yearold cold case. Karen Reed, 33, was shot five times after answering the door at her home in Woking on April 30, 1994, to a hitman disguised as a pizza delivery driver. “Intelligence from the original investigation suggested that suspects involved in the murder could have left for Spain in order to lie low from police,” DI Gareth Hicks of Surrey police told the

CHILDREN’S book illustrator and author, Eleanor Taylor, held a virtual workshop with children from Bishop Fitzgerald Upper Primary School as part of the Youth Arts Jamboree.

Beach cover-up MASKS might have to be worn by beachgoers in Spain as COVID cases grew rapidly in the previous days, pointing to the possibility of a fourth wave.

Sea support ROYAL Navy Patrol boat HMS Pursuer is back in action after her annual service, joining the HMS Dasher and inflatable launches guarding Gibraltar waters.

Do art eh! A COLOURFUL illustration of flowers around the Rock by Emma Duarte is the winner of the Gibraltar Spring Festival logo competition.

POLICE in Gibraltar have arrested three people who they believe caused two fires at Governor’s Meadow Lower Primary School. Two men, a 23-year-old from Referendum House and a 30-year-old of Naval Hospital Hill have been arrested along with a juvenile.

Arson

RGP Crime and Protective Services Division detectives charged the three with arson after looking into the forensics of the blaze. It took the fire services half an hour to bring the fire under control on March 28, although by then it had caused

Drugs gangs blow

April 7th - April 20th 2021

Terror

turnaround

VICTIM: Karen Reed and (left) the suspect

Olive Press. Investigators believe it was a contract killing but that the intended target may have been Ms Reed’s sister, Alison Pointing, whose husband was jailed for murdering a former Chechnyan prime minister and his brother.

School burns By John Culatto

significant damage. The blaze completely destroyed one classroom while smoke and water used to put out the flames damaged eight other rooms. According to the RGP, an off-duty officer who lived near the school raised the alarm after he woken up in the middle of the night and smelt the fire. Immediately after the blaze

SPANISH police forces have arrested over 100 people in raids on suspected weed and hash smugglers. Guardia Civil agents seized over 5,000 kilos of hash and 230 kilos of weed across Spain as part of the Mopa operation.

History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.

Arrests made over Governor’s Meadow blaze

was extinguished, electricians and labourers got to work to make sure children could re-

The drug busts come after police discovered a criminal group that helped drug smugglers crossing the Straits of Gibraltar from Morocco. They would deliver fuel, and food so that fast launches could continue on to other parts of Spain.

turn to school at the end of the Easter holidays. In order not to disrupt lessons, teachers had a staff day on April 6 with children returning to school on staggered entry dates during the week. Members of the public who have any other information on the fires can contact the police anonymously via the RGP website or on the 200 72500 hotline.

GIBRALTAR is teaming up with police forces in Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey to fight terrorism funding. The Royal Gibraltar Police has set up a forum after a Moneyval report said the Rock was not doing enough on terrorism funding and money laundering. The Council of Europe’s monitoring body suggested teaming up with other similar jurisdictions. Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Tunbridge will be leading the initiative from New Mole House, sharing information so all police forces can help fight this menace.

Plan

“We plan to develop training capabilities in the forum and hear from experts in the UK who will share their specialised knowledge with us,” said DCI Tunbridge. “This will include briefings from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, who form part of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, SO15. “We also want to increase the number of international partners we work with in the future, thereby increasing the learning opportunities that this partnership will bring,” Tunbridge added.

Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.

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NEWS

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April 7th - April 20th 2021

LOVE RETURNS ONE of Britain’s most popular reality series is set to be filmed in Spain this summer. Love Island is reportedly gearing up for its big return after the coronavirus halted last year’s production plans. Producers of the hit dating show had earlier confirmed that the series would be going ahead as hoped for 2021 and sources have claimed it will return to Mallorca this year. A source said: “All precautions have been taken to make sure it goes smoothly. They’ve included COVID safety measures and increased checks on contestants’ mental health.”

Walk off

VALENCIA football team walked off the pitch after an allegedly racist slur directed at one of their players. The game against Cadiz on Sunday night was temporarily abandoned after 30 minutes when Cadiz’s Juan Cala allegedly flung insults at defender Mouctar Diakhaby. Cala, who has since ‘strenuously denied’ allegations against him, received a yellow card for his actions and seconds later Valencia players made the decision to halt the match and walk off the pitch in protest. Diakhaby eventually urged his teammates to continue the match and Hugo Guillamon took his place on the pitch. Cala stayed on for Cadiz and the team eventually won the match 3-0. Following the incident, Valencia released a ten-point statement entitled ‘no to racism’ on their official website. They added that Diakhaby is the ‘latest victim of racism in football’.

Footballers behaving badly Stars flouting COVID travel restrictions

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HAPPY FAMILY: But Marcelo could be in the dog house REAL Madrid star Marcelo could be fined €2,700 for breaching COVID-19 regulations after he posted a photo of himself enjoying an unauthorised day trip to Valencia.

Royal approval

By Kirsty McKenzie

The club’s €10 million player is under investigation after he shared a snap of his family at

QUEEN Letizia never puts a foot wrong, and continued to show off her array of high fashion ensembles as she attended celebrations to mark 275 years since the birth of Spanish artist Francisco Goya. The royal, 48, opted for a tailored jacket and skyscraper heels for her appearance in Zaragozaher alongside her husband King Felipe VI, 53, to remember the painter who was born near the city in the town of Fuendetodos in 1746. The mother of two cut a stylish figure as she greeted members of the Goya Foundation in Aragon.

Malvarrosa beach on Instagram last week. In the image, Marcelo can be seen beaming alongside his wife and children, with none of the family wearing a mask. Marcelo, his wife and eldest son now face being slapped with individual fines amounting to €700, €600 for not respecting the perimeter closure plus €100 for not wearing a mask in a public space. The fines amount to 0.01% of his salary. Marcelo is not the only one who has been misbehaving of late - Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman was spotted in Marbella and Valencia player Goncalo Guedes went to Ibiza over the Easter weekend.

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NEWS

4 www.theolivepress.es Anti-vac protest A GROUP of 20 protestors have claimed they are being sidelined for not taking a free COVID-19 vaccine which was needed to get into a recent international football match. They unfurled a large banner from the multi-storey parking outside the Victoria Stadium that read ‘No discriminating against the unvaccinated. The protest came after public health authorities ordered supporters at the Gibraltar vs Netherlands match to be vaccinated and tested to avoid spreading the lethal virus. However, there are still some people who believe conspiracy theories circulating around social media and have opted not to take the vaccine.

Action stations A ROYAL Navy destroyer to be based on the Rock for the next five years is set to beef up security in the Mediterranean. HMS Trent is one of the newest ships in the British fleet, built with low radar signature and automatic weapons systems.

April 7th - April 20th 2021 The hi-tech ship has a crew of 34 and is designed to crack down on piracy, terrorism and smuggling. Its Commander Tom Knott said: “The crew is looking forward to arriving in the Naval Base and is excited at the opportunities of forming a close relationship with Gibraltar over the years ahead.”

Global pioneers By John Culatto

GIBRALTAR is becoming one of the first places in the world to get back to normal with the restart of public events. It follows the success of two pilot sporting events which

Gib showing the world the road back to normality saw fully vaccinated spectators attending after getting tested. Hundreds of people watched both the Povetkin vs Whyte event and Gibraltar’s foot-

Customary goodbye CUSTOMS chief John Rodriguez has finally retired after 38 years looking after Gibraltar’s borders. Rodriguez spent the last 15 years in the top position of his job as Collector of Customs, overseeing the growth in equipment and personnel of the government department. “One of his biggest achievements was the Review of 2014, which saw customs officers obtain law enforcement recognition,” said a Gibraltar Government spokesperson. “It also included a restructure that

not only expanded the officer numbers in the different sections, but also created the Controls Section at the commercial gate. Under his leadership, the Marine Section was expanded to allow a 24hr presence at sea. He put into effect the UN’s Asycuda software to control imports, exports and movement of goods through Gibraltar. Rodriguez has also played his part in the Brexit talks of the last five years, setting the cornerstones for a bright future.

balling clash with the Nether- tar was being part of historic lands. moments on a global scale. After arranging tests to get “All those in attendance have into both events, public health had two doses of the vaccine chiefs are hoping that specta- and have returned a negative tors will get tested after they COVID-19 test on the day of occurred. the event,” said Bhatti. They believe this will provide “We are once again pioneers a clearer picture of whether and the tests on day 10 for it is safe to hold this sort of both events are crucial in well-attended event in the fu- providing the information reture. Both boxers have signed quired to plan the next steps a pair of gloves that could be to take towards a return to won by spectators who take normality.” a COVID-19 test at a time allocated to them. Spectators for the World Cup qualifier could also get their hands on a Dutch football shirt signed by all the team if they cooperate with the testing project. Director of Public Health Sohail Bhatti was happy that Gibral- LEADING THE WAY: Whyte fight

Open Rock ENVIRONMENTAL officials have opened up the lower roads of the Upper Rock to motor vehicles after the COVID-19 lockdown ended. Plant and animal life has blossomed since the Upper Rock Nature Reserve was closed to traffic for the last three months. Minister for Health and the Environment John Cortes had originally thought of keeping all residents off the Rock permanently. But he thought it would be unfair not to allow residents access to the territory’s only countryside when tourists could get up there on taxis and coaches. “A big part of me wanted to keep the ban indefinitely but not everyone is able to walk or cycle up the Rock,” Cortes said. “Of course, we need to keep a very close watch and if the access is abused we will not hesitate in introducing restrictions.” Cortes also felt banning the public from the iconic Rock reminded him too much of the painful days when the Ministry of Defence had its exclusive access. However, the RGP and security guards will only allow daytime traffic and stop local drivers going to the top of the Rock. The only exception to the night-time rules are for residents of the Upper Rock, who have always had access to their homes.

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The Olive Press all editions - FP_342x256 - PROMO MAN - April 7th

NEWS FEATURE

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O LIVE P RESS

Voted top expat paper in Spain

The

GIBRALTAR

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 Breaking out from the COVID crisis THE news that Gibraltar could get the green light in the UK’s traffic light system for travel from May 17 could prove a real boost to the Rock’s economy. Tourism is one of the mainstays of Gibraltar’s livelihood with its hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes and tour operators all relying on the 12 million visitors that usually arrive annually. As can be expected, the COVID-19 pandemic has all but killed this revenue stream over the past year. However, the Government’s successful lockdown, testing and vaccination strategy has finally succeeded in stopping the spread of infection. Restaurants, bars and cafes, sustained by government payments, have begun to reopen and with the curfew over they have returned to 2am closing times. While the unlocking has been careful and considered, it has still allowed two successful pilot events with vaccinated spectators.

Cases

When the number of active cases has not shot up two weeks after they occurred, plans for a busy summer could have a realistic chance. If the sun-starved UK public does get the go-ahead to travel to Gibraltar, it could also raise a few issues. The main one would be how undetected COVID-19 cases are able to be kept from spreading to others. One way that has been used in some tourist hotspots around the world is the use of regular testing of visitors. Public health officials will then provide those tested with QR codes they can use to go into bars, restaurants and cafes. Another concern could be the lack of space or activities, one of the biggest problems for tourism locally overall. This could force people to go to Spain where there are more cases and return to spread it in Gibraltar. Even with the majority of the population vaccinated, there is still a chance of infection even if that is of other British tourists. This is a delicate situation that the government will clearly seek to manage over the next month. We can have confidence that all govenment agencies will not let their guard down in the face of such an unprecedented crisis. And they deserve the support of all members of the public in ensuring there is no return of COVID-19 to the Rock

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Driven to distraction EXCLUSIVE By Fiona Govan

PAIN and the UK are holding high level discussions to allow Brits to continue to exchange their driving licences for Spanish ones without the need to take the Spanish driving test, a senior British diplomat has told the Olive Press. It is one of those issues that has been a thorn in the side of Brits living in Spain as Brexit loomed; the need to exchange British driving licences for Spanish ones. The issue took on an urgency for Brits as the end of the transition period approached. Appointments at the DGT were scarce due to a sudden last minute rush compounded by delays during the pandemic Brits were told that as long as they registered their intent to exchange their driving licences before December 30 then they would have six months in which to do it.

Test

Battle of 100 DAYS ON: The phoney war’ is well and truly over three months after the end of the withdrawal transition period and the consequences for expats are just starting...

HOUSANDS of British expats who were oblivious to rule changes in the New Year have been left exposed and unprotected in the new age of Brexit, warns The Expat Centre in southern Spain. Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, Britons wanting to enjoy the rights and freedoms they previously enjoyed living in Spain, must now prove they lived here legally prior to December 31. While most registered as residents under repeated advice by both British and Spanish authorities, and hundreds more are still in the process of getting their documentation, there are still many who failed to start the process before the end of year deadline.

Those who missed the boat have been told they will have to take the Spanish driving test. However, there is some hope that a simple swap may be re-introduced. David Hunt, the Head of Citizens’ Rights and Mobility Department (Europe Directorate) at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office told the Olive Press: “We are working on an agreement with the Spanish authorities that will allow Brits to exchange their driving licences for Spanish ones without the need to undergo a practical test.” However, he could not guarantee that a bilateral agreement would be in place before the present June 30 deadline and warned people to follow the legal requirements in the meantime. “We are hopeful for a future agreement, but in the meantime ask people to follow the rules of the road in the countries where they live.”

By Fiona Govan

Brexit is ringing the changes in Spain - but it’s not the sound of till bells

This leaves potentially thousands of Brits unprotected in Spain without healthcare, without rights and – thanks to COVID-19 – without a way of easily getting back to the UK. Those who are not legally resident or in the process of applying for residency, risk falling foul of the 90-day rule that came into effect at the end of March. “Any stays beyond the 90 days in any 180-day period will be dependent on the applicable visas and immigration rules for Spain. This may require applying for a visa and/or permit,” warns the British Embassy. Many of those struggling to get their paperwork in order have

HOMEWARD BOUND: How many Brits will have to leave?

Costa packet OST deliveries, disastrous delays, hefty hidden customs duties when goods do arrive – business owners in post-Brexit Spain report that things have changed but not for the better. Nadine Walker (pictured below), who runs Nest gift boutique in one of Madrid’s coolest neighbourhoods, has faced nothing but obstacles in the three months since the Brexit transition period ended. Over 13 years she has built up the business to become the capital’s go-to place for British greeting cards, funky wrapping paper

By Simon Wade

and handcrafted knick-knacks imported from the UK. “But since Brexit I have had huge problems with deliveries,” she fumes. “Orders used to arrive within three to seven days but since New Year, I’ve had deliveries go missing, packages that have been turned around and returned to the UK and had to be resent … And I’ve had to pay couriers cash on arrival to cover customs duties that weren’t included in the original price.” When you run a small business with narrow margins, this is more than a mere annoyance. “At the beginning of January, I made a big order of cards and gifts for Valentine’s Day but it didn’t arrive until well after February 14, so I lost out on all that trade,” she adds. She now has to pay between €10 and €50 extra on each delivery and often has to struggle to get receipts so that she can claim it against tax. “My margins have become smaller, and I’m trying to source things from elsewhere within the EU, such as Ireland. But I set up the shop specifically because there was a gap in the market for the sort of things I could find in the UK but not here.” Nadine hopes that these are just teething problems that will be sorted out in the coming months. “The big problem seemed to be that no-one knew what the new rules were, especially the courier companies. I’m already worried about Christmas which is when I need to rely on deliveries coming in on time.”

Fighting for

NNE Hernandez is supposed to be retired. Instead she spends her days and much of her nights helping Brits across Spain sort out problems that have been caused by Brexit. “Since January 1, I have been busier than ever,” the President of the Brexpats in Spain organisation told the Olive Press. “It’s incredible how often I was accused of scaremongering when insisting people needed to sort themselves out and get their paperwork in order before the deadline. “Now they are coming and asking for help to get residency, sort out their driving licences, get in the health system, but many of them have just left it too late. “There was this arrogance of ‘Oh I’m British and the Spanish need us here so they’ll sort something out for us,’ and only now are they realising the full impact of not being registered as residents,” she said from her home in Mijas Costa “I just can’t fathom why so many people left it until the last minute. There are those Brits who just had their head in the sand about the whole thing and ignored the warnings and have no-one else to blame but themselves,” she explained. “But there’s also a whole lot of people who tried to do things properly and went to lawyers or gestors and unfortunately were given the wrong advice.” She complains that different issues arise from region to region, province to province and often depending on different civil servants working within the same office. “We have a Spanish system that has just

Time’s up!

Olive Press online

By Kirsty McKenzie

become overwhelmed with applications and apparently confusing guidelines that means the decisions are often left to individuals behind the desk. “The decision on whether your residency application is accepted or rejected could come down to whether the clerk is having a good day or has skipped their morning coffee,” she said. Spanish authorities have not stated what measures will be taken for those who overstay or whether exemptions will be made for those affected by travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic. “No-one knows the real implications of overstaying as we have no real guidance about what will actually happen to people if they don't leave when the 90 days is up. Could they be fined and told to leave the country? Or will they be deported?” Hernandez asked. “Some of these people don’t have homes anywhere else and yet could be banned from Spain,” she said. “Brexit has caused a hell of a mess,” she concluded.

BUT The good news is…

RITISH holidaymakers can now claim back the IVA (VAT) on goods bought in Spain - as long as they are not resident in an EU country. As Francesca Cerqua, Knowledge Manager at Marosa VAT in Spain, clarifies: “If a UK traveller visits Spain and makes purchases where Spanish VAT is charged and the value of those purchases is above €90.15, he or she will be able to reclaim that Spanish VAT at the airport before taking the plane back to the UK.” In addition to spending a minimum of €90.15, a British holidaymaker shopping in Spain must: - Live in England, Scotland or Wales. - Take the unused goods outside of the EU within a three-month period. - Display their passport upon purchase together with a separate document providing proof of address. - Complete an electronic refund document while in EU territory and have it validated at EU customs.

When making the purchase, request an electronic refund form (known by the initials DER in Spain), which you must validate electronically before checking in your luggage at the airport. To do this, go to the indicated counters, or the offices displaying the tax free seal, and show them: - Your passport. - The goods for which you are requesting the refund. - Your boarding pass or ticket. This is a fully digital process, so you won’t receive a physical document after validation. However, people can check the status of their refund at any time by putting their CSV number (secure verification code), which appears on their electronic tax free form, into a search bar at the official website. And remember, if the goods are worth more than £390 in total, they will have to be declared at customs in the UK, incurring import VAT and possible duties. Happy shopping!

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ot tekcit yaw enO 4 egaP !liaj

THE START: The first edition of the

Olive Press in 2006

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

As the Olive Press reaches its 15th birthday, we recall a few of our favourite interviews and remember a couple of our top readers, such as ex-prime minister Rajoy (above) and prime joker Paul Gascoigne...

after a EXCLUSIVE: Private school warning moved to Spain, convicted British paedophile and found dodged criminal record checks work as an English teacher Spain INTERNATIONAL schools around a British have been put on high alert after most man began teaching at one of Madrid’s conexclusive colleges months after being victed in the UK. Lewis, Questions have been raised after Ben be31, was able to work at the school despite ing on the UK’s sex offenders register. Lewis, The Olive Press has discovered that sex ofwho is now awaiting trial for child V, fences at Centro Penitenciario Madrid and a managed to hoodwink TWO schools

NAMES: two different passports

Fiona Govan in Madrid

idenlanguage academy after creating a new tity, using forged documents. reFormer colleagues of the sex offender to dodge vealed that he created a new namerun sumcriminal record checks in order to to mer camps and teach private classes young children. after He had changed his name to Ben David and being convicted in June 2016 of taking in possessing indecent images of children England. As well as being placed on the sex offender list and being handed a two-year suspended sentence, he was barred from leaving the country or working with children. Yet within weeks he had moved to Spain and found work in Zaragoza as a livein au pair to a family with three young children. The following year he relocated to Madrid and began teaching children at a well-known language academy after getting a criminal record check from Zaragoza police to show he had no convictions in Spain over the previous 12 months. Then in December

Horrified

for 18 “We worked together at the school gomonths, took on private classes together for ing to the homes of some of the children summer extracurricular teaching and ran a said the camp at the school during 2018,”horror at Irish colleague, who is filled with the access he had to children. the day The Olive Press has discovered that his after sentencing in the UK he changed Lewis name by deed poll from Ben David just 15 to Ben David, in a process that takes minutes. a British He then applied for and received also prepassport in his new name, while he Israeli sented a doctored photocopy of his a passport stamped and verified by non-existent law firm that showed his name as Ben David Rose. The Olive Press has seen photocopies of these, plus a teaching degree and Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) certificates presented in the name ALL AREAS COVERED of Ben David Rose as well as certificates in his original name. 4G UNLIMITED What is amazing is that by April 2019 he had applied for a teaching INTERNET job at a leading private school in the IDEAL FOR upmarket Arturo Soria district that STREAMING TV teaches the British curriculum to the ALSO IPTV, children of Madrid’s elite. By now he also had a DBS certificate SATELLITE TV

Award Winning Rehabilitation Clinic

post DANGER: Lewis got teaching teacher 2017 he accepted a job as an English secat a leading semi-private (concertado)from ondary school that receives subsidies the state. David by “He was going by the name Ben another then and was offered the job aftera former teacher dropped out mid-term,” the Olive colleague Natasha Fitzsimons told Press. the posi“I think they were desperate to fill as tion so maybe they weren’t as thorough they should have been.

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

SKY + + THE DOCTOR

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Opinion Page 6

Continues on Page 4

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Vol. 15 Issue 365 March - April 2021

Getting things done

ROM its very first issue in 2006 the Olive Press has been campaigning for its community. Whether fighting for the environment or digging into crooks, we have taken some big scalps. Starting from Issue One (see top right) we highlighted the ridiculous plans to build 2000 houses, two golf courses and two hotels on UNESCO-protected land near Ronda, as well as exposed the madness of building a 350-room monstrosity on a virgin beach in Almeria’s Cabo de Gata. Both schemes - Los Merinos, in Ron- maverick Jeremy Griffiths, and Nigel da, and the Algarrobico hotel, in Alme- Goldman, a degenerate gold-dealing ria - went into reverse after our stories dirt-bag, who had a restaurant column made the UK AND Spanish national in a local newspaper, which he used to newspapers and green groups includ- cover his tracks. ing Greenpeace and Ecologistas en Ac- We also tackled timeshare crook Toni Muldoon, who certainly deserves a cion joined our protests. And then there were the crooks, like mention for conning thousands of peoCrimestoppers’ Most Wanted Daniel ple and eventually went to prison for Johnston, a bank robber, and Matthew setting up fake escort websites. Sammon, a dangerous paedophile, Meanwhile, our crime reporting on who we single-handedly tracked down missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick ‘blew open to a village near Sevilla and a car park the case’, to use the words of her grandmother, while our continuing investigain Fuengirola. And fraudsters like David ‘the dogman’ tion into missing Maddie McCann has yielded exclusive after exclusive, with its Klein, pet transport frequent links to Spain. DON’T MISS OUR 20-PAGE

ON ESTEPONA

Vol. 8 Issue 186

www.theolivepress.es

CONMAN FOUND

PEDDLING COINS

The Olive Press

A decade and a half of campaigning has scored some big wins for the Olive Press

Andalucía’s Fortnightly

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Issue 26, January 24th 2008

Where are they?

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OH TO BE IN OLVERA

page 14

HUMILLADERO 126 TEL: 680 152 690 OR 629 340

On behalf of all at the British Embassy and Consulates, I want to wish huge congratulations to all at the Olive Press on your 15th anniversary. The English language press plays a vital role in keeping UK nationals in Spain informed. And we very much appreciate your help in getting key messages out to UK nationals here. After an incredibly difficult year for so many of us, including many businesses, it is great to see the Olive Press thriving. We look forward to seeing what the next 15 years bring. BRITISH CONSUL CHARMAINE ARBOUIN

Publication

HOW TO DEAL WITH A MID LIFE CRISIS

**Western Edition** PR ON THE PROWL

Living Consciously

page 16

We send our hot new columnist to interview designer Sophie Cranston

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COASTS

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The hulking shell SWATHES of set for a 311-room of concrete - once danger of beingrural Andalucia are in mega resort remained an eyesore has a new planning concreted over after for years after work was halted by the regional law was brought in Bunkers are also by the courts. Green groups government. 700-home golf being dug to stop a tas en Accion including Ecologisand Greenpeace Nerja, which course scheme, near joined with hundreds have ment of one will see the developof local associations to fight final stretchesof the Costa del Sol’s fronts opened on a series of new up during the And protestersof pristine coast. crisis. COVID digging in to in Mijas are also SOON LEGAL?: They are up Algarrobico used to build stop the law being called LISTA in arms over the so- one, but TWO in woods overlooking the new hotels on the lockdown law - passed during beaches in virgin Thesea at El Chaparral. - that is set to the dozens of previously allow ed natural park supposedly protect- took first of many planned protests of outlawed proj- The place outside ects to go ahead. first involves Cabo de Gata. council offices la in In particular, a 30-room hotel the green light for It Cala de Mijas this week. activists are outraged could also see about a controversial famous Bahia near the globally Valdevaqueros the controversial de Los Genoveses new golf beach, while course in Nerja, project of hundreds stand of woodlandas well as a final star hotel the second is for a two- of homes go up on a heavily-proclose tected in Mijas. They are also de San Pedro to the pristine Cala Under virgin beach, near Tarifa. furious about bay the recently not Protestors fear the(pictured above). resubmitted project, backed new law will now allow the legalization of also Rosa Quintana,by TV celebrity Ana nearby between the stunning Bolonia and Tarifa area El Algarrosee a series of would bico hotel, Ecologists are hotels get built. built also worried that dis- Los Merinos the gracefully project for on a virgin courses and hundreds two-golf of housbeach, near es on UNESCO-protected Carboneras, land near Ronda could be virgin due to a despite being quashed by revived, the Sup l a n n i n g preme Court. mix up. Fairway to hell: See page 6

GREEN CAMPAIGNS: Against golf courses (left and top) Tel: 952 147 834 in issue See page 24 one and coastal lopment (above) develast year

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21/6/19 13:30

Within an hour, team scrambled the Olive Press car, Sammon learning from to Fuengirola, and remainedcovered his face another builder silent when that he was currently questioned by the Olive camped He was out at the feria then bundled Press. ground. into the After a day working BMW and taken nearby, the be Londoner duly fingerprinted to Madrid to English-plated arrived in his for extradition. and prepared cream Moncayo campervan. Following the Parking up, he two Reid said arrest, father-ofas he took his looked relaxed to see Sammonhe was ‘relieved’ dog for a walk taken away. around the feria “As ground and the soon as I saw his face among spoke with neighbours. most wanted I felt sick,” Once identified, we called the said Reid, from Blackpool. Guardia Civil and Crimestop- “I let him hang around my pers and so began children, we took him in with a tense threehour waiting game, with Reid arms and at first were noneopen sitting in the car wiser. the Sky News crime beside us. reporter Mar- “But we always thought he tin Brunt was was a bit weird, he’s Eventually, assoon there too. never talks abouta real loner and his family. and truly fell, night had well “He creeped an unmarked my family out black BMW much that so plain clothes arrived and two Incredibly, I fired him.” detectives swiftly police moved in for the evidence from did not take any cating his passportarrest, confis- cluding his his campervan incomputer and Frisking him at and phone. other the side of the CONTINUES

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page 24

Exclusive story

Longest established British bar

Open

44, Mollina

EXCLUSIVE: snare one of Expat tip leads Olive Press UK’s most wanted team paedophiles to

EAGLE-EYED readers helped Olive Press snag one of BritWORDS AND ain’s most wanted By Rob HorganPICS Spain, just hours fugitives in and Laurence Dollimore after he had been named. Following a tip off to the paper, al Crime Agency, who arrived suspected paedophile the scene after at the arrest. Matthew “Well Sammon was campervan in dragged from his thanks done Olive Press and to the expat community time raid and a dramatic night- for tipping whisked away an unmarked police in son we run us off, this is the reathese car. Working closely The dramatic campaigns.” day had started Daniel Reid, with informant when Crimestoppers firstly track we were able to annual issued its to Fuengirola, down Sammon tives in list of most wanted fugiTorremolinos Guardia Civil tothen call in the day morning. on ThursOn the run for arrest him. two years, Sam- Leading to hundreds mon - a blackbelt of press stories around in Jujitsu the world and was wanted in the UK for shar-- on national television, ing indecent images the hunt was immediately on. His seizure came of children. But, it was to popular just 10 hours after he was named local newspaper the in Opera- that Olive Press tion Captura and expat plasterer recorded arrest is the quickest reached Reid, in the joint UK out to, trusting 40, and Spanish police us to SUCCESS: ‘do the job properly’. Reid, Horgan, “It was a fantastic operation. Reynolds and result,” said In a series of Facebook Brunt Steve Reynolds, from the Nation- sages, he announced that mes- as a labourer and was Sammon, 45, had worked for him living in a campervancurrently the Mijas and Fuengirolaaround area.

INVESTIGATIONS: Tracking 59€ down paedophile Matthew Sammon, probing missing Amy (right) and exposing animal cruelty (far right)

Fuengirola

21st 2020

page 3

19th 2007

the

olive INVESTIGATES press

AN ecological nightmare, hundreds of “This is ancient oaks parently stand ap- attempt a cynical and botched to create ambience Pulled up for dead. a huge golf mac- around the golf roproject, they course and create space,” line up in rie rows like said tree surwar graves in ee- geon Kit Hogg. Somme. “I am sure the very few of these Many centuries old, they have trees will survive. protected been sacrifi It is disgusting.” ced for Europe’s insatiable desire Despite ongoing holiday homes. for golf and stop the work, EU efforts to Part of investigations and – crucially costaficationthe unrelenting guarantee – no of Andalucia, of they sound Los Merinos,water, work at the death knell nature conservation near for continues unchecked. Ronda in southern Spain. This is the true price of golf.

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Here’s to the next 15!

Fortnightly News

EU steps in to investigate El Algorrobico hotel opening after Junta u-turn that “disgraces” Spain... while a pair of British pensioners watch as their house - which DID have a licence - is torn to the ground.

on page 3

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Last stretches by new law, of pristine coast endangered alongside inland beauty spots EXCLUSIVE

Full story on page 16

While Brits’ dream home is demolished in Almeria

can reveal that The Olive Press may the Russian President a multimillion have bought with a euro Marbella mansion group of six businessmen.

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HANDS OFF!

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the olive press

for Sick safari hunters jailed shooting tigers and lions Hypocrisy in Spain

See page 8 & 9

in the sun

Cartel behind Putin’s mystery costa home

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

legends Ferran Adria and Gordon Ramsey. And it was nice to chat to Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera, as well as the only newspaper to be able to pose a couple of questions to Michelle Obama on her visit to Marbella a few years ago. Indeed, the positives far outweigh the negatives and we would prefer to be judged over 50 rather than 15 years. As far as we are concerned we have only just begun.

www.theolivepress.es

CAGED!

And were these men involved?

El Horrible opens

can Nigel

EXCLUSIVE: fraudster and By Tom Powell using reveal that convicted Jamie Micklethwaite is back in business Monte’ fraudster Ni- Goldman ‘Howard Del COSTA del Solis hiding out the false name gel Goldman last year country Goldman fled Spainof fraud, in a classic English Couling false name his partner Suzannewares via amid accusations cottage under the dozens of vicleaving behind peddling their mil‘Howard del Monte’. ‘Del Monte’ - are account called tims owed a total of €15 Goldman - aka to the busi- a joint Ebay lion. answer has also returned and selling ‘Bensons Emporium’. staff told the he refused to happy ness of buying antiques, it Village post office he regularly While he seems Olive Press that addressed to questions, Couling, her two coins, stamps and living with in the can be revealed. month lease collects parcels and also ‘sends daughters and two cats propRenting on a six Berkshire ‘Del Monte’, modest three-bedroom in the charming he and many packages’. erty. village of Kintbury, are Kintbury’s (top) with Suzanne While the pair conversation, UK bolthole and hottest topic ofseen and ‘keep HIDEOUT: Goldman’s a parking ticket. why he they are rarely themselves’. to say to you, with understand themselves to live nearby “I have nothing if a trafto meeting “I don’t hasn’t been arrested, but I look forward happier in Couling’s family find him then he called down. BRITS are stillreports sugfic warden can in Hungerford.secretive man you again,” can,” said Spain, despite have abansurely the police In fact, the who wished to is seemingly gesting 90,000 dream. the neighbour, from Del Monte leaving the Parking ticket doned the expatOlive Press remain anonymous. village only ever seen post office. An exclusive but “Everyone in the more than house to go to the Press conGoldman, whathair was disheveled, survey found that of our readWhen the Olivehis country- His did not have the mous- knows he’she goes under.” three quarters since makhe his claimed he ever name fronted him in refused ers are happier tache some haveas part of his Goldman, who deleted is side retreat, Goldman recently, door, instead now sporting ing the move. Facebook accountinvestigated to come to thehis head out of is disguise. Coul- currently being see No briefly poking to return millions For the full story, The previous morning, dream on leaving the for failing his fihis bedroom window. end to Spanish ing was seen load up their of euros to investors in page 4. house at 9am to Zafira with nancial companies. Olive silver Vauxhall off, possibly Various victims told the are practically boxes and head Press that they life after losing their to a car boot sale. Building explained that destituteto his schemes, that One neighbour Costa Del Sols Leading into the savings since 1996. Page 4 the day they moved warden arContinues on and Window Specialist, house, a traffic the couple rived and issued

It’s MORE fun

When it comes to corruption we were the first English newspaper to write about the ERE scandal at the Junta de Andalucia that cost an estimated billion euros to the taxpayers, while we also tackled town hall theft on a local scale on dozens of occasions. Animal cruelty has been a continual bugbear and we have exposed so many evil abusers, as well as the scoundrels who allowed hunters to kill innocent circus lions and tigers at a finca in Extremadura (see below). On a more positive front, it was great to interview everyone from Princess Diana’s ex-lover James Hewett to cooking

the olive press

14 2014

FROM ENGLISH

The man from Del Monte

EXPOSED: COSTA

on page 2

www.theolivepress.es

only English-language The original and in Andalucía investigative newspaper

April 30 - May

FREE

girls A PAIR of young Max Clifdophile PR guru on the ford sexually assaulted led to his Costa del Sol have conviction. visiClifford - a long-time and involved tor to the coast local events in charities and guilty of - has been found sexual assault, eight counts of mostly on minors.groomed on At least two were being lured in the coast, afterof stardom. with promises here with his He is pictured Kenny Lynch showbiz chum at a bash in Marbella.

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Diminished

Roughly half of the 800,000 British property owners in Spain have residency, but the rest, like Sue and Dave can now only spend a maximum of 90 days in the country during any 180-day period. Sue said: “It doesn’t make sense for us to become residents as we only spend three months a year here and the process of getting residency is long and complicated. “But now our hands are tied. We have to go back whether we like it or not.” Dave agreed: “Brexiteers say they voted for freedom but I don’t feel free. I feel diminished.” Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, the task of returning to the UK hasn’t been easy on the pair - or their finances. The couple shelled out nearly £800 in travel expenses and COVID tests and had four flights cancelled since the start of the year. “If we had failed our COVID tests or if the airline had cancelled the flight we would immediately have become illegal immigrants through no fault of our own. It’s daunting,” said Dave.

25 EGAP RATS GNINIHS - ’RATS

anopetsE ni saw ohw MP eht sun

yojaR elihw...

no pu sehsurb swen tapxe sih

turned to get help from The Ex- have access to social media or pat Centre based in Ciudad Que- trustworthy news sources, have sada on the Costa Blanca. been unaware of the recent and “Brexit has changed so many ongoing changes. things in a wholly negative way,” “This leaves Brits vulnerable and Moira Carmenate who runs at the mercy of hearsay – I really The Expat Centre told the Olive feel for them.” Press. Pressure on some Spanish auThe Withdrawal Agreement thorities has forced them to wasn’t properly amend the required thought through and documentation that the consequences A lot of elderly Brits would use to for some individuals prove their residenfolk living here cy status. and businesses have been catastrophic,” have not been It has emerged that she continued. the Foreigners Ofaware of the “After four years fice in Alicante will of soundbites and now only accept a changes false promises from copy of the 2020 pathe UK government, dron as proof that an those picking up the applicant was living pieces are the vulnerable Brits in Spain before December 31. right throughout Europe, not just Barbara Cobos is an established Spain. translator and residency expert “As a consequence a lot of el- based at The Expat Centre who derly folk living here who don’t told the Olive Press that the change in requirements was to ease the strain on the authorities that process residency applications. She said: “The strain on the system has been unprecedented since the new year, and the auShe may thorities just can’t cope. “Currently, there is still no forbe retired, mal agreement in place between but Anne UK and Spanish governments to clarify what the Third Country Hernandez ruling is regarding residencia eligibility,” said Cobos. has never

HE Olive Press launched in 2006 and has just celebrated its 15 year anniversary (below left). This is the 366th edition of the newspaper in print and now we have some exciting news to share about our next project. While across the Costas our readers enjoy picking up their free newspaper every fortnight to be informed on the big issues in Spain and what’s going OLIVE on locally, our team of PRESS 15 YEARS journalists are also workOF FUN ing every day to bring up Lessons to date reliable news from needed across Spain on our website, which receives over 1 million visitors each month. We aim to serve our readers with not just the top news of the day from around Spain but explain the stories beyond the headlines and explore those issues that could impact your life and experience in Spain. It is here that we can provide the latest news from extreme weather warnings, to new travel restrictions as well as breaking exclusives and campaigning on those issues that are important to our readers. We will imminently be launching a new dedicated travel website that will provide detailed guides, re- FOOD,DRINK ILLA & TRAVEL SEV SPECIAL views, travel tips from our team of writers who want to share their experience of destinations across Spain and what we love about SNAPSHOTS them. reipaN anoI :OTOHP

LINES DRAWN: Britain and the EU are both looking after their own interests

A site well travelled

The

FTER spending almost every summer in Spain for 50 years, Sue Cronin and husband Dave Cronin (pictured below) couldn’t wait to buy their very own apartment on the Costa del Sol. Five years ago they found the perfect spot – an idyllic flat in Estepona overlooking the Med where the pair could leave behind rain and responsibilities in the UK and enjoy long, hot days in the sunshine. But their carefree retirement plans were short lived. Not long after they purchased their dream home, the UK voted to leave the European Union. “When Brexit was announced we were horrified,” said Dave, 73, who voted to remain. “We knew it would have terrible consequences for British people living in Europe, but no one could have predicted how much of a complete and utter disaster it would be. “I don’t think the British Government is fully aware of the hidden consequences of Brexit affecting the day to day life of people in Europe.” Now after five months riding out the pandemic from their holiday home, Sue and Dave are one of the thousands of Brits who wereforced to return to the UK by March 31. “It’s terrible timing. The restrictions are lifting and the sun has arrived, it really is the perfect time to be here,” said retired musician Sue, 69. “We’ve always been able to come and go as we please and now we are no longer able to stay in our own home. We had no choice in the matter. We would have become illegal immigrants on April 1.”

‘Spain’s best English news website’

April 7th - April 20th 2021

www.theolivepress.es

ON PAGE 2

Bracing for Brexit

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Vol. 11 Issue 257

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January 18th

- January 31st

2017

They’re all in our new Property magazine out this week

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New Year, new house?

PAGE 13

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Century21 202-204 Main Street · Gibraltar Tele: 00 350 200 Mob: 00 350 565 51020 23000 info@century21gibraltar.com

THERESA May has vowed Britain won’t half out’ Brexitaccept a ‘half in, speech that is in a landmark likely to have long-lasting effects on Gibraltar and all expats in Spain. The Prime Minister issued 12-point plan to take Britaina out of the EU, ing Street looking with Downto scrap EU single market and current customs union access. In the biggest month tenure,speech of her sixclear, what I amshe said: “To be proposing cannot mean membership of the single market.” She added Britain would no longer give ‘huge EU, however she sums’ to the Parliament will conceded that vote on the deal. have the final Maintaining the common travel area between the United Kingdom and EXCLUSIVE Ireland is also the Republic of By Gabrielle a priority during Pickard-Whitehead the Brexit negotiations. and Laurence Dollimore However, the tar with Spainborder of Gibral- A BRITISH was not menexpat rushed to the tioned. after finding five has called in police vets he died 30 later. of her dogs executed minutes a late-night massacre. in An X-ray showed The Guardia in 2004, found Control shot through the he also had a bullet ing the horrificCivil are now investigatin their pens onthe five rescue dogs shot Meanwhile, roof of his mouth. “We want to attack that one of the Reyes (ThreeJanuary 6, the night of was migration fromcontrol our im- of Illona Mitchell’s horses also left one also attacked, Mitchell’s 12 horses Kings). with its eye Her beloved seven-year-old so savagely May. “We also the EU,” said gouged out. eye may have to be removed. that its of the friendliest Dizzy, ‘one Vets importance of recognise the The detectives from the have been struggling environment the brightest section Seprona meet’ and a puppydogs you will ever four-year-old, and the best coming to treat the told called Maisie shot dead at the here. We it was one of the worstMitchell, 48, that were he has become named Rocco, because recognise the attacks too nervous and Meanwhile Cocogates of their pens. have made.” contribution they seen and were visibly shocked they had Deeply traumatised skittish. They have put shot in their beds, and Domingo, were thankfully by the May is believed on extra patrolsby it. with Mitchell was not seen attack - that ing they had permit system to favour a work- an eye on the estate at weekendsto keep by her daughcowered in their believ- ter Ella, 11 - Mitchell before being killed and at kennels so angry continued: “I trigger Article 50as she looks to night. in cold blood. am that someone “I am sickened Coco, two, had would do someIt comes as the by March. thing as disgusting as to why range betweenbeen shot at point-blank animals.” as this to innocent published data House of Lords would carry out such a cruel someone the eyes, while and bar- week. year-old Domingo three- Mitchell, der closure withshowing a bor- baric attack on innocent, was shot through from side of his face. put 40% of jobs Spain would animals,” she told the Olivedefenceless The mother-of-one, the tack is linked Chester, believes the atPress this her at risk in Gito her recent They later found above, who bought braltar. ban hunters from decision to estate in mountains German Shepherd,Jack, a six-year-old estate her huge 173-hectare near Granada The 32 page-report, that sits in stunning having convulsions under a nearby based on Gibraltar the Sierra de Baza. scenery in tree, but despite government evibeing dence, estimates Continues on Rock’s 26,000 10,500 of the Page 4 the border daily.workers crossed Opinion Page Est 1984 6 “A frontier which necessary fluidity lacked the fore put directly would thereAntiques, Jewellers of 40% of the at risk the jobs For all your Gibraltar work& Pawnbrokers force,” said a spokesman. insurance needs! May’s speech A huge variety was cheered of over Leave campaigners, by 1 carat diamond pushing for a ‘hard’ who are jewellery. Brexit. She said:“We adopt a model do not seek to HIGH STREET PRICES: already enjoyed estepona@ibexinsure.com by other countries. Choose one of 7,000€+ our great We do not OUR PRICE: 1,500 seek to hold on lens offers or - 2,000€ get 30% bership as we to bits of memoff selected Fuengirola “The British leave,” said May. frames UNBEATABLE change. And people voted for PRICES GUARANTEED See our ad inside it is the governWE BUY, WE ment’s job to deliver for details. fuengirola@ibexinsure.com PAY MORE, WE it.” Diamonds@anthonys-diamonds.com PAY CASH Opinion Page 6

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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm FRONT COVER

18 January

Happy 15th anniversary!

April 7th - April 20th 2021

As the Olive Press prepares to launch a brand new travel website, we give you a preview by taking a look around Andalucia’s historic capital

Thanks

OF SEVILLA

STUNNING: Sevilla is a city noted

for its beauty, architecture, gardens

and lifestyle

in Spain. By Dilip Kuner In this four-page special, to celebrate our dedicated travel portal to Spain, the launch of HE streets of Sevilla are normally thronging at takes the this time of year. a look at some of the highlights ofOlive Press Sevilla. The first city to be spotlighted in Tens of thousands of people flock our new to the capi- website, tal of Andalucia to witness and savour in the coming months we will be travel the solemn taking pasos, or processions, that wend their way through a close look at Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Madrid the historic heart of the city at Easter. and Valencia, plus all the other key destinations An extremely popular tourist destination around - equally Aside Spain. busy for the Feria de Abril a few weeks later - Sevilla dozensfrom the articles included here, there will be is famous for its beautiful architecture more vignettes and features on Sevilla and its outdoor lifestyle and terrace dining. as well as its wonderful province. But, as these pictures show, now This includes potted guides to the if you want to avoid the queues - is the time to visit mona, Ecija, Osuna, as well as key towns of Carand it is all down special features on to COVID-19 restrictions. the curious communist town of Marinaleda, mounOf course you may have to wait tain escapes like Cazalla de la Sierra and the wonthe restrictions to finally lift, but a few weeks for derful Roman city of Italica. you a taste of the treats in store these photos give At the moment, while many foreign tourists are when you CAN finally make a trip to one of the most missing out on their travel dreams, famous cities local at expats can make the most of whatleast the is easily Europe’s most diverse and colourful country. Watch out for the new portal which will be at:

It’s been a year with few opportunities to travel thanks to the coronavirus pandemic but we are optimistic that Spain will open up to tourism again soon, so we want to inspire you to plan your next trip. We are starting with a focus on that most fabulous of all Spanish cities, Sevilla, a firm favourite among our staff who have gone to great lengths to discover not just the highlights of the Andaluce capital itself but also places of interest within the province. We have eaten typical Andalucian delicacies, sipped sherry in squares filled with the scent of orange blossom and walked miles across cobblestones all in the name of journalism. You’re welcome! https://travel. theolivepress. es/

EMPTY: Sevilla’s streets are normally

packed at Easter (below centre)

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: Fury at Spain’s Alicante Airport as 40 Brits 1 -deported back to UK after clearing customs at Manchester Airport (55,057 views) No plans to deport British citizens as au2 -thorities in Spain urge calm over 90 day rule (views 5,070) away at UK boarding gate by 3 - Brits turned staff acting on behalf of Spain (views 3,956) Backlash as controversial new rules for 4 - Spain’s beaches are being reviewed within hours of starting (views 3,956) Semana Santa hats conical and 5 - Why arearethethey linked to the KKK? (Views 2,636)

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for a special quote

LA CULTURA

Dramarama returns

THEATRE will be back with a bang when 12 plays get showcased at the annual Gibraltar Drama Festival next month. Originally pencilled in for March, it will see a healthy crop of local playwrights, directors and actors taking centre stage on May 1721 at the Ince’s Hall. Playwright Julian Felice will be directing three of his own plays, diligently worked on during the year. The Bayside and Westside Drama Group will put on three more plays during the three day festival. Christian Santos and his GAMPA arts academy will make up the rest of the bill this year which will culminate in a gala night when the top two or three plays will perform. Tickets will be available from the Gibraltar Culture Services once COVID rules are finalised.

Curtains not closed

IT is one of the most famous and popular beaches on Southern Spain’s Atlantic coast. Its kilometres of white sandy beaches have proven to be an irresistible draw for families bringing their children for a fun day by the sea. But it would seem that there is nothing new in this – proof has just been discovered that Neanderthal man did just the same thing 106,000 years ago.

April 7th - April 20th 2021

Footloose Modern humans following in the footsteps of Neanderthals

Culture v Covid

Play Fossilised footprints from what appears to be a family group – young children included – have been found that scientists believe show the youngsters skipping around – as if at play around a lagoon. The discovery was made by chance. Two biologists from the nearby Doñana national park - Dolores Cobo and Ana Mateos - were taking a stroll along the Matalascañas beach when they came across a section of beach in front of the Asperillo Cliff that had been washed away by winter storms. Revealed were numerous footprints made by deer, wild boar and dogs. But what re-

PRINT: Proof that the beach has long been popular CAPTION Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx By Dilip Kuner

ally caught the attention of the team of researchers from the University of Huelva who came to study the site was

A GROUP of amateur actors in Fuengirola are rallying to help save Spain’s only English speaking theatre. A fundraiser has been launched to protect the future of The Salon Varietes Theatre, which is threatened with closure amid the financial stress caused by the pandemic. Established in 1986 and run by volunteers, the venue has been described as ‘more than just a theatre’ and ‘on par with any UK small profes-

the presence of hominid footprints. After months of analysis, the results of the study have just been published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. In addition to studying the shape

sional venue’. The stage has been graced by seasoned members young and old and major - from 90-yearold luvvies to rising stars still at primary school. Even major British act Cannon & Ball have performed on its stage Unless the performing centre can raise €250,000 to cover day-to-day expenses, the cultural institution is in danger of closing its doors.

of the feet of the Neanderthals who made them, they have been able to establish the biological and social characteristics of the group that set foot on the beach of Matalascañas millennia ago. Researchers believe the footprints were made by nine adults, 15 adolescents and seven children. The presence of children and women indicates that the lagoon could have served as a playground for the youngest members of the group, while the abundance of mammals and the proximity to the coast made it a very useful place for hunting and fishing.

ART will be leading the comeback of culture against COVID-19 in a new exhibition being held at the John Mackintosh Hall in May. ‘Culture v COVID’ will reflect the experiences of artists, poets, sculptors, musicians and dramatists during one of the hardest years in Gibraltar’s recent history. By the time the exhibition starts on May 5, some of the toughest restrictions will have been removed. This is because active COVID-19 cases have now fallen to just 14 on the Rock, with none of them in hospital. All the stories represented in art have ‘provided a focus, inspiration and motivation’ to face the lockdowns during the pandemic, according to Gibraltar Cultural Services.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL As the Olive Press prepares to launch a brand new travel website, we give you a preview by taking a look around Andalucia’s historic capital

SEVILLA SPECIAL

April 7th - April 20th 2021

Snapshots of Sevilla

STUNNING: Sevilla is a city noted for its beauty, architecture, gardens and lifestyle By Dilip Kuner

HE streets of Sevilla are normally thronging at this time of year. Tens of thousands of people flock to the capital of Andalucia to witness and savour the solemn pasos, or processions, that wend their way through the historic heart of the city at Easter. An extremely popular tourist destination - equally busy for the Feria de Abril a few weeks later - Sevilla is famous for its beautiful architecture as well as its outdoor lifestyle and terrace dining. But, as these pictures show, now is the time to visit if you want to avoid the queues - and it is all down to COVID-19 restrictions. Of course you may have to wait a few weeks for the restrictions to finally lift, but these photos give you a taste of the treats in store when you CAN finally make a trip to one of the most famous cities

in Spain. In this four-page special, to celebrate the launch of our dedicated travel portal to Spain, the Olive Press takes a look at some of the highlights of Sevilla. The first city to be spotlighted in our new travel website, in the coming months we will be taking a close look at Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Madrid and Valencia, plus all the other key destinations around Spain. Aside from the articles included here, there will be dozens more vignettes and features on Sevilla and its wonderful province. This includes potted guides to the key towns of Carmona, Ecija, Osuna, as well as special features on the curious communist town of Marinaleda, mountain escapes like Cazalla de la Sierra and the wonderful Roman city of Italica. At the moment, while many foreign tourists are missing out on their travel dreams, at least the local expats can make the most of what is easily Europe’s most diverse and colourful country. Watch out for the new portal which will be at: https://travel. theolivepress. es/

EMPTY: Sevilla’s streets are normally packed at Easter (below centre)

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Barack Obama

April 7th - April 20th 2021

Time travel

Uma Thurman

Columbus

OU can easily picture Christopher Columbus setting off for the Americas as you stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir in Sevilla’s central neighbourhood of El Arenal. The medieval shipyards here - which have existed since the days of Julius Caesar - are central to this ancient city’s history. Boasting a Gothic style, the galleys they built played an important role in the battle for the Strait of Gibraltar and the Hundred Years’ War - and more notably as the launchpad for Columbus’ explorations. (They also played an important role in the fictional world of Game of Thrones, posing as the crypts of the Red Fortress in the seventh season of the hit fantasy

There’s no better place to get lost in history than Sevilla, the city which hosted the departure of Christopher Columbus - just ask the likes of Barack Obama and Uma Thurman, writes Laurence Dollimore

series). the explorer’s plundering of South AmerTo this day you can sail along the river, ica, saw the country’s empire become just as the explorer did, and gaze in awe among the most powerful in the world. at the medieval marvels along the way. Between 1492 and 1681, gold and othAnd just a stone’s throw er minerals from the ‘New away in the Santa Cruz World’ catapulted Spain neighbourhood you’ll find into an era of wealth and Murillo and the tomb of Columbus at prosperity, with its literaVelazquez are ture and arts also flourthe Catedral. The largest Gothic church ishing (showcased best just two who in the world, covering at the Museo de Bella some 23,500sqm, it chose to live in Artes). was completed in the Just ask the greats Muearly 1500s before being the historic city rillo and Velazquez, who registered as a UNESCO chose to live in the romanWorld Heritage Site in tic city. 1987. The former has gorgeous gardens It is one of dozens of remnants from named after him while you can still visSpain’s Golden Age, which, thanks to it the birthplace of the latter tucked behind a narrow street in the Alfalfa neighbourhood. Luckily for us, the era also saw the Habsburg Dynasty solidify HE Alameda neighbourhood is the area surrounding and including the Alaand create some meda de Hercules, a long mall accompanied by bars, cafes and restaurants of the cities most on either side. stunning sites. Lying in the northern part of the city’s old town, the Alameda was once a These include meeting point for the elites in the 1800s. the stunning Real However following the Spanish Civil War, it quickly deteriorated into one of the Alcazar palace poorest barrios and was ravaged by drugs and prostitution - with up to 35 brothand gardens, just els operating in 1989. opposite the CatBut it is now back in action following a rescue plan in the early 2000s which saw traffic limited and the promenade edral. restored, and lined with poplar and hackberry trees. Declared a World Today it is the place to be for the young, cultured and anyone looking for a good time. Heritage Site by It also the most gay-friendly quarter of Sevilla, with bars like Dilema, Nua and 1987 acting as the warm up acts to nightUNESCO in 1987, clubs Holiday, Fun Club, Men to Men or Itaca. it is among the There are also great cocktail bars like Gigante (which does a great Moscow Mule) and a flavourful selection of restauoldest palaces rants, from the traditional to the nouvelle. in Europe having begun conEATING... struction in 913, If you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava (on Calle Eslava). You may have when the caliph to queue to be seated (opt for a spot at the bar for a shorter wait) but it is more than worth it with one of the quirkiest of Andalucia Abd and tastiest menus around. al-Rahman III first Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef tataki), vegetable strudel and manchego cheese ice cream. For Middle Eastern fusion head to Arte y Sabor, situated along the Alameda promenade. Boasting a sun-kissed terrace it is unique in its wide range of vegetable dishes and innovative and creative salads. If you want something more traditional, stop at Casa Ricardo, which has been serving locals since 1898. Their melt-inthe-mouth jamon can be knocked back with a cold sherry while enjoying the old-school writing of orders with chalk on the bar and walls adorned with religious art. If you’re looking for something less Spanish, Nickel has some of the best burgers in Sevilla while Al Solito Posto has delicious pizzas. Or if you want a taste of gentrified London, head to the Cereal Cafe.

Potted barrios guide to... Alameda

decided to build a fort. However, it was along Calle Betis. over 500 years that the grounds were The riverbed comes alive with food and added to by successive Moorish, Chris- drink stalls lining the riverside calle while tian and finally Catholic rulers, making it during the day a centuries’ old competione of the most emblematic attractions tion known as the La Cucana sees parin a region characterised by its multicul- ticipants attempt to walk along a boat’s tural history. bow which has been slathered in grease And don’t miss the Giralda bell tower at- and attempt to catch a little flag attached tached to the Catedral, the top of which at the end - with prizes for those who is accessed via a series of ramps which complete the task. used to be ascended by Moors on horse- Back over the river, however, something back before calling citizens to prayer. new is brewing. But it’s not just the old town centre In the central neighbourhood of Alfalpacked with sites, with medieval church- fa, the Soho Benita area is proving this es, convents and centuries-old food mar- ancient city can also host 21st century kets around every corner. gems. No neighbourhood knows this more than Covering six streets (Golfo, Perez Galdos, Triana. Don Alonso el Sabio, Ortizo de Zuniga, Once home to sailors, potters, Flamenco Santillana and Jose Luis Luque), it indancers and bull-fighters, Triana’s rich corporates around 20 small businesses, history is as colourful as its buildings including a modern art gallery, nail salon which light up the river bank on its iconic and traditional barbers, and was recently Calle Betis. tipped as a must-place to visit by the New The barrio was once known as an arra- York Times. bal, the name given to areas separated The newest arrival is the RecoVeco from the centre of Sevilla. And many in restaurant on Calle Ortizo de Zuniga, the town still see themselves as strictly opened just this year. trianero and distinct from The Spanish ‘heritage’ the rest of the Sevillanos, eatery promises traditionoften referring to the al and seasonal AndaBelieved to neighbourhood as the lucia dishes but with an Independent Republic of Avant Garde twist - and all have been Triana. in a super-chic setting... founded by the the perfect place to treat Believed to have been founded by a Roman col- Roman emperor yourself or loved ones for ony under emperor Traa night. jan, it is entered by crossAnd you wouldn’t be the Trajan ing the Isabel II bridge, a first to want to hang out in landmark in itself. the Alfalfa barrio. It’s home to a traditional Former US President pottery and tile industry - with a museum Barack Obama was papped entering the paying homage to the crafts - vibrant fla- popular eatery Bache San Pedro after menco festivals and hugely popular mar- attending a climate change summit in kets and festivals. the city. If you’re braving the Sevilla heat between No one knows what he opted for, but the July 21 and 26, don’t miss the Vela San- pork with ‘special sauce’ is sublime, as ta Ana festival held every day and night is its famous cheesecake, made with

SITES….

At either end of the promenade you’ll find two Roman-style columns. The northern side features a lion atop each column while the other end features Hercules and Julius Caesar. The two lions and Hercules represent the emblem of Andalucia, which bears the Pillars of Hercules and, obviously, two lions. Legend has it that Hercules founded Sevilla while Julius Caesar also ruled it for a time. Head to Convento Santa Clara and marvel at its impressive cloister which is frequently used for exhibitions. While there, don’t miss the Torre de Don Fadrique, named after the late owner of the site and which offers a stunning example of early Gothic architecture in Sevilla. Built in 1252, the tower is also surrounded by beautiful gardens. Finally, the Convento San Clemente is adorned with fascinating frescoes and artwork from the 1500s and you can also buy some pastries made by the nuns who live there. STUNNING: The Moorish Alcazar is a must-see in Sevilla

A L L I V E S FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL L A I C E SP

April 7th - April 20th 2021

OLD AND NEW: The architecture of Sevilla is stunning, whether it is the El Salvador church (far left) historic centre or the modern La Seta (above) payoyo cheese from the hills of Cadiz. Back in 2015, Uma Thurman dressed up as the Virgin Mary while drinking at the uber traditional El Garlochi bar - a watering hole like no other, with more religious art than wall space and only the holiest of music blaring through the speakers. Alfalfa provides the perfect snapshot of Sevilla, where centuries’ old traditions live in harmony alongside 21st century upgrades. Just head to the modern-day Las Setas in the neighbouring Encarnacion barrio. Officially known as the Metropol Parasol, the imposing structure boasts six parasols and is spread over four levels. It was designed by Berlin architect Jurgen Mayer who entered into a government-run competition to renovate the area in the early 2000s.

Repeatedly ranked as the number one tourist attraction in Spain by TripAdvisor users, the Plaza de Espana is truly a work of art. Designed by Caidon Fox for the 1929 Sevilla Expo, it was created to showcase Spain’s industry and technology exhibits at the historic fair. The complex is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running around the edge, boasting a mix of 1920s Art Deco, Baroque and Neo-Mudejar styles The buildings are accessible via four bridges - representing the

Plaza de España four ancient kingdoms of Spain - built over a moat which runs the whole length of the complex. In the centre sits the Vicente Traver fountain while by the walls are tiled alcoves, each depicting a different province of Spain. If you REALLY have time to kill, you can row a boat in the moat in what is possibly the most unnecessary tourist trap - although it does make for a nice photo.

New Tax Year, New APARI

APPY New Year! No we haven’t gone mad, or hopped into a time machine - we, of course, mean Happy New Tax Year! And a new year means a new start and big changes all around! With the spring budget announcement in March, new tax rates and allowances are now in effect, and it also looks as though we are starting to see the green shoots of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic - putting an end to a year most of us would rather forget!

Alongside government and economic changes, APARI are also embracing that ‘New Year, New Me’ feeling with an amazing new look, new logo and, more importantly, at the end of April, we will be releasing our New Software! APARI has been a labour of love for our founders Sudesh & Anita Sud, and the whole team are really proud of what’s been achieved by the original APARI Product but staying ahead of an emerging market

It’s the time to be thinking about the UK tax year

means we have to adapt and adjust with our users and their UK tax requirements. As showcased during our March Webinar, the upcoming upgrade of the software includes enhanced features designed to make your transition to Making Tax Digital (MTD) as smooth as possible. APARI has been created with you in mind - it is not only a tool to calculate and submit tax, but also to manage your property and business portfolio. Our brand new mobile application will enable you to keep up to date on the go, and amazing features such as snap and save receipts along with bank feed connection, will make digital record-keeping near effortless. Some things will stay the same - APARI has always, and will always, remain free for the whole MTD submission journey, and we will only charge for enhanced optional features. So, how do you know that APARI is the right product for you? Well, to be honest, that’s something only you can decide but the joy of

APARI is that you can sign up and find out for free! And, even if you’re still unsure, it really is the best time to prepare and start digital record-keeping, ready for the official switch to MTD in the UK in 2023. But just remember, even though the new APARI software won’t be released until later this month, the current APARI software is always here to support you in the transition to MTD.

Find out more at www.apari-digital.com

EVILLA S FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SPECIAL

April 7th - April 20th 2021

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

Fry away inland Ecija: A visit to the charming city known as ‘the frying pan’ of Spain, where ‘cat soup’ is on the menu By Fiona Govan

houses and alluring porticos reveal glimpses of bloom-filled patios within. While avenues are lined by orange

STUNNING: One of dozens of mosaics found

ROMAN CITY: Ecija is awash with historic monuments and priceless Roman statues

trees, their blossom filling the air with the powerful scent that screams this part of Andalucia. Once an important Roman settlement known as Astigi on the via Augusta, or A-4, the longest and busiest Roman road in ancient Hispania, the town became Madinat al-qutn (City of Cotton) when it fell under Arab rule in 711 and was renamed Ecija when Christian settlers moved in after the reconquest in 1240. This is the place to visit churches, even just to raise your eyes to admire towers such as Las Gemelas (the twins) of the Iglesia de la Purísima Concepcion or the exquisite triple bell tower of Iglesia de San Juan. For fans of the Baroque style, don’t miss a visit to the Church of Limpia Concepcion with its fabulously ornate plasterwork ceiling, decoration that was added in the 18th century and the Iglesia de los Descalzos with an altarpiece which is said to rival that of Sevilla’s cathedral. Then there’s the palaces. In the 18th century the city was home to 40 noble families whose patronage saw Ecija transformed under a golden age that is still possible to see glimpses of today, with some open to the public. At the Palacio de los Palma the rooms

are preserved as they were in its heyday with all the original furniture, while Palacio de Peñaflor is the place to marvel at frescos - some of the best in Spain - stretching across 60 metres of its exterior walls. The Palacio de Benamejí is home to the tourist office, a good courtyard restaurant Las Ninfas (with its Roman statues) and the Museo Historica which boasts a series of breathtaking mosaic floors from Roman times. It also housesthe 2,000-year-old Amazona Herida, a perfectly preserved statue which was discovered in 2007 when digging out a car park under the city’s Plaza España. Dine out with locals at one of the many restaurant terrazas in Plaza España or around the fountain in Plazuela de Santa Maria or grab a table on the little Plaza del Nuestra Señora del Valle and enjoy views across to the magnificent half ruined Iglesia de Santa Cruz, which was damaged in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

WHERE TO EAT

eing the capital city of Andalucia, the dining scene in Sevilla is unsurprisingly diverse. Famous for its central tapas bars, where locals typically tapear at up to five or six different bars in a session, it also has a bustling restaurant community that is as competitive as it is var-

ied. I first found the likes of Tribeca and Abantal over a decade ago, buzzing joints that I included in my book and website Dining Secrets of Andalucia. They are still around today, with the latter now with its own Michelin star, thanks to the hard work of its chef Julio Quintero. He himself had trained at the legendary Taberna del Alabardero, a glamorous grand dame of the local dining scheme that had its own culinary training scheme, but is, to be fair, a little stuffy. I also picked Vineria de San Telmo in a great location next to the Alcazar, which brilliantly combines good food and wine. Its Argentinian boss Juan

MIX: duck ham tapa at Casa del Tigre and La Sal terrace

CREATIVE: sea urchin dish at Canabota and (right) Eslava

MY TOP FIVE IN SEVILLA Jon Clarke shares his dining secrets in the Andalucia capital

Tarquini skillfully manages to provide both at excellent prices, and it’s still around today. But you should also look next door where there is a brand new hip joint freshest seafood on offer called Bar la Sal, serving up the very and changes by the day with best local seafood - particularly tuna a new menu. - that you can imagine. It’s not cheap, but it’s the Opening in December 2020, its dy- place to have shellfish, namic owner Charo Alvarez already such as razor shells, which has another restaurant in the city were served with a delicious and a famous joint in cream of algas Zahara de los Atunes, soup or the on the Costa de la Luz, amazing puntilA wonderful in Cadiz. litas with fresh With this place she peas and an mix of flavours wanted to make it more onion caldo. informal, less punishBut its piece de from around ing on the pocket, yet resistance was Spain and still serving up the best the medley of bluefin tuna you will cuts of Mero, Spain’s abroad ever eat in a dozen difmost popular fish ferent guises. known as ‘grouper’ At least three of her in English. We had tuna starter dishes have won prizes an amazing trio of belly, fillet and as the best tapa in Zahara’s famous spine, some of the tastiest fish I annual tapas competition. have ever eaten. It’s the most buzzing spot around this The wine list is great and you can Spring and you will need to book one have Bollinger champagne by the of the excellent terrace tables that glass at €10. sit next to the For a totally different take on dinc e l e b r a t e d ing, head to the recently opened Jardines de La Casa del Tigre which is one of Murillo park the most romantic, original diners with its amaz- in Andalucia. ing trees. Opened by four friends just before A n o t h e r the COVID lockdown in December amazing fish 2019, it got its name after an old restaurant - zookeeper who infamously kept a probably the tiger upstairs in his flat for years. best in Sevilla It is sumptuously decorated with and, among acres of velvet, but also stylish the best I patterns and artworks, doffing have eaten at their hat appropriately to African in Andalucia - wildlife. is Canabota. The food is hard to describe as This minimal- anything other than eclectic, but ist joint only it is a wonderful mix of flavours has the very from around Spain and abroad, in-

cluding fish cheeks, beef mollejas (glands next to the heart basically) and the most amazing Taco de Puchero, basically an unreconstructed grandma-style croquette. Don’t miss the cool foie and duck ham starter that comes on a bed of lettuce, while the wine list was exceptionally good, with plenty of wines by the glass. Finally, if you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava (on Calle Eslava conveniently). You may have to queue to be seated (opt for a spot at the bar for a shorter wait) but it is worth it for one of the most original menus around. Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef tataki), vege• La Casa del tigre table strudel • Canabota and manchego cheese • Bar la Sal ice cream. • Esclava

• Vineria San Telmo

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

April 7th - April 20th 2021

Strawberry fields forever Delicious fruit has health benefits

PLAN: Valencia hopes Chinatown will be a draw SPAIN is to finally get its very own Chinatown. The plans were unveiled after the project attracted the fourth highest number of votes in a scheme known as ‘Decidim’ (‘We decide’), in which residents of Valencia chose from a list of proposals. Chinatown Valencia will follow the footsteps of other similar developments in London, New York and Sydney, with Oriental-style gateways welcoming visitors. The arches will be built by artists involved in the construction of the Fallas monuments and will reportedly be located around Calle Xativa in the city centre, at the intersections with Calle Pelayo and Calle Convento Jerusalen. This area is home to up to 100 restaurants and businesses run by the Chinese,

Look east

and already hosts the extremely popular Chinese New Year celebrations. Work is expected to begin over the new few months, with an initial budget of €14,000 for the planning process. City Hall sources highlight the promotional benefits of the project, as Chinatowns usually become a magnet for visitors.

Promoting

Spokespeople for the local Chinese Cultural Association have applauded the plans, revealing that they have been promoting the area among their countrymen for several years. There are currently an estimated 20,000 residents of Chinese origin in Valencia city.

STRAWBERRIES not only taste delicious, but they’re good for you. This is the conclusion of scientists who have published a report highlighting the ways in which fresas play a vital role for good health. The fruit is said to be very rich in vitamin C, E, B3, B6, B2, B1, B9 and A and are a prime source of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, iodine and zinc. They are great for people who are on a diet, as 100 grammes of strawberries contain a mere 35 calories - in fact, 90 grammes out of 100 are water. Consumers with diabetes or high sugar levels need not worry, as they contain very few carbohydrates and have a low glycaemic index. Their high levels of soluble fibre also helps prevent or

improve constipation. One of the least known benefits of strawberries relates to eyesight, as they include several pigments that offer a high degree of protection against degenerative diseases of the eyes. The Valencian study also reveals that fresas contain a type of antioxidants known as anthocyanin – a flavonoid that contributes towards delaying the ageing process of cells and preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Protect

Interestingly, teeth also like strawberries, as their high levels of xylitol help combat demineralisation, protect the enamel and reduce plaque. However, it might not be a good idea to cover the fruit in sugar or artificial squirty cream though.

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April 7th April 20th 2021

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SPECIALIST ADDICTION REHAB CENTRE looking for – Phoenix Programmes can help. Their luxury residential rehab is set in the Andaaffordable lucian hills, Flexible, offering both privacycare and comfort. The treatment centre is fully equipped Drug & alcohol problemsfor those with reduced or limited mobility, and they have disordersavailable for a business Compulsive executive package professionals who need to continue to work, or Medical detox stay in touch with the office,team during their stay. With an in-house chef catering to any dietary Anxiety & depression restrictions, and a fantastic selection of exExecutive activities burnout for any leisure ercise and relaxation time, including golf, yoga, massage, and spa Corporate Services Co treatments, this is the perfect place to recoup and recover Immediate away from the distractions of daily admission living. The day care programme is set in their San Pedro del Alcantara based clinic, and comprises of a info@phoenixprogrammes.com mixture of intensive one-to-one sessions, lectures, therapy, and group work all which can www.phoenixprogrammes.com be customised to meet the individuals needs and time constraints, over the course of 4, 8 or 12 weeks. Which makes it ideal for people living here on the Costa del Sol who can commute to the practice for their sessions. They haveMedical other treatment Triay Centre,courses and packages available, such as their sober living San Pedrowhich de Alacantara programme; combines the day care Malaga 29670 programme with assisted sober living accommodation; and their fully comprehensive online therapy programme; which utilises online communication tools such as zoom or skype.

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A SPANISH consortium is taking on the world as it tries to revolutionise high speed rail travel with a hyperloop project. Zeleros has revealed that it will be taking a six metre life size replica of its hyperloop concept to the Dubai Expo later this year in its first overseas public appearance since its development. Born from a 200-year old idea by British inventor George Medhurst, re-born in 2015 by tech mogul Elon Musk, a crack team from the Polytechnic University of Valencia rose to the challenge to compete in an international competition to bring the concept to reality. The idea of the hyperloop concept is to create a meth-

Off the Rails Spanish firm’s Hyperloop concept to be debuted in Dubai By James Warren

od of transport that utilises vacuum technology to propel passengers and goods at speeds of over 1,000

Locked wallets THE eventual end of COVID restrictions will not lead to a spending splurge. Seven out of 10 people will hang on to any cash they may have saved during the pandemic, according to a global survey. When asked the question: “Are you likely to spend the majority of the extra money you have managed to save over the last 12 months?” 72% responded ‘no’, 16% said ‘yes’ and 12% did not know. The 450-plus respondents were clients of the deVere group who currently reside in North America, the UK, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, Australasia and Latin America. Britons have amassed around £100 billion of ‘excess’ savings during the lockdowns, according to the Bank of England. The household saving ratio soared to an all-time high of 29.1% in the second quarter of last year.

Backers

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kph in a sealed ‘tube’ using magnets that levitate the capsule four inches off the ground. Powered exclusively by electricity, the technology is being heralded as the future of rail transport, is environmentally friendly and hopes to connect Europe’s major cities with a travel time between Barcelona and Paris of under one hour. The project has received a handful of high profile backers, including Airbus, ArcelorMittal and Red Electrica and has seen direct support and collaboration with the central government of Barcelona. Ximo Puig, president of Valencia, has been vocal in his support for the project, and will accompany the team to Dubai in October.

SUDOKU

INCE the start of the pandemic last March there has been a sharp rise in the number of people turning to alcohol and drugs to combat feelings of isolation, loneliness and even boredom. At Phoenix Programmes, they have not only seen a rise in individuals struggling with problems due to substances, but also behavioural addictions and compulsive disorders, such as gambling, video gaming, OCD, and anxiety, as people try to find ways to let off steam, use their time or deal with difficult feelings and emotions in what is a trying situation for many. However, what starts off as a bit of fun, a break from the routine or simply the desire to feel better; can turn into a devastating problem as the need for the drugs, alcohol or behaviour comes before everything else, work, money, health, and even loved ones. Phoenix Programmes is run by husband-andwife team Chris and Anita and was established based on the experience and knowledge they have gained from working for over 25 years in the field of addiction treatment, their aim is to help individuals struggling with problems related to alcohol, drugs, addiction, and emotional or compulsive disorders. Phoenix Programmes offer immediate admission to a range of flexible, affordable treatment packages varying from highly structured residential through to outpatient day care, and there is even a facility for online therapy. All their programmes and courses are based around the proven 12 Step therapy model and come with the benefit of their highly experienced and professional team of doctors and therapists. Whatever type of rehab programme you are

HEALTH Blame game

April 7th - April 20th 2021

Healthy hook up PHONE operator, Yoigo, has launched a telemedicine service for its customers. At €6 per month, the Doctor Go telemedicine service offers video-consultations with family doctors and specialists, as well as pharmacy services for electronic prescriptions and the delivery of medicines.

Adults

The service covers two adults and all children within a family unit. The initiative aims for immediate round-theclock medical care, which includes a chat platform with specialists, access to over 40,000 professionals in the Quiron private medical network, booking of COVID-19 testing and electronic prescriptions with the delivery of medicines.

COVID mutations from Spain and UK both hit the Rock

Jab on

SPAIN will remove the upper age limit for AstraZeneca’s (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine,. Spanish press have reported that the decision to not use it for people aged over 65 has been reversed at the same time as giving approval for the Johnson&Johnson jab to be used for those aged 66 and over. The move came a week after Spain decided to reintroduce the AstraZeneca treatment for people aged 18-65. Several European countries including Germany have restricted use of the AZ drug over blood clot worries. German authorities say nine people have died due to clots soon after being vaccinated with the AZ jab.

THE British and Spanish mutations of COVID-19 were both equally to blame for the last lethal wave of the pandemic, the latest government data has revealed. Analysis of 300 genome sequencing results from December 23 to February 2 has shown how the Kent coronavirus variant spread across the Rock. “The data shows that there was roughly a 50:50 split between the Spanish B.1.77 strain and the UK Kent variant of concern B.1.1.7 present in Gibraltar in that time period,” a government spokesperson said. “Importantly, no South African B.1.351 or Brazilian P.1 variants of concern were detected.” The new data contradicts an earlier figures that suggested only a fraction of the cases were part of the Kent mutation.

Cloud’s silver lining SPAIN'S lockdowns have seen people turn away from alcohol but some have replaced it with drug taking. An Observatory for Drugs and Addiction survey revealed that binge-drinking was slashed by half due to reduced hours for bars and clubs, but the use of unprescribed drugs has gone up. Health Minister, Carolina Darias, said: “The restrictions on nightlife and leisure venues has almost certainly contributed to the large fall in alcohol abuse, especially

among youngsters.” Around 9.7% of those surveyed said they engaged in binge-drinking, down from 17.2% before the first State of Alarm in March last year. Almost 22% of the survey of 9,000 people across Spain said they had cut back on drinking, as opposed to 3.3% who said they had increased their booze intake. The proportion of people saying they consumed unprescribed drugs grew to 3.1% from 1.9% before the pandemic.

AS of April 1, the green card -which ve- Cards, which will then be sent to policy rifies the validity of Compulsory Liability holders as downloadable PDFs. So, these Insurance for vehicles- was no longer documents no longer need to be printed green and will now be sent by email to on the traditional, green-coloured paper policy holders by their insurance provi- and as such, the traditional Green Card der. In a move that will see may simply become black more of the sector enter the and white. era of digital transformaThese changes mean that tion, drivers will be able to when you are driving in a print their own green cards, No longer having Bureaux member country, with black and white prints authorities will be able to print and post the on standard A4 paper. to check automatically, This change has been dri- Green Cards is a through this platform, if a ven within the decision of vehicle is duly insured. The Council of Bureaux, the welcome change But, despite these chanorganisation acting for the ges, LIBERTY SEGUROS protection of cross-border reminds that when you are road traffic and coordivisiting countries that are nating the activities of the different EU not part of the European Economic Area members of the Green Card system, to (such as the UK and Gibraltar), the green check the validity of Third Party Liability card document, although now a printed Motor Insurance through a new centrali- version, will be mandatory as it always sed single platform. has been. Now, using advanced security measures, In the same manner, insured vehicles its centralised web platform will allow from countries OUTSIDE of The Council insurers of its member countries to ge- of Bureaux and those that are not nerate “QR-coded” Green part of the European Economic Area (including, UK and Gi-

Government sources revealed the reason for the spread of the Kent variant was ‘frequent travel between Gibraltar and the UK’. The latest revelation comes after lead clinician at the COVID-19 lab Daniel Cassaglia, teamed up with GHA consultant microbiologist Nick Cortes. The new data has shown how quickly a new variant can spread in a small community like Gibraltar. With some of the new variants showing resistance to the vaccine, the government has urged people to continue the usual safety measures to prevent a new wave of the pandemic. Minister for Health and Civil Contingencies Samantha Sacramento, is proud of the way the virus was examined so quickly. “Gibraltar is extremely privileged that despite our small size, we have such accomplished professionals doing this vital work.”

Eyes right PEOPLE are being warned to not skimp on eye tests during lockdown restrictions, with new research revealing 42% of people have noticed sight deterioration since March 2020. This represents a significant increase in the number of people noticing a deterioration in their vision during the first lockdown (34%) as reported by Specsavers Opticas last year. Yet, the new study by the high street opticians shows that half (50%) of those suffering any deterioration are yet to address the issue and see an optician.

Concerned It also showed that people are feeling ever more concerned about leaving their home. These results have been released for World Health Day (April 7) because an eye test is an important health check, and missing these tests can not only put eyesight at risk, but potentially other aspects of their health too.

All change LIBERTY SEGUROS explains the new changes with respect to the so-called Green Card braltar-registered vehicles) will also be required to carry the document whilst driving in Spain. Welcome For LIBERTY SEGUROS, no longer having to print and post Green Cards in a specified colour and format will be a welcome change. For policy holders, LIBERTY SEGUROS assures drivers that the new process is as easy as printing an airline boarding pass. With the changes that surround Brexit, LIBERTY SEGUROS understands that there’s a real need for clear and transparent information regarding changes to driving in Spain, and it remains on-hand to keep you informed with regard to your obligations as a driver. The expat’s preferred insurer, LIBERTY SEGUROS offers a wide range of covers for car insurance that can be tailored to your individual needs, with advantages that stand out against competitors. For example, with LIBERTY SEGUROS, there’s no need to declare vehicle accessories if they have been fitted by the manufacturer; and, in the case of a claim, any luggage or personal belongings are covered up to 500€. LIBERTY SEGUROS also offers extended cover in case of Total Loss or Total Theft at 100% of the value ‘as new’ if the vehicle is less than 2 years old, or at 80% of the value ‘as new’ if the vehicle is between 2 and 3 years old. A courtesy car is included

as standard for up to 45 days (35 days for vehicle breakdown) and policy holders are free to choose a garage of their choice in the event of a claim. What’s more, LIBERTY SEGUROS has specific cover for electric vehicles too. There are other benefits as well. With LIBERTY SEGUROS there’s no maximum age for drivers – provided they have a valid driving license – and Roadside Assistance is available from Km.0. Furthermore, with LIBERTY SEGUROS you can also take out car insurance for UK-plated vehicles (except for vehicles registered in Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Gibraltar), as well as cover for classic vehicles and Spanish and UK-registered motorhomes! With an extensive network of more than 300 expatriate brokers and agents that speak YOUR language and who are at YOUR disposal for friendly and expert advice that’s tailored to you, it’s easy to see why LIBERTY SEGUROS has become expat insurance provider of choice in Spain with over 175,000 expat clients.

To find the location of your nearest broker/agent, simply visit: www.libertyexpatriates.es. or call 91 342 25 49.

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WHILE most of us can’t wait to forget all about coronavirus, it seems some people want a permanent reminder, with the numbers of COVID related tattoos featuring bats and masks on the rise, according to tatooists in Malaga.

Boar on NIGHT time curfews have given wild animals the chance to roam further than before, with many towns and cities now hosting growing populations of boars totalling 1 million, according to Madrid University.

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Job’s worth BOTCHED restoration work on a historic Spanish monument has been slammed by critics, comparing the work to a jobbing builder. The renovations completed at Antequera Dolmens in Antequera, Malaga have been lambasted as sloppy by experts from the Department of Prehistory and Archeology of the University of Seville. The professors, who were asked to review the work done on the 6,000-year-old monument, said the damage to the complex

was ‘urban cruelty’. Expert Leonardo Garcia Sanjuan quipped: “An architect who builds terraced houses cannot intervene in a 6,000-yearold monument.” Garcia Sanjuan, along with co-author Coronada Mora, warned that the excavations in the Menga dolmen between 1842 and 1847 by Rafael Mitjana and Ardison already ‘changed the appearance’ of this megalithic construction, with ‘the presumed accumulation of the tumular mass extracted in

HISTORIC: The dolmens date back 6,000 years another area different from the original one. They continued that by beginning in the 1980s, ‘there were

Turtley dangerous

PEOPLE are being warned to be on the lookout for a potentially dangerous breed of turtle whose beak can snip of fingers. The Andalucian Environmental Agency (AMA) is investigating the discovery in Huelva of a snapping turtle, an exotic, large freshwater species, originating from America.

Strike a light A DAZZLING meteor has been filmed soaring across the Spanish sky at 96,000km per hour, with it being spotted streaking from Castilla-La Mancha to Jaen (Andalucia).

Experts blast bodge job restoration

It was found in El Portil, on the coast of Huelva. The turtle is approximately half a metre long and belongs to a species that is potentially dangerous. While rare, a snapping turtle can bite off human fingers or toes with its impressive jaw strength of over 1,000 pounds.

also interventions that affected the physical integrity of the monuments’ including ‘the brutal exterior transformation of the Viera dolmen in 2004’. The experts also blasted the renovations done between 2001 and 2003 on the interior walls of the Menga dolmen, which they note was done ‘without geologists who knew the properties of the rocks or specialists.’ The authors added that today there is an ‘urban fierceness’ in the Antequera dolmens, which ‘is an intensely urbanised area with concrete paths and squares, parking lots and a visitor centre’.

A CYCLIST crossed paths with the law after giving his bicycle extra speed by attaching an engine to it. The 41-year-old man redefined the meaning of pedal power as he whizzed up an incline on the CV-905 in Torrevieja (Costa Blanca). A Guardia Civil patrol was bemused by the bicycle’s speed especially as the cyclist did not appear to be pedalling. They also thought they heard a purring-noise coming from the two-wheeler. The cyclist realised he had been spotted and decided to revert to peddling the bike himself in the hope of continuing his journey, but to no avail. He was pulled over and the Guardia patrol discovered that he had gone to a lot of trouble to convert his bicycle into a moped. A small engine was attached to the bike’s frame and the diesel tank was hidden underneath a T-shirt so as not to attract any attention. The handlebar had been modified to include links to an accelerator and a brake. The Guardia seized the bike and took it to the ITV test station in Torrevieja who confirmed it had a two-stroke engine capable of going over 50 kilometres per hour.

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