Olive Press Mallorca issue 191

BAY OF PIGS GOOD NEWS!

THE rate of inflation in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in threeand-a-half years in welcome news for the country’s economy.

Preliminary figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) show that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September fell to 1.5%, the fourth consecutive monthly fall and a steady decrease from August when the figure stood at 2.2%.

The CPI measures the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a representative basket of consumer goods and services.

Prices

September’s figure is the lowest since March 2021, when the rate of inflation was just 1.3%, and is a far cry from 2022 when a rise in global energy prices and the war in Ukraine provoked a surge in inflation to above 10%.

The INE attributes the drop in the rate of inflation to fall ing prices for fuel, food, elec tricity and leisure and cultur al activities.

They also say that Spain’s GDP grew by 0.9% in the first quarter, higher than expected, and that the economy is set to grow at an annual rate of 3.1%, six-tenths of a percentage point greater than originally predicted.

See Reasons to be cheerful, page 6

By

THOUSANDS of locals and expats have mobilised against plans to build a luxury hotel in the heart of a protected natural park in Andalucia. Developers are set to construct a fourstar resort close to the untouched beach of Los Genoveses in the stunning Cabo de Gata nature reserve in Almeria.

It is one of the final few stretches of Spain’s Mediterranean coast that has

not been built on.

The firm Torres y Gonzalez Diaz wants to turn abandoned Las Chiqueras estate - formerly a pig farm - into a 30-room hotel with 70 parking spaces. The exclusive retreat will count on multiple swimming pools and stunning unspoilt views of the beach, often voted one of

Spain’s finest.

step closer.

It comes after the mayor, Jose Garrido, announced in July he will allow construction on the rustic land.

He was backed by the PP-run Junta last year which somehow gave environmental authorisation for the project.

The firm, which owns numerous hotels, has been fighting environmentalists to get its plans approved since 2016. Now, alarmingly, thanks to a new right-wing coalition of Vox and the PP in the local town hall of Nijar, which administers the park, they are one

A similar nearby project, the Algarrobico hotel also built on a virgin beach in Cabo de Gata has been mired in 20 years of controversy after it was ordered to be demolished for breaking numerous laws.

The latest decisions have sparked outrage among locals, who gathered in their thousands at the weekend.

The Genoveses Sin Hotel group organised a march on the Almeria seafront, with supporters unfurling banners and chanting slogans.

Meanwhile, a total of 4,000 people have lodged official individual complaints with the town hall. And

260,000 people have signed an online petition demanding the project be stopped.

“It is still possible to stop it, but for that to happen we have to mobilise,” said Celine Feutry, president of the platform.

“There is no social or economic benefit for the

locals, the interest is merely private and for a company that already owns many other hotels in the area.”

Despite this, Enrique Ruiz, from the Friends of Cabo de Gata-Nijar Park association, said the planned hotel was being declared ‘of economic and social interest’ to get the green light. “But they must also prove job creation, sustainability and other positive impacts on the environment and economy,” he explained.

Environment

Feutry warned the council that ‘we will go to court’ if the project gets the go ahead.

She said the area of the proposed hotel is only allowed to be used for agriculture, adding: “If the council authorises it, a dangerous precedent will be created because it would give the owners of all the farms in the area the green light to build accommodation.”

The Olive Press has long campaigned for protection in the area, with a campaign against the Algarrobico hotelwhich we dubbed ‘El Horrible’ - and also to urgently protect the chapel Cortijo del Fraile, which is where celebrated writer Gabriel García Lorca set his famous book Blood Wedding.

CAMPAIGN: How the Olive Press first reported on the Les Genoveses scheme,

Laurence Dollimore and (right) the nearby Algarrobico hotel disgrace is still not resolved

Fruit ring busted

A RING of food suppliers from Motril in Granada conned eco-conscious consumers across Europe by exporting regular fruit and vegetables labelled as organic. Four arrests have been made.

Don’t laugh

A BRITISH man, 36, and a Dutchman, 29, have been arrested in Palma after they tried to deliver doses of illegal laughing gas by taxi, and assaulted the driver when he threatened to call police.

Not wanted

A DIPLOMATIC row between Mexico and Spain has erupted after the Latin American nation’s left-wing president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum refused to invite King Felipe VI to her inauguration.

Deadly summer

SOME 19 women and three children in Spain have been murdered by men in a summer of gender-based violence between June 20 and September 22.

THE INCORRUPTIBLES

A NEW corruption-fighting commission of four ‘untouchables’ is set to shake up public sector governance in Mallorca. Spearheaded by the PP-Vox-governed Mallorca Council, it will answer to no one and have total inde -

pendence while carrying out its duties. Complaints must contain a detailed description of the facts and identify by name the accused corrupt actor. Any government employee past or present will be able to file an anon -

ymous report and the commission will have three months to act on it.

The four corruption fighters will consist of the General Secretary of the Council, who will be the chair, and the Head of the Technical Office for Digital Transformation who will act as secretary. The other two will be the Public Auditor and the Attorney General.

Brit murder probe

Investigation launched two years after British tourist fell 30ft to her death

A MURDER investigation has been launched by British police two years after a tourist plunged 30ft to her death after falling from a hotel balcony in Ibiza. Robyn-Eve Maines, 24, was holidaying with her boyfriend when she fell from a second-floor apartment at the four-star adults-only Rosamar Hotel near San Antonio on September 25, 2022.

Evidence

Merseyside Police said a 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail.

They are treating Robyn’s death as ‘unexplained’ after reviewing evidence material used by Spanish police, who

By Ben Pawlowski

concluded their own investigation.

Police are making a fresh call for any witnesses to the death of Robyn, who at the time was working as a trainee solicitor for a Liverpool law firm.

Detective Inspector Phil Ryan said: “On the second anniversary I am appealing for any witnesses who may have been staying at the hotel in September 2022, and who are based in the UK, to come forward. “Were you there in 2022 and did you see or hear anything, or do you have any other information which could assist with our investigation?”

In an emotional statement, her family said: “We just want justice for Robyn”. They are pleading for any new witnesses to

TRAGIC: Investigation into the death of Robyn has been launched

come forward and contact the police. Robyn was described by

friends and family as a ‘firecracker’, ‘a beautiful person inside and out’ and ‘so special’.

Monster-in-law

A GERMAN expat has been axed to death inside her villa in Mallorca.

The 74-year-old was allegedly struck in the head with the bladed weapon by her son-inlaw in Ses Colonies on Wednesday night.

The alleged attacker, who is Portuguese, was arrested shortly after the crime took place.

The victim, named only as Erika, lived with

Passport to jail

TWO Italian women have been arrested after trying to board a flight to Spain with fake passports covered in bloody fingerprints issued to them by a sect. The 51 and 58 year-old, who were also carrying €20,000 in undeclared cash, were cuffed at Bolzano airport while attempting to fly to Ibiza. The women were at border control when they presented their ‘documentation’ to police, who were immediately suspicious.

Cult

It emerged that the women, who had criminal records, were allegedly part of a cult called ‘One People I Am’. The sect refuses to recognise the authority of nation states and gives its followers their own ‘documents’, which feature fingerprints in blood. The two women face charges of ‘resisting a public official’.

her daughter and son-in-law in an area filled with private chalets and fincas in Colonia de Sant Jordi.

The daughter and her husband, named as Victor Anibal TM, had recently separated but the trio continued living together.

A ‘violent argument’ is said to have erupted between 45-year-old Anibal and Erika.

During the shouting match, Anibal is said to have grabbed an axe and buried it into the head of his mother-in-law.

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Dynamic duo

RAFAEL Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz could be set to reunite to represent Spain at the finals of the Davis Cup, just months after teaming up for the men’s doubles tournament at the Paris Olympics.

The tantalising prospect of the dream duo, christened by tennis fans as ‘Nadalcaraz’, returning to the court together was raised after Nadal, 38, was

named in the five-player preliminary squad to represent Spain at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga this November.

Despite pulling out of last weekend’s Laver Cup event in Berlin through injury, the 22-time grand slam champion has vowed to continue playing tennis at the highest level for as long as his body allows.

If he remains injury-free until November, Nadal could reunite with Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old four-time grand slam champion and World No.3.

CRUISE IN META EVENT

Mega star flies into tiny Spanish hamlet to have lunch with Mark Zuckerberg’s right hand man

By Walter Finch

ONE of Spain’s smallest villages had one of the world’s biggest (metaphorically) visitors over the weekend. The quiet hamlet of Arguisal, located near the Aragonese Pyrenees mountains, 40km north of Hu-

Jack of hearts

THIS is the heartwarming moment Hollywood actor Johnny Depp surprised youngsters at a children’s ward in Donostia Hospi tal, San Sebastian while dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp, 61, stars as the swashbuckling pi rate in the popu lar Pirates of the Caribbean fran chise, which has

esca, is home to just 14 people – and no tourist villas. But that number was bumped up to 15 when Tom Cruise’s helicopter landed at the home of Meta’s Chief Operating Officer.

Javier Olivan. 47, a key figure in Silicon Valley, has been overseeing Meta companies such

grossed over €4 billion worldwide, running as the 16th-highest-grossing

The award-winning actor regularly visits children’s hospitals after his daughter, LilyRose, was diagnosed with temporary kidney failure aged just seven. Depp says he is forever in debt to the pediatric doctors who saved his daughter’s life, and so makes regular visits to surprise ill kids.

as Facebook , Whatsapp and Instagram remotely from the isolated mountain retreat after moving from Palo Alto in California.

Despite efforts to keep the superstar visit underwraps, word leaked out of the Top Gun star’s presence in the town and his fondness for quiet, off-the-beaten-track locations.

The eagle-eyed spotted him dining with Olivan, one of Meta’s highest-paid executives, with Forbes reporting him as having a €23 million salary last year.

Confidant

Olivan, originally from the nearby town of Sabiñanigo, has been a close confidant of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg since joining the company in 2007.

The visit of Cruise, 62, is sure to land Arguisal on the map. Shouldered by mountain peaks on the not-so-distant horizon, it’s a lush and green location that would not look out of place in Switzerland. The residents have reportedly been enamoured with their A-list guest.

However, Cruise’s presence may end up attracting further visitors to the secluded and peaceful hamlet.

This may undermine its place as a private retreat ideal for those seeking an escape from modern life.

GOLDEN CATE

Blanchett, 55, dazzled in a gold gown as she received the prestigious Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

The award was presented by Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, with whom Blanchett collaborated on Disclaimer

In a surprise video message, her long-time friend George

Clooney praised her, calling her one of the greatest actors, comparing her to legends like Meryl Streep and Robert de Niro.

An emotional Blanchett said it felt like a ‘homecoming’ to receive the award.

The audience then enjoyed a screening of her latest film, Rumours

ROYAL TELL ALL

JUAN Carlos, Spain’s disgraced and exiled former king, has announced he will publish his memoirs next year, vowing to ‘explain my mistakes and bad decisions’ during his time as head of state.

The 500-page book will be titled Reconciliation, a nod to Juan Carlos’ role in Spain’s transition to democracy following the death in 1975 of the fascist dicta tor General Franco. It is set to be published by Stock, a French publishing house.

The former monarch, 86, said his hand has been forced into painting his own version of events, claiming ‘my story is being stolen from me’ as several biographies detailing alleged affairs and financial scandals are published.

Juan Carlos abdicated the throne in 2014 amid much criticism for an el ephant hunting safari trip and an embezzlement scandal involving his daughter, Infantina Cristina, and has lived in exile in Abu Dhabi since 2020 following a string of investi gations into alleged corruption.

CATE

FLYING VISIT: Cruise and Olivan (right) with Zuckerberg

HISTORICAL: The yacht that was used to recreate

CROWNING MOMENT

A YACHT used in Netflix hit series The Crown and owned by a British billionaire has been spotted in Mallorca. Former Phones4u owner John Caudwell’s superyacht M/Y Titania was spotted off Puerto Portals on Wednesday morning. The boat was used to recreate Princess Diana’s iconic photo aboard Mohamed Al-Fayed’s yacht, Jonikal. At 73 metres long, it can accommodate up to 12 passengers across its seven cabins.

Balearic boom

AS Spain’s tourism boom shows no signs of abating, it is the Balearics that lead the way – or bear the brunt. New figures for August show that not only did the islands receive the most visitors, but those visitors also spent the most per person on average. Of the 10.9 million tourists who descended upon Spain in the peak month of August, 22.4% of them (2.4 million) plumped for the Mediterranean islands. They edged out second place Catalunya (20.9%), and left third-placed (and much larger) Andalucia in the shade with just 14.7% of the total.

Despite topping the charts, the number of visitors to the Balearics represents a modest 3.7% increase on August 2023

Spain’s

recordbreaking tourism sector

is being carried by the Balearic Islands

By Walter Finch

– whereas Andalucia saw a near 10% jump.

Yet the trend is clear – tourist numbers across Spain are up 13% year-on-year.

Each one of those 2.4 million visitors to the Balearics went on to spend, on average, a €1,455 during their stay – contributing a nationwide high of

SURGE: The Balearics topped the tourism metrics for August

€3.6 billion to the regional economy in a single month. This translates to approximately €2,952 per inhabitant

SCHUI NUPTIALS

THE eldest daughter of motor-racing legend Michael Schumacher has married her partner, Iain Bethke, in Mallorca. Gina Schumacher tied the knot in the family’s estate in Port d’Andratx.

The property once belonged to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, but is reportedly now a very special place for the family of Michael Schumacher, who disappeared from public view in December 2013 after suffering a severe brain injury from a skiing accident. Gina, 27, met Bethke several years ago at a horse riding event. Since the end of 2022, they have been living in the Schumacher family ranch in Texas.

The Schumacher family paid €30 million in 2018 for the property, which has 15,000 square metres of land and two swimming pools.

of the Balearics, a figure that is up nearly 10% on last year. On average, each tourist spent €215 a day in August – up 12.7%, but dwarfed by Madrid, where weekend trippers splashed out €342 a day. In another boast for the Balearics, their tourism sector contributed almost a quarter (23.5%) of the overall spending by international visitors in Spain, which amounted to €15.3 billion.

This represents a 13% rise on the same period last year, underscoring that Spain’s current economic boom is driven by the international tourism sector.

However, it is actually a slight dip on spending from July, in which €15.5 billion was forked out by foreign tourists.

Princess Di’s iconic photo

I DO: Gina Schumacher with new hubby Iain Bethke

TRAIN PLEDGE

Major new rail line project unveiled from Palma to Llucmajor

A NEW €690 million rail link between Palma and Llucmajor has been announced by the Balearic President, Marga Prohens.

Work on the 27-kilometre line will start in 2028 and be completed four years later.

The government estimates that up to 7.5 million people could use it annually.

The route will include stops at the airport and the Son Llatzer hospital, with the estimated journey time between Palma and Llucmajor set to be 28 minutes.

A trip between Palma and the airport will be 11 minutes and 17 minutes to the facility from Llucmajor.

Trains will leave Palma from the Son Costa - Son Fortesa station with various stops in the city before moving on to Son Oliva, Son Fortesa, Can Capes, Son Gotleu, Coll d'en Rabassa, and the Son Oms industrial estate.

It then takes in es Pil·lari Bellavista, ses Cadenes, s'Arenal and the Son Noguera industrial estate, before reaching Llucmajor.

Plans for the project will go on public display this month and a contract will be awarded next year.

It will be financed jointly by the national and Balearic governments.

Commenting on having to wait until

Expat death

A BRITISH woman died on Tuesday night at her Soller home after suffering a domestic accident.

The Guardia Civil are investigating the circumstances behind the death of the 55-year-old expat.

The victim had been retired for a few years after working as a stewardess for British Airways.

She lived in an apartment on Calle Adela Oliver Llinas with her husband. He arrived home at around 10.30pm and saw his partner lying unconscious on the living room floor. He called emergency services but health workers were unable to save her life.

RED FLAG

A BRITISH tourist had to be rescued by helicopter after ‘ignoring warnings to stay out of the water.’

The 28-year-old man got into trouble off Can Pere Antoni beach in Palma. Lifeguards had put up a red flag amid a weather warning for rough seas from state weather agency Aemet. However the Englishman decided to go for a swim regardless. He was dragged 300m from the shore and could not return on his own. Two lifeguards could not reach him due to the waves so a Maritime Rescue helicopter was called in.

The Brit was airlifted to Son Espases University Hospital.

Hotel heaven

DESPITE the backlash against holiday apartments across the Balearics, hotels still dominate the tourist landscape.

New figures show that, of the 2.4 million who stayed in tourist accommodation on the islands in August, two million of them (86%) opted for hotels.

Just 13% stayed in the much-loathed tourist accommodation, although this figure is up 11.7% on last year. Overall, tourist accommodations saw a 5.5% rise in guests on last year, who between them stayed a combined total of 13.5 million nights.

By Alex Trelinski

2028 for work to begin, Marga Pro-

hens said: “The deadlines are those set by the regulations which I know are lengthy but we will do everything possible to accelerate them.”

“This Government does not sell smoke,” stressed Prohens, who was keen to emphasise that trains will definitely start running in 2032.

CHOO-CHOO: Balearic President Prohens wants the train by 2032

TOURIST FLOW

THE Balearic’s tourist tax is set to increase during the summer months in a bid to reduce ‘seasonality’ and control the flow of visitors to the islands.

The move is slated to be approved in February, although there has been no indication of how much the levy will rise in the months of June, July and August.

Residents on the island will be able to get around it by deducting it from their personal income tax if they end up having to pay it.

Known as the ‘eco-tax’, it will also raise rates on large water users which will mostly target hotels. Separately, the government announced that it intends to block new tourist rentals on buildings housing families when the current moratorium ends.

EXPAT INSURANCE MADE SIMPLE

Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION

Shame on you!

HAVE governments in Spain learnt nothing from the recent and growing protests against ‘over tourism’? It would appear not, at least in Almeria and Andalucia, where right-wing politicians seem hell bent on building a luxury hotel on one of the last untouched strips of the country’s Mediterranean coast (Bay of Pigs, p1).

It is clear that the project, penned for the protected Cabo de Gata natural park, is the last thing locals want or need.

But that doesn’t mean a damn thing to the money-grabbing powers that be.

Lest we forget a similar project nearby, the disgraceful Algarrobico hotel, which was also built on a virgin beach in Cabo de Gata.

It is now a rundown eyesore that has been mired in 20 years of controversy after it was ordered to be demolished for breaking numerous environmental laws.

Today, history looks set to repeat itself, with environmentalists vowing to drag the developers of the new hotel through the courts.

And all this at a time when the so-called anti-tourism movement is gaining momentum by the day. What message will granting this project send out to locals? This hotel will only serve to stir up hate against tourism, and by association tourists and ‘guiris’, in other words, expats.

It is already happening in places like the Costa del Sol, where anti-tourism messages have expanded to include expats, with ‘guiris go home’ graffiti regularly popping up.

And that’s before we even mention the devastating impact of the hotel on one of the last remaining ‘truly wild’ spaces in Andalucia.

People are sick and tired of developers who want nothing more than to make a quick buck - just look at all the ‘luxury’ homes and establishments taking over Marbella and Estepona.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if politicians are getting some sort of kickback for granting the hotel.

Lord knows it wouldn’t be a first for Andalucia, which has a decades-long history of staggering corruption.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es

Look on the bright side

It’s not all doom-andgloom: Reasons to be cheerful as Spain’s economy transforms - with much thanks to foreign tourism - into the poster child of Europe

By Walter Finch

IT could be easy to find oneself overwhelmed with the constant drum beat of bad news and terrible prognostications in Europe.

If it’s not the threat of another war, the terrible forecasts for the state of the environment, or doom-laden demographics, then it’s crime, inflation and immigration.

In Spain, people fret about reservoir levels, the housing crisis and the political extremes crowding out the middle.

But what perhaps doesn’t get enough attention is the Spanish economy, which has become one of the surprising engines of economic growth for the eurozone. It is not just in football where the Spanish are currently seeing a strong regeneration. The country has been posting GDP growth figures that far outstrip those of its stagnant northern neighbours.

International observers started to take note last year as Spain smashed its peers out of the park with an economy that grew 2.5%, one and a half times as fast as France (1.1%) and Italy (1%).

But spare a thought for poor Germany, the country Spain is supplanting as Europe’s economic powerhouse, which actually shrank in 2023.

And it only gets better: the OECD recently upgraded Spain’s economic growth forecast from 2.5% to 2.8%, while the country’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) estimates an exciting 3.1%.

So how is the country doing it?

The fourth largest economy in the EU, and 15th in the world, is already home to several important international household names.

These include the world’s largest textile company Inditex, parent to highstreet brand Zara, owned by Amancio Ortega who is worth €1.43 billion and Santander bank

(Europe’s fourth largest).

Then there’s infrastructure company Ferrovial, which owned 25% of Heathrow Airport – Europe’s busiest – until last year and also built its runway expansion. Meanwhile, state-owned shipbuilder Navantia is currently producing sec tions for a trio of Brit ish ships, com missioned by the Royal Navy.

Anything else driving this economic growth?

Unsurprisingly, a large majority comes from the tourism sector, which saw record numbers of foreign visitors in August.

This tourism boom has already eclipsed the high water mark of 2019, with a total of 13.6 million people visiting the coun-

try last month, and it shows no signs of abating.

It goes with the 10.9 million who came in July – a 7.3% rise year-on-year – and they splashed out a cumulative €15.5 billion over the course of the month – an 11.9% increase on last year.

Setting aside the persistent gripes about ‘overtourism’, the figures are driving a surge in development along Spain’s coasts and islands, including a tsunami of five-star hotels and golf resorts.

And there is plenty to crow about in other sectors, too.

Spain’s exports hit a record €33.2 billion in July, up 9.3% year-on-year, with France the biggest customer. For comparison, EU exports as a whole grew by 7.4%, easily outstripping Germany (5.4%), France (7.1%) and Italy (6.8%). And – Brits close your eyes – exceeding UK export growth, which shrank by -15.5% (yes, MINUS) in the same month.

eighth largest car manufacturer in the world and hosts 17 major plants which produce vehicles for foreign titans Nissan, Renault, Ford, Mercedes, Volkswagen and others.

And not forgetting homegrown car maker Seat (although owned by VW), which is located in Martorell outside Barcelona. In fact, wherever you look across the country you see records being broken.

Spain’s housing market has seen near-double digit price rises year-on-year, completely bucking the trend in Europe. A home in Spain now costs an average of €2,176 sqm.

Despite the record price rises, sales jumped by nearly a fifth (19.4%) in July to reach levels not seen since the boom (or bubble) that preceded the financial crash in 2008.

Spain’s exports hit a record

€33.2 billion in July, up 9.3% year-on-year

Spain’s exports grew most strongly in the food, beverages and tobacco sector (2.4%), while cars remain the number one export.

In fact, Spain is the

Interestingly, more than half of these property purchases were made in cash (without a mortgage), indicating that a lot of wealthy people with money to burn live in Spain. Even the beast of inflation has almost been slain; falling sharply again to 1.5% this month – the lowest rate since 2021, before the dual shocks of Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine took hold.

Long gone are the dark days of the 1970s, when two million Spaniards were forced to migrate to Germany and northern Europe in search of work.

Now a new class of Spaniards has aris-

en off the back of this success, a large and burgeoning group which enjoys exotic foreign holidays, drives expensive cars and – perhaps most importantly of all – own more than one property.

As most of us who live on the costas or the islands well know, they are very much alive and well, living it up with their nannies and bulging wallets through late July and August.

BOOMING: Spanish shipyards and factories are going full-throttle, giving PM Pedro Sanchez (above) plenty to smile about despite his political woes

Rustling sheep with British royalty

How one rogue and some British ingenuity smuggled Spain’s prized animals out into the world,

writes Jack Gaioni

CATTLE rustling and horse theft in the American Wild West were crimes punishable by hanging - think Hang ‘Em High with Clint Eastwood. Similarly, the theft of livestock in 19th century Russia was a crime with extreme consequences. In the Middle Ages, Spain viewed the theft and export of the iconic Merino sheep as worthy of the death sentence. Today Merino wool is produced in nearly every continent. It is the most popular wool fabric in the world - prized for its soft comfort, breathability, warmth and high performance luxury.

This begs the question: how did Merino wool morph from a restricted Spanish entity to a world wide phenomena?

The answer involves a British aristocrat, a heist crafted by King George III, and some ingenious British animal husbandry. Consider… Theories abound about the origins of Spanish Merino sheep and their fine wool. Most probably Merino sheep were created by cross-breeding the native Iberian sheep- the Churro - with a variety of rams brought to the peninsula by the Romans and then from North Africa during the Islamic period. Before long Spanish shepherds recognised the export value of Merino’s exquisite fleece and Spain became the centre of the world’s wool trade. In fact, Ferdinand and Isabella actively promoted the export of ‘the world’s finest quality wool’ and demand for Spanish Merino wool grew exponentially. The Spanish monarchy and a powerful guild called the Meseta Organisation controlled the breeding, management, and trade of the Merino sheep. They imposed strict trade and export restrictions replete with punitive (think: the death sentence) punishments for violations. This exclusivity only led to a greater demand for this luxurious fabric in European markets.

The British, perhaps more than any other European country, took a vested interest in

Merino wool. Within the UK the import and export of any raw wool was illegal. Farmers and manufacturers were well organised and successfully pressured Parliament to pass The Wool Act (1699).

This legislation restricted both the import and export of British wool products. Competition was eliminated, the wool market was monopolised but the public was left with an inferior product. Enter the most unlikely historical figure…

Joseph Banks – later baroneted as Sir John Banks – was, along with Charles Darwin, a central figure in England’s Age of Discovery.

Banks, while accompanying James Cook aboard the famous HMS Endeavor, visited Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. He brought back to England over 30,000 plant and animal specimens to be incorporated into the Royal So ciety, the United Kingdom’s esteemed National Academy of Sciences.

Banks achieved immediate fame as the foremost natural ist scientist and for the next 41 years was president of that venerated organisa tion. He was so infatuated with the biodiversity of Aus tralia, that Banks took a

particular interest in the British colonisation of that continent.

As a trusted advisor to King George III, the two realised the great potential for the Merino sheep in the unique ecosystems of Australia.

Together, using bribes, falsified bills of lading, stealth and shady diplomacy, they covertly smuggled (read: stole) two genuine Merino sheep from Spain through Portugal. Over the next few decades a ‘national project’ of cross-breeding the Spanish Merino with various British species produced what King George called his ‘royal flock’.

Fashionistas

The project was exported to the British colony of Australia and for the next century the production of Merino wool would greatly bolster the British economy. From about 1810 onwards the Merino sheep industry shifted worldwide to France, Germany, Sweden and the United States.

However it is Australia and New Zealand that now dominate the industry.

Since the early days of settlement ‘down under’, the wool industry has played a dominant role in both the economic and social perspectives. Today, Australia is the undisputed leader in the wool market producing more than 50% of the world’s Merino wool. For fashionistas, Merino wool is more popular than ever. In addition to its comfort, warmth, breathability, etc, the hairs of this storied fabric provide a natural antimicrobial quality that keep bacteria, mould and dust mites from growing. Collectively these qualities speak to society’s desire for a more renewable and sustainable material. Thankfully, we as consumers can enjoy Merino wool products today without risking some draconian punishment. Perhaps we should thank

for

The Olive Press online continues to be THE go to news source for English speakers in Spain with over one MILLION visitors in September

THE Olive Press has once again been leading the news agenda for everything happening in Spain this past fortnight.

We had multiple stories placed in national newspapers in the UK and dozens of our stories followed up throughout September.

They include that of British expat Serena Coronado, who told of her horrific ordeal at the hands of an abusive Spanish neighbour in Galicia. The story was picked up by Mail Online

So too was our exclusive about an Irish father who lost almost €2million on a hotel investment in Malaga thanks to town hall pencil pushers.

Elsewhere, our exclusive tale of a British mother who was the last known victim of the Ibiza gassing robbery gang was picked up by multiple national titles, including the Daily Mail and the Daily Express that continually - and disgracefullytakes our stories and even our pictures without payment or a credit.

The same can frequently be said of the highly dubious GB News.

Even in Spain, you may have noticed our rivals have started copying our style of headlines online.

It proves that we are still the goto source of news in Spain for English speakers.

And the figures back it up, with more than one million people visiting our website over the past month.

Meanwhile, more than 3,700 people registered an account at theolivepress.es in September, taking advantage of all that comes with membership.

And the number of paying subscribers continues to climb, with our unrivalled coverage of the most important stories of the day simply too important to miss.

Don’t forget that simply registering an account grants you access to an extra article and means you will be sent newsletters on news, travel, health and property.

You’ll also receive a personalised missive from digital editor Laurence Dollimore each Saturday.

So what are you waiting for?

Scan the QR code here to register an account and join our more than 50,000 members.

Sir Joseph Banks and King George III

their sheep rustling!

ROGUE: Sir John Banks (above) smuggled the Merino sheep out of Spain through Portugal. Now the fine wool is used in haute couture

DEATH: Ferdinand and Isabella imposed harsh punishments on Merino wool violations. Above, King George III, who wanted the sheep so much he turned to smuggling

BUSINESS

Buying Barcelona

A REAL estate brand made famous by Netflix series Buying Beverly Hills, has launched a new office in Barcelona.

Led by Josep Turro and Chi Wei Chin, the Barcelona office will focus on catering to both local and international clients in one of Europe’s most vibrant real estate markets.

CEO of The Agency and star of the Netflix show Mauricio Umansky praised the city’s cultural appeal, saying Barcelona’s artistic charm and beaches make it the perfect location for expansion.

It joins Spanish franchises in Marbella, the Costa Blanca and Mallorca.

THE Canary Islands are set to benefit from a €14 million package of support from the European Commission to help pay for the thousands of irregular migrants who arrive on the archipelago. The announcement was made following an official visit to the islands from Margaritis Schinas.

More than 26,000 migrants have so far

Cash support

this year arrived via the Canary Islands. The route between the western coast of Africa and the Canary Islands is widely regarded as the world’s most dangerous migration route, where some 4,808 deaths were recorded in the first five months of 2024.

Hands in pockets

THE number of people paid for by the government in Spain now outnumber the number of people working Some 8.21 million people are currently receiving state income through pensions, public sector salaries, or social benefits. This is compared to 17.69 million people earning through private enterprise. It highlights growing concerns over future financial

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More people are now paid by the government than the private sector

By Walter Finch

sustainability, with Spain’s ageing population at the heart of the issue.

The number of pensioners has soared to 9.2 million as of August, equal to 44% of the working population of just 21.6 million people, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE). With only six in 10 people economically active out of a total population of 48.8 million, it means less than half of people in Spain are shouldering the country’s pension payments, which now exceed

TOURISTS visiting Barcelona have been hit by a rise in tax after the city council agreed to increase visitor levies by over 20%.

The Catalan capital, which receives over 12 million visitors annually, will increase its tourist tax from €3.25 to €4 a night on tourist accommodation in a move that is expected to generate an additional €20 million in revenue each year. Currently, Barcelona collects €95

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million annually from the tax, but claims it spends €142 million in tourist expenditure, including additional transport, security and cleaning.

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Public Wi-Fi: Don’t get hacked while sipping lattes

Iis excited to announce a partnership with the leading IT security and support company Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use Internet-connected device, personal, or within the their small business.

N our hyper-connected world, public Wi-Fi has become a lifeline, especially when travelling or on vacation. Whether at a coffee shop, airport, or hotel, the allure of free internet access is undeniable.

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However, this convenience can come with significant risks, making public Wi-Fi an easy target for hackers. Connecting to an open network can expose you to several potential threats. It’s like offering your personal data on a silver platter to anyone tech-savvy enough to snatch it. Cybercriminals can intercept data transmitted between your device and the internet, capturing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal emails.

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€12.8 billion per month.

Nearly half of Social Security contributors (46%) are now over 45 compared to 41% five years ago.

Meanwhile, August 2024 data shows that 1.8 million people were on the paro (unemployment benefits), and a further 1.96 million individuals, spanning 649,000 households, rely on the Minimum Living Income (IMV).

The public sector workforce itself has also grown by 12% since December 2023 to over 3.6 million people.

Despite this, Spain's central bank upgraded its forecast for 2024’s economic performance from 2.3% to a eurozone-busting 2.8%. And unemployment has been falling over the long-term, most recently down 1.02% to 11.27% in the second quarter of this year.

Some

of

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IF you want cheap petrol head to Sevilla. It is the cheapest city in Spain in which to fill up at an average price of €1.54 a litre for petrol, according to a report by parking company ParkVia. It is a significant rise since 2015 when a litre of fuel in Sevilla cost €1.21.

Risen

Overall, petrol prices across Spain have risen by 49 cents a litre or 35% since 2015. Valencia (€1.58) and Las Palmas (€1.61) come in second and third cheapest, with Alicante (€1.63) and Madrid (€1.65) rounding off the bargain top five. Bilbao (€1.71), Zaragoza (€1.70), Malaga (€1.69), Barcelona (€1.67) and Palma de Mallorca (€1.67) are the priciest.

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that’s as trustworthy as a used car salesman in a neon suit. This mimicry, known as an Evil Twin attack, fools unsuspecting users into connecting and opens the door to all sorts of mischief.

Once you’re in their web, they can monitor your activity and snag your info quicker than a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

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These imposters are like the pranksters of the Wi-Fi world, always ready to mess with those who aren’t paying attention.

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It’s akin to sending a postcard with your credit card details and hoping it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Known as Man-in-the-Middle attacks, these interceptions allow hackers to eavesdrop on your online activities without your knowledge, which is about as comforting as a surveillance camera in your bedroom.

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To protect yourself on public Wi-Fi, always use a VPN when connecting.

A VPN encrypts your connection, turning your data into an unreadable mess for hackers, leaving them as confused as a mime in a windstorm.

Olive Press is excited to announce a partnership with AnyTech365, the leading IT security and support company on the Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press readers enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. Subscribers will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 services, ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use of any Internet-connected device, personal, or within the household or their small business.

A comprehensive security suite, combining all AnyTech365 premium products together with quick issue resolution by certified technicians without onsite visits anytime, day or night, with AnyTech365’s around-the-clock support services, all offered in more than 15 native languages.

Unsecured Wi-Fi networks can be used by hackers to distribute malware faster than gossip in a small town. Once infected, your device can be exploited to steal data or even take control of your system.

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Malware comes in various forms - viruses, ransomware, and spyware - each one more invasive than a mother-in-law asking about grandkids. Ransomware locks up your files like a disgruntled sibling hiding your toys, while spyware snoops on your every move like a curious cat. An attacker might set up a fake Wi-Fi network

is currently in the process of becoming publicly the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the expected to complete in Q3 of 2024.

Making a meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

This encryption ensures that even if someone intercepts your data, they won’t understand a word of it, providing an extra layer of security as comforting as finding out your favourite ice cream shop is still open. Ensure the websites you visit use HTTPS, the digital equivalent of putting a padlock on your internet door. Look for ‘https://’ at the beginning of the URL or a padlock icon in the address bar. This encryption protects your information from being intercepted by cyber sneaks, adding an extra layer of security that’s as reassuring as knowing your favourite show got renewed for another season.

Founded in 2014 by Janus R. Nielsen, a seasoned IT entrepreneur, AnyTech365 leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to offer unparalleled service quality and efficiency in tech support and cybersecurity, keeping your digital life secure and hassle-free.

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er, and other software to protect against security vulnerabilities. Think of updates as your device’s mandatory spa day - essential for keeping it fresh and protected in a world full of digital dust bunnies. Cybercriminals often exploit outdated software like a cat with a new scratching post, so keeping everything up to date is your best defence. While on public Wi-Fi, avoid accessing sensitive information like online banking or shopping sites. If you must, use your mobile data instead, treating it like your emergency stash of chocolate in a room full of hungry kids. Public networks are inherently less secure, so it’s best to save sensitive activities for more secure connections.

exterminator, eliminating any cyber pests that sneak in. Together, they keep your digital house in order and your data safe from unwelcome visitors.

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Stay safe while using public Wi-Fi: Follow these tips to protect your personal information. Vigilance and a few precautions can make a big difference in keeping your data secure. So, next time you connect to a public network, secure your connection and browse confidently.

A comprehensive security suite, combining all AnyTech365 premium products together with quick issue resolution certified technicians without onsite visits anytime, night, with AnyTech365’s around-the-clock support all offered in more than 15 native languages.

For extra security, keep your firewall on and antivirus updated. Firewalls are like internet gatekeepers, keeping out unwanted guests, while antivirus software acts as your digital

Regularly update your operating system, brows-

The company is currently in the process of becoming publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the transaction expected to complete in Q3 of 2024.

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The company and their solutions have been widely recognized and won multiple awards on local, national, and international level such as “The Fastest growing technology company in Spain and the 27th fastest growing company in Europe across all sectors” (Source: Financial Times FT1000), the Andalucía Excellence Award in New Technologies, and others. Making a meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the

TAKE CARE: Public Wi-Fi is not secure

LA CULTURA

STARS ON THE SHORE

Biblical sale

A 700-year-old Hebrew bible from medieval Spain sold for €6.16 million at a Sotheby's auction.

The Shem Tov Bible is a 768page illustrated text written on parchment in the early 14th century.

Display

The text was copied by Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Gaon, born in the late 13th century in Soria. He spent an unknown number of years painstakingly working on the bible, taking care to make every letter and illustration as perfect as possible.

The new owner has pledged to put it on public display.

THE 72nd edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival has been packed with excitement and drama.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett, Spaniards Javier Bardem and Pedro Almodovar received the sought-after Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award. The honour is a welcome birthday gift for Almodovar, who turned 75 at the festival before presenting his first English film, The Room Next Door. Javier Bardem dedicated the award to

his wife, Penelope Cruz and defended his love for Spain, saying: “It’s my country, my people, my culture.”

Following his contentious departure from the Hollywood mainstream, Johnny Depp appeared at the festival to present his second directorial effort, Modi - Three Days On the Wing of Madness.

Meanwhile, Gia Coppola, granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola, presented The Last Showgirl, a film about a retired dancer starring Pamela Anderson, who

was also in attendance.

Renowned German director Edward Berger, known for the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, showed his new film, Conclave, based on the Robert Harris novel.

Starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, the ‘juicy’ production has been met with praise from critics.

The feature film Tardes de soledad directed by Albert Serra, bagged the Golden Shell award for best movie.

Friendly armada

Floating museum the Andalucian Galleon

makes triumphant entry into London through Tower Bridge on final leg of world tour

THE sight of a Spanish galleon cruising up the River Thames used to be enough to give any Englishman the shivers.

But this Andalucian Galleon was not part of a new armada demanding Gibraltar back, but rather a floating museum that is on the final leg of a worldwide maritime tour.

Spectacular

It made a spectacular entrance under London’s iconic Tower Bridge, the bright red and yellow of the Spanish flag fluttering in contrast against the drab greys and blues of the British capital.

By Walter Finch

The meticulously crafted replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon has been sharing the maritime heritage of Andalucia with several European countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Built in 2009-2010 by the Nao Victoria Foundation, the Galeon Andalucia was designed by Ignacio Fernandez Vial and constructed at the Palmas shipyard in Punta Umbría, Huelva. The ship’s interior was furnished with pieces made in Valverde del Camino, Huelva, based on historical re-

cords from the Marques de la Victoria.

Since its launch in 2010, the Galleon has travelled more than 100,000 nautical miles, visiting ports in Asia, North America, and Europe, and welcoming over 150,000 visitors along the way. Now in harbour at St. Kather-

ine's Dock, the London public can step aboard and experience the life of a sailor on a historic Spanish vessel until October 6.

The visit provides an opportunity to learn about Spain's maritime history and the craftsmanship involved in recreating such a vessel.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

AN exhibition of art created by artificial intelligence at the University of Salamanca has provoked the outrage of artists and illustrators. Called

(Over a blue background), it showcases comic book art and cartoons that were not created by a human.

“Playing Guitar Hero doesn’t make you Paco de Lucia,” said one critic.

Another anti-AI activist pointed out that the developer companies ‘have already got 30 lawsuits around the globe thanks to the infringement of copyright they commit.’

However, Jon Hernandez, a leading AI advocate, hit back: “Tools are just tools. I understand their situation. “There are jobs threatened by new technologies, and it is normal that they try to protect them. “AI is not going to be declared illegal.

“There was no law to protect against the use that has been made of AI.”

Sobre Fondo Azul

OPEN WELCOME: The Galeon Andalucia approaches Tower Bridge

Emit away

A MADRID low emission zone designed to improve air quality has been annulled after a court stated that the poor were being disproportionately hit.

The High Court of the Justice of Madrid (TSJM) decreed that the low emission zone failed to comply with the requirement of the European Union’s Court of Justice to respect ‘the principles of proportionality’.

It argued that forcing people on low incomes to buy newer cars meant they faced shouldering an unfair share of the burden.

Currently, 21 districts of Madrid are subject to low emission regulations, which can impose traffic regulations and fines even on cars that do not produce excessive amounts simply because of their age.

Desert warning

PARTS of Spain will have a desert-like climate by 2050, a new study has warned.

Research from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC) into global warming and drought has placed Spain on the frontline of climate change in Europe.

By 2050, they predict that rainfall will decrease by up to 20%, causing drought across the country.

Between 1971 and 2022, average temperatures in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands have surged by over 3C.

17 YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Scan to find out more

GREEN FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

PRESERVE THE RESERVE

A PETITION to reopen the Ojen EcoReserva has reached 100,000 signatures.

The reserve is one of the biggest conserva tion areas in Malaga but was forced to close in 2022 after Jun ta environmental officers found al leged failures in the park.

Since 2016, visitors could spend a day in nature and even pet the animals, which included deer, mountain goats and wild boars.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

The ‘idyllic’ park was a far cry from the landscapes burnt from wildfires that volunteers first restored in

In 2016, local Antonio Calvo came up with the idea of establishing an eco reserve alongside the environmental group Pinsapo and the ecotourism company Andalucia Ecotour.

Then, just six years into their work, Calvo was issued a fine of €130,000

NOT CHEAP

Petition to reopen wildlife ‘eco-reserve’ hits milestone

Howling with rage

for ‘failures’ in the park and although this was later reduced to €65,200 on appeal, he was still forced to close.

“This is one of the most beautiful projects in all of Andalucia. We were lucky to be able to transform the hunting area into an ecological reserve,” he told the Olive Press.

“We created jobs by protecting nature and have been punished for it.”

Amongst the alleged offenses was storing a 1000-litre water tank on the property, which provided water for the

LONELY Planet has revealed its top 10 autumn holiday destinations, and two Spanish cities made the cut. Sevilla was crowned the best city break, praised for its ideal sightseeing spots like the Real Alcazar and the world’s largest Gothic cathedral. Flamenco lovers can also enjoy live performances at the Museo del Baile Flamenco or catch street performers while strolling along the Guadalquivir River.

animals in times of drought.

Despite the three orders he has received to leave the site, he refuses to go, saying the animals ‘cannot survive’ otherwise.

For two years, he has been doing everything he can to get the 350 kilos of food needed to feed the animals when drought conditions make supplies scarce.

The Junta has also announced it wants to sell the park, but cannot do so until a judge gives the green light. Either way, Calvo has no intention of leaving.

THE EU has declared that wolves should no longer be ‘strictly protected’ despite fierce opposition from Spain and Ireland EU’s Competitiveness Council has approved downgrading their status to simply ‘protected’.

This means wolves, whose population has nearly doubled across the EU in a decade (from 10,000 to over 20,000), could soon face more threats, including hunting.

Attack

Farmers have blamed wolves for killing livestock, while European Commission head Ursula van der Leyman, who backs the proposal, has lost her own pony to a wolf attack. But environmentalists are raging. Over 300 organisations, including WWF, have blasted the move, saying wolves still aren’t in the clear and need strict protection. They claim Europe is sending a ‘disastrous’ message ahead of a major biodiversity conference in Colombia. Wolves remain fully protected in Spain, despite the EU’s decision.

The European Commission will take the proposal to the Bern Convention in December, where the final fate of Europe’s wolves will be decided.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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Tenerife, ranked eighth, was dubbed ‘best for sunshine’. With year-round warmth, Lonely Planet exploring Puerto de la Cruz or es caping the crowds at Los Gigantes as well as taking in the stunning views of El Teide, Spain’s highest peak. Copenhagen, The Scottish High lands, Montenegro, Dodecanese in Greece, Umbria, Malta, Latvia and Burgundy were also highlighted.

TOP BREAKS Choose carefully

IT has been revealed that the cost of opening a new restaurant in Spain starts at around €40,000. But for more ambitious projects be prepared to pay €2 million or more, according to Hostelería de España's Secretary General Emilio Gallego.

He pointed out that while passion drives many aspiring restaurateurs, financial backing and navigating Spain’s complex permit system are significant hurdles.

Gallego said: “These processes are slow and cumbersome,” adding that the paperwork often takes years to be resolved, with different layers of government involved.

The restaurant sector is booming, contributing 6% of Spain's GDP, with 1,432 new independent restaurants opening between 2022 and 2023.

Save more than €1,200 a year by going to the right supermarket

SMART shoppers can save up to €1,272 per year if they choose their supermarket carefully, according to a new report from the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU).

In a country still grappling with inflation, shoppers buying at Alcampo can make this massive saving, while Madrid residents stand to reduce their weekly food bill the most.

Prices

The study also shows that some supermarkets have actually cut prices for the first time in two years.

Carrefour Express has reduced prices by 0.9%, followed by Lidl (-0.7%) and Aldi (-0.6%), but beware – some, such as El Corte Inglés (+9.7%) and Hipercor (+8.2%), have raised

By Walter Finch

theirs.

Overall, the average price increase across all chains between May 2023 and May this year stands at 2.9%.

Food price rises have been slowing down, although 63% of items increased in price during the 12 months surveyed, coming down from 90% the year before. Sunflower oil has seen the biggest drop at 23%, but olive oil (76%) and orange juice(47%) have increased massively.

Madrid residents stand to save the most, with potential savings of over €4,100 depending on where they shop.

The OCU found that Alcampo hypermarkets in cities such as Barcelona, Murcia, and Vigo

are the cheapest stores.

In contrast, Sanchez Romero stores in Madrid continue to top the list as the most expensive.

The study also revealed that regional disparities in prices are significant.

Galicia,

LIDL Spain is set to bring in a new health labelling system to all its products from 2026. The Nutri-Score system will use a colour-coded scale to show customers a product’s healthiness, Lidl has already implemented Nutri-Score on 50% of its private-label items and aims to cover all 1,700 products in the near future.

Drive

The supermarket chain is also working to reformulate over half of its products to reduce salt and sugar levels, aiming for up to a 20% reduction by 2025 in another health drive.

La Rioja, the Valencian Community, and Castilla y LeOn were found to be the cheapest regions for grocery shopping, while Madrid, the Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands were the most expensive.

COUNT PENNIES: They all add up

TOP: Sevilla’s Real Alcazar and (far left) El Teide

DISASTER: for Antonio Calvo and the animals he cares for despite the reserve being officially closed

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

THE MAGIC KINGDOM

Autumn is the perfect time of year to fall in love with the town that has a real life Cinderella castle

AS the scorching summer days draw to a close and before the chilly winter weather arrives (and it can get very chilly indeed in central Spain) now is the time to visit Segovia.

Around an hour from Madrid by train, car or bus, the historic city is an ideal day trip from the capital.

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Like many Spanish destinations, it has a charming old town, imposing cathedral, impressive views, world famous Roman aqueduct and tranquil walks in the surrounding countryside. And presiding over all its attractions

is its alcazar, believed to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle.

A replica for Cinderella’s fortress stands at Disneyland Paris, so Segovia could be considered Spain’s answer to a Disney

By Yzabelle Bostyn

theme park, but with fewer screaming children, less tacky decor and no extortionate prices.

Once you hop off the train or bus, it’s about a half an hour walk up to the old town.

I recommend heading straight to the castle as it lies at one of the furthest points from town, meaning you can take a leisurely stroll past the city’s other attractions to go back to the train station.

The walk to the castle gives you a flavour of Segovia, as you wander past centuries old buildings on one side and calming views of the town and green valleys on the other.

I visited in autumn and it’s truly one of the best times to go as the views are dotted with vibrant reds and oranges as the trees begin to change colour.

After a brief walk around the city walls you will arrive at the alcazar

The towering turrets and grand gates will call to mind any fairy tale, but the wonders have only just begun.

My favourite part was definitely exploring the castle’s terraces with stunning views

To the left of the grass in front of the castle is the ticket office, where you can buy entrance for just €10.

Tickets include the palace, museum and entrance to the tower.

Although I thought it couldn’t get any prettier than the castle’s exterior, I was wrong.

The inner courtyards and exhibition rooms are stunning, with arabic inspired carved and gilded roofs, plenty of art and arched windows peeking out onto the countryside.

My favourite part was definitely exploring the castle’s terraces.

Not only were the views over Segovia stunning but the terraces themselves are full of little wonders, including bridges and wells worthy of a fairytale.

After the terraces you pass through a museum while waiting for your chance to go up the tower.

If the castle hadn’t already given you the itch to sing ‘someday my prince will come’ a la Snow White, perching your chin on your hand while admiring the valleys of Segovia will certainly do the trick.

Perched on top of a hill, the vistas of the town are also enchanting and made me excited to spend the rest of my day exploring. After coming down from the tower, I left the castle and snapped some pictures on the lawn outside.

Desperate for a coffee I nipped into the cafe on the left hand side, where I discovered a hidden garden with excellent photo opportunities and views of both the castle and city.

Then, I wandered into the Jewish quarter, with ramshackle tudor-esque buildings and cobbled streets leading to the main square.

QUAINT: Segovia is full of ancient buildings, with a delight around every corner

MARVELS: The cathedral and Roman Aqueduct (right) are sights to behold, with the latter still used for transporting water right up until 1970s

GREAT DAY OUT:

Yzabelle at the alcazar and (above right) taking in the views

One thing I loved about Segovia was how quiet it was.

I visited in November last year and found it tranquil compared to similar tourist destinations.

Once you reach the main square you will find the gothic cathedral, which is known for its striking appearance, stained glass and art laden chapels.

Around the square there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and ice cream shops that even tempted me in the November chill.

The Plaza Mayor is quite different from your typical Spanish square, as

it is dotted with trees, is an irregular shape and has a band stand in the centre.

After refuelling on coffee or ice cream, wander down one of the side streets heading towards the aqueduct.

Reaching a shocking 28m tall, it is one of the best preserved Roman aqueducts in the world.

You can climb the steps to get an expansive view or simply admire it from below.

I recommend walking along the length of the aqueduct to truly appre-

ciate how it transported water across the city until the 1970s.

As the sun set over the monument it was time to go home.

On the way back, we had some bad luck and all the bus tickets were sold out and we were forced to take the train. However, you must be careful when booking a train from Segovia as it is quite a confusing system and we were not the only pair at the station convinced we had picked the wrong stop. Therefore, I would advise booking your travel beforehand, ideally from the nearer and cheaper bus station.

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MAGICAL: There is more than a hint of Cinderellas’s castle about Segovia’s alcazar

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

THE shifting sands of the culinary landscape have always needed careful guidance.

And with a bustling ever-changing metropolis like Palma, you need to add a big pinch of local knowledge.

Having written a restaurant book, Dining Secrets of Andalucia, I know the necessity of doing the research and always keeping your ear to the ground… and my mantra always is: ask the local restaurateurs and chefs themselves. And that is exactly what an enterprising pair of expats (one Dutch, the other German) have done in Mallorca.

After years of event planning and organising festivals around the world, they’ve combined their knowledge by immersing themselves in the food industry on the island.

Now, after three years of research they’ve launched a series of food tours around the city and even around the island.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

A TASTE OF THE CITY

1302 by King Jaime II, and then pointed out one of the city’s oldest bakeries close by.

The Forn del Teatre had been making pastries and bread by hand for a century, until it was reborn in 2010 thanks to a local entrepreneur Tomeu Arbona.

Renamed as Fornet de la Soca it has kept the photos of the old owners on the wall as well as an array of old pans, trays and cake tins that have produced classic Mallorquin goodies for centuries.

As if by magic a white tin plate was thrust in front of us with some melt-inthe-mouth croquettes

A pleasant surprise when navigating is that there’s no need to download anything – the Food Tours Mallorca web app is easily accessible online from your phone, the only thing you need is internet

While it wasn’t listed as one of our four evening courses, the pastries looked so good, I couldn’t resist trying an empanada of red pepper and pork, which turned out to be a splendid way to kick off the tour… and for just €4.50 extra.

Our first restaurant (proper) was a classic Spanish vermuteria - all the rage nowcalled La Rosa. Hidden up a little alleyway, it was a surprising hive of activity, despite the time of 5.15pm... “We’ve got the tourists coming in for an early supper or the Spanish taking a late lunch,’ explained manager Carlos Fabiani, who is in the process of launching a second same-name joint nearby. To strains of jazz and, thankfully overhead fans, we mulled over the idea of bravas or oysters, before realising that our tour meant everything was already chosen for us and we just needed to sit back and order our

simplicity La Rosa specialises in ‘gourmet tin conserved food’, plus jamón ibérico, and, of course, the vermouth, which is made locally from the Manto Negro grape.

There are well over a dozen on offer here and La Rosa makes its very own vermouth with local herbs, six or more, including cardamom, rosemary and orange peel, collected by the boss Nacho Velasco from the nearby hills. As if by magic a white tin plate was thrust in front of us with some delicious melt-in-the-mouth croquettes, two types, plus some anchovies with an ensaladilla kyiv.

We could have stayed for the whole evening, but our tour awaited, so we followed the simple map on the app around the corner onto La Rambla, which we were told was once the course of the local river and where, in 1403, severe flooding caused the death of thousands of citizens. It led to the diversion of the river Torrent de Sa Riera a kilometre or so to the west and the creation of the wonderful shady avenue of La Rambla.

We needed to stroll about a third of the way along, past around three or four flower sellers, until we spotted what was literally a hole in a wall.

Cantina Panza is an annexe of a grand merchant’s house, laid out in a series of corridors and spaces with a small kitchen at one end.

This is one of the most joints in Palma and full of old photos on the wall. All about

Grand it isn’t, but it is certainly charming and the focus is very much on the quality of the food, produced by a pair of chefs, one, Fernando Arellano, who has won two Michelin

GRANDEUR: the amazing bulls cheek dish matched the glamour of Xalest, while (below) the fun began at La Rosa with its friendly staff and vermouth

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

stars.

The other, Javier Gardonio, an Argentinian, is on hand to explain their concept, which they describe as ‘cooking from memory’ with a nod to both Spanish cuisine and French know-how.

“We think of it as comfort food,” he explains with a big smile as he sets down the most delicious plate of scallops stuffed with chopped and braised octopus in a rich fish sauce with chives.

We found ourselves meeting one of the tour bosses, Michelle, a friendly Dutch woman, who explained how they had seen a gap in the market and were very busy.

She explained the tours set off at 1pm and 5pm in order to cater for everyone, whether at lunchtime or early evening. They also use various routes and different restaurants, working around their opening hours to bring them more business in their quieter hours. Massive foodies themselves, they realised they were always out trying new places and chatting to the local restaurateurs and cooks. They realised they could get people out for a tasting tour and chances are, they would go back for proper meals in the following days.

There was no doubt a real frisson of excitement as to how our tour would unravel. Where would it take us next?

Would the next joint be better or

worse? A modern, stylish place, or traditional and au thentic?

A brilliant way to impress a date, it was also the perfect tour for a family or couple wanting to get a flavour of the city, without having to take a gamble on one restaurant for the main night out.

So the next venue couldn’t have been more perfect.

A nondescript street and average looking stone building turned out to be an amazing 15th century palace, which only opened as a five star hotel three years ago.

Xalest (meaning in a good mood) is the restaurant of the Concepcio by Nobis hotel, which was once a palace and later a soap factory. Here we were served pigs cheeks (carillera) with corn puree, demi glas and fried tortillas...the spices really did the dish justice...

Restaurant manager Ali, from Casablanca, explained: “We try to offer KM-zero local food, Mediterranean food, some fusion.”

Its chef, Xema Álvarez has won Palma’s prestigious TaPalma competition and ran his own joint Catalina la Fina, before it was destroyed by Covid.

Finally we arrived at Arlequin... around 8.30pm, a seductive place, influenced by Alice in Wonderland.

This was to be our sweet course and the puddings are served in a red gift box and a giant donut... See pics (right) to understand.

My colleague Charlie grinned like a child with his chocolate number while my sweet donuts with caramel cream and

The unusual cocktail bar fect for the end of the tour, and we were soon moving onto the cocktail menu. The tour cost €130 for two people and sets off at various times of the day.

For more information Visit www.foodtoursmallorca.com

FUN: the donut pudding and chocolate surprise (below) at Arlequín left us in a good mood

CREATIVE: From the stuffed scallop dish served by Javier at Cantina Panza to the empanada at Fornet de la Soca (left) it was a fabulous tour

Jon Clarke takes an exciting gourmet tour around Palma, in Mallorca

Speed demons

POLICE are hunting for a duo who posted a video to social media of them speeding at over 300 kph on the A-7 around Malaga.

Snake attack

A 19-YEAR-OLD hiker had to be airlifted to hospital after being bitten by a viper in the Pyrenees. He was later released. Wasps and bees kill more people in Spain than snakes.

Women first

EXPERTS studying a 5,600-year-old necropolis near Granada have discovered a significant bias towards female burials, with twice as many female skeletons as male. This suggests funerary practices focused on maternal lines.

Shark attacked

MOUSEJACKED!

Rodent leaps out of airline meal, forcing emergency landing

A FLIGHT from Norway to Spain was forced to divert this week after a mouse ‘jumped out of a woman’s food’.

The drama unfolded on Scandinavian Airline SAS flight from Oslo to Malaga.

Shortly after take off, a woman is said to have ‘opened some food’, from which a mouse ‘jumped out’.

The experience was retold by passenger Jarle Børrestad, who was sitting next to the woman at the time of

By Laurence Dollimore

the incident.

He wrote on Facebook: “Believe it or not, a lady sitting next to me opened her food and a mouse jumped out.

“We have now turned around and landed at CPH (Copenhagen) to change flights.”

Oystein Schmidt, a spokesperson for SAS in Norway, said:

“According to our procedures, there was a change of aircraft

for an inspection.

“It’s something that happens very rarely.”

The passengers eventually arrived at Malaga after switching aircraft in Copenhagen.

A BRITISH couple’s cheeky attempt at joining the mile-high club has landed them in court.

Bradley Smith, 22, and girlfriend Antonia Sullivan, 20, (pictured) were caught performing a lewd act on an EasyJet flight from Tenerife to Bristol, shocking passengers just minutes after takeoff.

“We have established protocols for these situations, which also include a review with our suppliers to ensure that this does not happen again,” Schmidt added.

SLEAZYJET

A PET dog has been filmed chasing a shark off a Spanish beach. In a video shared online, the golden retriever can be seen jumping into the sea off Denia in Alicante.

A child can be heard screaming ‘no, perrito!’ (no, doggy!) as the animal swims at full speed towards a shark that is lurking just metres away. The pooch is seen swimming all the way up to the shark and even nibbling on the end of its tail as its panicked owners beg for it to turn around and come back. The dog eventually gave up and returned to the shore, seemingly having enjoyed himself immensely.

Tragically, the sharkwhich had caused quite a stir in the area after several sightings - was found dead the next day after being attacked by a swordfish.

Witnesses reported seeing ‘vigorous hand movements’ under a coat on Smith’s lap, with some even catching a glimpse of his manhood. The couple pleaded guilty to outraging public decency at Bristol Magistrates’ Court. The Welsh pair were slapped with 570 hours of community service and ordered to pay €120 compensation to each of the three horrified witnesses. Judge Lynne Matthews reprimanded them, saying, “You had no regard for the feelings of other passengers, including a child sitting behind you.”

SMILING NOW: But the mouse was a real shock to Jarle and the women in the row