Mallorca Olive Press - Issue 100 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

The

100 Edition

OLIVE PRESS

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A Sierra Nevada ll about

February 2021

Slide away

MALLORCA

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Vol. 14 Issue 363

off to You can finally slope heaven, Andalucia’s skiing writes Charlie Smith

Your expat

voice in Spain

is ILENCE. There not a single peep as I climb upwards to through the valley meet my maker. out of the I poke my head and the cable car window fresh alSierra Nevada’slungs. pine air hits my a sweeping Then I hear it – crisp white crunch down the piste, as a snowboarder whizzes past below. and through, Another tears weaving then a third, all at down the mountainside blistering speed. terriI’m definitely more Spanish fied than the three carriage guys sharing the with me. the We have left behind cosy bars and restaurants the main in Pradollano, only ski town of Andalucia’s resort. Borreguiles, at We step out 2,700 mewhich sits some tres above sea level. for This is the basecampruns, many of the Sierra’s from the which range ‘muy facil’ green-coloured black, lapistes to those in belled ‘muy dificil’. Continues overleaf

See page 11

Vol. 4 Issue 100 www.theolivepress.es February 26th - March 11th 2021

E E UR IV CT S PI CLU EX

Model patient A POPULAR expat centenarian has had her first COVID jab in her 101st year. Peggy Bloomfield, based on the Costa Blanca, got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Teulada Medical Centre this week. And she’s now raring to go, according to her neighbour Shirley Young. “She is amazing! Thrilled to bits to get the jab and feeling great!” she told the Olive Press. “Lockdown permitting I’m hoping to get the Mayor to visit for her next birthday.” Her second jab is in two weeks’ time and Peggy will be celebrating her 101st birthday in April. Our photograph (far right) shows nurse Juanjo administering the first dose of the vaccine to Peggy, while right she was all smiles as she received a visit with balloons, champagne and cake from Olive Press reporters when she hit the big 100 last year.

Is she the oldest expat in Spain to get the COVID jab? If you know anyone older, contact us at newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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LONG TIME IN COMING: But residents of Mallorca can hopefully soon hit the slopes

CELEBRATIONS ALL ROUND: Peggy receives her COVID jab (inset right) following her recent 100th birthday

Sky high hopes Island could soon be back in business as UK travel ban to be lifted in May

MALLORCA could be gearing up for an avalanche of tourists to its shores in May. Airlines and travel agents have seen the number of Brits booking holidays abroad soar this week after the UK announced its roadmap out of lockdown. UK tourists should finally be able to leave the country for holidays from May 17, the government announced on Monday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the move as part of his four-step plan for gradually lifting restrictions in England, with all social contact rules finally lifted by June 21. Airlines, including easyJet, said bookings for the summer season were more than four times higher compared with the same period last week.

Confidence

Palma was one of the most popular destinations, according to the budget holiday giant easyJet, with August its busiest month. The announcement was described by chief executive, Johan Lundgren, as a ‘much-needed boost in confidence’. “We have consistently seen a pent-up demand for travel and this surge in bookings shows that this signal has been what UK consumers have been waiting for,” he said. Holiday bookings were up by 630% and flights by 337%. “While the summer may be a little while off, we will be working around the clock to ensure we will be ready to ramp up our flights

By Kirsty McKenzie

to reconnect friends and family or take them on a long-awaited holiday to remember,” he added. Travel firm Thomas Cook said traffic to its website doubled in the day after the Prime Minister’s statement, while Ryanair confirmed there had been a ‘large surge’ in bookings. However, Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged caution, warning that the effectiveness of vaccines will dictate whether international travel can go ahead. He said: “We have to protect against these new variants, and that is a big challenge.” Hancock added that ‘we can be much more relaxed about international travel’ if vaccines work well against the South Africa and Brazil strains. “If the vaccine doesn’t work against them, then that will be much, much more difficult,” he said. It comes as the government confirmed it was looking at the idea of vaccine passports to allow travel

Tel: 952 147 834

See page 16

abroad. At the moment Brits are only permitted to travel for essential work purposes. No one is allowed to enter Spain from South Africa, Brazil or the UK via air or sea until 6pm on March 2 under the current restrictions. The ban was first introduced in December when scientists first detected a more-transmissible variant of the virus in the UK. Tight restrictions were originally supposed to end on January 19 but the ban has now been extended multiple times, with restrictions currently in place until March 2. Opinion Page 6

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF No smoking IT has been revealed that smoking on the street was the biggest violation of the COVID-19 restrictions in Mallorca this year with 200 people receiving a €100 fine. Failure to wear a face mask was second, with 155 people caught.

Bad bet AN UNLUCKY gambler has been arrested after destroying a slot machine inside a betting shop in Palma. After failing to win, the man picked up a stool and repeatedly smashed the screen.

Burning issue A MAN has been arrested after setting fire to two rubbish dumps on the famous Avenida de Joan Miro in Palma. Residents jumped into action and pushed away parked motorbikes at risk of catching fire.

Teen rapes A TEENAGER has been arrested in Mallorca for allegedly raping two underage girls. The teen, aged 17, is accused of sexually assaulting the girls, aged 15 and 16, in an abandoned house in Palma. Investigators say ther boy had asked the girls, both friends of his, to accompany him to the property in the Pillari district. Once inside, he allegedly raped one of the girls and forced the other to perform a sexual act on him. The boy has denied all of the accusations and the case has been handed over to the Department for Family and Women (UFAM).

Gang behind dozens of raids on luxury homes caught POLICE have busted a gang responsible for multiple robberies at luxury villas across Mallorca. Seven people, all originally from South America, were arrested in the operation. Investigators say the gang had connections with several construction companies on the island who renovated high-end homes. Through these contacts, they were able to obtain a copy of the keys to enter the villas and were told where safes were hidden. They were also told when

February 26th - March 11th 2021

Cuban flasher nabbed

A MAN has been arrested in Mallorca after exposing himself to two children in broad daylight. The 41-year-old Cuban was held on charges of ‘exhibitionism’ after showing his genitals to a woman and her two daughters, aged seven and 11 years old, on Sunday afternoon in Palma. The mother had been walking down Calle Caputxins, near to the famous Mercat de l’Olivar, when the man pulled down his trousers. He then attempted to hold the hand of the youngest child. Police say that the mother grabbed her two children and walked away but the man followed them down the street, pulled his trousers down again and then started to masturbate in front of them. The mother once again made a run for it and once in a safe place she called the police to report the man’s indecent behaviour with officers arriving at the scene minutes later. Police quickly located the man who investigators say has an extensive criminal background for crimes including robbery with force and robbery with violence.

Safe busters busted! the homeowners or tenants were usually out of the home. With this information, the gang planned and executed their robbery, always targeting the safes. In the dozens of robberies carried out, hundreds of thousands of euros in cash was taken as well as expensive jewellery and designer watches. The loot was shared

among the gang, sold or sent to family members in South America. In one of the robberies, a housekeeper was gagged and brutally beaten after surprising the thieves. The victim was able to remove the gag from her mouth and scream for help with neighbours coming to her rescue. All of the detainees have been charged with belonging to a criminal gang, robbery with force, robbery with violence and fraud. It comes weeks after a man was assaulted by two

Killed his own uncle A MAN has been arrested in Mallorca for the murder of his uncle. The 59-year-old Spaniard called police in the early hours of this morning to confess that he had killed his 79-year-old uncle by suffocating him with a pillow. When officers arrived at the family home in Inca, the man was waiting outside his front door. Investigators say he then led police to a bedroom and the victim was found unresponsive on the bed.

Grisly find THE remains of a man have been found in an apartment in Cala Major. The grisly discovery was made by Policia Nacional after a concerned neighbour rang the doorbell over several days with no answer. When officers entered the flat, they found the man’s decomposed corpse on the sofa surrounded by beer bottles and cigarette packets. The coroner believes the man has been dead for around five years with all indications pointing to him dying of natural causes. His identity has not yet been revealed with investigators now attempting to trace his next of kin.

RECOVERED: Some loot

burglars inside his home in Santa Eugenia. Guardia Civil say the two men, aged 26 and 35, have a violent criminal history with one carrying out a similar assault on another homeowner in the same area weeks prior.

Granny bashers TWO men have been collared accused of a string of violent robberies of elderly women. Police say the pair, aged 22 and 23, are responsible for at least nine robberies. The thefts were particularly violent with all of the victims, aged between 74 and 85, being followed home by the two men. They were then pounced upon as they opened the doors to their homes and brutally beaten before their possessions were stolen. In all of the robberies, jewellery was stolen. In one case, one of the men attempted to strangle an elderly woman with her own scarf. Investigators say the men’s victims were left ‘extremely traumatised’ as a result of the robbery and also from having lost cherished possessions. After reviewing CCTV footage, suspects were identified by police. Both have been charged with robbery with force and intimidation with violence.

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February 26th - March 11th 2021

You’re Beautiful

Pause on play

A PRICY €700 a gig in Spain and €575 in Italy is a massive disincentive for British bands to tour in southern Europe this year. But this is the fee that needs to be paid for every concert a British band plays since Brexit came in last month. Now a groundswell of support is rising in the UK to secure visa-free travel for artists in Europe. A campaign to get the government to negotiate with the EU to scrap such charges is gathering speed. Some of Britain’s most popular actors, including Sir Ian McKellen and Julie Walters (above) have thrown their weight behind a petition backed by the actors’ union Equity urging the UK

government to act fast. Musicians ncluding Bono, Ed Sheehan and Radiohead, have already spoken out on the issue. The campaign is calling on the government to negotiate a free cultural work permit to help all artists, including actors and musicians. It comes after a botched Brexit deal means stars now need to get an individual visa for each country where they perform, plus pay the additional fees per gig. Such costs will make most tours extortionately expensive and no longer profitable in many countries. Some countries, such as France, may be exceptions as they charge nothing per concert.

Cruz control

RECENTLY reunited with the prized possessions stolen from his Ibiza villa, James Blunt has another reason to celebrate. Turning 47 this week, the singer shared a picture of himself enjoying a much needed cocktail with a floral garland hanging from his neck. Captioning the photo ‘Happy birthday to me’, the You’re Beautiful crooner recently revealed that police had arrested two Romanian brothers in connection to the robbery at his home.

Riots and violence as rapper Pablo Hazel (below) jailed

BEING a mother is more important to Penelope Cruz than her acting career. The Hollywood star has insisted that bringing up her children is the ‘most important mission of my life’. The 46-year-old Latin star, who is married to fellow Spanish actor Javier Bardem, insisted she is no longer a ‘workaholic’ and has now learnt the values of ‘patience, rest and silence’. It comes as she put her children, Leo, 10 and Luna, seven, before her career.

Workaholic

Queen of hearts QUEEN Letizia took a close interest in an anti-slavery poster on a visit to Spain’s National Library on Valentines Day. During her solo engagement to the exhibition on humanist passions between 1820 and 1839, she wore a suitably show-stopping romantic red dress. Her daughter, Leonor meanwhile is set to study in the UK for her International Baccalaureate. The heir to the Spanish throne will join classes at UWC Atlantic College, in Wales, from September, COVID restrictions allowing.

Streets of flame NOT since NWA has a rap act caused so much controversy. Or in this case, the decision to jail one. Almost a week of riots have broken out after Spanish rapper Pablo Hasel was arrested at Lleida University where he had taken refuge. Hundreds of people were arrested in Madrid and Barcelona, while protests were also seen in Valencia, Malaga and Sevilla. The worst rioting for years came after the Catalan wordsmith was sentenced to more than two years in prison, after an initial sentence of nine months was extended due to a refusal to pay several fines. This is the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1977 that an artist has gone to prison for his lyrics and, in this case, Twitter messages. The Spanish Supreme Court, in Madrid, ruled that the messages constituted offences against the Spanish

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monarchy and various state institutions. Since he was seized by police last week, the country has been thrown into political turmoil. Trouble flared initially in several cities including Barcelona and Madrid before spreading nationwide. On Saturday 6,000 people marched in the Catalan capital in favour of freedom of speech.

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The Loving Pablo actress made the admission to Marie Claire magazine explaining how she and husband Javier were coping during the pandemic. In particular she never looks at anything written about her online and she puts her family first. “Becoming a mother made me aware that this was the most important mission of my life and that I wanted to accomplish it as best I could,” she said. “In my 20s, I was a total workaholic, I would even wake myself up in the middle of the night to respond to emails and things like that, and then I had to learn patience, rest, silence. “The things that I appreciate a lot now.”

Corruption

Dozens have been hurt in the rioting - including a 19-year-old woman who lost an eye from a foam bullet. Human rights’ organisation Amnesty International slammed Spain describing Hasel’s arrest as ‘ ‘terrible news’ after he was ‘exercising his right to free speech’. Spain meanwhile, has dropped two places in the global corruption rankings by Transparency International, being overtaken by Qatar and the Bahamas.

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Guapa bella! SHE’S one of the world’s most in demand models, walking runways for some of the world’s biggest brands. And Bella Hadid looked every inch the star as she flaunted her lithe limbs on the cover of Vogue Spain for its March issue. The 24-year-old, from California, took to Instagram to share a sneak peek from her shoot with photographer Micaiah Carter for the fashion bible.

NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF Road death A MAN, aged 52, has died after being involved in a head-on collision with a truck on the MA-1 highway in Andratx. The truck driver was unharmed and tested negative for alcohol or drugs

Stress test THE Balearic Health Research Institute has developed an App to support healthcare workers whose mental health has been shattered as a result of the pandemic. The tool can be used to manage and detect stress and depression.

Just fuming A TOBACCO shop worker in Palma was taken into custody after beating up a customer who left without paying for their packet of cigarettes. Passerbys came to the man’s aid after seeing the employee trip him up and then stomp on his head.

APPROXIMATELY 80,000 people per week will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Balearic Islands. The Balearic Department of Health revealed that preparations had begun for the mass vaccination programme which aims for 70% of the population to be protected against COVID-19 by June. Director of Public Health, Maria

Mass vac

Antonia Font, said for their plan to work, ‘more doses of the vaccine were needed’ but that they ‘were on their way’. Font explained that 63,000 AstraZeneca doses would arrive by the end of the month and that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also

expected in the coming weeks. She also said that ten spaces would be transformed into dedicated vaccination centres across the Balearic Islands. In Mallorca this will include the Germans Escales Sports Centre and the Son Dureta University Hospital in Palma, the Mateu Canyelles Sports Centre in Inca and the Hipodrom in Manacor.

Full beer ahead Just days to go before bars and restaurants can reopen IT has been a long wait, but in just a few days people will be able to go out for lunch. The Government of the Balearic Islands has announced that bars and restaurants will be able to reopen from Tuesday (March 2). But in this much awaited de-escalation plan, the government said that hostelries in Mallorca will only be allowed to make use of their outdoor terraces, with dining inside still banned. They will also only be able to open until 5pm with just

By Isha Sesay

four people allowed to sit on each table. Use of indoor spaces will be strictly prohibited for at least two more weeks - and will only then be allowed if there is not another surge in coronavirus cases. Even then it will also be on condition that CO2 metres are installed inside. In response to the announcement, the Confederation of Business Associations (CAEB), a union that has heavily criticised

the government in recent weeks, said the news was ‘unsatisfactory’. “Our aspirations will not be fulfilled from March 2

Outgoing Olive Press digital editor Laurence Dollimore puts the UK’s quarantine hotel scheme to the test after a short trip across the Portugal border in his final week with us

T was after a weekend’s work in Portugal for the Olive Press on the Madeleine McCann story that left me in limbo and facing a potential 10-year prison sentence on a trip back to the UK. I didn’t have any idea that our Iberian neighbour would be red-listed when I booked my flight back to London a few months ago. But there I was sitting nervously on a packed flight from Sevilla to Madrid to catch my connection to Heathrow (I’m heading back to a new life in the UK, after five years with the Olive Press in Spain, in case you didn’t know). I am slightly consoled by a complimentary alcoholic wipe and the Spanish commitment to wearing masks (which is not to be taken for grant-

QUARANTINE: Red signs show the way

Poor form THE president of the Balearic Islands has been voted as the second worst regional leader in Spain for the management of the coronavirus pandemic. Francina Armengol scored a measly 4.61 in the poll by the Invymark Research and Marketing Institute which pitted the country’s 17 regional leaders against one another. The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz, came bottom with an equally appalling score of 4.26.

Crisis

Meanwhile, the president of Cantabria, Miguel Angel Revilla, placed top in the league with a score of 6.36. Armengol received much criticism for her handling of the health crisis, and last year, was even caught in a bar that should have been closed under her own very rules.

More black money bribes

Inglorious return

February 26th - March 11th 2021

Photo by: Allan Binderup

ed, as I discover later in the UK). Thankfully in row four and by the window, I’m able to keep to myself for the short 60-or-so minutes to the capital. Here things are much more controlled. Every flyer has their PCR test and passenger locator forms checked before being permitted to queue for boarding, which is done by rows, in sets of five. One unlucky fellow is denied boarding after showing up without a test result. checked I am escorted to baggage reI end up with a whole row to myself, as claim by a friendly airport worker who do all the passengers, unless they are unfortunately wore her mask under travelling together - which explains her nose the entire time she was with the larger-than-usual Airbus A350- me - a sanctionable offence on the 900. streets of Spain! Upon landing at Heathrow all pas- I hope it’s a one off until after I collect sengers leave the aircraft and travel my bag I am gathered in a cordoned to passport control together. And it off area with the other red list passenis impossible to miss the numerous gers from my flight. airport stewards carrying bright red It is then that another worker asks clipboards emblazoned each of us which hotel with the words ‘RED we are booked with, LIST COUNTRIES’. pulling his mask down The question They will ask which every time he speaks, country you have been ironically. is: what will in and tell you that you An hour after landing I want for must have a quaranwe are taken to our tine hotel booked and coach and transportbreakfast in a negative PCR test beed to the Blu Radisson fore pointing you down 10 days time? Edwardian Heathrow a specially designated hotel, where we gather alley to the farthest in a foyer and sit on sopassport desk. cially distanced chairs I could have easily have lied about not to fill in another contact information being in Portugal a few days earlier form and - despite a whole day of on my locator form and they would travelling - are expected to select our have been none the wiser given that breakfasts, lunches and dinners for I had flown in from Spain - although the next 10 days. I’d say the threat of a 10-year jail term “How on earth will I know what I is enough to put most people off that want for breakfast in 10 days’ time?” route. shrieks one elderly British woman, After my forms and passport are who is quarantining with her husband.

considering that in Mallorca, many bars and restaurants do not have terraces.” See Bad business page 13

HOME FROM HOME: Laurence’s hotel room and (inset) room service meals

NEW evidence of black money deals by Spain’s beleaguered PP party have come to light. A total of at least €194,000 was paid in cash to secure licences for public works contracts in Madrid between 1998 and 2008. The bribes were made by the company Degremont in order to secure deals to work on the Isabel II Canal scheme, near Madrid. According to a police investigation now handed to a judge at Spain’s National Court the socalled ‘caja b’ money was paid in six installments. It was for projects, including the installation of a giant €500,000 turbocompressor at a sewage works.

Corruption

She is quickly calmed on being told she can change her mind later on. A businessman asks if he can have a laptop delivered to his room and we are told we can all have deliveries as long as COVID guidelines are followed, including food. We are escorted to our rooms one by one and told dinner will arrive at around 8pm. For me, it’s pasta arrabiata and a kale salad, washed down with a bottle of coke. The food is good, but anything tastes great after a stressful day of travelling. Unfortunately, no alcohol is included in the £1,750 package - but you can order it at an extra cost, with beer bottles going for £5 and the cheapest glass or bottle of wine £7 and £26 respectively. There are certainly worse places to spend 10 days, with a comfortable double bed, big screen TV and bath promising to make quarantine life more bearable. There’s even an armchair and footstool for reading. I would say the huge window running the width of the room is a plus but I wouldn’t call a McDonald’s car park much of a view - even les so when it’s crawling with paparazzi from the main national newspapers.

In further proof that this was linked to a national industrial-scale style of corruption by the PP, its party treasurer at the time Luis Barcenas was allegedly involved. Taped phone calls by the ex-treasurer to Degremont boss Rafael Palencia have been included in the high court denuncia. It comes as the former treasurer goes on trial in a number of cases linked to corruption in Madrid under the leadership of the PP between 2000 and 2004, and later under former PM Mariano Rajoy, who has been called as a witness. Other big names ordered to appear are ex PM Jose Maria Aznar, as well as former Andalucia boss Javier Arenas and ex ministers Rodrigo Rato and Maria Dolores de Cospedal. Under the so-called ‘Barcenas Papers’ case, a total of 23 large public contracts awarded during the leadership of former PP Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar are being looked at. The contracts, collectively worth over 600 million euros, were awarded to Spanish companies allegedly with friendly links to the PP government of the time. The projects handed out - allegedly after cash bribes - are linked to organisations including Adif, Renfe and even the Agencia Tributaria, or the national tax agency.

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

OPINION Taking flight

True cost BREXIT has come with a hefty price tag, one we will all be paying off for years. From the musicians and actors being asked to pay over €600 for a single performance in Spain to the families who can no longer send a simple birthday gift to their loved ones abroad, the burden of leaving the EU is weighing heavy on our shoulders - and our wallets. When it comes to the true cost of Brexit, it seems that once again the British government has picked on the wrong people to pay the cost. Publisher / Editor

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Kirsty McKenzie kirsty@theolivepress.es

Issue 1, April 27 2017

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Pride

a After operating for decade in Andalucia and Gibraltar, our team of professional journalists pride themselves on understanding the needs of our discerning readership. We also promise to ensure that our editorial takes up, at least, half of the paper and we will not jam it full of ada verts, particularly of sexual nature. Finally, we would like to thank everyone for making us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived. We now clearly underis stand why Mallorca leading the way in Spain for property and tourism and why so many celebrities and dignitaries visit the island and home. their it make The incredible scenery, great local food, cosmopolitan feel, accompanied by the warmth it of the locals makes truly unique. It’s safe to say, we will be sticking around!

By Laurence Dollimore

ownfor the future AROUND 100 island bar expectand bar owners fear ers and entertainers are today US’: Singer Steffi (right) un‘THEY’RE KILLING oped nodules, making them ed to stage a silent protest new town able to perform. after being forced to install and marched down to Calviamayor, “It’s affecting our work could €3,000 sound limiters. Council hall to petition the Guarhealth,” she added, “It It comes after Calvia rules, where they were met by crew. prevent us singing.” imposed draconian newa bid to dia Civil, police and a TV3.30pm works a meeting of 100 busiin effect from May 1, in I have never had a Duringowners and performers, plan to return at and They fine pollution’. the of ness ‘reduce noise the today (Thursday), when new busicomplaint,” said owner59. attended by the Olive Press, But British and Spanish laws councillors discuss the can Stepps, Dave Woodward, Steffi group blasted the council for ness owners say the new limiters, in the hope they hotspot Meanwhile, British singerlimits ‘giving in’ to tourists who come are ‘killing’ the party music a quiet change their minds. Lorena, 25, claims the of to the party areas for venues and are ‘prejudicing’ live If unsuccessful, all ordered are affecting the livelihoods to holiday. The OP’s roundup of Spain’s and karaoke venues. around Calvia will be through most corrupt politicians performers. “It’s impossiblethe “The council are protecting the The new limit is - incredibly to install the limiters exclaimed, sing within the new limits,” Page 6 Retro wrong people,” one two Brits the level of an air conditioning the same engineering company than a owner of Santa Ponsa’s “They are protecting holiday unit at 100 feet and less Press. 1. Olive the May by bar told auand I who come for a quiet vacuum cleaner. the noise, Once installed, the device of busi“We opened in February music €3,000 and complain about “This could put us out tomatically turns down was forced to fork out we have it’s a disgrace!” deness, it’s unreal,” Fennigan’s 55, island for if it goes over 62 decibels, on a new limiter and if clap- One bar owner, on the bar owner Mick Cormican, scribed as ‘restaurant conversaa loud crowd or they start and 15 years, claimed the council is by told the Olive Press. hotels than tion or background music’ ping the music goes down m. being manipulated byto drive heard. “A car going by is louderprejuindustrialnoisecontrol.co will you have to strain to be it is and clubs who want bars. the limit, it’s particularly Those going over the limit alkaraoke “It’s got to a point where business away from the dicial to live music and perface hefty fines, with some actually damaging performers, “The new rules are twisting the fined bars as they simply cannot being instead of legedly already limit.” it’s not worth it.” Spain’s devel- spirit of EU rules, and punishing form within the sound Editor Jon Clarke reviews €6,000. ownSome local singers have they are us, that helping limiter A collective of 20 business a alleged best restaurant “I already have us,” he said. ers and entertainers yesterday Page 28 noise “We will be forced to keepinduslevels lower than in the impostrial areas… the rules are we fear DE MALLORCA sible to comply with and anyone police are likely to fine who fights back!” tickets He alleged that clubs sell correct the MORE without from stands licenses but that the authorities revenue with other way. German clients! look the the sale “The council knows that the Put your ads in stands from the clubs break liEL AVISO rules as they use secondary comcenses known as ‘Licencia newspaper! primary plementaria’ when the is operating the business ndfurniturespain.com license sales@oakla | 221 979 Tel: 951 closed,” he added. CONTACT US 971 619 234 Opinion Page 6 661 901 290 Info@el-aviso.es 4, Palma

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PALMA Aquarium has FREE Vol. 1 Issue 8 the plastic pollution blasted Mallorca’s marine life. harming In a damning interview servation boss insists theits conlem is ‘getting worse’ and probis an ‘urgent need’ to tacklethere face seeing hundreds more it or tles, sharks and dolphins turIt comes after the Olive die. Press revealed that the authorities are being probed over the alleged illegal use of plastics the expansion of the Muelle in de Ponent port in Palma. “The rubbish we find in the sea is just horrendous,” Aquarium director Debora Morrison the Olive Press. “It is very told rare we do not find a turtle not affected by plastic. that is “Seven years ago one of jor problems was fishingthe mahooks. Now most of our animals - I would say 90% - are entangled in plastic or ropes. “We had one this week EXCLUSIVE quarter of her shell with a By Joe Duggan She was wrapped up inmissing. sive ball of plastic and a masropes. We operated on her yesterday.” A MALLORCA-BASED She added: “It is definitely has thanked the Olive dad getting worse.” after he was reunited Press with Morrison’s team has been his seven-year-old daughter subcontracted by the after she was ‘abducted’ and government to rescueMallorca taken to a Norwegian and rechurch habilitate turtles, sharks by his ex-partner. and dolphins since 2014. British expat Dominic And as the summer herd, 40, said he was Shep‘elated’ bring tourist crowds months after winning back island, the problem to the months after Tonje Maia, six of rubBjornsen, 37, fled to the church seeking Continues on Page 5 ‘asylum’ with their child. As we reported exclusively two months ago, Bjornsen ‘abducted’ Maia and her 10-year-old brothers, and Christian, last Tobias year after claiming she was to Norway to visit hergoing sick mother.

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Dad’s joy on being reunited with daughter, 7, after church ‘abduction’

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As the show on everyone’ lips drew to a close, our s romeo reporter Joe got an exclusive look at the Love Island mansion SEE PAGE 6

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OUCH! Which original British expat was tortured by Spain for his loose lips?

Wasn’t me

in THE alleged lynchpin Spain’s biggest ever political SIX fraud claims he made previous confessions up. Former Junta de Andalucia employment boss Francisco not Guerrero insists he didERE personally gain from thea bilscandal, that saw up toover a lion euros embezzled decade. details He claims he only gave fund’ of the so-called ‘reptile that he allegedly oversaw, after police put considerable pressure on him. years Guerrero is facing eight €65 in prison for embezzling the million of money frompub€647 million emergency belic fund that he managed tween 1999 and 2008. aside The money had been setAndato support struggling lucian businesses. Instead, awarded allegedly Guerrero regfake grants to companiesmore istered in the names ofmemthan 100 of his family PSOE bers, friends and fellow Juan politicians. His driver, nickFrancisco Trujillo named the ‘cocaine chauffeur’ shell - claims he set up boguspublic companies to receive money to spend on ‘cocaine, parties and drinks’. CHASING CORRUPTION

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STANDING UP FOR SANTA CATALINA

Dozens of jobs and a big loss of trade in Santa Catalina if ‘nightmare’ new pavement law comes in EXCLUSIVE By Gillian Keller

a THE Olive Press is backing livelicampaign to protect the busihoods of dozens of expat nesses in Santa Catalina. visitors It comes after a draconian an esstaple for Mallorca proposed law could see in the AT RISK: Terraces are a timated 42% of terraces they are proposing is nightmare,” but what It’s so scary.” Palma district shut. a dra- “It’s a complete extreme. Many businesses fear loss of said Bin Shah, owner of Bindi’s She continued: “We work with Catalina. “I matic impact - and a Germany, Sweplan restaurant in Santa terrace tourists from dozens of jobs - if the completely rely on my know den and England and they all I don’t don’t comes into effect. more in summer and want to sit outside as they The new law to create would how I would survive without it. get that chance at home. This is space for pedestrians having “I would certainly have to very scary.” of staff,” lead to 37% of terraces rules, paveand get rid of a member from Under the new to be a minito shut in Pere Garau area added the 50-year-old, ments will have free of around 40% in Es Jonquet. 1,650 Loughborough. mum of 2.5 metres Of the capital’s existingis esti- “I don't understand why they any obstructions, leaving little peorestaurant terraces, it doing it. I understand 500 would be are need to get down the road, space for tables. mated around ple 15:36 16/06/2017 affected.

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June 9th

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MALLORCA CLASSIFIEDS

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BRAVE: Ignacio Echverria and (top) Sergio Farina

2017

TRUE HEROES

A PAIR of Spanish roes came heLondonersto the aid of attacked by three crazed rorists terat the end. weekIgnacio Echeverria and Sergio stepped Farina lives of in to save the standers innocent bycaught the carnage up in seven and that killed It has nowinjured 48. been confirmed that Ignacio Echeverria, drid, who from Madefended woman from one a the terrorists, of the attack. died in Echeverria, said to 39, is his way have been on home from skate park a urday nighton the Satwhen attempted to defendhe woman a board with his skateMarket. in Borough He was last seen on the pavement. lying

PAGE 26

Hugh

Page 6

Onslaught

In a second incident, heroic a put his Spanish waiter during life on the line EXCLUSIVE CCTV the onslaught. PLEA: Dominic By Joe Duggan Sergio footage shows Shepherd AN expat with kids Galicia, Farina, from has made appeal an urgent against throw himself the door year-old to have his sevenbar to prevent of his daughter from a Norwegian returned the knife-brandishing one of Choking ter his ex-partner church terrorists worship afish expat,back tears, the their child. from enterran off with ing. continued: BritDespite in February. just concentrating Heartbroken “I am Don’t miss He managed custody Shepherd winning holding’ ing my head our C’an Dominic on keepherd, 40, of their three special the man to keep Pastilla Shepborn children, joining her daughter those kids together because Britishnightmare is involved from enterfrom ing, before Bjornsen allowing Mallorca.her twin brothers want Maia need a dad. We battle with in a Tonje Bjornsen, his daughter is not “I’m opening the door in leave Spjelkavik Page 13 a normal back so we can just Maia sought ‘refuge’ 37, after ex numb, to help live other but Ålesund. anHis ordeallife.” Church to make me in the placeshe strong,” the boys in an safety. person find began last She now when Bjørnsen of IT expert, Shepherd, August, faces criminal “You do es in Spain Ponsa, told based in Santa with the not even children, left Spain for ‘illegallycharg- “I’ve about it,” the think for a holiday, ostensibly had nothing Olive Press. withcould have he said, “I after living from friends the island but support simply left, as everyone and family.” However for three years. on did, but I would received two weeks later people have left 28 he ner to saya call from his behind.” partshe was He added back. not coming could see that ‘all he Mystified, was a with dynamite’ guy was forced the distraught DE MALLORCA dad tried to as he Convention to use the Hague windows’lower the bar tody of their to win legal shutters. cusHe added: But despite children. “We did not know Tel: 951 three court dicts in 979 221 MORE terrorists how many | sales@oaklandfurniturespain.com forced tohis favour, he verthere were revenue with was and whether to get his travel to Norway German clients! would return.” they Bjornsen children back after Dozens refused Put your them. of pedestrians to return ads in were mowed After picking EL AVISO by a van down up the two Tobias on London Bridge newspaper! school, and Christian boys before he was from ers stabbed attacklearn Bjørnsen See our stunned a police officer adverts to their daughter had fled inside and CONTACT lers around revelAve de Gabriel - whose with day is this US birthBorough Market week - to Roca 4, Palma 971 619 234 local church. live in a knives. with 12-inch 661 901 290 “I was utterly More than Info@el-aviso.es said Shepherd,lost for words,“ in a critical 20 remain who has condition. spo

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“But I told her it seems to have worked and it angle we wanted to gowas the in on these are British citizens they have been abductedand illegally’.” He continued: “Basically ple stood up and listenedpeoand I’m sure I got more cooperation from the government in Norway because of the press articles.” Maia wasn’t allowed the church to go to to leave school, could only access a swing at the back of the church on and passed time to play learning to play the church organ. “She didn’t have any friends to play with,” said Shepherd. “She turned seven in asked her how her there. I birthday was and she shared it ‘with another girl’. “I said, ‘That’s nice, how old was she?’ She said, how ‘98’.” Shepherd is now hoping to get Maia into the same school as her brothers in September. “It was very emotional they all met up again. when Christian broke down crying and gave her a big hug. missed each other. They all “I feel elated. To have all three back together them all grow and and see develop together. “They shouldn’t have to go through all this. had But I couldn’t be prouder of all of them.”

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Victorious SON Sant Joan airport its busiest ever day this is set for Shepherd, an IT specialist, week. based in Santa Ponsa, A record 190,000 passengers back all three children won and 1,117 flights are due after or take off this Saturday,to land taking the case to the Hague plane landing or arrivingwith a Convention, and was victorievery ous in every minute. subsequent custody court battle. “From June to September we But after the doting have more flights than dad flew Madrid to Norway to collect and Barcelona,” said the chilairport dren in February, boss Antoni Planells. Bjornsen hid in the church in This summer, 18% more Alesund mans have flown to the Ger- with Maia before Shepherd with a 14% increase in island, won a final court battle in visitors and 5% more British July. Span- “It was very iards. emotional when I saw Maia again,” Shepherd told the Olive Press. were tears in both our “There “I hadn’t seen her for eyes. nearly a year. It’s almost impossible to describe that moment you haven’t seen your when child for such a long time.own “There are just so many FAMILY SELFIE: Maia emowith dad Dominic tions flowing but obviously and brothers Tobias and Christian ger she was.” just one of huge relief. She Shepherd’s plight was Untitled-1.pdf Bjornsen now faces two had grown 1 16/06/2017 reporta lot as well. It was 15:36 “I am so happy with crim- ed exclusively inal charges in Spain quite a shock how much in the Olive your over the Press before help...although one bigabduction case. being covered in gian journalist gave Norwethe Mail On Sunday. me a bit of stick for how direct you

HE Olive Press Mallorca has hit a significant milestone, celebrating its 100th edition this week. Some four years ago, and over a decade after launching in Andalucia, we set our sights on the gem of the Balearics to deliver news that really mattered to our readers. Available on every corner of the island, we have made good on our promise to provide an irresistible blend of entertaining and interesting features, as well as campaigning on key issues. Indeed, it was April 27, 2017, when the first edition of the Mallorca paper landed in the heart of Palma, on the streets of Santa Ponsa and Andratx, and the rugged outposts of Deia, Pollensa and Alcudia. Timed to coincide with the busy week of the Palma Boat Show, we interviewed regular island visitor Jeffrey Archer, reviewed Spain’s top restaurant El Celler de Can Roca and offered our readers a chapter and verse explainer on the complex Gurtel corruption scandal. And ensuring that we kicked off with a bang, we had an exclusive on a massive discount stuck onto the price tag of musician Mike Oldfield’s island villa, as well as a new villa launched by business tycoon Richard Branson. Meanwhile we told our readers what Michael Bolton (below) and footballer Robbie Savage were up to on the island and interviewed local celebrity chef, expat Marc Fosh (right). And on a more serious note we took a look at the ever-looming issue of Brexit and splashed on a clampdown on ‘noisy’ British bars in Calvia. Reflecting back on our 100 editions, the local community remains a constant feature in our orbit, with numerous articles about expats’ hopes and fears. Be they British, Swedish or Dutch we have interviewed and presented their concerns in stories and sometimes campaigns. One of publisher Jon Clarke’s favourites was the campaign we launched to get urgent rare O-Negative blood for expat girl Serena Chappell, then 11, who had Leukemia. It came after the local hospitals had almost completely run out of the blood type for transfusions and doctors were growing increasingly nervous for the youngster from Valldemossa. “We really felt the urgency for her and chose to put the appeal on the front page,” recalls Jon. “I had no idea how well it would be taken up as we were only launching our sec-

IDYLLIC: Local coast

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AFTER covering an emotional story of a Mallorca-based dad’s nightmare of his daughter being ‘abducted’ by his Recordbreaking ex-partner, we gave flights our readers some very welcome good news a few weeks later. Thanking the Olive Three Lions EL AVISO Press for sharing his story, British expat Dominic Shepherd was reunited with his child, a couple of months after she was taken out of the country to Norway. Shepherd’s plight was reported exclusively by our newspaper before being picked up by the Mail on Sunday.

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Expat bar owners protest over draconian sound limiters stopping music quieter than a vacuum cleaner

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t’s the most exciting launch to hit the island in a decade! The first edition of the Mallorca Olive Press is now on the loose… and totally free! Already voted the best expat paper in Spain, we now promise to deliver the news that really matters in Mallorca. Available in the four corners of the island, we also vow to deliver, a blend of irresistible entertaining and informative features… as g well as campaignin on key issues and problems. Aimed at the huge foreign market in Mallora ca, the readers will be healthy mix of Scandinavian, Dutch and Germans… not to mention the British and Irish, of course.

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WE kicked off our first edition reporting on Calvia Council imposing a draconian new rule to crackdown on ‘noise pollution’. Told to install pricey sound limiters and targeted at the Magaluf area, bar owners e Lions EL AVISO Threpub and entertainers joined a silent We deliver to Mallorca demonstration to protest against the measure. As the Olive Press always has, we got a journalist right in the middle of the issue, speaking to both expat business owners and the council to find out exactly how the limiters would work.

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2017

April 27th - May 10th

PLANES at the ready, there’s light at the end of the COVID tunnel. Families separated by the current international travel restrictions between the Balearics and the UK could soon be reunited and bars and hotels might once again enjoy a busy summer season. For once the over-optimistic Prime Minister has offered a deliberately cautious - but ultimately hopefultimetable that could see this nightmare over soon. And we can only hope that a similar route will be outlined by the Spanish government to make sure the county can once again open its doors to Brits. For some, the 12-week wait for UK holidaymakers to return to Spain will be too long, both for the tourist industry that is on its knees and the families separated by red tape. And for others the possibility of summer holidays in Mallorca will seem unrealistically ambitious or even deadly. Managing expectations, in what we have learned is an uncertain world, will be the next big task for political leaders. For the rest of us, sticking to the safety rules remains the biggest challenge. But if we do that over the next few months then, with some real encouragement, things will start moving in the right direction.

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

OUR BOAT’S COMING IN!

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to keep luf’. a “This is only being done in- This week (Thursday) is set to take a few elderly locals happy,” Luca planned meeting hall so all the sisted fellow restaurateur place at the town could get their Veronesi, of Prosecco. au- relevent parties The Italian added: “The this area views across. thorities have allowed vibrant What is certain is that the resto become a hip and going taurant scene in Santa Cataplace and now they are this lina is unlike anywhere else a very to completely alter it with in Mallorca and has vibe. law. ruin a unique international “This could potentially While the area has gentrified rapidly, it has lot of businesses.” La Lol- and changed business Manager Marie from wait- brought substantial lija agreed. “We are just and that has mostly benefited the ing to hear at this point, to our area. hoping. Any changes for terrace would be terrible Minority business.” associa- “It’s a very small minority that The local restaurant assotion, the citizens defenceneigh- want this change, everybody life vibrant Palma the else is here for ciation, and the the reshave all bourhood association owners that has come with Nauta united with business on the taurants,” said El Aqua from owner Pitxi Vellver, to get a temporary stay plans. that come Catalunya. They say the plans have about “It's thanks to the terraces and in after a few complaints other we have all this business here jobs… there were no jobs noise from terraces, and added. irritations like more rubbish.is a few years ago,” she local British expat Vicky One group complaining there One Edmondson, from Brighton Barri Civic, which claims and not added: “Most of my neighare too many terraces enough space for locals. Mayol bours are a young internationthis mini Its president Marilenare un- al crowd, who love says that pedestrians pave- metropolitan area. the able to walk down thepeople, “It’s like a 'village inside be a as we call it. It would ments, ‘especially old and city'shame to destroy that.” big people in wheelchairs mothers with prams.’ is beOpinion Page 6 She adds that the area Magaginning to ‘become like

Issue 22, February 15 2018 IN an issue still relevant today, we reported on Palma Council pushing new rules on the capital’s beloved terraces. Under the new law, pavements had to make way for pedestrians which left very little space for tables and would see around 40% of terraces having to shut in some areas. Realising its devastating impact, we launched a campaign Save our Terraces to protect the livelihoods of dozens of expat businesses in Santa Catalina in particular.

Issue 37, September 13 2018

Voted BEST

BLOCKED OFF

IT was with sadness that we ended up having to probe the comings and goings of FX company PFX based out of Palma. It came after dozens of victims lost millions to the company that was run by well known local expat Nick Jones. We discovered he had not been seen for a month, while many victims came forward to slam the loss of their savings. In the same issue we also took on the crazy case of one of our advertisers in Alcudia Hot Spring Mallorca, who had had a bollard stuck up in front of his office stopping him from entering or leaving with his van.

Issue 39, October 11 2018 In October 2018 we covered one of the most devastating natural events that has ever hit Mallorca. Claiming the lives of 13 people and with the search for victims lasting several days, the horrific floods will forever be marked

Expats demand the return of millions after FX company collapses amid fraud probe

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TRAPPED: A car driver escape desperately tries to the deluge that swept to sea dozens of cars out homeless and left hundreds

BURIED and British a nine-year-old boy a century Ten dead including g in Mallorca for couple in worst floodin

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Lions in the memoryThrepube of our readers. Hot Hot r The storm began just wate water days before we went to print with heavy rains causing destruction to hundreds of homes in Sant Llorenc, Arta, Son Servera, Manacor and Pipe ban Pipe ban Capdepera. The photos in particular were dramatic and we managed a four page special on the impact. Best English Pub in Palma Great food Live Music Every Night from 12am

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NEARLY two dozen pink rubbish bins have been scattered around Palma for to raise awareness breast cancer. For every kilo of glass 20 collected from the pink glass recycling bins, €1 Ecovidrio will donate to breast cancer research through the Sandra Ibarra foundation. nonthe is Ecovidrio profit company responsible for recycling Spain's waste. glass inPalma joins cities, and cluding Barcelona Sevilla, which are raising awareness and funds with over 250 pink bins nationwide.

on See Magical Masters 1 16/06/2017 page 6Untitled-1.pdf

DIGGING FRANCO

AN expat business owner is demanding action after bours put up ‘illegal’ neighbollards blocking his shop. Martin White, 54, claims his business Hot Spring Mallorca Is Bilbao tasthas been forced to cease for almost three weeks, trade ier than San the series of 15-inch posts after Page 6 Sebastian? were installed. Page 12 As well as blocking Page 20 trucks, it is putting off delivery clients, he insists. “I’m suffering a loss of €1,000 a day. Delivery vans can’t get through to drop off White, from Hull, told thestock,” Olive Press. He has now called in police and Alcudia town hall, via a lawyer, to demand answers. The problem began White, who is co-owner when of the business with David Camping, EXCLUSIVE 56, arrived to find the By Elisa Menendez bollards blocking his series of shop on August 27. EXPATS in Mallorca may After contracting a legal have he was told by both police firm lost millions over the suspitown hall that the posts and cious collapse of a foreign exwere change ‘illegal’. firm being probed over ‘criminal activity’. The businessman is now set to Dozens of victims have take the community of lost up neigh- to €400,000 bours to court for discriminaeach in ings after Premier FX life savtion and loss of business Limited €30,000 in compensation for was forced into administratio . n “The next thing I knew, by the UK’s Financial Conduct The posts have also been amount of money’ from in- Authority money was gone. I feel the stalled in front of the the (FCA). sick collapse, according to about it,” added the pensioner. owned supermarket Muslim- It comes after the firm - which a close make financial transfers friend. next to “I just don’t understand operated from him, although ‘mysteriously’ via why no Barclays even after the The Portals-based expat , tugal and LondonPalma, Porother media organisations not the garage the other - suddenly ny had ceased trading. compawho has also lost money, pal, the island are tackling this.” on stopped “It’s totally illegal,” heside. in- boss Rexstrew, who The FCA has since discovered sisted Jones had been said. following trading on July 27, also lived in In particular, she wants “You can’t just put them the death of director, that the company, set to ‘go into hiding’ after advised the Algarve, she was given no know of the whereabouts to side without the other.” on one Peter Rexstrew. he was warning of the of 2006, was operating up in ‘lambasted’. collapse. Nick Jones, the island’s Since then hundreds of without To make matters worse, “I simply found out when former full authorisation. clients, “I know him closely three many director, who has not been I tried days after the bollards of them expats, seen It was forced into administrasaid all employees were and he to make a transaction but no for over a month. one of the neighbours went in, been left completely in have tion after being unable shock with the news. in total one would answer the phone. I threw a dark the She is angry that he had bucket of water over him and then emailed and I received debts and was ‘cash flowto pay “He is not in hiding he has from funds. unable to access their out an assurance email sent this above. insolbeen automatic of the vent’ following Rexstrew’s reply saying they had advised to keep a low company’s financial He has also denounced den death, leaving his two sudwhile the investigation profile ceased trading and there’d be the incion June 20, just days stability dent to the police. chilis on- no further transactions. after the dren as joint directors. Assurance going. And while a director, death of Rexstrew. “I’ve had the shop for five in “I immediately smelt Victims have so far reality, he had no access years Victims have now a rat,” she However, the Olive Press and I’ve never had a problem. to the added. formed unvery little information received main accounts.” action group with nearly an derstands that Jones, “The administrator of the When she called 200 worked who company’s appointed from the She added: “All this is very out of an office admining told us this was a build- members - many of them in dis- tion Fraud, an the UK’s Ac- istrators tressing for him and his personal the Balearics operator exand Barclays ma’s prestigious Calle Laon Palvendetta from residents,” demanding imRamthey will never get theirand fear He has been completelyfamily. plained he knew nothing about he mediate answers. bla, has also lost ‘a substantial money added. back. basted. I understand peoplelam- it. One British expat, based angry but there have been are “I’ve been stuck for two months Palma, told the Olive Press in she really nasty comments. some without that money which I has no idea what has happened Criminal need for my business. “It is quite clear that to the €30,000 she was Peter’s “It’s not just “It’s a real mindfield holdchildren were taking over affecting ing with Premier FX. the buying holiday homes, people banging your head and like business, not Nick.” “I had used them for against it is also a brick affecting business wall,” added Another victim told the years and there were many Olive can’t pay staff or owners, who British retiree, who another never Press she has lost a staggering clients.” any problems,” explained has lost money. Premier FX and Most victims had been the €400,000 due to the collapse. 69-year-old, who asked Barprom- clays ised by Premier to refailed to comment in time The UK-based businesswom main anonymous. an, money was being FX that their for press. An FCA who lived for decades in held in ‘segrespokesper“I had transferred the Portuson money gated, told Untitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 personal the Olive gal, has made three and was waiting for 15:36 BAFFLED: By bollards monthly Barclays, but accounts’ with are very concernedPress: “We transactions with Premier administrators that change rate to improve.the exFX now think this was was criminal activity there for 12 years. MISSING: Nick Jones not the case. taking place at Premier It is also believed Despite being a friend of former clients were still that many tion to missing FX in relafunds. “We permitted to are investigating the and will take action business any individuals we find against broken the law in orderto have turn money to customers to reof the firm.”

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oppoTHE leader of theinvestisition will not be his gated over allegations falsely master’s degree was obtained. will The Supreme CourtPablo not probe PP boss he Casado (below) after admitted that Madrid’s Rey Juan Carlos university of his waived 18 out of 22 regional law assignments. While he admitted it was ‘favourable treatment,’ he insisted it did not to amount criminal activity. The court agreed. now, The PP party has PSOE in turn, called for SanPrime Minister Pedro claims chez to resign over part his doctoral thesis was else. written by someone Cristina Two ministers, MinCifuentes and Health ister Carmen Montón, over have already resigned year. degree scandals this

(Free or paid for) Vol. 2 Issue 37 www.theoli vepress.es September 13th - September 26th 2018

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T least ten people have died in the worst flooding Mallorca has seen in a century. A British couple, a Dutchman boy are and a nine-year-old the confirmed as being among5, is dead, while another lad, also feared to have died. a The island has been declared Minisdisaster zone by Prime three ter Pedro Sanchez, while been days of mourning have Continues overleaf

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SEESOME MORE 14 IN fire bosses have been arrested for allegedly THE RESTAUR embezzling ANT SOME €7 bosses 14 fire millionhave in public arrested been funds. SECTION INSIDEfor allegedly The Policia embezzling

Costa d hotel hd Costa month s hotel ha fight des month before fight dei demoliis before demolis

Nacional €7 million found in that funds. public the Consortium of Bomberos The Policia Cadiz tookfound Nacional out A HOTEL is t mass early that the retirement Consortium insurof down for not h ance policies. Bomberos Cadiz took out class! A But when HOTEL is t mass their employees early retirement insurBenalmaden retired down ance early, chiefs siphoned for nota’s policies. h off the de Rey must b class! But money when from the paytheir outs. early, chiefsemployees within three a’s Benalmaden retired m siphoned Authorities off hasRey de the money ruled, also found must b disthe paycrepancies in from outs. Andalucia’s within the consorthree m Su tium’s training Authorities of Justice has courses. ruled, ruled also found disLarge sums in crepancies were tel falls shortSu Andalucia’s thepaid to a consoro company tium’s to provide training requirement of training Justice ruled courses. . courses, Large but no sums evidence were tel falls short of paid tohas a been found company thesetraining tothat provide courses requirement . took place. Prob courses, but no evidence has Meanwhile, been It began probin found that these irregularities courses were place. also found in grants took Probi star hotel and and subsidies, which cops Meanwhile, block It began in 2011 believe irregularities probin aft usedfound were also to pay nounced star private in for hotel grants overand pl and trips. subsidies, which cops believe whichin block set2011 aside aftt The irregularities were used to pay date four star hotel nounced back private over pla on to 2008 and cops for trips. believe at According which set aside to thet least irregularities €7 million hasdate The beenback stoplan star four an apartmen hotel len on by those to 2008 the top. andatcops believe not permitted According to the a least €7 million has been at breached plan an apartmen rules by len by those at the top. sto700 permitted not square

FRUIT growers in the quia are facing a 60% Axarreduction in water FRUIT usein growers from the the La AxarVinuela quia are reservoir facing a 60% with reducno solution tion sight.use from the inin water La The Junta Vinuela has with reservoir decided to no solimit its lution as the reservoir is inuse sight. already The at 22.7% Junta has capacity decidedand to couldits drop limit use even as thelower if the reservoir is dry weather already keeps at 22.7% up. capacity could drop even lower and if the dry weather keeps up.

mea breached rules by 700 square met

S S

POLICE officers along a beach in construction POLICE of a officers The wall, along betwe a beach in Senora del Carm construction of a of thewall, The fishing po betwe Senora del Carm of the fishing por

February 26th - March 11th 2021

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Fancy owning home stayed in1by May 25th - Junethis 8th 2017

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Issue 1

May 25th - June New Shop 8th 2017 Palma Beach

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On FiRE

ROPERTY sales in at their highest for Mallorca are An incredible 1,355a decade. registered in March,sales were which is an increase of 39.4% The second highest over 2016. British buyers makeincrease in Spain, foreign sales, while up 26% of the Germans account for 40%. Spain overall had a fantastic year on year increase of 26.9%, recording massive 40,461 sales in March, a the

‘some prices have leapt

by 25% in a year’ - homebuilder

highest number since February 2011. Malaga saw an increase of 37% with

see e 3 pag

Where Di and Audrey stayed

History hotels

Mallorca market booming with 1,355 homes March, while Spainsold in sees growth of 27%

page IV

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2,925 properties 121% growth in sold and also saw a new builds

over DEMAnD for property first quarter of the in Mallorca is the highest ten years, explains the in touristy, year. The Taylor Wimpeyproperty expert Marc Pritchard. starting traditional area’ near Alcudia The Andalucia region INVESTMENT by has seen prices leapSales and Marketing Director property prices rise from €180,000 for has seen arics leapt by foreign buyers in the Bale- overall had excellent of the island since by up to 25% in some parts Three-bedto €220,000 in just one year. a two-bed 30% in 2016, new units started at reveal. “Prices have gone uplast year. figures growth figures of 28% €235,000 in May 2016 in Mallorca possibly above last year’s The data published than on the mainland,” even more “The and are now at €300,000. German market remains Registrars shows by Spain’s Institute of rate, with 7,976 “Demand is the best Marc told the Olive Press. very strong, with propthe Swiss, Austrian the islands having biggest growth and Swedish markets up since early 2016.” in ten years. it’s been going experiencing the erties sold, while of anywhere in are also good growth.” try. the coun- Valencia registered One of the company’s The company is working developments in a Around 2,700 of 5,854 sales on ‘non- sites and and is the key developer half a dozen active new properties, the 13,000 sales were for Catalonia on the island. had 6,832 of buyers comingwith the largest number sales. Madrid regisfrom Switzerland.

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Foreign sales up a third

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As the Olive Press hits 100 issues in Issue 62, Mallorca, publisher Jon Clarke and reporter August 30 2019 Isha Sesay take a look at some of our AS 971 part of our investi706 972 gative series, we were favourite issues and stories FREE taylorwimpeyspain.com www.theolivepress.es

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CAMPAIGN UPDATE

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Olive Press probes the 10-year Maddie case

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Amazing response to the ‘Help Save Serena’ blood donation campaign APPEAL

Page 13

Courageous

Captain’s amazing scrapes with drug barons and CIA

Page 16

Forget stars

Olive Press interviews masterchef Ferran Adria

Page 27

By Laurence Dollimore

A BRITISH family have made a heartfelt plea for blood to help save their daughter’s life. They urgently need donors of the type O Negative, as Mallorca runs desperately low on supplies. It comes after 11-year-old Serena Chappell found out she had leukaemia following a random test last month. The Mallorca-born girl - a keen dancer, who is trilingual - had been complaining of having no energy and began to look increasingly pale. Doctors at Son Espases Hospital discovered the ‘normally energetic girly girl’ had leu-

TYPE ‘O NEGATIVE’ TO BEAT

APPEAL

SACRE BLEU! What has this jobsworth Ports’ Policeman got against this unfortunate teenager?

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transfusions she has had an eight-day chemotherapy course and bone marrow and lumbar punctures. “We are in intensive care 24 hours a day and treatment continues, but the hospital is now very short on her type of blood and she needs more,”

EXPAT bar owners are demanding a crackdown on muggings by criminal gangs in Calvia. The group insist the problem is getting ‘out of control’ and the council must take action. It comes after a British tourist, 70, claimed he was attacked by a ‘gang of prostitutes’ in Magaluf. The regular visitor, who has a home in the area, is understood to have lost over €100. “The saddest thing is he knows not to take too much money with him as

added her father. he can kaemia in just four hours and The main issue is that getting she was immediately rushed the type has been hampered guarantee he will get propositioned on the way home,” said in for a blood transfusion. by legislation. his friend Abbey Wright. But, now it has emerged there Chiefly, if you lived is a desperately low supply of UK for more than twoin the Another expat Craig Beattie her blood type and few people between 1980 and 1996years claimed that the problem is are eligible to donate due to a can’t donate the blood you affecting tourism. in ruling over Mad Cow disease. Spain due to a risk of carrying Her father John Chappell, traces of Mad Cow’s disease, Let down 34, has now appealed to big which rocked the UK back “Two ladies told me their hearted Olive Press readers to then. friends have stopped coming come to the rescue. due to the muggings… they The removal man, from don’t know if they will be back Strong Yorkshire, who now lives in either, they have been coming Valldemossa with wife Sarah, “As they do not test the blood the last 20 years or so!” said: “Serena is doing amaz- here they simply refuse to ac- One bar owner confirmed the ingly, but needs as much help cept it,” explained Chappell, problem. “Even if we pay privately for “I feel as she can get. let down “She is brave and strong and the tests they will not accept ities’ inability by the authorto deal with the is facing many of her fears, es- the blood.” threat that pecially needles, which have Chappell says the whole fami- gangs posingisas posed by the prostitutes.” been a massive issue for her ly is remaining strong for Ser- Speaking anonymously due ena while having tests to see if to fear before.” of he added: The father, who has been by they are a match for a poten- “There arereprisals, victims every day, her side in hospital for the last tial bone marrow transplant. many of whom don't report two weeks, added: “We have “Her little brother misses her the incident started to cut her hair shorter terribly and juggling time is rassment.” for fear of embaras she will lose it from che- tough right now, but we are to commentThe council failed as we went to motherapy. She knows every- getting there,” he said. press. It comes after it introthing that is happening with Serena, who attends school duced its controversial sound in Valdemossa, is said to be limiter her treatment and diagnosis.” policy that keeps As well as frequent blood doing ‘ok’ after her chemo- sound in bars therapy and is hoping to be in 62 decibels. no louder than her own room soon, but she still needs around the clock attention. “I hope people can find it in their hearts to donate,” added DE MALLORCA Chappell, “The blood that AN investigation has been comes to the hospital can't be launched over the rental of guaranteed for Serena but it council flats to tourists. The probe is looking into how does have a good chance. MORE “In any case it’s not just for properties in the Sa Gerreria revenue with Serena, many other children area of Palma are being rentin the hospital may also need ed via rental sites, including German clients! blood, so this will help them Airbnb and Booking.com, for Put your ads in up to €150 a night. too.” EL AVISO Blood donation can be done Owners currently benefit at the Hospital Son Espases from lower protected rents, newspaper! on Thursdays from 8.30am and under rental rules, tento 3pm planta O module F, or ants are banned from renting at the Red Cross Palma from to tourists. CONTACT US The Olive Press found that at Monday to Friday.

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Expat family’s urgent plea for blood donors for their cancerstricken daughter, 11

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May 11th - May 24th 2017

ond issue and had no idea how well it was being received and if hoteliers demandwould serious anyone pay attention. punishment “So none of us could believe that when we followed it up the next over fake issue we discovered that there had been so many donors for Serinsurance ena that hospitals went from five days supply to being totally claims asthe they reach ‘atreport least’ above). full (see €50 million “We were really happy, as were Serena’s family.” By Joethe Duggan It was start of a great innings on the island that has now MALLORCA hoteliers are reached 100. demanding stiff punishment for holidaymakers, lawyers or While it has been particularly tough with the advert and passing touts involved in fake sickness insurance claims. - which hit the island harder than anywhere else in Spain o of Brexit They have insisted upon strong sentences’ con-‘penal as well asaftermore recently COVID, we are still here today in 2021. firming they are ‘suffering a ‘maximum support’ by workbusinesses in Mallorca, with plot’, costing in- eternity… but weing closelyin withfact, tour operators offering all-inclusive Itcriminal seems likethean are, onlyhotels really just getdustry millions each year. to identify illegal claims. holidays hardest hit by the The president of the hotel asShe added: “We want concrete scammers. ting started. sociation (FEHM) Inmaculada ish hotel industry isn’t will- solutions to minimize claims ABTA recently wrote to ForDe Benito toldlaunched the Olive Press ing based on North, a criminal plot that eignBlanca Secretary Boris Johnson more false Having onto accept the any Costa Blanca Costa South the problem has cost the in- claims,” she explained. takes advantage of the cover calling for a cap on legal fees to dustry ‘at least’ €50 million in “We are looking for penal British law gives customers. make such claimsjoined less attracand andsentences the Costa Azahar in the interim we have the pastValencia 18 months. tive to claims companies. for companies and “It’s clear hoteliers can’t conIt comes after she called a people who participate in this tinue suffering the cost of these A spokesperson for ABTA told up gapswithbetween our Andalucia home and Mallorca. high the level meeting the fraud in Spain. false claims.” the Olive Press that the scams Association of British Travel “If the situation is not resolved She insisted laws in the UK were doing ‘massive damage’ we will be growing againrepuAgents (ABTA) in Madrid, on quickly, we willHopefully, e to British holidaymakers’ have to take needed to be changed regardMonday. ing tourists’ gastric complaints. tation. more forceful measures.” the island later this year when “We told ABTA that the Span- She urged ABTAacross One hotel reported an increase to give FEHM FEHM represents some 900 of around 1,000% in such the tourist season finally gets claims in the lastgoing three years. “Another hotelier got sued by dfurniturespain.com huge a family our who then came back Lionwe can e and ELreconfigure AVISO with to stay the next year, which he Threpub band sof readers and former wasn’tclients. too impressed about,” said Sean Tipton. With journalists Isha Sesay Tere“This is and not the way to make friends. It is a form of fraud MORE niaPub Taras now covering the for Best English and youisland could go to jail.” revenue with He added that most of the legal in Palma us - one basedGerman in Palma, onefirmsinseem Calvia clients! claims to be based out of the North West of Engads in - we have a pairPut ofELyour talented and capable land. er to Mallorca Great food AVISO The Olive Press believes the es@oaklandfurniturespain.com newspaper! majority are based in Manhands to help guide the edition. Live Music Every chester and Liverpool. We also haveCONTACT an excellent local photogNight from 12am Have you worked with a US tout? Do you know any rapher Allan 971Binderup, who has been 619 234 firms involved? Please 661 901 290 contact newsdesk@theoAve de Gabriel Roca 4, Palma See our adverts inside brightening up the paper for the last Info@el-aviso.es livepress.es year. Our commercial director Charles Bamber meanwhile, is planning regular trips over from next month and we are still looking for a good reliable local sales rep to help us get the edition back to its former size of 32 to 40 pages. Either way, it has been a fun journey and all that remains is to thank everyone who has made us feel so welcome, and all our advertisers who supported us, since the moment we arrived. DE MALLORCA

Issue 86, August 7 2020

Hair

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SUFFERER: Of hypertricho

sis

UK BASED

TRAVEL INSURANCE

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Still a be-leaver! Your expat

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Vol. 3 Issue 62 www.theolivep ress.es August 30th September

The British expats who Brexit and proud SEE are proPAGE 7

12th 2019

KICK IN THE STOMAC H

A RISING football star Health authorities are is one of at least 51 cusreportedly preparing heavy sanctions for failures raised tomers believed to have when in the handling of food and ‘structural deficiencies’. been poisoned at 19-year-old A top scorer in his club restaurant in Mallorca. a Japanese Carlos Mora Baunbag was last year and standing at 6ft 2, Real Mallorca B footballer entered the Victor de English Premier League tipped to be signed by Baunbag is among the emergency In November, agents club Liverpool. fallen ill this week after dozens to have room the morning after eating at Drageating at the restaurant. on Sushi on Calle Blanqerna 19-year-old’s qualities from the Reds said the However it wasn’t until ‘could fit well’ in EngThe Cameroonian forward, in Palma. land and made it known Dragon Sushi was closed two days later that that they were trackborn in Madrid, is one of many ing him. tors, who ordered tests by food safety inspecwho have already to be performed. tested positive for Salmonella The rising star will now While the current number - the bacteria of victims stands at found in uncooked meats while he recovers from be firmly off the pitch 51, authorities believe and seafood. sickness. that figure could climb The alarm of the Salmonella much higher. The restaurant outbreak was first until the case is complete. will remain closed

VICTORY! 2

CRIME

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Dream Killas

The Olive Press helps victims take action following skyrocketing reports of holiday rental scam

Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca

Introducing News Editor Laurence Dollimore and Reporter Joshua Parfitt

THE Olive Press is helping victims take legal action against a holiday rental company that scammed holidaymakers thousands for rental villas on the Costa Blanca. It comes as the paper was contacted by new victims of Dream Villas Spain, following last issue’s report on the plight of the Bolton family, who lost €2,000 on a Moraira rental. Petra Deleslie, 42, has now contacted us after losing €6,000 booking a villa in Moraira later this year for her extended family of 18. We agreed to help after she told us she was ‘desperate’ for a break after losing her

mother to lung cancer a few years ago. “My nephews and nieces were really looking forward to it as they have never been abroad,” Deleslie told the Olive Press. “I spent two years saving up for this trip, and we just can’t afford to pay for new villa. The kids are devastated.” We helped the family make a police denuncia, after Deleslie said she will lose ‘more than €12,000’ as flights were already booked and her bank were unable to claim their money back. She showed the Olive Press emails asking Dream Villas Spain for a refund, after

SEL-FISH

Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es (Personal contacts on page 6)

JAVEA Town Hall has begun legal proceedings against the owner of a property who cut off public access to a heritage fishing ground in Balcon al Mar. The unknown owner, who has a luxurious four-storey villa overlooking Cala Ambolo, built a ‘stone staircase’ with ‘metal railings’ that cut access to the Llavadora del Pinet fishery. Councillor Isabel Bolufer said

the Town Hall began proceedings after learning that the owner had intentionally reformed the stairs, closing access to the ancient site from Calle Samuel Adler. “These works represent a very serious attack on a heritage that corresponds to us all,” said a spokesperson for Jávea Oceanographic Research Institute (IROX).

May 9th - May 22nd 2019

Vox

4 blocked www.theolivepress.es

NEWS

VOX’S top candidate for Benidorm mayor has been replaced after revelations he received a A BRITISH two-year prison sentence for expat is being handed tigious British domestic violence in February gong by the Queen a presservices to tourists for her 2018. Candida Wright in Alicante. will receive an THE socialist Davidparty Perez Brigido was banher charitable MBE for two (PSOE) work will hold on years ago ned the election,thedespite largest hospital as an interpreter in to from the Valencian government dor to Spain. from the British Ambassain the Marina May 16. two-year in the upcoming sentences sometimes Alta, on Though regional elections, she is a professional The if58-year-old, waived in Spain according the to a marketbeing Candida known as ‘Candy’, interpreter, volunteered research company. has violence often represents victims of with HELP has Sigma Dos accused sexual in Spanish courts na Altaconrevealed PSOE no previous since it launched of Denia & Mari- as offering for free, as well take between victions. will in 1984. During that time financial support 29-30 seats, while the Popular charity. she has helped through her Perez Brigido was found through to have Party expats “One cancer, bereavement, (PP) will see its representation of the hardest cy and ‘repeatedly bureaucrahis ex-wife, court battles. things is when fall abused’ from 31 seats to 22-23. ne comes to the someothe president after he ‘shoved and As threw her But with the died and I don’t desk saying ‘my husband the help desk at of the charity, she runs totalground, to the seats inpulled her hair the Marina Salud Valencia’s Generalitat lained Candy, know what to do’,” expin Denia. who lives in Ondara hospital her at 99, and punched PSOE will again her in the Spanish husband. face’. with “The SCAM: Dream Villas Spain site conned Brits abroad most exciting to form Her two children, coalition to reach 35 and 25, live Theneed judge alsoa found vitation the card dis- I was thing was the pink in- respectively. in Madrid the absolute majority of 50 posted with the which ‘general manager’ Ro- returns from 2014 to 2017. graced BP (Buckingham While she helpsand Valencia seats. far-right politician had The poll suggests Palace),” Candidawords tal procedures, with hospitheand sella Alba Gutierrez has shut Olive‘defrequently burials and repatriation, the PSOE‘insulted’ Press. There is no availablemake told she’s often phone will a pact meaned’ “I thought it meant called upon to with Valencianist Spain’s Companies House number (the one on the the woman, just be a ‘helping who was Compromis hand’ to British Petroleum web- (17-18 first.” she joked. seats) and reveals that Dream Villas site has been disconnected) at “You’re someone in need. left with left-wing populist and post-traumatic stress sometimes dealing The expat, who Podemos Spain, which is registered as and the name Rosella (6-7 seats). disorder. who are cancer with years, received has lived in Spain for 45 patients, or need people a ‘Points of Light’ The Alba tions, Digital Dream SL, was incor- Gutierrez appears nowhere regional elections amputaaward eling and it just gives you a wonderful in fall to think ‘I really porated in 2014 for ‘data pro- the list of employees. on May 26 the same daywill fehelped them today’.” as the European cessing and web hosting’. MEETING QUEEN: Another victim told the Oli- elections. Candida Based in Carrer de la Fe, in ve Press this week she See hadour election guide Palma, Mallorca, it filed tax booked a villa in Marbella as on page 6 a surprise getaway for four friends and five 18-year-old daughters as a post-A Levels CON artists have scammed a present. British pensioner out of Sarah Adam, based in Lon- after pretending to help €300 him redon, told us she is convinced cover money left at a cashpoint she has also been scammed. THE owners of in Javea last Saturday. a bike shop are The company has appealing not res-for witnesses Brian Stokes, 77, was approatheft of €40,000 ponded to email requests a British for ched byof two ‘20-something’ families scammed just one minute! of stock - in comment. Spanish men outside thousands the Saout of The theft at Meanwhile, DarrenMoraira Coombes Xabia’s badell Bikes in on Cabo de la Nau from saw nine bikes bank fake holiday EXCLUSIVE from Alicante-based Dream stolen he had left Pla claiming at 4am €20 in last Wednesday By Joshua Parfitt Villa Spain told the Olive mor- A ning. Press the cashpoint. The thieves then BRITISH family the fraudsters are One who of the in cashing a week’swithdraw bikes, claimed they couldn’t a Trek LR10, holiday on thebooked villa, in Moraira, wasdrawing worth €13,000. on his credibility and before transCosta ferring Blancaand cash themselves were asked the deposit. shocked to see “Two thieves their villa advertised users from his legitimate She has now pro- broke Stokes in andtoin re-insert just a minute card, as avai- her confirmed that lable on ahis andwhich perty business website. a half they family have been completely different stole stole. nine bikes,” Martin website. scammed over

Socialist win

Gong for Candy!

April 25th - May

8th 2019

Mystery suicide

CATCH THESE CONMEN

Swallow the bait

Wheely fast!

MYSTERY surrounds the apparent suicide of an elderly British resident on the Costa Blanca. The 84-year-old expat threw herself in Javea afterfrom a bridge being seen ‘pacing frantically’ by the railings. A neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the Olive Press he man ‘peering saw the woover the edge’ after squeezing between a fence and a pillar at one steel support end of the bridge. It was about re police werean hour befosuicide attemptalerted to a over the dry Gorgos riverbed while children played football pitch. on a nearby “She was holding a white paper bag and in the bag and kept looking over the edge,”then leaning the neighbour told the “I wanted to Olive Press. ask her what she was doing, rried she spoke but I wonish and assumedonly Spashe was feeding stray cats.”

Quickly

Just after 7pm

last

another Spanish Tuesday Stadlhofer, the holiday 40, co-owner Susan eyewit“We were this due for June. ness revealed told the Olive of Xabia’s Bikes, she Bolton, 61, soon realised close to leaving she had seen had lost the for our the woman jump “I’m not sure Press. sit when Dream ₤1,300 depo- existed,” holiday that never from the they knew what eastern of two Bolton told the they were doing Villas Spain, based Olive SCAM: Brit family Press. the Avenida de bridges on ked over a bike as they knoc- contact.in Mallorca, shut off all caught by fake “I knew we had He told the “I was walking Augusta. villa website and didn’t takeworth €12,000 The been conned had Olive Press they mother-of-two when it—which is chosen the na when I saw to Mercadogreat for us.” tations’. from the ding I contacted them regarWest Midlands different homesvilla out of 780 The scam an airport pick her shoes, climbher take off up and got site. for rent on the ks finding the had spent wee- no response. comes almost perfect holiday years since two and no more,” the railing, It me suspicious.” made me beco- They only exclusively the Olive Press told the Olive the woman realised they She added the been scammed had fake holidayexposed a string of happened Press. “It all websites duping not respondingcompany is now port pick-up when an air- tourists so to any calls or Three police quickly.” coming to Spain. emails. and he caughtnever arrived, In a cars and an series of investigations ambulance raced Meanwhile, celebrity property to find a taxi to the we found to the scene to the bewildechocola- red German. dozens te taster Angus had been scammed of tourists Policeretrieve the body. ₤5,000 when Kennedy lost “What was confirmed the millions of euros his family discovered a German case is I was different in our which from the various sites, of death as suicide, cause while a at the Mallorcan man living to the house,determined to get photos illegally uploaded villa spokesperson booked through villa they had ted the press”and then contac- Among from legitimate sites. Hall said the for the Town lady was Dream Villas Angus told the those Spain. Olive Press. British Rugbyscammed were sh and had lived in a BritiKennedy, from block “I think many Dean Schofield, Union star of flats next to the river more have been that when the Kent, revealed duped and ‘for who lost many years’. €50,000 the family arrived this month, worth millions.”scam could be llorca. on a fake villa in Ma- Neither police the owner, who or the town gave his name The website hall would reveal Spain Dream as Klaus, was he used to book completely baffled her name, the rate as Digital Villas, who ope- suggesting it and knew com, trip, dreamvillasspain. Dreams SL, de- problematic was proving nothing about claims its clined to comment. the rental or website. te your dream goal is to ‘crea- JWe were next of kin to contact her holiday expeunable rience and exceed anyone at Dream to contact None of thein the UK. your expecresidents in the Villas Spain area as we went to by the bridge press. knew

Animal horror

A BRITISH expat called in police dogs chained after finding in an abandoned Roger Ballantine house without a group of food. the dogs while contacted the Guardia Ballantine had out walking near Orba. Civil after finding ‘pungent smell’ decided to investigate when he noticed a Inside he foundcoming from the ruin. kept on short scenes worthy of a horror chains surrounded film excrement. by trash and with dogs their own “It was despicable,” clear that farmers Ballantine told the Olive Press. “It have chained is these four dogs.”

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makers out of thousands 952 147 834 has finally shut down following an extensive AT Olive Press campaign this LAST: Scammers Dreamvillas year. spain.com nailed after Press campaign (inset Dreamvillasspain.com Olive left), while (right) was behind victim Angus and family countless tales of heartbreak as it It soon dawned seduced holidaymakers on Angus he’d lost fielding calls concerning bogus chasing villa rentals that into pur- his €5,500 and urgently needed never ex- place to stay achs a isted. with his wife and five rentals from Tenerife, to Marbella tacticslurch as they read of the scam and Moraira. One of the of young children. The first case was reported most heart- the Olive dreamvillasspain.com in breaking was from Petra Press. Olive Press to the Guardia by the “I think many more have Deleslie, April when professional Civil in duped and the scam could be been 42, and the collapse of her €6,000 The way the scam operated was that worth month-long villa chocolate millions,” prospective renters would taster Angus Kennedy Angus told this paper rental on the Costa an receive turned at Blanca, booked for up at the time. email from ‘general a villa he had paid for in this manager’ Mallorca. Rosella The mum-of-two from October. With mounting He was met with bewildered Kent was all counts Alba Gutierrez offering disGer- made a collectivecases, this paper set to travel with 18 extended for up-front payments man owner, Klaus, Untitled-1.pdf on redenuncia at the members family 1 who had no 16/06/2017 15:36Guardia Civil for a ‘much-needed break’ spective villas. knowledge of ever putting his house of UK-based in Moraira on behalf following the death But up for rental. victims. of her mother to off once paid, Gutierrez would shut all contact, as it turned lung cancer. Soon after, the Olive out the Press was “My nephews and nieces were re- company’s phone was a fake. ally looking forward For months nothing was heard - unto it as they have never til a major UK news network got in been abroad,” Deleslie touch saying the website had been shut down. told the Olive Press. “I spent two years sav- The Olive Press can also reveal a ing up for this trip, and second site - named and shamed in I just can’t afford to a separate article - is also no longer pay for a new villa. The live. Travelvacationtour.com kids are devastated.” operated Deleslie added the cu- with exactly the same layout and mulative loss of flights houses as dreamvillasspain.com, would cost her family and scammed Brit Donna Archer out of €5,500 for a Tenerife €12,000 in total. villa Then there was Sarah booked as a post GCSE gift to her Adams, who booked son and his best mate in May. a surprise getaway It is not yet clear if legal action has to Malaga for four been taken against the companies, Find out more on page friends and their joint- as both are listed as ‘active’ on XX Spanish Companies House. five daughters as a Guardia Civil could not post-A Levels present. comment Both Deleslie and Ad- before we went to press. ams felt their stomOpinion Contact Isabel

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word’ after it promised to grant the vote to expats who had lived out of the UK for more than 15 years. "In their 2015 manifesto, the Tories pledged to remove the 15-year rule, but they refused to apply this to the referendum and in February this year, dropped the policy and broke their word,” said Farron. "The Liberal Democrats recognise this utter unfairness of a system which denies UK citizens living abroad a vote. "That is why we've committed to establishing specific conG TIN for all UK citizens stituencies RA EB abroad,” he added. Llive who CE Farron accused Tory leader Theresa May, meanwhile. of ES: TWO SPANISH HEROIN One who escaped Franco s having a ‘twisted view’ and to another whose infamou by blasted her record sinceM takname has been adopted ALLORCA a train station ing office in July last year. Your “Since the referendum, she expat has spent more time cosying in voice Spain up to regimes in Turkey and FREE Saudi Arabia than she has PAY UP engaging with the remaining ! EU FOR statesTOM to work out the best deal for British people,” said Farron Mallorca’s tourist season risk from spread of "But this twisted view of the at coronavirus as major cancel and tourists world, where human rights events scrap summer holidays are crushed, refugees trampled on and weapons exchanged with those who use them on civilians, this is not the Britain I love.” PLUS: The

Issue 75, March 2 2020

Just over a week before the country was confined to their homes, we covered the impact of coronavirus on tourism in Mallorca in a story that became the most read on our website for 2020. Explaining the effect the virus was having on a sector so OLIVE important to the isPRESS land’s economy, we predicted a crippling Crippling season ahead if the cases worsened. This forecast rang true, with the Balearic Islands losing Opinion Page 6 millions of tourists after a ban on travel and seeing its gross domestic product falling to its lowest level in history. 19th, ress.es March 6th - March Vol. 3 Issue 75 www.theolivep

Boris Johnson UK PRIME Minister the tragic, is set to grill Spain over a teenager in ‘preventable’ death of Mallorca. over how He will demand answers able to fall to Tom Channon, 18, was his death in Magaluf. had just comThe Welsh lad, who seven floors at pleted his A-levels, fell in July 2018. the Eden Roc complex barrier keepDisgracefully the only wall, knee-high a was safe ing people holidaymaker and another British in the same had fallen to his death spot just weeks before. UK coroner At an inquest last year, could have ruled the teenager’s death by putting up a been easily prevented finally putting fence. But, despite now in Spain a fence up, the authorities forward with have been slow to come family. damages for Channon’s demanding His parents are also negligence prosecution for gross taking civil manslaughter and are proceedings.

Preventable

MP Alun After the family’s Welsh action Cairns stepped in to demand Johnson in Parliament this week, sure the house waded in to help. “I’mexpressing our will join with me in Tom’s famdeepest sympathies withduring Prime ily and friends,” he saidHe added he Minister’s Questions. for Tom’ would help to ‘seek justice office in and would call in the foreign instance. the first died in an MP Cairns added: “Tompreventable accident that was totally and avoidable.” after Tom It was exactly five weeks fell to his Hughes from Wrexham death at the same site in similar cirYet cumstances. nothing had been done to make the area safe.

Bandits, Moors and goats... the perfect holiday escape?

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expat

No more mural

A MURAL protesting tourism has been painted over with controversy in Soller. In 2016, artist Soma painted the mural titled 'tourism engulfing Mallorca' – a large snake representing tourism, eating Mallorca and pooing out the trash that's left behind. The mural has stood for the last three years, but just four days after the Popular Party took over the Soller government it was painted over with white. The local PP, now headed by Carlos Simarro, has said that 'there is no special motive' for erasing the mural. The town plans to paint a map of Soller on the wall instead.

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Vol. 3 Issue 57 www.theolivepress.es June 21st - July 4th 2019

British teen’s death after plunging from Magaluf apartment wall ‘was preventable’ coroner says celebrated finishing their Alevels. The tragedy, in July 2018, saw the new graduate fall 15 metres, before being found dead in the courtyard at the Eden Roc com-

Proud to be expats

Untitled-1.pdf

AN overwhelming majority of our readers are not offended by the term ‘expat’. That’s the initial result of our online poll which asked ‘Do you find the use of the word 'expat' to describe British and foreign nationals living in Spain offensive?’ The vote came after a barrage of emails to the newsdesk complained of the Olive Press’ use of the word, requesting that it be switched out for ‘resident’ or ‘immigrant’. However a snapshot of our readers’ opinions revealed that two thirds were not bothered by the term. On our Facebook poll, there have so far been 881 votes. Out of those, 656 said ‘no’, while 223 said ‘yes’. The results were repeated on Twitter, of 80 votes said they did not find the term offensive.

16/06/2017 68% where15:36

TYPICAL EXPATS: Brits and (top) Dutch

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CMY

A special four-page pullout

opinions of eight leading ladies in Spain to WE CAN DO ANYTHING! celebrate International Women’s Day www.theolivepress.es

March 2020

N equal world is an enabled world. This is the theme of International Women's Day 2020. On March 8 the spotlight turns to women throughout the world who are striving for gender parity in the workplace, in their businesses, in sports, in culture and arts, and in their communities. The movement started in

1911, so now in a new century and a new decade are we making a difference? At first glance, it’s easy to say yes. There’s something in the air that feels like real change. The #metoo and #timesup movements were a palpable moment where women were not only being heard, but their voices were powerful. They were calling out previously untouchable

Over a century after International Women’s Day first started, Karen Livermore asks, are things really any better in 2020? media giants, companies, politicians and stars. Being male, rich and powerful was suddenly no longer a shield. Out of it has come a real effort to shift, not only

unpalatable men from their positions, but the views they represent, from public acceptance. Things that matter to and affect women, are finally

getting heard, and action is being taken. But there is still so far to go. We may be celebrating the downfall of Harvey Weinstein, and the shaming of Placido Domingo over his admission of sexually harassed women, but in Saudi Arabia women are still high fiving their right to own a passport without the consent of a male guardian. Gender violence against

women is still alarming. Last year was a dark 12 months in Spain with 55 women killed either by partners or ex partners. The highest figure since 2015. It's not the only country where these figures are rising. However, in a disturbing move the Vox party is lobbying for cuts in funding to combat genContinues overleaf

that we needed to change the work culture and in doing so society if we wanted to see advances in the field of equality. Ana Botín, “Since then these ideas have been reflected in the President of equal opportunity policies that we first pushed for in Banesto, then in Santander in the UK and more the Santander as a whole,” she banking group recently in the Santander group continued. “In that speech I emphasised the beot only was Ana Botín made an honorary nefits of diversity in the company. And with data dame by Queen Elizabeth II for services to the from different studies, I explained that having Financial sector in 2015, she was also awarded more women in managerial positions, apart from the first Award for Responsible Capitalism after being fair, was good for business. Besides talent, women bring skills to business that complement taking the helm the year before. Ana, 59, is also a pioneer. The first woman to run those of men – better interpersonal communicaa major European bank, she’s been ranked eigth tion, cooperation, horizontal thinking and a capaon the Forbes’ list of World’s Most Powerful Wo- city to really listen as well as more empathy and men. Within her corporation, this financial whizz the ability to prioritise.” has made a point of boosting female direction, ai- Botín has also introduced a life-work balance ming for 30% of its CEOs to be women by 2025 scheme because, ‘one of the keys to equal oppor(they currently account for 20%). Beyond 2025, tunities lies in domestic work.’ the aim is technical equality, which means a 60%- She said: “For men to increase their share of this responsibility, we need public policies that allow 40% ratio, irrespective of gender. In an article she published on her LinkedIn page for greater flexibility in the workplace.” in response to a debate over her feminist creden- Ana is adamant there will be no discrepancy in tials, she wrote, “I have spent years as an execu- salaries between male and female staff members tive; years in which I have seen enough to know taking on equal responsibility in a banking instituthat in general women don’t get a fair deal… In a tion that is ranked 16th in the world. speech delivered to a room full of men in Bilbao Forbes magazine also notes that Botín has a poin 2008, I talked about the importance of women licy of ‘backing small companies and companies acting with more confidence in ourselves and owned by women’.

SIMPLE STEPS

THE death of a British teen who plunged from a Mallorca apartment wall ‘could have been prevented’, a coroner has said. Holidaymaker Thomas Channon, 18, died from ‘catastrophic injuries’, the third fatality at the Magaluf resort in the same year. The teen, from Rhoose, in the Vale of Glamorgan, fell over a knee-high wall during a holiday to Mallorca with pals, as they

Opinion Page 6

restaurants under threat DESERTED: Mallorca further events are canIt is hoped that no celled at the centre. to have a huge impact Globally, the virus is set International Air Transon tourism, with the losses of €26 bilport association estimating lion in 2020. Hollister from Globalthe Travel analyst Ralph A virus is still having the “If said: Data, end of April, cancellasame impact by the at a rapid rate as Impact We needed to change the work culture tions could start to increase to their health to be Associarisk Hotel the Palma deem consumers The President of the for a holiday.” the impact on the N Women on the greater than their need Travel Commission tion, Javier Vich, believes frontline in Spain and is set to Director of the European economy is unquestionable “The impact on busiaffects added: directly Eduardo Santander worsen. “This situationMallorca,” he said. be massive - we’re European tourism will nesses in the whole of features inside Business Federaof special Womens Day talking about big losses.” series The Mallorca Hotelthat there would be See Opinion Page 6 tion (FEHM) added employment with a knock-on effect on contracts now temporary of the majority April to the postponed to start from summer. to exist and “We depend on tourism this epidemic are being harmed by impact on which will have a directMaria Jose hiring workers,” said UK BASED Aguilo. conferences A number of events and includhave already been cancelled, of the Spaning the XV Congress which was Glaucoma, of Society ish at the Palacio scheduled to take place for Spanish de Congresos this week. sts residents ophthalmologi 400 More than were schedfrom across the worldsuspension is www.globelink.co.uk uled to attend and its comorganisers said to have taken pletely by surprise. Ministry of It was ordered by theclaiming they 96 626 5000 Health, with officials a large num+44 (0) 1353 699082 wanted to avoid having in one place ber of medical personnel at one time. Let’s raise a glass to celebrate International Women’s Day 2020 or, as we say in Spain, Día Internacional de la Mujer. Ten women in Spain from all walks of life share their views and inspirational stories

voice in Spain

ERASED: Controversial art

2020

By Isha Sesay

has been crippled by THE tourism sector in Mallorca the spread of the coronavirus the worst for the with ministers fearing economy. have decided to deA series of hotel chains as the sixth confirmed lay opening at Easter, on the island. case of COVID-19 emergeddrop in bookings It comes after a significant cancellations. and a number of flight and Be Live Hotels Mallorca-based Barcelo the effects of the confirmed they’re feeling reservations for the room and epidemic summer had fallen Holy Week and in the badly. of tourists who had Alarmingly, a numbersummer have already booked villas for the can reveal. cancelled, the Olive Press confirmed it had Expat-run Look Mallorca in June alone seen FIVE bookings cancelled will worsen. over fears the health crisisvillas and all five “All five were for luxury by families scared have been cancelled while on holiday” virus the catching about revealed a spokesman. that there will be “We are deeply worried our core busiaffect really more which will ness this year,” she added.

www.globelink.co.uk

1, Santa XX Jaime on Rey more pagePonca Avenida Find out 0034 871 510 277

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plex. Channon’s death came around a month after Tom Hughes, 20, from Wrexham, also fell to his death at the apartment block. An inquest in Pontypridd found that Channon may have been ‘intoxicated and fatigued’ after he returned from a night out and fell seven floors. Coroner Graeme Hughes did however add: “I do not find Tom was ridiculously drunk or out of control.” A post-mortem revealed the young lad was twice the legal drink-drive limit, after he had been watching Croatia beat England in the World Cup. The student of St David’s College in Cardiff was found to have died from blunt force injuries to the trunk,including pelvic fractures. Hughes added: “It is absolutely tragic that simple steps of erecting the temporary fence were not instigated following Thomas Hughes’ death in June 2018. “These simple steps would have, in all probability, prevented Thomas Channon from meeting his death on July 12 2018. “For reasons unknown, he has travelled beyond the wall and

RIP: Channon died on holiday

fallen some distance. He has sustained catastrophic injuries.” Channon’s mum Ceri said at the inquest she was glad that there had been ‘recognition’ that her son’s death could have been prevented. The inquest heard that ‘steel bollards’ are now in place at the complex.

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Issue 93, November 13 2020 HOPE was injected back into the island as we revealed the groundbreaking announcement that a COVID-19 vaccine had been found. The Balearic government called the breakthrough a ‘light at the end of a very dark tunnel’, giving the travel and service industry new confidence for 2021. As it stands now, vaccinations are already being rolled out in Mallorca with the aim of getting 70% of the population protected by June. M

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834 Tel: 952 147page 13 See

Issue 89, September 18 2020

952 147 834

economic country is hit by a major is part of The great expat escape Europe, or political crisis.” Tetlow said a wider trend seen across that the to His colleague Daniel comBy Simon Wade & BRITS have been scrambling with researchers revealing to take that the rise was a ‘striking with the Kirsty McKenzie or socially make a new life in Spain number of Brits hurrying mitment to integrate the country as in an EU state has numbers registering embed’. fivefold in Brexit vote. up citizenship observing a with a whopping their new home jumping certainty following the He continued: “We’reredefining of Sci- soared by 500%, from and a the run up to Brexit. revealed that Research from the WZB Social of 73,642 people moving away phenomenon British EuroNew research has applied for a ence Center showed an average the UK in 2016-18. most popular what it means to be half of the from the UK sought over 20,000 expats pean.” During the research, as part 2,300 people Spain each year be- While Spain was and chose (residencia) Germany they card Brits, in residency destination for interviewees revealed the country residency and 2015. showing saw a significant rise of the rush to stay in tween 2008 to leave the UK quickly, in 2016. in 2016, France also ss, spontafollowing the referendum place for But after the referendumtimes the in the number of expats arriving ‘increased impulsivene Brits voted rose by five Spain is the most popular from British shores. neity and risk-taking.’in 2016 and to the the number with 21,250 Brits regis- The spike suggests that the referBrits to move to, according to leave the EU back of Brits flee- amount, 2018. lef endum results vote data, with thousandssun, sand and tering between 2016 and while the country officially prompted Brits to ing to the costas for offimove their make cial before Brexit was finalised and freedom of movement came to an end. Daniel Co-author Auer said: “The unsurroundcertainty ing Brexit has certainly caused large Or you need... numbers of people If you suffer from... to pack their bags in • Help with both directions.” • Mobility problems washing /dressing He added: “These ess • Pain / Breathlessn increases are of a • Supervision Page 6 magnitude that you • Falls / Stumbles Torture by red tape: would expect when a

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Rental websites which scammed British holidaymakers out of thousands FINALLY shut down following Olive Press exposes

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CASES of ‘werewolf syndrome’ have grown after 16 children contaminated medication were given on the Costa del Sol. Infants developed hypertrichosis - excessive body hair growth omeprazole which had - after taking been contaminated by minoxidil – the active ingredient for alopecia medication. Some 13 babies had initially been diagnosed with the condition more cases linked to the before three were discovered earlier tainted drugs Officials believe the this month. could have affected up contamination cian pharmacies and to 30 Andalumore than 50 batches of the drug.

OLIVE PRESS

Malaga-based pharmaceutical company Farma-Quimica Sur found to be the source of SL has been The affected batch the batch. 11072/10/42 and most is from lot have been recalled while any missing packets are being tracked down. Parents have been advised to seek medical help if their child has been given the formula and check with their pharmacy if they have purchased an affected lot. Hypertrichosis, known as ‘werewolf syndrome’, is tion characterised by a rare condiexcessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body. Those with the condition cally been subject to greathave historiin somes cases forced interest and to perform in travelling circuses and freak shows. Spanish authorities have said this incident is isolated to children’s formula and that adults taking omeprazole capsules should not worry oping symptoms. When about develthe children A FRAUDULEN stopped taking the prescription T villa rental webtheir site that tricked British hair growth subsided. holiday-

HOT ZONE LOCKDOWN

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REuse REduce REcycle

proud to be part of a campaign that exposed a rental website that scammed British holidaymakers out of thousands. Behind countless tales of heartbreak, Farron the fraudsters seduced hundreds into wants purchasing holidays expat at villas that did not MPs even exist. LIBERAL Democrat leader Reporting the scamTim Farron has slammed the ‘utter unfairness’ British Guardia mers toof the expats being denied a vote in next month’s general election. Civil ourselves, the Farron pledged the Lib Dems would grant MPs was to expatfinally taken down. website constituencies to represent theThe 1.2 million British citizens story was duly followed in the UK press and rumbled living in the EU. Farron accused the Conservaon for tiveon Partyand of ‘breaking their over a year.

OLIVE PRESS

Knocking the COVID pandemic off the front pages was - Brexit! But rather than the usual negative news, there was the story that the numbers of Brits making Spain - and Mallorca - their home had soared 500%. A report from the WZB Social Science Centre revealed that Brits were showing ‘increased impulsiveness, spontaneity and risk taking’ in making a snap decision to move to Spain. This could only be good news for Mallorca as the new arrivals brought cash and investment with them.

IT’S OFFICIAL: consolidates its reign as site in Spain…. see page the 7. For more exclusive contentnumber one English news visit www.theolivepress.es

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Vol. 1 Issue 3

About time the tax-avoiding social media giants paid newspapers for their content

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IN the midst of an ever changing health crisis, parts of the island were once again put on a partial lockdown. Registering a surge in new cases, ‘hot zones’ were created in areas of Palma with the highest number of infections. Residents had to once again justify leaving their homes with the first wave of restrictions being enforced on bars and restaurants – a sector which has suffered tremendously as a result of the pandemic.

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VITAL victory for the media has been won in Australia after Facebook was ordered to pay news outlets for sharing their content. It’s a ruling that could be repeated world wide. The social media giant has now backed down after initially banning all news content down under out of protest. After admitting defeat, bosses are said to be in talks with several media giants to reach agreements - and it’s about time! For years, Facebook has been leeching off - and effectively killing - the media by using its content without paying for it. It has seen local journalism suffer, while national newspapers have been forced to resort to clickbait headlines and other tricks to get readers directly to their websites. While Google was also named in the case, the search giant has at least been more willing to address the problem.

Lip-service

As well as negotiating with publishers in Australia, it last year gave awards to the best media groups around the world, including the Olive Press, one of a small handful in Spain to win a special grant for our outstanding journalism. Facebook, on the other hand, ignored our requests for aid, despite paying lip-service to helping regional newspapers during the harsh COVID crisis. But it has had no problem in allowing racists to spread fake news content and conspiracy theories for YEARS. Just look at how a whole generation of people have been brainwashed by the QAnon cult - a lot of its content widely shared on Facebook. Readers often complain of clickbait headlines and so-called ‘churnalism’, but often don’t realise that it’s thanks to plummeting media sales and the fact that everyone expects news for free that standards have been falling. If newspapers were paid their dues there would be more money and time available to invest in better quality stories and more importantly more journalists. Let’s hope Facebook, which pays practically no tax, is forced to cough up all over the world and, in turn, this leads to an upturn in the quality of global news.

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: - Marbella and Estepona can reopen bars, 1vid-19 restaurants and shops from Saturday after Coincidence rate drops below Junta threshold

(10,183 views)

The municipalities closing or opening 2- Listed: their borders in Spain’s Andalucia today after Junta updates list (9,490 views) Bars and restaurants can reopen in Spain’s 3- balearic islands from March 2 (9,040 views) Sale of alcohol to be banned in Spain’s Anda4- lucia after 6pm in bid to fight Covid-19 (7,648 views) Light at the end of the tunnel: Bars and restau5-rants in the Valencia region to reopen in March (7,531 views)

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LA CULTURA

February 26th - March 11th 2021

A tasty discovery A STUNNINGLY ornate 12th-century Islamic bath house has been unearthed behind false walls during construction work at a tapas bar. Much to the surprise of the builders - and the owners of popular tapas bar Cervercería Giralda in Sevilla the building work uncovered dazzling skylights, geometric motifs and murals thought to date back to the same time period as the city’s cathedral. Researchers said that documentary evidence of the baths’ existence dated back to a few decades after Christian forces captured Sevilla in 1248. Workmen realised they had discovered something truly unique when they broke through the false ceiling of the Giralda and saw elaborate Islamic skylights. “It was a wonderful surprise,” added Fernando Amores, an archaeologist who has helped to research the find.

Hauser about that! AN EXTRAORDINARY arts centre will open on the Isla del Rey in Menorca this summer. Located just a 15-minute ride from the port of Mahon by shuttle boat, the protected island is home to a decommissioned naval hospital and a handful of 18th century outbuildings, some of which have been carefully repurposed for this exciting Hauser & Wirth Menorca arts centre. Comprising an exhibition space, expansive garden, outdoor sculpture trail with works by Louise Bourgeois, Eduardo Chillida, Franz West and others, a gallery shop and restaurant named Cantina, the 1,500 sqm space aims to forge meaningful connections with art, education, conservation and food. Speaking of the new addition to the Menorcan cultural scene, the Mayor of Mahon, Hector Pons, said that the arts centre ‘will have a positive impact for the economy and is an example of the sustainable model we believe in’. He continued that he was ‘very proud to welcome a project that preserves the historic buildings and sensitively connects with this special place.’ An exhibition by Mark Bradford will inaugurate the opening and feature a dynamic collection of the contemporary artist’s new paintings and sculptures.

Thanks to going virtual for the fifth Ibizacinefest, all the world’s a stage IT’S been a long time since we got the chance to go to the cinema, grab the popcorn and settle into plush seats and hushed silence and enjoy a film from start to finish - far from the buzz of the iPhone or the disruption of kids climbing the walls. And under normal circumstances, if you wanted to see the premier of a film at an international festival, you’d be lucky to get a ticket. But a pleasant consequence of life in the time of coronavirus - and the advancement of at home entertainment - is that

OP QUICK Crossword Across 7 Fungal reproductive cell (5) 8 Summary (7) 9 Model might be good or bad (7) 10 Refine (5) 11 Vintners’ vessels (4) 12 Kind of loan (8) 16 Multipurpose roll (4,4) 18 Might contain uranium, if yellow (4) 20 Ball girl? (5) 22 Retailers’ additions (7) 23 Fingerlike (7) 24 Cut into small pieces (5)

OP Sudoku

Down 1 Lovey-dovey (8) 2 Worn-out old cars (5) 3 Punt propeller (4) 4 Affirmed (6) 5 “Let ‘em have it!” (4) 6 “A bushel and a ---” (4) 7 Veered abruptly (7) 13 Tide or cord (3) 14 Like the White Rabbit (2,1,5) 15 Made a stab (7) 17 Unlawful takings (6) 19 Extract by force (5) 20 Organisation (4) 21 Racing sled (4) 22 Exploit (4)

All solutions are on page 15

Film fest By Kirsty McKenzie

all the world is now a stage. This year, the fifth Ibizacinefest, is coming to you. The island’s annual festival celebrating independent film will be lifting its (virtual) curtain this Friday (February 26) and allowing film fanatics from all across the globe to login to the event. The programme, carefully curated by Filmin, will be available to enjoy online until March 9 and include premiers of hotly anticipated European films. The Balearic festival celebrates homegrown talent and will showcase work from Spanish directors, including Alexis Delgado Búrdalo’s new movie This Film Is About Me, shot

in a women’s prison, and El Drogas a portrait of musician Enrique Villareal, directed by Natxo Leuza. San Sebastian’s Maider Fernandez Iriarte will debut her feature film during the fest. Jordi’s Letter examines the vital importance of communi-

Friends in need

cation between human beings while I Am the Sun by Ilaria Gambarelli, tackles the divide between personal and professional relationships. Find out more here: https://festhome.com/f/ ibizacinefest

Terenia Taras Telling it like it is

OVID can take a back seat this time as I’m soooooo bored by it all now. Like everyone else, I just want places to openup, stay open and for us all to resume life as we know it! We have finally moved into our second home in Mallorca and despite the initial reluctance and dread of having to do it all again, we’re very happy. My mission was to temporarily furnish the apartment for under €1,000 and I’ve managed to do it under budget. You’d be amazed what you can buy on Facebook MarketPlace and Wallapop. Luckily, friends of friends had a sofa, sideboard, mirror, dining table and chairs going, which we got for €200, bargain! We did, however, buy a new bed, mattress, headboard and bedside tables for €700. It would have been far easier to have found a furnished apartment, but after being here for a year we want to feel like the place we live in is our home. Having already got duplicate everything in the UK, as my partner and I merged homes before we moved to Mallorca, it seemed like a good opportunity to get things out of storage and furnish our new apartment. But being in the midst of Brexit that wasn’t going to be as straightforward as before. Factor in the new legislation which is holding everything up, the extensive information required, including measurements, approximate weight and cost of each item, then add on 29% import tax. We got a couple of quotes, one from a wellknown removal firm and another from Jason at Mallorca Express, we went with the latter as it worked out cheaper. The most painful part of moving, as I’m sure you’ll all agree, is having to pay the agent one month’s rent in commission. What do the agents actually do for their commission other than spend five minutes showing you around and is-

suing a standard contract? In the words of Aretha Franklin, Who’s Zooming Who? It’s no wonder everyone on the island seems to work in real estate. Perhaps I should reinvent myself too! My advice is, if you can find a private landlord then that’s definitely the way to go to avoid paying commission on top of two months’ deposit, plus your first month’s rent. One way to do this is to find out who the president of the apartment complex is and ask if they’ll email all the owners to see if they want to rent their apartment and to contact you directly. I did this and got a good response because many of the owners have lost out on summer holiday rentals and may consider long-let. Another thing which has amazed me about living here is the expat community and how they rally in times of a crisis. Having moved to Mallorca and not knowing anyone, we’ve made some great friends. They say you meet people for a reason, a season or a lifetime and the people we’ve made friends with are definitely lifers. When we needed a van, a friend of a friend had one we could use. I’ve already mentioned the friend who on a drunken Friday night managed to conjure up the sofa, table and chairs for us. Everyone offered to help in one way or another. But it’s not just the practical, it’s also the emotional support that us expats have provided each other with during this crisis. Friends here become like your extended family and I’m so very grateful for that. YOU CAN FOLLOW ME

@tereniataras

A Sierra Nevada ll about

Vol. 4 Issue 100

www.theolivepress.es

February 2021

Slide away You can finally slope off to Andalucia’s skiing heaven, writes Charlie Smith

ILENCE. There is not a single peep as I climb upwards through the valley to meet my maker. I poke my head out of the cable car window and the Sierra Nevada’s fresh alpine air hits my lungs. Then I hear it – a sweeping crunch down the crisp white piste, as a snowboarder whizzes past below. Another tears through, and then a third, all weaving down the mountainside at blistering speed. I’m definitely more terrified than the three Spanish guys sharing the carriage with me. We have left behind the cosy bars and restaurants in Pradollano, the main town of Andalucia’s only ski resort. We step out at Borreguiles, which sits some 2,700 metres above sea level. This is the basecamp for many of the Sierra’s runs, which range from the green-coloured ‘muy facil’ pistes to those in black, labelled ‘muy dificil’. Continues overleaf

ll about

February 26th - March 11th 2021

Sierra Nevada Photo by Telemark

Snow speed ahead From Front

Blinded by the brilliant white sheen given off by the snow, I meet my teacher for the day, Joey, from the British Ski Center. Having only ever skied on the dry slope in Halifax, Yorkshire, on a school trip, it’s fair to say I am out of my depth. Joey takes me over to a small conveyor belt up a very gentle incline slope, that is probably classed as ‘muy muy facil’. He puts me through my paces and after an hour of intensive training, I’ve gone from Bambi on ice to actually skiing. It’s time to hit the slopes. The pair of us hop onto the Emile Allais ski lift, named after the French alpine ski champion of the 1930s. And maybe Emile would have been proud – if not a bit bored and bemused – as I safely ‘snow ploughed’ my way to the bottom. Saying goodbye to Joey, I pop into Restaurante Borreguiles for a much-needed and reasonably-priced cafe con leche and bocadillo, while I reflecting on my newly-discovered sporting prowess.

With the sun now beating down, I take my confidence – or should that be cockiness – back up the slope and prepare for my first solo run. All goes well until I cross a small but slippery patch of ice – a rarity on most of the Sierra Nevada slopes, which are generally icing sugar-soft. A €9 million cash injection for the 2019/2020 season saw the introduction of 33 new snow cannons, which produce the same amount of snow in half the time, meaning the environment benefits as well as the slopes.

As I hurtle over the ice, desperately trying to slow myself, I clip the skis of 10-year-old boy, sending us both flying. As I look up I realise his classmates have witnessed the whole thing. But rather than giving me a dressing down, the lad’s teacher imparts some words of wisdom and encouragement. This friendliness is a characterising feature of the Sierra Nevada, as locals and tourists – from Portugal, Britain, Germany and Scan-

dinavia – seem at peace among the tranquility of the idyllic landscape. Given that my ‘victim’ and I both walk away unscathed, all in all, I count my first ever day’s skiing as

a roaring success. The prices for all this fun in the snow are not to be sniffed at either. My adult’s one-day ski pass was just €33 at the special current

Going downhill fast Jon Clarke on the terrors of teaching your children how to ski

F there’s one golden rule of skiing it’s DON’T teach your children how to do it. It was a lesson I learnt the hard way when I found myself flailing down a green run in the Sierra Nevada with both my youngsters in tow a few years ago. Enthusiastic and fearless - like their dad - they had somehow persuaded me to take them up for a couple of runs before their scheduled lesson was set to begin at 11am. But when we all fell over in the first lift queue I got the hint that I might have been a touch foolhardy. Pulling them both up again we finally alighted the chair only for Alfie, my then five-year-old, to fall off the other side, stopping the lift for him to be scooped up by the lift operator. Within 30 seconds of moving again came the first cry of cold and then the announcement that he was ‘not going to ski down’ And after falling over again as we got off

the lift, I felt pretty certain he was going to have to be carried down. However, he suddenly got his ski legs and we took off - well tumbled really – down the slope. I had tried to get their skies into the classic snowplough position and told them to head sideways not straight downhill. But, of course, it doesn’t work like that and while Alfie went left, Maia, then eight, shot off to the right, screaming blue murder. A horrible moment having to decide which of your two children to save, I plumped for the youngest, a daredevil, with no fear, but no sooner had I picked him up, I skidded off after Maia, who was by now on a totally different run 100 metres away and in floods of tears. We regrouped and I attempted to get them to follow me down in a zig zag with promises of bravery medals and hot chocolate at the bottom. After five falls each and a shout from an

CHILD’S PLAY: It’s fun for kids on the slopes... but not if their dads are teaching them

angry teacher, when we bombed straight through his class sending the pupils tumbling, they made it to the bottom with, guess what, huge smiles on their faces. It was a lesson in damage control and I just about passed, but I vowed to leave the job of training them to the professionals. The rest of the hour before their lesson was spent on the very, very nursery slope (and its bizarre ‘magic carpet’ tunnel), luckily with a Dutch friend and her daughter, who was an equal novice. Up there on the one degree slope practically nothing can go wrong, and it was a huge relief when I handed them over to the very capable teachers at the Las Gondalas ski school, whose patience apparently knows no bounds. So why on Earth am I so keen for my youngsters to learn to ski? The unselfish reason is I want them to develop a skill that will keep them fit and that they can enjoy for years to come. The selfish reason is that I want an excuse to go to the Sierra Nevada as much as possible throughout the season. For there is nothing as lovely as taking in the mountain air and breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada. Bright sunshine, a gentle breath of wind and a glass of Veuve Cliquot in the champagne bar on the way down. Now something of a winter ritual since moving to Andalucia 16 years ago, a day or weekend away in the Granada skiing resort is always great fun. Heading up with friends, there are usually between 50 and 100kms of runs in a good year and the choice of places to eat in the resort is surprisingly good, not to mention good value compared to the normal skiing resort prices. Then, of course, you get the health benefits. All that fresh air and movement for

NO TUNNEL VISION: Maia and Alfie on the way up hours at a time has got to be good for you. My search engine produces millions of results when the keywords ‘health benefit’ and ‘skiing’ are entered. A random look at one describes it as so ‘Pure zingy mountain air contains lower levels of oxygen than we are generally used to… the body becomes more efficient in its circulation and oxygen delivery… which is great for sluggish deskbound types! Quite. It goes on to talk about stress-busting, facing fears and overcoming frustrations. And so ultimately came as a lovely sur-

prise that after one of the most exhilarating mornings skiing I could remember, I picked up my kids with huge smiles on their faces. I proposed lunch down in the resort with their mother to which, they screwed up their faces and insisted it should be a bocadillo and chips at the top, followed by an afternoon’s skiing with dad. I can tell you it got better. And by the end of the second day, these two tornadoes were hooked. It made my year, and we have been coming back ever since.

3 February 26th - March 11th 2021

You’ll ski for sure WITH so much shut due to the pandemic, people may be wondering whether they are actually allowed to head for the ski slopes. The good news for winter sports fans is that the Sierra Nevada resort is open for business - although some restrictions do apply. If you are in Mallorca and hoping to have some snow plough fun this year, keep an eye out for when Andalucia opens its borders. The Junta has said they will stay shut until at least February 28. But with Andalucia’s 14 day contagion rate down to 215 positive cases per 100,000, there might be good news for travellers in March. Besides regional border closures, there are a couple of important rules to follow: 1. Prospective skiers must have purchased a ski pass in advance, online, and 2. Be coming from a municipality whose borders are not shut

IDYLLIC: The Sierra Nevada puts skiers on top of the world

SURFS UP: Some daredevils ditch skis and snowboards as they ride the slopes

COVID rate. and you can see why it is one of Get the best views by taking adSeven-day options start from just the most attractive resorts in Eu- vantage of the ski lifts, which in €196, while there are generous rope. summer carry both people and discounts for children, elderly “One of my favourite new addi- bikes to the summit to enjoy the and disabled customers. tions is the Pista del Mar in the breathtaking routes back down. This is a bargain when you look at heart of Borreguiles. Borreguiles, the resort’s impreswhat the Sierra Nevada has to of- “This has been created to make sive ski bowl, boasts a bike park fer, with 124 different runs for ev- a fun and safe area where fami- in the hotter months. Youngery ability, whether you’re Shaun lies and beginners can enjoy the sters can test their strengths in White or Barry White. snow.” the mini-olympiads zone or race Beginner and intermediate slopes Santi is far from the only skier against each other on the pedal are in abundance with 19 green smitten by Pradollano’s charms. car track. runs and 41 blues – my kind of In a normal year, over one million Guided dawn and dusk walks and territory. people visit the resort each year. a bumper running and cycling And for Beijing Winter Olympics That is an impressive achieve- race calendar are a magnet keephopefuls there are 50 red runs ment considering it was only ing the resort busy 12 months of (difficult) and 14 black and or- constructed in 1964, making it a the year. ange (very difficult). newbie in comparison to some of Back in the icy present, it’s time It’s hard to believe that when fully France’s long-established resorts to sample some of Pradollano’s open 106,8 kms of like Chamonix and legendary apres ski scene. pistes and 124 runs Courchevel. For the perfect start, drop into lie just two hours The bar’s walls But there is much Bar Esqui where affable landlord from sunny Marbella more to the Sierra Nichu slings cañas across the on sea and half an include a family Nevada than slid- counter like a bartender in a westhour from Granada. down it on two ern saloon while blasting punters photo featuring ing It truly lives up to the planks of wood. with everything from Michael a fresh-faced marketing hype as a You can tackle it by Jackson to 90s club classics. place where you can and snow- A hearty pub grub menu – with King Felipe VI toboggan ski in the morning board, or on a snow- quality albondigas – is on offer as and sunbathe on the shoe hike (akin to you scrutinise the history adorncoast, pina colada in walking with a tennis ing the bar’s walls, including a hand, by the afternoon. racket strapped to each foot). family photo featuring a freshExpert skiers treasure the snow Family-oriented Mirlo Blanco park faced King Felipe VI. which, particularly in springtime, gives kids their adrenalin fix as An equally-tasty post-ski belis quite unlike the tightly-packed they brave the star attraction, Tri- ly-warmer is the lentejas, freshly ice found in many European win- neo Ruso (Russian served up by Jose ter sports resorts. sled), which whisks Carlos and his team Some ski fans even brave the riders around a sevthe cosy and modThe melt in the at mountain descent in bikinis for eral hundred metre estly-priced Casathe last day of the season in May track with tight turns mouth carillada blanca. (la bajada en bikini), an unmissa- and a 550 metre deLa Visera is also a is a must, as is great spot for steak, ble occasion charged with cham- scent. pagne, hedonism and near-nudi- A magic carpet slide the courgette while Swell, Tito ty. and bouncy castles Tapas and La Bodecarpaccio Even on my trip in cold December can also be found in guita are all definiteI spotted some shoeless surfer the zone, along with ly worth a trip too. dudes, wetsuits and boards in mountains of snow For those with a bit tow. for DIY fun. more spending money, La Mural“Constant improvements and an And if that sounds like too much la’s revamped menu makes that ability to produce a lot of snow action, you can always swap icy hard work on the slopes all worthare just two of the strengths of snow for a hot steam bath and while. The melt-in-the-mouth carour resort,” said Santi Sevilla, soak up some me-time at one of rillada is a must, as is the courwho has been working at Cetur- several hotel spas. gette carpaccio with fig sauce sa, the resort’s administrator, for But all year round, the Sierra and the peanut tart to finish. And eight years. Nevada is paradise for fresh air of course, nothing goes down “Add to that the arrival of the fiends. better at this time of year than a Freestyle Ski World Champion- After ‘the melt’, the resort be- steaming glass of tinto de Inviership and Snowboarding here, and comes a haunt for walkers, wild- no - spiced, mulled wine. Salud! the affordability of ski passes, life lovers and mountain bikers. www.britishskicenter.co.uk

Currently, direct flights from Mallorca to Malaga, from where you can drive to the snowy sierras, resume on March 25 (€44). However, that is likely to change if Andalucia opens its borders before then. As for the ski resort itself, the capacity is limited to 50% of normal, meaning you’ll need to book early on busy days. This, of course, works two ways, as it also means the slopes will be much quieter than normal. Finally, cable cars have a reduced capacity of between 60 to 75%, while masks are compulsory.

The Seventies skiers

HEY have been coming to the Sierra Nevada for decades from their home in Almeria. And, best of all, retired expats (above) Martin and Brenda Carney, 72 and 70, now get their ski passes completely free of charge. “All we have to do is rent our gear and we have been using the same shop Ski Sol since we first came,” explains former UK hotelier Brenda. “We love it up here and the snow is usually excellent.” Shop boss Montse (pictured with them) explains that they have dozens of clients in their 70s, and one Norwegian in his NINETIES. “He’s been coming down here for years,” she reveals. “He is amazingly fit and I think skiing really helps him stay that way.” Many of the local business owners still ski every day, well into their sixties. They include Jose Carlos, at Bodega Casablanca, and EOE skiing school boss Jose Luis Hernandez, 64, who explains: “It’s a great sport, using almost all your muscles, your arms, your legs and your dorsals, not to mention the heart. “My brother Manolo still skis and he’s in his 80s and I intend to ski when I’m 90.” Statistically 2.7% of skiers in the Sierra Nevada are over 60 years old. Last but not least there are a lot more Asian skiers coming these days, including the group (left) from China who live in Malaga.

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es

In a new green column, Martin Tye asks are you aware that Spain is the Dirty Man of Europe?

ALL I NEED IS THE AIR THAT I BREATHE…

Green matters By Martin Tye

...So The Hollies sang back in 1974. An iconic song, covered by many artists, and wrongly interpreted as a love song. Not true. The lyrics were written by Mike Hazlewood (British) and Albert Hammond (Gibraltarian) shortly after they arrived in LA for the first time. And there, they saw for the first time SMOG. As they looked out over the Hollywood Hills all they could see was an ugly yellow monster. That was then, but what about now? Try and wrap your mind around these harrowing facts: ●● Air pollution accounts for 1 in 8 deaths worldwide ●● According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution has the greatest impact on global health ●● Air pollution is clearly linked to a large number of medical conditions, namely: • Cardiovascular disease • Cancer • Acute respiratory infections • Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases(COPD) ●● 91% of the world’s population live in places where air quality exceeds WHO limits.

So what about our beloved Spain? In 2015 Spain was labelled Europe’s most polluted country by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Ouch! I’ll wager not many readers knew that! Obviously pollution varies regionally, and comes in many forms. From plastics on our beaches to heavy emissions from industry and vehicle exhaust fumes. The worst affected areas in Spain are Madrid, Barcelona and the coastal area around Valencia. Pollution levels on the Costa del Sol fare well, behind only Galicia and the wider Levante region. In Andalucia, Malaga province performs well. Why? Lack of heavy industry and living on the coast we are subject to continual easterly and westerly winds which act as drains for harmful gases.

February 26th - March 11th 2021

Going deep

ENERGY giant Iberdrola is planning the first industrial-scale floating offshore wind farm in Spain with an investment of €1 billion-plus. The 300MW plant will produce clean energy off an as yet unidentified part of the Spanish coast, from 2026. The study, design and engineering could begin this year and it could generate more than 2,800 jobs through design and construction. The scheme involves 66 companies and technology centres, and will contribute to the fight against

climate change, with 202,500 tonnes of carbon emissions saved per year once operational. Iberdrola has now submitted the plan to the Next Generation EU programme.

Burning issue By Dilip Kuner

Spain has had in place targets and frameworks to ensure sustainable development and improve environmental conditions. The economic difficulties of 2008-2014 impacted on this programme. In 2018, Spain announced an ambitious environmental policy that would see the country end its dependence on fossil fuels, and instead draw 75% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, rising to 100% by 2050. Politicians are renowned for making future commitments that they won’t be around to see finalised! Still, where there’s a promise there is hope. Pressure from within the European Union has stimulated Spain’s resolve. Until recently Spain occupied the unenviable position of being the only country in the world with a ‘Sun Tax’. Truly unbelievable! People who installed solar panels were taxed for the electricity they produced. Utter madness. Thankfully all that has now gone, enabling the solar panel industry to emerge again and give consumers the ability to reduce their electricity bills in an environmentally efficient way. Ultimately, Spain’s goal is to completely decarbonise its economy. Spain has stopped issuing new licences for oil and gas production, has closed most of its coal mines, and is running down its nuclear energy programme. Spain is increasing its efforts with particular focus on solar and wind. This renewable energy plan seeks to reverse rising carbon emissions. According to the British market research and data analysis firm YouGov, over 80% of Spaniards believe that climate change is a threat. Let’s see what they do about it! After all, All I need is the air that I breathe... 100% Certified Green Energy

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch copany Mariposa Energy. Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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THERE is nothing many expats love more than a roaring fire or a fuel efficient log-burning stove. But beware. While a log fire might be charming it could be bad for your health, two studies have found. A UK Department of the Environment report says that wood-burning in the home accounts for 38% of PM 2.5 pollution – a form of fine particle pollution that is considered particularly dangerous as it penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream. This figure is triple the same contamination emitted by vehicles, which makes up 12% of the UK’s total.

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A second report shows that wood-burning stoves and fires are much more polluting than thought. The Dutch study by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) says that fires are responsible for an alarming 23%

Down in the dumps

SPAIN has been ignoring critical European-wide waste recycling targets. The country has not just been missing an EU set 50% recycling (or re-use) target, but the situation is getting worse. An alliance of 16 environmental organisations have filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) demanding the government is forced to act. The complaint, which has been accepted by the EC, is a ‘historic milestone and is motivated by years and years of erratic policies, stagnant selective collection and recycling rates and total disinterest in promoting prevention and reuse’ according to Ecologists in Action. According to the latest government data, the recycling rate for municipal waste in Spain stood at 35% in 2018. The complaint states that ‘not only has this insufficient figure worsened, but Spain has not implemented any of the policies that the Commission has been recommending in recent years to reach the 50% target by 2020’.

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Log stoves and fires are more harmful for health and environment then road traffic

of fine particulate emissions in the Netherlands. This is double the previous estimate of 10% and is set to lead to new urgent legislation around Europe. European guidelines now rule that particulates produced as condensation just outside the chimney should be included in the figures, as well as those in the air. This means log fires and wood burning stoves are important contributors to fine particulate pollution, along with traffic, industry and agriculture.

Comfort

According to another report by the environmental planning bureau PBL, the cheapest way of dealing with particulate pollution would be to ban diesel cars without a particulate filter and older generation wood-burning stoves. There could however be some comfort and a temporary let off for expats, most of whom live in the campo. The unhealthy effects of wood-burning are far worse in urban areas where emissions can concentrate, leading to health problems.

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BUSINESS

Bad business

BARS and restaurants in the Balearic Islands have publicly criticised the government’s handling of the de-escalation plan. The Balearic government told local business unions that bars and restaurants would be able to open from March 2. This reopening would be under certain limitations, for example only allowing the use of outdoor terraces. However, unions have now slammed the government for its failure to communicate in what capacity they can open under.

problems

The Federation of Small and Medium Sized Businesses (PIMEM) said this has presented two very serious problems for business owners. First, by not knowing how much stock to order from suppliers and secondly, to start the process of removing employees from the ERTE status, a temporary layoff of workers. PINEM vice president, Helmut Clemens, went on to say that the majority of bars and restaurants in Mallorca would not reopen under these rules since 80% do not have a terrace.

February 26th - March 11th 2021

Spanish economy to surge in 2021 SPAIN will enjoy the biggest post-COVID economic bounce in the European Union. This is the forecast of the European Commission (EC), which has raised its forecast for the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to a startling 5.6% in 2021. It is the biggest increase forecast for any of the 27 nations in the bloc. According to the EC’s Winter 2021 Forecast, GDP will grow three-tenths of a point higher than the 5.3% previously predicted. It also thinks GDP will rise a further 5.3% in 2022, but this will still leave it below pre-pandemic levels. Although the EC figures can be viewed as optimistic considering the EU average for GDP growth predicted is 3.7% for 2021, ithey are not as rosy as the Spanish government’s own

Bounce back

Freeloading curbed

RECOVERY: Huge EU grants will aid regions predictions. These for a spectacular rise in GDP of 7.2% this year. Part of the reason for the dis-

A NEW supermarket price war led by German giants Aldi and Lidl has been predicted by one of Spain’s major retail market research analysts. Florencio Garcia from Kantar España believes that increased demand from consumers will see further price reductions over the next few weeks. Garcia said: “Price cutting between Aldi and Lidl is inevitable but shoppers also want quality, and rivals to chains like Mercadona have learnt lessons from the past where they simply wanted to copy the success of the Spanish supermarket giant”. The country’s traditional top three of Mercadona, Carrefour and Dia all lost market share

crepancy is that Brussels did not take into account the impact of the European recovery fund, which will offer Spain as

Battle lines

in 2020, with Lidl breaking in to overhaul Dia in terms of sales. The threat from Aldi and Lidl has seen Carrefour and Dia both enter a price war via special promotions and loyalty cards, but Mercadona has held back from joining in the fray. “Mercadona is still the number one retailer with a market share of 24.5% in 2020, which was a 1.1% fall on the previous year,” Garcia commented. “The chain has to reinforce online sales and also tempt previous customers who have shopped around during the pandemic and not returned.”

much as €140 billion in grants and loans. Madrid estimates that this financial boost will add 2.1% to the growth rate. The EC report said: “While the outlook for the near term looks weaker than expected last autumn, growth in the European economy is set to resume this spring and gather momentum in the summer, as progress in vaccinations allows for a gradual unfreezing of economic activity.”Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said “Because the recession in 2020 was not as deep as expected, and thanks to the breakthroughs regarding vaccines, we now project the EU economy will return to its pre-crisis GDP level already in 2022.”

THE Valencia region is targeting motorhome owners who park up ‘illegally’ overnight a part of a raft of new tourism accommodation regulations. Other parts of Spain are looking on to see what sort of effect the new regulations in Valencia will have. The law will come into effect in tourist zones across the Valencian Community from May 8. The new rule mirrors a recent nationwide ban announced in Portugal on motorhomes parking up wherever they want to to save money, or to perhaps stay ‘under the radar’ from authorities. The Portuguese law started last month and defined overnight parking as running between 9pm and 7am. During the day, a motorhome in Portugal can park anywhere but without opening up windows and awnings that can be classified as ‘setting up camp’.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL By Isha Sesay

THERE are two new restaurants in Mallorca on the prestigious Michelin stars list this year. This time, Santi Taura has received the coveted mark for his second and most personal restaurant DINS in Palma. Born in Lloseta, Santi Taura studied under renowned chef Josef Sauerschell from Es Raco d’es Teix and has been developing ideas for his very own brand of Mallorcan cuisine since opening his first eatery in 2003. Its six course tasting menu serves as a temple to the past where long lost Balearic recipes are reinvented into lighter and more digestible bites. While a ‘truly sophisticated dining experience’, the inspiration for many of the chef’s dishes come from the warmth of his childhood home. Santi Taura isn't only an artist in the kitchen as the earthenware dishes and oil paintings found in both of his restaurants are also made by his own hands. Next up is Restaurante Bens

February 26th - March 11th 2021

New stars on the block Total of NINE starred joints as Michelin honours more Mallorca chefs

d'Avall in Soller which was also crowned with a star this year. Situated on the cliffs of the Serra de Tramuntana, the restaurant has been in the Vicens family for over 40 years. Here, Catalina Cifre manages the restaurant, while her husband Benet Vicens and their son Jaume take charge of the kitchen, refining traditional Balearic recipes with a modern culinary passion.

SERVING UP SUCCESS: Santi Taura, Benet and Jaume Vicens and Marc Fosh Most of the vegetables used are grown in the family’s garden and the olive oil also comes from their own grove. All the other Michelin-starred restaurants on the island have kept their coveted trophy,

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 7 Spore, 8 Outline, 9 Example, 10 Tweak, 11 Vats, 12 Bridging, 16 Duct tape, 18 Cake, 20 Belle, 22 Markups, 23 Digital, 24 Shred. Down: 1 Romantic, 2 Heaps, 3 Pole, 4 Stated, 5 Fire!, 6 Peck, 7 Swerved, 13 Rip, 14 In a hurry, 15 Guessed, 17 Thefts, 19 Wrest, 20 Body, 21 Luge, 22 Milk.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

including Andreu Genestra for Son Jaumell, Es Raco d'Es Teix in Deia, Voro in Canyamel, Jardin in Alcudia, Es Fum in Palmanova, chef Adrian Quetglas and one of Britain’s most successful culinary exports, Marc Fosh. In 1991, the chef’s passion for discovering new dishes led him to Spain where he became part of the Spanish resurgence onto the global gastronomy map. Focusing on fresh ingredients and quality of produce, in 2002, he became the first and only British chef to be awarded a Michelin Star in Spain. Mallorca now has nine stars, while Ibiza only has one - Es Tragon in San Antonio with

chef Alvaro Sanz Clavijo Unlike Mallorca, Ibiza is not known for its gastronomy, instead being able to attract millions of visitors each year thanks to its infamous clubbing scene. In winter, the island becomes nothing short of a ghost town with the majority of its restaurants closing due to there being no real monetary appeal to remain open for its hibernating residents. Mallorca on the other hand has spent years developing its cultural offer for its all year round tourists and loyal inhabitants with its buzzing and cosmopolitan capital constantly growing its collection of top-notch eateries.

The big spenders on the way LOCKDOWN has Brits dreaming of their next escape, with trips to Spain top of their wish list. TUI said families are shelling out an extra 20% more on the summer vacations in 2021, as they splash cash on longer breaks and better hotels. The travel giant has seen a booking boom, taking over 1.5million orders for the summer months. Foreign travel for leisure purposes remains illegal under the lockdown rules in England, Scotland and Wales, but Brits are already forward planning for when the travel restrictions are lifted.

Demand

Demand has been fuelled by the vaccine roll-out and TUI said bookings made in January are up by around 70% compared to December across all the countries it operates in. But sales for this summer are still down 44% compared with 2019. Greece and Spain are the most popular countries to travel to, with Brits spending an average 20% more on their holidays abroad. TUI said the surge in prices was due to customers ‘trading up’ by booking longer breaks, staying in better hotels and going in larger family groups. On a like-for-like basis, prices were the same, it said.

50% off varifocal lenses Something to smile about

Santa Ponça Avda. Rei Jaume, 117 Tel. 871 964 331 50% off varifocal lenses: Cannot be used with other offers. Purchase one pair of glasses from our 89€ range or above and get 50% discount on all types of varifocal lenses including a scratch-resistant treatment. Extra Options available at an additional charge. Excludes safety eyewear. ©2021 Specsavers Ópticas.

Olive Press Mallorca– 170mm x 256mm – Colour

February 26th

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Square eyes EIGHT in 10 - or 43 million - Spaniards use the internet for an average of six hours and 11 minutes every day, with two of those hours dedicated to social media, according to the report ‘Digital 2021’.

Petrol money SOME of the money collected for motoring offences will now go towards funding driving lessons for under 26-year-olds who have no job or are on very low incomes.

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voice in Spain

Everyone freeze!

Vol. 4 Issue 100 www.theolivepress.es February 26th - March 11th 2021

Doggy style SPAIN’s leading fashion designer, Zara, has introduced a new clothing line for pets, giving dogs the chance to strut about the streets in cotton scarves, bomber jackets, rugs and other stylish accessories.

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A SPANISH lorry driver has been arrested after selling a stolen 12-ton consignment of German chocolate at a bargain-basement price. The bumper haul was scheduled to arrive at the Elche Business Park, but the goods never got there. The owner of the haulage company told police that his employee, who only joined the firm eight days earlier, had gone missing on his return from Germany. GPS tracking revealed that the lorry spent two hours at an industrial estate near Alicante on the final leg of its journey. The driver sold the cargo for just €1,200 for a consignment with a retail value of €250,000.

Unholy row IT is one of the most stunning cathedrals in Spain and well trodden by pilgrims on the Ruta de Santiago. But residents of Burgos have - so far - been unable to keep out three unwelcome interlopers: the Virgin Mary, Jesus and God himself. The trio recently arrived in the form of three huge brass doors set to adorn the entrances to celebrate the building’s 800th anniversary. A hellish row has broken out over them with 31,000 people so far signing a petition to have them repelled. Even UNESCO has been forced to step in after locals dubbed the doors at the World Heritage Site as an ‘artistic outrage’. The petition attacked the doors as ‘an eyesore’, claiming ‘no anniversary warrants such ill treatment of our heritage’. Acting on a report by the International Council on Mon-

UNESCO wades in to hellish battle over monstrous cathedral doors

IT is one of the 20th century’s most iconic images. The moment when Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero raised his pistol into the air and fired into the ceiling to show he meant business and an attempted coup was under way in Spain. It is exactly 40 years since 40 bullets ripped into the ceiling of Madrid’s parliament as he and his men attempted to wind Spain back to the days of the dictatorship.

Rogue

By Kirsty McKenzie

uments and Sites (Icomos), UNESCO has recommended scrapping the project. But Cathedral chiefs said the doors, designed by the award-winning artist Antonio Lopez, must stay. They insist the doors complement ‘a monument al-

ready rendered in five artistic styles that are the fruit of each stage of its eight centuries’. The current wooden doors are old and in a poor state of repair. The final decision on the new doors will be taken by the culture department of the government of Castilla y León.

Filmed live on television, the February 23 attempted coup saw Tejero achieve infamy as he led 200 rogue Guardia Civil into Madrid’s parliament and shouted ‘Everyone freeze!’ The overthrow attempt thankfully fizzled out as King Juan Carlos ordered soldiers to stay in their barracks, but it put Spain through a shaky few days. Tejero’s face certainly became familiar through his criminal trial for sedition, which led to him serving 15 years in prison. Few people today know that the 88-year-old allegedly lives in Fuengirola, while his son is a priest in Marbella.

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