Mallorca Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 10 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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‘Avalanche’ of rent calls AN ‘avalanche’ of calls from worried homeowners renting out flats without a licence has swamped Mallorca authorities. Hundreds of callers have rung the tourist department about getting flats regulated, despite missing the July 31 deadline. Unlicenced homeowners are concerned about possible fines of €40,000, with platforms like AirBnb and Homeaway facing penalties of €400,000. “It has generated an avalanche of calls,” said a spokesperson. “The big rental sites are taking down hundreds of homes without permits to avoid fines.” A Booking.com spokesperson refused to say how many it had removed, but confirmed it was in ‘constructive dialogue’ to comply with regulations.

Vital

Airbnb claim the new rental legislation will cost the Balearic Islands €500 million and hit 10,000 families. But many local property experts back the government’s moves. One, Louisa Foster, who has worked in Mallorca real estate for 17 years, believes the regulations are vital. “Last year, we were unable to help over 30 clients who had jobs here, but could not find affordable housing as the majority of homes are weekly rentals,” said the owner of Vogue Exclusive and First Island Properties Mallorca. “Families rang our offices in tears unable to find places at decent prices.” She added: “Unless the government do something now, this island will be ruined in two to three years.” David Novi, a property market specialist with 12 years’ experience on the island, also backed the need for tighter regulation and fines. “I believe in some form of regulatory threat,” he told the Olive Press. “We can’t have a situation where people are being driven out as they can’t get rentals. We need a balance.”

Mum ‘shocked’ as bank refuses to accept piggy-bank money

Hog wash EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

IT should have been a fun early-life experience for her young son Oliver: The raiding of his piggy bank and the deposit in his bank account. But Alba Thomas’s local branch of La Caixa hadn’t read the script. In an astounding own-goal, officials at the Secar de la Real bank refused point blank to take it. “First they said they didn’t want to count the coins. Then they said they ‘didn’t

SHOCKED: Thomas and Oliver

want it’, the 24-year-old told the Olive Press. So now, the Mallorca mum, who dates an English businessman, is vowing to shut the one-year-olds account and put the €36 into a bank that ‘does care’. “I felt really bad because I am now unable to save money for my son. We wanted to give him the money when he was 18, as a nest egg. “Yet bank staff made me feel his money didn’t have any value, and I should be ashamed to have brought it,” she continued. After an uncomfortable

SAVING UP: Oliver with his piggy bank

wait, she was finally told that under new rules, bank staff are only allowed to accept coin deposits from restaurants and shops.

Expat tells of his Barcelona ‘hell’ careered past him and a friend pushing his chair. He told the Olive Press: “The van was about six metres away. It sped right past us. It made a crashing noise as it reached the end. “I have never been more vulnerable,” added the Mancunian recruitment consultant. “My mate literally disappeared in the chaos.” “I thought;‘If they come out with guns or knives now, I am dead. I am in a wheelchair. I am a prime target. Of course they

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW By Joe Duggan A WHEELCHAIR-bound expat has told of his terror when he was left to defend himself during the Barcelona terror attack. Craig Wilcock, 40, believes van attacker Younes Abouyaaqoub ran right past him on Las Ramblas, knocking over a woman who had come to his assistance. The father of two, who has lived in Barcelona for eight years, was going to a doctor’s appointment when the terrorist’s van

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Denied

“The only reason I opened the account for Oliver, which obviously has charges, was so I could save for him.” Staff at the branch insisted they were unable to talk to the press and referred us to the head office, which failed to comment. According to Bank Of Spain rules, banks have the right to ‘deny the count of change if it exceeded 50 coins’. “In the case of shops or restaurants, it is all agreed in the contract’s conditions,” a spokesperson told the Olive Press. Opinion Page 6

CMY

This is despite handing in another pile of coins in the very same branch a month ago when, after bagging up the money and counting it herself, bank staff sent it off to be checked and deposited it into the child’s account. “What has changed? It’s still money,” added Alba, who has had an account at the same branch for eight years, while her mother has banked with La Caixa for 50 years.

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No way to escape are going to come for me first. I have no way of escaping’.” He added: “I fell off a terrace and broke both my legs two years ago. And I was scared when that happened. “But I’m telling you now it was nowhere near as scary as I was the other day. I saw bodies lying on the floor.” A woman, sensing his vulnerability, came to help him, but as she did so was knocked to the ground by a man Craig is convinced was the fleeing terrorist. “I didn’t know who it was obviously but then you start piecing it together,” he continued. “I saw a photo of him later and it was definitely him.”

Close-calls

Craig, whose son only avoided attending the bombed Manchester Ariana Grande concert because he swapped his tickets at the last minute, admits he is now ‘much more on edge’. His friend has been left ‘traumatised’ by what he saw and is ‘too upset to talk about it’. But after attending the memorial ceremony the following day, Craig says ‘thousands of people wanted to show they were not accepting it.” “I have to admire the Catalans. They are tough. I spoke to a guy who is 92 who lived through the Civil War and Franco. He said: ‘We won’t let it affect us. We have been through a lot here.’” SEE TERROR RETURNS PAGE 6

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Manhunt on after ‘gang rape’ claim SPANISH cops are hunting for three men after a British woman claims she was raped on a popular tourist beach. The 20-year-old Scot claims she

‘Unprecedented’ police sting ends 30-year crime spree A NOTORIOUS Mallorcan gang believed to be behind a three decade crime spree has finally been snared. The Los Lobato clan, which spans three generations are believed to be behind an incredible 400 armed robberies around the island.

was attacked after going to the Punta Ballena beach of Magaluf with one of the suspects. It was there that she was met by two of his friends, who all sexu-

Los Lobato lose battle

Clampdowns

Police believe they have stolen up to €10 million during their ‘unprecedented’ 30-year crime spree. In one of the island’s biggest ever clampdowns, around 100 officers targeted the gang in Operation Ciconia, which began last week. So far, 10 people have been arrested during raids in Llucmajor, Inca, Lloret de Vistalegre and Palma as the gang prepared a new robbery.

ally assaulted her despite cries for help. Her clothes are being analysed for DNA, but police fear the suspects may have already left Mallorca.

RAID: Police storm a gang lair

Officers have so far seized €11,145 in cash, jewels, as well as tools used to carry out the robberies. “Those arrested made up a criminal group under a strict hierarchy and each member had a different role,” said a spokesman for the Guardia Civil. Some of the gang were specialists at cracking safes, while others deactivated alarm systems. Different members acted as scouts monitoring their victims’ movements, police said. They avoided detection by organising the raids in person and didn’t use mobile phones or social media to contact each other.

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Highway hell A LORRY driver who killed three people in a roadside pile-up has been released after appearing in court on charges of manslaughter and causing injury. The 54-year-old was arrested after his cement lorry smashed into three cars on the opposite side of the MA13 between Sa Pobla and Alcudia last week. His driving licence and passport have been confiscated and he has been banned from leaving the island. Guardia Civil officers are investigating if he was using his mobile phone immediately prior to the crash, which also seriously injured a 10-year-old German girl. Her father, 54, died in the crash, while her mother is also still in hospital with serious injuries. The driver, who was also taken to hospital, passed a drink and drugs test following the crash.

HAUL: In Punta Ballena

Gangbanged up!

A SUSPECTED British drug dealer has been arrested after battering an associate, who allegedly ran off with his money. Police believe the pair are part of the same criminal gang that controls the drug trade on the notorious Punta Ballena strip in Magaluf. Officers were alerted when the 47-year-old victim was rushed to a Palma hospital in a serious condition after being brutally attacked. They later found 11g of cocaine hidden in the man’s clothes and police believe he had robbed the drugs plus €2,000 from the gang before they tracked him down. The English suspect, 23, was arrested at Madrid’s Barajas Airport as he tried to flee to Thailand. Police discovered €6,000, five luxury watches and a fake driver’s licence at his home.

Washing out COPS linked to the Tolo Cursach corruption case have been accused of selling cocaine cut with powdered whitewash. The former wife of one officer testified that her husband was involved in working for the notorious nightclub owner, who faces charges of murder and racketeering. According to the woman’s testimony, seen by Spanish media, she was ‘ordered to to go to the garage in the house to take whitewash from the walls and fill bags with it’. The unnamed woman claims the officers, who would meet in a club in Playa de Palma, would allegedly sell on cocaine cut with the powder. Officers, who also worked as bouncers at the venue, were able to sell it to punters inside. At least 28 police stand accused of bribery and crimes against public health.

The words on the street Spain Office: 952 58 63 24 info@cwpespana.es

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ARRAN activists have continued their anti-tourism campaign with a wave of new graffiti. The left-wing protesters sprayed bins and walls around Palma as they continued their fight against tourist overcrowding. Meanwhile, graffiti in Santa Catalina warning ‘Guiris, go home’ has been sprayed in a number of different locations. Following this week’s graffiti spree, an

Arran spokesperson tweeted: “Yesterday we had a little agitation for Palma. As long as there is conflict, the streets will give voice to our message.” The messages read ‘Tourism is exploitation’, ‘organisation is the key to victory’ and ‘tourist go home’. Last issue, an Arran protester told the Olive Press the group were determined to press ahead with their action despite being fined after targeting a restaurant popular with tourists.

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August 31st- September 13th 2017

Super group

IT has to be one of the most star-studded lunches Spain has ever seen. Bruce Springsteen, Noel Gallagher, Jade Jagger, Calvin Klein, Poppy Delevingne along with a throng of partners and children enjoyed a slap-up meal together on the island of Formentera. The idyllic island, near Ibiza, has become a celebrity hangout in recent years, with Kate Moss a frequent visitor. Springsteen has been enjoying a break onboard David Geffen’s superyacht the Rising Sun, which hosted Barack Obama and Tom Hanks last year.

BLOOMING: Rooney

Pregnant pause COLEEN Rooney is taking time out in Mallorca after announcing she is expecting her fourth child with her famous footballing husband. ‘Mrs Wayne Rooney’ has been enjoying the sunshine with her three boys and her parents, showing off her baby bump in summer bikinis. The 31-year-old has said in the past that she would love to have a daughter after the three boys, but insists she is 'not bothered' either way. While the family is spending time by the pool and taking in the famous Pirates Adventure show in Magaluf, the Manchester United footballer has stayed at home to relax by himself.

Former First Lady flies solo to Palma with two daughters

MICHELLE Obama has touched down in Mallorca – but without her husband Barack. The former First Lady is visiting the island with her daughtrs as the guest of former US ambassador to Spain, James Costos and his husband Michael Smith. It is the second time she has visited Palma, having stayed with former King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at Marivent palace in 2010.

Week for the gals!

Horses

Love it lotts PIXIE Lott (above) has been flaunting her figure on a Spanish holiday. The model has been on a European tour with fiancee and Oliver Cheshire, having jetted to Mallorca for a friends’ wedding. Sharing images on instagram, the 26-year-old ‘Mama Do’ singer walked through various local towns, posing in her swimwear along the way. The young starlet joined the wedding celebrations at an fit-for-Vogue all white party at Pollenca’s Club Nautic marina before the ceremony. She was also spotted in the small resort town of Cala Sant Vicenc with friends.

Obama arrived in the dead of night at Son Sant Joan on Tuesday amid heavy security, according to airport sources. She is expected to stay with pals Costos and Smith, who usually holiday in luxury finca Ses HOLA: Former FLOTUS arrives to visit ex-ambassador Planes, a sanctuary for

Expecting someone Daniella? DANNIELLA Westbrook has denied being pregnant as she jetted out to Mallorca for a break. The former Eastenders star, 43, was spotted in Palma with toyboy Alan Thomason, 34, and showed signs of a telltale bump. Westbrook and her beau made a shopping excur-

Family mood REAL Madrid superstar Ronaldo has treated fans with a new family photo. He appears alongside pregnant girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, newborn twins Eva and Mateo and seven year old son Cristiano Jnr. He captioned the photo ‘family mood’ with four hearts. Sat on a navy blue sofa, the footballer holds one of twins, while Georgina cradles the other, with the Cristiano Jnr posing behind them. HAPPY: Ronaldo and kids

sion into the capital’s stores, with Thomason lovingly patting her stomach at one point. But she laughed off claims she is expecting, claiming she was‘ ‘just fat at the moment'. The actress, who recently had a facelift, is opening a bar on the Costa Del Sol with her son.

horses. The farm is owned by Marieta Salas, with the nearest house – a finca owned by ex-King Juan Carlos’s cousin – a 15 minute drive away. Salas is a close friend of Marta Gaya, who was married to Prince Zourab Tchkotoua and is one the

most influential women on the island. The visit is part of a summer holiday for Obama and is not being undertaken in an official capacity. The Obamas have spent the summer in Martha’s Vineyard in the States, where they celebrated the former US president’s birthday on August 4.

caught live by gillian Keller

Jimmy knows jest

OMEDIC legend Jimmy Carr brought tears of laughter to Palma Auditorium after a few days exploring the island. The cheeky chappie started his show with everyone's favourite topic, Donald Trump. “I love Donald, because I love America... I can't wait to see how it ends”, Jimmy began. The jokes, as promised, were new and old, and belly-bustingly funny. Many laughed while others cringed at his array of topics, from his long-term girlfriend to paedophilia, and from fat people to Brits abroad. Part of his charm is his ability to connect with the audience, slipping in ongoing and crude, but sidesplitting jokes about audience members.

Filthy

A poor local sitting near the stage named Robby, for example, became the victim of various filthy ‘your mum’ insults that were slipped in as often as possible. The London-born TV presenter did his homework, and made sure to include all the slut-shaming Magaluf jokes he could, calling out girls he thought were dressed up for a night out in 'Shagaluf' and the boys who ‘most definitely had caught a new disease while in town’. At the beginning of the the show, Jimmy encouraged the audience to text in jokes and insults, many of which he read aloud to finish off his set. He even encouraged hecklers, as long as they were ready to be fired back at, but unfortunately Mallorca did not deliver a single good heckle. “The night was hilarious, but I wish there had been some good hecklers, Jimmy is so great with comebacks,” Daisy Parker, who lives in Palma, told the Olive Press.

Not a smoking look JEREMY Clarkson looked to be on the mend as he hit Ibiza...dressed in a sarong. The former Top Gear presenter, 57, rocked the skirt and straw hat a few days after leaving a Mallorca hospital, where he had been recovering from pneumonia. Clarkson stopped for lunch with friends and later tweeted a photo of himself in Ibiza ‘enjoying’ a cup of tea. His beloved cigarettes and wine were nowhere to be seen after his recent brush with death though. “Smoking among adults is now more antisocial than murder but, apart

from one brief pause a while ago, that’s never stopped me,” the gear head commented this week. “I’ve smoked nearly 630,000 fags over the past 43 years and, aside from the very first, there hasn’t been a single one that I didn’t enjoy.” While in hospital, a doctor told Clarkson ‘If you don’t do as I say you will die’. But since then he has not puffed on one single cigarette, proudly stating “I might as well keep going now, it’s been a month. I’ve pushed it. I’ve got drunk. I’ve stayed up late. I’ve been to bars with smokers and sat outside in a cloud of their exhalations and so far I haven’t cracked”. OFF THE FAGS: Clarkson

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Immediate closure THERE have been 6 bars whose licences have been revoked over the use of their buildings for prostitution.

Protest PALMA taxis have planned a protest on September 13 against restrictions on working hours. The association wants 24 hour ability to work, compared to the current 16 hours.

Pollution THE Blue Flag at Can Perre Antoni beach has been removed after reports of partially burned plastic. The flag represents the eco friendly status of the beach. It will be raised once the problem is solved.

Number 3 IN a recent study, Palma was voted number three out of 100 of the best European beach cities. The GoEuro study analyzed over 1,000 cities.

August 31st- September 13th 2017

Parking muddle causes terror alert A BRITISH pensioner caused a terror alert when he accidentally crashed into diners at a busy terrace restaurant.

Despite 30 fraudsters convicted rental ruse is gaining EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan

MORE than 2,000 British holidaymakers have been victims of an online holiday rental scam, it has been revealed. Despite countless stories in the media, a letter seen by the Olive Press from UK’s Action Fraud, confirms that the number is rising, despite the conviction of 30 fraudsters so far. According to the fraud investigation team, the number of fake websites is growing and it is very difficult to police. In the letter, sent to a victim, a detective, writes: “The crime that you have reported is one of now over 2000 such reports we have received.” He added: “In most cases, by the time we are notified of the crime the funds that you have transferred will

Police and security services rushed to the scene, when the 79-year-old slammed onto the terrace of Los Patos restaurant

in the Port of Alcudia. The driver, it emerged, had gone forward instead of reverse in his Renault Koleos, which had a dis-

abled sign. The incident led to three diners being taken to hospital, suffering cuts, bruises and broken bones.

Thousands stung in holiday have already been transferred to other accounts and lost to withdrawals.” The detective confirmed that the shakedown is usually run by foreign criminals who travel to the UK to open ‘several hundred’ bank accounts, many of them within London. Email addresses, IP ad-

dresses and telephone numbers are all either outside the UK or can’t be traced. As soon as one account is uncovered, the gang close it down and open another, with the Metropolitan Police now investigating under Operation Arad. However, despite convicting 30 fraudsters, and jailing

some for up to five years, an Action Fraud spokesperson admits the scale of the fraud is causing problems. “Unfortunately, because of the huge resource implication, it is not possible to investigate individual offences and update individual victims,” the letter says. Investigating officers have

linked the offences to emails using the names Lucy or Amy. The Olive Press has exposed up to a dozen fake websites marketing properties around Mallorca and the Spanish mainland. Most have now been shut down, after we appealed to Google or their web hosts.

In the dark NEARLY a fifth of Spain’s economy operates ‘in the shadows’. The submerged black economy is the third highest in the industrialised world, sitting at 17.2%. The shocking research puts only Greece above Spain at 21.5% and Italy at 19.8%, according to Germany’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IAW). For the UK, in contrast, the figure plummets to 9.4%, coming in eighth. Shadow economies are calculated as the total value of transactions that occur ‘off the books’ – i.e. work done for cash to avoid paying tax. It ranges from paying a tradesman or a babysitter, to the illegal wildlife trade, counterfeiting and money laundering. Untaxed activity boomed during the global financial crisis and continues to grow. The global shadow economy is thought to be worth at least €550 billion. While this is revenue that governments lose out on in terms of tax, it has also been argued that attempting to curb the black economy can limit growth and hamper innovation.

Take to the skies HARD-left campaigners have vowed to ‘take down’ a Mallorca anti-gay group’s protest aeroplane using Game Of Thrones tactics. Young radicals from the PSIB party hit back at ultra-Catholic Hazteoir group (Make Yourself Heard) after it flew a plane with a homophobic banner. The message read ‘LGTB gag law: They are going for your children’. Activists from PSIB tweeted ‘We are not Cersei Lannister [a Game Of Thrones character] but we will take down the Hazteoir plane with the weight of the LGTB law’. Palma’s mayor, Antoni Noguera, accused Hazteoir of ‘contaminating’ the air and said ‘they were not welcome’.

Port faces plastic penalty EXCLUSIVE

PALMA Port Authority faces a fine of up to €45,000 over the alleged illegal use of burned plastic in building works. But campaigners have criticised the penalty against the port and the Tirme incinerator as too weak and demanded the pair are forced to clean up nearby beaches where molten slags have washed ashore. The Olive Press understands 60,000 tonnes of the waste has fed into waters around the port. A spokesperson for the environment department told the Olive Press this week it believed an offence had been committed. “The Port Authority and Tirme have used the molten slags without authorisation,” she said. Last week, it was revealed that Ca’n Pere Antoni beach had been stripped of its coveted Blue Flag as a result of burned plastic washing ashore.

Staying at the top THE Balearics were the number-one destination for foreign visitors in July. An incredible third of all overnight stays in Spain last month were in Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca, according to official stats, with occupancy rates at 91% on the islands. Catalunya came second with 21% of bookings. In total, 43.6 million overnight stays were booked in hotel rooms in July, up 1.6% on the same month last year.

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F e at u r e

www.theolivepress.es Mallorca’s original community newspaper

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than 500,000 people a month.

OPINION Short change IT is decidedly mean-spirited for La Caixa bank staff to turn away a mother depositing money for her young child. All that mum Alba Thomas wanted cashier staff to do was take her piggy bank money, send it to be recounted and deposited in little Oliver’s account. Surely, it is not beyond the capacity of a bank’s staff to perform such a task? Given they had previously done so, it seems hugely unfair to now say no. Besides, restaurants and businesses’ money is accepted in such a way. And a small child’s piggy bank takes a lot less time to count.

Barcelona attack TWO weeks on from Spain’s most deadly terrorist attack in over a decade and frightening, individual stories are still coming out. Craig Wilcock’s terrifying ordeal is a reminder of how vulnerable people in a wheelchair can be in the middle of an emergency. Yet again, though, just as in London Bridge, Manchester, Paris and countless other cities, human beings acted with kindness towards one another amid a scene from hell. An unknown woman rushed to Craig’s side to help him before being smacked to the ground, possibly by the fleeing terrorist. Craig then stayed to make sure she was ok. There is more good than bad in this world.

Depòsito Legal PM: 610-2017

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AWARDS

2016/2017 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2017

Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

August 31st- September 13th 2017

Terr r returns

After ISIS kill 16 innocent victims and injure over 100, we take a look at Spain’s recent history with Islamic terrorism

S a white Fiat van sped down Barcelona’s Las Ramblas, mowing down helpless pedestrians, it became clear that Islamist terrorism had struck Spain once more. But why had Spain remained untouched in recent years? And why has this evil now been unleashed on these shores? Since the 2004 Madrid attacks, which killed 192 people, Spanish security forces have done a sterling job of policing this murderous threat. Until then, Spain’s authorities had paid scant attention to the threat carried by Islamist extremism. Jihadists heading to Chechnya or Bosnia were even able to be seen off from Barajas Airport by Imad Eddin Bara-

King joins terror march

THE death toll from the Barcelona terror attacks has risen to 16 after a German woman died from her injuries. The deadly attacks in Las Ramblas and Cambrils left 120 injured, 24 of whom remain in hospital, including five in critical condition. The woman is believed to have been hit by the van which first ploughed through crowds on August 17. It came a day after some 500,000 people marched in Barcelona at the weekend to send a signal of unity

under the slogan ‘no tinc por’ (I am not afraid). Police, emergency services and taxi drivers all led the

parade, followed by King Felipe VI, PM Mariano Rajoy and Catalan president Carles Puigdemont.

UK network funded attack ISLAMIC State has used a network of companies operating out of the UK to finance its terror plots, including the recent attacks in Spain, it has been claimed. FBI documents seen by The Sunday Times reveal surveillance technology sent to Spain is linked to the development of weaponised drones in Wales by the terror group. Other purchases said to be routed through Cardiff include ‘bug sweep units’ and software to help launch rockets. US court documents show the lengths to which individuals involved with the Welsh companies went to mask their alleged activities.

Following this month’s attacks Spain suddenly feels less safe kat, one of the founders of Al Qaeda in Spain. But following the outrage in the Spanish capital, some 3,000 Guardia Civil, National Police and National Intelligence Centre agents were deployed to combat the movements CAPTURED ALIVE OR DEAD: The terror suspects and (left) the tragic victims who lost of Al Qaeda, ISIS and similar their lives, including young Brit Julian Cadman groups, resulting in over 700 arrests, dozens of convictions ism General Francisco Jose Gan, former ain and the USA in the 2003 invasion of and 120 people jailed. head of the intelligence service, said in Iraq. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria In 2015, Europol figures show May: “I do not say Spain is safe. I say it Aznar was ousted from office less than a Spain made 187 arrests, the is better prepared because we learnt in year after the Madrid atrocities, which he second highest behind France a very traumatic way.” initially seemed to pin on ETA. with 424. From June 2016, 164 Following this month’s atIn recent years, the Spanish military suspected jihadists have been presence in the Middle East has been tacks, Spain suddenly feels arrested. These include the limited to a non-combat role, with some much less safe. And four men detained in Mallor450 personnel helping to train 6,000 while it has avoided ca this summer who were Iraqi soldiers. being attacked for 14 suspected of planning a But following the Barcelona attacks, the years, plots like those London Bridge-style knife role of Moroccan radicals travelling to in Mallorca and Maattack in Inca, and two Syria to fight for Isis has been thrown drid show the country Moroccan men arrested into even sharper focus. has still been caught in Madrid and believed Several of the dozen men involved in in the crosshairs. to be plotting a Nice-style the Catalan atrocities were of Moroccan Spain itself also holds truck attack. origin. Authorities in the north African a historical significance Unlike France or Belcountry believe around 1,600 of their for jihadists. Islamist gium, where Muslim comnationals have travelled to fight for Isfundamentalists talk munities often live in povabout wanting to restore lamic State. The Crisis Group believes erty stricken urban ghettos, the caliphate and regard 2,000 Moroccans with dual nationality Spain’s Muslim population is Spain as the illegitimate occupier left Europe to do the same. Abdelbaki better integrated, which has preDISof Al-Andalus, the Muslim kingEs Satty, the 42-year-old Imam and vented the sense of social aliensuspected mastermind of this month’s dom which ran from 711 to 1492. TRAUGHT: ation that often drives young men massacres in Catalunya, became close Spain is also sometimes referred into the arms of Islamic fundaWitness to to one of the men jailed over the Madrid to by jihadists as being part of the mentalism. attacks bombings while in prison. ‘umma’, the global community of Spain’s security forces have also And while Moroccan security forces have Islamic people. been able to draw on techniques curtailed the threat at home, Spain’s More recently, Spain’s involvehoned during four decades spent fightproximity to Morocco and the large exment in the Middle East was used as a ing the threat posed by the Basque sepreason to attack it. The Madrid bombings pat Moroccan community, and its north aratist group, ETA. were, in the perpetrators’ eyes, retaliation African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, Addressing what the security services for the Spanish government joining Britare now giving cause for concern. had learned from fighting Basque terror-

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Spain has always had a soft spot for secret societies writes Jack Gaioni

F e at u r e

Their Silence is Deafening

“All human beings have three lives: public, private and secret” Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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ON THE RISE: Opus Dei membership is on the up exponentially

Influential

Opus Dei was founded in 1927 by Jose Maria Escrivia, a modest rural parish priest in Huesca, Aragon. He believed that common people - i.e. non-clergy - could get closer to God through their normal everyday activities. Although publicly recognised by the Vatican, its members - often people in key positions in politics, banking, academia and other influential areas - keep very closely-guarded secrets behind their veiled affiliation. Because of its secrecy, Opus Dei is controversial both within and outside the Vatican. It has been accused of promoting a right-wing political agenda (often linked to Franco’s fascist regime), cult-like practices, aggressive recruiting, brainwashing and spying. Despite this, membership is estimated to come close to 90,000 in 80 countries and growing exponentially. All this, born out of a small Spanish parish church just north of Zaragoza. The ‘Holy Warriors of Spain’, or La Garduna, was (and perhaps still is) a secret society said to have been in existence for over 1200 years. The group is believed to have formed in 710 A.D. in the mountains near Cordoba as a ‘guerrilla army of Christ’ dedicated to expelling the Moors from Andalucia. Murder-for-hire, kidnapping, arson, enslavement and robbery directed towards non-

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HEY could be walking among us, or living next door. They could be some of the most educated and benevolent people on the planet ... or, just as easily, prone to terrorism and armed insurrection. Some preach integrity, free thinking and civic duty; others seek world domination through subversion. What could they possibly have in common? The answer is that they are members of ‘secret societies’. For better or worse, they work covertly to achieve a hidden agenda where secrecy is a sanctuary and a source of power. Secret societies exist in some of the world's most isolated and primitive tribes. They also exist in some of the most prestigious universities in the western world. It is impossible to know for sure the extent of their membership or the diversity of their goals. Among them are three distinctly Spanish secret societies that represent the many dichotomies mentioned above. In The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown’s epic best seller, the secretive group known as Opus Dei plays a dramatic central role. Although depicted as somewhat sinister, Opus Dei (‘Work of God’ in Latin) wields enormous power within today’s Catholic Church. What the 50 million readers of the book and the millions more who saw the film may not realise is that the group’s origin is uniquely Spanish.

WEBSITE August 31st- September 13th 2017

starred restaurants in the city’s old quarter. Christians were accepted means towards But many of San Sebastian’s most treaLa Garduna’s stated goals. Membership sured culinary experiences are not available was secretive with the complex hierarchy of to the public. a sophisticated criminal organisation. Often housed behind nondescript storeOver the next 700 years, La Garduna acfronts are many ‘Txokos’ or secret gastrocumulated a great deal of ‘wealth through nomic societies. Food, wine, and regional stealth’. After the Moors were expelled in cider are taken very seriously here with no the 15th Century, Ferdinand hired members distractions like TV, live music or women. of La Garduna as henchmen to do the dirty Like a fraternity, members are given a work for the Spanish Inquisition. So bruprivate key where they find a refuge tal were their tactics that the Catho- a type of kingdom where chefs can lic Church was forced to denounce experiment with new recipes and its support of La Garduna by pubtastes and take bold risks with inlicly hanging known members. gredients. The remaining order fled to the Txokos are believed to have been hills and became bandits or transin existence for over 100 years planted themselves in distant and play an important part in lands. Some historians believe that maintaining Basque culture. La Garduna was a precursor to There are over 40 Michelin the crime syndicates of the star restaurants in and Sicilian Mafia. around San Sebastian, the There is evidence that FOUNDER: Opus Dei Jose highest concentration in the some members had moved Maria Escrivia world. Innovation, food qualto South America and were ity and great flavours are just active participants in the libsome of the reasons. Thanks eration movements of those to the dynamics of the Txokos societies, countries from Spain. There is also the sugthis is no accident. gestion that their battle cry – ‘Remember It has been said we live in an age of transthe Virgin of Cordoba!’ - was parency where everything we do has the heard during the Spanish potential to become known. Through the Civil War and persisted into dynamics of cell phones, drones, WikiLeaks, WWII with aid to Nazis fleesecurity cameras and various other tracking Europe. ing devices, privacy in the 21st century is So mysterious has La Garunder assault. As the three examples of duna been over the past Spanish secret societies show (and the list 1200 years that the line beis by no means complete) is that people of tween fact and fiction is diffiall ideologies have always used privacy as a cult to draw. Was this group way of strengthening their relationship with a well-intentioned religious others. If this truly is the age of ‘Big Brother group or a band of criminals is watching’, as predicted by George Orwell with an exaggerated hisin his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, might we tory? Accounts vary… expect an uptick in secret society memberThe beautiful Basque city ship? Could it be that secrecy is fundamenof San Sebastian is widely tal to the human condition and a tool for considered to be one of self-preservation? the world’s premier culiIf you ask those who walk among us, their nary destinations. Tourists very silence just might speak volumes… flock to the many MichelinSECRET SAN SEBASTIAN: A hive of food cults

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Queue must be joking! THE number of delayed flights has doubled across Europe. The shocking 97% increase in delays between April and June has been put down to ‘chaotic’ tighter controls kicking in, claim airline chiefs. Some passengers endured waits of up to four hours, with Palma Airport one of those affected most by enhanced checks on those leaving or entering the EU’s Schengen zone. British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet are demanding EU states hire more border staff to address the problem, which has caused one in 20 passengers to miss connecting flights. The extra checks and waiting time has made the current situation ‘unsustainable’, they added. The enhanced checks affect those entering and leaving the EU’s Schengen zone, which is a border-free travel zone made up of 26 countries. Under new regulations the EU put into effect in April, passengers must have the details of their passports checked against a European database, to ensure that they do not pose a threat. The airlines are demanding more border staff and automatic gates to combat the problem. The European Commission has stood by the new regulations, saying these inconveniences are ‘the price of security.’

Firm struck off as North-West England sees 500% rise in fake holiday sickness claims By Joe Duggan

A BRITISH firm which encouraged holidaymakers to make false sickness claims has lost its licence. The company based in Preston, is one of a number that have been ‘encouraging holiday-goers to fabricate or embellish symptoms of gastric illness’ according to the UK’s Ministry of Justice.

ne ws

No more sick notes

Failings

The Claims Management Regulator (CMR) identified 'potential systematic failings' which led to the uncovering of the scam. Allsure Ltd was 'found to have breached conduct rules' by making false claims - many from tourists in Spain - as well as publishing misleading statements about sums due to holidaymakers. It comes as it was revealed the north-west of England is at the heart of a 500% rise in scam claims, which cost Spanish hoteliers €60 million a year. Figures from one travel operator, which wished to

BUSTED: Brit couple Deborah and Paul

remain anonymous, said 55% of fraudulent claims come from Greater Manchester, with 30% from Merseyside. A British couple, Deborah Briton, 53, and partner

Paul Roberts, 43, are the first to face charges. The pair face up to six years in prison after submitting claims for them and their two children, allegedly conning Thomas

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Cook out of €56,800. Their daughter Charlene Briton, 30, is also accused of filing a fake claim for herself and her daughter. The trio are from Merseyside, which, along with Manchester, accounts for more than 80% of the UK’s sickness claims, according to the Claims Management Regulator. One lawyer explained that criminal gangs had moved from fake whiplash claims to holiday sickness scams. “Fraudsters evolve. They look for new areas of vulnerability,” said Sarah Hill from BLM law firm. Last week, it was revealed that a Mallorca hotel group launched an undercover investigation after being hit by £4 million (€4.3 million) in fake claims last year. In June, Julie Lavelle and Michael Mcintyre lost a Liverpool county court case after fraudulently claiming €10,750 from Thomas Cook in a sickness scam after a Canary Islands’ break.

EU can’t be serious! THE EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has urged the UK to start ‘negotiating seriously’. Michel Barnier said his team needed clarification from Brexit Secretary David Davis on key points as their third round of talks began in Brussels. The rights of 1.2 million British expats, including 300,000 living in Spain, as well as 3.4 million EU residents in the UK are top of negotiators’ list of concerns. Barnier said: “We need UK positions on all separation issues. We need UK papers that are clear in order to have constructive negotiations. “And the sooner we remove the ambiguity the sooner we will be in a position to discuss the future.” Meanwhile,campaigners have slammed the Home Office after deportation orders were wrongly sent to up to 100 EU citizens in Britain. British in Europe and the 3 Million, which act on behalf of UK citizens in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, wrote to European Commission (EC) negotiators to slam ‘UK maladministration’. They called on EC negotiators to ‘focus closely on this issue’ during talks with David Davis. “If serious errors like this can be made whilst the UK is still administering a system based on EU freedom of movement rights, what is likely to happen when it is running its own system, having ‘taken control again’?” the letter reads.

BIG WINNERS: (From left) Rosa from Mallorca, Alicia and Asier before and after the diets

SALES executive Due to faster than expected growth on the island, the Olive Press Mallorca is looking for a hard-working, outgoing and driven sales person. This is a multi-facated role building on 10 years success of the business on mainland Spain and will involve a decent basic plus excellent commision and other benefits Key Requirements:

August 31st- September 13th 2017

A MALLORCA lady has joined a trio of Spanish slimmers who have shed a remarkable 96 kilograms between them. Now the group, Asier Santa Cruz, Alicia Whelan and Rosa Torrens are set to battle it out to enter the International Slimmer of the Year final in the UK this autumn. The trio - who all lost weight thanks to the Cambridge Weight Plan (CWP) - will come head to head in the Spanish national final of the competition on September 7.

Ballooning

The winner will join slimmers from more than 30 countries at the grand final in Telford, in November. Hot favourite is Asier Santa Cruz, from Pamplona, who has lost 42kg over an 18 month period, after ballooning to 136kg and developing weight-related medical problems. However, Alicia Whelan, from Mazarron, is likely to push him all the way, after battling to shed 32.6kgs, following a

The tonne down club Trio of Spanish slimmers - including one from Mallorca - shed 100 kilos, and are now do battle in UK slimming final fight back from post-natal depression and the breakdown of her marriage. Finally, Rosa Torrens from Mallorca, decided to go on a weight-loss programme after the worry of dealing with a son with cerebral palsy led to her reaching a huge 121kg. Rosa, from Pollensa has now lost 21kg in under a year.

The three finalists will also be joined by two keen slimmers from Gibraltar, Alfred Traverso and Davina Tante. After developing gestational diabetes Davina lost 24 kg in just eight months in order to stay healthy and minimise her chances of developing Type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, Alfred lost 31 kg in nine months.

CWP has over 30 years’ experience in more than 30 countries worldwide, in helping people lose weight and maintain weight loss. CWP is a scientifically proven five-step programme which combines nutritionally balanced meal replacements and conventional food under the supervision of a trained CWP consultant.

 Gibraltar schoolgirl reaches semi

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Spanish guitarist makes instruments out of recycled material

A SPANISH musician is making instruments out of recycled rubbish. Download our app now and Pablo Gallardo, 38 has begin enjoying the best Spanish been fashioning toilet lids, old pans and vacunews on the go. um cleaners into guitars, banjos and bandurrias, a ARTIST: Barcelo Spanish lute. The Cadiz native is now giving classes to children to show them how to make the instruments. “What I am searching for is that each child is inspired The Olive Press A NEW photographic exhibito make the instrument he tion is throwing light on one wants and that we create TOP for news in Spain! of Mallorca’s most revered artan ecological child’s orists. chestra in Cadiz,” he said. The Cultural Center at La MiGallardo became inspired

to build the guitars after smashing his own with a hammer ‘to see what was inside’. “You would think it is a simple instrument, but inside it’s a world,” he said. Some of Gallardi’s instruments have already been played at Cadiz’s carnival, which runs every February. An electric guitar made out of a wooden pallet and a trumpet made from PVC pipes are among the instruments asylum and was administered played at the a strong cocktail of drugs which “This is caused convulsions. something I Following her imprisonment, do to show she fled to Lisbon then to Mexihow imporco, where she wrote her memoir tant it is to Down Below. recycle and On the centenary of her birth, to respect the Leonora Carrington, The Surenvironment. realist Game, will be screened I don’t like at Segovia’s Hay Festival on to throw anySeptember 22. thing away.”

Surrealist nightmare A NEW documentary about a British artist imprisoned in a mental asylum after the Civil War is being unveiled in Spain. Leonora Carrington was held in the Santander institution after travelling to Spain to find her lover, fellow artist Max Ernst, who was placed in a concentration camp after fleeing Germany. She endured half a year in the

Catalan chat

Spain of thrones FANS of hit fantasy series Game of Thrones are all too familiar with the show's newest filming location. The current seventh season sees Daenerys Targaryen return to Dragonstone, the abandoned castle where she was born that was once the ancestral home of House Targaryen. The castle itself may be a CGI masterpiece, but the beautiful setting where the show films is completely real and FREE to visit in Spain. Located near Bermeo, in the Basque region, the site is known as San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and was originally built as a religious hermitage by the Knights Templar in the ninth century. A modest church rests at the top of the island, and is accessible only by a narrow set of stairs that bridge the island to Spain's mainland. The site is about an hour and a half drive from the closest town while the trek up the mountain is far from

THE number of Catalan speakers in the Balearic Islands has dropped, a new study shows. The Jaume III Foundation, which promotes Mallorca and Catalan culture, lamented the fall in numbers, with a sharp decline among young speakers announced by the Balearic government. Only 20% of people aged 1529 speak in Catalan, which showed ‘the absolute failure of Catalan as a language of integration’. In the over-65s group, 48.2% said they spoke Catalan ‘always’ or ‘nearly always’ The group said many Balearic Islanders had ‘abandoned their language, which they had always felt as their own’, especially when it was transmitted to their children

Turkish writer’s arrest slammed A GERMAN writer who has been a loud critic of the Turkish government has been released after being arrested in Spain. Doğan Akhanlı was held on a Turkish warrant while on holiday in southern Spain and must now wait until the Turkish government’s extradition request is heard in Madrid. The Turkish-born writer’s arrest was condemned by Angela Merkel and labelled politically motivated by German

writers’ group TEN. “It would be terrible if Turkey could get people who raise their voice against [Turkish president Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan imprisoned on the other side of Europe,” added German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel. Among the controversial topics Akhanlı has written about are the massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces in 1915, an event widely regarded as genocide.

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Rubbish music

Beautiful Barcelo

sericòrdia will host 60 images by three photographers examining the work of Miguel Barcelo, who comes from Felanitx. The exhibition will focus on Barcelo’s work which has been displayed for a decade in the Cathedral of Mallorca. “[This is] a contemporary work inserted in the framework of a 14th century chapel, an experience that is hardly ever found in any European cathedral,” said Francesc Miralles, Mallorca’s culture minister, “These are creators reading other creators.” The exhibition runs until September 30.

Do you have a what’s on?

August 31st- September 13th 2017

what’s on

ivia Ar t Exhibition, until September

19- Located in Palma’s Old Town, the luxur y concept store Rialto Living is hosting a series of unique and exquisite ar t exhibitions. This month’s showcased ar tists are from Ochentaiuno ar t collective.

elon Fair, September 2- The first of

the autumn har vest festivals, this event at Placa Major will feature an array of delicious melons, figs and fruits just waiting to be sampled.

ablo Picasso & Joan Miro; A Hi s-

tor y of Friendship Exhibition, September 11- In celebration of the friendship that blossomed between the two ar tists in Paris in 1920, an exhibition featuring works from both men, as well as photographs of the two together will be displayed.

-final of Spanish TV talent show 3065 views

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Property

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Special report by Iona

BOSSES: Cox and Wells

IN COME THE BIG BUCKS!

A HUGE US property fund is splashing €45 million on three new Costa del Sol developments. The American bosses Real Capital Solutions behind have snapped up sizeable plots in Estepona, Mijas and Benahavis and continue to look at further opportunities along the coast. The company, based in Marbella since 2013, already has five other developments, including The Retreat, in Elviria.

“We have spent around €86 million here so far and have a fund of €100 million to spend,” plained Managing Partner exWells, based in Colorado. Peter “We are one of the largest opers on the Costa del develSol and our emphasis is on distressed properties.” He added: “Also we do transparently and always things try and deliver on price and quality.” The company - which made hundreds of millions buying ing distressed propertiesand sellUS - has 16 staff working in the its office at Centro Plaza. out of Local boss Taylor Cox, added: “The coast is really starting come alive and it’s a pleasure to to live in such a beautiful part of the world.”

August 31st- September 13th 2017

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AN Andratx property is wowing summer home hunters with its blend of classic and contemporary styles. Can Siurell, on the market with Engel & Völkers for €6.5 million, overlooks the port with commanding views of the Mediterranean. A traditional Mallorca facade combines effortlessly with a modern interior, which has been designed by Engel & Völkers’ award-winning architects. Complete with a swimming pool and stunning frameless glass and brushed stainless steel interior, this five-bedroom villa is picture perfect.

Spanish property sales

PAGE 19

tieSpain, meanwhile, described the pause as ‘very psychological’. He said: “It’s a combination the vote and the exchange of the uncertainty of While many agents have rate right now.” rently on hold, some havea couple of sales cur“We have up to ten sales seen more. til after the referendum,” currently on hold unboss of Castles, in Manilva.said Victor Witkowski, “Buyers are not necessarily they are biding their time pulling out, but to see what happens.” Fellow Manilva agent, confirmed a slowdown, Shani Hamilton, also predicting a huge influx but added: “We are of business as soon as a decision is made.”

PAGE 24

Deals

by nationality and quarter

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Where are the coolest Airbnbs?

Source: Registradores

Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016

Either way, official statistics out this month confirm the British market remains strong and tens of thousands continue to look for their dream home. Respected analyst Mark eign demand for SpanishStucklin insists that forin the first quarter with property was up 16% of foreign buyers at 22%Brits the biggest group “The British still dominateof the market share. property and there is no the foreign market for able decline in demand evidence of a noticeas yet,” he said. And certainly not everyone One agent, Graham Govier is suffering. of Inland Andalucia has seen ‘no negative impact’ at all during the referendum lead-up. “In fact it is the opposite. cheap right now and we Prices are extremely are selling two times as many properties as we were He added: “My salesman last year,” he said. a local celebrity - has justPaul - already a bit of enth consecutive sale and completed his sevpeople are buying because they can see that the incredible deals won’t wait around for them Paul made headlines in forever,” he added. the Olive Press last year when he sold an impressive nine properties in a row.

How to reclaim floor clause fees

PAGE 25

Introducing OP’s Agony Uncle

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Save money when buying or selling your property in Spain

Soaring stock

wasteland in Mallorca

In the Can

Where is Gillian buying?

Napier

ESTATE agents in Spain lining themselves up for and Gibraltar are the busiest July on record.

It comes as some British buyers put purchases on hold due to referendum on June 23.the forthcoming EU Most agents the Olive Press firmed they had various spoke to con‘paused’ awaiting the result,sales currently despite the British market remaining The majority believe that strong. pected result - to stay in the ex- will lead to the pound Europe strengthening with a red hot summer of sales to follow. Ben Bateman, at Holmes Sotogrande, described the lead up as a ‘pause forreferendum British buyers’ due to thought for concerns over the weak pound. “After a remain vote however, we expect to see a strong finish to the den wave of bids from year - and a sudBritish buyers,” he told the Olive Press. One agent in Gibraltar has gone one step further actually employing July. Savills director Sammy extra staff for Cruz-Armstrong said: “Everything is on but I am convinced we hold due to Brexit, and am taking on extra will stay in Europe with the expected delugestaff in July to deal Benahavis agent Scott of business.” Marshall of Proper-

OUR PARTNERS

FOUR of Spain’s 10 most expensive luxury homes are in Mallorca, according to a leading property site. By Gillian Keller The dearest, an eight-bedroom mansion near Alcudia called El A CAMPAIGN for urban renewal Cielo, is on sale forDownload a cool €57.5 our app now and aims to reclaim dismillion. used land in Mallorca. Spanish The third priciestbegin is a enjoying 10-bed-the best Architects Cristina Lorente on the go. room house in news Puigpunyent, and Pablo Amor want to which is on sale for €26.5 mil- convert sites in Nou Llevantlion through Kensington estate La Soledat, Virgen de Lluc, agency. Son Ximelis and Ca’n Capas The €24.5 million finca, Sa into areas the public can use. Muntanya, with its own helipad in Port d’Andratx comes fourth Confident on the list, collated by Idealista. The ninth priciest home listed Residents have collaborated was an eight-bedroom mansion The Olivewith Press them to discuss the for €17 million near Andratx. plans, with approval now Four of the other properties TOP for newsneeded in Spain! from local authoriin the top 10 are based on the ties. Costa del Sol.

INTERNET searches for Spanish properties have soared in the past five weeks, according to website Zoopla. With Britain experiencing a mild summer, UK home buyers have flocked to view Spanish properties, with numbers for Ibiza up 41% and Menorca up by 19%. On the Costa del Sol, online viewing figures rocketed by 44%, with Spain still the number one choice for Brits looking to buy abroad. Zoopla’s spokesman Lawrence Hall said: “It’s no surprise that with the unseasonably autumnal weather we have been experiencing recently, people are looking for a bit of escapism in the form of the perfect holiday home.” One property expert pointed out that many people returning from holiday will look at buying a place when they get home. Simon Conn said: “We’ve all done it – gone on holiday, stepped away from the daily grind, relaxed in the sun, cocktail in hand, wondering how we can make this feeling last.”

2016

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Booming July predicted following ‘pause’ in run-up to EU referendum

“We are confident that if they approve the project it will last forever,” said Lorente. “The neighbours asked for zones that allow physical activities and we have proposed a circuit in a figure of eight, which is partly wooded.” The 2,200-square metre site at Nou Llevant-La Soledat, where American students helped design a wall mural, is the largest space.

PROPERTY companies are enjoying an unprecedented boom on the Spanish stock exchange. Three of the leading firms have seen their value soar by 40 to 60% in the past three years. Axiare, which manages office and retail in Madrid and Barcelona, has grown by 64% on the IBEX 35. Hispania is up by 66% and Merlin Properties has increased in value by 43% as Spain’s property market rebound continues to gather pace. This news comes as income from rentals powers ahead on the back of Spain’s economic growth, which is predicted to reach 3% this year.

CONVERSION: One of the sites slated for change

Waste away

That area was the most problematic, according to Lorente, because of a large demand for parking spaces

among neighbours. The architects’ initial proposals for a basketball court were rejected, but the

Keys Isl nd

car park eventually agreed upon will still include a shaded area with tables to play games.

Why this mountain village could be the perfect place to buy

to the

Why the mountain village of Esporles could be the perfect place to buy

SPORLES is a pretty mountain village sitting in a valley on the south side of the Tramuntana mountain range, in the western part of Mallorca. In the past it was a centre for the island’s textile industry, which flourished due to the abundant source of water flowing down from the mountains. This gorgeous village retains much of its original charm with typical stone faced houses and winding streets, and although the torrent is still running, no industry remains.

Valley charm

By Amanda Butler Propert y of the week

International

It’s now populated with Spanish working in Palma and a thriving international community enjoying the country surrounds while being just 20 minutes away from the capital. There are numerous cafes, shops and services, as well as an outdoor fruit, vegetable and flower market. As is usual in Mallorca, the village church is the dominant architectural feature of the village, with the main road taking you through the Tramuntana to the north west coastline. Close by lies the beautiful manor house La Granja which is open to the public with extensive beautiful gardens showcasing an era of times gone by. The nearest access point to the sea is Port de Canonge just 5-10 minutes north which is worth a drive, despite the long winding single track road.

Stylish Country Estate with Equestrian Facilities – Esporles Originally dating back to 1357, this beautiful designer home is only a 5 minute walk to the village, yet offers complete privacy and tranquillity in 20.000 sqm of land bordering a protected green zone. Comprising 1000 sqm of build area it offers 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 4 salons, open-plan kitchen, library, bodega and office. Extensive green lawns, flower and herbaceous borders, organic fruit and vegetable gardens surround the house, where there is also a salt water pool , gym, sauna, horse arena and stables. Furthermore there is a three car garage, laundry and storage, as well as four other buildings offering scope for further development. Viewing highly recommended for the discerning. Rental License. Ref: 17001 Price €7.9m

Contact Amanda J Butler to buy or sell your home: Tel: +34690075169, www.mjcassociates.net. Your professional one stop property shop around the Island!

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13 13

MORTGAGE THINK TANK by mortgage broker Tancrede de Pola

Mind the A steps Troll living A SPANISH designer has created a work studio underneath a busy traffic bridge. Fernando Abellanas installed the home attached to an unknown bridge in Valencia, complete with shelving, seating, and even a sleeping space. Abellanas conceived the project to recapture the magic that children experience when hiding under a tablecloth, or inside some other secret den. A visitor walks up the banked area and enters the plywoodlined metal shelter, then uses an available hand crank to move it along the bridge's underside to where a bench, seat, and some shelving are waiting. It's possible to make up a bed on the floor with the available bedding and spend the night.

S Brits return home after a summer break on the Costa del Sol, the grey skies and memories of G&Ts on the beach make buying a property in Spain ever more tempting. In fact in the last five weeks, as the bulk of holidaymakers returned, Britons searching for a home on the Costa increased by 44%. Meanwhile the most popular search terms for properties abroad included ‘pool’, ‘beach’ and ‘sea view’. But if you really are serious about buying abroad, there are things you MUST make sure of. First and foremost, ensure the property you are interested in has been built legally. Some have been built in areas that are set aside for green belt or agriculture land, or fall foul of the ‘Lei de Costas’ ie., too close to the coast. As anyone who has lived in Spain for a while can attest to, environmental authorities have been known to demolish homes built too near the shoreline or on unregis-

Five must-dos before signing on your new property in Spain

tered rural land. Of course, part of the mortgage process does involve the requirement to arrange a full and comprehensive valuation and, although this isn’t always an exact science, it does provide a guide, partly because the report will provide information on comparable properties in the area as well as identify any legal or licensing issues. No matter how glossy it looks in a brochure, it’s essential you visit the property before signing anything. Be sure to see it during the day and at night to get a more rounded understanding of what it is like - and to make sure it’s not next to a motorway or landfill site. And when you do eventually sign,

make sure you know what you are signing. Any reputable lawyer will be able to guide you in this respect. If you want to be sure you are not agreeing to extra charges or conditions, the safest thing to do is check with an independent lawyer, in addition to your broker who can verify the numbers. Buying a property overseas can be one of the best decisions you ever make, but if the correct steps aren’t taken, it could end up being the worst. Having a reliable agent, mortgage broker and lawyer is vital and will ensure a long and happy experience.

To contact Tancrede for all your mortgaging needs call: 666 709 743 or for insurance queries call: 951 203 540 Email: tdp@thefinanacebureau.com The Finance Bureau Centro Commercial Guadalmina, 2nOffice No. 7 Guadalmina, 29670

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Mallorca diaries By Lesley Keith

Things get ‘late and loud’ in Mallorca, but it’s best if you just roll with it

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Columnists

The L words

HEN I first moved here late last year someone said that I’d be okay if I could cope with the two L’s . ‘Loud and Late’ is apparently what they were referring to. ‘Loud’ I can handle, dogs barking or music playing doesn’t cause me too many problems and it seems to me the local police have a pretty good handle on it. No building work during festivals and holidays, lots of notice if there’s going to be something going on into the night and if you can’t beat them just join them. Free parties... oh yes I’m always up for that! Yes, Spaniards talk to each other extremely loudly, so much so that it seems like they are perpetually arguing, but you get used to that. No, it’s the other one - ‘Late’ - that can definitely take a bit of getting used to. This seems to be a cultural thing. I never realised how pernickety us Brits were until I started living somewhere else, i.e. here. We all know the dreaded word Mañana which even to the most uninformed expat should mean tomorrow, and to the slightly more informed ‘morning’. But it actually seems to

August 31st- September 13th 2017 August 31st- September 13th 2017

RELAXING: Napping Spaniard and (top right) Palma feria mean ‘whenever’. I had an interesting discussion with a Scot who’s lived here a lot longer than me, and who has grown exasperated by this vague concept, having spent many a lonely hour waiting for a tradesman to appear as he thought he had arranged. He’d tried to pin it down with a friendly Spaniard who explained that it’s a much more general term than an actual day - it really means ‘not today’. Great, but surely that opens up the question, ‘what if you want to arrange something actually for tomorrow?’

Well that, I’m reliably informed, is ‘La Mañana’. Okay then, but what if you want it to be tomorrow and in the morning? Then it’s ‘La Mañana en la mañana’. So glad we’ve managed to clear that up then. As a Brit, one thing I know how to do is queue. Yes, it’s encased in our DNA and therefore it came as a bit of

a shock when I realised nobody actu- suits you. Genius. ally ever queues here. While I mention banks I must also Even in somewhere like a bank or say that my experience of them here post office, where surely queuing is has been very good, although I’ve compulsory, people were just milling yet to ask them to lend me anything about, how could this possibly work? so that opinion may well change. My I might miss my turn, or worse some- little bank is tucked away in a back one just might get in front of me, why street. You speak initially to the rewasn’t everyone else breaking into a ceptionist who is a rounded granny cold sweat like I was? type lady that looks like she should Someone new would come in and be crocheting a shawl or making mumble a quiet question then go jam and she speaks no English at read a poster or play all. Once you say you with their phone, it have an account, she just didn’t seem right, goes away and gets No standing why was everyone someone smart and in some sad so calm? It wasn’t English speaking who until my Spanish takes you to a priunfriendly line, language teacher vate office. No shoutexplained that the you can relax, sit ing private business question being asked through screens, no down. Genius by every new entrant watching the other was ‘Quien es el ulqueues move faster, timo?’ basically – no seeing the window who’s last? How absolutely brilliant, close just as you get to it. Yes it’s it doesn’t matter about anyone else a completely satisfying and pleasexcept the person who’s immediately ant experience. The trick is finding before you! What a fantastic con- when they open as there’s no opencept and how completely liberating, ing hours on the door and they seem why on earth haven’t we ever done to be closed a lot. I asked a guy usthis back in England?! No standing ing the cashpoint outside if he knew in some sad unfriendly line, you can when it reopened and he shrugged relax, sit down, walk about, whatever and answered ‘Mañana?’

Beware of the tourist Belinda Beckett continues her rant about summer visitors ...

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HEY arrive in their hoards every August to lay waste to our favourite beaches and beauty spots and bag all the best restaurant tables. Then they’re back home, putting in fraudulent food poisoning claims to recoup the cost of their holiday, or dishing the dirt on TripAdvisor. I don’t blame Palma de Mallorca residents for scrawling ‘Tourists go home, refugees welcome’ on the walls of their citadel. You wouldn’t hear refugees complaining, ‘we had to queue outside with no air conditioning’ - one of the ‘claims’ received by British tour operator Thomas Cook. Were they seriously expecting a refund or do people forget to pack their brains when they go abroad? Having spent the current month in my bunker distancing myself from the deluge, I did some arm- NOT WELCOME: Anti-tourism graffiti signs in Mallorca chair travelling myself and was flabbergasted to see what gets posted online. dashians (which means you have no taste or class Who would go to The Alamo and complain ‘doesn’t whatsoever) you’ll probably love this monstrosity’ look anything like it did when the attack took Such tourists leave no stone unturned – not even place’? And how would he know? the Rock of Gibraltar – to vent their jaundiced Probably the same man who climbed to the top world view. of the awe-inspiring Inca citadel of Machu Pic- Great Siege Tunnels ‘I personally didn't think much chu in Peru looking for the perfect of these tunnels, not like the ones little Italian place: “The food here in Jersey or Dover Castle in Kent absolutely sucks,” he wrote. “The England’ so-called pizza has horrible tastThe Rock ‘Gibraltar is hell, what They walk among ing llama cheese on it. No matter a horrible place. Poluted (sic), what they tell you, that’s what it us and they vote... crowed (sic), bad food, interestis.” ing, yes, but in a morbid kind of I call it Ronald Reagan Syndrome they probably way.’ after his famous quote: “If you’ve not many of them can spell. voted for Brexit Yep, seen one redwood tree, you’ve Of course, you have to understand seen them all.” Maybe it comes the mentality and another delve from over-exposure to the Discovinto Thomas Cook’s complaints ery Channel but even the world’s bag provides some large clues: wonders leave these types totally underwhelmed, ‘There are too many Spanish people’ (British touras in these TripAdvisor gems: ist in Spain) Grand Canyon: ‘Nothing special’ ‘It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the Colosseum ‘There’s nothing inside’; ‘Need to reno- afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'sivate or shut down’ esta' time - this should be banned.’ Taj Mahal ‘Spit stains. People sleeping, trying to ‘The beach was too sandy.’ write things on the marble ... you are better off ‘There was no egg slicer in the apartment’ watching it on the net’ ‘My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but Sydney Opera House ‘Silly damned egg carton’ we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now Golden Gate Bridge ‘Pointless’ hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself Stonehenge ‘It’s just a bunch of rocks’ pregnant.’ Although here’s one I actually quite like: They walk amongst us and they vote. They probSagrada Familia, Barcelona ‘If you like the Kar- ably voted for Brexit ...

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+TheolivepressEsTOURIST spending in Mallorca has slumped by between 20 and 30 %, a new survey sugBE ‘APPY! gests. The ACOTUR survey of 100 businesses in Calvia, Playa de Palma, S’Arenal and Alcudia found that takings were down compared to last summer.

No more night flight By Gillian Keller

NIGHT flights be bestBalearic begin could enjoying the Spanish banned after Palma Town lawyer to news on the go. Hall lodged a formal comfight collapsed plaint to Madrid. Neus Truyol, councillor for Banco Popular the environment, has written to Spain’s minister for devel- after hundreds opment demanding action over noisy flights from 11pm lose millions to 6am. Truyol said Son Sant Joan The ‘an Olive SOME 3,000 Balearic airport had become im- Press portant focus of the impact on bank users lost €780 milTOP for news inlion Spain! the environment and citizens’ in Banco Popular’s quality of life’. collapse, with many now “Politics must involve the re- planning to take legal acduction of pressure on people, tion to recoup their monsustainability,” wrote Truyol. ey. But airline bosses have criti- One family lost €120 milcised the suggestion, saying it lion following the bank’s will hit connecting flights. demise, with others losing “This will affect airline connections and will harm the anything down to a few business and industrial fab- hundred euros. ric of the island,” said Felipe One lawyer, Miguel Lopez, Navio from the Spanish As- represents 700 of those sociation of Airline Compa- who saw their savings and nies (AECA). Truyol has also shares wiped out after the called for airport authority bank was bought for a AENA to cut noise and light euro by Banco Santander. pollution as well as the intro- “I give hope to everyone,” duction of a noise monitor for he said.” But the people trouble spots.

Going down?

The surprising findings fly in the face of reports that the island is experiencing its busi-

HAVE heard many words of wisdom over the years regarding investing, and listened to too many bar-stool ‘experts’ eagerly imparting their ‘Inversión del Día’, investment of the day. Fortunately, I know another more reliable ‘investment guru’. And this one is always right and his name is History. History knows a thing or two about investing, this is what I have learnt:

1. Have a plan and stick to it A sound financial plan is the difference between living in hope and actually achieving your goals. It should encourage you to focus on long-term strategies and not be spooked by short-term distractions.

2. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket Ok, so it’s an old one, but diversification of your investments across different regions and asset types means you are less exposed to problems. Volatility in the EU and US caused by BREXIT and Trump had little effect on the world’s emerging markets, for example. Gold also helped to stabilise portfolios.

est tourist season ever. In the survey, business owners hit out an all-inclusive holiday packages, claiming it causes ‘a big reduction in sales’. They also slammed illegal street sellers, many of whom peddled drugs, they claimed.

Bank buster

Sandy shores

Financial advisor Sandy Paterson on the seven principles of investing

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August 31st- September 13th 2017

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August 31st- September 13th 2017

who will have the most problems are the ones who bought before this takeover. “They will be able to reclaim something, but more for false accounting and documentation. “This is fraud in law.” He added that bondholders would have more chance of recovering 100% of their money but that the whole process could take up to three years in the civil court. Meanwhile, a criminal case for fraud and false accounting against bank officials is going through Spain’s High Court. “How did a bank collapse when eight years ago it was the most solvent in the world?” said Lopez. Bank Santander president Ana Patricia Botín should make an offer to shareholders to avoid lengthy legal action, he added.

Economic damage THE Spanish food and drink industry warns of significant economic damage and disruption if the UK does not stop the flow of EU nationals leaving due to the uncertainties Brexit has forced upon them. Retailers, farmers, food processors and pub and restaurant owners have banded together to combat a ‘cliff-edge’ Brexit, which would have very negative impacts on these industries.

New fines THE national tenancy act states that owners who rent out property must pay the deposit for the rental into a bank. After the law being loosely enforced, it now comes with fines of up to €3,000.

No more night flights Palma wants to end night flights to and from the airport. This would range from 11 at night to six in the morning. The justification for the proposed banned is to cut back on noise pollution.

Fnance writer, Sandy Paterson, of Blacktower, who is here to help make the most for your finances

A ship is safe in harbour, but not what it’s for GOT A QUESTION?

Then Ask the Expert Sandy Paterson, DipFA, CeMAP, MLIBF International Financial Adviser at Blacktower Financial Management (International) on sandy.paterson@blacktowerfm. com or call him on 971 42 59 86 Also visit www.blacktowerfm.com/locations/mallorca

success, right? In reality, nobody knows when the market will rise and fall, when to buy at the lowest price nor sell at the highest. Trying to do this would be hugely stressful and ultimately, unsuccessful. History’s proven approach is to use time to your advantage, the sooner you start to invest and the longer you invest, the more likely you are to have healthy returns.

3. Consider your invest- 4. It is not timing the marments as a whole ket that counts, it is time in 5. No risk, no reward One wilting plant in your garden the market does not mean the rest of the garden is not blooming. Similarly, when one asset is underperforming, other classes in a diversified portfolio should balance this out.

NEWS IN BRIEF

This is the least understood principle of investment. After all, knowing when to buy and sell is the secret of investment

In volatile times, the temptation to run to the ‘safety’ of cash is almost overwhelming, but low risk investing generally means low or non-existent returns. Of course, keep some cash

for emergencies, but for long-term plans this needs to be balanced with investments in differing asset classes and regions offering higher potential returns in the long-term. After all, ‘a ship may be safe in the harbour, but that is not what ships are for’.

6. Invest regularly, and get better results History shows investors jump onto a rising market too late and panic very quickly in a falling market. Result, very few investors buy at the lowest prices or sell at the highest as they have inevitably miss-timed the market (principle 4). Better to focus on the long-term and continue investing regularly whether the market is rising or falling disregarding short-term volatility in favour of long-term results.

7. Seek qualified, regulated independent financial advice OK, I admit I have a vested interest in this principle, but it is valid nonetheless. Each investor’s needs are different and there is no substitute for a bespoke plan specific to your circumstances. Good advice can help take the emotion out of investing and lead to a more pragmatic approach to the longterm.

Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission. Licence 00805B and is registered by both the DGS and CNMV in Spain. Blacktower Financial Management Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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Safety first

Flying low

Budget airline numbers to Spain soar by almost 20% on last year

THE planned reconversion of a Mallorca industrial zone has been hit by EU safety regulations. According to Brussels guidelines, the number of people living within a certain distance of factories with butane canisters must be limited following a fatal accident in Italy in the 1970s. Emergency technicians are now assessing how the Brussels directives could affect the electricity plant in Alcudia, which the Balearic Islands’ government hopes to reclaim. Authorities are also trying to ascertain if the site should be named a protected Place Of Cultural Interest.

ALMOST 50 million foreign visitors have flown to Spain in the first seven months of this year - with the majority on lowcost airlines. The total figure of 49.2 million is a 19.4% increase on the same period last year, according to the tourism ministry. Low-budget airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Vueling have led the way, capturing 52.4% of total air traffic, while more traditional airlines captured just 47.6%. The UK led the low-cost arrivals with 9.66 million passengers, representing 36.8% of the total. It was a 16.6% increase on last year. The Brits were followed by Germany and Italy, both with 11.4% of budget arrivals. Barcelona-El Prat airport accounted for 24.3% of all low-cost travellers during the first seven months of the year, up 8.2% to 6.3 million passengers. Meanwhile Malaga airport, which registered 3.17 million low-cost passengers until July, a 14.1% increase, captured 12.1% of total traffic.

Brace yourself TRAVELLERS are bracing themselves for severe flight delays across Spain over the coming months. It comes after labour unions called for 25 days of industrial action among members working for AENA. It follows a dispute over pay and staffing numbers. Workers want pay rises of 8% and the hiring of another 700 staff. 24-hour stoppages are scheduled to take place on the following dates: September: 15, 17, 22, 24 and 29. October: 1, 6, 11, 15, 27, 30, and 31. November: 3 and 5. December: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

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MALLORCA PROPERTY

AN expat has made an urgent appeal to have his sevenyear-old daughter returned from a Norwegian church after his ex-partner ran off with their child. Heartbroken Dominic Shepherd, 40, is involved in a nightmare battle with ex Tonje Bjornsen, 37, after she sought ‘refuge’ in the place of

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PLEA: Dominic Shepherd with kids

holding’ her daughter from joining her twin brothers in Mallorca. “I’m numb, but the boys make me strong,” Shepherd, an IT expert, based in Santa Ponsa, told the Olive Press. “I’ve had nothing but support from friends and family.”

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BRAVE: Ignacio Echverria and (top) Sergio Farina

TRUE HEROES A PAIR of Spanish heroes came to the aid of Londoners attacked by three crazed terrorists at the weekend. Ignacio Echeverria and Sergio Farina stepped in to save the lives of innocent bystanders caught up in the carnage that killed seven and injured 48. It has now been confirmed that Ignacio Echeverria, from Madrid, who defended a woman from one of the terrorists, died in the attack. Echeverria, 39, is said to have been on his way home from a skate park on the Saturday night when he attempted to defend a woman with his skateboard in Borough Market. He was last seen lying on the pavement.

Onslaught

Desperate dad’s fight to win back seven-year-old daughter from Norwegian church asylum

worship in February. Despite Shepherd winning custody of their three Britishborn children, Bjornsen is not allowing his daughter Maia to leave Spjelkavik Church in Ålesund. She now faces criminal charges in Spain for ‘illegally with-

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Choking back tears, the British expat, continued: “I am just concentrating on keeping my head together because those kids need a dad. We just want Maia back so we can live a normal life.” His ordeal began last August, when Bjørnsen left Spain with the children, ostensibly for a holiday, after living on the island for three years. However two weeks later he received a call from his partner to say she was not coming back. Mystified, the distraught dad was forced to use the Hague Convention to win legal custody of their children. But despite three court verdicts in his favour, he was forced to travel to Norway to get his children back after Bjornsen refused to return them. After picking up the two boys Tobias and Christian from school, he was stunned to learn Bjørnsen had fled with their daughter - whose birthday is this week - to live in a local church. “I was utterly lost for words,“ said Shepherd, who has spo Continues on Page 2

August 31st- September 13th 2017 August 31st- September 13th 2017

In a second incident, a heroic Spanish waiter put his life on the line during the onslaught. CCTV footage shows Sergio Farina, from Galicia, throw himself against the door of his bar to prevent one of the knife-brandishing terrorists from entering. He managed to keep the man from entering, before opening the door to help another person find safety. “You do not even think about it,” he said, “I could have simply left, as everyone did, but I would have left 28 people behind.” He added that ‘all he could see was a guy with dynamite’ as he tried to lower the bar windows’ shutters. He added: “We did not know how many terrorists there were and whether they would return.” Dozens of pedestrians were mowed down by a van on London Bridge before attackers stabbed a police officer and revellers around Borough Market with 12-inch knives. More than 20 remain in a critical condition. Opinion Page 6

In July, the Costa del Sol terminal added 644,769 passengers, 10.3% more than in 2016. By communities, Catalonia, the Balearics and Andalucia benefitted the most. Catalunya reBALEARIC ceived more BOOST: Of than seven million foreign 20.5% tourists arriving by low-cost airlines, which represents 26.9% of the total number of travelers arriving by this route, 9.2% more than in 2016. In July alone it increased by 6.9%, to over 1.36 million travellers. The Balearic Islands is the second most benefited community with four million passengers by, 20.5% more than last year, capturing 15.4% of the total. It is followed by Andalucia with 3.87 million passengers, a 13.5% increase.

Terror fear stalks markets SHARES dipped following the terrorist outrages in Catalunya. IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, slumped 2% on the following day. Budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet, which both fly to Mallorca, also tumbled on the stock market. Neil Wilson, analyst at the stock market firm ETX Capital, said: “As we’ve seen over the last couple of years in Europe, these kinds of atrocities affect tourism and will hit airline earnings.” InterContinental Hotels Group dropped 1.6%, with the overall travel sector index losing 1.5%

SHOCKED: Markets

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Not so sweet

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Total wipeout

Spain’s most famous chef gets green light for food laboratory at elBulli eatery

FERRAN Adria is one step Download our app now and closer to turning his elBulHONEY production in begin enjoying the best Spanish Spain plummeted last li restaurant into a worldon thethan go. 4%. class culinary think tank. year bynews more The agriculture min- The green light comes afistry warned that the ter months of obstacles, drop signals an end to including vocal opposition the upward trend that from locals and environmentalists who were constarted in 2012. cerned about building on the Cap de Creus Natural Growing Park in Catalonia, and the The Olive Press In 2016, Spain pro- crowds that Adria’s star duced 32,076 tonnes, power would attract - feelTOP for news in Spain! marking a drop of 7.3% ings which have been emcompared to 2011. bodied by the recent antiThe number of bee- tourism protests. keepers at least keeps growing with 30,920 Maestro now registered, a 12% rise on 2015. There are around The pushback led Adria to 5,000 professional downsize plans for elBulli beekeepers in this 1846 by 300% last year. In a further bid to appease number. Spain has 2.45 million opponents, the maestro beehives, making it the recruited students and inlargest beekeeping na- structors from the Barcetion in Europe with a lona School of Design and 15.66% share of total Engineering to help debeehives registered in sign new outdoor spaces that respect the environthe EU. ment and co-exist seamlessly with nature.

EU plans to ‘eradicate all plant life’ on Mallorca in a bid to combat the spread of a deadly bacteria have been branded ‘impossible’ by angry locals.

Disease

Food for thought The second phase will begin in October. elBulli 1846 will be home to a team of 20 people who will work six months of the year on experimental projects that aim to push the boundaries of

gastronomy and ‘decode the creative process’. The number 1846 denotes the number of recipes developed at elBulli during Adria’s tenure at the restaurant. Along with chefs, the

team will be interdisciplinary, and include experts in everything from the arts, psychology, communications, science and design.

MEPs have proposed tearing up all vegetation within 100 metres of plants and trees affected by a rapidly spreading disease which has been dubbed the ‘ebola of the olive’. Local experts say the measures would effectively mean stripping the island - only 1,400 square miles big - of almost all its plant life. The crisis has been caused by the spread of Xylella fastidiosa, which is spreading rapidly around the Mediterranean, with cases being discovered on mainland Spain just last month. It particularly targets olive trees and there are fears that if the disease is not contained it could have a devastating effect on local agriculture. Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world.

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Salmorejo Originating in Cordoba, this traditional starter is essentially a puree of tomato and bread, usually garnished with diced serrano ham and hard-boiled eggs.

Reaction: After reading the description of this dish on the menu, I originally expected it to be of a thinner consistency akin to gazpacho but was pleasantly surprised by the thicker, creamier texture. The tomato taste was very prominent and the soup’s coolness refreshing. I especially liked the chopped ham and egg which added an extra pop of flavour and a chewy texture that contrasted nicely with the smooth soup base. This was definitely one of my favourite Spanish .

Rabo de Toro (Oxtail) Locally known as rabo del toro, this dish supposedly originated in Cordoba, and with the emphasis placed on bull culture in

August 31st- September 13th 2017

I’m eating what? Danielle Fortuna takes her American tastebuds (and those of her mum) on a tour of Spain’s more daunting delicacies

with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com Spain, it’s not difficult to see why it’s so popular and abundant. Many restaurants opt for a stewed version of the tail, in which the meat must be cooked slowly over a low heat because of its bony and fatty quality. I opted for the meat atop a risotto instead of a more traditional stew (it sounded so good I couldn’t resist).

Reaction: I started out by taking some of

the meat off of the risotto so that I could taste it without having the rice mask its flavour. The time spent braising the oxtail was well worth it; the meat was so tender it literally melted in the mouth. The flavour was deliciously robust and when I mixed it into the risotto, the rice took on the same strong taste. This was also one of my favourite dishes, and I am looking forward to trying the more traditional style of preparation. I also offered my mother a bite without telling her what the dish actually contained. Her reaction: “Danielle, this better not be bull, I told you I didn’t want to eat bull. Oh wait ... I like it!”

Carillada (Pig cheeks) FLAVOURFUL: Danielle browsing an array of spices characteristic of Spanish cuisine

Carrilladas is a lean cut of meat prepared in a similar way to oxtail - cooked slowly over a low heat for maximum tenderness. I tried it in a tomato, garlic and wine sauce.

Reaction:

Like the oxtail, these pieces of meat were flavourful and mouthmeltingly tender. Each of the three main ingredients were noticeable and complimented the meat nicely. There were also some carrots which gave it a stew-like consistency. After the meat was gone, I enjoyed mopping up the last of the sauce with my bread.

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THE PROBLEM... August 31st- September 13th 2017 August 17th- August 30th 2017

“I could do with a breath of fresh mountain air, away from the noise and the busy life on the coast.”

“I’d love to join you but it must be a lovely place in a stunning setting with great food”

Morcilla (Baked black pudding) Known as morcilla al horno, this is essentially blood sausage, cut into small pieces, baked with olive oil, spiced and served with potatoes. The sausage is dark in colour, indicative of the pig’s blood it contains.

Reaction: The waiter again made sure I knew I was asking for blood sausage, but offered no reassurances as to my likely enjoyment. Of all of the dishes, I was most apprehensive about this one, main-

ly because the thought of eating blood made my stomach churn a little. The outside was extremely chewy, the inside soft and crumbly. The initial meaty flavour wasn’t bad but there was an aftertaste of

Pulpo de estilo gallego (Galician-style octopus)

a spice I couldn’t figure out and didn’t much like. It was overpowering and gave the sausage a bitter taste that reminded me I was, in fact, eating blood. This was my least favorite dish.

THE SOLUTION... “Why not visit Molino del Santo? We’ve been established for thirty years and have thousands of happy customers. Personal attention and a friendly but professional atmosphere.” Andy Chapell, Co-owner

“Our restaurant has excellent reviews on Trip Advisor - and our new monthly menu for September is now available to see on line - or e-mail us and we’ll send you a copy. Tel 952 16 71 51 or e-mail info@molinodelsanto.com” Pauline Elkin, Co-owner

SPEcIaL OffER fOR SEPTEMBER: Pulpo Gallego is a dish popular in the northwestern region of Spain, namely Galicia. The dish is often prepared by slicing up the tentacles, and boiling them with an onion. They are then drizzled with olive oil and spiced with a coating of paprika. Potatoes are also boiled in the water after the octopus is cooked, and served alongside the tentacles on a wooden platter.

Reaction: I love seafood and squid, so I was very surprised that I didn’t like this dish as much as I thought I would. The texture was great; firm without being too rubbery, as calamaris sometimes are, and some of the pieces had their suction cups attached. The flavour was a little bland, which can be expected from the style of preparation, but it was also slightly bitter due to the paprika. The taste of the potatoes was indistinguishable from the octopus so it was clear they were cooked in the same water. Overall, the dish was enjoyable but not one of my favourites.

Tripas de ternera (Veal tripe) There are two English translations for callos - tripe and calluses - neither of which sounds very appetising. Spaniards from all over, however, will encourage you to look past its unsavoury aspects and give the stewed lining of cow’s stomach a chance. There are variations of the stew, which generally contains garlic, onions and white wine. The version I tried also contained blood sausage.

Reaction:

The waiter made sure I knew what I was actually ordering. “You know this is tripe right?” he asked. When I responded ‘yes’ he promised that although strange in appearance, it was actually very delicious.Unlike the octopus, the taste was fantastic but the texture was not great. Some pieces were soft and gelatinous, others firmer (which I personally preferred, although the softer pieces were not offputting in the least). I enjoyed the robust flavour and paprika kick and the sauce tasted just as good on bread as it did on the callos.

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Sports &

www.theolivepress.es OlivePressNewspaper OlivePressNewspaper

August 31st- September 13th 2017

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Nadal and Federer to have their first grand slam battle on US soil Derby day BEBE‘APPY! ‘APPY! sellout +TheolivepressEs +TheolivepressEs

Head to head

REAL Mallorca sold out their allocation for the historic derby with Atlético Baleares in just half an hour. Download Download ourapp appnow nowand and The relegated giants, who our fell begin enjoying enjoying bestSpanish Spanish into Spain’s third begin tier for the thethebest first time in 36 years, shifted news newson onthethego.go. their 200 tickets in record time for this Saturday’s league clash at Son Malferit. It is the first time in more than three decades the rivals will square up against one another in a competitive league game. Meanwhile, Mallorca have announced the signingThe of central The Olive OlivePress Press midfielder Salva Sevilla for three years. TOP TOPfor for news newsininSpain! Spain! The 32-year-old playmaker, who has made over 200 first-team ap- RAFAEL Nadal and Roger Federer are pearances, signed after leaving preparing to meet at the US Open for Espanyol at the end of June. the first time ever.

Their long-time rivalry - 37 head-tohead matches - has produced some of tennis’ most iconic finals, includ-

Wheel good stuff CHRIS Froome has extended his lead in La Vuelta a España by winning stage nine ahead of his nearest rival Esteban Chaves at Cumbre del Sol. The Brit attacked with 500m to go up the steeply uphill finish and looked to have built a decisive gap, only for Chaves to dig deep and get back on to

Froome’s back wheel. However, Team Sky’s Froome was able to accelerate again and pulled clear to win by four seconds and extend his lead over Chaves, of OricaScott, in the general classification to 36 seconds. “I put everything I had into that last couple of hundred metres,” Froome said

after his first stage win of 2017. “I was determined that they weren’t going to catch me. I’m really, really happy to get the victory. The team did a brilliant job on that final climb and set such a good tempo.” At time of press, Froome was tackling stage 10, a 164.8km ride from Caravaca to El Pozo.

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ing at Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the French, but the legendary duo have yet to battle it out at Flushing Meadows in New York. Nadal, who has become world No.1 after a triumphant comeback year, has been drawn into a meeting against the Swiss maestro if they both reach the semi-finals. Nadal is seeded No. 1 at the American Grand Slam for the first time since 2010, while Federer is seeded No. 3. Both naturally wound up on the top half of the tournament’s bracket. Briton Andy Murray and Canada’s Milos Raonic - both top five seeded players have both pulled out of the tournament citing hip and wrist injuries respectively. It leaves the tournament wide open and, in theory, makes Federer and Nadal’s journey to the final that much easier. The tournament begins Monday.

Boo off! GARETH Bale has been backed to remain at Real Madrid by manager Zinedine Zidane despite being booed by the club's fans in Sunday's 2-2 draw against Valencia. Los Blancos had to rely on two goals from emerging star Marco Asensio to steal a point at home to Los Che, against whom Bale was disappointing. But Zidane has suggested the winger isn’t going anywhere after the match. "He's a key player in the squad,” he said, “Gareth is Gareth. We keep working hard and we rely on Gareth, just as is the case with the other players. “His situation is good. He had scoring opportunities but did not convert them. We're going to keep working on this. "I can't criticise my players, quite the contrary. I'm very happy with their work."

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Yachting

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Lucky escape A BRITISH family who set sail from Palma have been plucked from a remote South Pacific Ocean reef after their catamaran ran aground. Experienced sailor Bobby Cooper, partner Cheryl Kerr and their two children sent a distress signal to the New Zealand rescue centre 1,500 miles away when their vessel ran into trouble. Miraculously, New Zealandregistered ship the Dona Catharina was sheltering close by and located the family 20 minutes later, reaching them by liferaft in the morning. “They were pretty distressed, but they’re all sleeping now,” said Dona Catharina captain Martin Vogel. The family left Palma in October before travelling to Venezuela and on to the French Polynesian Marquesas Islands by early June.

HMS Duncan drops anchor in Palma after threemonth NATO operation ROYAL Navy warship HMS Duncan has docked in Palma de Mallorca following a threemonth NATO mission. The Type 45 destroyer, the newest vessel in the Royal Navy’s fleet, was the flagship in a NATO task force to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. HMS Duncan, with room for 265 crew, set sail on her maiden deployment in 2015 and for the past three months has patrolled the seas under the command of Commodore James Morley). “It has been a very successful mission,” Lt. Cdr Tom Dorman told the Olive Press, on board HMS Duncan. “The Mediterranean and the Black Sea provide many challenges, but the key part has been overcoming those. “We worked alongside our fellow NATO nations, where English may not be their first language.” The state-of-the-art warship, which carried a detachment of Royal Marines on the mission, holds a Wildcat helicopter. Part of the mission was to patrol migrant hotspots in the Aegean, although there has been a marked drop in those attempting to reach Europe via this route this summer. HMS Duncan crew also helped

Seek the sun SUNSEEKER will debut its new yacht at the Southampton Boat Show in September. The world-famous yacht group, which has a base in Mallorca, will give its 76 Yacht a world debut at the prestigious event. The vessel features four luxurious cabins - including a fullbeam master cabin - a spacious kitchen and a retractable glass skylight. The Southampton Boat Show, the UK’s best-loved boating festival, runs from September 15-24.

August 31st- September 13th 2017

Royal welcome HELLO SAILORS: Seamen stand to attention on the deck

train and rebuild the Ukrainian navy, which lost much of

its capability after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. During the mission, a journalist from The Times reported how a Russian intelligencegathering ship followed HMS Duncan from the moment she entered the Black Sea. “It’s not a particularly big deal,” said Lt. Cdr Tom Dor-

2121

man. “The Black Sea is a big water mass and inevitably every nation has its interests.” HMS Duncan was in Palma for a week before beginning its journey back to Portsmouth. During their stay, the crew performed the sunset lowering of the colours ceremony for guests on board.

Spurred on with tennis BILLIONAIRE Spurs owner Joe Lewis’s new superyacht has arrived in Mallorca for the first time. The 321-ft Aviva, which can reach speeds of 20 knots (23 MPH), landed in Palma Bay before heading to Cala de Valldemossa. The yacht boasts its own tennis court and can hold up to 16 guests with Lewis, 80, believed to house part of his multi-million-euro art collection onboard. However, top-secret building restrictions during its threeyear construction in the German shipyard of Abeking and Rasmussen mean little is known about the yacht’s interior. The Aviva has been completing sea trials and was previously moored off Falmouth in Cornwall. Lewis, who has had four yachts called Aviva, is reportedly worth a cool €4.3 billion and known to spend several months a year onboard his boats.

Boats, bikes and automobiles…

Oyster card marked for Palma THE Oyster Regatta takes place in Palma from September 26-30. The regattas, which include social functions each evening, are a regular fixture in Oyster’s summer season. This year’s Palma event is Oyster’s fortieth in total, with four qualifying races planned. Oyster owners can take part in the 2017 Palma Regatta, which involves racing during the day. Owners are able to attend with their yachts and join in the social events.

August 31st- September 13th 2017

If you have a sports story, contact newsdesk@ theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

NE aspect of Mallorca that is always so attractive is the length of the season, covered by two primary sports’ and leisure activities that bring so many people to the island and enrich the lives of those that live here full-time. The main sailing holiday season begins at Easter and ends with the October half-term, although lots of local boats sail throughout the year, with Winter Series regattas taking place from many marinas around the island. This dovetails somewhat with the road cycling season that begins with a vengeance in September and ends in May, with perhaps a bit of December and January left for those that live here to enjoy some relative peace, logs fires and evenings indoors with a good movie... However, even at the end of the absolute peak of the summer, the charter season has a good month or so left in it yet - with cheaper prices, a warm sea, emptier bays and space at the beaches and seafront restaurants. There is never a better time to do it… Mallorca Charter Point is a division of Baxter Marine and it’s no secret that chartering a yacht provides uniquely peaceful access to explore and enjoy what is widely regarded as one of the best charter areas in the whole of the Mediterranean. With a typical day charter being from 10.00am to 6.00pm, one of the most consistent and obvious questions is how to make the best of a day on the water – How far can we go? Where are the best beach-

Chartered waters

As the Mallorca sailing season begins to draw to a close, Hamish Goddard looks at charter season bargains

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What a Racket… Last Wednesday´s Russell Stevens Memorial Car Show was literally a roaring success, particularly during the ‘One Minute of Noise’ from nearly 100 amazing cars in memory of the former manager of Driving Mallorca. Admittedly, those beauties such as the 2017 McLaren 670s or 1912 Model T Ford in attendance were comprehensively ‘out-noised’ by the big block V8s of the American Car Club, but a fitting tribute was paid in a way that Russell would surely have approved. It was the perfect mechanical and smoky klaxon to signal the beginning of the classic car season and the many rallies scheduled throughout the winter – just watch out for all those bicycles!

Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es Book with the coast’s most trusted transfer company

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The good eggs

As anti-tourism protests gather pace across Spain, we remember the original expats who helped shape the country SEE PAGE 16

A BRITISH expat who returned to the UK has been found sleeping rough after his local council refused to house him. David Sutcliffe, 82, was starving and forced to live on the streets after he returned from EXCLUSIVE Spain a few weeks ago followBy Laurence Dollimore ing a relationship breakdown. But despite living in Spain for A BRITISH-hotel has accused just two years, Bournemouth a local lawyer of involvement Council has told the penin a terrifying hand-grenade sioner he is not entitled to attack. council housing. They said he The manager of Marbella’s Sisu had failed the ‘Habitual Residence test’, hotel claims legal eagle Antomeaning nio Flores is linked to a middon’t they night attack that left the hotel believe Daunable to open this Spring. vid intends In the astounding claim, manto settle in ageress Ale Valdivia insisted the UK. live on television that the boss A member of Lawbird legal practice - a of the public long-time Olive Press columnotihad nist - was ‘in some way inpolice fied volved’. after seeing It comes after the hotel, owned him so malby British businessman Neil nourished Acland, released CCTV footage ‘his trousers which shows a man dousing its LOST: were falling interior with petrol, before lobDavid down’. bing in a hand grenade. Sutcliffe Claire MatThe suspect, wearing a basethews, foundball cap and bandana, is now the subject of a police investier of Hope for Food charity, gation, that has become a nasaid it has been left to voluntional news story. teers to help David and try While there is no suggestion and trace his estranged son. that the assailant is lawyer She said: “It’s a disgrace Britain century Flores, hotel manager Valvidia, 21st in that claimed on two national TV an 82-year-old man can be programmes that he was beliving on the streets and nohind the March attack. one wants to take respon“It’s ridiculous,” Flores, 45, sibility. “He’s been passed told the Olive Press, this week. from pillar to post and left to “And we are taking action for a charity and the kindness of libel.” the public to put a roof over The Marbella-born lawyer his head.” (right) insists the TV apKelly Ansell, head of housBorpearances, the releasing of Bournemouth at ing the CCTV footage and the ough Council said: “We are accusations against him unable to comment on an are merely ‘a distracindividual case due to confition’ from the real dentiality.” story. Can’t be trusted, p 11 “The owners of Sisu are clearly involved in Opinion Page 6

Lawyer link to grenade attack British hotel bosses claim legal eagle is behind ‘gangland’ style bombing

RENTAL WARFARE

The Olive Press can reveal that company Hotel Locrimar SL is suing Acland and partners for allegedly not paying rent since 2009. The hotel, which allegedly turns over around €4 million a year, is accused of owing the owners of the building at least €1.2 million. In the ongoing legal dispute, Acland

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claims the company allowed him a grace period on paying the rent in return for construction works and improvements made by Sisu. But Locrimar claims the contract for this ‘rent holiday’ is fake. It claims it has been signed by an ex-employee and has been backdated to 2011, leading the case to become criminal.

are the more likely it won’t happen again.” He added that the accusations against him stem from a legal battle between one of his clients and the hotel, which is a popu-

some sort of gangland feud and are trying to bring as much attention on themselves to put off more attacks. “The more public they

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OLIVE PRESS – 70mm x 40mm 16 August FRONT COVER

In Spain Gibraltar news

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Gibraltar culture

Gibraltar winner

Gibraltar1 food&drink

August 30th - September 12th 2017

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The Rock’s original

l•

eXclUSIVe

IT has been dubbed the of the 1967 referendum, ‘party of a generation’ And when residents unanithe fun is soon to kick mously voted to stay off for National Day A G British. The Septem2017. ber party, nicknamed In a clear snub to ‘please refrain, Spain,’ A trip Spain, the rock is through will be packed with entime preparing to host its tertainment and patrimost patriotic bash otic fervour. To celebrate in history as it celedon’t miss our special brates the 50th anniversary eight-page pullout inside. www.gibraltarolivepress.com

ll about

Vol. 3 Issue

www.gibraltarolivepress.com

ibraltar l• A n n

Ann

yeAr

www.century21gibraltar.com

Century21 Tel: 00 350 200 51020 202-204 Main Street Mob: 00 350 56523000 Gibraltar info@century21gibraltar.com

August 30th - September 12th 2017

1967 feVer! BACK IN

TIME: The

streets of

Gibraltar

50 years

ago, after

the historic

National

IV e r S

yeAr

STEPPING

August 30th

August

- September

12th 2017

Day

30th - September

Ary •

c pe I A

Turn to page 4

opinion page 6

Vol. 3 Issue 52 www.gibraltarolivepress.com

e rS IV

y Ar •S

He continued: “The suggestion that there has been something untoward is concerning. I sincerely hope it is not the case.” He is now demanding that Justice Minister Neil Costa comes clean on the affair and clarifies the real reasons why the £130,000-a-year judge has not had his contract renewed. He revealed that the GSD has now written to Costa and called on him to issue a statement. “Costa must make a comment and he has not given one yet. He has been very quiet and this is a very serious matter.” He explained that he would be under pressure to be completely truthful as the minister must swear an additional separate oath in parliament as the Minister of Justice. Clinton added that saving

community newspaper FREE

e cI A

eXclUSIVe by Jon clarke

12th 2017

‘Ruffled feathers’ THE Leader of the Opposition has claimed that ‘government interference with the judiciary’ could be behind the departure of a leading judge from Gibraltar. Roy Clinton fears that outgoing Judge Jack (below) fell out with the government after ‘ruffling its feathers’, and the failure to renew his contract is not due to saving money. He told the Gibraltar Olive Press there are ‘obvious concerns of interference with the judiciary’. “I know certain feathers have been ruffled (by Jack). I fear that is the real reason he has gone.”

l e tt e r s

www.theolivepress.es

vote

Gibraltar National and self-determination Day - always a celebration in the 50th of sovereignty anniversary - takes on added importance of the Referendum this year vote

PARTIOTIC:

Matching

Union Jack

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IREWORKS, flags and at the ready... beers ready to rumble The Rock as Gibraltaris prepares for niversary National its 50th antions. Day celebraHalf a century endum that on from the with Britain, unequivocally refersided taller than the Rock is standing ever. An abundance of local means that the former pride day event onea week of now spills over into music of celebrations - includall genres, phy, competitions, ing arts, food, photogralocals and a rally onto their tourists alike into plenty to bring feet. the street It’s a chance and to show the really is nowhere world that there is no quite like there Gibraltar, group of people quite like and Gibral-

tarians. This year, it’s a statement tion; because as well as a celebrait’s a tense what with time advent of the 50th anniversarypolitically, Brexit looming. and the But that only fuels cals. the fire of the loFor just as the Rock the country’s is a symbol of the people strength and charm and are a reflection unity, up as one character and of its ognisable of Europe’s moststand landmarks. recPassion truly makes this and organisers 30,000 revellersexpect moreparty... than the monkeys - not (Barbary to mention if we are macaques, being pedantic) the celebrations. - to join For outsiders, September 10 is Continues

show me the money

could this number cruncher run the rock? Olive Press meets new GSD boss Roy Clinton See pAGe 6

How we DefeateD HITler! By Laura Duckett

SPAIN’S generals believed they could seize the Rock in just 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Adolf Hitler’s troops predicted two or three days, at the start of the Second World War. The claims are all part of a fascinating new book on Gibraltar, Defending the Rock - How Gibraltar Defeated Hitler, by Nicholas Rankin.

on Page

New book details Gibraltar’s importance in World War II and how not seizing it was Hitler’s ‘biggest regret’

Timed to come out just before the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum vote, the book highlights Hitler’s regret at failing to take Gibraltar. It also explains the terri-

tory's strategic importance during the war and its history before it. One of its main thrusts tackles its defences, with even the British highly concerned at how easy it

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would have been to thing he expected to haptake the Rock. pen quickly. Indeed, aide to the This flew in the face of Hitthen-governor, acler’s plans, which were to tor Anthony Quayle, see an invasion launched thought the Garrison in January 1941. was ‘as impregnable But he was somehow talkas a poached egg.’ ed out of it during a long “The Spanish could nine-hour meeting with have walked in with a Franco on the border with troop of boy scouts,” he France. later claimed. Franco recognising HitHowever Franco feared ler’s vulnerability prethat if he were to take the sented a long shopping list Rock, the British would that included the annexaretaliate by invading the tion of Morocco and large Canary Islands. quantities of wheat. It led to him remaining It was a step too far for neutral until Germany had Hitler, who later reflected defeated Britain - somethat he would prefer to have had ‘three or four teeth taken out’ rather than to go through the meeting again with Franco. The plans were called off. Hitler later hinted that his failure to take the Rock was his gravest mistake during the war. Defending the KEY MEETING: But Hitler could Rock is released not get agreement with Franco on September 7.

In Gibraltar

Security needed We are lucky enough to have had a small holiday finca in the middle of the island for 18 years. I love the Mallorca and Spanish people and the whole culture and weather here. However we were robbed over three years ago just like the scenario described on your website while the family were enjoying their holiday (Crime clan behind wave of Mallorca robberies, online). I now believe folks like us are targeted when the house is occupied because all the goodies are there to be swiped. We were strongly advised to have a CCTV security system installed and now have one. So far so good. Please folks, it is worth having a back up security system to deter theses blighters. It does not stop me loving Spain and it's people. Finally, the Fiestas in Mallorca are awesome! Thank you Spain. J Higginson, Mallorca

We’re not moving Most Brits that have moved somewhere in the EU would not have any intention of moving to another country, so would readily agree to the EU’s proposal (British citizens’ residency rights, online). Most are retired and spend-

August 31st- September 13th 2017

Writing’s on the wall

Readers react to ARRAN activists’ anti-tourism Palma graffiti spree

Self harm

only ground-floor accommodation is considered for a tourist rental licence in the old town (El Carmen) It’s only a start though, resentment persists.

They may not like the overcrowding but unless they can come up with a viable economic alternative to tourism, they are shooting themselves in the foot.

Stefanjo, Valencia

That’s radical

Jane G. Mallorca

Out of control This year seemed to the be the first year there were too many people in Mallorca. Many seasonal workers came, found a job, but couldn’t find affordable housing and had to leave. I see why Arran has popped up this year. But, graffitti only makes the city uglier to those of us who live here. Also running into restaurants and yelling while lighting off fireworks- now that’s a good way to get confused for an actual terrorist and maybe get stabbed by a hero. Courtney Fullham, Cala Bona

Compromise Even gentle, old Valencia was exhibiting anti-tourist graffito this July. Perhaps the cities have a point, they weren’t built or designed for tourism, especially residential areas, where school and work compete with fun and games. Of course, the answer is control and compromise. A firm, fair hand by the local administration is required, in order to maximise income and minimise aggravation. Valencia has made a start, in that

ing their lives in a location that they have chosen to enjoy the rest of their lives (for me, it’s Spain and I certainly won’t ever be moving anywhere else - and certainly not back to the UK). Voting in local elections would be nice, but I can’t see many Brits arguing the point if they are allowed to continue their health-cover as it is now & basically to carry on as normal. Ray Farmer, Andalucia

Work til you drop As pensioners - living in Spain - we are staying (British citizens’ residency rights, online). Originally we are from Scotland, which we love dearly, but it’s work till you drop there now. So we are staying put. But for many others the drop in the exchange rate has really affected their choices - it is now lower than when we arrived six years ago. We can only hope someone sees sense and backs out of Brexit. Everyone was

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‘Radical extremists’ — not a bad term to describe the behaviour of the few (mostly British) tourist scum that infest our coastline during the summer months. It’s not surprising that so many British Costa residents leave home during July and August. Law abiding, good, neighbourly expats should be expressing solidarity with our long-suffering, Spanish hosts, and with the many respectful, and generous visitors who come every year to share, and contribute to our bounty. Theo Bevius, Costa del Sol

given wrong information on an important issue for the whole country.And it should not be that the views and decisions of both Scotland and Wales are trampled on again. Caroline Miller, Ibiza

Brexit plans Places like Spain and Portugal should exploit the UK’s Brexit misery and capitalise on it. There will be plenty of Brexit refugees who are self-supporting and want to leave the UK before the trap door slams shut and it becomes much more difficult. Spain should look at Portugal in terms of tax incentives and property laws which work far better than theirs. Post-Brexit, it will be a very different type of Brit who moves to Spain and if the free healthcare for the over 60s goes west, it will only be people who are wealthy. Jane Garrett, Axarquia

They want fear Blah blah blah...heard it all before (IT’S NOT OVER: Chilling new threat from ISIS to #Spain as sick terror group promises to launch more attacks). Threats didn’t bother me when I lived in London during the bombings, doesn’t bother me much now I live in Spain. As horrible as these attacks are, the odds of actually getting caught up in one are really really small so why buy into the fear? I mean isn’t that what these t**** want? Mark Skelton, Malgrat de Mar

Finish the mission The terrorist attack in Barcelona is real let down by Spain. You’ve had great success against terrorist foot soldiers this week but why do people keep treating these so called religious zealots as untouchable. You should have finished this mission! Richard Taylor, Alicante

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Grotesque AN 83-year-old man accused of sketching grotesque caricatures and sending them to Mallorca politicians has been arrested. The unnamed suspect was detained after Mallorca Council President Miguel Ensenyat and Palma mayor Antonio Noguera complained. The man has admitted to drawing the ‘disgusting’ pictures and apologised.

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THE turnout was even healthier at the second Vegan Day Out of the summer. In total over 1000 people turned up at the event at Ca Na Susi, just outside Palma. “We saw lots of new faces, said founder Scott Adams.

August 31st - September 13th 2017

Scare Force One

NEW ENEMY: Trump is now scaring off birds, while (inset) Douglas

Queen Forever MALLORCA’S favourite tribute band Queen Forever are set to play at the Palma Auditorium on September 2. The Spanish band will be hitting major European cities for their We Are The Champions 2017-2018 tour led by Tolo Sanders, who plays Freddie Mercury.

Donald Trump scarecrow erected in Michael Douglas’s Mallorca orchard

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HE’S taken on North Korea, Russia and the entire US media, but Donald Trump has a new enemy in Mallorca... birds. A scarecrow bearing the US president’s face has been planted in an orchard at S’Estaca, the mansion owned by actor Michael Douglas. Trump’s distinctive hair do is brought vividly to life, with a wig perched on top of the Republican leader’s frowning features. And while it’s unclear who erected the Worzel Gummidge-esque statue, the world’s most powerful man now has to contend with marauding birds around Valldemossa.

Douglas, who has owned S’Estaca since 1989, is a proud Democrat who has donated money to Barack Obama and is in favour of gun control. His luxury 11-bedroom mansion is currently on sale for €36.5 million after he and Catherine Zeta Jones dropped their asking price by around €7 million last year, the Olive Press has revealed. It is hoped the Trump scarecrow, which comes complete with a Stars and Stripes tie, can scare off birds devouring the tomatoes around him. It might also get used as target practice for local hunters practicing their aim.

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Ball fight A FIESTA that let revellers run with a 300kg ball instead of bulls, ended with one seriously injured after the giant sphere slammed him against a fence. Two other festival goers in Mataelpino, near Madrid, were also hurt,one sustaining three broken ribs, as the ball careered out of control down a hill. The most seriously injured victim suffered a clot in the head after the sickening collision. The fiesta in the town of 1,700 has used a ball instead of bulls for seven years, but this year approval was given to increase the ball weight from 100 to 300kg.

BRITISH TV viewers were left in stitches after a teenager got a Justin Bieber tattoo in Magaluf, followed by a call live on air from his mum. Matthew Nolan, 18, got the song title Despacito tattooed on his foot as the Good Morning Britain cameras filmed him. Clearly slightly worse for wear, he told the TV crew, “How much have I had to drink tonight? I've had a couple of drinks... oh my goodness.” But later, the Irish youngster got the shock of his life when his mum Geraldine rang up to give her verdict on his new ink. “Matthew's such a massive Justin Bieber fan anyway, so no surprises with his choice of tattoo,” she said.

We are back on September 13th. In the meantime visit our website www.theolivepress.es for daily stories... and send comments to newsdesk@theolivepress.es