Olive Press Andalucia issue 456

P LIVE RESS ANDALUCÍA

WEATHER SPECIAL

Cars swept away, roads destroyed and rivers burst their banks as storms batter Andalucia

COMING OUT SWINGING

A HIGH-flying Costa del Sol mayor ‘threatened to sack’ a local police officer if he didn’t go along with ‘perverted’ sexual trysts, it has been claimed. Judges are now studying whether Estepona’s long-term PP leader should face charges over the grim ‘sexual harassment’ claims.

An official denuncia (complaint) was only finally accepted by Estepona’s Court 5 against Jose Garcia Urbano on Tuesday (yesterday), a week after being delivered. It comes after the Olive Press spent nearly eight days trying to stand up

the claims against the mayor who has been in power since 2011.

Despite confirmation from both the lawyer of the victim and a rival PSOE councillor, legal threats from the town hall and the Malaga authorities prevented us from publishing it.

We were unable to ask any questions at a public promotional event in the town on Monday.

The general secretary of the PSOE in Estepona, Emma Molina, told the Olive Press the allegations against Garcia Urbano were ‘extremely serious’.

“Neither the mayor nor the town hall

can remain silent,” she said last night.

“They have to show their faces and explain what is behind this complaint, which tarnishes the name of Estepona,” she

Mayor denies ‘perversions’ against a male employee and wife in sensational sexual harassment claim

By Walter Finch

added.

The employee, who is currently based in Cordoba and on ‘mental health leave’, claims he faced the ‘sexual harassment’ between March 2022 and June 2023.

He had only recently taken a job with the town’s local police force, according to reports.

His lawyer, Antonio Granados Caballero, told the Olive Press, this week: “The mayor ‘invited’ him to have sexual relations under all kinds of perversions.”

transformation of Estepona in the past decade.

Many have even tipped the former lawyer and notary for the top job at the Junta.

Initial steps will see an investigating judge taking testimony from the alleged victim with the mayor then expected to attend court to answer the claims.

Tommy tears

ON-OFF Spanish resident Tommy Robinson has been jailed for 18 months for contempt of court in the UK.

The Far-Right leader, who spends much of the year on the costas, admitted to repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee school child at Woolwich Crown Court.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, to use his real name, breached an injunction made in 2021 after teenager Jamal Hijazi successfully sued him for portraying him as a violent thug in a documentary. Robinson was remanded in custody after handing himself in at a police station on Friday. He has repeatedly played the film, even to thousands of people at a farright rally in July.

The mayor - who gained a record 69.4% of votes in the 2019 elections

Fled

The following day he fled the country to Spain, where he has been mostly living around Albir and Alfaz del Pi, on the Costa Blanca, with a few side trips to Marbella and Tenerife, the Olive Press has established.

After sentencing, Judge Johnson said: “In a democratic society underpinned by the rule of law, court orders must be obeyed. Nobody is above the law.” Lennon faces further charges, including his refusal to give a pin number of his phone to police. He will face the charge under the Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, on November 13.

“It came under the threat of losing his job,” he added. The accusations even allegedly involved the victim’s wife, who ‘had little choice but to go along with it’.

The bombshell complaint paves the way for a sensational investigation into the rising Popular Party heavyweight, 61, who has overseen a giant

- came out fighting yesterday afternoon denying the claims, calling himself ‘the victim of false allegations of sexual harassment’.

“It is an inexcusable and unjust campaign to damage my personal dignity and my trajectory with a clear and spurious goal,” he insisted in a statement.

He added in a social media post that he was going to hire a team of lawyers who will ‘prove the absolute lack of foundation of this complaint’.

He was last seen in public on Monday, when he gave a speech to a crowd

The anti-Islam activist was previously convicted of contempt of court in 2018 after he live streamed individuals involved in a grooming trial in Leeds as they arrived at the courthouse. Since then, Spain has mostly been his home, popping up all over the country and without any restrictions as he carries an Irish passport.

This summer alone Lennon popped up having a full English breakfast in Puerto Banus, regular one-day jaunts to Tenerife and various podcasts and rants in Albir and even Benidorm.

EXCLUSIVE

Costa del DELUGE

LANDSLIDES, road collapses, mammoth hailstones and cars being swept away by surging rivers.

These are just some of the biblical scenes recorded in Andalucia this week as the heavens finally opened and left two people needing rescuing from their cars in Jaen.

Firefighters around Andalucia helped evacuate many more people from their homes as floods rose.

Huge hailstones ‘as large as eggs’ smashed car windows in El Ejido, Almeria, as footage online showed locals having to take cover.

So heavy was the rain that several cars

By Laurence Dollimore

were swept away in Cartama and Alora - which was soaked by 175.6 mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest level in Andalucia - as the Guadalhorce river broke its banks.

Meanwhile, a deep three metre wide trench opened up on the A334 in Seron, in Almeria, making the road completely impassable.

State weather agency Aemet was forced to issue an emergency red alert for the Costa del Sol on Tuesday afternoon after an unexpected surge in the amount of rainfall.

There were widespread reports of flooding along the coast, including in Fuengirola and Marbella, while roads were cut off in Ronda and Ardales, near the famous Caminito del Rey.

“We are stuck in El Chorro, the situation is very bad and all the roads are closed because of rocks and mud,” explained one reader.

In Benalmadena, firefighters responded to a landslide in Avenida Del Indico, warning drivers to avoid taking unnecessary journeys.

There were no take offs or landings at Malaga airport early on early Tuesday morning due to ‘dangerous conditions’.

It came after an electric storm kept scores of residents awake across Malaga province overnight, with the ac-

Flights delayed, cars swept away and hailstones as large as eggs in worst storms for years

STONED: Hail storms pounded El Ejido and smashed car windows

companying deluge causing dozens of rivers to surge.

At least 20,000 lightning bolts were recorded during the dramatic episode.

In Alora, one British expat could be heard crying: ‘Oh, my God!’ as he filmed two cars being carried away under a river bridge.

Meanwhile, one expat in Ronda told the Olive Press: “I have never seen rain like this, there will definitely be flooding here too.

“There was thunder and lightning all night, it was scary stuff, the sky was

lighting up constantly.”

Meanwhile, streets around Malaga province were turned into rapids due to the heavy rainfall, with many major roads having to be closed off.

There was travel chaos in Malaga city and Marbella, where traffic was brought to a standstill.

The storms came following the arrival of a dreaded ‘gota frio’ (cold drop) or DANA - an area of high isolated depression that brings heavy rainfall and a drop in temperatures. The wet weather is forecast to last until at least Thursday this week.

SURGE: Rivers broke their banks and swept away cars in Alora and Cartama

Cute conservation

TWO adorable but endangered sloths named Reina and Flo have taken up residence in Bioparc Fuengirola.

The pair have moved into an expanded recreation of the South American rainforest as part of a European conservation program aimed at protecting these remarkably gentle and peaceful animals.

One of the myths surrounding sloths is that their slow-moving lifestyle is due to laziness or inactivity, when in reality it is an adaptation to their environment. However, these gentle creatures face numerous threats in the wild, including habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.

HEAVEN OR HELLRAISER?

JONNY ‘Hellraiser’ Elraiz has quietly been making a name for himself providing food and support for hundreds of homeless people around Benidorm.

Raising hell on the stage and heaven on the streets, Jonny ‘Hellraiser’ Elraiz is behind Benidorm’s City Streets project, providing food and support to the city’s homeless. Tattoos, piercings and a long black beard, Jonny Elraiz is not a stereotypical charity boss, but the 50-year-old metal musician is nonetheless ‘determined to change the world.’

Originally from South East London, Elraiz began helping

“It’s better to have a fence at the top of a cliff than a fleet of ambulances at the bottom,” explains one of Spain’s most unusual yet big-hearted British expats

ways done stuff for the homeless because I know what it's like, I am an ex-heroin addict and was on the streets of London. I’ve been clean for 22 years now,” he told the Olive Press

“As a musician I had a lot of free time during the pandemic so I started giving out food.

Covid marked a transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top

By Yzabelle Bostyn

and now, the population is in crisis, the idea of becoming a homeowner resigned to the history books.”

After working with existing charity Project4All for three years, Elraiz established City Streets in Benidorm, providing food and assistance to the city’s homeless.

The non-profit helps people from all over the world who have found themselves living on the streets. Their team of 12 volunteers is also international, with a mix of expats and Spaniards helping out. They work together with local restaurants and the British Consulate to help with documentation, repatriation, clothing, food and more.

“It’s better to have a fence at the top of a cliff than a fleet of

ambulances at the bottom,” Elraiz said.

“We’re not Deliveroo for the poor, the food serves as a way to start conversations and build relationships so we can help get people off the streets.”

For Elraiz, a typical day starts at 9am and between food rounds and metal gigs, doesn’t finish until 4am.

He is part of many bands, including White Coast Rebels, who are preparing to launch their second album after their European tour.

“People think we only sing about Satan and demons but music, culture and life go hand in hand. It’s heavy metal, but we sing about everything from partying to being angry with the system to falling in love,” Elraiz said.

One of their videos, Hanging with the Bad Boys, even includes a cameo from Benidorm royalty, Johnny Vegas.

A rebel at heart, Elraiz even named three of his children after rock’s finest: Elvis, Axel and Ozzy.

To catch him in Hellraizer mode, catch a show at any of their ‘sin city’ favourites: the Heartbreak Hotel Benidorm, The Million Dollar Bar, The Western Saloon or The Crown.

Learn more about City Streets Community Project by visiting their website: citystreets.es

A BIT BLUNT

IT’S a celebrity spat up there with his brother’s personal battle with Robbie Williams. It came after Noel Gallaher risked the wrath of one of the UK’s most popular singer/songwriters, James Blunt.

The Oasis star slagged off his neighbour in Ibiza, claiming he had sold his property there because he didn’t want to live next to Blunt.

He blurted out in an interview with Time Out: “I simply didn’t want him (Blunt) as a

neighbour.” He added he had sold his villa for €6.6 million because he couldn’t stand Blunt ‘writing his shit songs down the road from him’.

Blunt recently told a podcast Gallagher leaving had led to a bounce in house prices. “He said he was leaving Ibiza and prices subsequently went up after he left,” he joked. Gallaher had originally bought the property from Tubular Bells star Mike Oldfield for €3 million in 1999.

By George and Harry

Harry has reportedly splashed €4.3million on a luxury Portugal property, alongside one snapped up by Hollywood

Harry and wife Meghan Markle bought the off-plan home in Melides, on the western coast, south of LisThe Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club development will house 300 properties spread across 722 acres.

George and Amal Clooney are also said to be interested in buying a home there, according to Hello magazine. Harry and Meghan stopped off for a ‘romantic’ break in Melides, in Alentejo, after attending the Invictus games in Germany last year. They met up with Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie at her home on the Atlantic coast.

Surrounded by rolling rice fields, azure waters, and pristine beaches, the town is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

PRINCE

star George Clooney.

Photo by Fran Cea Photography

Scooter menace Outsider alert

AN 83-year-old woman has been hospitalised after a young boy crashed into her while riding an e-scooter.

The woman was with her family on the Torre del Mar seafront when she was suddenly mowed down by the eight-year-old after he mounted the pavement.

The law states that you must be at least 14 years old to ride an electric scooter.

The woman was knocked to the ground and suffered several fractured ribs, a broken elbow and bruises all over her body.

The boy and another traveling on the scooter apologised to the woman but fled the scene.

Tri-agedy

A BRITISH triathlete died during the Grand Final of the World Triathlon Series, which was held in Torremolinos.

Engineer Mark Stokes, 57, collapsed and died while competing in the running segment of the race, after he had completed the swimming and cycling portions.

Medical staff were on hand to respond immediately, but were unable to revive the athlete.

Meanwhile, a 79-year-old Mexican died of a heart attack earlier in the morning, just after the start of the swimming leg.

PROTESTS: The measures come after backlash for tourist lets

AIRBNB properties will be banned in Malaga within days - following in Sevilla and Barcelona’s footsteps. Strict new regulations are being brought in to curb the ‘saturation’ of tourism in various parts of the city.

The registration of new holiday rentals will be banned in 43 areas, including Pedregalejo and La Malagueta, and could stand for up to five years.

In these ‘saturated’ areas, more than 8% of properties are used as tourist accommodation, according to a study by the co-operative Espacio Comun. Councillor for Town Planning, Carmen Casero, emphasised that the Junta will be responsible for enforcing the new regulations, coming in this November.

AIRBNB BACKLASH

In a further blow to tourist rental businesses any properties registered since February that don’t have independent access via separate doors will be cancelled.

The Junta has already begun to notify these owners with 1,500 likely to be affected, it has been reported.

It is estimated that tourist apartments make up 75% of the city’s holiday accommodation, with 65% of the 13,000 registered found in the centre.

IMMIGRATION remains Spain’s most pressing concern, according to a new opinion survey.

Almost three in 10 people listed it as their number one concern (28.1%) in light of the migrant crisis in the Canary Islands and the ongoing debate around how best to deal with it.

End for ‘el horrible’

Infamous 411-room illegal Algarrobico hotel to finally be demolished

GREEN groups are coming closer to celebrating a two decade battle against one of the worst environmental abuses in Spanish history. Ecologistas en Accion and Greenpeace - along with the Olive Press - have been campaigning against the enormous El Algarrobico hotel built on a virgin beach in a protected green zone in Andalucia for 20 years. Now it is set to be demol-

SOUTHERN Spain has the highest poverty rates in Europe.

Almost 30% of Andalucians live in poverty, according to an alarming study.

According to research carried out by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), some 24.7% of Andalucians live below the poverty line, compared to 14.6% in the north of Spain.

In some parts of Andalucia the figure would be above 50%, while 10.8 million people rely on government aid.

“If the south of Spain was a country, it would have the highest poverty levels in Europe,”

By Yzabelle Bostyn

ished within the next few months, after an agreement between the government and Carboneras town hall, in Almeria.

MONSTROSITY: The huge hotel is an eyesore in the Cabo de Gata

The work will be led by Madrid while the Junta will take care of the residue and restore the land to how it was.

Poverty alert

said researcher Juan Llano, at EAPN.

“If the state didn’t exist, we’d have a huge problem,” he added.

The situation has no doubt been exacerbated by the rising cost of living.

“The rise in income have not been able to counter the high rise in prices and energy costs,” he added.

The most vulnerable are women and children living in Andalucia, the Canary Islands and Extremadura.

“We will be able to start the demolition and return this illegally developed area to the locals and nature within six months,” said Environment Minister Catalina Garcia. Construction on the 411room monstrosity - dubbed ‘El Horrible’ by the Olive Press - was started in the Cabo de Gata Nature Park, in 2003. It came after planners at Carboneras town hall illegally altered zoning rules to allow a developer, Azata del Sol, to begin work.

ficially included in the park. Numerous protests fell on deaf ears until activists daubed the hotel ‘illegal’ in giant letters, and turned it into an international environmental story.

‘non developable’

HAND S OFF

OUR COSTAS

The project had first got planning permission in the 1980s before the area had been of-

Andalucia’s High Court now needs to ratify the decision to officially declare the land ‘non developable’. The court has also opened a period of suggestions from local environmental groups, including Salvemos Mojacar, which was heavily involved in fighting the scheme.

They will have some say in how best to restore the area.

INCLUDE WWF SPAIN IN YOUR WILL

The figure has dropped slightly from 30.4% in September – a peak not seen since the so-called ‘cayuco crisis’ when more than 30,000 people arrived on the islands in 2006.

The survey, known as the Barometer of the Sociological Research Centre (CIS), was conducted amid ongoing political battles over migration policy and the distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors.

The survey question does not differentiate between legal and illegal immigration.

Heart of the community

REAL estate agency Mediterranean Homes will donate yet another defibrillator to the Coin community. They have previously installed the life saving devices in two schools and a business centre. Alongside the devices, they provide essential training showing locals how to use the equipment.

Soon, they will donate another defibrillator to Jimenez Guzman School, followed by a further two donations next year.

“As a successful business, I think it’s our duty to do this for our community,” Mediterranean Homes director, Kelly Summerell said.

“I don’t know of any other real estate company that does what we do.”

A family run business, Mediterranean Homes also gives to multiple local charities including Paws a While dog fostering and ARCH horse rescue.

Please cut out and send this filled out form to WWF Spain at Gran Vía de San Francisco 8-D, 28005 – Madrid. We will contact you as soon as possible to resolve your queries without.

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SQUATTER HELL

Brit stands to lose €100,000 after her Malaga home is squatted for a second time

A BRITISH homeowner is at her wit’s end after her Malaga property was taken over by squatters for a second time just hours after installing an alarm and cameras.

Louise Bawn is demanding answers from Spanish authorities who have ‘twice failed her’ during a ‘two-year nightmare’.

She now faces losing €100,000 on the sale of the home if she fails to kick out the squatters - and has already spent €10,000 on legal fees and trips back and forth to deal with the mess.

Speaking to the Olive Press, she explained how the two-bedroom property in Sexmo, Cartama, which she inherited from her late father, was first broken into in February 2023. She reported the squatters to the police but they did nothing to remove them until September of this year, when the home was finally raided due to it being used by drug dealers. The property was sealed off on September 20 and Louise flew out and installed alarms and changed the locks under the advice of the authorities.

Triggered

Under Spanish law, if a home is broken into and an alarm is triggered, notifying police, then arriving officers can remove the people inside as they have clearly broken the law. However, just five hours after installing her own alarm, Louise’s home was successfully squatted again, despite cops being called to the scene. Louise told the Olive Press: “The alarm was triggered and the police attended along with myself and my estate agent Peppe.

“The police refused to remove them because they claimed they had lived there for two years which was a lie. Peppe verified this but they still did nothing…I am desperate to have them removed as the house is for sale and now my agent cannot go there.”

She added: “I believe at the very least that Guardia Civil were negligent and in dereliction of duty by not removing them from the house under Article 245 of the Spanish penal code.

“When I was at the house at the time

Deer death

A 91-year-old man has been killed after a deer attacked him and injured his 84-year-old wife and son, 61. It is thought the deer entered the family’s farmhouse between Almontaras and Los Cortijillos in Granada accidentally, where it attacked the family. It was eventually shot dead by the son. The wife, who suffered extensive injuries, was transferred to the Hospital de Baza alongside her son.

WRONG PERSON

THE family of a deceased man due to be buried have been left devastated after health authorities in Andalucia accidentally cremated him in a case of mistaken identity.

It is thought the confusion occurred after two bodies, one male and one female, arrived at the same time at the Legal Medical Institute (IML) in Cadiz.

According to the Junta’s Justice Department, the man was due to be buried in Malaga but ended up at the crematorium in Cadiz.

The woman, who wanted to be cremated in Cadz, ended up at the man’s funeral in Malaga.

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

of the break in and said how corrupt it was that they were doing nothing about it they threatened to arrest me, so I must have touched a nerve.

“I have been failed twice now… there is something seriously wrong and they need to be held accountable for not doing their job.”

Louise’s estate agent has also allegedly been threatened by the squat-

UNWANTED: An expat is living a recurring nightmare after police failed to stop her flat being squatted in for a second time but if I sell it as occupied to a company who specialises in buying this type of property I stand to lose €100,000.”

ters for trying to remove them. The Brit is currently trying to sell the home, which was valued at

€130,000, but the presence of squatters seriously impacts its price tag. She said: “It was valued at €130,000

Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION

Death of a local hero

DEMO: Against the Los Merinos project, with Terroba inset) very much involved

HE helped stop motorways, power lines and golf course developments.

Through the course of a four decade battle as an environmentalist in Spain, Juan Terroba faced far too many sleepless nights.

As with the campaigners in the continuing battle to see the disgraceful 411-room illegal Algarrobico hotel demolished in Almeria, he was tasked with defending his beloved Serrania de Ronda region from developers.

Entirely voluntary, Juan was used to the knock on the door to sign for a writ.

In total, he and his local group Silvema (allied to Ecologistas en Acción) faced around 50 lawsuits for their work to stop the barbaric 2000-home macro-project of Los Merinos golf.

Later described by a judge as ‘mafia tactics’, Juan and others faced losing their homes in ridiculous demands totalling into the tens of millions and disgracefully backed by the town hall.

Yet, while some caved in Juan soldiered on, even when he was demoted from his day job as a green policeman (patrulla verde) and put on traffic duty.

He continued to dedicate his spare time to studying the legality of projects, such as a motorway scheme that would have carved through the virgin Genal Valley to bring tourists to Ronda in 22 minutes.

Juan knew what money and concrete had done to the nearby coast. He understood how the vast majority of projects were only there to make money for speculators.

He helped to bat away giant wind and solar farms over recent years, and even gave his weekends to analysing sewage projects, while undertaking treatment for cancer. And all the while, developing a rare breeds farm, where he built the famous La Algaba stone age village for schoolchildren to learn about the deep and fascinating history of their region.

The Olive Press (our first issue above) launched to support and promote the bravery of folk like Juan, a genuine people’s hero, a warrior who always put the welfare of his area above his own personal benefit.

Sadly, people like Juan are all too rare and it's an honour to salute his short life that ended this autumn.

As the rains hammer down and the lightning crackles, it's time to remember the dedicated ecologists and green groups who provide a vital counterweight to the infamous greed of developers who sadly thrive in every corner of this wonderful country.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

Humenyuk

(+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es

ILaurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es

Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

(+34) 951 154 841 distribution@ theolivepress.es

SP CATCHER

As a British pensioner loses his extradition battle to face a money-laundering trial, his claims of being a secret 007-style agent for Spain will come under the spotlight

T sounds like a long-running spy novel series, each book more implausible.

But in the tortuous saga of British accountant Paul Blanchard, everything now depends on a panel of Appeal Court judges that his life is anything but fiction. The stakes could not be higher for the 79-year-

By Walter Finch

one of the trials of the decade in Madrid and shed a light on his incredible connections to some of the world’s scariest mafia figures.

He came into contact with many - including former British Public Enemies John Palmer and Kenneth Noye - during his years spent living in Tenerife. That he is not denying. But what he claims is that he was actually

an undercover agent for Spanish intelligence, codenamed Isabella during his years on the island.

In a fascinating interview with the Olive Press he claims to have spied on these organised gangsters, as well as numerous terrorists to boot, including members of Al Qaeda and even the IRA.

Regularly supplying Madrid with a slew of information, everything had been fine until his handlers ‘threw him under the bus’ in 2004. It came after Blanchard became the personal accountant for Mo-

As Coco the cat inspires calls for a new carbon monoxide law, Dilip Kuner looks at vital checks you should make every year - they could save your life

ANEW law inspired by a cat named Coco would require all homes to be fitted with carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.

The idea, being floated by Olive Press readers, stems from a potentially life-saving event when Debbie Lush (below), an expat, noticed her cat persistently meowing at her water boiler.

As reported on our front page last issue, the simple purchase of a CO detector led to her finding a deadly gas leak, which could have been fatal without Coco’s relentless warnings.

She was lucky, but the issue highlights the need for stricter home safety regulations to prevent future tragedies, which happen all too often in Spain each year.

We have reported on too many deaths over the years, with the most recent involving the suffocation of a Dutch tourist, 21, who was overcome by CO when a bird’s nest blocked a ventilation pipe in Mallorca.

While Coco’s Law - as we think it should be known - focuses on one particularly deadly danger, there are a host of checks that homeowners and landlords should make every year.

From inspecting gas boilers to testing smoke detectors, an annual home safety inspection is a proactive way to safeguard your property and loved ones.

By Dilip Kuner

Here’s a guide to help you carry out a thorough check of your home’s critical areas.

GAS BOILERS

Gas boilers are essential for heating and hot water, but they can pose risks if not properly maintained - as emphasised by a plan for a Coco’s Law.

An annual service is not only critical to prevent CO leaks and ensure efficient operation but actually required by law. These should be pre-arranged with a reputable firm, via your gas provider.

Do not fall foul of the ‘gas man scam’ where a stranger knocks on your door with no appointment and over charges you hundreds of euros for a ‘check’.

A proper technician will check for leaks, test combustion levels, and ensure proper ventila tion.

As a householder you can check for visible signs of damage and always look for potential leaks, unusual noises, or changes in performance.

hamed Derbah - known as the ‘Godfather of Tenerife’ - in 1999.

A feared mafia boss, he owned and ran numerous timeshare firms and their security alongside his partner John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer, who smelted the gold from the infamous Brink’s-Mat gold heist at Heathrow Airport in 1983 (recently turned into a BBC drama called The Gold). Blanchard met them both (and many more) and, assuming his appeal is unsuccessful, he will tell all about his life at a showpiece trial in Madrid, likely next year.

Here, the Olive Press pours over the fascinating life of the ‘undercover agent’.

Mixing it up with Mo

Blanchard met Lebanese businessman Mohamed ‘Mo’ Derbah, in Tenerife, in 1999. He wanted advice on how to invest (read launder) the proceeds of his timeshare business that, unknown to Blanchard, was a notorious scam that defrauded 17,000 holidaying Brits. He should have thought twice and turned down the offer, but once he had agreed to help he got quickly drawn into a world of intrigue and criminality.

This included Mo ordering him to make a false deposition against a rival to take over his business – all with the connivance of the island’s police.

When he finally confronted him and threatened to go to the authorities, Mo replied: ‘You don’t have the balls’.

Fearful for his life, Blanchard claims he contacted Scotland Yard in July 2001, who set him up

CO detectors have a test button. Check each unit annually and replace batteries or the entire unit as needed.

SMOKE DETECTORS

Smoke detectors are your first line of defence in case of a fire. An annual inspection ensures they will function when needed. Press the test button on each detector to verify the alarm is working.

Coco’s Law calls for compulsory CO detectors, because they are not yet mandatory in Spain, unlike in the UK and Ireland.

Replace any that fail the test. Even if your detectors appear to be working, it’s advisable to change batteries annually to avoid any unexpected failures. Smoke detectors have a lifespan of about 10 years. If yours is older, replace it entirely.

Electrical Appliances

Faulty electrical appliances can cause shocks, fires, or short circuits, making it important to check their condition annually.

Check for frayed wires, exposed conductors, or any damage to plugs. Replace or repair faulty cables immediately.

Test circuit interrupters, which protect against electric shock and electrical fires,

BFFS: Blanchard (left) and mob boss Derbah in happier times

EXTRADITED: Paul Blanchard claims to have lived the life of a real-life 007

with a meeting with an agent from Spanish intelligence at the Novotel Hotel in Madrid.

Just five months later, Mo was arrested on charges including money laundering, arms dealing and potential ties to Middle Eastern terror groups. Meanwhile, Blanchard’s Spanish handlers urge him to get out of the country.

And understandably so as Mo spent just 10 months in jail before getting bail for a trial that never happened, thanks to the slow wheels of Spanish justice. Mo has remained a free man and become something of a pillar of the Tenerife business community, even recently dabbling in local politics

Yet there is a sting in the tail for Mo as Spain’s High Court has confirmed to the Olive Press he will finally face trial in Madrid over the coming months.

tently told the Policia Nacional in Malaga he was working undercover.

This seriously angered Muñoz when the queries were run up the flagpole and he was forced to intervene.

He came across the names of the July 7 bombers in London a year before they killed 52 people

If Blanchard is successfully extradited to Spain, he will stand in a parallel trial to his one-time business associate – in spite of his claimed assistance in catching him.

My Spanish handlers

A pair of Spanish intelligence officers became Blanchard’s handlers –and his only lifeline to the law-abiding world he had left behind.

Inspector Fernando Muñoz, based in Madrid, was his primary contact, providing detailed instructions, guidance, and assurances of protection for him throughout. Meanwhile, an officer called ‘Enrique Esteban’ guided him during spying on terror groups. The relationship was healthy until Blanchard inadver-

TIMESHARE: Alleged ‘Tenerife godfather’ Derbah will stand trial thanks to Blanchard’s evidence

“Don’t speak with other people about our issues - about Mohamed or terrorism,” the officer told Blanchard in a recorded phone call, the Olive Press has had access to.

Fearing the worst and he was about to be hung out and dried, he had a meeting with the pair in Madrid in May 2004.

He asked for assurance that the pair would acknowl-

UNDERCOVER:

edge his role if the UK authorities got involved.

Muñoz allegedly delivered a chilling response: “No, no, no,” he allegedly told him.

“That’s impossible, the relationship.....it’s not working.

“They [Spanish intelligence] would deny any involvement.”

The disavowal marked the start of his problems, which continue today.

Moscow mafia and the hit on Palmer

He was soon helping Lebanese billionaire Edmond Hamid, who had amassed a €25 billion fortune through dodgy dealings with the Kremlin.

He hired the accountant to help him hide his wealth, create a new identity and ride off into the sunset.

Blanchard got wind that part of Hamid’s fortune had been unwisely invested in a shadowy fund known as ‘Project Moscow’ allegedly via the help of a British fixer called Scott Young.

UK-based Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky was another investor in the lucrative venture, of which

RISK: gas boilers must be checked regularly

by pressing the test and reset buttons. For safety and energy efficiency, unplug appliances that are not used regularly. And take care with mobile phone chargers. Recently four members of one family in Sevilla died in a blaze that started when a phone overheated when left on a sofa to charge overnight.

COOKERS AND OVENS

Both gas and electric cookers can pose safety hazards, so an annual check is essential for preventing fires and other accidents. Make sure all stove burners and heating elements are working properly. For gas stoves, check for any blockages that could result in gas buildup.

If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the gas supply immediately and contact a professional for an inspection.

HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN

Go over your home’s emergency exits with your family and make sure everyone knows the quickest way out in case of fire or another emergency.

It is also a good idea, especially if you have small children, to have a fire drill at least once a year to ensure everyone knows their role and escape route. Choose a safe place outside where your

family can meet after evacuating.

CARS AND GARAGES

Cars and garages also need attention in your home safety checklist, as they can present risks such as fires, toxic fumes, or accidents.

Regularly inspect your car’s tyres, brakes, and battery to ensure they’re in safe condition. Schedule any necessary repairs with a professional mechanic. And make sure your garage is well-ventilated to prevent a buildup of exhaust fumes, which can seep into living areas.

OUTDOOR SAFETY

The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior for safety checks. Check for any loose or damaged tiles on the roof, which will allow for water seepage.

Clean the gutters of leaves and debris to prevent water damage.

Overgrown vegetation near your home can cause damage or become a fire hazard, particularly in Spain’s scorching summers. Keep trees and bushes trimmed, especially those near electrical lines. And check that outdoor electrical outlets are weatherproof and functioning properly so you don’t have a shocking experience when you mow the lawn!

little is truly known – but is thought to have enjoyed the guiding hand of President Putin.

Hamid was tipped off by Russian security services to get out just in time, but Young was accused of ‘skimming off the top’ and ‘fell to his death’ out of a window.

Berezovsky, meanwhile, was found to have ‘committed suicide’ in his Berkshire mansion in 2013.

Both were killed by a trio of Bulgarian brothers known as ‘the Sofia Three’, Blanchard told the Olive Press, a trio who specialised in deadly and untraceable poisons.

He claims the hitmen were also responsible for the unsolved death of Palmer, who was gunned down outside his British home in 2015 on the orders of the Russian mafia.

A dalliance with the Irish Republican army Blanchard claims he was recruited to delve into the overlapping worlds of organised crime and terrorist financing in Spain.

He was tasked with actively investigating a fraud suspected to involve Irish Republicans and telecommunications giant Lucent in 2003 (today Alcatel-Lucent).

Under the cover of a reputable corporate services company, Blanchard reported that two IRA operatives (one named ‘John’) had held middleman John Allin (a serial fraudster) captive and put a gun to his head as their scheme unravelled.

According to his investigations, money syphoned off from the company was used to bribe the very judges in Spain who were investigating the fraud.

My tip off about the London bombers

The most astonishing claim is that he came across the names of the July 7 bombers in London a year before they killed 52 people and injured 700.

He says he saw the names of 7/7 terrorists Mohammed Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer when Malaga police asked him to inspect the phone of Allin, who had allegedly been helping funnel money to the IRA.

He was then ordered to attend a meeting at the Meridian Hotel in London in 2003 with the future suicide bombers.

At the meeting, Blanchard played the helpful white-collar enabler as they discussed transferring €10 million to be withdrawn in cash from a bank in Spain.

He got an inkling of what they were up to when he noticed that Khan was nervous about his face being captured on CCTV.

Meanwhile, Allin was happy to lend his fraud and IRA-financing talents to the jihadis.

“Mohammed Khan masterminded the theft of £375,000 from the NatWest bank in Derby in the UK, and then transferred the money to Spain,” Blanchard told the Olive Press.

“It was all withdrawn in cash to fund terrorist activities.”

Both the names of Khan and Tanweer were included in a report to Muñoz on May 17, 2004, which was later faxed to MI5 – but never acted upon.

A CLUCKIN’ RESULT!

Chicken shop sees surge in sales and recognition after taking out an advert with the Olive Press

WHEN the general manager of Estepona’s Pollo de La Mar took out advertising with the Olive Press, she had little idea of what was in store.

As well as the usual advert in the newspaper, we interviewed Lisanne, 26, for a special article that immortalised her as the ‘Chicken Girl’.

Not even a day later, she was being stopped in the street after the article received tens of thousands of hits.

As she reminisced to this newspaper: “The morning after it was published, I was walking in the port when at least two or three people from other businesses told me they had seen me on the Olive Press Facebook page.

“And I hadn’t even seen it yet, so I was like ‘you saw me’?... And then it never stopped.”

Lisanne added: “Customers were coming into the restaurant because they had seen me in the newspaper and they wanted to try the chicken, both new clients and regulars.

Impact

“People would stop me and say ‘hey Chicken Girl, how are you doing’?”

But the reach and the impact of the advert went far beyond just the confined corners of Estepona Port.

Lisanne explained: “I was getting messages on Facebook from people sending me the link or screenshots, or people who saw it on their Google feed. In fact it went far beyond the Costa del Sol.

“I saw a lady at a wedding whose mum lives in England – she told me her mum had seen the advert and that next time she comes for a visit she wants to visit my restaurant! That’s when I realised it had gone way bigger than I expected.”

Business has been booming for Lisanne, who says she’s so proud of her team, her business, and herself for what they've been able to achieve.

“It has been really positive,” she concluded.

“People came to the restaurant because they wanted to try it out after what they had seen in the newspaper, it really worked!”

VILLAINS: Kenneth Noye (left) and John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer

Blanchard claims he was recruited by Spanish intelligence to spy on gangsters and terrorists

LA CULTURA

DEEP DIVE

A SPECTACULAR Roman forum has been discovered that experts believe was used to help integrate new tribes into the empire.

The discovery, in the mountain town of Ubrique, Cadiz, has revealed an impressive complex of public buildings dating from the 1st to 5th centuries AD.

Excavators uncovered a central square's wall stretching 16 metres in length, along with what has been described as a 'monumental altar' decorated with elaborate architectural features including column bases, shafts, and statue pedestals.

Scholar

The discovery vindicates 18th century scholar Juan Vegazo, who first suggested the central terrace of Ubrique's hill concealed an ancient Roman forum – a gathering place that would have been the heart of social and political life. The team believe the complex played a key role in what they term 'hybridisation' - the process by which Rome absorbed and integrated local communities that were already settled in the area.

Archeologists begin recovery of 2,600-year-old Phoenician wreck –the most complete ever discovered

WORK has begun on the amphibious excavation of an ancient Phoenician trading ship off the coast of Murcia.

The remarkably well-preserved vessel, dubbed Mazarron 2, is believed to be the most complete ancient ship ever found in the Mediterranean.

An expert team of specialists

By Walter Finch

from the Universitat de Valencia have been painstakingly working to extract the ship’s contents since last month. They even had to put up a barrier of buoys to cordon off the archeological site during the tourist season to keep curious

FRAGILE: Researchers had to cordon off the site from tourists

Stars colliding

legend

The American singer will visit A Coruña, Madrid and Pamplona as part of the Blue Electric Light Tour. It is part of the star’s huge European tour stretching from France, to Germany to Spain.

onlookers at bay from the incredibly fragile artefacts.

So far the team has recovered fragments of ropes and pieces of pottery that

ANCIENT: The wreck could valuable insights

Do as the Romans Pedro

for peace

SPANISH director Pedro Almodovar (pictured) has urged Pedro Sanchez to ‘take urgent measures to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel.’

have remained hidden beneath the seabed for centuries, providing an insight into the lives of the sailors who once sailed these waters.

The artefacts, once properly excavated and preserved, will offer tantalising clues about the ship’s construction, cargo, and the daily lives of its crew.

Experts believe that the learnings from the Mazarron 2 could revolutionise current understanding of life at sea and shipping during Phoenician times.

To help them along, Spain’s Ministry of Culture has kitted the team out with advanced technology, including air compressors and motor pumps that allow the suction of sediments under water.

The experts have even created 3D models of the wreck, which has been divided into 22 pieces.

It has allowed them to foresee and anticipate potential problems during the planning and

execution of the incredibly challenging excavation.

The team hopes to complete the excavation by early November, but the timeline could be affected by weather conditions.

Once the artefacts have been recovered, they will undergo a meticulous conservation process before being put on display in a museum.

Empire

The Phoenician Empire flourished in the eastern Mediterranean region, primarily centred around the modern-day countries of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel from around 1500 BCE. They established trading posts and colonies throughout the Mediterranean, including in North Africa, Europe, and the Iberian Peninsula and were one of the pre-eminent ancient powers in the region until - like so many empires, they were conquered and finished off by the Romans in the first century.

In a 10-page letter signed by members of Spain’s cultural industry, supporters expressed their ‘profound concern regarding the oppression and violence suffered by the Palestinian people under the Israeli genocide, aparthied and occupation.’

Although the Spanish government suspended arms sales to Israel at the start of the conflict, there were pre-authorised deals which still went ahead. “The provision of arms and munition from Spain could be perpetuating and financing the genocide against the Palestinian people, increasing the loss of life and suffering of civilians,” said the statement. “Publically, Spain has said it is in favour of peace. But that is not enough. While Spain has military relations with Israel, it will continue to be complicit.”

Due to our continued success in the UK as ProPerla platinum applicators we are delighted to announce that Universal Eco Homes have arrived in Spain... Hola!

ROCK

Lenny Kravitz will play three gigs in Spain early in April next year.

TNovember 29thDecember 12th 2023

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HOUGH most souls associate Halloween with glowing jack o’ lanterns and slasher films, the true origins of this haunting holiday are not rooted in America but go farther back to the Celtic tradition.

In fact, the eerie roots of Spanish Halloween can be traced back to Galicia, where ancient Celtic rituals still echo through the mists to this day. Samhain, an ancient Irish festival, was brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Celts thousands of years ago.

DELICIOUS:

orchestnut

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

(1981)

Meaning ‘end of summer,’ Samhain marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year, plunging the world into a shadowy ‘dark period’ that only lifts with the arrival of spring. It is a time when the veil between the living and the dead grows thin, and the spirits of the departed are said to roam freely.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

shadows at bay.

Many of these spooky customs would be familiar to Brits from their childhoods, including the time-honoured practice of apple bobbing. And those Halloween costumes we know so well? They originated from the Celtic practice of wearing grotesque masks to confuse and ward off lurking evil spirits. Meanwhile, the carved pumpkinsonce far more sinister- were said to be fashioned from the skulls of fallen enemies, with a flickering candle inside to frighten away mischievous ghosts. Turnips, too, were hollowed out and lit to guide wandering spirits through the mortal realm.

Celtic new year plunges the world into darkness

On November 1, these old traditions come alive in Spain’s northern regions, marked by rituals that stir the souls of those long passed. Long ago, the druid or village leader would summon the gathering, often held in the heart of dark forests where the flickering light

7 “The Great Gatsby” star (6,7)

9 Lower bound (7)

10 What a coincidence! (2,3)

11 Blasting charge (4)

12 CERN guy dispersed pressure (7)

15 Alleged UFO discovery site (7)

16 Take a DNA sample (4)

19 Inexpensive (5)

21 Sacrificed saints (7) 22 Weapons-testing area (7,6)

1 Toaster debris (6)

2 Dumps (8)

One of the most ghostly Galician rituals is Santa Compaña, a nightmarish procession of the dead. Draped in white and clutching candles, these restless spirits walk solemnly through the town, led by an unfortunate living soul. Dare to peer out of your window during the procession, and legend says you may be cursed to join them in death. But beware, for the procession’s leader may very well be the last unlucky soul who spied on them the year before.

During Samhain, if someone enters your home, fate may cast its lot - a visit from a troll spells doom, while a fairy’s presence brings blessings.

3 It doesn’t pay, they say (5)

4 Unsteerable bus? (4)

5 Heave-ho (4)

6 Total stupidity (6)

8 Injury (6)

12 Address bar reading (1,1,1)

13 Kevin Costner film disturbed Aunty Woo (2,3,3)

14 Oracle’s location (6)

15 Cookbook offering (6)

17 Other than (6)

18 Cornish cathedral city (5)

20 Conscious minds (4)

21 Three Wise Men (4)

on November 2, in Illa de Arousa (Galicia), children go door to door begging for sweets - sound familiar?

Celtic traditions are not confined to Galicia alone. In Asturias, they hold banquets in graveyards on Samhain, feasting with the dead, much like the colour ful cele brations of the Mexican Dia de los Muertos.

Pumpkins are once again a symbol of death, and in the Galician city of Lugo, dried pumpkins are even used as macabre masks during Feb ruary's carnival.

“In Galicia, we are resur recting Samhain to fend off the creeping influence of American Hallow een,” said the Gali cian Tourism Office.

“Across the re gion, you’ll find rituals such as pumpkin carv ing, leaving the after All Hallows’ Eve so that the dead may dine, and lighting bonfires to guide wandering spirits.”

Even the tradition of ‘trick or treating’, so often cursed as an ‘American invention’, has roots in these ancient Celtic customs.

On the ghostly night of October 31, Celts would knock on doors, asking for offerings of food to honour their dead. Similarly,

TRADITION: Samhain was brought back from the dead

These bonfires are said to keep visiting spirits warm and to purify the town, driving away any malicious forces. They also play a key role in magostos,or chestnut parties, where townsfolk gather around the fire, sipping wine and feasting on roasted chestnuts to celebrate the harvest.

Revival

The modern revival of Samhain in Galicia was sparked by a local teacher, Rafael Lopez Loureiro.

In 1990, when his daughter came home with a pumpkin, it stirred ancient memories of his own childhood, and he set out to revive the tradition. After 13 long years of research, he published his study, Samhain: The Pumpkin Festival.

To revive the tradition, Loureiro reintroduced a pumpkin carving contest in his hometown of Cedeira nearly 30 years ago. Today, thanks to the tireless efforts of Loureiro and the Amigos de Samain, Samhain is celebrated in many Galician towns, including Briz, Allariz, Ferrol, A Coruña, Pontevedra, and Ribadavia.

LA CULTURA

The origins of Halloween are closer to home than you

In Cedeira, villagers compete in pumpkin carving and costume contests, while in Ribadavia, a shadowy procession pays tribute to the ghostly Santa Compaña, and the bravest souls can face their fears in the chilling ‘terror tunnel’.

Historic Pontevedra invites visitors to take ghost tours through its Old Town, join costume workshops, and even taste the flavours of the season at themed events with live music.

Loureiro’s work has drawn some criticism,

with detractors calling it an extension of American imperialism disguised as Halloween. “The original purpose of reviving Samhain was to stand against Halloween,” he admitted, “but now it’s become a sort of ‘Hallo-haim’ - a mix of Halloween and Samhain.”

Samhain is only one of four major Celtic celebrations that haunt the calendar year. It is followed by Imbolc on February 1, marking the return of spring; Beltane on May 1, welcoming summer; and Lughnasa on August 1, celebrating the fruit harvest.

November 1, the day after Samhain, is also All Saints Day, thought to have been established by Pope Gregory IV as a way to honour the dead in response to the ancient Celtic tradition.

Halloween, as we know it today, emerged when Irish immigrants brought their ghostly customs to America during the 1840s potato famine. Its name comes from the Scottish phrase ‘All Hallows’ Eve,’ the night before All Saints Day.

The first Halloween parade was held in Minnesota in 1921, and the tradition quickly spread across the country. But it wasn’t until the 1970s, with the rise of iconic films like John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), that the spooky celebration returned to Europe, albeit in a form barely recognisable from its ancient origins.

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Photo by M. Bereijo Samain

ENDURING: Young & old have embraced the tradition

Planet of the humans

Dear Olive Press,

AND I thought the UK was WOKE. Nobody wants to cause animals unnecessary suffering. However, precisely because primates are the closest animals to humans they are the most suitable animals on whom to try out life saving drugs.

If an alternative can be found that’s fine but if not then we should not stop medical research – which can save or greatly ameliorate human life – on monkeys. Humans trump monkeys. In any event the way to achieve the ends at which this putative legislation is directed is to simply to tighten medical research on apes. My guess is that it is very regulated already but there may be grounds for further restrictions.

What is ludicrous and wholly unnecessary is to re-categorise apes as humans in the hope that this will strengthen the case for legislation. It will do no such thing. It will be seen for what it is, part of a campaign to wage war on traditional Spanish values.

This is a government which would like to ban the corrida (bullfighting), expunge all references to Spain’s fascist past, legalise the position of 500,000 illegal immigrants many of whom have no real connection to Spain and abandon a western looking Israel. It is all part of the international WOKE package, adapted to Spain. It should be rejected.

This is the planet of the humans not the planet of the apes.

El Sapo de Medina, Medina

NPA

THANK YOU

Two Olive Press readers have very differing views on the Spanish health care system

TOO many people complain about hospital treatment in Spain.

I had a recent life threatening situation and these wonderful people saved my life – they should be proclaimed heroes in my opinion!

From the ambulance crew to the whole hospital staff they made me so calm and reassured, treating me like the only patient in the world. The facilities and building were immaculate and my room was as good as any five star hotel suite- completely self contained with constant superb care from doctors, nurses, cleaners and caterers with excellent food. My original reasons for admission was that I suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and had a chest infection compounded by bronchitis and some form of bacterial attack.

In other words, it was virtually im-

possible for me to breathe. From start to recovery they all worked really hard as a fantastic team with determination to get me through this very frightening time. I just want people in the Murcia region to never be afraid if they are admitted to this hospital, you will not get better care anywhere in the world than Los Arcos (above).

My wife and I want to publicly thank this wonderful team of professional and cheerful people who do a marvellous job in saving lives.

Donald Anthony Wilson, Murcia

‘Fake news’ and Covid-19

WHY keep pushing the Covid narrative? It's a scam. Get your brains organised..and stop pedalling total b******s, but no, vaxt*rds like you are so f***ing braindead.

Good luck with the jabs, see you in five years, B*LL ENDS.

James Richards, via online

Housing fears

IT all started with too much protection for non-paying tenants and squatters. Holiday lets are much more hassle than long term rental. Linen changes, overuse of water and electricity, less caring occupiers because there’s a relatively small deposit, more disturbance of neighbours, etc.

The net return after management costs, owners time, etc is more important.

It’s fear of long term occupiers with rent increase restrictions that resulted in the housing shortage.

These protections have been tried many times worldwide and always make matters worse. Eventually they are removed, more long term become available as they are less hassle for the owners, and the market stabilises, but at a higher rent level than before the restrictions started.

Campbell D Ferguson, Survey Spain

MOO-T POINT

When we arrived in Spain from the UK four years ago, we could buy fully skimmed fresh milk (leche fresca desnatada) in almost every supermarket chain.

But bit by bit over the last 18 months, it has been only available to a few supermarkets, and then recently to only Dia, Carrefour and Consum.

Last week we tried all three of these supermarkets to no avail and when asked, we were told ‘issue at factory, but don’t know if we will stock again.’

I would be grateful if you could investigate as neither my husband or myself can take milk in any other form.

It seems a very backward step to stop producing a healthy product which a lot of people buy.

Valerie Walker, via email

NEW MEMORIES OF OLD SPAIN

WHEN I first visited Andalucia in 1990 my girlfriend (now wife) and I knew remarkably little about the region.

After settling into our holiday flat in Mijas Costa, we got out the road atlas (remember them?) and started to plot a route to explore Andalucia.

After ticking off Marbella and Puerto Banus, we decided to head off to discover the ‘real Spain’. But where to start? The likes of Cordoba and Granada sprang to mind, but they would have to wait for a later holiday being a

It is not quite the land that time forgot, but the Guadalhorce Valley certainly gives more than a glimpse of how things once were

couple of hours away.

Instead we literally drove inland away from the teeming costas, up inland first to charming Mijas village, then followed an intriguing windy mountain road signposted to exotic sounding ‘Alhaurin el Grande’.

Within just 15 minutes we had discovered the Guadalhorce Valley, with all its Arabic influenc -

es and amazing views in every single direction.

Easily one of Malaga’s best-kept secrets, we found the fecund valley full of rich history and authentic Andalucian charm. We had come across, almost by accident, an

escape into rural Spain just a short trip inland from the bustling coast.

The fertile soils were clearly perfect for market gardening and the heavy, sweet scent of orange blossom (so distinctive it has its own name - Azahar ) followed us everywhere on our spring adventure.

Indeed, so productive is the land, the Arabs gave it the name ‘Allah’s garden’ - which has come down to modern times as Alhaurin (both

on

flickr

CC

Juergen Heitmann

By Dilip Kuner

EXPLORER: A young Dilip on his first visit to the stunning Embalse del Conde de Guadalhorce 35 years ago

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reakfast Sandwiches Tapas Salads Snacks Childrens Menu Specials

Gasolinera Vista Hermosa

Sirviendo a la comunidad de alozaina desde 1991

Serving the community of Alozaina since 1991

TLF: 952 480 072

Ctra. Málaga-Ronda, Km. 44, 29567 - Alozaina (Málaga)

All this garden

GUADALHORCE

in Alhaurin el Grande and near neighbour Alhaurin de la Torre).

While the latter, much nearer to Malaga, has undergone massive development in the past 30 years, the former still has all its old charm and retains its rural roots as a market town.

The Guadalhorce river, the largest in the province of Malaga, carves its way through this picturesque valley, giving life to the lush countryside that surrounds it. Rolling hills covered with olive groves, citrus orchards, and almond trees create a patchwork of green and gold, particularly beautiful in the spring when the almond blossoms bloom.

For those looking to explore, the valley’s landscapes are ideal for hiking, cycling, or simply soaking in the natural beauty.

The Romans were the first people to settle here en masse, and remnants of their influence are scattered throughout the region. Coin, the region’s ‘capital’ and just a short hop from Alhaurin, is a larger version of its smaller neighbours (Tolox, Yunquera and Alozaina) with its emblematic church, series of squares and a multitude of winding cobbled streets.

Set up by the Romans, it was largely abandoned for almost 500 years, then brought back to life by the Moors, who rebuilt it in 950 AD.

Much of this later success came from the quarries of marble and iron ore which were used in the construction of Sevilla’s famous settlement of Italica, the birthplace of the future Emperor, Hadrian. Reconquered by the Christians during a long siege in which Christopher Columbus allegedly took part, it was also popular with another great explorer Captain

EXCITEMENT: Crossing

Cook, who visited in 1829.

After a visit to Cartama, Alhaurin and Coin, he wrote, ‘These villages are on rising ground above the river and in beauty of situation and cultivation cannot be excelled.

“They afford a specimen of the whole country when possessed by the Moors, being surrounded by gardens with orange, lemon and palm trees and abounding in all the fine as well as the more common fruits.”

A great place to continue your journey is Tolox, which is the back door to the incredible mountain wilderness of the Sierras de las Nieves national park.

As someone once described it, ‘If Coin sits at the foot of the Sierra de las Nieves, then Tolox is the toenail’.

Formerly part of the Moorish Kingdom of Soleiman, this whitewashed village also draws visitors to dip into its Fuente Amarga spa (also known as the Balneario de Chiclana), with its legendary healing properties.

Stress and muscle fatigue are washed away with a variety of therapies ranging from natural gas inhalation to mud spray treatments.

Head uphill for a couple of miles and you will find the eagle-eye views at the Cerro

SOURCE: The Guadalmina river rises in four areas before filtering into the Embalse del Conde de Guadalhorce

From front page

the amazing high bridge at Caminito del rey

de Hijar hotel, one of Andalucia’s more remote places to stay.

Every hairpin bend round the steep cliffs offers up a fresh angle on the Guadalhorce Valley.

Looking down as far as Malaga and to waterfalls trickling below, it’s easy to forget that the Costa del Sol metropolis is just over the mountain.

From here you head up towards the stunning white village of Yunquera and Alozaina which are embedded like jewels in a setting of olive groves.

of these pueblos - can be seen against the skyline from the narrow streets below.

Packed with Moroccan and Roman influences and with a castle

The entrance to the latter’s charming centre is marked by stone arches while the church – the crowning glory in most

From the striking Santa Ana church, there are spectacular views towards the Sierra Prieta.

A half an hour north east you cannot miss Alora, which can be seen from miles around. This stunning place packed with Moroccan and Roman influences is topped by a castle, which sits on a lofty pinnacle looking down on this quaint pueblo. A stop at the 17th century La Encarnacion church en route is the perfect pre-

lude to the main event atop Cerro de las Torres hill.

The castle has had a long and chequered history. Originally built by Phoenicians, before being expanded under Roman rule, it was destroyed by the Visigoths and rebuilt by the Moors.

Retracing your steps back the route south west out of Alhaurin brings you to the serene Barranco Blanco (White Ravine).

A photographer’s dream tucked away in the countryside where wild boar feel safe to roam, its aquamarine waters end in a magical waterfall, but hide a dark past. Everyone mentions the Nazis, who allegedly used the area as a training camp during the war, due to the alliance be-

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Go to the link now!

www.mediterraneanhomes.eu/refer-a-friend

BREATHE: A beautiful view of Tolox protected by the breathtaking natural surrounding of the Sierra de las Nieves

FIND YOUR COUNTRY DREAM HOUSE

Join the Mediterranean Homes referral program and earn a €300 Amazon voucher*

AS experts for expats, Mediterranean Homes is excited to offer a *€300 Amazon voucher to anyone who refers a successful sales client to our team. For over 20 years, we’ve been the premier property experts on the Costa del Sol, and now you can help us expand our exceptional portfolio!

Specialising in picturesque country properties in the beautiful Guadalhorce Valley, our dedicated team bring 30 years of combined experience to navigate the real estate landscape with ease. No property is too challenging for us to sell— whether it’s a charming finca or a luxurious villa, we thrive on tackling even the trickiest cases, including those with complicated or incomplete paperwork.

and landscaping. Our international team speaks English, Spanish, Dutch, German, and French, providing access to an extensive range of potential buyers and listings.

Additionally, we have an in-house photographer/ videographer and use the latest technology to maximise your sale. Even though we specialise in country properties, we are capable of handling any challenge, including urbanisation, villas, and townhouses.

Figured out

Understanding the rules and regulations of real estate can be daunting, but at Mediterranean Homes, we've got them all figured out. Our clients are always our top priority. We take the time to understand each unique situation to ensure the best sale outcome or to help you find your perfect home.

This commitment has allowed us to gain indepth knowledge and expertise in the inland Costa del Sol housing market.

From our office in Coin, our exceptional team is ready to assist you, no matter the circumstances. We know that buying and selling can be stressful, but our calm and reassuring presence will support you every step of the way.

As a bilingual, family-run business, we have a wide network of contacts to help you reach your goals effectively. Founded by siblings Kelly and Tyler Summerell in 2019, our team brings decades of expertise in real estate, construction,

From the serene Guadalhorce Valley to the vibrant La Cala de Mijas and beyond, we are confident in our ability to find your dream property among the stunning houses scattered across the Costa del Sol.

*We ask that you kindly remember not to share the referred individual’s contact information, as this would violate GDPR regulations. Instead, encourage them to reach out to us directly and mention that they were referred by you.

Embrace the Costa del Sol lifestyle with Mediterranean Homes! Refer a successful sales client today and secure your *€300 Amazon voucher!

Office: +34 951 242 157

Mobile: +34 658 956 633

Email: info@mediterraneanhomes.eu

Web: www.mediterraneanhomes.eu

*(terms & conditions apply)

Álora – APA553

Fabulous Andalucian country estate of 3 adjoining fincas totalling 70,000m2 of productive lemon and olive groves and a beautiful, professionally refurbished 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom cortijo house with private swimming pool, large garage and artist’s studio. Quality finishes throughout including bespoke carpentry and iron work. Total build size of 292m2. Mains electricity and high speed internet and domestic water supply and private irrigation water source. Also development opportunity to build a 2nd substantial house. Amazing views and walking distance to all of the amenities of Álora pueblo and just 30 minutes drive from Málaga city and international airport. This really is a very special property!

Price: 865,000€

From previous page

Head for heights?

GUADALHORCE

tween Franco and Hitler. You can still see a white building that was used as a sentry point as you arrive.

Park the car and head into yet another stunning side valley for walks and great pictures.

Daredevils

Let’s not forget what was once dubbed the ‘world’s deadliest walkway’ until the Caminito del Rey reopened 10 years ago following a €3 million upgrade.

While much safer now, you’ll still need a head for heights taking this high-adrenalin hike that runs through the El Chorro gorge, an immense fissure five kilometres long and 300 metres deep as it slices through towering limestone cliffs.

Set between the two postage stamp-sized villages of Ardales and El Chorro, it is no wonder this area garnered the nickname ‘the Andalucian Lake District’, in part thanks to a series of Olive Press travel articles over a decade ago.

The scenery is more akin to the countryside of Cumbria or the cantons of Switzerland than the average scenery on the Costa del Sol with the two villages linked by hairpin bend roads past the shimmering reservoirs bordered by sandy beaches and shaded by feathery conifers.

With lakeside campsites, it’s the quintessential active weekend break for outdoor sports types, offering rock climbing, watersports, pedalos and dining under the stars at charming pine-shaded ventas.

There is a lot to explore, with one incredibly interesting side trip up to the ancient ruined city of Bobastro, found by taking a side road uphill just a few clicks outside El Chorro.

A fascinating place, it was here in the ninth century that rebel Muslim leader Omar Ibn Hafsun, declared independence from the Moorish kingdom of Cordoba, leading to decades of conflict and the setting up of an impregnable mountain redoubt that was hard to capture and even harder to find.

Today, you can explore the site, with its various buildings and ruins that suddenly emerge in clearings amid deep woodland. Most fascinat-

ing of all is an ancient church that was literally hewn out of rock, with circular shapes as windows, one presumes. And then it is time to head back to the coast to re-enter the modern world with new memories of an ancient world.

Established in Álora since 1998 – We pride ourselves in providing a friendly but professional service

Offering a diverse range of properties – Fincas, townhouses, cortijos, villas and country houses

Casarabonela – APA547

Wow! Location! Location! Location! Freshly presented 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom country villa with private pool, and olive grove. Set within a plot of 7,438 m2, the house extends to 165m2 and offers accommodation all on one level. Mains water and electricity and high speed internet connected. Stunning views of Casarabonela pueblo and the Andalucian countryside. Less than 5 minutes drive to all local amenities and 45 minutes drive from Málaga city and international airport.

Price: 425,000€

– APA551 – SOLD!!

We are pleased to have sold this beautiful 2 bedroom townhouse in Álora within less than one week of offering it for sale, although this left other potential buyers disappointed.

WE URGENTLY NEED MORE QUALITY COUNTRY AND TOWN PROPERTIES FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE WAITING.

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AND WE WILL BE PLEASED TO COME AND GIVE YOU A NO OBLIGATION VALUATION.

Álora

STUNNING: El Chorro gorge leading to the famous Caminito del Rey bridge in the distance

GUADALHORCE

T was in Phoenician times that Alhaurin el Grande first developed its role as an important market town, as the already established Iberian tribes bartered their goods with new arrivals from Lebanon.

Later the town thrived under Roman occupation when a number of wealthy merchants from nearby Malaga made money from the rich mineral deposits in the nearby hills.

They built sizeable villas, such as Villa de la Mata, and labelled the town Lauro Nova. Evidence has been found in the numbers of coins, statues and pillars, a trio of which stand pride of place opposite the town hall today. But it wasn’t until Moorish rule that the town really blossomed, as the Arabs planted new crops in the wide fertile valley that is crossed by two rivers, the Fahala and Blas Gonzales. They introduced acequias (or water courses) to irrigate the entire valley and built a number of important mills, such as the Molino Morisco de los Corchos.

An area of particular beauty – not to mention an extremely clement climate – it had soon taken on an ap-

THE GARDEN OF ALLAH

STRIKING: ‘God’s Garden’ dates back to Phoenician times

propriate new name, that of ‘Garden of Allah’, or Alhaurin.

Remnants of the eight centuries of Arabic rule can still be found, particularly at the Arco del Cobertizo, which was a gateway to the medina, that had a

WALK: Country walk near the water tower above Alhaurin

souk specialising in silk.

One of the last towns to be conquered by the Catholic kings in 1485, it was eventually merged with Alora, Cartama and Coin in 1666 to form a single entity known as the Four Towns. Though it was anything but plain sailing for the united municipality and

there were epidemics of plague and even an earthquake in 1680.

Later, Alhaurin was occupied for four years by the French during the Peninsular War in the early 19th century, which led to the inevitable destruction and upheaval. Since then, apart from the turbulent period during the civil war, the biggest threat to civil peace was an influx of English hooligans in the 2000s, who thankfully have now gone.

There is no doubt that Alhaurin el Grande has been through a dramatic transformation over recent years but there is a now a real swagger about the place.

Businesses are opening and the type of expat now coming to live here is more interested in integration, learning the language and enjoying the town’s varied culture.

Photo by flickr Ben Mitchell

At Casa King we have a wide range of high quality secondhand and new goods to suit all tastes and budgets, including furniture, kitchen appliances, carpets, electrical items and the list goes on.

Opening times 10am until 2pm six days a week

+34 602 610 103

Ctra. de Cártama, 57 29120 Alhaurín el Grande, Málaga www.casaking.es

GUADALHORCE

Step this way

By Yzabelle Bostyn

THE mild temperatures and stunning autumnal colours make it the perfect time to explore the Guadalhorce Green Corridor.

Spain’s largest river park, its 54 kilometre trajectory will eventually wind through seven towns, with three sections now complete.

Aiming to connect areas of the Guadalhorce valley using natural trails, the corridor stretches from the Gaitanes Gorge to the Guadalhorce river mouth in Malaga.

Along the way, travellers will discover orchards, olive groves and forests, not to mention the region’s charming towns.

The featured spots are: Ardales, Alora, Pizarra, Coin, Alhaurin el Grande, Cartama and Alhaurin de la Torre, all known for their rich culture and history including pottery handicrafts and olive

Latest section of the Guadalhorce Green Corridor hiking trail completed

oil. The latest part, a standalone four kilometre hiking route, was finished at the start of this year and passes

through Pizarra. Previously, walkers had travelled between the towns of Pizarra and Vega Hipolito by walking on the road, so this path provides hikers with

a safer journey between the two towns. Visitors can also admire the Guadalhorce River Estuary Nat -

ural Park, down near the coast, the historic Azud de Aljaima bridge and the Riparian forest. The other sections include a pe -

GREEN PARADISE: The corridor will eventually go through seven towns with 11 specific sections

destrian walkway over the Alora river section and the development of a 12.5-kilometre riverside path in Coin. Once completed, there will be 11 individual river routes to explore, perfect for bird watchers. The valley also has its own microclimate, making it great for cycling, walking and running all year round.

MUTTLEY’S MOTOS

• REPAIRS AND SERVICING

• AFTERMARKET BOLT-ONS

• CHAIN / SPROCKETS

• BRAKES REPLACED

• PRE-ITV CHECKS

• BIKE TRANSPORT AVAILABLE

• CHAINSAW, CAMPO MACHINERY AND QUADS FIXED TOO FREE TYRE COMPRESSION CHECKS

TEL (+34) 690 314 056 CHIMPYMCG105@GMAIL.COM C/ CERRILLO 30D, 29108 GUARO

Cortijo del Arte Hotel & Restaurant km 22, A-7054, km 22, 29560 Pizarra, Málaga tel: 952 48 45 23 www.cortijodelarte.com

SUNSHINE DREAM

Discover your dream property with Sunshine Immo: The real estate experts in country and coastal homes

NESTLED in the heart of Coin, just a convenient 20-minute drive from Malaga airport and a mere 30 minutes from the renowned coastal attractions of Marbella, Sunshine Immo is a trusted name in real estate, specialising in both charming country homes and luxurious coastal villas.

With two decades of experience in the market, we are proud to offer clients a seamless experience backed by professionalism, local expertise, and dedication to

quality.

Founded by Natascha Konen, a real estate expert from Germany, Sunshine Immo was built from the ground up with a strong emphasis on the high standards synonymous with Teutonic professionalism.

With multilingual staff fluent in Spanish, English, Romanian, and German, we are equipped to serve a diverse clientele from across Europe and beyond.

Each client receives personalised attention and guidance to make informed, confident decisions as they embark on their property journey. One of our proudest innovations is our website's Advanced Search tool - a game-changer in property hunting.

Whether you're dreaming of a secluded villa with a heated pool and private gym or a sprawling Andalucian farmhouse complete with a fireplace, wine cellar, stables, and fruit trees, our Advanced Search feature allows you to filter and customise to find precisely what you're looking for.

We

This enhanced search capability is just one of the ways we ensure that your property search is streamlined, specific, and as easy as possible. We understand that our properties are as unique as our clients, which is why we offer a tailored se-

lection of listings that cater to all preferences and lifestyle needs. Sunshine Immo's portfolio includes properties that offer privacy, scenic views, and all the modern amenities you desire.

For property owners, we provide a simple, efficient process to connect your property with potential buyers or renters actively seeking country homes or coastal retreats.

If you're considering listing your property, our team is ready to help guide you through the process and showcase your property to our expansive client base.

Sunshine Immo is located at:

Avda. María Zambrano, nº33,

Coín, Málaga

The whole hog!

A NEW study has revealed that the amount of wild boars in Spain is set to double by 2025.

Hunting Resources Research Institute (HRRI) revealed the data last week. Currently, there are almost a million boars in the country, which are often seen in urban areas.

Experts are considering many reasons for this including a lack of food in the countryside, a tendency to avoid their natural predators and rubbish making an easy food source. It comes after a loose hog was stopped running around inner city Madrid. But it's not abnormal to see the animals wandering around Malaga, Galicia and even Barcelona in the summertime- better get used to it!

Daylight robbery

Protests set as new law sanctions giant utility companies to effectively ‘steal’ land for solar projects

LOCALS and landowners around Spain are set to unite to protest Government plans to allow utility companies to expropriate land for green megaprojects.

They are angry that the new Ley de Utilidad Publica has already announced over 1,000 areas that could see fields seized for wind or solar projects.

The territories have been deemed as ‘available for public usage projects’, in an official BOE (Bulletin of the State) issued last week.

While many are nationwide, the bulk are in Andalucia, where over 800 megaprojects are set to be licensed over the next few years.

NEARLY three quarters of Spanish youngsters don’t trust their leaders over global warming.

Some 73% of 15 to 30-year-olds do not trust politicians to handle the climate crisis. According to the Fundacion SM report, 45% feel powerless, 42% are fearful and 36% are sad about the problem.

More optimistically, 57% think that science and technology will solve the crisis.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

In Jaen, an incredible area of 714,000 square metres - or 100 football pitches - of olive groves will be lost in the Lopera, Arjona and Marmolejo areas.

Meanwhile in Coin, near Malaga, some 10 million square metres of ‘solar estates’ are to be installed.

Protest group Asociacion Valle Rio Grande slammed the ruling, announcing an immediate appeal against taking healthy farmland for renewable energy projects.

“The worst thing is the law means the company doesn’t even have to tell the owner’s

NO TRUST: Verdict of youth on the Spanish parliament

No trust

they are going to take their land,” spokesman Marisa Casal, told the Olive Press “It’s theft to steal someone’s private property for the benefit of foreign companies,” she continued.

“And worst of all, the electricity produced almost certainly won’t be staying in Spain.”

She insisted the ‘solar industrial estates’ are not as eco-friendly as promoted.

“They use lots of water, increase temperatures in already hot areas and can leak toxic chemicals into local irrigation systems,” she claimed. There are projects planned all around the region, including many near the ancient Roman city of Acinipo, near Ronda.

Hundreds of hectares are set to be plastered in solar panels between there are Setenil de las Bodegas, while dozens

of schemes are also planned near historic Jimena de la Frontera.

Both areas, famous for their nature and hiking, will be criss-crossed with new electricity lines and pylons.

Other areas effectively sacrificed to giant macro projects are around Granada, Antequera and inland from Manilva.

Heritage

It is believed the process of forced expropriation will start on November 7.

A protest group against the forced expropriation in Jaen, Platforma Campiña Norte, vowed to organise a string of protests over the coming months.

“We cannot allow our heritage and our way of life to be destroyed.

From bag to bin

SPAIN’S largest retailers are launching a project to identify the best way to recycle used clothing.

A dozen brands will take part in the initiative, which will see six municipalities try out different methods of recycling, next year. These will include clothes recycling points in shops, commercial centres and even churches. It comes as the government announced a decree obliging clothing shops to reuse what they produce.

As of January 1 next year, local councils will also have to collect used textiles.

It is thought the move could lead to an increase in second hand shops and recycling centres.

Over 900,000 tonnes of clothing is thrown out every year in Spain, 88% ending up in rubbish dumps. Only 12% of the clothing is recycled, though this varies greatly between the regions, with 24% in the Basque Country and less than 3% in Extremadura.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Ryanair’s refusal

RYANAIR says passengers who were stuck on planes from Spain due to Storm Ashley were not entitled to free water, let alone compensation.

Despite some people getting stuck on the tarmac for 15 hours, a spokesperson said they get nothing when delays are caused by something clearly beyond Ryanair’s control.'

A passenger on an Ibiza to Dublin flight on October 20 said the pilot twice attempted to land in Ireland before diverting to Liverpool.

Passenger Alan Duncan told the Olive Press they could not get off the plane for four hours as it was an ‘EU to EU flight.’

“There was no food or water and some people also suffered panic attacks,” he claimed.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES?

October 30th - November 12th

National winners!

By Yzabelle Bostyn

THE Alhambra, the Canary Islands and the Picos de Europa have been singled out as Spain’s best destinations, by National Geographic.

The trio have been chosen in honour of the 25th anniversary of the celebrated magazine’s Spanish edition.

The Alhambra, which featured on the cover of its first edition, is the number one must-visit place in Spain.

“The beauty of this monument always serves everyone well,” the magazine explains.

“If you go just to see it or accompany it with a jaunt around Granada, with its barrios full of character, you’re sure to have a great time.”

Three sites in Spain are among leading magazine’s top picks

Next on the list was a reader’s ‘preferred destination’, the dramatic Picos de Europa mountain range in the

north of Spain.

The area spanning Cantabria and Asturias - often compared to the Alps for its

ROUTES TO HEAVEN

SPAIN is the best place in the world for a road trip.

The north of the country, in particular, is the best destination to explore by car, according to the Travelbook Awards. The German travel experts particularly praised its many varied and unspoilt landscapes. It beat competitors including Wales, Slovenia and Namibia to claim the award. The judges highlighted the region's green

MAGICAL CHRISTMAS AT CANDELA MARBELLA

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Reservations for our Christmas and New Year’s Eve menus can now be booked. INFO: www.candaelamarbella.com

hills, mountains and beaches.

“There are many steep coastlines where the Atlantic crashes into strong waves and which sometimes you can enjoy all by yourself.

“The north is also known for its picturesque towns and its modern, vibrant cities.

“From Catalunya to Galicia, travellers can find mountains, unspoilt beaches, enchanting towns and a lot of culture.”

BORDER controls between France and Spain are returning for at least six months. Fears over terrorism threats have prompted France to re-establish checks until the end of April next year. This is despite it being part of the EU's Schengen border-free zone. Controls will reappear at all land, air and sea borders with Spain, as well as with Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The Schengen Borders Code permits all EU nations to temporarily reinstate border controls 'in the event of a serious threat to public order or internal security'.

dramatic valleys - is perfect for hiking with its two best spots, the ‘impressive’ Pico Urriellu and Naranjo de Bulnes.

The Canary Islands were chosen, meanwhile, for their distinct character across all seven islands.

“We have always tried to lovingly convey the natural and cultural value of each island,” explains the magazine.

Since launching, the magazine has written about everything from sprawling rain forests to ancient ruins and from Bali to Bristol.

MALAGA has Spain's second-worst airport for flight delays.

A total of 3.4 million passengers saw travel plans disrupted this summer, with only visitors to Mallorca suffering more. Over a third of all flights (36%) failed to stick to schedule during the peak summer season. The worst-performing routes were flights to Abu Dhabi, Budapest, and Riyadh - while travellers to Asturias had the most punctual connection.

IMPRESSIVE: The Picos de Europa span Cantabria and Asturias

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

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

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

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

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

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

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

A TASTE OF THE CITY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

stars.

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

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

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

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

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

Would the next joint be better or

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information visit www.foodtoursmallorca.com

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

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

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

INavigating Funeral Choices

The importance of informed decisions is made easier with Serenity Funeral Services

N the delicate moments following the loss of a loved one, the choices we make can feel overwhelming.

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Their multilingual team, fluent in 15 languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Swedish, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, and Danish, ensures that every family feels understood and supported throughout the process.

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Satisfied

In an industry where some funeral directors may resort to high-pressure sales tactics or misleading practices, it’s imperative to take your time and fully consider your options. Families should never feel rushed or obligated to sign anything until they are completely satisfied with their decision.

Serenity Funeral Services prioritises transparency and trust, encouraging families to explore their options carefully, choosing the funeral home that aligns with their values and needs. Their team provides honest advice and clear information, empowering families to make informed decisions that honour their loved ones in a meaningful way.

If you find yourself navigating this difficult journey, contact Serenity Funeral Services today.

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GRAND CRU A ANDALUZ

We

For more information please call in to the shop and ask for the manager Lisanne.

IT may only be a short stroll from Puerto Banus, yet Chambao is a million miles away in style. You arrive from the beach through a low key entrance, or better, mountain side via a dramatic natural cane arch, interwoven with bougainvillea. Either way, you are transported to a slice of Belle Epoque Gran Cru Andaluz where seductive lighting combines with flower power, with the sea as the perfect backdrop. But this is no chiringuito, Chambao has been created by the team behind the Puente Romano hotel. So this is a restaurant of significant standing in its own right, a place where the food should be the main protagonist. And so it is, with a straightforward seafood

By Jon Clarke CHAMBAO Marbella

slanted menu, featuring a range of dishes that you won’t try at many other places on the coast.

It actually bills itself as a ‘boutique beach and pool club’ and this it certainly is if you pop in during the day, when the venue promotes its pool and sunbeds.

It’s at night though, when the magic begins. This starts with its waiters, who are well trained, bilingual and good natured, as you’d expect from an eaterie connected to a leading fivestar hotel.

The menu is split into ‘starters to share’, which includes seafood soup, prawn pil pil and the interesting burratina and pickled tomatoes, ‘mains to share’ section, a ‘seafood’ section and a ‘Malaga fried fish’ section, which guarantees I’ll avoid it. I don’t usually mention the bread, but a mini-loaf comes out warm, served with alioli and fat plump olives. It bodes well.

We go for a shared tuna tartare (far left), which comes in an original fried rice base, spiced up with a thick kimchee sauce.

A separate sushi menu deserves a try, we are told by the maitre, Cristina Gallardo, from Cordoba. We dutifully plumb for a Kabuki roll with bluefin tuna, avocado and cucumber, which lends itself to a splendid pic, coming out as it does in a Far Eastern dragon boat (above).

For mains, I can’t resist trying the intriguing ‘Menorca-style’ lobster, which at €60 per person isn’t cheap, but is hardly extortionate for Marbella. It is certainly one of the oddest dishes I’ve sampled this year, though, coming out in a rich tomato and paprika sauce (called an ‘American sauce’) with a fried egg (yes fried egg!) on top.

SEVILLA'S Isla Magica theme park is to get a 25-metre-high rollercoaster over its lake – plus two new swimming pools.

The ‘Wooden Coaster’ ride will reach a top speed of 68 km/h and will cost €2.7 million. It will be a three-dimensional wooden structure supporting a track of steel rails with bends, ascents and descents coming in at 595 metres in length. Each carriage will have capacity for up to 16 people with a journey time of 93 seconds.

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

And there’s even a touch of Tom & Jerry at Chambao, a glamorous new spot on Marbella’s Golden Mile

But this is how they do it in Menorca, our waiter Ezekiel tells us, as he cracks open the claws and picks out the delicious crustacean goodness inside for us. Served up with fried green peppers, thinly-cut dauphinoise potatoes, carrots and garlic and consome of fish and prawns, it is unusual but somehow works. Where lobster, you must say, becomes a meal rather than just a dish. Out pops, head chef Sergio Zubiadut, from La Coruña, in Galicia, who is a long way from home, but tells us he is enjoying his time in Marbella. He brings a ‘Tajin’ sorbet, which serves as a palate cleanser before we dip into a pudding, a cheesecake, which has a slice of classic Tom & Jerry cheese on the plate (but unless you've got a very sweet tooth beware of tasting it). It’s a great ending to a memorable meal. Above all, remember this is the Golden Mile so it won’t suit all budgets. www.puenteromano.com/dining-drinks/chambao/

SOFA DEALS

MiColchón’s black days are here, bringing the best sofa and mattress deals of the year

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Black Days on Mattresses

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Bi-linguo

US expat creates ‘innovative’ Spanish learning app to compete with giants like Duolingo

AN American expat has created a new Spanish learning app to compete with the likes of Duolingo and Rosetta Stone.

Madrid-based entrepreneur Tyler Cole has applied the innovative science of language acquisition and immersion techniques to make learning the language more intuitive.

His app, Palteca, helps users learn Spanish as if it were their native tongue, using association, context and memory to

By Yzabelle Bostyn

learn new words and phrases. Cole, 34, told the Olive Press: “Palteca is based on the idea that we don't study language, we acquire it through con-

“We create memories and connect them to these new words.

“For example, when you’re a kid you know an apple is an apple because you’ve seen, held and tasted one and as-

Business dynamo

LONG term American estate agent Chris Clover, 77, has been rewarded for his business services to the coast with a prestigious award.

The boss of Panorama in Marbella was described as an ‘outstanding’ member of the luxury real es tate sector in the annual CIT Marbella awards.

The business association, set up in 1989, also handed awards to the National police and the five star Don Pepe hotel this year.

After graduating from Virginia University, Clover spent a year studying in Lyon in France, before joining his father’s agency in Marbella in 1973.

sociated it with that word.

“In that sense, the app doesn’t say ‘Hola means Hello’, it says, ‘Hola is a good way to greet someone.’”

The entrepreneur came up with the idea after struggling with Spanish for years, always feeling lost when surrounded by native speakers.

Motivated

“I found myself in this vicious cycle of going to a Spanish speaking country, coming back super motivated to learn, but getting frustrated and giving up after a few months.

“I tried everything – traditional teaching methods, books, a dozen apps and I felt like nothing worked.”

Then, on a holiday to Peru, he read a life-changing book that allowed to eventually become fluent using these techniques.

After finally achieving his ‘life-long’ goal of speaking Spanish, he was inspired to help others and set about developing an app using the same, science-backed techniques.

Digging deep

IT’S a brave headmaster to give free reign to not one, but four budding editors to run a rule over his school.

But that’s what Andrew Atkinson has done again this year at Laude, in San Pedro Alcantara.

Pencils at the ready, tape recorders set, the teams were sent off to dig into a variety of issues affecting pupils, both at school and out there in the wider world.

The four houses at Laude school have gone head to head in the annual inter-house magazine battle. The Olive Press was brought in to help judge

school’s houses, the four points of the compass.

The job at hand was to produce a newsy, topical and colourful magazine that reflected the popular school that has recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Potential

health risk with the playground’s astroturf

Everything from faulty water fountains to survival concerns for the food truck were tackled, as well as an intriguing look at a potential health risk with the playground’s astroturf.

But these were only a fraction of the articles on offer across the magazines, each named after the

Each house appointed around two dozen pupils across six years of the school and, according to Atkinson, a Londoner, who joined in 2022, no topic was ‘off limits’.

It meant that one magazine got to tackle the alarming and growing Israel-Palestine crisis, while another explored the alarming hurricane season in the US.

One of the most interesting articles questioned the future of Artificial Intelligence (A.I) and whether

it could be trusted to create such a publication. At the end, we learnt the article itself had been written by A.I!

Meanwhile, there were grillings of various teachers, and even the odd interview with a parent. In terms of design and creativity, a couple of magazines really stood out (see below) while the cartoons in west magazine were particularly impressive. Finally, a big shout should go to Dayan, from year 7, who suggested ‘more comfortable’ seats for pupils. Good luck, there!

“Yet again I was really impressed with the way the teams handled the task,” explained Atkinson, who this year is overseeing a record 1,100-plus pupils.

“The range of subjects and ideas

GONE WEST

WINNERWest Magazine

was what really makes a project like this. The budding journalists should be very proud.”

Olive Press editor Jon Clarke runs a rule over the four magazines

What Jon liked: It isn’t just the content of West that stood out for me. The overall layout, look and feel is a head and shoulders above its rivals.

RUNNER UP - South Magazine

What Jon liked:

ALSO RUNNINGEast Magazine

For starters it had its own name ‘Wild West’ and kept a western cowboy feel throughout. The front page strap: ‘Sports/Scandals/Movies, etc’ was the only one that teased up what was on offer inside. It had a good use of puns and alliteration right from the start and the mix of ideas was impressive. The food truck article with its cliffhanger question at the end was funny, the interview of teacher Mr McCann was the best of the magazines and the chat with new teacher Miss Leesley was really interesting. Both the artwork section and, particularly, its cartoons deserve a mention.

ALSO RUNNINGNorth Magazine

What Jon liked:

While the front cover was a bit of a dog’s dinner I appreciate the attempt. I also liked the solid contents page and generally the mix of articles is excellent. In particular, the faulty water fountains investigation was thoughtful and this would make a good campaign, moving forwards. Feather in the cap for getting an interview with the principal (even if they didn’t name him) and also for featuring both geography teacher, Mr Reeves, and a parent too. The topical hurricane article was interesting and I also liked the arts section, particularly the Japanese photography piece. Best of all, was the ‘word from the captain’ which was heartfelt and well explained. Good effort with the jokes.

The design of South is probably the best overall, and I really like its logo, which is used throughout. There was a really good introduction, and all the articles are properly spaced and easy to read with two columns throughout. The astroturf health risk article and the A.I effort were both noteworthy, while the artwork section was attractive. It was good to see at least one magazine noting the school’s 20th anniversary and South was the only magazine to attempt a comment/opinion piece, although it needed to be nearer the start. Having horoscopes was a good idea but were they for the week, month or year?

What Jon liked:

The cover showed great promise and the title ‘Turning pages, turning minds’ was inspired. But sadly (due to illness as I understand it) the overall content and mix was too light. There were some good ideas however, such as the Israel-Palestine war, as well as a review of the summer’s Euro tournament. I also liked the use of a crossword and there was a reasonable arts section. Sadly though, there were too many spelling mistakes throughout and an urgent need for a sub-editor. In particular countries always need to be capped up, as do races, such as Arabs and Jews. It was also hard to read some articles as they needed to be laid out in two columns.

Aiding the animals

A VERY generous €500 has been raised for one of the coast’s leading animal charity, ADANA.

A team from Laude San Pedro and the IFL (International Friends of Laude) donated the money to the non-profit association. Based in Estepona, the charity has been helping to rescue abandoned animals since 1990. The group provides shelter and care for abandoned, sick and injured dogs, while seeking new homes for them.

STOP PRESS:

and

We work in and around Alcaidesa, Sotogrande, Manilva, Estepona, Cancelada, San Pedro, Marbella, La Cala, Fuengirola and everywhere in between including inland areas.

To see how we work visit us at www.casaresliving.com Jaime +34 630 344 897 or email: info@casaresliving.com

Across:

Down: 1 Crumbs, 2 Abandons, 3 Crime, 4 Tram, 5 Boot, 6 Idiocy, 8 Damage, 12 U R L, 13 No way out, 14 Delphi, 15 Recipe, 17 Beside, 18 Truro, 20 Egos, 21 Magi.

Connecting homebuyers to the pros

Dangerous supply

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Outrage as Spanish giant signs deal to produce Nolotil

Everything you need to know about property is at the Simed exhibition in Malaga

HE Mediterranean Real Estate Exhibi-

Ttion (Simed) will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, running from November 7-9 at FYCMA, Malaga’s Palacio de Ferias y Congresos.

Now firmly established as Spain’s premier residential real estate event, Simed 2024 is poised to connect industry leaders, international investors, and homebuyers with a wide variety of property offerings, workshops, and professional insights.

pate in the exhibition area.

Homes will be available across Andalucia and beyond, with properties in regions such as Malaga, Cadiz, and Sevilla, as well as Valencia, the Canary Islands, Madrid, and Catalunya.

- despite obvious dangers

A SPANISH pharmaceutical giant has sparked outrage after signing a deal to produce Nolotil despite being linked to hundreds of northern European deaths. Moehs is now set to make Metamizole, the main ingredient in the painkiller, at two plants in northern Spain.

The Catalan pharmaceuti-

KILL THE DRUG

cal firm will earn €8 million manufacturing up to 1,500 tonnes in Cantabria and Barcelona, around a quarter of the world’s supply. It comes despite campaigner Cristina Garcia recording over 40 deaths of British and Irish peo-

Killer pollution

AIR pollution causes 60,000 admissions to Spanish hospitals every year especially with people who have serious pathologies and clinical conditions.

Julio Diaz from the Carlos III Health Institute claims environmental toxins due to the effects of climate change are largely to blame.

Diaz is warning politicians they are not doing enough to combat pollution and its threat to health.

Diaz said: “We are missing the point over the enormous damage to health caused by pollution.

"It is strange that we have very good prevention plans for heatwaves, but we do not have equivalent plans for pollution,” he added.

ple in Spain linked to Nolotil. She said: “I never expected this to happen, especially when I have bent over backwards to get it withdrawn in Spain and they decide to bring it here! “Sheer disappointment does not even begin to describe my feelings.”

Currently produced by EUROAPI in Frankfurt, Germany, the move is hoped to keep production within Europe.

The move is expected to ‘support principal markets like Spain and Germany’ as well as ‘prepare the pharmaceutical sector when faced with a crisis like the Coronavirus pandemic.’

General Director of Moehs BCN, Javier del Rio, said: "We are excited to work with EUROAPI to produce Metamizole in Spain.”

It comes as a civil case against the Spanish Medical Agency for abusing the ‘fundamental human rights’ of Nolotil victims was thrown out on October 21.

During the opening press conference, key regional figures—Alicia Izquierdo, Málaga’s Councilor for Innovation and Investment, María Rosa Morales, the Andalusian government’s Delegate for Development, and Juan Manuel Rosillo, President of Málaga’s Association of Builders and Developers (ACP)—emphasized Simed’s pivotal role in stimulating the real estate sector across the region.

This year, Simed will showcase over 9,000 properties from more than 200 companies and organisations, 130 of which will partici-

For the first time, international homes will also be featured, including properties in Cancun, Mexico, alongside land plots for investment.

Major developers including Ansan, Gilmar Real Estate, Landco, Culmia, and Neinor Homes are set to introduce new projects, while top real estate names like Aedas Homes, Amenabar, Aq Acentor, Habitat Inmobiliaria, Inmoporsán, Grupo Insur, and Metrovacesa will present a range of new and resale properties, appealing to local and international buyers alike.

Public activities on November 9 will feature talks on home buying, rent-to-own options, and financial advice for young buyers and families.

Simed 2024 will host a diverse professional programme featuring over 30 panels and more than 120 industry experts.

Key discussions will focus on themes of public-private collaboration, sustainable construction, and housing affordability.

Parallel events on November 8 and 9 include the 4th Idealista Real Estate Congress, Real Estate Day by Atalaya Team, and the Spanish Home Staging Association convention, providing additional networking and educational opportunities.

For further information call:

A DRUNK driver got his highend car stuck in the entrance to a metro station after mistaking it for a car park ramp. He careered along the pavement for several metres before slipping down the steps to the underground in Valencia at around 7.15am on Sunday morning, according to witnesses.

Unperturbed, the boozy BMW owner managed to get out of his car unscathed without causing too much damage. Police, less impressed, found that he was nearly three times over the alcohol limit. The driver was bailed after a court appearance, while the entrance to the Colon metro remained blocked for several hours.

Housing joke

Room with a view of a toilet goes on sale in Madrid at a mere €16,500 per square metre

THE latest ‘bargain’ to come on sale in Madrid’s housing market is a flat with a microwave under the sink and a toilet within arm’s reach of the bed.

Located in Gran Via, the capital city’s much-sought after thoroughfare, the tiny 10 sqm studio also boasts a single-person table.

Right up against the dining table is the bathroom, enclosed

By Yzabelle Bostyn

only by an opaque plastic pane and conveniently elevated for ease of view.

The kitchen is a masterclass in economy of space, with fridge, single hotplate, sink and microwave all crammed into one square metre. It comes generously equipped

AN influencer from Argentina wowed tourists by performing 300 pull ups while hanging from El Tajo bridge in Ronda. Gero Arias pulled off the arm-busting feat with a dizzying 100 metre drop to the rocky gorge below.

“Today wasn’t easy, I cried, I bled but I made it,” he said. It is the 300th straight day he has performed

with a double bed wedged into the corner, between the shower and the open clothes rack.

The lucky owner will enjoy a three centimetre shelf above the bed to store their belongings. All yours for the low low price of just €165,000.

At €16,500 per square metre, it is considerably pricier than the average property in the city, which comes in around €5,000.

DAREDEVIL

the stunt, starting with just one pull up on January 1 and adding another rep every 24 hours.

The challenge has taken him all over the world, from Paris to Barcelona to Bolivia - often, surrounded by crowds of adoring fans. However, although an impressive feat of strength, it wasn’t that daring – the ‘daredevil’ was hooked up to a harness the whole time.

Understandably, the offering has prompted outrage among Madrid residents, with one local influencer asking: “How have we got here? Is this even legal? Is it moral?”

Madrid’s housing market has been rocketing out of control in recent times, with prices rising 18% in just the last year. It’s a similar story in Barcelona, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao – and almost all of Spain’s most desirable cities. But if you really want a bargain? Look to Zaragoza, Spain’s fifth largest city. There, an apartment costs just €1,175 sqm –the best value in all the country.

Bring them back

SCHOOL kids in Tenerife penned a heartfelt message demanding the return of their new migrant classmates after they were transferred away overnight.

Chef’s wrath

A chef in Ibiza stormed out of his kitchen and beat up an elderly German who had complained about the food. He even threw a plate at the man’s head who was prone on the floor.

Just dumb

A QUAD bike driver who went viral doing wheelies and standing on one leg on the A7 to Algeciras – one of Spain’s most dangerous motorways – was tracked down and arrested just days later.

BARGAIN: But the owner may fear squatters