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Still restricted CURRENT restrictions in the Valencian Community will stay in place until July 15 due to a big rise in COVID-19 infections. Measures including maintaining a 1am closure for bars and restaurants along with 50% indoor capacity restrictions that were scheduled to end today (Thursday). One minor change is that banqueting halls can reopen. Valencian president, Ximo Puig, described the latest health situation as ‘worrying’. The region’s coronavirus infection rate has virtually doubled in a fortnight to 75 cases per 100,000 people. Last weekend ‘s infection figures were the largest since late February.
Concerns
Some 52% of cases came from the unvaccinated 15 to 29 year range group. Puig said that rising infection concerns had brought forward the start of vaccinations for people aged between 30 and 39 years to next week, some 12 days ahead of schedule. “July will be the month of vaccination for those aged under 40”, commented Puig. Text messages with appointment details have also started being sent to the 60 to 65 age group waiting for their second AstraZeneca injection.
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July 1st - July 14th 2021
Plonkers! British dad discovers teenage guests used his prized wine (worth €3,000) to make tinto de verano at daughter’s party EXCLUSIVE By Fiona Govan in Madrid
Pete Jones is one hell of an understanding father. When he woke up to discover that his daughter and her friends had imbibed his most treasured bottle of wine during a party, he didn’t hit the roof. Rather, he blamed himself for leaving the bottle of Petrus, 1999 vintage, in plain view with a bunch of teenagers in the house. “I am just gutted that after saving it for 17 years, I didn’t even get to taste it,” he told The Olive Press, shaking his head. “And the tragic thing is, neither did they, well not properly. By all accounts it was used to make a tinto de verano”. He refers to the typically Spanish summer drink of red wine mixed with casera or lemon Fanta and poured over ice as a refreshing tipple. Usually the cheapest red wine is used, often from a carton.
Party
The British father, 56, who has lived in Madrid for more than 20 years, had gone out for the evening to allow his youngest daughter Lara, 19, to host a party for her friends at home near the Fuente del Berro park. “They are all a sensible bunch and were at school together so this was a reunion because many were back in the city after the end of their first year at university,” said the Welsh
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that I was waiting for the right occasion to open it. And I hadn’t got round to putting it back.” The story of how he came to have the bottle is a good one. “It was Christmas Eve in 2004 and I suddenly realised that I hadn’t got potatoes so dashed out to this very expensive gourmet vegetable shop that was still open nearby,” Jones recalled. “There was a long
queue and when I got to the front on a whim I asked the chap behind the till to add a bottle of wine from the top shelf behind his head. I couldn’t see the price tag but thought it would be something special to drink at Christmas.” “The man looked pleased as punch over the purchase and then added it up and I gave him my card. It was only when I looked at the receipt that I realised the potatoes cost €1,20 something and the wine was over a grand. But everyone was waiting in line behind me and I felt too embarrassed to say anything,” he confessed. “My wife, Silv, was furious of course but I explained it away by insisting it was a vintage from the year of our eldest daughter’s birth and so we could keep it to drink with her on a special occasion,” he said. But after 17 years, no occasion had yet seemed quite special enough. Continues on Page 4
2
CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF Holiday brawl FOUR tourists were injured in a knife fight at Javea’s Arenal beach area at 2am on Sunday. Two of the men from Navarra, aged in their 20s were seriously hurt and taken to Denia Hospital.
Sharp exit A DOG lunged at a woman and bit her while she was walking in the Montemolar area of Altea on Sunday. The animal and its owner hurriedly left the scene with the 63-year-old victim needing hospital treatment.
A BRITISH English teacher has been arrested after hijacking over 70 home security camera feeds globally to record over 1,000 videos of naked children. He also directly threatened children, some as young as nine years, to behave inappropriately via internet chat rooms. He used the ‘dark web’ to sell some of the obscene images he obtained. The unnamed man has been jailed by a Benidorm court ahead of his trial. The Policia Nacional said he had been previously arrested for similar offences when he was a minor. Police say that the arrested Brit hijacked video feeds from children’s bedrooms across the UK, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and
Expat pervert
Teacher hijacked video camera live feeds to spy on children By Alex Trelinski
Spain. He worked as an online English language teacher for children, with police saying they found one instance
Getting stuffed
More speed ALMOST 63,000 speeding tickets were issued to Alicante Province motorists last year, the largest total for six years.
AN unlicensed taxidermist could be fined up to €60,000 for stuffing the head of an illegally-hunted wild boar. The Guardia Civil raided the clandestine workshop in San Vicente del Raspeig after being told about the dead animal. Officers discovered 16 prohibited game animal items on the premises, which were in a converted shed. The boar had been caught by an banned method known as looping where its head is caught in a wire noose and it strangles itself as it desperately tries to escape. The hunter has been identifIed and faces a fine of up to €6,000 and a two-year suspension of his hunting license. The San Vicente workshop housed a range of taxidermy tools inside in addition to the illegally-caught animals.
Costly mask AN Alicante man who refused to wear a mask and threatened to kill a policeman who sanctioned him, has lost a court appeal against a €1,080 fine imposed last December.
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where he behaved inappropriately towards a pupil. His detention was triggered by Australia’s Queensland State Police who spotted pornographic images of a local child that had been uploaded from Spain. The Policia Nacional then launched an extensive investigation to locate the originator of the material. The man was very active on the ‘dark web’ and operated under a variety of usernames on paedophile chat rooms.
System The Brit organised a system of selling child pornography in exchange for bitcoins or for customers exchanging obscene images of their youngsters. Police discovered money routed through to Romania which involved people known for forcing children into prostitution.
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Drug baron date BRITISH drug trafficker, Brian Charrington, has been given a new trial date after Supreme Court judges quashed his original 2018 trial due to ‘impartiality’ issues. The 65-year-old and his son Ray were convicted, along with two other people, of smuggling 192 kilos of cocaine from South America to the Costa Blanca in 2012 and 2013. All four now have a retrial at the Alicante Provincial Court starting on July 19. Calpe-based Charrington was originally given a 15-year-jail term and fined €31 million. One of the defence lawyers in the 2018 hearings, Joaquin de Lacy, appealed to the Supreme Court over ‘conflicts of interest’ involving the Alicante bench judges. The Supreme justices upheld the challenge on the basis that the judges had previously made 26 rulings on the case ahead of the 2018 trial. Charrington has been branded by Spanish media as the ‘Wikipedia Narco’ because he regularly posted internet updates on his activities. In July 2003, a German court jailed him for seven years after convicting him of drug smuggling.
A Tabarca Island resident spotted a large package on the shore close to the lighthouse which was a 35 kilo stash of hashish. It was a rare moment of excitement for the island with a 92-strong population which hosts day trippers sailing in from Alicante or Santa Pola. Two Alicante Policia Local officers checked out the surprise consignment of 70 packs of hashish weighing in at 500 grams per bag. The
Hashed ashore Guardia Civil is investigating where the drugs came from.
NEWS
www.theolivepress.es IT was once known as ‘Spain’s most eccentric restaurant’. It was the favourite stomping ground of unconventional TV cook Keith Floyd and home to a full size cannon, lifelike Centurion, illuminated skeleton and a King Arthur’s Sword wedged into one of the tables. For 36-years owner Paul Hickling was the jovial ‘mine host’
M
OST expat residents in Spain are entirely unaware that they have a legend of professional heavyweight boxing living in their midst. A man who once equalled the fight record of legendary Italian American pugilist Rocky Marciano (49 successive wins), and who went toe-to-toe with both Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, two of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Brian Nielsen was an Olympic gold medallist at super heavyweight for Denmark in the 1992 Barcelona Games before he was elevated to the ranks of the pros where he became the IBF World Heavyweight Champion. He currently lives in La Cala de Mijas (Malaga) and runs a Golf and Events tourism business in neighbouring Calahonda. Nielsen, 56, still keeps in touch with some of the biggest names in the sport and was happy to share his memories with the Olive Press when we caught up with him. The fight that he gets asked about the most was his bruising seven-round battle with American icon ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, once labelled, with plenty of justification, ‘The Baddest Man on The Planet’. Readers of a certain vintage will recall Tyson’s arrival on the world stage in the 1980s. He made his professional debut at the ridiculously young age of 18 and by the time he hit his 20s, he was
serving up fabulous food at the Roman Oasis in Manilva on the Costa del Sol. Two years ago, as age caught up with him, 76 year-old Paul decided it was time to put his feet up for a well-deserved retirement. But proving old legionnaire’s never die, he is back on the scene. But he is not re-opening his restaurant – that would
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Teeing off be a tad too much for him – he has rather eccentrically decided to launch a mini golf park at the premises. So rather than a hearty ‘hail Caesar’, it will be a cry of ‘time to tee off’ that will greet customers.
Great Dane Brian Nielsen talks to Andrew McInnes about his battles with Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield
Nielsen also fought Evander Holyfield - who had part of his ear bitten off in a controversial, and highly-lucrative bout against Tyson in 1997EXCLUSIVE in a comeback bout in 2011. It was the last time both would ever compete professionally. The burly Dane added: “The best guy I ever fought was Evander Holyfield (pictured with Nielsen below left). He had everything as a boxer, just the complete package, and you knew you’d been in a real battle when you went a few rounds with him. He beat me fair and square. “A very talented fighter - definitely an all-time great and possibly, for my money, the best heavyweight of all time. BIG MAN: Nielsen in Spain now, and in his glory days squaring up to Mike Tyson The British fighter Lennox already the best in the world. He had a ferocious and in- ponent but I could always Lewis was another from that The brash New Yorker was timidating style that had handle it. Mike did spend era who I really admired. simply unbeatable in the plenty of opponents running most of the fight throwing “Evander and I are still ring for a number of years. for cover from the get-go, headbutts at me friends as well and I’ve met He was the undisputed and professional heavy- though and up with him world champion from 1987 weight boxing has never he eventually a few times to 1990, winning all of his been a domain of the meek. cracked me over the years first 19 professional fights by Nielsen fought him in 2001 with one. for promotionknockout. His seismic impact in Copenhagen and will be “I got an eye al events and Mike did on boxing had to be seen to regaling fight fans about that injury though that sort of spend most be believed. encounter for the rest of his and that’s why thing. life. the fight was “I had 67 of the fight Talking to the Olive Press, stopped. But professionthrowing he said: “Yeah me and Mike he never put al fights and fought for six rounds in Co- me down. I won 64 of headbutts penhagen and he never put “Sure, he them, 43 by at me - he me down, other than illegal- was very fast knockout. ly. and had a big I’m very eventually “He was a very tough op- punch, but proud of it was never that record. landed one enough to “As well as my on me knock me on boxing skills my arse. I’d say my big“I’m still in gest asset in touch with the ring was Mike and he’ll give me a call my heart. I would be relentevery once a while to see less and always keep going how I’m getting on and so we until the bell. can reminisce about the old “I never knew when I was days.” beaten”
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NEWS
3
The rise and fall of John McAfee HE made a $100 (€84) million fortune, founded the world’s most ubiquitous internet security firm, lived a life of hedonism and claimed to have fathered 46 children. This all came to an end when his body was found in a Catalan prison cell just hours after a Spanish judge ordered his extradition to the US on fraud charges. Police believe he hanged himself. Born on a US army base in Cinderford (UK) to an American father and British mother, John McAfee hit the big time when he developed McAfee anti virus software – then lost it all through a combination of high spending and the financial crash.
Belize
When his fortune dwindled to about $4 million, he made a new home in Belize where he could make his money stretch further and continue his high-spending habits. Thrice married McAfee boasted of having a harem of seven women live with him as he set up a new business. But police suspected him of running an illicit drugs factory and found an ‘arsenal’ of guns when they raided his home. Soon after, his neighbour was shot dead and McAfee fled to Guatemala claiming the police were trying to frame him. From there, he eventually returned to the US, but once more went on the run when told he was subject to a tax investigation.
HAREM: McAfee and co
NEWS
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By Fiona Govan
Old meets new - explore the costa’s garden city
Estepona
The
OLIVE PRESS
SUNBED numbers on Benidorm’s beaches have been cut by half to keep areas ‘safe’. Up to 3,500 beds will be permitted as part of Benidorm’s Safe beaches for all, every day mplan. Visitors, however, will no longer see taped off zones on beaches, which were scrapped last weekend to coincide with the new outdoor mask wearing rules. Benidorm mayor, Toni Perez, said: “All our beaches operate COVID-19 protocols along with maintaining their Blue and Qualitur flag awards.”
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THE START: The first edition of the Olive Press in 2006
As the Olive Press reaches its 15th birthday, we recall a few of our favourite interviews and remember a couple of our top readers, such as ex-prime minister Rajoy (above) and prime joker Paul Gascoigne...
EXCLUSIVE: Private school warning after a convicted British paedophile moved to Spain,
dodged criminal record checks and found work as an English teacher
Fiona Govan in Madrid
language academy after creating a new identity, using forged documents. Former colleagues of the sex offender revealed that he created a new name to dodge criminal record checks in order to run summer camps and teach private classes to young children. He had changed his name to Ben David after being convicted in June 2016 of taking and possessing indecent images of children in England. As well as being placed on the sex offender list and being handed a two-year suspended sentence, he was barred from leaving the country or working with children. Yet within weeks he had moved to Spain and found work in Zaragoza as a livein au pair to a family with three young children. The following year he relocated to Madrid and began teaching children at a well-known language
Award Winning Rehabilitation Clinic
DANGER: Lewis got teaching post
2017 he accepted a job as an English teacher at a leading semi-private (concertado) secondary school that receives subsidies from the state. “He was going by the name Ben David by then and was offered the job after another teacher dropped out mid-term,” a former colleague Natasha Fitzsimons told the Olive Press. “I think they were desperate to fill the position so maybe they weren’t as thorough as they should have been.
Horrified
“We worked together at the school for 18 months, took on private classes together going to the homes of some of the children for extracurricular teaching and ran a summer camp at the school during 2018,” said the Irish colleague, who is filled with horror at the access he had to children. The Olive Press has discovered that the day after sentencing in the UK he changed his name by deed poll from Ben David Lewis to Ben David, in a process that takes just 15 minutes. He then applied for and received a British passport in his new name, while he also presented a doctored photocopy of his Israeli passport stamped and verified by a non-existent law firm that showed his name as Ben David Rose. The Olive Press has seen photocopies of these, plus a teaching degree and Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) ALL AREAS COVERED certificates presented in the name of Ben David Rose as well as certificates in his original name. 4G UNLIMITED What is amazing is that by April INTERNET 2019 he had applied for a teaching IDEAL FOR job at a leading private school in the STREAMING TV upmarket Arturo Soria district that teaches the British curriculum to the ALSO IPTV, children of Madrid’s elite. SATELLITE TV By now he also had a DBS certificate
www.villaparadisospain.com
Gerente Territorial en ZARAGOZA
CERTIFICA:
Que, en el día de la fecha, consultada la Base de Datos del Registro Central de Delincuentes Sexuales, NO CONSTA información penal relativa a: D./Dª BEN DAVID ROSE con Pasaporte
nº 22807454
Conforme a lo dispuesto en la Decisión Marco 2009/315/JAI del Consejo de 26 de febrero, relativa a la organización y al contenido del intercambio de información de los registros de antecedentes penales entre los Estados miembros, tratándose de ciudadanos españoles, el presente certificado incluye, en su caso, las condenas impuestas por otros Estados miembros de la Unión Europea, en los mismos términos en que tales condenas hayan sido notificadas, sin que exista necesariamente una equiparación entre los tipos delictivos del Estado de condena y los tipos delictivos nacionales.
El presente certificado refleja la situación
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Zaragoza a 29 de agosto de 2017
Signature Not Verified
Documento firmado electrónicamente
Pagina 1 de 1 Ref: 00003143792/2017
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On behalf of all at the British Embassy tes, I want and Consulato wish huge congratulations at the to all Olive Press on your 15th anniversary. The English language press plays a vital role nationals in Spain in keeping UK informed. we very much appreciate And your help in getting key messages out to UK nationals After an incredibly here. year for so many difficult of us, including many businesses, it is great to see the Olive Press thriving. We forward to seeing look the next 15 years what bring.
The
ROM its very first the Olive Press issue in 2006 has been campaigning for its community. Whether fighting for the environment or digging into crooks, we have taken some big scalps. Starting from Issue we highlighted the One (see top right) build 2000 houses,ridiculous plans to and two hotels on two golf courses land near Ronda, UNESCO-protected A decade and a half the madness of as well as exposed monstrosity on a building a 350-room scored some big winsof campaigning has ria’s Cabo de Gata.virgin beach in Almefor the Olive Press Both schemes Los Merinos, in da, and the Algarrobico Ron- maverick Jeremy Griffiths, and Nigel When it comes to ria - went into reverse hotel, in Alme- Goldman, a degenerate gold-dealing the first English corruption we were made the UK AND after our stories dirt-bag, who had a restaurant legends Ferran column about the ERE newspaper to write Spanish national in a local newspaper, Adria newspapers and scandal at the Junta and Gordon Ramsey. which he used to de Andalucia green groups includ- cover his tracks. ing Greenpeace and that And it was nice to Ecologistas en Ac- We also tackled billion euros to the cost an estimated chat cion joined our protests. timeshare crook to Ciudadanos Muldoon, who certainly Toni also tackled town taxpayers, while we And then there were hall theft on a local Albert Rivera, asleader deserves a scale on dozens the crooks, like mention for conning well Crimestoppers’ Most of as the only newspaper Wanted Daniel ple and eventually thousands of peo- Animal cruelty hasoccasions. Johnston, a bank to be able to pose went to prison for bugbear been a continual robber, and Matthew setting up fake and we have Sammon, a dangerous escort websites. couple of questions a evil abusers, as well exposed so many who we single-handedly paedophile, Meanwhile, our crime reporting Michelle Obama on to as the scoundrels on who allowed her to a village near Sevilla tracked down missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick visit to Marbella ‘blew open circus lions hunters to kill innocent and a car park the case’, to use the a few in Fuengirola. and tigers years ago. mother, while our words of her grand- tremadura (see below).at a finca in ExAnd fraudsters like continuing investiga- On Indeed, the positives David ‘the dogman’ tion into missing a more positive Klein, pet transport Maddie McCann far outweigh the yielded exclusive after has to interview everyonefront, it was great negatives and we would frequent links to Spain.exclusive, with its ana’s ex-lover James from Princess Diprefer to be judged DON’T MISS OUR 20-PAGE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT ON ESTEPONA Hewett to cooking over 50 rather the than 15 years. As far as we are FREE cerned we have cononly just begun. Where
IMPACT: Tracking down crooked Nigel covering the devastating Goldman (above) and Costa del Sol fire in 2012
H
...and our team of long-term writers, recall their decade and a half living in the world’s most exciting country. See pull-out inside.
S
ESTUCO INTERI Are you feeling depressed? Addiction problems?
...meanwhile, we spend time at the home of the world’s most famous plumber as he announces he’s becoming a Spanish citizen, after 15 years here and losing €15m to his ex-wives...
academy after getting a criminal record check from Zaragoza police to show he had no convictions in Spain over the previous 12 months. Then in December
MINISTERIO DE JUSTICIA
REGISTRO CENTRAL DE DELINCUENTES SEXUALES
A
INTERNATIONAL schools around Spain have been put on high alert after a British man began teaching at one of Madrid’s most exclusive colleges months after being convicted in the UK. Questions have been raised after Ben Lewis, 31, was able to work at the school despite being on the UK’s sex offenders register. The Olive Press has discovered that Lewis, who is now awaiting trial for child sex offences at Centro Penitenciario Madrid V, managed to hoodwink TWO schools and a
NAMES: two different passports
Bracing for Brexit
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In the Serrania
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ANTHONYS Antiques, Jewellers INVESTIGATIONS: & Pawnbrokers 59€ down paedophile Matthew Sammon,Tracking (right) and exposingprobing missing Amy animal cruelty (far right)
Expat’s rescue killed over animals mercilessly ‘hunting row’
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THE DEED POLL LOOPHO
LE
The Safeguarding Alliance, used the Olive Press investigation as a case study in its latest report used to lobby the UK parliament for a legal change in the management of registered sex offenders. Opinion Page 6
Iceberg
Expat send-off A BRITISH founding member of Benitatxell’s Civil Protection group has retired after 12 years of service. Mike Sadler was given a surprise send-off party at Benitatxell Town Hall on Saturday with mayor, Miguel Angel Garcia popping in to wish him well for the future. Sadler was presented with a special commemorative plaque. The group said: “We want to thank him for his selfless and totally altruistic work towards all the citizens of our municipality.”
supplement inside
THE UK’s leading tion group is callingchild protecBy Fiona Govan for Spain to tighten the recruitment he photographed and filmed. in Madrid process of English teachers. there He then disseminated the sick Spain is an opportunity for The plea by The loophole that has material on paedo to lead the way in ALL AREAS COVERED tackAlliance aims to Safeguarding tentially hundredsallowed po- the dark web aroundforums on ling it at a global level,” of British the world. Her she said. country against a protect the paedophiles to charity wants Spain find work in Emily Konstantas, CEO of troduce British legal Spanish to inThe Safeguarding schools. 4G UNLIMITED sserp evilo Alliance, original the need to present an The campaign follows applauded an in- highlightingthe Olive Press for side a birth certificate alongINTERNET vestigation by the passport the IDEAL FOR that revealed how Olive Press Ben Lewis case as issue: “The record checks thatand criminal OLIVE NAMDLOG would allow revealed by potential for a convicted UK easy it was the Olive Press highlights STREAMING TV employers to unearth PRESS YTLIUG sex offender loophole to change his identity 15 YEARS and as shockingthis a change of identity. OF FUN as “It’s a simple Lessons work as a teacher and find this is, it is nothing ALSO IPTV, way to provide in several unfortunately new and that extra Madrid schools where needed SATELLITE TV check,” she insisted. represents he was the tip arrested for abusing of the iceberg as just “The severity and danger at least 36 magnitude to the loophole this children. presents to the whole of this problem.” tel: (0034) 952 763 world cannot be underestimatShe warned: “Whilst 840 DANGER: Lewis quo remains in situ the status ed.” info@theskydoctor.com teaching post, got this signif- An Criminal icant and very dangerous extensive www.theskydoctor.com of ‘fake’ paperswith help We reported how safe- Safeguarding report by The Ben Lewis, 31, guarding loophole will continAlliance is being had changed his name EXCLUSIVE: OP used to lobby the very serious crimes,” by deed ue to pose a threat, not just splash UK parlia+ + poll, applied for states the report, seen by the a new British UK Nationals, but to the rest to ment for a legal change in Olive Press. passport, and dodged the Through of management the world extensive research record checks despite criminal those mostputting children and It explains of sex offenders. and case the UK’s sex offenders being on she warned.vulnerable at risk,” system relies how the current ance law The Safeguarding Allihas identified on the registered Police in Spain issuedregister. ers are not notifyingthat offenda state- “There are potentially hun- sex offender to notify the poment last week describing lice with details dreds and are continuing as required of any name Lew- known- if not thousands - of change, is - or Ben David dren by changing to abuse chilsex alongside any change their names now known - as Rose, as he is under the offenders slipping of address and obfuscating their ‘a dangerous and passport inforradar child sexual predator’. seek work abroadin the UK to mation. as seen through the identities case of Ben The National Police can continue to where they “Currently the onus Lewis/Rose absconding abuse chil- with lies solely had used his positionsaid that he dren,” she overseas the offender to continued. continue as a teachand although to abuse. er at private schools in Madrid “This loophole is arguably the it is an offence to fail to notify, to gain access to children whom biggest safeguarding scandal one could argue this is not a deUndermined terrent the world has ever seen and has the as the offender already “As a result, propensity to commit the effectiveness of important legislation, the Sex Offenders Register, the Child Sex Offender IN the United Kingdom a person does not Scheme, the DomesticDisclosure to follow an official need failure to process to start using Violence Disclosure Scheme, name, but they require a new result in so is a criminal offence which could a term not exceeding undermined and the DBS are or to change official a ‘deed poll’ to apply for onment. five years imprisdocuments such as dered redundant,”effectively renpassport. a new However, evidence demonstrates “The case of Benit states. This can be done that not registered sex offender highlights why SpainLewis/Rose little or no cost in a simply and easily online for report will act with honestyevery should be and aware of this very than 15 minutes process that takes no longer The a change of name as required. Safeguarding Alliance guarding loophole serious safecompleted from a to process and can even be Freedom Centro Plaza 56-57, and should Avda. Manolete s/n, of Information discovered through pioneer an international Under section 84 prison cell. 29660 Nueva Andalucia info@estucointer UK’s 46 police forces requests to 16 of the moveiors.com, www.estucointeri ment to protect its 2003, an offenderof the Sexual Offences Act of offence that 913 people with ors.com, +34 952 children from must report a name sex 810 633 those abusers who within three working change changingconvictions had gone missing after days to the police, their names without the radar using the slip under and police. informing the name change loophole,” Konstantas added.
THE SKY + DOCTOR +
OU
Less lounging
Mijas Costa
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change their names so that their crimes do not show up during Disclosure and Barring Service checks to work with children. The Olive Press reported how Ben Lewis, 31, had changed his name by deed poll, applied for a new British passport, and dodged criminal record checks despite being on the UK’s sex offenders register. He moved to Spain and found work as a teacher in several Madrid schools where he was arrested for abusing at least 36 children. Emily Konstantas, CEO of
ANDALUCÍA
OF
Dusty
“There it was; a dusty old Petrus lying empty on top of all the beer bottles,” bemoaned Jones. “My daughter didn’t believe me when I told her how much it was actually worth. She thought I was pulling her leg. Then she cried a lot and asked if I could ever forgive her.” He posted about the incident on Twitter and even got world renowned chef Michel Roux wading in: “Hahaaaa serves you right for leaving the cellar door open.” “Yes, I’ve learnt my lesson,” said Jones.
THE British government is considering placing danger warnings on the passports and driving licences of convicted sex offenders after an Olive Press investigation. The move would be designed to close a loophole that is allowing dozens of paedophiles to disappear each year, with some securing teaching jobs with children in Spain. Labour MP Sarah Champion called on parliament to add an amendment to a criminal bill that would see the DVLA and the passport office mark the files of Britain’s 100,000 registered sex offenders. This would close a loophole whereby paedophiles
reipaN anoI :OTOHP
This meant he also had to break the news to Sele, who is now 21, that her birthday vintage had been opened without her. “She was very understanding and did her best to mollify her little sister, who has been distraught about it.” Jones discovered the bottle was not in the fridge on Saturday morning, just after daughter Lara had already left to catch a flight to visit family in Germany. He sent her a casual text asking if perhaps she had seen the Petrus somewhere as he couldn’t locate it. “I had this creeping suspicion that it had been drunk but was hoping I had hidden it somewhere and just forgotten where,” he admitted. She wrote back that she hoped it wasn’t expensive as maybe her friends had opened it. He ran to the bottle bank near their home to check as Lara, a diligent daughter, had cleaned up well after the party and disposed of the recyclables.
Taking action
X
Wasted
British sex offenders could have passports stamped with danger warning to prevent travel abroad
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From front
July 1st - July 14th 2021
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She said: “The Ben Lewis case as revealed by the Olive Press highlights this loophole and as shocking as this is, it is nothing new and unfortunately represents just the tip of the iceberg as to the magnitude of this problem.” By logging sex offenders’ passports and licences, the danger alert would be flagged up each time someone changed their name.
Heatstroke drama LIFEGUARDS came to the rescue of a British man who lost consciousness after spending too much time sunbathing on the beach. The unnamed 74-year-old Brit was lying on the sands of El Campello’s Carrer la Mar beach when a lifeguard suspected that he was suffering signs of heatstroke. She asked if he was alright but he refused help and told her that ‘he was well’. But he soon lost consciousness due to severe body dehydration caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. A SAMU paramedic joined the El Campello Rescue and Lifeguard team to treat the British sunbather. Serum was injected into his body and manoeuvres performed to increase his heart rate. At one stage, the man suffered convulsions and went into an epileptic fit. It later emerged he was being treated for an underlying medical condition. He was taken to hospital for further treatment.
www.theolivepress.es
NEWS
Benidorm gloom A THIRD of Benidorm’s hotels have yet to open for the holiday season because coronavirus travel restrictions are keeping British tourists away, according to Spain’s Hosbec hotel association. British holidaymakers count for some 40% of Benidorm’s visitors but current travel restrictions imposed by the UK mean that the holiday-makers are simply not there. Spain remains on the ‘amber list’ meaning holidaymakers would be required to quarantine for ten days on their return to the UK as well as undergo at least three PCR tests. Hosbec president, Toni Mayor, said: “A third of our HOUSEHOLD spending in Spain fell by an average of 10.7% last year compared to 2019 figures. Average expenditure dropped to an average of €26,996 per household according to the Family Budgets Survey from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). It’s the biggest decline in the Budgets Survey since it started in 2006. The fall is a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic
BRITS MISSING: Bad news for Costa Blanca hotels, many of which rely on them member hotels are closed because they work exclusively with British customers and therefore it makes
no sense for them to open.” Hosbec figures suggest that nine out of 10 occupied rooms are currently filled
Belt tightening
ture rose by 6.8% along with a 1.9% rise in utility spending. The INE says that spending on leisure and cultural activities fell by 31.9%, along with a 29.5% expenditure drop on anything to do with transport like car buying, maintenance, and fuel purchases. The survey shows that the biggest cutbacks in expenditure were in households occupied by a childless couple which produced a 13% reduction.
and lockdown restrictions, in addition to people being furloughed from their jobs. The biggest change was on restaurant and hotel spending which dropped by a whopping 40.5%. In contrast, household food and non-alcoholic drink expendi-
by domestic tourists, with 62% of Benidorm’s hotel beds available. “Domestic tourism is higher than expected as some hotels are reaching 80% occupancy at weekends,” observed Mayor. Prominent hotels like the Grand Luxor and Palm Beach are expected to reopen this month. Toni Mayor said: “Demand is still stagnant but there have been some recent reopenings to increase availability.” Since the start of the pandemic, Hosbec estimates that each hotel has suffered losses between €50,000 and €150,000 per month depending on its size.
July 1st - July 14th 2021
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Bridge breached A 55-year-old woman died when she was hurled out of a van as it careered off a bridge in the Monforte del Cid area. The Alicante fire service suspect that the accident may have been caused by a tyre blow out. The crash occurred shortly after 4pm on Saturday on the Valencia-bound carriageway of the A-7. Five other people were lucky to be alive after the van smashed through the barrier and landed below the bridge. Firefighters rescued a 20-year-old woman who was trapped inside the vehicle with a broken hip.
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NEWS FEATURE
www.theolivepress.es 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 Close the loophole IN this issue (see page 2) we report on yet another case of a British man arrested for sex crimes against children, this time in Benidorm. This Brit worked as an English teacher and was reportedly able to carry out his evil deeds by grooming and threatening young people who he was paid to teach online. He was also able to hack into home security video footage which he used to produce pornographic images to sell on the dark web. It is easy to feel powerless against cases like this which highlight how even within our own homes it sometimes seems impossible to protect those we love. So it comes as welcome news that steps are being made to keep a tighter watch on known sex offenders. Months after the Olive Press revealed just how easy it had been for a convicted British paedophile to legally change his name, apply for a new passport, move to Spain and gain access to children so that he could offend again, lawmakers in the UK are finally considering measures to close the loophole. It’s the start of a long legislative process that could eventually see warnings placed on passports and driving licences to make it harder for sex offenders to slip under the radar and carry on offending. What seems like a no-brainer of an idea to keep tags on dangerous criminals comes after years of campaigning by The Safeguarding Alliance and after dozens of cases of re-offenders operating under new identities have come to light. In the meantime how many paedophiles will continue to exploit such loopholes in order to carry on abusing victims?
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m a Sc alert!
Summer’s here, and the thieving has started
A
LONG with the blazing sunshine the scammers who often target expats and tourists have arrived. The Olive Press has had several calls about unscrupulous conmen attempting to relieve unsuspecting visitors and expats of their belongings. Here we take a look at six common scams to beware of…
The bird poo scam The criminal pours a white liquid resembling bird excrement on your clothes then points it out to you. As they ‘helpfully’ dab at the mess with a cloth an accomplice snatches your wallet or purse while you are distracted.
Taxi scams Make sure either the meter is on or they have shown you the official list of charges. If you don’t there is the risk of being charged an inflated flat fee or bogus surcharges.
The Rosemary scam A woman approaches you thrusting a twig of rosemary under your nose saying its free and to take it. As you do, they grab your palm and ‘read your fortune’ then demand payment for the palm reading. Either you are pickpocketed while distracted, or they start wailing and shouting until you hand over some cash to get rid of them.
Petition charity scam You are asked to sign a petition for a charitable cause. Once you do they then demand a ‘donation’. They are either happy with the cash received or an accomplice pickpockets you while you are distracted.
Fake gas man scam Never let a gasman (or other utility workman) into your home unless you have arranged an appointment. The scam is to do an ‘annual revision’ at inflated prices. Often you need to call in a real gas man to fix the mistake the bogus worker has made.
Highway robbers scam They target rental or foreign cars, often at petrol stations or supermarket carparks, saying that either you have damaged your car or you have a flat tyre. While the victim looks for the damage, an accomplice grabs bags and valuables from the car before making an escape.
THE
WEB OF CORRUPTION?: From left, Maria Dolores
Lead inspector in Caso Kitchen faced death threats to drop PP corruption probe. Shannon Chaffers takes a look at the long-running Gurtel scandal and why it’s raised its ugly head again
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T was the corruption case that shamed Spain. One of the biggest in European history, it linked dozens of PP party bosses, various cabinet ministers and even the former Prime Minister into a multi-million euro scandal involving murky kickbacks and a sewer of greed. Now it has reared its ugly head again bringing a further spotlight on the mechanisms of the Spanish state as well as the depths it is prepared to go to cover up wrongdoing. In a fascinating trial, which has been rumbling on for nearly a year, one of the main inspectors tasked with probing the Gurtel scandal has been in the spotlight. Manuel Morocho has been giving evidence about the dirty tactics and pressure he came under while investigating the PP party’s black-money payment system from 2009. The boss of Spain’s Economic and Financial Delinquency unit (UDEF), told the judge in the so-called Caso Kitchen case that members and allies of the PP, including former Minister of the Interior Jorge Fernandez Diaz, pressured him to abandon his investigation and withhold information he had uncovered. In particular they offered him plum jobs in the Spanish embassy in Lisbon, or the United Nations, if he dropped his investigation. The case is probing whether an illegal spying operation, including wiretaps, was set up by the state against disgraced former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas, who blew the whistle on his former colleagues. Its aim was to prevent information on secret accounts listing payments to politicians from coming to light. They included thousands each month to former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Anti-corruption prosecutors are probing whether former ministers Fernandez Diaz and Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal, who held two senior cabinet posts, ordered former police chief Jose Manuel Villarejo to ‘carry out tasks that would be paid with PP funds’. The ex-National Police chief Villarejo has been held in pre-trial custody since 2017 and is set to give more evidence this month. The corruption case began in 2009, when several PP members and affiliates were put under investigation for crimes including bribery and money laundering. At the center of the scandal was the influential businessman Francisco Correa, whose name translates to ‘gurtel’ in German (belt in English), hence the codename. It culminated in the highly sensitive political trial of 2018 which sent Correa and various other public figures to years in prison. In a massive embarrassment, the PP party was found guilty of running the illegal bribery scheme operated through a secret slush called ‘caja b’. It led to the then Prime Minister Rajoy to be ousted in a vote of no-confidence. Yet the fallout from the scandal continues in particular how the state tried to stop the probe. It hinged around Barcenas, who highlighted a dual accounting system which involved official invoicing and cash payments (off the books) to help the PP party win elections and/or keep power. While Barcenas was found to have millions of euros
www.theolivepress.es
July 1st - July 14th 2021
7
Who you gonna call?
HEAT IS ON
de Cospedal, former PM Mario Rajoy, Manuel Morocho and Jorge Diaz
hidden in Swiss bank accounts and is now in prison for 33 years for fraud and money laundering, he decided to expose the entire operation and refused to be the only fall guy. In 2013 El Pais revealed the so-called dual payment system existed, before El Mundo published the so-called Barcenas papers in a IN COURT: Barcenas was later sentenced to 33 years in jail for corruption hard-hitting exclusive. Operation Kitchen was later launched to look between 2013 and 2015 Villarejo, together post outside the country. into the behaviour of Villarejo – who is believed with another police chief, Enrique García Casta- Morocho, who now lives in Huesca, also exto have run a spying network against judges, no were ordered to steal documents that would plained that he was given considerable work on politicians and journalists for 20 have implicated high-ranking PP other cases in attempts to delay his progress on years. officials. the investigation. Villarejo was found to have a It was left up to brave Manuel He further explained how he was pressured to Villarejo was series of hidden bank accounts Morocho, at UDEF, to investigate modify aspects of his reports to satisfy PP memfound to have exactly what happened. and 92 properties in many parts bers, and told not to mention the names of key of Spain, including an incredible Last week he described the vari- bosses including Rajoy. a series of 48 in Estepona. ous pressure tactics he faced in He refused and last week told the court how his When police raided various attempts to sabotage his inves- team worked in ‘harsh conditions’ while working hidden bank properties in the Costa del Sol tigation. on the probe. This included subtle death threats accounts resort two years ago they found In particular he revealed that and other disgraceful behaviour. “The aim was one had a safe with €300,000 officer Rivera offered him a role to pressurise us to bend and I received different in it. at the Spanish embassy in Por- attempts to voluntarily withdraw from the invesIf all this, it would suggest he was up to his neck tugal in exchange for leaving his job as inspec- tigation.” in corruption too. tor. He told the court that he was offered a ‘high Last week the judge described his contribution Court documents state there is evidence that salary’ of around €6,000 a month to take up a as ‘very important’.
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HE former president of Catalunya is to face trial along with his seven children over an alleged fortune which was not declared to the tax authorities. National Court judge Santiago Pedraz has charged Jordi Pujol and his family with criminal association, money laundering, false documentation, and filing false company documents. While his wife Marta Ferrusola was not charged because she is suffering from dementia, Pujol was given 10 days to lodge €7.5 million with the court as bail. Some 10 other businessmen are also charged in relation to the case. The once prominent family allegedly cashed in on their ‘position of privilege’ in Catalan society to accommodate ‘disproportionate’ wealth. He garnered the nickname ‘Mr 3%’ through illegal commissions of 3% that companies had to pay in order to secure regional government contracts and other favours, court documents said. These activities went on between 1980 and 2003 when Pujol was president of the regional government, the judge said in a ruling.
Catalans were at it too!
Just this week our story of the man whose daughter opened a €3,000 bottle of wine by mistake (see front page) made a page lead in the Daily Mail. And the Mirror, the Sun, Mail Online were just a few of the international media outlets who followed up on our scoop about Gurney Davey having to demolish his home. The Telegraph took on board the solar panel protests that have erupted in Andalucia, which we reported in our last edition. And it’s not just the newspapers. TV networks that need an inside line on events or just the expat community in Spain make the Olive Press their first port of call. This year alone Editor Jon Clarke flew to Ibiza to help on a TV investigation for Australian TV and reporter Kirsty McKenzie helped MTV make a programme about Louise Brown, who died after falling from a balcony in Benidorm. And earlier this month our new reporter Elena Gogmen Rueda accompanied Ritva Rönnberg and Claes Isander, reporter and cameraman of the Swedish national television programme C MORE from TV4, to get to know Marbella.
‘Mr 3%’ faces trial along with seven children over ‘hidden fortune’
When you want the best, call the Olive Press!
The eight-year investigation targeted bank accounts hidden in tax havens which were allegedly used to move millions of euros. In 2014, Pujol admitted publicly that he had offshore bank accounts containing several million euros in Andorra. Prosecutors allege that the cash held did not come from an inheritance received from Pujol’s grandfather, Florenci, as he had claimed. When he released a letter in 2014 admitting the bank account in Andorra, Pujol claimed that Florenci had made the money on the currency black market during the Franco dictatorship and left it to his grandchildren. The revelation caused a political storm as the independence movement was gathering pace in the region.
The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:
Wealthy
TRIAL: Jordi Pujol with wife Marta Ferrusola
W
HO do the UK nationals turn to when they want the best exclusives from Spain? The Olive Press of course! Time after time we find our stories picked up by the Mail, Mirror, Sun, The Telegraph and many more.
Pujol, 90, who led the conservative Democratic Convergence of Catalunya party, had never supported independence but instead negotiated greater autonomy for the wealthy region. The court investigation alleges the illicit payments were disguised by a complicated system of front companies, using tax havens and contracts for alleged services or advisory work whose existence is not backed up by any reliable documentation. The judge noted Pujol and his wife - who liked to call herself the ‘Mother Superior of the Congregation’ - allegedly organised the criminal organisation along with family members.
you need to know about 1 - Everything Spain’s new face mask rules Everywhere you have to wear a face 2 -mask in Spain as rules get set to change on Saturday Andalucia in favour of wearing 3 - Spain’smasks until at least August rules on UK travellers to 4 - Spain tightensBalearic Islands - Expat dad discovers his vintage Petrus 5Sangria (wine worth e3000) was used to make at daughter’s friends at house party in Spain
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8
GREEN
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Sludge alert
Warning over brown algae clogging Spanish beaches
SCIENTISTS have sent out a warning over the damaging environmental effects of a thick brown algae which is invading Spanish beaches. Known as rugulopterix okamurae, it arrived on beaches near Malaga, Granada, Cadiz and Tarifa in southern Spain, threatening the struggling tourism industry, marine biodiversity and the local fishing industry. With the same texture as seaweed, it does not cause health problems but the tonnes of the algae is an unwelcome sight for any tourists. Francisco Ruiz Giraldez, who is mayor of Tarifa in southern Andalusia and also a biologist, said that last year officials cleared 5,000 tonnes of the algae from the beaches of the town alone. “It is aggressively taking over the entire sea floor of the Straits of Gibraltar because the algae takes up 50% of the space between five and 25 metres in depth,” he said.
Martin Tye explains why environmental concerns should be top of the list when choosing power suppliers
Reasons to use green electricity
Green Matters
By Martin Tye
YUCK: Messy shore He added: “It’s like Groundhog Day. You take the (algae) away one day and the next day it’s back again.” Similar clean up operations have been mounted along the Costa del Sol and other parts of southern Spain. On the other side of the Mediterranean, the same brown sludge has appeared in northern Morocco and the Spanish North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Scientists said this algae naturally exists in the Pacific Ocean but it has been transported in the sluice water of tankers which travelled through the Mediterranean. Felix Lopez, a professor of ecology at the University of Malaga, said similar algae invasions in Mexico and China were greater but they did not spread as fast.
Sun shines on Repsol OIL giant Repsol has opened its first first PV solar farm as it moves towards decarbonisation. Located in the town of Manzanares in Ciudad Real, the farm, called Kappa, cost €100 million and boasts a total installed capacity of 126.6 MW distributed across three plants. Two of these, Perseo Foton I and Perseo Foton II, are now operational, with a combined capacity of 90.5
July 1st - July 14th 2021
S
O why should we use green electricity? Rather than give the obvious answer – to save the planet - I will explain more comprehensively. Electricity has created industry and been responsible for shaping modern life more than anything else. In many ways the history of electricity is in a large way the history of modern society. The search for electricity can be traced back to the mid 17th century. Benjamin Franklin’s 1752 experiments proved that electricity was a natural occurring force. In the early 1800’s the work of Nicola Tesla led to the development of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). The mid 19th century saw electric power gradually replace steam power as the catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. The use of electric power has grown exponentially since then.
MW. The third plant, Perseo Foton III, is still under development. It will add another 36.1 MW. The new solar farm consists of 285,331 solar modules capable of supplying renewable power to 71,000 homes — around 177,500 persons. This will help avoid the emission of nearly 107,600 tons of CO2 each year, or the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide as that absorbed by 13.5 million trees.
SOLAR PV PANELS
So what’s the problem? So much electricity is produced by the burning of coal and the mining of natural resources. Most electricity is generated with steam turbines using fossil fuels, nuclear, biomass, geothermal and solar thermal energy. Over 30% of electricity provided by Endesa comes from carbon fuel and gas. So, in short , the excessive demand the world has for electricity directly contributes to – pollution, climate change and global warming. Together in Electric Dreams A hit song back in 1984 , sung by Phil Oakey. Now we all dream of cheaper electricity from renewable sources. Back in 1984 electricity was less than 5 cents per Kwh. Look at your bill now – you’re in for an electric shock! One of the obvious solutions if you have a roof is to install solar panels and make free use of a natural resource – the sun. In October 2018 , the Spanish Energy and Environment minister Teresa Ribera said: “This country is finally freeing itself from the great absurdity,
scorned by most international observers, that is the ‘sun tax’. At that time Spain only had 1,000 solar panel installations, compared to more than 1,000,000 in Germany. Electricity prices in Spain are amongst the highest in Europe, and the recent changes in the tariff system will not help the majority of consumers. The Government needs to invest more now in renewable technologies – solar and wind. We as individuals need to look at our own roofs, and make sure the electricity provider we use supplies 100% certified green energy.
Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es
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LETTERSLETTERS Solar storm
10
Our special report on plans to cover huge areas of countryside with solar panels has drawn a response from readers Do something!
Wrong target
I AM not sure why people are so against solar panels. Yes, consideration should be given to the environment, but when it comes down to it, our world faces a much greater threat. Climate change will lay waste to vast swathes of Spain which already has a huge desertification problem. While the valleys in Malaga and Cadiz may be beautiful, the risk is that they would quite likely be turned into dustbowls if something is not done to reduce CO2 emissions. I am afraid these solar parks are an essential step towards saving our environment.
I FEEL for Gurney Davey (Knocked down, all editions). He loses his wife to cancer and then has to knock down his house of 17 years and reduce it to a pile of rubble. It was only small property sitting inoffensively on the side of a hill - you wouldn’t even have known it was there. Due to legalities and planning permission that apparently ‘should never have been granted’, the town hall made him tear it down. Yet, elsewhere in Southern Spain, councils are only too quick to pass permission for huge, unsightly solar panel projects e s ta r s b to take over our precious th y landscape. Maybe the planners’ sights have been set on the wrong target.
Le
In
Liz England, Fuengirola (Malaga)
t i c i a Pa r
JULY HOROSCOPES by Leticia Parmer
TAURUS
You might be torn between staying home and going out. Certainly you’ll feel like nesting, but you will also be keen for the stimulation of chatting and connecting with others, especially your mum. So why not invite them round for a meal.
CANCER When you feel vulnerable you hide within your shell, but this month you will be shining your light out fully into the world, and reaping the rewards of letting others truly see YOU and your amazing hidden talents. You are shining brightly.
GEMINI
SAGITTARIUS
VIRGO
CAPRICORN
LIBRA
AQUARIUS
Money is on your mind. You’re naturally good at selling yourself, so this might be the month when you win the deal of your dreams. Certainly you will be talking a good game and coming up with money-making ideas. Just don’t gamble. You are known for your down to earth practicality and strong work ethic. But this July you can step out of that mould by joining a yoga or meditation class, giving yourself a much needed chance to truly relax and rejuvenate. Friends and family may compete for your attention. You feel duty-bound about family traditions but your social scene is equally compelling. It will take some juggling and a dose of your Libra charm to please all of the people all of the time.
SCORPIO
Having to travel for work reasons is not quite what you had in mind for this month, but at least you can enjoy a change of scene. As education is highlighted for you this July why not sign up to a course of study or start to teach?
It is good that people are talking about the damage that solar panels can do. But what about wind generators? They loom over the landscape and are a death sentence for thousands of birds. Surely they can be sited better too.
John Andrews, Marbella (Malaga)
Dawn Adams (by email)
OP QUICK Crossword Across 6 Microsoft search engine (4) 8 Still sealed (8) 9 Supermarket sights (8) 10 "Meet Joe Black" star Brad --- (4) 11 Breed of red cattle (5) 12 Baddies in "The Lion King" (6) 14 She doesn't play with dolls (6) 16 How Frank Sinatra did it (2,3) 18 Rate of flow (4) 20 Swells up (8) 21 Bent coin ain't moving (2,6) 22 Civil wrong (4)
Remember nobody is perfect but this July you may expect a partner, whether in business or romance, to be flawless. The trouble is your current meticulous mindset makes you critically magnify any minor flaw or imperfection.
Down
PISCES
Children and work don’t usually mix, but not so this July. You will be surprisingly efficient and organised at planning and creating a wonderful party and can inspire the children to help you with making decorations and invitations.
For an in-depth private astrology reading with Leticia, please email her at leticiaparmer@yahoo.com. Also check out Leticia's insightful book WHY ON EARTH which is available from Amazon
Jenny Down, Valencia
Martin Thomas, Torremolinos (Malaga)
IT is easy to put the charge of Nimbyism against protestors against the planned solar farms, but entirely incorrect to do so. There are huge numbers of brownfield sites that could be used - think of all those industrial units, warehouses and offices that could have rooftop panels installed. And what about the deserts of Almeria? Surely they could be used instead, especially as the land is not agricultural and is of limited ecological value.
You’ll feel the need to keep your team-mate in the dark. This could mean you’ll enjoy a secret liaison or plan a romantic surprise for your sweetheart. Or you might equally feel drawn to investigate your business partner on the quiet.
Leo’s natural place is in the spotlight, so this July you will enjoy putting yourself out there, the star of your own show. Your imagination is fired up too, so you can visualise then perform whichever role you choose, with considerable charisma.
IT is ridiculous that greedy elec companies are planning to inst tricity hectares of solar panels in such all 900 a beautiful part of Spain. Yes, we need to do something about climate change, but surely there are ways forward than blighting our better landscape. Those of us living on the cos seen the devastation wrought tas have opers with a beady eye on theby develand no care whatsoever on the ir profits ment. The coast has been turn environsea of concrete with many of ed into a the properties lying empty for most of the year. Now electricity companies are suit but this time in the unspoifollowing lt inland areas where many of us escape country to get a bit of breathing to the space. I have nothing against solar pan a smaller scale – indeed I see els on a vital part of the fight against them as change. But we should not be desclimate the environment in the name troying of saving it!
Damage
Sagittarians are naturally drawn to sport, so you will thoroughly enjoy immersing yourself this July, as a player or as a spectator. Competitions that involve other countries and cultures will particularly gain your following now.
LEO
Dear Olive Press,
Look elsewhere
OP Sudoku
Yes, you are a fire sign, but this July you will be more dynamic and charismatic than ever. You’re not turning down any invitations and will be especially good at planning and hosting your own party, with something to entertain all age groups.
er
ARIES
m
With Saturn, bringer of restrictions and life-lessons and Pluto, the roller-coaster planet both retrograde this month, you should feel some welcome relief from the intense challenges of this past year. Also Jupiter, planet of luck and opportunities, will be newly positioned to ease things still further.
Just greedy July 1st - July 14th 2021
1 Most intense (8) 2 German automatic pistol (5) 3 Cozily warm (6) 4 Stay on the alert (4,2,3,3) 5 Endless loop (4) 7 View from Key West, almost all round (4,2,6) 12 Cut and dried grass (3) 13 Image digitizers (8) 15 Awaiting trial, maybe (2,4) 17 Architectural drawings (5) 19 Connection (4)
All solutions are on page 22
LA CULTURA
July 1st July 14th 2021
Dear Jennifer:
11
Take care
Make sure your paperwork is put in order by a reputable company
Buried warrior dug up
A FARMER has found an ancient sculpture in his field, which experts believe dates back to the Iberian age of the fifth century BC.
The 45 cms long and 31 cms wide stone artefact with an engraving of a warrior on has been described as being of ‘exceptional quality’. The farmer discovered it in the Derramador area of the Camp d’Elx (Costa Blanca). It has been kept at Elche's Archaeological and Historical Museum after the farmer handed it over to the Guardia Civil’s environmental division, Seprona.
Find
EXAMINED: Rock was X-rayed
Elche experts and a team from the Valencian Institute of Conservation have been analysing the find. They’ve used noninvasive techniques like X-rays and microscopes to work out the com-
At last! THE Valencian branch of prestigious Catalan culture and art centre CaixaForum will open its doors next year. It will be located in the Agora building at the City of Arts and Sciences next year. Fundacion La Caixa has already bought the first two artworks to be exhibited permanently in the form of two sculptures by young Valencian artists Inma Femenia and Anna Talens. Foundation director general Elisa Duran revealed that CaixaForum Valencia will host six exhibitions a year, with two running simultaneously every three
Y
OU must be so careful with your documentation and paperwork in Spain. It has become far more complicated and involved, since the finalisation of Brexit. For example, it is now necessary to have the TIE or a Work Visa to be able to get employment in Spain At present, there is no easy way. Firstly you will need the padron and I understand there have recently been a number of fraudulent padrons issued. So be very careful. Health cover is necessary with the complete documentation and certificate. It is no good selecting the cheapest health option – the authorities require a certificate to confirm health cover with your application and there are a limited number of companies whose policies are accepted and authorised by the police. Despite what others may advise or recommend, please ensure you use the correct company to do your application – both lawyers and gestors are experienced and there are a number of individuals who specialise in the process of applying the TIE’s/ residencia/visas. This is where my company can be very helpful, as we do supply a fully recommended health insurance and my company works very closely with many authorised legal associates. Imagine finally reaching the stage where you present all your documentation, only to discover that your application is rejected because your documents do not meet all the legal requirements. The correct advice and help is essential to avoid this happening. Exactly the same situation applies when you are talking about investments and pensions held in the UK. Once again, it is necessary to be sure the company you are using has full authorisations and credentials for both Europe and Britain. This becomes more important with your applications for residencia and visas, as you are required to have an amount in the bank and proof of income as part of your application. However, if you purchase a property in excess of €500,000, you can apply for a Golden Visa and the process is slightly different Please do not attempt to do any of this yourself or be persuaded by people who tell you it is not necessary to do anything. In both instances, this would be wrong and would have a detrimental effect on your dream to live in Spain.
QUALITY: Piece is high quality position of the sculpture without the need to touch it. A Valencian Institute spokesperson said the work had been ‘meticulously crafted’. An attempt will be made to detect any polychrome, which is a term used to describe colouring on sculptures and pottery.
World class exhibitions from picasso and Mirlo slated for new arts centre
By Glenn Wickman
or four months, covering a wide range of topics. Duran also confirmed a series of displays already scheduled for the Valencia centre, including Picasso and Miro collections from the Pompidou Centre in Paris, works exploring the human body from the British Museum, and an exhibition of Egyptian mummies and Asian goddesses. The Valencian Forum will be the ninth in Spain, with work at the Agora going full speed ahead and said to be 25% completed. However, the journey has
WORLD CLASS: CaixaForum will be bringing culture
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EXCAVATION work to renovate a stretch of Islamic wall in Valencia city has unearthed 60 skeletons – and counting. Neighbours overlooking the site in Angel square, located in the Carmen district, look on in amazement as the archaeologists have continued bringing to light human remains since work began in March. The skeletons were not even the purpose of the dig in the Carmen district of the city. The original aim was simply to restore the 11th century wall and place it on public display. During a recent visit by Valencia Mayor Joan Ribo,archaeologists explained that they had come across the old cemetery of the long-gone Santa Creu church. The local authorities banned burials in churchyards and built the first municipal cemetery in 1805, but it now appears that the original graves at Santa Creu were not moved to the new premises.
si
Struck bone
BULLFIGHTING has restarted in Madrid with seating capacity restricted to 50%. The regional government had previously restricted capacity to 6,000 people but now 11,899 people will be able to enter the Las Ventas arena, almost double the previously planned capacity The public must remain seated, with pre-assigned seats, there may be groups of up to six people and the use of masks will be compulsory. The next bullfights announced for the reopening are on July.
When you take out an advertising campaign with the Olive Press, you get a lot more than just the printed newspaper vi
not been plain sailing, as a series of administrative and technical issues plus the coronavirus pandemic threatened to derail the project on several occasions. As the latest CaixaForum to open its doors, the Valencia centre will be the most innovative, with a total exhibition space of 6,500 square metres and plans to incorporate traditional Valencian elements to give it its own distinct personality.
Ring open FIND: Skeletons were unearthed
For help, advice and information, please contact one of my offices or visit my website www.jennifercunningham.net
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We give you more! contact sales@theolivepress.es or 951 27 35 75 for more information
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LA CULTURA
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Basque Magic
How is it that six Basque refugee children could end up in England and be counted among the best footballers in the world?
W
AS it a cultural thing? Nature vs Nurture? Was there something in the water? Their DNA? What follows traces the plight of six Basque adolescents, their time in England and the very positive role football played in their lives. In the spring of 1937, the Spanish Civil War raged and the Basque Country was under siege. It was fiercely Republican (anti-Franco) surrounded by Nationalist held territory. The Basque Country had become the testing ground for the concept of ‘total war’ replete with Franco-ordered bombing raids over civilian population centres (think Guernica!). Thousands were killed. Local authorities decided to evacuate 4,000 children to spare them from the nightmare which surrounded them. Most were
brought to Southampton and held in ‘detention’ camps. Slowly the children were dispersed throughout Britain into the homes of all levels of British society. Sabino Barinaga was one of those boys. He arrived in Southampton at age 15 accompanied by two of his siblings. Before long he was spotted as an athletic talent by school officials and later, by Southampton Football Club. At age 18, he spent time with the club’s reserve team scoring 62 goals in 18 games (you read that correctly!) in one season. In 1940, as WWII threatened England, Sabino returned to Spain to join Real Madrid, where he had the honour of scoring the first goal ever at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Loaned to Real Valladolid as an inside forward, he scored 38 league goals in 48 games.
STARS: Jose ‘Coventry’ Bilbao (inset) while Raimundo Perez Lezama (in goal) and Sabino Barinaga train for Southampton
He retired in 1955 but coached at the highest level of international football for the next 27 years. He died in 1988 in Durango, Spain. He was known locally as ‘El Ingles de Durango’. At Southampton, Barinaga had goalkeeper Raimundo Perez Lezama for company. At age 18, Rai-
mundo made his first-team debut with The Saints in 1940. Like his teammate Sabino, he eventually would return to Spain, signing with Athletic Bilbao. He helped the La Liga club retain the cup in 1944, 1945 and 1950. Raimundo won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy (1946) as the league’s
best goalkeeper. Antonio and Jose Gallego were sent to a family home in Cambridge after their father was killed in Guernica. Known as ‘Tony and Joe’, the two became local celebrities. Both brothers were recruited by local coaches who recognised their
Yellow Submarine How Villarreal football club rose from humble beginnings to European triumph by torpedoing Manchester United
O
N May 26, Villarreal CF pulled off a stunning upset over Manchester United in the Europa League Final, triumphing in the penalty shootout to claim their first major European title. Their striking victory in equally striking yellow kits had everyone singing the praises of the so-called Yellow Submarine. But how did the club acquire this catchy nickname? It’s not only a story of a coincidental chan-
By Shannon Chaffers
ging of kit colours and a famous song by The Beatles, but also that of a club that has risen from their decades-long existence in the lower tiers of Spanish football to etch their name into European football history. Competitive mens’ football in Villarreal began in 1923, when a handful of local citizens decided to form Club Deportivo Villarreal with the goal of promoting sport in the area. The founders were, uniquely at the time, keen on promoting women’s football fandom, and they allowed women to attend matches for free, while men were charged 0.5 pesetas and children 0.25 pesetas. For the first 20-odd years of their existence, the players wore traditional kits: white shirts with black shorts. Yet the stop-start nature of club football in Villarreal was anything but traditional. The Spanish Civil War in the 1930s forced CD Villarreal to stop competing. The destruction from the war left the club with neither a suitable field nor suffiTRIUMPH: Celebrating their Europa League win cient funds, and the club dissol-
PRIDE: Villareal fans are proud of their nickname and the stadium has embraced it
ved in 1942. the song on a record player during the matThe year 1946 saw CAF Villarreal emerge ches. as the city’s new football team. In 1954, the Perhaps the new nickname inspired the team’s Board of Directors changed the club’s name to subsequent successes, as they won promotion their current moniker, Villarreal Club de Futbol. to the third division that season, before achieThe club’s name was not the only change to ving promotion to the second division for the first time in club history in the their image during this time, as 1969/70 season. the team changed colours as After bouncing between the well. Ahead of the 1947/48 seaThe club was son, so the story goes, the son of second and third divisions, Villarreal’s fortunes changed for the club president traveled to the promoted to good in 1997, when current preregional capital, Valencia, to purLa Liga for the chase the typical black and white sident and owner Fernando Roig kits, but had to resort to yellow took over, and the club gained first time as shirts, as they were the only ones promotion to the first division (La late as 1997 in stock. Liga) for the first time. This change to yellow shirts set While they were relegated to the the stage for the team’s ‘Yellow second division the following Submarine’ nickname. year, they managed to win promotion again During the 1967/68 campaign, some fans ahead of the 2000/01 season. made the connection between the lyrics of The Upon returning, the club established itself as a Beatles’ hit 1966 song Yellow Submarine and consistent competitor in La Liga. their teams’ colours, and they began playing They finished third in the 2004/05 season, be-
LA CULTURA
HEROES: Tony Gallego claims a cross for Cambridge while Emilio Aldecoa (inset) takes a corner for Wolves. Basque players were valued members of several English teams (right) and Sabino Barinaga (below inset) scored 62 goals in just 18 games
special talents. Left-winger Jose’s career started with Colchester United in the Second Division. He finished his professional playing
fore reaching their height domestically in the 2007/08 season, when they finished second behind giants Real Madrid. In the 2011/12 season, Villarreal suffered a shock relegation, despite competing in the Champions League. This turned out to be only a blip, however, as the club won promotion the year after and returned to the top flight, where they have been ever since. Villarreal’s Europa League triumph capped off years of solid performances in La Liga and European competitions that followed a remarkable rise through the lower ranks of Spanish football. It also means that despite finishing seventh in La Liga this year, the team has earned a spot in next year’s Champions League. Will the upcoming season bring more European glory for the now famous Yellow Submarine?
days with Cambridge United and played scorer in an already high scoring Covcompetitive minor league football well entry team. But homesickness and ininto his 50’s. juries ultimately brought Jose back to Brother Antonio, aka Tony, was in goal his native Biscay Province. for the Norwich City team for two sea- Locals remember Coventry (his nicksons but returned to his ‘beloved Cam- name) as he always proudly displayed bridge’ (his words) shortly his league honours. thereafter. He is the only Coventry enjoyed his reone of this group of Basque tirement years picking They were footballers to remain in the mushrooms in the nearby UK throughout his adult mountains while often welcomed by life. enjoying the local drink their English Emilio Aldecoa was the patxaran (aniseed and very first Basque refugee wine). host families footballer to play in the EnInitially, life could not and fans glish professional leagues. have been easy for these In the 1943-44 season, young Basques. They Emilio was the top goal were separated from scorer for Wolverhampton Wanderers their parents and their country and (Wolves) with 11 goals in 30 games. He worried about their fates. moved on to Coventry City, scoring on There were language and cultural difhis debut against Portsmouth. ferences and, although welcomed by His practical skills were also much ap- their English host families and footpreciated when he helped repair the ball fans, they lived with the stigma Blitz-damaged Highfield Road stadium of being outsiders. as well as the home of the family he was But the young Basque footballers staying with. found solace in the form of football. By 1946 Emilio returned to Spain and They excelled and thrived using footjoined his hometown team Athletball as a venue for success. ic Bilbao. He finished his career Their experience serves as an with FC Barcelona and won the example of how sport can be league twice and three Copa del a powerful means of posiRey titles. tive integration both for For the better part of the next the participants and their three decades, Emilio coached fans. and managed the Girona FC The Tokyo Summer Olympics team. are but weeks away (July 23). As a young boy in his small It is interesting to note that Basque village, Jose Bilthe International Olympic bao was said to be Committee defines its so coordinated that official mission as he could trap a ‘recognising sport five-peseta coin as a metaphor for tossed high into overcoming obstathe air. This athcles and achievleticism translating against aded into extraorversity’. dinary dribbling o Sabino, Raiskills on the pitch. mundo, Tony & For two years with Joe, Emilio and Coventry City , he Coventry we bamboozled desay: “Well done fenders as the key boys!”
July 1st - July 14th 2021
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BUSINESS Tax Roaming’s back slashed July 1st - July 14th 2021
Merger approval
MASMOVIL’S €1.99 billion takeover of rival communications operator Euskaltel has secured Spanish government backing. The friendly merger, which received the greenlight from Spain’s competition watchdog, would reinforce Masmovil’s position as the country’s fourth-largest telecoms firm. Spain has one of the most advanced fibre networks for internet users in Europe but the telecoms sector has suffered from increased overheads and more competition, which have reduced profit margins and increased debt.
Data charges for holiday-makers to shoot up due to Brexit deal By Alex Trelinski
BORIS JOHNSON’S rushed Brexit deal released on Christmas Eve, now means millions of travellers will pay higher phone bills when travelling in the EU.
Bad news
O2 customers have all been told that from August they will have to pay £3.50 for every gigabyte (GB) of data used over a new limit of 25GB.
SPAIN’S competition watchdog, the CNMC, is investigating possible dodgy behaviour by the country's top banks over distributing COVID-19 loans. It is looking into Banco Sabadell, Santander, Caixabank and Bankia. The body is trying to find out whether loans given to struggling businesses came with strings attached like forcing clients to buy additional financial products.
EE has also announced new charges, being introduced in the new year. Roaming charges were
PAY UP: UK operators reintroducing data charges
scrapped by the EU in 2017, but the UK Prime
Banks investigated By Simon Wade
The Spanish government approved last year up to €100 billion in socalled ICO liquidity lines, where the state guaranteed up to 80% of the loans. They were filtered through
banks mainly to small and mid-sized companies and the self-employed. Santander said it had complied with regulations governing the ICO loans and that it had not made ICO-guaranteed financing contingent on any product or service. The CNMC added that it was also analysing whether loans were used to restructure pre-existing financial debts. Last year a study by small companies’ pressure group Pimec accused banks of misusing a government loan programme intended to help small businesses survive the coronavirus crisis. It said that banks were using the funds to pay off risky debt first rather than providing new loans as they were supposed to. The idea behind the scheme was to give small businesses who were badly hit by lockdown an instant credit lifeline. But according to Pimec about 37% of loans granted through the scheme in Catalunya went to pay off old debt rather than provide liquidity to help struggling businessmen pay their bills. This had the effect of shifting the risk on existing loans from the banks to the government.
Minister’s deal left open the possibility of a return for additional fees. The phone giant told customers the bad news on the fifth anniversary of 2016’s Brexit referendum. At the time, Johnson said: “The decision to leave the EU may now be part of our history, but our clear mission is to utilise the freedoms it brings to shape a better future for our people.” But December’s trade agreement with the EU merely encouraged phone operators to have ‘transparent and reasonable rates’, without any obligation to maintain the ban on roaming charges.
Value
O2 announced in December that ‘we’re committed to providing our customers with great connectivity and value when they travel outside the UK’. Rival network EE has also announced a daily charge of £2 for customers using their service in 47 countries from January 1 2022.
SPAIN’s government has revealed it will cut IVA (VAT) on electricity bills from 21% to 10% until the end of the year - but there are strings attached. Consumers defined as ‘severely vulnerable’ will get the discount regardless of their contracted power and the price of electricity on the market. For others, IVA will also go down, but only for customers who have a contracted power of 10 kilowatts or less and as long as the average price is above €45 per megawatt-hour.
Save
So far this month, the price has been an average of €93. It will also temporarily suspend in the third quarter a 7% tax on energy production that companies pass on to customers. The Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, said that the average household will save €36 by the end of the year at an average of €6 per month. These measures will be adopted as a matter of urgency ‘without prejudice to the reforms that may be adopted on a permanent and structural basis’, according to the government.
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PROPERTY
16
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Hot cakes
What pandemic?
SPAIN had 456,918 unsold new homes by the end of 2020, according to government figures. Despite the COVID pandemic, the total was virtually the same as for 2019. The numbers are in marked contrast to the historical high figure of 650,000 unsold homes in 2008 when the ‘property bubble’ burst. Three regions accounted for almost half of last year’s unsold new stock. The Valencian Community leads the way with 83,263 unsold homes to represent 28.2% of the total figure. Catalunya came second with 16.9% of the total, followed by Andalucia at 14.9%.
Surplus
Breaking the numbers down by provinces, the highest surplus of unsold housing was in Madrid with 9.9% of the national total. That's followed by Barcelona with 9.4% and Alicante Province with 8%. Reports so far this year suggest a property market that is more buoyant than the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
About time WORK on completing the interior of Benidorm’s Intempo skyscraper is set to end this month. It will become the tallest residential building in the European Union with 47 floors in the 198 metre-high structure. Uniq Residential says that reservations for the 256
Europes’ tallest residential building nearly finished 12 years late homes have now passed the 40% mark. The skyscraper has a long chequered history with work on the structure starting in 2007 with a scheduled completion date of 2009.
Squeeze up!
VALENCIA Province has double the amount of shopping surface than any other major European region. This surprising statistic was revealed by a leading national consultancy agency, who added that Valencia has 25% more shopping space per inhabitant than the Spanish average. Alicante and Castellon Provinces are also said to be above the national median, with the region due to add an extra 83,130 square metres of shops over the next few years. The analysts warn of the ‘saturation’ of these areas plus Madrid, Zaragoza and Murcia, suggesting that the Spanish commercial sector is in need of a thorough overhaul
The economic crisis of 2008, which badly hit Spain’s real estate sector, caused the first in a set of serious delays. The Intempo was almost finished in 2014 but the promoter went bankrupt.
THE living arrangements in a Madrid bedsit advertised for rent at €550 a month have caused a social media storm. With the shower and sink within touching distance of the kitchen, commentators say that about the only advantage is the opportunity to take a shower while watching your dinner doesn’t burn. The downside is that the loo is within similar distance of the food preparation area, leading to hygiene concerns. The 30m2 flat is located in Lavapies and is advertised as being a ‘special price for the summer’. According to one Twitter user 'you can watch the lentils don’t burn while you shower, or take a pee while you watch the washing machine finish its cycle’.
Shopping paradise to offset the ever-growing effects of online shopping. Sales in large shopping centres fell by 22.5% last year while internet commerce increased by 23%, leading the experts to suggest that there is currently a surplus of surface area dedicated to shopping precincts in the Valencia region. According to the Spanish Association of Shopping Centres, the Valencian Community has 63 commercial complexes covering over two mil-
lion square metres. With regards to Spain as a whole, the consultancy reveals that there are 345 square metres for every 1,000 inhabitants – much higher than other countries such as Germany (181), Italy (228) and even Portugal (275). By provinces, Valencia has 456 square metres per 1,000 inhabitants, while Alicante has 360 and Castellon 329. Going forward, the analysts predict that the combination of excessive offer and online shopping will lead to a new model of consumption whereby customers will largely refrain from travelling large distances and buy more locally.
The skyscraper was bought by SVP Global in 2018 with an initial projection that the building would be fully completed by the first quarter of 2021. Prices for an Intempo home range between €250,000 to over €1 million, with the costs rising the higher you go up the structure. Uniq Residential marketing director, Angel Gregori said: “The finish of the Intempo work represents a great milestone in the residential sector, not just locally, but also from a national and international perspective.”
Pool
The Intempo will have a children’s area of over a thousand square metres plus a large terrace restaurant. The top two floors will have an infinity pool, massage areas, a sauna and gym, plus Jacuzzis.
PROPERTIES are selling like hot cakes, according to property portal Idealista. It says that in April a third of homes put up for sale on the site were sold within a month. Even so, this percentage is lower than before the pandemic, when 36% of properties were sold in less than a month. Of the remaining homes sold in April, 21% were on the market for between one and three months, 28% were on the market for between three months and a year, and the remaining 18% were advertised for more than a year before finding a buyer.
Sold
Despite the national drop, in the majority of Spain’s regional capitals the percentage of homes sold in less than 30 days has increased. The highest increase has been in Girona (from 17% to 40%), followed by Leon (from 17% to 33%) and Huelva (from 22% to 35%). In Valladolid it has increased (from 22% to 28%), as has Palma (from 28% to 32%), Bilbao (from 34% to 36%) and Malaga (from 38% to 40%). In contrast, in Madrid the percentage of homes sold in one month has fallen (from 53% to 43%).
Easy pickings A DRUGS gang turned to the corrupt supply of anti-COVID PPE protective equipment as easy pickings. So far 11 arrests have been made in Palma, Barcelona, Gerona, Murcia and Almeria by Guardia Civil backed by Europol. The case centres on a Barcelona businessman, the alleged boss of the gang, who bribed a public official in Almeria with €150,000 to get lucrative contracts. Police say it is the first case uncovered in Spain for the ‘irregular’ handing out of public money to buy PPE. A judge in Barcelona has now remanded in custody Oscar Liria, the former third vice-president of Almeria Council. He allegedly rigged the award of a contract for the supply of health material to deal with COVID-19, which was awarded to a company from Barcelona which has been linked to the drugs gang. It is alleged that the bribe, pocketed by Liria, was in exchange for a €2 million contract. Together with Liria, the judge has sent to prison businessman Kilian Lopez, administrator of Azor Corporate Iberica SL, the company that benefited from the alleged rigging together with a third person who acted as an intermediary.
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Just a small one
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Top choice
SPAIN continues to be one of the preferred holiday destinations for British, German, French and Italian visitors. One in four travellers from those countries plan to spend the summer at a Spanish destination.
Improved
With regards to international air travel, Alicante and Valencia airports have improved their rating compared to previous years and are now respectively ranked sixth and seventh on the list of preferred places to land in Spain. Although business is still said to be slow, airlines are maintaining their summer slots awaiting the reactivation of the market as the COVID vaccination campaign advances and full normality is expected at some point this year. Turespaña director Miguel Sanz predicts a ‘steady recovery’ this summer, adding that the global desire to travel this year is comparable to 2019.
Beer is good for the gut, but only in moderation AT long last, the news we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived: Beer is good for you! Thanks to the fermentation process, which is used to make the refreshing golden liquid so many people love, it actually contains quite a few gut-friendly compounds. But before you get too excited, as with anything, it’s only good for you in moderation. And in beer’s case, moderation means one 330ml440ml (ABV 5.5%) glass a day, alongside a balanced and healthy diet. According to a recent study by the Institute of Food and
WHEN Spaniards want a holiday more and more are picking the Valencia region. It has now overtaken Catalunya in the popularity stakes, knocking it into third place. Only Andalucia gets more national tourists. While restrictions remain in force for international visitors, the domestic market is being hailed as the saviour of this year’s summer campaign. And things are looking good for the Valencian Community, as new figures published this week by Turespaña reveal that 18% of Spanish holidaymakers plan to spend their break in the region. Last year, only 10% of those questioned
TRAVEL bosses have reacted with fury at the UK government’s changes to travel plans as the Balearic Islands become the ONLY part of Spain to make the green list. Grant Shapps announced that the Balearic islands Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca - along with Madeira, Grenada, Barbados, and Bermuda have all been moved from amber to green. Meanwhile mainland Spain, as well as Portugal, Italy and France, were snubbed from the green list.
Quarantine
As part of the traffic light system introduced in May, UK holidaymakers are able to travel to countries on the green list without being forced into quarantine for 10 days when arriving back on British soil. The Transport Secretary also said the Government will allow those who are double-jabbed to holiday in amber list countries without having to quarantine on their return - but this rule is not likely to come in until July at the earliest. But the announcements drew criticism from airline bosses who slammed the changes for ‘not going far enough’. Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways, told the BBC: “We cannot afford another missed summer. There are jobs at stake, Britons separated from family members and we cannot afford to allow the success of our vaccine programme to be wasted.” EasyJet agreed, and complained that the new measures are ‘simply not ambitious enough’. In response to the update, easyJet’s CEO, Johan Lund-
Nutrition Science and Technology (ICTAN-CSIC), in Madrid, beer is just one of many fermented beverages that could have ‘potentially beneficial effects on intestinal health’. “Beer provides a multitude of compounds such as fluoride, silicon, choline and folic acid in significant quantities, [so consuming] two units [per day] could provide up to 10% of the recommended daily amount of these compounds,” said researcher Natalia Gonzalez Zancada. Beer is also a source of dietary fibre and rich in poly-
phenols, from the malt and hops, which have antioxidant properties. Therefore, Gonzalez Zancada suggests that when consuming alcoholic beverages in
On the up throughout the country chose Valencia, Alicante or Castellon as their preferred destination.
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
Seeing green
gren, said: “While we welcome the addition of Malta, Madeira and the Balearics to the Green list, this is still not the safe and sustainable reopening of travel the Government promised. “This limited reopening is not justified by the data. “The science shows that travel to many European countries would have very little impact on hospitalisation and this is even more the case now given that Covid cases in Europe have declined, with many countries having lower infection rates than the UK. We will be adding additional flights to these destinations to take as many people away as we can.”
com and Jet2holidays said the move was ‘a step in the right direction’. In response, Jet2 have added 70 additional flights, and easyJet has added 50,000 extra seats for their summer flight programme. Prices of tourist hot spots
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Tripled
“With two thirds of UK adults expected to be double jabbed by 19 July, now is the time to let British citizens take advantage of the success of the vaccination programme. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic chief Shai Weiss criticised the decision to leave the US on the UK’s amber list, and said: “Today’s announcement fails to go far enough.” Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.
such as Ibiza had tripled within less than 24 hours of the government’s announcement. The cost of heading to Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Malta surged by up to 200% after they were added to the quarantine-free areas.
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moderation, the ‘harmful effects of ethanol, if any, could be counteracted by the beneficial effects of bioactive compounds’ - these are what help to promote good health. This is because the fermentation process (the extraction of energy from carbohydrates) in the intestine produces energy for microbial proliferation (the process by which an organism produces another of its kind) and the production of metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which regulate inflammatory responses and intestinal hormone secretion. Basically, drinking a (small) beer a day could actually be good for us - that’s enough confirmation for us. ‘¡Una cerveza por favor!’
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Top travel trends SEARCH trends data show Google searches for holidays to Spain have increased by 50% since midMay. The opening up to tourism, both nationally and internationally together with the COVID-19 vaccine rollouts globally are driving increasing demand for summer vacations - with Spain, Italy and France topping the list of desirable destinations. In fact, searches for holidays to Spain have increased by 203% compared to the same period in 2020.
Flights
According to a travel insights tool funded by Google, since mid-May, search interest has grown by more than 50% for flights across Europe, with Spain, Italy and France topping the list of desirable destinations. European outbound markets are consolidating, with countries such as Germany and France leading in searches for travel to Spain, while the UK moves into third place. The top five most searched cities in Spain are Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga and Ibiza. Eltossallanucia
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
PAIN has a long, culturally rich history of horsemanship. Prehistoric man daubed images of equines on cave walls that can still be seen to this day. During the Roman Empire, writers praised the native Spanish horses which were recognised by the Moorish conquerors and cross-bred with their own Arab and Berber breeds. Spanish riding schools have over the centuries elevated horsemanship to an art form developing the intimate partnership between riders and horses into a
skilled display that can be seen from the bullring to the dressage arena to extraordinary flamenco style shows. But for those who just want to ride out across Spain’s beautiful countryside, there are adventures to be discovered for all levels, and modern attitudes have brought a focus on natural horsemanship where the well-being of the horse itself is at the very centre. The Olive Press takes a look at three very different equestrian experiences to inspire riders to get back into the saddle.
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Easy rid
Equine dream I
La Donaira’s natural horsemanship classes with 90 Lusitano horses is the perfect escape for riding fanatic Fiona Govan
T’S hard not to pinch myself to see if I am still dreaming when I awake to the chorus of birdsong as dawn light creeps across undulating fields to the valley below. I don’t even have to lift my head from the pillow to marvel at the unrivalled views across to the Grazalema mountain range beyond as craggy cliffs transform from a deep mauve to a creamy pink as the sun rises. A Greater Spotted Woodpecker hops along a branch just outside my window. Bees buzz and if I strain my ears, I can just pick up the soothing trickle of the mountain spring that feeds the natural water swimming pool located down a winding path through lavender bushes on the terrace below my quarters. I am sleeping in a yurt, but if
you think that means camping, or even glamping, then think again because at La Donaira, it’s all about luxury. The estate centres around a beautifully restored cortijo with just nine rooms (including two yurts) so even if at full capacity, guests will never feel crowded. Dotted around the gardens are carefully curated resting stops for romantic moments or just somewhere to read a book; cushioned nooks in an old stone outbuilding or a gorgeous Andaluz NATURE: Fiona rides through ancient grasslands style patio filled with Geraniums. There’s a sybaritic spa can watch golden grasses in warm water within. The pools, The studfarm produces noble with an indoor infinity pool and the fields outside ripple in the sauna, hammam and plunge steeds, ideal for dressage, picture windows that mean you breeze while you float in the pool are open 24 hours, so you which have become sought afcan always be sure to find a ter the world over. time to have the place to your- The team of stable staff train self. the horses into some of the A platform perched on a hillside finest dressage partners on the provides a place for the nimble market, and guests are invited to enjoy some aerial yoga and to ride them either for a lesson doubles up as a concert space in the arena or for a session of on summer evenings when the natural horsemanship under Steinway is rolled out and vil- the guidance of Seamus, the lagers from the nearby pueblo resident Irish horse whisperer of El Gastor join guests for sun- or Paulina, a 24-year-old from set musical performances. Austria with a natural affinity C A S C A D A In a leafy spot beneath cork for equines. C O C I N A & B A R oaks, those brave enough can My session in ‘grounding’ starts don a bee suit and climb into a with Dante, a beautiful grey wooden crate spestallion with cially built over soulful eyes hives to create a and expressive The studfarm humming meditaears whom I tion chamber. am taught to produces noble There’s a mecommunicate dicinal garden steeds, sought with using only boasting around body language after the world and voice while 200 varieties of herbs and flowers, enclosed in over many of which are a high-walled used to produce lunging ring. unguents, soaps M o u n t e d and lotions that equip each stretching exercises follow bathroom, while others appear with a focus on breathing techon delicately plated dishes niques – a sort of horseback served in the open kitchen or version of yoga - and then mibrewed to make teas. raculously I am changing paces But, outstanding as the set- from walk, through to trot and ting is, I have to admit, that’s into canter using my breathing not why I’m here. I have made alone. the journey from the coast up An hour session flies by and by through the Serrania de Ron- the end of it I feel a deep bond da to La Donaira because I’ve with Dante and a better underheard on the grapevine that standing of horses that I have this luxury boutique eco-retreat no doubt I will carry with me on is doing something incredibly future riding adventures. exciting with horses. It’s an activity that would suit The finca of 1,700 acres is absolute beginners, even those home to a herd of some 90 wary of horses, as much as it Lusitano horses, an ancient benefits an old hand like me. breed whose images archaeol- A change of steeds and I am www.cascadamarbella.com ogists have found daubed into mounted on another grey, caves illustrated by prehistoric Ultrajado, and hacking out man in this very valley. across ancient grasslands info@cascadamarbella.com +34 623 001 465 +34 671 349 733 I am told that the owner of La recently harvested for hay acUrbanizacion La Montua, 39, 29602, Marbella Donaira fell in love with the companied by French stable 2 minutes f rom La Cañada Shopping Center breed and has dedicated the manager Celine and Alfredo, last decade to preserving and who has worked with horses at evolving the species through La Donaira for five years and natural breeding. knows the trails like the back
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A hidden oasis in Marbella
of his hand. We gallop alongside vineyards whose grapes provide La Donaira with its own wine while in the distance we hear the cow-bells and lowings of a herd of Pajuna, an ancient breed of cattle that now numbers less than 1,000 in the world and that are yet another of the rare breeds under conservation on the finca.
Eco-tourism
Free-range chicken and geese roam the pastures as do flocks of goats and sheep, all of which provide produce for the kitchens which accompany seasonal vegetables picked each day from La Donaira’s extensive huertas. Back at the outdoor arena beside the stable block, one of the farm’s professional riders is putting a young horse through a dressage training session guided by an instructor who is watching from Switzerland via video link. The scene sums up the ethos at La Donaira. It is that perfect combination of rustic free-spiritedness and eco-tourism sustainability teamed with modernity and absolute luxury. The only downside is, you won’t want to leave.
Finca La Donaira caters to beginners and advanced riders – individuals and groups – and offers everything from invigorating hacks to natural horseman classes to its guests. Minimum stay two nights. More information: www.ladonaira.com
FOOD & DRINK
ding F
ORGET everything you think you know about riding horses when you turn up at Paddock Paradise, a family run establishment a few miles from Ronda off the Gaucin road. I confidently assure husband and wife team Fernando and Delphine that I am an experienced horsewoman, albeit a bit rusty having ridden infrequently in the last decade or so. But I am raring to get back in the saddle. “That may well be true,” Delphine tells me. “But we do things a bit differently here. So bear with us and we’ll talk you through it.” The horses here live free, much as they would in the wild, within the 50 hectares of virgin woodland belonging to the estate. They form natural allegiances and live in a herd, with one horse acting as supreme leader and the rest competing for their place within a pecking order broadly following a pyramidal structure much like a listed company. All are unshod and are ridden
July 1st July 14th 2021
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What better way to enjoy Spain’s magnificent and beautiful interiors than taking to the saddle, writes Fiona Govan
Paddock Paradise
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Learning how to be a horse whisperer
with bitless bridles. Riders do not carry crops or whips and certainly do not sport spurs attached to the heels of their boots. Some of the horses bear the scars from previous lives where more traditional horsemanship techniques were used. Some have been rescued from abusive or neglectful owners and it has taken months to restore their trust in humans. “We practice natural horsemanship here which means showing your dominance without shouting or violence but
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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Treat him right 2 20
July 1st - July 14th 2021
From Page 19
simply through understanding (and established my leaderhow horses communicate.” ship) I mount for a quick lesson Before I get within a whiff of a in the ring before starting the horse I am told how to intro- hack. With no bit in the horse’s duce myself to my mount and mouth to slow them or control show him I’m the leader. I ap- direction it’s all about persuaproach Cariñoso, a beautiful sion. bay Andalucian, and present “Horses have an amazing the back of my hand for him to range of vision so if you stretch sniff. your arm out in “He knows your the direction you smell now and want to go it alA venture will remember most acts like an started by you forever,” exindicator and plains Fernando. they turn without brothers “Treat him right you having to and he’ll be a Fernando and ask again”. faithful friend.” Likewise, no kick Juan When his ears reis needed, just a lax I move beside couple of clicks him but each time with the tongue. he nudges his nose against my And to slow, an exhalation of arm or shoulder I gently but air should do the trick. firmly push him out of my per- The basics of natural horsesonal space. “This is how hors- manship learnt, we stroll out es act in the wild, the leader through the forest beneath the will go into anyone’s space but shady boughs of ancient Spanwon’t allow anyone in unless ish oaks and cork trees. they are invited.” Paddocks Paradise, a venture And so, having made friends started by brothers Fernando
WHAT A SETTING: the magnificent Tajo gorge of Ronda and (inset) secluded river banks offer magnificent scenery and Juan six years ago, offers short hacks for beginners where riders won’t go faster than a walk. But the horses are calm, relaxed and obviously happy.
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And it is confidence building as well as a wonderful way to spend a few hours taking in the scenery of the dehesa. If you’re lucky you may even come across wild deer or Andalucian blonde pigs, a rare breed that roam across the finca. More experienced riders can arrange longer hacks, riding through the Tajo valley to gaze up at the town of Ronda straddling an ancient gorge with its impressive Roman bridge. It’s also possible to arrange three-
day trips, riding up into the Serrania de Ronda or Grazalema mountains beyond. But today we settle for a quiet walk in the woods. Back at the ranch I reluctantly dismount and untack Cariñoso who has turned out to be as much of a darling as his name suggests. Now completely free to re-join the herd he instead follows me around, two steps behind and gently nuzzles my elbow as I walk to the gate to return to the car.
“I’ll come back soon,” I tell him softly. And he responds with a gentle whicker as if to say he’ll remember me when I do. https://www.paddockparadiseronda.com/
Sunshine in a glass This is what makes Spanish wine so special, write Matthew Desoutter and Benjamin James
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PAIN’S a big place, we all know that. Europe just behind Switzerland. That means At over 500,000 km2 it’s over twice you can find grapes growing in all sorts of the size of a country like Great Brit- different places: from way up high at above ain but with about 20 million fewer 1,500 metres in the Canary Islands, to right people. With big chunks of the population down by the seashore in Galicia. concentrated on the coast, that means With climate change forcing up average the Spanish interior is full of temperatures pretty much everywhere, winemakers being wide open spaces and not that able to grow grapes at altimany people. Spain has a tude is a good thing. As the There’s also a lot of vines. range of wine temperature drops the higher In pure numbers, it’s got more up you go, planting grapes at hectares of vine planted than styles few higher altitude helps ensure any other country in the world countries can the grapes have longer to ripen – close to 1 million hectares which helps make for fresher, at the last count. This means match more balanced wines. Spain is one the world’s big These changes in altitude wine-producing countries; mean Spanish vineyards can every year it can churn out about 44 million hectolitres of wine, which also have really diverse climates, from the is about 6,000 million bottles to you and me. wet, damp North-West, where fighting off So all those stats are interesting, but what is diseases like mildew and getting grapes it about Spanish wine that makes it special? to ripen properly can be a challenge, down Well for us here at Simply Spanish Wine, one to the hot, dry South-East where as we all of the key things that makes Spain so differ- know temperatures can reach over 40ºC in ent is diversity. the summer months. First of all there is diversity of landscape. Re- All those different climates have a real immember, Spain is a very high country. With pact on how grapes are grown and wine is an average altitude of 600 metres above made and ensures Spain has a fascinating sea level it’s the second highest country in range of different wine styles which few oth-
er countries can match. Another thing the Spanish wine scene has really got going for it is its people. We’ve spent many years driving round Spain meeting winemakers from all over, and we’ve always been struck by what a diverse bunch they all are. Lots of them are surprisingly young. There’s a big demographic change going on, as the next generation takes over vineyards and bodegas from their parents, or sometimes even their grandparents. In lots of cases, this is a conscious career choice – we’ve met lots of young Spanish winemakers in their thirties, for example, who faced with a choice between city life or going back to their family’s more rural roots, chose the latter to pursue their winemaking dream. There are also lots more women winemakers on the Spanish wine scene now than there used to be. Sometimes they are car-
rying on the family tradition managing famous, well established wineries, like Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia at Bodegas Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia in Rioja, while others like Paola Medina Sheldon at the Williams & Humbert sherry house in Jerez de la Frontera oversee the winemaking process on a daily basis. Between them, these new winemakers are shaking up the Spanish wine scene. They might be recovering ancient vineyard plots, rediscovering native grape varieties, or experimenting in the bodega, reworking traditional practices like whole bunch fermentation - stalks and all - to get fresher, more complex wines, ageing their wines in concrete eggs or clay amphorae instead of wooden barrels, or focusing on organic or biodynamic winemaking. Wherever you are, there’s a huge amount going on and loads to discover. If you’re a fan of wine, you’re living in the right country!
Matthew Desoutter and Benjamin James are the pair behind Simply Spanish Wine, an online community for wine lovers who want to learn more about the amazing wines of Spain. Check out the website: www.simplyspanishwine.com
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
July 1st - July 14th 2021
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Boutique hotel for horses La Cuadra offers stabling, excellent horse care, top training facilities and clinics with leading Dressage trainers from across Spain
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UST a 20 minute drive dressage. from Ronda in a quiet “It’s a dream come true for me. crease of a valley outside To create a place where we can the hamlet of Los Prados share our passion for horses is the sort of place that horses with likeminded people, to learn from each other while we and their riders dream about. The heavy gate of La Cuadra train, enjoy and inspire each seamlessly slides open to re- other,” she said. veal immaculate lawns, shady Over four years she has lovinpaddocks and a flawless out- gly created a place where the door schooling ring that uses wellbeing of each horse is prioritised above all. state of the art “We aim to give technology to the animals a ensure the best They are way to live as conditions year naturally as posvery social round. sible. They are Dominating the animals that very social aniplot is a modern mals that need building that need to form to form friendswouldn’t look friendships hips and allianout of place on ces and so we the pages of a have created a design magazine with its high ceilings, smoo- small herd and the other horth white walls and huge glass ses spend time safely in individual neighbouring paddocks windows. This is home to the stable block, so they can all have contact tack room and a delightfully with each other,” explains Dilia. stylish chill out area for riders Traditionally, dressage horses and spectators that is a far cry spend much of their time stafrom the dusty boot filled din- bled, but at La Cuadra careful giness of a typical equestrian paddocking means they can be turned out when the weather is centre. This paradise is the creation of fine. And when it isn’t, each Dilia Meijboom, who admits stable in the airy pristine block she ‘accidentally’ stumbled has huge windows through into ownership of the venture which to watch the world go by. as a way of realising her own “Even when stabled, the horses desires for a local livery sta- have maximum stimulation,” ble to practice her passion for says stable manager Elske van Reeuwijk, who is an expert in horse wellbeing and the in-house trainer. Many of the horses are unshod. “Not because shoes are bad per se but because if they can do without them, then it is better for them,” explains Elske. They even have a few retired steeds, who can enjoy a special ‘seniors’ programme’ where they are walked out several times a week, have frequent face to face human contact, including grooming and massages.
OWNER: Dilia says it is a dream come true
“There is nothing worse for a horse that has been very well cared for and exercised all its life just to be turned out in a field and ignored,” admits Elske. “Here we make a place for them to have a great retirement.” But what makes La Cuadra extra special, apart from the equine shower block and personalised nutrition programme for each horse, is the dedication to the art of dressage. The floodlit main dressage arena boasts geotextile footing, which promises optimum balance and stability for the horse and an all-weather training system. Plus there is a lunge circle and a second fenced arena. La Cuadra also arranges training sessions in the form of private dressage lessons, communication training with horses doing groundwork and shortterm clinics where riders can work with leading Grand Prix Dressage trainers from across
For more information check out the website: www.lacuadraronda.com, email info@ lacuadraronda.com or call +34 682538563 https://www.instagram.com/ la_cuadra_ronda/
Spain and beyond. Services offered include bespoke full-time livery, from 24-7 in the paddock to night-time stabling, as well as short term stays for intense training programmes.
What’s more La Cuadra can also provide part of your horse’s training programme. The location, just an hour’s drive into the hills from the Costa del Sol, provides wonderful hacking along ancient herding
paths and through leafy valleys in the Serrania de Ronda and just on the doorstep is the owner’s own private 60 hectare finca with its stunning virgin woodland, where you can ride to your heart’s content.
Extensive Traditional Fish and Chips menu including Salads and Jacket Potatoes
Specials Meal of the Day Cod or Haddock, Chips, Mushy Peas and Bread and Butter 8.00€ served until 5pm
Pie Special
Pie and Chips with either Gravy, Mushy Peas or Curry Sauce 7.50€ from 12pm until 5pm
For online booking visit www.ourplaice.es or follow us on Facebook
Reservations or Takeaways
tel: 966 79 54 18
OPEN 6 days a week 12pm til 9pm – Closed Sunday Pedro Maria Unanue 21, La Marina, Valenciana, Spain (the street opposite tourist info office & behind Supervalu Dialprix)
22
COLUMNISTS
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Get thee to a sluttery Hold your horses - it’s not what you think, writes Giles Brown
‘
Hello to Jason Issacs’. If you recog- In a recent podcast, Simon mentioned nise that greeting then you are most the word ‘Sluttery’. Stop sniggering at probably a member of The Church of the back – it is not what you are thinking. Wittertainment, aka the A sluttery is a room where considerable audience of things at first glance seem Kermode and Mayo’s Film A sluttery is to be in disarray, yet it is Review. a room where a laboratory for creative Thanks to Simon Mayo, last week I discovered a new at first glance thought. As a freelance writer, I favourite word. Previously that word had been eclecthings seem to tend to live by chaos theory and crisis management tic, while my best friend’s be in disarray at the best of times. As is esoteric, even if his wife the photograph proves, I assures me that he does am hardly going to appear not know what it actually means, although he spends a lot of his in an episode of Through the Keyhole time wandering around old buildings (I wonder who lives here? Withnail and looking for arcane symbols and mut- I?) My personal style is somewhat ramtering to himself…
shackle. When a US-based friend came to visit with her children for the first time, she took one look around my house and said ‘See kids, this is what happens when a man lives alone…’ Last week I had guests up to the casita for lunch. Their 11-year-old son was amazed at the disorganisation on display in my working space. Another friend, who has known me for two decades explained that my abode was ‘not like a real house. It’s a grown up den!’ What may look like organised chaos to the casual observer, however, is a finely tuned filing system with everything to hand. I can find most things blindfolded, which is especially handy when the generator breaks down. As it did a few days ago...
Spurious Seers
T
HE sign on the fortune teller’s tent read, ‘Closed due to unforeseen circumstances’. This solidly enhanced my lifelong belief that soothsayers such as Nostradamus, Cassandra, and Theophilus Moore, founder of Old Moore’s Almanac, were victims of their own vivid imaginations. Where were they when we needed advance warning about the Black Death 1346;
Ebola 2014; present-day COVID; and the extinction of the Dodo bird and Bombay Duck? Then there was my 10th birthday catastrophe when I tried out my new roller skates, got caught up in the tram lines and ended up spending the night in a tram garage 20 miles away. During WW2, public information was controlled by the MOI (Ministry of Information) so politicians and news items were never questioned. In fact if you were reported for discussing anything considered dangerous to security, you may have ended up imprisoned in the Tower, as ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ posters warned everyone of this possibility. Pity the same rules are not in place today! In this modern age, press and social media enjoy absolute freedom, which has propagated a labyrinth of misleading and fake news, especia-
O LD H A C K IN THE SUN Benny Dav is
lly reg a r - Ramblings of an 80-s omething expa ding t COVID. Everyone is an expert, throwing acronyms around like confetti simply to make their difference of opinions sound more official. WHO, MHPA, JCVI, GHN, MAI, and CMO, are just a few examples of this confusing scientific maze. Add this to the list of EU officials see-sawing backwards and forwards with their negative comments about the AstraZeneca vaccine whilst putting millions of lives at risk, which is unforgivable. Only one answer - in the Tower, all of them, and throw away the key. I recently referred to typos (print spelling errors) and here is another example. Glanced at my horoscope, just for fun, to read:`This week beware of TILLS’. Just to be on the safe side, I avoided all shops with tills and supermarket checkouts. On Saturday, I sprained my ankle tripping over a broken floor TILE.
THE RIGHT CAR INSURANCE BACK ON THE ROAD As Spain eases restrictions due to Covid, many drivers are looking get their car back on the road. But before turning the key we recommend you check your vehicle is good to go. Fluid levels may have dropped. Check your oil, windscreen wash and coolant. Before checking the brake fluid, drive your vehicle for a short period, braking several times to fill the system. Top up with more brake fluid if the level is below the minimum. If the battery is flat you may need to jump start your car. Once running keep it turning over for 20 minutes. Check tyre pressures and any abnormal wear and damage. Take your vehicle for a drive and listen to the engine sound for any grinding, grumbling, whining or knocking.
BASIC INSURANCE Shop around for car insurance and find out what’s included. Does your insurance company have a national network of repairers that can collect your vehicle, undertake repairs and then return the car to you on completion? How does your No Claim discount work? If no claim is made against your policy, your renewal premium will be adjusted accordingly. If a claim is made, then your No Claims discount may be reduced. Línea Directa’s team of customer service experts can guide you through all your queries and provide clear answers.
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WHY LÍNEA DIRECTA? Línea Directa has been providing comprehensive car, motorbike and home insurance to British expatriates and residents in Spain for over 20 years. Backed by a leading Spanish financial group Bankinter, with over 3 million customers nationwide. All services and documentation is in English.
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smiling again!
Lisa Burgess remembers her slightly embarrassing encounter with a football legend
M
Y Irish grandfather was an international referee so my mum caught the football bug early on and Match of the Day featured heavily in our household. She was a fierce Liverpool and Ireland supporter with a daughter who followed Manchester United and England. I remember leaving Ireland to visit mum in London to watch a cliffhanger England versus Portugal match with her. On my Ryanair flight, I met a pleasant and jovial chap and we got chatting. I babbled on about my excitement about the forthcoming game and rabbitted on about football. He let me rant on without interruption till I asked if he had any interest in football? I wanted the plane to take a nosedive when he said ‘yes I do know a bit about it - I am Liam Brady’. Brady was capped 72 times for the Irish national football team and found success with Arsenal where he won the FA Cup in 1979 and in Italy with Juventus. I was mortified but we had a laugh about it. Now we have England in Euro 2021 and top of their group. My heart goes out to Scotland but the sounds of cheery ‘Enggggland’ chants after their win against the Czech Republic could be heard throughout Fuengirola. After this dreadful pandemic, it was thoroughly wonderful to see happy smiling faces. And after Tuesday’s fantastic win for England against Germany an even broader smile has been put on our faces, which we can be thankful for!
Lisa Burgess
HEALTH
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Target missed
SPAIN just missed out on its target to vaccinate 15 million people by June 20. In total, 14.4 million had had their jabs by that date. The health ministry explained that the reason for the ‘small lag’ was due to delays in deliveries of the Janssen vaccine. Of the 5.5 million doses expected in the second quarter of the year, just 1.5 million were shipped due to a problem at its main factory. AstraZeneca’s second shot can be injected between three to 12 weeks after the first, but is being advised to wait 10, preferably 12 weeks. Also, the deadline for those under 60 years was extended to 16 weeks for precautionary reasons, as these intervals have been observed to generate increased immune responses.
Back in business
Digital day
FOOTBALL fans in Spain will be able to return to stadiums ‘en-masse’ when the new La Liga season starts this August. The stadium rule change was included in a recent Royal Decree which loosened outdoor mask-wearing rules. A very limited number of supporters were allowed into some stadiums to watch several La Liga Segunda division games towards the end of last season, depending on regional COVID-19 infection rates. Unless outdoor stadiums are half-empty, soccer fixtures for the time being will have to be watched by fans wearing masks, on the assumption that they cannot maintain at least a distance of 1.5 metres between each other.
THE European Union COVID-19 digital travel certificate officially comes into force across the EU today (July 1) with over 2.7 million documents so far issued in Spain. The so-called ‘digital green certificate’ was formally approved by the 27 EU member states on May 20. Some of Spain’s regions started to offer downloads of the document from early June, but the start dates have varied across the country. The certificate’s aim is to allow free movement across EU countries. It displays the vaccination record of a holder or, depending on which option is chosen it can show details of a recent negative PCR test or ‘recovery’ from the coronavirus.
Demographic time bomb MORE people died in Spain during 2020 than in any year since records began in 1941 due to the coronavirus pandemic, while the number of births fell sharply. Experts warned that Spain is facing the biggest demographic crisis since the Spanish Civil War. New data released by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) showed the official number of deaths in 2020 totalled 492,930, up a whopping 17.5% from the
Pilot
Figures obtained by the Efe news agency show that Catalunya has the highest total of certificates issued at 681,600 followed by Andalucia with 462,394. Numbers have not been made available for the Valencian Community while the Madrid region will begin issuing certificates today after a few days of pilot testing.. The Balearic Islands have already started to accept the document from travellers entering the area. The certificate is available as a download from regional health department websites by inputting SIP health card details and using a passcode sent to mobile phones. The document with a QR code can be printed off or stored on a phone.
Spain’s mortality rate hits record high as birth rate plunges
previous year. While the average life expectancy in Spain - which is the highest in Europe and second highest in the world after Japan - fell by 1.24 years to 82.3 years, the data showed. Spain’s Health Ministry officially recorded 50,837 deaths in 2020 from COVID-19 with more than
900 deaths recorded in a single day during April when the virus hit its peak. But the true number is thought to be much higher as many deaths outside hospitals in the first months of the pandemic weren’t confirmed as COVID-19 through testing The new data also revealed, not surprisingly due to the
Taking over
23
restrictions on social gatherings, that 2020 saw almost half the number of weddings of the previous year with just 90,416 marriages being celebrated.
Life
And despite predictions that lockdown could see a baby boom, the birth rate dropped by almost 6% to 339,206, another record low as people postponed having children as the economy and employment became precarious.
Ticked off
WORRIED: Carla Prat and (inset) Josep Maria Argimon
HEALTH officials in Spain have warned that the Delta variant of coronavirus, first identified in India, will become the dominant strain across Spain within a month. The variant, which is thought to be more transmissible than other recent strains is still not officially recorded as a ‘variant of concern’ (VOC) in Spain but is listed as a ‘variant of interest’. Spain’s Health Ministry published data that showed the Delta variant accounted for less than 1% of national new cases, but experts have said delays in sequencing mean it is difficult to know its true spread. Catalunya’s health chief
Josep Maria Argimon said that in the northeastern region around one in five new cases had been found to be of the Delta variant and predicted that it would be the predominant strain within ‘two to four weeks’.
Cases
Clara Prats, a researcher from the computational biology and complex systems group at Catallunya’s Polytechnical University (UPC) said this was the nature of the epidemic. “New variants arrive and when one is more transmissible than the earlier one, it overtakes it,” she told El Pais. “That is what happened with the Alpha,” she said
referring to the variant first identified in Britain where it is known as the ‘Kent variant’. The Delta variant has been detected in 74 countries, accounted for over 90% of new cases in the United Kingdom, and at least 6% of total cases in the U.S. Researchers pointed out that ‘one of the defining features of the Delta variant has been enhanced transmissibility with increases estimated at 40-60%above the Alpha variant. Early data from Scotland suggested that the risk of hospitalisation doubled following infection with Delta (compared to Alpha), especially in those with five or more other health conditions.
TWO cases of a potentially deadly viral disease have been reported in Spain. Both instances of CCHF (Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever) were discovered in the Castilla y Leon region. The first case was identified in Salamanca in April, and then last month in Leon. CCHF is an infection spread by tick bites that can cause a severe viral illness accompanied by bleeding. It has a fatality rate of between 10%
and 40%, according to the World Health Organisation. It is uncommon in
Spain, although a small number of cases have been identified in recent years.
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Fugitive caught
FINAL WORDS
A 55-year old Dutchman who fled to Spain after getting five years in jail for importing cocaine hidden in banana boxes, has been arrested in El Campello (Alicante).
Cashing in SPAIN now has an incredible 1,147,000 millionaires, accounting for 2% of the world’s total, with North America leading the way with 12.4% and Europe as a whole having 9.2%.
Barking mad A MAN in Granada who tied his dog called Nube to his car and dragged it along for three kilometres because he was too lazy to walk has been identified as a 59-year-old man with a history of animal neglect and abuse resulting in death.
OLIVE PRESS
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Vol. 3 Issue 59
What’s in a name FORGET traditional names like Pedro and Maria, Spain’s most popular baby names are now Hugo and Lucia. The news shows that Spain is continuing to move away from more traditional Biblical names and instead opt for names which have a more international feel and are pronounced more or less the same in English. The top three girl names chosen in 2020 are Lucia which was given to 3,432 babies, Sofia, (3,190) and Martina (3,042). While for boys, 3,313 were given the name Hugo, 3,248 were called Mateo and 3,144 were named Martin. Hugo was back in the top spot for a third year and had been in 2013 when it was overtaken by Lucas.
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Wuff justice
July 1st - July 14th 2021
Price of love By Alex Trelinski
A MAN has lost his dead wife’s inheritance because he ‘broke a promise’ not to marry another woman - even though he never has. A court in A Coruña ruled against the man with his exwife’s brothers now getting the money. He has also been or-
Man loses inheritance from dead wife after moving in with lover dered to pay back what he has spent. The amount of cash involved has not been revealed but the legal battle is not over as the widower can appeal to the Supreme Court. Public details of the case have
Look who’s talking
ARTIFICIAL Intelligence machines could soon be given a pat on the back for being well spoken in Spanish. The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) has proposed a certificate to show that the technology is up to scratch when it ‘speaks’ castellano. The director of the RAE, Santiago Muñoz Machado, said: “Perhaps in the near future machines will learn to write novels. “In the world of AI, we have missed the boat: technology has been created mainly in English, where Spanish has not been important but the use of these technologies is still very high in our language and we must demand that the level of interaction is equivalent to the importance of Spanish in the world.”
been minimal. What has been revealed is that the man’s wife died in 1996. He pledged to her that he would not start a new life with another woman if she passed away. The stipulation in the will referred to a ‘second marriage’ and a lower A Coruña court found in his favour at a previous hearing. The matter was taken on appeal to the region’s Provincial Court by the dead woman’s relatives. The judges ruled that since he had been living with another woman ‘for years’ it was a de facto marriage, and therefore the conditions for getting the inheritance had been broken. Police reports were used to confirm that he was cohabiting at a single address. It’s not known how long his current relationship had been going on for.
A JUDGE has refused to rule on the custody of a tug of love dog involved in a bitter divorce dispute The Benidorm magistrate won’t grant an interim joint custody order for the Maltese named Bimba because changes to the Civil Code over animal welfare have not yet become law. The joint-owners separated in December 2019 but an initially amicable split ended up with the man being refused access to his beloved Bimba.
Love
His solicitor filed a petition on the grounds that his client was suffering ‘serious non-financial damage, such is his love for Bimba’, and used the Civil Code as the basis for the legal action. But the judge ruled the new laws were not yet in force, so he could not make a ruling on interim joint custody. Bimba’s owners had agreed to an ‘out of court’ joint custody arrangement for their daughter. The dog would go along with the girl to stay with her father on his access days. But he was then told Bimba actually belonged to his ex-partner’s other daughter.