Olive Press Costa Blanca - Issue 63 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 3 Issue 63

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Summer escape 1

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Jávea · yorkshirelinencostablanca.com · Altea

August 26th - September 8th 2021

ANIMAL MAGIC SPECIAL

Good catch

A TODDLER has miraculously escaped injury after falling from a second floor apartment block. The two-year-old boy had climbed onto a chair on the balcony of the holiday apartment in Benidorm and slipped over the railing and plummeted to the street below. Luckily his fall was cushioned, firstly by an awning and then by a local man who tried to catch the child. The holidaymaker appeared to be completely unharmed when police arrived on the scene. It is not known if the passer-by suffered any injury. The toddler was taken to the Villajoyosa Hospital for a thorough examination to ensure he did not suffer any serious injuries.

Summer escape 2

ICE COOL

QUICK-thinking lifeguards have saved a baby from choking to death on an ice cube. The one-year-old girl was licking it to keep cool on a Santa Pola beach when she swallowed it and it got stuck in her windpipe. Despite the baby’s pulse stopping, the two Cruz Roja lifeguards used the Heimlich manoeuvre to get it out and then revived the youngster. A doctor later confirmed that the baby was fine, although her mother needed treatment for shock.

Summer escape 3

Lucky blast A RUSSIAN man had a lucky escape when he was blown off his boat after an explosion at Altea's Greenwich Marina. The 50-year-old was working on the engine when the blast threw him into the water. A mixture of gases in a confined space is believed to have caused the incident.

Phew! We survived the heatwave with a bit of help from our friends.... See page 3

DISGRACE! British expat mum, 33, sent home to die in agony after being refused treatment after 14 hour wait at A&E A YOUNG British woman died hours after being dismissed by doctors and told to go home after waiting 14 hours at a hospital for treatment. Rachael Firth, who worked as a live-in carer, sought help at Torrevieja’s A&E on August 14, after suffering days of pain. She was seen by her GP for pain in her legs earlier that week, and was advised to go to the emergency department if the condition worsened. In regular messages to her mum, she said hospital staff justified making her wait all day because emergencies took priority. After seven hours of waiting in agony with her leg swollen to twice its size, the 33-year-old eventually saw a female doctor. However, she felt her condition was not taken seriously, and insisted the doctor dismissed her after seeing medical notes that mentioned previous treatments for mental illness. In a message to her mother, Jane,

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EXCLUSIVE By Simon Wade

a nurse herself, she wrote: “The doctor was really nasty, said she’s read my notes and I’m mental in the head.” She said the doctor had told nurses that once she had her X-ray to ‘get her to a taxi and get her home’. In a later message (see right) she added: “The other two nurses were well shocked”. Referring to the doctor, she added: “She hates me.” The part-time charity volunteer stayed on the ward despite the bad feeling in the desperate hope that someone would eventually attend to her leg.

Embolism

Exhausted, she was eventually sent home at 3am, after 14 agonising hours in the hospital. Later that morning, her mother - who has 35 years nursing experience - realised something was gravely wrong and rushed to the nearest pharmacy for medication and advice. But by the time she returned, Rachael had slipped into unconsciousness and was completely unresponsive. Jane performed CPR while neighbours called for an ambulance but Rachael died on the floor of the lounge with paramedics also unable to SALES & RENTALS SPECIALISTS revive her. A Spanish Moriara•Calpe•Jalon•Javea•Denia•Altea neighbour confirmed to www.moraira-hamiltons.net Jane that the

96 649 1883

TRAGEDY: Rachael pictured with mum Jane

ambulance staff told him that ‘an embolism was certainly to blame’, after assessing her symptoms. Rachael’s own son, Reece, 13, had thankfully been staying with friends that night so did not witness his mother’s death. The family is now looking for answers as to why medics failed to take Rachael’s illness seriously and to provide treatment that could have saved her life. Jane has sought legal advice, with a view to preventing such a tragedy happening to someone else.

Animal

“The way my daughter was treated in her final hours is nothing short of disgusting you wouldn’t treat an animal that way,” she sobbed. “Money isn’t the issue, what difference would it make anyway? “I just want justice for Rachael and I want answers to the questions we have about her awful treatment - this shouldn’t happen to anyone.” Rachael was cremated at Torrevieja crematorium last week with dozens of friends, family and col-

leagues in attendance. Kind neighbours had helped towards the expensive funeral costs at short notice. If Olive Press readers would like to help the family, there is also a gofundme page to help. Opinion Page 6

CRIME

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Takeaway cash A Benidorm man has been arrested for stealing over €6,300 from nine city restaurants. The thief struck mainly in the Levante beach area breaking down doors and in one case taking €1,500 from the till.

Slow justice JUDGES are complaining that Alicante province had a backlog of 100,000 cases at the start of the year, with the situation getting worse by the month.

Bogus pants DENIA police seized 33 boxes of fake-branded underpants during raids on local street sellers. Some 50 pairs of trainers and flip-flops were among the 344 item counterfeit haul.

Busy man COPS caught a 45-yearold man robbing an El Campello property. He was charged with 21 other break-ins committed since June in the area as well as in Denia.

A TEENAGER has claimed he was the victim of a homophobic assault. Petrer resident Adrian Palazon, 17, went public via social media, claiming he was now 'afraid to go out alone' and was 'grateful to be alive'. He said he had been attacked by two teens, around 18, who approached him outside Petrer's sports cen-

August 26th - September 8th 2021

Guardia gun used in drugs row

Homophobic attack tre. One grabbed him while the other threatened him with a 'large' knife, which he pointed at his stomach. Homophobic slurs were shouted at Adrian and he was thrown to the ground before a passing car scared

off the assailants. Palazon insisted the car's arrival was a 'stroke of luck' which could have 'saved his life'. He and his parents then filed a formal complaint and he has provided detailed descriptions of the assailants.

VICTIM: Palazon

Narco removals

A SCANDINAVIAN removal company has been accused of being a front for major drug shipments around Europe. A complex three-year operation between the Guardia Civil, Policia Nacional, and Swedish police has led to the arrest of 71 people so far. The company, Roslagen, which had

Guns, property and vehicles seized as 71 arrested in Swedish removal firm shakedown

bases on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, has had over €1.8 million frozen in bank accounts, while €592,000 in cash was also seized. A total of 50 vehicles have also been impounded along with properties worth over €14 million. AN official aged 54 at a register office has been accused of Seized weapdemanding money to speed up an application to become ons include two a Spanish citizen. machine guns, Police arrested the worker at the office in San Vicente del eight handguns, Raspeig after a 19-year-old woman from Venezuela reported his behaviour. a rifle and a The woman went several times to the office to check out hand grenade. the progress of her citizenship application. The probe was When the official suggested meeting outside working launched when hours to 'speed up' the application, she went to police. Swedish poOfficers set up a surveillance operation and saw him ask lice contacted her for a €20 bung. their Spanish They moved in and arrested him for bribery. colleagues in 2018 with concerns that large amounts of narcotics were being shipped in from Spain. They discovered that criminals were making

Uncivil behaviour

regular journeys to negotiate deals with the Swedish firm which was at the nexus of the drug operation. The company, which had depots in Torrevieja and San Pedro de Alcantara, allegedly received drugs from Morocco in pleasure boats.

Surfboards

The drugs were also imported in modified surfboards powered by underwater propulsion engines. The narcotics were then transferred to Sweden hidden among legitimate removal shipments. A Gothenburg police raid uncovered 85 kilos of cannabis hidden in furniture in a removal van. The company owners were arrested in Sweden along with three family members in Spain who helped run the business. Two of them were caught loading up 250 kilos of hash at their San Pedro depot.

A POLICEMAN’S pistol stolen in 2004 has been used in a row between drug dealers in Alicante. The Guardia Civil gun was fired into the back of a gangster, who survived, in the Requena area during an argument. The gun had been part of a lengthy two-month search, but was never found. It has now turned up at the drug dealer’s home in the Vega Baja town of Granja de Rocamora. The unnamed man, 22, has been charged with attempted murder, drug dealing and illegal possession of a weapon.

Crypto clampdown A CRYPTOCURRENCY farm that illegally stole vast amounts of electricity has been closed down by police. The high use of power at the Toledo villa suggested that something untoward was going on. A woman in charge of the 'farm' has been arrested for electricity theft. Officers used a battering ram to smash down the front door and found over 100 computer processors along with specialist gear for cooling plus ventilation units. Holes had been drilled in walls and in the floor to arrange clandestine connections to the electricity supply. The 'mining' essentially creates cryptocurrencies by solving complex algorithms via computers.

TIME TO RETURN A SERIAL British fraudster has agreed to be extradited to Spain when he is released early from a UK prison later this month. Mark Acklom has served less than half of his six year sentence for conning a UK divorcee out of her €850,000 savings. The 48-year-old, who the Olive Press linked to Murcia and Marbella, will now return to Spain to serve an 18-month sentence. He is expected to return to Murcia prison, in Cartage-

na, where he was half way through a three year sentence for defrauding two brothers. He absconded while on temporary release and fled to Switzerland, changing his name by deed poll to Marc Long.

Promise

But he was eventually tracked down on a Europol arrest warrant and returned to the UK to firstly face charges for defrauding Carolyn Woods out of her life

Extortion racket THREE blackmailers have been arrested for extorting money from men trying to hook-up with a prostitute. Despite the meetings never happening the clients were threatened with exposure - and violence - if they didn’t pay up. The gang leader has been arrested in Murcia and his two associates detained in Valencia, including a 28-year-old woman whose services were being advertised via the internet. An Alicante area victim told the Guardia Civil that he had contacted the woman via a dating website but she failed to show up. Instead, he received threatening calls from a man demanding money or else they’d 'go to his home to fix the matter'. The victim paid €580 but was then hit with a further €950 demand to cover 'expenses', after which he called in police. Investigations uncovered a string of similar complaints since January across Spain.

CON: Acklom and Yolanda savings. With the promise of marriage he had convinced her that he was an MI6 agent and Swiss banker and that the money was to invest in a home for the pair once they wed. In fact, he was already married and lived just a few miles away with his wife and two young children. After convincing Woods to part with her savings in 2013, he vanished. He fled to Spain with his Spanish wife Yolanda, where he used a new alias to continue his conning ways. An Olive Press investigation revealed he also had long term links to both the Murcia and Marbella areas. He was jailed for three years in Spain for cons that included defrauding two brothers by selling them non-existent properties he claimed to own in London.

NEWS

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August 26th - September 8th 2021

Wild wild Wes

ANIMAL MAGIC SPECIAL

ZOOS and wildlife parks worked hard to keep their animals cool as temperatures soared above 40ºC across Spain this month. That meant frozen treats, cold showers and splashing about in pools with frozen lollies being served to lower their body temperatures as well as ice pops made from fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds and nuts. Pandas turned out to be particularly partial to watermelon, while others, such as otters in Madrid, were treated to frozen fish. In Valencia, the great apes entertained themselves by catching frozen fruit and iced muesli bars dangling from trees in their enclosure, while hyenas, lions and leopards used their powerful sense

LOLLY GOOD

of smell to hunt down frozen blocks containing large chunks of raw meat. The giraffe’s seemed delighted at multi-coloured popsicles specially crafted by their keepers to include frozen lay-

ers of crushed strawberries, celery, orange, chard and red cabbage. Elephants proved deft at combining both activities of slurping giant sorbets while simultaneously taking a dip.

REFRESHING: Giraffes get an icy treat

HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU KID Rare baby orangutan born in Spain...and it’s a girl

VISITORS to a Spanish zoo got to witness the birth of a baby orangutan. Orangutans usually give

birth at night, but Suli, surprised the team at Bioparc, in Fuengirola, and gave birth in broad daylight. She and her female baby are said to be in perfect condition and are already enjoying playing games together in the ‘rainforest’ river. The zoo will continue to monitor the newborn 24-hours a day, though they will not intervene unless there are signs of illness and distress.

By Katherine Brook

youngest can fend for itself. The Bornean orangutan is one of the most iconic primate species in the tropical rainforests of Asia, and has recently been listed in se-

rious danger of extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The new baby, who has yet to be named, is the only one to be born in the European breeding scheme in the past 12 months. ORPHAN: Gazelle is being hand reared

Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful environment

A STARRY cast of A-listers are set to shoot the new highly anticipated Wes Anderson movie in Spain. Margot Robbie (pictured right) is tipped to star alongside Tom Hanks, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton and Bill Murray in the new flick, being shot in September. Wes, 52, behind hit movies The Grand Budapest Hotel and Fantastic Mr Fox hasn’t made a movie Stateside since Moonrise Kingdom in 2012. He has refused however to give any details so far about the new film. All that is known about the movie has come from longtime British collaborator and muse Tilda Swinton, who revealed that despite the film location, it is ‘not about Spain’. Sets resembling a desert landscape have been going up in Chinchon, south of Madrid, over the last two months. It is not known why producers didn’t just de-camp three hours south to the actual deserts of Almeria, where many films, including hit Spaghetti Westerns, were filmed.

IN TOWN: Hanks

Depplash

HAPPY

The mother will continue to raise her baby for around seven years, and won’t usually have another one until she’s happy her

Milk of kindness ONE of the world’s rarest animals is being hand-reared by staff at Valencia’s BioParc after its mother died. The Mhorr gazelle’s mum died during a ‘difficult delivery’ with staff having to intervene to save the newborn.

CRITICS have slammed the decision to honour beleaguered actor Johnny Depp at San Sebastian’s film festival. A number of leading female filmmakers argued that the award to be handed to the American actor next month ‘transmits a terrible message to the public’. Last year, the US actor lost his libel case against the Sun over an article that labelled him a ‘wife beater’. The judge found Depp, 58, had assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard, 35, on a dozen occasions and put her in ‘fear for her life’ three times. Director of the festival Jose Luis Rebordinos said their responsibility is not to ‘judge the conduct of members of the film industry’.

Alive

Paseo Maritimo de la Patacona n 14, 46120, Alboraya, Valencia I T. 96 372 40 95 I 618 356 043 I info@casapatacona.com

The BioParc is closely involved in an international breeding program to keep the species alive, after it was considered extinct in the wild and on the Red List of animal species. Zoo authorities said he is doing well and will soon join his new adoptive family - a herd of two males, two females and another calf.

SLAMMED: Depp

NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Handbrake shocker

Cleaner coast BENIDORM council is working on a plan to combat pollution on the local shoreline caused by oil spillages from boats. The initiative is being produced in association with the Institute of Coastal Ecology.

LED move BENITATXELL is to spend €150,000 replacing 355 street lights with energy efficient LED units. 50% of the work will be paid for by a regional grant.

Duty calls OFF-DUTY doctors, a health worker, and a police officer all helped a man, 78, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday at Javea’s El Arenal beach. The struggling bather was revived by them until an ambulance took him to a health centre.

Allez france FRENCH tourists are beating British visitors for Costa Blanca hotel bookings. The Hosbec hotel association says 5.3% of rooms are being reserved by French visitors, with Brits accounting for just 4.3%.

August 26th - September 8th 2021

OUCH: Car landed upside down

A VALENCIA couple were left regretting the decision to stop to take a few photographs at a wellknown Denia beauty spot. After driving their van up a steep slope in Les Rotes, they parked up and got out to get their pictures. Unfortunately the driver forgot to put on the handbrake. As the van started to roll away down the incline, he chased it and

managed to jump in. But not in time before it careered off the road, crashing through pine trees on its way down a steep embankment. Fortunately the man didn't suffer any serious injuries as the vehicle spun over and overturned. Firefighters and police stretchered him out and he was taken to hospital for a precautionary examination.

Wave warning Giant 6m tsunami could hit Costa Blanca in just over 30 minutes, warn scientists DENSELY populated parts of the Mediterranean coast could be devastated by a massive six-metre tsunami. According to a recent study thousands of homes could be destroyed and countless lives put at risk with little to no warning should a major quake hit the Averroes fault in the Alboran Sea, which lies beneath the Med between Spain and Morocco. The danger has long been known, but the new report by the Institut de Ciencies del Mar (ICM-CSIC) insists the devastation caused

Refusenik death A LOCAL vaccine refusenik has died from COVID-19 after refusing to get vaccinated. The woman, 58, passed away in Elda's Virgen de Salud Hospital. It comes after she deliberately ignored various summonses for vaccine appointments. Some 90% of patients admitted to intensive care for COVID have not been fully immunised. The deceased woman had been hospitalised for several days with severe damage to her lungs. Valencian president, Ximo Puig, said: “The vaccine is our main weapon against COVID-19. When you are summoned, have no doubts, get vaccinated.”

By Cristina Hodgson

Detection

DEVASTATION: Official map shows the danger

ties would not have the time to clear low-lying areas in time. Ferran Estrada, a geologist from the team said: “These giant waves can pose a threat to coastal populations and HEALTH centres are chasing 80,000 Valencian residents damage landwho have no mobile phone access and have not yet got a based infraCOVID-19 vaccine shot. structure. Some do not have mobile phones, while others have not en“They can tered their mobile details linked to their health cards, meancause a huge ing they get no text message notifications. economic and Medical centres are now making calls on landline numbers to environmentrack down the ‘missing’ residents. Letters will also be sent if tal crisis. there are no phone contact details. “It is essential The process of contacting 400,000 people who did not turn to improve up for their first appointment, is also underway. w a r n i n g Vaccine 'refuseniks' stand at just 1.3% of residents. measures to The Valencian Community wants to complete the COVID-19 vaccine programme by early October. The regional governmitigate the ment has set a mid-September target of full immunisation for impact of a 80% of the population. possible tsunami.”

Phone tracking

SOME might describe the price as sky-high… but that won’t bother the owners of two apartments sold in Europe’s tallest residential building for €2 million each The two most expensive homes sit in the central ‘diamond point’ of Benidorm's Intempo building, finished this summer. The 204-metre-high skyscraper looks down on the Poniente beach area. Over half of the 256 apartments in the block have already been sold, according to Barcelona-based Uniq Residencial. The buyers are mostly Spanish nationals and investors 'aiming to make money through rentals’'. The building has 49 floors with a variety of 'common areas' including a gym, cafe, restaurant, swimming pools, and terraces.

Chequered

could be even worse than previously thought. Researchers using a mathematical model warned the giant wave could be 19.68 feet in size (6m) and take between 21 and 35 minutes to reach the southern shores of Spain. They concluded that current tsunami detection systems would not be sufficient, meaning the authori-

Sky’s the limit

He said the Averroes fault has, at its northwest end, a vertical drop of up to 5.4 metres that could generate a magnitude 7 earthquake. "We have studied the activity of the fault going back 124,000 years and, according to historical records, the last major earthquake caused by this fracture may have been in 365 AD.”

Miraculous

The last major tsunami to hit Spain was in the aftermath of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake which left the Portuguese capital devastated. A tsunami flooded the Andalucian cities of Huelva and Cadiz, which were described as ‘miraculously surviving’ despite several deaths.

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“Up to 30 visits a day are being made by prospective buyers and depending on what they are after, the trip can last up to two hours,” according to sales manager Jorge Romagosa. The skyscraper has a long chequered history with work beginning in 2007 and set to be completed by 2009. However the long 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 again in 2014 but the promoter went bankrupt. The skyscraper was bought by SVP Global in 2018 with the aim of completing the building in 2021. That has happened.

PRICEY: €2m flats

NEWS

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August 26th - September 8th 2021

SEARCH GOES ON

New Olive Press’ book on Maddie case takes a ‘deep dive’ into the current prime suspect and much more

EXPLOSIVE: Book cover and Brueckner (below)

OLIVE Press editor Jon Clarke is publishing an explosive new book on the Madeleine McCann case. His investigation is the most comprehensive look at the current prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who he believes could be behind many other unsolved crimes around Europe. As well as exploring Brueckner’s childhood in Germany and coming face to face with his mother, Clarke gave the lead prosecutor a three-hour grilling on why the investigation is taking so long.

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expat

Family feud over Armada archives See Page 10

OLIVE PRESS WORLD EXCLUSIVE

MADDIE SUSPECT’S GRANADA LAIR A DANGEROUS paedophile believed snatched English tot Maddie McCannto have visited southern Spain on many occasions. German pervert Christian Brueckner hid out in the Alpujarras region of Granada often dealing drugs, the Olive Press can sensationally reveal. According to his best friend, an lived in the area for many years, Austrian who ed just two or three weeks after he even visitMaddie went missing. Michael Tatshl, who spent eight months in prison with Brueckner, now believes he is guilty of the murder of Madeleine. Having spent 14 hours being grilled over the crime, he spoke to the Olive by police Press for the first time to explain why. “He was a real pervert and talked about selling children to Morocco, I am pretty sure he did it,” he said this week. Micha, 46, who lived in Orgiva for over a decade, revealed that Brueckner had visited the town on many occasions in his jaguar and various vans.

E n d s

See page 15 E n d s

Your voice in Spain

Vol. 13 Issue 346 www.theolivepres s.es June 24th - July 7th 2020

3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

See full story on page 6 21/6/19 13:30

Christian Brueckner’s Spanish hideaway

FAMILIAR SIGHT: Brueckner’s ‘Winnebago’

Piecing together the sex offender’s exact movements in the months leading up to the snatch on the Algarve, in 2007, he also traces Brueckner’s frequent trips around Europe. Described by Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt as ‘tirelessly researched’, the 130,000-word book also takes a close look at many other characters linked to the case. Fellow TV investigator Donal MacIntyre praised Clarke’s ‘investigative skills’ and added it was ‘a deep dive into a murky underworld, both alarming and compelling’.

As well as analysing any family involvement, the book shines a light on the shambolic police investigation, the world of trolling and the worrying levels of child sex abuse in southern Europe. Published by Amazon next week, My Search for Madeleine comes after Clarke, 52, took over a dozen trips to Portugal to research the case. He also traced Brueckner’s many journeys to Andalucia, and Granada in particular, where he made business trips. He also often travelled through Valencia. As well as working with the British media over the last 14 years, Clarke was closely involved in the benchmark Netflix doc on the case in 2019.

The father-of-two was the first journalist to arrive in Praia da Luz on the morning after Maddie was snatched on May 3, 2007. But most recently, he took a few months off to chase a series of intriguing leads around the Iberian Peninsula and Germany. “It has been an absolutely amazing experience to immerse myself in this harrowing case,” he explained. “I’ve tracked down and probed so many colourful and bizarre characters.” He continued: “I looked into the family right from the start and was convinced that they were not involved. “It is, of course, impossible to know for sure that Brueck-

GRILLING: Clarke with German prosecutor Wolters ner was involved, but he was pedigree as a long term sex ofin the exact right place at the fender. right time and certainly had “What I particularly noted was the alarming lack of seriousness the Portuguese police took of sex crimes and the large number of mistakes they made. It also made me particularly aware of how many paedophiles live among the expat communities of southern Spain and Portugal.”

SECRET: Idyllic spot in Granada where suspect stayed in his Winnebago (inset)

My Search for Madeleine is published by Olive Press Books on Amazon next week. It can also be ordered via bookorders@ theolivepress.es

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 PREVENTABLE DEATH THE death of a young British mother in Torrevieja last week after she was kept waiting for hours in A&E before being turned away by doctors is a tragedy that should never be repeated. Unfortunately it probably will. It is unforgivable that a woman who was so obviously in desperate need of medical treatment was sent home to die, leaving a young child motherless and a grief-stricken family seeking answers. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted just how overwhelmed health workers are and how underfunded the health service is in Spain.

Senseless

We all went out to our balconies to applaud the valuable work of healthcare workers through lockdown and we haven’t forgotten the debt society owes them. We don’t know whether such issues as staffing or overwork contributed to the death of Rachael Firth or whether it was a straightforward case of malpractice by one particular doctor. Could it have been a communication problem between a foreign patient seeking help from those who couldn’t understand her? But what we do know is that in the aftermath of such a senseless tragedy there needs to be full transparency. A proper investigation must be carried out and answers sought. It may not be much consolation to a family who has lost a loved one in the prime of their life but it may go some way to preventing the same thing happening to someone else.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es

Kirsty McKenzie kirsty@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Isha Sesay isha@theolivepress.es

Katherine Brook katherine@theolivepress.es

Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es

Glenn Wickman glenn@theolivepress.es

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Cristina Hodgson cristina@theolivepress.es

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Final round? Does the arrest of key Irish crime boss mark an end of the bloody costas feud that has claimed 18 lives, including three innocents, asks Dilip Kuner

T was a bloody feud between two Irish gangs that started on the streets of the Costa del Sol, moved to Dublin and back, and resulted in the deaths of 18 people. It brought daylight gunshots to the gilded streets of Marbella, featured fake cops in a LIFTED: the ‘Monk’ arrested notorious boxing match assasination and led in Fuengirola to the deaths of three innocent people in cases of tragic mistaken identity. But now the ‘war’ that saw Ireland’s powerful Kinahan clan take on the ruthless Hutch gang, also from the Emerald Isle, appears to be finally over with the arrest of one of the chief protagonists, Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, in Fuengirola, this month. And the leader of the Kinahans - Daniel Kinahan - has long since left his Marbella bolthole to base himself in Dubai. As has his dad Christy. The war had pretty much petered out already with a number of trials taking place over the last few years… but perhaps the bloodshed ed ever since. Gerry Hutch had got too much even for two gangs that He is rumoured to have have never been slow to resort to violence. ‘retired’ with a fortune of AGED 58 The Monk has lost his elder brother, three €40 million having been nephews and several close friends in the the mastermind behind a ERRY ‘the Monk’ shockingly violent feud. While the Kinahans series of some of Ireland’s Hutch started life suspected of running Spain’s biggest cocaine biggest heists including as a small-time gang - have lost several close members, eithe €3.5 million armed gangster in Dublin, ther to the bullet or to lengthy jail terms. robbery of a Brinks Allied clocking up several minor The cycle of death started in 2014 when The Security Depot and the convictions in the sevenMonk’s nephew Gary Hutch had started to €1.98 million robbery of ties and early eighties. rise through the ranks of the Kinahan mob. an armoured van, both in But he then hit the big But things turned sour when Daniel Kinahan, Ireland. time with a gang specialisson of then boss Christy, refused to return He lived for over a decade ing in bank robberies and €100,000 Gary had ‘invested’ in a drugs deal. in the Canary Islands, has avoided being convictIn classic gangster fashion, a Hutch hitman mostly in Lanzarote where was dispatched to the Costa del Sol to kill he is thought to own variagreement between the Daniel. But he blundered badly and in a ous properties, particulartwo enemies, both Hutch case of mistaken identity he shot and sely around the ‘Irish Marbeland Kinahan were reportverely wounded innocent former boxer Jamie la’ of Puerto del Carmen. edly ‘furious’ with fellow Moore, in Estepona. He was nicknamed The gangster John Gilligan for It was a high profile shooting, covered in the Monk (the Spanish Gooallegedly ordering the hit. Olive Press, as the victim had been training gle translated this to ‘the Gilligan now lives in TorreBritish/Irish boxer Matthew Macklin, in prepaFriar’) for his ‘clean livvieja (Alicante), where poration for the middleweight’s next fight. ing’ by murdered Irish inlice initially believed they Macklin was the face of MGM Marbella - a vestigative journalist Vehad found the gun that boxing stable and gym which was financed by ronica Guerin, played by had killed Guerin. Kinahan, in Puerto Banus. Cate Blanchett, in the film He was found not guilty of According to reports the Hutch gang subsenamed after her. murdering Guerin in 1996, quently agreed to pay €200,000 ‘compensaShe was killed after runbut was charged with drug tion’ to the Kinahans, although it is not known ning a series of exposes on smuggling by Spanish poif the sum was ever handed over. the Dublin gangster scene. lice last year and is out on Either way, Gary Hutch obviously decided EXECUTED: Gary Hutch In a rare, unprecedented bail awaiting trial. the situation was safe enough for him to live openly in Spain and after a few months returned to live in the Angeles de Miraflores mon’s bar in Elviria (Marbella) and pumped shot - and the cycle of bloodshed continued. urbanisation in Mijas. It would prove to be a him full of bullets. It is thought he had stolen In the coming months and years a total of 18 money from the Kinahans. Never a good idea. people were to be killed. Sadly three of them fatal decision. In September 2015 he was assassinated in James Quinn - Gary Hutch’s later killer - was had nothing to do with the feud and were simthe gardens of the urbanisation by a shadowy convicted of being a getaway driver, but he ply in the wrong place at the wrong time. could not be pegged for the murder. In April, 2016, Martin O’Rourke was killed in figure in a balaclava. An eye witness later told a court how Gary was In the Regency raid the Hutch gang stormed Dublin by Kinahan’s men. They thought he chased through the gardens by hitman James the event, with two wearing Garda police uni- was someone else. Just 11 days later Michael forms and wielding AK-47 as- Barr was shot dead at the Sunset House pub Quinn. His last words were ‘No, sault rifles. Another two were on Summerhill Parade in Dublin. He was a disno, no!’, but Quinn showed no mercy. And ended up with a 22 Broad daylight in army fatigues, while a fifth, sident republican who the Kinahans wrongly believed to be Patrick Hutch, identified as one of the gunmen in the Regenyear stretch in a Spanish jail. It was this broad daylight slay- slaying brought was disguised in drag and cy Hotel shooting. taking off his wig as he And a dream holiday turned to horror in Auing that was to lead to the a new meaning seen later fled. gust, 2016, when Irishman Trevor O’Neill was deaths of 17 more people and Their target was Daniel Kinah- killed in front of his family while on a break brought a whole new meanto Costa del an, who was actually promot- in Mallorca in yet another case of m istaken ing to the term, the Costa del Crime ing the fight, in his then fledg- identity. Crime. ling new career. As shots rang Over the following two years frequent assasThe most notorious event in out around the hotel foyer, he sinations and attempted killings took place the bloodthirsty feud made somehow made his escape through a win- from both sides of the feud. headlines around the world. It took place at the Regency Hotel in Dublin dow. By the time the gunsmoke had cleared, The arrest of The Monk, and the departure to during the weigh-in for a WBO European light- Kinahan associate David Byrne lay dead, and Dubai of Christy and Daniel Kinahan - who has weight title fight between Jamie Kavanagh a second man was injured. (It is for this attack been trying to break into the boxing promotion that Gerry Hutch was this month detained in business - may finally have brought peace to and Antonio Joao Bento. the streets of the Costa del Sol - at least as far Jamie coincidentally is the son of Gerard ‘The Fuengirola on a European arrest warrant.) Hatchet’ Kavanagh who was a Kinahan ‘en- Three days after the Regency assault, taxi driv- as the Kinahan-Hutch conflict is concerned. forcer’ also murdered in Spain, in 2014 (see er Eddie Hutch, 58, the Monk’s elder brother, Whether they will continue to jostle over the was gunned down at his Dublin home. lucrative multi-billion euro cocaine trade comtrolley picture, far right). In the shocking attack, two assassins dressed The same day Noel ‘Kingsize’ Duggan and Noel ing out of Africa to Spain’s southern shores, in black had approached him outside Har- Kirwan, close friends of The Monk were also only time will tell.

TALE OF THE TAPE The bank robber ‘retired’ with €40m fortune Vs the ruthless king of the cocaine trade

August 26th - September 8th 2021

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TRIPLE BONUS

M Timeline of death

MOURNING: David Byrne’s funeral in Ireland

Daniel Kinahan AGED 44

HE boss of the Kinahan clan took over the reins from his father Christy over a decade ago. At the time of the feud the

SMOOTH: Dad Christy senior

Kinahan family was based between Marbella and Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol. The family - including Daniel’s younger brother Christy Junior has now moved to Dubai but are reputed to still control the Costa del Sol cocaine trade. They also own plenty of properties, including pubs and bars, while Daniel previously ran a sports magazine, called Score, based out of the Cristamar centre, in Marbella, which later launched in the UK with a claimed print run of 250,000. Since taking over leadership, Daniel has attempted to legitimise the family through the world of boxing. He did this firstly through the MGM gym in Puerto Banus - which is no longer associated with the Kinahans - and then through promoting fights. Heavyweight champ Tyson Fury actually thanked Daniel for setting up a series of multi-million euro fights with Anthony Joshua in 2020. This caused a storm in Ireland, with questions being asked in the Irish parliament and Fury has since distanced himself from the Kinahans.

● AUGUST 3, 2014: Former boxer and TV pundit Jamie Moore shot in Estepona in a case of mistaken identity by a Hutch hitman who was targeting Daniel Kinahan. ● SEPTEMBER 24, 2015: Gary Hutc h shot dead in Mijas by a Kinahan assassin. ● FEBRUARY 5, 2016: Five Hutch gunmen attack the Regency Hotel in Dublin. David Byrn e is shot dead and Sean McGovern is shot in the leg. ● FEBRUARY 8, 2016: Eddie Hutch, broth is killed at his home. He is said to haveer of the Monk, no connection with violent crime. ● APRIL 14, 2016: In a case of mista ken O’Rourke is killed by Kinahan’s men identity, Martin ● APRIL 25, 2016: Michael Barr is . wrongly one of the Regency Hotel gunmen and identified as is shot dead by the Kinahan clan. ● MAY 24, 2016: Gareth Hutch, a cousin of Gary and nephew of Eddie is shot dead. ● JULY 1, 2016: David Douglas is shot ● AUGUST 17, 2016: Innocent Trevo dead. r O’Neill is killed in front of his family while on holiday in Mallorca in a case of mistaken identity. ● DECEMBER 22, 2016: Noel Kirw an, a friend of Gerry Hutch is shot dead outside his hom e. ● MAY 10, 2017: Hutch associate James ‘Mago’ Gately is shot five times. ● MAY 31, 2017: Michael Keogh is shot dead by the Hutch gang. ● DECEMBER 2, 2017: Caine Kirwan, son of Noel Kirwan, is killed by the Kinahans. ● JANUARY 20, 2018: Derek Coa kley-Hutch, a nephew of The Monk, is shot dead. ● JANUARY 30, 2018: Jason Moly neux is two-man hit team having just returned shot dead by a home from the wake for Coakley-Hutch. ● DECEMBER 22, 2018: Eric Fowl er, who had ties to the Kinahan mob, is shot in the head by two gunmen in his own driveway in Dublin. ● AUGUST 12, 2021: Gerry Hutch is arrested by Spanish police accompanied by Irish Garda in Fuengirola.

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LETTERS

8 We’re all to blame

August 26th - September 8th 2021

SCAMMER TIME The summer season has brought out the 6scammers as we warned last month...

NEWS FEATURE

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Dear Olive Press,

h, too Little, Too Martin Tye’s article Too muc ulistic and counpop g bein to e clos very Late! is terproductive. ate disasters like Rightly, he highlighted clim ds. floo and es drought, hailston is on bla-bla poliAccording to Mr Tye, the blame d. ticians putting targets too far ahea are the real probBut it is we as individuals who lly reduce flights, lem. Who has started to drastica con at home? who is getting rid of cars and air- material in our Look at the quantities of packingwaway personal shopping trolleys and the thro a few examples. electronics culture, just to give tion lies far away solu the Do we really think that the Amazon and by stopping deforestation of in Indonesia withstopping palm oil plantations ng? out us individually doing somethi to come steadihave will ts men rove imp ity, In real us all involved ly and fast, but step by step with the rest of the to s lem prob the rt rather than expo world. currently pushing, This is exactly what the EU is at the same time, with tough step targets and, of support and making available huge amounts eed. succ to ing fund s are not creatBe aware that articles like Mr Tye’ y change, but ssar nece the for ort supp ing public anger against and n atio imis vict te rather they crea ch the translaun to g tryin ally those who are actu formation. your column, the Please take this into account for planet will appreciate it.

Wolfgang Maringer, Denia

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Watch out

Gas lighting

WHILE on a walk in Calahonda (Mijas) Myself and my wife both felt sometime soft hit our backs. We stopped and looked at each other’s backs, which were splattered with a soft brown mess. We were almost immediately approached by a man who was behind us. He said that we had been pooed on by the birds and was insistent that he helped us to clean up. He produced a small bottle of water and a small pack of tissues, and started to pour water onto my back from the bottle. He was very insistent that he help us and kept distracting me and my wife. It was only later that I discovered all the banknotes had been taken from my wallet which had been in my back pocket during the incident. I thought your readers should be warned about this sort of scam.

Nabout DESPITE the many warnings TIME TO ACT ‘fake’ gas fitters they still come out of Months after the Olive Press revealed been for a convicted British paedophijust how easy it had le to legally change the woodwork every his name,summer. apply for a new passport, access to children so that he couldmove to Spain and gain offend again, lawmakers in the UK finally considerin We had a visit from aareman in a ‘unig measures to close the loophole. It’s the start of a long legislative process that could eventualform’ saying we make needed an andannual ly see warnings placed on passports driving licences to it harder for sex offenders to slip under the radar and carry on offending. service to our gasWhat appliances. Unforseems like a no-brainer of dangerous criminals comes after an idea to keep tags on years of campaigning by tunately for him,fenders we don’t actually the Safeguard ing Alliance and after dozens of cases of re-ofoperating under new identities In the meantime how many paedophi have come to light. have any! loopholes in order to carry on abusingles have exploited such victims? Now, we know that it is a scam that SOLA R LOOP HOLE like will lead to a large bill, so would Back in Spain, campaigners are trying to close another kind of loophole entirely, one that seemingly to remind peoplecompanie that the gas compais allowing energy s to snap up vast swathes of the Spanish countryside without proper environmental impact studies. Each week nies never turn up at your door unwe hear of another protest staged by residents against new solar farm proposals that have suddenly come to light and threatena to destroy ancient pastures, announced. If you need revison you delicate biospheres and rural culture including farming and ecotourism. should make an appointment. Please Spain’s government is being called sideration so that the impact such on to allow proper conprojects could have in the long term can explored and don’t fall victim to thisbe fully very plausible the best place for them dutifully considered. Much of Spain’s coastline was ruined scam. during the construction boom years, through poor planning let’s not allow its rich wealth of

Kevin Bell, UK (on holiday in Mijas)

Being honest PEOPLE moan about the ‘beggars’ sitting outside supermarkets looking for loose change. At least they are being honest and not trying to steal!

OPINIO

countryside to be desecrated in the race for renewable energy. Perhaps it is time to heed the words of

Spain’s Charles V, the monarch who fiercely regretted the decision - made withAndy Williamson, Alicante out viewing the site - to allow permissio n for a cathedral to be built within Cordoba’s famous Mezquita. “You have built here what you or anyone might have you have destroyed what was uniquebuilt anywhere else, but in the world.”

Hug attack

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READERS should be careful when being approached by strangers in the street. My elderly father was strolling through Benidorm when a woman came up to him and embraced him. He was so taken aback that he did not notice that the complete stranger had NEWSD ESK: 0034 951 273 575 extracted his wallet from his pocket – he For all sales and advertising enquiries please was simply too embarrassed to realise. contact 951 27 35 75 Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es

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2016 - 2020

M SCA ALERT!

Summer’s here, and the thieving has started

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 unsuspec ting 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.

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 the palm reading. Either you are payment for pickpocketed while distracted, or they start wailing ting until you hand over some cash and shouto 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.

OUR WARNING: Last Highway robbers scam month

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They target rental or foreign cars, often at petrol stations or superma rket carparks, saying that either you have damaged your car or you have a flat tyre. While the victim looks for the an accomplice grabs bags and damage, valuables from the car before making an escape.

2012 - 2021

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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.

Down 2 Ahead, Dr. No saw confusion (7) 3 "--- Here to Eternity" (4) 4 Abhorrent (6) 5 Moves forward (8) 6 Relative by marriage (23) 7 Destitute (5) 8 Enthusiasts have it between the teeth (3,3) 14 Marshy areas (8) 17 Butcher's utensil (7) 18 Uncover (6) 19 Proceed in this for privacy (6) 20 Adhere closely (5) 21 Fiend (5) 23 Adroit (4)

All solutions are on page 12

WEB OF COR

Lead insp Kitchen f threats to corruptio Chaffers t long-runn and why i head agai

T was the corrup One of the bigg dozens of PP pa isters and even a multi-million eu backs and a sewer Now it has reared ther spotlight on t state as well as th cover up wrongdoin In a fascinating tria nearly a year, one o probing the Gurtel s Manuel Morocho h the dirty tactics and investigating the P system from 2009. The boss of Spain’s quency unit (UDEF) Caso Kitchen case PP, including forme Fernandez Diaz, pre vestigation and with ered. In particular they off ish embassy in Lisb dropped his investiga The case is probing ation, including wire against disgraced fo nas, who blew the wh Its aim was to prev counts listing payme to light. They included mer Prime Minister M Anti-corruption prose mer ministers Fernan Dolores de Cospedal posts, ordered forme larejo to ‘carry out t PP funds’. The ex-National Police in pre-trial custody si more evidence this m The corruption case b PP members and affili tion for crimes includin ing. At the center of th businessman Francisc lates to ‘gurtel’ in Ger the codename. It culminated in the hi 2018 which sent Corr figures to years in priso In a massive embarra found guilty of running t erated through a secre It led to the then Prime in a vote of no-confiden Yet the fallout from the s lar how the state tried to It hinged around Barce accounting system whi and cash payments (of party win elections and/ While Barcenas was fou

LA CULTURA

Islamic treasure

AN archaeological dig in the Puca area of Petrer has uncovered two walls belonging to a farmhouse dating back to the Middle Ages. Known as an alqueria, it formed the centrepiece of a Muslim settlement and excavations have been carried out for decades to try to find it. Plaster on the wall suggests the alqueria stood between the 11th and 13th centuries when the area was under Islamic rule. A typical Valencian alqueria would have had a rectangular shape split into living quarters and areas to store harvested products or even to rear silkworms. Ceramic remains dating back to the Andalucian period, which started in the late 10th century, have also been discovered.

Keyboard warrior RENOWNED French pianist Pierre-Laurent Boucharlat will play a recital in l'Alfas del Pi tomorrow (Friday). He will perform works by Bethoveen, Saint-Saens and Debussy among others in the free concert. The event is part of the fourth Concerts a la Lluna de l'Albir festival, organised by the Department of Culture. The last time the celebrated pianist came to Spain was for a concert in Almeria in 2019. Boucharlat made his orchestral debut at the age of 13 and played his first solo recital aged 15. Trained at two of the best conservatories in France, he has received two international prizes: Darius Milhaud 1997 and Spedidan 1999. There will be mandatory use of masks and safe social distancing must be maintained. The performance will take place at 10.30pm in the Platja Albir social centre.

August 26th September 8th 2021

Afghan tragedy

FALLAS H ARE GO!

Dear Jennifer:

Time to take control of your future during these difficult events

Valencia prepares for traditional celebrations but without the fireworks By Glenn Wickman

THE world famous Fallas festival is returning to Valencia after two years. But the September extravaganza will be a little different from normal. In particular, the famous fireworks displays will not be taking place, leading to mayor Joan Ribo to insist ‘this is not the Fallas festival of normal... more like Fallas-related events complying with the regulations’. The daily mascleta firecracker detonations in the City

PAST GLORY: Famous ninots and (below) one on fire Hall square and all major firework displays have been dropped. There will however, still be plenty going on, including the flower offerings to the Virgin Mary – but without the usual thousands of spectators lining the route. And naturally, the giant iconic papier-mache statues (ninots) of celebrities, sportsmen and politicians have been brought out of storage. They had been carefully packed away (and not set on fire as normal) since the cancellation of the Spring Fallas last year. The festival usually takes place between March 15 and 19, with months of preparations and warm-up events. The nocturnal curfew at 1am will be maintained for the duration of the ‘non-Fallas’.

C’est magnifique! FRENCH actor Marion Cotillard will receive the honorary Donostia Award for Best Actress at the 69th San Sebastian International Film Festival. The 45-year-old Parisian is considered ‘one of the most international French actresses in contemporary cinema’, said organisers. Oscar-winner Cotillard made her film debut in the 1994 French romantic drama L'histoire du garçon qui voulait qu'on l'embrasse (The story of the boy who wanted to be kissed). Her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose (2007) won her international recognition, including an Oscar and Golden Globe.

GIANT: Statues tower over Valencia’s streets

The main events scheduled for September 1 to 5 will culminate with the ritual burning (crema) of the statues. Last year’s cancellation was only the sixth occasion the huge and colourful papier-mache statues failed to adorn the streets of the city since starting in the 19th century.

OW different our world is from two years ago. I was personally concerned at the speed that many people were living at, the pollution, climate change and very few people seemed to be content with their lives. I am a firm believer in Mother Nature turning round on us, trying to give us warnings but of course, everybody was too busy in the world, trying to make money, with no time to look over their shoulders to discover what was happening. Then a huge bomb exploded in the name of COVID. Unfortunately it took a while for the various governments to react, and it started to take over, with many becoming ill and sadly death was always round the corner. The consequences of COVID will probably always be us, with new variants, and life will never feel the same. On a positive side, I have heard many times that people have discovered the beauty around them and there are many fighting against climate change, especially among the young. The reaction to COVID has been very demanding on the authorities and, very sadly, the everyday illnesses and conditions have had to take a back seat which of course, must be very frightening for those who have a health problem. At the same time, BREXIT was sort of forgotten but more and more issues are beginning to come to light, usually to the detriment of the UK. For example, empty shelves, and horrors – chickens seem to be disappearing from certain restaurants. However, we have another tragedy - Afghanistan. When I look at the soldiers who have been badly injured and think of the ones who died, I along with many, especially the military, are horrified at the speed at which everything is happening there. So much was given by the forces to try and keep the Taliban out but our politicians had other thoughts and we are already seeing the consequences. Once again, the risk of terrorism could be on the rise. Nothing is easy but maybe now is the time to make sure that you and your family are protected from whatever is around the corner. If in doubt, ensure all your documents and paperwork are correct and that they are the best you can do for your family.

IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, JUST CALL US ON 966 461 690, EMAIL INFO@JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET

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Smells fishy 6

GREEN SPECIAL

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Half dozen key steps for net zero

Green Spec

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Heatwaves, droughts and floods

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OPINION

PROSECUTORS are investigating new incidents of dead fish washing onto beaches of the Mar Menor lagoon in Murcia. Beaches at Los Nietos, Los Urrutias, Cala del Pino, and Mar de Cristal were among those affected as thousands of dead fish as well as octopus and shrimps washed up. Green group SOS Mar Menor claims the new incidents were caused by high temperatures and a lack of wind cutting oxygen levels in the lagoon water.

Deaths

However prosecutors are also looking to see if a general deterioration of the lagoon was behind the deaths or whether it was a specific case of pollution. It comes after another big probe into pollution in the Mar Menor, gathered steam. A court probe has already ordered dozens of firms to answer why tens of thousands of oxygen-starved fish washed up on shores in October 2019. Prosecutors are certain the deaths came from the unau-

As desertification threatens 75% of Spain and sea level rises spell doom Shannon Chaffers takes a look at how for tourism, the country is handling climate change

RECENT heatwave that above pre-industrial levels… swept across Canada and the Mediterranean has al- climate scientist Francisco Blanand the United States ready seen an average rise of co Velazquez. set record tempera1.5ºC since the end of the 19th He told the Olive Press that protures, while flooding in central longed periods of extreme heat Century. Europe claimed at least 100 officially described as heatwaves Extreme heat lives. Both due to global warm- will only become leads to the deing. more frequent as terioration of soil And while Spain swelters in the region warms. to the extent that For every yet another scorching hot July, “The frequency of it can no longer it won’t come as a surprise to degree of heat waves has sustain former learn that the Mediterranean increased signifiplant life. It bewarming there cantly region is particularly vulnerable over the comes less and as global temperatures rise. last ten years and will be a 4% less productive. A 2018 report identified that it will not change. The problem is 75% of Spain’s land mass is drop in rainfall Spain knows that often worsened now at risk of desertification, we need to adapt by over-cultivamaking it one of the most atto this threat betion, deforestarisk nations in the world. cause it is a risk for tion, and urbanization, all conDesertification means more tributing factors placing Spain human health,” added Velazquez than just the expansion of deswho works at Evenor-Tech, a even more in the danger zone. erts, although that is one very “Spain is one of the countries company that researches the imreal result, particularly if temclassified as high-risk for cli- pact climate change has on soil. peratures rise to more than 2ºC mate change impacts,” insists Unfortunately, adverse impacts don’t stop there. With rising tem-

Small sea, GIANT PROBLEM

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Solar solution ONE of Spain’s biggest regions could be generating all its power from domestic solar panels, according to a renewable energy firm. EDP Solar says that the Valencian community has 2,800 hours of sunshine per year, which puts it into pole position to see home panel installations rise over the next few years. The company claims that 82% of homes have already got the space to install solar panels which could have the potential to account for 99% of the region's demand for electricity. “Spain is the country with the most solar radiation in Europe and within it, the Valencian Community has the most sunshine hours and the greatest solar potential,” said Gabriel Nebreda, director of EDP. His claims would avoid the annual emission of almost 9.2 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

how it went

DISASTER: Tens of thousands of dead fish, our report last issue (above) Jo Scott

on page 6

DOOME CLOSE D TO Costa Blanca for the return hotels are left praying of UK Germans and Frenchtourists - with staying home

Pollution probe

Katherine Brook katherine@theolivepress.es

Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es

Female expat makes moving tribute to her famous bullrunning dad

2021

tourism industry, which currently drives 12 to 15% of Spain’s economy and much more in key regions like the Balearics, Valencia and Andalucia. Flood risk is also predicted to increase throughout

OVER 40,000 signed a petition people have cinated British to allow vacthe UK without Expats to visit quarantining. It comes after dozens pats expressed of outrage atexrule that made them a and needing exempt their return to quarantine on friends back to see family or The digital home. petition, claimed which up to six the rule prejudiced million Britons ing abroad, livcaused a response rapid ernment, from the UK govdefending matic approach’. its ‘pragA spokesman RECENTLY-reopened said: “Public health has Blanca hotels Costa already number onealways been our close will have put many again priority to off making will not risk throwingand we do not pick if UK bookings a plunge families our hard-won summer away The regionalup next month. holidays for their achievements.” By Alex Trelinski For the petition this in Spain hoteliers ciation, Hosbec asso- But year. EU COVID to be consid- is ered in Parliament there very difficult insists that it Mayor. bring in certificate would reach 100,000 sands who are tens of thouit needs to British market. Mayor regards are still France andEU tourists as signatures. to itable without thestay prof- to travel From masses of Germany normal break for theirplanning most the last the UK as al- not recommending British tourists. are cinated’July 19, ‘fully-vacannual the The British in the Letters special summer hope in saving ish travel, which Span- England tourists “If British sun. government’s season with confusing on page already tourists 10 arrive in an us with the Britishjust leaves ber-listed going to an from do not visitors gloomy outlook ly-changing and frequentmarket,” country like amover said Mayor. doomed August, hotels are messages will no longer to closure,” Germany.from France and Many hotels Spain have ed Hosbec president,insist- “Rising have to into self-quarantine in late June only reopened go bike rentAL • return. Toni reduced COVID cases on their or early have month in e-scooters this However the hope that the laxed UK anticipation of reall British BIKE TOURS • minus children tourists, are heavilytravel rules as they repairS dependent under age on the two of four, will still the negative need They have COVID tests. fore you to be booked beand can get on your flight cost up (€117) each. to £100 Holidaymakers have to get will also gen test priora negative antito flying home.

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Graham Keeley graham@theolivepress.es

- July 28th

See page 14

thorised use and dumping of desalinated water in the lagoon by farmers in the I Campo de Cartagena area. Meanwhile the Murcia government says that it will file a complaint with prosecutors against Spain's Ecological Transition Minister, Teresa Ribera. The PP-led regional administration, which has been in power since 1995, says that the PSOE minister has done nothing to stop fresh water and nutrients being poured into the Mar Menor. They also claim Ribera broke promises made over removing sludge. The regional PP government itself has also been heavily criticised for not doing enough during their tenure to protect the Mar Menor. The lagoon has been branded by campaigners as one of Europe's major environmental disasters. ADMIN Sandra Aviles Diaz (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

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ticularly at risk for erosion and flooding. This poses not just a threat to those who live in coastal and floodplain areas but will have a massive impact on Spain’s

Rollercoaster getting marriedride for our man on the Rock Euro final during Find out

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peratures come reduced rainfall and drought. The MedECC group (Mediterrranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change) estimates that with each degree of warming there will be a 4% decrease in rainfall. And this will bring an increasingly arid climate with more droughts and fires, phenomena that Spain is already seeing. There is also the threat of rising sea levels, as increasing temperatures have caused faster melting of glaciers and ice caps, resulting in the sea level rising globally at a rate of about 3mm per year over the last two decades. While it is uncertain exactly how much the Med will be affected, experts have made clear that Spain’s coastal regions are par-

The

QUESTIONS NEED ANSWERING

the country, as extreme rainfall events become more common pected rise of invasive species also poses a threat. in a warmer world. But increased rainfall doesn’t This food scarcity issue could be mean an end to water shortag- compounded by the effects of es, quite the opposite: Torrential rising temperatures on Spain’s rain and subsequent flooding marine ecosystem. threatens water stores, destroys Already, overfishing is a major drainage and water supply sys- problem in Spain. With warmer tems and compounds the risk of ocean and freshwater temperatures, combined with ocean aciddrought. These same factors also threat- ification due to higher levels of en Spain’s food supply. Heat CO2, once abundant species of waves, droughts, and heavy fish will become more scarce. rainfall all have a detrimental But amid this doom and gloom, effect on crops, while the ex- Velazquez believes Spain has the right tools to adapt to climate change. “I think that the strategy to adapt to climate change is [on the right path]. Several initiatives are on the table and they will be adapted if it is required,” he explains. Indeed, Spain recently passed its first law aimed at combating climate change, putting the country on track to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in line with EU goals. Velazquez believes this plan sets Spain on the right track. “The current carbon neutral plan is ambitious but if it is correctly implemented, and other countries do it too, the final results will set us on the right path,” he said. But for some Spanish environmental activists, the plan falls far short of what is needed. The Spanish government was recently hit with a Supreme Court petition by activists insisting it lacked ambition and had no chance of preventing global temperatures from rising 1.5ºC by 2030.

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A GOLF course is judge investigating among a blacklist into the Mar the dumping of polluters given to a of improperly-treated Judge Angel Menor. Garrote has water nesses to ordered 42 testify, as agriculture-based well as the bosses busiContinues

T’S an area that was long known for its beauty with its breathtaking geography and varied flora and fauna. But today the Mar Menor, in Murcia, makes headlines for the horrific pollution that has ravaged the lagoon killing tens of thousands of fish as people in power stood by peared to do little or nothing about it. and apTake a trip to the southern shore, an area once teeming with tourists drawn to the en sands and clear blue water of Punta goldBrava beach, in Los Urrutias. Today the coastal stretch is awash with dirty mush, covered in algae and emitting a putrid ‘rotten-egg’ stench. The water is distinctly murky and, not surprisingly, there’s barely a bather in sight. Cleaning teams from Cartagena City Council come and go, but are faced with a thankless task as any work is quickly undone fresh wave of algae sweeping in. Los with a Urrutias is one of the worst pollution blackspots because of its close proximity to a creek ing gallons of nitrate-laden irrigation dumpwater into the lagoon. So bad was the situation that in 2016 plankton, also known as microalgae, phytounder attack, due to the high levels of came nitrate in the water.

The surface ended up turning dark green stopping sunlight reaching lagoon vegetation and leading to the loss of 80% of its seagrass, according to the Institute of Oceanography. Within a year, all of the Mar Menor’s beaches were stripped of their ‘Blue Flag’ status. Just when it didn’t seem things could get worse, in September 2019, exceptional flooding saw excess water pumped in the lagoon, which in turn led to tens of thousands of oxygen-starved fish washing up dead beaches such as Villanantitos at San onto Pedro del Pinatar. The images flashed around the world as over three tons of fish and crustaceans were collected from the beaches. Tests confirmed they had died of anoxia (lack of oxygen) worse, there were countless thousands and, more dead on the bottom of the lagoon. It caused a national outrage and, as in the Olive Press, some 55,000 covered marched on the regional parliamentpeople (see right) in Cartagena to call for urgent action. “The floods were the last straw,” recalls Manga resident, Graham Bradley. “There La anger that nothing had been done for was about preserving such a beautiful area.years It is incomprehensible how this has been allowed to happen,” he added.

on Page

Spain’s Mar Menor is Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon, and now the site of one of the continent’s greatest ecological disasters, writes Alex Trelinski would end up in the water and would annihilate the flora and fauna,” recalls one campaigner Isabel Rubio. There were other issues too. Like much of coastal Spain, the 1970s saw tourists flood in from abroad leading to a construction boom with buildings constructed all along the shore, particularly in the mid-1980s. Then followed dredging work to allow access for bigger boats that further damaged the delicate ecosystem. But the biggest environmental threat came from the large number of unlicensed desalination were introduced by farmers for irrigation plants that around the

DISASTER: The OP’s feature

Campo de Cartagena. A law change in 1979 meant irrigated zones increased by over ten times, while an alarming quarter of the region became ‘watered’ illegally without licences. It was good news, of course, for northern internationally-exported crops saw their Europe, as reliance on rain reduced. Fruit and vegetables ended up on UK shelves with customers oblivious to the supermarket environmental price paid to get them there. It was a similar situation in the Campo de Dalias in Almeria, where the aquifers were drained intensive agriculture, mostly under plastic,so fast by that the spread of desertification rapidly sped up. However, while these green gold crops brought a Continues on page 9

HE Olive Press has been batting for Spain live on Sky twice over the last week. Editor Jon Clarke pleaded with the UK government not to put the country ber-plus list despite rising COVID-19 on the amHe told Sky News breakfast show figures. sharp rise in infections, the key that, despite a statistic was far lower hospital numbers. Alongside the Greek Tourist Minister, he also pointed out how well Spain had done to get 55% of the country vaccinated - overtaking France and even the UK. It means that it is largely youngsters catching COVID in Spain now and they mostly ‘swat it away easily’. The Olive Press team are regularly UK news channels, also including appearing on the BBC and ITV, giving their detailed local analysis on key issues around Spain. We have also helped on a trio of investigative documentaries, including one for Swedish national TV and another for Australia’s CBS, over the last month. We are the most trusted English Spain, which is reflected in rising media outlet in online numbers of well over 20,000 visitors a day. Thousands of regulars have now signed up to our paywall, which provides over 20 stories a day about the country.

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

luggage rules over flight switches are 1- Ryanair ruled unfair by the Supreme Court in Spain knitters create beautiful crochet screen 2- Local to keep sun off the streets in town inland from

Zero

These include cutting our driving by 4%, our flying by 6% and by dropping our consumption of meat and dairy by 20%. KIM CLARK “It is not the case that net zero requires total transformation in all aspects of our lives,” said a spokesman for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

Bison

Germany fied the last week classi‘high risk’whole of Spain as there is for COVID-19, but right bar currently no outcoming toon German visitors Spain if they an EU COVID certificate.have The same tourists, applies to French who are ond-highest the seceign visitorsnumber of fortraditionally after the However UK. Minister a French Junior Spain andsuggested that both Portugal ‘safe destinations’, were not tion denied a by Spain’ssuggesism Minister, TourReyes Maroto.

And it certainly is not a recent problem. Environmental campaigners have spent the last four decades slamming the huge number of farms in the area that allowed their wastewater to enter the inland lagoon. Warnings were first sounded when the dangers of intensive farming, urban development and mining were seen to serious threat to the area’s ecosystem.pose a “I remember a scientist saying in 1980 farming developed close to the lagoon,that if then remnants of fertilisers and other nutrients

A SERIES of small, key behavioural 7 changes will be enough to prevent global warning, a key environmental Live on think tank has claimed. TheT British body has laid out six important steps that will help Europe reach its goal of cutting emissions to net zero by 2050.

July 28th - August 10th 2021

A New probe as thousands more dead fish wash up on the shores of Europe’s largest salt water lagoon IT seems like every day there is a new headline reminding us of the very real effect of climate change on our environment. Just this week we have seen record temperatures in Aragon, fires raging in Catalunya and drought warnings in Andalucia. Another week and there might be flash floods, coastal erosion, warnings of overfishing. We are very aware that Spain is particularly vulnerable to the dangers of climate change but are we really doing enough to tackle it? Volunteers may give up a day here pick up litter on a local beach or and there to wildlife spot. And we all do the best we can to recycle don’t we? COVID may have curtailed our air travel and therefore reduced our carbon footprints over the last year, but let’s face it, we still rely too much on gas-guzzling cars, on air conditioning in summer and central heating in winter. We still want our favourite vegetables available on supermarket shelves even when they are not in season. We still eat too much meat. Even environmentalists aren’t united forward as our recent reports on on the way against mass solar parks illustrate. the protests But it’s time we woke up to the disaster ahead and pushed our governments to take riously. Why has no-one been held it more sefor an ecological disaster as huge accountable as the one we have witnessed in the Mar Menor (see right)? Are the energy companies going to be allowed to continue to make big profits, and ers to get off scot free while the rest big pollutthrough our plastics and carry home of us sort our shopping in hemp bags in the belief that we are doing our bit?

August 26th - September 8th 2021

The fight against climate change extends beyond action at a national level, however, and Spaniards are walking up to the need to become more environmentally friendly at home. Aside from recycling far more, in Andalucia, farmers are being handed subsidies to switch to more sustainable methods of farming in a bid to fend off de-

sertification. Elsewhere, both Malaga and Madrid have released plans to create a green belt around their cities (see green page 9), while other initiatives include the reintroduction of bison, long extinct within Spain, for the effective way they graze on undergrowth and help to prevent forest fires. The jury is still out whether these efforts will be enough to mitigate the impending consequences of climate change, but Velazquez believes that with continued action on the issue, we have a chance. “Climate change impacts are inevitable,” he concludes. “The increase of droughts, heat waves, and wildfires will affect us, but we can reduce their impacts if we work on it now. If we delay any longer, maybe it will be too late.”

Spain’s Costa del Sol

known towns worth a visit on 3- Five lesser Spain’s Costa del Sol this summer expat returns to Spain to find 4- Irish living in her home and demandingsquatter money to move out

Spain’s Balearic Islands will cover cost 5are-triate Covid-19 positive tourists whose to repaholidays prolonged with mandatory 10-day quarantine

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“There is a relatively small number of key behavioural changes that will deliver most of the necessary emissions reductions. “Some have argued mass transition to vegetarianism, an end to international flights or mass transition from cars. They are not necessarily required to meet net zero.” Other key changes involve car fleets becoming 60% electric by 2035 and all new cars being electric by then. In addition, 40% of homes need low carbon heating or air conditioning using heat pumps. Heating systems need to be low carbon. We will also need to reduce waste per person by 37% via recycling, composting and lower consumption.

Martin Tye explains how Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction

UST how serious are our elected governments taking climate change? You be the judge. Readers of this column know my thoughts and plenty of you regularly get in touch. Two centuries ago Great Britain led the global industrial revolution. Today, Boris Johnson’s government claims to be leading the charge towards net zero by 2050 with its much publicised new Green Revolution. In November of last year Boris and Alok Sharma, secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy published a 10-point plan of action.

Matters

DO SOMETHING!

It went like this: 1. Advancing Offshore Wind 2. Driving the Growth of Low Carbon Hydrogen 3. Delivering new and advanced Nuclear Power 4. Accelerating the shift to Zero Emission Vehicles 5. Green public transport 6. Jet zero and green ships 7. Greener buildings 8. Investing in Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage 9. Protecting our Natural Environment 10. Green finance and innovation

ACTION: Alok Sharma gave 10 point plan

I fully agree with all of this. However the problem is seeing these words turned into action. The government’s own advisory Climate Change Committee states that 1% of GDP needs to be spent every year to ensure that net zero targets are met. But the WWF reports that in the March 2021 budget green policies add up to 0.01% of GDP. Talk is cheap, actions are weak, and some government proposals fly in the face of going green.

How can a new coal mine even be considered in Cumbria?? How can a new oil field be on the cards off Shetland?? Every day we see the effects of global warming. Governments need to step up now and make difficult and costly decisions. Inaction is a weapon of mass destruction. Many thanks to all of you for the emails you send.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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BUSINESS

August 26th - September 8th 2021

High viz, high price

IBERDROLA WATER THEFT PROBE WHILE illegal cannabis farms have been much in the news recently, a new business deal shows that there is legal money to be made from the leafy drug. UK firm Grow has acquired Sanoid Isolates, a medical cannabis production plant in Sevilla. The aim is to turn it into an integrated cannabis research, production and distribution company. It is much more than just a farm. As well as a total of eight hectares of land, including four hectares of high-tech greenhouses, it has developed processes for refining and isolating active medicinal ingredients from raw cannabis.

Ambition

Ben Langley, CEO of Grow, said: “This acquisition showcases our ambition to become Europe’s leading supplier of cannabis medicines, creating an efficient supply chain from farm right through to pharmacy, to better serve thousands of patients. “It will allow us to produce new cannabis medicines that the market needs, while giving us the infrastructure to carry out production and extraction efficiently and cheaply. “The deal not only solidifies our ability to produce medicines for those patients we support in the UK, but will also support us as we expand globally.”

mon sense would recommend in the use of such a sensitive public resource.” The big drop in the water level is partly due to a nearby hydroelectric plant closing down, according to the water authority. It added that the consequence was that the system relied more heavily on Ricobayo reservoir. Iberdrola says it is drawing on the reservoir according to the rules.

Councils in the Ricobayo area have complained about the state of the reservoir which has coincided with record-high electricity prices. Iberdrola said that hydro reserves were used when they are most needed, either because other sources were not available or because they can replace more expensive ones.

Coffers boosted €9bn of EU recovery cash handed to Spain SPAIN has pocketed its first payout from the European COVID Recovery Fund. The country has had €9 billion of its €69.5 billion allocation from the EU. The money will be used for structural changes to its economy in the wake of the pandemic. Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said: “We continue to move towards a greener, digital, feminist, and cohesive country, setting into motion the great transformation our country needs.” The cash will go to renewable energy sources, improving digitalisation, and cutting youth unemployment. European Commission

By Alex Trelinski

President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “I am convinced that Spain’s ambitious plan will provide a crucial push for the European Green Deal to become a reality. “It will make Spain more resilient than ever.”. Some of the fund will be used to develop electric car production in Spain. Other projects include extending ultra fast broadband to the whole country and laying 335 kilometres of new rail tracks. A second €10 billion payment is scheduled for December.

UNITED: Van der Leyen and Sanchez

WHAT do you get the man who has everything? A ‘designer’ high-viz jacket that costs only €3,000 of course. Spanish fashion house Balenciaga has designed the coat which has gone up for sale on appropriately named e-commerce platform FarFetch for a whopping €2,990 – and been roundly mocked on social media. “What? Just 3,000 to look like a builder” as well as “This one comes with a CSCS [Construction Skills Certification Scheme] card”. And other commentators point out that you can achieve the same look for around €20 by popping down to the local Chinese shop. Officially the puffer coat, called AW21, is described as heading up a ‘dystopian collection, where the looks represent a sort of armour for everyday life’.

SALES ROCKETING PROPERTY sales across Spain have surged to levels not reached since before the crisis – and we are not talking about the pandemic but since the nation’s construction bubble burst back in 2008 with the onset of the global financial crisis. With 64,877 homes sold across the whole of Spain in June, according to latest data from the Association of Spanish Notaries, this marks a growth of 70% compared to the same month a year earlier. Lockdown This may not seem surprising considering June, 2020 was the month Spain came out of its first COVID-19 lockdown and was a time when many were in the grip of eco-

nomic uncertainty. However, the recovery is such that sales in June marked the first time the market has risen above 60,000 sales per month since 2007. In Andalucia as a whole, sales were up by more than 75% in June compared to the same month in 2020, as they were in the Balearics and Catalonia, with Valencia seeing a 100% rise. A comparison with pre-pandemic years shows sales were also 41% higher than 2019, and 13% higher than 2018. Equally good news is that after a period of consolidation, Spanish banks are in rude health and well capitalised so finance professionals have seen a spectacular recovery across Spain, with buyers full of confidence

Staycation incentive LOCAL residents are being offered huge reductions on autumn staycations under a holiday voucher scheme subsidised by the Generaltitat. The discounts of up to 70% are for stays at selected accommodation within the Valencian Community from September 15 to December 31. The Viatgem scheme was launched to boost domestic tourism in an effort to limit damage to a sector that hugely suffered due to the pandemic. The Valencian government is spending €5 million on 12,500 new vouchers as part of an overall €14.3 million budget. Some 75,000 residents have used the scheme since it was introduced last year. Holidaymakers can save up to €600 but must stay for at least two nights in accommodation owned by participating members. The website for voucher applications is bonoviajecv.gva.es

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Wolf, 4 Oration, 9 Red, 10 How so?, 11 Involve, 12 Bart, 13 Turn away, 15 Tester, 16 Rescue, 20 Cadillac, 22 Kelp, 24 Immense, 25 Elvis, 26 Ref, 27 Gangsta, 28 Tore Down: 2 Onwards, 3 From, 4 Odious, 5 Advances, 6 In-law, 7 Needy, 8 The bit, 14 Wetlands, 17 Cleaver, 18 Expose, 19 Camera, 20 Cling, 21 Demon, 23 Deft

SUDOKU

Rolling in

ONE of Spain’s leading electricity companies is being investigated over its controversial use of reservoir water. Iberdrola has been accused of breaking rules at the Ricobayo reservoir in Zamora. The reservoir has been drained down to 11% of its capacity over just+ five months. Environment minister, Hugo Moran, said: “This has gone beyond what com-

and actively seeking mortgages to enable them to realise their property dream. Some parts of the country like Marbella and the Balearics weres not as badly affected as some other regions of Spain in the recent pandemic crisis. Together with the recovery since the economic crisis of a few years earlier, it proves the long term investment potential of the property market.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Spicy offering

AS part of the airline’s COVID recovery program, Ryanair has added dozens more flights to its weekly roster to and from Spain. Throughout September and October, Ryanair will have six different routes from Spain to Morocco, with more weekly flights to Tangier and Tetouan. These include new routings to the largely undiscovered city of Oujda, while there will be two new weekly flights from Alicante to Tetouan.

August 26th - September 8th 2021

Get off my land City slickers ordered to stay away from rural northern town if they don’t like farmyard smells and other country annoyances

Bordeaux

For winter, Ryanair will be adding an additional 21 routes and more than 2000 weekly flights, from popular Spanish airports to locations across Europe such as Bordeaux, Arlanda, Stockholm and Frankfurt. Jason McGuinness, director of commercial Ryanair, said: “We are delighted to continue to fuel recovery and growth in Spain despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our new 2021 winter Spanish routes are perfect for customers looking to enjoy a winter break.”

VISIT: Morocco

TOWNIES have been ordered to avoid holidays in rural idylls around northern Spain. One town in Asturias has even recommended city dwellers stay away if they don’t like the ways of the country.

By Fiona Govan

The council in Ribadesella (population 5,600) pinned up warning posters around the picturesque coastal re-

SNAPPY SNACKS

IT will come as no surprise - but paella has been named as the most Instagrammable dish in Spain. The Valencian invention, which has numerous meat, seafood and vegetarian variations has received over 3.3 million hashtags to date. The Galician favourite of empanadas - pastries traditionally filled with tuna - come in second with 2.8 million to date. Despite a long-term debate over soup being considered a meal, gazpacho has been tagged over 380,000 times to date, just ahead of Spain’s legendary tortilla de patatas (331,658). Fideua has 164,250 hashtags, while suckling lamb (lechazo) has 22,850.

sort, where green pastures roll down to the sea. It warns visitors to ‘assume all risks’ including braying donkeys, cow dung and cocks crowing - or simply visit somewhere else.

Top 10 pictured dishes

1. Paella (3,325,532) 2. Empanadas (2,756,145) 3. Gazpacho (380,257) 4. Tortilla de patata (331,658) 5. Bocadillos (306,422) 6. Fideuà (164,250) 7. Cocido (130,235) 8. Lechazo (22,850) 9. Pollo al ajillo (6,800) 10. Arroz con huevo (6,319)

“Here we have church bells that peal regularly, roosters that crow early in the morning and livestock that live nearby and even carry cowbells that also make noise,” it reads. “We have tractors owned by farmers that toil to feed you and we have lanes not motorways (so drive carefully). “If you can’t handle all this, then you may not be in the right place,” it adds. The tongue-in-cheek posters come in response to a flurry of complaints made in phone calls to the town hall from recent city slicker visitors. “It’s a wake-up call to defend our way of life,” explained Luis Sanchez, Ribadesella’s deputy mayor. “We’re responding to those surprised to hear a rooster crowing at dawn and call to

WARNING: Stay out of Ribadesella (left) to avoid donkeys complain that their sleep is being disturbed,” he added. He confirmed the council had received calls about braying donkeys and even dung dropped in the middle of the road by a herd of meandering cattle. “These things are a normal part of daily life in villages,” Sanchez said. The poster at least ends on a positive note, welcoming those who genuinely seek the bucolic lifestyle. “If you can bear all this, you’ll enjoy the wonderful surroundings and the excellent products made by our fantastic farmers and artisans,” it adds.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

August 26th - September 8th 2021

COOLING OFF ISOLATED: The Sierra de Albarracin and Spain’s coolest town Griegos (circled)

ESPITE the heatwave of mid-August finally subsiding after forcing the mercury above 40ºC, many people in Spain are still dreaming of cooler climes. While Spain’s northwestern corner has escaped the brunt of the high temperatures, there are more options than a trip to Galicia or Asturias to find a respite from the scorching sun. The place in Spain that has officially been declared the town with the lowest temperatures during summer is actually located in rural Teruel province in east-central Spain, roughly halfway between Madrid and Valencia as the crow flies. Griegos, in the Sierra de Albarracin, is the second highest town in Spain sitting at an altitude of 1,604 metres and only beaten by Valdelinares, a town about two hours drive east within the same UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

province. In Griegos, the thermometer can often drop to 0ºC even in August, and a duvet is most definitely required. To those in the scorched plains of central Spain or the humid south or east, that probably sounds blissful. But don’t all rush there at once. Griegos has little tourist accommodation within the village itself, except a private home offered for rental on Booking.com although on the outskirts of the town surrounded by pine trees, you will find an albergue with basic hostel-style accommodation. And there’s isn’t an awful lot to do in the town,

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SLEEPY: Griegos square WILD: The Rio Guadalaviar flows through Albarracin

TIMELESS: Albarracin is also sleepy and empty in August except visit the Butterfly House or the 16th century church of San Pedro. But if you want to enjoy the cooler temperatures and beautiful walks through nature there are countless hiking paths through the unspoilt woods of the surrounding hills. Visitors can be sure of dining well at the town’s only restaurant, El Paladar de Aragon, which has a great value restaurant. Close by you must also visit the capital of the local mountain range Albarracin itself. This gem of a town has been voted one of the most beautiful villages of Spain and it is not hard to see why. Almost totally unspoilt, it counts on a stunning hillside location (above) in a green, leafy valley and with a wonderful collection of stone houses, palaces and churches. It has a better collection of places

Photos by Jon Clarke

Take a trip to the province of Teruel to find Spain’s coolest place in summer… and make sure to stop off at stunning Albarracin on the way, writes Fiona Govan

to stay, including the excellent Hospederia de Batan (www.elbatan.es), which sits in its own valley with breathtaking local scenery and a Michelin-star restaurant to boot (the only one in Teruel province). In the heart of town a great choice of restaurant is Senorio de Albarracin (www.senoriodealbarracin.com) which has a surprisingly interesting and creative menu, with plenty of good wines as well.

Back in Griegos, the town has recently launched an appeal to attract young families, as its numbers have dwindled to just 130 residents over recent years. The town, like countless others within Teruel province of Aragon, suffers from a falling population after decades of abandoning rural life for opportunities in the cities. The town council is currently offering young families a free house and a job to encourage them to relocate in a bid to stop the town dying out and the local school closing. For those suffering in the heat elsewhere in Spain this month, that sounds like a tempting offer.

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Egg-static EIGHT baby loggerhead sea turtles have hatched on a beach in Mojacar (Almeria) after their nest was put under 24-hour surveillance to make sure they were not harmed.

FINAL WORDS

Poor show FOOTBALL fans in Madrid are among the least satisfied when it comes to stadiums with Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Atletico Madrid’s Wanda stadium branded the eighth and ninth worst stadiums in Europe by Livefootballtickets.com.

Still going SHOEMAKER Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia from Leon, aged 112, is officially the world’s oldest man following the death of Puerto Rican farmer Emilio Flores Marquez just four days after he turned 113.

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August 26th - September 8th 2021

NEARLY 500 dog owners have been fined in a clampdown of illegal dogs in Malaga this year. Fines of up to €700 have been levied for unregistered dogs and for fouling the streets Of 171 samples of excrement some 25 were matched to the city’s DNA database. The campaign has seen 2,227 checks, which is actually a huge drop on the 14,000-plus checks in 2018.

No small matter

Dwarf bullfighters wade into battle to protect their livelihoods, now under threat DRESSED in gaudy clothes and heavily made-up, they dart about the ring leaping skillfully out of the path of charging bulls. But unlike the hushed reverence to a matador in his twinkling suit of lights, these pint-size toreros perform to a bellow of collective laughter. Welcome to dwarf bullfighting, a peculiar practice under threat from Spain’s Social Rights Ministry.

Po Fig o hte rs!

By Fiona Govan

However, plans to outlaw what it describes as ‘degrading’ entertainment and ridiculing people with disabilities, have been met with far more anger from the dwarves themselves. Dwarf troupe Diversiones en el Ruedo is suing Baza town hall, in Granada, after a show was cancelled this month on orders from the Junta to ‘safeguard

Death of Feminism A MAYOR has banned bullfighting after two bulls killed in a recent corrida were named ‘Feminism’ and ‘Nigerian’. Gijon leader Ana Gonzalez cancelled the annual Begoña fiesta before its last fight, after outrage from opponents of the blood sport. Supporters of the festival insisted Gonzalez had lost her sense of humour.

BANNED: Pint-sized toreros are up in arms the dignity of people with disabilities’. The group is furious and argues that their right to work is enshrined in the Spanish constitution. “It shows a complete lack of respect and freedom,” manager Daniel Calderon, told the Olive Press. “We are skilled professionals who work hard and entertain like other performers,” he said. “All those who enter the ring are registered as bullfighters at

the Ministry of Culture, whatever size they are, and we enter of our own free will. “Surely it’s discrimination to stop us from doing so?”

A CATALAN town has created a unique crime fighter to tackle the scourge of dog poo. Super Anti-Caques visits schools to spread the vital message to clean up after pets. The creation in Campdevanol comes as the town registered all its 300 pets and took DNA samples to ensure it can detect and fine those owners behind any errant excrement. Meanwhile Barcelona and Madrid fared well in a poll of European cities that tackled the problem well. They placed third and eighth in the table overall, ahead of Berlin and Vienna, in particular for dealing with offenders and providing good facilities for pets. One of the factors singled out by tails.com is the severity of the fines, which is a whopping €1,500 in both Spanish cities. Naples, in Italy, came bottom in the ranking.