Olive Press Costa Blanca South and Murcia issue 127 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA

IT will go down as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Spanish history.

At least 73 people have been killed by devastating DANA storms, which brought almost 500 mm of rainfall on Tuesday - the average for a normal year.

Tragically, among the dead are the most vulnerable members of society, including babies, children and elderly nursing home patients.

Three days of oﬃcial mourning have been called as bodies continue to be recovered from the wreckage, as police sources expect the death toll

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APOCALYPSE

100 feared dead including babies, children and the elderly as Spain calls three days of mourning after historic storm

By Laurence Dollimore

to rise to 100 or more - most around Valencia.

Collapsed roads, hundreds of washed up cars and fallen trees are just some of the examples of the devastation caused by Spain's 'worst natural disaster of the century'.

Described as a 'zombie apocalypse', in the ‘ground zero’ of Paiporta, where torrential rain destroyed a bridge, at least 36 bodies were found, including a baby, two men and a woman.

Five more were found in a nursing home for the elderly in L'Horta Sud.

In Torrent the dead included two

children and another baby.

In Utiel, at least six people are conﬁrmed to have died in the area of Las Fuentes - all of them elderly and alone at the time of their deaths.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will today visit Valencia to pay his respects to the dead and to assess the damage, which will run into the billions.

The last big DANA storm that hit the Vega Baja in 2019 caused €2.3 billion of damage.

“We are going to help you with all the resources of the state and the European Union if necessary,” said Sanchez, during a live news ﬂash at midday yesterday.

“Spain will give the best of itself.

Let’s pitch in. Let us support, united in pain, those who have lost their loved ones… united, we will rebuild your streets. The whole of Spain is with you.” It comes as King Felipe VI issued a statement saying he was ‘devastated’ by the events as he oﬀered his ‘deepest condolences’ to the loved ones of the deceased.

See full story on page 2 & 3

Opinion Page 6

RESCUE:

DEVASTATION: A woman looks at the aftermath of dozens of wrecked cars in Valencia

TORNADO: Incredible sight as the storm swept in leaving at least 73 dead

DISASTER

Cars bobbed around as if they were in a fish tank

As the death toll inches towards 100 and the damage is estimated to reach into the billions, Alex Trelinski explores why Paiportawhere many of those diedbecame ‘like a mousetrap’

IT was around 7pm and the middle of the rush-hour as locals and families headed back to their homes in the Valencia commuter town of Paiporta.

The town of 27,000 people, which has three metro lines into Valencia, had already been warned of the heavy floods that were expected to hit on Tuesday evening.

But, nobody - including even members of the local Guardia Civil police force - could have predicted what was about to hit them.

Over the next couple of hours hundreds of people got trapped in their cars as flood waters from the shocking DANA storms inundated the streets.

And the death toll in the Valencian town alone - so far, at least 36 tragic souls - would end up being much higher than any other natural disaster in Spain this century.

At least half of the deaths confirmed by 8pm last night were in Paiporta, when the River Payo burst its banks after up to 300 litres of rain/ metre square fell in just a few hours.

This included at least five people at a nursing home and two Guardia Civil officers in the town’s barracks, while a third is currently still missing.

"Paiporta became a mousetrap, the cars floated as if they were in a fish tank," said one resident. "You could hear trapped people calling for help."

The Guardia Civil barracks in the town was flooded and some officers oddly decided to take shelter in the basement before being overcome by the floodwater.

The death of two officers has been confirmed with a third one missing, along with the girlfriend of one of the men.

Other bodies found, included a baby, and a family with two children.

In dramatic footage Spain became glued to TV sets through the night as images emerged of people being airlifted from homes, while one woman live streamed while standing up a tree, surrounded with flood water.

In terms of sheer rain volume, the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) said this week's deluge was equivalent to levels last seen in October 1982.

1957 Valencia’s Turia River flooded, claiming 81 lives.

Many areas around Valencia province suffered from power cuts and mobile phone service disruption - hindering rescue efforts

I managed to get out of the car and the force of the water rammed me against a fence that I somehow managed to hold onto, but I simply couldn’t move, It tore off my clothes but I did not want to die. I refused to let go

The highest rainfall fell in Chiva which had 491 litres per metre square (or 491mm) in just eight hours - the equivalent to 12 months of rainfall.

The death toll is expected to exceed the previous largest natural disaster when in

Power company Iberdrola said around 155,000 homes lost supplies. In Carlet, the bridge over the river Magro collapsed on Wednesday due to the flood water, while a tornado ripped off roofs of industrial estate buildings next to the A-7. So strong was the wind that up to a dozen lorries were blown over on the same motorway.

Another bridge gave way in Ribarroja - ironically built in the wake of the great flood of 1957.

Mercadona, Glovo and Uber Eats under fire for flood orders

MERCADONA has claimed a flooded town was ‘fine’ when sending out a driver who had to be rescued from the torrential floods.

A helicopter team had to swoop in and battle torrential waters to rescue the driver at midday.

A video clip prompted a backlash online as many asked why he had been sent out in such conditions.

A spokesperson for Mercadona told the Olive Press: “There was a flood which, unfortunately, affected our delivery man.

“We only received the emergency notice for the province at around 8pm,” she said.

“But thanks to the emergency services the worker was rescued. He is now fine.”

Meanwhile, there were reports of workers from Glovo and other food delivery services being forced to wade out into the floods.

“Glovo, Uber Eats and Mercadona continued to operate, causing many colleagues to risk their lives for €3 per order,” said a spokesperson for workers’ rights group Riders X Derechos.

APOCALYPTIC: Scenes of cars left buried in debris and half submerged in city streets give just a taste of the devastation caused by the flash floods that hit the region

DISASTER FOCUS

THE floods come five years since disastrous flooding hit the Costa Blanca south.

The ‘gota fria’ storm of 2019 killed seven people and forced 4,000 to evacuate their homes.

After the River Segura burst its banks it caused a ‘humanitarian crisis’ with €2.3 billion worth of damage in the Vega Baja.

The Mar Menor’s fragile ecosystem saw millions of dead ﬁsh.

In Mallorca 13 people died in 2018, including two Brits who drowned when a taxi was swept away, in the worst ﬂoods for 100 years.

In Biescas, in 1996, 87 people died when a ﬂash ﬂood hit the Las Nieves campsite in Huesca.

The river Jucar overflowed in Cullera where 26 people were rescued, two of them minors, as well as 11 animals.

Dozens of people spent Tuesday night stranded in trucks or cars, as well as on rooftops and bridges, waiting to be rescued.

A helicopter was brought in to rescue a stranded truck driver in Alzira.

There have been many firsthand accounts of people fleeing the flood water and spending the night in community and sports centres.

Around 50 people took shelter at the Petxina sports complex, for example, where a man giving his name as ‘Paco’ said he was lucky to be alive after he was caught up

Historic harm

In 1982, Valencia, Alicante and Murcia were hit by a natural catastrophe when heavy rain caused the Tous Dam to burst its banks on October 20. Over 30 people died.

The largest natural disaster in Spain’s recent history, the 1962 Valles ﬂood claimed the lives of between 800 and 1,000 people when two rivers burst their banks.

Some 60 years have passed since ﬂooding claimed the lives of 81 people when the Turia river overﬂowed in 1957.

As a result of the tragedy, authorities rerouted the river in an attempt to prevent future ﬂooding.

in a torrent of water and suffered bruises and scratches trying to cling onto anything he could.

“The speed of the water was insane,” he said.

He was returning to his home in Picassent from Valencia on a journey of just a few kilometres.

"The water dragged away cars and we simply didn't have enough time to drive out of there,” he explained.

“I managed to get out of the car and the force of the water rammed me against a fence that I somehow managed to hold onto, but I simply couldn't move,” he recounted.

“It tore off my clothes but I did not want to die. I refused

to let go.”

Miraculously he withstood the onslaught of the torrent and managed to walk away, largely unscathed.

Hundreds of relatives of people who are still missing have appealed for information.

“The last time I spoke to my son was late in the evening, when the water was up to his waist and he has not replied since then,” a woman said about her son who was working in Benetusser.

At least half a dozen people became floodwater victims near the inland town of Utiel, while one woman, 86, died in Cuenca, in Castilla la Mancha.

The floods caused 49 cancellations at Valencia Airport

Care home horror

with 30 flights diverted to other areas including Alicante-Elche airport.

Flights resumed - albeit with delays - on Wednesday. Rail services were suspended on long-distance lines in and out of Valencia City as well as local commuter services.

Schools and colleges have been closed in Valencia since Tuesday with the ports at Valencia and Sa-

gunto shut to maritime traffic.

More than 60 roads were affected by the floods, including the A-7 motorway.

King Felipe said he was 'devastated by what had happened and sent his 'deepest condolences' to the families and friends of those who had died'.

FIVE elderly people drowned after their care home was flooded as they were being served their dinner. Workers were able to rescue another 115 residents in the Paiporta home by moving them to the first floor. Horrific imagery showed dozens of wheelchair-bound residents sitting amid a torrent of water.

Silver lining

THOUSANDS of animals have been left without food, water and shelter as ﬂoods continue to batter the Valencia region. Spain’s PACMA animal rights party is coordinating eﬀorts to help shelters and posted multiple appeals, seeking help. At the El Refugio de Maria, in Sueca, dozens of ani-

mals are in danger after the shelter lost all its vehicles to rescue them. Meanwhile, a video of a woman (above) bravely holding onto her dog and cats has gone viral as she was airlifted to safety in Utiel. She is seen up to her waist in fast moving murky water, before being saved by ﬁreman.

“Strength, courage and all the necessary support for all those affected,” he added, as well as paying tribute to all the emergency services and armed forces for their 'titanic' work.

Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said the government will put 'all the necessary means for as long as necessary' to help flood victims.

"The whole of Spain is crying, and we are going to put all the necessary means for as long as it takes so that we can recover from this tragedy, we are not going to leave you alone," he stressed.

ONE beneﬁciary of the deadly rains have been Spain’s long-suﬀering reservoirs. Water levels in the Forata res- ervoir jumped nearly 600% in six hours.

The sudden inrush of water was so intense that oﬃcials were afraid it might over- whelm the dam, with a stag- gering 2,000 litres per second passing through.

Disbanding dispute

VALENCIA president Carlos Mazon has come under fire for disbanding the Valencian Emergency Unit (UVE) a year ago. It was designed to improve co- ordination between public bodies in the event of emergencies. But Mazon defended his ac- tions saying it was merely a ‘fictitious, phantom agency’ that had ‘zero firefighters, zero resources and zero efficiency’.

UNBELIEVABLE: Catarroja streets were left buried by piles of cars that choked its roads

Cute conservation

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

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

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

HEAVEN OR HELLRAISER?

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

Raising hell on the stage and heaven on the streets, Jonny ‘Hellraiser’ Elraiz is behind Benidorm’s City Streets project, providing food and support to the city’s homeless.

Tattoos, piercings and a long black beard, Jonny Elraiz is not a stereotypical charity boss, but the 50-year-old metal musician is nonetheless ‘determined to change the world.’

Originally from South East London, Elraiz began helping

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

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

By Yzabelle Bostyn

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

at the bottom,” Elraiz said.

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

For Elraiz, a typical day starts at 9am and between food rounds and metal gigs, doesn’t ﬁnish until 4am. He is part of many bands, including White Coast Rebels, who are preparing to launch their second album after their European tour.

A BIT BLUNT

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

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

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

Blunt recently told a podcast Gallagher leaving had led to a bounce in house prices.

sandwiches during his daily walks.

Four years on, he is now at the helm of City Streets Community Project, a non-proﬁt organisation which helps hundreds of the city’s homeless get oﬀ the streets. “I’ve always

“As a musician I had a lot of free time during the pandemic so I started giving out food. Covid marked a transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top and now, the population

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

Photo by Fran Cea Photography

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

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

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

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

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

“He said he was leaving Ibiza and prices subsequently went up after he left,” he joked. Gallaher had originally bought the property from Tubular Bells star Mike Oldﬁeld for €3 million in 1999.

By George and Harry

PRINCE Harry has reportedly splashed €4.3million on a luxury Portugal property, alongside one snapped up by Hollywood star George Clooney.

Harry and wife Meghan Markle bought the oﬀ-plan home in Melides, on the western coast, south of Lisbon.

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

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

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

The Costa Terra Golf and Ocean Club development will house 300 properties spread across 722 acres.

George and Amal Clooney are also said to be interested in buying a home there, according to Hello magazine.

Harry and Meghan stopped oﬀ for a ‘romantic’ break in Melides, in Alentejo, after attending the Invictus games in Germany last year. They met up with Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie at her home on the Atlantic coast.

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

Case closed

Riddle of British tourist’s fatal apartment as Guardia Civil declare it suicide

THE family and friends of a British woman who fell to her death from a Torrevieja apartment window have rubbished claims that she deliberately took her own life.

Piia Hokkanen - an IT executive - had travelled with her boyfriend, Eugene Doris, to spend a few days at her sister's apartment.

She died on September 4 - the night she was celebrating her 50th birthday - after falling from a communal window.

Piia’s body was found on a neighbour’s patio and showed no signs of a struggle.

The location of the apartment has not been revealed.

The Guardia Civil have told Hokkanen's relatives that she committed suicide but they believe a thorough probe has not been carried out.

They claim that interviews with all of the apartment block residents have not been carried out.

They also added that Hokkanen’s two mobile phones and security camera footage from nearby buildings have not been checked.

Text messages had been sent to friends which said she was looking forward to a party in London on September 7, and a return to Spain in October.

Hokkanen lived with her partner Eugene Doris in the Kilburn area of London.

She had an argument with Doris four hours before her fatal fall and he went

PIRATES COLLARED

FIVE motorists are being prosecuted for operating pirate taxi services on the Orihuela Costa.

Most of the rogue cabbies are said to be non-Spaniards who tend to attract mainly British customers through ‘word of mouth’ or social media advertising.

The most popular routes are to and from Alicante-Elche airport or pick ups at Zenia Boulevard shopping centre.

Legal taxi drivers said the police were well aware of the problems caused by the pirates and oﬃcers have been supplied with licence plate numbers of offending vehicles - many of them being minibuses.

Poppy start

By Alex Trelinski

to stay at a hostel.

Speaking to The Guardian, Doris said he had only learned of his girlfriend’s death when he was formally informed by the Guardia nearly 24 hours after their argument.

He said: “I don’t think she was suicidal, no.

I think we are just liaising with the police and trying to get evidence.”

Enrique Puerto, 44, from Barcelona, who

knew Hokkanen for over 20 years, said he had spoken to the Guardia who were adamant that she purposely killed herself. He said: “If you are not a resident, and you are a foreigner, you become like a statistic, case closed.”

There has been no comment from the Guardia Civil.

BENIDORM launched the 2024 Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal this month with the annual parade through city streets.

The RBL Spain District North includes Alicante and Valencia provinces as well as the Murcia region.

The procession was led by the Torrevieja Pipes and Drums and ﬁnished at the Rincon de Loix, on Avenida de l'Atmella de Mar.

An act of tribute was held, starting with three minutes of silence in honour of the fallen.

It was followed by an address from the oﬃcial patron for the RBL in Spain, the Reverend Richard Seabrook.

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

OPINION

Not a joke!

IF we have learnt anything this week, it is that the weather alerts issued by Spain’s ofﬁcial state weather agency Aemet are not a joke and must be taken seriously.

Tragically, dozens of people have lost their lives across Andalucia, Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha this week due to a devastating DANA storm. In the days running up to the weather phenomenon, the Olive Press, as ever, reported on the many alerts announced by the bofﬁns at Aemet. While many do take them seriously and pay attention, there are many expats and locals who respond with laughing emojis or comments accusing us of exaggerating the threat.

Toll

Well, we certainly hope no one is laughing now. At the time of publication, over 70 people have been killed by the extreme weather, including a 71-year-old British expat who suffered a stroke and later organ failure after being struck with hypothermia during the ﬂooding in Malaga. Elsewhere, scores of elderly people, children and even babies have been conﬁrmed among the death toll.

And that’s before we even think about the number of animals decimated by the disaster. The Olive Press will only ever report what has been forecast by expert meteorologists at Aemet or other respected services like El Tiempo. We are not trying to ‘scaremonger’ or whip our readers up into a frenzy, but convey the real threat the weather can bring.

To NOT report the emergency alerts from Aemet would be incredibly irresponsible for any news organisation.

We send our heartfelt condolences to all the family and friends of the deceased.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

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

IAlex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es

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

theolivepress.es

SP CATCHER

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

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

But in the tortuous saga of British accountant Paul Blanchard, everything now depends on a panel of Appeal Court judges that his life is anything but ﬁction.

EXCLUSIVE

By Walter Finch

one of the trials of the decade in Madrid and shed a light on his incredible connections to some of the world’s scariest maﬁa ﬁgures. He came into contact with many - including former British Public Enemies John Palmer and Kenneth Noye - during his years spent living in Tenerife. That he is not denying.

The stakes could not be higher for the 79-yearold Yorkshireman, who recently lost a High Court hearing against his extradition to Spain. Accused of being the svengali behind an international money launhis case is set to dering scheme, become

But what he claims is that he was actually

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

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

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

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

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

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

As reported on our front page last issue, the simple purchase of a CO detector led to her ﬁnding a deadly gas leak, which could have been fatal without Coco’s relentless warnings. She was lucky, but the issue highlights the need for stricter home safety regulations to prevent future tragedies, which happen all too often in Spain each year.

By Dilip Kuner

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

GAS BOILERS

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

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

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

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

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

hamed Derbah - known as the ‘Godfather of Tenerife’ - in 1999. A feared mafia boss, he owned and ran numerous timeshare firms and their security alongside his partner John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer, who smelted the gold from the infamous Brink’s-Mat gold heist at Heathrow Airport in 1983 (recently turned into a BBC drama called The Gold). Blanchard met them both (and many more) and, assuming his appeal is unsuccessful, he will tell all about his life at a showpiece trial in Madrid, likely next year.

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

Mixing it up with Mo

Blanchard met Lebanese businessman Mohamed ‘Mo’ Derbah, in Tenerife, in 1999.

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

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

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

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

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

SMOKE DETECTORS

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

Replace any that fail the test. Even if your detectors appear to be working, it’s advisable to change batteries annually to avoid any unexpected failures.

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

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

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

Smoke detectors have a lifespan of about 10 years. If yours is older, replace it entirely.

Electrical Appliances

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

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

Check for frayed wires, exposed conductors, or any damage to plugs. Replace or repair faulty cables immediately. Test circuit interrupters, which protect against electric shock and electrical ﬁres,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Spanish handlers

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

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

The relationship was healthy until Blanchard inadver-

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

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

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

He asked for assurance that the pair would acknowl-

edge his role if the UK authorities got involved.

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

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

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

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

Moscow maﬁa and the hit on Palmer

He was soon helping Lebanese billionaire

Edmond Hamid, who had amassed a €25 billion fortune through dodgy dealings with the Kremlin.

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

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

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

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

COOKERS AND OVENS

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

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

HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN

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

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

RISK: gas boilers must be checked regularly

family can meet after evacuating.

CARS AND GARAGES

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

Regularly inspect your car’s tyres, brakes, and battery to ensure they’re in safe condition. Schedule any necessary repairs with a professional mechanic.

And make sure your garage is well-ventilated to prevent a buildup of exhaust fumes, which can seep into living areas.

OUTDOOR SAFETY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My tip off about the London bombers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A CLUCKIN’ RESULT!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Impact

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

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

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

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

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

“It has been really positive,” she concluded.

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

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

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

Whole hog!

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

Hunting Resources Research Institute (HRRI) revealed the data last week.

Currently, there are almost a million boars in the country, which are often seen in urban areas.

Experts are considering many reasons for this including a lack of food in the countryside, a tendency to avoid their natural predators and rubbish making an easy food source.

It comes after a loose hog was stopped running around inner city Madrid.

But it’s not abnormal to see the animals wandering around Malaga, Galicia and even Barcelona in the summertime- better get used to it!

Protests planned as new law sanctions giant utility companies to eﬀectively

‘steal’

land for solar projects

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

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

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

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

In Jaen, an incredible area of 714,000 square metres - or 100 football pitches - of olive groves will be lost in the Lopera, Arjona and Marmolejo areas. Meanwhile in Coin, near Malaga, some 10 million square

FROM BAG

TO BIN

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

A dozen brands will take part in the initiative, which will see six municipalities try out diﬀerent methods of recycling, next year.

These will include clothes recycling points in shops, commercial centres and even churches.

It comes as the government announced a decree obliging clothing shops to reuse what they produce.

Daylight robbery

By Yzabelle Bostyn

metres of ‘solar estates’ are to be installed.

Protest group Asociacion Valle

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

“The worst thing is the law means the company doesn’t even have to tell the owner’s they are going to take their land,” spokesman Marisa Casal, told the Olive Press

“It’s theft to steal someone’s private property for the beneﬁt of foreign companies,” she continued.

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

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

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

Over 900,000 tonnes of clothing is thrown

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

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

Hundreds of hectares are set to be plastered in solar panels between there are Setenil de las Bodegas, while dozens of schemes are also planned near historic Jimena de la Frontera.

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

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

Heritage

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

A protest group against the forced expropriation in Jaen, Platforma Campiña Norte, vowed to organise a string

of protests over the coming months.

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

No trust

Out of tune-a

THERE have been fewer tuna in Gibraltar waters this season and the reason could be climate change, anglers warn. By October 14, just 24.55 tonnes of the 25-tonne quota was caught despite a ‘bumper’ ﬁrst half of the season. Now, researchers have warned this could be due to rising water temperatures. University of Gibraltar PhD researcher Samantha Slisarenko reminded that the animals can track environmental changes.

Samuel Marrache of the Gibraltar Tuna Fishing Club, added: “Tuna are migratory fish and follow bait fish, but the water temperatures have been ridiculously high around Gibraltar with recordings of sea temperatures around 28C in August.” It is thought that while the tuna went to cooler waters around Tarifa, Gibraltar saw tropical fish typically found in the Caribbean like Mahi Mahi. A similar phenomenon occurred last year but according to anglers, this year’s impact was ‘greater.’

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

Some 73% of 15 to 30-year-olds do not trust politicians to handle the climate crisis.

According to the Fundacion SM report, 45% feel powerless, 42% are fearful and 36% are sad about the problem. More optimistically, 57% think that science and technology will solve the crisis.

INCLUDE WWF SPAIN IN YOUR WILL

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

LA CULTURA

Do as the Romans

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

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

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

Scholar

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

DEEP DIVE

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

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

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

An expert team of specialists

By Walter Finch

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

FRAGILE: Researchers had to cordon oﬀ the site from tourists

ANCIENT: The wreck could valuable insights

onlookers at bay from the incredibly fragile artefacts.

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

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

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

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

execution of the incredibly challenging excavation.

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

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

Empire

Pedro for peace

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

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

Stars colliding

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

ROCK legend Lenny Kravitz will play three gigs in Spain early in April next year. The American singer will visit A Coruña, Madrid and Pamplona as part of the Blue Electric Light Tour. It is part of the star’s huge European tour stretching from France, to Germany to Spain.

(4) 21 Three Wise Men (4)

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

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

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

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

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

LA CULTURA 10

The origins of Halloween are closer to home than you might think

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

In fact, the eerie roots of Spanish Halloween can be traced back to Galicia, where ancient Celtic rituals still echo through the mists to

By Yzabelle Bostyn

this day.

Samhain, an ancient Irish festival, was brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Celts thousands of years ago.

TRADITION: Samhain was brought back from the dead

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

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

hoods,

ENDURING:

Young & old have embraced the tradition

pumpkins - once far more sinisterwere said to be fashioned from the skulls of fallen enemies, with a ﬂickering candle inside to frighten away mischievous ghosts. Turnips, too, were hollowed out and lit to guide wandering spirits through the mortal realm.

One of the most ghostly Galician rituals is Santa Compaña, a nightmarish procession of the dead. Draped in white and clutching candles, these restless spirits walk solemnly through the town, led by an unfortunate living soul. Dare to peer out of your window during the procession, and legend says you may be cursed to join them in death.

Celtic new year plunges the world into darkness

lurking

Many of these spooky customs would be familiar to Brits from their childhoods, including the time-honoured practice of apple bobbing. And those Halloween costumes we know so well? They originated from the Celtic practice of wearing grotesque masks to confuse and ward off lurking evil spirits.

But beware, for the procession’s leader may very well be the last unlucky soul who spied on them the year before. During Samhain, if someone enters your home, fate may cast its lot - a visit from a troll spells doom, while a fairy’s presence brings blessings. Even the tradition of ‘trick or treating’, so often cursed as an ‘American invention’, has roots in these ancient Celtic customs.

gion, you’ll ﬁnd rituals such as pumpkin carving, leaving the dinner table set after All Hallows’ Eve so that the dead may dine, and lighting bonﬁres to guide wandering spirits.”

Samain, Samhain is celebrated in many Galician towns, including Briz, Allariz, Ferrol, A Coruña, Pontevedra, and Ribadavia.

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

Meanwhile, the carved

On the ghostly night of October 31, Celts would knock on doors, asking for offerings of food to honour their dead. Similarly, on November 2, in Illa de Arousa (Galicia), children go door to door begging for sweetssound familiar?

COMPETITION:

Many of the events now inlude costume contests

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

Revival

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

Celtic traditions are not conﬁned to Galicia alone.

In Asturias, they hold banquets in graveyards on Samhain, feasting with the dead, much like the colourful celebrations of the Mexican Dia de los Muertos. Pumpkins are once again a symbol of death, and in the Galician city of Lugo, dried pumpkins are even used as macabre masks during February's carnival.

In 1990, when his daughter came home with a pumpkin, it stirred ancient memories of his own childhood, and he set out to revive the tradition.

After 13 long years of research, he published his study, Samhain: The Pumpkin Festival.

To revive the tradition, Loureiro reintroduced a pumpkin carving contest in his hometown of Cedeira nearly 30 years ago. Today, thanks to the tireless efforts of Loureiro and the Amigos de

Historic Pontevedra invites visitors to take ghost tours through its Old Town, join costume workshops, and even taste the ﬂavours of the season at themed events with live music. Loureiro’s work has drawn some criticism, with detractors calling it an extension of American imperialism disguised as Halloween. “The original purpose of reviving Samhain was to stand against Halloween,” he admitted, “but now it’s become a sort of ‘Hallo-haim’ - a mix of Halloween and Samhain.”

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

“Across the relourful said the

“In Galicia, we are resurrecting Samhain to fend off the creeping inﬂuence of American Halloween,” said the Galician Tourism Ofﬁce.

November 1, the day after Samhain, is also All Saints Day, thought to have been established by Pope Gregory IV as a way to honour the dead in response to the ancient Celtic tradition. Halloween, as we know it today, emerged when Irish immigrants brought their ghostly customs to America during the 1840s potato famine. Its name comes from the Scottish phrase ‘All Hallows’ Eve,’ the night before All Saints Day. The ﬁrst Halloween parade was held in Minnesota in 1921, and the tradition quickly spread across the country. But it wasn’t until the 1970s, with the rise of iconic ﬁlms like John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), that the spooky celebration returned to Europe, albeit in a form barely recognisable from its ancient origins.

DELICIOUS: Magostos, orchestnut parties were practiced even in the 1980s (1981)

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Ryanair’s refusal

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

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

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

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

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

National winners!

By Yzabelle Bostyn

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

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

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

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

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

Three

sites in

Spain are among leading magazine’s top picks

time.”

Next on the list was a reader’s ‘preferred destination’, the dramatic Picos de Eu-

ropa mountain range in the north of Spain.

The area spanning Cantabria and Asturias - often

ROUTES TO HEAVEN

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

The north of the country, in particular, is the best destination to explore by car, according to the Travelbook Awards.

The German travel experts particularly praised its many varied and unspoilt landscapes.

It beat competitors including Wales, Slovenia and Namibia to claim the award.

The judges highlighted the region's green

hills, mountains and beaches.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s in a name?

MURCIA'S High Court has banned Corvera Airport's name being changed to include local air pioneer, Juan de la Cierva (pictured below). It ruled the regional government is not allowed to make such a change and backed an appeal from Spain's Ministry of Transport.

Juan De la Cierva invented the autogyro but chartered a plane for dictator General Franco in the thirties. He used it to travel from Tenerife to Morocco, from where he planned a coup which started the Civil War in 1936. Relatives and two historians claimed that de la Cierva had no idea of what Franco was up to, but there has been a seven-year dispute over attaching his name to Corvera.

The national government in 2021 said it violated Spain's Historical Memory law which forbids any form of gloriﬁcation of Franco's regime.

Historian Angel Viñas wrote a report which described De la Cierva as a 'key ﬁgure' in Franco's rise to power.

IMPRESSIVE: The Picos de Europa span Cantabria and Asturias

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

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

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

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

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

A TASTE OF THE CITY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We could have stayed for the whole evening, but our tour awaited, so we followed the simple map on the app around the corner onto La Rambla, which we were told was once the course of the local river and where, in 1403, severe ﬂooding caused the death of thousands of citizens.

We headed to Placa del Mercat to kick off the tour, a place that has been the haunt of merchants since Ara-

Our ﬁrst restaurant (proper) was a classic Spanish vermuteria - all the rage nowcalled La Rosa. Hidden up a little alleyway, it was a surprising hive of activity, despite the time of 5.15pm... “We’ve got the tourists coming in for an early supper or the Spanish taking a late lunch,’ explained manager Carlos Fabiani, who is in the process of launching a second same-name joint nearby.

bic times.

The app - which has easy to follow mapexplained the history of the leafy square, inaugurated in

To strains of jazz and, thankfully overhead fans, we mulled over the idea of bravas or oysters, before realising that our tour meant everything was already chosen for us and we just needed to sit back and order our

drinks.

famous joints

It led to the diversion of the river Torrent de Sa Riera a kilometre or so to the west and the creation of the wonderful shady avenue of La Rambla.

We needed to stroll about a third of the way along, past around three or four ﬂower sellers, until we spotted what was literally a hole in a wall. Cantina Panza is an annexe of a grand merchant’s house, laid out in a series of corridors and spaces with a small kitchen at one end.

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

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

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

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

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

stars.

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

“We think of it as comfort food,” he explains with a big smile as he sets down the most delicious plate of scallops stuffed with chopped and braised octopus in a rich ﬁsh sauce with chives. We found ourselves meeting one of the tour bosses, Michelle, a friendly Dutch woman, who explained how they had seen a gap in the market and were very busy.

She explained the tours set off at 1pm and 5pm in order to cater for everyone, whether at lunchtime or early evening. They also use various routes and different restaurants, working around their opening hours to bring them more business in their quieter hours. Massive foodies themselves, they realised they were always out trying new places and chatting to the local restaurateurs and cooks.

They realised they could get people out for a tasting tour and chances are, they would go back for proper meals in the following days.

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

Would the next joint be better or

worse? A modern, stylish place, or traditional and authentic?

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

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

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

Xalest (meaning in a good mood) is the restaurant of the Concepcio by Nobis hotel, which was once a palace and later a soap factory. Here we were served pigs cheeks (carillera) with corn puree, demi glas and fried tortillas...the spices really did the dish justice... Restaurant manager Ali, from Casablanca, explained: “We try to offer KM-zero local food, Mediterranean food, some fusion.”

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

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

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

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

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

For more information Visit www.foodtoursmallorca.com date, was were cious… bar

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

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

Killer pollution

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

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

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

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

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

Dangerous supply

By Yzabelle Bostyn

A SPANISH pharmaceutical giant has sparked outrage after signing a deal to produce Nolotil despite being linked to hundreds of northern European deaths.

Moehs is now set to make Metamizole, the main ingredient in the painkiller, at two plants in northern Spain.

The Catalan pharmaceuti-

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 Robert Redford, 9 Minimum, 10 Me too, 11 Shot, 12 Urgency, 15 Roswell, 16 Swab, 19 Cheap, 21 Martyrs, 22 Proving ground.

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

Outrage as Spanish giant signs deal to produce Nolotil - despite obvious dangers

KILL THE DRUG

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

ple in Spain linked to Nolotil. She said: “I never expected this to happen, especially when I have bent over backwards to get it withdrawn in Spain and they decide to bring it here!

“Sheer disappointment does not even begin to describe my feelings.”

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

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

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

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

Hearing breakthrough

CHILDREN in Spain who have been deaf from birth are hearing for the ﬁrst time after taking part in gene therapy trials.

Four of them suﬀered from a defect in the otoferlin gene but have had very positive results - just a month after starting treatment.

Spain’s top ear experts are coordinating gene therapy trials in Madrid, Pamplona, and Gran Canaria.

A genetic mutation prevents otoferlin from being produced naturally or making abnormal versions of it.

Otoferlin is essential for the proper functioning of the inner ear cells and without it, hearing is virtually impossible.

Angel Ramos from the Las Palmas Children’s Hospital said:“Through surgery, a virus with modiﬁed genetic material is introduced enabling a child to hear for the ﬁrst time.”

Eye-watering success

A US surﬁng champion has ﬂown her son 'across the world' to receive life-changing eye surgery in Spain. Alana Blanchard, 34, from Hawaii, told her 1.6million Instagram followers how her young son Koda was born with a condition called Ptosis.

Ptosis causes one or both eyelids to droop, hence the condition's more common name of 'droopy eyelid'.

The family travelled to Malaga for corrective surgery on the little boy's right eye with a specialist, Dr Medel.

"We went to a few doctors and they said there was nothing they could do but we ﬁnally found a specialist that worked with kids,” she said.

“After the bandages came oﬀ the next day he was very swollen and it was a hard few days and sleepless nights, but seeing his eyes so open and symmetrical makes it all worth it.”

Illegal dumping

TORREVIEJA’S rubbish collection contractor Acciona will be ﬁned €10,000 for dumping hospital waste at the municipal ecopark.

The council will take the money from the company’s monthly invoices which are part of their annual €24.4 million contract.

The oﬀence happened in June when the ﬁrm took some yellow bags potentially full of biohazardous waste from the city’s private Chiron Hospital.

Growing growing gone

SPAIN’S economic outlook has been upgraded more than any other large economy – including even emerging countries.

The International Monetary Fund has boosted the country’s growth forecast to 2.9% for this year - outpacing the USA and higher than the Spanish government's prediction of 2.7%.

The upgrade came between the IMF's spring and autumn meetings, meaning the growth forecast has increased by one full point, outstripping every competitor.

Spain is set to continue its strong performance into 2025, with projections of 2.1% growth.

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BI-LINGUO

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

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

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

By Yzabelle Bostyn

based on the idea that we don't study language, we acquire it through context.

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

His app, Palteca, helps users learn Spanish as if it were their native tongue, using association, context and memory to learn new words and phrases. Cole, 34, told the Olive Press : “Palteca is

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

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

“For example, when you’re a kid you know an apple is an apple because you’ve seen, held and tasted one and associated it with that word.

DOLORES in the Vega Baja has bucked the national trend with a cut in 2025 waste collection taxes thanks to a new ‘door-to-door’ collection system. It is one of the first towns in Spain to lower rubbish taxes as opposed to announcing hefty rises for next year. The country has to follow EU laws meaning that councils cannot subsidise waste collection costs and must recycle more.

Dolores council says the new waste rate will be €129.40 as opposed to €138.89.

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

Good news!

The mayor, Joaquin Hernandez, said: “Collaboration of our residents has been essential to achieve the high recycling rates required by EU law.” Tax discounts are also offered for ecopark users, people who compost waste, and low-income families.

Other municipalities like Los Montesinos also plans to roll out ‘door-to-door’ collections.

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

Life-changing

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

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

Costly delay

ORIHUELA council has wasted nearly €89,100 of public money by not paying an employee social security insurance premium on time.

The authority has been ﬁned that amount by Social Security for not being prompt with its August payment.

The city treasurer made the transfer a day after the September 30 deadline.

Disciplinary proceedings have started against him with council sources saying it was a ‘simple mistake’.

ALDI EXPANDS

ALDI is planning to open around 20 new stores in Spain in the next two months, boosting its presence in Andalusia and the Valencian Community. To support the expansion, the German discounter is also investing in its logistics infrastructure and hiring new employees. Aldi now has over 450 outlets in the country and aims to open up new stores in the Cadiz, Malaga, and Sevilla areas as well as Alicante and Valencia. In Madrid, the company is expanding its distribution centre and has just opened a third supermarket. Recently, Aldi reduced the prices of over 600 products.

Established in 2012, the firm was created to provide legal advice and procedural defense services to individuals as well as companies. After several years of hard work and expansion, we currently offer a wide range of services both in the field of the traditional practice of law (legal advice and trial defense), as well as comprehensive advisory and management services in fiscal, accounting and tax matters.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD LAWYER?

I’VE often been asked, ‘What truly sets a good lawyer apart?’ In my experience, it’s not just about knowing the law - it’s about anticipating the bumps in the road ahead.

A good lawyer will see over the horizon, spotting potential challenges before they even appear. Why? Because preparation and planning are often the most valuable services we can offer our clients, and they’re usually the ones that happen behind the scenes.

These are the quiet victories, the ones that ensure our clients don’t even have to worry about ‘a day in court’.

Let’s talk about specialised knowledge for a moment. Yes, it’s absolutely essential. But it’s also crucial to apply that knowledge strategically, ensuring it’s both timely and truly relevant to each client’s unique situation.

Juan Pascual Drake kicks off his monthly column giving advice on legal matters noured to assist many expat clients in establishing businesses, buying homes, and making signiﬁcant investments here in Spain.

My background in law and economics, plus a range of additional studies in areas like taxation and bankruptcy management, has helped me guide clients through everything from purchasing retirement properties to forming corporations and managing complex real estate investments. With the right foresight and preparation, even the biggest challenges become manageable.

If you have questions about a speciﬁc area of law or just want to consult on a case, please don’t hesitate to reach out through the contact form. I’d be happy to help.

If one area’s solution causes unexpected issues in another, that’s not really a solution at all. A great lawyer doesn’t just know the speciﬁcs of, say, contract law or property law - they know how these areas interact and how they might impact a client’s goals as a whole.

Since 2012, I’ve been ho-

Here’s a hard-earned truth: The more you know about a client’s life, business, and speciﬁc case, the better your solutions will be. It’s all about getting those details right - the careful measurements before making any cuts, so to speak.

This is why I emphasise in-depth analysis and strategic planning at Abogado-Drake. After all, if you want peace of mind, you need to prepare meticulously for every potential challenge.

Juan Pascual Drake is a graduate of the University of Deusto in Bilbao, with a Law Degree minoring in economics, and holding various other master’s degrees, such as one in taxation and another in bankruptcy management. He has assisted mostly expat clients with their establishment and business in Spain. Having managed a wide variety of cases, from the purchase of a retirement home to the creation and incorporation of a small enterprise, to the investment in larger real-estate assets, there is no task too great that cannot be managed by Abogado-Drake with the right amount of forethought and planning.

O P LIVE RESS

COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA

Bring them back

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

Chef’s wrath

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

Just dumb

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

SCAN

Housing joke

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

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

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

Right up against the dining table is the bathroom, enclosed only by an opaque plastic pane and conveniently elevated for ease of view.

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

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

The lucky owner will enjoy a three centimetre shelf above the bed to store their belongings.

All yours for the low low price of

By Yzabelle Bostyn

just €165,000. At €16,500 per square metre, it is considerably pricier than the average property in the city, which comes in around €5,000. Understandably, the oﬀering has prompted outrage among Madrid residents, with one local inﬂuencer asking: “How

have we got here? Is this even legal? Is it moral?”

Madrid’s housing market has been rocketing out of control in recent times, with prices rising 18% in just the last year.

It’s a similar story in Barcelona, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao – and almost all of Spain’s most desirable cities. But if you really want a bargain? Look to Zaragoza, Spain’s ﬁfth

BARGAIN: But the owner may fear squatters

largest city. There, an apartment costs just €1,175 sqm –the best value in all the country.

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

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

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

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

DAREDEVIL

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

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