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O LIVE P RESS
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COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA FREE Vol. 4 Issue 105 www.theolivepress.es December 14th - January 11th 2024
Winter warmer
UNITED AT CHRISTMAS
FOR the third time this year, Spain has seen a monthly temperature record smashed, after the mercury reached 29.9ºC in Malaga. Valencia has not been untouched by the unseasonably high temperatures, reaching 27ºC on Monday. The hot weather is 2ºC higher than the previous record for December. Although in most places winter temperatures started to settle in yesterday the warm weather will continue in Valencia, with highs of 19ºC this week. This week’s record was reported by state meteorological service Aemet via its social media accounts. “This is the highest temperature registered in the month of December in peninsular Spain since records began,” said spokesman Ruben del Campo. The warm conditions were caused by a mass of hot air sweeping over the Iberian peninsula yesterday. “It’s one of the warmest masses of air to have ever overflown Spain at this point in December,” added Campo. Spain suffered four heatwaves this year, with Cordoba seeing a shocking high of 39.2C in October. This year is already the hottest on record on a global scale. Scientists widely attribute this phenomenon to climate change caused by human activity.
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BRITISH and Scandinavian expats will lead the crowds at Friday's 'Carols in the Square' concert organised by Torrevieja council. The popular event - now in its 21st year - will be held once again on the Plaza de la Constitucion stage with a 6.00pm start. The concert normally attracts hundreds of people representing Torrevieja's 100-plus nationalities and there is a greater international flavour about this year's festive celebration. The music will come from the instrumental group from the city's Francisco Casanovas
conservatory and an ensemble put together from the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra. The singers will include members of the British expat Crescendo Choir; the Scandinavian School Costa Blanca choir; and the elementary school choir from the Francisco Casanovas conservatory. There will also be performances from the White and Green Rociero Choir and the Sette Voci group. The event will be attended by Torrevieja mayor, Eduardo Dolon, and other leading figures from the council.
Savage attack Hunting dogs break into Brit’s Costa Blanca home and kill his pet before police tell him ‘it’s only a cat’ A BRITISH pensioner has been left heartbroken after hunting dogs stormed into his house and savagely killed his ‘beautiful’ cat Gnocchi. Former Army serviceman Clive Smith, 59, was woken with a jolt at 1.30am to find the two-year-old rescue cat lying in blood on the conservatory floor. Worse, when he called the police he was told ‘it’s just a cat’ and there was ‘nothing’ they could do. Incredibly, one officer told him that ‘if the dogs attack again’, he should lock them in his house and call the 112 emerg e ncy service
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and wait for them to arrive. “I’m literally still shaking from the ordeal, it’s left me riddled with anxiety and stress,” explained Clive, who bought his three-bedroom villa in Altea, four years ago. “The police attitude was disgusting… when they said it was ‘only a cat’ I replied: ‘what if it was a child or a vulnerable person?’ “The hunters here act with impunity and think they are above the law, it’s a disgrace, never in my life did I think something like this would happen to me. “We are surrounded by beautiful forests which are supposed to be protected, but you often see hunters with huge dogs and torches coming in t h e
RIPPED APART: Gnocchi was killed by two white hunting dogs
dead of night.” The horror incident happened in the early hours of December 4, when he woke up hearing several loud bangs coming from the conservatory on the upstairs terrace of the property he shares with his wife Shami, 50. The couple leave the door ‘ever so slightly ajar’ to allow air in, but put big weights against it which make it very difficult to open. Their property is also surrounded by high walls and is ‘well-secured’. Clive said as he approached the conservatory he saw two huge white dogs ‘jumping around’. The ‘wolflike’ animals had burst through the door, damaging it in the process. He recalled: “They were enormous, I’m 6ft and they were at least up to my hip. I grabbed a beach towel and whipped it towards them and shouted See page 15 but that only made them come for me, I was scared for my life.
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“I had to run behind a door while still shouting and trying to hit them with the towel and eventually they left. “I walked to the other end of the conservatory where I saw our poor beautiful Gnocchi dead on the floor.” Clive said the Guardia Civil arrived a few hours later to tell him there was nothing they could do as the dogs ‘had done nothing wrong’ in the eyes of the law. It comes after Spain brought in tough new legislation on ‘animal welfare’ this year, but made no changes in regards to hunting dogs. Holding back tears, Clive added: “They said the best we could do if we found the owners - would be to sue for the damage done to the door. “It seems to me that hunters here have a carte blanche right to do whatever they want, it has to change.” The couple, who live between Alicante and York, buried Gnocchi in their back garden.
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CRIME
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NEWS IN BRIEF New year spend TORREVIEJA’S 2024 budget will have €53m for new investments including over €8m for repairing and repaving the Levante Dam area and €5m for revamping the Eras de Sal.
City grows GUARDAMAR’S population has broken the 18,000 barrier for the first time according to provisional figures with a third of the residents non-Spanish, led by British expats.
Pilar switch OVER 400 street lights in urban areas of Pilar de La Horadada will be replaced with energy efficient LED bulbs over the next four months at a cost of €169,000.
No permit POLICE who pulled over 44 motorists for routine checks in the Valencian Community last month discovered that none of them even had a driving licence.
December 14th - January 11th 2024
Maddie’s army Legion of former friends and exlovers flying in from Spain and Portugal to help cage Christian Brueckner for life
AN army of expats from around Spain and Portugal are queuing up to put Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner behind bars for life. The group, that includes ex-girlfriends, former acquaintances and police, will be flying in to Germany in February to give evidence The German sex offender is facing a permanent life sentence if found guilty of a trio of rapes, as well as two further child sex offences all committed in Portugal. A total of 46 witnesses and police have been summoned for the trial at Braunschweig Criminal Court, between Feb-
EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke
ruary 16 and June 27, the Olive Press can reveal. This includes a number who have never spoken – or even been identified – before. At least three are flying in from Spain, where Brueckner spent considerable time, mostly around the hippie communes, near Orgiva, in Granada. It was there, in 2008, that Brueckner allegedly confessed to snatching toddler Maddie from her bed in Praia da Luz a year earlier. He told friend, Helge Busching, that ‘she didn’t scream’
EX-PALS: Includes Helge Busching, Michael Tatschl and Manfred Seyferth
at Orgiva’s Dragon Festival. At least four of his former acquaintances, all petty crooks including Busching, Manfred Seyferth, Michael Tatschl and Mario Schonberg - lived for long periods in Andalucia. “All the dates are now in the diary,” prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters explained. “We hope to get all the charges read out on the first morning, a half day, on February 16, and then the trial continues the following week.” According to the schedule, spread over 29 days, his first lover, SilPOLICE have arrested three men in Orihuela City after they fired a shotke Becker takes gun at a nightclub bouncer who refused them entry for being too drunk. to the stand on The doorman at the Avenida Teodomira club was taken to hospital with April 10. mild injuries after being hit by projectiles from the firearm. Brueckner had The incident took place at 6am on Saturday and began when the three fled Germany to Spaniards, aged between 41 and 45, were turned away. live in Portugal They left the scene but soon returned and fired three shots at the bouncer. with Becker, in Police traced the men allegedly involved but have not found the shotgun. the mid 1990s, in the process
BOUNCER SHOT
failing to complete a prison sentence for child sex crimes. Other girlfriends include Marina Flache, a travel agent, who had helped clear incriminating evidence from his rented home in the Algarve, when he had been sent to prison in April 2006.
Sadistic
Her evidence helped cage Brueckner for seven years over the sadistic filmed rape of an American pensioner Diana Menkes, 72, in Praia da Luz in 2005. He is currently still serving this sentence at Oldenburg prison. At least five Portuguese police will also be taking the stand over two days in May. A leading forensic psychiatrist, Dr Christian Riedemann, will be in court every day to monitor Brueckner’s behaviour.
Brit paedo’s 100 year sentence A BRITISH man has been given a 133-year prison sentence for making and distributing child pornography and sexually abusing minors. The 27-year-old - whose name has not been revealed - was handed the long sentence by Alicante Provincial Court. It was actually less than he could have got - prosecutors wanted a term of 211 years. But the maximum time he will spend behind bars will be a lot less, as it will not exceed the time imposed for his most serious crime - which in his case is set at 20 years. He has also been ordered to pay €6,000 in compensation to each of the three children that were abused. The Benidorm resident committed the offences between 2019 and 2020. He was found guilty on several counts for the distribution and production of child pornography; cyberbullying; the corruption of minors; and committing sexual abuse against children who appeared in some of his videos. Prosecutors said the defendant contacted 27 children via social media to whom he proposed that they expose themselves naked or commit sex acts, with 13 of them acceding to his requests. The obscene videos were stored on two hard drives and a mobile phone.
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SIMPLE ENTERTAINMENT
ONE of the eighties’ biggest rock bands, Simple Minds, is set to return to Spain next summer. On July 22 the group will take to the stage at the Starlite Festival in Marbella alongside other famous names like Take That and Sheryl Crow. Simple Minds last played the festival in 2022, wowing audiences with their hits from their 20 album career.
Considered one of the most famous groups of the 1980s, the rock quintet has sold over 60 million records with hit tracks like Don't You (Forget About Me), Sparkle in the Rain and Once Upon a Time. Led by Jim Kerr, Simple Minds has been loyal acts to the Starlite Festival, first playing the event in 2012. The 2024 edition is due to take place from June 14 to August 3.
A Real boost The wonderful gift from Jude Bellingham and co that made the dreams come true for an autistic British boy whose life has been turned around by football AN autistic British boy received an early Christmas present when his hero Jude Bellingham and the Real Madrid team gifted him a signed shirt at a match with Cadiz CF. UK-born Ben Nadarajah Marr, 17, known to everyone as Benjy, has been inspired by his hero Bellingham as another young British footballer making it in Spain. It managed to turn a r o u n d what otherwise was a disappointing 3-0 defeat for his beloved Cadiz CF, the club Benjy plays for in the Inclusive League (La Liga Genuine). He had brought a gi-
EXCLUSIVE By Walter Finch
ant poster asking former Birmingham City and Borussia Dortmund star Bellingham to give him his shirt as he was subbed off the pitch after scoring Madrid’s third goal. Bellingham saw the sign and gave a smile and a wave. “He was so happy to get the shirt signed by the team and it means so much to someone like Benjy,” mother Renuka (pictured with Benjy) told the Olive Press. “Because of his autism and ADD, he really struggles to make friends and he doesn’t understand why people don’t want to be
WHEN it comes to Christmas markets in Spain the variety is plentiful, but you can’t look past Spain’s oldest, the Fira de Santa Llucia in Barcelona. This beloved market stretches out along Avinguda de la Catedral in the gothic quarter of the Catalonian capital and was traditionally where single women went to attract a husband. It originally sold paper and clay nativity figurines to churchgoers in 1786 and first mention of the market was by Rafael Amat, a Catalan writer in the 18th century.
his friend. “So when he gets this recognition from the Real Madrid players - global megastars - it gives him a sense of acceptance and belonging.” Benjy’s difficulties in life were laid bare when Spanish football TV show El Dia Despues captured on camera Benjy’s efforts to catch Bellingham’s attention. They put together a comical segment laughing at his persistent efforts to catch the attention of the Real Madrid bench and the irritated reaction of the other fans to Benjy’s commotion. The editor of the show called Renuka within minutes of her sending an email pointing out Amat made reference to a ‘party in her son is authe street’, where nativity scenes, tistic to apoloimages of saints, shepherds, animals gise profusely and a ‘multitude of people’ gathered. and promptIt was also known as the ‘fair of ly sent a TV the girls’, since it was believed that crew to meet single girls went there to arrange Benjy and marriages. film an inGirls were accompanied by their terview with mothers, were well dressed and well him. groomed, in order to find a suitor. Benjy was diagnosed early
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in life with autism, dyspraxia, attention deficit disorder and delayed development. After a tough childhood in England and Gibraltar, Benjy’s mother, who has raised him as a single parent, relocated them to Cadiz in search of a fresh start when he was 12. But troubles followed him and Renuka really feared for Benjy’s future. “He’s had zero friends for the last five years,” Renuka said. “There might have been one or two people who were nice to him in school and kind to him but nobody wanted to invite him to the movies or play football.” Benjy’s dream was to meet Messi, who was ‘like a father figure for him’, and it led him, by chance, to Cadiz CF and the Inclusive League. Suddenly he had found a group, all of whom had different disabilities and special needs, where he did not struggle so much with social cues and interactions. Since he joined Cadiz CF’s inclusive team, Benjy’s behaviour and performance in school have improved immeasurably. “It really has saved both our lives,” Renuka said.
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December 14th - January 11th 2024
Olé!
#WeLoveFlamenco
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A PREVIEW of the latest trends in Flamenco fashion has been given in Sevilla. The ‘official’ season for designers to show off their latest creations starts with the We Love Flamenco show, being held in Sevilla’s Hotel Alfonso XIII from January 13 to 19. But a glimpse of some of the designs on show has just been given at the Casino de la Exposicion to whet the appetites of Flamenco fashionistas. The show, which was first held in 2009, has since become one of the most important events in the Flamenco fashion world.
ROYAL RUMPUS SPAIN’s Royal family is remaining tight-lipped after the ex-husband of the Queen’s sister claimed he had an affair with Letizia following her marriage to King Felipe. Jaime del Burgo, 53, who was married to Telma Ortiz from 2012 to 2014, revealed the alleged affair in a tell-all book about the former journalist, providing a photo and series of Tweets and messages as supposed ‘proof’ of their relationship. Many doubt del Burgo’s claims as there is no evidence that Letizia actually sent him the photo or accompanying messages. The Royals have declined to comment.
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4 www.theolivepress.es Beach access plan A LONG dispute over reopening a small stretch of an Orihuela Costa footpath has seen Orihuela council vote to expropriate land. The 60-metre route linking the Aquamarina path with La Caleta was shut in December 2021 after a court order gave the right to Bellavista residents to close it. It meant that walkers had to make a two kilometre detour to get to the beach. Orihuela is now seeking to reach an expropriation deal with the Bellavista owners amidst reports that the authority has offered them €70,000. It has been suggested that the owners want €2 million plus another €1 million for the developer of a plot on the other side of the promenade towards La Caleta. The Bellavista development was approved in 1990 but Orihuela council at the time did not expropriate the full length of the path, leaving the 60 metre gap.
NEWS
December 14th - January 11th 2024
LATER LIGHT UP ORIHUELA council has been slammed for the late appearance of this year’s Christmas lights with politicians blaming each other for a big festive foul up. Orihuela has been getting some lights put up this week with a switch on scheduled for this Friday. However, Orihuela Costa will largely have to make do with the annual Christmas tree outside the Playa Flamenca town hall, while over 30,000-plus residents in the districts are getting nothing. Orihuela’s budget has ended up being a paltry €61,000 compared to €400,000 in neighbouring towns like Elche and Torrevieja.
Artful dodger Expat squatter lives two years free of charge after bragging ‘I know the law!’ A BRITISH expat is demanding action after being forced to pay thousands in energy bills for a fellow British squatter who moved into her home two years ago. The tenant, Carmen Bonnici, is refusing to pay rent, claiming the house has been inhabitable since she moved in - a charge the owners deny. The artist rented the cottage in Arriate, near Ronda, in December 2021, but after paying one month’s deposit, has refused to pay anything since. Meanwhile, the owner, Irene Cox, a retired English teacher,
STAR MEN
How David Bowie inspired funeral plan providers Compare Funerals to take the Spanish market by storm
W
HEN UK-based funeral plan provider Compare Funerals spotted a gap in Spain’s market in 2020, it was a bit of a no brainer. Founders Jack Smith and Benjamin Beck-Davies were used to operating in the highly secure and regulated UK market, where client funds were always held and protected in a trust. Whereas in Spain, many of the smaller providers did not do this. Meanwhile, the larger and more established funeral companies charged an arm and a leg for all the bells and whistles. Jack Smith told the Olive Press: "We wanted to bridge this gap. “Our aim was to make funeral plans more affordable but also secure, importing the regulated environment we were accustomed to in the UK." Compare Funerals' journey began in the UK as a brokerage, offering funeral plans from various British-based companies. Jack and Ben were savvy enough to spot that with the passing of cultural icon David Bowie and his election to have a direct cremation in 2016, a new trend was set in motion. Compare Funerals were quick to capitalise with their introduction of direct cremation services to Spain, from their offices in Sotogrande. "We were surprised that none of the existing providers offered direct cremations, a service increasingly preferred in the UK," Jack explained. "Since our arrival, we've seen that about 80-85% of our plans sold are for direct cremations." Other providers soon followed suit, a testament to Compare Funerals' foresight and innovation. "It's the sincerest form of flattery," Jack said. "We've blazed a trail in the funeral service industry in Spain, and we're proud of that." As Compare Funerals continues to grow, their commitment to affordable, transparent, and respectful services remains unwavering. The experience of their clients is always paramount, reflecting a new era in funeral care that honours both the departed and the living.
For more informaion or to view the range of plans on offer, please contact on +34 951 120 752 or visit www.comparefuneral.org
EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
is forced to pay for her electricity, water and other bills, costing, so far, more than €2,000. Bonnici has repeatedly claimed the house is not suitable to live in, but has allegedly failed to let builders in to undertake repairs. Worse, she has now declared herself as a ‘vulnerable adult’, making evicting all the more difficult under Spanish law. Meanwhile videos from her Instagram account show her dancing around and smiling inside the home, for which she has not paid rent for 23 months. According to her website her artworks sell for thousands of euros each, although it is not known if she has sold any recently. In an email seen by this paper, she wrote to Cox: “I know my rights. I know the law… unless you give me back my money now you can both go f**k yourselves. “As for the builders, if they set foot on this property as long as
STAYING PUT: Squatter Carmen Bonnici, while right, the house in question I’m living here then they are trespassing… if they come I will call the Guardia Civil.” Cox and her estate agent husband are now at their wits’ end after an attempt to pay her to leave also failed. Despite taking Bonnici to court to evict her, no date for a trial has yet been set. To complicate matters, Bonnici is demanding money from them for ‘damaged artwork’ from termites and water leakage
BUSY TIMES VALENCIAN president Carlos Mazon says Alicante-Elche airport will close 2023 with a record number of 10 million foreign tourists. "We are very happy and very hopeful that the yearend numbers will be a historic figure,” Mazon emphasised. On a visit to Alicante, Mazon said the numbers added more strength to the airport’s campaign to get a second runway in order to 'continue growing'. He added that 2022 was a 'very good' year, but said that figures for 2023 show that Alicante 'has returned to win, not just to stay, following the Covid pandemic. Mazon said he will back airport bosses to carry out what he described as going 'to the next level', with a second runway being 'needed sooner rather than later'.
Solar rejection PLANS for a solar energy plant on farmland in the Dolores area have been blocked by the Valencian government. The installation would have been on eight hectares of land adjoining the Llobregales industrial estate. Developers wanted to invest €1.7 million to erect panels with a generation capacity of 3,500 kilowatts. The government rejected the application as the solar set up would have been on 'valuable' farmland. The area is also subject to flooding and the plant would have been less than 1,000 metres from wetlands that make up the El Hondo Special Protection Area for Birds.
“She’s obviously out to get everything she can,” Cox, from Worcester, told the Olive Press. “As soon as she moved in she started making a list of complaints, the truth is the home was incredibly clean and in a good condition, our former tenant was there for years without a complaint.” She continued: “I’m worried my home is going to be trashed, all the stuff she was complaining about was outrageous. “She won’t allow us in, she actually refuses to open the door.”
Danger
When contacted by the Olive Press, Bonnici said the house was ‘simply not habitable’ and that there were dangerous wires and no functioning toilet or hot water. When asked why, if it was so bad, she had stayed for two years, she added: “The landlord hasn’t given my money back so I can’t leave. “They said they would give it to me after I leave the house, but I know they won’t. “Since time has gone by, more artwork has been damaged. They’ve never offered to fix the termite infestation that has eaten most of my clothes. I’m in a vulnerable situation, I can’t move, I’m not financially able to, I don’t have any money. You can go from selling art for thousands of dollars to selling nothing.” Opinion Page 6
AFTERMATH: of the terror attacks
Compo for terror victims THE victims of a terror attack where an islamist smashed his car onto a busy expat bar’s terrace, killing one and injuring several, are in line for compensation. A UK government spokesman has confirmed that the Foreign Office has declared the September 2021 incident in Torre Pacheco (Murcia) as a terrorist incident. As such the British victims and the families of the deceased can make claims to the UK government under the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme. In the incident the driver, Abdellah Gmara, a Spanish citizen of Moroccan origin, also died. He had first stabbed himself in the chest then sped onto the terrace of Honey’s Bar in Roldan, smashing through tables and chairs and scattering many of the mostly expat customers. One man - who was sitting with his wife - was killed. Gmara had used false papers to enter Spain when he was 13-years-old and was sent to a juvenile centre in 2012. He became a Spanish citizen in 2020. His landlord described him as a man who hardly ever went out and spent most days on the internet.
Vigilante justice A SHARP spike in home robberies has forced worried residents of Pinar de Campoverde to take the law into their own hands. Vigilante patrols are now responding to possible incidents because police are not arriving in time. Home owner, Sara Henarejos Carillo, said: “There've been 30 robberies in the past few months or so, with up to four in one night.” The residents association - Pinar de Campoverde Vecinos - has 500 members of their 'Theft Alert Group'.
Intruders
Every time a possible intruder is spotted the group gets a notification and volunteers rush to the area. They say that a number of them responded last Friday by carrying baseball bats and golf clubs to 'foil' three attempted robberies after security alarms went off. Pilar council has invited the residents group to a meeting with mayor, Jose Maria Perez, along with the Policia Local and the Guardia Civil.
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NEWS
December 14th - January 11th 2024
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NEWS FEATURE
www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.
OPINION End the scourge of the squatters THE latest story about squatters from Ronda is an all too familiar story for landlords across Spain (Artful dodger, p4). For far too long the Spanish justice system has been too slow to react to the purge of non-paying tenants. If there is a genuine dispute, such as an illegal contract or mistreatment on behalf of the landlord, then it is understandable for a person to withdraw their rent. But to stay for two years or, in some cases longer, without paying a penny, and for arbitrary reasons, is totally unjustified. If you are not happy with where you are living and believe it is ‘inhabitable’, surely you then move somewhere else.
Money
If you think the landlord owes you money or you have another legal dispute with them, take it to the authorities and the courts. It cannot be right that homeowners are forced to endure months or even years of electricity, gas and other bills while people live in their homes for free. Owning a home in Spain is a stretch for almost everyone’s pockets, and landlords absolutely have the right to be rewarded with reliable tenants. They are, after all, providing a much-needed service. If the Spanish legal system was tougher on so-called ‘okupas’, perhaps there would be less desire for homeowners to turn their properties into holiday lets in an effort to evade headaches.
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POISONED WATERS
DISPATCH: The idyllic Andalucian retreat favoured by expats that is being torn apart by excessive water bills that are threatening some property owners with ruin
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EXCLUSIVE By Walter Finch
LOUDS of paranoia are gathering over the lush green hills of La Viñuela and its once-great reservoir, now little more than an alarming puddle. As the Olive Press first reported a month ago, the truculent town hall slammed a number of its residents with unfathomable water bills in the tens of thousands of euros, without warning and a year late. Since followed up in the UK media, including the Daily Mail, and with the Spanish media now taking up the baton, the beleaguered mayor has, not unexpectedly for Spain, put on his tin hat and dug a deeper trench. Insisting there is nothing wrong with the council’s billing system, he has even, shockingly, insisted the residents, mostly northern European expats, can ‘afford to pay’. Protests have been called, but incredibly, the case has not yet come to the boil. It soon will, as we discovered on a trip to the area this month. The first many residents knew about the saga was when they received a call from their banks in September telling them they had, often, five-figure direct debits coming out of their account. Thus the stage was set for a showdown between the town’s mayor, Jose Jiminez - affectionately known as ‘Juani’ - and its expat residents who occupy dozens of wonderful rural properties located around the lake. “We penny-pinched all our lives to be able to retire here,” Howard Kilduff and his wife Jane, both 69, told the Olive Press. The quantity surveyor and primary school
EXPATS: Howard Kilduff (top), Lee Talbot’s private water tank (right) and Paul and wife Jules (far right) teacher bought their remote, three-bedroom finca five years ago for its ‘tranquillity’ and spectacular views. But their plans to further renovate it and refurbish the kitchen have been put on hold after the town hall tried to take €6,000 out of their account on September 18. Now, like two dozen other residents - mostly Brits - they face the crippling possibility of their bank accounts and then homes being embargoed if they don’t pay up. One expat, Lee Talbot, 63, from Canterbury, was stunned with a demand of €43,000 from the third trimester of 2022 - now standing at €53,000 after further bills were added. Absolutely adamant he didn’t use this water, he is refusing to pay and has turned off the mains water to his six-bed property and now ships in his own supply privately. “Hardly cheap, but better than continually receiving water bills in the thousands from the town hall,” he told the Olive Press. Talbot is one of the few residents to make a As if to prove exactly how ridiculous the situ- formal legal complaint to the town hall, who ation has become he even received a bill of duly took his water meter away for testing, only €3,600 last month - despite the valves being to return a few days later conceding there was nailed completely shut. a small error in the reading - and knocking “In total it works out at €1,500 a month in €600 off the total. water usage - that’s like having another mort- “Now pay up the rest,’ is basically what they gage!” told me,” continues the property developer,
I
T was exactly a year ago that I sat down with friends for one of the most otherworldly culinary experiences of my life. Seated in an almost spaceship-style capsule, we were taken on a three-hour journey through the science of food by Paco Morales at Noor in Cordoba. A genius long-aiming for the stars, it was highly appropriate then that he should land his third Michelin star last month, becoming Spain’s 15th restaurant with the world’s highest accolade. To say Spanish cooking has gone stratospheric over the last decade would be an understatement. A decade ago, the country had 148 stars, with just seven places snaring the top honour. Today Spain has 271 stars handed out from the French food bible. The numbers are soaring by the year, and let’s not forget how painful the French find handing out plaudits to other countries when it comes to cuisine. So perhaps a better measure of Iberian success is the recent ‘Best Chefs’ in the world’ award, which saw an incredible HALF of the top 10 coming from Spain. At the awards ceremony in Mexico last month, number one for the third year running was Dabiz Munoz, from Madrid’s amazing Diverxo.
Chefs
SCIENCE LESSON: Jon with Noor’s Paco Morales
I’ve been fortunate to meet the man on a couple of occasions and sat down with him a decade ago for his first interview after snaring three Michelin stars for the first time for Madrid. Almost the exact opposite of the intellectual Morales, he insisted he wanted his food to ‘feel like a bullet in the heat’. It was certainly a meal I’ll never forget. But Spain has always had these incredible mavericks, the eccentric types who grabbed the world’s attention with their culinary skills.
Famous five
It started with the likes of Pedro Subijana, Martin Berasategui and Juan Mari Arzak in the Basque region and soon
The Spanish are now the world’s number one cooking nation, grinding the French, Italians and Japanese into a pulp, writes Jon Clarke. And not just for quality, price too!
spread to Catalunya in the guise of Joan Roca and Ferran Adria, at world-renowned El Bulli. This group of five chefs were always among the world’s best at one time or another, for their groundbreaking (yet all different) styles of cooking. But what is different now is the sheer numbers of chefs that are leading the world. Aside from Munoz at number one in the Best Chefs poll, Spain has Albert Adria (Ferran’s brother) at number two and Andoni Luis Aduriz, from Mugaritz, in the Basque region in fifth spot. That’s three in the top five, and when you add in the team at Disfrutar in Barcelona at seventh and Joan Roca at Celler
de Can Roca at eighth and it really is hard to deny Spain the top spot. The Best Chefs poll is selected, I should point out, by 150 professionals around the world, including critics, initially, before it is refined by 200 global chefs in the final round. This makes it a genuine industry award, a chef’s chef honour and it is easy to see how well Spain has grown since the list first came out in 2017, when Spain had seven chefs in the Top 100, while France had 23 chefs and Italy 17. Today, six years on, Spain now has 17 restaurants in that select 100, while Italy has 15 and incredibly France has just
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December 2023
PIZZA-SLICE PERFECT The Costa del Ski is perfect for Christmas card snowscapes and adrenalinepumping thrills, writes Iona Napier, recalling her ‘pizzashaped’ teaching tips
“
THERE’S no way I’m skiing down that. I’ll walk up, get my ski and take the lift down,” insisted my Olive Press colleague, looking longingly uphill, while skiers zipped gracefully past us. His grimace was barely visible through the layers of buff, hat and goggles, but the snarls were audible as he lay spread-eagled one ski 20 metres above him, where he’d taken a tumble. It had been a testing day on the slopes for ski virgin Rob, and after a particularly ambitious blue run with three consecutive wipeouts, his sense of humour had vanished without trace. It didn’t help that the rest of our impatient group had zoomed back to base for a Continues on next page
ICY BLAST: The snow cannons going full blast, while (inset) the view from the top
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December 2023
All about
From front page
caña, without a second thought for Rob. With my several years of experience I had naturally ended up volunteering to become his impromptu ‘professor’. After rescuing his ski and a bit of gentle cajoling, we set off gingerly down the highest mountain range in peninsular Spain, making ‘giant pizza slices’, as my first teacher had called them, with our skis. He was soon back in the saddle and I was considering a career change, as I later sped down the Olympico run, in the Laguna de las Yeguas valley, which at the top has amazing views towards the Rif mountains of north Africa across the shimmering Med. It was the beginning of the perfect Sierra Nevada weekend, with perfect powder snow, bright sunshine and some of Spain’s best après ski at the end. The Sierra Nevada is easily Spain’s best skiing resort, with nearly 113 kms of pistes over 1200 vertical metres. The longest piste, SLICING UP: The pizza slice shapes Aguila, is a dreamy need improving 6.3km of easy turns and magnificent views, while the series of black runs, including Trampolin by late afternoon. and Visera, that will test most skiers. And on the subject of sunbathing, Of course the resort is most famous some fanatics - including me - even for allowing tourists to test the adage brave the slopes in a bikini for the last of being able to ski in the morning and day of the season in late April or early sunbathe on the coast, a cava in hand, May (la bajada en bikini see pic above).
HALF PIPE HEAVEN
Believe me, it’s an unmissable day festooned with champagne, near nudity and plenty of hedonism. But it’s not just for fun junkies; expert skiers insist the snow, particularly in springtime, is a soft and sumptuous
ride, unlike the tightly-packed icy pistes found in many European resorts. The long termers call it ‘cream snow’ (nieve crema), and most say it is at its best from February to April, although the season often begins in late November, weather permitting (this year it began on Dec 3 with just a few kilometres open). Best of all, the price for passes has not gone up much over recent years (it’s €37.50 to 58.90 for an adult day pass depending on time of year). “It’s a magnificent place with sun and a great location,” explains Mercedes Delgado, who has worked in the resort’s Cetursa admin team for over three decades. “The temperature is usually pleasant and makes for excellent snow conditions, with late night skiing too, and the season usually continues to May making it very versatile.” She continues: “And our proximity to Granada city is a huge plus, whereas many European resorts are very isolat-
ed. “You can come to the Sierra Nevada and also see the Alhambra, eat some famous Granada tapas.. . there is something for everyone.” She is one of many long-timers, who have worked in the resort for verging on half a century. Take a wonder around and chat to the various business owners and you’ll be amazed at how experienced they are.” There’s Luis Casanove, at Telemark, who began on the slopes in 1987, while Jose at Skisol is now in his 41st year working here. It wasn’t long after that in the 1990s that Giles Birch and Jonathan Buzzard set up together, going on to run their now famous British Ski Center (yes, American spelling). The strategic location is near the beach, not far from Madrid, and perfectly accessible from most of southern Spain (Valencia, Murcia etc) and increasingly Portugal.
Est.2002
Sierra Nevada
English Ski & Snowboard Instructors Holiday Arrangements: sierraessence@skisierranevada.co.uk
info@britishskicenter.co.uk T: 670 461330 / 646 178406 www.skisierranevada.co.uk
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December 2023
POCKET-FRIENDLY RESORT
THE Sierra Nevada is incredibly good value, blasting the international competition out of the water. A day ski pass averages at around €49, while Colorado resort Beaver Creek charges a mind-boggling €212 per day, Whistler in Canada is also €212 and Switzerland’s Zermatt can set you back €94. In terms of ski hire it comes in around €25, while skiwear is found as cheaply as €20 per day, with a small helmet supplement which is a must, regardless of your vanity.
Alongside a loyal British crowd, many of them expats from Alicante and Malaga, the majority (around 80%) of the skiers are Spanish. They are particularly drawn to the resort’s authenticity and charm that swanky French resorts have long since lost, with prices to match. The place was quietly successful in the 1980s, but grew massively since the world ski championships in 1995. Spanish is still the lingua franca – although virtually all restaurateurs speak English. By contrast, in high-end Swiss resorts or in France’s Courchevel or Meribel, where the super-rich walk their Chihuahuas in white skin-tight salopettes, you’re hard pushed to find a native
French speaker. The resort is very family friendly, with the majority of the 139 runs at a beginner or intermediate level. There are several zones purpose-designed for little ones: with magic carpet lifts, bike-skiing and toboggan runs for kids or non-skiers. More experienced skiers - and hundreds of snowboarders - head to the Sulayr Terrain Park, where there are well over 100 different ramps and rails, with the largest ski-jump in Europe. The cool kids also hang out in the Loma de Dilar area, which boasts the biggest permanent halfpipe in Spain, with a cross country ski and snowboard run. And it’s not just the class skiing that keeps punters coming back, the nightlife and restaurants are second to none. And the Sierra Nevada’s businesses are delighted to meet you, friendly down to earth businesses that do not mock their customers with ski-high prices. Try Nichi at Bar Ski for some apres-ski vibes of the highest calibre… his bar and the ones around it are perfect for a cheeky beer or glass of wine before heading to one of the nearby restaurants. Looking for a bit of the high life, you will easily find yourself distracted by Marbella Club’s Sierra Nevada outposts, El Lodge, or its recently added sister Meribel, two sumptuous, high-end additions to the local scene. These are the sort of top end places that rival anywhere in Ibiza or Cannes, and keep the wealthy expats on the Costa del Sol more than happy whether there is snow or not. And you can easily get a slice of it (even a high-end pizza slice) for a lot less money than you might realise as their restaurants are open to everyone.
IN THE FAMILY
More than 4 decades experience
MEDIUM – BEGINNERS Ski’s for 25€ – Snowboard & Snowblades for 25€ HIGH – INTERMEDIATE Ski’s for 35€ – Snowboard & Snowblades for 34€ PREMIUM – EXPERTS Ski’s for 45€ – Snowboard & Snowblades for 44€ Jackets & Trousers – 22€ Helmet – 6€
I
T is a classic family business. Jose Antonio Lopez and his wife Montse are now joined by their two children, particularly when the resort gets busy. But thankfully it’s not too far, the family living in nearby La Zubia, just at the foot of the slopes. In an excellent location, their shop Skisol has some of the best quality skis and snowboards to rent and customer service is the key to its success. “We always put the customer first and have plenty of returning business,” explains Jose Antonio, who has been renting out skis in the Sierra Nevada for four decades. Visit www.skisol.es or call 958 48 08 57
NATURAL SETTING: And (top) competing in the European Championships
EXPERIENCED: Montse with son and pal
Snow Glasses – 5€
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December 2023
All about
The Maribel Hotel in the Sierra Nevada adds an additional upmarket pull to Spain’s hippest ski resort, writes Jon Clarke
T
HE last time I’d luxuriated in Alpine-style bliss in the Sierra Nevada was a decade ago, and right next door. When El Lodge reopened after a stunning refit in 2012 I was lucky enough to take my family - including two young children - as the season kicked off. It had gone swimmingly, even despite our pair stripping off and bombing into the outdoor heated pool completely naked, quickly followed by my wife in a bra and knickers! Something of a test run to sample the exclusive hotel’s offering, its well-travelled manager insisted I needn’t ‘worry’ about the kids and explained the sort of guests who stayed here could pretty much do what they wanted. Almost nothing was off limits. The Lodge has proven to be one of Andalucia’s resounding success stories over the last decade enticing up an extremely mixed international crowd, half of whom just come to relax, with no intention of skiing. Seeing the super rich at play is always something to behold and the Lodge has completely nailed their needs, its terrace the very definition of privilege, glasses of champagne (not cava) clinking, as the sun’s rays start to drop and the shadows lengthen. So, I suppose, with occupation rates often nudging into the 90s, it was little surprise that the celebrated luxury hotel group behind the five-star Marbella Club and Puente Romano would look for a further addition to its Pradollano portfolio. And, as it turns out, they have now acquired two new properties right next to the Lodge… the Monachil Hotel, and Maribel Hotel, which has just reopened with 29 rooms, all geared towards the luxury end. There is something undeniably comforting about the Maribel, which immediately feels like a home on arrival, not a grand showy hotel, except, of course, for the doorman, who quickly whisks away your car and speeds your luggage up to your room, while you check in. Billing itself as a chalet, this is very much the feel as the subtly-lit reception area doubles up as an open-plan snug, pool room and bar area and the sheer variety of sumptuous furnishings and faux fur is impressive. Everything is geared towards comfort and nature and its pick-and-mix wooden furniture further adds to the homely feel, while the smell of natural oils is
ELEGANCE: Maribel’s beautiful Finnish wood spa and (below right) two rooms
MARVELLOUS
immediately calming. ed with plenty of faux fur throws and There is a real focus on wood, sustain- a series of original stone and shell able Finnish wood, from the beams sculptures, while a circular wooden and pillars to the panelling and floors, chip tells you to ‘leave me’ on the bed while a series of drinks tables are if you don’t need the sheets changing. made from original oak. A giant ski resort photo from the On one wall a false bookshelf gives 1980s holds court on one wall and way leading to the is a continuous theme rooms, which are all throughout the hotel, in remarkably well-apparticular in the impresA wonderful pointed, each with their sive restaurant downwide open own balcony, looking stairs. through a thin stand of It is here that I felt most space offering pines into the snowy at home, despite the mountains behind. a true sense of warmth of the bar upNothing is lacking from stairs. escape the smart entertainBilling itself as a ‘gasment system to inteltronomic club’, it is a ligent lighting and the wonderful wide open coffee machine to electric loos (be space with acres of glass offering the careful of the automatic bidet button, most amazing views and a true sense though, unless you want to cool down). of escape. The theme is geared towards travel Its focus (apart from the views) are the and, in particular, leather suitcases, elegant bar at one end and the giant all edges sealed in brown leather, in- scene stting circular lights (above), cluding the side ta- which are tempered depending on the bles, desk and even mood and time of day. cupboards. The It’s very much a stand alone restauscene is complet- rant, encouraging diners in from the
outside, and with input from wellknown local DJs it has a distinct buzz about the place in the evenings, particularly at weekends and in the holidays, I’m told. I was really impressed with the dinner menu, which was striking in its length with 13 starters alone, including caviar and oysters. The stand-out dishes include the celebrated Motril shrimp croquettes with cane honey alioli and the marinated beef carpaccio with artichoke and truffle dressing. I fancied something a bit different and went for the ‘shaved cauliflower salad’ with apple and smoked almonds, which was delicious and, as one of the chefs later admitted, was a real ballache to prepare. I also tried the classic French onion soup with Gruyere croutons, a brilliant winter warmer after a day on the slopes. For those looking for nostalgia, the ‘Alpine specialities’ section naturally included a Raclette and a separate cheese fondue, as well as an artichoke flower, served with foie and burrata cheese. But first I should mention the amazing giant crusty warm roll that comes out with the very best olive oil, either from the organic Belvis mill in Istan (lunch), or the award-winning Castillo de Canela of Jaen (dinner). For mains I wasn’t looking for anything too heavy, so a simple plate of spaghetti with Boletus mushrooms, from northern Spain, was splendid. For lunch the following day I ordered in room service, having come down with a touch of the flu, and was seriously cheered up by the most delicious buffalo mozzarella I have eaten, alongside some of the sweetest cherry tomatoes one can possibly imagine. A remarkable baked aubergine, with olive, tomato and basil sauce, recommended by the kitchen for a dickie tummy, couldn’t have been a better recommendation. The sweetness of the tomatoes (again) really cheered me up. The wine list would be hard to beat
with dozens by the glass and a particularly exciting top end, exclusive section, where you can grab an amazing glass of white Chassagne Montrachet (Domaine Bader Mimeur) for €29 a glass, or an Italian Barolo (‘Cannubi’) for €23. Aside from that, there were plenty of Spanish wines from around the country, many in most readers’ price range. And on that front…OK, while many of the mains were over €30, there were plenty of plates for just over €20, which for such a high quality joint isn’t bad at all. So, all in all, the Maribel more than matches up to the amazing opulence of El Lodge next door, while being considerably more accessible and less fussy and certainly better for families. Aside from the fact you can also ski right from the door (snow willing) and there is a ski shop renting and selling equipment, you also have the impressive spa too AND a heated outdoor pool to boot, plus a hot tub and jacuzzi. Now I finally understand why so many of the guests of these two wonderful hotels don’t even consider strapping on a plank or two of wood to their feet. Marvellous Maribel it certainly is! More info on Maribel Ski & Après Ski can be found at www.maribels. com For El Lodge Ski & Spa visit www.ellodge.com
December 14th - January 11th 2024
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who has an office in Marbella. village. “It was like checkmate. But they never released Jimenez infamously said in a newspaper interthe actual report into this investigation they view that ‘if the residents used the water, they claimed to have done,” he continued. “We still must pay - and they can pay.’ don’t know how they made their calculations.” Yet the actual Spanish locals we spoke to this This experience has deterred other victims month were keen to impress they got along from having their meters tested, fearing that very well with their foreign neighbours and that it is just a means for the town hall to rubber the community was actually well-integrated. stamp their bills. But one woman’s face hardened when asked if The reluctance of the town hall she sympathised with those hit and the mayor to address the with the bills issue or even reassure its resi“If they used that much water, The town hall dents has slowly introduced ‘a they have to pay for it,” she said. poison’ into the community. However, a handful of Spanish was paying This wouldn’t be happening ‘if residents do also count among €10,000 a it were the Spanish getting the the victims. bills’, is the grumble being whisLocal goat farmer Jose Antonio month to pump pered louder and louder. received an assurance from the its water La Viñuela town hall has still not mayor that he would resolve the published its accounts for 2022 issue. - as it is legally obliged to do “Then they hit me with a bill for and it sat on the huge water bills for months €17,000 without warning. I only found out I’d before sending them out. been charged when I saw it in the bank. It is This was apparently due to a ‘technical glitch’ basic robbery.” in their computer systems, an excuse that has He continued: “In other villages, if a huge bill been greeted with scepticism. arrives they would ring the person and explain It has prompted some to wonder out loud if the what is going on. They needed to warn us betown hall is deliberately passing on huge costs fore sending out the bills.” to ‘los guiris’ in order to shield the rest of the Theories to get to the bottom of the matter
BEST CHEF: Dabiz Muñoz has been number one for three years nine. Talk about tables turned, the French must be feeling just a little browned off and wondering how to spice up their boeuf bourguignon. Well, take it from me, having spent nearly two decades writing about Spanish cuisine and even publishing my own book Dining Secrets of Andalucia, they need to concentrate on basic local produce and respecting their ingredients. What I think the Spanish have done so well over the last two decades is to think
local and cook local… but then again, the Spanish did have a head start. All the local chefs had to do after all, was simply head down to their local markets and see what was in season and arriving that day. Aside from the legendary vegetables and fruits that grow all around the country, the pork from around Jabugo and Salamanca, the beef from Cadiz and Galicia and the fish from around Barbate, Denia, and Murcia, so much more is staggeringly good.
Take the rice from around Valencia, the saffron from inland and the wild mushrooms from the many varied sierras, the list could go on. And I’ll leave you with a thought: After our amazing 11-course adventure at Noor last Christmas, we were left with a bill of just €115 per head. Sure, now it’s got three stars the price has gone up, but at just €145 a head, Noor is still easily one of the best value leading restaurants in the world.
IRECT exposure to the Olive Press’ 30,000plus registered online database is getting amazing results. Our followers get daily news emails, twice-weekly travel mailouts and a detailed health newsletter every Sunday. As well as announcing financial seminars and special surgical procedures, a number of astute restaurant groups and hotels have caught on. Musaka in San Pedro got 20 bookings from a one off deal including a free bottle of wine. as Party at Musaka Book your Christm DINNER – LUNCH PARTIES – Meanwhile, Malaga’s Metro group has used the OlCHR ISTM AS ) (groups of 4 and more ive Press’s Turk unique tool on three separate oct Beef ey, Roasmarketing Scrumptious Christma gs the trim casions thisallyear somin far. ed with or Salmon Fillet serv h from 33.90€ Luncdiscount A rse 50% for0€the open3 Cou 49.9 from drinks included OR withing hours) exclusive fortnight – 2,5their drinksof (wine, cava, beer, soft 49.90€ Nomad restaurant got 96 5 Course Dinner from 0€ 74.9 from ded OR with drinks inclu bookings, while drinks – 3 hours) (wine, cava, beer, soft F offOF brunch 20% 15% OFFa 25% 10% OFF for boo king s for boo king sdeal brought 18 peopleover 30. over for bookings le peop over 12 over 6 people 23’ G ‘MUSAKA “We’ve been very happy with the results” DISCOUNT BY USIN APPLY FOR YOUR SPECIAL DATES explained boss, E D DECEMBER E N Cmarketing & JANUARY LU F N I K E E R G L U s WO N D E R F MIXED GROUPS Karen Wolfson. 24th, 25th – Christma OD FO N A E N A Y R R UAR E T I JAN MED Lunch from 59.90€ DECEMBER & Five-star Kempinski hotel ner Day ng h/din Boxi lunc 26th Christmas 7th, 8th, 9th, Lunch from and SO/Sotogrande spa59.90€ y EVERY WEEK 14th, 15th, 16th, - New Years Eve Part 31st S W have used our database, O H S 85€ 21st, 22nd & 23rd Dec C I 5 course dinner from LIVE MUS ary 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Janu 119€ with OR from 72 42 while an67exclusive room disApp: 602 s hats drink tel/W soft , m for beer a.co , wine info@musak Sundays available count ed atonDDG Retreat, near Estepona, Parties Private Christmas Sunday Clos le e Kings Thre Jan 6th groups over 20 peop 20, tero Quin takers - ‘even moreLunc bookfor anos Alvarezof Hermdozens Av.got h from 59.90€ (the Restaurant is solely Pedro de Alcántara in the 0, San 2967 you and your guests ings than the Times’. hours 1pm - 5 pm) m) (between 8pm-11.30p
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abound, with the most prevalent being that air is entering the pipes and causing the meters to spin wildly and inflate the count. Retired mechanical engineer and unofficial ‘Viñuela water bills’ spokesperson Paul Rouse is adamant that this occurs when the water pumps are switched off and on again. But this was dismissed as a ‘bad theory’ at the town hall amid a finger-jabbing conversation when we were finally able to confront someone at the town hall. The mayor was ‘on holiday’ for most of the week. “If that was the case, then all the properties in the same road would have the high bills,” the official - who demanded he was not named pointed out. “But it’s not the case. You have houses next to each other with very different bills.” The town hall continues to insist that each case is different and it is just a coincidence with no common cause - despite the high bills all coming in the same quarter and being followed by two quarters of low bills. “Such huge bills are almost impossible to justify,” the former expat mayor of neighbouring Alcaucin, Mario Blancke, told the Olive Press. “Something has clearly gone wrong there.” The real estate boss, from Belgium, holds the distinction of being the only expat to become mayor in the region. “La Viñuela used to get most of its water from a borehole in Alcaucin free of charge in exchange for paying the electricity bill on the pump and maintaining it,” he explained. However, Blancke added that the electricity costs came to €10,000 a month. In an ironic twist, it was a bill that Jiminez and the town hall ultimately found exorbitant themselves. In a series of back door deals that were never written down, according to the Belgian ex-mayor, the two town halls negotiated a new deal to just charge for the water going through the pipes from Alcaucin to La Viñuela. He also added that recent water bills include a 50% surcharge tax by the Junta which are going towards new sewage stations in the region. But it still does not explain the mystery of the shocking water bills. “In Alcaucin we offered residents the option to have a second meter installed to give two readings, at a cost of €120.” Perhaps this is a simple measure that could help head off future problems in La Viñuela , but what is needed is a solution now. The ball is in the hands of the local mayor - let us hope common sense prevails and he does not drop it.
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Recycling by design
Park deal secured
Woman is turning olive waste to use in high fashion
A BRITISH woman is turning olive waste into luxury clothing. The sustainable venture uses left overs from oil production to dye clothing. Hanna Whiteman, 39, spent 14 years living between Granada, Cordoba and Orgiva before returning to the UK. When studying for a BA in Textile Design in London, she returned to the Alpujarras in search of a solution to fashion’s environmental impact and the climate crisis. In a local olive mill, she discovered that olive pomace, a soil residue, could be used as an alternative to harsh bleaches to remove colour from base fabrics.
FARMER FEARS THE on-going drought in Alicante province is causing reductions in local fruit and vegetables reaching markets and shops. The area is facing its driest autumn for 50 years with farm cooperatives unable to fulfill up to 25% of supermarket orders due to a lack of product. Restrictions of 25% on farm irrigation have been imposed, with some farmers being forced to make tough decisions. “Because there is no water available, many farmers don’t plant or just cover half an area,” said Jose Manuel Blasco of the Cambayas cooperative. He estimates production is down by around 30%, especially with winter vegetables. Artichokes crops have suffered badly with 25% fewer being cultivated as the growing season is a month behind schedule due to the drought.
By Yzabelle Bostyn
The Central St Martins graduate also realised that olive pits could be used as a natural ink for textile printing. She said: “Fashion has had a negative past but there is an opportunity to turn it around. “I saw lots of problems but also lots of possibilities. The high unemployment rate and waste products could be solved by diversifying the income of farmers through fashion.” The project was also inspired
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by Andalucia’s history and aesthetics. Orgiva used to be a centre of luxury silk production and ancient al-andaluz was well known for its natural dyes. Hanna said: “The south of Spain is a very aesthetic place, it’s full of patterns of geometry and nature. That definitely had an impact on my design.” Now the project has attracted the interest of a-list designer
RECYCLING: Hanna and (above) clothes made from her cloth Stella McCartney and Hanna hopes to return to the Alpujarras to further develop the project. Visit @hacheforhanna on Instagram
THE national government and the Andalucia region have signed a deal to stop illegal irrigation in the drought-hit Doñana wetlands. It brings the end of a two-year battle between the region and Madrid, with the national park in a critical state with lagoons drying out and biodiversity declining. Some €350 million will be invested by the national government to stop the crucial breeding grounds for birdlife drying up. Farmers will get financial aid to stop cultivating and to switch to re-forestry projects in 14 municipalities in Huelva province. The government aid is in addition to €356 million committed by Madrid to environmental improvements a year ago, and will be matched by €700 million from the Junta. As part of the agreement, Andalucia will cancel previously announced plans to expand irrigation near Doñana - a decision that Unesco, the national government and ecologists criticised for putting more pressure on the aquifer.
More bad news than good from the COP 28 summit in Dubai
OP 28 has drawn to a close. The Conference of Parties is an annual event attended by almost 200 countries to discuss tackling the challenges we face with climate change. The ‘F’ word is fossil fuels. Remarkably, reference to fossil fuels only commenced during COP 26, two years ago in Glasgow. It has historically been swept under the carpet. Self interest of the major economies of the world has prevented real time solutions. The answer is known by all, yet put aside by many countries. The only way to decarbonise coal, oil and gas is to stop producing it - quickly, completely and permanently. Pope Francis, who was scheduled to talk at the conference, but couldn’t due to illness, had the right message delivered on his behalf: “Renewable energy is crucial to saving the world as well as the elimination of fossil fuels.” He’s hit the nail on the head, and highlighted the good news/bad news outcome of COP 28.
THE ‘F’ WORD
Green
Matters
By Martin Tye
GOOD NEWS
● Many countries committed to triple the deployment of renewable energies ● Many oil companies have pledged to stop releasing the potently planet heating gas methane during oil and gas production by 2030.
BAD NEWS
● More bad than good. To start with, hosting a climate conference in a petrostate is like the beginning of a bad joke. ● No real commitments made about the cessation of fossil fuel production ● More greenwashing talk about carbon capture. The science simply does not exist to capture sufficiently high amounts of carbon in an economical manner. ● Oil rich countries continue to talk about climate action whilst at the same time they are ramping up production. ● Many national oil companies still talk about reducing emissions by 2050. The Internation-
SPOT ON: Pope Francis is right
al Energy Agency has stated that this needs to be by 2030. Profit before Planet is still the order of the day. The Saudi Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, summed up the oil region’s attitude perfectly during a TV interview. When asked if his country would support a pledge to phase out fossil fuels, his response was ‘ABSOLUTELY NOT’. We are still heading down the road to witnessing more and more devastating climate induced disasters.
Martin Tye is the owner of Mariposa Energía, a green energy company specialising in solar panel installations. Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es or call +34 638 145 664
SOLAR PANELS GENERATE YOUR OWN ELECTRICITY Save Money • Save The Planet • Add Value To Your Home
+34 951 120 830 | gogreen@mariposaenergia.es | www.mariposaenergia.es
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Ring in the New Year
HOTEL BOOST
THE first stone has been laid in the construction of the closest hotel to Alicante-Elche airport with a January 2025 opening date pencilled in. The Hampton by Hilton hotel will be just three minutes drive from the airport. It is being built next to the roundabout leading into El Altet from Alicante, which along with Elche, will be just 15 minutes away by road. Construction will cost €5 million and it will become the fourth hotel in Spain under the Hampton by Hilton brand. Elche mayor, Pablo Ruz, said: “This hotel has all the elements to be a success with unbeatable connections and the best beaches in the province in the surrounding area.”
Town has been crowned the best in Spain to spend New Year’s Eve FORGET the iconic Puerta del Sol in Madrid or Plaça Espanya in Barcelona - a string of small towns have been named as the best spots in Spain in which to ring in the New Year. And the tiny but picturesque Malaga town of Frigiliana has achieved the sought after title of best place to spend New Year in Spain, as chosen by travel magazine Viajar. Although it may seem counterintuitive, it is precisely because of the lack of big nightclubs, bars and rowdy
By Yzabelle Bostyn
streets that Viajar chose it as its top destination. The white village nestled in the hills outside Malaga, was selected for its tranquil atmosphere, pretty streets and surrounding nature. The quiet environment is perfect to reflect on the past year and look forward to 2024. The magazine highlighted the ‘labyrinthine’ streets covered with colourful flower pots and the area’s close-
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A LITTLE known town has been put atop a list of Spain’s 20 most beautiful towns. According to UK newspaper The Telegraph, Sanlucar de Barrameda is the fairest of them all. It is nestled out of the way on the northwest coast of Cadiz province, next to the Guadalquivir River and facing the Doñana Natural Park. And this hidden gem boasts a range of attributes that have led the newspaper to label it as their ‘favourite holiday destination without exception.’ According to The Telegraph', you can find ‘elegant ports, tranquil beaches, and exquisite seafood restaurants’ in Sanlucar de Barrameda, in a town of ‘charming whitewashed buildings adorned with vibrant bougainvillaea.’
HIDDEN BEAUTY 1
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1 Gratis (4) 4 Pipe up (5) 8 Mineral spring (3) 11 Dress with care (5) 12 Hollowed inward (7) 13 Naïve (4) 14 Misshapen (8) 16 Delighted (6) 17 Shook US wine: it’s not recommended (6) 20 Baptize (8) 22 Demonstrative pronoun (4) 25 Make clear (7) 26 Very large (5) 27 Light meal (3) 28 Laziness (5) 29 Social standing (4) Down 2 It has points and lines (7) 3 Spot (4) 5 Locate exactly (8) 6 Fright (5) 7 Initiate an oil well (4) 9 Land measures (5) 10 One of a series off the Isle of Wight (6) 15 Best (8) 16 Short coat (6) 18 Brutal (7) 19 Stood for men at work (5) 21 Drive back (5) 23 Norse god of thunder (4) 24 Partly open (4)
All solutions are on page 14
sugar cane factory, which is one of a kind in Europe. Many restaurants in the area are offering New Year’s dinners or you could snuggle up in a local ‘Casa Rural’ with a bottle of local wine. Second on the list is the historic town of Trujillo in Extremadura’s Caceres province. The birthplace of many Spanish conquistadores is famous for its castle and Renaissance churches and palaces And in third spot is the tiny village of Pastrana (Guadalajara) with a population of just 873. It follows a Medieval street plan and features a splendid 16th century ducal palace and ancient convent.
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Favourite spot SPAIN is set to be Brits’ favourite holiday destination in 2024, closely followed by the USA. Over 22% of British holidaymakers will head to sunny Spain in 2024 and if this year’s data is anything to go by, most will head to the Canary Islands. In 2023, 30% of British tourists visiting Spain went to the Canary Islands, with the Balearic Islands receiving 21.8% of British tourists. Catalunya also received a high number of Brits thanks to the capital city Barcelona, with 20.8% of all British tourists visiting Spain. Valencia and Andalucia were also popular with Brits, receiving 13.1% and 10.8% of British tourists respectively.
Go it alone
PLANNING on travelling solo? Then look no further than Spain, which has just been crowned the third best country in the world to do so. According to data compiled by RatePunk, Thailand takes the top spot, followed by Italy. The hotel rates analyser found the most popular areas by investigating which countries had the most hotel bookings for one person. Popular destinations for solo travellers include Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla thanks to their rich culture, history and nightlife.
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HEALTH
Antibiotic warning
A LEADING Spanish medic is claiming that 5% of Spanish pharmacies are dispensing antibiotics without a prescription. Bruno Gonzalez-Zorn from Madrid's Complutense University says that 23,000 people died this year from multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and that the public needs educating. We need people to know that it is not trivial to take a drug like amoxicillin without a prescription because this is an antibiotic of last resort,” he warned. Gonzalez-Zorn added that self-medicating on home stocks of antibiotics was wrong and that some pharmacies are not helping by selling them over the counter like paracetamol. “We have to take action,” he added.
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CHILDREN in Spain sleep better and study harder if they spend some quality time in a natural space, according to the Spanish Association of Paediatrics (AEP). "One in five spends very little time away from home, when they should be in a natural area - even if it is in an urban park - for at least an hour a day,"
December 14th - January 11th 2024
GREAT OUTDOORS warned the AEP's Juan Antonio Ortega. His study showed that outdoor experiences improve physical and mental health of youngsters. "It increases the quality of sleep, reduc-
es stress and obesity, generates more vitamin D, improves school performance and attention span, as well as boosting the feeling of well-being and happiness," Ortega added.
Frozen out
A 94-year-old man has had to push his wheelchair bound wife home in freezing nightime temperatures due to a lack of an ambulance. An image on social media showed Ramon wrapped up against the 2ºC cold in a hat and scarf, while his wife, Maria, who has Alz-
OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 1 Free, 4 Speak, 8 Spa, 11 Primp, 12 Concave, 13 Dewy, 14 Deformed, 16 Joyful, 17 Unwise, 20 Christen, 22 That, 25 Explain, 26 Jumbo, 27 Tea, 28 Sloth, 29 Rank. Down: 2 Railway, 3 Espy, 5 Pinpoint, 6 Alarm, 7 Spud, 9 Acres, 10 Needle, 15 Outsmart, 16 Jacket, 18 Inhuman, 19 Meant, 21 Repel, 23 Thor, 24 Ajar.
94-year-old man forced to wheel sick wife home from hospital By Simon Hunter
heimers, is tucked under a blanket to protect her from the elements. He was taking her home
from hospital to her care home in Campdevanol (Catalunya). The photo was first shared on social network X (formerly Twitter) by user Gerard Formenti, who denounced the lack of healthcare resources that forced the couple to have to make the journey by foot. “It doesn’t seem right to me for them to admit a grandmother with Alzheimers in the Campdevanol hospital if there is no ambulance transport to take her barely 250 metres to the provincial residence,” Formenti wrote in his tweet. He also claimed that there was ‘just one ambulance in the entire province’. According to local media, the photo was taken by
COLD: Ramon and Maria make their way home
Anna, Ramon and Maria’s daughter. She said that this was the third time that her parents had had to make the journey. She also claimed that other people had been in the same situation. The couple’s daughter also explained that there are ambulances from the care home to the hospital, but not vice versa.
Breathless vigour RUNNING to catch a bus, taking the stairs instead of a lift or carrying shopping bags home can all help to improve your cardiovascular health. The concept of VILPA (Vigorous, Intermittent Physical Activity in Lifestyle) has recently been coined by experts and studies by several institutions including Cadiz University shows it works. Researchers found an average of 3.4 minutes of daily vigorous activity can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in sedentary women by up to 45%. Cadiz's Borja del Pozo, one of the study authors, says the key to integrating intensity into daily tasks is to 'take a little breath away' when doing them.
Smoke free A Health Ministry plan drafted in 2021 to reduce smoking in public places is set to get a new lease of life. It could mean hospitality areas and all beaches becoming ‘smoke-free’ zones and extra regulations on the selling of vapes in the Valencia region. New Health Minister, Monica Garcia, wants the proposals implemented which could see smoking in private cars banned. None of the suggestions have been officially confirmed.
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O LIVE P RESS
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Sheep placenta
FINAL WORDS
A SERIES of hair salons in Madrid were discovered to be using banned products made from sheep placenta and other cancer-causing products. Several arrests were made.
Toothbrush swallow A WOMAN went viral in Spain after she swallowed a toothbrush, which she had wedged down her own throat in a bid to dislodge a piece of jamon. She has made a full recovery.
Pet food win SPANISH airline Vueling has become the first carrier in Europe to offer food and treats for dogs travelling with their owners.
Your expat
voice in Spain
COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA FREE Vol. 4 Issue 105 www.theolivepress.es December 14th - January 11th 2024
It was THIS big! Record breaking catch as 11-yearold lands 69 kilo monster fish A BRITISH youngster had a Spanish holiday that he'll never forget after netting a record-breaking 69 kilo catfish. Joshua Davenport, 11, from West Sussex got his catch of the day while out fishing with his parents on the banks of the Ebro river. The 2.7 metre-long catfish nibbled on Joshua's rod and he could scarcely believe what was waiting for him at the end
By Alex Trelinski
of the line. It took 25 minutes to reel in the monster fish (pictured with Joshua) which has now become the biggest freshwater fish to be caught by a boy in Europe. Catfish are nothing new to Joshua who had previously netted a 50 kilo whopper. His
mother Lorna said: “Fishing is everything to Josh who got his first rod when he was four and
FINGER LICKIN’ AROMA IF you love the smell of fried chicken then KFC has the perfect Christmas present for you - a limited edition ‘fragrance’ smelling of its popular product. Called Eau D'uardo, it has the aroma of fried chicken and its bottle has been shaped like a chicken drumstick. The unisex perfume - retailing at a
pocket friendly €3.99 - has been commissioned by KFC Spain. It contains the herbs and spices from Colonel Sanders' original recipe, including ‘notes of bergamot, geranium, mandarin, and pink pepper’.
caught his first catfish aged six which weighed 10 kilos.” Lorna explained his love of catfish is simply down to their large size and that her son's historic catch was the last one he made during their weeklong break in Spain. “It was his dream to catch one over 45 kilos so there was no way he was going to let go. He did brilliantly and it took him about 25 minutes,” added Lorna “When he saw it he just couldn't believe the size of it and it took three adults and Josh to lift it.”
Paw patrol AN adorable chocolate labrador has not only joined its local police force but has also been chosen to star in their Christmas video message. Keta the puppy is barely three months old, but has already been taken on as a colleague by officers in Malaga after she was born part of a litter that was rejected by its mother. In the Christmas video Keta as the narrator explains that ‘when she was born, she looked a bit like a croqueta’. That’s where the name ‘Keta’ came from, she adds. She is seen in the film patrolling the streets of the city with officers, as well as discovering their duties over the festive period, which mainly involve ensuring citizen safety.
Wishing all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. The Olive Press will return on 11th January 2024