Olive Press Costa Blanca South and Murcia issue125 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

GOOD NEWS!

THE rate of inﬂation in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in threeand-a-half years in welcome news for the country’s economy.

Preliminary ﬁgures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) show that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September fell to 1.5%, the fourth consecutive monthly fall and a steady decrease from August when the ﬁgure stood at 2.2%.

The CPI measures the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a representative basket of consumer goods and services.

Prices

September’s figure is the lowest since March 2021, when the rate of inflation was just 1.3%, and is a far cry from 2022 when a rise in global energy prices and the war in Ukraine provoked a surge in inflation to above 10%.

The INE attributes the drop in the rate of inﬂation to falling prices for fuel, food, electricity and leisure and cultural activities.

They also say that Spain’s GDP grew by 0.9% in the ﬁrst quarter, higher than expected, and that the economy is set to grow at an annual rate of 3.1%, sixtenths of a percentage point greater than originally predicted.

THOUSANDS of locals and expats have mobilised against plans to build a luxury hotel in the heart of a protected natural park in Andalucia. Developers are set to construct a four-star resort close to the ‘untouched’ beach of Los Genoveses in the stunning Cabo de Gata nature reserve in Almeria. It is one of the ﬁnal few stretches of Spain’s Mediterranean coast that has not been built on.

similar battle has raged in Alicante province for years in Benissa where residents have been ﬁghting proposals for the so-called Padmore Resort, which they say would damage the unspoilt Tossal de l’Asprar coastline. The building licence was suspended in November 2022 and an amended plan for 90-plus apartments has been submitted to Benissa council.

See Look on the bright side, page 6

Here to help with your life in Spain including wills,

In Almeria, the ﬁrm Torres y Gonzalez Diaz wants to turn the abandoned Las Chiqueras estate - formerly a pig farm - into a 30-room hotel with 70 parking spaces.

The exclusive retreat will count on multiple swimming pools and stunning unspoilt views of the beach, often voted one of Spain’s ﬁnest.

HAND S OFF

OUR COSTAS

The ﬁrm, which owns numerous hotels, has been ﬁghting environmentalists to get its plans approved since 2016.

Now, alarmingly, thanks to a new right-wing coalition of Vox and the PP in the local town hall of Nijar, which administers the park, they are one step closer.

It comes after the mayor, Jose Garrido, announced in July he will allow construction on the rustic

environmental

thorisation for the project.

A similar nearby project, the Algarrobico hotel also built on a virgin beach in Cabo de Gata has been mired in 20 years of controversy after it was ordered to be demolished for breaking numerous laws.

land. He was backed by the PP-run Junta last year which somehow gave

The latest decisions have sparked outrage among locals, who gathered in their thousands at the weekend.

The Genoveses Sin Hotel group organised a march on the Almeria seafront, with supporters unfurling banners and chanting slogans. Meanwhile, a total of 4,000 people have lodged oﬃcial individual complaints with the town hall. And 260,000 people have signed an online petition demanding the project be stopped.

of the platform.

“There is no social or economic beneﬁt for the locals, the interest is merely private and for a company that already owns many other hotels in the area.”

Despite this, Enrique Ruiz, from the Friends of Cabo de Gata-Nijar Park association, said the planned hotel was being declared ‘of economic and social interest’ to get the green light.

“It is still possible to stop it, but for that to happen we have to mobilise,” said Celine Feutry, president

“But they must also prove job creation, sustainability and other positive impacts on the environment and economy,” he explained.

Feutry warned the council that ‘we will go to court’ if the project gets the go ahead.

She said the area of the proposed hotel is only allowed to be used for agriculture, adding: “If the council authorises it, a dangerous precedent will be created because it would give the owners of all the farms in the area the green light to build accommodation.”

long campaigned for protection in the area, with a campaign

and

PROTEST: Thousands took to the Almeria seafront to demonstrate against the plan

By Laurence Dollimore

Hands oﬀ award-winning virgin beach as locals and expats clash over

The Olive Press has

against the Algarrobico hotel - which we dubbed ‘El Horrible’ -

also to urgently protect the chapel Cortijo del Fraile, which is where celebrated writer Gabriel García Lorca set his famous book Blood Wedding.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Water economy

LOS Alcazares has cut watering of its public parks in wake of the drought and plans to issue a leaﬂet to residents with tips on reducing water consumption by 50%.

Day oﬀ

THE Valencian Community celebrates Valencia Day next Wednesday (October 9) with a bank holiday meaning most businesses will be shut along with schools and government oﬃces.

Toll bonus

ALICANTE’S AP-7 ring road will remain toll free until mid-February after levies were suspended last June to reduce traﬃc congestion on the A-70.

Ageing issue

ALICANTE residents are getting older according to oﬃcial ﬁgures, with 20% aged 60 and over coupled with the lowest birth rate since the Civil War.

AN ORIHUELA court is investigating council staﬀ for selling scrap metal and spending the proceeds on employee treats.

It is alleged that bosses sent workers to sell oﬀ the scrap from the city’s municipal compound to merchants in Los Montesinos and Almoradi as well as Orihuela’s Puente Alto industrial estate.

Scrap

sideline

The money was then put into a kitty by managers without any transfer to municipal accounts. In May 2023, a Treasury report found the council balance sheet made no reference to any income from scrap sales with the

practice running for at least ﬁve years.

Several people have claimed the illegal sales were made annually before Christmas to pay for staﬀ lunches. The accumulated money - reportedly around €7,600 - was also used to buy two air conditioners and two televisions in common areas used by council gardeners and builders.

15 years for murder

A WOMAN, 48, has been jailed for 15 years after an 80-year-old British widow was shot dead at the front door of her Elche villa.

The defendant’s son also faced trial, but died aged 18 in a road accident on the Costa Blanca just before the start of his juvenile court homicide hearing in June.

The motive remains a mystery with the convicted wom-

Killer of elderly British woman jailed but motive remains a secret

By Alex Trelinski

an - an Alicante real estate agent - admitting to murder on the ﬁrst day of her trial but not revealing her reason for the brutal assault. The victim, identiﬁed as Ma-

Submersible BMW

rina, lived in the Torre Azul district of Torrellano and moved to the area 22 years ago with her partner, after he retired from running a recycling company.

She was shot three times, with one bullet going into her head.

A BMW has been found submerged in a canal after allegedly being used in an attempted robbery on the Costa Blanca.

The black vehicle was discovered in the crystal blue waters by a passerby who was walking between Orihuela and Pilar de la Horadada. Local services were called to extract the car as soon as possible last Thursday.

The Guardia Civil is investigating the case.

Alicante Provincial Court judge, Gracia Serrano, described it as a ‘brutal and ruthless’ crime with ‘total disregard for the victim’.

Prosecutors reduced their initial call for the real estate agent to be sentenced to 25 years after she cooperated with authorities.

The assault happened on May 4, 2022 with the mother and son getting access to the villa after the main gate was left open as a plumber was set to arrive.

Once inside the grounds, the intruders went into the property through a glazed porch and made a surprise attack on the elderly Brit.

The convicted killer said during the trial she did not know why she did it and could have suﬀered a psychotic episode, despite having no previous diagnosis of mental illness.

Irish gang arrest

AN IRISH gang member with links to the Dublin-based ‘The Family’ crime organisation has been arrested during an Alicante Province drugs raid. Details about the Guardia Civil operation have been scant except that a 33-year-old man was detained last week at an undisclosed location.

It’s believed that Irish police were involved with the Guardia to secure the man’s arrest on drugs and gun charges.

Reports suggested the suspect moved to Spain around three years ago. He allegedly built links with a number of organised crime networks and was allegedly involved in importing drugs into Ireland.

Hidimg

The man’s former boss travelled to the Alicante area recently for a meeting with his former protege as he felt ‘he was getting too big for his boots’.

The detainee though gave his former boss a ‘severe hiding’, according to reports from Ireland.

The 33-year-old was a suspect in the murder of Christy Daly, who was shot nine times with a machine gun in Ireland nearly 11 years ago.

Dynamic duo

RAFAEL Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz could be set to reunite to represent Spain at the ﬁnals of the Davis Cup, just months after teaming up for the men’s doubles tournament at the Paris Olympics.

The tantalising prospect of the dream duo, christened by tennis fans as ‘Nadalcaraz’, returning to the court together was raised after Nadal, 38, was

named in the ﬁve-player preliminary squad to represent Spain at the Davis Cup ﬁnals in Malaga this November.

Despite pulling out of last weekend’s Laver Cup event in Berlin through injury, the 22-time grand slam champion has vowed to continue playing tennis at the highest level for as long as his body allows.

If he remains injury-free until November, Nadal could reunite with Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old four-time grand slam champion and World No.3.

CRUISE IN META EVENT

Mega star ﬂies into tiny Spanish hamlet to have lunch with Mark Zuckerberg’s right hand man

ONE of Spain’s smallest villages had one of the world’s biggest (metaphorically) visitors over the weekend.

The quiet hamlet of

By Walter Finch

Arguisal, located near the Aragonese Pyrenees mountains, 40km north of Hu-

Jack of hearts

esca, is home to just 14 people – and no tourist villas. But that number was bumped up to 15 when Tom Cruise’s helicopter landed at the home of Meta’s Chief Operating Officer.

Javier Olivan. 47, a key figure in Silicon Valley, has been overseeing Meta companies such

grossed over €4 billion worldwide, running as the 16th-highest-grossing

as Facebook , Whatsapp and Instagram remotely from the isolated mountain retreat after moving from Palo Alto in California.

Despite efforts to keep the superstar visit underwraps, word leaked out of the Top Gun star’s presence in the town and his fondness for quiet, off-the-beaten-track locations.

The eagle-eyed spotted him dining with Olivan, one of Meta’s highest-paid executives, with Forbes reporting him as having a €23 million salary last year.

Conﬁ dant

Olivan, originally from the nearby town of Sabiñanigo, has been a close confidant of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg since joining the company in 2007.

THIS is the heartwarming

San Sebastian while dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp, 61, stars as the swashbuckling pirate in the popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which has

GOLDEN CATE

Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

The award-winning actor regularly visits children’s hospitals after his daughter, LilyRose, was diagnosed with temporary kidney failure aged just seven.

Depp says he is forever in debt to the pediatric doctors who saved his daughter’s life, and so makes regular visits to surprise ill kids.

The visit of Cruise, 62, is sure to land Arguisal on the map. Shouldered by mountain peaks on the not-so-distant horizon, it’s a lush and green location that would not look out of place in Switzerland. The residents have reportedly been enamoured with their A-list guest.

However, Cruise’s presence may end up attracting further visitors to the secluded and peaceful hamlet.

This may undermine its place as a private retreat ideal for those seeking an escape from modern life. October 3rd -

An emotional Blanchett said it felt like a ‘homecoming’ to receive the award.

The audience then enjoyed a screening of her latest ﬁlm, Rumours

The award was presented by Mexican ﬁlmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, with whom Blanchett collaborated on Disclaimer In a surprise video message, her long-time friend George Clooney praised her, calling her one of the greatest actors, comparing her to legends like Meryl Streep and Robert de Niro.

ROYAL TELL ALL

JUAN Carlos, Spain’s disgraced and exiled former king, has announced he will publish his memoirs next year, vowing to ‘explain my mistakes and bad decisions’ during his time as head of state.

The 500-page book will be titled Reconciliation, a nod to Juan Carlos’ role in Spain’s transition to democracy following the death in 1975 of the fascist dictator General Franco. It is set to be published by Stock, a French publishing house.

The former monarch, 86, said his hand has been forced into painting his own version of events, claiming ‘my story is being stolen from me’ as several biographies detailing alleged aﬀairs and ﬁnancial scandals are published.

Juan Carlos abdicated the throne in 2014 amid much criticism for an elephant hunting safari trip and an embezzlement scandal involving his daughter, Infantina Cristina, and has lived in exile in Abu Dhabi since 2020 following a string of investigations into alleged corruption.

moment Hollywood actor Johnny Depp surprised youngsters at a children’s ward in Donostia Hospital,

CATE Blanchett, 55, dazzled in a gold gown as she received the prestigious Donostia

FLYING VISIT: Cruise and Olivan (right) with Zuckerberg

FLYING

RYANAIR has announced it will be operating its new Norwich to Alicante service throughout the winter.

The route was one of three launched from Norwich in April, alongside Malta and Faro.

Ryanair’s Head of Communications Jade Kirwan said: “We are pleased to announce our ﬁrst-ever winter schedule at Norwich which will see the extension of our popular Alicante route into the winter 2024 season.

“We’ve had a strong ﬁrst summer of operations at Norwich and we look forward to a strong ﬁrst winter season ahead.”

The Norwich to Alicante route will ﬂy twice-weekly.

Health budget campaign

A PETITION organised by the Platform for Public Health 100x100 is demanding more money for the Torrevieja health department. It says budgets have not kept pace with a population that has doubled since Torrevieja Hospital opened 17 years ago.

Campaigners want the Valencian government to increase the 2025 budget after a reduction this year for improvements.

The other aim of the petition is to get residents involved and to make them aware of a lack of investment which could impact on their care.

The manifesto calls on proposed health centre extensions to go ahead in Torrevieja, Guardamar, Los Montesinos, San Miguel de Salinas, and the Orihuela Costa, as well as an expanded hospital.

Signatures will be collected until October 21 across the area with group members wearing green tabbards.

ORIHUELA Costa residents will see a more than three-fold hike in waste collection charges from next year with local groups slamming the increase.

Homeowners on the Orihuela Costa will have to shell out €238.76 per annum as opposed to a ﬁgure of around €70. In Orihuela City, the charge will be €202.63 while rural parts of the municipality will have a €175.63 levy.

The Cabo Roig and Lomas Residents Association asked: “How is it possible that

Rubbish rise

we have such a deplorable service and are forced to pay 340% more for it?”

It will be the ﬁrst Orihuela rise in 21 years and authorities across Spain are having to update charges by April 2025. Under EU and national government rulings, councils can no longer subsidise waste collection costs.

Memorial snub

Nightclub blaze families absent themselves from one-year anniversary event

FAMILIES of many of the victims of a killer ﬁre turned their backs on a memorial event held by Murcia City Council. It was to remember the 13 people who were killed in last year’s blaze at the Teatre and Fonda Milagros nightclubs.

On the ﬁrst anniversary of the tragedy, deputy mayor, Rebeca Perez, said she wanted to honour the memory of the deceased and to recognise the work of the emergency services.

Fireﬁghters, ambulance workers, the police and Cruz Roja staﬀ were amongst those present, but many relatives of the

By Alex Trelinski

victims were missing.

Families staged their own event on Monday where they were critical about the lack of support given to them by the city council.

Perez did not refer to their criticism.

“Since this tragedy happened, the target has always been people, before, during, and after,” she stressed.

A plaque and monolith were erected next to Calle Isla Cristina where demolition work on the clubs is still being carried

BRAD’S WARNING

BRAD Pitt has criticised the ﬁve conmen who used his image to swindle hundreds of thousands of euros out of two unsuspecting female victims.

Spanish police arrested the suspects accused of defrauding two women - one from Granada, Andalucia and one from Bizikia, Basque Country - out of €175,000 and €150,000 respectively.

Sex shop death

A 77-YEAR-OLD man died moments after entering a sex shop in Alicante. The pensioner reportedly suﬀered a heart attack before collapsing to the ground

The manager of the adult shop, located on Calle Segura, alerted emergency services who attended the scene.

Paramedics arrived and performed CPR on the unnamed individual - however, he was shortly pronounced dead after resuscitation eﬀorts failed.

out.

The plaque was unveiled by the Ecuadorian consul, Francisco Villegas, with ﬁve of the people who died in the ﬁre coming from his country.

The inscription reads: “There is no goodbye for those who will always be in our hearts.”

A wreath was laid at the foot of the monolith and there was a minute’s silence.

Investigations are continuing to determine responsibility for last year’s blaze which police

POWER

said in January was caused by the accidental but ‘negligent’ use of a spark machine. The court-led probe was extended for another six months in September. The clubs had no licence and had been ordered to close down by the city council.

SPAIN’S passport is now the undisputed king of Europe after being ranked more powerful than France’s or Italy’s – and, bizarrely, Hungary’s, which comes in ﬁfth. A new ranking by visaguide. world found that Spain beats all its European rivals according to factors such as visa-free access, visa on arrival, eVisas, and global mobility. Worldwide, Spain ranks second with a score of 90.60, behind only Singapore, which came ﬁrst with a score of 91.27. Following Spain is France (90.53), Italy (90.31) and Germany (90.27).

Tourism mecca

The two victims were contacted on a fanpage for the Oscar-winning actor by an account pretending to be Pitt himself.

HIGH TIME

The led hundreds

The women were led to believe ‘they had a sentimental relationship with him’, before being convinced to invest hundreds of thousands of euros in ﬁlm projects that did not exist.

SPAIN is set to legalise cannabis for medicinal purposes, it has been announced.

The Ministry of Health has submitted a draft Royal Decree for public consultation, outlining the upcoming legislation.

In a statement, a representative for the Hollywood heartthrob said: “It is horrible that conmen exploit the strong connection between celebrities and their fans, and this is an important reminder to never respond to unsolicited online messages, especially from actors who are not on social media”.

The new law will grant access to cannabis-based treatments for patients who have found standard medicines ineﬀective.

The draft law says 'scientiﬁc evidence has shown a variable degree of beneﬁt of cannabis and its extracts'.

It said symptoms of certain conditions can be helped by the plant, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy and chronic pain.

SPAIN has smashed its all-time record for tourist numbers in August, new ﬁgures reveal. In the eighth month of this year, a total of 13,586,095 people visited the country, exceeding the previous best of August 2019. The record comes despite rising hotel prices and a surge in protests against ‘overtourism’ in the biggest holiday hotspots, including Mallorca, Malaga, Barcelona and Tenerife. According to the INE Hotel Tourism report, there were 47.8 million overnight stays in August, 2.6% more than last year. So far this year, there have been 252.4 million overnight hotel stays.

SORROW: Victims’ families refused to attend and (right) a new monolith

‘JUST FILLING IN THE GAPS’

PILAR de La Horadada council has backed plans for 1,086 holiday homes to be built on 290,000 m2 of rural land at Lo Monte Playa.

The move still has to be ratified by the Valencian government but that appears to be a formality.

The council vote brings an end to a nine-year campaign by a developer to reclassify the land.

The ruling Partidio Popular was backed by Vox, with the PSOE councillors abstaining.

The new urbanisation will house up to 2,700 residents to boost Pilar's population to just under 25,000 people. It will be bordered by Avenida Federico García Lorca in Mil Palmeras, Camping Lo Monte and Avenida Levante to the south, and the coast.

The promoter, Santamar de la Vega, says the plot is wasteland and has not been used for any agriculture for 30 years, and will 'fill in' the gap between other urbanisations.

It says there is no risk of flooding, despite the fact that the regional flood plan says there could be a structural risk due to a rambla that

Carer’s penalty

AN ALICANTE carer has received a 21-month-jail sentence for stealing €31,000 from her elderly client.

The convicted woman took her employer’s bank card to make 48 cash withdrawals - each of €600 - at different ATMs in the city between March and August 2020.

She also used the card to make several online purchases worth €2,657. The carer began working in two homes for sisters aged 85 and 90 in 2020, until the death of one of them in August that year.

She took advantage of the 85-yearold victim's state of health to find out where she kept her bank card and overheard the octogenarian's niece mention the PIN number.

An Alicante court ruled the carer had to pay €35,980 to the victim, which includes compensation.

WEDDING HORROR

AN Irish tourist has been hospitalised after suffering serious burns following a freak accident at her friend’s wedding on the Costa del Sol.

The 29-year-old woman is being treated at a specialist burns unit in Sevilla’s Virgen del Rocio University Hospital after the incident, which occured when her dress accidentally caught fire on nearby candles during an Irish couple’s wedding reception. Fellow guests quickly called the emergency services, who rushed to treat the ‘seriously injured’ woman at a set of holiday apartments by Nerja’s famous Balcon de Europa viewpoint. She was transferred to a hospital in nearby Malaga where she underwent an emergency operation before being sent to Sevilla where she continues to fight for her life.

The unnamed victim is reported to have suffered burns to over 70% of her body, with her legs being the most seriously affected.

A spokesperson for the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is aware of the case and continues to provide consular assistance.

More concrete on the way as massive urbanisation plan backed

By Alex Trelinski

crosses the land.

Crucially, the Segura Hydrographic Confederation and the regional gov-

ernment have supported the builder's environmental impact report. The Friends of Sierra Escalona group claim there could be problems caused by new buildings stopping excess water from running off.

Santamar de la Vega owns 98% of the plot with an estimated value of €21.7 million. The Orihuela-based company has

EXPAT INSURANCE MADE SIMPLE

SITE: Urbanisation of 1,086 holiday homes to be built

plans for a 2,000

home urbanisation in San Miguel de Salinas as well as the Los Naufragos skyscraper promotion in Torrevieja.

Voted

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

Shame on you!

HAVE governments in Spain learnt nothing from the recent and growing protests against ‘over tourism’?

It would appear not, at least in Almeria and Andalucia, where right-wing politicians seem hell bent on building a luxury hotel on one of the last untouched strips of the country’s Mediterranean coast (Bay of Pigs, p1).

It is clear that the project, penned for the protected Cabo de Gata natural park, is the last thing locals want or need.

But that doesn’t mean a damn thing to the money-grabbing powers that be.

Lest we forget a similar project nearby, the disgraceful Algarrobico hotel, which was also built on a virgin beach in Cabo de Gata.

It is now a rundown eyesore that has been mired in 20 years of controversy after it was ordered to be demolished for breaking numerous environmental laws.

Today, history looks set to repeat itself, with environmentalists vowing to drag the developers of the new hotel through the courts.

And all this at a time when the so-called anti-tourism movement is gaining momentum by the day. What message will granting this project send out to locals? This hotel will only serve to stir up hate against tourism, and by association tourists and ‘guiris’, in other words, expats.

It is already happening in places like the Costa del Sol, where anti-tourism messages have expanded to include expats, with ‘guiris go home’ grafﬁti regularly popping up.

And that’s before we even mention the devastating impact of the hotel on one of the last remaining ‘truly wild’ spaces in Andalucia.

People are sick and tired of developers who want nothing more than to make a quick buck - just look at all the ‘luxury’ homes and establishments taking over Marbella and Estepona.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if politicians are getting some sort of kickback for granting the hotel. Lord knows it wouldn’t be a ﬁrst for Andalucia, which has a decades-long history of staggering corruption.

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

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

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es

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

Look on the bright side

It’s not all doom-andgloom: Reasons to be cheerful as Spain’s economy transforms - with much thanks to foreign tourism - into the poster child of Europe

By Walter Finch

IT could be easy to ﬁnd oneself overwhelmed with the constant drum beat of bad news and terrible prognostications in Europe.

If it’s not the threat of another war, the terrible forecasts for the state of the environment, or doom-laden demographics, then it’s crime, inflation and immigration.

In Spain, people fret about reservoir levels, the housing crisis and the political extremes crowding out the middle.

But what perhaps doesn’t get enough attention is the Spanish economy, which has become one of the surprising engines of economic growth for the eurozone. It is not just in football where the Spanish are currently seeing a strong regeneration. The country has been posting GDP growth ﬁgures that far outstrip those of its stagnant northern neighbours.

International observers started to take note last year as Spain smashed its peers out of the park with an economy that grew 2.5%, one and a half times as fast as France (1.1%) and Italy (1%).

But spare a thought for poor Germany, the country Spain is supplanting as Europe’s economic powerhouse, which actually shrank in 2023.

And it only gets better: the OECD recently upgraded Spain’s economic growth forecast from 2.5% to 2.8%, while the country’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) estimates an exciting 3.1%.

So how is the country doing it?

The fourth largest economy in the EU, and 15th in the world, is already home to several important international household names.

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theolivepress.es

Anything else driving this economic growth?

Unsurprisingly, a large majority comes from the tourism sector, which saw record numbers of foreign visitors in August. This tourism boom has already eclipsed the high water mark of 2019, with a total of 13.6 million people visiting the coun-

try last month, and it shows no signs of abating.

It goes with the 10.9 million who came in July – a 7.3% rise year-on-year – and they splashed out a cumulative €15.5 billion over the course of the month – an 11.9% increase on last year.

Setting aside the persistent gripes about ‘overtourism’, the ﬁgures are driving a surge in development along Spain’s coasts and islands, including a tsunami of ﬁve-star hotels and golf resorts.

And there is plenty to crow about in other sectors, too.

eighth largest car manufacturer in the world and hosts 17 major plants which produce vehicles for foreign titans Nissan, Renault, Ford, Mercedes, Volkswagen and others. And not forgetting homegrown car maker Seat (although owned by VW), which is located in Martorell outside Barcelona. In fact, wherever you look across the country you see records being broken.

Spain’s housing market has seen near-double digit price rises year-on-year, completely bucking the trend in Europe. A home in Spain now costs an average of €2,176 sqm.

These include the world’s largest textile company Inditex, parent to highstreet brand Zara, owned by Amancio Ortega who is worth €1.43 billion and Santander bank (Europe’s fourth largest).

Spain’s exports hit a record €33.2 billion in July, up 9.3% year-on-year, with France the biggest customer. For comparison, EU exports as a whole grew by 7.4%, easily outstripping Germany (5.4%), France (7.1%) and Italy (6.8%).

Despite the record price rises, sales jumped by nearly a ﬁfth (19.4%) in July to reach levels not seen since the boom (or bubble) that preceded the ﬁnancial crash in 2008.

Then there’s infrastructure company Ferrovial, which owned 25% of Heathrow Airport – Europe’s busiest – until last year and also built its runway expansion. Meanwhile, state-owned shipbuilder Navantia is currently producing sections for a trio of British ships, commissioned by the Royal Navy.

And – Brits close your eyes – exceeding UK export growth, which shrank by -15.5% (yes, MINUS) in the same month.

Spain’s exports hit a record

€33.2 billion in July, up 9.3% year-on-year

Spain’s exports grew most strongly in the food, beverages and tobacco sector (2.4%), while cars remain the number one export.

In fact, Spain is the

Interestingly, more than half of these property purchases were made in cash (without a mortgage), indicating that a lot of wealthy people with money to burn live in Spain. Even the beast of inﬂation has almost been slain; falling sharply again to 1.5% this month – the lowest rate since 2021, before the dual shocks of Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine took hold.

Long gone are the dark days of the 1970s, when two million Spaniards were forced to migrate to Germany and northern Europe in search of work.

Now a new class of Spaniards has aris-

en off the back of this success, a large and burgeoning group which enjoys exotic foreign holidays, drives expensive cars and – perhaps most importantly of all – own more than one property.

As most of us who live on the costas or the islands well know, they are very much alive and well, living it up with their nannies and bulging wallets through late July and August.

BOOMING: Spanish shipyards and factories are going full-throttle, giving PM Pedro Sanchez (above) plenty to smile about despite his political woes

How one rogue and some British ingenuity smuggled Spain’s prized animals out into the

world, writes Jack Gaioni

CATTLE rustling and horse theft in the American Wild West were crimes punishable by hanging - think Hang ‘Em High with Clint Eastwood. Similarly, the theft of livestock in 19th century Russia was a crime with extreme consequences. In the Middle Ages, Spain viewed the theft and export of the iconic Merino sheep as worthy of the death sentence. Today Merino wool is produced in nearly every continent. It is the most popular wool fabric in the world - prized for its soft comfort, breathability, warmth and high performance luxury.

This begs the question: how did Merino wool morph from a restricted Spanish entity to a world wide phenomena?

The answer involves a British aristocrat, a heist crafted by King George III, and some ingenious British animal husbandry. Consider… Theories abound about the origins of Spanish Merino sheep and their fine wool. Most probably Merino sheep were created by cross-breeding the native Iberian sheep- the Churro - with a variety of rams brought to the peninsula by the Romans and then from North Africa during the Islamic period. Before long Spanish shepherds recognised the export value of Merino’s exquisite fleece and Spain became the centre of the world’s wool trade. In fact, Ferdinand and Isabella actively promoted the export of ‘the world’s finest quality wool’ and demand for Spanish Merino wool grew exponentially. The Spanish monarchy and a powerful guild called the Meseta Organisation controlled the breeding, management, and trade of the Merino sheep. They imposed strict trade and export restrictions replete with punitive (think: the death sentence) punishments for violations. This exclusivity only led to a greater demand for this luxurious fabric in European markets. The British, perhaps more than any other European country, took a vested interest in

Rustling sheep with British royalty

Merino wool. Within the UK the import and export of any raw wool was illegal. Farmers and manufacturers were well organised and successfully pressured Parliament to pass The Wool Act (1699).

This legislation restricted both the import and export of British wool products. Competition was eliminated, the wool market was monopolised but the public was left with an inferior product. Enter the most unlikely historical ﬁgure…

Joseph Banks – later baroneted as Sir John Banks – was, along with Charles Darwin, a central ﬁgure in England’s Age of Discovery.

Banks, while accompanying James Cook aboard the famous HMS Endeavor, visited Brazil, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia.

He brought back to England over 30,000 plant and animal specimens to be incorporated into the Royal Society, the United Kingdom’s esteemed National Academy of Sciences.

particular interest in the British colonisation of that continent.

As a trusted advisor to King George III, the two realised the great potential for the Merino sheep in the unique ecosystems of Australia.

Together, using bribes, falsiﬁed bills of lading, stealth and shady diplomacy, they covertly smuggled (read: stole) two genuine Merino sheep from Spain through Portugal. Over the next few decades a ‘national project’ of cross-breeding the Spanish Merino with various British species produced what King George called his ‘royal ﬂock’.

Fashionistas

SIMPLY THE BEST

The Olive Press online continues to be THE go to news source for English speakers in Spain with over one MILLION visitors in September

THE Olive Press has once again been leading the news agenda for everything happening in Spain this past fortnight.

We had multiple stories placed in national newspapers in the UK and dozens of our stories followed up throughout September.

They include that of British expat Serena Coronado, who told of her horriﬁc ordeal at the hands of an abusive Spanish neighbour in Galicia. The story was picked up by Mail Online

So too was our exclusive about an Irish father who lost almost €2million on a hotel investment in Malaga thanks to town hall pencil pushers.

Elsewhere, our exclusive tale of a British mother who was the last known victim of the Ibiza gassing robbery gang was picked up by multiple national titles, including the Daily Mail and the Daily Express that continually - and disgracefullytakes our stories and even our pictures without payment or a credit.

The same can frequently be said of the highly dubious GB News.

Even in Spain, you may have noticed our rivals have started copying our style of headlines online.

It proves that we are still the goto source of news in Spain for English speakers.

And the ﬁgures back it up, with more than one million people visiting our website over the past month.

Banks achieved immediate fame as the foremost naturalist scientist and for the next 41 years was president of that venerated organisation. He was so infatuated with the biodiversity of Australia, that Banks took a

The project was exported to the British colony of Australia and for the next century the production of Merino wool would greatly bolster the British economy. From about 1810 onwards the Merino sheep industry shifted worldwide to France, Germany, Sweden and the United States. However it is Australia and New Zealand that now dominate the industry. Since the early days of settlement ‘down under’, the wool industry has played a dominant role in both the economic and social perspectives. Today, Australia is the undisputed leader in the wool market producing more than 50% of the world’s Merino wool.

Meanwhile, more than 3,700 people registered an account at theolivepress.es in September, taking advantage of all that comes with membership.

And the number of paying subscribers continues to climb, with our unrivalled coverage of the most important stories of the day simply too important to miss.

Don’t forget that simply registering an account grants you access to an extra article and means you will be sent newsletters on news, travel, health and property.

You’ll also receive a personalised missive from digital editor Laurence Dollimore each Saturday.

So what are you waiting for?

Scan the QR code here to register an account and join our more than 50,000 members.

for

For fashionistas, Merino wool is more popular than ever. In addition to its comfort, warmth, breathability, etc, the hairs of this storied fabric provide a natural antimicrobial quality that keep bacteria, mould and dust mites from growing. Collectively these qualities speak to society’s desire for a more renewable and sustainable material. Thankfully, we as consumers can enjoy Merino wool products today without risking some draconian punishment. Perhaps we should thank Sir Joseph

Banks and King George III

their sheep rustling!

ROGUE: Sir John Banks (above) smuggled the Merino sheep out of Spain through Portugal. Now the ﬁne wool is used in haute couture

DEATH: Ferdinand and Isabella imposed harsh punishments on Merino wool violations. Above, King George III, who wanted the sheep so much he turned to smuggling

Buying Barcelona

A REAL estate brand made famous by Netﬂix series

Buying Beverly Hills, has launched a new oﬃce in Barcelona.

Led by Josep Turro and Chi Wei Chin, the Barcelona ofﬁce will focus on catering to both local and international clients in one of Europe’s most vibrant real estate markets.

CEO of The Agency and star of the Netﬂix show Mauricio Umansky praised the city’s cultural appeal, saying Barcelona’s artistic charm and beaches make it the perfect location for expansion. It joins Spanish franchises in Marbella, the Costa Blanca and Mallorca.

THE Canary Islands are set to ben-

efit from a €14 million package of support from the European Commission to help pay for the thousands of irregular migrants who arrive on the archipelago.

The announcement was made following an oﬃcial visit to the islands from Margaritis Schinas.

More than 26,000 migrants have so far

Cash support

this year arrived via the Canary Islands. The route between the western coast of Africa and the Canary Islands is widely regarded as the world’s most dangerous migration route, where some 4,808 deaths were recorded in the ﬁrst ﬁve months of 2024.

Hands in pockets

THE number of people paid for by the government in Spain now outnumber the number of people working Some 8.21 million people are currently receiving state income through pensions, public sector salaries, or social benefits. This is compared to 17.69 million people earning through private enterprise. It highlights growing concerns over future financial

Introducing an exclusive partnership between Olive Press and AnyTech365 AI-Powered IT Security

More people are now paid by the government than the private sector

By Walter Finch

sustainability, with Spain’s ageing population at the heart of the issue.

The number of pensioners has soared to 9.2 million as of August, equal to 44% of the working population of

TOURISTS visiting Barcelona have been hit by a rise in tax after the city council agreed to increase visitor levies by over 20%.

The Catalan capital, which receives over 12 million visitors annually, will increase its tourist tax from €3.25 to €4 a night on tourist accommodation in a move that is expected to generate an additional €20 million in revenue each year. Currently, Barcelona collects €95

just 21.6 million people, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).

With only six in 10 people economically active out of a total population of 48.8 million, it means less than half of people in Spain are shouldering the country’s pension payments, which now exceed

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million annually from the tax, but claims it spends €142 million in tourist expenditure, including additional transport, security and cleaning. The €4 charge is the maximum that can be applied under Spanish law, with local authorities urging the central government to raise the cap further.

Personalized User Experience

PROTECT YOURSELF!

AnyTech365 adapt its product and technical support solutions to individual needs, offering a safe online experience to any user.

Public Wi-Fi: Don’t get hacked while sipping lattes

Iis excited to announce a partnership with the leading IT security and support company Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use Internet-connected device, personal, or within the their small business.

N our hyper-connected world, public Wi-Fi has become a lifeline, especially when travelling or on vacation. Whether at a coffee shop, airport, or hotel, the allure of free internet access is undeniable.

€12.8 billion per month.

Nearly half of Social Security contributors (46%) are now over 45 compared to 41% five years ago.

Meanwhile, August 2024 data shows that 1.8 million people were on the paro (unemployment benefits), and a further 1.96 million individuals, spanning 649,000 households, rely on the Minimum Living Income (IMV).

The public sector workforce itself has also grown by 12% since December 2023 to over 3.6 million people. Despite this, Spain's central

IF you want cheap petrol head to Sevilla. It is the cheapest city in Spain in which to fill up at an average price of €1.54 a litre for petrol, according to a report by parking company ParkVia. It is a significant rise since 2015 when a litre of fuel in Sevilla cost €1.21.

Risen

Overall, petrol prices across Spain have risen by 49 cents a litre or 35% since 2015. Valencia (€1.58) and Las Palmas (€1.61) come in second and third cheapest, with Alicante (€1.63) and Madrid (€1.65) rounding off the bargain top five. Bilbao (€1.71), Zaragoza (€1.70), Malaga (€1.69), Barcelona (€1.67) and Palma de Mallorca (€1.67) are the priciest.

Some

of AnyTech365

Introducing an exclusive partnership between Olive Press and AnyTech365

However, this convenience can come with signiﬁcant risks, making public Wi-Fi an easy target for hackers. Connecting to an open network can expose you to several potential threats. It’s like offering your personal data on a silver platter to anyone tech-savvy enough to snatch it. Cybercriminals can intercept data transmitted between your device and the internet, capturing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal emails.

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2014 by Janus R. Nielsen, a seasoned IT entrepreneur, AnyTech365 leverages the power of artificial (AI) to offer unparalleled service quality and tech support and cybersecurity, keeping your secure and hassle-free.

It’s akin to sending a postcard with your credit card details and hoping it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Known as Man-in-the-Middle attacks, these interceptions allow hackers to eavesdrop on your online activities without your knowledge, which is about as comforting as a surveillance camera in your bedroom.

by AI for faster and accurate solutions.

Personalized User Experience

adapt its product and technical support solutions to individual needs, offering a safe online experience to any user.

that’s as trustworthy as a used car salesman in a neon suit. This mimicry, known as an Evil Twin attack, fools unsuspecting users into connecting and opens the door to all sorts of mischief.

Once you’re in their web, they can monitor your activity and snag your info quicker than a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

Subscribers will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 services, ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use of any Internet-connected device, personal, or within the household or their small business.

These imposters are like the pranksters of the Wi-Fi world, always ready to mess with those who aren’t paying attention.

and their solutions have been widely recognized multiple awards on local, national, and international “The Fastest growing technology company in the 27th fastest growing company in Europe across (Source: Financial Times FT1000), the Andalucía Award in New Technologies, and others. meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the sporting event in the region. It has excellent online scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

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AnyTech365 AI powered unique software can pinpoint the root cause of a problem providing real-time protection and immediate response to suspicious activity. This proactive

Introducing an exclusive partnership between Olive Press and

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World class, cross-platform security platform with advanced scanning techniques to identify potential threats from files, programs and neutralization of viruses, malware, and

AnyTech365 AI powered unique software can pinpoint root cause of a problem providing real-time protection immediate response to suspicious activity. This approach significantly reduces the risk of cyberattacks.

Founded in 2014 by Janus R. Nielsen, a seasoned IT entrepreneur, AnyTech365 leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to offer unparalleled service quality and efficiency in tech support and cybersecurity, keeping your digital life secure and hassle-free.

To protect yourself on public Wi-Fi, always use a VPN when connecting.

A VPN encrypts your connection, turning your data into an unreadable mess for hackers, leaving them as confused as a mime in a windstorm.

Unsecured Wi-Fi networks can be used by hackers to distribute malware faster than gossip in a small town. Once infected, your device can be exploited to steal data or even take control of your system.

Malware comes in various forms - viruses, ransomware, and spyware - each one more invasive than a mother-in-law asking about grandkids.

Ransomware locks up your ﬁles like a disgruntled sibling hiding your toys, while spyware snoops on your every move like a curious cat. An attacker might set up a fake Wi-Fi network

is currently in the process of becoming publicly the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the expected to complete in Q3 of 2024.

The company is currently in the process of becoming publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the transaction expected to complete in Q3 of 2024. Why Choose AnyTech365?

Olive Press is excited to announce a partnership with AnyTech365, the leading IT security and support company on the Costa del Sol. This collaboration offers Olive Press readers enhanced tech support and cybersecurity solutions. Subscribers will receive exclusive discounts on AnyTech365 services, ensuring their digital safety and worry-free use of any Internet-connected device, personal, or within the household or their small business.

A comprehensive security suite, combining all AnyTech365 premium products together with quick issue resolution by certified technicians without onsite visits anytime, day or night, with AnyTech365’s around-the-clock support services, all offered in more than 15 native languages.

er, and other software to protect against security vulnerabilities. Think of updates as your device’s mandatory spa day - essential for keeping it fresh and protected in a world full of digital dust bunnies. Cybercriminals often exploit outdated software like a cat with a new scratching post, so keeping everything up to date is your best defence.

exterminator, eliminating any cyber pests that sneak in. Together, they keep your digital house in order and your data safe from unwelcome visitors.

World class, cross-platform security platform with scanning techniques to identify potential threats files, programs and neutralization of viruses, malware, phishing attempts.

AnyTech365 TotalCare

Making a meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of thousands of end user reviews on Trustpilot (4.8/5) and Google Reviews (4.9/5).

This encryption ensures that even if someone intercepts your data, they won’t understand a word of it, providing an extra layer of security as comforting as ﬁnding out your favourite ice cream shop is still open. Ensure the websites you visit use HTTPS, the digital equivalent of putting a padlock on your internet door. Look for ‘https://’ at the beginning of the URL or a padlock icon in the address bar. This encryption protects your information from being intercepted by cyber sneaks, adding an extra layer of security that’s as reassuring as knowing your favourite show got renewed for another season.

While on public Wi-Fi, avoid accessing sensitive information like online banking or shopping sites. If you must, use your mobile data instead, treating it like your emergency stash of chocolate in a room full of hungry kids. Public networks are inherently less secure, so it’s best to save sensitive activities for more secure connections.

Stay safe while using public Wi-Fi: Follow these tips to protect your personal information. Vigilance and a few precautions can make a big difference in keeping your data secure. So, next time you connect to a public network, secure your connection and browse conﬁdently.

A comprehensive security suite, combining all AnyTech365 premium products together with quick issue resolution certified technicians without onsite visits anytime, night, with AnyTech365’s around-the-clock support all offered in more than 15 native languages.

For extra security, keep your ﬁrewall on and antivirus updated. Firewalls are like internet gatekeepers, keeping out unwanted guests, while antivirus software acts as your digital

The company is currently in the process of becoming publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), with the transaction expected to complete in Q3 of 2024.

Regularly update your operating system, brows-

The company and their solutions have been widely recognized and won multiple awards on local, national, and international level such as “The Fastest growing technology company in Spain and the 27th fastest growing company in Europe across all sectors” (Source: Financial Times FT1000), the Andalucía Excellence Award in New Technologies, and others. Making a meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation scores with tens of

(4.8/5) and

TAKE CARE: Public Wi-Fi is not secure

A MADRID low emission zone designed to improve air quality has been annulled after a court stated that the poor were being disproportionately hit.

The High Court of the Justice of Madrid (TSJM) decreed that the low emission zone failed to comply with the requirement of the European Union’s Court of Justice to respect ‘the principles of proportionality’.

It argued that forcing people on low incomes to buy newer cars meant they faced shouldering an unfair share of the burden.

Currently, 21 districts of Madrid are subject to low emission regulations, which can impose traﬃc regulations and ﬁnes even on cars that do not produce excessive amounts simply because of their age.

Desert warning

PARTS of Spain will have a desert-like climate by 2050, a new study has warned.

Research from the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC) into global warming and drought has placed Spain on the frontline of climate change in Europe. By 2050, they predict that rainfall will decrease by up to 20%, causing drought across the country.

Between 1971 and 2022, average temperatures in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands have surged by over 3C.

PRESERVE THE RESERVE

A PETITION to reopen the Ojen EcoReserva has reached 100,000 signatures.

Petition to reopen wildlife ‘eco-reserve’ hits milestone

Howling with rage

THE EU has declared that wolves should no longer be ‘strictly protected’ despite ﬁerce opposition from Spain and Ireland EU’s Competitiveness Council has approved downgrading their status to simply ‘protected’.

The reserve is one of the biggest conservation areas in Malaga but was forced to close in 2022 after Junta environmental officers found alleged failures in the park.

Since 2016, visitors could spend a day in nature and even pet the animals, which included deer, mountain goats and wild boars.

The ‘idyllic’ park was a far cry from the landscapes burnt from wildfires that volunteers first restored in

In 2016, local Antonio Calvo came up with the idea of establishing an eco reserve alongside the environmental group Pinsapo and the ecotourism company Andalucia Ecotour.

Then, just six years into their work, Calvo was issued a fine of €130,000

for ‘failures’ in the park and although this was later reduced to €65,200 on appeal, he was still forced to close.

“This is one of the most beautiful projects in all of Andalucia. We were lucky to be able to transform the hunting area into an ecological reserve,” he told the Olive Press.

“We created jobs by protecting nature and have been punished for it.”

Amongst the alleged offenses was storing a 1000-litre water tank on the property, which provided water for the

animals in times of drought.

Despite the three orders he has received to leave the site, he refuses to go, saying the animals ‘cannot survive’ otherwise.

For two years, he has been doing everything he can to get the 350 kilos of food needed to feed the animals when drought conditions make supplies scarce.

The Junta has also announced it wants to sell the park, but cannot do so until a judge gives the green light. Either way, Calvo has no intention of leaving.

This means wolves, whose population has nearly doubled across the EU in a decade (from 10,000 to over 20,000), could soon face more threats, including hunting.

Attack

Farmers have blamed wolves for killing livestock, while European Commission head Ursula van der Leyman, who backs the proposal, has lost her own pony to a wolf attack. But environmentalists are raging. Over 300 organisations, including WWF, have blasted the move, saying wolves still aren’t in the clear and need strict protection. They claim Europe is sending a ‘disastrous’ message ahead of a major biodiversity conference in Colombia. Wolves remain fully protected in Spain, despite the EU’s decision.

The European Commission will take the proposal to the Bern Convention in December, where the ﬁnal fate of Europe’s wolves will be decided.

2012.

Yzabelle Bostyn

DISASTER: for Antonio Calvo and the animals he cares for despite the reserve being oﬃcially closed

LA CULTURA

STARS ON THE SHORE

Biblical sale

A 700-year-old Hebrew bible

The Shem Tov Bible is a 768page illustrated text written on parchment in the early 14th century.

Display

The text was copied by Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Gaon, born in the late 13th century in Soria. He spent an unknown number of years painstakingly working on the bible, taking care to make every letter and illustration as perfect as possible.

The new owner has pledged to put it on public display.

THE 72nd edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival has been packed with excitement and drama.

Australian actress Cate Blanchett, Spaniards Javier Bardem and Pedro Almodovar received the sought-after Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award. The honour is a welcome birthday gift for Almodovar, who turned 75 at the festival before presenting his ﬁrst English ﬁlm, The Room Next Door. Javier Bardem dedicated the award to

his wife, Penelope Cruz and defended his love for Spain, saying: “It’s my country, my people, my culture.”

Following his contentious departure from the Hollywood mainstream, Johnny Depp appeared at the festival to present his second directorial eﬀort, Modi - Three Days On the Wing of Madness. Meanwhile, Gia Coppola, granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola, presented The Last Showgirl, a ﬁlm about a retired dancer starring Pamela Anderson, who

was also in attendance.

Renowned German director Edward Berger, known for the Oscar-winning All Quiet on the Western Front, showed his new ﬁlm, Conclave, based on the Robert Harris novel.

Starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, the ‘juicy’ production has been met with praise from critics.

The feature ﬁlm Tardes de soledad directed by Albert Serra, bagged the Golden Shell award for best movie.

Friendly armada

Floating museum the Andalucian Galleon makes triumphant entry into London through Tower Bridge

THE sight of a Spanish galleon cruising up the River Thames used to be enough to give any Englishman the shivers.

But this Andalucian Galleon was not part of a new armada demanding Gibraltar back, but rather a floating museum that is on the final leg of a worldwide maritime tour.

Spectacular

It made a spectacular entrance under London’s iconic Tower Bridge, the bright red and yellow of the Spanish flag fluttering in contrast against the drab greys and blues of the British capital.

By Walter Finch

The meticulously crafted replica of a 17th-century Spanish galleon has been sharing the maritime heritage of Andalucia with several European countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Built in 2009-2010 by the Nao Victoria Foundation, the Galeon Andalucia was designed by Ignacio Fernandez Vial and constructed at the Palmas shipyard in Punta Umbría, Huelva. The ship’s interior was furnished with pieces made in Valverde del Camino, Huelva, based on historical re-

cords from the Marques de la Victoria.

Since its launch in 2010, the Galleon has travelled more than 100,000 nautical miles, visiting ports in Asia, North America, and Europe, and welcoming over 150,000 visitors along the way. Now in harbour at St. Kather-

ine's Dock, the London public can step aboard and experience the life of a sailor on a historic Spanish vessel until October 6.

The visit provides an opportunity to learn about Spain's maritime history and the craftsmanship involved in recreating such a vessel.

AN exhibition of art created by artiﬁcial intelligence at the University of Salamanca has provoked the outrage of artists and illustrators. Called Sobre Fondo Azul (Over a blue background), it showcases comic book art and cartoons that were not created by a human.

“Playing Guitar Hero doesn’t make you Paco de Lucia,” said one critic.

Another anti-AI activist pointed out that the developer companies ‘have already got 30 lawsuits around the globe thanks to the infringement of copyright they commit.’

However, Jon Hernandez, a leading AI advocate, hit back:

“Tools are just tools. I understand their situation. “There are jobs threatened by new technologies, and it is normal that they try to protect them. “AI is not going to be declared illegal.

“There was no law to protect against the use that has been made of AI.”

from medieval Spain sold for €6.16 million at a Sotheby's auction.

OPEN WELCOME: The Galeon Andalucia approaches Tower Bridge

November 29th - LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

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WHAT’S IN A NAME

Fancy taking a trip to the quaint Spanish towns of Poo and Penisville? Why not saddle up, brace yourself for the unexpected and join the Olive Press on a tour of Spain and its most weirdly and wonderfully-named towns

By Walter Finch

WITH towns and villages such as Bell End in Worcestershire and Slag Lane on Merseyside, it’s little surprise that Great Britain is the king of the crude place names. After visiting those two locales, why not head onwards through Sandy Balls in the New Forest and ﬁnally end up in Shitterton in Dorset (probably best to bypass Twatt)?

But Spain can boast its own equally bawdy journey of head-scratching place names.

So why not join the Olive Press on a wonderful, fear and loathing-style tour of Spain’s most weirdly-named locations?

First up we are going to hit Poo in Asturias. Poo, on Spain’s northern coast, is known for its beautiful beaches and scenic walks.

200-inhabitant town probably got its name from a Roman settler proudly called Penius. Today, the full name of the town is Santa Maria de Villapene, though adding ‘Holy Maria’ to the front hasn’t seemed to have dissuaded opportunistic sign robbers. Lodged very close to Penisville is another delightful town named Pair of Blondes (Parderrubias) in the province of Ourense.

The Mencia wines produced in Warm Snot are something in particular to savour.

The Asturian version of the name, Po, is also the shortest place name in Spain. You could even get some work done at Dental Poo.

I’m sure we’ll try to combine both into our itinerary.

After a heavy session at the dentists, nothing on earth will be able to stop us zipping over to Galicia and rocking up at Penisville (Villapene), a lush village which tends to have its road sign stolen fairly frequently.

According to linguist Joseph M. Piel, the

And of course, while in the area, how could we resist diving into the charming Cuntis (Cuntis), a mediaeval-style town south of Santiago de Compostela.

Cuntis is renowned for its natural beauty and hot springs.

Visitors have been relaxing in Cuntis’ thermal waters for centuries, which are believed to have therapeutic properties.

Just a short drive east and we are in Warm Snot (Calamocos) in Cantabria.

Warm Snot is the perfect village to unwind in after a good time in Penisville and Pair of Blondes.

Then come with us for the ﬁve hour trek to Goodbye (Adios) in Navarre.

According to popular belief, Goodbye gets its strange name from the War of Navarreria in 1276. Enemy soldiers reportedly camped out in the area but were forced out, saying ‘a dios, a dios’ as they left.

The name stuck and now 172 people inhabit the town known for its

AMUSING: Place names in England are possibly outdone by those in Spain...

LA CULTURA

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churches and surrounding countryside.

After leaving Goodbye we will go to Don’t Go (Novallas) in Aragon. But we won’t stay there long and we will quickly be hitting up wine country in La Rioja and looking for Ashtray (Cenicero).

Those after a taste of Spanish life will love Ashtray, famed for its exceptional vinos.

Moving south through the heart of the country, we make a pitstop in a little town which we’d rather avoid called Mother-in-Law (Consuegra), in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha.

Although at least we might at least hope to get a good meal and fresh bed sheets. The area boasts a raft of iconic windmills nes-

tled in the surrounding landscape.

But before we call in at Mother-in-Law we may take an unexpected detour to Cocaine (Coca) in Segovia. It’s more or less on the way and what could go wrong? The Cocaine Castle (Castillo de Coca) is a particular masterpiece to be admired.

After leaving Mother-in-Law as soon as we politely can, we will go Wobbly (Tembleque), famed for its unique wooden balconied buildings.

Once Wobbly and Mother-in-Law are ﬁrmly in the rear view mirror we will naturally go to Dirty Man (Guarroman) in Jaen, a place we have visited on many occasions previously. They also grow olives.

abic word al-qantarat, which means ‘bridge’ or ‘aqueduct’ and over time evolved into ‘sewer’.

Once we manage to escape from Sewer we will try to avoid going to The Hells (Los Inﬁernos) but sometimes it can’t be avoided.

Why not then swing by Kill a Fat Woman (Matagorda)?

The Cocaine Castle (Castillo de Coca) is a particular masterpiece

Legend has it that the town was named after a group of farmers encountered a large ‘mata’, or bush, in the area, calling it ‘Fat Bush’. On the home straight now, and we make a beeline across the country once again, this time moving without hesitation head towards Kill the Beers (Matalascañas) in Huelva on the Atlantic coast.

After our dalliance in Dirty Man we will inevitably ﬁnd ourselves in Sewer (Alcantarilla), which unsurprisingly is a satellite town of Murcia. It gets its name from the Ar-

It’s full of stunning beaches and there are not that many beers to be killed so prepare for some disappointment.

We are coming towards the end of our gruelling tour of Spain now. But where else could we ﬁnish it off, but with a quick drink in The Queen’s P***er (Meadero de la Reina) in Cadiz.

The urban myth goes that Queen Isabel II had to make an ‘emergency stop’ in this Cadiz town on a journey through Andalucia in the 19th century, giving it the curious title.

It is believed the Queen and her husband, Francisco de Asís were

visiting the region to gain the sympathy of Andalucians. Some 160 years later, the legend remains immortalised in the town’s name.

And if you’ve made it this far with-on this wild and wonderful journey, go home.

Cenicero

Guarroman

Matalascañas

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

THE MAGIC KINGDOM

Autumn is the perfect time of year to fall in love with the town that has a real life Cinderella castle

AS the scorching summer days draw to a close and before the chilly winter weather arrives (and it can get very chilly indeed in central Spain) now is the time to visit Segovia.

Around an hour from Madrid by train, car or bus, the historic city is an ideal day trip from the capital.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

theme park, but with fewer screaming children, less tacky decor and no extortionate prices.

Not only were the views over Segovia stunning but the terraces themselves are full of little wonders, including bridges and wells worthy of a fairytale.

Like many Spanish destinations, it has a charming old town, imposing cathedral, impressive views, world famous Roman aqueduct and tranquil walks in the surrounding countryside. And presiding over all its attractions

is its alcazar, believed to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella castle.

A replica for Cinderella’s fortress stands at Disneyland Paris, so Segovia could be considered Spain’s answer to a Disney

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Once you hop off the train or bus, it’s about a half an hour walk up to the old town.

I recommend heading straight to the castle as it lies at one of the furthest points from town, meaning you can take a leisurely stroll past the city’s other attractions to go back to the train station.

The walk to the castle gives you a ﬂavour of Segovia, as you wander past centuries old buildings on one side and calming views of the town and green valleys on the other.

I visited in autumn and it’s truly one of the best times to go as the views are dotted with vibrant reds and oranges as the trees begin to change colour.

After a brief walk around the city walls you will arrive at the alcazar

The towering turrets and grand gates will call to mind any fairy tale, but the wonders have only just begun.

My favourite part was deﬁnitely exploring the castle’s terraces with stunning views

To the left of the grass in front of the castle is the ticket ofﬁce, where you can buy entrance for just €10.

Tickets include the palace, museum and entrance to the tower.

Although I thought it couldn’t get any prettier than the castle’s exterior, I was wrong.

The inner courtyards and exhibition rooms are stunning, with arabic inspired carved and gilded roofs, plenty of art and arched windows peeking out onto the countryside.

My favourite part was deﬁnitely exploring the castle’s terraces.

After the terraces you pass through a museum while waiting for your chance to go up the tower.

If the castle hadn’t already given you the itch to sing ‘someday my prince will come’ a la Snow White, perching your chin on your hand while admiring the valleys of Segovia will certainly do the trick.

Perched on top of a hill, the vistas of the town are also enchanting and made me excited to spend the rest of my day exploring.

After coming down from the tower, I left the castle and snapped some pictures on the lawn outside.

Desperate for a coffee I nipped into the cafe on the left hand side, where I discovered a hidden garden with excellent photo opportunities and views of both the castle and city. Then, I wandered into the Jewish quarter, with ramshackle tudor-esque buildings and cobbled streets leading to the main square.

QUAINT: Segovia is full of ancient buildings, with a delight around every corner

MARVELS: The cathedral and Roman Aqueduct (right) are sights to behold, with the latter still used for transporting water right up until 1970s

GREAT DAY OUT:

Yzabelle at the alcazar and (above right) taking in the views

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

One thing I loved about Segovia was how quiet it was.

I visited in November last year and found it tranquil compared to similar tourist destinations.

Once you reach the main square you will ﬁnd the gothic cathedral, which is known for its striking appearance, stained glass and art laden chapels.

Around the square there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and ice cream shops that even tempted me in the November chill.

The Plaza Mayor is quite different from your typical Spanish square, as

it is dotted with trees, is an irregular shape and has a band stand in the centre.

After refuelling on coffee or ice cream, wander down one of the side streets heading towards the aqueduct.

Reaching a shocking 28m tall, it is one of the best preserved Roman aqueducts in the world.

You can climb the steps to get an expansive view or simply admire it from below.

I recommend walking along the length of the aqueduct to truly appre-

ciate how it transported water across the city until the 1970s.

As the sun set over the monument it was time to go home.

On the way back, we had some bad luck and all the bus tickets were sold out and we were forced to take the train.

However, you must be careful when booking a train from Segovia as it is quite a confusing system and we were not the only pair at the station convinced we had picked the wrong stop. Therefore, I would advise booking your travel beforehand, ideally from the nearer and cheaper bus station.

MAGICAL: There is more than a hint of Cinderellas’s castle about Segovia’s alcazar

LIVE RESS

COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA

Speed demons

POLICE are hunting for a duo who posted a video to social media of them speeding at over 300 kph on the A-7 around Malaga.

Snake attack

A 19-YEAR-OLD hiker had to be airlifted to hospital after being bitten by a viper in the Pyrenees. He was later released. Wasps and bees kill more people in Spain than snakes.

Women ﬁrst

EXPERTS studying a 5,600-year-old necropolis near Granada have discovered a signiﬁcant bias towards female burials, with twice as many female skeletons as male. This suggests funerary practices focused on maternal lines.

Rodent leaps out of airline meal, forcing emergency landing

A FLIGHT from Norway to Spain was forced to divert this week after a mouse ‘jumped out of a woman’s food’.

The drama unfolded on Scandinavian Airline SAS ﬂight from Oslo to Malaga. Shortly after take oﬀ, a woman is said to have ‘opened some food’, from which a mouse ‘jumped out’.

The experience was retold by passenger Jarle Børrestad, who was sitting next to the woman at the time of

By Laurence Dollimore

the incident.

He wrote on Facebook: “Believe it or not, a lady sitting next to me opened her food and a mouse jumped out.

“We have now turned around and landed at CPH (Copenhagen) to change ﬂights.”

Oystein Schmidt, a spokesperson for SAS in Norway, said:

“According to our procedures, there was a change of aircraft

Shark attacked

MOUSEJACKED!

SMILING NOW: But the mouse was a real shock to Jarle and the women in the row

for an inspection.

“It’s something that happens very rarely.”

The passengers eventually arrived at Malaga after switching aircraft in Copenhagen.

A BRITISH couple’s cheeky attempt at joining the mile-high club has landed them in court.

Bradley Smith, 22, and girlfriend Antonia Sullivan, 20, (pictured) were caught performing a lewd act on an EasyJet flight from Tenerife to Bristol, shocking passengers just minutes after takeoff.

“We have established protocols for these situations, which also include a review with our suppliers to ensure that this does not happen again,” Schmidt added.

SLEAZYJET

A PET dog has been filmed chasing a shark off a Spanish beach.

In a video shared online, the golden retriever can be seen jumping into the sea oﬀ Denia in Alicante.

A child can be heard screaming ‘no, perrito!’ (no, doggy!) as the animal swims at full speed towards a shark that is lurking just metres away. The pooch is seen swimming all the way up to the shark and even nibbling on the end of its tail as its panicked owners beg for it to turn around and come back. The dog eventually gave up and returned to the shore, seemingly having enjoyed himself immensely.

Tragically, the sharkwhich had caused quite a stir in the area after several sightings - was found dead the next day after being attacked by a swordfish.

Witnesses reported seeing ‘vigorous hand movements’ under a coat on Smith’s lap, with some even catching a glimpse of his manhood. The couple pleaded guilty to outraging public decency at Bristol Magistrates’ Court. The Welsh pair were slapped with 570 hours of community service and ordered to pay €120 compensation to each of the three horriﬁed witnesses. Judge Lynne Matthews reprimanded them, saying, “You had no regard for the feelings of other passengers, including a child sitting behind you.”