Olive Press Costa Blanca South and Murcia Issue 68 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

ll about

www.theolivep

ress.es

of San Fulgenci o June 2022

96 679 5082

by Jo Chipchase

ll about

La Marina

SECRET ENCLAVE

URROUNDED groves, salt by orange marshes and pine forests… oh, and a climate with around 325 days year. What’s thereof sun a not to like about Urbanisation La Marina? Add in sandy beaches, great communications and the world’s most emblematic

A home from home

in the heartland

bird - the flamingo der this enclave, - and is it any wonsitting inside the nicipality of muFulgencio in Valencia, keeps risingSan in ity among thosepopularin the know. Built from the mid1980s in the heart of

of orange groves

Alicante province, near Torrevieja Elche, Urbanisation and Marina-Oasis use its correct name), perfectly (to com-

and flamingos

bines the best an and Spanishof the northern EuropeAn ideal spot way of life. to have fun in the sun,

with a touch of tranquillity, it is for couples, retired popular people, and holidaymakers of various nationalities. Not to be confused with La Marina Continues on

Words and pictures

Issue 68

A focus on an expats’ favourite enclave ...see our special supplement inside

The

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Half way there! By George Mathias

A PETITION demanding an answer from the British government over the right for expats to drive in Spain is nearly halfway there. Nearly 4,500 people have signed the demand for action, supported by the Olive Press’ U-Turn campaign. The petition needs 10,000 signatures to force the government to give an official response, with its creator, Stuart Hudd, urging a final push this month. The Murcia-based expat is furious that he is not able to drive in Spain under new Brexit rules, despite registering correctly as a resident in September 2020. Both he and wife got TIE residency certificates, but were wrongly told by a gestor in Mazarron they didn’t need to register to swap their driving licences. “I was told don’t worry, there will be an agreement,” he said. “Now we are isolated in the campo and relying on friends and neighbours to take us shopping and to medical appointments.” The poor advice mirrors hundreds of testimonies the Olive Press has heard throughout this debacle, leading to our front page U-Turn campaign launched on June 1.

U -T

U RN

COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA

Your expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 3 Issue 68 www.theolivepress.es June 30th - July 13th 2022

N O W!

Med mayhem warning

Continues on Page 6

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UNESCO calls on Costa Blanca and Costa Calida towns to get ready for a tsunami, with claim that Mediterranean is 100% certain to suffer one in next 30 years

SEASIDE town halls are being urged by UNESCO to put emergency plans in place against a possible tsunami. A new study by the United Nations body claims the probability of a tsunami bigger than one metre on the Mediterranean coastline is 100%

By Livia Cockerell

over the next 30 years. It is most likely to be caused by an offshore earthquake or an undersea volcano eruption, such as one offshore from the Italian island of Panarea, as scientists note the ‘instability’ of its behaviour. The claims were backed up by the research of underwater explorer Alexis Resenfeld, who described the constantly erupting volcano as the ‘gates of hell’. In a study for the 1Ocean expedition with UNESCO, it was discovered that more than a THREAT: Volcano at Panarea could explode

CHARGERS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

autoconsumo@solarworks.es

ILL EQUIPPED: Councils including Benidorm are unprepared million litres of gas can be released seaquake, according to UNESCO. from the area every day. Last year, the entire Costa del Sol, Scientists were this week discussing and part of the Costa Calida and Costhe threat of a tsunami in more detail ta Blanca were put on a similar warnat a UN Oceans conference in Lisbon. ing by Spain’s Institut de Ciencies del In particular, they want to stress how Mar (CSIC). vital it is for all coastal communities It warned of thousands of homes to be fully prepared for the worst by being destroyed and many lives lost 2030. within 20 minutes of a potential While concerns in Spain are focused earthquake in the Averroes fault. on Chipiona, on Cadiz’s Costa de la “In the Mediterranean, there is no Luz, Costa Blanca and Costa Cali- question about it: it is not if, it’s da towns have also been warned to when,” said UNESCO tsunami exmake themselves ‘tsunami ready’. pert Bernardo Aliaga, this week. The working group of The experts are worried that towns the Hydraulic Insti- and cities on the Mediterranean untute of the University derestimate the risk of tsunamis beof Cantabria (IH Can- cause they are not as frequent as, for tabria), led by Mau- example, in the Indian Ocean. ricio González,said that Spanish coastal Warnings municipalities need They claim this increases the danger to calculate the risk of a tsunami. So far, he as fewer measures are enforced and says, no municipality warnings are not properly given. has been prepared to Chipiona lies on that same stretch of respond properly to a coastline, where one of the deadliest earthquakes took place in 1755 off tsunami warning. The researcher ex- Lisbon. plained that the areas The resultant 6m waves killed up to most exposed to the 50,000 people (over 1,200 in Cadiz impact of a tsunami and Huelva) and badly damaged the are all the coasts of Portuguese capital. Spain, except Asturias The threat caused by a tsunami is made significantly greater due to risand Cantabria. Besides the Gulf of Ca- ing sea levels. diz which is the high- Studies in China show the higher the est risk area in Spain, sea levels, the further inland tsunami other coasts are also waves travel. at threat. These in- UNESCO plans to support towns and clude the Costa Blanca cities as they enforce preparation and the Costa Calida, measures such as alert systems. which are threatened Opinion Page 6 by a tsunami after a

CRIME

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Smugglers caught SEVEN Algerians operating ‘people smuggling’ boats from North Africa to Murcia have been arrested by the Policia Nacional in Cartagena. One of those detained was under 18.

Hoodwinked MURCIA police pulled over a motorist travelling with a passenger on his front bonnet. The apparently drunk driver was arrested after refusing to take a breathalyser test.

Rubbish deal PILAR de la Horadada council has fined its waste collection concession firm, STV, €90,000 for a dozen ‘serious’ breaches in its contracts.

THREE Czechs have been bounced into prison cells after being arrested for running a mail order drugs service. They were based in Playa de San Juan in Alicante and the Playa de Muchavista area of El Campello. The Guardia Civil received co-operation from the US NaA RUSSIAN couple were kidnapped by bogus police officers to get hold of access codes to a cryptocurrency wallet. The kidnapped man - a computer expert specialising in cryptocurrency management was able to contact his lawyer, who in turn called the police. El Campello Policia Local located the car where the man's partner was held and discovered she had been handcuffed. A Spaniard, who is an ex-Guardia Civil officer turned private detective, and a Russian woman, who acted as an interpreter, were both arrested. A third person who drove the car, fled on foot, but was subsequently detained. The Guardia Civil are still searching for a fourth kidnapper. An Alicante

June 30th - July 13th 2022

BOUNCING CZECHS

tional Security Investigations department in Buffalo to bust the trio. The traffickers mailed out so-called ‘zombie’ drugs and amphetamines to the USA as their main destination.

Customers in the UK, Australia, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland were also mailed illegal narcotics. Up to 300 parcels were sent each month from Correos offices across Alicante Province.

Crypto kidnapping

Bogus cops kidnap Russian couple in Bitcoin bid

By Alex Trelinski

judge sent the three detainees to Fontcalent prison as inquiries continue. The private detective said he was hired just to find the Russian couple and did not realise that kidnapping

was on the agenda. The pair were approached by the detective and another man at their San Juan (Alicante) home garage shortly after 6pm on June 19. The visitors said they were police officers and flashed badges to confirm their status. The

Pump rage

TERRORIST BACKER JAILED

AN irate man pulled out a gun after a customer jumped the queue at a busy Murcia petrol station. The 20-year-old fled the scene when staff called the police but he was subsequently arrested.

A San Vicente del Raspeig man has been jailed for six years and fined €1,300 after admitting to financing terrorism and trying to recruit people to a terrorist cell. Syrian-born Amir EG, 21, took a plea bargain ahead of Monday’s hearing at Madrid’s National Court after prosecutors called for him to get 15 years behind bars.

He was arrested in San Vincente in July 2020. Amir EG viewed and passed on material that praised the actions of Islamic State via different internet platforms. He also possessed and distributed hundreds of videos and images about executions and battles of jihadists in Syria, Iraq and Africa.

couple were told to hand over their phones before they were bundled into a car. They were joined by the Russian female interpreter who threatened serious violent consequences if the computer expert did not hand over his cryptocurrency access codes. The man said the codes were at a friend's home in the Central Park area of El Campello.

Hostage

They drove there and the kidnappers let him enter the building while keeping his partner hostage. It was at that time that he phoned his lawyer, with the kidnappers speeding off when they realised he had tricked them.

Expat killer retrial THE Supreme Court (TSJ) has ordered the retrial of a Dutch man convicted of murdering a British expat in order to steal €550 from her purse. The TSJ says there were irregularities in the judge’s instructions to the jury which may have influenced their deliberations. The body of Margaret McNulty, 70, was found in her Granja de Rocamora home in November 2019, where she lived on her own after her husband died in 2005. Handyman Nicholas Pijnenborg was found guilty of murder and robbery at his Alicante trial last September.

Assaulted

Alicante Provincial Court then sentenced him to 25 years and six months in prison. Last year’s trial heard that McNulty had been brutally assaulted by Pijnenborg who she had known for four years. He popped round to ask for a loan and when she pulled €50 out of her purse, he noticed that she had a lot more cash in it. Pijnenborg grabbed her by the neck and threw her to the floor, before punching and kicking her to death. He then stole €550 and spent some of it that evening in nightclubs.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es HE was the archetypal heartthrob in An Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman, with Julia Roberts. And Richard Gere has been looking as dashing as ever on a summer break to the Balearics. The Hollywood star has been spending a few weeks with his Spanish wife Alejandra Silva and their two sons touring around the islands. The 72-year-old, whose breakout role was as a male escort in American Gigolo, has stood up well to the ravages of time, as this photo from his wife’s Instagram account proves. The couple, who married in 2018

Still got it!

By Kimberley Mannion

and live in New York, have taken to the waves aboard a yacht cruising around Ibiza and Formentera with their children. Gere became a father for the third time in 2020 when Silva, 39, gave birth to their second son just a year after their first. He also has a 22-year-old son from his previous marriage to model Carey Lowell. His first wife was supermodel Cindy Crawford. Silva, who comes from Galicia, has a nineyear-old son from her first marriage.

EXPATS were surprised to discover a famous punter in their midst as they enjoyed an afternoon pint when Harry Redknapp showed up. The former Premier League manager, who won ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, thrilled drinkers at Ryder’s Bar in Duquesa, on the Costa del Sol, as he swapped banter.

Drink

He had been planning a quiet drink with agent Eamon Collins and ex-West Brom star Derek Stratham, both of whom are regulars. Bar owners Sharon Anne O’Callaghan, 60, from London and husband Andrew Moore, 62, from the Midlands, said it was a pleasure to have Rednapp at Ryder’s. Sharon told the Olive Press: “It was great to meet Harry, he is a lovely man, a true gent and was only too happy to chat with customers.”

Urgent consignment of British Red Kites sent to Spain to save threatened species

IT was three decades ago that Spain sent a consignment of 13 Red Kites to the UK to urgently boost a population that was on the verge of extinction. Now the UK has returned the favour packing 30 of the glorious birds of prey in the other direction. The reintroduction programme will see the 15 pairs of Milanos Reales, as they are called in Spanish, scattered around Extremadura and Andalucia. They are likely to be the descendants of wild Red Kites sent from Spain to the Chiltern Hills in the 1990s, after Britain’s population was re-

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duced to a mere handful of pairs in one isolated spot in Wales. The conservation programme has been so successful in the UK that the birds are now a common sight soaring over gardens across half of the country with their reddish tones, forked tails and distinctive mewing cries.

AFTER years on the brink of extinction, the Spanish imperial eagle has reached a new all-time record with 166 chicks hatched in Andalucia alone this Spring. It comes after a 2021 census found 129 breeding pairs in the region, some 5% up on 2020. The highest previous record came in 2019 when 144 chicks hatched.

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SHE was appropriately sparkling as Rita Ora wowed crowds at a fashion show for high end jeweller Cartier in Madrid. The Let You Love Me singer Rita Ora showed true aura in her performance wearing a stunning fuschia pink silk dress set off with diamonds from Cartier. The star has been the face of the jewellers of late, attending several of their events. Ora, 31, who also holds Kosovon nationality, grew up in London. She was not the only star at the show with Bohemian Rhapsody actor Rami Malek also on hand.

HOME: Young Red Kite in Badajoz

Historic heights

KIM CLARK

What an Ora

RETURN TO SENDER

‘Ello ‘Arry

June 30th - July 13th 2022

It is estimated that there are now between 4,000 and 6,000 breeding pairs in the UK. Meanwhile, in Spain they have fared far less well and there are only 11 breeding pairs in Caceres province and just four within Badajoz. It is hoped that the new arrivals will boost the wild population in Extremadura and Andalucia with the same success as the British programme. This month the first batch of 15 fledgling birds arrived at the Amus rescue centre in Villafranca de los Barros, in Badajoz. From here they will spend a short time in aviaries to acclimatise before being released after about three weeks. Another 15 will arrive at the end of June and 30 more will be sent over each June for the next two years.

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RAISING THE WOOF A WIREHAIRED Fox Terrier called Funfair Foxhouse has been crowned as the World’s Best Dog. Think Crufts on steroids as 16,500 dogs and 12,000 professional breeders travelled to Madrid from 50 countries to take part in the World Dog Show. Queen Sofia inaugurated the event in which dogs face agility tests and obstacle courses. Silver went to an English Bulldog and bronze to an

TOP DOG: Funfair Old English Shepherd. The best placed Spanish dog was a Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund who came fourth.

NEWS

4 www.theolivepress.es Getting fruity MURCIA is gearing up to be the melon epicentre of Europe over the next two weeks. Growers and retailers from across the continent are expected to descend on the region. They will learn about innovative new growing techniques of Spain’s favourite fruit as international seed companies throw open the doors to their trial farms. Murcia is Spain’s biggest melon growing region, accounting for over half of Spain’s melon crop and a fifth of its watermelon production. In 2021 it exported over 200,000 tonnes of melons worth €155 million. The science of fruit growing is big business, with sellers needing to keep up with constantly charging demands through new growing techniques and genetic modification.

THE American president and his wife have been gracing the palaces and matching up with Spanish royalty as world leaders unite in Madrid for the NATO summit. But it didn’t all go to plan when America’s First Lady, Jill Biden, kept Queen Letizia waiting outside a Ukrainian refugee centre. Not used to waiting, the Queen touched her hair and looked at the sky, opening

June 30th - July 13th 2022

GOOGLE NEWS IS BACK

First ladies

her arms as though to say ‘finally’ when her new friend arrived at last. Despite the American’s faux pas of making the Queen wait, the pair have had a busy and successful two days, which included a trip to the Spanish Association Against Cancer.

GREETINGS: Biden and Letizia

PROTECTION NEEDED

Plea for security as health centre staff face violent patients

RISING cases of verbal and physical assaults on Torrevieja area health centre staff has prompted calls for better security.

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Unions are demanding security guards to protect workers at facilities that are open for 24 hours. They fear incidents will rise over the summer holiday period as the local population swells with the arrival of domestic and foreign tourists. A letter sent to the management of the Torrevieja Health department describes health workers as feeling ‘vulnerable’. Torrevieja's La Loma health centre is the only one in the district to have security staff. Unions want a similar service at round-theclock centres in Guardamar, Orihuela Costa, Pilar de la Horadada, Rojales, and San

Miguel de Salinas. Signs at all those centres warn people of the legal consequences of any verbal or physical aggression towards staff. Two incidents occurred last week at the Orihuela Costa health centre. On Tuesday, a man verbally abused reception staff after being told he could only see his doctor with an appointment. The next day, receptionists got it in the neck from a patient who repeatedly banged

his fist on the counter. He then threw stuff around and kicked in the front door which suffered significant damage. Unions said staff rung the Orihuela Policia Local and were told there was no patrol available to help them out.

GOOGLE News is returning to Spain after nearly a decade. The service was shut down in 2014 as the Spanish government insisted payment be made to publishers for promoting their news stories. Spain’s newspaper industry has pushed for the tech giant to restore it and in 2020 the government revamped its copyright rules to allow media outlets to negotiate directly over use of their content. Despite the impasse, the Olive Press won a Google News Initiative award for our reporting in 2020.

Looking out ELCHE police will be patrolling the municipality’s beaches this summer through to September 15. Some of the 40-strong team gathered at Arenales del Sol on Tuesday to mark the start of the tourist season patrols. Officers will monitor the safety of bathers daily between 10am and 7pm. Unauthorised hawkers, including masseurs, will be stopped from pestering beach goers and police will also keep an eye out for thieves.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Pump price warning PETROL prices in Spain might hit €3 per litre this summer according to a service station employers group. Nacho Rabadan, president of CEEES, said: “I do not rule out any scenario and we could see prices of three euros per litre this summer because demand far exceeds supply.” Rabadan believes that with the summer holiday season approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, there simply isn't enough petrol to go round. Pump prices in many parts of Spain have passed the €2 per litre mark.

Fireman San MURCIA city’s fire brigade has taken on its first woman driver. Irene Sanchez, 28, was told by Mayor Jose Antonio Serrano: “Barriers must be broken, you have done it, you will surely become an example for many women who will come after you.” Despote having studied physics at university, Sanchez said her lifetime ambition was to drive a fire engine. She will start work from July 1 with the government looking to increase the number of firefighters in the Murcia region.

June 30th - July 13th 2022

Green face-off Costa Blanca versus Costa Calida in race to become Europe’s Green Capital MURCIA and Valencia are facing off to become Europe’s Green Capital in 2024. Valencia city recently unveiled details of the bid, officially declaring its candidacy in May for the European Green Capital Award (EGCA). Murcia is also throwing its name in the ring, meaning one city may be declared green and the other left green with envy. The award recognises the efforts of European cities to improve the environment and, therefore, the economy, as well as the quality of city life. Valencia mayor, Juan Ribo, said: “Opting to go for this

award was a very important challenge that we faced with the conviction that we are a Mediterranean benchmark in

sustainable policies and a city with great potential, which has a consolidated green infrastructure, a unique Natural Park and the largest urban garden in Europe.” Not to be outdone, the Coun-

That just won’t fly A drone owner faces a fine of up to €225,000 after causing an emergency alert at Alicante-Elche airport. An airline pilot sighted the drone flying over the airport's air space and alerted authorities. The incident occurred on May 16 but details were only released on Monday by the Guardia Civil. Given the security threat posed by the drone, Guardia officers swung into action to find the unit and its operator. A computerised tracking and monitoring system called Aeroscope was used to locate the offender.

Extradition for Maddie suspect EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke

IN OPPOSITE CORNERS: Antonio Navarro Corchon (left) and Juan Ribo By Alex Trelinski & George Mathias

GROUNDED: Police impound drone The drone operator broke a series of laws including infringing controlled airspaces and not having a licence to fly the commercial-style unit.

cilor for Sustainable Development in Murcia, Antonio Navarro Corchon said: “The distinction will provide many benefits such as increased tourism and international profile, networks and new alliances, new jobs, greater emphasis on environmental projects through sponsorships and subsidies, as well as the improvement of culture and the arts.” The shortlist has competition from the Italian cities of Cagliari, Florence, and Prato also vying for the award as well as Krakow (Poland), Sofia (Bulgaria) and Kosice (Slovakia). The list will be narrowed-down next month ahead of final presentations and a decision, which will be made in the French city of Grenoble in October.

EXTRADITION proceedings are being launched to bring five new charges against Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner. A German prosecutor confirmed he is sending paperwork to officially extradite Brueckner from Italy, where he was last a free man, despite him actually being in a German jail. Describing it as ‘a formality’, he told the Olive Press that it would mean the German paedophile being charged with five new offences ‘within weeks’. The crimes - three rapes and two child sex assaults - are expected to come to court in the early Autumn.

Formality

“It’s only a formality and I hope it’s not a problem,” said Hans Christian Wolters, the chief prosecutor, in Braunschweig, where the Madeleine McCann case is being handled. A prosecution against Brueckner, 45, in the case of abducted Madeleine, who vanished in Portugal, in May, 2007, will follow immediately after.

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LETTERS

June 30th - July 13th 2022

You never stop learning Dear Olive Press,

wart’s early novels Having read Chris Ste early life here in about his arrival andinterest your article Spain, I noticed with with Chris Stewart, Walking over lemons t in the third parapublished last issue. Bua giggle when I read graph I could not help were garrotted for the sentence ‘where we ion ran wild as my the night.’ My imaginat fortunate reporter mind pictured your un neatly strung from and companions all n ceiling awaiting che kit rt’s wa Ste Chris ot he, Chris, might their fate in a rich stewp ulish late night gho a for ing be prepar read the remainder feast. Nevertheless I st as I have been a ere int h of the article wit early novels and am fan of Chris Stewart’s are follow ups. So re delighted to know the spaper for alerting my thanks to your news which I am sure I me to these new novel much as I enjoyed shall enjoy equally as the earlier ones. Gillian Watson, Mijas Costa le-eyed spot. You Editor’s note: An eag out this slightly int po to are quite right . To garrot means novel use of Englishstrangulation, esby to kill someone of wire or cord, pecially with a lengththe author of this by t me e fat e sam the piece.

DESPERATE: Migrants scale Melilla’s fence

When will it end? Why does Spain continue to hold onto Mellila, despite it being in a different continent? It seems to me this is asking for trouble, especially with regards to migrants who recently stormed an immigration facility. James Lewis, Marbella

Speaking frankly With the recent deaths of 23 migrants crossing the Morrocan border to Mellila, the death of 50 migrants on the Mexico border to Texas and the continuing peril of those crossing the English channel, there surely has to be a better and more humane way of treating those seeking a better life while still retaining some degree of border controls. Where can I find out more about this? Sylvia Pianto, Alicante

Drawing the line The media has been quick to condemn Boris Johnson’s Rwanda plan for refugees, but would so many migrants have tried to climb into Spanish territory had Spain had a similar hard-line approach in place? Ruth Bride, Casares

Editor's note: The horrible deaths we have seen of migrants this week will unfortunately not be the last and it is certainly time for a full transnational approach to what is an international issue. The International Rescue Committee specialises in providing long-term support for refugees who enter a new country using legal routes and has useful information on their website rescue. org. A path to avoid future deaths will not be solved by reactionary domestic policies but by global outreach.

No smoke I have been reading with great interest the informative yet highly alarming reporting you have been doing on forest fires. We all know that climate change is happening and causing untold damage to our planet, but I wonder to what extent climate change is to blame for forest fires, which, after all, are a naturally occurring phenomena. In addition, I have heard that forest fires are actually a forest’s way of resetting its ecosystem for the better? I’m sure your research elves would be able to enlighten me. Daniel Thompson, Valencia

Editor’s note: You are correct that naturally occuring forest fires are essential for many ecosystems as they help to control insect and disease damage. However, frequent and large-scale fires have negative impacts on air and water quality, biodiversity, soil and landscape aesthetics, especially when caused by human error or arson. Forest fires also threaten climate change mitigation, as they release large amounts of greenhouse gases. The European Environment Agency says climate change is undeniably having a strong impact on forest fire risk in Europe.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1

4 7

Across 6 Sedentary kind of General (8) 8 Something of little value (4) 9 Dogma (5) 10 Look up to (6) 11 Activity necessary for scaling Everest (4,8) 13 Disturbed men only met up for inactivity (12) 16 The --- Flyer, first heavier-than-air powered aircraft (6) 18 “If It --- Been For Love” (Adele song) (5) 19 It’s rolled towards a jack (4) 20 In a manner free from danger (8) Down

OP SUDOKU

Strung out

We breakdown some key issues of the past week and a grammarian teaches us the meaning of an obscure word…

1 Members of a flock (8) 2 Beautiful (6) 3 Car exhaust pollutants (12) 4 Organized group of criminals (3,3) 5 “The Sign of ---” (Conan Doyle) (4) 7 It brings one back to Earth (7,5) 12 Don’t mention it (3,2,3) 14 Business big shots (6) 15 Venerated townspeople (6) 17 Chamber (4)

All solutions are on page 11

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es

Zoned out

Polluting cars to be banned from city centres HIGH polluting older cars will be banned from city centres in Spain next year with the creation of low emission zones. The deadline for the new regulations to come into force is the end of the year and covers cities with over 50,000 residents. Barcelona introduced low emission zones in 2020 during peak times. Essentially petrol cars with a pre-2000 registration fall under restrictions in the city, with pre-2006 registered diesel cars also covered with drivers facing a fine of between €100 and €500 each time they enter the zone. The low-emissions zone was designed to complement the city’s so-called ‘superblocks scheme’, in which areas made up of nine blocks are closed to through traffic and partly pedestrianised.

Mossy Menor A €7 million emergency plan has swung into action after the Mar Menor became choked with six times more algae then it normally gets in a year. On average, between 1,600 and 1,700 tonnes of biomass are removed from the lagoon in Murcia annually. But so far in 2022, over 10,509 tonnes of biomass have been removed. Experts state that this is due to an increase in nitrogen and phosphate levels which promote the growth of algae. The excessive growth puts wildlife at threat due to it reducing oxygen levels. Local councils have spent between €5 million and €7 million to urgently remove the algae before environmental disaster strikes.

By Alex Trelinski

The World Health Organisation says there are only seven Spanish cities that meet established air quality parameters. The DGT move is seen as a major inducement for motorists to switch to less-pol-

luting vehicles, including electric cars. Electric car prices are higher than conventional fuel-driven vehicles and there are still comparatively few electric charging points. The government is banking on the new emission zone restrictions to boost the electric car market.

June 30th - July 13th 2022

COOL PLAN Madrid has unveiled plans for a ‘wind garden’ capable of lowering temperatures. The 14.5 hectare park is part of redesign for the Charmartin station area in the north of the city, with a wind garden that captures the breeze and recycles, dramatically reducing the air temperature by up to 4C. The idea is inspired by air cooling methods popular in parks across the Middle East. Wildlife in the garden will include fern and moss rising above the treetops to capture air from above and disperse it below. It will also have the knock on effect of helping to cool down temperatures in surrounding streets.

PREVIEW: How the park will look Dutch architecture studio West 8 will be constructing the project, the same company which redesigned London’s Jubilee Gardens in 2012.

The need to transition to renewable energy Green

ARE THE LIGHTS GOING OUT?

OVERNMENTS have a habit of disguising the truth and leaking out snippets of bad news early on. It’s in their DNA. It has been medically proven that politicians can’t even lie straight in bed. This Spring the Spanish Minister for Energy, Teresa Ribera, posted an article about the need for us all to conserve power and change our consumption habits. At the end of her message was the implication that this winter WE COULD FACE POWER OUTAGES. ENERGY SECURITY You will have seen across all media references to this topic. What does it actually mean? The IEA (International Energy Agency) defines energy security as: “The uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.” Picking this apart, the affordable price already lies

in tatters. Just look at a recent electricity bill to reconfirm this. Uninterrupted availability also looks doubtful. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the world’s energy supply chain is in complete disarray. It is not rocket science. It is simply supply and demand. The National Grid has the capability to produce a certain amount of electricity. If demand exceeds availability, then the lights go out. Spain is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels (notably gas) to produce electricity. The lunatic Putin’s ability to turn off the tap and the less than cohesive relationship Spain has with Algeria are grounds for concern. (As an aside I think we should turn off the tap with Russia….but that’s a different story.) POWER CUTS Some 4% of the world’s population (350 million people) faced major power outages last year. My money is on that figure getting smashed this year and next. Increased extreme weather events have contributed to this (yes…..climate change) and the all too slow transition to renewable energy. Look at just a few of the recent world events. A winter storm that hit Texas hard knocked out infrastructure and caused energy markets to be affected. Low rainfall in Brazil and south China (the manufacturing hub of the world) reduced the hydro-power output. China had to resort to power rationing. Across Europe, wind speeds were exceptionally low resulting in lower than normal electricity production.

AUSTRIA Long before the Russian invasion in Ukraine, last November, the Austrian Defence Minister announced that Austria was preparing for major electrical blackouts. That put the cat amongst the pigeons! In Spain it prompted shoppers to buy gas stoves, butane canisters and flashlights. Hardware stores sold out. UK Ministers (as reported on Sky news) have drawn up plans to potentially ration electricity supply for up to 6 million homes at the start of next year. As always, cuts will come at the times of peak demand - when you need it most. Yet, last month, a Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Stategy spokesperson claimed the UK had no issues with electricity or gas supply. Confused?? It’s simple really. Do you believe a politician, or your own common sense? WE CANNOT USE IT IF WE LOSE IT. As humans, we see what we want. Maybe the lights going out may just help us focus on the need to transition to a renewable world.

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

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NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

OPINION Do not waver WITH so much focus on the dangers of forest fires in recent weeks, the news of UNESCO calling on towns in Southern Spain to get ready for a tsunami are a much needed reminder of the very real danger coastal towns face from natural disasters. It is particularly concerning that none of the towns which could be affected by a tsunami, which UNESCO says is 100% likely to hit the shores of Spain in the next 30 years, appear to have a contingency plan in place for such an event. Forest fires have rightly caused increased diligence and readiness in areas at high risk of catching alight, with catastrophe zones recently declared in the Pujerra area which has seen successive years of fires which have charred vast swathes of land and strict laws that prohibit human activity in the summer months. But whereas forest fires impact rural areas, tsunamis often impact densely populated coastal towns where the risk of death is much increased. Indeed, in Chipiona in 1755 off Lisbon, pounding 6 metre waves killed thousands of people, with a death toll across Spain and Portugal of 50,000. And though tsunamis have always been present throughout human history, rising sea levels caused by human activity make coastal communities far more vulnerable to flooding from tsunamis. Even modest rises in sea levels dramatically increases the frequency and intensity of flooding when a tsunami occurs as the tsunami can travel further inland. A 2018 study showed only a 50 centimetre rise in sea level would double the frequency of tsunami-induced flooding in Macau, China. This means in future, smaller tsunamis may well have the same impact as giant tsunamis would today. It is therefore imperative that the coastal areas most at risk dedicate significantly more time to planning for the inevitable.

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Wheely easy Got a spare ten weeks and €600? Exactly how easy is it for a Brit to take a driving test in Spain. Mike Sedgwick got behind the wheel to find out

AVING found himself among the thousands of British expats left unable to drive in Spain, Mike Sedgwick undertook a bit of overtaking action. Not content to sit back and wait at the back of the grid, he set out to get himself a Spanish licence the hard way; by doing the test! Well two to be exact as you need both a theory and practical test before getting the coveted pink EU licence. “I couldn’t wait for the bureaucracy to be agreed or not, so I took the plunge and did my theory test leading to the practical,” explained the 63-year-old, who moved to Cadiz from the Midlands a few years ago. Here he gives Olive Press readers a simple step by step guide on how to go about doing it. First up Mike registered with a local driving school and for €150 he was given an online manual (conveniently in English) and access to the test system.

Dear Pedro

AN expat has written to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asking him to take action to resolve the driving licence debacle. es in MurSally Ashwin, who liv ter: “This let the in d sai , cia astrophic issue has had a catvulnerable st mo the on impact munity within the British com in Spain. ple living “This includes peo ut public in rural areas witho access to transport, taxis, or mothers supermarkets, single l day and who need to work a ful and drop need the car to pick up ool.” off their children at sch Press the Speaking to the Olive e he will teacher said: “I believ d we have do the right thing an loud and made our voices heard clear. From Aunt Sally

then spent €40 for a medical test, which is required along  He with proof of legal residency to

register on the Department of Traffic (DGT) database. then took four weeks to study (‘and study hard’) to  He pass the practical theory exam,

which cost a further €100. “And I also had to pay to get to the test centre to do it,” he adds. The centre was ‘filled From front

Smudge here We are supporting the right of expats to swap their licences for Spanish ones, as has been the case in almost all other EU countries. Hudd, from Burton on Trent, has been campaigning continually since losing his right to drive. As well as contacting House of Lords peer Baroness Vere, he has been in touch with his MP Kate Griffiths, who said the government was ‘continuing to negotiate as a matter of priority’. But he remains unmoved and is demanding more direct action such as revoking all Spanish driving licences in the UK and making them take a full practical test in English. “We need to play hardball. All us expats want is a reciprocal deal. At the moment our lives are on hold,” he said. “Thanks for taking up the gauntlet on behalf of us expats who are really struggling here.” To sign the petition, so far signed by 4,364, visit petition.parliament.uk

BACK ON THE ROAD ...NEXT MONTH BRITS could be back on the road by the end of next month, claims UK Ambassador Hugh Elliott. But he is still unable to give a precise date, he admitted. While insisting licence recognition for British drivers is ‘very close to being finalised’ he added: “I still cannot give you a precise date I’m afraid.” But he said the two nations are in agreement over the core issues that have been problematic. “We’re now very close

NOW

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.

Voted top expat paper in Spain

U T R U

to finalising the actual text of the agreement,” added Elliott, who has been ambassador in Madrid since 2019. “Our best estimate is that we are looking at a date of having you back on the road around the end of July.” He also recognised the hardships suffered by those who can no longer drive legally, especially during a heatwave when the heat makes it a less viable option to walk. "Although this is only weeks away I know it will feel like a very long time

EASY DRIVER: Mike Sedgwick took the plunge

to the gills’ and apparently it is sometimes hard to get a slot, which is why you need a driving school as they block book slots. passing the test, Mike signed up for a lesson with the driving  On school so they could ‘assess’ his driving abilities. “They were happy and decided to put me in for the first available slot at the DGT, which was around three weeks later. In the run up to the test he de-

to book five lessons to  cided help with gears (he normally

drives an automatic car) and to understand the key driving terms in Spanish. In the end you can get by with ‘around 20 words and phrases’, he estimates. The lessons cost €30 an hour and were done with two others in the car so the sessions were about three hours long. On a plus side it helped him learn the certain phrases needed to understand the examiner during the test. “But at the end of each session I was drained and tired.”

driving test itself cost €82 including use of the driving  The school car and Mike’s regular instructor explained to the examiner that he was a foreigner but was able to ‘respond to commands’ in Spanish. “We are talking about basic driving terms such as ‘derecha, izquierda, al Frente, marcha atras, primera salida, segunda salida,’ etc, and the examiner was clear in his commands!” However, Mike failed his first

and was put in for a second  test attempt two weeks later, shelling out a further €82. and slipping in two more lessons (which cost a further €150). “And I passed, whoopee!”

PASS NOTES

to many of you," he said. “I know that some of you are experiencing real difficulties.”

rk found it hard wo All in all, Mike t enjoyable and calbu and anything ordeal cost around culates the entire ok about ten weeks. €650-700 and tonerve wracking and “It was definitely ing a foreigner,” more difficult be s Mike amits. ce he passed hi He adds that sins got much busier driving school hadents and waiting with summer stuve lengthened conlists for tests ha siderably.

ll about

La Marina

of San Fulgencio

Issue 68

www.theolivepress.es

June 2022

96 679 5082

Words and pictures by Jo Chipchase

SECRET ENCLAVE

URROUNDED by orange groves, salt marshes and pine forests… oh, and a climate with around 325 days of sun a year. What’s there not to like about Urbanisation La Marina? Add in sandy beaches, great communications and the world’s most emblematic

A home from home in the heartland of orange groves and flamingos bird - the flamingo - and is it any wonder this enclave, sitting inside the municipality of San Fulgencio in Valencia, keeps rising in popularity among those in the know. Built from the mid1980s in the heart of

Alicante province, near Torrevieja and Elche, Urbanisation Marina-Oasis (to use its correct name), perfectly com-

bines the best of the northern European and Spanish way of life. An ideal spot to have fun in the sun,

with a touch of tranquillity, it is popular for couples, retired people, and holidaymakers of various nationalities. Not to be confused with La Marina Continues on next page

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La Marina

From front

A PERFECT SETTING coastal village, which is administered by Elche, La Marina Urbanisation sits in A privileged setting near protected pine forests, popular beaches - many of which have the coveted blue flag status - and golf courses. Then there are its wonderful salt marshes, which turn pink at certain times of year, due to local mining, and are inhabited by flocks of flamingos and other birds. This is a true bird watcher’s paradise. The urbanisation is conveniently located a 20-minute drive from Alicante-Elche airport and 45 minutes from Murcia airport. This makes it an ideal hub for holidays or for residents to hop back and forth to the UK (or Holland or Sweden ect). Although the urbanisation is self-contained, offering all the facilities residents might need, it is also within easy driving distance of a number of large commercial centres home to the best European chain stores. It’s also just a stone’s throw from the renowned Guardamar del Segura

beach (5km), the La Marquesa golf course (3km), the Santa Pola amusement park (15km), and the massive international camping resort, only 1km away.

Attractive builds on a huge estate One of the largest urbanisations in Spain, and possibly in Europe, San Fulgencio has 9,000 full time inhabitants, 66% of whom are foreign nationals and approximately 3,000 are British. Back in La Marina, many of the European residents fly their countries’ flags on their properties, so you conveniently know where they came from. The urbanisation comprises a big range of villas, bungalows, chalets, and new builds with ample terraces, on private plots – some of which

have their own pools. There are two private swimming Many have covered space for park- pools/leisure complexes, where loing motorhomes or other larger ve- cals relax and while away the day. hicles. British people Dog walkers can easimight be reminded of ly stroll to the beach in a well-appointed resa quarter of an hour, Walkers stroll through an attractive idential estate, but with more attractive pine forest. Unlike in to the beach vistas and climate. some urbanisations, It is like a mini town, the amenities remain through an with various superopen all year round. attractive pine markets, opticians, The urbanisation is didentists, banks with vided into three areas forest staff who speak En- La Marina, La Escuglish and German, a era and El Oasis - and car hire outlet, solicit falls within the muitors, charity shops and spacious nicipality of San Fulgencio, a peacerecreation areas, offering football, ful farming village that is well worth bowling, and barbecue areas. a visit – you can even install a new

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Villa in La Marina, Spain · Lola

REF: 5128 3 bed • 3 bath build: 116m² • plot: 207m²

enquiries@barclaysproperties.com www.barclaysproperties.com Parque Guadalquivir Num 10, Urb. La Marina, San Fulgencio, Alicante 03177

June 2022

ALWAYS CARING Jennifer Cunningham reveals why La Marina proved the ideal place to expand her business and launch a charity to provide hospice care within the expat community

app to find your way around. To help non-drivers, an urban bus service has been launched, running on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

A home from home for Northern Europeans With such a strong population of extranjeros ‘the urb’, as it is affectionately known, is designed to make English-speakers feel at home. Having said that, the Olive Press encountered some Spanish residents strolling around on a quiet Sunday evening.

Some of the supermarkets have a British feel – but with palm trees outside - while Consum has its own square with ample parking and you’ll find daily baked bread, pastries, fresh fruit and vegetables and delicacies of Spanish, English, French, and German origin… and, of course, your favourite English newspaper, the Olive Press, every fortnight. A good choice for Brits, the Overseas supermarket - encompassing Iceland and Waitrose - lies at the bottom end of ‘the urb’. This store is full of British favourites, such as Ambrosia rice, chicken and mushroom soup, and curry sauces – you’ll be dazzled with delight at what can be taken home. Mum has gone to Iceland – and might never emerge again! The store is part of a growing commercial centre that is expanding with the addition of new shops and some bar/restaurants. La Marina is jaw-droppingly huge, and it would be easy for a newbie to circle round wondering where to find the recreation club or the ‘satellite roundabout’, so-called because it has radio masts there. Luckily, the tourist office is available with friendly staff who can lend a helping hand with maps, advice, and leaflets. They can provide information on a series of guided walks run by San Fulgencio town hall, that take in the sand dunes and other points of interest. Some of the walks occur at night, to avoid the hot summer daytime overheating the participants. But you can, of course, go on your own.

IKE many of those who end up living in Spain, it was after enjoying a holiday with friends on the Mediterranean coast that Jennifer took the decision to relocate from North London to sunnier climes for a quieter life. But the move gave Jennifer a new lease of life and with it the realisation that she wasn’t quite ready to retire. Instead she started up what has become one of the most successful expat businesses in Spain. With one of the highest densities of foreign residents in Spain, this part of the Costa Blanca was crying out for someone to design special insurance packages for the expat market and the business thrived. What began with one small office in Javea has now grown to seven branches across the Costa Blanca and one in Lanzarote. The La Marina branch of Jennifer Cunningham Insurance opened in 2007 followed by another in Benijofar later that year and then a branch in Playa Flamenca five years later. At the same time as she opened an office in La Marina, Jennifer set about doing something that MUCH MISSED: Jennifer’s son Paul inspired her really mattered to her on a personal level. She created a hospice charity that offers inva- charity from her La Marina base luable support to the terminally ill and their families among the expat community. The charity is very close to her heart as she set it up following the death of her son Paul from cancer when he was only 33-years-old after witnessing the care he was given during his last days in a Sue Ryder hospice in Bedfordshire. “They had taken such exceptional care of my son but on my return to Spain I looked around activities are once again returning to pre-panto see what would happen if someone was in demic levels. the same circumstance here in Spain and disco- These efforts enable the charity to provide free vered that there really wasn’t anything similar. hospice care for people in their own home People were simply being sent home to die to be those who are discharged from hospital once cared for by their family, but what if there is nothing more doctors can that wasn't possible?” do for them. The realisation led her to set up the supply the equipment needed The community “We Paul Cunningham Nurses Charity, for them to be cared for at home, which is based in La Marina and is such as a hospital bed, wheel chair spirit in La run thanks to volunteers and funand pressure mattress, as well as Marina has ded by donations. nurses to provide palliative care “The community spirit in La Marina been key to our and give support to has been key to making the charity any family they success a success,” explains Jennifer. may have,” explains Jennifer. “There is such a mix of people here, Over the last it’s quite an extraordinary place, absolutely enormous with shopping facilities, year alone, the charity and its team of 20 volunteers has banks, etc. But at its heart it is really a village.” She explained how the first of three charity helped more than 100 people by providing care shops was opened in La Marina. “We have found that local residents are very ge- at the end of life. nerous, offering lots of great stuff that we can “The nurses are sell to raise funds for our hospice work.” absolutely increNot only that, but over the years dozens of local dible. How they businesses and community clubs have offered do it day and venues and hosted fundraising events from live day after day music performances, lunches, raffles and dan- I don’t know,” ces. she added. “I Although fundraising efforts were paused during admire them Covid, the charity managed to keep afloat and so much.”

Visit www.jennifercunningham.net or www.paulcunninghamnurses.com for more info IMPRESSED: Our journalist Jo was delighted to find Overseas amidst the leafy enclave

Visit Jennifer Cunningham Insurances S.L and Paul Cunningham Nurses Charity by clicking on the links.

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La Marina

La Marina is an ideal base to explore Vega Baja and its 27 towns, where you can seek Spanish culture and lifestyle...or stay put

SHOULD I STAY OR GO?

VERY Thursday from 9am to 2pm, La Marina holds a market in the square on Calle Lisboa. Also, on Saturdays, a batch of stallholders set up on the edge of the urbanisation and sell their goods. The market is the place to buy locally grown fruit and vegetables, fresh breads and meats, ceramics, gifts, bedding, clothes, shoes, and accessories – or just take in the scene – maybe from a nearby bar. Those who want to be active, and like water, can opt for one of two private swimming pools / leisure

centres – The Hillside and The La Marina Sport Complex - which have water fountains, children’s

play floats, mini water slides, etc. You can chill out at the poolside bar and restaurant or enjoy a game of snooker on the nearby terrace. The public swimming pool in San Fulgencio is also available for visitors.

Bowling

There are also tennis courts set among the residential areas, as well as bowling. A short drive away, you can play golf. If that all sounds too active and you simply want to bag a shopping bargain, the charity shop is well-stocked and helps protect abandoned and m i s t r e a te d animals in nearby Torrevieja.

TAKE A DIP: At a number of pools

MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE Buy in La Marina with award-winning Barclays Properties

UYING a property in La Marina urbanisation is easier if you are guided by experts with specialist, on-the-ground knowledge. This is where an experienced real estate agent proves invaluable, so you can obtain your dream home with minimal effort. Barclays Properties was established in La Marina in 1998 and, during the last 24 years, has helped literally thousands of clients to buy their dream home on the urbanisation. The company was recently awarded at the property specialists go above and beyond industry-renowned Corporate Livewire Global when helping buyers and sellers. Awards, in which it won ‘Real Estate Agent of Their attention to detail and extensive knowlthe Year in Spain 2021/22’ edge means that they are especially good at Says proprietor, Simone Watson: “Our pas- matching people to their perfect property, +34 966and 79 supporting 78 85 you though the sion for real estate has been acknowledged while guiding by winning the respected award. Our compa- whole process. +34 676 92 07 52 ny offers an exclusive, all round conveyancing Client satisfaction is the core value that service. We make customers our top priority. drives every decision and action within our ThisESTABLISHED explains why we are ESTATE one of the leadingIN LA company.” THE LONGEST REAL AGENTS MARINA URBANIZATION COSTA BLANCA Estate Agents in La Marina - along with our “With this in mind, we have a network of resister company, Watsons Real Estate.” turning, loyal clients who refer us to friends SOLD 289,000€ • Exclusive Barclays provides an in-house conveyancing and family. 195,000€ • Exclusive solicitor and conveyancing team that can of- We frequently help people, even years after fer both buyers and sellers professional ad- they bought or sold a property. We exist to be vice and expertise. your trusted property expert, and to help out These services include power of attorney, when needed.” obtaining an NIE number (needed to make a purchase), mortgages, habitation certifi- Barclays Properties is fully registered cates, energy certificates (required to sell a with the European Association of Agents property), wills, declaration of building work, and Real Estate administrators (AEGAI and various other conveyancing services. Nº 1797), complying with the laws and Barclays Properties can also help customers regulations in Spain, enabling it to legalJUST SOLD! – 550.000€ in La Marina, to refurbish, build and furnishDetached their property. ly represent clientsVilla throughout property Villa La Marina 3 Simone bed • 3 bath Azucena sales and purchases. Spain · Lola says: “Our friendly and multilingual plot: 500m²

REF: 5132 3 bed • 2 bath build: 127m² • plot: 500m²

REF: 5128 3 bed • 3 bath build: 116m² • plot: 207m²

+34 966 79 78 85 +34 676 9279 0778 5285 +34 966 enquiries@barclaysproperties.com www.barclaysproperties.com www.barclaysproperties.com +34 676 92 07 52 Parque Guadalquivir Num 10, Urb. La Marina, San Fulgencio, Alicante 03177 enquiries@barclaysproperties.com THE LONGEST ESTABLISHED REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN LA MARINA URBANIZATION COSTA BLANCA SOLD

289,000€ • Exclusive

195,000€ • Exclusive

SPORTY: From tennis and padel to bowling

BEACH LIFE

A MARINA isn’t a beach resort, but it is close to some great expanses of sand. If you stroll south from the ‘urb’, down a road bordered by a pine forest, you’ll come to Playa La Marina: this doesn’t belong to the urbanisation, as it is administered by the town of Elche. It has an expanse of golden sand and a watchtower for a lifeguard. Down from there is Playa Rebollas and Playa Toassales. There’s also a naturist beach to the north, for those brave enough to disrobe.

June 2022

HERE TO HELP The Kitchen Shop is about much more than carpentry

NEARBY PLACES TO VISIT

ITUATED on Urbanisation La Marina The Kitchen Shop is a well-established legally registered, family run business. Owner Simon has nearly 30 years of experience in the carpentry/cabinet making trade, both in the UK and here in Spain and specialises in design and the installation of kitchens and bedrooms, assisted by Mark. The Kitchen Shop provides a free, no obligation, design service individual to your ideas, needs and budget and can advise on the many options available: a full installation or just changing doors or worktops to give a great new look. Our priority is to offer the highest standard of customer care to all our clients, combining excellent craftmanship along with Value, Choice, Quality and Service. In the shop Angela & Lynette also offer extra services of I.D. PHOTOS (TIE), PHOTOCOPING, LOCATOR FORMS (for UK Travel), PASSPORT RENEWALS, BOARDING PASSES, BABY EQUIPMENT HIRE, GREETING CARDS, STATIONERY & POSTAL SERVICE.

STUNNING: The salt marshes at La Laguna de Torrevieja turn pink at certain times of year (below right)

HE village of La Marina is a 5-minute drive from La Marina Urbanisation. Home to around 3,000 people, it is bordered by a pine forest and golden, sandy beaches (one of the longest on the Costa Blanca is 17 kilometres long and comprises El Pinet, La Marina and El Rebollo). Here, you’ll find beach bars (chiringuito) where you can enjoy delicious plates of fresh calamari.

San Fulgencio, the nearby town, was founded in 1729 when a local notable called Cardinal Belluga obtained marshy land around the delta of the Segura River from Orihuela and Guardamar del Segura. He wanted to drain the wetlands and make them fertile and productive. San Fulgencio was named after the patron saint of Murcia. It has diversified from traditional farming to serve the tourism industry. The town has fiestas, a selection of shops and a market every Tuesday. Just 15km away is La Laguna de Torrevieja, where waters turn pink at certain times of year. Although this is usually from August, some already had a pinkish hue in June. Like what happens in the Dead Sea, this phenomenon, unique in Spain, is produced by a bacterium that releasMOTHER TOWN: La Marina is part of San Fulgencio

Call in and see us soon. SIMON, ANGELA, MARK & LYNETTE

es a pinkish pigment in water that has a high concentration of salt. Some 800,000 tonnes of salt are extracted from the lakes annually and exported. One thing to remember: you’re not allowed to bathe here.

+34 965 077 555 or +34 661 861 416 (mobile) thekitchenshop.es thekitchenshop@yahoo.co.uk Calle Alfredo Krauss 2, Local 11, Urb. La Marina

The Kitchen Shop

Suppliers of Quality Fitted Kitchens and Wardrobes FREE Quotations and Design Service Specialists in Fitted Kitchens and Bedrooms Full Installation Service or Supply Only Wide Range of Doors and Worktops Laminate • Silestone • Granite Suppliers of Appliances Ovens, Hobs, Extractors

tel: (+34) 965 077 555 mobile: (+34) 661 861 416 Visit: thekitchenshop.es Email: thekitchenshop@yahoo.co.uk C/Alfredo Krauss 2, Local 11, Urb. La Marina

OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: Baby Equipment Hire, Letters and Parcel Postage, Fax and Photocopy Service, Greetings Cards, UK Passport Renewal, Boarding Pass Printing

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La Marina

WHERE TO EAT

AROUND THE WORLD IN DOZENS OF FLAVOURS

HATEVER your foodie tastes, you’re spoilt for choice in La Marina. The diverse eateries are arranged in four main areas, for you to explore. You’ll find Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and German restaurants, pizze-

rias, curry houses cooking spicy treats, steak houses, fish and chips, bars serving snacks, and traditional British roast dinners. We tried Curry Mahal, where a chicken curry truly hit the spot. The Grill House, in Consum square, has an enticing cocktail

ENTICING: The Grill House (above) is a great place to unwind with a meal and a cocktail, and is one of several eateries

menu and a large terrace, as well as a well-appointed interior that could easily be in London. This is a great place to sip a chilled vino. On the main strip, you’ll find restaurants mingled with businesses such as a furniture store, solicitors, estate agents, and an electrical store.

Buskers

If you head along the Avenida Londres road from the strip, you’ll arrive at the Fase IV (Grey Area), where restaurants surround a bustling square. In this location, street buskers sometimes play accordions and guitars to ‘amuse’ the diners! When you reach the Dialprix suTASTY: A dish at the Curry Mahal (top) one of a range of international restaurants permarket in Calle Amsterdam, there’s another selection of restaurants serving a variety of meals. You Watsons sells properties in La Marina in record time won’t go hungry here!

MEET THE SPECIALISTS

HE sister company to Barclays Properties, Watsons Real Estate, is a logical WHERE TO STAY first choice when selling a property in La Marina Urbanisation. Another award-winner, the company’s exHERE are good places pertise was recognised when it received the to stay near La Marina. prestigious title of ‘Most Exclusive Property A 15min drive north Agency in Alicante 2021’ in theTHINKING BUILD Real Watsons Real Estate and Barclays ProperARE YOU OF SELLING YOUR HOUSE IN LA MARINA? past the salt marches Estate & Property Awards.OVER 24 YEARS EXPERIENCE ties IN are sister companies, working togetherIN LA MARINA – which are pretty at sunHELPING CLIENTS TO SELL PROPERTIES Watsons Real Estate specialises in La Ma- to ensure that sellers and buyers receive a set – the Hotel Gran Playa at rina Urbanisation and is renowned for sell- comprehensive service. Santa Pola is a popular and ing properties in record time – some being Watsons Real Estate offers accurate appraiseconomical choice for travelsnapped up even before they are officially on als, free conveyancing, low commission rates lers, including single people. the market, or within 24 hours of being listed. (between 2% and 3%), tailored marketing It serves a good continental Watsons Real Estate has an extensive data- strategies, precise descriptions, professional and English breakfast, with base of international clients who are waiting drone video and photography, plus two agenthe bacon and sausages on tenterhooks, ready to buy, and are updat- cies for the price of one. done to perfection. It also ed whenever there’s an addition to the prop- Like Barclays, Watsons provides an in-house has its own swimming pool erty portfolio. conveyancing solicitor and conveyancing - which is overlooked by With over 24 years of experience in helping cliteam that can offer both sellers and buyers LA MARINA the balconies of its various ents to sell properties in La Marina, Watsons professional advice and expertise. These apartments - and offers amhas a multilingual team of dedicated profes- services include power of attorney, obtaining ple parking. POPULAR: The Hotel Gran Playa serves a great breakfast sionals who work to high standards – ensuring your NIE, mortgages, habitation certificates, Heading 1km in the direction that properties are marketed for the best pos- energy certificates, wills, declaration of buildof Guardamar, you’ll find The region. Providing fun for the pool), various water slides, Contact today sale. for a FREE property sible price, combined withus a quick ing work, other conveyancing services, and Marina Camping and Resort whole family, it offers more a gymnasium, restaurant, build, and furnish a propvaluation from your professionalhelp and to refurbish, – a 5-star campsite, which than one swimming pool (the shop, and entertainment enquiries@watsonsrealestate.net www.watsonrealestate.net erty. fully qualified Estate Agents. is rated as the best in the bungalows have their own centres. It is also located C Amsterdam 2D, Urb La Marina, San Fulgencio, Alicante 03177 Says proprietor Simone Watson: “We are a few minutes from a stunmarketing experts, with an external and inning beach. Set over 60,000 ternal marketing team working together to square metres, it has 430 ensure maximum exposure, locally and incamping plots and 90 bunternationally. Your property is in good hands galows for hire. However, it when selling with Watsons Real Estate.” is likely to be fully booked during the high season. Watsons Real Estate is fully registered with AEGAI (Nº 1797), complying with the laws and regulations in Spain, enabling it to legally represent clients throughout property sales and purchases.

LA MARINA?

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www.watsonrealestate.net enquiries@watsonrealestate.net Calle Amsterdam 2D, Urb La Marina, San Fulgencio, Alicante 03177

SUPER FACILITIES: at La Marina Camping and Resort

June 2022

At the heart of the ‘urb’ The Olive Press meets Darren Parmenter, tourism councillor for San Fulgencio and La Marina Urbanisation

ARREN PARMENTER, a British ex-journalist, has lived on ‘the urb’ since 1991 and was elected to the town council following the May 2019 elections. He is responsible for San Fulgencio’s tourism department and plays an active role in the tourist office and promoting the area. Darren arrived at La Marina some 30 years ago, after visiting a tourist fair. He says: “I bought ‘a piece of mud’ on the urbanisation, back in 1989, at a property exhibition in Benidorm. I was thinking ‘investment and holiday home’.” “At the time, I was living with my parents in Campello, near Alicante, who had taken early retirement. During a visit in 1991, I decided that I liked the area, the location, people, and amenities. I decided to move here permanently, and my late parents bought a

house near mine in 1994.” He describes the ‘urb’s’ many benefits: “We have a community spirit, which wouldn’t exist if people were spread around the countryside. There’s a feeling of security and having neighbours to call upon when needed.” “We also have nine supermarkets and a great selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. There’s a sports area with a tennis court, padel, tennis, and a newly turfed football pitch. The Social Centre holds events daily, such as keep fit, Pilates, craft classes, and more.” Regarding his role as a town councillor, he says: “My previous role as a journalist showed me what other municipalities were doing, and highlighted that San Fulgencio was missing out on many potential initiatives. I wanted to help put San Fulgencio back on the map and I think this has been achieved.” “Just for example, we’ve produced our first ever promotional video, and, in January 2022, we had our first slot at FITUR - the

Madrid tourism fair. We’ve introduced the popular ‘Rutas Turisticas’ walking routes and the ‘Summer Shopping Bus’, as well as a ‘Recipe Book’ containing a selection of traditional dishes from the area.” He adds: “With the aim of promoting ing example in this part of Vega Baja.” future tourism from the UK, we plan to Darren is noticeably proud of the ‘Ruattend the World Travel Market in Lon- tas Ecoturisticas’ (ecotourism routes) don in November 2022, as part of the that his department launched in 2020. Valencian Community stand. We also He says: “These have shown many want to attend the Brussels Holiday local people the ‘hidden’ treasures Fair in February 2023, to promote San of the municipality - of San Fulgencio Fulgencio to the wider European mar- and its urbanisations. The routes have attracted people from far afield to see ket.” And there’s a lot to promote in the local the important archaeological sites and area – such as sites of historic interest, learn about the wildlife, some of which is unique to this part of including archaeological Spain.” digs. Darren explains: Another popular initia“The archaeological site Archaeological tive is the ‘Autobus Veraof El Oral, is believed to no’ (summer bus) which site of La date to between 600 first operated in 2021, and 400 BC and was Escuera, dates to encourage people to originally part of an visit the Tuesday and island surrounded by between 500 Thursday markets in the lakes, with one remainzone. The service links and 200 BC ing until the 18th centuto all the commercial ry. So far, the remains areas across the municof 21 houses have been ipality, to boost custom excavated.” “The archaeological site of La Escuera, and trade. dates to between 500 and 200 BC and Darren says: “For 2022, because of is believed to be the site of an Iberian popular demand, we have added a Saturday daytime service for another Temple.” “Further to that, El Hondico de Amorós local market, and a Saturday evening is a small wetland, regarded as a relic service, so people can leave their cars of what was a common landscape in at home to enjoy the local facilities.” past centuries, and is the only surviv- As for San Fulgencio village, Darren is

fond of this location. He says: “It’s a typical Spanish village that has kept its quaint, narrow streets. It has a beautiful church, a refurbished museum, a theatre, music school and auditorium, sports centre, swimming pool, and a selection of typical Spanish bars and restaurants.” He emphasises that La Marina Urbanisation and San Fulgencio are ideally located for tourists. He says: “By being halfway between Alicante-Elche Airport and Corvera (Murcia), and close to the N-332 trunk road and motorways, it is an ideal base to explore the other 26 municipalities of the Vega Baja, as well as Elche, Alicante and Murcia. Here, you can experience unique histories and gastronomies. We’re also close enough to, but far enough away, from the beach.” Don’t forget to download the ‘Descubre San Fulgencio’ app to your smart device.

ARE YOU THINKING OF SELLING YOUR HOUSE IN LA MARINA? OVER 24 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN HELPING CLIENTS TO SELL PROPERTIES IN LA MARINA

enquiries@watsonsrealestate.net www.watsonrealestate.net C Amsterdam 2D, Urb La Marina, San Fulgencio, Alicante 03177

June 30th - July 13th 2022

www.theolivepress.es

PUT YOUR SHIRT ON

lthough in the UK it is pretty common to see topless blokes out and about in the city centre on a hot day, in Palma (Mallorca) you can be fined up to €800. Walking around in swimwear when you are not on the beach in cities such as Marbella and Malaga will also land you a €200 fine.

MEET THE OP TEAM

BEWARE OF THE FUN POLICE I

F you are holidaying in Sevilla this summer, hanging your undies on the line could result in a hefty fine. Local council regulations mean that you could be charged up to €3,000 for hanging ‘indecent’ items on an outdoor washing line.

SMOKEFREE ZONE

ON’T pee in the sea! If you are in a desperate situation in Galicia, the sea is not the place to go. Urinating in the sea or on the beaches will result in a charge of €750 in Vigo.

EEING in the sea, wandering around topless… even building a sandcastle! These are just a few of the strange offences that you could be fined for on your holiday to Spain. To save you from some steep fines, we have compiled a list of some of the oddest things you are at risk of being charged for this summer.

NO KINGS OF THE CASTLE

HECK before sparking up on the beach in Spain. Recent regulation changes mean that many beaches have prohibited smoking. The regulation has already been enforced in many tourist hotspots, including Mallorca and Barcelona. Smoking on a smoke-free beach could cost you €30 (an expensive ciggy by all standards).

NO SIESTAS ON THE BEACH

F you are in Valencia this summer, an afternoon snooze on the beach is off the cards. Dozing off under the sun here can cost you up to €1,500 following health concerns from the local government.

UILDING sandcastles is normally an imperative activity for a day trip to the beach. However, in some parts of Spain, this pastime is not fun but finable. On certain beaches in Tenerife and Mallorca, building a sandcastle can land you with a fine of €100. Definitely worth keeping an extra close eye on your kids!

FLIP FLOP BAN

HE cocktail is the only sex on the beach permitted in Spain. Getting frisky on the sands is illegal and in Benidorm will cost you a whopping €750.

F you plan to hire a car on your summer holiday, make sure you have got your trainers with you! Getting caught driving wearing flip flops or stilettos, or sandals without an ankle support (or being barefoot) can attract a fine of €200.

ENGINE ROOM

E’S very much the unsung hero of the Olive Press. Through recessions, pandemics and the dreaded winter slump, Charlie Bamber is never far from the front lines. With a head for numbers and an excellent grasp of business, the Olive Press’ commercial director has skillfully guided the group’s expansion over the last decade. Whether in Mallorca, Moraira or Mijas, he’s always got an unshakeable understanding for each local economy and how best to serve our clients there. No request is ignored and he is more than happy to tweak his advertisers’ copy just hours before we go to print, not to mention help them with an advertorial. A boots-on-the-ground kind of fellow, he was the man we tasked with launching in the Costa Blanca north and south regions, as well as Valencia city, over the last five years. And on top of that, he’s been the guiding light of our online paywall - that grows by the hundreds every month - and already counts on 30,000 registered users. So what makes Charlie tick? Inheriting a solid work ethic from his ad man father, he left university to work for 15 years at News International in London. Climbing up the commercial ladder he had become the Assistant Ad Manager of the Sun by his 35th birthday, before switching to run the newspaper’s operation in Spain in 2004. As well as representing Golf Monthly, Country Life and the Telegraph in Spain, he agreed to help take the Olive Press to new levels way back in 2010. And what a journey it has been from the first Axarquia supplement treading the streets of Nerja, near his home in Torre del Mar, to securing a nationwide deal with the country’s leading English insurance broker Jennifer Cunningham at her head office in Javea. Make sure to get in touch with him for any advice on integrated print and online ad campaigns, wherever you are in Spain. And look out for him at a pub near you for any Liverpool games (in fact any big football games) next season. Charles@theolivepress.es

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

SEX ON THE BEACH

Watch out: 9 Things you could be fined for this summer in Spain, writes Livia Cockerell

DON’T HANG YOUR KNICKERS ON THE LINE

AVOID SPENDING A PENNY

VALUE: Charlie’s wild ride in the news industry

PUT THE SHAMPOO AWAY

POST swim shower is always much needed but you will have to make do without shower gel or shampoo. Using these products in a beach shower could cost you €750 due to the risks the chemicals pose to marine life.

cabin crew cannot strike on 1- Why Ryanairmany flights in Spain never buy pre-cut fruit and 2- Why youvegshould at supermarkets in Spain crews in Spain joining rya3- Easy jetnaircabin colleagues in strike action Ryanair claims cabin crew strikes will be 4-relatively insignificant in disrupting summer holiday flights EXCLUSIVE: Madeleine Mccann suspects 5-update: Extradition request begins in Italy for Christian Brueckner over five new cases

Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 for more info

BUSINESS Race to host F1

June 30th - July 13th 2022

Madrid plans to snatch Grand Prix from Barcelona

PM: Pedro Sanchez

Power cut ELECTRICITY IVA (VAT) tax rates have been slashed in half. The government reduced IVA from 21% to 10% last October as wholesale electricity prices shot up to what were then record levels. Now they are being lowered to just 5% as prices continue to rise. Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said: “We are going to protect the families of our country.” Just two months ago, the leader of the opposition Partido Popular, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo proposed a 5% reduction but the government rejected it, with Ecological Transition Minister, Teresa Ribera, describing it as a ‘cosmetic measure’. With a general election looming in December and a disastrous performance by Sanchez's PSOE in this month’s Andalucia regional elections, the new tax cut might be seen as some ‘red meat’ for voters.

MADRID wants to host the Spanish Grand Prix after the current Formula One contract with the Circuit de Barcelona expires. The regional government has sent a letter of intent to Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One, to confirm an interest in joining the sport’s expanding calendar. Regional minister Enrique Lopez said in the letter: “I believe that holding in Madrid a motor racing event, which is one of the most exciting sporting phenom-

By Kimberley Mannion

ena of our time, would be a success for all the professionals, institutions and companies involved in the development of Formula 1. It comes after F1 authorities warned the promoters of the Spanish Grand Prix to fix its ‘unacceptable’ traffic and organisational issues after a number of problems emerged at the Barcelona race this year. The move has been antici-

GREEN LIGHT: Hosting a F1 race is a status symbol

pated since regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso sponsored the revamp of

REACHING FOR THE SKY THE battle to become home of the Spanish Space Agency has been ignited between Madrid and Sevilla. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has stated that there will be an operating headquarters of the Spanish Space Agency by 2023. Sanchez also said that as part of decentralisation efforts, the headquarters will not be located in Madrid. Despite this, President of Madrid Isabel Diaz Ayuso has written to the Prime Minister to outline her city’s desire to become the centre of Spanish space work. But Sevilla is determined it will be the host,

having applied months ago as part of the national decentralisation process. In a letter to Sanchez, Ayuso asked him to reconsider the necessity of having the site based outside Madrid, and allow the capital city to be part of the hosting race. This prompted a response from the Mayor of Sevilla, Antonio Muñoz, who fired back that the supposed decentralisation process would not be one if the agency ended up in Madrid. Muñoz stated: “Sevilla is the most prepared city, with the most potential and ability to be the headquarters of the Spanish Space Agency.”

BOUNCING BACK T

GBP/EUR exchange rate rebounds from one-year low following BoE rate decision, writes Peter Loveday

HE pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate continued to trade with notable volatility through the second half of June in response to a Bank of England (BoE) rate decision and European energy concerns. Over the last two weeks, GBP/EUR fell to a one-year low of €1.14 before swiftly rebounding to around €1.16.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? The past couple of weeks have seen the GBP/EUR exchange rate trade in a wide range, with the pairing briefly striking a one-year low. This slump came in response to some lacklustre UK economic data, coupled with Brexit jitters amidst the renewed threat of a UK-EU trade war. However, the pound was then able to rebound sharply in response to the Bank of England’s latest rate decision. While the BoE opted for another modest 25 basis point hike this month, GBP investors seized on the bank’s hints that future hikes could be more aggressive. Since then the pound has continued to fluctuate as a modest rise in UK inflation caused GBP Investors to further revise their BoE rate hike bets. The second half of June initially saw the euro firm as it benefited from risk-off flows. This uptick in the single currency was underpinned by some hawkish comments from European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers, who bolstered expectations for an aggressive rate hike from the bank in September. EUR exchange rates faced some headwinds as a result of renewed concerns over European energy security, amidst a sharp drop in Russian gas exports to the continent. The euro was also dented by the publication of the Eurozone’s latest PMI figures after they reported growth in the bloc’s private sector slowed sharply in June.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR? As June comes to a close its likely we will see similar catalysts of movement continue to influence the GBP/EUR exchange rate, with recession fears and the war in Ukraine also likely to continue to infuse volatility in the pairing. The pound could struggle to attract support amidst political uncertainty in the UK. With Brexit and ongoing questions over the future of Boris Johnson’s premiership likely to limit Sterling’s upside potential. For EUR investors a key focus at the end of this month will be the Eurozone’s latest CPI print. Another jump in inflation could buoy the euro as it places more pressure on the ECB to take action. The start of July will then see the focus turn to the ECB’s latest interest rate decision, in which the bank is set to raise interest rates by 25bps points. While the increase is largely priced in by EUR investors, the focus will be on how the bank plans to handle fragmentation in the Eurozone as well as its forward guidance for an expected hike in September. Any further hints that a 50bps hike may be on the cards could boost EUR exchange rates. PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £200,000 transfer, just a onecent gap translates to a €2,000 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager there to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers. Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 325,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.

Madrid’s Jarama race circuit which reopened in February. Rather than the existing Jarama circuit, a new track could be built at Morata de Tajuña, south east of Madrid, where land has already been earmarked for the project.

Interest

Other regions in Spain have also expressed an interest in hosting the race. Alcañiz in the region of Aragon and Jerez de la Frontera in Andalucia have both thrown their hats in the ring, while authorities in Barcelona said they want to renew the contract.

Warmth warming SOME 75% of vulnerable families are unable to keep their houses warm in winter. Soaring energy bills mean that energy poverty has increased by 22% since last year, according to the Spanish Red Cross. Regions most impacted by this issue include Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Country, where an estimated 82% of those families considered vulnerable are unable to keep warm during the cold winters. The Red Cross have already expressed concerns for the coming winter when they believe the issue will worsen. They want to support families by introducing energy training to help people understand their bills and advise them with energy saving tips.

Car boost

FORD will build its next-generation electric cars at its Almusaffes assembly plant in Valencia. By 2026, Ford in Europe plans to sell 600,000 electric vehicles annually. Almusaffes is the firm's biggest car manufacturing plant outside the United States, employing 6,000 workers. The UGT trade union says that besides guaranteeing employment at Almusaffes, around 25,000 indirect jobs have been secured.

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LA CULTURA

June 30th - July 13th 2022

THE birthplace of celebrated Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca will come to life with dramatised tours this summer. A group of students and amatuer actors known as ‘Las Valkirias de la Vega’ from Fuente Vaqueros, a farming village in the province of Granada will liven up Spanish canonical literature for tourists and offer a totally different way to experience the story of Lorca. The script is the culmination of extensive research including inter-

Back to life views with elderly residents and prominent members of the community of the Granada village. The experience fully immerses the audience in what the pueblo of Fuente Vaqueros would have been like at the time the iconic Andalucian writer lived there, before being executed by fascist forces during the Civil War in 1936.

Unexpected finds Search for Civil War victim unearths Visigothic remains THE search for the remains of a teenage woman executed by Franco’s fascist forces for her temerity in embroidering a Republican flag has found a body. But it is not that of Lourdes Malon Pueyo, who was just 18 when she was shot dead as she attempted to flee across a mountain. The body found is in fact that of a young man aged between 20 and 30 – and dates back to between 475 and 620 AD during the Visigothic occupa-

By Dilip Kuner

tion of the region. The find is just one of many archaeological remains searchers have found in a 3700m2 plot which they have been scouring in their bid to find Lourdes. Her sister, Rosario, 23 died the same day in 1936, executed inside a cave where she had taken shelter with Lourdes. Their mother had been shot dead several days earlier, while brother Mariano escaped to Huelva, where he died in 1999. Starting in 2013, five archaeological expeditions were held to find the young women. Rosario was found in 2017, but the search went on TRAGIC: Rosario, Mariano and Lourdes for Lourdes.

Sponsored by the Charata Association for the Recovery of the Historical Memory of Uncastillo – a village of 800 people in Zaragoza – the search has uncovered a series of unexpected finds. The remains of the young man turn out to be associated with a previously unknown Hispano-Visigothic settlement.

Lost

What’s more, walls from the ‘lost’ Medieval monastery of San Esteban de Oraste have been found, as well as the Visigothic tomb, ceramics from the same period, a bell fragment and a set of coins from the 11th century. In the search for Lourdes and

Cloppity clop THE ancestral Andalucian tradition of releasing hundreds of semi-wild horses back into their natural habitat, the Doñana Natural Area, took place again on Sunday after a two year absence due to Covid. The Saca de las Yeguas (Taking of the Mares) has remained unchanged for over 500 years. Each year, local horsemen known as yegüerizos, trek into the swamps and marshes of Doñana National Park in the province of Huelva. There they round up hundreds of semi-wild horses, and take them to aution, releasing the unsold ones back into the wild.

ROUND UP: Semi-wild horses

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 6 Armchair, 8 Hoot, 9 Tenet, 10 Admire, 11 Rock climbing, 13 Unemployment, 16 Wright, 18 Hadn’t, 19 Bowl, 20 Securely. Down: 1 Brethren, 2 Scenic, 3 Particulates, 4 The Mob, 5 Four, 7 Reality check, 12 Not at all, 14 Moguls, 15 Elders, 17 Room.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

Rosario, archaeologists had used ground-penetrating radar – which revealed the unexpected archaeological remains, as detailed in the report El yacimiento arqueológico de las Peñas de Santo Domingo: las fases de ocupación hispanovisigoda y plenomedieval. But despite the wealth of finds, Lourdes – the reason the search was launched – remains missing to this day.

NO SWEAT

DIOR MIO: Iconic location THE Plaza de España in Sevilla became the dramatic setting for a spectacular fashion show by Dior inspired by flamenco. The live event took place as the city was in the grip of an early heatwave and temperatures soared above 40ºC. But the models looked as cool as cucumbers as they displayed the ‘Cruise 2023’ collection by the luxury fashion house and it clearly drew on the historical and cultural traditions of Andalucia. Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri unveiled a collection that took inspiration from costumes associated with flamenco, bullfighting and equestrian arts. The work of local craftsmen and artisans were apparent in the rich embroidery and lace work adorning some of the most spectacular outfits. The fashion show began with a procession from the city’s cathedral and incorporated a flamenco performance in the colonnaded Plaza de España.

LA CULTURA

GETTING June 30th - July 13th 2022

Talent, respect for tradition, and a great sense of humour is proving to be the recipe for success for Sevilla’s most in-demand artists

POPULAR: Container heads are big sellers

EVILLA is famous for its ceBy Sorrel Downer ramic art. It’s impossible not to marvel at the antique tiles lining the city’s churches, pal- giver in the act of sorting out a probaces – and bars. You can learn about lem; a painting or statue of the helpful the history of ceramics at the Centro saint; or an object relating to the miraCeramica Triana, but for traditional cle itself. Over the centuries, mariners ceramics with a playful modern twist, and fisherman have left models of seek out The Exvotos. ships and boats in churches all along Two artists from Sevilla, Luciano the Spanish coast in thanks for returnGalan and Daniel Maldonado, work ing alive; farmers have left figures of together (and speak together) as The animals; and arms, legs and torsos Exvotos, and are taking the art world cut out of tin or zinc have been left by by storm. Their ceramic sculptures those cured of disease. have been snapped up by galleries Some objects are grand, but most are and private collectors as far afield as folk art, humble and a little homeAustralia, North America and Taiwan, spun. These days, ex-votos are more and sit in many private homes, public likely to be plaster casts, baby shoes institutions, convents and churches and football shirts. There is a big colacross their home city. lection outside the Capilla del Señor The cabeza recipientes, container de la Puerta Real in Jerez. heads, (beautiful with a kicker of Popular religious art is a central influkitsch), are the most in-demand piec- ence, but the idea of ex-votos exists es of a collection of work that uses all over the world and predates ChristiSpain’s heritage of art anity. The famous cabeand religion as a springzas, for example, were board, but then goes its inspired by terracotta Some of the own way. heads the Romans Galan and Maldonado made for their ancient container have a workshop in Segods. heads have the villa, hidden in one of Further inspiration those narrow streets comes from theatre, look of women north of Las Setas and opera, and from films: at a feria south of Mercado de “Classic movies like Feria. The giant ceramic Cleopatra, Samson and heart at the entrance, Delilah, and Bitter Rice and the strains of music coming from as well as good recent ones, like Porinside – usually classical, sometimes trait of a Lady on Fire and Joker. We a bit of Cuban, depending on wheth- watch cycles of Italian, French, Japaer or not they need to concentrate – nese, and, of course, Spanish cinegive it away. ma”. The bright and joyous ambiance Everything inside it is fascinating, of sunny southern Spain also feeds from the salvaged wooden fur- into the creative mix. niture to the terracotta heads in Some of the container heads have various stages of gestation star- the look of women at a feria with their ing blankly from the shelves. rouged cheeks and coronas of flowers Sculptures, from the secular to . . . or fruit. The heads are hollow, and saints and flamenco clowns, are can be used for flowers, and come posed under the kind of glass in different sizes, the biggest standbell jars the Victorians used ing around 32 cm, and costing €700 for displaying stuffed birds. €800. There are also toreros and ad“Here we call the jars fana- mirals, and others inspired by Greek les. We love them!” mythology, including an unsettling MeWhen people step into this dusa and a Neptune, the back of his world, “they are delighthead encrusted with clams, and ed and we are proud. with coral as a crown. To create beautiful They make the popuobjects you have lar ex-voto body parts to surround yourself (‘we have feet, hands, eyes . with beauty. We are . . it’s funny when people ask still working on the how much an ear costs!’), decoration, but I and there are statues of think we can call saints, ranging from 32-65 the look, a ‘cabinet cm, and starting around of curiosities’.” €600. Their saints are The two artists are, much like traditional, respectful their art, part serious, part funand exquisite – but also ny, and deeply rooted in the clasendearing and funny. Studysical tradition. Both went to Seing them closely, it’s hard to villa’s Escuela de Arte, then won work out why. They are simgrants to study abroad. Galan, ilar to the antique figurines who studied wood carving, sculpyou might see in a church or ture, and clay modelling, travmuseum, but there is someelled to Venice to learn Venetian thing in the exaggerated gesmask-making techniques. Maldotures of their hands, the hint nado, who studied ceramic paintof a double chin, and the attiing, went to Lisbon to work in 18th tude in their glossy faces, that century ceramic art restoration. sets them apart. Returning to Sevilla in 2001, they They are reverent . . . but with a combined their complementary guiñon, a wink. skills. “On the one hand, we have “It sounds very romantic to say it, traditional training – we but we are really now in a situaknow the methods, the 17th tion where our life is art and our century techniques, and work is our life.” the pieces we make have The name ‘Exvotos’ comes from a gravitas,” say the artists. the tradition of offering some“On the other hand, we thing in thanks for divine interhave a great sense of vention. An ex-voto might be a humour, and while we painting showing the miracle have enormous respect

for tradition and we don’t want to offend, we do like to have fun.” The collection also includes paintings, wall hangings, candelabra, lamp stands, and candlesticks on which faces and torsos emerge out of the ceramic like figureheads on a ship, and collections of hand-painted plates – though surely no-one dares to put food on them? “We have clients who keep them only for decoration, but others who give lunches using our pieces,” they say, “and we eat off them too!” Everything is hand-crafted, start to finish. For ceramic sculptures, that process can take up to 90 days to complete, from pencil sketch to miniature 3D model, through to modelling, drying, glazing, firing, decorating and painting. Unsurprisingly, the waiting list for private commissions is long. Some assignments can be challenging: “Our strangest so far was a painted ex-voto dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe by a wonderful lady who lost her partner through the fault of his children,” they say. “We had to synthesise that story into a wooden panel.” Galan and Maldonado work internationally, with interior designers who give them ‘the freedom to let our inspiration take us wherever it wants’. Closer to home, their patrons include the Marbella Club, where ‘we continue to collaborate in bringing dreams to life – for example, we had an idea for a fireplace and we were able to do it there. This year, we’ll be working in the hotel’s beach club’. You’ll

LA CULTURA

AHEAD

June 30th - July 13th 2022

TRUE ART: Galan (right) and Maldonado with some of their creations

BE PREPARED

also find their pieces in the Marbella Club Hotel store, and on the exvotos. com website, and Instagram (@theexvotos). Visits to the studio are by appointment only. Tel +34 670 58 66 09; info@theexvotos.com

Get your home ready for summer

E all want to make the most of the summer but apart from thinking about the beach, on vacations, or about that dreamed trip, it’s important that we all take the necessary steps to ensure our homes stay safe and secure. Unfortunately, the probability of being burglarized or robbed at home is tender to be higher during the summer! As we are likely to spend more time away from home, even for days if we plan to go on holiday, we want to give you some tips on how to minimise the chances of your home being burgled and, in the unfortunate event that it does happen, to make sure you're covered! ● Talk to your insurance agent to make sure that your contents cover are properly calculated, including furniture, white good and electronic appliances, clothes, jewelry, personal belongings, etc. ● Make sure that your doors and windows are in good condition and check all locks are working and get a home security system to help reduce the chance of being a burglary victim. ● Make your home look lived in, for example, you could invest in some timer switches for your lights to give the impression that someone is home. ● Ask your neighbours or a friend to keep watch of your home and collect the post from your postbox ● Create a list of emergency contacts if anything was to go wrong in your home. ● Don’t share holiday plans or pictures on social media or adjust your privacy settings to make sure you are not sharing personal information with the wrong people ● Beware of squatters! Make sure your home insurance covers the Legal Defense in case of illegal occupation of the property But in summer, it's not just a possible burglary of your home that you need to watch out for. There are small inconveniences that come with the heat, such as annoying pests and insects!! Fortunately, there are home insurance policies that include pest control, fumigation, and disinfection services. In summer we also like to enjoy our home outdoors, and it is interesting to have a cover for our garden furniture, even for the garden itself, in case of a summer storm! You may also have a second home for holiday rentals. In that case, make sure that you have a specific cover for holiday rentals, including public liability for your guests. LIBERTY SEGUROS has adapted its Home Insurance plans to provide solutions that best suit your individual requirements giving you the option of being covered for all these eventualities. Understanding that every customer’s needs are unique, it has created additional coverages to allow you to enhance and complement your home insurance cover. Regardless of the plan you choose, you can now add Optional Packs to your home insurance to ensure your plan is perfectly tailored to you. What’s more, if you are a new LIBERTY SEGUROS client and take out a Home, Car, or Life policy now and until the 26th of July, you will receive 30€ Cashback on your first policy and 60€ from the second policy onwards, or 60€ Cashback on each new policy if you are already a customer. For more information, simply call or visit one of the more than 300 LIBERTY SEGUROS qualified brokers and agents. They are available to provide friendly and expert advice, in plain English, about the best coverages and options to suit your specific needs. LIBERTY SEGUROS team can help you to find the cover that will be perfect for you. Visit libertyexpatriates.es to find the name and details of your nearest agent!

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

June 30th - July 13th 2022

Silent flight

SPAIN’s first electric plane has made its inaugural flight after taking off from Sabadell Airport, near Barcelona. The eco-friendly plane, weighing just 500kg has space for just the pilot and one passenger, is 100% electric and makes virtually no noise. Once fully charged the Velis Electro biplaza can fly for around one hour, plus the propeller action can recharge the battery as it flies and add to the flight time. It has joined the fleet of the Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell and will be used to ‘revolutionise’ pilot training.

ELECTRIC!: The two-seater plane The Mayor of Sabadell, Marta Farrés, joined the pilot on a ten minute flight over the town in what she described as an ‘extraordinary experience’.

A taste of the past Just Terr-a-iffic! Benidorm Palace puts Mother Nature up front

EGENDARY theatre Benidorm Palace is ready for the summer season with its spectacular show ‘Terra’. Billed as ‘a tribute to Mother Nature’ and planet Earth, it has assembled a cast of 50 for a truly remarkable show. Its international performers bring a large helping of glamour with its musical spectaculars. But there is much more to the programme than song and dance. Award-winning magician David Climent, aerial contortionist Sharyn Monni and circus artists Sandy & Samantha Monteiro Vassallo and Jastin Monteiro Vassallo are just some of the acts that will entertain. The show uses cutting-edge technology, including 250 sqm of custom-made HD LED screens with 8K resolution, to brilliant effect.

Andalucia’s ancient Arabic cookbook given new lease of life By Livia Cockerell

RECIPES dating back to 13th Century Cordoba have been given a try out by a London-based celebrity chef husband and wife team. Owners of Moro restaurant, Sam and Samantha Clark, have been experimenting with dishes from a unique 800-year-old Moorish-Andalucian cookbook. The manuscript of Ibn Razin al-Tujibi’s recipe book was discovered in the British Library back in 2018. Originally, it was thought to be an ancient Moorish medical journal. However, following further translation and research, experts found that the manuscript contains around 475 recipes from

Fruity prices THE price of fresh fruit and vegetables is soaring thanks not only to nationwide inflation and a rise in transport costs, but also as a result of a poor harvest. Last winter was noticeably wetter than usual, with episodes of torrential rain that wiped out crops. Farmers report producing 40% fewer fruit than last year after the difficult winter. Added to that is an early start to summer-like temperatures with the hottest May since records began, followed by a June which saw the earliest heatwave seen in 40 years.

SKILLED CHEFS: Sam and Samanth Clark

the Moors. Best of Delectable Foods and Dishes from al-Andalus and al-Magh-rib is one of the two surviving cookbooks from the Muslim-Andalucian world, a period in which the Moors had their most significant impact on Spanish cuisine. The writer was born in the city of Murcia back in 1227 and wrote this cookbook 32 years later, following the exile of the Moors. In the introduction he described that Andalucians are ‘advanced in creating the most delectable dishes’. Since the manuscript was translated into English

last year, the Clarks’ have worked to tackle some of its fascinating recipes from this book. Currently, they are working towards a public event with the British Library for which they will reproduce four of Razin al-Tujibi’s’ ancient recipes.

Create When attempting to create the halwa recipe (a sweet nougat-like confectionary), Sam Clark expressed his admiration for the Moors saying: “How they managed by eye without thermometres is incredible.”

Ready to go THE hugely popular British high street sandwich and coffee chain Pret A Manger is to open 70 outlets across Spain and Portugal. The announcement is part of grand expansion plans to double the size of the restaurant group. Despite its French sounding name, Pret is a very British invention founded by Sinclair Beecham who opened the first Pret in London’s Victoria in 1986. Pret has entered into a franchise partnership deal with Ibersol Group, which already operates over 600 restaurants on the Iberian Peninsula including brands such as Pans & Company and FrescCo, as well as licenses for Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and Taco Bell.

HEALTH

Fresh jabbing

A NEW round of Covid booster jabs will be available to everybody in Spain from this autumn. The fourth shots will feature improvements to the vaccine to take account of variants like Omicron. Covid case numbers are low due to the country's successful vaccination programme. The highest number of cases are in those aged over 60, with the cumulative incidence standing at 590, compared to 3,400 last Christmas. Health Minister, Carolina Darias, described hospital occupancy caused by the coronavirus as ‘tremendously stable’ accounting for 5% of beds. Figures show that the risk of hospitalisation in those aged over 60 was cut by 63% in the first two months of 2022, and deaths were down by 57% in that same period - all down to vaccinations.

June 30th July 13th 2022

High time Spain moves step closer to allowing medical marijuana

SPAIN’S lawmakers have moved a step closer to allowing chemists to dispense medical marijuana. Congress has approved recommendations by Spain’s Medicines Agency, which will now need to be rubber-stamped by Spain’s Health Commission. The majority of political parties (excluding PP and Vox) voted in favour of the report. The proposal outlines conditions that will allow doctors to prescribe cannabis with THC - the psychoactive

DOCTORS at a Madrid hospital have discovered a new way to slow down the progression of dementia. The team from Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre have detected a protein, which could play a vital role in the slowing down of Alzheimer’s. It is hoped this new knowledge could be the foundation upon which to develop new therapies for the disease. The successful study followed 155 vol-

JOINT EFFORT: Ruling parties push measure through By Livia Cockerell

component that makes you feel ‘high’ - for therapeutic purposes. It calls for the establishment of a centralised registry of the patients entitled

Dementia hope unteers with the genetic mutation that causes Alzheimer’s and 93 healthy relatives over periods of between two and 15 years, since dementia starts to develop in the body years before symptoms become apparent. The healthy group possessed a much higher amount of the protein.

to use it. The text emphasises the need to ensure that this policy does not result in an overall increase in cannabis consumption outside of a medical context. Moreover, it states that, for now, the policy will focus on people suffering from epilepsy, nausea as a result of chemotherapy, endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, ontological and non-ontological pain.

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FINAL WORDS

FARMERS are demanding increased police patrols in Murcia's Lorca area after 1,000 kilos of mellons were stolen last week for sale on the black market.

Lovesick A 20-YEAR-OLD Alicante woman has been arrested for faking her own kidnapping in an attempt to attract the attention of her young boyfriend.

Tourist boost ORIHUELA will spend €3 million boosting tourism using EU money set aside for Covid pandemic recovery on tourist information, increased car parking, and encouraging more low season visitors to come to the area.

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voice in Spain

Vol. 3 Issue 68 www.theolivepress.es June 30th - July 13th 2022

International open-air festival goes decidedly local this year IT has become Spain’s most famous open-air art festival, renowned for putting up foreign artists and sculptors as they create a specific work for the event. But after organisers of Genalgaucil’s famous Art Encounters sifted through 174

applications from 14 countries from artists wanting to take part, they went decidedly local. All seven allotted artists this year are from Spain. The jury for the festival, in which the village streets are turned into an open-air gallery

HE is known to be a fan of the UK Home Counties and a close mate of hellraiser Johnny Depp. But it’s not exactly clear why film director Tim Burton has become an ‘Ambassador of Madrid’ , an award given for ‘services to the city’. The ex-husband of Helena Bonham Carter has no obvious connections to the city, aside from a planned exhibition of his visual work.

ATTRACTIONS: Art is dotted through the streets from August 1 to 15, examined bids from as far and wide as Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Peru and Guatemala.

Gone for a Burton While famous for movies, including Batman, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare before Christmas, none were filmed in Madrid. He is not known to own property in the city or have done anything to promote its culture, parks or history.

A jury spokesman from the village, between Estepona and Ronda, explained that the selection process was ‘very difficult and hard-fought due to the large number of projects with more than enough quality to be among those selected.’ But when it came down to the nitty-gritty the jury dismissed the international entrants and chose an all-Spanish ensemble - Julio Falagan, Marta Galindo, Mar Guerrero, Gala Knörr, Jesus Madriñán, Jose Manuel Martinez and Javier Palacios. All of them will live in the town for a few weeks, with all expenses paid.

AIR Nostrum has ordered 10 blimp-like airships to fly passengers around Spain. The UK-made Airlander 10s which cut emissions by 90% are set to run from 2026. The airline operates as a franchise of Iberia with 91 domestic and international routes. The ships, which can carry up to 100 passengers, are powered by helium and described as environmentally friendly.

SACKED IN THE MORNING AN employee of Cristiano Ronaldo has crashed the star’s €2.1m Bugatti Veyron sports car in Mallorca. The two-seater hit the wall of a property in Bunyola, where it ended up in a storage area for butano gas bottles. The front of the luxury car was badly damaged but no one was hurt. The footballer has been on holiday in Mallorca with his wife and five children.