Olive Press Costa Mallorca Issue 187

Silver lining

TENNIS star Carlos Alcaraz has been spotted unwinding at an English pub in Mallorca.

Ex-footballer, Ruben Nova, posted a picture of Alcaraz on X outside Tim’s Bar, Port d’Andratx. Alcaraz is in Mallorca to relax for a few days following his defeat at the hands of Novak Djokovic in the Paris Olympics final.

Nova, now a handcyclist, posted photos of himself with the tennis player saying: “What’s this? Top @ carlosalcaraz.”

Despite triumphing over Djokovic at Wimbledon, the Serbian fought back in the Olympic final, leaving Alcaraz with a silver medal.

Nova, from Andratx, was paralysed from the waist down after a car accident in 2020.

However, the Mallorcan hasn’t let his injuries stop his sporting prowess, competing in para badminton and handcycling.

PASSPORT CHAOS

Brits missing flights home and facing ridiculous queues due to shoddy police controls at Spanish airports

DOZENS of British tourists have missed their flights home from Spain due to poorly-managed passport controls, the Olive Press can reveal.

At least 30 people missed their Ryanair service to London Stansted last week due to serious delays in getting their passports stamped.

The chaos ensued at Lanzarote airport when passengers were informed they had failed to show up in time for boarding - after suffering ‘ridiculous’ waits at passport control.

Stamped

It came just days after similar scenes in Malaga airport saw British flyers queuing inside the terminal ‘all the way past duty free’.

One British tourist arriving from Bour

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

spent 85 minutes waiting for her passport to be stamped.

An affected passenger at Lanzarote told the Olive Press, she had missed important cancer treatment back in the UK due to the delay.

“Families were split up and ridiculously Ryanair then had to spend an hour and a half getting luggage off the plane. Therefore we could have boarded during that time.

“None of us were actually late to the gate despite the long queues.

“It was such disgusting behaviour by a supervisor who made the decision.”

She added: “We were told the gate was shut and they couldn’t do anything. And then families were not given food, or alternative flights and hotels.

“Peo -

DENIED PASSAGE: The passengers at Lanzarote

WAIT:

ple were ultimately told to sort themselves out.”

The issue emerged when airport bosses were ordered to stamp British passports on both entry and departure after it emerged they had hardly been doing it in a bid to reduce delays.

Since the UK left the EU, Brits are only allowed to spend 90 in every 180 days in the Schengen zone - with stamps on entry and exit designed to keep a tally.

But this has caused a nightmare at tourist hotspots, particularly in Spain, where millions of UK visitors arrive each year.

Brits now have to queue with other non-EU or ‘third’ countries, creating painfully long queues for everyone on arrival and departure.

For this reason, sources told a Ca-

nary Islands newspaper that border staff at Lanzarote were ‘subtly and verbally’ told not to stamp UK passports. The thinking was to ‘make the passage of British tourists easier’ and lower queues for everyone.

port control for UK citizens snaked all the way through the departures area of the airport, past restaurants, cafes and even duty free.

The queue had got so long it had to double back on itself.

Brexit

One reader told the Olive Press: “Four years down the line, Brexit can’t still be used as an excuse! It’s just bad management!”

However this practice was recently discovered and quashed by Madrid, despite airport bosses warning police simply do not have the resources.

In Malaga at the end of July, one line for pass-

Another said: “It was the same two weeks ago. Another Brexit gift. However, that does not make it acceptable at all.”

Another Londoner arriving in Malaga for a short weekend break three weeks ago, said she had to endure a ‘nearly 90 minute wait’ to get her passport stamped on arrival.

“It really took a shine off the weekend,” she said.

A Ryanair spokesperson told the Olive Press: “Due to passport control delays at Lanzarote (31 July), a number of passengers missed this flight to Stansted.

“Should these passengers have presented at the gate desk before it closed, they would have boarded this flight alongside the 140 passengers who did.

“We regret that these airport passport delays, which are out of our control, and causing passengers to miss their flights.”

Opinion Page 6

Under pressure

A VUELING flight from Barcelona to Lisbon suffered cabin pressure failure last week. The plane went into a holding pattern before returning to Barcelona.

Journo swap

SPANISH journalist Pablo Gonzalez – real name Pavel Rubstov – has been sent to Russia as part of a spy swap after Britain’s MI5 accused him of carrying out Kremlin destabilisation.

100ml returns

RESTRICTIONS on flying with liquids are about to swoop back into place after the European Commission decided new scanners designed to ease the process are not good enough.

Heartbreak

SPANISH badminton player Carolina Marin, who had battled back from two career-threatening cruciate injuries to play at the Olympics in Paris, suffered a third breakage just as she was poised to make it to the final.

Alleged rapist caught

Civil.

It is thought the assault occurred in a bathroom at Pirates Adventure Dinner Show. The young victim was sharing a table with a group of friends and the Swiss man.

Though the Briton hadn’t met the man before, the two began talking.

At around 1am, he went to the toilet and was followed by the Swiss national. It is believed this is where the assault occurred.

The incident was reported to security and Calvia Police and the Guardia Civil contacted.

SQUATTER SQUABBLE

out his tenant.

Anthony Nartey (pictured below right) is currently locked in a legal battle with Spanish businessman and self-described ‘Airbnb investor’ Aaron Fernandez.

According to Fernandez, he signed a year-long lease for the luxury property in an upmarket area of Sant Josep, Ibiza in March.

He said he had planned to sublet the property to tourists throughout the year, and claimed the Narteys were fully aware of his intentions and even suggested potential guests. However he claims

they cancelled the contract ‘without any legal right to do so’ just before the lucrative sum-

On June 10, he arrived at the home to find the locks had been changed and that the couple had ‘barricaded themselves inside’.

He has now filed an official complaint against the pair with a judge, who has accepted to hear the case for the alleged crimes of coercion and breaking and entering.

He claims the Narteys tried to increase the rent from €8,000 to €15,000 and to end the contract in Septem ber instead of March 2025 as original ly agreed.

However Nartey furiously

British millionaire is accused of squatting his own luxury villa to keep out influencer tenant

denied the claims.

He told the Olive Press this week: “This is all completely untrue and fabricated by Fernandez to suit his aims.

“He tried to blackmail us saying he would go on social media to allege all sorts of things if we didn’t give him the house to do whatever he wanted when, as per the contract, we were habitating in the house.

He added: “His contract breaches are numerous and have been laid out in the papers that were served on him and his legal teaam. Unfortunately he has neglected to respond to our many requests and seeks to sensationalise this and portray himself as a victim when the opposite is true.”

Cashless customers

POLICE have arrested a group of six people - including a 77-year-old Brit - after they refused to pay a restaurant bill of more than €12,000.

The other five customers were women aged between 24 and 39 from Argentina, Greece and Poland.

They are facing fraud charges after they declined to pay the hefty charge, which had been racked up thanks to the consumption of expensive alcoholic drinks and dishes.

When staff at the establishment realised what was happening, and that the €12,300 bill was not going to be settled, they called the police.

Officers from the Policia Nacional arrived on the scene and were told by the group that a seventh guest had reserved the table and told them he would pay.

This person, however, had left the establishment some 10 minutes earlier, the group claimed.

SMELLS LIKE CRIME

A PAIR of British tourists have been arrested on suspicion of stealing €1,500 worth of perfume from Palma Airport duty free. Shop staff noticed the cosmetics were missing and suspected the two men. They were detained by security after confirming via CCTV they had slipped the perfumes into a bag.

A BRITISH millionaire has furiously denied squatting his

mer season.

A SWISS tourist has been arrested under suspicion of raping a 17-year-old British boy in Magaluf. The man was taken into custody on Sunday by the Guardia

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

TENANT ROW: ‘They are squatting in my house’ claims Fernandez on social media

TEEN FUN

TEEN sensation Lamine Yamal, 17, prompted chaos on a visit to Marbella following Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. The star had paid a visit to the Costa del Sol to relax alongside fellow footballer Nico Williams.

After videos surfaced on social media showing Yamal on a Malaga airport

bus, the word was out - Spain’s next footballing prodigy was in Marbella. That evening, he dined alongside teammate Williams at Mosh Fun Kitchen, Nueva Andalucia.

Videos posted on social media capture the huge crowds gathered at the venue to catch a glimpse of Spain’s hottest footballing talent.

Yamal had to be helped by private security amongst the gaggle of fans to safely reach his car.

Fatal attraction

Michael Douglas blames Airbnb and rental cars for tourism backlash in Spain

HOLLYWOOD icon Michael

Douglas has sounded the alarm about the growing number of Airbnbs and rental cars in Mallorca –his second home.

Douglas used the Atlanti da Mallorca Film Fest, where he was hon oured with the Masters of Cinema award, to address the issues of mass tourism on the islands.

By Walter Finch

“It’s a delicate issue. We’re talking about 14 million tourists a year, and that generates problems, like water shortages. Everyone is aware of it, and we need to find solutions.”

“Airbnbs and rental cars feed off each other,” he said.

The actor, who has long considered Mallorca a second home, praised the island and its people but acknowledged the strain that overtourism can put on local resources and communities

NEW HEIGHTS

KYLIE Minogue has been spotted partying in Ibiza.

The 56-year-old Australian singer attended the Circoloco party at DC-10 club where she revealed her new single Edge of Saturday Night.

The Can’t Get You Out of My Head singer danced with DJ The Blessed Madonna (real name Marea Stamper) in the viral video, which they both uploaded to Instagram.

Kylie has recently reached a new level of fame after her hit Padam Padam rose in the charts and became increasingly popular amongst the LGBT community.

as millions of visitors are attracted every year. His comments acknowledge the growing concerns among residents and local authorities about the impact of mass tourism on the island’s unique character and environment. During his acceptance speech,

Douglas shared his heartfelt gratitude towards the festival and the island. “This award means a great deal to me because Mallorca has been my second home, and I love the island dearly. This moment is truly magical,” he said.

Privacy

“The people of Mallorca have always been so good to me, so considerate and have given me a lot of privacy. For all of this, I can only thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he added.

Douglas added that he considers himself ‘semi-retired’ and will spend more time in Mallorca as he turns 80 this September.

Douglas received his award from Queen Letizia, who has supported the event since 2019.

“It’s the first time that a queen has given me an award,” cracked the movie star.

See What’s the beef? page 6

ROARing good time

The Firework singer, who was in the city to film a video for her latest track Lifetimes, took a break from the cameras to party at the trendy La Terrrazza club (pictured).

The glamorous star, 39, who has a three-year-old child with Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings actor Orlando Bloom, 47, joined in the fun with gusto.

The happily inebriated singer grabbed a water gun and started soaking the crowd, turning the dancefloor into a water fight zone before energetically dancing the Macarena.

She then bought the entire club a drink, exclaiming to those that didn’t think she was serious: “I’m rich!” before reappearing with a tray filled with shots.

DRIVEN MAN

SPAIN’S Carlos Sainz has announced he will sign for Williams at the end of the 2024 F1 season, ending a four-year association with Scuderia Ferrari.

In February, the Ital ian-based outfit con firmed they were signing the seven-time world cham pion Lewis Hamilton when his Mercedes contract expires at the end of the year, igniting a domino effect

throughout the driver lineup which Sainz has labelled as ‘exceptionally complex’. Having lost his seat, Sainz, 29, received offers from Alpine and Sauber but has signed a two-year deal with Williams, nine times winners of the Constructors’ Championship. Williams have struggled in recent years, with their last Grand Prix win coming with Pastor Maldonado in 2012, but Sainz believes the team are on an upward curve.

WHEN pop princess Katy Perry decided to let her hair down in Barcelona after shooting a music video, she transformed a nightclub into her own personal playground!

MOBBED: Fans tried to get a glimpse of Yamal

AWARD: Douglas was named a Master of Cinema by Queen Letizia

NEW figures from the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE) have revealed that 98% of new residents in the Balearic Islands were foreign during the first six months of 2024.

Some 4,424 people moved to the islands during this period, but only 75 were Spanish.

The rate of new foreign residents was highest in Ibiza, at 97.6%, followed by Formentera at 71.4% and Menorca at 55%.

The Balearic Islands have the highest percentage of foreign residents in Spain, at 28%.

The total population is currently at 1,238,812, up 6,312 from January 1.

Protests

Even if this same growth continues in the second half of 2024, the population rise will still be slower than in 2022 and 2023, when it was around 22,000. In July, Mallorca’s population stood at 962,479.

As the population nears one million, protests against mass tourism are ongoing, bringing into sharp focus a lack of housing and infrastructure for Spanish residents. In comparison, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera have 162,776, 101,885 and 11,672 residents respectively.

Gas death

A DUTCH tourist died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at his Playa de Palma rental villa.

Emergency teams discovered the lifeless body of the 21-year-old man at the beachside property.

Another man staying at the villa was taken to hospital after complaining of severe headaches and was treated in a hyperbaric chamber.

A faulty gas boiler is believed to have caused the incident.

A PROTEST against ‘drunk tourism’ is set to take place this Sunday in Palma. It is organised by Mallorca Platja Tour, one of the many groups behind the anti mass-tourism movement.

They will occupy El Arenal, Balneario 6 (Playa de Palma), one of the most popular resorts for Germans visiting Mallorca.

The beach has been chosen as a ‘symbol of a drunken beach’, ‘a tourist model that we think does us a lot of harm.’

It will be the site of a ‘playful and festive’ performance protest emulating the

NO DRUNKS

Mallorca of the 60s and 70s where families were greeted by ‘clean beaches and friendly residents’.

The group stresses that the ‘occupy our beaches’ movement is ‘not against tourism, but a tourism model that impoverishes’.

Speaking on X, they said it was in response to ‘inaction’ by the local administration in the face of tourist overcrowd-

ing in the Balearics.

The campaign has also used graphics inspired by 1960s and 70s postcards. They aim to ‘highlight the situation of residents during the months of maximum tourist occupation.’

Mallorca Platja Tour recently took part in a meeting of protestors with the Balearic government.

They said: “We want to act as a voice to remind our political representatives that they do not work only for the big elites but for all the citizens of this land.”

Messi mansion attack

Climate change activists target football star’s €11 million Ibiza villa

By Alex Trelinski

EX-BARCELONA football star Lionel Messi has had a wall at his Ibiza mansion vandalised by climate change activists. Two members of the Futuro Vegetal group sneaked into the grounds of the Argentine internationals home on Tuesday and daubed black

and red paint on the wall.

The activists said:

“The property is an illegal construction that the footballer acquired for the exorbitant figure of €11 million.”

Messi bought the property in 2022 when it did not have a final certificate of work from the Sant Josep town council or certificate of occupancy from Ibiza council.

thorised excavation work to build a garage.

Balearic authorities were unhappy that the previous owner carried out unau-

At the end of May, Messi was sent a list of requirements to regularise the property and to return it to the state it used to be before.

Sant Josep council is still waiting to get a response after a deadline came and went.

The previously unautho-

GARDENING DEATH

A YOUNG gardener died from a heart attack caused by heat stroke at a villa.

The 20-year-old Ecuadorian was working at the property on Palma’s Son Vida urbanisation when his co-worker noticed that something was wrong with him.

The man saw him sitting on the ground with his head thrown back

LOOK LONG

Its interiors were designed by Pierrejean Design Studio in Paris.

and went to speak to him. His partner did not respond and emergency teams were summoned to the home on Calle Gosauba.

Doctors used a defibrillator to try to restore the gardener’s vital signs but with no success.

Authorities contacted the company owner who was the young man’s father.

rised reforms also involved a swimming pool.

“The law does not work the same for everyone,” said Futuro Vegetal in a social media statement.

The group’s attack on Messi’s wall is the latest of a series of acts on Ibiza.

Last year they sprayed black paint at the Pacha nightclub and burst into the luxury Blue Marlin beach club in Cala Jondal with protest banners bearing the slogan: “Your luxury our climate crisis.”

They also threw paint on a private jet, a Lamborghini and on a yacht owned by Nancy Walton Laurie, heiress of the US Walmart hypermarket company.

Older woman!

ON Monday, the 14th longest private yacht in the world docked in Palma’s Club de Mar.

The Swift 141 megayacht is owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and successful businessman. He is the half-brother of current UAE President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The yacht has a steel hull acquired

The original vessel was a Kortenaer-class frigate named HNLMS Piet Hein, part of the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was launched in 1978 and sold to the United Arab Emirates Navy, where it was renamed Al Emirat.

Swift measures 141 metres and can reach up to 26 knots, making it one of the world’s fastest giga yachts.

Up to 60 guests can stay onboard, alongside 56 crew members.

The ship is worth $180 million, with yearly running costs of $18 million.

husband, the man’s second wife went to Palma court to request the annulment. Palma magistrates declared the marriage illegal and stated that the bride had acted in ‘bad faith’ and was aware that her partner had not divorced his second wife.

This sentence was appealed before Palma Court, which confirmed that the marriage was void. However, the judge stated that it was not clear that the woman knew her partner was still married and so had not acted in ‘bad faith’.

The suspected ‘bad faith’ of the potential third wife was based on the financial gain she would have sought from the man’s pension. Now, the man’s second wife will receive the widows pension.

FOREIGN INVASION DEADLY DIP

ria Ceretti (right).

The pair were papped on Dicaprio’s yacht and Casa Jondal, a restaurant favoured by the rich and famous, including Mick Jagger and Toby Maguire.

Last August, the couple were spotted kissing in Hi Ibiza nightclub.

A year later, they have returned to the island, breaking the popular myth that Dicaprio only goes out with women younger than 25. Dicaprio is a frequent visitor to Ibiza and has strong links with Spain as an investor in renewable energy startup, SolarMente. Its mission is to provide solar panels to families who would not normally be able to afford them.

TEN people are being treated for ‘intoxication’ after pool maintenance workers created a dangerous chemical reaction. The accident took place at Alaro Municipal Pool on Tuesday morning. Out of 15 people in the pool, 10 were taken to the local health centre. The worker who mixed the chemicals has also been affected. Local authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.

PAINT ASSAULT: Activists have vandalised Messi’s Ibiza property

HOLLYWOOD icon Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, has been spotted in Ibiza enjoying a trip with his 26-year-old Italian girlfriend Vitto

Voted

top expat

paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a month.

OPINION

Get a grip!

IT’S absolutely pathetic that Spain has done nothing to combat the growing passport chaos at its airports ( Passport chaos, p1).

Every year, since god knows how long, Brits have accounted for the highest number of arrivals from abroad.

Literally millions and millions of people flock in from the UK all year round, be it to the Canary Islands over the winter or to the Costa del Sol and Balearics all summer.

Nevermind the countless city breaks to the likes of Barcelona, Sevilla or Madrid.

So why is it that every single time I arrive into Malaga airport, for example, there seems to be one worker manning the passport control?

That was my experience when I last flew into Spain in January, when the queue to have my passport checked almost went back to the plane (in the dead of winter, mind you).

And things have only got worse, with queues for passport control in departures last month snaking through the terminal and past duty free.

I understand that Britain ‘must be punished’ for leaving the EU.

In the eyes of Brussels, at least, the UK needs to be made an example of so that no one else is tempted to leave the 27-nation club.

But if you’re going to force the majority of your arriving and departing passengers to go through a separate passport area, at least be bloody prepared!

In typical fashion, no one from Spain nor the EU, in fact, needs to suffer the same fate when landing in Britain.

They are not having their passports stamped nor are they being sent to a separate passport control.

It means, ironically - and in theory - that they can stay for as long as they like in Britain without being detected.

If only the scores of non-resident British homeowners - and more importantly taxpayers - in Spain had that luxury!

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

WHAT’S THE BEEF?

The Olive Press investigates why there

has been such a backlash

against tourism

By Laurence Dollimore

UNLESS you’ve been living under a rock this year, you will have witnessed the anti-tourism protests sweeping across Spain.

From soaking holidaymakers with water pistols in Barcelona, to ‘reclaiming’ beaches from ‘outsiders’ in Mallorca, the tactics seem to be getting more and more direct.

In Sevilla, Airbnb lockboxes were found smeared with excrement, believed to be from a dog, just a couple of weeks ago.

While protesters insist their beef is with local and regional governments, and not the average ‘guiri’, it’s hard for foreign visitors to not

WE all tend to applaud global efforts to develop the greater use of clean renewable energy. After all, who does not want clean energy?

Many of these efforts are not seamless however. For example, nuclear energy is ‘clean’ but problems with waste, the toxicity of uranium mining and the risk of catastrophe are omnipresent.

Solar power is sunlight and weather dependent - not to mention the land use issues surrounding massive solar farms.

The development of electric cars is facing set-backs as they are prohibitively expensive with too few charging stations.

Wind turbine farms, while producing clean emission free energy, are not without their own variety of unintended consequences. A threat to birds, noise and vibration issues, visual pollution, deforestation, construction costs (both to install and decommission) are the most mentioned problems.

But there is some good news regarding wind power. Consider the new potential to produce clean, emission-free wind energy from offshore floating wind farms AND Spain’s cutting-edge role in this new technology.

Last month the Belgian based company Elicio, announced plans for a mammoth ‘floating wind farm complex’ in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of France and Spain.

The company recognises the huge potential to generate clean renewable energy far offshore as opposed to onshore sites.

Research shows that harnessing the power of wind further out at sea has huge advantages to land-based farms. The wind speed and frequency are higher beyond the horizon. Also, there are few obstacles with more consistent wind patterns.

In addition, most fabrication for offshore farms can be done ‘in port’ before being towed to their location making the installation much more efficient.

Elicio is using the MH Hywind offshore wind

feel personally attacked.

Some of the graffiti seen across resorts over the past year have included messages like ‘Guiris go home’, ‘all tourists are bastards’ and ‘tourists go home, you are not welcome.’

When I spoke to activists in Tenerife back in March, they claimed such phrases were simply

ENOUGH: Spaniards are at their limit with tourism

designed to get media attention and to place pressure on local governments to act.

But as the number of fed-up locals - and their anger - grows, it seems quite a few people do actually resent tourists.

So what is their problem? On the surface, tourism is one of Spain’s most important industries.

In 2023, more than 85 million people visited the country and spent a total of €108.67 billion.

Tourism Minister for Spain Jordi Hereu insisted in February: “The tourism industry is not only growing quantitatively, as this successful

2023 of record visits and spending shows, but also qualitatively, with better jobs… a lower rate of temporary employment and a greater number of salaried employees with permanent contracts.”

However scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find all is not as rosy as it seems.

The biggest issue for many Spaniards is the lack of affordable housing.

Salaries have barely increased over the past decade, and in some regions have actually decreased when inflation is taken into account. This has been paired with surging property prices, in both the buying and renting markets.

OPTIMISM ON THE HORIZON

Are huge floating wind farms the way forward in the search for renewable energy, asks Jack Gaioni

farm, located 140 kms off the coast of Norway, as a model prototype. That project, launched in 2023, consists of 11 turbines (producing 88 MW.) that float in 200-300 metres of water depth.

The turbines are anchored by a tether system (more about this later) and the installation is recognised as the world’s largest floating offshore farm to date.

How and where do these wind farms work?

By design, these systems are mounted on a floating structure that allow the turbines to generate electricity in deep water depths where fixed foundations are not feasible.

Some designs incorporate a ballasted configuration with below the surface weights hanging vertically from the turbines - much like a buoy.

Other designs tether the turbines to the sea bed. Taunt tensioned cables run straight to a fixed anchor on the ocean floor.

Another completely different design calls for a ‘waffle-shaped frame’ adorned with no less than 126 rotor driven turbines. Theoretical-

ly, putting this many tightly packed turbines together creates a synergy that allows increased air to pass more easily through the rotors - much like a wind tunnel.

Essentially the entire structure is packed atop a floating platform, similar to an oil rig. Some designs would stand as tall as the Eiffel Tower!

When Elicio begins this upcoming project, it will not be Spain’s first. In the summer of 2022, the Saitec Offshores Technologies launched a semi submersible barge vessel two miles off the coast of Bilbao. Atop the barge was a wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 97 metres. The barge was then ballasted down lower into the water until the unit became buoyant.

It was anchored with a single point mooring system that allowed the structure to twist passively to align itself into the wave and wind direction.

The project is the first floating wind turbine to be commissioned to the mainline Spanish grid system and is a key development to help

MALAGA: Protests in the city centre

SEVILLA CITY

Population:

688,711

Tourists in 2023:

3.42 million (+12%)

Average salary:

€1,339

Average rent:

€928 (+6.5%)

MENORCA

Population: 96,620

Tourists in 2023: 1.66 million (+2.8%)

Average salary: €1,672

Average rent: €840

CANARY ISLANDS

Population: 2.2 million

Tourists in 2023: 14 million (+13%)

Average salary: €1,630 (+4%)

Average rent: €1,136 (+13.6%)

In tourist hotspots, this dichotomy is magnified to often extreme levels.

Ibiza, for example, has become one of the most expensive locations in Spain.

Homes are so scarce and unaffordable for locals that lifeguards and even Guardia Civil officers are living in their cars.

In Tenerife, I was told how dozens of locals were resigned to live in caves because they had been priced out of affording a home.

According to the latest figures, the average monthly salary on the Canary Islands is €1,630, while the average rent for an 80sqm flat is €1,136 - you do the maths.

MALAGA PROVINCE

Population: 1.66 million

Tourists in 2023: 14 million (+9.4%)

Average salary: €2,241 (+4%)

Average rent: €1,208 (+12.6%)

And it’s no secret that the domination of tourist flats on Airbnb and Booking.com is partly behind the problem

Renting your home out long-term in Spain is incredibly unappealing due to recent laws which say you cannot up the rent for five years and which offer squatters a great deal of protection. It means anyone with a second property will have much less hassle and earn far more by letting it out to tourists.

In turn, the few remaining apartments available for long-term residents become more and more expensive.

In Malaga, at least 800 businesses, bars and

expand the development for deep-water offshore wind farms.

It is important to note that the technologies associated with floating wind turbines are in the early stages of development.

There are still plenty of questions about how floating wind farms will work most expeditiously. For the gold standard in innovation and product development we need look no further than the PivotBuoy Project in the Canary Islands.

In the offshore waters of Las Palmas, prototypes of all designs are theorised, tested, and innovated.

The project’s main objectives are to reduce the costs of mooring systems and floating platforms to allow more sustainable operations.

To date, a 1 to 3 scale model has successfully been able to export electricity via a first-ofkind subsea cable.

THROUGH THE ROOF!

MALLORCA

Population: 923,608

Tourists in 2023: 12.46 million (+8.62%)

Average salary: €1,854 (+3.5%)

Average rent: €1,592 (+21%)

BAD MATHS: Rents are soaring as wages stay stagnant around Spain

shops have been converted into tourist apartments over the past couple of years.

Activists say this is stripping the city of its ‘soul’ and risks turning it into a ghost town when the tourists stay home during low season and leave the thousands of Airbnb properties empty.

Where mid-century tapas bars once stood there are now garish locker businesses to look after tourists’ luggage.

It’s a story repeated across Spain, with activists claiming historical centres once packed with locals are now ‘theme parks for holidaymakers’.

In Sevilla, campaigners decry the constant rattling of wheelie suitcases as they’re dragged along the ancient cobbled streets.

But what’s the solution? It’s clear that governments must act fast to tackle the housing problem.

Some 5,000-plus readers are registering at the Olive

Press website each month

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It comes as we continue to grow from strength to strength in terms of views, bringing in news fans from around the world, including the US, Australia and all over Europe.

On average, more than 70,000 people now visit the Olive Press website each day, more than double that of a year ago.

It comes after we launched a whole new look and updated our server, meaning it’s now capable of managing more than 10,000 people a second.

So why are so many people registering on our website?

For starters, registering an account allows you to access another free article. It also allows you to comment on stories and engage with other readers.

FLOATING: Turbines far out at sea receive stronger winds

Barcelona has already taken this step by vowing to eliminate all Airbnb properties by 2028.

But that’s only one part of the problem.

The sheer number of tourists and their effect on the environment and public services is also under scrutiny.

The Canary Islands is home to 2.2 million people but last year welcomed 14 million holidaymakers.

Activists in Tenerife told me this year how the island is at breaking point, with services like water having to be cut off for locals in the countryside to make sure hotels and tourist resorts don’t lose supplies.

Meanwhile, noise pollution and damage to wildlife is another bone of contention.

Boat parties that blast music into the sea create terrible problems for whales, dolphins and other protected creatures, who become confused and lost and sometimes dead.

Add to these issues the odd tourist behaving badly - drinking, fighting, ‘balconing’, litteringand you have the perfect ingredients for fostering so-called turismofobia

Newsletters

Registered users are then sent weekly newsletters on travel, health and property, keeping them informed of the latest news in Spain.

And increasingly, they have the privilege to take part in exclusive competitions and be sent offers from a growing list of big-name partners.

In the last few weeks we’ve given away concert tickets, top-quality mattresses and free days and meals out at popular beach clubs and restaurants.

But to take advantage of such deals you need to become one of the 43,000-plus members on our website.

And advertisers should also be taking note, with our unique database expected to surpass 50,000 people within weeks.

PivotBuoy is also testing a new downward configuration rotor blade that enables the platform to ‘weathervane’ and automatically orientate to ace the wind and maximise energy yields.

Additionally, different platform mooring systems are continually tested in hopes of reaching deeper ocean depths. PivotBuoy has made great progress in the ability to ‘wet tow’ the platform out to sea thus simplifying and accelerating the installation process.

With 5,000 km of Spanish coastline, floating wind farms are poised to be a game changer in the clean energy industry.

Spain is actively establishing itself as a global leader in innovative wind solutions, with numerous companies developing cutting-edge technologies and research centres.

To be sure, the testing and research costs are prohibitive but advances invite optimism. Stay tuned!

Spanish cities must take meaningful action that genuinely addresses local concerns, before the backlash against tourists goes too far.

It means we can generate fantastic sales opportunities through competitions, deals, and other offers that are beneficial to both reader and advertiser.

If you want to advertise with the OP, please contact sales@theolivepress.es or call our office on 0034 951154841 for more information.

MISERY: Graffiti in Tenerife earlier this year

Inflation dips

SPAIN'S annual inflation rate fell to 2.8% in July - 0.6% down on the previous month.

The National Institute of Statistics (INE) says the rate is at its lowest since February.

Core inflation which strips out fresh food and energy prices has gone down to 2.8% - 0.2% lower than June.

It's the lowest core rate in over a year and is broadly in line with expert forecasts.

“The change in the overall rate is down to a fall in electricity and good prices over the last 12 months, and to a lesser degree in leisure and culture,” the INE explained.

Forecasters believe that rates at around 3% are expected for the rest of 2024.

BAD BOOKING

Holiday lets giant hit with record fine for ‘market abuse’

THE online accommodation reservation platform Booking.com has been stung with a massive €413.2 million fine for abusing its dominant position in the Spanish market. The penalty is over double the previous highest fine handed by Spain’s competition body, the CNMC, which totalled €203 million to civil works companies in 2022.

The verdict and penalty can be appealed before the Na-

By Alex Trelinski

tional Court in Madrid.

In 2021, the Spanish Association of Hotel Directors and the Madrid Hotel Business Association denounced Booking for abusing its market status.

The following year, the CNMC initiated disciplinary proceedings which concluded that the Dutchbased company abused its position of ‘exploitative’

KILLER CARGO

A US oil tanker ship transporting jet fuel for Israel’s war in Gaza was denied entry to the Port of Gibraltar after an international outcry.

Activists eagerly tracked the Overseas Santorini’s entry into the Strait on July 30 after the government refused to confirm or deny if it had granted permission to bunker in the Rock. In the event, the tanker did not

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enter the port or refuel in Gibraltar, but it did take on supplies.

Its last known location was just past Almeria on July 31 before it switched its tracker off.

Malta’s transport ministry confirmed on Sunday that the ship and its controversial cargo did not request a port call on the island, leaving its current whereabouts a mystery.

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dominance by imposing several unfair commercial terms on hotels. It said Booking imposed unfair terms on hotels that used its reservation services and restricted competi -

DOMINANT: Regulator was not impressed by holiday lets giant’s policies

tion from other online travel businesses.

During the period of the CNMC probe, Booking had a market share in Spain that varied between 70% and 90%.

Unfair predatory tactics were used on hotels, including a price clause, which prevents them from offering their rooms on their own websites below the price they offer on Booking. The company also reserved the right to unilaterally lower the price that hotels offered through their own website or app.

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OUTSMARTING CYBER TROLLS

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Jobless boost

SPAIN’S unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2024 stood at 11.27% - the lowest figure between April and June for 16 years.

There are 2.75 million people registered as jobless while there’s a record 21.68 million in work.

Compared to the first quarter of 2024, the number of unemployed people decreased by 222,600 with seasonal jobs in the tourist sector among the reasons for the fall.

Hospitality and tourism accounted for 188,700 new positions - some 43.4% of the jobs created in the quarter.

The CNMC also slammed the lack of transparency in information on the impact and profitability of subscribing to the Booking’s Preferred, Preferential Plus and Genius programmes, which allow hotels to improve their ranking positioning in Booking website searches.

Discount

That comes in exchange for a higher commission or to offer discounts on the best-selling or cheapest room that the hotel has on the accommodation platform.

SPAIN’S fledgling ‘green’ hydrogen industry has been given a major boost after the European Commission approved an investment package worth €1.2billion. The support, sourced from Spain’s share of the postCovid EU recovery fund, was approved by officials from the executive arm of the European Union as part of an effort to support zero-carbon, renewable energy initiatives across the continent.

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

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Phishing emails are the internet’s bad puns, seemingly harmless but capable of regrettable consequences. These deceptive messages mimic trusted entities like banks or postal services. Signs of a phishing attempt include generic greetings, sloppy grammar, and urgent requests for personal information. If it feels like a bad action movie, treat it like a scam. Remember, trusting a phishing email is like trusting a fish to walk on land, it’s just not going to end well.

A guide to dodging digital disasters with wit and wisdom

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Imagine a call claiming to be from Microsoft, warning of a computer virus turning your device into a toaster. Legitimate tech companies don’t operate this way, no unsolicited house calls or surprise diagnoses. Ignore demands for payment to fix non-existent issues and promptly dismiss such calls. Just remember, Bill Gates doesn’t need your 50€ to fix a “virus.” If Microsoft really did want to turn your computer into

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online shouldn’t resemble a soap opera script, unless you’re auditioning for “As ” tions! You’ve won the you never entered. uine lotteries never demand payment upfront. Treat unexpected prize notifications with scepticism, just like an unsolicited offer of a free yacht. Avoid disclosing personal infor -

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the Andalucía Excellence Award in New Technologies, and others. Making a meaningful local impact, AnyTech365 has been a proud title-sponsor of the Andalucía Open tennis tournament, including the ATP 250 tournament in 2021, the biggest sporting event in the region. It has excellent online reputation

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

a toaster, they’d probably include a bread slot in the next Windows update. On dating sites, scam mers craft fictitious profiles, offering af fection and then fabri cating cri ses like robbery or travel mishaps. Requests for money signal a scam, real connections should withstand video calls. If it sounds melodramatic, it’s time to disconnect. After all, finding true love

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clicking on suspicious links. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Winning a lottery you didn’t enter is as likely as finding a unicorn in your backyard, and both should be treated with equal disbelief. Secure accounts with complex, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA).

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LA CULTURA

‘Abusive’

SPAIN’S consumer organisation (OCU) has reported Ticketmaster to the Minister of Consumption for irregular and abusive charging systems.

It says the ticket platform charges two commissions, inflating the price of online sales. In a statement, the OCU confirmed that Ticketmaster charges a fixed €2 ‘service’ commission for each transaction that does not appear until the person is paying.

Fees

It also charges a commission of up to 13% of the original ticket price for ‘processing fees’. The OCU has called the extra costs ‘unjustified, abusive and not transparent’ as it is often the only platform on which the public can buy tickets to events.

It is now asking the Minister of Consumption to sanction Ticketmaster, make it stop the practice and recognise the rights of consumers to claim the money back.

At the centre

over

Spanish inspiration for City of London art exhibition

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Amongst the 17 artworks selected to help busy finance workers disconnect from the hustle, many take inspiration from Spanish culture. Clare Burnett, a

WORD ON THE STREET

SPAIN will explode with colour this Autumn as the latest edition of the National Graffiti League is held. Taking place in October, the competition will take place in various towns and cities, including Ronda (Malaga), Tarifa (Cadiz), Lerma (Castilla y Leon), Aviles (Asturias), Ferrol (Galicia) and Acula (Granada). In this edition, 26 of Spain’s best street artists will take part in the open air competition. There will also be live music and workshops dedicated to urban art. Last year’s winners included Murcian Jota Lopez, with his work Demonios

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

INSPIRATION: The Granary is strikingly familiar to grain stores in Galicia

French-Belgian sculptor, was inspired by Antoni Gaudi’s famous trencadis technique to create her ‘Secret Sentinels’ figures. Trencadis is a mosaic technique using broken tiles to create scenes or sculptures, often associated with Gaudi’s Park Guell.

According to Burnett, her

Job applicant (11)

work is a reflection on ‘privacy and vigilance’ in heavily monitored areas like London.

Burnett’s work is not the only part of the exhibition that Spaniards will recognise.

Jesse Pollock’s The Granary, though inspired by her Kent childhood, will look familiar to anyone who has visited Galicia, bearing a striking resemblance to their traditional grain stores.

Since the scheme’s inception in 2011, 162 sculptures by 137 artists have been exhibited.

According to artistic director Stella Ioannou, the exhibition hopes to make the City more ‘welcoming’ by including younger and more diverse artists.

FASCIST MURALS

THE Catalan government has removed murals depicting the history of Spain from its Barcelona headquarters.

The paintings, which decorated the Sant Jordi de Palau salon, were added by fascist dictator Primo de Rivera between 1926 and 1927. In 2019 then Catalan leader, Quim Torra, announced the removal of the pieces - but it has taken five years to do the deed. Altogether, the 69 paintings measured 850 m2.

Dignity

Officials called the move ‘an act of justice and dignity’, thanking those involved for ‘bringing back the light’. They said that the murals depicted ‘a warlike and imperial patriotism’.

Protestors criticised the move, approved under the Democratic Memory Law, which seeks to remove Francoist symbols from public spaces.

BREAK DOWN COVER

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We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Línea Directa please call 952 147 834. More information about Línea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

LA CULTURA

Incredible remains found in Spain from 1.3 million years ago spark archeological breakthrough

By Walter Finch

RESEARCHERS have made an archeological breakthrough after they found human remains in Spain that date back 1.3 million years.

The discovery, made in Granada’s Orce region, marks the oldest human remains ever in Europe, and suggests that early humans may have migrated to Europe through the Strait of Gibraltar.

The team, led by Lluis Gibert from the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Earth Sciences, employed geological dating techniques to determine the age of human re mains found in the three Orce sites in the Baza basin.

FINDING HUMANITY

November 29thDecember 12th 2023 LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES?

Prehistoric

Discover some of Spain’s most important archaeological sites, with Dilip Kuner

IN Spain, you only have to look around you to find history - but do you know how far back it goes?

These early inhabitants provide crucial insights into the origins of our species.

On top of that, Spain is a global centre for Paleolithic cave art.

The dating was achieved through paleomagnetic analysis, a method that dates rocks by studying the ancient magnetic fields recorded in their minerals, which

The findings support the theory that humans entered Europe via the Strait of Gibraltar rather than through the Mediterranean via Asia.

align with Earth's magnetic field when the rocks formed. This technique allowed researchers to establish precise time periods, revealing that the sedimentary sequence in Orce is exceptionally long and undisturbed by erosion,

making it a unique site for such studies.

“The uniqueness of these sites lies in their stratification within a lengthy sedimentary sequence, more than eighty metres long,” explains Gibert. This long sequence provided the researchers with the opportunity to develop detailed paleomagnetic records. They pinpointed the Venta Micena site as the oldest with human presence in Europe, dating it at 1.32 million years.

The Barranco Leon site followed at 1.28 million years, and Fuente Nueva 3 at 1.23 million years.

These findings suggest that the Orce sites predate the famous Sima del Elefante site in Atapuerca, Burgos, by 200,000 to 400,000 years.

The groundbreaking research favours the Strait of Gibraltar as the migration route for early humans into Europe.

Evidence

Similarities between lithic industries in Orce and those in North Africa, as well as the presence of African fauna like Hippopotamus and Theropithecus oswaldi, bolster this theory.

“We also defend the hypothesis of the Gibraltar route because no older evidence has been found along the alternative route,” adds Gibert. The researchers note a significant time difference between the oldest human occupations in Asia (1.8 million years ago) and Europe (1.3 million years ago).

This suggests that early humans took over half a million years to cross biogeographical barriers and reach Europe.

Gibert concludes, “These differences in human expansion can be explained by Europe’s isolation from Asia and Africa. Humanity arrived in Europe when the necessary maritime technology was developed, similar to the early migration to the island of Flores in Indonesia.”

While the country is renowned for its Roman ruins, Moorish architecture and medieval castles, it is the prehistoric heritage that sets it apart.

From towering megalithic structures to intricate cave paintings, Spain offers an unparalleled journey back through time to the earliest days of humanity. The Iberian Peninsu la has been home to humans for over a million years. The Atapuerca Moun tains, lo cated in northern Spain, have yield ed some of the most sig nificant discov eries in human evolution.

The most famous example is the Cave of Altamira in Cantabria, often referred to as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art’.

Its breathtaking ceiling adorned with images of bison, horses, and deer, executed with astonishing realism, is a testament to the artistic abilities of our ancient ancestors and equals the famous cave site of Lascaux in

The Sima del Elefante site has revealed the remains of hominids dating back an incredible 1.2 million years - the oldest site of early hominids in Europe, until the recent discovery of remains dating back another 100,000 years in Granada (see left).

More recent evidence of human life can be found amongst the numerous megalithic structures, standing as silent witnesses to prehistoric cultures. The most iconic are the dolmens, chambered tombs built with massive stones.

The Dolmen of Menga in Antequera just inland from the Costa del Sol, is one of the largest and best-preserved examples in Europe.

STUNNING: Paintings at Altamira

MIGRANTS: Evidence suggests humans used the Strait of Gibraltar

MINI: Cromlech of Lanchuelas is not as huge as Stonehenge

treasure trove

Its intricate construction and astronomical alignment suggest that the people who built it 5,500 years ago had a sophisticated knowledge of engineering and celestial phenomena.

Another megalithic site is the Cromlech of Lanchuelas in Extremadura. The circular arrangement of standing stones, similar to Stonehenge in England although on a less massive scale, is believed to have had ritual or astronomical significance.

Spain also has plenty of evidence of Bronze Age people, centered around the El Argar culture, which flourished between 2200 and 1550 BC. The civilization developed

complex societies, metalworking, and pottery.

El Argar itself, locat ed in southeast ern Spain, was a for tified city with a thriving economy. Archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence of a hierarchi cal society with skilled artisans and warriors. Spain’s prehistoric heritage

is a living legacy. Ongoing research and excavations continue to unveil new discoveries, expanding our understanding of our ancestors. The preservation and interpretation of these sites are crucial for future generations. Spain has made significant efforts to protect its prehistoric treasures, creating national parks and visitor centres.

Tailored for your kids

AS the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the traditional classroom is no longer the only option for quality education.

With over 1,500 students from more than 60 countries, CGA’s private online school is at the forefront of this educational revolution. Families from Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, the USA, the UAE and beyond are discovering the myriad benefits of online learning. Whether it’s for academic excellence, the flexibility to travel, or personalised one-on-one guidance, online schooling offers a tailored educational experience for every student.

Why ambitious students excel online

For students who are driven and focused on achieving academic excellence, online schooling can be a game-changer. CGA offers personalised learning pathways that allow students to take control of their education. They can choose as many or as few sub jects as they like, study part-time or full-time, and work towards gaining admission to top universities worldwide. Jade from New Zealand shares: “Before I started at CGA, I would go home from school and do a lot of self-study to cover topics that were not talked about in class and to extend myself. Whereas, at CGA I found teaching is very thorough and I don’t have to do that myself. That gives me a lot more time to do stuff I am really interested in.”

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 Interviewee, 8 Used to it, 9 Seat, 10 Pat, 11 Economist, 15 Bare bones, 16 Set, 18 Adds, 20 Sri Lanka, 22 Long overdue.

Down: 1 Kinshasa, 2 Studs, 3 Trio, 4 Pittance, 5 Twosome, 6 Bela, 12 Crossbow, 13 Speckled, 14 Leasing, 17 Sands, 19 Dill, 21 Iced.

Jade’s dedication paid off when she was accepted into seven top universities in the US, ultimately choosing to begin her studies at Princeton University.

Online schooling for travelling families

For families who move frequently due to work, lifestyle, or personal reasons, CGA’s fully online and internationally recognised curriculum offers a stable educational solution. This consistency allows students to continue their education without disruptions, no matter where they are in the world.

The Patton family exemplifies this lifestyle. They have lived worldwide, travelling to every country while their children continue their education online. “The adaptability and comprehension that CGA has with knowing what our lifestyle is and being willing to work with us throughout those challenges because sometimes we are in different time zones... CGA has been very understanding when it comes to that and so it’s been super helpful for our girls,” says Chantal, a CGA parent.

Supporting student athletes

For students whose training and performance schedules require flexibility, online schooling offers the perfect solution. It allows them to focus on their education while pursuing their passions. “The support that CGA has provided has al-

Could online school be the perfect fit for your family?

lowed Anastasia to pursue performing arts. The degree that she was able to practice and perform at the South African championships where she won numerous awards and the flexibility that CGA provides, is something she wouldn’t have been able to do in a normal bricks-and-mortar environment,” says Michael, a CGA parent from South Africa.

Creating an environment to build confident learners

For students who struggle in traditional school settings due to bullying, social anxiety, or the need for a different learning pace, CGA’s online community offers a supportive and understanding environment.

Siena, a CGA student from New Zealand, found a renewed drive for learning after transitioning to online education. “All my teachers really get me, which is something that I hav-

en’t really had in a traditional school because I learn a little differently. I feel like when I talk to them they really take it on board,” she says. Her mother, Kelle, adds, “Since joining CGA she’s met great friends; they meet up after school and play games, or they meet up in the city.

Is online schooling right for your family?

CGA’s diverse curriculum offers something for everyone, from International A Levels and Advanced Placement courses to the US High School Diploma and even Primary School. No matter what stage your child is at, the team works with each family individually to build a tailored academic plan based around your child’s needs and goals.

CIVILIZATION: The El Algar town of Fuente Alamo and some of the incredible finds (above left)

CABLE ROW

ECOLOGISTS have appealed to the Spanish government to stop the underwater electrical connection between the peninsula and Ceuta.

Stretching from Puente Mayorga through the Gibraltar Strait, environmental activists Ecologistas en Accion Verdemar believe it will cause huge environmental impact.

The project will supply power from thermal power stations located in the Campo de Gibraltar, which use fossil fuels.

They claim three wind turbines stationed in the Mar de Alboran could supply Ceuta with electricity.

Sticky situation

Five activists linked

to

ecoprotest group are intercepted while ‘attempting to glue themselves to runway’

FIVE activists linked to the notorious environmental protest group Just Stop Oil were intercepted at Barcelona El-Prat Airport after attempting to glue themselves to the runway.

One member of the group was arrested when local police detained the protesters. The remaining activists were fined for their involvement.

The protest formed part of a coordinated set of

Marine park

THE Spanish government has approved a proposal to create the country’s first fully marine national park.

The 24,000-hectare park will be located in the Mar de las Calmas, the sea off the coast of El Hierro, the tiny Canary Island and Spain’s southernmost point.

The area is renowned for its extraordinary marine biodiversity including sharks, dolphins, tuna, stingrays and turtles.

The underwater landscape is sculpted by reefs, caves, tunnels and volcanic peaks,

By Ben Pawlowski

with the seabed dropping to 3,000 metres in depth, providing a habitat for an astonishing variety of species. Once approved, it will be Spain’s 17th national park, but the first to entirely be based in water.

eco-demonstrations across Europe by Oil Kills, which has links to climate group Just Stop Oil which gained notoriety in the UK for their disruptive tactics including blocking roads and disrupting sporting events. Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany was forced to halt flights after climate activists glued themselves to the use of fossil fuels by 2030. Elsewhere, nine Just Stop Oil activists were arrested in London for ‘conspiring to disrupt Heathrow Airport’, according to the Metropolitan Police, while protestors also targeted airports in Oslo, Helsinki and Zurich. According to Just Stop Oil, the activists who targeted El-Prat Airport belonged to the climate group Futuro Vegetal (Plant Future). They say it is a ‘civil disobedience and direct action group that fights against the Climate Crisis by adopting a plant-based food system’.

HEALTH

Cruise ships targeted

nated targeting of European airports was simply ‘ordinary people taking matters into their own hands to do what our criminal governments have failed to do’.

Innocent

“We are putting our bodies on the wheels of the machine of the global fossil economy and saying oil kills; we refuse to die for fossil fuels and we refuse to stand by while hundreds of millions of innocent people are murdered.”

EXTINCTION Rebellion held a protest in an Ibiza port timed with the arrival of three cruise ships carrying a total of 10,400 tourists to the island. Some 12 activists showed up at Botafoc Port holding posters reading ‘Your luxury, our climate crisis’ and ‘Stop cruises’. They shouted at the visitors whether they knew ‘how much contamination’ their trip causes or ‘how many visitors the small island of Ibiza receives each year.’

Spokesperson Karen Killeen said the group ‘wants the tourists to know the economic and social effects of their holidays’.

So long cerveza

Fines in store for people flouting drinking ban at children’s playgrounds and leisure centres

SPANISH police will soon be able to fine drinkers for consuming alcohol in certain areas under new national rules.

It is part of a new draft law approved in the Conse jo de Min istros on the ‘pre vention of alcohol consump tion and its effects on mi nors’. Police will also be

By Yzabelle Bostyn

authorised to carry out breathalyzer tests in areas where alcohol consumption is banned, including sportsties where children are present, schools and If caught, offenders could face a fine of between €60 and €600.

From death comes life

A MADRID court has ruled a woman can continue with IVF treatment using her dead husband’s sperm, a year after his death as a result of a tumour.

The woman, who lives in Germany, first had to fight to have her husband’s genetic material transferred to Spain, where post-mortem insemination is allowed. It is banned in Germany.

After a first failed attempt, she could not continue with the process due to Spain’s one year time limit on the treatment. But now Madrid’s provincial court has ruled that the woman will be able to carry out new attempts until the biological material runs out.

BOTTOMS UP: But be careful where you open a bottle - it could cost you a fine

drink brands - even if they are alcohol free.

Individual municipalities have long been able to impose similar sanctions under local byelaws. But the new draft law - which is almost certain to come into forceextends restrictions nationwide.

The new regulation further proposes a ban on any 0.0% alcohol drinks within a 200 metre radius around health centres, schools, social services, parks and children's play areas.

It also suggests banning any furniture or decoration sponsored by alcoholic

This is a response to socalled ‘0.0 washing’, wherein brands get around advertising rules by using their non-alcoholic editions. The new rules could also mean a ban on adverts during kid’s television or any media targeted towards children. As well as the ban on adverts, health authorities have called an end to the term ‘responsible consumption’. According to a spokesperson: “Responsible consumption is over. There is no evidence that consumption in moderation has any health benefits.”

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Fair’s fair

A NEW nationwide ranking has been launched to help tourists pick hotels based on how well they treat their employees.

The Workers’ Commissions (CCOO) and Workers’ Union (UGT) have launched a new ‘Fair Hotels’ certification which guarantees workers are treated fairly in hotels and tourist lets.

The project, ‘Just and Responsible Employer Hotels’, was started in 2019 but suffered setbacks as a result of the pandemic.

University of Malaga researchers began developing a series of indicators to show the relationship between hotels and their workers.

These include trade union representation, work contracts, ratio of full to part-time workers, rotas, health and security, opportunities for professional growth, equal opportunities, diversity and gender pay equity.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

SCORCHIO!

Foreigners warned against visiting Spanish city during the summer

A TOUR guide has warned tourists against visiting Sevilla due to blistering summertime temperatures.

Fiona Watson, a Sevilla resident and veteran tour guide, has warned Brits against the August heat.

While locals take refuge in air conditioned apartments during the day, they marvel at tourists traipsing about the city in the middle of the day.

Known as the ‘frying pan of Spain’, Sevilla can reach highs of 48 C and just last

By Yzabelle Bostyn

weekend temperatures surpassed the 40C mark.

Anything above 40C can make it difficult to maintain the body’s optimal temperature of 37C, especially for the elderly or those with health issues. While heat exhaustion does not pose a threat if you can cool down, heatstroke can be deadly.

That’s why in 2022 Sevilla launched a groundbreaking

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alert system to warn citizens of upcoming heatwaves. It has proved a success, with the system’s inaugural heatwave coming soon after.

Bargain Blanes

A HOLIDAY comparison site has revealed that the cheapest beach holiday in Spain can be found on the Costa Brava. According to TravelSupermarket, the average cost of a seven-night stay in Blanes is a wallet-friendly €530. They analysed package deals in major Spanish holiday resorts to find the best prices.

The average price of beer in the area is €2 and a three-course meal for two can cost as little as €32 at a mid-range restaurant.

Unlike locals, who take siestas and drink gazpacho by the gallon, tourists do not know how to handle the heat and many are seen splashing themselves with water from fountains or pressing cold Coke cans to their heads in desperation. During the peak months of June to September, many restaurants deploy water mists and umbrellas while even the winding alleyways are covered with shady material.

Watson, a former journalist and travel writer who moved to Sevilla in 2003 to host tapas tours, urged visitors to ‘stay in an air-conditioned room’ and ‘not go out at all’.

AN Italian couple got a nasty surprise on one of their recent trips, as they were slapped with a €400 bar bill at an Ibizan beach bar.

Federica and Giuseppe, influencers known by the name My Trip to Naples (@ilmioviaggioanapoli), were visiting the Sant Josep beach club at Cala Bassa beach.

“Something is wrong here, because I paid more to be here for a few hours than on the flight to visit the island!” complained Giuseppe, after their day at the beach.

Champagne

But they did push the boat out - ordering Champagne, sangria, fried calamari, bread with tomato, and Iberian ham – the latter widely known for coming with a hefty price tag. They also enjoyed a paella plus spent €40 on sun loungers.

If nothing, their experience serves as a lesson for anyone visiting Ibiza - always check the prices before you order.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023 LOOKING FOR MORE TRAVEL STORIES?

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A GEM OF A TOWN

The charming town once dubbed the ‘rural capital’ of Spain has so much to offer, writes Laurence Dollimore

IT’S often described as ‘the Prehistoric museum of Andalucia’, and within minutes of arriving it’s easy to see why.

Antequera, in inland Malaga, is brimming with history, with its narrow and cobbled streets nestled below hilltop castles and churches.

Incredibly, around 70% of listed buildings and monuments in Malaga province are found in the ancient

city. President of the local tourism initiative Silvia Jurado told the Olive Press: “Malaga city doesn’t come close… there are so many gems here. You would be hard pressed to see them all in one weekend.”

The 19th century traveller Washington Irving, a former US ambassador to Spain, was particularly taken by the place, when

he wrote: “Everything in this venerable city has a decidedly Spanish seal.”

Humans have left their mark on Antequera since the stone age, and the impressive dolmens left by ancient tribes are one of the most visited sites in

southern Spain. It was later ruled by the Romans and then the Moors, before the Christians took it back over in 1410.

Antequera thrives as an ‘atelier’, crafting religious floats

Like much of Spain, the rich and multicultural history of the city has left it littered with gems. Its streets are lined with orange trees and its wide marble pavements would not look out of place in Dubai, while practically every corner hides a Baroque or Arabic wonder.

Head to Plaza de las Descalzas or Plaza Santiago if you want to see prime examples.

WALLS: The Alcazar towers over the town

FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

cessions.

For centuries, Antequera has been the silent architect of the elaborate floats, or pasos, that grace the streets during Holy Week. When religious brotherhoods around Andalucia decide they need a new paso, it is more often realistic sculptures depicting biblical scenes, are the centerpiece of the passionate processions that grip the nation every spring. Behind the ornate facades of Antequera’s workshops, a world of meticulous detail unfolds. Sculptors chisel away at blocks of wood, giving birth to lifelike figures that seem to breathe beneath their delicate patina, while painters blend vibrant hues to recreate the dramatic lighting of biblical events. Despite the global

than not to the craftsmen of Antequera that they turn. These meticulously crafted masterpieces, adorned with life-size, hyperrecognition of Spain’s Easter processions, Antequera’s role in this extraordinary tradition remains largely unknown.

Visitors can delve into the heart of this hidden artistic world, gaining a deeper appreciation for the passion and skill that underpin one of Spain’s most cherished traditions - and discovering the other hidden gems that make up Antequera.

For

ART: Many of Andalucia’s most impressive ‘pasos’ are crafted in Antequera

TIMELESS: The views from Antequera have hardly changed in a millenia and are well worth a visit to take in

GRANDEUR:

a small town, Antequera has some impressive architecturen, while (below) a detail of Santa Maria Church

XMAS TRADITION

Alcoholic ascension

A WAITER in Cadiz has hailed a ‘beer miracle’ after a punter enjoyed a few drinks and then apparently wandered home – forgetting their wheelchair in the bar.

Beer here

SPANIARDS drink 58 litres of beer a year, with Estrella Galicia being their tipple of choice, closely followed by Alhambra, Mahou, La Virgen and coming in fifth San Miguel – according to Google searches.

Social gaffe

LAMINE Yamal, the 17-year-old Barcelona and Spain star, has unfollowed his girlfriend Alex Padilla on Instagram after she was filmed sitting on another boy’s lap in a viral video.

Cartoon cherubs

A BOTCHED restoration at a church has seen its cherubs painted to appear like something in a low-budget cartoon. Bringing back memories of the infamous ‘Ecce Homo’ restoration in 2012, the Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Miron in Soria has now made its own unwanted headlines.

Work was carried out on the 300-year-old church including the painting of the building’s interior and figures in the central nave.

Conservationists and experts have branded it as ‘disastrous and disrespectful’ to the church.

The cherubs have been paint-

Isle be back

SPAIN has just returned a tiny island to French control - but it will get it back in six months time.

At just 200 metres in length and 40 metres in width, Pheasant Island, in the Bidasoa River

Angels become ‘caricatures’ in church botch-job

By Alex Trelinski

ed bright white with red lips and brownish hair, with critics describing it as a ‘caricature’ amidst claims the revamp had been done without any preliminary studies.

Francisco Manuel Espejo, president of Spain’s conservators and restorers association, thundered: “We are not just

talking about a failed restoration, but an attack on heritage.”

He also queried why a Baroque-era building was sub-

which separates Irun, in Spain, and Hendaye, in France, is the world’s smallest territory with joint custody.

Between February 1 and July 31, Spain officially holds ownership of Pheasant Island - for the remaining six months of the year, the French take over.

The island is uninhabited and,

jected to such a makeover when it enjoys protected status with any work needing to be signed off by Soria City Council and an expert.

unfortunately, home to zero pheasants.

But it has an important place in European history - the island was the location for the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which formally ended the 24-year-long Franco-Spanish war and handed joint sovereignty of the island to the two powers.

As for the bright cherubs, Espejo said: “Those eyes and painted lips really grab your attention.”

A spokesperson for the diocese of Osma-Soria, said: “The work was carried out with the required authorisation and some people like the end result and others don’t.”

IF you stumbled across Berchules, Granada, last weekend you would be forgiven for thinking it was December. Hundreds of people wandered the streets wearing Santa hats and antlers, while Bing Crosby’s White Christmas floated through the white washed alleys.

That’s because in this small town, Christmas and New Year’s are celebrated in August. The tradition began when a power cut hit Berchules on December 31, 1994, cancelling celebrations for the town’s 400 residents.

Locals vowed to never let this happen again, so instead hold a fiesta during the first weekend of August.

Up to 12,000 people at tend each year, con verting this sleepy town into a hive of Christ mas fes tive may hem in the heat of the summer.