Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 205

Stroke of genius...how much do you know about this Spanish master? Take our quiz on page 12

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Went swimmingly

AN intrepid team has just completed an epic swim across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Brit James Stuart, 60, and friends

Iñaki Guezuraga, Ricardo Arana and Ignacio Soto made the 15 km journey to Morocco - although it turned into 17 kilometres after being swept off course by currents - in five hours 40 minutes.

The daring endeavour planted the group on Dalia beach in Moroccowithout a customs officer in sight.

“We weren’t allowed to have a barbeque on the beach or go to a chiringuito or anything,” Stuart, who heads up the Califa hotel group, told the Olive Press.

“We were illegal immigrants! We could not stay long. Just touch the sand, catch our breath a bit and then get on our boats and go back to Tarifa.”

The swim raised funds for children with cancer in India through the Vicente Ferrer foundation.

Power down

A SOCIAL media post by Paddy Power was deleted on Sunday after numerous complaints from Gibraltarians, including Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, who branded it ‘offensive’.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter), the sports betting company joked about the winner of the recent women’s World Cup final between England and Spain claiming ownership of the territory.

The post said: “Spain, let’s make it interesting, winner gets Gibraltar.”

It attracted a large collection of complaints, including one from Picardo himself, who reposted it and showed his disdain.

He said: “Hey, Paddy Power, it may sound funny to you. It’s offensive to the good people of Gibraltar that you should even joke about our homeland. “This is our home, no-one’s to claim and no-one’s to give.”

Orcas targeted

ANIMAL rights activists are up in arms after a group of people onboard a yacht were caught on camera taking pot shots at killer whales.

Footage taken by holidaymakers on a tourist boat off the coast of Tarifa shows them pleading with the shooters to stop.

Spain’s animal rights political party PACMA has confirmed it will ask authorities to take legal action.

PACMA said Orcas are classified as a vulnerable species by the Spanish Threatened Species Association (CEEA) and that therefore, any act aiming to kill, capture, chase or disturb them is forbidden.

Murky Rock

Chief Minister confident in ‘festering’ McGrail inquiry amid suggestions of ‘witness inducements’

GIBRALTAR’S Chief Minister

Fabian Picardo is confident that the ‘festering’ McGrail Inquiry will find he ‘acted properly at all times’.

The comments came in response to opposition concerns that an ongoing criminal investigation into the possibility of witness inducements has caused yet further delays into the much-prolonged case.

The inquiry is investigating whether Picardo placed inappro-

By Walter Finch

priate pressure on former Police Commissioner Ian McGrail or interfered in police investigations before the latter’s shock retirement in June 2020.

The inquiry has already been subject to numerous delays setting it back by over three years, including Covid, a March 2023 data leak and ‘logistical problems’ in finding an appropriate judge. The latest hold up shrouds yet more mystery on the troubled inquiry, being chaired by former High Court judge Sir Charles Peter Lawford Openshaw.

Bizarre

“The issue of possible witness inducements has itself been bubbling under since the rather bizarre sequence of events earlier this year when the Chief Minister said he had seen evidence of criminal allegations against Mr McGrail,” the Gibraltar Social Democrats said in a statement.

“It was swiftly followed by the Commissioner of Police denying having seen such evidence a day later and the fact that it emerged subsequently that letters of assurance to 14 police officers had been signed

by the Chief Minister when it was unnecessary to do so.”

They then called for the inquiry to go ahead ‘as soon as possible’ as a matter of public interest.

The government dismissed GSD complaints about the numerous delays and reminded them that it ‘convened the McGrail Inquiry as soon as it was possible to do so given the problems that the pandemic had caused.’

The Chief Minister said: “The final

hearings of the Inquiry will, unfortunately, now take longer than anyone would wish, but that will not alter the outcome that I am confident will entirely vindicate my position and the position of His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar as a whole in respect of all aspects of this matter.”

It was in June 2020 when the former Commissioner of Royal Gibraltar Police claimed he was forced from his job amid ‘improper pressure at the highest level of government’.

McGrail announced he was retiring as Commissioner of Police after serving just two years of a four-year term without revealing his reasons behind the move at the time.

Questions

The decision to retire early after 36 years with the RGP, provoked fierce speculation and questions in parliament with McGrail himself calling for the matter to be properly investigated, and an inquiry was set up at the request of Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. In a shock twist, McGrail was arrested for sexual assault in April 2023, but later cleared of all charges.

CONFIDENT: Fabian Picardo

INQUIRY: Former Police Commissioner Ian McGrail

IN CHARGE: Sir Charles Openshaw

ON CAMERA: Gunsmoke as Orcas targeted

Dangerous driver

A 50-year-old Spaniard from Algeciras has been arrested for causing death by dangerous driving after his trailer fatally hit Jaime MacPherson, 58, in the head on Winston Churchill Avenue.

Peckers up!

A JUVENILE great spotted woodpecker was spotted on a Eucalyptus tree in the North Front cemetery. It is the first recorded sighting in Gibraltar since 1977.

Royal return

A REVIVED Monarch airlines is considering adding Gibraltar to its list of destinations after the British carrier collapsed back in 2017.

Not welcome

GIBRALTAR is experiencing a rat and cockroach infestation, according to the GSD, who have called for it to be sorted out as soon as possible.

A DERANGED robber left a receptionist with burns to their chin and chest in a brazen raid on a hotel that netted him just €50.

The incident occurred in the early hours of August 5th, when the assailant entered the hotel in Fuengirola brandishing a lit blow torch with the flame set to max.

BLOWTORCH BANDIT

He then approached the reception desk and demanded the day's takings, threatening to put them to the flame if they did not comply. When the hotel employee heroically refused the assailant's demands,

a struggle ensued, resulting in the receptionist suffering minor burns from the blow torch. The assailant was arrested three days later and has since been linked to seven other local burglaries.

‘SLASHER’ CAGED

Fugitive who spent 15 years behind bars in the UK, fled Spain through Gibraltar airport

THE identity of a British man who was arrested in the UK after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend in Spain before fleeing via Gibraltar has been revealed.

Jason McInerney, 35, (pictured) is a ‘dangerous’ criminal who was imprisoned for 15 years after being tried for attempted murder.

McInerney is said to have stabbed his girlfriend inside

a car when the couple were leaving a beach club in Mijas Costa.

The alleged stabber fled the scene, leaving the woman wounded.

She was found on the side of the road and was taken to hospital, from where she was released after undergoing treatment.

An international arrest warrant was issued against McIn-

TWO fugitives wanted by British and Irish authorities have been arrested on the Costa del Sol.

A 47-year-old English fugitive known as P.M.C and a 43-year-old Irishman identified under the initials D.K.M.C have been arrested in Fuengirola and Marbella respectively, the Guardia Civil confirmed to the Olive Press.

The Irishman had been sought for years for allegedly trafficking minors, and was hiding in a flat in Fuengirola. Officers arrested him

By Alberto Lejarraga

erney, who is believed to have fled Spain through Gibraltar Airport. He was arrested in the UK a few days later in an undisclosed location.

Pedro Fernandez, Delegate of the Spanish Government in Andalucia, confirmed the arrested Brit has ‘a long crim-

Fugitives snared

when he was leaving the property. Meanwhile the Brit, who had been issued an international arrest warrant, is accused of tax fraud and money laundering. He has defrauded the UK of more than £4.5 million and was believed to be hiding in Spain after fleeing Portugal, it is claimed. Both are being held in prison before appearing in court at a later date.

‘Strangler’ probe

A MAN accused of strangling his girlfriend and pushing her downstairs has been arrested in Gibraltar.

The 36-year-old was denounced by his partner, a Gibraltar resident, who claims the man had put his arm around her neck, leaving her almost unable to breathe. She further accuses him of pushing her down a flight of stairs, saying that the incidents occurred during an argument.

He was arrested by the Royal Gibraltar Police and was later released on bail. Police said the investigation remains open.

Gangster caged

inal record’ and that he had been in prison in England for a lengthy period of time.

In March 2008, when he was a 20-year-old, McInerney became infamous for biting and breaking a policeman’s nose in a scuffle at Reading Crown Court, while he was on trial accused of shooting a bridegroom at a wedding reception.

He managed to escape after distracting guards and asking an official for a glass of water. He was jailed for 16 years in 2009 following a retrial over the wedding shooting.

A DANGEROUS fugitive who is wanted in the United Kingdom in relation to a murder that took place last year in Liverpool has been arrested by Policia Nacional.

The suspect, identified by his initials I. F., was cuffed in Benahavis following a dramatic car chase that began in Marbella.

The man had an arrest warrant against him for extradition back to his home country in relation to the case, which involved a clash between two rival crime gangs.

In the army now

PRINCESS Leonor has put away her designer clothes and pulled on an army uniform. Her mother and father, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, along with sister Sofia, accompanied the future commander-in-chief of Spain’s armed forces as she enrolled at the Army Military Academy in Zaragoza. their goodbyes with fond embracPrincess of Asturias admitting to reporters she was feeling ‘a little nervous’ but was embracing the year with ‘great enthusiasm’.

The 17-year-old’s three-year training will include this academic year at the Army academy, followed by a year each at naval school and the General Air Academy.

Angela Raver

BRITISH politician Angela Rayner has boasted of enjoying 12-hour vodka-fuelled ‘rave’ sessions during her very recent holiday to Spain.

The deputy leader of the Labour Party, 43, said she returned from the country last week, where she had been drinking from mid-afternoon to sunrise with just the occasional glass of

Labour deputy leader is just one of the girls as she admits to boozy Spanish break

By Laurence Dollimore

water.

The Mancunian was speaking to comedian Matt Forde at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She said: “The girls I was raving with are half my age, and I was like ‘I'm a grandma’. I was proud of

SUMMER BABY

PARTY ANIMAL: Rayner bragged about her rave with women young enough to be her granddaughters

A Zoo in Jerez has welcomed a new European Bison calf.

The birth of the female at Zoobotanico is being described as an important step in maintaining the species’ genetic diversity. A hundred years ago they were extinct in the wild, with just 50 specimens in zoos. Now 6,200 out of the present day population of 8,500 live in the wild after breeding and reintroduction campaigns.

CAN YOU SEE ME? THEN SO CAN ALL OUR READERS

that.

“At 4pm I started, and I got home at six o'clock in the morning when the sun was shining and I was like, 'Yes, I can do it'.”

She insisted that she did not have ‘chemical support’ to party all night, relying solely on vodka.

“You've got to go with the music, the vibes. You've got to be in the moment and it takes you,’ she said. Forde added: “That really sounds like you've done drugs. That's the druggiest answer I've ever heard.”

Rayner revealed she likes to make her friends her own ‘lethal’ cocktail called Venom, consisting of a bottle of vodka, a bottle of Southern Comfort, 10 bottles of Blue WKD and a litre of orange juice.

She said: “If you're ever having a crowd of you at home get that out and everyone will have a good time.

“I invited my two youngest kids’ headteacher from primary school and he had to take his wife home because she’d had some Venom.”

Sizzling Eva

AS temperatures in Marbella moved into the 40s, Eva Longoria slipped into a sizzling-hot bikini to cool down.

The 48-year-old actress was on one of her regular breaks in the Costa del Sol city. With weather warnings on red alert at the time, she decide to take to her pool at Villa Marusha. She has been posting regular updates to Instagram of her break.

In the latest, Eva showed off her enviable figure after taking a swim wearing a tiny bikini in olive green.

Major boob

FORMER EastEnders

star Daniella Westbrook has been interrogated by armed police in Ibiza over an unpaid €37 petrol bill from five years ago.

The 49-year-old actress’s plans for a relaxing break after her eighth boob job were ruined when airport po lice realised there was an out standing denuncia against her. Westbrook had been arrested in Malaga in 2018 and detained for 14 hours over a driving offence and was convicted that same year for failing to pay for €37 of petrol. She will now have to return to Spain for a Malaga court hearing to resolve the issue, which she says she has been trying to do for five years.

IN UNIFORM: A last embrace for Leonor from mum Letizia

NEIGHBOUR’S REVENGE

A RETIRED Royal Navy commando has miraculously survived being run over FOUR times by a ‘neighbour from hell’ on the Costa del Sol.

David James, 80, was savagely attacked by a fellow Brit on his doorstep in the picturesque hills of La Viñuela, Axarquia.

The suspect, in his early 70s, a retired councillor from northern England, has been charged with attempted murder and is being held in prison awaiting

Border wars

trial. He also faces a string of other charges after three others were injured in the incident, court documents seen by this paper have confirmed.

“I really thought I was a goner,” David, who is also a former policeman, told the Olive Press from his hospital bed this week, ‘I’ve lost all my teeth, fractured my pelvis and ribs and fractured multiple bones in my face, I’m lucky to be alive.’

The shocking incident occurred at around 5pm when great-grandfatherof-one David, his wife and their friends were returning from a lunch party to his stunning villa in the Mirador del Embalse development.

It was then, according to David, that his next door neighbour’s wife came running out of their driveway in hysterics.

“She shouted ‘he’s go-

Driving deadline looms

THE deadline for Brits residing in Spain to exchange their UK drivers licences for Spanish licences is fast approaching. September 15 marks the end of the six-month grace period negotiated between the British and Spanish governments on March 15, 2023.

Brits who moved to Spain before March 16 2023 and fail to make the exchange by September 15 will no longer be able to drive on their UK licence and will have to take a Spanish test. People who moved here since then have six months from the date they arrived to make the exchange.

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

ing to kill me, he’s going to kill me’,” David recalled while nursing his arm, which still carries a tyre mark from being crushed by the vehicle.

The neighbour, initials D.B, then emerged from his driveway ‘visibly highly intoxicated’, it is claimed.

Seeing that he had his keys in his hand and fearing he was going to drive off while under the influence, David and another resident blocked off the end of the road with their cars.

The neighbour began furiously driving up and down the road while beeping his horn, claimed David.

The alleged attacker finally came to a halt, at which point David decided to approach him to take the keys out of the ignition.

David said: “I then heard his engine rev and I knew what was going to happen, he came at me at full speed and knocked me against the wall.

“I smashed my head and I thought I was a goner, but somehow I was still conscious. “Then he reversed over me, before running me over for a third time, this time on my arm, before reversing over me one

more time. It was like something out of a Hollywood movie.”

Neighbours and holidaymakers were screaming amid the panic, and eventually managed to drag David onto his driveway and behind its access gate. There are still bloodstains on the road and driveway more than a week after the attack.

The alleged attacker, described by neighbours as a ‘madman’, then rammed his car into the gate, which remains dented and broken.

“He got out of his car and tried to stab me with a pole,” David, a grandfather-of-five, added, ‘it was terrifying’.

The suspect has lived on the urbanisation for at least a decade and has inflicted a ‘years-long reign of terror’ on neighbours, witnesses told the Olive Press.

David said he filed a denuncia - a formal police complaintagainst him 18 months ago after he allegedly tried to attack him with an axe.

The dispute was settled out of court as David’s wife had just been diagnosed with cancer and the family had no appetite for a legal battle. She also suffers from dementia.

David, who served in the Royal Navy for 12 years, added: “I told the local authority of every previous incident that occurred

RECOVERING: David in hospital after his horrifying ordeal

and I told them he was going to kill somebody one day, although I didn’t know that person would almost be me.”

One British neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “He is a blight on our oasis. David became president of the urbanisation five years ago, and I think he is the only one to actually stand up to him and he doesn’t like it.

‘He has tried to stop most of David’s ideas to improve the development and there have been so many complaints about him, he’s the neighbour from hell.”

David’s step-daughter Harriett, a former lawyer based in London, flew out as soon as she heard of the news.

She has spoken to several victims of the incident, who she says have been left ‘traumatised’.

The Guardia Civil has been contacted for a comment.

THE UK lodged a formal complaint with Madrid last week after a Spanish patrol boat pursued a UK-flagged vessel in British waters - before ‘illegally detaining’ one of its crew. The Gibraltar government is fuming over the incident. The UK boat, called The Ultimate Predator, was chased by Spain’s Aquila 2 and ordered to stop, despite the Spanish having no jurisdiction in the internationally recognised British waters.

Adding fuel to the fire, Spanish customs officers boarded the boat and ‘illegally’ detained one of the British crew members. Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “Incidents like this are an unacceptable reflection of the failure by Spanish law enforcement to recognise that the territorial limits of their jurisdiction does not extend to Gibraltar’s unquestionably British waters.”

Heat is on

ANDALUCIA’S current heatwave will last until Saturday, but temperatures could cool down on Sunday, although it will be by no means chilly. Cordoba and Sevilla provinces have been sweltering in temperatures of up to 43C. Some relief is in store, with maximum temperatures due to fall to a still hot 37C on Sunday.

British ex-copper ‘repeatedly ran over by neighbour’ in brutal ‘attempted murder’

WRECK: Car at the centre of the drama

Medals galore Going down with the ship?

FOUR runners from Gibraltar’s Carpe Diem Running Club appeared on the podium for this years XI Corruco Race in Manilva.

Stephine Campbell took first place in her category, Bridget Leonard and Georgina Anne Morello were both third in their categories and Tamara Tskilauri took third place in the women's overall category.

The 11th year of the 6km race saw over 550 people take part. The race started and finished at La Noria and ran through Sabinillas, La Colonia Infantil, Puerto de La Duquesa and El Catillo. A spokesperson for the Carpe Diem Running Club, said: “We had a great turn out for this race and it was fantastic to see so many of our runners finishing on the podium – especially given that they were running in 30c plus heat!”

Love story

A BRITISH expat who was paralysed by a horror car crash has celebrated his daughter’s first birthday after falling in love with the Spanish woman who cared for him.

Aaron Salter, 30, and his partner Estrella welcomed their baby - also named Estrellainto the world last year following a successful round of IVF treatment.

Aaron had his sperm frozen after the van he was travelling in crashed into a tree in the UK back in 2015. He broke his spine in several places and was paralysed from the chest down.

He is currently locked in a years-long legal battle against the insurance company, with a decision on a multi-million euro payout expected immi-

Heart-warming story of how paralysed expat and his carer fell for each other and had a child

EXCLUSIVE

By Laurence Dollimore

nently.

The town of Salinas on the Costa Blanca, near where Aaron grew up, rallied around him in the wake of the accident, including flying over to visit him. When he was able to return to visit his father Les Salter, 72, however, he became bed-ridden for nine months as he had developed sores.

It was then that Estrella began making house calls to care for him, and the rest is history.

Tuna season over Military might

THE Department of the Environment have informed anglers that the Bluefin tuna Open Season has now closed. A spokesman said: “Anglers should be reminded that the capture and landing of any Bluefin tuna is not allowed during the closed season and heavy fines will be imposed on those who fail to adhere.”

Previously, two boats were slapped with fines between €5,000 to €10,000.

The Department’s Environmental Protection and Research Unit, along with other authorities, will be monitoring activity at sea and marinas during this time.

GIBRALTAR is still a hugely important military asset for the UK, the British government has insisted. It comes after UK Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey met Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and his deputy Dr Joseph Garcia to discuss the strategic importance of the Rock last week.

The meeting reaffirmed the relevancy of Gibraltar to the UK military and was used by Picardo to stress the commitment of the Government and the people of Gibraltar to the armed forces.

“Gibraltar is often used by Royal Navy vessels, Royal Air Force planes as well as other defence units for military training,” Heappey said.

Aaron told the Olive Press: “I had always known of her and she was amazing with liaising with the town hall and other authorities on my behalf.

“She started caring for me and our feelings for each other grew and grew, and here we are.”

He added: “The support from the town has been so overwhelming, there’s been so much love shown to me.”

The town held a street party last week to celebrate little Estrella’s first birthday.

Grandfather Les told the Olive Press: “I was amazed to hear Estrella was pregnant, I was so proud of him, it has made me feel touched.”

Aaron had moved to Spain in 2001 following the death of his wife to cancer.

He set up a kennels business, and began transporting dogs from Spain to the UK .

Aaron and two others were delivering pups when they all fell asleep while driving the company van through Plymouth, colliding with a tree. His father explained: “His best friend Miguel was driving and they wanted to imprison him for two years, but Aaron insisted they didn’t and he was given a suspended sentence.”

A BOAT captain accused of being responsible for the recent oil spill in the Bay of Gibraltar has been charged. Korean man Kim Sangsob, 56, the captain of the tanker called Gas Venus, was charged with one count of discharge into or allowing escaping into, British Gibraltar Territorial Waters oil of any description and one count of damaging a resting place of a wild animal of a European protected species. His vessel took on fuel a short distance from the South Mole, causing a heavy fuel oil spill on August 1.

Oil

Some of the oil washed ashore in Gibraltar, leading to the temporary closure of Camp Bay and Rosia Bay. The Captain was charged following an investigation by Royal Gibraltar Police Marine Section officers, with assistance from the Gibraltar Port Authority and the Environment Department of the Environment. Sangsob was bailed and will appear before the Magistrate’s Court this on August 25.

HAPPY: Aaron with family

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

What a trooper!

EX-NAVY commando David James’s recovery after allegedly being run over four times by his neighbour in Malaga is nothing short of a miracle (Neighbour’s revenge, page 4).

But what is more concerning is how this ‘neighbour from hell’ has seemingly been allowed to act with impunity for years without any repercussions from the authorities.

He had already allegedly tried to attack 80-year-old David with an axe just 18 months ago, and a slew of complaints from other residents seem to have resulted in zero action.

The case is yet another example of how slow the wheels of justice can move in Spain.

Thank goodness the alleged attacker has been locked up and will remain behind bars until his trial - in what looks set to be an open and shut case given the overwhelming evidence.

We wish David a speedy recovery and hope that justice is duly served.

Good news, at last

THE endless stories of crime and misfortune on the Costa del Sol and beyond are too many to count.

That is why stories like that of Aaron Salter, who has celebrated his daughter’s first birthday eight years after he was left paralysed by a horror car crash are so welcome (Love story, page 5).

Aaron has really been through the ringer, as his 72-year-old father Les put it, and it is wonderful to see how he has made a full life for himself in the years after his horrific injuries.

Just as wonderful is the loving support and backing he has received from the Spanish village where he grew up.

Reminders that the Spanish and British can - and do - get on and foster strong relationships are more important than ever post-Brexit. Aaron’s story should serve as an inspiration to all.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

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Jo Chipchase jo@theolivepress.es

John Culatto

ADMIN

Victoria Humenyuk Makarova (+34) 951 273 575 admin@theolivepress.es

LOST Biting back

SPAIN'S new animal welfare law comes into effect in September and you’d better start saving! In just a few weeks you are going to need to get all your pets microchipped,

not to mention jabbed and sterilised.

From September 29, all dog owners will need third party liability insurance, while cat owners will need to ensure their pets are unable to breed.

There will also be a ban on keeping pets permanently on balconies and terraces.

The law applies to both domestic and captive wild animals, but controversially excludes dogs used for hunting or other professional activities such as search and rescue dogs and those operating with law enforcement.

It also excludes horses and bulls killed during bullfights.

The main objective is to guarantee animal welfare and protection, and to establish a common legal framework throughout Spain to reduce the number of abandoned animals.

In particular, cats will need to be sterilised before six months old, unless they are specifically registered for breeding.

Owners will be expected to 'integrate pets into the family nucleus', prevent uncontrolled reproduction and will be required to complete a training course on responsible pet ownership. For now, at least, it will be both online and free.

Breeding may also only be carried out by the animal’s owner and pets must be identified with a microchip.

The law prohibits dog fights, leaving pets unsupervised for more than three days (in the case of dogs for no longer than 24 hours) and regularly keeping pets in outside spaces, storage rooms, basements or vehicles.

One of the biggest changes will be that cats, dogs and ferrets will not be allowed to be sold in pet shops.

They will also not be permitted to be exhibited in public for commercial purposes - meaning no window displays of animals at pet shops - which will be classified as a very serious offence. These animals may only be marketed by registered breeders.

Circuses will no longer be allowed to keep elephants, tigers or lions, although dolphin shows at water parks are not affected, for now.

Those who do not comply with identification obligations, are violent to pets and/or mutilate or carry out unauthorised bodily modifications (ear clipping or tail docking) will be subject to the full weight of the law.

Fines for violations will range from €500 to €200,000, depending on the severity of the offence.

THE Civil War might have been over, but in August 1948, 75 years ago this week, the 200 residents of a tiny white village became what could be described as casualties of war. When right wing dictator Franco’s forces won in 1939 they still had to contend with uprisings - and they did so with great ferocity.

Frigiliana, perched in the mountains above Nerja on Andalucia’s Costa del Sol, was declared Republican in 1936, only to fall to the fascists the following year.

Anyone suspected of supporting the left wing movement came into the sights of Franco’s forces, who took bloody revenge. The village and its near neighbour El Acebuchal - today in the heart of the soaring Sierra Tejeda natural park - found themselves on the frontline of a guerilla war and were caught in the crossfire. Following the end of the Civil War, left wing sympathisers had taken to the mountains and formed a guerilla force

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BRITS have long mocked Germans for going to extreme lengths to ‘reserve’ the best spots by the pool but now the tables have been turned.

In a famous Carling Black Label advert from 1993 a gang of middle aged Germans are seen getting wake up calls from hotel reception at 6.30am before making a dash for the sunbeds by the pool.

The ‘hero’ of the ad is a Brit who calmly watches the mad rush from his balcony before throwing a rolled up towel, which, to the theme of The Dambusters , skips across the water of the pool before scoring a bullseye on a sunbed, unfurling to reveal it as a Union Jack.

It was the epitome of the ‘Cool Britan -

RESTORED: The streets of El Acebuchal today and (right) some of the expelled villagers

BRITS ON THE OFFENSIVE

UK holidaymakers turn tables on Germans in sunbed wars but who is the bad guy here?

nia’ theme that had taken over the UK in the 90s. But now, that ice-cool sangfroid has seemingly been replaced by the British love of queuing. Apparently getting up at 6.30am to join the queue is no longer enough, with some Brits reserving places for a queue to join the queue outside the locked poolside gates the night before.

And this has not gone unnoticed by the German press, which has been gleeful

in putting the boot on the other foot.

German website Focus Online said it was mainly ‘elderly or middle-aged British tourists’ responsible. Its article continued: “Vacationers like to reserve loungers by the pool or on the beach with their towels. Some hotels then closed the doors to the outside overnight.”

Tabloid Bild joined in the fun with a story headlined Battle for the couches escalates blasting Brits for an ‘embarrassing

How a village abandoned on fascist orders 75 years ago was resurrected, writes Dilip Kuner

BE WARNED: Spain's new animal welfare laws come into force in September… and it does have teeth with fines from €500, explains Dilip Kuner

roperty

MOVE OVER GRANDAD

THE average international buyer of Spanish property has begun to trend downwards in age profile, according to the latest data.

While there are still plenty of Brits, Germans, French and Belgians coming in to hand over their cash, gone are the days of them being entirely high-income, near-retirement couples. The typical profile of foreign buyers used to be people between 50 and 60 years old, married with children, with a high level of education and an income of more than €60,000.

Thenewchampionsof theSpanishexpathousing market:YoungBrits,FrenchandGermans

But now a report from Union de Creditos Inmobiliarios (UCI) claims that the prevailing trend among international buyers indicates the new sheriffs in town are a younger, less financially comfortable demographic. These young upstarts (between 30 and 40) have been capitalising on the freedom afforded by the digital nomad lifestyle to invest in Spanish property.

UCI's analysis shows that the Covid

pandemic unleashed the genie of the home office and flexible working, which has seen a surge in younger buyers drawn by this way of working. Thus they can fulfil the dream of spending extended periods on the Spanish coasts without waiting until they are grey and wrinkly. As the Olive Press has reported recently, buyers from the United States have also surged onto the scene, according

By Walter Finch

to UCI.

Despite the fact that interest rates on mortgages for non-residents are invariably higher compared to those offered to residents, the market continues to witness a surge in demand from international buyers.

The numbers are underlined by a dramatic 45% surge in foreign property purchases in 2022, totaling 88,800 transactions.

This data from the College of Registrars paints an optimistic picture for 2023, with the first quarter already seeing 23,380 transactions by foreigners.

The maximum financing percentage hovers around 70% of the property's valuation with an amortisation period of around 30 years.

Spain's attractiveness, enviable quality of life, profitability, and its status as a stable safe haven for investments have not, it seems, been dented by the upward trajectory of interest rates.

OLD TO NEW: how unwanted buildings have been given a new lease of life. See page 9

SILVER MEDAL FOR RETIREMENT Streets of gold

SPAIN is the second best country in Europe to retire to, with only Portugal ranked higher, according to a study by internet portal Moving to Spain.

This takes into account cost of living, health care, property prices, sunshine hours, blue flags, global peace scores and the percentage of people aged 65 and above.

With a staggering score of 7.31/10

Back to life

A CEMETERY is getting set for a new lease of life thanks to a stunning new €3 million design project.

The Begona cemetery, in Bilbao, is to become an urban garden and heritage space, after a mass grave was unearthed with thousands of victims from the Spanish Civil War.

The companies chosen to undertake the project are LOLA Landscape Architects and IWA Design Studio.

Together they won a competition which challenged architects to transform the cemetery into an urban garden for the community, and is set to reopen in 2025.

They plan to utilise the existing heritage and objects found on site and relocate, reuse or rehabilitate tombstones.

A 2,200 sqm central garden and a 3700 sqm botanical garden will be added, using gravel and fragments found from the original cemetery.

The main entrance will become a ‘memorial for the victims found in the mass graves, by echoing fragments of the victims' DNA patterns’.

it matches Italy’s score and closely follows Portugal’s 7.83. Among the 37 countries examined, Spain is in the top half for seven out of nine factors, only falling below on the population of over 65’s and the Global peace index. In five factors, however, Spain did remarkably well and picked up a top 10 spot.

The biggest attractions are by far the beaches and appealing weather. Spain basks in 2,555 hours of sunover 1/4 of the year - while it has more blue flag beaches than anywhere else. Spain also has the second highest life expectancy in Europe at a notable 83 years, trailing only behind Switzerland. Excellent and affordable healthcare are to thank for this achievement.

BETTER THAN EXPECTED

Homesalesmaybe down-butthefigures aresurprisinglygood givenhighinterest rates,insistexperts

By Alex Trelinski

INTEREST rate rises have slowed down Spain’s real estate market this year.

There has been a near 5% drop in the number of sales in the first half of 2023.

According to official figures, 315,783 homes were sold between January and June - 4.5% fewer than in 2022. However, experts still describe the sales figures as ‘good’ or ‘better than expected’, particularly as Spain experienced a post-covid property boom in 2021 and 2022.

The number of sales are actually in line with those seen in 2008.

“With such a big rise in the Euribor

THE works on San Pedro Alcantara’s new sports pavilion are now 70% completed and its opening is scheduled for early 2024. The complex will have a central multi-purpose court with an area of 1,700 sqm, which will be home to handball, basketball, indoor football and volleyball courts.

“The new pavilion is a major, modern and versatile project that will respond to the demands of residents and clubs,” said Estepona council spokesman Javier Garcia..

Opening soon

of four points in a year, to be talking of sales decreases of less than 10% is much better than we predicted five months ago,” said Jose Maria Alfaro, president of the Federation of Real Estate Associations (FAI). He predicted however there will be a nearly 10% annual fall by the end of the year.

“On top of that agents are getting a

third of the inquiries of a year ago,” he added. “However it’s not that properties are not selling, it is just taking longer. “If last year it took 30 days to

sell, now it is taking 60 days.”

Javier Kindelan, head of the CBRE consultancy, believes the decline will be much greater, despite agreeing the first half of the year was strong.

“Sales will be cut by around 24% by the end of the year,” he predicted. “The market has behaved better than expected so far, but we expect increased interest rates to have a greater impact in slowing sales later this year,” he added. Their predictions are based on notary figures from the end of June that show an annual 12.9% drop in deals for the second quarter of the year. The drop has come as there has been a significant drop in mortgages being granted around the country.

Many people are unable to get finance for a purchase now, while some potential buyers have decided to hold off due to the uncertain economic situation.

THE three most expensive streets to buy a house in Spain are all on the Costa del Sol, according to real estate portal Idealista

The study reveals that luxury development Coto Zagaleta, in Benahavis, is the country’s priciest spot for purchasing your dream home.

The average house in the urbanizacion costs €10,763,937, apparently the price to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the Serrania de Ronda with outstanding views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Ranking second, a few miles away from Zagaleta, Marbella’s Calle Mozart is also for those with fat wallets.

A property in the exclusive street has an average price of €7,940,375, making it a desired location for some of the world’s wealthiest people.

In third place, also in Marbella, Osa Menor Street is another example of housing opulence.

Buying a property in this luxurious development would cost you an average €7,175,888.

Texan adventure

A SPANISH architecture firm has been chosen to redesign a prestigious American art museum. Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos has been chosen to recreate the Dallas Museum of Art, in Texas.

The Madrid firm won the contract after beating six finalists in a global competition for the job.

“We will be reflecting the original building, transforming the relationship between art, landscape, and community into a balance of memory and innovation,” said a spokesman for the firm.

It is the firm’s first building in the US, having previously designed the Moritzburg Museum, in Germany, and the Cité du Theatre, in Paris. It will house the ‘most significant collection of contemporary art of any encyclopedic museum’.

The museum is one of the largest in the US and was established in 1903. It contains 26,000 works spanning over 5,000 years of history.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE

WHEN buildings reach the end of their natural lives it’s time to think again about their use. The recent transformation of the long-closed Canfranc railway station in the Pyrenees to a plush luxury hotel is the perfect example. Thanks to dozens of inspired architects many other buildings in

Taking a look at 5 of Spain’s top repurposed buildings

By Kayleigh Beardsley

Spain have been re-imagined with brand new purposes.

They include seeing slaughterhouses converted to art galleries, churches changed into skateboard parks. Here we examine 5 of the best…

KAOS TEMPLE

This off-the-wall skatepark, in Llanera, in Asturias was originally the Church of Santa Barbara.

Abandoned for years, skaters took an interest and plans to repurpose it finally materialised. Its gothic style has been cleverly integrated with a new contemporary style associated with skating - including colourful graffiti. Okuda San Miguel is the artist behind the revamp and used his ‘skater appropriate’ artwork to bring together spirituality and a world of colour and happiness.

CANFRANC STATION

Canfranc had been closed since 1970 after suffering from a train derailing and a fire. Now finally 50 years on it has been transformed into a plush hotel, utilising the massive space to the fullest. Designers made sure to keep the facade of the station intact to preserve its history and structure, however, they have re-imagined the interiors completely while giving its 104 bedrooms and a handful of common areas a nostalgic feel.

It welcomed its first guests in January 2023 95 years since its original opening. The railway station has an incredible history built into it with a long list of lavish

MAYORAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE

This amazing distribution centre for clothes company Mayoral, in Malaga, was originally a giant textile factory.

Ordered to be built by Franco in

CASAL BALAGUER CULTURAL CENTRE

ARCHITECTURE firms Flores & Prats and Duch-Piza came together to renovate this old baroque home and turn it into a new cultural centre for Palma, in Mallorca.

Much of the original building was kept while space has been created for new facilities, including the exhibition spaces, a restaurant, a library and a museum.

It was always a ‘priority was to not lose the domestic character of the building’.

the 1960’s, it was abandoned in the 1990s. Now the building has been brought back to life as a stylish central base by System Arquitectura.

LA FABRICA

THE studio and former home of one of Spain’s most famous architects was originally a cement factory. Ricardo Bofill, who died last year, transformed the long-derelict plant outside Barcelona, after spotting it while driving to a friend’s house. Built during the 1920s, the massive complex covered nearly 10,000 m2, so Bofill had a real challenge on his hands to convert it into his family home. The end result is more than worth it.

(Photos courtesy of Okuda San Miguel)

(Photo courtesy of Flores & Prats + Duch-Pizá)

GET OUT, BUT NOT ABOUT!

These great outdoor living spaces are sure to inspire you to open up your home

LIVING spaces, kitchens and even bathrooms can be brought out of the home to boost your mental health during the hottest time of the year.

Adding nature and fresh air can add a relaxing element to a space you

By Kayleigh Beardsley

usually socialise or unwind in. Here, we take a look at five examples of outdoor living that should inspire you to open up your property.

This striking outdoor living room by the sea, near Santander, is a great example of how a dining area outdoors can be perfect for entertaining. The home of Lorenzo Castillo, a well-known decorator, it houses vintage rattan sofas and plaid cushions to keep the indoor comfort with an outdoor atmosphere.

This

or shower becomes effortlessly indulgent when it is placed outside. The sounds, sights and fresh air creates a perfect spot to unwind or meditate.

Although not a full bedroom, this tucked away resting area of a holiday rental in the Algarve, in Portugal is another great example of using all the space you have outside to create interesting features for your home. A short siesta or even star-gazing is the ultimate activity here.

Another great way to utilise outdoor space is to install a kitchen like this one on the Costa del Sol in Mijas. Prep your favourite dishes while taking in the calming atmosphere. Whether casual brunch or a grand dinner, the kitchen is designed to withstand all types of weather. 5

Seamlessly connected to the other parts of this Marbella house, yet still separate from others, these three different areas provide a space for all members of the household to gather and get some fresh air. With the closeness to the pool and the flowers and foliage of the garden, guests really get the sense of relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the space.

outdoor bathroom in Ibiza is open to nature while keeping your privacy with high surrounding walls and fences. Immersing yourself in a bath

known as the Maquis to fight the fascist victors - a movement that was not to be finally crushed until 1952 when the last fighter - Antonio Sanchez Martin - was killed by Guardia Civil forces

in front of his two young daughters. His body was then draped across a mule and led through

the streets of Frigiliana as a warning to the silent villagers.

Frigiliana paid a heavy price in terms of blood with communist sympathisers shot on sight, while El Acebuchal basically ceased to exist. Suspected of helping the rebel fighters with food and refuge, the Guardia Civil ordered the villagers to leave.

In truth, the villagers were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Politically they were a

mixed bunch, some had actually even fought on Franco’s side during the Civil War. But to the Guardia this did not matter. Everyone had to go. They fled, leaving behind all their possessions and the homes that most had lived in all their lives. Many moved into neighbouring villages taking refuge with relatives and started new lives. Technically they were allowed to return to their old homes during daylight hours, but they could not stay overnight - not much good when they were often living several hours walk away.

Gradually, El Acebuchal fell into ruins, deserted with just the inn remaining open to service the needs of muleters on the old mountain route to Granada.

But when they stopped passing, the final death knell of the hamlet was rung and the inn closed. El Acebuchal crumbled until little more than mounds of rubble and a few standing walls were left, and it became known to locals as the ‘lost village’.

But it lived on in the memories of the former residents until decades later in 1998 one couple decided to do something about it. Virtudes Sanchez and Antonio García ‘El Zumbo’ whose parents had been expelled, realised that the burgeoning ‘rural tourism’ sector meant the village could be brought back to life. They started with three plots that belonged to relatives and started to rebuild the village stone by stone, soon acquiring another 11 of the former homes. They worked tirelessly with no electricity or running water for years to get things back into order.

Finally their work was done in 2003 and the lost village was once more on the map. Other former residents and their descendants soon joined the effort, and today, incredibly, 33 homes have been rebuilt.

Few people live there permanently, with most of the homes rented to tourists and today, where farmers, charcoal burners and muleteers used to live, foreigners relax on holiday among the stunning natural tranquillity.

As visitors hike in the hills, bask in the sun and enjoy the mountain air, it is difficult to imagine the violence and terror that once caused El Acebuchal to become lost.

But now, after 75 years, it has finally been found again.

deckchair and towel race’ in Tenerife - where locals have resorted to setting up deckchairs in the middle of the night to beat the swarm

of foreign tourists dashing for the best spots first thing in the morning. But while the participants in the race-for-abed maneuvers seem to take the battle dead

ly seriously, others are not so po-faced. has previously run tongue-in-cheek stories, with one headlined Ziz means war accompanied by a graphic of a gun and a sunshade. Referring to a Thomas Cook initiative allowing Brits to reserve sunbed up to six days in advance, its headline ran on England plans a new offensive - new miracle weapon in the towel war.

And on the Costa del Sol Patrick, a German hotelier in Ronda, told the Olive Press that times have changed. “My dad used to do sunbed hogging when I was a kid and I didn’t like that.

“These days I think for Germans getting a good place to eat is more important - breakfast is our priority and not so much getting to the pool so early!”

THRIVING: The restaurant attracts day trippers

HIDDEN: Tucked away in the mountains the chapel (right) was reopened in 2007, while (below right) a muleteer passes through in the 60s

LA CULTURA

SOROLLA QUIZ: Test your knowledge on the renowned artist

August 10, 2023 marked 100 years since Joaquin Sorolla passed away.

The great impressionist painter is being remembered all over the world including

IN honour of the respected artist we have created a multiple choice quiz to test your knowledge on the famous painter.

1- Where was the artist born?

A. Madrid

B. Zaragoza

C. Sevilla

D. Valencia

2- What is the nickname given to him?

A. Master of light

B. Mediterranean maestro

C. King of seascape

D. Painter of painters

3- How many children did Sorolla and his wife, Clotilde have?

major exhibitions in Spain's capital and in his hometown.

The commemorations are continuing throughout the rest of the year.

4- Which of the paintings below is titled Walk on the beach?

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

1 Vertical (7)

5 Stigma (5)

8 Stage play (5)

9 Apprehensive (7)

10 Rowdy (5)

11 Never-ending (7)

12 Pet Holstein dances about on the switchboard (11)

17 Volatile petroleum distillate (7)

19 Bishop or knight (5)

20 Esteem (7)

21 Lord ---, Prime Minister 1770-82 (5)

22 Squander (5)

23 Settled (7)

Down

1 Sunk (6)

2 Make concrete (7)

3 Unearned gain (5)

4 Sympathetic (6-7)

5 Nurse! Go out for a doctor! (7)

6 Oak-to-be (5)

7 Snuggle (6)

13 Radical (7)

14 Scoffed (7)

15 Wander round an apostle (6)

16 Approach (6)

18 Mexican moolah (5)

19 Kind of room (5)

All solutions are on page 15

5- Which illness was Sorolla the first person to portray in a painting?

A. Cerebral palsy

B. Polio

C. Rickets

D. Polydactyly

6- The below is a photograph taken in 1908, but who took the photo?

A. Eadweard Muybridge

B. Alfred Stieglitz

C. Annie Leibovitz

D. Gertrude Käsebier

8- Which country did Sorolla NOT study in?

A. Italy

B. Spain

C. Germany

D. France

9- The artist has had many exhibitions around the world (with paintings including this one below). His first exhibition was in his late teens, but where was it?

A. In Assisi, Italy

B. In Madrid, Spain

C. In Paris, France

D. In Rome, Italy

7- Sorolla worked for seven years on a commissioned mural for the Hispanic Society of America. What building was the mural for?

A. A museum in Los Angeles

B. A wall in Mexico City

C. A library in New York City

D. A library in Buenos Aires

10- We know that Sorolla painted a lot of hisworks in the places depicted in his piecesrather than simply use his imagination. How do we know this?

A. He always took souvenirs from the places.

B. There were often grains of sand embedded in his works.

C. He brought back postcards for his wife.

D. He had lots of sand in his shoes when he returned to Madrid.

This shows that he was actively at the seafront whilst creating his pieces.

Q10 - B. There were often grains of sand embedded in his works. - Due to painting on the beach, grains of sand would be found embedded in the work underneath layers of paint.

Q9 - B. In Madrid, Spain - His first exhibition took place at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Spain. The event took place regularly from 1856 to 1968.

Q8 - C. Germany - Well known for travelling around Europe to learn more about his craft, Sorolla studied in many countries but not Germany. He went to the San Carlos Royal -Acad emy of Fine Arts in Valencia, travelled to Paris and was exposed to modern impressionist painting. In addition he had a four-year grant to travel and work with great artists like -Fran cisco Pradilla in Italy.

Q7 - C. It’s library in New York City - The commision from the Hispanic Society of America saw 7 years of work put into the piece. It depicted life in various provinces of Spain. The piece took a toll on the artists and left him exhausted.

Q6 - D. Gertrude Käsebier - The American photographer was a pioneer for women in the art of photography. The well-known photograph sees Sorolla positioned in a strong pose with admirable posture. Many have commented on how his hands are oddly obscured by gloves and his shadows.

Q5 - B. Polio - In ‘Sad Inheritance’ children with polio are seen bathing in Valencia under supervision of a monk. A polio epidemic had struck the city years prior and following the painting he won a medal of honour at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.

Q4 - A. - The work depicts his wife, Clotilde and his eldest daughter, Maria wearing long white sundresses. This painting was completed in his home town of Valencia at the Playa de El Cabanyal beach.

Q3 - A. 3 - The pair had their first child, Maria in 1890. Joaquin and Elena came shortly after, born in 1892 and 1895 respectively.

Q2 - A. Master of Light - This nickname comes from his incredible talent for depicting light in his pieces.

Q1 - D. Valencia - Not only was Sorolla born in Valencia but he also frequented the city to reference it in his work.

Sorolla quiz answers:

Charging ahead

RYANAIR has lodged a formal appeal against plans by Spain’s airport operator Aena to end a five year freeze on airport charges.

The cap was introduced by Aena in 2021 to aid the postCovid recovery of tourism and employment.

Ryanair has called on the Council of Ministers and competition regulator, the CNMC, to 'protect passengers and local economies by ensuring Aena continues to respect the 2021 ruling'.

“This is a brazen attempt to ignore the law,” said RyanAir CEO Eddie Wilson.

Top destinations

THE Costa del Sol dominates a new top 50 ranking of Spain’s best destinations according to the Spanish themselves.

The golden resort town of Nerja, a 45 minute drive east of Malaga, comes top, with the top three completed by Benalmadena and Marbella.

Malaga, with its rich culture and history, comes in fourth, while Benidorm and Fuengirola follow closely thanks to their

THE VALENCIAN town of Buñol is getting ready to see 'red' once again as the world-famous La Tomatina festival returns next Wednesday with tomatoes being hurled in all directions.

The event always takes place on the last Wednesday of August with a noon start. It'll be the 77th staging of the showdown that attracts visitors from home and abroad.

What has become one of the world's most colourful events started as an accident in 1945 and has taken place every year except for 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.

La Tomatina was prompted by young people all those years ago trying to get a better view of some of the attractions during a Buñol parade.

As they pushed their way through the by-standers, an unexpected consequence was that one of the parade participants

Costa del Sol towns dominate the best holiday resorts list

By Walter Finch

Blue-Flag beaches.

Torremolinos and Estepona also make the top 10, along with Catalunya’s Salou and Alicante on the Costa Blanca..

The majority of the most popular destinations are coastal towns and resorts,

with Andalucia and the Valencian Community the big winners.

These regions stand out thanks to their stunning and safe beaches, perfect for swimming and water sports, according to holiday rental experts Spain-Holiday, who teamed up with rental portal Holidu.

They looked at combined

July record broken

internal search data of their Spanish users to find out where locals like to go.

Away from the Costa del Sol, many other top destinations are found on the Costa Blanca, which include Benidorm, Moraira, Calpe and Denia.

was pushed over and lost his temper.

The jolly crowd did not take things seriously and responded by grabbing tomatoes from a stall and hurling them at him- resulting in the first La Tomatina.

Streets of red

All of the pear tomatoes used in the annual battle are grown much further north at Benicarlo, Ciudad Real, and Hellin because the fruit is cheaper than locally grown options.

They are sent to a Castellon province warehouse on Saturday and then on Tuesday, the tomatoes are loaded up on seven lorries to make the 70 kilometre journey to Buñol.

Up to 50,000 people used to take part in

La Tomatina up to a decade ago, but safety issues have meant numbers have been cut to a maximum 20,000 who have official tickets.

The fight lasts for an hour before fire trucks arrive to clean down the streets, while revellers return to their accommodation for a shower or go for a dip at the Buñol river.

Other summer destinations popular with locals are Salou, Barcelona and Sitges in Catalunya, and island towns such as Alcudia and Port d’Antdrax (Mallorca) and Puerto del Carmen and Costa Adeje (Tenerife).

If you’d rather fancy a summer holiday with less heat and more sporty activities, the north of Spain is the place to be.

Top

Here, locals especially love destinations in the Basque Country and Galicia, with cities like San Sebastian, Bilbao and La Coruña making it onto the top 50. These cities stand out because of their rich cultural heritage, beautiful nearby hiking routes, and excellent beaches for surfing, according to the report.

SPAIN'S airports saw the best-ever July for passenger numbers, as tourism continues to blossom following the Covid pandemic.

Operator Aena said that 29.76 million passengers used their airports last month- 10% more than the same month last year and beating the July 2019 record by 1.2%.

International travellers totalled 29.70 million, nearly 12% more than a year ago, with 9.28 million domestic passengers - 6% up on July 2022.

So far this year, 159.2 million people have used Spain's airports - 20.6% more than last year and 1.2% up on the 2019 record figures.

Alicante-Elche airport had 1.71 million travellers (up 12.7%); Malaga reported 2.43 million (up 17.8%); and Valencia stood at 1.03 million passengers (up 17.85) - all record July highs.

It was also the first time in Valencia airport's history that it logged over a million passengers in a month.

Madrid, Barcelona, and Palma de Mallorca maintained their positions as Spain's busiest airports.

With

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ANOTHER WORLD

While tourists are sweltering on the costas, midsummer in Europe’s hottest city is a different level

SEVILLA is another world, and in high summer that world is a beautiful and lonely inferno.

The locals flee to the coast (mostly Huelva) while a few

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foolhardy tourists run rivers of sweat on the tapas bar terraces wishing that they had heeded the warnings of what August is like in Europe’s hottest city. After 20 years of visiting, I am a little more used to it now, and actually enjoy the peace and emptiness. One learns to siesta or read in cool darkness and only venture out before midday and after darkness falls. It was on one such semi-sweltering evening that I stumbled across my old friends, Ignacio and Gola, husband and wife, sitting in the cafe in front of their emblematic hotel, Las Casas de la Juderia, in Barrio de Santa Cruz.

I used to see them weekly when they hosted a tertulia - a sort of political and literary salon - in one of the hotel’s drawing rooms to introduce me to interesting people when I was writing about Sevilla for the UK press.

The hotel is an elegant antique labyrinth, although it does not compare to their other properties like Ignacio’s childhood home, the most beautiful palace in Spain, Casa Pilatos.

Ignacio is the Duke of Segorbe and son of the 18th Duchess of Medinacelli, who was the second most titled woman in Spain after the late Duchess of Alba. His mother was born Princess María de la Gloria de Orleans-Braganza y de Borbón-Dos Sicilias, descendant of the last Emperor of Brazil, no less. Years ago, I bumped into Ignacio at the very same table where he was busy de -

crying the fact that he had been forced to put Casas de la Juderia on the market for ‘financial reasons’. We stepped into his hotel bar to finish the evening with ‘one last drink before I sell her’. However, after that final gin and tonic, he ended the evening with a smile. “Oh, I did have some good news,” he said, bringing out his phone with a photo of the front cover of an Italian newspaper that day. “They have confirmed one of the sculptures we have is a Michelangelo.”

Given the last time a Michelangelo went up for auction it was merely a sketch on paper and it fetched $20 million at Christies, one can only imagine what a lifesize young John the Baptist sculpture might go for. It meant he could somehow avoid selling the hotel after all, and now it is being managed by his daughter.

I almost regretted offering my sympathies for his financial plight that night, but then I remembered that everything is relative, and as I said, Sevilla is another world.

PRICELESS: the amazing Michelangelo kept by the Duke in his hotel

PIC CREDITS: Museo Nacional del Prado

STAYING COOL: And even with a tie in Sevilla in summer, while (below left) the Duke and Duchess of Segorbe

‘They have confirmed one of the sculptures is a Michelangelo’

DONATION BOOM

SPAIN performs more than half of all egg donation treatments in Europe and is the largest provider of donor eggs on the continent. The country is a popular choice for private fertility

treatments because any woman or man regardless of their civil status, sexual orientation or age can access them. There tend to be short waiting lists and people come to Spain for treatments due to restrictions and even bans related to egg donation in their

home countries.

Egg banks in Spain have proliferated in recent years, shipping in donor eggs from around the world.

Close to 15,000 women undergo egg extraction cycles every year in the country, with donors getting some of the best financial inducements in Europe at around €1,100 for a successful cycle.

EYE ON THE TIGER

Malaga is the province with the most people suffering tiger mosquito bites in Andalucia

WATCH out for tiger mosquitos - Malaga province has been identified as the Andalucian region most affected by the dangerous pest.

A total of 82 people have been bitten by tiger mosquitoes in the province this year, nearly four times more than in 2022, when 22 people were bitten.

Scientifically named Aedes albopictus, it is native to tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia but can now be found in many countries across the globe.

In recent years, Spain has seen a significant increase in the number of these specimens, which can transmit viruses such as dengue, zika and chikungunya.

Spain’s National Association of Environmental Health Businesses (ANECPLA) warns that this situation is likely to get worse due to globalisation and the current increase in temperature.

“We need to stay alert as

By Alberto Lejarraga

Spain is the entry gate for a number of species of mosquitoes and other invasive species, which can negatively affect public health,” Jorge Galvan, ANECPLA General Director said.

In Malaga province, Torremolinos is the worst affected town, followed by Malaga and Marbella.

Meanwhile, in Spain, Barcelona, Alicante and Valencia are the cities with the largest population of the species.

According to ANECPLA, it is very difficult to control the tiger mosquito population, as they can easily adapt to survive in unfavourable conditions.

However, they need humid spaces to reproduce, as females place their eggs on the surface of accumulations of water.

To prevent this insect from reproducing, there are a

number of measures that can be taken such as removing water from planter trays, renewing water in plastic paddling pools, keeping gutters and drains clean and refilling pets’ water dishes frequently

RETURN OF THE MASK

WITH a recent rise in new Covid-19 cases, two Spanish hospitals have reintroduced mandatory mask wearing in parts of their buildings.

Increased Covid cases are largely down to an new Omricon variant called Eris (EG.5) which the World Health Organisation says is more contagious and transmissible but poses a lower health risk. Compulsory mask-wearing in hospitals and medical centres was abolished by the Council of Ministers in early July, though masks still had to be used in vulnerable hospital areas where patients could come under risk of infection.

But now Valencia General Hospital has issued a circular saying masks should be worn in rooms where there are Covid patients, in the ER and ICU, in day hospitals, and for patients that have symptoms compatible with Covid 19.

Last week, Valencia’s Doctor Preset Hospital ordered masks to return to its ER and

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Infection rises

SPAIN has recorded an increase in E.coli and Listeria infections in 2022, according to recently released figures.

In 2022, 633 infections were reported, as well as eight imported cases, up from 426 cases in 2021.

A total of 134 hospitalisations were reported and six people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a severe complication associated with E.coli infections that causes kidney failure.

Four of these cases were in under threes, one was 10 years old, and the other was 84. In 2022, 460 listeria cases were reported, with 67 deaths compared to 38 fatalities the previous year.

Monkey warning

A MONKEYPOX outbreak has been declared in Barcelona.

A total of six victims have been identified, according to Barcelona’s Public Health Agency, which said all six were infected outside Catalunya. Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by a virus and its most common symptoms are a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. It can be serious and even lead to death.

Are

ICU, as well as the resuscitation area and the oncology department. The decision was taken by the hospital's Occupational Risk department due to the rise of Covid cases among health staff. The measure was described as temporary, but it is likely other hospitals in Spain may bring in similar regulations.

Across: 1 Upright, 5 Stain, 8 Drama, 9 Nervous, 10 Noisy, 11 Eternal, 12 Telephonist, 17 Naphtha, 19 Piece, 20 Respect, 21 North, 22 Waste, 23 Decided.

Down: 1 Undone, 2 Realise, 3 Gravy, 4 Tender-hearted, 5 Surgeon, 6 Acorn, 7 Nestle, 13 Extreme, 14 Sneered, 15 Andrew, 16 Method, 18 Pesos, 19 Panic.

Are

PEST: Tiger Mosquitos

are more than simply a nuisance - they can be dangerous

REuse REduce REcycle P LIVE RESS The O

We use recycled paper

Beach Volleyboar

A HERD of wild boars interrupted a number of beach volleyball games in Marbella amid a surge in sightings of the species across the Costa del Sol this summer.

Whiskey thief

POLICE are searching for a spirit-loving thief who drove with a lorry containing over 14,000 bottles of whiskey that was parked in Murcia.

Wrong turn

A LORRY transporting 25 tons of toilet paper got stuck in a narrow street of a village in the Basque Country while following GPS instructions.

Brace for the Brummies!

LET US STRIP!

Nudists lodge official complaint over ‘too many clothed people’ at their designated beaches

A NATURIST group in Catalunya is fuming over the lack of naked people at their prized nudist beaches.

The Naturist-Nudist Federation has sent a letter to the regional government, claiming they are facing ‘discrimination’ due to the influx of

By Alex Trelinski

clothed beachgoers.

Spain has a liberal attitude to public nudity where technically it is not illegal unless lewd acts or intentions are involved. Seigmon Rovira, the head of

the Naturist-Nudist Federation of Catalonia, told The Guardian: “Nudism is not banned and you can do it on any beach, but so as not to bother people, we prefer to go

Jelly whopper

BEACH-GOERS in Alicante got a shock when they spotted a giant jellyfish floating just metres from the shore. The remarkable sight unfolded on Sunday at Muchavista Beach in El Campello. The impressive find, weighing in at nearly 40kg, raised eyebrows and curiosity among those soaking up the sun. The specimen has been identified as a Rhizostoma Luteum, a species rarely seen in the region. Unlike the common Mediterranean jellyfish, this marine marvel belongs to a unique category, with sizes three to four times bigger than its coastal counterparts.

to beaches that have traditionally been nudist and where most people are naked. We want people to respect this.”

Rovira's issue is that nudist beach users appear to be changing, as he explained: "Before, people would arrive at a nude beach and either leave or strip down but now they stay and keep their swimsuit on.

“What they don't realise is that if there are a lot of them, they end up making us uncomfortable. It's a lack of respect.”

Rovira said that tourists who actively seek out secluded spots often overlook the nudist identity of certain beaches.

“These clothed beach goers then proceed to take photos

REAL Madrid is overjoyed with their new British star Jude Bellingham after he secured a brace against Almeria at the weekend - and his brother could soon be following in his footsteps.

Birmingham-born Jude, 20, became the first Los Blancos player to score in his opening two games since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. And just a few hours later, his sibling Jobe, 17, also scored a brace.

The young Sunderland striker secured his team’s 2-1 victory against Rotherham in England’s second-tier league.

Bloody relief!

POLICE rushed to the scene of a car that appeared to have blood oozing from its boot. Cops in Alcudia, Mallorca, had received a frantic call from a resident who feared a dead or wounded person was bleeding out in the trunk of a parked black Peugeot. A sticky red substance was dripping down the back of the vehicle. However it turned out that a vandal had thrown raspberry jam at the car. A police spokesman said: “We all breathed a sigh of relief.”