Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 229 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

P LIVE RESS O GIBRALTAR

Cars for a cause

LUXURY cars raced down the airport runway last weekend to fundraise for the SSAFA Armed Forces charity.

‘A Driving Force’ saw 70 people and 35 vehicles take part in the event, part of a 10-day journey across Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar.

The road trip, which ends on Friday, aims to raise £120,000 for SSAFA.

In Gibraltar, the events included a remembrance service for military personnel at

SOTOGRANDE GLISTENS

Discover the jewel tucked away on the Andalucian coast in our supplement

Trafalgar Cemetery.

The charity is run by ex-servicemen Benn Laidler and Steve Shaw after they realised military personnel needed more support to cope with traumatic life changes, injury and loss.

They have been fundraising since 2012 with driving events across the UK and mainland Europe.

In that time they have raised over three quarters of a million pounds, which goes to charities supporting ex-servicemen and women.

In 2022, the event raised a huge £173,000.

‘LAND GRAB’

LAND reclamation is set to begin on Gibraltar’s controversial 150,000 sqm Eastside marina project this month.

It will see the addition of a sprawling port and commercial park which will transform the character of the Rock and the surrounding waters on the Mediterranean side.

A floating barge has been stationed for the purposes of filling in rocks and other debris which will be used to create the new development.

The Gibraltar Port Authority advised vessels operating in the waters that it will be lit and manned during the night.

“Maritime users (including paddle boards, kayaks, etc) are requested to keep clear of the work,” it added.

The month-long land reclamation will pave the way for the construction of luxury apartments, offices, a shop-

Works begins to reclaim land off Gibraltar’s east coast for new marina development – as Spanish protests pipe up to claim all the waters around the Rock as theirs

By Walter Finch

ping centre and restaurants as well as a new marina that could add €3bn of economic value to the territory.

The €330 million project will also add parks, playgrounds, and community centres to Gibraltar’s less-populated eastern side.

The land refill is set to utilise the rubble pile that has long been an eyesore near the Hassans Centenary Towers.

However, activists – both Gibraltar residents and Spanish ecologists –have been quick to decry the potential damage and destruction that the

project will do to protected wildlife habitats on Gibraltar’s eastern side.

Spain’s Ecologists in Action has claimed that the rubble, which was dug up to build the Kingsway Tunnel, contains traces of aviation fuel, heavy metals and petrochemicals.

Protests over the Eastside project have also been growing in Spain. Algeciras’ combative mayor and PP senator Jose Ignacio Landaluce has raised the issue in Madrid.

“How does the Spanish Government intend to defend compliance with environmental regulations, not only national, but also those of the European Union, and protect the citizens of

Campo de Gibraltar in this regard?"

Landaluce has asked.

land reclamation off the coast of Gibraltar is happening in Spanish territorial waters, and demanded to know if his own government believes the development violates the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.

LUXURY: The development is designed to rival Marbellas’s Puerto Banus

Tunnel moans

Landaluce also believes that the CONTAMINATED earth dug up to build the Kingsway tunnel under Gibraltar’s runway may end up in landfills in Spain, according to an environmental group.

Verdemar Ecologistas en Acción claim that tonnes of rubble that has been lying dormant near the Hassan Centenary Towers have been transported to an old quarry near Los Barrios. The waste treatment centre at the former Arenas de Castrillon mine is in-

tended to produce recycled aggregate from Gibraltar’s demolition jobs ‘in such a way that it serves to improve the living conditions of its inhabitants and strengthen good relations between Spain and the United Kingdom.’

The environmentalists assert that demolition materials contain aviation fuel, heavy metals and petrochemicals, which the treatment centre is unable to handle. It is thought that the recycled aggregate produced at this centre will then be used to reclaim land as part of Gibraltar’s East Side project.

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.

POLICE have broken up a network of drug houses in the centre of Marbella that each catered to a different drug and user.

While one locale would sell cocaine, another would deal in hash and a third in marijuana, with the criminal network operating them targeting a different profile of drug user.

User friendly

Marbella police went undercover to track down the houses after neighbours began to complain about the narco activity. Through observing the neighbourhood around Calle Las Peñuelas they managed

to identify the criminal gang, which operated with varying hours depending on the drug being sold.

Police made five simultaneous raids on the Marbella homes and rounded up 13 people – including one narco who had several outstanding arrest and imprisonment warrants.

LAW’S AN ASS

A GERMAN couple who claim their Spanish home was ‘stolen’ from them now face losing their belongings inside after a judge made a shocking error and then went on holiday. The judge at Estepona court denied a request to order the current occupants out after ruling the public prosecutor was opposed to it – when precisely the opposite was true.

But before the mistake could be remedied she went away for the entire month of August.

Expat pensioners who lost home in an alleged ‘con’ now face losing their priceless possessions as judge swans off for her summer break after mix up

By Walter Finch

Now a court clerk has told the Olive Press nothing can be done until September as other cases are ‘more urgent.’ She explained that substitute judges did not have time to attend to the case.

Chicken mystery

THE Catalan regional police have found the body of a man in a small bay surrounded by headless chickens.

The Mossos d’Esquadra said that there were no signs of criminal activity at the scene, which was in the municipality of Palamos in the province of Girona.

The headless chickens suggested that some kind of ritual was being carried out, but for now the police said that they did not know how they were linked to the death of the man.

Police say that the man’s partner raised the alarm, staying with the body until officers arrived.

“We have a lack of clerks, judges, prosecutors - everyone,”she admitted. “We have people in prison and all kinds of cases of abuse and criminality that are more urgent.”

She added: “If there’s been an error by the judge, the family can take it to the provincial court in Malaga and maybe they can redress it, but there’s nothing we can do until the judge is back from holiday.”

The Olive Press previously reported how Dagmar Neveling, 78, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, signed away her three-bed apartment last December.

The nightmare began when an estate agent friend, who denies any wrongdoing, showed up when he knew Dagmar would be home

SMUGGLE SCUFFLE

A SUSPECTED tobacco smuggler who kicked a customs officer in the chest and threatened him with a rock has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison. Gibraltarian Jayron Perez, 25, of Glacis Estate, pleaded guilty to assaulting the man and was sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court.

alone.

He then allegedly ‘cajoled and threatened her’ into selling the €400,000 home for just €1,000, her family claim.

Dagmar and husband Rudiger, 81, returned home later that day to find the locks changed and a new alarm installed – and all their lives’ possessions trapped inside.

The property was then sold to a third party a month later for €250,000.

Since then, the Nevelings have been battling in court to have the current occupants ejected and the contract signed by Dagmar annulled. However they are not just desperate to get their home back – their valuable family heirlooms, hundreds of photo albums and personal documents are all at the mercy of the occupants. They claim their passports and birth certificates are inside as well as a porcelain collection worth €30,000 and silver cutlery valued at €35,000.

The court heard that just after 7pm on Friday 19 August 2022, Perez was down by the seafront in the area of Neil Piñero Road (formerly Emerson’s Place) with other associates.

The group were thought to be loading a vessel up with bags of suspected tobacco when a lone off-duty Customs Officer arrived at the scene and shouted for them to stop.

Kicked

Perez then kicked the officer in the chest, sending him to the floor – causing the officer various minor injuries.

He then picked up a large rock and threatened to bash the officer with it as he lay on the ground.

Other Customs Officers arrived and attempted to block Perez leaving in a car, but he mounted a pavement, almost colliding with members of the public as he escaped.

Following an investigation, Perez was identified on CCTV. Perez also pleaded guilty to Carrying An Offensive Weapon (the rock), for which he received no separate penalty.

With

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

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

“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.”

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

ROARing good time

club into her own personal playground!

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.

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.

DRIVEN MAN NEW HEIGHTS

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 Letiz ia, 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

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 night-

MOBBED: Fans tried to get a glimpse of Yamal

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

Gibraltar Geoff

ONE of England’s greatest ever football players is launching the season’s new kit for a Gibraltar football club.

Sir Geoff Hurst has launched a new black strip for Lions Gibraltar FC – the professional club he helped inspire to be formed in 1966.

Lions Gibraltar FC, who sport the famous Three Lions on their club badge, contacted the Football Association back in the year England won their first – and only – World Cup to request permission to use it.

Proudly

Since then the club have proudly worn the iconic Three Lions on their shirt for the past 58 years, which are incorporated into its own unique club badge, alongside the club’s name, 1966 – the year of its foundation and the Latin words cede nulli – ‘yield to none’.

Now, for the first time, legendary striker Hurst has donned the kit of the club he helped inspire.

The striking new black and orange away strip includes lions and references to 1966 across the jersey and forms part of the new range of kits released by the Gibraltar Football League club.

Historic anniversary

THIS week marks the 320th anniversary of the capture of Gibraltar by Anglo-Dutch marines on August 4, 1704. This event was ‘key to the creation of an unbreakable bond between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.’ It will be marked with a commemorative stamp and coin, issued by Gibraltar Mint and Royal Gibraltar Post Office. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Anglo-Dutch marines led by Admiral Rooke captured Gibraltar.

Ceded

It was later ceded ‘in perpetuity’ from the Crown of Spain to the Crown of Great Britain in 1713. This was the start of a ‘distinct’ Gibraltarian population, with the immigration of many different religious, cultural and national groups over the next 300 years.

Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “Today marks 320 years since the start of the unbreakable bond between Gibraltar and the United Kingdom. It’s important to mark this day as it shows how significant that period was to establish our British links that we still enjoy to this day.”

ON THE BILL

RENOWNED author and journalist Bill Bryson will be hosting a talk at Gibraltar National Museum.

Titled ‘ Notes from All Over’ , the event will be held in John Mackintosh Hall on Tuesday, August 27 at 7pm. Tickets are free and available on the Museum’s Eventbrite page.

Bryson was born in the United States but has spent most of his adult life in England.

There, he worked as a journalist before becoming an author in 1987.

His book, A Short History of Nearly Everything has won numerous awards and has been translated into 46 languages. He was awarded an honorary OBE in 2006.

Whale of a row

Yacht owners slammed for fitting spikes to their boats to ward off

Orca attacks in the Staits

By Walter Finch

SHIP captains are adding spiky new armour to their rudders and keels to ward off killer whales in the Straits of Gibraltar. It comes after a string of Orca attacks that left numerous boats damaged and some even sunk.

In the latest incident British-registered Bonhomme William was sunk a fortnight ago with its crew having to be rescued off Tarifa.

The 12-metre yacht was repeatedly nudged by a pod of killer whales after leaving Gibraltar. Just a few weeks earlier an-

other boat Kelba had its rudder and keel badly damaged by five orcas leading to a further rescue.

And in May, the

Alboran Cognac was sunk after being attacked off Tangier, with its crew members needing to be rescued by an oil tanker. The same month, two boats, Malaika and Galaxia, had to be towed to Barbate due to damage caused by whale encounters.

Green groups, though, have slammed the move to add the sharp edges to yachts to repel the whales.

One, Sea Shepherd, filmed a

PASSPORT CHAOS

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.

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

Disgusting

“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.”

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.

A Ryanair spokesperson told the Olive Press: “Due to passport control delays at Lanzarote, 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

WAIT: These passengers in Lanzarote were refused passage

French boat in Barbate this week after adding around a dozen angular spikes.

The conservation group criticised the move, which is likely to ‘injure orcas that approach’.

It has long been feared that sailors might start taking aggressive reprisals against the creatures, which could seriously threaten the existence of the pod.

Orcas are considered an endangered species and are protected under European law, which makes it illegal to harm them.

Penalties include hefty fines and prison, depending on the severity of the harm caused.

However, the sharpened objects are a ‘grey area,’ according to Sea Shepherd.

“Our legal team is working on a complaint for ‘attempted destruction of a protected spe-

RUDDER: Spiked to discourage Orcas

cies,” a spokesman said. He emphasised orcas are not aggressive towards humans and the interactions with them in the Straits have been ‘anything but attacks’.

“As we recently showed in several videos of our boat surrounded by 15 orcas, these majestic beings show no signs of aggression,” he said.

“Large, curious and playful cetaceans... whose damage, if any, is due more to their size and strength than to their desire to harm anyone.

“As a reminder, no human being has ever been injured by an orca in the wild, ever.”

MILITARY MURAL

The mural fuses military history and nature in a work by artist Jessica Darch.

It is found outside the entrance to Hay’s Level, welcoming visitors with the Latin motto: “ Montis Insignia Calpe ” (Insignia of the Mountain of Calpe).

The artwork is just one part of the refurbishment of the tunnels, which also includes extensive structural enhancements and improved visitor facilities.

A SECOND Barbary macaque has been born at Blair Drummond Safari Park, Stirling. Harper was born to mother Eadie last month, following Hayley, who was born in May. The Scottish park received a troop of Barbary macaques from Gibraltar in 2014.

Control

It was a bid to control the monkey population, whichwere wreaking havoc in the town centre. The Rock officials identified the 30 naughtiest monkeys by seeing how far they travelled from their habitat on the Upper Rock Nature Reserve into built-up areas. They were then trapped over a three-week period and flown to Scotland.

THE ROCK ROCKS

CASEMATES Square is set to host a youth rock concert this September.

‘ Grassroots Festival ’ will take place on Sunday, September 8, and feature the Rock’s up-and-coming talent.

Brighton-based Gibraltarian, Nikolai Celecia will headline alongside Phthalo Tides, Burning Loud, Nate, Best Before End and MAG Youth. It is organised by the Musicians Association Gibraltar (MAG).

Shooting for a spot

ADRIAN Parral, the former manager of Gibraltar Women’s national football team, has signed on as 1st Team Manager for Billericay Town FC Women’s team. He hopes to build the club over the next three years and secure a Championship place. Currently, Billericay play in the FA Women’s National League in England.

A NEW mural has been revealed at the historic WWII Tunnels of Gibraltar as refurbishments works draw to a close.

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,

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By Ben Pawlowski

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

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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.

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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’.

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In the vast landscape of the internet, cybercriminals lurk like mischievous trolls, targeting unsuspecting victims with scams and fraud. Older adults often find themselves in the crosshairs, viewed as easier prey. However, with a sprinkle of humour and a dose of common sense, navigating the digital world safely becomes not just achievable but enjoyable.

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.”

Cruise ships targeted

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’.

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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.

Voted

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, p4).

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

Santaella

accounts@ theolivepress.es

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

Oasis of calm

FOR EVERYONE: Sotogrande is the perfect place to chill and relax

AHAVEN for the discreetly wealthy and famous, Sotogrande stands as a beacon of luxury on the Cadiz coast.

With a scene-stealing location and near-perfect weather, it’s not surprising that this is one of Spain’s most desirable places to live. Head down the Costa del Sol west towards the famous pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar and Jebel Musa in Morocco) and you will eventually come to Sotogrande.

Once

simply farmland, Sotogrande has blossomed into Andalucia’s largest privately owned residential development, writes Dilip Kuner

Roughly 100km from Malaga, Sotogrande is where business moguls and A-List types move to upgrade.

The mastermind behind the extraordinary transformation from farm to an enclave of privilege, where

most people seem to have have a yacht (or at least a rhib), was the American-Filipino, Joseph McMicking. As president of the Ayala Corporation, he had overseen the creation of Forbes Park, a prestigious Philippine property development. Inspired by this success, he dreamt of replicating its exclusivity on the Me -

diterranean.

In 1962, McMicking tasked his cousin, Alfredo ‘Fredy’ Melian, with finding the perfect location. After exploring the region by motorbike, largely on dirt roads, Melian discovered an 1800-hectare estate near Gibraltar.

The farmland had been owned by a succession of rich and famous – the Duke of Arcos, the Larios family and then financier Juan March, arms and tobacco dealer, founder of the eponymous science and arts institution and once the richest man in Spain. It seemed fated for grander use – and it ticked the boxes.

“We bought the land at Sotogrande without having seen it, like a pig in a poke,” said McMickling, speaking in 1967. “Paid $750,000 down and had to pay

another third in six months and the rest in a year.” McMicking arrived with his nephews, Jaime and Enrique Zobel (Enrique had overseen work on his friend the Sultan of Brunei’s 1,788-room palace) and Melian stayed on as director of works. As the only bar for miles, the Antigua Venta Toledo served as an early HQ. The team had experience, connections but, best of all, patience and plans.

Inspired by golfing communities like Palm Beach and Pebble Beach in the US, McMicking was determined to build the community around a golf club and, in 1963, the world’s top golf course designer, Robert Trent Jones, was flown in to design the course. The Real Club Sotogrande was Trent Jones’ first European venture and the first course in Europe with a new-fangled automated irrigation system. None other than Spain’s top modernist architect, Luis Gutierrez Soto (Callao Theatre and fnac building, Madrid), designed the low-slung clubhouse – still avant-garde today, as well as the ultra des-res course-side bungalows. McMicking poached the director of The Ritz in Madrid to run the club.

SPORTS: From water sports to polo and golf, Sotogrande is an outdoor haven

SOMETHING

SOTO GOLD

IT is time to dust off your jodhpurs and head over to the playing fields of Sotogrande as it hosts the prestigious Gold Cup from August 19 to 31.

This annual highlight of the World Polo Tour attracts thousands of spectators to the Ayala Polo Club.

As part of the month-long International Polo Tournament – the 53rd edition of the event – the Gold Cup showcases the crème de la crème of the sport. With three levels of competition – low, medium, and high handicap – there’s something for every polo aficionado. The action is already in full swing, with the Bronze and Silver Cup events being contested, and is open to all comers to view.

Beyond the thrilling matches, there is a vibrant atmosphere with a variety of activities. You can explore the stylish boutiques, enjoy live music performances, or unwind at the lively ‘After Polo’ tent.

Families are well catered for with a dedicated children’s area featuring many exciting attractions. And when hunger strikes, there is no shortage of delicious morsels to tempt you.

Sushi paradise

HIS family have been running one of the oldest restaurants in Sotogrande for decades so when Juan Moncayo decided he wanted to do sushi, there were no half measures.

His amazing new Japanese section at his waterfront restaurant Don Diego in the port is simply stunning.

With a local chef who's got sushi in the blood (her dad being the country manager for a huge sushi chain) she knows exactly what quality of rice and fish she needs.

Massaging a lovely cut of bluefin tuna from nearby Barbate, Sulaema, from Algeciras, knows what she's looking for.

“I've learnt to tell the quality immediately and we get all our tuna from one of Spain’s top suppliers in Barbate,” she explained.

“It's a pleasure to work with such good quality in-

amazing quality avocados from the nearby Guadiaro valley you've got some special tuna California rolls.

And then when you couple these super fresh avocados with cuts of ‘pez mantequilla’ (butterfish) and scallops for a tar-

Push the boat out more and go for the Lobster rolls with caviar gredients.”

When coupled with

DES-RES

(Trent Jones would return a decade later to design Valderrama, the setting for Volvo Masters events, the Spanish Open and Ryder Cup. With another three courses in Sotogrande, and almost 70 within driving distance (no pun intended), McMicking helped the Costa del Sol become one of Europe’s top golfing destinations.)

A keen polo player, Enrique Zobel built a polo ground by the beach. La Playa, inaugurated in 1965, wasn’t Spain’s first (the Jerez Polo Club dates back to 1872), but it revived polo passion and set the social tone. Although la Playa has gone, Sotogrande’s Santa Maria Polo Club is considered one of the best in the world.

The first beach club appeared below the golf course. Cucurucho (cornet), named for the conical roof,

Word spread and the rich, powerful and discreet began moving in. Jaime Ortiz-Patiño of the Bolivian tin mining dynasty, diamond magnate Philip Oppenheimer, and banker and advisor to Onassis, the flambuoyant George Moore were among the first. Javier Benjumea, the Marquis of Puebla de Ca

tare you're on for a surefire winner. Push the boat out more and go for the Lobster (yes Lobster!) rolls

wife's from Bolivia) or northern Spain, so he's always on the lookout for the best quality cuts or new

There is a much wider menu than just sushi

SUSHI SUPREME: Chef Renato (below) chooses only the best ingredients for Sulaema (right) to delicately prepare, while the meat is from Galicia

ternational in flavour with an ex-

The steaks come from Galicia (rubia gallega) and are aged to “Minhota gourmet is the best steak you can eat in Europe right now,” claims Juan, who buys them directly from farms in Galicia and Northern Portugal. He's been serving similar quality fare at his other restaurant Moncayo in nearby Pueblonuevo for decades so speaks with authority. It's hard to disagree when it comes out rare alongside a hot stone over which you cook it to your perfect

But French dukes, Belgian barons, Spanish counts, scions of business followed, and, later politicians and Fabian Picardo),

But that’s not all at Don Diego in Sotogrande port

While I've no inclination to take a pudding after my meat feast I'm persuaded to try a Brownie of white chocolate which comes with pistachios and strawberries.

I'm not disappointed and thankfully am able to spend the next hour relaxing watching the boats go by in the nearby port, as the afternoon sun finally starts to drop.

BEACH CLUB: The original Cucurucho is now the Trocadero, which maintains the high standards expected in Sotogrande

and a smattering of celebrities from former England manager Glenn Hoddle and golfer Tony Jacklin followed.

Most houses are architectural gems. The Domecq family mansion is now the clubhouse of the San Roque golf course, but unless you are a houseguest you are unlikely to see the best of the rest, some of which, like the Zobel house and Biddle House, have preservation orders on them.

American diplomat Nicholas Biddle’s house, built by Javier Carvajal fresh from designing the Spanish Pavilion at the New York 1963 World’s Fair, cost $160,000. Sadly, prices have gone up: When Joseph Kanoui, head of the syndicate that bought Cartier, put his Casa La Manzana on the market for €26m in 2006, it was the most expensive house for sale in Spain. McMicking’s plans for Sotogrande extended to the kind of person who came and what they built. “A Sotogrande based on money would be the most horrible society imaginable,” he said. However, it was only when Sotogrande was running out of cash and needed to open up to a new market of buyers that more affordable housing was developed.

A Sotogrande based on money would be the most horrible society imaginable

Franco had helped the Sotogrande shareholders by waiving the rule that prevented foreigners purchasing land in Spain. But he stuffed them by closing Spain’s border with Gibraltar in 1969. With the N-340 under construction, the trek to Malaga airport was arduous. The jet set couldn’t jet in, and Sotogrande fell into debt.

In the late 70s, the decision was taken to build apartments on the left bank of the Guardiaro. In 1978, to

appeal to all-year residents, the International School at Sotogrande (ISS) was set up – initially in the old cattle sheds of one of the farms, Cortijo de Paniagua. By the time the border reopened in 1985, Sotogrande was a different kind of place, still off the beaten track – it would be another 17 years until the AP-7 motorway hooked it up, but more connected to the real world. Some of the residents even had day jobs! McMicking’s vision had always included a marina with canals and islands of apartments with

SPECTACULAR: Development has been controlled and is sympathetic to the natural surroundings

yacht views, and the 1980s developments included just that, in shape of the Puerto Deportivo Sotogrande, completed in 1987, three years before his death.

The construction of this mini-Venice was as good as saying times might change, but the dream of Sotogrande as a beautiful playground, a gorgeous sanctuary, remains intact. As he predicted: “Sooner or later the Costa del Sol is going to be mobbed but Sotogrande will be an island of order in the chaos.”

POPULAR: The beach remains unspoilt, with birdlife from the estuary wildlife haven nearby

RIDING HIGH ON FASHION

REPARE to be enchanted as SO/ Sotogrande SPA & Golf Resort once again transforms its idyllic gardens into a breathtaking runway for the return of Riding Between Seams.

This extraordinary fusion of fashion and equestrian artistry is set to captivate audiences on August 17.

After a sold-out summer debut, which saw 270 people attend, the show is back with even more glamour and grandeur.

Equestrian extravaganza returns with plenty of style to SO/ Sotogrande

Imagine the most coveted haute couture from Andalucian designers accompanied by noble Spanish stallions, all set to a symphony of classical music. This is the magic that awaits at Riding Between Seams.

Award winning designers Alejandro Andana (from San Roque and winner of the Tio Pepe Flamenco Catwalk 2021 and SIMOF 2022), Angel Bar rera (who won the Jerez 2024 newcomer contest at the Tío Pepe Flamenco Catwalk) and Jose Juan Hurtado Revidiego (who won the Young Designers contest at SIMOF 2024) will showcase their latest collections, embodying the essence of Andalucian style.

SPECTACULAR: The equestian and fashion worlds come together

From the fiery passion of flamenco-inspired designs to the timeless elegance of haute couture, this event promises a feast for the senses.

For those seeking an elevated ex-

perience, exclusive VIP boxes offer unparalleled views of the spectacle, complemented by exquisite culinary delights crafted by Chef Leandro Caballero. As the sun dips below the horizon, guests can immerse themselves in an atmosphere of opulence and sophistication.

Riding Between Seams is more than just a fashion show; it’s a celebration of Andalucian culture and artistry. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable event. Tickets are selling fast.

Event Details: Riding Between Seams SO/ Sotogrande SPA & Golf Resort August 17, 10pm. Tickets: €45 General Admission, VIP Boxes from €1,200

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.

STOP NAPPING…

…And register an account on the Olive Press website.

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.

IT costs you nothing and this week you can enter yet another competition to win a fabulous prize at www.theolivepress.es.

After our giveaways to win tickets to the exciting Pete Tong night in Marbella, and free meals at upmarket local restaurants, now you’ll have the chance to win three double mattresses (or 2 x singles).

Thanks to our new collaboration with Andalucia’s leading bed company, Micolchon, we are giving these away by answering one simple question.

Once registered on www.theolivepress.es you can enter the competition easily and hope you are one of the three lucky winners with a name pulled out of a hat.

It comes as Micolchon opened a new bed shop in Ronda, its 15th in Andalucia (pictured above).

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

On the subject of winners the

Gary told the Olive Press : “Thank you so much! This is awesome news, really looking forward to going.”

There were over 100 entrants to the competition out of our 41,000 registered users online.

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.

As our website gathers speed this summer with a brand new server able to handle over 10,000 visitors a minute, we have seen our numbers spike.

Indeed, over the last few weeks we have been averaging 75,000 visitors a day from all over the world, with over a third of them here in Spain.

It means that any company launching in the Iberian Peninsula or looking to expand and grow their existing business here will get a guaranteed boost by working with www.theolivepress.es.

It is proven that businesses that advertise with traditional print media, alongside online services, grow much faster than if they just use online services or social media.

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

MISERY: Graffiti in Tenerife earlier this year

two pairs of tickets to the Fiesta Live Pete Tong show on August 10 were Gary and Sandra Walker and Hans van de Rakt and his partner.

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

Jobless boost

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

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.

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

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 -

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.

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 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 Balearic Islands saw the biggest unemployment rate drop, going from 15.48% to 7.95%.

Green fund

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.

So long cerveza

Fines

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

By Yzabelle Bostyn

on minors’.

Police will also be authorised to carry out breathalyzer tests in areas where alcohol consumption is banned, including sports facilities where children are present, schools and playgrounds. If caught, offenders could face a fine of between €60 and

€600.

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 force - extends 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 ser-

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.

fine

vices, parks and children’s play areas. It also suggests banning any furniture or decoration sponsored by alcoholic drink brands - even if they are alcohol free.

This is a response to so-called ‘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.”

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

FOOD,DRINK &

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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.

anywhere else in Spain – although it’s the incredible ancient fortress of Alcazaba that brings the crowds. You can access the historic site by walking up the hill from the tourist office and through the imposing Arco de los Gigantes.

Its leafy gardens offer the perfect spring or summer stroll, while the 13th century Torre del Homenaje is a great example of Islamic architecture. When it comes to Christianity, Antequera thrives as an ‘atelier’, crafting the soul of Spain’s most fervent religious celebrations: the Easter processions.

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 than not to the craftsmen of Antequera that they turn. These meticulously crafted masterpieces, adorned with life-size, hyperrealistic sculptures depicting biblical scenes, are the centerpiece of the passionate processions that grip the nation every spring.

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.

A fun fact about Antequera is that there are more churches per capita than

Behind the ornate facades of Antequera’s workshops, a world of meticulous detail unfolds. Sculptors chisel away at blocks of wood, giving birth to life-like 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 recognition 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.

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

GRANDEUR: For a small town, Antequera has some impressive architecture

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

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

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.

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.

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

This technique allowed researchers to establish precise time periods, revealing that the sedimentary sequence in Orce is exceptionally long and undisturbed by erosion,

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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.

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

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

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).

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 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.

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.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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.

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.”

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)

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.