Olive Press Gibraltar Issue 237

GONE ROGUE

Spanish police chief files formal denuncia in campaign to unilaterally impose Schengen controls at the Gibraltar border

By Walter Finch

SPAIN’S ‘rogue officer’ overseeing the border with Gibraltar has erupted into open rebellion over the ‘lack of a legal basis’ for waiving Schengen rules.

The latest chaos and confusion came between midday and 2pm last Friday, when Policia Nacional officers were ordered to stamp Gibraltar red card holders – and even refuse entry to some Brits.

The Spanish police have been left bewildered by the orders and counter-orders over whether to stamp passports or wave people through, with many telling the Olive Press they don’t know what to expect each day. But the unnamed chief inspector has now gone one step further and filed a formal denuncia in La Linea court against the current border regime for violating articles 6 and 11 of the

Schengen Borders Code. Spanish media reports claim the ‘rogue officer’ has had several disciplinary investigations for repeated insubordination over his refusal to adhere to the interim arrangement.

And sources at the Gibraltar border told the Olive Press that the officer ‘has now been transferred away’. We have been unable to verify this claim.

Indiscipline

The Gibraltar government, meanwhile, declined to comment on ‘indiscipline in foreign uniformed bodies’.

The Spanish Interior Ministry, on the other hand, assured this newspaper that ‘all actions carried out at the border with Gibraltar are fully in compliance with the legislation’.

The Schengen rules have long been understood to have been temporarily suspended during the transition period post-Brexit as Spain and the UK negotiate a deal to keep Gibraltar inside the passport-free zone. However, progress on a deal has been stalled for many months now, and it is feared that a deal won’t be struck before the European Union’s new digital Entry Exit System (EES) is implemented at the border.

progressive approach’ to rolling out the EES.

“A progressive approach means introducing flexibility in the start of operations of the EES, allowing member states to deploy the system gradually,” the Commission said.

“It has been considered as the best way forward for swift progress.”

A spokesperson from Spain’s Interior Ministry told the Olive Press that the country is ready to implement the EES ‘when the European Commission deems it ready.’

Given that the EES infrastructure has reportedly already been installed at the border with Gibraltar, it raises the possibility that it could be implemented far sooner than thought.

Meanwhile, the campaign of the ‘rogue officer’ to force Schengen controls continues.

ers and day-trippers.

The officer argues that this leaves himself – and his subordinates – unprotected in the event a security issue arises at the border, amid claims that the lax controls have permitted ‘140 British soldiers into Spain this year as tourists.’

The wildcard move has earned support among the rank-and-file of the Policia Nacional in La Linea, with two officers telling this newspaper they are concerned that the current arrangement is not legal.

After a previous start date of November 11 was delayed indefinitely, sources tell the Olive Press it is now expected in March or April.

However, a European Commission spokesperson told this newspaper it is considering ‘the feasibility of a

His denuncia, seen by Europa Sur, claims the officer has repeatedly asked his superiors for written instructions to this effect, only to receive verbal orders – often from Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska himself. Schengen controls would limit Brits and Gibraltarians to just 90 days out of 180 in the Schengen zone, while requiring them to provide proof of

funds, accommodation and onward transport out of the zone –all highly problematic for cross-border work-

Escalation

It is just the latest escalation from the ‘rogue officer’, who previously ordered his officers to stamp passports on October 11 – until reciprocal action from the Gibraltar side and a flurry of phone calls put a stop to it. Again, the chaos fell suspiciously on a Friday, so that Spanish workers heading home for the weekend were less affected by reciprocal measures.

“It is the last thing we want to do and as a socialist it depresses me greatly that, as usual, politics is being used to damage the interests of working people and not to assist them,” Fabian Picardo said at the time.

GIBRALTAR has vowed it will support the British government in its latest sanctions package against the ‘shadow fleet’ transporting Russian oil. The move hits 30 cargo tankers that continue to transport £3.5 billion of Russian oil, as well as the companies that insure them.

“Russia's oil revenues are fuelling the fires of war and destruction in Ukraine and I am committed to using every tool at my disposal to disrupt them,” UK Foreign Minister David Lammy announced.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo followed on X: “Gibraltar won't fail to give effect to these sanctions from the UK.” Russian naval and maritime activity through the Strait has been heightened in recent months, with the Picardo highlighting the chokepoint’s role as a ‘a crucial maritime crossroads’. The Rock, which serves as a major hub for ‘bunkering’ (ship to ship fuel transfers) in the region, slapped wide-ranging bans on Russian-flagged or owned vessels in March 2022.

Sanctions

In order to evade sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin turned to a fleet of third-country tankers which have been known to ‘flip’ fuel to tankers transporting Russian oil while out at sea.

Most recently, observers spotted a suspicious interaction between four oil tankers off the coast of Ceuta earlier this month.

The Panama-flagged tanker Sakarya collected about 730,000 barrels of Russian oil from Primorsk on the Baltic Sea in October and arrived in waters adjacent the exclave on November 6.

It switched off its transponder for two and a half days, and then departed on November 9 much lighter in the water, indicating a practice that Western governments will need to stamp out. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office told the Olive Press: “The UK Government works hand in hand with the Government of Gibraltar, and all Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, to support sanctions implementation and enforcement.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Strait home now!

NATO vessels have been escorting the Russian spy ship Yantar on its journey through the Strait after it was spotted loitering near vital internet cables in the Irish Sea.

Future plans?

A SHIP specialised in constructing and maintaining massive offshore wind turbine generators has been berthed at the MOD’s naval base this week – right next to the nuclear submarine HMS Astute.

Speed change

DRIVERS heading north on Winston Churchill Avenue outside St Anne’s School should beware that the speed limit has been reduced from 50kmh to 30.

BOAT owners along the Costa del Sol and Campo de Gibraltar are being urged to step up security after a surge in thefts linked to human smuggling mafias.

At least four recreational boats have been stolen from marinas since last month, with criminals using these vessels to attempt dangerous migrant crossings across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Boat pinching

Boats in Barbate, Fuengirola, and Algeciras have already been stolen, with some vessels found severely damaged after being abandoned.

SUICIDE THREAT

THE policeman at the heart of sexual abuse allegations against a mayor told a judge he would ‘shoot himself’ before going back to work for ‘that man’.

The alleged victim, who has been on mental health leave since July 2023, has ‘already

By Walter Finch

been talked out of shooting himself on two separate occasions’, a legal source close to the case told the Olive Press.

The Policia Local officer told a court how Estepona’s leader,

YET another Guardia Civil officer has been arrested as part of a drug trafficking takedown – this time stationed in Pueblo Nuevo

He was allegedly piloting a boat stolen from a Costa del Sol marina and found carrying 19 migrants - despite having a safety capacity for just six people.

The overloaded vessel suffered engine failure, leaving vulnerable people stranded at sea.

Local authorities have confirmed that a 20-year-old man linked to a criminal network specialising in stealing the boats was arrested in Algeciras last month.

Alleged sex abuse victim vows to shoot himself rather than work for Estepona mayor again

Jose Maria Urbano, launched an alleged campaign of sexual harassment against him and later his wife from May 2022. The revelation comes after Urbano attended court this week as a ‘suspect’ – and not voluntarily, as he had claimed. The mayor refused to

Narco cop

store it in warehouses on the Costa del Sol.

The police said that the Guardia Civil officer fed information to his brother which allowed the narco boats to dodge police pa-

Over a ton of hashish, €500,000 in cash and goods valued at more than €2 million were seized.

answer questions however, from either the prosecutor or the victim’s lawyer, before stonewalling the assembled press pack outside the courtroom.

Later, during an official town hall meeting, Opposition PSOE

Emma Molina asked the mayor if he had considered ‘stepping down’.

She described his failure as ‘unethical’ and said that the local residents were ‘talking about it in the streets’ and demanding urgent answers.

“Don’t you think refusing to answer the prosecution obstructs the search for the truth?” she added.

He angrily replied that he would not step down over a case that he dubbed as ‘political’ and was merely aimed to tarnish his reputation.

The pressure is growing on the mayor, particularly as further witnesses will give evidence next week.

Have you had dealings with the Estepona mayor? Contact newsdesk@

Inept thief

A HAPLESS burglar who broke into a restaurant in Ocean Village has been jailed for two months.

Riyen Lea, 37, of the Varyl Begg Estate, used a crowbar to force entry to the rear of the Bridge Bar and Grill Restaurant at around 3.30am on Monday, October 28. However, that was about as successful as he got. Once inside, he went to work with the crowbar on a fruit machine, but found it impenetrable.

Damage

Giving up on that, Lea approached the cash till and had an unsuccessful crack at forcing it open – managing to cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

He did find one item to steal before scarpering – a fake gold ring which was left under the cash register.

Staff did not learn about the botched burglary until they opened the following day at 5pm.

Police were quickly able to identify Lea from CCTV cameras in the area and he was arrested at 2.15am the following Thursday at an address on Flat Bastion Road.

Royal Gibraltar Police sources told the Olive Press: “He is a prolific burglar, so he’s well known to officers.

“He wore a hood during the burglary to hide his face, but we picked him up on CCTV later on with his hood

Rafa’s farewell

RAFAEL Nadal shed a tear as he gave an emotional speech following his last professional tennis match. He ended his illustrious career with a straight sets defeat to Dutchman Botic van de Zand-

schulp in Spain’s Davis Cup quarter-final tie in Malaga.

Speaking afterwards, Nadal saidL “What I’d like to be remembered for is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca.”

The tribute ceremony included video messages from Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Conchita Martinez, and Roger Federer.

High tea on the high seas

Tea, glamour, and a brush with Brigitte Nielsen in Puerto Banus

WHEN the world’s most expensive afternoon tea sailed into Puerto Banus, I had to see what all the fuss was about. Sandwiches served in diamond-encrusted handbags, champagne nestled in golden designer shoes, and an eye-watering price tag of €69,000 - this wasn’t just tea, it was the pinnacle of decadence. Originally the opulent afternoon tea was crafted by multimedia artist Debbie Wingham, known as the Countess of Confection, and was a bespoke creation for a 21st birthday aboard the stunning Malex yacht.

By Yzabelle Bostyn

tured edible perfume bottles and jewellery trays.

Everything was adorned with the latest fashions from a vintage Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet to ornate diamond studded detailing worth €34,000 alone. Add in the yacht charter, swag bags for 10 friends and all the food and drink, and the cuenta reaches the staggering total of €69,000.

A fusion of Willy Wonka, the Mad Hatter’s tea party and Marbella luxury, the afternoon tea fea-

ROCK ON

Yet, for those without a yacht or a six-figure budget, Wingham has introduced a more accessible €89-per-head version, and I couldn’t resist sampling this slice of luxury.

As I stepped aboard the Malex,

GLAMOUR: Debbie (above) has brought diamond encrusted tea to Banus, with Brigitte and (inset) Yzabelle enjoying a taste

the setting was sheer glamour.

The tea itself was an art form - handbags masqueraded as mugs, and milk jugs disguised as perfume bottles. Lemon meringues and apple pies, crafted with ingredients from Wingham’s own garden, added a rustic yet refined touch to the extravagance.

And then, there was Brigitte Nielsen. Sharing pastries and pleasantries with the statuesque star of Red Sonya felt surreal. She

was every bit the icon, exuding warmth and humour as she reminisced about her Hollywood days. Between the exquisite food, the artful presentation, and brushing shoulders with Nielsen, this wasn’t just afternoon tea - it was an unforgettable journey into a world of glamour, creativity, and indulgence.

Debbie Wingham hasn’t just redefined luxury; she’s made it tantalisingly accessible, one stunning bite at a time.

CANADIAN rocker Bryan Adams will bring his Roll With The Punches world tour to Valencia on January 19, 2025, at the Pabellon Fuente de San Luis.

This performance marks his first-ever concert in the city, promising an unforgettable night for fans.

With a career spanning four decades and over 100 million records sold, his live shows are renowned for their energy, heartfelt performances, and timeless sound.

The concert will showcase Adams’ classic hits, such as Summer of ‘69 and Heaven, alongside tracks from his new album, which inspired the tour's name.

Doors open at 9pm, with tickets ranging from €60 to €120. Fans eager to attend should act quickly, as tickets are selling fast across multiple platforms.

Don’t worry if you can’t get a ticket – the Olive Press has four to give away to subscribers. See page 7 for more details on how to enter our competition.

NO GOING BACK

DESPERATE Housewives star Eva Longoria has doubled down on her decision to quit the USA for a new life split between Spain and Mexico following Donald Trump’s election win. The Texas-born actress, 49, says she is ‘done’ with life in

what she describes as a ‘dystopian’ USA.

“I’m not going back,” she said, adding that even her Hollywood career - both in front of and behind the camera - has shifted.

Longoria has been working outside the US more frequently, including filming her travel series Searching for Mexico and Searching for Spain.

She has a villa in Marbella and a residence in Mexico, where she spends much of her time with her Mexican husband Jose Baston and their 6-year-old son, Santiago.

Contact us now for your hearing

THE Strait of Gibraltar is becoming a deadly kill zone for the Mediterranean's endangered whale populations.

Experts estimate that two sperm whales die each year during migration, with fast ferries and giant container ships being the biggest culprits.

“There are just 1,000 sperm whales left in the Mediterranean, and we estimate that every 10 years around 2% are killed in collisions with ships in the Strait,” Dr Renaud de Stephanis of conservation group CIRCE told the Olive Press The Strait is home to seven

Whale warning

Two of the Earth’s largest predator die each year in collisions with ships in the highly congested Strait of Gibraltar

whale species, including fin whales, sperm whales, and pilot whales – many of which are endangered. It is also one of the busiest international shipping lanes in

SPANISH and Gibraltarian maritime authorities teamed up to rescue a passenger who had fallen overboard in the Strait of Gibraltar.

The alert was put out at about 12.45pm on Saturday that a 37-year-old Spanish man aboard the Ceuta Tanger ferry was in the water about 2km off Camp Bay.

Strong winds and tides immediately threatened to carry the man overboard away, but a passing tanker marked the area where he was last seen with life rings and a distress signal. Gibraltar officers patrolling in the vessel Osprey arrived on the scene and managed to locate the man, struggling in clear distress. He was hauled aboard and given a medical

By Walter Finch

the world, with 60,000 vessels passing through each year.

“I have seen three collisions with my own eyes in the region between Europa Point and Barbate in the last few years,” de Stephanis continued.

“And that’s a lot considering these creatures are not easy to spot and we’re not on the sea all the time.”

Meanwhile, the International Whaling Commission says it detected 228 cases of injured whales between 2016 and

Man overboard

assessment before being passed to a vessel from the Spanish lifeguard to be returned to Spain.

at Kempinski Hotel Bahía

FAVOURITE: A sperm whale called Julio was spotted just the day before he was killed

2020 in the Strait, some with ‘severe traumas that may affect survival and fitness’.

Wounds ranged from minor straight-line scratches to gunshot wounds, severe entanglements and deep lacerations from propeller strikes.

The most recently documented death came in July, when a severely injured sperm whale was spotted surrounded by a cloud of blood in the Strait.

Known as Julio, the 15-metre cetacean had become a favourite among local whale watchers and conservationists.

Meanwhile, according to a study by the journal Science, the number of whale deaths in the Strait may be underestimated.

Off the west coast of the USA, one of the most comprehensively studied areas, around 80 whales die each year.

The study found that, globally, 91.5% of the areas where whales live or migrate also cross paths with shipping lanes navigated by large ships.

But less than 7% of these shipstrike zones implement plans to manage the dangers, such as obeying a 0.7 knot speed reduction.

Along with the Strait, the Galicia coast and the Canary Islands were also identified as hotspots.

De Stephanis told this newspaper that CIRCE already has a system of on-ship observers in a beta phase but ‘we need support from Ceuta, Morocco and Gibraltar.’

The Port of Algeciras, meanwhile, has a Green Strategy to ‘monitor underwater noise and track cetaceans.’

Opinion Page 6

Fluttering hopes

GIBRALTAR is gearing up for another round of tussling with Spain, this time to compete at the Olympics under its own flag.

The Rock’s national sporting associations all voted unanimously to reconstitute the Gibraltarian Olympic Committee (GOC) as a first step. Next they must overcome a 1996 rule change which requires new Olympic committees to represent sovereign states recognised by the United Nations.

But the Rock has a powerful ally in its bid to gain recognition from the International Olympic Committee in the shape of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

And they will feel confident after successfully vanquishing Spanish objections to joining the international footballing community with UEFA membership in 2013 and FIFA in 2016.

Don’t miss the most famous Christmas occasions on the Costa del Sol this festive season, a time full of sparkle and joy

30 November - The Kempinski Christmas Market & Lighting of the Tree from 13.00 until 20.00, with stalls, festive delicacies, choirs, a kids zone (paid entrance) and a visit from Santa. Open to the public, no entrance fee.

24 December - Christmas Eve six course Gala dinner at Baltazár Bar and Grill, with live music and that perfect Christmas atmosphere

25 December - The famous Christmas Day buffet brunch, with live music, kids entertainment and the visit from Santa!

31 December - You can choose between:

New Year’s Eve: a stunning gala dinner with a pre-dinner cocktail, live music, midnight celebrations and an open bar to dance the night away.

New Year’s Eve buffet: ideal for all the family, with a pre-dinner cocktail, live music, midnight celebrations, and kids club available till 01 00

Discover more by scanning the QR code for more details about each special occasion!

+34 95 280 9500

reservations estepona@kempinski com

STRUCK: Julio after collision in July

A PAIR of youths were picked up by the crew of a luxury superyacht trying to swim from Morocco to Gibraltar.

Tragic tale AWKWARD TIMING

They were spotted clinging to an inflatable ring in British waters in the early afternoon, one dressed in a wetsuit and the other just wearing shorts having swam around 15km.

The older migrant, Aymane Roissi, 22, claimed to have travelled 700km from his hometown of Taroudant, where he was homeless.

Once brought ashore they were treated for hypothermia at St Bernard’s Hospital before being charged for entering Gibraltar illegally.

Roissi is being held in Windmill Hill prison while the other youth, who cannot be identified because of his age, is in the care of social services. They will next appear in court on December 18 before being deported back to Morocco.

Gibraltar’s new chief of police will take up the role in the shadow of the Mcgrail Report

THE new Gibraltar Commissioner of Police will have their work cut out for them when they start next May.

Current top cop Richard Ullger, who stepped into the role after Ian McGrail was forced to retire in June 2020, is set to retire in April.

Meanwhile, the highly an-

Many meetings

By Walter Finch

ticipated McGrail Report into the circumstances surrounding his retirement is set to land ‘unless any unforeseen contingency arises’ in ‘late spring 2025’. Its arrival will follow a lengthy ‘Maxwellisation process’, in which any par-

GIBRALTAR has 'very much welcomed' the British Prime Minister’s ‘ironclad commitment to democratic autonomy and the right to self-determination’ during a week-long series of meetings in London.

Keir Starmer made the remarks at the Joint Ministerial (JIC) Council last week, attended by Fabian Picardo and representatives from across the UK’s 14 Overseas Territories.

It comes after the governments of both Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands were spooked by Starmer’s decision to hand over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to former British colony Mauritius. Picardo also held direct one-to-one meetings with Starmer, where they discussed Gibraltar’s advanced preparations for a failure in talks with Spain to strike a deal on the border.

ty set to be criticised in retired judge Sir Peter Openshaw’s report will have the chance to respond ahead of publication.

The grand scope of the inquiry heard evidence from officers of the Royal Gibraltar Police, high-ranking members of the government including the Chief Minister, and senior lawyers at Hassans law firm.

So the news that Openshaw has set aside three months for the parties to digest and respond to criticism will likely have a few powerful individuals on the Rock squirming.

The inquiry has also received ‘additional evidence’ since the hearings ended in June, throwing a wildcard into the mix.

Meanwhile, a recruitment panel will be looking for a new police chief with a ‘proven track record of leadership and management in a senior police

? Corpse mystery

COPS: Current CoP

Richard Ullger (top) and Ian McGrail

role’ while also welcoming applicants from outside Gibraltar.

But they will be starting the role under a dark cloud cast by the McGrail Inquiry, according to senior legal figures on the Rock.

“Not just any future Commissioner of Police – no police officer will ever dare go after any powerful person in Gibraltar ever again,” said one.

on the results of an autopsy.

The body was discovered early in the morning a little over a kilometre off Europa Point by a passing pleasure yacht.

THE latest plans for a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar consist of two tubes nearly eight metres in diameter and a smaller service tunnel in between. The main tunnels, which would each contain a single train track, would be connected to the service tunnel every 340 metres for the 38.7km engineering feat – 27.8km of which would run under the sea. It forms part of the latest proposal from Secegsa.

GIBRALTAR authorities have been liaising with their counterparts in Spain and Interpol to identify the body of a man found floating in the sea. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Royal Gibraltar Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, who are now waiting

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

Save the whales, man

AMID all the fuss and clamour over the wave of supposed orca ‘attacks’ in the Strait, it’s clear that it is in fact the whales that need protecting from us.

Experts are alarmed at the number of collisions between whales and ships, but they are struggling to convey the scale of the problem.

It is something that is hard to document and harder still to reveal to the world.

Whales are mostly seen at a distance and infrequently, making it tricky to track their personal health individually.

But, as Dr Renaud de Stephanis explained, even a 2% death rate is devastating – consider how people reacted to similar statistics during the Covid pandemic.

Two percent of the sperm whale population killed by ships in the Strait of Gibraltar every ten years amounts to two a year – it may not seem like that many.

But these beasts live up to 70 years or longer, and their skulls are home to the largest brains – weighing 8kg – in all the animal kingdom.

They live in tight-knit, matriarchal pods, often comprising 10–20 individuals that demonstrate strong bonds for one another and even share parenting duties.

They are clearly magnificent creatures, ones which have thankfully thrown off the Moby Dick image far more successfully than great white sharks have shed the Jaws stigma.

We must do everything we can to protect them.

The Port of Algeciras shared their ‘green plan’ with the Olive Press, which features various protections for whales in the Bay of Algeciras and the Strait. Likewise, they will hold an event in March 2025 designed to educate captains and pilots in how to detect and avoid harming whales.

It stands in contrast to the Gibraltar Port Authority, who unfortunately did not respond to the Olive Press’ enquiries on this topic.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

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

Laurence Dollimore laurence@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Cole Sinanian cole@theolivepress.es

accounts@ theolivepress.es

‘IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN’

EXPERTS have warned another Valencia style disaster could strike Spain next year if urgent action is not taken. Antonio Gallegos, flooding expert at the University of Malaga (UMA) claimed the Andalucian city was ‘lucky this time around’ but could soon face a catastrophic natural disaster.

The geography professor told the Olive Press: “The intense rain in Valencia was extraordinary but it’s happening more and more.

“Luckily in Malaga we haven’t had such

It is only a matter of time before the lethal floods that struck Valencia are repeated in Malaga and other regions, a flooding expert has warned the Olive Press

By Yzabelle Bostyn

“We haven’t implemented measures like creating parks on floodplains designed to absorb water so we’re already late, these things have been urgent for years.

“Now that the tragedy in Valencia has happened, it has made us realise we need to act. Hopefully politicians will be proactive, it’s in their hands now.”

Malaga is not the only place in Spain that

storms more common and intense.”

This puts the Balearics, Murcia, Costa Brava and many other parts of Mediterranean Spain at high risk.

To avoid the devastation seen in Valencia, Gallegos says prevention and better disaster management are crucial.

“For many professionals, it never occurred to us that over 200 people could die in Spain in the 21st century as a result of a natural disaster. But in the case of Valencia, the management was very bad,” he said.

“Climate change caused the storm, but the lack of prevention and management is responsible for the consequences.”

Luckily, there are many things we can do to better face such challenges in the future, starting with a deep study of the failures in

“The fact they didn’t give the warning until

“ “ We need to educate. If we had done that in Valencia it wouldn’t have panned out the way it did

‘Let’s get that pint!’Expat dad of pop star Danny Jones hopes to build bridge with the I’m

DANNY Jones’s ‘estranged’ British expat father has lifted the lid on their decades-long rift for the very first time, revealing how he hasn’t sat down with the I’m A Celeb star in 18 years.

In an exclusive interview with the Olive Press, Alan Jones, 72, suggested a bitter divorce from Danny’s mother Kathy tarnished his relationship with his son, who he describes as a ‘lovely lad’ with a ‘heart of gold’.

He said they had an ‘excellent’ bond throughout the McFly gui tarist’s childhood in Bolton, and that he had ‘dedicated his life’ to helping kick-start his successful music career.

theolivepress.es

The radio DJ, who now lives in Benidorm with his cur rent wife Sharon, has yet to meet his six-year-old grand son Cooper, who Danny shares with his wife and former Miss England Geor gia Horsley - but he is holding out hope that ‘one day it will happen’ and that he’ll ‘finally get that pint with his son’.

Danny, 38, has never visited his father in Spain, where he moved to in 2016, and Alan was not present at his daughter Vicky’s wedding last year.

Speaking from his radio station in L’Alfas del Pi, Alan explained how his marriage to Kathy went south

By Laurence Dollimore

when Danny and Vicky left home in the early 2000s.

Danny was in London after signing a record label alongside Tom Fletcher to form the band McFly - which would go on to sell more than 10 million records worldwide.

“It should have been a time where the marriage got a bit closer, but it didn’t,’ he said.

‘I can’t explain why but it didn’t, so we had two very bad years… and then I met Sharon and that was it.”

Danny was 19 when Alan walked out on the family in 2005, and has previously revealed how he sought therapy for anxiety over the incident.

Alan met his now-wife as friends in 2004, a year before he left Danny, Kathy and Vicky.

Alan and Sharon got married in 2007 and in 2016, they moved to the picturesque village of Polop, just a 10-minute drive from Benidorm.

The La Alberca resort where they live is mostly made up of two-bedroom, sand-coloured chalets worth up to €250,000,

boasting mountain views and a communal swimming pool.

Alan is a DJ and presents a three-hour show on Radio Fresh between 2pm and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

He presents the programme from a humble radio shack situated on a camping site filled with holidaying Brits and Germans, after zipping down from the mountain on his moped.

Alan said it had been his ‘lifelong ambition’ to move to Spain.

He insisted he has always been open to repairing his relationship with Danny, saying it had been ‘excellent’ throughout his childhood as he gushed about his talents.

“We had a superb bond, I was either taking him to guitar lessons or football,” he said.

“He was absolutely joined at the hip with his guitar, his uncle was a musician and I think a lot of influence came from him.

“When he was 10 or 11, we used to take him to local pubs and he would get up and sing and play his guitar, which was great for character building.”

Alan said he has never met his grandson Cooper but would love to.

“I always keep my fingers crossed that one day it will happen, but Danny is in charge of that, not me.

“I can’t just fly back to England and say ‘Hi, I’m here’, that’s too much for him. I think one

Olive Press editor Jon Clarke takes readers on a personal first hand tour of the magical town of Ronda, which he has called home for two decades

@aguas_deronda

Photos by Jon Clarke

errania de onda R

A TRIP BACK IN TIME

them through 2000 years of history.

In fact, millions of years, as a series of easy-to-listen audio guides explain how this remarkable gorge was formed, along with its waterfalls and deep, swimmable splash pools.

More intriguing is how a string of 13 flour mills were somehow installed along its edge, making use of the original Arabic acequia watercourse cut in the 9th or 10th century.

It is also encouraging to learn how the team of architects carefully ensured that the acequia wasn’t touched - and the bridge stood up, particularly after an earlier attempt collapsed killing 50 people.

For a small fee you are handed a hard hat and pointed down the walkway, sustainably made from local Ronda stone and rocks.

Eventually the path will continue all the way to the wonderful Arabic baths that are a must for any visitor to easily Spain’s most evocative mountain town.

For now you’ll have

Arabic baths and Hemingway working in Ronda and (top) the Cathedral which was once a mosque. (Below right) A local woman takes the air from her balcony

to backtrack and cross over to the eastern side of the Casco Histórico where you should head first towards the Moorish baths.

Most likely, if you’re lucky you’ll find classical guitarist Eugen strumming away (perhaps a classic from Bizet’s Carmen that was filmed in the town - or a flamenco copla) in Plaza Maria Auxiliadora. En route you must, however, take in the Casa del Rey Moro and its remarkable La Mina steps that also drop right down to the Guadalquevin river below.

This was an important visit for Michelle Obama and her daughters a few years back and gives you the best possible understanding of the steep walls of the Tajo.

These 300 slippery spiraling steps were effectively a siege tunnel, used as an escape route during times of siege, as well as to fetch water.

The tunnel was carved out by Christian slaves during the reign of Ronda’s Moorish king, Abomelik (above) and he definitely had a penchant for gardens, as his palace grounds are certainly reminiscent of the Alhambra, albeit on a far smaller scale.

Just below, you you’ll hit the Old Bridge (Puente Viejo built in 1616) and finally the so-called ‘Roman bridge’, which was actually built by the Moors in the 13th century.

Next to this are the wonderful Moorish baths, the best preserved in Spain and built during the times of Al Andaluz, when it was an absolute essential pitstop for ablutions after arriving in Ronda after a long journey.

It would have been a wonderful time to be a traveller arriving in Ronda from say Cordoba or Granada, after at least a day striding through the impressive nearby hills.

Spanish and English, brings the past back to life and is a must-watch, before continuing your tour up the hill into the old town.

Front row seat to history

By the time of the collapse of the Moorish empire, Ronda had been entertaining foreign visitors for around 1500 years.

One of Spain’s oldest towns, in Roman times it was a truly bustling place, boasting its own wine industry and even its own mint, fittingly its coins bearing a tendril of grapes.

Established in 9BC as a military bastion, it was given the name Arunda meaning ‘surrounded by mountains’ and it is easy to see why.

Take a look at any of the monuments dotted around the town and chances are you will see dozens of faraway peaks that literally ring the town, from the recently inaugurated National Park of Sierra de las Nieves on one side to the Parque Natural of Grazalema on the other.

are now able to definitively link the production of wine in Ronda to 3AD. No surprise then, that so many writers and historical figures have waxed lyrical about Ronda… Austrian writer Rilke dubbed it the ‘City of Dreams’, while Orson Welles relocated to Ronda and immersed himself in bullfighting, later having his ashes scattered at a nearby estate.

Spain’s most famous writer Miguel de Cervantes of Don Quixote fame lived in the town (and you’ll find a plaque if you look carefully), while Ernest Hemingway’s tome, The Dangerous Summer, is largely about Ronda’s bullfighting dynasty, the Ordonez family.

Later he wrote of Ronda in Death in the Afternoon: “It is where you should go if you ever go to Spain on a honeymoon or ever bolt with anyone. The entire town and as far as you can see in any direction is a romantic backdrop.”

It is why Carmen the movie was filmed here and why Madonna insisted she had to film a video around its cobbled streets.

The 11th century Banos Arabes offer the best explanation of the sophistication of the former Moorish inhabitants, who ruled for an incredible 700 years until the late 15th century (it’s a little-known fact that Ronda only fell to the Christians in 1485, seven years before Granada finally fell in 1492).

A superb demonstration of urban planning, the baths sit in atmospheric gardens and have three rooms - hot, cold and tepid - each fed with water from the river outside.

The domed ceilings with their starshaped air vents were part of a complex astronomical symbolism so popular in Moorish times.

The baths were the main hammam and lay just outside the defensive walls by the main gate to the town from the direction of Granada.

A clever virtual reality video, in both

Ronda is a true front row seat in history with these nearby mountains literally swollen with ancient remains.

They include the Roman sister settlement of Acinipo with its wonderful amphitheatre, as well as the ancient salt mines of the Cerro de las Salinas, near Arriate, and the historic wine storage village of Setenil de las Bodegas.

As far as you can see in any direction is a romantic backdrop

Then you’ve got the remains of a Roman aqueduct running south of the town, the hidden Arabic baths in the Llano de la Cruz valley, and the recent discovery of a Roman grape-treading floor for winemaking nearby.

Uncovered at a vineyard, called Morosanto, archaeologists have excavated

a sizable 2,000year old wine operation with pipes through which wine was transported to vats.

The remarkable find, alongside a 21-metre Roman swimming pool and sauna, means historians

This year meanwhile, we had Helena Bonham Carter, Iain Glen and Martin Freeman wandering the town as they filmed Agatha Christie classic Seven Dials for Netflix. It’s also why Adrian Brody, Anne Hathaway, Bill Gates, Ricky Gervais and Jodie Whittaker have all had recent holidays in the town, while celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey dedicated episodes of their TV shows to Ronda. Celebrity chefs have such a pull to the town that handsome whiz in the kitchen Jean Christophe Novelli once told me he was moving to Ronda, but after two months was unable to find the right property to buy (he was probably more likely shacking up with a mistress).

And then there is Benito Gomez, a classic blow-in from Catalunya, who has done so well in the town that he now boasts two Michelin stars (maybe three by the time you read this) with his amazing restaurant Bardal and a second Tragata.

But, take my word as a local - who chose this mountain hideout over the bright lights of Marbella or Malaga some two decades ago - while it is magical in so many ways, Ronda is also an incredibly tough place to settle.

The extremes of weather (its spiky dry heat in summer and freezing winters

ATMOSPHERIC: The perfectly preserved

From front page

Photos by Jon Clarke

thanks to its altitude of 800m) doesn’t suit everyone.

Equally its inward-looking locals, so typical of conservative mountain types the world over, are not openly friendly and take a while to warm to you.

But there is no denying its landscape, history and architecture.

Few places in Spain have such a wonderful mix of buildings, from the Moorish Palacio Mondragon to the neoclassical town hall and from the Arabic baths to the splendid Renaissance mansion the Palacio del Marques de Salvatierra.

And don’t forget the cathedral (once a mosque) as well as the oldest bullring in the country.

Still owned by the Ordonez family, with two fitting statues to Antonio and Cayetano outside, is an excellent introduction to a pastime that goes back 300 years in Ronda.

Built by the godfather of bullfighting

Pedro Romero, who fought well into his 80s and was painted by Francisco Goya, it is worthwhile to visit for its collection of Goya etchings alone.

Pedro Romero killed over 5,000 bulls and passed his skills down the line to the Ordonez family who have, so far, provided Spain with three generations of bullfighters… the youngest Cayetano,

becoming a handsome Armani model.

Sipping a caña or coffee in the heart of town it’s not difficult to imagine Hemingway scribbling in the shadows of a backstreet cafe.

His legacy looms large all around the town and he (like Orson Welles whose ashes are scattered at a nearby farm owned by the Ordonez family) has a small street named after him behind the Parador hotel.

He celebrated his final birthday in Ronda in 1960 and was fittingly, further immortalised with a statue beside the bullring in 2015.

It is here, or nearby on the bridge, at Semana Santa (Easter), that you will find some of the most evocative, moving scenes, be you religious or not, like me.

The epiphany that cemented my own sense of belonging in the City of Dreams (above left) came just last year, when at nearly 1am when I ventured out of a nearby wine bar to take a picture of the bridge with a nearly full moon above it.

I thought the classic Easter parades had long ended, but atop the bridge I found two lines of drummers made up of soldiers from Ronda’s crack Spanish Le-

TRADITION AND FAMOUS FACES: Spain’s Foreign Legion carries Jesus in an Easter parade (left), while a little known path leads down past the walls. (Inset below) Recent visitors include Gervais, Hathaway, Whittaker, Obama, Bonham Carter and Freeman

gion brigade (coincidentally, Spain’s finest shock troops, similar to the Paras).

Dressed in short sleeves despite the cold northerly breeze, they stood rigid and to attention, staring straight ahead and tapping their drums quietly, rhythmically in perfect unison.

It was hypnotic and insistent and, incredibly, I found myself almost alone beside just a handful of spectators on the bridge.

After what was easily 15 minutes, out of a side street suddenly loomed a stat ue of Mary on a float, carried by two dozen other legionnaires. Just behind

THE PHILIPPE EFFECT

The giant red bull’s head looming over the Serrania de Ronda is a Starck masterpiece, writes Jon Clarke

IT cost well over 20 million and will hopefully create something of a ‘Guggenheim

Effect’ for Ronda.

That is Philippe Starck’s amazing new organic olive mill recently finished near the town.

A towering six-storey 40-metre giant made of concrete and steel it peers out over the beautiful Serrania like a beacon.

Built over four years, La Almazara - shaped in the head of a Picasso-style bull - is the largest and easily the most original in Europe.

Created by legendary designer Starck, it’s a fully functioning mill, as well as museum and restaurant, that currently makes extra virgin organic olive oil out of thousands of trees on its surrounding 26 hectare estate.

The brainchild of the French creator - known for designing a string of hotels, yachts and chairs - it came about after he met a local landowner in New York many decades ago.

The aristocrat, Pedro ‘Perico’ Gomez de Baeza, was already behind

the high quality local La Organic olive brand, alongside businessman Santiago Muguiro, now CEO of the entire project.

Having already been behind the amazing Frank Gehry-designed hotel at the bodega Marques de Riscal, in Rioja, they thought they might do the same in Ronda.

First came a cool olive can designed by Starck in 2000, who is an investor, and already lives between Sintra in Portugal and Formentera in the Balearics, plus ‘many other homes’.

Then came the project for the hillside, between Ronda and Arriate, which also has a five-room rental villa and conference facilities.

While it took years for the sleepy town hall to award a licence, it finally started to go up in 2020 and is now finally open for visitors for €25 a head, including an olive oil tasting with bread.

The visit takes punters on a fabulous windy tour of the 9,500-tree estate and its fruit orchards, organic vegetable garden and vineyard. They will also enjoy the fascinating museum, which celebrates the introduction of olive oil into the Andalucia region in the days of the Phoenicians.

As well as being able to watch the olives actually being introduced into the machinery below, tourists learn about other important local Ronda characters, including Pedro Romero and Abbas Ibn Firnas, who is considered one of the inventors of flying.

A fully-fledged restaurant, with chairs and tables all designed by Starck, is set to open imminently.

was another group carrying Jesus lying prone on his back.

The mood was incredibly sombre and he was carried past, legs first facing upwards to the stars, the moon shining brightly from behind a convent. I looked up and, as a trumpet started to play, I felt a sense of permanence. The sort that (might just) carry one to the heavens. I knew I was in Ronda

The new mill is the most original in Europeinside and out

AMAZING:

STUNNING: The view from the terrace and (right) Philippe Starck

GO into any wine shop in Ronda, or any of its restaurants, and you will be amazed at how many local wines are now being produced.

In just three decades, around two dozen vineyards have launched and collectively there must be around 100 different wines on offer from the nearby hills.

Ernest Hemingway would most certainly have approved.

An infamous drinker, he once wrote: “Wine is a grand thing. It makes you forget all the bad”.

So the fabled writer would be amazed to discover that Ronda has so many wine producers and even, today, has its own appellation.

The DO Sierras de Malaga, Serrania de Ronda was confirmed in 2004 to represent the local vineyards, which grow dozens of grape varieties, some indigenous, including Melonera, Rome and Tinto Velasco.

There is also a well signposted wine route, which aficionados can follow around the local valleys and the Milamores Centro Integral de Vino helps to coordinate them, while also offering a museum on the area’s history.

Vintage vats

It was the Romans who first planted vines in the Serrania de Ronda.

An advanced race, they realised the soil and the climate were perfect for winemaking.

To best understand this, take a ride up to Ronda la Vieja, the next valley over to the west.

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

The growing winemaking prowess of Ronda can be traced back to its Roman coins which featured grape tendrils, writes Jon Clarke

It is here at a height of 1000 metres that you’ll find the ancient Roman settlement of Acinipo, which once spread around its still largely intact amphitheatre.

All the land - allegedly hundreds of hectares - was dedicated to grape growing and the area had soon started producing wine good enough to export back to Rome, with Ronda becoming known back at Imperial HQ as the ‘city of wine’.

So popular did it become back in Italy that the local legionnaires were even allowed to mint their own coinage, appropriately with the tendrils of a vine and grapes on one side.

The neighbouring village of Setenil de las Bodegas (a clue is in the name) handily provided its famous caves as cellars for the maturing wine.

And once they were approaching the right age and/or strength they were dispatched on the week-long journey to Rome, as was the local olive oil in amphoras.

Further proof of the Romans making wine in the area can be found on the south-east facing slopes near Arriate.

Here, at Bodega Morosanto, archaeologists have excavated a sizable wine operation with pipes through which wine was transported to vats.

The discovery – among columns, stat-

ues and a 21-metre Roman pool - now means that historians can definitively link the production of wine in Ronda in 3AD.

The nearby rolling hills between Arriate, Ronda and

Acinipo were largely under vine and today the numbers are rising up again.

This includes the two dozen hectares planted by Ramos-Paul at Bodega El Chantre, and the largest local producer Chinchilla that has brought up various plots scattered around the area and is now said to have planted over 30 hectares.

Proof of the Romans making wine in the area can be found near Arriate

The rebirth of the area’s winegrowing prowess started, ironically, thanks to expats.

It was German aristocrat Principe Alfonso Hohenlohe who first planted vines in the area in the 1980s, having sold his shares in the Marbella Club hotel, which he built in the 1950s.

Looking for another challenge he planted 80,000 French vines at Cortijo de la Monjas, which nestled in a natural valley,

and sought help from various winemaking pals, including Marqués de Griñon and Michel Rolland. The wines however were rather disappointing until a skilled local oenologist Juan María Vetas, who had done his time in Bordeaux, was drafted in. Improvements led to the vineyard being sold to an international conglomerate with Juan Maria heading to his own smallholding just outside Arriate, where today he makes his highly rated Vetas.

Another key trailblazer was Friedrich Schatz, a German from Baden-Württemberg, the best wine-producing area of Germany.

He moved to Ronda nearly four decades ago with his parents to set up a vineyard on the road to Acinipo. Today his half a dozen wines frequently win international awards.

Other German-speaking vintners have followed suit.

Martin Kieninger from Austria and Theodor Conrad from Switzerland arrived two decades ago, while recently an American winemaker bowled up in the Ronda La Vieja area.

The majority of bodegas are small family-run wineries, but they can still be visited by appointment in the main, some offering far more than others. A top pick is that of Martin Kieninger, an architect by trade, who not only planted an incredible vineyard in stunning countryside near Ronda, but also built his own home and bodega. To visit call Martin on +34 630 161 156 or visit www.bodegakieninger.com

MATURING: A vineyard in Ronda la Vieja, with Acinipo in the distance

people were already drowning is something that needs to be studied because it is responsible for a large number of deaths,” said the environmental expert.

“We also need to re-do maps and statistics of flood risk areas as they do not use contemporary data and only consider the flow of ‘clean water’, which does not overwhelm systems as quickly as the muddy, debris filled deluge that battered Valencia.”

Joaquin Martinez-Campillo Garcia, delegate of the Spanish

College of Geologists in Valencia, agrees: “I hope Valencia is a turning point, but the cost has been too high. We need to take note, listen to the ecosystem and remember we are capable of preventing these situations.”

“A good example is Ontinyent in the Valencian Community. They had very serious flooding and are modifying their river limits to make sure the water does not pick up such dangerous speeds.”

Another key action is educating flood zone residents how to react when warnings are issued.

“We need to educate; If we had done that in Valencia it wouldn’t have panned out the way it did. People kept going about their daily lives because they didn’t know otherwise. When you get a red alert, don’t think about your job or deadlines, think about saving yourself and your loved ones.”

Climate scientist Dr Anabela Bonada, works tirelessly on such education courses in her native Canada.

She is the Managing Director of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, which develops guidelines to mitigate extreme weather risk.

“A lot of people think that because they don’t live near water that flooding can’t affect them, but with climate change that is changing so

it’s very important to be aware,” she advised.

“There are some simple things you can do to mitigate your risk such as cleaning out your gutters, ensuring your downspout is directed away from the home or adding a rain garden

day, you know, I always hope it will happen.”

He added: “I would say the last time I shook Danny’s hand was about 18 years ago.”

Asked if that was tough for him, Alan said: “Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean, I really did dedicate my life to… I wouldn’t say getting him to where he is today, but to his start, and his mum did too, she did a lot.”

He said he ‘absolutely’ wishes he was closer to Danny, adding: “At the end of the day I can sleep at night, I know he’s okay, he’s safe…

“But hopefully one day we’ll have that pint, sooner rather than later, time’s getting on.”

Alan said he will ‘definitely’ reach out to Danny when he leaves the jungle to congratulate him ‘whatever happens’.

Asked if he had a message for his son he said: “Yes… just keep being yourself, keep doing what you’re doing.

‘He’s an amazing guy and I have followed what he’s been doing since I left home and I’ve supported him and stuck up for him if anyone said a bad word. “No matter what the outcome, I will tell him ‘you’ve come across as a great guy’, which he is, he’s a lovely lad with a heart of gold.”

to absorb excess water.”

If you live in a flat, as many people do in urban Spain, she advises keeping an emergency grab bag filled with supplies to sustain you for at least 72 hours such as water, food, a torch and medicine.

She also recommends knowing where your nearest high ground is and where you keep your valuables in case of an emergency.

“But ultimately, the responsibility for this awareness raising falls heavily on the government’s shoulders,” she said.

“Likewise, they need to improve the alert system and stop building on floodplains.”

Spain partially banned construc-

tion on floodplains in 2015, but developers can still build on some of this land if certain ‘safety conditions’ are met.

Thousands of people also live on floodplains built before this law came into place, especially on the Mediterranean coast where huge property booms led to heavy urbanisation of coastal flood zones.

Indeed, the Balearics government earlier this year approved a change in the law to permit even more construction on flood plains. This local legislation has now been frozen following the Valencia disaster, while all political parties discuss modifications.

Despite the fear many Spanish residents are feeling right now, Dr Bonada encourages a healthy optimism.

“Things need to be done differently, but we have the solutions, so for me that provides hopeful optimism,” she shared.

“But we also need to be proactive, if we want these actions to be implemented, it’s up to all of us to push for it and vote for a government that we know will implement these actions.”

WE DO IT FOR YOU!

Register to the Olive Press website for a chance to win Bryan Adams tickets

THE Olive Press is giving away two pairs of tickets to see legendary singer Bryan Adams.

The Everything I Do singer will be performing a sell out show at the Fuente de San Luis Pavilion in Valencia on January 19. The Canadian songwriter will perform his greatest hits as part of his Roll With The Punches Tour.

We will only be offering the competition to our registered users, and will send out details on how to enter next week.

For those of you who are not yet registered, it could not be simpler to set up an account. Scan the QR code on this page (above) and fill in your name and email address.

Registered users are able to comment on stories and will be able to take advantage of future promotions and competitions, which this year have included free meals, furniture giveaways and concert tickets.

Registered users are also sent weekly newsletters on travel, health and property and a personal message from our digital editor Laurence Dollimore each Saturday.

We have seen an incredible surge in registered users and subscribers over the past few weeks, with thousands of readers deciding to join the conversation.

We thank you all for your support, which helps us keep bringing you the news and exclusives you love.

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL

MEANWHILE we have a very special one-off Black Friday sale going on for a limited time only.

So if you want to snap up an annual subscription for half price at just €25 you need to get online fast.

EXPERTS: From left, Joaquín Martínez Campillo García, Dr Anabela Bonada and Antonio Gallegos

McFly star Danny Jones has not seen his dad Alan (inset) for 18 years

DISASTER: Will be repeated if urgent action is not taken claim experts

OUTRAGE: On the streets of Valencia, with regional president Mazon in the firing line

24/7 EMERGENCY ROADSIDE

If your car breaks down it can be an upsetting experience, especially if you don’t have roadside assistance cover. But they are also the most common type of problem on the road.

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BREAKDOWN KIT

To help you stay safe here is a checklist of some important safety items in the event of a breakdown. This emergency breakdown kit should be kept in your ve-

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OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERTISE

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We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call +34 952 147 834. More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

QUICK CROSSWORD

Going straight

SPAIN will grant residency and work permits annually for the next three years to around 300,000 migrants who are in the country illegally.

The policy will take effect next May and aims to expand the country’s ageing workforce.

Migration Minister Elma Saiz says Spain needs around 250,000 registered foreign workers a year to maintain its welfare state.

The new policy simplifies administrative procedures for short and long-term visas and provides migrants with additional work protection.

It also extends a visa offered previously to job seekers for three months to one year. In 2023, Spain issued 1.3 million visas to foreigners.

WINGS CLIPPED

Ryanair among five airlines slapped with fines of nearly €200 million by Spain for ‘abusive practices’

By Alex Trelinski

and Easyjet with a whopping fine totalling €179 million for abusive practices.

The rap sheet includes charging extra for hand luggage and reservation fees for adjoining seats.

The biggest individual penalty is almost €108 million for Ryanair, followed by Vueling on €39 million and

Easyjet with €29 million. Norwegian and Volotea have both received fines of

BILL DUE

SPAIN’S state-backed insurance company is looking at a bill from Valencia’s historic flooding that tops out at over €4 billion.

The Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros (CCS), which steps in when policyholders face losses from extraordinary risks such as acts of terrorism and natural disasters, has received 138,317 claims so far.

The majority of these are for vehicles, residential properties, businesses and agricultural sites devastated in the deadly floods that struck the region on October 29.

Six out of ten relate to vehicle cover, a third were for residential properties, 6% from small business owners and 2% came from industrial sites.

Growth dent

SPAIN has been pegged back after surging ahead of the USA to become the fastest-growing developed economy in the world.

The catastrophic floods in Valencia, which killed at least 219 people, will trim as much as 20 basis points off the expected economic growth this year, according to CaixaBank.

The destruction, loss of life and stop in economic activity will likely see the economy grow by between 2.9 and 3% in 2024.

This is down from 3.1% that had been forecast before the recent storms battered Spain.

The Valencia Generalitat has asked for €31 billion to start reconstruction, with the central government in Madrid so far having said it will ‘mobilise’ some €14 billion.

Some of this will come in direct aid from government coffers and others in financial guarantees for bank loans.

over €1 million. The Consumer Affairs ministry started a probe in June 2023 to see whether airline practices were abusive or unfair and whether they contravened regulations. The investigation came as a result of complaints from consumer organisations. Four practices came under the spotlight: charging a surcharge for reserving adjoining seats to accompany children and dependents; a lack of transparency in pre-contractual information on the final price to be paid: charging a surcharge for carry-on luggage; and not allowing cash payments at the airport to cover extra services.

Extra

“It’s akin to buying beans and then being charged extra at the checkout for the tin,” said Prem Sikka, a member of the UK House of Lords.

“They have been price gouging and misleading customers for years.”

The penalty has been confirmed by Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs, Pablo Bustinduy, after sanctions and their amounts were proposed back in May.

“No company, no matter how large or powerful, is above the law,” Bustinduy said. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called the fine ‘politically motivated’ and has said the company will launch a legal appeal.

Big cheese

THE World Cheese Awards

2024 have crowned two Spanish cheeses among the top 14 on earth - and the world’s best is made by a Spaniard in Portugal. The top cheese was named as Queijo de Ovelha Amanteigado made by Spaniard Sonia Marroyo.

The two Spanish cheeses in the list are La Cava Barus, a cured cheese made from unpasterised cow, sheep and goat milk. It is made in Ciudad Real by the Garcia-Baquero cheese makers and placed fourth in the rankings.

The other prize winner, taking 12th place, was the Valleclaro soft goat’s cheese, made in Jaen by Quesos y Besos using goat milk from Malaga.

Some 240 judges evaluated 4,786 cheeses to find the top 104 in the world, which were then whittled down by an expert panel to find the 14 winners.

DABIZ DETHRONED

MADRID based chef Dabiz Muñoz has been knocked off his throne as ‘best chef in the world’.

After being given the title three years in a row, the Danish young pretender Rasmus Munk (Alchemist, Copenhagen) has been handed the accolade by The Best Chef Awards Munk shared the podium with his compatriot Eric Vildgaard (Jordnær, Copenhagen), who took third place.

Spanish chef Albert Adria, from Enigma, retains his second-place position for the second consec utive year.

Beyond the change in reign,

Seventh heaven

THE Beautiful Towns of Spain Association has announced that seven new locations will join its ranks.

In Badajoz, Llerena made the list thanks to its stunning mudejar facades alongside Jerez de los Caballeros.

Two Teruel enclaves made the cut, including La Fresneda and Linares de Mora.

In Soria. Berlanga de Duero was honoured for its impressive medieval fortress and whimsical porticoes.

Meanwhile in Burgos, Poza de la Sal was recognised for its tudor-esque architecture, cob

After three years as Best Chef in the World, Spaniard is knocked off his perch by Dane Rasmus Munk

By Dilip Kuner

the big news from these awards, which held their 2024 gala in Dubai earlier this month, lies in the transformation of their ranking system.

Until now, The Best Chef Awards operated as a ranking of 100 names, but the founders have decided to im-

at Kempinski Hotel Bahía

itate the Michelin Guide by introducing their own rating system.

From now on, the awards will only feature the top three chefs on the podium, with other chefs being awarded between one and three knives, similar to the Michelin stars, although, unlike Michelin, these awards recognise the individual chefs rather than the restaurants.

The full list includes 550 chefs from 61 countries, with 97 receiving three knives, 177 with two knives and 276 with one knife.

As for Spain, 40 chefs have received some form of knife, with 17 of them earning the maximum rating of three knives: Albert Adria (second best in the world), Andoni Luis Aduriz, Angel Leon, Dabiz Muñoz, Diego Guerrero, Oriol Castro, Mateu Casañas, Eduard Xatruch, Eneko Atxa, Fina Puidgevall and Martina Puigvert, Javier and Sergio Torres, Martin Berasategui, Paco Morales, Paco Perez, Paco Roncero, Paolo Casagrande, Quique Dacosta,

Don’t miss the most famous Christmas occasions on the Costa del Sol this festive season, a time full of sparkle and joy

30 November - The Kempinski Christmas Market & Lighting of the Tree from 13.00 until 20.00, with stalls, festive delicacies, choirs, a kids zone (paid entrance) and a visit from Santa. Open to the public, no entrance fee.

24 December - Christmas Eve six course Gala dinner at Baltazár Bar and Grill, with live music and that perfect Christmas atmosphere

25 December - The famous Christmas Day buffet brunch, with live music, kids entertainment and the visit from Santa!

31 December - You can choose between:

New Year’s Eve: a stunning gala dinner with a pre-dinner cocktail, live music, midnight celebrations and an open bar to dance the night away.

New Year’s Eve buffet: ideal for all the family, with a pre-dinner cocktail, live music, midnight celebrations, and kids club available till 01 00

CHRISTMAS FUN

Kempinski Hotel Bahía announces the date of its traditional Christmas market and lighting of the tree for 2024

KEMPINSKI Hotel Bahía has officially announced the date of this much-anticipated event.

The annual tree lighting ceremony will see Mr Pursche, General Manager, the Kempinski Hotel Bahía team and visitors count down to the illumination of the tree, which will take place on November 30. The event is hailed locally as ‘When Christmas officially begins in Estepona!’

This year, the Christmas Market is expanding and introducing new and exciting activities for the whole family.

Stalls will feature gastronomic delights, such as local honey, sweets, handmade chocolates, roasted coffee and, of course, wines and olive oils, alongside handcrafted items, beautiful jewellery and those perfect Christmas gifts.

The market is expected to welcome over 600 visitors that day of all ages, from all along the Costa del Sol.

This year, the hotel will also bring back the popular children's area, with more stalls, fun activities for kids, face painting and two bouncy castles.

Santa Claus will make a special appearance, working extra hard this year to hear all the children’s Christmas wishes and personally collect their letters.

While the children play, parents can shop or enjoy one of the two bars that will be available throughout the day.

The market will open from 1pm to 8pm, with choirs singing at various times during the day. Santa Claus will be present from 4.30pm until late, passing through the lobby to light the tree just as the sun goes down.

The event is open to the public. Recommended parking areas are Laguna Beach, with pedestrian access via the promenade, or along Calle de Mare Nostrum, where there is ample public parking. Parking on the hotel grounds is best avoided, as it can become congested during the early evening.

Discover more by scanning the QR code for more details about each special occasion!

bled streets and well preserved medieval walls. Letur in Albacete also claimed a spot on the list.

LISTED: Linares de Mora in Teruel was honoured

LA CULTURA 14

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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HIDDEN DEPTHS

BBy Yzabelle Bostyn

mance, The Disappearing Act, explores the African influences in flamenco, an aspect often overlooked in its history.

Graves uses her unique Afro-diasporic lens to challenge perceptions of identity and invisibility, drawing connections between flamenco and African dance traditions.

This unique perspective, she says, is the key to its success, having been nominated for two Lorca awards.

“Flamenco is an urban art form that has a lot of influences from many cultures, including those of the African diaspora,” she told the Olive Press.

About 15% of the Spanish population between the 15th and 19th century were African, many ending up in the country after being transported through Sevilla on their journey to the United States.

Of about 80,000 slaves, it is believed at least 10,000 stayed in Spain.

“They are often written out of the narrative,” Graves said. “But when I came here, I could suddenly see the African influence that wasn’t written in the official story of flamenco. But it’s there, in people’s body movements, the rhythm and more. If you look at some dance styles from Africa such as Sabar in Senegal, you can see the links to flamenco.”

captured on film featuring a black man, Jacinto Padilla or ‘El Negro Meri’.

“This link isn’t something that we’ve explored enough, our presence is al ways there but never named,” she said. This feeling of ‘invisibility’ deeply in fluenced The Disappearing Act side Graves’ experiences as an Afri can person living in the west. She said: “Invisbility is part of my existence, in this work I’m reflecting on how to play with that and use it as a tool. How be aware? Or to disap pear as a means of survival?

After university, she moved to Madrid at 24 to pursue flamenco

In fact, the African links with flamenco have always been ready to be discovered, with the very first image of a flamenco cuadro

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 Advisor, 9 Sloth, 10 Add to, 11 Grinned, 12 Kerbside, 14 Gods, 16 Veal, 17 Four-star, 21 Twister, 22 Ryder, 24 Vague, 25 Heswall.

Down: 1 Barack, 2 Avid, 3 Espouse, 4 A S C I I, 5 Point out, 6 Rhodes, 8 Raged, 13 Readings, 15 Armrest, 16 Votive, 18 Oprah, 19 Rarely, 20 At sea, 23 Deaf.

To ask, what is written out and what is perceived?”

Throughout the piece, she uses various images such as weaves and skin lightening makeup to explore how one can maintain a sense of self within the concept of ‘invisibility.’

A ‘very personal’ performance, the show has toured all over Europe, with further stops in Switzerland, France and Granada.

The performance has featured respected flamenco guitarist Raul Cantizano, British drummer Donna Thompson and Graves’ sibling, Remi Graves. Yinka first showed her talent for dance at just three years old, while living in Nicaragua. She easily picked up the carnival choreography.

On her return to the UK, her parents enrolled her in all sorts of dance classes, from modern to jazz to ballet. However, when it came to university she decided to study Art History, thinking dance ‘wasn’t a real job.’

It was there at the University of Sussex that she discovered flamenco, age 21.

After working odd jobs after university, she moved to Madrid at 24 to pursue flamenco at the famed Amor de Dios school.

“I jumped in at the deep end,” she confessed. “But I made a lot of friends and felt really nurtured, I really improved and learnt a lot.”

Some five years in, she met Malaga based Flamenco dancer, La Lupi and made her move down south.

was created, it’s in the streets, in the way of speaking, in the football, people have flamenco close to them here.

It’s a big part of Andalucian culture,” she said.

During the first few years of her career, she worked as an english teacher and tour guide to get by while nurturing her true passion.

After a decade, she was finally able to fully dedicate herself to flamenco.

“I was very lucky because I got to the point where I was being asked to perform in places where it felt fraudulent not to be a full time

“I realised flamenco was born in Andalucia, it’s like going to New Orleans for jazz, you breathe in the space where that artform dancer,” she said. “That was when I decided, I’ve got to make a choice right now, because there comes a point where it asks so much you have to give it all the time that it requires. It’s not possible to do it part-time.”

She has also formed part of the acclaimed company,

alongside British

Magdalena

and Noemi

from 2014-2017 and performed multiple successful UK tours.

Now she is pushing the boundaries, infusing African influences with the traditional Andalucian art to create a captivating,

ORN in London to Ghanaian and Jamaican parents, Yinka Esi Graves didn’t grow up thinking she could become a

Dotdotdot Dance

flamenco dancers

Mannion

Luz

CREDIT: Miguel Lorenzo

CREDIT: Nina Sologubenko

Wrongful resistance

ANTIBIOTICS are under the microscope this week with a new campaign on the Rock to highlight problems associated with increased resistance among the populace.

But the intended audience is not the patient in the clinic but the staff, especially prescribers and healthcare workers involved in administering antibiotics.

The Gibraltar Health Authority wishes to impress upon its professionals the growing threat posed to public health globally by excessive or improper use of antibiotics.

Awareness

It is part of World Antibiotic Awareness Week, an annual initiative by the World Health Organization each November.

The GHA urges caution when prescribing antibiotics to only causes which have been clinically proven – or highly suspected – to have a bacterial infection.

Using antibiotics when they are not needed can promote the development of resistant organisms making them less effective when they really are needed.

GHA Director General, Kevin McGee, said: “Antibiotics are life-saving medicines for the treatment of infections.

“Unfortunately, worldwide overuse in situations when it was not necessary to prescribe them has created a situation where their effectiveness and utility are under threat.”

THE European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned tens of millions of people could die by 2050 if tighter controls are not put on antibiotics.

They say that unnecessary use of antibiotics leads to dangerous levels of microbial resistance and the European Union should take urgent action.

Antimicrobial resistance caused almost five million deaths world-wide in 2019 and could kill more than 39 million people by 2050.

The latest ECDC report revealed that between 2019-2023, no significant decrease was seen in antibiotic use.

“We’re going in the wrong direction,” said ECDC director, Pamela Rendi-Wagner.

NEXT PANDEMIC

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Of the 24 countries included in the study, 14 had not only failed to lower their use of antibiotics, but had raised it.

The report also showed the use of last-resort antibiotics went up 5.4%, some 2% higher than in 2019.

According to the World Health Organisation, these should only be used when nothing else has

Stub it out

THE Spanish Ministry of Health has introduced new tobacco laws in an effort to protect public health. Cigarettes and tobacco packets will have a ‘uniform’ design, free from individual colours or design, which are thought to incentivise consumption. For nicotine-free e-cigarettes, ingredients lists and health warnings will be introduced on packaging. It will also include information pamphlets on how to use e-cigarettes, their potential dangers and medical restrictions.

Scientists warn overuse of antibiotics could lead to the ‘next pandemic’

No protection

worked against multi-resistant organisms.

Although the ECDC admits

Artificial flavorings will also be restricted in e-cigarettes and vapes, meaning only tobacco flavouring can be used.

their rising use could be out of necessity, it insists that member states reevaluate their consumption. The stats also show slow progress in the EU’s 2030 antibiotics goals agreed last year.

By 2030, it is hoped there will be a 20% total reduction in the use of human antibiotics compared with 2019.

Risk

Some 65% of antibiotics consumed must have low resistance risk. Each year in the European Union, 35,000 people die as a result of antimicrobial resistance, with 4,000 in Spain alone.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON MENOPAUSE

PERIMENOPAUSE means ‘around menopause’ and is the period of time when women’s bodies begin to transition towards menopause.

The time frame varies but on average it lasts about four years, while the menopause lasts between eight to 10 years, during which time women experience numerous hormonal changes. An understanding of these changes and how they affect mental/emotional and physical health is vital.

Introducing Dr. Ruth FitzGerald, a psychologist who specializes in the psychological aspects of perimenopause and menopause.

She sees this time as an opportunity for women to view themselves and their futures from a new perspective.

“Approaching menopause with knowledge and a healthy perspective can enable us not only to successfully transition through this natural phase of our lives, but to use this time of change as a catalyst for profound personal growth,” she tells the Olive Press. “It’s an opportunity to clarify personal, life and career objectives for the next chapter of our lives.”

The growing research has some concerning findings, particularly in relation to the potential impact of perimenopause and menopause on self-esteem, anxiety levels and mood.

Fortunately, there is a growing body of information, advice, programmes and support for women experiencing it.

One programme ‘Menoperspectives’ has been developed by Dr. FitzGerald to help women.

“I was motivated by my own personal experience,” she explains. “Being a psychologist was an enormous advantage as I was able to understand my emotions from a clinical perspective and apply the

Dr FitzGerald (right) tells the Olive Press about her exciting new Menoperspectives programme in Sotogrande which is helping women around Spain

therapeutic techniques, which I utilize in my work, to myself. I really wanted to give other women the same benefit.”

Drawing upon the most up to date research and underpinned by solid psychological and philosophical foundations, it will be a profound and personal growth experience which equips women with the psychological tools and techniques they need to experience menopause with a sense of understanding and confidence. It allows women who are going through this experience to develop a healthier perspective on their own mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Symptoms of Menopause

As hormone levels shift to a new normal with lower amounts of oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, about 80% of women experience symptoms throughout menopause. Although night sweats and hot flashes are frequently linked to menopause, they are not the only symptoms, and not all women have them. Actually, there are more than 30 known menopausal symptoms, and these can vary greatly.

Many women put off discussing these symptoms with a professional because they are unaware they are linked with menopause or mistake them for other conditions; however it is important to recognise these symptoms in ourselves and to understand their origins.

Anxiety and Depression during Menopause

“Anxiety, depression, mood swings, and irritability are often experienced during menopause” says Dr. FitzGerald. “However many women do not talk to anyone about this, sometimes not even their partners. Menopause often comes at a time

when we are also concerned for aging parents and may have concerns and responsibilities for children. All of this can really create the perfect storm.”

A recent study found women in middle age experience significant increases in anxiety, depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and have a high suicide rate.

“This is just one of many studies with similar findings” says Dr. FitzGerald “and that is why it is important for society to talk about menopause and to continue to improve the support available for women. It is also one of the reasons I developed Menoperspectives. Apart from the insight, knowledge and tools that women gain from this programme, there is also the invaluable element of coming together with other women and having this shared experience, which is incredibly powerful. The fact that it is set in a stunning five-star luxury resort is a bonus but I think we deserve to treat ourselves at this stage in our lives.”

Menoperspectives, SO/Sotogrande Resort - 21 March to 24 March 2025

Menoperspectives is a residential and non-residential programme personally tailored to each participant.

Before arriving participants complete psychosocial and personality assessments and have a one hour online consultation with Dr. FitzGerald to assess their current situation.

The first evening is a beautiful opportunity for participants to get to know one another, with an introductory meeting, icebreakers, drinks reception and welcome dinner.

Mornings are an opportunity to have a relaxing start to the day or for early risers, morning yoga, gym, swimming and meditation are available.

CONDOM sales have fallen 15.34% so far this year, according to healthcare company Iqvia. Just two months before the end of the year, only 25,283,747 have been sold, compared to last year’s total of 39,228,562. The data has prompted concern from the medical community, which warns that sinking use of condoms could lead to a rise in sexually transmitted diseases.

ON THE RISE

SEXUAL assault is going up, according to an annual report by the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona. The hospital has reported that sexual assault cases have risen for the fifth year running, with a 12% jump. This year, 624 people have been victims, 88% of them women and 99% of the attackers were men. Some 58% of the women were raped and 25% of victims below 45 were attacked by someone they knew in a supposedly ‘safe’ environment.

It is important that participants have some personal time to reflect on the workshops, socialise and unwind. From 5pm to 7pm participants are free to engage in a wide variety of activities.

For residential participants, the programme fee of €2770 includes 3 nights luxury accommodation and all meals (including wine with dinner) as well as the use of SO/Sotogrande’s state of the art leisure facilities.

For non-residential participants, the fee of €1490 includes lunch however they may elect to add on to this and are warmly invited and encouraged to stay for afternoon leisure activities and dinner. There is ongoing support after the programme with a follow up one hour online consultation with Dr. FitzGerald and also free monthly zoom meetings where participants can ask questions, discuss related topics and continue to feel supported. “This is an experience which really creates strong bonds of friendship and support amongst women who are all having the same life transition and there is a real sense of being part of a shared community. It is important that this sense of community continues which is why the monthly zoom meetings are so lovely” says Dr. FitzGerald.

There are still places available on the March 2025 programme and an early booking discount of 10% is available until 1st December.

NATIVE CONTENT

Pauper to prince

A FIVE-year-old boy will receive VIP treatment from Barcelona football team RCD Espanyol after being turned away from a game in Girona because he wore Barca’s jersey.

Squid game

A MALAGA diner was floored after being charged €30 for calamari and €8 for gazpacho at the Hotel Marenostrum, sparking an online storm.

DIY love

THE Spanish trend of looking for a date in Mercadona has moved to China, where retirees find potential partners while wandering the endless aisles of Ikea.

€200,000 worth of Jamon Iberico stolen in Huelva

POLICE are hunting for thieves who made off with a staggering €200,000 worth of prized Christmas ham.

Some 400 legs of the nation’s finest acorn-fed ham – a delicacy with a Protected Designation of Origin seal – were stolen from a family-run business in Andalucia. The ham, known for its melt-in-your-mouth taste, was set to be served on festive tables worldwide, but

By Dilip Kuner

now it’s vanished.

The ham-burglars struck the Jamones Eiriz factory in Corteconcepcion, a sleepy mountain village in Huelva.

A third of the producer’s entire stock was swiped, sending shockwaves through the small, close-knit community. Police believe five people were involved in the heist,

A COURT has ruled Mercadona unfairly sacked an employee in Albacete for eating an out-of-date croquette destined for disposal.

The worker, with 16 years of service, was dismissed in July 2023 for a ‘very serious’ offence but received only €944 in severance.

The Castilla-La Mancha Superior Court (TSJ) has now ordered the supermarket to reinstate him or pay €40,000 in com-

and some are even whispering that it could have been an inside job.

Domingo Eiriz, whose family has run the business since 1818, revealed the moment he discovered the crime. Speaking to Antena 3, he said he was alerted by a worker who asked, "Domingo, where are the hams, have you taken them?" What he found was shocking –400 legs of ham gone, each

Expensive snack

pensation. Mercadona chose the payout. The worker, earning €2,000 monthly as a junior manager, admitted eating the croquette and was fired the next day. Mercadona claimed he consumed an entire €4.20 packet, but witnesses testified he ate just one. The TSJ deemed the act a minor infraction.

HAM-BURGLARS

worth over €500.

“This is not just about money, it’s the destruction of years of work,” Eiriz fumed.

“They knew exactly what they were doing and they did it at the worst time possible – right before Christmas.”

Despite the family’s best efforts to keep their operation secure, the stolen meat was stored in an unusual location to have labels put on, sparking suspicions of insider involvement.

Jamones Eiriz is a small business with only 20 employees, eight of whom are family members.

SOME might call it a Pane-phony, as Italy has been robbed of its Panettone crown by a Barcelona-based chef. Mexican baker Tonatiuh Cortes snatched the win at the Panettone World Cup in Milan.

The Suca’l bakery worker triumphed over two Italians to claim the title of ‘world’s best traditional panettone’, judged diligently on aroma, taste and shape. Each participant was chosen via a rigorous, two-year selection process, leaving only the 24 best panettone bakers in the world. Finalists came from all over the globe including Asia, Australia and the United States.

WE’RE BACK AGAIN IN THREE WEEKS for our special Sierra Nevada supplement on December 18