Olive Press Spain - Issue 369 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

OLIVE PRESS Andalucía

The Mijas Costa FREE

CORDOBA SPECIAL

Your expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 15 Issue 369 www.theolivepress.es May 19th - June 1st 2021

Voted Spain’s most popular historic city

See page 32

Unveiled

Fashion mogul, once married to supermodel Linda Evangelista, lives the high life in Ibiza, while courts probe multiple rape claims of teenagers THE Olive Press has tracked down a beleaguered modelling agency boss alleged to have raped over a dozen teenagers on his books. French fashion mogul Gerald Marie has been living the highlife around Ibiza, taking long lunches and shopping, when not luxuriating at his multi-million euro villa on the island. We watched the mogul dining with friends and new wife, Rus-

TRIO: Ex-wife Linda and two victims, Lisa Brinkworth and Carre Otis

EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke in Ibiza

sian model Irina Bondarenko, while the courts in Paris continue to investigate years of shocking claims. The ex-Elite agency boss is accused of grooming and sexually assaulting a string of women in attacks akin to those of Americans Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. While he strenuously denies the claims, we have helped to expose his luxury lifestyle for a hard-hitting TV documentary for Australia’s Channel Nine. The 60 Minutes documentary, which aired at the weekend, heard from many alleged former victims, including ex-Hollywood star Carre Otis, journalist Lisa Brinkworth and British model Paula Thomas. “He basically said if you want to be paid you're going to have to have sex with me,” Thomas, 52, told the show, Beauty and the Creep.

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The former Elite chief is being probed by a French court over the claims of at least 13 former models, who claim he either raped or sexually abused them. French prosecutors confirmed last year that Marie was accused of raping three models aged between 17 and 20 in the 1980s and 1990s. Many more have since joined the prosecution. Such crimes are punishable by up to 15 years in prison but the statute of limitations is normally 20 years so most al-

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LUXURY: Expensive meals out for Marie and wife Irina leged offences are proscribed. In the case of sex with a minor, this statute can be raised to 30 years which may see him in court. A lawyer, Anne-Claire Le Jeune, handling their case in Paris told the documentary she is representing 14 former models and there are ‘12 more’ she is also speaking to. The 71-year-old is expected to be shortly charged with the offences that stretch back over 30 years. He even managed to continue in his role as a fashion boss despite a BBC documentary into his abuses in 1999. A former colleague of Marie’s told the documentary he is helping Paris detectives investigate the historic allegations of abuse. Whistle-blower Omar Harfouch claims Elite bosses had a scoreboard they called 'the podium of pussy' which handed points for having sex, gaining more points for virgins and young girls. “My first impression was he was a sexual predator,” said the businessman, who claims Gerald threatened his life for going public. He gave chapter and verse on how the grooming process worked, all backed up with footage from a former undercover BBC investigation by journalist Donal Macintyre in

EXCLUSIVE: Huge hillside villa overlooks Ibiza coast the 1990s. In the documentary in 1999 the Irishman went undercover as a photographer alongside aspiring journalist Lisa Brinkworth, who posed as a model.

Admits

Brinkworth now admits today that she was sexually assaulted by the French fashion boss, but ‘wrongly’ failed to report it to the police at the time. The Olive Press spent a week locating his homes and businesses on the island, which include various property development companies. He has an incredible villa in the exclusive Es Cubells corner, hidden in the wooded hills and with breathtaking A

ll about

Estepona

Due to a printing error a few copies of our 16 page supplement on Estepona have been printed again, see inside

Estepona

www.theolivepress.es

OLD MEETS NEW A town of contrasts welcomes travellers that a taste of authentic with Spain

STEPONA is a place where old Spain meets new. The deep blue Mediterranean of the timeless the greenery of the Sea contrasts with tains that provide rolling hills and mounsandwich the brighta backdrop. The two al homes and more white of the traditionthat make up this modern architecture Splashes of colourbustling town. are provided along winding streets and the boulevards by stunning displays of flowers, while blocks of apartments are transformed into canvases for impressive giant These contrasts are murals. constantly evolving the products of the nature of Estepona, which has impressive global credentials, despite being a medium-sized town. Continues on next

page

May 2021

views along the coast and across to Formentera island. There were three cars in the drive and a team of staff maintained the well-clipped gardens. We watched him go out to eat on three occasions on the dot of 1pm, always getting the best tables by the beach. He looked healthy and happy and was constantly laughing and one waiter at €75-a-head restaurant Es Xarcu described him as ‘always upbeat, a real crack’. He continued: “He is one of our best clients and it doesn’t matter how busy we are he will always get a table right down by the beach.” Marie, who has two daughters of his own, was eventually confronted by the film crew at a beachside restaurant in Ibiza Town, where he denied the allegations. In an angry confrontation, he waved a film crew away and belittled their clothes, while he continued eating.

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Poachers nabbed POLICE have made two arrests and seized 11 Ibex hunting trophies, 17 shotguns and ammunition after investigating a spate of poaching at a private hunting reserve in Nerja.

Stab death A COLOMBIAN man aged 27 has died after a fight in Malaga in which he was stabbed in the stomach. A 22 year-old Cuban man has been arrested.

Gang busted WHAT police have described as the most active cocaine and hashish distribution and sales group in San Fernando (Cadiz) has been broken up, with 15 people arrested in a series of raids.

Fast charge A NEW environmental law passed by Congress says that plastic cups, lids and containers used for takeaways will have to be charged for separately from January 1, 2023.

Brits in sharp exit A BRITISH gang has been arrested after a 200 kph police chase along the A-7. A routine police patrol in Mijas Costa spotted a British registered Audi acting suspiciously and ordered it to pull over. But instead of obeying, the driver put his foot to the floor and sped off towards Marbella, touching speeds of 200 kph on the 80 kph limited road. In total seven police cars joined in the chase with the car eventually abandoned in Nagueles. Officers arrested four British men nearby and a search found cocaine and a knife. They were bailed the next day and will appear in court charged with serious disobedience, crimes against road safety and resisting arrest.

Bagged

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Hide and Seek drug game stalled

Evil dog owner A CRUEL dog owner is under investigation for allegedly cutting 'noisy' dogs' vocal cords. The discovery came during a routine inspection by the Guardia Civil in Cuenca looking to crack down on puppy farming and animal abuse, eight dogs were found in deplorable conditions. They had malnutrition, ticks, fleas and eye wounds,

which required urgent veterinary care. A further examination by the vets found that six of the eight dogs had undergone a cordectomy, a surgical procedure commonly known as debarking or bark softening. The dogs have since been relocated to an animal shelter in Toledo, while the owner is facing crimes of animal abuse.

A HIDE and seek game involving bags of marijuana and ‘narcotic easter eggs’ hidden around the streets has been stopped. It comes after a local policeman in Malaga warned Catalan cops about the online game after a month-long investigation. He alerted them to the mystery 'influencer' who was loading up videos of himself hiding small bags of marijuana and hashish in locations around El Prat de Llobregat, in Catalunya.

Treasure

Expat fashionista gang that stole from boutiques finally rounded up after a year of robberies A MIXED international gang of expats and Spaniards has been rounded up in Marbella. The gang, which included a Briton, a German and three Spaniards, has been behind a spate of fashion shop robberies that date back to mid 2020. In total, the gang stole over €270,000 worth of items, which mostly included clothes and shoes, as well as a

World War I helmet. The gang, aged between 23 and 38, are believed to be behind the raids on at least 11 shops, including the warehouse of one high end brand in Puerto Banus. According to police, each of the members was assigned a specific role: one was in charge of the vehicles rented and driven, while another collated key information to aid the robberies.

History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.

TARGET: Luxury shops were raided The other side of the team was involved in the actual robbing of the premises. After breaking the locks and disabling the alarms and video surveillance systems, they the highest value clothing, which they were able to sell on easily. They also took computer equipment and a number of

safes were forced open. The clampdown started after the British member of the gang was caught back in March during a 7am robbery in Puerto Banus. Police managed to recover the stolen World War I helmet after it was put up for sale on the internet and seized in Madrid.

Viewers were encouraged to find the 'treasure' in return for likes and shares of his Youtube and Instagram channels. At the time of the user arrest he had amassed over 3,000 followers. His charade was ended by Malaga’s cybercrime unit which was eventually able to identify the perpetrator, along with an accomplice who was featured in the Youtube videos. The information was passed onto the Mossos d'Esquadra, who raided his home seizing 115 grams of marijuana, scales and an air rifle. He is set to be charged with crimes against public health and promoting the consumption of a controlled substance.

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NEWS

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Great result!

OUR GIRL: Reporter Cristina took bronze (far right)

OLIVE PRESS writer Cristina Hodgson has temporarily swapped reporting for racing - with incredible results. The 46-year-old expat, who lives in Montilla, took home two bronze medals at the Andalucia Championship coming third in both the 1500m and 800m masters race. Despite officially hanging up her running shoes three years ago, Cristina was persuaded to compete at the Malaga tournament by friends and family. Mum-of-two Cristina told the Olive Press: “My kids told me not to bother coming home without a medal! So I was happy to be able to bring back two for them.” Even more impressively, Cristina barely trained for the race - but says the victory has reignited her passion for competing. She is now heading to the national championships - but this time she has pledged to train seriously!

Prime suspect

Paw of blame pointed at bear for string of grizzly livestock slaughters in the Spanish Pyrenees

NOT CUDDLY: Bear is accused of livestock killings PABLO Picasso has been revealed to be the most Googled artist in the world, apart from in his home country of Spain. He beats the UK’s Banksy into second place, according to website MyArtBroker. A total of 100 artists were included in the study which found the most popular artist in each country. While Banksy topped the list in 30 – mostly European – nations, Picasso was way ahead when it comes to online

Pablo beats Banksy searches by country. The Spanish genius came top in a staggering 90 countries,

HE looks as cuddly as Rupert or Paddington bear. But make no mistake Goiat the bear is no marmalade-eating vegetarian. In fact, he is on the Wanted list, suspected of being a serial killer. Officials have named the adult brown bear prime suspect in a recent spate of mystery livestock killings in Catalunya that have farmers up in arms. His name means ‘lad’ in local dialect but in this bear’s case that’s not so much Jack the Lad as Jack the Ripper. His bared fangs are thought to be the last thing seen by his countless victims … sheep, goats and even horses … before he tore out their throats. More stereotypically for a bear, the paw of blame is also being pointed at Goiat for the raiding and destruction of two beehives. Goiat, originally from Slovenia, was released into the Val d’Aran in Catalunya in 2016 leaving other famous figures, including Andy Warhol, way behind. But Banksy can lay claim to being the most Googled artist in the world by number of searches. He edged out Picasso in terms of volume of online queries as well as coming top in, somewhat ironically, Picasso’s birth nation of Spain. The Malaga-born artist is hugely popular worldwide, with his ‘strongholds’ being in Asia and Africa.

By Dilip Kuner

as part of an EU project to boost the brown bear population in the Pyrenees. The GPS-tagged animal soon became ursa non gratis and in 2018, after the slaughter of 10 horses, four sheep and a goat, a local farming union called for him to be ‘removed from the area’ permanently. Farmers hoped they had seen the back of him when he slipped across the border to France.

Forensic

But officials lost track of him when his GPS collar fell off in October, and he has not been seen since, apart from by a trail of dead livestock. The recent attacks resulted in the death of five goats and a sheep and coincided with a decrease across the border, leading the authorities to consider him the likely culprit. Forensic experts have now been drafted in to analyse samples taken from the ‘crime’ scenes. Meanwhile a team will be sent out to fit the animal with a new GPS collar for further study, with his ‘removal’ a possibility if he turns out to be a ‘problem bear’. Brown bears have been a protected species in Spain since 1973. The project to consolidate the population in the Pyrenees with Slovenian imports has seen their number rise from three in 1993 to over 60 today.

ESTUCO INTERIORS

Wild wild west

IT looks about as English as the Amazon. But the BBC is shooting a Western in the deserts of Almeria called The English, starring Emily Blunt. The Devil Wears Prada star, 38, is starring alongside C h a s k e Spencer, Toby Jones and Nichola McAuliffe. The six part series centres around the arrival of Englishwoman Cornelia Locke (played by Blunt) in the Wild West of America with a plot to avenge the death of her son. The deserts around the town of Tabernas have long been used as the backdrop for Western films, including Once Upon a Time in the West and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Amazon has snagged the film rights in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

BRIT: Blunt stars in The English, while (top) The Good the Bad and the Ugly

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NEWS

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Flying the flags ANDALUCIA has been awarded an all-time record number of blue flags for the quality and cleanliness of its beaches and ports. In a massive and much needed boost to the tourism sector, the region is now the second in Spain for the most blue flags with 137, only surpassed by Valencia. Of the 137 flags, 115 have been awarded to beaches, 20 to marinas and two to sustainable tourist boats. Malaga province received 41 in total - 34 for beaches, five for ports and two for sustainable boats, a pair of catamarans run out of Benalmadena by the company Costasol. Meanwhile Cadiz garnered 35 flags, including 30 for beaches and five for ports. Almeria got 31 for its beaches and two for its ports, while Huelva got nine for its beaches and seven for its ports. Granada got 11 for its beaches and one for its port. Spain itself has also gained a record number of flags this year, with a total of 713 of the coveted flags, the highest number of any

‘Hellish and humiliating’ as British expats arrested over ‘fraudulent’ residency applications EXCLUSIVE By Simon Wade

A GROUP of British expats have been detained by police after their padron certificates proving they lived in Spain appear to have been doctored. At least eight people have been grilled over the town hall registration forms, which were all handled by the same gestor company on the Costa Blanca. National Police confirmed to the Olive Press that detectives are working alongside the Guardia Civil to now investigate all residencia applications in Alicante made in 2021.

Fraud

It comes after ‘widespread fraud’ was allegedly detected in over 22 Britons attempting to become resident here. This week a number of elderly expats described the situation as ‘humiliating’ and ‘hellish’, after they were held for questioning under caution. They told the Olive Press how they were carted to Alicante police station and grilled about falsifying documents submitted with their TIE card applications. “We were wrongly arrested for submitting fake padrons, even though we put the correct ones in with our paper-

SUSTAINABLE: Catamarans awarded flag country taking part in the scheme. The Blue Flag programme is an international honour which was first started in France in 1985 and in areas out of Europe in 2001.

I beg your padron work for residencia,” said Jay Elliott, 66, of Orihuela Costa, who has lived in Spain for over five years. She and her friend Lily Higgins, 71, had planned for a peaceful retirement in the sun but are now living with the threat of a court case or even deportation. “I’ve never been in trouble before but here I am, being treated like a common criminal,” said Higgins. “It’s humiliating.” They added that the same gestor is being investigated for changing the date on at least 22 more British applicants. Another couple, who asked not to be named, told the Olive Press how they had been questioned when they went to collect their TIE cards. “We were taken into a room, read our rights and told to explain why our 2021 padron had been doctored to show a 2020 date - it was hell.” All those detained had used One Way Services, a gestor based in Quesada, near Torrevieja, to process their applications - including the padron. Owner Matt Smith insisted that his is anything but the only gestor business to be dragged into the investigation “Nobody has been arrested, that is a fact,” he insisted, adding: “Other gestors are

also being brought in as part of an ongoing investigation into TIE applications.” A police spokesman told the Olive Press: “All residencia applications from every gestor in the province will be investigated in case of possible connections.” All fraudulent submissions will be cancelled with applicants given the right to appeal. Anne Hernandez of Brexpats in Spain warned that a lack of clear national guidelines means rules can differ from region to region. She added that the complicated application process is leaving expats vulnerable to unscrupulous gestors.

Exploited

“One would expect that when you turn to a professional for help, you pay the money and get professional advice but we hear lots of stories about people being given the wrong information or even being exploited and landing into trouble by so-called qualified gestors,” she warned. “This case of fraudulent padrons being submitted is shocking but it’s by no means isolated.” Have you been affected? Please get in touch at newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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AIRLINE easyJet is running a ‘Catch your flight’ competition tomorrow (Thursday) in the old town of Malaga. To mark the opening of its new base at Malaga airport, the low-cost airline is going to hide five orange-coloured envelopes in well-known places in the historic centre. Each envelope will contain two free round-trip airfares from Malaga airport to any European city, valid within a year. There will be clues on the airline’s instagram page from Thursday morning at 10am.

NEWS

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Sizzling Record MALAGA has broken its all-time record for heat in May. The mercury shot up to 35.4 degrees at Malaga airport on Sunday for the first time since official records began in 1942. The highest ever May temperature recorded there was 35ºC set in 1999. The temperatures peaked after the so-called Terral wind arrived in the city from the south. This was coupled with the so-called ‘taro mist’, which caused a sharp change in temperatures in just a few hours. The sizzling temperatures were widespread across the province with Coin registering the third highest temperature in Spain, with 36.8ºC degrees.

Business boost OVER 50,000 businesses in Andalucia have applied for funding from emergency coronavirus funding. The regional government confirmed that 53,796 requests were made for the COVID-19 grant that offers struggling companies a boost of €3,000. The €132 million investment is being delivered by the Junta using funds from the EU aimed at supporting shopkeepers, restaurants and artisan traders affected by the pandemic. Applications are now closed and the Junta hopes to start paying out the grants in full this month using a fast-track process to distribute the support.

Golf gamble By James Warren

A CONTROVERSIAL golf resort has been bailed out by the local town hall. The project to transform a 100-hectare stretch of coastline east of Malaga looked set to fold. The plan to develop Torrox golf resort was derailed after key investor Calaciete Developments collapsed. Faced with a deficit of around €400,000, Torrox local council has now been forced to step in acquiring €404,000 worth of shares, making it a 78% shareholder. The remaining shares are owned by Madrid based promoter Level SL. The project is to include an 18hole golf course with associated restaurants and facilities plus an urbanisation of a massive 3,000 homes. It will also coincide with a new marina facility in the currently unspoilt cove on the border between Nerja and Torrox. There has been a lot of opposition to the project, in particular from expats and environmentalists. "Golf tourism is an insular sector and is not sustainable." said Andres Jimenez, councillor for UPNer. "The public is brainwashed with all these spectacular promises, but fast forward 10 years down the line and it will end up just like many other resorts, either unfinished or unsuccessful." Another project for a golf and luxury hotel development at nearby Maro in Nerja is being fought by residents. The Larios family owns the land and wants to push ahead with the project that includes over 500 houses. While Nerja town hall is backing the scheme it is facing considerable opposition, as the Olive Press reported last issue, a series of protests.

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Foot on the ladder

Daredevils delight ANDALUCIA’S longest zipline has finally opened its doors to thrillseekers. The inauguration at Sunview Park, near Alhaurin de la Torre, had originally been planned for last year, but COVID travel restrictions temporarily scuppered the plan. The ‘Supertirolina VK Twin’ spans 1,350 metres, making it one of Spain and Europe’s longest zipping sites

Legal, at last Expat couple who saw home demolished in Spain’s Andalucia finally get legal right to live in their garage AN elderly British couple who have been living in a garage since their dream villa was demolished 13 years ago have finally legalised their property. It means Len and Helen Prior can now be connected to mains water and electricity. It has been a long battle for the Almeria-based couple, who became infamous in 2008 when bulldozers were sent in to flatten their villa in Vera, over so-called ‘planning irregularities’. They have now finally been granted an AFO certificate for their property – the special licence issued in Andalucia to normalise properties built ‘illegally’ on rural land. For more than 13 years they have been living in the garage they converted into a living space after their €400,000 villa was reduced to rubble. They use a noisy generator to power their home and bring in bottled water. “It’s a huge relief,” Helen, 77, told the Olive Press this week. “Hopefully we will be connected to mains services soon and then maybe we can get a proper roof in as at the moment every time it rains we run around with buckets to collect the leaks.

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INSULT

Vol. 7 Issue 154

Szekely in crisis Top expat agent in trouble owing €250,000 but insists she is not bankrupt

6, 2013 olive press - February 21- March theGuide - The Rough

e The original and only English-languag investigative newspaper in Andalucía

the

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February 21 - March 6,

Priors finally awarded ‘ridiculous’ €30,000 five compensation after spending years living in their garage since their home was demolished

EXCLUSIVE By Kathryn Richardson THE Costa del Sol’s most famous expat estate agent is in financial turmoil. Kristina Szekely has filed for the Spanish version of bankruptcy and admitted she owes €250,000. The Hungarian agent, who has an exclusive deal with EMBATTLED: Szekely Sotheby International, told insists she will ride the Olive Press she intends out the storm with a to ‘battle on’ regardless. ‘number of big sales Currently in negotiation on the horizon’ with her creditors, she confirmed: “I have filed for in the 1980s and quickly what they call in America, dominated the coast’s real Chapter 11. estate industry. Bubbly and outgoing, she forged a global reputation Optimistic was frequently quoted “We owe €250,000, but I and the international press. am hopeful of getting out of in last week, she had ofit as we have some big sales Untilin Marbella, Gibraltar fices coming in. Sotogrande but has “The word bankruptcy is and struggling to pay her completely wrong, it hurts been and creditors for sevstaff the business. months. “There is a big difference eral week the office in Gibetween somebody going Last was chained shut braltar situaour and bankrupt at 5pm. tion.” competitor, who She added: “We are also One to remain anonyselling apartments and I asked said Ms Szekely had think it is optimistic some- mous, overheads and how. I am keeping staff on.” enormous find the next few The Hungarian agent ar- would very tough. rived on the Costa del Sol months

A RETIRED expat couple who have spent the last five years living in their garage after their home was demolished have received “a ridiculous” €30,000 compensation bill from their town hall. Helen and Len Prior’s villa was ripped down by the Junta in January 2008 after their building licence was revoked.

However, a court has now ruled that the original application, granted without their knowledge in 2004, was illegal. The Priors only learnt about the plans to bulldoze their home two years later in May 2006. Their villa, one of around 100 illegal homes in the area, was the only one to be

INJUSTICE: Len and Helen

BE WHICH TYPE OF BIRDS WILL FLOCKING DOWN TO THE COSTA DEL SOL THIS SUMMER?

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Prior

tice. We aren’t happy about demolished. the insulting €30,000 offer They have since been sent but we are happy that it has from pillar to post to find been proved it was an illegal someone responsible for the order.” fiasco. She insisted she would need Mrs Prior told The Olive to get ‘€5m in damages’ to Press: “The whole thing is make up for the way they ridiculous. It’s a horror sto- have been treated. ry and just stupid because The couple’s main claim all of our neighbours were against Vera Council, for saved but us.” €700,000, is still ongoing. The couple have been forced Despite their living condito live in their converted ga- tions, and losing all trust in rage without electricity or Spain’s justice system, she running water. said they did not want to reTalking about the damages, turn to the UK. she added: “That’s not jus-

NIGHTMARE: Len and Helen Prior have been through 13 years of hell, as reported by the Olive Press (left) By Fiona Govan

“We never imagined we would spend all these years fighting for fundamental rights just to live in a garage,” added the grandmother of six, who has three great-grandchildren. “We moved out here to have a peaceful retirement after working hard all our lives but ended up like this.” Len, also 77, is recovering from life-saving open heart surgery. “We didn’t want to leave our children to deal with this mess, which is something that has been preying on our minds,” he admitted.

on the ground at the shock of demolition to now, with what is left of that disaster finally regularised. “At last this lovely couple can

THE Construction Confederation has unveiled proposals to use European funds to improve access to public housing in Spain. It comes after Spain was urged to take advantage of EU money to set up a fund that would cover 20% of the property price. A number of banks are joining the project, with Santander Bank launching a pilot programme to grant mortgages of up to 95% for the young buyers.

Ladder

The project is similar to the UK’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme that aids first-time buyers climb onto the property ladder. The UK scheme, introduced in 2013, has enabled tens of thousands of people to buy newbuild homes with a 5% deposit and 20% of the sale price covered by a government loan. These loans are aimed at young people who have the capacity to pay, but have no savings. They have to provide a personal guarantee for the first five years. A new Housing Law being prepared by the government will introduce the scheme in the second quarter of this year.

live with the minimum dignity of having access to electricity and water in the final stage of their lives, and that is an important change.”

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Torndown

Despite having planning permission issued by Vera town hall, the regional government of Andalucia had revoked the licence and ordered the villa to be torn down in 2008. Five years ago a court ordered Vera council to pay them compensation of €425,000 plus interest. However, the figure was barely enough to cover the legal costs they had racked up over their eight-year battle. Gerardo Vazquez, a lawyer with AUAN, the pressure group representing hundreds of expat homeowners in the Almeria region said the decision was ‘an end of an era’. “This represents a milestone,” he told the Olive Press. “It’s been a long journey from that image of Mr Prior collapsing

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NEWS FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

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

OPINION Wrong side of the law SOMETIMES you can do everything right and still find yourself on the wrong side of the law. At least, that is the case for foreigners in Spain, especially when dealing with the powerful adversary that is the clunking arm of Spanish bureaucracy. Being a foreigner here and often not having a good command of the language means that many of us must rely on the advice of experts, those supposedly in the know, to whom we pay good money to help guide us through a system that is not easy to navigate at the best of times, even for Spaniards. The Priors did everything possible to ensure that they bought wisely when they sold up in the UK and sunk their savings into a dream property in which to spend a peaceful retirement.

Battling

And yet they have spent the last 13 years living in a garage without access to the basic amenities of mains electricity and water while battling through a judicial system that only now has delivered a hollow victory. The latest scandal is the dozens of Brits trying to get their residency in order who have fallen victim to apparently unscrupulous practices by gestors who should’ve known better and have now jeopardised their future in Spain. Unfortunately there will always be crooks ready to prey on the vulnerable, but this is compounded by Spain’s lack of clear national guidelines with differing rules from region to region and even town hall to town hall on important issues such as planning laws and residency applications. We can all do our due diligence but isn’t it time Spain stopped making things so complicated and gave us a helping hand? Publisher / Editor

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es

Kirsty McKenzie kirsty@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Isha Sesay isha@theolivepress.es

James Warren james@theolivepress.es

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Seeking the truth Olive Press reporter Kirsty McKenzie helps probe mystery death of Kirsty Maxwell for TV documentary

IRSTY Maxwell was just 27 when she Friends and family had no clue what connecplunged from a 10th floor balcony in tion Kirsty had to the men or what prompted Benidorm after a night out partying her to leave her own apartment, barefoot and with her friends. The Scottish lass was without her mobile phone or purse, and climb discovered lying beside the pool as the sun up to the top floor in the early hours of that rose the next morning — April 27, 2017 — so morning. peacefully still that at first no one realised the What’s worse, they had no idea what hapextent of the horror that had unfolded. pened inside the men’s room in the minutes I remember Kirsty’s story well. I wrote about leading up to her fall. her death as a trainee reporter at a Scottish It’s those unanswered questions that led me national newspaper and the to investigate her death for a details always stuck with me… new documentary series foAfter all, we were close in age, cusing on young people who A young had grown up just a few towns lost their lives in mysterious apart and even shared the woman, newly circumstances. same first name. It was a crisp January morning Reporting on tragedy - the colliwhen I drove eight hours from married and sion of absolute horror with orthe Costa del Sol to meet the planning a dinary daily life - is always upteam, fixer Javier and my two setting, but it has a devastating family had died cameramen Adrien and Vicpotency when you can so easily tor in the boozy party capital identify with the victim. of Spain. Due to COVID-19 The initial facts upset all of us restrictions the director, proin the newsroom that day: a young woman, ducers and MTV host Linda Adey were stuck newly married and planning a family, had died in England and it was up to me and the crew while on a hen weekend abroad. to find out as much as we possibly could in Yet as more details of the case emerged it Benidorm, retracing Kirsty’s final steps and became clear this was no typical story - Kirsty looping back to the team at at home in the UK. had not fallen from her own room on the ninth And investigate we did: hunting down the ownfloor, but from the tenth floor of an apartment er of the apartments where Kirsty died, speakon the opposite side of the building. ing with the manager of a nearby hotel who Suspiciously this was occupied by five men held all the contact details of eyewitnesses from Nottingham. from that fateful morning and knocking on the

OLIV PRESSE

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IN THE CLEAR

Corrupti on appeal bid

Issue 19

CIA

www.theol ivepress.es July 23rd

- August 5th

ANTI-CORRUP TION prosecutors are against a launching an appeal 34 people verdict that cleared the awardiof taking bungs over ng of an waste disposa Orihuela l contrac Alicante Provincial t. Elche acquitt Court ed the group, in cluding former inmayors Monica Orihuela PP Lorente and Jose Manue l Medina, ruption charges of cor. The Suprem cide if a new e court must deafter prosecu trial can be heard tors failed to get conviction corruption in the biggest-evera trial to be Alicante Provinc held in e. The court’s ter judges decision came afof phone ruled that wiretap s conversations inadmissible, along with were cerns over consurveillance.house searches and The 34 people in the dock accused of were millions taking bribes worth granting ofof euros over the the Orihue contract dating la waste back in what became to 2006, known as Brugal case. the Millionaire Orihue la busines man, Angel saccused of Fenoli, had been and faced being the ringleader up to 37 years if he had been in jail After hearingfound guilty. the verdict Fenoli broke said: “Justic down in tears and, done after e has finally been 14 years.”

ON CAMERA: Kirsty (right) in Benidorm and (inset) our most recent Corona comeback front page on the case office doors of both detectives and judges. A mecca for bargain holiSPANISH NUMBER PLATES days, the coastal city has Destina tion Rel axa tion long been considered Spain’s tourist hotspot brimming with 671 2 147 83 608 503 bars and spine-chillingly high 95 apartment 4 blocks. “The Manhattan of Spain,” fixer Javier joked to me as I craned my neck to take it all in. But in January, with so few tourists in Spain, and a complete ban on pubs opening in the city, the party strip had come to a standstill. Locked doors, shutters pulled tight and signs

That’s the ticket

exp

COSTA BLA NCA SUR FREE Vol. 1 / MUR

Page 8

But the fam and ‘disg ily of tragic Kirs usting’ way ty five men Maxwell slam ‘flaw have been ed’ inves found inno cent of

THE family idaymaker of a young holdeath from who fell to her By Andy SPAIN’S McInnes Benidorm an apartment in have tripled COVID-infections & Dilip detective have slamm Kuner court’s ruling David Swindl ed a old, They have since July 3. conduct their not to appeal e to Kirsty’ from her risen from own investi every 100,00 tion into 8.76 for Theydeath. jumped to Scotland, had not ga- them s fam her are convin an alarmin 0 inhabitants to was lost after vital evidence to fin ced five Brits ing an alcoho death followon holiday compo This is theg 27.39. l-fuelled preserv and police night with caused Maxwell’s hen vestiga e the scene failed to disgustund same numbe cases as when death in Kirsty The five friends. tion from of the in- “The ing. lads on Spain first r of 2017. April, from gan de-esca contamination. family be- A private Nottingham,holiday, all just as the gon, Catalunlation in May. Aracused of spiking detecti were aclooked ya ve down throu who caine into Country have and the Basque and pushinher with cothe decisio the case described Shortcom all experie tigation. outbreaks n as flawed g her to her death. nced Howev ing . Mr Swindl did not Th er, a panel have been of concern. Contro She ma had e, ls of judges Alicante ruled put in place, conclu mistak investi some confine while no ‘strong that there in 10th floor room enly entered a ‘flawedgation was ded the significant w ment measur was mentos seriously its and evide have been at the Aparta evidence’ ’ es inality. issued. Payma hotel, of crim- gusting’ and added it was ‘disexpecte of the d her friends for instead out family They added Wear it or ’ neighbouring through the had to find of a young lifes apartment. there was pay up P5 ing to indicat media that confusing there would noth- It comes e the 27-yea circ be no further probe. “Kirsty and r- ing familyafter Kirsty’s grievhired retired He said: pear to have h CID no conside“There has by appare ration givenbeen shortco nt mings to police, forensi investigation which may hav evidence being l Kirsty’s parent Vehicles re-reg s Denise Curry istered in Spain ha Spanish judge’s For the re-reg September istration of nal probe to she motorbikes cars, The threeinto her , motorhome s Section Two judge as well as the transfer and caravans, vincial Courtof Ali of ownership Spanish regist was ‘affecte rule of d by al ered after vehic consuming Properties les, contact: t lent of 10 to rent and spirits the buy in the fore, appear sunny Costa s to ha Blanca apartm We have beaut ent 9A and who, after entered 10E v iful re-registerin where men were. and luxury homes for sale g over 3,000 will put villas

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Breaking the new speed limits can mean hefty fines

EW speed limits now apply on many roads across Spain and it’s important to know about them as those caught speeding face steep fines. The new general speed limits as outlined in the Royal Decree apply to urban roads and are as follows: ●● 20 km/h on roads that have a single lane with one way traffic and with a raised path/pavement. ●● 30 km/h on roads with one lane in each direction reduced from 50km/h. ●● 50 km/h on roads with two or more lanes per traffic direction. This speed limit remains the same except for vehicles carrying heavy or dangerous goods which must reduce their speed to 40 km/h. Which roads will the new speed limits apply to? The new rules apply to vias urbanas which doesn’t actually mean any roads within a town but is defined by the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) as ‘any roads that form part of the internal communications network of a settlement, as long as they are not through roads (travesias) or form part of an arterial network’, according to Spain’s Directorate General of Traffic (DGT). So this encompasses most streets within a village, town or city unless they are major thoroughfares or ring roads. To give you an idea, by far the majority of Spain’s roads are classified as vias urbanas, 165,600 km in fact, whi-

le travesias, which include motorways and dual carriageways, count for just 17,228 km or less than 10% of all of Spain’s roads.

HALVED: The footpath is on the same level

What are the penalties for breaking the new speed limits? Failure by drivers to comply are considered a ‘serious’ or ‘very serious’ road offence by traffic authorities depending on how much over the speed limit they were caught going at. Fines will range from between €100 to €600 depending on how fast they were going plus the loss of up to six points on the driver’s licence. So on a two-lane road with traffic in both directions where the maximum speed will be 30 km/h, the penalty for driving between 31 and 50 km/h will be €100. If the driver exceeds the 50 km/h mark but doesn’t reach 60km/h, it will result in a €300 fine and the loss of two points off the driver’s licence. Driving between 61 and 70 km/h will land a fine of €400 and four points; and speeding at between 71 and 80 km /h will cost the driver €500 and the loss of six points. It is considered a ‘very serious speeding offence’ if a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, which results in a €600 penalty and the loss of six points. And exceeding the speed limit in urban areas by 60 km/h is considered a crime against road safety and is punishable with a prison sentence of three to six months, or community service for 30 to 90 days, and in all cases a ban from driving vehicles of between one to four years.

BIG DROP: the lack of pavements means the

NEW LIMIT: A single lane road is now just

BIZARRE: One side of the road with two

May 19th - June 1st 2021

www.theolivepress.es

7 Olive Press online ‘Spain’s best English news website’

Don’t miss out!

TRAGIC: Kirsty fell from 10th floor

our

pat

April 7th - April 20th 2021

As the Olive Press prepares to launch a brand new travel website, we give you a preview by taking a look around Andalucia’s historic capital

e in ain

h 2020

THE FIVE KEYS/ THEORIES ON KIRSTY’S DEATH Suic ide

stigation f her dea th

Her parents are adamant she was cheerful and happy and this coul not have happened. Her frien d ds backed this up insisting she was ‘happy and full of life.’

SAD: Kirsty

and hotel mily in this, nd out like and for “Nothi ded their this has trary,” ng points to the grief. It is it said. “Althou con. is true cocaine gh it y has been was the bathro om and found in ey have let down woman been let ’s fingerp the dead ughout the rints were discove he Spanis inves- bathro red on an interio om window r anage theh police been possibl , it e to obtainhas not witnesses, scene, evidence strong exhib- viduali of specific ence as would and indised crimin such a tragic be The five ality.” men - Joseph e in unexpl loss ham, Ricky Graained, thony Gamm cumstances. Holehouse, on, Anher family Northridge Callum and Daniel ap- ley been let - will not Baidown charge face any further irretrievable s. Their lawyer in Spanis ic and crimeh chez, said: , Roberto San“I am very with the court proced happy ve resulte ures imagine my decision and I d in ing lost.” forward toclients are lookputting all behind them.” s Brian this ad appeal and Kirsty’s dad ed decision lasta cision, saying:blasted the detold the appeal “We were not elve a crimihad been and now r death. lost, we are having to the court es based at has happen to find out to go icante’s Prowhat have been ed. For us not to ed that she shown the of being kept courtesy lcohol’ and informed palling. the equiva is ape night be-- “All we have asked truth and for is the ave left her portunity yet again the opvoluntarily to get to the what happen heart of e the five been denied ed to Kirsty has to us.” Opinion

Tel: 952 147

Balconing

Page 6

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3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .

21/6/19 13:30

on the doors and windows of restaurants and bars, clubs and takeaways alike — “Sorry we are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions” - the party was well and truly over, the streets silent with nothing but the sound of Union Jack and

Now

as the road so speed is restricted to 20kph

speed limit is just 20kph

30kph when before it was 50kph

lanes limited to 50kph, the other is 30

Images taken from DGT.es

s .

E are proud at the Olive Press to provide expat communities in Spain with the latest news - and plenty of features - in our six print editions. But while each copy is guaranteed to be full of at least 50% editorial, sadly plenty of things do not make the edition, which is fortnightly, after all. Hundreds of articles - from restaurant reviews to travel features and from crime stories to explainers on new laws - are FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SEVILLA SPECIAL not making the printed paper for many reasons. But fortunately, modern technology has come to the rescue in the shape SNAPSHOTS OF SEVILLA and form of our website. The portal www.theolivepress.es gives us unlimited space to expand on topics and really go to town on the most interesting subjects. Our team of trained journalists, who have experience at The Daily Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail, spend hours each day investigating and producing great content for the site. Take our four-page special on Sevilla last month. While we printed three articles SEVILKLA & TRAVEL FOOD,DRIN SPECIAL FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL in the paper, TIME TRAVEL over a dozen more were only Y published on the website. T It will be the same with our travel special on Cordoba this issue, with plenty of other articles on the city going out over the next few weeks. It is the same for Ibiza and the same for Madrid and other popular destinations like Ronda and Barcelona.

other northern European flags flapping in the wind. It was somewhat appropriate that the streets felt haunted. Four years on no one has ever been charged with Kirsty’s killing. Last year, three Spanish judges in Alicante ruled that there is no ‘strong evidence’ of criminality surrounding the death and none of the five men staying inside the apartment at the time of Kirsty’s death have ever been formally accused of any crime, despite the booze and unidentified white substances found in their room by police the next morning There’s no doubt that Kirsty’s death, and others like it, have had a grip on the collective consciousness in the UK for many years, in part because she was a Brit abroad who had lost her life far too young. But what I found over the course of my investigation in Benidorm is that Kirsty’s age and nationality are potentially why the Spanish justice system failed her. Indeed, it is more than possible that she was just seen as another drunk Brit abroad, her death all too easily filed away as an accident. The true mystery isn’t what happened in Kirsty’s final moments. It’s how the Spanish authorities were able to treat her case with a carelessness that bordered on contempt. As for the theories buzzing round true crime forums, the more I investigated, the less they made sense. It’s almost impossible to imagine that Kirsty was suicidal or sleepwalking as some Reddit threads suggest. Her father said that she was ‘happy and full of life’ and had ‘never slept walked in her life’ - and after looking up at the terrifying height of the apartments, I am convinced not even an adrenaline junkie would attempt to try ‘balconing’ from the tenth floor. Certainly not Kirsty, who friends insisted was scared of heights. Indeed, up until the last hour of her life, all of Kirsty’s actions made sense. Going away with friends for a hen party, the accommodation had been carefully picked: My Pretty Payma, self catering apartments with a pool, a two minutes walk away from the hustle and bustle of the main party strip. Nearly 20 girls flew out for the hen weekend, wearing matching pink t-shirts, all looking forward to the pool and beach and instilled with the pure joy of heading out with friends into a warm evening of laughter, drinks and dancing. Kirsty acted as any of us would have. What we still don’t know is what led her to leave her bedroom, less than an hour after friends captured a video of her peacefully snoring in bed. I wonder now, in retrospect, whether the crazy theories, the accusations of drinking too much and why exactly she was in a room with five men stem from the fear of accepting something bad happened… the need to erect a clear barrier between people who behave

The idea of ‘balconing’ - as jumping off balconies into a pool is known is unlikely on various levels, in par-ticular as she was scared of heights. Sleepwalking One theory suggests that Kirsty may have slept walked upstairs and into the apartment, although an expe rt believed it odd that nobody saw her do this and her family insisted she had never slept walked before. Her clothes Damage to her skirt when her body was found suggested she was facing into the balcony. when she fell. There was a snag in the fabric although her clothes which coul d have held key DNA evidence have bizarelly since been destroyed by Spanish police. The men in the room

STUNNING: Sevilla is a city noted

for its beauty, architecture, gardens

and lifestyle

in Spain. By Dilip Kuner In this four-page special, to celebrate our dedicated travel portal to Spain, the launch of HE streets of Sevilla are normally thronging at takes the this time of year. a look at some of the highlights ofOlive Press Sevilla. The first city to be spotlighted in Tens of thousands of people flock our new to the capi- website, tal of Andalucia to witness and savour in the coming months we will be travel the solemn taking pasos, or processions, that wend their way through a close look at Cordoba, Granada, Ronda, Madrid the historic heart of the city at Easter. and Valencia, plus all the other key destinations An extremely popular tourist destination around - equally Aside Spain. busy for the Feria de Abril a few weeks later - Sevilla dozensfrom the articles included here, there will be is famous for its beautiful architecture more vignettes and features on Sevilla and its outdoor lifestyle and terrace dining. as well as its wonderful province. But, as these pictures show, now This includes potted guides to the if you want to avoid the queues - is the time to visit mona, Ecija, Osuna, as well as key towns of Carand it is all down special features on to COVID-19 restrictions. the curious communist town of Marinaleda, mounOf course you may have to wait tain escapes like Cazalla de la Sierra and the wonthe restrictions to finally lift, but a few weeks for derful Roman city of Italica. you a taste of the treats in store these photos give At the moment, while many foreign when you CAN finally make a trip to one of the most missing out on their travel dreams, tourists are famous cities local at expats can make the most of whatleast the is easily Europe’s most diverse and colourful country. Watch out for the new portal which will be at:

https://travel. theolivepress. es/

April 7th - April 20th 2021

EMPTY: Sevilla’s streets are normally

abroad and the people who end up losing their lives. But the truth is, Kirsty is exactly like us, exactly like anyone on holiday. Optimistic, care free. Full of life. The only barrier that exists now, for the family, for the private investigators and for journalists like me, seems to be the Spanish authorities. Over the course of our investigation we uncovered some truly horrifying truth about the mistakes made by the police - and yet any attempt to get the cops or court system to explain their missteps was met with hostility or silence. I hope pressure from the documentary will change that. Her parents Brian and Denise maintain her death was never investigated properly and that they are still waiting on answers. We need justice for Kirsty’s family. We need to make sure that when a foreigner dies abroad, the case is always treated with respect, sympathy and, above all, without errors. What happened to Kirsty could happen to many of us, or our children, and that is terrifying. - True Life Crime UK is available on MTV on demand

packed at Easter (below centre)

April 7th - April 20th 2021

There’s no better place to get lost in history than Sevilla, the city which hosted the departure of Christopher Columbus - just ask the likes of Barack Obama and Uma Thurman, writes Laurence Dollimore

Columbus Uma Thurman Barack Obama was along Calle Betis. decided to build a fort. However, it alive with food and the explorer’s plundering of South Amergrounds were The riverbed comes become over 500 years that theMoorish, Chris- drink stalls lining the riverside calle while series). OU can easily picture Christopher To this day you can sail along the river, ica, saw the country’s empire added to by successive old competithe world. making it during the day a centuries’ Columbus setting off for the Amer- just as the explorer did, and gaze in awe among the most powerful in oth- tian and finally Catholic rulers,attractions tion known as the La Cucana sees parBetween 1492 and 1681, gold and icas as you stroll along the banks at the medieval marvels along the way. the most emblematic attempt to walk along a boat’s er minerals from the ‘New one of of the Guadalquivir in Sevilla’s And just a stone’s throw characterised by its multicul- ticipants bow which has been slathered in grease World’ catapulted Spain in a region central neighbourhood of El Arenal. away in the Santa Cruz attempt to catch a little flag attached into an era of wealth and tural history. The medieval shipyards here - which neighbourhood you’ll find miss the Giralda bell tower at- andthe end - with prizes for those who Murillo and prosperity, with its litera- And don’t Catedral, the top of which at have existed since the days of Julius the tomb of Columbus at and arts also flour- tached to thevia a series of ramps which complete the task. Velazquez are ture Caesar - are central to this ancient city’s the Catedral. over the river, however, something ishing (showcased best is accessed history. be ascended by Moors on horse- Backis brewing. The largest Gothic church new at the Museo de Bella used to just two who Boasting a Gothic style, the galleys they back before calling citizens to prayer. the in the world, covering the central neighbourhood of Alfalbuilt played an important role in the some 23,500sqm, it not just the old town centre In this chose to live in Artes). Just ask the greats Mu- But it’s with sites, with medieval church- fa, the Soho Benita area is proving battle for the Strait of Gibraltar and was completed in the Velazquez, who packed city can also host 21st century Hundred Years’ War - and more notably early 1500s before being the historic city rillo and and centuries-old food mar- ancient gems. chose to live in the roman- es, conventsevery corner. as the launchpad for Columbus’ explora- registered as a UNESCO kets around Covering six streets (Golfo, Perez Galdos, tic city. tions. No neighbourhood knows this more than Don Alonso el Sabio, Ortizo de Zuniga, in World Heritage Site in The former has gorgeous gardens (They also played an important role Luis Luque), it invis- Triana. still Jose 1987. can and you while Thrones, Santillana of him after Game of Flamenco named the fictional world Once home to sailors, potters, It is one of dozens of remnants from around 20 small businesses, it the birthplace of the latter tucked bull-fighters, Triana’s rich corporates posing as the crypts of the Red Fortress Spain’s Golden Age, which, thanks to behind a narrow dancers and colourful as its buildings including a modern art gallery, nail salon in the seventh season of the hit fantasy traditional barbers, and was recently street in the Al- history is as up the river bank on its iconic and as a must-place to visit by the New falfa neighbour- which light tipped Calle Betis. hood. York Times. arraan as known once was arrival is the RecoVeco Luckily for us, The barrio given to areas separated The newest the era also saw bal, the name of Sevilla. And many in restaurant on Calle Ortizo de Zuniga, Habsburg from the centre just this year. the see themselves as strictly opened The Spanish ‘heritage’ Dynasty solidify the town stilldistinct from eatery promises traditionand create some trianero and including the AlaSevillanos, and the of Andarest surrounding the area the seasonal is al and of the cities most HE Alameda neighbourhood by bars, cafes and restaurants Believed to often referring to the lucia dishes but with an stunning sites. meda de Hercules, a long mall accompanied the Avant Garde twist - and all include neighbourhood as of These on either side. have been Republic the Alameda was once a in a super-chic setting... the stunning Real Independent Lying in the northern part of the city’s old town, place to treat founded by the the perfect loved Alcazar palace Triana. meeting point for the elites in the 1800s. quickly deteriorated into one of the have been ones for or and gardens, just Believed toa Roman colHowever following the Spanish Civil War, it prostitution - with up to 35 brothemperor yourself a night. opposite the Cat- founded by emperor Tra- Roman poorest barrios and was ravaged by drugs and ony under And you wouldn’t be the and the promenade edral. els operating in 1989. Trajan by crossplan in the early 2000s which saw traffic limited first to want to hang out in Declared a World jan, it is entered But it is now back in action following a rescuetrees. II bridge, a the Alfalfa barrio. Heritage Site by ing the Isabel restored, and lined with poplar and hackberry and anyone looking for a good time. itself. Former US President UNESCO in 1987, landmark in a traditional as the warm up acts to nightToday it is the place to be for the young, cultured with bars like Dilema, Nua and 1987 acting it is among the It’s home totile industry - with a museum Barack Obama was papped entering the It also the most gay-friendly quarter of Sevilla, eatery Bache San Pedro after oldest palaces pottery and clubs Holiday, Fun Club, Men to Men or Itaca. (which does a great Moscow Mule) and a flavourful selection of restauto the crafts - vibrant fla- popular in Europe hav- paying homage and hugely popular mar- attending a climate change summit in There are also great cocktail bars like Gigante ing begun con- menco festivals the city. rants, from the traditional to the nouvelle. what he opted for, but the struction in 913, kets and festivals. the Sevilla heat between No one knows with ‘special sauce’ is sublime, as when the caliph If you’re braving (on Calle Eslava). You may have EATING... 26, don’t miss the Vela San- pork famous cheesecake, made with cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava of Andalucia Abd July 21 and If you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you bar for a shorter wait) but it is more than worth it with one of the quirkiest held every day and night is its al-Rahman III first ta Ana festival to queue to be seated (opt for a spot at the tataki), vegetable strudel and tastiest menus around. jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or it cream. terrace ice a sun-kissed and manchego cheese situated along the Alameda promenade. Boasting For Middle Eastern fusion head to Arte y Sabor, and innovative and creative salads. is unique in its wide range of vegetable dishesat Casa Ricardo, which has been serving locals since 1898. Their melt-inIf you want something more traditional, stopa cold sherry while enjoying the old-school writing of orders with chalk on the-mouth jamon can be knocked back with the bar and walls adorned with religious art. Nickel has some of the best burgers in Sevilla while Al Solito Posto has If you’re looking for something less Spanish,

El Sevilla is stunning, whether it is the OLD AND NEW: The architecture ofcentre or the modern La Seta (above) Salvador church (far left) historic

payoyo cheese from the hills of Cadiz. up Back in 2015, Uma Thurman dressedthe as the Virgin Mary while drinking at uber traditional El Garlochi bar - a watering hole like no other, with more religious art than wall space and only the holiest of music blaring through the speakers. of Alfalfa provides the perfect snapshot Sevilla, where centuries’ old traditions live in harmony alongside 21st century upgrades. Just head to the modern-day Las Setas in the neighbouring Encarnacion barrio. Officially known as the Metropol Parasol, the imposing structure boasts six parasols and is spread over four levels. JurIt was designed by Berlin architect gen Mayer who entered into a governthe ment-run competition to renovate area in the early 2000s.

Repeatedly ranked as the number by one tourist attraction in Spain EsTripAdvisor users, the Plaza de pana is truly a work of art. the Designed by Caidon Fox for 1929 Sevilla Expo, it was created to showcase Spain’s industry and technology exhibits at the historic fair. The complex is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running mix around the edge, boasting a of 1920s Art Deco, Baroque and Neo-Mudejar styles via The buildings are accessible the four bridges - representing

Plaza de España

four ancient kingdoms of Spain - built over a moat which runs the whole length of the complex. In the centre sits the Vicente Traver fountain while by the walls are tiled alcoves, each depicting a different province of Spain. If you REALLY have time to kill, you can row a boat in the moat in what is possibly the most unnecessary tourist trap - although it does make for a nice photo.

Potted barrios guide to... ALAMEDA

delicious pizzas. head to the Cereal Cafe. Or if you want a taste of gentrified London,

a lion atop each column Roman-style columns. The northern side features At either end of the promenade you’ll find two Caesar. while the other end features Hercules and Julius of Andalucia, which bears the Pillars of Hercules and, obviously, two The two lions and Hercules represent the emblem lions. while Legend has it that Hercules founded Sevilla Julius Caesar also ruled it for a time. at its Head to Convento Santa Clara and marvelfor eximpressive cloister which is frequently used hibitions. While there, don’t miss the Torre de Don Fadrique, ofnamed after the late owner of the site and which fers a stunning example of early Gothic architecture in Sevilla. Built in 1252, the tower is also surrounded by beautiful gardens. with Finally, the Convento San Clemente is adorned1500s fascinating frescoes and artwork from the by the and you can also buy some pastries made nuns who live there.

SITES….

STUNNING: The Moorish Alcazar is

a must-see in Sevilla

FOMO So if you feel you are missing out (the so-called FOMO effect), the solution is at hand: Just go to our website and SEVILLA FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL SPECIAL you will find a huge amount of FRY AWAY INLAND high-quality articles, news and views – all at your fingertips. We are also pretty sure that you’ll soon get registered like tens of thousands of other users, ensuring you get a daily email giving you a breakdown of the main stories of the day. You’ll even get one a week on travel, with more to follow shortly. With theolivepress.es you never have to miss out! April 7th - April 20th 2021

Her friends did not know what connection Kirsty might have made to the five men who claimed she had come into the room acting ‘drun k and strange’. They insisted they didn’t speak her and did not witness her fall. to A Spanish detective allegedly said he believed she may have been ‘intimidated’ by the men to jump.

pan IT is known as El Sarten, the frying dip of Spain because it’s location in a La surrounded by the olive groves of Campina means it regularly records the hottest temperatures in southern Europe. of But Ecija is also dubbed the ‘CitysurTowers’ and ‘City of Palaces’, no prise when you see the skyline interrupted by several dozen towers, some with detailed ceramic work and usually topped by a stork nest. to Located 85km from Sevilla, a visit this gem of a town is like stepping back in time. And if you are struggling under the weight of tourism in the provincial cercapital, or nearby Cordoba, you tainly won’t be here: It’s unlikely you’ll hear a single English accent, even after COVID. Narrow cobbled streets, white-washed

as Ecija: A visit to the charming city known soup’ ‘the frying pan’ of Spain, where ‘cat is on the menu By Fiona Govan

houses and alluring porticos reveal glimpses of bloom-filled patios within. While avenues are lined by orange

STUNNING: One of dozens of mosaics found

ROMAN CITY: Ecija is awash with

historic monuments and priceless

WHERE TO EAT

Roman statues

trees, their blossom filling the air with this the powerful scent that screams part of Andalucia. Once an important Roman settlement or known as Astigi on the via Augusta, A-4, the longest and busiest Roman beroad in ancient Hispania, the town came Madinat al-qutn (City of Cotton) and when it fell under Arab rule in 711 setwas renamed Ecija when Christian in tlers moved in after the reconquest 1240. This is the place to visit churches, even just to raise your eyes to admire towers the such as Las Gemelas (the twins) of or Iglesia de la Purísima Concepcion the exquisite triple bell tower of Iglesia de San Juan. For fans of the Baroque style, don’t miss a visit to the Church of Limpia Concepcion with its fabulously ornate plasterwork ceiling, decoration that the was added in the 18th century and Iglesia de los Descalzos with an altarpiece which is said to rival that of Sevilla’s cathedral. Then there’s the palaces. In the 18th century the city was home to 40 noble families whose patronage saw Ecija is transformed under a golden age that still possible to see glimpses of today, with some open to the public. At the Palacio de los Palma the rooms

are preserved as they were in its heyday with all the original furniture, while to Palacio de Peñaflor is the place in marvel at frescos - some of the best of Spain - stretching across 60 metres its exterior walls. to The Palacio de Benamejí is home the tourist office, a good courtyard Rorestaurant Las Ninfas (with its man statues) and the Museo Historica which boasts a series of breathtaking mosaic floors from Roman times. It also housesthe 2,000-year-old Amazona Herida, a perfectly preserved statue which was discovered in 2007 the when digging out a car park under city’s Plaza España. Dine out with locals at one of the many restaurant in terrazas Plaza España or around the fountain in Plazuela de Santa Maria or grab a table on the little Plaza del Nuestra Señora del Valle and enjoy views across to the magnificent half ruined Iglesia de Santa which Cruz, was damaged in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

IN SEVILLA MY TOP FIVE Jon Clarke shares his dining

ied. eing the capital city of Andalu- I first found the likes of Tribeca and cia, the dining scene in Sevilla Abantal over a decade ago, buzzing is unsurprisingly diverse. in my book and Famous for its joints that I included of Andalucia. skillfully manages to provide central tapas website Dining Secretstoday, with the Tarquini still both at excellent prices, and it’s bars, where They are still around star, around today. typi- latter now with its own Michelin locals work of its chef But you should also look next door freshest seafood on offer cally tapear thanks to the hard where there is a brand new hip joint changes by the day with at up to five Julio Quintero. at the legend- called Bar la Sal, serving up the very and menu. new or six differ- He himself had trained local seafood - particularly tuna a not cheap, but it’s the Alabardero, a glamIt’s ent bars in ary Taberna del of the local dining best you can imagine. - that to have shellfish, session, orous grand dame a in December 2020, its dy- place its own culinary it also has scheme that hadbut is, to be fair, a Openingowner Charo Alvarez already such as razor shells, which namic bustling training scheme, a city were served with a delicious has another restaurant in the cream of algas r e s t a u r a n t little stuffy. de San Telmo in a famous joint in soup or the community I also picked Vineria to the Alcazar, and Zahara de los Atunes, amazing puntilthat is as a great location next good food the Costa de la Luz, litas with fresh A wonderful competitive which brilliantly combines boss Juan on in Cadiz. peas and an as it is var- and wine. Its Argentinian With this place she mix of flavours onion caldo. wanted to make it more But its piece de around from informal, less punishresistance was ing on the pocket, yet the medley of Spain and still serving up the best cuts of Mero, Spain’s abroad bluefin tuna you will most popular fish ever eat in a dozen difknown as ‘grouper’ ferent guises. in English. We had At least three of her an amazing trio of belly, fillet andI tuna starter dishes have won prizes spine, some of the tastiest fish as the best tapa in Zahara’s famous have ever eaten. annual tapas competition. The wine list is great and you can It’s the most buzzing spot around this champagne by the Bollinger have Spring and you will need to book one glass at €10. of the excellent terrace tables that take on dinsit next to the For a totally different opened c e l e b r a t e d ing, head to the recently which is one of Jardines de La Casa del Tigre original diners Murillo park the most romantic, with its amaz- in Andalucia. Opened by four friends just before and La Sal ing trees. in December MIX: duck ham tapa at Casa del Tigre A n o t h e r the COVID lockdown after an old terrace amazing fish 2019, it got its name kept a restaurant - zookeeper who infamously flat for years. probably the tiger upstairs in hisdecorated with best in Sevilla It is sumptuously but also stylish and, among acres of velvet, doffing the best I patterns and artworks,to African have eaten at their hat appropriately wildlife. in Andalucia The food is hard to describe as is Canabota. eclectic, but This minimal- anything other than mix of flavours ist joint only it is a wonderful and abroad, inhas the very from around Spain

secrets in the Andalucia capital

CREATIVE: sea urchin dish at Canabota Eslava

and (right)

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: tourist desperate for a holiday in 1 - UK spain might get a COVID cost cutting bonus very soon found of British women missing 2 - Body for days on Spain’s Costa Blanca away - police tell people to avoid 3 - Stay la Linea as rioters take to the streets over sea deaths gets his spanish 4 - Strummer finallyplaza considering return 5 - Spain’s Andalucia to nighttime curfew

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cluding fish cheeks, beef mollejas (glands next to the heart basically) and the most amazing Taco de Puchero, basically an unreconstructed grandma-style croquette. Don’t miss the cool foie and duck ham starter that comes on a bed of lettuce, while the wine list was exceptionally good, with plenty of wines by the glass. Finally, if you’re looking for gastro-tapas then you cannot leave Sevilla without visiting Eslava (on Calle Eslava conveniently). You may have to queue to be seat-a ed (opt for a spot at the bar for shorter wait) but it is worth it for one of the most original menus around. Among the classic pork ribs and solomillo or jamon, other highlights include Vaca Tataki (beef tigre tataki), vege• La Casa del table strudel • Canabota and manche• Bar la Sal cheese go • Esclava ice cream.

Telmo • Vineria San

LETTERS

8Simply crazy Dear Olive Press,

Come off it!

cazares (Murc a) WE have a ho day home n Los A and March ober Oc ween be used y wh ch s on reasons o enab e The purchase was made or hea h ers exper enced n n w p dam and d us o avo d he co he UK e) and he n roS nce Brex ( or wh ch we d dn vo w no onger be duc on o he 90/180 s ay ru e we ab e o s ay or he w n er omy dur ng he We he p o suppor he Span sh econre a ed bus nesss our he n whe hs mon er s ow w n bus nesses wou d es are h hardes I m sure he oca change h s crazy o ng ry n case he p o suppor our ru ng o see a change We won be wa ng around we cannbe se ng up o happen ng be ore he w n er We wng buy e sewhere and won be re urn rd max mum s ay The UK has adop ed a s ra gh orwa non-res den s I o 180 days per ca endar year o a wou dn be a Spa n rec proca ed h s po cy here ke us ands hous y man prob em or us and bad enough by Sure y h ngs have been made ry hro ng o COVID-19 w hou ur her unnecessa he recovery n Spa n

COME on Barry Ryan o Warr ng on (Le ers as ed on) The curren prob ems w h Spa n are BECAUSE o Brex NOT because o Spa n - hey are us hav ng o o ow he EU ru es You a vo ed or Brex now you can see he consequences On another matter a message to Benny Davis (left) Old Hack in the Sun More please! We loved your column Tick-tock time - made us laugh out loud Thank you!

COLUMNISTS

Tricia Gabbitas Torre de Mar (Ma aga)

Madrid Spain Fiona Govan in schools around INTERNATIONALhigh alert after a British have been put on at one of Madrid’s most idenman began teachingmonths after being conafter creating a new language academy exclusive colleges post tity, using forged documents. sex offender revicted in the UK. Lewis got teaching colleagues of the raised after Ben Lewis, dodge Questions have beenat the school despite be- Formerthat he created a new name to sum- DANGER: vealed to run as an English teacher 31, was able to workoffenders register. record checks in order classes to 2017 he accepted a job (concertado) secprivate ing on the UK’s sex discovered that Lewis, criminal from camps and teach at a leading semi-private receives subsidies The Olive Press has trial for child sex of- mer children. after ondary school that V, young who is now awaiting his name to Ben David by Penitenciario Madrid name Ben David a He had changed in June 2016 of taking and the state. fences at Centro TWO schools and in “He was going by the the job after another being convicted images of children managed to hoodwink then and was offered mid-term,” a former possessing indecent England. Olive on teacher dropped out Fitzsimons told the As well as being placed and be- colleague Natasha the sex offender list posisus- Press. desperate to fill the ing handed a two-year as he was “I think they were weren’t as thorough pended sentence, the tion so maybe they barred from leaving with they should have been. country or working children. Horrified he had 18 Yet within weeks found at the school for worked together classes together gomoved to Spain and as a live- “We took on private work in Zaragoza with months, homes of some of the children for in au pair to a family ing to the and ran a summer the three young children.he re- extracurricular teaching during 2018,” said The following yearand be- camp at the school is filled with horror at who located to Madrid at a Irish colleague, to children. gan teaching children the access he had that the day NAMES: two Press has discovered well-known language his get- The Olive the UK he changed different passports academy after after sentencing in Ben David Lewis ting a criminal record name by deed poll from that takes just 15 in a process check from Zaragohe to Ben David, za police to show in minutes. a British for and received also prehad no convictions He then applied while he Spain over the previ- passport in his new name, Israeli photocopy of his ous 12 months. sented a doctored and verified by a Then in December passport stamped firm that showed non-existent law Rose. his name as Ben David seen photocopThe Olive Press has a teaching degree ies of these, plus Status (QTS) and Qualified Teaching in the name certificates presented as well as certifALL AREAS COVERED of Ben David Rose name. icates in his originalis that by April What is amazing 4G UNLIMITED for a teaching 2019 he had applied school in the INTERNET job at a leading private Soria district that IDEAL FOR upmarket Arturo curriculum to the STREAMING TV teaches the British elite. children of Madrid’sa DBS certificate ALSO IPTV, By now he also had SATELLITE TV Opinion Page 6

time at the ...meanwhile, we spend most famous home of the world’s he’s plumber as he announces citizen, after becoming a Spanish losing €15m to 15 years here and his ex-wives...

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after a school warningto Spain, EXCLUSIVE: Private paedophile moved convicted Britishrecord checks and found dodged criminal teacher work as an English

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Vol. 15 Issue 365 March - April 2021

Getting things done

ROM its very first issue in 2006 the Olive Press has been campaigning for its community. Whether fighting for the environment or digging into crooks, we have taken some big scalps. Starting from Issue One (see top right) we highlighted the ridiculous plans to build 2000 houses, two golf courses and two hotels on UNESCO-protected A decade and a half of campaigning land near Ronda, as well as exposed has the madness of building a 350-room scored some big wins for the Olive Press monstrosity on a virgin beach in Almeria’s Cabo de Gata. Both schemes - Los Merinos, in Ron- maverick Jeremy Griffiths, and Nigel When it comes to corruption we were da, and the Algarrobico hotel, in Alme- Goldman, a degenerate gold-dealing the first English newspaper to write legends Ferran Adria ria - went into reverse after our stories dirt-bag, who had a restaurant column about the ERE scandal at the Junta and Gordon Ramsey. made the UK AND Spanish national in a local newspaper, which he used to de Andalucia that cost an estimated And it was nice to chat newspapers and green groups includ- cover his tracks. billion euros to the taxpayers, while we to Ciudadanos leader ing Greenpeace and Ecologistas en Ac- We also tackled timeshare crook Toni also tackled town hall theft on a local Albert Rivera, as well cion joined our protests. Muldoon, who certainly deserves as the only newspaper a scale on dozens of occasions. And then there were the crooks, like mention for conning thousands of Animal cruelty to be able Crimestoppers’ Most Wanted Daniel ple and eventually went to prisonpeo- bugbear and has been a continual couple of to pose a questions to for we have exposed so many Johnston, a bank robber, and Matthew setting up fake escort websites. evil abusers, as well as the scoundrels Michelle Obama on her Sammon, a dangerous paedophile, Meanwhile, our crime reporting on who allowed hunters to kill innocent visit to Marbella a few who we single-handedly tracked down missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick ‘blew open circus lions years ago. to a village near Sevilla and a car park the case’, to use the words of her grand- tremadura and tigers at a finca in Ex- Indeed, the (see below). positives in Fuengirola. mother, while our continuing investiga- On a more far outweigh And fraudsters like David ‘the dogman’ tion into missing Maddie McCann has to interview positive front, it was great atives and the negeveryone from Princess Diwe would Klein, pet transport yielded exclusive after exclusive, with its ana’s ex-lover James Hewett to cooking prefer to be judged frequent links to Spain. over 50 rather than 15 years.

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Undermined

of “As a result, the effectivenessOfimportant legislation, the Sex Sex fenders Register, the Child the Offender Disclosure Scheme, Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, the DBS are undermined and effectively rendered redundant,” it states. “The case of Ben Lewis/Rose highlights why Spain should be aware of this very serious safeguarding an loophole and should pioneer protect international movement to its children from those abusers the who slip under the radar using name change loophole,” Konstantas added. Opinion Page 6

v a l i d

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c u s t o m e r s

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SCHOOLS PAEDO CALL OP EXCLUSIVE investigation leads to child protection plea from UK charity

THE UK’s leading child protection group is calling on authorBy Fiona Govan dren and those most ities to tighten the recruitment in Madrid at risk,” she warned. vulnerable process of English teachers “There are potentially abroad. dreds - if not thousands hunThe plea by The Safeguarding that he had used his position - of as known sex a teacher at private Alliance aims to protect schools in under the offenders slipping radar country against a British the Madrid to gain access to chil- seek work abroadin the UK to loophole that has allowedlegal dren whom he photographed where po- and filmed. can continue to abuse they tentially hundreds chilof British He then dren,” she continued. paedophiles to find work the kick to Henderson’s abroad material disseminated the sick “This loophole is head, said to have caused including in Spain. on paedophile forums arguably the biggest safeguarding as he lay on the ground. his death on the dark web around The campaign follows scandal the the world has A witness said someone vestigation by the Olivean in- world. ever seen and else had committed the assault. there is an opportunity that revealed how easy Press for it Waugh’s Spanish boss was Spain to lead the way in tackling for a who stood acconvicted UK sex offender Sick cused ofSee it at a global level,” she trying to cover page 19up the attack to change his identity said. was also cleared and find Emily Konstantas, CEO Her charity wants Spain of any wrongdoing. work as a teacher to inin several Safeguarding Alliance, of The troduce the need Madrid schools where to present an ed the Olive Press for applaud- original birth he was arrested for abusing highlightcertificate alongat least 36 ing the issue: “The Ben children. Lewis side a passport and criminal case as revealed by record checks that would We reported how Ben allow Press highlights this the Olive potential employers had changed his nameLewis, 31, and loophole to unearth as shocking as this is, poll, applied for a new by deed nothing it is a change of identity. new and unfortunately “It’s a simple way passport, and dodged British represents to E n d s 3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 . just the tip of the ice- that extra check,” she provide DANGER: Lewis got teaching record checks despite criminal berg insisted. post, with help as to the magnitude of ‘fake’ the UK’s sex offenders being on problem.” of this “The severity and danger this papers register. loophole presents to the whole Police in Spain issued a state- She warned: “Whilst the ment last week de21/6/19 13:30 status world cannot be underestimat- terrent as the offender already quo remains ed.” scribing Lewis - or sserp evilo in situ this An extensive report by The Safe- has the propensity to commit Ben David Rose, as s i g n i f i c a n t guarding Alliance is being used very serious crimes,” states the he is now known - as report, seen by the Olive and OLIVE ‘a dangerous child Press. very to lobby the UK parliament for PRESS d a n g e r o u s legal change in the managementa Through extensive research sexual predator’. and case law The safeguarding of registered sex offenders. The National Police Safeguardloophole will It explains how the current sys- ing Alliance has identified that press release ruled continue to tem relies on the registered sex offenders are not notifying as pose a threat, offender to notify the police required and are continuing not just to with details of any name change, to abuse children by changing UK Nation- alongside any change of address their names and obfuscating their identities as seen als, but to and passport information. through the rest of “Currently the onus lies solely the case of Ben Lewis/Rose absconding overseas to the continue world, with the offender and although EXCLUSIVE: OP splash putting chil- it is an offence to fail to notify, to abuse. one could argue this is not a de-

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REGISTRO CENTRAL DE DELINCUENTES SEXUALES

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Que, en el día de la fecha, consultada la Base de Datos del Registro Central de Delincuentes Sexuales, NO CONSTA información penal relativa a:

A BRITISH expat has been acquitted of killing a holidaymaker in the tourist resort of Magaluf. Paul Waugh, who worked DANGER: got at Mulligans bar on Lewis the popular teaching party strip, with help was clearedpost, of manslaughter of ‘fake’ after he papers was accused of kicking daymaker in the head an Irish holiin April 2018. Waugh, 35,Opinion was alleged 6 have caused father-of-fourPage to derson to suffer a bleedAaron Hento the brain after launching the savage attack outside the nightclub where he worked. Henderson, 30, who had been on IN the United Kingdom a personholiday does notwith needhis to follow girlfriend an at the official process to start using a new time, diedbut in hospital name, they require four adays later. ‘deed poll’ to apply for or to change Spanish then arrested officialcops documents such Waugh as a new passport. as well as the 40-year-old manager This can be done simply and easily of Mulligans bar or onno online for little Magaluf's infacost in a process that takes no longermous Punta Ballena than 15 strip. minutes to process

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and can even be completed from a prison Under section 84 of the Sexual Offences cell. Fatal of 2003, kick an offender must report a name change within Act three working from days Middlesbrough, to the police, and failure to so Waugh, is a criminal acquitted offence which by was of manslaughter could result in a term not exceeding nine jurors fiveon years theimprisonment. basis the kick was not However, evidence demonstrates picked that up noton every CCTV. registered sex offender will act with honesty Theand defendant report a admitted change to of slapping name as required. the 30-year-old shopkeeper’s The Safeguarding Alliance discovered son after taking the Freedom through stand at the of start of Information requests to 16 of the hisUK’s two-week trial 46 police at the forces Audiencia that 913 people with sex offence convictions Provincialhad Court in Palma. gone missing after changing their names without Waugh denied being informing the person who the police. delivered

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Costa Blanca Sur - Issue 55

“As a result, the effectiveness of important legislation, the Sex Offenders Register, the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme, the DBS are undermined and effectively rendered redundant,” it states. “The case of Ben Lewis/ Rose highlights why Spain should be aware of this very serious safeguarding loophole and should pioneer an international movement to protect its children from those abusers who slip under the radar using the name change loophole,” Konstantas added.

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their names and obfuscating their identities as seen through the case of Ben Lewis/Rose absconding overseas to continue to abuse.

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May 6th - May 19th 2021

THE UK’s leading child protection group is calling for Spain to arrested for abusing at least 36 unfortunately represents just By Fiona Govan the tip of the iceberg as to the tighten the recruitment process children. in Madrid magnitude of this problem.” of English teachers. She warned: “Whilst the status that extra Criminal The plea by The Safeguarding check,” she insisted. Alliance aims to protect the We reported how Ben Lewis, quo remains in situ this signif- “The severity and danger this icant and very dangerous safe- loophole country against a British legal 31, had changed his name presents to the whole loophole that has allowed po- deed poll, applied for a by guarding loophole will contin- world cannot be underestimatnew ue to pose a threat, tentially hundreds of British British passport, and dodged not just to ed.” paedophiles to find work in criminal record checks despite UK Nationals, but to the rest of An extensive report by The Spanish schools. being on the UK’s sex offenders the world putting children and Safeguarding Alliance is being those most vulnerable at risk,” used to The campaign follows an in- register. lobby the UK parliashe warned. vestigation by the Olive Press Police in Spain issued a ment for a legal change in the that revealed how easy it was ment last week describingstate- “There are potentially hun- management of sex offenders. Lewdreds - if not thousands - of It explains for a convicted UK sex offender is - or Ben David Rose, as how the current he is known sex offenders to change his identity and find now known - as ‘a dangerous slipping system relies under the radar in the UK to sex offender on the registered work as a teacher in several child sexual predator’. to notify the poseek work abroad where they lice with Madrid schools where he was The National Police said details of any name that he had used his position as a can continue to abuse chil- change, alongside any change sserp evilo teacher at private schools in dren,” she continued. of address and passport inforMadrid to gain access to chil- “This loophole is arguably the mation. dren whom he photographed biggest safeguarding scandal “Currently the onus lies solely the world has ever seen and with the OLIVE NAYMTDLLIUOGG and filmed. offender and although PRESS He then disseminated the sick there is an opportunity for it is an offence to fail to notify, 15 YEARS material on paedo forums on Spain to lead the way in tack- one could argue this is not a deOF FUN Lessons the dark web around the world. ling it at a global level,” she terrent as the offender already needed Emily Konstantas, CEO of said. has the propensity to commit The Safeguarding Alliance, Her charity wants Spain to in- very serious crimes,” states the applauded the Olive Press for troduce the need to present an report, seen by the Olive Press. highlighting the issue: “The original birth certificate along- Through extensive research Ben Lewis case as revealed by side a passport and criminal and case law The Safeguardthe Olive Press highlights this record checks that would allow ing Alliance has identified that loophole and as shocking as potential employers to unearth offenders are not notifying as EXCLUSIVE: a change of identity. OP splash this required is, it is nothing new and + + “It’s a simple way to provide to abuse and are continuing children by changing A

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SCHOOLS O PAED 952 147 834 CALL

Spain. The campaign follows an investiregation by the Olive Press that vealed how easy it was for a convicted UK sex offender to change

children,” she continued. DE REGISTRO CENTRAL SEXUALES “This loophole is arguDELINCUENTES ably the biggest safeguarding scandal the a world has ever seen and his identity and find work as there is an opportuniteacher in several Madrid schools en ZARAGOZA ty for Spain to lead the Gerente Territorial where he was arrested for abusing way in tackling it at a CERTIFICA: at least 36 children. Delincuentes Sexuales, Registro Central de 31, la Base de Datos del fecha, consultada global level,” she said. We reported how Ben Lewis, Que, en el día de la penal relativa a: NO CONSTA información Her charity wants Spain nº 22807454 had changed his name by deed ROSE con Pasaporte D./Dª BEN DAVID Sick to introduce the need to a la organización poll, applied for a new British de 26 de febrero, relativa re2009/315/JAI del Consejo entre los Estados miembros, en la Decisión Marco antecedentes penales impuestas por otros de los registros de passport, and dodged criminal the He then disseminated the sick ma- present an original birth Conforme a lo dispuesto en su caso, las condenas sin intercambio de información certificado incluye, hayan sido notificadas, y al contenido del alongside españoles, el presente the certificate en que tales condenas y los tipos delictivos tratándose de ciudadanos en los mismos términos cord checks despite being on del Estado de condena terial on paedophile forums on de la Unión Europea, los tipos delictivos Estados miembros una equiparación entre a passport and crimique exista necesariamente UK’s sex offenders register. dark web around the world. nacionales. that statea checks issued The en la fecha de su expedición. of record Spain nal CEO in del titular interesado/a Police refleja la situación El presente certificado Lewis Emily Konstantas, potential ment last week describing agosto de 2017 sserp evilo Safeguarding Alliance, applaud- would allow Zaragoza a 29 de to unearth a ed the Olive Press for highlight- employers ing the issue: “The Ben Lewis change of identity. proto way Olive simple a the “It’s by case as revealed extra check,” Press highlights this loophole vide that OLIVE NAMYTDLLIOUGG “The severand as shocking as this is, it is she insisted. this loopPRESS DANGER: Lewis got teaching Mijas Costa 15 YEARS nothing new and unfortunately ity and dangerto the whole world post, with help of ‘fake’ iceOF FUN presents the of hole represents just the tip papers berg as to the magnitude of this cannot be underestimated.” An extensive report by The Safeproblem.” is being used to as the offender already has the She warned: “Whilst the status guarding Alliance leserious a for very commit to parliament UK propensity electrónicamente quo remains in situ this signif- lobby the in the management of by Documento firmado crimes,” states the report, seen icant and very dangerous safe- gal change offenders. Press. guarding loophole will contin- registered sex the current system the Olive extensive research and Through ue to pose a threat, not just to It explains how The Safeguarding Alliregistered sex offendUK Nationals, but to the rest relies on thethe police with details case law identified that offenders 13:30 ance has er to notify of the world, putting children and she of any name change, alongside any are not notifying as required and EXCLUSIVE: OP splash those most vulnerable at risk,” change of address and passport are continuing to abuse children 3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 . warned. E n d s obby changing their names and information. + + “There are potentially hundreds the onus lies solely fuscating their identities as seen sex - if not thousands - of known ra- “Currently it through the case of Ben Lewis/ with the offender and although offenders slipping under the to connotify, one to seek work abroad is an offence to fail to deterrent Rose absconding overseas 21/6/19 13:30 dar in the UK this is not a tinue to abuse. where they can continue to abuse could argue - or Ben David Rose, as he is now known - as ‘a dangerous child sexual predator’. The National Police press release ruled that he had used his position as a teacher at private schools in Madrid to gain access to children whom he photographed and filmed.

By Fiona Govan in Madrid

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THE UK’s leading child protection to group is calling on authorities of tighten the recruitment process English teachers abroad. AlThe plea by The Safeguarding liance aims to protect the country against a British legal loophole that has allowed potentially hundreds of British paedophiles in to find work abroad including

Flag-shaggers

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OLIVE PRESS EXCLUSIVE investigation leads to child protection plea from United Kingdom charity

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Undermined

“As a result, the effectiveness of important legislation, Sex Offenders Register, the the Child Sex Offender Scheme, the DomesticDisclosure Disclosure Scheme, Violence are undermined and the DBS rendered redundant,”effectively it states. “The case of Ben Lewis/Rose highlights why Spain should be aware of this very serious safeguarding loophole and pioneer an international should movement to protect its from those abusers children under the radar using who slip the name change loophole,” Konstantas added.

Pagina 1 de 1 Ref: 00003143792/2017

I DON T know about you but I m very t red o the UK med a portray ng Br ts n Spa n as ager-sw ng flag-shagg ng d ots The magery used s qu e nsu ng as hey a ways use s ock mages o ves -c ad a es sa ou s de some Ben dorm pub w h a Br sh name Comments on soc a med a are genera y negat ve accus ng Br ts n Spa n o try ng to ve under the radar dodge taxes or - even worse vot ng or Brex t The rea ty o t s that most expats are decent peop e en oy ng the r e n Spa n and deserve a better press than they get

Bank plea ARE he e any banks ha DO NOT demand paymen o ece v ng o ou pens on? he e a e cou d you p ease pub sh he names so ha we can ans e ou accoun om hose ha do sav ng us 13 paymen s as s a e pens on s pa d eve y ou weeks

Lucy and Lex Ong ey by ema

Great read W TH ega d o you on ne s o y A NA T ON D V DED Spa n s b oody pas s s caus ng d v s ons oday” o e s a asc na ng ns gh n o a chap e o Spa n s ecen h s o y ha s ves w h us oday A g ea ead ba anced and ns gh u hank you

Simon Varnish A icante

Opinion Page 6

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READERS shou d be wa ned abou a scam ha we have been oub ed w h A 9 05 am (a ways) a man speak ng En g sh bu w h a o e gn acc den phones and says He o am ca ng om M c o so you have a p ob em d dn e h m ge any u he us pu he phone down We a e n ou a e 70 s and when you ge a ca ha ea y you mmed a e y h nk bad news and p ck up w hou ook ng ca e u y a he numbe eav ng you se open o be ng d dd ed The abso u e SCUM ha a e abou now s unbe evab e hey have no consc ence He ang aga n h s mo n ng bu we now d sconnec he phone un a eas 10am and why on ea h shou d you be o ced o do ha !

Name and address supp ed

IT S a shame Spa n d dn t make t onto the UK s green st but unt the Span sh government removes the necess ty or trave ers rom the UK to be Span sh res dents they can t come here anyway OLIVE PRESS

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OLIVE PRESS

May 19th - June 1st 2021

1 Hush money (3-3) 2 Introduction to a specialist, perhaps (8) 3 Weep (3) 4 Self-detrimental syndrome (9) 5 Stagehand (4) 6 One of Handel’s “Messiah” sources (6) 11 Wandering worker (9) 13 Not appropriate (8) 15 “All the perfumes of --- will not sweeten this little hand” (Shakespeare, “Macbeth”) (6) 16 Resident of Aleppo (6) 18 Charts (4) 20 Rocket killer (1-1,1)

All solutions are on page 37

LA CULTURA Royal approval

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Operatic triumph

MADRID’S Teatro Real has won the top honour at the 2021 International Opera Awards which are opera’s equivalent of the movie Oscars. The virtually-hosted event saw the Teatro Real given the ‘Opera Company of the Year’ award. The jury said the company had been recognised ‘not only for its outstanding work in 2019’ but for ‘its trailblazing efforts’ to bring back live opera in spite of the pandemic.

Open

The Teatro Real reopened on July 1 last year and it has remained open since. Artistic director, Joan Matabosch, said: “Thanks to everyone who every day, with determination, professionalism and enthusiasm, manages to raise the curtain.” Congratulations came from the Royal Family who proclaimed that ‘Spain has the best opera in the world’.

Spanish palaces are among most loved in the world TWO of Spain’s best loved palaces have been ranked in the World’s top 10. The Palacio Real in Madrid and Granada’s spectacular Alhambra were voted amongst the ‘world’s most loved’ rankings Homedit.com decided to list 20 of the most wellknown royal palaces, or former royal palaces, on four criteria to determine which is the most loved by the public. The historic sites were judged on average TripAdvisor rating, global monthly searches, hashtags on Instagram, and pins on

Pinterest. Each criteria was marked out of a maximum of 25 points to create a total score out of 100. The Palacio Real came fifth with a score of 66, while the Alhambra was ninth with 58 points.

Work

Scored

other hand, the Alhambra scored highly for its TripAdvisor rating, but struggled in other catego-

Night Visits NIGHT visits to the Alhambra in Granada have restarted. The tours will run from Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 10pm to 11.30pm, and permit visitors to explore the stunning architecture and decor of the 14th century palace in a ‘magical and different atmosphere’. Night visits for the cultural and tourist itinerary of the Dobla de Oro (Golden Doubloon) will also be resumed. The Alhambra is currently operating at 65% capacity and its opening hours are from 8.30am to 8pm every day.

Group visits are up to 10 people maximum, including the monitor or official guide, and face masks are mandatory.

Gali-gone

Top dollar A PAINTING by Pablo Picasso has been sold for an eye watering $103 million (€84.87 million). Femme assise pres d’une fenêtre (Marie-Therese) was sold at Christie’s 20th-century auction in New York. It was the first time a painting had sold at auction for more than €100 million in nearly two years. The price places Femme assise among Picasso’s top-10 works at auction. The sale helped boost Christie’s total for evenings sales, including fees, to US$691 million (€569 million) in just a week. The result for Femme assise, which carried a third-party guarantee, happened after a 19-minute-plus bidding war that

missing according to official records. In total, there could be as many as 14,809 works missing from the library it has been revealed. The total value of the missing pieces is unknown but just one alone is valued at €800,000. Questions are now being raised after the Madrid library took more than four years to report the theft of an important pamphlet (pictured top left) by the Italian astronomer, called Sidereus Nuncius.

Forgery

escalated until two specialists from New York fought it out in a private battle. The hammer came down on a price of US$90 million (€74.1 million), before fees from the anonymous bidder. It was expected to sell for around US$55 million

(€45.3 million). Femme assise is one of a series of portraits Picasso painted of Marie-Therese, his muse and lover, during the pivotal year for the artist of 1932, and was a featured work in Tate Modern’s Picasso 1932, exhibition of 2017-18.

ries. Both were resoundingly beaten by Buckingham Palace (London), which achieved a score of 80. The royal palace had the most monthly global searches and the most hashtags on Instagram, bagging it a full 25 points in those categories. Second spot went to Neuschwanstein Palace in Bavaria, which was the inspiration for Disney’s iconic castle. St Petersburg’s Winter Palace came in third and Versailles in France took fourth spot.

Among the fish can be found a tuna, a sea bream and a sea bass. While the renovation work has been carried out they now need to spend an extra €300,000 to make it accessible to the public. It will include pedestrian walkways, signs and a low-impact lighting system.

HERITAGE: Roman fountain at museum

First Person Singular: Stories by Haruki Murakami

By Elena Gogmen Rueda

AN alarming nine priceless works by the astronomer Galileo Galilei (right) are missing from Spain’s National Library. Five of them are definitely lost, however, there may be up to nine of the philosopher's works

Trickling slowly into life MALAGA has a new jewel in its archeological heritage. A Roman fountain will be opened on the site the Palace of Villalon, which houses the Thyssen Museum, next year. The 27BC fountain is decorated with fish and frescoes and is in a good state of conservation.

By Dilip Kuner

The Palacio Real scored highly for its hashtags on Instagram, but was let down by its TripAdvisor rating and global monthly searches. On the

It continued to display a forgery left behind by the thief instead of the original piece, without telling anyone of the theft. The disappearance of this work, which was not disclosed until less than two months ago, prompted a government investigation into missing items from the library.

A wonderfully surreal collection of short stories from the internationally acclaimed Haruki Murakami. All the stories are told in the first person as the title would suggest. From a monkey trained to act like a human to a writer who fabricates a review of a Charlie Parker record, the stories are filled with music and beauty evoking a sense of pleasure and nostalgia. Murakami has an ability to make the mundane fantastical and the fantastical mundane. Although several of the stories have featured in literary magazines over the past decade, this is the first time they have all been gathered together in English. First Person Singular is an engaging and enigmatic collection to savour and enjoy. €20.90 The Bookshop San Pedro, www.thebookshop.es

LA CULTURA

N V I R O N M E N TA L I ST S aren’t the only ones counting the days until the big scheduled O’Burgo Estuary clean-up in La Coruña. Funding has been approved to dredge nearly 600,000 cubic metres of sediment from the mouth of the Galician port to improve drainage, current flow, water quality and shipping lanes. However historians also have their beady eyes on what lies beneath the seabed which could show Sir Francis Drake’s Armada victory in a slightly less swashbuckling light. It is the long-held belief that sunken English ships commanded by the British Admiral are buried in sediment at the entrance to the estuary. If this is indeed the case, it could shed light on an overlooked chapter in Spanish history that has literally been buried

FAILED: Sir Francis Drake by the sands of time. Hence, before the €8.5-million project begins, an environmental impact statement is being considered by La Coruña officials to safeguard potentially vital new evidence. The subtext of the infamous defeat of the Spanish Armada

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Dredging up history is well known. The vastly superior ‘Invincible Navy’ of Spain was defeated in the waters off England by inclement weather, poor strategy and by faster, more nimble English ships under Drake’s command. A year later, swelled by national pride, Sir Francis sailed to

The true aftermath of the Spanish Armada has been buried by the sands of time … until now, writes Jack Gaioni La Coruña to drive home the advantage of what he considered newly-acquired English

SEARCH: Divers are investigating the O’Burgo estuary

naval dominance. His plan was to destroy what was left of the depleted Spanish Navy.

But things did not go well for Sir Francis, even though his fleet of 150 ships and 23,500 men greatly outnumbered the four Spanish galleons and 1,500 soldiers docked in the defenseless Atlantic harbour. A heroic resistance by the Spanish troops and local militia held off the invading English while, according to legend, it was the women of the city who actually forced the retreat. In one instance a woman named Maria Pita was assisting her husband in combat when he was killed by a spear. Full of rage, she snatched the spear and killed the attacker. The man was Admiral Drake’s brother. Another woman instrumental in that battle was Ines de Ben. From her small metal shop, she was able to fashion weapons and ammunition. Wounded twice in the head and thigh, she heroically carried stone and sandbags to fortify the defensive positions. In the harbour, Spain’s galleons were able to trap, and later sink, an undetermined number of ships near the entrance to the estuary.

Retreated

BATTLE: Maria Pita (inset) slays Drake’s brother and depiction of the naval engagement that saw the English fleet vanquished

Drake retreated demoralised. Artifacts such as cannon balls, dishes, coins and a 2.5 metre English brass cannon have been salvaged but location, the timeline, and other details have become unclear over the past 450 years. After failing to deliver the knockout blow to the Spanish Navy at La Coruña, Drake went on to Lisbon where he was unable to stir up a Portuguese uprising against Spain. In a last-ditch effort to establish English dominance in the Atlantic, he also failed to take the Azores and Spain remained a major naval power on the global stage for another 200 years. The environmental impact report, authored by Arqueo-Atlantica Consultants, recommends that future dredging takes into account the ‘safeguarding of this heritage’. The firm classifies the estuary as an ‘underwater area of great archaeological potential’. The hope is that the necessary environmental dredging work will work in concert with archaeologists to add to the historical record while also improving the O’Burgo Estuary environment. A statue of Maria Pita dominates La Coruña’s central plaza. As she looks down on her beautiful city and harbour. My guess is that she, too, would agree with those sentiments…

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Going neutral

Climate change law passed as country sets brave CO2 target

SPAIN has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050 with a total ban on non-electric cars by that date. Congress has just passed a new climate and energy bill, which will mean only electric cars will be sold from 2040 when it comes to new vehicle sales. Ten years later the total ban of combustion engined cars will come in. The passage of the law was delayed by two years due to a series of general elections and the coronavirus pandemic. The only party to vote against legislation was the far-right Vox party, with the right-of-centre Partido Popular abstaining. The Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, said: “This measure is 10 years overdue compared to our European colleagues.” In a swipe at her political opponents, Ribera added: “This law has been postponed for too long since there are threats that do not follow political lines.” The measures look to cut carbon emissions by at least 23% by 2030 based on 1990 figures, but the aim is to substantially improve on that target. The law requires cities of 50,000 or more people to introduce low carbon emission zones. Coalfired power plants will be decommissioned by 2025. The government believes that its ‘green’ policies will create up to 350,000 new jobs per year until 2030. It estimates that the Spanish economy will grow by around 1.8% in 2030 as a result of the investment in new green policies.

Cricket honours A NEW species of cricket has been named after two murdered forest rangers. The Sometera Davier, discovered in Catalunya, has been named after Xavier Ribas and David Iglesias, who were killed by a hunter while on duty in Lleida in 2017, The new species of orthopteran is a cross between a cricket and grasshopper and was discovered by scientist Josep Maria Olmo. The name was chosen in recognition of the agents ‘love of nature and commitment to protecting it’.

GREEN

May 19th - June 1st 2021

It’s half a century since Marvin Gaye’s prophetic hit Mercy Mercy Me slammed environmental destruction, writes Martin Tye

Green Matters

By Martin Tye

THERE IS NO PLANET B!

OST readers of this column will know the iconic Marvin Gaye masterpiece Mercy Mercy Me. (If not take a peek on YouTube). It was released in 1971. That’s right...50 years ago. This week, I’d just like to remind you of some of the relevant lyrics he gracefully delivered in it. Relevant because half a century on and we, the human race, still have not taken sufficient action to protect our planet.

‘

Woah, ah, mercy, mercy me Ah, things ain’t what they used to be, Where did all the blue skies go?

Poison is the wind that blows From the north and south and east Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas Fish full of mercury Radiation underground and in the sky Animals and birds who live nearby are dying What about this overcrowded land? HOW MUCH MORE ABUSE FROM MAN CAN SHE STAND?’

It was one hell of a message then. And it is still a very strong message now. How many warnings do we need? Time to reflect dear readers.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

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Cough up OWNERS of the most polluting vehicles will be made to pay more tax in Catalunya. From this November, a long awaited new law will bring in a sliding scale of taxes depending on how dirty the car’s emissions are. This measure was approved four years ago, but its execution has been delayed until this year because of COVID-19. Cash raised will be spent on cutting greenhouse emissions and on measures to protect biodiversity. The regional government calculates that it will affect 2,3 million vehicles and will raise €67 million in the first year. The Catalan government expects owners to pay an average of €35 a year, with the most polluting vehicles being hit with an annual fee of €96. While welcoming the initiative, some experts say much more needs to be done. “It’s a good sign that shows the path we should go, but I believe it wont have a significant impact on reducing emissions”, said professor Jordi Roca.

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Estepona

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May 2021

Old meets new

A town of contrasts that welcomes travellers with a taste of authentic Spain

STEPONA is a place where old Spain meets new. The deep blue of the timeless Mediterranean Sea contrasts with the greenery of the rolling hills and mountains that provide a backdrop. The two sandwich the bright white of the traditional homes and more modern architecture that make up this bustling town. Splashes of colour are provided along the winding streets and boulevards by stunning displays of flowers, while blocks of apartments are transformed into canvases for impressive giant murals. These contrasts are the products of the constantly evolving nature of Estepona, which has impressive global credentials, despite being a medium-sized town. Continues on next page

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May - June 2021 From previous page

Estepona

A jewel on the costa Within Estepona’s mural series alone, you have the largest vertical mural in Europe, and even the first braille mural in Spain, using ceramic pieces, to assist the learning of the visually impaired. Perhaps one of the most unusual examples of Estepona’s worldwide appeal is Disney’s discovery of the area in the early 1990s – the town was the original choice for Eurodisney but was pipped to the post by Paris. But away from the would-be theme park dreams of decades gone by lies the real beating heart of this charming town. A short walk along the marble pavements of Estepona’s Calle Teraza brings you to the charming and aptly named Plaza de las Flores (square of the flowers). In this hidden hive of activity you will find the tourism office, with maps for all kinds of excursions, including the murals tour and a host of reasonably-priced restaurants and cafeterias. Also nestled among the flowers, and spilling out onto Calle Teraza, are a handful of stylish clothes shops, mixing independent and quirky stores with more famous brands such as Mango. Further into the historic centre and you will notice that the town has ramped up its appeal with a ‘hanging

garden’ of geraniums sprouting from multi coloured pots on every wall of every street. And it went one better than the plant

pots a few years ago with its exotic glass-domed orchidarium. The futuristic greenhouse with more than 8,000 species of orchids and three waterfalls has welcomed more La Alcaria de Ramos is an Andalusian countryside stately mansion than 250,000 people each located high above the Mediterranean, with wonderful views year and they continue to arrive by the coach load - or at least they will COVID permitting. Lorena C a n o

La alcaria de Ramos

Traditional Mediterranean cuisine and creative cuisine merge to create a new concept and exquisite sensory experience

tel: +34 952 88 61 78 jare.1970@hotmail.com Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 167, 29688, Urb. El Paraíso, Estepona Close to Hotel el Paraíso, (junto al Hotel Paraíso) www.laalcariaderamos.es

Bedoya, 38, who moved to Estepo- steady stream of foreign tourists. na in 2008 from Colombia, lives just The latest edition to the some around the corner from the magnif- 700,000 square metres of new green icent orchid house with her seven- space, is a public park complete with year-old son Diego, and treasures the slides and wildlife area up near the greenery on her doorstep. hospital. “Estepona is a town with a very spe- This is part of the ‘Estepona, Garden cial magic,” she tells me, “starting of the Costa del Sol’ project, which is with its climate, its sea, its mountain.” progressing in time for the flood of Sandwiched between the ocean and summer tourists. the high sierras of Bermeja, Estepona And the high visitor numbers are undoes surf and turf in style. surprising, and not only because of “It is a town that gives you the most Estepona’s 325 yearly days of sunbeautiful and quiet places to discov- shine, 21km of coastline, 17 beacher,” she adds, from her house that is es, 12 chiringuitos, eight golf courses just a few minutes walk from La Plaza and more spa hotels than you can de las Flores. shake a fluffy white towel at. Most of all Lorena treasures the life Fresh air fiends can sail in the port, here for her active young son. go horse-riding, do high ropes at Sel“Diego is a child who likes wo Adventure park, play padel in the sports and reading classical poligono or kick back with a cocktail music,” she says. and their toes in the sand at one of its “We dedicate days for those glorified beach shacks. activities and I One chiringuito owner, try to educate Erwin Vanderdonck, him without 52, who owns Palm Estepona was screens, we Beach on Playa de la prefer to spend founded during Rada, is certainly geartime enjoying up for the summer. the golden age ing doing things toThis beach bar, where gether outside.” of the Caliphate chart-topping girl group And its idyllic Las Ketchup recorded of Cordoba outdoor spactheir video for Asereje, es and winding recently underwent a streets are perhuge redevelopment. haps why Estepona is often Originally from Amsterdam, he made described as one of the last the jump 19 years ago, swapping the ‘authentically’ Spanish re- ‘mayhem of finance’ in London for the sorts on the costa. ‘authentic feel’ of this Costa del Sol It has somehow managed to gem. stave off the whitewash of “The main centre for nightlife used to celebrity yachts and design- be the port,” he says, “but now there er brands of Marbella, while is a shift towards the centre, with new also avoiding the takeover of bars opening.” ‘Little Britain’ in the likes of Playa del Cristo, the next beach along, Benidorm. is in the port described by Erwin, and Maybe that is in part thanks is set on a sheltered bay with two to its Mayor, José María pleasant watering holes. García Urbano of the PP, who In fact, the fishy fare served by these has spent €100 million on ramshackle beach huts is surprisingly public works since he good. took over in 2011. After supper, pick up an ice cream on During his 10-year Calle Real or hit the bars: Louie Loutenure, he has trans- ie’s is always guaranteed for a good formed Estepona into boogie or if you prefer to watch, El Paa green paradise for tio puts on a colourful feast of flamenthose who live here, co, having restarted its events in April. while still attracting a Estepona’s bright young things flock

May - June 2021

Floral tribute

HE first seeds were sown back in 2012, when Estepona Mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano and his fellow councillors drew up the design for a green walking city dedicated to culture and art. The mural trail was born that year, an ongoing project that is transforming dowdy tower blocks with eye-catching frescos depicting local scenes The intention was to shine light on the town’s forgotten neighbourhoods and attract more foreign tourists. Ambling through the sinewy flower-laden streets of the old town, it’s clear to see how these efforts have borne fruit, and how well-deserved is Estepona’s nickname. Marielle Maulenberg, an MA student and English teacher, has watched the whole town blossom. “I'm really impressed with how they’ve done it

SIGHTS: The charming old town (left) modernist orchid house (above) and an early evening stroll in Estepona

to see the bars and clubs at the port on weekends. Alternatively, there are four excellent markets to get up for. Three are held on Sunday mornings: one at the port (9am-2pm) and a rastro in the bullring (10am-2pm). On Wednesday mornings (9am-2pm) Avenida Puerta del Mar market is the place to be. Or, why not head into the old town’s twisting uphill streets, which offer a glimpse of life as it used to be in Estepona. The town’s story is told through a scattering of watchtowers built to ward off the Moorish invaders, the Arab-built clock tower and 16th century castle ruins. Estebbuna was founded during the golden age of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the 10th century. Destroyed by the conquering Christians in the 15th century and rebuilt by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand

almost a century later, King Philip V granted the town a charter for 600 families in 1728. Compare that to the 65,000-plus residents today – a figure that more than triples in summer months - COVID

permitting. And rentals do fill up quickly at this time of year, so book early if you want to discover why Estepona should be number one on your Costa del Sol bucket list.

up.” “Before, it was much quieter but the mural trail and street renovations have really transformed it,” she tells me appreciatively. Estepona’s flower pot-strewn pedestrianised streets and squares are some of the prettiest on the Costa del Sol. Its scented town centre is one of the reasons Michael Ventress, a retired bank worker from Basingstoke, chose it as his holiday destination. Michael, along with countless other tourists, come to admire the photogenic centre and wander around in search of the murals. Because not only do they beautify the town, they provide handy landmarks to help navigate the streets. Head in any direction and your walk will take you on a floral trail graced with sculptures by local artists and poetic verses penned by Spanish bards showcased on ceramic plaques. Potted plants hang off whitewashed walls, scattering a confetti of crimson, lilac and magenta petals. You can see rarer plants at the Orchidarium, an indoor perfumed garden where 1,300 varieties are joined by the notorious Amorphophallus Titanum or 'corpse flower', named for its foul odour. Visitors have not yet had the dubious pleasure of taking a sniff as it hasn’t yet breached the soil's surface. When it does, it could potentially grow up to three metres high. Then there are the floral plazas, typified by Plaza de las Flores which lives up to its name, where you can get trail guides from the tourist office and study them at one of the pavement cafes. Others you'll happen upon while meandering through the streets, like Plaza de Begines which has a stage set up. Local resident Manuela Reinoso, 50, tells me it’s for the May Day celebrations. Let curiosity be your guide to discover these hidden treasures for yourself and you’ll understand without doubt why no other town can hold a petal to Estepona’s Garden of the Costa del Sol.

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May - June 2021

Estepona boasts two of the Costa del Golf’s founding courses, and a whole lot more

Estepona

WO of the genuine grandes dames of the Costa del Golf are found in Estepona. Both El Paraiso and Atalaya rank with the oldest courses on the coast and were established in the days when you could build a golf course just about anywhere you liked. As a result, the quality of the courses is fantastic, built on wonderfully flat land with the mountainous backdrop of the Sierra de las Nieves. It means you don’t lose so many balls and the courses are easy to walk around. El Paraiso caters for every kind of golfer, boasting seven different types of membership and up to eight competitions a week for varying abilities. It also has an active ladies section, with more than 200 members. Atalaya Golf Club proudly dates back to 1968, when the design of the course was more important than fitting it between apartment blocks. Eucalyptus trees, cacti and palms line the club’s two 18-hole courses - Atalaya Old and Atalaya New - whose wide, easy-walking fairways

PITCH PERFECT: Estepona courses

Greens are go! pass fountains and flower beds. As a members’ club that is open to guests, the course has a lively community feel and there is always a buzz around the clubhouse. Although a younger course, dating from 1989, Estepona Golf is famous for superb putting surfaces and sea views. Featuring strong par 3s, it provides an excellent round for players of all standards.

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“Estepona has the best golfing temperatures in Europe, with over 320 days of sunshine a year and an average of 22 degrees,” explains Jason Callow, of Estepona Golf. Contact El Paraiso on 952 883 835 or email info@elparaisogolfclub.com For Estepona Golf, call 952 937 605, or email information@esteponagolf.com

Barrios of Estepona

stepona, which bills itself as the Garden of the Costa del Sol, has undergone a transformation in the past decade, blossoming from a quiet town at the western end of the province of Malaga into an attractive tourist and residential destination in its own right. Home to 70,000 people, it was officially declared a Tourism Municipality by the Junta de Andalucia in 2020. As Andalucia is still in provincial lockdown at the time of writing

Estepona has something for everyone: a historic centre, miles of beaches, the mountains of Sierra Bermeja and some of the best-value areas to own a property on the Costa del Sol, writes Adam Neale

due to the COVID-19 pandemic, here’s a virtual visit around Estepona, taking in some of the most in-demand areas for those looking to invest in a home here to live year-round or for

he Old Town is a maze of cobbled streets and shaded squares, lined by whitewashed houses and filled with flowers in colourful pots. Much of the area, which stretches back from the Paseo Maritimo and Playa de la Rada, has undergone a transformation in the past decade. Many streets are now pedestrianised, which has allowed bars and restaurants to expand dining terrace areas and new shops to open their doors to passersby. Properties range from building plots and older houses for redevelopment, resale and new-build apartments and penthouses, some which enjoy sea views, and fully restored townhouses, many with patios and roof terraces. There are also larger buildings with potential for

your holidays. If it’s any recommendation, we moved here and set up our business almost 20 years ago and wouldn’t think about living anywhere else on the Costa del Sol.

Estepona Old Town: charm, amenities and the beach on your doorstep

commercial development. Prices start at less than six figures, although these are getting harder to find, and can climb to over a million euros.

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El Padron and Benamara: beachside and countryside on the New Golden Mile

ying to the east of the Old Town, the New Golden Mile runs along the coastline towards San Pedro de Alcantara, connecting Estepona to all the amenities of the Costa del Sol, while offering residents privileged access to natural attractions like quiet beaches and lush valleys. El Padron, which lies between the Padrónriver and the Río Castor has retained a real sense of life in the country, while Benamara is just steps away from the sands of Playa Saladillo. Properties in El Padron include traditionally designed Andalusian villas occupying

Located west of Estepona’s centre, the residential neighbourhood of Seghers is characterised by low-density developments with a mix of small- to medium-sized villas and townhouse developments. Just a short stroll from the blue-flagged Playa del Cristo beach and surrounded by green spaclarge plots with open views, although there are also some urbanisations nearer to the coast road. Benamara, meanwhile, offers a choice of apartments in complexes such as El Presidente, as well as luxurious

es, the area is conveniently close to services in the port, and home to the Jardín de Seghers nursery school and Babylon sports club. Seghers is the only location with panoramic sea views in Estepona that places residents within walking distance of the beach, the historic town centre and the Marina. single-family homes within walking distance of the Mediterranean. Prices here start at under half a million euros and can reach multiple millions for a front-ine villa on the beach.

May - June 2021

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Casasola and El ParaIso: contrasting choices for luxury living in Estepona

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urther to the east and close to neighbouring San Pedro de Alcantara, Casasola and El Paraiso are among Estepona’s finest residential addresses. Casasola is tucked away beside the Guadalmina River and bordering the Hotel Guadalmina Spa and Golf Resort, with easy access to the beaches and a wealth of local services. Occupying the hills and valleys north of the N340 coast road, verdant El Paraíso is home to golf and country clubs. There are housing options to suit almost everybody in both areas, with exclusive developments and townhouses, as well as modern villas, some of which have front-line plots, in Casasola. In El Paraíso, buyers can choose between apartments in urbanisations and high-end, single-family homes. Asking prices for the very best properties in both areas can exceed €10 million.

Los Reales: amazing mountain views on the way to Sierra Bermeja Just a short drive away from the centre of Estepona, the rustic splendour of Los Reales really feels like another world. The road to Genalguacil rises into a verdant swathe that stretches across the slopes above the town, protected by the Sierra Bermeja mountain range, where the peak of Los Reales stands 1,452 metres above sea level. The area has its own micro-climate and feels refreshingly cool in summer. The rare properties that come to the market in Los Reales tend to be rural country estates with Andalusian-style villas set among extensive gardens, many of which have incredible panoramic views of the Costa del Sol. Prices are not as high as the altitude may lead you to expect, averaging around the million-euro mark.

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Estepona Talking factually A

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May - June 2021

Ignoring, thinking or believing that tax notifications don’t exist is a dangerous game in Spain, writes Joanna Elliot of Puro Consulting

HEN Aldous Huxley said ‘facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored’ he was certainly right. Particularly when it comes to the Spanish tax notifications system. Too many people think that if you don’t receive or collect a letter from the Agencia Tributaria (Spanish tax office), that an official notification has not been made and the procedure will simply fade away... this is alarmingly inaccurate. Unfortunately, with or without your knowledge, the tax procedure will legally follow its course whether you like it or not. Worse, it could mean losing your right to defend yourself, appeal or present documentation to back your case and you could subsequently get hit with a tax bill or fine, which in most cases is incommensurate with one’s real financial situation. And to add fuel to the fire, the debt will be swiped from your account via a bank

levy, commonly known as an ‘embargo’. If the tax office complies with the notification process outlined in article 42, Law 39/2015 from the Common Administrative Procedure, any resolutions are pretty much untouchable. Here are two key points to consider: A notification can be signed by anyone over the age of 14 at your designated address; if the first attempt is unsuccessful, there is a second and last attempt to deliver the letter, in which case, it must be within the following three days since the first attempt, and at a different time than first. This means, if the first was before 15:00h, the second must be after 15:00h and vice versa. After this, the notification must be published in the State Official Bulletin (BOE) and you will then be treated as NOTIFIED once 15 days after the publication has passed As for Non-Residents for the revenues obtained without mediation of perma-

nent establishment, i.e. owners of a holiday home or a rental property. Notifications can be sent to the address of the property here in Spain, the address of a designated representative or can be sent to the fiscal address overseas and in this last case shall follow a similar procedure when notified in Spain with the exception that, if the Spanish Authorities do not receive confirmation receipt within two months, they can proceed directly with publication in the BOE I strongly recommend you keep your postal address updated with the tax office, which is vital to defend any potential tax demand as here in Spain, according to article 48 of the 58/2003 General Taxation Law, it is the taxpayer’s responsibility to communicate an address. If you are going to be absent for long periods, I also recommend you provide as a postal address your Accountants or Gestors address in Spain.

Removing the stress of your Spanish taxes Puro Consulting is a bilingual English-Spanish Accountants & Tax advisory firm based in Estepona with over 10 years of experience. Our main focus is assisting Spanish limited companies, self-employed workers, residents and non-residents with all their tax affairs and being compliant in Spain. Our reputation is built on our impeccable code of work ethics and in-depth knowledge in both National & International taxation. SERVICES CORPORATE SERVICES

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NON-RESIDENTS Model 210 • Tax Advisory services • Administrative Support Translation Services • RTA Registrations amongst others

Av. Puerta del Mar, Bloque 60 Local 5, Estepona tel: +34 952 803 638 email: info@puroconsulting.es www.puroconsulting.es

May - June 2021

Pirates and plants Find out how this booming seaside town is so much more than sun, sea and sand, writes Pablo Balbontin

ID you know pirates regularly attacked the coast of Estepona in the 1700s? Or that its bullring is the only asymmetrical structure of its kind in the world? This gem of the Costa del Sol is

packed full of history and amazing facts and those two are just for starters. Here are 11 stupendous Estepona assets that easily make it one of the coolest resorts on the coast.

It’s own werewolf Among the many sculptures gracing Estepona’s streets, one soars above the rest: a creature that’s half wolf, half man. It’s a homage to the Spanish actor Paul Naschy for his contribution to Spanish horror films of the 70s, when he was cast in his most famous role as a werewolf.

Rare species

The Sierra Blanca mountains backing Estepona and the rest of the Costa del Sol are the only place in the world to find forests entirely composed of rare Abies pinsapo Spanish fir trees.

A pirate legacy

Back in the 18th century pirates were no strangers to Estepona’s shores and King Felipe II had seven watch towers built along the coast to protect it from attack by sea, known as almenaras, which still stand today.

A trend-bucking bull ring

Tombs intact

Estepona’s plaza de toros isn’t the oldest, biggest or best in Spain but it’s one of a kind - the only asymmetrical bullring in the world. Its clever shape was designed by Juan Mora Urbano to offer spectators more seating in the shade than under the hot Spanish sun, and it has hosted numerous sport and cultural events since it opened in 1972.

The first traces of human existence in Estepona can be found in the mountains in the shape of the Corominas Necropolis, whose dolmen cave tombs and graves remain almost exactly the same as they were 5.000 years ago.

Independence One of the most valuable documents kept in the Historical Archive of Estepona is the Villazgo letter. Written and signed by Felipe V in 1729, it grants the title of independence to Estepona, previously controlled by Marbella since 1552.

Europe’s Biggest Orchidarium Not only does it hold the size record at 15,000 cubic metres, this monster glass house houses an incredible 8,000 different species of exotic orchids.

No Micky Mouse town A remarkable tower The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 was the most devastating earthquake known in the history of southwest Europe, triggering a tsunami that spread to the Med. Estepona’s church didn’t make it, but the tower did and it’s still standing today, although it had to wait until the 20th century to get its famous clock.

If things had been different, Eurodisney Estepona would have been coining it in from millions of visitors around the world. The resort was the original choice for Eurodisney back in the early Nineties before the project was finally awarded to Paris for political reasons. But frankly we prefer it that way.

A ghostly past

Estepona was once a ghost town like many of the depopulated pueblos in inland Andalucia today. After years of war, it was conquered and then abandoned by King Enrique IV of Castille in 1461, when it became a wild and dangerous place to be. It was rescued from near extinction in 1502 when 30 families were encouraged back to reboot the town we know today.

A split personality Estepona has been inhabited by many civilisations down the centuries - Phoenicians, Romans Muslims - who all called it something different: Alextebbuna, Asttebbuna, Estebbuna and its present name, christened by Enrique IV.

Estepona Staying safe from COVID High and mighty! A

ll about

How to get your vaccine when not in the state health system

HE Junta de Andalucia has given an official response to the big question: ‘How to get the COVID Vaccination while having private insurance’. As you might know, private health insurance companies are NOT involved in the vaccination process, as this is an issue for the Spanish government provided by the Public Health Service. Now the Junta de Andalucia and the Servicio Andaluz de Salud/Andalucian Health Service (SAS) has announced how to proceed for people who live here in Spain, but haven't had the need to use the public system as they are insured by a private health insurance company. In this case, you have to fill in the form called the SOLICITUD DE ALTA EN LA BASE DE DATOS DE PERSONAS USUARIAS DEL SSPA USUARIOS PRIVADOS (EXTRANJEROS Y NO MUTUALISTAS available from website jundadeandalucia.es and take it to your local Centro de Salud (Health Centre). •

The feedback we at Sanitas have had says that you should also take:

•

Volante de empadronamiento (town hall registration certificate) - a maximum of three months old

• • •

Pic by Yvonne Vanderdonck (DIGIPRINT)

May - June 2021

Passport (photocopy and original) Residency NIE/TIE (numero de identificacion de extranjero/ tarjeta de identidad de extranjero) Membership card or contract with a private health insurance company

You can send these documents online, but you need your digital signature (which is quite a process to obtain). So, the easiest - but probably most time consuming - option is to go to your local Centro de Salud, take a number or queue up and hand it over to the clerk. And you will need to use all your Spanish language skills, as the information and forms are … in SPANISH

TANDING like a monolith towering over Estepona sits a mountain bigger than Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak. The perfect backdrop to the coast’s most upmarket resort,

this stunning peak, Los Reales, is an amazing place to escape the buzz of the Costa del Sol and get back to nature. Indeed, this mountain sitting in the Sierra Bermeja nature reserve is about as far removed from the coast as you can get - yet only 8km inland. The perfect place for a walk, the easy circuit leads to the highest point of the nature reserve, known as the Pico Reales. Rising to 1,450m - some 106m taller than Ben Nevis - from its antennae-topped summit there’s a dizzy, panoramic vista of a huge slice of Andalucia: north to the Sierra de las Nieves, east to the Sierra de Ojen, west to the Alcornocales Natural Park and south to Gibraltar and Africa. One of its best walks goes through the Pinsapar de los Reales, home to one of the few existing stands of the uniquely beautiful pine, Abies Pinsapo Boix, found in less than half a dozen places around the world. Stop at the great viewing point, the Mirador de Salvador Guerrero, which entails a short diversion but which is well worth the extra effort. Finding the starting point for the walk is all part of the adventure. To reach the trailhead, you’ll need to follow a snaking mountain road inland from the town for about 20 minutes. Here is a breakdown of how to do it:

The walk From the signboard Paseo de los Pinsapos head down a narrow, rocky path which drops away from the road into the pinsapo forest. Just 75m after crossing a small concrete bridge you reach a junction. Cut left following the sign Los Realillos/Los Reales for 2.2km. The path leads past a signboard about pinsapo pines then on past a ceramic sign of a poem by Lorca inspired by trees, before climbing steeply through dense undergrowth: as you climb higher Mediterranean pines begin to take the place of the pinsapos. Careful! Some five minutes be-

Circuit to the Pico Reales and the top of the Sierra Bermeja THE NITTY-GRITTY Distance: Time required: Rating: Total height gain: Map(s): Water:

8 km (up and down) About 2.5 hours (inc. breaks) Easy/Medium 5,300m IGN 1:50000 Jimena de la Frontera 1071 (14-46) & Estepona 1072 (15-46) Tap with unchlorinated water @ 1 hr 15 mins

yond the ceramic sign of Lorca’s poem you reach a junction marked by twin stone mounds. Here cut hard left and continue your ascent, zigzagging up through the pines and the reddish rocks. Passing a small breach in the rocks the path runs up to the top of the ridge where views open out to the southwest and the Bay of Algeciras. (30 mins) Here the path bears left towards the transmitter antennae atop the Reales peak, through another swathe of pinsapo pines. Marker posts help guide you up. Passing across another jagged ridge the path bears right and continues to climb. Reaching a flatter area and bearing left it runs on up to the antennae. Here, reaching a white hut, cut right, pass a second hut then follow a narrow path up to the trig point marking the top of Los Reales (1,450m). (50 mins) This is a great spot for a break with the incredible panorama that lies before you. Leaving the peak retrace your footsteps back towards the first white hut which you passed earlier. Five metres before the hut cut right on a narrow path which drops down to the track leading to the

transmitter masts where you’ll see a signboard for Sendero de los Realillos. Here angle right down a stony track which loops down the eastern flank of Los Reales, shortly passing by another transmitter mast. Looping on down past a group of forestry buildings you reach a junction with another track and a plaque dedicated to Edmond Boissier who first catalogued the unique Pinsapo pine. (1 hr 10 mins) Here, cutting right for 100m you reach a picnic area, Área Recreativa, where there are picnic tables and, just beneath, the Mirador de la Costa del Sol. There’s a tap with water to the right: a sign warns that it isn’t chlorinated but the taste is all the better for that. Continuing on along the track you reach a turning circle and a sign Mirador de Salvador Guerrero. From here continue along a narrow path to reach one of the Costa del Sol’s most spectacular viewing points. After visiting the mirador trace your steps back to the Boissier plaque then follow the track on for approximately 1.6 kms to return to your point of departure. (1 hr 55 mins)

May - June 2021

Life on the seas

The vermillion mountain looming high above Estepona is a nature reserve like no other, with a wonderful walk around it, writes Guy Hunter Watts

TILL a working fishing town, much of Estepona’s cash flow surges from the port. The importance of the maritime trade is obvious at the Ethnographic Museum, which showcases the ancient craft of boat making and the cornucopia of marine life living off this golden coast. Museum guide Mariano Jobreas, who moved to the town from Madrid, shows off a wall displaying dozens of complicated knots. “To become a fisherman you have to learn to tie every single one of these. “You have to be prepared for all eventualities out at sea,” he says gravely. The models of fishing boats still in use look so real, he jestingly assures me that the working vessels are much bigger. On a trip to the port Miguel Ferrer Gonzalez explains his boat trips.

STUNNING: This glorious photo captures the incredible view from the Los Reales peak in the Sierra Bermeja

Estepona’s seafaring tradition is the salt adding seasoning to its tourist offer

“I came here because Estepona is more of a family town,” he beams, explaining that he spends his days sailing around in search of dolphins. It sounds like money for old rope as dolphins aren’t hard to find - beach goers often spot shoals of them frolicking offshore. “It’s not an office job, and if you like the sea, this is the job for you,” agrees Miguel. If you’d like a turn at the helm yourself, the Real Club Nautico houses a sailing and kayak school with a dry dock for sailboats and a nautically-themed restaurant

VINTAGE: Estepona was once a quaint fishing village for hungry sailors returning home from the sea. Estepona is still home to hundreds of working fishing families whose ancestors have been casting their nets here for centuries. Now this great maritime tradition is continued by their offspring who brave the elements to this day to put fresh fish on local dining tables.

WHITE-WASHED: The area surrounding the beautiful centre was once grazing ground for cattle

Estepona’s best established Tennis and Padel Club Open since 1988

11 TENNIS COURTS • 6 PADEL COURTS POOL TABLE • RESTAURANT AND BAR

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Club de Tenis y Padel Estepona Urb.Forest Hills, C/Sidney, 29680, Estepona tel: 952 801 579 www.tenisestepona.com

sanitasestepona.com

Tel. + 34 951 31 66 10 info@sanitasestepona.com

A May - June 2021

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Estepona

Mural magic I

T’S quite literally the most offthe-wall collection of urban art on the Costa del Sol. Everyone from top international artists to creative prison inmates have contributed to Estepona’s amazing al fresco art gallery of murals glamming up bleak concrete buildings around town. Every other high rise is bursting with colour and imaginative designs – from dancers and divers to optical illusions which deceive the eye from a distance. One of the latest additions to the ‘Artistic Murals Route’ is Atlantis by Jose Fernandez Rios, located on Avenida de los Reales. Another example of Rios’ work is the gardener cutting bougainvillea on the side of Victor de la Serna school. Likewise, the impressive Fishing Day mural occupies 1,000m2 across six separate buildings – and holds the record as the largest vertical mural in Spain. Artistic inmates of Alhaurin prison meanwhile created sixmetre-long metal sculptures for one mural which recreates the sea floor as part of the Moraga Collective initiative. Erin Aman whose work is featured in San Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, is another of the famous contributors to the offbeat outdoor expo.

RECORD: Fishing Day (above) holds the record in Spain , while (left) Jose Rios is inspired and one of Estepona’s newest mural Atlantis (right)

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A May - June 2021

Sleep easy

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Estepona

WHERE TO EAT

Dining revolution

n this day and age we all want to make the most of every hour. Whether we are at work or with family and friends we also want a little time for ourselves in which to rest and relax. And this means getting a good night’s sleep! We spend an average of eight hours a day sleeping. That makes 120 days a year, 25 years of our entire lives - so it’s important to be comfortable in bed. Resting well not only makes you wake up with more energy but is also beneficial for the heart, skin, immune system, etc. A good rest also improves our ability to concentrate and our state of mind. Dormo is a shop in Estepona specialised in everything you need to get a good rest. With more than 10 years’ experience in the world of rest and relaxation, they can show you a wide selection of mattresses, bases, pillows sheets and bedding ... all of them top brands and high quality at the best price. Visit Dormo and they will give you the best advice to make sure you get out of bed every morning with recharged energy and a spring in your step.

Estepona is finally developing a food scene to rival its celebrated big sister, writes Jon Clarke

UST take a sniff around the centre these days and, please, whisper it quietly: The most upwardly-mobile resort on the Costa del Sol is finally developing a foodie scene. As a series of boutique hotels get set to open in the centre, appropriately a number of new and exciting restaurants are also getting into the mix. Whether you fancy Mexican, Argentinian or Japanese, there is something for everyone now in Estepona. Thanks to an influx of better heeled, more refined expats moving in over the last few years, the resort’s chefs have had to up their ENTERPRISING: Multinational Mattresses, Bases, Duvets, Pillows... + 34 952 770 243 game. +34A 722 540 554 Find everything you need here for THE WALL: THE WRITING IS ON staff at Etcetera create a great your rest and relaxation The revolution is taking place pri- and diverse menu friendly welcome at Mexa marily in the main streets around EXTRA 10%Calle Real and Calle Caridad, this year. OFFbookmarked by the two squares Over the road you might pay a ANYPlaza Ortiz and Plaza de las visit to the new Mexican Mexa, PURCHASE Flores. which serves up some delicious Here, you will find up to a dozen and spicy tacos and quecas. good places to eat, on top of the Staying with the south American celebrated fish restaurants that flavour, one of the coolest spots line the paseo. is definitely the excellent ArgenAvenida Juan Carlos I, nº9, local 3 Bajo B, 29680, Estepona, Malaga I was particularly taken with Et- tinian Sur, in Plaza Ortiz, where cetera, one of the globetrotting Juan newest set up by an runs a tight ship enterprising expat and has a distinct Asparagus family hailing in part eye for style and from Austria, in part decor. croquettes from Poland and with His is a real famand the most a chef from Brazil, ily affair and you who has been around often find father, creative the block and picked wife, son and up plenty of skills. daughter, even pudding Sitting on the recentthe son-in-law servly upgraded plaza, ing up juicy empanaRocio Bazan half way along Calle das, lamb tagines and, of course, Real, this is charm personified the best steaks imaginable. with a splendid range of dishes of Definitely the place not to miss a very international flavour. and the main magnet these days There were some fabulous Aspar- must certainly be Casa del Rey. agus croquettes, a superb ham- Sitting in the corner of Plaza de burger and the most creative pud- las Flores it epitomises the changding (a cross between a cheese- es in the old town, which is finally cake and banoffee pie) I have had becoming stylish with a huge new *on selected models until 30/6/21or until stock last

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focus on quality dishes and particularly wine, with over 100 being served by the glass. Casa del Rey, owned by the Reinaldo group, has brought a gourmet focus to the centre and the ambience inside and outside is alluring. Knowledgeable half-Dutch owner Liliana is often around and happy to give you tips on what wines to

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May - June 2021

Salmon from Norway, directly to your doorway

CAPTION SPLENDID: Casa del Rey revolutionised Estepona town centre and Juan (above right) is constantly evolving his restaurant Sur

mix with what dishes. For fish, you most certainly must not miss El Pescador run by Alfonso for years - and very often found in its kitchen.

Sitting slap bang on the main beach, few places have dev ºwweloped as quickly and as stylishly in the town over the last decade (and he has just opened another one in Marbella).

Through sheer hard work and a clever eye for quality and panache, he has turned this place into the must visit fish restaurant. You sit by the promenade overlooking

Delicatessen del Mar brings the Nordic concept of food with a touch of modernity and especially food safety, in line with the times, which focuses on highlighting simplicity, nutrition and health. They bring five carefully selected salmon products directly from Norway to your doorway, with different cuts and styles, making this delicatessen salmon the perfect complement to your diet. Not only that, but they guarantee the quality, so that you can enjoy the delicious delicacies secure in the knowledge they are safe and wholesome. They are experts in quality salmon and will make your everyday life easier by delivering direct to you all while making your diet heal-SALMON FROM thier. DIRECTLY TO YOU Delicatessen del Mar has thouWe consider sands of returning customers whoourselves experts in q make your everyday life easier a appreciate that the company works Order your salmon at delica with skilled suppliers who put them Free home delivery, tas in touch with the best manufacturers. The knowledgeable owners and staff work daily to raise the quality of salmon products to new heights. After all, with 20 years in the business, they haveVisit learned our website a and subscribe to our news thing or two! Find your favourite salmon Easy fast and satisfaction guaranteed

Continues on next page

SALMON FROM NORWAY, DIRECTLY TO YOUR DOORWAY We consider ourselves experts in quality Salmon and we will make your everyday life easier and your diet healthier. Order your salmon at delicatessendelmar.es Free home delivery, taste guarantee.

Find your favourite salmon Easy fast and satisfaction guaranteed

Product is on the way No delivery charge, salmon on its way to your address

Dinner Ready Enjoy your delicious salmon with family and friends

Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter www.delicatessendelmar.es tel:+34 657 497 897 info@delicatessendelmar.es C/Monterroso L 82, 29680 Estepona

Product is on the No delivery charge, sa its way to your add

A May - June 2021

WHERE TO EAT

ll about

Estepona From previous page

Stylish and tasty

PARADISE: Sea bass in salt and monster dessert at El Pescador

the sea and eat only the best fresh fish from the nearby port. My tip is the sea bass in salt, an absolute joy. Another excellent chiringuito right on Estepona’s main beach is Africa Beach, run for four years by the talented team from well established inland restaurant La Alcaria de Ramos. An excellent place to spend the day, you can lay back and devour a superb fish lunch enjoying prawns and sardines cooked on espeto skewers, then hang out on a sunbed for the rest of the day, sipping cocktails at night. Just up the road you will find the

GOOD EATING: Africa Beach and La Alcaria de Ramos (above) are both run by the talented Jose Antonio Ramos

SUPERB: The chiringuito Palm Beach is one of the best on the coast

chiringuito Palm B e a c h , one of the best on the coast for quality, and due to reopen again shortly. Set up by talented f o r m e r Dutch broker Erwin Vanderdonck, it has a range of tasty dishes including prawn pil pil samosas and crab spring rolls, which are melt-in-the-mouth amazing. A bit further afield a must visit for anyone wanting to find one of those true dining secrets of the Costa del Sol is La Alcaria de Ramos. Run by Jose Antonio Ramos for over three decades, it sits beside an inland crossroads, between the two famous golf courses of El Paraiso and Atalaya. An ancient coaching inn,

Chef Alfonso from El Pescador

it is charm personified with some amazing Spanish tourist posters and has wonderful views of the coasts sitting up in an enviable position. For many years in the Michelin guide, it mixes up traditional Mediterranean cuisine with international fare

May - June 2021

HIP HANGOUT: La Catarina even has its own brewery (right)

and has a superb wine list. And finally, there is more at La Catarina, which has its very own beer factory next door. This is fast becoming one of the hippest places to hang out on a Friday night and over the weekend when there are a string of live events taking place.

In the heart of the old town of Estepona, next to the Plaza de las Flores, in a house with more than 200 years of history, is La Casa del Rey - a ‘wine bar - restaurant’ that opened its doors in 2012. Since then, the skilled staff have not stopped innovating and updating every day with new recipes, new ideas or new decorations. Here you can find hundreds of reference points for national and international wines, as well as a high-quality gastronomic offer including: skewers, dishes to share, gourmet mini burgers, variety of salads and meats of the very best quality. Come and join us on our terrace or in our interior courtyard where you can have an intimate evening, or make use of our interior tasting table, which is ideal for wine tastings. Come and get to know our house. We are waiting for you!

COMING SOON... We continue to grow and are now set to open our doors in Estepona harbour. The new Casa del Rey will also have a big selection of national and international wines to complement our best quality meats and fresh products.

BUSINESS

Hotel expansion

TRAVELODGE has announced plans to open new hotels in Spain as part of an £175 million (€203 million) expansion. The ‘premium economy’ chain says the investment will see it’s network expand to 597 locations in the UK, Ireland and Spain. Bosses at the hotel chain hope the new sites will be open in time for the summer holidays as Brits are allowed to travel abroad.

Chain

It comes as the budget accommodation chain revealed that 17 new hotels would be opened in the UK alone, creating 360 new jobs. New sites will be developed across Europe with cash from third party investors and will also include three more ‘higher-end’ Travelodge PLUS hotels. Craig Bonnar, Travelodge chief executive, said: “After a challenging 12 months, today’s announcement demonstrates the strength in the Travelodge brand and is a key step forward as we emerge out of lockdown.”

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Bad to worse Cash strapped airline slashes jobs

TROUBLED low-cost carrier Norwegian Airlines has announced that it will cut 1,200 jobs across Spain in a European restructuring plan as it battles with debt during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oslo based company announced that it would be laying off 85% of its Spanish workforce, a figure amounting to 1,191 jobs across the country. The job cuts will be the result of the closure of three national bases in Spain, Barcelona, Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur.

Hubs

Union bosses have announced that its hubs in Alicante and Malaga will remain open but with reduced capacity with just one aircraft operating out of each. The cuts are part of a global restructuring plan of the airline, with it ceasing all its long haul operations, putting an end to its US, Asia and UK flights.

This plan has also reduced its entire air fleet from 156 to just 50 aircraft as of April 2021. The long haul scraps have been made to protect its core domestic and regional flying routes according to the company, who are in the midst of battling the severe financial damage caused by COVID-19. The airline, once Europe’s fourth most popular budget carrier behind Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair, has amassed debts of over €4.3 billion over the past 18 months. This led the airline to seek out support from the courts who approved a survival plan last month to bail out both Norwegian and its subsidiaries.

SPAIN is planning to turn all public-managed highways into toll roads during 2024, with a view to making drivers pay depending on their usage of roads and as a de facto ‘polluters tax’. The measure was announced as part of the conditions demanded by Brussels in order for Spain to qualify for funds under a national recovery plan.

Fees

Light sky A SERIES of mystery lights in the Spanish sky heralded the coming of high speed internet to rural Spain. Several readers contacted the Olive Press to report the unusual ‘train’ of lights. ‘It’s like something I’ve never seen before’ said one reader after seeing the strange sight over Casares in Andalucia. We can reveal that what they saw was a string of 60 Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX. These are part of SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s vision of a vast network of satellites that will provide internet connections to remote areas. Consumers will have to pay €400 for a package including satellite dish and router, plus a monthly fee of around €40 to access the high speed network.

TROUBLE: Norwegian is scrapping routes

Pay to drive

Under the plan, drivers would initially have to pay not only to use the autopistas (motorways that in many places already have a toll in place) but also the vast network of autovias. But with time it would be scaled up to include fees on other national and regional roads. The Spanish government insists that the new model is needed to pay for Spain’s huge network of roads, which the report

TOLLS: Are on the cards states is the most extensive high-capacity road network in Europe. “This is generating a cumulative maintenance deficit, leading to a loss of value and a deterioration of quality of service, which has consequences for road safety,” reads the plan sent to the EU Commission this week, with the government admitting a deficit of €8 billion has been racked up on road maintenance alone.

AGONY Property ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Be aware of the limits The SL limited company debts - and directors’ personal responsibility

O company director is safe from being personally liable for debts accrued by the company he or she runs. This is despite the (almost) universal rule that a limited liability company does precisely that: limit the liability of the individuals who set it up. Spanish law, tweaked by a series of Supreme Court rulings, has established two types of company director responsibilities: 1. Indirect: when company losses reduce the company’s net equity to below 50% of the share capital and the director, despite there being creditors, does not file for insolvency (unless it could be reasonably proved, according to the Supreme Court, that such application would have not made an overall difference). 2. Direct: when a solvent company does not pay its creditors without there being a valid reason. This is typical of selfishly run entities where directors and/or shareholders prioritise their own salaries,

dividends or loan repayments, or they simply ‘dip in’ the company account, well before honouring invoices from trusting suppliers or meeting obligations towards clients. This conduct can in fact be classed as fraud, if the right elements concur. On the whole though, the Supreme Court respects the omnipresent principle that limited liability of company members should be respected. In particular when ‘...it is not possible to prove individual responsibility of directors for any company debt’, limiting such responsibility to scenarios of fraud, malice or negligence when such conclusions are reached after reasoned argumentation. In a nutshell, the widespread belief that a director can simply ‘close down a company and open another’ is not just morally wrong, but legally wrong too. So beware, entrepreneur!

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

Does your property lack First Occupation License/Licence of First Occupancy? Did you know architects can now issue these licences? Having a First Occupation Licence/Licence of First Occupancy Will enable you to comply with current laws if you wish to rent your property short-term OR will improve your chances to close a sale if you wish to sell your property.

Lawbird is a firm of English speaking lawyers who specialise in property law, corporate law, litigation and immigration law. Whether you plan to buy a house, start a company or relocate to Spain, we offer a no-nonsense service to assist you.

LPO Architects, in collaboration with Lawbird Legal Services S.L.P., can help you get this licence in record time.

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PROPERTY

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Frozen pensioners Pricey pad

Finland beats sunny Spain for retirement quality of life

TH4538

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5 bed, 2 bath Build: 204m2

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SPAIN may be a popular retirement spot but according to a new report chilly Finland is actually the best country in Europe in which to spend your sunset years. From the sun and sand in Spain, to the snow capped mountains of the Alps, Europe hosts some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. With over 40 countries to choose from finding the perfect location to retire can cause a headache for millions of Europeans.

Revered

Blacktower Financial Management Group has updated its annual retirement report to reveal the best (and worst) European countries for retirement in 2021 using weighted metrics of cost of living, crime rates, life expectancy, property prices, and population age. And perhaps surprisingly, the laid-back Finnish atmosphere and magic of the northern lights pushes Spain’s sun and

CHILLY: Helsinki (above) but picturesque too (below) sand into second place. Many retirees go ‘off-grid’ to enjoy their well-deserved retirement in the Nordic country. With breath-taking views, fresh lakes, vast forests, and quaint cities, Finland draws millions of visitors to its one looking to relax in their borders each year. ‘golden years’. Second in the rankings is Spain. The top 10 nations for retirees The historic country hosts a had Slovenia in third, followed wealth of great towns, cities and by the Netherlands, Italy, Dencoastal locations which attract mark, Portugal, Estonia, Germillions of retirees each year. many and Austria. The great weather, food and The UK comes in at a mid table friendly locations make Spain 24th on the list with Belarus the perfect destination for any- bottom.

A SPANISH mansion has sold for a staggering €32 MILLION. The two-storey home offers a 20-metre pool, cinema and even a spa. The home, at the luxury development of La Zagaleta on the Costa del Sol, spans an incredible 3,000 square metres sitting on an estate of almost 14,000 square metres. Renovations for the ultra modern property were completed last year, with estate agents Drumelia calling the home ‘the most sexy, epic listing ever’. They said: “Villa Cullinan is the diamond of Marbella. It’s absolutely brand-new, an architectural masterpiece, one in a billion. It was completed at the end of last year, and immediately won the prize as best villa in Spain and best villa in Europe according to European property awards.” Sold to a Dutch buyer, according to OP sources, records show the stunning property also offers an indoor heated pool, a gym, a spa centre, a cinema room and two kitchens among many 10 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. The lavish pad, boasts a master bedroom so big it takes up an entire first floor wing.

The Property Insider

Build to sell

F you or your company are considering making a real-estate investment in Andalucia with the aim of developing property for sale, here’s all the details (and taxes) you need to know. All the information below about taxes applies only to Andalucia, as tax rates and obligations vary across the different regions of Spain. We consulted Inmaculada Domecq, a partner and the director of the tax department at the Marbella office of the tax, legal, auditing and accountancy firm UHY Fay & Co, about the different scenarios under Spanish law for property developers, depending on the developer’s status, economic activity, the type of property purchased and the intention to sell or rent properties. The best way to develop property for sale is usually via a company structure. The first consideration is how to structure the best possible legal status to protect the developer’s interests, in case of liability, and optimise their fiscal obligations. Most developers prefer to use a company vehicle to limit their exposure to claims and debts, while benefiting from tax deductions. When the goal is to develop property for sale, acting as a self-employed professional or using a Spanish limited company (sociedad limitada) or a public listed company (sociedad anónima) enables developers to deduct VAT (Impuesto de Valor Añadido or IVA) paid on all purchases that are incurred as part of their economic activity, Inmaculada explains. Non-professional developers are not eligible for VAT deductions. If a developer buys land from a private

by Adam Neale

Investing in the Spanish real estate market as a property developer seller, transfer tax (Impuesto de Transmisiones Patrimoniales or ITP in Spanish) applies. At the end of April 2021, this was cut to a flat rate of 7% until December 31, 2021. When a plot is sold by a professional seller or company, VAT is applicable at a rate of 21%. Stamp duty (Actos Jurídicos Documentados or AJD in Spanish), for which buyers are liable to register any real-estate transaction, has also been reduced to 1.2% until the end of 2021.

Sold

In the case of brand-new properties, which are almost always sold by a developer, VAT is due at a rate of 10% and AJD is also applicable at 1.2%. But when a developer buys a secondhand residence with the intention of reselling it, ITP may be applied at a reduced rate of 2%, instead of 7%, as long as it is sold within a maximum period of five years. This is only the case, Inmaculada notes, when the buyer is registered with the Spanish Tax Agency to do business as a developer, when the property is residential and has been declared in the deeds for resale. Inmaculada adds that, in cases where the reduced rate of ITP applies, renting a property during the term of ownership is generally not permitted.

Terra Meridiana, 77 Calle Caridad, Estepona • 29680 • Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. Website: www.terrameridiana.com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL THE boss of British Airways has called on the Government to reunite Britons with their families overseas by urgently opening up air travel to Spain. Chief executive Sean Doyle said millions of British expats were desperate to see their loved ones after ‘a very tough 14 months’. Spain was placed on the amber travel list, along with Greece and USA, earlier this month meaning that anyone returning to the UK from these countries would have to self isolate for two weeks.

Open up!

But Doyle said that data on vaccination and infection rates for Spain, Greece and USA made a ‘compelling case’ for putting them on the green list from early next month. “The pace of vaccination in Europe has been picking up dramatically over the last couple of weeks and that should push a number of countries on to the green list as we get into June,” he said.

SPAIN’S Foreign Minister believes that the UK must ‘rethink’ its quarantine strategy and look at regions rather than whole countries. Arancha Gonzalez Leya said that she was ‘optimistic’ that British tourists would

UK should rethink quarantine strategy, says Spain be able to go to Spain this summer, but the UK policy needs to change. Spain has not been included on any ‘Green’ travel lists

New Player SPANISH state train company RENFE's 80-year-monopoly has ended with French operator, Ouigo, launching services between Madrid and Barcelona. Ouigo is owned by France's SNCF firm and is offering cheap fares on the lucrative route between the country's biggest cities. It's Spain's busiest train route and Ouigo is pricing one-way tickets from €9, going up to €79. The trains are larger than those put on by RENFE. That means the new operator can accommodate more travellers and offer lower ticket prices. The two-and-a-half hour journey time remains unchanged. Ouigo has plans to expand onto other routes while RENFE has said that it 'welcomes' the new competition.

from the UK four nations because its average infection rate is 165 cases per 100,000 residents.

Lower

But some regions are much lower. For example, the Valencian Community, is only averaging 35 cases per 100,000. Arancha Gonzalez Leya said: “The UK should move to consider regions rather than countries for inclusion on the ‘Green’ list. “If that happens, then my sense is that the summer would look good for both Britons and Spaniards.” “Spain loves British people and we are looking forward to welcoming them back to our country”, she added.

Andalucian vernacular

Unfussy Meson Sabor Andaluz in the little-visited Alcala del Valle has the vegetables as the ‘stars’, writes Jon Clarke

N a humdrum street in one of inland Andalucia’s most workaday towns sits this genuine dining secret. Few readers will have heard of Alcala del Valle. But if you’re searching for the very soul of Andalucia, the very definition of the Andalucian vernacular then you’ve come to the right place. For restaurant Meson Sabor Andaluz is authenticity at its best; Andalucian folk presenting the very best of their centuries old cuisine. OK you don’t walk into some charming rural idyll, with ancient wooden beams and an olive press, but its rustic decor certainly gives you that feel, as do the strains of flamenco that come from a local artist, not Cameron de la Isla or the Gypsy Kings. The bar area is loaded up with shelves full of dried local pulses, peppers, herbs and peaches in jars. It’s a veritable pantry, with a regiment of fresh vegetables many from nearby huertas, alongside

bundles of asparagus… for this is supposedly Spain’s home of asparagus, as owner Jose Aguilera explains. But vegetables are ‘very much the stars’ of this restaurant, particularly since his son Pedro returned after a long stint as the right hand man of Valencia’s top chef Ricard Camarena, last year. He picked up many skills from the two Michelin-starred maestro as well as from Andalucia’s top cookery school La Consula, when back in the day it churned out bright stars like Dani Garcia, Diego Gallegos and Jose Carlos Garcia. Pedro loves experimenting with the local produce, including artichokes, cherries, pistachios, chickpeas, green beans and figs, as well as many of the other famous products from the nearby Serrania de Ronda and Grazalema. The menu changes by the week and is heavily seasonal,

so at the moment there was a superb baked aubergine stuffed with a tuna tartare, as well as leeks cooked perfectly on the grill with an olive and rosemary sauce. There was a distinct lightness of touch with dishes like the ‘ensaladilla cremosa’ with prawns and chicken croquettes, as well as the wonderful ‘bunuelos’ of cod and parsley. My main course of half a quail on bread with a herb vinaigrette was about as local inland Cadiz as you could ever hope to find. His poached cherry dessert in their jus with a creamy yogurt base was wonderfully rich, but equally subtle in creation. For wines, ask dad Jose, who’s been running this joint for two decades and is a huge fan of local vineyards and serves plenty up by the glass. The total bill came to well under 40 euros for two, a postCOVID joy. Visit at Calle la Huerta, 3, Alcalá del Valle, Cádiz or telephone on 956 13 55 10

On the palAte - Restaurant review

Think Regional

May 19th - June 1st 2021

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

For most tourists Cordoba is all about the Mesquita, the Alcazar and the Roman bridge. Laurence Crumbie took the road less travelled and found a city chock full of treasures lesser known

PAIN is not short of beautiful cities oozing history from between the cracks of their ancient iconic buildings, such as Granada’s Alhambra and Sevilla’s Alcazar. But one comes above the rest, according to a poll published by global travel bible Lonely Planet this year: that of Cordoba, a true melting pot of ancient, modern and everything in between. The birthplace of renowned Roman playwright Seneca and Jewish philosopher Maimonides, to name two great thinkers, the place is a veritable warren of historic sites. Now is the perfect time to visit Cordoba’s numerous attractions without the crowds and clamour, drifting through the town at your

Walk this way

own pace. I wanted to explore the city without going to ‘the big three’ - the Mezquita, the alcazar and the medina - as I have a pretentious passion for taking the path less trodden. Just follow your nose and take an aimless amble

around. You won’t be disappointed. Cordoba entertained right from the get-go as I stumbled across the Church of San Francisco, built by Fernando III in the 13th century with its adjacent square with red and white porticoes. Heading west, I wound

my way through sinuous stone streets and chanced upon the Calleja de los Flores, a quaint alleyway lined with flower pots. From here it is just a gentle stroll to Casa Arabe, also known as Casa Mudejar, an arts and culture centre that hosts qual-

ity photography exhibitions on niche topics, including Morocco’s breathtaking blue-washed town, Chefchaouen. After a delicious lunch of tortilla and salmorejo, Cordoba’s celebrated tomato purée topped with serrano jam (or in a vegetarian’s case,

100 ye flowe

As Cordoba’s famous patio festival marks its centennial, Fiona Govan visits the city that goes potty for plants in May

T’S a botanical binge to inspire the most relucFrom as far as back as the Roman occupation tant gardners. of Cordoba, houses have been built around inner For a fortnight in May, all Cordoba opens its gardens enclosed within thick walls to provide a private courtyards to the hoi polloi who traipse haven of shade during the summer months when through the cobbled alleys and duck through the mercury often tops 40ºC. doorways to be amazed by the green-fingered These internal spaces were refined to include skills of those who live here. As the child of flofountains and water features under Moorish rule, ra-obsessed parents I recall many trips around when the Umayyad caliphate built the mosque – the formal gardens of National Trust properties since converted into a cathedral - that remains a - most often in the rain and endured only for the highlight of every city tour. promise of ice-cream or a cream tea in a chintzNowadays these spaces have been elevated to filled café. works of art, where each wall in every garden has Now with a patio of my own in Madrid sprouting been designed with the festival in mind, each pot several sad yuccas, a few hardy spider plants and of geraniums carefully placed to maximise conone pitiful geranium, it was time to seek inspiratrasts and provide sensational bursts of colour. tion from a city that packs more So good are they that the patios flower power than San Francisco have been afforded UNESCO-produring the merry month of May. tected status. A perfumed This year marks the 100th anniSome gardens belong to single versary of the Feria de los Patios, properties and others are collecpromenade when residents open their floral tions of courtyards with different through private inner sanctums to the public and dwellings looking out on them. compete for the prize of prettiest One of my favourites was No. patios in the walled garden space. 6, Calle Marroquíes where low old quarter Usually mobbed, but with COVID-19 bungalows are home to artisan keeping tourists away, it was easy workshops within a labyrinth of to find an affordable, last-minute interlocking corridors and patios Airbnb. Mine was ensconced in a quaint alley a bedecked with tumbling greenery and blooms. cobblestone’s throw from Plaza de la CorredeIt’s easy to tell the serious gardeners (the ones ra, a colonnaded square filled with terrazas fresnapping close-ups of leaves to identify plants quented by Cordoba’s student population. that might thrive on their own windowsills) from The route map provided on the website takes the nosey parkers (me). I had more fun peeking visitors on a perfumed promenade to dozens of through doors and windows, enjoying the access private patios throughout the old quarter and it’s to private spaces sealed off behind closed doors an olfactory overload even if you only visit half of for all but this fortnight in May. them. My guide was Cordoba local Chapi Pineda, a I interspersed courtyard visits with stops at tapas celebrated flamenco guitarist with a deep love bars and bodegas and sightseeing around the of his home city and an insider knowledge that Mezquita and Juderia - a joy to do in this beautihe is proud to share: including where to taste fully compact walking city. the best tortilla in town (Bar Santos) and how to Thankfully the queues for patios were shorter find a table with unrivalled views of the cathedral and faster this year, despite social distancing (upstairs on the terrace of the Pairi Daeza restaumeasures which, fortuitously, gave everyone a rant). few brief moments alone to enjoy the space withSomewhere in the maze of narrow white-washed out crowds of selfie-takers and couples romantilanes between the synagogue and the Mezquita cally posing beneath bougainvillea. he also revealed a real local treasure: Bodega

diced egg), I meandered along the riverfront and over the marvellous Puente Romano, a 250m stone bridge that dates back to at least the second century AD. Founded around 152BC by the Romans, Corduba, as it was called then, was the capital of

BEAUTY: The patios are a colourful treat Guzman, its dark tiled interior exuding the musty aroma of fermenting wine, where a glass of local fino can be enjoyed for a staggeringly good value €1.10. In the evening we dined at Taberna San Miguel Casa el Pisto, a typical Andalus restaurant where we sat in a tiled courtyard covered in feria memorabilia. Beneath a portrait of the greatest matador of all time, Cordoba-born Manolete - painted by Chapi’s own father, the artist Rafael Pineda - we devoured local delicacies including the simple but divine cogollos al ajillo - who knew lettuce could taste this good? Cordoba in May is exquisite, even for those who don’t think flowers are that interesting. In fact, I dare you to visit and not come away with a few souvenir pots and a head full of ideas for improving your own urban garden. I certainly did.

A B O D R O C SPECIAL

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Simply stunning

T SO SPECIAL: The Roman bridge (left), the Alcazar (above), Roman pillars (below) and a work by Julio Romero de Torres

Hispania Ulterior and flourished economically by virtue of its prized olive oil. It became a Roman colonia between 46 and 45BC, but after the city put its money and troops on the wrong horse in the civil war between Pompey and Caesar,

the latter sacked it and slaughtered some 30,000 people. These seismic events would inspire Lucan, born in Cordoba just six years earlier, to compose one of the most extraordinary poems in the Latin language - the Pharsalia, a subversive, gory epic

years of er power

about the aforementioned civil war whose quality scholars still debate fiercely today. Next up was the Museo Julio Romero de Torres, where I was the only visitor. Tucked away on the Plaza del Potro, this cosy, elegant museum dedicated to the eponymous local painter was the unexpected gem of my trip. Romero, born 1874, was possessed with the fervour of Flamenco, which he often personified as a naked or scantily clad lady, such as in La musa gitana (‘The Gypsy Muse’). As is the case in so much art produced by men, many of Romero’s busty women were conveniently spilling out of their garments in one place or another, leading feminists to vilify him; nonetheless, his striking style that fused a gamut of motifs - classical, mannerist, Christian, Andalucian - made a stronger impression on me than the artwork in the Bellas Artes museum opposite and lingered with me long after I left.

Unmissable monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984

HE iconic symbol of Cordoba is the stunning Mosque-Cathedral, which is an extraordinary example of the blending of Muslim and Christian cultures. Built in the 8th Century under the rule of Amir Abd ar-Rahman I, the mosque became a Christian church when Cordoba was conquered by Fernando III of Castilla in 1236. Such was its stunning beauty, the christians decided to preserve the mosque rather than destroy it, enhancing its beauty by adding new spaces and monuments. The central focus of the edifice is a shellshaped prayer niche built in the 10th century. The mihrab traditionally faces Mecca. However, the one in the mosque of Cordoba faces south. The striped brick and stone arches are supported by 856 granite and marble pillars from the Roman and Visigothic ruins. The sun’s rays create an impressive play of light between the pillars and the arches. Also, like many cathedrals in southern Spain, the Mosque of Cordoba has an orange tree courtyard. You can enter the Patio de los Naranjos free of charge, and this is where you will find the kiosk to buy your ticket for the oficial tour. Entrance to the Mosque costs €11 per person. Children between 10 and 14 years old will pay €6, and children under 10 are free. Early risers can visit the mosque for free from Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 9:30am.

We are open – See you soon!

The Costa de la Luz’s most emblematic restaurant and hotel. In the stunning white town of Vejer de la Frontera.

Lavish

My last stop of the day was the Viana Palace. Dating back to 1492, this lavish manor exhibits an unusual intertwining of Roman and Arabic architectural styles and boasts 12 beautiful patios à la the Cordoban custom, not to mention sumptuous salons that evoke the lifestyles of the various nobles who were lucky enough to call this place home. Flowers and fruits fragrance the air and nearly every courtyard is bursting with colour. My favourites were the reception patio, with its porticoed galleries supported by stately Tuscan columns, and the serene Patio de los naranjas whose trickling fountain and spectacular purple wisteria lend it a soothing, serene atmosphere. It made for a superb end to an excellent day round Cordoba which reaffirmed an age-old truth of travel: even if a city is best known for one building alone, scratch below the surface and you’re sure to find that the place has a whole lot more to offer as well.

CalifaVejer.com tel: +34 956 44 77 30 Plaza de España, Vejer de la Frontera,Costa de la Luz, Cádiz

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Novelist Joan Fallon guides us around the ruined city that proved to be an inspiration...

HEN I first heard about the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra, I was intrigued by the idea that a palace-city of such magnificence should have lasted for such a short time. Civilisations come and go, as any reader of history knows but for it to last no more than 75 years seemed a tragedy. It was the summer of 2001. I picked up a leaflet about an exhibition that was to be held in the museum at Madinat al-Zahra, just outside Cordoba. It was entitled The Splendour of the Cordovan Umayyads. I remembered my childhood love of Tales of the Arabian Nights and I was hooked. So we drove across from Málaga, on a blistering hot day to see what it was all about. I have been back many times since and the place holds a fascination for me; so much so that it inspired me to write a novel. I decided to tell the story of the city through a family that lived there; I had the bare bones of my novel before me, in the stone walls and paved paths, in the narrow passages ways, the ornate gardens, the artefacts in the museum. All I needed to do was to make the city come alive through my characters. I’ve called the novel The Shining City because ‘Madinat’ (or medina) is the word for town and ‘Zahra’ means shining or brilliant. It’s said that the caliph called the city al-Zahra because, at the time it was being built, he was in love with a slave girl called Zahra. It could be true; there are certainly written references to a concubine of that name, but I think ‘Zahra’ referred to the magnificence of the city itself.

As the principle character in my book, Omar, tells his nephew: ‘It means shining, glistening, brilliant. Possibly his concubine glittered and shone with all the jewels and beautiful silks he showered upon her but then so did the city. It was indeed the Shining City. When visitors entered through the Grand Portico, passing beneath its enormous, red and white arches, when they climbed the ramped streets that were paved with blocks of dark mountain stone, passing the lines of uniformed guards in their scarlet jackets and the richly robed civil servants that flanked their way, when they reached the royal residence and saw the golden inlay on the ceilings, the marble pillars, the richly woven rugs scattered across the floors and the brilliant silk tapestries, when they saw the moving tank BE AMAZED: The arches of Medinat (above) reconstructed of mercury in the great reception from the ruins (right) pavilion that caught the sunlight and dazzled all who beheld it, the tradition of previous caliphs had good roads to communicate then they indeed knew that they and build himself a palace-city, with Cordoba and there was grander than anything that had even a stone quarry close by. were in the Shining City.’ The caliph left much of the reOf course today, looking at the been built before. ruined paths, the piles of broken The site he chose was eight ki- sponsibility for the construction tiles, the reconstructed arches lometres to the west of Cordoba, of the city to his son al-Hakam, in present day who continued work on it after and pillars, we Andalucia and his father’s death. need to use our measured one One of the most curious quesimagination to This and a half kilome- tions about Madinat al-Zahra is see it as it once tres by almost a why, despite its importance as was. magnificent kilometre. It was the capital of the Umayyad dyThe construction of the city of Ma- city endured no sheltered from nasty in al-Andalus, this magnifthe north winds icent city endured no more than dinat al-Zahra more than 75 by the mountains 75 years. When al-Hakam died was begun in the behind it and had in 976 AD the city was thriving; year 939 AD by years an excellent van- all the most important people in Abd al-Rahman III tage point from the land lived there. and took 40 years which to see who The army, the mint, the law to complete. Having declared himself the ca- was approaching the city. It was courts, the government and the liph of al-Andalus in 929 AD and well supplied with water from an caliph were there; the city boastwith the country more or less old Roman aqueduct and sur- ed public baths, universities, at peace he wanted to follow in rounded by rich farming land. It libraries, workshops and cere-

CORDOBA SPECIAL

Mad about Medinat monial reception halls to receive the caliph’s visitors. But al-Hakam’s heir was a boy of 11-years old. The new boy-caliph was too young to rule, so a regent was appointed, the Prime Minister, al-Mansor, an ambitious and ruthless man. Gradually the Prime Minister moved the whole court, the mint, the army and all the administra-

Discover the thrill First-time waterskier Cristina Hodgson dives into inland Spain to discover the thrill of wakeboarding at Cordoba’s Xtreme Gene Watersports—and the benefits of lake water in hydrating and steaming out the sinuses

EING sport mad as I am, any opportunity to try a new, exciting and thrill-seeking sport is a must on my bucket list, even if I’ve never heard of the full throttle tubing experience I’d signed up for—the more adventurous the better, or so I boast. But on the wrong side of 40 and with a keener sense of danger since motherhood forms part of who I am, I was somewhat nervous on my drive to

Almodovar del Rio in Cordoba, where Xtreme Gene Watersports are located. However, as soon as I set foot on Europe’s most popular wakeboard, wakesurf and waterski camp, the shimmering green alkaline lake that could be seen in the distance, together with the rustling, restful woodlands around, swallowed up any pre-nerves in an instant - that together with the four-legged welcome committee who had come to greet me, wagging tails, which I was later infomed, belonged to Snoop, Choco, Lambsy and Loca. Then, before I knew it, after a quick chat and coffee with Debbie Kelly, co-owner of Xtreme Gene Watersports, I had a life jacket strapped to me and was about to experience first hand what wakesurf - the newest craze in watersports - was all about. But first a demo exhibition by the current European Wakesurf Champion, Jordan Elizondo-Darwin, also wakeboard and wakesurf head coach at Xtreme Gene. With the fresh air on my face and the wind playing with my hair, for an instant I fancied myself to be Jackie O in her prime on the

Christina, with the advantage that I got water on the skis without swallowing a to watch Jordan in action. gallon of lake water! Though I’m sure all the flips, spins and The water came later, and it was like aerial somersaults he performed have an intense hydrating and steaming a technical name, for the out of the sinuses as my sake of simplicity, I’ll just knees wobbled, legs buckled and I tumbled into abbreviate them as ‘all The fresh water the lake, where the fresh freaking impressive’ and I sprayed up my water sprayed up my nose was given the best masterclass I could have wished and, I do believe, out nose and, I do for. through my ears again. believe, out Not that anything of what I effectively got the best of through my ears! I had just seen was remoboth worlds, an intense tely feasible for me to pull spa session mixed with the off, of course. Just getting out of the personal satisfaction that I can now water on the skis, without swallowing say I walked on water - if only for a a gallon of lake water would be rated split second. as success in my books. Mission accomplished and a huge And so then it was my turn. I carefu- thanks to the Xtreme Gene team for lly listened to the instructions given such a fun day out (and the towel)! to me by ski coach Matthew Southam, co-owner of Xtreme Gene with wife Debbie, formerly ranked in the top 10 in the world in waterskiing, but for the life of me - and I blame it on the throttle of the speedboat’s motor and not my age - I couldn’t hear a word of what he shouted at me. Something about knees bent, arms stretched … vroom, vroom, vroom! And I was off!! Miraculously I did get out of the

tive functions back to Cordoba, leaving the boy caliph in Madinat al-Zahra, ruling over an empty shell. Once the seat of power had been removed from Madinat al-Zahra, the city went into decline. The wealthy citizens left, quickly followed by the artisans, builders, merchants and local businessmen. Its beautiful buildings were looted and stripped of their treasures and the buildings were destroyed to provide materials for other uses. Today you can find artefacts from the city in Malaga, Granada, and elsewhere. Marble pillars that once graced the caliph’s palace now support the roofs of houses in Cordoba. Ashlars that were part of the city’s walls have been used to build cow sheds Excavation of the site began in 1911 by Riocardo Velazquez Bosco, the curator of the mosque in Cordoba. The work was slow and hampered by the fact that the ruins were on private property.

Keen Landowners were not keen to co-operate and eventually the State had to purchase the land before the excavations could begin. The work progressed slowly but gradually over the years a number of government acts were passed which resulted in the site being designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest and in 1998 a Special Protection Plan was drawn up to give full weight to the importance of the ruins. Today the site is open to the public and has an excellent visitor centre and museum. I can recommend a visit. Having completed writing The Shining City, I then went on to write The Eye of the Falcon and The Ring of Flames, covering the period that is known as The Golden Age of Moorish Spain. The three books form the al-Andalus trilogy and are available as ebooks from Amazon and in paperback from bookshops, both local and online.

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COLUMNISTS Living in the slow lane under the new rules

ITH lockdown restrictions lifted, you might have been tempted to head out on the highway and enjoy the open road. Not all the roads however, as new driving regulations came into force throughout Spain last week that limited the maximum speed in certain parts of municipalities to 30kph. This presents something of a problem if one drives a supercar or sports car, as it limits you to second gear. In addition, it is rather galling for people like myself who have an

May 19th - June 1st 2021

Life begins at 30?

‘interesting relationship’ with cyclists allows me to crawl along without that as the Lycra brigade sail past. Even much effort. Perhaps this is the permore so on pedestrianised fect time to invest in a new streets where the limit is car stereo and just sit back down to 20 kph, and you and relax. If you find yourIf you find will probably have electric self in a 20 zone, you could yourself in a scooters zipping by as well. pass the time with a crossRegular readers will know word, take on a fiendish Su20 zone, pass that with my lack of luck doku or even try your hand the time with a at that thousand-piece jigwith all things relating to cars, I don’t tend to saw puzzle that you have crossword go above 30 kph. Mainly been itching to complete because I’m pushing the In other motoring matters, bleeding thing. I visited my local petrol One of the benefits of having a large station and asked for a factura. I have 4x4 is that it is an automatic, which been using this particular station for

Who’s Who on TV? YOU know you’re old when watching TV programmes involving, ‘well-known’ personalities, and you don’t recognise any of them.

THE successful roll-out of COVID vaccines in the UK, underlines the fact that the EU rapid response to emergency situations is about as fast as a sloth suffering from chronic arthritis. While it seems that all over 60s have received their jabs back in Blighty, some vulnerable expats in Spain are still waiting for God or V-Day, whatever comes first. Lacking the protection of the hopefully life-saving magic needle, some over 60s are trying to keep safe by virtually locking themselves away in Alcatraz-like conditions, afraid to even talk to anyone through the letterbox. Loneliness and lack of care has aged the once rejuvenated Sangria-injected expat community back to reality. Dream over! This mentally insane situation has been compounded by the fact that although we understand us old ‘uns are not

OLD HA CK IN TH E SU N

F you need an excuse Benny Davis to excuse your celebrity ignorance, even their Ramblings of an 80-something expat names make no logical sense whatsoever. “On today’s programme you watched and ended up we welcome four familiar wondering what it was all faces, Grime artist Moggy about? Or why casting choDirtbox, Poolside influencer se attractive, slim, able boSleezy Snotball, Rick-Rock died elegant, middle aged music critic, El Thicko, and females, moving around finally just returned from a like models on a catwalk, successful tour of his own to demonstrate immobili£45 million country resity products ranging from dence, religious rapper, scooters to walking frames and Dyno-Rod sewage conand showers to seated basultant, Avery Greaseball.” ths? Who are they kidding! Same with quiz programNext, I cast my beady eyes me questions. “Who is the on reality programmes with twice-removed, very distant their Real Housewives, and cousin of Godzilla, and siLove Island type contestants. dekick actor starring in the I am sure the production hit American Metflex, all acteam includes wardrobe by tion-drama series, Who cut Steptoe and Son, complete Muffin The Mule’s strings? from ragged, torn jeans to TV commercials fare no be1940’s Utility dresses. Make tter. How many ads have up by Dulux Paints, personally applied by the Old English Sheepdog himself and hair-styling by the military team responsible for clearing patches of jungle for helicopter landings. a be to top of the priority list, there seems total blackout of information as to when the Mystery vaccines will be dished out. Then of course we have Then there are the inevitable rumours dethose wonderful two-hour the to cells signed to confuse our little grey episode crime mystery sepoint of self-destruction. Will Spanish naries such as, Midsummer tionals receive priority over expats? Will the Murders, Vera, Poirot, Mare substitut for Russia and EU turn to China ple and others. Love them vaccines? all and always start eagerSo, I ask all friends and family back home ly looking for subtle clues stop to e) Yorkshir or Sweden , Holland it (be and red herrings. But by still we why asking by piling on the agony the end, I emerge as confinished haven’t received the vaccine as you fused.com, totally blitzed by weeks ago. a convolution of subplots, takeand wines cheap in wallow us let Just twists and turns to the point s. ourselve for sorry feeling away meals while of not caring who dunnit

V-DAY VIRGINS

OP Puzzle solutions Across: 7 Taken out, 8 Rasp, 9 Poked, 10 Sceptic, 12 First thought, 14 Mailing lists, 17 Far more, 19 Tiers, 21 Limp, 22 Nobleman. Down: 1 Pay-off, 2 Referral, 3 Sob, 4 Stockholm, 5 Grip, 6 Isaiah, 11 Itinerant, 13 Unsuited, 15 Arabia, 16 Syrian, 18 Maps, 20 A-B M.

SUDOKU

Quick Crossword

and to whom. And of course, that essential police series, Line of Duty, had me glued to the screen, irrespective of being lost in a Bermuda Triangle of totally alien acronyms and ending up with a finale that reminded me of how I felt on my 10th birthday when I expected a brand new shiny bike, but ended up with a pair of hand-knitted socks and a balaclava.

a while, speaking my own ‘peculiar’ brand of Spanish. Giving my NIE number for the factura, the cashiers looked incredulously at the name on their screen ‘Gil?’ they asked ‘But you speak Spanish with an Andalus accent! You must be some sort of mixture between a guiri and an Andalusian. A guiriluz! Ever since then, whenever I walk through the sliding doors, I’m greeted with a rousing chorus of ‘Guiriluz!” At least it is nice to be remembered.

Light at the end of the tunnel Curfew lifted and vaccine programme well underway in Spain

INALLY, the wheel seems Terenia Taras to be turning Telling it like it is as the majority of the world is getting ahead of COVID. I say the majority but there are still countries, India being the worst, which is battling to cope with the sheer volume of infections and deaths from Covid. Boris may have been criticised throughout the crisis for getting things wrong, but the UK vaccination roll-out has surpassed expectations with more than 35 million people having received their first dose, which is pretty remarkable compared to the rest of Europe. But it doesn’t matter who leads the race because the whole world needs the same level of protection against COVID, if we’re to finally beat it. As we’ve seen recently the UK is reluctantly opening up international travel but with only Portugal one of the popular holiday destinations making the green list. Meanwhile, Spain’s placement on the Amber list means people who do go against the guidance will require two post-arrival PCR tests and also have to self-isolate at home for 10 days making Spain an expensive and inconvenient holiday destination.

Welcome

For those of us living here hoping to finally be able to welcome family and friends, the wait persists! I’d hopefully at the time booked flights with Ryanair for my son Anton to visit towards the end of May, but the flights were cancelled and until Spain moves onto the green list, there’s no way he’s going to visit if it means taking another 10 days off his annual holiday allowance just to sit at home in the UK and self-isolate. Living in Mallorca I’m well aware that it’s not just about holidays, but a matter of survival for millions throughout Europe. My partner is employed by Jet2 but has still yet to return to work and he’s not alone. Like so many people working in hospitality, travel and tourism which are the majority in holiday hotspots, they’re all just hanging by a thread. I fully understand that for other countries still in the midst of their COVID nightmare, they maybe a long way off yet with vaccinations. But those countries which are faring better should be doing whatever it takes to help other ones and that can only happen by getting the worldwide economy going again. We all desperately want to get back to normal and despite the UK leaving the EU, it shouldn’t be a case of ‘look how well we’re doing compared to the rest of you’, because there will be no real normal for anyone until we’re all on the same page.

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HEALTH

Not me!

LATEST government figures have shown that an alarming percentage of Andalucia's pensioners are rejecting the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot concerns. The Junta have released numbers that just under 25% of the 60 to 69 age group have rejected the AstraZeneca vaccine due to a number of deaths linked to the jab. In an interview with Canal Sur, Director of the Vaccination program in Andalucia, David Moreno, explained that currently the region has 65% of its over 60s vaccinated.

Urge

However of the remaining 35%, 25% have been summoned but not arrived at the vaccination centres. “So far we have vaccinated a high number or this age group, but we urge the remaining unvaccinated population to receive the dose,” said Moreno. “Unfortunately the Oxford vaccine does not have the popularity that the other brands have, and this is putting a lot of people off,” he continued. “Although we are investigating links between thrombosis and the AstraZeneca vaccine, the possible side effects are significantly lower than the chances of entering the ICU with COVID-19.”

May 19th - June 1st 2021

SPAIN’S government has called for people to behave ‘responsibly’ after two weekends marked by people celebrating the end to the state of alarm without masks or social distancing. “The end of the state of emergency does not mean the end of restrictions. Far from it. The virus threat is still real,” Spain’s Justice Minister Juan Carlos Campo insisted. “That’s why the authorities will continue to take action and the public must keep on behaving responsibly,” he wrote. The state of alarm that had been in place for six months expired bringing an end to curfews and restrictions on travelling across regional borders, and caps on the numbers allowed to meet in a group. After months of these restrictions people took advantage of the new freedom to dance in the street, take part in botellones (drinking in the street) many without wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. Spain’s television stations broad-

Behave yourselves!

STALL holders in Zaragoza’s fish market have started wearing transparent masks to help deaf people lip read. City officials handed out the masks as part of an initiative with the Association of Cochlear Implants of Spain.

Lips

PARTY TIME: People celebrated the end of restrictions cast images of crowds of revellers meeting in city squares in scenes reminiscent of festivities usually seen on New Year’s Eve. Asked about the images during an official visit to Greece, Spain’s Prime

Minister Pedro Sanchez warned against ‘lowering our guard’. “Vaccination is progressing well, with very positive results,” he said, but “the virus continues to circulate and we must maintain barriers.”

Pandemic plus Better air saved lives during lockdowns IMPROVED air quality in Spain caused by last year's pandemic lockdown restrictions may have prevented at least 170 premature deaths. It's largely down to fewer cars on the road, especial-

Tipping Point MALAGA has recorded the lowest number of coronavirus hospitalisations in nine months COVID-19 admissions in the city dropped to 123, the lowest it has been since August 27 of last year when there were 110 patients in Malaga's hospitals. With the number of coronavirus patients in Malaga dropping, health experts are optimistic that the province is near a ‘tipping point’ in its fight against the virus. However, to avoid another surge before reaching herd immunity in the community, health officials advise the public to get vaccinated and to continue to respect the measures to contain the pandemic such as wearing a mask and socially distancing.

www.laterlife.es

By Alex Trelinski

ly those with diesel engines. The first-ever Spanish study to look at early deaths and their link to pollution studied mortality rates in the country's 47 provincial capitals. The Barcelona Institute for Global Health(ISGlobal) analysed nitrogen dioxide(NO2) levels during the first State of Alarm between March and June in 2020. The findings were dra-

CLEAN: Less traffic meant lower emissions

matic with the amount of NO2 across the cities falling by 51% during the

Immunity claim PRIME Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has claimed that Spain's population will reach herd immunity levels against the coronavirus by mid-August. Sanchez said: “The worst calamity suffered by humanity in a hundred years is being overcome.” An estimated 75 million people died during the Second World War while estimates place the worldwide COVID death toll at 3.2 million so far.

Objective

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“We are under 100 days away from the European Union objective of having 70% of the population vaccinated,” added Sanchez. Despite setbacks with some vaccine supplies like the AstraZeneca doses and a delayed roll-out of the single shot Johnson & Johnson inoculations, Sanchez has maintained his stance of the 70% August target since late December. “The vaccination figures lead me to be optimistic,” he stated. The proclamation of herd immunity by mid-August is a bold claim. Scientists around the world differ on what percentage level of vaccinations is needed for that to become a reality. 70% is viewed as the bare minimum level that herd immunity might kick in.

full lockdown up to midMay, and then by 36% as restrictions were eased up to late June. Researcher, Herve Petetin, said: "NO2 is produced by mainly diesel cars and in some cities we discovered 65% falls during last year's lockdown.” The ISGlobal study estimated that at least 170 premature deaths were prevented due to lower pollution levels, and that figure could actually be higher across Spain. Co-ordinator, Joan Ballester, explained: “We only looked at major cities, so there will be other smaller centres where deaths were avoided.

Health

“Our findings show the major short-term health benefits associated with reducing air pollution," added Ballester. "With a permanent reduction in emissions, the positive effects could be even greater as respiratory infections are cut." The survey results were published in the same week that Spain's Congress approved a climate change and energy bill, which will see new car sales limited to electric vehicles by 2040.

Many people with hearing difficulties communicate by reading lips when the people talking do not use sign language. This has raised obvious problems during the pandemic, with masks covering people’s mouths. The communicative mask was designed to have a four-layer fabric outer part and a transparent central window that allows the mouth to be seen. They are also washable and reusable.

Good news! THE impact of the COVID pandemic may not have been as bad as many experts thought might be the case. According to the European Health Survey the pandemic has worsened the mental health of the population by a relatively modest 3%. And while the percentage of people who have problems falling asleep has increased by 2%, remote working has actually left many people feeling better after a change in diet to healthy options.

Lack

Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) said that remote working or a lack of employment for millions has significantly reduced the numbers of people ‘feeling tired’ by up to 5% and those suffering from ‘lack of appetite’ or ‘excessive food intake’ by 1%. Consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish has increased as people spent more time cooking for themselves. In addition, 5% of people polled reported a reduction in the consumption of soft drinks, while intake of fast food also fell, albeit by just over 1%.

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Red alert

TAM Wilson from Glasgow has booked flights from his home city to Malaga for £35 (€40) after finding out a return trip was cheaper than the £40.50 cost of going to Dundee for a minibreak by train.

expat

voice in Spain

Blank look

A MEMBER of VOX has been suspended from Twitter for 12 hours after tweeting ‘a man cannot get pregnant’, which broke its hate speech policy.

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Vol. 15 Issue 369 www.theolivepress.es May 19th - June 1st 2021

Pregnant pause

POLICE raided an Elche nightclub that flashed red warning lights if a police inspection was imminent. Despite the alert, police found that social distancing laws were broken, and under age drinking allowed.

Going batty

Andalucía

CASHED IN: Marina Abramovic won the prize

A 74-year-old Serbian performance artist, who sat in complete silence for 716 hours as people sat and stared at her, has won Spain’s top arts award. Marina Abramovic took the arts prize in the Princess of Asturias awards, where €50,000 in prizes were handed out in each

A BLUNDERING crook who has been arrested 125 times has been nabbed again after he dropped his wallet complete with ID card at the scene of his latest offence. The 45-year old man is a drug addict. His only source of income was to break into cars and seize valuables which were sold to fund his habit. His last act was in April when he broke into a car boot. He fled with €2,000 of items when the vehicle owner confront-

Prize winning artist who sat and did nothing scoops €50,000

of eight categories, which included fields like the social sciences and sport. The jury said that the work of Abramovic revealed a hitherto unknown ‘sensorial and spiritual compo-

Darwin award ed him. Unfortunately for the thief, a wallet with his ID cards fell out of his pocket leading to a prompt arrest by the Policia Nacional. It was his 20th offence this year including stealing €5 from a child. He has been remanded in custody, and crimes of theft from cars has since plummeted in Alicante.

nent’. Abramovic spent 716 hours sitting still at a table while thousands of visitors took turns to sit in front of her and stare.

Courage

The Princess of Asturias jury said that ‘Abramovic’s courage in her dedication to an absolute art produces moving experiences that demand an intense connection with the spectator and make her one of the most inspiring artists of her time’. Her work has seen her strike up friendships with the singer Lady Gaga and rapper Jay Z.

A SPANISH park is bringing in furry and feathered allies to battle a plague of mosquitos and processionary caterpillars. Bats can eat up to 1,200 mosquitos in an hour - and now bosses at El Recorral Park on the Costa Blanca want to make use of this ‘super power’ to keep the pest down without using nasty pesticides.

Shelters

They are doing this by installing bat and bird shelters to attract the creatures. While the bats take on the mossie population, it is hoped birds will eat their way through the lines of processionary caterpillars that are normally controlled using powerful chemicals. The pest not only damages protected pine trees, but can inflict serious ‘stings’ to children and even kill dogs. A park spokesman said: “By not resorting to insecticides, we minimise any inconvenience to people who use the park as well as protecting endangered species.”

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Olive Press Costa del Sol – 170mm x 256mm – Colour

May 20th