Olive Press Mallorca - Issue 128 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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Vol. 5 Issue 128

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Your expat

voice in Spain April 8th - April 21st 2022

Spanish literature is not just Don Quijote - find out about more classics inside See page 10

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HE grew his hair long like Jesus and was looked up to ‘like a god’. A so-called ‘healer’ (or curandero) he had a herbal medicine practice on the costas and a series of intelligent graduate friends. But sex cult leader Tio Toni, 64, was allegedly an evil child abuser, who brainwashed dozens of people into effectively living in slavery. Now, after police arrested Tio Toni - real name Antonio GL along with eight other followers, five of them female, he is set to face 80 years in prison. In a shocking investigation, the Olive Press can reveal how Antonio allegedly hypnotised his followers to believe he was a spiritual healer over a staggering 30year period. Victims and psychologists told us how the alternative medicine practitioner conned his respect-

PSYCHIATRIST: Miguel Perlado

Victims and therapists tell Olive Press of ordeal at the hands of sex abuse cult leader Tio Toni By Jorge Hinojosa

hind the scenes he was allegedly abusing their children and often their wives and partners. When police finally raided his huge finca, Mas de la Chaparra, a bright pink building, near the village of Vistabella del Maestrat, on March 15, they were astonished by what they found. Aside from €15,000 in cash, they discovered over 100 valuable watches, but the most unusual was a collection of keepsakes and mementos.

bers, including one, ‘A course of Miracles’ which gave them a series of exercises and able middle class patients into orders to follow. giving him money and sometimes This week, a long-time neighbour even their homes. of his home in Castellon, told the He even managed to enlist them Olive Press Tio Toni would iniinto ritual sex sessions, some of tially not charge for the ‘health’ them filmed on camera. services he provided. In some of his most depraved The woman, a fortune teller, visacts, he allegedly took the virginiited his practice in Castellon on ty of teenagers, in front of his folmany occasions and ‘nearly got lowers, also on camera. sucked in’. He managed to first snare his She said: “I spent months going victims through an alternative to his consultation because he health practice in the coastal city said he was a healer. He put his Orgies of Castellon. hands on me, claiming it would At the clinic, which doubled as a These included drawers full of bi- cure me. health shop, he conned his vic- zarre hair cuttings and dozens of “But it soon became clear he was tims into believing their health religious calling cards. trying to manipulate me, espe- and lives - would improve by There were numerous storage cially when after a few sessions joining his cult, called Vistabella. devices and computers and ‘a he asked me to go to a private As well as saying that he had been bunker full of security and sur- back room with him. chosen ‘as an envoy from God’ veillance equipment’ revealed the “That was the moment when I felt and he was ‘cleaning up society’, local mayor. something strange was going on.” he told them he was able to cure There were also allegedly videos Asking to remain anonymous, she their ailments, including cancer. of sexual orgies in which ritual continued: “He was over-friendly But once they had moved to live practices regularly took place. with me, and told me he was sent on his giant inland estate in the M e a n from God rural Maestrazgo region of Valen- while, they and that’s cia, they effectively became his s e i z e d why he grew slaves. training his hair out Working around the clock on a m a n u a l s like Jesus. schedule their leader dictated, for mem“He was they had no idea, at certainly least initially, that bevery persuasive and I saw a lot of people become totally obsessed with him,” she continued. “He made them feel they were totally loved.” Over the course of ‘a few years’ she lost an alarming four friends to the sect, as well as a female member of her own family. SITE: The sect’s compound in rural Valencia “I was so worrie I ended up organising a meeting with them to try and tell them that this guy was Portals Nous, manipulating us, but they just refused to 07181, believe me,” she conMallorca. tinued. She revealed how

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SECT: Leader Tio Toni

Toni continually managed to expand and add to his inland estate in order to house his growing number of ‘believers’. When she tried more recently to get her friends out, she revealed how Toni had sent some of them to her home threatening to expose her as a witch. “They accused me of having done witchcraft on a child in the sect who had got really ill or died,” she explained. “It was very intimidating.” A psychologist, who called in police after he began working with a number of victims last year, said the abuse on the group and, in particular, children was ‘truly shocking’. Miguel Perlado told the Olive Press that the victims had first come to him ‘very confused’ about what was going on inside. “They could barely even describe the place where they had lived for so long,” he revealed, adding that they were threatened about speaking out ‘or they would get bad energy’. He said they ended up becoming very isolated from their family and friends and Tio Toni even made them become isolated from each other and ‘encouraged conflict between them’.

Burdened

They were burdened with many chores and the house was continually upgraded and maintained, so they ‘could not think for themselves’. He added that many of the minors didn’t attend school and also created ‘alternative identities’ because they didn’t have the capacity to explain what was going on. He added that it was possible the place was visited by foreigners and other expats, but the main sect was Spanish. A total of 12 victims were ‘liberated’ when police raided the farm, including two children, aged 13 and eight, who have been taken in by Valencia social services. This week, six of nine adult members were given bail while three, including Toni remain in custody.

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Palma patricide A GERMAN woman aged 60 who set up home in Palma with an inheritance from her late 90-year-old father has been arrested accused of his murder, and awaits extraditon to Germany.

Mare death A MAN is accused of animal cruelty after mistreating three horses on a farm in Son Servera. The equines were found in a serious state of malnutrition and a mare had to be put down by a veterinarian.

Smash’n grab FIREMEN had to smash the window of a car at Son Espases hospital to free a two-year-old boy who had been accidentally locked in when his mother left her keys in the ignition.

Fire escape FIREFIGHTERS were called to an apartment in Cala Millor after a fire broke out in a woman’s flat. The woman and her daughter escaped unharmed and an investigation to find the cause is now underway.

April 8th - April 21st 2022

Still on the loose Most Wanted giant Kevin Parle ‘is living somewhere in Spain and may have killed father-and-son there’ BRITAIN’S Most Wanted Kevin Parle is believed to be living in Spain and working for a drug smuggling gang. According to a brand new BBC podcast, he is smuggling drugs ‘hidden among pallets of crisps and snacks from a warehouse base’. This is the belief of retired policeman Peter Bleksey, whose series Manhunt, is released this week. In the sensational second series of his attempt to track down the alleged British murderer - who the Olive Press

By George Mathias

spotted in Madrid three years ago - he also reveals that the gang is behind another double killing. Former Met detective Bleksey believes that Parle’s associates may have murdered father and son, Danny and Liam Poole, who have been missing from the Costa del Sol since 2019. The pair from Sussex had travelled to Estepona with a suitcase containing £20,000 in cash, which they were due to

EVIL CODGER AN 82-year-old man terrorized his neighbour’s cats by shooting at them with a pellet gun from the window of his house in Palma. The octogenarian pleaded guilty to animal mistreatment and was handed a one year suspended sentence and told to pay €2,900 in damages to his neighbour as well as cover veterinary damages. He has also been banned from owning pets for three years. For two years during 2020 and 2021 he regularly took aim at the four cats resident next door in the Son Cotoner neighbourhood of the island’s capital Two of the cats, Curly and Nieve, had to undergo surgery to remove the pellets, while Gris was lame for two week and the fourth cat, named Blanco y Negro will be on medication for the rest of its life.

HE’S COMING: Former detective vows to catch Parle use in a drugs purchase. They have not been heard from since and the cash they travelled with was never found but their passports and luggage were discovered at Estepona’s Valle Romano golf resort. But Bleksey is now sure Parle’s network is behind their suspected murder. He said a source close to the ‘industrial scale’ drug-smuggling gang told him that the network ‘was responsible for their disappearance’. “I’ve also identified a number of individuals in Parle’s network, some of whom have addresses in Sussex, not far from where Danny and Liam were living. Everything points to these two cases being linked.” It is believed the pair met two British men - one with connections to Merseyside - in Spain the night before they vanished. Spanish police confirmed they arrested the two men on suspicion of the disappearance, but

the pair were never charged. One subsequently returned to the UK and is currently serving an eight-year sentence for aggravated burglary. The other has been linked to another high-profile, unsolved disappearance in Spain. Bleksey is now appealing, alongside Merseyside Police, to finally help to catch Parle, who has been on the run from justice for 17 years.

Killing

The six foot, six inch giant whose nickname is Hemp - is accused of killing two youngsters, Liam Kelly, 16, in 2004, and Lucy Hargreaves, 22, in 2005, both in Merseyside. Said Bleksey: “I’ve now got a clear picture of how Parle remains on the run - what he does, who he does it for, and roughly where. Mallorcans with any information are urged to contact police.

Blue on blue A PLATOON sergeant faces seven-and-half years in jail for shooting dead a 21-year old Spanish legionnaire from Palma during a military exercise. The sergeant is to stand trial for the death of Mallorcan Alejandro Jimenez, who died in Alicante after being shot by the sergeant with a rifle. The prosecution is asking for a seven and a half year prison sentence for the incident which took place on March 25, 2019. It remains unclear whether the shooting was deliberate.

Cover up

A lieutenant of the same company is also standing trial and could get five years for aiding in the cover up of the man’s death as well as for altering the scene of the crime. Jimenez died from a rifle shot while kneeling to change his ammunition. After the incident, the sergeant is alleged to have intimidated key witnesses and also berated one of the soldiers who broke down in tears following his comrade’s death. The judge concluded in the hearing that the sergeant tried to cover up the crime by tampering with evidence and threatening his fellow soldiers to keep silent. At least eight other people are being investigated for their part in the crime.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es SPANISH megastar Rosalia has revealed secret screenshots from fellow singing sensation Harry Styles - but it appears the pair’s interaction got lost in translation. During an interview on The Tonight Show the Catalan-born songstress explained that she changes her number a lot to help her focus when she’s working in the studio. When host Jimmy Fallon suggested that friends would then be texting someone else, she responded: “That happened to me – I didn’t know that someone else gets your old number. I thought you use that number and then it disappears or something.” The 28-year-old revealed that confusion over her digits recently left her red-faced when boyband star Styles tried to reach her. Instead of speaking to the Spanish warbler, clueless Styles accidentally messaged

April 8th - April 21st 2022

Lost in translation a mystery individual who inherited Rosalia’s old phone number. The Spanish pop star pulled her phone out to show the host screenshots of the bizarre exchange Styles had sent her, saying: “Your texts are so confusing.” In the screenshot, you can see that the British star had sent Rosalia a message about her song ‘Dolerme’, calling it ‘so beautiful’. The person with Rosalia’s old number then replied: “I know my darling.” After exchanging ‘love you’ messages, the stranger then revealed that they didn’t know who they were texting. When Styles told them he was ‘confused’, they replied: “This number belongs to someone before. But now it’s my number. So don’t bother me anymore. Good night.”

SLAP (UN)HAPPY… Pedro Almodovar reveals his thoughts about THAT Oscars slap and ‘cult leader’ Will Smith

Top score BARCELONA’S Camp Nou stadium was packed out as a world record 91,553 fans watched the home team beat Real Madrid 5-2 in a Women’s Champions League semi-final. The previous record for a women’s game was 90,185 at the 1999 World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

Win

Up until now the record for a club fixture was 60,739 supporters who saw Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano back in March 2019. Club bosses were keen to see a bumper crowd for Wednesday’s match which saw Barca win 8-3 on aggregate. They allowed Barcelona’s 147,000 members four free tickets each, with non-members able to buy entrance for between €9 and €15.

SPANISH director Pedro Almodovar has described how seeing Will Smith slapping Chris Rock over a misguided joke about his wife’s alopecia provoked ‘a feeling of absolute rejection’ in him. Almodovar wrote about the incident in a diary on his experience at attending the awards ceremony, for which his film Parallel Mothers was nominated for two Oscars. He reveals that he had a ringside seat and was ‘barely four metres from where it happened’. “In the general overhead shots, I am the little white head you see in the photo,” he revealed. “What I saw and heard pro-

QUEEN Letizia stood alongside Prince Charles to cut the ribbon at the first museum in the UK devoted entirely to Spanish art. The Spanish Gallery, located in a converted high street bank in Bishop Auckland (County Durham), wants to be the Prado of the North. On its walls hang masterpieces from the Spanish Golden Age by painters including El Greco, Murillo and Velazquez. The new museum is part of the Auckland Project, a regeneration scheme backed by art collector and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer. In 2010, he bought Auckland Castle and its contents which included several paintings by Francisco Zurbaran. Many pieces included in the first show are from Ruffer’s personal collection with additional loans from Museo del Prado, the Hispanic Society of America and other major collections of Spanish art.

BAD DEED: Almodovar unhappy with Smith duced a feeling of absolute rejection in me. Not only during the episode, but af-

…but Oscar happy THE Oscar headlines may have been taken by Will Smith’s infamous slap on Chris Rock, but a Spanish filmmaker has made a little bit of history. Spain took home its first ‘Best Animated Short Film’ Oscar, with animator Alberto Mielgo victorious thanks to a 15-minute movie called The Windsceen Wiper. The short took seven years to make with Madrid-born Milego having to finance the project himself. The Oscar success came as a surprise as an entry from the award-winning Aardman studio backed by Netflix was the hot favourite to win.

terward, too, in the acceptance speech — a speech that seemed more like that of a cult leader,” he wrote. “You don’t defend or protect the family with your fists, and no, the devil doesn’t take advantage of key moments to do his work,” he said in reference to the advice Smith said he received from Denzel Washington.

Devil

“The devil, in fact, doesn’t exist. This was a fundamentalist speech that we should neither hear nor see.” His diary also featured deliciously indiscrete revelations about Kenneth Brannagh scouting for a part in his next film and gripes about America’s tendency to overuse air conditioning.

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NEWS IN BRIEF Parking problems A NEW car park in Cala Varques, Manacor is due to open in 2023 for up to 32 cars to alleviate the scarcity of parking spaces which is a big problem in summer when tourists flock to the town's beach.

Model school PALMA’S Juan de la Cierva School has become the first Mallorcan school to organise a convoy of humanitarian aid for Ukraine, sending two vans full of children’s toiletries and medicines to the war torn country.

Price busting THE government has announced more bus services in Mallorca to help citizens combat rising fuel prices and to try to reduce emissions.

Good job THE recent transport strikes in Spain have caused a huge backlog for workers in Mallorca dealing with the shipment of goods to the island.

HOTEL magnate Miguel Fluxa has been listed as one of the world’s richest men. The founder of Mallorca-based global tourism company Grupo Iberostar had a fortune of about $3.8bn in 2021 according to Forbes magazine. But this was only enough to place him 822nd on the list, although third in Spain. His wealth is dwarfed by Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex fashion group, who was 23rd on

That’s rich the list with a $60bn net-worth. Tesla chief Elon Musk was named the richest person on the planet with a fortune of $267 billion followed by founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos ($189bn). Frenchman Bernard Arnault, the chairman of Louis Vouitton was third on the list. The richest person in Europe has a $151bn fortune.

April 8th - April 21st 2022 The daughter of Amancio Ortega, Sandra, has the second largest wealth in Spain with $5.9bn, putting her 438rd. In total, 27 Spaniards appeared on the list. Sir James Ratcliffe, owner of chemicals company Ineos was once again named Britain’s richest man, with $16.3bn.

War footing €16 billion pledged to cushion costs crisis A RAFT of measures has been unveiled to minimise the impact of the Ukraine war on the Spanish economy. The government announced a €16 billion aid package designed to cushion the country from the effects of rising fuel prices, soaring inflation and an overall spike in the cost of living. The government will release around €6 billion in direct aid and tax rebates and €10 billion in state-guaranteed loans to

By George Mathias

cushion the impact of the crisis on families and businesses. The measures include a 20% cent reduction in fuel prices at the pump, with the government subsidising 15 cents of this and oil giants the rest. With electricity costs soaring even before the Russian invasion, the government has also decided to extend a reduction on IVA on power

Looking up MALLORCA hotel bookings have bounced back with 98% of listings taken over Easter. Forecasts suggest the vast majority of hotels in Mallorca will be occupied over Semana Santa as tourists flock to the island. Business experts anticipate that 85% of all hotels will be open, a percentage well above predictions made at the tourism fair in Madrid in January. The news is a vote of confidence in Spain’s tourism sector, as the impact of Covid continues to fade. Silvia Montejano, general secretary of the CCOO union's service federation, said: "Tourist reservations, the arrival of flights and job hiring are positive and well above the figures for Easter 2019." There has been a significant increase in air traffic at Palma de Mallorca airport since the end of March with almost 7,000 flights scheduled between April 8 and April 18. The news has disproved naysayers at the Fitur tourism fair who in January outlined gloomy forecasts for tourism in Semana Santa.

Calls for help TRUCKERS: have been protesting rising fuel prices

bills until June 30. The authorities also plan to make 600,000 more households eligible for an electricity discount scheme. To qualify for discounts of up to 70% on your bill you must be a single adult living alone and earning less than €12,159, or a family of two kids earning less than €20,265. Big families also qualify, as well as those retired on lower incomes. Other measures include

preventing landlords from increasing rents for existing tenants by more than 2% over the next three months.

Benefits

Various social security benefits are also set to go up by 15% over the next three months. Until June 30, companies are again going to be allowed to introduce the furlough (ERTE) scheme to prevent laying off workers.

NOT FOR SAIL: FBI impound yacht

Yacht seized YET another superyacht belonging to a Russian oligarch has been seized by Spanish authorities under sanctions imposed as a result of the Ukraine invasion. The 78-metre-yacht named Tango was boarded by US federal agents and teams from Spain’s Guardia Civil at the Marina Real in Palma. The yacht, which is valued at €120 million by Superyachtfan, is believed to be owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a billionaire and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian-born Vekselberg heads the Moscow-based Renova Group, a conglomerate encompassing metals, mining, tech and other assets. In March, the Lady Anastasia, belonging to Alexander Mijeev, head of one of the largest Russian weapons companies, was seized in Mallorca’s Port Adriano. And in Barcelona port authorities moved in on Valerie, a superyacht owned by Sergei Chemezov, who runs the Russian state-owned defence firm Rostec.

FOUR children are in hospital after they apparently attempted suicide within three hours of each other in seperate incidents. The incidents happened at three schools and a family home, all in Palma. The first involved a 14 year old who was threatening to jump 15 metres from a ledge of his school building. Teachers talked to him to calm him down, while neighbours piled cushions in the street in case he fell. Police finally managed to gain his confidence and led him to safety. The second case involved a girl, who locked herself in a toilet and slashed her wrists with a pencil sharpener blade. Classmates and teachers managed to stop her from inflicting further harm. A short while later medics were called to another school where a pupil had taken an overdose of pills. Finally, a family argument led another teen to try to take his own life, although police have not revealed the method used.. All four are being treated in the psychiatric ward of Son Espaces hospital.

Insurance shocker A SHOCKING 2.6 million uninsured vehicles are on the roads in Spain.. Linea Directa teamed up with Spain’s Traffic Directorate (DGT) to investigate how many drivers didn’t have proper insurance. They discovered that 1.8 million of them were behind the wheels of cars, while the rest were other vehicles including motorbikes, vans and trucks. The DGT issues penalties to around 130,000 people caught driving a vehicle without valid insurance each year, with fines between €600 and €3,000.

NEWS

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RAINBOW’S END

But no gold for British couple as their dream home is bulldozed in another sad chapter in Spain’s planning history FOR two decades it had been the dream retirement home of British couple David and Janet Hartshorn. The four-bedroom villa in the hills above the Costa del Sol had all the hallmarks of the perfect escape from rainy, cold north-west England. The retired publicans from Cheshire, had long dreamed of their place in the sun. So when the opportunity of buying the dreamy Torrox plot came up, they jumped at the opportunity. However, Villa Arco Iris (meaning ‘rainbow’) has proved to be anything but its BEFORE: The couple’s dream home Arcos Iris

EXCLUSIVE by George Mathias

namesake and rather than a pot of gold it has left them hundreds of thousands of euros out of pocket. The couple had fallen for the age-old trick of trusting local tradesmen in southern Spain. They had been assured by building firm Nertor that they would be able to develop a small shack on a plot of land into the sizable retreat they valued at €500,000 last year. But just one year after buying it, they discovered it was illegal. And that is where their nightmare began. Some two decades later at exactly 9.01am on April 5, 2022, a town hall bulldozer started on a 40-minute rampage to bring it down to rubble. Their countless pleas to Malaga Court to reconsider, even including a request to give up the property to Ukrainian refu-

DEVASTATED: Janet and David, as home is demolished gees, were all in vain. The authorities were adamant that it should not have been built and never had the correct permission. Despite enlisting lawyers and local pressure group SOHA nothing could be done. To add insult to injury, the cost of the demolition work will be charged to the couple - to the tune of €24,000. Now the plot, formerly an idyllic setting for the Hartshorn’s and their family friends to spend long summers, has been reduced to a derelict building site. “It is very distressing and a big part of our life’s work has been turned to rubble,” David told the Olive Press, last night. “We have put all our life savings into this work, and now it is all going to be taken away.” He continued: “It beggars belief how this can happen. Con-

sultation with certain Spanish contractors is a downfall from the beginning. They bend the truth.” On Monday morning, David, accompanied by daughter Adelle, 46, who had flown over from England for moral support, finally accepted the fate of their beloved home. The only legal part of the house is an uninhabitable 20-square-metre annexe. This was spared by the demolition team but it will come as little consolation to the Hartshorn’s, who have been forced to move in with friends nearby and who will leave the country for good on May 6. The case echoes that of Len and Helen Prior in Almeria who watched as bulldozers flattened their villa after it was deemed illegal by the town hall in Vera. For 13 years they lived in the

5 Freakishly good

April 8th - April 21st 2022

garage on the plot, while they mounted a legal battle that eventually declared the demolition was illegal. They won damages. Another victim, Gurney Davey, saw his home razed to the ground in the Guadalhorce Valley last year.

The Port Adriano Music Festival will welcome Scottish rockers Texas and disco outfit Chic to Mallorcan shores for the festival’s 10-year anniversary. Chic are famed for their disco classics such as Le freak and Good times whilst Texas’s I don’t want a lover is sure to get the crowd going. The band, fronted by Sharleen Spiteri released their 10th studio album, Hi in May of last year, which peaked at number three in the UK charts. They will be appearing on August 12 whilst Chic will play at the port on July 20. A festival spokesman said: “The quality of the organisation, the sound and lighting together with the beauty of the surroundings and the proximity of the audience to the stage, make the concerts in Port Adriano unforgettable.”

Painful

The Olive Press has previously reported on 30,000 homes in Andalucia that were retroactively made legal in urban planning law change. But such a law has not been extended to the Cheshire couple. “I was not able to watch the demolition, it was too painful,” David added last night. Opinion Page 6

TEXAS: singer Sharleen Spiteri

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 NOT AGAIN! THE horror and heartbreak of seeing one’s home smashed into smithereens isn’t a fate reserved solely for those living under threat of Russian bombs in the Ukraine. And while Andalucia is far from a war zone and noone is in fear for their lives, it must feel pretty close to it for the couple who this week watched their dream home reduced to rubble. It’s a travesty that such a terrible outcome continues to happen to those who fall foul of Spain’s planning laws, either because they were duped by unscrupulous developers, trusted the wrong legal advice or unwittingly failed to follow the proper procedure. Or in some cases, like the infamous Priors, did everything right yet ended up having to live in their garage. For decades Andalucia’s political factions have passed the buck on ending such abuses and streamline the planning process, not just to prevent rampant corruption of town halls but to protect those who bought in good faith and invested their hard-earned life savings to spend their retirement in the sun. Despite amnesties, ombudsmans and appeal processes, we are still writing headlines about bulldozers rolling in. It’s time Spain took responsibility once and for all to protect homeowners instead of penalise them.

FINGERS CROSSED IT’S hard not to feel hopeful with Easter just around the corner that we are finally putting the hardships of the pandemic behind us. After two years of cancelled Semana Santa, tourists are set to return in numbers close to pre-Covid times. Whether flocking to the beaches for some much needed sunshine or crowding the streets to watch the religious spectacle of the processions, let’s keep our fingers crossed that the recent storms clear and it doesn’t rain on the parade! Happy Easter!

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A viable alternative Forget mystery skulls and the Maddie McCann suspect, Orgiva’s globally-known alternative community is bustling with cultural links to Robert Graves, Genesis, the Olive Press, and even the Romans, writes Jo Chipchase

PAIN’S most famous alternative community has been in the news this year after a human skull was found in its midst, while it also emerged the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann mystery spent considerable time in Orgiva. Christian Brueckner, 45, was a regular visitor to the Dragon Festival and frequently stayed in the Alpujarra area following the toddler’s abduction from Portugal in 2007, as we revealed. However, these are just a handful of the rich and varied things that happen in and around this thriving Granada market town. With an artistic and colourful community that attracts people from around the world, Orgiva is one of Spain’s only rural places that is a hive of activity for most of the year. The hub of the country’s alternative scene, rather like Glastonbury or Totnes in the UK, hundreds of free-spirited individuals live in Orgiva, where coincidentally the Olive Press launched in 2006. But forget the town itself, nearby is a trio of alternative settlements - Ben-

UCH! Another electric bill arrived today as more evidence of the skyrocketing price of energy. Electricity costs have quadrupled - yes quadrupled! - from February last year to February this year, according to official figures. You might assume then that any additional source supplying power to the grid would be much welcomed. Not so, if you consider the current hot debate in town halls around many parts of Spain. Take inland Valencia. Requena, Utiel and Siete Aguas are all opposing the installation of 10 new wind turbines in the nearby Sierra de Tejo. These turbines are massive significantly larger than those in nearby Buñol and other parts of the province - and would be installed atop towers of up to 110 metres and with blades measuring 150 metres (normally 40 to 90 metres). To proceed, two forest tracks will have to be built and maintained to accommodate the oversized turbines around Siete Aguas. Healthy stands of pine and oak will need to be cut, resulting in potential erosion, while a high voltage line will run to a substation on the opposite side of the A-3 highway. Such are the concerns for bird mortality, the town halls are preparing a motion to expand the special ZEPA bird protection zone, an EU directive that already covers much of the Sierra del Tejo area. On many levels, I hope they are

eficio, Cigarrones and El Morreon that date back to the 1980s, when the UK had a thriving new age traveller scene – one that easily relocated to sunnier climes at the drop of a hat. Completely multinational Beneficio is the only true ‘community’, explains Ela Graves, the grand-daughter of celebrated writer Robert Graves, who has lived around Orgiva for four decades. And, as the Olive Press discovered, not everything is rosy in these ‘social experiments’.

Beautiful Beneficio Some 400 people live in this stunning valley between Orgiva and Canar, with various long-term residents living high up on the land, near an old Roman road. Very international today, the community was originally established by Brits, mostly from Wales, including Sorrell Badger, who came from the Tally Valley, in the 1980s. “We were discussing finding somewhere warmer and drier to live under canvas,” she explains. “So a small group left Tally and came to Spain to look for a suitable place to live, and here they discovered Beneficio.”

They initially bought and settled on a finca and soon many like-minded people joined them investing time and money, including John and Yvonne, who started a communal tipi called ‘Big Lodge’. One British old-timer – who visited on holiday in 1992 and simply never left – invested with some other community members, who bought two adjoining farms. Today, most of the land is privately owned, although some is natural park and people aren’t permitted to camp within 15 metres of the river. While described by some as a ‘peaceful retreat’ and ‘a spiritual

Wind of change Two sides of the ecologist movement clash as Spain debates renewable energy, writes Jack Gaioni

successful, but there is another side to this debate: On windy days in Spain, wind generation supplies up to 71% of the nation’s demand - surpassing all other electricity sources. It is cheaper per kilowatt hour, emits much less greenhouse gas and uses less water consumption than any other energy source. Furthermore, it makes electricity

directly, circumventing the need to burn fossil fuels (coal) or process uranium for nuclear power. Spain has a favourable topography and climate for wind power and is, in fact, the fifth largest wind power creator in the world. As it did with tunnelling (due to its mountains), the country has developed proven technical know-how to improve and ex-

pand in wind generation. Climate impact vs. high c energy debates will not en arguments both for and a wind power are symptom complex, multi-faceted that have no easy solution The energy companies an halls, like those in rural cia, both make convincing ments for their side.

cost of nd. The against matic of issues ns. nd town Valeng argu-

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April 8th - April 21st 2022

MEET THE OP TEAM

A busy life

A focus on Olive Press journalist Alex Trelinski

H awakening’, others revealed a growing division between some of the old-timers and the more recent (and transient) car park dwellers, over ‘partying’ and keeping the place tranquil. There are also tales of ‘fake gurus’ targeting younger girls, and most residents agree that ‘Bene’, as it is often known, has more than its fair share of problematic people. “A lot of people with mental health problems are attracted to Beneficio,” explains Tony,

who has also lived in El Morreon. But half the time, explained another, the local police and Guardia Civil literally send them up there. “They sometimes literally drop them off at our entrance track,” she adds. Despite this, there are many positive features to Bene, in particularly its woodland setting. Romanian mother-ofthree, Chunga, who has lived there for 12 years, showed us its communal lounging and cooking facilities, a natural pool for a cool dip, a women’s space, clothes sharing spaces, and an adventure play area for children. Despite claims by some local authorities that the locals aren’t correctly registered in Spain, the majority are actually on the official ‘padron’ at nearby Canar town hall.

Counterculture of Cigarrones

There are no easy answers; the exponential rise in electricity costs are draconian and the arguments against turbines are often strong. The best we can do is apply careful scrutiny and scientific rigour to the debates in each specific area… and all the while, turn off the lights, and watch our energy consumption.

Along the riverbed, near Tablones, are hundreds of alternative people who privately own their land. Famed for the annual Dragon festival, which was eventually banned, Cigarrones had an alternative scene in the 1970s, when dozens of English students left the UK to buy and renovate a series of abandoned buildings. Forward-thinking individuals, including Ela Graves, who bought in the 1980s, they believed in the concept of permaculture and utilised the already-existing irrigation system. Graves, the grandchild of celebrated writer Robert (I Claudius and Goodbye to all That) she was joined by her recently-deceased counterculture hero brother, Davey Graves. Across the river, Driving Over Lemons writer, Chris Stewart, carved out his own little corner of sustainable paradise. A creative scene developed, involving the arts and music and, in 1987, a series of new age party crews from the UK started parking up and joining until in 1996 the Dragon Festival was born. During its heyday in the early 2000s, this anarchic festival attracted over 10,000 revellers, which didn’t please everyone, including the then-mayor, Adolfo Martin Padial, who sent in the police. A more receptive socialist mayoress helped a little but the antagonism between the organisers and the town hall eventually became too much and, in 2009, it came to a halt, with large fines issued to the organisers. They had been on the authority’s radar since activist Vittorio Miotto organised a series of protests against a quarry scheme in 2004, which led to arrests, but, in the end, derailed the plans. As Miotto recalls today: “I first turned up in Ciggy to help someone sort out a clutch problem on a bus. It was love at first sight - I’d landed in

paradise with food growing everywhere.” And he’s still there today. “Ciggy is forever changing, it’s an un-intentional community - everyone just does their thing with respect for others. The ‘elders’ who have been there since the early 90s are all still there, so it must be working.” Cigarrones has a collaborative vibe where people can display their arts and crafts, and share home-grown vegetables and snacks.

Autonomy in El Morreon El Morreon runs along the Rio Suico towards the Rio Guadalfeo. Set up by Israelis in the 1980s, they launched a campaign for anyone to turn up and join their free-spirited, open-minded community, where they were told you would ‘never starve’. Nikki B, who came from the UK in 1994, explains: “It’s a village of many nationalities, including Spanish. Although it’s not a community in the sense of everyone working together as a whole, the village comes together in times of need, change, work, necessity, and the occasional celebration. “We are a group of similar-minded individuals connected by common aims and inspirations such as self-government, self-responsibility and sustainable living through exchange. “We also believe in hard work in the gardens, as well as alternative energy sources and low impact dwellings, plus respecting our neighbours and our differences.” The place has certainly changed a lot over the years, she continues. “When I arrived it was dry and barren, while now it’s green and abundant. Every year I make olive oil, dry almonds and fruits and preserve vegetables.” Nikki certainly didn’t starve. “In this environment, I have lived from donations and exchanging skills and food with others. “Consumerism does not rule my life and I have time to explore my art and music. “I was able to follow some of my dreams. I was once told ‘when you live here, you become more yourself than you ever thought. Nobody will take responsibility for you here’. What a beautiful introduction to autonomy and authenticity.”

AVING interviewed a legion of political leaders, from Tony Blair to David Cameron and Paddy Ashdown to Tony Benn, getting a comment from a councillor in Javea or Orihuela must sometimes seem trivial. But there’s never been a dull moment for Alex Trelinski, since he rocked up on the Costa Blanca 13 years ago. Now the rock of the Olive Press reporting team in the East of Spain, it was certainly a change of lifestyle for a man, who worked since 1981 as a presenter, producer, and manager at the BBC. Cutting his death at Radio Humberside, his first major interview was with actress Rula Lenska, which he conducted in Polish for 20 seconds to shock both himself and his listeners. He went on to present hundreds of sports shows for over 25 years following the likes of Derby County and Nottingham Forest. He also worked as a presenter for BBC Sport in London rubbing shoulders with presenters like Chris Evans and Chris Moyles, before becoming boss of Radio Derby. Political programmes were also his passion and election night programmes were frequently anchored in the Midlands and the North. Grilling the likes of ‘Red’ Ed Milliband and Neil Kinnock came easy, while not so easy was handling a drunk councillor suggesting studio guest Margaret Beckett wasn’t wearing underwear, live on air. His most memorable broadcast moment came when he was dragged from the pub on a Sunday night in 1989 to present all-night coverage of the Kegworth air disaster, which killed 47 people as the plane landed on the M1 motorway. His reporting team went on to recieve an international award for its coverage. Come the late noughties, he approached his personal half-century and fancied a life change and a move abroad. Spain and the Costa Blanca came out of the hat, and Alex has worked on local radio and other media over the years before ending up in a key role with the Olive Press. Despite occasionally missing the BBC, it’s a move that he has not regretted.

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: PICS: It looks like armageddon Costa del 1-SolIN turns orange yet again as another calima hits Spain brown Spain’s white villages call for 2- Stained help to clear up after Sahara sandstorms have gone forward but here’s why 3- TheSpainclocks is still stuck in the wrong time zone never buy pre cut fruit and 4- Why youvegshould at supermarkets in Spain Putin: despite Spain declaring there 5- Chateau are no oligarchs based here, the Olive Press can reveal at least one

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GREEN

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOR NEVER

Calls for Spain to stop plans for farms in protected wetlands LEADING supermarkets across Europe including Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Tesco and Asda are calling on Andalucia to halt plans to allow more strawberry farms near protected wetlands. A public letter signed by major food companies and sent to regional president Juanma Moreno urged him not to approve a plan that would allow the creation of new farms in an area already threatened by water theft that has drained vulnerable aquifers. Moreno is studying legislation that could approve more agriculture within the Donaña National Park, one of Spain’s most valuable wetlands and a UNESCO protected wildlife site.

Lynxes

The marshes are visited by millions of migrating birds each year and the area is also home to a sizeable population of endangered Iberian lynxes. Some 1,900 acres of the park is occupied by greenhouses cultivating strawberries. “The existing special plan is an important tool to ensure more sustainable cultivation at the origin of the supply chain,” they say. “We are concerned that the proposed changes undermine this goal and endanger the Doñana national park,” says the letter. “Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure the sustainability of water and soil management in Doñana in the long term,” it continues. “Should this

By Katharina Beiersdoerfer

not succeed, we believe that the reputation and the long-term development of the region as a supply area are at risk.”

April 8th - April 21st 2022

Take a bow THE UK’s first liquified natural gas-powered ferry has made its inaugural voyage as it sailed from Portsmouth to Bilbao. Brittany Ferries’ Salamanca departed with more than 600 passengers and freight vehicles on a trip that will now become a regular route. Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu said: “LNG-powered ships like Salamanca are a clear statement of our commitment to the future and to fleet renewal. “They are cleaner vessels, significantly cutting air quality emissions like soot and sulphur.” The Salamanca will now make two trips to Bilbao each week as well as a weekly return-voyage to Cherbourg in France. Both Bilbao and Santander ports will host refuelling terminals to power the ships in partnership with Spanish fuel giant Repsol.

Environmental disasters that need action now

HEED THE NEWS! APART from the devastating and deeply upsetting events unfolding in Ukraine, two very noteworthy pieces of news were in the news last week that should not be allowed to pass by without comment. I will cover them both separately. They equally reinforce my constant message that more needs to be done to protect the environment for future generations. PLASTIC IS TOXIC A new study has revealed that of those people tested, 77% had plastic in their blood. Microplastics (tiny plastic particles) are pollutants found almost everywhere on Earth. Scientists have detected microplastics on Mount Everest, in the Mariana Trench, in baby poo. AND NOW IN HUMAN BLOOD. Polthylene Terephthalate (PET), commonly used in disposable water bottles, was the most widely encountered plastic, closely followed by Polystyrene (PS) which is used for food packaging.

Green

WHERE IS IT GOING IN OUR BODIES?

Some will be excreted, but some will be retained in our organs. Not a pleasant thought. Microplastics, like all plastics, are non-biodegradable. They can take hundreds of years to degrade in the environment. Our bodies do not last that long. It is yet another wake up call for us all. Plastic pollution is a widespread problem. It contributes to climate change, threatens ocean health, damages the health of marine species, food safety and quality and affects coastal tourism. And now it is being proven to affect human health and it is all at a phenomenal cost to the world’s economies. Experts predict that the societal cost of plastic pollution produced will exceed €7 TRILLION by 2040. Last year, the estimated costs of plastic pollution topped €4 trillion. In addition 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels gas, oil and fracked gas. It is truly toxic and harms all aspects of life from the moment production begins. HEATWAVE IN THE ANTARCTIC How does the coldest place on earth have a heatwave? It is yet another wake up call. At the end of March an unprecedented temperature was recorded in the Antarctic. A temperature of 40C ABOVE AVERAGE was recorded at the French/Italian research station Concordia, located over 3000 metres above sea level on the Antarctic plateau. Meanwhile at the other extreme of the planet in the Arctic, in the absence of sunlight, a temperature 30C

higher than the March average was recorded. With both the Antarctic and Arctic breaking records this calls into question even the most pessimistic climate change models. So what does all this mean? Scientists are predicting catastrophic polar ice melt that will cause sea levels to rise and disrupt ocean currents. This reinforces my regular message - climate change is NOT a future problem, it needs tackling now. Every fraction of a degree increase in global warming matters. Francisco Navarro, a glacier expert at the Technical University of Madrid, warns that these polar heatwaves contribute to many recently documented disasters. And what more, if we warm the planet by two degrees more (which we are on track to do) these events will be 14 times more frequent. The damage caused by global warming in these regions is irreversible. A temperature spike on February 8 this year caused the collapse of an ice shelf measuring 3,800 square kilometres. Sea levels in Antarctica are predicted to rise by up to 1.7 metres by 2100. All this sadly has consequences for us all.

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LA CULTURA Final drum roll

9 Ready to climax

April 8th - April 21st 2022

Cashing in SPAIN’S government has approved a birthday gift to all 18-year-olds in the form of a culture voucher worth €400. The Youth Cultural Bonus, which can be spent on books, concerts, cinema tickets, museum entrances or even video games, has been passed by the Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the scheme last year, saying it would introduce youngsters to Spain’s rich cultural history.

FOO FIGHTERS have cancelled their 2022 tour following the death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. It means the band will no longer be playing two planned gigs in Madrid and one in Valencia. Emergency services were called to a hotel room in Bogota, Colombia after Hawkins complained of chest pains whilst

Pass

He added that it would also support Spain’s culture industry which suffered a 15.8% decline in spending in 2020 as Covid-19 pandemic restrictions bit. Approximately 500,000 teenagers are said to be eligible for the pass. The money will be loaded onto a virtual card and spent via smartphone. Youngsters will be able to spend up to €200 on live experiences, including concerts and festivals, and another €100 is available for physical products, like records. A further €100 is for digital products, such as mp3 albums.

Foo Fighters cancel Spain gigs in Madrid and Valencia after death of drummer By George Mathias

on tour with the band last weekend. They found him unresponsive upon arrival and administered CPR, but were unable to revive him. A band spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that the Foo Fighters confirm the cancellation of all our tour dates due to the shocking

Don’t make him cry CELEBRITY chef Dabiz Muñoz has ignited fresh debate on the eternal question of what should go in an authentic Spanish tortilla. Muñoz claims that onion in the omlette is strictly a no-go, saying that the sweetness of the vegetable tarnishes the overall flavour. The Spanish staple has countless recipes that vary drastically by region. The three Michelin star chef admitted that his remarks were likely to cause considerable controversy: “Whenever

I say that tortilla should be made without onions, people tell me that I am silly, and I have no doubt that I am.” Dabiz Muñoz, who will soon open a new restaurant - RavioXO in Madrid, - claims that the onion gives an ‘excessive and unnecessary sweetness’ to the tortilla. “A good egg, a good oil and a good potato is a good combo that does not need anything more than a little salt,” he added during a presentation at Fusion, held at Madrid’s Ifema.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD 1

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loved ones, and to cherish all the music and memories we’ve built together.” The band also announced that anyone with tickets will be automatically refunded. The promoters of the gigs in Spain, Live Nation, said: “It is with great sadness that we announce that the Foo Fighters concerts in Valencia and Madrid are cancelled.”

Opioids

Hawkins, 50, joined the band in 1997 and went on to record eight studio albums with the band. A toxicology report found at least 10 substances in his body, including opioids and cannabis, though the cause of death has not yet been established.

Gold

The UK has always had strong representation in sailing events and and Britain’s Eilidh McIntyre, who won gold in Tokyo with compatriot Hannah Mills, is competing in the newly created mixed class with Martin Wrigley in the 470 boat - a double-handed mono-hull dinghy which is 470cm long. She said: “It is so exciting to be merging the top of the men’s and women’s fleets and that means a lot more boats. There will be more depth in the class and it will be harder to make the top 12.”

MISSING SOCKS AND INSURANCE

Across 1 Tag for an out-of-town railway station (7) 5 Bumpkins (5) 9 What the retina’s cones detect (6) 10 Deadeye Annie --- (6) 11 Creeps (6) 12 Oxfordshire power station town, with a railway museum (6) 13 Pivotal (3) 14 Starry-eyed (4) 15 It might be frozen in unfriendly welcomes (4) 17 Chihuahua’s bark (3) 19 Fallacious (6) 21 Cash in Kolkata (6) 23 Cheerless (6) 24 Lifers rampage on aeroplanes (6) 25 Hard as granite (5) 26 Beef (7) Down

OP SUDOKU

loss of our brother, Taylor Hawkins. We are sorry and share the disappointment of not seeing each other as planned. Instead, let’s take this moment to heal, to draw closer to our

The 51st Trofeo Princesa Sofia sailing competition reaches its climax on Saturday The regatta has featured over 1000 sailors, 800 boats and competitors from 62 different nations taking part in multiple sailing events in Palma. Organised by Club Nautic S’Arenal, Club Maritimo San Antonio de la Playa and Real Club Nautico de Palma, the Trofeo Princesa Sofia has kick started the European racing season for Olympic fleets, having been included in the Hempel World Cup series for the first time since 2014. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, athletes looking to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are looking to set a benchmark as the sailing season draws in.

TheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.i

ndd 1

2 Future oak (5) 3 Practical skill (4-3) 4 Threatened (2,4) 6 Netanyahu’s party (5) 7 Became extinct (4,3) 8 Far from chic (5) 14 He looks down in the mouth (7) 16 Publishing brand (7) 17 Loud cries (5) 18 Like better (6) 20 Toga sporter (5) 22 Sandwich and Derby, for example (5)

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LA CULTURA

8 essential Spanish literary works that are not Don Quijote, writes Elena Goçmen Rueda

April 8th - April 21st 2022

DON QUI-NOT

Nada by Carmen Laforet

Luces de Bohemia by Ramon Maria del Valle Inclan

HE oldest literary prize in Spain, the Nadal Prize, was awarded to this book in 1944 in its first edition. The title Nada (nothing) captures the essence of this novel: an existentialist work that captures the day to day life in post-war Barcelona: Sadness, poverty, desperation... A young Andrea arrives in Barcelona to study literature and sees her initial enthusiasm and innocence clash with the reality of his tragicomethe times. dy novel starring Calisto and Melibea was published in 1499. The mad passion of Calisto for Melibea leads him to break all moral and social barriers and ally himself ew works of theatre define tragedy as aptly as the with a dubious malast play by the great Granada writer Garcia Lorca. dame, Celestina. A After the death of her second husband, Bernarrace then begins da, the mother of five daughters, goes into secluin which the charsion and imposes a rigorous and suffocating eight-year acters selfishly period of mourning on her grown-up girls. But a love seek their own affair that entangles the daughters who all hanker for benefit: Calisto the same man will change the lives of all of them. The to have Melibea play begins and ends with Bernarda saying the same and Celestina to word: Silence. get rich at the expense of his master.

WHENEVER iconic Spanish literature is mentioned, the first and sometimes only work that comes to mind abroad is that of Miguel de Cervantes. And that’s no surprise as his famous tome Don Quijote de la Mancha is not only one of the best-selling books in history, it is after the Bible the second most translated book in the world. But in reality there are other novels and plays that are shorter, easier to read and with more exciting subject matters than the senile old gentleman who famously tilted at windmills.

La Celestina by Fernando de Rojas

lso a tragicomedy, this Valle Inclan play is about literary life in Spanish society in the early part of the 20th century. It focuses on the nocturnal stroll through Madrid of a blind poet, Max Estrella, accompanied by his agent Don Latino. The story recounts the last hours of elderly Max’s life and visits countless spots in the capital and a cast of fictional and real people.

La Casa de Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca

Fortunata y Jacinta by Benito Perez Galdos

San Manuel Bueno, Martir by Miguel de Unamuno

his realist novel reveals a writer committed to his times and a progressive Spain. The stormy love affair between Juanito and Fortunada, unable to overcome the difficulties that their different social status, takes place in the traditional atmosphere of the late 19th century. The book portrays the role of women in society, with the pair as its greatest exponents.

he novel revolves around the author’s great obsessions, immortality and faith, although they are presented with a new approach for him: the alternative between a tragic truth and an illusory happiness. When Angela Carballino writes the story of Don Manuel Bueno, a parish priest of his little village Valverde de Lucerna, multiple events show him to be a saint of flesh and blood. Everything changes when the parish priest confides to Angela’s brother Lazaro - of progressive and anticlerical ideas - his most intimate secret: he does not believe in faith or in God, but pretends to do so in order to maintain peace and belief in the afterlife among his faithful followers.

El Lazarillo de Tormes by an anonymous writer

Fuenteovejuna by Lope de Vega

ope de Vega’s play, written in verse and published in 1619, belongs to the Spanish Golden Age. Fuente Ovejuna is a small village under the rule of Fernan Gomez, a cruel and unscrupulous man who exploits his vassals. The people get fed up with his malice and decide to kill him, agreeing to all insist the killer ‘was Fuente Ovejuna’. It is considered a symbol of the unity of a whole people against feudal tyranny.

ritten in 1554 by an unknown author, this is an adventure of a roguish, but appealing hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. Dickens, Mark Twain and Burroughs were all influenced by the novel that revolves around Lazaro, a naive boy who, struggles to get through all the adversities and complexities of life. In a nutshell, after his father dies, his mother puts him in the service of nine masters, all of whom represent a criticism of society.

BUSINESS Bleeding heart

11 Spiralling prices

April 8th - April 21st 2022

Algae success

TWO Spanish companies have joined forces to cultivate algae that stops nitrate pollution in water, as infamously seen over recent years at Murcia’s Mar Menor lagoon. Mediterranean Algae and G2G Algae Solutions have won an Agritech Startup Europe Award which encourages solutions to environmental and climate change issues.

Funding

The success of the companies, which were only formed in 2020, means they will get training in applying for European funding to take their joint-project, known as ALGALI-TIC, onto the next stage. If successful, they could win grants totalling up to €7 million. They plan to put the algae into water courses which will filter out harmful nitrates.

Russian oligarch behind Dia supermarket chain moans about ‘hardship’ of sanctions

THE oligarch behind Spain’s Dia supermarket chain has moaned about the hardships of not being able to access his fortune since sanctions were imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mikhail Fridman, who has an estimated fortune in excess of $10 billion told the Spanish newspaper El País this week that he was ‘practically under house arrest’. The businessman, who is based in London, said he was unable to access his bank accounts and his cred-

By Fiona Govan

it cards have been blocked. The 57-year-old said he had applied for permission to access funds to pay for his living costs but that if it were to be successful he could only withdraw £2,500 a month. He complained that it was barely ‘enough to live a normal life without excesses’. “I can’t even take anyone out to a restaurant. I have to eat at home and I am practically under house

SPANISH energy company Cepsa will spend €8 billion in a shift to using more low-carbon energy sources by 2030. The plan is for half the firm’s earnings to come from sustainable energy within eight years, as opposed to a projected 14% this year. Part of the strategy is a major overhaul of its network of 3,000 fuel stations in Spain to promote the use of electric cars. It will create an ultra-fast road charging network that includes at least one 150-kilowatt charger every 200 ki-

HARDSHIP: Fridman making do with €2,500 a month

arrest.” Home is the sprawling Victorian mansion Athlone

GOING GREEN lometres on the country’s main roads. The Cepsa plan backs the concept of green hydrogen, produced by passing renewably-produced electricity through water to split the element from oxygen. By 2030, Cepsa plans to have a green hydrogen refuelling station for heavy goods vehicles on all of the main routes that link Spain with Europe.

CRISIS PLANNING How to protect yourself against the volatility in the Pound Euro exchange rate, writes FX specialist Peter Loveday

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR Dominating the headlines at the moment, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also behind a lot of the movement in the Pound Euro pair. While both the Eurozone and UK economies are exposed to the economic fallout of the war and the sanctions levelled at Russia, the EU is particularly vulnerable, largely due to its energy links. So when there is positive news – such as progress in peace talks – the Euro tends to get a boost, while negative developments in Ukraine downgrade it. Of course, the situation in Ukraine is rapidly developing and constantly changing and even the savviest analysts are unsure how it will unfold. CENTRAL BANK POLICY Both the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB) are in the unenviable position of deciding on monetary policy at a time of surging inflation and faltering growth. Monetary policy has a massive impact on exchange rates. Usually central banks signal plans ahead of time so that any changes don’t shock markets. However, the huge amount of uncertainty at the moment makes it hard for policymakers to even decide on the best course of action, let alone communicate it in advance. That’s why the March meetings at the ECB and BoE both surprised markets, causing sharp changes in the GBP/ EUR rate.

Loss

The struggling retailer reported a €257 million loss for 2021 across its outlets in Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Portugal, after an intensive period of restructuring and store closures.

Taxing position PROPERTY owners in Spain face some of the highest tax rates in the EU when it comes to electricity bills. According to Eurostat, Denmark had the highest, followed by Germany, Portugal and then Spain. On top of an electricity production tax there are extra tolls and IVA. Currently, the latter is temporarily reduced to 10% from the usual 21%. The government has extended until June 30 the current tax reductions on electricity.

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HE Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate has seen some wild swings in recent months. In March alone, it fluctuated between €1.183 and a fiveyear high of €1.217 – a movement of around 2.8%. While we’re seemingly past the worst days of the coronavirus pandemic, other crises have stepped in to fill its place, injecting fresh uncertainty into the currency markets. Here’s what’s driving GBP/EUR at the moment and how you can protect against volatility:

House in Highgate which Fridman purchased in 2016 for an eye-watering £65 million. Fridman co-founded LIHS who hold 78% of shares in the Dia supermarket chain in Spain.

INFLATION in Spain has soared to 9.8% in March - the highest rate since May 1985, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). The rate stood at 7.6% in February. The INE said the March increase was due to the surge in electricity and fuel prices, but also by the rise in the cost of food items due to the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “It is a bad figure which affects our economy, especially more vulnerable groups … due to runaway energy prices.”

mallorca@currenciesdirect.com +34 871 510 277 ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY Adding to the volatility, both the UK and the Eurozone face increasing economic uncertainty. Britain and the EU initially bounced back from the pandemic but Omicron, soaring inflation and the Ukraine war have cast doubt on growth outlooks. When forecasts are cloudy, volatility can increase. Long-term planning becomes harder, so markets are prone to more shocks, spikes and dips as new economic data emerges. PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £20,000 transfer, that threecent gap between €1.18 and €1.21 translates to a €680 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer different tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager here in Spain to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. The people at Currencies Direct are a friendly - and locally based - bunch, so get in touch with them if you want to find out how they can help you.

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SUN, NATURE AND HEALING Spain is one of the top 10 places to retire, writes Del Canto Chambers

THERMAL BATHS From deep below the surface, mineral-rich thermal waters travel to the surface in the form of hundreds of natural thermal water pools all over Spain. These natural pools relieve ailments such as rheumatism and gastrointestinal problems, as well as accelerating the body’s metabolism, relieving muscle tension, stress, eliminating toxins and treating skin conditions. Ourense is considered the thermal capital of Spain. It has many thermal pools along the Miño River. Some are private but many are open to the public. Pozas Muiño de Veiga is a

ing of ‘The best beaches in the world of 2022’. The ranking is based on reviews by users that have visited the beaches, and six kilometre-long Playa de Muro secured 17th place.

free open-air hot spring with temperatures of 65-70 °C. Set in stunning scenery, the water in these pools is said to help cure some skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. The springs of Pozas de Outariz and Burgas de Canedo are freely accessible to the public. Both parts have a cold water pool and three 60 °C hot water pools. The healing properties of the waters of Fuente O Tinteiro also located in Ourense have been recognised for many years. The waters flow at a temperature of 43 °C and are said to erase scars, treat oral conditions and acne, atopic eczema and varicose ulcers. In Granada you will find the thermal baths Las Pozas Termales de Santa Fe. With natural temperatures between 38 and 43°C, the pools are in a unique location surrounded by olive and pine groves. These sulphate waters are rich in minerals and have medicinal properties that help with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, rheumatism and dermatological conditions. Also in the province of Granada is the Zújar spa. With free admission, it is located in an impressive setting between the Jabalcón mountain and the Negratín reservoir. The thermal waters that nourish this spa emanate from Jabalcón Mountain and can reach up to 40ºC. The water is bright turquoise in colour and is a mixture of therapeutic sulphates and minerals. Below lie the remains of an ancient Roman spa. The thermal baths of Alhama are some of the oldest in Andalucia, dating back to the Nasrid period in Granada. These thermal pools played an important role in Moorish culture with the remains of the ancient spa still visible with the iconic domes in the spa located near the free pools. The water flows at a temperature of 40°C, and many of Granada’s residents flock here daily to take advantage of its medicinal properties. Those are just some samples of healing options from many other places you may find all over the country. You may consider to experience the Spanish lifestyle for longer periods of time, either spending your holidays in different regions, or considering to retire there by renting or purchasing a property to spend some time, or even becoming a resident in Spain. If you plan so, we at Del Canto Chambers can offer you extensive advice and guidance by analysing better residency options, offering clear knowledge on tax planning, either in Spain and in the UK, and supporting you in all the legalities required when purchasing a property.

To make a no-obligation enquiry, please either call us now on: +44 2070 430 648 or make an online enquiry at www.delcantochambers.es

SUPERMARKETS will be allowed to ration essentials in a bid to stop shelves from being emptied by panic buyers. Milk and sunflower oil have been particularly scarce in supermarkets across Spain over the past week, as hoarders stocked up amid fears that supplies of cooking oil from Ukraine could dry up. A lorry drivers strike has affected dairies with several shutting down production as they could not distribute milk. But su-

Attempt to stop hoarding amid Ukraine war shortages By Jorge Hinojosa

permarket bosses say there is plenty to go around - as long as people stop panic buying. Some supermarkets had been attempting to limit the sale of certain products to prevent stockpiling but did not have

Just the ticket TRAVELLERS will now be able to take advantage of a combined ticket that includes both air and rail journeys to reach 14 destinations across Spain The scheme is a partnership between Spain’s flagship airline Iberia and state rail operator Renfe which is being upgraded and expanded to include more cities around Spain. The Train&Fly scheme now includes Zaragoza, Sevilla, Malaga, Cordoba, Valladolid, Valencia, Alicante, Leon, Palencia, Pamplona, Salamanca, Albacete, Zamora and Orense. The combined ticket also includes fares on the local train network known as ‘cercanias’ to connect between Madrid’s Adolfo Suarez Barajas airport and Atocha or Chamartin. The service is available for both single and return travel with one ticket valid for the entire journey from the city of origin outside of Spain to the final destination within it. The new system will enable travellers to travel from London Heathrow to Orense in Galicia with just one ticket.

the legal backing to do so. Spain’s government has now announced that it had approved rationing on a temporary basis as part of the raft of measures introduced to mitigate the impact of the Ukraine war that will be in place until June 30. Trade Minister Reyes Maroto said: “The law change provides legal backing so that they can limit the number of items bought and thus avoid hoarding, and to ensure fair access for all consumers.”

Prohibited

But not everyone agrees. General Secretary of consumers’ association FACUA, Ruben Sanchez told the Olive Press: “A practice prohibited for almost 30 years is being authorised. This will encourage hoarding by limiting the number of products that a consumer can buy. “This new power should not be left in the hands of supermarkets who will take advantage by raising the prices of items. This is wholly irresponsible by the government.”

EARNING HIS BREAD MADRID is officially home to the best sandwich in Spain - and it’s creator has bagged €1,500. Neotavern of Santerra was crowned at Spain’s ‘Sandwich Oscars’, when its chef took the top title at the Madrid Fusion Sandwich Contest. The gourmet tapas bar, located on Calle Ponzano in Chamberi, triumphed after a taste-off against hundreds of sandwiches from across the country. Chef Maximo Benagues’s ‘Ventresca Madurada’ - a combination of tuna tartare, garlic, oil, pepper sauce, mustard, lettuce and smoked cheddar - won the judges over. Benagues said it was the tuna that made his sandwich so special. The red tuna belly is matured with sea salt for 24 hours and wrapped in ribeye fat, the chef revealed. He scooped the winning trophy along with the cash.

OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 1 Parkway, 5 Clods, 9 Colour, 10 Oakley, 11 Inches, 12 Didcot, 13 Key, 14 Dewy, 15 Mitt, 17 Yip, 19 Untrue, 21 Rupees, 23 Dismal, 24 Fliers, 25 Stony, 26 Protest Down: 2 Acorn, 3 Know-how, 4 At risk, 6 Likud, 7 Died out, 8 Dowdy, 14 Dentist, 16 Imprint, 17 Yells, 18 Prefer, 20 Roman, 22 Earls

SUDOKU

The shirin-yoku or ‘forest baths’ is a technique originated in Japan. As we mentioned at the beginning, contact with nature is a very effective therapy to reduce stress levels. In Spain there are numerous places where you can enjoy this experience: the Natural Reserve of Muniellos, in Asturias, the Faedo de Ciñera, in León, or the Herrería forest, in Madrid. Healing power of forests in exceptional ecosystems.

A MALLORCAN beach has been named amongst the world’s top 20. Playa de Muro’s fine golden sand and turquoise water impressed Tripadvisor, who ranked it alongside beaches in Australia, Italy and Hawaii. It is the only beach in Spain that made it onto Tripadvisor’s rank-

Rationing go ahead

MUD BATHS

FOREST BATHING

FOOD & DRINK

April 8th April 21st 2022

LIFE’S A BEACH

E are convinced that Spain is the most popular country for Europeans seeking a home overseas. Beaches, mountains, fabulous cities, colourful festivals, culture and sunshine are almost every place all year round. The beneﬁts of sun exposure derived from this connection with nature are varied and include improved circadian rhythm and rest. Better concentration at work, better cognitive performance and less effort in reading processes, since natural light increases visual capacity; Increases productivity, reducing chronic fatigue. It acts as a natural antidepressant, favouring general well-being. In Spain there are many different options to improve your health, cure ongoing ailments and have fun in the process. Some of these options originate from ancient medical practices and others are more modern initiatives. Here are some recommendations:

The mud that can be found in many coastal areas of Spain is known for its therapeutic, antioxidant and anti-inﬂammatory properties. It is believed to promote collagen production, improve circulation, eliminate toxins, relieve muscle tension and improve skin tone. Cadiz, Bolonia Beach. A virgin beach made up of a spectacular system of dunes, kilometres of ﬁne sand and a section of rocks where mud baths have been formed, a mud rich in mineral salts, magnesium, copper, zinc and silicon that contributes to the elimination of toxins, reduction of excess fat in the skin, improves circulation and increases the production of collagen in a natural way. The mud is only accessible at low tide, when you can walk along the shore to reach the rocks. Las Charcas de Lo Pagan (Murcia) has the most famous mud baths in Spain. The type of mud that can be found here attracts thousands of visitors every year for its healing properties that help to alleviate some skin problems such as psoriasis, joint and muscle pain and has exfoliating effects leaving the skin soft. It is located in the Regional Park of San Pedro del Pinatar and is completely free of charge.

HEALTH THE world's first case of an otter killed by Covid has been discovered in Valencia. A team of researchers at three Valencian universities attributed the infection to contact with contaminated sewage in the river where the animal was living. The Eurasian otter’s remains were found in the Bellus reservoir, near Beniganim. The virus was detected using two different PCR tests, one nasally and the other using lung tissue. In May last year, the same team detected two positive cases of the virus in mink in two rivers in Castellon.

Souls

THE withdrawal of the obligatory use of face masks indoors is just around the corner, with the Central Government setting April 20 as the day the regulation will be lifted. But masks will continue to be mandatory in hospitals, health centres, nursing homes and public transport.

HEALTH bosses are considering raising tobacco prices and banning smoking on bar and restaurant terraces, and inside cars. Spain’s Minister for Health Carolina Darias is reportedly finishing off a reform to Spain’s Tobacco Law in a bid to reduce the number of smokers in Spain. It could see a hike on the price of tobacco where a packet of 20 cigarettes currently costs around €5, half the price of a pack in neighbouring France. The new rules could also see outside public entertainment spaces, including terraces

CONSUMERS are being warned against buying pre-cut fruit and veg. Not only are they paying a higher price at the checkout - pre-cut fruit and veg comes with a significant markup - but they could also be risking their health. According to Spain’s Food Safety Agency (AESAN) certain fruit is much more likely to be contaminated if you buy it pre-cut. It has issued a warning about buying precut and packaged fruit with high water content such as watermelon, melon, pineapple and papaya. Pre-cut fruit has a far higher chance of car-

Pic credit: Allan Binderup/Mallorca

Alarming death

April 8th - April 21st 2022

Unmasked

Restaurants, bars, cinemas and nightclubs will not have to enforce a no-mask rule. Meanwhile, travellers flying to the island with Norwegian will no longer have to wear masks on board flights.

Stub it out

Tobacco prices risers and extended smoking bans on the cards and sports stadiums, become smoke free as well as banning smoking in private cars. The move has been welcomed by anti-smoking campaigners. “We totally agree with these new measures, and hope they

Cutting advice rying salmonella especially when kept in warm temperatures. Although it is entirely legal to sell pre-cut fruit and veg in Spain, there are strict rules that must be applied. The fruit must be kept in temperature below 25ºC and in a ventilated space that is not exposed to direct sunlight. The agency also says such fruit should be consumed within three hours of being opened.

are not the only ones,” Raquel Fernández Megina, director of the Association Nofumadores.org told the Olive Press. “Spain hasn’t made any changes to its laws regulating tobacco since 2010,” she added referring to the date when Spain banned smoking inside public spaces including restaurants and offices.

Communal

“The 70% of people who do not smoke are under attack in communal spaces like terraces by those who do smoke,” explained Fernandez whose lobby group launched a Change.org petition to ban it. Experts believe Spaniards may be more willing to accept the curbs since a ban

on smoking at outdoor tables of cafes, bars and restaurants was imposed as one of the Covid-19 measures during the pandemic.

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Spanish boost

A Covid-19 booster vaccine made by a Spanish pharmaceutical firm has moved a step closer to being approved and could be on the market within two months. Trials on the Hipra vaccine have shown it to be effective against Omicron strain and it is now under review by the EU watchdog, the last step before approval. The vaccine, which is currently in phase three trials, has been tested on 3,000 people from Italy, The protein-based vaccine acts as a booster for those who have already been fully vaccinated with another of the five vaccines approved by the EMA and is known as PHH-1V.

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Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same or lower price range, and to the same prescription. Both pairs include standard 1.5 single-vision lenses (or 1.6 for 199€ Rimless range). Varifocal/bifocal: pay for lenses in first pair only. One pair with free sun and UV tint – usually 40€. Excludes SuperDrive, SuperDigital varifocals, SuperReaders 1-2-3 occupational lenses and safety eyewear. Additional charge – Extra Options. Specsavers España Franchisor S.L. (with VAT number B84536291 and registered office in Pradillo Street 5 Ground floor, 28002, Madrid, Spain) is responsible for this offer.

Olive Press Mallorca– 170mm x 256mm – Colour

April 8th

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PROPERTY

April 8th April 21st 2022

BARGAIN BUYS

The cheapest places to buy in Spain and none are in the Balearics

VALENCIA, Toledo and Granada are the most affordable provinces in Spain. According to property portal Idealista there are 89 towns in Valencia with homes offered for sale below €1,000 per square metre. The cheapest properties are in the village of Benifairo de la Valldigna, at just €430 per square metre. Toledo province in Castilla-La Mancha had 65 towns and Granada 40 meanwhile. The town which has the cheapest property in Spain is that of Alcaudete de la Jara, in Toledo, where the average price was just €316

Pic credit: Allan Binderup

PEACE OF MIND

PRICEY: Palma is one of the most expensive regions

per square metre. It is followed by the nearby Cordoba towns of Fuente

IN THE MONEY! PROPERTY investment in Spain is at record levels and more than double last year. Transactions in the first quarter are expected to hit €3.7 billion, a 136% increase on 2021. According to real estate consultancy firm JLL, residential rental property has become the main segment for investment. This year has also seen a strong return to investment in hotels, following uncertainty in the sector due to the pandemic.

Obejuna, with €341 and Belmez with €370. In total, 815 towns across Spain have homes for sale below €1,000 per square metre. On the other end of the scale are the four provinces where not a single property can be found with a price tag below €1,000 per square metre. Not surprisingly, these are the Balearic islands, the provinces of Guipuzcoa and Vizcaya in the Basque Country and finally Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

My Spanish saviour SELLING a villa in Mallorca saved singing star Claire Sweeney during the pandemic. The former Brookside actress, who is currently starring in 9 to 5: The Musical, sold it for just under €1million in 2019, which helped her ‘sit it out comfortably’. It more than made up for her paltry earnings of just 6,000 euros during the whole of 2021 with almost no work. “Our industry was decimated. Thankfully I’d sold this big house in Spain so I was blessed that I could sit it out comfortably,” she told the Sunday Times. “It broke my heart to sell but it was in its own grounds and my little boy didn’t want that - he wanted to be with other kids.” She bought the house in 2004 for €690,000 and sold it for €950,000, but ended up ‘more or less’ even after all the taxes. “I wanted to do everything right and paid both Spanish and English taxes…I got back more or less what I’d put into it,” she continued.

A safe haven

VER 3,000 kilometres separate the ‘tranquillity’ of Is the Ukraine war (and the costas from the horrors inflation) affecting Spain’s of Ukraine. However, the effects of the war have become the property market, asks ‘trigger’ for a sharp rise in inflation Campbell Ferguson of and shortages that have been building up since the financial crisis in Survey 2007/8. Spain This has been building with 14 years of quantitative easing, which basically means the ‘watering down’ of cu- costs, there are some positives. rrencies. In particular, property is seen as a Add in a sudden shortage of fuel, safe haven in times of inflation… wheat and other commodities, along- and Spain has a nice range of it side disruptions of trade caused by as far away as one can get from the got. One lawyer even said Covid, and consumers are suddenly troubles in northern Europe, inclu- that two clients had pulled out of finding they’re not getting so much ding the Ukraine war. deals within the last few days, losing for their Euros, Pounds or Kroner, and Then there are the obvious factors their 10% deposits. like the weather and cost of living, Either way, agents have rarely been definitely not their Roubles. Inflation is traditionally slowed by but also things like the ‘free’ energy so busy with deals being concluded wage and price controls, with the la- from the sun being readily available and the difficulty of finding properties tter now being implemented in Spain here. for their clients to buy. for fuel, as well as resOver the last week, I’ve The logic is that demand should go trictions on rent increaasked many professio- down for those just looking for a hoses. nals if they are finding liday home, as there will be less moIt is also controlled by There’s greater any evidence of chan- ney around. ges in the local market. British buyers are likely to be some of reducing the amount uncertainty Overall, the answer the worst affected as they are already of money available, by has been, ‘Not yet’. But suffering from the impact of Brexit. increasing interest raabout the tes. This leads to cash there’s greater uncer- Russians, too, will be absent. future tainty about the future, However, the reduction in these secand savings having particularly from their tors are being made up for by buyers less value, meaning anxious to place their funds in solid clients. people start using it to With some, there is an assets, far away from the current buy things that will hold urgency to buy just to get the security conflict. their value, such as property. While rising interest rates make mort- of a ‘fixed’ asset before anything ma- And the costas have already seen gages more expensive, at a time jor happens. significant increase in buyers from when consumers are spending more With others, there is greater caution Germany, and interestingly Romania, of their income on general living and a wish to hold onto what they’ve over recent months.

Golden visas Something else worth considering is the EU’s planned changes on the granting of investment-backed visa’s. This is likely to cause a rush of applications with ‘golden Visas’, as they are called, getting granted to families investing more that €500,000 in property here. They can also be acquired by investing the same amount in Spanish companies or even Spanish Government Bonds. Overall, expensive property should not see any significant changes, with an increase of interest rates. However, lower value property purchases are more often linked to mortgages, and that market may

stutter as buyers find it harder to find a mortgage or shy away from them in case interest rates rise substantially. Fixed rate mortgages are becoming hard to find. We tend to forget that higher interest rates were once common around Europe, with them being as high as 17% in the UK in 1979, when inflation averaged 13%. Fortunately, and hopefully, we are a long way away from those levels. To conclude, I believe the demand for property from those with money will continue, therefore encouraging the upper price sector of the market in Spain. However, buyers, agents and other professionals will be ‘looking over their shoulders’ with unease, unsure of what lies ahead.

Campbell D Ferguson, FRICS. Chartered Surveyor in Spain. RICS Registered Valuer. Director – Survey Spain SL. Regulated by RICS. Tel: 00 34 952 923 520 & Mobile: 00 34 650 599 701 www.surveyspain.com

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OLIVE PRESS ALL EDITIONS - PROMO 1 - FP 342 X 256 - APRIL 6, 2022

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Talking turkey

FINAL WORDS

TURKEYS escaping from Torrevieja’s (Alicante) Parque de la Naciones have been terrorising passers-by and flocking on to the N-332 main road, leading the local council to call in a specialist trapping firm to rehome the birds.

Hands off! VETS at Barcelona zoo have been unable to find out the sex of a rare newborn Spider Monkey as its’s mother is so protective they can not examine it.

OLIVE PRESS

The

REuse REduce REcycle

MALLORCA

FREE

Vol. 5 Issue 128

www.theolivepress.es

Your expat

voice in Spain April 8th - April 21st 2022

Drive for equality

Black Hawk Down

Police catch dive-bombing hawk that attacked humans and caused terror A BIRD of prey that was causing havoc in the town of Tobarra, Albacete, has finally been caught. The Harris hawk had escaped from its owner, a local falconry enthusiast from Murcia. It decided to settle in Albacete, some 150 km away, and was causing panic for the town's 8,000 residents. It was seen swooping down

on children in the streets, striking fear into locals that someone could be seriously injured. Environmental rangers were called in to help a team from Seprona, the nature protection arm of Guardia Civil. Together, they hatched a plan to catch the rogue bird with a trap involving decoy birds, culminating in its capture in the net of a five-metre-long pole.

WINGS CLIPPED: The rogue hawk was finally captured

The operation was not made easy for them due to the bird’s use of the town’s electricity

Ham fisted

HAMBURGLAR STRIKES AGAIN

A 52-year-old man has been arrested for stealing premium legs of ham from a Malaga market, with him accused of nicking €10,000 worth of the delicacies after climbing a street light to get in the premises on six occasions.

A RESTAURANT bill dodger has once again proven there is such a thing as a free lunch. Hamburglar Antonio Miguel Grimal fell back into his old ways and tried to flee without paying for a burger - mere days after being released from prison. The Olive Press previously reported that the 47-year-old

from Zaragoza was cuffed after he refused to pay a €70 bill. The crook was sent to prison but on his release went straight back to skipping payment and refused to pay a €47 bill at a hamburger restaurant. The fraudster has been arrested over 30 times since 2016 for the same crime.

Friends. Reset.

Comfort.

Sunset.

poles as a vantage point. The raptor was captured safely and without being harmed before being sent to the Wildlife Recovery Center of Albacete. The bird, native to America, is known to be very aggressive when stressed. It is a popular bird among falconists and they are often used to disperse pigeons from London’s Trafalgar Square and the tennis courts at Wimbledon. Harris hawks range in length from 46 to 59 cm, with a wingspan of up to 120cm.

MORE than half of women in Spain say they have been the target of sexist statements about being bad drivers. A survey reveals that 50.6% of Spanish women have had the trope about women behind the wheel said about them. Meanwhile 18% of men admitted to believing that women are worse drivers than men. The findings were published as part of a campaign by car maintenance firm Midas to bust the myths that women are worse drivers than men. The company has now teamed up with the charity Ayuda en Accion to empower women on the roads by paying for driving lessons for women who can’t afford them.

Paws for court A MADRID court is to bring in dogs to help support and calm witnesses and victims when they are about to testify. The programme, launched under the name ‘Dogtor Animal’s Courthouse Dogs Research project’, is being trialled. Research in the US has shown that pooches can aid in calming the victim and eases the process.

Much more than four stars.

At Ocean Drive Port Portals we have our own star rating. Because, we like the stars of the Majorcan sky, the stars that form the lights of the harbour or the star service provided by each member of our team. A hotel that maximises the destination to it's full potential, thanks to it's excellent location. It offers great local experiences at any moment. With art, design, relaxation and comfort. A hotel full of life.

Music.

Good life.