Olive Press Mallorca - Issue 115 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

OLIVE PRESS

The

MALLORCA

FREE

Vol. 5 Issue 115

Brits in the frame AT least three British expats are under investigation into a €50 million fraud case following police raids across Mallorca. The British landlord of a crew flat in Santa Catalina, which was raided by armed Spanish and German officers has been questioned in relation to the fraud. Others under investigation include two Britons with a business in Puerto Portals that may have been used almost exclusively to launder large amounts of money. The simultaneous raids in Mallorca and various other European cities, primarily in Germany, were led by the Prosecutor's Office in Palma in a joint operation with German police. British yachtie Dandelion Sharp, described the terrifying raid by police at the crew house in Palma when her door was kicked down by police with assault rifles and pistols. “There were about 20 of them, some in uniform armed with rifles and others in plain clothes with hand guns,” described deckhand Sharp, 21, from Somerset. “I was really scared and had no idea what was happening and whether they intended to harm me. It was like waking up in a movie.”

Network

The exact nature of the scam has not yet been revealed, but it is understood that the international network deceived customers with products online that did not exist. The ‘frontman’ of the fraud on the island is another foreign citizen, whose nationality has not yet been divulged, who was allegedly paid €1,000 per month to act as the CEO of a large international investment company. But it’s reported he was unaware of any fraudulent activity. The man lives in the Gomila district of Palma, one of the properties raided. Police sources indicate that he is an alcoholic and was used by the fraudsters who had power of attorney. Various companies in Ireland were opened and closed using his name, but he claimed not to know about them. In February 2020, Germany requested the man’s extradition.

SP18206EN - Front page Ewn adverts v2.indd 4

expat

voice in Spain

Open at last: Island art gallery paradise, see page 9

September 24th - October 7th 2021

...BRIMSTONE!

FLOOD...

Apocalyptic scenes from across Spain and Mallorca See pages 4, 5, 6 and 7

FIRE...

GREEN FOR GO

Get set for rush of bookings from the UK as the traffic light system is finally scrapped THE UK’s controversial traffic light system will be officially scrapped next month - and airlines have already reported a surge in bookings. Ryanair reports an explosion of bookings to Spain after news broke of the end of the hated COVID testing system. In what is excellent news for expat businesses in the Balearics, this weekend is set to be the busiest for UK bookings since 2019. “We are seeing extraordinary bookings for the mid term break. All our flights to Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain are filling up very rapidly,” said Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary. Popular destinations like Palma, Calvia

Discover hassle-free currency transfers

2 147 834

www.theolivepress.es

Your

Portals Nous, 07181, Mallorca.

14/02/2020 23:25

By Isha Sesay

and Ibiza are now set to see a healthy autumn and winter season. The majority of their bars and restaurants rely on British tourists to see them through the difficult winter months. The current red, amber and green country rankings will be replaced with one red list only from October 4. It also means a significant loosening of travel rules for people entering and leaving the UK, from around Europe. Passengers who are fully vaccinated will also no longer need to present a negative test to travel into England from countries not on the red list. See page 5 The red list, which features 62 countries at present, will be reduced

Tel: 952 147 834 TM

to 56 with the removal of among others Kenya, Egypt and Sri Lanka. The change will initially only apply to England, with the Scottish government announcing it will have its own set of rules. The Welsh government has also said that it would first need to carefully consider the measures. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said it was not possible to scrap the system sooner because scientific advice did not favour it.

Lower cost

He said the changes would mean a ‘simpler, more straightforward system, one with less testing and lower costs, allowing more people to travel, see loved ones or conduct business around the world while providing a boost for the travel industry.’ British demand for foreign holidays is now expected to reach its highest level since 2019 after the main barrier for travel to Spain was removed.

CRIME

www.theolivepress.es

September 24th - October 7th 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF

Rape arrests

Jetting away with it

Suicide shot

TWO Italian tourists have been arrested for the alleged rape of an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Magaluf. The teenage suspects returned to their hotel at 2am with two girls who were also staying at the same hotel. One of the girls went to the boys’ room and it was reported that after kissing him she decided to return to her own room. It is alleged that the two boys did not let her leave and raped her. The defendants are being held at a local police station and will

A TRIO of prisoners have escaped a Spanish prison on jet skis. The group of Moroccans escaped Melilla jail during a threeday leave in the enclave. The trio went awol on September 13 having planned their departure for months, it is believed. However the prison noted that escapes like this one are highly unlikely as they only represent 0.4% of inmates. The prison union is demanding the dismissal of the director over the escape.

Go to jail TWO brothers have each been sentenced to seven years in prison for attempted murder after they slashed the throat of a bar worker in Manacor, leaving a wound 1.5cm deep and 15 cms long.

Taken down SOME 106 people have been arrested in a joint operation between Spanish and Italian police for allegedly laundering €10 million for mafia groups through Spanish banks.

Behave! A MASSIVE illegal street party involving 25,000 students has led to university authorities in Madrid urging students to be more responsible.

Justice demand A BRITISH man faces 18 years in jail after he allegedly killed a fellow Brit by kicking and punching him while he lay helpless on the floor. Mitchell Andrew Loveridge, aged 25, is accused of murdering 21-year-old Harry Kingsland from Shirley, Solihull, who suffered catastrophic head injuries in the incident in San Antonio, Ibiza. in July 2018.

18 years jail on the cards for expat killer By Isha Sesay

According to prosecutors, Kingsland and Loveridge were drinking in an apartment with two other friends after they had finished their day working as club promoters on the strip.

A MAN was beaten and robbed in Palma by 15 youths for €10 and a mobile phone. Police are investigating the attack after the man was repeatedly punched and kicked while he lay on the ground by the mob, who fled after stealing his bag. The violent robbery took place at 00:30am on Sunday morning. The victim described how he was walking home on Sureda Street and was approached by the boys,

Kingsland had tried to intervene in an argument between Loveridge and another of the friends but was punched in the head by the defendant. The blow was so severe that it left Kingsland semi-conscious and convulsing on the floor. Loveridge then continued

Vicious attack who without a word threw him to the ground and launching the vicious assault. The man managed to escape the pack of youths and ran in the direction of Calle Manacor, but two of the thugs chased after him and hit him on the head with a stick before he finally escaped.

Photo credit: Julie Kingsland

A MAN in Manacor who wanted to take his own life ended up being shot several times by police after trying to stab a medic who was trying to sedate him. He is stable and recovering in hospital.

TRIBUTE: to tragic Harry

to punch and kick him, causing catastrophic head injuries which ultimately led to his death. After the attack, the defendant jumped from the balcony of the second floor apartment and then started another fight with a stranger metres away before being arrested. As well as asking for an 18-year sentence, prosecutors are also demanding €300,000 compensation for the victim’s family.

Care home sex ring POLICE have arrested 17 people involved in an underage prostitution ring that ‘recruited’ troubled girls, many of whom were in care at centres across Mallorca. A special investigation by the family crimes unit led to the arrest of 10 men and seven women for the alleged corruption of minors, said a Policia Nacional spokesman. Three of those arrested were underage girls who had allegedly convinced others to runaway from the children’s homes to have sex in exchange for money.

Paid

The remaining 14 people arrested were aged between 21 and 65 years old and had paid the girls for sex after contacting them through sex ads. The arrests followed an investigation dating back to 2018 when police uncovered a prostitution ring that recruited young girls from child protection centres run by local authorities. The girls were advertised on the internet offering their services, or clients were put in contact with them through the network, or by word of mouth from others who had previously had sex with the minors.

THE MOST PROFESSIONAL DISTRIBUTION NETWORK ON THE COSTAS ENSURES AN EFFICIENT AND GREEN SERVICE FOR THE OLIVE PRESS

STAND BY ME!

he Olive Press has always invested heavily in ensuring that our copies are readily available for our growing legion of readers. We work hard to achieve our target of zero returns, ensuring we do not waste money or paper, which is an ever important factor for our environmentally-conscious readers. Since 2019 we have employed the services of Self Select Media, the UK market leader in charge of distributing hundreds of free papers and magazines, including the Evening Standard, Metro and Time Out! OWNER: The team that now has a company in southern Spain has analStewart ysed the region and strategically placed our stands within the main Leece supermarkets and major expat hangouts around the costas. This highly targeted process ensures that you can conveniently pick up your favourite read easily every two weeks. To keep in line with our green philosophy it also allows us to closely monitor our distribution and how it ebbs and flows depending on tourism and trends. We receive detailed photo reports of each of the drops, timed as they happen, and the number of copies left over. As Steward Leece, the boss of Self Select explains: “We have 125 years of publishing and distribution experience and know Spain well having had a home here for three decades. “It is a pleasure to work with the Olive Press, one of the market leaders in Spain, to ensure that the company maintains and expands its reach around the country.” He continues: “The basis of our service is that Every copy is taken by personal choice. We offer publishers and advertisers a controlled fully quantifiable media distribution route to market. Via a network of displays placed within high footfall retail outlets, and targeted miscellaneous distribution points across the North and South Costa Blanca region, and now Valencia.”

For up-to-date information on your nearest distribution point, then please visit www.theolivepress.es or read our digital versions online. For more information on our fantastic ditribution partner, please visit www.selfselectmedia.es

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

The odd couple IN one of the most unexpected pairings in entertainment history, filmmaker David Lynch and singer Pharrell Williams have paired up to open a nightclub and beach restaurant in Ibiza. Situated on the west coast of the White Isle, El Silencio Ibiza features ‘huge fabric tentacles, giant lips and swing seats, giving off the vibe of an ethereal, Lynchian dreamland,’ said Miranda Makaroff, the artist and fashion designer responsible for the some of the premises’ interiors.

Cocktails

PHOTO BY: El Silencio Ibiza

Managed by Arnaud Frisch, the space has been designed by Moredesign with the cocktails imagined by Diego Cabrera. While the artsy club and cocktail bar is something to behold, these peculiarities are enhanced by a Balearic-themed restaurant backed by Williams’ own ToGo street-food group. Sitting on wooden tables directly on Cala Moli beach, diners can enjoy simple dishes such as a strawberry, feta and tomato salad, tempura calamari or Iberian pork with sweet potatoes and chorizo. There’s even a pool complete with a simple poolside menu that includes Mediterranean favou-

LOOKING GOOD: El Silencio interior

By Isha Sesay

rites including toasted focaccia bread and mozzarella with caramelised tomato. This is not the first time Lynch has delved into the nightclub world having opened a members-only club in Paris called Club Silencio which was inspired by his classic film Mulholland

and open to the general public from Monday to Friday until the end of October.

The King’s gambit

Back for more HE made his name starring in the BBC drama The Night Manager in the Balearics. And now British star Tom Hiddleston (pictured) has returned to the island of Ibiza with his girlfriend Zawe Ashton (with Tom below). The Avengers star, 40, put on an affectionate display with the actress in the water before heading back to the shore where they were joined by friends.

Betrayal

The pair have been together since starring in the West End play Betrayal in 2019. They are now reportedly living together in Atlanta where the actor relocated to film his new Disney series Loki. Hiddleston made his name starring alongside Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager, which was mostly filmed around Mallorca.

TV show set to put Juan Carlos I’s dodgy dealings and affairs under the lens

Slimmed down sparkle

EXCLUSIVE By Giles Brown

A BRITISH TV documentary is to chart the rise and fall of Spain’s former King Juan Carlos I. The controversial Channel 5 documentary will be looking at both his private life, as well as financial indiscretions. In particular, it will be looking at various offshore bank accounts and a number in Switzerland, which could amount to over one billion euros. The embattled king, who is still living in exile in Abu Dhabi, has suffered a huge fall from grace since he broke his hip during a safari trip to Botswana, in 2012. It was during that trip that his affair with Danish businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, 57, became known. It emerged last month that she is suing him for 'tens of

KIM CLARK

Benefits Consultancy If you suffer from... • Mobility problems • Pain / Breathlessness • Falls / Stumbles

Drive. Its new Spanish counterpart is however much less formal

September 24th - October 7th 2021

Or you need... • Help with washing /dressing • Supervision

You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness/disability benefits while living in Spain FOR ADVICE OR TO BOOK A CONSULTATION call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 www.ukbenefitsinspain.com

OLD FLAMES: Former King and his ex-lover Corinna millions of euros' in the High Court, in London, after accusing him of 'unlawful covert surveillance'. She had an affair with the former monarch, 83, between 2004 and 2009.

Gifted

She later claimed he had 'gifted' her €65 million out of guilt for the 'intense pressure' she came under and as an expression of his love. It's believed the payment came out of funds that originated with a $100million gift from the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in 2008. The 83-year-old monarch - who is married to Queen Sofia, 82 - is being probed by Swiss prosecutors over a number of accounts in tax havens. Prosecutors are currently investigating deposits into his accounts where he received

Love is in the air

his official royal allowance of almost €200,000 a year. The Spanish tax authorities are particularly interested in payments made tby Mexican Allen Sangines-Krause, as well as from private jet company Zagatka. The ongoing investigation is focussing on the period between 2014 to 2018. A Channel 5 source told the Olive Press, the 90-minute documentary would be ‘controversial’ and ‘eye-opening’’. It talks to key experts, biographers and historians who know about Juan Carlos' early life, how he rejected Franco's ideals and helped usher Spain to democracy. “We will also be looking at his more recent downfall and the investigations he faces, and finally what his legacy will be in the eyes of his countrymen,” said the source.

SHE has spent the summer getting back to her roots. Love Island star Dani Dyer jetted to Mallorca - where her grandfather comes from - for her 25th birthday celebrations. The winner of the celebrated British TV show rented a villa with her parents and HOLS: Dani and dad son Santiago. She shared a series of snaps of her stunning break on her Instagram and YouTube feeds. They included one of her father, Eastenders star Danny, toasting to his 'sweet one'.

This years Global Gift Gala was down in numbers due to the pandemic and health restrictions, but the occasion had a dash of Hollywood glamour as always. Although Global Gift Ambassador and frequent Marbella visior Eva Longoria was unable to attend, founder Maria Bravo was joined on the night by Prison Break actor Amaury Nolasco, Despacito singer Luis Fonsi and CSI star Gary Dourdan, along with Miss World 2020, Ana Garcia Segundo. The most special guests, however, were the inspirational young people who have benefited from the work of the Global Gift Foundation.

HOTTING UP SPAIN and Belgium are the first two teams to qualify for the finals of the European Cricket Championship. They topped Group A of the 10-overs-a-side competition being held at the Cartama Oval, near Malaga. In total, 15 nations are battling it out to earn the chance to be crowned champions in finals week where six teams will play a round robin competition from October 4 to 8. There are plenty of games to watch for enthusiasts, with games in Group B currently being played. Defending champions Germany and an England XI will be in action next week in Group C. In total, 100 matches will have been played in the European Cricket Network-organised competition. For more details visit www.ecn.cricket

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Cup of charity CALA Nova Cancer Care Charity Shop is hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning at The Secret Garden bar and restaurant in Portal Nous today (Friday) from 11am. There will be music, a tombola and a selection of items for sale from the charity shop, which has since expanded into further premises on Calle Joan Miro, and offers some fantastic furniture and household items. Everyone is welcome to the coffee morning at the Secret Garden, Carrer Oratori, and cake donations would be greatly received. There is a €5 charity donation for entry, which includes one coffee and a slice of cake.

A MISSING 15-year-old British girl has been located after disappearing for over three weeks. The teenager, Emina Ilora Alice Winterbottom, was last seen on August 31, and reported missing to police by her parents when she failed to return to her home in Palma. Mallorca National Police said: “We cannot give more information because the in-

vestigation is being carried out by the UFAM group (family and women’s care units) and we are unable to provide details.” It’s believed Emina is originally from Manchester but moved to Mallorca with her family where she attended

Storms bring floods as homes and businesses inundated across the Balearics

By Isha Sesay

the £5,700-per-year Escola Global international school, according to her Facebook.

WET ROAD: Car washed away

By Terenia Taras

BURST BANK: River overflows onto road

Accidental deaths

SAFE AND WELL

RIVERS OF DESTRUCTION SEVERE flooding has struck hundreds of homes, businesses and roads on the Balearics. The worst hit islands were Minorca and Mallorca, which remained on orange alert yesterday as more heavy rain and thunderstorms were expected. The torrential rainfall throughout the Balearics

September 24th - October 7th 2021

caused chaos, immersing streets and roads in fast-flowing rivers of rainwater. Houses and businesses became water-logged following the deluge. The Guardia Civil, the Consell Fire Department, Local Police and 112 emergency Services were inundated with calls for help from residents in Alcudia, Pollensa, Muro, Felanitx, Soller, sa Pobla, Palma and Manacor. Alcudia was one of the worst affected areas with access roads submerged in water and closed to traffic. Fire crews rescued one man from his car after it was trapped in floods on the Alcudia ring road. Volunteers came out in force using buckets to help clear the water in streets near s’Albufera in Playa de Muro, until emergency services arrived to assist.

In Pollensa, an empty car was swept away in the torrent. The treacherous weather also caused trees to topple, blocking roads and stone walls to collapse in Portocolom, Soller, Manacor and Palma. Minorca has also been badly hit with 14 incidents recorded in Ferreries, Es Mercadal, Ciutadella and Mahón.

Tragedy

Thankfully there has been no repeat of the tragedy of October 2018 when 12 people died in flash floods and cars were swept out to sea. More than 80 litres per m2 of rain fell in one hour in the Municipality of Ferreries and the Son Granot torrent burst its banks, flooding the Mao-Ciutadella road and several estates and side roads in the area.

Clubs’ nightmare

DJS and producers have publicly vented their anger over the closure of nightclubs in Ibiza. The Association of DJs & Producers in Ibiza and Formentera (DIPEF) released a video to criticise the Balearic government over its coronavirus restrictions which have prohibited nightclubs from opening for almost two years. A spokesman said: “We have faced more closures than anywhere else in the world and neither our politicians or the Balearic government have found a solution for a problem that is impacting thousands of people.” They continued that they ‘did not understand the reasons why Ibiza’s nightlife was being demonised when it could open under the necessary security measures’. Earlier this summer, Spain’s ministry of health had proposed to the 17 regional governments that they could permit nightclubs, which in Ibiza, have been closed since October 2019, to stay open until 3am under certain restrictions such as capacity limits. Vicent Mari, president of Ibiza council, said if it were up to him ‘the nightclubs would have opened earlier’ with the appropriate health measures, as keeping them closed ‘has been worse’, leading to illegal parties, botellones and insecurity. Despite this, the Govern has ruled out the opening of nightlife until at least mid-October.

NINE out of 10 British tourists who fell to their deaths from balconies in Mallorca slipped by mistake. They have an average age of 24 and are eight times more likely to undertake so-called ‘balconing’ on holiday than their German counterparts. Some 95% of them have been drinking, while 37% had taken drugs, it has emerged in a new study that has earned a Spanish doctor an MBE in the UK. "Young people from the UK and Ireland have a much higher alcohol consumption than the rest of Europe which plays a major part in related deaths and injuries,” explained Dr Juan Jose Segura, who is based at Palma’s Son Espases hospital. The Sevilla doctor, who will be handed the award by British ambassador Hugh Elliot, had started to investigate the socalled phenomenon when he arrived in Mallorca in 2014. "It felt like something completely endemic to the Balearic Islands," he told the Olive Press. So he decided to start collecting data for a study to put a stop to this Balearic phenomenon. Working closely with the consulates in Palma and Ibiza he aimed to establish patterns of behaviour and create guidelines for action. Dr Segura’s research led to the government’s 2018 Travelware ‘Stick with your mates’ campaign which has already helped reduce deaths by 50%. The campaign, which was relaunched this year, is credited with reducing the number of falls by 61%.

Double death plunge TWO Americans fell to their death whilst rock climbing without a rope in Cala Mitjana and Cala Sa Nau coves in Portocolom. One of the bodies was found in a nearby cave and the other was recovered from the sea by coastguards. Mark Anthony Bacolod Stiles, 35, and Brandon Scott Burns, 25, both of Baltimore, Maryland, were pronounced dead at the scene after medics performed CPR on the pair but were unable to save them. The men’s bodies were taken to Portocolom Port.

Staying masked PARENTS have started a petition against the compulsory use of masks for children while at school. Currently, facemasks are obligatory for children over six years of age at all times while at school as pàrt of anti-COVID regulations on the Balearics. The parents want youngsters to be able to take their masks off while in the playground, during sports and whilst on excursions.

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Hellfire ‘It’s terrifying, tragic… and the greatest show on earth’: Tour guide shares volcano eruption story

ONE of Spain’s richest expats has cashed in to the tune of £110 million. That’s how much Charlie Mullins (pictured at his La Cala home) is set to pocket after selling Pimlico Plumbers, the company he founded 42 years ago and whose clients include Helen Mirren and Joanna Lumley. Mullins, who lives in Mijas, has sold up to a private equity firm. He already has an estimated worth of £70million and the sale will dramatically enhance his fortune, given he owns 90% of the company. He told the Olive Press last year he was planning to move to live in Spain permanently.

ALMOST every day for the last 12 years tour guide Jonas Perez has told visitors about the ‘active, but dormant’ volcano that dominates the landscape of La Palma. But it wasn’t until Sunday at 3.12pm, the moment when a vent ripped open in the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge spewing hot lava into the air, that he truly understood the reality of it. “It provokes very mixed feelings,” he told the Olive Press. “By day it’s devastating watching the lava eat up land and properties as it slowly moves towards the sea, cutting up roads and dividing communities. “But at night when red hot lava is shooting

September 24th - October 7th 2021 EXCLUSIVE By Fiona Govan

up 30-40 metres into the sky and the landscape glows a deep red with the moving lava, it is the most enthralling spectacle you’ll ever see.” Perez, 44, his wife and their four-year-old twin daughters are among the 5,000 or so residents who were evacuated from their homes in the hours immediately after the

volcano erupted. It came after a week of seismic activity that led to authorities raising the alarm for a possible eruption. “We packed up everything, got in the car and drove to the other side of the island,” explained Perez who runs Isla Bonita Tours. So far, his home is not among the 166 that has been swallowed by black lava as it cut a devastating

swathe through the landscape. “Whether our homes are destroyed or not is completely down to luck,” he admitted. Authorities estimate around 10,000 people could be displaced during the eruption which could last weeks. The last time the volcano was active in October 1971, the eruption lasted 23 days.

Feeling flush

AWESOME: Volcano (left and above) demonstrates the unstoppable power of nature

952 147 834 * O f f e r

v a l i d

TheOlivePress-256x170-HOME0421.indd 1

f o r

n e w

c u s t o m e r s

o n l y .

S u b j e c t

t o

c o n d i t i o n s .

E n d s

3 1 / 1 2 / 2 1 .

23/7/21 11:27

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 SPIRIT OF THE BLITZ IN England we call it the ‘Blitz Spirit’- that sense of community that brings people together in the face of great adversity, not just to make the best of it but to reach out and go the extra mile to really help those that need it. There may not be an equivalent term in Spanish (and if there is, please write in and tell us) but here - as in the worn-torn London of World War Two when the German bombs rained down - people certainly have the propensity to behave the same way. The wildfire that ravaged the hills above the Costa del Sol earlier this month served to bring out the very best in the Costa del Sol community. People were united in despair as they watched hillsides burn. They rallied round to offer shelter to those fleeing from their homes as the blaze threatened to devour properties. And in the aftermath of the tragedy, once the flames were dampened, people didn’t forget the debt owed to firefighters who risked everything, and who tragically lost one of their own. When the brigades returned from the hills it was rightfully to a heroes’ welcome in Estepona and fundraising efforts to rebuild lives are continuing in a material show of appreciation. A similar drama is now playing out in the Canary Islands where forces of nature are to blame instead of a despicable act of arson from a particularly evil individual. But there too, we’ll see that the human spirit will not be broken and as homes are ripped apart, community roots grow stronger. PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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

Fiona Govan fiona@theolivepress.es

Kirsty McKenzie kirsty@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Isha Sesay isha@theolivepress.es

Katherine Brook katherine@theolivepress.es

Simon Wade simon@theolivepress.es

Glenn Wickman glenn@theolivepress.es

Graham Keeley graham@theolivepress.es

Cristina Hodgson cristina@theolivepress.es

OFFICE MANAGER Héctor Santaella (+34) 658 750 424 accounts@ theolivepress.es

ADMIN Sandra Aviles Diaz (+34) 951 273 575 admin@ theolivepress.es

DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES (+34) 951 273 575 distribution@ theolivepress.es

NEWSDESK: 0034 951 273 575 For all sales and advertising enquiries please contact 951 27 35 75 HEAD OFFICE

Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5, Calle Espinosa 1, Edificio cc El Duque, planta primera, 29692, Sabinillas, Manilva Deposito Legal PM 610-2017

AWARDS

2016 - 2020 Best expat paper in Spain and the second best in the world. The Expat Survey Consumer Awards.

2012 - 2020

Named the best English language publication in Andalucia by the Rough Guides group.

EXCLUSIVE: Frantic battle saw expat charity bosses rescue 100 dogs just before Sierra Bermeja wildfire engulfed their centre

LIKE A MOVIE

AN animal rescue centre boss By Elena Gocmen Rueda has recalled the dramatic mo& Amber Edirisinghe ment she and her husband had to evacuate their shelter asMalaga's biggest wildfire for decades after walking around the site with raced towards them. Brown and her husband, treasurSusie Brown, the president of er Reg Winkworth - the British ADANA (Association for the rights mother-of-one was frequently of abandoned animals), revealed overcome with emotion. how they had been ordered to re- It is hardly surprising with the treat ‘immediately’ after the wind entire valley around them being changed directotally obliterated tion, sending the by the blaze as it Sierra Bermeja 'We got out by raged for six days blaze directly toand leading to the skin of our the destruction of wards them. “Everyone was so hectares. teeth', shelter 10,000 scared,” revealed Driving up to the Brown who deshelter in the boss Brown scribed it as ‘a Parque de los Perevealed miracle’ that the dregales, on the entire centre in border of EstepoEstepona was not na and Casares, razed to the ground. the absolute devastation was all Speaking to the Olive Press on too clear. her first trip back, she added: The ‘sixth generation’ wildfire, “Someone was definitely watch- which was only finally extining over us. If we had been evac- guished largely thanks to rain, uated just half an hour later we has decimated the shelter’s surwouldn’t have made it”. roundings, as well as its outbuildIn an extremely moving interview - ings which held around €10,000 worth of vital supplies, many of them medical. By something of a miracle the main building survived thanks to the volunteers cutting a big fire break around it last year. The shelter had to be evacuat- DEVASTATION: Susie Brown and Reg Winkworth (inset) organised the evac ed along with its 100 dogs after strong winds suddenly fanned were scuppered when news of a tangled mess with volunteers HE wildfire which the flames and they began to the shelter’s struggle was pub- struggling to get by in their vans raged through the crawl down the mountain at lished on social media with pleas carrying the animals. Sierra Bermeja ravaround 8am. to ‘get to ADANA, quickly, they “We got out by the skin of our aging 9,670 hectBrown and her husband had need help with the evacuation’. teeth,” Brown revealed, as tears ares with a perimeter of 85 been monitoring the situation Soon hordes of well-meaning vol- rolled down her cheeks. kilometres is anything but through CCTV cameras fitted unteers began to turn up along She continued that firefighters the biggest fire in Spain’s around the property and even with children in tow. had told them they would have recent history. slept there for two nights. It turned out to be more of a hin- to sacrifice the shelter and let it In fact it comes in ninth As well as cutting the fire break, drance than a help, with Wink- burn as they didn’t have enough and pales in comparison to the charity had also put an emer- worth describing the scene as manpower to protect it. the Minas de Riotinto blaze gency evacuation plan in place ‘surreal’ and like ‘a horror movie’. “There were a thousand soldiers between Huelva and Sevilwith a list of people to get in touch Despite the goodwill it made the and firemen and 40 airplanes la in the summer of 2004 with if the shelter was at risk. evacuation far harder, as the but they just couldn’t cope,” she destroying 29,867 hectHowever, the well made plans narrow access tracks became added. ares across 13 municipalities and killing two people. The second worst fire this century broke out at a welding workshop in 2012 in Corte de Pallas, in Valencia, devastating 28,879 YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES hectares. Another blaze this year in Cepeda La Mora, near Avila, which started when a car burst into flames, saw 21,993 hectares destroyed over eight days. And back in 2012, a wildfire in Andilla, Valencia, saw some 20,064 hectares scorched. That same year Castrocontrigo, in León, had a fire ravaging 11,592 hectares. N the wake of the wildfire that raged In 2005, a fire in the through Sierra Bermeja speculation is province of Guadalamounting as to the ‘who, how or where’ of jara torched 10,352 the source of the blaze. hectares. If you ask any Spaniard as to what the most Next comes a 2017 likely cause of forest fires is, they will autofire in Encinedo matically point in one direction: real estate (Leon) which speculation. burnt 9,820 had occurred would have never been eligible This false belief has been so deeply ingrained for construction anyway, largely due to locahectares, in their mentality that the 2003 Government tion or it being publicly owned. while a fire decided to act to discourage arsonists from Still, the conservative Aznar government of in Quesada, believing fires could lead to rural land being 2003 thought that the 30-year ban on real in Jaen, saw reclassified for building even though it was estate development would fix the problem. 9,756 hectnot the case.. ares burnt in Unfortunately statistics tell another story. So a new Mountains Act was passed that Although the number of burnt hectares has 2015. It thereprohibited for 30 years the change in use of been reduced, there has not been a notable fore comes in forest land after a fire. ninth, with decrease since the worst years (1976-1994). It also made the regional government respon- The thing is that fires have rarely been the 2012 sible for ensuring the restoration of forests caused by owners of the affected land and fire in Malfollowing a blaze and banned any activity that therefore we should look deep into the arsonaga, which would get in the way of the regeneration. razed 8250 ists’ deranged minds and their psychological For the most part, forestry where wildfires characteristics for an explanation. hectares, coming in around Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com tenth.

They shall be remembered

AGONY Property ANT

No motivation

Legal eagle Antonio Flores on why urban planning isn’t behind the Sierra Bermeja blaze

www.theolivepress.es

September 24th - October 7th 2021

HORROR

PHOENIX FROM THE FLAMES...

EET Phoenix who within just two days of the fire was dumped near ADANA. Volunteers working on the clean-up operation at the animal shelter took in the abandoned dog along with his sibling when they were found abandoned tied to a fence near their centre amongst the still smouldering countryside. ADANA’s Susie Brown and Reg Winkworth took in the two lovable dogs without a moment’s hesitation. Winkworth said that Brown wanted to give them ‘two very poignant names’, so the canines were aptly named Phoenix and Pegasus. The pair were said to have been brought in ‘starving’. Winkworth said: “They’re safe now so that’s the most important thing.”

cuation of the ADANA shelter as flames destroyed the surrounding area Walking around the shelter to assess the damage, they described the silence as ‘the weirdest feeling’, as the usually lively shelter that can house up to 150 dogs was completely empty. A series of pipes that provide water for the animals had been destroyed, meaning the dogs can’t return until this is fixed. Luckily they have a 19,000 litre reserve tank that will be able to help them for the meantime while they seek to get new pipes installed. The outer fences that are usually used to contain dogs in case they run away were also completely burnt along with the thermal winter beds that help to keep the dogs warm later in the year. Volunteers have finally returned

to begin the slow process of clearing the debris and trying to begin to return the place to normal. For now, the dogs are being safely housed with 60 different families along the coast. “People were amazing, we have the best supporters,” added Brown. She was also keen to squash a series of ‘fake news stories’ that spread about them having chosen to abandon ‘angry dogs’ and horses at the shelter. It ended up causing a lot more problems as their switchboard became blocked by angry people

Horrifying screams AS well as scorching temperatures and choking fumes, firefighters had to endure the horrifying screeches of wild animals trapped by the fire. Dozens of charred animal carcasses have already been found in the aftermath, particularly those of goats and sheep. Many other creatures, including rabbits, deer and wild boar also died. The nests of around three pairs of Golden Eagles and 10 pairs of Eagle Owls were also destroyed. The Sierra Bermeja is home to 14 species of invertebrates as well as 300 wild mountain goats or Ibex. One fireman described the ‘horrifying screeches’ of wild boars stuck in the undergrowth as he and his team battled against the deadly flames. Francisco Morales told of his feelings of ‘impotence’ and ‘sorrow’ during the six days they were battling the fire. More than 25 volunteer vets with expertise in disaster conditions have come forward to give advice and care to wild animals burnt in the fire. The Malaga Veterinary Association set up a 24-hour hotline (630 80 99 23) to report any sightings of animals injured.

calling up to complain about it. They even received a message from an English newspaper asking: “Why did you let your horses burn?” As for all the generous volunteers, Brown wants to thank them for their ‘phenomenal response’. However, she stressed that the existing team of volunteers are going to have to sort out the cleanup themselves, saying that ‘no matter how kind and well meaning people are, please stay at home’.

What’s breaking

VERY day, almost every hour and sometimes by the minute we are putting up breaking stories online. Over the last 48 hours it has been the remarkable volcano erupting in La Palma, while over the last fortnight it has been the terrifying Sierra Bermeja wildfire. Our website often publishes 25 stories or more on what is happening around the country on any given day. BREAKING Be it floods, fires or terrorist attacks, we have it covered… and we will enNEWS sure to get journalists into the area as soon as we can. Take the fire in Estepona. Over a week-long period we published over two dozen stories - many of them exclusive - with analysis on the horror blaze that killed a fireman and razed 10,000 hectares. Our reporters sought out officials working to contain the blaze to keep our readers informed about how it was developing. We kept in touch with those who were most affected and those who were forced to flee from their properties as the flames approached. And we told their stories. And now our team is doing the same to cover developments as a volcano erupts in La Palma, by speaking to people on the ground, checking official sources, and publishing the most up to date and reliable information. BREAKING It is perhaps little surprise that over the last fortnight we have NEWS seen a healthy 78 people signing up for our paywall online. The team at the Olive Press is dedicated to providing reliable factual reporting but we can only do this by asking our readers to support us. We already have 30,000 of you following us on Facebook, 10,000 on Twitter and 2,000 on Instagram. Please now come and register online and subscribe for full adfree access to our website as well as daily newsletters with all the news straight to your inbox.

The top three most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

“The best way to help ADANA right now is to donate,” she said. Visit www.adana.es to make donations. Or visit the shop in Estepona.

National park now!

URGENT: Petition for extention of park grows fast

A CAMPAIGN to turn the Sierra Bermeja into a national park is gathering steam. A petition to include it in an extended Sierra de las Nieves national park now has 71,000 signatures. Such a move would mean 'more vigilance, more controls and more resources for fire prevention'. Scientists insist the area has a ‘unique and invaluable’ ecosystem, which needs urgent protection. One biologist Felipe Roman, claimed that the area had been ‘completely abandoned to its fate’. The Sierra Bermeja National Park Platform failed to get support from either the PSOE or PP when the Sierra de las Nieves national park, between Mijas and Ronda, was finally created this year. The map above shows the new national park boundary in green with the proposed extention in red.

Is a volcano on Spain’s Canary 1- Analysis: island of la Palma about to blow? Horrorshow as Spain’s Estepona blaze 2- goes into fifth night with 4 more villages evacuated UK scraps COVID-19 traffic light sys3- tem with changes for fully jabbed passengers

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

GREEN

www.theolivepress.es

September 24th - October 7th 2021

National park status would help protect these beautiful areas

ORMALLY I dedicate this column to criticising mankind’s ability to damage the world we live in. Instead of dwelling on global warming, CO2 emissions, pollution of our seas and the air we breathe, this week I want to reflect on the catastrophic damage caused in the Sierra Bermeja. I watched from my terrace as the fires raged in the distance, the night sky alight with an orange glow wrapped with turgid smoke. 10,000 hectares of beautiful nature de-

stroyed. Countless animals burnt alive. Unique forms of flora and fauna decimated. People evacuated from their homes. A brave firefighter dead, leaving behind a wife and two young children to live a very different life to the one they planned.

WHY? This was an intentional act of arson. It was clear to investigators that this could not have happened any other way. One Olive Press reader wrote to me saying that the guilty parties ‘should be burnt at the stake’. An understandable sentiment , although an unlikely outcome. I cannot fathom why anyone would want to do this. I hope they rot in jail until the next mil-

Green

Matters

TIME TO REFLECT By Martin Tye

Disastrous wildfire gives food for thought lennium. All this does make me reflect on the beauty that surrounds us. Spain has it all - sea, mountains, fabulous landscapes. It needs protecting. Areas like the Sierra Bermeja need National Park status, and a suitable infrastructure to enable it to be protected and thrive. I hope the Spanish government provides suitable financial support to enable speedy restitution in the Sierra Bermeja. I have been touched by the many local initiatives that have sprung into action:

-The charity Collective Calling organised and delivered food parcels to displaced and affected families -GoFundMe pages to raise funds to help resident animals who lost their feeding habitat -Aloha College Marbella with a non uniform day to raise funds These are just a few of the many examples of how communities pull together to relieve disaster. The sad thing here is that this disaster should never have happened.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy. +34 638145664 ( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL

100% Certified Green Energy

Thawing out

Switch with Mariposa Energía Cheaper tariffs 100% green energy Excellent customer service Easy-to-understand bills

Climate change will ‘wipe out glaciers in Pyrenees within 20 years’

GUARANTEED SAVINGS

CLIMATE change is to blame for the dramatic shrinking of glaciers in the Pyrenees which could all but disappear within two decades, scientists in Spain have warned. A new study reveals the extent to which the ice mass has melted at a steady but rapid speed since the 1980s. Three glaciers have all but disappeared since 2011 leaving just stagnant strips of ice behind while in 17 of the remaining ice sheets an average loss of 6.3metres of ice thickness has been recorded. And in parts of the fasting-melting glaciers, the ice thickness loss was estimated to be up to 20 metres. Using high-res satellite imagery dating back to 2011 and

drone footage collected last summer, a team from the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology, (IPE) mapped ice mass evolution and produced 3D models of the shrinkage.

Alarm

According to the study, the ice mass of Pyrenean glaciers shrank by over one-fifth on average over the last decade. The researchers firmly lay the blame for the shrinking glaciers on climate change and specifically the 1.5ºC rise in temperatures in the mountain region over the last century. Jesus Revuelto, one of the research team said the findings should act as an alarm bell.

Running out of Puffinus

CONTACT OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TODAY +34 951 120 830 | GOGREEN@MARIPOSAENERGIA.ES WWW.MARIPOSAENERGIA.ES

THE most critically endangered seabird in Europe has been spotted off the coast of Ibiza. At least 10 pairs of Balearic Shearwaters were seen nesting on the islet of Es Vedranell. Balearic Shearwaters are one of the rarest birds in Europe and one of two listed as ‘Critically Endangered’. As well as a low reproduction rate and small population, it has a very high mortality rate from non-natural causes such as being hunted by rats and cats. Many get accidentally caught in fishing gear.

LA CULTURA

September 24th - October 7th 2021

BRIMMING WITH SUCCESS

MODEL IN THE MAKING: Maxima

THE small town of Arta was overtaken by glamorous models strutting through the weekly market wearing a collection of specially designed hats. They were there as part of Mallorca’s International Hat Week, which was celebrating its third edition. As well as being a hugely successful hat exhibition and competition with international hat design entries from all over the world, there was a combined fashion show, including exhibition organiser Karl Maria Count Kinsky’s artist and milliner wife, Judith Kinsky, who joined the elegant line-up of models showing-off the stylish hats and

latest collection from local fashion label, Drezz2Imprezz. This year’s theme was ‘Boater Beyond Boarder’ and all hat entries displayed in the Kinsky family’s art gallery, Studio 25, were inspired by the classic Boater shape. This year’s winner was a hat design entered from Berlin, made of see-through rubber, tightly knitted around a hatband to hold it firmly in place, created by Pauline Stolz and called ‘open mind’. Count Kinsky who is already eagerly planning next year’s event, said: “I have never felt such an explosion of positive energy during any of my events.”

HATS OFF: Countess Kinsky and winner Pauline Stolze (right)

Boat trip to art Palma’s streets of art THE centre of Palma was turned into a huge art gallery with paintings, sculptures and photography on display throughout the city for La Nit de l'Art. The 25th edition of the cultural extravaganza showcased more than 60 local, national and international artists’ work which was displayed in galleries, bars, cafes and shops. The event attracted hundreds of artists from all over the world and ran from September 16 to 18. Museums and art studios staged free exhibitions and there was a whole host of street theatre, live music and plenty of wine. Normally, La Nit de l’Art, translated as ‘a night of art’, is held in the evening but due to COVID restrictions the event took place during the day. La Nit de l’Art also hosted conferences with leading contemporary art experts and this year, for the first time, the work of renowned artists such as Jose Davila, Alicja Kwade and Gregor, Hidebrandt and Sidival Fila were on show.

Massive new gallery on the Isla de Rey features works by Mark Bradford, writes Isha Sesay MODERN modern art gallery masters Hauser & Wirth have opened a 400,000 sqm art centre on Isla del Rey with an opening show of works by acclaimed artist Mark Bradford, In the last two years Isla del Rey’s once-crumbling decommissioned naval hospital, 18th-century outbuildings and 6th-century basilica have been carefully restored by Argentinean architect Luis Laplace, turning the once ghostly ruins into an exhibition space with eight galleries, a shop and restaurant called Cantina. Outside, landscape designer Piet Oudolf, responsible for the garden at Hauser & Wirth’s

Somerset base, created a beautiful sculpture trail featuring works by artists such as Franz West, Louise Bourgeois and Eduardo Chillida. The gallery’s co-founders, Iwan and Manuela Wirth, said they had been ‘utterly captivated by Menorca and specifically Isla del Rey’ which lies a short boat trip from Mahon. “Our vision has always been to expand the idea of the gallery experience and we believe that this location is a fitting, natural and exciting extension to our centres in Somerset and LA,” said Iwan. It’s hard to conceive of a more fitting location for an exhibition of new paintings and sculptures by American artist Mark Bradford, the winner of a MacArthur ‘genius’ grant and who is known for examining the past through his abstract art. On the choice STAR ATTRACTION: Artist Mark Bradford

TALKING ART: Catalina Cladera and artist Paula Anta

BIG FOOT

HUGE prehistoric footprints uncovered in western Andalucia belong to elephants, researchers have confirmed. After careful analyses of fossilised footprints discovered along a stretch of the Huelva coastline between Matalascañas and Mazagon, experts have revealed that the site was a nursery for prehistoric elephants some 129,000 years ago. Based on the rounded–elliptical nature of the tracks, along with other shape features, the team have concluded that the footprints were left by straight-tusked elephants. Researchers from the University of Lisbon assessed the height, mass and age of the elephants by each of the 34 tracks discovered and believe that the footprints belong to 14 young calves, eight juveniles (aged two–7), six adolescents and five adults.

BEAUTIFUL: Magnificent setting of Bradford for the opening show, which will run until October 30, Manuela said: “Mark knows the Balearic Islands well having lived in

Mallorca for a few months in his 20s and his multi-layered nature is a perfect fit given the island setting is in a natural harbour.”

Happy anniversary ONE of Spain’s biggest music festivals celebrated 10 years this summer with its longest ever season. This year’s Starlite festival in Marbella featured more than 180 shows in 80 days - 57 concerts in the main auditorium and more than 124 on the outside stages - and attracted 161, 724 concert goers. Although hampered by COVID restrictions and travel rules that meant many international acts were unable to perform, Starlite still featured a diverse lineup of artists across all musical genres. They included Tom Jones, Bonnie Tyler, Nicky Jam, Raphael, Miguel Ríos, Carlos Rivera, Placido Domingo, and Ara Malikian.

LA CULTURA

In a second extract from his new book My Search For Madeleine Olive Press editor Jon Clarke tracks chief suspect in the Maddie McCann case Christian Brueckner to a desolate corner of Saxony

Photos by Jon Clarke

Overgrown and isolated

September 24th - October 7th 2021

Shallow grave?

T the end of a dark, narrow track I finally found the collection of derelict buildings, suffocated by knee high weeds and weighed down by history. The former East German box factory, near the tiny Saxony village of Neuwegersleben, was one part of my journey into the heart of darkness for my book that I couldn’t avoid. It was here that the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case Christian Brueckner invested €36,000, through an auction in Leipzig, and here that police found up to 20,000 sickening photos and videos he had hidden in a Lidl bag under the body of his buried dead dog Charlie. I arrived on a sunny afternoon to find nobody else about, although I recognised it from a SINISTER: One of Brueckner’s cara and an apparent shallow grave at the German box factory, Maddie and Brueckner (below) number of press reports. It had thing rather more sinister than fit the bill. ‘Particularly if evitaken some time to find the making boxes. Perhaps arma- dence is destroyed afterwards,’ site, which spread over quite ments. There were dozens of he had replied to his pal. a number of hectares and its openings that led down to dark ... rusty old gate was chained shut spaces, some interlinked and and had a ‘Stop’ sign alongside others full of rubbish. I had those words etched in my it. I clambered into the first build- brain so when I wandered to It was walking into the wide ing, which had a collapsed roof the back of the small annexe open expanse that you began and rubble piled up at least a I did a double take. Looking to realise what an incredible metre high. On one wall the recently dug up, and certainly opportunity this could have word Arbeit (job/ work) and two not appearing in a single photo been for a pervert like Bruec- shorter words could just about or video I had seen of the box kner, 44, who officially told be made out, not dissimilar factory, was what looked like friends that he wanted it to be to the words on the entrance a shallow grave, about 5ft in a car repair garage or some gate at Auschwitz concentra- length and a foot and a half in sort of sculpture tion camp: Arbeit in depth. garden. macht frei (work A pile of rubble, with chunks As Chief Prosesets you free). of concrete at the bottom, was saw cut into a workbench. gersleben was one such facilCould this cutor in the case I slowly wan- next to it, while an empty bot- There was a kitchen, two bath- ity. It would make more sense Hans Christian dered about the tle had been thrown in, almost rooms and a big room with doz- to blow the place up once the be where Wolters told me various build- for decoration. It was extremely ens of shelves, which had up investigation into Brueckner is Brueckner the following ings looking for sinister. to 1,000 books on them (many finally comday: “If you want anything of rel- When I later brought it up more were strewn on the floor), pleted. made some of to sexually abuse evance until I with the prosecutor in nearby as well as hundreds of old rekids, that is the his videos? stumbled across Braunschweig, he refused to cords, presumably all once My Search right place, as a side annexe be drawn on what they had stolen by Brueckner, including for Madnobody would with four huge found at the box factory, only one by Barry Manilow, which I eleine is see or hear plastic vats, presumably used admitting that they had recent- imagine wasn’t his taste. available on anything. There are no neigh- to store the diesel that Bruec- ly been back. The weirdest thing I found as I Amazon in bours!” kner stole on many occasions. The industrial site would have sifted through the cornucopia Kindle and The site was divided into a Next to it was another small been one hell of a job for the of neglect was a large series paperback grid of concrete squares and annexe with one big, heavy ga- police to examine and, it was of circular symbols sprayed v e r s i o n s comprised around half a doz- rage door slightly ajar. I pushed reported that 100 of them had on the floor at the threshold and at most en buildings. The first thing I it open and wandered in to been in situ for the first few of each room, a neo-Nazi-type good booknoted was the amount of un- find a pair of dirty mattresses days of the search which began Celtic cross in an electric or- shops derground areas, suggesting propped up against the wall, a on January 14, 2016. ange colour. that it was once used for some- tub full of empty alcohol bot- All around the site I found They appeared to have been recently, probably tles and a pair holes in the ground, openings added of broken wom- leading to cellars and tunnels. sprayed by police as they finen’s sunglass- Some areas had obviously ished inspecting a room in the been excavated by police, while latest search. es. Could this be many others appeared to have With dusk falling I took my where Bruec- been ignored. But that is only leave, not wanting to be stuck here at night and with an kner made guesswork. some of his The downright spookiest build- appointment already made videos? Did he ing was probably once the fac- with friends of Brueckner’s in keep women, tory’s main office and it was Braunschweig, an hour’s drive away. even children, the most intact. chained up I pushed open the door to go in Braunschweig, I later learned, and found a trapped bird flying was where Adolf Hitler had here? There was only around and tried to let it out, been given citizenship in 1932 to allow him to run in that one small win- unsuccessfully. dow with rein- This had obviously been the year’s German presidential forced glass, hub of activity and according election, and he was rewarded so this would to one of Brueckner’s friends with a series of ministries once be the place Bjorn, who I talked to later, this the Nazis took power the folfor it, and given was where he stored most of lowing year. his 2013 Skype his stolen goods, including doz- This included the Hitler Youth chat with his ens of computers, solar panels and even the SS training online friend and many other items. There schools base, while a numpanickspatz66 were pots of paint, cutlery, ber of key armament factories about ‘captur- countless chairs and tables, were set up around the area. UNSETTLING: Was this Brueckner’s place to ing something over a dozen computer mon- It would certainly make sense ‘capture something small’? small’, it would itors. A nasty looking circular that the nearby site in Neuwe-

DARK HISTORY

HIS LINKS TO GRANADA!

T was two weeks after Christian Brueckner had been made a prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case in June 2020 that I received a call from the Mirror to dig into him in Spain. Talk about coincidences. I was actually reading a book about Orgiva, the Granada town, which I’d dubbed the ‘Glastonbury of southern Europe’ (and where, coincidentally, the Olive Press was born) when the reporter in London asked: ‘Can you get to a place called Orgiva?’ I almost fell off the sofa. ‘It’s where Brueckner’s friend Michael Tatschl lived for many years, a guy he went to prison with. I’ve tracked him down on Facebook and he would make an excellent interview.’ Despite omitting the fact that his Facebook page actually showed him leaving Orgiva in 2016 – or that his featured image showed him snarling at the camera with his middle finger sticking up – it was definitely worth the threehour drive into the Sierra Nevada mountains. Most of all though it came as a real Eureka moment when two dots itching to be joined were finally united as a concrete certainty: the hippie hangout of Barao de Sao Joao in the Algarve, where Brueckner lived for some time, now had a direct crime link to Orgiva, the new age capital of Spain. I had long had a feeling Brueckner would have links to Orgiva, with its little-checked, free-spirited community of international travellers tucked away in a string of hidden valleys. The Alpujarras is a region I know well having come across the fledgling Olive Press there in its first few months, while writing a travel article for a UK paper.

PAL: Micha Tatschl

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL TOP PAELLA CHEF NOELIA PASCUAL from restaurant Cachito en Elche has won the World Paella Day Cup. It is a tribute to Valencia’s most universal dish, and is celebrated every September 20 - coinciding with the harvesting of its main ingredient: rice. This year, chefs from all over the world competed live in La Marina de Valencia, specifically in La Marineta in the second edition of the event. The winner was warded a trophy made by the Fallas artist, Jose Luis Platero.

September 24th - October 7th 2021

COOKING UP A TREAT Spanish chefs dominate world’s Best Chef awards A SPANISH chef has scooped the top prize in The Best Chef Awards 2021 in a list dominated by Spanish talent. 41 year-old David Muñoz is the owner of Madrid’s three Michelin starred DiverXo collected his award in Amsterdam with a speech that recognised the hardship suffered by restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. During the pandemic Muñoz launched a successful take-

away service GoXo offering food from his restaurant in Madrid and then expanded to Barcelona. He leapt from number five on the list last year to scoop the top award describing the recognition as ‘the greatest joy’.

TOP CHOICE

Named

Muñoz was among 15 Spanish chefs named in the top 100 chefs which included Basque

Shutting down MANY hotels in Magaluf are set to close in two weeks as reduced demand cannot sustain them remaining open. Tourists who have booked their holiday in Magaluf are to be relocated to the other hotels nearby. But hoteliers in Paguera are hoping to stay open until December. Calvia City Council fears Magaluf will become a ghost town and wants to extend the season and focus on winter events, which they hope will continue to bring in people.

Much more than four stars.

COOL DUDES: Bioparc’s gorillas

chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, from Mugaritz restaurant, in third place. Joan Roca, one of the brothers behind El Celler de Can Roca in Catalunya, appeared in fourth place and also took home the Science Award. The team at Barcelona’s Disfrutar - Oriol Castro, Eduard Xatruch and Mateu Casañaswere jointly recognised in sixth position. Other Spanish chefs named on the top 100 list are Martin Berasategui, (at number 28), Eneko Atxa (31) Paco Roncero (45); Angel Leon (48); Paco Morales (54); Quique Dacosta, (57); Jordi Cruz, (59); Antonio Romero (87); and Diego Guerrero (89).

Friends.

A ZOO in Valencia has been named one of the best attractions in the world. Bioparc has been handed a ‘Travelers’ Choice’ award from TripAdvisor for the 11th consecutive year. With 150 different species, Bioparc aims to give visitors the chance to experience the African continent and learn the importance of protecting natural environments. The park is divided into four main areas with one of its star attractions being a perfectly recreated baobab forest home to a dozen elephants, making it one of the largest herds of the species in Spain. The coronavirus pandemic had made it particularly difficult for the park since it relies heavily on the income generated from its visitors. With the doors closed for much of 2020, all work focused entirely on caring for the animals and improving their conditions.

Good life.

Reset.

Comfort.

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.

Music.

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.

Sunset.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

September 24th - October 7th 2021

STRANGE SIGHTS Pay a visit to eight of the most unusual museums in Spain

PAIN has its fair share of worldclass museums and galleries to visit, but look beyond the major tourist attractions and you will find some small and sometimes frankly bizarre collections dotted across the country. Here are eight of the most unusual and fascinating museums to seek out if you are travelling off the beaten track.

MUSEUM OF SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS

WITCHES MUSEUM

MUSEUM OF FUNERAL CARRIAGES

ROM just a single pepper mill, Andrea Ludden grew her collection to what it is today, with over 20,000 pairs of eclectic salt and pepper shakers. Ludden has organised shakers dependent on theme and colour and it’s crazy to see the variety of different pieces from replicas of the beatles to antique pieces from the 1800’s. Head inland from the Costa Blanca to the hilltown of El Castel de Guadalest in Alicante, to visit the collection and spice up your life!

PENED in Barcelona in the 1970’s by Cristóbal

Torra. This seemingly morbid museum displays 19 pieces from the 18th century to the 1950’s including: 13 horse-drawn hearses, 6 accompanying cars and 3 motor hearses. Visitors can marvel at the intricate carriages and take a glimpse into the history of funerals past.

MICROMUNDI MUSEUM OF MINIATURES BESALÚ in La Garrotxa is home to this collection, inaugurated in 2007 by artist and jeweller Lluís Carreras. The museum displays over 5,000 pieces of miniature artwork, with many pieces having to be viewed through a microscope. Some pieces to note are an ant holding an umbrella whilst walking a tightrope and pinocchio and his maker in a peanut shell but there are many more. The collection is very diverse as it receives donations from many different artists.

S home to one of the largest known witch trials in history, it is natural that the town of Zugarramurdi in Navarra is also the location of this museum. The museum remembers the 53 victims who were sent to the stake and prison during the trials and explores the history of the myths and folklore surrounding witchcraft.

THE POTTY MUSEUM UNVEILED in 2006 by Jose Maria del Arco Ortíz, this museum is home to over 1,320 different chamber pots, ranging from the 13th to 20th century that were donated by the public and collected by Ortíz himself. Ortíz sadly passed away in 2011, however the town has continued his legacy. If you find yourself in Salamanca’s Ciudad Rodrigo, it’s worth spending a penny.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD Across 7 They can be common or proper (5) 8 House clearer (7) 10 Most common TV or radio broadcast (3,4) 11 Run off (3,2) 12 Like old videos (6) 14 Wide scarf (5) 16 Oliver Twist’s fence (5) 19 Pines (6) 24 Arranged in stacks (5) 25 Machine-like (7) 26 Unruly SAS well out of it (7) 27 Electrical rectifier (5)

ALTHOUGH there are indeed many torture museums all over the world, this one found in Cantabria’s Santillana del Mar, focuses in on methods used during the Spanish inquisition. There are over 50 gruesome torture instruments on display, from guillotines to iron maidens and chastity belts.

MELON MUSEUM

OP SUDOKU

Down 1 In the limelight (2,5) 2 Archimedes’ shout of triumph (6) 3 In the wake (6) 4 Roof support (5) 5 Charm (6) 6 Banal (5) 9 Period of watchfulness (5) 13 Hankering (3) 14 Wily (3) 15 Super excited (7) 17 Permit (5) 18 Heavily committed (2,4) 20 Personify (6) 21 Sines and tangents, for example (6) 22 Express words by letters (5) 23 Destroy (5)

All solutions are on page 14

THE TORTURE MUSEUM MUSEUM OF EROTIC SCULPTURE ALTHOUGH this is an outdoor sculpture park, this collection of erotic sculptures certainly merits a place on the list. Located throughout the Can Ginebreda woods in Girona, the collection began in 1975 and was sculpted by Xicu Cabanyes. Cabanyes utilises many different materials in order to create his pieces from concrete and stone to recycled objects and scrap metal. His pieces that often prompt a giggle from passers-by, actually hold many deeper meanings. The sculptures act as a celebration of life, connecting intimacy with nature and also incorporating religious symbolism.

GENERATIONS of melon farmers belong to Madrid’s Villaconejos and the fruity museum sprouted here acts as an exploration of the history of the area, honouring the fruit itself and its growers. The municipality even hosts its own melon festival in autumn!

COLUMNISTS

HAD not travelled abroad since 2019. I thought ‘easy peasy - book your flight’. WRONG! It was a minefield. Let's just start with booking a flight for a short sojourn abroad. What list are you on? Amber - green - red? How about when you come back? You need all your residency documents in order. I dutifully booked my flight with Easyjet - after thre conversations online my passport details were finally correct and my boarding pass was issued. I have been on a nonstop chat with Easyjet for the past three days. They now know me by name. The first part of my COVID degree was completed. On to the antigen test. Where to get it? I found a lady who comes to your house but she is fully booked. I bet she is. She squeezed me in at 8am. I couldn’t wait for a large Q tip to be shoved up my nose

September 24th October 7th 2021

Booking nightmare twice. One line for a negative test and two lines for a positive test. I felt like I was waiting for a pregnancy test dreading the two lines. All is well. I got my certificate but it was in Spanish only. Back to the drawing board - I need it in English. Done - after much hassle. The Passenger Locator Form is the biggest mountain to climb. You sign in online and then hear nothing. Where's my QR code? Apparently, I don’t receive that till 48 hours before my flight. Ok, stop sweating it, Lisa. You can deal with this - it’s just bureaucracy at its finest. Then I have to have a second-day COVID test when I arrive. Try booking that and

Lisa Burgess

good luck. A friend brought six teenagers for a holiday here in Spain recently. She must have a Master’s Degree in COVID travel. What happened to the easy days of a small holiday? They are gone. If you are digitally disabled - this is a nightmare. I’ve got through it but just barely. I have a GCSE in travel now and working my way to my Master’s. I just printed my boarding pass - phew - the relief - I have to book my baggage on top of my ticket - back to Easyjet online chat. Que sera sera. If I am turned away at the airport at least I have tried my very best.

WINTER’S COMING!

But no need to panic - unless you’re in the United Kingdom

S I wrote recently in a news story, President Francina Armengol said that the Balearic Islands are recovering and will achieve age the unvaccinated to be a full economic and employment jabbed, offer vaccines to 12 to recovery during 2022 15-year-olds and begin a booster And that now is the time to look jab programme for millions. forward to a prolonged return to The plan will also include continusocial and economic normality. ing testing, tracing of cases and Woo hoo! It’s the news we’ve all self-isolation for those who catch been waiting for. the virus. Businesses will also be Now jump over to the UK and encouraged to consider using what you’ll find is Boris, the ghost the NHS COVID pass to check of Christmas past, with loom- the vaccination or test status of ing threats of winter lockdowns, customers. whilst pulling the Like Jon Snow in plug on vaccine Game of Thrones, passports so no Prof Chris Whitty, Shrouding the one can escape harks that ‘wincountry in more ter’s coming’ and easily! And shrouding that respiratory viCOVID doom the country in ruses such as flu ever more COVID and others would and gloom doom and gloom be ‘hugely advanmongering mongering. Peotaged’. ple are being put Haven’t colds and under more presflu always posed a sure to get vaccinated, is/was concern for the old and vulnerathere really a choice? And there’s ble? much debate about whether chil- From all of this it would seem dren should be vaccinated or not, that the UK is wanting to hold on and from what age? to the power to enforce whatever If they could have put the vaccine restrictions it deems fit. But if the in our water I’m sure they would vaccine roll-out has been such a have by now! success, as they boast, why are So here is the masterplan deliv- we not doing away with the reered by Health Secretary Sajid strictions everywhere? Javid. Ministers want to encour-

Most people with any shred of common sense will tell you, ‘let us just get on with it’. I don’t say this frivolously, but with the help of the media, it’s all gone on far too long and the only chance of a real recovery is to instil some much-needed positivity and confidence. We cannot continue to live in the state of fear which was thrust upon us at the start of COVID. As we saw then, that just created more panic which manifested into so many other problems. Not only the shortage of loo roll, but people retreating into the safe shell of their homes with the knock-on effect that had on business, peoples’ finances and the toll it’s taken on everyone’s mental health! Only recently a friend told me a true story about a man who’d gone to visit family and had to self-isolate for 10 days before being free to see them. Already suffering mental health issues as a result of COVID, he took an overdose on day three of his self-isolation and died! These stories tend not to make the news, but any health expert

CASHLESS AND CLUELESS

e is better Time movies on, but not all chang

FTER drinking three cocktails in a seaa front trendy bar, I nonchalantly threw ing noth y, ‘Sorr ter. coun the on €50 note smaller,’ I declared. note, then The young bartender looked at the an eleced slapp r, snee ised disgu thinly with a an exWith €54. ling total gside tronic ticket alon a Dalek pression that would have exterminated er €4 furth at 100 metres, I reluctantly added a muster, incould I as coins ll sma y man as using cluding a generous tip of 2 cents. ng like I The barman was not amused. Feeli I glanhad just won a minor age-gap battle, eappr y man how see to bar the nd ced arou . none – e ciated my stanc The bar was packed with young people drinking like there was no tomo by d roun each for g payin and rrow pinging their cards on an electronic terminal. None could have had any idea of how much they were spending — until the statement arrived at the end of the month. Exit a deflated Old Hack. Cash has always been the best form g of money management. In my youn went you it, d affor n't days, if you could ’, I without. ‘Money doesn't grow on trees tawas always told. Bank overdrafts were a d idere cons was tick on g buyin boo and y. ruptc sure way to bank

OLD HACK IN THE SUN Benny Davis Ramblings of an 80-something expat

Many readers will remember mum’s and grandma’s tless jam home bank, collecting coins in coun from hoies tualit even ly fami all for lled jars labe ngs for shilli to days birth and s lidays to Christma the electric metre. rds a casNow, it seems, we are heading towa -a-job’, ‘Bob ts, Scou Boy more No ty. socie hless ’,(Crowd (Swipe-a-Scout?) ‘Penny for the Guy Fund Fawkes?) ting a faceJust read that, not content with crea igs are bigw ey mon the ty, socie less cash less Bank tral Cen pean Euro the with now working al euro, on producing its own virtual digit complete with a virtual digital wallet. Where will you keep those odds and ends, including that virtual digital Durex to stop that possible virtual digital baby? Sounds like the Hans Christian Andersen tale of, ‘The Emperor's New Clothes’. The story of a vain emperor who believes two fraudster tailors who give him nothing but tell him his new magnificent new clothes are only nt, invisible to the stupid or incompete and parades before his subjects, who d not wanting to appear inept or stupi child cent inno an until it, with g go alon . blurts out that the emperor is ‘starkers’ Gord ‘elp us all!

Terenia Taras Telling it like it is

will say that this is not an isolated case and the longer we give in to COVID, the more common they’ll become. On a cheery note, I’m glad Armengol has come out with such positive comments and I’m happy to be living out this, now, very boring situation, in Spain. England is bleak at the best of times in winter and with their politician’s predictions it’s going to be a very long one!

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME @tereniataras

Think of others Dear Jennifer:

It can be a struggle for the disabled

AM going to start this article with an observation. Unfortunately, for over a year now, I have been struggling with knee problems and I have to be very careful of pavements, steps and access to The Ladies Room, and this part has been a nightmare. How people manage when they are disabled, I just don’t know but I am very shocked at the lack of facilities in so many places. Even just a support bar in the toilets would make so much difference. Can I therefore ask owners of restaurants to check if their facilities are actually easy to use, for those who need it. With the easing of the travel restrictions, I am delighted to be able to inform you that once again I can now offer travel insurance. Unfortunately, the company that we have been dealing with for many years, for some reason has been unable to become Brexit friendly and has withdrawn from the Expat market, which meant I had to find a suitable travel insurance for my clients.

Travel policy

This was not an easy task and took some time, but we have found a very good alternative, which matches what we used to be able to offer, and I am delighted. The new policy is very similar to what we are used to and so far the service has been excellent and the prices are very competitive. All the sales consultants have been trained with the new policies and to obtain a quote is the easiest thing to do, with single trip and yearly policies available. I have noticed on the television UK insurance companies adverts and in little print – those awful words - auto renewal. This is quite normal, so unless you are checking your bank statements on a regular basis, you can miss your renewal premium. My company has invested in a renewal department of now very experienced ladies, who contact all my clients on renewal, to check that they understand their cover and inform them of the new premium, which is always very reasonable with Liberty. It is a service which I am very proud of, as it works extremely well.

IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, JUST CALL US ON 966 461 690, EMAIL INFO@JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET OR VISIT THE WEBSITE WWW.JENNIFERCUNNINGHAM.NET

GETTING BIGGER

EL Canto Chambers is opening a new office in Palma, Mallorca, as the London-based barrister chambers expands its work across the UK and Spain in response to increasing demand for advice on the opportunities available in the Balearic Islands. Covid-19-related restrictions encouraged many to re-think their lifestyle choices and as such, UK entrepreneurs are increasingly looking to move their business operations and residency to sunnier climates. Recognising that many businesses can operate from anywhere in the world, Spain has become one of the most popular choices, with the Balearic Islands coming up trumps. Since the Brexit vote, interest from British investors into Spain has grown significantly, with the UK becoming the main foreign investor in Spain in 2019. Investment by British companies increased by almost 80% in the first half of 2019 compared to the same time in 2018, to €3.125bn.

Relocation

While many entrepreneurs are considering relocating their UK-based business to Spain, there are also many investors looking to buy a small or medium sized enterprise in Mallorca or one of the other Balearic Islands. The types of business vary greatly, from service-based businesses to boat chartering and horse riding, with Spaniards selling these to UK citizens. The type of activity you wish to embark upon goes together with the need to gain residency. There are three available visa options to consider. Golden Visas incur mostly a €500,000 expenditure out of tax and expenses and will reward you with citizenship for investing into the country, other Golden Visa options related to significant deposit and Spanish company invest-

More help at hand as Del Canto expands in Spain

Julio Prieto is an international barrister specialised in Tax and Private Clients, based in London and Palma de Mallorca. ments’ are options to be considered too; The Non-Lucrative visa relies on the person’s own financial resources to ‘sufficiently’ maintain him/herself and family members – this is a good option if you are not planning to undertake professional activities in Spain, so is ideal for retired people that want to spend most of their time in Spain. Finally, the Entrepreneur visa requires a specific cost to start up a business in Spain considering innovation and benefits that the business will bring to Spain as other requirements. It is also important that expats consider their tax options when relocating to Spain, especially prior to buying a property in the Balearic Islands and seek professional advice from international lawyers with a good understanding of the two jurisdictions (the UK and Spain). This requires a variety of taxes payable, which consist generally of personal income tax on property or any income rental; capital gains tax; city council tax; and tax on assets such as boats. For British citizens and foreign expats planning on moving or operating their business from Spain, there are many options available.

To make a no-obligation enquiry, please either call Del Canto Chambers now on: +44 2070 430648 or complete our online form on our website’s contact page, which after receipt we will come back to you within 24 hours. Our office in Ibiza are located on: Calle Illa Plana 7, 07800 Ibiza, Islas Baleares. Contact us directly on 971 761 171

N Learn how to conjugate and use all the verb tenses

O you have problems with Spanish verb tenses? Do you know how to conjugate them and when to use each one? Verbs are probably the biggest problems for English speakers learning Spanish. There are many more verb tenses in Spanish than in English, 14 in use nowadays, and all of them have regular and irregular verbs. In addition, in each verb tense there are six different forms, one for each person. For these reason, the online academy Tu escuela de español, creator of the successful YouTube channel, published a book with which anyone can learn how and when to use all the Spanish verb tenses, ‘Domina los verbos en español’ (Master Spanish Verbs). This book has 176 pages divided into 20 lessons. In them, you will learn how to conjugate and use correctly each of the 14 verb tenses that we currently use in Spanish in the indicative, imperative and subjunctive modes, and how to distinguish one from the other. You will also learn how to use non-personal forms of the verb (infinitive, gerund and participle) and verbal periphrases. All the lessons have several exercises to help you practise and the solutions are at the end of the book so that everyone can advance at their own pace. ‘Domina los verbos en español’ (Master Spanish Verbs) is available in three versions: paper, printable PDF and non-printable PDF. And now you can buy any of them with a 10% discount using this coupon: OVLI10S21 Tu escuela de español has another book, ‘Por fin entiendo el español’ (Finally, I understand Spanish), also written by its founder, Elena Prieto, and dedicated to improving text and audio comprehension in Spanish. This book has 40 lessons: 8 at basic level, 18 at intermediate level and 14 at advanced level. In each lesson, there is an article, most of them about current affairs in Spain, accompanied by audio and various exercises to work on different aspects of the Spanish language. Finally, you can also improve your Spanish with the 5 online courses of Tu escuela de español on grammar, verbs, vocabulary, spelling and comprehension. Our Premium Zone has more than 200 lessons with 150 videos, 90 audios, dozens of PDFs and more than 600 exercises. Visit us at www. tuescueladeespanol.es.

ack to

School

GET NATIVE

O one wants to be the expat who can’t speak the language, but starting out on the road to being bilingual can be hugely intimidating. There are many different options and the indecipherable long lists of schools online would put off even the most enthusiastic of students. But here, The Olive Press has broken down all you need to know about picking the best language lessons for you and on this page some of the region’s finest schools can be found. ALONE OR IN A GROUP? The first choice you face is whether you want to be taught alone or as part of a group, and both options have their advantages and disadvantages. If you go solo you’ll have 100% of the tutor’s attention, making your lessons more intensive and solely structured around you. But many people find a group learning environment more beneficial, and that a sense of camaraderie boosts their enthusiasm.

The Olive Press takes a look at the variety of ways you can improve your Spanish and what to look out for in a course. If you’re in a larger town or city, there are a number of websites where tutors advertise that ensure a level of legitimacy. FINDING A GROUP CLASS

before it even begins.

The search for a group class can be even more baffling, as language schools tend to employ more persuasive marketing tactics than personal tutors and there are a lot more factors to consider. Be clear in your own mind what you’re looking for and you can simplify the search

The intensity of timetabling varies greatly from course to course. Some schools offer six hours of lessons a day, while others offer a couple of hours a week. Take into consideration how much time you want to dedicate to your lessons before choosing a course. In terms of class sizes, small-

These are the main factors to consider: TYPE OF COURSE

er classes are nearly always preferable, as they ensure you will get more time with the tutor and the class will progress more quickly. Are other cultural activities on offer? - many schools offer other opportunities to immerse yourself in the Spanish culture, including cookery and dance lessons. Some schools operate a ‘20+5’ system, which consists of 20 hours of Spanish lessons a week with five additional hours of ‘extracurricular’ lessons included in the price.

FINDING A TUTOR There are many ways of tracking down a tutor, the most useful way in a smaller town is to check ads in local newspapers and other community areas like post offices and newsagents.

Language work out!

IVING in Spain for nearly two decades I didn’t think I could improve my Spanish much. How wrong could I be? While understanding most of a newspaper article or a film or TV programme, it turned out my own grammar needed more than a brush up. While I was happy to grill a mayor, or a lawyer on a story, my conjugation of verbs was a shocker and my grasp of the subjunctive worse. Then along came Gymglish, a dynamic easy-to-use - and fun! - way to brush up on the lingo. Through an open-ended series of daily emails, you get a 15-20 minute lesson served up to your inbox. Based around a series of real life subjects - that have real

Gymglish offers a simple daily step to help learn the lingo, writes Olive Press editor Jon Clarke practical use - you simply open up the email when you find you have a moment, be it lunchtime, teatime or before going to bed! And you don’t have to do it every day - if you miss a lesson it reminds you the following day and continues until you have taken the lesson. My series began with a granddaughter flying over for a funeral in Madrid staying at the Hotel Borbollon. It was interesting and entertaining and gave me a great work out on practical language we all use when we travel. There are plenty of cultural and social referenc-

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 Nouns, 8 Remover, 10 The News, 11 Leg it, 12 Grainy, 14 Stole, 16 Fagin, 19 Yearns, 24 Piled, 25 Robotic, 26 Lawless, 27 Diode. Down: 1 On stage, 2 Eureka, 3 Astern, 4 Truss, 5 Amulet, 6 Trite, 9 Vigil, 13 Yen, 14 Sly, 15 Psyched, 17 Allow, 18 In deep, 20 Embody, 21 Ratios, 22 Spell, 23 Trash.

SUDOKU

MASTER SPANISH VERBS

es to Spanish characters and society and optional spin offs you can immerse yourself in. Best of all, they do a simple test at the end to see if you picked things up… and give you a mark almost immediately. Then you get a reminder the next day on the mistakes you made to remind you not to do them again. I’m proud to say I’m getting mostly As and Bs, but there is always something I get wrong - and this is an easy and simple way to address it. I’m only on lesson 7 after 2

on up er st l oﬀ he te cia t Spe hing is ﬁn &

Explora tu lad o español Online Spanish

lessons

Start your fre e 15 days tri al on theolivepres s.es/online-sp anish-lessons/ oﬀer is valid for regis

*The special

trations until

15/09/21

weeks so, yes, I’m a bit behind. But I’m planning an autumn blitz so by Christmas I can storm into Madrid’s Ministry of Health and insist on a detailed breakdown on the fight against COVID. And for now - all Olive Press readers have a very special back to school deal of an additional 30% discount on all online Spanish courses from September 17 to October 5. In order to benefit from this special offer, simply subscribe to our 15-day free trial and complete your online Spanish lessons daily. Here you can subscribe: https://www.theolivepress. es/online-spanish-lessons

HEALTH

BIG BOOST

SPAIN has announced it will immediately roll out plans to administer a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to those considered the most vulnerable. Elderly people in care homes as well as those with compromised immune systems such as cancer and transplant patients, will be eligible for booster dose, the Health Ministry announced on Thursday. Health chiefs had been weighing up whether to introduce a booster programme and decided not to delay for fear of overlapping with the start of the flu season. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, the USA and France, will also offer boosters to the elderly and people with weak immune systems, although as yet there is no global scientific consensus as to whether they are necessary. Spain’s elderly care homes were badly hit at the start of the pandemic with close to 30,000 residents dying from COVID by the end of February this year.

September 24th October 7th 2021

No laughing matter Police warn of dangers of ‘party drug’ nitrous oxide POLICE are warning people about the dangers of nitrous oxide - or laughing gas - after a ‘worrying’ growth in consumption of what many consider a harmless drug, despite deaths linked to its use. Usually sold in small silver jars, nitrous oxide is inhaled and affects everyone differently, depending on the amount inhaled and interaction with other substances or medications. Most users report a feeling of dissociation from their body, similar to floating, as well as distorted perceptions and, in

AMBULANCES across the Balearic Islands have called a strike over poor wages and working conditions. The unions representing the health service (the UGT, CCOO and CGT) say they had been ‘forced to call a strike in the ambulance sector after multiple meetings with the government have not yet yielded any results’. Those working in the sector say their salaries have been frozen for more than three years and that they do not reflect the current reality of health transport.

CAR INSURANCE SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST

Not all car insurance companies are the same. It’s good to shop around for the cheapest rates with the most reliable coverage. But you should also ask the difficult questions and make sure you get clear answers: TM

902 123 282

? Do they have a national network of repairers that can collect your vehicle, undertake repairs and then return the car to you on completion? ? How does your No Claim discount work? If no claim is made against your policy, will your renewal premium be adjusted accordingly? ? Are there any special promotions or offers available at the moment?

*Fully comprehensive offer valid for new customers only. Guarantee subjec t to cover, repair at approved garage, and cour tesy vehicle availabilit y. Subjec t to conditions. O ffer ends 30/11/18.

TheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd 1

NOT FUN: Nitrous oxide can be dangerous

rare cases, visual hallucinations. The immediate effects of laughing gas include euphoria, body numbness, a feeling of sedation, dizziness, uncontrolled laughter and blurred vision. In some cases, inhaling the drug can be fatal. The effect of gas can lead to a loss of blood pressure that can lead to fainting and heart attacks or hypoxia from lack of oxygen. Prolonged use can lead to side effects such as memory loss, ringing in the ears, numbness

Strikes called

The first strikes will take place on September 28 and 30 from 11am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm. They will then continue for all of October 5 and if there still has not been any progress, there will be another full day strike on October 7. This means that unless the government contracts a private firm to attend to patients during these hours, there will be no ambulances working for the public health sector.

of limbs, spasms, depression, weakening of the immune system and psychosis. Police warn that the increase in use across Spain is ‘devastating’ and said they have seen an increase in the presence of the drug in Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, Malaga, Oviedo and Ceuta.

Incidents

The gas, which is commonly inhaled through balloons, has been linked to multiple recent incidents In Spain. In June, a 32-year-old man was rushed to intensive care after he fell from a third-floor holiday rental apartment in San Pedro de Alcantara, and just days later a girl was seriously injured after leaping out of a moving vehicle and jumping from a bridge, in Marbella - both the man and the woman were believed to have taken laughing gas. A Swedish holidaymaker drowned after taking the drug and becoming disorientated, also in Marbella.

2/8/18 17:01

Línea Directa’s team of English-speaking customer service experts can guide you through all your queries and provide clear answers. And if you take out a new car insurance policy before 31 December 2021, Línea Directa will give you 2 months free car insurance. Terms and conditions apply.

MORE THAN JUST CAR INSURANCE

Línea Directa is constantly innovating its car insurance policies to offer much more for less. Customer satisfaction is at the very heart of everything they do. Extensive coverage levels ensure a quality car insurance product. Additional policy benefits such as cover for lost keys, courtesy cars, windscreen repair excess and dedicated legal advice. Línea Directa are customer service experts and they can guide you through a wide range of covers to offer you the very best car insurance policy that’s right for you and your vehicle.

WHY LÍNEA DIRECTA?

Línea Directa has been providing comprehensive car, motorbike and home insurance to British expatriates and residents in Spain for over 20 years. Backed by a leading Spanish financial group Bankinter, with over 3 million customers nationwide. All services and documentation is in English. Your car insurance protects you financially against loss in the event of a motor vehicle accident or theft of your vehicle. From flat tyres and dead batteries to empty petrol tanks, Línea Directa is always on hand 24/7, 365 days a year for total peace of mind.

Call their English-speaking customer service staff on 917 002 006 or get a competitive quote now at lineadirecta.com

Discover ReWear Our new range inspired by nature

2 for 1 from 109€ with single-vision lenses to the same prescription

Santa Ponça Avda. Rei Jaume, 117 Tel. 871 964 331 Cannot be used with any other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below. 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. Excludes SuperDigital, SuperDrive 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

13th August

We use recycled paper

Pilgrim lost

FINAL WORDS

POLICE are hot on the trail of a French pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago who vanished along with seven goats, three donkeys and a dog from a ‘secure pound’ where the animals were placed when officers demanded to see paperwork.

Sad addict A BOY from Castellon (Valencia) has been registered as the first clinical case in the world for video game addiction after he spent 16 hours a day playing Fortnite when he became depressed after his mother died.

Hisssteria POLICE spent two days hunting for a two-metre long boa constrictor which escaped from its tank in Palencia, with people being warned to keep their pets at home in case they became a snack for the slippery reptile.

OLIVE PRESS

The

REuse REduce REcycle

FREE

MALLORCA

Vol. 5 Issue 115

It’s no surprise as saddest folk in Spain live in the wettest regions IT will come as no surprise to northern European expats that the Spanish regions that experience the highest rainfall are also the most miserable. A new study has discovered that Galicians, who experience the most rain, are the least happy in the country.

www.theolivepress.es

Your expat

voice in Spain

September 24th - October 7th 2021

Pig of a plan

RAINING ON HAPPINESS By Amber Edirisinghe

The region, which gets around 75 inches of rainfall a year, is only matched in a lack of happiness by its near neighbour Asturias that gets

Win a home for a song WITH property prices constantly rising one woman has decided to give people the chance to get a house for just €28. The three bedroom two bathroom villa in the historic town of Mula (Murcia) has been home to Colette Copperwhite for 20 years. But now she has decided to pack up and head back home. And instead of selling her property in the traditional way she has decided to put it up for raffle. For £25 a ticket people can not only win the villa but pocket a cash lump sum of £15,000 (€17,450) if enough tickets are sold. A percentage of proceeds from this raffle will be divided between the Spanish and Irish Cancer societies if all tickets are sold. See advert on page 7.

almost as drenched. Meanwhile, sunnier spots, including the Balearic Islands, Andalucia and Valencia are among the happiest in Spain. The most joyous spot of all however is Navarra, with a 7.85 out of 10 rank, closely followed by the Balearics, both dry and sunny areas.

Culture

According to research by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS), the southern and north-eastern regions have the most cheerful residents. A colour-coded map by Carlota Albala clearly shows which regions are the happiest. According to the study, the residents of Pamplona, in

Navarra, are the happiest in Spain. The region is known for its rolling countryside and gastronomy as well as its art and culture. Andalucia ranks at a respectable fifth place, with its warm climate and rich cultural history. Valencia ranks sixth with a happiness rating of 7.38 out of 10.

IT has stood firm against hordes of marauding Moors and columns of crusading Christans. And at one time it was the base for legendary Spanish knight El Cid. But the fearsome fortress of Gormaz, in Soria, is now under attack from a more unconventional, and decidedly smellier, enemy. It comes after plans for a nearby pig farm were passed, allowing 4,000 swine into the nearby valley. The move has sent a hastily raised militia of ecologists, architects and history lovers to the battlements. Only a kilometre from the castle - the largest fortress in Europe when constructed in 965 - the pig farm will understandably pollute the area with its smells. Green group Ecologistas en Action, in particular, cite the health risk caused by 2,000 sqm of slurry. Now the battle is on to ensure that the 28-tower fortress, that was once a strategic stronghold for the Caliphate of Cordoba, repels this latest repugnant assault.