Olive Press Mallorca Issue 135 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

THE DESTRUCTION OF SPAIN’S COSTAS

R COS

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Fed up hoteliers get police training for staff in a bid to tackle sozzled Brits and Germans By George Mathias & Jorge Hinojosa

HOTELIERS are taking the law into their own hands as they struggle to deal with unruly alcohol-fuelled holidaymakers. They are pleading for action against drunkenness, saying recent measures designed to tackle the issue have failed. They claim chronic police underfunding has led to the bizarre situation where hotel staff are receiving police training to deal with lawbreaking tourists. Meanwhile the National Police station continues to close at night and the streets aren’t being properly patrolled. And the situation is worse than before the pandemic, claims hotel association FEHM. Illegal street selling, large ‘botellon’ drinking parties, and the sale of alcohol in unlicenced areas - including in hotel shuttle buses - were all listed as

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MALLORCA

Vol. 5 Issue 135

UNDER THREAT: Sa Foradada, near Deya

Your expat

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www.theolivepress.es July 15th - July 28th 2022

DIY COPS HELP US: Pleads for more police officers reasons why some parts of Mallorca have descended into chaos. Meanwhile, under a new security plan launched to plug the gap left by the lack of police, hotel owners are also hiring more security guards to protect staff. They are also forcing guests to sign a code of conduct before checking in to hotels. “Every year we have the same problem and the local authorities are not doing anything to deal with this problem,” said Patricia Campomar (above left), a spokeswoman for the association. “So we have decided to launch our security plan.” Two key areas that need tackling are Magaluf and Playa de Palma, where bookings have recently surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Balearic Tourism Minister Lago Negueruela (above right) pledged to eradicate ‘drunken’ tourism from the islands last year. He said that although it has so far proved difficult to tackle so-called ‘tourism of excesses’, a more concert-

TROLLIED: Tourist behaviour out of hand say locals ed effort would be made to ‘improve the quality of certain hotspots’, particularly in areas populated by Brits and Germans. Excessive drinking by holidaymakers has long been a problem in the Balearic Islands, so much so that in January 2020, a new law was introduced to stamp out anti-social behaviour in Playa de Palma, s’Arenal and Magaluf, as well as Sant Antonio in Ibiza. In this zero tolerance approach, the decree strictly prohibited any promotions of booze, the sale of alcohol in commercial stores after 9.30pm and

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the act of ‘balconing’. Guests on ‘all inclusive’ holidays were also stung by the law, now only being allowed three free alcoholic beverages at lunch, another three at dinner, with all ‘happy hour’ offers being banned. Police were also given increased powers to act against loud music made by nightlife venues with serious violations resulting in an establishment being shut down for a period of time. Bars selling booze after-hours can be slapped with crushing fines of tens of thousands of euros. Ironically, given the hoteliers com-

plaints, hotel owners can be fined for failing to swiftly kick out disruptive guests. The sanctions drive marked a departure from the harm prevention measures that had previously been favoured by the Mallorcan government, such as makeshift first aid units on popular bar strips. Residents of tourist hotspots like Magaluf and Playa de Palma have previously criticised politicians for gimmick responses to problem holidaymakers, such as getting British bobbies on the beat to patrol during the summer. After a number of embarrassing videos being leaked of drunken tourists, Negueruela issued a stark message to tourists intending to consume excess alcohol on holiday, warning that they were not welcome in the Balearic Islands.

Quality

He added that although these changes may have put off many from coming to the Baleares, it was more important to focus on the quality of the tourist rather than the number. But the hotel association gave the best example of problems not being tackled, when it highlighted an airport transfer business that delivers alcohol to holidaymakers as they arrive at the airport. “When they arrive at a hotel reception, they already have cans of beer with them,” said the spokeswoman.

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Licence to bill POLICE have arrested eight people for selling fake driving licences online at up to €20,000 a pop in addition to offering sham loans.

Earful A 32-year-old man was arrested in Palma after biting his flatmate’s ear, assaulting another and being aggressive towards police officers called to the area who were trying to calm him down.

Boozed up A DRUNK Belgian man fed up with strike-related delays on a Ryanair flight was arrested after he began hurling insults at fellow passengers and tried to open the plane’s emergency exit at Menorca’s Mahon airport.

Top spin Following his Wimbledon exit, tennis ace Rafa Nadal was spotted throwing some risque shapes at the Pacha nightclub in Ibiza.

POLICE have busted a football betting ring that operated in Spain and Gibraltar. Investigators say the network made more than €500,000, mostly on illicit gambling linked to Spain’s Third Division. The gang also betted on Gibraltar’s National League. Cops have arrested 21 people and another six are under investigation for organised crime, corruption and fraud.

BAD ODDS

In raids during Operation Conifera €60,000 in cash and two vehicles were seized. Investigators say that the gang relied on two ‘leaders’ who had close connections to professional football. They approached players who provided

July 15th - July 28th 2022 confidential information in order to influence matches. Information gained would then be used by ‘procurers’ who provided fake identities for online gambling and mules to place sports bets and collect prize money. Members of the network were careful to use encrypted communications, a mix of in-person and online betting, and placed bets in installments to avoid detection.

CHECKMATE?

Man arrested after fighter jets escort EasyJet plane to Menorca due to bomb-threat hoax A BRITISH MAN behind the bomb hoax that caused an EasyJet plane bound for Menorca to be escorted by Spanish fighter jets claimed he was ‘a member of the Taliban’. An 18 year old chess wizard called Aditya Verma, from Kent, has been named as the accused. Passengers on the Airbus from Gatwick Airport were stunned as they noticed F18 fighter jets flying very close to their plane

By George Mathias

when their flight was due to land. Clips shared on social media showed a scene reminiscent of when fighter jets escort Russian aircraft that nears the airspace of Western countries. British counter terrorism operatives were alerted after intercepting alarming messages the man had sent via Snapchat.

A MAN has been fined €200,000 for destroying five swallow nests. A neighbour had complained that he had removed the nests from underneath her balcony in Alaior, Menorca. Spanish law prohibits harming or disturbing protected wildlife. It is currently breeding season for swallows, who give birth ahead of

Much more than four stars.

Once the flight landed having been escorted by the Spanish air force, Verma was arrested and five of his friends were taken in for questioning. In his court hearing on Tuesday, judge Belen Velazquez ordered his passport to be confiscated and confirmed he would

Tough to swallow mass migration to Africa in the autumn. It is not clear if the man, who has not been named, is able to appeal the decision which would represent one of the largest fines related to animal mistreatment in Spain’s history.

Friends.

NEXT MOVE?: Verma have to appear in court on the 1st and 15th of every month while investigations continue. The judge took a statement from him before he was released after paying his €10,000 bail. The fact he received bail, suggests he is not a real terrorist. The court will now decide whether to refer the case to the Audiencia Nacional Court in Madrid. If it does so, the Madrid court would have the power to extradite the Brit to the UK or try him in Spain.

Kid’s cocaine shock

A MUM has been arrested after her six-year-old daughter tested positive for cocaine and alcohol. Concerned doctors called in the police when the shocking blood test results came in. Not only were they worried about the drugs and booze, but were also concerned the girl could be in an unsafe environment. Police officers in Palma interviewed the minor in the company of the doctor and discovered that the girl had ingested the substances at a party at her mother’s house. The minor has now been put into care.

Pillow ordeal A BRITISH tourist has been arrested for trying to kill his wife by suffocating her with a pillow. The 48-year-old victim contacted her Santa Ponsa hotel’s receptionist and asked for help. According to the victim, her partner had sexually abused her and turned violent, punching her in the nose then trying to suffocate her. The 50-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody.

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SO THAT’S THE POINT

HE famous San Fermin ‘bull running’ festival has eturned to Pamplona after a two-year Covid break with the ‘Chupinazo’ kicking things off with an inaugural rocket. People from all across the world have flocked to the historic city with over one million punters set to attend the eight day bash. While the running of the bulls and associated bullfights are the most high-profile of events, there is much more to the festival than that. A total of 532 events including concerts, fireworks and a ‘wine fight’ take place over the week. Here, the Olive Press takes a look at its history and customs:

Who was San Fermin? He was the son of the Roman ruler of Pamplona. His father was convert-

KIDS PLAY: Teenager with water pistol at the bullfight

July 15th - July 28th 2022

Spain’s biggest festival San Fermin is about much more than just bullrunning, as the Olive Press discovers ed to Catholicism by San Saturino in about 300 AD. Fermin was sent to Toulouse for religious instruction and returned as a bishop. Why do people wear the red scarf (pañuelo) around their necks? As a new bishop, Fermin began to spread his teachings. He ran into trouble in Amiens in France where he was tortured and beheaded before being declared a martyr. The pañuelo represents the blood pouring from his neck during his gruesome death.

Why do people wear white? There are three different theories on this. One is that the peñas, which are local social groups in Pamplona, started to wear white to differentiate themselves from the rest of the crowd. From here, the tradition spread. Another thought is that before the Running of the Bulls was even an official event, people still needed to guide the bulls from their enclosures to the bullring. They were helped by people on horseback but also others who ran in front of the bulls to get them to follow. These people wore white - hence the tradition. The final theory comes from the three fundamental pillars of the festival. One is spontaneity, the second tradition and the third anonymity irrelevent of wealth and social standing.

HOLY: Celebrations are steeped in the history of slain martyr San Fermin

Are there two San Fermín fiestas? Yes, there is the big messy international one in July, but also a local traditional celebration of the saint in September. There is no bull run or fight, but the religious ceremonies take precedence and, of course, the drinking, fun and fiesta too. Who are the giants with huge heads? The parades of the Gigantes and Cabezudos take place every day of the fiesta. They carry pikes with foam balls on the end and will hit you with them if you annoy them enough. There are FIVE pairs, to represent all the continents, as when this tradition first began, they had no clue about the land down under, and, well, the traditional number stuck.

SCARY: Giants roam the town scaring the revellers (but not all!)

Is there an unofficial running of the bulls every evening? The bulls need to be moved from their enclosures to the pens from where they start the encierro the next morning. At sunset the short run is made in mystical darkness. The street

lamps go out, the crowds are hushed and the nearby fairground comes to a standstill to allow the bulls to move in peace.

PROCESSIONS: Drummers, virgins and bullrunners

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July 15th - July 28th 2022A N

OLIVE PRESS INVESTIGATES - THE DESTRUCTION OF SPAIN’S COSTAS

C O S TA Pic credit: Jose Maria Caballero

GREEN campaigners are digging in to save one of Andalucia’s last remaining coastal zones. They are launching a national campaign to prevent a series of projects from ‘destroying’ the fragile ecology of the stunning Tarifa coastline. Hundreds of expats are expected to join Ecologistas en Accion to fight the plans that mean around 6.2 million square metres - or 600 football pitches - of protected land are being made available to developers. In plans that have been on the drawing board since 2004, Tarifa town hall is hoping to develop six specific areas, increasing

FIGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES

DISFIGURE: Plans (below) show how the unspoilt Los Lances beach will be ruined

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Battle lines are being drawn as massive megaproject could see 600 football pitches of homes and hotels ‘swamp’ Tarifa’s famous virgin beaches By Jon Clarke, Jorge Hinojosa & George Mathias

its urban footprint by 450%. “This is the blatant destruction of one of the loveliest bits of coastline in Europe,” Javier Gil, of Ecologistas, told the Olive Press. “Everyone needs to get involved to condemn this invasive and speculative form of tourism that will make the Tarifa area like the Costa del Sol.” The projects at Valdevaqueros, Las Piñas, Torre de La Peña, Los Lances, Pedro Valiente and Cabo Plata (in nearby Atlanterra) total thousands of new homes and dozens of hotels. “It’s absurd to be developing such a

large unspoiled area,” said British businessman Peter Whaley, from the Hurricane Hotel group. “We should be trying our best to protect this jewel of the coast, not build all over it.” In the most recent scheme to be announced, the town hall is backing plans to build 730 homes and a number of hotels (comprising 1,360 bedrooms) in a 623,000 square metre area right opposite Los Lances beach. The mostly wooded area - inside the protected Paraje Natural de Los Lances - currently has almost no buildings, apart from the La Codorniz hotel and restaurant. Developers hope however, to overcome the area’s current protection status and their plans have been sent to Cadiz for an Environmental Impact Report (EAE). But alarmingly, this is far from all. Another project above nearby Valdevaqueros beach will

add to the constant pressure on the area. The scheme, which the Olive Press understands comprises around 60 luxury villas, costing millions of euros each, is already on the drawing board. Another scheme at Las Pinas, will see 50 luxury villas constructed.

Protests

The Olive Press first reported plans to develop the area in 2012, when a series of protests were organised by the pressure group Salvemos Valdevaqueros. The body argued that the area was totally unsuitable for development (back then for around 360 homes and various hotels) as it bordered the Parque Natural del Estrecho and sat in the EU’s Red Natura 2000 zone. This week, Tarifa mayor Francisco Ruiz refused to confirm how advanced plans were for any of the schemes.

When pressed on the Lances development, he told the Olive Press: “The project was approved in 2006, but due to the economic crisis building did not begin.” While admitting that environmental laws are much stricter today, he is supporting the project for economic reasons ‘as long as the developers respect the environment.” It is a big ask, insists Ecologistas spokesman Javier Gil. “There are only three areas of Andalucia left without mass urban development; Cabo de Gata in Almeria, Donana National Park and around Tarifa. “That is why most of the tourists come to Tarifa. They come here to see virgin beaches, not concrete.

“The mayor is going to destroy Tarifa and turn it into a resort like many others on the Costa del Sol. “There is not enough land there to build more houses and developers are naturally interested in virgin areas as they know they will be able to sell the properties quickly and expensively.”

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Opinion Page 6

NOW

Deya

“The cliffs on the islands show the history of the planet," Jimenez says. Some 169 sites are earmarked by the leftist party, including the Sa Foradada, a unique rocky enclave in Deya, in Mallorca, famed for its views in addition to the island of Dragonera. The so-called Menorca Channel is also proposed to be protected, owing to its volcanic field. Podemos said: “These are sites that are millions of years old. If we don't take care of them, they could be destroyed, especially in a region as popular as this area. We want the public to know their own land and the identity of the islands.”

U -T U R

PODEMOS has submitted proposals to the Balearic parliament to give special protection to hundreds of sites of ‘geological interest’ on the islands. The measures are being fronted by Pablo Jimenez, Deputy of the leftist group Esquerra de Menorca, who says current protective laws do not go far enough. Currently, a nationwide law protects areas of geological importance across Spain, but Podemos are pushing for a specific law for the Balearics to give them special protection.

Political failure U-TURN CAMPAIGN: British expat stranded without a licence plans to revoke residency in Spain

By George Mathias

far, near Alicante. “We are thinking about revoking our residency. We contribute a huge amount to the Spanish economy and we feel after the Brexit situation we are being victimised,” added Reid,

Bad case

THOUSANDS of travellers have been stranded without their luggage as cases pile up at Spanish airports. Many passengers have arrived at their destination, but their luggage has been put on to later flights as so many journeys are at full capacity. When their bags finally arrive no one is there to claim them. Passengers at airports around Spain have reported seeing heaps of cases piled up unclaimed in arrivals. The Spanish airport’s company, AENA, blamed the chaos on other airports in Europe not anticipating such a large number of passengers as bookings surge. Compensation of up to €1,350 can be claimed if your luggage does not appear within 21 days, says consumer organisation FACUA.

who is now having to be driven around by her son. Despite contacting Transport Minister Grant Shapps, Ambassador Hugh Elliott and MPs Lee Anderson, Andy Carter and even Boris Johnson, she is not holding out much hope. “This is a human rights issue and since Brexit, it feels like our rights are being stripped away. I support the Olive Press’ campaign 100% and pray you make a difference.” Meanwhile Hugh Elliott has yet again refused to provide any details with an agreement eluding both sides.

Priority

“We are still working through the technicalities. Resolving this remains our top priority,” he said last week. The Olive Press campaign to get Brits back on the road is in full swing, with almost 5,000 signatures so far on an official parliamentary petition.

July 15th - July 28th 2022

Hey big spenders FOREIGN tourists to the Baleares are spending 20% more than they did before the pandemic. In 2019 the average spend per head was €939 but this year this figure has shot up to €1,124. This can be explained largely because visitors are staying an average seven nights

compared to six in 2019, according to a report from the regional government. In the first five months of 2022, Baleares took €3.641 million from tourism, which is 11.7% more than in 2019. Spain took a total of €15.382 billion from January to May 2022, according to official data from the government.

Lounging luvvies ACTORS Jason Momoa and Jared Leto have been spotted on a holiday retreat in Mallorca. Game of Thrones star Momoa is known to be an avid amateur climber and frequently takes advantage of Mallorca’s world-renowned climbing terrain. They joined up with Chris Sharma, a pro climber who speciliases in a type of free-soloing done on rock faces above bodies of water. Last month Momoa (right) and Sharma (left) were filming near the Puerto Soller for a series that sees amatuer climbers take on some challenging routes along the Tramuntana coast. The trio shared a snap on Instagram enjoying themselves in the Balearic sunshine. Jared Leto is known to be a close friend of Momoa’s and is famed for his method acting as well as for being the frontman of rock band 30 Seconds to Mars.

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SAVE OUR CLIFFS

AN expat pensioner stranded unable to drive due to the licence swapping scandal has slammed UK politicians for their ‘total inactivity’. Backing the Olive Press’ U-turn campaign, Sue Reid claims she is now considering moving back to Britain due to the victimisation. The retired hotel manager from Cheshire has so far contacted a host of MPs and mandarins to demand action over the inability of thousands of expats from being able to drive in Spain. “They have either failed to respond or just claimed they’re working towards an agreement,” she said. Reid, who became a resident in early 2021, was given bad advice by a gestor that it would be easy to swap her licence over as an agreement was set to be struck. As with hundreds of others, Reid is now stuck unable to drive in her village of Benijo-

NEWS

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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 Price of everything, value of nothing EVERYTHING has a price… including Spain’s last virgin beaches. With over six million square metres of pristine coastline in Tarifa in line for urban development, a cabal of bankers and housing developers are rubbing their hands with glee. All rubber stamped by the council, wait for the politicians to wax lyrical about all the jobs it will bring and how much it will clean up the coast. Forget the millions of tourists who visit precisely because they want to enjoy it exactly how it is. Meanwhile the price of the only seaside stretch of Los Alcornocales Natural Park, near Sotogrande, looks to be €120 million. A princely sum it may seem, but not when you consider the unparalleled beauty and unique terrain of this green gem nestled in one of Spain’s most alluring corners. Forget the 600 jobs the Borondo project will bring. The area will be irreversibly altered if it gets the green light and, when finished, if there are two dozen full time sustainable jobs we’d be surprised. There is, of course, a need for more affordable housing in the area, but these developments are not for low-income families, they are for high end holiday homes and tourist retreats for wealthy jet-setters. Perhaps even more concerning is the radio silence from other media outlets here for whom the destruction of such delicate green space is apparently a flippant issue. It falls on all of us to battle the beady-eyed developers who see only euro signs when looking at the most precious natural landscapes in the country. Our Hands off the Costas campaign launched two years ago could be set for a busy summer. PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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NEWS FEATURE

PANISH cinema is at its best when portraying rural life and the award-winning 2022 Alcarràs is no exception. It tells the tale of a struggling farming family divided when their century-old orchard is mercilessly trampled ‘by progress’ in the shape of a solar farm. The award-winning film has struck a chord with audiences already witnessing the colonisation of swathes of rural land by international companies capitalising on Spain’s unique combination of sun and wind. Lightsource (owned by BP) has made Spain its largest renewables market in Europe and is joining others in a race that kicked off when the current Socialist government swept aside the notorious sun tax introduced by the PP government a decade ago. In Andalucia alone, 1,2m hectares are being ringfenced for clean energy purposes while 10% of Teruel province could be covered by panels by 2030. This is when the country’s National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) hopes to hit a target of 60 gigawatts of clean power, reaching 74% of its energy requirements. Such is the excitementof this ambitious target, it could make the area the ‘Saudi Arabia of Europe’ claims Spanish economist Jose Carlos Diez. And, given Spain’s vast areas of depopulated countryside, it would seem there’s room for everyone to join the party. But like any progress, the renewable energy boom has its

Territorial fight threatens Spain’s bid to become the Saudi of Europe, writes Heather Galloway

VIEW: from the Mas de Cebrian hotel where there are plans for a solar farm

detractors. While speculators merely see Spain as hot and sandy, Javier Oquendo, spokesman for the Platform in Defence of Teruel’s Landscape has a different country in mind. “The big corporations don’t care about our stunning countryside. They are just putting the infrastructure here so they can consume the energy elsewhere,” he

told the Olive Press this week. “What we want is a kilometre zero policy. Local use of electricity.” Oquendo stressed however that he is not against renewables. The Teruel platform and more than 200 others like it have grouped under the umbrella association ALIENTE (Energy and Territory Alliance) with the slogan:

“Renewables yes, but not like this.” Their first demonstration last year saw 15,000 protesters in Madrid demanding a different, scaled-down model – one that cuts out big energy firms with their big export projects. Gorka Ederra, spokesman for Navarra’s Salvamos El Perdon platform explaied: “They plan to cover 40% of the Adi-

SEEDS OF HISTORY

Jack Gaioni takes a look at Spain’s love affair with the olive, and how it defines the past, present and future

LIVES and Spain! Spain and olives! It’s no surprise to those of us who live here that the two are virtually synonymous. Chances are that olives will be part of your next tapas, olive oil will be in your next meal, and that olive groves are within view. Even the Olive Press is named after them. Yet, there is another dimension to olives that you might not have considered – a dimension beyond food, views and newspaper titles, and that’s the role of olives in archaeology. Archaeology is concerned with the recovery and dating of artifacts in an attempt to give history some lineal order. Putting findings in a chronological sequence has long been the subject of debate. Pottery remains have provided archaeologists with one of the most accurate metrics: the shapes, styles, glazing and decorations are reliable indicators that can be confidently associated with different time periods. Also, as pottery is fragile, it is not passed from generation to genera-

tion, but discarded when broken. Since olives have always been such a mainstay in Mediterranean diets, olive seeds and pottery often show up together in archaeological sites – places like ancient hearths, kitchens and rubbish dumps. The olive seed, when subjected to something called carbon-14 dating, has perhaps become the most accurate part of the methodology archaeologists use in determining age. Simply put, all plants are made of carbon, and when they die they release it. Scientists are able to analyse the rate and patterns of plant decomposition and carbon release, and, from that, accurately calculate their age. A high degree of accuracy is possible with seeds in general and olive seeds in particular. Scientists now claim that by carbon dating olive seeds they can place an archaeological dig within a 25year time frame with a ‘confidence rate’ of 90-95%.

The implications are enormous. For example, the veracity of the Old Testament story of David and Solomon has long been debated. Does the story tell of an actual sophisticated and prestigious Jewish empire that stretched from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River? Or is it a myth – a mere allegory – crafted as a symbol for storytellers to buttress their own morality lessons? Recent archaeological digs at sites near Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley have revealed a host of new scientific data as a result of cross-referencing of olive seed dating with sophisticated pottery inscriptions. Some archaeologists offer this as proof positive that the biblical accounts of David and Solomon are accurate.

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July 15th - July 28th 2022

SUMMER’S HERE - WE MAKE IT EASY TO ESCAPE! AS the world descends on the costas…we like to give you some alternatives. While taking a trip to the Costa de la Luz (as we suggest in this issue) is a world away from Marbella, Torrevieja or Javea, the Olive Press likes to help you really escape. For those of us lucky enough to live here, now is the perfect time to head off and explore some of the quieter - and cooler - corners of Spain. From the temperate climes of Galicia, to the mountains of Granada A Costa de la Luz and the historic towns of inland SEEING I Spain - we have researched and THE LIGHT written hundreds of top-quality travel articles over the years. Even better, they can all be found in one place: in our travel section of the Olive Press website. Chock full of ideas of where to visit, where to stay and where to eat. So what are you waiting for? Visit theolivepress.es and the whole of Spain is at your fingertips. ll about

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July 2022

CAPTURED: The moon rising over Vajer

On a second visit to the Costa de la Luz, Jo Chipchase was finally switched on to its beautiful beaches and illuminated villages… oh, and tuna fish

os region with infrastructure. de Cebrian hotel in the SierThese big companies make ra Gudar-Javalambre. out they’re coming to save The Forestalia’s Maestrazgo rural Spain. I solar project wish they would set to cover 137 leave us alone.” hectares with ‘Most of the The platforms solar panels. call it ‘the in“People come renewable dustrialisation here to see nacompanies are ture, not to look of the countryside’ and for out on a field of here to make those in the black panels,” money’ tourism sector he added. the visual imSome of the pact could be area is part of very damaging. the European Natura 2000 “They plan to fill the field in network of breeding sites for front of my hotel with solar rare and threatened species panels,” explained Diego Pi- and, though there is legislalaquinga who runs the Mas tion protecting Natural Parks and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), when it comes to the Natura 2000 network, the government’s line is merely indicative and can be overridden. According to Daniel Lopez from green group Ecologistas en Accion ‘these are frequently areas of great beauty but the problem is the law doesn’t actually guarantee their protection’. “And most of the renewable companies are here to make money,” he added. Forestalia, one of the biggest players in the Teruel region, has a background in the meat industry and has been accused of CONTROVERSIAL: Religious history is speculation and divisive being given a blank cheque by the govSceptics argue this is ‘made-up science’. ernment to set up They say it is not a case of carbon dating where it wants. affirming the scriptures, but the scriptures “If you say you don’t affirming carbon dating. want their project, Issues involving politics and religion in this their response is part of the world tend to be explosive, so that it’s not the we’ll leave those arguments for others. public’s opinion The point here is that olive seeds, because that counts. It’s the of the way they can be carbon-dated, are legality,” said Oqufront and centre in these historical arguments. endo, who flags So, the next time you eat olives, please up a viral video in know that you could well be helping to tell which a Forestalia future generations something about life in advisor was filmed Spain, circa 2022. telling a protester ‘if the villages op-

Take a front row seat on the Costa de la Luz’s most beautiful square +34 956 45 53 02 www.garimbasur.com

Plaza de España, 32 – 11150 Vejer de la Frontera, Cádiz

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pose us, Europe will tell you where you can put your opinions’. Forestalia has denied the blank cheque claims insisting it is ‘impossible’ when there is a public bidding process to win the project. “The people on these platforms play the victim,” insisted a spokesman. “They are scared of change. In any case, you can’t save your village if you don’t first save the world.” Just like the movie, Alcarras, the issue is proving divisive. According to Oquendo, entire communities in Teruel are at loggerheads, with vandalism surfacing in April and many threats being made.

Anger

Causing much of the anger is the fact that land can be expropriated if at least 80% of local landowners are in favour of installing a project. “There are neighbours who have literally stopped speaking,” he said. The majority of ALIENTE’s groups are demanding multiple small projects instead of just a few macro ones, with priority for local consumption. “Unlike with coal, the locals can all participate in this,” claimed Ederra from the Salvamos el Perdon platform. But Jose Donoso, head of the Spanish solar association UNEF, dismissed this idea as ‘suicide’. He pointed out that the ecological transition is not just about ‘decorating

Cubic

This 40-something mile stretch of breathtaking coastline is full of unspoilt beaches, cubic white towns and too many places to stop and take a perfect holiday snap. Broadly speaking, you should spend at least two days in Vejer and Tarifa, with a day in each of Conil and Zahara and with a side trip to Barbate, which is incredibly one of Spain’s poorest towns (on paper). With a bit more time, make sure to see Bolonia and its famous sand dune (the biggest in the world) and an inland stop in Medina Sidonia, one of the true unspoilt, authentic gems of southern Spain. The start of the Costa de La Luz and its famous light begins at the Mirador del Estrecho, about quarter of an hour’s drive past Algeciras. It’s a must-stop, as this high point has some of the best views in the world, looking across to Africa, over the

PIC CREDIT: Jon Clarke

EYESORE?: Some residents think solar panels and wind turbines blight the landscape

HAD visited the Costa de la Luz only once before, a decade ago with my young sons. At the time, I had only heard of Tarifa, famed for its knockabout winds and fortified historical centre, facing across the straits to Africa. The southernmost tip of Spain, it was the place to catch a ferry to visit Morocco or hang out with fit windsurfers, who practically lived on the beaches and then partied into the early hours of the morning. Back where I’m based in inland Granada, young people with vans invariably had a ‘Tarifa Pirates’ sticker on it. So, we were constantly reminded of the name. But what was further up the long N-340 from Tarifa westwards? Who cared? It was a big, empty space, as far as I knew, and that meant missing out on so much. For someone who loves photography, I should have known better… but now I’ve been switched on and have finally seen the light, if you’ll excuse two puns. My discovery came on a recent trip along this stunning windswept stretch of coastline that stretches all the way to Cadiz… and then all the way through Huelva to the Portuguese border. The area of most interest - is loosely between and Conil.

You Should Never Buy Pre Cut Fruit 2- WhyAnd Veg At Supermarkets In Spain Low-Cost Airline Announces 3- Ryanair12Strike: New Strike Days For July Travel Advice In 4- UK Foreign Office Updates Spain 5- Big Easyjet strikes set to go ahead in Spain

the countryside’. “We need €25 billion in investment to reach the 2030 National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) target. Small companies simply don’t have that kind of money,” he claimed. Donoso adds that those who maintain we can respond to Get in touch today at sales@theolivepress.es or climate change with small companies alone are neo-necall us at 00 34 951273575 for more info gationists. “These people may not deny climate change but that makes them more danEstablished 1989 gerous because they oppose EMERGENCIES: 636 308 789 any policy to address it,” he Tel: 971 681 439 said. “They’re www.theeuropeandentalpractice.com the biggest barrier to the Dr.Mónica Bonet – University of Barcelona ecological transition in the Dr. Yasmina Adebibe – B.D.S London country right Susan Taylor-Vickers – BSc, EDH now.” As for Alcarras, Mercadona Centre, Son Caliu, Palma Nova Donoso points out that the actual Catalan village of Alcarràs, where the film is set, actufor dogs and cats in ally does have a solar farm inSpain!! Get the right stalled on land healthcare cover previously used as a deposit for waste from an The ONLY ENGLISH VET industrial pig farm. CLINICA VETERINARIA There was no BENDINAT orchard destroyed and the tel: 971 404 459 ‘landowner is www.vet-bendinat.com very happy’.

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July 15th - July 28th 2022

DRYING UP

Seabin

THE Port of Malaga is taking action to keep its waters clean by installing a revolutionary new device, known as a Seabin, to collect rubbish from the sea. Located in IGY Malaga Marina, the ‘trash skimmer,’ that has already been installed in the water, acts like a floating garbage bin skimming the surface of the water. It’s expected to collect an average of 1 to 1.4 tonnes of waste per year. Seabins have previously been installed in Valencia, Mahon, Getxo, Gijon, Cartagena, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and A Coruña.

Spain and Portugal experiencing driest spells in over a millennium THE Iberian Peninsula is going through its driest period for 1,200 years, according to new research. The majority of rain in Portugal and Spain falls in the winter months, but a high-pressure weather phenomenon known as the Azores high can block wet weather fronts which provide much needed rain. Researchers from the Oceanographic Institution in the US said winters with ‘extremely large Azores highs’ have increased significantly. Prior to 1850,they only occurred once every 10 winters. Since 1980 however, this has risen to one in every four. When they occur, they force the wet weather northwards, making downpours in the UK and Scandinavia far more likely.

Climate

The scientists said this increase was undeniably the result of the climate crisis, caused by increased carbon emissions from human activity. Dr Caroline Ummenhofer who headed the research team, told the Guardian: “The number of extremely large Azores highs in the last 100 years is really unprecedented when you look at the previous 1,000 years. “That has big implications because an extremely large Azores high means relatively dry conditions for the Iberian peninsula and the Mediterranean. We could also conclusively link this increase to anthropogenic emissions.” Droughts and heatwaves are becoming more and more common on the peninsula and this May was the hottest on record in Spain.

By George Mathias

Environmentalists say heatwaves are becoming 10 times more likely than they were before the effects of climate change were established.

PARCHED: Water levels are low

Just consider the facts - climate policy has failed

NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE T HE central goal of climate policies is to reduce harmful emissions. Yet even with all of the international agreements of the last three decades - The UN Framework on Climate Change of 1992, the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, the Copenhagen accord of 2009, the Paris climate accord of 2015, 26 Conference of Parties, DECARBONISATION HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED. The world is witnessing an alarming outbreak of weather disasters: ● Giant wildfires ● Deadly heatwaves ● Powerful hurricanes ● Unprecedented flooding Despite the overwhelming current evidence, inaction abounds. There is no doubt that this is just the beginning of the grim toll that climate change will

PROTEST: to save the Amazon

Green

take in the years to come. Countries rely on others to act. This is the road to nowhere. All of the agreements that countries have entered into are not binding. They have no teeth. There are no penalties. There is a vast chasm between aspirations and effective policies.

BIDEN’S POWER TO CUT EMISSIONS LIMITED BY SUPREME COURT America is a huge polluter. What goes on in the US affects us all. 19 largely Republican states brought a case against the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and won. The Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling, destroyed President Biden’s (pictured below) aspirations to tackle the climate crisis. The 19 states are home to America’s largest coal companies. Their political and financial power is so strong that they derailed plans to do the right thing for the world. How sad. How corrupt. How damaging. The US accounts for 14% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Biden had committed to reducing this by 52% by 2030. Fat chance of this happening now! BAD NEWS EVERYWHERE In the UK last month, the Forestry Commission said the government has ‘zero chance’ of reaching its tree planting targets. At COP-26 last year 196 countries agreed to a deadline to submit detailed plans to reduce emissions. Only 11 countries complied. Talk

is cheap …action requires resolve. Countries agreed to reduce the use of coal yet 34 countries are now considering new coal plants. India has announced that it is increasing production of coal power and reopening 100 power plants. Countries promised to stop deforestation by 2030. But in Brazil (home to more than half of the Amazon rainforest) deforestation is up 70% on last year. Countries agreed a scheme to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Last year, methane levels saw their biggest annual increase since records began. Countries agreed to reduce fossil fuel subsidies. In 2021 they increased. Wealthy nations agreed to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries move away from fossil fuel dependency. It hasn’t happened. Here in Spain and Portugal we are suffering the driest climate in 1200 years. In Italy there is a declared state of emergency in five northern regions where they are said to be experiencing the worst drought in 70 years. The river Po valley which produces 40% of Italy’s rice and grain has not seen rain in four months. How many more alarm bells need to ring before governments actually do the right thing?

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LA CULTURA

OLD TIMER

THE earliest ever skull fragments of a prehistoric European man dating back 1.4 million years have been unearthed by archaeologists in Spain. The jaw fragments were found in the Atapuerca Mountain range in Burgos. The Atapuerca Foundation - a body that supports scientific research into human evolution - said carbon dating has established that the human - or ancient hominid - is the oldest human ever discovered in Europe.

Sunny delight The greatest show in town returns to Alicante for the summer THE internationally renowned Cirque de Soleil has returned to Alicante Province for the first time since 2018. The troupe's Luzia show celebrates Mexican culture in what is described as an explosion of

Human

The Spanish archeologists behind the momentous discovery said: “This forces us to rewrite the books on human evolution.” In 2007, a fossil was found on the same site and dated back 1.2 million years. Prior to this discovery, it was generally thought that the first modern humans migrated to continental Europe 50,000 years ago. The new discovery was found at the Sima del Elefante archaeological site by doctoral student Edgar Tellez.

July 15th - July 28th 2022

By Alex Trelinski

light and rain. It will be Cirque de Soleil’s only visit to the Valencian Community this year. Fresh from successful shows in Geneva, Switzerland, a giant 19-metre high tent has been erected at Playa de San Juan for performances starting tonight (July 14) and running until August 21. The tent can accommodate up to 2,600 people and occupies a 20,000 square metre area. Some 65 trailers have been used to bring the travelling show from Switzerland. It took over a week for the tent and surrounding structures to be erected. According to circus bosses ‘Lu-

SPECTACLE: Fabulous new show zia takes the audience to an actors, and great visual surprisimaginary Mexico, in a dream- es, Luzia glides between an old like state where light quenches movie set, the vast ocean, a ballthe spirit and rain soothes the room, and an arid desert. soul’. The show features the many With an international cast of 50 sights, faces, and sounds of acrobats, musicians, singers, Mexico, blending tradition and modern themes. It also includes rain for the very first time in a Cirque de Soleil touring production, which promises to create some memaward the distinguished third Masters of Cineorable moments for the audima Award to Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan. ence. The Oscar winner will also participate in a speThe group was founded in Quecial screening of his award-winning film The bec, Canada, by Guy Laliberte Crying Game, which celebrates the 30th anin 1984 and employs 5,000 niversary of its theatrical release on Monday, people worldwide including July 25 at CineCiutat cinema in Palma. 1,300 artists. In addition, Master of Cinema awards will be Ticket prices for Luzia start given to French actress Isabelle Huppert and from €40 with performances at Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa. 6.30 pm and 10.30 pm.

Tic-TacWoah! A HISTORICAL association has called for the preservation of Santiago de Compostela’s historical carvings of noughts and crosses. Colectivo A Rula first published findings of the games in 2015, following widely shared photos on social media of the ancient game. Thereafter, eagle-eyed residents started spotting other carvings in the Galician city in its plazas, fountains, and buildings. Some of the carvings have been dated to the 16th century. There are thought to be at least 200 games inscribed into walls throughout the city. Luis Leclere of Colectivo A Rula, told the Guardian: “They’re hidden in plain sight. We’ve never heard of anything like the concentration of games we have here.”

Festival fever hits Mallorca THE Mallorca film festival has sold 10,000 tickets. The festival, which will be held between July 24 and 31 in Mallorca, will showcase 70 films and 12 concerts, talks and meetings. “We can already say that the event will be bigger than last year. Tickets that have been sold already exceed the total number of 2021,” the director of the festival said. On July 14, the festival announced it is to

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6/6/22 10:43

BUSINESS

CASH HAPPY

TOURISTS are splashing the cash, with foreign visitors now spending more money than before the pandemic. Aaccording to data released by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) tourists spent a total of €1.1 billion in Andalucia in May alone. During the month, 1,036,243 tourists headed to the region with an average budget of €1,100, some 12% more than before the pandemic. Andalucia is the third most popular region of Spain for tourists after the Baleares and Cataluñya - with over a quarter of visitors coming from the UK (28%) and 11% from France. A report from the American multinational VISA also revealed that Andalucia is the top destination for Americans visiting Spain, who cited the cultural visits, relaxing beaches and sprawling countryside as the main attractions.

Construction giants fined and banned from public tenders for collusion

SOME of Spain’s biggest construction companies have been fined €204 million for collusion over public contracts. Spain's antitrust regulator said the six firms had illegally shared information on bids for public projects over a period of 25 years. These were often for major infrastructure projects such as roads and airports, but also affected bids at a smaller local level. A spokesman for the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) said that the companies will also be banned from working with public authorities. The guilty companies are some of the biggest names in the country with the biggest penalties handed to Dragados

SPAIN’S jobless figure dropped to 2,880,582 in June, its lowest level since October 2008. This was 42,409 fewer than in May, according to data published by the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Economy. The Spanish Social Security system has now set a new record with 20.3 million people working across Spain. According to the Ministry there are 733,757 fewer unemployed people than in June 2021. However, the decline in joblessness in June

HE pound euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate saw some dramatic shifts in movement over the past two weeks amid fears of global recession, diverging central bank policy, and UK political uncertainty. GBP/EUR began the past two weeks on a slow decline, falling as low as €1.15 before rocketing up to almost €1.18 as Eurozone recession fears increased. WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? Poor Eurozone PMI results helped the pound to climb higher against the euro toward the end of June. Eurozone growth slowed to a 16-month low across the manufacturing and services sectors. An improvement to UK retail sales for May also likely helped Sterling to make gains. Confidence in the pound faltered amid fresh Brexit-related headwinds, however. A strong US dollar limited major losses for GBP/EUR however as it sapped demand for the single currency. The exchange rate slumped following a day of central bank speeches at the very end of June. The Bank of England’s (BoE) Governor Andrew Bailey led with a cautious tone which saw investors drastically pare back their bets on future rate hikes. The European Central Bank (ECB) president Christine Lagarde meanwhile signalled her commitment to future rate hikes by the central bank. The beginning of July saw the euro nosedive. Soaring energy prices and fears that Russia may soon cut off gas supplies to Europe dramatically increasing the risk of an imminent Eurozone recession and pushing EUR exchange rates sharply lower. At the same time the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson also helped to bolster the pound in the first week of July as it quelled UK political uncertainty. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR? Looking ahead for Sterling, next week is set to bring fresh GDP figures for May. Economic growth is expected to fall, albeit at a reduced rate, which could see confidence in the UK’s economy falter further.

Dirty diggers By Dilip Kuner

(fined €57.1 million), FCC Construccion (€40.4 million), and Ferrovial Construccion (€38.5 million).

Back in work 2022 was four times lower than in 2021, when it fell by 166,921 - its largest drop ever as pandemic restrictions were lifted. Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, Yolanda Diaz, claimed: “We continue in a downward trend with regards to unemployment and companies are creating more indefinite contacts than ever, however, there is still a lot to do.”

DRAMATIC SHIFTS GBP/EUR exchange rate skyrockets amid Eurozone recession fears, writes Peter Loveday

July 15th July 28th 2022

Unemployment figures later in the month could be a key driver of bets on action from the BoE. The next UK consumer price index will also be closely watched by investors. If inflation remains high, then the pound could climb owing to the need for aggressive rate hikes from the BoE. The aftershock of Johnson’s resignation could weigh on Sterling in the coming weeks. A protracted leadership battle could prompt further uncertainty and limit any bullish bets on the pound. The euro’s movements are also set to be driven by speculation over central bank movements ahead of the ECB’s interest rate decision toward the end of the month. Investors will certainly be looking to speeches from various policymakers, including the ECB President Lagarde, for further hints on the central bank’s forward policy. On the other hand, the euro is at risk of plummeting if Russia moves to cut off gas exports to Europe as the resulting disruption would inevitably plunge the Eurozone into a recession.

PROTECTING AGAINST VOLATILITY This kind of volatility can cause some nasty surprises if you need to transfer money overseas. On a £200,000 transfer, just a onecent gap translates to a €2,000 difference. And the larger the sum, the higher the discrepancy. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect against volatility. Specialist currency brokers, such as Currencies Direct, offer different tools to help you navigate the ups and downs of the currency market. For instance, you can use a forward contract to secure an exchange rate for up to a year. This way, you won’t lose out if the market moves against you. Services like rate alerts and daily updates make it easy to keep track of what’s going on in the forex world so that you can make informed decisions. And with Currencies Direct you’ll have a dedicated account manager there to provide guidance and support whenever you need them. At Currencies Direct we’re here to talk currency whenever you need us, so get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could impact your currency transfers. Since 1996 we’ve helped more than 325,000 customers with their currency transfers, just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more.

The others are Acciona Construccion (€29.4 million), Obrasco Huarte Lain, (€21.5 million) and Sacyr Construccion (€16.7 million). A spokesman for Dragados said the company disagreed with the decision and pledged to appeal it. The regulator claimed that between 1992 and 2017, the companies met weekly to discuss which projects they were going to bid on. They would then devise a common strategy and share technical documents between them. This, said the regulator, affected bidding on thousands of construction projects advertised by public authorities throughout Spain.

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FOOD, DRINK & TRAVEL

July 15th July 28th 2022

In a frenzy

More air strikes on the way

FRESH strikes by cabin crews of Easyjet and Ryanair have caused the UK foreign office to update its travel advice for Spain. Some of Ryanair’s staff are now on a strike until Friday with Easyjet cabin crew expected to join them over better pay conditions. Should talks fall through between the unions and bosses, an Easyjet strike is pencilled in from Friday until Sunday, mostly impacting flights to and from Barcelona, M allorca, and Malaga. Meanwhile two unions representing Ryanair staff in Spain, have announced 12 fresh strikes from July 18 to 21 and July 25 to 28 across 10 airports.

Minimum

Spain’s Ministry of Transport urged a minimum service to be maintained for flights, while airlines have pledged to keep their schedules running as smoothly as possible while warning of some delays and cancellations. The news comes as tourism is booming in Spain once again, with June arrivals higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

THANKS to a ‘travel frenzy’ sweeping Europe, tourism bosses are hoping Spain will match the record visitor numbers of 2019. According to the Exceltur Tourism Association Spain has seen a ‘dazzling surge in tourist numbers’. Official figures show that 22.7 million tourists visited the country in the first five months of 2022 - a massive seven times the number in the same period of 2021 but it is still just 78% of the record year of 2019. However, the good news is that tourists are spending more than ever, with the total tourism spend for the first five months standing at €22.77 billion - matching the 2019 figure for the same months. Exceltur hopes that a recent

Hopes for a record year as tourism surge is described as ‘dazzling’ was the second most popular tourist destination in the world behind France and just ahead of the USA, a position it hopes to cement this summer. Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto backed Exceltur’s optimism, saying: “The number of bookings confirms Spain as a favourite international destination and indicates a good outlook for the high season.” Fernando Valdes, a tourism ministry spokesman, added: “After two long years we are finally going to see a summer like in previous years.” Exceltur believes tourism will generate €151.8 billion this year, some €10 billion more than initially expected. This would be slightly lower than the €155 billion reached in 2019 but far more than the €52 billion of 2020 or the €88 billion generated a year later.

By Dilip Kuner

surge in bookings will see this year’s visitor numbers match 2019. Before the pandemic Spain

Chicken virus THERE has been an outbreak of a poultry disease on a chicken farm. Newcastle disease virus (VND) has been detected in birds in Huercal-Overa, Almeria. The farm, which houses around 10,000 chicks, reported a surge in sudden deaths. Tests confirmed many had VND, leading to every chick being slaughtered and all food supplies destroyed. Jose Maria de Torres, Andalucia's Director of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Regulation, said the virus is deadly to many kinds of birds. He added that the virus is destroyed by cooking.

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17:01

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

July 15th - July 28th 2022

SEEING THE LIGHT On a second visit to the Costa de la Luz, Jo Chipchase was finally switched on to its beautiful beaches and illuminated villages… oh, and tuna fish

and that meant missing out on so much. For someone who loves photography, I should have known better… but now I’ve been switched on and have finally seen the light, if you’ll excuse two puns. My discovery came on a recent trip along this stunning windswept stretch of coastline that stretches all the way to Cadiz… and then all the way through Huelva to the Portuguese border. The area of most interest - is loosely between and Conil. This 40-something mile stretch of breathtaking coastline is full of unspoilt beaches, cubic white towns and too many places to stop and take a perfect holiday snap. Broadly speaking, you should spend at

HISTORIC: Tarifa old town where the Atlantic meets the Med

least two days in Vejer and Tarifa, with a day in each of Conil and Zahara and with a side trip to Barbate, which is incredibly one of Spain’s poorest towns (on paper). With a bit more time, make sure to see Bolonia and its famous sand dune (the biggest in the world) and an inland stop in Medina Sidonia, one of the true unspoilt, authentic gems of southern Spain. The start of the Costa de La Luz and its famous light begins at the Mirador del Estrecho, about quarter of an hour’s drive past Algeciras. It’s a must-stop, as this high point has some of the best views in the world, looking across to Africa, over the straights. From here, it’s a short hop down into Tarifa old town, and parking near the port. Here you’ll find two types of queue; those heading on the hydrofoil to Morocco and many others, frequently queuing for a must-do trip to view the famous whales and dolphins of the Staits. From here, looking out along the spit to Tarifa island, you can clearly see where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean - and with the water taking on a beautiful twotone, blue-green hue. This joining of oceans causes a zone where both the Poniente and Levante winds take centre stage, causing gusts and attracting surfers and kitesurfers by their thousands from around the world. Tarifa old town is a must visit. Once inside its old walls, between the castle and the stunning Puerto de Jarez, it’s charm personified. You’ll love wandering its cobbled streets, enjoying its boutiques and general ambience, but restaurant-wise, you’re better looking out for something just outside the walls on Calle Santisima Trinidad. Heading west from Tarifa, I marvelled at the sheer

RECORD: Bolonia’s giant dune and its stunning Roman remains

number of diving, windsurf and kite schools, as well as quad hire companies that have set up. There are numerous dreamy hotels and hip restaurants, many sitting right on the wonderful Playa de Los Lances or its next door Valdevaqueros beach.

Sand battle

I took a side turn onto the A235 towards Punta Paloma - a must see - and was amazed to find it almost completely blocked with sand. It had blown down from the Valdevaqueros dunes in copious amounts, rippling across the road surface, and making it difficult to pass other cars without putting a wheel into a dune. I wished I had brought my 4x4 for some fun, sandy action. Soldier on for a couple of kilometres, and you’ll come to two restaurants on the headland – Justito de Copas and El Mirlo Tarifa. What a place this is to enjoy a sundowner, or - even better - head up the hill to the secret spot, Tesoro (go on, try to find it!). From here, you can continue on foot on the well-marked GR145 Arco Atlantico walking route. It takes you over to Bolonia and its Roman ruins – although I was advised by a local that this could take ‘several hours’.

Roman ruins of Bolonia

Next up is the hamlet of Bolonia which has a museum devoted to its famous Roman ruins, which are considered among the best in Spain. These ruins originally formed the Roman town of Baelo Claudia, located directly beside the beach. There is so much to see including a bakery, a statue of Claudius and semi-intact columns. Bolonia’s beach is 3.8km long and features a massive sand dune. People climb this in their droves – most to take a selfie - but choosing a cool time of day is advised.

PRETTY: An inlet at Barbate

Tuna tales

The next leg of the journey, past the hundreds of wind turbines of Fascinas valley, is a real eye opener for aesthetes. It gets even better when you turn left onto the A2227 to Zahara, driving past rolling fields of sunflowers, fighting bulls and grand country cortijos eventually emerging at the stunning village that has a slightly eccentric feel. You soon begin to realise that the relaxed and friendly vibes characteristic of the Costa de la Luz are best found in Zahara de los Atunes. This is a true gem of a town with a centre crammed full of whitewashed buildings and a diverse range of small shops and bars, many appropriately serving dishes based on tuna. Zahara is famed for its tuna, hence the name, and it is one of the true delicacies of Spain. It’s quite different from any other tuna (indeed fish) I have ever eaten. Wandering towards the seafront, we found boutiques selling funky clothes, beach bars with colourful chairs, hotels of various sizes, and vendors selling Indian throws. Looking for a place to stay? Hotel Pozo del Duque has sat on this wonderful beach for decades and does some impressive deals.

No Barbs

The next stretch of coastline (the 11km stretch of the A2231) is one of the most beautiful drives in Spain. It cuts through rolling fields of cattle, stretching right down to a lovely sandy beach. The light is stunning, but sadly there aren’t many places to park, as it’s mostly military land on both sides of the road. Eventually, you’ll come to the larger and less touristy town of Barbate, which - with 22,500 people - many of them brought here during the Franco dictatorship, has had to address some social problems over the years. But it is definitely one to visit. Lying on the River Barbate, and surrounded by Natural Park, Barbate has a long history of fishing that dates to Roman times. Of particular interest are the port, an art deco-type building that hosts a town hall fishing initiative, and nearby restaurants serving fresh fish. The famous Campero restaurant is also here. Barbate is extremely popular with Spanish tourists in the summer but attracts far few foreign visitors, which is a shame, as it’s worth exploring.

HEALTH

Milk of kindness

MORE than 1,000 litres of human milk have been donated in just over a year since a pioneering initiative was launched in a Spanish region. Some 160 babies have benefited from the breast milk donation scheme set up by the Murcian Health Service in March 2021.

Newborns

Some 230 women have already donated breast milk which has been given to newborns that weigh less than 1.5 kilos or who are born before 32 weeks. Women are interviewed as part of the scheme and must have a health check before they are able to donate. Once they are approved by the hospital, their milk is frozen before it is transported to Arrixaca Hospital in Cartagena where it is analysed, pasteurised and frozen once again.

July 15th - July 28th 2022

Game changer Pill to tackle Covid now available to most vulnerable in Spain TABLETS that reduce the severity of Covid-19 symptoms can now be bought in Spain. Paxlovid is available in Andalucia, Aragon, Navarra, Cantabria and Catalunya, with it expected to be rolled out across the rest of the country imminently. The tablets require a prescription from a doctor and they are currently reserved for people most vulnerable to the illness. The medication is made by Pfizer and people can take it up to five days after testing positive for Covid. The drug reduces respiratory difficulties and early studies suggest it could cut hospitalisations and deaths by up to 90%. The treatment consists of taking the tablet every 12 hours,

By Jorge Hinojosa

for five consecutive days. The news has been welcomed by the medical profession in Spain, though there are some unknowns about the drug. For example, it has not been tested extensively on pregnant women or on people who take other forms of medication. Experts say pregnant women should avoid taking the drug until further research has been completed. Fears are growing that Spain is approaching a seventh wave of Covid. By last week Spain had 10,245 people hospitalised by the illness.

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ON SALE: Anti-Covid drug is now available Compulsory face masks in indoor spaces could be reintroduced to help tackle the rising infections as cases rise. Health bosses say the option

COVID SURGES THE incidence rate of Covid in Spain more than doubled in June. According to the Ministry of Health the vast majority of cases are registered in patients aged over 60 years old. There are currently 1,225.28 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to a rate of 586.71 per 100,000 inhabitants at the start of June. At the moment there are around 12,000 Covid cases in Spanish hospitals and last week 321 people died of the illness, most of them in Castilla La Mancha and Madrid. Some 92,7% of the population is vaccinated with 39,113, 419 people having had at least two jabs.

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Fourth jab call

EUROPEAN health bosses want all EU citizens over the age of 60 to be offered a fourth Covid jab this summer. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also say a fifth jab in the autumn should also be offered to atrisk groups. Covid cases have been rising rapidly in Spain and across Europe as a new wave sweeps the continent. Both agencies stopped short of recommending a fourth dose for health workers. Most Covid restrictions have been lifted in Spain, though wearing masks remains mandatory on public transport.

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Olive Press Mallorca– 170mm x 256mm – Colour

July 15th

PROPERTY

July 15th July 28th 2022

Bedsit land

BREXIT HIT

THE proportion of Brits buying homes in Spain as part of the foreign market has halved since Brexit. They accounted for 12% of the total houses bought by foreigners in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. Before Brexit, the British made up 24% of foreign buyers according to Idealista. In 2016, after the Brexit referendum, the UK share dropped to 15% in just a year and this fell to 10% in mid-2021 before starting a recovery. According to Idealista, Brits’ favourite regions are Valencia, Murcia and Andalucia. The director of the report, German Perez Barrio, claimed that Brexit has had a negative influence on home sales in Spain, but in a moderate way as there has been an increase in buyers from different nationalities across Spain.

AS property in Madrid becomes more expensive, an investment company is looking to return to the days of bedsits. Dazia Capital will spend €15 million on transforming a former industrial building in Tetuan (Madrid) into a ‘co-living’ property. Originally it was intended to convert the 2,700sqm property into 32 rental apartments at a cost of €8.5 million. But now the co-living project will comprise 79 ensuite bedrooms, divided into groups of eight that will share common spaces such as kitchens and dining rooms. Most of Dazia’s properties are in Madrid, with some on the Costa del Sol.

NICE SET-UP

Film set where Sergio Leone made iconic film is up for sale By Dilip Kuner

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has now been put up for sale as its present owners want to retire. Whoever takes on the set – which the sellers insist must be preserved as a tribute to the movies filmed there – will be walking in the footsteps of acting greats. Other stars to have filmed there include

James Coburn, Faye Dunnaway, Yul Brynner and Jack Palance. Not far from Western Leone is the set A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, were filmed, making Clint Eastwood a Hollywood A-lister. Jose Ruda, of Grupo Rukasa which is handling the sale, told EFE: “Anyone can buy it, but we are looking for someone to preserve to the smallest detail these 40 years of history, this bit of the history of Tabernas, of Almeria, where

OP Puzzle solutions Quick Crossword Across: 6 Of course, 7 Turk, 8 Hazy, 9 Parallel, 10 Get back, 13 TV set, 14 Stomp, 16 Not very, 20 Brush-off, 21 Ping, 22 Curd, 23 Tolerant. Down: 1 Of late, 2 Holy, 3 Tropic, 4 Merry, 5 Frieze, 7 Tel Aviv, 11 Bemused, 12 Ken, 15 Torque, 17 On file, 18 Run-ins, 19 South, 21 Pore.

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FOR SALE: Western Leone

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A BUYER is wanted for the film set where iconic Sergio Leone film Once Upon a Time in the West was shot. The mock town was built by the Italian director in the Tabernas desert of Spain’s Almeria back in 1968. The movie starred Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale and Charles Bronson and was part of a series of spaghetti westerns directed by Leone and filmed in the desert. Western Leone is one of three sets to survive STAR: as theme Henry Fonda parks and

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the Spaghetti Western was born.” The surviving set includes the Western, Indian and Mexican ‘towns’ that featured in more than one movie. “It has everything to begin functioning from minute zero, with eight hectares out front that can be developed into a film school or recording studios,” added Ruda.

Love for rent FANS of the ITV series Love Island can rent the villa used for filming from September 24. The villa, Sa Vinyasssa in Sant Lloren, boasts an infinity pool, six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and will be transformed after the series concludes in early August. The minimum that the villa can be rented for is seven nights, and it has the capacity for a group of up to 12 people and will cost around €6,000 a week. However, on Love Island, far more people have been squeezed in. Thankfully, the villa will have its cameras removed with an interior overhaul before guests arrive. The distinctive neon signage will also be removed with exposed brickwork and snug sofas also to be added. The villa used for the previous series last year was recently sold for €3 million, and is a 10 minute drive from this year’s villa.

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I N T E R N AT ION A L TA X A DV IC E • I N V E S T M E N TS • E S TAT E PL A N N I NG • PE NSIONS Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of trusts, retirement schemes and companies. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.

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Turkey arrest

FINAL WORDS

A TURKEY that bothered residents with its loud gobbling in a Pilar de la Horadada, Costa Blanca, neighbourhood was netted by police who had to clamber onto a roof to reach it.

Long walk! SPAIN’S longest catwalk, which stretches 300 metres along Malaga’s iconic Calle Larios, will see models displaying the latest fashions in front of 30,000 people on September 2 and 3.

Puffed out POLICE arrested a man who flew into Alicante-Elche airport on an easyJet Belfast flight after he was caught smoking a cigarette in the plane’s toilet.

OLIVE PRESS

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Killer heels

MALLORCA

Vol. 5 Issue 135

Your expat

voice in Spain

www.theolivepress.es July 15th - July 28th 2022

CHILLING OUT Meaty ice lollies and worm slushies as zoo tries to keep animals cool

WITH temperatures soaring to above 40 degrees as the second heatwave of the year strikes, a zoo has decided to treat its animals to cooling ice creams. But these frozen treats are not the same as the sugar-laden versions humans enjoy. Staff at Bioparc Fuengirola use vegetables and fruit, chopped meat, fish and insects combined with

ferent species and the keepers are doing juices to stimulate the senses of e v e r y t h i n g many of the species such as ti- they can to sure COOL CAT: Leopard has its treat gers, leopards, gorillas, hippos make and meerkats that call the zoo that all the animals stay hydrated and cool tigers and leopards, can lick home. The conservation centre is in the face of this incredibly hot at frozen blocks of ice water mixed with blood and pieces of home to more than 200 dif- weather. While the big cats, including meat, other animals have their own icy treats adapted to their own particular diet. A WOMAN has been fined €200 after police In the case of gorillas, chimcaught her tootling along a toll motorway on an panzees, gibbons and lemurs, electric scooter. the kitchen prepares colorful Guardia Civil spotted her on the AP-7 between San sorbets of beet juice, spinach Pedro Alcantara and Estepona on the Costa del Sol. combined with pieces of other She must have raised a sweat - officers say not only vegetables, and fruit such as was it a blistering hot day but the battery on her apples, carrots, tomatoes, bascooter had run out. She was left pushing with one nanas and watermelon. foot for around 12 kilometres before police picked her up. Meerkats Electric scooters can only be ridden in bike lanes and on roads with speed limits of 30 km/h or less. And the popular meerkats get FAST LANE: On the wrong road The AP-7 has a speed limit of 120 km/h. slushies of worms and grasshoppers to enjoy. By Dilip Kuner

Scooting along

IT’S not easy to run in heels but participants of Pride Week in Madrid had a go. Runners strapped on their killer heels and hot-footed it through the area cheered on by massive crowds. Several came a cropper, turning their ankles and sprawling to the ground. But most made it to the finishing line unscathed. Madrid’s Pride Week is one of the most globally famous and attracts around 2 million visitors to the city each year.

No sex please FAR RIGHT political party VOX has blamed Spain’s low birthrate on too much sex. According to the party’s Juan Garcia-Gallardo, casual sex and the ‘hypersexualisation’ of society is to blame for women having fewer children. The 31-year-old claimed that adults are acting like teenagers who would rather have casual sex than be burdened with a child. He added that people should be married and have sex to procreate.