Olive Press Mallorca Issue 180

O P LIVE RESS

ENGLAND rugby player Billy Vunipola has been arrested in Mallorca after a ‘violent’ bar brawl during which the 31-year old was tasered twice by local police.

Vunipola, who has won 75 caps for the England men’s national rugby union team, is alleged to have tried to attack customers and security staff in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Epic bar in Palma.

Policia Nacional were called to the incident at 4.30am local time after the Saracens No.8 took off his top and threatened others with bottles and chairs.

Vunipola, who is 6ft 3in tall and weighs over 20 stone, is reported to have been involved in a physical altercation with police before he was tasered twice and then arrested.

According to local media reports, Vunipola was initially unaffected by the first taser volt.

The Harrow-educated player, who was born in Australia but represents England after qualifying on residency grounds, was taken to nearby Son Espases Hospital where he was sedated and strapped to his bed with several security guards and police officers watching over him.

A fair start

Feria season has kicked off and we delve into the very best of them

See page 12

FOUL PLAY

Vunipola is reported to have since been released on bail pending an ongoing investigation after appearing at a court in the Mallorcan capital on Sunday afternoon.

A spokesperson for the Policia Nacional said: “In the early hours of yesterday morning, at 4.30am, we arrested a 31-year old foreign man on suspicion of a crime of disobedience and assaulting a police officer.

“The man would not listen to reason and confronted the rest of the customers, and the security staff were unable to restrain him or remove him from the premises.

“The man pushed and slapped an officer and a policeman pulled out his electric stun gun and fired.

“A second projectile was then fired, which did the job, and it was then that the officers jumped on him and proceeded to immobilise him by shackling him, later taking him to Son Espases hospital for assessment and arrest”.

NOLOTIL PAYOUT

THE family of a British expat who died ‘during the prime of her life’ after taking Nolotil have revealed how they sued Spanish caregivers and won.

Yvonne Flowers, 67, had been living in Spain for 23 years when she fell over, suffering two slipped discs and pinched nerves.

She only spent a week in hospital but during that time, Hospital Clinica Benidorm ramped up 20 counts of negligence, including the prescription of Nolotil.

In 2021, the private hospital paid out over €400,000 after two court cases in both the UK and Spain.

“They’ve taken a mother’s life, a grandmother’s life. Money can’t bring her back but it is justice for her,” Jenna Flowers, Yvonne’s step-daughter, told the Olive Press.

Though officially they admitted no liability, the family allege HCB ‘hid quite a bit about Nolotil’.

How the family of a British woman ‘killed by the lethal Spanish painkiller’ sued and won

Yvonne went into hospital on February 2, 2020 after her fall.

She was told she would have to wait a week for an operation despite being in ‘intense’ pain.

Yvonne was put on a painkiller drip, which was moved after a few days.

According to the family, the wound was not cleaned nor bandaged and she caught an infection, eventually developing sepsis.

Yvonne’s pain intensified, leading doctors to prescribe three doses of Nolotil, a drug known to have potentially deadly side effects for Northern Europeans.

“From that point on, she started to deteriorate quite rapidly,” said Yvonne’s husband, Peter Flowers.

EXCLUSIVE

By Yzabelle Bostyn

Although Yvonne was becoming more and more ill, the family claim her condition was ‘ignored’ by hospital staff.

By Saturday, she was on oxygen and had ‘blisters’ all over her face, signs of an allergic reaction to Nolotil.

KILL THE DRUG

“The next day she suffered all day. She was in a lot of pain from the sepsis and on top of that, she had been given Nolotil so her immune system was taken away.”

A popular painkiller in Spain, Nolotil is known to reduce the white blood cell count of some Northern Europeans to dangerous levels, significantly weakening the immune system.

Nerves

“Nobody said anything or did anything about it. They were all in denial,” Petrer said.

“They just upped the painkillers. If they had done their job maybe she would have stood a chance of surviving.”

Although Yvonne became ‘unable to speak or get out of bed’, she was still taken to surgery on Monday.

When she arrived the surgeon reportedly asked: ‘What is this woman doing on my operating table? She is seriously ill.’

Yvonne was immediately taken to A&E but her organs had ‘already started to shut down’.

The beloved mum and grandmother died the following morning on Tuesday, February 12, little over a week after going into hospital for back issues.

Immediately following their mother’s death, Yvonne’s children based in the UK flew to Spain to understand how their healthy mother could have died in the ‘prime of her life’.

According to Peter, hospital officials told the family to ‘get on with their lives’ claiming Yvonne died of sepsis. Despite repeated attempts to uncover the truth, the family was met with silence.

But Peter wanted justice for his wife. He told the Olive Press: “People said I was wasting my time. But, I had to get some justice.” Peter filed a claim in London,

backed by his two children and three grandchildren.

The court found 20 counts of negligence including ‘failure to treat infection’, ‘prescription of Nolotil without monitoring’, ‘failure to notice, heed or treat development of potential agranulocytosis and sepsis, known risks of Nolotil’.

In particular, the case found HCB ‘prescribed Nolotil to the deceased when it was contraindicated’ due to Yvonne’s British heritage.

Court

HCB’s insurance company, Berkley Seguros España settled out of court, admitting no liability and paying out some £200,000.

Months later, the case was brought to Benidorm’s Palau de Justicia. They extended the British judge -

ment and the insurance company was ordered to pay out over €200,000.

Despite some justice for Yvonne’s family, Jenna says it is not enough.

“How many more people need to die for them to do something about it? Mum died because of Nolotil.”

The Olive Press has contacted Hospital Clinica Benidorm for comment but received no response.

However, the private hospital group responded to the Olive Press campaign urging hospitals to follow AEMPS advice.

They said: “At HCB Hospitals, we are very aware of the recommendation not to prescribe Nolotil to foreign patients, even though it is not an absolute contraindication.”

GRANDMOTHER: Yvonne with stepdaughter Jenna and grandchild

HAPPY FAMILY: Before the horrific tragedy

Mindless vandalism

POLICE labelled a person who incinerated four hammocks and two umbrellas on Alcudia beach as a ‘thug’ who will ‘pay’.

Ranked up

CALVIA town hall has approved 25 new taxi licences to bump up the total to 239 in anticipation of a hectic summer season while Palma has authorised an extra 200.

Clucking hell

CHICKENS are ‘taking over’ the Cala d'Or area of Santanyi, invading shops, hotels and restaurants. It is feared they could even deter tourists.

Action call

THE families of 10 people killed in a Valencia apartment block fire are demanding that authorities reopen an investigation into whether anyone is criminally responsible.

BASHED BRITS Squatter hell

TWO British tourists have been seriously assaulted by a bouncer in Magaluf, it is claimed.

The security guard was arrested by Policia Local following the alleged assault on the infamous Punta Ballena strip.

One Brit suffered several blows to his face and head, and was left dazed after the ordeal. He required several stitches

while his friend suffered severe bruising to one eye, with doctors warning he could partially lose his sight.

The young tourist also needed some stitches in his eyebrow, from which he was bleeding profusely.

Police spoke to several witnesses and also nightclub staff, before arresting the bouncer.

Blood money

ONE of Europe’s most wanted crime bosses has gone on the run after a Spanish court released him on bail, sparking fury in the Netherlands. The feared Karim Bouyakhrichan, leader of Holland’s 'Mocro Mafia', was captured to great fanfare in January after a fiveyear operation to unravel his criminal empire.

Dutch authorities immediately requested his extradition over death threats he had made towards the Netherland’s Crown Princess, Amalia of Orange, when she was just 18.

Ironically, Amalia had been living in Madrid until just a few months ago, where she had ‘taken refuge’ a couple of years prior after kidnap plots emerged in her home country. She has since re-

Netherlands are fuming after dangerous mafia boss escaped Spanish custody upon paying €50,000 bail

turned to Amsterdam.

Despite his rap sheet, Bouyakhrichan’s extradition was blocked by a Malaga court on the grounds that he had serious charges to face in Andalucia, according to sources consulted by Cadena Sur.

Instead, the brother of notorious crime lord Samir ‘Scarface’ Bouyakhrichan - who was stabbed to death in Benahavis in 2015 - was granted his freedom in exchange for posting €50,000 bail and a promise that he would show up to court every 15 days.

By Walter Finch

The decision enraged not just the Policia Nacional but also the Dutch security services.

The Dutch-Moroccan was released on provisional bail on March 19, eight weeks after his arrest on January 25, with orders to regularly sign on at a Marbella court.

Unsurprisingly, the mafia boss made just one trip to the court, on April 1. On his next expected appearance on April 15 he failed to show, leading to a search and arrest order to be issued

THREATENED: Crown Princess Amalia

against him.

Police sources have told the Olive Press Bouyakhrichan is being sought in the Moroccan town of Nador, which they likened to a ‘Moroccan Tijuana.

Double horror

A FARMER who murdered his own mother and brother has claimed his killing spree was caused by a ‘psychotic break’.

The horrific attack occurred last Sunday in Mallorca with the suspect, Miquel Binimelis Matemalas, 49, confessing late on Tuesday during a police interrogation at a psychiatric hospital.

According to cops, Binimelis bashed his own family members’ heads in using blunt objects.

The bodies were only discovered after police were called to the family's rural estate along Son Frau road to attend to a fire in the nearby fields.

Upon arrival, police found the body of Binimelis's brother, Marti, lying in a pool of blood inside the house.

The horror was then compounded when they discovered the dismembered and partially burned body of their 82-year-old mother among the debris of the blaze.

Binimelis had reportedly tried to get rid of his mother’s body by burning her in a bonfire, with police still trying to locate missing parts.

A BRITISH couple suffered the beating of a lifetime when they returned to their property in Ibiza only to find it taken over by squatters - who had turned two rooms into cannabis farms. Upon entering their home in Sant Josep last month, they were confronted by two Spanish men who savagely attacked them with baseball bats and chains and threatened them with a shotgun.

The squatters, who had turned two rooms into cannabis farms, then stole their suitcases and demanded a €2,000 ransom to return them.

The victims called in the Guardia Civil, who arrived with a court-issued warrant and arrested the suspects.

During the search, the officers managed to recover the stolen luggage and various other items that they were believed to have stolen.

Mile high drama

FOUR drunk passengers were removed from a Ryanair plane after allegedly assaulting a flight attendant en route from Dublin to Ibiza. The plane left the Irish capital at 9.40am and was diverted to Palma airport shortly after 1pm.

A Ryanair spokesperson said the captain decided on an early landing after a ‘small group of passengers started an onboard disturbance’.

Witnesses said that Guardia Civil officers frog-marched the four men off the plane. Reports suggest that they were not formally arrested but will face fines. It's believed the group had been drinking alcohol before boarding the plane.

A BRITISH DJ has revealed she was robbed in Ibiza after thieves snatched her bag containing her grandmother’s ring, passport and other valuable items. Radio 1X presenter Snoochie Shy was just a few days into her holiday when she was targeted.

She said: “When I saw that they had taken my bag I broke out in tears, inside was my passport, a hard disc with all my music and my grandmother’s ring.” Despite this, Snoochie, real name Cheyenne Davide, said a local woman ‘restored her faith in humanity’ after returning her passport.

The TV presenter and I’m a Celebrity contestant said: “A woman sent me a text saying she had found my passport and wanted to give it back. I’m very grateful to her. At least now I can go home.”

MAGALUF: Scene of the assault

Just electric

LEGENDARY rock band AC/

DC have almost sold out their two-night stint in Spain. The band has not visited the country since 2016, when they played in Sevilla’s Estadio de la Cartuja - the same venue they will use this year.

This concert is expected to be bigger and better than the last, when lead singer Brian Johnson could not perform due to a leg injury, leading Axl Rose to take his place.

This year’s events will take place on May 29 and June 1.

The European tour has more than twenty stops and is named Power Up, after the band’s latest album.

STAR MAN

Pablo Alvarez says he ‘still can’t believe it’ after achieving his childhood dream to be an astronaut while cancer researcher Sara Garcia selected as a reserve

SPANISH space exploration has a new star:

36-year-old Pablo Alvarez from Alvarez has officially graduated as an astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA) at the Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Following his graduation ceremony, Alvarez told of his overwhelming joy and excite-

“Receiving the astronaut wings is a

By Walter Finch

symbolic gesture that signifies that the European Space Agency can now assign me to a space mission at any time,” he declared.

This graduation makes Alvarez the second Spanish astronaut to join the ESA after Pedro Duque.

The agency plans to send its first new astronaut to space in 2026, with all five graduates aiming to reach the International Space Station before 2030.

And fellow Spaniard Sara Garcia (pictured left), also from Leon, is being dubbed Spain’s first female astronaut. The 35-year-old molec

Foxy fashion

FASHION designer Michael Costel

lo - behind outfits for pop stars Be yonce, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez - will be kitting out Spain's Eurovision Song Contest representatives, Nebulos sa , this month.

The dance electro pop duo from Ondara, Alicante province will be performing Zor ra in the Eurovision Grand Final in Mal mo, Sweden on May 11.

The husband-wife team of Mark Dasousa and Maria Bas will wear clothes designed by Costello, who recently showed off his creations at the Malaga Festival.

The catchy Spanish entry created some controversy as it tries to reclaim the

MY ICON Happy Posh celebrates Letizia

ular biologist - who has been leading research into cancer - has been selected as an astronaut reserve by the ESA, although she has no trips to space scheduled. While reaching the Moon may seem like a distant dream, Alva-

rez acknowledges it as a universal aspiration for many, himself included.

“It’s more than just mine - it is every one’s

dream.”

However, his immediate focus lies on the technically complex first mission to the International Space Station, which will require extensive training in the coming years.

“I have just begun,” he said, “and I hope to be here for many years to come. So, I will continue to dream of that possible mission far beyond.”

Alvarez’s journey began with a spark of wonder as a child gazing at the moon from his village in Leon.

He admits to losing sight of the dream as he grew up, but the ESA job posting three years ago rekindled his passion.

The ESA's latest class of astronauts includes Sophie Adenot, Rosemary Coogan, Raphaël Liégeois, Marco Sieber, and Pablo Álvarez himself.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg of the Australian Space Agency also graduated with her ESA classmates, promising an exciting era of global collaboration in space exploration.

Victoria, aka Posh Spice, was ‘especially excited’ when Letizia chose to rock one of her dresses during last year’s Coronation celebra tions.

“I find her beautiful and el egant. She’s never wrong in terms of fashion,” she insisted to Vogue

“I was very excited when I saw she’d worn our Be-*lla en verde dress.”

Talking about living in Spain be tween 2003 and 2007 when her husband David played for Real Madrid (and had his affair with Rebecca Loos), she added she ‘felt misunderstood’.

“This misunderstanding didn’t come from me, it came from the media.

“I’ve never complained about anything… it’s nice that people are now, finally, see ing the truth.”

Chao is to headline a Costa del Sol festival this summer.

The half Spanish, half French legend will play at Fuengirola’s Marenostrum event on July 25.

The Me Gustas Tu singer will make a rare appearance singing in his native French and Spanish.

Chao began his career as a busker in Paris, before join-

HELLO TO CHAO

ing

and

In

After the

fame alone with chart toppers Bongo Bong and Clandestino which has been covered by Lily Allen and Robbie Williams.

MANU

bands like Hot Pants

Los Carayos.

1987, he found success with his band Mano Negra. Their happy, energetic and rhythmic music made hits across the globe.

band split in 1998, Chao found

STAR TURN: Michael Costello will dress the duo

once sexist slang word Zorra , which means 'bitch' or 'slut' in Spanish slang as well as vixen.

DREAM COME TRUE: Pablo Alvarez

Finebnb Bug-uccino

THE war on illegal tourist rentals is hotting up as 13 Airbnb hosts in Ibiza have been hit with fines totalling €460,000.

One marketing consultant who advertised three apartments in the same residential building in Roca Llisa received the heftiest sanction, having to pay out €120,000.

Three apartments in Ibiza town - of which two were owned by the same individual - were fined €40,000 each for serious violations.

Illegal

Another illegal rental in Sant Francesc, located within the Ses Salines Natural Park, also received a €40,000 fine. The crackdown aims to curb the proliferation of unlicensed holiday apartments across Ibiza, Sant Josep, Sant Antoni, and Santa Eularia.

The illegal rentals have been blamed for pushing up rents for locals and undercutting the island’s tourism industry.

The local council’s inspection service busted the offenders during thorough checks of the properties. All the sanctioned rentals lacked the necessary permits and registrations, and their advertising included availability calendars, check-in and check-out instructions, reservation cancellations, and other tourism-related services.

The heavens open

MALLORCA Cathedral’s roof has been reopened to the public.

Now, residents and visitors can see the centuries old building up close and take in amazing views from the Gothic mirador.

It is open from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday and from 10am to 1.30pm on Saturdays.

Tickets cost €8 for Mallorca residents, or €25 for non residents. They can be purchased online or at the cathedral.

Justice for Robert

A BRITISH expat has died after being run off the road by a driver in Spain and suffering catastrophic injuries.

Robert Paterson, a fatherof-three and keen scuba diver, had been in hospital for months since the crash in Alicante in November last year. He suffered extensive injuries, including multiple bleeds on the brain, hip and spinal fractures.

Fellow Brits had started a GoFundMe page to help

CHILDREN in hospitals across the Balearic Islands are getting their smiles back thanks to so-called ‘medical clowns’. Sonrisa Medica is a non-prof it bringing specially trained clowns to medical centres across the archipelago.

The firm said in a state ment: “We know that hu mor is a powerful medi cine that can brighten even the darkest days… every smile we share is a ray of hope for our brave

By Laurence Dollimore

Robert’s family, who have lived in Spain for 20 years, cover the costs of his rehabilitation.

However a friend told the Olive Press that Robert, affectionately known as Bert, tragically passed away last week.

He said: “Bert was a former colleague at Scottish Television in Glasgow... He was one of this world’s real good guys and will be

Clown therapy

patients and their families.”

The non-profit uses toys, stories, songs, dances and plenty of jokes to brighten patients’ days.

Parents of four-year-old Abril, who was visited by the clowns while receiving chemo, said: “They changed our lives. They made our daughter and us very happy.”

British expat is killed after being run off the road by a Spanish driver

much missed.” He added that the person behind the accident is now being investigated for manslaughter.

Another friend, Kevin Beaumont, told the Olive Press: “Bert will be sadly missed, he was taken from us far too soon. It’s such a tragic loss.”

Friend David Jeffries previously described the horror accident, which occurred on November 22 last year.

He wrote: “Another driver was tailgating him and as Bert indicated to pull over, the other driver accelerated to undertake the

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

In his final appearance at the tour-

2005,

and 2017, Nadal was given a standing ovation as he thanked the crowd before leaving the clay court at Caja Magica.

He was defeated 7-5, 6-4 in two hours by World No.31 Lehecka who became the lowest ranked-man to beat the 22-time Grand Slam title winner on his preferred clay court surface. Nadal told the crowd: “At the moment I can only thank everyone who has helped me in my career, not because it has ended, but because it is true that this is the final time I will be in Madrid.”

TRAGIC: The other driver is being investigated for manslaughter

car and in the process hit the back of the car sending it out of control and leaving it wrapped around a very large lamp post ,bringing it down.

“The other driver did not stop immediately but did eventually pull over further down the road. Two witnesses corroborated that this is what happened. The Guardia Civil took over the investigation as a suspected ‘Road Rage Incident’.”

Paw patrol

A MALLORCA fire brigade rescue team went to the aid of an injured dog in the Serra de Tramutana on Wednesday.

A labrador called Jambo was out with his owners on a hike in Cala Sant Vicenc when he suffered injuries to all four of his paws and was unable to walk.

The fire crew gave Jambo first aid and put him onto a special stretcher. He was then carried to the car belonging to the owners who then took him to a vet.

A PALMA airport employee nearly died after drinking a vending machine coffee that was contaminated by insects.

The 21-year-old woman spent 36 hours in intensive care after suffering a severe allergic reaction.

The Policia Nacional are investigating possible charges of breaching public health and causing injury through recklessness.

According to witnesses, as soon as she drank her coffee, she noticed a strange taste, and after stirring the contents with a spoon, she spotted several insects.

An anaphylactic shock was triggered making her face swell and she suffered breathing difficulties before slipping unconscious.

Airport health staff gave her medication to stabilise her before she was taken to hospital.

Spark of chaos

PALMA de Mallorca was struck by a bolt of lightning so powerful on Sunday that it knocked out the city’s traffic lights. The bolt, at around 8.30pm, unleashed 281,000 amps of electricity, or 33.72 million watts, and hit a television aerial attached to a building on Calle Aragon.

For a split second the entire sky above the city was illuminated in a great flash of light, witnesses reported. It was an energy surge equivalent to powering 21,600 washing machines or instantaneously charging 5,600 Teslas.

A SOLIDARITY concert in aid of a charity dedicated to helping disabled people in Menorca will take place at the Teatro Principal de Mao later this month. On May 18, internationally renowned artists will play in aid of The Fundació Discap /Carlos Mir.

They include cellist Pejamn Memarzadeh, French soprano Claire de Monteil, tenor Diego Godoy and paints Alejandro Gomez Pareja. The Menorca event is supported by the Can Alberti 1740 boutique hotel.

Tickets are available on the theatre’s website, teatremao.com and prices range from €25-100.

MISSED: Robert was a keen scuba diver

AN emotional Rafael Nadal bid farewell to the Madrid Open crowd for the last time after the legendary Mallorcan was defeated in straight sets by 22-year old Czech star Jiri Lehecka.

nament, which he won in

2010, 2013, 2014

A

Voted top expat paper in Spain

OPINION

RIP Robert

OUR sincerest condolences go out to the family of Robert Paterson, who last week died from his injuries after being run off the road in Spain.

The Scotsman and keen scuba diver was clearly very well liked among his expat community in Alicante, where he had been living for more than 20 years with his wife Lynn.

He had been valiantly fighting his catastrophic injuries in hospital, after being admitted following the horror incident on November 22 last year.

Maniac

According to friends, Robert was run off the road by a maniac driver, who practically rammed into the back of the expat and caused him to veer off the road and into a lamppost.

The scene is not hard to imagine, just ask any expat who drives in Spain how safe the roads are - and they’ll likely laugh in your face.

And it does not matter how safe of a driver you are, it’s the lunatics who tend to cause the crashes.

Hardly anyone indicates in Spain while the roads are often awash with drunken tourists, at least in the high season. So if you are getting behind the wheel in this country, ALWAYS be on guard for dangerous drivers.

We are glad the man who allegedly caused Robert’s fatal crash is now facing charges of manslaughter. It’s the least he deserves after taking the life of Robert, who leaves behind a devastated wife and children.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es

Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es

Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es

Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es

We’ll drink to that!

Former deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias has fallen foul of anarchists who object to his new bar serving a Durruti cocktail, named after the legendary revolutionary. Cole Sinanian digs deeper…

TO understand the anarchist daubings scrawled on the new bar of ex-Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias, in Madrid, last month, we need to go back to July 1936. It’s the so-called ‘Summer of Anarchy’ in Barcelona, and the air is thick with the smell of revolution.

The rich had fled, forcing its luxury restaurants to convert to communal dining halls, patronised by working class comrades in boots and overalls.

Revolutionary songs blared from speakers in Las Ramblas, red-and-black anarchist flags hung from balconies. Formal ways of speaking had fallen out of use; everyone was ‘comrade’ now.

DRIVEN TO

Trade unions controlled nearly every aspect of industry, with around 70% of companies effectively collectivised by the workers.

But the revolutionary dream was in danger.

Just a few hundred kilometres west in Zaragoza, an army of fascists loyal to Nazi-friendly General Franco were hell-bent on laying siege to the Catalan capital.

Since the Nationalists rebelled against Spain’s Government, rogue army generals had begun their assault on dozens of towns and cities.

But many iconic Spanish figures stood firm against the terrifying Nationalist advance.

One of these was Jose Buenaventura Durruti, who remains a symbol of anarchism today.

And, appropriately, with his legendary Durutti Column of irregular troops helping to fight

DISTRACTION

The little-known reasons you can get a fine while driving in Spain: Avoid doing these five things to swerve a ‘multa’ of up to €3,000

DRIVING on some of Spain’s roads can be a stressful experience at the best of times. Having made it home safely in one piece, the last thing you want is to have your day ruined by a letter from the DGT, Spain’s traffic enforcement agency.

Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es

Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es

Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es

Born in 1896 in Leon, Durruti was a railway mechanic, who quickly became involved in local labour movements.

He played a part in a series of violent and disruptive strikes starting in 1910, organised by the increasingly powerful unions, the socialist Union General de Trabajadores (UGT), and the anarchist Confederacion Nacional de Trabajo (CNT).

After participating in the famous General Strike of 1917 - which saw the arrest of anarchist leaders en masse - Durruti was forced to flee to France.

Upon his return in 1920, he encountered a violent society plagued by espionage and

While fines for common transgressions, such as speeding, are known, the Spanish highway code has a long list of other offences that could leave authorities. Here are six lesser-known things to avoid in order to ensure you don’t receive an unwelcome fine.

If running out of fuel hadn’t already ruined your day, being fined under Spain’s rarely-used ‘Improper Parking’ legislation would really tip you over the edge. Make sure to get your fuel from legitimate sources too, as improperly transporting fuel results in a fine of up to €3,000. Ouch!

A new introduction to Spanish law, it is now illegal to drive in some Low Emission Zones (LEZs) without a relevant permit. With LEZs (known as ZBEs in Spanish) becoming more common throughout the country, drivers will have to keep up to date - while each LEZ is run by its own municipal authority, a baseline fine of €200 has been set by the DGT.

If you decorate your car with unauthorised items, it’s not just your mates who will be laughing at your expense - the DGT will too, having pocketed 500 of your hard-earned euros. These decorations include anything that changes the measurements of your car without having notified the DGT beforehand. Decoration could also lead to problems with passing your MOT. Additionally, placing items like ‘dream catchers’ on your rear view mirror, can land you a fine of up to €200 as they can partially block your view.

The different categories are:

● Zero Label: corresponds to electric cars, plug-in hybrids with a battery range of at least 40 km and fuel cell vehicles.

● Eco Label: plug-in hybrid vehicles that cannot travel more than 40 km in electric mode, non-plug-in hybrids and natural gas vehicles.

● Label C: Petrol cars and light vans registered from 2006 onwards, and diesel cars and vans registered from September 2015.

● Label B: Petrol cars and vans registered between January 2001 to 2005 and diesel vans and cars registered between from 2006 to August 2015.

You can get a windscreen label at the Correos post office by taking in your registration documents and ID. In Andalucia LEZs are in place in parts of Almeria, La Linea de la Concepcion, Cordoba, Estepona, Sevilla and Torremolinos . In Valencia it is only the city itself that is affected, with no other towns covered so far. Over in Murcia just Cartagena has an LEZ, while there are none in the Balearics. But an LEZ is sure to come to town near you soon - all municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants are legally obliged to introduce them. Where each category can drive in individual LEZs will depend on local authorities - so keep an eye open for the signs if you want to avoid a fine. Those with no category will find their way barred in many town centres at pain of a fine.

the fascists in Barcelona and Madrid, the two main cities which resolutely refused to cede to Franco.

By Ben Pawlowski

LOW EMISSION ZONES 2

TOAST: To Durruti (left) and his brave column of male and female soldiers

political assassinations, an era of Spanish history that would come to be known as pistolerismo

Bombs exploded in Barcelona cafes, union leaders were shot dead in the street, and government-sympathetic businessmen hired anti-union thugs to murder CNT and UGT associates.

Durruti and fellow prominent anarchists Francisco Acaso and Joan Garcia Oliver formed the anarchist militia Los Solidarios to defend the unions.

The group became a formidable force, robbing

banks to fund the anarchist cause and carrying out high-profile assassinations, including that of Cardinal Juan Soldevila y Romero.

By the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Durruti was immensely popular among Catalan anarchists and well suited to recruit a local army to defend Barcelona from the Fascists.

On July 18, Durruti and his troops rode through the city brandishing machine guns.

As his former colleague Garcia Oliver wrote in his autobiography, he led ‘trucks full of militants, rifles raised, red-and-

PASSENGER PROBLEMS 4

It’s not just the person in the driver’s seat who should keep a keen eye on traffic lawspassengers should, too. Infractions, whether kissing the driver or not doing up your seatbelt, are a significant cause of accidents and also a way to lose a chunk of cash. Kissing or arguing heavily while driving can bring fines of €80 if police believe they caused a significant enough distraction behind the wheel.

of men and women, as well as foreign fighters such as French philosopher Simone Weil.

The Durutti Column successfully defended the city from the first wave of fascist attackers, but in Zaragoza, Francoist General Emilio Mola was amassing his forces.

On July 24, the unit left Barcelona with 2,000 anarchists to take back Zaragoza.

Traversing the rugged Aragonese countryside, Durruti and his comrades recruited hundreds of local peasants working the land, gathering strength in each town with the fire of revolution.

By the time the column reached Zaragoza’s outskirts, the militia’s numbers had reached 6,000 - among the largest anarchist military units fighting in the war.

But before the seemingly inevitable confrontation, Franco had changed plans and gathered a vast army of troops for an assault on Madrid. The capital had been left defenceless after the government had moved itself and the Republican army bosses to Valencia.

Ritz

With the leftist troops in Madrid in desperate need of reinforcement, Durruti turned 1,800 of his strongest fighters around and told them to march to the capital.

Some 1,000 of them were to die in the mission.

Durruti himself was killed at the age of 40 in Madrid in November 1936, shot in the chest while leading a counterattack in the Casa de Campo area, west of the city.

He died on a makeshift operating table set up in the Ritz Hotel, during the course of the war.

He maintains a legendary status today, having come to symbolise the anarchist struggle towards an egalitarian, classless society.

Even the most benign, everyday actions could lead to a telling off from the cops. Eating whilst driving is not considered to be conducive to safe driving and could result in a hefty fine, so make sure your hunger is satisfied before starting your journey.

In fact if a driver is caught eating or drinking they could be fined €80, which jumps to €200 if traffic police believe other passengers or road users were placed in danger.

Penalties for the most common driving infringements - failure to wear a seatbelt and using a mobile phone - have recently been strengthened. These offences will now see four points docked off your licence, on top of a fine, so make sure to take care on the roads.

Over a half million people filled the streets during his funeral cortege to Barcelona’s Montjuic Cemetery and popular academic Hugh Thomas wrote that his death ‘marked the end of the classic age of Spanish anarchism’

His ‘nobility’, he wrote, would lead to ‘a legion of Durrutis’ to spring up behind him.

There are still some of them in that legion today, nearly a century on as former professor Pablo Iglesias has just discovered at his new bar in Madrid’s working class district of Lavapies.

Don’t cash in on a legend, they insisted in their graffitti. Now that’s truly revolutionary.

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It is now receiving up to 65,000 visitors a day from all around the world, including the UK, US, Spain, Australia and Can ada.

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

1- Tourist drops dead at Malaga Airport: 64-year-old suffers heart attack in arrivals

2- Missing expat teens latest: Residents in Benidorm are told 'do not approach' two boys

3- Warning: Town on Spain’s Costa del Sol will cut off water and issue fines of up to €600,000 to people who disobey drought measures

4- A Place In The Sun visits Almeria: Jasmine Harman, 48, celebrates after closing deal in an idyllic expat hotspot

5- Urgent appeal for two missing expat teens who disappeared in Spain 10 days ago: Latest sighting places them in Benidorm

HUNGER WOES

black flags flying in the wind’. It had soon become known as the Durutti Column, with the unit including a mix

ANGER: Anarchists scrawled on Iglesia’s new bar for disrespecting Durruti (in poster, above)

Durruti and family

WATER PLEDGE

THE Generalitat de Catalunya will install a floating desalination plant in the port of Barcelona to help the fight against the region’s drought.

David Mascort, the regional government’s climate action minister, revealed that the plan would come into action if a Level 2 drought emergency is announced - Catalunya is currently under a Level 1 drought emergency.

Desalination

The plant will provide 14hm3 of water per year, equivalent to 6% of the consumption of the Barcelona metropolitan area.

In addition, the government will install 12 small mobile desalination plants on the northern Costa Brava.

These facilities, which will cost €10million, will provide 35% of the water needed for over a dozen municipalities, including tourist towns such as Roses, Cadaques and Llanca.

Wheely green

SPANARDS can now hop on hundreds of electric mopeds dotted throughout Sevilla as Cabify launches its new service.

The 200 electric mopeds give locals an emission free mode of transport.

POLLUTION BATTLE BOOST

THE Spanish government will pump in an extra €190 million to fight pollution in the Mar Menor lagoon. It’s a 40% increase in the budget and takes the total to €675 million.

Visiting San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia) , the Ecological Transition Minister, Tere-

Doñana recovers

Satellite images taken a year apart show dramatic tree and plant growth thanks to rainfall

THE Doñana wetlands have regained their splendour after heavy rainfall with satellite images showing a dramatic change.

The photos, released by the EU Earth Observation Programme, Copernicus, show

It is part of a partnership with Cooltra, a motorcycle hire company, which exploded in Spain last year. The bikes are available to hire by the minute, saving locals both time and money. According to Cabify, people prefer motorbikes as they are faster than travelling by car and easier to park.

OP QUICK CROSSWORD

By Yzabelle Bostyn

lakes filled alongside blooming plants and trees.

This is in stark contrast to the images taken a year earlier in April 2023.

According to Corpernicus: “If we compare 2023 and 2024 we see how recent rain has softened the damaging effects of drought.

“The situation has improved and vegetation has started to flourish again.”

In the past few years, the park has suffered intense drought, leaving large swathes with no water.

However, thanks to downpours starting in November

sa Ribera, appealed to everybody to continue the current levels of collaboration to recover the Mar Menor because ‘our credibility as a society is at stake’.

2023, the situation has improved, leading many species to return to their natural habitat.

The biggest lakes in the park, like Santa Olalla, el Sopeton and la Dulce, are almost completely full.

“The rain has been coming late for winter, but it is still useful for aquatic birds to breed,” explained experts from the

Teresa Ribera said: “There is a real commitment to recover a precious ecosystem that mirrors on a small scale what is happening in the Mediterranean.”

“We have a floor, not a ceiling: and we cannot go back. You can’t take your foot off the gas,” she added.

A lot of the pollution was caused by farmers and agricultural companies installing illegal drainage systems at the Campo de Cartagena which discharged nitrates into Europe’s largest lagoon that poisoned its flora and fauna.

Doñana Biological Station. The park is known for its birds, including coots, terns, grebes, storks and herons.

According to data from the Doñana Biological Station, March alone saw 145 l/m2.

Since September, some 404.4 l/m2 has fallen in the area.

“This figure is the highest seen in four years, but it is still not the seasonal average, 500l/m2.”

particularly in Spain where it ranks as the most polluting sector.

To mitigate these emissions, utilising public transportation whenever possible is highly recommended.

Public transit is more environmentally friendly than private cars, as it can transport a larger number of individuals while emitting fewer greenhouse gases. A single bus can carry 50 people or more - potentially taking 49 cars off the road.

By encouraging the shift from cars to public transit, we can make a significant impact on reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, public transportation helps decrease other pollutants such as gas, emis-

Heat relief

EXPERTS have given their verdict on how hot Spain could be this summer after last year’s record breaking heat across the country.

Despite higher than normal temperatures in January, February and March, this summer is set to be cooler than in 2023. “It’s very probable that June, July and August won’t be hotter than the average European temperatures,” confirmed Copernicus, the EU’s Earth Observation arm.

According to experts, temperatures won’t be as hot this summer thanks to the absence of the weather phenomenon, El Niño which was present in 2023.

It will be replaced by La Niña, known for cold spells.

“We know that large parts of the world are no longer under the effects of El Niño, which reached its peak in December or January. Now El Niño is retiring and forecasts suggest we reach a neutral state or return to what it was like before,” said Copernicus.

However, the EU entity highlighted more data is needed before a thorough prediction can be made.

sions, and microplastics from car wheels, leading to cleaner cities and reduced noise pollution.

The EU’s initiative to transition to electric cars by 2035 aims to address emission concerns. Although electric cars come with their own set of challenges, such as battery production issues, they offer a cleaner alternative when powered by renewable energy sources.

Some people complain that their range is not big enough. But people’s average travel distance per day is 27 kilometres compared to the fact that a full charge gives most electric cars a range of 300 km or more. So, if you have your own house, you could easily charge your car every night. And imagine: you will never have to stop at dirty petrol stations. And if you have your own rooftop solar panel it is almost free to refuel (charge) your car! So, aren’t you convinced? I am!

SPLENDOUR: Satellite images taken a year apart

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

Cadiz first

LUXURY brand Melia will open Cadiz city’s first fivestar hotel as it transforms a city centre finca and palatial home into a holiday haven.

Work has begun in the Alameda area, where a palace dating back to 1760 and the 18th century finca are being converted.

The hotel will be located between Calle Zorrilla and General Menacho.

Part of the Melia Collection brand, the boutique hotel will open its doors in 2026.

The hotel will offer its guests an ‘exclusive experience with 40 rooms and a series of luxury services, including a terrace restaurant with views of the Alameda, serving up local food, an exclusive rooftop with a pool and sea views, a fully equipped gym and a dedicated well-being space’.

Going flat

THE Freixenet Group, which is one of Spain’s biggest wine producers, is going to temporarily lay off more than 600 workers due to the effects of the ongoing drought in Catalunya.

The lack of rain is having a serious effect on the grape harvest, which in turn is causing problems for the production of Freixenet’s star product, cava – Spain’s version of champagne.

The company is going to make use of a temporary layoff scheme known in Spain as an Erte, which would see workers sent home on furlough but enjoying state benefits.

HOSTS WITH THE MOST

A COUPLE who rake in €1million per year by operating 400 Airbnbs between Madrid and Malaga have sparked a backlash online.

Fran and Marta manage 336 tourist flats in the capital city alone, however only 25 of them appear to have a licence

HIDDEN GEM

VILLAJOYOSA in Alicante province has been graced with the title of Best Hidden Gem in Europe 2024 by the European Best Destinations website.

Another Valencian region location - Ares del Maestrat in Castillon province - came second in the survey. Villajoyosa is famous for its colourful buildings blending in with the golden sands of its beaches. The different house colours came about because fishermen wanted to find their homes quickly after a long stretch at sea.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

Heavenly hotels

FIVE Mallorca hotels have been awarded Michelin Keys this Monday, April 29.

Much like Michelin stars, hotels can be recognised with one, two or three keys, designed to highlight the ‘most outstanding’ hotels in Spain.

Some four Mallorca hotels were awarded their second key including: Cap Rocat (Llucmajor), La Residencia (Deya), Can Cera (Palma) and Can Ferrereta (Santanyi).

Another, Finca Serena (Montuiri), was granted its first key. Across Spain, 97 establishments made the list, adding to Michelin’s 5,000 strong list.

Walking to the future

MALLORCA’S Camino de Santiago route is being digitised, with brand new signage, QR code guide, an app, website and new accommodation.

The Balearic route was first established in 2018, starting at the Santuario de Lluc and finishing at Palma’s Mare de Deu de Montserrat church.

Locals are fuming over businesses raking in millions by renting out hundreds of tourist flats

PROTEST: and a map of Airbnb homes in Madrid

A 45 kilometre walk across the island, organisers are also pushing for rural hotel Ca’n Arabí (Binissalem) to be converted into the island’s first accommodation for pilgrims.

Jaume Alemany, president of the Balearic Island Friends of the Camino de Santiago, said: “It occurred to me to start at Lluc because it is the most emblematic sanctuary in Mallorca.”

Over 1000 ‘pilgrim passports’ are issued each year from Mallorca for pilgrims heading to Galicia.

From Mallorca, it is recommended to follow the Tarragona route, ‘going up to Ebro until you reach Logroño, where you’ll join up with the French path.’

By Laurence Dollimore

number visible, reports El Confidencial. And data from Inside Airbnb shows they are not alone, with other 'super landlords' having hundreds of homes between them, including 'Rodrigo' with 141, 'Raul' with 116 and 'Diego' with 89.

In Sevilla, a certain 'Nacho' manages 161 apartments, while 'Esther' has 92 and 'Juan' 60.

The story is repeated in Malaga, where a 'Remy' has 110 while 'Javier' has 88.

Fran and Marta's profile on Airbnb shows them smiling together while holding their baby, making the user believe they are the owners of the 300-plus homes they manage. In fact, they merely run a business that prepares the

properties, taking a 20% cut of the profits in the process.

In total, their company is in charge of 400 flats across Madrid, Malaga and Murcia, turning over more than €1million per year. News of their domination has sparked fury online, with one X user writing: "And if we kill Fran and Marta?"

Another wrote: "You have to pay €400 for a shared flat on the outskirts, but don't worry, Fran and Marta have 247 flats so a German can come and drink sangria."

The outrage comes as Madrid

City Council is set to bring in tough new rules on holiday lets, although precise details on the changes have yet to emerge.

Meanwhile, Sevilla has put a pause on new holiday rental licences.

‘Daily rule’ backlash

A NUMBER of British tourists have threatened to ‘boycott’ Spain after learning they may be asked to prove they have enough money to last them the duration of their stay. Under new rules post-Brexit, each holidaymaker must be able to show they have €113.40 per day of their trip – meaning a family of four visiting for a week must have at least €3,175.20.

Advice from the UK Foreign Office confirms: “When travelling to Spain you could be asked to show you have enough money for your stay.”

However the number of tourists being quizzed about their funds is thought to be extremely low.

1998

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sonably priced and wide-ranging’. But where are these pioneering producers hiding?

From the central plain of ‘forgotten Spain’ to the southern reaches of Tenerife, these are the up and coming wine regions to look out for.

In the heart of Galicia lies the Ribeira Sacra wine

Marked roughly by the flows of the Mino and Sil rivers, the name roughly translates to ‘Sacred Shore’. Here winemaking is an art dating back to the Roman era and was continued by monks in the area’s various monasteries. With gradients of 85% in some vineyards, in Ribeira Sacra wine making is considered ‘heroic’.

MENTRIDA

Found near historic Toledo (Castilla La Mancha) is Mentrida.

This wine region mostly uses the Garnacha grape, providing robust, rannic and ageworthy red wines.

Though known for its reds, the region also produces fresh and fruity rose wines. Here, winemaking dates back to the 12th century but the area only achieved DO status in 1976.

Although small, the industry in Mentrida is slowly gaining momentum, with producers focussed on quality.

Fusing modern and traditional techniques, the region produces barrel-aged reds alongside fresher, younger wines fermented in stainless steel.

One of the best wineries in the area is Dominio de Valdepusa, the first property to gain single-vineyard Vino de Pago status.

This award is given only to vineyards deemed equal to those in top-level DOCa regions.

The ‘best’ Mentrida wine is a €28 red, using Grenache grapes.

‘La Vina Escondida’ from Bodegas Canopy is a characterful wine with balsamic flavours and fruity hints.

The area was given DO status in 1996 for its speciality dry reds using the Mencia grape. This variety thrives in the long ripening season and temperature variability. Other important varieties include the red Brancellao and Merenzao, alongside the white Godello and Treixadura.

The Ribeira Sacra is divided into five sub-regions including Amandi, Chantada, Quiroga-Bibei, Ribeiras do Mino and Ribeiras do Sil.

According to critics, the best Ribeira wine is the Dominio do Bibei Tinto, a cherry red wine, which is full-bodied with a great length.

Arribes in Castilla y Leon only gained its DO title in 2007.

Along the banks of the Duero River, the region is known for its fruity reds using Rufete, Tempranil lo, Garnacha and Mencia grapes. However, they also produce great whites and roses using Malvasia, Verdejo and Albillo varieties.

One of the small est and most iso lated wine regions in Spain, there are just 20 bodegas in the area and count

Many young people have returned to Arribes to start wineries alongside expats, enamoured by the dramatic landscapes. Arribes best wine is El Hato y el Garabato’s ‘Sin Blanca’, produced using Juan Garcia grapes. A powerful red, it has a powerful palate with hints of ripe fruit, spice and round tannins.

At just €20, this wine is accessible to even those on a strict budget.

Cebrero (also Castilla y Leon) is found in the Sierra de Gredos region, a pioneer in the ‘new wave’ of Spanish wine.

Awarded DO status just five years ago, it is particularly known for its old-vine Garacha reds.

With vineyards lying on mountain slopes, the granite-based soils and well established vines give Cebrero wine a marked mineral content.

Though known for its reds, Albillo Real is the main white grape variety, with a dense, well-structured wine that matures perfectly in the barrel.

Although little-known today, praise for Cebrero wines has

been found in written sources as early as the 14th century, beginning their modern renaissance in the 1970s.

Around 18 wineries produce under the Cebreros DO banner but the best is Telmo Rodriguez’s ‘Pegaso Arrebatacapas’, at €50 a bottle.

The ‘unique’ wine is aged in the barrel for 18 months in French oak, giving it a strong and smooth flavour.

Although many only know Tenerife for its winter sun, the island is home to many delicious wines, including the Valle de la Orotava variety.

Despite being one of the oldest grape regions on the island, dating back to the 15th century, the valley only received its DO status in 1995.

Overlooking the vineyards is the Pico del Teide volcano and the volcanic soils give the wine its vibrant acidity, mineral flavour and distinct smoky touch.

Though red wines are produced, the area is predominantly known for its sweet white wines such as Malmsey, which uses the Malvasia grape.

The Valle de la Orotava is also known for its unique vine training technique, el cordon trenzado wherein vines are plaited so that they can be easily moved to grow essential crops.

Only 30% of wines from the re gion are bottled and are main ly consumed within Tenerife, however, this will change as the region continues to grow.

According to winesearcher. com, the best Valle de la Oro tava wine is the Suertes del Marques 'Los Pasitos' Baboso Negro.

Just €29 a bottle, this 2015 vintage is described as ‘spicy and herby with fine bitter notes’.

CEBRERO

RIBEIRA SACRA

ARRIBES

VALLE DE LA OROTAVA

Travelodge swoops

BRITISH hotel group Travelodge has doubled its presence in Spain by taking over the Campanile brand owned by Louvre Hotels. The deal gives the operator outlets in Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Murcia, and Malaga to add to its current portfolio.

Travelodge instantly gains an extra 773 rooms 20 years after opening its first hotel in Spain.

CEO, Jo Boydell, said the country is an important market for the company with ‘significant’ expansion opportunities.

Last year, Travelodge identified the top 20 key markets in Spain for openings where it says there’s a lack of value-for-money accommodation to meet the needs of business and leisure guests.

Power up!

Biggest battery recycling plant will slash costs by 80%

By Alex Trelinski

ALICANTE is set to have Europe's largest electric car battery recycling plant in operation by the end of the year.

GDV Mobility has received backing from the Valencian government and the factory will be located in the Llano de los Espartales industrial estate, covering an area of over 3,000 m2. The company’s current premises are able to recover electric batteries to 90% of their initial capacity and 80%

PEOPLE in Spain work an average of 32.1 hours per week according to BBVA Research.

It analysed figures from 2022, and in terms of regions, the Balearic Islands came top with 33.33 hours, followed by the Madrid region on 32.88 hours and the Canaries on 32.68 hours.

Andalucia clocked in 32.08 hours, while the Basque Country is bottom on 30.25 followed by 31.03 hours for Asturias region workers.

Economics professor, Manuel Hidalgo,

of battery life, using a proprietary patented process.

The firm restored around 200,000 lithium batteries in 2023. The process allows it to prevent between 0.6 and

Clocking in

said the extra hours in tourist areas like the Balerics and Canaries is down to the greater presence of 'labour-intensive activities where there is little or no flexibility in the services provided'.

That is the case for a restaurant, or a hotel, where Hidalgo believes that reducing the working day means hiring more people or having shorter opening hours, which impacts the business.

GOLD OR GOLD BONDS?

GOLD is no different to any other commodity, in that its price fluctuates on a minute by minute basis.

Its price can be determined by many outside events, but even so, like stock markets, it goes down as well as up.

The graph right shows this from 2010 until today (figures correct as of 22.04.24).

So how do Gold Bonds overcome the risk of their gold value going down as well?

The award winning firm, THG Capital Savings, can answer this for you: its Gold Bond uses the process of ‘gold-streaming’.

Gold streaming is buying Gold Dore (unrefined gold) and refining the gold into 24 Karat Bullion. THG’s traders source Gold Dore direct from mines globally and have

a team that travels to these locations to assess the gold content, weight and then agree a fixed purchase price.

Once a purchase price has been agreed, they will then negotiate the sale price di rectly to the refinery.

Once the purchase price and the sale price is agreed, they will calculate the cost of insurance, shipping and all other associated costs to see if the total deal is profitable.

1.2 tons of lithium being crushed per day and its plan will see the battery recycling process take a maximum of 72 hours. It also will reduce battery costs by up to 80% in what is normally one of the most expensive repairs and replacements faced by electric car owners.

GDV Mobility says that production capacity will be increased five-fold with an approximate capacity of 4,000 tons due to improvements in the battery treatment process.

Besides becoming the largest electric car battery repair plant in Europe, it will become the only hazardous waste management plant in the Valencian Community.

STIRRING IT UP

TWO young entrepreneurs have won praise across Spain for their edible cutlery business.

Malaga-based Ivan Marmolejo, 19, and best friend Jose Robles, now 20, are the founders of Plash, a company which makes 100% edible, vegan and gluten-free coffee stirrers.

The lads have known each other since high school and have spent years trying to bring their product to market.

Ivan said: “At school we started doing our first tests, and we opened a few online stores that didn’t go very well.”

They both decided to study a degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation at the University of Mondragon – during which they enjoyed a trip to the University of Costa Rica, where they fell in love with coffee.

Ivan added: “In Costa Rica we researched and learned a lot about coffee, we became complete geeks, and we decided that we wanted to start in this sector… “We already knew about edible cutlery… and we decided to make stirrers edible for coffee, which are like wooden sticks that are thrown away, but that can be eaten.”

Thrown away

Currently, the coffee stirrers by Plash taste like vanilla, but more flavours are in the works.

They planned their business during their trip to Costa Rica and by the time they returned to Malaga they were receiving samples from suppliers.

In March they began selling their stirrers to cafes and bars across Malaga, with at least six now stocking them. The lads next want to expand to hotels, resorts and catering events such as weddings of baptisms.

As long as the trade is profitable, the purchase and sale contracts will be writ ten and the trade will take place provid ing a fixed return on their clients capital.

EVOLUTION: of gold prices since

The risk is therefore mitigated for all parties and a ‘known profit’ for the trade is locked in.

With this happening continually, the Bond is able to offer a yearly fixed rate to its savers.

This firm also holds 100% of the Bond’s assets; this is either the gold and/or cash. Apart from offering 9% p.a. interest

est rates on your savings, in a secure and proven UK-based gold product with the risk mitigated, it’s surely Gold Bonds all the way!

PRAISE: Ivan and Jose with a supplier in Costa Rica

LA CULTURA

TARTING as cattle markets (or occasionally, religious ceremonies), ferias have evolved into the cultural highlights of the year. They tend to be week-long events in the larger cities, and run from midweek to Sunday in the smaller towns. Expect food, drink,

STUNNING:

Feria de Abril Sevilla

THE season kicked off with the biggest, most famous and, many would argue, the best: Sevilla’s feria always begins two weeks after Easter Sunday. The pressure to create an event that’s at least as iconic as the last is huge, but there’s enough razzle-dazzle to wow even the most jaded visitor.

JAEN’S Feria de San Lucas is a chance to see deeper Spain. This is another of the more traditional fairs, with both male and female attendees dressed in fine flamenco wear, and it takes place against a stunning backdrop of hills and olives. As in Malaga, the action takes place in the town during the day, and moves out of the centre to the fairground at night, where flamenco eventually gives way to the roar of fairground and reggaeton, for a real mix of the modern and traditional.

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

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A fair start

By Dilip Kuner

loud music and flamenco dancing until dawn, along with fairground rides, horse parades and, often, a bit of wrangling or a display of horsemanship. If you happen to be living or staying near the feria grounds, you can also expect no

sleep, at least, not at night. The build-up starts weeks in advance, the events are spectacular, and the atmosphere is fantastic. Afterwards, everything goes quiet for a bit.

Feria week is the perfect chance to experience Andalucian culture at its most exuberant and colourful best, so here are six of the top events to put in the diary.

The feria season has started, with the traditional curtain raiser of Sevilla’s Feria de Abril just ended. These fairs are among the greatest of Andalucian traditions. Celebrated in every town between April and October, make an effort to attend at least one . . . just allow for a couple of days of recovery time afterwards

JEREZ horse fair is among the most traditional of the ferias. The city is in the cradle of flamenco, and there is flamenco singing, dancing and guitar-playing year-round.

Feria del Caballo de Jerez (May 4-11)

MALAGA’S feria runs for a marathon 10 days and nights, with events taking place in the historic city centre during the day, and at the fairground (located in the Cortijo de Torres district) at night. The usually international and touristy capital of the Costa del Sol reverts to full-on Spanish culture for the duration, with horses and carriages trotting around, and the sound of rhythms in the air.

Feria de Agosto de Malaga (August 17-24)

The feria is the chance to notch things up. Fewer people wear traditional dress when attending these events in touristy Malaga and the Costa del Sol, but almost everyone sports a spectacular costume (traje) in Jerez. Aside from having fun and looking fabulous, the focus is on the horses (caballos). The finest of them from far and wide (some with riders, some pulling carriages) make mesmerising circuits of the fairground every day.

Ronda’s feria embraces bullfighting

PERHAPS a little controversial for many foreign and Spanish tourists, Ronda’s feria is named for the bullfighter Pedro Romero. The local population continues to embrace the theme and continue the Spanish tradition, with a

series of bullfights known as the Corrida Goyesca. Away from the bullring, the streets of the historic town come alive during feria week with singing and dancing and all-round family-friendly entertainment.

Model Conchi Santiago Duran gives a preview of the fashion on show at Malaga

PARTY: Malaga’s fair runs over 10 days and nights

TRADITION:

November 29thDecember 12th 2023

NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE

This tiny village in the north of the Balearic island may have the most unusual roof tiles in Spain. Set in the Serra de Tramuntana, stone-clad houses in winding streets are adorned with intricately crafted ceramic tiles, some of which date back to the 16th century.

Professor of Art History at Madrid’s UNED, Antonio Perla, said the the ob jects are ‘painted with scenes, images, symbols, prayers and dates’. The mostly red tiles reflect the history of Fornalutx, including its loves, fears and even the weather.

WE’VE all read about the purported beauty of Spain’s pueblos blancos.

Andalucia in particular is awash with these glistening, white villages, often extolled in publications like Tripadvisor and Lonely Planet.

Perched on top of hills and nestled in mountain valleys, they are one of the hallmarks of property and travel writing, along with Moorish ruins, winding cobbled streets and Game of Thrones c astles.

Guadix, Granada

The ‘cave houses’ of this townwhich number about 2,000 - are its most remarkable feature.

These underground living spaces have been chosen by Andalucians since the 15th century, although these days, many are fitted out with full kitchens and even WiFi.

Architect Roberto Benito described them as: “A natural insulator that causes the temperature inside to range between 18ºC and 20ºC all year.

“The silence and tranquility on the insides, which are also whitewashed to replace the lack of natural light in the deepest rooms, mean these types of homes are still being built today.”

Architects think these are the most beautiful villages in Spain

But there is so much more to Spanish architecture than picture-postcard villages.

From rooftop hieroglyphs to 500-year-old air conditioning, we round up Spain’s most beautiful villages, from the perspectives of top architects.

And yes, there is a whitewashed pueblo or two on the list...

“These set of homes come complete with towers, ditch systems and water mills, and reflect a traditional lifestyle from the garden of Murcia,” Architect Sanchez Llorens recently said of the medieval town of Alcantarilla. Original Moorish settlers channeled the Segura River, using the water for gardening and thus growing the mulberry in the 16th century so they were able to feed silkworms, adding Murcia to the silk road.

“That new source of wealth is reflected in its wooden structures,” added Sanchez Llorens, “which would have been expensive at the time.”

Garganta la Olla, Extremadura

This historical village boasts traditional architecture of stone, adobe and wood and is packed with winding paths.

Architect Javier Pena Ibanez recently described how the timber-supported walls of houses in Garganta la Olla were originally designed to sleep animals on the floor with humans above, so they could harness their heat.

The architect and head of architecture festival Concentrico said the town is the ‘locality of the Extremadura region that best reflects the traditional constructive characteristics of the area’.

The stunning masonry however is not entirely practical, as some buildings in the town are fragile and lean on one another for support.

Campo de Criptana, Castilla-La Mancha

It wouldn’t be travel writing without invoking a bit of Don Quixote.

The windmills of Campo de Criptana are those which allegedly inspired Miguel de Cervantes to pen his seminal work back in 1605.

Quixote famously loses his mind and fights the cereal mills, the 16th century architecture of which, is still preserved today.

“The route of the windmills can help us to visit landscapes in which, as in the desert, on the coast or other homogeneous environments, certain architectures allow us to have geolocation references and at the same time participate in a collective imagination,” said architect Sanchez Llorens.

Albarracin, Teruel

Often dubbed the ‘most beautiful village in Spain’, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the red sandstone facades of Albarracin are purely aesthetic.

In fact, the stunning building material was sourced from nearby quarries for its waterproof and insulating qualities.

“The organic material also changes colour over time due to the impact of light,” according to Ignacio Vleming, author of urban architecture book, Fisura.

He also described the Medieval and Moorish icon as the ‘summary of much of the popular constructive forms of Spain’.

Fornalutx, Mallorca

Alcantarilla, Murcia

Trapped in the cycle

“I REALLY think I can’t see the positive even though I know that I have good things in my life. My brain just goes to the negative and I think about problems that may be coming up. It seems that I am in a cycle.”

This was a client that I worked with some six months ago who voiced an issue that many people have. She was not clinically diagnosed with any condition and she was not on any medication. However, she said that at points she had low moods though they lifted the next day and she ‘got on with life’.

Having asked about her medical and past social history of experiences, it was clear that this was an issue that was not impeding her life, but it was affecting her quality of life. Many people sadly experience this type of thought process – a form of mental filtering towards the negative. It is nothing to be ashamed about and it is important to be able to voice

Our brains

are always subtly scanning for risk while

By Fijaz Mughal

we remain in the conscious world during the day

such concerns with loved ones, or with counsellors and therapists, since shame, guilt and self-blame simply compound the issue and also add to low moods.

It is important to remember that our minds work in a certain way. They work from experiences that have happened to us, perceptions that we form over time, things that key people have said to us when we were growing up and patterns of behaviours that we exhibited early in our life as a way of ‘surviving’ or ‘fitting in’.

In other words, our brains work on a daily basis through patterns that reflect these past events which have been tried and tested over time.

The problem is that some of these thoughts and behaviours that we have become used and accustomed to, may not be helpful in later points in our lives. Allied to this is the fact that the limbic system which manages

our long term memory, emotional and stress responses, is a key and integral ‘older’ part of our brain and

has developed over millions of years to keep us safe. This also means that in keeping us safe, our brains naturally work in the background, much like an automatic virus checker in a computer, ensuring that we remain safe in a potentially unsafe world, where today there are different types of stressors.

Obstacles

Additionally, if we take on this perspective, our brains are therefore always subtly scanning for risk whilst we remain in the conscious world during the day.

Therefore, if someone has been through life experiences which may

was also understandable that in thinking and feeling that there were obstacles that could come up and with these thoughts recurring in her mind, that her mood was affected. This form of mental filtering towards the negative, sometimes with catastrophising, is called a ‘cognitive distortion’.

There are a number of ways of reducing these cognitive distortions though they need time and a commitment from the individual who is affected. They need a form of positive mental and emotional self-investment, a realisation that a change in mindset can happen, is possible and achievable; that just because difficult situations happen, they do not need to be viewed as a catalogue of problems, or ‘another thing that goes bad in my life’.

are blessed with. By doing so, this is also a form of acceptance, of resetting what is important to individuals and in raising their capacity to see joy and goodness in the world.

So what are the things that can help to reduce cognitive distortions like negative mental filtering? Firstly, stress reduction can really help. Anything that adds significant stress, such as smoking, drinking high quantities of coffee or caffeinated colas need to be reduced or ideally, removed from their lifestyle. Things like meditation and mindfulness can really help, by allowing the individual to have the space to realise that the brain is going through an old pattern that can be changed over time and that the person has ultimate control over this.

PERHAPS YOU NEED SOMEONE PROFESSIONAL TO TALK TO I HOPE I CAN HELP.

Call me, Fijaz Mughal, in confidence. I’m fully-accredited and professionally-trained in London and recently moved to Spain.

I understand the issues many expats feel in Spain. Change through relocation abroad can really add to mental health pressures and these life changes are never easy. Counselling and therapy has changed the lives of many. Getting in touch is the first step. Recognising that there is an issue is the first step on the road to recovery. Are you depressed? Suffering from anxiety?

Help is available through my confidential counselling CONTACT: Fijaz Mughal OBE FCMI MBACP on info@counselling4anxiety.com www.counselling4anxiety.com

have been difficult or troubling, their brain may well have become hyper-sensitised to risk and thereby slants the indi vidual towards looking at life through the lens of having to over come obstacles or of another problem poten tially coming round the cor ner. It is therefore understand able that my client had started to view life through that lens.

It

Difficult things happen, but life also throws up many joys in the day, with sometimes the smallest of things that can bring joy to us.

It is about recognising this, embracing it, and really holding those small positive

moments of joy, colour, vibrancy or company that we

Sometimes this basic awareness can help to reduce the strength of the emotions that may be thrown up by the negative thoughts, especially if they are self-deprecating.

Chip away

Other things that can help include taking up exercise, building a circle of friends and ensuring that there is regular communication with them. This person-to-person connectivity is important for us as a species. Also, listing the pattern of negative thoughts and reasons and facts that challenge the negative thoughts and which resonate well with the individual, are another way of helping to chip away and reframe thinking over time. This also needs to be practised regularly. Positive visualisation can also help and this involves taking some 10-20 minutes out of the day to find a quiet space in which someone can close their eyes, and visualise a safe, warm and comfortable place that they have been to. It could be anywhere in the world that they have visited. Visualisation is another technique that helps in giving positive meaning and in strengthening positive feelings. Lastly, therapy and counselling can really help and depending on commitment, people can see real benefits in a short period of time. Finally, it is important to remember that we are the drivers of change. This means that we can also change the way that we see the world externally, whilst also changing the way that we experience negative thoughts or feelings. We may not be able to wholly erase the latter, but therapy can certainly reduce the impact of them on daily life.

Fiyaz Mughal is a qualified therapist and is registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy in the U.K. He practises in person and online in Spain and the U.K.

PATTERNS: Our brains can filter for the negative, known as a ‘cognitive distortion’

BREAK OUT: Meditation, mindfulness and a strong circle of friends can help you break negative thought patterns

AN Alicante hospital is making use of a new method to treat cancerous tumours.

Vinalopo University Hospital, uses special needles to freeze the cancerous cells to -40ºC to destroy them.

Medical teams use ultrasound scans to locate the tumours, and the process can be carried out without general anaesthetic and avoids the need for the patient to stay overnight.

The procedure has been successfully used on a breast cancer patient.

“If [the patient] has hormone receptors in the tumour, they start hormone therapy treatment and, as soon as the response is evaluated, a decision is made as to whether cryoablation is necessary,” explains Lucía Hernández, head of breast radiodiagnosis at the Vinalopó Hospital.

FOUR out of 10 adults and three out of 10 children in a sunshine Spanish region suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.

Despite some of Spain's

Mozzie solutions

How to keep the little biters at bay

MOSQUITOES have arrived extra early in southern Spain this year and here’s how to prevent the pests attacking you while you sleep.

Residents of southern Spain are searching for solutions after a little boy died of West Nile virus recently.

Two cases of the disease have been reported in Sevilla, but in the past few years, plagues have been identified all over the southern coast.

Chemical options

New hope LONG WAITS

Avoiding the sun and sunblock leading to vitamin D deficiencies

GETTING EXPOSED

So, how can you keep them away?

Deet is a very reliable and highly effective insect repellent that has been in use since 1957.

It is sold under many different brand names and in many different forms, including lotion and spray.

Concentrations of Deet range from around 5% all the way up to 100%, with a stronger percentage in general meaning the insects will be repelled for longer.

But any concentration higher than about

DOS AND DON’TS FOR DEET

DEET DO:

; Use sprays to treat skin and clothing, for an even application

; Use liquids, creams and sticks for precision applications

; Wash Deet-covered skin with soap and water

; Keep insect repellents out of reach of children

; Apply suncream first and then Deet

DEET DON’T:

: Apply to eyes, lips or mouths, or over cuts, wounds or irritated skin

: Over-apply to skin, or saturate clothing

: Apply to skin beneath clothing, or skin that isn’t exposed

: Apply more often than recommended on the product level

By Alex Trelinski

highest levels of sunshine hours, a widespread use of high factor blocks to stop

50% doesn’t offer significantly more protection, and 10 to 30% will provide sufficient protection for almost every scenario.

It is generally recommended to use less than 10% concentration on children, and never on children under five.

There have been complaints of minor skin and eye irritation, but as long as you use it in moderate concentrations and according to directions, it is considered safe.

Permethrin is another effective repellent but is meant for clothing rather than skin. It can last for at least two weeks – even through washes Alternatively, if you prefer not to apply Deet to your skin overnight, you could try a plug in chemical repellent or trap.

However, there have been reports the chemicals omitted could be harmful to human health.

Natural solutions

If you don’t like the idea of chemical repellents, there are plenty of natural products which can be just as effective.

Try diffusing lemon, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, lavender, mint, geranium or citronella oil, all of which have shown to repel mosquitoes. Lemon eucalyptus is especially effective, providing the same protection as lower percentage Deet products.

You may also apply oil directly to the skin, but dilute it with a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba or olive oil first to avoid irritation.

This method can also be a great way to combine bite prevention and a deep moisture boost in the summer months.

However, please note that oil should not be used on children under five.

Prepare your space

Experts recommend using fans at night, as keeping the air moving will prevent mosquitoes from landing on you.

They also advise removing any standing water as this is where mosquitoes like to breed.

At night, make sure to shut your curtains or persianas properly as the bugs are attracted to light.

If it comes to it, you may also want to invest in a mosquito net to stop the insects coming near you.

skin cancer (but reduce Vitamin D absorption) and a sedentary lifestyle are behind the problem identified in Alicante.

A lack of vitamin D can lead to heart attacks and cancer, according to studies.

Dr. Mari Angeles Medina, president of the Valencian Society of Family and Community Medicine, said: “Having very low values of this nutrient is related to cardiovascular

Tragic death

A SPANISH gymnast has died aged just 17 within 24 hours of contracting meningitis.

Maria Herranz Gomez, was part of the national trampolining team, which competed in the Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Birmingham last November.

Maria was a student at the Escuela de Arte ‘Elena de la Cruz’ in Guadalajara. Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It is most common in babies, children, teens and young adults. It can cause life-threatening sepsis and may result in permanent brain and nerve damage.

disease and with oncological pathology.

“Adequate sun exposure and a daily intake of healthy foods is recommended as low Vitamin D levels can cause colon, breast, or prostate cancer,” she added.

Dr. Medina says that 'we have to make the population aware of the situation without alarm because it is a disorder of modern life'.

As for recommended levels of sun exposure, Dr. Medina make this recommendation:

“In adults, being in the sun for 10 or 15 minutes between 10am and 5pm is enough.

“Older people should be exposed for at least 30 or 40 minutes, but almost no one does that, because despite the fact that we have a lot of sun, we actually spend many hours inside homes, offices, and factories.

“We have to try to live outside, let the sun shine on us, without overdoing it,” she added.

OPERATION waiting lists in Spain’s public hospital system reached a record high of 849,535 as of December 31, 2023. Twice-yearly figures are released by the Ministry of Health, and show a 30,000 increase compared to last summer. It's the fifth successive report to show rising operation waiting times, and the only worst modern figure was in June 2020 when nearly all routine procedures were postponed due to the Covid pandemic.

Delays

Average delays from when a doctor or consultant believes an operation is needed has risen from 112 to 128 days between last July and December.

Those who have had to wait more than six months has reached one in four patients, compared to the first half of 2023 which stood at 17.4%. By specialisms, traumatology has the most patients on the waiting list (206,000), followed by ophthalmology (178,000) and general surgery and the digestive system (156,000).

Dr.Mónica Bonet – University of Barcelona

Dr.Mónica Bonet University Barcelona

Dr. Yasmina Adebibe – B.D.S London

Dr. Yasmina Adebibe – London

Susan Taylor-Vickers – BSc, EDH Mercadona Centre, Son Caliu, Palma Nova

Susan Taylor-Vickers –Mercadona Centre, Palma

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 6 Monmouth, 8 A ton, 9 Again and again, 10 Dyes, 11 Turkeys, 14 Version, 16 Cede, 19 Psychiatrists, 21 Cots, 22 Irrigate.

Down: 1 Jogged, 2 Sumac, 3 Rhodium, 4 Hang, 5 Notify, 7 Maidens, 12 Keeping, 13 Solicit, 15 Easton, 17 Entity, 18 Story, 20 Cusp.

CREDIT: Ayun. Cabanillas Del Campo

Not for squares

A MASS orgy was organised in a quiet town square in Villarrobledo, with some 4,000 expected attendees.

Stag cops

A THIEF thought he had gotten away with robbing a Barcelona restaurant, until a group of off-duty British police officers on a stag do took chase and tackled him 50 metres up the road.

Bad parking

A MAN has been fined €5,000 in Palma de Mallorca for using his relative’s disabled parking badge. He had been using it since the relative died in 2011.

A SPANISH nun has become a social media star after racking up 35,800 followers on TikTok alone.

The self-described ‘ YouTuber and nun’, Sor Marta has gained over 270,000 likes on the platform, where she

RACKING UP NUN-BERS!

Nun becomes social media influencer discussing sex, tattoos and piercings

shares her experience and answers questions.

Unafraid of taboos, she broaches topics often unheard of in the Catholic religion, such as the gender pay gap in the church.

In the short video, Marta ex-

Big ham con

POLICE have busted a giant swindle involving ham sales which netted a company over €17 million in five years.

Six people have been arrested by the Policia Nacional in the Madrid region towns of Leganes and Sesena.

‘Dragons are real!’ MODEL: Was made for Spanish television

By Yzabelle Bostyn

plains that while priests are given a salary, sometimes of thousands of euros, decided by the bishop, nuns receive no money at all.

They all held positions in a meat-cutting firm where they stole the identity of a genuine company by using their seals and labelling on their products. The firm that owned the legal seal was totally unaware of the long-standing fraud, as the bogus-labelled ham - that had not passed stringent health checks - was sold to customers at home and abroad.

Any ‘salary’ they earn comes from working as teachers, managing religious museums and churches or selling cosmetics or sweets. They also have to manage their tax declarations as ‘freelance’ workers. According to

latest figures, some 11,000 people part of religious orders declared tax in 2019.

“We have to do it so we have a retirement fund,” she said.

When not mounting small businesses or doing their tax returns, the nuns focus on prayer, contemplation and community work.

This has pushed religious orders into the 21st century, resorting to the digital realm to earn some cash whether through online shops, AirBnB or, in Sor Marta’s case, social media.

In other videos, Marta explores topics such as sex, tattoos, using phones in the nunnery, piercings, doing exercise as a nun and blasphemy.

A VIDEO has gone viral on Nigerian Facebook claiming to show a ‘real life’ dragon. Filmed in Anambra, Eastern Nigeria, the video shows a ‘dragon’ laying on the ground while a man narrates his ‘find’ in Igbo, the local language. The caption reads: “Real Life Dragon in Anambra State. I have never seen a dragon before. I used to think that dragons stories were just fairy tales. I never knew they existed in real life.”

No fairy tale

But it turns out that dragons really are just fairy tales. Africa Check, an independent fact-checking organisation, has confirmed the ‘dragon’ is actually a model made for a Spanish TV programme. It was made by Juan Villa Herrero who makes props for popular TV and film projects. He produced the dragon for the TV programme, Cuatro Milenio before online pranksters hijacked a clip.