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THE Balearic Islands are increasing efforts to encourage UK tourists to visit after a significant dip in visitor numbers following a spate of anti-mass tourism protests.
They reported a 10% decrease in British tourism in July.
In 2023, four million Brits visited the islands, meaning the July slump meant tens of thousands skipped a trip to the holiday hotspot.
Spain’s other major market, Germany, increased its visitor numbers by 12% during the same period.
Although it's not clear if it was the protests that have influenced holidaymakers’ plans, the local
tourism agency, AETIB, initiated a UK-focussed media campaign designed to counter the negative press before the data was released.
Managed by London based firm, Lotus, the campaign hopes to reassure travellers they are welcome on the islands.
The campaign, sent to tour operators and travel agencies, said tourists should not fear displays of ‘turismophobia’ or hostility.
It comes after months of protests throughout Spain against mass-tourism.
It is not uncommon to see graffiti reading ‘tourists go home’ in major cities, but the situation took a dark turn when graffiti reading ‘kill a tourist’ appeared in Manacor.
The escalating anti-tourist sentiment reached fever pitch in May with Mallorca’s ‘historic’ anti-tourism protest.
RESCUE teams resumed the search yesterday for a British hiker, 32, who was swept away by a surging river on Tuesday night.
A British couple went missing in the Serra de Tramuntana following a severe storm that battered the island.
The body of the missing hiker’s girlfriend, 26, also British, was found in Sa Calobra just 200 metres from where rescue teams started the search on Wednesday.
A team of specialist divers from the Special Underwater Activities Group (GEAS) has joined the 30-strong Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (GREIM) in scouring the rugged terrain for the missing man. They are searching a mountain range littered with steep cliffs, sharp gorges and dry river beds that are flooded from the recent storms.
A group of 10 hikers who managed to get rescued — two Spaniards, along with French, German, and British nationals — said that the couple had been swept away in Torrent de Pareis, Escorca.
According to reports, a sudden torrential surge caught the woman unawares and snatched her away, with the man suffering a similar fate when trying to save her.
Efforts were being made to triangulate the missing hiker's position using his mobile phone signal.
Rescuers remained positive that there was a chance the man could be found alive and well, but at the time of going to press he remained missing.
Mallorca firefighters admitted that the search has been ‘complicated’ by rapidly moving murky waters that have dredged dirt and mud, which has affected visibility for the rescuers.
Of the 10 rescued tourists, two were brought back in a state of shock, while a third was treated at a clinic but is not in danger.
They had been located by helicopter, stranded by the flood waters, completely soaked through in the beating rain and without any warm clothing.
The Guardia Civil had already set up a special rescue operation, anticipating that hikers might get in trouble with torrential flood waters when storms struck the island. Indeed they led a total of 100 people to safety who had become trapped.
Previous experience taught them that hikers might attempt to access the scenic Torrent de Pareis river despite the
By Walter Finch
weather alerts.
The Torrent de Pareis is a deep, narrow gorge that stretches about 3km from the Gorg Blau reservoir to its mouth at the Cala de Sa Calobra, a small cove on the northern coast of Mallorca.
The walls can reach heights of up to 200 metres, and the gorge narrows to just a few metres across in some parts. During heavy rains, water captured in surrounding areas flows into the gorge, causing the dry riverbed to flood rapidly.
The narrowness of the gorge creates a funnel effect, and in a matter of minutes the sudden waters turn into a raging torrent that experts have described as ‘attacking’ during heavy rainfall. Hikers caught in the gorge during
these conditions have little time to react and few places where they can escape to once a flash flood begins.
Five people have died while hiking in the rocky gorges and ravines of Mallorca’s Serra de Tramuntana since
2017 – largely experienced canyoneers.
In January 2020, Balearic freediving champion David Cabrera, 34, vanished while canyoning in the Torrent de na Mora.
Search teams – including the GEAS –were deployed to rescue him, but they
were hindered by the ongoing storm. His body was never recovered.
Another canyoneer, Joaquin Muñoz, 59, died in 2019 after torrential waters washed him off a 60 metre cliff, and in 2017 a 46-year-old woman drowned after getting tangled in ropes.
Macabre ‘sport’
A LEAGUE table of tourists who have died jumping from balconies in the Balearic Islands was blasted as ‘vile’ by a Scottish MP after the death of a 19-year-old girl from South Lanarkshire.
Tragic fall
SEVERAL bystanders witnessed the horror plunge of a British man in his 60s from the sixth-floor balcony of a building in Palma de Mallorca on Sunday afternoon.
Gas attack
BROADCASTER Nick Grimshaw and his 81-year-old mother Eileen were knocked out
A DRUNK French tourist was spotted climbing a crane in just his swimming trunks in Ibiza on Wednesday morning. The incident took place in the Ses Figueretes area, near the Los Molinos hotel. In a viral video captured by onlookers, the man is seen climbing the structure
while holding onto the crane for dear life. Witnesses called emergency services at 11.45 am, saying there was a man
‘in danger’. By the time Eivissa Police arrived, the man had already climbed down by himself. He was reprimanded by the agents for his dangerous behaviour and taken back to his hotel.
‘Undercover agent’ who worked with mafia gangs vows to expose Spanish negligence over London and Madrid terror attacks in extradition case
A BRITISH accountant claims the Spanish authorities are trying to jail him as part of a scheme to catch a Tenerife crime lord.
Paul Blanchard, 79, from York, is facing extradition on charges of money laundering when he worked as a ‘financial advisor’ for criminal gangs between 1999 and 2001.
But Blanchard says things were
EXCLUSIVE
By Walter Finch
er agent’ for Spain’s CGI intelligence services at the time. He told the Olive Press he was feeding them information on both mafia and terrorist gangs – including the IRA, Russian mobsters and Al Qaeda. That is, until the CGI burned their star man – codename
was their agent.
“They basically threw me under the bus and denied all knowledge of me, despite giving them all this evidence at their behest,” he explained.
Blanchard faces an extradition hearing in London next week, at which he claims he will embarrass the Spanish authorities for their negligence.
In particular, he will ‘prove’ how they ignored his vital intelligence that ‘would have prevented the Madrid and the London 7/7 bombings’.
Some 191 people died in the Madrid train bombings on March 11, 2004 and 52 in the
John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer.
But after their relationship broke down in 2004, the authorities realised they had lost Blanchard’s key evidence against Derbah.
Court documents seen by the Olive Press, accuse a Spanish judge of unlawfully switching Blanchard’s status from ‘witness’ to ‘co-defendant’ in 2007 in order to use his evidence without his cooperation.
Prior to that, Blanchard returned to the UK, where he was arrested in 2006 in relation to what he claims was undercover espionage while in Spain.
He was advised to plead guilty
FOUR men have gone on trial in Palma after an Italian tourist was robbed twice within minutes.
The woman had an iPhone X Pro worth €1,652 stolen from her in the Mallorcan capital last March by a Senegalese national. Prosecutors want him jailed for a year.
Just minutes later, two Algerians threw her to the ground and took her €124,000 Rolex watch.
The duo face four years in prison, each for violent robbery with another Senegalese man also on trial for buying the watch for €6,000 and selling it in Barcelona.
If convicted, the Algerians will have to pay the victim €124,000 in compensation.
A RECENTLY released convict chased his neighbour with an axe and made threats to kill him.
The 56-year-old Spaniard, with
A WHOPPING 120,000 kilos of tomatoes have been thrown in the Valencian region’s famous tomatina food fight.
A total of 20,000 people, each paying €15 for the privilege, got
splattered in the annual festival, in Buñol.
The overripe fruit came from the province of Castellon before turning the town red with pulp.
The event traces its origins to 1945 when an argument during a parade in the town square ended in a food fight.
JUICY: Tons of tomatoes make for a fun but soggy event
A nationwide heritage night has been called for Spain’s leading 15 cultural hotspots
By Yzabelle Bostyn
FREE theatre, concerts and dance are on offer for a special nationwide ‘Heritage night’.
Some 15 Spanish towns - all with UNESCO protection status - will also be offering guided tours, gourmet markets and gastronomic workshops for one night only. The event on September 14 has been organised to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Cultural Heritage Cities Group (GCPHE).
Designed to
heritage come to life’ the cities include Cordoba, Baeza and Ubeda in Andalucia, as well as Avila and Alcala de Henares, near Madrid. British choreographer Yinka Esi Graves will perform a flamenco-inspired piece,
GRACEFUL: British flamenco dancer
Graves drawing on her experience in contemporary dance in
Other cities offering special events include Ibiza town, Cuenca and Salamanca.
PRINCESS Leonor may be used to all the trappings of Royal life, but she had a more down to earth break when she visited the Costa del Sol.
The heir to the Spanish throne dined with six friends at a humble chiringuito beach bar.
The bar owners say the reservation was made with no reference to the royals and were surprised when several bodyguards turned up alongside the young women.
According to manager Puri Molina, waiting staff at El Saladero beach bar soon recognised the princess. But any hopes of grabbing a memento were dashed - the Royal Household’s security detail made other guests delete any images they took, so no snapshots of the illustrious lunch have come to light.
Caceres, meanwhile, has the most monuments open to the public, with 24 museums and palaces opening their doors.
Nearby Merida will have a special performance from Marcat Dance, alongside Colombian singer Manuel Turizo and other theatre performances.
Further north Santiago de Compostela has a big line up of events, while evocative Segovia will have a string of special ‘candlelight events’.
The famous Roman amphitheatre and circus will be open in Tarragona, while historic Toledo will be abuzz with events.
The GCPHE was created to protect cities declared world heritage sites by UNESCO.
See Time to get cultural on page 10
MEXICAN film star Salma Hayek has been turning heads in Ibiza as she took a break before her 58th birthday this week. The Oscar-nominated actress, married to billionaire businessman François-Henri Pinault, 62, since 2009, was
SIR Ben Ainslie, the most decorated sailor in Olympic history, has been robbed of his €20,000 Rolex at knifepoint by thieves in Barcelona.
The 47-year-old British yachtsman - who has four Olympic golds and one silver - is currently in the city for the 37th staging of the America’s Cup, sailing’s premier competition. He is CEO and skipper of the INEOS Britannia team, aiming to become the first British crew to claim victory in the competition’s 170-year history.
According to local police data, crime in the Catalan capital has increased by 8% over the past year, with almost half (48.1%) of the reported crimes being pickpocketing.
Many tourists are targeted in packed popular hotspots, including Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter, and around La Sagrada Familia.
See Rough Seas page 6
THE captain of the ill-fated su peryacht Bayesian that sank off Sicily killing seven, including its owner bil lionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-yearold daughter Hannah, has returned to his home on Mallorca.
New Zealand citizen James Cut field, 51, (right) has been placed under investigation by Italian authorities following the tragic incident.
Cutfield, who has reportedly
told friends of doing everything possible to save those aboard the vessel, has declined to answer questions from Italian prosecutors, citing exhaustion and the need to gather more information.
His lawyers have emphasised that being placed under investigation does not imply guilt.
Another crew member has told investigators that Cutfield played a crucial role in rescuing a woman and her baby. Matthew Griffiths,
22, has also been placed under investigation.
The 56-metre-long British-flagged Bayesian and its crew were based in Palma prior to the sinking when the yacht was hit by a freak tornado.
Lynch, a 59-year-old tech tycoon, had been sailing across the Mediterranean to celebrate his recent acquittal in a major US fraud trial over the $11bn sale of the tech company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. Also killed in the accident were Recaldo Thomas, one of the yacht’s chefs, Jonathan Bloomer, the Morgan Stanley International chairman, and his wife Judy as well as Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda.
SPAIN'S birth rate has fallen by 25% over a decade with 156,202 births in the first half of this year - 52,000 down on the same period in 2014.
The figures show a slight increase compared to the first six months of 2023, with 440 more children born this year.
The trend though remains downward and the number of births has fallen in all age groups, except for women aged over 40 - suggesting that motherhood is being delayed.
The downturn is likely due to women dedicating more time to their careers as well as financial woes leading to a lower priority to start a family.
SHOCKING figures have shed light on the Balearic Islands’ housing crisis, with up to one in three homes empty for all or most of the year at a time when many locals struggle to find affordable accommodation.
The data, published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) as part of its latest Official Housing Census, shows that out of 652,123 total dwellings in the Balearics, just 441,536 of these are primary residences and therefore in constant use over the course of a year.
Some 105,434 houses lie
One in three homes in the Baleares are unused or only needed for a few days per year
By Ben Pawlowski
empty, whilst 105,153 are second homes or sporadic housing and as such are in limited use.
The data has also laid bare the decreasing proportion of homes available to local residents amid a chronic shortage of affordable accommodation - between
AFTER five years as the British ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Hugh Elliott has bid farewell in a goodbye video message.
Alex Ellis, a former High Commissioner to India and British ambassador to Brazil and Portugal, will
JIMMY Carr has claimed most British expats are ‘criminals’, ‘tax evading’ or ‘running away from something’.
“But most of you’ve been here so long I’m sure you can go home now without any problems,” the comic told a sold-out audience in Marbella. He then insisted Brexit wasn’t ‘so bad’. And the UK was ‘flirting again’ with Europe and it would be like ‘getting back with an ex’.
Part of a 45-country global tour, he
take up the role as the UK’s man in Madrid following Elliott’s departure.
In a video posted on social media, the outgoing ambassador, 59, reflected on a ‘turbulent’ time in a role which he has held since August 2019.
Over his five years as British am-
2011 and 2021, the year in which the latest censuses were taken, the population of the Balearics has increased by 91,759 people, but the number of primary homes has risen by just 11,000.
In 2011, 73.3% of homes in the Balearics were used as primary accommodation, but in just a decade this figure has fallen by over
six percentage points - on the contrary, the number of houses used as non-main residences has increased by 47.9%.
Many locals believe they are being priced out with housing stock prioritised for second or holiday homes instead of affordable accommodation. In 2022, housing prices on the islands surged by over 20%. In May, thousands of Mallorcans took to the streets of Palma under the banner
bassador, Elliott has experienced Brexit negotiations, the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III, two Spanish general elections, two UK general elections and a change in government.
told the Olive Press backstage that he was ‘constantly on the move’, having arrived from a gig in Somerset the night before and heading to Mallorca the following day.
“I’m off to Canada on Wednesday and have been to places as far and wide as Australia and Japan, where incredibly people understand me,” he insisted.
After maligning Torremolinos, he said he had spent ‘two great weeks’ in Marbella this summer and even showed interest in buying a property in the resort. It came after an estate agent in the audience shouted out he could help him find a villa.
‘Mallorca is not for sale’ as protestors criticised Airbnbs, hotels, tourist lets and holiday homes for driving up housing prices and forcing locals to share flats, move in with family or even sleep in their own cars.
“I know estate agents are pushy twats but now they’re trying to sell me a home during a show,” he joked. “I might be interested though.” The 90-minute gig at the Marbella Arena was part of his Laughs Funny tour.
THE skipper of a luxury yacht that collided with a small fishing boat in Mallorca killing a 21-year-old man, has returned home to Germany. Air pilot Dennis Viehof, 34, is being investigated by the Guardia Civil for alleged reckless homicide and failing to stop to help the victim, Guiem Comamala.
The incident happened on August 23 at around 10pm in Cala Bona when the pilot was sailing his father’s 20-metre long luxury yacht called La Luna.
The vessel ran over a small boat where Guiem was fishing with his uncle and cousin.
The victim died instantly after being struck by the propellers but the other two people were unharmed.
TWO TO ONE
THE BALEARICS had one tourist for every two residents in June this year. The daily average population was 1,847,314 people, 50% more than the 1,230,812 inhabitants of the islands. This again indicates an alltime high on the Human Pressure Indicator (HPI), with a monthly high of 1,905,896, almost 3% more than this time last year. The maximum HPI was reached on June 28, when 1,407,158 were recorded in Mallorca alone.
A
expat
THE falling number of British tourists visiting the Balearic Islands this summer is a sign that the tourists are actually ‘going home’.
It seems the increasing number of anti-tourism protests has had an effect as the number of Brits who visited the islands fell by 10% this July. Although the British media has stirred up controversy about the protests, they have often done so without an understanding of how mass tourism affects local communities.
This has seemingly had the effect of scaring off Brits who had considered visiting Spain. The truth is, tourism continues to be Spain’s bread and butter but the current model is putting too much pressure on local communities.
Protestors don’t mindlessly hate Brits, they just want to change a tourism industry that isn’t working.
Many Ibiza and Mallorca locals have been pushed to the peninsula or left sleeping in their cars as a result of high demand for expensive housing.
While the newspapers back home would have you believe that every Spaniard wants to ‘Kill a Guiri’ that just isn’t the case.
In fact, 69% of people appreciate tourism, they just want to be able to live in and enjoy their homes without being inundated with tourists. And as we reported last week, it is a small minority that is ‘anti-tourist’.
After the 10% fall in the Balearics, the islands even contracted a UK PR agency to sort out their woes, showing the deep effect poor press has had on the area.
Tourism bosses are desperate to show that tourists actually are welcome and so is their money. The UK press has a responsibility to show the situation for what it truly is so that it doesn’t have a negative effect on Spain and its people.
Instead of branding every protestor a ‘tourist-phobe’, they need to educate people on how to be good tourists and not contribute to the issues locals are actually concerned about.
Jon Clarke, jon@theolivepress.es
Dilip Kuner dilip@theolivepress.es
Walter Finch walter@theolivepress.es
Yzabelle Bostyn yzabelle@theolivepress.es
By Ben Pawlowski in Barcelona
FOLLOWING years of groundbreaking innovation and hundreds of millions of euros invested from super-rich backers, the 37th edition of the America’s Cup is finally underway.
Half a dozen teams have descended on Barcelona to stake their claim to sailing’s most prestigious trophy in a pulsating regatta which kicked off on August 22 and will conclude in October.
The Catalan port has been transformed into a glamorous sporting pantheon for the competition, often regarded as the oldest in modern sport as it now enters its 170th year.
However, the regatta has become the latest target for anti-tourist protesters who have blasted it as ‘elitist and opaque’, claiming the affluent clientele and fanfare ‘will bring every sort of misery to the city’.
The antagonism kicked off in May when violent clashes between protesters and police broke out after the official sponsor, luxury brand Louis Vuitton, held a fashion show in the city’s UNESCO-listed Parc Guell.
The parade - attended by celebrities including Emma Stone, Sophie Turner and Ana de Armas - sparked anger among residents who rallied against the disruption and the ‘privatisation of public space’.
Locals were particularly aggravated that a historic stone staircase in the culturally-important Gaudi designed park, was damaged during construction for the show.
Other protesters claim the competition is driving locals out of the city by pushing up rental prices, particularly in the coastal Barceloneta neighbourhood where the action is taking place. They point out that temporary lettings have skyrocketed to
While the globally popular America’s Cup has kicked off in Barcelona it has been anything but universally welcomed
€4,000-€5,000 a month.
Meanwhile, a number of streets at the recent Gracia Festival were dedicated entirely to protesting against the regatta.
The entrance to one installation read ‘Let’s sink the f***ing America’s Cup’, surrounded by phrases such as ‘Tourists and expats go home’ and ‘when posh people in boats kick you out of your house’.
Others are angry that the lucrative event is relying on 2,000 volunteers, rather than providing paid, short-term jobs to locals.
Despite the protests, five teams are competing for the right to become the Challengers of Record and face off against the reigning champions, Emirates New Zealand, in a series of races in October to decide who takes home the coveted trophy.
Sir Ben Ainslee, the four-time Olympic sailing champion, is once again the skipper and CEO of the Britannia team, backed by billionaire Manchester United owner and INEOS founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ainslee’s crew have received technical
will advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup final, where the first team to win seven races will qualify for the America’s Cup final against holders New Zealand, who won in 2021. Each crew is racing an AC75 boat, the latest extraordinary feat of technological innovation and ingenuity.
The 75ft foiling craft has a carbon-fibre hull and sails that can be as large as 26.5m high. Their top speeds will be around 50 knots (93 kph).
Simon Hunter simon@theolivepress.es
Alex Trelinski alex@theolivepress.es
Ben Pawlowski ben@theolivepress.es
OPPOSITION: Protests against the cup began in May and still continue
assistance from mechanics from the Mercedes AMG Formula 1 team, who are also sponsored by Ratcliffe’s chemical conglomerate.
Britain has so far never won the America’s Cup - only the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland have claimed the trophy in the competition’s prestigious 170year history. Now the UK team must face off against NYYC American Magic, Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, and France’s Orient Express Racing Team in the Challenger Selection Series which includes a round-robin stage, semi-finals and a final from October 12 to 17. The round-robin stage lasts until September 8, where each team races each other twice, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals. In the semi-final stage, the first team to win five races
It is a far cry from the wooden boats of the first America’s Cup, held around the Isle of Wight in 1851.
The competition was won by the New York Yacht Club which renamed the trophy, then known as the ‘100 Guineas Cup’, in honour of its homeland.
Barcelona is the second Spanish venue to host the cup after Valencia, which hosted two consecutive editions in 2007 and 2010.
The competition is driving locals out of the city by pushing up rental prices
Barcelona’s former left-wing mayor, Ada Colau, successfully fought off bids from Valencia and Malaga to host this year’s edition as part of a drive to bring ‘quality’ tourism to the Catalan coast. The former mayor and organisers have stifled complaints by pointing out the competition is bringing €1 billion, 19,000 jobs and an additional 2.5 million visitors to the city.
Mateu Hernandez, the head of Barcelona Tourism, said: “The people who follow the America’s Cup are people who love the sea and have plenty of disposable income.
“We are very interested in these types of tourists. Particularly as we need to improve the quality of those tourists who visit the city”.
However, many view this approach as prioritising wealthy visitors and pricing out locals, whilst others, including Marti Cuso, a spokesperson for the protest group Platform Against The Cup, have questioned where exactly the alleged €1bn boost will go. As the arguments continue, one thing is clear - it’s not just the sailors who are bound to experience choppy waters through the early Autumn.
As cases of Mpox, West Nile virus and Sloth Fever rise in Spain – how worried should we be? The Olive Press asked the health experts for their verdict
JUST when you hoped the heat finally abating meant we were going back to normal, two new danger viruses reared their head.
In a risk assessment, the European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC), called the increase of imported Mpox cases from African countries ‘highly likely’, while a new disease called Sloth Fever has also emerged.
With victims coming forward across the country it has raised the alarm at the tail end of a busy tourism season that’s seen outbreaks of a number of deadly tropical diseases in Spain.
Up until mid August there were 116 cases recorded in Madrid, 67 in Andalucia and a dozen in the Valencian Community as well as the Balearic Islands. Around Spain they totalled 260 victims.
Meanwhile an even nastier new strain of Mpox, known as ‘clade I’ has been wreaking havoc in the Congo.
So bad was the outbreak that the WHO and the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) recently declared a ‘public health emergency of continental security’.
And the new highly transmissible strain emerged as other rare infections like West Nile Virus (WNV), Sloth Fever, and Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever have all claimed deaths this year. With its warmer temperatures and proximity to Africa, Spain commonly sees outbreaks of tropical diseases, particularly during the summer months.
In 2022, for example, Mpox infected 7,521 in Spain, while the West Nile Virus — spread via the native Culex Pipiens mosquito — makes a regular appearance each summer, having so far caused around 20 cases and, at least, five deaths in Andalucia this year. All in Sevilla.
Experts say the increased movement of people between continents brought by globalisation has played a role in the global spread of tropical diseases. Meanwhile higher temperatures caused by climate change may affect local transmissibility and the duration of the virus’ activity. Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is spread through physical contact with infected animals or peo ple, and can cause fever and a painful rash that usually lasts from two to four weeks.
Though most people recover, extreme cases of the disease can be fatal.
In 2024, 17,541 cases and 517 deaths have been reported as of August 13, according to the Africa CDC, 96% of which were recorded in the Congo, and most cases spread by sex workers.
PREVENTION:
Dr Jacob Lorenzo says the most at-risk groups have been vaccinated
As for West Nile Virus, the mosquito-borne disease whose corresponding sickness — West Nile Fever — can cause headaches, nausea, rashes and death in extreme cases, has circulated locally throughout Europe this summer. There have so far been cases reported in Greece, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, and Romania in addition to Spain, totaling 69 cases by July 31, according to the ECDC. These numbers are normal and are no cause for alarm, the organisation wrote in its release. Another rare, locally transmitted disease that’s made an appearance in Spain this year is Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), a deadly, tickborne illness with a 10 to 40% fatality rate.
The virus has already killed two elderly men, the first of whom died on May 1 and likely contracted the disease while hiking in the Arribes del Duero National Park in Salamanca.
The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (pictured below) described its rapid spread to several neighbouring countries as ‘very worrying’. But despite the hundreds of Mpox cases in Spain this year, the new variant has yet to be detected here, and public health experts assert there’s no reason to panic.
“The numbers are quite low compared to the 2022 outbreak,” Dr Jacob Lorenzo, director of the Institute for Tropical Diseases at the University of La Laguna, told the Olive Press.
“Additionally, we have previous experience and the most at-risk groups in the country have been vaccinated or are in the process of receiving their second dose, so this year it is a totally different scenario,” he continued.
Meanwhile, University of Salamanca microbiology professor Juan Luis Muñoz added that most Mpox cases in Europe have resulted from sexual contact.
He also emphasised the most effective manner of prevention is immediately seeing a doctor if one finds any strange lesions, and to always engage in safe sex practices.
“There is not a specific number of cases indicating that the infection is getting out of control and we are still far from worrying figures,” Muñoz told the paper.
The second case was contracted in the Toledo province, and health authorities were notified on July 21.
According to Muñoz, there may be a relationship between higher year-round temperatures brought by climate change and the emergence of these rare, insect-borne diseases.
“Higher temperatures, and above all milder winters, facilitate the survival of disease-transmitting vectors that in the climatic conditions of 40-50 years ago would not have survived the winter,” he said.
Additionally, other factors may play a role in their increased prevalence, he said, like the abandonment of agricultural land leading to more ticks.
A number of cases of the deadly Oropouche virus, or Sloth Fever in Europe this summer have also raised concerns. The virus, spread by biting midge flies and mosquitos, has been circulating in Cuba and Brazil, and was brought to Europe by travellers from those countries.
The ECDC reported 19 European cases in June and July, with 12 reported in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany. Symptoms can be easily confused with other tropical viruses like Dengue, and often include fevers, rashes, headaches, and muscle pains, though many carriers experience no symptoms. The virus is uncommon and largely unknown to researchers, and had previously been thought to be mostly non-lethal, until two healthy young women died from the virus in Brazil this year. There is a connection between globalisation and the spread of tropical diseases like Oropouche.
“In the case of vector-borne diseases, there’s an increase in travel and trade between continents, which allows invasive species to reach new territories,” added Lorenzo. Climate change also plays a role, as increasing temperatures worldwide have led to the expansion of tropical zones, and therefore the potential habitat of tropical viruses. However, he emphasises that the risk of transmission of Oropouche in Europe is low, as the species of flies that carry the virus do not exist here.
The most recent ECDC report assessed the risk level for European travellers to Latin American countries as moderate.
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ORE than 5,000 people are creating an account on the Olive Press website each month, new figures show.
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3- Bull collapses and dies on tourist beach after jumping into the sea during traditional festival on Spain’s Costa Blanca
4- Man in Spain loses his pension after working for 46 years because of this error
5
- Tiny village in Spain’s Andalucia is rocked by video of a couple romping on the church altar
BARCELONA'S port is using a drone to monitor sulphur emissions from ships in a pilot project in association with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
Real-time data from the drone is fed into a computer to make sure that vessels are following emission rules. Any ship that has levels above the
permitted level laid down by the European Union could get a visit from inspectors. As well as checking on ship emissions, the drone also monitors any potential oil spills or floating debris
Spain’s
SPAIN is facing a devastating cocktail of climate change phenomena that threatens to decimate its tourist industry. Alongside Italy, France, and the UK, Spain has been identified as one of the European countries most at risk of losing tourists as extreme weather events become more frequent.
Tourist-centric Malaga has
By Walter Finch
been identified specifically as the Spanish region most at risk of excessive heat –one of three extreme weather phenomena that is predicted to worsen over time.
This is according to a recent study by researchers in Italy which analysed the impact
SPAIN'S government has asked Morocco for more information about its extensive plans for cloud seeding to create rain.
There are concerns that the initiative - part of Morocco’s national drought plan - might cause bad weather in southern Spain.
Experts believe that making changes to Morocco’s rainfall pattern will trigger thunderstorms, hail and even tornadoes on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar. Climate engineering has been condemned by the United Nations in a report published after the 2023 climate summit.
It stated that it ‘can trigger a series of chain reactions with significant risks to humans, oceans, global temperature, and biodiversity’.
Morocco spent €15 million between 2021 and 2023 on developing an artificial rain programme to boost its very low rainfall levels.
Some scientists believe that cloud seeding can improve rainfall by up to 15%.
It is usually done by small planes that release chemical compounds into the atmosphere, such as silver iodide or sodium chloride, which create clouds.
in the port which handles a quarter of all maritime trade coming into the country. EMSA drones have been used in other parts of Spain including the Strait of Gibraltar.
of climate change on popular tourist destinations across Europe.
They identified the countries with tourism sectors that will most be at risk from excessive heat, floods and gales.
The areas of Spain most dependent on tourism stand acutely vulnerable to all three.
Excessive heat, in particular, is expected to have a significant impact on tourism in Spain.
The study found that Spain is the second most vulnerable country in Europe to extreme heat.
Around 12% of Spain’s tourist attractions will be affect-
ed by extreme heat stress, behind only Italy with a staggering 49%.
This could lead to potential tourists looking elsewhere for a summer holiday in order to avoid the unbearable temperatures.
Excessive heat is likely to also hit France, while strong gales will hit the United Kingdom, Italy and France the most, and flooding will increase the most in France, Italy and the United Kingdom. And 9% of Spain’s tourist-heavy areas will be afflicted by wind storms, making it fourth behind France (13%), Italy (14%) and way out in front is the UK (29%).
POPULAR Costa Brava seaside spots have seen a massive rise in jellyfish this summer, caused by warmer sea temperatures.
Reproduction levels have rocketed along with the jellyfish migrating north.
Between May and August, almost 7,500 people in the area needed medical treatment for jellyfish stings - up 41% on the same period last year.
The stings, while often painful, can be particularly dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems.
MedusApp, a platform on which people report jellyfish sightings and stings, has also recorded hundreds of incidents every day during the summer.
Two Tarragona beaches were shut for a time in July due to the appearance of the Portuguese man o' war which has potentially deadly stings.
CHINESE company Hygreen Energy will back three major green hydrogen projects in Andalucia including a €2 billion investment for an energy plant in Huelva province. It will also have a factory employing around 1,000 people in the Malaga area featuring technologies linked to the energy sector.
Hygreen has also closed a deal with Cox Abengoa to use its technology in the development of components for green hydrogen at its plant in Sevilla.
An agreement was signed in Beijing between the president of Hygreen Spain, Javier Romero, and the head of Cox Abengoa, Enrique Riquelme. The accords came on the first day of an official trip to China by Andalucia president, Juanma Moreno, who visited the Daxing International Zone renewable energy park in the capital and met with officials from Hygreen Energy.
DIGGERS: Archaelogists at work at the Neolothic village
A SUBMERGED bridge built by ancient humans has been discovered in a Mallorca cave, which reveals that humans colonised the western Mediterranean much earlier than previously believed.
Archaeologists discovered the structure at the flooded Cova d'en Basso on the eastern side of the island.
Previous estimates using carbon dating suggested that humans arrived on Mallorca some 4,400 years ago.
Analysis of carbon deposits from the discovery put the construction to being 6,000 years old.
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have found a Neolithic village, offering new insights into the lives of some of the first farmers in the region.
The excavation at the Huerto Raso site in Huesca has unearthed a treasure trove of artifacts including tools, ceramics, animal remains and possible structures dating back to approximately 5,500 to 3,000 BC.
Researchers believe that the village was a
seasonal gathering place for Neolithic communities, eventually evolving into a permanent settlement.
The discovery of animal bones, primarily from hunted species, suggests that hunting remained an important part of their subsistence, even as they transitioned to farming.
The excavation has also uncovered evidence of agricultural activities, including flint tools, milling stones, and potential storage areas.
How ancient man created the Dolmen of Menga including a 150-ton rock slab
A 700-year-old Hebrew Bible from medieval Spain could fetch up to €7 million at a Sotheby's auction this month.
The Shem Tov Bible is a 768page illustrated text written on parchment in the early 14th century.
Sotheby's Sharon Liberman Mintz said: “It's such a wonderful masterpiece and it is rare to have illuminated bibles come to the market.”
The reference to 'illuminated' is about the Bible’s gold and silver leaf decorations, as well as its colourful pigments.
The text was copied by Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Gaon born in the late 13th century in Soria.
NEW light has been shed on how the Dolmen of Menga - one of Europe’s most important megalithic structures - was built.
Archaeologists have puzzled over how Neolithic people, equipped with only rudi mentary tools, could have moved and pre cisely placed such massive stones to create the structurethe largest such ancient monument in Spain.
By Dilip Kuner
Menga, which is sited in Antequera near Malaga, carefully selected and transported the stones from a nearby quarry, using a sophisticated system of sledges and levelled tracks to manoeuvre the massive slabs 850 metres to the construction
Dating back to around 3,600 BC, it is made from enormous slabs of stone, one weighing over 150 tons. Now, researchers have discovered that the builders of
“The extraordinary dimensions of some of the structural pieces of the dolmen required sophisticated design and planning, a large mobilisation of labour, as well as perfectly executed
IMPRESSIVE: The ancient technology used to make the Dolmen showed sophisticated design
logistics,” said Jose Antonio Lozano Rodriguez, the lead author of a study published in Science Advances
The builders employed a system of inclined slopes and rollers to move the stones, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of mechanics.
The use of corbelled arches
7 Plum type (8)
8 Poisonous Javanese tree (4)
9 Trim the dry fly out in Wales (7,6)
10 “The Old Man and ---” (Hemingway) (3,3)
11 Craziness (6)
13 Diamonds (3) 14 Road-going type of family? (3-3) 16 Boat basin (6) 18 Chances (13) 21 She sang to Sidney Poitier in “To Sir, with Love” (4) 22 Recommended (8)
1 Not the main event (8)
2 Place in the pecking order (6)
3 Sign of maturity (4,4)
4 Truth (4)
5 Abrupt (6) 6 Cab (4)
11 Drink for conjurer named Leo (8)
12 Brings together (8)
15 Come along (4,2) 17 Impede progress (6)
19 Twelve Popes have had this name (4) 20 Level (4)
and the way the stones were fitted together with precision measured in millimetres suggest a level of architectural sophistication that was previously thought to have developed much later.
The dolmen of Menga was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.
La Tomatina in Buñol once again brought in the crowds to watch tomatoes being thrown around in an event, first held in the 1940’s.
Of the participants many come from thousands of kilometres away, including a young Indian man living who got intrigued after the tomato fight featured in a Bollywood movie.
He wanted to experience what he described as the ‘madness’ of it all.
Another visitor claimed La Tomatina was more famous abroad than at home.
“It Is super well known in Shanghai,” he stated.
A group of Valencian women taking part for the first time said that it is an ‘experience that you have to live once in your life’.
Inm total, 22,000 people of 28 different nationalities bought official tickets to take part in the world’s biggest food fight.
These 15 culture capitals of Spain will offer free events, food markets and more as part of the annual
‘Heritage Night’ this month
As if Segovia wasn’t already enchanting enough, Heritage Night will see it lit up with thousands of candles.
The Jewish quarter, Casa Museo Antonio Machado, Adarve de la Muralla, Puerta de San Andres and Calle Barrionuevo will take part in the candlelight events accompanied by live music.
There will also be a drone show and guided visits throughout the city.
Over a dozen landmarks will also be open to the public including the Alcazar, Cathedral, Palacio de Quintanar and the Torreon de Lozoya.
Walking through Caceres is like walking back in time through mansions, Renaissance palaces and churches.
Much like Alcala de Henares, it is known for its storks, which nestle on the many towers and churches throughout the city.
Described as ‘one of
cluding the home of the daughter of an Aztec emperor, Moctezuma.
On September 14, the city will be lit up in a theatrical spectacle featuring circus acts, acrobats and pyrotechnics. Caceres has the most monuments open to the public than any other city, with 24
This Catalonian city is known for its historical reenactments bringing the Roman Empire back to life.
Essential sights like the Roman Circus and Amphitheatre will be open for visitors, with a range of guided visits.
History buffs will love the ‘Mapping Tarraco’ activity which allows you to discover the old Roman city.
OME 15 cities across Spain will be transformed into hives of culture to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Spanish Cultural Heritage Cities Group (GCPHE).
On September 14, important historical sites will open their doors to the public with free dance, theatre and music performances, gastronomic events, workshops and guided tours. It is the seventh edition of the ‘Heri-
By Yzabelle Bostyn
tage Night’, a unique event designed to ‘make heritage come to life’. The GCPHE was created to protect cities declared world heritage sites by UNESCO.
But which cities are they and what events are they hosting to celebrate the anniversary?
This city in the province of Jaen was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003 thanks to its ‘stunning’ 16th century architecture.
Over the centuries, it has inspired the likes of Francisco Garcia Lorca with its romantic plazas, palaces and
churches.
To celebrate the 30th year of Spanish heritage cities, Baeza has some truly unique events including show cooking in the Patio de Empresas and a textile exhibit in the town hall.
Historic buildings will be opened to the public, including the Cerro del Alcazar, the Convento de la Encarnacion and the Capilla de los Benavides.
A fusion of the old and new, Cuenca is a menagerie of cobbled streets and ancient buildings housing a thriving abstract art scene. Set on a rock leaning over a gorge, it has gravity defying hanging houses, dramatic views and an iron footbridge only for the brave.
It was made a World Heritage Site in 1996 and will be celebrating this year with circus workshops, an open mic night and an escape room. The 12th century cathedral, hanging houses and various museums will also be open to the public.
This historic city has one of the oldest universities in Europe and still attracts many students to this day.
As a result, the centre has a lively, youthful feel which grows its ever evolving cultural programme.
This year’s heritage night will include a performance of Chicago: The Musical, an ‘Impossible’ Feria and theatre performances.
Attendees will also be able to enter the cathedral towers, Iglesia de Vera Cruz and the city walls for free.
September 4th - September 17th 2024
This Extremaduran city ‘brings the Roman Empire’ back to life with temples, baths, aqueducts and arches. It is even home to a still operating Roman theatre, which hosts an International Classical Theatre Festival each year. To celebrate its heritage, the city in Badajoz province will host a performance by dance duo Marcat Dance, expressing human connection through movement. Colombian singer Manuel Turizo will also perform, alongside theatre performances. Monuments and museums such as the Palacio de los Corbos and Alcazaba Arabe will also be open to the public.
Known for having some of Europe’s best preserved medieval walls, Avila has winding cobbled streets, interesting religious landmarks and impressive miradors During the festival, you can enjoy a free visit around these with a guided tour, tuktuk ride or theatrical tour.
Many monuments will also be open with free entry including the walls, the Bovedas del Carmen archaeological museum and the emblematic Palacio de Polentinos.
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The ‘City of Flowers’, Cordoba is known for its floral patios and rich history. Tourists find themselves wonderfully lost in the labyrinthine old town while searching for the city’s prettiest square. While normally visitors enjoy the famous dancing horses or flamenco spectaculars, the Heritage Night promises a dance performance like no other. British choreographer, Yinka Esi Graves will perform a flamenco inspired piece, also drawing on her experience in contemporary dance.
A ‘city of three cultures’, Toledo still has its original medieval layout, making it a fascinating day trip from the capital.
A journey around the winding streets is sure to guide you to interesting museums and buildings.
Historic buildings from Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions will be open to the public, including Antigua Sinagoga de Santa María la Blanca and the Oratorio de San Felipe Neri.
Each year, thousands of pilgrims flock to Santiago de Compostela in A Coruña province to complete the world famous Camino de Santiago.
Although many people know Ibiza as a party island, it is full of nature, culture and rural charm.
The archaeological site at Sa Caleta and necropolis at Puig des Molins show the historical importance of the island alongside the Alta Vila fortress.
Although little of Ibiza's programming for
Heritage Night has been released, it is set to take place between emblematic landmarks such as Ibiza Castle, the Can Marca cave and Dalt Vila walls. So far, a dance performance by Joaquin Collado has been announced, exploring male identities and relationships.
Almost 400 years after it was established, Alcala de Henares (Madrid) became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998.
The birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, Alcala is full of history.
From one of Europe’s oldest hospitals to the Cervantes museum, there’s events throughout the whole city to celebrate heritage night.
Catch a live band parading through the streets, concerts at the Convento de San Juan de la Penitencia or watch films at the Archaeological Museum.
Although the official line up has not been announced, it is thought events will take place around emblematic landmarks like the cathedral.
The university city is a cradle of international culture and this September, it will host a range of activities to celebrate its centuries of heritage.
Famous for its world-class Renaissance architecture, this city is well trodden by tourists visiting Jaen in inland Andalucia. The churches, palaces and mansions are surrounded by a landscape of olive groves, making it a historic and peaceful getaway. In typical Andalucian style, the city is offering an olive oil tasting to celebrate Heritage Night.
It is also offering planetarium visits, immersive museum experiences, concerts and talks.
Many of the main landmarks will be open to the public, with the majority offering guided visits.
The streets of San Cristobal de La Laguna (Tenerife) are always buzzing with street music, students and hundreds of bars.
Full of colourful houses and magnificent churches, there is plenty of history running through the cobbles.
Home to the first university in the canary islands, they are holding dance classes, drum making workshops and silbo gomero whistling classes to celebrate Heritage Night.
Iconic buildings like the Ermita de Santo Domingo, Casa Anchieta and Plaza del Adelantado will also be open to the public.
Man’s mistake costs him state retirement benefits
A 69-YEAR-OLD Spaniard
has lost his entitlement to a state pension despite working for 46 years.
The man, named Zahid, has lost a lengthy legal battle after his appeal was rejected by the Madrid High Court.
A reduced state pension can be paid out after a minimum contribution period of 15 years. But, crucially for Zahid, two continuous years of contributions must have been made in the 15 years prior to retirement.
In his case not only was he not
By Alex Trelinski
paying contributions, but he was not registered for work with social security, so no contributions were assigned to him as unemployed.
He was refused the benefit and decided to sue the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) and the General Treasury of Social Security (TGSS).
Zahid lost the original case at a Madrid Labour Court in October 2023 on the
grounds that he did not meet the two year contribution requirement just prior to retirement as he was
AN olive oil price war has ignited in supermarkets with Mercadona lowering the cost of a litre of the socalled ‘liquid gold’ of its Suave and Intenso varieties. Both products are now priced at €6.95 - down 67 cents. Mercadona has also announced a €2.91 reduction on three-litre bottles of the same brands and claims to have slashed olive oil prices by 25% so far this year.
The price battle is fuelled by wholesale market prices falling with expectations of a better olive harvest.
Distributors are changing their profit margins to announce price cuts for the food product that produced the biggest inflationary rise in the last two years.
The escalation of olive oil prices during the last year led the government to extend the zero VAT charge until the end of September.
not up to date with contributions from when he was self-employed.
The bench said Zahid worked a total of 16,945 days of which 2,566 days were as self-employed
His pension application was submitted in November 2020 and before that, the INSS told him to pay self-employment contributions totaling around €12,000 that were still outstanding.
Those dates were between May 2008 to September 2010 and from January 2011 to August 2012, which would have brought him back into the 15-year prior to pension qualification period. He failed to do so.
BUDGET airline EasyJet has announced five new routes between the United Kingdom and Spain which will launch next winter and summer.
The carrier is opening a seasonal base at London-Southend airport in March and will run new flights to Tenerife South, Gran Canaria, Almeria and Reus.
Before then - in December - it will open a weekly route between Edinburgh and Gran Canaria.
This year EasyJet opened a summer base at Alicante-Elche airport operating between April and October.
Three planes are based at Alicante with new routes linking up with Glasgow, Belfast, and Southampton with a 10% increase on seat availability compared to the 2023 summer season.
BRITISH tourists travelling to Spain and other European Union countries will have to pay €7 to get a ‘visa waiver’ due to Brexit next summer.
It’s part of the EU’s updated travel rules which start in June 2025 known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) - designed to boost security measures for non-EU travellers entering the Schengen Area.
By Alex Trelinski
ETIAS is an automated IT system aimed at identifying potential security or health risks posed by travellers before they enter the EU.
Authorities say the automated system will simplify checks which took longer at traditional passport controls.
Once issued, the visa waiver will be valid for three
BREAK DOWN COVER
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To help you stay safe here is a checklist of some important safety items in the event of a breakdown. This emergency breakdown kit should be kept in your vehicle at all times. The kit includes: a torch and spare batteries, warm clothes and blankets, high-visibility jacket, first aid kit, jump start cables, empty fuel can, food and drink, two reflective warning signs, a road atlas, and a mobile phone charger.
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We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834. More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com
November 29thDecember 12th 2023
September 6th - September 19th 2024
years or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
AMERICAN tourist numbers in Spain are rising and visitors are also spending big. Spain's Institute of Tourism - Turespaña - says spending by trans-Atlantic tourists is up by 35% on pre-pandemic levels. Turespaña noted a ‘robust’ increase in the US market last year with arrivals up by 15% and a 35% spike in spending compared to 2019. In raw figures, there were more than 3.8 million US visitors last year compared to 3.3 million in 2019. Money left in Spanish coffers rose from €5.8 billion to over €7.8 billion in 2023.
This new requirement applies to non-EU citizens from 60 countries who currently access visa-free travel within the EU.
British citizens will be eligible to use the visa waiver for stays of up to 90 days within a 180day period. However,
upon entering the EU, they will also need to supply biometric data, such as fingerprints and a photograph.
The biometric data collection is part of the Entry/ Exit System (EES), which is planned to start in November 2025
The EES will work in parallel with ETIAS to keep tabs on potential security risks.
Upon arrival in Europe, all travellers will have to scan their passports at self-service kiosks.
But those not having an EU passport will also be required to provide biometric data, which will be stored and verified during future visits to the Schengen Area.
JUST when passing through airport security had got a little bit easier, the old rules covering liquids have been brought back in.
Airports across the European Union, including those in Spain, on Sunday reintroduced the 100ml limit on liquids being carried in hand luggage.
The European Union took the decision to toughen up the rules once more while a ‘technical issue’ with new high-tech scanners is addressed.
The move was also seen in the United Kingdom earlier this summer, according to the BBC.
The 100ml rule has long been in place, ever since attempted terror attacks using liquids were detected. Passengers had to place any liquids, pastes or gels they were carrying in clear plastic bags and put them through airport X-ray machines.
But new scanners had been introduced in EU airports such as Rome and Amsterdam, and they allowed for passengers to travel with liquids in greater volumes than 100ml and also removed the need to take them out of their luggage.
AS the sun finally sets on a beautiful Alentejo evening you start to understand the many references to native Indian tribes.
This really is the true Wild West
with one of the lowest population densities on the continent.
So the stunning new off-grid hideout Twin Springs, near Almodovar, in inland Portugal, is a welcome lux -
fill its natural pools and provide its drinking water.
Entirely surrounded by nature, with not another building in sight, the noises come care of the breezes, the birds (I saw bee-eaters, eagles and storks) and the braying of a distant donkey.
AUTHENTIC: The Last Chance Saloon has all mod cons despite looking like a shack from the historic
And then there is the local shepherd, who passes a few times a week, the sheep bells alerting his arrival, while the continual trickling of water and wind chimes adds to the overriding sense of peace.
Think Spaghetti Westerns, minus the shooting. This is the sort of place that might have inspired Sergio Leone and you expect Lee Van Cleef to saunter in, his spurs clicking and his
The Twin Springs glamping estate near Almodovar, just half an hour from the Algarve will help you find your inner native American, writes Jon Clarke
gun in the holster at any moment.
The entirely natural wooden reception area and open kitchen/dining area, named ‘Last Chance Saloon’, accentuates the mood, but an honesty bar is thankfully well stocked with cold drinks, including wine and beer, and there is complimentary tea and coffee for guests.
The giant four-metre bell tents (named Navajo and Apache appropriately) sleep two in complete comfort, while there are additional smaller tents for children to sleep in, or simply play.
IN the dynamic world of junior athletics, balancing rigorous training schedules with academic responsibilities has long been a challenge for young athletes and their families.
However, the rise of online schooling is revolutionising the way these young sports enthusiasts manage their education, offering a flexible and effective solution that caters to their unique needs.
As online schooling has grown since the pandemic, Crimson Global Academy has seen a significant surge in popularity across Europe, particularly among junior athletes. This educational model provides a tailored approach that allows students to pursue their sporting dreams without compromising their academic growth. With the ability to access live classes from anywhere, young athletes can now seamlessly integrate their training and competition schedules with their studies.
Flexibility for training schedules
One of the primary advantages of online schooling for junior athletes is its unparalleled flexibility. Traditional schools often struggle to accommodate the demanding schedules of young sportspeople, leading to missed classes and academic stress.
A game-changing education for junior athletes
Crimson Global Academy, on the other hand, offers customisable timetables with group classes, 1:1 tuition and even asynchronous options that can be adjusted to fit around training sessions and competitions.
Crimson Global Academy also provides a personalised learning experience that can be particularly beneficial for opening up opportunities for junior athletes.
With smaller class sizes and individualised attention from teachers, students can receive the support they need to excel academically whilst not compromising on their sport.
This personalised approach helps tailor the school experience to match their individual goals, whether it be going pro or accessing scholarships for top universities.
Numerous success stories highlight the positive impact of online schooling on junior athletes in Europe. For instance, Timur, a 14-year-old tennis player who just won his category in the Tennis Europe U14 tournament, has been able to maintain his school attendance while training intensively and competing in tournaments. Previously, he had fallen behind due to the demands of international tournaments.
With CGA’s flexible scheduling and recorded sessions, now Timmy can study from anywhere and access any missed classes online.
Similarly, Caterina, a young equestrian from Italy, credits CGA for providing the flexibility needed to pursue her dream of gaining access to a top European university whilst
divided) as well as two smaller single beds for children, if needed. A third tent, Cherokee, fits a double bed. They are all full of rugs, throws and cushions keeping with the native Indian theme, while both swimming and bath towels are provided.
But the communal areas and, particularly, bathroom and toilet blocks are what turns this into a genuine ‘glamping’ resort and really makes this a must-stay for anyone looking to visit this largely unknown part of Portugal.
The brainchild of British expats Pauline and Sid Olivera, they starred in TV programme, A New Life in the Sun , this year, as they juggled lives between Spain, Gibraltar and Portugal, to prepare and launch the retreat.
Having run hairdressing businesses and
Best of all though was at night, as the sun set and the stars came out
maintaining a strict training schedule.
Each of the big tents comfortably fits a double bed (which can be radio stations from London to Gibraltar the pair have creativity and talent coming out of their ears, not to mention drive. A former Olive Press staffer, Pauline - who lived for many years near Ronda - explains: “We fell in love with this place the minute we found it. We had been wanting to do an eco-retreat like this in the Serrania de Ronda for
CGA’s 1:1 program marked a significant shift in Caterina’s academic experience. Caterina’s passion for horse training required a flexible schedule, something that CGA readily accommodated.
She managed her training sessions in the morning and attended her classes in the afternoon, taking advantage of CGA’s scheduling flexibility.
This unique setup allowed her to maintain her rigorous training schedule while not compromising her academic responsibilities.
Caterina explained: “At CGA, so many things are offered that are not in a normal school. And for athletes, it’s really amazing. It’s an amazing system. It really helps you achieve both your academics and your personal goals in whatever sport you’re doing, no matter the sport. I think it’s really a fundamental system for students that have other passions in their lives that they also want to focus on.”
The future of education for junior athletes
As the demand for flexible and adaptive education solutions continues to grow, online schooling is empowering young sportspeople to achieve excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
As more families and athletes embrace this innovative approach, the future looks bright for the next generation of sporting stars in Europe.
years, but it never quite happened.
“This has long been our dream and, like us, our guests love being at one with nature and being able to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.”
There was certainly a definitive ‘wow factor’ as we weaved our way down the narrow track towards the retreat, some ten minutes from Almodovar and just five from the sleepy Portuguese villages of Gomes Aires and Santa Clara-a-Nova.
The sense of freedom and space was the main takeaway, while having a base to explore this interesting region of Portugal was invaluable… the
THE increasingly high temperatures experienced in Spain could see a surge in thrombosis, doctors have warned.
According to Juan Carlos Reverter, the president of the Spanish Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (SETH), in extreme heat ‘the blood does not circulate well’.
The expert said there are two heat-related factors that cause people to be at a greater risk of thrombosis.
Thrombosis is when a person’s blood clots due to it becoming thicker or due to their veins becoming clogged, or a combination of the two.
“With heat, the risk of dehydration can be greater and this increases the viscosity (thickness) of the blood," said Reverter.
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charming provincial city of Beja being just 45 minutes away and Evora a little bit further. The Vale do Guadiana national park is nearby, as is the Santa Clara lake district.
Even better are the legendary curries that Sid can knock up on request for guests, plus a range of other dishes, such as a Sunday roast. They can also arrange your shopping, laundry and nearby trips. Best of all though was at night, eating dinner as the sun set and then - with zero light pollution - seeing the amazing wide open sky full of stars come out. It was almost tempting to scrap the glamping tent altogether and sleep outdoors. But where then would be the glamour!
For September and October, Sid and Pauline are offering OP readers a special three nights for the price of two deal, plus an optional free curry. Visit www.twinspringsglamping.com or email pauline. olivera@yahoo.com dom and
A SPANIARD has died from a suspected fentanyl overdose, after returning home from a trip to an undisclosed European country. The man - in his mid-20’s - was at his parents’ house and began to feel ill and became agitated, and aggressive.
His family called for an ambulance which took him to Malaga’s Regional Hospital with the initial diagnosis being acute intoxication brought on by drug consumption. The man went into a coma and died a few hours later.
A Malaga court is now in-
Across: 7 Victoria, 8 Upas, 9 Merthyr Tydfil, 10 The Sea, 11 Lunacy, 13 Ice, 14 Two-car, 16 Marina, 18 Opportunities, 21 Lulu, 22 Endorsed.
Down: 1 Sideshow, 2 Status, 3 Grey hair, 4 Fact, 5 Sudden, 6 Taxi, 11 Lemonade, 12 Convenes, 15 Crop up, 17 Retard, 19 Pius, 20 Tier.
By Alex Trelinski
vestigating the cause of his death after tests showed he took a high amount of alcohol and narcotics.
It’s believed he took cocaine and fentanyl - which is harder to detect than ‘traditional’ drugs.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency has warned that the opiate is being used as a cutting substance for cocaine to make it more addictive and enhance its consumption.
Experts say that identifying fentanyl in certain circumstances is harder, especially if a deceased person has been in hospital and has received medicines which can camouflage the presence of the drug during post mortem tests.
The consumption of fen-
‘Lobster’ cockroach
A COCKROACH species new to Spain could be resistant to insecticides.
The University of Oviedo spent two years going through rubbish bins in the Asturias region to find the ‘lobster’ cockroach.
tanyl in Spain appears to be minimal and associated mainly with medical treatments.
In the United States, there’s a very different picture where it is estimated that fentanyl amongst drug users causes over 60,000 deaths each year.
VALENCIAN health authorities will start using Artificial Intelligence to ‘shorten diagnosis times and prioritise patients based on risk’.
The development will start in September and hopes to ‘improve hospital capacities’.
For example, AI will be used on breast cancer patients by entering details of the patient’s symptoms and prioritising treatment based on the calculated risk factor.
The programme also uses machine learning to scan mammograms and identify breast cancer.
The new breed had not been previously documented in Spain and now joins a list of invasive species.
Scientists discovered 149 specimens of the lobster cockroach but it is not known where it originated from.
Recent studies have shown that species such as the ‘blond’ cockroach, are developing a strong tolerance to pyrethroids - one of the most common insecticides available.
According to experts, these products could also be ineffective against ‘German’ cockroaches and possibly against the new lobster cockroach.
YOUNG supporters of UD Las Palmas gave their new star striker a surprising gift to celebrate his debut for the club - a bottle of aftersun.
Oli McBurnie, who represents Scotland at international level, reportedly turned down a salary three times greater than what he earns at the Gran Canarian club in order to make his ‘dream move’ from the Premier League earlier this summer.
With ginger hair, pale skin and an ironic surname, many Las Palmas supporters were worried how their new forward would adapt to the Canary Island’s sunshine.
So after making his debut in a 2-2 draw at home to Sevilla, a group of young fans hatched a cunning plan - in exchange for McBurnie’s No.16 shirt, they would offer him a bottle of aftersun.
Following his move from Sheffield United, McBurnie had joked that he was preparing for life in Spain by ‘buying four bottles of aftersun’.
STRUGGLING swimmers on one Costa del Sol beach could find an unexpected saviour in the shape of eight highly-trained lifeguard dogs.
Torre del Mar has introduced the pioneering canine rescue unit, part of the Mas reQ Emergency Canine Unit (U.C.E), ready to spring into action at a moment's no tice.
Consisting of three Newfound lands capa ble of towing two tons and three labradors with ex ceptional search and rescue skills, the program is the first of its
pooches help save swimmers
By Walter Finch
kind in Andalucia. The unit boasts two other dogs, including a mixed-breed named Pancho, who is known for his incredible ability in rescue work. Having already been proven successful in Valencia, these dogs have undergone rigorous training to become water rescue experts.
PAW PATROL: Newfoundlands take to the seas to help save lives
endurance, and keen senses, the canine lifeguards can perform tasks that would be difficult or dangerous for humans, be it rescuing swimmers caught in rip currents or searching for missing persons.
"In just one year, we transform these pups into life-saving heroes," said Manuel Duran, the program manager. With their strength,
The safety of the dogs is paramount. Each one is equipped with specialised flotation devices, and their daily routines are carefully managed to ensure they stay healthy and hydrated. "These dogs are more than just
rescue animals; they're part of our family," said Duran.
The success of the program has not gone unnoticed. With plans for expansion and public training sessions, Torre del Mar's canine lifeguards are set to become a model for other coastal communities.
As Duran puts it: "These dogs are not just saving lives; they're inspiring people and fostering a deeper connection between humans and animals."
GALICIANS have a name for tourists who don’t respect their traditions –but it isn’t for Brits. They call hapless tourists from Madrid fodechinchos, which translates literally as ‘fish thieves’.
A WOMAN found her husband was having an affair with the priest who married them after she caught them ‘kissing passionately’. When confronted, they said ‘it is what it is’ and ‘started laughing.’
THE new dating craze sweeping Spain is to turn up at Mercadona between 7 and 8pm with an upside down pineapple in your trolley to show you are single.
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