GET ROBYN HOME FOR XMAS! APPEAL
A BRITISH expat couple has launched a desperate appeal to get their daughter back to the UK after she suffered a life-changing stroke.
Robyn, 34, was visiting her parents Anthony and Karen Sumnar in Murcia on September 4 when tragedy struck. She suffered a stroke the day before she was due to fly back to Britain, followed by two brain haemorrhages, one of which has left her with permanent brain damage.
After spending two weeks in a coma, Robyn urgently needs to return to the UK to receive life-changing neuro-rehabilitation - care that she is not covered for under her GHIC card in Spain – and which also does not cover repatriation costs.
British daughter tragically paralysed by a stroke urgently needs your festive help
EXCLUSIVE
By Laurence Dollimore
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A Just Giving page has been set up to raise enough funds to get
her home via a road ambulance.
Robyn’s father Anthony, who has lived with his wife in Roldan for 15 years, told the Olive Press: “The day before Robyn was due to travel back to the UK on the 11th, was when the tragedy happened, we went into her bedroom to wake her and found her on the floor not responding, we called the ambulance who took her to Los Arcos Hospital in San Javier.
“It was there they confirmed after a scan that she had suffered a severe stroke mea-
suring 21 on the INHSS (stroke scale) and immedi ately transferred her to Arrixaca hospital in Murcia city that has the specialist neurosurgery facil ity.
“Within six hours Robyn then suffered a brain haemorrhage and was operated on, four hours later she suffered another one that was deeper into her brain than the first and we had to sign a consent form before they would operate as this one was touch and go if she would survive it. Thankfully, she did, however we were informed it would result in permanent brain damage due to the location of the bleed (basal ganglia).”
Anthony explained how she remained in a coma for two weeks
but had to be sedated regularly to keep her vitals steady.
He added: “Three weeks later she was moved onto a neurosurgical high dependency ward awaiting the replacement of a part of her skull that was removed during the second operation, to allow her brain to swell outside from the inflammation.
Paralysis
“The operation was a success and on the 20th of November she was transferred back to Los Arcos where she is currently. Her righthand side paralysis remains, and she can’t see out of her right eye, she cannot speak, communicate, or perform simple requests, she is fed and hydrated via a direct tube into her stomach and her meds are administered via a tube in her arm.
“She desperately needs rehabilitation that she is not covered for on her GHIC card hence the fundraiser.
“The cost of the repatriation via road ambulance is £12,565 which is the target of the fund-raising page.”
Opinion Page 6
Football friends
FIFA has confirmed that the 2030 World Cup will be jointly held in Spain, Morocco and Portugal.
Black sheep
A 73-year-old man was found dead on a farm in Consell, with the Guardia Civil suspecting he was killed by a sheep.
Fashion death
THE founder of fashion chain Mango, Isak Andic, 71, fell to his death while hiking with his eldest son in Barcelona's Montserrat mountain range when he tripped and plummeted 150 metres.
Work less
THE Balearic government has said it is mulling over the possibility of reducing working hours – but is facing opposition from business associations.
THE director of Castell de Bellver is under investigation for causing serious injuries after a window cleaner fell from a height of six metres.
The 34-year-old worker was cleaning the windows of the Torre del Homenaje when a sandstone slab he was standing on collapsed in November 2023.
Castle fall
He was carried to the reception area before being whisked to a Palma hospital in an ambulance, where he underwent surgery for a fractured tibia.
A risk assessment carried out just a month prior had failed to identify the risk of falling.
The castle director, Magdalena Rosselló, and a risk prevention technician are both under investigation, although the municipal architect called the accident a ‘fortuitous and unexpected’ event.
MURDERED BOYFRIEND
A WOMAN dog walker was left traumatised when she discovered the battered body of a man in a remote area of Mallorca.
She was on a stroll in the Torrent de Coanegra area of Marratxi at around 10.30am on Saturday when her pet ran off sniffing through bushes.
Dog walker makes gruesome discovery
She followed it and discovered the body partially covered by vegetation with obvious signs of a violent attack.
“The woman did not stop crying,” one of her neighbours said. Now a man has been arrested
Nothing to declare
CUSTOMS officials in Mallorca discovered €200,000 in cash during a routine cargo terminal inspection.
A package raised immediate red flags due to the fact that it was unusually heavy for its size. After running it through a scanner and doing follow-up X-ray checks, they opened it to find a safe.
The package's owner was summoned to airport customs and asked to explain what was inside.
By Laurence Dollimore
court on Wednesday charged with the murder of Federico
Agents opened the safe and found €209,970 worth of banknotes in various denominations – the largest cash seizure at Mallorca airport to date under money laundering regulations.
Biayna Salinas, 34 (pictured).
A heated argument is believed to have resulted in the killing.
Sebastian O invoked his right not to testify before a Palma judge, who remanded him into custody as requested by prosecutors.
It is believed that the couple had only known each other for a few months with Federico living in Palma and Sebastian with his parents in Es Pont d’Inca.
Relatives told the Guardia that Sebastian was ‘very manipulative and violent’.
"He had him totally under control and tried to separate him from us at all times," they said.
It is believed that the two men looked at marriage as Sebastian - a Venezuelan nationalwould then become a Spanish citizen.
THE festive season is well and truly underway after a driver registered three times over the drink-driving limit after overturning his car. The 36-year-old Spaniard reportedly lost control of his car before crashing into two vehicles and overturning on the road on Calle Federico Garcia Lorca in Palma. Local police officers arrived at the scene and quickly noticed the driver was ‘showing obvious symptoms of having consumed alcohol.’
Lucky escape Smells rotten
THE boss of a meat distribution firm has been jailed for nearly two years after selling out of date meat for years, knowingly endangering public health.
The owner of Cárnicas Vicente, based in Marratxi, was sentenced to one year and 11 months, fined €120,000 for waste destruction costs, and ordered to pay €80,000 for unpaid invoices.
Inspectors uncovered horrifying practices: expired labels swapped, meat defrosted in hot water, and spoiled stock stored in filthy, unauthorised conditions - sometimes for years.
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accused of killing his boyfriend by battering him with a rock. Sebastian O, 20, appeared in
A Moss-t have
ICONIC British supermodel Kate Moss has teamed up with Spanish fashion giant Zara for a bold new ‘capsule collection’. And judging by the first campaign images for the ‘ Kate Moss x Zara’ collection ’, it’s going to be a musthave for party season.
The collection, which Moss has de signed herself alongside stylist Katy England, promises to bring a touch of the supermodel’s signature style to the high street.
Zara describes the line as a ‘disco meets rock'n'roll’ fusion, with heavy doses of 70s glamour – think Charlotte Rampling, Lauren Hutton, Studio 54 and Led Zeppelin vibes.
HARDLY SEEN OR HEARD
THIS is the exclusive Madrid neighbourhood where Amber Heard has sought to rebuild her life following her ‘career-ending’ courtroom defeat to ex-husband Johnny Depp.
The 38-year-old actress has become ‘well and truly integrated’ into the capital’s elite after snapping up a €1.5m home in El Viso, in trendy Chamartin.
The five-bed property counts millionaires, footballers and politicians as neighbourswho all enjoy being just a 15-minute drive from the city
By Laurence Dollimore in Madrid
centre.
The home was first built in the 1960s but underwent renovations shortly before being sold.
Heard’s move to Spain came after she settled a €50m defamation lawsuit with Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp, 61, in 2022.
The Texas native, who is expecting her second child, has not worked as an actress
Ex-wife of Johnny Depp ‘fully
integrates’ into upmarket Madrid ‘barrio’ as she keeps low profile after Hollywood
since, with some Hollywood insiders claiming she was ‘blacklisted’ following the trial.
In the immediate fallout, Heard sought refuge in a tiny village in Mallorca,
tographer girlfriend Bianca Butti, 43. But last year the pair moved to Madrid.
A neighbour in El Viso told the Olive Press this week:
“I often see her walking her daughter to school in the
“She wears a cap and sunglasses and normal clothes and keeps a low profile.
“This is a neighbourhood filled with famous people,
including footballers, and no one bothers each other, I think that’s why she likes it - she has completely integrated into the community.”
Heard’s daughter Oonagh attends a private primary catholic school that teaches in both English and Spanish. A local newspaper report from 2017 said the fees were around €600 per month, or €7,200 per year, although they are likely to have increased since then.
ROYAL VISIT
PINT-SIZED Queen of Pop Kylie Minogue will be bringing her larger than life personality to Spain next summer.
The Australian singer and actress has been confirmed in the lineup for the Bilbao BBK Live 2025 festival, where she will perform along with Pulp, Michael Kiwanuka, Bad Gyal, Nathy Peluso, and Raye.
The 18th edition of the festival will again transform the city’s Kobetamendi hill into the epicentre of music, offering an unmissable experience blending the natural beauty of the Basque Country with an electrifying line-up spanning genres and generations. Kylie will bring music from her Tension II album to the stage, as well as promising chart-topping hits like Padam Padam and a selection of fan favourites from her legendary career.
HOLLYWOOD legend Richard Gere and his wife, Alejandra Sil va, have traded the hustle of New York City for a more tranquil life in Spain.
Just a few weeks after making the move, Alejandra has posted on Instagram a picture of their new less hectic life - with their children getting ready for Christmas.
The 74-year-old actor, best known for Pretty Woman, and his 41-year-old activist wife have settled into their new home in Madrid.
As the holiday season kicks in, the couple have been spotted
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Shifting down a Gere
decorating their new home, and it’s clear they’re getting into the festive spirit.
“As Jamie says, ‘Mom, mom, today is the first day of Christmas’!” she wrote in Spanish alongside the candid photo.
“How I like their energy, their innocence. This year finally, Christmas in Spain!”
The image itself shows Jamie, 4, hanging an ornament on their tree, while his older brother Alexander, 5, searches through boxes of decorations.
LEAFY: Amber’s home in the trendy Chamartin district of Madrid, which she shares with her daughter Oonagh
SUPERCOOL: Moss in the Zara campaign
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DOG-LIKE CARNIVORE DISCOVERY
THE fossil of a pre-dinosaur carnivore dating back 270 million years has been discovered in Mallorca's Tramuntana mountains.
The appearance of the gorgonopsio, so named because it looks like the face of a gorgon, is similar to that of a dog without ears or hairs.
The sabre-toothed creature gave rise to the first mammals some 50 million years later.
The find made in Banyalbufar has been described as 'exceptional' because of the number of fossil remains and it being the oldest gorgonopsio to have been discovered.
They lived in the Permian age between 270 and 250 million years ago and measured up to 3.5 metres in length and weighed 300 kilos.
Scientists believe they were warm-blooded, like today's mammals, but a big difference was that they laid eggs.
Expat’s
home to be knocked down after lengthy legal battle
Nightmare before Christmas
A BRITISH couple’s €1.6m home in Spain will be demolished after it was classed as illegal by the national government.
Lee Pendleton, 50, and his wife Georgie (pictured), who will receive no compensation, are the latest victims of a decades-long planning scandal that has wrought havoc across Mallorca. They bought their apartment in the holiday resort of Port d’Andratx 16 years ago for €550,000.
However it was ordered to be torn down in 2013 after the former mayor of Andratx, Eugenio Hidalgo, was found to have issued ‘illegal’ planning applications to contractors in return for cash kickbacks.
Hidalgo was jailed for two years in 2013 after developer Manuel Zapata admitted paying him tens of thousands of euros for contracts.
It’s a story that was repeated many times across Spain throughout the early 2000s. Now, Pendelton and 11 others
By Laurence Dollimore
will see their homes reduced to rubble after becoming caught in the crossfire.
Adding salt to the wound, it is rumoured the plot of land will be turned into three luxury villas worth €20 million each.
Mr Pendleton told The Telegraph: “It’s heartbreaking.
‘Nothing we can do’
POLICE in Spain have given up trying to identify a British cyclist who remains ‘stuck’ in a hospital after being struck with severe amnesia. Stephen , 71, was first admitted to Torrevieja Hospital on September 24 after suffering a stroke while cycling in Alicante, and almost three months later, looks set to remain there over Christmas.
As we reported last month, he was struck with severe memory loss and can only recall his first name and age, but no other details about his life or loved ones.
Now, after months of working the case, the officer in charge says police have done ‘all we can’ to try and identify him. the Olive Press this week: “It is no longer our case, as police we did everything we could do to find out who he is, there is nothing more we
“It’s now a question for the hospital to liaise with the British embassy and try to work with them.”
He added: “We are 90 to 95% sure that the man is homeless, which made the investigation much more difficult.”
We weren’t in the country when the court issued the eviction notice. We had to ask our friends to save our stuff otherwise it would have gone in the skip.
“We are trying to rescue something from this horrific mess. Even if they knock it down, we still own a portion of the land.”
The property has almost tripled in value since it was bought and the family have spent €400,000 on mortgage repayments and service charges, plus another €100,000 on legal fees - ultimately in vain.
Georgie added: “I’m waking up in the night about it, thinking, ‘how can they bulldoze our “They’ve threatened demolition for years, and we’ve been living on egg shells.”
The affected homeowners, including another Brit and a German, offered to pay the local government €100,000 each to amend the building titles, but their offer was refused.
Pendleton added: “As a non-resident, they won’t interact with you… they’re very happy for you to come in, but then you’re on your own if any issues arise.
“How can you do this to people? The government should be issuing us compensation at market rate level.”
The town hall of Andratx was approached for comment.
Filling
WATER reserves in the Balearic Islands saw a welcome boost in November, jumping to 54%.
This is an eight-point rise from October’s levels thanks to heavy rainfall at the start of the month, according to the Balearic Government's Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle.
Mallorca has made the most significant gains, with reserves climbing from 47% to 56%, while Menorca saw a smaller rise from 45% to 48%. But it’s Ibiza that remains the weakest link, creeping up from 32% to 37%, and still holding the title of the most vulnerable island when it comes to water supplies. Across the archipelago, nine out of 10 water management units (UDs) have seen their reserves increase, especially in areas like Tramuntana Sud, Tramuntana Nord, Formentera, and Artà.
Normal
Thanks to the improvement, 31.1% of the Balearic Islands (including Migjorn, Tramuntana Nord, and Tramuntana Sud) have returned to a ‘normal’ water situation, while the remaining 68.9% –including Menorca, Formentera, and parts of Mallorca – are still under pre-alert for drought.
No areas are in full alert, signalling an overall improvement in the water crisis. Despite the boost in reserves, the alert status for certain areas hasn’t changed. Artà, Es Pla, and Formentera remain on alert.
November saw average rainfall levels, with the islands receiving 83.7 litres per square metre – close to the usual 84.7 l/m².
NEGLIGENCE is believed to be the cause of a wildfire in Andratx earlier this month.
The fire scorched around 60 hectares of land, including reed beds, palm groves, and pine forests. Around 10-15 hectares of pine trees were affected. A violent windstorm delayed aerial firefighting efforts until late on the morning of December 9.
KNEE STORM
A TIKTOK clip has sparked a fiery debate after two women were turned away from Sevilla’s iconic cathedral because their skirts were ‘too short’!
The drama unfolded when @ arantxgomezb, a TikTokker, claimed she and her friend were refused entry to the famed religious site for flashing a hint of knee. “It’s 2024,” she fumed in the video.
“They’re telling me I can’t go in because you can see a tiny bit of skin? It’s disrespectful to us!”
Desperate to gain entry, the pair tugged their skirts down and tied jackets around their
OUR GIFT TO SPAIN
Brand new TV show will see celebrated British pair show off best spots around the region
ALAN Carr and Amanda Holden have been spotted by eagle eyed Olive Press readers filming for an upcoming television series around Andalucia.
As well as filming the Christmas lights in Malaga, the British TV presenters have also been spotted filming in various Granada watering holes and on the famous Sierra Nevada slopes.
Comments exploded online, with most siding with the church. “Show some respect!” one user snapped. Others backed the women, saying churches should provide coverings.
Our exclusive photos show them having fun during a
PICTURE EXCLUSIVE
by Jon Clarke
visit to the Hannigan and Sons Irish pub in Granada city (right).
They were in town on various occasions this year revealed barman Paddy, who served their drinks while filming for their new show Alan & Amanda’s Spanish Job.
“They were great fun when
they came in for the England Spain Euros final in the summer,” he told the Olive Press.
“Alan is a born joker and she is simply lovely.”
Another trip saw them heading up to the Sierra Nevada ski resort in late Spring, organised by Olive Press clients the British Ski Centre.
FESTIVE TRIP: To the Malaga lights and (below) with barman Paddy in Granada
“We sorted everything out for them and they were really grateful,” explained boss Giles Birch. “They actually sent us a lovely thank-you video for our kids (see top left).”
The most recent trip saw them wrap up the show with a big party at a secret inland location, while they were also seen jumping up and down and dancing while enjoying the iconic Christmas lights show on Calle Larios, in Malaga. Comedian Carr, 48, and
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda, 53, won over viewers earlier this year with their hit show Amanda & Alan’s Italian Job. It was so successful the BBC recommissioned a new season of the show in Spain. The concept of the show, out in January, sees them buying a cheap but charming wreck of a home in inland Andalucia and then spending the year doing it up before finally selling it giving the proceeds to childrens’ charities.
Second life
AN elderly Mallorcan woman was pronounced dead twice in three days after waking up at a Palma funeral home.
She was taken back to hospital where she eventually lost her fight for life
The terminally-ill woman had mistakenly been certified as deceased at Bunyola's Joan March Hospital. Her family was informed and they authorised her transfer to the Son Valenti funeral home in Palma. To the amazement of workers preparing her body, her fingers started moving. An ambulance was called and paramedics confirmed that she still had vital signs.
Care
The woman - aged 92 - was taken back to Joan March where she remained in palliative care in a 'very weak' condition before dying two days later.
Hospital sources said it was 'an exceptional case' and the first to happen in the facility's 80-year history. They added that the doctor in charge of certifying the death followed all the correct procedures.
The Joan March management said it will strengthen rules for issuing death certificates and add new tests to prevent such a mistake from happening again.
MOUNTAINS OF FUN: A hello from the Sierra Nevada
Voted
A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than two million people a
Eye opener
THE tragic story of Robyn, a 34-year-old Brit, should serve as a cautionary tale for anyone traveling to Spain with only a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) for coverage.
While Robyn could never have anticipated suffering a stroke during her trip to Murcia, she now finds herself trapped in a Spanish hospital, unable to return home due to the limitations of the GHIC card.
This card, which replaced the old EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) after the UK left the EU, offers basic health coverage for necessary medical treatment while abroad.
However, there’s a critical flaw in its coverage: it does not include repatriation costs, which are the expenses involved in being flown home for urgent or specialist treatment.
Robyn’s situation highlights a grim reality for many Brits traveling abroad - without proper travel insurance, they may be forced to bear significant costs for repatriation. In Robyn’s case, the hope is that her family will be able to raise enough funds to arrange for her transportation home via a road ambulance. However, this is far from an ideal or inexpensive solution. Since the UK’s departure from the EU, the importance of comprehensive health insurance while traveling has grown significantly. It is no longer enough to rely solely on the GHIC card, especially if you suffer from pre-existing conditions or fall into vulnerable categories.
While purchasing travel insurance may feel like an unnecessary expense, it is essential for ensuring peace of mind in case of medical emergencies.
The cost of proper coverage is a small price to pay compared to the potential financial and emotional toll of an unexpected medical crisis abroad. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your health and well-being.
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Makarova (+34) 951 154 841 admin@theolivepress.es
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SNAILS AND THISTLES
Join the Olive Press on a Christmas culinary tour of Spain
CHRISTMAS would not look a lot like Christmas without traditional dishes and desserts. In countries like the United Kingdom, Christmas without roast potatoes and gravy would be utter madness with 71% of the nation choosing a roast dinner of turkey, chicken or beef as the star attraction. Spain, on the other hand, a country of strong regional pride, has no one national Christmas meal.
Coastal regions tend to eat fish, central regions eat pork or lamb, but often the most typical dish can be a soup, snails or even thistles cooked in bechamel.
Each autonomous community will also have a number of typical Christmas foods, making it hard to define a region by what’s on its plates.
Until you get an invite to a real Spanish Christmas celebration here’s a look at the most iconic dish in 12 regions across the country.
ANDALUCIA
An Andalucian Christmas is typically a lengthy affair with a series of starters before the main course – if there is indeed a main course.
One of the most typical Andalucian starters is the caldo de Jerez named after Jerez de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz. Also called consome de Jerez, the dish is a clear soup made by boiling down beef bones with sherry, chicken, jamon, vegetables and seasonings to whet the appetite.
Other typically southern starters include cured Spanish ham – jamon – from the nationally famous town of Jabugo in Huelva, as well as marinated olives and cream of seafood soup in coastal regions.
ASTURIAS
Fabada Asturiana is the most famous dish from Asturias. This hearty bean stew is typically made with chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage).
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While fabada is a popular Christmas choice, tortos de maiz (corn cakes) are also a festive favourite. These fried corn cakes are often served with picadillo de chorizo, a mixture of minced pork, garlic, and smoked paprika.
BALEARIC ISLANDS
Just as in the UK, stuffed turkey is common for Christmas in Mallorca, but the tradition dates back far earlier to the 16th century, when the Spanish first encountered turkeys in the Americas. The stuffing in the Balearics is unique, with raisins, plums, apricots, sweet chestnuts, and pine nuts, often soaked in wine the night before to enhance the flavours.
Cardo (thistle) is a traditional Christmas vegetable in the heart of wine country. Often cooked in bechamel sauce with almonds, this unique dish is also sometimes enhanced with black truffles. Cardo is a quintessential regional ingredient that plays an important role in holiday meals.
BASQUE COUNTRY
Given its
proximity to the Bay of Biscay, the region is known for its seafood at Christmas.
Besugo (black spot sea bream) is a traditional holiday dish, often roasted in the oven and stuffed with lemon slices.
The fish is usually served on a bed of potatoes, drenched in a rich fish stock made with wine and garlic.
CASTILLA LA MANCHA
Famous for its roasted cochinillo al horno (suckling pig), Castilla La Mancha celebrates Christmas with this rich and decadent dish.
Typically served after a warming garlic soup, the roasted suckling pig is cooked until golden and crispy, making it the star of many Christmas feasts.
CASTILLA Y LEÓN
Here, lechazo (young lamb) takes centre stage at Christmas. The lamb, no older than 35 days, is roasted whole, often in a wood-fired oven. The dish is a regional delicacy, particularly in the city of Valladolid, where cordero lechal is a highly prized festive dish.
CATALUNYA
Christmas meals often consist of multiple courses, with the highlight being sopa de
galets.
This soup is made with large pasta tubes (galets), often filled with mincemeat, and served in a rich broth.
The dish is a staple of Christmas celebrations in the region.
COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA
Pilotes de Navidad (Christmas meatballs) are a Christmas favourite for Valencianos. These large meatballs, made from minced pork, pine nuts, and breadcrumbs, are served in a rich broth called puchero
The soup is a labour of love, simmering for hours with beef bones, pork ribs, and vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and chickpeas.
MADRID
The capital of Spain draws inspiration from all the regional cuisines of the country.
Roast meats, such as lamb or suckling pig, are common on Christmas tables. Asado castellano (Castilian roast) is a typical dish, with the meat often roasted in wood-fired ovens and flavored with garlic, parsley, and thyme.
Many families in Madrid also dine out during the holidays, as numerous asadores (roast houses) offer festive Christmas menus.
The tapas dish zarangollo is available in many bars year-round but is also a popular choice for Christmas. This dish, made from scrambled eggs, courgette and onions, often includes potatoes. It is typically served as an appetizer and pairs well with wine or other side dishes.
CANTABRIA
Fancy a tipple to go with your Christmas food? See page 34 for a selection of great festive wines
Caracoles a la montañesa (snails in mountain style) is a beloved Christmas dish in this northern region. Snails are cooked in their shells with sofrito, a base of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and olive oil, creating a rich and flavorful soup served with bread for dipping.
MURCIA
LA RIOJA
WHITE OUT
The Sierra Nevada is the icing on the cake for those fortunate to
IT is hard to believe that just below me are the glistening white beaches of the Costa Tropical and its nearby sister, the Costa del Sol.
Way over to my east are Tunis, Sicily and Athens, while to the west are Sevilla and the Algarve.
Yet somehow, just somehow, I am wrapped up in a parka with a warm hat and gloves and completely surrounded by fluffy white snow as far as the eye can see.
Yes, this is the Sierra Nevada, Europe’s most southerly skiing resort and mainland Spain’s highest mountain.
The geography of the area is simply staggering given its proximity to the beach and getting so much snow here is all to do with its altitude, which goes up to a staggering 3,482 me-
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SKIS THE LIMIT: Sierra Nevada highpoint with views across the Med
Photo by Jon Clarke
tres (11,423 feet) above sea level. Its highest peak, Mulhacen, is named after Moorish king Muley Hacen (Abdul Hassan Ali), who is said to have been buried at the top.
The views from the top of the highest ski lift, at 3,300 metres, are among the best in Europe, with the views across the Mediterranean to the Rif mountains of Morocco making it look like a small pond.
From here, I have frequently skied into the Laguna de las Yeguas valley, including its celebrated Olympic run, with almost nobody around, assuming you are up here midweek.
Discovery
It was two decades ago that I first spotted the faraway snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada from the terrace of a roof-top restaurant in Torremolinos some 150 kilometres away.
It was intriguing, like a giant white magnet, and I was soon racing up there to be seduced by the thrills of winter sports, right here on our doorstep.
None of the hassle of flying to Lyon or Turin and schlepping it up on a long coach trip into the Alps, as most of us on the costas can get there in a couple of hours.
While it’s a fabulous day trip from the Costa del Sol, you are missing half the fun if you don’t stay at least one night.
Not only has the main resort of Pradollano got some of the best places to eat in Granada province but there is some excellent apres-ski entertainment on offer.
It has become a rite of passage to hit the slopes for at least a few days since a school trip to the French Alps as a teenager.
I can’t wait to strap on skis as Christmas nears and the first snows of the year finally arrive. Annoyingly the season seems to start later and later these days in the Sierra Nevada. While the Pyrenees already has a ton of snow, we often have to wait until just before Xmas to get
The Sierra Nevada’s stunning slopes offer snowboarding thrills and spills
OLYMPIC RUN
during the day and you will see many regulars actually skiing in t-shirts.
It’s a total contrast to the skiers who will be shivering in the Alps at this time or year though, where the price of a beer or a coffee will certainly be double.
“While I love heading up to Val d’Isere or somewhere nearby in winter, nothing beats a couple of days in the Sierra Nevada,” says hotelier James Stuart, from Vejer de la Frontera.
“It’s a charming place and it’s so very convenient for all of us in southern Spain.”
Local ski school owner Simone of Las Gondolas agrees: “This is the nicest place in the world to ski. We offer the best weather and the prices have hardly gone up in years,” says the veteran, who has been working here for nearly four decades.
And if you plan the trip properly you could combine it with a night in the emblematic city of Granada, which is just 40 minutes down the hill.
The Alhambra and its amazing Generalife gardens are open every day of the year and a walk around the Arabic parts of the city, in particular, the Albayzin or Realejo, are wonderful with the snowy backdrop above.
You might also add in a night or two in the fascinating nearby region of the Alpujarras, or the
WITH snow like fine powder, the Sierra Nevada is a Mecca for thrill-seeking snowboarders.
For beginners and experts alike, Spain’s highest resort is a glorious setting and gets more and more popular by the year.
Stunning scenery is matched by the top-class facilities, which saw the resort host the Snowboard World Cham pionships in 2017.
Novices should head to the central station Borreguiles, where lifts deposit snowboarders on a smooth and groomed area where they can hone their skills.
Once ready, or for those of a higher standard, they then need to head up to the SuperPark Sulayr, Europe’s largest freestyle snowboard park.
Now relocated to an altitude of 2,700 metres on Borreguiles, Spain’s most famous snowboarding park also houses the country’s biggest half-pipe.
Measuring an astonishing 165 metres in length with a height of six metres, the special design flattens the snow on the side of the half-pipe so boarders can jump on both sides.
For the best deals in snowboarding equipment and rentals visit South Star, which has three shops in the resort.
CARVE UP: Superpark Sulayr
Lecrin valley, just on the other side of the mountain.
Whatever your plans, one of the true joys of a weekend in the Sierra Nevada, is seeing the snowy peaks appear on the skyline from an hour away and then the wonderful windy drive on the final leg.
This is one of Spain’s most amazing drives, with scenery to die for, as the snowy mountains loom ever closer.
passes (forfeits) is easier than ever and most do it in advance online, or using an easy-to-use app. It’s easy to park right under the two main ski-lifts to the top and it costs around 20 euros a day.
This is one of Spain’s most amazing drives, with scenery to die
Indeed, at least half of those who drive up don’t even ski, but come to enjoy the views and exhilarating road with its sharp curves and very steep drops.
for
Most places to rent skis and boots, or snowboards, can be found within 200m of the car park.
While this year the snow has arrived late, some 40,000 skiers often land on the bank holiday puente weekend at the beginning of December. Now the temperatures have finally dropped there will be plenty of snow machines pumping throughout the day and night and at its peak there will be 110 kms of pistes open.
area, Europe’s largest freestyle park, with its giant 165 metre ‘half pipe’. And then there is the famous ‘Rio’ run that leads right down to the resort of Pradollano, which sits at 2,100 metres.
Planning
to take in the air or a spot of lunch, and there are things for the kids to do, with entertainers and Disney figures wandering around, particularly around Christmas.
“Since then the infrastructure changes were huge and it is now a big resort,” explains resort marketing boss Santiago Sevilla, who has worked there for nearly two decades.
The resort is run by Cetursa, an offshoot of the Junta, and has got incredibly organised and digitalised over recent years. The buying of ski Netflix made its amazing series Society of the Snow about the infamous 1972 plane crash in the Andes. For snowboarders or jump-lovers make your way to Superpark Sulayr, in the Loma de Dilar
A fun fact, it was in the Laguna valley, designed for expert skiers, that
It definitely pays to pick your days with Easter and Christmas frequently saturated with queues for the lifts, although Christmas Day can often be relatively quiet, while on the day of the Reyes (January 6), almost all
of the Spanish will be at home opening presents.
Don’t forget to try and avoid Semana Blanca (literally ‘white week’) – or half term at the end of February –when school children learn to ski, and, of course, bank holidays can also be very busy. The main tip is to go up early at 8am to 9am before the Spanish get going or waiting till midday. While a modern resort, the main base at Pradollano is a nice spot
SLICING UP: The pizza slice shapes need improving
The Sierra Nevada has also got a reputation as being a resort for fun, with the apres ski being some of the best in Europe, once you know where to find it (tip: it’s mostly uphill).
The skiing resort started to develop rapidly from 1995 when the World Skiing Championship was scheduled to be held there (due to poor snow it actually took place the following year).
The ticket office in Plaza Andalucia is fully digital and now has dozens of machines installed for credit cars and phone payments so you shouldn’t have to queue for long.
A day’s skiing costs €37 to €63 at peak time, but normally about €45, while those in their 70s get free passes.
AUTHORITIES: The local police and Guardia Civil mountain patrol
HIGH LIFE: Jon relaxing on the terrace at El Lodge
December 20th - January 16th
Meet the expat-run charities spreading Christmas cheer in Spain
WHILE most expats move to Spain’s sunny climes for a relaxing retirement in the sun, some barely take a siesta.
That’s certainly the case for those who set up charities to help their local community.
The festive period is especially tough for these expat elves, who strive to provide the same aid despite donations being diverted to gifts, decorations and the all important Christmas dinner.
That’s why we wanted to highlight three charities who deserve a generous donation this Christmas for their work supporting the less fortunate.
DOING HIS BIT FOR UKRAINE
BRITISH expat Kitt Hogg has ‘rediscovered his life’s purpose’ by aiding Ukraine’s fight against Russia from his costa home.
He has driven two vehicles to the war-town country as part of the ‘Car4Ukraine’, a charity which refurbishes vehicles for the front line.
In November, the 70-year-old drove a Ford Ranger that had been parked up forgotten in fellow expat Sue Adam’s garage in Orihuela. After getting her permission, he set off on the long drive through the aftermath of extreme flooding to reach Lviv, a city not far from Ukraine’s Polish border.
“It was a difficult journey,” he said.
“I am appalled and outraged by the dangerous lack of response to this conflict from the West so I wanted to help.”
This trip followed the expat’s first journey from Wales to Ukraine in September 2023.
He raised over £5,000 in donations to purchase an old Mitsubishi L 200 and take on a two week road trip to Lviv.
“There’s a spirit of resilience there. I don’t want them to think we’ve forgotten about them because it’s only getting
worse. That’s why I knew I had to come back,” he said.
The charity has now received over 500 4x4s, which have a ‘huge impact’ after being converted into medical, transport or weapons vehicles.
“If you have a suitable vehicle and you believe in the cause of a people upholding their right to self-determination in the face of a ruthless aggressor, you could make a difference,” he urged.
Adintre provides breakfast, lunch and dinner for over 80 homeless and needy people everyday on the Costa del Sol.
It was founded by Ghanian expat Joyce Gyimah Amponsah, who moved to Madrid in 1994 to escape a forced marriage.
Amponsah had a ‘very difficult’ childhood selling scraps to bring money home for her mother and siblings, so in 2001 she decided to help those in need by taking homeless people out for dinner.
She did this every Sunday until she moved to Fuengirola in 2007, where she started a successful real estate business.
Amponsah continued giving food to the homeless on the Costa del Sol when a well-dressed man in a suit and tie asked for some supplies.
“At first I was confused but then I realised it wasn’t just the homeless who needed help,” she told the Olive Press. She expanded her reach, eventually growing so much that Fuengirola town hall sent the needy directly to her.
“The average salary is low here so there’s many families who can’t even afford a cup of milk or a piece of bread for their children,” she said.
FEEDING 80 NEEDY PEOPLE A DAY
“People come from all the coast, including Malaga, Torremolinos, Mijas, Marbella and Estepona.”
In 2012, Adintre was officially established as a charity and Amponsah dedicated herself fully to the project.
Now, she has sold 44 of the 47 properties she used to own as part of her business to fund the charity.
Adintre not only supplies food but accommodation and support to help get people out of difficult situations.
Amponsah says this often includes Brits who lose their documents or get stuck in Spain, ending up on the streets.
“For me, the most important thing is seeing a person I’ve helped later on and knowing that they’re off the streets. That is my joy,” she said.
She has now been honoured with a MBE by the British Royal Family.
DEDICATED TO CHILDREN IN NEED
CHILDREN in need are the focus of 82-year-old expat Ronald Mark Hawes who founded the JoyRon Foundation with his wife Josephine in 2015.
Inspired by his own unhappy childhood, Hawes has always done charity work and knew that as soon as he retired he would dedicate himself to helping those less fortunate.
“The man I thought was my father never treated me like a son. My mum tried the best she could but I never felt that kind of warmth from my parents,” he told the Olive Press.
“It was a rough life, I had no friends or family life, so now I want to bring
joy, comfort and support to children in the Balearics.”
The charity’s first project was an aquatics centre for children with cerebral palsy at Aspace Mallorca.
Since then, the team of five officers and 18 volunteers has financed and built a cinema at Son Espases Hospital as well as a psychomotricity room at a first response centre for victims of abuse.
“The more I looked the more I found children in need,” he said.
“We identify the need, finance it, build it and donate it.”
The foundation also has a ‘Grant
a Wish’ programme designed to fulfil the dreams of sick children.
In 2016, JoyRon sent Carlos Franco, a little boy with a brain tumour to Disneyland Paris and later, they treated a partially blind and deaf boy, Andre, to
LAUNCH PAD
“I never expected thanks because I don’t do it for appreciation,” she admitted.
“But I feel really honoured. I believe that we are all the same and we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so if you see somebody in need, you should help if you can.”
a summer camp in Barcelona. Every year, the charity gives Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children and this year, they are giving away 450 pairs of headphones. Though they are mainly based in Mallorca, the team is hoping to expand to Menorca and Ibiza, as well as looking for reps in Al cudia, Pollenca and Santanyi.
Ex Olive Press reporter secures front page in yet another success story for former staff
FORMER Olive Press reporter Anatoly Kurmanaev celebrated a milestone this month after securing a front page story in the New York Times. His intriguing report shed a light on the rising tensions among Russia’s elite as the Ukraine war begins to severely impact the country’s economy.
It is just another example of Olive Press staff going on to do great things in the world of journalism.
We train our journalists to leave no stone unturned and teach them how to write stories to the standard of national newspapers back home.
They also get to work for them directly, as papers like the Mail on Sunday MailOnline, the Sun and the Telegraph, regularly contact us to cover stories for them in Spain.
Last year, Madrileño Jorge Hinojosa landed a job with the UK’s top-selling newspaper, the Sun
The UK-trained hack scooped the plum role after a sixmonth stint with the Olive Press in Malaga.
Forced to go back to London or lose his working visa due to Brexit, he joined the online news desk as a general reporter.
“Thanks for everything. It was all due to my experience at the Olive Press,” he later wrote.
He follows in the footsteps of Joe Duggan, who himself became a Sun reporter after a three-year traineeship at the Olive Press in 2018. He now works at the i.
Our current digital editor Laurence Dollimore became a senior reporter at MailOnline when he briefly returned to the UK post-Covid.
Meanwhile, former news editor Charlie Smith moved to the Express and now works as a BBC local democracy reporter.
Elsewhere, former reporter Amie Keeley became a senior reporter at the Financial Times, Imogen Calderwood the Managing Editor at Global Citizen, and Annabel Grossman the Associate Editor at the Independent.
Finally two former female stars, Iona Napier and Elisa Menendez, are both cutting the mustard with ITN News in London, while Laura Balfour makes documentaries for National Geograph- ic and Netflix among others.
Meanwhile, our latest potential star is reporter Yzabelle Bostyn whose hard hitting reports have earned her a place on the shortlist for the prestigious NCTJ Awards for Excellence. She is one of just three shortlisted as trainee of the year in the news category.
BEST OF LUCK YZABELLE!
Take advantage of our special Christmas deal on our annual subscription package.
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Subscribers are also sent weekly newsletters on travel, health and property, as well as a personal message from our digital editor each Saturday. To take advantage of our Christmas deal, scan the QR code here to be taken to the checkout page with the discount already applied. Subscriptions will automatically renew in a year’s time at full price.
CHARITY
Tied up
Fishing boats must stay in harbour to protect mating dolphins
THE European Union has ordered a month-long fishing ban along Spain's northern coast and the Bay of Biscay to protect local dolphin populations during their crucial breeding season.
Some 511 MEPs gave the green light to beach nearly 300 fishing vessels between January 22 and February 20, 2025.
Backed by Belgium, Spain, France, and Portugal, the measure is part of a broader strategy to reduce harm to dolphins and other small cetaceans.
By Walter Finch
The measure comes after years of concern about accidental dolphin catches in fishing nets, with scientists flagging the period as particularly high-risk for the marine mammals.
Fishing boats over eight metres in length will be completely prohibited from operating and forced to remain in harbour while dolphins go about their breeding rituals.
During the rest of the year boats will be fitted with man-
THE European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to lend Spanish utility giant Naturgy a whopping €1 billion to ramp up renewable power generation by 2.3GW –enough to electrify over a million homes. The cash injection will help Naturgy build new onshore solar and wind farms, upgrade existing sites, and install energy storage batteries.
The project promises to create 4,200 jobs in rural, depopulated areas of Spain, often referred to as ‘empty Spain’. Naturgy’s executive chairman, Francisco Reynes, said the initiative would help rejuvenate struggling regions.
Naturgy’s green push is a key part of Spain’s
datory acoustic deterrent devices, adhere to year-round monitoring programmes, and onboard cameras to ensure compliance.
The European Commission is taking action after recurring winter deaths of dolphins in the region over previous years.
Green loan
effort to meet ambitious renewable energy goals, all while providing much-needed jobs to areas hit hard by economic decline.
Earlier this year, French authorities implemented similar restrictions, and now Spain is following suit. For local fishing communities, it's going to be a tough month. Boats typically fishing for hake, monkfish, and other species will be forced to take a hit.
The Commission plans to closely monitor the effectiveness of these measures throughout 2025, leaving the door open for potentially even stricter regulations if dolphin populations continue to be at risk.
What a howler
SPAIN’S wolf population could face a serious setback after a controversial decision by the Bern Convention downgraded their protection status.
In the Europe-wide vote, 25 countries backed the European Commission’s proposal to shift wolves from ‘strictly protected’ to ‘protected’ status, allowing for controlled culling in some circumstances.
Spain, one of just two EU nations to oppose the change, had its vote rendered meaningless as the EU cast its decision as a bloc.
The UK, alongside a handful of non-EU countries, also voted against the downgrade.
Since 2021 hunting or killing wolves in Spain has been banned.
This remains the case, but with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 wolves now living mostly in Castilla y Leon, it paves the way for future governments to repeal the hunting ban.
UN Climate Conference pledge is important first step but still falls short, explains
A CURIOUS AFFAIR
AT the end of November, the UN Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, came to a close.
It’s curious that Azerbaijan, a country still heavily reliant on oil sales for income, hosted the event.
The country’s leader even called oil ‘a gift from God’. How can a meaningful compromise be reached here that genuinely helps the climate and ensures our collective survival?
1 Examines the books (6)
Listened (5)
Health science (7)
Kisses (5)
Inward feeling (5)
Faulty US drone measures depth (7)
Remarkable (13)
Reagan or Kennedy (7)
Drop by (5)
Rook, for example (5)
Batch of letters (7)
2 Down alternative (3,2)
Cruise quarters (6)
1 Flu symptoms (5) 2 Words after grace, perhaps (3,2) 3 Holy Roman Empress Maria
(7)
Like most Indians (5) 5 Rural paradise (7)
Annihilate (7) 7 Workaholics don’t have
(7)
Loose dress (5)
(7)
Roman wraparounds (5)
One of the key focuses of this year’s conference was financial aid for poorer countries, particularly in the global south, funded by industrialised nations. But why is this necessary?
Firstly, it is in our own interest for economically weaker nations to transition their economies toward climate neutrality. Since carbon emissions are a global issue, it should concern Europe that other countries are not reducing emissions. We may succeed in cutting our own emissions, but if others don’t follow suit, the battle against climate change will be lost. That’s why conferences like this are essential - to unite all nations toward a common goal. If we do nothing, natural disasters, droughts, and extreme weather events will only become more frequent and severe.
Secondly, we bear a certain historical responsibility to help these nations. Many countries in the global south did not reach their current financial state through their own fault.
Nearly all European nations once held colonies worldwide. These colonies were looted, exploited, and stripped of their cultures. By depleting their resources, we made it harder for them to enter global trade, and in some cases, took away their means of survival. European colonial powers, through slavery, exploitation, and cultural suppression, bear partial responsibility for the current state of
development in the global south.
Some might argue that many of these nations achieved independence in the late 19th or 20th century.
However, neo-colonialist tendencies still persist today. Large multinational corporations often wield significant influence in these countries, creating low-wage, precarious jobs. While these companies may provide employment, their profits are typically sent back to industrialized countries, where they are taxed - leaving little benefit for the local economy. Moreover, the influence of industrialised nations harms local markets. For example, cheap, mass-produced German pork or Dutch milk is processed into goods like powdered milk and sold in the global south.
Local farmers and producers can’t compete with these prices, forcing them out of business.
Many of the international financial systems, including interest rate policies, were created by industrialised nations.
While higher interest rates on risky loans might seem logical to protect the lender, they create significant injustices in global finance. Countries in the Global South, especially former colonies, are often classified as high-risk borrowers, saddled with exorbitant interest rates. This keeps their economies in a perpetual state of debt and underdevelopment. This financial structure perpetuates the hardships once inflicted by colonial powers, now reinforced by financial policies that trap these nations in cycles of poverty.
Financial aid and affordable loans are crucial for achieving international equity. At the UN Climate Conference, industrialised nations agreed to provide at least $300 billion annually by 2035 to help the global south transi-
tion to climate neutrality. While this commitment falls short of what developing nations had hoped for, it is an important first step toward addressing the inequities created by centuries of exploitation.
Christin Hagemeier
LA CULTURA
CHRISTMAS is celebrated in many parts of the world and each country adds its own festive twists.
Spain, for example, likes to display figures of famous people taking a poo and everyone eats 12 grapes at midnight on New Years Eve… oh, and there will rarely be a turkey or sprout in sight. Well not many.
Check out these cool local traditions - and a few tips - that make Navidad unique.
12 lucky grapes
Grape guzzling is probably the best known Spanish festive tradition.
During the last 12 seconds of the year before the stroke of midnight we attempt to chew or swallow a dozen grapes timed with the dongs of the church clock. It’s not as easy as you think but there’s an imperative to eat the lot in order to guarantee 12 months of good luck in the coming year.
Scarlet fever
You might not have realised it before but many Spaniards make sure to wear a scarlet pair of pants or knickers on New Year’s Eve as an extra guarantee of joy and good luck. It can also be a bra or socks - but it can never be on show.
You can stock up at a Chinese store where the rails turn red at this time of year as Asians too believe it’s a lucky New Year colour.
Deserted streets
Visitors often complain there’s no one around on Christmas Eve in Spain and that’s true enough. On this night of the year Spanish families get together for a feast at home although teenagers may head out to discos in the wee small hours. It is the same on New Year’s Eve until around an hour before midnight when a human earthquake hits the streets, with some revellers partying on until dawn.
November 29thDecember 12th 2023 LOOKING FOR MORE CULTURE STORIES? Scan
Feliz navidad
Spending Christmas in Spain? These are the things to look out for this Christmas
Sweet Jesus
These days Spanish kids get two rounds of Christmas presentssome from Santa on the morning of December 25, the rest on January 6, the so-called Day of the Wizard Kings.
They are the same three kings who brought gifts for the baby Jesus but while the good kids receive presents, the naughty ones are supposed to receive coal.
The previous evening, every town in Spain holds a Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos as the kings and their pajes reales (royal pages) parade through the streets on floats throwing sweets for the little ones.
The fat one
Whether you like a flutter or not, if you live in Spain you’ll probably be pressurised by workmates, family and friends into investing in a decimo - one tenth of a ticket in the biggest lottery prize in the world.
The Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad is known as El Gordo - the fat one - and last year it paid out €2.38 billion, turning entire towns into millionaires villes overnight.
Drawn on December 22, it dominates Christmas TV advertising and the winners are splashed by every media.
Don’t poo poo big day
In Spain a Christmas tree in the plaza is not enough. Most towns also have at least one Belen de Navidad. These scale model nativity scenes are perfect in every
CHRISTMAS SHOCKER: President Trump as a ‘caganer’
detail, from the stable in Bethlehem to the baby Jesus, his parents’ animals, the three kings and shepherds.
Despite the religious theme some visitors are shocked by the touches of irreverent humour which may come in the form of a ‘caganer’ - usually one of the shepherds caught with his pants down in the act of defecating.
And, on that subject, carganars are huge in Catalunya and every year there is a prize for the best one. Everyone from the Queen to Muhammad Ali has one.
And don’t forget the first big lottery of the New Year - El Niño, is drawn on January 6.
December fools
TURKEY TWISTER: Not a common dish at Xmas hoping the infant Jesus would be among them.
December 28 commemorates the biblical King Herod’s plan to slaughter all babies under two years old,
Despite its gruesome religious origin, Día de los Inocentes , is the equivalent of April Fools Day.
If you hear of any strange news stories on this day, you’d best take them with a very large pinch of salt.
Sing to win
Forget Christmas carols and those schmaltzy Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin numbers.
In Spain we have our own festive songs known as ‘villancicos’ which are the true soundtrack of Christmas. Some, like ‘Alepun’, ‘Los peces van a beber al rio’ and ‘Pastores venid’ have been sung in the same way for centuries. They may be performed by a children’s choir or adults sitting around a brazier playing traditional instruments like the zambomba (earthenware friction drum),
pandereta (tambourine) or improvised with a bottle of anis and a spoon.
It’s a tradition on the verge of extinction but it still survives in small towns.
Yule handout
It’s a tradition on the verge of extinction but it still survives in small towns.
In the build-up to Christmas, children roam the streets, stopping at every door to sing a villancico in return for some yuletide pocket money known as an aguinaldo.
Festive food
Forget turkey, the Spanish prefer seafood, particularly prawns and lobster, as well as good jamon , and occasionally lamb or roast suckling pig. We also like the more traditional yuletide treats that you won’t find anywhere else.
There’s turron, a honey and almond nougat in brittle or chewy versions - either way, tough on teeth; mazapanes , also made with an almond dough moulded into different shapes; polvorones , a crumbly cake that melts in the mouth; and Roscon de reyes , a big circular cake with a hole in it filled with sugared fruit and cream, and the highlight of the family table on Three Kings Day.
CHRISTMAS CRACKER: Most Spaniards wear red underwear AWAY-DAY TO A MANGER: Belens are the highlight of many towns, while (right) pile of turrons
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
CHRISTMAS CRACKERS
The ultimate drinks guide for Christmas and the New Year, writes Ben Odgers
IT’S the time of year where thoughts turn to corks popping, celebrating Christmas with friends and family and finding that perfect bottle for a gift.
Running out of inspiration or not sure what to have with the turkey? Fear not I have you covered!
STOCKING FILLERS
Just €2.69 will secure you Beso de Luna (Moonlight Kiss) available at Aldi. A standard blend of the grapes Tempranillo and Garnacha has resulted in a delicious strawberry scented wine that punches well above its price point. Perfect for Christmas parties and a great accompaniment to tapas.
Luis Gurpegui 2021 Rioja also graces the shelves at Aldi at an unbelievable €3.49. The fact that this wine received 94/100 by respected magazine, Wine Enthusiast, should be taken seriously. Classic cherry and
plums on the nose with jammy red fruits and warm spice on the palate. This is best with simple lamb dishes, but the acidity means it can cope with fattier meats and is great with cheese. An absolute steal!
UNDER THE TREE
Ok, let us move up a price bracket now and get to serious wines that would work well for your Christmas din ner or New Year’s lunch. Taking a trip to Eroski will help you unearth more gems, starting with Enate Chardonnay 234 (Vin tage 2023/24). With notes of fresh green apple mixed with a bit of tropical fruit; it is not heavy as it has not had any contact with oak barrels. It is the perfect pairing for a fish course and great with simple roast chicken, €10 in Eroski. If you are going for simple roast beef
or something a bit more adventurous like suck ling pig, then Condado de Haza Crianza 2020 from Ribera del Duero is perfect. Currently in Carrefour at €12.89 this 100% Tempranillo based wine offers blackberries and currants blended with roasted spice to give a long vanilla finish. Put it in the fridge for 10 minutes before you open it.
ICING ON THE CAKE
OP Puzzle solutions
Quick Crossword
Across: 1 Audits, 4 Heard, 8 Hygiene, 9 Necks, 10 Sense, 11 Sounder, 12 Extraordinary, 15 Airport, 17 Visit, 20 Piece, 21 Mailing, 22 Eat up, 23 Berths.
Down: 1 Aches, 2 Dig in, 3 Theresa, 4 Hindu, 5 Arcadia, 6 Destroy, 7 Leisure time, 12 Example, 13 Torment, 14 Invoice, 16 One up, 18 Shift, 19 Togas.
If you want to find the best France has to offer plus plus some great Spanish wines there is only one place to go…NICOLAS. Now based out of Marbella with three shops, it offers an amazing range, local delivery or shipping across Spain. Check www.nico lasmarbella.com for more details.
Boss Georgina Rascón de Galván was kind enough to share with me her picks for Christmas and New Year. Cava quality has massively improved over the last decade and is no longer Champagne’s little sibling.
A case in point is U Mes U Larus Cava Reserva Brut Nature at €20.90. This blend of Pinot Noir and Xarello, from
Penedes, exhibits fine bubbles with citrus, bri oche, and almond on the nose. This wine makes the per fect aperitive or would pair well with a simple grilled prawn starter. It needs to be properly chilled so at least a few hours in the fridge prior to opening.
White Burgundies (Chardonnay) tend to lend themselves well to richer poultry.
Pouilly-Fuissé Les Préludes, Terres Secrètes 2022 offers up green apples, pears, and a nice buttery note from its contact with oak.
The wine’s bright acidity helps cut through any fattiness. Great with quail, pheasant, or partridge, available at €29.70. Place in the fridge an hour in the fridge before opening.
Red Burgundy can be very versatile in food pairing. If duck or venison is on the menu, Bourgogne Côte Chalonnaise Buissonnier Vignerons de Buxy 2022 could be a good bet. At €14.70 this wine over-delivers. It has plenty of red currant and cherry fruit with earthy spice and a bit of white pepper. Lower levels of tannins (the dryness you find in tea) mean it is quenching and refreshing. Again, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes before opening.
Red Bordeaux can make for the ultimate Christmas dinner companion.
Georgina recommends Château Cormeil-Figeac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018. Predominantly Merlot with Cabernet Franc, this is one for beef tenderloin or roast lamb. Dark
berry fruits mix with tobacco and vanilla on the nose and follow on the palate with a little bit of dark chocolate on the finish. To open or gift, €27.90 seems very fair for something so classy. Remember red Bordeaux likes to be served at cellar temperature (15-18C).
PERFECT
NIGHTCAP
Now, on to my own Spirits Sourcery guide to the best spirits for this festive season. Dictador 20-Year-Old Colombian rum is like Christmas distilled into a bottle. The aroma reveals intense dried fruit notes, accompanied by rich molasses and caramel, with sub tle hints of oak and tobacco. Yum! Available for €63.90 from El Corte Inglés. The Glenturret Triple Wood won ‘best single malt’ at the International Wine and Spirits Challenge last year. Incredibly it costs just €73 from Amazon.es. This Highland whisky is
liquid gold with vibrant spices, peaches with a dash of cinnamon and vanilla leading to a sweet oaky finish. The most underrated of all the dark spirits is Armagnac. The quality to price ratio cannot be beaten. Armagnac XO Monluc is available at €99 from NICOLAS and is perfect with chocolate. Fifth generation producers Monluc have created a delicious elixir packed with rich dried fruits, candied orange peel and roasted nuts.
Ben Odgers, is the founder of Spirits Sourcery, which sources rare wines and spirits. For more info visit www.spiritssourcery.com.
Stamp of approval
SPAIN has been declared the strongest economy of 2024, topping the OECD rankings for its remarkable economic growth, low unemployment, and controlled inflation, according to The Economist
The British publication attributes Spain’s success to a booming labour market and high immigration levels, projecting economic growth to surpass 3% this year.
This cements Spain’s role as the economic leader of a resurgent Mediterranean, alongside notable gains in Greece and Italy.
Unemployment in Spain has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade, a trend echoed in neighbouring Southern European countries.
The Economist also highlighted Spain’s ability to maintain stable core inflation, avoiding the spikes seen in the UK and Germany.
While not leading in financial market performance, Spain’s relative stability contrasts with the downturns seen in other nations. It also managed to balance its budget, distinguishing it from countries with mounting deficits.
However, challenges remain. Growth in GDP per capita has lagged behind total GDP, suggesting the benefits of economic expansion are not yet evenly distributed.
JUST THE JOB!
Xmas cracker
Food delivery app Glovo abandons its ‘self-employment’ model for drivers
GLOVO has been forced to abandon its ‘false self-employment’ model and will hand its drivers legal employment contracts.
The company will transition away from its old way, which claimed that its drivers were ‘entrepreneurs’, following years of intense legal pressure from Spanish authorities.
Around 60,000 delivery workers who have worked for Glovo since 2021 will now become regularly employed with all the benefits
A POPULAR shower gel has been removed from shelves after a ‘dangerous bacteria’ was identified.
The Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS) has ordered that ‘Cosmia-Gel de ducha exfoliante hueso de albaricoque’ stop production, be removed from shelves and all existing bottles collected.
It is believed the apricot shower gel contains an infectious bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can provoke dangerous infections for older
By Walter Finch
it brings, according to Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz. The move follows repeated warnings and substantial fines from labour inspectors, who have long argued that Glovo was systematically exploiting workers by classifying them as independent contractors instead of employees.
The ‘false self-employment’ model allowed Glovo to get away with not paying €267
million in Social Security contributions, a burden that instead fell on its own drivers.
Competitor Just Eat has al-
THUMBS UP!
SPANISH business continues to bet big on the British economy.
The latest ‘business climate barometer’ from the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom paints a picture of optimism among industry chiefs from Spain.
Nearly half of the Spanish companies surveyed reported that they are banking on increasing investments, employment, and revenue in the UK in the coming year. Since records began in 1993, Spain has directed nearly €170 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) towards the UK, accounting for 18% of its total global FDI.
Dirty shower gel
people and those who have a compromised immune system.
It was sold in Alcampo and supplied by the French business, SAS OIA.
If you have the shower gel, you can return it to any Alcampo store and get your money back.
Hair drug warning
A POPULAR hair-loss drug is linked to a shocking condition known as ‘werewolf syndrome’ in babies, Spanish health officials have warned.
The bizarre side effect has left infants covered in excessive body hair after being exposed to the overthe-counter scalp treatment, minoxidil
Commonly sold under the brand name Regaine, it is widely used by adults to treat hair thinning, but now it’s feared that babies could be suffering from hypertrichosis – an abnormal growth of fine, dark hair on their faces, limbs, and backs. The troubling issue came
By Dilip Kuner
to light after Spanish authorities reported a case where a baby boy developed a thick patch of hair on his back and legs after his father, who had been using minoxidil to treat his own hair loss, cared for him at home.
Health experts believe the drug may have transferred from the father to the baby through skin contact or accidental ingestion.
Spanish officials have since confirmed that at least 10 cases of this rare condition have been reported across Europe, with all symptoms fading once
ready filed a lawsuit against Glovo, claiming the company gained an unfair competitive advantage by avoiding proper employment costsestimated at over €645 million in savings.
Local riders’ rights group Riders X Derechos has responded with caution, highlighting Glovo’s ‘history of lawbreaking’ and calling for transparency in their em ployment practices.
The Spanish govern ment has already mod ified the Penal Code to enforce stricter penalties on companies misclassifying workers, with potential prison sentences of six months to six years.
Spanish health chiefs warn hairloss drug could trigger ‘werewolf syndrome’ in babies
parents stopped using the drug.
Experts warn that young infants exposed to the drug could also face serious risks to their heart and kidneys.
The warning comes after a
scandal in Spain in 2019, where 17 children, including babies, developed similar symptoms after unknowingly consuming minoxidil , which had been mislabeled as reflux medication.
IT looks like Christmas is going to be a cracker for Spain’s retailers, with a staggering three-quarters of consumers planning to either maintain or increase their festive spending this year.
Despite the ongoing cost-ofliving pressures, a recent survey by AECOC Shopperview reveals that more than 75% of Spaniards will be opening their wallets wide for Christmas, with many planning to spend even more than last year. Research also shows that 87% of Spanish retailers and 72% of consumer goods manufacturers expect to close the year with an increase in sales.
Pricy Xmas
THE festive season in Spain is set to be the most expensive on record, with prices soaring by 10% this year. The president of the consumer association Consubal, Alfonso Rodríguez said: “It’s clear this year will cost us more. “People are getting into more debt just to make ends meet.”
In fact consumer debt has surged by 25%, according to the Bank of Spain.
Phone ban call
SPANISH government experts have called for an almost total ban on digital devices for young children - with no screens at all for under-threes and extremely limited use until age six.
The 250-page study also advises parents to stick to non-smart phones for children aged 12 to 16, and demands mandatory health warning labels on all digital devices sold in Spain. Parents are urged to prioritise physical activities for children aged six to 12 and implement parental controls on any smart devices.
The report warns of serious risks, including impacts on sleep, concentration, and mental health.
Schools are also under scrutiny, with recommendations to overhaul educational apps and reduce digital tools in early education.
636 308 789 Tel: 971 681 439 www.theeuropeandentalpractice.com
O
You’re knick(er)d
A ROBBER who used his underpants as a mask and socks as gloves at 19 restaurants in Madrid has been arrested when he was caught wearing his disguise in the early hours of the morning.
Q outrage
ACTIVISTS in Spain are outraged after the governing socialist party announced plans to drop Q from the LGBTQ+ acronym and ban trans women from female sports competitions.
Lotto luck
SALES outlets for this Sunday’s El Gordo Xmas Lottery have reported a big rise in people buying tickets including the number 29 - the date of October’s Valencia floods.
A NEW Zealander has won the World Spanish Scrabble Championship despite not speaking the language.
Nigel Richards achieved the feat thanks to his impressive memory and strategy skills. And he has form for similar feats - in 2015, he clinched the world title for French scrabble, which he also doesn’t speak. He repeated the feat in 2018.
The 57-year-old is widely considered the best player in the
Bey nd ords
How a Kiwi who only speaks English won the World Spanish Scrabble Championship
By Yzabelle Bostyn
world after starting to compete in New Zealand at age 28. He took to the world stage in 1999 at the Melbourne World Championships. Since then he has won the
English world championship five times.
In preparation, he had memorised the whole of the English dictionary, a challenge he overcame in just five sittings. He repeated the feat with first the French and then Spanish Scrabble dictionaries.
SAYS IT ON THE TIN
A SPANISH man was left shocked after receiving a tin of cat food instead of the €659 Google Pixel 8 Pro phone he ordered during Black Friday. Alvaro, from Valencia, thought it was a prank when he opened the package to find the wrong item. Despite contacting customer
service immediately, he’s still waiting for a resolution, with the company promising to process the return in 14 days.
Over two weeks later, Alvaro has made dozens of calls with no success. His story, which went viral on X, has led to reports of similar mix-ups.
It is said he has a photographic memory and sees words as a ‘chains of letters’, each with its own mathematical possibilities.
He is known as a calm, emotionless and gentlemanly player within the Scrabble community.
Talking of his latest title he said: “It's more of a challenge here, which is really what I’m looking for. I just enjoy trying to develop the possibilities and see what I can do, see what I can present. I can enjoy it if I win. I can enjoy it if I lose... I'm just here for a bit of fun.”
and Coatings
SPAIN’S top road boss is blaming Peppa Pig for the fact that just 11% of road construction workers are women.
Marta Serrano, head of Land Transport, says cartoons like Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol send a ‘stereotypical’ message that roadwork is a man’s job. “These cartoons show all the workers as giant, muscle-bound dudes,” Serrano quipped at a conference about the role of women within road building before adding, “It’s a cultural challenge!” With fewer women working in haulage, Serrano insists the gender gap in the sector is causing problems – and not just on the pavement. “We’re lagging behind,” she said, pointing out that even within her own ministry, only 40% of staff are women.
Wishing all our readers a very merry Christmas and New Year. We will be back on 17 January 2025
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